Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Thursday Morning 125cc Grand Prix Practice Times:

1. Hector Barbera, Aprilia, 2:11.976
2. Alex De Angelis, Aprilia, 2:12.191
3. Daniel Pedrosa, Honda, 2:12.254
4. Youichi Ui, Aprilia, 2:12.444
5. Jorge Lorenzo, Derbi, 2:12.535
6. Lucio Cecchinello, Aprilia, 2:12.796
7. Pablo Nieto, Aprilia, 2:12.805
8. Alvaro Bautista, Aprilia, 2:13.044
9. Andrea Dovizioso, Honda, 2:13.087
10. Stefano Perugini, Aprilia, 2:12.098

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Privateer Geoff May is having a bad time and won’t be racing at Brainerd this coming weekend. May, whose best AMA Superbike finish to date was a 9th at Road Atlanta, found out last Wednesday that he has mono and cannot train or race before Laguna Seca next month.

On the same day, May said he learned that Team Embry owner Mike Embry is pulling the plug on the program, citing budget overruns.

The team, which fielded May with success last season, added a second rider, Brian Stokes, this year. Stokes competed in the Superstock class but missed the Road America round after crashing three times in practice and qualifying.

According to May, Embry did say that he will allow May to use the Team Embry bikes and rig to go to AMA Nationals, if he pays his own travel expenses.

While recovering from mono, May is seeking sponsorship help and can be reached at (678) 458-1070.

From a press release issued by the AMA:

AMA PRESENTS “BRIGHTER IMAGE AWARD” TO AMERICADE FOUNDER BILL DUTCHER

PICKERINGTON, OHIO — The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has announced that Bill Dutcher, founder and director of the Americade motorcycle-touring rally, has been presented the AMA Hazel Kolb Brighter Image Award. The presentation took place earlier this month in Lake George, New York.

The award, presented to Dutcher for the positive contributions that Americade has made to the motorcycling community, is the AMA’s highest honor for activities that generate favorable publicity for motorcycling.

A lifelong motorcyclist, Dutcher, began road racing in 1965 after graduating from Harvard University, winning in just his second professional start. He also won a gold medal at the Berkshire 2-Day, as well as a number of other short-track and TT races. Dutcher later worked in marketing for Bultaco and Can-Am before becoming director of public relations for AMF/Harley-Davidson, a position he held until 1981.

In 1983, Dutcher founded the Aspencade rally, changing its name to “Americade” in 1986. The annual event now draws an estimated 55,000 touring riders to the Lake George region, and is one of two AMA National Road Riding Conventions.

“For riders all across North America, the name ‘Americade’ has become synonymous with ‘motorcycle rally,'” said Robert Rasor, President of the AMA. “We’re pleased to recognize Bill Dutcher for the positive contributions that the event has made to American motorcycling.”

For more information about Americade, visit www.tourexpo.com. To learn more about AMA Road Riding, including the national and local events that make up the 2003 AMA Dunlop Elite Touring Series, visit www.AMADirectlink.com.

From a press release issued by USGPRU:

The USGPRU, 125GP road racing series, will be running in conjunction with F-USA at VIR this weekend, 27-29 June. The eastern-region field of top 125 racers will be running in their penultimate race for the region. Local favorite Brian Kcraget will be striving to regain some points lost during a crash at the Loudon event. While regional points leader, Scott Moxey, will be challenging Brian on his home turf.

There will be a 20 minute qualifying session Sunday morning, followed by a 14 lap final that afternoon. $500 Purse and prizes will be awarded.

USGPRU is sponsored by: CCS/F-USA, Motion Pro, Braking USA, Silkolene, VP fuels, EBC, GPStar, Bridgestone tires, and Hjelm Motorsports.

For more information, visit our website at www.USGPRU.org

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.


The CMRA will end its affiliation with CCS at the end of this year. That’s the word from CMRA President Brooks Gremmels, who said that the cost of affiliation exceeded the benefits. More details to follow, as available.

From a press release:

PCS Daytona Celebrates 20 years!

Hard to believe that we went full-time in our first shop location (Personal Cycle Service) 20 years ago!

To celebrate 20 years in Daytona & to thank our loyal customers & friends, PCS Daytona is planning an Open House on Saturday, July 26, 1:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.

