Former Daytona 200 winner Don Emde has memorialized Jarno Saarinen and Renzo Pasolini with a donation to the Roadracing World Action Fund for deployment of soft barriers at racetracks around the country.

Saarinen and Pasolini died in a crash at Monza on this day in 1973 when they hit oil that race organizers refused to acknowledge or clean up despite warnings from riders in a previous race.

The story of the incident that took their lives appears on PartsMag.com, a website which Emde’s company operates for Parts Unlimited.

In making the donation, Emde wrote, “As today is the 30th anniversary of the 1973 tragedy at Monza, I’d like to pledge an additional $500 to my earlier contribution to the Airfence fund.

“If possible please list as: In memory of Jarno Saarinen and Renzo Pasolini, who died May 20, 1973.”

From a press release issued by Ducati Corsa:

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

DUCATI MARLBORO MEN AIM TO CONTINUE AMAZING FORM

The 2003 MotoGP World Championship reaches one-quarter distance in France this weekend, the Ducati Marlboro Team having already firmly established itself as a major player in the series.

Following history-making performances at the first three GPs – including Ducati’s first-ever pole position in Grand Prix racing’s premier class – riders Troy Bayliss and Loris Capirossi come to France aiming to continue their remarkable progress with the amazing Ducati Desmosedici. The machine has already led the Japanese, Africa’s and Spanish GPs, and its astoundingly powerful engine will be vital at Le Mans, where acceleration is one of the most crucial performance factors.

After Le Mans the MotoGP circus moves to Italy for the Ducati Marlboro Team’s home Grand Prix at Mugello. The 16-event 2003 season concludes at Valencia, Spain, on November 2.

LE MANS – ANOTHER UNKNOWN QUANTITY
It has taken just three races for Ducati Marlboro Team riders Troy Bayliss and Loris Capirossi to prove the performance of the Desmosedici. Indeed the Australian and Italian have grabbed the headlines wherever they’ve been on the 220-plus horsepower V4.

During preseason testing the machine recorded the fastest top speed ever achieved by a GP bike – 328.2kmh/203.9mph – then at April’s season-opening Japanese GP Capirossi gave the bike a podium finish in its race debut. Three weeks later in South Africa he put it on the front row for the first time and a fortnight ago in Spain he made history by giving the legendary Italian marque its first MotoGP pole. Bayliss qualified second at Jerez, just one hundredth of a second slower and went on to score his first GP podium finish to put himself third in the points chase. Ducati currently lie second in the manufacturers’ World Championship, a position that belies the marque’s ‘rookie’ status in MotoGP.

But this weekend’s French GP won’t be an easy event for the Ducati Marlboro Team. Many of the Bologna-based crew have never even seen the legendary Le Mans circuit, so they will start from zero on Friday morning.

“We’ve never been to Le Mans, just like we’d never been to Welkom when we went to South Africa,” says Ducati Marlboro Team director Livio Suppo. “But the first three races seem to tell us that the bike does adapt well from one track to another.

“We’ve been under a lot of pressure these last few months, working very hard during the winter, but I think we can now say that we are at a good level. Of course, you’re never happy – at Jerez we had an amazing Saturday, qualifying first and second, but Sunday wasn’t so great, even if a podium finish is a good result for a young team. Despite the pressure there’s a great atmosphere in our pit – everyone’s happy.”

Ducati Marlboro Team technical director Corrado Cecchinelli also expects a challenging Le Mans weekend, but is confident that the Desmosedici will perform well at a track that places the emphasis on straight-line acceleration and braking stability.

“Our bike’s acceleration looks good compared to other machines – we don’t have a problem with absolute performance,” he says. “But our main concern is to find a set-up balance that allows our riders to achieve optimum performance over race distance, rather than for one or two laps. It’s a matter of finding the right compromise between stability, so the rider feels relaxed, and handling, so the rider needs less effort to go fast. These factors are pretty much mutually exclusive – improving one of them often adversely affects the other – so it’s just a case of finding the right balance.”


BAYLISS MAKES HIS FRENCH RACE DEBUT

Troy Bayliss has been a world-class rider since he started his full-time World Superbike career in 2000, but he has yet to race in France. This weekend the Ducati Marlboro Team man therefore gets his first chance to show French fans his hugely entertaining riding style. World Superbike champ in 2001, Bayliss has an all-action riding technique that is proving perfectly suited to the task of controlling a 220-plus horsepower MotoGP bike.

The Aussie gets faster and more competitive with every outing on the Desmosedici, his results describing a perfect upward trend – fifth in Japan, fourth in South Africa and third in Spain two weeks ago. As Ducati boss Federico Minoli joked at Jerez: at this rate Bayliss should win next month’s Italian GP! Of course, Bayliss’ down-to-earth attitude won’t let him talk of such things just yet, all he’s concerned with right now is continuing to improve his equipment.

“I’m fairly happy with progress but you’re always looking for something more in racing,” he says. “So we’ve got to keep kicking and see how things pan out. I know nothing about Le Mans, except what I’ve learned by watching video tapes of last year’s race, so we’ll just go there and do what we can do. With the horsepower we’ve got it shouldn’t be bad, and I don’t have any major problems going on with the rest of the bike.”

Bayliss has quickly settled into life in the MotoGP paddock after three years on the World Superbike trail. “I’m enjoying it and the kids are having a good time,” says Bayliss, who travels to races with wife Kim, son Mitchell and daughter Abbey. “They’ve made friends with Jeremy McWilliams’ kids, having water-bomb fights, that kind of thing!”


CAPIROSSI LOOKS FORWARD TO MORE POINTS

Loris Capirossi aims to put his unlucky Spanish GP experience behind him this weekend when he brings his lightning-quick Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici to Le Mans for the first time.

So far this year Capirossi has proved himself to be one of the fastest riders on the grid – scoring his first MotoGP pole at Jerez two weeks ago and leading both the Japanese and Spanish GPs. But he was out of luck in Spain and South Africa, recording DNFs in both races. He led at Jerez, then crashed, struggling to control his machine after it had been damaged in a warm-up lap incident. And at Welkom he was caught out by oil that had been spilt by another bike, twice running off the track.

“What happened at Jerez was unlucky, but at least I wasn’t badly hurt in the crash,” says Capirossi, who banged his left arm so badly that he initially thought he had broken a bone. “I’m not happy to have scored zero points from the last two races, so I badly want a good result at Le Mans. As usual, I shall be aiming for the podium.

