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.

From a press release issued by series organizers:

TAYLOR GOES FOR MORE

TORONTO, ON – A month after reaching one career milestone Canadian motorcycle racing star Michael Taylor returns to the scene of another.

The 37-year-old Toronto native scored his 10th career national Superbike victory in the second round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Calgary’s Race City Motorsport Park June 8. The series resumes this weekend at Autodrome St-Eustache, where Taylor scored his first ever Canadian series win back in 1995.

Taylor’s 1995 triumph was one of three he has earned at the tight, 10-turn 1.2-mile venue just north of Montreal, tying him with Steve Crevier and Don Munroe for most wins at the track.

Riding a Honda for the Orion Motorsport factory team Taylor, a two-time Canadian Superbike champion comes into this weekend’s event second in series standings with 69 points. Crevier, who finished second in Calgary, leads with 101.

Crevier won the opening round at Shannonville Motorsport Park in May in his debut with the Montreal-based Diablo Performance Suzuki team. The Maple Ridge, BC veteran is bidding for an unprecedented seventh Canadian Superbike crown.

Taylor’s Orion Motorsport Honda teammate Robbie Baird is third in points with 62. The Australian, a rookie on the Canadian tour, was third in Calgary.

Chardon, OH’s Tom Kipp makes his first visit to Autodrome St-Eustache this weekend. Riding for the Canadian Kawasaki Motors factory squad, the veteran American rider sits fourth in series points.

Fifth and sixth in the standings, respectively are Coors Light Racing Blackfoot Suzuki teammates Clint McBain of Calgary and Rock Forest, QC’s Francis Martin. A local favorite, Martin won back-to-back St-Eustache Superbike nationals in 1999 and 2000.

Yamaha riders fill the rest of the top 10 in the Parts Canada series standings after two rounds, led by Joliette, QC’s Jean-Francois Cyr. He is followed by St-Cecile de Milton, QC veteran Pascal Picotte, 1997 St-Eustache winner Benoit Pilon of St-Jerome, QC and Kleinburg, ON’s Frank Trombino.

This weekend’s racing will also include the second rounds of the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike and International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike national support classes.

Picotte leads the Pro 600 standings with 100 points to the 83 of Baird and the 71 of defending class champion McBain.

Yamaha rider Dan Henri of Ottawa is on top of the Amateur 600 Sport Bike standings with 85 points. Erin, ON’s Jeremy French, riding a Honda is second with 66 points and Calgary winner Jeremy Leduc of Keremeos, BC, riding a Yamaha lies third with 56.

Official practice at Autodrome St-Eustache opens Friday. Qualifying for all three national classes will go Saturday afternoon and races are set to run on 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.

All Time St-Eustache Superbike Wins

Don Munroe (Halifax, NS) 3
Michael Taylor (Toronto, ON) 3
Steve Crevier (Maple Ridge, BC) 3
Francis Martin (Rock Forest, QC) 2
Marco Ferland (Montreal, QC) 1
Benoit Pilon (St-Jerome, QC) 1
Jordan Szoke (Brantford, ON) 1

St-Eustache Fast Facts

…Kawasaki has enjoyed overwhelming success at St-Eustache, taking six of the first seven national wins there and 10 of the first 12. But Kawasaki hasn’t won at the Quebec venue since Francis Martin’s triumph in 2000.

…Two racers have scored their only career national Superbike win at St-Eustache. Marco Ferland won for Honda in 1994 and Benoit Pilon scored aboard a Yamaha in 1997

…In three of the last four years the St-Eustache winner has gone on to claim the Canadian Superbike title. Martin did it in 1999, Steve Crevier in 2001 and Jordan Szoke in 2002. The only exception is Martin, who also won in 2000. Crevier was champion that year.

