Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Dennis Noyes

With no fanfare and no press relations personnel on hand from the FGSport group, the first tire tests of the new era of World Superbike are being run at Valencia, Spain.

After two days of testing, Fila Ducati riders Regis Laconi and James Toseland are lapping consistently in the 1:36 range on Pirelli slicks. Best unofficial time provided by a Solo Moto journalist on site was a 1:36.5 by Laconi.

Neil Hodgson was the quickest rider in this year’s World Superbike races at Valencia with a time of 1:35.007 on Michelins but the still-standing race record lap of 1:34.649 set by Ben Bostrom on Dunlops dates from spring of 2002.

The Petronas team is also present with Troy Corser doing the tire testing on the 900cc Triple while former 125cc World Champion Alessandro Grammini is testing a YZF-R1 Yamaha for Yamaha Italy. A YZF-R1 from Yamaha France was also being tested by two Spanish riders.

Top Supersport teams present are Ten Kate Honda, Alstare Corona Suzuki and Belgarda Yamaha. Conditions are chilly and dry and all teams are in and out frequently, testing a great variety of new tires and compounds.

Tomorrow we hope to have a credible list of lap times and obtain some comments from the teams and Pirelli technicians.

FGSport, owners of the commercial rights of the World Superbike, World Supersport and European Superstock Championships, reached an agreement with Pirelli to supply all tires for all three classes in 2004 and 2005. FIM regulations regarding the number of tires available to each team and the system for distribution are pending.

Due to these regulations five of the six members of the MSMA (Motorcycle Sports Manufacturers Association) have said that they will not directly support a factory team in the Superbike class. Ducati is the only MSMA member that has announced plans to compete, but Honda will be present unofficially with their new CBR1000RR in the Ten Kate Honda team. It was expected that Suzuki would do the same via the Alstare Corona Suzuki team, but the team is not running a Superbike at Valencia and rider Gregorio Lavilla told me yesterday by phone that Francis Batta has not yet been able to reach an agreement to run the GSX-R1000 in 2004.

Yamaha France has shown great interest in the class, but has of yet not made a commitment to race. Kawasaki will not support a works team, but the new ZX-10RR will be present run by the Italian Bertocchi team.

From a press release issued by Pirelli:

2003 WORLD SUPERSPORT CHAMPIONSHIP IS PIRELLI’S SECOND IN A ROW

(Rome, GA) With so much attention being focused on its being named the spec tire for World Superbike, it can be easy to forget that Pirelli has been winning world championships straight up in multi-brand competition – not to mention its total domination of the last two Isle of Man TT meetings.

The latest example is the 2003 World Supersport Championship, the 600cc component of the World Superbike series for DOT rubber. Pirelli and its Supercorsa radial captured their second championship in a row this year in the series that’s been lauded for its extremely-close, paint-swapping action. (There were those who thought its racing was tighter and more competitive on a regular basis than World Superbike.) Coming off its 2002 championship with Fabian Foret on the Honda Factory Ten Kate team, Pirelli and Ten Kate won again this year with the just-turned 21-year-old Aussie, Chris Vermeulen whose victory made him the youngest-ever World Supersport champion. (Foret, who had moved to Kawasaki for the 2003 season, is coming back to Pirelli in ’04 as a member of the Yamaha Belgarda team with Jurgen van den Goorbergh.) Vermeulen rode extremely hard and well, and in fact his biggest competition late in the season came mostly from teammate and fellow countryman, Karl Muggeridge, also on a Honda CBR600RR.

Gaining more strength as the season wound down, Pirelli racers dominated the last three rounds. They took first and second, with Muggeridge and Vermeulen respectively, at the ninth round in Assen, swept the tenth-round podium at Imola, again with Muggeridge beating Vermeulen (who clinched the championship), and van den Goorbergh on the Belgarda Yamaha R6.

And at the final round in Magny Cours, Pirelli swept the first four positions, with Vermeulen, Muggeridge, van den Goorbergh, and Sebastien Charpentier on the Honda France CBR.

When the last checkered flag had flown, Pirelli Supercorsas claimed not only the 2003 Championship but also third place for van den Goorbergh, and fourth for Muggeridge (thanks to his late-season charge). Vermeulen had won by a huge 64-point margin over Stephane Chambon in second. Van den Goorbergh missed second in the championship by a single point, with Muggeridge only two points back of him a testament to the closeness of the action, and the supremacy of the Supercorsas.

From a press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing:

Walker signs for Foggy PETRONAS Racing

Carl Fogarty today revealed fans’ favourite Chris Walker as the new rider for his Foggy PETRONAS Racing team in the 2004 World Superbike championship.

And the 31-year-old from Nottingham, England, will have an immediate chance to put the FP1 – the first Malaysian superbike – through its paces when he joins new team-mate Troy Corser at the team’s two-day test in Valencia, starting tomorrow.

Walker, universally known as The Stalker for his gutsy and aggressive style of riding, finished sixth in the 2003 championship with six podium finishes and replaces fellow-Brit, James Haydon, at FPR.

