Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Contrary to numerous published reports neither Kurtis Roberts nor Nobuatsu Aoki have been signed to the Proton Team KR squad for the 2004 season.

That’s the word from Team KR’s media relations coordinator Karl Morris, who stated in an e-mail to Roadracingworld.com, “In case you are trying to find info on Kurtis signing with our team, he has not signed as has been reported elsewhere. In fact at this time we have not committed to signing any riders. The test in Valencia was an evaluation test from the rider standpoint. When we in fact sign riders we will make an official announcement via our electronic distribution and our website.”

Proton Team KR tested its 990cc, four-stroke V5 racebike with Roberts and Aoki alongside several teams at Valencia, Spain December 10-12.

Jeremy McWilliams, who rode for Proton Team KR in 2002-2003, has signed a contract to ride with Aprilia in the 2004 MotoGP World Championship.

From a press release issued by Harley-Davidson:

HARLEY-DAVIDSON ARCHIVES RECEIVES HEARTFELT DONATION FROM OREGON RIDER

Albert Ver Cruysse began riding at age 62 and rode more than 775,000 miles in 25 years. The Harley-Davidson Archives recently received an impressive donation: a 1988 Harley-Davidson FLHTC Electra Glide Classic, which was donated by Albert Ver Cruysse of Salem, Ore., who rode the bike a total of 451,775 miles. In addition to donating his bike, Ver Cruysse also donated the bike’s sidecar and extensive service and maintenance records to the Motor Company.

Ver Cruysse received the Electra Glide Classic after meeting Vaughn Beals, Harley-Davidson Chairman Emeritus, at a rally in 1987. Beals was so impressed by the nearly 100,000 miles on Ver Cruysse’s Evolution engine that he asked Ver Cruysse to send the engine in for evaluation. As an exchange, Beals offered Ver Cruysse the Harley-Davidson motorcycle of his choice. Thus began the journey of 451,775 miles.

Including this motorcycle, Ver Cruysse has owned six Harley-Davidson motorcycles, ridden more than 775,000 miles and served as a goodwill ambassador for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Earlier this year, at the age of 87, Ver Cruysse failed a vision test for his driver’s license and decided it was time to hang up his helmet. Although he had hoped to reach his personal goal of riding 500,000 miles on one motorcycle, he instead gave the motorcycle back to Harley-Davidson along with a photo album and written accounts chronicling his 33 cross-country trips on his motorcycles.

After a quarter of a century and three-quarters of a million miles, the riding memories of Albert Ver Cryusse live on in the Archives as part of the heritage, history and mystique of the Motor Company.

From a press release issued by Harley-Davidson:

WISCONSIN MOTORSPORTS CHARITIES HONORS BUELL RACER DAVID ESTOK

Kosco Harley-Davidson/Buell-Innovative Motorcycle Research rider David Estok, the 2003 Formula USA Thunderbike National Champion, will be honored along with other racing heroes at the 13th Annual Wisconsin Motorsports Charities, Inc. (WMCI) Recognition Dinner in Milwaukee, Wis., Jan. 9, 2004, at the Country Inn, Waukesha, Wis.

Estok won four of seven Formula USA National Thunderbike races this season aboard his Buell Firebolt XB12R.

From a press release issued by KTM:

Thierry van den Bosch is again for KTM
The French Thierry van den Bosch who was active in the World Supersport Championship in 2003 has decided to ride again Supermoto with KTM. Van den Bosch can look back on a successful past as a KTM factory rider: He already won the European and the World Championship on KTM in 2002.

The French is completing the KTM Factory Team with the riders Jürgen Künzel, Boris Chambon, Ivan Lazzerini and Fabrice Lecoanet.

Van den Bosch will ride the complete Supermoto World Championship as well as some selected races in America and France.

From a press release issued by the AMA:

AMA URGES MOTORCYCLISTS TO MEET WITH LAWMAKERS

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) urges all concerned motorcyclists to meet with their members of Congress now, while Congress is in recess.

