Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

B uildi ng t o a grandstan d finish , o ut to b ot h ride rs in r apid fashi on , Bayl iss wa s experien cing some lurid slid es as he rode hard to k eep Hodg son b ehi nd h im . On l a p 24 th e and dropped back furth er st il l shortly a ft e r w a r d s , fight ing off Y anagawa airhorn -wield ing crowd got their wish as H o dg so n passed Bay liss on th e ap p ro ac h t o S urtees , w ith Bay l iss scoot i ng p a s t him ag a i n o n th e entrance to Pad d o c k. "I h ad no rhy th m in the early lap s at a ll , but I got so me m otivation ba ck an d st arte d closing in o n the lead ers," said Hod gson a fterwards . "My fr ont t ir e wa s sl id ing fo r t he la st cou p le o f laps, b ut I w en t into th e f in al corner as h ard as I cou ld t o try fo r the win . But all credit to Troy because he ro de so well to lead fo r so long ." To o th and n a i l t o th e finish , B a yliss set h is qu i ck e st la p o n th e fina l c ir cu it , an d the rac e order was Ba ylis s , then H odgson, wi t h Wa l k e r eig h t-s ec on d s d o wn an d fol lowed h om e by Rey no l ds , H a g a , Corser , Slight, Ch ili , Ya nagawa and Edwa rds - way d o wn in ] Oth . RACE TWO B a yli ss wo n th e lea n i ng m atch w it h H odg son t o ta ke th e hole sh ot d own Paddo ck Hill bend o n lap one , with C or ser mi s sin g a fter th e f irst s ta rt m e l e e . Ed w ards , i n t e n t o n re pair i n g th e d am a g e d o n e to hi s p o ints lead after rac e o n e , got st uck i n to th e r a ce , but was soo n ove rh au l ed b y a n aggress iv e H od g son , w ho led ov er the line after three la ps w it h a . 3 48 o f a secon d g ap to Bayliss , a nd Edwa rd s . H ag a w a s u p t o his b e st for m, pro bi n g E dwa r ds ' d e f e n s e s i n th e ea r ly laps , li n in g h im self u p fo r some g lo ry t o mask h is ph ys ica l p a in w h ile Hod g so n to o k a new la p record o nce m ore wi th a time o f 1:2 7.046 . Wi t h t he t op t h ree , Hodgso n , B ayl iss an d Edwards , strung o ut in a lo ose lin e, and w ith H a g a a nd Chi li fi g hting it o ut, the usu al new suspects see med to h ave made th eir esca pe , with Hodgson d ip p in g the la p record down t o I :26 ,9 lO on la p eight. Ch ili , ta kin g H a g a o n la p se v en , wa s well on his way, w h ile E d w ards sli p p ed b ac k a b it to come unde r the infl uen c e o f Chili ' s Suzuki b y lap ] O. B a yl iss, t ry in g for hi s first World Superbik e d oub le , c o u ld no t get closer th an .4 o f a second to Hodg so n 's tail , w ith th e you ng En gli sh m an bei ng bl a st ed along th e main st raigh t b y th e sound o f a irho rns b la rin g in hi s ear. B o str om was having a mi se rabl e t i m e , pi t t i n g for tires a nd r ej o in in g behi nd Bay liss, bu t the ma n who re p laced h im in t he f a c t ory D u c at i sq ua d, B orj a , was even worse , crashi ng o ut o n la p I I d u ring o ne of his dismal weekends. B rand s Hatch is a h ard p lace to lea rn , a s m any found out . A three-way fight for th i rd place , betw een E d w a r d s , H a g a , and C hili l ooked to be under c ontrol b y th e A merican , until lap 17 when he lo st unsuccessfull y and be c