Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn Le Santo

Toseland Wins!

James Toseland took his inaugural World Superbike victory in Race Two at Oschersleben, breaking Neil Hodgson’s nine race winning streak for an emotional win. Hodgson was second from Toseland’s HM Plant teammate, Chris Walker, making an all-British podium.

Toseland took the holeshot and led through the Hotel corner from Hodgson, Walker, and Ruben Xaus, with Regis Laconi and Frankie Chili close behind.

Hodgson, looking to lead the race, went deep into the Shell Esses on lap two, passing Toseland by the exit. But his line caused his Ducati 999 to run wide, allowing Toseland back underneath. The two collided heavily, knocking Hodgson from the seat and damaging his fairing, but both riders continued.

“I thought my race was over,” commented Hodgson, “I looked down and couldn’t see my clutch lever! But it’s on a pivot, designed to spring back from just this kind of incident, I pulled it back up, it wasn’t right, but it worked.”

Hodgson had to fight back after Walker took advantage of the collision, and was clearly trying very hard to catch Toseland. But Toseland was smooth and consistent with his Dunlop-shod HM Plant Ducati, breaking both Hodgson’s streak of wins and ending the longstanding Dunlop win-drought in WSB.

“I can hardly believe I’ve won,” said an emotional Toseland after the race. “I want to dedicate this win to my family, without their support I wouldn’t be here.”

Hodgson was obviously gutted to miss an entry in the record books, but was quick to congratulate his former HM Plant Ducati team mate;

“I have to take my hat off to James, I have no excuses, he beat me fair and square.”

The win leap-frogs Toseland into second in the championship from Hodgson, and sets up for an exciting home round at Silverstone in two weeks time.

World Superbike championship
Race 2, Round Five, Oschersleben, Germany
30-31 May – 1 June 2003

1. J. Toseland, GBR, Ducati, 41:20.103
2. N. Hodgson, GBR, Ducati, -7.416 seconds
3. C. Walker, GBR, Ducati, -15.314
4. R. Laconi, FRA, Ducati, -19.277
5. R. Xaus, ESP, Ducati, -24.228
6. S. Martin, AUS, Ducati, -43.648
7. J. Borja, ESP, Ducati, -46.868
8. V. Iannuzzo, ITA, Suzuki, -47.807
9. M. Borciani, ITA, Suzuki, -48.930
10. L. Pedercini, ITA, Ducati, -1:02.514


More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

DUCATI CORSE PRESS INFORMATION

HODGSON (DUCATI FILA) AND TOSELAND (HM PLANT DUCATI) TAKE A WIN APIECE IN GERMANY

Neil Hodgson (Ducati Fila) equalled Colin Edwards’ (Honda) nine-race World Superbike winning streak with victory in race 1 at Oschersleben after a superb battle with Pierfrancesco Chili (PSG-1 Ducati) but had to take the runner-up slot in race 2 behind James Toseland (HM Plant Ducati) who took his maiden WSBK win.

Hodgson took the lead from Chili on lap 9 and clinched victory despite coming under pressure from the Italian who was never more than a bike’s length behind. “I didn’t get a good start but the Hodgson luck is flying around at the moment because if I had, then I would probably have been taken out in the carnage at the first corner” declared Neil.

After some fairing-bashing with Toseland in the early stages of race 2, Hodgson then had to take second-best to his former GSE team-mate who led an all-British podium with Chris Walker coming home third. “It was a tough race and it’s a tough track for overtaking” added Neil, “so that’s why I made the move on James. We made contact and I thought I had no clutch lever. I glanced down and the lever was facing down so I banged it back. It wasn’t quite right but I could continue the race. I waited for James to make a mistake but it didn’t come. I was trying to stay behind him, but we got the back-markers and it was all over then. I was pleased to match Colin’s record but you can’t win them all! James totally deserved his victory and the best man won on the day.”

Team-mate Ruben Xaus crashed out from third place on lap 10 at the fast right-hander leading onto the back straight in race 1 and then finished fifth after the break. “In the first race I had problems with the front of my bike and unfortunately simply fell off. Then fifth place in race 2 was not so good, because I still had a few problems with the front” declared Ruben. “I didn’t have a good feeling with the bike all weekend. I know I am a fast rider, but at the moment I don’t feel that it is my bike. Tomorrow we’ll be here for a day’s testing and I’m sure we’ll get some good results”.


RACE 1: 1. Hodgson (Ducati Fila)
2. Chili (PSG-1 Ducati)
3. Toseland (HM Plant Ducati)
4. Laconi (NCR Ducati)
5. Walker (HM Plant Ducati)
6. Martin (DFX Ducati)

RACE 2:
1. Toseland (HM Plant Ducati)
2. Hodgson (Ducati Fila)
3. Walker (HM Plant Ducati)
4. Laconi (NCR Ducati)
5. Xaus (Ducati Fila)
6. Martin (DFX Ducati)


POINTS (after 5 of 12 rounds):

Riders:
1. Hodgson 245
2. Toseland 132
3. Xaus 126
4. Laconi 122
5. Lavilla 111
6. Walker 95
7. Chili 84

Manufacturers:
1. Ducati 250
2. Suzuki 127
3. Petronas 52
4.
Kawasaki 46
5. Yamaha 32
6. Honda 21.


