From a press release issued by the California Superbike School:

November 3 school at Laguna Seca.

The California Superbike School has added a date at Laguna Seca for the 3rd of November.

All four levels of the school’s training will be available as will their specialty training bikes.

As always, students are exposed to founder Keith Code’s tried and tested step by step training which puts riders through 5 technical briefings and 5 on-track sessions. Each student is assigned to an instructor who works with them every riding session, lap times are provided at day’s end to chart overall improvement and each on-track session is capped off with a specific target for improvement by the instructors on the skills being applied by the students.

Students have the option of riding the school’s new ZX6R’s (636) or their own bikes. All riding gear is available for rental.

Code’s school guarantees improvement or you get to come back for free. Call or visit their website for information and details.

Sign up toll free at 800 530-3350 or visit their web site and do it on-line: superbikeschool.com

From a press release issued by Proton Team KR:

LAST RACE MARKS END OF THE BEGINNING FOR PROTON KR

Sunday’s GP of Valencia closes a hectic 2003 season for Proton Team KR. While rivals have contested some of the most competitive blue-riband racing ever, the unique England-based racing manufacturers have been engaged in an even greater struggle.

The task is as before: to design, build, develop and then race a fully independent specialised Grand Prix motorcycle, against the full might of the Japanese and Italian factories.

The challenge of 2003 came with the new 990cc MotoGP four-strokes, now in their second year. Former triple 500cc champion and racing legend Kenny Roberts swallowed hard at the much greater costs and technical complexities, then decided to make his own high-tech V5 four-stroke.

The season began as engineers were still destruction-testing the first batches of engine parts. After testing only on airfields, the bike saw its first proper race-track at Le Mans, where it ran in practice for the fourth round of the year. The testing and development programme began directly – not in private, but in the full heat of the GP season.

The new bike started fitfully, but almost day and night work by the team and back at Banbury saw it become steadily faster and more reliable over the coming races. At the 13th round, the howling Proton KR V5 scored its first points, when Nobuatsu Aoki was 14th in the Pacific GP. It was only the seventh time the bike had raced, and the result came in the Japanese heartland of the dominant racing factories.

Two races later team-mate Jeremy McWilliams was a strong 11th in Australia, underlining a late-season turning point for the infant racer.

Aoki and McWilliams will race basically the same machines at the final 2003 round at Valencia, but the end of the beginning is also the beginning of stage two. Both riders will stay on after the final Spanish round for two days of testing a brand-new chassis … the first of a series of evolutionary developments that will take the V5 motorcycle on from first prototype towards fully competitive racer.

“We’re looking forward to this race so we can get on to the next step,” said team manager Chuck Aksland. “We’ll be testing a new frame that is more towards the 2004 machine, back to back with the old one.

“We take that information back, then build it in to the bike we will test at the beginning of next year with some redesigned engine components – the cylinder head will be the first, with more modifications coming probably after the first few races,” continued Aksland.

“The whole motorcycle will be tidier for the 2004 version … but it’s more evolution than a complete overhaul,” he revealed.

“We’ve raced the four-stroke for six months. We’re confident we can make the chassis performance better. We know we need more engine performance, and we’re working on that right now.”

The Valencia GP is the 16th round, and the third race in Spain. It closes off a season already won by defender Valentino Rossi (Honda).

NOBUATSU AOKI – SOMETHING SPECIAL
I’m feeling better after some problems in Australia after I hurt my neck. Now we come to the end of a very interesting time – even in the flyaway GPs, we got small step by step improvements. I can really see the progress, and I know the factory has made a very very big effort. I expect more improvements for Valencia, so I am optimistic. And also looking forward to testing on Tuesday and Wednesday with the new chassis. I have been with this bike from the very first, so it is something special to me, and I hope I can continue with the development.

JEREMY McWILLIAMS – GRABBING MY ATTENTION
I hope this won’t be my last race with this team. I would dearly love to continue with this project. Some of the flyaway races showed a lot of promise for the future of the bike, and it’s grabbed my attention again. Valencia is a very stop-start circuit, and that’s quite difficult for us. There’s no problem getting the bike stopped and into the turns, but we get hurt on exit speed. We need a little more grunt! But Motegi is also stop-start, and I’m certain I’d have been in the points there, but for a braking problem. After the boost in Australia, I know I need to finish in the points again.

