From a press release issued by Willow Springs International Raceway:

Willow Springs Offers Toll-Free Ticket Line For Golden Anniversary Weekend

Reduced Ticket Prices Through Oct 10th

Rosamond, CA – To accommodate the strong demand shown by race enthusiasts throughout the West for tickets to its historic Golden Anniversary Weekend, Willow Springs Raceway has established a toll-free ticket line: Tickets may now be purchased by calling (800) 496-1398.

Prices for the three-day event that includes the inaugural running of Roadracing World’s 250/50 and the 2nd Annual Toyota 200 are just $20 per person through October 10th, $30 each thereafter. Prices include free camping and pit passes. Children eight and under are free.

With purses and contingencies totaling nearly a quarter of a million dollars, Willow Springs Anniversary Weekend is destined to go into the record books as motorcycle road racing’s richest weekend ever. For complete information and ticket information, call (800) 496-1398 or visit www.willowspringsraceway.com.

For race entry information visit www.race-wsmc.com.

From a press release issued by Alice Aprilia Racing Press Information:

A NEW CHALLENGE CLOSE TO THE OCEAN

This is the hot zone of the world championship: the Portuguese GP of this Sunday will be the last European race before leaving for Brasil, Japan, Malaysia and Australia to end the championship in Valencia in the first week of November. The challenge is difficult but the Alice Aprilia Racing Team is ready considering all the news as usual. Marcellino Lucchi went to Mugello last week (Wednesday and Thursday) in order to test some solutions for the chattering problems that prevented the improvements of the Rs Cube in the last three races. A difficult job for the technicians and Michelin staff as well who tried new tyres on the Noale bike. Anyway Haga and Edwards worked hard to reach that objective.

The Japanese rider became daddy for the second time last 25 of August but he did not decide the name yet as the Japanese tradition allows him to wait for two weeks before taking the decision. Maybe the announcement could be made Saturday night during a special event organized by Aprilia in the hospitality unit. Colin Edwards came to Europe some days ago after the presentation of the new RSV1000 at the Nürburgring track.

Anyway the Aprilia riders will find a difficult track this week end with a long main straight (almost 1 km) and a series of slow corners in the final part. Moreover the wind is very strong bringing a lot of saddle into the track changing the grip features. Nothing easy for the MotoGP riders!!!

GIGI DALL’IGNA (Project Leader): “We did not make any vacation during the summer break: we still want to get better results in the final part of the season. For this reason the team worked hard in order to solve the chattering problems we had especially at Brno. Marcellino Lucchi tested several solutions working in the suspensions system. Then we had a good cooperation with Michelin (our official tyres supplier) that is going to create a new rear tyre exclusively for our bike. Finally a new fairing that will be used only in the next oversea races. Well. the development of the bike is increasing and I expect something interesting for this Portuguese race”.

THE TRACK

Fernanda Pires da Silva – Estoril: lenght 4.182 metres, equal to 2.599 miles.

Lap record: 1:40.683 Loris Capirossi (Honda 2001)

2002 Pole: 1:39.793 Carlos Checa (Yamaha 2002)


More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing Press Information:

HONDA RIDERS OUT IN FRONT IN CHAMPIONSHIP RUN-IN

The MotoGP entertainment machine is fully fired up and running at the rev-limiter as the concluding six races of a compelling season of racing so far begin at Estoril, near Lisbon in Portugal on Friday. Reigning World MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi (Repsol Honda RC211V) predicted his Championship defence would be harder than ever this year — and so it is proving.

But the Italian, with able assistance from title hopefuls Sete Gibernau (Telefonica MoviStar Honda RC211V) and Max Biaggi (Camel Pramac Pons RC211V), is providing some of the closest racing yet seen in the premier class. At Brno in August the top five riders were covered by just 1.17 seconds before Rossi snatched the lead from Gibernau on the last lap, breaking the lap record as he won by just four hundredths of a second from the Spaniard.

As the title race intensifies, this level of fully committed combat looks set to continue at Estoril. The three main protagonists are looking to change the shape of the World Championship points table before the Rio Grand Prix in Brazil and before MotoGP later moves east for three rounds in close succession: Motegi in Japan, Sepang in Malaysia and Phillip Island in Australia. Then the series returns to Europe for the final race at Valencia in Spain in November.

Estoril is thus a pivotal race in the Championship and Rossi, who has tasted success in Portugal in 2001 and 2002 will be looking to secure a bigger points lead in Sunday’s race. He heads the Championship from Gibernau by 34 points with Biaggi in third place just 37 points behind Gibernau. With 150 points up for grabs from six races, the destiny of the 2003 title is by no means certain.

The 2.598km circuit is likely to provide intriguing racing. With one long straight the Autodromo Fernanda Pires Da Silva on the Atlantic coast 30km north west of Lisbon puts something of a premium on top speed. But it is also one of the ‘slowest’ tracks on the calendar with a series of 13 turns, some tight, some long constant radius and with a tricky chicane on the back section of the circuit too.

Machine set-up requires a bike that has good balance with stable turn-in, as braking into the entries to the corners is crucial, especially in the final two turns that lead onto the start/finish straight. Good drive out of the turns is also a prime requirement and a machine that can ‘hook-up’ well out of the corners is what riders will be searching for during the two days of qualifying.

The track also has its fair share of bumps, especially through turns one and two, and as ever, a balanced trade-off between agility, stability and the ability to ride the rippled tarmac of the early corners will be the ideal. That Rossi, Gibernau and Biaggi are all Honda RC211V-mounted only adds to the pressure that all three be under as they begin the long process of maximising the performance of their V5 four-stroke Hondas.

