From a press release issued by Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation:

Spenser, a Ride for Kids(r) “star”, enjoys the 2004 Minnesota Ride for Kids(r)

Perfect summer days like July 25, 2004 are just made for events such as the Minnesota Ride for Kids(r). What could be more special than spending time riding your motorcycle with good friends while making a huge difference in the lives of children with brain tumors?

The spectacular sunrise enjoyed by the volunteers early Sunday morning gave way to crystal clear skies. The 585 motorcyclists, fundraisers, physicians and patient families gathered together to celebrate the lives of young brain tumor survivors and to raise funds for childhood brain tumor research. The motorcyclists and fundraisers outdid themselves by raising a new Minnesota Ride for Kids(r) record — $95,349. Since 1984, the Ride for Kids(r) has been raising money to fund the research and family support programs of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.

After a police-escorted motorcycle ride past Minnesota’s rolling hills and breathtaking White Bear Lake, the participants gathered under the “Big Top Tent” for the moving Celebration of Life program. There, Will a young brain tumor survivor and Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation College Scholarship recipient told the motorcyclists, “Thank you all so much. You have ensured my future!” Will recently graduated from college with a degree in design and graphic arts. Eight other Ride for Kids(r) “stars” were on hand to thank the motorcyclists. Dr. Joseph Neglia, a neuro-oncologist, also participated in the Celebration of Life program.

Bob Guezuraga raised $9,000 making him the Top Individual Fundraiser. The Top Club position went to MN Wings-Southern Chapter, whose members raised $12,033. Moon Motors’ customers raised $17,669, earning them the Top Dealer position. Bruce and Sandy Schafer, of Egan, MN were the lucky winners of a brand new Honda motorcycle donated by the American Honda Motor Company.

Special thanks to Minnesota Ride for Kids(r) Task Force Leaders Tippy Scully, Denny Schouveller and their amazing volunteer force for a fantastic event!

The next Ride for Kids(r) events are on Saturday, July 31st in Marysville, Ohio and Sunday, August 1st in the Hudson Valley Region of New York (Harriman, NY)

For more information about the Ride for Kids(r) and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, please visit www.rideforkids.org or www.pbtfus.org or call (800) 253-6530.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

AHRMA racer Mike Verdugo and wife Bonnie have formed Catalyst Racing Composites and are producing fiberglass and carbon-fiber bodywork and fuel tanks for road racing, drag racing, land speed record and Vintage motorcycles.

The Southern California company is located at 320 S. Pacific St. Suite D, San Marcos, CA 92078. The phone number is (760) 510-9799 and the company’s website is www.catalystracingcomposites.com

Mike Verdugo can be contacted via e-mail at [email protected]

From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

BOSTROM RETAINS FOURTH-OVERALL RANKING AFTER TOUGH WEEKEND

Lexington (Ohio) – Sunday July 25, 2004: Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin’s Eric Bostrom finished seventh in Sunday’s AMA Superbike race at Mid-Ohio and maintained his fourth-overall standing after the weekend. Bostrom achieved the same result as in Saturday’s 26 lap race despite the cooler conditions and threat of rain at the 2.4 mile circuit.

“It wasn’t any better today. We tried some new things for this race and the grip at the rear was much better, but we had some real moments out there. I tried to push harder but I lost the front a few times and had to save it with my knee,” said the former Mid-Ohio race winner. “With things being the way they were, there wasn’t much more for us to smile about today.”

The recently resurfaced Mid-Ohio track with its combination of asphalt and concrete made finding an ideal set-up for the Michelin-shod Ducati 999R challenging.

“We’re all frustrated because we want better results,” said Racing Manager Tom Bodenbach. “The team isn’t satisfied and Eric isn’t satisfied. We’ll be doing a lot of testing before the next round and hopefully we can get the front working the way Eric needs for it to so we can put the bike where it belongs.”

An upcoming test at Road Atlanta will give the crew a chance to continue development work. The team’s race shop is just outside the Braselton, Georgia track and the circuit is the site of the next AMA Superbike round.

“I’m looking forward to the testing we’ll do before the next race,” said Eric, who won last year at the southern venue. “Road Atlanta is one of my favorite tracks and hopefully we can get some things accomplished there.”

Round 10 (races 15 and 16) of the AMA Superbike championship will take place at Road Atlanta on September 3-5.


RACE: 1. Mladin (Suzuki); 2. Duhamel (Honda); 3. Yates (Suzuki); 4. B Bostrom (Honda); 5. Zemke (Honda); 6. Hayes (Kawasaki); 7. E Bostrom (Ducati); etc. RACE 2: 1. Zemke (Honda); 2. B Bostrom (Honda); 3. Mladin (Suzuki); 4. Yates (Suzuki); 5. Hayes (Kawasaki); 6. Holden (Suzuki); 7. E Bostrom (Ducati); etc.

POINTS: 1. Mladin 457; 2. Zemke 436; 3. Duhamel 413; 4. E Bostrom 336; 5. B Bostrom 306; 6. May 299; etc.


More, from a press release issued by Larry Pegram’s publicist:

Yamaha Privateer, Larry Pegram left the AMA Superbike weekend at Mid-Ohio, as the top finishing Yamaha in both Superbike races and the Formula Xtreme race held on Saturday.

“I had to run my back-up bike in FX, which is a stock Supersport bike. My main bike was down on power all weekend and ultimately this was the best choice since I was able to finish 4th.” Said Pegram. Larry who is solidly in 5th for the season, should be able to maintain that position through the end of the season. “If I had a bigger budget my R6 would be right up with the leaders, however I will continue to make the best with the resources I have.”

