Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION:

Via e-mail

Here’s a few more thoughts on the walls at Atlanta:

I raced in the very first AMA National at Atlanta in 1971 and thought it to be one of the best racetracks and facilities on the circuit at the time. But speeds have increased and changes have been made to keep up with progress. That I understand. What I am unclear about is how a track change is approved for use in AMA Nationals?

Gordon Lunde made some very good points in his letter and I’d like to take those even a step farther. He is so right that a motorcycle needs to be used to spot danger points, but you have to do more than send someone out on a Gold Wing or a Buell to see where the problems are. On a streetbike those walls look like they are mile away. And the “pilot” needs to be someone with the experience of seeing that stuff at speed. Names like Mladin, Duhamel, Roberts, Yates, and a couple of Bostroms come to mind.

I don’t know if these guys were in the loop on the changes at Atlanta or not? Maybe they were. I was very impressed by the way that California Speedway worked with these guys and AMA Pro Racing to make the changes there this past year and that seemed to work pretty well.

I would hope that some policy could be put in place that establishes some group of riders that would be consulted on any change to any previously approved race track. The FIM has just this week announced a Rider Safety Committee for MotoGP and I would encourage AMA Pro Racing to follow their lead.

Another point to note is that danger points on a dry track can differ from a wet track. Ask Miguel Duhamel how much farther a rider can slide on wet pavement. When tracks are reviewed, the danger points need to looked at with the assumption that it can rain. At a minimum, an additional supply of haybales and/or Airfence needs to be on hand if it does rain. I know that takes time to set up, so really a track needs to be outfitted assuming it will rain.

As I read the letters coming in about Woody’s crash at Atlanta, one message is clear, the AMA’s supply of Airfence as well as that provided by the Roadracing World Action Fund program is still insufficient to keep riders out of the fences. So we need to keep the campaign going until riders no longer are making direct contact with walls and fences. I lost too many friends in my racing days to fences and here we are today talking about the same problems.

Gordon, we all agonized with you when your son was killed and also wish the best for Woody Deatherage.

Put me down for another $500 on the Roadracing World Action Fund campaign and I challenge others who read this to join me.

Don Emde

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Suzuki MotoGP racer John “Hopper” Hopkins turns 20 years old today.

Hopkins was born May 22, 1983 in Ramona, California, shortly after his parents, Roy and Linda, emigrated from Acton, London, England. Hopkins’ father, an Isle of Man TT winner, passed away when John was 12 years old. Hopkins’ mother resides at the emerging star’s ranch in Ramona, California.

Hopkins got his AMA Pro road racing license when he turned 16 in 1999, immediately started finishing well in AMA 600cc Supersport and 750cc Supersport races and won the 1999 Aprilia Challenge Cup Championship. In 2000, Hopkins won the AMA 750cc Supersport Championship and also won seven out of 12 Formula USA Unlimited Superbike races. In 2001, Hopkins won the AMA Formula Xtreme Championship and tested with the Red Bull Yamaha 500cc Grand Prix team.

At age 18, Hopkins joined the Red Bull Yamaha team for the 2002 FIM MotoGP World Championship and scored points in 12 of 15 race starts with a best qualifying result of sixth (Catalunya, Donington Park), and a best race finish of seventh (Assen).

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Racer and Roadracing World contributor Beth Wyse and boyfriend Craig Cranmer became engaged on May 15. The couple is planning a Spring, 2004 wedding.

CCS racer Devin Simon and longtime girlfriend Erica Thomas became engaged on April 5. The couple is planning a November 28 wedding in Chicago, Illinois.

From a press release:

SUPERBIKE AND SUPERSPORT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS:

Philosophy & Mission

Following the Press Conference held on the 21st May, chaired by the FIM President Mr Francesco Zerbi, FGSPORT confirms that they are in total agreement with the FIM. Furthermore FGSPORT wish to reaffirm their commitment thereby ensuring that the philosophy and mission of the Superbike and Supersport World Championships remain both now and in the future based on the basic principles stated by President Zerbi in Geneva both now and in the future.

In summary:

–WORLD SUPERBIKE represents the competitive tradition of the products on sale and therefore, the tool to promote specific models through racing which, although technologically sophisticated, maintain a direct link with the excellence of sports production;

–MOTOGP represents the peak of technology, encouraging development and promotion of the manufacturer’s image through the exclusive use of prototype bikes.

