Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

WSMC racer Lazarus Landin was seriously injured in a first-lap, first-turn multi-bike crash at Willow Springs Raceway Sunday, and was evacuated by helicopter.

Landin was apparently hit by at least one other bike in the incident, which involved four or five motorcycles and happened in the 750cc Modified Production race at the Rosamond, California racetrack.

Further information on Landin’s condition was not available at post time.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

British Superbike Race Two Results:

1. Leon HASLAM, Ducati, 20 laps, 32:19.096
2. Sean EMMETT, Ducati, -5.576 seconds
3. Yukio KAGAYAMA, Suzuki, -7.274 seconds
4. James HAYDON, Yamaha, -8.810 seconds
5. Scott SMART, Kawasaki, -9.638 seconds
6. John McGUINNESS, Kawasaki, -10.474 seconds
7. John REYNOLDS, Suzuki, -17.478 seconds
8. Tommy HILL, Yamaha, -18.122 seconds
9. Craig COXHELL, Honda, -22.165 seconds
10. Gary MASON, Yamaha, -27.601 seconds
11. Steve BROGAN, Yamaha, -30.862 seconds
12. Sam CORKE, Suzuki, -31.888 seconds
13. James ELLISON, Yamaha, -37.582 seconds
14. Michael RUTTER, Honda, -42.648 seconds
15. Dennis HOBBS, Suzuki, -49.490 seconds
16. James BUCKINGHAM, Suzuki, -50.139 seconds
17. Iain MacPHERSON, Ducati, -54.139 seconds
18. Chris PLATT, Kawasaki, -62.929 seconds
19. Chris MARTIN, Suzuki, -70.276 seconds
20. Ryuichi KIYONARI, Honda, -73.174 seconds

Fastest Lap: John REYNOLDS, 1:34.315


More, from a press release issued by Hawk Kawasaki:

MAN OF THE MEETING McGUINNESS ON PODIUM FIRST TIME OUT ON HAWK ZX-10R

Hawk Kawasaki’s decision to replace injured Glen Richards with TT-winning star John McGuinness proved inspired when the Lancastrian stormed to his maiden BSB podium and the Man of the Meeting award at a wet Brands Hatch today.

Dark clouds threatened to dampen proceedings all weekend, but it wasn’t until minutes before the first THINK! British Superbike race that the heavens opened. Both Scott Smart and McGuinness charged through the field in the early laps of the wet race, jumping from twelfth and ninth on the grid to fifth and sixth by lap three.

Unfortunately Smarty was forced out of the running with electrical problems on lap nine, elevating his team-mate to fifth behind Reynolds, Emmett, Mason and Rutter. After a four lap mid-distance stint behind the safety car, due to a crash at Paddock Hill, McGuinness took fourth when Yamaha’s Gary Mason left the track at Druids.

The Hawk rider was right with the leaders on the drying track and was able to outbrake and pass Michael Rutter at Surtees two laps from the end before chasing after Sean Emmett, who looked to be in a safe second place. On the final lap McGuninness looked to have the measure of his Ducati mounted rival before electing to bring his Hawk ZX-10R home in a superb third place for his first ever BSB podium.

“I was expecting a reasonably good result in the wet because I don’t mind it, but to be on podium is unbelievable,” said John of his first race on the Hawk machine. “I could have got past Sean Emmett on the last lap, and in any other situation I would have had a go, but it was my first time on the bike, I was in a podium situation and I thought ‘let’s just bring her home’. The bike worked brilliantly in the wet, it was superb, and I was getting better drive than a lot of the guys. I got away really well, but Yukio was in front of me sliding all over the place and nearly took half the field out. That held me up a bit but it was a long race and I was just picking them off one by one and I quite enjoyed scalping a few of those factory boys.”

The 29 year-old backed-up his superb first race aboard the Kawasaki with a fine sixth place in the second, in equally treacherous conditions, earning him Niall Mackenzie’s Man of the Meeting award. “I tried to keep my head and pick a few off, but I got held up by Tommy Hill for a long time,” he said. “Once I got past him I seemed to pull away. My results show that I’m bike fit, back on the scene and this is where I want to be – in BSB, and this is a great start to it.”

Scott Smart made amends for his first race disappointment, in which an electrical problem forced him to retire, with a gritty fifth place in the second outing. The former 250 champion fought his way through to second behind Emmett in the opening laps, but was unable to sustain the pace when his rear tyre started to wear heavily on the drying track.

