From a press release issued by d’Antin Ducati:

Orient Express

The d´Antin MotoGP riders head to Japan this weekend for the start of an Eastern tour which will bring the season to its finale. This is the first of four races which practically come one after the other, before the World Championship ends in Valencia on the 30th October. For Rubén Xaus and Neil Hodgson it is another completely new experience.

Xaus and Hodgson have both raced in the land of the rising sun before, but never at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit, situated in the mountains around 100km north-west of Tokyo. It is one of the most modern circuits on the calendar, having only been inaugurated in 1999, and is considered fairly straightforward by the majority of riders.

Now the Spaniard and the Brit have the chance to meet another challenge and discover new territory on their Ducati Desmosedici machines, as they look to continue gathering both points and experience.

RUBÉN XAUS, who spent time at a Ducati centre in Cuneo, Italy, before heading to Japan, explained his objectives: “I left Estoril with the usual bad taste in my mouth which you get from not finishing a race but I showed I can be up there fighting in the second group, but I just need time and experience because it’s always difficult at a new circuit. Next weekend we’ll be in Motegi and I’ll be back at another new circuit because the only place I’ve raced over there is at Sugo. I’m starting from scratch again but the track doesn’t seem too complicated and I hope we don’t have any setbacks so that we can make the most of every session and build up to a good race.”

NEIL HODGSON has spent time resting at is home on the Isle of Man before the long trip to Motegi, the last of the unknown circuits for him this season: “It was a real shame not to finish the race in Portugal but now we have to think about Japan and I’m looking forward to going to Motegi. I’ve never been there before and it’s always difficult to start off without any references, but the only way forward is to work hard from the start. I’m confident that things will go well and we’ll get back on the positive run we had going at Donington and Brno. My main goal is to finish the race, preferably in the top twelve.”

From a press release issued by Cagiva USA:

Husqvarna Announces Industries Largest AMA Supermoto Contingency Program


Husqvarna motorcycles have been dominating the Supermoto circuits of Europe for well over a decade and are the reigning Supermoto World Champions. In the wake of the recent explosion of the sport of Supermoto here in the US, Husqvarna is now making a huge effort to expand brand awareness across North America by offering the largest manufacturers contingency payout available in the AMA Supermoto Championship Series with an available CASH payout of $218,600.

Any Husqvarna rider that enters on a 2003 or newer model Husqvarna and competes in the 2004 AMA Supermoto Championship Series is eligible for contingency. Available payout is $14,900 per event in both unlimited and 450cc classes, with a series championship bonus of $5000 per class. When combined with Husqvarna’s existing contingency program for other supermoto series, there is over $335,000 up for grabs this Supermoto season, along with over $11 Million contingency available for Motocross and Off-road. With this bold program, Husqvarna proudly shows its firm commitment to racers across North America.

Visit your local Husqvarna dealer for more information and to check out the race ready 2004 SM450R and the World Champion SMR 630 “Eddy Seel” replica.

2004 Husqvarna AMA Supermoto Contingency Program

Finish – Payout
1st – $5,000
2nd – $2,500
3rd – $1,500
4th – $1,200
5th – $1,100
6th – $1000
7th – $800
8th – $700
9th – $600
10th – $500


Series Bonus
1st – $5000 – Premier Class
1st – $5000 – Supermoto Class


For more information or to download the complete Husqvarna Racing Contingency Program visit www.husqvarnausa.com

From a press release issued by Ducati Motor Holding, S.p.A. and forwarded by Ducati North America today:

DUCATI MOTOR HOLDING CONFIRMS ITS INTEREST IN APRILIA GROUP

Bologna, September 9th, 2004, Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. (NYSE: DMH, Borsa Italiana S.p.A.: DMH), a leading manufacturer of high performance motorcycles today confirmed its interest in the Aprilia Group, reiterating its offer made on July 30th, 2004.

In addition, Ducati has confirmed its interest in Moto Guzzi and Aprilia’s off-road project, recognizing an indicative value of Euro 40 Million for these assets

From a press release issued by Hawk Kawasaki:

THINK! BSB Championship, Round 12, Sept 10

National Superstock Cup, Round 11

Oulton Park, Cheshire

Track length: 2.692 miles

Weather: heavy showers, slight mist, 15ºC

Track: wet, 19ºC

PRACTICE

SMART QUICKEST DURING RAIN INTERUPTED OULTON PRACTICE

Practice for the twelfth round of the THINK! British Superbike Championship, at Oulton Park, was almost cancelled today after torrential rain flooded parts of the 2.692 Cheshire track. Weather conditions deteriorated rapidly during first BSB practice and many riders elected to abandon the session once the heavens opened.

