Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Grand Prix of Valencia
Valencia, Spain
Sunday Morning 250cc GP Practice Times:

1. Randy DE PUNIET, Aprilia, 1:37.726
2. Sylvain GUINTOLI, Aprilia, 1:37.751
3. Fonsi NIETO, Aprilia, 1:38.133
4. Alex DEBON, Honda, 1:38.289
5. Toni ELIAS, Aprilia, 1:38.347
6. Franco BATTAINI, Aprilia, 1:38.429
7. Naoki MATSUDO, Yamaha, 1:38.474
8. Sebastian PORTO, Honda, 1:38.523
9. Anthony WEST, Aprilia, 1:38.744
10. Eric BATAILLE, Honda, 1:39.026
11. Erwan NIGON, Aprilia, 1:39.363
12. Chaz DAVIES, Aprilia, 1:39.752
13. Joan OLIVE, Aprilia, 1:39.885
14. Jaroslav HULES, Honda, 1:39.907
15. Christian GEMMEL, Honda, 1:40.016
16. Jakub SMRZ, Honda, 1:40.043
17. Dirk HEIDOLF, Aprilia, 1:40.256
18. Johan STIGEFELT, Aprilia, 1:40.387
19. Radomil ROUS, Aprilia, 1:40.466
20. Roberto ROLFO, Honda, 1:40.589
21. Hugo MARCHAND, Aprilia, 1:40.678

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Luis d’Antin has announced that his team has reached an agreement with both Ducati and 2003 World Superbike Champion Neil Hodgson to contest the 2004 MotoGP World Championship.

“It is a very exciting challenge for me,” Hodgson was quoted as saying by Dorna Sports. “I watched the free practice this morning from trackside and these bikes are very intimidating. They are very, very fast and unbelievably loud, but I spoke to Loris after the session and he says it is less scary to ride one than it is to watch! It will be difficult but not impossible to win races – that is why I am here. My only intention is to work very, very hard to get the maximum out of the bike and of myself.”

D’Antin Ducati will field two riders but has not announced the second rider.

The announcement of the d’Antin Ducati deal included word that Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss would return to the Marlboro Ducati factory team in 2004.

From a press release issued by Honda:

ROSSI AND HONDA PART WITH A SMILE AND EMBRACE

In a packed pressroom at Valencia after the final race of the 2003 season it was officially announced that World Champion, Valentino Rossi and Honda were not renewing any contract for the 2004 season.

Rossi appeared alongside the Repsol Honda Team’s Sporting Manager, Carlo Fiorani and Team Manager Shoji Tachikawa. He explained to the world’s press that he has loved his time at Honda but after winning three consecutive World Championships feels that the time is right to move onto a new challenge.

Fiorani thanked Rossi on behalf of all of Honda and finished up presenting the 24-year-old Italian with a painting signed by all his friends and colleagues at the Repsol Honda Team.

Carlo Fiorani, Repsol Honda Team Sporting Manager

“Everyone in this room knows; indeed anyone with even the slightest interest in motorcycle racing around the world will know that we at Honda have been in contract negotiations with Valentino Rossi’s management for much of this season.

We at Honda have done everything in our power to secure Valentino’s services for next year. In the end we understand that it is not about money, sponsor obligations or any of the standard issues that are negotiated over in more general contract discussions. The area we have had difficulty in, is one of providing Valentino with a new challenge and it is an area we at Honda totally understand. This is totally a Valentino choice.

Throughout his career Valentino has moved onto a new challenge every season and in the end, it is this that Valentino seeks. In many ways his driving force is reflected in the spirit of this great company. Soichiro Honda who founded the business over 50 years ago understood and rejoiced in this spirit.

So, on the evening of the final Grand Prix of 2003, and Valentino’s 64th with Honda, we announce officially today that Honda and Valentino Rossi will not be renewing any contract for the 2004 season.

We are obviously very sad on the one hand to see Valentino go but feel that we as a manufacturer and Valentino as a rider part company as friends with the best memories of our time together. We now have to look forward to next season when we will gather a team of riders capable of retaining the World Championship for Honda.

