From a press release issued by d’Antin Ducati:

A special event

After having overcome difficulties in Brazil and Germany, now the d´Antin MotoGP riders come to a much more welcoming location for them, and especially for Neil Hodgson, who will have the extra boost of riding in front of his home support.

The Superbikes series is particularly popular in Great Britain and both the reigning World Champion and Runner-up (Neil and Ruben), have masses of fans in the country, and furthermore it is a track they both know, which will give them another lift to their confidence compared to other races this year where they are beginning from scratch.

Donington has been an ever-present on the championship calendar since 1987, when it took over from Silverstone and it is a typically British track, requiring the utmost of effort from both rider and machine. One of the most crucial factors at this circuit has always been the lack of grip, but new for this year is a resurfaced asphalt.

NEIL HODGSON: “this is probably the most important race of the year for me. Of course they’re all important, but to ride at home is always special, and on top of that Donington is a circuit I really like and which I have good memories of. In 2000 it was incredible, because I won a round of the World Superbike championship as a wild-card.
There are a lot of tracks like this is England. It’s almost as though there were two different tracks in one, with a fluid first half and the second much slower and with some hard-braking. If you get a good set-up here a rider can make all the difference, and I’m sure that the fans are going to see some great races. I’ve never ridden here with the Desmosedici, but I’m sure things will go right this weekend and we can do our best race yet.”

RUBEN XAUS: “This year we’re starting from zero practically everywhere we go, but if you know the track, at least you have something to work from. The last two races have been hard, but we have managed to finish them, picking up points in the process, and most importantly, picking up experience. Now we go to Donington and coming from Germany it is nice to be back at a circuit I know. Even so, it’s a difficult track but we will work as we always do from the very first session and I hope to keep going in the way that we have done so far. I am absolutely confident that if we get the right setting for the bike we can be in the top ten and I hope that can be the case this weekend. I have always felt a lot of affection from the English public and I’d like to put on a good show for them.”

From a press release issued by DORNA:

Rossi returns ‘home’ with slender lead ahead of Cinzano British Grand Prix

Valentino Rossi arrives in his hometown of London for a traditional date with his army of British fans in Leicester Square on Wednesday as leader of the MotoGP World Championship, but only just. Max Biaggi’s victory at the Sachsenring circuit in Germany on Sunday has brought him to within just one point of the reigning World Champion ahead of the Cinzano British Grand Prix at Donington Park, the ninth round of a refreshingly unpredictable season which has already seen four different winners.

Following on from victories for Rossi, Sete Gibernau and Makoto Tamada, Biaggi’s win in Germany was the thirteenth of his career, equalling Randy Mamola as the most successful rider never to have won the premier-class title. This weekend Biaggi has the chance to strengthen his bid to leave that particular record exclusively to Mamola by clinching the series lead at a circuit where he celebrated a controversial victory one year ago, when he was awarded maximum points after Rossi was penalised for overtaking under a yellow flag.

With seven wins, including two this year, and the highest points record for a runner-up already on his curriculum vitae after last season, Sete Gibernau has perhaps even more reason than Biaggi to head into the summer break on a victorious note. The Spanish rider crashed out of his second race in succession in Germany and lost provisional second place in the championship to the Italian, conceding thirteen points to Rossi at the top of the standings. Gibernau has never won at Donington and scored his first ever podium here last year, when he finished second.

Alex Barros’ chances of realising his World Championship dream this year remain slim but the Brazilian showed signs of a return to form at Sachsenring, clinching a second place finish which took him above Giacomo Agostini to the top of the list of riders with most point scoring finishes in history. Barros lies fourth in the championship, 47 points behind Gibernau, but particularly after recent events and with seven races still remaining, the Brazilian veteran knows anything can happen before the end of the season.

Like their Yamaha colleague, both Carlos Checa and Marco Melandri have residences in England and will be looking to use their local knowledge to recover from a disappointing weekend in Germany. Whilst Checa crashed out of third place and dropped to seventh in the championship behind improving Honda rider Nicky Hayden, Melandri suffered a spectacular crash which also brought down his team-mate Norick Abe. It was at Donington last year when Melandri first showed real signs of his MotoGP potential, running at the front of the pack before crashing, and will be looking for further consolidation on Sunday after scoring two podium finishes already this season.

Elsewhere there are home races for several teams including Suzuki, who enjoyed top ten finishes for both Kenny Roberts and John Hopkins at Sachsenring, Proton Team KR and WCM, who made the shock announcement on Monday that they will be teaming up with Czech mini-bike manufacturer Blata to produce a V6 prototype to run in the 2005 MotoGP World Championship.

