From a press release issued by MonsterMob Ducati:

MONSTERMOB DUCATI BRITISH SUPERBIKE TEAM

Round 7 – 2003 British Superbike Championship powered by HALLS, Rockingham Motor Speedway

Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th July 2003

SECOND PLACES ALL ROUND AT ROCKINGHAM

MonsterMob Ducati riders Shane Byrne and Stuart Easton had to settle for a trio of runner up places in Round 7 of the British Championships at Rockingham Motor Speedway today.

26 year old Byrne had to settle for second place in both Superbike races but still managed to increase his Championship lead to 144 points after a traumatic weekend at the Northamptonshire circuit.

With practice delayed and qualifying scrapped due to surface problems, Byrne was happy to leave Rockingham with his Championship lead increased having had to settle for second best behind Japanese rider Yukio Kagayama on both occasions.

“Second place is good enough but I really hate not winning. It’s good for the Championship but I’m disappointed to leave the circuit without a victory under my belt for the first time this season.”

Defending Supersport Champion Stuart Easton also finished in second place behind Championship leader Karl Harris and the gap behind Harris now stands at 60 points with over half the races gone.

“There’s nothing worse than second place but considering the problems we have encountered this weekend it’s a reasonable result. I really need to start winning before long to bring Harris’s lead back down.”

Team owner Paul Bird was glad to get the weekend over and happy with the hat trick of rostrum places.

“After the problems we have endured this weekend, to increase the Superbike Championship lead was all we could ask. Stuart rode really well also and whilst it was disappointing not to come away with a victory of any sort I am happy with what we have achieved.”

The Championship moves on to Mondello Park in Ireland in 2 weeks’ time whereby both Byrne and Easton will be looking to return to the top step of the podium.



Superbike Results

Race One
1. Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki) 26:.05.661, 2. Shane Byrne (MonsterMob Ducati) 26:08.472, 3. Steve Plater (Honda) 26:09.514, 4. Michael Rutter (Ducati) 26:13.184, 5. John Reynolds (Suzuki) 26:13.471, 6. Glen Richards (Kawasaki) 26:23.717, 7. Sean Emmett (Ducati) 26:26.537, 8. Leon Haslam (Ducati) 26:26.633, 9. Scott Smart (Kawasaki) 26:31.231, 10. Steve Hislop (Yamaha) 26:43.880.

Race Two
1. Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki) 26:00.078, 2. Shane Byrne (MonsterMob Ducati) 26:00.777, 3. Michael Rutter (Ducati) 26:04.341, 4. Steve Plater (Honda) 26:09.794, 5. John Reynolds (Suzuki) 26:14.167, 6. Scott Smart (Kawasaki) 26:15.512, 7. Gary Mason (Yamaha) 26:15.525, 8. Sean Emmett (Ducati) 26:16.533, 9. Leon Haslam (Ducati) 26:26.626, 10. Mark Heckles (Honda) 26:34.345.

Superbike Championship Standings after Round 7
1: Shane Byrne (MonsterMob Ducati) 325pts
2: Michael Rutter (Ducati) 181pts
3: John Reynolds (Suzuki) 167pts
4: Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki) 153pts
5: Steve Plater (Honda) 146pts
6: Glen Richards (Kawasaki) 141pts
7: Gary Mason (Yamaha) 126pts
8: Steve Hislop (Yamaha) 122pts
9: Scott Smart (Kawasaki) 89pts
10: Sean Emmett (Ducati) 88pts

Supersport Results
1. Karl Harris (Honda) 24:21.280, 2. Stuart Easton (MonsterMob Ducati) 24:23.250, 3. Dean Thomas (Honda) 24:23.774, 4. John Crockford (Honda) 24:35.149, 5. Simon Andrews (Yamaha) 24:35.797, 6. Michael Laverty (Honda) 24:36.208, 7. Adrian Coates (Honda) 24:41.246, 8. Craig Jones (Triumph) 24:43.952, 9. Jamie Robinson (Yamaha) 24:45.402, 10. Shane Norval (Yamaha) 24:47.194.

Supersport Championship Standings After Round 7
1: Karl Harris 160pts
2: Stuart Easton 100pts
3: Simon Andrews 72pts
4: Dean Thomas 68pts
5: Adrian Coates 62pts
6: Leon Haslam 60pts
7: John Crockford 58pts
8: Michael Laverty 57pts
9: Rob Frost 48pts
10: Craig Jones 47pts


More, from a press release issued by Hawk Kawasaki:

BSB Round 7, Rockingham

Sunday July 6
Track length: 1.736 miles
Weather: dry, bright, 19°C
Track: dry, 20°C

SCOTT SMART ROCKS AT ROCKINGHAM

Hawk Kawasaki rider Scott Smart equalled his season’s best finish at Rockingham today, with a superb and richly deserved sixth place in the second 22 lap British Superbike race.