More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service:

IANNUZZO GRABS A PAIR OF EIGHTHS

It was a disappointing afternoon for Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Gregorio Lavilla at Oschersleben today. A fall at the first corner in the first race left the Spaniard bruised and battered and frustrated at the lack of points. His luck didn’t get any better in race two ­ a suspected electrical problem caused him to pull in after sixteen laps. But there was some joy for Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra, their ‘wild card’ rider Vittorio Iannuzzo put in a superb performance and finished eighth in both 28-lappers.

Briton Neil Hodgson (Ducati) won the first race, after a titanic struggle with Frankie Chili (Chili), to take his season’s tally to nine and equal the record for consecutive wins set by Colin Edwards last year. Third was James Toseland, ahead of Regis Laconi, Chris Walker and Steve Martin ­ all on Ducatis. The second race was another two-rider dogfight ­ this time between Hodgson and Toseland. But this time, Hodgson lost out to his younger rival and Toseland recorded his maiden World Superbike win. Third went to Walker ­ completing an all-British 1-2-3 for the first time in World Superbike history.

GREGORIO LAVILLA ­ Race 1: DNF, Race 2: DNF
To say that was a disappointing and frustrating day would be an understatement! It all started before the first race even began when I felt some problem with the clutch on my bike on the inspection lap. I pulled in and jumped on to my number two bike and maybe the tyres weren’t up to temperature or something. Going into turn my brakes wouldn’t work properly and I went in a bit hot. I tried not to touch anybody and I can’t say if somebody hit me, but either way I crashed and that was that for the race. I was bruised a lot, but not bad enough to prevent me from starting race two. At the start of the second race, the engine revs dropped. I didn’t make a good start and the rear grip didn’t feel good from the start. After a few laps I felt something wasn’t right, but I carried on. I thought that maybe the bike had dropped a valve, so I pulled in. If there had been two or three laps left, I would’ve risked staying out and getting some points. But, as there were twelve or so laps left, I thought it safer to pull in and completely destroy the engine. The mechanics looked at my bike afterwards and they think the problem was probably electrical, but we will not know for sure until they take the engine apart next week. Obviously, I’m very disappointed and very frustrated.

VITTORIO IANNUZZO ­ Race 1: 8th, Race 2: 8th
I am very happy today, because I wanted a pair of solid top ten finishes and I managed a pair of eights. Every time I ride this Suzuki GSXR1000, I learn a bit more about riding a Superbike and get more experience. I am particularly happy with my second race, because the gap to fifth place was very small.

Results

Race 1:
1 Hodgson (GB-Ducati)
2 Chili (I-Ducati)
3 Toseland (GB-Ducati)
4 Laconi (F-Ducati)
5 Walker (GB-Ducati)
6 Martin (AUS-Ducati)
8 IANNNUZZO (I-ALSTARE CORONA EXTRA)
DNF ­ LAVILLA (E-ALSTARE SUZUKI CORONA EXTRA)

Race 2:
1 Toseland
2 Hodgson
3 Walker
4 Laconi
5 Xaus
6 Martin
8 IANNUZZO (I-ALSTARE SUZUKI CORONA EXTRA), DNF ­ LAVILLA (E-ALSTARE SUZUKI CORONA EXTRA)

Points
1 Hodgson 245
2 Toseland 132
3 Xaus 126
4 Laconi 122
5 LAVILLA (ALSTARE SUZUKI CORONA EXTRA) 111
6 Walker 95
15 IANNUZZO (ALSTARE SUZUKI CORONA EXTRA) 27,

PODIUMS FOR STEPH AND KATS!

Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra riders Stephane Chambon and Katsuaki Fujiwara took second and third places in the fifth round of the Supersport World Championship at Oschersleben today. Both had to work hard for their places, and once in second and third, they fought each other throughout the second half of the race ­ entertaining the 68,000 strong crowd with their close-quarter racing. The race was won by series leader Chris Vermeulen, who made a flyer of a start and was then never challenged, headed on the way to his third win of the season. By the second lap, he had already opened out a small gap on his pursuers and from then on in, the rest had to grind away and try and catch him. At the end, Vermeuelen took the chequered flag nearly two seconds ahead of Chambon.

STEPHANE CHAMBON ­ 2ND
That was good fun! Fighting Kats is always good fun, but safe. It is a shame that Vermeuelen got away from the rest of us so soon and it was impossible to catch him once he had that advantage. Our Suzuki may be the oldest bike out there, but Kats and I showed that it is still very competitive. Today my Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra GSXR600 worked very well and I’d like to thank the team for all their good work.

