Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

37th Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix
3.8-mile Guia Street Circuit
Macau, China
Saturday Morning Warm-up Times:

1. Michael Rutter, GBR, Ducati, 2:30.122
2. Brian Morrison, GBR, Suzuki, 2:30.998
3. John McGuiness, GBR, Ducati, 2:31.509
4. Steve Plater, GBR, Honda, 2:34.219
5. Markus Barth, GER, Suzuki, 2:35.550
6. Bruce Anstey, NZL, Triumph, 2:36.049
7. Ian Lougher, GBR, Ducati, 2:36.092
8. Pete Jennings, GBR, Suzuki, 2:36.208
9. Jeremy Toye, USA, Suzuki, 2:36.665
10. Jun Maeda, JPN, Honda, 2:37.382
11. Richard Britton, GBR, Suzuki, 2:37.718
12. Geoff May, USA, Suzuki, 2:38.673
13. Miguel Praia, POR, Honda, 2:39.091
14. Gus Scott, GBR, Honda, 2:39.301
15. Jason Perez, USA, Yamaha, 2:39.423

From a press release issued by California Speedway:

The following is a statement from California Speedway President Bill Miller concerning the 2004 CART Champ Car schedule that was released on Thursday, November 13. The schedule listed California Speedway’s date as TBA.

STATEMENT FROM CALIFORNIA SPEEDWAY PRESIDENT BILL MILLER CONCERNING 2004 CART SCHEDULE
Friday, November 14, 2003

“We believe it was misleading for CART to include California Speedway on its 2004 race schedule released on November 13, 2003. It is our position that there is no valid Official Organizer/Promoter Agreement in place for a 2004 CART Competition at California Speedway.

“Further, we are currently in litigation with CART as it relates to the 2003 event regarding a ‘force majeure’ as described in the Official Organizer/Promoter Agreement due to the wildfires that were burning throughout San Bernardino County and surrounding areas, which led to the cancellation of the King Taco 500.

“Per the Official Organizer/Promoter Agreement, California Speedway is due back the $2.5 million Organization and Rights Fee previously paid to CART, less a mutually agreeable amount for legitimate expenses reasonably incurred by CART in preparing for the event. Until this matter is resolved, we are unwilling to participate in discussions concerning future relationships.”

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Michael Rutter earned the pole position for the 37th Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix Friday. Three-time race winner Rutter turned a lap of 2:27.833 around the 3.8-mile Guia street circuit on his Renegade Ducati Superbike, bettering his own qualifying lap record from 2002 by nearly half-a-second.

John McGuinness qualified second with a 2:29.590 on his Zongshen-sponsored Ducati Superbike. Brian Morrison, 42, was third-quickest with a 2:30.129 on his SERT Suzuki GSX-R1000. German Markus Barth was fourth in the final qualifying session with a time of 2:30.415 on his Fylde Superbikes Suzuki.

Team Embry’s Geoff May was the top American qualifier, ninth-fastest with a 2:33.404 on his Pirelli-equipped Suzuki GSX-R1000. Lee’s Cycles’ Jeremy Toye was 15th after the final qualifying session with a best time of 2:34.908 on his Dunlop-fitted Suzuki GSX-R1000.

American teenager Jason Perez posted no times in Friday’s final qualifying session. Perez’s 2:41.243 on his Graves Motorsports Yamaha YZF-R1 Thursday held up for the 29th spot the 33-rider grid for Saturday’s 15-lap, 57-mile race.

