From a press release issued for Ducati Austin by OMS Sports:

FLORENCE, Ky.–The Ducati Austin Racing Team announced that they have decided to release Australian rider Anthony Gobert from his contract with the team.

Terry Gregoricka, the team owner, declared: “Both of us have made a big effort to make things work this year, but they didn’t turn out the way we had expected at the start of the season.

“As a result the Ducati Austin team has decided to move in another direction.”

For the next two rounds of the AMA Superbike Championship at Brainerd (June 27-29) and Laguna Seca (July 10-13), the team will enter the World Superbike Championship rider, 30 year-old Italian Giovanni Bussei.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Kneedraggers.com Yamaha’s Matt Wait hopes to ride in the Formula USA event at Virginia International Raceway June 27-29 despite fracturing his right shoulder last weekend, during qualifying for a F-USA event at New Hampshire International Speedway.

Wait tangled with a slower rider and crashed during Saturday Sportbike qualifying for the 80th Loudon Classic. During the tumble the slower rider’s bike landed on Wait, breaking his right scapula. But, after being examined by Dr. Arthur Ting on Wednesday, June 18, Wait said his fracture is not as bad as he first believed.

“It’s broken,” said Wait Thursday. “There’s two breaks. It’s broken in a ‘Y’ shape. No bones have separated from each other. There’s no tear, and the only way they do surgery is if there’s a tear in the tissue or muscle.

“Why it felt so bad is because it’s so swollen from all the blood in my back where I got hit. All the pressure and everything makes it feel way worse than it is.”

For treatment, Wait is utilizing a device popular with racers recovering from broken bones, called Game Ready.

“You plug it in, put ice and water in it and it shoots the ice and water through these hoses,” described Wait. “I have like a vest that I wear, and it shoots the ice and water through the vest on my shoulder.

“It’s adjustable. It has a thermostat where you can adjust the temperature, and you can adjust the pressure it presses on you. You know those things that take your blood pressure? That’s how it is on my shoulder.

“I’m going to use that this week and go back to him (Dr. Ting) for another evaluation Tuesday (June 24). I’ll probably be able to ride at Virginia, but I’m just going into this wanting to get some points.”

From a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service:

ROBERTS OUT OF DUTCH TT

Edenbridge, Kent – June 19, 2003:

Team Suzuki rider Kenny Roberts Junior will not take part in next weekend’s (June 28th) Dutch TT, after doctors in the USA diagnosed more extensive internal injuries than first suspected.

Roberts, who won the 500cc World Championship in 2000 on a Suzuki, sustained the injuries in a crash in the Italian GP, on June 8. His hopes of being fit for the Catalunyan GP the following weekend were dashed by worsening chest pains, and he flew home to California for medical treatment on the eve of that race.

“It feels like I just crashed yesterday,” he said.

Roberts consulted famed surgeon Arthur Ting, and underwent a scan that revealed deep soft tissue damage to his chest and upper abdomen. He was ruled out of the Dutch TT, and although doctors suggested a further six weeks recuperation were necessary, he hopes to be fit for the following round, the British GP at Donington Park on July 13.

Kenny’s place on the 990cc V4 Suzuki GSV-R MotoGP prototype at the Dutch TT will be taken by Japanese rider Yukio Kagayama. Currently racing a GSX-R1000 Superbike for the British national Rizla Crescent Suzuki team, Kagayama will go directly to the Netherlands from Brands Hatch, where he is contesting a championship race this weekend.

A Suzuki rider since 1993, he already has GP experience on the 500cc two-stroke, with a best of sixth place in the Malaysian GP in 1998. Last year, Kagayama helped to race-develop the first version of the GSV-R MotoGP prototype in Japan, winning three All-Japan Superbike races.

“I hoped to race in at least one GP this year. The chance has come earlier than I thought – and I am really looking forward to it,” he said.

Team Manager Garry Taylor said: “We’ve worked with Yukio before, and we know that he not only tries really hard, but brings a positive attitude as well. We join a lot of other people in admiring his hard-charging performance in the recent World Superbike round in Britain.

