From a press release issued by Rich Oliver’s Mystery School:

After a long series of races around the country, Team Oliver Yamaha returns home to the Monterey Peninsula for round 8 in the AMA 250 GP
Championship.

Rich Oliver’s Mystery School sponsored Oliver has managed to lead every lap of the previous 7 rounds!

Last weekend in Brainerd, Minnesota he did it again, as series defending Champion, Chuck Sorensen had an engine let go on lap 5 while drafting Rich closely in second place. This left Rich with a big gap over Simon Turner on his Priority Racing Honda, who finished a strong second and fellow Mystery School, two-time graduate, Colin Jensen gaining a great third place.

After the race in Minnesota, Rich was asked if he was looking forward to going on to Monterey, CA. and about his great history at the Laguna Seca venue.

Rich said, “Laguna Seca is my favorite track, because of my time growing up in the Monterey area, and the fact that my parents and brother still live there. It’s a really cool homecoming for me to ride there, especially when some of the best riders in the world are racing that weekend as well. Plus it’s a real world class track, and the food and surroundings are awesome. I really enjoy going over to Carmel to window shop the art galleries and furniture stores, and eating at all my favorite hole-in-the-wall restaurants!

“Also, every year I try to entertain the fans in the corkscrew with my weird antics, like when I stopped and threw my gloves, boots, and helmet to the crowd, but that got me probation from the AMA and a new rule in the rule book that says you can’t take off your helmet.

“So the next year I kept my helmet on, but I stopped again and took my fender, fairing and seat off and threw that over the fence to the crowd, which was great and I rode down to the winners’ circle with only my tank left on the bike. Then the AMA passed another rule stating that you can’t stop on the track for any reason. So last year I couldn’t figure out what to do because of all the new rules, so I just waved to the fans which kind of sucked compared to the other years.

“But now I have a new idea for this year if I win, a way to give some excitement to the fans who stick around for the 250 race, and it’s going to be great. I’ve thought of a loophole the AMA has missed, but I’m not telling so I can get away with it for my last year ever on a 250 at Laguna. If I don’t win I think I’ll do it anyway if the bike still runs and I’m on course!

“Also I’m going to bring a bunch of new paintings that I’ve done since last year, and lot’s of new Mystery School information along with ‘sign-up at the track’ discount for the Laguna fans.

“So good luck to everyone, have a great ride to the track, and I’ll see you there soon!”

Next race, Laguna! July 10th-13th, 2003

Point Standings for the top 10:

263 Oliver, (Mystery School)
181 Melneciuc,(Mystery School Grad.)
177 Turner
174 Pyles, (Mystery School Grad.)
163 Marchini
161 Sorensen
142 Jensen, Mystery School Grad.)
136 Noce
133 Sorbo, (Mystery School Grad.)
133 Esser