Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

125cc Race Results:

1. Hector Barbera, Aprilia, 25 laps, 41:25.907
2. Andrea Dovizioso, Honda, -0.605 second
3. Stefano Perugini, Aprilia, -2.597 seconds
4. Alex De Angelis, Aprilia, -9.170 seconds
5. Casey Stoner, Aprilia, -11.692 seconds
6. Pablo Nieto, Aprilia, -15.898 seconds
7. Mika Kallio, Honda, -21.004 seconds
8. Arnaud Vincent, KTM, -21.756 seconds
9. Gabor Talmacsi, Aprilia, -22.212 seconds
10. Lucio Cecchinello, Aprilia, -23.642 seconds
11. Mirko Giansanti, Aprilia, -23.812 seconds
12. Gioele Pellino, Aprilia, -34.153 seconds
13. Masao Azuma, Honda, -35.552 seconds
14. Alvaro Bautista, Aprilia, -35.873 seconds
15. Mike Di Meglio, Aprilia, -36.203 seconds

27. Daniel Pedrosa, Honda, -1 lap, DNF
28. Emilio Alzamora, Derbi, -1 lap, DNF
29. Roberto Locatelli, KTM, -3 laps, DNF

31. Youichi Ui, Aprilia, -20 laps, DNF

33. Max Sabbatani, Aprilia, -24 laps, DNF
34. Jorge Lorenze, Derbi, -24 laps, DNF

37. Steve Jenkner, Aprilia, -25 laps, DNF


More, from a press release issued by KTM:

Vincent Eighth: Best Result for New KTM-Red Bull Team

The KTM-Red Bull team scored the best result of their debut season with Arnaud Vincent finishing eighth in a crash-strewn British 125cc Grand Prix. The race was watched by a near capacity crowd of 72,000 spectators at a sun-drenched Donington circuit.

The result is a mid-season boost for the KTM team which has worked to develop a new grand prix machine during the racing season without the benefit of any pre-season testing. While Vincent and the team celebrated there was no joy for Italian teammate Roberto Locatelli whose biked stopped with engine problems while in 19th position with three laps remaining. Reigning world champion Vincent started 17th and was 12th on lap one before settling into a smooth race rhythm. He was tenth midway through the 25 lap race and just failed in his bid to overtake Mika Kallio for seventh place on the final lap. Qualifying had been difficult for both KTM riders and Vincent’s eighth place a reward for hard work by everyone in the KTM squad.

#1 Arnaud Vincent
8th

I’m happy for this result as it has allowed me to show that I’m still a good rider, especially after the problems in qualifying. On the final lap I thought I had a chance to overtake Kallio but I was baulked by a lapped rider . I knew this track would be good for the KTM because it is not as fast as recent circuits we have raced at. The chassis balance was excellent today and we know we need more engine performance for the faster tracks in the second half of the season but this is a good motivation to take another step forward after the summer break.

#10 Roberto Locatelli
DNF

The rear wheel locked up and I had to grab the clutch, I don’t know why, it just stopped suddenly. This hasn’t been a good weekend for me with a poor qualifying and in the race I didn’t find a comfortable pace before the bike stopped.

Harald Bartol
Team Manager

After the way qualifying went for us this is a very satisfying result and I’m happy for Arnaud, he did a lot of consistent laps and raced strongly. It is never easy to race and develop a new bike at the same time and this result is something positive for us.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Sunday Morning Practice Times:

MotoGP:

1. Sete Gibernau, Honda, 1:31.123
2. Max Biaggi, Honda, 1:31.310
3. Valentino Rossi, Honda, 1:31.445
4. Nicky Hayden, Honda, 1:31.503
5. Colin Edwards, Aprilia, 1:31.635
6. Olivier Jacque, Yamaha, 1:31.907
7. Loris Capirossi, Ducati, 1:31.938
8. Noriyuki Haga, Aprilia, 1:31.982
9. Troy Bayliss, Ducati, 1:32.029
10. Shinya Nakano, Yamaha, 1:32.089
11. Marco Melandri, Yamaha, 1:32.168
12. John Hopkins, Suzuki, 1:32.192
13. Carlos Checa, Yamaha, 1:32.212
14. Yukio Kagayama, Suzuki, 1:33.196
15. Makoto Tamada, Honda, 1:33.368
16. Tohru Ukawa, Honda, 1:33.451
17. Ryuichi Kiyonari, Honda, 1:33.756
18. Nobuatsu Aoki, Proton, 1:34.105
19. Alex Barros, Yamaha, 1:34.314
20. Jeremy McWilliams, Proton, 1:34.686
21. Garry McCoy, Kawasaki, 1:34.783
22. Andrew Pitt, Kawasaki, 1:34.895
23. Chris Burns, ROC Yamaha, 1:36.518
24. David De Gea, Sabre, 1:37.115


250cc:

1. Manuel Poggiali, Aprilia, 1:35.171
2. Randy De Puniet, Aprilia, 1:35.175
3. Anthony West, Aprilia, 1:35.193
4. Fonsi Nieto, Aprilia, 1:35.577
5. Toni Elias, Aprilia, 1:35.626
6. Roberto Rolfo, Honda, 1:35.733
7. Sebastian Porto, Honda, 1:36.066
8. Sylvain Guintoli, Aprilia, 1:36.443
9. Joan Olive, Aprilia, 1:36.490
10. Naoki Matsudo, Yamaha, 1:36.706
11. Franco Battaini, Aprilia, 1:36.712
12. Jakub Srmz, Honda, 1:36.725
13. Jay Vincent, Aprilia, 1:36.727
14. Alex Debon, Honda, 1:36.791
15. Hugo Marchand, Aprilia, 1:36.956

125cc:

1. Andrea Dovizioso, Honda, 1:38.843
2. Daniel Pedrosa, Honda, 1:38.854
3. Steve Jenkner, Aprilia, 1:38.855
4. Casey Stoner, Aprilia, 1:39.081
5. Simone Corsi, Honda, 1:39.086
6. Gioele Pellino, Aprilia, 1:39.134
7. Pablo Nieto, Aprilia, 1:39.256
8. Thomas Luthi, Honda, 1:39.455
9. Mika Kallio, Honda, 1:39.562
10. Lucio Cecchinello, Aprilia, 1:39.563
11. Mirko Giansanti, Aprilia, 1:39.578
12. Hector Barbera, Aprilia, 1:39.597
13. Alvaro Bautista, Aprilia, 1:39.630
14. Jorge Lorenzo, Derbi, 1:39.637
15. Youichi Ui, Aprilia, 1:39.702

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Repsol Honda’s Valentino Rossi was the first rider across the finish line in Sunday’s MotoGP race at Donington Park in England, but the defending Champion was penalized 10 seconds for passing under a waving yellow flag during the 30-lap race. The race win was awarded to Biaggi, who originally took second, several seconds behind Rossi.

Rossi’s penalty promoted Sete Gibernau to second.

Rossi was scored as finishing third.