Wind and dust are also factors to be taken into account on this coastal track. High winds, and frequently rain, are never a surprise here, and the dust that the winds blow onto the track can often reduce grip levels considerably – until the bikes have ‘laid down’ rubber on the racing line and cleaned the surface to the extent that grip becomes more predictable.

Rossi is on a roll after Brno. With four wins to his credit so far, the World Champion will be gunning for an Estoril victory. “The last race really was the result we needed,” he said. “Now we return to Estoril where I have done okay in the past and we’re hoping for another good result before the very hard flyaway part of the season. We tested after Brno which was positive and we are in good shape.”

His nearest challenger Gibernau expects Estoril to be a happy hunting ground. “I have something with the Portuguese track,” he said. “I like it a lot. Last year I was having a good race until I crashed towards the end. I had it in my hand and I threw it away. But my form is very encouraging and I feel it’s payback time for me in Estoril. I like the track, the bike is working well and I’m battling with Valentino. We just have to keep on doing the things we are doing well and keep working at it.”

Biaggi knows he needs a big result here. Having won only one race so far this year, the Roman needs a win to put pressure on the title contenders ahead of him and after riding 85 laps of Brno in the Czech Republic in testing last month, he is determined to make Estoril count for him. “We are all determined and working hard,” he said. “We are nearly where we want to be with the new parts we tested and now it’s time to get back to work.”

Biaggi’s team-mate Tohru Ukawa (Camel Pramac Pons RC211V) has been buoyed by a very positive test at Brno and the Japanese should enjoy a return to form in Portugal. He was fastest by seven tenths of a second at Brno – faster than Rossi, Biaggi and Gibernau – and he knows Estoril is a critical race of the season for him. “I now feel much more comfortable on the bike,” he said. “And I have to make this feeling count now and keep working.”

American Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC211V) is enjoying his rookie year in MotoGP and returns to Europe invigorated by the summer break. “It’s been real good getting back home for a bit and just chillin’ with my friends and family,” he said. “But I’m looking forward to getting back on the Honda and pushing higher up the table. There are six races to go and I’ve ridden the last four tracks so I should be able to push from the start.”

Japanese rookies Makoto Tamada (Pramac Honda RC211V) and Ryuichi Kiyonari (Telefonica MoviStar Honda RC211V) have yet to ride at Estoril. “I will be working on my starts,” said Tamada. “I have had to work too hard in races because I haven’t always been able get away with the main pack.” Kiyonari…

In the 250 class it’s tight at the top too. Manuel Poggiali heads the overall standings with 145 points, from Fonsi Nieto, who won here last year, (both Aprilia) on 136 and Roberto Rolfo (Fortuna Honda RS250RW) on 135 is fighting with great skill and measured determination to get the better of the Italian machines.

“I enjoy racing at Estoril, I’ve had some good results there,” said Rolfo. “The Honda chassis is really good and I think we have the opportunity to do well this time. The handling characteristics of the Honda will be an advantage but we still need a little more speed. Good acceleration off the last corner onto the straight is vital at Estoril, if we find that we will have a chance on Sunday. I just hope it doesn’t rain, it’s not a good track to race on in wet conditions.”

The hugely experienced Argentine rider Sebastian Porto (Telefonica MoviStar Junior Team RS250RW) is confident Estoril will suit his V-twin machine. “I like Estoril and had a good week here last year,” he said. “I was on pole and finished third in the race. The track will suit the Honda more than Brno because there is just one straight and the corners are closer together which is ideal for the handling and suspension characteristics of the bike.”

The 125cc category is typically tight, although the overall points standings don’t quite reflect the intensity of the competition. After his win at Brno Daniel Pedrosa (Telefonica MoviStar Junior Team RS125R) heads the table with 162 points from Stefano Perugini (Aprilia) on 137 and Andrea Dovizioso (Team Scot Honda RS125R) on 112.

The young Spaniard Pedrosa is typically frank about the tracks he likes and dislikes, but he knows he has work to do regardless. “At Brno it was important to show the others I was ‘fit’ to win again,” he said. “Estoril is not one of my favourite tracks, but it’s one of 16 we have to race on. As for the Championship there is still a lot of hard work to do in the six remaining races, 25 points is a good cushion – but nowhere near enough.”

Thomas Luthi (Elit Grand Prix Honda RS125R) faces a medical examination at Estoril on Thursday before deciding if he will race. The young Swiss rider was brought down by a crashing rival at Brno. Luthi emerged with a crack in his upper thigh. “I will have a check up at the Clinica Mobile on Thursday, if I pass I will race. If not I will have to wait until Rio.”

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

Everyone seems so quiet after the second VIR Superbike race was not televised, not to mention
that the FX race will not be shown, either. Has everyone just given up?

I guess we now know for sure that the CEO of SpeedChannel, no matter how much he says that he
enjoys motorcycle racing, really just stretches the truth when it is convenient to keep
people happy for awhile.

Sounds like the CEOs of a lot of companies. Makes me sick.

Paul Trautman
San Jose, California


More, from another reader:

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

Thanks to Roadracing World for keeping me updated on the second race at VIR. God knows SpeedTV couldn’t. Finally a day off of work and no racing (motorcycles that is). They SUCK!

Just wanted to thank you all for the coverage. Too bad we missed Kurtis’ first SB win.

