From a press release issued by Team Suzuki:

SUZUKI OPTIMISTIC ABOUT RIO RACE

MotoGP racing’s hectic midsummer schedule takes Team Suzuki’s Kenny Roberts Jr. and John Hopkins down south to Rio this weekend.

It’s a long haul, one weekend after the Dutch TT in the far north of Holland, and takes the team to the heart of the Brazilian mid-winter.

Conditions could hardly be worse than those at Assen in summer, when two days of almost continuous rain abated just in time for the race.

Roberts, World Champion in 2000, will again be using the latest revised-firing-order upgrade to the powerful 990cc V4 engine. This will be his third race on the development motor which gave him his best qualifying position of the year at Assen, heading the third row of the new-this-year three-per-row grid. A technical gremlin spoiled his race and he finished just out of the points.

John Hopkins will again race the “standard” engine, which at this stage is actually marginally faster on top speed, but less rider-friendly. At Assen, he qualified one row behind Roberts and claimed points after a typically determined ride.

For Roberts, the race revisits the track where he secured the 2000 500cc World Championship and where in 2002 he took a first rostrum finish on the new Suzuki GSV-R MotoGP four-stroke machine.

Hopkins has less happy memories: Last year, a heavy crash during qualifying ruled the 21-year-old Anglo-American racer out of the race.

Both are optimistic, after significant improvements to the GSV-R this season have shown that the factory, a traditional stalwart of GP racing, is clearly on the path back towards the winner’s circle.

“Both riders have been getting increasingly competitive during the first part of this season and the factory has been continuing with their hard work to get the best out of the motorcycle,” said team manager Garry Taylor.

“So far, we haven’t had the results we think we deserve, but team morale is still very high and we know if we keep on in the same way we’ll get there,” he said.

“We’re confident we can overcome the gremlins that hit Kenny’s new engine at the last race and we’re looking forward to another chance to turn our progress into results,” he said.

The Brazilian track has a long back straight, but top speed does not seem to be the only ingredient in a fast lap time. The rest of the circuit comprises long and fast corners with a bumpy and slippery surface. It’s a technical challenge for the riders to find the fastest way over the bumps and ripples and for engineers to maximise chassis, suspension and tyre performance.

Rio is the seventh of 16 rounds in the World Championship and the fourth in a punishing series of six races over eight weekends. The following weekend is free, and then racing resumes again with full intensity with the German GP followed a week later by the British round.

This year’s Rio GP is almost three months earlier than usual, has been changed from a Saturday to a Sunday race and uniquely, the main MotoGP race will be the first of the day at 11:30, to mesh with European TV schedules.

KENNY ROBERTS Jr.:

“The bike is moving forward but we need to keep working to make it really competitive. We’ll get the bike as best possible for the race and then see what happens.

JOHN HOPKINS:

The last two races have shown that our bike is getting more competitive. We have a good set-up now and it’s a lot easier to push the bike deep into the turn. Bridgestone need to improve the tyres but we know they are doing that. I think we have some good chances for Rio.”

ABOUT THIS RACE:

The first GP in Brazil took place in 1987 at the inland circuit of Goiania. The race stayed there for two more years, and then began a troubled search for a new home. After several false starts and cancellations, and a single round at the F1 ci rcuit of Interlagos at Sao Paulo, the event moved to the rebuilt Nelson Piquet circuit outside Rio in 1995. The next year saw the name change to the Rio GP for 1996 and 1997. Another late cancellation in 1998 continued the oft-interrupted history of Brazilian GP racing but it rejoined the calendar in 1999 to resume business as usual. This year’s race has been moved from its September date and Saturday race day to Sunday in early July.

