From a press release issued by Honda Racing:

VERMEULEN AND CBR600RR CHASING FOUR IN A ROW

Honda’s Chris Vermeulen is looking to win his fourth successive World Supersport championship race in Sunday’s seventh round of the championship at Misano, San Marino.

Celebrating his 21st birthday today, Vermeulen enjoys a 47-point championship lead as the series arrives at the popular Adriatic coastal
circuit.

“We’re just on a roll and long may it continue,” says Ten Kate Honda team rider Vermeulen. “But last Sunday’s win at Silverstone in Britain wasn’t easy, the team worked long into the night on Saturday to make sure the race
set-up was good.”

Vermeulen’s closest challenger at Misano may well be Karl Muggeridge, his own team-mate in the crack Dutch Ten Kate squad. Muggeridge put a string of disappointing races behind to take third place at Silverstone.

“I’ve made some silly mistakes this year and it was time to get my championship campaign back on track,” reckons Muggeridge. “Third place at
Silverstone last week did just that.”

Of the eight Honda Europe supported riders it is the experienced Van Zon pairing of Ian MacPherson and Werner Daemen who will be aiming to put their Misano knowledge to good use as they take Honda’s new CBR600RR machine there
for the first time.

The BKM Honda effort fields Frenchman Christophe Cogan–sixth last Sunday at Silverstone–and promising young Australian Broc Parkes–looking to make amends for a disappointing retirement from last week’s British round.

The Austrian-based Klaffi Honda team fields French ace Sebastien Charpentier and experienced Austrian Robert Ulm.

Charpentier believes: “Misano will be a good test for all of the Honda teams. It’s a new track for everyone racing the new RR machine and we’re all starting equal on Friday morning.”

The Misano World Supersport action gets under way with free practice on Friday morning followed by the opening qualifying session on Friday afternoon. Friday’s schedule is repeated on Saturday while Sunday’s race gets under way at 1:20 p.m.

World Supersport championship points after six of 11 rounds: 1 Chris Vermeulen, Australia (Honda) 131, 2 Jurgen van den Goorbergh, Holland
(Yamaha) 84, 3 Katsuaki Fujiwara, Japan (Suzuki) 76, 4 Stephane Chambon, France (Suzuki) 62, 5 Christian Kellner, Germany (Yamaha) 59, 6 Alessio Corradi, Italy (Yamaha) 48, 7 Karl Muggeridge, Australia (Honda) and Pere Riba, Spain (Kawasaki) 46, 9 Christophe Cogan, France (Honda) 35, 10 Broc Parkes, Australia (Honda) and Jorg Teuchert, Germany (Yamaha) 30. 12 Robert Ulm, Austria (Honda) 22. 15 Sebastien Charpentier, France (Honda) 17. 16 Iain MacPherson, GB (Honda) 16. 17 Werner Daemen, Belgium (Honda) 13.

Manufacturers points: 1 Honda 140, 2 Yamaha 110, 3 Suzuki 102, 4 Kawasaki 50.

Misano statistics:
Circuit length: 2.52 miles – 4.06km
Lap record: Stephane Chambon (Suzuki) 1:38.856 (June 2002)
2002 pole position: Fabien Foret (Honda) 1:37.669
2002 winner: Fabien Foret (Honda)

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

Geez, Thanks for bringing this incident up! Talk about something being blown out of proportion!

Yes, I was fooling around with some friends and an unintended person did get mixed up in my horseplay. Yes, I was blacked-flagged out of qualifying and Ron Barrick was very, very upset with me. No, I should not have been playing around in such a manner.

Yes, a bunch of my friends talked to Ron and Merrill Vanderslice about what happened and cooled them down. A little.

All agreed that I was a dumbass. Or worse.

Ron and Merrill did give me a good talking-to. A couple of times! I deserved it, they were both mad but very civilized. There was never a mention of a fine to me by either Ron or Merrill. But I know that I’m on their list!

I realize that Ron has enough problems to deal with at a race (just listen to the AMA on their radio frequencies) that he does not need to have any nitwit such as myself causing more.

John France




More, from a reader:

I would just like to say Good Job to France on his response to Roadracingworld.com regarding his horseplay.

Not only did he accept the consequences for his actions but he owned up to them. This was a very classy move to put this in writing for all to see.

Good Job!

Roger Preston
AHRMA 4327

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.