From a press release:

Hayes Diversified Technologies (HDTUSA) Sets Two Land Speed Records for Diesel Motorcycles at International Speed Trials

The World’s First Purpose-Built Production Diesel Motorcycles Win Big at Henry Ford’s Speed Course at Bonneville Speedway

HESPERIA, CA – Hayes Diversified Technologies (HDTUSA), the world’s first purpose-built production diesel motorcycle engine manufacturer, set two land speed records at the International Motorcycle Speed Trails, held at Bonneville, September 6-10, 2004. One motorcycle with a normally aspirated, production military spec diesel engine set a record at 85.466 miles per hour, while the second motorcycle, using an identical engine fitted with a turbocharger established an average record speed of 91.286 miles per hour.

This was the first annual International Motorcycle Speed Trials sponsored by BUB. Sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) and the Federation Internationale de Motorcyclisme (FIM), bikes participating were eligible for World records (FIM) or National records (AMA), the first time such an FIM-affiliated event has been held in Bonneville since the 1990s.

“We cannot be more pleased with the performance of our diesel motorcycles,” exclaims Fred Hayes, CEO/President of HDTUSA who also rode the bikes. “It’s been a long, hard road, with many detractors saying it couldn’t be done. But, with the help of a few, dedicated individuals that believed in the project, we made it happen.”

Immediately following the record setting runs on the diesel motorcycles, both bikes were torn down for AMA official’s inspection. Both passed with room to spare. Now the 30-day waiting period begins as the “unofficial” scores are reviewed and given the “official” stamp of approval.

The conditions at Bonneville Speedway, located in western Utah, were tough—the salt was wet and running slow. Average speeds were down significantly according to AMA officials. The first two days of the Speed Trials were nothing more than hurry up and wait for the sun to dry approximately a sixteenth of an inch of water that glazed the track.

HDTUSA has been focused on the off-road performance of their military motorcycles and the chance to run the new diesel fueled motorcycles at Bonneville has offered an opportunity for additional R&D.

“I believe that both of these diesel motorcycles can achieve much higher speeds,” says Hayes. “We were able to run them in conditions not normally associated with our military requirements, and have a much better idea of what is needed to go fast at Bonneville”

Bonneville’s history is quite interesting and the speedway is known for its gremlins. In fact, it’s been said by riders that “Murphy” (as in Murphy’s Law) lives in the hills on the western side of the course. For the HDTUSA team’s Bonneville experience, Murphy was on vacation this week as the bikes performed flawlessly and the only maintenance required was the removal of accumulated salt from the bike and rider. HDTUSA is currently under contract from the United States Marine Corps to supply up to 500 combat diesel motorcycles.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Wesley Good wrapped up the 2004 Central Roadracing Association (CRA) overall Championship September 11 at Brainerd International Raceway, in Brainerd, Minnesota, according to a press release.

Good accumulated 248 points more than his closest Championship challenger.

From a press release issued by Yamaha Motor Corp., USA:



The 2005 R6 is available in Team Yamaha Blue/White, Rapid Red, and Raven (pictured).

NEW FOR 2005

• Engine upgrades in the form of 40mm throttle bodies, revised fuel injection and ignition maps, new camshafts and intake funnels, etc., all result in a 3-horsepower increase at the same rpm as before with more power across the board.
• New, fully adjustable inverted fork with 41mm tubes further reinforces R6’s main strength: precise handling. New, cast top triple clamp and forged lower clamp also increase rigidity, and work with revised handlebar positioning.
• To complement the new fork, the rear section of the Deltabox III main frame was revised internally to work with revised swingarm linkage and mounts for improved handling.
• Lighter, 310mm front brake discs replace 298mm units. New radial-mount four-piston calipers and radial master cylinder provide greater braking power and feel.
• 120/70-ZR17 front tire replaces previous 120/60-ZR17 for improved handling.
• Twin, ring-type radiator fans are now used to ensure optimal engine cooling.
• Revised headlight lens and revised under-cowl for even better style.

