Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

Normally I just read new reports like this and laugh at the obvious errors made by those reporting. But in this instance, I felt compelled to respond. There are possibly a number of errors at work here simultaneously, but without more detailed information regarding the altitude the plane (which may or may not have the curvature of the earth as a factor depending on how high the plane was), the speed of travel, direction of travel relative to the motorcycle, and angle of attack of the plane (whether the plane was level, descending, ascending, or banked into a turn), my comments can only be viewed as information that can put a “reasonable doubt” into the minds of any person who claims to actually use their brain. It is obvious that the “Airborne State Troopers” don’t fall into this category, or don’t understand motorcycles and physics very well. This preamble leads us to a well known phenomena, called Parallax.

First some basic math. 60 mph = 88ft/sec. At this rate of speed (notice I didn’t say acceleration) the 1/4 mile is traveled in 15 seconds. The one correct part of this whole thing is that, Yes….1/4 mile in 4.39 seconds does = 205 mph. But an approximate half second difference (1/4 mile in 5 seconds instead of 4.39 seconds) would drop that speed to 180 mph. A 1 second error (1/4 mile in 5.39 seconds) drops that speed to 168 mph.

168 mph is a completely believable speed for a stock CBR1000RR, as is 180 mph for a moderately to highly tuned 1000cc street legal sportbike.

Is it possible to introduce a half second or 1 second human error into this equation? YES, especially when Parallax is considered. The definition of Parallax is provided below.

Source: The American Heritage® Stedman’s Medical Dictionary, Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.


Main Entry: par·al·lax
Pronunciation: ‘par-&-“laks
Function: noun
: the apparent displacement or the difference in apparent direction of an object as seen from two different points not on a straight line with the object

From this definition, it becomes apparent that a large number of factors can introduce optical illusion errors. Since the original article states that the motorcycle was accelerating away at an apparent rate of twice the speed of the plane, and the plane is viewing the entire event from above and behind, there is very little chance the measurement made from hundreds of feet in the air is anywhere near accurate. The spotter would be “ASSUMING” when the front tire did in fact cross the line that he used to start the watch, AND worse yet as the bike accelerates (not speeds) away and increases the distance between the plane and the motorcycle, the timing when the front wheel crosses the second line used to stop the stop watch is even MORE OF AN ASSUMPTION.

Then we have to ask, was the bike going uphill or downhill at all? Because if it was doing either, depending on what height the plane was, the motorcycle may have looked like it crossed the line sooner from a viewing position above and behind. Or if the plane was traveling at any direction other than perpendicular to the direction of travel of the motorcycle, that would also affect the person’s ability to accurately judge the time the motorcycle crossed the white line.

The officer also said he was “ready.” Well, how ready was he? Did he maybe time the rear wheel as it crossed the first line and then the front wheel as it crossed the second line? All these issues add a significant degree of error due to the extremely short time duration over which the entire event occurred.

This also explains why the “photo-finish” cameras are placed perpendicular to the direction of travel of the “racing objects” as they cross the finish line in ALL FORMS OF RACING. Or, more simply, the photo finish camera is taking a picture that is parallel to the finish line, as things move across the finish line. You never see the photo finish cameras above and behind the finish line. Add in the height of plane and consider if the plane was high enough the curvature of the earth must also be factored into the equation, and you can see why this claim is just a publicity vehicle for that police department.

I could get into the physics required to push a motorcycle that fast against air, or that the really basic error is that NO VEHICLE, be it two wheels or four wheels, that is street legal in any way, shape or form can accelerate to 205 mph in 4.39 seconds regardless of how fast they were going to start with because of the wind resistance at those speeds, but I won’t. So the question becomes, why didn’t the police stop the bikes earlier when they saw them racing along an interstate with other traffic?

Any lawyer with a basic college understanding of physics and motorcycles would be able to get this case reduced or thrown out.

Reginald J. Gaudino, Ph.D.
Gaudino & Associates, Inc.
Oceanside, California



Dr. Gaudino is a licensed road racer…Editor.