“Of course it’s a blow to lose Kenny at a crucial time of urgent machine development. Luckily John Hopkins appears to be just about over his injuries from Mugello, and he not only raced in Catalunya but put in a day’s testing after the race as well. We know he will put in his usual 100 percent, while Yukio’s input will be another welcome source of data for the race engineers.”

From a press release issued by Two Brothers Racing:

The Gig: Two Brothers Racing is very pleased to announce that they will be hosting an exhibition Mini Supermoto race held in conjunction with round one of the inaugural AMA Red Bull Supermoto Championship at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey California the weekend of the World Superbike Race, July 11-13, 2003. The race will be promoted and officiated by Two Brothers Racing.

The Bikes: Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. will furnish 15 box stock, 2003 Kawasaki KLX110 motorcycles. Two Brothers Racing will prepare these minis so as to be specially configured for motard style competition. These preparations include TBR performance exhaust systems, TAG Metals mini handlebar kits and special graphics kits from Megla Designs. “The bikes will look and sound cool,” says Craig Erion of Two Brothers Racing, “and with three speed semi automatic transmissions they’ll be easy and fun to ride.

The Track: The track was designed by Don Canet of Cycle World Magazine. Don is considered to be the father of Motard style racing in the U.S.. The minis will be raced on the same Supermoto track as the big bikes and will consist of 30% dirt, one table top jump and an 800′ straight away, which will provide lots of drafting and passing opportunities for the minis. The Kawasaki KLX110s will be more than up to the challenge.
The Racers: The riders will be chosen from the top field of motorcycle celebrities, former professional racers and press figures. The field is already shaping up to provide some real competition. Racers already committed include; Mitch Boehm of Motorcyclist Magazine, Paul Carruthers and Blake Conner of Cycle News, Brian Catterson of Cycle World Magazine, Scott Hoffman of Dirt Rider Magazine, Clement Salvadori of Rider Magazine, Peter Jones and Bill Syfan of Motorcycle Street & Strip, Kent Kunitsugu of Sportrider Magazine, Sarah Schilke (a.k.a. Super Sarah) of American Motorcyclist Magazine and Steve Atlas of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology. Cameron Gray of Race Promotion Management, the event promoter, and Andy Leisner, VP of AMA Pro Racing will be instrumental in the further selection of riders.

Andrew Trevitt of Sportrider Magazine will serve as Chief Scrutineer (tech inspector). Course control and scoring will be handled by Two Brothers Racing staff. The races will consist of one eight-lap heat race to be held at 8:45 a.m. Saturday morning and then the final 10-lap main event will be held at 3:40 p.m. the same day. The heat race finishing order will establish the main event starting grid and the racers’ age will set the heat race starting grid (expect to see Clement Salvadori on the pole for that!). Trophies will be awarded to the top three finishers of the final main event.

The Goodness: All net proceeds from the event will be contributed directly to the Clayton Memorial Foundation, while 100% of the raffle ticket sales will be directly contributed. The Clayton Memorial Foundation helps motorcycle racers who have sustained life changing injuries while competing in sanctioned events, sanctioned by bona fide sanctioning bodies like the AMA. Says Judy Klinger of the Clayton Memorial Foundation; “All indications show that the new Supermoto Series will be exciting for the fans, riders, and industry sponsors. I’m sure that the mini bike exhibition will be just as exciting.”

Financial benefits for the Clayton Memorial Foundation will be arrived at by the sales of raffle tickets for the winning motorcycle. Raffle tickets are currently on sale via the Two Brothers Racing web site and sell for $5.00 each. Tickets will also be sold at the TBR display trackside. There is an anticipated sale of 2,500 tickets, netting $12,500. There will also be a packaged deal of a ticket and a souvenir cap for $15.00. Net proceeds from the ‘packaged’ cap and ticket sale could easily reach another $25,000. Or more. The drawing will be held Sunday afternoon during the lunch break and the winner need not be present. “It is not unrealistic to project anywhere from $25,000 to $75,000 going directly to the Foundation, and just from this one event.” says Craig Erion of Two Brothers Racing. “We’re very excited to be a part the Superbike weekend at Laguna Seca and to offer some real financial assistance to the Clayton Memorial Foundation.”