KASTSUAKI FUJIWAR ­ 3RD
I am pretty happy today ­ especially after the problems in practice. Also, my right boot zip split and I spent most of the race with the boot flapping about and it was difficult to use the rear brake. Also, my foot kept slipping on the pegs. But the end result was good and I’m very happy with my bike and all we achieved today.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The rains in Colorado have stopped, the track has been dried and the 48-lap AMA Superbike race is scheduled to start at 3:40 p.m. Mountain Time.

From AMA Pro Racing:

“Due to the late start and the possibility of further rain later in the afternoon, all support classes will run 20-lap finals.”


The Supersport, Superstock and 250cc Grand Prix support races were originally scheduled for 29 laps.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

On-track activities at Pikes Peak International Raceway are on hold due to rain and high winds.

The Supersport race scheduled to start at noon, didn’t.

Stay tuned.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Kawasaki’s Eric Bostrom maintained a lead from the second lap to win the red-flag-shortened AMA Superbike race Sunday at Pikes Peak International Raceway.

Erion Honda’s Kurtis Roberts passed Anthony Gobert, who had gotten the holeshot, on lap three and held second until the race was stopped eight laps short of its scheduled distance.

Gobert finished fifth.

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Aaron Yates earned the final podium spot after a race-long battle with fourth-place Ben Bostrom.

Yates’ teammate Mat Mladin was third for most of the race before Mladin started dropping backward on lap 20. Mladin pulled into the pits for a new rear tire on lap 35 and, after a quick pit stop for a new rear tire, managed to salvage a ninth-place finish. According to monitored transmissions on the AMA radio network, Mladin tripped the AMA radar at 68 mph on his way into the pits; prior to the start of the race, an AMA official walked through the grid displaying a sign that read “Penalty For Speeding On Pit Lane During A Race Will Be A Stop & Go.” The pit-lane speed limit is 50 mph. After his stop, Mladin was seen signalling with one finger at an official with a radar gun at the exit of pit lane; Mladin may have been signalling that the official was #1 or that he (Mladin) was complying with the pit-lane speed limit.

The race was stopped on lap 41 for a crash which left Hooters Suzuki’s Mike Ciccotto pinned underneath his GSX-R750 on the racetrack.

Scoring was reverted to the running order of lap 40.

AMA Superbike Race Results:

1. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki, 40 laps
2. Kurtis Roberts, Honda, -5.257 seconds
3. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, -11.599 seconds
4. Ben Bostrom, Honda, -12.579 seconds
5. Anthony Gobert, Ducati, -21.838 seconds
6. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki, -29.945 seconds
7. Miguel Duhamel, Honda, -34.621 seconds
8. Jordan Szoke, Suzuki, -38.263 seconds
9. Mat Mladin, Suzuki, -40.097 seconds
10. Steve Rapp, Suzuki, -50.703 seconds
11. Ricky Orlando, Suzuki, -1 lap
12. Dan Tuner, Yamaha, -1 lap
13. Shawn Higbee, Suzuki, -1 lap
14. Pascal Picotte, Yamaha, -1 lap
15. Mike Sullivan, Suzuki, -1 lap
16. Jeff Tigert, Suzuki, -1 lap
17. Larry Pegram, Ducati, -1 lap
18. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki, -1 lap
19. Michael Barnes, Suzuki, -1 lap
20. Geoff May, Suzuki, -1 lap
21. Scott Jensen, Suzuki, -1 lap
22. Jake Holden, Suzuki, -1 lap
23. Tom Wertman, Suzuki, -1 lap
24. Mike Ciccotto, Suzuki, -1 lap
25. Dean Mizdal, Suzuki, -2 laps
26. Brian Stokes, Suzuki, -2 laps
27. Eric Haugo, Suzuki, 2 laps
28. Jeremiah Johnson, Suzuki, -2 laps
29. Jason Knupp, Suzuki, -2 laps
30. Kevin Hanson, Suzuki, -3 laps
31. John Haner, Suzuki, -21 laps
32. J.J. Roetlin, Suzuki, -27 laps
33. Michael Kosta, Suzuki, -28 laps
34. Greg Glennie, Yamaha, -39 laps


Provisional Superbike Championship Point Standings (After 8 of 18 races):

1. Yates, 244 points
2. Eric Bostrom, 239 points
3. Mladin, 234 points
4. Ben Bostrom/Roberts, TIE, 221 points
6. Duhamel, 187 points
7. Pegram, 162 points
8. Higbee, 159 points
9. Pridmore, 150 points
10. Haskovec, 140 points

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Pikes Peak International Raceway has been the site of a series of controversial penalties in the Supersport class, some of which may have serious Championship implications.

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies was fined $2000 and penalized 20 Championship points for a technical violation found following his Supersport race win at Road Atlanta. Parts from Spies’ GSX-R600 were impounded after the Road Atlanta race, and later inspected against control production parts.