MotoGP Race Results:

1. Max Biaggi, Honda, 30 laps, 46:06.688
2. Sete Gibernau, Honda, -7.138 seconds
3. Valentino Rossi, Honda, -8.794 seconds
4. Loris Capirossi, Ducati, -13.041 seconds
5. Troy Bayliss, Ducati, -16.269 seconds
6. Carlos Checa, Yamaha, -27.065 seconds
7. Noriyuki Haga, Aprilia, -27.662 seconds
8. Nicky Hayden, Honda, -32.012 seconds
9. Shinya Nakano, Yamaha, -34.799 seconds
10. Colin Edwards, Aprilia, -35.001 seconds
11. John Hopkins, Suzuki, -48.165 seconds
12. Yukio Kagayama, Suzuki, -60.423 seconds
13. Makoto Tamada, Honda, -66.160 seconds
14. Ryuichi Kiyonari, Honda, -74.866 seconds
15. Nobuatsu Aoki, Proton, -90.291 seconds
16. Garry McCoy, Kawasaki, -1 lap
17. Andrew Pitt, Kawasaki, -1 lap
18. Olivier Jacque, Yamaha, -12 laps, DNF, crash
19. Jeremy McWilliams, Proton, -17 laps, DNF, mechanical
20. David De Gea, Sabre, -21 laps, DNF, mechanical
21. Marco Melandri, Yamaha, -26 laps, DNF, crash
22. Chris Burns, ROC Yamaha, -29 laps, DNF, crash
23. Tohru Ukawa, Honda, -30 laps, DNF, crash
24. Alex Barros, Yamaha, DNS


MotoGP World Championship Point Standings:

1. Rossi, 167 points
2. Gibernau, 133 points
3. Biaggi, 130 points
4. Capirossi, 84 points
5. Bayliss, 64 points
6. Barros, 62 points
7. Checa, 57 points
8. Ukawa, 56 points
9. Nakano, 54 points
10. Hayden, 46 points
11. Jacque, 43 points
12. Edwards, 40 points
13. Tamada, 37 points
14. Haga, 30 points
15. Hopkins, 22 points


More, from a press release issued by Joh Hopkins’ publicist:

HOPKINS SCORES SECOND-BEST FINISH OF THE SEASON AT BRITISH GRAND PRIX

DONINGTON PARK, England (July 13, 2003) – Suzuki’s John Hopkins scored his second-best result of the 2003 Motorcycle Grand Prix season by finishing 11th at the British Grand Prix at Donington Park on Sunday. Hopkins raced in front of 72,000 British racing fans, many of who cheered for the American with deep British roots.

Hopkins, who started 15th on the grid, darted his way into the top-10 early in the race on the factory Suzuki GSV-R. He battled back and forth in the race and ran as high as 10th and as far back as 12th during the 30-lap race. In the end Hopkins finished 11th, about 13 seconds behind the battle for ninth between Shinya Nakano and fellow American Colin Edwards. Defending World Champion Valentino Rossi won the race on a Honda. Hopkins’ Suzuki teammate Yukio Kagayama finished 12th.

“I got out right away with a good launch,” said Hopkins, who moved up four positions on the first lap. “I just barely made it through a little gap between Nakano and Ukawa right at the start. I almost got sandwiched. That might have been pretty ugly if I didn’t make it. I had a decent run early and hung with a group that included Nicky (Hayden), Colin (Edwards) and Olivier Jacque for nearly half the race.

“It felt good to run in the top 10. We sort of knew that would be possible, but we also knew that it would be important to make a good showing early before the tires went off. It was warm and not a cloud in the sky, which is unusual for Britain, and predictably the tires went off and it was difficult to do anything but hold my position late in the race. I lost touch of the group in front of me and finished pretty much by myself.”

Hopkins added that the team found a good base setting in England and hoped that they could build from that in the next few rounds.

Hopkins scored five points Sunday and moved up one position to 15th in the world championship standings at mid-season. The second half of the 2003 campaign begins in two weeks at the German Grand Prix in at the Sachsenring.


More, from a press release issued by Alice Aprilia Racing Press Information:

BRITISH GRAND PRIX/RACE

Donington – Spectacular and hard-closed race for both Aprilia RS Cube bikes of Alice Aprilia Racing Team. A good performance on the british track for Colin and Nori getting the top ten although some strange mishaps.. Anyway the good result did not brake the hard work of the team: in fact the whole team the riders and the bikes are going to test in Brno next week in order to develop the Italian three cylinders bike.

COLIN EDWARDS: “This was a very difficult race! During the start I had a small problem with the clutch then another rider touched me and I had a bad collision with Ukawa’s bike (Colin’s fairing is the proof of the collision). So I decided to start my recover overtaking Hopkins, Hayden and Jacque easily. When I passed the French Yamaha Rider I beat the my right knee against the white line loosing the slider. Then I have been forced to change my riding: in the left corners I normally used the knee but in the right corners I was unable to touch the asphalt. The problem is that there are only 3 left corners here!”

NORIYUKI HAGA: “I am happy to end a difficult race with a high temperature and 30 laps. It was not easy because after 5 laps the beads of sweat were going down into my eyes and the visibility was not perfect. I did not make a correct start but I was very determined in the first corner achieving many positions. I enjoyed the fight with Hayden very much: firstly I studied his trajectories and then I passed him. I thought to make the same thing with Checa but my rear tyre was almost finished so I preferred to avoid any stupid mistake. For sure I made some exciting slides but its better to keep the wheels glued to the surface”.

GIGI DALL’IGNA (Project Leader): “It was a positive race with a difficult start: in the warm up session we had a technical problem in the clutch so Colin used the bike no. 2. The one with the “old” chassis. We used the tested material for both riders even if they decided to get different tyres for the race. Colin lost the slider and he was not able to ride as he likes whilst Haga has been simply great. In any case we got a good result on this track that is not so suitable to our bikes”.


More, from a press release issued by Fortuna Yamaha:

DISAPPOINTING ‘HOME’ GRAND PRIX FOR FORTUNA YAMAHA TEAM-MATES

After an ultimately close combined qualifying session for the British Grand Prix at Donington Park, with only one second covering the top 13 contenders, expectations were already high for a close MotoGP main event today. Yet despite an initially promising opening few laps into the race, both Fortuna Yamaha Team riders Carlos Checa and Marco Melandri ended their dopted ‘home’ Grand Prix disappointed – the former riding a lonely race outside the top five, while 20-year-old Melandri crashed out of contention.

Checa, who qualified fifth for today’s race, timed the lights well and leapt off the grid for a solid run into turn one. His charge was unfortunately interrupted when his team-mate Melandri tumbled on lap five and Checa swerved to avoid hitting him. By mid-race distance the Spaniard was unable to mount any serious challenge for a podium result and was left languishing back in a lonely sixth place. The 30-year-old also suffered from a lack of grip from the notoriously slippery Donington circuit.

“My start was good and I was able to follow the top group,” said Checa. “Then Marco had an unfortunate fall, which broke my pace. I kept pushing and then lost stability with the rear, which was difficult to manage. Towards the end of the race I’d got used to it and I kept a constant pace but I was hoping for a better race pace consistency. At the moment this problem with the rear is my weakest area so now it is my target to improve that and to maintain a good pace throughout the following races.”

It was further frustration for MotoGP rookie Marco Melandri who began today brimming with confidence, following his best ever qualifying performance in the premier class. The Fortuna Yamaha rider started from third place and just 0.186 seconds shy of pole, only to end the day prematurely. The 250cc World Champion said he felt more comfortable on his 220-plus horsepower YZR-M1 in qualifying at Donington Park than he had all season, and was looking forward to challenging for a podium place in the 30-lap race, when the weekend took a turn for the worse on lap five.

Melandri, who won the 250cc race here last year, launched off the line like a veteran, entering turn one fourth before taking third only a few corners further on. The 20-year-old then remained in the top four as the lead group pulled away from the competition, then misfortune struck when Melandri lost the front of his machine entering Fogarty Esses. The Honda trio of Valentino Rossi, Max Biaggi and Sete Gibernau then broke away from the pack even further and finished the race first, second and third respectively.

