From a press release issued by Dorna:

Wild card entries for the Cinzano British Grand Prix

The wild-card riders who will race in the Cinzano British Grand Prix, scheduled at Donington Park on July 25th next, are the following:


250cc class
64 – John Pearson (GBR-Honda)
65 – Lee Dickinson (GBR-Honda)
66 – Tony Campbell (GBR-Yamaha)
67 – Bruce Dunn (GBR-Honda)

125cc class
20 – Georg Fröhlich (GER-Honda)
49 – Christian Elkin (GBR-Honda)
51 – Kris Weston (GBR-Honda)
84 – Thomas Bridewell (GBR-Honda)
85 – Eugene Laverty (IRL-Honda)

From a slightly late press release issued by Cagiva USA:

MV Agusta F4-SPR selected as the hero’s exclusive motorcycle

Opening in theaters nationwide Friday, July 16th, Academy Award® nominee and global film and music superstar Will Smith rides an MV Agusta F4-SPR in the movie “I, ROBOT,” this summers epic action spectacular from Twentieth Century Fox.

Together with actress Bridget Moynahan, Smith saves the day with the help of the MV Agusta motorcycle when all other options are lost. The star of some of Hollywood’s biggest box office successes, rides a highly coveted and exclusive MV Agusta SPR in his role as I, ROBOT’s detective hero.

The story takes place in the year 2035, however Smith’s character, Det. Spooner has an appreciation for the style of the late 1990’s – early 2000’s. The MV Agusta motorcycle portrayed in the movie not only reinforces the traditional association of a motorcycle to the ideas of greater freedom and mobility, but also confirms the F4 models dominant role as the most exclusive and sought after motorcycle of it’s time. More information about the MV Agusta product line can be found at www.mvagustausa.com.

I, ROBOT is inspired by the classic short story collection by Isaac Asimov. In the year 2035, robots are an everyday household item, and everyone trusts them, except one slightly paranoid detective (Will Smith) investigating what he alone believes is a crime perpetrated by a robot. The case leads him to discover a far more frightening threat to the human race. I, ROBOT uses a spectacular, state-of-the-art visual effects technique to bring a world of robots to life.

Trailers for the movie can be found at www.irobotmovie.com.

Will Smith’s formidable credits include blockbusters such as “Independence Day,” “Men in Black,” “Bad Boys” and the recent “Bad Boys II.” He won an Academy Award® nomination for his work in “Ali”, the life story of boxing legend Muhammad Ali.

MV Agusta Motorcycles have also been featured in “Art of War” with Wesley Snipes, “Gone in 60 Seconds” with Nicolas Cage and Angelina Jolie, and “XXX” with Vin Diesel.

MV Agusta motorcycles are frequently included in the automotive collections of numerous top athletes, celebrities, and private enthusiasts worldwide.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

CMRA Championship Roadracing Series: Round seven
Hallett Motor Racing Circuit
Hallett, OK
July 16-18

By Shan Moore

Unlike past events this season, where one or two riders dominated the action, several riders claimed Expert-class wins and took home a share of CMRA purse money at round seven of the CMRA Championship Roadracing Series, held at Hallett Motor Racing Circuit near Hallett, Oklahoma.

Of the Expert winners, Phillip Lawlis was the most consistent, winning the B Superstock, A Superbike and Formula 1 Expert races. But, while Lawlis won the most races, Joe Prussiano took home the most money, as the Houstonite took home $1750 in CMRA purse and Honda contingency money for winning the C Superstock Expert event, his only race of the day.

Veteran CMRA competitor Ronnie Lunsford took home a sizable share of CMRA purse money as well after dominating the Heavyweight Twins Expert race and the Mr. Corder Racing Formula 40 Heavyweight Expert races, taking flag-to-flag wins in both races.

Jason Pirtle was another double winner, taking the Lightweight Twins and D Superbike Expert events, while first-year CMRA Expert Bryan West claimed the A Superstock Expert and B Superbike Expert races.

Dustin Dominguez, a Roadracing World Young Gun, took wins in the D Superstock Expert and the Formula CMRA Heavyweight race.

Craig Montgomery came back from a nasty crash in the C Superstock Expert event to claim first place in the C Superbike Expert race.

Tyler McDonald, 15, won the Unlimited Motard race and the 125cc GP race, which features a $500 purse, while K&N Racing-teammate Will Gruy came home with first place in the Formula CMRA Lightweight division and the Formula 2 Expert races.