The benefits to the event organizers, sponsors and fans are the goodwill and recognition that comes from promoting a worthy cause. And a chance for enthusiasts to see their favorite motorcycle personalities go at it on equally powered and equally setup machines is something unprecedented in the motorcycle industry. This will be a fun event in a benevolent atmosphere at one of the worlds top racing venues.

For more information contact Craig Erion at Two Brothers Racing, phone: 714-550-6070 or e-mail: [email protected].

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

AMA Pro Racing officials are considering including Pro-Thunder-spec Buell Superbikes in the 2004 Formula Xtreme class.

Mike Ciccotto, winner of the last AMA Pro Thunder race (July 12, 2002 at Laguna Seca in Monterey, California), wrote an open letter, which appeared on Roadracingworld.com June 12, calling for inclusion of Buells in the new Formula Xtreme class.

Currently, the 2004 Formula Xtreme class is slated to include 600cc, inline four-cylinder, production-based Superbikes racing against Ducati 748 and 749 Desmodromic V-twins, presumably in Pro Thunder/Superbike trim, and two-stroke Grand Prix bikes up to 330cc displacement.

Pro Thunder-spec Buells, which are currently legal for the 2003 AMA Superstock class, would race against 1000cc inline four-cylinder bikes in the new version of the Superstock class, under the proposed 2004 class structure.

On Wednesday, AMA Pro Racing Director of Competition Merrill Vanderslice said that he had received a copy of Ciccotto’s letter. “I’ve also gotten, I believe, (a letter) from Eric Wood,” said Vanderslice. “I think Eric was probably the first one to suggest that (Buells be included in the 2004 FX class).

“Personally, I like the idea a lot. It makes more sense to me than Superstock, in my mind, as a personal opinion.

“It’s being considered.”

From a press release issued by Yamaha:

Race date: 22 June 2003
Track length: 4060m
Year opened: 1972
2002 WSS winner: Fabien Foret (Honda)
WSS lap record: 1:39.132: Jörg Teuchert(Yamaha)
Circuit website: http://www.misanocircuit.com

Misano – the seaside circuit

The World Supersport riders make their second visit to Italy this season when the championship moves to the Misano Adriatica circuit near Rimini this weekend.

Misano has hosted World Superbike/World Supersport racing since 1991 and, officially, this is known as the San Marino round, although the circuit itself is on the border of the tiny principality and is technically in Italy.

Not that this bothers the fans or teams, as this privately owned coastal circuit is a favourite due to the seaside location which gives a real holiday feel to this round. A large crowd is expected, with many arriving early to enjoy the blisteringly hot weather expected at this time of year.

Technically, the track has a relatively simple layout made up mostly of second and third gear bends. The exception is the long back straight, which is preceeded by a fast left hand corner.

The track is also renowned for inconsistent grip levels. This is partly due to the bumpy surface, which features many different types of tarmac due to work carried out since the circuit opened in 1972 but also due to location and weather conditions. Sea salt can contaminate the track surface to make early morning laps slippery, while the expected high temperatures will test the tyres and suspension towards the end of the race. Rain has not been forecast for this weekend, which is just as well because the Misano surface is treacherous in the wet.

YZF-R6 set-up – tough on tyres

Despite the relatively simple layout of the circuit, the rough Misano surface combines with the high temperatures to give the tyres and suspension a tough workout.

The teams will work to find a set-up that will absorb the bumps without overly compromising performance through the fast left-hander leading onto the back straight. With this in mind, most riders are likely to opt for a fairly stiff rear spring with soft damper settings. This will stop the rear of the bike squatting through the fast section while offering a plush ride through the bumpy slow corners. It’s not a perfect solution, but like most tracks Misano is about finding a good compromise setting.

Misano will also provide the tyre engineers from Dunlop and Pirelli with their stiffest test of the season so far. Temperature is the big concern and riders could easily find themselves caught out as the pace heats up and front end grip levels decrease. Conditions will dictate the use of hard compound tyres to last the distance, but these will provide the riders with less feedback and consequently is not uncommon to see competitors ‘lose the front end’ at Misano.