“I think I could have got past James Haydon in the closing stages, but at the end of the day I would have struggled to do it,” said Smarty. “I planned to try in the last couple of laps, but we got split up by a back marker. I was catching him but he was having as many out of the seat moments as me. My tyres were gone and it was spinning up everywhere. I got up into second in the early laps and then James and a few others came by because I didn’t have the ultimate pace, but the good thing is that we weren’t a million miles away.

“I’m gutted I had to retire from the first race because I got a great start and was in fifth by the third corner,” he continued. “My bike kept cutting out, which isn’t what you want when you’ve got 180bhp in the wet. I felt comfortable out there too and I’m sure I could have finished fourth or on the podium if the bike had been ok. I just had no choice but to pull in and see if we could fix it.”

After a tough qualifying Hawk Kawasaki Team Principal Stuart Hicken was delighted to see one of his machines on the podium again, especially in the hands of rookie McGuinness.

“The thing I’m really pleased about is that we’ve never raced the bikes in the wet and we’ve proved that the development we’ve done with the engine has made the bike really easy to ride,” he said. “John has ridden 10 times better than I thought he would after coming back from the island, which is real hard work, plus he’s riding against guys who have been hard at it all season. He rode tremendously well and I’m over the moon with the way he’s ridden. I couldn’t have asked for a better stand-in for Glen. Scotty was really unfortunate in the first race, but you can’t do much when electrics go wrong because they were in excellent condition before the race. He had a great second race, where he got up to second and battled hard all the way through. It bodes so well for the future of the bike and as we keep developing it WILL get better, that’s for sure.”

The eighth round of the BSB championship will be held at Knockhill, Scotland, on July 3.

From a press release:

Monday! Monday! Monday! The Racing to Save Lives Event Kicks Off Tomorrow!

Denver, CO – A fundraising event of unprecedented proportion is taking place this week at Second Creek Raceway in Denver, CO. This event will showcase a week-long motorcycle endurance race to raise money for children’s charities, by completing as many miles as possible on a closed-circuit road racing course.

The Racing to Save Lives Crew is very pleased to announce that over 60 riders are slated to participate, and with 26 sponsors so far. the event has generated over $40,000.00!!! The lights haven’t even turned green yet! The event kicks off tomorrow, June 21st and continues to Friday, June 25th.

Besides providing riders with very affordable track time, spectators and participants are encouraged to hang out and “bench race”. Bench racing will have plenty of time at the big party Friday night. There will be live music, food and a preview screening of the movie Faster. While huge donations are certainly welcome, Racing to Save Lives has made the closing party available to the general public for a minimum donation of just $5.00.

For information: http://www.racing2savelives.org
Contact: [email protected]
Phone: Tony Baker at 303-680-7024, or Ralph Forsythe at 303-907-7499

From a press release issued by Hawk Kawasaki:

BSB Championship, Round 7, Brands Hatch GP, Kent

Track length: 2.608 miles

Weather: dry, overcast, breezy 21°C

Track: 32°C

18 June 2004

FREE PRACTICE

McGUINNESS MAKES TOP 10 IN HAWK DEBUT

Hawk Kawasaki stand-in John McGuinness made a superb debut for the team at Brands Hatch today by posting ninth quickest time in free practice.

His time of 1:27.729 was a mere 1.1 seconds off provisional pole, despite today being the first time McGuinness has competed aboard the Hawk Kawasaki ZX-10R and 12 months since he last rode a superbike.

“I’ve really enjoyed working with the team today,” he said. “There’s been no pressure from anybody and my times are right in the ball park. The last time I rode a superbike was here last year on the short circuit, so to be ninth today is a great start. I’ve had a few wheelies out there because it’s so powerful ­- the bike’s a rocket ship! I think I need to boss the bike about a little and maybe play about a bit with the rear brake to keep the front wheel on the ground. We’ve done 40 laps today and it’s gone well.”

His Hawk team-mate, Scott Smart, found it hard to adjust to the fast GP circuit and ended the day an uncharacteristic 14th quickest, but he’s confident his times will tumble during qualifying.

“My performance is down to me more than anything else today,” explained Scott. “My back’s been great for most of the last two weeks and I’ve been training hard, but I spent most of the last few days hunched up in a seat sneezing my head off. I’ve taken some medication to cure my hay fever, so that’s better, but my back’s not feeling good today and, to be honest, I’ve ridden like a beginner today. It’s just not been flowing for me today. At the moment the bike isn’t filling me with confidence, but we’ll get that better tomorrow with a few changes we’ve got in mind. It’s only the first day of the meeting and I know I’ll find more speed tomorrow.”