Whilst the WCM team look to the future, current World Superbike Champion Neil Hodgson has fond memories of their past, having scored his best ever Grand Prix result with them at Donington Park on a Roc-Yamaha back in 1995. Hodgson, who is one of four home riders alongside Jeremy McWilliams, Shane Byrne and Chris Burns, also won two WSB races at this circuit, including his very first win as a wildcard in 2000.

Hodgson has yet to establish himself at the top of the MotoGP World Championship but he is no doubt going to be one of the most sought after signatures by autograph hunters at the traditional Day of Champions on Thursday. The paddock will open its gates to punters on the day, with a variety of activities, autograph sessions and auctions arranged to raise money for the MotoGP charity Riders for Health.

Aprilia are back in the hunt for their 100th victory in the 250cc World Championship after being denied in Germany by Honda prodigy Dani Pedrosa, who now leads the series by 25 points from Randy De Puniet. Pedrosa crashed out on the last lap of the 125cc race last year at Donington after colliding with Stefano Perugini whilst battling for the lead, but will be hoping for better luck this weekend as he looks to consolidate his surprise championship advantage ahead of the summer break.

Whilst the likes of De Puniet, Fonsi Nieto, Alex De Angelis, Manuel Poggiali and Sebastian Porto will be trying to deliver a milestone victory for Aprilia in the quarter-litre class, 125cc World Championship leader Andrea Dovizioso will be one of several riders looking to set another important record for Italian racing in the minor class. Roberto Locatelli’s victory in Germany on Sunday was the 199th for Italian riders in the minor class of Grand Prix racing and Dovizioso would like nothing more than to make it 200 as he bids to maintain the series lead, which currently stands at seven points over his compatriot.

From a press release issued by American Suzuki Motor Corp.:

Suzuki Garners Awards of Excellence from KIOSK Magazine

BREA, Calif. (July 20, 2004) – American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC) is proud to announce that ASMC’s innovative Suzuki Sales P.R.O. (Professional Retail Outlet) was awarded two prestigious awards by KIOSK Magazine during its 5th Annual Kiosk Awards in June 2004. Not only was the Suzuki Sales P.R.O. named “Kiosk of the Year,” but it also earned the accolade of “Most Innovative Product” on behalf of ASMC’s partner EON Reality, Inc., which produces the Suzuki Sales P.R.O. 3-D modeling.

“We are so excited to be recognized by the kiosk community yet again,” said ASMC’s Dealer Network Manager Steve Bortolamedi. “Winning these two awards continues to emphasize how impressive the Suzuki Sales P.R.O. really is. One of the key factors for Suzuki winning the awards is return on investment. The cost vs. potential sales increases to the dealer really puts the Suzuki Sales P.R.O. on top and it’s great to see the kiosk community acknowledge that.”

The Suzuki Sales P.R.O. beat out more than 100 other competitors in winning these two awards from KIOSK Magazine. According to the magazine’s website, the awards were originally “established to seek out self-service kiosk projects and products that are setting standards of kiosk excellence and challenging existing technology.”

“Winning these two KIOSK Magazine awards confirms the fact that Suzuki is indeed challenging existing technology in today’s market,” said ASMC’s Marketing Manager Rod Lopusnak. “We know we’re on the right track to improving product knowledge, increasing profitability and enhancing the selling process at the dealer level. It also reaffirms Suzuki as an industry leader.”

Suzuki Sales P.R.O. debuted at the February 2002 Indianapolis Dealer Expo and then was successfully launched to ASMC’s motorcycle and ATV dealers at the 2003 Suzuki dealer meeting. The Suzuki Sales P.R.O. concept was developed in house by Bortolamedi, Lopusnak and ASMC Motorcycle/ATV Division Vice President Mel Harris. The software is produced by EON Reality, Inc. and Matrix Consultants.

“We at Suzuki aren’t surprised at all that Suzuki Sales P.R.O. is winning so many awards. It is unlike any other retail-oriented technology currently used in the motorcycle and ATV industry and is used by 60 percent of our dealers,” said Harris. “Congratulations to everyone who worked so diligently on this project.”

About American Suzuki
The Motorcycle/ATV Division of American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC), Brea, Calif., was founded in 1963 by Suzuki Motor Corporation. ASMC markets motorcycles and ATVs via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. ASMC’s parent company, Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of motorcycles, ATVs, scooters, automobiles and marine engines. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, it has 120 distributors in 191 countries.

From a press release issued by Telefonica Movistar Honda/Gresini Racing:

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 tack 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 EDWRDS AND DONINGTON PARK

What are your impressions when arriving to this English track?

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.

Which is the best section of the track?

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.

Which is the best point to overtake?

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.

Which is the slowest area?

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.

The secret to a perfect lap? 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.

Describe the atmosphere

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.