“I have to say that Le Mans isn’t one of my favourite circuits. I’ve won a 250 GP there (way back in 1994) but I’ve never really enjoyed it since I moved to the big class. It’s not a bad track, but it’s not so interesting for riders – it’s just accelerate, brake, accelerate, brake, accelerate… The good thing is that we have a lot of horsepower, which will be very useful coming out of the slow corners, but we still need to do some more work on braking stability.”


THE TRACK

Legendary for its 24-hour races, Le Mans has been hosting World Championship GPs on and off since 1969. The Bugatti circuit, very different from the longer 24-hour car track, returned to the GP calendar in 1999, since when the event has built a huge following in bike-mad France.

Le Mans has undergone various layout changes and safety modifications over the past few years. The daunting high-speed first turn was tightened for the ’99 GP and the Musee left-hander was also modified to lower speeds. Further modifications were carried out before last year’s event.

The track’s character is very stop-and-go, with plenty of slow turns where braking and acceleration performance are primordial. Riders and their engineers therefore concentrate on honing their machines’ braking stability, as well as improving rear-end traction for the numerous hairpin exits.

Le Mans: 4.180km/2.597 miles

Lap record: Valentino Rossi (Honda) 1:36.846, 155.380kmh/96.549mph

Pole position 2002: Rossi 1:36.046

DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM DATA LOGS


TROY BAYLISS

Age: 34

Lives: Monaco

Bike: Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici

First GP: Australia, 1997 (250)

GP starts: 4 (3xMotoGP, 1×250)

World Superbike victories: 22

World Championships: 1 (Superbike: 2001)

Le Mans 2002 results: DNS


LORIS CAPIROSSI

Age: 30

Lives: Monaco

Bike: Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici

GP victories: 22 (2×500, 12×250, 8×125)

First GP victory: Britain, 1990 (125)

First GP: Japan, 1990 (125)

GP starts: 187 (17xMotoGP, 59×500, 84×250, 27×125)

Pole positions: 34 (1xMotoGP, 5×500, 23×250, 5×125)

First pole: Australia, 1991 (125)

World Championships: 3 (125: 1990, 1991, 250: 1998)

Le Mans 2002 results. Grid: 7th. Race: 7th



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

IMPROVING SUZUKI’S NEW TEST AT LE MANS

Next Sunday’s French GP – fourth of 16 rounds in the World Championship – poses a different sort of challenge to the all-new Suzuki GSV-R and riders Kenny Roberts Jr. and John Hopkins at the slow, tight, and twisty Le Mans circuit.

Last year, Roberts was fifth … his best of the first half of the season. There are better omens still this year, after team-mate Hopkins took the fast-developing new machine to its best result so far this year with a gritty ride to seventh at the Spanish GP at Jerez. That race was followed by an intensive three days of testing at the Catalunya GP circuit.

The French track has a different character to the technical Spanish circuits, and asks different questions of machine and riders. The first question for Suzuki is whether the benefits felt in Spain will still be valid at Le Mans. And French motorcycling legend Jean Michel Bayle will be at the race to help them find the answers.

The 2003 version of Suzuki’s 990cc V4 MotoGP racer is completely redesigned compared with last year’s first prototype, and represents a distinct step forward in technology. The potential was obvious from the first time the team saw the machine in January. Until now, however, the new motorcycle has lacked that final edge that would allow Roberts and Hopkins to be fully competitive with the best of the rest for the full race distance.

Suzuki’s dedicated racing department, enjoying widespread success in other forms of racing, is hard at work to find the right technical balance that will unleash the GSV-R’s full potential. The factory’s fast-forward development programme saw factory riders Ryo and Akioshi as well as ex-motocross multi-champion and former GP racer Bayle test for three days at Catalunya, joined by Roberts and Hopkins for the last two days.

Yet more testing is planned for the day after the French GP, with Bayle again taking to the saddle at the circuit where he was second in a Suzuki Endurance Racing Team (SERT) one-two in the recent 24-hour race.

“Le Mans is a difficult track, and this is the most competitive GP season ever. But we will be going there to build on the growing confidence and commitment within both the team and the factory racing staff,” said Team Manager Garry Taylor.

“Our tests at Catalunya were very productive, and we’re making progress all the time towards our goal, of racing up at the front again as soon as possible.

“John gave us an inkling of it at Jerez, and Kenny would have done better there too if not for his poor starting position … and that was through a team mistake during qualifying,” Taylor continued.

“The help from Jean Michel has also been very positive. He will be at Le Mans as an observer during the race, and will be testing again with our two riders on the next day.”

Suzuki’s GSV-R is one of seven different makes of machine fighting for victory in the second year of the four-stroke MotoGP class, and the Suzuki pair have finished in the points in all three races so far. The fourth race, second in the European season, follows the Spanish start with a trip to the west of France, where colder weather and even rain might be an added complication at the tight Bugatti circuit.

The growing popularity of MotoGP racing means that big crowds can be expected at the legendary motor sport venue. The next round in the 16-race calendar is the Italian GP, in two weeks.


KENNY ROBERTS Jr.: CHECKING THE LEVELS – We have some stuff from the test that needs more time before we’ll know if the benefits we found in Catalunya will also be benefits at Le Mans. All the stuff I want to try has to do with the engine. All the four-strokes have started to develop so rapidly now, and we need to improve. Le Mans has a lot of slow corners with short drag strip straights where you accelerate hard, and that’s one area we need to work on.

JOHN HOPKINS: BETTER EVERY TIME – This is my first season in the factory team, and I’m taking it one step at a time, race by race. We’re getting the bike better almost every time we go out, so we have to keep on that direction, and I’ll be ready to make the most of my chances. Le Mans is a fun track, and I’m looking forward to seeing how well we can do.

ABOUT THIS RACE – The French GP is a long-standing but irregular fixture on the calendar. The first event was run in 1951, the third year of GP racing – but in the 50 years since there have been just 37 events under that name. The GP has wandered around the country, moving from the first event at Albi to Rouen, Reims, Clermont Ferrand, Le Castellet, Nogaro and Magny-Cours over the years. the first time at Le Mans was in 1969, on an early version of the then-new Bugatti circuit, which uses only the traditional pits and start-finish area of the famous 24-hour car track Since that time the circuit has been changed considerably in detail, even since the last series ended in 1995; while the French GP moved down south again to Le Castellet. The return to Le Mans in 2000, after the southern circuit was decommissioned, signaled a revival of crowd numbers at the venue.


