Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Honda’s Jake Zemke told officials with AMA Pro Racing and Indianapolis Motor Speedway that racing Superbikes on the facility’s infield road course is possible, following a short, one-day test there October 1.

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Photo courtesy of IMSPhoto.

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“Yeah, for sure,” Zemke told Roadracingworld.com in a telephone interview late Wednesday evening.

The infield road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway was constructed in September of 2000 to host the United States round of the FIA Formula One Grand Prix, which it has done annually since 2000. In fact, according to the Speedway, its 2000 race set a “modern day attendance record” for the Formula One series.

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The infield road course is 2.605 miles in length and is run in the clockwise direction, which is counter the race direction of the Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400 races run on the 2.5-mile oval. Running the road course, the 3047-foot front straight on the speedway oval is used. Racers take a right-hand turn one to enter the infield before reaching the oval’s Turn Four. Averaging 46 feet in width, the new infield section has 11 dedicated turns (four lefts, seven rights) and a 1755-foot infield straight. At its end, infield course racers turn right to re-enter the speedway oval at the entrance to Turn Two (infield course turn 12) and use the oval’s Turn One as the 13th and final turn. The last two corners have retaining walls on the outside.

“They’ll have to do something with the last two corners,” said Zemke. “Originally, they knew for sure the last corner, and then after doing some laps at speed in the afternoon, I kind of slowed down and paid attention to where my lines were taking me and stuff. And I said probably the last corner we would have to be slowed down going through that corner as well. The one that leads us out on to the [speedway] there, turn 12. We’re just getting out there too fast. It doesn’t seem bad, but you’re kind of using all the racetrack available. You’re coming right up to that temporary curbing. I was still leaving myself plenty of room to the wall, but in a racing situation everyone’s going to be trying to get the most out of everything. Whereas today, we were just kind of cruising around.”

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Photo courtesy of IMSPhoto.

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The experience was memorable for overall racing fan Zemke, who said, “It was just really cool, being the first bikes at Indy. That was just really neat by itself. As a kid, I grew up watching the 500 and the Brickyard 400 and now the Formula One race. So getting a chance to ride there is really cool.

“The track itself was pretty interesting. It’s really wide. You know how wide Barber [Motorsports Park] is [45 feet]. This feels almost wider than Barber just with the way the corners are and everything. I’m not sure on the dimensions on it, but the track itself is super wide.

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Photo courtesy of IMSPhoto.

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“It’s pretty slow through the infield. Well, with the gearing you need to get down the front straightaway, it’s like all first and second gear through the infield except for the one [infield] straightaway. But it still seemed to be OK and a lot of fun. I was leaving black marks everywhere. It was fun just to light it up coming out of all the corners.

“The track was actually really smooth. I didn’t feel any ripples or anything like that in it. There wasn’t really any rough spots on the track at all. I mean, they only use it once a year, and they’ve only been running on it for three years. That has a lot to do with it, but the pavement was really good. The infield’s all really flat. The only kind of elevation was coming out of the last corner on the banking there.

“The run-off was really good. There were only a couple of spots in the infield and really they weren’t anything. One, I asked them if they could extend one gravel trap out, and they didn’t seem to think that was any problem at all. Really, there’s quite a bit of run-off there in all the corners. It didn’t seem to be too bad. And all the permanent curbings were perfectly smooth, no ridges or anything.

“I think there’s a lot of opportunities [to pass] because there’s so much racetrack there to use. Just the fact that it’s so wide and in the infield all of the corners are pretty much linked together corner-to-corner. It gives the opportunity for running different lines and setting a guy up.” Zemke also said he had no tire or set-up issues in run about 35 laps, but he pointed out that it was cold. According to IMS spokesperson Ron Green, the temperature was probably 50 degrees Fahrenheit when the bikes went out on track.

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Vincent Haskovec rode the Ducati Austin Superbike at the test. Photo courtesy of IMSPhoto.

