From a press release issued by Wurth-Honda BQR:

Report on yesterday’s second round of the Spanish Formula Extreme National Championship held on Sunday, June 20, 2004 at Jarama (Madrid, Spain)

Date: June 21, 2004

Yamahas Take Top Six Places at Jarama in Spanish Formula Extreme

Both Wurth-Honda BQR riders crashed out of round two of the Spanish Formula Extreme National Championship race at Jarama (Madrid), but a strong qualifying performance by reigning FX National Champion José David de Gea and a good come-back from American Kenny Noyes, who battled back from 26th on lap two to 7th on the next to last lap, only to crash out when he lost the front, showed that the Honda Fire Blades are capable of running with Yamaha R1 machines that took the top six places.

Former MotoGP and 500 rider José Luis Cardoso won from his Yamaha Laglisse team mates Ivan Silva and Javier del Amor, all on Michelin-shod Yamahas. This was the first time in the three year history of Spain’s new Formula Extreme class that a single brand has swept the top six finishing positions.

Suzukis took the next three places and a Kawasaki was tenth. The Honda CBR1000RR challenge faded when de Gea, third on the grid, crashed on lap 1 after getting a terrible start. His teammate Noyes also started poorly off the second row, and then had an off-track excursion at the end of the 170 mph home straight which dropped him to 26th on lap 2, but the young Californian charged back through the field only to crash on the penultimate lap just after taking over seventh place.

“I had just gotten past the three Suzukis and had no one else I could catch. I guess I just broke concentration going into the Monza corner and tucked the front while trailing the brakes. It was my mistake and I feel bad because the team needed a finish today,” said Noyes. “Both de Gea and I got awful starts and that probably caused us to make mistakes early in the race trying to take back the places we lost off the line.”

After two rounds, Yamaha riders, led by Silva and Cardoso, hold the top five places in the Formula Extreme points table. The pace of this race gave fans an opportunity to compare the new generation of large-capacity production machines with the 500s Grand Prix two-strokes of the last decade at Jarama, where, until yesterday, all records were held by 500s of the Rainey-Schwantz generation.

The last time 500cc two strokes howled in anger around the 2.392 mile Jarama circuit, just north of Madrid, the pole went to Kevin Schwantz (Suzuki) in a time of 1:33.940. The fastest lap in the race and the record race average were established by winner Wayne Rainey who lapped in 1:34.814 and averaged 90.021 miles per hour. The last 500 race at Jarama was held in 1991 in substitution of the Yugoslavian Grand Prix at Reijka which was cancelled due to civil war and has not been run since.

Running on the since unaltered Jarama track, Spain’s top racing class, known here as Formula Extreme but actually much more akin to AMA Superstock, broke all the old records. The new absolute motorcycle pole record of 1:33.565 and the race lap record of 1:34.660 were set by Ivan Silva, who was second. Winner Jose Luis Cardoso set a new race average record of 90.188 miles per hour.

Raul Romero, owner of the Wurth Honda BQR team of La Roca del Vallés (Barcelona), believes that the current Yamaha superiority, especially that of the three-rider Laglisse Sol de Imagen team of Madrid, is based upon extensive pre-season work and a helping hand from Yamaha Europe. “We got our bikes way too late and are still learning about them. Already our CBRs are as fast in a straight line as the Yamahas, but we are 15 pounds heavier and we have some clutch-related starting problems yet. We believe we have the riders, the bikes and the tires (Dunlop) to win, but we still have a lot of hard work ahead of us.”

The Wurth Honda team competes in both the World 250cc Championship (with Spain’s Alex Debon and Frenchman Eric Bataille) and the CEV with most of the crew leaving for the Grand Prix of Holland in Assen the day after the race at Jarama.

Noyes will have a one-off ride on a Suzuki GSX-R1000 in the classic 24 Hours of Catalunya, held at the Circuit of Catalunya near Barcelona. He makes the ride with the permission and blessing of the team. Said Raul Romero, “Honda Spain is not asking us to run the 24 Hours this year and Kenny’s contract with us includes a special clause that lets him ride the 24 Hours of Catalunya with another team if we don’t enter. He had an offer from Folch Endurance Yamaha, but that would have been on Michelin. Our contract with Dunlop stopped that, but then he got an offer from Catalá Suzuki, the team that won the race last year. We wish him luck in this one and meanwhile we’ll be working hard to sort out our starting problems with the Fireblades so that we can win in Albacete.”

