Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

BRIEFLY••• The three wins in a row by Yoshimura Suzuki's Mat Mladin sent the histori ans scurrying for their reco rd book s. When was the last time a rider won three Superblke race s in a row? Last year, for starters, That' s w hen Van ce & Hines Ducati' s Ant hony Gobert won four in a row , including bot h legs at Road Atlanta, one race before, Laguna Seca. and one after, Road America. Before that American Honda 's Mi guel DuH amel wo n four in a row in 1995, tho ugh he did it on four differ ent tracks, a feat he accomplished the previous year, 199 7, wh en he won at Brainerd, Mi d-Ohio, Pike' s Peak , and Sears Point in succession, W hat wa s M ladin' s perso nal bes t? Thirteen in a row in 1992 w hen he raced a factory Kawasaki to the Au stralian Superbike Championship li tle. Yoshimura Suzu ki's ..Jason P ridmore wa sn't sure he w as goi ng to race after cras hing in qualifying on Saturd ay, "We put a qualify ing tire on and, I'm not exac tly sure what happened, but maybe I didn't get it scrubbed in good enough. I already did my out lap on I he tire, so usually those things are good. And then on my first lap past the start finish line I wen l up into tum tw o or three , the left -hander bef ore the fasl rlght· hander, I just high-sided myse lf real bad, right in front of Joh n [Koci nskiJ. It was funny . I wa s sliding along on my stomac h backwards foreve r ri ght in the middle of the track and I saw John com ing at me and I was like, 'Oh man.' yo u know, I was just lucky he didn't hit me. W e ended up brea king my litt le finge r and I've got a really bruised palm. I was n't sure if I was go ing to ride, but I'm glad I did now ." Pridmore took a well-eamed fo urth In Satu rday' s fir st supe rbike race . Three races Into the AMAIChevy Truc k s Superb i k e season, Mat Mladin has yet to lose a race. He leads the points standi n g s by a commanding 14 p oints. Road Adanta Braselton, Georgia Results: June 4, 2000 SUPERBIKE QUALIFYING : I. Mat Mla dln ( 1:23.782/l09.140mph 2. Aaron Ya ( 1:24.167); ); tes 3 . Eri c Bostrom ( 1:24 .55 5 ); 4 . Doug Chan dler H a vin g finis hed a d isa p poin ti ng seve n t h o n Sa tu rday , Ko ci nsk i was e ncouraged by Su nday 's re s u lt s . " W e c ha nged the settings o n t he bike to get th e bi k e working better," h e sa id , '" t h i nk th a t soon we' re going t o b e r e a l close. R ig ht now it' s j u st a matter of getti ng used to the D u nl o p tires , I 've r o d e M i ch e li n s f or so l ong t hat some o f this stuff i s re al strange for me . So it's g oin g to tak e s ome t ime to g et u sed to it. " In a d d it ion to th e tire s a n d s et - u p , K o cin ski sa id h e h a s to get into ra ces h a pe . " T he re's a lot of wo r k th at I have t o d o p e r s onall y ," h e said . " It ' s been a l on g tim e s i nce I wen t 25 l a p s , 25 so just r i d i n g th e bik e no w f or la ps , m y b od y a l rea dy fee ls like it's in better c on di tion . I ' m re a d y t o go for a not her o ne, A n d t h e m o r e I r ide , th e b etter I' ll go ," B ostrom e n ded up in a no - man 's la n d beh ind K o cin s k i and i n fron t of t eammate Ch andl er. Th e t e am h ad made some c ha n ges t o h i s K awa s a ki , but not n e c e s s a ril y impro v eme n t , h e wo u ld d i s c o v e r . " W e were t r y i n g some changes and the y w ere for the better, bu t w e 're giving up t oo much co mi ng i nto the b rid ge a n d s tuff," Bostrom sa id . " It j u s t w o u ld n't drive over the h ill. There was some other little p ro b lems , but t h a t wa s ma ybe th e big o ne. " T eammate C ha n dle r h ad a few s e conds on Ja m ie Hac kin g of Y a maha at the en d , T h a t he made it to the e n d was somet hing of an accom plishment. He lost th e d e -clutch rnecha - n ism j u st before the h a lfwa y p oint in the race. Backshifts were a problem , After Hack ing cam e DuHame l , fini s h i n g up a mi serabl e superb i k e & Hines Duca ti's Steve Rapp in ninth and Tommy Ha yd en 10 t h . Koc inski ( 1:24 .723 ); 7. Jason Pridm ore (1:24. 