Jon Francis won the Formula CMRA Middleweight event and Robert Bradlaw won the Classic Superbike race.

In the Novice ranks, Jacob Chapman won the Junior Motard race. Cory Burleson had a good day, claiming wins in the C Superstock and C Superbike Novice events, while Kyle Rivers topped the B Superstock race.

Despite the fact than several racers had skipped the event in order to make the trip to Mid-Ohio, 453 sprint entries filled the Hallett grids and 78 teams competed in Saturday’s endurance races.

In the Pace American Trailer CMRA Endurance Presented by Shogun Motorsports event, Northwest Honda Racing took a long overdue win in the Smith Cycle Center-sponsored 5-hour race. Northwest Honda Racing ran fast and consistent times and avoided the bad luck that has plagued them throughout the year to top second-place finishers Vinyl Edge Racing, who limped home with transmission problems, by a 1-lap margin.

Desert-Rats.net, the winners of the last event of the endurance series at Texas World Speedway, took third overall and first in the Unlimited Superstock division, while Big Air Racing was fourth overall and first in Middleweight Superstock.

Village Idiots, who were leading the overall endurance series standings going into the Hallett weekend, suffered a crash and assorted mechanical problems which dropped them to a disappointed sixth overall, but they gained valuable class points by placing first in the Middleweight Superbike class, and so maintain the points lead in that class.

Faltless Racing continues to lead the Lightweight Superbike point standings after posting yet another win in the division, but only after trailing Team K&N early in the race.

In the Mini Endurance 2-hour race, held Saturday morning, Team K&N topped Sum of All Parts Racing by 1:23.400 to claim the overall and Formula 4 wins, while AF1 Racing ran a strong race to win the Formula 5 division over 2Wheelz.com.

STD Racing won the Formula 6 class while Speed Demonz were tops in the Formula 7 class.

In the Mini Sprint races, Will Gruy bested Tyler McDonald for the Formula 4 win, while Bill Hirstius was first in the Formula 6 race, ahead of Laura Browning.

Anthony Smith won the AF1 Racing Formula 5 race, which features a $250 purse, topping Jayme Jernigan and Kyle Rivers in the process, while Derek Wagnon won the Formula 7 event.

The CMRA continues its season of championship events with round 8 of the series at MotorSport Ranch, near Cresson, Texas on August 28-29.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Exploding Dunlop rear tires sent both Steve Crevier and Jeff Williams tumbling down the back straight at Mosport last weekend, during a Canadian Superbike weekend.

Williams crashed during Saturday’s Superbike race and Crevier crashed during Sunday’s Superbike race. Both were in top gear when they crashed; Williams had completed six racing laps and eight total laps on his tire when it failed, and Crevier had finished six racing laps and seven total laps on his tire when it failed.

Williams was running a medium compound tire and Crevier was on a soft.

Weather conditions were constantly changing throughout the weekend, alternating thunderstorms with very hot ambient temperatures.

Both Williams and Crevier escaped serious injury, although Crevier crashed earlier on the “straight,” which actually has a kink in it, and clipped a wall, leaving him more battered and bruised than Williams, according to eyewitnesses.

Canadian Superbike rules require the use of stock wheels, which means that both Williams and Crevier were running 17-inch Dunlop radial slicks on their Diablo Suzuki GSX-R1000s.

Roadracingworld.com could not reach Crevier or Williams for comment. At post time, series organizer Colin Fraser had not returned a call requesting comment.

Frim a press release issued by World Championship Motorsports (WCM):

Blata V6 MotoGP campaign

Today Monday July 19th 2004 an agreement was made between Blata s.r.o and World Championship Motorsports to develop a V6 MotoGP machine with which to contest the 2005 World Championship.

The Blata V6 is a thrilling venture for the young company previously famous for the Blata mini bike raced the world over. The leap into the greatest class in motor cycle racing offers the chance to showcase the wealth of technological expertise available in the Czech Republic.

Though Blata has only been in existence since 1990 it already sells 15,000 machines a year. The new factory was completed in 2000 It will soon be joined by a second manufacturing facility to be completed in October 2004 plus a third due for completion in 2009. This will result in a manufacturing capability of 100,000 units per year.

The Japanese manufacturers such as Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki used Grand Prix racing in the 1960s to give their engineers a way of rapidly developing and expressing their knowledge and experience. It also gave their brands world wide exposure. In 2005 there is no better way to achieve the same goals than to take up the challenge of competing in the MotoGP World Championship.