From a press release issued by Pacific Track Time:

For the first time in the history of Thunderhill Park, Pacific Track Time, the leading provider of motorcycle track day events on the West Coast, will embark on a new adventure…

We have a 2 day event coming up, Monday July 26th and Tuesday July 27th at Thunderhill Park in Willows, CA. http://www.thunderhill.com

Monday you will ride THill’s 15 turn, 3 mile long road course and remember how it used to be. Things are about to change…During lunchtime you will enjoy an exhibition of trained experts demonstrating what they do best! These guys kick ass! Since you are already at the track, why not stay for Tuesday and be a part of motorcycle history!

On Tuesday Pacific Track Time will be the first motorcycle track day provider to run the exhilarating racetrack of Thunderhill Park in Reverse! What? That’s right–BACKWARDS! I tested the track myself in the opposite direction and it is Bad Ass! And you thought that the elevation changes were fun the other way. You’re gonna love this. Combine that with another lunchtime exhibition, I guarantee it will be 2 days you won’t forget!

What are the lap times going to be? How do those guys do that? Who will hold the new Thunderhill track record?

Come ride with us at Thunderhill and find out what is really going on!

Spaces will go quick, so sign up here:
http://www.pacifictracktime.com/purchase/ or simply call us at 530 223 0622.

From a press release issued by FGSport Group:

The permanent World Endurance Championship teams who have travelled to Japan to take part in this weekend’s Suzuka 8 Hours round of the championship have been out on track today for the first time since arriving earlier in the week. For most of them today has been a shake-down session and a chance to learn or re-learn the circuit.

Suzuki Castrol’s Vincent Phillipe was happy with the progress made, but is looking forward to the timed practice beginning: “It’s very difficult because of the weather – and our tyres are for European conditions. Tomorrow will be better.”

All the teams have had two open practice sessions so far today, with the first timed session to come this evening. Teams are split into two groups to reduce the amount of traffic on the circuit, but this means that each group has less total track time; a situation made worse by incidents which have seen the pace car and ambulance out on track in three out of the four sessions.

Suzuki Castrol’s Olivier Four was involved (but unhurt) in one of these incidents after being pushed off the track by another rider, and Yamaha Phase One’s Marko Rohtlaan has spent most of his time behind the pace car when he should have been learning the circuit at racing speed. Yamaha Austria’s Horst Saiger is also at Suzuka for the first time: “How is it going? Ask me on Sunday…”

Yamaha GMT94’s Sebastien Gimbert was feeling the heat this afternoon, but declared himself satisfied with the bike set-up so far: “I am very hot but I am very happy.” GMT94 tested here earlier in the year, and although their tests were interrupted by poor weather they have obviously been useful. Yamaha Phase One’s Sebastien Scarnato was also happy with the day’s progress. “We have some things to change, but we know what we have to do.”

Qualifying takes place tomorrow, with two timed sessions for each rider in each team. These will decide the grid positions for the race, with the fastest twenty teams progressing to Saturday afternoon’s “Special Stage” Superpole competition before the race itself on Sunday.

From a press release:

From the Pacific on an Atlantic, and Back, Amputee Rides to Raise Funds for the Legal Center for People with Disabilities

The right and freedom to travel without fear inspire Joe Nolfo’s 15,500-mile round-the-country moto journey

Woodstock, GA (July 22, 2004) – Florida native Joe Nolfo lost his left leg during a hit-and-run accident in 1982. Since then he has dedicated his life to raising funds for a number of charities by continually testing his endurance. From setting unofficial long-distance swimming world records to a 159-day cross-country wheelchair trek in 1997, Nolfo works tirelessly to raise awareness about the importance of maintaining every American’s freedom to travel without fear. For his latest adventure, a 15,500-mile journey aboard an Aprilia Atlantic 500 scooter, Nolfo also hopes to raise funds for The Legal Center for People with Disabilities, a non-profit agency that promotes education and research for people with physical challenges.

