Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

Items of note (That may or may not be of interest to road racing fans or other slackers looking for any excuse to waste their employer’s time and bandwidth reading about motorbikes on the web) from last weekend’s AMA Supermoto double header @ Copper Mt.:

Two former Team Roberts KR3 riders, Mike Hale and Mark Willis were there racing. Both Hale and Willis qualified for the highly competitive 450 final on Saturday. Willis finished 11th, Hale 19th. On Sunday Willis did and finished 12th but Hale failed to qualify. Willis claims he plans to contest the entire 7 race series. (I didn’t talk to Hale)

Kevin Erion was in attendance and not as a casual spectator. He was wearing a yellow shirt and usually wearing an apron because he was working at the Dunlop truck. Erion, who owns and runs Dunlop’s tire sales operation at AMA Motocross Nationals, could be seen all weekend changing tires – manually! Yes, with a manual bead breaker and tire irons! According to a Dunlop employee (whose name I didn’t get but he did tell me he was from Finland) the ~40′ tractor trailer they used @ the Copper Mt. event is normally used @ MX/SX events. It doesn’t have a beavertail or lift gate and is usually so full of inventory that they don’t carry an automatic tire machine so all tire changes are done on simple stands (Basically a taller, fancier version of the 30-gallon drum used by old schoolers, dirt trackers and cheap bastards) using tire irons.

Cheers,

Tyler Sandell
Seattle, Washington

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

Duhamel on the verge of clinching his seventh AMA road racing title

A second-place finish or better in Formula Xtreme at Road Atlanta would do it

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (Aug. 31, 2004) — A second-place finish is all Miguel Duhamel needs at the upcoming round of the Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Series at Road Atlanta to clinch his seventh AMA road racing championship. The race is part of the AMA Suzuki Superbike Showdown by Makita on Sept. 3-5 in Braselton, Ga.

Duhamel, who won his first title in AMA Supersport in 1991, has put himself in this enviable position by winning six of the nine Formula Xtreme races coming into Road Atlanta. A crash by second ranked and fellow Honda rider Jake Zemke at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course last month nearly doomed any opportunity Zemke had at catching the red-hot Duhamel.

“It’s been a great season in Formula Xtreme,” Duhamel said. “Honda gave me a fantastic bike in the CBR600RR and it’s made it almost too easy for me. I’m not taking anything for granted. I need to go out and turn in a good race at Road Atlanta. Clinching the championship with a win would be perfect.”

If Duhamel earns the title it will mark his first championship since 1997. During his 16-year AMA racing career he’s won a record five AMA Supersport Championships and was the number one rider in AMA Superbike in 1995.

HACKING TRYING TO HOLD ON TO REPSOL SUPERSTOCK LEAD

Graves Yamaha’s Jamie Hacking had everything going his way mid-season in the Repsol Superstock Series. The South Carolinian blitzed to four wins in five races and built a solid lead. But July was not kind to Hacking. First he broke his collarbone in testing and rode to sixth at Laguna Seca with the injury. Then a tire on his Yamaha failed at Mid-Ohio and he was credited with an 11th-place result in the red-flagged event. As a result Hacking has watched his lead over teammate Aaron Gobert dwindle from 14 to just 3 with two rounds remaining.

Hacking will try to regain his grip on the championship at Road Atlanta, a track where he’s had good success in the past, including winning his one and only AMA Superbike in 2001. He’s trying to earn his second straight title, following up on his AMA Supersport championship last year.

Gobert won the season opener at Daytona and stuck around the top of the standings by way of consistent top-five finishes. A third at Mid-Ohio moved the Aussie to second in the series. Gobert sees his opportunity to take the series lead and will be giving it his all at Road Atlanta to earn his second win of the year.

Tommy Hayden’s sub-par 10th-place result at Mid-Ohio last month dropped him to third in the standings. In spite of his off race, Kawasaki’s top rider is just four points out of the series lead. He’s also contending for the AMA Supersport title and would dearly love to earn championships in two classes this season. It could mark the first time a rider earned two titles since Kurtis Roberts in both AMA Supersport and Formula Xtreme in 2000.

