Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Yoshimura kit swingarms ordered by Suzuki support teams in February of this year have just arrived in the United States and are now being delivered, after nine of the year’s 11 AMA Nationals have already run.

The swingarms appeared in a GSX-R1000 Racing Kit Parts catalog distributed by American Suzuki at the begining of 2003.

From a press release issued by the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum:

Actor and Motorcyle Enthusiast Perry King to Host 2003 Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction

Actor and motorcycle enthusiast Perry King returns to his native Ohio on October 4 – 5, 2003 to host this year’s Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction, an annual celebration honoring the motorcycle industry’s living and past legends. This year’s attending inductees range from sports icons like Jeremy McGrath and Jay Springsteen to industry insiders like Debbie Evans, recent stunt star of The Matrix: Reloaded and fresh off the set of Spiderman 2.

The annual Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction ceremony takes place at 2 p.m., Sunday, October 5 at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, on the grounds of the American Motorcyclist Association, just a few minutes east of Columbus, Ohio. The ceremony is the highlight of a two-day celebration that starts with a Saturday, October 4 evening reception at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, open to the public (RSVP required). On Sunday, visitors can enjoy the country’s most exclusive showcase of classic motorcycles at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Concours d’Elegance, featuring over 100 rare vintage bikes. Additional activities include an autograph session with the inductees and a motorcycle art showcase featuring internationally acclaimed bronze artist and sculptor Jeff Decker and licensed Harley-Davidson artists David Uhl and Scott Jacobs. Author and motojournalist Mike Seate will also ride his Jesse James chopper into town and autograph copies of his new book. All Sunday, October 5 events are open to the public. Visitors can also tour the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum’s new exhibit, “Heroes of Harley-Davidson, presented by Progressive Motorcycle Insurance,” scheduled to be featured on the August 10 edition of “CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood.”

About Perry King: Perry King was born in Alliance, Ohio. The son of a physician, he attended Yale University, majoring in theater and performing arts, and Juilliard, where he studied with the renowned actor and director, John Houseman. Following college, he pursued theater in New York, where he appeared in off-Broadway productions. His work led him to Hollywood, where he made his first feature film, “The Possession of Joel Delaney”, with Shirley MacLaine in 1970. He says she helped him learn the technique of film acting, as did the actor, James Mason. Perry King’s career has encompassed acting in and directing theater, film, television and radio productions. Most recently, he has guest starred on the hit television series Will and Grace and Spin City. King has been a motorcycle enthusiast since he bought his first bike as a teenager, took it apart, and rebuilt it. Today he owns over thirty bikes and frequently participates in charitable events that combine motorcycling with a great cause.

From a press release issued by the FIM:

Mies, August 5

Sidecar World Championship
Extra round in Assen on Sunday

A new round counting for the Sidecar World Championship will take place in Assen on Sunday 7 September 2003.

Therefore, there will be two races, the first one on Saturday 6 September as planned and a second one on Sunday 7 September.

From a press release issued by Yamaha Racing Australia:

2003 Shell Advance Australian Superbike Championship
Round 4, Queensland Raceway, Queensland
Event preview

QUEENSLAND’S PENULTIMATE CHALLENGE

Queensland Raceway plays host to the fourth and penultimate round of this years Shell Advance Australian Superbike Championship this weekend (August 9 & 10) with a number of Yamaha riders being in strong positions to set themselves up for a crack at a number of very sought after titles, Superbike, Supersport and Superstock.

The past two months have been a torrid affair for many of the leading riders, but at the same time it has also been rewarding. Nikon Yamaha’s Kevin Curtain and Daniel Stauffer have recovered well from the injuries that they suffered in their high-speed collision at round two of the SAASC at Phillip Island. Both riders having tasted success since with Curtain claiming the Formula Xtreme and FX Supersport titles in recent weeks, while Stauffer emerged as the overall round winner from the Winton SAASC round.