9 26) ; 8 . N ic ky Hayden (1 :2 4 .926); 9 . Mig uel DuH am el ( I :25.173); 10 . Steve Rapp ( I :25.225); I I. Jamie Hacking ( 1:25.422); 12. Pascal Picot te (1:25.5 13); 13 . La rry Pe gram (1 :25 .534); 14 . Scott Ru ssell ( 1:25.753); 15. Damon Buckmaster ( 1:27.166); 16. Mike Cicco tte ( 1: 2 8. 0 2 6 ); 17 . Ji m my Moore ( 1:28.264); 18. Tripp Nobles (1:28.524); 19. Steve Grigg ( 1:28.569); 20. Jamie Bowman ( 1:28.6 19); 21. Shawn Conrad ( 1:28. 74 1); 23 . Gabriel Henni ng ( 1:28.871); 24. Shane Clarke (1:29.965); 25. Roger Le e Ha yd en (1 : 29 .99 1 ) ; 26 . Rich C o nicell i ( I :30.572); 27. Randall Mennen9a ( I :3 1.429); 28. Eman uel Ma nusu t hak is ( I : 3 1.435); 29 . W ade Buffington ( I :3 1.587); 30. Dean Mlzdal ( 1:3 1.574); 3 1. Mi ke Ha rth (I :3 1.8 12 ) ; 3 2 . Ch ri s No rm an d ( I :32.956); 33. James Doerner ( I :32.772); 34. Chad Simons (1:33.398); 35. Richard Shaw ( 1:33.655). RACE 1: I. Mat Mladin (SUI) ; 2. Nick y Hayden (Han); 3 . Eric Bostr om (Ka w) ; 4 . J aso n Pridm ore (SUI); 5. Dou g Chandle r ( Ka w) ; 6 . J am ie Hack ing (Yam) ; 7 . J ohn Kocin sk i (Due); 8 . Aaro n Yates (SUI); 9. Tommy Hayden (Yam ); 10 . Pascal Picott e (H· D): 1 I . M ig ue l D u Hame l ( Ha n ) ; 12 . Sha wn Co nrad (D u e); 13 . Jim m y Moore ( S UI ); 14. A n d re w Deathe rage (SUI) ; 15. Dean Mildal (Suz); 16. Mike Harth (SUI) ; 17 . Ric h Conicell i (SUI ); 18. Wade Buffin gton (Suz) ; 19 . Ja m es Doerfl er (SUI ); 20 . Chr is Norm and (SUI); 2 1. Richard Shaw (Yam): 22 . Ja mie Bo wm an (SUI); 23 . Em an uel Manu sutha k is (SUI); 24 . Steve Rapp (Due ); 25. Randall Mennenga (S UI) ; 26 . Larry Peg ram ( Du e) ; 27. Ste ve Gr egg (Kaw); 28 . Shane Clarke (SUI) ; 29 . Gabriel Henn ing (Suz); 30. Rob Bo werma n Jr . (SUI ); 3 1. Scott Russell (H· D) ; 32 . Cha d Sim on s (S uz }: 33 . J ohn Jacobi (Sua): 34. Tripp Nobles (H·D). Time: 35 m in.• 44 .161 sec. Dist ance: 25 lap s. 63 mil es. Average speed: 106.6 16 mph . Marg in of victory: 3.638 sec. RACE 2: 1. Mat Mladin (SUI) : 2. Nicky Hayden (Hon ); 3. Aaro n Yates (SUI); 4 . J ohn Kocin sk i (Duc ); 5. Eric Bostrom (Kaw) ; 6. Doug Chandler (Ka w) ; 7 . Jamie Hack ing (Yam); 8. Migue l Duham el (Han) ; 9 . Steve Rapp ( Due) ; 10. To mmy Hayden (Yam ); t 1. Jas on Pridmore (Suz); 12. Scott Russel l (H· D ); 13 . Pasca l Picotte ( H-D) ; 14. Larry Pegram (Du e) ; 15 . Mik e Ciccott o (SUI ); 16. J am ie Bowman (SUI ); 17. Shaw n Conrad (D ue } : 18. Steve Grigg ( Kaw ) ; 19 . Shane Cla rke (SUI); 20. Andr ew Deat herag e (SUI); 2 1. J im m y Moore (S UI); 22 . Gabriel Hennin g (S UI ); 23 . Mik e Harth (SUI) ; 24 . Rich Con icelli (SUI); 25 . Randall Mennen ga (SUI ); 26 . Dean Mizdal (Suz) ; 27. Wade Buffington (SUI ); 28. Chri s Normand (SUI); 29 . Rob Bowerm an J r. (SUI); 30. Richard Shaw (SUI) ; 3 1. J ames Doerll er (SUI); 32. Emanu el Manu sut haki s (Suz); 33, Tri pp Nobles (H-D); 34, John Jacobi (SUI ); 35 . Chad Sim ons (SUI) . Tim e: 35 m in ., 2 1.726 sees. Dist ance: 25 laps. 63 mi les. Average speed: 107.74 3 mph . Margin of victory: 2.7 18 sec. AMA/ CHEVY TRUCKS U,S, SUPERBIKE