From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

COULD “THE PASS” BE DUPLICATED IN THE MID-OHIO SUPERSPORT RACE?

Tommy vs. Roger Lee Hayden could be as good as Tommy vs. Nicky five years ago

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (July 19, 2004) – Five years ago one of the greatest passes in the history of AMA Supersport racing took place at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. On the final lap that year Nicky Hayden made a daring outside pass on his older brother Tommy as the two braked hard at the end of the back straight. Nicky went around the outside of Tommy and somehow made the move stick and held on to win the race. It was a pivotal victory in Nicky’s drive to win the title in a tight chase over his brother. Like “The Catch” with Dwight Clark and Joe Montana in the NFL, the amazing move Nicky made at Mid-Ohio came to be known simply as “The Pass”.

Five years later and again it’s two Hayden brothers atop the Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship presented by Shoei. This time Tommy is battling with his youngest brother and Kawasaki teammate Roger Lee. Roger Lee closed the gap on his brother to 22 points after his win last week in Monterey, Calif. With just three rounds to go the youngest Hayden brother may have to try to find a way to duplicate Nicky’s feat if he’s to have any chance of catching Tommy for the championship. Both Hayden brothers are seeking their first AMA road racing title.

Round nine of the 11-race Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship will take place at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on Sunday, July 25, as part of the Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire. A new Mid-Ohio Supersport winner will be crowned this weekend since none of the AMA Supersport regulars have won the race.

Tommy Hayden is the pre-race favorite coming into Mid-Ohio. Not only is he the series leader, but Hayden has also scored four top-five finishes in the Mid-Ohio Supersport in the last five years, including runner-up results in 2001 and the aforementioned 1999 race. Hayden is coming ever closer to winning his first AMA road race championship after ten years of trying.

“Until I have it sewn up I won’t feel very good about it, but it’s good to have a cushion,” said the soft-spoken Hayden of the points lead on his brother. “I’m not going to get super-excited.”

Eight riders are still in contention for the Supersport title, although it seems unlikely that anyone will be able to overcome the substantial points lead of the Hayden brothers with just three races left on the 2004 schedule.

If either Tommy or Roger Lee wins at Mid-Ohio it would mark the first time a Kawasaki rider has won the race since Miguel Duhamel took the victory on a green machine 11 years ago.

Yamaha’s Jason DiSalvo is the first non-Hayden in the series standings. The 20-year-old New York rider is among the four who have won in the series this year. DiSalvo took victory at Daytona International Speedway in March and is eager to get his second win of the season. The other winner is Ben Spies, of Yoshimura Suzuki. Spies raced his first professional event at Mid-Ohio four years ago. Since his pro debut Spies become an AMA Formula Xtreme champ in 2003. He’s ranked sixth in the Supersport standings coming into this weekend’s race.

The Mid-Ohio Supersport race will be televised live, July 25 on SPEED Channel at 1 p.m. Eastern.

For additional information on the Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire contact Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course at (800) MID-OHIO or check out the website www.midohio.com

From a press release:

Radio and TV Version of SpeedFreaks Sweetened With

Multi-Platinum Selling Band Sugar Ray and Brothers Bostrom



Hollywood, CA (July 19, 2004) – SpeedFreaks keep their foot on the throat of conventional motorsports programming as they continue to defy the norm. And tonight, it is no different as the Freaks combine raucous music mad men of Sugar Ray with hard core motorsports of Eric and Ben Bostrom.



“Going into this thing four years ago, we set out to make this big time motorsports radio show as bump and grind as a Baja 1000 back seat boogie,” says SpeedFreaks president, Kenny Sargent. “So, why not for Speed Channel? We call in our rowdy So-Cal neighbors, Sugar Ray, to join our friends and arguably the most popular last name in Superbikes, the Bostroms… Eric and Benny that is.”



“Just as the Brothers do leaning into it at 180 in Daytona, SpeedFreaks will grab a knee, and then some, as we max the throttle tonight in the SpeedFreaks Pits,” vows the Freaks Statt Mann Caruthers. “Taking our two hour radio diatribe, crunchin’ her to thirty minutes for Speed Channel, there is not an octane in existence to rival our juice.”