This distinction has very important implications:

1) World Superbike and MOTOGP are, and will continue to be, two distinct championships with their own particular personalities, not merely in terms of what happens on the track but also in terms of what happens with the event viewed in its entirety.

2) As agreed with the FIM and the manufacturers, motorcycles participating in the Superbike World Championship are, and will continue to be, based on mass-produced models. This will also enable the coordination of the Technical Rules with those applied to the most important National Championships in order for those to rely on the availability of a large number of motorcycles and therefore, successfully expand motorcycle sport and the development of new young talents.

3) The World Supersport Championship will continue to remain an exclusive property of FGSPORT. Should new categories be introduced into other World Championships in future, substituting existing classes, the machines competing would nevertheless be prototypes not derived from the production machines.


The Superbike World Championship’s current achievements can be categorized as follows:
– 12 Rounds on the 4 Continents
– 2 Billion Worldwide Television Viewers
– 88 Television Networks covering 173 Countries
– 1,908 Broadcast hours during 2002 with a Television Media Value of US$ 593 Million
– 1,100,000 Race Spectators during 2002
– 25 Million Internet page views

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Via e-mail

The Ontrack System (Pat. U.S.) is a portable laser wheel alignment system designed for baseline chassis set-up as well as crash damage assessment. To emphasize the safety aspects of this product the manufacturer has announced a Race Team Support Program. As part of this program, they will provide a licensed road racer discount as well as a donation of $25 to the Roadracing World Action Fund for each Ontrack unit sold for competition end use.

Visit the website of BBVR Performance Products, LLC at www.get-ontrack.com, or call 860-918-2989.

Mark Bremer
BBVR Performance Products, LLC
Higganum, Connecticut

From a press release issued by Brainerd International Raceway:

Viking Coke, Grand Casino join BIR as track sponsors

BRAINERD, Minn. – Brainerd International Raceway officials announced that Viking Coke and Grand Casino have signed on as track sponsors.

Brainerd-based Viking Coke renewed its sponsorship, signing on for another three years. Grand Casino, based in Onamia, Minn., signed a one-year commitment. As part of their sponsorships, Viking Coke and Grand Casino will co-sponsor BIR’s Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event June 6-8. The Lucas Oil race features the top drivers from the National Hot Rod Association’s 11-state Midwest division who compete for valuable circuit points in Top Alcohol dragsters and Funny Cars, as well as a variety of Sportsman categories.

“We have relationships with Viking Coke and Grand Casino that date back many years, so we’re excited that they’ve agreed to continue supporting the world-class racing that takes place here,” BIR General Manager Scott Quick said. “We can’t say enough about the integrity and class that these two organizations bring to BIR.”

Viking Coke has had a presence at BIR over the last 10 years but chose to increase its sponsorship after Coca-Cola’s POWERade became the title sponsor of the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, which features the top drag racers in the world.

“When POWERade became the title sponsor of the national series, we wanted to become more involved at the track and tie in to the national sponsorship locally,” said Mark Jeffers, sales center manager for the Brainerd office.

“The track has had a long-standing relationship with the community and we’d like to be part of that. Our goal is to help the track continue to move that relationship forward,” he added.

Grand Casino and BIR also has a relationship that dates back nearly a decade, but the casino hasn’t had a presence at the track for the last several years. That will change this summer as Grand Casino recognized that a sponsorship would re-establish a valuable partnership and increase its visibility in the Brainerd Lakes Area.

“The Brainerd Lakes Area has always been very supportive of Grand Casino, and now this is our turn to support this community,” said Brad Kalk, general manager of Grand Casino Mille Lacs. “We want to show our support of the Brainerd area and motorsports, which is an important component of life in central Minnesota.”

BIR is a subsidiary of Michigan-based Sports Resorts International Inc., a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ exchange (SPRI). Now in its 34th season, BIR is one of North America’s largest racetracks, featuring 800 acres of rustic camping, 159 full-service RV sites and on-site condos. BIR is about 120 miles north of the Twin Cities, and it now has a new concrete drag strip that is one of the flattest and fastest in the country. Visit www.brainerdraceway.com.

From a press release issued by Tom Clancy of Augusta Triumph-Ducati:

I would like to announce just how pleased we are with Steven Breckenridge as our rider in the AMA Supersport race at Road Atlanta. His 17th place finish is incredible. This was his first race ever on the Augusta Triumph-Ducati 2002 Triumph TT600 and also his first race on Bridgestone tires as well.