2003 Point Standings
Parts Canada Superbike: 1. Steve Crevier (Suzuki) 101; Michael Taylor (Honda) 69; 3. Robbie Baird (Honda) 62; 4. Tom Kipp (Kawasaki) 61; 5. Clint McBain (Suzuki) 61

Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike: 1. Pascal Picotte (Yamaha) 100; 2. Robbie Baird (Honda) 83; 3. Clint McBain (Suzuki) 71

International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike: 1. Dan Henri (Yamaha) 85; 2. Jeremy French (Honda) 66; 3. Jeremy Leduc (Yamaha) 56

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Friday, July 25

8:30-10:30 a.m., Practice (in the following order):
Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport
Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme
Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock
MBNA 250 Grand Prix

10:40-11:40 a.m., Chevy Trucks Superbike Practice

11:40 a.m.-12:40 p.m., Lunch Break

12:40-2:30 p.m., Practice (in the following order):
Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport
Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme
Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock
MBNA 250 Grand Prix

2:40-3:40 p.m., Chevy Trucks Superbike Qualifying

3:50-4:20 p.m., Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock Qualifying, Group 1

4:30-5:00 p.m., Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock Qualifying, Group 2


Saturday, July 26

8:00-9:30 a.m., Practice (in the following order):
Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport
Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme
Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock
MBNA 250 Grand Prix

9:40-10:40 a.m., Chevy Trucks Superbike Qualifying

10:50-11:10 a.m., Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport Qualifying, Group 1

11:20-11:40 a.m., Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport Qualifying, Group 2

11:40 a.m.-12:40 p.m., Lunch Break

12:40-1:00 p.m., Chevy Trucks Superbike Practice

1:10-1:45 p.m., Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Qualifying

2:00 p.m., Wiseco Superbike 100 (Race 1 – 26 laps),

MBNA 250 Grand Prix Qualifying (20-minute session)

Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock Race (16 laps)


Sunday, July 27

9:00-11:00 a.m., Practice (in the following order):
Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport
MBNA 250 Grand Prix
Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme
Chevy Trucks Superbike

11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Lunch Break

12:00 p.m., Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport Race (16 laps)

MBNA 250 Grand Prix Race (16 laps)

Wiseco Superbike 100 (Race 2 – 26 laps)

Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Race (16 laps)

From a press release issued by Hawk Kawasaki:

BSB Round 7, Rockingham Motor Speedway
4th-6th July
Circuit Length: 2.05 miles

Preview

Hawk raring to go at Rockingham

Hawk Kawasaki arrives at Rockingham International Speedway in Northamptonshire this weekend for the seventh round of the 2003 British Superbike Championship. Infamous for its impacts on British Superbike Championships past the tight, technical circuit is sure to throw up some close racing.

Currently lying fourth in the championship, Glen Richards is looking forward to racing at the only anti-clockwise circuit on the British Superbike Calendar: ‘Rockingham’s a good little track and it’s nice to have something different’ says the laconic Australian. ‘There are no big straights there so we’re not at so much of a disadvantage. And it’s got some real twists, which should suit the ZX-7RR. I’m really looking forward to it.’

Fellow Hawk Kawasaki rider Scott Smart shares his enthusiasm: ‘I’ve gone well at Rockingham in the past so I’m looking forward to getting the Hawk Kawasaki there’ says Smart, following a strong performance at the previous Brands Hatch round. ‘We’re getting the bike set-up a lot more to how I like it now, and I think Rockingham is a track that will suit us well’

Lincolnshire’s Lee Jackson is also looking forward to getting to Rockingham to continue his rise in the riders championship standings: ‘I didn’t think I had the best weekend at Brands’ says Jackson ‘But I’m really looking forward to getting there even though Rockingham is not a particular favourite. It’s quite twisty, which should suit the Hawk Kawasaki ZX-7RR’s and I’m sure we can get the right setup and score good points. Bring on the weekend’

BSB Riders’ Championship, after 6 rounds
1) Shane Byrne, Ducati: 285. 2) Michael Rutter, Ducati: 152. 3) John Reynolds, Suzuki: 145. 4) Glen Richards, Hawk Kawasaki: 131. 5) Gary Mason, Yamaha: 117. 5=) Steve Plater, Honda: 117. 7) Steve Hislop, Yamaha: 111. 8) Yukio Kagayama, Suzuki: 103. 9) John Crawford, Ducati: 74.10) Scott Smart, Hawk Kawasaki: 72. 11) Sean Emmett, Ducati: 71. 12) Lee Jackson, Hawk Kawasaki: 55. 13) Paul Young, Yamaha: 54. 14) Mark Heckles, Honda: 41. 15) John McGuinness, Ducati: 26

BSB Premier Teams Championship, after 6 rounds
1)Monstermob/ETI Ducati: 988. 2) Virgin Mobile Yamaha: 940. 3) Renegade Ducati: 914. 4) Hawk Kawasaki: 895. 4=) Rizla Suzuki: 895. 6) TDB Yamaha: 727. 7) Hawk Kawasaki/TCD Suzuki: 711. 8) Honda Racing: 676. 9) D & B/Renegade Ducati: 602.

