Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Notes on life as a soldier in Iraq, from an Army Captain we know and who will remain anonymous:

I apologize for not writing in weeks–life has been busy.

Temperature–Low One Teens.

Yep, it’s another scorcher in the land where the sun literally doesn’t set until 21:00. The locals swear it won’t be hot until August–hey, guy, what are you talking about, you could literally boil eggs on the concrete.

We’ll start off with my Sopranos since everyone
seems to love my little Iraqi mobsters sooo much.

No one has been to jail in the last two weeks, so we are doing pretty good there, but we think that one of my little deviants is a riot starter. So one of the U.S. generals makes a personnal appearence at my office and has a pow-wow with this cat. Basically threatens to throw him in jail and lose the key.

Bad press in my office is my business–so I proceed to bump heads with ’em ’cause I don’t like generals getting PO’d at my office. Anyway he is just a bad apple, but I can’t fire him ’cause we are trying to keep him off the streets where he starts riots. It’s like boxing with both hands behind my back.

Now my Sopranos are complaining that the executives need a vacation. STOP, you’re killing me. You work four hours a day and need a vacation? Need some time off to get their collective heads together, man.

I have dumped $50K into the rennovation of my
building, and since the CG is so impressed he gave
me another $100K to finish the project. Don’t worry, it isn’t costing taxpayers anything–it’s Saddam’s stolen $2 billion that we are using. Which leads me to another story, my contractors…

My contractors are the hardest-working Iraqis around. I go to their office every day to discuss the project and in return they buy us lunch and we drink tea until we go into caffeine shock. These guys rock. Their competitor is one of their brothers. He loves us so much, even
though he doesn’t have the job, that we go over to his house for dinner and, yes, some more tea. He is the neatest person here. He was accepted to MIT, Saddam wouldn’t let him go, yadda yadda yadda.

Anyhow, he owns a Nargila bar. Nargilas are the water pipes they use to smoke scented tobaccos (tobacco, nothing funny, promise). So he invites us to the bar and we smoke apple-flavored tobacco. I promise you it is amazing. Tasted like apples.

We are on the hunt for pizza, also. There are a
couple of pizza joints in town but nothing that tastes like American pizza.

Well, that’s about all that is going on.

See ya’ll not too soon.

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

YATES LOOKING TO MAKE A STAND AT MID-OHIO AMA SUPERBIKE DOUBLEHEADER

Circuit celebrates 20th anniversary of hosting AMA Superbikes

PICKERINGTON, Ohio – Aaron Yates knows if he is to make a serious challenge to win his first AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship that the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is the perfect venue for him to make his move. Yates, the Yoshimura Suzuki rider from Milledgeville, Ga., is the winningest active AMA Superbike rider at Mid-Ohio. Three of Yates’ seven career AMA Superbike victories have come at the well-known Central Ohio circuit.

On July 25-27, Mid-Ohio will host rounds 13 and 14 of the 18-race AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited. The Superbike doubleheader is the culmination of the 12-day Cycle-Fest at Mid-Ohio, which includes the AMA Road Racing Grand Championship, AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days and the Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire. Mid-Ohio’s Cycle-Fest has blossomed into one of the biggest motorcycling events of the summer. The track first hosted AMA Superbikes in 1983.

Yates, an 11-year veteran of AMA Pro Racing, sees this season as perhaps his best opportunity to win the coveted AMA Superbike title. “This is something I’ve been working towards my whole career,” said Yates, whose previous high finish in AMA Superbike was third in 2000. “Mid-Ohio is a track I like a lot and if I could manage another sweep of the doubleheader there like I did in 2000 then I have a good chance of leaving with the series lead.”

Yates won the Mid-Ohio Superbike round in 1998 and swept the doubleheader in 2000, the first year the track held two rounds of the championship. He was only the second rider to win three AMA Superbike races at Mid-Ohio, following in the footsteps of three-time AMA Superbike champ Doug Chandler.

Yates is chasing his Suzuki teammate Mat Mladin, who leads the championship with six rounds remaining. Mladin already has seven wins on the season and very likely would have more had his tires held up for him. The Aussie has been pushing his factory Suzuki GSX-R1000 to unprecedented lap times this year and that has forced him to pit and even retire from races after overheating his bike’s tires. Mladin has moved into second on the all-time AMA Superbike wins list and is well within reach of matching or beating the single-season Superbike win record of 10 victories set by Motorcycle Hall of Famer Fred Merkel in 1984. Since coming to the AMA Superbike Series in 1996, Mladin has compiled the best overall record of any rider at Mid-Ohio with five podium finishes, including a victory in 2001. He has finished outside the top 10 only once in 10 races at the track and that was in 1996 when he crashed in that year’s rain-soaked event.

