From a press release issued by Honda Racing Information:

MotoGP test Sepang, Malaysia. January 21, 2004.

Scorching second day for Honda men in Sepang

As on the first day of tests yesterday, any trace of the overnight rain was dissipated by the time the Honda riders made it to the Sepang International circuit at nine o’clock this morning, local time. Blazing sunshine sent the mercury rising once more, with temperatures reaching 36º Celsius, with the track surface itself a baking 56ºC at times, as Honda completed day two of three in their current MotoGP test session at the Malaysian track.

The six Honda men here this week continued in the same vein as yesterday, working with their respective teams testing material for the upcoming 2004 season. Fastest rider out on the track today was once again Camel Honda’s Max Biaggi, who set a blistering time of 2:02.96 in his 59 laps, after focusing on getting a good set-up of his machine on 17-inch front tyres before moving to the smaller 16.5-inch tomorrow to see the difference.

Telefonica MoviStar rider Sete Gibernau, meanwhile, also improved his time from yesterday and continued his work on the 16.5-inch front as requested by Michelin.

Camel Honda’s Bridgestone equipped rider Makoto Tamada could in turn be proud of his performance today, going under the circuit race record time on his Japanese tyres, and still managed to squeeze in some testing of major changes to his motorcycle, to find out what effect they had on the bike as a whole.

Colin Edwards wasn’t as happy with his performance today, and is feeling the effects of the long journey over to steamy Malaysia after a few weeks in the cold Wyoming Mountains, despite having improved his time from yesterday considerably. HRC tester Tohru Ukawa continues to get quicker on the Honda development bike, and judging by comments from his Honda colleagues, as well as Ukawa himself, it seems as though the bike is another step forward on the already dominant machine. Finally, Repsol Honda’s Nicky Hayden continued his work re-acclimatising himself to the RC211V, after a long rest break since the last race of 2003 in Valencia.

Max Biaggi – 2:02.96. 54 laps

I have tested only 17-inch front tyres since my arrival here, it was my choice because I wanted to get a good set-up first before testing the 16.5-inch tomorrow. Now my set-up is good I will feel the difference tomorrow, and it will all be coming from the tyres. This newer bike is definitely one step ahead of the 2003 machine, with better power-delivery and more of it. However, we are two or three months from the start of the season, and the key is getting the new material as soon as possible.

Sete Gibernau – 2:03.30. 64 laps

Michelin requested that I try the 16.5-inch tyre for them today. I was having problems with it until now, and I still think after today that the tyre does need some more work on its construction perhaps to be more suited to the Honda. The problem is that the tyre is used in four or five laps, and for the next test they must try to make some new developments. Otherwise though I am happy to be riding fast consistently, this bike is even smoother than before and has a clutch that works better, so the factory is going in the right direction.

Makoto Tamada – 2:03.40. 54 laps

This morning we tried some major part changes to see what it did to my bike and performance. We changed things like the wheelbase or the linkages, because you don’t get time to do that normally in a race weekend. The results were as we expected, but it was worthwhile nonetheless to know that. In the afternoon I worked on some endurance tyre testing with the Bridgestones.

Colin Edwards – 2:03.60. 54 laps

Today we went everywhere but the right way perhaps. I lost a bit of confidence in the 16.5 inch tyre that I have been riding for so long now, just because we were chopping and changing it with the 17 a lot. Today was the first time I have got good laps in on a 17 in a while, and there is some good and bad in both types of tyres. I just think I was a little off-kilter today, the first time for a long time, but I think I’m just tired from the travelling over here and the change in conditions.

Tohru Ukawa – 2:03.63. 87 laps

It’s getting better and the lap times are better too, so that’s good to see. Today I tyre tested with the new machine – it has a different engine character so there is a different feeling in the rear, that’s where we worked today. I found a good tyre and some good settings, yesterday we had a bit of gearbox confusion, and I chose a new one today, which worked better. Also I tried a new injection setting, we’ve done a lot of laps today. Tomorrow is endurance, and we will work on engine mapping, it’s going to be a difficult day.

Nicky Hayden – 2:03.69. 84 laps

I wanted to put a lot of laps in today to get comfortable again with the bike; I also tried the 16.5-inch Michelin front, which has its plus points, but I’d like to wait to say more on it. Today I went faster than in the race here which was pleasing; we did some work with the chassis too, which helped me get back into the groove. There’s lots to work on for us now still though, the new engine I have tried is good, it’s got a very different feel when you put the power down, but I made good advances with suspension ride height settings which has helped me go better.

