From a press release issued by Superside series organizers:

Saturday final qualifying

Superside World Championship
Brands Hatch, Europe

1. *Steve Webster, GB, Suzuki, 1:30.070
2. Jörg Steinhausen, Germany, Suzuki, 1:31.253
3. Steve Abbott, GB, Suzuki, 1:31.314
4. Tom Hanks, GB, Yamaha, 1:31.992
5. Klaus Klaffenböck, Austria, Yamaha, 1:32.140
6. Richard Gatt, GB, Yamaha, 1:33.308
7. Martien van Gils, Holland, Suzuki, 1:33.361
8. Tim Reeves, GB, Yamaha, 1:33.477
9. Bill Philp, GB, Yamaha, 1:33.912
10. Jock Skene, GB, Suzuki, 1:33.956

*new lap record

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Attack Suzuki’s Josh Hayes took his second consecutive AMA Superstock race win Saturday at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Hayes narrowly beat Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Steve Rapp and Hooters Suzuki’s Vincent Hakovec in a twice-red-flagged, three-way battle to the flag.

Corona Extra Suzuki’s Adam Fergusson came from behind to score fourth. Championship contender Tommy Hayden (Kawasaki ZX-6R) was fifth after fending off a late-race charge by John Haner.

Pascal Picotte finished seventh on his Picotte Racing Yamaha YZF-R6. AMA Horizon Award winner Brian Stokes beat Kawasaki’s Tony Meiring and Rapp’s teammate Chris Ulrich for eighth.

Team EMGO Taiwan’s Chris Caylor crashed out on lap five while running fourth, and Jake Holden fell off on lap six while racing for sixth. Jason DiSalvo retired on lap 12 and rode into the pits; he was 11th at the time.

The race was stopped twice. The first stoppage came on lap four when Greg Moore highsided between turns seven and eight and No Limit Motorsports Honda’s Lance Isaacs hit Moore and also crashed.

Isaacs was transported to Mansfield Medical Center with a broken leg, and Moore was transported to the same facility with a broken arm, according to a medical update issued by AMA Pro Racing. The race was flagged off again as a complete 16-lap restart.

The second red flag was thrown when Dr. Jeffrey Purk crashed and slid into the inflatable barriers outside of turn seven and needed medical attention. Dr. Purk’s condition was not known at post time. The race was restarted for eight laps.

Early leader Hayes passed Rapp, who had charged through from third to lead, at the end of the back straight on the last lap and held it in the run to the finish line.

AMA Superstock Race Results (all on Suzuki GSX-R750 unless noted):

1. Josh Hayes, 16 laps
2. Steve Rapp, -0.116 second
3. Vincent Haskovec, -0.362 second
4. Adam Fergusson, -3.186 seconds
5. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki ZX-6R, -9.264 seconds
6. John Haner, -9.430 seconds
7. Pascal Picotte, Yamaha YZF-R6, -10.531 seconds
8. Brian Stokes, -14.567 seconds
9. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki ZX-6R, -14.643 seconds
10. Chris Ulrich, -15.782 seconds
11. Mike Ciccotto, -17.835 seconds
12. J.J. Roetlin, -28.245 seconds
13. Chris Peris, Honda CBR600RR, -30.921 seconds
14. Kevin Pate, -34.384 seconds
15. Jeff Muskopf, -36.026 seconds
16. Travis King
17. Tom Wertman
18. Darren Luck
19. Jake Johnson
20. David Bell
21. James Kerker, Honda CBR600
22. Daniel Doty, Yamaha YZF-R6
23. Joseph Ford
24. Jeff Bostrom, 15 laps, crashed
25. Matt Malterer, 15 laps
26. Jason DiSalvo, 12 laps, Yamaha YZF-R6, DNF, retired
27. Jason Peters, 11 laps, DNF, crashed
28. Danny Eslick, 9 laps, DNF, crashed
29. Corey Eaton, 9 laps, DNF
30. Dr. Jeff Purk, Yamaha YZF-R6, DNF, crashed
31. Jake Holden, 6 laps, DNF, crashed
32. Chris “Opie” Caylor, 4 laps, DNF, crashed
33. Mike Scruggs, 1 laps, DNF
34. Steve Atlas, 0 laps, DNF, mechanical



Provisional Superstock Point Standings:

1. Hayes, 265 points
2. Haskovec, 255 points
3. Tommy Hayden, 253 points
4. Fergusson, 233 points
5. Meiring, 218 points
6. Rapp, 184 points
7. Ciccotto, 182 points
8. Chris Caylor, 175 points
9. Jason DiSalvo, 171 points
10. Haner, 162 points


More, from a press release issued by Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki:

Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Steve Rapp fell just 0.116-second short of claiming his third Superstock victory of the season Saturday at Mid-Ohio. Starting from the pole, Rapp found himself in the middle of — and at times leading — an intense three-man battle in the twice-restarted final that saw him leading at the start of the last lap.