Hawk Kawasaki’s Scott Smart set the fastest lap, in the short time the track was dry, despite only completing three circuits of the track. “Once it started raining, that was it,” he said. “If it rains tomorrow I’ll go out, but after seeing the conditions today I preferred to stay dry!”

The second BSB practice session was reduced to just 20 minutes, after being scrapped and then reinstated, once standing water and oil was cleared from the track. Smart’s team-mate, Glen Richards, was the only Hawk Kawasaki rider to venture out in the wet afternoon session, finishing a respectable seventh fastest – and fourth quickest in the morning’s brief dry spell.

“I wanted to try a few changes we’ve made to the bike and also get some wet weather laps under my belt,” said Glen. “The other guys have done quite a few wet laps, but I’ve not really done any so it’s a useful thing for me. The bike feels heaps better than it did here last time so hopefully we can be more competitive this weekend.”

Like Smart, John McGuinness also opted against riding in the wet. “I’ve only got one bike, so I don’t really want to be throwing that up the road on Friday,” commented John, who was eighth quickest in the dry. “There’s always tomorrow and by all accounts it’s going to be wet then as well, so I might as well wait until then.”

Hawk Kawasaki National Superstock Cup star, Peter Hickman, only managed two laps during today’s combined Superstock practice after losing most of the session while his mechanics fixed a loose throttle sensor on his ZX-10R. Hickman will race in the eleventh round of the Cup tomorrow.

BSB PRACTICE

1) Scott Smart, Hawk Kawasaki, 1:40.392. 2) Sean Emmett, Ducati, 1:40.647. 3) Gary Mason, Yamaha, 1:41.477. 4) Glen Richards, Hawk Kawasaki, 1:42.150. 5) John Reynolds, Suzuki, 1:41.186. 6) Yukio Kagayama, Suzuki, 1:42.300. 7) Michael Rutter, Honda, 1:42.684. 8) John McGuinness, Hawk Kawasaki, 1:43.643. 9) Steve Plater, Yamaha, 1:43.832. 10) James Haydon, Yamaha, 1:44.269. 11) Dean Thomas, Ducati, 1:44.591. 12) Ryuichi Kiyonari, Honda, 1:45.416. 13) Tommy Hill, Yamaha, 1:46.049. 14) James Ellison, Yamaha (P), 1:46.185. 15) Kieran Clarke, Yamaha, 1:46.706


More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki:

REYNOLDS FASTEST AT OULTON BSB
Team Suzuki Press Office – September 11, 2004.


John Reynolds was fastest and Yukio Kagayama fourth on their Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000s in Friday’s wet practice for the 12th and penultimate round of the Think! British Superbike Championship at Oulton Park.

Championship leader ‘JR’ was in supreme control as he carefully navigated his way around the circuit, riding well within his ability and ending the session pleasantly surprised at being more than half a second ahead of his nearest rival.

Yukio, who has won the last three races at Oulton Park, toyed with his wet settings for a handful of laps before returning to the pits to discuss the changes with his team of technicians. His fourth fastest time was a bonus as he declared he was riding with maximum safety in mind.

The British Superbikes visited Oulton Park in blazing sunshine in May this year and Rizla Suzuki scored its best ever results with Kagayama and Reynolds finishing first and second in both Superbike races. The weather forecast for this weekend is to be wet but both racers are happy that they can compete regardless of the conditions.

Reynolds has a 33-point lead in the Championship and Kagayama is pushing for third in the overall standings with just four races remaining in the 2004 season.

John Reynolds:

“My bike is doing exactly what I want it do in these conditions. I am riding comfortably and there is more to come if required, but I am not going to push myself to my limits in practice because there are no points awarded today.

“The weather forecast is pretty wet for the entire weekend but that doesn’t bother me at all. Wet or dry, I think my Rizla Suzuki has the pace around here and I’ll be racing at the front whatever the conditions.”

Yukio Kagayama:

“Maybe today we don’t learn so much because the track has much water on the surface. I try some small changes to the wet setting and these are okay, but I do not try as hard as I think riding maximum safety is important and I didn’t want a crash.

“I am so relaxed I could maybe fall asleep. Tomorrow, I will wake up and go for good qualifying position. Then on Sunday we will have fun in the races whatever the weather is like. Dry is more fun because it is faster, but the wet is good as well because the Rizla Suzuki is easy to ride.”