From a press release issued by Yamaha:

YAMAHA CONFIRMS FINAL LINE-UP AHEAD OF FIRST TEST OF 2004

Yamaha will carry out its first test of the 2004 MotoGP season this weekend with a new-look line-up. Spaniard Carlos Checa and his new team-mate, MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi, will compete for the Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha Team, Yamaha’s wholly-owned Factory Team. Norick Abe and Marco Melandri will ride for the Fortuna Gauloises Tech 3 Team, the privately-owned French team.

Both teams will be running Factory Yamaha YZR-M1 motorcycles and will be running under the Altadis-Yamaha sponsorship program. Valentino Rossi will ride in the blue of Altadis’ leading international Gauloises brand. Team-mate Checa’s Yamaha YZR-M1, on the other hand, will sport the red and silver of Altadis’ Fortuna, the market leading tobacco brand in Spain, and strongly developing internationally.

Similarly in the Tech 3 team Marco Melandri will ride in Fortuna colours with Norick Abe in Gauloises. The unusual move suits Altadis’ marketing strategy with Rossi representing their leading international brand while Checa stays linked to Fortuna for a second year. The Fortuna brand is also present on the Italian market and hence Melandri’s 2nd year in Fortuna colours while Norick Abe is important for Gauloises in the Japanese market where the brand was recently relaunched in autumn 2003.

The four Yamaha riders will start their 2004 testing programme with three days at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia from 24 to 26 January. The test will be Valentino Rossi’s first on the Yamaha YZR-M1.

This announcement also confirms that Brazilian rider Alex Barros will leave the Altadis-Yamaha set-up despite being halfway through a two-year contract with the Franco-Spanish tobacco group. The breach of his contract with sponsor Altadis is currently being discussed by the parties concerned and a final agreement of terms has yet to be reached.

Yamaha is expecting considerable media interest in Rossi’s first ride for the Japanese manufacturer but media should contact the teams’ press officer if they wish to attend organised media events in Sepang.

From a press release issued by Sport Bike Night Racing:

Of Sponsors and Friends

On July 11th of 2003, I suffered serious leg and foot injuries on the opening lap of the 600cc AMA National at Laguna Seca. I have spent a total of two and a half months in Stanford University Hospital and have undergone four surgeries. The most recent, to remove hardware from my leg and to deal with two separate infections. I have started to walk again and have begun physical therapy in hopes of increasing the movement of my ankle allowing me to have a normal stride. I am at home again but have IV lines inserted in my arm to inject antibiotics five times a day. Needless to say, 2003 was not my year.

When my dad and I put together our racing program last year we signed on with those sponsors we felt we could best represent and who, in turn, could provide us the necessary support. At that time we did not know we had chosen a group of individuals who would go “above and beyond” the call of sponsorship.

Immediately after my crash, and it was quite apparent that my racing was done for the year, the phone began to ring with calls of support and assistance from these same sponsors. I also got calls from friends and over 100 emails from race fans who saw the incident on Speed TV.

I would like to thank those sponsors and friends who stepped up when things looked bleak and the racing was over. Jeff Norman of GPR Stabilizers, you are “DA MAN”, thank you so much. Scott Link of Alpinestars and Bruce Porter of Arai Helmets. Terry Newby and Dennis Smith of Dunlop Tires, Sandro Milesi of Galfer Brakes and Mike Doran of D&W Images. Additionally, I would like to thank Chuck and Cory Eaton, Tony Meiring, Steve Rapp, Umbrella Girls USA, my crew chief Rich Serne, Wayne Rainey, David Perez, PCP Motorsports, Kenny Roberts Jr. and Rick Briggs of Offbeat Productions. And, of course, my family for their love, support and countless hours at the hospital.

This incident has shown me what a great group of people are involved in our sport and how much they care about folks on an individual basis. They are not “just sponsors.”

I hope to back on a bike by the end of February and racing soon afterward. I’ll be the guy limping around on the starting grid. Come on by and say hello. Again, thank you all.

Shaun Summers
AMA Supersport #41
Sport Bike Night Racing
Sacramento, California

From a press release issued by CMRA’s publicist:

Haner Inks with Hooters Suzuki

John Haner inked a deal with Hooters Suzuki that will see the Pearland, Texas resident running Hooters Suzuki-backed GSX-R1000s in the AMA Chevy Trucks Superbike Series in 2004. Haner’s deal also involves a CMRA board member and three former-CMRA racers who will provide travel and expense money.