ABOUT THIS CIRCUIT:

The Rio circuit was rebuilt in the Nineties as an early example of an occasional new trend of circuits incorporating NASCAR-style banked oval tracks with the three-mile road-racing circuit sharing part of the tarmac. Bumps and surface-changes at these junctions further complicate an already bumpy surface of a track much more technically challenging than the simple layout suggests. Apart from a spectacular location on reclaimed marshland among towering granite peaks, the Nelson Piquet’s plus point is its scale. With huge grandstands adding to the atmosphere, looping corners are wide and fast. Like other seldom-used tracks, the surface is hard to read. Grip varies according to temperature and though the racing line improves with use during practice and qualifying days, the track remains very slippery off line. Accurate riding is important and overtaking difficult.

RACE DATA:

Nelson Piquet Circuit – Jacarepagua.

Circuit Length: 3.065 miles / 4.933 km.
Lap Record: 1:50.453 – 99.905 mph / 160.781 km/h. V Rossi (Honda), 2003
2003 Race Winner: Rossi
2003 Race Average: 44:36.633 – 98.943 mph / 159.234 km/h
2003 Fastest Race Lap: see lap record
2003 Pole Position: Rossi 1:49.038
2003 Kenny Roberts: 17th, qualified 19th 1:51.839 (Suzuki)
2003 John Hopkins: Did not start (injured)

From a press release issued by series organizers:

THE STAKES ARE RAISED

CALGARY, AB The stakes are higher than ever as the Parts Canada Superbike Championship descends on Calgary’s Race City Motorsport Park this weekend.

For the fourth time in the past six years, the Race City round will run to a doubleheader format, meaning racers will have two opportunities to grab points in the chase for the Canada Cup. By the time the haulers roll out on Sunday evening somebody could have taken a critical step towards claiming the national crown.

This weekend’s races are the second and third rounds of the eight-race series. Maple Ridge, BC’s Steve Crevier drew first blood in the opener at Shannonville Motorsport Park back in May. The DXS Diablo Team Suzuki rider is trying for a seventh national championship.

But Crevier will likely come under fire from local hero Clint McBain, who is second in points after a career high second place finish at Shannonville. Riding for the Calgary-based Coors Light Racing / Blackfoot Suzuki team McBain was the fastest qualifier for this event last season.

Also sure to challenge for the victory is defending Parts Canada Superbike champion Pascal Picotte of Granby, QC. Picotte was third at Shannonville on his Team Yamaha / Picotte Performance Yamaha after starting from pole and leading the most laps.

The defending Calgary champion Michael Taylor will not be here this weekend after he was hurt in a crash at Shannonville, but five-time Race City victor Jordan Szoke is, now riding for the Honda Canada / Fast Company team. The Brantford, ON ace was a double winner in his last appearance here in 2002.

Another rider who should be in the thick of the action will be Rock Forest, QC’s Francis Martin, who scored his first career national Superbike win at Race City in 1999 and is riding for the Canadian Kawasaki Motors factory team.

This weekend’s racing also includes a doubleheader for the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike Championship along with the second round of the International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike Championship.

Honda Canada / Fast Company’s Andrew Nelson of Ottawa leads the Pro 600 Sport Bike standings after scoring his first career national win in the opening round at Shannonville. Former class champion McBain was a close second in that race.

Thomas Macsanszky sits in first place in Amateur 600 Sport Bike points. The Z1 Cycletech Yamaha rider from Richmond Hill, ON scored a dramatic victory in the Shannonville season opener.

Qualifying for the Parts Canada Superbike and Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike classes will go Friday afternoon, with races scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. Competitors in the International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike class will qualify Saturday and race Sunday.

This weekend’s events will be televised on TSN on July 24 and July 31 at 11:30 a.m. EDT and on Quebec’s RDS on Aug. 8 at 12:00 p.m. and Aug. 22 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.