The York-based rider found himself locked in a thrilling race-long battle with Sean Emmett and Gary Mason, both aboard 1000cc machines, which came to a head in the final two laps when Smart passed Emmett before exchanging paint with Mason’s Yamaha and outgunning him in a nail-biting drag to the line.

‘I was with Gary and Sean the whole race and at the beginning I was a little bit worried whether I’d be able to keep up because I set the bike up with a lot of weight on the front end,’ explained Scott, who finished ninth in the first race. ‘But as soon as the fuel load came down I was right with them. In the last couple of laps I was like, “Right, I’m still here, so you’re going to have to eat this!”. Gary managed to get past Sean and I knew I had to get by as well because Gary’s really good at pulling it out of the bag on the last lap, so I stuffed Sean into the chicane, then I was off after Gary. We were side by side and I knew I had to get the drive up to the final chicane so I could have him there. He was slow into there trying to block me, so by the line I think we were probably three or four inches apart.’

Glen Richards finished sixth in the first race, after a breathtaking battle with current BSB points leader Shane Byrne, Michael Rutter, Steve Plater and the Suzuki pairing of John Reynolds and Yukio Kagayama. The Aussie looked in line for a podium, after passing Reynolds for third at mid-race distance, until his tyres went off and dropped him down the field. ‘The tyres were starting to go away and I was having trouble with it on the way into turns,’ said Glen. ‘I can run with them when the tyres are new, but when they start to wear it’s very hard work for me.’ Another chance at a podium looked possible for Richards in the second race, until a collision with a backmarker on lap 16 brought the Hawk Kawasaki rider down. ‘It wasn’t entirely my own fault because I think the backmarker saw me and didn’t react,’ said Glen, who was uninjured in the spill. ‘He knew there were people coming because he’d already been passed but he didn’t react. But it’s just one of those things I guess.’

Lee Jackson turned his weekend around in impressive style, after two uncharacteristic spills in yesterday’s practice sessions dented his confidence. The Lincoln rider gave two spirited performances, battling against the 1000cc Yamahas of Paul Young and Jon Kirkham in both races, which were eventually rewarded with points-scoring finishes in twelfth and thirteenth.

‘To be honest, Youngy was holding me up a bit. He’s good on the brakes and his bike is quick off the corners, but I had a lot more corner speed than him,’ said Lee. ‘I went faster in the second race than I have all weekend though – we found maybe two seconds from yesterday, so I’m pleased with the way I rode today.’

Despite the weekend’s reduced practice time and Richards’ spill, Hawk Kawasaki Team Principal Stuart Hicken was encouraged by his riders’ performances: ‘Scott rode really hard and put a brilliant move on Emmett to pass him in the final stages of the second race. I know we go on about it, but I don’t think people appreciate just how difficult it is to get a 750 up there with these guys. It was a brilliant display of riding. I’m gutted for Glen though, because if people can’t see blue flags it’s about time they learned to – I really think he could have got a result had it not been for his spill. Lee’s performed brilliantly too. He was a bit down yesterday, but he got his head down and had two cracking races.’

From a press release issued by SpeedRag:

SPEEDRAG FASHION SHOW AT WORLD SUPERBIKE

SpeedRag, the cutting edge street bike gear/apparel company, is pleased to announce that they have teamed up with MotorcycleUSA.com and the Umbrella Girls to provide a fashion show/after party at the Blue Fin nightclub in Monterey on July 11 & 12.

The show will start around 10pm each night with the Umbrella Girls modeling the latest in SpeedRag gear.

The Blue Fin is located at 685 Cannery Row in Monterey.

For more information go to www.bluefin-billiards.com or www.speedrag.com.

From a press release issued by series organizers:

CYR SCORES HOME WIN

ST-EUSTACHE, QC – Jean-Francois Cyr scored his first career Parts Canada Superbike Championship victory Sunday, winning the Suzuki Superbike Challenge at Autodrome Old Milwaukee St-Eustache.

Riding his Michelin Yamaha YZF-R1, the Joliette, QC rider took the lead from Pascal Picotte on lap 13 of the 22-lap race and pulled away to win by 2.445 secs. Picotte, from St-Cecile de Milton, QC, settled for second aboard the Picotte Racing Yamaha YZF-R1. Francis Martin of Rock Forest, QC completed an all-Quebec podium with third place riding a Coors Light Racing/Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R1000.