“It’s gonna be excellent support and there is pretty good money behind the team so everything looks really good,” said Haner of the deal. “We’ll be running Superstock and Superbike classes and I will have two brand new Superstock bikes and one Superbike at every event. Mike Fargnoli, who was with Corona Suzuki last year, is the crew chief for my Hooters Suzuki team this year and has put together an exciting package.”

Haner and the Hooter’s Suzuki Team will open the season at Daytona in March, however the team will be testing at the CCS Formula USA event the week before.

“I think it’s going to be the best year yet,” added Haner, who is spending the winter training with fellow Texan and AMA pro Ben Spies. “I got that first year underneath my belt and we know we can run the times that are needed to meet our goals, now we’ll have a little faster motor, a good suspension and I think it’s gonna be my best year yet. Everybody better watch out because I’ve been training and I am ready and I’m in the best shape of my life.”

From a press release issued by Honda Racing Information:

HONDA CONFIRMS BARROS FOR TOP RIDE

Following the recent announcement by Alex Barros in Brazil that he is free to seek a new MotoGP ride for the 2004 season, Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) today (Tuesday, 20 January 2004) can confirm that the 33-year-old Brazilian will ride alongside Nicky Hayden in the official HRC Repsol Honda Team for 2004.

Barros is making a good recovery following surgery before Christmas on a past shoulder injury and is due to ride the 2004 Honda RC211V at Sepang, Malaysia on February 11, 12 and 13 before moving down to Phillip Island, Australia on February 17, 18 and 19 taking part in the official HRC Winter Testing Programme.

His new team under Crew Chief, Ramon Forcada, is working in Sepang at the moment with a view to making a flying start with Barros in the February tests. Forcada worked with Barros for two years in the West Honda Pons team in 2001 and 2002 and guided the Brazilian to two victories and two podiums in the last four races of 2002 when he was given the opportunity to ride the 4-stroke RC211V.

From a press release issued by Camel Honda Press Information:

First day of tests in 2004 for Makoto Tamada in Malaysia

Makoto Tamada went out today onto the circuit at Sepang in Malaysia for the first of three days of tests. Thanks to the ideal weather conditions – 30°C (86°F) air temperature, 35° (95°) on the tarmac, and moderate 70% relative humidity, he was able to work well and intensely right from the first sortie of the year. Makoto Tamada concentrated on the 2004 chassis settings of his RC211V, focusing on a number of details involving the frame and suspension. As for the engine of his Honda, the Camel Honda Team rider went out today with a power unit identical to the one used for the Valencia tests in December, and thus an intermediate step. The definitive 2004 version, which is undergoing constant development, will be used later on, as from the forthcoming tests in February.

Using Bridgestone tyres, Tamada was trying out materials that he knows and has tested at length in the past. This solution was chosen so that Makoto could concentrate entirely on the variations in chassis settings.

Shinichi Itoh, Bridgestone’s official test rider, was also out on the circuit at Sepang. The expert Japanese rider is working with the aim of continuing the development of materials made by the Japanese giant for the 2004 MotoGP. He has an intense work programme for the three days of tests that should help select the latest tyres for the season that is about to begin.

Luca Montiron (Team Manager Makoto Tamada – Camel Honda Team)
“We started off with a very successful first day of work, and the experience that Makoto Tamada acquired last year means he has been able to start the season extremely well and with great determination. Makoto made his debut in the MotoGP right here at Sepang in last year’s winter tests. Seeing him perform so well, one year later, on the very first day of tests is certainly reason for great satisfaction. We’ve got lots of work to do and this is only the first in a long series of tests leading up to the competition, so we’re tackling this period of the year with great motivation, as it’s the basis for our future results.”

Makoto Tamada (# 6 – Camel Honda Team – Bridgestone Tyres)
“I’m just raring to go and more determined than ever. The new World Championship season is starting up and I just couldn’t wait to get back onto my bike. The good weather on this first day of work gave excellent results and I was able to gain new knowledge, which I started acquiring in the December tests, of an even more advanced RC211V. We’ll take time to analyse all the details so we can make the most of all the new features that are gradually being introduced to the bike. I’m already pleased with my lap times, but over the next couple of days we’ll also be working to get the best possible performance.”

Times on first day of tests:

Makoto Tamada – 41 LAPS – 2:04.0
Shinichi Itoh – 56 LAPS – 2:05.1

From a press release issued by Fuchs Kawasaki:

MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2004
PRESEASON TESTING – SEPANG, MALAYSIA
20TH JANUARY 2004

NAKANO MAKES HIS KAWASAKI DEBUT AT SEPANG

Just six days after the official announcement that Shinya Nakano would ride for the Kawasaki Racing Team in 2004 the 26-year-old Japanese rider made his debut aboard the Ninja ZX-RR MotoGP machine during the first day of a planned four day test at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia.