Nolfo’s travel route is taking him up the Atlantic coast to New York City, through New England, then across the Unites States to the Pacific coast. He’ll trace the coastline to Los Angeles, then head east on a southern route, back to his home state of Florida. Nolfo expects to arrive back in Oldsmar, Florida in mid-October. Along the way, he is meeting thousands of supporters and spreading a message of determination and optimism.

“Motorcycling is synonymous with the freedom of the open road, and the freedom to travel that road is every individual’s right” says Nolfo. “Neither threats of terrorism nor a disability should prevent any American from fully enjoying mobility throughout this great country of ours.”

Anyone wishing to show support for Joe on his “Great American Ride” can make a donation by contacting The Legal Center for People with Disabilities and Older People, a non profit organization established in 1976 in Denver, CO at 1-800-288-1376 or at www.thelegalcenter.org. The Legal Center is well known for the New Handbook on Special Education Rights by Randy Chapman, the Center’s Director of Legal Services. This self-help publication is so loved by parents of children with disabilities that they call it the “Special Ed Bible.”

“Joe Nolfo’s efforts reflect the values of empowerment, self-determination, independence and inclusion, which we embrace as an organization,” said Mary Anne Harvey, The Legal Center’s Executive Director.

From a press release issued by Proforma:

CMRA RIDERS DOMINATE AMA GRAND CHAMPIONSHIPS AT MID-OHIO

Riders from the CMRA (Central Motorcyle Roadracing Association) dominated both days of competition at the 2004 AMA Sport Road Race Grand Championships at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, July 20 & 21. A total of nine CMRA members raced in a variety of classes against riders from across the country.

The designated CMRA three-rider team of Ty Howard, Ben Thompson and Logan Young won the 2004 AMA Sports Road Race Club Challenge Championship, with strong rides from all three riders. Their best results were combined, giving them the win over strong teams from ASMC, CCS and WERA.

On top of the Team Challenge Championship, Logan Young, 20, from Houston, Texas, was presented the prestigious AMA Horizon Award for 2004. The Horizon Award is presented to riders in different AMA Sports disciplines, and is determined on a rider’s on-track performance, sportsmanship and personality. Logan won the award among a tight field of competitors, with inspired rides from grid positions based on random selection, some as far back as the 17th row.

“I want to thank so many people,” said Young. “The CMRA was kind enough to allow me, Ben and Ty to come here and race for them. Hopefully, we represented them well. My goal was to come here, finish well and not tear anything up. It’s just starting to sink in that I won the Horizon Award.”

In addition to the riders listed above, the CMRA was also represented by Scott Beckley, Bill Drake, Phillip Lawlis, Kevin Pate and Heath Small.

Congratulations to all!

From a press release issued by Proforma:

MILLENNIUM TECHNOLOGIES SUZUKI AT MID-OHIO THIS WEEKEND

The Millennium Technologies Suzuki team of Danny Eslick and Shawn Higbee will race this weekend, July 23-25, at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, site of round nine of the AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship.

Danny Eslick
“Since Laguna, we went home for two days, took care of some things, then went to a dirt track in Davenport, Iowa,” said Danny. “We did the 505 AMA Sport race. I made the main event and finished 14th in that, the only Suzuki there. Drove straight from there to Ohio. I’ve just been hanging out and watching the amateur racing for the last couple of days. I like Mid-Ohio, so hopefully this will be a good weekend, be able to make up some points on a few guys, so we can finish well in the points for the season.”

Shawn Higbee
Shawn finished seventh and eighth in last year’s Superbike doubleheader at Mid-Ohio. “I didn’t qualify that well last year, but things really came together in the two races,” said Higbee. “I like the track, the layout, I just hope that the surface is okay after they’ve worked on it. This is more of a regular schudule this weekend, so it should give us enough time to get the bike sorted out for the track.”

