Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

In response to the Barber crash:

I will not take any of the blame for the mishap at Barber. It is obvious on the replays that I didn’t intend to turn in on Ben (Bostrom) nor did I know he was there.

My race is just as important to my team and me as to the factories and their riders. I have all the respect in the world for their riding abilities, but I should not be made out to look like the slow, incompetent rider. I have raced in enough World and National Endurances races to know all about lapped riders and yes, blue flags are part of the solution.

The AMA sets the criteria to be able to compete in Superbike races. Kurtis lapped up to 12th place and every rider from 12th back meets those criteria.

In racing, split-second decisions are made and mistakes do happen. Racing also requires taking responsibility for your actions when you make a mistake.

John Jacobi
AMA Pro #49
Team Vesrah Suzuki
Carmel, Indiana