Featuring a Peoples Choice Bike Show with Extreme, Sportbike, Vintage, Classic, and Cruiser Classes; a DynoJet Dyno Shoot Out; Suspension, Tire, and TrackDay Seminars; Live Music and BBQ.

Mark your calender, help us celebrate!

Tony R Foster
PCS Daytona
386.253.2586
fax 253.3578
info www.pcsdaytona.com/20years.htm

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Former racer Phil McDonald remains heavily sedated in intensive care at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma, while being treated for injuries suffered in a streetbike crash over the weekend.

According to his father, Norm, Phil McDonald suffered compound fractures of both arms and extensive left shoulder damage, including torn ligaments and nerves. Norm McDonald said that a bystander applying a tourniquet to Phil’s left arm saved his life, and that he needed seven pints of blood when he reached the hospital. Phil McDonald also suffered a broken right foot.

According to Norm McDonald, a truck pulled out of a parking lot, hitting Phil McDonald and sending him into the center median, which had an 8-inch curb. The impact with the curb sent Phil McDonald airborne, and he flew into a highway sign, bending the sign pole flat and continuing on another 150 feet.

McDonald thanked Roadracing World readers for their calls and e-mails. “When you put that on Roadracingworld.com (yesterday), we started getting calls from everywhere in the U.S.,” said Norm McDonald “It makes you really feel good when you’re down and have that kind of support.

“We really appreciate it, it’s just overwhelming the amount of calls and e-mails we’ve gotten, it makes you really proud to be a part of motorcycling,” Norm McDonald continued.

“The guy that hit him came up to the hospital, he was so devastated,” said Norm McDonald. “He said ‘The traffic was so heavy I just didn’t see him.’ He and his wife just stayed out there and bawled and bawled. There was so much blood on the scene when the TV crew showed up that they put it on as a motorcycle fatality, but didn’t give any names, thankfully. Somebody must have been looking out for us because thankfully somebody at the scene put a tourniquet on him. Most of the time people don’t want to get involved.”

Cards can be sent to:
Phil McDonald
c/o K&N Motorcycles
6105 New Sapulpa Rd.
Tulsa, OK 74131

E-mail can be sent to Phil McDonald c/o [email protected]

From a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service:

KAGAYAMA JOINS HOPKINS AT ASSEN

Team Suzuki regular John Hopkins will have a new temporary team-mate at the Dutch TT at Assen next Saturday.

With 2000 Suzuki World Champion Kenny Roberts Junior sidelined by injury for a second successive race, factory Suzuki rider Yukio Kagayama makes a Grand Prix return on the second GSV-R MotoGP prototype.

Hopkins, who turned 20 earlier this year, will be maintaining his 100-percent start record in his first season with the factory Suzuki team. Hopkins was also injured at the Italian GP, where Roberts suffered chest injuries; but was able to ride on through the pain barrier one week later at the Catalunyan GP.

Kagayama, Suzuki rider since 1993, has ridden in GPs as a substitute and a wild card several times over the years, with a best of sixth in 1998 in Malaysia. The 29-year-old Japanese rider, who has earned a reputation as a determined and spirited racer, comes to Assen hotfoot from Brands Hatch, where he is campaigning a Rizla Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000 in the British Superbike championship series.

The pair will face one of the greatest challenges on the World Championship trail at the long and technically challenging Assen circuit. Although one section was revised last year, the circuit has retained all the character and difficulty that earned it the respectful nickname: the Cathedral.

With Suzuki’s new 2003 GSV-R developing race by race, Hopkins and Kagayama hope that the circuit might help them take another step towards the radical new motorcycle’s obvious full potential. Assen replaces the more usual modern tight corners with long and complex sets of faster more sweeping curves. Technique, and a well-set-up motorcycle, can be combined to iron out other performance differences.

The team is fresh from two days of testing after the last round at Catalunya, where 1993 Suzuki World Champion Kevin Schwantz was in the pits and at the trackside. All-time racing hero Schwantz achieved all of his 25 500cc GP wins riding a factory Suzuki, and gave valuable support and advice.

“I believe that the new GSV-R is capable of being competitive, but there are some problems that need to be fixed, especially with handling. I’ll do whatever I can to help them find the answers,” said Schwantz, who in retirement runs a series of racing schools in the USA, and now also in Europe.