In Superbike, Pegram qualified 9th and then backed that up with a 10th on Saturday and an excellent 8th on Sunday. “We were having some rear grip problems most of the weekend. In Sunday’s race I was going after Eric Bostrom for a while until my tires started to go away. I backed it off a bit and brought it home in 8th.” Continued Pegram. “I tested a new slipper clutch this weekend that I think will have real potential in the final rounds in September. I want to thank my sponsors, Triangle Cycles, Pirelli, Yamaha, Ferodo/Brake Tech and all my volunteers that help me out in the pits.”


More, from a series of press releases issued by Proforma:

ACREE AND CAYLOR HAVE HIGHS AND LOWS AT MID-OHIO

Suzuki teammates Lee Acree and Opie Caylor had highs and lows in their results on the second day of the Chevrolet Superbike Series at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Lee had the highs, with a season-best ninth place finish in the Pro Honda Oils Supersport race and 11th in the Chevrolet Superbike event. Opie had the lows, finishing 20th in the Superbike race after battling traction issues throughout the 26-lap event.

Lee Acree
Sunday’s Pro Honda Oils Supersport Final – 9th Place
“My first start was the best of the three,” said Lee. “I actully went the fastest in the last segment, and that was the only time I didn’t have a fresh tire on at least one end of the bike. It took me a long time to get around (Chris) Peris, and then I just started to try to run down Ty (Howard) and (Jason) Perez. I was closing on them gradually, and the first red flag came out. The second time, I was racing with Ty and he missed a shift or put it into neutral out of (turn) one, and I was almost touching his pipe when he missed the shift, and so I nearly clobbered him. And then my front wheel was outside his rear wheel so I couldn’t cross over and I’m slowing down, and Danny (Eslick) goes by. I get back by Danny, and then we had another red flag. Then the last time, I was trying to get back up on Darren Luck and Perez and Darren piled it and took Perez with him. The next start it was initially me and Ty and Chris Peris, and I actually got around Ty, then Ty came past and also went around Chris. I was on Peris the lap before the red flag, but I couldn’t get by him without hitting him.”

Sunday’s Chevrolet Superbike Final – 11th Place
“The biggest difference from yesterday was that the changes made it handle the full fuel load substantially better,” said Lee. “I was kinda sittin’ on Eric (Wood) and Geoff(May), there were some places they were stonger than I was, but there were some places I was stronger. Even before Geoff went off the track, I don’t know if Eric kinda smelled the blood in the water and he started kinda goin’ away. I should have tried to force the issue with Geoff and get on by and go with Eric. I don’t know for sure that I had the remaining traction, because the tires were starting to go off before half-way. I ran pretty soft tires.”

Opie Caylor
Sunday’s Chevrolet Superbike Final – 20th Place
“What a frustrating day,” said Opie. “We tried a different rear tire and it felt like it was flat. When I would roll through the corners I could feel the back end hopping. I couldn’t carry any corner speed. I had nothing for anybody, we just went backwards.”


GEOFF MAY HAS FORGETTABLE DAY AT MID-OHIO

Geoff May had, what is for him, another bad day at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Until yesterday, Geoff had finished in the top-ten of every Superbike race this year, so a 13th place finish, after yesterday’s 12th, is not acceptable to him.

Sunday’s Repsol Superstock Final – DNS
Geoff didn’t have the resources to run the class this weekend, focusing instead on the Superbike class.

Sunday’s Chevrolet Superbike Final – 13th Place
“Nightmare at Mid-Ohio,” joked Geoff. “I made some changes, and I did about five laps in practice, and I thought it was good. Apparently, when the shock got hot in the race, it was definitely the wrong way, because the tire shredded on the edges and I had no side grip. The bike was the most horrible thing I’ve ever ridden. I just kept chasing (Eric) Wood and trying to hang with him. We were catching Larry (Pegram) and (John) Haner. Going down the back straight I tried to make some time on the brakes and I hit a false neutral, tried to coast through the corner in neutral, lost the front, stood it up and ran off the track. Got it back on track as quick as I could. When I got back on, the tires were so slippery I almost crashed a couple of times.”


MID-OHIO NOT KIND TO BLAKE YOUNG

Blake Young had a horrible weekend during round nine of the AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Blake had ridden his Young America Suzuki GSX-R600s to several strong finishes during the mid-week AMA Grand Championships, only to have his luck desert him on the pro weekend.

Saturday’s Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Final – DNS
Blake was unable to start the Formula Xtreme final on Saturday. His primary Formula Xtreme machine developed an engine problem on Friday, and his back-up bike was damaged in a crash on Saturday. The Young America crew was unable to repair the damage before race time.

Sunday’s Pro Honda Oils Supersport Final – DNF
Blake was running in 14th position when he crashed unhurt in the Keyhole turn. The bike was unable to be ridden in for repairs.


HEARTBREAKER FOR HANER AT MID-OHIO

Hooters Suzuki’s John Haner had a bittersweet day on Sunday at round nine of the AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. John ran with the factory riders in the morning Superstock race, credited with 12th place after a confusing red flag situation following a tire failure and crash by Jamie Hacking, which happened directly in front of John. In the afternoon’s 26-lap Superbike race, John ran in eighth place for most of the race, only to be passed on the last lap and finish tenth after he backed off the pace based on what he thought was his pit board information.