Friday Practice Times:

1: JOHN REYNOLDS (RIZLA SUZUKI) 1:49.859, 2: Michael Rutter (Honda) +0.624, 3: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) +0.895, 4: YUKIO KAGAYAMA (RIZLA SUZUKI) +3.012, 5: Steve Plater (Yamaha) +4.420, 6: Gary Mason (Yamaha) +4.670, 7: Glen Richards (Kawasaki) +4.707, 8: James Haydon (Yamaha) +4.992, 9: James Ellison (Yamaha) +5.094, 10: James Buckingham (Suzuki) +5.468.

From a press release issued by Team Suzuki:

SUZUKI WINS S.A. SUPERBIKE TITLE

Hudson Kennaugh has clinched the South African Superbike championship with six races still to run.

Kennaugh, who will represent his country at the GSX-R World Cup in America on October 17th, lifted the title at the East London round at the weekend and with three events and six races remaining, is unbeatable. He leads by 121 points with 120 still available after having won 13 of this year’s races on his GSX-R1000 and finishing second in one.

Cell C Suzuki racer Kennaugh also set the quickest two-wheeler lap time in the history of the East London circuit. He gave notice of his winning intentions during Saturday morning’s Official Qualifying session when he planted the GSX-R1000 solidly on pole position. Joining him on the front row of the starting grid were his Cell C Suzuki team mate Trevor Crookes, Stewart MacLeod (Arlen Ness Kawasaki) and outgoing South African Superbike Champion Russell Wood on his Autopage Cellular Yamaha.

As has become his trademark this season, Kennaugh won the day’s opening race with authority leading from flag to flag. Crookes had a terrible start and dropped to the back of the field leaving MacLeod and Wood to contest the second place. Wood’s challenge ended when he high-sided his machine in the pit corner on lap four, while MacLeod’s Kawasaki was slowed by tyre vibration from the fifth tour.

Knowing that he could clinch this year’s title in the second race, Kennaugh wasted no time in taking the lead at the start. This time he did not just disappear into the distance though – a determined Sheridan Morias rode his Honda out of its skin to harass Kennaugh all the way, but in the end the Honda’s tyres started to lose grip and Morias settled for second place ahead of his First Technology Honda team mates Shaun Whyte and Arushen Moodley.

The next round of the 2004 Radiator SA Superbike Championship will be held at the Free State Phakisa Raceway on Saturday, September 18.

From a press release issued by American Suzuki:

Suzuki Announces U.S. Team to Contest First-Ever Suzuki Worldwide GSX-R Cup Final America

BREA, Calif. – American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC) announces the U.S. team that will campaign the 2004 Suzuki Worldwide GSX-R Cup Final to be held at Road Atlanta in Braselton, GA, on Oct. 15-17. The event will be run in conjunction with the WERA GNF and Suzuki Cup Finals.

The Cup Final features 30 of the best privateer Suzuki riders from 14 different countries battling against each other aboard identically prepared Suzuki GSX-R750 motorcycles on Dunlop tires. Riders earn their way to the event by participating in either match races or a series of events held in each country. The third annual 2004 Cup Final marks the first time this event has been held in the United States. The two previous events were held in Magny-Cours, France.

“American Suzuki is honored to be hosting such a prestigious event,” said ASMC Vice President of the Motorcycle/ATV Division Mel Harris. “We are looking forward to putting on a great show for the fans and the international competitors.”

The U.S. team comprises: Jake Holden, Puyallup, WA, who races for Lion Racing Suzuki; Brian Stokes, of Kingston, GA, who is the top privateer in Formula-USA; and Robert Jenson, Chaffee, ND, who won the challenge race at Mid-Ohio.

ASMC will pay contingency money for the event, split between two legs:

1$3,000
2$2,000
3$1,000
4$800
5$700
6$600
7$500
8$400
9$300
10$200


U.S. Team members also receive a Suzuki support package for 2005 consisting of the use of a Suzuki GSX-R750 for the season and a parts budget. Thus far, the best U.S. finishes in this event for the Suzuki team have been third and fifth place in 2002 by Jason DiSalvo and John Dugan, respectively.

From a press release issued by Team Suzuki:

SUZUKI AIM FOR OULTON ONE-TWO

Rizla Suzuki’s John Reynolds and Yukio Kagayama are looking for a repeat one-two performance when the Think! British Superbike Championship returns to Oulton Park in Cheshire this weekend for the penultimate round of the 2004 series.

Kagayama and Reynolds dominated the previous event there in May and Reynolds, who is leading the Championship by 33-points from his nearest rival Michael Rutter, will use experience gained from this event year to maintain or extend his series lead.

Yukio comes off the back of an emotional victory at Cadwell Park and is now only six points behind third place in the Championship standings. He has won the last three BSB races at Oulton Park in convincing style and is the man everyone else must beat. He has the potential to play a pivotal role in the racing this weekend, and, as well as going for personal glory, he is ready to assist his team mate and Rizla Suzuki in whatever way he can to secure overall title honours.