The Yoshimura Suzuki team learned of the judgment against Spies on Wednesday, May 28 at Pikes Peak International Raceway, but the final determination of Spies’ violation wasn’t announced by AMA Pro Racing until a little after noon (Mountain Time) Sunday, June 1–in response to a SPEED TV report by Greg White, who broke the news of the penalty.

According to Yoshimura Team Manager Don Sakakura, Spies was found to have an “oil pressure relief valve…different than the production sample.” Asked how the part got into Spies’ Suzuki, Sakakura declined to comment.

“The ruling is fine,” continued Sakakura, “as long as, again, (the AMA is) consistent as far as the way they enforce the rules. I understand the penalty, and we’ll abide by the penalty.”

Then, after Spies was penalized but before Spies’ penalty was announced, AMA Pro Racing pulled “about 10 bikes,” into technical inspection following Supersport qualifying May 31, according to AMA Pro Racing’s Ron Barrick. Mechanics were asked to remove the exhaust systems and oil pans from the racebikes.

During those inspections, bikes ridden by American Honda’s Miguel Duhamel, Erion Honda’s Jake Zemke and Bruce Transportation Group Honda’s Marty Craggill were found to have “non-standard oil pressure relief valves.” In addition, Craggill’s Honda was found to have a “non-standard charging system,” according to a May 31 AMA Pro Racing release.

The penalties against the Honda riders were immediately announced by AMA Pro Racing, while the penalty against Spies was not announced until after the SPEED TV report aired the next day.

Duhamel and Zemke were each fined $2000, penalized 20 Supersport Championship points and moved to the last grid spots for Sunday’s Supersport final.

That penalty–combined with his still-healing shoulder injury– resulted in Duhamel withdrawing from the Supersport race at PPIR.

For his dual penalties, Craggill was penalized 20 points, disqualified from the Supersport race at Pikes Peak and fined $2500. Craggill did not return to the track Sunday.

“We felt we were legal and in compliance with all rules and production pieces and everything,” Honda Racing Teams Manager Chuck Miller told Roadracingworld.com Sunday in the Pikes Peak paddock. “Even our liaison here (from Japan) expressed that thought. So when we found out that the AMA found inconsistencies in our part versus their part, we suggested to take the production bike down there and pull it apart and see what’s in it. Because we feel ours is the same as that.

“So we did do that, and we did find out it was different. And that there was a change in the vendor (part supplier) from early-production to a production version. And in doing so there was a different tension rate on the spring. So we were found illegal.

“We accept responsibility for that fully. We aren’t going to appeal the process, in that regards. It wasn’t done intentionally, and we are now undergoing a thorough investigation of every other part to make sure there wasn’t any inconsistencies from early production versus production.

“As you know we got these bikes prior to Daytona to race at the Daytona event.”

The part in question was an oil pressure relief valve spring located in the oil sump of the Honda CBR600RR. The two-inch-long spring is visually identical to the production part but had a different spring rate, which was checked by the AMA Pro Racing technical staff with an Intercomp spring tester. According to Miller, the non-standard part could theoretically reduce oil pressure and allow the engine to rev more freely. Miller said that the modification would not increase horsepower or torque and, at best, would provide a “minimal” advantage.

In addition to the same non-standard spring, Craggill’s CBR600RR was found to have what Miller believes was a race kit ignition stator/rotor.

According to Bruce Transportation Group Honda Crew Chief Joey Osowski, the original engine cover and stator/rotor assembly were damaged in a crash earlier this season and the standard Honda parts needed to replace the cover and ignition parts were on back-order from Honda.

Osowski said that during the inspections, the AMA Pro Racing technical inspectors saw that the engine cover was different and then asked to see the entire charging system. “The cover and the winding were aftermarket, just different than the U.S. model,” said Osowski.

As for Osowski’s reasoning for using the aftermarket/kit parts, Miller acknowledged that the parts were back-ordered at the time of Craggill’s crash but added, “That’s not an excuse because the parts are fully available at this point.”

AMA Pro Racing sources did not agree with Miller’s assertions regarding the effect reducing oil pressure relief valve spring pressure would (or would not) have on horsepower production, stating that because it takes horsepower to drive the oil pump, reducing oil pressure also reduces mechanical power losses and increases power reaching the rear wheel.

Attack Suzuki’s Richard Stanboli said, “It should benefit a 600 more than a 750. You can figure one horsepower for every 10 psi you take off the oil pressure. For instance, if your bike makes 60-80 psi at maximum rpm, if you can bypass the pressure relief valve at 30 psi, you gain more than 3 horsepower.”

Kawasaki engine builder Theo Lockwood said that the World Superbike team he used to work for got a different oil pump assembly two years ago, and that it made a 2-3 horsepower gain on a 150-horsepower engine. Lockwood said reducing oil pressure would typically result in a 1-2 percent gain.

As far as Honda claiming the Honda, Erion and Bruce racebikes had a pre-production part, Lockwood said “We had pre-production bikes and parts, too, but we made a concerted effort to make sure we showed up at Daytona with a production bike. Every team starts with pre-production bikes and it’s up to them to make sure it’s legal.”

