Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Lap, Running Order

1. 65 15 12 21 3 7 46 11 45 19 41 56 4 99 33 10 6 88 9 69 8 66

2. 65 46 15 12 3 21 7 11 45 19 41 56 4 33 6 99 10 9 88 69 8 66

3. 65 46 115 12 3 7 21 11 19 45 41 4 56 33 6 99 10 9 69 88 66 8

4. 46 65 3 12 21 11 19 41 4 33 45 6 56 99 10 9 69 88 66 8

5. 46 15 3 65 12 21 11 4 19 41 6 33 45 56 99 10 69 9 88 66 8

6. 46 15 3 65 12 21 11 4 19 6 41 33 56 45 99 10 69 9 88 66 8

7. 46 3 65 12 21 4 11 6 19 41 56 33 45 99 69 10 9 88 66 8

8. 46 3 65 12 4 21 11 6 19 41 56 33 45 99 69 9 10 88 66 8

9. 46 3 65 12 4 21 11 6 19 41 56 33 45 9 99 10 88 66 8

10. 46 3 65 12 4 21 6 11 33 41 19 56 45 9 99 10 88 66 8

11. 46 3 65 12 4 6 11 21 33 41 56 19 45 9 99 10 88 66 88

12. 46 3 65 12 4 6 11 21 33 56 41 19 9 99 45 10 88 66 8

13. 46 3 12 4 6 11 21 56 33 41 19 9 99 45 10 88 66 8

14. 46 3 12 6 4 11 21 56 41 19 9 99 33 45 10 88 66 88

15. 46 3 12 6 4 11 21 56 41 19 99 33 9 45 10 88 66 8

16. 46 3 12 6 4 11 21 56 19 41 99 9 45 10 88 66 33 8

17. 46 3 12 4 6 11 21 56 19 41 9 99 10 45 88 66 33 8

18. 46 3 12 4 11 6 21 56 19 9 41 99 10 45 88 66 33 8

19. 46 3 12 4 11 6 21 56 19 9 41 99 10 45 88 66 33 8

20. 46 3 12 4 11 6 21 56 9 19 41 99 10 45 88 66 33 8

21. 46 3 12 4 11 6 21 56 9 19 41 99 10 45 88 66 33 88

22. 46 3 12 11 4 6 21 56 9 19 41 99 10 45 88 66 33 8

23. 46 3 12 11 4 6 21 56 9 19 41 99 10 45 88 66 33 8

24. 46 3 12 11 4 6 21 56 9 19 41 99 10 45 88 66 33 8

25. 46 3 12 11 4 6 21 56 9 19 41 99 10 45 88 66 33 8

26. 46 3 12 11 4 6 21 56 9 19 41 99 10 45 88 66 33 8

27. 46 3 12 11 4 6 21 56 9 19 41 99 10 45 88 66 33

The following statement was issued by Road Atlanta:

Brian Livengood Air-lifted To Grady Memorial Hospital

4:45 p.m. Friday May 16, 2003

Brian Livengood of Snellville, GA was air-lifted by Emory Flight to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta Friday afternoon following a single motorcycle accident at Road Atlanta during AMA Superbike qualifying.

The initial diagnosis was that Livengood suffered a concussion and the track trauma physician was “cautiously optimistic”. There were no immediately apparent bone fractures or breaks.

Livengood crashed in Turn 9 because of suspected tire failure, according to AMA officials.

Further updates will be issued as they are available.

From a press release issued by FGSPORT GROUP:

Assen 200 Miles Entry List Announced

Ten Kate Honda debut in World Endurance

The list of entries for the next week Assen 200 Miles, second round of the World Endurance Championship, has been announced. A total of thirty nine teams and ninety two riders will compete with more local entrants expected to sign up in the next couple of days.

Supersport Super Stars

Ten Kate Honda, the team currently leading the World Supersport series, have entered their Honda CBR600RR for the Assen race. This is their home circuit, and although the team manager has described the event as a chance to further develop the bike, riders Chris Vermeulen and Karl Muggeridge will be unhappy with anything less than a win.

Endurance Experience

Amongst the teams making a one-off entry for Assen are a number of endurance racing regulars. Herman Verboven Racing have contested the championship for many years, and are practically on home turf at Assen.