Graves Yamaha’s Jason DiSalvo put himself back in contention by winning at Mid-Ohio last month. He became the fifth winner in the series this year. The New Yorker hopes to get on a roll and become only the second rider in Superstock this season to win back-to-back races.

Roger Lee Hayden is ranked fifth in the series coming into Road Atlanta. He leads Ben Spies, Steve Rapp and Josh Hayes as the remaining riders to still have at least an outside shot at winning the title.

The Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme and Repsol Superstock races will be nationally televised on SPEED Channel’s Two Wheel Tuesday on Sept. 14 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern. For additional information on the AMA Suzuki Superbike Showdown by Makita, call (800) 849-RACE or visit www.roadatlanta.com .

From a press release issued by JR Racing:

MORE POINTS FOR ROBINSON AT CADWELL

JR Motosport rider Jamie Robinson continued his great mid season form with another points scoring ride in front of another bumper Bank Holiday crowd at round eleven of the British Supersport Championship held at Cadwell Park yesterday.

Yorkshireman Robinson planted his Yamaha R6 on row four of the grid following a frenetic qualifying session whilst team mate Paul Veazey started from row six for the third successive meeting, despite a spill in second qualifying
in which he injured his wrist.

With in excess of 30,000 fans gracing the Lincolnshire track, Robinson started well as the pack sorted themselves out in the early stages, before setting into a dice for the lower points scoring places. At the end of the 16 lap epic,
the former 250cc British Champion posted a 13th place finish which was good for three more championship points.

“That was hard work and I’m a little disappointed not to have finished a few places higher. I got held up in the race as some of the riders around me were not as fast on the corners but their bikes were a lot quicker then mine on
the straights. As a result I was getting held up and it was very frustrating. We need to have a look at things in that department as the final two races are on tracks where it is vitally important to have a fast bike” said the 28 year old from Holmfirth.

Meanwhile 17 year old Veazey defied the pain of his practice spill to record a 19th place finish at a track which he likes although has never been particularly kind to him. The Middlesbrough rider looked to be on course for his first points of the season following a solid first day when a coming together with another rider saw him crash out of second qualifying to hinder his progress during Monday’s race.

“It was the same rider I had a coming together with at Croft but this time I ended up falling off! My wrist and shoulder was a little bit sore but I dug in and gritted my teeth which is what I needed to do. I just need an ounce of luck and the first points of the season are there for the taking” said Veazey who will be hoping to do that next time out at OultonPark in two weeks time.

Robinson echoed his protégé’s comments: “Despite the crash, this has been Paul’s best weekend by far and I’m very pleased for him. He got stuck in and showed some aggression but he still needs to be more forceful in the opening stages of the race. He got shuffled out again and made a lot of work for himself but a top twenty finish is great and he showed fantastic resolve”

Supersport Race Result – 16 laps

1, Jay Vincent (Honda) 25m40.032s, 2, Tom Sykes (Suzuki) +0.417s, 3, Stuart Easton (Ducati) +0.526s, 4, Michael Laverty (Ducati) +1.145s, 5, Matt Llewellyn (Ducati) +6.255s, 6, Luke Quigley (Suzuki) +6.644s, 7, Pere Riba (Kawasaki) +15.572s, 8, Craig Jones (Triumph) +15.815s, 9, Simon Andrews (Yamaha) +16.503s, 10, Paul Young (Honda) +20.002s. 13, Jamie Robinson (JR Motosport Yamaha) +24.438, 19 Paul Veazey (JR Motosport Yamaha) + 44.888s.