The Californian was rejuvenated after the second restart when his crew elected to fit a new Michelin front and rear to his GSX-R750, providing grip he lacked after the first restart. Rapp was particularly impressive in the 2.4-mile circuit’s back section, routinely reeling in several bike lengths in the Carousel turn at Mid-Ohio.

The runner-up placing was his third podium finish in four races. “It was a good fun race — close but safe.

“This has been my best year by far in a long time,” said Rapp, who now sits sixth in the points race despite not participating in three rounds early in the year. “The Valvoline team has been in Superstock for so long that I don’t have to worry about telling them what to do. They do it and I just ride it as hard as I can.”

Teammate Chris Ulrich made it two Valvoline EMGO Suzuki GSX-R750s in the top ten. Ulrich moved up to tenth place on lap 14 of 16 and held the position to the race’s conclusion. The result saw Chris leap back into the top ten in points as well. He is now currently tied for ninth.

“The day was looking like it wasn’t going to be all that great until the last eight laps. We didn’t put a new tire on it after the first restart and that might not have been the best move,” the Lake Elsinore, California resident said.

Ulrich persevered until the second red flag when things suddenly got better with more grip. “I was in eleventh at the second red flag. Then we made a tire change at the rear and a suspension change at the front. It ended up paying off in a big way.”

The second generation rider who has suffered with injuries the past two seasons said he made great strides dicing with other riders in the race. “I rode a lot better today and I think I got some of my mojo back,” he said afterward.

Rapp will be back in action at Mid-Ohio on Sunday, competing in the Formula Xtreme final aboard the team’s potent GSX-R1000. He will start from the third row after qualifying tenth today.


More, from a press release issued by Marietta Motorsports:

1-888-FASTLAP’S STOKES 8TH IN SUPERSTOCK AT MID-OHIO, CAYLOR CRASHES OUT OF
4TH PLACE

LEXINGTON, Oh.- The dramatic Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock race at Mid-Ohio brought mixed results for the 1-888-FASTLAP riders as Brian Stokes finished eighth and Opie Caylor crashed while running in fourth.

The 16-lap race was red flagged early because of a crash, and the race was completely restarted. On the restart, Caylor was second on the 1-888-FASTLAP/Team EMGO Taiwan Suzuki GSX-R750. He was running in fourth when he crashed on lap five. Caylor was attempting to run a tighter line through a corner so he would not be easy to pass, but his front tire hit the seam between the track surface and a concrete patch.

Just three laps later, the race was red flagged again. Caylor was not able to restart the race.

The race was restarted from lap eight, and Stokes was able to start on the Team Embry/FREEWEBTOWN.COM Suzuki GSX-R750 from the second row. He got a strong launch and was fifth on the first lap.

Stokes moved into eighth in the first two laps, and he stayed there to earn a career best AMA Pro Racing finish.

“I didn’t change the front tire after running in the Superbike race,” said Stokes. “It was starting to go a little bit, but I was still able to run competitively. After winning the Horizon Award earlier this week, and now getting my best AMA finish ever, I feel like I’ve gained a lot of confidence and I look forward to improving even more.”

Earlier in the day, Stokes rode in the first round of the AMA Superbike race that is being held at Mid-Ohio. He finished 13th.

The next race for Caylor and Stokes will be at Virginia International Raceway, the penultimate round of the Superstock season, August 29-31.

More information about Caylor, Stokes and 1-888-FASTLAP can be found on the Internet at www.1888FASTLAP.com.



More, from a press release issued by Proforma:

HANER FINISHES A FINE SIXTH AT MID-OHIO

HAS/Shogun Racing rider John Haner finished sixth in the Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, site of round nine of the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship. Haner closed on fifth place rider Tommy Hayden late in the race, but could not get around the Kawasaki factory rider on the last lap. Haner started the Superstock event on his back-up bike after a clutch problem on his primary bike in the earlier Superbike event.

