From a press release issued by Roger Lyle:

The last Motorcycle Tune and Test Day at Summit Point Raceway, WV, is coming up on Friday, September 24 before WERA. If you or any friends are planning to ride that day, please respond to [email protected] or call 301-933-2599 and we can send out the info and form you will need to get registered with us. This is a lot of fun. Tell your friends (and the boss) and make your plans now. “Airborne” Al Wilcox will be flagging this event. Cornerworkers and a staffed ambulance will be on site. Hope to see you there. Race safe.

From a press release issued by Proforma:

BLAKE YOUNG BATTLES AT BLACKHAWK FARMS

With the final AMA Superbike Series event at Virginia International Raceway re-scheduled for October 9-10, Madison, Wisconsin’s Blake Young made good use of the September 18-19 weekend by racing in a CCS event at Blackhawk Farms in nearby South Beloit, Illinois, earning Suzuki Cup contingency and beating top riders along the way. Blake, 16, rode his Young America-sponsored Suzuki GSX-R600 and GSX-R750 against riders on larger displacement bikes in several events.

The weekend started with the 30-minute GTO race on Saturday. Blake ran second to Kawasaki ZX-10R-mounted Shawn Conrad for the majority of the 19-lap race. With three laps to go, Blake’s bike suffered a mechanical problem with the engine that caused him to slow, but he was able to hold onto second place to the finish. In the 30-minute GTU event later that day, Blake had an early battle with Shawn Conrad and Joe Gill before pulling away for the win. Hearing that Blake’s GSX-R750 could not be fixed in time for Sunday, Vesrah Suzuki team owner and racer Mark Junge drove back to his shop and picked up a GSX-R750 that he loaned to the Young America team for Sunday’s sprints. Mark Junge’s mechanic Mark Oatly even helped the Young America team swap the suspension components from Blake’s bike to the loaner bike.

Junge may have regretted his act of kindness the following day. Blake used the borrowed GSX-R750 to battle first Shawn Conrad, then Mark Junge himself in the eight-lap Heavyweight Supersport race. Starting the last lap, Mark passed Blake into turn one, but Blake countered right back and held him off to win by two bikelengths. In the Unlimited Supersport race, Mark Junge used his GSX-R1000 to power past Blake on the 750 and win the event. In the Middleweight Supersport event, Blake used his GSX-R600 to again battle with Shawn Conrad and Joe Gill, with Mark Junge coming through the large pack from a poor grid position to threaten Blake’s lead. Blake held on to win by four bikelengths.

Young America crew chief Rick Bretl would like to send a special thanks to Mark Oatly, Mark Junge and Tom Bretl for all their hard work over the weekend.

From a press release:

EBoz at Warhorse!!!

Due to the VIR makeup date, North American Warhorse is delaying our Ducati customer appreciation day until Saturday, October 23rd. Date has changed, but fan-favorite Eric Bostrom will be back for the second time this year.

So, you have your old leathers for EBoz to sign, but what kind of Ducati Day would it be without door prizes, live entertainment, free food and drink? Well, we have that too. And if that’s not good enough to get you to come out, how about 20% off all Pirelli’s Diablos in stock, up to 50% off apparel and gear, as well 15% off everything else (except vehicles and VIN-numbered items)?

If you’re into motorcycles more than motorcycle personalities, we have plenty of them as well. We currently have in stock and available for immediate sale-’05 999R as well as ’05 Blue/White and Black S4R’s. We also have the ’04 998 FE and the ’04 998 Matrix, in addition to the 999S and standard models as well as a short supply of 749’s. So act fast. We also have several MV Agusta’s in stock including the SPR and Brutale Series Oro.

Come see us at:

North American Warhorse
119 Mulberry St.
Scranton, PA 18503
1-866-222-BIKE (2453)
www.nawarhorse.com

From a press release issued by the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.

Motorcyclists, undaunted by the weekend’s turbulent weather courtesy of Hurricane Ivan, came out in full-force, under picture-perfect blue skies, on Sunday, September 19th to celebrate the 13th Annual Columbia Ride for Kids(r). With a spectacular early fall day as a backdrop, 1000 motorcyclists, fundraisers, volunteers and patient families were thrilled to learn that they had raised $200,000 for childhood brain tumor research. Since 1984, the Ride for Kids(r) program has been raising funds for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF) to find the cause and cure of childhood brain tumors.

After enjoying a scenic police-escorted ride through Maryland’s rolling countryside, the motorcyclists gathered for the moving Celebration of Life program under the festive “big-top” tent. An amazing thirteen young brain tumor survivors, also known on this day as Ride for Kids(r) “stars”, gathered on-stage with National Ride for Kids(r) Director Allen Hughes. 14-year old Danielle, a Ride for Kids(r) “star” remarked, “I cried when I saw all the motorcycles and all the police that stopped the traffic so we did not have to stop.” Jeremy, a Ride for Kids(r) “star” and recent PBTF college scholarship recipient received cheers from the audience when he said he wanted to study law enforcement. He also told the motorcyclists, “The Ride for Kids and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation make a lot of things possible for all of us.” Dr. Jeremy Riggins, a brain tumor researcher, was on hand to talk about the importance of funding pediatric brain tumor research.

Bob Henig was named the Top Individual Fundraiser, with a total of $15,395. The Top Club was Team-Ethan whose members raised $13,307. Close behind the Top Club was the Manassas Honda Rider’s Club whose members raised $12,334. Bob’s BMW, whose customers raised $38,995, was the Top Dealer. Lou Mitchell of Dale City, Virginia was the winner of a brand new Honda motorcycle donated by the American Honda Motor Company.

Thanks to Columbia Ride for Kids(r) Task Force Leaders Jackie Cookie, Howard DePue, Bob Henig and their fantastic volunteer team for a great event.


On a perfect day just made for a motorcycle ride, the 4th Annual St. Louis Ride for Kids(r) was also held on Sunday, September 19th. With stunning sunny skies overhead, 650 motorcyclists, fundraisers, volunteers and patient families celebrated the fact that they had raised $87,702 for childhood brain tumor research.

Embarking on a police-escorted motorcycle ride, the riders enjoyed a route with scenic countryside, complete with flowing turns. After the ride, the participants gathered under the “big-top tent” for the always touching Celebration of Life program. With four young brain tumor survivors, also known as Ride for Kids(r) “stars”, on-stage, National Ride for Kids(r) Manager Richard Thompson enjoyed his job interviewing each of them. Brian, aged five, told the motorcyclists that he loved the St. Louis Cardinals and has even gotten an autographed baseball, glove and jersey from one of his favorite players. Ashley, who is 17, told the audience she liked driving her dad’s red car. Debbie, the mother of six-year old Zach, remarked to the motorcyclists, “Seeing all of you at the Ride for Kids is proof of your commitment to find the cause and cure of childhood brain tumors.” Carol MacPherson, a clinical researcher, talked to the participants about the importance of the funds they raised.

