Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Racer Brian Livengood broke his back in two places when he crashed at Road Atlanta May 16, and he will undergo surgery next Tuesday, May 27, at Grady Hospital in Atlanta.

That’s the word from Livengood family friend and Roadracing World contributing photographer Vicki Sulpy, who wrote in an e-mail to Roadracingworld.com that Livengood’s back injuries were discovered by a CT scan taken yesterday, with results delivered today.

Livengood’s crash was set off when the Dunlop radial slick on the rear wheel of his Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike failed at an estimated speed of over 160 mph, in the back-straight kink at Road Atlanta.

Livengood slid across the racetrack and into a concrete wall. He was originally diagnosed as having a concussion and bruised lungs, and is still on a respirator. Emergency crews performed a tracheotomy at the track to ease his breathing, and the tracheotomy was redone when he arrived at the hospital.

Sulpy is asking racers and race fans to contribute to a medical expense fund for Livengood, anticipating that his expenses will exceed his insurance coverage.

“We are not yet sure exactly how long Brian’s recuperation period will be,” wrote Sulpy. “Brian has insurance but as we all know, insurance doesn’t pay for everything.

“I am asking all of you, as fellow racers and friends, to make a contribution to Brian Livengood from your heart and wallet. All monies will go towards Brian’s medical bills. After Brian’s medical bills are paid, any monies that are left will be donated to the Roadracing World Action Fund.

“You may make a donation to Brian Livengood via Pay Pal (www.paypal.com) at [email protected] or checks may be made out to Brian Livengood and mailed to 2834 Shane Drive, Snellville, GA 30078. Any amount will be greatly appreciated.”

Sulpy wrote that she had donated $200 to start off the fund-raising campaign.

Racer Woody Deatherage also hit a concrete wall and broke his back at Road Atlanta during the AMA National last weekend. Deatherage fell on Saturday on the other side of the road course, in the esses past the new chicane, but hit the wall at a lower impact speed and did not suffer additional serious injuries.

Deatherage was scheduled to be fitted with a full-body cast and may or may not require surgery.

From a press release issued by Honda Racing Information:

Preview
TT Isle of Man
May 23, Isle of Man

They call it the ‘Road Racing Capital of the World.’ The annual Isle of Man TT Festival is regarded by many as the ultimate two wheeled speed challenge, taking the competitors on a high speed journey around the public roads of the 37.73 mile Mountain Course.

It is an event without parallel. Dashing through villages, from the start-line in Douglas, into Ramsey and then over the heights of Snaefell, the action is fast and frantic, and not without its dangers, but, for the past decades it has been a vital part of the Honda racing pedigree with the Japanese marque scoring victories consistently.

This year promises to be no exception. Ian Lougher, six times a winner on the Island, has been brought in to spearhead the Honda attack, riding an SP2 in the two premier events, the opening TT Formula 1 race, on Saturday 31 May, and the blue-riband Senior event which climaxes the week’s action, on Friday 6 June. Each of them decided over six gruelling laps and 226 miles.

Lougher, a Welshman who now bases himself in Northern Ireland, warmed up for the races with success in the annual shake-down event, the NorthWest 200, winning the Supersport class, but his attention is firmly focussed now on the ‘big-bike’ action: “these are the best chances I will have of winning them, and I am grasping the opportunity with both hands. I know that with this bike, I will be competitive, and am eager to take the victories.”

He will need to be at his best. Dave Jefferies, the gritty Yorkshireman who in each of the past three festivals has chalked up a winning triple, is back for more, riding Suzuki, and promising more of the hard charging riding style that last year saw him shatter the record with a remarkable 17:47 lap, at an average speed of 127.29mph. Twice the British Superstock champion, he enjoys the challenge of the roads and reckons the secret is riding only as fast as is necessary. “Records are not on my mind, just doing the speed that is necessary.”

Others to watch in the two major races of the festival are the speedy Ulsterman Adrian Archibald and the local favourite Richard Quayle, both also riding Suzuki; Jason Griffiths aboard a big Yamaha; and the Ducatis in the hands of TT winners John McGuinness and Michael Rutter, the Leicestershire based rider who won the Superbike race at this year’s NorthWest 200.

Sidecar racing has been a key part of the TT action since the first event way back in 1906, and that tradition continues with two races, on the opening Saturday and then again on Wednesday, and Dave Molyneux, whose workshops are adjacent to the course, is aiming to add to his winning pedigree. A sidecar driver with World Championship experience, he and passenger Craig Hallam start as favourites with their Honda powered unit to hit double top, though they could be hard pressed by fellow Honda riders Gary Horspole and Kevin Leigh.

Big 1000cc Production bikes feature on the Monday 2 June raceday, with Jefferies again the man to beat, while a combined race for 400 Production and 125 bikes provides an interesting event. Robert Dunlop, brother of the late, legendary 26 times TT winner Joey, will be in action, aiming to add to his own racing winning pedigree on the Island, though he is still shrugging aside injuries sustained in a racing crash earlier in the year. He rides Honda, as does Lougher, the pre-event favourite, and James Crumpton, second last year, while the one to watch could well be Chris Palmer. Quayle, a winner last year, heads the 400 entry, riding Honda, and could face a tough challenge from another Manx rider, Dave Madsen Mygdal, along with Richard Britton and Nigel Davies.