Along with the aforementioned double barrel barrage, SpeedFreaks run in the red with features from NASCAR Truck pilot Chad Chaffin and another installment of The World According to AJ.



SpeedFreaks and the who’s who in motorsports guest line-up can be seen tonight on Speed Channel at 8:30 p.m. EST (5:30 p.m. PST) and repeated at 12:30 a.m. (9:30 p.m. PST).



If the thirty-minute bum rush leaves you thirsting for more, check out the full two hour national radio broadcast archive including interviews with NASCAR Busch Series driver Mike Wallace and NASCAR Truck winner from St. Louis David Starr, at www.SpeedFreaks.TV.



SpeedFreaks with Kenny Sargent, Lugg Nuttz, Statt Mann Caruthers and Crash Gladys can be heard every Sunday Night on the Freak Radio Network at 7 p.m. PST. The FRN houses over 80 radio stations across the United States including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, Chicago, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Indianapolis, Boston, Detroit, Seattle, Portland, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Albuquerque, Charlotte, Charleston, Reno, Bakersfield, Hampton, etc. For an additional SpeedFreaks affiliate listing, log on to http://www.speedfreaks.tv/affiliates.shtml


Additional live coverage can be heard on the Internet at http://www.SportsByline.com, the Armed Forces Network and on Sirius Satellite Radio’s channel 122, via Sports Byline USA.

Plus – SpeedFreaks can also be heard every Saturday live from 3 to 6 PM (EST) on Sirius Satellite’s Extreme Sports Action 123.

From a press release issued by Traxxion Dynamics:

Traxxion Dynamics Moves Production In-House, Will Miss Mid-Ohio Races

Traxxion Dynamics has purchased a new HAAS-TL15 CNC Turning Center, and will move production of their Championship Winning Axxion Valves in house, according to Max McAllister, President of Traxxion.

“Until now, we have always outsourced 100% of our parts, and that has always left us with gaps in quality and delivery time. Since our parts have to be perfect, we are forced to do QC in house anyway. This fully automated machine will allow us to have complete control over quality and production, and prioritize our needs to meet our customer’s demands more efficiently.”

“Unfortunately, I won’t be able to attend the WERA and AMA races at Mid-Ohio due to the delivery of our new machine. They aren’t able to give us an exact time or date it will arrive this week, but I have to be here to inspect it and sign off on the delivery. However, I have made arrangements to have Traxxion Customers supported at these races by Marcus McBain of Racing Performance Services. RPS is Traxxion’s #1 Dealer, and Marcus will be equipped to provide the same support and service we could, if we were there. Please seek him out if you need any assistance. RPS will be arriving at the track Monday July 19th in the afternoon.”

For further information, you can email us: [email protected] or call 770 592-3823.

From a press release issued by Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course::

TWO-WHEELERS ROCKET BACK TO MID-OHIO SPORTS CAR COURSE

DUBLIN, Ohio – The AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship returns to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course during the Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire, July 23-25. The July classic will run at Mid-Ohio for the 22nd time, making it the longest running series on the 2004 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course schedule.

The competition is extremely tight entering this year’s event, with Honda riders Miguel Duhamel and superbike rookie Jake Zemke trailing defending champion Mat Mladin by just 10 and 19 points, respectively. Because Mid-Ohio’s Wiseco Superbike 100 doubleheader represents rounds 13 and 14 of just 18 races on the AMA schedule, the Mid-Ohio stop will have an enormous impact on the season championship.

Between the close points race and the always-close racing at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Duhamel believes the stars are aligned for a special weekend of racing.

“This year’s racing has been the tightest and most competitive ever,” said Duhamel, who has won more AMA Superbike races than any rider in history. “If you don’t show up this year are really going to miss something. You are going to miss a moment in time when you can say, ‘I was there,’ because I think it’s going to be a real barn burner.”