Of the Yamaha squads, only Jurgen van den Goorbergh and Simone Sanna of the Italian-distributor Yamaha Belgarda Team have tested at Misano this year. However, with rain reducing the amount of dry track time neither rider will have a set-up advantage over their rivals – although it did give the pair a chance to reacquaint themselves with a circuit they haven’t raced at for many years.

2002 race recap – hot but not so sticky

Last year’s Misano encounter saw the top four riders separated by less than a second at the chequered flag, with eventual champion Fabien Foret (Honda) heading off Suzuki’s Katsuaki Fujiwara for the win. Jamie Whitham (Yamaha Belgarda Team) was top Yamaha in third place, finishing narrowly ahead of Yamaha Motor Germany’s Christian Kellner.

Sweltering conditions led to a tough race for all the riders. Track temperatures in excess of 55°C were recorded and most admitted to sliding around as they suffered traction problems from around mid race distance.

Season so far – Silverstone promise fires Misano hopes

Yamaha goes to Misano on a high after a strong showing at Silverstone last weekend. In a meeting of personal bests, Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Yamaha Belgarda Team) scorched to his first pole position in the class and equalled his best result of the season with a second place. The Dutchman goes to Misano in second place in the championship, 47 points behind series leader and Silverstone winner Chris Vermeulen (Honda).

Yamaha Motor France IPONE rookies Thierry van den Bosch and Mattieu Lagrive left Silverstone in good spirits after finishing fourth and ninth respectively, while Belgarda Yamaha Team’s Simone Sanna showed his class with his first front row start since switching from 125cc Grand Prix racing. Fellow Italian Alessio Corradi did his championship no harm with a fifth place.

For Yamaha Motor Germany, Silverstone proved a real test of their resolve. Both Christian Kellner and Jörg Teuchert struggled to find a good setup, although Kellner did battle through to 11th place – a result which maintains his fifth place in the championship standings. But Misano is a track that has served the squad well in the past. Kellner won here in 2000 with Teuchert a victor the following year, so the pair are expected to be back at the sharp end this weekend.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Six-time Canadian Superbike Champion and 1998 AMA Supersport Champion Steve Crevier turns 38 years old today.

Crevier was born on June 18, 1965 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and currently resides in Maple Ridge, British Columbia.

Crevier rides for Diablo Suzuki and currently leads the 2003 Parts Canada Superbike Championship after two of eight rounds.

From a press release issued by Honda Racing Information:

World Supersport Championship 2003 – Round 7
Misano Race Preview
20th – 22nd June 2003

VERMEULEN APPROACHES MISANO ON A HIGH

Chris Vermeulen (Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) has taken Honda’s all-new World Supersport offering to an unheard of level of success at midseason, winning four out of the six races held so far – all of them in convincing fashion. He kept the best for last at the most recent round at Silverstone, outpacing the second place rider by the vast margin of 12 seconds as he powered into an untouchable lead on all 19 laps.

The combination of Vermeulen and Honda power has won at all sorts of circuits so far. The fast undulating corners of Phillip Island, the fast straights and flip-flop chicanes of Monza, the dizzying turns at Oschersleben and the vast expanses of Silverstone have all been conquered in convincing fashion, in a season of otherwise unparalleled competitiveness throughout the field.

A Ten Kate Honda was at the top of the Misano results last season, and thus Vermeulen and his team mate Karl Muggeridge have been understandably confident in the run up to the last race before all the Supersport teams enjoy a summer break of five weeks.

Honda’s commitment to this year’s World Supersport Championship runs to eight riders and four teams in total, with four Honda riders having scored podiums thus far; Vermeulen, Muggeridge and Iain Macpherson (van Zon Honda CBR600RR) from the regular line up, and Sugo wild card Ryuichi Kiyonari (BKM Honda CBR600RR) shortly before he joined Honda’s MotoGP ranks.