Sunday’s Repsol Superstock Final – 12th Place
“I was gonna try to go underneath Jamie,” said John. “He was pulling me down the straightaway, and his tire, whatever, let go. I saw the end of the highside and Jamie was on the ground. I did everything I could to try not to hit him, and luckily, I didn’t. Thank God, ’cause it would have been ugly. I was on the brakes, and he was slidin’ towards where I was going. His bike was over here slidin’ and he was over here and there was just pieces flying, so I was trying to go through the middle on the brakes. The next lap I come by they’ve got the red flag out, so I sat up. Tommy (Hayden, just ahead of Haner) sits up. And everybody keeps going! I look around and go ‘Where the &%$! are the rest of the flags!’. But, for me, that was the best race of the year in Superstock.”

Sunday’s Chevrolet Superbike Final – 10th Place
John led, then followed, then re-passed Larry Pegram during the race, only to get passed on the last lap by Pegram and teammate Eric Wood. “I must have read the wrong pit board,” said a disappointed Haner. “My leg hurt so bad in the middle of the race, and I see the board and it was six, then five, then four point five (seconds ahead of teammate Eric Wood) and I was like, ‘I gotta get by Larry’. I get by him and I start to see one, two, two and a half (seconds ahead), and it’s like seven laps to go. Last lap, I thought I saw two and a half, then I get passed down the back straightaway, and I’m like ‘Where the heck did these guys come from?’ and I know I didn’t back off that much. I know I rode a good race, it’s just frustrating after all that hard work.”


MID-OHIO IS GOOD TO ESLICK AND HIGBEE

Millennium Technologies Suzuki teammates Danny Eslick and Shawn Higbee had good results on Sunday at round nine of the AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Danny had a season-best finish of 11th place in the Pro Honda Oils Supersport race after running as high as ninth place at one point. Shawn ran as high as 11th in the second Superbike race before rear traction woes slowed his forward progress.

Danny Eslick
Sunday’s Pro Honda Oils Supersport Final – 11th Place
Danny used the same set of tires throughout all three segments of the Supersport race that was red-flagged three times for crashes. His tires had lost performance by the third portion of the race. “I started on the fifth row, had a red flag, next time started on the fourth row, another red flag and I started on the third row,” Danny said. “Every time I kept moving up and picking guys off. It started out as a slow weekend, got better and better. We got the bike set up pretty good. Kind of a bad situation with the leaders crashing and people taking each other out. Me and Chris Ulrich had a little bit of a battle going, and I had a few moments. I wasn’t going to crash trying to chase him down. I lost the front in a bunch of different places, lost the rear, and I was like ‘What can I do?’, you know. Like in places I didn’t have to ride aggresive that Chris couldn’t go around me, I just would pole-putt, just be going slow. No need to throw the thing down the road when the guys I’m racing in points are already on the ground and out.” Eslick moves up to 11th place in season point standings in the class.

Shawn Higbee
Sunday’s Chevrolet Superbike Final – 12th Place
“The shock changes felt better in the beginning and the middle, but the problems came back again at the end,” said Shawn. “It just started moving around too much. I also had a hard time telling if the rain on my visor was staying there or really was coming down contantly. I had a couple of moments sliding around, and just didn’t feel comfortable pushing any harder in damp conditions.”


HEATH SMALL REBOUNDS AT MID-OHIO

Heath Small of HAS/Shogun Racing rebounded from a fall in the red-flagged Pro Honda Oils Supersport race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course to finish 15th at the end. A tire change during one of the red flags solved a problem that caused Heath to low-side during the race. He was able to run the pace he had earlier in the weekend and salvage a good finish.

Sunday’s Pro Honda Oils Supersport Final – 15th Place
“We started with blue/blue softs,” said Heath. “Even on the warm-up lap, the bike didn’t really feel right. It had a liittle bit of vibration from the front end, but I thought it was just me. Started the race, and any time I would tip it over on the edge it seemed like there was a vibration there. We came in after the first red flag, and we grabbed another tire that was somwhat new. Put it on the tire warmer, waited, waited, waited. When it was time to go, we pulled the tire warmer off and it was the wrong compound, so we went with the same front tire. I guess it was a lap or two into the race, just rolling through the corner, and caught a groove or something and tucked the front. I ran over and picked the bike up, nothing happened to it. Got on the bike, rode it in and the red flag came out. We changed the front tire and ended up dropping a second and a half from the lap times. From there, we just tried to salvage what we had.”


PRIDMORE SIXTH IN SUPERSTOCK AT MID-OHIO

Jason Pridmore had another good race today in the Repsol Superstock final at round nine of the Chevrolet Superbike Series at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Pridmore rode his STAR Motorcycle School Suzuki GSX-R1000 to a fine sixth place finish in the red-flag-shortened race, and he was actually in fifth when a single red flag was shown in the area where Jamie Hacking had crashed when his rear tire came apart, causing confusion and uncertainty among the race leaders for two laps.

Sunday’s Repsol Superstock Final – 6th Place
“I felt great,” said Jason. “We had a bit of a tire choice dilemma this morning, and we went with what we felt we could go quickest on. It was great being able to race with the factory guys. The first four split pretty quick. I could see there was a group of four and four forming pretty quick. I was right there with Tommy (Hayden), Josh (Hayes) and Jamie (Hacking). I just felt like I was getting held up a bit. They were all pretty good on the brakes at the end of the back straightaway, so I had to get kinda creative. I made some passes over in the infield area, in Thunder Valley. I’ve had success there in the past. Basically, the race was going great, and I could see we were catching Aaron (Gobert), and they throw a red flag down the bach straightaway. All of a sudden there’s a red flag with a debris flag. And I see Aaron check up, but I looked immediately at the next flag station and there’s no red flag, and I thought, ‘Man he doesn’t see that, obviously.’ And I knew Josh was gonna keep rolling, so he rolled past Aaron, then Aaron started going again, and then I passed Aaron a lap later. I thought, ‘They gotta do something, this isn’t fair’, because if anybody else checked up, in front or behind, and lost position, it’s not really fair. I was bummed, because I was fifth. My only thoughts right now, is just hoping Jamie’s good. You know, he’s toughed it out pretty hardcore this year, and I know what it’s like to ride with injuries. He was riding exceptional, and just trying to get points and to have something happen like that, it’s really unfortunate.”