Guy and Margie Miller earned the Top Individual Fundraiser position by raising $5,365. The Top Club was Road Riders for Jesus whose members raised $16,338. The Top Dealer went to Niehaus Cycle Sales whose customers raised $30,478. Norm Riekena of St. Peters, MO was the winner of a brand new Honda motorcycle donated by the American Honda Motor Company.

Special thanks to St. Louis Ride for Kids(r) Task Force Leaders Guy and Margie Miller, Greg and Mary Hoette and their super volunteer force for a wonderful event.

The next Ride for Kids(r) event is on Sunday, September 26 in Birmingham, Alabama.


For more information about the Ride for Kids(r) and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, please visit www.rideforkids.org or www.pbtfus.org or by calling (800) 253-6530.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The Trackside Racer’s Supply Pirelli tire semi-truck kept flood waters associated with Hurricane Ivan from washing away the company’s building in Canton, North Carolina, near Asheville Thursday.

Trackside owner Moose Kuykendall was seen on local TV news reports, telling reporters that the truck acted as a dam as flood waters struck, collecting logs and brush and diverting water around his building.

Kuykendall told roadracingworld.com today that 17 inches of rain fell in the area Thursday, a week after another 8 inches of rain had fallen, and the sodden ground could not absorb the water.

Kuykendall said a flood rushed toward his building after a floating travel trailer became lodged underneath a bridge over an adjacent creek, blocking water that normally would continue to flow down down the creek.

Asked if he thought the AMA decision to postpone last weekend’s scheduled National at VIR was a good one, Kuykendall said, “I’d say so.”

From a press release issued by Harley-Davidson:

HARLEY-DAVIDSON CUMULATIVE MDA CONTRIBUTIONS TOP $50 MILLION

$4 Million in 2004 Fundraising Propels Efforts.

MILWAUKEE — (September 20, 2004) Harley-Davidson’s fundraising for the Muscular Dystrophy Association has topped the $50 million mark. During the Sept. 5-6 Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon, Harley-Davidson announced a 2004 fundraising total of $4 million, bringing cumulative fundraising in the 24 years of Company involvement with the MDA to $51 million.
Harley-Davidson Motor Company President and Chief Operating Officer Jim McCaslin presented the $4 million on behalf of the thousands who raised the funds. “Harley-Davidson’s family of dealers, suppliers, riders and employees were hard at work planning open houses, rides and other special events to raise money for MDA,” said McCaslin during the Telethon broadcast. “Their hard work helps make life brighter for people with neuromuscular disease and helps make headway in finding a cure.”
Joining McCaslin in the presentation were the top fundraising Harley-Davidson dealers in the United States: Brian Bentley, Brian’s Harley-Davidson, Langhorne, Pa.; Robert and Dev Johnson, Cycle Connection, Joplin, Mo.; Billy Laws, Mitchell’s Modesto (Cal.) Harley-Davidson and Jamestown (Cal.) Harley-Davidson; Dennis and Carol Schaeffer, Schaeffer’s Harley-Davidson, Orwigsburg, Pa.; and Stretch and Karen Smaltz, Smaltz’s Harley-Davidson, Eagle, Pa

Harley-Davidson fundraising activities for the Muscular Dystrophy Association took place over the 12-month period leading up to the Telethon and included pledge rides, dealer fundraisers, motorcycle raffles and pin sales.
Harley-Davidson has been a national sponsor of the Muscular Dystrophy Association since 1980. The Funds raised support life-saving research, comprehensive medical care for children and adults with neuromuscular disease, and the MDA summer camps.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Marlboro Ducati’s Loris Capirossi collided with Suzuki’s John Hopkins in the first corner of the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi Twin-Ring September 19, causing both riders to crash and four other riders (Kenny Lee Roberts, Colin Edwards, Nicky Hayden and Max Biaggi) to fall in a chain reaction pile-up.

Capirossi, Hopkins and Roberts were all injured in the incident. Roberts suffered burns, dislocated his left elbow and has already been ruled out of the next Grand Prix in Qatar. Hopkins suffered two broken ribs and a deep laceration and is questionable to race at Qatar. Capirossi suffered a concussion, two broken bones in his right foot but there has been no word on his fitness status with regards to the Qatar race, scheduled for October 1-3.

Most MotoGP team press releases blamed Capirossi for starting the incident, including Dorna’s own press release, which read, in part, “John Hopkins, who followed Valentino Rossi into the first corner in second place, was wiped out by Loris Capirossi.”

“I don’t know what happened, I just found myself on the ground,” Capirossi was quoted as saying in a press release issued by his team. “It was a pity, but that’s racing and these things can happen.”

At post time, there had been no mention of any disciplinary action being taken against Capirossi.

However, in the MotoGP race at Motegi in 2003, a very similar incident occurred resulting in a one-race rider suspension.

In that incident, Hopkins rammed into Carlos Checa, causing both riders and Troy Bayliss to crash and Colin Edwards and Marco Melandri to run off the track. Although Hopkins accepted full blame for what he called a mistake and apologized – publicly and personally – to the riders he affected, he was immediately suspended for one race by FIM officials, who deemed he had “ridden in an irresponsible manner causing danger to other riders.” In fact, Hopkins’ team protested the suspension and the penalty was upheld in an appeals hearing before the race day was over.

In that same 2003 race, Makoto Tamada was disqualified for riding “in an irresponsible manner causing danger to Spanish rider Sete Gibernau” and was disqualified from third place in that race.

Tamada won the 2004 race at Motegi.

Observers are waiting to see if FIM officials dispense a different brand of justice for European Capirossi in 2004 as opposed to American Hopkins and Japanese Tamada in 2003.

From a press release issued by FG Sport Group:

SBK TITLE CHASE ENTERS PENULTIMATE PHASE AT IMOLA

FOUR AND SIX: As the 17th season of World Superbike approaches its penultimate round there has never been quite so much at stake, for quite so many riders. Any one of six top competitors have a mathematical chance of the title but, in more realistic terms, four riders will be contesting the final two rounds with full expectations of winning the title. New technical rules for 2004, making all engine configurations more competitive, plus the adoption of a single tyre supplier, have been the prime factors behind this most closely contested of seasons.

MOTORWAY CITY: The 4.933km Imola circuit hosts World Superbike for the fourth time this year and the city centre parkland circuit has been the scene of some breathless SBK action in each of those years. The fast and flowing nature of the venue, combined with the undulations laid out by Mother Nature mean that even the proliferation of speed calming chicanes do little to hamper the riders’ high overall pace around the lap. With lap times over 160kmph on average, Imola is one of the fastest on the calendar and rated as a true rider’s circuit – where the machine performance is important but always secondary to the input of the rider.

