Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Purse for the AMA National at Road Atlanta, May 16-18

Chevy Trucks Superbike
$75,000 total purse
Half paid for each of two Superbike races
1. $8000
2. $6000
3. $4500
4. $3600
5. $3200
6. $3050
7. $2950
8. $2850
9. $2750
10. $2650
11. $2600
12. $2500
13. $2400
14. $2300
15. $2200
16. $2100
17. $2050
18. $2000
19. $1950
20. $1900
21. $1600
22. $1500
23. $1400
24. $1300
25. $1200
26. $1100
27. $950
28. $850
29. $700
30. $600
31. $550
32. $500
33. $450
34. $400
35. $350


MBNA 250 Grand Prix, Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport, Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme, Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock
$10,000 paid for each class
1. $1500
2. $1200
3. $900
4. $700
5. $650
6. $600
7. $525
8. $475
9. $425
10. $400
11. $375
12. $350
13. $325
14. $300
15. $275
16. $250
17. $225
18. $200
19. $175
20. $150

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

MLADIN CHASING AMA SUPERBIKE WINNING STREAK RECORD
AT ROAD ATLANTA

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (May 13, 2003) — Three-time AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Champion Mat Mladin will have a chance to tie an eight-year-old AMA Superbike record when the championship visits Road Atlanta, in Braselton, Ga., May 16-18, for the Suzuki Superbike Showdown presented by Dark Dog. Mladin and his potent Yoshimura Suzuki come into the Road Atlanta AMA Superbike doubleheader riding the crest of a four-race winning streak. If Mladin wins both rounds at Road Atlanta he will tie the AMA Superbike winning streak record of six set by Miguel Duhamel in 1995.

Since Duhamel’s hot streak eight years ago only Nicky Hayden, who now rides for Honda in MotoGP, came close to matching the winning streak. Hayden finished the 2001 season with a four-race winning streak and then opened up the 2002 campaign with a victory in the prestigious Daytona 200 to push his streak to five. Aussie Anthony Gobert then stopped Hayden’s streak with a victory in the first race of the 2002 Fontana doubleheader. Hayden then went on another streak after that race and won five more only to be come up short of matching the record when he crashed out of the Pikes Peak event.

Now attention turns to Mladin’s run at the record. The 31-year-old Australian has looked untouchable in sweeping the recent Superbike doubleheaders at both Fontana and Sonoma, Calif., and building a solid 24-point lead in the championship. Mladin hopes his success will continue at Road Atlanta. The Suzuki ace has won three AMA Superbike races at the circuit, including sweeping the doubleheader there in 2000. In addition, Mladin moved into third on the all-time AMA Superbike wins list with his double win at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma. If he sweeps Road Atlanta, Mladin would tie Fred Merkel for second on the wins list with 20 and he would appear to have a real shot of catching Duhamel’s record of 26-career victories by the end of the season.

Mladin needs only one victory this weekend to become the first rider to win four Road Atlanta Superbike races. “I look forward to the race, but the record is not on my mind,” said Mladin, who is in his eighth year of AMA Superbike racing. “Records are there to broken and if it happens that’s great, but my focus is on the championship. We tested there (at Road Atlanta) and things went well. We’re looking good for the race.”

One of the bigger obstacles that could keep Mladin from matching Duhamel’s winning streak record might have been Duhamel himself. The cagey veteran won the season opener at Daytona and was keeping close to Mladin in the series standings, but he suffered a crash in the Pro Honda Supersport race presented by Shoei at Infineon and broke his collarbone. Duhamel, a former winner at Road Atlanta, had surgery on the collarbone and is hoping to compete at Road Atlanta although he certainly won’t be feeling 100 percent.

Mladin’s Yoshimura Suzuki teammate, Aaron Yates is second in the standings coming into his home race. Hailing from Milledgeville, Ga., Yates has raced at Road Atlanta since his club racing days. He would love nothing more than to finally win an AMA Superbike event at his home circuit.

Ben Bostrom is third in the series in his first year back in the AMA Superbike Championship after three seasons in World Superbike. Bostrom says he’s finally starting to get the feel of the Honda RC51 and expects winning results soon. A strong podium finish from the prior round at Infineon Raceway supports that claim. Ben’s younger brother Eric is fourth in the standings on his factory Kawasaki. Eric finished runner-up to Nicky Hayden in Sunday’s race at Road Atlanta last year.

Kurtis Roberts is returning to Road Atlanta after missing last year’s event due to injury. Roberts is still trying to earn that elusive first AMA Superbike win. The son of the legendary Kenny Roberts knows what it takes to win at road Atlanta. He won a Formula Xtreme race there in 2000.

