Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

A second Honda CBR1000RR Superbike arrived at Daytona International Speedway Monday evening, and both of the new Honda Superbikes on hand made their presence known immediately with quicker lap times Tuesday morning at the Dunlop tire test.

Within a few laps, Erion Honda’s Jake Zemke had already done a 1:49.578 on the brand-new bike, faster than the 1:50.047 he turned on the CBR he shared with American Honda’s Ben Bostrom on Monday.

After recording Monday’s fastest time, Bostrom jumped right back in the swing of things Tuesday morning by bettering his time to 1:48.886 within the first 30 minutes.

Bostrom’s teammate Miguel Duhamel will ride one of the CBR1000RRs later in the day, but he is presently continuing development work on the CBR600RR Formula Xtreme racebike.

On Monday, Duhamel’s FX bike lost an oil fitting, which caused a dramatic and smoky oil leak and forced his team to replace the engine as a precaution. In his limited time on the bike, Duhamel and Crew Chief Al Ludington learned that 16.5-inch Superbike slicks upset the Supersport geometry of the bike.

Today Duhamel’s bike has different geometry, a different front end and a different specification engine. So far, Duhamel said, he is impressed with the braking ability of the light bike with Superbike brakes, forks and tires more than its acceleration.

The weather is excellent at the Speedway with temperatures in the upper-60s F by 10:30 local time.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Rock-star-turned-reality-television-show-star Ozzy Osbourne, 55, suffered serious injuries after crashing an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) on the grounds of his estate in Buckinghamshire, England Monday.

According to the BBC, Osbourne was transported to Wexham Park Hospital in Slough, Berkshire at approximately 3:00 p.m. Monday where he was diagnosed as having a broken collarbone, multiple broken ribs and fractured vertebra in his neck.

The BBC quoted the hospital’s medical director Dr. Dick Jack as saying Osbourne’s injuries were “not a major problem.” But Osbourne did undergo surgery to move his broken collarbone away from an artery in his neck and to address bleeding in his lungs, according to a statement released by his publicist Cindy Guagenti.

Osbourne first gained fame as the lead singer of the rock group Black Sabbath before a long and successful solo career. Most recently, Osbourne has split his time between performing on stage at concerts and starring in the Music Television (MTV) reality show “The Osbournes,” which is currently in production.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Tuesday’s top radar speeds from the Dunlop tire test at Daytona International Speedway:

Miguel Duhamel, Honda CBR1000RR Superbike, 192 mph
Jake Zemke, Honda CBR1000RR Superbike, 192 mph
Ben Bostrom, Honda CBR1000RR Superbike, 190 mph
Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike, 185 mph
Aaron Gobert, Yamaha YZF-R1 Superstock, 184 mph
Jamie Hacking, Yamaha YZF-R1 Superstock, 184 mph
Jason DiSalvo, Yamaha YZF-R1 Superstock, 183 mph
Josh Hayes, Kawasaki ZX-10R Superstock, 182 mph
Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha YZF-R1 Superstock, 180 mph
Mat Mladin, Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike, 180 mph
Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki ZX-10R Superstock, 179 mph
Aaron Gobert, Yamaha YZF-R6 Supersport, 167 mph
Tony Meiring, Kawasaki ZX-6RR Supersport, 164 mph
Roger Lee Hayden, Kawasaki ZX-6RR Supersport, 163 mph

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Veteran Canadian racer Steve Crevier will return to the Diablo Suzuki team to contest the 2004 Parts Canada Superbike Championship.

“When you race you always want to improve and progress every year. Well, it’ll be easy to improve over last year,” joked Crevier in the pits Monday at the Dunlop tire test at Daytona International Speedway. “The team’s new, and they learned a lot last year. They will definitely improve this year.”

Crevier is currently walking with his right leg in a splint and with the assistance of a cane. He explained that he had surgical screws removed from the leg late last year, which unknown to him left fairly large holes in the bones. When put under the stress of racing–and crashing–early in the 2003 season, cracks formed in the bones around the holes.

