Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Reigning Endurance World Champions Zongshen Suzuki 1 are out of the Suzuka 8-Hours race.

At 3:30 race time, Zongshen Suzuki’s Stephane Mertens was exiting one of the slower corners on the course when the upper shock mount of his 2002-model GSX-R1000 broke, collapsing the rear end of the motorcycle. Mertens did not crash and rode the bike back to the pits, but the team decided to withdraw from the race.

According to the team, the frame, which they have been racing on for the last two seasons, has never been crashed.

Zongshen Suzuki’s retirement promotes Corona Light TiForce (Jordan Szoke/Paul Young) into the lead of the Super-production class with a little over four hours remaining in the race.

Szoke said the track is really slippery because it is hotter than it has been and “there’s oil in every corner. It’s a mess out there.”

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

After seeing AMA Superbike National purses posted on Roadracingworld.com, several readers have asked us how big the purse is for World Superbike races.

We asked FGSport, which organizes the Superbike World Championship; the company refused to release race purse information, telling Roadracingworld.com that it is “confidential” information.

So we called three-time AMA Superbike Champion Mat Mladin and asked him how much money he received for finishing fourth in the first World Superbike race at Laguna Seca, last month.

Mladin said he received a check for $2400.

While that’s more than a typical AMA Superbike purse pays for fourth place, AMA Superbike purses are weighted to pay far down into the field.

In other words, we’re not sure what conclusion can be reached from the available information…

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

As expected, Pirelli has been named the spec tire of the Superbike World Championship.

The deal will have far-reaching ramifications as it will preclude wild-card riders who have conflicting tire sponsorship deals from competing in Superbike World Championship events.

For example, Mat Mladin, Aaron Yates and Eric Bostrom would not have been able to compete in the World Superbike race at Laguna Seca this year if the spec tire rule were already in place, because they ride for Dunlop-sponsored teams.

However, Michael Barnes and Geoff May would have been able to compete, since they are sponsored by Pirelli.


More, from a press release issued by Pirelli:

PIRELLI NAMED WORLD SUPERBIKE SPEC TIRE FOR 2004-2005 CHAMPIONSHIPS

Exclusive Tire Deal Also Includes World Supersport
and European Superstock Championships

Rome, GA–FGSport Group, the promoters of the World Superbike Championship, announced today that Pirelli will become the exclusive tire for the 2004-05 seasons of the FIM World Superbike, World Supersport, and European Superstock championships. The new program will see Pirelli become the “exclusive supplier of tires for all the teams that take part in the 45 races in 10 countries for the title of World and European Champion.”

According to the official announcement from the FGSport press office in Rome, Italy, “The program will enable all the participants to compete under the same conditions with respect to tires, which makes the performance of motorcycle manufacturers, team members and riders all the more important. The agreement with Pirelli guarantees the supply of tires for the Superbike World Championship for at least the next two years, 2004 and 2005, in addition to offering the teams additional advantages, such as:

“Guarantee of continuity and quality of the tires supplied and the relevant services to all the teams and riders, in all the nations hosting the championship;

“Continuity of the technological development of the tires;

“Tires supplied will be of uniform high quality and available at advantageous and identical prices for all teams;

“Availability, for the entire duration of the partnership, of a PIRELLI prize fund dedicated to riders, also to attract young talented riders to participate in the Championship.”

The announcement again reiterates that a single tire brand moves the three championships closer to the original concept of a more level playing field, so to speak: “In compliance with the pledges of the Superbike, Supersport and Superstock championship, and in compliance with requests submitted by the FIM – International Motorcycle Federation – to return the Superbike World Championship to its original [concept] that is as near as possible to the characteristics [of] production motorcycles, Pirelli has accepted the supply proposal offered by the organizer of the Championship.”

The President of the FGSport Group, Maurizio Flammini, commented: “The agreement with Pirelli, a world leader in the manufacture of tires, guarantees the development and the continuity of the Superbike World Championship, which has been the primary thought behind our Group that has been committed to the organization of the Championship since 1988. Moreover, the agreement strictly adheres to the philosophy of the Championship that is to offer equal racing conditions to all participants. In this respect, we would like to thank Pirelli for the significant organizational and technological efforts that it will undertake over the next few years which, we are certain, will create the ideal conditions for new, important developments for motorcycle manufacturers, teams and riders in the Championship and in racing itself .”