Douglas J. Russell
Glen Cove, New York


Reaction, from another reader:

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

I almost forgot they broadcast motorcycles! They almost have me brainwashed into the NASCAR cult. A matter of fact, I was watching TV last night and totally forgot about Two Wheel Tuesday. Or, should it be called Two Wheel Late Tuesday Night – for an hour after most people go to bed.

I am just fed-up to the point where nothing surprises mean anymore!

I’ll just rely on Roadracing World to post results on the web and read the articles when my issue comes.

Justin Marm
Horsham, Pennsylvania

From a press release issued by Honda Racing Press Information:

THE CATHEDRAL CALLS FOR HONDA’S HOPEFULS

After an extended summer vacation the World Supersport Championship contenders gather together in Northern Holland this Friday, to challenge at the unique and timeless Assen circuit once more. Sometimes referred to as the ‘Cathedral’ of bike racing, sometimes called the ‘Riders’ Academy’, Assen is a modern classic with a long history. Its current 6.027km length and 24 corners present a genuine challenge even to riders of the calibre of runaway World Championship leader Chris Vermeulen (Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR)

With five free weekends since the previous round at Brands Hatch for most of the competitors, many have made use of their leisure time to relax and recharge their batt eries for the end of season push. For some, like Vermeulen, the thrill of competition has punctuated the holiday period.

The young Aussie, only 21-years-old and one of eight supported Honda riders in this year’s championship fight, competed at the shorter national-level Assen circuit some four weeks ago, as part of the Dutch Championships. Vermeulen’s experience of Supersport machinery and his rapid Ten Kate Honda have been a devastating combination this year, pushing him fully 37 points clear of his closest competitor Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Yamaha), with only three races to go.

Vermeulen, an uncomplicated character with a mature head on young shoulders, acknowledges that his recent experiences at Assen even the shorter version of the multiple cambered track may give him an edge on many of his regular competitors.

“Assen should be good for us, partly because the track is so close to the team’s base, and it will be a home round of sorts,” said Vermeulen in the run up to the Dutch event. “We did a National Championship race and although we didn’t use the full track we’ll be racing on in the World Championship event, it does give you a feel for it. I think it will be an advantage for us, especially if it rains, because we have good base settings for the bike in the dry. We don’t have to worry too much if practice is wet but the race itself is dry.”

One of four factory Honda riders to have already tasted the Assen circuit in the aforementioned Dutch National race was Vermeulen’s team-mate, Karl Muggeridge (Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR).

“It was good to be able to race at Assen and we have already got reasonably good settings for the race. So a lot of the set-up work is no longer ahead of us anymore and that makes us confident for the race itself,” said Muggeridge. “We only raced the last time on the shorter National circuit but all the information we gathered will be useful this weekend.”

Broc Parkes (BKM Honda CBR600RR) acknowledges Assen is a difficult circuit to master, but nonetheless is looking forward to another high-speed run through the Dutch countryside.

“I have had some reasonably good results there is Superbike and I like the layout of the track,” said Parkes. “I think it’s a place you have to go at least twice before you get it really right. It’s not an easy place to set good lap times right away, because it’s so long. You also have to have a fast bike for Assen it’s a horsepower circuit. You can gain to some extent in the corners, unlike Monza for example, but you do have to have a lot of power.”

Christophe Cogan (BKM Honda CBR600RR) has been a consistent threat to the top ten positions all year but feels that a lack of testing in the run-up to the Assen round will not help his cause.

“We did not get a chance to test in the break so we will have to see how we get on when we get there,” said Cogan.

Robert Ulm (Klaffi Honda CBR600RR) eagerly anticipates one of his favourite circuits of the season, an unusual choice for a rider who normally prefers slower tracks such as Valencia or Misano.

“I have only tested a racebike in my head since the break but I have had two Supermoto races, one in Germany and one in Austria,” said the long time World Superbike rider. “The race results themselves were not so good but it is very good training for machine control so I am happy and ready for Assen. It’s a nice circuit for me, a safe track, and I like the fact that there are so many corners.”

Sebastien Charpentier (Klaffi Honda CBR600RR) grabbed the unexpected chance to shine in the Klaffi Honda team this year with both hands, and he sees Assen as another circuit he has a realistic chance to score a podium at.

“My feel for Assen is very, very good,” enthused the Frenchman. “I like the track because last year I was fifth in practice, even though my bike was not the fastest. This year the machine is much better so to be at Assen, with the new bike, the new team, my physical condition being OK this is perfect! Assen is normally a pleasure for me in any case.”

Iain Macpherson (van Zon Honda CBR600RR) sharpened his Assen build-up at the recent Dutch National Championship race, behind the two Ten Kate Machines of Vermeulen and Muggeridge.

“I was third at the Assen race but Vermeulen and Muggeridge pulled away from me a little,” stated Macpherson. “I couldn’t understand it at first because I knew I was riding quite well and the bike set-up was good. Those two are riding particularly well but I found out later they were also trying out some new parts. If you do not have quite the same level of equipment as the opposition it’s even more difficult. At Assen we should have exactly the same spec of machine as them so that’s going to be very welcome.”

Werner Daemen (van Zon Honda CBR600RR) turned around his misfortune in the Dutch National at Assen to plan his strategy for the forthcoming WSS round.

“I also raced at Assen after Brands only on the little circuit,” stated the Belgian protagonist. “It was useful for set-up and we learned some good information about race tyres. The tyre I used in the race was unable to go the full distance so we know which tyre to use for the World Championship race distance if the temperatures are the same of course.”