CLOSE TO HOME: Such has been the keen competition in SBK this season that the championship battle features four riders within a mere 14 points of each other. With a total of 100 points up for grabs for any who can win the final four legs of the championship, first of all at Imola and the final round at Magny Cours in France, there are no certainties at this point. Regis Laconi (Ducati Fila 999F04) lost his championship lead to his team-mate James Toseland (Ducati Fila 999F04) at the previous Assen round, but the French ace still sits in third place overall, only ten points from Englishman Toseland. Imola is almost a ‘home’ race for both factory Ducati riders, as Imola is a short Autostrada blast away from the Ducati Fila team’s headquarters in Borgo Panigale, Bologna. With the vociferous ‘Ducatisti’ in attendance Imola will be its usual cauldron of crimson banners on raceday. Each factory rider has an individual reason to feel confident for Imola, with Laconi the only current SBK rider to have won at the venue, while Toseland’s resurgence gave him a win at the most recent 2004 SBK event in Assen.

FOUR CYLINDER CHIEF: SBK rookie Chris Vermeulen (Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) has consistently belied his relative Superbike inexperience and trails Toseland by only three points, 255 to 252. With the reigning World Supersport Champion having an unquestioningly spectacular impact in the premier class, another new SBK star has been born. Vermeulen’s current championship position is also a remarkable achievement for both his Ten Kate Team, which also made the jump to Superbike this year, and the new-for-2004 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade, in its first season of international competition. Raising their game at every crossroad they have come to so far, the Ten Kate trinity of rider, team and four-cylinder machine have scored a quartet of impressive wins so far.

FOURTH HORSEMAN: Noriyuki Haga (Renegade Ducati Koji 999RS) currently lies fourth in the championship, 14 points from Toseland, but he is nonetheless holder of a 2004 winning record the envy of all except Laconi, with five full-pointers under his belt so far. Fully in the hunt, Haga is the most experienced of all the current championship contenders, but has yet to win a Superbike race at Imola.

THE DYNAMIC DUO: Pierfrancesco Chili (PSG-1 Ducati) has had a typically eventful season so far in SBK, with a single race win on his hybrid 998/999 machine, five DNFs in total and arguably more column inches in the media than any other single rider. The local hero, 40-years-old and in his 22nd year of senior racing competition, may be a remote 42 points from the lead at present, but at Imola, riding a wave of local emotion, he could perform in a fashion that sometimes only Chili can. A rider with an even more up-down season than Chili is the most experienced SBK rookie imaginable, Garry McCoy (Ducati Xerox SC 999RS). A single race winner at Phillip Island, McCoy has taken only two further podiums, despite his best efforts and a dramatic tail steering style. At a fast track like Imola, McCoy could find things going his way, despite being surrounded by Superbike’s best exponents.

THREE TIMES: Troy Corser and Chris Walker have posted some impressive results on the 900cc, three-cylinder Petronas FP-1, a unique machine in its own right. Corser has taken a second place and Walker a third, but each will be out to make their ultimate mark before the season reaches its denouement at Magny Cours on October 3.

PRIVATE PARTY: Among riders looking for their first ever SBK wins, at Imola or elsewhere, are Leon Haslam (Renegade Ducati Koji 999RS) and Steve Martin (DFX Ducati 999). Each has podium finishes, but that elusive win has yet to be attained. Other top Superbike privateers out on force at Imola will be the Bertocchi Kawasaki duo of Mauro Sanchini and Ivan Clementi, with Suzuki represented by the privately entered Zongshen team from China, running hired guns Warwick Nowland and Piergiorgio Bontempi. Martin’s DFX Ducati team-mate Marco Borciani is another in the frame for a good result.

PRIVATE PRANCERS: Ducati 999 and 998 series machines proliferate in the privateer ranks, and in addition to the usual slew of regular SBK combatants, there will be several local riders running locally sponsored machines. In addition to the usual suspects, such as Giovanni Bussei, Gianluca Nannelli, and Lucio Pedercini, there will be wildcards aplenty, plus the fascinating induction of an MV Agusta machine, in the hands of Andrea Mazzali.

SUPERSPORT: In the World Supersport Championship five time race winner in 2004 Karl Muggeridge could put his hands on the trophy with any result equal to, or better than 4th. The Ten Kate Honda rider is currently 38 points ahead of Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Yamaha Italia R6), with van den Goorbergh having only two races in which to make up that substantial gap. Third placed rider Broc Parkes (Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) is now coming under pressure from Sebastien Charpentier (Klaffi Honda CBR600RR) after an Assen DNF for Kevin Curtain (Yamaha Motor Deutschland R6) dropped him to overall fifth.

SUPERSTOCK: Team Italia Lorenzini by Leoni Yamaha riders Lorenzo Alfonsi and Gianluca Vizziello carry on their own in-house battle at their local circuit once more, each vying for the right to call himself champion in this hotly contested class. With two rounds remaining, Vizziello leads by 16 points, having taken four wins to Alfonsi’s three.

OPEN HOUSE: As well as a full race programme Imola will feature its traditional open paddock on Thursday, plus a fun minimoto race between riders and some of the World Superbike paddock regulars.

From a press release issued by Team Suzuki:

REYNOLDS WINS SUPERBIKE TITLE!
Team Suzuki Press Office – September 19, 2004.

Rizla Suzuki’s John Reynolds has won the 2004 Think! British Superbike Championship at today’s final round at Donington Park and team-mate Yukio Kagayama raced to third overall in a season that has seen the team take 25 rostrum finishes from 26 starts.

Just a week after the duo clinched the British Superbike Manufacturers title for Suzuki, Reynolds took third place in the first race to secure his third British Superbike Championship, while Kagayama scraped home in 14th after a dramatic off-track excursion at Craner Curves that left him with it all to do in the second race to keep a hold on his season rostrum position.

The Japanese ace was up to the task in the second race, finishing fourth and taking third overall. Reynolds finished fifth after riding defensively to help his team mate and take the title by 29 points from Michael Rutter.

John Reynolds – British Superbike Champion:

“What a fantastic day. Thank you to Rizla Suzuki for supplying the best bike and team this season and well done to Yukio for getting on the Championship podium in third.

“It’s hard to put my feelings into words right now. I think after I have a few beers it will be a lot easier – I plan to do a serious amount of celebrating this evening! The last word for the 2004 season goes to my fans – thank you, this number one plate is dedicated to you all for your support and belief in me and Rizla Suzuki.”

Yukio Kagayama – British Superbike Number 3:

“Congratulations to John-san for winning the Championship. This is a title he deserves and Rizla Suzuki deserves. I am happy to finish third overall. This is an almost unbelievable result when I remember my injuries at start of season.

“I am a Factory Suzuki rider and I honestly say Crescent Rizla Suzuki is a brilliant team to ride for. This is big honour for me to be rider for this team and a big honour to ride in front of British fans. Thank you!”