And four-times World Superbike champion Foggy, believes that his new man will be a key factor in his team’s bid to turn the progress made in their debut season into tangible results next year.

Carl said: “This is a great signing for us and Chris will bring a lot to the team. Everyone knows he is fast and that he always gives 110 per cent, which is all I can ever ask for. I am hoping that he will also help Troy by providing more competition within the team. I think Chris’ style is more suited to a four-cylinder bike and, having been on our triple, it definitely behaves more like a four than a twin. So I am hoping that the FP1 will really suit him and that both riders will be up there in the top three. And I have always said that I want a British rider in my team, and Chris is by far the most popular rider in Britain today.”

Chris said: “I am really excited about this opportunity. It is going to be a challenge, but it will be an inspiration to be working with people like Carl and Troy – there are world champions everywhere in this team! And it meant a lot to me to know how much Carl wanted me to join. Carl and chief engineer Steve Thompson have told me all about the potential of this bike and there is no doubt it has the capability to improve more than any other bike on the grid next year. So who knows where we might be finishing by the end of the season.”

The Valencia test will be the first test of Pirelli tyres, which all teams will be using for next year’s championship.

Walker career highlights:

2003 – 6th, World Superbike championship, with HM Plant Ducati. Six podiums

2002 – 9th, World Superbike championship with Kawasaki Racing. Best result: 4th

2001 – 500cc GPs with Shell Honda. Best result 12th

2000 – 2nd, British Superbike championship, with Crescent Suzuki. 2nd WSBK round at Donnington, twice 3rd at Brands

1999 – 2nd, British Superbike championship with Kawasaki UK

1998 – 2nd, British Superbike championship with Kawasaki UK

1997 – 2nd, British Superbike championship with Cadbury’s Boost Yamaha

1996 – Debut season in British Superbike championship with Old Spice Ducati

1995 – 1st British 250cc championship, 2nd in 250cc Supercup, with Padgetts GP Racing

1994 – Shell National Clubmans Championship

From a press release issued by Repsol Honda:

Repsol rider finishes a succeful 2003 season
Title for Valentino Rossi in MotoGP and title for the Repsol Honda Team.

This has been with no doubt a good year for the Repsol riders at the Motorcycle World Championship. In the MotoGP class, the Repsol Honda Team has excelled by far the expectations set in the team and its riders. The result of the excellent 2003 season has been Valentino Rossi’s World Championship title, a fifth overall place for Nicky Hayden in his rookie year in the MotoGP class and, as the finishing flourish, the team’s world championship. Valentino Rossi started the 2003 season in Japan just like he finished it, winning and without leaving any chance for his rivals. His figures are a proof of both the Repsol rider’s and his team’s superiority, with nine victories, five runner-ups and two third places. In short, Valentino has been on the podium throughout the season. After a strong beginning of the 2003 World Championship, Valentino had a light performance drop after the Catalunya Grand Prix and was overtaken twice by Sete Gibernau and once by Biaggi, turning the alarm lights of the Repsol Honda team on. However, after the summer break, Rossi reacted clinching three victories in a row in the Czech Republic, Portugal and Brazil, thus engaging top gear towards the MotoGP title.

His teammate Nicky Hayden, in his first year in the championship after winning the AMA Championship in the USA the year before, made a brilliant 2003 season. His preseason was not easy at all, setting discrete times, far behind of those set by his teammate. But the Repsol rider didn’t give up and kept on working methodically and with firm consistency, leading him to start the second half of the season having already the podium in mind. And the podium finally arrived, although not the way he wanted, because at the Pacific Grand Prix, Hayden moved up from fourth to third after Tamada’s disqualification due to an incident with Gibernau. But as he explained, his aim was to achieve a real podium, on the track. So at the Australian Grand Prix and after an intense fight with much more experienced riders such as Gibernau, Ukawa and Checa, the Kentucky-born rider clinched his first podium in the class. His good job in the second half of the season has turned him into one of the riders to be taken into account in a near future. His final fifth place in his first season is good evidence.

In addition to the success of both riders of the Repsol Honda Team, the team as such has also been able to win the Teams’ World Championship title. The Repsol Honda Team took the lead of the standings from the first race and has not left the top place until the end of the 2003 season. It was always followed by the Camel Pramac Honda Pons team, that finally became runner-up. The Repsol Honda Team has scored a total 487 points, exactly 136 points over the second classified team. Of the sixteen races staged, the Repsol Honda Team has been the team scoring more points by both team riders at races, namely ten. This has been with no doubt an excellent season for the Repsol Honda Team.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

In reaction to the news that 2003 MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi would be joining him at Yamaha, Carlos Checa released a statement of enthusiastic approval on his fan website.