om ing in dan g er o f be ing over ha uled by Wa lk er. Ch il i made h is decisive break f rom Haga when it mattered , ta k in g th ree seconds o ut of hi m b y t he e nd , as Ho d g son romp ed off t o h is second career W orl d Su perb ike wi n . With Hodg son a clea r and joyously w hee li ei ng w in ner, B a ylis s took seco nd , C h il i third, Ha ga fo u rth , Ya nagawa fifth and Edw a rd s a d isappoi nted sixth . eN Brands Hatch Kent, England Results: August 6, 2000 SUPERBIKE QUALIFYING: 1. NeH Hod g son ( 1:2 6.3 6 1): 2. Colin Edward s ( 1:26 .566): 3. T roy Bayli s s ( 1:2 6 .60 6); 4. P ier - Fran c e s c o Chili (1: 26.624); 5 . J a mes Ha ydon ( 1:26.833); 6. Ste ve Hislo p ( 1:2 7. 053): 7. Aaron Sl ight ( 1:2 7 .4 09) : 8. Ch r is W alk er (1 :2 7.4 70) ; 9 . A k i ra Yanaga w a (1:27.532) : 10 . T ro y Co rser ( 1:27.777) ; 1 1. J ohn Reyn olds (1:27.779): 12. Ben Bostrom ( 1:27.8 15): 13 . Jua n Borj a ( 1:27 .8 15) ; 14 . Gr egori o Laville ( 1:27. 9 8 2 ) : 15. Gi o vann i Bu sse! ( 1:28.9 86): 16 . Noriyuk i Haga (1 :26 .235 ); 17. Kat suak i Fujiwara ( 1 :27 . 8 15 ) ; 18 . And y M ek l au (1 :28 .0 25 ) ; 19 . Ale s sand ro Gra m ig n i ( 1:2 8 . 105 ); 2 0. Alessa nd ro Anto nello (1 :28 . 128 ) : 21. Mark us Barth (1 :28.559); 22 . V itto Gu aresch i ( 1:2 8 .7 62) ; 23 . Rob ert Ulm (1 :2 9 .2 1 1): 2 4. Ma ur o Se nchi nl ( 1:29.280) ; 25 . Mar c o B or c iani (1 :2 9 .3 8 0); 2 6 . I gor Je r ma n ( 1:30.3 79); 27. Jurg en Oeschlaeger (1 :29 .63 1): 28. Ha ruch ika Ao k i ( 1:2 9. 65 6) ; 2 9. Fred er ic Pr ota t (I :3 0. 9 3 7); 30. Lucio Ped ercfnl ( 1:3 0 .24 9 ); 3 1. B. Ste y (1 :30 .584) ; 32 . J irl Mrkyvka ( 1:30. 9 2 4) ; 33 . Lan ce Isaac s (1 :31. 149 ) ; 34. D. Mori gi ( 1:34.373) ; 35 . Massimo de S ilvestro ( 1:37.377); 3 6 . Claud e A lain Jaggi (1 :37. 497) . RACE ON E : 1. T r oy B ayli ss ( D ue); 2 . Ne il Ho d g so n (Du e ) ; 3. C h r is W a lk e r ( Suz); 4 . Joh n Reyn olds (D ue ); 5. Noriyuk i Haga (Yam ) : 6. T ro y Co rse r (Ap r ) ; 7 . A ar on Slig ht ( Ho n); 8. Pi er Francesco Chili (Suz) ; 9. Akira Yanagaw a (Kaw); 10 . Co l in Ed wa rds ( Ho n); 1 1. Juan B o rj a (D ue ) ; 12 . Gregori o Levill a (Kaw ); 13. An dy Mekl au (Due); 14. Alessa ndro Antonello (A pr ): 15. Ben Bostrom (Du e); 16. A less a nd ro Gr a mi g ni ( Ya m): 17 . Kat su aki Fujiw ara (S uz) ; 18 . Giovanni Bus sei (Kaw) ; 19 . Vitto Gu a resc h i ( Yam) ; 2 0. Ma r k u s Barth ( Yam); 2 1. Frederic Prota t (Due); 22. Marco Borclenl (Due); 23 . Igo r Je rm an (Kaw) ; 24 . Mauro Sanc hin i (D ue ); 25. Lan ce Isaac s (Du e); 26. D. Morigi (Du e). Time: 36 mln ., 35. 753 sec . Dist ance : 25 lap s. 65 .425 m iles Av erage speed: t 07 .266 m ph Mar gin of vic t ory : 0 .235 sec. Fast est lap: Neil Hodgso n. 1:27. 153, lap 22 RA CE TW O : I. N eil Ho dg so n (D ue); 2 . Tr oy B ayli ss ( D ue) ; 3 . Pter -F re nc e s co Ch ili ( Suz) ; 4 . Noriyuki Haga (Yam); 5. Akira Yanaga wa (Kaw) ; 6. Co lin E dw a rd s (H on ) ; 7. Ch ris W a lke r (Su z) : 8 . Grego rio Lavill a ( Ka w) ; 9 . A ndy Meklau (Due) : 10. Kat sua ki Fuj iw ara ( Suz ); 11 , Al essandro Gr amign i (Yam ); 12 . Vitto Gua resc bl (Yam); 13. Markus Barth (Yam); 14. Marco Borcleni (Du e ); 15. La nce Isaacs (D ue) ; 16. B . Stey (Ho n); 17. Ben Bo str om ( Due) : 18 . Lu ci o Ped ercln l (Due); 19. D. Mo rigi (Due). Ti m e: 36 min ., 33 .880 sec . Dist ance: 25 laps, 65. 