Neither of Yamaha’s top two riders has turned a wheel at Queensland Raceway, but at the same time neither will feel disadvantaged at the same time.

“All that we can do is get up there and do the best possible job that we can,” said Curtain. “In the Superbike class Craig (Coxhell) and Shawn (Giles) have proven to be very quick this year and with the long straights that they have there, we are going to have to work hard to stay with them. It’s a fairly unique type of racetrack, where no one has any distinct advantage, but at the same time you do have to have a very good package with engine performance, handling and braking. That’s where our advantages lie.”

“The Supersport class will be much the same as on the Superbike, where the competition will be tough, especially Brendan (Clarke),” added Curtain. “It will be a slightly different position for me there as I’m leading the points, while I’m chasing them in Superbike. Either way it is shaping up as a good weekend.”

As the championship heads north to Queensland, Curtain currently holds down second place in the Superbike Championship, trailing Coxhell by 15-points (141 to 126) followed by Giles (123) and Stauffer (101). Victorian Yamaha privateer Stephen Tozer (Stafford Yamaha) is also back at full fitness and will be aiming to work his way higher up the point’s table from his current position of ninth.

The Supersport class sees Curtain heading the field with a 39-point advantage over Shannon Johnson (172 to 133) while Brisbane teenager Brendan Clarke fills third place with 120 on the second Nikon Yamaha YZF R6. Clarke will be calling on all of his track knowledge to promote himself further up the leader board and should start as one of the early race favourites.

The Supersport class has been strongly supported by a number of Yamaha privateer riders and the Queensland round will be no different. These include Sydney’s Glenn Allerton (who currently lies fifth overall), Judd Greedy (seventh overall), Shaun Geronimi (Procycles Yamaha, eighth), Victorian brothers Deon (Gary O’Brien Yamaha) and Jordan Coote (Pakenham Yamaha), Lismore’s Mark Stanley (Lismore Motorcycles), South Australia’s Michael Brenton (Yamaha World) and Michael Edwards (Star Yamaha).

The Superstock is also shaping up as a close affair as Taree teenager Alex Cudlin (Fineline Yamaha) aims to break down the 36-point margin between himself and points leader Leigh McKenzie. Cudlin has been one of the rising stars of the season aboard his Yamaha YZF R6.

Practice and qualifying for this weekend’s Queensland round of the championship begins of Friday morning followed by two further days of on-track action on Saturday and Sunday.


Shell Advance Australian Superbike Championship (after three of five rounds):
1 Craig Coxhell (Suzuki) 141; 2 Kevin Curtain (Yamaha) 126; 3 Shawn Giles (Suzuki) 123; 4 Daniel Stauffer (Yamaha) 101; 5 Shannon Johnson (Honda) 71; 6 Scott Charlton (Honda) / Brent George (Honda) 70; 8 Josh Brookes (Honda) 50; 9 Stephen Tozer (Yamaha) 49; 10 Jay Taylor (Honda) 47.

Shell Advance Australian Supersport championship (after three of five rounds):
1 Kevin Curtain (Yamaha) 172; 2 Shannon Johnson (Honda) 133; 3 Brendan Clarke (Yamaha) 120; 4 Josh Brookes (Honda) 95; 5 Glenn Allerton (Yamaha) 93; 6 Russell Holland (Kawasaki) 75; 7 Judd Greedy (Yamaha) 68; 8 Shaun Geronimi (Yamaha) 59; 9 Reece Bancell (Suzuki) 30; 10 Mark Aitchison (Suzuki) 28.

Shell Advance Australian Superstock Cup (after three of five rounds):
1 Leigh McKenzie (Suzuki) 159; 2 Alex Cudlin (Yamaha) 123; 3 Tristan Culvenor (Suzuki) 82; 4 Paul Martinello (Yamaha) 79; 5 Alex Tomassetti
(Kawasaki) 76.

From a press release issued by G2 Racing:

Ienatsch Takes 6 Wins at Las Vegas!!!

Nick Ienatsch is hot in Las Vegas where every start is a win.