“I’m really happy,” said the 29-year-old Cyr, who started his racing career at the St-Eustache circuit. “It finally worked out for me at my home track. After all the troubles I’ve had here the past few years I finally put the puzzle together.”

The win gave Cyr the lead of the Parts Canada Superbike point standings after three of eight events. He has 110 points to the 104 of Steve Crevier.

Crevier, from Maple Ridge, BC was unable to start the St-Eustache feature after he was hurt in a fall during the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike race earlier in the day.

Cyr started from the Superbike pole after setting a new track record in qualifying Saturday and led the first three laps of the race before Picotte passed him at the end of the backstraight. Picotte led the next nine laps but was never able to pull clear of Cyr.

On lap 13 Cyr regained the lead from Picotte, also at the end of the backstraight and then managed to open a gap as Picotte battled tire troubles.

“The rear tire was not working for me,” Picotte admitted. “I hoped he’d come back to me but his bike was really working.”

Kevin Lacombe of Granby, QC finished fourth on his Orion Motorsport Honda RC51 after battling for most of the race with the Brooklin Cycle Yamaha YZF-R1 on Kleinburg, ON’s Frank Trombino. Trombino dropped back in the last four laps to finish fifth.

In other action at St-Eustache, Trombino scored his first career Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike victory. Riding the Brooklin Cycle Yamaha YZF-R6, Trombino finished 1.979 secs. ahead of series points leader Picotte. Picotte was aboard a Picotte Racing Yamaha YZF-R6. Cyr completed the top three riding his Michelin Yamaha YZF-R6.

Keremeos, BC’s Jeremy Leduc earned his second straight International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike win on his Yamaha YZF-R6. Bill Card of Wellsley, ON placed second on a Honda CBR600RR, just 0.560 secs. behind Leduc and Hugo Brisson of Piedmont, QC was third riding a Kawasaki ZX-6RR.

The Parts Canada Superbike Championship resumes at Mosport International Raceway in Bowmanville, ON July 18-20. This event will feature a doubleheader for the Superbike class, with races Saturday and Sunday.

This weekend’s event will be televised on TSN on Sunday, Aug. 3 at 1:30 p.m. EDT and on Quebec’s RDS on Saturday, July 26 at 6:00 p.m. It will also be shown this fall across Canada on the Outdoor Life Network.

Results Sunday from the Suzuki Superbike Challenge, the third round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Autodrome Old Milwaukee St-Eustache, showing finishing position, rider name, hometown and type of motorcycle:
1.Jean-Francois Cyr, Joliette, QC, Yamaha YZF-R1; 2. Pascal Picotte, St-Cecile de Milton, QC, Yamaha YZF-R1; 3. Francis Martin, Rock Forest, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 4. Kevin Lacombe, Granby, QC, Honda RC51; 5. Frank Trombino, Kleinburg, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1; 6. Clint McBain, Calgary, AB, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 7. Michael Taylor, Toronto, ON, Honda CBR954RR; 8. Jeff Williams, Harrowsmith, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 9. Andrew Nelson, Kars, ON, Honda CBR954RR; 10. Benoit Pilon, St-Jerome, QC, Yamaha YZF-R1; 11. Bruce McDonald, Mt. Albert, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6; 12. Matthew McBride, Toronto, ON, Kawasaki ZX-6R; 13. Michael Leon, Montreal, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 14. Darryn Wilbur, Maple, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1; 15. Larry Orde, Peterborough, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6; 16. Steve Dufresne, St. Barthelemy, QC, Honda CBR600RR; DNF. Tom Kipp, Chardon, OH, Kawasaki ZX-7RR; DNF. Francois Chartrand, Anjou, QC, Yamaha YZF-R6; DNF. Dan Durkovic, Ottawa, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6 DNS. Steve Crevier, Maple Ridge, BC, Suzuki GSX-R1000; DNS. Matt Binns, Uxbridge, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6; DNS. Martin Hamel, Drummondville, QC, Suzuki GSX-R750; DNS. Barry French, Brampton, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6; DNS. Darren Womack, Windsor, ON, Kawasaki ZX-6RR; DNS. Robbie Baird, Brisbane, Australia, Honda CBR954RR