Ugo Forner, General Manager of the Pirelli Motorcycle Business Unit, said: “For our Tires Department, the Superbike World Championship represents a challenge from both a technical and technological development point of view the maximum expression of live trials that support and finalize advanced research and development carried out in our laboratories all over the world. It is further confirmation of the importance that Pirelli has always attributed to the competition for two- and four-wheel production vehicles, in order to experiment [with] innovative solutions and accumulate know-how that can be implemented in producing our high-performing tires”.

Pirelli is no stranger to the over-the-top action of World Supersport, having won the championship in 2002 and currently holding a sizable lead in the 2003 series with the factory Ten Kate Honda team and rider Chris Vermeulen. Stateside, the Pirelli brand has enjoyed some excellent growth and acceptance in North America over the past several years. Last year, Pirelli racing tires won a very impressive 322 U.S. national and regional road race championships, including a host of F-USA and WERA titles, and broke 20 U.S. track records. In Canada, Pirelli is the choice of both Team Honda Canada and Team Kawasaki in the 2003 Canadian Superbike Series.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The fastest Supersport times turned during team tests at Barber Motorsports Park this week belonged to Yamaha YZF-R6 riders Jamie Hacking, Damon Buckmaster and Jason DiSalvo.

Our wrap-up post on the tests originally credited Tommy Hayden as being the fastest man on the Supersport bike, but he actually did his fast time on his Superstock-class Kawasaki ZX-6R (636).

A number of other news sites also made the same mistake, based on at-times-confusing AMA Timing & Scoring data, which has several bikes and riders mixed up as far as which bike a rider was on at any given time.

The wrap-up post has now been corrected.

See related post:

7/31/2003 Corrected Post: At The End Of The Day, Mladin Is The Man In Team Tests At Barber

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

Hey ya’ll. The last day is fast approaching for a chance at winning my “Top Jimmy” replica helmet from Helmet Harbor.com! Check it out! Raffle tickets are only $10! If ya win, you’ll get a cool Shoei Z2 “Top Jimmy” helmet in your very own size. If ya can’t do it, tell a friend! This is a smokin’ deal! Good Luck!

Jimmy Moore
Eugene, Oregon


Note: Moore is recovering from serious injuries suffered in a crash during Thursday practice at Brainerd International Raceway in June. The raffle is to help him pay mounting medical bills.

From a press release issued by Harley-Davidson:

HARLEY-DAVIDSON RACING PROGRAMS TO BE RUN BY P&A DIVISION

H-D Factory Dirt Track and Drag Racing Programs Will Fly Screamin’ Eagle Colors

MILWAUKEE, WIS. – (August 1, 2003) Harley-Davidson recently announced that its factory drag racing and factory dirt track racing programs will be consolidated and managed within the Harley-Davidson Parts & Accessories Division and promoted under the Screamin’ Eagle brand.

Mike Kennedy, Director of Marketing for Parts & Accessories, becomes responsible for Harley-Davidson’s racing strategy, plans and programs under this new alignment. In a related move, Anne Paluso is named to the newly created position of Racing Manager.

“Harley-Davidson has a long and proud history of motorcycle racing. This move will tie our racing efforts directly to our line of Screamin’ Eagle performance parts, which will be beneficial in the development and expansion of our products,” said Ron Hutchinson, Vice President Parts & Accessories.

Screamin’ Eagle Performance Parts are inspired by and built in the spirit of the raw adrenaline and power of motorcycle racing, offering both racing-grade and street-legal performance options for the Harley-Davidson motorcycle owner. Visit www.harley-davidson.com for more information.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Seven Stars Honda 11’s Nicky Hayden earned the provisional pole position Friday for the 26th running of the Suzuka 8-Hours at Suzuka Circuit, in Suzuka, Japan.

Hayden used a new set of Michelin race tires to record a 2:07.312 on his third lap of official qualifying Friday morning and the time held up to earn provisional pole for Sunday’s endurance race.

“The condition was better in the morning than it was in the afternoon,” Hayden was quoted as saying in a press release from Honda. “I was riding with full loaded fuel tank in the afternoon and that’s why I was slower. It was difficult for us to get a good compromise concerning the front suspension set-up, but finally we got it.”

“Overall, I think it’s better we run his setting,” Hayden told Roadracingworld.com, refering to the overall set-up developed by his teammate, Ruuichi Kiyonari. “With his setting, I was having a little bit of a problem finishing the corner. I like a lot of rebound. Tip in and really finish the corner good. (But he didn’t like the extra rebound,) so we went back to his setting, and he liked it a lot better. Overall, it’s what’s better for the team.