Round three of the Spanish Nationals will take place at Albacete on July 11, the weekend after the 24 Hours of Catalunya.

Jarama Formula Extreme results:
1. Jose Luis Cardoso (Yamaha R1)
2. Ivan Silva (Yamaha R1) –4.747 seconds
3. Javier del Amor (Yamaha R1) –12.860
4. José Oriol Fernandez (Yamaha R1) –14.010
5. David Tomás (Yamaha R1) –24.798
6. Daniel Ribalta (Yamaha R1) –34.842
7. Josep Monge (Suzuki GSX-R) –47.271
8. Arnau Sanchez (Suzuki GSX-R) –47.613
9. David Gomez (Suzuki GSX-R) –47.614
10. Salvador Cabana (Kawasaki ZX-10) –47.871



Fastest lap: Silva 1:34.660 (Jarama race lap record)

Pole: Silva 1:33.595 (Jarama pole record)

Race average: Cardoso, 90.188 miles per hour (Jarama race average record)

From a press release issued by Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha:

GAULOISES FORTUNA YAMAHA TEAM PREVIEW
Dutch TT
Assen, Netherlands
June 24, 25, 26 2004

ROSSI AND CHECA AIMING TO MAKE THEIR MARK AT HISTORIC ASSEN

With MotoGP race wins at Welkom, Mugello and now Catalunya notched up by Valentino Rossi, and with the podium scaled by his team-mate Carlos Checa at Le Mans, the Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha Team approaches the unique challenge of Assen with a spring in its step. Assen, which hosts the sixth round of the 16-round MotoGP series, is one of the all-time classic Grand Prix venues, specifically chosen and continually modified for motorcycle use. Much revised throughout its history, it continues to offer a truly individual challenge to any rider, victories being more valued at the Circuit van Drenthe than at almost any other venue. This will hold doubly true this year, as there are record numbers of potential winners jousting
their way across the continents in search of MotoGP glory.

Thanks to his three peerless wins, Rossi now sits only five points from the lead in the World Championship standings, despite having only competed in five events on the ever-developing Yamaha YZR-M1. The four-cylinder machine has also helped lift Checa to a second place finish at Le Mans, when the 31-year-old Catalan beat all but race winner and championship leader Sete
Gibernau with no small degree of élan.

Few in MotoGP racing could have predicted just how immediately the union of Rossi and the M1 would bear gilded fruit, but now the partnership has proved itself in impressive fashion, leaving 25-year-old Rossi hungry for more wins and the ultimate prize. Now resident in London, Rossi is a previous Assen TT winner, his lone Dutch triumph in the premier class coming in 2002, when he set the lap record pace.

The 6.027km Assen circuit has offered Checa podium places in the past, including a runner-up performance in 1997. His most recent Assen podium was a third in 2002, in his first season riding the Yamaha YZR-M1.

ROSSI RATES ASSEN AS ONE OF THE ALL-TIME BEST

The fluid nature and historical importance of Assen are appreciated by Rossi, who doffs his cap with respect at the very prospect of riding the horizontal roller coaster that is the Circuit van Drenthe. “Assen is a really good track that all the riders like,” he stated. “It’s such a big emotion to race there because it’s different from all the other courses; it’s historic, very old, and isn’t a ‘computer’ track like all the others. It’s still called a TT and I always feel privileged to be racing in a TT. I have never ridden the M1 there but I think it will go quite well, as the
M1’s handling is so good and Assen is all corners.”

Assen’s location in the North of the Netherlands brings its own challenges, as Rossi describes. “The big problem with Assen is when it will rain, not if! I think we’ve still not overcome some of the problems we have with the
bike in wet conditions. Sete and his bike are obviously very fast in the rain, I’m sure they are faster than us, so I really hope for a dry race if it’s possible, and let’s see what happens. I would always prefer to race in the dry given the choice. Assen holds good memories for me anyway as I had a fantastic race there when competing on a 125 in 1997. It was one of the best of my career, with a brilliant fight between five or six riders. I’m looking forward to racing there again this year.”

CHECA HOME FROM HOME AT ASSEN

Carlos Checa, more of a connoisseur of the sport than most other MotoGP riders, acknowledges that Assen is something extra special, a true challenge to the complete racecraft of any rider. The usual hordes of Dutch and German
fans who flood across the spectator areas and grandstands on raceday will also be joined by some visitors from Checa’s native Spain.

