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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/146698
~ ROAD RACE Columbus Games Mexico International e Two-time World Superbike Champion Doug Polen took victories in both legs of the Columbus Games Mexico International at the Hermanos Rodrigues circuit. MEXICO CITY, MEXICO, NOV. 22 urrent World Superbike Champion Doug Polen showed exactly why he is arguably the best superbike rider in the world by winning both races at the Hermanos Rodrigues circuit in Mexico City. Although Polen comfortably won the races, he was pushed hard in both by his Fast By Ferracci Ducati teammate Pascal Picotte" In the first race, Davide Tardozzi finished third on his Team Grottini Duca±i while Piergiorgio Bontempi rounded out the top three in the second race. . Tardozzi and Picotte got away first in the opening race, with the rest of the 27-. strong field right behind them. Fast qualifier Polen had made a slow start, but was in the top six or seven at the end of the first lap which was its usual fast and frantic affair. The surprise of the early laps was England's Terry Rymer, who was riding a Yamaha borrowed from the still recuperating Jeffry de Vries and had only completed 15 laps of practice on it. Despite this Rymer was in the top for the early stages and even had the audacity to move into third at one point. C 6 .Jim Moodie was the first to exit the race when he lost the front end while trying to stay with the lead group. At the end of the second lap. the top three were all Duca tis - Picotte, Tardozzi and Polen. With only a handful of laps to go, though, the Texan moved into second place behind Picotte. The World Champion had patiently waited in order to put on a good show lor the spectators as well as the live television audience, but with two laps to go he. stormed past Picotte and headed for the flag. It was a straight forward show of power racing and Polen's fastest lap of the race. Polen en<;l.ed up taking the win by some two seconds. Picotte was second with Tardozzi, who had earlier announced that this would be his last race before retirement, making it a Ducati sweep in his la'st-ever race. With only two laps to go, Rymer'S. gearshift disintegrated, leaving him with only fourth gear. He carried on, but was passed by both Simon Crafar and Bontempi, and had to settle for sixth place. Seventh went to Baldassarre Monti in front of Fabrizio . Furlan, Jad Suhonen and Jesus Rodriguez. Polen had said that he wanted to win both races, but he also wanted to give the crowd something to shout about. In the second race, he made an average start (by his standards), but was in the 'top six going into tum one. Picotte had made a tremendous start, getting away first ahead of Tardozzi. For the first couple of laps the pace was hectic, but this time Polen took less time to get in Picotte's wheel tracks. Tardozzi knew that his injured left arm wasn't up to two hot 2S-lappers, and he soon ,faded to sixth. Rymer had made a bad start, but his charge up through the field was devastating and he was soon up to third. As the race progressed, Polen and Picotte traded places much to the delightof the crowd estimated at 5000.. Just behind these two, Rymer was having a terrific battle with Bontempi, who had forced his way up after an indifferent start. It had taken the young Italian a few laps to dispose of Crafar, who was riding De Vries' spare bike. As the race. entered its final stages, Polen suddenly appeared in the lead on the start/ finish straight, with Picotte_ trailing behind. As Picotte came past his pit board he pointed to his rear tire, which had gone off. Meanwhile, Rymer had to give way to Bontempi after his Yamaha started to lose top gear. It was a great disappointment to Rymer, who up to that point had looked set to get a podium position. In the end, Polen took his second win of the day, this one by a comfortable 10 seconds from Picotte. Third went to Bontempi, with Rymer fourth ahead of Crafar, Monti, Furlan, Tardozzi, Arpad Harmati and Rodrigues. After the race, Polen said: "Hey, man, that was a blast. I could have won' easily but I wanted to put on a show for the fans and 1 guess they got one, huh? I took it kind of easy in both races, but I was able to do a couple of quick laps when I had to. It is always good to win, but it's a great end to a great season." So Polen was again the master. Although it was probably his easiest race of the season, he still approached it with his usual professional manner. It migh( have only been an invitational race, but he still wanted to prove his worth as the best superbike rider in the world. . (;N Results RACE 1: 1. Doug Polen (Due); 2. Pascal Picotte (Due); 3. Davide Tardozzi (Due); 4. Simon Crafar (Yam); 5. Piergiorgio Bontempi (Due); 6. Terry Rymer (Yam); 7, Baldassarre Monti (Due); 8. Fabrizio Furlan (Due); 9. Jari Suhonen (Yam); 10. Jesus Rodriguez (Due). Time: 35 min., 36.625 sec. Distance: 25 laps, 68.75 miles. Margin of Victory: 2 sec. RACE 2: 1. Doug Polen (Due); 2. Pascal Picotte (Due); 3. Giorgio Bontempi (Due); 4. Terry Rymer •(Yam); 5. Simon Crafar (Yam); 6. Baldassarre Monti (Due); 7. Fabrizio Furlan (Due); 8. David Tardozzi (Due); 9. Arpad Hermati (Yam); 10. Jesus Rodriguez (Due). Time: 35 min., 32.077 sec. Di.lanee: 25 laps, 68.75 miles. Margin of Victory: 10 sec.