During the congressional recess, which lasts until January 20, federal lawmakers normally return to their home districts and hold town hall meetings to meet with constituents.

Attending those town hall meetings is a good way to let federal lawmakers know that motorcyclists are concerned about issues, and that motorcyclists vote, said Terry Lee Cook of the AMA Government Relations Department.

Cook suggests telling lawmakers that there is a great need for a comprehensive nationwide study of the causes of motorcycle crashes, and to ensure off-highway riders get their fair share of Recreational Trails Program money to build and maintain motorized trails.

“This is one of the few opportunities people have to meet with their federal legislators,” Cook said. “We need to be sure that they know that motorcyclists are voters.”

For background on motorcycling issues to discuss with your lawmakers, contact Cook at (614) 856-1900, ext. 1288; or by e-mail [email protected].

To find out the names and telephone numbers of the members of your congressional delegation, go to the AMA website at www.AMADirectlink.com and click on the Rapid Response Center.

In addition to attending town hall meetings and speaking out in support of your right to ride, please forward the dates, times and locations of any town hall meetings to your family, friends, fellow riders, and to the AMA Government Relations Department so we can share the information with the motorcycling and ATV communities.

Also, take advantage of the recess to try to schedule personal meetings with your lawmakers or their staff in their district offices to discuss the need for a crash study and for recreational trails funding.

From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM CONCLUDES THREE DAYS OF TESTING AT VALENCIA

BOTH DESMOSEDICI RIDERS QUICK IN FINAL 2003 TESTS – BAYLISS (1:33.15), CAPIROSSI (1:33.48)

Valencia (Spain), 12 December 2003 – Third and final day of testing at Valencia for Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss, who together with Vittoriano Guareschi have concluded the Ducati Marlboro Team’s intense testing schedule before the Christmas break.

The 2003 season comes to a successful end for the Ducati Marlboro Team which made its debut in MotoGP at the start of this year. It finished second overall in the constructors’ championship, and fourth with Capirossi and sixth with Bayliss in the riders’ standings. This, together with a historic win in the Catalunya GP and numerous other positive results, are just reward for the commitment of riders and team.

The experience accumulated during the season and the intense work carried out until now, are the starting-point for the 2004 season. “The results of these tests are the best way to end this wonderful season” – commented Ducati Marlboro Team director Livio Suppo at the end of the Valencia tests. “I want to thank the team and in particular Loris, Troy and Vittoriano, who have done a great job, their determination, ability and professionalism have been decisive on every occasion. From tomorrow everyone gets a well-earned break, even though we can’t wait for the new season to start, bringing with it a fresh challenge, and a battle that promises to be even and hard-fought. We can only look ahead with optimism, it is sure to be another great season for Ducati.”

The final day of testing at Valencia was characterised by excellent weather conditions, with temperatures much higher than on the previous days: 20° air / 25°C track.

Troy and Loris both ran a race simulation distance; the Italian continued to test the 16.5-inch front and completed a total of 62 laps, recording a quickest time of 1:33.48. The positive results obtained with the smaller size front wheel give the riders a wider choice in bike set-up for the different circuits.

Bayliss was quickest rider of the day, stopping the clock in 1:33.15 in his 73 laps, the Australian preferring to continue testing with the 17-inch front.

Vittoriano Guareschi continued development work on the 2004 ‘lab’ Desmosedici, testing a series of new components for reliability and efficiency. The Italian, who completed a series of long runs, did 38 laps with a best time of 1.36.70.

The Ducati Marlboro Team will return to the track for further pre-season testing next January.

From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

DUCATI CORSE PRESS INFORMATION
Valencia, 12 December 2003

LANZI NOTCHES UP THE MILEAGE IN DUCATI 749R SUPERSPORT TESTING

Italian Lorenzo Lanzi has concluded the latest test for the factory Ducati 749R, the bike that will mark Ducati Corse’s return to the World Supersport arena in the 2004 championship, with a major improvement on the time he recorded in November.