AMA officials actually tested 9 bikes after Supersport Qualifying at Pikes Peak, specifically taking one from the American Honda team, one from Erion Honda, and one from Bruce Transportation Honda, as well as two Yamahas, two Kawasakis and two Suzukis.

“We’re looking at more things,” said a source in AMA tech. “We’re trying to make a level playing field. Now we have some new equipment that allows us to check more things with confidence. We knew Spies’ oil pump was bad at the track at Road Atlanta, but we wanted to do more testing on it for research.”

From a press release issued by Team Suzuki:

DAVID JEFFERIES

Team Suzuki Press Office. May 30 2003.
David Jefferies, 30, the fastest-ever rider on the TT Mountain Course, died (Thursday May 29th) when he crashed his 1000cc TAS Suzuki during practice for this year’s races in the Isle of Man.

The burly Yorkshireman was on his second lap of the dry-roads, afternoon session when his machine left the road at the flat-out-in-top-gear, 160-mph left-hand kink between Glen Vine and Crosby. On the opening lap he recorded a speed of 125.20 mph.

The afternoon practice season was stopped and then abandoned with an extra session for solo riders being scheduled for Friday morning.

In an official statement, the race organising ACU, said that an enquiry into the details of the incident would be instituted immediately.

Nine time TT winner, Jefferies, opened his score in 1999 when he won the Formula One, Senior and 1000cc Production races on V&M Yamahas. The following year, with similar machines, he again won the Senior and Production events and added a first place in the Junior Supersport race.

Following the cancellation of the TT because of foot and mouth disease in 2001, Jefferies joined Suzuki for last year’s event and added yet another victory treble in the F1, Senior and Production races.

Also last year Jefferies won the Superbike race at the North West 200 and the production 1000cc race at the Ulster GP on TAS GSXR Suzukis

Jefferies, from Baildon, West Yorkshire ran a motorcycle dealership at Shipley and came from a family long associated with the motorcycle trade and sport. This dated back to the early post-second World War days when his grandfather was a bike sport all-rounder.

Philip Neil, the Team Manager of the TAS Suzuki team: “The death of David has left the team shocked and devastated. Not only had David become a very close personal friend of the whole team, but he was a fantastic motorcycle rider and a real ambassador for our sport. Our thoughts are now with Pauline, Tony and the rest of David’s family circle,”

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

AMA Pro Racing officials first notified the Yoshimura Suzuki team that there was a problem with Mat Mladin’s Superbike pole-time from Friday qualifying when 7 minutes remained in the final qualifying session on Saturday.

Mladin was already off the bike and walking back to the team truck to change into his street clothes when AMA Pro Racing’s Ron Barrick came to Yoshimura Suzuki Team Manager Don Sakakura and Mladin’s Crew Chief Peter Doyle and said that due to timing & scoring problems, Mladin’s time from Friday would be disallowed.

“The problem I have with it is the way they did it,” said Doyle. “It was too late. We didn’t have a chance to respond.”

“I was already back in the truck when I found out about it, and by then there were four minutes left in the session,” Mladin said Sunday morning. “Yesterday (Saturday) I just concentrated on race set-up. We were done about 55 minutes into the (one-hour) session, and didn’t worry about trying to do a fast lap because we figured the lap time was safe.”

“As soon as I discovered Mladin’s time was not valid I came down and showed Don (Sakakura) what the real time was,” said Barrick. “I would have liked to have been able to give them the information sooner.”

From a press release issued by Mat Mladin’s publicist, before AMA Pro Racing disallowed Mladin’s Saturday qualifying time due to a timing & scoring problem:

2003 AMA Chevy Trucks US Superbike Championship
Round 8 – Pikes Peak International Raceway, Colorado, USA
Final Qualifying Session Report

MLADIN TAKES SUPERBIKE POLE POSITION AT PIKES PEAK

Fountain, Colorado, USA (Saturday, 31 May) – Mat Mladin will start tomorrow’s eighth round of the AMA Chevy Trucks US Superbike Championship from pole position after his time set during yesterday’s opening session was unable to be surpassed today at Pikes Peak International Raceway in Colorado.

Mladin’s best time of 53.780 seconds set during yesterday’s hot conditions kept him at the top of the time sheets today and allowed he and his Yoshimura Suzuki team to concentrate on preparing their Suzuki GSX-R1000 for tomorrow’s Superbike national.

“Having set a good time yesterday, it gave us the opportunity to concentrate on race set up today,” said three-times American Superbike champion Mladin. “The track and ambient temperature was a lot cooler today than it was yesterday which was good. Tyre wear is going to be the critical factor tomorrow.”