Steven has shown a most professional approach to our endeavors and is a delight to work with. I would also like to thank Mike Moree for his tireless efforts in preparing our motorcycles. We all had hoped to debut the new Triumph Daytona 600 at this venue; but were unable to do so at this time.

Thanks to Road Atlanta and the AMA for letting us all do the things we love.

From a press release issued by Honda Racing Information:

French Grand Prix at Le Mans
May 23/24/25 2003

ROSSI LEADS MotoGP PACK TO LE MANS

As the momentum of the European based MotoGP races accelerates to the second level at the Le Mans circuit this weekend, world championship leader Valentino Rossi (Repsol Honda RC211V), and a strong list of his fellow Honda entrants, approach the race with understandably high levels of confidence.

Recent events have given the 2003 MotoGP season an enhanced sense of purpose and focus and after the biggest trackside spectator festival of the season at a flowing and rhythmical Jerez, Le Mans presents an altogether different obstacle. Tight and twisty, with many stop-go corners, Le Mans is a favourite of few, but the same challenge for all.

Honda men pack the top ten in this year’s championship standings, even after only three of 16 races. Rossi, something of a modern day racing phenomenon, carries the highest points haul so far, leading Max Biaggi (Camel Pramac Pons RC211V) 70 to 56. Neither rider has been off the podium yet, with Rossi winning at Suzuka and Jerez, while fourth place rider overall, Sete Gibernau (Telefonica Movistar Honda RC211V), took an emotional win at Welkom in South Africa in round two.

Le Mans hosts the French GP for the 15th time, having shared the event over the years with seven other circuits. In last year’s MotoGP race rain brought about a premature finish after 21 of a scheduled 28 laps and thus delivered the win to Rossi. Despite this success the 2002 World Champion does not rate the slow sections and tight corners of the Bugatti circuit, a very much shorter 4.18km version of the classic 24-Hour car racing loop. “It’s good to be where we are after three races, especially before Le Mans – which is not my favourite track – in fact I don’t really like it that much at all,” admitted Rossi. ” I won there last year, but that was mainly because I managed to get to the front and then the rain fell and they stopped the race, which was lucky for me.”

Despite Rossi’s great start to the season, realism shines through in his thoughts about how tough this year’s competition is. “The team is working well and the bike feels good, but there are many competitive riders and machines,” acknowledged Rossi. “Things never get easier and we have to keep up the pressure on them all from the front – the championship is a long one and we have only just begun to see what might happen.” With a lack of testing opportunities at the Le Mans track, most riders will nevertheless have access to data from last year’s race, held during the first season of MotoGP’s return to a four-stroke formula. Many Honda riders this year are nonetheless sampling the delights of the championship-winning RC211V V5 for the first time.

One such rider who has not had the luxury of previous Le Mans experience on the V5 is Biaggi. Despite this fact the Italian has finished inside the top three after all qualifying and race situations thus far. “The team is working really well and we’ll need to keep the pressure on at Le Mans,” said Biaggi. “We haven’t been there with this bike, but the more we work together the more we learn. I think we’ll make even more progress there.”

Sete Gibernau’s win at Welkom was followed by a fall at his home race in Jerez, however the tough Spaniard is already looking for ways to get back to the top of the podium. “We weighted the front of the bike more in Jerez and that made it harder to turn, so we’ll be working more on that at Le Mans,” quoted the Catalan rider. ” I still have to adapt to the new bike and the more I ride it the better it gets.”

Tohru Ukawa (Camel Pramac Pons RC211V) has not enjoyed the same lightning start he made to the 2002 season, and is looking for his first podium score. “I’m gradually getting better after a slow start to the season,” confirmed Ukawa. “The testing in Jerez helped and I think I can be on the pace from the start in France. I’ve got to sort my early laps out and go fast right from the beginning and if I can do that then I’ll be trying my best for a podium at Le Mans.”

Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC211V) has enjoyed and endured the highs and lows expected in any rider’s rookie season, especially in this class of racing. His willingness to learn and positive attitude towards the task have made a big impression in MotoGP, earned him eighth overall so far, and his natural enthusiasm shines through in his pre-race comments. “I can’t wait to get to Le Mans after a hard weekend in Spain and I’m just really looking forward to getting back on the bike,” stated the 2002 AMA Superbike Champion. “I haven’t been able to train as much as I’d like over the last weeks because my foot is still banged up a bit, but it’s all getting better and I’m sure it will be no problem at the race.”