From a press release issued by Aprilia USA:

Aprilia USA announces re-scheduled Colin Edwards date

Woodstock, GA – October 28, 2003

Aprilia USA is announcing the re-scheduled Colin Edwards track day for Edwards replica owners. Colin Edwards replica owners will be individually invited to the CE Replica day, hosted by Sportbike Track Time at the North Florida Motorsports Park in Jennings, Florida on Saturday November 15th, 2004.

Current owners of the limited edition Colin Edwards Replica RSV 1000 Mille R will be contacted directly by Aprilia USA to reserve their spots at the track day. The unfortunate re-scheduling was due to a schedule conflict with the Aprilia racing department after the first event was set earlier this year.

“We know it’s short notice for the re-schedule”, says Aprilia PR manager Robert Pandya “but we’re very happy Colin was able to make time in his very busy schedule to come out to Jennings and host his replica owners. We are sure it’s going to be a great day, and that this unprecedented event will be a huge highlight for Edwards Replica owners.”

There is no cost for Edwards owners, however they must register with Sportbike Track Time either by web at www.sportbiketracktime.com, or by calling (419) 822-0350. For more information on the track, log on to http://www.jenningsgp.com, or call (386) 938-1110.

Aprilia World Services USA, is a subsidiary of Aprilia S.p.A., a privately owned Italian motorcycle design and manufacturing company employing over one thousand seven hundred people and recording annual sales in excess of 300,000 units. As such, Aprilia USA Inc. is the exclusive importer of Aprilia brand motorcycles, scooters, apparel and accessories. For more information, consumers can visit Aprilia USA’s web site at www.apriliausa.com or phone toll free (877) APRILIA.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies was released from Zale Lipshy University Hospital in Dallas, Texas Monday, after receiving a skin graft to a burned area of his left arm. Spies suffered the injury October 13 when the rear tire on his GSX-R1000 Superbike exploded at 186 mph while he was testing Dunlop tires at Daytona International Speedway. Spies suffered no broken bones in the crash and long slide on the pavement but did suffer second- and third-degree burns and skin loss to his left arm, shoulder and hip area. Spies’ shoulder and hip are being allowed to heal naturally.

The 2003 AMA Formula Xtreme Champion is spending most of this week at his aunt’s home in the Dallas area before going back to the hospital Thursday, October 30 for a follow-up examination. If all goes well Thursday, Spies, 19, can return to his home in Longview, Texas. However, Spies will be out of action and unable to train for approximately six weeks and will miss the next Dunlop tire test at Daytona, scheduled for early December.

“We’ll miss a couple of tests, but we’ll be ready to go for Daytona in March,” Spies told Roadracingworld.com Monday.

From a press release issued by Scuderia West:

Scuderia West, America’s #1 Aprilia dealer, is having its annual Open House

Date: Saturday November 1st 2003

Time: From 10:00am ’till 6:00pm

Reasons to come: Along with an awesome sale 10-40% off everything in the store (excluding bikes and scooters and OEM parts), free BBQ and drinks, there will of course be another Mega Raffle once again benefiting the Wegman Fund to aid to seriously injured road racers.

Manufacture reps. will be on hand as well as stitchers from Vanson Leathers to do in-house repairs. A first opportunity to check out the new Aprilia RSV1000R and RSV1000R Factory, and the new KTM 950 Adventure.

Scuderia West would like to thank all those who have contributed fantastic prizes for the raffle:
Alpinestars
Motion Pro
Tucker Rocky
Pit Bull
Parts Unlimited
Intersport Fashions West (Held Gloves)
Sidi/Motonation
Sprocket Specialists
Kryptonite
Galfer Brakes
Vanson
Fox Racing
Aprilia USA
White Brothers
Selby Sales (Redline oil)
Race Tech
Timbuk2
Sullivan Brothers
X Factor Videos
AFAM

And many, many more.

See you there.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Former motorcycle racer and current car racer A.J. Frank and wife Allison had a daughter, Brenna Alexis Frank, October 12 in Savannah, Georgia.

A.J. Frank is the son of WERA co-founders Peter and Patty (O’Brien) Frank.