Team manager Garry Taylor welcomed the input. “The factory engineers and the team are working flat out. Kevin’s help has given us even more impetus, and helped the team spirit.

“We really appreciate John’s efforts, especially in recent weeks, and wish Kenny a speedy recovery and return. We’re also looking forward to working with Yukio again – he really gives it everything he’s got.

“And we’re all confident of success in our goal … of putting the factory Suzuki riders back up front, where they belong.”

Assen is the seventh of 16 rounds in the World Championship.

JOHN HOPKINS – READY TO KEEP LEARNING
It’s been good to have a weekend off to recuperate … I was feeling pretty knocked about after Mugello, and the whole weekend in Catalunya was very difficult and very uncomfortable. Assen is an awesome track, and I’m looking forward to going back there. I was seventh last year, my best finish of the year, and I really enjoyed it. They say you learn more about Assen every time you go back, so here’s hoping.

YUKIO KAGAYAMA – I FEEL LUCKY
I rode the GSV-R a lot last year, including at GPs and in the All-Japan championship, where I won three races. We were working on developing the new 2003 machine, and this will be my first chance to race it. Also my first time at Assen. I feel very lucky.

ABOUT THIS RACE
The Dutch TT is the most historic race on the World Championship calendar, pre-dating the World Championship series, now in its 55th year. The first TT on the public roads around the town of Assen, in the flat and windswept northern province of Drenthe, was held in 1925, and “Speed Week” has continued ever since, interrupted only by World War Two. Held close to mid-summer’s day, the race draws huge crowds, a northern rival to Jerez as the most popular GP. Tradition dictates that the Dutch TT is held on a Saturday – all other GPs take place on Sunday. This year, after the success of a similar change last year during the football World Cup, racing has been delayed by an hour over the normal schedule to make the most of the long daylight. At the same time, strict crowd control measures have been introduced, banning alcohol and canned drinks at the track, to reduce the likelihood of a track invasion, as happened last year. “Enjoy, don’t destroy,” is the motto of the event.

ABOUT THIS TRACK
The longest and fastest track on the calendar was altered last year –the stretch behind the paddock moved backwards to make more space, while reproducing the previous layout as far as possible. As a result, Kevin Schwantz’s 1991 lap record, set on a 500cc Suzuki, was never broken. The new version has lost 22 metres and now measures 3.745 miles, and the average speed rose by almost one mile an hour, preserving the status as the fastest circuit at more than 110mph. The new version still retains traces of its public-roads origins – it only became a closed circuit in the Nineties, when a new bypass road was completed. It is especially unique in its complexity – each section of the circuit is made up of strings of mainly high-speed corners. A mistake in any one bend costs times throughout the remainder of that section, and Assen puts a premium on good machine handling, as well as smooth and accurate riding. The “cathedral of motorcycle racing” has earned its status, and is a favourite with fans and riders alike.


GP DATA

Assen Circuit

Circuit Length: 3.745 miles / 6.027 km

Lap Record: 2:00.973 – 111.446 mph / 179.355 km/h. Valentino Rossi (Honda) 2002


2002 Results

Race Winner: Rossi (Honda)

Race Average: 38.49.425 -109.966 mph / 176.973 km/h

Fastest Race Lap: see lap record

Pole Position: Rossi (Honda) 2:01.691

Kenny Roberts: Sixth, qualified third, 2:01.836 (Telefónica MoviStar Suzuki)
Fastest Race Lap: 2:02.896

Sete Gibernau: DNF, qualified 16th, 2:03.908 (Telefónica MoviStar Suzuki)
Fastest Race Lap: 2:03.563

John Hopkins: Seventh, qualified tenth, 2:02.764
Fastest Race Lap: 2:03.507

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Racer Monty Warsing and wife Dianna had a daughter, Carleigh Jean Warsing, June 22 in Frederick, Maryland.

Racer Troy Corser and wife Sam had a son, Kalanie Gray Corser, June 24 in Monaco.

