From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

PRIDMORE’S MID-OHIO RESULTS ILLUSTRATE RESURGENCE OF NON-FACTORY SUPERBIKE TEAMS

2003 AMA Superbike Rules Lead to Close Racing

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (July 31, 2004) — Jason Pridmore’s pair of second-place finishes at the Mid-Ohio doubleheader of the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship last weekend on his Attack Suzuki marked the best finish in the series for a non-factory team since Dale Quarterly’s second on a Ducati in 1995 at Laguna Seca.

Pridmore’s success highlights what has been a very good year for privateer teams in the championship — four non-factory riders are in the top 10 in the series standings. New AMA Superbike rules allowing 1000cc, four-cylinder machines have proven to make it possible for the first time in many years for non-factory riders to be competitive at the top level of motorcycle road racing in the United States.

Pridmore, son of three-time AMA Superbike Champion Reg Pridmore, earned his best-ever AMA Superbike finish last weekend, even better than when he was a factory Suzuki and Ducati Superbike rider. Pridmore is a 13-year AMA racing veteran.

“I think this is what we need,” said Pridmore of the new AMA Superbike rules. “I think next year if we can get Kawasaki and Yamaha and some of the other manufacturers involved in the new formula then things will really get moving in the right direction for many of the privateer and support teams in Superbike.”

Shawn Higbee is another leading AMA Superbike rider who feels he is benefiting from the new rules. Higbee raced as a factory Ducati rider in 1996 and is matching or bettering this season the performances he had on a factory bike.

“The new Superbike formula has definitely brought the field closer together,” said Higbee, who rides for Kaufman Trailers/Millennium Technologies Suzuki. “The gap has closed between the privateer and factory teams. The biggest difference is the cost. Before, even if you could buy the parts, it was very expensive to field a competitive Superbike. That left the smaller teams to race 750 Superstock machines and they had nowhere near the horsepower to be competitive. With the new rules a team can buy a bike and do fairly light modification and have trap speeds within a few miles per hour of the factory bikes.”

In addition to the competitiveness of the non-factory teams, the new rules have lead to very close racing in 2003. This season Honda, Kawasaki and Suzuki have each earned victories in the Superbike class and Ducati has made the podium. Up to the Mid-Ohio round, the championship race was one of the closest in years with just six points separating the top two riders and the top six riders all within reach of the championship. Several of the races have been decided on the final lap with close battles at Daytona, Road America and Mid-Ohio.

While Yoshimura Suzuki’s Mat Mladin has won the majority of races and leads the championship as it nears the final round, he’s fought hard for his wins. This was evident in the dramatic conclusion to Saturday’s Superbike race at Mid-Ohio that saw he and Honda’s Kurtis Roberts swap the lead several times on the last lap before Robert’s crashed near the finish line opening up the door for Mladin to take the victory.

AMA Pro Racing Vice President, Director of Communications, Kerry Graeber says the rules package established by AMA Pro Racing has caught the attention of other sanctioning bodies around the world. “We’re glad to see that other organizations are looking at the new AMA Superbike rules as the basis for their rules,” said Graeber. “There’s movement to unify national and World Superbike rules to encourage participation from the factories as well as making it cost effective for smaller non-factory teams to be competitive.”

The AMA U.S. Superbike Championship, in its 28th season, was the first national championship featuring street-based motorcycles and spawned the Superbike World Championships as well as numerous national Superbike championships.



Editorial Note: Larry Pegram claims his third place at Road America earlier this year was the most recent best finish in AMA Superbike by a rider for a non-factory team, and, of course, Quarterley (note correct spelling) won an AMA National at Mid-Ohio in 1993.)

From a press release issued by MonsterMob Ducati:

STEVE HISLOP
1961 – 2003

On behalf of all at Paul Bird Motorsport like so many, we are saddened and shocked by the news of Steve Hislop’s tragic accident resulting in his untimely death yesterday.

Steve rode for the team for two very successful seasons and gave us not only our first British Superbike title but our first World Championship pole position at Donington Park, all of which we will never forget.