Checa wrote: “First of all I would like to welcome Valentino to the team and express my delight at this news. I have always wanted the best alongside me and I think that this is the ideal way to progress as a rider and a team. I hope that we work well together and make the Yamaha a winning machine once more, to bring back happy times to the factory and the sponsors. I also think that the incorporation of the MotoGP World Champion is the clearest sign yet that Yamaha are going for everything next season and that, without doubt, will help the development of the bike and whole package on the track, allowing us to aspire to maximum achievement. With respect to Rossi’s decision, my opinion is that [the] World Champion has been brave, and has decided to take on a new challenge in his sporting career with the offer from Yamaha. Personally, all I can say is that I’m sure our relationship will be good, his integration will be quick and that we can be good friends.”

From a press release issued by Infineon Raceway:

Infineon Raceway Employees Earn Promotions

SONOMA, Calif. – Infineon Raceway employees Michelle Norman and Rachal Pollen have recently earned promotions within the company, raceway officials announced.

Norman, who has been employed at Infineon Raceway since 1996, has been named Ticket Sales Manager. She will oversee the sale of season tickets, group tickets, raceway packages and individual tickets, with the efforts of a newly created inside sales team.

Norman began at Infineon Raceway as a Marketing Assistant, before being promoted to Executive Marketing Assistant and then to Marketing Manager in 2003. She is a graduate of Cal-State Northridge in Southern California with a degree in Marketing. She resides in Benicia.

Pollen has been named Marketing and Sponsorship Services Manager. Her responsibilities include management of the raceway’s signage program, as well as assisting on sales and sponsorship contracts and event-marketing execution. Pollen began at Infineon Raceway in 1999 as a Ticket Sales Representative and continued in that position until her recent promotion.

She is a graduate of Sonoma State University with a degree in Business Administration. Pollen resides in Vallejo.


More, from another press release issued by Infineon Raceway:

Sonoma Valley Cyclocross Event Comes to Infineon Raceway Nov. 15

SONOMA, Calif. — Racecars and dragsters will give way to bicycles on Saturday, Nov. 15, when Infineon Raceway hosts the Sonoma Valley Cyclocross on a temporary 1½-mile course.

Cyclocross is the latest cycling rage: a hybrid of mountain biking, road biking and running all in one race. Napa Valley Velo, an amateur club based in Napa, will host the event, which will be sanctioned by USA Cycling, the largest cycling sanctioning body in the country.

The course at Infineon Raceway will be laid out behind Turn 2 and include a variety of terrains and elevations, as well as barriers and stairs. Competitors will both race their bikes, as well as dismount and carry them over barriers and up stairs. It’s kind of like a merger between cycling and hurdling, all in one race.

Laps times are in the 5-7 minute range, and races range from 30 minutes for novices to 60 minutes for professionals. Bicycles are usually road bikes with more powerful brakes, custom gearing and meatier tires.

Approximately 150 cyclists are expected for the event, which will span from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15. Entry fee is $20-25 depending on race category, and $5 for juniors (ages 14-18). There will be six categories in all, from novice to professional. Riders must have a USA Cycling license to compete — a one-day license may be purchased through Napa Valley Velo on the day of the event. For more information, visit www.sonic.net/napavalleyvelo/svcx Spectators are free.

“Infineon Raceway has all of the facilities that make for a great cyclocross event,” said Dave Carr, race director and president of Napa Valley Velo. “The terrain is great, and it’s unique with its elevation changes, as well. It should be very competitive.”

Top local competitors expected to compete include Berkeley’s Andy Jacques-Maynes, who placed fifth at last year’s national championships, and Los Gatos’ Jackson Stewart, who placed eighth. On the women’s side, San Anselmo’s Rachel Lloyd placed second in last year’s national championships, while Richmond’s Gina Hall was fourth. Other top female competitors include Mary McConneloug (Fairfax), Carmen D’Aluisio (Watsonville) and Christine Vardraros (Mill Valley). All three placed in the top 10 at the 2002 national championships.

Carr said the sport originated in Europe more than 50 years ago, but has enjoyed growth in the United States over the past five years. He estimated that there are approximately 5,000-10,000 competitive cyclocross riders in the country.

From a press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing:

Carl Fogarty has reacted angrily to comments from new World Superbike champion Neil Hodgson that he was ‘scared of taking on Mick Doohan in GPs’.

The comments, published this week in Motorcycle News, have infuriated the four-times World Superbike champion.

Hodgson, who has joined the D’Antin team in MotoGP for next season, was quoted as saying: “I don’t fear Rossi liked Foggy feared Doohan. Carl would never admit that but that’s probably why he never took up the challenge. He talked about it but never did it. But I’m going to do it. I want to be judged against the best riders in the world and that means in MotoGP.”

But Carl countered: “I think it’s a cowardly comment. The simple truth is that I never got a chance to ride in GPs. I would have loved to have been given that chance, because I was certainly never scared of anyone on the track.

“It’s cowardly because I can’t go out there and race anymore and do anything about it. And people will know for sure that it’s an absolute lie. They will realize that Neil is trying hard not to be boring.

“He has a long way to go before he can be mentioned in the same breath of me. He has won nothing yet – he was given the World Superbike title this year.”