German teams Bergmann & Soehne Racing and PS Schlesinger Endurance are also making a comeback and are expected to race at other rounds later in the year.

Multiple Manufacturers

Seven motorcycle manufacturers are represented in the Assen entry list. Suzukis are the most prevalent, with both their GSX-R1000 and GSX-R750 models entered. Yamaha R1s are present in both SBK and SuperProduction specifications, while Honda have examples of the CBR900RR Fireblade and CBR600RR entered. Ducati are represented in the shape of a 999R and 748RS, there are two Aprilia RSV1000s entered, and also a single example of Kawasaki’s ZX9R and Mondial’s Piega.

Junior Teams

Two of the permanent contracted teams run junior bikes aimed at giving younger riders a break onto the world stage, and both of these have different rider line-ups for Assen. The Phase One Juniors have only entered Martin Jessop and Henry Fincher, with David Carr still sidelined due to injuries after a spill at Imola, and Warren Watson will join the Trackdaze 11 bike alongside James Hutchins and Kevin Flacke.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Annandale Honda’s Ty Howard was 10th-fastest on his Michelin-equipped Honda CBR954RR with a time of 1:28.007, but Howard lost the front and crashed at the exit of turn 12 in the second half of the session. Howard was seen walking away from the high-speed get-off into the Airfence, but his condition was not known at press time.

Roger Lee Hayden suffered problems with his Erion Honda CBR954RR in turn seven on the opening lap of practice and sat out the entire Formula Xtreme session.

Friday Morning AMA Formula Xtreme Practice Times:

1. Jamie Hacking, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:24.906

2. Ben Spies, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:25.390
3. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:25.549
4. Marty Craggill, Honda CBR954RR, 1:26.769
5. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR954RR, 1:26.779
6. Josh Hayes, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:26.927
7. Steve Rapp, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:26.983
8. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:27.278
9. Craig Connell, Honda CBR954RR, 1:27.751
10. Ty Howard, Honda CBR954RR, 1:28.007
11. Doug Chandler, Honda CBR954RR, 1:28.254
12. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:28.807
13. Jason Curtis, Honda CBR954RR, 1:31.338
14. Adam Fergusson, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:33.272
15. Jack Pfeifer, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:33.349
16. John McGarity, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:33.489
17. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:33.516
18. Doug Duane, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:33.997
19. Marcus McBain, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:35.307
20. Nathan Hester, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:35.610

29. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:38.954

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Friday afternoon’s AMA Superbike qualifying session at Road Atlanta was stopped with just a few minutes remaining due to a crash involving HSS Racing/Kaufman Trailers’ Brian Livengood.

Details of the accident are unclear, but the end results were tire skid marks on the track and a damaged Suzuki GSX-R1000 and a motionless Livengood lying near a haybale-lined wall on rider’s left outside of turn nine on the back straightaway.

Speeds through turn nine on a Suzuki GSX-R1000 could exceed 160 mph.

Medical personnel responded to the scene, worked quickly to get Livengood into an ambulance, drove Livengood to the racetrack’s helipad and the 31-year-old Georgian was loaded into a helicopter and flown to a local hospital.

Cornerworkers were instructed to deliver his bike to an impound area instead of returning it to Livengood’s crew.

No information on Livengood’s condition was available at post time.

AMA Superbike Qualifying Times (at the time of the second red flag):

1. Mat Mladin, Suzuki, 1:24.517
2. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, 1:24.981
3. Kurtis Roberts, Honda, 1:25.006
4. Miguel Duhamel, Honda, 1:25.281
5. Anthony Gobert, Ducati, 1:25.340
6. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki, 1:25.695
7. Steve Rapp, Suzuki, 1:26.453
8. Ben Bostrom, Honda, 1:26.552
9. Larry Pegram, Ducati, 1:26.574
10. Michael Barnes, Suzuki, 1:27.412
11. Chris Caylor, Suzuki, 1:27.557
12. Shawn Higbee, Suzuki, 1:28.068
13. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki, 1:28.211
14. Geoff May, Suzuki, 1:28.229
15. Lee Acree, Suzuki, 1:28.507
16. Brian Stokes, Suzuki, 1:28.555
17. Andy Deatherage, Suzuki, 1:28.571
18. Adam Fergusson, Suzuki, 1:28.664
19. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki, 1:28.705
20. John Dugan, Suzuki, 1:28.837