All Time Race City Superbike Wins: Jordan Szoke (Brantford, ON) 5; Michael Taylor (Toronto, ON) 3; Steve Crevier (Maple Ridge, BC) 2; Pascal Picotte (St-Cecile de Milton, QC) 2; Gary Goodfellow (Vancouver, BC) 1; Rueben McMurter (London, ON) 1; Michel Mercier (Thetford Mines, QC) 1; Don Munroe (Halifax, NS) 1; Francis Martin (Rock Forest, QC) 1; Jeff Williams (Harrowsmith, ON) 1; Owen Weichel (Toronto, ON) 1

Race City Fast Facts

…King of the doubleheaders? The last two times the Calgary stop in the Parts Canada Superbike series has run to a two-race format, in 2000 and 2002, Jordan Szoke swept both races. The two-time national champion has more Race City Superbike wins than any other racer with five.

…Five racers have scored their first career national Superbike wins at Race City, including Pascal Picotte (1991), Jordan Szoke (1998), Francis Martin (1999), Jeff Williams (1999) and Owen Weichel (2001). Four of those riders Picotte, Szoke, Martin and Williams are competing this weekend.

…On seven occasions a winner at Race City has gone on to claim the Canadian title in the same year, Michel Mercier (1990), Steve Crevier (1992), Michael Taylor (1996), Don Munroe (1997), Jordan Szoke (1998 and 2002) and Francis Martin (1999). Taylor won last year’s event but finished eighth in year-end points.

2004 Point Standings

Parts Canada Superbike: 1. Steve Crevier (Suzuki) 52; 2. Clint McBain (Suzuki) 45; 3. Pascal Picotte (Yamaha) 43; 4. Kevin Lacombe (Yamaha) 33; 5. Frank Trombino (Yamaha) 29

Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike: 1. Andrew Nelson (Honda) 54; 2. Clint McBain (Suzuki) 45; 3. Pascal Picotte (Yamaha) 41

International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike: 1. Thomas Macsanszky (Yamaha) 50; 2. Rudy Raposo (Yamaha) 42; 3. Mark Douglas (Yamaha) 39

Provisional Weekend Schedule

Friday July 2

1:00 p.m.-1:25 p.m. Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike Qualifying

2:55 p.m.-3:40 p.m. Parts Canada Superbike Qualifying

Saturday July 3

1:25 p.m. Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike Race 1 12 laps

2:50 p.m.-3:20 p.m. International Motorcycle

SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike Qualifying
4:00 p.m. Parts Canada Superbike Race 1 16 laps

Sunday July 4

1:00 p.m. Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike Race 2 12 laps

2:15 p.m. International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike Race 12 laps

3:05 p.m. Parts Canada Superbike Race 2 16 laps

From a press release:

Craig Knapp, former Racing and Promotions Manager for Avon Tyres in North America, has started his own company, Sierra Motosports Consulting. Specializing in trade and consumer show organization as well as product representation, SMC is based in Nevada.

Knapp raced for many years with WMRRA and OMRRA. He is currently racing with AHMRA and recently tuned for Gary Nixon on the Steel Breeze Racing Triumph Trident at Sandia. SMC can be reached at 425-870-5058.

From a press release issued by Mini GP Canada:

Mini GP Canada Ltd. is proud to open its virtual doors to the Canadian racing scene on July 1, 2004. We are the sole Canadian distributor of the Metrakit Group of products including the Mini GP line of race bikes. Mini GP Canada Ltd. began its operations in the spring of 2004 to provide a high performance reliable product that would be available to consumers in Canada and Internationally. We carry all Metrakit Group products, a proven manufacturer that has been in business for over 25 years.

The Mini GP line of race bikes are road race competition motorcycles of reduced dimensions and weight, designed for children between 7 and 16 years that want to get started in road racing. Adults wanting an inexpensive and fun way to race have also looked to this type of motorcycle, as racing a 600cc bike for one weekend can cost more then racing a Mini GP for an entire season!

