Exclusive! Doohan to Race Superbikes Again?
Not on your life, pal

by Tracy Hagen
Copyright 1998, All Rights Reserved

Five-time world 500cc champion Mick Doohan is openly displeased at being forced to race the Sugo International Superbike race. He has not held back on his interviews with Japanese television, or with amasuperbike.com. Tracy Hagen interviewed Doohan yesterday at Sugo.

Hagen: When did you learn that you were racing a Superbike at Sugo?
Doohan: About six weeks ago. It is not something that I wanted to do. Originally, it was meant to be a 500 race, but Honda could not get the bikes here in time (from Argentina the week before-Hagen). So the 500 race was canceled. Then Honda said, 'Would you like to come along and do some promotional work?' And I said, yeah, no problem.
Then Honda asked if I would do a Superbike race and I said NO!
At this point in time--and it won't be next year--it is in my contract to do one or two other races, at Honda's discretion. They asked me to do this race. For me it's quite disappointing, really.

Hagen: Why is it disappointing?
Doohan: I wouldn't mind--if it was a competitive, professional race, I wouldn't mind. But this is not very much of a professional race.

Hagen: But we do have a lot of good riders here, though.
Doohan: Who?

Hagen: Slight and Edwards.
Doohan: Yeah, and who else?

Hagen: And Noriyuki Haga, and... (Doohan cuts Hagen off)
Doohan: Yeah, and who else? How many? We've got sixty odd bikes out there, huh? Tell me who are the other guys? Okay?
I've never raced one of these bikes--I've never ridden one, and yet, with getting held up in traffic, I'm only a half a second behind. So what do I need to prove?
For me, this isn't a high priority race. It's almost disappointing. I've got sponsors out there that aren't so happy that I'm actually doing this race because I've got a deal next year to race Grand Prixs. Here we are at a National series where the level of these guys is WELL underneath from what we're used to racing. And we have no press here, we have no people here. What's the point of me being here?
I've got a big target on my back, which, hey, you know, if you want to race me, then let's have a fair and square race. At the moment I've had two 20 minute sessions on the bike. I haven't had time to get familiarized with the bike. Before that I've been out there with fifty other motorcycles.
I just can't understand what the rational thinking is behind this race.

(And with that Doohan turned around from Hagen and quickly walked away)

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