Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The 2003 AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited event at Daytona International Speedway March 5-10 was marred by rain, which led to the 62nd running of the Daytona 200 by Arai being held on Monday for the first time ever.

Back from a multi-year stint with Ducati in the World Superbike Championship, 1998 AMA Superbike Champion Ben Bostrom took pole position for the race on his American Honda RC51 with a time of 1:48.376. Bostrom’s time was significantly slower than Nicky Hayden’s Daytona lap record, 1:47.174, due in part to Dunlop not supplying qualifying tires during the 2003 season. Erion Honda’s Kurtis Roberts (1:48.554), on a full-factory RC51, and Yoshimura Suzuki’s Mat Mladin (1:48.555) and Aaron Yates (1:48.659), on the brand new GSX-R1000, also qualified on the front row.

Dream Team Ducati’s Larry Pegram led into turn one at the start of the race but was forced to pit for new Michelin rear tires four times (versus the norm of two pitstops) during the race and ended up 12th, the first Ducati rider.

Mladin officially led the first lap of the race but was shuffled as far back as seventh due to tire and handling problems with his new bike, before passing teammate and Superbike rookie Ben Spies in the latter stages of the race for sixth. Spies finished seventh, the final rider on the lead lap, in his Daytona 200 debut.

Despite riding with a broken left hand suffered in a training accident, Anthony Gobert led at one point of the race on his back-up Ducati Austin 998RS before mechanical trouble knocked him out on lap 21.

After his new 788cc big-bore engine proved somewhat unreliable during practice, Kawasaki’s Eric Bostrom was forced to ride his 750cc ZX-7RR in the field of 1000cc machines. Bostrom ran strong early before finishing fifth.

Aaron Yates had a better time than Mladin in the 200, running with the lead group well into the last stint. The Georgian lost contact with the leading three riders when he ran off at turn one while trying to lap Vincent Haskovec. Yates finished fourth.

For the last 10 laps of the race, it looked certain it would be a 1-2-3 Honda sweep of the podium, but who would come out on top of the equally-matched group was yet to be determined. On the final lap, Bostrom led into the chicane followed by Roberts and Duhamel. Duhamel drafted by Roberts early on the east banking, caught Bostrom’s slipstream coming off of NASCAR Turn Four and passed the Californian coming into the tri-oval to win his fourth career Daytona 200 by a mere 0.069-second. Bostrom finished second with Roberts 0.155-second back in third.

Supersport

In the Supersport race (which was postponed from Friday to Sunday due to rain) it was Roberts’ turn, as he gave the new 2003 Honda CBR600RR an all-important victory in its debut race. Roberts used the top speed advantage of the bike to draft Jamie Hacking and his fast-accelerating Yamaha YZF-R6 to the finish line. Duhamel was third, inches in front of Erion Honda’s Jake Zemke – the top four were separated by 0.4-second.

As many as 10 riders contested the lead through the race. After a crash in qualifying left him 27th on the grid and with an injured hand, Yamaha’s Jason DiSalvo came through to lead at one point before finishing fourth.

Damon Buckmaster was fifth, ahead of true privateer Jamie Stauffer and Aaron Gobert – a trio of Australians on Yamahas.

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies came home ninth, the first Suzuki finisher, while defending Supersport Champion Aaron Yates struggled and finished 14th. American Honda’s Ben Bostrom finished 10th in a one-off ride in the Supersport class. Tommy Hayden came home 13th in the debut of the new, under-powered Kawasaki ZX-6RR.

Superstock

Hayden had a better but not easier time in the Superstock final on the 636cc Kawasaki ZX-6R. Riding near the back of the large lead pack for most of the shortened 15-lap race on Monday, Hayden took the lead going into the infield on the white flag lap and was able to just hold off the pursuing pack of Suzuki GSX-R750 riders.