425 m iles A ...erage speed: 107.358 m ph Mar gi n of vict ory : 0 .73 2 sec. Fast est lap : Neil Hodgs on. t:26. 9 10, lap 8 WO RLD SUPERBI KE C'SHIP POINT STANDINGS (A ft er 10 of 13 ro un ds): I. Co lin Edwards (281 / 4 wi ns) ; 2. Tro y Corser (25 7 /5); 3. Nori yuk i Hag a (256/3) ; 4 . Pier-Fra ncesco Ch ili (2 14/1); 5 . T roy Bay liss (1 87 /2); 6 . A k ira Ya naqewe ( 169) ; 7 . Ben Bostrom ( 154); 8. Ka tsu ak! Fuji wara ( 116) ; 9 . Aa ron Slight ( 10 7) ; 10. Neil Hod gson (86 /2 ); I I. Grego rio Laville (83) ; 12. Andy Meklau (8 1); 13. J uan Bo rja (75) ; 14. A lessand ro Ant on ell o (6 4) ; 15 . Har uchika Aok i (57) . WOR LD SUP ERSPOR T: 1. Paolo Caso li (Due): 2. Karl Muggerid ge (Hon ): 3. lain Mac Pherso n (Kaw ): 4 . Pe re Rib a ( Ho n ); 5. J i m Moo di e ( Ya m ); 6. Chris tian Kellner (Ya m); 7. Reuben Xeus (Duc ); 8. Stephane Cha m bon (Suz): 9. A. Carlacc l (Yam) ; 10 . Chris to p he C og an (Ya m) : 11 . F a br iz io Pi ro v an o (Suz); 12 . Wern er Daemen (Ya m ); 13. Andrew Pitt (Ka w); 14 . Massim o Me regalli (Yam); 15. D. Th om as (D ue); 16. Kev in Curta in (Yam ): 17 . Criste r Lin dhol m (Ya m) ; 18 . Crist iano Miglio rati (Suz); 19 . Vittorio lannu zzo ( Ya m) : 20. Norino B ri gn o la ( Ya m ) : 21. Wa lt er T ort or o gli o ( Due) ; 22. M ich el e Ma la tes ta ( Suz); 23. J . E lli son (Ho n) : 24 . K yr o Verst raet en ( Yam ); 25 . Wil eo Zeee le n berg (Ya m ); 26. G . Kenwa rd ( Suz). Ti me: 34 min.• 58. 073 sec. Distanc e: 23 laps, 60 .19 miles A verage spe ed: 10 3 .280 mph Marg in of victory: 0 .2 24 sec. Fast est lap : lain MacPherson , 1:30 .12 9, lap 18 Upcoming Rounds: Round 11 • Assen, Holland, September 3 Ro und 12 • Oscher sle ben , Germ an y , September 10 British Superb ike regu l ar Chris Walker (49) took h is Suzuki to third place in race one, but was o n l y able to m anage seventh i n r ac e two. A nother shiny, happ y day for Paolo Casoli, as the old master reminded everyone why he has already been good enough to win the Worl d Supersport Champi onship' s predecessor in 199 7. And man aged to sneak into a tie for second place with Christian Kellner in the poi nts standings. A race with no small amo unt of controve rsy and act ion, it turn ed into a fight between the fast starters, the infirm and the slow starters. With the current World Champi onship leader Jorg Teuchert out of the running due to a horrible crash in qua lify ing, his pursuers, not least his teamma te Christian Kellner , fancied their chances to cut into Teuchert's lead. Injured himse lf in practi ce, it was not to be a hat trick for Kellner (following his Valencia and Misano successes). In fact, j ust as the World Supersport Championship was showing all the signs of failin g into an Al pha Techn ik Yamaha, Dunlop -shod benefit for the two Germ an riders, fate took a hand. Casoli , on his twin -cylinder Ducati and Michelin tires. had som e stiff opposi tion for the win, most obviou sly from the star of the show Karl Muggeridg e, who has been the only man all year consistently cam paig ning a CBR600 