From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

OLIVER WINS HIS FIFTH AMA CHAMPIONSHIP

AMA MBNA 250 Grand Prix Series

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (July 30, 2004) — Rich Oliver clinched his fifth AMA 250 Grand Prix Series title with his victory at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio on July 27. For Oliver, it marked a successful bid to win back the championship he last won in 1997. Like many of his previous championships, this year’s title run was marked by domination. Oliver is undefeated in nine rounds this season and wrapped up the series crown with two races remaining.

Oliver’s fifth championship is the culmination of an incredible racing career. He started his professional racing vocation in 1980 and quickly became a leading privateer in the AMA Superbike Series. Oliver seemed destined to become a factory Superbike rider, but factory rides became a rare commodity in the mid-1980s and Oliver turned to 250 Grand Prix racing in 1986. He was instantly successful on the GP bikes. In his first year in the series he won his first race at Pocono, Pa., and finished runner-up to Donnie Greene in the final standings. That victory would be the first of many for Oliver, who would go on to become the all-time wins leader of AMA 250 Grand Prix.

“It feels so good to get Robert (Ward, Oliver’s tuner) that championship,” Oliver said at the scenic Mid-Ohio racetrack after winning the title. “He’s worked for me in 2000, 2001, 2002 and now 2003, so I’ve missed out every single time for him. This year I really wanted to make sure I won the thing. I just feel good about accomplishing something that I’ve been trying to accomplish since I came back to 250s from Superbike. It feels good. I’m not really jumping up and down today, but I probably will tomorrow when it sinks in a little more.”

If Oliver manages to win the final two rounds of the series it will mark the third time he has been undefeated in the championship. He is the only rider in the history of the series to accomplish that feat. He has twice been nominated for AMA Speed Channel Pro Athlete of the Year.

Oliver has announced he will retire from racing full time after this season. He plans to continue expanding his racing school and perhaps run a team sometime in the future.

From a press release issued by Aprilia USA:

Aprilia USA Announces Date and Location for
Colin Edwards Riding Experience

Aprilia RSV Mille R Colin Edwards replica owners get to spend some Quality time with 2003

Aprilia Moto GP Pilot and 2002 World Superbike Champ – on the track in the US!

Woodstock, GA – Registered owners of the Colin Edwards replica RSV Mille will enjoy a day on the track with the “Texas Tornado” courtesy of Aprilia USA. The event will happen on Sunday August 31st, 2003 at Spring Mountain Motorsports Park in Pahrump, Nevada (about 40 miles from Las Vegas).

“We wanted to recognize the top Aprilia owners in America,” says Aprilia USA PR Manager, Robert Pandya. “We expect the track day with Colin to be the highlight of the year for us.”

There are limited supplies of the 50 Colin Edwards replicas still available in dealers. “We have extended the invitation date to August 29th due to our later than expected announcement of the track day,” says Pandya. “Getting a hold of Colin for any time in the US is tough with his heavy testing and racing schedule – we do know he’s looking forward to spending some time in the States – and especially with the C.E. Replica owners. So we extended the purchase date to allow more buyers to join us.”

Due to the limited nature of the Colin Edwards Replica – only 50 were imported to the US, with Frame #45 going to Colin himself – not all dealers were lucky enough to have one on their floor. Interested customers should contact Aprilia USA to locate a dealer that may still have its replica available.

Warranty –registered Edwards replica owners will receive an application to attend the event via mail. Upon confirmation of the sale, they will receive a pass that will allow them into the track that morning. Passes will include one guest pass for a friend or family member – however, only the Edwards Replica owner will be allowed to ride the track with the champ. Riding sessions will start as soon as possible in the morning, with Colin available all day for his biggest fans. The Aprilia demo rig will be on-hand to provide an air-conditioned place to cool off after the on-track session.

Track information is available at http://www.bragg-smith.com or (775) 727-6363.
To learn more about Colin Edwards, log on to his personal site http://www.ceracing.com.
For assistance locating one of the few remaining Colin Edwards Replicas, contact Aprilia USA at (toll free) 877-APRILIA extension 120.

About Aprilia USA
Aprilia is Europe’s second largest motorcycle and scooter manufacturer. Founded in 1968 and headquartered in Noale, Italy—just outside Venice—the company is privately owned and has eight subsidiaries in key world markets. Aprilia USA is the company’s North American importer and distributor. The subsidiary is headquartered in Woodstock, Georgia, just a few miles north of metro Atlanta. Aprilia USA’s 120 North American dealerships offer a full line of performance motorcycles and scooters, as well as electric bicycles.