After the Assen race round ten of the championship will take place at another classically sculpted race circuit, Imola in Italy on September 28.


More, from a press release issued by FGSport:

FIM SUPERBIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

The Netherlands Round 10 – Assen
Assen Race Preview

A SHIFT TO THE CENTRE

The importance of the Assen race to the whole World Superbike paddock is immense, and for more than just the reasons of the Circuit van Drenthe’s long and proud history as a motorcycle racing venue.

Traditionally falling towards the end of the SBK calendar, Assen has frequently been the venue for some titanic battles on track, many of them deciding championships outright or firming up which of any particular year’s hopefuls will be going into the final race or two with a genuine chance of securing the coveted World Championship.

This year may be no different, as championship leader Neil Hodgson (Ducati Fila 999 F03) enjoys a monumental 150 point lead over his team-mate Ruben Xaus, the only man capable of overhauling his total. It will take a Herculean winning run from now to the season climax at the French circuit of Magny Cours on 19 October for Xaus to snatch the laurels from Hodgson, plus a huge amount of misfortune would have to befall the Englishman for anything other than Hodgson’s name to grace the championship trophy.

The last Ducati World Champion, Troy Bayliss, won his single title in 2001 at Assen and Hodgson’s side of the Ducati Corse garage at least will be hoping for a similar trick at this most challenging of circuits.

Fast and curvaceous, long and festooned with cambered corners, Assen belies its completely flat topography by being one of the most challenging and technical circuits imaginable. Much modified from its original closed road nature, being purpose built by the standards of the day in 1954, Assen is a true classic rider’s track, exclusively aimed at motorcycle racing, and despite being widened, shortened and continually remodelled for safety reasons, it is still something of a breathtaking final exam of any rider’s all round abilities.

Machine speed is King at Assen, but it has to be allied to a cool use of racecraft and no little expression of rhythm on behalf of the rider.

Of the current SBK crop, only Pierfrancesco Chili (Ducati PSG-1 998 RS) has been able to score a win at Assen thus far, although in past years there have been close calls for riders like Xaus and Troy Corser (Foggy Petronas FP-1).

Chili has a win under his belt already this year, and he approaches Assen as one of a select band of only five riders to have done so.
Hodgson’s runaway lead is peppered with 11 race wins, Xaus has taken three victories, Chili and James Toseland (HM Plant Ducati 998 F02) one apiece and in the previous round Shane Byrne (Monstermob Ducati 998 F02) took both Brands Hatch victories as a preamble to securing the British Championship.

Arguably the most improved rider in the series this year is James Toseland, who has already suffered pain and injury for his high-speed art, but is now reaping the rewards in status and respect from a watching world. On one of the best bikes in the field, podiums at Assen are a genuine prospect for Toseland, but as the rolling mauls for the top points scoring places have shown this season, the competition will be as stiff as ever at Assen.

Regis Laconi (NCR Nortel Caracchi 998RS) has been close to a win this year and his fourth place in the championship makes him the top ‘true’ privateer, running a fast customer machine rather than a new or season old factory machine.

The awesome early season performances from Gregorio Lavilla and the Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 have stumbled a little of late but each has done enough to show they have what it takes at true world level. Once more the impressive Vittorio Iannuzzo will be in company with Lavilla, on a somewhat less full factory spec machine.
Injury and drama have been constant companions for Toseland’s team-mate Chris Walker this year, putting him sixth overall at present, by the slender margin of 13 points.

With many a DNF to his name Chili matches his race number 7 to his championship position, but he is nonetheless a whopping 62 points ahead of Aussie privateer Steve Martin in eighth place, the Pirelli shod rider just ahead of his team mate Marco Borciani and another perennial SBK privateer, Lucio Pedercini.

The spread of talent this season extends not only to those in possession of a machine currently capable of race wins. The Foggy Petronas effort, a high profile and high class affair has yet to show engine performance capable of taking either Corser or second rider James Haydon to the podium, but few doubt that when the machine is as developed as its unique 900cc three cylinder format allows, top results will be within reach.

As well as four local wild cards, there will be a proliferation of ‘foreign’ competitors, the most high profile being proven SBK race winner John Reynolds on his Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000. The huge attendance of British spectators at Assen, just a ferry hop across the North Sea from the UK, will be entertained by another of their compatriots, Leon Haslam (Renegade Ducati).

In the World Supersport Championship, now approaching round nine, Chris Vermeulen (Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR), still enjoys a comfortable 37 point championship lead over Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Yamaha Belgarda R6), but the fight for second at this moment in time is as close as it is possible to be.

Katsuaki Fujiwara (Alstare Suzuki GSX-R600) has been as potent a threat as ever, scoring a win, like his team-mate Stephane Chambon, who secured the last race at Brands Hatch. This trio, all chasing Vermeulen as three races remain, are some way clear of fifth place man Christian Kellner (Yamaha Motor Germany R6).

The only other man to have won a race this year is reigning champ Fabien Foret (Kawasaki Racing Team ZX-6RR), who sits in overall eighth place.

A huge 19 factory supported machines have been competing for the World Supersport crown this season, making Vermeulen’s win tally of four an outstanding achievement. This is tempered by the knowledge that all four competing manufacturers have scored at least one win.

Each race weekend from now on features a full card; as the season completes its calendar in Europe – the remaining rounds taking place Imola (September 28) and Magny Cours (October 19).

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Kurtis Roberts says he is 99 percent sure he will be racing in the MotoGP World Championship next season.