Jake Zemke, who is chasing a championship in the AMA’s premier class after winning on a Supersport bike during last year’s Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire, concurs with Duhamel.

“Obviously, we’re definitely going to have our work cut out for us here,” said the Erion Honda rider. “Mat (Mladin)’s going to be strong, Miguel’s going to be strong…we’ve been competitive pretty much every race this year, and it’s put us right in the thick of things.”

Though the Superbike class highlights the weekend, the AMA’s field of support races will prove to be just as exciting. Supersport, Superstock, and a revamped Formula Xtreme series round out the schedule.

Spectators and fans wanting to get up close and personal with any of their favorite AMA riders should mark Friday, July 23 on their calendar. From 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Honda Pavilion, located just outside the “carousel” turn of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, top racers from all of the AMA series will be participating in an autograph session.

For more information or tickets to the Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire, call 1-800-MID-OHIO or visit Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on the web at www.midohio.com

From a press release issued by Ride To Work:

Worldwide Motorcycle Ride to Work Day is Wednesday

Motorcycle riders 13th annual commuting Ride to Work day is Wednesday, July 21st. Participation in the yearly demonstration is estimated to triple the number of riders on the road, and help reveal to the public that motorcyclists come from all walks of life, work in all occupations, and range in age from teenagers to grandparents. Motorcycle clubs and organizations worldwide actively encourage members to ride their cycles to work on this day.

Each week day in the United States, more than eighty million cars and light trucks commute on American roads, but only about 200,000 of the over six million registered cycles are regularly used for such daily transportation. Adding more motorcycles to the mix can help make urban parking easier and traffic flow better, according to Ride to Work, a non-profit advocacy organization. Studies have also shown that urban motorcyclists reach their destinations faster than those using automobiles, and that most motorcycles consume less resources per mile than typical automobiles.

“Riding to work on this day shows the positive value of motorcycling for transportation. For many people, riding is a socially responsible form of personal mobility that saves energy, helps the environment and provides a broad range of other public benefits,” stated Andy Goldfine, this year’s event organizer.

On Wednesday’s 13th annual Ride to Work Day, motorcyclists worldwide seek:

– Employer recognition and support for motorcycling

– Public and government awareness of the positive value of motorcycling.

– The Ride to Work nonprofit advocacy program can be reached at: POB 1072, Proctor, Minnesota, 55810 USA.

– The Ride to Work Organization’s Mission: To advocate and support the use of motorcycles for transportation, and to provide information about transportation riding to the public.

– Ride to Work Day Participating Countries include: Germany, Philippines, England, Israel, Turkey, Ecuador, United States, and many others.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

British Superbike Race One Results From Mallory Park:

1. John REYNOLDS, Suzuki, 30 laps, 26:15.170
2. Yukio KAGAYAMA, Suzuki, -0.133 second
3. Scott SMART, Kawasaki, -3.417 seconds
4. Ryuichi KIYONARI, Honda, -3.498 seconds
5. James HAYDON, Yamaha, -5.247 seconds
6. Michael RUTTER, Honda, -5.948 seconds
7. Sean EMMETT, Ducati, -12.573 seconds
8. Dean THOMAS, Ducati, -14.241 seconds
9. John McGUINNESS, Kawasaki, -20.052 seconds
10. Dennis HOBBS, Suzuki, -28.226 seconds
11. Steve PLATER, Yamaha, -28.463 seconds
12. Kieran CLARKE, Yamaha, -30.097 seconds
13. Iain MacPHERSON, Ducati, -31.898 seconds
14. Gary MASON, Yamaha, -32.945 seconds
15. James ELLISON, Yamaha, -33.343 seconds


British Superbike Race Two Results From Mallory Park:

1. Scott SMART, Kawasaki, 30 laps, 27:40.337
2. John REYNOLDS, Suzuki, -1.932 seconds
3. Ryuichi KIYONARI, Honda, -2.608 seconds
4. James HAYDON, Yamaha, -3.109 seconds
5. Sean EMMETT, Ducati, -8.231 seconds
6. Tommy HILL, Yamaha, -9.042 seconds
7. Gary MASON, Yamaha, -10.775 seconds
8. Dean THOMAS, Ducati, -11.501 seconds
9. John McGUINNESS, Kawasaki, -11.563 seconds
10. Steve PLATER, Yamaha, -11.624 seconds
11. Craig COXHELL, Honda, -12.529 seconds
12. Dennis HOBBS, Suzuki, -14.783 seconds
13. James ELLISON, Yamaha, -16.120 seconds
14. Iain MacPHERSON, Ducati, -17.457 seconds
15. Yukio KAGAYAMA, Suzuki, -21.851 seconds

21. Michael RUTTER, Honda, -11 laps, DNF


British Superbike Championship Point Standings:

1. REYNOLDS, 335 points
2. RUTTER, 262 points
3. SMART, 240 points
4. KAGAYAMA, 229 points
5. EMMETT, 226 points
6. THOMAS, 124 points
7. KIYONARI, 124 points
8. HAYDON, 111 points
9. HILL, 98 points
10. MASON, 85 points


More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki:

REYNOLDS WINS AT MALLORY PARK!
Team Suzuki Press Office – July 18, 2004.

Rizla Suzuki’s John Reynolds raced to victory and a second place in today’s ninth round of the Think! British Superbike Championship at Mallory Park, Leicestershire and almost doubled his Championship lead.

In the first race, Reynolds and team mate Yukio Kagayama battled their way through a gaggle of fast riders to get to the front and once ahead, broke away from the chasing pack with ‘JR’ grabbing the lead with six laps to go, then held off Yuki on the last lap through the hairpin. The plucky Japanese ace, however, had the consolation of setting a new lap record of 51:741s.

Race two was interrupted with a red flag and two safety car appearances, but JR held his nerve to finish second on aggregate time behind Kawasaki’s Scott Smart. Yuki switched to his spare Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000 just before the green light in a bid to improve his race pace. He was holding sixth and going for fifth when he ran off the tarmac at the super-fast Gerards bend, rejoining the race to finish 15th.

JR’s first and second place finishes made him the clear winner of the acclaimed `Race of the Year’ trophy – awarded to the Superbike rider with most points at the end of the meeting. His finishes nearly doubled his Championship lead from 38 to 73 points and maintain Rizla Suzuki’s string of podium finishes in every race so far this year. Suzuki is also streaking ahead in the manufacturers Championship with its GSX-R1000 production-based Superbike.

John Reynolds:

“Race one was a fantastic fight with Yuki for the top honours while race two ended up being interrupted and tested my concentration to the full. To be honest, I was glad to finish, as I don’t like my rhythm being interrupted and I really had to fight towards the end to keep second place.

“Winning the `Race of the Year’ trophy is a real bonus for me because this is a prize that has decades of history and heritage behind it. Thanks to my team for providing me with a brilliant GSX-R1000 this weekend and to my fans from Nottingham for making the trip and cheering me on.”

Yukio Kagayama:

“I am disappointed with the second race result. The first race was good fun riding with John-san at the front and he managed to outbrake me at the hairpin on final lap to win. I was hoping for similar race with me winning in race two but this was not possible. After the red flag I had to switch to my spare bike and the feeling is not so good, then near end I ran off the circuit while trying to overtake and ended up 15th.

“Now I go to the airport and fly to Japan to take part in the Suzuka 8-hour Endurance race for Suzuki. This is maximum important race and I will use my frustration to motivate best to win.”

Paul Denning – Team Manager:

“We suspected the tight and twisty nature of Mallory Park would not suit JR’s smooth flowing riding style or the enormous horsepower of our Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000. JR then went on to qualify on the front row, win a race, finish second in the next, win the `Race of the Year’ and virtually double his Championship points advantage to prove that theory very wrong indeed.

“Yuki did a bike swap for the second race and that didn’t pay off – he rode well and deserved a better result than 15th – but a small mistake at the end cost him dear. The team will rally round and give him its full support for the next round at Croft.