Combined BSB Practice times

1) Yukio Kagayama, Suzuki, 1:26.825. 2) Sean Emmett, Ducati, 1:26.847. 3) Jon Kirkham, Suzuki (P), 1:27.037. 4) Dean Thomas, Ducati, 1:27.111. 5) Gary Mason, Yamaha, 1:27.115. 6) Michael Rutter, Honda, 1:27.272. 7) Tommy Hill Yamaha, 1:27.720. 8) Noriyuki Haga, Ducati, 1:27.777. 9) John McGuinness, Hawk Kawasaki, 1:27.729. 10) James Haydon, Yamaha, 1:27.879. 11) John Reynolds, Suzuki, 1:27.963. 12) Leon Haslam, Ducati, 1:28.153. 13) Kieran Clarke, Yamaha, 1:28.328. 14) Scott Smart, Hawk Kawasaki, 1:28.505. 15) James Ellison, Yamaha (P), 1:28.510


HICKMAN TAKES PROVISIONAL POLE IN SUPERSTOCK CUP

Hawk Kawasaki’s Peter Hickman took provisional pole during practice for the sixth round of the National Superstock Cup at Brands Hatch, Kent, today. The 17 year-old, who is the youngest rider in the series, was 0.8 of a second quicker than his nearest rival and lapped consistently in 1:33s and 1:34s through the 25 minute session.

“To take provisional pole is great,” said Peter. “I’m really pleased with that because I wasn’t trying too hard as it’s only the first day. We need to make a few changes to the front suspension though because it’s diving too much and taking the weight off the rear end into the turns. When we’ve done that I’m sure I can go even quicker.”

National Superstock Cup Practice times

1) Peter Hickman, Hawk Kawasaki, 1:33.021. 2) Simon Wright, Yamaha, 1:33.834. 3) Jamie Hitter, Suzuki, 1:34.339. 4) James Hurrell, Suzuki, 1:34.716. 5) Neil Faulkner, Yamaha, 1:35.040. 6) Rory Rock, Yamaha, 1:35.137. 7) Mark Turner, Kawasaki, 1:35.318. 8) Stan Watt, Suzuki, 1:35.571. 9) Graham Seward, Suzuki, 1:35.577. 10) Barry Teasdale, Suzuki, 1:35.898. 11) Phil Sanders, Suzuki, 1:35.957. 12) Stu Wilson, Suzuki, 1:36.057. 13) Alan Moreton, Yamaha, 1:36.168. 14) John Fisher, Suzuki, 1:36.313. 15) Ian Higson, Kawasaki, 1:36.564

From a press release issued by Mat Mladin Motorsports:

MLADIN CHASES ELUSIVE BRAINERD SUPERBIKE VICTORY

Minnesota’s Brainerd International Raceway remains as one of only two circuits that Mat Mladin has never won a round in the eight years that he has competed in the American AMA Superbike Championship.

The four-times American AMA Superbike champion will be attempting to remedy that situation when the series heads to BIR for round 11 on Sunday, June 27.

“I’m looking forward to the race, it’s going to be a tough one for us, very similar to the last round at Road America, but hopefully we can be a bit closer at the end,” said Mladin.

“With a mile long front straight, Brainerd is one of the fastest tracks on the calendar. It won’t be pretty for us down the front straight, but hopefully we can make up some time around the back part of the circuit.

In the corresponding round last year, Mladin looked as though he may break through for his first race win, but a failing rear tyre, forced him to pit part-way though the race, eventually finishing seventh.

The tyre woes that affected his campaign have been addressed with Mladin not expecting any repeats of last year’s problems.

“Last year we were in the midst of the tyre problems that we were having then and I was forced to pit for a new tyre and finished down in seventh. I don’t expect those sorts of problems again at this round as Dunlop has worked hard on addressing those issues.”

After a blistering start to the season where Mladin scored five race wins from the opening six rounds aboard his Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000, he arrives at Brainerd holding a 10-point lead in the championship over Honda’s Miguel DuHamel. The second half of the season is shaping up to be a classic battle between two of the champions of the sport.

“At recent rounds, our rivals have taken some points away from us, but the bottom line is that I still have the lead and prefer to have that rather than be chasing it. We’re definitely not out of it yet.”

The determination to succeed which has become such a strong part of Mladin’s character is certain to shine at Brainerd as he chases every possible point that is available to be earned at the round.

Practice and qualifying for round 11 of the AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship is scheduled to commence on Friday (June 25), with the Superbike competitors taking to the circuit on Sunday for their 21-lap national.