Fastest Lap: 47.067 by Pascal Picotte on lap 4

Point standings for the Parts Canada Superbike Championship following Sunday’s third round at Autodrome Old Milwaukee St-Eustache, showing position, rider name and point total:
1.Jean-Francois Cyr, 110; 2. Steve Crevier, 104; 3. Pascal Picotte, 96; 4. Michael Taylor, 94; 5. Francis Martin, 93; 6. Clint McBain 88; 7. Frank Trombino 73; 8. Benoit Pilon 65; 9. Robbie Baird, 62; 10. Tom Kipp, 61; 11. Jeff Williams, 54; 12. Kevin Lacombe 45; 13. Andrew Nelson 38; 14. Michael Leon 35; 15. Bruce McDonald 32; 16. Chris Peris, 29; 17. Darryn Wilbur 29; 18. Brian Nielsen, 23; 19. Matthew McBride, 23; 20. Larry Orde 10; 21. Dale Yamada, 8; 22. Steve Dufresne 8; 23. Brent Strong, 6; 24. Guy Tomlinson, 6; 25. Joel McDonald, 4; 26. Jim Proulx, 2; 27. Alan Schmidt, 2; 28. Shane LeGros, 1; 29. Brad Gavey, 1

From a press release:

MICHAEL LEEDS MYSTIC RACER CYCLE ART SHOW



Renowned multi-media artist, Michael Leeds transforms the ‘flotsam and jetsam’ of our society into ‘visual poetry in motion’ in the Mystic Racer exhibit at the Felix Kulpa Gallery.

July 5 – August 31, 2003
Join us for BBQ, bikes, and refreshments at the
OPENING RECEPTION, SATURDAY JULY 5TH 4-7 p.m.

Gallery hours: Wed.-Sun. 11-7p.m.

The Felix Kulpa Gallery
107 Elm St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
831/421-9107
www.felixkulpa.com

From a press release issued by series organizers:

FIRST POLE FOR CYR

ST-EUSTACHE, QC – Joliette, QC’s Jean-Francois Cyr claimed pole position for the third round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Autodrome Old Milwaukee St-Eustache on Saturday.

Riding his Michelin Yamaha YZF-R1 Cyr set a new track record with a time of 46.463 secs. with just a minute and a half remaining in the 45-minute session to earn his first career national Superbike pole.

In a typically dramatic session for the Parts Canada Superbike competitors, series leader Steve Crevier of Maple Ridge,BC wound up second fastest with a 46.539 secs. on the Diablo Performance Suzuki GSX-R1000. St-Cecile de Milton, QC’s Pascal Picotte qualified third at 46.720 secs. riding the Picotte Racing Yamaha YZF-R1.

Granby, QC rider Kevin Lacombe will complete the front row for Sunday’s 22-lap feature race after recording a 46.917 on his Orion Motorsport Honda RC51.

Both Cyr and Crevier were under Jordan Szoke’s previous track record of 46.641 set last year.

Cyr claims the MPM/Array Pole Award of $500 for his effort and earns four points toward the Parts Canada Superbike Championship. Crevier gets three points for qualifying second, Picotte gets two for placing third and Lacombe earns one for setting the fourth best time.

“I tried a soft tire but it was not working at all,” said the 29-year-old Cyr. “So with five minutes left in the session I switched back to the tire I had been using. I knew it was all or nothing then.”

Crevier had gone to the top of the timesheets with 15 minutes remaining in the session. Cyr, who had held the top spot early on was second before setting his record setting time. One lap after grabbing the pole he crashed just a few turns from the finish line, but was unhurt.

“We tried real hard but Cyr got me,” Crevier admitted. “On my second tire we put a little preload in the front forks and that balanced the bike out a bit better. What can I say? The man is fast here.”

Francis Martin of Rock Forest, QC will lead the second row after recording a 47.001 on his Coors Light Racing/Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R1000. Kleinburg, ON’s Frank Trombino was sixth quickest on the Brooklin Yamaha YZF-R1 at a time of 47.028 and Tom Kipp of Chardon, OH completes the second row with a 47.250 riding the Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-7RR.

In other action at St-Eustache, Picotte qualified on pole for the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike class with a track record time of 47.674 on his Picotte Racing Yamaha YZF-R6. Trombino was second with a time of 47.732 aboard the Brooklin Cycle Yamaha YZF-R6 and Cyr completed a Yamaha sweep of the top three at 47.872 on his Michelin-backed YZF-R6.

Keremeos, BC’s Jeremy Leduc led the way in International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike qualifying Saturday with a time of 50.069 aboard his Yamaha YZF-R6. Wellsley, ON’s Bill Card placed second with a 50.252 on a Honda CBR600RR and Hugo Brisson of Piedmont, QC was third with a 50.417 riding a Kawasaki ZX-6RR.

Feature races in all three national classes will take place Sunday. Practice starts at 10:00 a.m. with the first race, the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike feature set to go at 1:00 p.m.