C'SHIP POINT STANDINGS (A fte r 3 of 12 rounds): 1. Mat M1adin ( 111/3 wins) ; 2, Nicky Hayd en (97); 3. Dou g Cha ndler (80 ); 4 . (T IE) Eric Bostr om /Aaron Yates (78); 6. Miguel Duhamel (70) ; 7. Tommy Hayden (67); 8, Pascal Picotte (61); 9, Steve Ra pp (54) ; 10. John Kocinski (51) ; 11. Jamie Hacking (49); 12. (TIE) Jimmy Moore/Jason Pridmore (47); 14. Larry Pegram ( 43) ; 15 . J amie Bowm an (42); 16 . M ik e the bike chattering h ea v i l y . weekend in e i g h t , with Vance ( 1:24.681); 5. Tommy Hayden ( 1:24.688); 6. John CN Harth (37) ; 17. Shawn Conrad (33) ; 18. Mike Cic cotto (3 2); 19 . An dr ew Death er age (28 ); 20 . DeanMizd (25). al Upcom ing ro un d s : Round 3- Elkh art Lake , Wi scon sin , June 11 Round 4 - Loudon, New Ha mp shir e, June 18 Tires played a m ajor factor ove r the co urse of the hal Road Atl anta weekend , with riders swi tc hing co mpounds betw ee n races to try to find the edge , On Saturday, Yos himura Suzuki' s M at Ml adin wa s the only rider to run the so ftes t of the three Dun lop compounds , acco rding to D unlop Road Race C oordinat or J im All e n. Every on e else used a med ium co mpo und exc ept fo r Va nce & Hines D ucatt' s Steve Rapp, who used a 1999 medium com po und tire. Am erican Honda's M iguel DuH amel had a tire de-laminate and become egg-shaped , In a very fast sec tio n of the cou rse , And Yosh imura S uzuki' s Aaron Yates got a tir e, w hich caused an instability prob lem . On Sunday the tir es held up better, partly because the track temperature was down somewhat. Ml adin stuck with the soft, with Yates and Am erican Honda' s N icky Hayden running the same 587 med ium tire as Saturday. Ev eryone else went with the 555 soft tire. M ladin said that the tires we re predictable. "The tires here, there' s three different tires that we've got to choos e from and It really doe sn't matter whi ch one you 've go t becau se they all do the same lap time for abo ut four laps, and then th ey drop about half a second a lap. And you put up with the thing spinning for the rest of the race, So that' s how it' s been for me all the tim e the pasl years here." Having a different kind of tire prob lem was V&H Ducati's Joh n Kocinski. A fte r a career spent mo stly on Mi chelins, Kocinski struggled in his firs t race in nine months on the Dunlops . Though mo st riders find it difficult to go from the more forgiving Dun lop s to the unforgiving M ichelins , Ko cinski's react ion was different 'You can do stupid things on D unlops and get away with it. M ichelin is more of a - yo u've got to be a high-end rider and you've got to have the se t -up right " he said, And that was so mething Kocinski and his team clearly didn't do , Because of the shortened championship series, w ith th e canc ellation of the rain-o ut Sears Point round (see In The Wi nd) , the cluster of five race s in a three-w eek span · Road Atlanta, Road America and Lo udon - mea nt that co nsis tency and preparation we re param o unt. Having double-heade rs is some thing the rider s are gett ing used to . " It' s imp ortan t because we rea lly don't have eno ugh race track s that we c an go to to put a cham pio ns hip to get her," Yoshimura Suzuki' s Ma t Ml adin said. " It doesn 't bot her me either way. I guess I prefer one race on the Sunday, but now that we've got this, it 's just the way it goes. Because, when you do this race , It's been like, oh the race is done, then you so rt of get up the next morn ing and you 've got to do ano ther race. lt 'd probably be nicer if they were both on the same day, but it doesn 't matt er . Now