February

Year: 2002

Month: February

Best test times of Saturday and Sunday

25 February 2002

Valencia, Spain, WSB test, February 23-24, 2002 1. T Bayliss: 1’34.922. 2. N Haga: 1’34.957. 3. C Edwards: 1’35.168. 4. B Bostrom: 1’35.260. 5. R Xaus: 1’35.260. 6. P Chili: 1’35.668. 7. S Martin: 1’35.962. 8. L Pedercini: 1’35.962. 9. H Izutsu: 1’36.032. 10. J Toseland: 1’36.305. 11. N Hodgson: 1’36.358.12 G Lavilla: 1’36.595. 13. J Borja: 1’36.728. 14. C.Walker: 1’36.930. 15. A Antonello:...

Slight to race in UK

25 February 2002

Aaron Slight will be racing a 500bhp V8 this year. No it’s not Moto GP gone mad, he’s on four wheels for the ASCAR oval racing series in the UK and Germany. Slight is driving the TJ Motorsports Ford,...

Hodgson reveals his go-faster diet

25 February 2002

We’ve now added the full transcript from Neil Hodgson’s Thursday lunchtime web chat in which he reveals his recipes for success. Neil starts a WSB race day with porridge, tucks into bananas and fig...

Neil Hodgson: In his own words

25 February 2002

Jo d: You were very pleased with the Philip Island test but seemed more frustrated during the Valencia test. Do you think this is essentially down to your style being incompatible with the circuit rather than a more wide-ranging problem? NeilHodgson: Erm, yes. I think you’ve hit the nail on the head there. I do have a slight problem with the set-up of the bike, but I think it’s more a case of my...

Walker 14th fastest despite partially paralysed face

25 February 2002

The effects of Bell’s Palsy have left Chris Walker with blurred vision and unable to complete more than a handful of laps at a time. Yet he toughed it out to rack up 72 laps and end up 14th fastest...

Walker will test despite paralysis

18 February 2002

Chris Walker will test his Kawasaki WSB bike this weekend despite continued problems with partial facial paralysis caused by Bell’s Palsy. Walker has been having treatment all week to try and...

Smart replaces injured McGuiness

18 February 2002

Injured John McGuinness will be replaced by Scott Smart for this weekend’s crucial final test at Valencia before the start of the World Supersport season. McGuinness injured himself while filming a...

Walker’s face paralysed by illness

18 February 2002

Chris Walker has partial paralysis of the face caused by a disease known as Bell’s Palsy. One of his eyes doesn’t blink, he can’t move his lips or swallow properly. He’s having to wear a patch over...

Chat live with Neil Hodgson

11 February 2002

WSB star Neil Hodgson will be in our VIP Lounge for a live web chat on Friday, February 22. The session will be held in the afternoon, as soon as he’s finished his first day of WSB testing at...

First Hodgson column of 2002

04 February 2002

MCN has again signed up top British rider Neil Hodgson to write a regular column for us throughout the new World Superbike season. In the first instalment of 2002, Neil gives you a behind the scenes...

Aprilia plays down reliability fears

04 February 2002

Noriyuki Haga’s Aprilia team has dismissed the mechanical disasters it suffered at the Phillip Island WSB tests as a normal part of pre-season shake-downs. Haga blew up three of the latest versions of...

Moodie back in the saddle

04 February 2002

It’s been more than a year, but Jim Moodie has finally returned to full-on riding action in preparation for the World Supersport season. He has been out of action recovering from a badly smashed...

Walker: I’m going slow what ever I try’

04 February 2002

Chris Walker is facing an uphill battle to restore his shattered confidence before for the next WSB test at Valencia, Spain. He came away from Australia’s first tests as the slowest of all the WSB...

Foggy WSB project up against it

04 February 2002

Foggy won’t know if his WSB project has any hope of getting off the ground this year until the end of April. By then the first three-cylinder engine must have completed extensive bench testing, or the...

Bostrom: In his own words

01 February 2002

Belfez: Ben, During last season you had a terrific run of form with back to back wins. But then at the next race you seemed to only do a little practice, (according to the commentators) and you were seen lounging around the pit lane as if you couldn’t be bothered trying, or perhaps you had proved a point and/or had orders from above. So do tell, why did things go pear-shaped? BenBostrom: After...

Bayliss fastest, Walker slowest in Oz

01 February 2002

Troy Bayliss made it clear to his rivals that he won’t be giving up his world title without a struggle, after posting the fastest time of the first official test of the WSB year. As everyone suspected...