ABOUT THIS TRACK – The Bugatti circuit originally used part of the famous Sarthe 24-hour car circuit – the pit straight and a daunting right-hand corner under the Dunlop bridge and down the hill – before looping off for the first of its U-turns and short straights. The first change was to put a slow chicane before the bridge. Last year a second major alteration dealt with the exit from the bridge, carrying the track further to the left and making the first U-turn into a much faster and more sweeping corner. The short following straight reasserts the track’s character: hard acceleration followed by hard braking for the Museum U-turn, then another in the opposite direction before the short back straight and more slow corners leading back to the final hairpin. It makes for a slow average speeds, and Le Mans is one of the four slowest circuits on the calendar.


GP DATA

Bugatti Circuit – Le Mans

Circuit Length: 2.597 miles / 4.180 km

Lap Record: 1:36.846 – 96.549 mph / 155.380 km/h. V Rossi (Honda) 2002

2002 Race Winner: V Rossi (Honda)

2002 Race Average: 34:22.335 – 95.211 mph / 153.228 km/h (race shortened)

2002 Fastest Race Lap: see lap record

2002 Pole Position: Rossi 1:36.046

2002 Kenny Roberts: Fifth, qualified Ninth (Telefónica MoviStar Suzuki)

2002 J Hopkins: 11th, qualified 19th (Yamaha YZR500)


More, from a press release issued by Pramac Honda Racing Information:

FOURTH ROUND OF WORLD CHAMPIOSHIP IN FRENCH CITY OF MOTORS

The fourth race of the 2003 World Championship will be battled out on the historic Le Mans circuit, at the very heart of French motoring: the city of Le Mans. The Bugatti circuit, made in 1965, in the same area as the memorable 24-Hours track, hosted its first motorcycling races in the late 960s. After making their debut, motorcycles did not return to the circuit fr a long time as the layout was completely overhauled in order to bring it into line with the latest safety regulations. Restructuring work started in 1995 and made the circuit perfectly suited to the power that modern machines are now able to unleash. In 2000, the MotoGP made its grand return. The facilities are now fantastic, capable of holding over 100,000 spectators. This is the venue not only for the World Road Racing Championship but also for the Formula 3000 FIA, the French Touring championship and the Gran Turismo championship.


The circuit, which is located 5 km south of the town of Le Mans and 200 from Paris, has some very particular features, including a number of corners that racing bikes have to take in first gear, shutting off the throttle at the very last moment and braking very hard, followed by rapid acceleration that severely tests the ability of the bike to deliver its engine power down to the ground. This circuit is by no means easy to interpret and will put most technicians and riders to a very difficult test. And of course there is one important variable – weather conditions – that in this part of France really can make the difference.


THE CIRCUIT: 4,180 metres – lefthanders: 4 – righthanders: 9 – longest straight: 450 metres – maximum width: 13 metres.


WINNER IN 2002: 125 class: Cecchinello (ITA) Aprilia – 250 class: Nieto (SPA) Aprilia – 500 class: Rossi (ITA) HONDA.


CIRCUIT RECORDS: 125 class: Azuma 1:44.259 (2002- HONDA) – 250 class: Melandri 1:39.648 – (2002 – Aprilia) – 500 class: Rossi 1:36.846 (2002 –
HONDA).


MAX BIAGGI AND CAMEL PRAMAC PONS TEAM MAKE THIRD CONSECUTIVE PODIUM


Max Biaggi makes another very important podium position For the third time in three races, the four-times world champion has been up on the rostrum. With two second places and one third, Massimiliano Biaggi is keeping his grip firmly on second place in the ratings, with a 56-point lead and just 14 from the leader. The Pramac colours are also being held high by his teammate Tohru Ukawa in the CAMEL PRAMAC PONS TEAM, who came fourth in the recent race at Jerez, thus making sixth place in the overall world championship ratings with 23 points.


MAKOTO TAMADA (PRAMAC HONDA TEAM) SIXTH AT JEREZ


Makoto Tamada comes to this important Le Mans rendezvous with even greater motivation. His recent, very positive result at Jerez de la Frontera has given this brilliant Japanese rider a powerful injection of energy. In Spain, Makoto rode a great race, showing off all his potential and the remarkable progress made by Japanese tyre manufacturer Bridgestone. Having been up in fourth place for three laps, Tamada then let Barros and Ukawa by, ending up sixth, but his performance in the central part of the race showed how he is quite undaunted by better-known adversaries he is now taking on in his first MotoGP season.

In theory, the characteristics of the Le Mans circuit should suit the style of the young Japanese rider. His skill in braking, and his aggressive way of handling 180-degree corners could come to the fore on the particular layout of the French track.

As always, Tamada will have little time to get to grips with the circuit and find the right solutions for the race. Tomorrow he will be seeing Le Mans for the first time and on Friday and Saturday he will have to get through an enormous amount of work: perfecting the set-up of his RC211V and then finding the right choice of tyres. Working on the data acquired during the Jerez race, Bridgestone will provide him with new materials specially designed for the French track.

From a press release issued by Honda:

HONDA RACING INFORMATION

Daijiro Kato Memorial Day Tokyo May 18, 2003.

Thousands Honour Daijiro Kato at Memorial Day

The friends and fans who have followed and supported the career of Daijiro Kato came to Tokyo in their thousands today. They came to say goodbye to their friend and hero at a special Memorial Day held at the Honda Motor Co headquarters in Aoyama.

Over 9,000 people were present to view the memorabilia on display recording Kato’s magnificent achievements in his racing career. The display, a celebration of his genius, featured the race machine that carried him to victory in the All Japan Championship, the NSR250 that that he raced to the 2001 250cc World Championship, and his Suzuka 8 Hour winning VTR100SP-W.

Daijiro Kato will be sadly missed by all who had the pleasure to make his acquaintance. The sublimely talented 17-time grand prix victor leaves us with memories of a very special motorcycle racer. ‘Daichan’ possessed everything required of a Champion.

Kato was fast on any type of circuit, tactically astute and very brave when circumstances demanded him to be. His determination to win produced many spectacular hard charges that carried him to unexpected race wins. Whatever the result Kato behaved with great dignity, shy and humble when victorious, and gracious in defeat.

It is, however, Daijiro Kato the man that first springs to mind, his quiet, confident, unassuming, and courteous personality, in complete contrast to his racing persona. Kato loved nothing more than to spend his free time with wife Makiko and young son Ikko. The close knit family were popular residents in the GP paddock and their absence has brought sadness to the ‘Paddock village’ community.

Many of Kato’s former rivals, team technicians, and Honda staff members were present and Mr Hiroyuki Yoshino, President of Honda Motor Co, Ltd, and Suguru Kanazawa, each read an address to the assembly.