This weekend’s event will be televised on TSN on Sunday, Aug. 3 at 1:30 p.m. EDT and later this year on Quebec’s RDS and across Canada on the Outdoor Life Network.

Results Saturday from qualifying for the third round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Autodrome Old Milwaukee St-Eustache, showing qualifying position, rider name, hometown, type of motorcycle and qualifying time:
1.Jean-Francois Cyr, Joliette, QC, Yamaha YZF-R1, 46.463; 2. Steve Crevier, Maple Ridge, BC, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 46.539; 3. Pascal Picotte, St-Cecile de Milton, QC, Yamaha YZF-R1, 46.720; 4. Kevin Lacombe, Granby, QC, Honda RC51, 46.917; 5. Francis Martin, Rock Forest, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 47.001; 6. Frank Trombino, Kleinburg, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1, 47.028; 7. Tom Kipp, Chardon, OH, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 47.250; 8. Jeff Williams, Harrowsmith, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 47.520; 9. Clint McBain, Calgary, AB, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 47.565; 10. Benoit Pilon, St-Jerome, QC, Yamaha YZF-R1, 48.186; 11. Andrew Nelson, Kars, ON, Honda CBR954RR, 48.378; 12. Matthew McBride, Toronto, ON, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 48.723; 13. Michael Leon, Montreal, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 48.767; 14. Bruce McDonald, Mt. Albert, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6, 48.821; 15. Michael Taylor, Toronto, ON, Honda CBR954RR, 48.844; 16. Darryn Wilbur, Maple, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1, 49.162; 17. Matt Binns, Uxbridge, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6, 49.599; 18. Martin Hamel, Drummondville, QC, Suzuki GSX-R750, 49.789; 19. Francois Chartrand, Anjou, QC, Yamaha YZF-R6, 50.307; 20. Barry French, Brampton, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6, 50.330; 21. Steve Dufresne, St. Barthelemy, QC, Honda CBR600RR, 50.724; 22. Darren Womack, Windsor, ON, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, 51.033; 23. Larry Orde, Peterborough, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6, 51.223; 24. Dan Durkovic, Ottawa, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6, 51.827

Non Starter: Robbie Baird, Brisbane, Australia, Honda CBR954RR

From a press release issued by Hawk Kawasaki:

BSB Round 7, Rockingham
PRACTICE
Friday July 4
Track length: 1.736 miles

Rockingham practice scrapped as white lines cause chaos

Friday practice for the seventh round of the British Superbike Championship, at Rockingham, was scrapped after track officials were unable to satisfactorily remove two slippery painted lines that caused havoc during the Supersport session.

The lines, laid this morning to discourage competitors from riding too close to the outer track wall next to the start/finish straight, were deemed too dangerous to ride on after 600 Supersport rider Dean Thomas lost control of his machine on the freshly applied paint just before the first chicane.

Attempts were made to remove the lines, but after several hours the track surface was still considered too slippery for use and all practice sessions, including the two scheduled BSB slots, were cancelled.

Hawk Kawasaki Team Principal Stuart Hicken was understandably disappointed that his three riders were unable to use Friday’s valuable practice time. He said: ‘It’s a sad day for motorcycling when we can’t come to a circuit that’s hosting a British Championship round and practice. Race regulations worldwide stipulate the use of non-slip paint, and then we get to a circuit with a strip of paint all the way round that’s like an ice-rink. Then they make an even bigger disaster by trying to clear it up without talking to people who know how to clear it up. Not only that, we’ve missed really valuable testing time and we haven’t a clue what gearing we’re going to be pulling, so we’re now going to be playing catch-up.’

Superbike qualifying is scheduled to start at 10.10am, Saturday July 4.

From a press release issued by series organizers:

CYR LEADS SUPERBIKES

ST-EUSTACHE, QC – Jean-Francois Cyr of Joliette, QC led a Quebec rider sweep of the top four positions in practice Friday for the third round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Autodrome Old Milwaukee St-Eustache on Friday.

Cyr set a time of 47.308 on his Michelin Yamaha YZF-R1 in the first 45-minute practice session of the day and no one was able to beat it in the afternoon’s final practice session.

Francis Martin of Rock Forest, QC came closest with a 47.471 on his Coors Light Racing/Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R1000. Pascal Picotte of St-Cecile de Milton, QC was third with a time of 47.630 on the Picotte Racing Yamaha YZF-R1, just edging Granby, QC rider Kevin Lacombe, who recorded a 47.631 on an Orion Motorsport Honda RC51 in the morning session.

Qualifying for Sunday’s 22-lap feature race will be held Saturday afternoon.

