From a press release issued by Plummer Menapace, Pirelli’s advertising and public relations agency:

PIRELLI’S FINAL ISLE OF MAN RECORD: SWEPT TOP SIX PLACES IN EVERY MAJOR TT; TOP 20 PLACES IN SENIOR TT

Also Dominated WERA National Endurance and Challenge Races At Fontana With Five Podium Sweeps

(Rome, GA) Pirelli came to this year’s Isle of Man TT with an enviable record to beat. Over the past two years, its racers have dominated every TT they entered, sweeping the top positions and shattering records along the way. It would have been a serious accomplishment to simply echo those achievements for a third straight year; it would be the stuff of dreams to better them. The dream came true.

When all the results were tallied at the 2004 event, Pirelli tires had swept the top six positions in every TT its racers entered (which means all of them except the 125cc and sidecar events), and the top 20 places in the event-ending Senior TT. They also broke two more lap and race records.

It didn’t matter which bike – Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki. It didn’t matter which rider – Adrian Archibald, John McGuinness, Bruce Anstey, Ian Lougher, Mark Parrett, Jason Griffiths. Pirelli’s latest generation of slicks and DOT Supercorsa tires simply owned the world’s best-known test of performance, endurance, punishment, and, this year, rain.

TAS Suzuki’s Adrian Archibald received the Joey Dunlop Award for best combined finishes in the Formula One and Senior TTs with his second- and first-place finishes in those races that open and close the week-long annual meet. But the way John McGuinness and his Yamaha R1 won the opening Formula One race – by demolishing the IOM top-speed record by over five seconds – and then going on to win two of the next three races – the Lightweight TT (400cc) on a Honda CBR400RR and the Junior TT (600cc bikes) on an R6 – McGuinness began as the odds-on favorite to be the week’s hero. In fact, given his early success, McGuinness admitted that a run for the unprecedented five-win record might be in the offing. It wasn’t to be. Ryan Farquhar won his first-ever TT, putting his Kawasaki ZX6RR on top of the box in the 600 Production TT, the first Kawasaki to win an IOM final in many years, while McGuinness finished third after mechanical problems cost him his early race lead. Then came a DNF mechanical that took him out of the Senior TT after building yet another commanding lead with average speeds in the 127+mph range – Archibald, last year’s Senior TT winner, biding his time in second.

New Zealander Bruce Anstey, another multi-win Isle of Man veteran and Archibald’s TAS Suzuki teammate, won the 1000cc Production TT on his GSX-R1000, beating, who else, McGuinness. (Anstey also took seconds in the Senior and 600 Production TTs.) Both McGuinness and Anstey annihilated the lap and race records for the 1000cc TT, McGuinness breaking it by over six seconds on the opening lap. But Anstey went even faster over the 37.7 mile mountain road course in 18 minutes, 5.7 seconds at an average speed of 125.10mph. In his earlier Formula One victory, his fourth Isle of Man win, McGuinness had crushed the existing overall record by over five seconds with a new top average speed of 127.69mph on Pirelli 16.5-inch slicks.

There was some fine stateside road racing last weekend as WERA made one of its new WERA West series forays to the California Speedway. And Pirelli racers again came away with some very impressive results in both the National Endurance and National Challenge races.

Vesrah Racing, the reigning WERA endurance champions, rode their Pirelli-shod GSX-R1000 to the win in the six-hour race, beating the Army of Darkness and re-taking the points lead from them.
Pirelli racers also swept the podiums in five National Challenge events – some of them five deep – just missed a sixth sweep, and captured two additional victories. In Open Superstock, Tray Batey, Mark Junge, Matt Furtek, and John Jacobi gave Pirelli the top four spots. Batey again led a Pirelli podium sweep in Heavyweight Twins Superstock, with Roger and Myron Bell taking second and third respectively. It was Batey again, twice more. He led a top-five Pirelli sweep in Formula One, and five of the top six in 750cc Superstock. Teenager Nicky Moore, on a new GSX-R600 that he and his dad had just finished building, was the first of five Pirelli Supercorsa riders across the line in 600cc Superstock, led another sweep in 750cc Superbike, and followed them with a win in 600cc Superbike, giving him three victories for the weekend.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The $100 million New Jersey Motorsports Park, proposed for development in Millville, New Jersey, has established a website at www.njmotorsportspark.com.

The website includes a project overview, a development timeline, press clippings from local newspapers and an architectural drawing of the project, including the 4.1-mile Thunderbolt road course.

To see the architectural drawing, go to: http://www.njmotorsportspark.com/html/architectural_drawing.html

From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

CAPIROSSI CONFIRMS: “THE NEW ENGINE IS BETTER”. TWIN PULSE WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THE ASSEN GP FOR BOTH DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM RIDERS

Catalunya (Spain), Tuesday 15 June 2004 – The second and final day of testing for the Ducati Marlboro Team at the Montmelò Circuit, Catalunya, was cut short by changeable weather conditions. Heavy showers during the morning meant that Loris Capirossi was unable to lap with any consistency, but the Italian did go out on the track for several laps to gauge the behaviour of the new engine in the wet.

Team-mate Troy Bayliss, who crashed spectacularly during Sunday’s race, opted not to continue testing today and returned home this morning to get back into shape as quickly as possible.

