From a press release issued by Team Troll Honda BQR:

Report on today’s third round of the Spanish National Formula Extreme Championship race at Albacete, Spain.

Date: July 20, 2003

Noyes 12th in Albacete

Kenny Noyes (Honda CBR954RR), one of two American road racers currently participating in the Spanish National Championship, finished 12th today at sweltering Albacete, Spain, eventually getting the better of a five machine scrap for the position that lasted the entire race.

“We had a problem in the warm-up and couldn’t try the gearing that looked good on the computer. After the warm-up I decided to take add two teeth to the rear to try and get a better run out of the final corner. It looked good on screen but with wheelspin in the real race it turned out to be a mistake. The guys at the front ran high 1:33s and 34s. I ran 34s in the final qualifying session but I was trying to find the gearing to do 33s and ended up being stuck in the 35s,” said Noyes, who was the first Honda rider home behind ten Suzukis and a Yamaha.

The race was won by current MotoGP rider José David de Gea (Alestar Coronas Suzuki GSX-R1000) from former GP 500 regular José Luis Cardoso (D’Antin Yamaha R1) and former Spanish Supersport Champion Oriol Fernandez (Reposl Suzuki GSX-R1000).

Noyes (24) from California, was 8th in the opening round of the Formula Extreme Series at the Circuit of Catalunya, retired at Jarama with a flat front tire and is now 11th in the nationally televised Formula Extreme series, which is Spain’s top championship, having replaced the Superbike class.

The other American racing in the Spanish Nationals is Cory West (19) of Arkansas. He was 20th in Albacete on his Monllau Racing Honda CBR600RR. Cory will return to the United States and ride at a few Formula USA events before returning in September to ride the final four races of the Spanish series. The Albacete Supersport round was won by Ivan Silva (Yamaha R6) who rides for the D’Antin Yamaha team that enters Shinya Nakano in MotoGP.

Noyes, now residing permanently in Spain, rides for the Troll Honda BQR team that enters Alex Debón and Eric Bataille in the World 250 Championship. He will make his next ride in late August at Jerez de la Frontera in the Bancaja Fórmula de Campeones series in the Superstock class (on spec Dunlop slicks).

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Beth Wyse

Vesrah Suzuki’s Tray Batey and Mark Junge each won two races during the WERA National Challenge Series weekend at Grattan Raceway in Michigan, while Batey also rode to the win in the Suzuki GSX-R World Cup Qualifier race.

Junge won Open Superstock on the Vesrah Suzuki GSX-R1000. Brent Bennett, who rides a Yamaha YZF-R1, followed Junge until the halfway point, when Junge was finally able to break away. The race was red-flagged on lap eight when rain began to fall. Bennett took second and Eric Spector was third on a Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Rain was falling during the 600cc Superstock race, but it did not stop Junge from pulling away for the win on a Suzuki GSX-R600. Tim Bemisderfer and Fritz Kling battled for second after David Weber crashed out of the position, but John Jacobi worked his way up to take second on a Suzuki GSX-R600. Kling finished third on a Yamaha YZF-R6.

Batey won the Heavyweight Twins race on a Suzuki SV1000. Batey had mechanical problems with his Suzuki TL1000R in practice on Friday, and Mark Junge loaned him the SV for the race. Batey pulled away, while Bradley Champion was second on a Suzuki SV650 and Paul Vitale was third on a Ducati 996.

Batey led the entire Pirelli Formula 1 race on a Suzuki GSX-R750, setting a new track record of 1:19.15 on the third lap. Spector was second, far behind Batey, also on a Suzuki GSX-R750, and Bennett was third on a Yamaha YZF-R1.

Scott Trautmann won the 125cc Grand Prix race on a Honda RS125 after Kevin Gonyou crashed out of the lead with only a few laps remaining. Larry Cohee took second, also on a Honda RS125.

Bradley Champion won the Lightweight Twins race on a Suzuki SV650. Champion built up a long lead, while Chris Normand finished second and Jesse Janish was third, all on Suzuki SV650s.

Jacobi crashed out of the 750cc Superstock race lead on the first lap, handing Batey the lead. Reuben Frankenfield began to catch Batey, and passed for the lead on the fifth lap. Batey had a rain tire on the front, and the track was drying, so he could not keep up with Frankenfield, who was on intermediates. Frankenfield won, followed by Batey in second and Chuck Bannon in third, all three on Suzuki GSX-R750s.