Oulton Park is a `racers’ track with plenty of elevation changes, fast-flowing turns and overtaking opportunities peppering its 2.362-mile length. Superbike racing starts at 1:15pm on Sunday, September 12th. The final round of the Championship takes place at Donington Park one week later on Sunday, September 19th.

John Reynolds:

“It’s boiling down to a two-round dash for the Championship. Looking at it coolly and professionally, I have a few advantages that I am now going to concentrate on to give myself the best chance of taking the title.

“I am leading the series by 33 points, which gives me a decent margin on my rivals and allows me to manage the position if needed. Oulton is a strong track for Rizla Suzuki and Donington is my home circuit, so I am optimistic about our ability to get results. It’s going to be a tough fortnight, but for the fans watching, it should be a rare treat of some of the best racing ever seen in BSB!”

Yukio Kagayama:

“Oulton Park is a very good circuit for me. I win many times and last time I had epic battle with John-san to take victory in both races. I want to win races again but have many thoughts.

“Rizla Suzuki is a good team and does not give me orders, but I want us to win the Championship with John-san, so I will do my best to help. My priority now is to take as many points away from Rizla Suzuki rivals as possible and to take third overall.”

From a press release issued by the FIM:

INTERMOT – Munich
FIM presence at the 4th International Trade Fair for Motorcycles and Scooters

The fourth edition of INTERMOT, the International Trade Fair for Motorcycles and Scooters, will take place in Munich (Germany) from 15 to 19 September next. This year, the Fair coincides with the Centenary of the FIM. Thus the FIM will be present on a stand together with its German affiliated Federation DMSB, for the celebration of this anniversary. On the stand (459, hall B5) will be displayed a series of vintage motorcycles, showing the evolution of this vehicle throughout the 100 years since the FIM foundation back in 1904, in contrast with the latest models of the motorcycle industry for the year 2005, shown during this exhibition, one of the largest in the world, expecting more than 180.000 visitors during the five days open to the public. The FIM Vice-President Jean-Pierre Mougin and the FIM Chief Executive Officer will attend the official opening of the Fair on Wednesday 15 September.

From a press release issued by Vmoto:

Entry is still open for Vmoto’s, Reno Historic Road Races.

September 10, Mountain View CA. The Vintage Motorcycle Racing Association (Vmoto) will stage the second round of the Bell Micorproducts Vmoto Vintage Challenge at the new Reno-Fernely Raceway in Fernely, Nevada on September 18th and 19th. Entry for the event is still open with no post entry or late entry fees. Participants can enter via the web at http://www.vintagemoto.com, call the Vmoto office at 650-903-4882 or at the track when registration opens at 3:00 on Friday the 17th.

All American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) road race bikes are eligible for this event. Participants must have a current competition license.

This event is being run in conjunction with the Historic Motor Sports Association (HMSA) vintage automobile races at Reno-Fernely. HMSA is the sanctioning body for the famed Monterey Historic Races. As a result, participants can enjoy both vintage motorcycles and vintage race cars together at the same event.

The Bell Microproducts Vmoto Vintage Challenge is a series of 4 races for pre 1974 vintage motorcycles on the west coast. The season kicked off at the Portland Historic races on July 8-9, continues with the Reno event Sept 18-19, followed by Thunderhill Oct. 16-17 and finishing up at Laguna Seca Nov. 22-23. The winner of the series will win a free entry to all Vmoto events for the 2005 season.

For more information on Vmoto go to:
www.vintagemoto.com
650-903-4882

For more information on Reno-Fernley Raceway go to: www.reno-fernleyraceway.com

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Former full-time MotoGP riders Tohru Ukawa and Olivier Jacques are entered as wild cards in next weekend’s Grand Prix of Japan at Motegi Twin-Ring, according to the FIM.

Dorna is reporting that HRC official test rider and former MotoGP race winner Ukawa will race the 2005 version of the Honda RC211V at the Honda-owned track.

Jacque, the 2000 250cc World Champion, who rode for Gauloises Yamaha in 2003, will ride a Moriwaki MD211VF on Dunlops.

The Motegi race was not one of the five wild card entries Moriwaki announced it had acquired for the 2004 season.

Moriwaki normally fields 2001 World Supersport Champion Andrew Pitt on its Honda V5-powered prototype. There has been no announcement as to why Jacque is riding for Moriwaki at Motegi and not Pitt.

Riding in a one-race deal, Pitt piloted a Belgarda Yamaha YZF-R6 to third in the World Supersport race at Assen, September 5.