Paul Denning – Team Manager:

“The champagne has never tasted so good. This is the climax of a season of extremely hard work and determination and is no less than ‘JR’, ‘Yuki’, every single team member and every single fan of Rizla Suzuki deserves. Saying that, I need to single out the whole Rizla Suzuki technical crew – we have a team of skilled, dedicated people who deserve nothing less than to be champions.

“Thanks to all our sponsors and partners for their support through thick and thin; there is no doubt we couldn’t have achieved this success without you. It’s time to taste some more of that champagne this evening before getting back to work for next year. See you all again in 2005!”

Don’t miss the Rizla Suzuki team at the Castle Combe Grand National next weekend on September 25-26 when Superbike privateer and upcoming British talent, Jon Kirkham, along with Bike Magazine journalist Adam Hitchcock will be racing the awesome Championship-winning GSX-R1000. Reynolds and Kagayama will both be on-hand to lend their support at the race meeting.

Race One Result: 1: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) 32:05.596, 2: Michael Rutter (Honda) +10.981, 3: JOHN REYNOLDS (RIZLA SUZUKI) +12.559, 4: Scott Smart (Kawasaki) +15.169, 5: Sean Emmett (Ducati) +16.223, 6: Glen Richards (Kawasaki) +20.760, 7: Dean Thomas (Ducati) +27.223, 8: James Haydon (Yamaha) +33.589, 9: Gary Mason (Yamaha) +39.785, 10: Tommy Hill (Yamaha) +39.873.

Race Two Result: 1: Kiyonari 30:57.801, 2: Rutter +11.862, 3: Emmett +23.062, 4: Smart +24.194, 5: YUKIO KAGAYAMA (RIZLA SUZUKI) +24.521, 6: JOHN REYNOLDS (RIZLA SUZUKI) +26.271, 7: Thomas +27.184, 8: Haydon +33.864, 9: James Ellison (Yamaha) +34.186, 10: Steve Plater (Yamaha) +37.151.

Final Championship standings: 1: JOHN REY NOLDS (RIZLA SUZUKI) 446, 2: Rutter 417, 3: YUKIO KAGAYAMA (RIZLA SUZUKI) 335, 4: Smart 330, 5: Emmett 315, 6: Kiyonari 234, 7: Thomas 193, 8: Haydon 181, 9: Hill 137, 10: Richards 125.


More, from a press release issued by MonsterMob Ducati:

DOUBLE PODIUM FOR MONSTERMOB AT DONINGTON PARK FINALE

Out-going British Superbike Champions MonsterMob Ducati ended the 2004 season in style when both Sean Emmett and Michael Laverty finished on the rostrum at DoningtonParktoday.

Superbike rider Sean Emmett followed up his fifth place finish in race one with his ninth rostrum of the season in third in race two as he maintained his end of season form.

As a result the 34 year old Londoner clinched fifth position in the Think! British Superbike Championship for the Paul Bird Motorsport team.

“It’s a good end to the year. It’s been a difficult season but I think everyone has learned from it and we’ve all been very professional. It’s so nice and fitting after all the hard work and problems we have had to end the year on the rostrum” said Emmett.

Also making it a day for celebration was Supersport rider Michael Laverty who claimed a superb second place after a titanic battle around the Leicestershire circuit.

The young Ulsterman made a daring last lap pass on a number of rivals to clinch runner up spot and in doing so consolidated his third place in the Championship.

“My arm pumped up mid race and I had to ease the pace a bit to try to get some feeling back. I couldn’t ride 100% but I managed to put a bit of a spurt on at the end. I’m not too disappointed considering the problems I had in the middle of the race but a win would have been nicer” said Laverty.

Team owner Paul Bird was happy with both his riders’ performances at the final meeting of the year.

“Our Crew Chief Phil Borley has kept his 100% reliability record once again. It’s been a good day. We were hoping for two rostrums from the Superbike but we’ll settle for one each. Both riders rode well. It’s a good end to the season for the team and the sponsors and we vow to bounce back next year” said Bird.

Superbike Race One Result

1, Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) 32m05.596s, 2, Michael Rutter (Honda) +10.981s, 3, John Reynolds (Suzuki) +12.559s, 4, Scott Smart (Kawasaki) +15.169s, 5, Sean Emmett (MonsterMob Ducati) +16.223s, 6, Glen Richards (Kawasaki) +20.760s, 7, Dean Thomas (Ducati) +27.233s, 8, James Haydon (Yamaha) +33.589s, 9, Gary Mason (Yamaha) +39.785s, 10, Tommy Hill (Yamaha) +39.873s.


Superbike Race Two Result

1, Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) 30m57.801s, 2, Michael Rutter (Honda) +11.862s, 3, Sean Emmett (MonsterMob Ducati) +23.062s, 4, Scott Smart (Kawasaki) +24.194s, 5, Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki) +24.521s, 6, John Reynolds (Suzuki) +26.271s, 7,
Dean Thomas (Ducati) +27.184s, 8, James Haydon (Yamaha) +33.864s, 9, James Ellison (Yamaha) +34.186s, 10, Steve Plater (Yamaha) +37.151s.


Supersport Race Result

1, Craig Jones (Triumph) 29m00.659s, 2, Michael Laverty (MonsterMob Ducati) +0.417s, 3, Tom Sykes (Suzuki) +0.797s, 4, Jay Vincent (Honda) +0.880s, 5, Pere Riba (Kawasaki) +1.094s, 6, Karl Harris (Honda) +2.731s, 7, Cal Crutchlow
(Honda) +8.577s, 8, Paul Young (Honda) +11.489s, 9, Luke Quigley (Suzuki) +16.350s, 10, Simon Andrews (Yamaha) +18.433s.


THINK! British Superbike Championship Result

1, John Reynolds (Suzuki) 446 pts
2, Michael Rutter (Honda) 417 pts
3, Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki) 335 pts
4, Scott Smart (Kawasaki) 330 pts
5, Sean Emmett (MonsterMob Ducati) 315 pts
6, Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) 234 pts
7, Dean Thomas (Ducati) 193 pts
8, James Haydon (Yamaha) 181 pts
9, Tommy Hill (Yamaha) 137 pts
10, Glen Richards (Kawasaki) 125 pts


British Supersport Championship Result

1, Karl Harris (Honda) 232 pts
2, Jay Vincent (Honda) 196 pts
3, Michael Laverty (MonsterMob Ducati) 178 pts
4, Pere Riba (Kawasaki) 128 pts
5, Tom Sykes (Suzuki) 123 pts
6, Luke Quigley (Suzuki) 102 pts
7, Leon Camier (Honda) 99 pts
8, Craig Jones (Triumph) 93 pts
9, Simon Andrews (Yamaha) 89 pts
10, Cal Crutchlow (Honda) 75 pts

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

MotoGP Race Results:

1. Makoto TAMADA, Honda, 24 laps, 43:43.220
2. Valentino ROSSI, Yamaha, -6.168 seconds
3. Shinya NAKANO, Kawasaki, -13.396 seconds
4. Alex BARROS, Honda, -15.435 seconds
5. Marco MELANDRI, Yamaha, -23.577 seconds
6. Sete GIBERNAU, Honda, -27.378 seconds
7. Carlos CHECA, Yamaha, -35.834 seconds
8. Neil HODGSON, Ducati, -47.976 seconds
9. Ruben XAUS, Ducati, -49.881 seconds
10. Alex HOFMANN, Kawasaki, -56.107 seconds
11. Olivier JACQUE, Moriwaki, -81.237 seconds
12. Jeremy McWILLIAMS, Aprilia, -87.683 seconds, crash
13. Shane BYRNE, Aprilia, -1 lap
14. Nobuatsu AOKI, Proton, -1 lap
15. Youichi UI, Harris WCM, -1 lap
16. Troy BAYLISS, Ducati, -5 laps, DNF, crash
17. Norick ABE, Yamaha, -15 laps, DNF, mechanical
18. Tohru UKAWA, Honda, -16 laps, DNF, crash
19. Kenny ROBERTS, Suzuki, -24 laps, DNF, crash
20. John HOPKINS, Suzuki, -24 laps, DNF, crash
21. Max BIAGGI, Honda, -24 laps, DNF, crash
22. Colin EDWARDS, Honda, -24 laps, DNF, crash
23. Loris CAPIROSSI, Ducati, -24 laps, DNF, crash
24. Nicky HAYDEN, Honda, -24 laps, DNF, crash


MotoGP World Championships Standings (After 12 of 16 races):

1. ROSSI, 229 points
2. GIBERNAU, 190 points
3. BIAGGI, 158 points
4. BARROS, 115 points
5. TAMADA, 114 points
6. EDWARDS, 111 points
7. CHECA, 102 points
8. CAPIROSSI, 84 points
9. HAYDEN, 83 points
10. MELANDRI, 75 points
11. NAKANO, 62 points
12. ABE, 55 points
13. XAUS, 53 points
14. BAYLISS, 42 points
15. TIE, Kenny ROBERTS/HODGSON, 37 points
17. HOFMANN, 36 points
18. HOPKINS, 32 points
19. McWILLIAMS, 20 points
20. BYRNE, 18 points
21. AOKI, 10 points
22. Michel FABRIZIO, 8 points
23. JACQUE, 5 points
24. Andrew PITT, 2 points
25. TIE, Kurtis ROBERTS/UI, 1 point


More, from a press release issued by Dorna:

Tamada emerges victorious from dramatic race at Motegi

Makoto Tamada took a clear victory in his home Grand Prix today after a dramatic race which saw six riders crash in the first corner. Pole setter Tamada got a poor start but stayed clear of the melee as John Hopkins, who followed Valentino Rossi into the first corner in second place, was wiped out by Loris Capirossi and the two were sent sprawling across the track. Colin Edwards and Max Biaggi could do nothing to avoid the stricken bikes and were also sent tumbling into the gravel, followed by Kenny Roberts and Nicky Hayden.

The slight gap which formed behind Rossi was quickly made up by Tamada, who chased the Italian over the opening stages of the race and made his attack on the sixth lap, taking the lead to the delight of the 67,158 record home crowd. The pair went head to head for the remainder of the race, but Rossi was unable to match Tamada’s electric pace in the closing laps and was forced to settle for second place.

“First of all I would like to thanks the wonderful fans here at Motegi today,” said Tamada, who also won at Rio earlier in the season. “They were great throughout the race and I wanted to win for them. The team also did a great job. I was struggling with my race pace during practice but the team worked hard right up until this morning and we found a solution. It’s a fantastic result for myself, Honda and Bridgestone.”

The early gap which formed at the front of the pack saw Marco Melandri hang on to third place for eighteen laps, at which point Shinya Nakano completed an incredible home race for Kawasaki by overtaking the Italian and hanging on for the factory’s first MotoGP podium. Melandri, making his 100th Grand Prix appearance, suffered in the closing stages of a hot and humid race and was also overtaken by Alex Barros, who snatched fourth spot with four laps remaining after Troy Bayliss crashed out.

Whilst Melandri equalled his fifth place finish from last season, Sete Gibernau will be bitterly disappointed with sixth, a result which leaves him 39 points adrift of Rossi at the top of the standings. Carlos Checa recovered seventh place after running off track whilst Neil Hodgson came home in eighth to secure his best finish of the season.

Hodgson was followed across the line by his Ducati team-mate Ruben Xaus whilst Alex Hofman completed a perfect day for Kawasaki with the final top ten slot. Olivier Jacque picked up five points for Moriwaki on his return to MotoGP whilst Shane Byrne fought through the pain barrier to finish one place behind team-mate Jeremy McWilliams in fourteenth place despite dislocating his wrist three weeks ago. Youichi Ui completed the points on his MotoGP debut riding the WCM.

Dani Pedrosa extended his lead at the top of the 250cc World Championship after taking victory in an entertaining head-to-head with his former team-mate Toni Elías. The Spanish pair set an electric pace at the front of the pack which saw them break away from a chasing group headed by Randy de Puniet. The Frenchman was overtaken by local favourite Hiroshi Aoyama on the seventh lap and crashed out two laps later as he tried to fight back, recovering to cross the line in eleventh place but seeing the gap to Pedrosa extended to 47 points. Sebastián Porto lies just one point behind De Puniet after clinching fourth ahead of impressive wildcard Yuki Takahashi.

The 125cc race was another dramatic affair, with the red flag shown after just eight laps due to a crash for Andrea Ballerini and Imre Toth on the main straight when Andrea Dovizioso was leading. Whilst Dovizioso lined up on pole for the second part of the race, Hector Barberá and Jorge Lorenzo had to start from the back of the grid after failing to return to the track in time. Barberá then suffered mechanical problems and retired, with Roberto Locatelli chasing Dovizioso for the 13 lap straight race but crashing out just a few corners from the end, losing the chance to overtake Barberá in the championship and allowing Dovizioso to open up a 45 point advantage at the top of the standings. Fellow Italians Fabrizio Lai and Simone Corsi completed the top three, both riders making the podium for the first time.


More, from a press release issued by Galouises Fortuna Yamaha:


Rossi extends championship lead with podium finish

Valentino Rossi (Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha) secured a second place at the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi today after a closely contested battle with eventual victor Makoto Tamada (Honda). Rossi led the early stages of the 24-lap race but lost his advantage to the Japanese rider from lap ten onwards, reserving his concentration to take the 20 points on offer for second place. His team-mate Carlos Checa dropped back from a bright start to finish seventh.