Haner had qualified seventh, which had given him a good grid position on the second row. He made the most of it with what ended up being three good starts in the twice-red-flagged event. “The last start, which was the most important, I got pinched off a little bit in turn one, I think I came around in ninth place,” said John. “I got around Ciccotto, Stokes and Picotte. Two laps from the end, I was starting to reel in Tommy (Hayden). On the last lap, I was right on him. We were just even down the back straightaway, I reeled him in on the brakes, and got right up on him going into Thunder Valley. I thought I was going to be able to stuff it up underneath him, a clean pass, but I almost hit the curb because I couldn’t see where it was at, I was so close. That was pretty much my last chance (to pass him).”

“I’m looking forward to the last couple of rounds,” said John. “I’m hoping we can get a different clutch and a quick shifter, that would help a lot.”

Haner moves up to tenth in the Superstock points standings, with only 22 points separating fifth through tenth in points. Haner has scored points in every round he has competed in, missing only the Brainerd, MN round to have surgery to correct carpal tunnel syndrome in his right wrist.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn LeSanto

French flavour for Supersport front row

The first two places on the grid for Sunday’s World Supersport Championship race at Brands Hatch. Stephane Chambon took pole on his Alstare Suzuki GSX-R600 ahead of reigning champion Fabien Foret.

Foret, who took his first victory of the season and the debut win for the new ZX-6RR at Misano, probably felt he could have gone a little quicker still, a point he hammered home to Robert Ulm at the end of the session. It seems Foret thought Ulm had interfered with his flying lap and the pair came close to exchanging blows as Foret made his feelings felt!

Behind the French pair sit the two yellow Ten Kate Honda’s of Australian duo Karl Muggeridge and Chris Vermeulen. They also complained of getting caught in traffic while on a qualifying lap but with 27 riders competing for track space, it’s almost inevitable that some riders are going to feel that their best laps have been stinted by traffic.

The rain, which had fallen heavily on Friday, stayed away allowing all the teams to work on their dry settings for the race. The forecast for Sunday at present is for sunshine.



World Supersport Final Qualifying Results:

1. Stephane Chambon, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:28.468
2. Fabien Foret, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, 1:28.692
3. Karl Muggeridge, Honda CBR600RR, 1:28.760
4. Chris Vermeulen, Honda CBR600RR, 1:28.828
5. Jurgen Vd Goorbergh, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:29.067
6. Sebastien Charpentier, Honda CBR600RR, 1:29.114
7. Katsuwaki Fujiwara, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:29.146
8. Christian Kellner, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:29.196
9. Tom Sykes, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:29.469
10. Alessio Corradi, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:29.552
11. Matthieu Lagrive, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:29.603
12. Werner Daemen, Honda CBR600RR, 1:29.640
13. Jorg Teuchert, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:29.716
14. Dean Thomas, Honda CBR600RR, 1:29.720
15. Iain MacPherson, Honda CBR600RR, 1:29.861
16. Broc Parkes, Honda CBR600RR, 1:29.861
17. Robert Ulm, Honda CBR600RR, 1:29.878
18. Christophe Cogan, Honda CBR600RR, 1:29.884
19. Pere Riba, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, 1:29.918
20. Stefano Cruciani, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, 1:30.025
21. Gianluca Nannelli, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:30.117
22. Simone Sanna, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:30.134
23. Barry Veneman, Honda CBR600RR, 1:30.183
24. Thierry Vd Bosch, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:30.294
25. Jamie Robinson, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:30.482
26. Jan Hanson, Honda CBR600RR, 1:30.665
27. Michael Laverty, Honda CBR600RR, 1:31.087


More, from a press release issued by Ten Kate Honda:

Front row start for Ten Kate Honda

The two Ten Kate Honda World Supersport Championship riders Chris Vermeulen and Karl Muggeridge will start Sunday’s race at Brands hatch from the front row.

The pair secured their positions at the front of the grid after the weather stayed dry for the second qualifying session. Karl Muggeridge looked set for pole as he blasted around the historic English circuit but got caught up in traffic and ended the session third fastest.

“We’ve got the bike going really well now,” commented Muggeridge. “We lost a little time this morning working out gearing and suspension and when it all came together I got a little held up in traffic on my flying lap.”