From a press release issued by Rich Oliver’s Mystery School:

After a long series of races around the country, Team Oliver Yamaha returns home to the Monterey Peninsula for round 8 in the AMA 250 GP
Championship.

Rich Oliver’s Mystery School sponsored Oliver has managed to lead every lap of the previous 7 rounds!

Last weekend in Brainerd, Minnesota he did it again, as series defending Champion, Chuck Sorensen had an engine let go on lap 5 while drafting Rich closely in second place. This left Rich with a big gap over Simon Turner on his Priority Racing Honda, who finished a strong second and fellow Mystery School, two-time graduate, Colin Jensen gaining a great third place.

After the race in Minnesota, Rich was asked if he was looking forward to going on to Monterey, CA. and about his great history at the Laguna Seca venue.

Rich said, “Laguna Seca is my favorite track, because of my time growing up in the Monterey area, and the fact that my parents and brother still live there. It’s a really cool homecoming for me to ride there, especially when some of the best riders in the world are racing that weekend as well. Plus it’s a real world class track, and the food and surroundings are awesome. I really enjoy going over to Carmel to window shop the art galleries and furniture stores, and eating at all my favorite hole-in-the-wall restaurants!

“Also, every year I try to entertain the fans in the corkscrew with my weird antics, like when I stopped and threw my gloves, boots, and helmet to the crowd, but that got me probation from the AMA and a new rule in the rule book that says you can’t take off your helmet.

“So the next year I kept my helmet on, but I stopped again and took my fender, fairing and seat off and threw that over the fence to the crowd, which was great and I rode down to the winners’ circle with only my tank left on the bike. Then the AMA passed another rule stating that you can’t stop on the track for any reason. So last year I couldn’t figure out what to do because of all the new rules, so I just waved to the fans which kind of sucked compared to the other years.

“But now I have a new idea for this year if I win, a way to give some excitement to the fans who stick around for the 250 race, and it’s going to be great. I’ve thought of a loophole the AMA has missed, but I’m not telling so I can get away with it for my last year ever on a 250 at Laguna. If I don’t win I think I’ll do it anyway if the bike still runs and I’m on course!

“Also I’m going to bring a bunch of new paintings that I’ve done since last year, and lot’s of new Mystery School information along with ‘sign-up at the track’ discount for the Laguna fans.

“So good luck to everyone, have a great ride to the track, and I’ll see you there soon!”

Next race, Laguna! July 10th-13th, 2003

Point Standings for the top 10:

263 Oliver, (Mystery School)
181 Melneciuc,(Mystery School Grad.)
177 Turner
174 Pyles, (Mystery School Grad.)
163 Marchini
161 Sorensen
142 Jensen, Mystery School Grad.)
136 Noce
133 Sorbo, (Mystery School Grad.)
133 Esser

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

HACKING AND HAYDEN LOOKING TO JOIN LAGUNA SECA’S EXCLUSIVE TRIPLE-WINNER CLUB IN AMA SUPERSPORT

AMA Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship presented by Shoei

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (July 3, 2003) – Jamie Hacking and Tommy Hayden are hoping to join an exclusive club of riders who have won three AMA Supersport races at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Based on recent performances at Laguna, Hacking and Hayden are the heavy favorites coming into round nine of the 11 race Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship presented by Shoei, which will be held on Friday, July 11 as part of the Honda Superbike Classic, a combined AMA and World Superbike weekend.

The Hacking/Hayden duo has won four of the last five Supersport races at Laguna Seca. Hacking leads the series on his factory Yamaha R6 while teammate Damon Buckmaster is second in the standings, 15 points back. Hayden is a somewhat distant third in the standings, but is by no means out of the championship picture. A victory at Laguna Seca on Friday for Hayden would go a long way in closing the gap on Hacking and Buckmaster.