Gordon Blackley, a serving officer in the RAF and a competitor in the British Superbike Championship rides Honda in Wednesday’s Junior 600 race, but again Lougher will be on the charge: “I love the racing on the Island. I’m from the old school of racers, riding in as many classes as possible, just because I can. The TT course is special – you have to respect it and spend two of three years learning your way around before you can really chase victory.”

Honda expect to dominate, though the return of the British built Triumph machines will concentrate the minds of the media, and the spectators. Jim Moodie, eight times a winner on the Island, rides for them, along with McGuinness and Bruce Anstey, but Rutter, riding Ducati and Quayle on a Kawasaki could have a big say in the eventual outcome.

Lougher, facing a busy final day, rides Honda in Friday’s Production 600 race, with determined Scot Iain Duffus, also aboard a Honda, expected to challenge for honours in an event that also has the three Triumph riders back in action.

The exhileration, excitement and sheer joy of winning a TT race is unique. As Lougher puts it: “there’s no feeling like in the world, a real experience to put under your belt.” He means business, as does the lone lady racer amid the packed entry. Maria Costello is intent on becoming the fastest female on the Island – already she is the speediest lady in the history on the Manx Grand Prix, lapping at an average speed of a little over 110mph, but she is not content to be second best to Sandra Barnett in the TT annals, instead hoping this year to secure a place in the Guinness Book of Records with a her own super-quick lap.

Practice for the event begins on Saturday 24 May, and contines over the following week, with the shrill sound of racing engines providing early morning alarm calls for the resident around the demanding Mountain Course.


More, from another Honda press release:

LOUGHER AND MOLYNEUX CARRY HONDA ISLAND HOPES

Practice for the 2003 Isle of Man TT races gets under way on Saturday May 24 at 6.15pm with Ian Lougher and Dave Molyneux looking to add to Honda’s 115 wins at the famous annual event, first run in 1907.

Lougher concentrates his efforts on the six-lap Formula One TT and the Senior TT, also over six laps, as the Welshman bids to take the 1000cc SP-2 Honda machine to victory.

The Formula One TT will grace the 37.73-mile Mountain circuit at 2pm on Saturday May 31 while the Senior TT starts at 1.15pm on Friday June 6.

“With the machinery and support I have from Honda I know this is my best chance of a achieving a lifetime ambition and winning a big bike TT,” says
Lougher who already has six TT wins to his name.

He continues: “We’ve got a big week of practice coming up with the SP-2 Honda but I¹m certain the team has what it takes to get the bike dialled in and ready for the Formula One battle on Saturday week.”

Lougher is joined in the Honda line-up for the 2003 TT race festival by sidecar ace and seven times TT winner Dave Molyneux.

Molyneux is partnered by passenger Craig Hallam and will use the all-new CBR600RR motor ­ in a chassis built by himself in his workshop at Kirkmichael on the Island.

“I’m excited about racing the new CBR600RR, the machine has been an instant success in Supersport racing around the world so I’d like to add to that with a couple of TT wins,” explains Manxman Molyneux.

Molyneux is in action in the two, three-lap sidecar TTs, on Saturday May 31 at 5pm and on Wednesday June 4 at 1.15pm.

Practice for the 2003 Isle of Man TT races runs from Saturday May 24 to Friday May 30; the races are:

Saturday May 31
14.00, Formula One (1000cc) ­ six laps
17.00, Sidecar ­ three laps

Monday June 2
10.45, Lightweight (400cc) and Ultra-Lightweight (125cc) ­ four laps
13.15, Production 1000cc ­ three laps

Wednesday June 4
10.45, Junior (600cc) ­ four laps
13.15, Sidecar ­ three laps

Friday June 6
10.45, Production 600cc ­ three laps
13.15, Senior TT ­ six laps

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

1. Valentino Rossi, Honda, 1:35.208
2. Alex Barros, Yamaha, 1:35.985
3. Loris Capirossi, Ducati, 1:36.019
4. Marco Melandri, Yamaha, 1:36.161
5. Max Biaggi, Honda, 1:36.169
6. Carlos Checa, Yamaha, 1:36.240
7. Sete Gibernau, Honda, 1:36.314
8. Tohru Ukawa, Honda, 1:36.402
9. Shinya Nakano, Yamaha, 1:36.512
10. Norick Abe, Yamaha, 1:36.617
11. John Hopkins, Suzuki, 1:36.673
12. Jeremy McWilliams, Proton, 1:36.720
13. Nicky Hayden, Honda, 1:36.773
14. Troy Bayliss, Ducati, 1:36.782
15. Makoto Tamada, Honda, 1:36.868
16. Olivier Jacque, Yamaha, 1:36.962
17. Kenny Roberts, Suzuki, 1:37.033
18. Noriyuki Haga, Aprilia, 1:37.122
19. Colin Edwards, Aprilia, 1:37.239
20. Nobuatsu Aoki, Proton, 1:37.515
21. Andrew Pitt, Kawasaki, 1:37.647
22. Garry McCoy, Kawasaki, 1:38.956
22. Ryuichi Kiyonari, Honda, 1:39.263


More from a press release issued by Proton Team KR:

PROTON KR FOUR-STROKE MAKES THUNDEROUS DEBUT

Round 4: French GP, Le Mans
First Qualifying: Friday, May 23, 2003

Jeremy McWilliams: 12th, 1:36.720
Nobuatsu Aoki: 20th, 1:37.515

Proton Team KR’s radical new V5 four-stroke racer stunned a rapt GP paddock today with a new and thunderous exhaust noise, when riders Jeremy McWilliams and Nobuatsu Aoki gave the new machine its first shake-down runs in the full public gaze in the first practice sessions for Sunday’s French GP.