For Vermeulen, who is as mystified as anyone else as to why he has taken such an impressive lead in a championship filled with so many potential race winners, Misano will be another weekend full of opportunity – and memories of how his career started.

“I like the hot weather at Misano, it’s like being at home in Australia and the heat suits me,” said the native of Queensland. “Qualifying and the race are generally really close at this track, which should make it a good race. The grip is poor but its been resurfaced and Pirelli have been working hard to get us a good tyre for the circuit.”

Irrespective of the results at Misano, Vermeulen will carry a useful championship lead from the Italian venue, finding himself no less than 47 points clear of overall second place rider Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Yamaha) at present, with van den Goorbergh himself eight points ahead of Katsuaki Fujiwara (Suzuki).

After a shaky start and the misfortune of a DNF at Monza, Muggeridge is looking forward to the second half of the season, feeling he has now got the full measure of the extensively redesigned 2003 CBR600RR.

“I like Misano,” enthused Muggeridge, “the track was bumpy but now it’s been resurfaced it should be awesome. It was the track surface that was holding it back. I hope it’s hot, the Hondas go well in the heat, which should make my job a easier.”

Christophe Cogan (BKM Honda CBR600RR) has battled against a back injury this season but now he is almost fully fit he relishes his chances in Italy.

“The track has had a new surface, which should improve things at Misano,” he opined. “We have had some new parts for the bike and they have made an improvement. My fitness is getting better so I am looking forward to the race.”

Another Aussie rider will see Misano as a welcoming place because it is almost another home round for Broc Parkes (BKM Honda CBR600RR).

“I love Misano; I live about an hour up the road in Bologna so it’s a local one for me,” said the protégé of 1987 World Champion Wayne Gardner. “It’s not such a horsepower track, which should suit us, and I also hope the temperature is hot. Then I’ll be happy.”

Austrian Robert Ulm (Klaffi Honda CBR600RR) does not have too long a drive to reach Misano, and the 4.060km venue is very much his kind of track – slow and with lots of corner speed an integral part of a good lap time.

“I like the circuit, it’s actually our test track but we’ve not yet tested there this year!” confessed Ulm before the race. “I’m confident and I see it as one of my best opportunities to get on the podium.”

Ulm’s team-mate Sebastien Charpentier is determined to get back to the excellent early form he showed as a replacement signing for the Klaffi team, especially as he finished 18th at Silverstone, running off circuit twice.

“After the disappointment of finishing outside the points in Silverstone I can’t wait for Misano to come around,” he said. “I think it should be an easier place for the bike set-up than England was, but it will be very hot.”

Iain Macpherson is keen to rebound from a crash at Silverstone, and his podium finish at Misano in 2001 will be an inspiration to him this weekend.

“The circuit is good, I was on pole there in 2001 and finished second in the race – just 0.2 seconds off the winner,” said Macpherson. “It’s one of my favourite tracks of the year and should suit my style.”

Werner Daemen (Van Zon Honda CBR600RR) is looking for his best performance of the year so far.

“There is a new surface at Misano this year which should improve the grip,” said Daemen. “I’ve had some good results at the circuit and am feeling very comfortable on the new Honda CBR600RR this year, simply because it is smaller than last year’s bike. I’ve been riding well in the last few races and have been well placed, but have had some bad luck and have not had the results. Now I’m hoping that that will change and we can get some good finishes over the rest of the season.”

After the exertions at Misano, the championship has a short layoff until Brands Hatch on July 27, for round eight of an 11 event series.

From a press release issued by the World Superbike press office:

Misano action guaranteed to be hot

Taking place only one week after some of the most closely contest World Superbike races in history, at Silverstone in Great Britain, the San Marino round of the 16th World Superbike Championship takes place at what is expected to be a superheated Misano Adriatico circuit in Italy.

Situated behind the Adriatic Riviera towns of Riccione and Cattolica, which become a summer playground for visitors from all over Italy, the Misano Adriatico circuit has hosted 12 previous World Superbike rounds, in an unbroken sequence from 1991 to 2003. Legendary names such as Fogarty, Corser, Chili, Polen, Falappa, Kocinski Russell, Slight and Bayliss have all won races at the compact Misano track, a circuit which has experienced ambient temperatures of up to 40°C in the run-up to this year’s race weekend.