From a press release issued by California Speedway:

THIS WEEKEND’S KING TACO 500 CART CHAMP CAR EVENT AND KING TACO 200 NASCAR WINSTON WEST SERIES EVENT POSTPONED

FONTANA, Calif. (October 28, 2003) — California Speedway’s King Taco 500 Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford event scheduled for Sunday, November 2nd, and the NASCAR Winston West Series King Taco 200 scheduled for Saturday, November 1st, have been postponed due to the state of emergency declared in San Bernardino County and surrounding counties as a result of the wildfires burning in the area. Potential alternative dates for rescheduling the events are being reviewed, according to Bill Miller, president of California Speedway.

“We have been monitoring the fire situation since it began last week in the northern section of Fontana, approximately five miles from the speedway,” Miller said. “As the fires have continued to spread, several issues were considered for us to arrive at this decision, including the proximity of the fire, the air quality, transportation issues and staffing requirements from a fire safety, medical, security and volunteer standpoint needed to stage an event. Based on the request of state and local officials, we are postponing this weekend’s events, and we will try to find suitable dates to reschedule them in the future.

“In addition, we have received a few comments from our guests urging us not to hold this event. We value the opinions of our customers. It is never easy to make a decision like this, but the bottom line is safety; the safety of the guests and the competitors. Based on the current situation, we can’t guarantee that this weekend will provide the appropriate atmosphere to conduct these events with the limited resources available because of the state of emergency, Miller said.

According to recent updates provided by incidentcontrol.com (a website monitoring the Grand Prix and Old Fires), more than 80,000 acres have burned in the San Bernardino area and more than 3,500 personnel are currently fighting this fire.

“We fully support the speedway’s decision to not run this weekend’s event,” NASCAR Regional Touring Series/Weekly Racing Series Director Chris Boals said. “We appreciate their efforts, in coordination with state and local authorities, in arriving at this decision. Conducting this event with the current state of affairs in Southern California is not prudent at this time, especially with several of our Winston West Series teams located in the area. The focus should be, and rightly so, on the situation at hand, and our thoughts are with all of those affected by the fires.”

Bill Miller concluded, “Public health and safety is paramount and the focus at these difficult times should be on family and helping your fellow neighbor. Citizens of Southern California have never experienced a fire of this magnitude and the devastation that it has placed upon our community. I’m committing the speedway to help in any way we can and will begin getting our staff organized to assist in relief efforts.”

From a press release issued by Team Oliver Yamaha:

Team Oliver Yamaha celebrates the perfect season with a wild party in Auberry, CA.

After winning twelve 250 Grand Prix races in a row, the last being the Roadracingworld.com 250/50 at Willow Springs, Team Oliver had time to relax and enjoy a Saturday of fun with their sponsors and friends. Flat track racing, target shooting, great food and a liberal amount of “sport drinks” were served to the guests. Friends and sponsors were able to enjoy first hand some of the Mystery School curriculum. For the first time ever Rich held two-50 lap dirt track main event night races, complete with Victory Circle ceremonies, under the glare of multiple halogen lights.

However, the allure of trophies, champagne, and prize money caused the party to take on a competitive atmosphere as racers vied for the huge rewards. Rich explains a few of the shenanigans of the evening, “The first thing I noticed my mechanic, Robert Ward, parking quite a ways away from everyone else as he was secretly prepping his Honda 100. However, Robert denied any extra preparation even though I knew he had been up to my property several times before practicing on the track, had his suspension adjusted by Jim Lindemann specifically for this night, a special engine pumped to the maximum capacity and had been mixing various fuel combinations like a mad scientist in a crazy laboratory all to have his bike fail him in the warm-up laps. It was popping and banging like a fourth of July celebration. He was crest-fallen as all of his efforts left him high and dry forcing him to sheepishly ask me to borrow one of my school fleet bikes.

“Then my neighbor Christoph showed up with a dual pronged attack. First was his entire lack of respect for the engine size limit showing up with a 200cc Honda and his secret weapon, nine-year old son Deitrich who raced his Honda 50 and tried to distract the participants with his strange weaving serpentine style. Christoph would ride behind Dietrich yelling strange commands such as ‘dodge left, rear right, you almost have him…’

“Representing Micron on the front row, was Doug Cameron. His strategy was to find the largest mudhole on the track and fly head long into it drenching himself with mud. His strategy was to use it as camouflage to sneak up on other riders and trick them into thinking he was just another part of track debris, however, they soon saw it was just Doug using the spray of the mud drippings to try to blind their way.