2005 Model Features

ENGINE

• Ultra-compact, lightweight, 600cc DOHC 16-valve liquid-cooled inline four-cylinder puts out 123 horsepower.
• Competition-bred suction-piston-type fuel injection features short intake ports and a special vacuum-controlled intake system to ensure instant throttle response all the way up to the 15,500-rpm redline.
• Compact slant-block engine design uses stacked gearbox shafts to create a low center of gravity and balanced weight distribution.
• Ram-Air Induction System delivers cool, high-pressure air for optimal combustion and greater horsepower at high speed.
• Lightweight forged pistons on carburized connecting rods for superb strength and reduced reciprocating mass.
• Linerless, ceramic-composite cylinder bores mean greater heat dissipation for consistent power delivery and reduced friction.
• Close-ratio 6-speed transmission delivers seamless power and maximum acceleration.
• Special three-axis gearbox design stacks input/output shafts to keep overall engine size to super-compact dimensions.
• Curved radiator follows the contour of the frame and bodywork for an ultra-sleek look and excellent cooling performance.
• Specially designed, one-piece cylinder and crankcase assembly provides superior engine rigidity and light weight.
• Engine is a fully stressed chassis member to allow for a super-light frame design.
• Compact, large-capacity clutch ensures consistent, fade-free performance.
• Rifle-bored camshafts with specially designed valve lifters and computer-perfected timing for reduced spinning mass and quicker acceleration.
• Large-capacity internal water pump and separate liquid-cooled oil cooler ensure optimal engine cooling efficiency.
• 4-into-2-into-1 aluminum exhaust optimizes engine performance, reduces overall weight and is tucked in high for maximum lean angle.
• Direct ignition coils, dual-electrode spark plugs and high-output magneto deliver extremely accurate, reliable firing.

CHASSIS/SUSPENSION:

• Radical Deltabox IlI aluminum chassis is light, stiff and extremely compact for razor-sharp handling.
• Controlled Fill die casting produces an incredibly sleek swingarm that is remarkably strong and light by pinpointing exactly where material needs to be. Pivot position and swingarm length (576mm) are optimized for great traction feel.
• Fully adjustable (preload, compression and rebound damping) piggyback rear shock with 4.7″ of travel delivers exceptional rear wheel tracking and stability.
• Removable CF die cast rear subframe is light and strong.
• Super-light five-spoke 17″ wheels reduce unsprung weight; the casting technique makes the rim section light, not to mention wickedly cool-looking.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES:

• Durable, lightweight, aluminum clip-on bars provide optimal vibration damping.
• Narrow 4.5-gallon fuel tank provides excellent rider ergonomics and aggressive seating position.
• Multi-function digital and analog instrumentation features: programmable shift light, digital speedometer, analog tachometer, dual tripmeters with miles-on-reserve function, odometer, water temp gauge and lights for neutral, high beam, low fuel and turn signals.
• Dual Gatling beam 60/55-watt multi-reflector headlight features a sleek profile for superb aerodynamics and visibility.
• Dual LED taillight design reduces both weight and size while providing excellent visibility and a sleek profile.
• Standard toolkit located in convenient storage compartment under passenger seat.

AVAILABLE ACCESSORIES

• Please see accessory literature for availability of GYTR products and apparel or go to yamaha-motor.com.

From a press release issued by Mat Mladin Imports:

FERGUSSON CONFIRMS SUPERBIKE & SUPERSPORT TITLES AT PHILLIP ISLAND

Joe Rocket’s Adam ‘Krusty’ Fergusson confirmed his position as Australia’s best in 2004 becoming the first rider to win both the Australian Superbike and Supersport Championships in the one season.

The results came at the seventh and final round of this years Australian Superbike Championship, held at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, amid some of the worst weather conditions that south east Victoria had suffered in many months.

It caps off a sensational year not only for the likeable Victorian but for sponsors Joe Rocket and Jardine, both of which were making their debut in the Australian racing scene.

Joe Rocket launched into the Australian market, supporting five of Australia’s foremost riders – Adam Fergusson, Josh Brookes, Jason O’Halloran, Damien Cudlin and Brendan Clarke and have celebrated many successes along the way.

While Fergusson celebrates his Superbike and Supersport triumphs, his Castrol Honda teammate Josh Brookes will also be remembered for his stunning World Supersport race win at Phillip Island in March, gaining global recognition for himself, his team and his sponsors.