“Assen is a track I like very much; it’s a very historic circuit and there is always a great atmosphere so I am looking forward to it a lot,” said Checa, energised by a great recovery to fourth position from a fourth row start at his home event in Catalunya. “It’s always a very special race and the fans are great. This time many of my best friends from home will come,
maybe 30 of them. Some are coming on bikes, some with motor homes, so it should be great fun. Let’s hope for good weather and a great race.”

The prospect of Checa enjoying a great result at Assen is enhanced by the impressive capabilities of his machine and team, a fact that is not lost on Carlos himself. “The bike is working very well at the moment and hopefully we can find a good set-up. It’s a very twisty circuit and some of the changes we’ve made to the bike this year might make it a little different to ride at Assen. With the wider rear tyre it may be difficult to change direction so quickly. However I think we should have very good grip on the side of the tyre because of the bumps on the circuit; this means I can get more traction and a better lean angle. We may need a much stronger
suspension at Assen than at some other circuits in order to stop the rear smashing down.”

DAVIDE BRIVIO HOPES FOR TEAM TO IMPRESS IN ASSEN

Davide Brivio knows that the Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha Team are onto a good thing, and is looking forward to the chance for his riders to shine again this weekend, “Assen is another kind of ‘home’ circuit because our Yamaha European headquarters are based in the Netherlands. Many of our staff will come up to Assen for the race so we hope to give them a good show. We’re
coming from two fantastic races where we were able to win, so now we must continue to try to win as many races as possible.

“We had a good test in Barcelona the day after the race, which might help us for the rest of the season,” Brivio explained. “Each time we test we are continuing to improve the set-up of the bike, working to let Valentino and the M1 get to know each other better every time.

“There is clearly a big improvement in Yamaha’s racing since last year, the Yamaha riders are in the top positions most weekends, and not just
Valentino. It’s a good sign of the great work our engineers have done so far. There is still room for improvement, and we fully expect a reaction from our competitors so we cannot afford to relax.”

TECHNICALLY SPEAKING

Part of the perennial success and popularity of the Assen event is its ability to modernise its facilities and layout without losing one iota of
its unique character and appeal, to riders and fans alike. Starting out its racing life as a 28km street circuit it was shortened in 1955 and then again in 1984, when it was also widened somewhat. In many ways Assen is the granddaddy of the contemporary MotoGP circuits and is the longest still in current use, at 6.027km. With 23 distinct corners and many more subtle changes of direction and lean angle in between, it is possibly the most cerebral of challenges for riders and teams.

Despite the rapid, flowing corners and high average lap speed, outright power is not necessarily the determining factor at Assen. A good power output and a linear throttle response are nonetheless essential ingredients to the set-up mix but camber is King at Assen, a circuit that mimics the characteristics of a real road more than any on the current MotoGP calendar.

With a pronounced crown on the ‘road,’ the high speed switchbacks of much of the Assen circuit mean that camber goes from positive to negative to positive again as each corner is dealt with. This unique characteristic of Assen demands not only judicious throttle control from the rider when crossing the cambers but suspension capable of dealing with its ever changing characteristics, not to mention a chassis package with a useable blend of good stability and high speed agility.

To prevent the rear end squatting under the combined forces of positive camber and acceleration, a higher rating of rear spring will be required for Assen, altering the usual front to rear balance of the M1. To handle the
tarmac ripples and bumps, and because there are few places where heavy braking is called for, the front forks can be left on a softer setting than the rear.

One relatively recent piece of track modification has added another complication to the set-up. The double apex corner of Duikersloot, tightened and brought inwards to improve run off in the event of a crash two years ago, now has a largely flat camber, a fact which can catch out riders who forget that they have had the help of a positive camber at most other corners of the circuit.

Tyre performance is another key at Assen. The cambers aid outright grip in most instances and with the tarmac being grippy but not overly abrasive Assen is not the hardest circuit on tyres per se. The front tyre is particularly important, however, such are the frequently encountered fast corner entries. Braking has frequently to be performed right up to the apex
of the turn to attenuate speed, rather than violently reduce it, maintaining valuable momentum and machine balance.

