From a press release issued by the FIM:

2003 FIM World Champions’ Awards

The ceremony will be held in Dubai on December 13, next

The 2003 FIM World Champions’ Awards Ceremony will be held in a totally new venue. This event will take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on December 13 next. The promoter will be Youthstream, the company which is the contractual partner of the FIM for the Motocross World Championship, the Motocross of Nations, the SuperMoto World Championship and the Snowcross World Cup. The local organiser will be the company Arabia 1, motorsports event promoter in Dubai and the Middle East. The Ceremony will be held under the auspices of the FIM-affiliated United Arab Emirates Motorcycle Club (UAEMC), with the support of the government authorities of Dubai and of the future circuit of Dubai.

In the presence of FIM delegates and many guests, sponsors and VIPs, the 2003 World Champions in Road Racing, Motocross, Trial, Enduro and Track Racing will receive their medals and trophies. Representatives of the Manufacturers’ World Champions will receive their diplomas.

Several 2003 World Champions are already known: the Spanish rider Adam Raga is the Indoor Trial World Champion, and the Russian rider Vitaly Khomitsevich won his first Individual Ice Racing World Championship title. In Motocross, Belgian riders are on top this year, with Stefan Everts winning the MotocrossGP title, the seventh in his career, beating the previous record of six titles established by another famous Belgian rider, Joël Robert, and Joël Smets winning the 650 title, his fifth world crown. Australian rider Chad Reed is the 2003 Supercross World Champion, and Daniel Willemsen and Casper Stupiles are Motocross Sidecar World Champions.

All the world titles have been attributed in the Individual World Two Days’ Enduro Championship: Anders Eriksson won the 400cc 4-stroke class, his seventh world title; Juha Salminen (FIN) won the 500cc and overall classes, reaching a total of 8 world titles; Stefan Merriman (AUS) the 250cc 2-stroke title (his 3rd title), Peter Bergvall (SWE) took his second 250cc 4-stroke title, and Petri Pohjamo (FIN) the 125cc 2-stroke title, the first of his career.

Finally, another rider won a World title last week-end on the circuit of Assen: British rider Neil Hodgson, riding a Ducati 999, has become the 2003 Superbike World Champion.

Views of the 2004 Yamaha YZF-R1, YZF-R6 and FZ6, from press materials distributed by Yamaha Motor Corp. U.S.:


2004 YZF-R1


2004 YZF-R1


2004 YZF-R6


2004 YZF-R6


2004 FZ6


2004 FZ6


2004 YZF-R1


2004 YZF-R1

From a press release issued by KWS:

The Millennium-Kaufman-Suzuki team has just finished testing at barber,in conjunction with a NESBA track day.

Mechanics Shane Martinson and Dustin Cyr along with Brian Livengood were there to help Shawn Higbee get up to speed prior to the race weekend.

Best times (on a hand-held watch) were in the high-1:29 range.

Shawn was impressed with the track layout and can’t wait to race on the circuit. “You really have to ride hard on the front, and passing zones are at a premium. I’m gald we were able to get a day of set-up prior the race weekend. This has been a long, hard year on all of us and I’m looking forward to some time off with Jenny.”

From a press release issued by Traxxion Dynamics:

Traxxion and Thermosman Split; Free Product Update Results

In February of 2003, our General Manager, Mike Fitzgerald left Traxxion Dynamics, Inc. and started an Axxion Center called Thermosman Suspensions, Inc., to provide trackside support to racers in the Southeastern United States. Our goal was a long and profitable alliance.

In very short order, the suspension philosophy of Thermosman Suspensions,Inc. became inconsistent with that which has brought Traxxion Dynamics hundreds of AMA, FUSA, WERA, and CCS National Championships over the last six years. Although no formal date of dissolution exists, it is safe to say that we have had no dealings in the last two months. I have long felt a public release of this sad news would benefit neither company. Our separation saddens me greatly, as I feel our alliance could have contributed greatly to racers in the Southeast.

Many Traxxion Dynamics customers have purchased our products from Thermosman Suspensions, since we were allied through Axxion Centers, Inc. It has come to our attention that some of our Axxion Valve Kits were modified and installed in a manner inconsistent with the configuration in which the products were delivered, and intended to perform. Axxion Centers are not franchises, but rather stand alone businesses, only authorized to install Traxxion Dynamics products. As a result, Traxxion Dynamics, Inc. and Axxion Centers, Inc. can assume no liability for the actions of Thermosman Suspensions, Inc.