The pair were a formidable combination in the opening half of the season, but unfortunately Brookes’ run at the front ended prematurely when he suffered season ending injuries to his pelvis in a crash at the West Australian round of the championship

The year has also been equally successful for Performance Exhaust manufacturer Jardine who as a team sponsor of Castrol Honda have been pleased to be involved in every aspect of the team’s success in 2004.

The weekend at Phillip Island proved to be more of a handful than many would have liked or expected. Weather conditions threatened to cause turmoil throughout the weekend, but the event organisers were able to get through their packed program.

Fergusson’s chances of celebrating on a high note, were taken a step back after he was highsided from his Superbike at ‘The Hayshed’ section of the circuit, a flat out in fourth gear right hand sweeper. He suffered a fractured heel in the fall, but hopes to be fully fit to parade his #1 plate at the upcoming Australian Grand Prix support races in October.

“It was a pretty big fall and I was happy in a way that it did happen in race two and not race one for the sake of the championship,” said Fergusson. “It ended up being one of those weekend’s where you wanted to get in there and then get out unfortunately. It was good to go in and wrap up the championship finally. It was a disappointing. After wrapping up the championship in race one, I made a point in my head that I was going to do what we had done earlier in the year and go out and win. The first part of the second Superbike race I did just that and started to pull away when it was red flagged. And then in the restart I crashed, so they stopped that and declared the race after the opening stint, so I still got the race win which was good. It wasn’t the way I wanted to finish the season, but we’ve got the number one plates on each bike, so all is good.”

Fergusson announced that he will carry the #1 plates in 2005 and that he will remain with the official Honda team for the next three years.


More, from a press release issued by Nikon Yamaha:

Victorious Season Finale For

Nikon Yamaha Factory Racing Team


The Nikon Yamaha Factory Racing Team finished the final round of the 2004 Shell Advance Australian Superbike Championships at Phillip Island (September 10-12) in the best possible way as Shannon Johnson took out the overall victory on the day.

Scoring a win, and a pair of second places, Shannon consolidated his second overall in the title, an extremely impressive result for the year considering that after his first meeting on the dynamic Yamaha YZF-R1 at Eastern Creek back in March he was in ninth position overall.

It was a remarkable achievement considering the atrocious conditions that the meeting was conducted in, as freezing gale force winds, rain and even hail lashed the picturesque southern Victorian circuit for three days sending the meeting into total confusion, the weather at one stage threatening to ruin the entire event.

“It has certainly been an up and down year,” explained Nikon Yamaha Factory Racing Team Manager, Steve Trinder, ” but overall it has been very successful with Shannon securing second in the championship and Daniel maintaining his fourth place although he didn’t compete on the weekend.”

In recent rounds Shannon has been at the head of the leader board from the opening moments of practice and the situation on the weekend was no different, as he was the one to catch in the early lap times.

Shannon also had the added responsibility of being the only representative for the Nikon Yamaha Factory Racing Team in the Superbike class as his teammate Daniel Stauffer was unable to compete, still recovering from another operation to the shoulder that he originally damaged back in May.

Weather conditions deteriorated so much on Saturday that four hours of the timetable were lost as the flooded track was drained and resulted in the Superbike qualifying sessions being cancelled. Grid positions were taken from Friday’s practice with Shannon on pole but he was not awarded the customary championship point for recording the fastest time.

The opening Superbike race of the day started just after a downpour with tyre selection a bigger gamble than picking a Melbourne Cup winner. Some went for full wets, others for dry or intermediate tyres while the Nikon Yamaha Factory Racing Team took the unusual step of selecting – and putting immense faith – in the Dunlop D208 treaded production tyre.



Having never ridden on the tyres before Shannon took a couple of laps to gain full confidence as he settled into second place by which time Shawn Giles (Suzuki) set up a winning lead. Incidentally Giles used the same tyre selection, proving the excellent performance of the production Dunlop tyres.

“The tyre choices were my decision, ” explained Trinder. “It was a very critical time and the choice of the treaded tyres was calculated as slicks would not be up to it and wet weather tyres would not have lasted.

“It was an exceptional result for Shannon who quickly gained confidence on what are basically road tyres as the handling characteristics are drastically different and Shannon had never ridden on them before whereas Giles had.”