The Bugatti circuit’s first corner, a slow chicane, was also the first time the all-new machines had ever gone around a corner. The riders rode the new bike for the first time in the week before the French race, and then only in a straight line at an airfield.

“At least now we know the bike can lean over,” quipped team owner Kenny Roberts, as he proudly watched his new creation show its legs for the first time. The bike was built in record time at the team’s Banbury base, in a project that is still less than a year old.

There are two examples of the new bike at the French circuit, with spare engines arriving only today after several weeks of round-the-clock development work. Both riders switched between the new four-stroke and the trusty three-cylinder two-stroke machine for the rest of the day. Naturally, the highly polished two-stroke was faster in today’s sessions. The sheer pleasure and excitement of riding the all-new bike means that both rider hope to get more laps on it tomorrow, with a full day of testing scheduled for the day after the race.

Out of a total 41 laps today, McWilliams did 12 on the new four-stroke, and was circulating within some five seconds of his time on the two-stroke. Aoki did 15 out of 45 laps on the new machine.

There is one more day of qualifying before Sunday’s race, but with rain and cold weather forecast there is a strong chance that today’s lap times will decide the grid positions.

JEREMY McWILLIAMS
A funny day – I’ve never ridden two completely different engine configurations on the same day at a GP meeting. It’s a little difficult jumping from one to the other, but I don’t think spending time on the four-stroke really hurt me too much at the end of the day. We’re well up in the bunch with the two-stroke. If I was having problems with it, then I’d think about racing the four-stroke. But with the problems so far this season, I can’t afford to sacrifice another race. We’re learning such a lot. It’s the first time using a slipper clutch which needs to be set up, the gearing is just a guess, and also the suspension. It’s the first time the bike has turned a wheel in anger, and I am very proud of the team for getting it this far already. I had a lot of fun out there today.

NOBUATSU AOKI
I’m a little bit confused switching between the bikes. It’s like when you raced a 500cc two-stroke but then you rode an 8-Hour four-stroke. Once you get used to a four-stroke, a two-stroke is a very sharp knife. I’ve no idea whether I will stay on the two-stroke for the rest of the weekend. That is a team decision. I prefer the two-stroke because I am still used to it, and it is faster at the moment. But this is the first time on a track for the four-stroke, and basically it’s working pretty well, although mine lost power in the afternoon with a fuel pump problem. It is very interesting and exciting to be developing a completely new and different kind of machine.

KENNY ROBERTS – Team Owner
Today has been very encouraging. The biggest problem we’ve had is with a fuel pump on Nobu’s bike. Jeremy’s bike needs the engine and suspension settings changed, and the gearing made higher … it was over-revving on the straight. Then we’ll try again tomorrow. Today was the first shake-down run, and it was pretty fast for a shake-down. We gained about a week’s knowledge in 15 minutes.



More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

French GP, Le Mans
First Qualifying
Friday, May 23 2003

DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM UP FRONT AT LE MANS
Ducati Marlboro Team rider Loris Capirossi once again proved the awesome speed of the Italian factory’s Desmosedici MotoGP bike by going third fastest in this afternoon’s first qualifying session, putting himself of the provisional front row for Sunday’s French Grand Prix. Team-mate and Le Mans first-timer Troy Bayliss spent the day learning his way round the stop-and-go circuit, ending up 14th quickest.

“We have never been here before with this bike but it’s working okay, though I still feel something is missing,” said Ducati Marlboro Team technical director Corrado Cecchinelli. “I don’t know what, or we would already have made the changes! The gearing was wrong this morning, so we’ve fixed that, now we just need to work at refining our chassis settings. We’ll look at the data and work from that for tomorrow. The good thing is that we’ve made a bigger step than most of the others from morning to afternoon, we are already much closer to pole. Troy, of course, has never been here, so he still has plenty more to come.”

CAPIROSSI BATTLES STOMACH PROBLEMS TO GO THIRD QUICKEST
Gritty Italian Loris Capirossi fought off the effects of a serious stomach upset to take third spot on the provisional grid this afternoon, eight tenths off pole. The Ducati Marlboro Team rider has been in and out of hospitals and clinics all week, but that didn’t stop him battling for a front-row slot today.

“I have to say a big thanks to the Clinica Mobile, they made today’s result possible,” said Capirossi, looking drained and tired. “It’s been a horrible week for me, I had to go to hospital in Monte Carlo on Tuesday. They did some tests and diagnosed intestinal problems, but I was still ill when I came here. They managed to help me in the Clinica Mobile yesterday, and though I’m still not 100 per cent, I’m very happy with today’s result. We’ve made good progress since this morning, when the bike ran here for the first time. This afternoon was good and we’ll make another big step if it stays dry tomorrow, though I’ve heard that we’re expecting rain. But if it does rain, at least I’ll stay on the front row.”

BAYLISS LEARNING LE MANS’ SECRETS
Ducati Marlboro Team rider Troy Bayliss rode the Le Mans circuit for the first time today, ending this afternoon’s session 14th fastest. Ducati’s former World Superbike champ, who’s never even raced in France before, is still getting to know the circuit and still working to perfect his Desmosedici for its stop-and-go layout.