Team InfoTech’s Nicky Wimbauer earned his first victory in the WERA National Challenge Series, winning the 600cc Superbike race on a Yamaha YZF-R6. XT Racing’s David Weber led the first four laps on a Suzuki GSX-R600, but was passed by Wimbauer. Weber had the lead on the final lap, but nearly crashed in the last turn, allowing Wimbauer to pass for the win. Weber was second, and Scotty Van Scoik was third on a Yamaha YZF-R6.

Weber led the 750cc Superbike race on his Suzuki GSX-R750 until turn one of the last lap, when Chuck Bannon passed him for the win. Bannon was riding a Suzuki GSX-R750. Wimbauer took third on a Yamaha YZF-R6.

Only two Experts started the Formula 2 race. Scott Trautmann was first on a Honda RS125, and Bradley Martin was second on a Suzuki SV650.

In the Suzuki World Cup Qualifier race, Batey took the lead at the start and went on to win the race and a trip to Magny-Cours, France, to compete in the World Cup race. Greg Moore ran off track on the first lap, falling to the back of the field. He was able to pass the rest of the riders to finish second. John Jacobi was third, finishing just behind Moore. David Weber was fourth, and Reuben Frankenfield rounded out the top five. All riders were on Suzuki GSX-R750s.

Suzuki officials say that Batey is eligible for the Suzuki GSX-R World Cup despite riding for a Suzuki-sponsored team in the WERA National Endurance Series.

From a press release issued by FGSport Group:

Suzuki Zongshen No.2 on Pole

Zongshen Only Team Faster Than 1:34

Pole position for the A1-Ring 6 Hour round of the FIM World Endurance Championship has been taken by Piergiorgio Bontempi for Suzuki Zongshen No.2, with a time of 1:33.509. This morning’s qualifying sessions began at 8:30am on a circuit which was much slower than yesterday because of the lower morning temperatures. Suzuki Zongshen No.2’s Igor Jerman and Suzuki Police Nationale’s Gwen Giabbani were the only two riders in their group able to improve on yesterday’s times.

Suzuki Zongshen No.1’s Warwick Nowland came in at the end of the session, stormed straight through the pit garage and out of the back, shaking his head after glancing at the timing monitor after a best lap which was half a second slower than Friday. Yamaha Endurance Moto 38 could also not find the performance they expected this morning despite trying different gearing.

The second group fared better as track temperatures rose. Seven riders improved on their times, with Suzuki Trackdaze 11’s Damian Cudlin briefly holding second place before the qualifying tyres came out for the top teams.

Suzuki GB Phase One’s Jason Pridmore was the fastest in his group for most of the second session but struggled to find a gap in the traffic. On a fresh tyre at the end of the session he managed a 1:34.033 to briefly take pole position before Zongshen No.1’s Stephane Mertens recorded the first 1:33 time of the weekend on his final qualifying lap.

The final group showed the benefit of having three riders entered for even the shorter races. With less traffic and track temperatures still climbing Zongshen No.2’s Piergiorgio Bontempi was able to take pole position away from the No.1 Zongshen team with a lap time of 1:33.509. Of the top five teams, only Yamaha Austria were unable to improve their time this morning; local knowledge allowed them to hit the ground running yesterday but the other teams have now found bike set-ups that work well.

The only factor which remains unknown is the fuel consumption of the bikes under race conditions. Fuel strategy will be vital for this race which is being run in two three hour stages; timing refuelling stops to coincide with the mid race break will save between thirty seconds and one minute during the race. If the race is as close as qualifying, this could mean the difference between first and tenth place.

Yamaha Austria have tested fuel consumption here and were able to run for 59 minutes on a tank; that will be cutting it very fine, and racing is always different to testing…

2003, July 19

Quotes

Suzuki Zongshen No.2 – Piergiorgio Bontempi: “The bike is a little bit better than before, but I think we can move another step forward in the warm-up. We don’t have a perfect balance between the front and the rear – we can find a better compromise.”

Suzuki Zongshen No.1 – Warwick Nowland: “Qualifying is just something else we have to do; the race is the real thing. It’s nice to set pole, but I think we can do low 1:35s in the race.”

Suzuki GB Phase One – Jason Pridmore: “I couldn’t get the power down; it spat me out of the seat on one of the fast sections. I can do 1:34s all day in the race.

Suzuki Police Nationale – Gwen Giabbani: “The track was cold this morning, but the bike is good for the race”

Suzuki GB Phase One team manager Russell Benney: “The teams that only stop twice during the three hours will have significant advantage. It’s going to be really tight for everyone.”