“Lap-time-wise he made a bigger improvement by making the change than I did. It didn’t hurt me lap-time-wise, just feel-wise. This thing, for me, I haven’t hardly changed anything. Coming from the V5, which is such a handful at times, this thing here, the Superbike, it doesn’t have the feel. So I haven’t wanted to change anything. I guess that’s good and bad.”

“Although I am not satisfied with my lap time, I tried my best,” Hayden’s teammate Kiyonari said. “Till this afternoon, we had different front suspension set-up, but Nicky made a compromise to my set-up. We cannot talk directly (due to language) but Nicky is very nice and relaxing.”

“Nicky’s lap time was more than we had expected. We had a little trouble sorting out the front suspension set-up and we asked Nicky to make a compromise. Now the set-up is OK. However, I will tell both riders not to push too much tomorrow,” said Seven Stars Honda 11 Team Manager Katsunori Suzuki.

Hayden’s mark fell short of Alex Barros’ provisional pole time of 2:06.660 from 2002, but the Suzuka Circuit has been changed twice during 2003.

Second-fastest overall and first among JSB1000 entries was the Yoshimura Suzuki GP1 Daxim pairing of Atsushi Watanabe and Yukio Kagayama, with Watanabe recording a lap of 2:07.540 on the team’s Dunlop-equipped GSX-R1000.

The second Michelin-sponsored Seven Stars Honda RC51, the number 7 machine ridden by Tohru Ukawa and Hitoyasu Izutsu, was third-fastest with a 2:08.178.

Takeshi Tsujimura and two-time 8-Hours winner Shinichi Itoh qualified fifth overall and first in X-Formula Division One on their Bridgestone-tired F.C.C. TSR Zip-FM Racing Honda CBR954RR.

Corona Extra TiForce Endurance’s Adam Fergusson used a new set of race-compound Dunlops to record a lap of 2:09.688 Friday afternoon for the 13th-fastest overall and third-fastest XF1 time.

“That was making sure we get in Superpole (Special Stage),” said an excited Fergusson. “The whole day today was working up to that. The set of tires I was supposed to use went off after two laps. We thought it was going to rain, so I went out on Anthony’s new set to make sure we got a good time. Hopefully with that, Dunlop will give us something special for Superpole, maybe a proper qualifying tire. I reckon I’ll be able to do a 2:08 on a Q.”

Fergusson said the set-up he and teammate Anthony Gobert have developed isn’t “lightning fast” but is “comfortable.” Fergusson also said he believes they have the fastest motorcycle in a straight line at Suzuka. Gobert, meanwhile, reminded the Corona team to not get too excited over qualifying on Friday.

The Corona Light TiForce Endurance Suzuki GSX-R1000 ridden by Jordan Szoke and Paul Young was 31st overall in qualifying but fifth among Super Production machines with a 2:11.888. (Sport Production bikes run with engines that have less tuning allowed than an AMA Supersport engine.)

Fastest Super Production qualifiers were Zongshen Suzuki 1 (Stephane Mertens/ Warwick Nowland), the reigning World Endurance Champions, with a 2:10.941 on their Dunlop-fitted Suzuki GSX-R1000. Mertens felt their position among the teams eligible to receive World Endurance Championship points was very good and is looking forward to a good race with the other Super Production teams.

Zongshen Suzuki 2 (B. Bonhuil/I. Jerman/P. Bontempi) qualified 23rd with a 2:10.954.

Doug Polen and Yoshiyuki Sugai qualified 24th overall on the Moto Liberty Arata-EX & Kiss-FM Honda CBR954RR. Polen was fined 1000 Swiss Francs “for non-respect of the Black Flag with the orange disc” during Group B Session 1 Friday morning.

Jason Pridmore, James Ellison and Jimmy Lindstrom will start the Suzuki GB Phase One from the 25th position on Sunday after Pridmore posted a 2:11.180. Both Pridmore’s teammates’ best times are in the 2:14s.

Although they were all inside of the 115 percent cut-off time, none of the six X-Formula Division 2 entries were inside the top 66 qualifiers. This included former AMA 750cc Supersport regular Daigoro Suzuki on the Team Surf Jaja Suzuki SV1000S, which he called “very slow,” and 19-year-old American Mickey Lane on the Spec-A Yamamoto Racing Honda CB1300SF, which he called a “big, heavy, wobbling thing.”