It was a similar story for Chris Vermeulen who qualified fourth fastest after also getting caught behind a slower rider on his fast lap.

“Traffic seems to be a problem this year,” noted Vermeulen, “but I’m not too worried as fourth on the grid is actually a good position to be in at Brands Hatch – I’ll have the shortest run to the first turn. We have a great race set up so I am confident for Sunday and, as usual, the Pirelli tyres are working really well.”

Having both his riders on the front row for the race is good enough for team manager Ronald ten Kate.

“Of course I enjoy seeing my riders on pole,” he said. “But today, because good weather is forecast for Sunday, we had to concentrate on finding a set up that worked in the dry for the race. We’ve arrived at a good set up for the present conditions and we are also ready for any improvement in the weather.”


More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service:

CHAMBON STORMS TO POLE!

Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Stephane Chambon stormed to his pole position of the season at Brands Hatch today. He posted a lap of 1:28.468, over two tenths of a second quicker then his nearest rival Fabien Foret (Kawasaki). Last year Stephane suffered a heavy fall at Brands, so pole today was a sign that there are no lasting effects from that incident. His team mate Katsuaki Fujiwara finished the day in seventh place after some problems with gear ratios, but is hoping that tomorrow’s warm-up session in the morning will allow him to lap more quickly and confidently. Third quickest today is Aussie Karl Muggeridge (Honda), with team mate and series leader Chris Vermeulen fourth.

STEPHANE CHAMBON – 1st, 1:28.468
I’m very happy to be on pole position today – especially after what happened to me here last year. Yesterday I was a bit nervous in the section of the track where I crashed, but today was no problem for me. I ‘m happy with our set-up for the dry, but not so sure about our set-up for the wet. It’s always important to make a good start and that’s what I will be trying for tomorrow. I’d be happy with a podium, but really I want to win.

KATSUAKI FUJIWARA – 7th, 1:29.146
We improved the bike’s set-up in the morning and then changed the gearbox in the afternoon, but I’m not completely happy with one of the gear ratios. We’ll try to improve it in the warm-up tomorrow morning. I’m happy with my set-up for a dry race, but not 100% sure of our set-up if it is wet. I hope it’ll be dry tomorrow, so that I can really push hard and challenge for a podium. Last year I won here, so I want another podium this year.

From a press release issued by Tony Foster of PCS in Daytona Beach, Florida:

The PCS Daytona 20th Anniversary Open House
scheduled for July 26th has been unavoidably cancelled.

(More information is available from:
PCS Daytona
594 Ballough Rd
Daytona Beach Fl 32114
386.253.2586
386.253.3578 fax
[email protected]

From a press release issued by the FIM:

Superbike World Championship
2004 provisional Calendar

The provisional calendar for the 2004 season of the Superbike World Championship is the following:

February 29, Spain, Valencia

March 7, tba, tba

March 28, Australia, Phillip Island

April 18, San Marino, Misano

May 2, Japan, Sugo (tbc)

May 16, Italy, Monza

May 30, Germany, Oschersleben

June 13, Great-Britain, Silverstone

June 27, tba, tba

July 11, United States, Laguna Seca

July 25, Great-Britain, Brands Hatch

September 5, Netherlands, Assen

September 26, Italy, Imola

October 3, France, Magny-Cours

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Friday Morning AMA Superbike Practice Times:

1. Mat Mladin, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:27.343
2. Ben Spies, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:27.892
3. Kurtis Roberts, Honda RC51, 1:28.565
4. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:28.936
5. Ben Bostrom, Honda RC51, 1:29.125
6. Miguel Duhamel, Honda RC51, 1:29.190
7. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:29.778
8. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:30.004
9. Jordan Szoke, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:30.142
10. Steve Rapp, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:30.406
11. Josh Hayes, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:30.749
12. Chris Caylor, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:31.305
13. Shawn Higbee, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:31.038
14. John Haner, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:31.137
15. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:31.241
16. Giovanni Bussei, Ducati 998RS, 1:31.411
17. Geoff May, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:31.866
18. Jake Holden, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:32.199
19. Brian Stokes, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:32.868
20. Greg Moore, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:32.975

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Trackside Racers Supply owner and longtime Pirelli tire vendor “Moose” Kuykendall is celebrating his 50th birthday today at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.


Kenny Lee Roberts is celebrating his 30th birthday today at Sachsenring, Germany.