Mr Yoshino said: “Daijiro Kato made his debut in road racing in 1992, when only 16 years old. In the course of his career he competed in the All Japan Road Race Championship and won the Road Race World Championship in the 250cc class. Last year, he began competing in the MotoGP class, the pinnacle of motorcycle road racing.

“In 2002, Daijiro was granted an award for distinguished service to sports by the Japanese Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, an honor that acknowledged the pride shared by the entire Japanese nation in his outstanding achievements as a race rider.

“For eleven years, Daijiro consistently raced Honda machines. He made a significant contribution both to the development of works machines and the winning of the Honda 500 wins in WGP. Daijiro’s expertise as a rider placed him above the others, and his personality endeared him to everyone.

“Daijiro, we are honored that you were a Honda rider. We will never forget the depth of feeling you engendered in us as we observed the mastery with which you road, and the glory that you bestowed on Honda by your association with us.

“We mourn your passing, and offer our most heartfelt condolences to your loved ones.”

Hiroyuki Yoshino
President and CEO
Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
May 18, 2003

Mr Kanazawa, a guiding influence on Kato’s career, said of his former charge: “Daijiro, despite the prayers of your family, your relatives, and your many, many fans, you never recovered from the injuries suffered from that sudden accident in the opening round of the WGP on April 6, and at the tender age of 26, you have left us.

“The term, ‘genius,’ was one that was used often in relation to you, and with you, we dreamed of MotoGP supremacy. In 2001, you became the WGP 250cc champion, and we were convinced you were on the brink of making all our dreams come true. Taking on the WGP challenge again without you is a daunting prospect indeed.

“Honda will continue to compete in many races, fueled by the spirit you inspired by your actions.

“I join my prayers with those of everyone else here today, that you have gone to a happier place.”

Suguru Kanazawa
President
Honda Racing Corporation
May 18, 2003

Daijiro Kato leaves behind wife Makiko, son Ikko and daughter Rinka.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Top places by tire brand at Road Atlanta

Superbike Race 1:
1. Dunlop
2. Dunlop
3. Dunlop
4. Dunlop
5. Dunlop
6. Michelin
7. Dunlop
8. Pirelli
9. Pirelli
10. Dunlop
11. Dunlop
12. Dunlop
13. Pirelli
14. Pirelli
15. Pirelli

Superbike Race 2:
1. Dunlop
2. Dunlop
3. Dunlop
4. Dunlop
5. Dunlop
6. Dunlop
7. Michelin
8. Dunlop
9. Dunlop
10. Dunlop
11. Pirelli
12. Dunlop
13. Dunlop
14. Pirelli
15. Pirelli

Supersport:
1. Dunlop
2. Dunlop
3. Dunlop
4. Dunlop
5. Dunlop
6. Dunlop
7. Dunlop
8. Dunlop
9. Dunlop
10. Michelin
11. Dunlop
12. Michelin
13. Pirelli
14. Dunlop
15. Michelin

Superstock:
1. Pirelli
2. Dunlop
3. Pirelli
4. Dunlop
5. Pirelli
6. Dunlop
7. Dunlop
8. Dunlop
9. Pirelli
10. Dunlop
11. Dunlop
12. Michelin
13. Dunlop
14. Dunlop
15. Michelin

Formula Xtreme:
1. Dunlop
2. Dunlop
3. Dunlop
4. Dunlop
5. Dunlop
6. Dunlop
7. Dunlop
8. Michelin
9. Pirelli
10. Michelin
11. Michelin
12. Dunlop
13. Dunlop
14. Dunlop
15. Pirelli

250 Grand Prix:
1. Dunlop
2. Dunlop
3. Bridgestone
4. Dunlop
5. Dunlop
6. Dunlop
7. Bridgestone
8. Bridgestone
9. Dunlop
10. Bridgestone

From a press release issued by Honda Racing Information:

HONDA RACING INFORMATION

MotoGP Circuit “Team Telefonica MoviStar Honda” Signs Ryuichi Kiyonari as Rider

Kiyonari Joins Telefonica MoviStar Honda

Team Telefonica MoviStar Honda, competing in the 2003 MotoGP with Honda RC211Vs, has announced that Ryuichi Kiyonari (20, from Saitama, Japan) will be one of its riders in the upcoming fourth race of the season, the May 25th French Grand Prix.

Previously, Kiyonari raced in the ST600 Class of the 2002 All Japan RoadRace along with fellow riders Tohru Ukawa and the late Daijiro Kato as a members of Team Kohtake RSC.

Kiyonari, although only 20, has won four of the eight races he has entered and won the championship in his debut year. Another ndication of Kiyonari’s potential was his second-place finish on April 27th at the FIM Super Sports World Championship at the Sugo Circuit, even though it was his first race there.

Team Manager Fausto Gresini said this about Kiyonari and his reasons for selecting him to join the team: “He’s a young and talented rider and we’ve got lots of time to build up a strong relationship. With more experience he should be one of MotoGP’s top riders.”

Kiyonari’s contract is for one year, lasting through the 2003 season, with an option for another year in 2004. Kiyonari’s schedule for this year includes joining the team for the season’s third race, the Spanish Grand Prix. The Japanese rider will have his first race on the RC211V at the French Grand Prix, the fourth contest of the season, on May 25.

Comment from Ryuichi Kiyonari “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. But when I got to the circuit, I felt that I’m facing a major new challenge. The plan is that I’ll get to test ride the RC211V next week and, to be perfectly honest, 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.”

Career Highlights – Ryuichi Kiyonari

1988 -1990 (6-8 year old)

Rode a motocross bike and became interested in motorcycling.

Participated in MX races with his friends

1991-1995 (9-13)

He was the first student of the Suzuka Racing School (SRS-J).

As a member of the SRS-J, he took part in local GP80cc races

1996

Suzuka and Tsukuba GP80cc class Champion

1997

Tsukuba Championship GP125B class Champion

1998

26th 125cc All Japan Championship.

1999

23rd 125cc All Japan Championship.

2000

Joined Team Kotake RSC

20th 250cc All Japan Championship

2nd Suzuka 8 Hours XF class

2001

16th 250cc All Japan Championship

2002

All Japan Champion ST600 class(Supersport)

10th JSB1000 Class All-Japan Championship

Winner of round 8 All Japan Superbike Championship at Tanaka International (Kiyonari’s only Superbike race of the 2002 season)

2003

2nd Supersport World Championship race at Sugo

From a press release issued by Clear Channel Entertainment – Motorsports:

Road America Road Race Moved

To Heartland Park August 8-10

AURORA, IL. – Formula USA / CCS announced today that the August 8-10 Formula USA Championship Series, Championship Cup Series, and XSBA Freestyle round of competition at Elkhart Lake’s Road America has been moved to Heartland Park-Topeka near Topeka Kansas. The event at Heartland Park-Topeka will take place on the same date, August 8-10.