Friday’s Unofficial Qualifying Results:

1. Seven Stars Honda 11 (N. Hayden/R. Kyonari), Honda RC51, SB, 2:07.312
2. Yoshimura Suzuki GP1 Daxim (A. Watanabe/Y. Kagayama), Suzuki GSX-R1000, JSB, 2:07.540
3. Seven Stars Honda 7 (T. Ukawa/H. Izutsu), Honda RC51, SB, 2:08.178
4.Team Cha-llenger (N. Fujiwara/T. Kayo), Yamaha YZF-R1, JSB, 2:08.864
5. F.C.C. TSR Zip-FM Racing Team (T. Tsujimura/S. Itoh), Honda CBR954RR, XF1, 2:08.919
6. YSP & Presto Racing (S. Nakatomi/W. Yoshikawa), Yamaha YZF-R1, JSB, 2:09.107
7. F.C.C. TSR (Y. Konishi/T. Mori), Honda CBR954RR, JSB, 2:09.189
8. Team Sakurai Honda 74 (C.Kameya/T. Okada), Honda RC51, SB, 2:09.229
9. Kenz JTrust Mojo Suzuki (K. Kitagawa/K. Fujiwara), Suzuki GSX-R100, JSB, 2:09.254
10.Masked Rider 555 Honda (T. Yamaguchi/Y. Takahashi), Honda CBR954RR, JSB, 2:09.255
11.Garfield RSK (H. Kobayashi/H. Ogata), Suzuki GSX-R1000, XF1, 2:09.471
12. Weider Honda ATS DDBoys (O. Deguchi/H. Aoki), Honda CBR954RR, JSB, 2:09.650
13. Corona Extra TiForce Endurance (A. Fergusson/A. Gobert), Suzuki GSX-R1000, XF1, 2:09.688
14. Alpha OMC Racing Supply (A. Tamitsuji/Y. Konno), Suzuki GSX-R1000, JSB, 2:09.996
15. Team Sakurai Honda 71 (Y. Nukumi/G. Kamada), Honda RC51, SB, 2:10.118
16. Wins Factory & Vega Sports (H. Kawase/K. Teramoto), Suzuki GSX-R1000, JSB, 2:10.258
17. Moriwaki Motul Racing (M. Okuno/R. Tsuruta), Honda CBR954RR, XF1, 2:10.303
18. Team Etching Factory 15 (S. Takemi/K. Hasegawa), Yamaha YZF-R1, XF1, 2:10.492
19.Club Yamaha Motorcycle Racing (M. Tokinaga/A. Morita), Yamaha YZF-R1/7, 2:10.512
20.RS-Itoh & Kaze (I. Higashimura/S. Karita), Kawasaki ZX-7RR, SB, 2:10.553
21. Heat Magic by Wins Factory (T. Onishi/T. Yoshida), Suzuki GSX-R1000, JSB, 2:10.743
22.Zongshen Suzuki 1 (W. Nowland/S. Mertens), Suzuki GSX-R1000, SP, 2:10.941
23. Zongshen Suzuki 2 (I. Jerman/B. Bonhuil/P. Bontempi), Suzuki GSX-R1000, SP, 2:10.954

24. Moto Liberty Arata-EX & Kiss-FM (D. Polen/Y. Sugai), Honda CBR954RR, XF1, 2:11.030

25. Suzuki GB Phase One (J. Pridmore/J. Ellison/J. Lindstrom), Suzuki GSX-R1000, SP, 2:11.180

27. Team 22 & Tsukigi Racing (G. Giabbani/T. Kishida), Suzuki GSX-R1000, SP, 2:11.250

31. Corona Light TiForce Endurance (J. Szoke/P. Young), Suzuki GSX-R1000, SP, 2:11.888

56. Driver Stand R.T. (T. Nakamura/T. Shimizu), Suzuki GSX-R1000, ST, 2:14.464

71. Team Surf Jaja (D. Suzuki/E. Samura), Suzuki SV1000S, XF2, 2:17.317

75. Spec-A Yamamoto Racing (T. Tuda/M. Lane), Honda CB1300SF, XF2, 2:17.725

More, from a press release issued by FGSport Group:

Honda Take Provisional Pole

Hayden Makes His Mark on the Suzuka 8 Hour

Provisional pole position has gone to the No.11 Seven Stars Honda SP-W of Nicky Hayden and Riuchi Kiyonari. Hayden’s fastest lap of 2:07.312 was put in during this morning’s first session, when track conditions were ideal. MotoGP rookie Hayden is having a great time this weekend: “This is a race we hear a lot about in the states; all my heroes have raced at the Suzuka 8 Hour so I’m just happy to be here. I hope we can put on a good show for the race on Sunday.”