“I didn’t know it until the end of the season,” said Crevier. “So basically I rode around the whole season with a broken knee cap.”

Crevier said he will be cleared to ride again in January but will wait an extra month before training to be sure his leg is healed and because he has the time.

The Canadian Superbike series doesn’t start until late-spring.

Crevier and 2003 Canadian Superbike and Supersport Champion Pascal Picotte are at Daytona to participate in a photo shoot with riding gear sponsor Joe Rocket.

From a press release issued by WERA Motorcycle Roadracing, Inc.:

CMRA AND WERA JOIN FORCES TO HELP THEIR RIDERS

Brooks Gremmels, President of the CMRA and Evelyne Clarke, President of WERA Motorcycle Roadracing met recently and discussed how CMRA and WERA can work together to make it easier for WERA racers to race at CMRA events and for CMRA racers to participate in WERA events.

What they came up with was that for 2004 both CMRA and WERA would do license recognition for two events. A WERA rider will be able to compete in two CMRA events with his/her WERA license and a CMRA rider will be able to compete in two CMRA events with his/her WERA license. The riders would be eligible for any of the contingency and prizes posted, but would not earn points in the respective series.

Clarke said “This is a start to working toward a relationship in the future and WERA is excited that CMRA is willing to look at working with WERA for the best interest of the riders.” Gremmels agreed and added “The CMRA and WERA recognize an opportunity to provide members of both organizations with the chance to race across club boundaries. Hopefully this relationship will provide a template for thinking outside of the box when it comes to amateur road racing.”

For more information on the above a rider can contact WERA at (770) 720-5010, or CMRA at (817) 377-1599. Check out both organizations on their web sites: www.WERA.com and www.cmraracing.com.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

We’re collecting nominations for the Seventh Annual Roadracing World Young Guns feature, highlighting up-and-coming young road racers from the United States and Canada.

To qualify for the Young Guns feature, a racer must be between the ages of 13 and 19, have finished in the top three in a sanctioned Expert-level road race or Championship on a 125cc or larger motorcycle with full-size wheels, and reside within the United States or Canada. Teenagers with paid professional rides may or may not be excluded to make room for up-and-coming riders, as required by space limitations.

The Roadracing World Young Guns series started as an answer to critics who said America lacked up-and-coming young riders.

Young Gun alumni include MotoGP stars Nicky Hayden and John Hopkins, as well as AMA National riders Steve Atlas, Jason DiSalvo, Danny Eslick, Roger Lee Hayden, Tommy Hayden, Jake Holden, Barrett Long, Tony “The Tiger” Meiring, Jason Perez, Chris Peris, Jason Peters, Ben Spies and Chris Ulrich; Young Gun graduates who have gone on to continued success on the regional level include Ryan Burke, Adam Coco, Justin Long, Nathan Hester, Jonah Miller, Geoff Pestes, Jeremy Saathoff and Ben Walters, Jr.

Returning Young Guns should call David Swarts at 909-245-6411 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday to update their profile.

To nominate a new youngster for the latest Young Guns feature, call Roadracing World headquarters at 909-245-6411 and request a Young Guns questionnaire be e-mailed, FAXed or mailed to you (e-mail is preferred).

The questionnaire must be completed and returned by February 2, 2004 along with an action photo and a head shot suitable for magazine reproduction; all submitted photos must include written permission to reproduce, from the photographer. Scans and photocopies of photos are not usable. Digital images must be high-resolution, or 300 dpi or higher at 4×6-inches. All photos must have the name of the rider and the photographer included, along with applicable additional information such as where and when the photo was taken, including the racetrack and race sanctioning body. Photos will be returned.