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Asked how he and fellow tester Vincent Haskovec approached the wall-lined final turn, Zemke said, “For now, we just rode through it. It’s obviously an area that they’re looking at, the last two corners, actually. Figuring out a way to get us through there. But for now, we just rode through there. I went through there pretty hard. It was comfortable to go through the last corner pretty hard. I mean I was fourth gear just about wide open through the thing. I would have to roll out of it going into it, then I could pretty much pin it from before the apex all the way through the corner. Riding by yourself, it was OK, but in a racing situation we would have to slow it down through there.” At the end of the front straightaway, Zemke estimated he was exceeding 180 mph, “for sure.”

Zemke said possible chicane configurations were not discussed with him. “Nah, we didn’t really talk a lot about it,” said Zemke. “They were more concerned with the rest of the racetrack, what our concerns were on that. And like I said, there were only two spots on the racetrack that I even had any kind of question at all on. It all looked really good.”

“They didn’t say anything as far as that went,” answered Zemke when asked if he heard any discussions on what type of motorcycle race – AMA Superbike, World Superbike or MotoGP – officials were looking toward possibly holding on the road course. “They only thing they said was they wanted to test the feasibility, basically, of a motorcycle on their racetrack and to see if it was even possible for us to run there. That’s all. That’s all they were really worried about.”

From a press release issued by Fuchs Kawasaki:

MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2003
ROUND 13 – GAULOISES PACIFIC GRAND PRIX OF MOTEGI
1ST OCTOBER 2003 – EVENT PREVIEW

MOTEGI ANNIVERSARY FOR FUCHS KAWASAKI NINJA ZX-RR

The Fuchs Kawasaki Team will celebrate the first anniversary of the MotoGP debut of their ambitious Ninja ZX-RR project in the Pacific Grand Prix at Motegi this Sunday October 5th.

One year ago at this track the 990cc, in-line four-cylinder ZX-RR made its international race debut in the Pacific GP ridden by factory test rider Akira Yanagawa. The Japanese star qualified 18th but crashed out of the race. For Sunday’s first anniversary outing at Motegi the Ninja ZX-RR will be raced by Kawasaki’s all-Australian squad of regular MotoGP riders Andrew Pitt and Garry McCoy.

The race is an important milestone for Kawasaki, who this year returned to GP competition after an absence of two decades. It has been a steep learning curve as Kawasaki have balanced the challenging task of combining a test and development program with the non-stop pressure of a Grand Prix race schedule for the ZX-RR. And that continuous development program should deliver the latest engine power update parts for the ZX-RR’s first birthday appearance at Motegi.

The Pacific GP carries added significance as a home race for Kawasaki with the Japanese motorcycle and industrial giant committed to the long term success of its MotoGP campaign at the elite level of the sport.

For Pitt and McCoy the race is round 13 of the world championship with the end of season flyaway schedule allowing both riders the rare opportunity of a brief stopover in Australia following the recent Rio GP in Brazil.

In Rio two weeks ago McCoy posted the best Kawasaki qualifying performance of the season and started 13th on the grid and he is planning to capitalise on that performance in Motegi. Unfortunately the Rio race was a frustrating outcome for McCoy with a holed radiator making him an early retirement while Pitt battled the bumpy and slippery Rio circuit for 18th on his Brazilian debut.

Pitt faces a familiar challenge at Motegi; learning another new track as he builds a personal data bank of circuit information during his debut MotoGP season.

Both Pitt and McCoy have enjoyed the sun and relaxation of their beachside break with McCoy making up for lost time aboard his Kawasaki jet ski. The Twin Ring Motegi complex is situated approximately 100km north of Tokyo and is part of a state of the art motorsport facility that also includes an Indy Car oval.