37th Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix
3.8-mile Guia Street Circuit
Macau, China
Final Qualifying Results:

1. Michael Rutter, GBR, Ducati, 2:27.833, 92.40 mph
2. John McGuiness, GBR, Ducati, 2:29.590, 91.31 mph
3. Brian Morrison, GBR, Suzuki, 2:30.129, 90.98 mph
4. Markus Barth, GER, Suzuki, 2:30.415, 90.81 mph
5. Stuart Easton, GBR, Ducati, 2:31.635, 90.08 mph
6. Ian Lougher, GBR, Ducati, 2:32.136, 89.78 mph
7. Pete Jennings, GBR, Suzuki, 2:32.950, 89.30 mph
8. Richard Britton, GBR, Suzuki, 2:33.396, 89.04 mph
9. Geoff May, USA, Suzuki, 2:33.404, 89.04 mph
10. Bruce Anstey, NZL, Triumph, 2:33.804, 88.81 mph
11. Iain Duffus, GBR, Suzuki, 2:34.137, 88.61 mph
12. Steve Plater, GBR, Honda, 2:34.199, 88.58 mph
13. Ryan Farquhar, GBR, Suzuki, 2:34.702, 88.29 mph
14. Cameron Donald, AUS, Yamaha, 2:34.817, 88.23 mph
15. Jeremy Toye, USA, Suzuki, 2:34.908, 88.17 mph

29. Jason Perez, USA, Yamaha, 2:41.243, 84.71 mph

From a press release issued by Troy Corser’s publicist:

TROY HAPPY WITH FIRST TEST WITH PIRELLI.

Troy finished two days of tests at Valencia and left the Ricardo Tormo circuit happy enough with how things had gone. During the two days, Troy gave the Pirelli technicians a lot of feedback regarding the tyres and now Pirelli will go away and start building some tyres more suited to Troy’s Petronas FP1 bike. Troy deliberately left most of his bike’s set-up the same, so that he could evaluate how the Pirellis worked with the bike.

Although he couldn’t find an ideal combination of construction and compound, he managed to do a near race-distance and was happy how the tyres behaved at the end of the run. Now Troy will have a well-earned break and then get back into testing when Pirelli tell him and the team they have something for them to try out.

TROY- total 135 laps (over two days), best lap – 1:36.9

I’m reasonably happy (as usual!) with our first time with Pirelli. We never found an ideal combination of what we wanted, but we gave Pirelli a lot to work on and now we will wait and see what they produce. The Pirellis gave us pretty good grip, but we also experienced quite a bit of chattering and we’ll have to sort that out before we can push really hard. All in all, I think the test was productive and Pirelli have learnt something from us all in these two days. There’s not an awful lot more to say, but let’s now see what happens next.

It’ll be good to take a break now and get away from it all for a while. Then, I will come back refreshed and raring to go. Until then, have fun.

Courtesy of www.mcnews.com.au:

Proton has announced it will buy a controlling interest in renowned Italian motorcycle manufacturer MV Agusta Motor SpA after signing a letter of intent with founder and owner Claudio Castiglioni.

Proton will purchase 50 percent of the company, which designs and manufactures MV Agusta, Cagiva and Husqvarna motorcycles giving the Malaysian company a controlling stake and distribution rights for the entire range of bikes produced by the group.

Proton embarked on its own motorcycle program in 2001 when it formed a team to compete in the Moto Grand Prix World Championship with racing legend Kenny Roberts. In late 2002 the company also announced its intention to build a range of road bikes.

Proton CEO Tengku Mahaleel Ariff said the purchase was a good fit for the Malaysian automotive company as it continued to broaden and expand its expertise and manufacturing base.

“With the ongoing re-organisation taking place at Proton, it is fair to say that the future of the company will not be singly dominated by car manufacturing,” he said.

“Proton is looking at the entire transportation suite and driving this ambition is our strength in our engineering.”

Mahaleel said Proton was impressed by Agusta’s engineering technology, award winning designs and styling.

“Both companies will evaluate how they could leverage each other’s strengths to improve productivity and Proton would have access to Italian design and flair,” he said.

“Italians are famous for designs, everything from fashion and cars to motorcycles. This is something we have to admit they are class leaders in and perhaps one of the elements missing in our products.