From a press release:

SCHWANTZ´S BRAND 34 APPAREL LINE EXPANDED

Former 500cc Grand Prix World Champion Kevin Schwantz has added a new line to his Brand 34 sportwear. When Schwantz hung up his leathers the FIM retired his signature Number 34, the only time a rider in the sport has been bestowed such an honor. Now you can have a piece of the Brand 34 legend of your own.

The latest Brand 34 lineup features visors, polos, sweatshirts, ladies wear and a custom Kevin Schwantz Supermoto crew replica shirt, all adorned with Schwantz´s Brand 34 logo. This latest Brand 34 gear is produced by Grand Prix Apparel, a leader in custom gear for the powersports industry.

Visit Grandprixapparel.com for more information or click on the Brand 34 link on Kevin-Schwantz.com or Schwantzschool.com to check out Kevin´s latest sportswear.

From a press release issued by Honda Racing, and yes, it really did show up here with a question mark where Nicky’s number is supposed to be:

Suzuka 8 Hours. Suzuka, Japan August 3, 2003.

Honda Chasing Magic Seventh Consecutive Suzuka 8 Hour Victory

Honda teams and riders go into the 26th running of the Suzuka 8 Hours chasing their seventh consecutive victory in the race, Japan’s premier motorcycle event. The Honda assault will be spearheaded by the two Seven Stars Honda teams, both equipped with the latest version of the VTR1000SP-W.

Grand prix stars Nicky Hayden, the reigning AMA Superbike Champion and Ryuichi Kiyonari, the All Japan Supersport Champion, will race with number? While Tohru Ukawa, a three-time winner of the race, will be partnered by Hitoyasu Izutsu, racing with the sole intention of giving Honda their 18th victory in 26 starts in the prestigious race.

Ukawa is a man with a special mission, a victory on Sunday will see him equal Wayne Gardner’s record of four 8-hour victories. He missed the race in 2002 due to a broken ankle sustained in a crash at the British GP, at Donington Park. He crashed at the same event two weeks ago but this time emerged with a gashed elbow and heavy bruising, not serious enough to prevent him racing at the German GP, or Suzuka.

It will be Izutsu’s first 8-hours with HRC prepared machinery but he has a good record at Suzuka and will match Ukawa’s speed and determination in the race. His best result so far was in 1999, when he partnered Akira Yanagawa to third place.

Hayden is making his eight-hour debut but the young American has already tested the VTR he will race on Sunday, an up-dated version of the machine that carried him to the US Superbike title in 2002. Kiyonari has virtually no experience on a big twin VTR1000SP-W. His sole All Japan Superbike Championship appearance was aboard a CBR954RR Honda, a wet race at Aida last season, which he won handsomely. The partnership will be aiming to emulate the US – Japanese combination of Edwards and Kato who took the win in 2002.

Fuel consumption is a vital element in race strategy and HRC Team manager Nobuo Ohno will work with a six-stop race plan. The VTR had previously run a seven-stop race plan but the six-stop strategy was successful in 2002 and the HRC teams will go to the start with the intention of repeating that performance. However, Ohno has prepared contingency plans in the event of accidents, inclement weather, and the intervention of the pace car disrupting his plans.

The Sakurai Honda team will also race VTR1000SP-W machines in the Japanese classic. Double 8-hour victor Tadayuki Okada, who is teamed with Chozum Kameya, will lead the two-team entry.

Kameya’s participation is particularly poignant as he is a cousin of the late Daijiro Kato, who died of injuries incurred in a crash at the grand prix held at Suzuka in April of this year. The Okada – Kameya combination will race with Kato’s number 74 plate in a tribute to the 2002 World 250cc Champion. Kato carried number 74 throughout his illustrious grand prix career.

The second Sakurai Honda will be in the capable hands of Yukio Nukumi and Manabu Kamata, both experienced 8-hour campaigners. Few riders know the VTR1000SP-W better than Kamata, while not racing Kamata works as test rider for HRC and has undertaken hours of development work on the big twin he will race on Sunday. Partner Nukumi, now 31-years old, contests his 10th Suzuka 8 Hours.

The four teams competing with factory prepared VTR1000SP-W’s will have to be at their very best to withstand the challenged of several fast, reliable Honda teams in the field. Chief among them former grand prix riders Takeshi Tsujimura and Shinichi Ito, near veterans but still very fast particularly at Suzuka. The two seasoned campaigners will race a CBR954RR F.C.C TSR for the Zip – FM team.

Former two-time 125cc World Champion Haruchika Aoki is teamed with Osamu Deguchi for team Weider Honda Gakuen, while Tatuya Yamaguchi is paired with Yuki Takahashi, so impressive on his way to third at the 250cc Pacific GP at Motegi last year, on a 555 Honda. Both squads equipped with CBR954RRs.