Garry McCoy
“Motegi has never been kind to me in the past but I’m hoping for a trouble free run through practice and qualifying, to try and get a lot of laps on the bike and do more tyre testing. At the last couple of races little problems have cost us track time. Because we don’t get to test at Motegi it’s difficult to predict how the ZX-RR will perform there. In Rio last week the bumpy track seemed to even things out and worked in our favour, especially in qualifying. Motegi is smoother with some stop-go sections which could help the ZX-RR; it’s the fast changes of direction where we have a problem turning. The boost in engine performance is good timing, Kawasaki are making an effort and putting all their technical resources into the ZX-RR”

Andrew Pitt
“All I know about Motegi is from watching the race on TV last year when Alex Barros won. It’s another new track for me. I might watch the tape of last year’s race again just to try and get a feel for the track but otherwise I’m back in school during Friday free practice learning my way around. As long as the weather is kind and I can get in plenty of dry laps I’m confident of coming to grips with the layout and finding a comfortable race set-up on the ZX-RR before Sunday’s race. The power-up engine parts will be nice birthday present and will hopefully help us make a step forward on home ground for Kawasaki.”

From a press release issued by LRRS:

LRRS Season Capper

The Loudon Road Racing Series completed a terrific 2003 season this past weekend. While most class Championships were well in hand, the GP Singles title was still in doubt. Team Incomplete’s Todd Puckett was just four points back of Eric Yoo, both on Honda RS125s. Meanwhile Puckett’s teammate, Gregor Halenda, showed up on a Yamaha 426 Single in a Tigcraft chassis. In its second outing, the thumper showed remarkable speed and was looking to be a spoiler. Also, reigning #1 plate holder, Dale Greenwood Jr., was making his first appearance after recovering from a bad crash in July. Greenwood could have a deciding impact on the points. 28 bikes took the grid.

Halenda took the holeshot on his thumper, followed by Yoo and Puckett. After two laps, Halenda held a half second advantage over Yoo with Puckett and Greenwood another second back. At the halfway, the lead pack of four tightened up. In a great braking move, Puckett went to the front, followed by Halenda, Yoo and Greenwood. Puckett pulled a gap with Yoo desperate to get past Halenda. On the last lap, Yoo pushed past Halenda, and they both ran down Puckett. Halenda crashed spectacularly on the last turn trying to reclaim second. At the stripe, it was Puckett over Yoo by a bikelength, with Greenwood rounding out the podium. Eric Yoo claimed the 2003 GP Singles title by two points.

Eric Wood, fresh from his strong performance at the Barber AMA round, rolled up to the Unlimited Superbike grid, aboard his Dunlop-mounted Barden Bearings/Woodcraft GSX-R750 Superstock machine. Wood got a tremendous start and led the first lap by two seconds. Meanwhile, a dogfight took shape for second between Bob Blanchette, Mike Niksa, Matt Silva, Dave Ruocco and Jason Carter (all on GSX-R750s). While Wood checked out, the next four swapped positions lap after lap. Riding extremely well, Niksa pushed through the pack on his Parkway Cycles/Pirelli mounted GSX-R and began to put down fast lap times. The remaining four fought tooth-and-tong for the last podium spot. At the flag it was Wood, Niksa, and Blanchette. Silva claimed the title with a fourth.

The Middlweight GP Championship had already been decided, so the race was for the $1500 ‘Dash for Cash’ purse sponsored by Motorace, Goldfren, Dunbar Eurosports, GMD Computrack, New England Performance, VP Fuels and Street & Comp. Scott Greenwood sat on the pole aboard his Argo Cycles/Bettencourt’s Dunlop-shod GSX-R600. Teammate Jeff Wood surprised everybody by taking the grid aboard his Honda Super Motard. That was a break for everybody else.

Gus Holcomb took the holeshot aboard his Dunlop-equipped Honda, but the race was red-flagged when two riders went down in turn one. Scott Greenwood took the holeshot on the restart and held a small gap over the field at the end of lap one. Carlo Gagliardo followed on his Pirelli-mounted R6 with Holcomb and John Scheehser on his Michelin-shod Baccarossa CBR600RR in hot pursuit. Greenwood pulled half-a-second per lap on Gagliardo with Holcomb on his pipe pulling another half second on the pack. Meanwhile, Steve Giaccomaro was coming from the back on another fast Pirelli-mounted R6. On lap six, Holcomb pushed past Gagliardo into second, while Giaccomaro cleared the pack into fourth. Holcomb and Gagliardo put on a great battle until lap nine when Gagliardo repassed Holcomb and pulled a gap in traffic. Meanwhile Giaccomaro was closing fast. At the flag, it was Greenwood over Gagliardo, Holcomb, and Giaccomaro.