From a press release issued by Dorna:

Wild card entries for the Cinzano British Grand Prix

The wild-card riders who will race in the Cinzano British Grand Prix, scheduled at Donington Park on July 25th next, are the following:


250cc class
64 – John Pearson (GBR-Honda)
65 – Lee Dickinson (GBR-Honda)
66 – Tony Campbell (GBR-Yamaha)
67 – Bruce Dunn (GBR-Honda)

125cc class
20 – Georg Fröhlich (GER-Honda)
49 – Christian Elkin (GBR-Honda)
51 – Kris Weston (GBR-Honda)
84 – Thomas Bridewell (GBR-Honda)
85 – Eugene Laverty (IRL-Honda)

From a slightly late press release issued by Cagiva USA:

MV Agusta F4-SPR selected as the hero’s exclusive motorcycle

Opening in theaters nationwide Friday, July 16th, Academy Award® nominee and global film and music superstar Will Smith rides an MV Agusta F4-SPR in the movie “I, ROBOT,” this summers epic action spectacular from Twentieth Century Fox.

Together with actress Bridget Moynahan, Smith saves the day with the help of the MV Agusta motorcycle when all other options are lost. The star of some of Hollywood’s biggest box office successes, rides a highly coveted and exclusive MV Agusta SPR in his role as I, ROBOT’s detective hero.

The story takes place in the year 2035, however Smith’s character, Det. Spooner has an appreciation for the style of the late 1990’s – early 2000’s. The MV Agusta motorcycle portrayed in the movie not only reinforces the traditional association of a motorcycle to the ideas of greater freedom and mobility, but also confirms the F4 models dominant role as the most exclusive and sought after motorcycle of it’s time. More information about the MV Agusta product line can be found at www.mvagustausa.com.

I, ROBOT is inspired by the classic short story collection by Isaac Asimov. In the year 2035, robots are an everyday household item, and everyone trusts them, except one slightly paranoid detective (Will Smith) investigating what he alone believes is a crime perpetrated by a robot. The case leads him to discover a far more frightening threat to the human race. I, ROBOT uses a spectacular, state-of-the-art visual effects technique to bring a world of robots to life.

Trailers for the movie can be found at www.irobotmovie.com.

Will Smith’s formidable credits include blockbusters such as “Independence Day,” “Men in Black,” “Bad Boys” and the recent “Bad Boys II.” He won an Academy Award® nomination for his work in “Ali”, the life story of boxing legend Muhammad Ali.

MV Agusta Motorcycles have also been featured in “Art of War” with Wesley Snipes, “Gone in 60 Seconds” with Nicolas Cage and Angelina Jolie, and “XXX” with Vin Diesel.

MV Agusta motorcycles are frequently included in the automotive collections of numerous top athletes, celebrities, and private enthusiasts worldwide.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

CMRA Championship Roadracing Series: Round seven
Hallett Motor Racing Circuit
Hallett, OK
July 16-18

By Shan Moore

Unlike past events this season, where one or two riders dominated the action, several riders claimed Expert-class wins and took home a share of CMRA purse money at round seven of the CMRA Championship Roadracing Series, held at Hallett Motor Racing Circuit near Hallett, Oklahoma.

Of the Expert winners, Phillip Lawlis was the most consistent, winning the B Superstock, A Superbike and Formula 1 Expert races. But, while Lawlis won the most races, Joe Prussiano took home the most money, as the Houstonite took home $1750 in CMRA purse and Honda contingency money for winning the C Superstock Expert event, his only race of the day.

Veteran CMRA competitor Ronnie Lunsford took home a sizable share of CMRA purse money as well after dominating the Heavyweight Twins Expert race and the Mr. Corder Racing Formula 40 Heavyweight Expert races, taking flag-to-flag wins in both races.

Jason Pirtle was another double winner, taking the Lightweight Twins and D Superbike Expert events, while first-year CMRA Expert Bryan West claimed the A Superstock Expert and B Superbike Expert races.

Dustin Dominguez, a Roadracing World Young Gun, took wins in the D Superstock Expert and the Formula CMRA Heavyweight race.

Craig Montgomery came back from a nasty crash in the C Superstock Expert event to claim first place in the C Superbike Expert race.

Tyler McDonald, 15, won the Unlimited Motard race and the 125cc GP race, which features a $500 purse, while K&N Racing-teammate Will Gruy came home with first place in the Formula CMRA Lightweight division and the Formula 2 Expert races.

Jon Francis won the Formula CMRA Middleweight event and Robert Bradlaw won the Classic Superbike race.

In the Novice ranks, Jacob Chapman won the Junior Motard race. Cory Burleson had a good day, claiming wins in the C Superstock and C Superbike Novice events, while Kyle Rivers topped the B Superstock race.