British Supersport Championship Standings (after Round 11)

1, Karl Harris (Honda) 197 pts
2, Jay Vincent (Honda) 167 pts
3, Michael Laverty (Ducati) 158 pts
4, Pere Riba (Kawasaki) 110 pts
5, Luke Quigley (Suzuki) 91 pts
6, Tom Sykes (Suzuki) 87 pts
7, Leon Camier (Honda) 85 pts
8, Simon Andrews (Yamaha) 83 pts
9, Cal Crutchlow (Honda) 57 pts
9, Craig Jones (Triumph) 57 pts
10, Paul Young (Honda) 55 pts

19, Jamie Robinson (JR Motosport Yamaha) 23 pts


More, from a press release issued by Hawk Kawasaki:

RICHARDS WINS MAN OF THE MEETING AND HICKMAN DOES THE DOUBLE

Hawk Kawasaki’s Glen Richards today made a sensational return to BSB by taking the Sky Sports’ Man of the Meeting award for his courageous race two effort in the eleventh round of the THINK! British Superbike Championship, at Cadwell Park. The popular Aussie almost claimed a podium place despite not yet being fully fit from injuries sustained at Thruxton in June.

Richards gambled on slick tyres in race two, just minutes after a downpour drenched the 2.18 mile Lincolnshire track, and then powered his way from ninth to third on the road. Having dispensed with Plater, Haydon and Emmett he looked set to take a fine third place, but a lack of strength in his left arm forced him to back-off in the last few laps. Emmett and Thomas passed Richards on the last lap, but he held on for a well deserved fifth spot.

“The conditions were good for me because I didn’t tire as quickly in that race,” said Richards, who was seventh in the first outing. “But five laps from the end I was finished and there was nothing I could do but ride around. I wasn’t going to be able to hold off Emmett and Thomas and that was annoying because I had a podium place but my body gave up.”

Richards’ team-mate, Scott Smart, faired even better in the second outing, taking a fine second place – some 21 seconds clear of third placed finisher Sean Emmett. Smarty was determined to make up for a disastrous first race in which his chain came off on lap 11 while leaping Cadwell’s notorious Mountain. Up until that point he had been running comfortably with leaders Rutter, Kiyonari and Kagayama. Despite a gallant effort making it back to the pits and rejoining the race a lap down, Smart was unable to break into the points before the race was red flagged on lap 15.

“I’d started to settle into a rhythm in fourth spot after swapping places with Kagayama a few times,” said Smart of the first race. “Then I got the thing a bit crossed up over the mountain and it flicked the chain off the sprocket, just like it did last year. I managed to coast back to the pits and get the thing back on again, but by the time I’d rejoined I was a lap down and that was that.

“Unfortunately we ran out of time on the grid in the second race,” he continued. “If we’d stuck a slick in the rear we would have been laughing, but we used a really, really soft cut slick and the thing was moving around too much. I’m not particularly pleased with second place because I think we should have won at least one race and been right up there in the first, but that’s life. Overall it’s been a frustrating weekend because we’ve been the quickest people around here. But at least I’m still third in the points.”

John McGuinness once again proved his superbike riding pedigree by bringing his Hawk Kawasaki ZX-10R home in two strong ninth places, but he too was frustrated by his tyre choice in the second race. Having scorched his way through the field to fourth in the opening laps, McGuinness’ progress was cruelly cut short by his rapidly overheating wet weather front tyre. The TT winner showed great determination, however, by holding onto a top 10 place despite the drying track.

“I knew at the start that if it wasn’t going to rain I’ve have to get stuck in, so I went berserk on the first lap,” said John of the second race. “I was right there in the first few laps but it just started getting drier and drier and there was no chance on my tyres. If I’d have pushed it I would have fallen off and I wanted to bring the bike home safe. It could have lashed it down again, but in the end it didn’t. I’ve never almost crashed so many times in my life. A wet front on a bone dry track for 18 laps was hard work.”

Hawk Kawasaki’s National Superstock Cup sensation, Peter Hickman, was victorious again today – this time finishing more than 19 seconds clear of his nearest rival. Hicky’s Cadwell double sees the Lincolnshire teenager extend his championship lead to eight points.