On the podium, Greenwood revealed that he had destroyed his record-setting Yamaha R6 during qualifying at the Summit Point round of Formula USA. Meanwhile, teammate Jeff Wood’s R6 was ‘torn down to the crank’ after the Barber AMA event. On the season, Greenwood remarked; “It’s not over yet. Jeff Wood and I are in a three-way battle with Matt Wait for the Formula USA National Championship. We’ll be going down to Daytona, winner take all…” He went on to pay special thanks to the cornercrews for their remarkable work in what turned out to be a very challenging season for them.

LRRS was strong in 2003. The track was the best ever, and the Penguin Road Racing School produced a number of talented new riders who are making their mark. Contingency money was up significantly in 2003 with Honda and Yamaha stepping up big in LRRS to join Suzuki. Kawasaki and Aprilia also paid. Dunlop, Pirelli and Michelin offered full trackside service and paid for performance with breadth and depth, yielding each a strong presence on the podium throughout the season. Several new dealers surfaced in 2003 as well, in support of many LRRS riders. 2004 is looking even better.

Complete results for the entire season are posted on www.lrrsracing.com

From a press release issued by CMRA:

2004 Schedule

Central Motorcycle Roadracing Association (CMRA)

2/21-22, Oak Hill Raceway, Henderson, TX

3/13-14, Texas World Speedway, College Station, TX

4/10-11, Oak Hill Raceway, Henderson, TX

5/1-2, Motorsport Ranch, Cresson, TX

5/21-23, Hallett Motor Racing Circuit, Hallett, OK

6/19-20, Texas World Speedway, College Station, TX

7/10-11, Hallett Motor Racing Circuit, Hallett, OK

8/28-29, Motorsport Ranch, Cresson, TX

9/25-26, Oak Hill Raceway, Henderson, TX

10/9-10, Motorsport Ranch, Cresson, TX

For additional info, call CMRA at (817) 377-1599, FAX (817) 377-1655, e-mail [email protected], www.cmraracing.com

From a press release:

PJH BRANDS Hires Grey San Francisco

Scottsdale, Arizona, October 1, 2003 – PJH BRANDS’ founder and Chairman, P.J. Harvey, announced today that his company has hired Grey San Francisco to handle all marketing communications, including advertising, interactive and direct response work, for PJH BRANDS on a global basis. This includes both the PJ1 line of motorcycle products and the VHT line of automotive products.

Grey, founded in 1917, is the largest agency in the United States and the 6th largest agency in the world with more than 400 offices in 90 countries.

“Grey is known around the world for its success in building brands,” Harvey said. “With all of the products we now manufacture and sell both here in the United States, as well as in a growing number of countries overseas, Grey is the perfect partner.” Harvey noted that his selection of Grey San Francisco specifically was due to the fact that both the Account Director on his business and the Executive Creative Director have extensive backgrounds in motor sports and the automotive category, both personally and professionally. “They have a real understanding of what motor sports is all about. And that’s very important,” said Harvey.

Up until a year ago, Kevin McCarthy, Grey’s Executive Creative Director, raced Open Superbike and Open GP and was ranked 10th overall in the AFM. McCarthy competed on both the east and west coast and still rides motorcross for fun. Terry Foutz, PJH BRANDS’ Account Director and an 18 year Grey veteran, is the former National Advertising Manager for Nissan Motor Corporation, USA, and for many years competed in off-road motorcycle and truck racing events.

“After our very first meeting with P.J. in Scottsdale, I couldn’t wait to get started on developing creative,” said McCarthy. “Personally, I’ve used PJ1 on and in my bikes for years, so I’m already a big fan of PJ1 products. This is a great client with really good products in a super fun category. What more could we ask for?”