Makoto Tamada (Pramac Honda RC 211V) has been impressive on Bridgestone tyres this season and is another MotoGP rookie making a good transition to the premier class of world motorcycling – having scored sixth place at Jerez. “The result at Jerez was a big motivation for us to continue working on the development of these tyres, and a huge motivation for Bridgestone,” said Tamada. “Even if I know nothing about the Le Mans circuit the result at Jerez is confirmation that all of us in the team are working together in the right way.”

The MotoGP entry list for Le Mans and beyond includes a new name in the Telefonica Movistar Honda team, a name that is well known in All-Japan competition. The rider in question, Ryuichi Kiyonari, also came to global attention after scoring second in the World Supersport Championship race at Sugo on April 27 as a wild card rider.

The 20-year-old All-Japan Supersport Champion is excited by the prospect of running the premier GP class this early in his career. “When I found out that it was decided I’d be joining the MotoGP team, it was really sudden. I was both surprised and really happy. What I’m feeling right now is more a kind of impatience to get going rather than nervousness. First I have to get used to the new situation, then I hope to keep on riding as I have been.”

In the 250cc class each Honda rider will rely on the handling prowess of their machines to make up time around Le Mans’ many slower corners. The RS250RW’s best result so far has been second, thanks to the Jerez efforts of Italian rider Roberto Rolfo (Fortuna Honda RS250RW), a result which mirrors his current championship position.

Rolfo acknowledges that Le Mans may not be the ideal track for his racing package at present, but that he has some advantages to try and maximise. “Le Mans is a track I don’t like too much. You need a lot of acceleration off all the slow corners at that track. Right now that’s where we are suffering a bit. The chassis and suspension on the RS250RW is really good which compensates for that a little bit but Le Mans will be hard work. Le Mans can be wet at this time of year. Not that I want it to rain but if it does it will make things a little more equal.”

Sebastian Porto (Telefonica Movistar Junior Team RS250RW) went from second in the championship to fourth after finishing in sixth place at Jerez, but is determined to promote himself up the rankings. “After Jerez I am especially keen to have a better result at Le Mans,” stated Porto. “We will try our best as always, in qualifying and the race and I will be aiming to get back into second place overall.”

Daniel Pedrosa (Telefonica Movistar Junior Team RS125R) enters the le Mans race in a close second place, after scoring sixth in his home race, on the back of his first 2003 win at Welkom. He is another rider that finds the nature of the track more of a challenge for the machine than the man. “Le Mans is nice and simple really, but only the beginning of the track really flows,” he informs. “The end section is complicated and the whole thing is pretty hard work. It’s not a favourite of mine. You need good acceleration and a really good chassis set-up on the brakes. But if you’ve got the power then you have the advantage.”

In fourth place in the championship hunt, Welkom runner-up Andrea Dovizioso (Honda RS125R) is looking forward to Le Mans as much as he was happy to get Jerez over with. “I will be better in Le Mans than at Jerez. For a start I will be rid of this fever that I have had all weekend in Spain. There are corners at the Le Mans track a little like Welkom, and the set up will be close to that, so I will start off confidently.”

Mika Kallio (Ajo Motorsports Honda RS125R) adds his name to the list of riders who find Le Mans something of a ‘nothing’ circuit. Mika Kallio: “Le Mans is not one of my favourite tracks, it’s all stop and go, it just doesn’t flow nicely,” he confesses. “I got eighth there last year so there must be something about it I like. We have found the cause of our front end suspension problems so that will help me with braking into all the slow corners at Le Mans.”

The experience of veteran Masao Azuma (Ajo Motorsports Honda RS125R) tells him that Le Mans is a particular challenge to the set-up of the machine. “Last year I had a very good race to fifth at Le Mans, I hope for the same conditions as last year, then I will do well,” said Azuma, winner of the Rio GP in 2002. For that track everything has to be good. Engine power, chassis geometry and suspension, brakes, in fact everything”



More, from a press release issued by Proton Team KR:

Proton Team KR riders – fresh from an unexpectedly strong two-stroke performance at Jerez – are prepared to race the KR3 500cc machine again at Le Mans. But they know they are approaching the end of one era and the start of another.

In the fortnight since the Spanish GP, both Jeremy McWilliams and Nobuatsu Aoki have ridden the all-new V5 four-stroke challenger at shake-down tests in England. And the feeling of the power alone was enough to change the mood of the team.