In addition to Yates, Georgian fans will have two up-and-coming local riders to root for in the Superbike races at Road Atlanta. Geoff May, of Alpharetta, Ga., comes into the race 14th in the series standings. May rides for Team Embry Suzuki. And last year’s AMA Superbike Rookie of the Year Brian Livengood, of Snellville, Ga., is 20th in the standings coming into next week’s race.

Both Saturday and Sunday’s Superbike races will be shown live at 2 p.m. EST on Speed Channel. Tickets are available at www.RoadAtlanta.com or by calling 1(800) 849-RACE.


More, from another AMA Pro Racing press release:

HACKING HOPING FOR BACK-TO-BACK AMA PRO HONDA OILS U.S. SUPERSPORT VICTORIES AT ROAD ATLANTA

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (May 13, 2003) — Jamie Hacking returns to Road Atlanta this Sunday, May 18, in search of his second-straight victory at Road Atlanta in the AMA Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship presented by Shoei. Winning two years consecutively in Road Atlanta’s Supersport race has proven to be a difficult task. Only Eric Bostrom and Mike Smith have managed to accomplish the job since the series started in 1987. Hacking looks to have a strong shot at defending his victory of last year. The 31-year-old Yamaha rider from South Carolina is riding a two-race winning streak and leads the series standings by 21 points over teammate Damon Buckmaster.

Hacking’s confidence has never been higher, especially considering he’s coming off a victory two weeks ago at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., a track that had given him a great deal of problems in the past. “To win at a track where I haven’t had a lot of luck shows that I’ve matured as a rider,” Hacking said after his recent victory. “Going into Road Atlanta I expect to do well there since I have in the past. Even though I have a pretty good points lead I’m not going to relax. There’s still a lot of racing to be done.”

Hacking has finished on the Supersport podium three times at Road Atlanta in the last five years.

Buckmaster comes into the race knowing that he needs to start winning if he’s to catch Hacking in the championship. Road Atlanta hasn’t been the best track for the likable Aussie. He’s never finished better than fourth in the Supersport race there. “There are no team orders this early in the season,” Buckmaster said. “Everyone still has a shot at the championship at this point. I need to start getting some wins and I’m hoping it happens this weekend.”

Aaron Gobert is making a strong comeback after sitting out most of last year due to injury. Yet another Yamaha rider, Gobert will be racing at Road Atlanta for only the second time. He finished ninth in the Supersport race in 2001.

Leading the non-Yamaha charge in the class is Jake Zemke of Erion Honda. He’s coming off his first podium of the season at Infineon.

Supersport racing legend Miguel Duhamel is questionable for Sunday’s race. He broke his collarbone at Infineon and is hoping to be in the field. Surprisingly Duhamel, the winningest rider in AMA Supersport history, has never won a Supersport race at Road Atlanta.

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies and Team Kawasaki’s Tommy Hayden, fifth and sixth in the points chase respectively, also hope to do well at the twisty Road Atlanta circuit.

From a press release issued by Jim “Jimmy The Greek” Gianatsis:

The Incredible LA Calendar Motorcycle Show
gets even hotter for the July 19-20th weekend!

SuperMoto Nationals, West Coast Horsepower Dyno Shootout, Burn Out Contest, Calendar Girl Beauty Pageant, Olive Crest Charity Ride, LA Times sponsorship!

Los Angeles, California, USA–Now in its 12th year, the Performance Machine sponsored Los Angeles Calendar Motorcycle Show produced by FastDates.com publisher Gianatsis Design Associates has grown to become the biggest and best Custom and HiPerformance Street bike Show in America. Held on the 3rd weekend of July at the Queen Mary Event Park on the edge of the Pacific Ocean in exciting downtown Long Beach, we weren’t content to sit on our hands when we could make the best Bike Show in America even better. Joining our associate sponsors Corona Beer, ReCycler.com / Cycle Buys, Trader Publications / Cycle Trader, Iron Works magazine for Harley enthusiasts and BikerNet.com, and The Shop will be The Los Angeles Times, one of America’s leading and largest newspapers assisting with pre event publicity and post event coverage. The Speed Channel’s premier American motorcycle series American Thunder produced by WATV will also be dedicating an entire program to the Calendar Bike Show as they do every year.

Exciting new activities added to this year’s street bike extravaganza include the RussBrown.com sponsored MotoMaster SuperMotard National, assured to be the biggest SuperMoto event ever held in America with participation by major factory race teams and world famous riders. Riders expect to appear include World and National road race and motocross stars like Jeremy McGrath, Kevin Schwantz, Scott Russell, Jeff Ward, John Michell Bayle and others. The tight stadium style track at the Queen Mary is guaranteed to challenge the riders and assures spectators close and exciting handlebar clashing action. The MotoMaster National Championship Series is sponsored by Primedia’s Sport Rider and Dirt Rider magazines who will also be covering the weekend’s racing action.