Lee Acree, riding an Arclight Suzuki built to 2003 AMA 750cc Supersport specs, came up just short (0.009-second) of Hayden at the line for the closest-ever finish for the Superstock class at Daytona. Barden Bearings’ Eric Wood finished a close third with a borrowed motor in his Suzuki.

Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Steve Rapp, Hooters Suzuki teammates Vincent Haskovec and Mike Ciccotto and Corona Extra Suzuki’s Adam Fergusson finished fourth through seventh, respectively, after each took a turn leading the race at some point on the track.

Hayden’s teammate Tony Meiring finished eighth on the second 636cc Kawasaki, just in front of Yamaha YZF-R6-mounted Jason DiSalvo, who started the race dead-last after missing qualifying and taking a provisional starting spot at the back of the grid. Rapp’s teammate Matt Furtek rounded out the top 10.

Pole-sitter Jason Pridmore led the most laps of the race on his Attack Suzuki, before running off the track while leading and eventually pulling in on lap 14. Pridmore’s teammate Josh Hayes started what would turn out to be a Championship-winning season with a stop-and-go penalty for jumping the start and an 11th-place result. Defending Champion Jimmy Moore also ran off the track and came home 15th.

250cc Grand Prix

Qualifying for the final 250cc Grand Prix ever at Daytona was rained out and the grid was formed based on 2002 class point standings and then the order of entry. But that didn’t stop Mystery School Yamaha’s Rich Oliver, fourth on the grid, from leaving everyone in his dust. Oliver ran away to win his 61st career AMA 250cc race by over 11 seconds.

Team Stargel Aprilia’s Chuck Sorensen, the defending Champion, stayed close to Oliver for a few laps, but Oliver’s clean work through traffic and slight top end advantage sealed Sorensen’s fate at second.

Riding the late Randy Renfrow’s TSR-framed Honda 250, Simon Turner finished a distant and lonely third.


BMW Boxer Cup

One of the biggest highlights of the rain-soaked week came with the inaugural BMW Motorrad BMW Boxer Cup race on Sunday. Veterans of the highest levels of International road racing, club racers, journalists and invited VIPs bashed bars and cylinder heads of evenly-matched BMW R1100S in a highly-entertaining show. Every lap of the race saw a huge pack of swerving BMWs come across the stripe four- and five-wide. Passes were fast, furious and too numerous to recount.

As the red-flag interrupted race wound down, American Brian Parriott took a big lead coming out of the infield, but as had happened to each leader before him, Parriott was reeled back into the group. Italian Roberto Panichi caught Parriott at the chicane, and the pair drafted back and forth toward the finish line, resulting in the closest line call of the weekend if not ever at Daytona.

After numerous careful reviews of the video replay of the finish, Parriott was judged to have crossed the line first ahead of Panichi, but not until long after the checkered flag flew it was discovered that the race was scored on aggregate time. When the times from the two race segments were combined, Panichi was declared the winner over Parriott with Germany’s Markus Barth third.

From a press release:

WEBSTER READY TO CHALLENGE FOR BRITISH TITLE

Record-breaking sidecar ace Steve Webster has confirmed he will challenge for the new, 2004 Eastern Airways British Sidecar Championship.

Nine times world champion Webster and passenger Paul Woodhead will campaign a Suzuki machine in the 13-round championship which gets under way at Silverstone, Northants on March 28.

“It’s been around 15 years since I last chased a British title and, indeed, since Sidecars have raced at this level. I’m relishing the chance to tackle each and every one of the 13 rounds in 2004,” said Webster.

He continued: “Of the British Superbike teams I’ve spoken to they’re all excited and looking forward to the return of a Sidecar championship at the top level especially with the new-style liveries for machines.

“From what I’ve seen of the entry list it will be very competitive and the interest from European teams is now beginning to appear. It certainly should be a championship well worthy of running alongside the established and exciting British Superbike Championship.”

The Championship will be managed by Sportscom Media Limited, for further details contact SML on: 01296 689042. Final championship details are subject to contract with British Superbike Championship organisers, MCRCB Events.

