Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Zongshen Suzuki 1, the defending Endurance World Champions and current Championship points leaders, are out of the Oschersleben 24-hour race in Germany following a crash in the fourth hour.

According to a report appearing on the official website of the FIM Endurance World Championship, Zongshen Suzuki 1’s Igor Jerman fell off at Hotel Bend and suffered fractures to a wrist and several ribs. The report, however, did not explain exactly why Zongshen Suzuki 1 was unable to continue in the race.

Zongshen Suzuki 1 currently leads the Endurance World Championship standings with 116 points, 17 more than Suzuki GB Phase One, 51 more than Zongshen Suzuki 2 and 57 points more than both GMT94 and Police Nationale.

Fifty points, double the normal amount of 25, will be awarded to the winner of the Oschersleben 24-hour.

After seven hours, Zongshen Suzuki 2 continues to hold the overall race lead by 30 seconds over Suzuki GB Phase One.

If Zongshen Suzuki 1 is truly out of the race and assuming second place earns 40 points (double the normal of 20), Suzuki GB Phase One can win the 2003 Endurance World Championship if it wins the race. And if Phase One finishes second to Zongshen Suzuki 2 at Oschersleben, Suzuki GB Phase One can clinch the World Championship by finishing 13th or better in the final round of the series, a 200-mile race October 5 at Vallelunga, Italy. But there is a lot of time left in the current race in Germany.

Back in the field, GMT94, one of the victims of an oil-caused pile-up on the second-lap, has worked its way back up to third but has not made any dent into the four-lap advantage enjoyed by the two leading teams.

Americans Jason Pridmore and Josh Hayes are riding for Phase One at Oschersleben.



More, from a press release issued by FGSport, organizer of the series:

Suzuki Zongshen 2 Lead Oschersleben 24 Hour Race,
Zongshen 1 Crash Out to Leave Championship Wide Open

Five of the leading teams crashed out at the start of the second lap of the Oschersleben 24 Hour round of the World Endurance Championship. Suzuki Zongshen 1, Yamaha GMT94, Suzuki Police Nationale 22, Yamaha Endurance Moto 38 and Yamaha Austria 9 all fell on oil at the Hasseroder bend. No riders were injured, but all five bikes had to return to the pits for repairs and the pace car was sent out while the track was cleaned.

Zongshen 1 was one of the last bikes to rejoin the race, losing four laps on the leaders.
Suzuki Zongshen rider Warwick Nowland: “There was oil on the corner; from the racing line out to the edge. I didn’t see it on the warm-up laps, and we were going a bit slow on the first lap – so the first fast lap was lap two, and that’s when we crashed.”

Suzuki GB Phase One’s Jason Pridmore survived the incident: “I just try to be really mellow on the first couple of laps. I saw someone go down, so I backed off and tightened my line – people kept on crashing. There’s a lot of traffic out there, and it’s in bunches of four or five; hard to pass.”

Police Nationale were doubly unlucky; after crashing and then rejoining the race, Gwen Giabbani was forced to push the bike in ten minutes later with an electrical fault. Adding insult to injury, several of the crashers were given a stop-go penalty for cutting out a section of the track as they limped back to the pits.

After the first hour of racing and just before the first round of pit stops, Suzuki Zongshen 2’s Piergiorgio Bontempi was less than a minute ahead of Suzuki GB Phase One’s Jason Pridmore; these two were the only bikes from the leading pack to escape the carnage. Also benefiting from the incident were Kawasaki Bolliger Team and Suzuki Bridgestone Bikers Profi, swapping third and fourth place in an epic battle between these two endurance experts. For all of the teams, the race in pitlane is as important as the one on the track; with around 24 or 25 stops to be made during the race a few extra seconds at every stop can make a lot of difference.

With three hours gone, Suzuki Zongshen 1 had climbed back up to 19th place but were still five laps behind first place. All the hard work would be in vain, however; Igor Jerman crashed out at Hotel Bend and was unable to continue the race; this is the second race in a row which the 2002 World Endurance Champions have not finished.

With Zongshen 2 and Phase One three laps clear of third place, the championship chase is now wide open. GMT94 have climbed back up to sixth place but are still four laps behind the leading pair; although they may not catch Zongshen 2 or Suzuki GB Phase One, they are in with a good chance of a podium finish. Last year’s Oschersleben winners, Endurance Moto 38 are currently holding third place, but GMT are lapping consistently faster.