The combination of Paul Bird Motorsport and Steve Hislop proved the one to beat in 2001 and 2002 which culminated in him winning last season’s Championship and in doing so completed his fairytale return to the top after injury and bad luck dogged his previous bids.

Team owner Paul Bird said “We will forever be indebted to Steve for what he has done for us. It’s fair to say we wouldn’t be where we are now if it wasn’t for him. For now all our thoughts are with his dedicated mum Margaret and his two lovely children Connor and Aaron. All of us are going to miss him but we will all remember him very fondly.”

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Denver’s Erico Motorsports has added Ducati and Moto Guzzi to its existing Triumph line, and has hired former AMA Pro Thunder mechanic Brian Sharp and former racer Les White.

Erico Motorsports is located at 2855 Walnut St. in Denver, Colorado, phone (303) 887-1647, www.ericomotorsports.com

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:


Re: No U.S. GP for 2004

It is interesting to note that the Dorna has inked deals for events in both Qatar and China for GPs in 2004-2005; yet, neither have built a racetrack. Hell, let’s put this in perspective, neither has run a world-class series that I know of!

China hasn’t even begun construction of their course, which is to be built near the Great Wall.

A full year of experience running race operations? Aren’t most of the officials that run these races part of the traveling circus that is MotoGP? They seem to do pretty good. I mean, they have a timing system that works as well as those that know how to ID a pair of numbers on a white bike!

Maybe this is part of the price we pay as Americans for ensuring the security of all free peoples on Earth, who knows. What I do know however, is that this is a lot like that guy who buys a liter bike his first time out, signs up in the advanced class at a public track day and proceeds to pork it around the corners while motoring past you on the straights juicing the nitrous! Mugello 2004, here I come!

Thomas Rubin
Rochester Hills, Michigan


More On AHRMA Track-oiling At Mid-Ohio

There was more than one error in the news flash than the bike, that was a 750 Yamaha. The third rider was not Tim Joyce, I had crashed in oil going into turn five just one red flag before the Swartout crash. This oil brought down Bruce Brown and myself–reported earlier to be Gary Nixon’s oil but not so, it was the Superbike of Billy Addington.

The smoking gun–or should I say Exxon Valdeez–was sitting just off track through turn five.

Tim Joyce
AHRMA #309
Fort Walton Beach, Florida




RE: AHRMA oiling at Mid-Ohio

The thought of AHRMA considering any form of oil containment sounds terrific; however, the tech inspectors actually performing a thorough and meaningful inspection would help as well. I have vowed never to race with AHRMA after experiencing their lackadaisical attitude towards tech. Considering how ancient and prone to failure the majority of the Vintage race vehicles are, it is a travesty to see someone get injured due to AHRMA’s lack of anticipation. It isn’t a matter of IF a Vintage vehicle will spill its guts but WHEN will it …hopefully not right in front of you!

Robert W. Gresens
CCS SW, Amateur #203
Clarkdale, Arizona


RE: AMA Race Team Disrespect For Our National Anthem.

I was just watching the pre-race TV interviews with the Superbike riders at Mid-Ohio. During those interviews the national anthem was playing.

I don’t understand why Greg White chose to interview the riders during the playing of the national anthem. That time should be reserved for everyone who is present to render their respect to our flag.

If you play attention to NASCAR, all the race teams stand, remove their headgear and pay respect to the flag during the national anthem.

People who are employed by race teams are afforded that opportunity because of the men and women who have died defending this country. The very least that they can do is show some respect during the playing of the national anthem.

Scott Cortese
Harrison Township, Michigan


And now some reader reaction to one of the above missives:

I just read a posting from one of your readers maligning the tech inspection provided by AHRMA, in comparison to CCS. As a holder of a CCS license for 11 years, and AHRMA for 7, my opinion is that AHRMA is MORE thorough in their inspection procedure than CCS is.

That’s my opinion, but at any rate I find the reader’s accusation that they are less than proficient to be completely unfounded in my experience.