The Mini GP bike line are competition asphalt motorcycles equipped with either 50, 70 or 80 c.c. engines that develop 11 hp to 25 hp at the rear wheels without modifications. The bikes are either 12″ or 17″ wheel, purpose built, production race bikes with the geometry and features of a world GP machine and components you would expect to see on only the best of race bikes. All the mini GP models, as well as their components, have been designed to duplicate those used on Grand Prix bikes, producing motorcycles with very similar reactions to those of 125 cc used in the World Championship races.

Our “FLASH” site is currently online at www.minigpcanada.com, our online store will be opening on July 1, 2004.

Rob Ferrier, General Manager
Mini GP Canada Ltd.
PO Box 119 St. Albert CSO
St. Albert, Alberta T8N 1N2
Canada
[email protected]
http://www.minigpcanada.com
Toll Free: 1-800-910-5525
Phone: 780-984-5525

From a press release issued by d’Antin Ducati:

XAUS & HODGSON READY TO GET DWON TO THE RIO GP BEAT

With no time for rest after the Dutch TT, the World Championship lands in Brazil this weekend, a short break away from the European leg of the calendar. Since 1996 this race has taken place at the Jacarepaguá circuit, on the outskirts of Río de Janeiro, the city which lends its name to the race. The track is famous for being quick, but the surface can often be bumpy and not offer too much in the way of grip.

The d´Antin MotoGP riders have gradually settled into the class, increasingly playing a bigger part in the outcome of races, with Rubén Xaus currently heading the Rookie of the Year standings after three fantastic races in a row, whilst Neil Hodgson has a smile back on his face after the latest Grand Prix in Assen, where he achieved his primary objective of finishing amongst the top ten. Both riders arrive in Rio full of hope, and determined to shine once more at the handlebars of their Ducati Desmosedici.

RUBÉN XAUS flew straight to Río from Assen, making the most of the days off to do a little bit of sightseeing, although he has been to the area before when he raced here in 1996. “I came to race in Río when I rode as a replacement for a 250cc rider during five races. I was very young and inexperienced, but I picked up the provisional pole in the wet on the first day, and that’s a memory you just can’t forget about. I remember that I liked the circuit although the asphalt was quite bumpy, but I’m coming to this race as excited as ever. We’re doing some good work at the moment, and we’re consistently performing well. At first it was hard for us to get going, but that’s normal because everything was new for us. We mustn’t forget, as I frequently repeat, that we are still in a learning process, but I’m confident of my continued improvement as the season goes on.”

NEIL HODGSON, who took a couple of days out at his Isle of Man residence, will have his morale boosted as he arrives in Rio: “I was satisfied with my result in Holland after what was a truly difficult weekend. I had a good race pace and I honestly believe that if I had got a better grid position I could have ridden with the second group no problem. After the tests in Barcelona we made a huge step forward and it’s almost as if we’ve started the season again now. I raced in Rio in 1995 and the main thing I can remember is the undulating asphalt, but I’m sure it will have improved since then, and in any case, the most important thing is that I’m optimistic going into this race and I hope to continue to enjoy riding my Ducati, just like I did in Assen.”

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

AMA racers testing today at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio have reported that the recent surface work to smooth the transitions between the asphalt and concrete patches in the corners has left troublesome grooves.

The transition smoothing was done with a grinder, which has left grooves in the surface that are causing the AMA racebikes to move around quite a bit, according to several riders at the test.

Present at the test are Michelin-sponsored Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin’s Eric Bostrom and Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Steve Rapp and Vincent Haskovec.

Among the Dunlop-supported teams, American Honda has brought Ben Bostrom and Miguel Duhamel; Erion Honda’s Jake Zemke is on track but Alex Gobert is not at the test; Yoshimura Suzuki has Mat Mladin, Aaron Yates and Ben Spies riding; Kawasaki’s Tommy and Roger Lee Hayden are in action; Attack Kawasaki’s Josh Hayes and Tony Meiring are circulating; and Yamaha/Graves Yamaha’s Jamie Hacking, Aaron Gobert and Jason DiSalvo are testing without the company of still-recovering-from-injury Damon Buckmaster.