A favorite attraction at past Calendar Bike Shows, our West Coast Horsepower Dyno Shootout returns this year sponsored and produced by Jardine Headers, America’s premier performance exhaust system manufacturer for sportbikes and V-Twin motorcycles. Bike builders and enthusiasts will be able to roll their 2-wheeled rockets up on the Jardine dyno in front of hundreds of spectators and prove just how much horsepower their bikes really produce.

Another new attraction this year will be the Jim’s Machine Burnout Contest produced by one of America’s leading engine component manufacturers in the American V-Twin market. Taking place on the front straight of the SuperMoto track each afternoon during race intermission, this is the chance for performance bike exhibitionists to show how much smoke they can make in destroying a rear tire to the cheers of thousands of admiring fans. The folks at Jim’s Machine promise to award trophies for this eye watering / ear shattering mayhem that are as unique as the Burnout Contest participants themselves.

On Saturday we will be hosting the Iron Works magazine Olive Crest Charity Ride to the LA Calendar Motorcycle Show. Endorsed and funded in part buy the state, Olive Crest is the biggest orphanage and shelter system for abused children and families in Southern California. It provides long term housing, care, education and adoption services for hundreds of kids every year. The Ride will start with sign-up up on Saturday morning 10:30 am at Olive Crest’s main headquarters in Santa Ana. Participants will be treated to lunch before the start of the ride to the Show where they will receive reserved front space parking at the Queen Mary and over $120 in admission and parking values for the LA Calendar Bike Show weekend for a low $35 per person tax deductible charity donation to Olive Crest.

Teens from Olive Crest will be also be guests at the Show on Saturday afternoon to enjoy all the activities and attractions the Show and the Queen Mary have to offer.

And what would the Los Angeles Calendar Motorcycle Show be without its beautiful girls!
There will be 2 days of excitement featuring America’s hottest new female vocal group The Beu Sisters who are featured in the sound track of the new Disney movie Lizzie McGuire, and an upcoming Coca-Cola advertising campaign. Plus spectators will get to meet the beautiful FastDates.com Calendar Angels who are also our 2003 SBK World Superbike girls for Laguna Seca, Miss Minnesota Janelle Perzina, Miss Great Britain Nicki Lane, Star Search Spokesmodel winner and The Man Show Juggy Joanna Krupa with The Man Show’s Chandi Mason.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

WSMC racer Al Pereira, 38, was killed in a motorcycle accident Saturday, May 10th on his way back from lunch, heading to work at Mach 1 Motorsports in Costa Mesa, California.

According to the L.A. Times website, the accident happened shortly after 3:30 p.m., as Pereira was traveling north on Superior Ave. from Coast Highway and a 72-year-old man in a 1978 Lincoln made a left turn in front of him. Pereira is survived by his wife, Lori, and son, Chris.

Funeral Services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Friday, May 16, at Heritage Funeral Home in Huntington Beach, California, (714) 842-2400.

From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

TESTING CONTINUES FOR DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM AT JEREZ

Jerez de la Frontera (Spain), 13 May 2003 – The Ducati Marlboro Team stayed behind at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit today for further testing, just two days after a superb podium finish at the Spanish GP.

Sunday’s race was characterized by a fantastic third place for Bayliss and a ‘close encounter’ between the team’s two riders during the warm-up lap. Capirossi bruised his left arm in the contact and was forced to retire after crashing out on lap 15.

In a climate of total collaboration, both riders carried out testing work on settings and made a number of modifications to the front and rear suspension geometry, allowing engineers to accumulate important data. Loris and Troy also went through a vast range of tyres, testing different compound Michelin fronts. Torrid heat (over 30° C air / 54° C track) meant that both tyres and engine components were put through their paces today.

At the end of the day the results, from a technical point of view, can be viewed as positive. “Today it was really hot out there – commented Corrado Cecchinelli, Ducati Marlboro Team technical director – and this allowed us to test the engine reliability and the Michelin tyres to their limit, in particular the front with different compounds. We are very pleased, everything worked well and the condition of both riders was more than satisfactory. Troy did a lot of laps and kept up a rapid pace. Loris got back on the bike after Sunday’s crash and used today’s test to the full. At this point we are already focussed and ready for the Le Mans race”.

Troy Bayliss completed a total of 85 laps, simulating a race distance and lapping at a constantly high pace. “Today was important because it allowed us to make a further step forward in the set-up of the bike. We are all fired up and what is more important, we are working really well. I’m really pleased with the way things are going”.

Loris Capirossi was also satisfied: “My arm is at 70% – he said – but I still managed to do 50 laps at a good pace, as well as test tyres and carry out a series of modifications to the suspension geometry. It was a positive and constructive day, which allowed the team to work in complete tranquillity. The heat was unbearable but everything worked out well”.