From a short-and-to-the-point press release issued by Jim Lindemann of Lindemann Engineering:


Now Open:

Lindemann Engineering’s On-Line Store.

see: www.le-suspension.com

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

A second-lap crash caused by oil on the track at the Oschersleben 24-hour race in Germany could have serious Endurance World Championship implications.

In a scenario that eerily resembled what happened at the Suzuka 8-Hours, the previous round of the Endurance World Championship series, five teams fell in oil on the track on the second lap of the long race. Crashers included the current Championship leaders Zongshen Suzuki 1 and four more teams in the top 10 of the points standings.

Zongshen Suzuki 2 and Suzuki GB Phase One (with American riders Jason Pridmore and Josh Hayes) escaped the pile-up and are first and second, respectively. After three hours of the 24-hour race Zongshen 2’s lead over Phase One was approximately 30 seconds, according to the official World Endurance website.

Zongshen Suzuki 1 was 19th, five laps down, after three hours. Another victim of the second-lap crash, GMT94, fourth in the Championship, was 14th and four laps down.

Suzuki GB Phase One trailed Zongshen Suzuki 1 by 17 points at the start of the Oschersleben race, the penultimate round of the Endurance World Championship. Zongshen Suzuki 2, Police Nationale 22 and GMT94 (third, fourth and fifth in the point standings respectively) also have mathematical chances of winning the World Championship.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Several AMA Pros are at VIR this weekend for a WERA Regional, practicing for next weekend’s AMA National.

Lee Acree, Steve Atlas, Michael Barnes, Opie Caylor, John Haner, Vincent Haskovec and Chris Ulrich are all racing at VIR this weekend. All but Atlas have raced at VIR before.

Acree is riding his YZF-R6 Supersport bike, Haskovec is riding a borrowed GSX-R600 and Barnes is riding his GSX-R1000. The others are riding GSX-R750 Suzukis.

Acree, Barnes, Haskovec and Ulrich have won AMA Superstock Nationals; Acree won at VIR in 2001 and won at Road Atlanta and Sears Point in 2002. Barnes won in 750cc Supersport (now known as Superstock) at Las Vegas in 1996 (as well as in 600cc Supersport at Daytona in 1989). Haskovec won at Atlanta this season, while Ulrich (who drove from California to VIR solo, leaving the Los Angeles area Tuesday afternoon and arriving at the track late Friday night) won at Mid-Ohio last year and at Laguna Seca the year before.

They’re expected to compete in 16-lap Solo races this afternoon.

Haskovec and fellow AMA National winner Mike Smith raced last weekend with CCS at Barber Motorsports Park. The event was Haskovec’s first time on the Barber course.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

2003 Isle Of Man 1000cc Production & 600cc Production winner Shaun Harris is at Grattan Raceway this weekend for a WERA Regional, testing on a friend’s Yamaha YZF-RR6.

Shaun said he is very excited to be in the U.S. and is currently interested in racing endurance here, as well as, some AMA events.

Harris is a 4-time New Zealand 600cc Champion and was the first person in the world to win on 600cc, 750cc, and 1000cc bikes(according to him).

Harris is a real down-to-earth guy and has loads of race stories to share. He said he would really like to find a 750 to race here in the U.S.

He will be racing C-Superstock and C-Superbike this weekend at Grattan.

I’m here as well, connecting through a cellular modem.

Jeffrey Agnes
WERA #123
Wooster, Ohio

From a press release issued by FGSport Group:

Suzuki Zongshen 1 Pole Position

8 Manufacturers represented on the grid

Warwick Nowland has taken pole positions for Suzuki Zongshen No.1 with a lap time of 1:29.961; he is the only rider to have dipped below the 1:30 mark. The time was set on a race tyre only ten minutes into the session, and left Nowland ecstatic. “1:29 is only a couple of seconds off the World Superbike race pace. Piegiorgio did a 1:30.0 yesterday so I thought I could beat that. We didn’t change much on the bike; I just spent yesterday evening staring at a map of the track trying to work out where I could brake a little deeper and turn a little later. I just kept repeating ‘1:29…1:29…’ in my head, and it worked.”

Nowland tried to better the time later in the session using a qualifying tyre but fell in the attempt. His teammate Stephane Mertens suspected that the tyre may have cooled down too much. “These tyres have a very narrow temperature range. If you slow down to wait for a gap the tyre won’t grip when you speed up again.”