“It’s 99 percent, pretty much. I don’t know with who,” said Roberts Wednesday via cell phone from North Carolina. “There’s a few things we’re working on right now. You know how it is over there. It’s so f**king hard to talk about because they’re in such a changing process. There’s new teams coming, and there’s a few things going on, possibilities, things like that.”

The only way Roberts would stay in the AMA? “If I have another year with a guaranteed two years in Europe after that I might possibly stay, but I’m not really interested at all to be here (AMA),” said Roberts.

Roberts said one of his MotoGP opportunities is with his father’s Proton Team KR.

Roberts has been racing in the AMA with American Honda for the last six years, 1998-2003, and has won two AMA Formula Xtreme (1999 and 2000) and one AMA 600cc Supersport (2000) Championships.

As for recent reports that Eric Bostrom will be riding Kawasaki’s Ninja ZX-RR MotoGP bike in 2004, Bostrom’s manager Norm Viano calls those reports “speculation” but did confirm again that Bostrom is contracted to Kawasaki in 2004.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Ever wonder why factory team riders and managers often suggest that Thursday practice should be eliminated from AMA National road race weekends?

The reasons tossed about by team managers include complaints that their semi-trucks have to show up to park on Wednesday instead of Thursday, that their mechanics are away from home too much and risk burn-out, and that it increases costs in terms of hotel bills, food, etc.

But it may just be because their riders don’t need it, thanks to extensive stand-alone testing.

(Note here that any increases in incremental costs or mechanic time away from home associated with participating in Thursday practice are tiny compared to the cost of stand-alone testing, which includes additional travel expenses and time.)

Since January 1, Chino, California-based Yoshimura Suzuki has tested at the following locations, for the indicated time periods:

Sepang, Malaysia, 4 days

Laguna Seca, Monterey, California, 2 days

Road Atlanta, Braselton, Georgia, 3 days

Pikes Peak International Raceway, Fountain, Colorado, 2 days

VIR, Alton, Virginia, 3 days

Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Alabama, 3 days

VIR, Alton, Virginia, 2 days

Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida, 2 days

That totals 21 days, or, more than twice the number of Thursday practice days (9) available to non-factory riders prior to AMA race weekends this year.

And during those 21 test days, very few riders were on the track at any given moment, and the track was open all day instead of being divided into separate sessions.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Major delays in the AMA race program Sunday at Virginia International Raceway can be traced to one loose oil drain plug, but the burning question posed by fans who attended the event or tuned into SPEED to watch the races is, why did AMA Pro Racing run the Supersport race instead of the Superbike race when it had the chance on Sunday?

Sunday’s race schedule at VIR was slated to start with the 18-lap Supersport race at noon, but a rain shower just before the race forced an adjustment to the plan. AMA Pro Racing officials gave teams extra time to change to rain tires, quickly scheduled a short rain practice (something they have been criticized for not doing in the past) and planned to start the race following an additional two, consecutive warm-up laps. The race would have started at approximately 12:30 p.m. if had not been for one oversight – the tightening and safety wiring of racer Chris Peris’ oil drain plug.

On those two, consecutive warm-up laps, Peris’ drain plug fell out of his Honda CBR600RR and dropped several quarts of oil in turns three and four. Peris escaped injury when he fell in turn four, but the damage to the track was done. Such an amount of oil would be time-consuming to properly clean off of a dry racetrack, but removing the oil from the wet surface was extremely difficult.

After cornerworkers’ best quick-fix efforts, Supersport riders were sent back out for another warm-up lap prior to proposed 2:00 p.m. race start. Racers returned to the grid to immediately tell AMA officials that the track in turns three and four was in no condition to race on. Ben Spies said he had to put his foot down to keep from crashing on the warm-up lap, and Spies’ foot kicked up enough “white stuff” to completely cover Tony Meiring’s faceshield. Lee Acree said, “I can’t believe they sent us out on that.”

Cornerworkers went back out and tried to clean the track with a fire hose. Since the rain had stopped and the majority of the track was dry, workers then had to dry turns three and four with brooms and a few blowers. At approximately 4:00 p.m., Supersport riders went out for another 10-minute practice session to assess the track before their race, found it to be in relatively good condition and held an exciting 12-lap final, which was televised on SPEED well beyond the Superbike race’s live TV window, originally scheduled for 3:00 p.m..

Roadracingworld.com asked AMA Pro Racing Road Race Series Manager Ron Barrick why the Supersport race was run and not the Superbike race?

“The plan was to try and continue in the order we were running,” said Barrick Wednesday. “The 600s had already been out; they had had a little bit of wet track practice. It’s not so easy to all off a sudden make a decision, ‘OK, as soon as we get the track ready we’re going to bring Superbikes up.’ Because one, it’s impossible to say exactly how long it was going to be before the track was ready. The teams always want to prepare and have the tire warmers on for a certain period of time and so forth. It’s never easy to shift gears and tell one crew to go put their equipment away and tell every one else to bring their Superbike stuff out. In that transition time while you’re waiting for all that to happen you could have the track come good and be ready to race, and the 600s were ready to race. We could have actually wasted time by doing that, potentially, if the track had dried quickly. And of course they were drying it as quickly as they could with the blowers and so forth they had available, but it was difficult with the humidity and the heat, the conditions that they were working under.

“Had it not rained again, which it was impossible to predict with 100 percent certainty, we would have been able (with available daylight) to get the Superbike race in after the Supersport race. Or some race in after the Supersport race. Obviously, it started raining while we were doing the podium for the Supersport race, and that brought the oil back out of the track…The track was absolutely not raceable with the oil on the track at that point.

