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RACE WATCH

Schwantz wins, Doohan crashes, Rainey takes over 500cc points lead

Michael Doohan’s hopes of winning his first 500cc world roadracing championship seemingly suffered a setback when the Australian crashed in round nine of the 15-race series at Assen in the Netherlands. Doohan’s crash, coupled with Wayne Rainey’s win at the previous race in Spain and second-place finish at Assen, allowed the defending champion to move into the 500cc points lead for the first time since round three at Laguna Seca. But, considering the FIM’s new rule that allows riders to drop their two worst scores, Doohan effectively still leads, with Rainey second and Kevin Schwantz third.

Following his loss at the hands of Schwantz in Germany, Rainey got back in the groove at Jarama in Spain, the site chosen to replace the Yugoslavian GP, which was canceled due to political unrest in that country. There, despite having to race with a backup motor in his Team Marlboro Roberts Yamaha, Rainey passed Doohan on lap two when the Australian got out of shape, and then galloped away to win by over seven seconds.

Following Doohan across the stripe was fellow Australian and Rothmans Honda teammate Wayne Gardner, claiming his best result of the season. Gardner was racing with a cast on his right foot, having broken his ankle during practice in Italy, but was reaping the benefits of a new frame that better suited his riding style. Gardner got the best of Schwantz, who finished fourth, excessive wheelspin hampering his efforts as smoke poured off his rear tire at the corner exits.

John Kocinski was fifth, while Doug Chandler recovered from an off-track excursion to finish ninth. Eddie Lawson retired the works Cagiva with ignition problems.

Rain halted the first attempt at a race at Assen two weeks later. Schwantz was ready to settle for second behind Rainey in the restarted race, but the Yamaha rider faltered in the final chicane and Schwantz slipped past to win.

Doohan crashed late in the race, allowing Gardner to claim third. Lawson was fourth, with Schwantz's teammate. Belgian Didier de Radigues, fifth, his best finish since signing with the Lucky Strike Suzuki squad. Kocinski finished sixth, Chandler 11th.

Following two consecutive 250cc losses to German Helmut Bradl in Germany and Austria, Italian Luca Cadalora returned to top form with a win over Bradl and Spaniard Carlos Cardus in Spain. Then, at Assen, Italian Pier-Francesco Chili took his first win of the season on the factory Aprilia, with Cadalora second, Dutchman Wilco Zeelenberg third and Bradl fourth, all on Hondas. Cadalora continues to lead Bradl in the 250 GP point standings.

Russell eyes US. Superbike title

IVith the Road Atlanta round of the AMA Superbike Series canceled, it was three months after the opening race at Daytona International Speedway that the series resumed. And it did so in a big way, with three events in four weeks, at New Hampshire International Speedway, Road America and a new venue, Charlotte Motor Speedway.

And. with wins at New Hampshire and Charlotte, it was Muzzy Kawasaki’s Scott Russell who moved to the forefront—although the point standings don't yet show it.

Much as former Muzzy Kawasaki rider and 1990 U.S. Superbike champ Doug Chandler did last year. Russell ran away with the win in New Hampshire, the race held in dismal conditions under cloudy skies. Russell looked to be on his way to a repeat performance at Road America, too, until a fiat front tire forced a pit stop, and mechanical problems forced his retirement a lap from the end. Commonwealth Honda's Miguel DuHamel ran second to Russell, but his RC30’s motor blew, handing the win to Vance & Hines Yamaha's Jamie James.

At Charlotte, Russell emerged victorious from a three-way battle with DuHamel and Fast By Ferracci Ducati's Doug Polen—the trio finishing in that order. Polen looked > to be a favorite coming into the 1991 series, but retirements at Daytona (mechanical) and New Hampshire (fogged faceshield), and skipping Road America in order to contest a World Superbike event, have held him back in the point standings.

Currently, Vance & Hines’

Thomas Stevens leads the title chase, thanks to consistent second-, thirdand fourth-place finishes. DuHamel lies second, with Russell third, the three separated by less than 10 points.

Davllar Racing's Chris D'Aluisio eclipsed Del Amo Yamaha's Nick Ienatsch to move into the 250cc points lead, thanks to his pair of wins at Road America and Charlotte, and a fourth in New Hampshire.

Jimmy Filice has been impressive in his return to U.S. roadracing, after a long layoff caused by injuries suffered in an automobile accident. Filice rode his L.A. Motor Works Yamaha to a pair of second-place finishes at Road America and Charlotte. although a poor tire choice in New Hampshire resulted in an 1 1th.

Both DuHamel and Russell lead the series point standings after having gone undefeated in the 600 and 750cc supersport ranks, respectively, even though DuHamel was disqualified at Brainerd, Minnesota, due to a non-homologated exhaust system. 0