Heartland Park Topeka will feature the exact same line-up of classes originally scheduled for Road America on August 8-10 including complete Formula USA, Championship Cup Series, and XSBA rounds of competition.

Premier classes on the schedule will include Formula USA Sportbike and Superbike classes, as well as Unlimited Grand Prix, Thunderbike, and the “Heartland 200” on Friday August 8.

According to Kevin Elliott, Director of Competition, “Heartland Park provides a great central location for this classic mid-summer Pro-Am road race event, and we are very pleased to be able to bring this event to the Topeka area, which has hosted an array of professional motor sports events over the past decade.”

All race entries for Road America will be applied to the Heartland Park-Topeka event, unless otherwise notifying CCS in advance.

For weekend schedules, ticket information and more… visit FormulaUSA.com.

From a press release issued by Mat Mladin Motorsports:

MLADIN RETURNS TO WINNERS CIRCLE AT ROAD ATLANTA

Braselton, Georgia, USA – A day after surviving a high speed tyre failure, Mat Mladin has responded in the best possible way by taking victory in today’s seventh round of the 2003 AMA Chevy Trucks US Superbike Championship being held at the Road Atlanta circuit in Braselton, Georgia.

The win was Mladin’s 19th career AMA Superbike race win, his fifth for the season and has now closed to within two points of current championship points leader, Yoshimura Suzuki teammate Aaron Yates, who after winning yesterday’s excitement filled race, came home fourth today.

After the drama’s of yesterday’s race when his rear tyre exploded at over 280kph (170mph) while in the race lead, Mladin, along with a number of other riders, was forced to use a different rear tyre on his Suzuki GSX-R1000 after Dunlop recalled the particular type of tyre that failed on Mladin’s bike yesterday, while they investigate the reasons for it occurring.

Starting from pole position for today’s race, Mladin made a steady start as he reacquainted himself with the circuit and a different rear set up. He worked his way up to the race lead by passing Erion Honda’s Kurtis Roberts on lap seven. From that point, he went about steadily building a comfortable margin over his rivals before the race was cut short on lap 21 of the scheduled 25 after two separate incidents forced officials to bring out the red flag. The race was calculated back to the positions held on lap 20 and with 60% of the race run, it was declared completed and the victory awarded to Mladin.

“After the problem we had yesterday, Dunlop essentially gave us a tyre to use today that was a bit slower, but one they felt was a lot safer,” said Mladin. “It was the same rubber compound, but just made from a different construction, but everyone had to use it. In the race today, I just did what I had to do. I wasn’t pushing the rear tyre around that fast kink as much as I was yesterday.

“What else can you say about the weekend? We arrived here with a 24-point lead and dominated, but left with a two-point deficit, so that’s not a good feeling. We should have had a full race points lead by now, but instead we’ve got a bit of work to do over the next few weeks.”

Team Kawasaki’s Eric Bostrom moved his way past Roberts to claim second, with Roberts holding on for the final podium position just ahead of Yates and Ben Bostrom (American Honda).

The American Superbike Championship reaches its mid point over the next few weeks, with round eight held at the Pikes Peak circuit in Colorado on June 1, followed a week later by another double-header round at Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.


More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing Information:

Double Podium for American Honda at Road Atlanta

Erion Honda’s Kurtis Roberts, almost fully recovered from injuries suffered in a motocross accident less than a month ago, scored a pair of podium placings in the AMA Superbike double-header held in humid and threatening conditions at Road Atlanta, just north of Atlanta, Georgia. Roberts rode his Honda RC-51 to a third place finish on Saturday, his best finish since finishing third in the Daytona 200, and third again on Sunday, this time less than a second behind the second placed rider, Kawasaki’s Eric Bostrom, who’d also finished second on Saturday.

Eric’s brother Ben, of American Honda, had a frustrating weekend, finishing fifth both days, but for different reasons. On Saturday he gambled on a rear tire choice that ultimately proved unproductive. Sunday Bostrom suffered from vision problems. High heat and humidity fogged up his faceshield, a common frustration throughout the field, and he was riding blind. Just as he was making a move toward the podium, the race was brought to a halt by a red flag, and he was given fifth, less than a tenth of a second out of fourth.

Teammate Miguel DuHamel, despite having a different helmet brand, suffered the same fate. For DuHamel it was particularly hurtful since he was riding with a collarbone that he’d broken less than two weeks earlier in the previous AMA race. Saturday he was slowed by a tire vibration and Sunday his vision was obscured. Tire problems forced DuHamel, and a number of others, to search for a different construction, which made him tentative in the early going on Sunday.

The three Honda riders were just off the podium in the Saturday’s Superbike race when disaster struck the race leader, Suzuki’s Mat Mladin. Speeding down the back straight at around 290 kph, Mladin suffered a rear tire blow-out on the 11th of 25 laps. Mladin wrestled the machine to a stop, slowing to a near stop 125 meters before tipping over at low speed. The fallout would affect the Honda trio.

Firstly, it put Kurtis Roberts into third, earning him his second podium of the season. Secondly it ended the charge of Miguel DuHamel. DuHamel’s crew chief, Al Ludington, radioed the veteran French-Canadian to let him know about the tire problem, and that he was on the same compound tire. DuHamel immediately backed it down to finish a cautious 11th. Ben Bostrom had a tire problem of a different sort. The former World Superbike campaigner tried a different rear tire, and gambled on set-up, but knew he was doomed from the start.

The race was won by Aaron Yates (Suzuki), a local rider from Georgia with extensive experience at the track. It was his first AMA professional win at his home track. Ben Bostrom’s brother Eric was second with Roberts third.

Sunday the air was thick with humidity, with the threat of thunderstorms, and almost everyone in the field, including the eventual winner, Suzuki’s Mat Mladin, complained of visor fogging.

Kurtis Roberts took the lead on the third of 25 laps, holding off Mladin until the seventh when Roberts dropped to second, a spot he held until the 15th lap when he fell to third, where he’d finish.

Bostrom was with the leading quintet, despite his vision troubles. In the final laps he was making a run toward the podium when the race was stopped.

DuHamel had less success. From the start he was nearly sightless and riding with one arm. His left collarbone was so sore that he opted out of the early Pro Honda Oils Supersport race, won by Suzuki’s Ben Spies. Erion Honda’s Alex Gobert was fourth in a race that had been led by his teammate Roger Lee Hayden.