“That was easier than yesterday’s race,” said Hickman, who again led from start to finish. “I couldn’t hear the others behind me for so long and I just got my head down. It’s been a great weekend – pole position, two fastest laps, two wins and the championship lead. In fact it’s been perfect.”

Hawk Kawasaki Team Principal Stuart Hicken commented: “Overall I’m very happy with the way the weekend’s gone. It’s been tremendous, we’ve had two pole positions, Peter’s done the double and that was an unbelievable ride by Glen. Obviously it was a shame about Scott’s chain flying off in the first race, but he caught the mountain wrong and it had it off. He made up for it with a great ride in the second so I’m over the moon with the results.”

BSB RACE 1

1) Michael Rutter, Honda. 2) Ryuichi Kiyonari, Honda. 3) Yukio Kagayama, Suzuki. 4) James Haydon, Yamaha. 5) Tommy Hill, Yamaha. 6) Dean Thomas, Ducati. 7) Glen Richards, Hawk Kawasaki. 8) Kieran Clarke, Yamaha. 9) John McGuinness, Hawk Kawasaki. 10) Sean Emmett, Ducati. 11) Gary Mason, Yamaha. 12) Jon Kirkham, Suzuki (P). 13) Paul Brown, Ducati. 14) James Ellison, Yamaha (P). 15) Chris Martin, Suzuki (P)

20) Scott Smart, Hawk Kawasaki

(P)= Privateer

Fastest lap: Yukio Kagayama, Suzuki, 1:29.105, 88.07mph


BSB RACE 2

1) Yukio Kagayama, Suzuki. 2) Scott Smart, Hawk Kawasaki. 3) Sean Emmett, Ducati. 4) Dean Thomas, Ducati. 5) Glen Richards, Hawk Kawasaki. 6) James Haydon, Yamaha. 7) Kieran Clarke, Yamaha. 8) John Reynolds, Suzuki. 9) John McGuinness, Hawk Kawasaki. 10) James Ellison, Yamaha (P). 11) Sam Corke, Suzuki (P). 12) Gus Scott, Suzuki (P). 13) Craig Coxhell, Honda. 14) Jon Kirkham, Suzuki (P). 15) Michael Pensavalle, Ducati (P)

Fastest lap: Yukio Kagayama, Suzuki, 1:29.995, 87.20mph

BSB CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER 11 ROUNDS

1) John Reynolds, Suzuki, 370. 2) Michael Rutter, Honda, 337. 3) Scott Smart, Hawk Kawasaki, 296. 4) Yukio Kagayama, Suzuki, 290. 5) Sean Emmett, Ducati, 262. 6) Ryuichi Kiyonari, Honda, 170. 7) James Haydon, Yamaha, 155. 7=) Dean Thomas, Ducati, 155. 9) Tommy Hill, Yamaha, 115. 10) Gary Mason, Yamaha, 100. 11) James Ellison, Yamaha, 99. 12) Glen Richards, Hawk Kawasaki, 98. 13) Craig Coxhell, Honda, 87. 14) John McGuinness, Hawk Kawasaki, 78. 15) Jon Kirkham, Suzuki, 71

MANUFACTURERS CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER 11 ROUNDS

1) Suzuki, 453. 2) Honda, 376. 3) Kawasaki, 321. 4) Ducati, 301. 5) Yamaha, 243

NATIONAL SUPERSTOCK CUP, ROUND 10 RACE

1) Peter Hickman, Hawk Kawasaki. 2) Simon Wright, Yamaha. 3) John Fisher, Suzuki. 4) James McBride, Suzuki. 5) Dan Stewart, Suzuki. 6) Kris Jennes, Kawasaki. 7) Rory Rock, Yamaha. 8) Graham Seward, Suzuki. 9) Mark Turner, Kawasaki. 10) Paul Shoesmith, Yamaha

Fastest lap: Peter Hickman, Hawk Kawasaki, 1:33.647, 83.80mph

NATIONAL SUPERSTOCK CUP, AFTER 10 ROUNDS

1) Peter Hickman, Hawk Kawasaki, 119. 2) Simon Wright, 111. 3) John Fisher, 93. 4) Paul Shoesmith, 89. 5) Graham Seward, 77. 6) Dan Stewart, 69. 7) Rory Rock, 68. 8) James McBride, 63. 9) Alan Moreton, 48. 10) Simon Pomeroy, 45

From a press release issued by Phillips Motorsport Group:

Eric Putter has been hired as the marketing manager for Phillips Motorsport Group, which includes the Lockhart Phillips USA, Options Italia and TeamLine brands, effective immediately.