2004 Eastern Airways British Sidecar Championship calendar:

3/28 – Silverstone, Northants
4/12 – Brands Hatch, Kent (Indy Circuit)
4/25 – Snetterton, Norfolk
5/3 – Oulton Park, Cheshire
5/23 – Mondello Park, Ireland
6/6 – Thruxton, Hants
6/20 – Brands Hatch, Kent (GP Circuit)
7/4 – Knockhill, Fife
7/18 – Rockingham, Northants
8/15 – T.B.A
8/30 – Cadwell Park, Lincs
9/12 – Oulton Park, Cheshire
9/19 – Donington Park, Derbys.

From a press release issued by Honda Racing Information:

Valencia Retain IRTA ‘Best Grand Prix’ Trophy

The Grand Prix of the City of Valencia has won the 20th edition of the IRTA ‘Best Grand Prix Trophy’. Valencia retained the high standards they had established during their 2002 winning season to score a repeat trophy success this time round.

The torturous Ricardo Tormo Circuit, inaugurated by Juan Carlos, King of Spain, in September 1999, hosted the final race in the 16 round MotoGP World Championship of 2003. Following their triumph of 2002 Circuito del Motor y Promocion Deportivo, the race promoter, and the on-track staff simply employed the same successful formula as in 2002, plus a little extra.

Valencia’s success is the third consecutive win for a Spanish circuit, Catalunya outscoring strong opposition to take the 2001 award. But, as IRTA President Sito Pons has often so rightly pointed out; “The high standards set by many of the best grands prix who have taken the prestigious trophy in recent years calls for a superb effort by any circuit and race promoter seeking the ultimate IRTA accolade.”

Named in honour of one of Valencia’s famous sons, former 50cc World Champion Ricardo Tormo, the track is perfectly situated on the outskirts of the city close to a network of national highways connecting Valencia to other major cities.

Set in a 60,000-seat amphi-theatre the circuit is unique in that race fans get a clear view of every meter of the race action. Competing teams and riders have to work hard to take anything from the race. Featuring nine left and five right hand corners crammed into 4.005km, with a start – finish straight measuring just 876mts competitors have precious little time to relax.

The IRTA Trophy is awarded based upon a point scoring system that covers every aspect of the running of a grand prix. Safety measures and medical facilities are paramount in motorsport and Valencia passed those tests with flying colours.

Each year the circuit management and associated on-event staff have improved their performance. The event is now one of the most popular with the teams and riders. Certainly one of the safest venues on the calendar Valencia has competent hard working trackside marshals to back up the facilities. Medical facilities are first class and the co-operation with the Clinica Mobile is excellent.

On hearing of Valencia’s success IRTA President, Sito Pons, said; “Two in a row is quite an achievement, I’m very happy for the people there. For Valencia to take the award again this year was particularly impressive because when the teams and riders arrived at Valencia everyone was very tired. It was at the end of a hard year, especially hard after three difficult flyaway races.

“Valencia deserve the trophy, they held off close challenges from several excellent grands prix. The event is well organised and the staff are very competent. The races are always good and the race fans play an important part of the event, they create a very special atmosphere on race day.” Concluded Pons.

Only two other grands prix have recorded back-to-back IRTA Trophy successes in the twenty-year history of the award, Eastern Creek and Mugello.

All concerned with the Grand Prix deserve the prestigious honour and all are determined to equal Mugello’s incredible triple success of 1995-1997. Mugello, Catalunya, Phillip Island, and Valencia have dominated Trophy success in recent years but several other circuits are knocking at the door and showing themselves capable of taking the 2004 crown.

