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Qualifying
Report AMA Chevy Trucks Superbike Series
Round 1
Date Wednesday, 13 March 2002
Circuit Daytona International Speedway
HMC Ducati rider Pascal Picotte was running comfortably
in eighth position when his bike stuck in third gear,
forcing the Canadian to pit on the 21st lap of the gruelling
57 lap race. The team quickly discovered it was an internal
shift linkage problem - something not easily rectified
- and Picotte retired from the race.
No amount of preparation could have prepared the team
for such a minor technicality and, though spirits are
currently low, the team is already planning for the next
race in Fontana where they are confident of a good result
after a successful test in January.
"I was right there with the second group," said
Picotte. "The bike was fast on the banking and I
was saving the tire for the duration of the race. The
problem started just before the fuel stop, I was shifting
down ten times instead of five then I had to start pulling
the gear up twice to shift it up a gear. Daytona is always
a difficult race, we have to put this behind us and concentrate
on the rest of the season." |
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