Clipboard
Clipboard
RACE WATCH
Polen, Filice, DuHamel take roadrace openers
Two-time World Superbike Champion Doug Polen began his quest for the 1993 AMA Superbike title in high style by winning the season opener at Phoenix International Raceway. The Phoenix finish was extremely close, with Polen, who qualified fastest aboard the Fast-by-Ferracci Ducati, finishing .01-second ahead of teammate Pascal Picotte and ’92 Superbike Champion Scott Russell aboard the Team Muzzy Kawasaki ZX-7R. Vance & Hines Yamaha’s Superbike rookie Colin Edwards ended up fourth after leading part of the race, with Team Muzzy Kawasaki’s Miguel DuHamel, who campaigned 500cc GP bikes in 1992, rounding out the top five.
Riding a Muzzy-built version of Kawasaki’s all-new ZX-6, DuHamel won the 600cc supersport event, a controversial race that saw the disqualifications of Yoshimura Suzuki’s Britt Turkington, and Commonwealth Honda’s Randy Renfrow and Mike Smith, who had finished second, third and fourth, respectively. The AMA said illegal fuel was to blame for the disqualifications, which are under appeal. Jason Pridmore, also aboard a ZX-6, inherited second, with GSXR600-mounted Gerald Rothman third.
Jimmy Filice, aboard a Wayne Rainey-backed TZ250 Yamaha this year rather than the Camel-backed RS250 Honda he rode in ’92, ran away with the 250 GP event at Phoenix, winning by more than 20 seconds. Yamaha riders Danny Walker and Chris D’Aluisio finished second and third, respectively.
With round one behind him, Polen now looks to Daytona, where he’ll try to avenge his heartbreaking loss to Scott Russell in ’92. But he will have more than Russell to deal with, as four-time 500cc world champion Eddie Lawson has agreed to come out of retirement to ride a Vance «fe Hines Yamaha Superbike in this year’s spring classic. It should be an interesting show.
Peterhansel Wins Paris-Dakar
In the world of motorcycling, the Paris-Dakar Rally is arguably the most punishing event in existence. Taking the better part of two weeks and covering 5600 miles, the rally runs from Paris, France, to the sands of Dakar, Africa, located on the continent’s westernmost point. The route is so difficult to follow that riders must often use satellite navigation to find their way.
This year’s victor was 1991 ParisDakar winner Stephane Peterhansel, who brought the factory Yamaha YZE850T home well ahead of fellow countryman Thierry Charbonnier and Spaniard Jordi Arcarons, who finished second and third, respectively. Both were aboard similar Yamaha machinery.
“I would like to do the event again next year,” said 27-year-old Peterhansel, “especially if the other factories entered teams and made it really competitive. It is a superb rally and I am very proud to have won it again.”