BRAINERD INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY – FAST FACTS

Circuit length: 4.828km (3.00 miles)

2003 Pole position: Mat Mladin (Yoshimura Suzuki) 1:35.622

2003 Results:
1. Aaron Yates (Yoshimura Suzuki)
2. Miguel DuHamel (American Honda)
3. Kurtis Roberts (Erion Honda)
7. Mat Mladin (Yoshimura Suzuki)

Superbike lap record: Mat Mladin (Team Yoshimura Suzuki) 1:35.320 (2001)

2004 AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship (Points after 10 of 18 rounds) 1. Mat Mladin (329, 5 wins); 2. Miguel DuHamel (319, 4 wins), 3. Jake Zemke (311), 4. Eric Bostrom (235, 1 win), 5. Geoff May (220); 6. Ben Bostrom (184), 7. John Haner (183), 8. Aaron Yates (165), 9. Eric Wood (161), 10. Lee Acree (156).

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Argo Cycles’ Scott Greenwood, the reigning Formula USA Sportbike Champion and the current 2004 Sportbike Championship leader, will skip the next F-USA round at VIR June 26-27 in order to race with the Corona Extra Suzuki team at the AMA event in Brainerd, Minnesota the same weekend.

“After Road America, Tim (Saunders, Corona Extra Suzuki team principal) said he wanted me to ride at Brainerd,” 31-year-old Greenwood told Roadracingworld.com Saturday at New Hampshire International Speedway. “I told him I had a conflicting event, and I had to get back to him. I talked to all of the people who support me, and my biggest supporters said to do what’s in my best interest.

“I think it’s a unique opportunity to get my foot in the door and get my name out there. I definitely would like to have the opportunity to ride for a team rather than deal with this stuff every weekend, stuff breaking, pulling motors, finding volunteer crew members, etc. I have a good program going, but I’d like the opportunity to concentrate on my riding.

“There’s a possibility I could stay with the team if Marty (Craggill) doesn’t come back. There’s a possibility they’ll keep me even if Marty does come back. Then there’s the possibility they won’t keep me at all.

“If things don’t pan out at Brainerd and I have a good weekend here (at NHIS), I can jump back into the (F-USA) series. I won’t be too much behind.”

From a press release issued by Team Suzuki:

KAGAYAMA SETS POLE AT BRANDS!
Rizla Suzuki’s Yukio Kagayama stormed to pole position in the closing seconds of qualification for tomorrow’s seventh round British Superbike Championship at the Brands Hatch GP circuit in Kent.

Yuki, consistently at the top of the time sheets during practice, shrugged off his broken right collarbone and showed enormous determination to smash the lap record on his GSX-R1000 on his final flying lap.

Team mate and Championship leader, John Reynolds took an impressive sixth as he continues to nurse his broken left collarbone: While Yuki has had his injury plated, JR is allowing his to heal naturally and has been building his speed all weekend. He is bitterly disappointed to be starting from the second row but is content that he has a bike set-up to match anyone else on the grid over the full race distance.

JR has been using purpose-made strapping provided by BSN Medical to support the collarbone and they are helping him to brake and use the handlebars to control his 207bhp GSX-R1000.

Pop stars Shane Lynch from Boyzone and Romeo from So Solid Crew will be joining Rizla Suzuki at Brands Hatch this weekend along with Team Suzuki’s 1993 World 500cc Champion Kevin Schwantz.

Yukio Kagayama:

“Until today, this was not my favourite circuit. Now I am starting to make friends with Brands Hatch and I enjoy riding here. If I win tomorrow, I will call this circuit my best friend and buy it a drink.

“Last year, I struggle at this circuit, but this year I am the same rider; my Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000 is the same; and the only difference is my team. I think this year my team finds me a very good race setting and my team staff are much improved. This is the difference, so I say very big thank you to my team. I want to win two races for them tomorrow and feel good.”

John Reynolds:

“I was held up on every one of my qualifying laps and that’s why I am sixth. I am not happy with that. At the start of the week I was thinking if I could break into the top eight I would be happy. Now I am disappointed with sixth, but I’ll use that anger and frustration to go faster tomorrow.

“My lap times on race rubber are as good as anyone on the grid. My collarbone is sore and we shall find out tomorrow how it will cope with two 20-lap races. My plan is to get a good start and score as many points as possible.”