“I made a little mistake on the fifth lap,” said the Ravenna-born rider. “I had a bit of a problem when I rode with a full tank because it seemed to unsettle the rear of the bike. I braked a bit too late, maybe, and I think that the front may have touched the white line. I’m so sad because I was going so fast and really thought that I might have a chance. What can I say – I’m so sad. Though at least I can see that I have the capability of doing very well in a race.”

Team Director Davide Brivio had this to say following the race: “Carlos tried his best – sixth position is at least a chance to get points. It’s been three races now that he’s fought in the top group so we’ve improved since the start of the year.

“It’s a big shame for Marco, but I think overall a positive weekend for him because he had a front row start and was up with the top riders in the first few laps. I think he could have stayed with Sete. Marco crashed because of a small mistake, not because he was pushing too hard. He could have kept the same pace and that’s a positive notion for us to take away. We know he has great potential and for sure another opportunity will come.”


More, from a second press release from Fortuna Yamaha:

BRITISH GRAND PRIX RESULTS CHANGED DUE TO ROSSI OVERTAKE ON YELLOW FLAG

The MotoGP Race Direction has chosen to impose a penalty of 10 seconds to Valentino Rossi for overtaking under yellow flags during the race. He made the manoeuvre after fellow Honda rider Tohru Ukawa had fallen in the first lap and the yellow flags were out. Please find below the revised race classification and revised championship standings.


More, from a press release issued by Pramac Honda Racing Press Information:

Makoto Tamada: thirteenth at Donington Park

Makoto Tamada finished the weekend in England in thirteenth place after a race that revealed some of the difficulties he had encountered during the three days at Donington. The temperature today was higher than yesterday and the day before and this influenced the choice of tyres: a medium compound at the front and medium-hard at the rear. This meant that Makoto Tamada had good grip at the beginning of the race but, the rider stated afterwards, it proved not to have been quite so successful towards the end of the 30 laps. In any case, it was a good compromise after this weekend’s intense work, in which the Japanese rider tried to get to grips with the frame of his RC211V and with the new compounds that Bridgestone had prepared for this round of the championship.

Use of the new frame was postponed until some time in the near future and, in the very short time available, the technicians concentrated on finding the right geometry for the bike to give Tamada a better feeling at the front: something that is absolutely essential on the technical English circuit. In actual fact, the Japanese rider had not acquired sufficient self-assurance and was not able to attempt a comeback during the race.

There will be a test session this week on the Brno circuit and it should be an excellent opportunity for Makoto to work calmly on getting to know the new frame. Shinichi Itoh, the official Pramac Honda Team test rider will also be going to the Czech Republic to make his contribution towards the development of new Bridgestone materials.

Makoto Tamada (Pramac Honda Team): 13th – 47:12.848

“I never managed to get the right feeling for the front of the bike during the last three days here in Donington. We worked on the settings and tried out a number of tyre solutions, but I didn’t get the confidence I needed to be competitive. Still, I’m not going lose my cool or try to cross my bridges before I come to them, and I’m looking forward to the tests in Brno – one by one, we’re going to be examining all the details I want to understand. I wasn’t able to be aggressive in the race precisely because I didn’t have the right feeling for the front of the bike, and that’s really important here, so the lack of grip I had in the closing stages of the race meant I could only maintain my position. But it’s not going to get me down and I’ll be concentrating all I can on the work that needs to be done.”


More, from a press release issued by Team KR:

Aoki 15th at Donington
Two-Stroke returns to points


Nobuatsu Aoki: 15th
Jeremy McWilliams: DNF – Retired

Team Proton KR rider Nobuatsu Aoki made a last-minute switch to the old 500cc two-stroke for today’s British GP after teething problems with the new 990cc four-stroke – and in spite of minimal set-up time he brought the machine home in 15th place, in the world championship points.

Team-mate Jeremy McWilliams also made the same decision, after problems with his preferred four-stroke in the morning. His set-up difficulties were compounded by gearshifting problems, however, and after battling near the back of the field he retired to the pits, the risks not worth the potential rewards.

This would have been the fourth race for the all-new V5 four-stroke, but the hectic schedule since it ran on a circuit for the first time only seven weeks ago meant that an accumulation of teething problems finally took its toll. The team is still awaiting a batch of redesigned crankshafts, to solve a string of earlier failures, and more problems in practice at Donington Park finally meant the back-up two-strokes would be brought out for one more race.

Aoki decided this morning not to risk a non-finish on the four-stroke and to switch back to the trusty Proton KR3 lightweight three-cylinder machine on which they started the season. Even though the bike was not at its best, he finished in the points.

McWilliams was keen to race the radical new 990cc V5 four-stroke, but another small problem in morning warm-up tipped the decision in favour of the two-stroke for him as well.

Today’s race attracted a record crowd of 72,000, enjoying baking sunshine at the parkland circuit outside Derby. The race was won by defending champion Valentino Rossi (Honda).

Footnote: Dire Straits lead guitarist and vocalist Mark Knoppfler was a guest of Proton Team KR today, and presented the manufacturers trophy after the race.

Nobuatsu Aoki
That was such a tough race. We had to use the set-up from last year, because I only had six or seven laps on the two-stroke yesterday. You really need that fine tuning … the tyres are different now, and the temperature and other things. I decided on the two-stroke this morning. It seems there are still many small problems with the four-stroke, so we thought there would be a better chance of finishing on the two-stroke. It was hard even to get 15th. It’s very difficult to overtake any four-strokes, and I also had a problem with the clutch in the last five laps. It wouldn’t disengage, and backshifting without a clutch was really horrible. I think I did the best I could today, and I must thank my whole team – they have been working very hard on both types of machine this weekend.

Jeremy McWilliams
I really wanted to race the four-stroke today, but there was an oiling problem, and I wasn’t sure it could make the finish. Then it broke in morning warm-up, so the two-stroke was the obvious choice. I’d only had about ten laps on it in practice, and the set-up wasn’t right. Then I got a backshifting problem going into the chicane, so I pulled in. To be honest, I didn’t feel like busting my balls to get 18th on a bike that we won’t be racing for the rest of the year. I’d prefer to work hard to make the four-stroke work.

Chuck Aksland – Team Manager
Jeremy was set to race the four-stroke, but with a problem in morning warm-up there just wasn’t the time to fix it and test it, and we couldn’t have any confidence in it. We have plenty of big issues to solve with the four-stroke, but first we need to get it to the point where we aren’t still having niggling little problems. There just hasn’t been time for development work since it arrived. We haven’t had a single day of testing – just one race after another. Now we are going testing in Brno next week, and things will be different when we bring the bike back here next year.


More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki:

BOTH SUZUKIS IN THE POINTS AGAIN AT GP

Team Suzuki Press Office Sunday, July 13, 2003.
Team Suzuki riders John Hopkins and Yukio Kagayama finished 11th and 12th in today’s British GP, both improving on their qualifying positions, although narrowly missing the top ten in the blazing hot race.

Both made a good start from the sun-soaked grid, but while Kagayama was slowed when another rider fell under his front wheel in the first corner, Hopkins finished the first lap tenth after qualifying 15th.

The Anglo-American rider, who was entertaining a large contingent of his British family at the race, started from the fourth row of the grid, and held tenth for the first seven of 30 laps, holding his own even while starting to battle problems as the tyres got hot on a 38-degree track.

