Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Roadracing World correspondent Mat Oxley has confirmed that MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi is taking most of his crew with him as he defects from Honda to Yamaha for 2004.

The crew, led by Jerry Burgess, was helped along in the decision by incentive payments made by Rossi himself, thought to be in the range of $50,000 each.

Prior to working with Rossi, most of the crew members worked with Mick Doohan.

First priority for the crew will be to sort through the massive adjustability of the Yamaha YZR-M1 and to find a workable baseline setting by averaging the wild range of settings used on the bike during the 2002 and 2003 seasons.

From a press release issued by KTM:

Stoner celebrates first victory by signing for KTM

Casey Stoner, who picked up the 125cc Rookie of the Year Award to add to his first Grand Prix winner’s trophy on Sunday at Valencia, has signed to ride for KTM in the 125cc World Championship 2004. The Australian teenager will team up with Mika Kallio as part of the Austrian factory’s fresh push for Grand Prix success after a disappointing season which started with reigning World Champion Arnaud Vincent alongside former champ Roberto Locatelli. “I think we’ve made a good decision – their bike has been getting better and better all season so hopefully we can come out next year and fight for the championship,” said Stoner, who added that he was looking forward to working for the revered 125cc tuner Harald Bartol. “Personally I think that, alongside Jerry Burgess, Harald is the best in the business and he obviously knows how to make a motorcycle go fast, as his track record with Derbi has shown. I was behind Kallio for a couple of laps in qualifying at Valencia and I was impressed with the speed of the bike, so I am looking forward to seeing how far we can take it.

“In any case, it will be a massive experience for me to work with someone like Harald and I am looking forward to learning as much as possible from him.”

On his debut win, Stoner admitted it was a dream fulfilled after several years of hard work. “My Mum and Dad brought me over to Europe a few years ago to compete in the British and Spanish Championships and it was a big commitment for them,” explained the 18 year old, who celebrated his birthday before his home race at Phillip Island two weeks ago. “We spent a lot of hours dreaming about this first Grand Prix victory and it is a nice feeling to have done it. My true aim though is to win a MotoGP race so hopefully this can be the first step towards that goal.”

From a press release issued by Pramac Honda:

Pramac Honda Team Press Information
Valencia – (Spain) – 4/5 November 2003
PRIVATE TESTS

Makoto Tamada and Shinichi Itoh end two days of tests in Valencia after last race in World Championship

The curtain had just come down on the 2003 racing season, when the two standard-bearers of the Pramac Honda Team took just one day’s rest and then went back out on track for a tough session of tests. Together with official team rider Makoto, Shinichi Itoh, the official test rider, spent two days testing, in spite of the after-effects of a fractured collarbone he got in the Superbike contest in Japan – but the expert rider still managed to show he was on top form.

Makoto Tamada tried out the new frame for his RC211V – he had already received it during the season, but did not use it for the final race. Use of the frame was postponed until the post-championship tests so that all the development work could concentrate on the Bridgestone tyres during the closing races of the season.

So tests were made on different settings to let Makoto get a perfect feeling for the special features of the new frame. The results appear to show quite clearly how Makoto was able to make the very most of this new component after just two days’ work. Always and exclusively with race configuration, the official Pramac Honda Team rider managed to slice one second off the time he made during the race last Sunday. The 15-lap long-run endurance test showed how Makoto’s pace was extremely constant.

Shinichi Itoh, the official test rider, got a real insight into the evolution tyres being made for 2004: yesterday he concentrated on the rear tyres, today on the front.

In all, the two riders covered: Tamada 131 laps, and Itoh 145.

The next rendezvous on track for the Pramac Honda Team riders is scheduled for mid-November in France and for the first week of December in Spain.

MAKOTO TAMADA (PRAMAC HONDA TEAM) – best time in the two days: 1:33.0

SHINICHI ITOH (PRAMAC HONDA TEAM) – best time in the two days: 1:36.4

From a press release issued by Fortuna Yamaha:

FORTUNA YAMAHA TEAM TESTS
Valencia, Spain
Wednesday November 05 2003

FORTUNA YAMAHA LEAVE VALENCIA SATISFIED WITH PROGRESS

The Fortuna Yamaha Team completed the second of a two-day test today in Valencia, Spain, and take with them crucial data on the new evolution of Yamaha’s Deltabox frame. The frame was first introduced on Saturday during the MotoGP race weekend in Valencia, and was used by Carlos Checa and Norick Abe on their YZR-M1 machines during the 30-lap race on Sunday. Both riders gave positive impressions about the latest spec chassis, and continued to test with it yesterday and today.

Carlos Checa continued set-up of the new chassis today, riding a total of 74 laps with a best time of 1:33.6. Checa’s crew chief Antonio Jimenez explained the next step in the winter test programme for Carlos.

“We carried on using the new chassis with Carlos today to try to find a better setting for race distance,” commented the Spaniard. “It looks like the way we are heading is good, and for our next test in Malaysia we will start from this set-up. Carlos was fast at the Malaysia GP during qualifying so we have a good target to aim for. His race pace was not as good there, so basically with the new chassis our aim for Sepang is to improve his race pace with race simulations.”

