From a press release issued by USCRA:

FIM North American 125 GP Championship

The United States Classic Racing Association in conjunction with the North American Motorcycle Union have secured the first annual North American FIM 125cc Championship race to be held August 1 at New Hampshire International Speedway. This race will bring together the best 125 grand prix riders from across the US and Canada to compete for a 4000$ purse. First place will take home 1000$ and the payout continues to 20th place! The competition couldn’t possibly be hotter on the tight and twisty Loudon circuit, where riding skill overcomes outright power.

We are running the race as a professional, international event. Grid positions will be determined by qualifying sessions or heat races on Saturday, and all 125 practices will be exclusively for this class. The race Sunday afternoon will be 25 laps to separate the men from the boys, or vice versa! Rising Sun Cycles will be on hand with their trailer filled with the latest GP parts and machinery from HRC and Yamaha.

To ensure the success of this event we really need everyone in the club who owns a 125 grand prix machine to be out there on the grid. Offering a significant purse poses a huge risk to the club in case of poor attendance or weather, so please plan on attending. Of special interest to owners of older grand prix bikes will be a special prize offered to the first Pre-1994 machine across the line regardless of position. Due to the championship nature of this race, licenses from any North American racing organization will be recognized, only membership in the AMA, CMA, or an FIM sanctioned national organization (ie: ACU, etc.) is required. AMA and CMA memberships will be sold at the event

Placing Prize

1 $1000
2 $750
3 $500
4 $300
5 $250
6 $200
7 $150
8 $100
9 $75
10 $75
11 $75
12-20th $50

Pre 1995
$ 75.00

Total
$4,000

From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

PODIUM FOR LANZI (DUCATI BREIL) IN ITALIAN SUPERSPORT CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND AT IMOLA

Imola (Italy), 8 May 2004: Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati Breil) put in a good showing to finish third in round 2 of the Italian Supersport championship held today at Imola’s Enzo & Dino Ferrari circuit.

The Ducati Breil World Supersport rider, entered as a ‘wild-card’ in the Imola round, finished on the podium in the 14-lap race after working his way up from ninth place on the grid.

After crossing the line in sixth at the end of lap 1, Lanzi then passed Scalvini on lap 11 and Goi the next time round to make sure of the final podium place with two laps remaining.

“It was a tough race but I am quite pleased with the result because I made a good recovery in the last few laps” declared Lanzi. “My lap times were a second quicker than yesterday during qualifying and so I’m pleased because everything we set out to do for the race proved to be the right way to go. Now we’ll be looking for even more improvements in the next round of the world championship at Monza.

“In the last part of the race as the fuel load went down and the bike became lighter, we were lapping quicker and quicker so that’s an important indication, just like the fact that I set my quickest lap three laps from the end.

“With the 749R we’re improving step by step, and you also have to consider the fact that we have never raced on this track. Now we’ll see how things go at Monza.”

Round 4 of the World Supersport championship, which sees Lanzi currently lying fifth on 30 points, will be held next weekend at the legendary high-speed Autodromo di Monza Formula 1 circuit

RESULTS: 1. Giugovaz (Honda); 2. Migliorati (Kawasaki); 3. Lanzi (Ducati Breil); 4. Goi (Yamaha); 5. Scalvini (Yamaha); 6. Carlacci (Yamaha); etc.

POINTS (after 2 of 5 rounds) : 1. Giugovaz 50; 2. Goi 33; 3. Migliorati 31; 4. Carlacci 23; 5. Scalvini 21; 6. Lanzi 16; etc.

From a press release issued by Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha:

French Grand Prix
Le Mans, France
May 14, 15, 16, 2004

GAULOISES FORTUNA YAMAHA RIDERS LOOK FORWARD TO CLASSIC CONTEST

With two rounds of the MotoGP Championship completed, the Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha Team enters the French GP at Le Mans having experienced some scintillating highs already, the pinnacle being the round one race win for 2004 signing Valentino Rossi. Having secured not only that win but two pole positions in as many races, Rossi’s induction into the Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha fold has been nothing short of a sensation, despite a weather-affected result at the most recent Grand Prix in Jerez. The front row start for Rossi’s team-mate Carlos Checa at the Spanish Grand Prix has also offered a tangible reward for his and his crew’s off-season efforts in testing.