The 22-year-old from Cesena, who was out on track for three days in MotoGP company, improved his quickest time to 1:38.9 at the end of the day after fitting a softer tyre. This was not far off the times recorded by the best Supersport riders in the Valencia championship opener earlier in the year.

Lanzi used the Valencia test to make a major step forward in the 749R’s development curve as he notched up a total of 194 laps in the three days, the equivalent of over 750 kms of track time.

The engine mapping made on the Ducati Corse dyno after November’s test at Valencia proved to be extremely useful as Lanzi knocked four-tenths of a second off his previous best time around the 4.005 km circuit in perfect conditions.

“I’m pleased with the progress we have made since the last test” declared Lanzi. “There has been a lot of development, we know where we have to work on and the direction we have to take”.

The Ducati 749R’s next test will be at Phillip Island, Australia from 13-15 January 2004.

From a press release:

Oregon Motorcycle Road Racing Association Board of Directors for 2004:

President, Jim Kennedy; Vice President, Les Green; Vice President, TJ Janss;
Secretary, Roxanne Pense; Treasurer, Pirkko Haavisto; Rider Representative, TJ
Janss; Worker Representative, Deanna Olson; Members At Large, Brad Hochhalter, Gina
Howard, Simon-Pierre Smith, Chris Locatell, Dave Salmi.

Advisory Board Members: Frank Berthold, Kurt Fry, Dale Pestes, Herb Wagner.



Washington Motorcycle Road Racing Association Executive Board for 2004:

President, Joel Crabtree; Vice President, April Brock; Vice President, Jim Sharp;
Vice President, Mark Creager; Secretary, Nadia Shashani; Treasurer, LaDonna
Wichern; Vintage Rep, Duncan Craick; Novice Rep, Dave Huck; Superbike/GP Rep,
Tyler Sandell; Supersport Rep, Luke Gaylor.

Board of Directors: Kory Gill,
Mark McGuire, Briggs Willoughby, Greg Zanghi.

From a press release issued by American Suzuki:

The Suzuki Cup Finals will air on Fox Sports this Saturday, 12/13. The show will repeat on 12/17.

Check your local listings for times.

http://www.foxsports.com/content/view?contentId=1636002

From a press release issued by Honda Racing:

MotoGP test
Valencia, Spain, December 12, 2003.

Temperature: 19 degrees C
Weather: Sunny

Honda Riders Fast on Final Day in Valencia

Progress continued on the final day of the three-day final test of 2003 at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia, Spain, with two of the four Honda riders improving their times and the fourth holding onto the fastest time overall.

For the second time in three days, Telefonica MoviStar Suzuki’s Sete Gibernau finished the day with the fastest time, the Barcelona native making progress while working through the choice between the 16.5 inch and 17 inch front tires. Gibernau ended the day with a time of 1:33.20, well under the 1:33.404 he turned in the season-ending Community of Valencia Grand Prix just six weeks ago. “In the whole three days I haven’t touched one click of the bike, just to keep the bike how it was. And that’s why I’m so happy,” he said. Tomorrow Gibernau is off to play golf with countryman Sergio Garcia.

Teammate Colin Edwards reverted to fork settings he’d used en route to the 2002 World Superbike Championship aboard the Castrol Honda VTR1000SP-2 and the change was instant and dramatic. A new set of forks installed at mid-day inspired confidence in the Texan and he instantly dropped half a second from his lap time, then consistently lapped in the mid 1:33’s, the fastest he’d ever been around the 4.005 kilometer circuit. “They’re basically World Superbike forks,” Edwards said. “Put it on there and went half a second faster in two laps and kept it there.” Edwards lost more than half the day when a mechanical problem sidelined him in the early going. Once back on track, he attacked with his trademark aggression and smoothness, which translated to his best times of the weekend.