“We were able top do a couple of long runs during the session so that we could arrive at a set up with the bike that will give us the best tyre wear for the 48-lap race. After that, we have a couple of different tyre choices available to us, so we’ll see what the weather provides for us then. Unfortunately it looks as though the race will be run in a similar style to Daytona where you will be out there trying to conserve a tyre rather than riding at your optimum for the entire race distance. I like to race, not ride around and conserve tyres.”

Lining up alongside Mladin will be teammate Aaron Yates who posted a best time of 54.079 secs, pushing Anthony Gobert (Ducati Austin) to third with his time of 54.166, while Erion Honda’s Kurtis Roberts completes the front row of the grid with a time of 54.214 secs.

Mladin heads into tomorrow’s eighth round of the championship trailing teammate Yates by just one point after claiming a championship point for pole and will be looking at leaving the Colorado circuit holding the championship points lead.

Yates was the fastest rider in today’s second qualifying session, with Mladin just four one hundredths of a second in arrears.

Mladin is looking to win an unprecedented fourth AMA Superbike crown this year and has started the year in blazing form aboard the new Suzuki GSX-R1000 having won five of the seven races held this year and further increased his all time AMA Pole position record to 28 after scoring his third pole of the season.

QUALIFYING, Saturday.(Top 10)
1. Mat Mladin (Yoshimura Suzuki), 53.780 Seconds
2. Aaron Yates (Yoshimura Suzuki), 54.079
3. Anthony Gobert (Ducati Austin), 54.166
4. Kurtis Roberts (Erion Honda), 54.214
5. Eric Bostrom (Team Kawasaki), 54.690
6. Ben Bostrom (American Honda), 54.690
7. Miguel DuHamel (American Honda), 54.814
8. Larry Pegram (Dream Team Ducati), 55.146
9. Jason Pridmore (Attack Suzuki), 55.332
10. Jordan Szoke (Corona Extra Suzuki), 55.437


More, from a press release issued by Dream Team Ducati:

Dream Team Racing Ducati’s Larry Pegram is qualified in 8th position for Sunday’s AMA Superbike Race at Pikes Peak. Pegram who is currently 7th overall in the series is hoping to finish in the top 5 tomorrow, which would help him close in on 6th placed, Miguel Duhamel. Larry, is the top placing Ducati rider in AMA Superbike and is also the highest placing privateer in the series.



More, from a press release issued by Marietta Motorsports:

1-888-FASTLAP’S CAYLOR AND STOKES QUALIFY 11TH AND 13TH FOR SUPERSTOCK AT PIKES PEAK

FOUNTAIN, Co.- 1-888-FASTLAP riders Opie Caylor and Brian Stokes qualified 11th and 13th for Sunday’s AMA Pro Racing Superstock race at Pikes Peak International Raceway.

Caylor and Stokes were among seven riders who all qualified within one second of each other. Caylor’s fast time of 56.678 seconds (83.524 mph) put him in the 11th spot on the 1-888-FASTLAP/Team EMGO Taiwan Suzuki GSX-R750.

1-888-FASTLAP’s Stokes, who is racing at Pikes Peak for the first time, qualified 13th with his time of 57.018 seconds (83.026 mph). He rides the Team Embry Suzuki GSX-R750.

“Qualifying went okay,” commented Stokes. “I got hooked up with Mike Ciccotto during the last part of the session. It was tough. The top seven guys or so had qualifying tires on–we don’t have qualifiers. The people up front ran 55’s on a qualifier, so they’re going to be a second slower tomorrow. If I get a good start tomorrow and get to the front I should do well. My goal tomorrow is to be in the top ten. With the close competition, I’ll be happy with that.”

Both Caylor and Stokes plan to race in the Superbike race being held tomorrow, as well. When they are finished with the 29-lap Superstock race, they will have a brief rest before beginning the 48-lap Superbike event.

Caylor qualified 26th for the Superbike race with a time of 56.678 (83.524 mph). Stokes will start the race from the 30th spot after setting a qualifying time of 56.674 (82.082 mph).

The Superstock race will get underway on Sunday, June 1, following the Supersport and 250 GP races. Supersport begins at noon. The Superbike race starts at 3:00 pm and will be broadcast live on SPEED.

More information about Caylor, Stokes and 1-888-FASTLAP can be found on the web at www.1888FASTLAP.com.



More, from a press release issued by Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki:

Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Steve Rapp came away from a drama-filled Formula Xtreme race at Pikes Peak International Raceway on Saturday with yet another top-10 finish. Adding to Rapp’s result, teammate Chris Ulrich gave the squad a second top-15 finish. Both riders struggled to find a set-up to maximize grip and acceleration off the tight corners of the twisty Pikes Peak bullring.

Rapp was forced to overcome a very late alteration to the starting grid–caused by a problem with AMA timing & scoring–that pushed him off the front row as well a twice red-flagged race. The 30-year-old worked his way up through the field on his Michelin-shod machine to score an eventual eighth place. Rapp is now sixth in Formula Xtreme points.