“The track promoter and myself evaluated the situation. We owed it to the spectators to make a decision and get the program moving again. So we rescheduled for Monday.

“We’ve been getting a lot of e-mails from spectators wondering what was going on. We’re even being accused of not racing when the track was ready just to wait for a TV window and stuff like that. Maybe through your magazine you could make it a little bit clearer to the public that we started racing as soon as we possibly could with the conditions of the track. It had nothing to do with waiting for television. Our goal is to put on a show for the spectators but on a surface that is safe for the competitors.”

Had it not been for the oil on the track, the day would have continued with a little tire juggling in the half-wet/half-dry conditions. Will any action be taken against Peris?

“His father, who, I guess, acts as his mechanic, had an apology e-mailed to me,” said Barrick. “I’m sure Chris feels as bad as he possibly can about the situation. You know, nonetheless, the rules do state, the technical rules, that safety wire on the drain plug is one of the mandatory items. There will be something, but I haven’t taken any action yet. It’s sad that the economic impact to everyone was so great and a lot of fans were disappointed, but we had to do what we had to do to create a safe racetrack.”

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The cost of the extra day and the fact that it was already over budget for the year led Speed Channel executives to decide crews would not stay to tape the AMA races that were postponed from Sunday to Monday at Virginia International Raceway.

“If you think about it, we have 50 crew people. The majority of them are freelancers, (and) some of them had to work on Monday. So we would have had to source some new people. Plus you all of a sudden have to go to the hotel and extend it on a holiday weekend. Plus you have the (production) truck rental, the camera rentals, all that stuff. It’s somewhere close to $100,000 to run an extra day on Monday. Who’s going to write that check?” said one member of the SPEED Channel production team who asked to remain anonymous.

“SPEED Channel already lost money because they went three hours live for one, 12-lap (Supersport) race. So now they’re in jeopardy of losing another $100,000 on top of that, if the race did run (on Monday). So that’s really why those things happen.

“If you look at it, all of the races that have gone over this year, SPEED has stayed with them. The other factor too is we are at the end of the season. Any budget that was available to do something like this has been spent because we’ve gone over at Daytona and during the hours when a race has been red-flagged we’ve stayed. It’s gone an an hour 45 (minutes) sometimes or a two-hour program. So all those things add up.

“But you hear it all the time (from viewers and fans), ‘You guys are f**king a**holes!’ Look, it is a business. We’re not out there for our health, and we’re not out there to make sure Kurtis Roberts has a great career. It’s one of those things. The racers I’ve spoke with understood.”

Even if SPEED had stayed to tape Monday’s AMA Superbike race, airing it would have been another story, according to our source.

“When are you going to run it? There are already contractual obligations to shows to run on Monday. The programming lineup is full on Monday. So when are you going to run it? 2:00 a.m.? There are so many factors involved with other racing series, other television shows, advertising dollars. Some (advertisers) pay for very specific spots in very specific places. So that’s all under consideration.”


Reaction from a reader:

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

SPEED’S best excuse for not staying is that they’re already over budget?

Any business plan has a certain contingency factor based on the variables inherent in whatever endeavor you’re planning to undertake. Racing is an outdoor activity. The weather can affect your activities outdoors. If it rains, you may have to reschedule things. I’m quite sure SPEED executives knew this about racing as the 4-500 NASCAR events they televise daily occur outdoors as well. I’m fairly sure there are rain days figured into the budget.

They complain that even if they had stayed to tape the race, they wouldn’t have been able to fit it into the line-up? I’ve got an idea. How about bumping a couple episodes of American Musclecar or power boat racing that you’ve aired 12 times each that week already. As for the advertisers who paid to be in a specific spot at a specific time, Bulls**t! They paid to be aired during the broadcast of an AMA Superbike race because those are their target customers. Show it live on Monday morning and the viewership undoubtedly will be less due to people’s work schedules, but re-air it prime-time Monday evening with some teasers throughout the day and the advertisers will get their money’s worth. As an aside, when SPEED sells advertising packages to sponsors, these contingencies and many more you’d never even think about are covered in the contract.

I’m quite sure if they postponed a big NASCAR race, make that any NASCAR race, SPEED would be there to pick up the pieces regardless of any outside factors. Surely they would claim the popularity and income generation NASCAR provides as the reason, but how do they think NASCAR got that way? Major networks made a major commitment to covering their series in a comprehensive manner. Lo and behold, a fan base was created. This must be the way it happened, otherwise, I defy anyone to explain why millions of people will sit willingly in front of a television set and watch cars that all look alike going around in circles at an almost constant speed. Gee, I wonder if people might find motorcycle racing as exciting as NASCAR if it was presented to them in the same format i.e. professional quality broadcasts with informative (read non-Greg White generated) trackside commentary, rider personality profiles, and a look into the great and storied history of the sport?

To paraphrase one of your contributors on the website, it would be just swell if SPEED would stop torturing the sport and its fans and just admit defeat. SPEED, you don’t support motorcycle racing in any meaningful way and it shows. Give it over to someone who will at least make an honest effort to showcase this exciting and diverse sport.

The AMA is complicit in this poor showing also. They may not feel they have many options as they do not have the know how, budget or infrastructure to televise their own series, but this is no excuse to sit back and let SPEED air the series as an afterthought. Tell you what, AMA, I’ll even help bail you out of the jam. What say we set up some development meetings with the big three and pitch the series in a provocative manner? We could spend around 250K on a super slick demo reel and fly a few key executives out to some events for some VIP treatment. I’ll even chip in, but you’ve got to share profits down the road.