Pramac Honda’s Makoto Tamada nearly equaled his best lap time from the previous day before crashing after just 20 laps. The Japanese rider had little warning when an oil leak coated his rear tire sending him over the high-side. He was up quickly and unhurt, but his testing day was over.

Camel Pramac Pons’ Max Biaggi found an infuriating chatter this morning that never went away. The veteran Italian said the problem was perplexing and kept him from improving on the best lap of the test, a 1:32.88 done on Thursday afternoon. “Basically I lost one day because in the morning I have a chatter problem, big problem,” he said.

Overall though, the test was deemed a success by Honda Racing Corporation team manager Shoji Tachikawa. “Everybody made many laps and we tested many items for Michelin and Bridgestone, and they’re happy,” he said. He was also happy that HRC was able to supply advanced spec motors at the end of the race year, rather than early in the 2004 test season. “We planned the new spec engine a little early. Normally it’s January or February. We prepared for the riders now because it’s necessary. It’s an evolution engine and we’ll have a new one for the first test of the New Year.”

Sete Gibernau, 1:33.20, 78 laps.
I think we’re doing a great job exactly, that’s our main goal to work very hard on what we think has to be the correct bike and the correct setting and the correct tires and that takes a lot of effort from not only me but the whole time to be very concentrated every lap for three days. And not. Just focused on that. And in racing it’s very difficult because at the end of the day everyone is looking for the lap time but many of the times you have to put that behind to see what the pace is, to see what happens when you’ve got 30 laps on the tyre. It’s very difficult to go back and forth between the 16.5 and the 17-inch the riding style is completely different. So that’s why at the end I’d been able to do low 33’s with both and that is why I’m so happy. Now I can race with any of the tyres, although I think my mind is quite clear on what I would like to have. We tried 16.5-inch small rim, big rim, 17 inch small, wide. The overall is the reaction and the speed that the bikes moves from one lean angle completely to the other. That is the biggest difference. The 16.5 really moves very fast from the right to the left. It can’t be straight up and down and then throw it. Really when you’re on the side to the other side it’s faster. There’s other areas that we need to work.

Colin Edwards, 1:33.40, 63 laps
I struggled for the two days just trying to find where the limit was. I had no clue. The front wasn’t telling me anything. When I rode this thing at Barcelona, the Showa guys said we have your fork valving from Superbike ready, so you can test that in Valencia. As it turned out that particular setting is one that probably went through about 15 or 18 different settings in 2002, found that one, never changed all year. Same valving, unheard of. Never changed the valving and you know how good that bike was. As it turned out we didn’t put it on until midday today. We changed forks, just totally forks. Just different all around. Different valving, different coding, different everything. Did 33’s the whole time. It was good. I had no clue what was going on. Then as soon as I put those forks on I remember these. ‘I missed you. Thanks honey for coming back.’ Stayed on 16.5. This 16.5 is different from the one I was on in 2002, even last year. I was just milling around while the bike was getting put back together. So I was like, when I get back on we’ll go as hard as we can for as long as we can.

Makoto Tamada, 1:33.50
We had a small problem and for this moment they’re checking it. It caused me to fall when there was oil on the tyre. It happened very suddenly in the right at the top of the track before the last corner after the short cut. Luckily, I was not injured. Before I fell, we changed the front fork settings and it helped. But we had a lot of things to test. I wanted to make the fast lap of this test.

Max Biaggi, 1:33.85, 50 laps
In the morning and afternoon we changed the tyre, the front the rear, we changed the suspension. No change. We used the 17. I tried the 16.5. No change. So a surprise. Also the Japanese are surprised because they see on the data big chatter. They don’t know where it’s coming from. We set the fast time yesterday and normally you want to go faster. I ended up with such a big problem that we didn’t have yesterday at all. When you watch the data, it’s fair. That’s what happened. That’s what you see. They must check.