The circuit has been changed slightly for the 8-hours, the chicane reverting to near pre-grand prix lay out.

Honda rider quotes:
Nicky Hayden: “I’m really excited about racing the 8 hours, it will be the first time for me. As a kid you read about your heroes racing the 8 hours and hope you will take part one day. I like the idea of the pit stops, race strategy, and racing at night, sounds pretty cool. The only pit stop race I’ve done is Daytona, but this is a whole lot different I’m sure. The race is really important to Honda so I want to do well.

“After the GP at Assen we tested the bike at Suzuka, it was the first time I rode a RC51 (VTR) since last August, this bike is pretty much the same as my US Superbike was last year. I’m racing with Kiyo San (Ryuichi Kiyonari) so we tried each other’s bikes at the test, but only in the rain. We’re pretty close on set up, and we both use similar riding positions so I think we will have no problems riding together. The VTR is a good package for this kind of race and race track.

“It’s a long race but I like the track, doing a lot of laps will help with other races at Suzuka. There seems to be a lot of traffic to get passed in the race, which will be interesting. I’m looking forward to the experience.”

Ryuichi Kiyonari: “This will be my third Suzuka 8 Hours and my first on a VTR, I raced a CBR last time out, in 2001. We broke the engine after my first session so I hope this time to have a good result. Although I have not much experience at the 8 hours I have raced many times at Suzuka circuit, I started my road race career there in 1991, at the ‘Suzuka Racing School.’ I’ve also raced the Suzuka 4 Hours, I like the track and I think I will enjoy racing the VTR on Sunday.

“We tested for two days after Assen and the bike was really good, perfect for Suzuka. I’m riding with Nicky (Hayden) and we are close on set up and riding position, so we have no problems with that. We will be the ‘VTR Rookies’ at Suzuka.”

Tohru Ukawa: “This year I’m racing with Izutsu San, for the first time. He’s a good rider, fast. We used to race against each other before I started GP racing. He’s a good guy – we will do well, of that I’m sure. In the test after Assen our machine set up was almost the same, and our lap times were also very close, so I’m confident we will be fast.

“We start practice on Wednesday on the revised track, the chicane has been changed again it’s back to almost the old lay out. Fuel consumption is important to Honda and last year the teams ran the race with only six pit stops, instead of seven. They hope to use the same strategy this year.

“Last year I didn’t race the 8-hours, I broke my ankle at Donington Park and was not fit enough to race. I did the same thing this year but only cut my elbow and bruised my arm. The arm is OK now, I have full movement so I think it will not be a problem for Suzuka.

“I’m not thinking about equalling Wayne Gardner’s record of four wins, if I win the race the record will come naturally. The race is a one off, a podium place has no meaning, only a win matters in the 8-hours.”

Izutsu’s best result so far was in 1999, when he partnered Akira Yanagawa to third place.

Hitoyasu Izutsu: “This is my first 8hr race on Honda and am really looking forward to it. When I was riding Kawasaki, Honda was a high barrier but I wanted to beat Honda. Now I am in the Honda camp and all the circumstances are ready for me to win the race. I want to win the race and I am quite confident about it as my partner is the experienced Ukawa, and the machine I will be riding is the same as the last year’s winning machine. As we are doing 6 pit stops, Ukawa will be riding longer than me. Our goal is to mark 220 laps ( previous record 219 laps last year). I have marked 2:08s during the test but the race time will be around 2:9-10. We will not try hard to get the pole position as the pole-sitter hasn’t won the race past ten years or so. Our main aim is to win the race and not to get the pole-position.”

Tadayuki Okada: “I requested to race the 8-hours this year, I get too much stress just watching races, it’s a completely different life. I enjoy the fun of racing. I will race with Chozun Kameya, a cousin of Daijiro (Kato), and we will race with number 74. I choose number 74 for the race, it will give me strength, ‘Daichan’ was like one of my own family. I am happy to accept the responsibility of racing with the 74 plate.

“Kameya San is a good rider, he’s leading the national 250cc championship. He doesn’t have much big bike experience but I am happy to race with him, his lap time at the Suzuka test was good. We will race with respect for ‘Daichan’ but we will be racing to win, that’s all we will have in mind.

“I’m interested to race with the new Michelin MotoGP tyre. It was me and Colin (Edwards) who did a lot of the development work with the tyres but I have never raced with it. The character of the Michelin tyres in my time was that they took a little time to get warm but when they did the tyres were very good. This tyre warms very quickly. The VTR1000SP-W is much different to the RC211V but the tyre works well on the big twin. The VTR is much better now than when I last raced it, it handles better now, and maybe has a little more power.”