The fastest lap of the race last year was a 1:31.842; the pressure is on Zongshen 1 this year and Nowland has risen to the challenge.

Second place went to Piergiorgio Bontempi on the Suzuki Zongshen No.2 bike, with a time of 1:30.015 set yesterday; only a handful of riders went quicker today due to strong headwinds on the start-finish straight.

One rider who did improve was Jason Pridmore on the Suzuki GB Phase One bike, shaving off half a second but staying in third place. Yamaha GMT94 are in fourth place; the Oschersleben circuit suits their Yamaha R1’s handling and the team are also benefiting from the use of special tyres direct from the Michelin factory allowing them to make the most of the advantage.

Fifth place was taken by Suzuki Phase One Juniors after an impressive performance by Aussie Damian Cudlin. In sixth were last year’s Oschersleben winners Yamaha Endurance Moto 38, and taking seventh were Yamaha Austria. Eighth place goes to the wildcard Yamaha OBI Shell Bike Promo Yamaha R1.

Suzuki Police Nationale limited the number of laps they did today after suffering several crashes yesterday, but held onto ninth place. They are waiting for more engine parts to be received from France before the race tomorrow.

Suzuki KFM Herber, in tenth place, have a revised rider line up for this race, with Giachino replacing Bursa and Tode riding as reserve; the German team are aiming for consistency during the race but are feeling confindent.

The addition of Buell, Triumph and Aprilia to the Oschersleben grid has brought the total number of manufacturers represented in the 24 Hour World Endurance race to eight – a remarkably diverse entry list.

The Buell XB9R, Triumph 955 Daytona and Aprilia RSV1000R join more regular entrants from Suzuki (GSX-R1000), Yamaha (R1 and R6), Kawasaki (ZX9R and Z1000), Honda (CBR900RR and CBR600R) and Ducati (998R). Add in the Mondial Piega which has raced at most rounds this year, and the BMW R1100S which was entered at Suzuka, and the total comes up to ten for the championship as a whole.

2003, August 22

Provisional Top Ten Qualifying Positions

1. Suzuki Zongshen 1 (CHN) – Nowland, Mertens, Jerman: 1:29.961

2. Suzuki Zongshen 2 (CHN) – Bontempi, Bonhuil, Vanstaen: 1:30.015

3. Suzuki GB Phase One (GBR) – Pridmore, Ellison, Lindstrom, Hayes: 1:30.209

4. Yamaha GMT94 (FRA) – Foti, Checa, Scarnato: 1:30.965

5. Suzuki Phase One Junior Team (GBR) – Fincher, Jessop, Cudlin: 1:31.490

6. Yamaha Endurance Moto 38 (FRA) – Hacquin, Morillon, Cuzin : 1:31.658

7. Yamaha Austria (AUT) –Wilding, Saiger, Truchsess: 1:31.935

8. Yamaha OBI Shell (GER) – Knofler, Ludwig, Penzkofer, Bergau: 1:32.118

9. Suzuki Police Nationale 22 (FRA) – Giabbani, Blora, Kishida: 1:32.584

10. Suzuki Team KMF Herber (GER) – Herber, Giachino, Persson, Tode: 1:32.662

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

KING LOOKING TO BECOME THREE-TIME WINNER AT SEDALIA

AMA Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championship

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Rich King knows how to win at the Sedalia (Mo.) Half-mile. The 40-year-old Iowan racing veteran is a two-time winner at the track and this Saturday, Aug. 23, King hopes to win his third AMA Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championship race on Sedalia’s State Fair Speedway. For King, another win at Sedalia could help move him up from fifth in the series standings and enable him close in on series leader Chris Carr. Saturday night’s race at Sedalia is round 12 of the 17-race AMA Grand National Series. Also on the bill is round six of the Harley-Davidson Sportster Performance Series featuring riders racing equally matched Harley-Davidson 883cc Sportsters.

Since 1994 Sedalia has been a stop on the AMA tour. Chris Carr and Joe Kopp join King as former winners of the event, but it’s been King who has been the most consistent performer at the half-mile in recent years. King, who rides for the Harley-Davidson factory team, has finished in the top-five at Sedalia four of the last five years, including his victories there in 1999 and again last year. King is looking for his second victory of the season. He won on the Springfield Mile in May.

“Sedalia is a place where I always seem to do well,” said King, a 21–year veteran of the series. “It’s a typical Midwestern track like so many of the half-miles I came up racing on and I feel comfortable there. The races have been so close in the series this year that any one of 10 riders could probably win this weekend, but I’m hoping to get on top of the podium again. The series is coming to the homestretch and it’s time to make a move.”