While Yamaha riders are one and two in the championship, all of the manufacturers have had their moments in the sun. Kawasaki, Honda, Yamaha and even Suzuki – the one manufacturer that did not make major updates to its 2003 Supersport machine – have all earned victories this season. The Supersport class perennially produces some of most competitive racing and the 2003 season is no different.

Hacking is optimistic about the upcoming Laguna Seca race and is hoping to give Yamaha its first Supersport win at the circuit since he won on a Yamaha R6 in 2000.

“There are a bunch of riders who have proven they can win this year,” said Hacking, who has finished on the Laguna Supersport podium four of the last five races there. “I’ve always done pretty well at Laguna and it would be nice to open up my series lead with another win there. As a racer you never feel you have a big enough lead in the standings until you get the checkered flag in the final race.”

Buckmaster has ridden well at Laguna Seca. In 1999 he earned a podium finish in the Supersport event in addition to winning the Formula Xtreme race there in 2001. The Aussie is looking for his first career Supersport victory.

Miguel Duhamel won three AMA Supersport races at Laguna Seca during the 1990s. The cagey veteran continues to be a threat in Supersport and is coming off a victory in the last round in Brainerd, Minn. While Hacking and Hayden are hoping to join Duhamel and Mike Smith as the only three-time Supersport winners at Laguna, Duhamel is aiming to become the first four-time winner of the race. Honda has won more Laguna Seca AMA Supersport races than any other manufacturer, but if Duhamel can win, it will mark the first victory for the maker at the circuit since 1997.

Suzuki will pin its hopes primarily on Ben Spies. The former AMA Horizon Award winner surprised everyone by taking victory in the Supersport final at Road Atlanta in May on a Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R600.

The Laguna Seca round of the series will be taped and shown on Speed Channel at 3 p.m., Sunday, July 14. For additional information, contact (800) 327-SECA or visit www.laguna-seca.com.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.


World Superbike Entry List
Laguna Seca Raceway
July 10-13

Number, Rider, Home Country, Bike, Team

4, Troy Corser, Australia, Petronas FP1, Foggy Petronas Racing

5, Ivan Clementi, Italy, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, Team Kawasaki Bertocchi

6, Mauro Sanchini, Italy, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, Team Kawasaki Bertocchi

7, Pierfrancesco Chili, Italy, Ducati 998RS, Team PSG-1

8, James Haydon, UK, Petronas FP1, Foggy Petronas Racing

9, Chris Walker, UK, Ducati 998F02, HM Plant Ducati

10, Gregorio Lavilla, Spain, Suzuki GSX-R1000, Team Alstare Suzuki

11, Ruben Xaus, Spain, Ducati 999F03, Ducati Fila

15, Giovanni Bussei, Italy, Ducati 998RS, Duati Austin

19, Lucio Pedercini, Italy, Ducati 998RS, Team Pedercini

20, Marco Borciani, Italy, Ducati 998RS, D.F.X. Racing Team

23, Jiri Mrkyvka, Czech Republic, Ducati 998RS, JM SBK Team

26, Luca Pederzoli, Italy, Ducati 998RS, Team Pedercini

33, Juan Bautista Borja, Spain, Ducati 998RS, D.F.X. Racing Team

48, David Garcia, Spain, Ducati 998RS, Team Caracchi NCR Nortel Networks

52, James Toseland, UK, Ducati 998F02, HM Plant Ducati

55, Regis Laconi, France, Ducati 998RS, Team Caracchi NCR Nortel Networks

86, Mat Mladin, Australia, Suzuki GSX-R1000, Yoshimura Suzuki

87, Aaron Yates, USA, Suzuki GSX-R1000, Yoshimura Suzuki

88, Eric Bostrom, USA, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, Kawasaki Road Racing

91, Walter Tortoroglio, Italy, Honda RC51, White Endurance Team

99, Steve Martin, Australia, Ducati 998RS, D.F.X. Racing Team

100, Neil Hodgson, UK, Ducati 999F03, Ducati Fila