Rossi’s spectacular round one win in South Africa, allied to his battling fourth in atrocious conditions at Jerez, leaves him in overall third place in the championship standings, a scant three points behind championship leader Sete Gibernau (Honda) and two behind Max Biaggi (Honda). The ever burgeoning MotoGP circus now rolls on towards the latest venue – the classic circuit of Le Mans.

The motorcycle version of the Le Mans track, substantially different from the longer track used for the 24-hour car race, is the backdrop for what promises to be yet another epic weekend for Rossi and Checa. With the team co-sponsored by Gauloises, the French crowd will have another reason to follow the progress of Rossi, Yamaha’s very own bolt from the blue.

Having secured an outstanding race win during his first ride on the continually improving Yamaha YZR-M1, Rossi looked to be on course for win number two after taking the absolute circuit record at Jerez during the first qualifying session. The advent of more wet weather on race day made set-up for the race an inexact science, with Rossi fighting hard but finishing just off the podium in fourth for the first time in 23 races.

The Le Mans circuit, where Rossi is a previous winner in the MotoGP class thanks to his 2002 success, promises much for the talented 25-year-old from Tavullia in Italy. Now resident in London, the short hop across the Channel to Northern France holds no fears for the five-time World Champion, who can count 125, 250 and 500cc Championships in his trophy cabinet, alongside his pair of MotoGP titles.

After a front row qualifying performance that had his team and the Spanish crowd in raptures at Jerez, Carlos Checa will be hoping for consistently dry conditions for both qualifying and race, alongside the rest of the Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha squad. The 31-year-old Catalan, also now resident in London, has a best Le Mans Premier Class finish of second place in 2001, before the swap to four-stroke machines and recent track improvements to the 4,180m circuit. Currently lying in seventh place overall in the Championship, Checa will be keen to improve on this in France.

ROSSI EYES THE GLITTERING PRIZE

Looking to bounce back for his second podium finish of the season, Rossi has 60 Grand Prix victories to his credit, 21 of which have been taken in the new MotoGP class since the championship went back to four-stroke technology in 2002. Having won the past two MotoGP crowns on Honda machinery, Rossi’s ambition brought him to Yamaha in the off-season and he made history by duly becoming the first ever rider to win his first premier class race after signing to ride for a different manufacturer.

At Le Mans, Rossi feels he could have a good chance to bag full points. “Le Mans is definitely a Yamaha track, and I think we have a good chance there,” he stated in the run-up to the Le Mans event. “It can be quite tricky there if the weather is bad, so I really hope we have a bit of luck and it’s dry.

The effect of his first Yamaha win in South Africa just over three weeks ago has still not subsided, “People from Italy are still congratulating me,” explained Valentino. “Everyone I know who watched the race on television from Italy said they loved it. It was actually quite hard to be in Italy in the two days after the race because so many people wanted to congratulate me. It was not a normal race! Anyway, we now need to concentrate on getting back onto the podium; we have a lot of work to do.”

CHECA EAGER TO ATTACK ON A FAVOURED TRACK

Having shown his undoubted pace already this year, Checa approaches the Le Mans race full of anticipation of ever-improving results.

“Le Mans is the kind of track we were always successful at with the two-strokes, but not so far with the four-strokes, and we hope to change that this year,” affirmed Carlos.

Of the track itself, Checa explained, “Actually the Le Mans track improved a lot last year, they changed it at the end of turns two and three, and the asphalt and grip level changed. I basically like the last part of the track, it reminds me of the Calafat circuit in Catalunya. Last year I had a problem in the Le Mans race but I’m focusing on the future now.” Checa’s cause will be further helped by a complete track resurfacing since last year’s race.