VALENTINO ROSSI: INFORMATION

Age: 25

Lives: London, UK

Bike: Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha Team YZR-M1

GP victories: 62 (23 x MotoGP, 13 x 500cc, 14 x 250cc, 12 x 125cc)

First GP victory: Czech Republic, 1996 (125cc)

First GP: Malaysia, 1996 (125cc)

GP starts: 129 (37 x MotoGP, 32 x 500cc, 30 x 250cc, 30 x 125cc)

Pole positions: 32

Assen 2003 results (Honda): Grid: 3rd, Race: 3rd


CARLOS CHECA: INFORMATION

Age: 31

Lives: London, UK

Bike: Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha Team YZR-M1

GP victories: 2 (500cc)

First GP victory: Catalunya, 1996 (500cc)

First GP: Europe, 1993 (125cc)

GP starts: 157 (37 x MotoGP, 92 x 500cc, 27 x 250cc, 1 x 125cc)

Pole positions: 2 (1 x MotoGP, 1 x 500cc)

First pole: Spain, 1998 (500cc)

Assen 2003 results (Yamaha): Grid: 4th, Race: 4th



Assen MotoGP lap record – Valentino Rossi (Honda) 2:00.973 (2002)

Circuit best lap – Loris Capirossi (Ducati): 1:59.770 (2002)

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Kawasaki has sold out of the ZX-10R at the wholesale level and no more 2004 models are scheduled for production or delivery to dealers.

That’s the word from Kawasaki Motors Corp. U.S.A. spokesperson Jan Plessner, in response to an inquiry from Roadracingworld.com.

We asked the question after receiving an e-mail from a reader who had been told by his local dealer that the bike was sold out and no more were coming.

Plessner said, however, that there are examples of the ZX-10R still on various dealer floors around the country, and that Kawasaki is encouraging dealers to use the company’s unsold bike locater service to find machines for their customers.

From a press release:

Saturday July 17th 2004 12 noon – 11pm
The Queen Mary Event Park, Long Beach, CA

Huge Saturday Blues Festival featured at the
Los Angeles Calendar Motorcycle Show

It’s the biggesT custom and high performance motorcycle show in America, and highlighting this year’s Los Angeles Calendar Motorcycle Show 2-day weekend event July-17-18th is a day long Mini Blues Festival on Saturday the 17th, 12 noon to 8pm in the Queen Mary Event Park. Featured acts include the Southland’s popular 2000lbs of Blues with special guests Lynwood Slim on hermonica and beautiful vocalist Taryn Donath. Other acts scheduled to appear throughout the afternoon and into the evening to fit the beautiful pinup calendar girl theme of the Show are Francesa & the Flames, Jill Sharpe, Mama’s Boys with Lisa Cee, and Jessie Payo from Jessie and the Raindogs.

And then on Saturday night from 9-11pm the Show will continue onboard the historic Queen Mary in the beautiful Observation Room Bar with Jill Sharp performing on guitar and vocals at the Iron & Lace Calendar Builders’ Party. Spectator admission to the LA Calendar Motorcycle Show and Blues Festival, including the Queen Mary and the Saturday Night Builder’s Party is just $20 for the day. Additional information can be found on the FastDates.com website at
http://www.FastDates.com/BIKESHOW.HTM

From a press release issued by the Penguin Racing School:

Jeff Wood rode a BCM Motorsports-prepped Ducati 900 Supersport to victory in the FUSA Thunderbike race at the Loudon Classic this past weekend. I was not only Wood’s first appearance in the class but also the first win for the air-cooled Ducati. Wood and his Ducati dominated both practice and qualifying all weekend long and secured the win over Buell-mounted Bryan Bemisderfer and Suzuki-mounted Rick Doucette.

“The bike was really easy to ride and the race was a lot of fun” Wood remarked after the race. “It’s very similar to the bikes we teach the Penguin Racing School on every week. I think that after this race even more people will realize how good these bikes are for not only Thunderbike but also for all the CCS lightweight classes.”

Wood won the LRRS Lightweight Supersport and Thunderbike races earlier this season on a completely stock Ducati 900 Supersport, prompting him to put together his FUSA Thunderbike effort for the Loudon Classic. More information on racing Ducati Supersport bikes is available from the Penguin Roadracing School.

From a press release:

Michelin to sponsor Trofeo Ducati AMA Superbike race at Brainerd International Raceway

BRAINERD, Minn. ­ Brainerd International Raceway today announced that Michelin will be the presenting sponsor of the Trofeo Ducati U.S. Superbike AMA Championship, which is scheduled for June 25-27 on BIR’s world-class 3-mile road course.

The event will be known as the Trofeo Ducati U.S. Superbike AMA Championship presented by Michelin. The Michelin brand will be prominently featured throughout the race weekend with signage, advertising and on-track announcements.