you've sort o f ju sl got 1 get il into yo ur head that you 've got two days wort h of racing to 0 do and you can' t rea lly relax until 4 o 'clock tom o rrow afternoon. It' s o kay . Previou sly it's been a littl e bit hard for me because I wasn 't used to it. Neither was anybody, but I just done a sad job of trying to keep it tog ether. But it' s not a probl em now . " Vance & Hines Ducati' s SI eve Rapp had a rough end to r ace one w hen he was taken out by a lapped rider on the 13th o f 25 laps while running in ninth place . ' W e were all in line going thro ugh the esses and we gal a lapper going right Ihrough them and everyone made it throug h, like Mi guel [D uHamell and [Do ugl Chandler and IAaron] Yate s made it through and it wa s too clos e. I had to set it in that one corner and wail. So we we re going into five and I go on the outside of him · up t he left-hander · and as so o n as I wen t aro und the o ut side of him . [Pascal] Picotte came righ t up the inside and ran into him and ran him into me. w hich ran me off the tra ck . That' s why Picotte 's muffle r came off because he ran into the guy; that ripped his muffler off ," For A merican Honda's Mig uel DuH amel . it was deja v u . Last year at Road Atlan ta, wa te r. which spilled out of his 600cc S upersport bike , caused him to crash and he re-broke his leg. High heat caused the fuel in his RC-51 to expand and spray him and he got a queasy feeling . " The first part of the race I wa s coming through everybody and I slowed down quite a bit for about two laps. What happened was the exce ss fuel somehow got to the catch can - which it' s supposed to and it filled it up and was spraying in my shield. And I'm like, 'Oh no, not again.' Spraying liquids at Road At lanta last time wa sn't very good. I to ok two laps to take a good look at it and find out that it wasn 't the tank [that ill wasn't cracked or leaking , becau se it was fuel. And I saw that it was the overflow from the tank into the catc h can that was full. So I figured it was okay, I'd give it a shot, but man, I was scared braking and all that stuff , I thought. 'If that thing 's worse, I don' t want to go dow n again.' W hile I.was debating, I got back by those guys." The same thing happened to both American Honda ' s N icky Hayden and Harley-Davids o n's Scott Ru s sell . Russell pitied on the fift h lap and was done for the day, Hayden , how ever , co ntin ued. " The fu el tank filled the ove rf lo w bailie, ' Harley -David son' s Steve Scheibe exp lained abou t Russell' s pr oblem . ' The engine heat co mes up and it pushes Ihe fuel out . It came out the ove rflow .' Scheibe spec ulated thaI it may have been caused becau se the riders sat on the slarti ng grid for a while in the extrem e heat. For Sund ay' s race, held in more lemperate we at her, Russell skipped the warm-up lap, wh ile his V R- l 000 sat on the grid wit h a wet towel on the gas tank. It' s a prob lem the Du cati s have had in the past , but today it wa s Harleys and Hon das. " About the third lap in, actually, I guess my gas started overfl owin g just a little bit and it was spitting out.' Hayd en said. • And, I do n't know , I thought maybe that' s w hy the guys behind me didn't com e wi th me. I hod to clo se the vent on my helmet becau se I started to breathe the gas fumes. I think that' s wha t happened at the end . I think it must have ran out of gas ." Hayden' s 1 bike stranded him or>the track and he needed to catc h a 1ft bac k to the podium celebrations. eye I e n e vv s .JU NE 14, 2000 11

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