Casey Jones, a Managing Partner of Grey San Francisco, said that his team is elated about the addition of this new piece of business. “PJ1 chain lube has long been the Number 1 selling chain lube in the world. Now it’s our job to let the world know about all of the other equally great products from PJH BRANDS,” Jones said. “To do this, we’ll be using the full integrated power of Grey San Francisco drawing on all of our capabilities – traditional advertising, direct and interactive media – as key components in this new campaign.”

Although no specifics were disclosed, plans call for heavy print in combination with selective broadcast, point of purchase, and highly targeted interactive electronic media. “This will be the largest advertising communications’ effort in the company’s history,” Foutz added.

Founded in 1971, PJH BRANDS produces more than 50 different motor sports’ products and distributes them in 43 countries around the world.

PJH BRANDS is the maker of world-class motorcycle oils and premium coatings.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Friday Morning 250cc Grand Prix Practice Times:

1. Yuki Takahashi, Honda, 1:54.589
2. Randy De Puniet, Aprilia, 1:54.866
3. Franco Battaini, Aprilia, 1:54.946
4. Toni Elias, Aprilia, 1:55.251
5. Roberto Rolfo, Honda, 1:55.381
6. Tomoyoshi Koyama, Yamaha, 1:55.537
7. Choujun Kameya, Honda, 1:55.701
8. Sebastian Porto, Honda, 1:55.706
9. Fonsi Nieto, Aprilia, 1:55.779
10. Sylvain Guintoli, Aprilia, 1:55.797
11. Hiroshi Aoyama, Honda, 1:55.898
12. Manuel Poggiali, Aprilia, 1:56.136
13. Naoki Matsudo, Yamaha, 1:56.248
14. Alex Debon, Honda, 1:56.357
15. Hugo Marchand, Aprilia, 1:56.691
16. Dirk Heidolf, Aprilia, 1:57.062
17. Erwan Nigon, Aprilia, 1:57.176
18. Chaz Davies, Aprilia, 1:57.182
19. Eric Bataille, Honda, 1:57.884
20. Christian Gemmel, Honda, 1:57.934
21. Hector Faubel, Aprilia, 1:57.966

24. Anthony West, Aprilia, 1:58.386
25. Joan Olive, Aprilia, 1:58.597
26. Johan Stigefelt, Aprilia, 1:58.690
27. Jaroslav Hules, Honda, 1:58.943

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Friday Morning MotoGP Practice Times:

1. Valentino Rossi, Honda, 1:49.478
2. Makoto Tamada, Honda, 1:50.301
3. Tohru Ukawa, Honda, 1:50.410
4. Carlos Checa, Yamaha, 1:50.522
5. Sete Gibernau, Honda, 1:50.624
6. Loris Capirossi, Ducati, 1:50.655
7. Max Biaggi, Honda, 1:50.779
8. Nicky Hayden, Honda, 1:50.857
9. Marco Melandri, Yamaha, 1:50.945
10. Akira Ryo, Suzuki, 1:51.220
11. Shinya Nakano, Yamaha, 1:51.433
12. Colin Edwards, Aprilia, 1:51.665
13. Kenny Roberts, Suzuki, 1:51.679
14. Alex Barros, Yamaha, 1:51.794
15. John Hopkins, Suzuki, 1:51.829
16. Troy Bayliss, Ducati, 1:51.843
17. Jeremy McWilliams, Proton, 1:52.127
18. Ryuichi Kiyonari, Honda, 1:52.215
19. Olivier Jacque, Yamaha, 1:52.231
20. Noriyuki Haga, Aprilia, 1:52.550
21. Tamaki Serizawa, Moriwaki, 1:52.600
22. Garry McCoy, Kawasaki, 1:52.881
23. Andrew Pitt, Kawasaki, 1:53.902
24. Nobuatsu Aoki, Proton, 1:55.224
25. David De Gea, Harris WCM, 1:55.877
26. Chris Burns, Harris WCM, 1:57.326

From a press release issued by Willow Springs International Raceway:

The first WSIR/ROADRACINGWORLD.COM 250/50 will be held Sunday, October 19, 2003. This race is for 250cc two-stroke machines only – Expert licensed road racers only.