More, from a press release issued by Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki:

Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki added to Vincent Haskovec’s Saturday podium finish by claiming four top-ten finishes on Sunday at Mid-Ohio. The placings were hard earned in a pair of chaotic, red-flagged halted finals.

In the day’s opening Superstock race, Haskovec and his teammate Steve Rapp put their Michelin-shod GSX-R750s in contention for fifth, dicing with a huge pack of 1000cc-mounted riders for the position.

Haskovec in particular was on form, charging up from outside the top ten into seventh before confusion spoiled the race. An inadvertent red flag was shown on lap 12, causing a number of riders to ease up thinking the contest was being stopped. After becoming aware of the situation, race control displayed an official red flag on lap 13 of 16. They then called the race complete, but reverted the final results back to lap 11, the last lap completed before any riders had been shown the false red flag.

Haskovec was awarded seventh as a result, with Rapp in ninth.

“That’s not a great way for a race to end, but things like that will happen sometimes in racing,” Haskovec remarked. “I was caught up in a big group because a rider was trying to help another rider’s championship hopes and wouldn’t pass him, I think, and it bunched a lot of us up together.”

“It’s too bad that the red flag came out,” he continued. “My Michelin tires felt just as good when the race was stopped as they did at the beginning, and I think I would have kept going forward. But it was a good finish for us to go along with the podium from Saturday in Formula Xtreme.”

The Supersport race wasn’t much less confusing, with three separate red flag stoppages and a premature ending.

In a race that saw more than its fair share of incidents, Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki wasn’t able to avoid them completely. A rider made contact with Rapp just before crashing, and the Californian fell himself in a separate incident, a short time later.

Fortunately, a red flag actually worked in the team’s favor, allowing Rapp to rejoin the race. He made the most of the opportunity, going on to claim sixth place when the race was stopped for the last time following lap 13 of a scheduled 16.

Chris Peris came out of the race with a strong result as well. The Canadian took his best AMA finish yet, taking eighth place in what was his second straight Supersport top ten.

The AMA series will take all of August off before heading to Road Atlanta on September 3-5 for Round 10 of 11.


More, from a press release issued by William Meyers, III’s publicist:

William A. Meyers of Prieto Racing finished 13th in his third round of AMA Supersport at Mid-Ohio on Sunday 7/25. Meyers #477 is a first year professional after competing only last year as an amateur in the CCS racing series.

His top 15 finish follows up his 19th place finish at Barber Motorsports.

“In preparation for racing a full 2005 AMA Supersport season, this year my goal was to race as many AMA venues as we could afford. We hoped for a top 20 finish at Daytona, but experienced disappointment after a crash in the chicane resulting in fractured vertebrae. Barber was our next opportunity for a top 20. When we got the 19th, our goal was for a top 15 at Mid-Ohio. Despite being our first visit to Mid-Ohio, we were extremely pleased with our showing.”

Meyers did experience a “get-off” in Friday a.m. practice, but was able to get his Yamaha R6 ready for qualifying on Saturday. He will finish out the season with the two final rounds of AMA Supersport at Road Atlanta and VIR.

From a press release:

COPPER MOUNTAIN TO HOST SUZUKI CYCLEFEST AUG. 27-29, 2004

Motorcycle Rally Returns to the Resort for its Second Year

Copper Mountain, CO – Thousands of spectators from across the country are expected to convene on Copper Mountain Aug. 27-29, 2004 for the second annual Suzuki CycleFest. The rally will deliver a weekend of exciting activities for every member of the family, especially true motorcycle enthusiasts. The rally kicks off at 3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27 with registration located at Copper Mountain lodging check-in.

CycleFest attendees will enjoy a massive motorcycle mall set up throughout the Village at Copper packed with 50 vendors offering great deals on all cycling products. New this year, spectators can collect stamps from the vendors for their Motorcyclist Passport making them eligible for free gifts and great prizes. Those interested in the latest and the greatest bikes will be able to test ride next year’s models from Suzuki, Yamaha, Honda, Buell, Triumph, Kawasaki, BMW and Aprilia. Demo rides will occur throughout the weekend and will be free for CycleFest participants.

Also part of the festivities, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) also will hold its only double-header race of the Supermoto season, the Fay Myers Suzuki Supermoto Classic presented by McGraw Insurance with main events running Saturday and Sunday. The AMA race will take place on a specially designed track at the base of Copper in the Alpine Parking Lot and will feature top stars Jeremy McGrath, Mike Metzger, Kevin Schwantz and more.

Guided and self-guided group rides through the surrounding Rocky Mountains will be offered to visitors who bring their own motorcycles. Road rides will be reserved for sportbikes and cruisers, while dual sport motorcycles will go off-road and tackle some challenging mountain passes. Additionally, beginner motorcycle riders ages five to 14 will have an opportunity to learn the basics of bike handling under the guidance of the American Supercamp instructors on an enclosed track.

Each day guests can take part in the scheduled events of CycleFest, as well as enjoy the numerous summer activities at the resort including free scenic chairlift rides, guided hikes, lake activities and free outdoor concerts.