“I don’t mind the place, it’s just a matter of getting the bike set up to go round it,” said the down-to-earth Aussie. “Every track you go to has its own secrets – there’s a special way to ride pretty much every circuit. At the moment I don’t feel so comfortable on the bike, which is why the lap times aren’t so good just yet. In fact I really scared myself when I nearly lost the front going through turn one in sixth gear! It took a while to get my confidence back after that but she’ll be all right on the night!”


More, from a press release issued by Fortuna Yamaha:

French Grand Prix
Friday, 23 May 2003
Le Mans, France

MELANDRI, PACESETTING MOTOGP ROOKIE; CHECA ON FINE FORM

Fortuna Yamaha Team’s MotoGP rookie Marco Melandri put in an astonishing performance during the start of only his second MotoGP World Championship round to qualify the Yamaha YZR-M1 on a provisional front row start for the French Grand Prix, which takes place at the Le Mans circuit on May 23. The relaxed 20-year-old, and 2002 250cc World Champion, showed impressive maturity and consistency to set the fourth fastest time during the opening Friday qualifier, with a fastest lap time of 1:36.161. He also kicked off proceedings in the morning free practice with the second fastest time, placing himself behind defending MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi (Honda).

With the weather looking questionable for tomorrow’s final qualifier Melandri’s performance today could see the young Italian start his first MotoGP race from the front row on Sunday. Despite the solid start to the weekend Melandri was confident that his qualifying time, only 0.953 seconds off Rossi’s 1:35.208 benchmark and provisional pole time, could have been reduced further had it not been for a small tumble in the final few minutes of the session. With time remaining for one flying lap Melandri looked set to do just that when he lost the front of the M1 entering the Le Mans back chicane.

Fellow Yamaha competitor Alex Barros (Gauloises Yamaha Team) eventually ended the session second fastest with 1:35.985, although the Brazilian had initially set the pace before a small tumble in the closing stages prevented him from mounting a comeback to answer Rossi’s retort. While Loris Capirossi claimed the third fastest time aboard the V-four Ducati with a 1:36.019.

“I went off at the end because I tried to take the curve tight but closed it too much”, said the 250cc World Champion. “It was an error but still I’m very happy to be on the front row. I feel physically better here than Jerez and I hope to keep improving – my leg feels a bit tired but it’s getting better all the time. I quite like this track and the Yamaha bikes go well here. We have a good braking system that is very precise and stable and the bike feels generally great, I like it a lot. I think that our test in Mugello last week was very helpful for my physical condition. The only thing now is the weather for the rest of the weekend, as this is a slippery track in the wet. But I suppose I have an advantage because I started riding the M1 in wet conditions, so hopefully I will be okay.”

After an inauspicious start to the French Grand Prix this morning when Carlos Checa slid off the Fortuna Yamaha Team YZR-M1 in the free practice session, the Spaniard returned to set the sixth fastest time during the opening qualifier this afternoon, with a best lap time of 1’36.240. Although consistently quick on the 4180m circuit – regularly featuring in the top five during today – Checa is still confident that there is room for improvement, and that this will show on the time sheets if the French weather holds out for the second qualifying session tomorrow.

“This afternoon we used both bikes, the old and the new chassis, and at the end we had the chance to finish on the front row but I couldn’t improve my lap time in the last few minutes,” admitted the Spaniard. “I only had the chance for one fast lap at the end but didn’t get what I wanted. Anyway it’s a positive outcome, and let’s see what happens tomorrow. The weather forecast is for rain tomorrow and also for Sunday. I would prefer to continue working in the dry but you can’t choose the weather! At the moment I feel that the new chassis has good potential so I would like to continue working with it.”

The Fortuna Yamaha Team director Davide Brivio was very satisfied with both riders’ performances today, “Of course we are very pleased and we feel we’re generally improving,” said Brivio. “I am happy to see Marco on provisional front row, even though we know his condition is not 100% perfect. He was fourth this afternoon and second this morning so he has had a consistent day.

“Carlos was quite busy checking and testing things, and at the end he just missed one good lap. He is in sixth place and on the provisional second row so he should be okay for the race in this position. We have another day tomorrow so this has been a very good start for the weekend. It might rain tomorrow so that could create different challenges but at least we have a good dry base.”


More, from a press release issued by Fuchs Kawasaki:

MOTOGP CHAMPIONSHIP 2003
ROUND 4 – GRAND PRIX POLINI DE FRANCE
23RD MAY 2003 – QUALIFYING PRACTICE 1

PITT AND MCCOY BEATEN BY THE CLOCK AT LE MANS

Fuchs Kawasaki riders, Andrew Pitt and Garry McCoy, were beaten by the clock during this afternoon’s first qualifying session for the Grand Prix Polini de France at Le Mans.
Both riders pitted for fresh tyres with just two minutes of qualifying remaining, but were unable to complete a final flying lap before the chequered flag was brought out to end the hour long session.

Le Mans rookie Pitt made a dramatic two second improvement on his best time from this morning’s free practice session but, after just two hours of track time, he admits that he is still learning the finer points of the 4.1km Bugatti circuit. Pitt qualified in 21st place on the provisional grid, while team-mate and fellow countryman, Garry McCoy, finished the session in 22nd place, after being frustrated by set-up changes on his Kawasaki ZX-RR.