More, from another press release issued by Proforma:

HEATH SMALL GEARS UP FOR MID-OHIO

HAS/Shogun Racing rider Heath Small and his team will race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio this weekend, July 23-25, during round nine of the AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship. Heath participated in Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s AMA Sports Grand Championships at Mid-Ohio, as a warm-up to the AMA Pro Racing weekend.

“Since Laguna Seca, we did some Motard riding up in Stockton (California), came down and watched Danny (Eslick) do an AMA dirt track race in Iowa, and got to Mid-Ohio on Sunday” said Small. “I got on track on Monday for the track day, first time I’ve been here in a couple of years. The track surface plays with your head more than it does anything else. There used to be a lip from the asphalt to the concrete patches, now it’s smooth across, but it has grooves in it. It’s better from a safety point of view. I don’t know if the track is any faster or any slower.”

Heath had a variety of good finishes over the two days of AMA Sports racing. On Tuesday, he won the Middleweight Superbike race and finished sixth in the Superstock event. On Wednesday, Heath finished 10th in Formula Xtreme, 13th in Supersport, and finished a close second to fellow Texan Ty Howard in the Superbike final.

From a press release issued by Dorna:

Riders for Health the first winners at Donington Park

The Cinzano British Grand Prix gets underway at Donington Park tomorrow but whatever happens in the ninth round of the MotoGP World Championship the first winners of the weekend’s action are Riders for Health, who celebrated a host of successful money-raising activities on the traditional Day of Champions on Thursday. The MotoGP charity, who strive to provide transport network solutions for medical relief in third world Africa, benefited from a special dinner in London last night, attended by HRH Princess Anne The Princess Royal and a host of representatives from the Grand Prix paddock, which raised £25,000.

The gates of the paddock itself opened today for Day of Champions, with thousands of fans flooding in to meet their MotoGP idols and take part in a variety of activities and auctions. A handful of visitors even got the chance to live out their Grand Prix dream, completing several laps of the Donington Park circuit on board the two-seat Ducati Desmosedici ridden by Randy Mamola, whilst others took part in a quiz, scooter races and circuit ride-in, as well as being entertained by a classic bike show, stunt riders and a world record attempt for the fastest top speed on a mini-bike.

Whilst the auction was set to continue long into the evening and exact proceeds will not be known until the morning, charity organisers are expecting a total of over £100,000 to be handed over for unique signed memorabilia from all of the MotoGP riders, who were on hand to make personal presentations to the successful bidders.

After dealing with the photograph and autograph requests of the thousands fans mulling around the paddock, the riders were able to take refuge in their motorhomes as they planned another important weekend of action on the track. For MotoGP World Championship leader Valentino Rossi, who brought Leicester Square in London to a standstill on Wednesday when over 3,000 people turned out to welcome him to the capital, the Donington Park circuit has traditionally been a happy hunting ground, with victories in the 125cc, 250cc and MotoGP categories including his maiden premier-class win in 2000.

However, his relationship with the historic track was tainted last year when he was penalised ten seconds for overtaking under a yellow flag, a penalty that effectively relegated him to third place. Victory was handed to Max Biaggi, who now trails Rossi in the championship by just one point after his first win of the season at Sachsenring last week, and Rossi admitted he would like nothing better reaffirm his leadership at a race the Italian sees as his second ‘home’ Grand Prix of the year.

“I have had some problems over the last couple of races and I would like to put things right here,” said Rossi. “I have a house in London and the reception from the fans there yesterday was fantastic. I know I have a big following here so it will be nice to put on a good show like last year, but this time with the maximum points. It will be important because the championship is close – it could even go down to the last race in Valencia.”

Biaggi also has a score to settle, having revealed today that Rossi has not yet handed over his winner’s trophy from last year. “He still hasn’t swapped it yet,” explained Biaggi. “This time I want the trophy for first place. Things have gone well for me in recent weeks and it would be good to go for a holiday after this with a good result. I hear they have resurfaced the track so we will have to see what the grip is like tomorrow morning and take it from there.”