“I just spent this afternoon doing a race test, gauging myself for Sunday,” Cyr said. “My times were consistent so I’m very happy. Twenty-two laps is a lot here so I wanted to see if I could sustain it.”

Martin has won the Superbike race at St-Eustache twice and is the former lap record holder at the 1.2-mile, 10-turn track.

“The bike is working very, very well,” said Martin, the 1999 Canadian Superbike champion. “This morning we tried a few little things and I think we found the right set-up. I want to get the lap record back and I think we can drop enough time.”

The current lap record is 46.641 set by Jordan Szoke last year.

Maple Ridge, BC’s Steve Crevier and Toronto rider Michael Taylor rounded out the top six in practice Friday.

Crevier, the Parts Canada Superbike points leader recorded a 47.676 on his Diablo Performance Suzuki GSX-R1000. Taylor, the winner of the previous round of the series set a time of 47.777 riding the Orion Motorsports Honda CBR954RR. Both riders did their best laps in the afternoon.

No other riders were able to break the 48-second barrier.

In other action at St-Eustache, Cyr was also quickest in practice for the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike class with a time of 48.057 aboard his Michelin Yamaha YZF-R6. Picotte was second at 48.173 on the Picotte Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 and Australian Robbie Baird completed the top three with a 48.340 riding the Orion Motorsport Honda CBR600RR.

Yannick Morin of Repentigny, QC led practice in the International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike division with a time of 50.623 on his Kawasaki ZX-6RR. Piedmont, QC’s Hugo Bisson was second, also on a Kawasaki with a 50.728 and Bill Card of Wellsley, ON placed third with a time of 50.834 on his Honda CBR600RR.

Qualifying for all three national classes will be held Saturday afternoon. Practice on Saturday starts at 10:00 a.m with the first qualifying session at 1:45 p.m. Races will go Sunday.

This weekend’s event will be televised on TSN on Sunday, Aug. 3 at 1:30 p.m. EDT and later this year on Quebec’s RDS and across Canada on the Outdoor Life Network.

From a press release issued by Mat Mladin Motorsports:

Friday, 4 July 2003

MLADIN EXTENDS SUZUKI SUPERBIKE CONTRACT TO 2005

Australia’s Mat Mladin wishes to announce that he has extended his current contract and will continue to compete in the American AMA Superbike Championship with Yoshimura Suzuki for a further two seasons – 2004 and 2005.

The agreement comes as 31-year-old Mladin challenges for an unprecedented fourth American AMA Superbike title. He took his Yoshimura Suzuki to three consecutive titles in 1999, 2000 & 2001 and became only the third rider to win for Suzuki in the 28-year history of the American Superbike Championship.

“I really look forward to the next couple of years,” commented Mladin. “I have had a lot of success with TEAM YOSHIMURA SUZUKI and look forward to more in the future. We are in the middle of trying to win championship number four, and have to focus on that completely. There have been a few hurdles thrown our way this year but I know Suzuki are doing their best to get everything sorted out for the remainder of the season. One positive to take out of the first half of the season is that I can’t believe we are only a few points out of the lead.

“My success in the past in the U.S. has kept me here. I enjoy living in the States and have a lot of fans over here. I most certainly do not believe you have to be world champion to be successful. I have a good shot at winning more races and championships and winning keeps me excited and motivated.”

Mladin made his American AMA Superbike Championship debut in 1996 with Yoshimura Suzuki and has formed a unique and very successful bond with the team and with Suzuki that continues through to today. With the exception of the 1997 season, Mladin has raced each season with Yoshimura Suzuki with the partnership now extended for a further two years.

Currently in his eighth season racing in America, Mladin has become one of the all-time favourites of the sport. His determination and desire to work closely with his team to develop race and championship winning machinery has netted him not only three AMA Superbike titles, but also sees him as the all time pole position winner of the class with a total of 29 and currently lies tied for second with the all time race win record after amassing 20 race victories.

In 2003, Mladin has again been in dominating form having won six of the year’s opening eleven races and securing pole position on four separate occasions aboard his Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000. With seven races remaining in this year’s championship, Mladin currently lays second on the point’s table, just three shy of the lead.

Mladin continues his current campaign with Yoshimura Suzuki in a week’s time when they head to Laguna Seca Raceway, Monterey, California where he will combine his regular duties with the AMA Superbike Championship with a ‘wild card’ entry in the two-race World Superbike Championship event that takes place over the same weekend.