“We’re very pleased to be involved in such a world-class event,” Michelin Two Wheel Product Manager Bernard Jarrousse said. “Superbike racing has helped Michelin develop products like the soon-to-be-introduced Pilot Power sportbike tire. This is an ideal opportunity for Michelin to communicate its message of technological leadership and quality to AMA Superbike fans.”

“Michelin has excellent brand recognition in the racing world and has become a major force in Superbike racing,” BIR General Manager Scott Quick said. “We’re excited to have Michelin on board as a first-year sponsor for this event and we look forward to growing this relationship.”

The Trofeo Ducati is a perennial favorite at BIR. It features some of the top Superbike racers, including Eric Bostrom, Miguel Duhamel, Aaron Yates, Mat Mladin and Ben Bostrom. They challenge the 10-turn road course at speeds of up to 190 mph. Qualifying takes place Friday and Saturday for most of the classes, with finals on Sunday.

The event will feature an array of entertainment for fans, including live music Friday and Saturday nights, fireworks, contests, a bike show, a bike tour around the Brainerd Lakes Area, autograph sessions and more. It’s family entertainment at its finest, with camping available in BIR¹s 162-site PleasureLand RV Park or on 600 acres of rustic camping.

BIR President Bill Singleterry joined Quick in welcoming Michelin to BIR as a sponsor and looks forward to a long-lasting relationship.

Michelin North America is a division of Group Michelin, one of the world’s largest tire manufacturers, with 2003 worldwide net sales of $18.6 billion. Michelin manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy-duty trucks and the space shuttle. The company also publishes travel guides, maps and atlases covering Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America employs 23,920 and operates 22 plants in 17 locations.

BIR is a subsidiary of Michigan-based Sports Resorts International Inc., a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ exchange (SPRI). Now in its 35th season, BIR is one of North America’s largest racetracks. It’s about 120 miles north of the Twin Cities. Visit www.brainerdracewayandresort.com.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Howard, Ball Top TWS Sprints

June 19-20, 2004

By Shan Moore

Ty Howard continued his trend as the CMRA racer with the fattest wallet as the Ride Smart/Shogun Motorsports/Motion CycleSports/Michelin/Hot Bodies/Vesrah/Typhoon PowerSports/Racing Performance Services-sponsored rider pocketed over $7300 at round six of the CMRA Championship Road Racing Series held at Texas World Speedway in College Station, Texas. Howard stubbed his toe only once during the day, taking a back seat to Shannon Ball in the Formula 1 event, but posted wins in the C Superbike, A Superstock, B Superstock and C Superstock Expert races en route to the cash and yet another track record. Howard’s new mark was a 1:44.329, set on lap two of the Formula 1 event and eclipsed the old mark of 1:44.85, credited to Joe Prussiano and set way back in April, 2001.

Ball took home just over $2500 for his three-race effort, adding a fourth-place finish in the A Superstock Expert race and a second in the B Superbike Expert race to his Formula 1 win.

Other money winners included Ronnie Lunsford, who won the Heavyweight Twins event; Will Gruy, who won the 125cc GP race and Michael Nellis, who claimed top prize in the Mr. Corder Racing Formula 40 Heavyweight Expert race.

The race drew 536 sprint entries, including 10 riders from Mexico and Bermuda, and riders braved 100-degree F temperatures during the 20 sprint races on Sunday. Track temperatures reached 128 degrees during the day.

On Saturday, 55 teams competed in the Lone Star Track Days CMRA Endurance Series Presented by Shogun Motorsports. The 8-hour event was won by Desert-Rats.net thanks to consistently fast lap times on a Suzuki GSX-R750 and quick pit stops, beating GMAN Racing’s Kawasaki ZX-9R and Northwest Honda Racing’s Honda CBR954RR in the closest endurance finish of the year. The top three teams all finished on the same lap with Desert-Rats.net taking the lead in the final hour.

The Village Idiots Yamaha YZF-R6 led during the second hour of the race after series leader Vinyl Edge Racing’s CBR954RR threw a rod. A crash on the back side of the track put Village Idiots five laps down, but the team managed to recover two of those laps to finish fifth overall and first in the Middleweight Superbike class. Short Bus Racing also suffered an early crash, but recovered for a sixth overall and first in Middleweight Superstock on a Yamaha YZF-R6, while Faltless Racing ran a faultless race for best Lightweight Superbike honors, on a Suzuki SV650.

The CMRA returns to Hallett Motor Racing Circuit on July 16-18 with a full slate of sprint action, a 5-hour CMRA Endurance event and a 2-hour Mini Endurance race. More info can be found at www.cmraracing.com.