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Friday Morning Superstock Practice Times:

1. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:27.905
2. Jason DiSalvo, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:28.445
3. Mike Smith, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:28.841
4. Matt Wait, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:28.918
5. Mike Ciccotto, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:28.937
6. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:29.009
7. Josh Hayes, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:29.279
8. Jamie Stauffer, Szuuki GSX-R600, 1:29.381
9. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR600RR, 1:29.435
10. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:29.693
11. Alex Gobert, Honda CBR600RR, 1:29.850
12. Brian Stokes, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:30.057
13. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:30.426
14. Jordan Szoke, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:30.569
15. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:30.633
16. John Haner, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:30.710
17. Jason Peters, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:30.743
18. John Dugan, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:30.818
19. Craig Connell, Honda CBR600RR, 1:30.824
20. Chris Caylor, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:31.235
21. Matt Furtek, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:31.399
22. Marty Craggill, Honda CBR600RR, 1:31.513
23. Greg Moore, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:31.858
24. Adam Fergusson, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:32.552
25. Hawk Mazzotta, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:32.566
26. Chuck Ivey, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:33.089
27. Lee Acree, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:33.397
28. Tom Wertman, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:33.400
29. Nathan Hester, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:33.719
30. Arash Hoshmandy, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:33.925
31. J.J. Roetlin, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:33.938
32. Kevin Pate, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:34.018
33. Heath Small, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:34.591
34. Darrin Mitchell, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:34.738
35. John McGarity, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:35.549
36. William Johnson, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:35.610
37. David Bell, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:35.833
38. Robert Hilliard, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:37.392
39. David Guy, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:37.809
40. Mike Scruggs, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:37.862
41. Joseph Ford, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:38.046
42. Chris Greer, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:38.555
43. David Lambert, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:39.811
44. R. Todd Keesee, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:44.124

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn LeSanto

Ten Kate out front in Monza qualifying

Despite riding with a badly damaged ligament in his right thumb Chris Vermeulen still managed to get provisional second on the grid during Friday qualifying. His team mate Karl Muggeridge was in a class of his own, streaking ahead into pole and almost a second quicker than Vermeulen.

Vermeulen fell during morning practice while braking for the Ascari chicane. He caught his right thumb as he fell. But he bounced back in timed qualifying and rode through the pain.

“This circuit is all braking,” said Vermeulen after qualifying. “My hand hurts when I put pressure on it so braking is painful. I have to be cautious everywhere because of my thumb, I am riding with a little margin for error.”

Muggeridge, who has successfully fought off some infections that plagued him during the winter, is now back to full health and form and he proved it by being almost a second faster than second-placed Vermeulen.

“I’m really stoked about the time,” said Muggeridge, “Everything is going so well. The bike is really fast and the tyres and suspension are working great.”

It wasn’t all plain sailing for Muggeridge, “There was a lot of crashes in the session and it made it really hard to do a flying lap because you kept coming up against traffic and yellow flags.”

Dutchman Jurgen VD Goorbergh just managed to slot his Yamaha onto the front row in the dying moments of the session, grabbing third in front of Honda mounted Iain MacPherson.

Vermeulen’s championship rival Katsuaki Fujiwara is struggling, he’s twelfth fastest so far but he’ll be keen to improve over the weekend.


Friday’s World Supersport Qualifying Results:

1. Karl Muggeridge, Honda CBR600RR, 1:52.432
2. Chris Vermeulen, Honda CBR600RR, 1:53.382
3. Jurgen vd Goorbergh, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:53.415
4. Iain MacPherson, Honda CBR600RR, 1:53.592
5. Fabien Foret, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, 1:53.638
6. Gianluca Nannelli, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:53.755
7. Simone Sanna, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:53.803
8. Werner Daemen, Honda CBR600RR, 1:53.877
9. Sebastien Charpentier, Honda CBR600RR, 1:53.980
10. Christian Kellner, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:54.157
11. Pere Riba, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, 1:54.162
12. Katsuaki Fujiwara, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:54.165
13. Alessio Corradi, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:54.203
14. Stephane Chambon, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:54.268
15. Barry Veneman, Honda CBR600RR, 1:54.285
16. Christophe Cogan, Honda CBR600RR, 1:54.314
17. Robert Ulm, Honda CBR600RR, 1:54.943
18. Antonio Carlacci, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:54.996
19. Matthieu Lagrive, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:55.049
20. Jorg Teuchert, YamahaYZF-R6, 1:55.067