The mailing address is:

Roadracing World
Attn: Young Guns
P.O. Box 1428
Lake Elsinore, CA 92531-1428

The Federal Express or other overnight delivery address is:

Roadracing World
Attn: Young Guns
581-C Birch St.
Lake Elsinore, CA 92530

The six Young Guns features to date appeared in the November 1997, March 1999, February 2000, March 2001, February 2002 and April 2003 issues.

If you have any questions, call 909-245-6411 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. PST and ask to speak to David Swarts or e-mail [email protected].

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Congressman Bill Janklow was convicted of manslaughter today by a jury in Flandreau, South Dakota.

The congressman, who served several terms as governor of South Dakota prior to running for congress and who has a reputation for speeding, was also convicted of speeding, reckless driving and failure to stop. The charges stemmed from an accident August 16th, in which Janklow ran a stop sign at a rural intersection at high speed, colliding with motorcyclist Randolph Scott, 55, who died from his injuries.

Janklow’s defense was that he was a diabetic, had not eaten all day and was impaired by low blood sugar, but that he did not know he was impaired and was not responsible, because his symptoms were masked by a medication he was taking.

(At the risk of being charged with editorializing, it strikes us that Janklow’s defense was akin to a drunk driver claiming he did not know he was impaired and was not responsible, because he was drunk…Editor.)

Janklow, 64, faces up to 10 years in prison.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Former Superbike World Champion Doug Polen, former AMA Pro Thunder Champion Tom Montano and former 500cc Grand Prix rider Matt Wait tested a production version of the Moto Guzzi MGS01 at Willow Springs International Raceway yesterday, December 7th.

According to Moto Guzzi North America General Manager Bill Martin, the bike tested by the trio was “essentially” a customer-spec MGS01, fitted with 17-inch Pirelli slicks, running on pump gas.

The test was a shakedown to see if the MGS01 would be a capable platform for use in an AMA Formula Xtreme effort. “We (Moto Guzzi executives) are going to meet…to see if we are going to proceed with a race program some time this week,” said Martin.

In a phone interview with Roadracingworld.com Monday, December 8th, Polen said, “It was OK, but there is a lot of room for improvement. I did a 1:24.8. When you look at the (bike) it has a lot of heavy parts that were on this bike because, more or less, it was production. I guess back in Italy they have an understanding that they can drop the weight 20 kilos from what we rode.

“I would say right now that it’s too much different from what it needs to be to make it a good opinion as to whether it could be competitive,” continued Polen. “But, I think, based just off numbers…with some time that they will surprise some people.”

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The annual Dunlop tire test started today at Daytona International Speedway. The test is scheduled to continue through Wednesday, December 10.

Most of the factory-supported AMA road race teams that use Dunlop tires are present, including American Honda, Erion Honda, Kawasaki, Attack Kawasaki, Yoshimura Suzuki, Yamaha and Graves Yamaha.

American Honda has Ben Bostrom and Miguel Duhamel on hand.

Erion Honda has brought Jake Zemke and Alex Gobert.

Kawasaki has a pair of Haydens on its team, Tommy and Roger Lee.

Attack Kawasaki has confirmed 2003 AMA Superstock Champion Josh Hayes and Tony Meiring to its squad.

Yoshimura Suzuki is testing with four-time AMA Superbike Mat Mladin and Aaron Yates. Ben Spies is also present at the test, but is not riding.

Yamaha and Graves Yamaha share the services of Damon Buckmaster, Aaron Gobert, Jason DiSalvo and 2003 AMA Supersport Champion Jamie Hacking.

DiSalvo was the first rider on-track at 9:26 a.m. local time Monday, but he had jumped the gun and went out before the track was officially open. Buckmaster was the first legitimate rider on the track at 9:49 a.m.

The delay to open the track was due to moisture on the surface in areas.

Some other teams made delayed starts due to logistical issues with mounting tires.

The morning was chilly, but by noon Monday the temperature was 66 degrees F with an expected high of 70. High temperatures are expected to climb close to 80 degrees F over the next two days with a 30 percent chance of isolated thunderstorms on Wednesday.