Loris Capirossi only completed a few laps in the wet, but this was sufficient to confirm yesterday’s positive sensations: the new engine considerably improves the bike’s ‘rideability’, a characteristic that Loris particularly appreciated given the characteristics of the track.

“We are really pleased with the debut of the new Twin Pulse engine”, declared Ducati Marlboro Team director Livio Suppo. “Loris confirmed that power delivery has improved, even in the wet, and we are preparing for Assen with renewed optimism. I am convinced that Troy, after a few days rest, will be in perfect shape in the Netherlands and we can’t wait to get back out on the track again. The first races of the 2004 season have not been easy, but Ducati Corse is showing that it has a capacity to react quickly and a determination to become protagonists once again that I feel sure that we will soon be rewarded with results.”

The new irregular firing order Twin Pulse engine has met with approval since being tested at Mugello and, as confirmation of this, both Ducati Marlboro Team riders will use the new engine in the Dutch TT at Assen.

From a press release:

Ride for Kids(r) events in Southern California and Kansas City, Missouri raise money for pediatric brain tumor research

Good buddies, Brandon and Trent, both young brain tumor survivors, enjoy the 2004 Southern California Dual Sport Ride for Kids(r)

Two Ride for Kids(r) events in very different parts of the country were held on Sunday, June 13th. While one ride was a dual-sport event in the high desert of California and the other was a road ride through the plains of the Midwest, they both had the same goal – to raise money for childhood brain tumor research. Since 1984, the Ride for Kids(r) program has raised funds to support the research and family support programs of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. Today, more children die from brain tumors than from any other childhood cancer.

The hearty dual-sporters of Southern California were out in full-force at the 12th Annual Southern California Dual Sport Ride for Kids(r). With bright sunny skies and warm summer weather as their backdrop, the dual-sporters enjoyed riding through 120 miles of the Los Padres and Angeles National Forests. At the end of the day, the 240 participants had raised $84,489 for pediatric brain tumor research.

Trent, a young brain tumor survivor, and his mother enjoyed their second Ride for Kids(r) event of the 2004 season. Hope, Trent’s mother, told those gathered, “After attending Ride for Kids event for several years, I am still amazed every time that all of these people care about us and want to help us. Thank you!”

Ten-year old Curtis Herrmann, whose younger sister died of a brain tumor, was the Top Individual Fundraiser with a total of $30,007. Curtis decided that he could do something to help kids with brain tumors and started the Laps 4 Love fundraiser in memory of his little sister Breeana. The Orange County Dualies captured the Top Club position with its members raising $18,185. The Top Dealer position went to Fineline Motorsports whose customers raised $17,710. Larry Langley of Fullerton, California had an exciting day. He was the winner of a brand new Honda motorcycle graciously donated by the American Honda Motor Company.

Special thanks to the Southern California Dual Sport Ride for Kids(r) Task Force, led by Task Force Leaders Jim Woods and Buddy Percin, for a great event.


Ben, a young brain tumor survivor, and his mom Kim enjoy a special ride with VIP escort Lou Harding at the 2004 Kansas City Ride for Kids(r)

The torrential rains and damaging storms of the weekend couldn’t keep 140 participants away from the 1st Annual Kansas City Ride for Kids(r). Many of the participating motorcyclist’s homes were either damaged in the storm the night before the Ride or were without power when they left home to ride for the kids early on Sunday morning. The unwavering spirit of those fundraisers, volunteers, and motorcyclists in the heartland of America is a true testament to the dedication of the motorcycling community’s willingness to help children with brain tumors.

While remnants of the “Big Top Tent” were strewn about the grounds, the riders regrouped and proved the old saying that the show must go on. Everyone’s mood lightened as the sun shone brightly above. The Ride, which started at Maple Woods Community College, raised $17,000 for childhood brain tumor research. The motorcyclists enjoyed a scenic ride along the perimeter of Smithville Lake north of Kansas City.

During the special Celebration of Life program, young brain tumor survivor Ben told the riders that he enjoyed his first ride in a sidecar, especially since his escort Lou Harding left the siren alarm on for the entire length of the ride. Another young brain tumor survivor, Zachary, told those in the audience that he enjoys swimming, but does not like the “big” roller coaster at a local amusement park.

Michael Helvey and Mary Helvey tied for Top Individual Fundraiser, both raising $1,050. The Top Club position went to GWRRA MO – Chapter K whose members raised $2,751. Dell’s Honda, of Blue Springs, Missouri, was the Top Dealer with its patrons raising $5,848. Stan and Judy Herbert of Kansas City, MO were the lucky winners of a brand new Honda motorcycle donated by the American Honda Motor Company.

Thanks to Kansas City Ride for Kids(r) Task Force Leaders Vicky Harding and Larry Morrison and their dedicated volunteer Task Force for such an organized and well-run event.

The next Ride for Kids(r) events will take place on Saturday, June 26th in Knoxville, Tennessee and Sunday, June 27th in Golden, Colorado. For more information, please call (800) 253-6530 or visit www.rideforkids.org

From a press release issued by FGSport Group:

HAGA WINS AS VERMEULEN MAKES HISTORY


400 Not Out: The increasing feel good factor of SBK racing went off the scale at Silverstone, with a number of landmarks being made in front of a magnificent 68,000 crowd of enthusiastic fans, all blessed with day long sunshine. The Silverstone meeting marked 400 SBK races in total, after Noriyuki Haga (Renegade Ducati) had won his third race of the year. His rival in race two was the same as in race one, but second time around it was the yellow Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR of Chris Vermeulen that took the young Aussie to his maiden victory, since stepping up to Superbike. It was Honda’s first win in the category since the introduction of the CBR1000RR and the first 1000cc four-cylinder race win of all time in SBK. It was also the first win the for the upwardly mobile Ten Kate team in this category of racing.

