Copyright 2001, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Despite what he told Roadracingworld.com in a phone interview November 8, Corona Extra Suzuki’s Landers Sevier V now says that he hasn’t signed Pascal Picotte and Steve Rapp to ride for his team in 2002.

Landers sent an e-mail to Roadracing World on Monday, November 12 with copies going to Tim Saunders (another principal in the Corona Extra Suzuki team), Steve Rapp, Alan Labrosse (Picotte’s manager), Carry Andrew (Corona Extra Suzuki Crew Chief), American Suzuki’s Jeff Wilson, American Suzuki’s Pat Alexander and 1991 AMA Superbike Champion Thomas Stevens (Rapp’s manager).

The e-mail read:

“I want to clarify the statements made in our phone conversation last week regarding the status of Corona Extra Suzuki riders for our AMA/Solar Winds Tour 2002.

“Rapp and Picotte, as I stated, have both expressed interest and intent to ride our FX and 600s–provided their requests for compensation are met. They by no means are ‘done deals’. Both riders know our position and it is up to them to make their decisions. We do have several qualified guys (capable of producing AMA Championships) available to us (from overseas as well as here in the States) with whom we are keeping an open pipeline of communication should either Rapp or Picotte decide Corona Extra Suzuki is not the route they want to go for 2002. I think a decision will be made in the upcoming week.

“Jimmy Moore will, as we discussed, defend his 750SS Championship on Corona Suzukis as well as compete in 600SS and select rounds of Formula Extreme.

“Please make an effort to ‘correct’ the ‘Rapp and Picotte to Corona’ entry on the roadracingworld.com website. All other aspects of the conversation were published accurately. If you have any questions, please give me call.

“Landers Sevier, V”