From a press release issued by USGPRU:

USGPRU announces AMA Charter

Mountain View, CA – December 19, 2002 – Today The United States Grand Prix Riders’ Union (USGPRU) became an AMA Chartered Member Organization and has filed for both AMA and FIM sanction for all its US-based events on the 2003 schedule. The USGPRU’s AMA Charter Number is 8553.

AMA Charter as well as the forthcoming AMA and FIM sanction will provide both national and international recognition for the Championship and further recognize the efforts of the small but dedicated staff who manage and operate the Championship which is conducted in four regions of the United States and Canada.

The FIM and AMA Sanction will make the USGPRU Series the premiere development series in the United States for riders looking to a future in World GP. Riders like Valentino Rossi, Nicky Hayden and others currently racing at the pinnacle of the sport all cut their teeth racing 125cc GP machines – this class is critical to the proper development of young talent in road racing.

Last year, in its inaugural season the USGPRU licensed nearly 140 riders in the 125cc GP class. The level of competition has been truly superb and the introduction of a rule set based entirely on the FIM model has been a huge success.

Dedicated practice, qualifying and proper GP length races in excess of 60km have combined to provide some of the fiercest and most competitive racing in the US.

“With 21 races across the US and Canada this season we hope to further grow the ranks in 125cc GP and hope that other organizations will continue to work together with the USGPRU to insure sustained growth and development of 125cc GP/GP3 class,” notes National Series Director Jonathan Flack.

Complete details are available on the official USGPRU web site at www.usgpru.org.


From another press release issued by USGPRU:

USGPRU Releases 2003 Championship Schedule

Mountain View, CA – December 19, 2002 – The United States Grand Prix Riders’ Union (USGPRU) has released the schedule for the 2003 US National Championship for the 125cc GP Class.

We continue to work closely with Clear Channel Entertainment’s Championship Cup Series and Formula USA in 2003. After a tremendously successful inaugural season we are happy to announce our continued affiliation with Clear Channel’s CCS & F-USA. “They have been our greatest proponent and the staff at Clear Channel has been 100% professional in every way and we anticipate another great season with them,” said Series Director Jonathan Flack.

F-USA and CCS will provide no less than 16 of the 21 National Championship rounds for 2003 including the National Championship Final, currently scheduled for Thunderhill Park Raceway October 3-5.

Under the USGPRU’s new Charter with the AMA, paperwork has been submitted for both AMA and FIM sanction for all indicated events in the United States (See schedule below).

In addition to the races scheduled with CCS and F-USA the USGPRU has scheduled 5 combined events with the Can-Am Challenge which will run concurrent with the Canadian Superbike Rounds at Mosport, Shannonville and Le Circuit Mont Tremblant. These events are all scheduled in the North Central region.

“John Bickle and the staff at the Can-Am Challenge have done an amazing job of building a truly fantastic series in Canada and the Northern US. When the opportunity to work together presented itself we were happy to combine our North Central region with the Can-Am Challenge for 2003,” noted Chief Steward and Western Region Representative Stewart Aitken-Cade.

Dates for the 2003 National Championship are as follows:

Eastern Region:
Daytona International Raceway, F-USA, Feb. 27-March 2 **
Virginia International Raceway, CCS, April **
New Hampshire International Raceway, F-USA, June 13-15 **
Virginia International Raceway, CCS, June 29-29 **
Summit Point, F-USA, August 5-7 **

North Central Region:
Shannonville, Canadian Superbike/Can-AM, May 16-18
Mid America Motorplex, F-USA, May 22-25 **
Mosport, Canadian Superbike/Can-Am, July 18-20
Road America, F-USA, August 7-10 **
Le Circuit Mont Tremblant, Canadian Superbike/Can-Am, August 21-24

South Central Region:
TBA
TBA
TBA
TBA
Barber Motorsports Park, CCS, August 15-17 **

Western Region:
Streets of Willow, WSIR, CCS, Feb 1-2 **
Las Vegas, CCS, Date TBA **
TBA
Buttonwillow, CCS, July 5-6 **
Portland International Raceway, September 4-7 **

US National Championship Final:
Thunderhill Park Raceway, Willows, CA, October 3-5, 2003 **

** AMA and FIM Sanction under application

Complete details on the USGPRU 125cc Road Racing Grand Prix National Championship, the 2003 schedule, track information, rules and regulations, membership and more can be found at the USGPRU website at:

http://www.usgpru.org