Kurtis Roberts, Third Place, Saturday
If we run like today, we’re going to get our ass kicked again. I’m with Eric [Bostrom] on the new section. I hate it. I’m losing so much time through there it’s sick. It’s hurting my arm with my shoulder that I hurt a few weeks ago and it just wrecks the racetrack. It had a nice flow and everything before. If we can just figure out how to get through there without losing a second, I think we’ll be right there with the guys. I’m really struggling with whatever it may be. My arm is not as strong as it was, so it gets tired out there. I’d say I’m about 80 or 90 percent right now. I’m fine on the rest of the racetrack, it’s just a struggle throwing that thing around on the new section.

Kurtis Roberts, Third Place, Sunday
It’s still a bit tough for me – the new section. I just can’t get through there as well as these guys can and I have to make up the rest of the lap for all the ground I lose there. It’s the same thing. We all had to change tires because I was on the same one that Mat [Mladin] used yesterday. We switched today and my bike wasn’t hooked up as well as it was all weekend. Maybe the track temperature was a little too cold or something, but it went as well as it could have today. Mat was riding well, as was Eric [Bostrom]. I close up on Eric there and then we got the yellow and red flags, so that was kind of disappointing, but I did as well as I could have today.

Ben Bostrom, Fifth Place, Saturday
I just picked the wrong tire. I picked a strange Japanese tire. That was the end. On the first lap I knew it. I couldn’t flick it into the corner. Unbelievable. I’m totally out of this race. I took a couple of laps on it in practice and that tire was fine. I put this one on and it was crap. I gambled on the bike a little bit too. I made it a little bit too nervous. Usually we’ll gamble to make it steer better, but I couldn’t hang on to the thing. Plus that rear tire was exceptionally bad. I messed up. I knew we were out of the race. It’s heartbreaking. And the race is a 100 lapper. I didn’t want to start the race in the first place like that. It just wouldn’t end. I swear to God, when he threw the crossed flags, I thought, “Is that the checkers? Because I’ve been out here a long time.”

Ben Bostrom, Fifth Place, Sunday
We had a good bike, good tire, it was my own fault. I went to open vents on my helmet and I had a bunch of water inside. The first half of the race I couldn’t see real well. So I was pretty tentative racing with those guys. So I thought I better flip this thing open. So I opened it and the second half of the race I just had the wind and it kind of distorts your vision and it’s hard to get in there. I had a few clean passes and I couldn’t even stick them. It was my own fault. I’ll talk to the guys about it. Tell them to put a vent on top of the helmet.

Miguel DuHamel, 11th Place, Saturday
I was entertaining the thought of giving Kurtis (Roberts) a run for his money. Then over the radio, Al (Ludington) told me what happened to Mat (Mladin), told me I was on the same tire. Asked me if I had a vibration. I said, ‘Yes, I do have a vibration.’ I just shut her down and just tried to ride around. I was trying to the best I could. The place I was losing the most time was down the back straight. I was only 9000 in sixth gear. The thing goes up to 12000 almost. And that’s a big difference. That’s where those guys were making time. They’d pass me and I’d follow them all the way back to that turn and I’d think, there’s no way I’m going wide open here. Even on the last lap they were not that far away from me.

Miguel DuHamel, Ninth Place, Sunday
I just couldn’t see out of one eye. But we had a new tire on the rear, even when the track was pretty dry and I was sliding quite a bit. I didn’t know if we went too soft. So I took it easy until half-race and then I tried to step it up a little bit. And I saw Anthony (Gobert) coming back to me. And I’m pretty sure I would have got him. Any problem he had was quite a bit bigger than what I had. I would’ve gotten eighth maybe. My pinkie is still numb, the left side of my hand is numb from this morning. I don’t know why. The race was OK. Our goal was just to make this weekend and get out of here safe and sound and points on top of it.


More, from a press release issued by Proforma:

HAS/SHOGUN RACING HAS GOOD WEEKEND AT ROAD ATLANTA

HAS/Shogun Racing riders John Haner and Heath Small both had good results in their respective events at Road Atlanta, Round Four of the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship. Haner finished ninth in the Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock final on Saturday after qualifying seventh, and finished 18th in the Chevy Trucks Suprbike race on Sunday, using the event for more testing. Small finished 19th in the super-competitive Pro Honda Oils Supersport event on Sunday, his best finish of the year in the class.

“I had a big moment at the start, I lost the rear up here (turn three), Mike Smith got by me,” said Haner of the Superstock event. “Then I just started to work the draft and I felt good, other than a rear traction issue. I think, because of the stunt guys oiling the track just before the race, the tire warmers got left on too long. They’d already made third call. On the second lap I could feel the bike moving around a lot more than it should have been after two laps. Jordan Szoke blew a motor right in front of me and it oiled my windscreen and Jimmy Moore got by me. I couldn’t get my dad-gum tear-off off. It took me the whole back straightaway and he got a gap on me. That’s how the race ended.” Haner is now 10th in points in AMA Superstock, scoring points at every round.

Heath Small had his best result of the season in the AMA Supersport class with 19th place. The class is populated by over twenty factory and factory supported riders on any given weekend. Small was fortunate to get a break with the red flag after a tire choice gamble didn’t pay off. “We started out with rains, we were watching the weather and it was supposed to rain in the middle of it (the race), and five laps into it we got a red flag. We changed to DOTs, we left a little taller gear on it and it worked.” Small is currently 24th in points in the AMA Supersport class.

HAS/Shogun Racing is proud to be sponsored by Shogun Motorsports, Motion CycleSports, Pirelli Tires, Yoshimura R&D, Sharkskinz Racing Bodies, Vesrah Brakes, Vortex, Dynojet, Woodcraft, Lockhart Phillips, Helimot Leathers and HJC Helmets.


More, from a press release issued by Proforma:

JIMMY MOORE HAS BAD LUCK AT ROAD ATLANTA

Defending two-time AMA Superstock champion Jimmy Moore had a case of bad luck at Round Four of the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship at Road Atlanta this weekend. Moore finished eighth in Saturday’s Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock event after rear traction problems and finished 13th in the Lockhart Phillips Formula Xtreme final on Sunday after mechanical problems slowed his forward progress.

Moore struggled from the beginning of the Superstock event with a lack of rear traction. “We ran the same tire that other guys ran, but it just didn’t want to drive forward,” said Moore, who is currently eighth in points in the class. “I tried to make time on those guys in front of me, but I couldn’t do it.”