Race One: Noriyuki Haga (Renegade Ducati 999RS) continued his excellent run of recent form to push his Ducati Renegade machine to win in race one, only overcoming the virtual race long lead of Chris Vermeulen (Ten Kate Honda). Pierfrancesco Chili (PSG-1 Ducati 998RS) went second after starting from the fourth row. James Toseland (Ducati Fila 999 F04) and his team-mate Regis Laconi both fell running somewhat unwise tyre choices.

Race Two: With Haga not quite able to push past Vermeulen in this running, it was history time for the 21-year-old Aussie, an early birthday present for his forthcoming celebrations next Saturday. Finishing third in the race, Regis Laconi took the championship lead, by three points over his team-mate Toseland. Haga goes third, with 139, Vermeulen fourth on 137.

Chili Another History Man: Pierfrancesco Chili (PSG-1) fought brilliantly through to third in race one, but fell once more in race two, dropping to fifth in the championship. He collided with Toseland in the second leg, as the local favourite ran off track, recovering to finish fifth. Chili, not so fortunate on track, is nonetheless now the rider with most SBK race starts, 229, as he overtook the previous record of Aaron Slight.

Private Dancer: Garry McCoy (Xerox Ducati 999RS) was one element of an entire freight train of battling riders fighting for the off-podium positions in race one. He was rewarded with fourth in race one, eighth in race two. He now sits sixth in the championship fight, having been overhauled by Vermeulen and Haga.

Petronas People: Leon Haslam (Renegade Ducati 999RS) had another excellent day of racing finishing fifth in race one and fourth in race two, but his efforts may have even been eclipsed by privateer James Ellison. Falling in race one he shot back to prominence with an excellent seventh in race two, proving that the modern generation of Japanese four-cylinder machines are potent SBK tools.

Petronas Plug Away: The Petronas triples of Troy Corser and Chris Walker had tough weekends on their team’s home soil. As team owner Carl Fogarty watched, the injured Walker fell in race one and despite some determined riding through the pain of three suspected broken ribs, he secured 12th in race two. For Corser it was little better, with a seventh and a ninth being hard earned.

Supersport: An outstanding ride from the leading trio of Fabien Foret (Yamaha Italia), Karl Muggeridge (Ten Kate Honda) and Broc Parkes (Ten Kate Honda) made it a day of blistering race action in front of SBK’s most vocal fans. With all three riders taking turns at the lead, the action was close and often epically exciting, as Muggeridge and Foret jousted throughout the entire final lap; Foret the conqueror on the very last section. With Parkes third, Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati) capitalized on an excellent start and ran out fourth, while Yamaha riders Kevin Curtain and Jurgen van den Goorbergh completed the top six. Muggeridge leads the championship, with his total of 107 heading van den Goorbergh by 15 points. Parkes lies third on 69.

Superstock: – Round 5: It was a three-rider Yamaha fight from the outset, with Didier Vankeymeulen ahead of Gianluca Vizziello, after Vizziello had secured the lap record of 1:57.194 on the fourth circuit. Lorenzo Alfonsi closed in to lead and after Dionisi crashed out. Alfonsi fought off the attentions of Vizziello to take the win. Vizziello leads Alfonsi 115 to 99 in the championship table.

With only the World Superbike competitors off to Laguna Seca for the next round on July 11, Supersport and Superstock series do not reconvene until Brands Hatch on August 1.


More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing Information:

MUGGERIDGE AND PARKES CHARGE TO SILVERSTONE PODIUM

WSS Report
Karl Muggeridge (Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) could not quite make it four wins in four starts but in finishing second behind Fabien Foret (Yamaha) at Silverstone he was a tantalising small 0.043 seconds from victory. He also advanced his lead in the Championship itself to 15 points, as his number one rival Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Yamaha) could only finish sixth. Pole position winner Muggeridge’s team-mate Broc Parkes was a close third in the race, and maintained his championship position of third in the process.

For other Honda riders Silverstone proved to be a tough test, the fast speeds and high track temperatures favouring the more experienced riders, who had opted for the correct tyre and set-up choices in the hot conditions.

Sebastien Charpentier (Klaffi Honda CBR600RR) was eighth, disappointed at his race finish after some high points in qualifying. Some ten seconds behind Charpentier Alessio Corradi (Team Italia Megabike Honda CBR600RR) was ninth, winning a fight with another Honda rider, Max Neukirchner (Klaffi Honda CBR600RR) who was enjoying his first taste of WSS action at the UK’s Formula One circuit. He finished 11th. Denis Sacchetti just missed out on securing a point, ending his Silverstone race 16th.

In the last race before a seven-week break in the Supersport calendar Muggeridge had many reasons to be cheerful. “I gave it my best shot but Fabien just rode a bit better than me today,” he stated. “It was a good solid race and I just might have got him at the end – but he was harder than me and seemed to be on a better line, so it wasn’t to be. I think we all had the similar experience of the rear spinning up because of the temperatures.”