Carl Anderson
Cocoa, Florida

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The biggest problems for Seven Stars Honda’s Nicky Hayden so far at the Suzuka 8-Hours are learning how to stretch the fuel load of his Honda RC51 and remembering how to deal with lapped riders.

“Right now, we’re just trying to work on my fuel consumption,” Hayden told Roadracingworld.com Thursday on Suzuka’s pit lane. “That’s the most important thing, to get my mileage up there. I’m braking too deep right now, and that’s kind of hurting me.”

The other big problem Hayden faces is dealing with the backmarkers he thought he had left behind in AMA Pro Racing.

“I kind of forgot about riding around backmarkers since I started riding GP. They just weren’t there anymore,” laughed Hayden. “I didn’t notice it, but coming back here where there’s a lot of backmarkers it’s a big deal.

“There’s a lot of different classes here – production bikes and some quite slow bikes. I forgot how much it sucks to come up on a guy on a completely different bike. I’ve already almost cleaned one guy out. So I definitely have to get into the rhythm of going through lappers again. That’s something I have to work on, and my in and out laps. I need to work on those, too.”

Hayden said his team is planning to do the 8-hour race on six fuel stops in between seven, 75-minute riding stints. And four of those stints will be Hayden’s.

“Sure, it’s not going to be easy,” said Hayden. “If we go 1:15 stints and it’s so humid here, it’s definitely going to be a chore. After riding the V5 (Honda RC211V MotoGP bike), this thing here is a lot more mellow. So it’s kind of like not hard to hang on to. The biggest thing is to stay focused in traffic and not take one of the slower riders out.”

From a press release issued by event promoters RPM:

McGrath and Ward to race at the Fay Myers Suzuki Supermoto Classic

DENVER, CO – RPM (Race Promotion Management) has announced that 7-time Supercross Champion Jeremy McGrath and multi-time Supercross/Motocross Champion Jeff Ward will compete in the Fay Myers Suzuki Supermoto Classic, August 23 and 24 at CycleFest in Copper Mountain, Colorado.

Troy Lee of Troy Lee Designs confirmed their entry. “This is huge news for the event, these are 2 of the biggest names in motorcycle racing and not coincidently 2 of the top guys in Supermoto here in the US”, says Cameron Gray of RPM, “this sets the stage for a first class event and we expect more riders of the same caliber to be signing on soon.”

The Fay Myers Suzuki Supermoto Classic will feature a double header format with a main event on both Saturday and Sunday with riders competing in one 450cc class for an overall purse of $20,000 that pays down to 20th place in both mains. The overall winner for the weekend will be crowned the Big Kahuna and receive an additional $2000. The race will be aired on Speed Channel later this year.

Riders interested in registering for the Fay Myers Suzuki Supermoto Classic should contact Kerri Gunderman of RPM at 303-377-3278.

CycleFest is the largest motorcycle event to hit the Colorado Rockies in years. All disciplines of motorcycling are invited to gather for a weekend of organized rides, motorcycle and ATV demos, new gear and accessory displays, live music and thousands of dollars of merchandise and equipment giveaways. For more information visit www.cyclefestco.com.


From a press release issued by Kurt Marmor’s publicist:

MARMOR SIGNS NEW DEAL WITH HALL’S GAS GAS

(Springfield, IL) Springfield native and Professional AMA motorcycle racer Kurt Marmor is pleased to announce his new relationship with Hall’s Gas Gas of Springfield, Illinois and motorcycle manufacturer, “Gas Gas of North America”.

Marmor becomes the first factory support rider from Gas Gas in AMA Pro Racing.(Gas Gas is a company based out of Spain) Gas Gas will offer full factory support with the latest bikes, technology and mechanics thru Hall’s in Springfield, IL for Marmor to compete in the American Motorcyclist Association’s national racing series, “The Red Bull Supermoto Series”. The new series, which will be shown on the Outdoor Life Network, is wildly popular in Europe. It combines dirt, road and jumps on one race track 3/4ths of a mile long.

Kurt Marmor, who resides in Springfield, IL and is in his 12th year of professional motorcycle racing, has spent the last 5 years competing in the AMA Superbike Series. Before that he could be found taking the checkered flag on the dirt tracks of the Midwest, including the Springfield Mile.