One rider who wasn’t available to meet the crowds today was Kenny Roberts, whose car broke down on the motorway travelling to the circuit. The former World Champion will be expecting more reliability from his Suzuki this weekend after consecutive front row starts and top ten finishes from the last two races.

Randy De Puniet denied claims that 125cc World Champion Dani Pedrosa’s increasing points cushion at the top of the 250cc class, which now stands at 25 over the Frenchman after his dominant win at the Sachsenring last Sunday, was due to a weight advantage, expressing his admiration for the young rookie. “Obviously Dani is very light and that could help him in acceleration, but as far as I am concerned he is a great rider and that is why he is leading the championship,” commented De Puniet. “I don’t care how much he weighs – I see him as a rival whom I must beat, and that is what I’ll be aiming to do this weekend.”

Andrea Dovizioso is already being touted as a potential team-mate for Pedrosa in the 250cc class next season as the rumour mill begins to turn, but the Italian teenager must first concentrate his efforts on following his Honda colleague’s footsteps in the 125cc class, which he leads by seven points from Roberto Locatelli. Hector Barberá, who won the race here last year, lies just a further two points behind the Italian.

From a press release issued by Proton Team KR:

Round Nine – British GP
Donington Park, July 28, 2004

CHANGE OF PACE FOR PROTON HOME RACE

Proton Team KR principal Kenny Roberts has demanded a change of pace for the England-made V5 MotoGP racer’s home GP.

The former triple World Champion and legendary racing entrepreneur has watched as the advanced Mk2 version of the already adventurous 990cc V5 racer has improved reliability, during another year of pursuing development of a radical new machine, while trying to race it at the same time.

But although the learning curve has been steep, the results have not been forthcoming. Now King Kenny has demanded a change of pace.

“We have had a horsepower problem all year – and in trying to solve that we’ve neglected the areas that make the bike friendly to ride, and give a good lap time,” he said, after last weekend’s German GP.

“I’m out of patience now,” he continued. “I don’t care if we are 20 km/h down on the Honda. We need to work on making our bike good in the areas it should be good, so it can go round the race-track properly for a fast lap time.”

The change of pace meant treating this GP – the last before a three-weekend summer break – as a testing session, he said.

The 2004 machine’s slimline chassis required a redesigned cylinder head, and that was the root of the problem, explained Roberts. “It didn’t give the horsepower predicted, and we haven’t had time to find out why, and to fix it,” he said.

The remorseless race schedule (six events in the last eight weeks) had put the team into race mode, said Roberts. Now they were switching into test mode.

“We will have four engine configurations at Donington Park, each one different, and maybe some more during the weekend. We’re working with camshafts, timing, cylinder heads and other changes,” he said.

With the German GP the previous weekend, there had been scant time even to do preliminary testing.

“They may not work well on the first day of practice,” concluded Roberts. “But by the end of the weekend we will know more about how to work in the summer break to improve the overall performance.”

The parkland circuit outside Derby is barely an hour away from the team’s state-of-the-art headquarters in Banbury. The other theme of Donington Park is the proximity of the team’s tyre suppliers Dunlop, even closer in Birmingham. In the past, this has brought success to the tyre brand. This year, however, the track is an unknown quantity … a full resurfacing since the last GP has changed the ground rules.

Riders Nobuatsu Aoki and Kurtis Roberts both hope that the Donington effect will play in their favour at the team’s home track.

So too should any improvement to the responses of the engine and the ride-ability of the overall package. At exactly 2.500 miles, most of the Donington lap is made up of flowing sections, where corners are taken not one by one but in complex sweeping arcs … a real rider’s track.

The British GP marks the end of the first part of the GP season, which started in South Africa in mid-April, and has continued with barely a break ever since. As the ninth of 16 rounds, it is also the start of the second half of the year. Racing resumes for the tenth round at Brno in the Czech Republic on August 22.

NOBUATSU AOKI – HOME RACE PROMISE
This is another track that I don’t like very much, but that’s all the same. It’s the home race for the team, and also a chance where our bike can find some advantage to make up for the lower top speed. I will try my best, as always. I also hope the British Dunlop tyres will work well at their own British track!