Trailing Mladin by just six points in the championship is two-time series runner-up Eric Bostrom of the factory Kawasaki team. Bostrom won the first leg of the Superbike doubleheader at Mid-Ohio last year and was expected to be a favorite to win at least one of this year’s races, but a crash at the World Superbike race in Monterey, Calif., on July 13, left Bostrom with a separated right shoulder. Bostrom’s status for the race is day-to-day. He certainly will not be at 100 percent if he competes at Mid-Ohio.

This season is providing fans with one of the most competitive championships in AMA Superbike history. The top six riders are all well within reach of the championship.

Honda, which won its eighth AMA Superbike championship last season with Nicky Hayden, has three riders in the thick of this year’s title chase. Kurtis Roberts leads the Honda contingent. He is fourth in the standings and is seeking his first AMA Superbike victory. Mid-Ohio has not been the best track for Roberts since he started racing Superbikes three years ago. He’s yet to make the podium at the race despite being a former Mid-Ohio winner in the 250 Grand Prix, Formula Xtreme and Supersport divisions.

Shadowing Roberts in the title chase are teammates Ben Bostrom and Miguel Duhamel. Ben Bostrom, older brother to Eric, is making his first appearance at Mid-Ohio since 1999. He’s looking for his first AMA Superbike win since returning from three years of World Superbike competition. Duhamel is another former Mid-Ohio winner. The French-Canadian won the race in 1997 and famously led the event on a Harley-Davidson in 1996.

Shawn Higbee and Jason Pridmore are proving that you don’t need to be a factory rider to be competitive. New rule changes implemented in Superbike this year have given a big boost to privateer teams and Higbee, on the KWS Suzuki, and Pridmore, who rides for Attack Suzuki, are running seventh and eighth in the series standings respectively. Pridmore, son of three-time AMA Superbike champion Reg Pridmore, has a podium finish at Mid-Ohio to his credit.

Mid-Ohio is one of the best-attended races in the series and the challenging course is a favorite of many of the riders. Upwards of 50,000 fans regularly make the trek to the circuit, which is located approximately halfway between Columbus and Cleveland in Lexington, Ohio. The track offers some of the best viewing areas in the championship and is perfect for bringing a big blanket and a picnic basket to watch the speeding Superbikes from under a shade tree. Both Saturday and Sunday’s rounds of the Mid-Ohio Superbike doubleheader will be taped for same-day broadcast on Speed Channel. Saturday’s Superbike final will air at 3:30 p.m. EST, while Sunday’s broadcast will begin at 2:30 p.m. EST.

For additional information on the event call (800) MID-OHIO or visit www.midohio.com.


SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship

Presented by Parts Unlimited

Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course – July 25-27, 2003

Thursday, July 24

3:00 – 7:00 p.m., Registration: Riders, Crew, Sponsors & Guests

3:00 – 7:00 p.m., Tech Inspection

Friday, July 25

7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Registration: Riders, Crew, Sponsors & Guests

10:00 a.m., Entries Close for all Classes

8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Tech Inspection

8:30 – 10:30 a.m., Practice:
1. Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport
2. Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme
3. Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock
4. MBNA 250 Grand Prix

10:40 – 11:40 a.m., Chevy Trucks Superbike Practice

11:40 a.m. – 12:40 p.m., Lunch Break

12:00 p.m., Mandatory Rider Briefing for All Classes

12:40 – 2:30 p.m., Practice (same order as morning session)

2:40 – 3:40 p.m., Chevy Trucks Superbike Qualifying

3:50 – 4:20 p.m., Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock Qualifying, Group 1

4:30 – 5:00 p.m., Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock Qualifying, Group 2

Saturday, July 26

7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Registration: Riders, Crew, Sponsors & Guests
8:00 – 5:00 Tech Inspection

8:00 – 9:30 Practice:
1. Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport
2. Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme
3. Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock
4. MBNA 250 Grand Prix

9:40 – 10:40 a.m., Chevy Trucks Superbike Qualifying

10:50 – 11:10 a.m., Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport Qualifying, Group 1

11:20 – 11:40 a.m., Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport Qualifying, Group 2