Tentative start time (subject to change) will be 12:00 Noon.

Riders will be gridded by:

For Saturday heat races based on: WSMC 250cc GP class points, then date of entry

For Sunday main event based on: Results of 5-lap heat races held on Saturday, October 18.

Race Entry fee for the 250/50 is $100.

Race entry includes one warm-up Saturday morning, one 5-lap heat race Saturday afternoon; one warm-up Sunday morning and the 20-lap main event.

A maximum of forty (40) riders will be accepted as starters for the 250/50. If a pre-entered rider is an event “no show” there will be no refund or carry-over credit issued. Should a rider not qualify for 250/50 main event there will be no refund or carry-over credit issued.

If racer is not a licensed 2003 WSMC competitor, rider must fill out required WSIR releases and show proof of current (i.e. 2003 season) Expert Road Race Competition License status with a recognized sanctioning body. No exceptions.

WSMC Licensed racers shall run their regular 2003 WSMC competition number.

Visiting Expert racers may run their National or local club number providing the WSMC racer with that number assignment is not participating in the 250/50 event.

Track time will be available on Friday, October 17 for testing and tuning. See pre-entry or post-entry form for sign up.

Riders may participate in Saturday, Oct. 18th race events IF entered in F-1, F-2, and/or 250cc GP race classes. See pre-entry or post-entry form for sign up. Note that riders participating in the WSMC sprints must purchase a one-weekend event license.

Event race distance is 20 laps = 50 miles. Should a red flag or orange and white checkered flag incident occur prior to the field completing half distance (10 laps) the riders will restart for the remaining distance based on their running order at end of last fully completed lap by the field. Should a red flag or orange and white checkered flag incident occur after the field has completed half distance the race may be called complete by the race director, or restarted based on the running order at end of last fully completed lap by the field.

This event will not pay class or track championship points for the WSMC series. A separate 250cc GP race for regular series points will be held Saturday, October 18.

All bikes must display WSMC logo decals (one clearly on each side of bike).

All bikes must display ROADRACING WORLD logo decals (one clearly on each side of bike).

Bikes/riders NOT displaying the above decals will not receive monetary awards from WSIR.

Payback awards from WSIR will be available from the racetrack office t.b.a. after race results are final.

WSMC Flag Rules apply in all practice session and race event.

All bikes must pass WSMC Technical Inspection. Please see WSMC Rule Book for details.


TOTAL PURSE $30,000

1st $5000
2nd $3750
3rd $3000
4th $2200
5th $1650
6th $1450
7th $1300
8th $1200
9th $1100
10th $1000
11th $ 850
12th $ 750
13th $ 700
14th $ 650
15th $ 575
16th $ 500
17th $ 425
18th $ 350
19th $ 300
20th $ 250
21st $ 200
22nd $ 200
23rd $ 200
24th $ 200
25th $ 200
26th $ 200
27th $ 200
28th $ 200
29th $ 200
30th $ 200
31st $ 100
32nd $ 100
33rd $ 100
34th $ 100
35th $ 100
36th $ 100
37th $ 100
38th $ 100
39th $ 100
40th $ 100

From a press release issued by Henry DeGouw:

U.S. Team Set for 50th Macau GP

Three riders from the United States have been selected to compete in this year’s 50th anniversary Macau GP. The three riders are:

Geoff May of Alpharetta, Georgia on a Suzuki GSX-R1000 ponsored by Team Embry/May Racing

Jeremy Toye of San Diego, California on a Suzuki GSX-R1000 sponsored by Lee’s Cycle

Jason Perez of Brentwood, California on a Yamaha YZF-R1 sponsored by Graves Motorsports.

The team leaves for Hong Kong on November 8th.

The 60-mile through-the-streets event will be run on Saturday November 15th. After the race, the team will be treated to an eight-night paid vacation to Thailand.