KURTIS ROBERTS –
I raced here in 1997 on the 250, so there’s something to start with. I still need to learn how to ride it on a MotoGP bike. I’m looking forward to trying some of the new stuff. If it makes it easier to go to the limit, that will be good.


More, from a press release issued by Telefonica MoviStar Honda:

BRITISH GP
PREVIEW

With the English GP, the 9th of the season, the championship enters the second half of the season before the summer break. Successfully finishing the first 8 races, the Team Telefonica MoviStar Honda MotoGP is ready to take on this race with their usual load of determination and fighting spirit.

With a contradicting nature, the Donington track represents a real challenge for technicians and engineers.

The first part, the fast one, requires a clean ride, while the second half requires an aggressive one. Therefore the perfect setup for the first half of the track is not ok for the second more aggressive half. The correct setup becomes a clever compromise: the driver in fact needs a precise bike for the fast section and an agile bike for the second.

SECOND IN 2003, SETE GIBERNAU RENEWS THE CHALLENGE AT DONINGTON

After the fall at Sachsenring, the second of the season, Sete Gibernau faces the Brtish GP determined to score a good result.

“In Germany we had another good weekend until the final part. I want to try and take it calmly, analyze exactly what happened, remembering that there is still a lot of the championship left. I hope that my bad luck will come to an end at Donington. It’s going to be very important to recover mentally, to arrive in England thinking that nothing has yet been decided and that we can continue to be strong.”

SETE GIBERNAU AND DONINGTON PARK

“I like Donington for more than one reason:
The track: I like this track because it is very demanding, there are a lot of slopes, strong braking, a slow part, a faster one and a continuous ups and downs. Due to the characteristics of the track it is fundamental to find the perfect compromise with the bike. It cannot be to perfect for any one area but it must be well balanced for the entirety of the track.
Donington is in fact a very particular track: it has very difficult quick downhill corners and when you start descending visibility is scarce so you have to take on a change of direction being almost blind.”

The grip: “Donington is famous for being a slippery track. Being so close to the East Midlands Airport the asphalt is slippery because it is soaked with kerosene that the planes lose. This determines the way the tyres react. Michelin is called to do a perfect job, trying to solve the problems this track which is amongst the slowest and most slippery of the Championship.”

Safety: “Donington is much better compared to last year, the Organizers worked very hard to improve the safety measures of the track.”

The spectators: “Donington is a nice place to be, the atmosphere is great. I like it because there are many fans and it is a track that is situated in the middle of lots of green space.”

Riders for Health: “Here Riders for Health organize a lot of events and it is nice to be able to give my contribution together with many other motor sport fans. A contribution for one of the many situations in this world that are more important than simply winning or losing a race.”

ALMOST A HOME GRAND PRIX FOR COLIN EDWARDS

Constantly improving his results, the American rider of the team Telefonica MoviStar Honda arrives to Donington, determined to score a good result.

Colin Edwards has many fans and aficionados in England since he was riding in SBK and no question that they will support him at Donington, a track that he likes and dear to him.

COLIN EDWARDS AND DONINGTON PARK
Q: What are your impressions when arriving to this English track?
A: I have nice memories of Donington. I know this track well as I won some SBK races here. I like the track and it has the charm of a historic circuit. I cannot underestimate the fact that everyone here speaks English, so I can talk to anyone, and this makes it almost feel like a home race for me.

Q: Which is the best section of the track?
A: The Craner corner, it is quick and you must take it on in fifth gear, but you must be careful as it is tricky. Here it is important to keep your line, this corner is in fact home to many falls.

Q: Which is the best point to overtake?
A: Donington is a track that offers few overtaking opportunities. For sure one of the easiest and cleanest points is the braking right before the chicane.

Q: Which is the slowest area?
A: The last three corners are slow and have to be taken on in first gear. Sometimes riders try to be a bit too aggressive and here it does not pay, they are slow corners and must be taken on as so.