Sporting his trademark ‘mooneyes’ helmet, Nakano took to the track aboard the very latest version of the Ninja ZX-RR and spent the day familiarising himself with the characteristics of both the 990cc, inline four-cylinder MotoGP machine and the Bridgestone tyres. Despite this being his first outing on the Kawasaki, the popular Japanese rider ended the day just 1.5s off his best lap time in October’s Malaysian Grand Prix.

Former Kawasaki test and development rider, and now full time MotoGP contender, Alex Hofmann, spent today carrying out comparison tests using the 2003 version of the Ninja ZX-RR MotoGP machine, but still managed to improve upon his previous best lap time around the Sepang circuit. Having been impressed with the consistency of the Bridgestone tyres during today’s rain shortened session the former European 250cc Champion is looking forward to testing the tyres further on the 2004 version of the Ninja ZX-RR tomorrow.

Shinya Nakano: best time – 2:06.5 (44 laps)
“I was very excited about riding the Ninja ZX-RR for the first time today and, after just this short test session, my first impression of the Kawasaki is that it is a very compact, but very powerful machine. Now we need to work at finding a good chassis balance, as well as setting the bike up to be more stable on the brakes, but this is to be expected with a completely new chassis. We’ll also be making a few changes to the gearbox tonight, ready to start testing again tomorrow morning. Overall, I’m very happy with how things have gone today.”

Alex Hofmann: best time – 2:06.2 (41 laps)
“I started with the old bike today, as we had a couple of modifications we wanted to evaluate before switching to the new bike tomorrow, but I still managed to go quicker than my previous best lap time at this circuit. The consistency of the Bridgestone tyres is impressive; I did my fastest time today on a set of tyres with almost 20 laps on them. Now I can’t wait to try them on the new bike tomorrow.”

Harald Eckl: Team Manager
“It has been interesting to watch Shinya adapt step by step to the new bike and it has given me confidence in the fact that we are moving in the right direction. We have a lot more parts and settings to test over the next three days and we’re looking forward to leaving here with enough data to enable us to make the next step in the development process when we return to Sepang in February. It has also been good to see what is effectively a new team starting to work together to produce the results we know the bike and riders are capable of. This, in particular, bodes well for the rest of the season.”

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Long-time Roadracing World contributor Herod Lowery was part of the Associated Press team covering the arraignment of entertainer Michael Jackson in Santa Maria, California, last Friday. Lowery normally covers MotoGP in Europe plus the Laguna Seca World Superbike event for AP. He was asked to help out with the Jackson proceedings in Santa Maria by AP Los Angeles as he has lived in Santa Maria for the last 40 years. AP Los Angeles sent three photographers, two reporters and two court reporters. There were 130 accredited media representatives at this event.

“I got to the courthouse at 6:20 a.m. and it was just like going into the GP at Jerez in Spain! There was designated media parking and you needed a press pass to park there. Just like Jerez, there were booths lining the street on the way in to the courthouse selling food and drink and trinkets. This was about 30 minutes before sunrise, it was very cold but there had to be at least 700 people milling about. Most of them were protesting that Jackson was innocent.

“It was a circus, it was nuts. At one time there were five helicopters above the courthouse. Over 100 police (local, state, federal and FBI) were assigned for crowd control and security. After the hearing, Jackson got a police escort to the Highway 101 freeway so he could go south to his Neverland Ranch, about 15 miles south of Santa Maria.

“At its peak, the crowd was estimated at 2500 people. No one was really sure as we’ve never seen 2500 hundred mammals at one time in Santa Maria, save for the occasional cattle round-up. The largest building here only holds about 700 people.”

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Australian racer Andrew Pitt, 27, has been signed to the Moriwaki Racing team to test and race its Honda V5-powered MD211VF prototype in as many as five MotoGP rounds.

Pitt is currently testing the Moriwaki machine on Dunlop tires at Sepang in Malaysia alongside several other MotoGP teams.

MD211VF project leader Mamoru Moriwaki told reporters that Pitt started his test Tuesday on the same spec bike that Tamaki Serizawa rode in the MotoGP race at Motegi last year and will move on to the 2004-version of the machine on Wednesday.

Pitt, the 2001 FIM Supersport World Champion, rode for Fuchs Kawasaki in 2003 and finished 26th, last, in the MotoGP Championship standings with a best finish of 14th at Assen.