A former motojournalist, photographer and public-relations executive, Putter will report directly to PMG President Wendell Phillips and be responsible for the company’s advertising activities, catalog production, marketing programs, media relations and website presence.

He can be reached at (949) 498-9090, ext. 222 and
[email protected].

From a press release:

American Pearson scores first win “Down Under”

American road racer John Pearson won in the Formula One class and placed second in the Open Superbike class at round 4 of the RB Racing series held at Wakefield Park Raceway in Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia on August 29th.

Race day weather was unpredictable; starting out cool and overcast, then changing to light rain that came down harder as the day went on.

John was riding his Lee’s Cycle Racing-built Suzuki GSX-R750 with an 813cc-engine kit on Dunlop tires. Allowed only in regional and club races, John’s Suzuki was ruled ineligible for competition in the Australian National Superbike series earlier this year by the series’ governing agent, Motorcycling Australia. Currently, the Australian Superbike class is based on production-model, 1000cc machines with 17″ wheels and other limited modifications. Fortunately, John has been able to compete on a national level in the Pro-Twins class on a Honda RC-51 sponsored by Doin’ Bikes of Lansvale, New South Wales, Australia.

“The weekend went really good, my bike was fast and handling the bumpy circuit well, but the most important thing was making the right tire choices during the changing conditions. In my last race the rain was really coming down, it was like synchronized swimming out there instead of road racing!” John said.

John is still racing with the plated collarbone he severely broke in a practice crash last September at Eastern Creek Raceway. “There hasn’t really been time to go in for the surgery and then heal up between races, so I plan on getting the plate and screws removed during the Christmas break.”

The 5th and final round of the RB Racing series will be a 6-hour team relay event held at Eastern Creek Raceway on October 3rd.

John’s next race will be riding the Doin’ Bikes Honda RC-51 at Phillip Island in the Pro-Twins category for the final round of the Australian Superbike Series, September 10-12.

A Chief Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy, John is currently living and working in Sydney, Australia as a part of a military exchange program.

From a press releas issued by d’Antin Ducati:

Another weekend of discovery for Xaus and Hodgson

The d´Antin MotoGP riders this weekend are faced with yet another unknown track, with neither Rubén Xaus nor Neil Hodgson ever having ridden at the Estoril circuit. However the Briton and the Spaniard are prepared to discover the Portuguese track, which is well known as one of the slowest on the whole calendar.

The challenge begins with Friday morning’s free practice, when the riders will begin work on the set-up of their Ducati Desmosedici, trying to make the bike work efficiently around a circuit so full of contrasts, where the additional problem of high-winds can also play an important role.

NEIL HODGSON completed another good race in Brno, but he did so under the effects of painkillers due to an incident during practice which brought back the pain in his ribs from an earlier crash in France:

“It was a shame because it’s a delicate zone, and when I got another blow to the area it set back my recovery a little. I’m carrying on in pain, but it won’t stop me being excited about another race at a circuit I know nothing about. When I raced in the World Championships beforehand, this event wasn’t on the calendar and I’ll be beginning from zero basically, but it is always exciting to discover a new track and I think that this one is particularly different. The wind can be an issue, but I understand that it’s a circuit with lots of contrasts, and so I’m sure to like it.”