The track itself is something of a torture chamber for tyres, with so many extreme lean angle left hand corners in its relatively short 4.060km length. Most bends are slow and technical but a flat out blast through the gearbox, from the Curva del Caro to the exit of the third left-handed section of the awe-inspiring Curvone, marks Misano out as a uniquely challenging circuit on the SBK trail.

Always a popular venue for the enthusiastic Italian fans, Misano has been a happy hunting ground for some notable names in the current SBK paddock. Pierfrancesco Chili (PSG-1 Ducati 998RS) and Troy Corser (Foggy Petronas FP-1) have both taken wins at the venue, but for current runaway championship leader Neil Hodgson (Ducati Fila 999F03), Misano will be another new world for him to conquer, should he continue his rich seam of form. Eleven wins from 12 attempts sums up his season better than a thousand words of prose, but for Hodgson, Misano may prove to be a crucible, rather than an opportunity to bag another golden cup.

Hodgson’s single defeat thus far took place at Oschersleben in Germany, on a similar track to Misano and in hot weather conditions, and thus the man who sits second in the table at present will fancy his chances to repeat his Oschersleben race two victory. James Toseland (HM Plant Ducati 998 F02) was that man, although his second position in the title race is a closely contested one.

Ruben Xaus, Hodgson’s team-mate in the Ducati Fila team, is a close third, after two podium performances in England ended a run of bad luck and crashes from the outrageously talented Catalan. His performances may be unpredictable but his ability to push the motorcycle to feats of breathtaking bravado put him in an all action class of his own.

On a fully private machine Regis Laconi (NCR Ducati 998RS) will be a threat at such a technical circuit, while Misano may be a venue that Gregorio Lavilla (Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000) can take his first win of the year. Proving beyond doubt the prowess of himself and his four-cylinder 1000cc machine, Lavilla has been a major star this season.

Injury and pain have held back the title charge of Chris Walker (HM Plant Ducati 998F02) but with every week that passes without injury for the enthusiastic Englishman, Walker’s chances of repeating his podium finished increase exponentially, despite the high level of competition in SBK this season.

For the aforementioned Pierfrancesco Chili home tarmac has always been a bitter sweet experience, but even on a private machine Chili will be a threat, having scored a win at Misano in 1997.
Steve Martin (DFX Pirelli Ducati 998RS) heads up a gaggle of fast Ducati privateers yet to win a race: Juan Borja and Marco Borciani (his team-mates) will be out for a big points haul, Lucio Pedercini on his self entered machine is always capable of a strong performance, especially when flanked by his team-mates Nello Russo and Serafino Foti.

Walter Tortoroglio rides a WET Honda VTR1000 on home ground again, while his local riders Ivan Clementi and Mauro Sanchini battle the 1000cc machines on their ex-factory Bertocchi Kawasaki 750s.

Alessandro Gramigni is a big name wild card on his Team Nuvolari 391 Yamaha R1, and a host of other Italian SBK regulars will be out to get their names on the SBK point’s ladder in 2003.

In the World Supersport Championship the seemingly limitless talent and speed of Chris Vermeulen (Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) has taken him to four wins out of six, the only others scoring full points so far being Katsuaki Fujiwara (Alstare Suzuki GSX-R600) and Christian Kellner (Yamaha Motor Germany R6).

Vermeulen’s outstanding performances have drawn him 47 points clear of his competitors, the closest of them being Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Yamaha Belgarda R6) who has scored numerous podiums but no win so far.

Former Misano race winners who will be back in Italy this year include 2000 World Champion Jörg Teuchert (Yamaha Motor Germany), 2002 champion Fabien Foret (Kawasaki Racing Team) and the aforementioned Kellner.

A podium place for Karl Muggeridge (Ten Kate Honda) may have broken the hex that had appeared to plague his results in the first half of the season, while any number of the 19 full factory machines in World Supersport could be in for a podium finish.