The Le Mans circuit, with its combination of drag-strip style straights and fast direction changes, demands both quick acceleration and stability under braking. Both Fuchs Kawasaki riders have benefited from improvements made to the ZX-RR in both these areas during two days of testing in Barcelona last week.

Andrew Pitt – 21st – 1:37.647
“I had the plan to do one final lap right at the end of the session. But coming out of pit lane I saw there was only just over a minute and a half to go and there was no way I was going to be able to complete my out lap in that time with a new tyre. We’d been making improvements throughout the session, so it was disappointing not to have had one more chance to better my time. I’m still learning my way around the circuit at the moment, with a bit of guesswork coming into play at some of the blind corners. I don’t seem to be able to turn in at the right point yet, but I’ve got another two hours on the track tomorrow and I’m confident I’ll have my braking markers and turning points inch perfect by the time final qualifying comes around.”

Garry McCoy – 22nd – 1:38.956
“The bike is feeling pretty good, just like it was at the Barcelona tests last week, but Le Mans is a very different track, so there are a couple of things to compensate for here. We made a small set-up change for the start of the afternoon, but that didn’t really pay-off – it was slightly the wrong direction and I wasn’t fully comfortable. By the time we got the bike back to the way it felt in the morning I ran out of time and the plan to get one final fast lap in on a qualifier just didn’t come off. In the morning session I had some tyres that I was happy with, but then the track temperature went up and, combined with our set-up changes; it meant a faster time wasn’t to be.”

Harald Eckl – Team Manager
“Andrew did a good job for his first time at Le Mans, improving his riding and lap times as the day progressed. I’m happy about the way he concentrated very hard on working it all out. With Garry we tried something different, which was not the right set-up, so tomorrow I hope it will be better. The weather forecast is not so good for the next couple of days; it could be raining, so we’ll see how it works out. For both riders I think there is an opportunity for improvement tomorrow.”



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

HOPKINS BLASTS TO THIRD ROW AT LE MANS

Le Mans, France – Friday, May 23, 2003

Team Suzuki rider John Hopkins screwed up his courage after a difficult first day of practice for Sunday’s French GP, and switched to his spare bike to jump from near the bottom of the qualifying order to 11th place, securing a third-row start on the provisional grid.

Team-mate Kenny Roberts Junior was less than half-a-second slower round the twisty 4.180km Bugatti circuit at Le Mans, after setting adjustments to his Suzuki GSV-R MotoGP machine failed to give the required results. He was 17th, on row five.

Today’s grid positions could be final, because although the first timed practice session took place in mild and dry conditions, rain and cold weather are forecast for tomorrow. If so, then today’s lap times will determine the final starting order.

The fourth race of the season comes after extensive tests following the last round in Spain, as the team and factory work to release the potential of the all-new 2003 version of the 990cc V4 racer. The machine is a radical step forward from last year’s first version, and while the potential is clear, until now the correct setting combinations have proved elusive.

For Hopkins, the day was made harder still by niggling technical problems, both in the morning and the afternoon. Then, near the end of the session, his preferred bike gave another technical problem. The Californian (who turned 20 yesterday) had to run back to the pits and switch to his second machine for his gung-ho run.

Roberts had started the afternoon challenging for the front row, lying second fastest in the early part of the session. Then things started to go wrong, with setting changes that seemed to work against him. As other riders improved their times, he was stuck with what he had done already.

There is one more day of qualifying, before the race on Sunday.

JOHN HOPKINS – 11th Position, 1:36.673
I’d like to say things are good, but I had bike problems this morning that spoiled the free training. I was never able to get into a rhythm, nor to try set-up changes or tyres like I wanted to. The afternoon session started good. Off the bat I was doing pretty good times, using race tyres and putting together combinations of laps. I had my rhythm going … then the problems started again. I had to run back to the garage, and get on my other bike. That turned out to need some clutch adjustments, and when we had that done I barely made it out in time, but I was behind Max Biaggi, and I used him to gauge myself and managed to get a pretty decent lap time. It could be worse.

KENNY ROBERTS Jr. – 17th Position, 1:37.033
I don’t really have much to say. The bike is controlling me. At the beginning of the session, after the first run, we made some changes to settings, and after that I couldn’t ride the bike aggressively. By our position, I’d have to say that the improvements we found in the tests aren’t really working here.

BOB TOOMEY – Kenny Roberts’s Race Engineer
Kenny set some good times, then we made some changes – and though they seemed to be in the direction he wanted, when he tried for lap times, they just didn’t come.

GARRY TAYLOR – Team Manager
We wanted to get as much done in this session as possible because there is a strong possibility of rain tomorrow – but we didn’t achieve that. Kenny’s session started well, but the direction of setting changes didn’t pay off. John managed to improve his position fairly drastically in spite of having to change bikes late in the session, I suspect he did that by sheer aggression.

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

PRO HONDA OILS U.S. SUPERSPORT CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY SHOEI PROMISES TO BE A BARN BURNER AT PIKES PEAK

Seven riders within 20 points in the Championship point standings

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (May 23, 2003) –The Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship presented by Shoei at Pikes Peak International Raceway on June 1, might be one of the best races of the year. Traditionally Supersport has been one of the closest racing series in all of AMA racing. Throw in the fact that the nimble handling Supersport machines and their determined riders will be duking it out on the twisty 1.3-mile bullring circuit that is Pikes Peak and that the top seven riders are within 20 points in the championship as the season draws to the midway point, and you have the ingredients of an instant classic.