In the Formula Xtreme event, Moore’s chain on his Suzuki GSX-R1000 started skipping over the teeth on the rear sprocket, causing him to have to feather the throttle and lose valuable time on acceleration. “Then there was an issue with my rear tire being out of round, and then my right knee puck came off, it was a miserable race,” said Moore. Jimmy’s teammate Adam Fergusson was lucky to escape serious injury when he crashed to avoid hitting the downed bike of Roger Lee Hayden, but the incident brought out the red flag and ended the race. Jimmy stopped at the incident to check on Adam, who got up and walked away slowly, then Jimmy gave Roger Lee a ride back to the pits. Moore drops to tenth in points in the Formula Xtreme class.

Look for Jimmy Moore and the rest of the Corona Extra Suzuki team at Pikes Peak Raceway, May 30-June 1.


More, from a press release issued by Proforma:

LEE ACREE HAS STRONG FINISH IN SUPERSTOCK RIDE FOR CORONA EXTRA SUZUKI

Lee Acree finished in 11th place in the Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock final at Road Atlanta after being drafted into the Corona Extra Suzuki team for the weekend. Acree, winner of AMA Superstock events in both 2001 and 2002, had to find a set-up quickly on his Suzuki GSX-R750 on Dunlop tires, a brand that he had not ridden on in five years.

“We worked so hard on the front end, we just ran out of time on the rear end,” said Acree of his set-up after the event. “We’ve just got some set-up work to do on rear grip. I got a good start and railed around the outside of a bunch of people. During the race, the front end was pretty good, but late in the race the rear end started backing around entering the corners, but Tommy (Lancaster, Lee’s mechanic) and I have some things to try to fix that. Again, we just ran out of time.”

Look for Lee Acree at the next round of the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship at Pikes Peak Raceway, May 30-June 1.


More, from a press release issued by Corona Extra Suzuki:

RAINY DAY PARADE CONTINUES AT ROAD ATLANTA, AMA NATIONAL

The dismal weather that has dogged all the AMA Superbike races this year continued in full force at Road Atlanta this weekend. A grey, damp overcast endured for the whole weekend interspaced with torrential rain and severe storm warnings! The weather gods also proved adept in damping down spirits and performance for the Corona Extra Suzuki Team riders and machines.

In the first Superbike event of the weekend’s doubleheader, Szoke put in a solid performance, starting form 12th on the grid to finish seventh, his best finish this year. He said; ” I didn’t get a great start but put my head down and kept picking guys off. We put a bunch of new parts on the bike which really helped!” In race two, a clutch problem finished Jordan’s ride. He was having an exciting dice with the factory Honda of fellow Canadian Miguel DuHamel, leading him for seven laps until dropping out on lap 10. Szoke is currently 12th in the Superbike Championship.

In the Suzuki Genuine Accessories Superstock event, Corona Extra Suzuki fielded four riders, with Lee Acree joining the squad for a special appearance on a Team GSXR 750. Fergusson qualified third, Moore 9th, Szoke 13th and Acree, adjusting to his first ride on Dunlop tires 19th. Adam and Jimmy finished 7th and 8th with Lee coming through the field to finish 11th. Jordan had a mechanical problem, which put him out on lap 12. Fergusson is now third, Moore 8th and Szoke 13th in the Superstock Championship.

In the Lockhart-Phillips Formula Extreme race, Fergusson qualified on row two with Moore on row four. Both got fair starts and set about trying to make up spots. Positions stayed much the same up until lap 13 when an incident brought out the red flag and brought down Fergusson. Roger Lee Haydon crashed on his factory Honda and Adam crashed in debris, both rider and bike hitting the fallen Honda. Fergusson was able to get up, though obviously bruised and battered. The red flag meant the race was scored to the previous lap, giving Adam 7th and Jimmy 13th. Fergusson is now 6th with Moore 9th in the Formula Extreme Championship.

Corona Extra Suzuki is proud to be partnering with Corona Extra, Suzuki, EBSCO Media, MTS, Parts Unlimited, Dunlop, Yoshimura R&D, Joe Rocket, Sidi Boots, MotionPro, Braking, Silkolene Lubricants, Suzuki Genuine Accessories, STR Motorsports, Lindeman Engineering, Bickle, FastDates.com, Ohlins, SBS, Yoyodyne, Hotbodies Racing, Zero Gravity, Regina Chain, Race Girl, GP Tech, RB Components, Spiegler, Box R, Hype Energy.

Next race: Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs CO., May 29-June 1, 2003


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

7th Place for Larry Pegram in Race 2 at Road Atlanta

Dream Team Racing (DTR) Ducati’s, Larry Pegram, suffered from rear suspension trouble today in Race 2 of the AMA Superbike DoubleHeader at Road Atlanta. The oil had leaked out of his rear shock causing it not to function properly, although he was able to fight on to finish 7th. Under earlier rain and a continuing light mist, Pegram started the race in 9th and was able to move up to 7th. He maintained that position through lap 10, when he dropped to 8th, due to his suspension failure. By lap 14, the DTR Ducati rider was able to overtake fellow Ducati pilot, Anthony Gobert, and reclaim 7th, which is the position he finished in when the race was red flagged with 4 laps to go.

Larry Pegram: “I got caught behind, Miguel Duhamel, who had a bad start and the leaders gapped us almost immediately. I then settled into 7th, although the rear end felt out of control. By lap 5, I realized the rear shock had lost it’s dampening. Fortunately my Michelin tires gave me enough confidence to stay out and make the best of it. It was pretty frightening in some sections, but I really wanted to finish in the points. Jason Pridmore, got by me because of my suspension problems although I was fighting him all the way. Around lap 14, I passed Gobert for 7th and stayed there until the red flag came out to end the race.

From a press release issued by Team Suzuki:

3 DAY TEST BUILDS ON SUZUKI’S RESULTS

Team Suzuki regular riders Kenny Roberts Junior and John Hopkins led a five-strong team through a rigorous three-day testing programme in blazing Spanish sunshine, with tests ending yesterday adding valuable development miles to the all-new 2003 GSV-R MotoGP racer.

Fresh from the machine’s best result so far at last Sunday’s Spanish GP, the expanded squad came away from Catalunya with a report of positive and promising progress.

The all-American MotoGP pair were joined not only by Japanese factory riders Ryo and Akioshi, but also by French two-wheel legend Jean Michel Bayle.

The five-man team more than doubled rider input, and helped pile up test laps. Three races into the season, the all-new V4 MotoGP Suzuki has improved to a best of seventh at Jerez, after a gritty ride by team new boy Hopkins. The potential is there to do much better; the target is to get the Suzukis fighting for victory again.