“There is still a long way to go in the Championship race and both JR and Yuki know there are a lot of points still to be won. We’ll be staying focussed in the month away from the racing and will be going to round 10 stronger and more determined than ever before to win races.”

There is now a mid-summer mini-break for the BSB competitors before the 10th round of the Championship at Croft on August 15th. The North Yorkshire venue is new t o BSB for 2004 and Rizla Suzuki will be visiting for a test session on August 5th.


More, from a press release issued by Team ViTrans:

Round 9 of the BSB Championship brought mixed fortunes for Team Vitrans, at the very local track the team are based at the Mallory Park Circuit, returning to the championship having won at the previous round in Scotland, everyone had great confidence for this event.

Craig Coxhell went to the event happy that this was a circuit he knew well, lack of track time has been a disadvantage for the Australian rider this season. His qualifying sessions were all good and very busy as usual, with the technicians changing many things throughout the weekend, Craig started the race from 12th position, he commented “we ran the qualifier too soon in the second session, the clouds came over and we thought it was going to rain, I am not unhappy with my position, we have a great race set up”.

Race one saw Coxhell make a reasonable start, his lap times throughout the race were very good “it’s all in the start remarked team owner Robbie Burns, if Craig can get the bike off the line he will be running consistently in the top six, we have had a problem since the start of the season with the clutch, we are making improvements every weekend”, Craig made a mistake going in to the hairpin on lap 16 and lost the front, he was uninjured, and the team worked non stop between the next 2 races to get it ready for race 2, this is Coxhell’ preferred bike. ” I made a little mistake going into the turn, and unfortunately lost the front said Coxhell, I’m ok and ready for the second race”

Race 2 was an eventful and spectacular one for riders and officials, with the pace car coming out and the race being stopped, it was run as a two part race, Craig made a great start in race one, and not so good in the second one, again the times were excellent again throughout the race with a final position of 11th, “this was my best ride so far, pirelli have provided me with the best rear tyre in the race said a very happy Coxhell, I am looking forward to getting to the WSBK round at Brands Hatch, we had to sit out Silverstone due to the cost of doing these world events, but for the next round my team owner has said we can do it”, although my last race at Brands was very wet I had a great race, and I know we already have the set up for it”

Coxhell is 13th in the championship after round 18.

British Supersport

Last round winner Paul Young returned to his ‘home track’ in confident mood, “it’s great having a race track on your doorstep”, commented Young,

He had a good qualifying with 5th place, “I would have liked the front row and I really was not far off that” , the start was reasonable, Paul stayed safe for the first few laps with the ever exciting Supersport racing put on a tight and twist Mallory park this was definitely the best thing to do, he passed Craig Jones on lap 19 and was chasing Michael Laverty for 4th place, as they crossed the line Paul took 5th position, ” I am really happy with this, before the race my aims were to finish in the top 5 and be the first Pirelli runner home I have achieved both of these and got more points, I am now equal 10th in the championship which the team are very happy with having had such a bad start to the season”

Paul’s next outing is the Support Race at the British GP next weekend, ” I am confident Donington Park is one of my favourite tracks, and it will be good testing for the final BSB round in September”

Young’s team made Tom Tunstall had mixed fortune all weekend “Throughout practice and qualifying Tunstall was consistently inside the top 7 on both race and qualifying tyres The Vitrans rider was once again showing his true potential. After first qualifying Tom was provisionally 7th and although he improved his time in the final session he ended up 11th on the grid. Knowing how difficult it is to pass Tunstall was keen to make up places off the start. However things didn’t go to plan as Tom made his worst start of the season and instead of making places he dropped back to 20th position. Seeing the front riders getting away Tom was desperate to make back the lost positions however after already getting up to 15th, by the end of lap 6 disaster struck!

Halfway around the ultra-fast 5th gear Gerrards bend Tunstall lost the front causing bike and rider slid off the track at around 100mph, Tunstall commented ” I’m very disappointed. The start was terrible as the bike bogged off the line, leaving me with a lot of ground to make up. I was pushing hard and at that part of Gerrards I’ve been struggling to make the bike turn most of the weekend.