Japanese rider Norick Abe spent the day continuing work on engine parts and different suspension settings on his M1. Abe stepped in to replace injured Marco Melandri for the Valencia GP, and stayed on for the two days to assist Yamaha with their test programme. He was also joined by fellow Japanese Yamaha test rider Wataru Yoshikawa. Abe completed a total of 58 laps today with a best lap time of 1:34.9 but unfortunately Yoshikawa had a fall this afternoon and a visit to the local hospital revealed that he had fractured his ankle. He will now fly to Japan for a further examination.

Yamaha’s test programme will continue at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia on 28/29/30 November.

From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

Valencia (Spain) –
Wednesday 5 November 2003 –
MotoGP – Ducati Marlboro Team Testing

DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM BACK ON TRACK AGAIN AT VALENCIA:
BOTH CAPIROSSI (1:33.4) AND BAYLISS (1:33.5) SET QUICK TIMES WITH EARLY 2004-SPEC BIKE.


Just a couple of days after the end of Ducati’s superb debut season in MotoGP, the team and riders are again hard at work in view of 2004.

The Valencia track, where Loris Capirossi took the Desmosedici to another podium in last Sunday’s championship finale, was the scene for a two-day test session in preparation for the 2004 season.

Both Capirossi and Bayliss tested the 2003 bikes, which sported a series of modifications. The Italian and the Australian used the same tyre as on Sunday and the identical weather conditions gave the team the chance to compare data with their performance in the race.

The results increased the climate of optimism within the team, which will be aiming to capitalise on its excellent 2003 performance. Loris and Troy both improved on Sunday’s quickest lap times and were able to maintain a positive pace throughout the two-day session.

Capirossi completed 47 laps yesterday and 33 today, including a long-run this afternoon. The Italian rider’s best time was 1:33.4 (almost five-tenths quicker than his fastest race lap of 1:33.89).

Bayliss was just a fraction slower, the Australian recording a time of 1:33.5, a major improvement on the 1:34.65 he clocked in Sunday’s race. Troy covered 62 laps yesterday, including a race simulation, and 59 today.

Both riders and engineers were extremely satisfied with the outcome of the test, which was aimed at trying out components to improve the bike’s handling, in particular at a difficult and twisty track like Valencia.

The Ducati Marlboro Team is scheduled to make two more testing appearances before the end of the year: 24-26 November at Jerez and 10-12 December at Valencia.

From a press release issued by Ducshop:

Ducshop Stoked to have Stokes

Ducshop Performance Center would like to announce the appointment of Brian Stokes as their parts and accessories manager. The AMA Superstock rider, and winner of the AMA Sports Horizon Award, began at the newly opened store on Nov 4 and will oversee the sales of a full range of performance parts for all models but specializing in Ducatis.

With seven years of road racing experience and three WERA National Championships under his belt, Brian is more than qualified to help any rider get the most out of their machine.

The native born Georgian will take an early leave of absence to attend the AMA banquet in Las Vegas as a nominee for the AMA Sports’ Athlete of the Year and to collect his Horizon Award.

Stokes will continue his promising racing career and is currently in negotiations with a team for a Superstock ride in 2004.

Ducshop fully supports all Brian’s racing ventures.

Ducshop Performance Center
1000 Cobb Parkway N
Suite C
Marietta GA 30062
Tel: 678-594-7717
www.ducshop.com

Making Ducs fly since 1991

From a press release issued by Pro Italia:

Pro Italia Apparel Open House
Saturday, November 8th
9:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Apparel Open House

• Save up to 30% off all apparel. Vanson, Alpinestars, Ducati Performance, Arai, Held, SIDI, Shoei, Suomy and more.

• Free shipping

• Tasty refreshments

• Meet the Vanson Leathers Rep
– get custom suit and jacket fitting
– get free minor repairs onsite by a factory Vanson stitcher

Visit http://www.proitalia.com to sign up for our newsletter!

Proitalia.com: news, reviews, events & specials.

Pro Italia Los Angeles
3319 N Verdugo Road
Glendale, CA 91208

(818) 249-5707

From a press release issued by M3 Racing USA:

Who cares where Rossi is going?

Two-time AMA Grand National Champion Gary Nixon has just signed on with M3 Racing USA to race at the Daytona 2004 AHRMA Classic bike events.

Gary be will riding the new and improved Honda CR750 that he garnered third place on last year in the “Battle of the Nines”…that saw him dicing with Jay Springsteen in the rain at 136 MPH!

For more information please go to www.m3racing.com

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Yamaha Racing Division Manager Keith McCarty says AMA Pro Racing officials ignored his opinion regarding the new requirement that Superstock machines run on slick tires in 2004.

McCarty told Roadracingworld.com, “No. I wasn’t asked, I delivered it un-requested because I think it’s important and I think it’s the silliest thing in the world to allow the Superstock class to have slicks. The reason I think that is that all the tire companies we talked to said it isn’t an issue for them whether it’s a slick or a DOT tire, that it isn’t a safety factor—-they’re going to do what they have to do to provide tires that will work and that are safe for all the riders. Why wouldn’t you want a DOT tire, that’s what they sell, that’s what they make money on, that’s what they advertise? It seems silly that you would allow somebody to run a slick when a DOT tire could be just as good and competitive out there.”