Q: The secret to a perfect lap?
A: It is important to be quick and aggressive in certain areas and smooth in others. It is a good mix between violent braking and clean riding.

Q: Describe the atmosphere
A: I particularly like Donington for its track and for the air you breathe here. I feel under more pressure here than I do in Italy or in Spain because I have a greater number of fans here. I won various races here in SBK. English is spoken and I feel a bit at home. This probably is one of the most challenging events for me. I like Donington also because of the Day of Champions. It’s a good occasion to give back to the fans all the support they give us and to give a contribute to Riders for Health.



More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing:

Preview British Grand Prix, July 23, 24, 25, 2004

BIAGGI HITS FORM AS TITLE TENSION MOUNTS

Max Biaggi (Camel Honda RC211V) goes into this the ninth round of the 16-race World Championship off the back of a convincing win in Germany last weekend. The Italian ace is now just one point behind reigning World Champion Valnetino Rossi (Yamaha) as these fierce rivals take the fight to Donington Park.

Rossi sits on 139 points to Biaggi’s 138 with Spanish contender Sete Gibernau (Telefonica Movistar Honda RC211V) on 126 after he failed to score in Germany when he crashed on lap eight at the Sachsenring. But he has scored two wins already this season and is more than capable of re-establishing himself in the title reckoning.

As the halfway point of the season has been reached it looks as if the riders adrift of the three title leaders have too much to do to get back on terms – but this season still looks as if there a few more twists and turns still to come. And although Alex Barros (Repsol Honda RC211V) on 79 points, Colin Edwards (Telefonica Movistar Honda RC211V) on 75 and Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC211V) on 70 look too far away from the leaders – they still can’t be ruled out.

Donington usually provides an eventful race and with the track completely resurfaced for 2004, better grip should see lap records destroyed in all classes provided the unreliable British weather doesn’t conspire to provide wet conditions.

A great many riders have a great deal of affection for Donington Park. It’s a track that rewards riders who relish fast, open, sweeping turns. And even if the slightly stilted Melbourne Loop section of the track spoils the rhythm and flow, it still provides drama as riders endure three bouts of heavy braking towards the end of a lap.

But it’s the dramatic downhill Craner Curves that are the high point of a Donington lap. This section of the track requires bravery and inch-perfect commitment to a line and if a rider struggles to come to terms with these turns, a fast lap is but a distant hope.

There have been some spectacular crashes at Craner over the years which have wrecked both bikes and rider confidence. And this year with average speeds getting higher and higher, this section of the track will be more spectacular then ever.

Donington demands two main machine characteristics that are hard to provide simultaneously. Stability on the brakes and quick turn-in is required for the Esses and Melbourne Loop sections while perfect high-speed manners are needed for the other parts of this 4.023km track.

Some riders opt for stability in the knowledge that a fast lap time will be dictated by speed over the flowing first three-quarters of the track, others prefer to have a bike set up to perform well under braking where places can be won and lost on the final three turns. Good acceleration is also vital while top speed is less of an issue than at other tracks.

Max has won here twice on a 250 and once last year on his RC211V, although that was after Rossi had been awarded a ten-second penalty for overtaking under a yellow flag. “We’re now in the second half of the season,” he said. “It will be very hard-fought so we’ll just keep our feet on the ground and continue to work as hard as we have been doing. The bike is improving all the time and the relationships within the team are unbeatable at the moment.”

Sete is putting his Sachsenring experience behind him and concentrating on performing well, “I like this tack because it is very demanding,” he said. “There are a lot of slopes, strong braking points, a slow part, a faster one and continuous ups and downs. Due to the characteristics of the track it is fundamental to find the perfect compromise with the bike. It cannot be to perfect for any one area but it must be well balanced for the entire track.”

Alex Barros said, “The bike has been getting better all year and at the Sachsenring we got near to getting the right result. The new exhaust made a real difference and Germany was the first race where I was able to ride hard all race and challenge for a win. At Donington it will be important to qualify well and ride with the leaders from the start. And although the points gap to the top three is big there are still lots of points available with eight races to go.