There was a slender chance that the team would have four-strokes at Le Mans. The full force of the team was engaged in day by day development on the bike in the week before the race. With teething problems arising and being solved one by one, the goal was to have the new machines at the French track, unless insoluble problems intervened.

At the same time, a full complement of KR3 two-strokes had already left for the famous circuit in the west of France. If the four-strokes are still too green to take part, the trusty lightweight two-strokes will be available for one more race … at a twisty track where the KR3’s nimble handling pays dividends. Last year Aoki was sixth at Le Mans, the machine’s best result of the year.

Development of the new machine has taken place at record speed, with the engine running for the first time only in January. Since then, even while the race team has been taking part in the first three GPs, round-the-clock development back at Banbury base has taken the motor through exhaustive dynamometer tests, and seen the compact unit mated to the purpose-built new chassis.

A variety of detail problems – only to be expected with a project of this sort – delayed rolling tests until after the Spanish GP. Results were more than promising, but nobody in the team is under any illusions that the first stage of development is over.

“We’ve been running at a local airfield, and also at a small closed circuit,” said team manager Chuck Aksland on Tuesday. “We’ve had a couple of problems, but overall we’re making a lot of progress, and fixing things as we go along.

“Both riders were really impressed with the feel of the engine, and of the bike as a whole, and everything is pretty satisfactory.

“We just don’t know at this stage whether we will be able to bring the new machine to Le Mans – but everybody hopes it will be possible.”

The French GP, at the tight Bugatti circuit that shares the pit complex of the famous 24-hour car track, is the fourth of 16 rounds this season, the second in which the premier class has been open to 990cc four-strokes as well as the traditional 500cc two-strokes.

Ironically, the Proton KR3 lightweight alternative to the big factory V4 500s had its best ever season last year, with new riders McWilliams and Aoki earning widespread respect for their giant-killing efforts. But the bigger new bikes were considerably faster, and the writing was on the wall.

In October last year, team owner Kenny Roberts – himself three times 500cc World Champion – announced the intention to build their own four-stroke contender, with the full support of Malaysian sponsors Proton Cars.


Jeremy McWilliams
I’ve ridden the four-stroke now, and I was very impressed. It felt right … as though the design was right, with a lovely low-centre-of-gravity feeling. At first it was just straight-line stuff, and it was so strong, much stronger than the two-stroke in that it just keeps on pulling. I went up to about 14,000rpm in sixth … 290km/h or so, and it gets there so fast. That’s with the engine in a fairly low state of tune. There’s still a lot more power available from tweaking it. It’d be nice to get it to Le Mans and get into the top 15 in its first race … but it’s not the end of the world if we have to ride the two-stroke at Le Mans. In Spain it proved it’s still half-competitive with the new bikes. I’d be more concerned about the upcoming tracks at Mugello and Barcelona, where you need a bit more speed. Let’s hope it all goes right.


Nobuatsu Aoki
The new bike is very impressive, especially because of the power. It is much more than I expected, and that’s good for me. Also the way it responds to the throttle is very good. Another surprise was how tiny the whole package is – I felt comfortable on it right away, and I am really looking forward to getting more miles on it and starting to race it. If we’re racing the two-stroke in France, I’ll try to do well again, as at Jerez. But it will be more difficult than last year, with many more four-strokes, and everybody getting more used to them now.

From a press release issued by FIM:

May 21, 2003

Press Conference of the FIM President

A Press Conference was held today by FIM President Francesco Zerbi at the Hotel Crowne Plaza in Geneva, in the presence of the following persons: Messrs. Guy Maitre (FIM Chief Executive Officer), Leandro Scomazzon (representing Mr. Ivano Beggio, President of the Motorcycle Sport Manufacturers Association (MSMA), Carmelo Ezpeleta (Dorna CEO Managing Director), Maurizio Flammini (FGSport Chairman), Paolo Flammini (FGSport Chief Executive Officer), Claude Danis (FIM Road Racing Commission President, Circuit Inspector, Safety Officer in GP and SBK), Giuseppe Luongo (Youthstream President), Wolfgang Srb (FIM Motocross Commission President), Joan Cuscó (Octagon-Esedos President), Ignacio Verneda (FIM Trial Commission President), Oriol Puig Bulto (FIM International Technical Panel President) and Giancarlo Pasini (FIM International Environment Commission President).