Pricing for CycleFest ranges from $5 for a one-day child pass to $40 for a three-day adult pass, which includes admission to the races and activities. For only $10 per day, spectators can purchase a Paddock Pass to gain access to the pit area for the Supermoto Race, providing an even closer look at the action on and off the track. More information on pricing can be found at www.cyclefestco.com.

For a complete schedule of events for Suzuki CycleFest 2004, including details on the seminars, parties and concerts throughout the festival, visit www.cyclefestco.com. For a list of summer activities at Copper and the latest lodging deals, go to www.coppercolorado.com or call (800) 458-8386 ext.

From a press release issued by Dunlop’s advertising and public relations agency, Vreeke & Associates:

Buffalo, NY: Dunlop Motorcycle Tire announced today that the company is investigating the rear tire failure that occurred on the YZF-R1 ridden by Graves Motorsports Yamaha factory rider Jamie Hacking in the American Motorcyclist Association¹s Superstock race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio on Sunday, July 25.

“The tire is being transported to our design center in England to undergo thorough analysis,” said Jim Allen, senior road race manager. “We are very thankful that Jamie was not seriously injured.”

Two Dunlop rear tires failed on July 17 and 18 at the Canadian Superbike Championship at Mosport International Raceway in Ontario, Canada. Those tires have also been sent to England for analysis, but Allen cautioned that it is premature to speculate whether the two incidents are related. “No conclusive evidence at this time has identified the cause of the failures,” he said. “We take these matters very seriously and will focus our considerable testing resources toward determining the cause.”

About Dunlop Tires
Dunlop Tires is the largest supplier of original equipment and replacement motorcycle tires in the U.S. and the only manufacturer of motorcycle tires in North America. With North American operations headquartered in Buffalo, NY, Dunlop has been making and selling high-quality tires in the U.S. since 1923. For more information, please contact visit www.dunlopmotorcycle.com.

From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

DUCATI FILA’S TOSELAND RETURNS TO FORM IN TIME FOR BRANDS HATCH

Bologna (Italy), Monday 26th July: This weekend’s British Round of the 2004 World Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch in Kent sees a welcome return to form for Ducati Fila rider James Toseland, hot off the heels of a determined performance at Laguna Seca two weeks back.

The 23-year-old from Sheffield, an enthusiastic and skilled pianist in his spare time, bounced back to the top of the points standings with a fourth and a second place at the US Round, but it was his performance, rather than the actual results achieved, that made onlookers sit up and take notice.

Toseland, whose only win this season has come in the Valencia opener, dug in his heels to keep Ducati Fila team-mate Regis Laconi at bay in the first counter, and then hounded eventual winner Vermeulen (Honda) all the way to finish runner-up in the second race.

We took this opportunity to catch up with Toseland to quiz him about his Laguna Seca performance, the changes that have enabled him to return to being a front-runner and his views on the Brands Hatch race.

HOW DID YOU FEEL AFTER YOUR GRITTY PERFORMANCE AT LAGUNA SECA?

Quite relieved really that I was able to do what I am able to do on a bike again. It was a good performance. If I ride well and hard then I’m happy with myself. To come back from second to leading the championship again was my main aim but the first race with Laconi has really sparked off quite a few people’s imagination and it’s been quite nice to be honest. I know I have struggled a bit with the bike but on the Sunday I just dug deep and pulled my finger out and got some decent results that kept me in touch with the championship. It was nice to prove we had the capabilities to run at the front and pass people and it was a very positive weekend for both myself and the team.

DID YOU AND REGIS HAVE A TALK ABOUT YOUR RACE 1 CLASH AFTER?

Not really, there was nothing to sort out to be honest. There was nothing dangerous about the passing manoeuvres, it was aggressive, it was close and we touched a couple of times but that’s racing, that’s what it’s all about and that’s what people enjoy watching. I was at Mallory Park the other weekend for the BSB race, walking over the bridge with the public and someone shouted out: “Don’t overtake him there because he’ll have you off the edge!”. Little things like that make an impression because people appreciate that kind of riding; they appreciated it from Fogarty, he was a battler and I’ve always dug deep but wasn’t in a position to stuff it up a few people this year. But now the bike’s at a certain stage, we’re actually able to ride this way.

WHAT EXACTLY HAS CHANGED ON THE 999F04 TO MAKE YOU FEEL HAPPIER WITH IT?

We’ve been playing around with it to get some feeling. Basically we just shortened the bike through the swing-arm, we made some modifications on the rear shock from race 1 to race 2 to help the grip, we got new handlebar clamps to bring the handlebars closer in to get more feeling for the front, we dropped the forks through to make the front a little bit higher, just bits and bobs. On previous weekends when we’d tried this we went in circles, but at Laguna Seca everything just got better and better. The first race wasn’t perfect with the rear grip but when we’d made the change I was able to ride lap 1 to the last lap with very consistent times and keep up with Chris Vermeulen who was riding really well.

VERMEULEN AND THE HONDA HAVE WON THE LAST THREE RACES AND ARE A POWERFUL COMBINATION AT THE MOMENT…

I think Laguna was an awakening for Ducati because the performance of Vermeulen and the Fireblade was a little unexpected. I know Ducati haven’t put that much development into the bike from last year to this year, but it’s certainly been a bit of a shock. Having said that, I know my bike is as good as that Fireblade at the moment and it’s up to me to win these races. But obviously now we need to think about upping our game and developing as quick as Honda. There’s no reason why we can’t, but everyone now needs to dig deep to get this championship wrapped up.

WHAT SORT OF A RELATIONSHIP DO YOU HAVE WITH THE BRANDS HATCH TRACK?

