Copyright 2001, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Team owner Landers Sevier V says that Corona Extra Suzuki (EBSCO will be dropped from the team’s competition name) will field a three-rider team in 2002 AMA 600cc Supersport, 750cc Supersport and Formula Xtreme races on Dunlop-shod Suzukis. Sevier said that 2001 AMA 750cc Supersport Champion Jimmy Moore will return to defend his Number One plate as well as race the full 600cc Supersport season and make select appearances in the Formula Xtreme class. The biggest news, however, is that the second and third riders on the team will be former Harley-Davidson factory Superbike rider Pascal Picotte and former HMC Ducati Superbike pilot Steve Rapp. Both Rapp and Picotte will ride in 600cc Supersport and Formula Xtreme competition.

Carry Andrew will return as Crew Chief with Grant Matsushima joining the team full-time. Matsushima, who is currently commuting 140 miles each day to work in Andrew’s Hyper Cycle shop in Van Nuys, California, worked with Andrew in 1998 when Nicky Hayden raced Hyper Cycle Suzukis in 600cc and 750cc Supersport. Matsushima then did a two-year stint with Jason Pridmore at Yoshimura Suzuki before spending 2001 with Roger Lee Hayden at Bruce Transportation Group.

“The only thing we are waiting on is for one final meeting between us, Suzuki and Corona to decide how the advertising is going to be handled,” said Sevier in a November 8 telephone call to Roadracing World. “I’m really excited about Corona’s involvement in the program. Not only have they stepped up financially for us to grow, they are setting an example for other outside-the-industry sponsors to follow. I mean, Corona is planning on putting life-size, cardboard cutouts of the bikes and riders in convenience stores all across the country.”

Sevier said that he has already put a deposit on a brand-new, custom-built semi-truck. In a separate phone call to Roadracing World, Carry Andrew said that he was very excited about the 2002 season and looking at locations in Southern California to house the newly-enlarged team’s race shop.