Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

According to official Friday-morning Superstock practice times released by AMA Timing & Scoring at BIR, James Kerker was 5th fastest on his Honda CBR600, at 1:41.129.

Kerker’s second-fastest time was shown as a 1:49.071.

Asked about the time, an AMA Pro Racing spokesperson checked with AMA Timing & Scoring and said that the time was official.

Kerker’s time had not shown up on the timing & scoring monitors during the session, but was inserted in printed results issued well after the session ended.

250cc GP practice times had not been issued by AMA Timing & Scoring about two hours after the session ended.

The problems may stem from uncharged transponders being issued to riders at tech. The dead transponders did not communicate with the timing and scoring system, and AMA Pro Officials said they reverted to an optical beam back-up system, with some obvious problems.

One of the riders affected by a dead transponder was Mike Ciccotto, who was finally declared 12th fastest in Superstock practice, at 1:42.584.

AMA Timing & Scoring blamed AMA Tech for issuing the dead transponders.

It is not clear to Roadracing World reporters exactly who is responsible for ensuring that AMA Timing & Scoring transponders are functioning when they are issued to riders at tech.


UPDATE: Friday afternoon, AMA Timing & Scoring issued a new, revised set of results from the morning Superstock session, with Kerker listed as 35th fastest, with a best time of 1:49.071.