Hayden is upbeat and raring to get racing again. “It’s always the way that when you have a bad race you want to get back on the bike and get things sorted, and if you have a good race you want to carry on the momentum. Donington can’t come soon enough for me because we’re making real progress and we have to keep the pressure up before we break for summer.”

This race is a chance for Colin Edwards to recapture form. “I have nice memories of Donington,” he said. “I know this track well as I won some Superbike races here. I like the track and it has all the charm of a historic circuit. Also I can’t ignore the fact that everyone here speaks English, so I can talk to anyone, and this makes it almost feel like a home race for me.”

And Makoto Tamada (Camel Honda RC211V) riding on Bridgestone tyres is typically positive about his second visit to Donington. “We’ll do what we have to do to be on the pace as early as possible,” he said. “I’m ready to put everything into this weekend as usual.”

In the 250cc class Danny Pedrosa (Telefonica Movistar Junior Team RS250RW) heads Randy de Puniet (Aprilia) by 25 points after a resounding win in Germany last weekend. He has 155 points after three wins and five second places and will be keen to press home his advantage here in Britian.

Danny said, “This year they’ve re-laid the track so we’ll see how the tyres perform and whether there is more or less grip. We have the holidays afterwards and I would like to leave with the best possible taste in my mouth. Hopefully everything goes as well as it did in Germany, a circuit where I had never previously had a good result but we ended that run. I don’t want to arrive at Donington thinking about what happened last year, but think about all the good work we are doing this year and get the best possible result.”


Hiroshi Aoyama (Telefonica Movistar Junior Team Honda RS250RW) visits Donington after a fine fourth at the Sachsenring and although this will be his first visit to the track, he has every right to be confident as the weekend approaches.

“Donington is similar to Sachsenring in that there are ups and downs, as well as a slow and a fast section,” he said. “After the good result in Germany I’m looking forward to doing well here. I ended the last race really happy because as well as the progress we made over the course of the weekend, I was able to ride with more experienced riders and I felt comfortable with them.”

Roberto Rolfo is ready to ride and said, “The Donington Park track has a very flowing nature, you can find a good rhythm and can make up places by using slightly different lines if you are racing in a group, not like the Sachsenring. The only place I might have problems is the last part of the circuit which is too tight and we will need to get the bike to steer into the corners better than it did at the Sachsenring.”

In the hard-fought 125cc class Andrea Dovizioso (Team Scot Honda RS125R) leads the title race from Roberto Locatelli (Aprilia). Dovizioso has 138 points to Locatelli’s 131 while Hector Barbera (Aprilia) is right on their tails with 129.

Said Dovizioso, “I really like racing at Donington Park, I prefer the long sweeping corners of Donington much more than tight tracks like Sachsenring. Last weekend I lost ground in the Championship and I need a podium finish on Sunday to find my momentum again.”

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Logan Young, 20, of Houston, Texas, was presented with the 2004 AMA Sports Horizon Award Wednesday, during the AMA Sports Grand National Championship road races at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.

In what officials called the tightest-ever competition for the award, Young stood out not only for his win in (750cc) Superstock, two fourth-place finishes (750cc Superbike, Formula Xtreme) and two top-10 finishes (Middleweight Superbike, 600cc Supersport – while charging from the back of the grid) in “premier” class events, but also for his “personality, sportsmanship and potential for a professional AMA road racing career.”

Young was presented his award by 2003 AMA Sports Horizon Award winner Brian Stokes. Former AMA Horizon Award winners for road racing include Ben Spies and Jason DiSalvo. Young will also be recognized in the annual AMA Sports Awards Banquet, to be held later this year in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Other top finalists for the 2004 AMA Sports Horizon Award were Blake Young (no relation), who collected four top-seven finishes with a best finish of second, and first-year Expert Ryan Elleby, who took five top-seven finishes with a best finish of second.