Carlos will no doubt find strong pockets of support within the traditionally enthusiastic Le Mans crowd. “There are always some Spanish fans at Le Mans to make me feel at home, and I like the French crowd atmosphere around the track, especially after midnight!”

DAVIDE BRIVIO APPRAISES THE CHALLENGE OF LE MANS

“We had a two day test in Jerez last week after the race and the results were quite positive,” said Team Director Davide Brivio, looking ahead to the Le Mans race. “During this time both Valentino and Carlos tested some new tyres that Michelin had given us, and worked on some different balance settings on their bikes. Valentino had a fairly good test, and Carlos also had a good test, especially on the second day. So we should be in good shape for Le Mans.”

Brivio states that the new track surface will be possibly the biggest unknown factor before race weekend begins. “The Le Mans track has a new surface this year so there should be quite a difference from the past for the riders. For sure the asphalt will have more grip, and we will confirm that during Friday’s sessions. We also especially need to check how the bike reacts on the new surface in rain conditions. In the past Le Mans had about three different types of surface, now there should be just one type of surface throughout, which should give us more consistency.

“There is a question mark over the weather for the weekend, we expect that rain will be on the way again,” he affirmed. “We really needed both rain and dry practice in Jerez after the wet Grand Prix on Sunday but unfortunately we only tested in the dry. If it’s going to be a wet race in Le Mans hopefully we will have had the chance to get some fully wet practice beforehand.

Although our results in the Jerez race were not exactly what we had hoped for, we were still happy and relieved for both riders to finish the race, and still in a point-scoring situation. Many riders fell off there.”

TECHNICALLY SPEAKING

The 4.180 km Le Mans circuit has hosted the French GP for the past four years and has always provided a challenge to those wishing to take the ultimate prize. In the past, changes of tarmac in certain areas delivered changeable grip levels, especially in the rain, but with resurfacing having been carried out recently, it should provide a more predictable level of grip and consistency, after its characteristics are discovered in the early sessions.

Le Mans is an archetypal stop-go track, with the added complication of one of the highest speed curves of any circuit on the calendar, just after the short start-finish straight. Hairpins and chicanes abound, calling for not just balance and control under hard and repeated braking, but a neat and swift transfer from full braking to full acceleration on the exit of the corners. With nine right-handers, and only four lefts, the track is also particularly hard on one side of the tyres.

Existing Le Mans data, used to help speed up the set-up process in qualifying, may need to be modified if the resurfacing work has ironed out some of the existing bumps, but nonetheless firmer front fork setting and spring rates will be needed to handle the frequent braking demands. A slightly softer rear spring, with a higher than normal pre-load, will be adopted to allow the machine to hold a line exiting corners, due to the reduced ride height which will be necessary to help the M1 remain stable under hard braking.

As the recent Jerez race showed, the race set-up and prowess of the M1 in full rain conditions is still an untapped resource, and the new surface of Le Mans is another variable the team will have to deal with should it be wet.

VALENTINO ROSSI: INFORMATION

Age: 25

Lives: London, UK

Bike: Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha Team YZR-M1

GP victories: 60 (21 X MotoGP, 13 X 500cc, 14 X 250cc, 12 X 125cc)

First GP victory: Czech Republic, 1996 (125cc)

First GP: Malaysia, 1996 (125cc)

GP starts: 126 (34 x MotoGP, 32 x 500cc, 30 x 250cc, 30 x 125cc)

Pole positions: 32

Le Mans 2003 results (Honda): Grid: 1st, Race: 2nd



CARLOS CHECA: INFORMATION

Age: 31

Lives: London, UK

Bike: Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha Team YZR-M1

GP victories: 2 (500cc)

First GP victory: Catalunya, 1996 (500cc)

First GP: Europe, 1993 (125cc)

GP starts: 154 (34 x MotoGP, 92 x 500cc, 27 x 250cc, 1 x 125cc)

Pole positions: 2 (1 x MotoGP, 1 x 500cc)

First pole: Spain, 1998 (500cc)

Le Mans 2003 results (Yamaha): Grid: 6th, Race: DNF



Le Mans MotoGP lap record – Valentino Rossi (Honda) 1:36.846 2002

Circuit best lap – Valentino Rossi 1:35.208 (2003)

From a press release:

USGPRU Sponsorship Breaks $100,000 Barrier

ODENTON, MD. – May 10, 2004 – The United States Grand Prix Riders Union (USGPRU) today announced the addition of 2 new sponsors, Acid Cigars and REV’IT! USA, bringing the combined contingency and cash value to over $100,000.