It’s good. Brands Hatch is my home track and there will be a lot of pressure and a lot of expectation not only from everyone else but from myself as well. I look forward to it, it’s always one of those weekends when you get to Sunday night and get two good results and have a big deep breath and think thank god that’s over and done with. But primarily I have had good results there, I beat all the World Superbike boys there last year, finishing third behind the wild-cards in race 2. I know we can go fast round there and I’m looking forward to getting out on Friday.

FOR MANY YEARS FOGARTY WAS THE CROWD FAVOURITE AT BRANDS, FOLLOWED BY HODGSON. NOW IN A WAY YOU HAVE TAKEN OVER THAT MANTLE.

I’ve just been fortunate to follow the path of those riders, but now it’s got to the stage when I’m in the best team, I’ve got the best package and I’m leading the championship. It makes the job easier, but it’s always nice to know that everything you’ve got is down to you.

WHAT PARTICULAR SET-UP DO YOU NEED FOR BRANDS? IT’S ANOTHER VERY UNDULATING CIRCUIT, A BIT LIKE LAGUNA WITH UPS-AND-DOWNS AND LOTS OF COMPRESSIONS ON THE BIKE.

Hopefully the setting we’ve got from Laguna Seca and the things we’ve changed will mean that we’re not going to be too far out as we go out, given the similar characteristics of the two circuits. It hasn’t worked out that way in a couple of races this year, but now with the good feeling I’ve got, we can be on the pace first thing Friday morning.

WHAT PART OF THE BRANDS CIRCUIT GIVES YOU A PARTICULAR BUZZ AS YOU GO THROUGH IT?

Dingle Dell! The new Dingle Dell is not as good but it’s still very exciting. It’s dangerous…. I’m a bit sick in that respect, danger kind of gives me a buzz!

AND THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF THE TRACK?

Surtees is a very tricky corner before you go onto the back straight, but there isn’t one corner where I think ‘I can’t get round this one’. Certainly Surtees is critical to get right…

BRANDS HATCH IS THE JEWEL IN THE CROWN FOR WORLD SUPERBIKE IN A WAY. WHY DO SO MANY PEOPLE COME THERE AND WHY SHOULD THEY BE THERE THIS WEEKEND?

They should come because they’ve got some good British riders who they can hopefully watch doing well. Like myself, Walker, Haslam; Leon’s not going to be 100% fit with his broken hand but he did win a British Superbike Championship race there this year. At Brands you’re close to the track, you can see a lot, there’s a fantastic atmosphere, and hopefully the weather will be nice. It’s just a great event, to see the bikes and the racers so close is what Brands Hatch is all about.

JAMES TOSELAND FACTFILE:

Born – October 5th, 1980 in Sheffield
(England).
Status – Single.
Hobbies – Training, motocross, playing the
piano.

2004 season:
Team – Ducati Fila.
Bike – Ducati 999F04. Number – 52.

World Superbike Career 2001-2004:
Races – 88.
Wins – 2.
Podiums – 18.
Poles – 1.
Fastest Laps – 0.

Championship Positions: 2001 – 13th. 2002 – 7th. 2003 – 3rd.

From a press release issued by MonsterMob Ducati:

MCN Supersport Cup – DoningtonPark, Leicestershire – 23/25 July 2004

LAVERTY BATTLES TO SIXTH AT DONINGTON

Despite the wet weather conditions, MonsterMob Ducati British Supersport rider Michael Laverty battled his way to a sixth place finish in the inaugural MCN Supersport Cup at DoningtonPark today.

The 23 year old Ulsterman qualified the 749 MonsterMob Ducati in eighth position for the race which formed part of the British Grand Prix support race package and was confident after the two timed sessions but just as the bikes were assembling on the grid, the rains came and with it, any hopes Laverty had of winning in front of many of the 82,000 fans who had stayed on to watch the race.

Despite a good start, Laverty dropped back as a combination of suspension and grip problems thwarted his bid but gamely battled on to claim sixth position at the chequered flag after 22 difficult laps.

“I’m not happy with my performance but I was really struggling out there. I lost the front end twice on the warm up lap and every time I tried to push it in the race, it just kept wanting to break away so it was just a case of bringing it home. I really need to get it together and win at Croft next time out” declared Laverty.

Team boss Paul Bird was echoed his rider’s thoughts: “We need to be winning these races and I think had it stayed dry; Michael would have had a good chance. We got so little practice, it was a gamble and on this occasion, it didn’t pay off for us” said Bird.

Supersport Race Result

1, Simon Andrews (Yamaha) 39:16.992, 2, Karl Harris (Honda) +20.384, 3 Adrian Coates (Suzuki) +31.538, 4 , Leon Camier (Honda) + 31.801, 5 Danny Beaumont (Honda) +55.877, 6, Michael Laverty (MonsterMob Ducati) +1:12.582s.


More, from a press release issued by JR Motorsports:

MIXED FORTUNES FOR JR MOTOSPORT AT DONINGTON

Holmfirth-based British Supersport Championship Team JR Motosport endured mixed fortunes when they contested the MCN Supersport Cup race which supported the British Grand Prix at Donington Park this weekend.

After a sterling performance at the recent British Supersport race at MalloryPark, team leader Jamie Robinson was hoping to continue his good form on the Yamaha R6 and posted 14th fastest time during the limited qualifying session around the full 2.5 mile GP track.

But as soon as the bikes lined up on the grid, the rain which had held off for the MotoGP came and with no wet settings around the recently resurfaced track, the team had to gamble on a race set up for the 22 lapper in front of many of the 82,000 trackside fans who had stayed back to watch.