Yamaha teammates Jamie Hacking and Damon Buckmaster are tied atop the standings. Hacking had a commanding lead in the series before a crash at the most recent round at Road Atlanta caused him to finish 21st. Until that point Hacking had won two straight and was looking nearly invincible. Now the South Carolinian will have to regroup and see if he can rally to stay in front of the series. Hacking won at Pikes Peak, on a Yamaha, in 2000.

Buckmaster is still waiting to win his first AMA Supersport race. The one thing the Aussie rider has been in the series this year is consistent. He’s taken two runner-up finishes, a fourth and a sixth. That consistency has paid off with a share of the series lead – the first time he’s ever led this series. Look for Buckmaster who won a Superstock race at Pikes in 2000, to make a serious run at taking his first Supersport victory.

Perhaps the biggest surprise in Supersport racing this season has been the performance of young Ben Spies. The 18-year-old former AMA Horizon Award winner has gotten better with each outing on his factory Suzuki and at Road Atlanta he broke through to earn his first career AMA Supersport win. All of this has been on a machine that many called outdated compared to the newly designed Supersport bikes put out by the other three manufacturers this year. That victory moved him to within five points of Hacking and Buckmaster. Spies’ Yoshimura Suzuki is best known for its quick handling, so the twisty PPIR course could play right into his hand.

Look for Tommy Hayden to move up the ladder in the standings after Pikes Peak. The Kawasaki pilot loves this type of racetrack and he is the defending winner. The same can be said for Honda’s Miguel Duhamel. He’s still recovering from a collarbone injury suffered early in May at Infineon Raceway, but Duhamel has come back strong from injury before and he’s a proven winner at Pikes Peak.

Doug Chandler is ninth in the standings coming into this weekend’s race, but the veteran rider from Salinas, Calif., has long been a favorite at this track. He won his last AMA Superbike race here in 1999. If he manages to break through with a victory this week it would mark his first AMA Supersport win since 1998. Yamaha’s Aaron Gobert and Jason Disalvo and Honda-mounted Jake Zemke all are within striking distance of the championship, too, and will be doing everything possible to move up in the points in this pivotal race.

The Pikes Peak Supersport race will be shown live on Speed Channel Saturday, June 1 at 2 p.m. EST. For ticket information for the event call (888) 306-7223 or visit the website www.ppir.com.

From a press release:

Opie brightens patients’ stay at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta hospital

Atlanta, GA – Before hitting the track and ultimately stepping onto the podium with a third place finish at the Suzuki Superbike Showdown held at Road Atlanta, Chris ‘Opie’ Caylor stopped in for a visit at a local Atlanta children’s hospital. Caylor and his Team EMGO GSX-R750 were the main attraction in the lobby of the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite (Children’s).

A dozen patients and their families came from their rooms to meet Caylor and see what an AMA Superstock Series motorcycle looks like close up.

Displaying by his leathers, helmet and posters; Caylor spoke to the young patients and their families about motorcycle racing, safety and his racing experiences. After playing and narrating a race on video, Caylor passed out sponsor stickers, signed posters and answered questions from the energetic crowd.

“Will you look at that smile! You just can’t beat a smile like that,” Caylor said as he helped a young patient onto his GSX-R. She quickly forgot about the I.V. in her arm as she reached for the handlebars, making “vroooom vrooooom” sounds.

Between questions of “How fast can you go? Why do you drag your knee?” and “How do you lean over so far with out falling down?” Caylor was very surprised to learn from the staff that Children’s relies heavily upon donations to provide its acclaimed level of healthcare and groundbreaking research.

“It’s always an amazing feeling to introduce people to motorcycle racing and to let those who normally couldn’t see a race bike close up actually sit on one.” Caylor said. “It’s that much better when you’re livening up a kid’s hospital stay when you do it.”

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta enhances the lives of children through excellence in patient care, research and education. With 430 licensed beds in two hospitals and more than 18,000 annual hospital admissions, Children’s is one of the largest pediatric healthcare systems in the country. Children’s is recognized for excellence in cardiology, cancer treatment, transplant services and many other pediatric specialties. As a nonprofit organization, Children’s benefits from the generous philanthropic and volunteer support of our community and state, enabling us to enhance services and programs for children and their families. To learn more about Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, visit www.choa.org. For more about Opie Caylor and his team, visit www.chriscaylor.com.

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

YATES LEADS AMA CHEVY TRUCKS U.S. SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP INTO PIKES PEAK

Only 25 points separate top-five riders

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Yoshimura Suzuki’s Aaron Yates finds himself in uncharted territory coming into round eight of the 18-race AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship May 31 through June 1 at Pikes Peak International Raceway in Fountain, Colorado – he’s leading the series.

This is the first time in the eight years since Yates began competing in AMA Superbike that he’s led the series standings. Four podium finishes in the seven rounds leading up to Pikes Peak, including a victory in the first leg of the Road Atlanta Superbike doubleheader, has been Yates’ path to the series lead. Luck has helped Yates as well. His teammate, three-time AMA Superbike champion Mat Mladin, has been dominant so far this year, winning five races. But a tire failure at 170 mph at Road Atlanta sidelined Mladin and cost him the large points lead he’d built. Now the two Suzuki teammates are running nearly head-to-head in the middle of the championship season. Mladin’s woes in the first Road Atlanta race acted to tighten up the race for the title with the top five riders now within 25 points of one another.