Acid Cigars of Houston, Texas entered into a two-year agreement to support the USGPRU with $4000 cash each year. REV’IT! USA of New York, New York is supporting the series with an equivalent of $6000 in merchandise -a REV’IT! racing suit will be awarded to the National Champions of each 125GP and 250GP class. REV’IT! USA will also be awarding a pair of racing gloves in each class at each round.

Other sponsors for the 2004 program currently include Infinity Investing, CCS/F-USA, Bridgestone, Dunlop, EBC Brakes, GPC Moto, Hjelm Motorsports, Motion Pro, Redline Cycle Imports, Silkolene, Speed Fiber, 888-Fastlap, and VP Fuel.

About USGPRU
The USGPRU, a chartered member of the AMA, is the officially recognized Motorcycle Grand Prix Road Racing National Championship series in the United States. The USGPRU emulates true World MotoGP racing experience and serves to attract young riders to gain experience in a professional environment and provide a path to world-class motorcycle racing. The USGPRU structures events with extended length grand prix racing exclusive to the GP machines, timed qualifying and strong contingency and sponsor support. For additional details, visit www.USGPRU.net.

About Acid Cigars
Acid Cigars specializes in marketing in premium cigars, pipes, tobacco, and smoking accessories. Acid cigars are made by hand in Nicaragua by Drew Estate, using all natural materials only. Each acid cigar has a distinct flavor and bouquet, pleasing to the senses of the palate and spirit.

For additional details, visit www.acidcigars.net
Phone: 800-723-6778
Email: [email protected]


About REV’IT USA
REV’IT! Motorcycle Apparel is produced by REV’IT! Sport International BV and located in Oss, a small village about half-way between Amsterdam and Rotterdam, The Netherlands (Holland). REV’IT! USA was formed in 2002 in order to provide REV’IT! products to the North American market. For additional details, visit www.revitusa.net
Phone: 888-681-0180
Email: [email protected]

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

Spies rapidly moving back into contention in Pro Honda Oils Supersport CHAMPIONSHIP presented by Shoei

Texan recovers from Daytona disappointment

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (May 10, 2004) — Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies is ranked sixth coming into round four of the 11-race Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship presented by Shoei this Sunday, May 16, at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala. Normally that wouldn’t be anything to write home about for the 19-year-old AMA Formula Xtreme champ, but Spies has to be thrilled with his progress after a mechanical problem put him out of the season opener at Daytona International Speedway in March.

Spies rallied after his Daytona troubles to finish second at California Speedway in April and then dominated the most recent round earlier this month at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. Spies will look to continue his roll as the series roars into Alabama and the newest road course on the AMA circuit.

Spies says the Infineon victory gave him a lot of confidence coming into the race at Barber.

“We’re finally getting the new 600 figured out,” said Spies, who sat out the race at Barber last year to concentrate on wrapping up the Formula Xtreme title. “We’ve got a really fast motor and now we can concentrate on inching up on everybody. I was 38 points out going into Fontana and now I’m just 25 back, so we’ve taken a substantial chunk out of the points gap already. I go into Barber and races beyond concentrating on getting as many pole points as I can, as many lap leader points and to get as many wins as possible. I like the Barber circuit. In testing there I think we were the fastest in both Supersport and Superstock, so it’s good.”

While Spies is closing in fast, Kentuckian Tommy Hayden stills holds a six-point lead over Daytona winner Jason DiSalvo in the hotly contested championship. There have been three different winners in three rounds. Hayden is one of them. He is a 10-year veteran of AMA Pro Racing and is gunning for his first Supersport title after coming close many times. Hayden won last year’s Supersport race at Barber.