IRTA Trophy Roll of Honour
1984 Silverstone / GB
1985 Hockenheim / Germany
1986 Nurburgring / Germany
1987 Assen / Netherlands
1988 Suzuka / Japan
1989 Donington Park / GB
1990 Jerez / Spain
1991 Donington Park / GB
1992 Catalunya / Spain
1993 Eastern Creek / Australia
1994 Eastern Creek / Australia
1995 Mugello / Italy
1996 Mugello / Italy
1997 Mugello / Italy
1998 Phillip Island / Australia
1999 Brno / Czech Republic
2000 Mugello / Italy
2001 Catalunya / Spain
2002 Valencia / Spain
2003 Valencia / Spain

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

American Honda is testing its new CBR1000RR Superbike today at Willow Springs in Rosamond, California.

According to sources at the track, American Honda’s Ben Bostrom and Miguel Duhamel along with Erion Honda’s Jake Zemke are testing.

There are only two Honda CBR1000RR Superbikes currently in the U.S., and one of those is on a short-term loan and due to be returned to HRC in Japan in January, according to team members.

Conditions at Willow Springs are cool-to-cold with no wind and a completely overcast sky.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

WERA racer Steve Thompson and wife Carrie had a daughter, Bailey Cate Thompson, December 18 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Speaking to RoadracingWorld.com by telephone Tuesday morning, Dennis Smith of Sport Tire Services described yesterday’s earthquake located near his Paso Robles, California headquarters:

“The power went out, the computers went down, e-mail service went down and it’s still down this morning. We have no way to communicate other than telephones now. We do have power. But, as far as the business part of it goes, nothing serious, just some file cabinets opened, and stuff fell off the walls, no major damage to the building we were in.

“I was actually here walking in the door at eleven o’clock in the morning coming back from Willow Springs to handle the paperwork from the (WSMC) race and that’s when it started. We can see the freeway from here, and the cars stopped on the freeway, screeching to a halt. One of the big oak trees in front of the shop, a big branch fell off of it, like a foot and a half branch fell off of it, I watched it hit the ground.

“We’re out in farm country and there’s a plowed field, about a quarter of a mile, and it looked like the ocean. From where we are at, to the freeway…I could see it moving up and down about a foot. I had my briefcase in my hand, standing in the parking lot, I had walked back out of the building, and I could barely stand up. Twice I about fell down.

“The worst thing that happened physically was at my house I have a Gold Wing and a GSX-R1000, the GSX-R1000 was on the rear stand and Gold Wing was on the center stand, and both of them fell over. So, it was serious.

“The 1000 was worse off than the Gold Wing was. The Gold Wing just kind of rocked over on the crash bar – it’s got a couple of bars that protect the saddle bags and the engine – it just kind of rolled over on that and was sitting there. The GSX-R got the worst of it. Poked a hole in the fairing, and broke the brake lever off on it, and scratched the windshield. Nothing serious, though. At least we’re O.K.

“My house is OK. Stuff fell off the walls, I had glasses broken on the floor. The dogs were freaking out. My wife and daughter were freaking out, but other than that, physically, no big deal.

“We had trouble sleeping last night there were so many aftershocks. I’ve been up here five years and have not felt the earth move one time. And yesterday, it let go. Scary.”

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Roadracingworld.com has learned that former World Superbike Technical Director Steve Whitelock has been quietly investigating the Dunlop tire problems at Daytona, even though AMA Pro Racing announced that he was hired to run the AMA Supercross and Motocross programs.

The following is the original press release from AMA Pro Racing, as issued earlier this month:

AMA Pro Racing names Steve Whitelock as AMA Supercross/Motocross Series Manager

AMA Pro Racing, the leading sanctioning body for motorcycle sport in the United States, has appointed Steve Whitelock as AMA Supercross/Motocross series manager. Whitelock, to be based in AMA Pro Racing’s West Coast office, will be responsible for the overall management of the AMA Supercross Series and AMA Chevrolet Motocross Championship in the newly-created position.

Whitelock leaves his position as FIM Technical Director for World Superbike and will assume duties with AMA Pro Racing immediately.