In front of a 67,000 strong crowd, Rossi made an excellent start from his front row grid position, leading into the first corner and thus escaping a six-rider pile-up caused by a collision between Loris Capirossi (Ducati) and John Hopkins (Suzuki). Checa also narrowly escaped the melee, running strongly in the early part of the race until an off track excursion dropped him down the order, leaving him to finish in a solitary seventh place.

Rossi and Tamada charged away from the remains of the pack, with the former leading until Tamada made a successful pass along the back straight on lap 10. From that point on Tamada built a gap over Rossi, and ended the race just over six seconds ahead of the Italian.

Rossi’s second place and Gibernau’s sixth place finish gives Rossi an additional ten-point cushion at the head of the championship table, with Rossi on 229 and Gibernau on 190. Max Biaggi (Honda) remains third on 158 after being put out on the first corner, with Barros leapfrogging another first corner crasher, Colin Edwards (Honda) to go fourth. Tamada lies in fifth and Checa seventh in the order, with 102 points.

Valentino Rossi (2nd, 43’49.338s)
“I made a great start and that put me in front. That was very important because behind me hell arrived at the first corner! I tried to stay with Makoto and tried to win. After leading for the first ten laps he overtook me and then I started to slide a lot and I had a little problem exiting the corners under acceleration. It was impossible for me to get back in front of Makoto and for sure I would have preferred to win. This second place improves our championship position though, another ten points of a gap. This was an important race for us in every respect.”

Carlos Checa (7th, 44’19.054s)
“I missed the big crash and I was lucky, because many people did not. I saw Loris Capirossi’s screen on the ground, then I touched with Sete. I was thinking about last year and to be involved in a crash at the same place would have been hard. In the race I could not keep the pace I wanted. I pushed and pushed and in turn one I arrived a bit too fast and ran off the track. I lost eight seconds and then I knew the race was gone. After that I finished the race but it was not a nice feeling to stay there.”

Davide brivio – Team director
“Looking at the championship, today was a good day for us because we have increased our championship lead and that was important. OK, we didn’t win, but Valentino tried and today Tamada was quite strong in his entire race package. It was correct for Valentino not to take too many risks at this point in the championship. Now we go to Qatar with a 39-point lead but we have to keep going and keep concentration levels high. Carlos couldn’t go faster and that was a pity. We look forward to Qatar, because it will be a new track for everyone.”

Jeremy Burgess – Valentin Rossi’ crew chief
“After the incident on the first corner it certainly put a different perspective on the race. Valentino and Tamada avoided all that. Without the other guys it was difficult to say what would have happened. Track temperatures were over 40°C in the race, so that may have been a factor. Our rivals have fewer points and fewer races to earn them in now. We knew this race would be difficult for us, so you have to say it turned out not bad.”


More, from a press release issued by Proton Team KR:

Aoki’s Proton KR scores points for a third race straight

Nobuatsu Aoki: 14th position
Kurtis Roberts: Did Not Start

Proton Team KR rider Nobuatsu Aoki went one better at the Japanese GP, scoring two points for 14th position, after taking a single point at each of the previous two rounds, where he finished 15th. It was his sixth time to score points this year, and once again he overcame difficult circumstances to achieve it.

Aoki was racing alone, with team-mate Kurtis Roberts recuperating from surgery, after a crash in the Czech Republic GP four weeks ago. The lone Proton KR rider had a difficult weekend, with problems finding a good race set-up in qualifying, then severe heating problems in the race that left him with “a roasted left foot, and a deep-fried right foot”.

With trade-mark determination, Aoki – who started from 22nd position on the grid – continued lapping steadily for 24 laps of the 4.801km Motegi Twin-Ring circuit, in mountainous country about one-and-a-half hours from Tokyo.

Aoki managed to stay clear of a multiple crash in the first corner that eliminated six riders, and was alone for most of the race distance, fighting his own gremlins.

The race was run in dry conditions in front of a record crowd of more than 67,000. It was won by Honda-mounted Makoto Tamada, who outpaced defending champion Valentino Rossi (Yamaha). The next round is the inaugural Qatar GP, at a new circuit at Doha in two weeks time.

Nobuatsu Aoki
My right footpeg got so hot in that race that my foot is burned now. I was roasted on the left, and deep-fried in oil on the right. It has been such a difficult weekend, for everybody in the team. They worked really hard to get the bike as good as possible for me, so I rode as hard as I could to get the best result. I am glad I could get some points for the team.

Kenny Roberts- Team principal
It’s clear now that we can’t fix this engine without a redesign, which there is no time to do this season. We just have to get through the year as best possible. There’s no chance of switching to the KTM engine we tested after Portugal, because apart from anything there is only a very limited number of those engines in existence, and we would need a winter of testing before racing it. Anyway, it would only be a short-term fix.


More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki Race Team:


First podium for Nakano and Kawasaki at Motegi

In a superb home race performance for the Fuchs Kawasaki Racing Team, Shinya Nakano scored an historic third place podium finish in the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi today.

This is the best result for the factory Kawasaki team since they returned to MotoGP competition at the end of 2002 with the 990cc, inline four-cylinder Ninja ZX-RR.

Super Shinya’s ride into third place equalled the last Kawasaki podium result in the elite category, with Kork Ballington’s third place on a KR500 in the 1981 Finnish Grand Prix at Imatra. This was Nakano’s second career MotoGP podium, his first coming in 2001 at the German Grand Prix.

The 26-year-old Japanese ace was backed-up today by his determined German team-mate, Alex Hofmann, who finished tenth; his second top ten result of the season.

>From twelfth on the grid Nakano used his intimate local knowledge of the Motegi track to avoid the carnage of a six-rider, turn one pile-up just after the start. Realising the potential for a repeat of last year’s similar accident, Nakano braked cautiously to take the inside line and emerge in fourth place on lap one.

Spurred on by cheering, Kawasaki flag waving fans, Nakano staged an absorbing 18-lap pursuit of Yamaha rival Marco Melandri in search of third place. The critical moment came at the end of the back straight on lap 19, when Nakano outbraked Melandri and then cut back inside as the Italian briefly went back in front.

Once clear in third place Nakano opened a gap and, over the final laps, was the fastest rider on track. The Fuchs Kawasaki rider finished ahead of the factory Honda V-five ridden by Alex Barros into fourth place.

Both Nakano and Tamada were using Bridgestone tyres, and Nakano’s storming ride into third place provided Bridgestone with two riders on the podium for the first time in MotoGP.

After starting from 19th Hofmann was unsettled by the drama of the first turn crash, but recovered his rhythm to move into 10th place on lap twenty, a position he held to the chequered flag.

Shinya Nakano: 3rd
“This is a fantastic result for me, and for Kawasaki and Bridgestone. From the start I saw the accident coming, because turn one is very tight. I went up the inside and took fourth, then tried for many laps to pass Melandri without success. But late in the race I still had good grip from my rear tyre, and this is where I had the advantage. I knew Melandri would try and cut back inside, so I was ready for this. I could still do fast times at the end of the race, but the last lap was probably the longest in my racing life; I was just waiting for the chequered flag. I couldn’t believe I was third.”