Joining Spies and Hayden in the Supersport ranks this season is defending series champ Jamie Hacking. Yamaha-mounted Hacking is winless so far this season in Supersport, but the Carolinian is a threat every time he takes to the track.

Yamaha’s young gun Jason DiSalvo took a podium finish at Barber last year and is looking to close the gap on Tommy Hayden’s narrow points lead. Tied with Jamie Hacking for third in the standings is Tommy Hayden’s younger brother Roger Lee, also of Kawasaki. The youngest Hayden brother is considered by many the most talented rider never to have won an AMA national road race.

Local fans will have their own team to cheer on. The Corona Extra Suzuki squad is based in Birmingham. Owned by Birmingham native Landers Sevier V, the team fields Australian Ben Attard on a Suzuki GSX-R600 in the Supersport Championship. Attard has scored two top-10 finishes so far this season and is ranked 13th in the standings.

SPEED Channel will have its cameras at the AMA Honda Superbike Classic at Barber Motorsports Park. The Barber Supersport race will be taped for showing as part of the network’s Two-Wheel Tuesday on May 25 at 3 am and 2 pm Eastern.

For ticket information on the AMA Honda Superbike Classic at Barber Motorsports Park contact (800) 240-2300 or visit
www.barbermotorsports.com

From a press release issued by Team Suzuki:

SUZUKI ‘CONFIDENCE BOOST’ FOR LE MANS!

Team Suzuki Press Office – May 10, 2004.

Team Suzuki MotoGP lines up for the French GP at Le Mans with yet another boost to their confidence, after successful tests following the double-points finish at the last race in Spain.

Former World Champion Kenny Roberts finished eighth in that race, run in streaming rain at the Jerez circuit, with team-mate John Hopkins 15th. The next day, in dry conditions, the pair got a first taste of what will be coming for the GSV-R later in the season.

With Suzuki’s new test team and rider Gregorio Lavilla taking on the task of tyre development tests with Bridgestone at Mugello in Italy, the focus for the Grand Prix squad was on assessing a new engine modification that is in the early stages of development.

Results were very promising even though this engine improvement is not yet in race-ready trim.

“It’s a completely different step in the right direction,” said a positive Roberts after the test. “Even though this early version is not up to power, it allows the rider to do many more things with the bike and without needing such perfect settings. The bike was easier to ride and I hope that Suzuki can get it race ready as soon as possible,” he said.

Hopkins added: “I’m seriously looking forward to racing the modified motor as soon as the factory makes it ready.”

The clear progress was further proof that the already gratifying rate of improvement to the machine is set to continue. The goal of regaining race and title-winning positions is even more clearly in sight.

“We started the season feeling optimistic but fully aware that we still have a lot of work to do. The tests after Jerez showed that the factory is not only continuing to work hard, but taking the bike forward step by step,” said team manager Garry Taylor.

“At the same time, we’re working closely with Bridgestone, with our test team helping them move tyre development forward. They’re also getting better all the time,” he continued.

“After the rain at the Spanish race, we’ll be hoping for dry hot weather at Le Mans – the conditions that seem to suit the tyres best at the moment,” concluded Taylor.

The third round of the eagerly-anticipated 2004 MotoGP championship takes the contenders to the famous 24-hour-race venue at Le Mans in the west of France. The motorcycles use only a small section of the car endurance-racing classic track, past the pits and grandstands, before looping back for the first of a series of U-turns on the Bugatti short circuit.

The weather is always a talking point. For the past two years, the big race has been interrupted by rain. Last year’s French GP was the first time new “Race Neutralisation” rules had been used, whereby the first part of a stopped race counts only for grid positions for the restart. Overall results are established by a tooth-and-nail sprint over the remaining laps.

Last year, the restarted race was won by Sete Gibernau as the Suzuki teamsters had a misfortunate weekend – Hopkins injuring his shoulder in the last of a series of wet-track spills and Roberts making a tyre gamble that failed in the changing conditions.