28 year old Robinson’s cause wasn’t helped when he was forced onto the grass on the sighting lap and despite his best efforts in the race, they came to nothing when the motor inexplicably slowed on the eighth lap and forced him out:

“Everything was going just fine and then coming down the straight I felt it cut out and when I tried to put the power on again, there was nothing there. We’d had a problem with the electrics on the grid and had to bump the bike off so we’ll pull it apart and see what the problem is” said the dejected former 250cc British Champion.

It was better news for his team mate Paul Veazey, however, who overcame the treacherous conditions to record his best ever four stroke result with a battling 13th place at the flag.

After qualifying in 21st position on the grid, the Middlesbrough teenager was still suffering from the arm-pump problems that affected him at the previous race at Mallory but gamely battled on to the finish despite being one lap in arrears:

“The only thing you can do in those conditions is to bring the bike home and not crash. I got a good start and rode my own race but kept it as smooth as possible and it worked out for me although I would have liked to have beaten some of those who fell off fair and square” said the 17 year old.

The team’s next outing is in round 10 of the British Supersport Championship which takes places at Croft Circuit over the weekend of August 13/15th although they plan on testing at the North Yorkshire venue on the Media Day there on August 5th.

From a press release issued by series organizers:

SUPERBIKES IN MONTREAL

TORONTO, ON An invitational event for competitors in the Parts Canada Superbike Championship has been announced for Montreal’s Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve Aug. 27-29.

The race, which will not count for points toward the 2004 series championship will be held in conjunction with the Molson Indy Montreal Champ Car World Series event, making it the most high profile fixture for Canada’s Superbike competitors.

The 12-lap race around the famous 2.709-mile road course will take place on the Sunday morning of the race weekend as the last event before the Champ Car feature. In a first for Canadian motorcycle racing it will be televised live on Quebec’s Reseau des Sports (RDS).

The idea of adding Superbikes to the Champ Car schedule was conceived by Alan Labrosse, President of the Molson Indy Montreal and a former Canadian racing star on both two wheels and four. Motorcycle races ran at the track in 1981, ’82 and ’87. In 1981 and ’82 the races were support events to the Canadian Grand Prix Formula 1 World Championship car race.

The 1987 event counted toward the Canadian National Superbike Championship and was won by Michel Mercier on a Suzuki.

“It’s a natural,” said Labrosse, who competed in the motorcycle races at the circuit in 1981 and ’82, and in a car support race in ’87. “It is an opportunity for the series to take part in one of the biggest Canadian motorsport events and in one of the motorcycle industry’s biggest markets.

“People who own motorcycles are looking for destinations. Now they don’t have to go to Daytona or Loudon. We will have our own ‘Festival of Motorsports’ right here in Montreal. We want to give people a total motorsport experience.”

The event will be open to the top 25 riders in the 2004 Parts Canada Superbike Championship point standings following the most recent event at Mosport International Raceway July 18. Selected “promoter’s option” riders may also be included to complete the grid. All standard series rules will be in effect.

A purse of $12,000 has been provided by Parts Canada for the race.

“This is a fabulous opportunity for our series and motorcycle racing in Canada,” said Colin Fraser of Professional Motorsports Productions, organizer of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship. “To race in front of such a large crowd and enjoy the benefit of live television coverage is a unique privilege.”

Although he won’t be competing in the race, Canadian Superbike ace Miguel Duhamel will attend the Montreal event as a VIP and help promote the giveaway of a Honda CBR600RR sport bike. Five contestants will have keys for the grand prize motorcycle, one of which will start the Honda. Additionally, all five will enjoy an exhilarating ride with Duhamel, a star rider for the American Honda team in the U.S., around the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.

The Montreal Molson Indy is expected to attract a three-day crowd of over 150,000 spectators and the race track situated on Ile Notre-Dame is easily accessible by public transit from Montreal.

From a press release issued by Dorna:

MotoGP

· Valentino Rossi starts from pole for the fourth time in 2004. If Rossi fails to finish in the top three in the race it will be the first time he has failed to do so in three consecutive races since his first premier-class podium at Jerez in 2000.

· Rossi’s pole position time is the fastest ever lap of the Donington circuit by a motorcycle, more than two seconds faster than Biaggi’s record pole time from last year. The top nineteen riders on the grid have lapped faster than last year’s pole position record.

· Sete Gibernau starts from the front row for the seventh time this year. Gibernau’s second place finish at Donington last year was his first podium at the circuit.

· Loris Capirossi starts from the front row for the first time since the final race of last year at Valencia.

· Fourth place on the grid is the best qualifying result for Troy Bayliss since he qualified in the same position at his home GP at Philip Island last year.

· Colin Edwards’ fifth place on the grid equals his best ever grid position in MotoGP, having also qualified fifth at both Welkom and Le Mans earlier this year.

· Nicky Hayden has finished in third place at the last two races, his first back-to-back podiums in MotoGP.

· Carlos Checa’s best result at Donington was achieved in 2001 when he finished fifth.

· Following his victory at Sachsenring, Max Biaggi is aiming to score back-to-back wins in the premier class for the first time in his career.

· Colin Edwards and Max Biaggi are the only two riders in the MotoGP class to have scored points at each of the first eight races of 2004.

· Alex Barros, who missed the British GP last year due to an injury sustained in a collision with Yukio Kagayama in the morning warm-up session, has finished on the podium on three occasions at Donington.

· Nobuatsu Aoki will be making his 100th start in the premier-class.


250cc

· If any of the Aprilia riders win the race it will be the 100th GP victory for the Italian factory in the class.