At that point Nori Haga on an Aprilia found his way past, and though Hopkins wasn’t able to stay with him, he lost only one more place by the end of the race, finishing 11th.

Kagayama recovered almost immediately from his first-corner problems, but by then he had lost a lot of positions. The Japanese factory rider, substituting for team regular Kenny Roberts, finished the first lap 14th, and was 12th at the finish.

Record crowds flocked to the 4.023km parkland circuit outside Derby, with 72,000 fans enjoying a day of hot sunshine and high quality racing. That is four times the gate in 2000, a clear indication of the rise in popularity of MotoGP racing. The race was won by defending champion Valentino Rossi.

JOHN HOPKINS – 11th Position
It went pretty much as I predicted yesterday. I accomplished my goal to get a good start, and I had a good run with the boys for the first laps. We had the bike a tad better here, but as I said, once the tyres go off the handling problems come out. That happens with every bike, but more so with this one. After that I kept on and tried to stay consistent. I thought I might get a top ten until Nakano came past and I lost touch. After that I decided I’d better settle for what I had, and bring the bike home.

YUKIO KAGAYAMA – 12th Position
That was a very hard race. My start was so-so, quite okay – but in the first corner Ukawa fell off right in front of me, and I had to brake so hard I almost stopped. Many riders came past me. After that I tried to push hard, but I wasn’t able to catch the others, and I was lonely for the whole race. By the end the engine feeling changed a little, so it was more difficult to open the throttle. I tried my best, and I am happy to finish in the points. That was only my second ride on this bike, and though I need more time to get used to it, I really enjoyed it.

GARRY TAYLOR – Team Manager
Once again, both our riders did their best, and there has been a small step forward with the bike, so we’re at least beginning to help them out. Both got a great reception from the crowd … everyone could see they were trying really hard. Now we think of the next race, and trying to make another step forward.


More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Racing:

Donington disappointment for the Yamaha camp

After an ultimately close combined qualifying for the British Grand Prix, with only one second covering the top 13 contenders, expectations were high for a close MotoGP main event, held July 13, at Donington Park. But despite an initially promising opening few laps the Yamaha Factory contingent ended the eighth round of the MotoGP World Championship with little more than disappointment following the demise of the first of three riders today.

In a bizarre twist of fate Alex Barros (Gauloises Yamaha Team) was the victim of a raceday warm-up collision, which resulted in the Brazilian crashing out of the session and breaking the metacarpal bone in his right hand. The incident took place in turn one, mid way through the session and only seconds after Barros had exited the pits. Suzuki ‘wildcard’ rider Yukio Kagayama had overshot his braking point and collided with the side of the Gauloises Yamaha Team YZR-M1 sending Barros into the gravel trap and ending any chance of him contesting the British Grand Prix.

Although it was more positive story for Carlos Checa (Fortuna Yamaha Team), who qualified fifth for today’s race, the end result was still short of what the he and the bike are capable of. Timing the lights well he leapt off the grid for a solid run into turn one, but by mid race distance the Spaniard was unable to mount any serious challenge for a podium result and was left languishing back in a lonely sixth place. The 30-year-old’s setback was the result of a lack of grip from the notoriously slippery Donington circuit.

It was further frustration for MotoGP rookie Marco Melandri (Fortuna Yamaha Team) who began today brimming with confidence following his best ever qualifying performance in the premier class – qualifying third, 0.186 seconds shy of pole – only to end the day prematurely. The 2002 GP250 World Champion openly said that he felt more comfortable on his 220-plus horsepower YZR-M1 than he had all season, and was looking forward to challenging for a podium place in the 30-lap race, when his weekend took a turn for the worse on lap five.

Melandri, who won the 250 race here last year, launched off the line like a veteran, entering turn one fourth before taking third only a few corners further on. The 20-year-old then remained in the top four as the lead group pulled a gap on the competition, only for the Italian to lose the front of his machine entering Fogarty Esses. This left the Honda trio of Valentino Rossi, Max Biaggi and Sete Gibernau to break away and finish the race first second and third respectively. However, a protest made against Rossi for passing under the yellow flag on the start of lap two has seen the defending MotoGP World Champion incur a 10 second penalty – dropping the Italian back to third in the official results.

Olivier Jacque (Gauloises Yamaha Team) also ended his weekend without any points following a highside on the exit of Melbourne Hairpin, which left Shinya Nakano (d’Antin Yamaha Team) as the second and final Yamaha to cross the finish line – in ninth.

Fortuna Yamaha Team
Carlos Checa 6th: “My start was good and I was able to follow the leaders. Then Marco had an unfortunate fall, which broke my pace. From that point the gap was too big and I couldn’t catch up with the group again. I kept pushing but lost stability with the rear, which was difficult to manage. Towards the end of the race I’d got used to it and I kept a constant pace but I was hoping for better. At the moment this problem with the rear is my weakest area so now it is my target to improve that and to maintain a good pace throughout the following races.”

Marco Melandri DNF: “I made a little mistake on the third lap. I had a bit of a problem when I rode with a full tank because it seemed to unsettle the rear of the bike. I braked a bit too late, maybe, and I think that the front may have touched the white line. I’m so sad because I was going so fast and really thought that I might have a chance. What can I say – I’m so sad. Though at least I can see that I have the capability of doing very well.”

D’Antin Yamaha Team
Shinya Nakano 9th: “It was a difficult race. I touched a rider at the start and after that Ukawa crashed in front of me. It took me some laps to find a good pace but then I was behind Hopkins. I managed to pass him and push harder. At the end I caught Edwards and enjoyed the fight for ninth place. I’m not so happy with this result, but next round is in Sachsenring, my favourite track so I’m looking forward to that.”

Gauloises Yamaha Team
Olivier Jacque DNF: “The start of the race was difficult, I got stuck behind Bayliss and struggled to find my rhythm with a full tank of fuel. Then around the mid-race point the bike became a little easier to ride and I was attacking harder to try and get past Checa. Unfortunately I gave it a little too much throttle coming out of a corner and the bike let go suddenly and I high-sided off. I hit my head pretty hard and feel a bit dizzy. My left big toe is also hurting, but I should be OK for the German GP.”

Alex Barros DNS: “During this morning’s warm-up Kagayama missed the brakes at the end of the straight and hit me as I was coming out on to the track. I went to see Dr Costa straight after the crash and he told me I’d broken the fifth metacarpal in my right hand and that it was impossible to ride today. He has put my hand in a short plaster so that I don’t lose too much muscle strength in my forearm. He also told me to move my arm as much as possible so as to accelerate the calcification process. I will have to wait to see Dr Costa a week on Wednesday before I know if I can race in Germany. I’m extremely disappointed – this is the first time I haven’t been able to race due to injury since 1992, when I broke my collarbone at Magny Cours.”


More, from a press release issued by Fuchs Kawasaki:

DONINGTON PROVES A TOUGH CHALLENGE FOR KAWASAKI DUO
Fuchs Kawasaki’s Garry McCoy and Andrew Pitt battled bravely to finish just outside the points in today’s British Grand Prix at Donington Park, held in front of a record crowd of 72,000 sun soaked race fans.

McCoy brought his Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR home in 16th place, with his Fuchs Kawasaki team-mate Pitt finishing one place further back in 17th.