Top ten on the grid

1st Suzuki Zongshen 2 (CHN) – Jerman / Bonhuil / Bontempi: – 1:33.509

2nd Suzuki Zongshen 1 (CHN) – Nowland / Mertens – 1:33.756

3rd Suzuki GB Phase One (GBR) – Ellison / Pridmore – 1:34.033

4th Yamaha Austria (AUT) – Truchsess / Wilding / Saiger – 1:34.118

5th Suzuki Police Nationale (FRA) – Giabbani / Blora – 1:34.506

6th Yamaha GMT94 (FRA) – Guyot / Scarnato / Foti – 1:34.699

7th Trackdaze 11 (GBR) – Platacis / Cudlin / Pilborough – 1:34.819

8th Ducati DRE (ITA) – Marchetti / Garcia Edwards – 1:35.222

9th Suzuki Phase One Junior (GBR) – Notman / Fincher / Jessop – 1:35.312

10th Suzuki Jet Team (SUI) – Jaggi / Monot / Waldmeier – 1:36.140

From a press release issued by Mat Mladin Motorsports:

MLADIN POSITIVE FOR AMERICAN SUPERBIKE DOUBLE-HEADER AT MID-OHIO

Just three Double-Header rounds of the 2003 AMA Chevy Trucks US Superbike Champion remain, with Australian Mat Mladin heading to next weekend’s round at Ohio holding a six-point lead in the title chase.

The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course hosts rounds 13 & 14 next weekend (July 26 & 27) and is a circuit that Mladin has tasted success on, winning there in 2001 and where he is also the existing lap record holder for the 3.86km (2.40 miles) circuit claiming the record with a time of 1-min 26.498-seconds on his way to taking pole position for the same race in 2001.

Mladin and his Yoshimura Suzuki team arrive at Mid-Ohio leading the championship after a mixed bag of results of late. Tyre problems at Brainerd saw the three-times American Superbike champion finish seventh, before he responded by taking a resounding race victory at Laguna Seca last weekend.

Last weekend’s victory has put Mladin in a very positive frame of mind as he prepares for the trip to Ohio and then onto the final two circuits of this years championship at Virginia International Raceway (August 29 – 31) and the all-new Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama (September 19 – 21).

“Can’t wait to get to Mid-Ohio,” said Mladin. “We got the points lead back which was good and we’re now looking forward to the double-header weekend there. We need to try and win a couple more races and work on increasing that points gap.

“After winning the AMA race at Laguna Seca last weekend, I feel that if I can win there, then I can win anywhere,” added Mladin. “It was my most disliked circuit in the world. I don’t enjoy racing there, I don’t really like the layout, but we did manage to win the AMA race by about 10 seconds. That has given me a great confidence boost for the remainder of the season and I now look forward to Mid-Ohio.”

Mladin arrives at Mid-Ohio with a total of 356 championship points, courtesy of seven race wins and five pole positions this year and leads Team Kawasaki’s Eric Bostrom by six-points. Teammate Aaron Yates currently lies third with 345 after finishing second to Mladin at Laguna Seca last weekend.

After Mid-Ohio the championship contenders head to the final two circuits of the season, VIR and Barber Motorsports Park. Mladin has sat on pole on VIR and was narrowly beaten there last year, while the Alabama circuit is new to the series in 2003 and will present itself with a whole new range of challenges for the title contenders.

“I was fast at Virginia, but got pipped on the line. I like the place, it’s a nice little racetrack. Alabama on the other hand, we haven’t been to yet, but will be there testing in a few weeks. From what I’ve heard it will be hard on the tyres because you spend so much time on the side of them. It is a brand new race track, still very green, but we’ll see how it is when we get there.”

From a press release issued by the Parts Canada Superbike Championship:

PICOTTE WINS THRILLER

BOWMANVILLE, ON – Pascal Picotte scored his first Parts Canada Superbike Championship win of the season and took over the series points lead in a thrilling race at Mosport International Raceway on Saturday.

Riding the Picotte Racing Yamaha YZF-R1 the St-Cecile de Milton, QC rider came out on top of a three-way battle for the lead in the first race of the Miller Genuine Draft presents the Chevy Trucks Mosport Double Header.

Picotte finished just 0.428 secs. ahead of the Coors Light Racing/Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R1000 of Rock Forest, QC’s Francis Martin. Martin edged the Brooklin Yamaha YZF-R1 of Kleinburg, ON rider Frank Trombino in a near dead-heat for second at the line.