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

SECOND HALF OF AMA LOCKHART PHILLIPS USA FORMULA XTREME SERIES BEGINS AT BRAINERD

Buckmaster could earn a share of all-time wins leader in the class

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (June 24, 2003) — The second half of the 2003 AMA Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Series begins Saturday, June 28 at Brainerd International Raceway. If the next five rounds are as exciting as the first five, then race fans are in for a real treat. Australian veteran Damon Buckmaster of Team Yamaha holds a narrow two-point lead over young Ben Spies from the Yoshimura Suzuki squad. Not far behind are five other leading riders vying to earn the series championship; any one of whom could conceivably leave Brainerd with the series lead. The series has been very competitive so far this season. In the first half of the year there have been three winners in five rounds and the points chase has witnessed three different riders atop the standings.

Buckmaster, the 30-year-old former Australian Supersport champion, finds himself leading the series after winning two straight rounds on his factory Yamaha R1. Buckmaster comes to Minnesota looking for his first victory at Brainerd. If he manages to win Saturday, Buckmaster would tie Kurtis Roberts and Eric Bostrom as the all-times wins leader in Formula Xtreme. Roberts and Bostrom have nine wins apiece to lead the category.

Buckmaster earned his eighth-career win with his victory in Elkhart Lake, Wis., earlier this month.

“This is developing into a great championship race,” said Buckmaster, whose best finish in the Brainerd Formula Xtreme race was fourth last year. “It’s a bit more of a challenge for me since I’m in the middle of this and the Supersport title chase. I would love to win two AMA titles in one year. It would help make up for being so close so many times in the past.”

Spies is looking to get back on top of the series at Brainerd. The 18-year-old Texan dominated the first two rounds on his factory Suzuki before running into some bad luck that knocked him out of the series lead. A win at Brainerd would put young Spies back atop the championship.

Josh Hayes earned his first podium finish of the year in Elkhart Lake. That result moved him up to third in the Formula Xtreme championship.

Insiders say that the oft-injured Hayes is completely healthy and gaining more confidence in his racing ability each week. Hayes could easily break through to win his first AMA National in four years this weekend.

Erion Honda’s Jake Zemke held the Formula Xtreme Series lead before crashing at the last round in Elkhart Lake, Wis. Zemke has been successful at Brainerd over the last few seasons. He won the Formula Xtreme race there in 2001 and the Pro Honda Oils Supersport event last year. Look for Zemke to be a major factor at BIR.

Marty Craggill is the defending Brainerd Formula Xtreme winner. Craggill switched teams and now rides for the Bruce Transportation Group Honda squad. Craggill won last year’s race with a broken foot so you can rest assured that the Aussie rider is eager to take to the track 100 percent fit in Minnesota.

Another factor to consider at Brainerd are local riders. Over the years locals who club race regularly at BIR have broken through a few times to surprise the AMA series regulars. Few will forget Minnesotan Greg Fryer’s surprising Formula Xtreme victory on a soggy Brainerd circuit in 1997.

Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock Series

Corona Extra Suzuki’s Jimmy Moore hopes to become the first rider to win three Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock races at Brainerd. Moore is running a two-year Brainerd winning streak coming into this weekend’s race. Czech immigrant Vincent Haskovec leads the Superstock series. The likable Haskovec is attempting to give the Hooters Suzuki teams its first AMA Championship. Meanwhile Kawasaki’s Tommy Hayden could tie Fred Merkel for fourth on the all-time AMA Superstock wins list should he take victory at BIR. Moore’s Corona Extra Suzuki teammate Adam Fergusson is a close third in the series behind Haskovec and Hayden. Fergusson is looking to earn his first Superstock win of the year. Also, look for Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Steve Rapp to post a strong showing coming off his Superstock victory at Road America.

MBNA 250 Grand Prix Series

As every week goes by Rich Oliver solidifies his claim to being the best MBNA 250 Grand Prix rider of all time. Oliver and his Team Oliver Yamaha remain undefeated this season coming into Brainerd having won six straight so far this year. Defending 250GP champ Chuck Sorensen, of Stargel Aprilia, hopes to stop Oliver’s streak this weekend. Brainerd was the site of Sorensen’s very first AMA National win back in 1994. Since that year it’s been either him or Oliver that have won every Brainerd round. When Sorensen won his first race in 1994 he was riding for Team Oliver Yamaha.

The Brainerd Formula Xtreme round along with highlights of Superstock and 250 Grand Prix action will be taped and shown on Speed Channel’s Two-Wheel Tuesday lineup on July 8 at 10 p.m. EST.

For additional information on the race contact BIR at (218) 824-7220 or visit www.brainerdraceway.com.