Parkes was rewarded with yet another podium finish, his third in a row. “I bogged it down at the start, which is quite unusual as I normally get good starts,” said Parkes. “I was back in about tenth and it took me some time to get through. I felt today that I was faster than anyone, but the problem was passing. I wasn’t as fast through the back section onto the straight. At the end of the race it came down to whoever wanted to put their body on the line, but neither Karl nor Fabien tripped themselves up, so I couldn’t get past. I’m just happy to be here on the podium again.”

Charpentier could simply not get to his usual pace with the leading riders, which left him puzzled. “I’m not sure what happened but it just wasn’t my day,” he stated. “The bike and everything seems fine but I could not quite go at the pace of the leaders.”

Neukirchner, once more learning a new circuit and then racing on it said, “Silverstone has proved to be a very hard track for me. I think I rode quite well and was involved in a fight to the very end. It was difficult for me in qualifying but we made some good ground in the race and I am still well inside the top 15 in the race and top ten in the World Championship. In my first year I am quite happy with that.”

Corradi was unhappy with his weekend performance, and is still finding set-up issues on his machine. “I did not make a good start and I tried to cancel the gap in the first few laps. I think there are only two reasons why we are not in with the leaders. Either I am not a fast rider, or we cannot find a good set-up for the bike.”

Sacchetti was disappointed with his 16th place, “I had some traction problems with the tyres and the rear tyre was affected after four laps. I had the difficulty for the whole race but I tried hard.”

In the Championship itself, Muggeridge leads van den Goorbergh by an impressive 15 points, 107 to 92. Parkes follows on in third, on 69 points. Charpentier is seventh, on 48 points, while Neukirchner is still inside the top ten, with 36.

World Superbike Races
Noriyuki Haga (Ducati) enjoyed the win after a classic fight with Chris Vermeulen on the private Ten Kate Honda., the young Australian looking like the likely winner for the majority of the race. In third place Pierfrancesco Chili (Ducati) had to start from 16th on the grid, as both factory Ducati riders, Regis Laconi and James Toseland, fell from contention.

In the second 20-lap race another close fight between Vermeulen and Haga gave victory to Vermeulen and Honda for the first time this year, in what was the 400th running of a World Superbike race. In third place Regis Laconi pushed ahead to the championship lead.

Laconi now enjoys a total of 171, Toseland sits on 168 and Noriyuki Haga is now third on 139 points. Vermeulen jumped to fourth in the standings, with 137.

Round seven of the Supersport championship takes place in the UK again, at Brands Hatch on August 1st.


More, from a press release issued by Belgarda Yamaha:

FABULOUS FABIEN!

Yamaha Racing Italia rider Fabien Foret took a superb victory in a hotly-contested race at Silverstone today. In front of a huge sun-scorched crowd, Fabien had a race-long battle with Ten Kate riders Karl Muggeridge and Broc Parkes, but overcame their joint attack to record his first win with Yamaha. The pace was fast and frantic thoughout the 19-lapper, but Fabien held his nerve when it mattered and ran out the winner by just four tenths of a second. His team mate Jurgen van den Goorbergh put in a steady performance today to finish sixth and remain in close touch with series leader Muggeridge.

FABIEN FORET – 1st
Of course, I am very happy to win today – my first win for Yamaha, but hopefully not the last! Before I signed for Yamaha, I had the feeling that this would be a very satisfying season and although it didn’t go so well after Valencia, it has been getting better and better. We’re getting our own back on the Hondas now and that’s a good sensation. They were very strong today, but I was stronger! I’d like to thank all my team for all the work they’ve put in and I’m looking forward to next race and another top spot on the podium.

JURGEN VAN DEN GOORBERGH – 6th
This weekend I never found the same good feeling with the front end as I’ve had in the opening races of the season. During the race, I tried to stay in touch with the leading group, but I could not attack them with any more strength. I realised that I was not going to challenge for the podium, so I ride as best I could to get as many points as possible and keep my world title challenge in sight. I’d like to congratulate my team mate Fabien – he was really fast today and deserved the win.

Results
1 FORET (F-Yamaha Racing Italia), 2 Muggeridge (Aus-Honda), 3 Parkes (Aus-Honda), 4 Lanzi (I-Ducati), 5 Curtain (Aus-Yamaha), 6 VD GOORBERGH
(NL-Yamaha Racing Italia), 7 Riba (E-Kawasaki), 8 Charpentier (F-Honda), 9 Corradi (I-Honda), 10 Chambon (F-Suzuki).

Points
1 Muggeridge (Aus-Honda) 107, 2 VD GOORBERGH (NL-Yamaha Racing Italia) 92, 3 Parkes (Aus-Honda), 69, 4 Curtain (Aus-Yamaha) 58, 5 FORET (F-Yamaha Racing Italia) 55, 6 Lanzi (I-Ducati) 50, 7 Charpentier (F-Honda) 48, 8 Chambon (F-Suzuki) 45, 9 Fujiwara (J-Suzuki) 44, 10 Neukirchner (D-Honda) 36.


More, from a press release issued by Ten Kate Honda:

Vermeulen takes first Ten Kate Honda SBK race win

Chris Vermeulen (Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) secured his and his team’s first win in the World Superbike Championship after an epic and gruelling day of action around the sunny environs of Silverstone, the UK’s Formula One circuit. The 21-year-old Australian rode brilliantly in each race and finished the first race in second place. He had to wait until race two to take his first win since stepping up to the Superbike class this season, but took it with some style.