Second fastest is the only other team to break into the 2:07s, the Daxim Yoshimura Suzuki of Atushi Watanabe and Yukio Kagayama with a best lap of 2:07.540.

The full-time championship teams are all having tyre problems. Suzuki Police Nationale’s Gwen Giabbani seems to be having the most trouble: “It’s still no good. The bike won’t grip, it won’t turn. It’s just no good today. We are trying to find the solution, but…”

The situation is similar for Suzuki GB Phase One in the adjoining pit garage. Rider Jason Pridmore explains: “The rear is just spin, spin, spin… and with this tyre rule we can’t try different compounds.”

Suzuki Zonshen No.2’s Igor Jerman seems disappointed with his performance today, convincing himself that performance on Sunday is more important: “I think we can do 2:12s in the race; I did that last year with no problems.”

Zongshen No.1’s Warwick Nowland is the fastest of the permanent riders, but is always convinced there is more to come: “I could have gone quicker if we’d had qualifying tyres – the ten tyre rule has caused us lots of problems. We need nine sets of tyres for the race which means Stephane and I are sharing a qualifier.”

The X-One Mondial team are enjoying their first visit to Suzuka, and are confident of qualifying for the oversubscribed grid. Their main competition for the race comes in the shape of the Formula Xtreme Kawasaki Z1, the two BMW R1100Ss and the pair of Honda CB1300s, a popular class with both racers and spectators.

A sizeable crowd has gathered in the grandstand opposite pitlane, displaying banners supporting everyone from old-hand Shinichi Itoh to Suzuka novice Nicky Hayden. Today’s pitlane walkabout opened with a sprint as those fans clamoured – in an orderly and polite Japanese way – for riders’ autographs and the chance to be photographed with the “Race Queen” promo girls.

As ever at Suzuka the weather is hot and humid, but the temperatures are not as high as expected.

The first 20 places on the grid will be decided by a series of Superpole “Special Stage – Attack / Jump-Up” sessions to be held tomorrow after the Supersport Suzuka 4 Hour support race. Special tyres can be used for Superpole, so times are expected to fall further when the special qualifiers come out.

From a press release issued by the AMA:

AMA SEEKS DELAY IN OFF-ROAD MOTORCYCLE CONVERSION BAN

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association is asking the California Department of Motor Vehicles to postpone a new directive that no longer allows motorcyclists to convert off-highway motorcycles to on-highway or dual-sport use.

In a memorandum dated July 23, Candy Wohlford, deputy director of the DMV Communications Program Division, informed all DMV field offices that they may no longer convert any off-road motorcycles made since 1978 for use on public roads. This represents a major change in policy for the agency, since the DMV’s own registration manual, and a California Highway Patrol bulletin, spell out procedures for legally making such conversions.

The memo notes that this change in policy stems from California Air Resources Board emissions regulations for on-highway motorcycles that went into effect with 1978 year models. DMV officials contend that because off-highway motorcycles don’t have an emission label indicating they are certified by the manufacturer to meet those emissions regulations, they can’t be converted for on-highway or dual registration.

Some riders convert their off-road motorcycles to on-road or dual-sport use so they can use public roads to connect trails.

“As we read this memo, we’re encouraged that nothing in it indicates that motorcycles converted prior to July 23 of this year will be illegal,” said Sean Maher, AMA director of state affairs. “We will work closely with DMV officials to try to ensure that those motorcycles remain legal.”

The AMA is seeking a postponement in implementation of the directive because state officials gave motorcyclists no warning of this policy shift. The Association is asking for time to get the word out to the motorcycling community, and to deal with issues raised by this change of direction.

Besides asking for that postponement, the AMA is also considering legislative remedies that would ensure the continued availability of dual-sport conversion registrations in California and in other states.

“We have seen other states impose prohibitions on allowing the conversion of off-highway motorcycles for dual-sport use,” Maher said, “and we suspect still more are considering such measures. This could become a trend with major implications not only for trail riders, but for off-road racers as well.”

California riders can express their concerns to the California Department of Motor Vehicles by going to the StateWatch section of the Rapid Response Center at the AMA’s website, www.AMADirectlink.com.