Whitelock’s technical experience in professional motorcycle sport is vast. Additionally, his background is diverse including positions managing world championship teams as well as the FIM governing body.

AMA Pro Racing CEO, Scott Hollingsworth welcomes the skill set and experience Whitelock brings to the new position. “By creating series manager positions for each of the racing disciplines that AMA Pro Racing oversees and hiring someone of Steve’s caliber, we’re dramatically re-thinking how we manage AMA championship racing,” said Hollingsworth. “The series manager role will be vital and take into account the needs of our riders, teams, promoters, sponsors and anyone else who has a relationship with AMA Pro Racing. The series manager will be responsible for the ‘big-picture’ handling of the series and will be supported by a crew that includes a race director as well as a technical and administrative staff. Steve is ideally suited to this position and we have extremely high expectations for him.”

Hollingsworth added that the addition of Whitelock is a continuation of AMA Pro Racing’s strategy of hiring high-level industry talent as well as expanding the company’s presence on the West Coast. “We’ve made it clear that we want to be more accessible to the major teams and OEMs so placing Steve in our West Coast office enables us to further that goal,” said Hollingsworth.

Whitelock is highly regarded in the world of motorcycle sport and his most recent position as FIM Technical Director for World Superbike earned him a great deal of respect among riders, teams and the factories. Hollingsworth pointed out the depth of Whitelock’s experience. “In addition to overseeing the technical aspects of the World Superbike Championship for the past eight years, Whitelock has a deep foundation in off-road racing,” said Hollingsworth. “Steve was employed by HRC from 1982 through 1991 and at one point directed the company’s motocross efforts resulting in six world championships with such racing greats as Jean-Michel Bayle, Andre Malherbe and Eric Geboers. Steve was also involved with HRC’s Grand Prix road racing efforts holding a variety of senior positions within the organization. Clearly, this broad-based experience will benefit Steve in his new role.”

Not limiting himself to one form of motorcycle competition has allowed Whitelock to form an expansive view of the sport. “My involvement with motocross racing, Grand Prix road racing and even my roots in AMA racing as Yvon Duhamel’s mechanic, has given me the chance to see motorcycle racing from virtually every perspective possible,” said Whitelock. “Additionally, I’ve enjoyed the past eight years with the FIM and treasure the experience it has afforded me. I see my new role with AMA Pro Racing as a logical progression of my career and am eagerly awaiting the AMA Supercross Series to begin in Anaheim.”

From a press release issued by Alstare Corona Suzuki:

FUJI GIVES THE NEW GSXR600 ITS TRACK TEST. IANNUZZO BACK ON A SUPERSPORT. CHAMBON ABSENT THROUGH ILLNESS.

Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra’s final track action of the year took place at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia, with two of their three riders in action on both days. Frenchman Stephane Chambon missed the test through illness, but his team mate Katsuaki Fujiwara was assisted by Vittorio Iannuzzo who had not ridden a bike for nearly four months.

The test was for Superbikes and Supersport machines, but was dominate by the Supersport class.

At the end of the two days, Aussie Steve Martin (Ducati 999) posted the fastest overall time – 1:26.454. Fastest of the Supersport riders was another Australian – Karl Muggeridge – with a time of 1:38.023 on his Honda CBR600.

Fujiwara spent a lot of time (particularly on day two) on the new GSX-R600 Suzuki, which had arrived less then two weeks before the test. The Suzuki was nowhere near the finished article and so Fujiwara just put in the laps in order to give the team feedback about what needs to done before the next test. As there was only one of the new bikes available, Iannuzzo spent all his time on one of Chambon’s GSX-R600s. The Italian used the two days to re-familairise himself with a Supersport bike after a season on a Superbike, so didn’t push hard.

Katsuaki Fujiwara – 107 laps, best time – 1:38.919

It was very interesting riding the new bike, even though there’s a lot of work to be done before it is competitive. But already, I feel that it is an improvement over the 2003 bike. The new bike feels a bit more compact and slimmer and I think that it handles better and is more easy to flick from side to side. Obviously we don’t have any fast parts yet and we have a lot of work to do before I can say how good the bike is.