Carr leads the championship coming into this race. He is on a mission to become only the second rider to win five AMA Grand National Championships in the nearly 50-year history of the series. Carr won at Sedalia in 2001 and was runner-up to King last year. Another win this Saturday could give Carr a sizable lead in the championships with only five rounds remaining on the schedule.

Californian Johnny Murphree is second in the series coming into Sedalia. He finished runner-up at Sedalia in 2000 and needs to have a good finish to try to close the 37-point gap Carr has on him. Joe Kopp won this race in 2000 and is third ranked in the series. Like Murphree, Kopp is looking to narrow Carr’s championship lead as the series heads towards its finale in Springfield, Ill., on Sept. 28.

Another rider to watch for at Sedalia could be Bryan Bigelow. The 22-year-old from Au Gres, Mich., is ranked 10th in the point standings coming into this weekend, but he’s quietly built an impressive race record at Sedalia. Over the last five year’s Bigelow has been one of the most consistent riders at the track. He’s scored three top-fives, including podium finishes in 2000 and 2001. He could be primed for a win on the half-mile even though his best finish this year was seventh at the Springfield TT in May.

Sedalia fans will get a full slate of racing on Saturday, with the sixth round of the Harley-Davidson Sportster Performance Series. Texan Scott Scherb leads that series after coming off his first win on Aug. 9 in Hagerstown, Md. Scott Stump, who won the very first Sportster race at Sedalia in 1994, is ranked second in the series. Cory McDermitt has scored top-10 finishes in every round this year, including two podium results, and is third in the series.

For additional information on the Sedalia Half-Mile contact (660) 826-2925.


SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

STATE FAIR SPEEDWAY, SEDALIA, MO, HALF-MILE


SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 2003

2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. – Registration at the track

2:30 p.m. – 4:40 p.m. – Tech Inspection at the track

4:45 p.m.- Riders Meeting

5:00 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. – Practice

6:00 p.m. – Qualifying heats

7:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies

8:00 p.m. – 8:10 p.m. – 1st Harley-Davidson Sportster Peformance Heat

8:10 p.m. – 8:20 p.m. – 2nd Harley-Davidson Sportster Performance Heat

8:20 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. – 3rd Harley-Davidson Sportster Performance Heat

8:30 p.m. – 8:40 p.m. – 1st Progressive Insurance Grand National Heat

8:40 p.m. – 8:50 p.m. – 2nd Progressive Insurance Grand National Heat

8:50 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. – 3rd Progressive Insurance Grand National Heat

9:00 p.m. – 9:10 p.m. – 4th Progressive Insurance Grand National Heat

9:10 p.m. – 9:25 p.m. – HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORTSTER PERFORMANCE FINAL

9:25 p.m. – 9:35 p.m. – Victory Circle for Harley-Davidson Sportster Performance Final

9:35 p.m. – 9:45 p.m. – 1st Progressive Insurance Grand National Semi

9:45 p.m. – 9:55 p.m. – 2nd Progressive Insurance Grand National Semi

9:55 p.m. – 10:05 p.m. – 3rd Progressive Insurance Grand National Semi

10:20 p.m. – 10:35 p.m. – AMA PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE GRAND NATIONAL FINAL

10:40 p.m.- Victory Circle for Grand National

From a press release issued by the AMA:

AMA URGES SOUTH DAKOTA OFFICIALS TO SEEK JUSTICE IN JANKLOW CASE

PICKERINGTON, OHIO — The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is calling on motorcyclists nationwide to contact South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds and South Dakota Attorney General Larry Long, and to urge them to seek justice in the case of U.S. Rep. Bill Janklow (R-S.D.), who was involved in a collision that took the life of a motorcyclist last Saturday.

On August 16, motorcyclist Randolph Scott of Hardwick, Minn., was killed in a collision with a car driven by Janklow. The fatal accident took place at the intersection of two county roads in eastern South Dakota where, according to reports, Janklow ran a stop sign while traveling 70mph to 75mph, resulting in the crash that took Scott’s life.

Using AMA Rapid Response, motorcyclists and other concerned citizens can send an e-mail message directly to South Dakota officials. AMA Rapid Response, which allows users to contact lawmakers, government officials and the media with the click of a button, is available on the Association’s website, AMADirectlink.com.