More, from a press release issued on behalf of JR Motorsport:

ROBINSON BACK IN THE POINTS AT MALLORY

After two wet races in which he failed to add to his points tally, JR Motosport team rider Jamie Robinson took maximum advantage of the dry conditions to record a battling 13th place finish in round nine of the British Supersport Championship at Mallory Park.

Having qualified on row four of the grid and less than one second slower than the pole position setter, Robinson had high hopes of a top ten finish and despite not getting a good start in the race, he started to make his way through the field around the tricky confines of the Leicestershire circuit.

Soon, the former 250cc British Champion was inside the top ten and looking to home in on the leading bunch but in typical Supersport action, half a dozen other riders had the same idea as they battled it out over 28 action packed laps.

In the end, the 28 year old Holmfirth rider had to settle for 13th position and at the rear of the group which was covered by just over a second but was relieved to get some more points on the board for only the third time this season.

“That was another bloody hard race and I know I keep saying it, but the racing is so tough this year. I’m glad in a way I’ve scored some more points but disappointed that I didn’t finish higher as I know I could have done but it’s a step in the right direction” said Robinson afterwards. “The bike was working well and I feel as though I’m riding it a lot better now and it’s all a lot more positive than it was earlier in the season. I’m really looking forward to Croft next month as we’ve tested there and got a good set up.”

Team mate Paul Veazey had a mixed weekend of fortunes at Mallory and after posting his best qualifying position of the season, the Middlesbrough teenager was hoping to reproduce that form and to claim his first championship points of the season. Despite a good start and some promising lap times, the 17 year old suffered a recurrence of the arm-pump problems that plagued him during the early part of the season but still ended up in 19th place at the finish.

“Everything was looking good and I was feeling pretty strong but as the race wore on, I really started to struggle as I couldn’t feel my arms. With all the heavy braking, the problems I suffered earlier in the year surfaced again and it was just a case of hanging on in the end” said Veazey who will be looking for a better result at his local track of Croft next month.

In the meantime, the JR Motosport team are hoping to ride in the one-off MCN Supersport Cup which takes place at the British Grand Prix at Donington this forthcoming weekend.


More, from a press release issued on behalf of Hobbs Racing:

DOUBLE DELIGHT FOR DENNIS

Hobbs Racing rider Dennis Hobbs rewarded his hard working team with not one but two victories as a double win kept his hopes of the THINK! British Superbike Cup well and truly alive after a masterful display at MalloryPark.

Riding the Scott Leathers backed 1000cc Suzuki, the 22 year old from Guisborough had not won a round all season but going into the Leicestershire circuit, he made his intentions clear as he set sixth fastest time overall during the early stages of final qualifying.

However, a minor gearbox problem put paid to his chances of a sensational row two start as Hobbs had to sit out the remainder of the session which resulted in him dropping back to tenth but still the top Superbike Cup rider.

With the rain of the previous two meetings thankfully behind him, Dennis relished in the dry conditions as he scrapped it out with a number of the factory stars around the technically demanding Mallory speedbowl during race one, eventually coming home in tenth place overall, just pipping the Virgin Mobile Yamaha’s of former Mallory winner Steve Plater and team mate Gary Mason as well as Kieran Clarke and the ex championship winning Ducati of Iain MacPherson.

Having sampled the top step of the podium in the opening race in front of yet another massive BSB crowd, Hobbs was keen to repeat the feat and despite a race stoppage and two pace car interventions – one of which controversially cost him a number of places – Hobbs stuck to the task and brought the machine home in 12thplace but more importantly, one place in front of series leader James Ellison.

As a result, Hobbs has cut the gap to just 39 points going into his home race at Croft in a month’s time whereby he is red hot favourite to add to his tally of race wins around the North Yorkshire circuit.