“Yamaha’s Jeff Jones was the smoothest of our riders and played the strategy of everyone’s friend off the track but on the track, he had the uncanny ability to outsmart the competition by avoiding the other riders on-track devious ploys.

“Wilson’s representative, Gary Georges was unable to participate in the night events as he had to leave to attend his own birthday party. Coincidentally his TTR125 Yamaha was also popping and banging and Gary was overheard on the way out saying ‘maybe I hurt it a little by adding all the nitro-methane to the gas.’

“Debra, the lone female representative, strategically picked the electric start TTR125 Yamaha with knobby tires giving her the advantage of increased traction and in case of a fall, a speedy restart.

“Completing the field was suspension expert Jim Lindemann who riding with a severe handicap still managed to put in great lap times. His handicap was that every few minutes he would pull off of the track and adjust his bike’s suspension, repeatedly reciting, ‘it’s only one click away from being perfect’ as he mimicked Rich at the races this year waiving his arms over his head and jumping up and down.”

Race One Race Report

Robert was out to a flying lead riding like a man possessed. I think he was so mad that his Honda had failed him that he had the red rage. Jeff was slotted solidly in second as Christoph, Deitrich and others started their attack. In the end, Robert sprayed champagne and took the $25 victory, while Christoph with his cannonball style passed Jeff for the $15 second place prize and Jeff cashed in with a whopping $10 for third.

Race Two Race Report

The riders positioned themselves at the line. The flag dropped and they were on their way. Feeling the adrenaline rush and seeing the dollar signs of the prize money, everyone rode a bit harder and out of their league as demonstrated with the hay bale face implant Christoph demonstrated half-way through the race. Stunned and pricked, he pulled to the center of the track, never to restart. Deitrich on the other hand, seeing his father’s misfortune dug down deep and held the Honda 50 wide open around the small oval track melting the soles of his rubber workman’s boots as he imitated those wearing the real steel shoes. In the end, Robert again tasted victory, Jeff improved his podium finish to second and little Deitrich glorified himself and his family with a strong third place.

On a more serious note, thank you to all of my sponsors, friends and fans for supporting me in this record setting final year of 250 Grand Prix racing.

From a press release issued by Fortuna Yamaha:

MELANDRI ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY

Twenty-one-year old MotoGP rider Marco Melandri is back on the road to recovery after a two-and-a-half-hour operation to his right shoulder yesterday. The surgery, performed by Dr. Giuseppe Porcellini at the “Villa Serena” surgery in Forli, Italy, served a double purpose. Firstly, to repair the damage caused by Melandri’s shoulder dislocation which he suffered when he fell during the Australian Grand Prix over a week ago, and secondly to repair Melandri’s collarbone, which he damaged during a winter test in Portugal earlier this year. After consultation with Melandri and the team it was agreed that it made sense for Melandri to undergo surgery now so as not to risk further injury and to ensure a full recovery in time for the 2004 pre-season testing in January.

According to Doctor Costa, MotoGP’s Clinica Mobile doctor, the operation went smoothly and Melandri is already doing well. Costa confirmed that the rider should be ready to start a course of physiotherapy within 21 days, and to return to riding by January if everything goes according to plan.

Just hours after his operation, Melandri was already able to chat to friends and family members. Then today, after an uninterrupted sleep he was able to sit up in his hospital bed and eat by himself, and is due to have his drip removed this evening. Tomorrow Melandri will have an X-ray to confirm whether he will be allowed to go to his family home to convalesce.

Melandri commented from his hospital bed today, “All things considered, I feel alright. Compared to last time I had a similar operation on my other shoulder, at this stage after surgery I feel calmer and I’m more wide awake. I know that it will be painful for a while longer but according to the doctors, the operation went well and my recovery is going fine. I’m sure I made the right choice with Yamaha to have this done now. It’s likely that I’ll go back to my family’s home tomorrow and I think that will be enough to keep me smiling!”

Norick Abe will replace Melandri riding the YZR-M1 in the Fortuna Yamaha Team at the Valencia Grand Prix in Spain this weekend.