However, to remain consistent with the service that has made our company famous, Traxxion Dynamics, Inc. is offering a FREE PRODUCT INSPECTION to any customer who believes they had Traxxion Dynamics Axxion Valves installed by Thermosman Suspensions, Inc. between February 6, 2003 and July 6, 2003.

The Free Product Inspection will include a complete disassembly and inspection of your fork cartridges, to insure the proper build and installation of any Traxxion Dynamics products. Labor, oil, and cleaner will all be included and paid for, as a courtesy to our long standing and loyal customers. We will even pay return ground freight at no cost. This courtesy offer is available until 10/31/03.

Our goal has always been to offer our customers uncompromised suspension performance. We want to make sure they receive the performance they deserve whether they have purchased our products in the past, in the present, or in the future.

Max McAllister
President
Traxxion Dynamics, Inc.
Axxion Centers, Inc.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

A group of motocross promoters irate at AMA Pro Racing is running a slate of three candidates for the three AMA Board of Directors seats up for election this fall.

The seats, representing the northern half of the country, are currently held by lawyer Dal Smilie (North West), retired executive Jeff Smith (North Central) and lawyer Rick Gray (North East).

The promoters are angry at what they see as a lack of responsiveness and an attitude of arrogance on the part of AMA Pro Racing, which is a for-profit subsidiary of the non-profit AMA.

Two years ago, a slate of road racers ran for the AMA Board under the Take Back The AMA slogan, defeating three incumbents representing the southern half of the country by wide margins. That slate also cited a lack of responsiveness and an attitude of arrogance on the part of AMA Pro Racing.

John Ulrich was elected to represent the South West region, Jeff Nash was elected to represent the South Central region and Kevin Schwantz was elected to represent the South East region. Schwantz subsequently moved his primary residence out of his region and back to Texas, and resigned his Board seat. The incumbent he had defeated, Carl Reynolds, was then appointed to the South East seat on the Board; Schwantz retained an appointed seat on the separate AMA Pro Racing Board.

Since the election of Ulrich and Nash, the 12-member main AMA Board has sent several resolutions ordering AMA Pro Racing to improve communications, rider safety and operations, with limited success, but the AMA Board majority has not backed calls for fundamental change in the structure and operations of AMA Pro Racing.

Nash was recently appointed to the eight-man AMA Pro Board, where he has been outvoted.

The dynamics of the AMA Board and the fundamental relationship between the non-profit AMA and for-profit AMA Pro Racing could change dramatically if the motocross slate of candidates is elected this fall.

Stay tuned for developments.

Click here to read the complete AP story at AberdeenNews.com.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

More from an Army Captain we know, who is stationed in Iraq and who will remain anonymous:

Hello to everyone from the unemployment capital of the world.

First week of September is down, and no signs of slowing down. This week I was granted another project by our Commanding General.

Next to my building there is an abandoned lot that has become some what of an impromptu dump site. I am going to put in a basketball gymnasium, a soccer stadium, and a playground for kids.

My Colonel is new and has only known me for two months, and is not accustomed to my bigger-is-better philosophy. So when I told him I had a hydraulic catapult ride coming in from Six Flags he almost had a heart attack. All kidding aside, though, I am going to try my darndest to make a miniature Disney.

And the soccer field–I am working on a little surprise there as well. I am working on getting Astroturf flown into Baghdad to make the first artificial soccer field in all of Iraq.

So now I am heading this unemployment beast, and trying to work on the soccer field. Makes the time go by quickly.

A couple of the Captains I live with play guitar also, so we chipped in and bought two guitars. Our first album should be out shortly. Guitar fits nicely somewhere between Arabic lessons, weight-lifting and chow.

This week I also convinced an American contractor that came to Iraq to make buildings for the soldiers to recruit their workers exclusively through me. So that will be several thousand more jobs that will come through this office.

Every morning there are at least 600 people who show up at my gates. It sucks to tell them we don’t have any jobs left for today. Come back tomorrow.

Well, that is it for now. Back to the grind for me.



(Editorial note: As explained in previously published messages from the Captain, projects such as the above designed to pacify the local population and to provide local employment are paid for using money found in caches in Iraq, not American tax dollars.)