“It was a tough race,” Rapp admitted. “I thought I was doing better — qualifying on the front row — and the change kind of threw me off. I didn’t get great starts and it’s a tough place to pass. Nevertheless, I finished eighth and passed a few guys like (Jamie) Hacking and (Roger Lee) Hayden, which is all right. I’m not satisfied, but you have to hang in there and get through the places where you don’t do as well and move on to the tracks that you do.”

Ulrich decided his time would be best spent focusing on a single race machine after running into some difficulties dialing in his bikes on Friday. Chris went up against the fire-breathing Formula Xtreme machines on his Superstock-class GSX-R750 and picked up a 15th and a great deal of knowledge.

“We struggled with the 1000 so I rode the 750 today,” Ulrich explained. “We made some adjustments to the front and at the restart we were right there with the guys. I was kind of wishing we had the extra horsepower, but I’m really pleased with what I accomplished on the 750. It was good for my confidence to concentrate on one bike, and we found some things that will really help tomorrow. We’re going to try to do the same thing — get a good start and let it rip.”

Ulrich is now 10th in Formula Xtreme points.

Sunday will see the Valvoline EMGO Suzuki team battling in the 29-lap Superstock final. Rapp will start on the outside of row two with his younger teammate one row back in 12th as a result of their qualifying Saturday performances.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn LeSanto

Vermeulen extends championship lead

Chris Vermeulen took his Ten Kate Honda to another start-to-finish win at the technical Oschersleben circuit for round five of the World Supersport championship, despite still suffering from a badly injured right thumb.

Vermeulen got the jump from Stephane Chambon and Broc Parkes, while reigning Supersport Champion, Fabien Foret ran off the track on lap one. Parkes was riding aggressively from the start, passing Chambon into the Shell Esses and then taking off after fellow countryman, Vermeulen.

Pole sitter Muggeridge was making up for a poor start, he was so determined not to fry his clutch again, as at Monza, that he started way too softly. Then, after fighting his way back up in third place, he made a mistake and crashed his Ten Kate Honda. He remounted to battle through for 15th and a single point.

Parkes fought to stay with Vermeulen, but ran wide into the ‘Triple,’ the three-way left-hander, on lap 14 and lost touch with the lead pack. The Alstare Suzuki pairing took advantage, catching and passing Parkes to claim the remaining podium places.

Jurgen van den Goorbergh worked hard to recover from a poor start, and moved through late in the race to pass the fading Parkes to grab fourth.

Vermeulen’s third win from just five races moves him to an incredible, in Supersport racing, 38 points clear from Fujiwara.


World Supersport Race Results:

1. Chris Vermeulen, Honda, 28 laps, 42:51.384
2. Stephane Chambon, Suzuki, -1.775 seconds
3. Katsuaki Fujiwara, Suzuki, -2.085 seconds
4. Jurgen vd Goorbergh, Yamaha, -3.936 seconds
5. Broc Parkes, Honda, -8.438 seconds
6. Pere Riba, Kawasaki, -8.989 seconds
7. Jorg Teuchert, Yamaha, -14.973 seconds
8. Chris Kellner, GER, Yamaha, -20.274 seconds
9. Sebastian Charpentier, Honda, -24.001 seconds
10. Gianluca Nannelli, Yamaha, -29.143 seconds
11. Robert Ulm, Honda, -29.374 seconds
12. Matthieu Lagrive, Yamaha, -29.474 seconds
13. Dean Thomas, Honda, -36.099 seconds
14. Barry Veneman, Honda, -41.521 seconds
15. Karl Muggeridge, Honda, -47.448 seconds, crash
16. Stefano Cruciani, Kawasaki, -47.955 seconds
17. Michael Laverty, Honda, -51.360 seconds
18. Herbert Kaufmann, Suzuki, -52.111 seconds
19. Tobias Kirmeier, Honda, -79.208 seconds
20. Arno Visscher, Kawasaki, -1 lap
21. Iain MacPherson, Honda, -8 laps, DNF
22. Didier Vankeymeulen, Kawasaki, -15 laps, DNF
23. Thierry vd Bosch, Yamaha, -17 laps, DNF
24. Christophe Cogan, Honda, -18 laps, DNF
25. Kenan Sofuoglu, Yamaha, -21 laps, DNF
26. Alessio Corradi, Yamaha, -24 laps, DNF
27. Werner Daemen, Honda, -25 laps, DNF
28. Fabien Foret, Kawasaki, -25 laps, DNF
29. Simone Sanna, Yamaha, -27 laps, DNF


More, from a press release issued by Van Zon Honda TKR:

Dreadful luck ruins weekend for Team Van Zon Honda TKR

A promising start to the World Supersport championship turned bad for both Team Van Zon Honda TKR riders.

Werner Daemen crashed out of the race after making contact with Christian Kellner while a freak technical problem ended MacPherson’s race early.

“We’ve suffered from bad luck again,” admitted Daemen. “Kellner hit me twice and has left a big tyre mark my leathers! When he hit my rear tyre I couldn’t keep the bike up and went into the gravel. It’s a shame because my start was good and I was making progress in the field, the Pirelli tyres were great and the Honda CBR600RR was performing faultlessly. I can only hope our luck returns for Silverstone.