I’d like to publicly thank Valentino for all the success and fun we’ve had over the last four years. The Honda / Rossi partnership has been an incredible one. Together we have won three World Championships, three Manufacturers Titles and 33 races in four very special years.

We have had this situation before when riders either move teams or retire. Mike Hailwood, Freddie Spencer, Wayne Gardner, Eddie Lawson, Mick Doohan and now Valentino Rossi.

On behalf of all at Honda, the racing community and fans world-wide I thank you for your efforts Valentino and I wish you well in the future and we look forward to the challenge of 2004 and beyond!”


Valentino Rossi
“I have to say thank you very much to Honda. It is true. Next year we don’t race together. For sure it has been a fantastic period for me to work together for four years. It’s been unforgettable. We’ve won 50% of the races when we have been together. The story is only four years but for me it seems much longer.

Together we start in 2000 with a new challenge with the 500. There were many problems to start with. Straightaway we were working with HRC and it as amazing. To work with HRC for a rider is like a dream. If you are able to give the right information to the engineers they are able to change.

At the end of the first year we arrive in second position in the championship and take more podiums than anyone else.

The next year I have a new NSR – after six or seven years of the old NSR. We win 11 races and the championship. It was a great championship as it was the last of the 500’s. The 500cc was the story of the sport. To win the last 500cc race was like a dream. Maybe one of the best races of my career.

After, we sign a new contract and we start another time from zero with the new 4 –stroke. I first ride at Suzuka in 2001 in August. It was already a good bike. But even at the beginning I was wondering if it was as good as the 500’s as it was not as fast. We work hard and the bike was ready for the first GP and we win. At the end of last season the Yamaha was at the same level and we make a good step over the winter in testing and arrive this season in good shape.

This year was great for me. We make many emotional races. We had a good second part of the championship. At a point after Sepang the idea arrived about making a change because we win in the dry, we win in the wet, we win at circuits I like and like today, we win at circuits I have not had such good luck at in the past. We finish our work with the bike.

So, we don’t race together next year. I try a new challenge. Maybe to make this choice at this point is a little mad. We see next year if it is possible or not. For sure all the fans will be happy, as it will make a great show! Unforgettable our time together. The HRC engineers, and all my friends at Honda.
Thank you all.”

From a press release issued by Fortuna Yamaha:

FORTUNA YAMAHA TEAM STATEMENT

The following is a statement issued on behalf of Fortuna Yamaha Team director Davide Brivio.

“We welcome this evening’s news that the Honda – Valentino Rossi relationship has drawn to a close. As many people know, when it became clear that there was a possibility that Valentino would not renew his agreement with Honda we made contact with his management team. I can confirm that our discussions with Valentino’s management are proceeding well. With the confirmation that he shall not renew with Honda we shall proceed with our negotiations and hope to conclude an agreement within the immediate future.

“This is obviously a very exciting prospect for us. However, until we have one hundred percent finalised an agreement with Valentino we shall not be able to comment further on the situation and on our Team’s final line-up for 2004.

“We fully appreciate that there is enormous media interest in Valentino’s future and so we shall endeavour to be as open as possible. However, at the present time I can say no more than this. Our joint aim is to make a full announcement as soon as all the details have been finalised.”

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Grand Prix of Valencia
Valencia, Spain
125cc Grand Prix Results:

1. Casey STONER, Aprilia, 24 laps, 40:27.662
2. Steve JENKNER, Aprilia, -0.268 second
3. Hector BARBERA, Aprilia, -1.101 seconds
4. Marco SIMONCELLI, Aprilia, -3.205 seconds
5. Mirko GIANSANTI, Aprilia, -8.760 seconds
6. Alvaro BAUTISTA, Aprilia, -8.888 seconds
7. Pablo NIETO, Aprilia, -12.265 seconds
8. Andrea DOVIZIOSO, Honda, -16.738 seconds
9. Lucio CECCHINELLO, Aprilia, -21.089 seconds
10. Gino BORSOI, Aprilia, -30.673 seconds
11. Jorge LORENZO, Derbi, -32.847 seconds
12. Gabor TALMACSI, Aprilia, -32.954 seconds
13. Stefano PERUGINI, Aprilia, -33.349 seconds
14. Robbin HARMS, Aprilia, -34.889 seconds
15. Masao AZUMA, Honda, -34.958 seconds
16. Max SABBATANI, Aprilia, -40.633 seconds
17. Roberto LOCATELLI, KTM, -45.678 seconds
18. Fabrizio LAI, Malaguti, -50.241 seconds
19. Julian SIMON, Malaguti, -50.313 seconds
20. Sergio GADEA, Aprilia, -58.305 seconds
21. Stefano BIANCO, Gilera, -58.315 seconds
22. Imre TOTH, Aprilia, -83.309 seconds
23. Ismael ORTEGA, Aprilia, -93.631 seconds
24. Emilio ALZAMORA, Derbi, -99.042 seconds

27. Arnaud VINCENT, Aprilia, -10 laps, DNF, mechanical

30. Simone CORSI, Honda, -21 laps, DNF, crash

32. Alex DE ANGELIS, Aprilia, -23 laps, DNF, crash
33. Mika KALLIO, KTM, -23 laps, DNF, crash
34. Youichi UI, Gilera, -23 laps, DNF, mechanical
35. Thomas LUTHI, Honda, DNS


Final 125cc GP World Championship Point Standings:

1. PEDROSA, Daniel, 223 points
2. DE ANGELIS, Alex, 166 points
3. BARBERA, Hector, 164 points
4. PERUGINI, Stefano, 162 points
5. DOVIZIOSO, Andrea, 157 points
6. JENKNER, Steve, 151 points
7. NIETO, Pablo, 148 points
8. STONER, Casey, 125 points
9. CECCHINELLO, Lucio, 112 points
10. GIANSANTI, Mirko, 93 points
11. KALLIO, Mika, 88 points
12. LORENZO, Jorge, 79 points
13. UI, Youichi, 76 points
14. TALMACSI, Gabor, 70 points
15. LUTHI, Thomas, 68 points


More, from a press release issued by KTM Red Bull:

KTM Red Bull Team Sign Casey Stoner: “Loca” 17th, Kallio DNF

he KTM Red Bull team have signed talented young Australian rider Casey Stoner to race alongside Flying Finn Mika Kallio in the 125cc world championship in 2004. KTM chief executive Stefan Pierer and GP team boss Harald Bartol confirmed deal following today’s Valencia Grand Prix. In the final race of the current season Kallio failed to finish when he crashed after a collision with team mate Roberto Locatelli who finished 17th in his last ride for KTM.

In celebration of his new KTM contract Stoner, 18, today won his first career GP with a thrilling victory in the Valencia Grand Prix. The race was a dramatic one for the KTM squad, which was reduced to one rider after Kallio’s lap two crash. The Finn was bitterly disappointed having had high hopes of a top ten finish. Locatelli’s final race for the KTM team was a difficult one from 18th on the grid. After pushing to make up positions early in the race Loca found his tyres past their best over the final laps and he could do no better than seventeenth.

#36 Mika Kallio
DNF

Coming to the final corner, the long left I was on the inside level with Roberto and when we started to turn he closed the door on me and I had to brake very hard, otherwise we both would have crashed. I lost the front and fell; this was a very silly thing so early in the race and a disappointing way to end the season. I made a good start but rode a little slow on the first lap with cold tyres and dropped to 13th and then the crash.

#10 Roberto Locatelli
17th

Starting from 18th my only option was to go forward and I pushed very hard from the start. I wanted to finish top ten but this was the best result possible, my tyres were fading at the finish. On the second lap Mika came on the inside with a big braking move and when I looked around he had crashed after hitting the rear of my bike; it was just one of those things that happens in racing.