Alex Hofmann: 10th
“It was a tough race. After the first corner crash it took a few laps for everyone to settle down and I was in a tight group of riders. But it was difficult to pass; I didn’t really find a good set-up for front-end braking stability this weekend. I really had to push my front tyre too much early in the race and, towards the end, I just wanted to make sure I finished. It’s great to see Shinya on the podium, he did a great job. It shows what is possible with the Ninja ZX-RR.”

Harald Eckl: Team Manager
“The most important thing this afternoon was how much motivation this result provides for the future; today we saw the potential of the Ninja ZX-RR. I’m very happy for everyone in the Fuchs Kawasaki Racing Team, and also for Bridgestone, because there has been a great deal of hard work over recent months. Today it finally paid off. But without Shinya today this podium would not have been possible, he did a fantastic job. Alex rode consistently to be tenth, but he struggled to find his best rhythm this weekend, and we understand this. His time will come.”


More, from a press release issued by Telefonica Movistar Honda/Gresini Racing:

No chance for Sete in crash-strewn race

Gibernau finishes sixth as Edwards is knocked off on the first lap

Sete Gibernau could only finish sixth and Colin Edwards was forced to retire at the Japanese Grand Prix, the Telefónica MoviStar Honda MotoGP team’s worst weekend for two seasons. The American had high hopes of the podium but was caught up in a multi-rider pile-up caused by Loris Capirossi in the first corner. Sete made up several positions as a result of the accident but tyre problems he has endured since Estoril continued at a circuit notorious for its hard braking zones. Gibernau did his best to hang to sixth place and collect as many points as possible with the front tyre completely shredded. Sete remains second in the championship, now 39 points down on Rossi, whilst Edwards drops two places to sixth.

Sete Gibernau (6th): “We’ve had a lot of problems here this weekend and this is my worst GP since I came to Honda. I couldn’t do much more in the situation we were in and I even have to thank God I finished sixth, which was unthinka! ble with the problems we had. I almost retired because I had a major problem with the front tyre from the start and I didn’t know if I could hang on. In the end I made it to the finish line but with the tyre in pieces. When I saw it on my return to the pit box I realised how lucky I was that I didn’t crash. This sort of thing has never happened to me before and I am sure Michelin want the best for us, but we need to go back to what we had before and the tyre which has always worked for me.”

Colin Edwards (crashed): “It was a real shame because the bike was perfect and I felt really good here. I think I could have fought for the podium but what can you do? I went down completely unexpectedly – just as I did last year with Hopkins. The only positive thing is that two Japanese guys finished on the podium here in Japan.”

Fausto Gresini (team manager): “Today was a complete disaster. We have got a better result than we expected with Sete as a consequence of other people’s misfortune and we need to concentrate on getting him back where he belongs. Colin was really lucky to get caught up in that accident and it’s a real shame because he could have done well here.”


More, from a press release issued by Camel Honda Racing Information:


Makoto Tamada dominates in Motegi

After yesterday’s qualifying session, where he took pole with an astonishing lap, Makoto Tamada won today’s race in spectacular fashion. In his home race of Motegi, at the Camel GP of Japan, Makoto once again showed his talent and fighting spirit. Taking the lead on lap six of 24, he stretched his legs, in an incessant dominant rhythm and a pace which meant no-one got close to him until after the chequered flag. Today’s victory moves him up to fifth place in the championship. Max Biaggi was out of the race almost immediately, without any blame as he got involved in a first lap incident that forced six riders out in total. There was no injury to the Camel Honda rider but he was disappointed to have been unable to fight for victory as he had expected.

Sito Pons – Camel Honda (Team Principal)

“We are delighted for Makoto Tamada. This is the third victory of the year for the Camel Honda team. This is an important result for the team, for Honda and for our partners, but also because winning in Japan has a special flavour to it. I feel for Max, he could have fought for victory but, like in Estoril, hopes were dashed on the first lap of the race. We took the pole and won the race sponsored by Camel, our team’s title sponsor, and that’s a massive satisfaction.”

Max Biaggi – Camel Honda (Michelin Tyres) – Not finished first lap

“I got away quite well, but as I turned into the first bend, I saw a Ducati and another bike crossing the track in the opposite direction to that which it goes. I felt a big smack on the side and I saw Hopkins flying, but I was still upright. I ended up in the sand and then another bike fell right in front of me and that’s when I finally went down. It’s what I didn’t want, I’m so disappointed because today I could have done a great race. I want to congratulate Makoto because he did a fantastic race. He’s a brilliant rider and also most importantly a friend.”

Gianluca Montiron – Camel Honda – (Makoto Tamada Team Manager)

“Already in the morning warm-up we knew that Makoto could have a race pace which could make the difference, and we knew who he had to keep an eye out for. Makoto imposed the pace and dictated the race using all his determination. If he had need to push even more, he probably had something else in reserve just in case. This second victory for Makoto and the team in 2004 is a result that shows the good work we are doing here. Thanks to Honda for their support, to Bridgestone and to Camel, the GP of Japan has been a great event.”

Makoto Tamada – Camel Honda (Bridgestone Tyres) – 1st – 43’43.220

“In the first corner I realised that everybody was going too fast to take it properly, and you all saw how it ended up. I was second behind Valentino and I remembered the last race at Estoril, where I finished behind him. I wanted a different race to that one so I pushed hard and began to attack him. The bike was running brilliantly and so were the tyres. I followed the advice the Bridgestone technicians gave me after the warm-up and the tyre choice was correct. I had everything to win, I attacked and overtook Valentino and set my rhythm to the end. Thanks to everybody, this victory is really important”.


More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:


Disappointing Grand Prix for Ducati Marlboro Team

The Grand Prix of Japan proved to be a disappointing race for the Ducati Marlboro Team as both riders were involved in crashes and failed to finish.

Like last year, the race at the Motegi circuit in Japan began with a tremendous pile-up at the first corner which involved six riders including Loris Capirossi. The Italian, who lay immobile on the ground after the crash, suffered slight concussion and two bone fractures to his right foot. It was a day to forget also for team-mate Troy Bayliss. Sixteenth on the starting-grid, the gritty Australian was making a fantastic recovery when he crashed five laps from the end while in fifth position.

The good performance of the Ducati Marlboro Team riders on Friday and Saturday, when both Loris and Troy were quick on race tyres, was not transformed into a similar result in the race.

“This could have been our best race of the season, but instead it was a day to forget” declared Livio Suppo, director of the Ducati Marlboro Team. “During the warm-up Loris was third quickest and Troy was also in a good position. Unfortunately Loris was involved in a bad crash at the first curve and was unable to demonstrate all his potential. Troy, after starting in sixteenth position, was having an incredible race, but he crashed while in fifth place five laps from the end. In 2003 on this track we were struggling a lot, but this weekend’s qualifying demonstrated how much the bike has progressed since last year: unfortunately we were unable to get a good result to confirm this progress”.