RUBÉN XAUS left the Czech Republic with a bad taste in his mouth, but the impetuous Spaniard hopes that he can enjoy the Portuguese circuit a bit more:

“The weather dealt us a bad hand in Brno and I couldn’t get comfortable in the race, but there was also a technical problem which led to a crash and stopped me from reaching my aim of finishing the race. Now it is all water under the bridge and I’m looking towards Estoril, but as on other occasions this year, I have no references at this track having never ridden there before. I have been told that the set-up can be quite complicated at the track, but I’m confident I can get comfortable and can work hard from the very first session. On top of that, because of its proximity to Spain I think lots of Spanish fans go there, so that will be an extra bit of motivation for me.”

From a press release issued by Dorna Sports:

MotoGP waves goodbye to Europe at Grande Premio Marlboro de Portugal

The MotoGP World Championship heads to the western edge of Europe this weekend for the last of nine rounds on the continent before a five week jaunt across Asia, the Middle East and Australia which will bring the 2004 season to a rising crescendo ahead of a mouth-watering final race at Valencia. The Grande Premio Marlboro de Portugal marks the eleventh of sixteen rounds and provides Sete Gibernau with another chance to close the gap on series leader Valentino Rossi in front of a partisan crowd.

Thousands of Spanish fans traditionally flood over the border to the Estoril circuit on the outskirts of Lisbon and have more reason than ever to swap their sofa for a grandstand seat at the Estoril circuit this weekend as Gibernau looks to repeat victory over Rossi in the last round in the Czech Republic. Rossi’s lead currently stands at 17 points over the Spaniard, with a maximum of 150 still up for grabs, and both riders will be looking to make the most of improvements made to their machinery in two days of tests which followed the Grand Prix at Brno last week.

Rossi’s Yamaha team worked intensively to further develop the engine of his M1, which was also fitted with a new fairing exclusively for the test. Meanwhile, Gibernau was able to experiment with the new exhaust system brought to Brno by Honda, which he declined to use in the race after adverse weather conditions had limited dry set-up time during practice. Any improvements to the bikes will be tested to the limit at Estoril, a circuit notoriously critical of engine and chassis set-up, where some of the fastest and slowest corners on the MotoGP calendar intensify the need for a good overall compromise.

Yamaha and Honda were not the only factories making progress at Brno, with their rivals Ducati, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Proton, WCM and Moriwaki all staying on for extra tests as the need to close down the gap to the lead riders becomes ever more apparent. Gibernau, Rossi and Max Biaggi consolidated their top three positions in the championship by filling the podium in the Czech Republic for the seventh time since four-stroke motorcycles were introduced to the series at the start of the 2002 season and at least one of the three has been on the podium at each of the 42 races since then, including a total of 37 victories.

One man unlikely to be challenging the lead trio for his debut win this weekend is Honda rider Nicky Hayden, who faces a late fitness check after breaking his collarbone in a training accident in Italy on Saturday. Meanwhile, Shane Byrne has definitely been ruled out as he continues his recovery from a dislocated wrist. Aprilia have not announced a replacement for the British Superbike Champion, who is hopeful of a return to action in the next round at Motegi.

Like Gibernau in the MotoGP class, Dani Pedrosa will be hoping strong Spanish support can lift him another step towards the 250cc World Championship title. Pedrosa is out for revenge after being relegated to third place by Sebastian Porto and Randy de Puniet in a controversial race at Brno. Light rainfall just three laps from the end saw Pedrosa surrender a clear lead as he called for the race to be stopped, but the rookie still leads the series by 30 points from De Puniet, with Porto a further 13 behind.

Porto took Aprilia’s 100th win in the 250cc class at Brno and will be hopeful of a repeat performance in Portugal, where he took a podium finish in 2002 after starting from pole position for the first time in his career riding a Yamaha. However, De Puniet will be confident of success himself having also finished on the podium here last year and motivation could not be higher for the Frenchman, who has won just once this season but is the only rider in the class to have taken points in every race.