Have some faith in your own product and market it like any other business. You’re giving up multiple revenue opportunities. Remember five years ago when no one knew what the hell the X-Games were? Now you can buy Tony Hawk dolls for God’s sake! Is it unrealistic that a Ben Bostrom doll or a die cast Mat Mladin GSX-R1000 (with cooperation from Honda and Suzuki of course) wouldn’t work if properly marketed? Just imagine it… AMA racer trading cards, a Barber Motorsports Park slot-bike track with a little life-like Aaron Yates, the mind boggles…

Tony Shortman
Southwest Commercial Real Estate
Director of Land and Investment Services
Las Vegas, Nevada



More reaction, from another reader:

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

There has been an outcry against SPEED TV for limiting their motorcycle programing. SPEED cites ratings and economic issues as their reasoning. It is hard to believe that some of the shows that have replaced motorcycle programing on TV will have a bigger audience, and an audience that buys products like motorcycle owners do. Speedvision provided motorcycle programming at a level that had never been seen before. The new operators of SPEED made promises concerning keeping the motorcycle programming, then promptly broke them. So here we are today. This change in programming will have far reaching consequences beyond viewer entertainment.

SPEED has put out that they will only run races once. Unfortunately most races are run in the prime riding/racing season when many motorcyclists are not at home watching. The placement of “Two Wheeled Tuesday” in the line-up shows that SPEED wants failure of motorcycle programming, the show itself is proof that they want motorcycle programming to fail. In the winter, after the seasons are over, what will SPEED show? Will they show anything racing related? Will we at least get European speedway? Maybe this year. The “insider” letter put it plainly, SPEED will not make any more concessions then it already has for motorcycle racing. Motorcycle racing on SPEED then is in effect in a death spiral.

While the European circuits will be largely unaffected the AMA will feel it. The advertising value of AMA road racing sponsorship will diminish, so will advertising dollars. Event promoters will see less money for their events, less money, less promotion of events. The road racers themselves, even the well financed factory teams will feel the pinch. From the factory perspective if the overall advertising worth of road racing is decreased their efforts will decrease – fewer factory rides. The less-well-heeled teams will feel it first, many won’t survive the next few years. AMA road racing will return to a being a very large club event. What that means for track availability, safety measures, payouts, and participation is also bleak.

Television, for better or worse, decides the long-term viability of a sport in today’s world. SPEED has made it clear that there is no room for motorcycle road racing in their future vision. Some will say this is a good thing, that the sport became too big, too expensive. Well if the fans, the racing participants, the promoters, the motorcyle manufacturers, and the AMA don’t work together to keep the sport on television then it certainly will not be too big or expensive, we may even be referring to this time as the “last great years of AMA Road racing” for some time to come.

Joe White
Boone, Iowa



Yet more reaction, from yet another reader:

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

To add a little more fuel to the Speed TV fire, and I do hope they burn, I have given up writing e-mails to them because I realized it is a complete waste of time. I have written loads of messages over the past few months ever since I saw the bike programming boat start to sink and have never even received an acknowlegement let alone a reply. I have talked to Greg White face-to-face this year at Road America, Laguna Seca and Mid-Ohio and I am pretty damn sure that he is very frustrated with this whole deal but couldn’t say anything because you don’t bite the hand that feeds you.

I grew up in the UK where motorcycles are the norm, motorcyclists have rights and motorcycle racing has an enormous following. I’ve been here since 1977 and still cannot understand why anyone would be interested in NASCAR. I don’t like any racing where they only turn in one direction even if it’s bikes…BORING.

Having now given up any hope of ever seeing any decent bike race coverage on Speed/NASCAR TV ever again I think we should concentrate our hopes and efforts on getting them to give it up altogether and let Outdoor Life Network, or even the Wheels TV mentioned in an e-mail, have the contract. I hope the likes of you guys, the AMA and any other organization that derives income or enjoyment from motorcycle road racing will join us in the fight to get rid of any association with Speed TV.

And to Mr Carl Jensen, where have you been watching quote, “3 or 4 hours of the greatest sport on earth”? Sure as hell ain’t been on Speed TV lately. They make enough money off NASCAR that they could subsidize our entertainment very easily. Forget them…I’m for OLN or even Wheels TV (have to get more info on them).

Mike Hughes
Rockford, Illinois

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

I have posted several complaints to SPEED offices and their motorcycle message board about what they are doing to motorcycle road racing coverage, but the majority of posters seem to be more concerned that their complaints will somehow reduce road race coverage, if they care at all. Face it, SPEED is looking for lapdog viewers anyway.

I wrote a letter to VIR management encouraging them to take any action they could to create an economic impact on the AMA and SPEED for their loss of revenue, since they seemed to be the only group interested in seeing the event promoted, but who knows where the money falls out in this deal.

” . . . And Nothing” [Now the AMA has joined SPEED in imitating Reuben Xaus to provide explanations for ruining motorcycle road race promotion in the U.S.] I guess pretty soon we’ll be reduced to watching leftovers produced with European advertising dollars.

John Cone
Marion, North Carolina


FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

I can remember a time in the not so distant past when motorcycle racing was on Speed for the main event, usually live, and re-aired on Fox Sports Channels and Speed throughout the rest of the week. Motorcycle racing galore!

Alas, those times have gone the way of the dodo.

Now we are relegated to appetizers of motorcycle racing when the NASCAR programming “gods” feel the need to throw us a crumb.