Fighting with Ducati rider Noriyuki Haga in each 20-lap race, Vermeulen lost out on the win in race one after a small mistake on the last lap, but in race two a forceful and swift last lap assured him the win, in what was the 400th running of a World Superbike race. It was also Ten Kate’s first win in SBK this year, having come close on a number of occasions.

In race one Pierfrancesco Chili was third, and in race two the new World Championship leader, Regis Laconi (Ducati) took the final podium place. Vermeulen is now fourth in the championship, with 137 points, only 34 points off the lead.

Said Vermeulen on this historic day for team, rider and CBR1000RR, “I made a small mistake in race one and that was enough to give Nori the chance to pass me and take the win. I wasn’t going to make the same mistake in race two. Whatever happened I wasn’t going to let this one go. On the last lap I just made sure I blocked on the corners and kept my pace high. I hope everybody enjoyed it as much as I did.”

Team Manager Ronald Ten Kate stated. “This is quite an explosion of emotion for our team. We have worked pretty hard to this point and in race one we could see that Chris almost had it but made a small mistake. In the second race he was just perfect, even when Haga tried to take the lead from him. I was just so happy to be on the podium, covering him in champagne. Now we have the win we needed so now we can concentrate on making the job even better than this. It’s pure stimulation for the whole team.”


Muggeridge and Parkes crowd Silverstone podium

Karl Muggeridge (Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) and Broc Parkes (Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) ended up in a superb battle for the race win at Silverstone, each fighting for the victory right up to the exit of the final corner. Muggeridge could not quite re-pass the flying Frenchman Fabien Foret (Yamaha) and thus he took second, his closely-following younger team-mate Parkes third.

A magnificently fluid and closely contested race saw Muggeridge in contention for the win throughout, as most riders’ fortunes rose and fell as the laps ticked down. Parkes, experienced a less than perfect start, had to fight his way to the front, and led the race himself at one stage, threatening yet another Ten Kate 1-2 finish. All three podium finishers crossed the line with only 0.303 seconds between them.

The championship position for Muggeridge was further enhanced when Foret’s team-mate Jurgen van den Goorbergh could only finish sixth, and thus Muggeridge now leads him, 107 points to 92. Parkes pushed himself to a total of 69 points, remaining in a good third position.

In the last race before a seven week break in the Supersport calendar Muggeridge had many reasons to be cheerful. “I gave it my best shot but Fabien just rode a bit better than me today,” he stated. “It was a good solid race and I just have might got him at the end – but he was harder than me and seemed to be on a better line, so it wasn’t to be. I think we all had the similar experience of the rear spinning up because of the temperatures.”

Parkes rode hard in the early stages, and was rewarded with another podium finish. “I bogged it down at the start, which is quite unusual as I normally get good starts,” said Parkes. “I was back in about tenth and it took me some time to get through. I felt today that I was faster than anyone, but the problem was passing. I wasn’t as fast through the back section onto the straight. At the end of the race it came down to whoever wanted to put their body on the line but neither Karl nor Fabien tripped themselves up, do I couldn’t get past. I’m just happy to be here on the podium again.”

Team Boss Gerrit Ten Kate was in ebullient mood after another good day for his hard working team; “I think Karl used his brain to finish second. Fabien had nothing to lose and to go in the last corner race with him to take the win would have been very dangerous for the championship. Karl is leading the championship and it was impressive to see that he didn’t give up the win until the very end. This is maybe the best race of the championship so far, except that we didn’t win! For the spectators it has been a great weekend. We chose another type of tyre for Broc and I think it worked a little bit better for him.”


More, from a press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing:

Troubled weekend for FPR at Silverstone

A traumatic weekend for Foggy PETRONAS Racing continued when Troy Corser was forced to start the second race at Silverstone from pitlane.

The Australian skilfully picked his way through the field to finish ninth but, with team-mate Chris Walker also coping with the handicap of three broken ribs to finish that race in 12th place, the sixth round of the Superbike World Championship was one to forget for Carl Fogarty’s team.

Troy had suffered the unusual problem of being held up by one of the factory Ducati bikes in race one, when he finished a creditable seventh place. But hopes of further progress in race two were dashed when a cam sensor in his number one bike failed on the grid.

Chris’s weekend had been blighted by misfortune from the start. Having survived a blazing bike in the first session his injuries were sustained the following morning in a high-side crash, resulting in a constant battle against pain. His misfortune continued in the first race when a low-side crash caused by an engine failure ruined a stunning start to the race, when he barged his way from 13th on the grid to seventh at the end of the first lap. Although he repeated his startling starting feats in the afternoon race, further technical difficulties compounded his physical struggle.

The results left Foggy looking forward to a second half of the season, with engine developments planned for the next round at Laguna Seca in July.

Carl said: “We have not done as well as we would have liked. Silverstone is one of the circuits where we are not fast enough at the moment but we have engine developments in hand for Laguna when, hopefully, both riders will be fully fit. We are hoping that the rest of the circuits, which are more technical, will suit our set-up. Troy rode well and Chris salvaged something from a difficult weekend. The team also worked their socks off during the kind of weekend we could well do without.”