Both riders made excellent starts in the race, quickly improving on their qualifying positions, but while McCoy was able to carry the momentum into an all-out 20-lap contest with Nobuatsu Aoki, Jeremy McWilliams and Ryuichi Kiyonari for 15th place, Pitt struggled under braking with a full fuel load on board his Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR. An off-track excursion at the end of the back straight on lap 11 cost Pitt valuable time and he completed a lonely race to 17th place.

Kawasaki technical director Hamish Jamieson watched much of the 30-lap race from various points around the circuit and was able to confirm the effects of the set-up and engine compromises made to meet the unique challenge of the Donington Park circuit.

The Kawasaki Racing Team will travel to Brno in the Czech Republic next week to complete an important three-day midseason test session.

Garry McCoy – 16th
“The first half of the race was great. I was in amongst Nobu, Jezza and Kiyonari and actually racing, when in the past I’ve been mostly riding around on my own. I did my best to stay 15th and in the points, but then I started to lose grip with about ten laps to go and had to back off and try and conserve the rear tyre and Nobu and Kiyonari passed me back. The set-up and wheelie problem was much better for the race, although I had some chatter over the final five laps. The bike felt pretty loose and, at times, it felt like the rev limiter was cutting in early.”

Andrew Pitt – 17th
“I got a good start, but I was struggling to get the bike stopped in the early stages of the race and actually ran on and up the escape road at the end of the back straight at one point. That mistake lost me a lot of time. The tyres went off a bit towards the end of the race, but overall the set-up was pretty good and will provide a good starting point for our Brno test next week.”

Hamish Jamieson – Technical Director
“We had to make some compromises with set-up and gearing to counter the wheelie problem the riders have been experiencing this weekend. Unfortunately, these compromises didn’t do us any favours in the engine performance department. From watching both riders from trackside I could see that they were losing out on acceleration because of the taller gearing we’ve been forced to run here. Both riders also lost some rear tyre grip towards the end of the race, but we suspected that this may well be a problem, as we spent so much time on set-up during practice and qualifying that we didn’t have the opportunity to complete all the race endurance tests we originally had planned.”

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

World Superbike Race One
Laguna Seca Raceway, 28 laps
1. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati
2. Neil Hodgson, Ducati, -3.068 seconds
3. James Toseland, Ducati, -6.072
4. Mat Mladin, Suzuki, -12.322
5. Chris Walker, Ducati, -21.605
6. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, -21.891
7. Giovanni Bussei, Ducati, -27.068
8. Troy Corser, Petronas, -49.287
9. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki, -49.679
10. Marco Borciani, Ducati, -50.261
11. Juan Borja, Ducati, -67.878
12. Walter Tortoroglio, Honda, -1 lap
13. L. Pedersoli, Ducati, -1 lap
14. Gregorio Lavilla, Suzuki, -6 laps, DNF, crash
15. Regis Laconi, Ducati, -12 laps, DNF, crash
16. Ruben Xaus, Ducati, -17 laps, DNF, crash
17. Steve Martin, Ducati, -17 laps, DNF, crash
18. L. Pedercini, Ducati, -17 laps, DNF, crash
19. David Garcia, Ducati, -24 laps, DNF, mechanical
20. Jiri Mrkyvka, Ducati, -24 laps, DNF, mechanical
21. James Hayden, Petronas, -27 laps, DNF, crash
22. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki, -27 laps, DNF, crash
23. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki, DNS, crash



Lap Leaders
Laconi, laps 1-3
Mladin, laps 4-8
Xaus, laps 9-11
Mladin, lap 12
Laconi, laps 13-16
Chili, laps 17-28


Note: American Suzuki Racing PR rep Wendy Black announced that Mat Mladin would not participate in the second World Superbike race at Laguna Seca.


More, from a press release issued by Yoshimura Suzuki:

It is with great disappointment that Team Yoshimura Suzuki announces that current AMA Superbike Championship points leader Mat Mladin is unable to compete in the second leg of today’s SBK Superbike World Championship race.

According to the team, Mladin is feeling a little under the weather and knows he can’t give 100 percent during the race. In the best interest of overall rider safety, the team feels it’s better for Mladin to sit out this race.

“After this weekend, I’m just out of gas,” said Mladin. “It’s just been too big of a weekend. About halfway through the first race, I realized that I couldn’t keep up the pace. I’ve just put in too many laps at too high of a level. With all of the crashes and with what happened to Eric Bostrom, I just don’t want to go out and try to be a hero. I’d rather play it smart.”


More, from a press release issued by HM Plant Ducati:

Podium finish for Toseland at Laguna Seca

James Toseland finished third in an action-packed first race at the eighth round of the Superbike World Championship at Laguna Seca behind fellow Ducati riders Frankie Chili and Neil Hodgson. The 22-year-old Sheffield star rode a calculated race on his HM Plant Ducati to collect a deserved podium finish with his team-mate Chris Walker taking fifth position after 28 laps around the undulating Californian track.

There was a dramatic start to the race with a multi-bike pile-up going into turn two. The carnage led to a restart, which worked out well for Toseland – he had stalled his bike on the warm-up lap and missed the start. So, with both HM Plant Ducatis on the grid after a 30-minute delay, Toseland and Walker got off the line safely and completed the first lap in sixth and eighth positions respectively.

It was a closely fought race with seven riders disputing the lead in the early stages. Toseland maintained station towards the front of the field for the entire race, but Walker was unable to maintain this pace. So, as Toseland made steady progress up to his seventh podium finish of the year, Walker maintained station until the chequered flag.

“I was very lucky after stalling the bike before the first start,” said Toseland. “Once the race got underway, the bike was going well and I was able to make good progress throughout. I was very pleased with the set-up after all the hard work we had put into qualifying. It was a great race and I am delighted to be on the podium for the first time at Laguna Seca.

“Once I saw that I was up to fourth and closing on Mladin, I had to bide my time. It was difficult to overtake him because my front tyre had started to push. Fortunately, he had a big slide at turn four and I was able to get underneath him at the next corner. After that I knew that I was faster and pulled away.”

Walker rode sensibly throughout to bring the HM Plant Ducati home in fifth and take 11 invaluable points towards his championship challenge. “I was glad that they showed the red flags after the crash because I got held up quite badly,” said the Nottingham rider. “Fortunately, the restart went OK but I wasn’t able to hold on to the leading group. It was a lonely race, but I was able to keep my concentration and held off Aaron Yates’ challenge in the closing stages.”


More, from a press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing:

Corser eighth for Foggy PETRONAS Racing in USA

Troy Corser finished a creditable eighth place for Foggy PETRONAS Racing in the first race of round eight of the World Superbike championship at Laguna Seca, USA.

The Australian capitalised on an action-packed race, with only 13 riders finishing out of an original field of 23, to hold off the challenge Mauro Sanchini and Marco Borciani and clinch his third consecutive top ten finish on the FP1 – the Malaysian superbike.

But team-mate James Haydon suffered more misfortune when, on the second lap after an excellent start, a split water pipe caused him to crash at the final turn, bring Ivan Clementi down in turn.

Troy, who started the warm-up lap from the pit-lane after being involved in the first lap mayhem involving race winner Frankie Chili, Eric Bostrom and Neil Hodgson, said: “The tyres were pretty consistent but I was losing the back end going into corners so it took me a few laps to change my lines and try to use different parts of the tyre. I also tried to get around the problem by picking the bike up before accelerating out of corners. The temperature was also going up and down, which seemed to be affecting the engine, so it took me a while to get used to that as well. If you take out the two wild cards Mat Mladin and Aaron Yates, it was a sixth place which is not too bad.”