Pikes Peak is a tight and twisty road course that favors a quick handling machine. It will be interesting to see how the big Suzuki GSX-Rs handle the small 1.3-mile circuit. “We’ve tested there and turned fast laps,” Yates said. “The GSX-R1000 accelerates so well that it should make it easier to pass on the short straights in Colorado.”

One rider who has mastered the course over the years is Kawasaki’s Eric Bostrom. Bostrom has won three AMA Superbike races at Pikes and is the only rider to earn multiple wins there. Bostrom comes into this Sunday’s race third in the standings. Another victory at PPIR would move Bostrom even closer to the goal of an AMA Superbike title he’s been trying to reach for five years.

Mladin didn’t waste anytime regrouping after his harrowing ride at Road Atlanta. The determined Australian came back the very next day and won the second leg of the doubleheader weekend and pulled back to within two points of Yates. Pikes Peak is one of the few tracks that Mladin has not been victorious. He was twice runner-up, in 1998 and again in 2000, but finished fourth in each of the other four races there since 1997. He’s hoping to break through with his first victory on Sunday.

For series leader Yates, Pikes Peak has been a mixed bag. Like Mladin, Yates has never won the Superbike race there. He finished second to Eric Bostrom last year and earned a third in 2000 after running second and letting teammate Mladin past him on the final lap to help Mladin’s bid at that year’s championship.

Is Yates feeling any added pressure from leading the championship for the first time in his career? “I’ve dealt with pressure before in the Supersport championship,” said Yates, the 2002 Pro Honda Oils Supersport champ. “There are still a lot of races left and the only pressure on me is to finish in front of Mat (Mladin).”

This will be Ben Bostrom’s first visit back to Pikes Peak since 1999. The Honda rider has never finished better than fifth at the circuit. His teammates have not fared much better. Kurtis Roberts’ only start came in 2001, where he finished sixth. Miguel Duhamel won the very first AMA Superbike race held at Pikes Peak in 1997, but hasn’t been close to the podium at the track since then. The gutsy Duhamel is recovering from a broken collarbone sustained at Infineon Raceway and the technical Pikes Peak course will be a real test. Duhamel sits sixth in the points and needs to stay close if he hopes to challenge for the championship.

The Pikes Peak Superbike race will be shown live on Speed Channel at 5 p.m. EST. For ticket information for the event call (888) 306-7223 or visit www.ppir.com.

Schedule of Events

AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship
Presented by Parts Unlimited
Cruise America AMA Superbikes

Pikes Peak International Raceway
May 30 – June 1, 2003

Thursday, May 29

3:00–7:00–Registration: Riders, Crew, Sponsors & Guests

3:00–7:00–Tech Inspection

Friday, May 30

7:30–4:00–Registration: Riders, Crew, Sponsors & Guests

10:00–Entries Close for all Classes

8:00–5:00–Tech Inspection

8:30–10:50–Practice:
1. Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport
2. Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme
3. Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock
4. MBNA 250 Grand Prix

11:00–12:00–Chevy Trucks Superbike Practice

12:00–1:00–Lunch Break

12:15–Mandatory Rider Briefing for All Classes

1:00–2:50–Practice (same order as morning session)

3:00–4:00–Chevy Trucks Superbike Qualifying

4:10–5:00–Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Qualifying

Saturday, May 31

7:30–3:00–Registration: Riders, Crew, Sponsors & Guests

8:00–5:00–Tech Inspection

8:30–9:50–Practice:
1. Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport
2. Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme
3. Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock
4. MBNA 250 Grand Prix

10:00–10:50–Chevy Trucks Superbike Practice

11:00–11:30–Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport Qualifying, Group 1

11:40–12:10–Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport Qualifying, Group 2

12:10–1:10–Lunch Break

3:50–4:20–Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock Qualifying, Group 1

4:30–5:00–Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock Qualifying, Group 2

1:10–2:10–Chevy Trucks Superbike Qualifying

3:10–3:40–MBNA 250 Grand Prix Qualifying

4:00–Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme (60k – 29 laps)

Sunday, June 1

8:30–12:00–Registration: Crew, Sponsors & Guests

9:00–Tech Inspection Opens

9:00–11:00–Practice:
1. Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport
2. MBNA 250 Grand Prix
3. Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock
4. Chevy Trucks Superbike

11:00–Lunch Break

11:20–Nondenominational Chapel Service

12:00–FINAL EVENTS:

Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport Championship presented by Shoei Helmets Race (60k – 29 laps)

MBNA 250 Grand Prix (60k – 29 laps)

Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock Race (60k – 29 laps)

3:00–Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited (100k – 48 laps)

About 300 linear feet of Airfence inflatable soft barrier is being deployed at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois today, for use during the AMA Pro Racing Mile dirt track race this weekend.

The Roadracing World Action Fund made a soft-barrier deployment deal with the Illinois Motorcycle Dealers Association (IMDA), which promotes the race, after AMA Pro Racing declined an offer of soft barrier funding for dirt track use.

The deal between the Roadacing World Action Fund and the IMDA was brokered by AMA Grand National Champion Chris Carr, who is on the Board of Directors of the Roadracing World Action Fund.

The actual deployment of the Airfence soft barriers at Springfield is being directed by Dan Lance, who is being paid by the Roadracing World Action Fund.