Troy said: “It has ended up a weekend to forget, but it really shouldn’t have been. My lap times were up there with the group battling for fourth but I was surprised to get in the points after starting from pitlane. I could pass everyone on the brakes at the end of the back straight, but I was going in hot because that was the only place I could pass them. And I was probably riding a bit more angrily than normal – the first time I looked at the lap board there were only four laps to go!”

Chris said: “It’s fair to say I didn’t enjoy that race. I was knackered and the bike was cutting out when I was leaning over in the faster sections, which felt like someone was punching me in the ribs. But at least I didn’t scratch my new leathers or the bike this afternoon! I just couldn’t keep the pace, mainly through the injury but also because I had missed two whole sessions of set-up work in practice. When the two things were combined I was struggling – and now I just want to go home!”

Chris Vermeulen on and Noriyuki Haga shared the honours with a reverse one-two. Honda’s success resulted in PETRONAS slipping into third place in the manufacturer standings despite already eclipsing last year’s points total of 118.

Race two results, Superbike World Championship round six, Silverstone, Great Britain: 1 Vermeulen; 2 Haga +0.228; 3 Laconi +6.155; 4 Haslam +20.895; 5 Toseland +27.504; 6 Martin +28.491; 7 Ellison +32.668; 8 McCoy +33.518; 9 Corser +36.312; 10 Clementi +38.114; 11 Borciani +41.206; 12 Walker +41.536; 13 Sanchini +52.325; 14 Bontempi +1:04.719; 15 Pedercini +1:13.860

Race one results: 1 Haga (Renegade Ducati); 2 Vermeulen (Ten Kate Honda) +0.150; 3 Chili (PSG-1) +6.583; 4 McCoy (Xerox Ducati) +27.263; 5 Haslam (Renegade Ducati) +27.580; 6 Martin (DFX) +27.606; 7 Corser (Foggy PETRONAS Racing) +32.321; 8 Borciani (DFX) +38.956; 9 Bontempi (Zongshen) +39.293; 10 Clementi (Kawasaki Bertocchi) +48.255; 11 Nowland (Zongshen) +1:16.875; 12 Mrkyvka (JM SBK) +1:29.690; 13 Fuertes (MIR Racing) +1:0.546; 14 Praia (Xerox Ducati) +2:00.074

Rider standings: 1 Laconi 171; 2 Toseland 168; 3 Haga 139; 4 Vermeulen 137; 5 Chili 129; 6 Mccoy 128; 7 Haslam 113; 8 Corser 95; 9 Martin 93; 10 Walker 82

Manufacturers: 1 Ducati 295; 2 Honda 144; 3 PETRONAS 128; 4 Kawasaki 76; 5 Suzuki 65; 6 Yamaha 35


More, from a press release issued by Troy Corser’s publicist:

A WEEKEND TO FORGET

The weekend that started full of optimism, ended with disappointment as Troy finished with a seventh place in race one and a ninth in race two. While that might have OK for some riders it was less then Troy had expected after two days of qualifying and Superpole. But ninth in the second race was a good result, because Troy was forced to start the race from the pit lane on his spare bike after his number one machine suffered an electrical problem on the grid.

Both 20 lap races featured epic battles. In race one, Haga (Ducati) and Vermeulen (Honda) slugged it out like prize-fighters, with Haga taking the win after the smallest of errors by Vermeulen.

Third went to Frankie Chili (Ducati), ahead of McCoy (Ducati), Haslam (Ducati), Martin (Ducati) and then Troy in seventh. Race two’s battle for the top spot on the podium was no less fierce, but this time it was a three-rider dice between Vermeulen, Haga and Laconi (Ducati). Vermeulen and Haga dropped Laconi in the latter part of the race, and then it was the turn of the young Australian Vermeulen to take the chequered flag – his first victory in Superbikes and the Honda Fireblade’s maiden win.

TROY – Race 1: 7th, Race 2: 9th

This has been a weekend to forget, but it should not have been like that at all – we should’ve done better. In the first race, I didn’t get a bad start, but then I got held up by James (Toseland) and I nearly went off the track trying to pass him on the outside. I couldn’t pass him in the slower corners and once we got on to the straights, he’d just pull away. That allowed Martin and McCoy to catch and pass me on the straights. After James crashed, I was running the same lap times as them, but couldn’t catch them. The second race started with disaster when my bike had a problem on the grid.

I had to leg it down to my garage in pit-lane and jump on to my spare bike, but that meant I had to start the race from the pit lane. I had to wait for the whole field to leave before I could start my race. After that I rode more angrily then usual and it was four laps from the end before I looked at my pit board. I managed to pass loads of riders on the brakes at the end of the back straight and I suppose ninth was pretty good considering how I had to start. Chris (Walker) had a hard weekend as well, so it hasn’t been the best time for the Petronas team at Silverstone.


More, from a press release issued by MSS Discovery Kawasaki:

MSS DISCOVERY’S RIBA SCOOPS SEVENTH PLACE IN WORLD SUPERSPORT ROUND

MSS Discovery Kawasaki’s Pere Riba took seventh place as the team made its World Supersport Championship debut in round six of the series at
Silverstone on Sunday.

Riba, starting from a front row third place, was involved in a battle with Frenchman Sebastien Charpentier in the closing stages, eventually pipping the Honda-mounted rider for seventh.

“I’m happy with the finish and the fact that I ran with the leading group for more than half of the race,” admitted Riba who finished less then 10 seconds behind winner Fabien Foret in the 19-lap race.