11:40 a.m. – 12:40 p.m., Lunch Break

12:40 – 1:00 p.m., Chevy Trucks Superbike Practice

1:10 – 1:45 p.m., Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Qualifying

2:00 p.m., Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited Race 1, (100K – 26 laps)

MBNA 250 Grand Prix Qualifying, 20 Minute Session

Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock Race (60k – 16 laps)

Sunday, July 27

8:30 – 12:00 a.m., Registration: Crew, Sponsors & Guests

9:00 a.m., Tech Inspection Opens

9:00 – 11:00 a.m., Practice:
1. Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport
2. MBNA 250 Grand Prix
3. Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme
4. Chevy Trucks Superbike

11:00 a.m., Lunch Break

11:20 a.m., Nondenominational Chapel Service

12:00 p.m., FINAL EVENTS:

Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport Championship presented by Shoei Helmets Race (60k – 16 laps)

MBNA 250 Grand Prix (60k – 16 laps)

2:00 p.m., Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited Race 2, (100k – 26 laps)

3:00 p.m., Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme (60k – 16 laps)

From a press release issued by Can-Am 125GP:

Rounds three and four of the Diablo Energy Drink Can-Am 125GP Intercontinental Championship take place this weekend, July 18-20 at the historic 10 turn, 2.5 mile Mosport International Raceway in Bowmanville, Ontario, just east of Toronto. The weekends events will coincide with the fourth round of the Canadian Superbike Championship.

Once again riders from the US, Canada and Bermuda will battle for the bragging rights of the best 125 racer in North America.

After a disappointing round two, which saw him crash out on the third lap at Loudon, 2002 Series Champion Stuart Nodell looks to rebound and try and make up valuable ground. Current points leader Corey Sherman looks to continue his consistency, as he brings a 21 point lead over Jim Struke into the double header weekend.

Last year 44 bikes took to the grid for the start of the race and this year looks to be no different. Riders running in the USGPRU series will join the Can-Am regulars as the race on Sunday also serves as a round of their Mid-West Regional Championship.

Details of the event, including the full weekends schedule can be found at the series website www.can-am125gp.com.



From a press release issued by USGPRU:

Braking USA announced that it will be awarding over $1500 worth of braking equipment to the top finishers in the USGPRU 125GP regional championships.

First place in each region will receive a certificate for a front Wave rotor, second gets a rear wave rotor and third place wins 2 sets of brake pads.

The USGPRU would like to thank the fine folks at Braking USA for sponsoring our series.

From a press release issued by series organizers:

BOWMANVILLE, ON – Pascal Picotte grabbed pole position for the fourth and fifth rounds of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Mosport International Raceway Friday.

The St-Cecile de Milton, QC racer took his Picotte Racing Yamaha YZF-R1 around the 2.46-mile Mosport road course in 1:22.436 during qualifying for the Miller Genuine Draft presents the Chevy Trucks Mosport Double Header.

Francis Martin of Rock Forest, QC will start second in each race of the Superbike doubleheader after setting a time of 1:22.659 on his Coors Light Racing/Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R1000. Teammate Clint McBain of Calgary was third fastest at 1:22.733 on his Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Parts Canada Superbike Championship points leader Jean-Francois Cyr of Joliette, QC completes the front row for the doubleheader after recording a 1:22.889 on his Michelin Yamaha YZF-R1.

Picotte actually finished qualifying third in the ranking behind Frank Trombino of Kleinburg, ON and Chardon, OH racer Tom Kipp. But Trombino’s Brooklin Yamaha YZF-R1 and the Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-7RR of Kipp exceeded the class 155 horsepower limit and were penalized.

As a result Picotte claimed the $500 MPM/Array Pole Award and four points toward the Parts Canada Superbike Championship.

“I don’t like to do it this way but I’ll take it,” said Picotte after learning of the penalties to Trombino and Kipp. “This is good for Yamaha and good for the championship. These two races are going to be interesting.”

The first of this weekend’s two Parts Canada Superbike feature events goes Saturday afternoon at 3:15 p.m. The second race is scheduled for Sunday afternoon.

Picotte jumped ahead of the Suzukis of Martin and McBain in the final five minutes of the Superbike qualifying session.

A crash by Kevin Lacombe with just under five minutes left brought out a red flag, and set-up a final shootout for the top qualifying spot. Picotte was the only one of the frontrunners to improve his time, however.

“Just before the red flag came out I had a good lap and I was working on a better one when I saw the red,” said Picotte, who became the fourth different pole qualifier of the season. “I thought the session was over but I got another chance.”

Friday’s action also included practice for the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike and International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike national support classes.