“The alliance with Agusta would complement Proton’s British unit Lotus and play a key role in influencing the styles and direction of proton’s future products,” Mahaleel said.

MV Agusta, recognised as the “Ferrari of motorcycle makers” was formed in 1945 and won its first World Motorcycle Championship when Englishman Cecil Sandford took the 125 title.

The company adopted the philosophy that soon also became a commercial slogan: “Racing experience at the service of mass production.” Throughout the next 20 years, the red and silver fairings of MV Agusta identified motorcycles capable of making a legend of all those who were privileged enough to grasp its handlebars.

MV Agusta’s most famous factory rider was Italian Giacomo Agostini, who conquered 14 of the marque’s 37 World Titles while other famed riders included Surtees, Hocking, Hailwood, Read, Ubbiali and Provini.

MV Agusta and brands it manufactures have taken 37 Manufacturer World Championships, 39 Rider’s World Championships and 270 Grand Prix victories; including 64 for Husqvarna riders in dirt bike racing activity.

The Castiglioni family re-formed the ailing MV Agusta Company in 1978 under the Cagiva Motor banner. The company subsequently renamed MV Agusta in 1997 and last year manufactured and sold 18,000 motorcycles.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Police have recovered a Laverda racebike stolen in Decatur, Alabama last week.

According to the bike’s owner, WERA racer Al Goodwin, the bike was found in the possession of a local 14-year-old who was caught in the process of grinding off the VIN numbers by his mother, who contacted police.

See related post:

11/10/2003 Laverda Racebike Stolen

From a press release issued by Pirelli and Metzeler:

PIRELLI AND METZELER ANNOUNCE YEAR-END RACE TIRE SALE

(Rome, GA) Sister companies Pirelli and Metzeler are having a year-end sale on race tires from now through December 20, 2003.

Pirelli is having two specials. The first applies to Supercorsa DOT race radials in 110/70ZR-17 fronts and 150/60ZR-17 rears. Racers purchasing a set of Supercorsas in these sizes will receive a “very special” price of $260.00, plus at no additional charge, another free Supercorsa 150 rear tire. This special offer is available exclusively from the race vendors below, and ends on December 20, 2003 or while supplies last.

The second Pirelli special covers Pirelli slicks and rains. Pirelli race vendors are offering the special pricing as follows: Purchase a set of Pirelli 120/70ZR-17 fronts and 160/60ZR-17 Rains in any compound, and/or a set of Pirelli 120/70ZR-17 and 180/55ZR-17 Rains in any compound, and/or a set of 120/70ZR-17 and 180/55ZR-17 Slicks in any compound. Pirelli race vendors are each offering special pricing on these sets. Plus, if you are currently a Pirelli racer holding current Pirelli contingency certificates, the company is adding another special 30% “Thank You” discount to the face value of your certificate. This special pricing is available exclusively from the named race vendors. The extra 30 % certificate discount can only be used with these tires. Again, the sales ends on December 20, 2003 or while supplies last.

Metzeler’s special offer on Rennsport DOT race radials applies to 110/70ZR-17 fronts and 150/60ZR-17 rears. Purchase a set of Rennsport race tires in these sizes again at the very special price of $260.00 and receive, at no additional charge, another free Rennsport 150 rear. Conditions are the same as for the Pirelli tires.

Contact these Pirelli-Metzeler race vendors:

Trackside Racers Supply: 1-828-235-8400 www.tracksideracerssupply.com

California Race Services: 1-800-620-1277 www.crstires.com

Street & Competition: 1-800-326-5487
www.streetandcomp.com

Tigershark Racing: 1-503-358-5704

Competition Motorsports South: 1-904-502-0133

The Racers Supply: 1-816-550-1992

Mason Racing Tires: 1-612-250-9122

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Reports out of Europe indicate that Ruben Xaus has agreed to ride for the D’Antin Ducati team in MotoGP.

His first ride on the D’Antin Desmosedici will be at Valencia December 10-12.