Leading Honda entries.
Tohru Ukawa – Hitoyasu Izutsu J/J VTR1000SPW Seven Stars Honda

Nicky Hayden – Ryuichi Kiyonari USA/J VTR1000SPW Seven Stars Honda

Yukio Nukumi – Manabu Kamata J/J VTR1000SPW Sakurai Honda

Tady Okada – Chozun Kemeya J/J VTR1000SPW Sakurai Honda

From a press release issued by Nodell Motorsports:

Nodell clinches Pro Formula Championship aboard 250

The Nodell Motorsports motorcycle team clinched the overall number one plate on their Canada Post/The Bear Chair Co. backed Honda RS250 in the R.A.C.E Superseries over defending series champion Frank Trombino on his factory Yamaha this past weekend.

Rider Stuart Nodell battled head to head against Frank Trombino for most of the featured event in wet conditions. The two riders swapped the lead position numerous times in the opening laps. While Trombino lead Nodell into turn one he had a big slide and crashed allowing Nodell to go on to clinch the championship with one round still remaining.

Nodell continued to lead the event until the halfway point when he decided to be smart and run a calculated race, finishing third behind Canadian Kawasaki’s Matt McBride and Andrew Nelson to ensure the team would win the championship. By virtue of winning the qualifying heat race on Saturday, Nodell banked the two bonus points and only had to finish ahead of Trombino to secure the title.

The Ben Gartner prepared Bridgestone shod RS250 has been the class of the field all season long. Following the race Nodell stated “This championship is gratifying as our team set this objective following the 2002 season and succeeded in dominating fashion aboard a 250 against factory backed efforts of 1000s and 600s.” Gartner also replied “This is one of Canada’s most prestigious championships and all of Canada’s best have at one time or another attempted to win this title from Lang Hindle, Art Robbins, Michel Mercier, Steve Crevier, Pascal Picotte and even Miguel Duhamel.”

The team also went on to score a dominating victory in the 250 Grand Prix class over Jeff Lowe and Christian Rose.

The team’s next event is The Can-Am 125 Grand Prix Challenge held at Le Circuit in Mont Tremblant, Quebec in conjunction with the Canadian Superbike Championship where the team sits only seven points back of first place in the championship.

Canada Post, The Bear Chair Co, Bridgestone Tires, Crossbeam.com, Absolute AD Ventures, Bickle Tire Warmers and EBC Brakes sponsor the Nodell Motorsports Motorcycle Racing Team.

Please visit our website at www.nodellmotorsports.com to follow the team’s progress.

1.Matt McBride KAW 600
2.Andrew Nelson HON 600
3.Stuart Nodell HON 250
4.Darren Wilbur YAM 600
5.Frank Trombino YAM 600

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Racer Colin Jensen, whose violent crash caused the AMA 250cc Grand Prix race at Mid-Ohio to be red-flagged Sunday, is back at work at Jensen-Stern in Ketchum, Idaho.

“I’m OK,” said Jensen by phone Tuesday. “I’m really sore and stiff and my head is banged up. I cracked a rib and broke a process, which is the little thing on the end of the vertebra, but I think I did that at Laguna Seca.

“I’ll be at VIR, racing.”

From a press release issued by Tornado Motorsports:
Tornado Motorsports, Dealer Of Benelli/Moto Guzzi/Vertemati, Opens In Manchester, New Hampshire

We are proud to announce the opening of Tornado Motorsports, offering marque Italian motorcycles, accessories, and apparel. Tornado Motorsports will be immediately offering the complete Moto Guzzi lineup. Tornado Motorsports is the exclusive New Hampshire/Maine/Vermont Benelli dealership; Benelli’s motorcycles are expected to arrive shortly, also coming soon will be the Vertemati brand.

Tornado Motorsports is located next to EagleRider – New Hampshire in Manchester, New Hampshire. Tornado Motorsports will offer a wide selection of Benelli, Moto Guzzi, and Vertemati Motorcycles, parts and accessories with factory trained technicians working in a fully equipped service department.

Tornado Motorsports will focus on attention to detail, exceptional customer service and outstanding product selection.

The Grand Opening event for Tornado Motorsports is on Saturday, August 2nd, 2003 between 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.. There will be refreshments and door prizes.

Tornado Motorsports is located at 21 W. Auburn Street, Manchester, NH 03101, phone (603) 626-1606, www.tornadomotorsports.com

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

LRRS racer Jason Hillsgrove and wife Heather had a daughter, Lilianne Paige Hillsgrove, July 24 in Rochester, New Hampshire. Hillsgrove rides for Double Apex Racing Team (DART).