and Pirelli tires in the upper echelons of the results. Just to add more spice to the mix, slow-starting lain Macpherson, on his Dunlop -shod Kawasaki , round ed off the podium, after the littl e Scot sman mad e a spirited and clever charge through he field. . Tak ing the lead from Casoli on the last lap, he look ed to have run the perfect race until Casoli dived past him on the entrance to Din gle Dell (a place for those with confidence in their wom front tire, even if Macph erson did leave the door open) and then Muggeri dge mugged the startled MacPherson on the entrance to the next co mer , Stirlin g's, holding him off along the long Clearway s curve to the fini sh line. "I wanted this win at all costs," Casoli said, "When I took the lead. it was difficul t to understand what was going on behind , because here at Brands it's difficult to see the board on the pit wall. You finish the lap leaning over and you can't see the board very well. It was only by turn ing m y head in several points of the circuit that I could see what was happenin g behind me. Often the bike that was following me changed colo r, so I knew there was quite a battl e. I wasn't sure I had the right pace to take me to the fini sh, so I tried to ride as smooth as possible to the flagl" In fourth was Castro l Honda's Pere Rtba, who was well in fourth place until it was discovere d he passed another rider on the way into Paddock Hill on a yello w flag. Docked a mere single second, this was enoug h to punch him back one whole place and promote the fast -starting. front-run ning Jim Moodie. A nother priv ateer showing up the work s boys , Mood ie was the first Yama ha ri der hom e, after his old buddy James Whitham had slung his latest works Belgarda Yamaha into the kitty litte r. Crashing at Druids on lap 19 of the 23, Whitham was keen to rack some points up before Teuchert came back to the fray, but only ended up relegating him self to fourt h in the title chase, m ystified as to why his Mic hellns were turning from friends into enemies . "The ti res and the bike in general felt really good in the first few laps, but then it started to slide from the rear and I lost drive out of the come rs," Whit ham said, "I had to try and stay w it h t he lea de rs and the only way to do t hat was co m pe nsate by using the front tire a lot. I pushed a little too hard on the entr ance to D r ui ds and that was that ." T he batte red Kell n er, hard ly ab le t o move in between stints o n hi s bi k e , fo ug ht bravely through from a slowish start in sixth, moved up to a high of fifth , and the n b ac k down again as his leg and hip seized up. Ruben Xaus , World Supersport ' s very ow n Paolo Casoli [center) celebrates h is victory on the rostrum he roic bad -b o y , w as With Karl Muggeridge [left) and lain MacPherson [right). subdued again , go ing _ up and do wn to seventh, one place ahead of Cham bon whom he turfed off inadvertently in practic e. Antonio Carlacci and Cris tophe Cogan were another two strong Yam aha privateers who capitalized on the works m en's misfortunes, and in th eir own righ t beat Fabr izio Pirov ano's works Suzuki. . cue I e n e ..... IS • A UGUST 16, 2000 9

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