Andrea Dovizioso holds a similar record to De Puniet in the 125cc class but finds himself 36 points clear at the top of the standings thanks to a remarkable run of top four finishes in all ten rounds. Dovizioso is the first rider to achieve the feat since 1987, when Fausto Gresini won the opening ten races, whilst a new record of eleven would be set with a repeat performance this Sunday. However, the Italian is sure to face another stern test from Spanish teenagers Hector Barberá, who holds the lap record at Estoril, and Jorge Lorenzo, who is looking to end a run of 33 races without a back-to-back winner in the class after his a dramatic victory at Brno.

From a press release issued by Camel Honda Racing Information:

Camel Honda team in Portugal before the intercontinental challenge

A glance at the MotoGP standings with six races left before the end of what has been a fantastic season, offers more than a moment of satisfaction to the Camel Honda riders. Max Biaggi and Makoto Tamada have respectively picked up 17 and 22 points more this year in comparison to last year, and the team can count two victories to last year’s one with six races to go. The first of those six is the Portuguese event, the last round before the breathtaking jet-set succession of intercontinental races which includes the big unknown of the Qatari event. The Portuguese circuit, a semi-slow track topped off with a super-fast final straight, is one of those which challenges engineers and riders to the limit, and coming straight off the back of a two day test in Brno the Camel Honda crew are ready for the contest.

Sito Pons – Camel Honda (Team Principal)

“The Portugal GP is particularly important for us. Our objective is to not make any mistakes and to pick up points on our main rivals for the championship. If we look back on our season so far, we have only lost precious points in Barcelona and Donington, and it shouldn’t happen again. In the Czech Republic, despite having started a little down the order, Max made the podium whilst Makoto magnificently clawed himself up to fourth place. Then we had two days at the test, and together with the practice at this GP should allow us to optimise the set-up of the latest parts on the bike.”

Max Biaggi #3: (Michelin tyres)

“I like Estoril, last year I got onto the podium and if we get the bike working well we can do even better this year. In Brno we did a lot of work in the two test days after the race and even if we haven’t got all the answers we were looking for, we will give our everything to be competitive on this track from Friday onwards. The track is okay, it reminds me a little of Spain’s Jarama circuit, not fast, apart from the main straight, but quite technical. The only thing I really don’t like is the asphalt, because it’s very bumpy in places. So I’ll be relying on my engineers and the Honda engineers to find a set-up which neutralises this factor.”

Luca Montiron – Camel Honda (Makoto Tamada Team Manager)

“After the summer break we made another step forward in Brno thanks to the new tyres that Bridgestone brought along, which helped us come out superbly from a weekend dampened by the poor weather. Now we go to Portugal with the aim of backing up all the progress we have made and try to make things even better. The two test days in Brno gave us some satisfying results and this giving us immense motivation. Once again the gap to our rivals has been closed and now we just need a further little step forward on Bridgestone’s part to show that we can perform on all tracks, because we firmly believe it.”

Makoto Tamada #6: (Bridgestone tyres)

“I quite like the Estoril track, or should I say there’s a part I really like, with the fast turn leading onto an even faster straight, and a slow part, which I don’t like so much. It doesn’t matter though, if the weather is good and we manage to get both the bike and the tyres in a good shape in the practices, we can do an even better race than in Brno.”

2003 Podium

1. V. Rossi (Honda)
2. M. Biaggi (Honda)
3. L. Capirossi (Ducati)


Pole Position Record
Capirossi (Ducati -2003)
1:38.412


Official Record
V. Rossi (Honda – 2003)
1:39.189


No. of Laps
28 ( km 117,096)



MotoGP timetable:
14.00 (GMT)



Estoril Circuit Characteristics
Length: 4,182 m
Width: 14m
Right corners: 9
Left corners: 4
Constructed in: 1972
Last Modified: 1999

From a press release issued by Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation:

Ride for Kids(r) events in Asheville, NC and Ann Arbor, MI raise money for childhood brain tumor research