World Championship Motorsports bring to this partnership Grand Prix winning experience. Red Bull Yamaha WCM became one of the best known teams at the turn of the century. In the last two years WCM has campaigned its own MotoGP machine and put the WCM name in the record books again.

WCM recognised that they needed a strong technical partner to have any chance of challenging the factory supported teams and joining with Blata in this project achieves that.

The Czech republic has a great history in motorcycle sport through brands such as Jawa and CZ. It is hoped that this project is taking the first step to recapture some of that magic.

More details of the project will be announced at the Grand Prix of the Czech Republic 20th ­ 22nd August.

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

FANS SET TO LAP TRACK DURING 14TH ANNUAL MID-OHIO DEALER RIDE

DUBLIN, Ohio -Motorcycle riders may take to the city streets daily, but once a year Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course allows spectators the chance to hit the track with their own two-wheeler. Now in its 14th season, the Mid-Ohio Dealer Ride is a crowd favorite. The Dealer Ride takes place throughout the lunchtime break on Sunday, July 25 during the Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire.

With more than 110 motorcycle dealerships scheduled to participate in this year’s event, over 450 riders will experience an on-track tour of Mid-Ohio’s 15-turn, 2.4-mile road course. In addition to the lunchtime lap on Sunday, participants will also receive VIP parking in the infield.

To sign up for the Dealer Ride, bike owners can simply visit their nearest participating motorcycle dealership, including all Honda dealerships in Ohio, during normal business hours. All participating riders and passengers must be 18 years of age or older, riders must carry a valid operator’s license, and helmets are required for those on board.

Along with the 14th annual Dealer Ride, the Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire will feature a Wiseco Superbike 100 doubleheader. Miguel Duhamel, Ben Bostrom, Jake Zemke and the rest of the AMA Superbike superstars will go head-to-head with hopes of taking the checkered flag in Saturday and Sunday afternoon’s races.

Also featured during the weekend events, will be the fast-paced, two-wheeled action from Supersport, Superstock, and Formula Xtreme classes.

From a press release issued by Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha:

GAULOISES FORTUNA YAMAHA MEN ENTER SECOND HALF OF 2004 CHALLENGE

With the season’s halfway point breached at last weekend’s German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring, the forthcoming Donington event heralds the start of the second half of the 16-race MotoGP World Championship. Starting at a later time to allow live TV coverage on a Formula One weekend, the 30-lap British Grand Prix will be almost a home race for Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha Team riders Valentino Rossi and Carlos Checa, as both the 25-year-old Italian and the 31-year-old Spaniard have their primary residences in the English capital city of London.

After winning half of the eight races so far, Rossi holds the slenderest of championship leads, ahead of his new championship rival Max Biaggi (Honda) by one point, with eight races left to run. Checa, who suffered the misfortune of a fall while fighting with the leaders at Sachsenring, sits seventh overall in the table, looking to return to the kind of early season form which gave him second place at Le Mans.

The sweeps and curves of Donington make it a natural backdrop for both team pilots to exploit and after some technical issues were ironed out immediately before the race at Sachsenring, Donington is eagerly anticipated as another opportunity to go for the win and rack up points at a crucial stage of the championship.

Rossi has an enviable record at Donington, having won three premier class race victories, one 250cc win and another in 125cc at the circuit. Prior to the race, Rossi will be attending a promotional event at London’s Leicester Square on Wednesday 21 July, immediately before the team decants to the Donington circuit.

ROSSI DESCRIBES THE DONINGTON EXPERIENCE

After leading the race before ultimately finishing fourth at Sachsenring, Rossi is glad to be going to a track which may favour the advantages held by his YZR-M1. “Both Sachsenring and Donington are traditionally good circuits for Yamaha, so I hope to do well in Donington. Donington is different to all the others. It has the medium to high-speed corners in the first part, including the hairpin, and then the second part is the ‘car park’.”

Exactness is the most desirable commodity at Donington, according to Rossi. “You need so much precision in the first part of the Donington track; the bike needs to be set hard for that bit. Redgate is important, just before the corner, because it’s a good place to overtake and quite fast. However you shouldn’t arrive there too fast, because you need good speed for the next section. Also the section before the hairpin is important for your overall lap time.”