· Alex De Angelis starts from pole position for the first time in a 250cc GP in what is only his ninth start in the class.

· Sebastian Porto has qualified on the front row of the grid at each of the first nine races of the year.

· Hiroshi Aoyama has qualified on the front row for the first time since he started from pole as a wildcard at Suzuka last year.

· If Dani Pedrosa wins it will be the first time in his Grand Prix career that he will have scored back-to-back victories.

· Randy De Puniet has failed to qualify on the front row of the grid for the first time in 2004.

· Alex Debon, Fonsi Nieto and Randy De Puniet are the only three riders in the 250cc class to have scored points at each of the first eight races of 2004.

· Chaz Davies has equalled his best ever qualifying result in 12th place. Davies’ time beats Daijiro Kato’s lap record from 2001 and is the fastest ever lap of Donington by a British rider on a 250.


125cc

· Andrea Dovizioso starts from pole for the fourth time this year and for the first time in his career at back-to-back races. Dovizioso is the first rider to finish in the top four in the first eight races of the year in the 125cc class since 1987 when Fausto Gresini won the first ten races of the year.

· The top ten riders on the grid have improved on the record pole time set last year by Stefano Perugini.

· Hector Barbera, who has now finished in the points at the last eighteen consecutive races, scored his debut victory at Donington last year.

· Mika Kallio starts from the front row for the first time since Phillip Island ‘03.

· Simone Corsi’s fourth place on the grid equals his qualifying performance, set at the same circuit last year. This is also the first time this year that Honda have had two riders on the front row.

· Youichi Ui starts from his best grid position since he qualified second at Le Mans last year. Donington is the only circuit where Ui has won more than once.

· Following his victory in Germany, if Roberto Locatelli wins the British Grand Prix he will end a record sequence of thirty-one races without a rider in the 125cc class winning back to back races, since Arnaud Vincent won at Donington and then Sachsenring in 2002.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Sunday Morning Wet Practice Times:

MotoGP:

1. Troy BAYLISS, Ducati, 1:44.198
2. Sete GIBERNAU, Honda, 1:45.636
3. Nicky HAYDEN, Honda, 1:45.999
4. Colin EDWARDS, Honda, 1:46.116
5. Carlos CHECA, Yamaha, 1:46.231
6. Ruben XAUS, Ducati, 1:46.928
7. Loris CAPIROSSI, Ducati, 1:47.062
8. Kenny ROBERTS, Suzuki, 1:47.080
9. Shane BYRNE, Aprilia, 1:47.283
10. Alex BARROS, Honda, 1:47.456
11. Valentino ROSSI, Yamaha, 2:47.758
12. John HOPKINS, Suzuki, 1:47.859
13. Jeremy McWILLIAMS, Aprilia, 1:47.866
14. Kurtis ROBERTS, Proton, 1:48.310
15. Michel FABRIZIO, Harris WCM, 1:48.940
16. Makoto TAMADA, Honda, 1:49.182
17. Shinya NAKANO, Kawasaki, 1:49.455
18. Neil HODGSON, Ducati, 1:50.372
19. Nobuatsu AOKI, Proton, 1:50.589
20. Max BIAGGI, Honda, 1:50.829
21. Chris BURNS, Harris WCM, 1:51.418
22. Norick ABE, Yamaha, 1:52.237
23. Alex HOFMANN, Kawasaki, 1:54.324
24. Marco MELANDRI, Yamaha, no times


250cc

1. Randy DE PUNIET, Aprilia, 1:48.870
2. Franco BATTAINI, Aprilia, 1:48.877
3. Manuel POGGIALI, Aprilia, 1:48.939
4. Anthony WEST, Aprilia, 1:49.280
5. Sylvain GUINTOLI, Aprilia, 1:49.321
6. Fonsi NIETO, Aprilia, 1:49.895
7. Alex DEBON, Honda, 1:50.060
8. Toni ELIAS, Honda, 1:50.693
9. Frederik WATZ, Yamaha, 1:50.753
10. Erwan NIGON, Aprilia, 1:50.841
11. Hugo MARCHAND, Aprilia, 1:50.864
12. Hiroshi AOYAMA, Honda, 1:50.887
13. Lee DICKINSON, Honda, 1:51.150
14. Arnaud VINCENT, Aprilia, 1:51.274
15. Sebastian PORTO, Aprilia, 1:51.315
16. Johan STIGEFELT, Aprilia, 1:51.784
17. Taro SEKIGUCHI, Yamaha, 1:52.007
18. Daniel PEDROSA, Honda, 1:52.159
19. Alex DE ANGELIS, Aprilia, 1:52.426
20. Naoki MATSUDO, Yamaha, 1:52.587


125cc

1. Marco SIMONCELLI, Aprilia, 1:52.998
2. Pablo NIETO, Aprilia, 1:53.157
3. Alvaro BAUTISTA, Aprilia, 1:53.231
4. Mirko GIANSANTI, Aprilia, 1:53.457
5. Eugene LAVERTY, Honda, 1:53.503
6. Steve JENKNER, Aprilia, 1:53.508
7. Mika KALLIO, KTM, 1:53.620
8. Julian SIMON, Honda, 1:53.625
9. Simone CORSI, Honda, 1:53.638
10. Youichi UI, Aprilia, 1:53.977
11. Simone SANNA, Aprilia, 1:54.244
12. Kris WESTON, Honda, 1:54.460
13. Roberto LOCATELLI, Aprilia, 1:54.637
14. Hector BARBERA, Aprilia, 1:54.858
15. Andrea DOVIZIOSO, Honda, 1:55.061