Marmor says he is happy the deal is done early so that he can now concentrate on the remaining races this year and assist in the search for a major sponsor. “I’m very excited about my new relationship with Hall’s and Gas Gas. The guys at Hall’s believe in me and I believe in them and their products”, Marmor said.

“With their assistance and my experience we can’t help but win”, he said.

“This new series will take America by storm in popularity and excitement. There’s not one place on the track that the fans can’t see the action,” said Kurt.

Marmor’s first race for Hall’s and Gas Gas will be August 30 at South Boston Virginia. He will then finish out the rest of the 2003 season and prepare for a full season in 2004.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Anthony Gobert is present and happy to be riding for the Corona Extra TiForce Endurance team in practice for the Suzuka 8-Hours Thursday in Japan after surviving a recent car accident.

“I was involved in a pretty bad car accident about three weeks ago in Australia,” said the Australian Thursday at Suzuka Circuit in Japan. “I don’t want to go into all the details, but I banged my head and my back up pretty good. I’ve been out of action for the last few weeks; I haven’t been able to train like I’ve wanted to. I would’ve liked to have been in better shape.”



Gobert said he felt a little out of shape on the #68 Corona Extra TiForce Suzuki GSX-R1000 XX-F Division One machine and that he was taking his time getting up to full speed. “Yesterday we got a few laps in an open practice, but I struggled a lot because I haven’t been on a road race bike in so long,” said Gobert. “I’m getting more of a feel for it today. I went six seconds faster today than yesterday. I could push a little harder and go a little quicker, but we’re under strict orders not to crash the bike.”

Things are already going better in 2003 than the last time Gobert was at Suzuka when he teamed with Noriyuki Haga on a factory Yamaha YZF-R7. “When I was here last with Haga we were conflicting over every change to the bike. We just couldn’t agree on anything on the set-up. With Crusty (Adam Fergusson), we just agree on everything the bike is doing and every change we’ve made so far. I really like that.”

Corona Extra Suzuki team principal Landers Sevier, the driving force behind the team’s Suzuka effort, said he has won over $600 in bets made by AMA series regulars against Gobert showing up at Suzuka.

“I feel really fortunate to get the call from Landers,” said Gobert. “I just want to prove to everyone that this year wasn’t my fault. I’m really having a good time with the Corona guys, and that goes a long way when you’re racing.”

The second Corona bike, the #86 Corona Light TiForce Endurance Suzuki GSX-R1000, will be ridden by Jordan Szoke and Paul Young, an Australian who races a Yamaha in the British Superbike Championship and was recommended to the team by Fergusson.


More, from a press release issued by Corona Extra Suzuki:

CORONA EXTRA SUZUKI ENDURANCE TAKES ON THE WORLD AT SUZUKA 8 HOUR

Corona Extra Suzuki Endurance is once again competing in the world’s most prestigious race – the 8 Hours of Suzuka. For the 2003 event, CESE has assembled a team of World-class riders to go after wins in the Super Production (SP) and Xperimental Formula (XF) classes.

In 2002, CESE with riders Adam Fergusson and Jordan Szoke achieved tenth overall and third in Super Production, an amazing first time achievement. For 2003 Adam and Jordan will again be riding, this time teamed with Anthony Gobert, Paul Young and alternate Sean Giles. Fergusson and Gobert will be on the XF Corona Extra Suzuki GSXR 1000 with Szoke and Young pairing up on the SP Corona Light GSXR 1000.

From a press release issued by WERA:

WERA NATIONAL SERIES ON THE WAY TO SUMMIT POINT

SUMMIT POINT, W. Va.- The WERA National Challenge Series and the Dunlop/WERA National Endurance Series will return to Summit Point Raceway for the seventh round of the season from August 1-3.

During the Dunlop National Endurance Series round at Summit Point in 2002, Semoff Brothers Racing became the only team to beat Vesrah Suzuki during the entire season. The team of Mark Junge, Tray Batey and John Jacobi is undefeated on the Vesrah Suzuki GSX-R1000 this year, and they are hoping for another victory during the six-hour race at Summit Point.