G2 Racing arrived at the CCS Pacific Region event at the Las Vegas raceway on August 1-3 ready for a scorching weekend. However, Friday’s unusual intermittent showers were unusually cool and threatened to make tire choice for the GTO race a gamble. With the track drying at the start, a very close battle for the lead was waged for the entire race with Nick Ienatsch as one of four leading riders. Positioned as far back as fourth near the end of the race, Nick fought through close passes to take the win on his Suzuki GSX-R750.

The anticipated brutally hot temperatures arrived for Saturday and Sunday. In Saturday racing, Nick easily outdistanced the field in the Heavyweight Supersport class on his GSX-R750 and took closer wins in the Formula Forty and Supertwins classes on a Honda RC-51.

Nick continued his winning streak with a pair of victories on Sunday in the Supertwins and Formula Forty classes on the Honda RC-51. Both events had close racing in the early laps, but saw Ienatsch with significant leads by the finish.

In total, Ienatsch started six races and earned six wins for the weekend.

G2 racing wishes to acknowledge Carry Andrew of Hypercycle, Dale Keiffer of Michelin/Racer’s Edge and Freddie Spencer’s High Performance Riding School for their significant contributions and assistance.

From A Press Release Issued By OMS Sports:

OMS Signs Australian Road Racer Marty Craggill

Veteran Australian flyer looks to make impact on U.S. circuit

FLORENCE, Ky., (Aug. 5, 2003) – OMS Sports announced today that Australian road racer Marty Craggill will be joining the OMS stable of top-flight extreme powersports athletes, effective immediately.

Craggill, currently in 8th place overall in the Lockhart-Phillips USA Formula Xtreme class, 17th overall in the Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport Championship, is pleased to be part of the OMS team and is looking forward to the benefits that come with such representation.

“I’ve had my eye on OMS Sports for some time and was happy when Jim Filice (OMS rider rep) approached me about coming aboard with the program,” said Craggill. “I’ve worked hard to get myself into a position to be competitive on the U.S. circuit, now it’s time for me to let someone else handle the business side of things so I can focus entirely on racing.”

Craggill has scored two podium finishes this year in the Formula Xtreme class (Fontana & Road Atlanta) and has barely missed the top ten twice in the Supersport class (11th Road Atlanta, 12th Brainerd).

“We’re certainly pleased with Marty’s association with OMS,” said Jim Filice, Road Race Account Executive at OMS. “Marty’s a very likeable guy with amazing talent on a motorcycle. This translates into instant marketability in the motorcycle community and we intend to take full advantage of that for Marty.”

From a press release issued by KTM:

Mika Kallio will compete for KTM!

Mika Kallio will compete for the KTM – Red Bull 125GP team for the remainder of the 2003 season and also during 2004.

His first race for KTM – Red Bull will be in Brno on August 16th.

KTM decided to make this rider change due to the lack of progress in the team’s development. KTM feels that the new motorcycle is progressing well but the improvements have not been shown in the results. KTM hopes that a new rider will bring fresh motivation to the team and that the bike shows it’s true potential during the next races.

Arnaud Vincent will be released immediately from his KTM contract. KTM acknowledges that Arnaud Vincent remains a very fast and experienced rider, but it has been very difficult to develop a brand new motorcycle around the expectations of the current World Champion.

With the team of Mika Kallio and Roberto Locatelli KTM will strive to build on the top 10 results already achieved during 2003, with the aim of being competitive for podium places in 2004.

From a press release issued by the FIM:

Endurance World Championship Anti-doping Controls

Anti-doping controls were carried out at the round of the Endurance World Championships held at the circuit of A1-Ring, Germany, on 20 July.

All the samples tested showed the absence of any banned substances.

The riders controlled were: Gwen Frederic Giabbani (FRA), Warwick Nowland (AUS), Paolo Blora (ITA), Stéphane Mertens (BEL), Jason Pridmore (USA), James Ellison (GBR).