“I needed those wins but I was disappointed not to finish higher in the second leg as a number of riders overtook me before the green flag on the line when I was busy avoiding crashing into Kieran Clarke who went down at the Devils Elbow!” said Dennis. “Those were important points and I’m looking at reducing the gap even further at Croft”

THINK! Superbike Championship Cup Standings (after Round 9)

1, James Ellison (Yamaha) 333 pts

2, Dennis Hobbs (HobbsRacing Suzuki) 294 pts

3, Jon Kirkham (Suzuki) 261pts

4, James Buckingham (Suzuki)) 235pts

5, Sam Corke (Suzuki) 208pts

6, Chris Martin (Suzuki) 126pts

From a press release issued by series organizers:

BOWMANVILLE, ON Pascal Picotte continued his Parts Canada Superbike Championship winning streak at Mosport International Raceway Sunday by completing a sweep of the weekend Superbike doubleheader. Picotte led all seven laps of the restarted race on his Team Yamaha / Picotte Performance Yamaha YZF-R1 and finished 2.589 secs. ahead of the Honda Canada / Fast Company Honda CBR1000RR of Brantford, ON’s Jordan Szoke.

Kevin Lacombe of Granby, QC completed the podium on his Lacombe Racing Yamaha YZF-R1 after making a last lap pass of the Coors Light Racing / Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R1000 ridden by Craig Connell.

Picotte’s victory was his fourth in succession and he strengthened his bid for a second straight national title. He now has a commanding lead of 89 points, 259-170 over Szoke with three rounds remaining in the eight-race series. Picotte also swept both ends of a doubleheader at Calgary’s Race City Motorsport Park.

“I didn’t have the greatest start the first time,” said Picotte after claiming his 12th career national Superbike race win. “For the restart we had new tires and I knew I had to get away quickly.”

Picotte, Szoke, Lacombe and Connell were involved in a thrilling four-way scrap for the lead for the first part of the race, which was originally scheduled for 16 laps. Szoke was leading when the red flag came out on lap 8 for a crash involving Maple Ridge, BC’s Steve Crevier.

But on the restart Picotte surged into the lead and was never under threat. He led by almost one second after the first lap and more than two seconds after four.

A poor start left Szoke fourth on the restart but he passed Lacombe on lap 3 and moved into second on lap 6 to score his best finish of the season.

Crevier suffered a minor concussion and bruised back in his fall and did not rejoin the race.

In other action at Mosport, Picotte also stretched his lead in the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike Championship with his second victory of the weekend on his Yamaha YZF-R6. Crevier was second, 3.037 secs. behind on a Suzuki GSX-R600 and Connell completed the podium aboard his Suzuki GSX-R600.

North Vancouver’s Darren James won a dramatic International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike feature on his Ruthless Racing Inc. Yamaha YZF-R6, edging Mississauga, ON’s Rudy Raposo and Guelph, ON rider Tyler Kennedy in a last lap shootout.

The Parts Canada Superbike Championship continues at Atlantic Motorsport Park in Shubenacadie, NS Aug. 6-8.

This weekend’s events will be televised on TSN on Aug. 7 and Sept. 11 at 11:30 a.m. EDT and on Quebec’s RDS on Sept. 12 at 12:00 p.m. and Sept. 25 at 11:30 a.m. The action will also appear in one-hour format later this summer on TORONTO1 and A-Channel stations in Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton.


More, from a press release issued by Fast Company:

BOWMANVILLE, ON The Honda Canada / Fast Company racing team enjoyed its best outing of the 2004 Parts Canada Superbike Championship season as Jordan Szoke scored a pair of podium finishes at Mosport International Raceway last weekend.

The Brantford, ON rider took his Honda CBR1000RR to a second place finish in Sunday’s second Superbike race of the doubleheader weekend, while a day earlier he scored a third in the first of two Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike races.

Szoke had a fourth in the opening Superbike race at Mosport and ended the weekend second in the Parts Canada Superbike standings after five of eight events.

“I consider Mosport one of my favourite tracks,” said Szoke. “We were so close today. It’s sad we didn’t get it [the win].”

Szoke was race winner Pascal Picotte’s closest challenger on the CBR1000RR and was in front when a red flag halted action after seven of a scheduled 16 laps.