DiSalvo crashed Wednesday morning in the Keyhole section. His condition was not known at post time. The weather, however, is reported to be very good with ambient temperatures near 80 degrees.

Scheduled to end Thursday, the shared tire test contradicts public statements issued by Dunlop–which bought up a slew of test dates for the express purpose of excluding Michelin teams–that said closed, one-brand tire tests were required to protect data and technology.

Late in 2003, Dunlop Vice President Mike Buckley, then a member of the AMA Board of Directors and the AMA Pro Racing Board of Directors, bought out test dates scheduled by a co-op of AMA teams and specifically excluded Michelin-sponsored squads, which had shared the tests with Dunlop-sponsored teams many times over the last seven years.

The Mid-Ohio test now going on was originally set up by Michelin, which issued statements that any AMA teams could participate in any of its tests, regardless of tire brand used, on a shared-cost basis. Dunlop-sponsored Honda teams also tested with Michelin teams at Pikes Peak earlier this year.

Tuesday, June 29, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tom Lindsay
Phone: (614) 856-1900 x1357
E-mail: [email protected]

MOTORCYCLING GROUPS SUPPORT AMA’S ‘JUSTICE FOR ALL’

The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has announced that a number of state and national motorcycling organizations have formally voiced their support of the AMA’s “Justice for All” campaign.

Among the groups backing the goals of Justice for All are the Gold Wing Road Riders Association, ABATE of Indiana, ABATE for Missouri, ABATE of South Dakota, ABATE of Wisconsin, BikePAC of Colorado, the Connecticut Motorcycle Riders Association, and the Massachusetts Motorcycle Association.

Although Justice for All focuses the public’s attention on inadequate sentencing of drivers who seriously injure or kill motorcyclists, the AMA advocates legislation establishing tougher penalties when traffic offenses or criminal actions by any motorist result in another’s death or serious injury.

“By endorsing the goals of Justice for All, these organizations demonstrate their commitment to working in the best interests of American motorcyclists,” said Edward Moreland, Vice President of AMA Government Relations. “We’re gratified to have their leadership and support, and we look forward to working with them to effect change that benefits riders nationwide.”

In August, the AMA will take Justice for All to South Dakota for the 64th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Sturgis rallygoers can visit the AMA’s Justice for All information center at the Sturgis Music Festival grounds, located one block off Main Street at the corner of 2nd and Lazelle, from Tuesday, August 10 through Friday, August 13. Card-carrying AMA members will have access to special parking (as space is available), as well as a 10% discount at the Sturgis Music Festival’s food court and access to the Sturgis Music Festival VIP area.

For more information about Justice for All, or to order a Justice for All kit, visit www.AMADirectlink.com/justice, e-mail [email protected], or call 800-AMA-JOIN.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. Formula USA official Eric Kelcher and his wife, CCS/F-USA Event Manager Tiffiney Kelcher, had a daughter, Madison Grace Kelcher, June 5 in Irving, Texas. Tiffiney Kelcher is planning to return to work in early-August. Race team owner/tuner Rich Cronrath and wife Wendy had a daughter, Xantha Kaylee Cronrath, June 6 in Morristown, New Jersey. Because his team, Kosco Buell, raced Saturday, June 5 at Road America, Cronrath was able to fly home just in time for his daughter’s birth on Sunday, June 6.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

A crash in which Jamie Hacking broke his collarbone brought testing to an early halt at Mid-Ohio this afternoon.

The test stopped at 4:25 local time when Hacking was transported in the only ambulance on site.

Jason DiSalvo, Roger Lee Hayden and Eric Bostrom crashed earlier, without any substantial injury–all three continued testing afterwards.

The rough, ground surface of the pavement played havoc with riders during the test, and proved especially difficult for the men on 1000cc Superstock machines.

Hacking was the fastest rider on a Supersport bike prior to his crash.