Cyr paced the Pro 600 Sport Bike category with a time of 1:25.237 on his Michelin Yamaha YZF-R6. Bill Card of Wellesley, ON led Amateur 600 Sport Bike at 1:28.012 on a Honda CBR600RR.

Qualifying for the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike and International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike classes will also run Saturday afternoon.

This weekend’s event will be televised on TSN in two parts. The first show will air on Saturday, Aug. 9 at 12:30 p.m. EDT with the second on Sunday, Aug. 10, also at 12:30 p.m. Mosport action will also be shown later this year on Quebec’s RDS and across Canada on the Outdoor Life Network.

Results Friday from qualifying for the fourth and fifth rounds of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Mosport International Raceway in Bowmanville, ON, showing qualifying position, rider name, hometown, type of motorcycle and qualifying time:

1.Pascal Picotte, St-Cecile de Milton, QC, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:22.436; 2. Francis Martin, Rock Forest, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:22.659; 3. Clint McBain, Calgary, AB, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:22.733; 4. Jean-Francois Cyr, Joliette, QC, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:22.889; 5. Kevin Lacombe, Granby, QC, Honda RC51, 1:22.974; 6. Jeff Williams, Harrowsmith, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:23.161; 7. Michael Taylor, Toronto, ON, Honda RC51, 1:23.223; 8. Steve Crevier, Maple Ridge, BC, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:23.435; 9. Darryn Wilbur, Maple, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:24.039; 10. Andrew Nelson, Kars, ON, Honda CBR954RR, 1:24.421; 11. Benoit Pilon, St-Jerome, QC, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:24.590; 12. Michael Leon, Montreal, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:25.698; 13. Chris Peris, Calgary, AB, Honda CBR600RR, 1:25.808; 14. Brian Nielsen, Edmonton, AB, 1:25.901; 15. Matthew McBride, Toronto, ON, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:25.925; 16. John Brundl, Toronto, ON, Honda CBR954RR, 1:26.953; 17. Bruce McDonald, Mt. Albert, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:27.143; 18. Joel McDonald, North York, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:27.261; 19. Owen Weichel, Toronto, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:27.679; 20. Barry French, Brampton, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:29.147; 21. Chris Murray-Audain, Scarborough, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:29.242; 22. Darren Womack, Windsor, ON, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, 1:29.493; 23. Guy Tomlinson, Calgary, AB, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, 1:30.667

Did Not Start – Dan Durkovic, Ottawa, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1

Frank Trombino, Kleinburg, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1, Penalized five positions due to 1 hp over on dyno

Tom Kipp, Chardon, OH, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, Disqualified from Qualification due to 3.9 hp over on dyno

Larry Orde, Peterborough, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1, Disqualified from Qualification due to leaving Pit Lane during Qualification

From a press release issued by Cariffe Promotions:

Clear Channel Entertainment – Motor Sports and Cariffe Promotions are pleased to announce a joint relationship for the series final round of the SB2 Supermoto US National Championship, to be held at the UMB Bank Pavilion in suburban St. Louis on September 6th and 7th.

“The SB2 Supermoto series has developed a foundation to attract spectators, sponsors and top level race teams,” says Mike Kidd, V.P of Clear Channel Entertainment – Motor Sports. “Having the series finals in the central part of the country at the UMB Pavilion in St. Louis allows us the opportunity to promote a first-class event while attracting many of the top names.”

The racetrack will utilize the facilities of the UMB Pavilion and will follow FIM World Championship guidelines, consisting of 75% to 80% pavement and 20% to 25% dirt. This first-class venue offers spectators great viewing areas along with amenities that will allow racing fans the comfort to enjoy a day at the races.

Lou Cariffe, Cariffe Promotions says, “The plan is to build this sport while bringing the racing to the people through the use of venues located conveniently in major metropolitan areas such as the UMB Pavilion.”

The sixth and final round of the championship series will be a double point paying event with a purse of $7,500 to be split between the Open class and the 450cc class entrants.

In addition to the purse and awards, the top 2 finishers in the season points standings in both classes will receive an invitation to participate in the Parts Unlimited Superbikers Invitational scheduled for October 4th, 2003 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in Del Mar in California.

From a press release issued by Troy Lee Designs:

Last weekend at the Inaugural Supermoto event, Troy Lee Designs Team rider Troy Lee was injured during Saturday’s heat race. Troy has a few bumps and bruises and is doing just fine, but he is still not quite ready to get back on a bike. Team Troy Lee Designs has accepted a stand-in for Troy to race the Long Beach event to be held this weekend, July 19-20, at the Queen Mary.

