World SuperBike
2001 - Round 9 - Laguna Seca - Race 1 report
By, Trevor Hedge
| Hodgson got the jump off
the line well and led the field around for the first time from Bayliss and
Corser with wildcard rider Eric Bostrom 4th. Bayliss ran a little wide on lap 3 which allowed Corser to shoot through for 2nd but Hodgson has made a small break in the lead. Yanagawa down and Chili could not avoid the bike and also hit the ground quite hard. As they started lap 5 Steve Martin was 15th, Parkes 16th and Goddard 17th. Troy Corser closing up on Neil Hodgson. Ben Bostrom took his brother for 4th. Corser now the fastest man on the circuit but the pace is still well of Anthony Gobert's lap record. Ben Bostrom through on Bayliss for 3rd, Eric Bostrom also put a move on Bayliss but the Australian took his position right back. Edwards closing right up on the back of Eric Bostrom and Troy Bayliss who have been left behind by Ben Bostrom as he is out to pursue 2nd placed Corser. Hodgson now has a 1.5 second lead with 20 laps to go. The top ten as they commenced lap 7 was - Hodgson, Corser, Ben Bostrom, Bayliss, Eric Bostrom, Edwards, Xaus, Chambon, Okada, Chandler. Hodgson's lead was 1.7 seconds but Corser started overhauling him over the next few laps and had whittled it down to just half a second a couple of laps later, Ben Bostrom also closing on the leading duo. Bayliss still in 4th but 8 seconds behind the leaders, Eric Bostrom still nipping at his heels also. Colin Edwards a few seconds further behind in 6th and having a little trouble staying on the pace. 10 laps to run and now Hodgson, Corser and Ben Bostrom running nose-to-tail. Corser had the speed on Hodgson but could not find a way through so Ben Bostrom took Corser's 2nd place and decided it was his go to try and get past Bostrom. The front 3 are all Dunlop runners and have well and truly broke away from 4th placed Bayliss who is now 13 seconds behind. Ben Bostrom hit the front with 6 and a half laps to run. Young Australian privateer Broc Parkes up to 13th with fellow Aussie Steve Martin, the only World SuperBike runner on Pirelli tyres, right behind him. Goddard 18th on the new Benelli. Ben Bostrom left Hodgson and Corser for dead to pull out over 1.5 seconds as soon as he had taken the lead from Hodgson. He then stretched it out to 2.6 seconds a couple of laps later. Troy Bayliss over 16 seconds behind in 4th. Ben Bostrom takes the clear win from Neil Hodgson, Troy Corser and Troy Bayliss in distant fourth.
|
MCNEWS.COM.AU