From a press release issued by Camel Honda Racing Information:

Camel Honda team aiming for the top in Holland

With the ill-fated Barcelona race quickly put to the back of their minds, the Camel Honda team head to Holland with both riders determined to be back at the front of the action, although the duo will be looking at the historic race from differing perspectives. For Max Biaggi, the track is one of his all-time favourites, and the memory of last season’s podium which came at the end of a hard-fought race in slashing rain, adds to the many positive factors at the Dutch race, including the fact that the event takes place every year in the week of his birthday (June 26th). For Makoto Tamada meanwhile, the track – easily one of the most technically challenging on the calendar – is not one of his favourites. Yet the Japanese rider admits that the task of finding an ideal set-up whilst working out the perfect lines to take around the fast circuit motivates him as much as anything else.(The Dutch TT GP is scheduled on Saturday, June 26th)

Sito Pons – Camel Honda (Team Principal)
“The Assen Grand Prix is very important for us, because we go there on the back of a strange race where our riders didn’t go too well. In Barcelona we were unlucky because Max definitely had the chance to win the race considering the pace and the consistency he showed in practice. In any case, the championship is still wide open and there’s a long way to go, and I still believe that both he and the team are capable of winning the title. Makoto has also been unable to reap the benefits of the positive work he has been doing, especially after having given ample proof of his talents as a fast and determined rider. So we hope to get our just rewards in Holland; a good dose of fortune so we can enjoy our Saturday.”

Max Biaggi #3: (Michelin Tyres)
“The Assen circuit is one of those I really like. Last year I did a great race there in the rain and finished up on the podium. One of the most positive features of the Dutch circuit, besides the beautiful track design, is the asphalt, which drains any water off brilliantly, so it offers impressive amounts of grip even in the most extreme conditions. After the last race, which was simply abnormal because of what happened, I’m really keen to make amends. Everything’s there for us to do well, so together with Honda and Michelin, we’ll be aiming for mine and the team’s first victory, I believe we can do it, and on Saturday I hope to not just be celebrating my birthday.”

Makoto Tamada #6: (Bridgestone Tyres)
“I have to be honest, Assen isn’t one of my favourite tracks, but I think this is down to it being one of the most difficult and technical there is, and because I’ve only raced there once, I haven’t had the chance to learn it properly. You probably want a bit more time there than at other circuits so perhaps after this weekend I’ll like it a bit better! I’m desperate to finish on the podium, and if not at Assen, as soon as possible. The bike is running well and soon we’ll be in a position to fulfil our objective. The weather conditions in Holland should mean that we are at less of a disadvantage with the tyres anyway, although I can’t make any predictions on how they will go because new ones will certainly be arriving. We’ll see, I’m very motivated in any case.”

From a press release issued by Woodcraft:

It has come to the attention of Woodcraft that about 10% of the left side covers (part number 60-0242L) that were sold this season for the new Suzukis (’03-’04 GSX-R1000, ’04 GSX-R600/750) have the potential for a leak. This leak occurs at the bolt hole that is roughly in the 10 o’clock position when looking at the outside of the cover. Most of the affected covers came with a pocket of black filler material on the inside of the cover. If you received a cover that had this black filler material on the inside, or if your cover has a leak at the bolt at the 10 o’clock position, please contact Woodcraft. These covers were sold between January and May of 2004.

We regret any inconvenience that this problem may cause. Woodcraft believes in providing the best customer service in the motorcycle industry. This problem affected about 10% of the Suzuki covers sold this calendar year. We are taking a proactive approach by replacing any of the covers that are in question.

If you think you may have one of the affected covers, please contact Woodcraft at (508)339-5772.

Woodcraft Technologies, Inc.
(508)339-5772
Fax (508)339-5760
www.woodcraft-cfm.com

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. Racer Rich Thorwaldson, a 58-year-old former off-road and motocross star who took up road racing in his retirement, died Sunday from injuries sustained in a crash during an AFM event at Infineon Raceway May 30, 2004. Thorwaldson went off course to avoid a crashed competitor and hit a hillside at the Sonoma, California racetrack, sustaining serious head injuries that left him in a coma. In recent years, Thorwaldson competed regularly in AFM, CCS and WSMC road races. Thorwaldson owned a Honda dealership in Nevada and imported Moriwaki racing parts. He also founded an aftermarket company, Thor. Funeral arrangements are pending.