James said: “I could see fluid spraying onto the screen and the next thing I knew I was down. There was nothing I could do about it – the bike was covered in water. I am just thankful that it happened at the final turn, the slowest on the circuit.”


More, from a press release issued by Mat Mladin Motorsports:

FATIGUE KEEPS MLADIN OFF WORLD SUPERBIKE PODIUM

Monterey, California, USA (Sunday, 13 July) – The high intensity of four days of riding and competing at the highest levels took a physical toll on Australia’s Mat Mladin as he was forced to ease his pace in the opening leg of the Laguna Seca round of the Superbike World Championship, finishing just off the winners podium in fourth place.

Mladin had been the star of the meeting leading into today’s two 28-lap races, having already set pole position and taken a race win the day before in the American AMA Superbike Championship race aboard his Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000, before claiming pole position for the SWC races yesterday afternoon.

Exhausted after completing the opening race, Mladin and his team agreed that it was in the interest of his safety and fitness that he should withdraw from the second SWC race.

“Half way through the first race I just had nothing left in the tank,” said Mladin afterwards. “There was just too much on for us with having to be out there for so many practice and qualifying sessions as well as the 28-lap races, it just took so much out of me. For us the whole weekend revolved around winning the AMA race yesterday and that’s what we did, it was the first time that I’ve won at Laguna so it was great. It put us back on top of the points table and even though we were running strong in the SWC races, the AMA is the one we are after.”

“Even to back up for Superpole after the AMA race was tough,” added Mladin. “Today I felt good for the first ten or fifteen laps, but then I just basically ran out of gas myself. It was very draining. I was that fatigued after the race and then when I heard about Eric’s (Bostrom) injuries I basically said that that was enough. We had a talk about it and made the decision. As much I wanted to have done well in those races, the workload just caught up with me. I train 3 to 4 hours a day at present and feel that I’m in the best condition that I’ve ever been in, but that goes to show you how physical it is out there under those conditions.”

“It was still a good weekend for us though. We got to see where the World Superbike guys are at and how the guys in the AMA compare to them so I guess it shows that the AMA is a world class championship if so many of us are near the front of SWC qualifying and in the race.”

“Also to do well at Laguna was a real buzz. The crowd was fantastic. I could hear them cheering after the AMA race and they were even louder when I took Superpole. It was a great feeling that’s for sure and I’d like to thank them for their support.”

He led the opening SWC race for a total of six laps as a number of riders fell out of contention in the hectic pace of the opening laps which saw the track temperature soaring above 50*C. The opening race was forced to undergo a restart after four riders fell heavily on the entry to the fast Turn One on the opening lap. Those who fell included World Superbike points leader Neil Hodgson (Fila Ducati), Pierfrancesco Chili (PSG-1 Ducati), Australian Troy Corser (Foggy Petronas) and American wild card riders Eric Bostrom (Team Kawasaki) and Mladin’s teammate Aaron Yates, who appears to have been the initial rider to fall.

In an amazing twist, Chili went on to score his sixteenth career SWC victory, finishing ahead of Hodgson and fellow Englishman James Toseland (HM
Plant Ducati). Victory in race two went to Spaniard Ruben Xaus (Fila Ducati) ahead of teammate Hodgson, with Chris Walker (HM Plant Ducati) third. Hodgson continues to lead the championship with a total of 355 points, with Xaus second on 233.

Mladin’s attention is now focussed on the upcoming double-header round of the American AMA Superbike Championship scheduled for the Mid-Ohio Sports Car complex on the weekend of July 26 & 27.

After taking victory in yesterday’s AMA race, Mladin heads to Ohio holding a six-point advantage over Eric Bostrom, with six races remaining.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The official three-day attendance of the combined AMA/World Superbike event at Laguna Seca was announced by the Superbike World Championship press office at 92,000.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Sunday Morning AMA Superstock Practice Times:

1. Jason DiSalvo, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:28.796
2. Josh Hayes, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:28.951
3. Adam Fergusson, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:29.161
4. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:29.397
5. Steve Rapp, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:29.625
6. Chris Caylor, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:29.865
7. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:29.889
8. Mike Ciccotto, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:30.068
9. Jake Holden, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:30.189
10. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:30.350
11. Corey Eaton, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:31.148
12. John Haner, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:31.316
13. John Dugan, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:31.362
14. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:31.545
15. Jeremy Toye, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:31.562
16. Brian Stokes, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:31.737
17. Jason Perez, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:31.947
18. Chris Peris, Honda CBR600RR, 1:32.366
19. Hawk Mazzotta, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:32.390
20. J.J. Roetlin, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:32.716

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Tommy Hayden made a last-lap, last-corner pass on Josh Hayes to take the lead in the Superstock race at Laguna Seca, but Hayes repassed him in the run to the flag and won.

Hayes, Adam Fergusson and Hayden escaped a first-lap, second-corner crash melee that delayed the rest of the field and left several riders running off or upside down in the dirt.

Tony Meiring finished fourth. Steve Rapp took to the dirt in the turn two incident and was 27th at the end of the first lap, but recovered to finish fifth, with black tire marks on the left side of his bike’s fairing.

Vincent Haskovec, who led the points into Laguna Seca, finished ninth; the points now are led by Hayes ahead of Hayden and Haskovec.

The victory was Hayes’ first since he won at Daytona in 1999.

Crashers included Jason DiSalvo, John Dugan and Opie Caylor.

Results
1. Josh Hayes, Suzuki
2. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki, -0.028 second
3. Adam Fergusson, Suzuki, -5.820 seconds
4. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki, -13.287
5. Steve Rapp, Suzuki, -19.708
6. Jeremy Toye, Suzuki, -27.185
7. Jake Holden, Suzuki, -29.093
8. Jason Perez, Suzuki, -38.724
9. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki, -39.734
10. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki, -39.957
11. Chris Peris, Honda, -49.642
12. J.J. Roetlin, Suzuki, -52.830
13. John Haner, Suzuki, -60.190
14. Mike Ciccotto, Suzuki, -63.670
15. Tom Wertman, Suzuki, -66.217
16. Cory Eaton, Suzuki, -66.630
17. Jeff Bostrom, Suzuki, -67.577
18. Opie Caylor, Suzuki, -70.944
19. Brian Stokes, Suzuki, -75.335
20. Matt Furtek, Suzuki, -77.285
21. Hawk Mazzotta, Suzuki, -77.619
22. Doug Pitcock, Suzuki, -1 lap
23. Nathan Hester, Suzuki, -1 lap
24. Chad Rolland, Suzuki, -1 lap
25. Mickey Lane, Suzuki, -1 lap
26. Eric Haugo, Suzuki, -1 lap
27. Martin Sims, Suzuki, -1 lap
28. Crash Lowe, Suzuki, -1 lap
29. Corey Sarros, Suzuki, -1 lap
30. Jeremy Chisum, Suzuki, -1 lap
31. David Lambert, Suzuki, -1 lap
32. John Dugan, Suzuki, -8 laps, DNF, crash
33. Mark Simon, Szuuki, -8 laps, DNF
34. Kenan Rappuchi, Suzuki, -9 laps, DNF
35. David Bell, Suzuki, -11 laps, DNF
36. Jason DiSalvo, Yamaha, -17 laps, DNF
37. Jason Chisum, Suzuki, DNS


Provisional AMA Superstock Point Standings:

1. Hayes, 228 points
2. Tommy Hayden, 227 points
3. Haskovec, 226 points
4. Fergusson, 206 points
5. Meiring, 196 points
6. Caylor, 175 points
7. DiSalvo, 166 points
8. Ciccotto, 162 points
9. Rapp, 151 points
10. Jimmy Moore, 142 points


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

RAPP FIFTH FOR TEAM VALVOLINE EMGO SUZUKI

While Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Steve Rapp’s two-race Superstock victory streak was snapped at Laguna Seca on Sunday, he still managed to impress. Rapp was the innocent victim of a first-lap incident in the Andretti Hairpin and was forced off track — spoiling his hard-earned front row starting position — but finished fifth in the AMA National held between World Superbike races.

