2002 FIM SUPERSIDE Sidecar World Championship
Round 3 Monza, Italy, 12th May

If you are ever presented with the opportunity to race at an historic circuit, such as the Autodromo Natzionale de Monza, then do not hesitate, as the experience is fantastic. For Monza, the race format was to change, with the Sidecar race now being held on the Saturday evening rather than on the Sunday afternoon after the World Superbikes.

After missing Round 2, at Kyalami, South Africa due to lack of funds, the Team had to aim for a good finish in Monza, to move up the Championship standings. Having never been to Monza before, the Team spent some time walking and cycling around the track, when they arrived, before practising began. Monza is renowned as being a very fast circuit, with the Superbikes reaching speeds in excess of 200mph and 170mph for the Sidecars; so it was important to know where you where going !

The first practice session was Friday lunchtime, on a damp track. The rain had not stopped since arriving at the tree-lined circuit just outside Milan, on the Tuesday, and the prospect of learning a new track in these conditions, did not appeal to the Team. However the Italian sun started to break through and a dry line appeared around the course. This first free practice session was un-timed and saw the Team up into 11th place, as the track continued to dry out. The Team were also the 7th fastest through the speed trap, at nearly 252 kph, which was a big achievement with the smaller capacity 1000cc R1 Yamaha engine.

The first timed qualifying session later on the Friday afternoon, was held in glorious sunny conditions and would be ideal for setting good lap times. The Team made some minor adjustments and looked forward to improving on the times posted in the first free session, with growing confidence and track knowledge. The session started, but the Team unfortunately only completed 1 lap, when the throttle linkage bracket snapped and they ended up stuck out on the other side of the track, with no way of quickly repairing it. After sitting out the remainder of the session, the boys were disappointed to miss out on ideal conditions, and would end up, outside the critical 110% qualifying time.

With the Team still to qualify, the Saturday and final session would be crucial. However, the weather dealt a cruel blow, with torrential rain before the session started. This meant the team would have to qualify below the 110% time from the previous practice session, but in wet conditions ! The track was extremely damp and Chris and Pete approached the session with caution, but knowing that they had to push really hard if they where to stand any chance of qualifying. Continually, lap after lap, they got close to the 110% time, at 2.08.5 mins, but could not get under the time. Finally with only 5 mins of the 30 min session remaining, the boys put in two blistering laps, slipping and sliding around, to qualify in 19th position.

After the drama of qualifying, the Team quickly turned their attentions to the race, with a difficult prospect to move through the field from the 8th row. The lights changed and the 14 lap race started. The boys got a bad start and where out-dragged by some of the larger engined machines, along the start / finish straight upto the first corner. Slowly but surely, they started to pick off some of the tail end runners and slowly moved up through the field. Their lap times where becoming faster and faster and eventually moved them up into 11th position.

Chris explained, " It was a lonely race and I just had to keep pushing hard at every corner, to make up positions." " After all the problems in practice, we are made up to finish in the top 12," reflected passenger Pete Founds.

The result nets the Team 5 points and moves them up to 14th in the Championship, with the British round at Silverstone coming up in two weeks time.

See you there…….

Results :

Chris Founds
Team Principal, Team Founds Racing
http://www.teamfoundsracing.com