This year, both riders have higher hopes after an encouraging start to the season for the revised and improved Suzuki GSV-R, including a strong top ten for Roberts in the second round. Although still working towards full competitive form, the Suzuki squad are already looking towards more of same in France.

KENNY ROBERTS – ONE OF OUR BETTER RACES:
“We tested the engine modifications at Jerez; it’s a completely different step, in the right direction. All our current problem areas were gone. Even with the engine still not fully set up, the bike is easier to ride and the chassis settings don’t have to be as perfect. We need that modification as soon as Japan can make it ready. It’s kind of hard to go to Le Mans with the previous engine, knowing we’d be in a better position with what’s in the pipeline. We’re faster this year than last, but everyone else is faster too. One good thing is that nobody has tested at Le Mans. When that’s happened this year, at tests for instance, we’ve gone well. Where other people have had more set-up time, which hurts us. We get maxed out on settings before they do. So it should be one of our better races.”

JOHN HOPKINS – HOPING FOR A DRY WEEKEND:
“Testing went real good. We had a chance to try the modifications to the motor and they made a big step. I’m really excited about that. The factory has a couple of little things to settle before it’s race ready and I’m looking forward to that. Le Mans isn’t exactly my favourite track after getting hurt in the wet there last year. I don’t mind the layout of the circuit in the dry – it’s a fun track. But I don’t think many riders like it in the rain … the surface is one of the slickest. If it does rain, it’s the same for everybody and I’m ready for it. We’ll do what we have to do, but I’m really hoping for a dry weekend.”

ABOUT THIS RACE:
The French GP is a long-standing but irregular fixture on the calendar. The first event was run in 1951, the third year of GP racing – but in the 53 years since, there have been just 40 events under that name. The GP has wandered around the country, moving from Albi to Rouen, Reims, Clermont Ferrand, Le Castellet, Nogaro and Magny-Cours over the years. The first time at Le Mans was in 1969 on an early version of the then-new Bugatti circuit which uses only the traditional pits and start-finish area of the famous 24-hour car track Since that time, the circuit has been changed considerably in detail – even since the last series ended in 1995 – while the French GP moved down south again to Le Castellet. The return to Le Mans in 2000, after the southern circuit was decommissioned, signalled a revival of crowd numbers at the venue.

ABOUT THIS TRACK:
The Bugatti circuit originally used part of the famous Sarthe 24-hour car circuit – the pit straight and a daunting right-hand corner under the Dunlop Bridge and down the hill – before looping off for the first of its U-turns and short “drag-strip” straights. The first change was to put a slow chicane before the bridge. In 2002, a second major alteration dealt with the exit from the bridge, carrying the track further to the left and making the first U-turn into a much faster and more sweeping corner. The short following straight reasserts the track’s character; hard acceleration followed by hard braking for the Museum U-turn, then another in the opposite direction before the short back straight and more slow corners leading back to the final hairpin. Le Mans is one of the four slowest circuits on the calendar.

GP DATA:

Bugatti Circuit – Le Mans.
Circuit Length: 2.597 miles / 4.180 km.
Lap Record: 1:36.846 – 96.549 mph / 155.380 km/h. V Rossi (Honda) 2002.
2003 Race Winner: S Gibernau (Honda).
2003 Race Average: 24:29.665 – 82.709 mph / 133.107 km/h (race shortened).
2003 Fastest Race Lap: 1:50.358 – 84.728 mph / 136.356 km/h (Gibernau).
2003 Pole Position: 1:35.208 (Rossi).
2003 Kenny Roberts: 16th, qualified 17th (Suzuki GSV-R).
2003 John Hopkins: Did Not Finish (crash), qualified 11th (Suzuki GSV-R).

This just in from AFM President Joe Montoya:

Suzuki contingency money originally posted for the April 18, AFM race at Infineon Raceway, which was rained out, will be moved to the July 18 race at Buttonwillow Raceway.