Riba continued: “I’m really pleased that the ZX-6RR is so close to challenging for a World Supersport Championship win and in only our first race, as a team, at this level.

“With about six or seven laps to go I began to struggle a little. The front tyre was worn and my riding style means I use the front tyre a lot more than most riders. But the rear tyre was great throughout the race and I’m really pleased that we’ve all gained a lot of experience in readiness for next week’s British Supersport round at Brands Hatch.”

Joint team owner Stuart Simmonds commented: “We have no complaints, a thoroughly professional job by all. We came here hoping to qualify on the second row and Pere put it on the front. We were then looking to sneak into the top 10 and ended up seventh, a solid performance throughout.”


More, from a press release issued by Xerox Ducati Nortel Networks – Scuderia Caracchi:

Few Satisfaction For Xerox Ducati Nortel Networks Team At Silverstone

It wasn’t a great day for the sixth World Superbike round today at Silverstone. The only good result has been the fourth place of Garry McCoy during the Race-1, in which Miguel Praia scored some points for the championship, and a great technical performance of 999RS Ducati ridden by the Australian rider, always at the top in the group of the fastest machines during the race. McCoy leaves Silverstone on the sixth ranking of the World Championship Standing, just a step behind his previous position before this week end, even though the gap is very close to the third position.

Garry McCoy made a great overtook over the last lap of Race-1 at the final chicane, when he overtook Martin entering in it and managed side by side with Haslam the outing corner to catch the fourth place under the chequered flag. Bat the Australian rider wasn’t actually satisfied at the end of the race day.

“The bike was terribly sliding on the rear over the first laps of both races, then during Race-1improved and began to be better, but, on the other hand the trouble continued till Race-2′ end.” – McCoy explained. “Unfortunately during Race-1 I had a poor start and I lost several positions, too many to get a better result.”

Miguel Praia clinched the goal of some World Championship points over Race-1. During Race-2 he made a stupid mistake, entering into the pit lane, when he felt something wrong with the gear just before the final lap, excluding himself from the race classification.

“During Race-1 I did a pretty good job, earning a couple of championship points. On the other side during Race-2 I felt some problem with the gear and I was too angry to go on. It was a shame because I even could have earned some position after that two riders fell at the final corner.”

David Garcia stopped after the first laps during both races because of a terrible arm-ache, which didn’t allowed him to go on.

“After few seconds my right arm started to ache, I had no more sensibility on my hand and I had to retire, despite all the medical treatments I made before the race.”


More, from a press release issued by Pirelli:

SUPERBIKE & SUPERSPORT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP EUROPEAN SUPERSTOCK CHAMPIONSHIP

ROUND 6 – Silverstone, Great Britain, 11 – 13 JUNE
Race Report

HAGA THEN VERMEULEN ON HISTORIC DAY Noriyuki Haga (Renegade Ducati) held off the close attentions of Chris Vermeulen for the win in race one but the positions were reversed in race two as Vermeulen (Ten Kate Honda) gave himself, his team and the CBR1000RR Honda maiden victories in the Superbike class. In the battle for the remaining podium steps Pierfrancesco Chili (PSG-1 Ducati) and new championship leader Regis Laconi secured third places.

RACE 1
TRACK CONDITIONDryAIR HUMIDITY48%
TRACK TEMPERATURE 41°CAIR TEMPERATURE20°C

Regis Laconi (Ducati Fila 999) and his team-mate James Toseland (Ducati Fila 999) both fell by the wayside in the Silverstone opener, but such was the pace of eventual winner Noriyuki Haga (Renegade Ducati) and long term-leader Chris Vermeulen (Honda) that the race became a magnificent two-tier contest in any case, with Haga and Vermeulen six seconds clear of third. First it appeared that Vermeulen would be too strong, as each rider exploited their differing tyre choices and machine characteristics to swap the lead with some frequency. As the race wore on Chili, who was forced to start from 16th on the grid, was soon in a podium finishing place, after Laconi tripped himself up. In a fierce fight for fourth, Garry McCoy (Xerox Ducati 999RS) beat Leon Haslam (Renegade Ducati) and Steve Martin (DFX Ducati to fourth).

RACE 2
TRACK CONDITIONDryAIR HUMIDITY37%
TRACK TEMPERATURE 46°CAIR TEMPERATURE23°C

An even more closely contested second race saw Vermeulen and the Ten Kate Honda team grow in stature to reach the top step of the podium. Having made an error to allow Haga past in race one, Vermeulen was not to repeat it, despite Haga climbing all over his back tyre. In third place Laconi slowed to take a safe third, after his race one no score. He took the championship lead with the 16 points for third, as Chili and Toseland tangled, Chili fell and Toseland was demoted to an eventual fifth. In fourth place Haslam became the highest placed local rider of the weekend, but the top wildcard rider was the excellent James Ellison. A regular BSB runner and Pirelli user, Ellison’s very stock Yamaha R1 was fast enough for seventh in race two.

Giorgio Barbier (Pirelli Racing Manager): “There was a different solution on the rear of the two contenders for the race wins but the same choice on the front, after the first and the second leg. So they both changed choices in the same way. In the first leg Vermeulen went on the soft front Haga the hardest but they met in the middle for race two. They enabled them to play with their lines a lot more and that made the show more spectacular. Laconi chose the softest rear and at a certain point he was not able to get the rhythm of the other two. Ellison had a good ride on his private bike, so far the best for a private Yamaha, and on a very standard bike really. I would say that the hardest tyres worked best today, as expected, and all were dual compound, but with different carcasses.”