The rumbling sound of 425 motorcycles filled the air of the Biltmore Square Mall parking lot in Asheville, NC on Sunday, August 29th as motorcyclists prepared to depart on the 11th Annual Asheville Ride for Kids(r). Families around the country who have children with brain tumors know that the sound of motorcycles means hope. Since 1984, the Ride for Kids(r) has been raising money to fund the research and family support programs of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. The parade of motorcycles and their police escort wound its way through the majestic mountains of Western North Carolina before arriving at Lake Lure, the site of the Celebration of Life program. There, under the blue and white striped celebratory “Big Top Tent,” the 750 motorcyclists, volunteers, fundraisers, patient families and researchers celebrated the fact that $109,986 had been raised for childhood brain tumor research.

The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation was honored to have two of its Scientific Advisory Board members present at the Asheville Ride for Kid(r). Dr. Francis Ali-Osman and Dr. Darell Bigner, both of Duke University, were on hand at this year’s festivities. Dr. Bigner, who is also Director of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation Institute at Duke, told those gathered that grants from the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation have allowed his team of researchers to concentrate on childhood brain tumor research. He also told the motorcyclists that progress could not be made without their fundraising efforts.

The 2004 Asheville Ride for Kids(r) was in memory of young Mary Ann, a precious young Asheville girl who lost her battle with a childhood brain tumor in 2003. Her father, Rocky, told the motorcyclists that “I am truly humbled and honored by your fundraising efforts. Because of angels like yourself, Mary Ann’s spirit will live on forever.”

The Top Individual Fundraiser was Ray Hobby, who raised $29,410 in memory of his son who had a childhood brain tumor. The Top Club was GWRRA NC Chapter M2 whose members raised $12,545. MR Motorcycle of Asheville, NC was the Top Dealer with its customers raising $12,614. Kim Moore, of Spruce Pine, NC was the winner of a brand new Honda motorcycle donated by the American Honda Motor Company.

Special thanks to Asheville Ride for Kids(r) Task Force Leaders Terry and Shelba Murray, Dave Huey and their team of dedicated volunteers for a very successful event.



More than 600 miles away in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the 13th Annual Ann Arbor Ride for Kids(r) also took place on Sunday, August 29th. Despite the unseasonably cold and rainy weather, 425 motorcyclists, fundraisers, volunteers and patient families gathered to raise $106,239 for childhood brain tumor research.

After enjoying a police-escorted ride through Michigan’s lush and green rolling countryside, the motorcyclists gathered for the Celebration of Life program. There, the participants listened to eight young brain tumor survivors, the “Ride for Kids(r) stars”, being interviewed on-stage. Denni, a mother of one of the Ride for Kids(r) stars, commented, “Most of you think that PBTF stands for Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. Many of us believe that it stands for Persistent Blessing and True Friend.”

The Top Individual Fundraiser was Randy Horton who raised $11,315. The Top Club was Cycle Conservation Club of Michigan whose members raised $21,876. The Top Shop was Maurell Products of Owosso, MI whose customers raised $12,985. Denni Proctor, of Allegan, MI, was the winner of a brand new Honda motorcycle donated by the American Honda Motor Company.

Thanks to Ann Arbor Ride for Kids(r) Task Force Leader Bill and Kathy Chapin and their dedicated team of volunteers for a well-run event.

The next Ride for Kids(r) event is on Sunday, September 12 Puget Sound (WA).

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 call (800) 253-6530.

From a press release issued by Motonation:

Sidi boots now accepting resumes

With the 2005 season approaching, it’s time once again to start seeking riders to represent Sidi boots at the local and regional level.

Support rides are available for all forms of competition as Sidi offers a boot for every need. Whether the rider is a MX/SX specialist, an off road racer, a street or dirt freestyle competitor or a road race kinda guy Sidi has a boot to fit every need.

Resumes can be sent to Kyle Smith at [email protected] or to the address/fax below.

Kyle Smith
Motonation
1100 North Magnolia Ave, ste A
El Cajon CA 92020
Phone (619) 401-4100 x 105
Fax (619) 401-4108
www.motonation.com