Iain MacPherson also suffered from appalling luck. He was fighting at the front of the pack early in the race but then hit problems.

“I thought my bike was losing power because I was having trouble getting on full throttle,” said the fiery Scot. “But then I realised that the throttle grip was actually slipping on the bar. I had no choice but to pull in, it was just too dangerous to carry on.”


More, from a press release issued by Ten Kate Honda:

Vermeulen wins again

Chris Vermeulen made it three wins from just five races to go a staggering 38 points clear at the head of the World Supersport championship.

The young Australian took the holeshot on his CBR600RR and never looked back. He kept the pressure on hard, leaving the rest of the pack struggling in his wake.

“I really didn’t expect to get away again like that,” explained Vermeulen after the race. “I expected the pack to be right with me here, especially as I am still struggling with my thumb injury.”

Vermeulen’s thumb, damaged in a crash at Monza, caused him more trouble at this twisting and technical track than it did at Monza.

“It’s much more physical here,” he said, “but the Honda CBR600RR was awesome, as usual, and the guys at Pirelli and WP Suspension came up with a brilliant package, once again.”

Vermeulen’s team mate, Karl Muggeridge, started from pole after dominating qualifying, just as he did at Monza. But a poor start left him with plenty of work to do to catch the lead pack. Muggeridge made up the ground, and got up into third before pushing a little too hard and loosing the front end. He remounted to take a single championship point in 15th.

“Karl isn’t having much luck at the moment,” observed team manager Ronald ten Kate. “But he is riding really well and we are confident that when his luck returns, he’ll be right back up there.

“As for Chris, what can I say except – amazing! But he couldn’t have done it without the brilliant package of the Honda CBR600RR and Pirelli tyres and WP Suspension. OK, I know you’ll think I am just saying this, it’s obligatory to praise your sponsors and partners, but I honestly mean it, they really are working wonders for us.”

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Hacking took the lead of this restarted race when early leader Damon Buckmaster ran wide following contact with Hacking and went from first to fourth; the string of four YZF-R6 Yamahas then pulled away from the field.

Jake Zemke started last and carved his way up to seventh, the first rider on a Honda CBR600RR.

The race was originally red-flagged following a series of crashes. On the first lap, Zemke was hit from behind heading into the horsehoe and crashed, along with at least two other riders, leaving bikes and debris scattered. Then Thad Halsmer crashed coming onto the front straight, his bike ending up on the start/finish line as the leaders were on lap two.

Provisional Results

1. Jamie Hacking, Yamaha, 20 laps
2. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha, -0.288
3. Jason DiSalvo, Yamaha, -0.910
4. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha, -2.208
5. Tommy Hayden, Kawsaki, -5.580
6. Ben Spies, Suzuki, -10.068
7. Jake Zemke, Honda, -14.986
8. Pascal Picotte, Yamaha, -15.219
9. Alex Gobert, Honda, -16.980
10. Jamie Stauffer, Suzuki, -18.335
11. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki, -19.584
12. Doug Chandler, Honda, -24.747
13. Roger Lee Hayden, Honda, -27.132
14. Chris Peris, Honda, -27.343
15. Craig Connell, Honda, -32.726
16. Jason Curtis, Honda, -33.018
17. Hector Romero, Yamaha, -58.068
18. Marty Sims, Suzuki, -59.516
19. Dirk Sanchez, Kawasaki, -1 lap
20. Shaun Summers, Suzuki, -1 lap
21. Terry Skogen, Yamaha, -1 lap
22. David Lambert, Suzuki, -1 lap
23. Quentin Wilson, Yamaha, -1 lap
24. Darin Scherer, Yamaha, -1 lap
25. Chris Lowe, Suzuki, -1 lap
26. David Guy, Suzuki, -1 lap
27. Jeff Grace, Yamaha, -1 lap
28. Will Sequino, Yamaha, -2 laps
29. Torsten Zorn, Suzuki, -6 laps
30. Heath Small, Yamaha, -8 laps
31. Michael Applehans, Suzuki, -12 laps
32. Adam Scott, Suzuki, -13 laps
33. Mark Ledesma, Honda, -17 laps
34. Thad Halsmer, Yamaha, -19 laps
35. Elton Curry, Yamaha, -20 laps, DNF, crash
36. Jason Hobbs, Yamaha, -20 laps, DNF, crash
37. Mike McCracken, Suzuki, -20 laps, DNF.


Supersport Championship Point Standings:

1. Hacking, 154 points
2. Buckmaster, 144 points
3. Aaron Gobert, 142 points
4. DiSalvo, 128 points
5. Zemke, 126 points
6. Tommy Hayden, 123 points
7. Spies, 117 points
8. Alex Gobert, 108 points
9. Chandler, 99 points
10.Meiring, 96 points