The deployment is part of an educational program designed to demonstrate the safety and economic advantages of using soft barriers in front of walls lining racetracks.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION:

From four-time AMA 250cc Grand Prix Champion Rich Oliver, via e-mail:

There was a guy walking around the pits at Road
Atlanta last weekend wearing a T-shirt that said,
“Anyone but Mladin.”

I don’t think he’s a fan of Mat’s, but he did have it right in some ways.

Mat’s the Superbike points leader who saved a huge high-speed crash when his tire let go at 175 mph.

Maybe anyone else but Mladin would have bailed off, and not been able to wrestle their Superbike to a low-speed crash instead of a high-speed disaster. Mat pulled it off.

Then he tried to dig himself and the bike out of the pea gravel, to get back to the pits for another try, but the bike just wouldn’t come out and he walked back down the hill, on camera, with a strained smile on his face anyway. Anyone but Mladin may not have been able to pull that off.

Then the next day instead of being leery of the tire, he goes out and smokes off quick time in the morning session, and comes back out and wins the race even with a fogging visor. Anyone but Mladin didn’t seem to do that, either.

In the winners’ circle Mat and his wife smiled a
little at each other. You could see from the way she looked at him that she understood what her husband had just done.

I wonder if the guy sporting the T-shirt ever had that look from his wife.

I would quess probably not…

Rich Oliver




And now, some reader reaction, via e-mail:

I wouldn’t wear a T-shirt like Rich Oliver described but here is another opinion on Mat. Many of us avid U.S. race fans would love to love Mat like we do Miguel, Anthony, and others from outside the U.S. He is cut of the same cloth as probably the top 4 or 5 riders in the world and I love to watch him ride a motorcycle as only the very blessed can.

I just wish that he could be a bit more understanding of us mortals when he gives his opinion. He is almost always right in what he says, but it’s not always well received because of the way it is said.

I know he probably could care less what I think, but I would like to be able to be a fan of his for more than just his considerable riding prowess. It just makes going to the races and being a fan that much more fun for me.

Larry Gilbert
Orlando, Florida



After reading Rich Oliver’s take on T-shirts worn by fans declaring support for ‘Anyone but Mladin’ I feel that I had to reply to agree with the fan and the T-shirt.

It isn’t that we don’t like Mat as a person, but there are several things in play here:

1) Mat is the Tony Stewart of motorcycle racing. He does not want to be a poster-child for AMA racing. Mat does not display any great effort to support nor grow the sport and U.S. racing. To the contrary he brings attention to all the things wrong with it. He complains about sub-standard equipment, then when he wins he doesn’t seem much better (See podium at Fontana).

3) To a certain extent there is an expectation that great AMA riders should get picked up for World rides, helping parity along. Combine this expectation with a ‘Foggy’-like distain for Americans (and our tracks) that Mladin periodically displays leaves me wondering ‘Why is this guy still here?’

2) AMA Superbike racing needs more parity. Mat’s dynasty years have felt much like the two-wheeled equivalent of Formula One racing where Ferrari doesn’t win only when they break or crash. AMA racing will not reach its potential for growth if the races are boring and the result basically pre-determined.

In short I pull for ‘Anyone but Mladin’ in the interest of the sport. Where can I get one of those T-shirts?

J. Greissing
Fremont, California



Somebody saw Mladin smile?

Mark your calendar!

Tyler Sandell
Seattle, Washington

From a press release:

Kyle Racing is proud to announce on May 23, 2003, we sold our 1000th Ohlins shock.

In celebration of this for the next 30 days, for each shock or fork sold, we will donate $50 to the Roadracing World Action Fund.

We have been selling Ohlins shocks, forks and steering dampers for 5 years. This long relationship with Ohlins, as well as being the largest Ohlins retailer in the USA, allows us to both have the lowest prices and ship shocks ready to ride with the correct springs and valving at no extra cost.

Thanks to all of our customers for their support.

Dan Kyle
Kyle Racing
www.kyleusa.com
801 B California Avenue
Sand City, CA 93955
Tel: (831) 394-1330
Fax: (831) 394-1331
Email: [email protected]

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION:

Via e-mail

1997, WERA GNF, Road Atlanta, my son Gordy Lunde, Jr. hits a concrete wall barely protected by haybales and dies from his injuries. The track owners immediately changed the track. Thank you, but it was a little late. Last year two racers are injured and the track owners changed the track. Now we have a rider injured in the “new” section that was changed to prevent injuries …. the day “after” a bike hits the same wall!

Isn’t this going to get real expensive changing the track every time someone hits a wall? Or wouldn’t it be better to eliminate some walls or at least do a damn better job of protecting them? Oh wait, the walls don’t need protection, the riders do!

Who the hell does a track inspection before a race is held? Anyone? The person who did it, if any, is the one that should be held responsible for this latest fiasco. It’s not real hard to pick out contact points w/walls etc. if you just do a track ride (not drive) and look it over closely. A bare concrete wall straight ahead of you entering a turn should put up a huge red flag in your eyes.

How many racers will have to be injured or killed before the tracks and race organizations in this country wake up and realize changes need to be made for motorcycle racing? Not just band aids but real changes to improve safety for all participants.

The lack of any change, no attempt whatsoever by the track or AMA to make the area safer at Road Atlanta after a bike hit that unprotected barrier borders on criminal!

Just my .02 cents but damn it, I miss my son!

Good luck, Woody.

Gordon Lunde
Wegman Benefit Fund
Milwaukee, Wisconsin


Editorial note: Gordy, we miss your son, too.