Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Saturday Morning’s Provisional AMA Formula Xtreme Practice Times:

1. Miguel Duhamel, Honda CBR600RR, 2:18.454
2. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR600RR, 2:19.754
3. Doug Chandler, Ducati 749R, 2:20.787
4. Alex Gobert, Honda CBR600RR, 2:21.116
5. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R600, 2:22.708
6. Larry Pegram, Yamaha YZF-R6, 2:22.752
7. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSX-R600, 2:22.840
8. Mike Ciccotto, Buell XB9R, 2:23.103
9. Pascal Picotte, Yamaha YZF-R6, 2:23.743
10. Mark Junge, Suzuki GSX-R600, 2:24.309
11. Steve Crevier, Suzuki GSX-R600, 2:24.902
12. Michael Barnes, Buell XB9R, 2:24.917
13. Blake Young, Suzuki GSX-R600, 2:25.636
14. Danny Eslick, Suzuki GSX-R600, 2:27.923
15. Heath Small, Yamaha YZF-R6, 2:28.372
16. Perry Melneciuc, Yamaha YZF-R6, 2:28.462
17. Nathan Hester, Yamaha YZF-R6, 2:29.508
18. Darren Luck, Suzuki GSX-R600, 2:30.455

From a press release issued by FGSport Group:

Vincent Phillipe has taken provisional pole position for Suzuki Castrol with a lap time of 1:32.084. Phillipe dominated the first session, lapping over a second faster than his nearest rival, Yamaha GMT94’s David Checa. Third place on the grid will go to Yamaha Endurance Moto 38; Gwen Giabbani closed to within a tenth of a second of Checa but could not match his best lap. The continually improving Honda Fireblade of WRT Honda Austria has moved up to fourth place, with Spanish wildcard entry Yamaha Folch endurance in fifth place.

The second riders’ session saw Endurance Moto 38 and GMT94 fighting for the fastest lap, until Suzuki Castrol’s Oiliver Four put in a 1:33.140 lap five minutes before the end of the session. The story was the same for the third riders’ group, with Matthieu Lagrive lapping almost a third of a second faster than anyone else.

As soon as his qualifying session was over Phillipe’s thoughts were on the race: “I think we can do 1:34s in the race, and I did a very good lap last night on a race tyre – a 1:33. The Dunlop tyres are good at night when it’s cooler, but I’m not so sure how they will last over a 45 lap stint. I am not too worried about this but I don’t know about my team mates. I am going to eat some pasta now, and try and get some sleep.”

Top Ten Qualifying Positions

1st 3: Suzuki Castrol – FRA – Suzuki GSX-R1000 – V.Phillipe 1:32.084

2nd 94: Yamaha GMT94 – FRA – Yamaha YZF-R1 – D.Checa 1:33.372

3 rd 38: Yamaha Endurance Moto 38 – FRA – Yamaha YZF-R1 – G.Giabbani 1:33.444

4th 5: WRT Honda Austria – AUT – Honda CBR1000RR – E.Wilding 1:33.738

5th 20: Yamaha Folch Endurance – SPA – Yamaha YZF-R1 – D.Tomas 1:33.755

6th 8: Kawasaki Bolliger Team – SUI – Kawasaki ZX10R – F.Moreira 1:34.723

7th 1: Yamaha Phase One Endurance – GBR – Yamaha YZF-R1 – S.Scarnato 1:34.828

8th 7: Yamaha Austria Racing Team – AUT– Yamaha YZF-R1 – I.Jerman 1:35.434

9th 44: Suzuki No Limits – ITA – Suzuki GSX-R1000 – R.Ruozi 1:36.228

10th 2: Benelli X-One Team – ITA – Benelli Tornado – P.Tessari 1:36.245

From a press release issued by Lance Bryson:

This is to inform you I have resigned my position at Clear Channel Entertainment – Motor Sports.

I have taken a position with Advanstar Communications in their Power Sports Group Division.

It has been an honor to work with the Clear Channel family for the past seven years.