The second race was decided under controversy. After four laps the red flag was brought out when the heavens opened yet again with Johnson in second battling for the lead.

By the time the race was restarted the sun reappeared briefly but after two laps the red flag was brought out again after the recently crowned champion Adam Fergusson crashed at the Hayshed while Johnson was in the lead. The officials then decided to classify results after the first stoppage and award half points with Fergusson being awarded the win, Johnson third and the team very bemused at the result as in the past aggregate times of both legs have decided the result.

Variable conditions still prevailed for the final race for the year and what an entertaining stoush it was as Johnson battled Daniel’s brother, Jamie Stauffer (Kawasaki) with the lead swapping numerous times until the final couple of laps where Johnson’s determination and the superiority of the Yamaha shone through to enable the 24-year-old Victorian to secure the day’s proceedings.

“The Nikon Yamaha Factory Racing Team has become stronger at every meeting as Shannon has become more in tune with the bike and the team,” Trinder said in his summing up of the season. “His results have improved and now he is considered one of the best Superbike riders in the country after he had been discarded and overlooked by many others at the end of last year. Shannon has repaid the faith that Yamaha and I showed in him and is now ready to take the next step in becoming an Australian Superbike champion.

“Sadly for Daniel he missed two rounds due to the injury and we can only think of what might have been had he been fit the entire year as he demonstrated at the opening round and in Queensland, when he was far from fit, what a class act he is as well.”

2004 Shell Advance Australian Superbike Championships final pointscore after seven rounds:

1 A Fergusson (Honda) 344.5pts; 2 Shannon Johnson (Nikon Yamaha YZF-R1) 306; 3 S Giles (Suzuki) 291; 4 Daniel Stauffer (Nikon Yamaha YZF-R1) 215. 5 J Stauffer (Kawasaki) 212.5.

The next appearance for the Nikon Yamaha Factory Racing Team is at the Express Post Australian Superbike support races at the Australian Grand Prix at Philip Island October 16-18


More, from a press release issued by John Pearson:

American Pearson grabs sixth place at Phillip Island’s Australian
Superbike Series Finale

American road racer John Pearson finished sixth overall in the Pro-Twins class during the final round of the Australian Superbike Series held September 10th-12th at Phillip Island Grand Prix Raceway in Southern Australia.

In characteristic Phillip Island fashion, the weather played a huge role during the three-day event. Cold temperatures, hail, heavy rain, and a temporarily flooded racetrack made it a very challenging weekend for everyone.

Riding the Doin’ Bikes Honda RC-51 at the track for the first time, John commented, “The weekend ended up great, but started terrible! I only got 5 laps during my practice session because of an exhaust canister that came loose and then I only managed 2 laps in qualifying when the rear cylinder cam-timing sensor broke. Needless to say, I wasn’t too happy about starting last on the grid, but I was determined to make the best of it.” Because of the problems in qualifying, John was forced to start from the fourth and final row of the grid for all three, six-lap Pro-Twins races.

Race one lined up late Saturday afternoon in wet conditions, and after a great start and some determined riding, John charged through the field to finish a very respectable fifth place. “The track was really wet, but there was plenty of grip, so I just put my head down and tried to make up as many places as possible before the finish. I wished the race was longer because my last lap was my fastest and I was closing in on the leaders.”

Sunday brought bright sunshine and patchy rain, making quick tire changes the order of the day. “I swapped back and forth between wets and slicks four times on Sunday. It wouldn’t have been so bad if the track stayed wet, but it was drying so fast that leaving the wets on would have been a big mistake.” John said.

All the weather predictions went out of the window during race two. The race started dry, but rain began to fall on parts of the track on lap 4 of 6, with John, and most of the other riders caught out on slicks. Displaying excellent wet riding skills, John was able to overtake three additional riders in the final two laps to finish in fifth place once again.

Race three was ran in full dry conditions and after recovering from a less than perfect start, John worked his way up to a respectable seventh on the final lap, but was outrun on the dash to the checkered flag by another rider and relegated to eighth. “I ran medium compound slicks front and rear, but they never really felt like they came in during the race, so I probably should have chosen a softer tire for the cool conditions. Overall though, I am really happy with my performances for the weekend.”