Racing Achievements

1990 – Began racing in the Australian 250cc Production championship (Suzuki RGV 250)

1991 – Won the Australian 250cc Production Championship (Suzuki RGV 250)

1992 – Won the Australian Superbike Championship (Kawasaki ZX-R750)

1993 – World 500cc Grand Prix Championship (Cagiva 500)

1994 – 3rd Australian Superbike Championship (Kawasaki ZX-R750)

1995 – 2nd, Australian Superbike Championship (Kawasaki ZX-R750)

1996 – 4th, AMA US Superbike Championship (Team Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R750)

1997 – 3rd, AMA US Superbike Championship (Fast By Ferracci Ducati 955)

1998 – 3rd, AMA US Superbike Championship (Team Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R750)

1999 – Won the AMA US Superbike Championship (Team Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R750)

2000 – Won the AMA US Superbike Championship (Team Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R750), won Daytona 200 by Arai (First Australian to do so), voted 2000 AMA Pro Racing Athlete of the Year, by his peers

2001 – Won the AMA US Superbike Championship (Team Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R750), won four races (Daytona 200 by Arai, Road Atlanta, Road America, Mid-Ohio), set new pole position records; 8 consecutive and a total of 9 for the season 2002, 7th AMA US Superbike Championship (Blimpie Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R750)

AMA Career Superbike Race Wins – 20 (Equal second on all time AMA Superbike win list)

AMA Career Superbike Pole Positions – 29 (All time AMA Superbike record)

2003 AMA Chevy Trucks US Superbike Championship (points after 11 of 18 rounds)
1. E Bostrom (321); 2. M Mladin (318); 3. A Yates (313); 4. K Roberts (301); 5. b Bostrom (293); 6. M DuHamel (278); 7. S Higbee (229); 8. J Pridmore (225); 9. L Pegram (211); 10. V Haskovec (180)

From a press release issued by series organizers:

Webster and Klaffi in the ascendancy

With the half-way point in the 2003 Superside World Championship already gone, the time is rife to take a look back at the season’s shenanigans in the world of the three-wheeled flying machines.

Steve Webster may lead the series with 94 points – three points clear of Klaus Klaffenböck – but as we have already seen, many factors can disrupt even the best laid plans in the unpredictable realm of sidecar racing.

The colourful Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia, Spain provided the setting for round one. Steve Webster and passenger Paul Woodhead let their title intentions known by recording the first win of 2003 aboard their Castrol Suzuki GSX-R1000 machine.

Reigning world champions Steve Abbott and Jamie Biggs were runners-up, preceding Klaus Klaffenböck and Christian Parzer by only 0.9s in a thrilling finale.

Scots Jock Skene and Neil Miller recorded their best result of the season with a superb fourth place while wild card entry and former 500cc World championship solo rider, Sepp Doppler, chalked up an impressive seventh.

It was a great day for the British boys as Bill Philp and Gary Yendell finished sixth ahead of fellow countrymen, Dan Morrissey and Darren Harper. Andy Peach, in his first year and indeed first race as a driver, managed a highly creditable 12th with passenger Dudley Tomlinson.

The key change to the new season was the introduction of the smaller but lighter 1000cc engines in place of the more powerful 1200cc ones, which were the norm in 2002. Race tyres were, as ever, supplied by Yokohama.

Webster had already run the new engine for part of the 2002 season and his prior testing and set-up experience was to make a telling difference in the races to come.

However, 2001 world champion Klaus Klaffenböck led the championship following a win at Monza, Italy in round two of the championship.

The Austrian said: “It was the perfect race, in the end a very easy race. For sure, it would have gone down to the wire had Webster not retired.”

Klaffenböck and Parzer led once Webster had retired at the Curva Grande on lap eight and never looked back to coast home ahead of Jörg Steinhausen and Trevor Hopkinson.

Steve Abbott, who pipped Klaffenböck to second place in Valencia, suffered from a fuel pump problem but still managed to guide his machine to 14th place and collect two valuable points.

Dutch father and son duo, Martien and Tonnie van Gils, achieved their best result with a magnificent third at the historic Brianza circuit, to go with their podium third at the same track in 2001.

Mike Roscher and Adolf Hänni had their best run of the year in fourth, as did Team M&M’s Rob Fisher and Rick Long with their first top five placement of the year.

Bryan Pedder and Scott Parnell on the other Team M&M machine finished 11th for the second consecutive race and there was another fantastic top 10 result for Gerhard Hauzenberger and passenger Ian Simons (sixth to go with the 10th in Valencia).

The aura of the 3.6 mile-long circuit near Milan seemed to bring out the best in drivers and passengers with a significant proportion recording their best performances of the season.

Sweden’s Billy Gällros and Peter Berglund were not to improve on their seventh at Monza and there was also an eighth for French wild cards, Philippe Le Bail and Christian Chaingneau.