TRACK CONDITIONDryAIR HUMIDITY38%
TRACK TEMPERATURE 46°CAIR TEMPERATURE24°C

Fabien Foret scored his first win of the year on his Yamaha Italia R6, heading up a truly outstanding close quarters battle with Karl Muggeridge (Ten Kate Honda) and Broc Parkes (Ten Kate Honda). The final last chicane sort out went the way of Foret, by 0.043 seconds, with Parkes only 0.3 seconds behind the winner. An excellent ride for Breil Ducati rider Lorenzo Lanzi put him fourth, only 0.7 seconds from the win. Early potential winner Kevin Curtain had to settle for fifth place, as Jurgen van den Goorbergh, second in the championship took ten points for sixth place, falling further behind championship leader Karl Muggeridge.

Giorgio Barbier (Pirelli Racing Manager): “Supersport was fun because the second and the fourth placed riders, Muggeridge and Lanzi, used the softest rear, and Foret, the winner, used the new front to win the race. That is a very good development for us. In fact I would say that the front tyres were the determining factor today

From a press release issued by d’Antin Ducati:

Test day in Catalonia

The d´Antin MotoGP today completed a scheduled day of tests at the Catalunya circuit, working towards the upcoming Dutch TT.

Neil Hodgson used all of the available time, riding until six in the afternoon, and the effort was all worthwhile as the British rider completed 85 laps and set a best time of 1:44.89: “We worked a lot today but it’s all been worth it because I think we’ve made a great step forward. We changed the weight distribution around a little bit and we tried a few different tyres as well. I set a good time, but the most important thing is that I was very comfortable in my riding and I think we’ll be better off at the next race now.”

Rubén Xaus completed a total of 41 laps, with a best of 1:45.72, packing up at around two o’clock after a small crash, “We tested tyres and did ten lap stints with a full tank, to try to recreate race conditions. It’s the first laps of the race that I have most problems with, so that’s why I worked on this area. We were planning to stop anyway when I had a slight ‘off’ in the final set of laps. I lost the front and so we decided to call it a day. It’s been two weeks without a break really, and before we even know it we’ll be in Holland for the next race.”

From a press release issued by BrainBox Productions:

BRAINBOX PRODUCTIONS AND DISCOVERY CHANNEL REVEAL WHAT IT TAKES TO BE THE BEST

NEW ORIGINAL PREMIER – MOTORCYCLE GIRL

Silver Spring, MD – BrainBox Productions Inc., a Silver Spring based Production Company, explores one woman’s journey to the top in Motorcyle Girl premiering June 21, 2004 at 9PM on the Discovery Channel. Step into the world of Suzanne Fetting – a woman who defines her life, in part, by producing fashion shows and racing her 600 cc pink Sportbike motorcycle. This is a story of one person who has chosen to live life on her own terms, make up her own rules, and follow her own dreams.

Along the way we’ll meet British Columbia’s own outlaw custom bike painters, ride with some of the fastest women on two wheels, and experience the ups and downs of not following a set path, but instead blazing an unknown trail. Sometimes pretty, sometimes not, but love it or hate it, this is the true story of one person, told through her eyes.

With original footage, cutting edge graphics and unrestricted access our cameras follow Suzanne as she simultaneously produces her infamous fashion show, Feminine Adrenaline 3, and trains, sweats and fights for her first competitive sportbike race. Intimate interviews with Suzanne, her friends, and her enemies reveal the reality of pursuing your dreams. It’s a race against the clock to see if she can get to the starting line in time, and prove she deserves to be there.

AIR DATES (ET):

Jun 21 2004 @ 09:00 PM
Jun 22 2004 @ 12:00 AM
Jun 27 2004 @ 01:00 PM

From a press release issued by Hawk Kawasaki:

MCGUINNESS REPLACES INJURED RICHARDS AT HAWK

TT star John McGuinness makes his debut for British Superbike team Hawk Kawasaki at Brands Hatch this weekend as a stand-in for the injured Glen Richards.

McGuinness, who won both the F1 and Junior races at last week’s Isle of Man TT, will ride Richards’ Hawk ZX-10R in the BSB series until the Aussie’s broken arm, which he sustained in a spill at Thruxton two weeks ago, is fully healed. Richards is hoping to be back in the saddle for Croft, in August, so McGuinness also looks likely to deputise at Knockhill and Mallory Park in July.

“This is a great opportunity for me,” said John of the ride. “And I’m grateful to Stuart Hicken for offering me the opportunity to ride the Hawk Kawasaki. I’ve ridden in BSB before, so I know how competitive it is, but the Hawk ZX-10R looks strong and I’m really looking forward to the challenge.”

Hawk Kawasaki Team Principal Stuart Hicken explains why McGuinness is the man for the job. “I’ve watched John for a while and also rated him as a rider for quite some time. What I want him to do is get used to the bike and finish races. Whatever he achieves results-wise will be a bonus. I’m expecting John to be with us for a minimum of two meetings and a maximum of four, but I have said to him that if he gels with the team and I’m happy with the results I will look to run him until the end of the year, as well as Glen and Scott.”

The seventh round of the BSB championship starts at Brands Hatch on Friday June 18.