With his temporary ride on the Doin’ Bikes RC-51 coming to a close, John is looking for support for the Australian National Series in 2005. “I really liked racing in the Pro-Twins class, so to get something to ride in that class next year would really be great, but I’m keeping all of my options open right now.”

From a press release issued by CCS:

StarNet’s VoiceEclipse to Sponsor (another) CCS Race in Mid-West Region

Palatine, IL — StarNet, Inc., one of the largest wholesale dialup and VoIP providers in the United States is proud to be a sponsor of Championship Cup Series, providing additional purse money incentives for several of the Championship Cup Series Sanctioned races at Blackhawk Farms throughout the weekend of September 18-19. On behalf of the Wegman Benefit Fund, StarNet’s VoiceEclipse will add $1000 each to the prize purses of the CCS Expert Middleweight Grand Prix, the Expert Thunderbike, the Expert Heavyweight Supersport, and the Expert Middleweight Superbike races.


In addition StarNet’s VoiceEclipse will pay another $1000 for the following: $200 to the 1st Lap Leader in Expert Middleweight Grand Prix, $200 to the top Expert Unlimited Grand Prix qualifier, $100 to 10th place in Expert Middleweight Supersport, a $250 top-three purse split in Amateur Lightweight Superbike and Amateur Middleweight Superbike. There will also be a $250 “Hat-Trick” bonus for any Expert rider that wins all three Unlimited Grand Prix, Middleweight Grand Prix, and Middleweight Supersport main events.

With these contributions, StarNet continues it’s 10-year record of support through its association with the Wegman Benefit Fund and contributions to the Air Fence Fund. StarNet CEO Russ Intravartolo has been racing competitively for many years and is excited to expand StarNet’s commitment to the race community.

Company representatives will be on hand at the CCS events September 18-19 to discuss VoiceEclipse, a new service offering which made its debut in Chicago and several other US markets over the summer. VoiceEclipse uses the power of the internet to route local and long distance phone calls through any broadband connection, and offers consumers the chance to enjoy tremendous savings over traditional phone services.

StarNet has drawn upon their years of experience managing an IP network to launch this service, which allows anyone with a broadband internet connection to make and receive all their phone calls no matter where they travel, and bring advanced features and top-notch support with them. Features include Call Forwarding, Call Blocking, fax-over-internet, and a versatile voice mail system, to name just a few.

About StarNet
With one of the largest wholesale 56K V.90 and ISDN networks in the United States, StarNet, Inc. is one of the most prominent ISPs of its time. Since 1995, StarNet, Inc. has been building MegaPOP: a reliable, cutting-edge network for Internet access aggregation throughout the U.S. with more than 2,800 access locations, covering over 90% of the US population.

VoiceEclipse is StarNet’s newest service: a broadband telephone service which bypasses the traditional phone company and uses StarNet’s internet infrastructure to deliver voice and fax services. For more information, visit the VoiceEclipse table at the event, call toll-free to 1-866-444-0794, or sign up online at www.voiceeclipse.

From a press release issued by KTM:

990 SUPERDUKE (SERIES MODEL):

Lighter, more agile and aggressive than everything else being on two wheels ever before. The KTM 990 Superduke is not less than a radical advance in building motorcycles and a redefinition of the category “naked bike”. The 990 Superduke is a motorcycle without compromise, defined through extremely agile handling, innovative technology and an independent, brand-characteristic design.
Primarily she is the absolute and offensively demonstrated commitment to the passion motorcycle.

950 SUPERMOTO (PRE-SERIES MODEL):

As the first manufacturer of motorcycles KTM launches a large-displacement 2-cylinder Supermoto. Therewith KTM demonstrates again its leading position in the Supermoto segment and points up the theme leadership for the brand.

990 RC8 (DEVELOPMENT LEVEL P1):

For the RC8, we brought our riders to the design table as well as the best technicians and designers. Our aim: The ultimate weapon for am-bitious street-fighters. That means: A radical concentration of its mass around the compact 75° V2. Innovative details are everywhere: The seat is the tank, keeping fuel at the machine’s centre of gravity. Dry sump lubrication allows the entire exhaust system to sit precisely where it has the least influence on dynamics. Directly under the engine. The fairing is designed to produce: The least possible crosswind drag. The result: No crosswind oscillation, spell-binding agility, and aggres-sive steering ability.
(Planned start of production 2007)

990 RC8 VENOM (CONCEPT BIKE):

The RC8 Venom is a study based on the revolutionary concept of the RC8. She is definitely and clearly designed as a naked bike and thus a specific interpretation of the RC8 form language, whereas also technically widely based on the RC8.