More, from a press release issued on behalf of Ten Kate Honda:

Two Ten Kate Honda Heroes at Monza

Both Ten Kate Honda riders were heroes in the first qualifying session at Monza but for completely different reasons. Karl Muggeridge shaved almost a second off the best lap time while Chris Vermeulen qualified second despite injuring his thumb in a fall during the morning’s free practice.

Karl Muggeridge blitzed the opposition in the session, his best lap of 1m 52.432 really sets the pace for the weekend and is almost a second quicker than the rest of the pack.

“I’m really stoked about the time,” said Muggeridge, “everything is going so well. The bike is really fast and the tyres and suspension are working great.”

It wasn’t all plain sailing for Muggeridge, “There was a lot of crashes in the session and it made it really hard to do a flying lap because you kept coming up against traffic and yellow flags.”

Although he’s almost a second down on his team mate, Chris Vermeulen’s time is no less remarkable. Riding with a torn ligament in his right thumb as a result of the morning’s crash, Vermeulen is suffering intense pain under braking.

“This circuit is all braking and my hand hurts when I put pressure on it. I have to be cautious everywhere because of my thumb, I am riding with a little margin for error.”

Team Manager Ronald ten Kate had nothing but admiration for his riders, “I didn’t expect that after Chris’ crash this morning,” admitted ten Kate. “He almost ran into the back of another rider while braking for the Ascari chicane and crashed trying to avoid him. He’s damaged ligaments in his thumb and is obviously riding in pain. To see him go second just a few hours later shows he’s definitely grown up from a boy to a man.

“As for Karl, it’s obvious that he’s right back in peak form after suffering from some minor health problems in the run up to the season. Now he’s just gone 0.7 seconds under the best lap record here and I think he would have been even faster had he not been held up during another very fast lap late in the session.

“The results show what everybody already knows, Ten Kate Hondas are very fast at Monza!”

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Friday Afternoon’s Formula Xtreme Practice Times:

1. Ben Spies, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:24.593
2. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:24.822
3. Jamie Hacking, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:24.886
4. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:25.700
5. Marty Craggill, Honda CBR954RR, 1:26.155
6. Josh Hayes, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:26.192
7. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR954RR, 1:26.649
8. Roger Lee Hayden, Honda CBR954RR, 1:27.136
9. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:27.180
10. Steve Rapp, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:27.182
11. Craig Connell, Honda CBR954RR, 1:28.234
12. Adam Fergusson, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:28.615
13. Jason Curtis, Honda CBR954RR, 1:29.956
14. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:29.989
15. Jack Pfeifer, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:30.197
16. Geoff May, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:30.238
17. Doug Duane, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:31.770
18. Doug Chandler, Honda CBR954RR, 1:32.064
19. Chuck Allen, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:32.289
20. Jason Knupp, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:32.398

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies has been pulling wheelies out of Road Atlanta’s 100-plus-mph turn 12 all day Friday. Asked if he has ever seen someone wheelie out of turn 12 at Road Atlanta before, Spies’ veteran Crew Chief Tom Houseworth said, “Not until about 25 minutes ago. He says they’re power wheelies, too.”

Defending AMA Formula Xtreme Champion Jason Pridmore has been sidelined temporarily by a broken camshaft sprocket in his Attack Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Roger Lee Hayden’s Erion Honda CBR954RR died on the first lap of Friday morning’s Formula Xtreme practice, and Hayden lost the entire session.

Annandale Honda’s Ty Howard only suffered some road rash in his high-speed fall in turn 12 in Friday morning’s Formula Xtreme practice. “He said he was trying to save the front all the way down the hill,” said Annandale Honda’s Dale LeMaster, “and that last bump finally did him in.”