His personal favourite part is the Old Hairpin, which forms the lowest part of the track, following on from a rollercoaster ride down Craner Curves.

“The hairpin section for me is perhaps one of the best sections of the championship, down-up and very nice. Then the run up to Coppice is very hard because after about 5 laps you lose grip on the right side of the tyres. It’s all over for me at that point because then you reach the ‘car park’! This section has the slowest track point of the championship, it’s really difficult.”

In summation, Rossi states, “I think Yamaha will have an advantage in the fast part as our bike is more agile, it’s easier to change direction with than the Honda. Then later the braking stability and acceleration of the Honda could have an advantage. It will be an interesting race.”

CHECA’S HOME FROM HOME

For Carlos Checa, Donington has many levels of significance. “I really like to race in the UK, I’ve lived there for quite a few years now so it’s like my second ‘home’ Grand Prix. After my accident I had so much support from the British fans; they are really enthusiastic. I have many friends in England so it’s nice for them to come to the race, too. Having said that Donington is not my favourite track of the year!”

London resident Checa feels right at home at Donington, but does not rate the track as one of his favourites. “I like England very much but the track is not at the level of the country or the World Championship, especially the last part of it; it’s much more suited to 125cc bikes or the British Championship. However, despite all this I’m still looking forward to it!”

Checa feels he can go well in the lone UK-based MotoGP race of the year, the last before a three-weekend break until the next round at Brno in the Czech Republic, on August 22nd. “As for our bike at Donington, we’ll see! I think it will be quite good there, although it will depend on the tyre. We need to work on grip; this will be very important at Donington. Last year I qualified well but wasn’t able to keep the pace throughout the race. This year I am going to need a lot of energy to push as hard as possible and hopefully have a good race. I really want to go into the summer break feeling confident and with some good things to think about.”

DAVIDE BRIVIO – GAULOISES FORTUNA YAMAHA TEAM DIRECTOR

The peculiarities of Donington are well known to the experienced Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha Team, as the Team Director Davide Brivio explains. “Donington is the last race before the summer break so it is obviously important to leave that race still leading the championship. The competition is becoming harder and harder now Max Biaggi is in good shape and I’m sure he will put in all his efforts to get to the top as well. Donington should not be a bad circuit for us. Valentino likes the track and Carlos has been in the top positions there as well. Both riders can be good there, and we have shown we have the potential to fight with the leaders. We got good information from Sachsenring but Donington is a bit different. It has longer corners, faster corners for the most part; the only similarity is the uphill and downhill nature of the track. Then there is the ‘car park’ slow section to finish each lap. We are going with the target to maintain the lead of the championship, and extend it as much as possible.”

TECHNICALLY SPEAKING

Donington, somewhat like the previous circuit at Sachsenring, is a track of two halves. One section is slow and less interesting for the riders and spectators alike, the other is faster and more flowing. Machine set-up is also therefore something of a compromise, with strong front fork springs and sharp steering the ideal solutions for hard braking and swift flick-in at the chicane and last two hairpins, while the rest of the undulating fast and medium corners require suppleness from the front suspension and a high degree of stability mid corner, and a firmer set-up on the rear to help with corner exit traction.

Horsepower is less of a factor at Donington than most circuits this year, but clean engine response and exact gearing choices are essential to handle such a variety of corners, as the track runs downhill from the start to the Old Hairpin, then back uphill to the flat section behind the pits.

Working conditions at the ageing Donington track are far from ideal but the track layout is the type that provokes either love or hate, such is its individuality. The prevalent off camber nature of Donington is one of the main factors at play during any British GP weekend, with a large tendency for the front tyre to push, making the right, left, right flick down the Craner Curve section something of a high tension rollercoaster ride. A dramatic viewing experience, Donington sits inside an amphitheatre style setting, with the spectator bankings ringing around the outside.


VALENTINO ROSSI: INFORMATION
Age: 25
Lives: London, UK
Bike: Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha Team YZR-M1
GP victories: 63 (24 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: 132 (40 x MotoGP, 32 x 500cc, 30 x 250cc, 30 x 125cc)
Pole positions: 33
Donington 2003 results (Honda): Grid: 4th, 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: 160 (40 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)
Donington 2003 results (Yamaha): Grid: 5th, Race: 6th



Donington MotoGP lap record – Valentino Rossi (Honda): 1:31.023 (2003)
Circuit best lap – Max Biaggi (Honda): 1:30.740(2003)

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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