Loris Capirossi’s Grand Prix of Japan came to an end at the first corner, when he was involved in a big crash, together with five other riders. The Italian, who had been consistently quick over the weekend and third in the morning warm-up, was convinced a good result could have been possible today. Now Loris is faced with a race against time to recover for the Grand Prix of Qatar.

“I don’t know what happened, I just found myself on the ground” admitted Loris afterwards in the Clinica Mobile. “It was a pity, but that’s racing and these things can happen. This could have been an important race for us: we had gone well during qualifying and in the morning warm-up and were convinced we could have obtained a good result, instead it all came to an end at the first curve. This is a strange track and last year there was also a crash involving 4 or 5 riders, including Troy. I’m now just going to have to do well in the next race.”

Ducati Marlboro Team rider Troy Bayliss gave the spectators at Japan’s Motegi circuit an exciting race: after starting from the sixth row, he managed to get up to fifth place with a spectacular recovery. Unfortunately Troy’s race came to an end when he crashed out with five laps remaining.

“I got a reasonably good start and I had a good race despite starting from sixteenth on the grid. I was really disappointed about the crash because I was riding well. It’s better to have a crash in fifth position than sixteenth position, so I’m leaving here on a positive note because I was doing OK. I look forward to the next race, I’m going to go home and train like mad to get ready for Qatar”.


More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki:


Both Suzukis out of Japanese GP in turn one Mayhem

Racing can be a cruel sport – and Team Suzuki MotoGP rider John Hopkins and Kenny Roberts Jr. were two victims in today’s Japanese GP, when they were among six riders brought down in the very first corner in a multiple crash.

The disappointment was all the more acute after Hopkins had started from the front row of the grid for the first time in his career, with Roberts close behind, and after both had made an excellent start in a race that should have lasted 24 laps for them, rather than less than one. Worse still, two out of three on the top-three rostrum were using Bridgestone tyres, the same as those fitted to the GSV-R Suzukis, suggesting that their chances of success were even better than usual.

Both riders were injured in the crash, which was triggered when Ducati rider Loris Capirossi, who started from the third row of the grid, came up the inside from the start, but was travelling too fast to make the corner. Photographs showed that he was already crashing when he struck Hopkins, lying in second place, sending the Anglo-American somersaulting through the air, and setting off a chain reaction that took out not only himself and the Suzuki pair, but also Colin Edwards, Max Biaggi and Nicky Hayden.

Hopkins was at first thought the worst injured, suffering two broken ribs and a deep gash to his buttocks. In fact, it was 2000 World Champion Roberts who came off worse, with a dislocated left elbow, and burns to his right side. He will definitely be out of the next round, the Qatar GP in two weeks; Hopkins hopes to be fit enough to start.

The accident was a bitter irony for Hopkins, who last year was blamed for causing a similar incident in the same place. He was disqualified from the next round as punishment. At the time of writing, there had been no announcement that the same penalty will be applied to Capirossi in this case.

Suzuki’s hopes for this race had been high, with both riders taking the benefit of a new exhaust system that significantly improved mid-range horsepower. This gave the team confidence they could continue the trend of improving results over the past few races, with Hopkins’s sixth place at the last round the best of the year so far for the team.

Today’s race was won by Japanese rider Makoto Tamada, with defending champion Valentino Rossi left trailing in second.

Kenny Roberts Jr. – Did Not Finish
I don’t know if I got a good start or a bad start – but it was the wrong start! A couple of guys got into each other and caused a chain reaction. I think I got taken out by Biaggi, but my left arm got stuck between his rear wheel and some part of the chassis. It pulled me into the bike and I burned my neck a little bit, and my right arm on his exhaust pipe. When I pulled my arm out, I couldn’t bend my elbow – but I could twist my arm and my hand, with pain, so at least I knew there wasn’t nerve damage. I ran to the inside of the track because I knew I’d get to the medical centre faster. Colin (Edwards) helped me get my gloves off, and I came to the clinic. They took the X-ray and put my arm back in probably 15 seconds. It really hurt going in and it really hurts now. They say I should know in a couple of weeks at what stage I’ll feel somewhat good. The left side of my body is in pain from the dislocation, and the right side from being burned . so I have quite a different set of circumstances. Other than that, I’m basically fine. The crash was quite slow, but these things happen. I hope all the other riders are okay. We’ll wait until I’m feeling 100 percent, and continue from there.

John Hopkins – Did Not Finish
Word’s can’t express my disappointment. I guess it’s some kind of payback. Last year I took out some riders in the same place, and this year I got taken out. It sucks, but I’m just hoping it will not affect Qatar. I’ve broken some ribs, but I hope I can make the race. I was running into the corner in second, right behind Rossi. I had no warning – it felt like a freight train hitting me.

Garry Taylor – Team Manager
What a weekend. We had excellent results in qualifying, and both guys got a great start. Then they both suffered very painful injuries . though it could be worse. It’s especially poignant for John, after his similar incident last year. Kenny was lucky that Dr Costa and his team were on hand to relocate his elbow straight away. He is certainly out of Qatar – we will have to wait and see about John. If we decide to replace Kenny, either test-team rider Gregorio Lavilla or factory tester Kosuke Akioshi would be candidates. Today’s injuries came after I sustained a fracture in the foot last night, slipping in the shower. As I said – what a weekend.


More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing Information:

TERRIFIC TAMADA TRIUMPHS ON HOME TERRITORY

Magnificent Makoto Tamada (Camel Honda RC211V) riding on Bridgestone tyres made his home race his own with a resounding win. In front of a vocal 67,000 crowd in beating heat, he finished 6.168 seconds ahead of Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) with Shinya Nakano (Kawasaki) third.

Tamada started from his second consecutive pole of the season, but it was Rossi who made it into turn one first. But a huge pile-up ensued immediately behind taking out six riders. Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC211V), Colin Edwards (Telefonica MoviStar Honda RC211V), Max Biaggi (Camel Honda RC211V), Kenny Roberts and John Hopkins (both Suzuki) and Loris Capirossi (Ducati) never got further than turn one.

The incident was sparked when Capirossi dived up the inside and collided with Hopkins. They tangled, went down and skittled the other victims. There were no serious injuries although Roberts suffered a dislocated elbow and Hopkins two broken ribs. It could have been worse.

The debris, human and mechanical, was cleared quickly enough to prevent the appearance of red flags and it was Rossi who led Tamada and Marco Melandri (Yamaha) into lap two.

Tamada was right up with Rossi and they had a 2.9 second advantage over Melandri by the time lap three began. It looked like this would be a two-way fight until Tam