Picotte is the fourth different winner in the first four races of the Parts Canada Superbike season.

“It was a little bit of a struggle early in the year but now we’ve got some momentum going,” said Picotte, who is making his return to Canadian racing after a successful career in the U.S. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been on the top of the box. I think I deserve it, and the team definitely deserves it.”

Picotte spent most of the 16-lap race running third while Martin and Trombino traded the lead. He moved into the top spot on lap 14 and stayed there until the final lap. Martin dove under him at the end of the backstraight, but Picotte was able to repass him at the next corner.

Trombino got under Martin in the last corner and the two ran side-by-side to the checkered flag, with Martin just holding on for second place.

“I went wide in the last turn and hit a bump,” Martin said of the final dash for the line. “Frank got under me but I said, ‘no way, I’m not losing two positions in two corners.'”

With his win Picotte moved from third to first in the Parts Canada Superbike standings. He now has 150 points to the 140 of Martin.

Jean-Francois Cyr, the points leader coming to Mosport dropped to third in the standings with 138 points after finishing sixth Saturday on his Michelin Yamaha YZF-R1.

Steve Crevier of Maple Ridge, BC was fourth at Mosport on a Diablo Suzuki GSX-R1000 and slipped to fourth in the Superbike standings with 136 points.

The second Superbike race in the doubleheader weekend will run Sunday afternoon.

In other action at Mosport, Picotte shattered the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike lap record in qualifying for Sunday’s race. The class points leader took his Picotte Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 around in 1:23.146 to easily surpass the previous mark of 1:24.521 set last year by Craig Connell.

Championship leader Jeremy Leduc of Keremeos, BC claimed pole position for the International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike feature with a lap time of 1:26.715 on his Yamaha YZF-R6. That race will also be part of Sunday’s program.

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 Saturday from the fourth round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Mosport International Raceway, showing finishing position, rider name, hometown and type of motorcycle:

1.Pascal Picotte, St-Cecile de Milton, QC, Yamaha YZF-R1; 2. Francis Martin, Rock Forest, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 3. Frank Trombino, Kleinburg, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1; 4. Steve Crevier, Maple Ridge, BC, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 5. Clint McBain, Calgary, AB, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 6. Jean-Francois Cyr, Joliette, QC, Yamaha YZF-R1; 7. Jeff Williams, Harrowsmith, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 8. Michael Taylor, Toronto, ON, Honda RC51; 9. Tom Kipp, Chardon, OH, Kawasaki ZX-7RR; 10. Darryn Wilbur, Maple, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1; 11. Benoit Pilon, St-Jerome, QC, Yamaha YZF-R1; 12. Michael Leon, Montreal, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 13. Matthew McBride, Toronto, ON, Kawasaki ZX-6R; 14. Bruce McDonald, Mt. Albert, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6; 15. Andrew Nelson, Kars, ON, Honda CBR600RR; 16. John Brundl, Toronto, ON, Honda CBR954RR; 17. Larry Orde, Peterborough, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1; 18. Chris Murray-Audain, Scarborough, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1; 19. Barry French, Brampton, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6; 20. Darren Womack, Windsor, ON, Kawasaki ZX-6RR DNS. Kevin Lacombe, Granby, QC, Honda RC51; DNS. Chris Peris, Calgary, AB, Honda CBR600RR; DNS. Brian Nielsen, Edmonton, AB, Suzuki GSX-R600; DNS. Joel McDonald, North York, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6; DNS. Owen Weichel, Toronto, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1; DNS. Guy Tomlinson, Calgary, AB, Kawasaki ZX-6RR; DNS. Dan Durkovic, Ottawa, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1

Point standings for the Parts Canada Superbike Championship following Saturday’s fourth round at Mosport International Raceway, showing position, rider name and point total:

1. Pascal Picotte, 150; 2. Francis Martin, 140; 3. Jean-Francois Cyr, 138; 4. Steve Crevier, 136; 5. Clint McBain, 119; 6. Michael Taylor, 117; 7. Frank Trombino, 110; 8. Benoit Pilon, 82; 9. Tom Kipp, 82; 10. Jeff Williams, 79; 11. Robbie Baird, 62; 12. Michael Leon, 50; 13. Darryn Wilbur, 48; 14. Andrew Nelson, 48; 15. Kevin Lacombe, 45; 16. Bruce McDonald, 44; 17. Matthew McBride, 36; 18. Chris Peris, 29; 19. Brian Nielsen, 23; 20. Larry Orde, 16; 21. John Brundl, 8; 22. Dale Yamada, 8; 23. Steve Dufresne 8; 24. Brent Strong, 6; 25. Guy Tomlinson, 6; 26. Joel McDonald, 4; 27. Chris Murray-Audain, 4; 28. Barry French, 2; 29. Jim Proulx, 2; 30. Alan Schmidt, 2; 31. Shane LeGros, 1; 32. Brad Gavey, 1; 33. Darren Womack, 1