The 30-year-old refused to give in despite being dropped to the back of the field on the opening lap, and proceeded to charge through the field to an eventual top five placing. Rapp worked his Michelin-shod GSX-R750 up to 27th by the end of lap one and picked up more than 20 additional places over the next ten laps.

“It was unfortunate that I got pushed off course there at the start,” Rapp commented. “But it was a great race after that. The bike was really working, and I was putting in lap times as fast as the guys at the front. We’ll just have to try to start up a new streak at Mid-Ohio.”

Teammate Chris Ulrich put a second Valvoline-backed GSX-R750 in the top ten. Ulrich was hampered by his injured shoulder once again and will see Dr. Ting immediately after the race weekend concludes. Despite the pain, Chris fought through to claim tenth.

Matt Furtek came home 20th in his Laguna Seca debut weekend. The teenager essentially used the visit as an extended practice, learning the difficult northern Californian circuit.

Team manager Keith Perry reflected on the Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki riders’ days. “That was a heck of a charge by Steve,” he said. “He really had nothing to gain, being at the back of the pack. But he wouldn’t quit and got us back to fifth. He’s got a lot of heart, and you can always count on him giving 100%.

“Chris rode a pretty strong race. He’s still fighting the shoulder injury, but he was generally happy with the bike and the tires. For Matt, it was learning experience. It was another track he’d never seen before, and he only got around 45 laps all weekend to learn this difficult track.”


More, from a press release issued by Proforma:

HANER FIGHTS BACK AFTER FIRST LAP MELEE

HAS/Shogun Racing’s John Haner fought back to 13th place in the AMA Genuine Accessories Superstock event today at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca after a fist lap, turn two melee that saw one rider crash and several front runners,
including John, take to the gravel to avoid crashing themselves. John returned to the track in 33rd position and passed 20 riders before the 17 lap race was finished.

“I was sixth going into turn two,” said Haner. “I saw (Jason) Disalvo fall and I steered right to miss his bike, and it kept coming and I had to keep going to the right, and I got out in the deep gravel. The bike was stuck, I had to paddle and work it hard to get out, I saw (Steve) Rapp and Opie (Caylor), I guess Disalvo was still on the ground. I finally got out and started charging, and just tried to put in some good laps.”

“My hand felt really good,” said John, who had carpal tunnel surgery on June 13th. “It’s perfect, it’s completely fixed. None of the problems like I had earlier in the year.”

Haner remains 11th in the point standings in AMA Genuine Accessories Superstock after this event, and has earned points in all seven rounds that he has attended.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Results
World Superbike Race Two
Laguna Seca Raceway, 28 laps
1. Ruben Xaus, Ducati, 28 laps
2. Neil Hodgson, Ducati, -11.565 seconds
3. Chris Walker, Ducati, -13.064
4. Regis Laconi, Ducati, -15.560
5. Gregorio Lavilla, Suzuki, -16.354
6. Giovanni Bussei, Ducati, -19.685
7. Juan Borja, Ducati, -33.494
8. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki, -35.564
9. Marco Borciani, Ducati, -35.859
10. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati, -39.330
11. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki, -1 lap, DNF, crash
12. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, -4 laps, DNF, crash
13. James Toseland, Ducati, -11 laps, DNF, crash
14. Luca Pedersoli, Ducati, -11 laps, DNF, mechanical
15. Troy Corser, Petronas, -14 laps, DNF, retired
16. Jiri Mrkyvka, Ducati, -24 laps, DNF, crash
17. James Haydon, Petronas, -25 laps, DNF, crash
18. Walter Tortoroglio, Honda, -25 laps, DNF, crash
19. David Garcia, Ducati, -26 laps, DNF
20. Steve Martin, Ducati, -28 laps, DNF, mechanical
21. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati, -28 laps, DNF, crash
22. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki, DNS
23. Mat Mladin, Suzuki, DNS


More, from a press release issued by HM Plant Ducati:

Walker returns to World Superbike podium

Chris Walker finished third in the second World Superbike leg at Laguna Seca after a spectacular battle for the lower podium positions behind runaway race winner Ruben Xaus. However, there was no such joy for his HM Plant Ducati team-mate James Toseland who crashed out of second place on lap 17.

Walker repeated Toseland’s success from the first race to give the HM Plant Ducati team a superb double podium in California. The popular Nottingham rider inherited second place from his younger team-mate after an incident at the infamous Corkscrew bend, but had to give way to championship leader Neil Hodgson in the closing stages of another scintillating 28-lap Superbike race.

“I’m delighted to be back on the podium for the third time this season,” said Walker who retained his sixth place in the championship overall. “It’s been a long haul back from the injuries I sustained at Sugo in April, but I’m regaining my confidence with every event.

“That was a brilliant race and I really enjoyed dicing with the leading pack once again. I guess that I had a bit of luck and things went my way, but I’m pleased with the result. I would like to thank the team for all of their hard work and everyone else who has supported me. We have made a lot of progress this weekend and we can take many positive things with us to the next round.”

Toseland’s emotions were in stark contrast to those of the first race: “It was all going so well and then I had my second podium finish of the day taken away from me. I’m obviously very disappointed, but I’m pleased for Chris at the same time. On a positive note, I’ve strengthened my position in the championship overall and we’re going to the next round in top form.”

The HM Plant Ducati team will next appear in the ninth round of the Superbike World Championship in front of their home fans at Brands Hatch on 25-27 July.


More, from a press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing:

Mixed fortunes for Foggy PETRONAS Racing in USA

Troy Corser’s eighth place in the first race at Laguna was the only bright spot for Foggy PETRONAS Racing in round eight of the World Superbike championship at Laguna Seca, USA.

The Australian was set for another top ten finish in race two before an electrical problem reduced the bike to running on two cylinders and he was forced to retire on the 15th lap.

Team-mate James Haydon suffered more appalling misfortune when, after a split water pipe caused a crash on the second lap of the first race, he was wiped out from behind by Walter Tortoroglio at the top of the Corkscrew on lap four of race two, badly twisting his knee .

It was a day full of thrills and spills in front of a three-day attendance of 92,000, with only 13 riders finishing the first race and just 11 completing the second. Frankie Chili followed his race one win with a crash on lap two of the second race, while Ruben Xaus recovered from his race one spill while leading to comfortably claim the second race victory.

Carl said: “Even though there were a few crashes in the first race, the result was not bad. After seeing the qualifying results, I would have been happy with a top ten finish and eighth was probably as good as we could have hoped for at the moment. We have just got to carry on picking up points and learning for next year. If there is any bad luck to be had at the moment, James seems to be at the front of the queue. I just hope he can pick himself up in time for Brands Hatch in two weeks.”

Troy was forced to start the warm-up lap for the re-started race one from the pits after his bike suffered minor damage when he was unable to avoid the second corner mayhem which ruled Eric Bostrom out of both races with a dislocated shoulder.

