World Superbike Results
Coca Cola Exciting Cup, Sugo - Japan
Sunday 10th October 1999

First race result:

1 Akira Ryo, Japan (Suzuki) 37:59.744
2 Carl Fogarty, GB (Ducati) 38:02.572
3 Akira Yanagawa, Japan (Kawasaki) 38:02.676
4 Keiichi Kitigawa, Japan (Suzuki) 38:07.432
5 Wataru Yoshikawa, Japan (Yamaha) 38:08.426
6 Tamaki Serizawa, Japan (Kawasaki) 38:11.281
7 Pier-Francesco Chili, Italy (Suzuki) 38:12.781
8 Troy Corser, Australia (Ducati) 38:13.051
9 Colin Edwards, USA (Castrol Honda) 38:14.927
10 Makoto Tamada, Japan (Honda) 38:14.967

Second race result:

1 Akira Yanagawa, Japan (Kawasaki) 38:03.761
2 Akira Ryo, Japan (Suzuki) 38:03.900
3 Keiichi Kitigawa, Japan (Suzuki) 38:04.335
4 Noriyuki Haga, Japan (Yamaha) 38:08.848
5 Carl Fogarty, GB (Ducati) 38:09.402
6 Wataru Yoshikawa, Japan (Yamaha) 38:10.844
7 Pier-Francesco Chili, Italy (Suzuki) 38:13.019
8 Tamaki Serizawa, Japan (Kawasaki) 38:15.653
9 Colin Edwards, USA (Castrol Honda) 38:16.172
10 Makoto Tamada, Japan (Honda) 38:16.202

Final championship points:
1 Fogarty 489,
2 Edwards 361 (five wins),
3 Corser 361 (three wins),
4 Slight 323,
5 Yanagawa 308,
6 Chili 251,
7 Haga 196,
8 Lavilla 156,
9 Fujiwara 119,
10 Guareschi 99.

Manufacturer Points:
1 Ducati 569,
2 Honda 452,
3 Kawasaki 345,
4 Suzuki 319,
5 Yamaha 261,
6 Aprilia 84.

Quotes:
Colin Edwards, Castrol Honda RC45, post race one:
"It was impossible for me to make ground on the bunch in front. I was trying my hardest but lacking traction in key places, especially through the first half of the track, to the back straight." He added: "The front tire was okay after the fifth lap. We went for a hard compound front and once it kicked in it was fine. We'll consider one or two changes for the second race and I'm still hopeful I can make up the five-point deficit to Troy and take second place in the championship."

Aaron Slight, Castrol Honda RC45, post race one:
"That was very bad. I wasn't too bad off the start but there were wild card riders all over me through the first couple of corners. I also chose the wrong front tire, it was fine for the first five or six laps but after that I was losing the front everywhere."

Colin Edwards, post race two:
"That was a tough race. Once I'd passed Troy (Corser) I knew there was a chance of me getting a couple more places and possible other riders passing Troy," Edwards explained.
"I'm pleased to get second place in the championship, it's been a long, hard season and the Castrol Honda team deserves this. Ultimately - with Troy and me tied on points - that extra team effort for those five race wins has paid off."

Aaron Slight, post race two:
"I couldn't quite get onto the back of the bunch of riders in front - I was still worried about the front wheel tucking under after a scare or two in the first race. Once I built up confidence I could then get alongside the others but not make a move stick.
"Overall, it was a much better race for me than the first. Towards the end I was confident enough to pass and managed to get 13th, which, in the circumstances, is not a disaster."
 

Carl Fogarty, Ducati Corse
"In race one I had good grip for the first 10 laps, then I had to slow down" commented Carl Fogarty. "I was also feeling a little pain in my right knee, because of previous operations. Some of the tight curves made things worse. I opted for the hardest tires available and in race two I confirmed my choice. The problems of grip remained, I also think because the temperature was higher. In the second half of race two, I could push harder as soon as had a bit of room in the group, but it was too late to try and get to the front of the race".

Troy Corser, Ducati Corse
"In race one I opted for a different rear tire to Carl" commented Troy Corser "but I couldn't get the power down on the track. For this reason we chose a different solution in race two, fitting a 17" rear tire and also slightly modifying the suspension. Unfortunately this choice was not the best one and the situation got worse. It's a pity about losing second place in the championship".

Noriyuki Haga, Yamaha
"In heat one I had a good start but after five laps my rear tire went off and I was struggling for grip. With the back end slipping I was also getting front end chatter and I couldn't control my braking. Despite this the bike was working pretty well and I managed to keep fairly consistent lap times. "We made some setting changes before race two and also changed to a 17 inch rim with different rubber, and everything went better than race one. The grip lasted longer, until after lap 10, but then I was sliding on the back again and I lost the lead because I couldn't use all the throttle safely - Sugo is definitely not suited to my tires." Reflecting on the year as a whole, he said: "It's been a challenging season and I've decided I'm now going to sleep the whole winter!"

Davide Brivio, Team Yamaha team manager
"It has been a positive season for us. We started a completely new project with the R7 and we knew we would spend a whole year collecting information and experience. We know now that the bike has great potential, which we will put to good effect next year after a winter of development. "Haga has affirmed his enormous talent and has spent a year giving a great contribution to the development of the new bike. We had a fantastic victory in Spain, and it proved that Noriyuki and the R7 make a winning combination. Vitto was a true rookie to the bike and the championship, but he matured well during the season, giving us good feedback. (Superbike and Supersport World Absentee Yamaha World Superbike Team rider, Vitto Guareschi, is recovering well from surgery to pin a fractured scaphoid bone that he sustained in a recent crash while motocrossing.) We wish him a speedy recovery from his injuries. I'd like to thank Yamaha and the team for all their hard work this year."

thanks, castrol honda, yamaha and ducati corse