During the Press Conference, Mr Zerbi notably stressed several issues concerning the leading role and the responsibility of the FIM, questions of safety and evolution of the rules, particularly the technical rules, as well as the collaboration with the promoters of the Championships:

“The FIM organises the World Championships with the help of its promoters. To all of them are given commercial and television rights, excluding every other right. Furthermore, they have the right to participate in the Commissions relating to their discipline and the Permanent Bureau of the respective World Championship. These Commissions are composed of a representative of the FIM, the promoter, the teams and the manufacturers. They can make suggestions to the Permanent Bureau formed by the FIM and the promoter for changes in the regulations that are considered necessary. If the Commission takes a unanimous decision, the Permanent Bureau approves it, otherwise it is the task of the Permanent Bureau to approve or disapprove such a decision. So the final decision is only taken by the FIM. This is done to make events: safer, more valid from the sporting point of view, more promotional, more interesting not only for the fans, more suitable to the interests of competitors, more spectacular.

“It is fundamental that the responsibility of managing these interests is assumed by the FIM in the same way as all the other International Federations which, whilst pursuing their own goals, must ensure that these goals never interfere or go against the main interests, which are safety and the sport itself.

“It is to be mentioned that the European Union, within the framework of the Nice agreements, recognises the exclusive competence of the International Sporting Federations to establish the rules concerning their sport.

“This is why the FIM has never abdicated or sold its right to establish the rules of the game; it has not done it nor could do it. Whenever the FIM intervenes in changing the rules it is done in the interest of everybody, though it may be seen to favour one or the other party.

“The manufacturers cannot do without the riders, the riders cannot do without the manufacturers, and none of them can do without television and sponsors. In this axiom, the FIM must assume the responsibility for regulating everybody’s interests. In so doing, the FIM continuously needs to seek the cooperation and professionalism of everyone concerned, while each party is expected to take on its own responsibility with no impositions nor presumptions. I insist on the fact that nobody can do without all the others.

“It may be damaging to think that one championship is more important than the others as well as it is damaging that one party wants to be more important than the others. For the sport and the FIM, the competitors or the fans, every discipline is as equally important as another even though each of them has its peculiarity and /or it is especially attractive to someone and less attractive to somebody else.

“This is the reason why the FIM will not allow any confusion or antagonism to occur among the different Championships: the Road Racing Grand Prix will remain as it is and it will develop in the field of prototypes that have nothing to do with the motorcycles that derive from the production series (Superbike) and production motorcycles (Supersport).

“FIM technicians, together with those appointed by the manufacturers, will work to make motorcycles safer. In this respect, the FIM will gather very shortly together the manufacturers and promoters concerned (Grand Prix and Superbike) for a brainstorming in order to discuss the new rules that will run the two Championships, bearing in mind the technological evolution but also, and principally, the safety aspects.

“Superbike rules must be more simple and less expensive, like the Superbike rules in force in the United States, Japan or Great Britain. But if the rules must be changed, it should be made without stopping the technological progress. Both Championships must be kept separate, improving their differences, but working together on the evolution of the rules.

“The FIM will continue to manage the motorcycling sport assuming the burden of such a responsibility, through its Commissions or through the Commissions and the Permanent Bureau established by contract with the promoters in order to represent all those who take part in the motorcycling sport. On the other hand, the FIM expects all the representatives, included the riders, to play a more active and responsible role as Franco Uncini has been doing for the riders in a responsible and professional way. He is also testifying to the efforts that the FIM is doing with the help of Claude Danis in supporting his justified requests for ensuring the highest standards of safety in the circuits suitable to the new increased power, speed and characteristics of motorcycles.

“In this respect, after receiving a specific request from the riders to approve the creation of a Commission formed by the riders themselves, the FIM officially declares today its approval and also declares to accept the riders chosen, namely Valentino Rossi, Sete Gibernau, Kenny Roberts and Nobuatsu Aoki, as representatives of this Commission. On the other hand, the FIM has established the Grand Prix Safety Commission, formed by the representatives chosen by the riders, by a manufacturer representative and by a promoter representative (Dorna). A FIM representative will coordinate the work of this Commission.

“Finally, regarding Motocross, the agreement between Dorna Off-Road and the FIM concerning the Motocross World Championship and the Motocross of Nations will be terminated on December 31 next.

“The new promoter as from January 2004 will be the company Youthstream. Youthstream is currently the promoter of the Supermoto World Championship and the Snowcross World Cup.

“Dorna will keep the rights for the Supercross World Championship.”