I can currently be reached at 817.913.0848
Email [email protected]

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

MotoGP Top Speeds From Friday’s Qualifying Session At Mugello:

1. Loris Capirossi, Ducati, 211.390 mph
2. Max Biaggi, Honda, 210.334 mph
3. Alex Barros, Honda, 208.594 mph
4. Neil Hodgson, Ducati, 207.537 mph
5. Makoto Tamada, Honda, 207.103 mph
6. Troy Bayliss, Ducati, 207.040 mph
7. Colin Edwards, Honda, 206.730 mph
8. Valentino Rossi, Yamaha, 206.730 mph
9. Nicky Hayden, Honda, 206.419 mph
10. Sete Gibernau, Honda, 206.295 mph
11. Ruben Xaus, Ducati, 205.984 mph
12. Marco Melandri, Yamaha, 205.176 mph
13. Jeremy McWilliams, Aprilia, 205.176 mph
14. Carlos Checa, Yamaha, 204.431 mph
15. Norick Abe, Yamaha, 204.182 mph
16. Shane Byrne, Aprilia, 204.058 mph
17. Alex Hofmann, Kawasaki, 203.623 mph
18. Kenny Roberts, Suzuki, 201.697 mph
19. Andrew Pitt, Moriwaki, 199.708 mph
20. Shinya Nakano, Kawasaki, 198.900 mph
21. Nobuatsu Aoki, Proton, 197.844 mph
22. Kurtis Roberts, Proton, 196.912 mph
23. Michel Fabrizio, Harris WCM, 190.574 mph
24. Chris Burns, Harris WCM, 188.461 mph

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. FIRST PERSON/OPINION From Jim Douglas, a cornerworker at the scene, via e-mail: As the turn marshall, I was calling in that another rider was low-siding to rider’s right, far exit of Turn 6 when it became apparent that Rich was following close enough and slightly to the right behind that rider that he had little or no room for evasive action. I proceeded to call in that a second rider was off track in avoidance. To avoid running over the first rider, Rich stood the bike up but was unfortunately at the outside edge of the track at full speed, having just gotten on the throttle. Still trying to avoid the other downed rider, Rich quickly crossed the dirt/grass run-off area, though he was unable to significantly slow the bike. Rich’s bike impacted the base of the unprotected steep hillside leading up to the ‘esses’ of turn 8 & 8A, At impact, the bike appeared to be essentially vertical and slightly to the right of the other downed rider, striking the embankment at about a 30 degree angle. The force of the impact ejected Rich, both bike and rider were airborne, with the rider appearing to come down head first about 1/3 the way up the hill. (Some observers have said that Rich flew significantly higher than the bike and that his feet appeared to be above the crest of the hill, 15-20 ft vertical estimate.) The first turn worker to arrive was there within seconds, he called for an ambulance immediately, and the race was red-flagged within moments. NMP’s were stationed at the turn 8 box immediately above Rich and they responded, arriving nearly at the same time as the turn workers. I have worked Turn 6 many many times over the past 9 years for both AFM and AMA races. For whatever reason, both Saturday and Sunday seemed unusual in that we had more incidents in our turn than I recall for other occasions. Rich is very well known throughout the AFM and his injuries hit us all pretty hard. We wish him the very best. (The cornerworker also reported that one of the riders who crashed to start the chain of events walked away from the incident.)

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Friday Morning Practice Times:

MotoGP:

1. Sete GIBERNAU, Honda, 1:51.697
2. Valentino ROSSI, Yamaha, 1:51.985
3. Carlos CHECA, Yamaha, 1:52.307
4. Kenny ROBERTS, Suzuki, 1:52.329
5. Max BIAGGI, Honda, 1:52.682
6. Nicky HAYDEN, Honda, 1:52.743
7. Alex BARROS, Honda, 1:52.849
8. Norick ABE, Yamaha, 1:52.912
9. Loris CAPIROSSI, Ducati, 1:53.026
10. Colin EDWARDS, Honda, 1:53.056
11. Shinya NAKANO, Kawasaki, 1:53.162
12. Makoto TAMADA, Honda, 1:53.181
13. Marco MELANDRI, Yamaha, 1:53.238
14. Troy BAYLISS, Ducati, 1:53.902
15. Neil HODGSON, Ducati, 1:54.357
16. Alex HOFMANN, Kawasaki, 1:54.572
17. Jeremy McWILLIAMS, Aprilia, 1:54.577
18. Shane BYRNE, Aprilia, 1:54.613
19. Ruben XAUS, Ducati, 1:54.976
20. Nobuatsu AOKI, Proton, 1:55.529
21. Kurtis ROBERTS, Proton, 1:56.872
22. Andrew PITT, Moriwaki, 1:57.196
23. Michel FABRIZIO, Harris WCM, 1:57.351
24. Chris BURNS, Harris WCM, 2:00.963


250cc GP:

1. Sebastian PORTO, Aprilia, 1:55.072
2. Randy DE PUNIET, Aprilia, 1:56.104
3. Alex DE ANGELIS, Aprilia, 1:56.560
4. Toni ELIAS, Honda, 1:56.589
5. Manuel POGGIALI, Aprilia, 1:56.792
6. Franco BATTAINI, Aprilia, 1:57.038
7. Daniel PEDROSA, Honda, 1:57.054
8. Anthony WEST, Aprilia, 1:57.406
9. Roberto ROLFO, Honda, 1:57.415
10. Sylvain GUINTOLI, Aprilia, 1:57.685
11. Fonsi NIETO, Aprilia, 1:57.941
12. Jakub SMRZ, Honda, 1:58.313
13. Joan OLIVE, Aprilia, 1:58.695
14. Naoki MATSUDO, Yamaha, 1:58.704
15. Eric BATAILLE, Honda, 1:58.766
16. Alex BALDOLINI, Aprilia, 1:59.126
17. Erwan NIGON, Yamaha, 1:59.634
18. Alex DEBON, Honda, 1:59.687
19. Arnaud VINCENT, Aprilia, 1:59.886
20. Hiroshi AOYAMA, Honda, 1:59.974


125cc GP:

1. Andrea DOVIZIOSO, Honda, 2:00.263
2. Roberto LOCATELLI, Aprilia, 2:00.635
3. Pablo NIETO, Aprilia, 2:00.718
4. Hector BARBERA, Aprilia, 2:00.984
5. Mika KALLIO, KTM, 2:01.382
6. Mike DI MEGLIO, Aprilia, 2:01.457
7. Casey STONER, KTM, 2:01.470
8. Mattia PASINI, Aprilia, 2:01.692
9. Gino BORSOI, Aprilia, 2:01.707
10. Marco SIMONCELLI, Aprilia, 2:01.718
11. Mirko GIANSANTI, Aprilia, 2:01.762
12. Youichi UI, Aprilia, 2:01.918
13. Gioele PELLINO, Aprilia, 2:02.014
14. Angel RODRIGUEZ, Derbi, 2:02.135
15. Jorge LORENZO, Derbi, 2:02.154

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Friday’s 250cc Grand Prix Qualifying Results:

1. Sebastian PORTO, Aprilia, 1:53.691
2. Randy DE PUNIET, Aprilia, 1:54.571
3. Manuel POGGIALI, Aprilia, 1:54.855
4. Daniel PEDROSA, Honda, 1:55.035
5. Franco BATTAINI, Aprilia, 1:55.143
6. Alex DE ANGELIS, Aprilia, 1:55.159
7. Toni ELIAS, Honda, 1:55.789
8. Fonsi NIETO, Aprilia, 1:56.246
9. Jakub SMRZ, Honda, 1:56.292
10. Anthony WEST, Aprilia, 1:56.381
11. Naoki MATSUDO, Yamaha, 1:56.583
12. Roberto ROLFO, Honda, 1:56.969
13. Hiroshi AOYAMA, Honda, 1:57.165
14. Alex DEBON, Honda, 1:57.568
15. Joan OLIVE, Aprilia, 1:57.589
16. Eric BATAILLE, Honda, 1:57.604
17. Hector FAUBEL, Aprilia, 1:57.808
18. Chaz DAVIES, Aprilia, 1:57.853
19. Sylvain GUINTOLI, Aprilia, 1:58.050
20. Arnaud VINCENT, Aprilia, 1:58.223

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. Rich Thorwaldson, who crashed during an AFM race May 30 at Infineon Raceway, has suffered severe brain trauma and is currently in a coma at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek, California, according to a website his family has set up. Thorwaldson’s family is asking that concerned parties visit the website, www.richardthorwaldson.com, rather than attempt to call the hospital or Thorwaldson’s dealership, Big Valley Honda in Reno, Nevada. The family is asking that friends send in stories and photos of Thorwaldson for posting on the website and for Thorwaldson to read during his recovery.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Virginia International Raceway (VIR) co-owner Harvey Siegel and local government officials announced plans for a $100 million motorsports resort in Millville, New Jersey at a press conference held June 1, according to an article appearing on www.thedailyjournal.com.

With partner Lee Brahin and enthusiastic cooperation from local officials, Siegel plans to develop the old Millville municipal airport into a multi-purpose facility, including a 4.1-mile road course dubbed Thunderbolt Raceway. The article says the facility could be in action starting in spring of 2006.

No specific plans to hold large spectator events, such as an AMA Superbike event, have been announced, but Siegel’s VIR current hosts an AMA National, among other spectator events.

AMA Superbike Series Manager Ron Barrick has not been contacted by anyone representing New Jersey Motorsports Park but told Roadracingworld.com he would call to get more information on the facility.

To read the original article, go to http://www.thedailyjournal.com/news/stories/20040602/localnews/551611.html