From a press release issued by FGSport Group:

Suzuki Zongshen 1 Lead after a really close Race 1

Race 2 Begins at 13:00 on Sunday

The Suzuki Zongshen No.1 of Warwick Nowland and Stephane Mertens finished the first three hour leg of the A1-Ring 6 Hour race in first place after Suzuki GB Phase One’s refuelling gamble failed to pay off. The British team had hoped to make only two stops in the three hour race, knowing that both Zongshen bikes would need to make three stops.

Unfortunately, their bike ran dry on the final lap allowing Zongshen 1, Zongshen 2 and Yamaha GMT94 through to take first, second and third place. GMT94 was the only other team to make only two fuel stops, rider Serafino Foti receiving the applause of his team after conserving enough fuel to finish the final lap.

The first hour of the race was run at a very fast pace with Giabbani for Suzuki Police Naitonale, Pridmore for Suzuki GB Phase One and Notman for Phase One Juniors all holding the lead in succession. Zongshen No.2’s Bontempi fluffed the traditional endurance start but set the fastest lap of the race in pursuit of the leaders. Local favourites Yamaha Austria suffered overheating problems in the first hour, dropping them down the running to the disappointment of their large and vocal band of supporters crowding the grandstand at the Castrol Kurve.

At the end of the second hour Suzuki GB Phase One were a mere 0.3 seconds in front of the number 2 Zongshen bike, and 14 seconds in front of Zongshen No.1. Both Zongshen machines had pitted at the same time, delaying the number 1 machine’s restart but giving the spectators the chance to see a great battle between Stephane Mertens on the Zongshen 1 bike and Mike Edwards on the DRE Ducati.

The Phase One Junior team had been going very well, running comfortably in the top five, but were forced to retire after a crash at the Grosser Kurve. KFM Herber and the X-One Mondial were the only other teams to retire during the race.

Police Nationale eventually finished in fifth place, DRE Ducati in sixth and Yamaha Endurance Moto 38 in seventh place after a steady race. The Hoffman Racing Suzuki ran a very good first of the race to finish in eighth place, a lap ahead of PS Schlesinger and two laps in front of Rookie Racing team.

After all their first lap problems Yamaha Austria had clawed their way back to thirteenth place at the end of the first race. Less lucky were the two Trackdaze machines, the number 11 bike suffering fuel problems after Cudlin went very well in the first hour, and the number 10 machine being the first faller of the race after Brasher fell at the Gerhard Berger Kurve.

The second half of the six hour race will begin at one o’clock on Sunday afternoon, with the starting grid determined by the finishing order of Race 1. Until then the bikes are being held in a parc fermé, with the teams unable to work on them until five minutes before they must assemble on the start line. Some tough decisions must be made by the leading teams overnight, with the podium positions looking to be decided by both rider performance and fuel strategy.

There are still three hours of racing to come before that point, and anything can happen…

2003, July 19

Result of Race part 1

1st Suzuki Zongshen No.1(CHN) – Nowland / Mertens – 112 laps

2nd Suzuki Zongshen No.2 (CHN) – Jerman / Bonhuil / Bontempi – 112 laps

3rd Yamaha GMT94 (FRA) – Guyot / Scarnato / Foti – 112 laps

4th Suzuki GB Phase One (GBR) – Ellison / Pridmore – 112 laps

5th Suzuki Police Nationale (FRA) – Giabbani / Blora – 111 laps

6th DRE Ducati (ITA) – Marchetti / Garcia / Endwards – 111 laps

7th Yamaha Endurance Moto 38 (FRA) – Brian / Morillon / Cuzin – 110 laps

8th Suzuki Hofmann Racing (GER) – Spenner / Schmassmann / Albrecht – 108 laps

9th Suzuki PS Schlesinger Endurance (GER) – Meyer / Meyer – 107 laps

10th Suzuki Rookie Racing Team(GER) – Roth / Plantius

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.