Paul Denning – Team Manager:

“Congratulations to both riders today. They were fantastic. Yuki’s pole position is hard to believe, given his previous dislike for the circuit and a broken collarbone, while JR’s sixth shows his incredible determination and courage after he broke his collarbone less than two-weeks ago.

“The team is in a better position than we could have hoped for given our injuries. Yuki and JR have been getting faster and faster with every session and with a bit of luck, that trend will continue through into tomorrow’s races and we can score solid points.”

Saturday Qualifying Times: 1: Yukio Kagayama (Rizla Suzuki) 1:26.177, 2: Sean Emmett (Ducati) +0.053, 3: Gary Mason (Yamaha) +0.476, 4: Michael Rutter (Honda) +0.545, 5: Tommy Hill (Yamaha) +0.590, 6: John Reynolds (Rizla Suzuki) +0.641, 7: Dean Thomas (Ducati) +0.695, 8: James Haydon (Yamaha) +0.975, 9: John McGuinness (Kawasaki) +1.283, 10: Noriyuki Haga (Ducati) +1.375.


More from a press release issued by Hawk Kawasaki:

BSB Championship, Round 7, Brands Hatch GP, Kent
Track length: 2.608 miles
Weather: dry, cloudy, threatening rain, 24° C
Track: dry, 36.5° C
June 19

COMBINED QUALIFYING

McGUINNESS ON THE PACE FOR FIRST HAWK RACE

Hawk Kawasaki stand-in John McGuinness will start tomorrow’s two BSB races at Brands Hatch from ninth on the grid after putting on a determined performance in second qualifying. Despite not having competed in BSB for 12 months the 29 year-old Lancastrian’s best lap around the 2.608 mile GP circuit was just 1.2 seconds off pole.

The pressure was on in the second 50 minute session after a 10 minute stoppage, imposed after Yamaha’s Kieran Clarke crashed heavily on the start/finish straight, which allowed threatening clouds to move over the track. McGuinness held his cool, however, and even out-paced his race winning team-mate Scott Smart.

“I’d have liked to have been on the front two rows, but to be in the top 10 on my first time out, especially against WSB guys like Haga, is mega,” said John. “I’ve found a pretty good race set-up this morning so we just chucked in some qualifiers and went for it. I messed up a bit on my last flying lap, which would have been my best, when I missed an apex at Druids which maybe cost me a few tenths. There are some of the best riders in the world out there so, yeah, I’m pleased. I’m definitely up for it tomorrow, although I’m not sure what to expect. I’ll try and get a good start and then get stuck in because I don’t think my race pace will be too far away.”

Scott Smart qualified twelfth in the second session, after his efforts to break into the top eight were thwarted by a 100mph crash at Paddock Hill bend which wrecked his number one bike. Fortunately he was uninjured and rejoined the session on his number two bike.

“I’ve struggled here this weekend and nothing’s quite gone to plan, plus I really could have done without that crash,” explained Scott. “I missed a gear, never got it hooked back in and went flying into the gravel at 100mph. I hit the bails which spun me round and I whacked my head on the ground. I’m going to have to sit down with the boys and work out where we can find the extra speed we need for tomorrow because I’m looking for top sixes at least because that’s the lowest I’ve finished all year.”

“I think Scott has expected too much from himself this weekend and that’s made it hard work for him,” said Hawk Kawasaki Team Principal Stuart Hicken after qualifying. “I’m quite happy where we’ve qualified because race day is totally different and we’ll have good set-ups on the bikes again. John’s been excellent today. I know he’s disappointed in himself for not making the front two rows, but these guys have been at it all season and he’s just come from the Isle of Man and this is his first meeting so I’m very pleased with him.”

BSB COMBINED QUALIFYING

1) Yukio Kagayama, Suzuki, 1:26.177. 2) Sean Emmett, Ducati, 1:26.230. 3) Gary Mason, Yamaha, 1:26.653. 4) Michael Rutter, Honda, 1:26.722. 5) Tommy Hill, Yamaha, 1:26.767. 6) John Reynolds, Suzuki, 1:26.818. 7) Dean Thomas, Ducati, 1:26.872. 8) James Haydon, Yamaha, 1:27.152. 9) John McGuinness, Hawk Kawasaki, 1:27.460. 10) Noriyuki Haga, Ducati, 1:27.552. 11) Leon Haslam, Ducati, 1:27.564. 12) Scott Smart, Hawk Kawasaki, 1:27.609. 13) Craig Coxhell, Honda, 1:27.614. 14) Iain MacPherson, Ducati, 1:27.852. 15) Jon Kirkham, Suzuki (P), 1:27.900

(P)= Privateer