Perhaps the reason why there is no outcry about the loss of motorcycle road race programming is that we all know this patient is a terminal case. We are just waiting for it to die.

I have never understood the fascination that America has with the mindless circling of good ol’ boys being passed off as exciting racing. Maybe marketing has not been that good for motorcycles, or maybe the view of motorcycles being ridden by lawless rebels is too much to overcome. In any case, I believe that motorcycle racing has never gotten a fair shake or enough exposure to bring it to the forefront.

And obviously SPEED has no intention to try to invest any time to it. This is understandable, as they can make more money showing a boring racing series, commented upon with mindless drivel from the announcers.

Well SPEED, at the very least then, relinquish your rights to the series and let someone else have a go at it. If I remember, the Outdoor Life Network expressed a serious interest in showing motorcycle road racing on their channel. Perhaps next year, you can have your precious NASCAR channel, and we motorcyle road racing fans can see what we want on another channel, and boycott yours altogether. I might call that a perfect world.

Or maybe I can just move to Europe, where they
actually show motorcycle racing on TV, not the morsels you haphazardly throw at us.

But at the very least, let someone interested in showing these races to the public have a stab at it.

Give it up, SPEED!

Steve Sturm
Glendora, California


FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

Why is it that Fox TV does not show motorcycle racing anymore? Like it was said earlier you could turn on the TV and run up and down the Fox TV channels and find the latest AMA race shown for the entire week after the event. Now there is nothing and their programming seems to be in need of help. Is the viewer attendance to these reruns really that poor?

And, yes Speed TV’s recent change has left most of us road racing devotees holding the empty bag. Two Wheel Tuesday, what a farce!

Damn it, I want my motorcycle road racing coverage!

Jeff Short
Sacramento, California



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

I have written to SPEED many times over these last few months asking them why the are slowly putting our sport to death on their channel. I never get a reply. Go figure.

Ever since the NASCAR kings took this network over we knew this was coming. They are slowly and systematically erasing motorcycles from their network so they can show rerun after rerun of “old” NASCAR races.

Let’s face it, unless WE do something, within 2 years, Motorcycle racing will be gone completely from SPEED’s lineup. 2 wheel Tuesday was just the start ladies and gentlemen, maybe it’s time to start boycotting the network and getting some Congressional help for our cause. I know we have at least one Congressman that rides bikes.

Lloyd Magruder
Birmingham, Alabama


FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

As an addendum to my earlier comments and after finding out more about the situation, I get even sicker.

Let’s start with the AMA not having a requirement in their contract that the TV crew cannot leave until racing is finished. Then the AMA had to negotiate with the VIR just to run the races because the contract with VIR guaranteed TV coverage, which was now driving down the road. You would think that weather has never caused a problem with a racing event before. The only organizations that are run with so many publicly displayed blunders than AMA Pro Racing where upper management keeps their jobs are all run by the government.

Then we have Chet Burks coming out and saying that the network did their job and were willing to stay until nightfall Sunday if that’s what it took. What a crock. I cannot think of a
race I was watching that was delayed to the next day because of rain or a problem with the track where there was TV coverage that the TV crew was not there the next day. Races of all kinds happen on holidays and some races get postponed due to rain. That is part of racing and it happens in NASCAR and they stay. The only reason that the Speed Channel crew left was because they didn’t care enough and because of the mismanagement of the AMA, there was no legally binding need for them to stay.

I have been watching all kinds of races for almost 40 years on TV and I have never seen such a debacle. Not too mention Kurtis Roberts’ first Superbike win and no TV.

All 2Wheel Tuesday did was to put up the top ten finishers and the point standings of the 3 races on Monday with some stupid music playing in the background. Granted they interviewed Kurtis, but there was more to talk about what happened Monday than that.

There, I almost feel better now.

Paul Trautman
San Jose, California



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

I was at VIR this weekend and I can partially understand SpeedTV packing up. SpeedTV no longer NEEDS motorcycle racing to survive. They get bag loads of money from NASCAR.

There is a new channel in the works called WheelsTV that wants to be about the enthusist market, although specifically cars they have some motorcycle programming in the works.

Could you lobby WheelsTV to pick up motorcycle racing? I’m sure you have more influence than a few random e-mails from enthusiasts.

Kirk Robinson
Scranton, Pennsylvania



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

Who sez there was no outcry about the lack of VIR Monday racing coverage? As soon as you guys posted the fact SpeedTV had folded tents and stole off into the night, I sent them a scathing e-mail, and I bet I’m not the only one!

I generally post to Greg White. Occasionally he will answer.

Bill Hiller
Prescott, Arizona



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

After reading some of the viewer mail on your site, I just had to write. Am I the only one who appreciates the fact that Speed shows any motorcycle racing at all? Motorcycle programming has consistently been one of the most poorly-viewed genres on Speed, but they still bring us Moto GP, WSB, and AMA on a regular basis.

One of the highlights on my weekend is to wake up Sunday morning, make a good breakfast, and watch 3 or 4 hours of the greatest sport on earth without having to wake up at 2 in the morning in order to do so. I, for one, am very glad that Speed spends the money to continue to bring us this programming.

Showing the race on Monday live obviously did not make fiscal sense for Speed, which is in the business to make money, not to cater to the wants of a very small segment of its viewership. Stop whining, guys, and just be glad we have what we have. If viewership continue to be as low as it it, we may not have it for long. This would really ruin my weekends.

Carl Jensen
Sacramento, California