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

AMA CHEVROLET SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP, AMA SUPERMOTO CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS POSTPONED

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (Sept. 14, 2004) — AMA Pro Racing today announced the AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship event at Virginia International Raceway and AMA Supermoto Championship event at South Boston Speedway scheduled for this weekend have been postponed due to complications related to Hurricane Ivan.

AMA Pro Racing is continuing discussions with both Virginia International Raceway and South Boston Speedway regarding possible make-up dates.

The AMA Progressive Insurance Flat Track Championship race at Scioto Downs in Columbus, Ohio, currently remains scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 19.

From a press release issued by Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin:

LANZI AND BUSSEI TEAM UP FOR AMA FINALE AT VIR

Alton (Virginia) – September 14, 2004: Italians Lorenzo Lanzi and Giovanni Bussei will team up with Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin for the season finale at the AMA Superbike race at Virginia International Raceway this weekend. The two races at the 2.25 mile (3.62 km) road course will wrap up the 2004 season, which saw the return of a full factory-supported Ducati team to the American series.

Eric Bostrom suffered shoulder and rib injuries from a high-speed crash at Road Atlanta that will force him to miss the final round. “It’s really disappointing to miss this race, but after visiting with Dr. Ting, it became clear that it wouldn’t be safe to ride so soon,” explained the 27-year-old from Las Vegas, Nevada. “We’ll be visiting him again next week to see which direction we need to go to quickly get the shoulder up to full strength. And I’m still going to be in Virginia to meet with fans and support the team, Ducati, and all of our partners.”

Ducati Corse’s factory World Supersport rider Lorenzo Lanzi has visited the Virginia track once before during a test session in August. The 22-year-old from Cesena, Italy, currently sixth in the World Supersport points table, is excited about his AMA debut.

“I’m feeling really good about the AMA race – hopefully we can get a good result,” declared Lanzi. “I like the VIR track a lot. It’s a beautiful place, full of ups and downs and very safe. The bike is going well and in the couple of tests I’ve done, I’ve gone well with the Michelins. My rivals out on the track will be different, but this race is a new stimulus for me as I will be up against some really strong riders.”

World Superbike veteran Giovanni Bussei is no stranger to the Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin team, having raced with them in the latter half of the 2003 season. Bussei was poised for a podium finish last year at VIR when he mistook the penultimate lap’s waving white flag (not used in European racing) combined with a checkered flag in the background, as signaling the end of the race. The Turin-born Italian rider, who will celebrate his 32nd birthday on Wednesday, is looking forward to working again with some familiar faces.

“I’d like to say a big thanks to Ducati for giving me the chance to race the AMA season finale. It’s really great to be going back for this race as part of the factory Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin team,” commented Bussei, who returned to World Superbike at Brands Hatch with a private Ducati 998RS after racing the first half of the season in World Supersport.

“Last year I had some good races with the 998, including this one at Virginia, but this will be a new experience for me with the 999. I rode the bike for the first time last week at Mugello and I feel pretty sure I can get a good result for the team at VIR.”

The Circuit

One of the earlier permanent American road racing courses built, Virginia International Raceway held its first event in 1957, hosting an SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) race. Although it was well-received by racers, the track eventually fell on hard times during the 70’s fuel crisis and was closed down in 1974. The track was reopened in 2000 after extensive changes, with professional auto and motorcycle racing now adding the challenging track to their schedules.


POINTS: 1. Mladin 532; 2. Zemke 490; 3. Duhamel 477; 4. B Bostrom 364; 5. May 344; 6. E Bostrom 336; etc.

From a press release issued by Dorna:

MotoGP heads east for the Camel Grand Prix of Japan

The MotoGP World Championship heads into its crucial final stage this weekend with the first of four ‘flyaway’ races in five weeks, the Camel Grand Prix of Japan at Motegi. The elite of motorcycle racing and their prototype machines will head from Japan to Qatar, Malaysia and Australia before returning to European shores at the end of October for the sixteenth and final round of the season at Valencia. It is a decisive spell for the fate of the title, which currently looks destined to remain in the hands of its current proprietor, Valentino Rossi.