Riding on Pirellis was a new experience for me, after years with Dunlop, but I think it went OK – well on the not yet finished bike anyway. The slipper clutch on the new bike is very good and I also like the upside down front forks. Once we have the finished bike, I will look forward to riding it hard. I am sure it will be a significant improvement – and I hope to challenge for the title with it.

Vittorio Iannuzzo – 102 laps, best time – 1:40.468

It felt a bit strange to be riding a Supersport after a season on a Superbike. And it also felt strange because I haven’t been on a bike for the best part of four months! I thought I’d feel more sore (especially my right hand) after the two days, but actually I didn’t feel too bad at all. It was a good test for me, because I was able to spend time on a Supersport bike and get used to its characteristics all over again. What was one of the hardest things was getting used to the different braking and cornering speeds. On the Superbike, I was able to brake late and then power out of the turns. On the Supersport, I needed to change and brake earlier and then keep up good corner speed in the turns. But I took it steadily and used the track time to get back into the groove. I rode on Pirellis when I competed in the European Superstock Championship and they didn’t feel so different to me, so that is not much of a problem. Supersport is a hard series and the bikes are so even that it is difficult to gain a huge advantage. I’m looking forward to riding the 2004 GSXR600 and can’t wait for the next test.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Yamaha factory Supersport and Graves Yamaha Superstock racer Aaron Gobert, 23, is recovering at his off-season home near Sydney, Australia following surgery to remove a plate from his left wrist and a rod from his right leg.

The plate was inserted into Gobert’s wrist after he broke it in a crash at Road America in 2003, and the rod was inserted into his leg following his massive crash at Daytona International Speedway in March 2002.

Speaking at the Dunlop tire test at Daytona earlier this month, Gobert told Roadracingworld.com, “My wrist is acting up a bit, so I’m going to go back to the doctor in Australia to see if he can take the plate out of my wrist and get some strength back in it. I’d like to go see Dr. (Arthur) Ting, but I want to go home for Christmas.”

Gobert underwent surgery December 18 at the hands of Professor (and Dr.) Ron Sekel at St. George Private Hospital in Sydney, according to his mother/manager Sue Gobert. Gobert hopes to be strong enough to participate in Yamaha’s next test session, scheduled in January.

From a press release issued by the AMA:

EPA ISSUES NEW STREETBIKE EMISSIONS RULES

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reports that road-going motorcycles nationwide will be required to meet new strict emissions standards beginning with the 2006 models under rules released by the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

But the new rules, issued December 23, give small-volume motorcycle manufacturers a break in meeting the new standards, and provide for exemptions for certain motorcycles.

The EPA rules set new emissions standards that are the same as those adopted by the state of California, but will go into effect two years after California’s standards. The first tier of the new national standards will go into effect in 2006 and a second tier in 2010.

The new national emissions standards are expected to result in an increased use of fuel injection and catalytic converters on new motorcycles. Some motorcycles sold in the United States already meet California’s strict 2008 standards, which are the same as the planned federal EPA 2010 standard.

The California standard that begins with the current model year, 2004, and the federal standard that will take effect for the 2006 model year, require new motorcycles to emit no more than 1.4 grams per kilometer traveled of hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides, and 12 grams per kilometer of carbon monoxide.

Before passage of the new federal rule, federal emissions standards for street motorcycles were 5.0 grams of hydrocarbons and 12 grams of carbon monoxide per kilometer traveled.

Under the new rule, manufacturers who build fewer than 3,000 motorcycles a year, and who have fewer than 500 employees, don’t need to meet the first-tier emissions standards until 2008. They also aren’t required to meet the second-tier standards.

The EPA also provides certain exemptions for “kit” and custom motorcycles.

Nothing in the new rules changes what owners may do legally to customize their motorcycles.