Harald Bartol
Team Manager

A wonderful day for racing but not a result to remember for KTM with Mika crashing and Roberto finishing seventeenth. We now look forward to next season and Casey Stoner joining our team. Today he showed his talent with his first win, a perfect result; Casey has always been fast and with the right back-up I think he can be a very successful rider. With Mika and Casey we have a very strong team for 2004.

From a press release issued by California Speedway:

“Race for Relief” – Day One

Southern California residents came from throughout the region to join the “Race for Relief” at California Speedway on Saturday to collect more than $14,000 as well as filling to capacity two 24-ft. Penske Trucks and three Toyota Tundras full of items for fire victims.

“The first day was a tremendous success,” Bill Miller, president of California Speedway, said. “The outpouring of generosity from so many people made this a great day. I personally had the opportunity to talk to many individuals and families who donated items and/or money today who have been touched by the tragedy of this fire. They can’t stop thinking about so many families displaced and they just want to help.”

From as far as Glendale and Brea individuals came to pitch-in and give to the Southern California Fire Disaster Relief Fund. Race fans came in legions to give what ever they could to those affected by the devastating wildfires.

“I’m also very thankful to all the great race fans who showed up today,” Miller continued. “I talked to some people who had tickets for the races that were scheduled for this weekend here and they not only committed to donating their ticket purchase to the Red Cross but also came here to drop off blankets, clothes and food. We got off to a great start today.”

Blankets, jackets, toys and diapers were loaded into three Toyota Tundras to take quick trips to the San Bernardino Airport Shelter for fire evacuees. The urgency for blankets and jackets increased with cold and rainy weather moving into the area. Other items, such as food, clothes and furniture, were loaded in the Penske Trucks with one making a drop to the Salvation Army today and the other going first thing Sunday morning.

The final day of the “Race for Relief” is Sunday, November 2, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The monetary contributions will continue through mid-November as many speedway sponsors have made financial commitments and the deadline for speedway ticket holders to donate the purchase price of their ticket from the King Taco 200 and King Taco 500 is November 14.

For more information on the “Race for Relief” please visit www.californiaspeedway.com. For more information on the Southern California Fire Disaster Relief Fund and the American Red Cross visit their website at www.crossnet.org.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Grand Prix of Valencia
Valencia, Spain
Saturday Morning 250cc GP Practice Times:

1. Randy DE PUNIET, Aprilia, 1:37.552
2. Sylvain GUINTOLI, Aprilia, 1:37.812
3. Toni ELIAS, Aprilia, 1:38.064
4. Manuel POGGIALI, Aprilia, 1:38.274
5. Alex DEBON, Honda, 1:38.623
6. Sebastian PORTO, Honda, 1:38.673
7. Eric BATAILLE, Honda, 1:38.752
8. Franco BATTAINI, Aprilia, 1:38.793
9. Fonsi NIETO, Aprilia, 1:38.876
10. Hector FAUBEL, Aprilia, 1:38.975
11. Erwan NIGON, Aprilia, 1:39.229
12. Roberto ROLFO, Honda, 1:39.350
13. Chaz DAVIES, Aprilia, 1:39.454
14. Naoki MATSUDO, Yamaha, 1:39.481
15. Anthony WEST, Aprilia, 1:39.651
16. Alex BALDOLINI, Aprilia, 1:39.845
17. Dirk HEIDOLF, Aprilia, 1:40.137
18. Joan OLIVE, Aprilia, 1:40.175
19. Jakub SMRZ, Honda, 1:40.230
20. Radomil ROUS, Aprilia, 1:40.246
21. Hugo MARCHAND, Aprilia, 1:40.446
22. Jaroslav HULES, Honda, 1:40.493
23. Lukas PESEK, Yamaha, 1:40.829
24. Johan STIGEFELT, Aprilia, 1:40.996
25. Christian GEMMEL, Honda, 1:41.106

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Grand Prix of Valencia
Valencia, Spain
Saturday Morning MotoGP Practice Times:

1. Nicky HAYDEN, Honda, 1:33.797
2. Carlos CHECA, Yamaha, 1:33.990
3. Valentino ROSSI, Honda, 1:34.113
4. Loris CAPIROSSI, Ducati, 1:34.493
5. Sete GIBERNAU, Honda, 1:34.652
6. Tohru UKAWA, Honda, 1:34.753
7. Troy BAYLISS, Ducati, 1:34.943
8. Colin EDWARDS, Aprilia, 1:35.023
9. Max BIAGGI, Honda, 1:35.060
10. Alex BARROS, Yamaha, 1:35.109
11. Shinya NAKANO, Yamaha, 1:35.128
12. Makoto TAMADA, Honda, 1:35.202
13. John HOPKINS, Suzuki, 1:35.346
14. Norick ABE, Yamaha, 1:35.429
15. Kenny ROBERTS, Suzuki, 1:35.488
16. Jeremy McWILLIAMS, Proton, 1:35.693
17. Ryuichi KIYONARI, Honda, 1:35.723
18. Garry McCOY, Kawasaki, 1:35.750
19. Olivier JACQUE, Yamaha, 1:35.758
20. Nobuatsu AOKI, Proton, 1:36.042
21. Andrew PITT, Kawasaki, 1:36.838
22. Noriyuki HAGA, Aprilia, 1:37.256
23. David DE GEA, Harris WCM, 1:37.602
24. Chris Burns, Harris WCM, no time

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Yamaha Motor Corp. U.S. racing boss Keith McCarty said Friday that although the company plans to develop a Superbike based on the Yamaha YZF-R1, its primary focus in the 2004 AMA Series will be in Supersport and Superstock.

Speaking to Roadracing world.com Friday during a Yamaha Supermoto Day at Apex raceway in Perris, California, McCarty said, “Our game plan is to build a Superbike and do some testing with it throughout the year and if things look good or if the situation’s right–there’s a lot of things you got to line up–maybe race it a time or two if we’re somewhere that we’d like to be. We just think at this point in time where we’re going to go is Supersport and Superstock.”

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Mark Junge, Brian Kcraget, Robert Jensen, John Dugan and Greg Moore won sprint races Saturday during the 27th annual WERA Grand National Finals at Road Atlanta.

Vesrah Suzuki’s Junge won the final Open Superstock race of the 10-round WERA National Challenge series. Junge passed Scott Carpenter on the opening lap and was building a comfortable lead when the eight-lap race was stopped just past the halfway point for a crashed bike lying on the track. Carpenter held on for second in front of Byron Barbour, John Jacobi and Moore.

Junge had already won the 2003 Open Superstock Championship prior to the Road Atlanta finale.

Brian Kcraget ranaway with the WERA 125cc Grand Prix National on his NESBA.com-sponsored, Phil Dodd-tuned Honda. The 2003 Championship was Kcraget’s second consecutive title in the class. Kcraget’s toughest competition, Ryan Andrews, had problems getting off the grid, fought back to second but could not catch Kcraget. Glen Pison finished a lonely third.

Butler Machinery’s Robert Jensen won the 600cc Superstock National class on a Yamaha YZF-R6 borrowed from his mechanic. Jensen took the lead on the first lap but had to fight off a challenge from Lee Acree to take the win. Junge, who finished third, had already earned the 2003 600cc Superstock National Championship.

EDR Racing’s John Dugan rode a Dunlop-slick-equipped Suzuki GSX-R1000 to a strong win in the Sportsman Formula One race. Carpenter finished alone is second, and Chris Greer took third in front of Chuck Ivey and Doug Duane.

Greg Moore took his fourth race win of the weekend in the 750cc Superstock National sprint, beating Tray Batey by 1.5 seconds. Batey, however, won the 2003 Championship in the class. Reuben Frankenfield finished third in the race.

In Saturday’s winner-take-all WERA Sportsman Novice National Championship runoffs, Team Extreme’s George Gentle won both the B Superstock and B Superbike races and titles, Chris Kessler tasted victory in C Superstock, Matt Lynn topped the C Superbike field and Jeffrey Agnes came out on top in Formula One.