The sidecar jamboree rolled on to round three of the Superside World championship and the twisty Oschersleben circuit in Germany.

Webster maintained his amazing 100 percent pole record and translated his form to the race after a sluggish start. The eight times world champion amazingly re-took the lead by the end of the first lap and put in a series of scintillating lap times to destroy the field.

“It was all about keeping it smooth and closing the gap in the standings. We managed to achieve both goals,” said a delighted Webster, who moved to within 11 points of championship leader Klaffenböck.

Tom Hanks and passenger Phil Biggs crossed the line in fourth and picked up their first points of the season following two retirements, while Austrian wild card Doppler again managed a top 10 placement (tenth for the Gemini Racing driver). Chris Founds and new passenger Frank Heidenreich also registered their best finish of the year in 11th.

Silverstone, GB was the next stop for round four of Superside World championship action and Steve Webster continued his frighteningly consistent form, to make it a hat-trick of wins.

Klaffenböck took second and Jörg Steinhausen got his championship aspirations back on track with a gutsy third after a crankshaft problem had forced him out of his home round at Oschersleben.

Duncan Hendry and Steve Wilson’s ETS Racing team returned to competition at the Northamptonshire track to finish 12th, having missed the two previous rounds.

Rookies Stuart Woodard and Steven English, wild carding at Silverstone for their first taste of world championship action, picked up three points for their efforts in 13th, while Kiwi husband and wife pairing of Barry and Jane Fleury notched up their second successive 14th.

Barely the time to unpack the bags and it was off to the sweltering heat of Misano Adriatico (see photo) on the east coast of Italy for the San Marino round, where the track sizzled under a temperature of 53°c.

Jörg Steinhausen exorcised the ‘heat’ demons of the 2002 race to record his first win of the campaign but had to shrug off a late, inspired rally from Tom Hanks.

“This is our first genuine win bearing in mind our luck at Lausitz last year. It’s been a long time coming,” said a thrilled Trevor Hopkinson.

Webster finished third ahead of Klaffenböck as the Yorkshireman reclaimed the lead in the championship for the first time since Valencia. Steinhausen made up for lost ground, climbing from sixth to third in the table with 61 points.

France’s JNS team of Jean-Noël Minguet and Nicolas Bidault posted their best result of the year with a brilliant eighth ahead of Richard Gatt and Paul Randall whose ninth place was also a season’s best.

There will yet be a few twists and turns in the remaining four rounds of the Superside World championship as the three-wheeled brigade descends on Brands Hatch, Europe in the last week of July to lock horns for round six.

From a press release issued by American Suzuki:

Suzuki Set to Kick off World GSX-R Cup

BREA, Calif. – American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC) is gearing up for the first of three World GSX-R Cup Qualifiers. Each of the three qualifiers will feature the top Suzuki GSX-R750 riders in the United States battling for the chance to represent their country at the second annual World GSX-R Cup Final to be held on October 19th during the final round of the World Superbike Series in Magny-Cours, France.

The World GSX-R Cup brings together the best privateer Suzuki racers in the world to compete on equally prepared GSX-R750s. Participating countries include Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Austria, Belgium, Hungary, Switzerland, New Zealand, Spain, Greece, South Africa, Japan and the U.S.A. Each team consists of up to three riders and their mechanics. The 2002 U.S. team consisted of Jason DiSalvo, John Dugan and Brian Livengood, who finished in third, fifth and 11th place overall respectively.

The three U.S. qualifying rounds will be held on July 19-20 at Grattan Raceway in Michigan; Aug. 16-17 at Thunder Hill in California; and on Sept. 13-14th at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama. WERA will host rounds one and three, while CCS will host round two. Each round will feature practice, a 20-minute timed qualifying session, a dedicated race with a $2,500 purse paying back to 10th place and Suzuki Cup points. A Dynojet Dyno and scales will be on hand to enforce the 135 h.p. and 375 lb limits. Qualifiers are open to any rider aboard a 2001-2003 Suzuki GSX-R750 with at least one 750cc Suzuki Cup point. Entry fee is set at $65.

“We’re excited to again be a part of the World GSX-R Cup Final,” said Suzuki’s Morgan Broadhead. “With the Suzuki Cup Contingency Program, the Suzuki Cup Final in Atlanta, trackside support at AMA and WERA events, and now the World GSX-R Cup, Suzuki continues to offer our riders the best support in the industry.”

The three Suzuki team members will also receive a Team Suzuki Sport support ride in 2004 consisting of the use of a 2004 GSX-R750 and a parts budget to keep them at the front of the pack. More information, rules and regulations can be found at www.suzukicycles.com.