The tests took place in bright sunshine at the Montmelo circuit outside Barcelona, starting on the Monday after the Spanish GP.

For the GP regulars and factory riders, the test was a chance to assess new chassis and engine management developments. The seasoned quartet also compared notes, and discussed with senior race-department engineers, including engine designer Kunio Arase, ideas and opportunities to unleash the maximum potential from Suzuki’s fastest ever racing motorcycle.

“We had five riders over three days, so while we didn’t have a large number of items to test, what we did have we were able to do in great detail, and establish a lot of important information,” said team manager Garry Taylor.

“Some of our ideas proved useful, and others didn’t work out. That’s why you go testing … to refine directions of development, and to see how to keep on improving the machine.”

Bayle’s three days were the first time the multiple off-road champion and former 250 and 500cc GP rider had ridden a MotoGP four-stroke. His usual mount is the ultra-successful Suzuki GSX-R1000, for the Suzuki Endurance Racing Team (SERT). Bayle came to the tests fresh from placing second in a SERT Suzuki one-two at the Le Mans 24-Hour race.

The 33-year-old racer brings a fresh but hugely experienced eye to bear on the new GSV-R. Deeply analytical and technically fluent, Bayle lapped fast, and spent down time in the pits, “as an extra member of our electronic data analysis crew,” said Taylor.

Bayle’s enthusiasm for the project was redoubled by the experience. “It was very interesting and enjoyable to ride the bike. It’s so powerful. You can really feel the potential. I’ll be studying the Suzukis’ performance at Le Mans, and I’m looking forward to riding the bike again the day after the GP,” he said.

Taylor confirmed that JMB would be joining Roberts and Hopkins again on the day after next weekend’s Le Mans race for more tests in Suzuki’s fast-forward programme to get the best out of their new high-tech racer.

“Jean Michel’s input is very valuable,” said Taylor. “He was running lap times that proved he can analyse the bike’s performance at the limit. But he’s not there for lap times. He’s there to isolate various aspects of the machine, and give the factory engineers feedback to help improve the weak points.

“Perhaps the biggest advantage is that Jean Michel doesn’t have the pressure of racing, and having to think about the GP to come and the season ahead. He can concentrate his mind purely on analysis and development,” concluded Taylor.

Bayle will have the role of observer for Suzuki at the fourth round of the season, before resuming tests with Roberts and Hopkins on Monday. With 24 hours of the Bugatti circuit fresh in his mind, he has the advantage of very intimate track knowledge.

From a press release issued by the Parts Canada Superbike Championship:

CREVIER COMPLETES SWEEP

SHANNONVILLE, ON – Steve Crevier completed a perfect weekend at Shannonville Motorsport Park Sunday, winning the opening round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship.

After starting from pole position, the Maple Ridge, BC rider took the lead from Francis Martin on lap 5 of the restarted, 12-lap race and went on to score his 21st career national Superbike win aboard his Diablo Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Martin, from Rock Forest, QC finished second on the Coors Light Racing/Blackfoot Suzuki GSX-R1000 while his teammate Clint McBain of Calgary completed a Suzuki sweep of the podium on another GSX-R1000.

Crevier also led the most laps in the race, giving him a perfect score of 56 points to open his bid for a record seventh Canadian Superbike crown.

“I’m always happy to win but this one’s for the guys on the team,” said Crevier after giving Diablo its first ever Parts Canada Superbike win. “They’ve worked very hard all weekend.”

Martin took the lead off the restart after the original race was red flagged on lap 6 due to a crash by Michael Taylor, who was unhurt. Crevier hounded Martin for four laps before making a pass entering the tight Allen’s Corner, just two turns from the start/finish straight.

“I couldn’t quite keep up with Francis on the backstraight but I was good coming into Allen’s,” said Crevier, who has won more national Superbike events than any other rider. “I managed to come through the Chicane cleanly and get a good run on him.”

Martin finished 1.739 secs. behind Crevier.

“I got a good start and I stayed in front as long as I could,” Martin said. “But I was a little slower than him and he passed me cleanly.”

McBain overtook the Picotte Racing Yamaha YZF-R1 of Pascal Picotte on the final lap to score his best ever Parts Canada Superbike result. Picotte, from St-Cecile de Milton, QC settled for fourth while Jean-Francois Cyr of Joliette, QC was fifth on another Yamaha YZF-R1.

In other action at Shannonville, Picotte rode his Yamaha YZF-R6 to victory in the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike feature. Picotte finished just under two seconds ahead of Kars, ON rider Andrew Nelson on a Z1 Cycletech Honda CBR600RR. Defending class champ McBain placed third aboard his Suzuki GSX-R600.

Dan Henri of Ottawa won the first ever International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike feature, beating fellow Ottawa rider Derek Bowker, also on a Yamaha, and the Suzuki of Rock Forest, QC’s Yanick Beauregard.

The Parts Canada Superbike Championship continues at Calgary’s Race City Motorsport Park June 6-8.

This weekend’s event will be televised on TSN on Sunday, June 15 at 11:00 am EDT and later this year on Quebec’s RDS and across Canada on the Outdoor Life Network.

From a press release issued by CMRA President Brooks Gremmels:

The CMRA has just purchased a new AMB TranX260 timing system. The purchase was made through Mirage Race Scoring and Timing, an authorized AMB i.t. distributor. With this system, especially designed for motorcycle and car racing, one operator can manage professional timekeeping for an entire event. The system provides instant and accurate results that can be shown in real time on scoreboards, announcers monitors. televisions in pit areas and now, live on the Internet. This system was chosen because the CMRA is determined to offer its racers the best value in club racing. With names such as NASCAR, CART, IRL, Craftsman Truck Series and AMA Pro Racing using the AMB system, the CMRA feels it is in good company. The initial purchase includes 64 transponders, a TranX260 extended loop decoder, televisions, laptop computers and ancillary equipment. The primary funding for this $30,000 acquisition is being provided by contributors to the CMRA. It is anticipated that next season this system will be expanded to cover the CMRA’s sprint series, as well.

Mirage has provided its professional timing and scoring services using the TranX260 system for events such as FUSA National Roadrace Series, National Arenacross Series, The Montreal Supercross and the FUSA USA National Dirt Track Series.

This new timing and scoring system joins the CMRA’s track repaving project at Oak Hill Raceway, its ongoing purchase of Airfence and its new timing trailer furnished by Pace American as visible signs of the Club’s embrace of the 21st century.