He didn’t get as strong a start when action resumed but fought his way up from fourth at the end of the opening lap to move into second two laps from the end.

Szoke is 89 points behind Picotte, 259-170 with three races remaining in the Parts Canada Superbike season but the CBR1000RR, which debuted this year is starting to show its abundant potential.

Teammate Andrew Nelson of Kars, ON had a ninth and a sixth in the two Superbike races on his Honda CBR1000RR. In the second race he took advantage of an excellent start after the red flag to run fifth after one lap, but was in a fierce five-way battle for the spot. He is now seventh in the Parts Canada Superbike standings with 121 points.

Szoke also challenged for the lead in the first Pro 600 Sport Bike race at Mosport and ran at the front for five of the 14 laps on his Honda CBR600RR before settling for third. Nelson, who had qualified second was forced out after only two laps with a rare mechanical problem.

On Sunday, Szoke and Nelson set the early pace in the wet conditions on the CBR600RR’s, with Nelson leading the first five laps. But as the track dried their rain tires started to wear and they slipped to sixth and seventh at the finish, Nelson ahead of Szoke.

Szoke is now fifth in the Pro 600 Sport Bike standings, just 15 points out of second, while Nelson is sixth.

The Honda Canada / Fast Company team will be back in action at Nova Scotia’s Atlantic Motorsport Park Aug. 6-8.

From a press release issued by WERA West:

WERA West Roadracing 2004 Format Change


The remaining WERA West Roadracing Sportsman series events will go to a one day sixteen class race format beginning August 1st at Buttonwillow Raceway Park. The Saturday before the Sunday Sportsman Series races will become a track day put on by Fastrack Riders.

The schedule for the balance of the season is:

Sunday, August 1st @ Buttonwillow Raceway Park

Sunday, August 29th @ Las Vegas Motor Speedway 2.3 mile Interior Road Course. Air cooled garages will be available for all riders.

Sunday, October 3rd @ Las Vegas Motor Speedway on the exterior Classic Course. The same layout used for the May WERA West event.

Fastrack Riders has added the following track days to the schedule before each remaining WERA West event.

Friday & Saturday, July 30th & 31st @ Buttonwillow Raceway Park

Saturday, August 28th @ LVMS Interior Road Course

Saturday, October 2nd @ LVMS on the exterior Classic Course. Same layout at used at the May WERA West event.

Register for WERA West events by going to www.wera.com or call 770-720-5010 and Fastrack Riders track days by going to www.fastrackriders.com or call 877-560-2233.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

125cc Grand Prix Results From Sachsenring:

1. Roberto LOCATELLI, Aprilia, 27 laps, 40:03.511
2. Hector BARBERA, Aprilia, -0.165 second
3. Pablo NIETO, Aprilia, -0.706 second
4. Andrea DOVIZIOSO, Honda, -0.715 second
5. Mika KALLIO, KTM, -1.073 seconds
6. Jorge LORENZO, Derbi, -1.176 seconds
7. Alvaro BAUTISTA, Aprilia, -1.283 seconds
8. Mirko GIANSANTI, Aprilia, -1.459 seconds
9. Julian SIMON, Honda, -9.636 seconds
10. Marco SIMONCELLI, Aprilia, -11.821 seconds
11. Steve JENKNER, Aprilia, -17.967 seconds
12. Simone CORSI, Honda, -20.307 seconds
13. Gioele PELLINO, Aprilia, -31.798 seconds
14. Sergio GADEA, Aprilia, -31.927 seconds
15. Stefano PERUGINI, Gilera, -37.556 seconds


125cc GP World Championship Point Standings:

1. DOVIZIOSO, 138 points
2. LOCATELLI, 131 points
3. BARBERA, 129 points
4. Casey STONER, 104 points
5. Pablo NIETO, 88 points
6. GIANSANTI, 71 points
7. LORENZO, 68 points
8. JENKNER, 63 points
9. SIMONCELLI, 59 points
10. TIE, KALLIO/BAUTISTA, 40 points