Army of Darkness will be racing for their seventh consecutive Mediumweight Superbike victory on a Suzuki GSX-R600. The Washington, D.C.-based team also hopes to be on the overall podium at their home track.

The endurance race will get underway at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 2. Many local racers will participate in the event, and the large starting grid will provide plenty of excitement.

The National Challenge Series sprint races will be held on Sunday, August 3, starting at 12:30 p.m.. The 12 races will consist of ten laps each. Expert-only classes include Open Superstock and Pirelli Formula One.

Classes for both Novices and Experts include 600 Superstock for Experts and the STAR School 600 Superstock race for Novices, 750 Superstock, 600 Superbike, 750 Superbike, Lightweight Twins, Heavyweight Twins and Formula 2.

Summit Point Raceway is a 10-turn, two-mile road course located in Summit Point, W. Va., about one hour from Washington, D.C. The location, exciting layout and excellent viewing areas make Summit Point a popular track with fans. There are plenty of grandstands located throughout the track, and campsites are located in a forested section of the infield.

Tickets for the weekend are available for $25 for all three days and just $15 for Sunday only. Camping is free. More information, including directions to the track and a listing of nearby accommodations, can be found on Summit Point’s website at www.SummitPoint-Raceway.com.

More information about WERA, including a detailed schedule for the Summit Point event, can be found at www.WERA.com.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Ben Spies, aboard his Formula Xtreme Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000, is currently on top of the time charts halfway through the final day of team testing at Barber Motorsports Park.

As of 12:00 p.m. Thursday, the third day of a testing for the factory Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki and Kawasaki teams as well as for Austin Ducati and Erion Honda at Barber Motorsports Park, in Birmingham, Alabama, Spies and Ben Bostrom are atop the time charts with a 1:26.008 and 1:26.018, respectively. They are closely followed by Aaron Yates at a 1:26.074 and Mat Mladin with a 1:26.113.

Spies set his best time of the test so far Thursday morning on his FX bike–which is actually a works Superbike identical to those ridden by Mladin and Yates–while Bostrom, who also did his best time to date Thursday morning, was aboard his factory Honda RC51 Superbike.

Prior to this morning Mladin led the way with times in the 1:26.1 range, nearly half-a-second better than the next closest challenger, which was Yates at a 1:26.534.

Right on Spies’ heels in FX action is Damon Buckmaster on the Graves Yamaha YZF-R1 at a 1:26.030, set Wednesday afternoon. He is followed by Erion Honda CBR954RR pilot Jake Zemke with a 1:26.774, which he also did late Wednesday afternoon.

In 600cc Supersport action, Tommy Hayden has dominated the charts. Hayden and his Kawasaki ZX-6RR have been fastest throughout the test, with a best time of 1:28.360 set yesterday afternoon. Hayden is followed by a trio of factory Yamaha R6 riders, in the form of Jamie Hacking at a 1:28.450 set this morning, Damon Buckmaster at a 1:28.535 set yesterday afternoon, and Jason DiSalvo at a 1:28.851 also set yesterday afternoon.

Times continue to drop as the riders familiarize themselves with the track, and it’s almost certain a handful of Superbike and FX riders will be in the 1:25s by day’s end. It also looks like a good possibility that the top Supersport riders could be in the 1:27s.

From a press release:

First-year Expert Greg Moore broke his right humerus at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course during Saturday’s AMA Superstock race. Moore left Mansfield Medical Center to make the long drive back to University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital, which is located near Moore’s residence.

UAB’s Head of Orthopedic Trauma, Dr. George Alonso, suggested that Moore try a special brace that will allow the bone to adhere without having surgery.

When asked about the race, Moore said, “I felt like I was running some pretty good lap times. As I exited turn eight, the back end (of the bike) stepped out and I highsided. I really didn’t know what else happened until I arrived at the hospital and was told that I was run over. It should take about five or six weeks to heal, so I should be ready for Barber, if not VIR (Virginia International Raceway).”