Team Honda Pro Superbike racer, Jake Zemke will throw a leg over the #25 bike and is anticipated to do very well. Jake is honored to step in for Troy and the feeling is mutual. Both are excited and look forward to the weekends event.

Remember, there is no admission to the race. Tickets are not needed and all are welcome. Races will run both Saturday and Sunday.

From a press release:

Superside announces European championship for 2004

Superside is proud to announce an agreement with the Union Européenne de Motocyclisme (UEM) to run the Superside UEM Sidecar European championship from 2004.

Although the calendar is still to be finalised, it is expected that the series will run over eight rounds in conjunction with either the European motorcycle championship or as a feature race at National championship level.

Technical rules will be identical to the current World championship and the use of 1000cc four-stroke production based engines with limited tuning opportunities will ensure exciting three-wheeled action. The 1080cc Suzuki GSXR W engine will only be allowed in the first year of competition.

“This new championship presents a fantastic opportunity for sidecar racing. Not only does it provide an officially sanctioned European championship, but the series will serve as a stepping stone to the World championship,” commented Superside’s Malcolm Haisell.

Yokohama tyres will support the new European championship with a comprehensive service and Eurocup series coordinator, Eckart Rösinger, has been appointed secretary and coordinator of the Superside UEM European championship series.

The calendar for 2004 is under negotiation. Visit the Superside World championship official website at www.superside.com for the latest news.

From a press release issued by Ride For Life:

SpeedTV’s Pit Reporter and popular show host Greg White will serve as honorary Grand Marshall of the Fourth Annual Ride for Life in Raleigh NC tomorrow. Ride organizer and CCS racer Stan Simmerson received a voice mail from Greg White on thursday morning asking if there might be some room for the host of “Greg’s Garage” to participate in the ride.

“I was completely blown away by the call,’ Simmerson related, “and I’m honored to have him along for the ride, this will really help raise awareness for this charity ride. The Ride for Life is an annual charity motorcycle ride to benefit the Duke Children’s Hospital. Now in it’s fourth year, the event keeps growing and expanding, and now with Greg White on board, it should grow even more.

“I’d really like to thank Greg White and the folks at Yamaha for making this all possible, since they are providing a bike for him to ride on Saturday”, Simmerson said. “There are a lot of great people in the world, and I’m honored to have so many of them supporting the kids from Duke”.

The ride departs from Scooter’s Bar and Grill at 11 a.m. on Saturday morning. Contact Scooters at 919-9542171 for more info.

From a press releease issued by FGSport Group:

A1-Ring 6 Hour

Welcome Return to the Austrian Circuit

The A1-Ring 6 Hour starts here; the World Endurance circus has arrived at the Austrian circuit and is preparing for a full weekend of track action. Two free practice sessions will be held on Friday morning, with the first qualifying session taking place on Friday afternoon. This is the first time the championship has visited Austria since 1987 so the pressure is on to find base suspension and gearing settings as quickly as possible to make best use of the track time.

Final qualifying will be held on Saturday morning, with an additional warm-up session before the first three hour leg of the race starts at 14:30. The bikes will be held in a parc fermé overnight, being released in time for five minutes of preparation before reforming the grid for the start of the second three hour leg at 13:00 on Sunday. The overall result will be decided on aggregate time, but as we saw at Brno, the riders will be going flat-out from flag to flag rather than worrying about any timing screen advantage.

With the Zongshen Suzuki GSX-R1000s having won every race so far this year, the pressure is on the rest of the field. Local heroes Yamaha Austria have shown they have both the speed and the reliability needed – but not yet from the same motor, while Suzuki GB Phase One are holding second in the championship and have said that they are now going after race wins rather than safe points. First place is the only option for both of these teams.

The German and Swiss teams – KFM Herber, Bolliger, Jet Team, Hofmann Racing and Rookie Racing are also treating this as a home round, with a chance to impress supporters and sponsors. Italians DRE Ducati and Mondial X-One are back for this round; DRE Ducati with Mike Edwards on board and Mondial having successfully launched the Piega to the world’s press. French teams Police Nationale and Endurance Moto38 were disappointed after Albacete and will be hoping to make amends, while GMT94 are hoping that this weekend might bring the success they know they deserve.

With 125 points still to be won the championship has a long way to go, but this weekend marks the start of the second half of the season. Anything could happen in the next four races…