Troy said: “The tyres were pretty consistent but I was losing the back end going into corners so it took me a few laps to change my lines and try to use different parts of the tyre. I also tried to get around the problem by picking the bike up before accelerating out of corners. The temperature was also going up and down, which seemed to be affecting the engine, so it took me a while to get used to that as well. If you take out the two wild cards Mat Mladin and Aaron Yates, it was a sixth place which is not too bad.

“I had another great start in race two and came round the outside of everyone at turn one and was doing better lap times after changing the front and rear suspension, despite the fact the bike was running slower. The temperature was high from the start again and it was very frustrating to have to retire through the electrical problem.”

James was also forced to start the race two warm-up lap from race two after an oil leak on the out-lap. He said: “I had a terrible start for race two as someone ran wide and I had to pick the bike up. My second bike wasn’t running as well as my number one bike but I knew that if I could finish the race there was a good chance of picking up points. Then I was rammed straight from the back, which is a problem when you are running where you shouldn’t be. There’s not much I can say about my luck at the moment.

“I could see fluid spraying onto the screen in the first race and the next thing I knew I was down. There was nothing I could do about it – the bike was covered in water. I am just thankful that it happened at the final turn, the slowest on the circuit.”


More, from a press release issued by Scuderia Caracchi NCR Nortel Networks:

Regis Laconi disappointed after Laguna Seca races

It could be a great day today in Laguna Seca for Regis Laconi, on the contrary the French rider of Ducati 998RS Caracchi NCR Nortel Network leaves California very disappointed. A fall, not for his fault in Race-1 while he was leading the race and a mistake in the tyre selection in Race-2 allow to Regis only a fourth place, however positive because his rivals for the championship didn’t obtain a really better result.

“I leave Laguna Seca really disappointed.” – confessed Regis at the end of the day – “I knew that I could get a good result today and on the contrary some misfortune and a wrong evaluation didn’t allow us what we was hoping to get. In Race-1, out of race Xaus, I was in front, managing Chili’s attack, when atAndretti Hairpin, where happened the multiple crash at the first start, I founded a fairing screen piece and I lose the front end; I was calm, the bike performed well as I recorded the fastest lap of the day. Before Race-2 I would absolutely use a new front tyre and I selected a tyre we tested in Friday’s practice and I was sure it could give me what I wish. On the contrary it has been a disaster, with the warmer afternoon’s temperature, 53°C on the track, and at every right corner I lose the front end. So I was accepting the result, then a few laps to go I’ve seen Toseland out and I decided a final attack to Lavilla to get more points and I passed him at the end of the finish line. What a pity, it could be a great day and on the contrary everyting run in the wrong way. But the occasion will arrive later, because in this week end we showed that we have the potential to win, the bike had always the best top speed and without that mistake I could be able to fight for the victory.”

David Garcia didn’t finish both races, entering the pits after a few laps because the pain in his arm, but in the few laps I rode I’ve been always in the points area, racing in Race-2 in the top ten before to be forced to stop.

“It has been a pain race fore some lap.” – said Garcia – “But I would start in Race-2 too after the great work that the team has done. When I stopped I was downright in ninth position, but actually it was impossible to go on.”


More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

Ruben Xaus (Ducati Fila) put the seal on a great day’s racing at Laguna Seca circuit in California in front of 92,000 spectators with a win in race 2 after crashing out of the lead in the first race. Championship leader Neil Hodgson twice finished runner-up to increase his lead in the standings over his team-mate to 122 points.

Frankie Chili (PSG-1 Ducati) scored a hugely popular win from Neil in race 1, his first since Donington 2001, after a first lap crash involving Hodgson, Frankie, Bostrom, Yates and Corser had forced a restart, while the victory in race 2 went to Ruben, who took control on lap 4 to lead to the flag for his third win of the year.

“I think that the races offered us a different scenario from qualifying, where we suffered a little, but in the end the Ducati 999F03 performed really well,” declared Ducati Corse CEO, Claudio Domenicali. “The bikes have benefited from the depth of development which goes into the Michelin tyres and the Shell Advance motorcycle oils supplied to the team. With Michelin we have often found Laguna Seca a difficult track, but in the last two years their tyres have been well up to the situation, while the oils Shell Advance supplied us with this weekend are designed to excel under the hot and dry conditions of this track.”

“I was leading the first race pretty easy and my lap times were consistent,” declared Ruben Xaus, “but I had a really hard tyre and I pushed it too much at the slowest corner of the track and crashed. Races are like that, but the second race I wanted to show everyone I am the fastest and the winner here. I found in the morning warm-up that I had the right tyre to last 28 laps and be capable of running 26 lows and that gave me the power for the race. I could have won two races but that’s ok, I know I’m getting better and better all the time.”

“My second place in race 1 is one of the best I’ve ever earned because it was a really difficult race,” declared Neil. “I’ve not felt comfortable all weekend with the set-up but in the race I just took my time. It’s difficult to pass round here and you have to wait for people to make mistakes, so thankfully people made mistakes! Race 2 was probably the most eventful race in my career. I’ve never seen so many crazy things happening, especially on the first lap. I nearly crashed then Frankie somersaulted and then James crashed in front of me and I ran off the track into the gravel. Thankfully I finished second – points are everything because I want to win the championship.”


More, from a press release issued by Troy Corser’s publicist:

FRUSTRATION FOR TROY

Troy had a frustrating day at Laguna Seca, ending with a DNF in the second race after a hard-fought for eighth in the first. Laguna Seca was always going to be a difficult track for Troy and the Petronas FP1, but after the first race, Troy was thinking of another top eight finish in the second.

But a broken spark plug cap ruined Troy’s chances of a pair of good finishes and left him thinking of what could’ve been. Troy made a good start in race one, but was then involved in a five-rider melee at turn one and was forced to take to the gravel trap. His Petronas stalled and Troy appeared to be out of the race, but the red flag was put out and Troy was able to make the re-start. He rode consistently in the re-start and ended up eighth. Italian Frankie Chili (Ducati) won the 28-lapper after race leaders Ruben Xaus (Ducati) and Regis Laconi (Ducati) crashed out. Second was series leader Neil Hodgson (Ducati), with James Toseland (Ducati) third.

Troy made a good start in the second race, but his Petronas FP1 started running hot after about three or four laps. He tried to carry on, but when the bike went onto two cylinders he knew his race was over, so he pulled into the pits to avoid further damage. Ruben Xaus won the race, after taking command after three laps, with team mate Hodgson second and Chris Walker (third).

TROY Race 1: 8th Race 2: DNF
I feel a bit frustrated because I really thought I could leave here with a pair of top eight finishes and that would’ve been a good result considering qualifying. I suppose I was fortunate that the first race was red-flagged because that would’ve been a no-score otherwise. I had nowhere to go in the pile-up, but I kept the bike upright and went into the gravel. The bike stalled and I couldn’t get it started again, so it’s just as well there was a re-start. The gear lever had to be replaced because it was so badly bent, but that was all. The tyres worked consistently, but I was losing the back end running into corners, so it took me a few laps to change my lines and adapt. I got a good start in race two and overtook a few riders into turn one, but it wasn’t long – maybe three or four laps – that the temperature gauge began moving erratically. The water temperature went up to about 115 C and some of it sprayed over me, but I wanted to keep going. The suddenly the bike went onto two cylinders and slowed dramatically, so I had no choice but to pull in. It was a shame because I’m sure I could’ve had another top eight finish.