From a press release

2003 Shell Advance Australian Superbike Championship
Round 2, Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Victoria
Event Preview

PHILLIP ISLAND BECKONS FOR YAMAHA RIDERS

Victoria’s world famous Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit presents itself as the next challenge for the strong contingent of Yamaha riders competing in this years Shell Advance Australian Superbike Championship as round two of the championship heads to Australia’s southern most mainland tip this weekend, May 16 – 18.

Leading the Yamaha assault is Kevin Curtain, who arrives at the Island holding a perfect score in both the Australian Superbike and Supersport Championships after clean sweeping the opening round at Mallala aboard his Nikon Yamaha Racing Team prepared YZF R1 and R6 machines.

Curtain has been in amazing form this year and is by far the standout competitor in both domestic race series. As always, he will be aiming to come away from the round with maximum points, but does know that the Island presents its own array of challenges.

“I’d like to go there and do what I did at Mallala, but it’s Phillip Island and that does bring the best out in a lot of the competitors,” said Curtain, the existing Production Superbike lap record holder at Phillip Island. “The last time we where here at the World Superbike round in March, it was pretty tough. We did manage a win in the Superbike support, plus another two in the Supersport events, so there is some room there for improvement that’s for sure. The good thing is that both the R1 and the R6 have improved since then, so it will be interesting to see the results we can achieve this time out.”

Joining Curtain in the Superbike field will be teammate Daniel Stauffer and Stafford Yamaha’s Stephen Tozer. Stauffer currently lies fourth in the series, 34 points adrift of Curtain (76 – 42), while Tozer is within the top ten holding down ninth place with a total of 20 points.

The ever competitive Australian Supersport Championship will see another huge field of competitors that will include a total of eight Yamaha supported riders.

Leading the way once more will be Curtain aboard the impressive new fuel injected Yamaha YZF R6, while a further five Yamaha riders sit within the top ten on the points table.

Brendan Clarke (Nikon Yamaha) lies third on points at present followed by Glen Allerton (fifth), Procycles Yamaha’s Shaun Geronimi (tied for sixth), Yamaha World’s Michael Brenton (ninth) and Judd Greedy (tied for tenth).

For Clarke, the round will be a difficult one as he is still suffering from the fractured rib and punctured lung that he suffered at the Winton Formula Xtreme round a couple of weeks ago, but the talented Queensland teenager will take to the track on Friday and Saturday to assess his fitness.

Joining those top ten runners will be locals Glen Holland (Geoff Taylor Yamaha) and the Coote brothers Deon (Gary O’Brien Yamaha) and Jordan (Pakenham Yamaha). Each are capable of running high in the top ten and could be in a position to spring some welcomed surprises. Not being left out will be Bike City’s Mat Childs and Lismore Motorcycles Mark Stanley.

Completing the Yamaha line up of talented riders is 16-year-old Alex Cudlin. The Taree teenager currently lies fifth in the Superstock category aboard his Fineline Yamaha, but is certain to be higher on the points table when they leave Victoria on Sunday night.

Practice and qualifying for this weekend’s round commences on Friday, with races scheduled for Saturday and Sunday on what is a packed program.


POINTS (after 1 of 5 rounds)
Australian Superbike Championship
1. K Curtain (Yamaha) 76; 2. C Coxhell (Suzuki) 60; 3. S Giles (Suzuki) 45; 4. D Stauffer 42; 5. S Johnson (Honda) 32; 6. K McCarthy (Honda) 29; 7. B George (Honda) 22; 8. A Maxwell (Honda) 21; 9. S Tozer (Yamaha) 20; 10. D Butler (Suzuki) 16.

Australian Supersport Championship
1. K Curtain (Yamaha) 76; 2. S Johnson (Honda) 60; 3. B Clarke (Yamaha) 45; 4. R Holland (Kawasaki) 40; 5. G Allerton (Yamaha) 33; 6. M Clunie (Kawasaki) / S Geronimi (Yamaha) / J Brookes (Honda) 21; 9. M Brenton (Yamaha) 21; 10 J Greedy (Yamaha) / R Bancell (Suzuki) 19.

Australian Superstock Championship
1. L McKenzie (Suzuki) 75; 2. P Martinello (Yamaha) 49; 3. B McConnell (Suzuki) 37; 4. C Browne (Suzuki) 33; 5. A Cudlin (Yamaha) 31.