Rossi’s sixth victory of the season at the last round in Portugal swings his winning record to over 50% from the first eleven races, a ratio which shows no sign of relenting as the Yamaha factory make their final push for a title they haven’t won since 1992. During a day of tests at the Estoril circuit after the race, Rossi reported positive results from a new exhaust system imported from Japan, a weapon they look certain to use this weekend as they battle for superiority at the home of their great rivals Honda.

Honda also provided their main title hope, Sete Gibernau, with a new exhaust system recently but the Spaniard chose not to use it, preferring to approach the crucial final few races of the season on a machine he has already taken three victories with this season. Having also stayed on for tests at Estoril, Gibernau heads to Japan on the back of key set-up improvements to his Honda RC211V as he looks to cut back a 29-point gap to Rossi at the top of the standings.

The main rivals to Gibernau’s chances this weekend, however, could come from his own factory colleagues. Makoto Tamada and Alex Barros both took potential points from Gibernau in Portugal, relegating him to fourth place as they took the final two podium positions behind Rossi, and both have strong records at this circuit. Tamada was disqualified from last year’s race and was denied what would have been his maiden podium after clashing with Gibernau in third place, whilst Barros took victory on his first ever ride aboard the RC211V at this track in 2002.

Tamada, in particular, will be looking to avenge last year’s decision and arrives at his home Grand Prix on the back of a great run of form. Since his win at Rio in round seven, Tamada has been second only to Rossi in terms of points scored and will look to consolidate his growing reputation with a second victory of the season in front of a passionate local crowd.

Fellow Honda rider Nicky Hayden, who was handed his first ever podium thanks to Tamada’s disqualification last year, is back after missing the action in Portugal with a broken collarbone, whilst Shane Byrne has also confirmed he will return to the Aprilia fold after recovering from a broken wrist sustained in a practice crash at Brno four weeks ago. There is no such good news for Proton Team KR, however, with Kurtis Roberts expected to miss the next two races after undergoing an operation on his own broken wrist.

Meanwhile, Tohru Ukawa will return to MotoGP action for the first time since the end of the 2003 season, riding an updated version of the RC211V as a wildcard entry for Honda. Ukawa will be joined on track by former 250cc World Champion Olivier Jacque, who also departed the MotoGP scene at the end of last season, riding the Moriwaki.

Max Biaggi’s aspirations of winning the title virtually ended when he crashed out on the first lap at Portugal. However, the Italian escaped uninjured and is scheduled to make a record 180th consecutive Grand Prix start at Motegi, where he went from pole to victory one year ago. Biaggi’s compatriot Marco Melandri also makes a milestone appearance this weekend, clocking up 100 Grand Prix starts since his debut in 1997. The Yamaha rider recorded his best MotoGP finish of last season at Motegi, charging from nineteenth on the first lap to fifth by the end of the race.

Dani Pedrosa won the 125cc race from pole position in 2002 and was set for a repeat last year before suffering mechanical problems on the 16th lap. The Spanish youngster will be hoping for a smooth ride this time around after problems with wet weather and a punctured tyre in the last two races have seen his lead at the top of the 250cc World Championship shrink to 27 points over Randy de Puniet.

Pedrosa’s plight to impress Honda bosses and take another step towards the quarter-litre title will be under threat by factory colleagues this weekend. Toni Elias returned to form with the seventh 250cc victory of his career at Estoril, two of his previous success coming in the past two seasons at Motegi, meaning only Ralf Waldmann has taken more victories in the class without having won the title. Meanwhile, Hiroshi Aoyama will be looking to challenge for his first victory of the season having impressed as a wildcard rider at Motegi last year, when he finished fifth ahead of Yuki Takahashi, who also races this weekend.

Andrea Dovizioso finished third at Motegi last year, just three tenths of a second behind the victorious Hector Barberá, but is coming under pressure from the Spaniard for the title this time around after failing to finish a race for the first time all season at Portugal. With Barberá taking his third win of the season in the same race, the Italian’s lead at the top of the championship now stands at just 20 points.