Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128396
Briefly... According to Dorna's website, MotoGP.com, Troy Bayliss will not take part in the Grand Prix of japan at Motegi after injuring his wrist on Monday, September 12 while training on his motocross bike in Australia. Only a series of closer examinations will confirm the length of recovery time required by the Australian, although he will definitely be lorced to miss the next race. "There is not much I can say other than that I am very, very disappointed to be forced out of this race," Bayliss said. "I was really looking lorward to racing at Motegi after the tests we completed at Brno, and I was training on my own to try and be as best prepared as I could. Now we will have to find out what treatment I need, but my objective is to get fit as soon as possible." Johnson Wins U.S. Nationals After All The National Hot Rod Association announced on September 6 that the posted results of the Pro Stock Motorcycle final round S Ist annual NHRA Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, which had G Squared Motorsports Buell rider Matt Smith as the winner, have been overturned. NHRA has awarded the victory to Suzuki rider Steve johnson. The decision came after a controversial finish in which ESPN2 video footage of the race clearly showed that johnson had crossed the finish line ahead 01 Smith in the final round, held on Monday, September S, but the NHRA timing and scoring system did not trigger 011 of johnson's Iront wheel, and according to the clocks, Smith was the winner. NHRA senior vice president 01 racing operations Graham light upheld Smith's victory after the race and stated at the time that there would be no appeal. Smith and his team took part in the victory circle celebrations at the track. But on Tuesday, light further reviewed the lootage and reversed the on in Matt's lane and he had run an II (7.114 seconds) versus Steve's 20 (7.206 seconds), we were annazed but elated that we had won the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, the most prestigious race on decision in Johnson's favor. wasn't until sometime ''Although it is always our [NHRA:s] desire to provide finality to the event for both the competitors and the fans at the event's conclusion, upon further review, it's obvious that the finish line beam did not detect the Iront tire 01 Johnson's motorcycle and instead was triggered by another component 01 the motorcycle," light said. "I am now convinced that the finish line camera angle did not distort the image and that Johnson's motorcycle was the first to cross the finish line. Therefore, we are reversing the original decision and declaring Steve later that we saw the video replays. Even then and all throughout Tuesday, we thought that we had come away victorious. Then we got a call Irom Graham [light] and were notified that NHRA had overturned the on-track decision. We want all to know that we accept that decision and think it was justified. "NHRA did a lot 01 reviews, including the ESPN2 video 01 the questioned final round, and all reviews pointed out that Steve had crossed the line first. Perhaps it was a matter of time before an incident like this took place and becomes the precedent for the NHRA version 01 'instant replay' review. "Looking back, we wish that Steve could have had his time in the winners' circle, but happy that NHRA corrected, what in hindsight, was obvious - Steve was the winner. ''AII-in-all, both G-Squared/S&S-powered Buells did well, as did Matt and Chip. Matt Smith was runner-up on race day on one Buell and Chip Ellis was runner-up in the Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle, a special race-within-a-race on Saturday, on the other. It was a great weekend lor G-Squared Motorsports, S&S Cycle, which supply our power, and the newest addition to our racing lamily, Mac Tools. We were proud that we could do well for Mac Tools at their race. "Finally, the most important part, we give Steve johnson sincere congratulation on his win and applaud the NHRA lor correcting what was an obvious fluke in the system." Johnson the winner of the event." johnson, who is currently without a title sponsor for his racing program, was understandably elated. "I've dreamed 01 winning the U.S. Nationals lor many years," johnson said in a press release issued alter the reversal. "It's the Indy SOO of drag racing. Winning in Indy gives our team so much credibility. I really feel now like part of the 'Iraternity' 01 prolessional drag racers. The purse money is great, but it hasn't bought me any time in trying to personally return over 600 emails that I am so gratelul to get." To their credit, George Bryce and George Smith, partners 01 G Squared Motorsports, which owns and races the bike that Smith rode throughout the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, issued the lollowing statement regarding NHRA's decision to overturn the final-round outcome: "When Steve johnson lelt on Matt Smith, we were watching at the finish line hoping that Matt could catch him. When the win light canne the circuit. "We then did the winner's circle celebration and returned to our pit area to continue our cel- ebration. We never saw the video at the track. It G. T. Tonglet rode his V-Rod to the Ringer's Gloves Pro Bike Battle victory on Saturday, September 3 lor the first time in his career at the S 1st annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park. Tonglet beat Chip Ellis (Buell) in the final, turning in a 7.288-second pass at 176.60 mph over Ellis' 7.34S at 177.04. The special bonus event is held at the longest-running NHRA event annual. The Pro Stock Motorcycle riders qualify for the bonus event over the course of a calendar year. The top eight qualifiers started earning points at last year's U.S. Nationals, and the payoll is racing in the special race. Tonglet has qualified for the event just twice, and he's made it to the final both times. This year, Tonglet took it one step further, earning the victory and taking home the $15,000 bonus. "It's been a great weekend, especially since the week started olf pretty bad," Tonglet said. "I thihk our house survived the hurricane, but we won't know for sure until we get home after the race. But it's more than just our house. All of our lriends and lamily live there, and a lot of people have a long road to recovery ahead of them. But once I put that helmet on, all 01 the hurricane stull goes out of my mind. I was racing against the top eight riders in the world, and it's just awesome that I ended up winning such a tough event." "What's really good about that whole thing is that we have had two Harley V-Rods win the last two Pro Bike Battles," team owner Byron Hines said. ''Andrew [Hines] won it last year, and I think it's a milestone to have both teammates win the bonus event in back-to-back years. There are so many quality bikes out there and to be able to perform all year long, to qualify for the race and then to win the race is amazing. All the hype from the weekend creates a lot of extra pressure for the teams. II you have one little hiccup, it could go another way and you could be sitting in the stands during the final round. The entire team did a great job responding to the challenges." Tonglet beat Geno Scali (Suzuki) in the first round, going 7.096 at 187.81 over Scali's 7.1 B4 at 187.81. Tonglet moved on to beat Antron Brown (Suzuki) in the second round with a 7.221 at 183.99 over Brown's starting-line foul. Hines beat Craig Treble (Suzuki) in the first round with a 7.081 at 184.25 over Treble's 7.140 at 183.89. Hines fouled in the second round against Ellis. ContinueJ on page 13 CYCLE NEWS • SEPTEMBER 21, 2005 9