Despite the fact than several racers had skipped the event in order to make the trip to Mid-Ohio, 453 sprint entries filled the Hallett grids and 78 teams competed in Saturday’s endurance races.

In the Pace American Trailer CMRA Endurance Presented by Shogun Motorsports event, Northwest Honda Racing took a long overdue win in the Smith Cycle Center-sponsored 5-hour race. Northwest Honda Racing ran fast and consistent times and avoided the bad luck that has plagued them throughout the year to top second-place finishers Vinyl Edge Racing, who limped home with transmission problems, by a 1-lap margin.

Desert-Rats.net, the winners of the last event of the endurance series at Texas World Speedway, took third overall and first in the Unlimited Superstock division, while Big Air Racing was fourth overall and first in Middleweight Superstock.

Village Idiots, who were leading the overall endurance series standings going into the Hallett weekend, suffered a crash and assorted mechanical problems which dropped them to a disappointed sixth overall, but they gained valuable class points by placing first in the Middleweight Superbike class, and so maintain the points lead in that class.

Faltless Racing continues to lead the Lightweight Superbike point standings after posting yet another win in the division, but only after trailing Team K&N early in the race.

In the Mini Endurance 2-hour race, held Saturday morning, Team K&N topped Sum of All Parts Racing by 1:23.400 to claim the overall and Formula 4 wins, while AF1 Racing ran a strong race to win the Formula 5 division over 2Wheelz.com.

STD Racing won the Formula 6 class while Speed Demonz were tops in the Formula 7 class.

In the Mini Sprint races, Will Gruy bested Tyler McDonald for the Formula 4 win, while Bill Hirstius was first in the Formula 6 race, ahead of Laura Browning.

Anthony Smith won the AF1 Racing Formula 5 race, which features a $250 purse, topping Jayme Jernigan and Kyle Rivers in the process, while Derek Wagnon won the Formula 7 event.

The CMRA continues its season of championship events with round 8 of the series at MotorSport Ranch, near Cresson, Texas on August 28-29.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Exploding Dunlop rear tires sent both Steve Crevier and Jeff Williams tumbling down the back straight at Mosport last weekend, during a Canadian Superbike weekend.

Williams crashed during Saturday’s Superbike race and Crevier crashed during Sunday’s Superbike race. Both were in top gear when they crashed; Williams had completed six racing laps and eight total laps on his tire when it failed, and Crevier had finished six racing laps and seven total laps on his tire when it failed.

Williams was running a medium compound tire and Crevier was on a soft.

Weather conditions were constantly changing throughout the weekend, alternating thunderstorms with very hot ambient temperatures.

Both Williams and Crevier escaped serious injury, although Crevier crashed earlier on the “straight,” which actually has a kink in it, and clipped a wall, leaving him more battered and bruised than Williams, according to eyewitnesses.

Canadian Superbike rules require the use of stock wheels, which means that both Williams and Crevier were running 17-inch Dunlop radial slicks on their Diablo Suzuki GSX-R1000s.

Roadracingworld.com could not reach Crevier or Williams for comment. At post time, series organizer Colin Fraser had not returned a call requesting comment.

Frim a press release issued by World Championship Motorsports (WCM):

Blata V6 MotoGP campaign

Today Monday July 19th 2004 an agreement was made between Blata s.r.o and World Championship Motorsports to develop a V6 MotoGP machine with which to contest the 2005 World Championship.

The Blata V6 is a thrilling venture for the young company previously famous for the Blata mini bike raced the world over. The leap into the greatest class in motor cycle racing offers the chance to showcase the wealth of technological expertise available in the Czech Republic.

Though Blata has only been in existence since 1990 it already sells 15,000 machines a year. The new factory was completed in 2000 It will soon be joined by a second manufacturing facility to be completed in October 2004 plus a third due for completion in 2009. This will result in a manufacturing capability of 100,000 units per year.

The Japanese manufacturers such as Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki used Grand Prix racing in the 1960s to give their engineers a way of rapidly developing and expressing their knowledge and experience. It also gave their brands world wide exposure. In 2005 there is no better way to achieve the same goals than to take up the challenge of competing in the MotoGP World Championship.

World Championship Motorsports bring to this partnership Grand Prix winning experience. Red Bull Yamaha WCM became one of the best known teams at the turn of the century. In the last two years WCM has campaigned its own MotoGP machine and put the WCM name in the record books again.

WCM recognised that they needed a strong technical partner to have any chance of challenging the factory supported teams and joining with Blata in this project achieves that.

The Czech republic has a great history in motorcycle sport through brands such as Jawa and CZ. It is hoped that this project is taking the first step to recapture some of that magic.

More details of the project will be announced at the Grand Prix of the Czech Republic 20th ­ 22nd August.