From a press release issued by Monstermob Ducati:

SHAKEY GOES FOR TRIPLE DOUBLE

Fresh from five back to back race victories in the 2003 British Superbike Championship, MonsterMob Ducati ace Shane Byrne is hoping to continue his dominance as the series heads north to Knockhill in Scotland for round five this weekend.

The 26 year old Kent rider has stamped his authority on the championship with six wins out of the eight races to date and with a brace of second places also for good measure ‘Shakey’ holds a 55 point advantage over nearest rival Michael Rutter (Ducati) going into the tight and twisty Fife circuit where he won last year.

Doubles at Thruxton and Oulton Park have given Byrne a commanding lead and if he could repeat the victories in the last two rounds, he would match the only other rider in the championship’s recent history – Niall Mackenzie – who achieved the feat of a ‘triple double’ back in 1997, ironically taking victories at Thruxton and Oulton Park also, before winning twice at Mallory on his way to the title.

Whilst confident, Byrne is keen to play down the hype and expectations: “I’m not bothered about history or records; I just want things to keep moving along as they have been for the past few races and it’s important we keep focussed on the task in hand which is winning races. Everything is working so well at the moment, I’m really enjoying things and despite some people saying I’m not good enough to win this title or that I’m having it all too easy, I aim to continue where I left off at Oulton” said the rider from Minster on the Isle of Sheppey.

For team mate Stuart Easton, racing on home soil has not been kind to him in the past and the 18 year old Hawick rider will be hoping for better luck this year as he bids to defend his Supersport crown. Second in the series standings and with just one victory to his name so far this year, the ‘Rat Boy’ is planning on scooping victory at his local circuit board his 748cc MonsterMob Ducati:

“We handicapped ourselves at Oulton with a poor qualifying session and you can’t give this class of riders two rows head start. Points are all well and good but I need to be winning again and I can’t think of anywhere better than Knockhill where a lot of my friends and family will be at” said the young Scot.

Team owner Paul Bird will be making the short trip across the Scottish border from his Cumbria home and naturally wants his team to give a good account of themselves:

“It’s always a bit of a lottery at Knockhill because the track is so short and the weather always seems to play a part. The main aim is to maintain our championship positions and if the wins come along then that would be a bonus” said the boss of the Penrith-based team.

From a press releease issued by Honda Racing Information:

HONDA RACING INFO

Results Spanish Grand Prix, Jerez, Spain.
Raceday Sunday May 11


ROSSI PUTS HEAT ON RIVALS WITH SPANISH WIN

A partisan crowd of 130,000 had to be disappointed with the early departures of their Spanish heroes Sete Gibernau (Telefonica Movistar Honda RC211V) and Carlos Checa (Yamaha) in the first half of the race. But no one could begrudge Valentino Rossi (Repsol Honda RC211V) his second win of the season in the searing conditions that saw the track temperature at 41 degrees.

Rossi won in style with a stand-up wheelie across the line while second-placed Max Biaggi (Camel Pramac Pons RC211V) and Troy Bayliss (Ducati) were slightly were more reserved in their celebrations of second and third places respectively.

The 27-lap MotoGP race began with a mad rush into the uphill right-hand turn one and it was Troy Bayliss (Ducati) who rocketed into the lead as the pack bumped and bored its way around the first circuit of the 4.423km track. His team-mate Loris Capirossi collided with him on the back straight and came off better in the altercation. He grabbed the lead.

But Rossi was already sizing up his Italian rival Capirossi having hoisted himself from seventh to second by the end of the first lap. Rossi’s ability to carve his way through the chaos of the opening lap gave him the impetus he needed to stalk Capirossi and then dive inside him at the final left-hand hairpin on lap four. And then he was gone.

Lap after lap he piled on the agony for his pursuers putting anything between two and four tenths of a second into the gap between his number 46 machine and the RC211V of his erstwhile antagonist Max Biaggi. Biaggi could easily maintain the second place he grabbed on lap six but he could make no impression on the rampaging Rossi.

With Biaggi out of Bayliss’ range in second and Bayliss similarly clear of the rest of the field, the action was concentrated on fourth place and beyond. It eventually went to Tohru Ukawa (Camel Pramac Pons RC211) from Alex Barros (Yamaha) but not without a huge fight from the inspired rookie Makoto Tamada (Pramac Honda RC211V) along the way.

Rossi, who set a new lap record of 1:42.788 on lap five on his way to GP win number 52, now has a tally of five wins at this happy Spanish hunting ground.

“I’m happy,” he said. “The biggest problem everyone had was traction and we knew we had to work on making the bike controllable even with large amounts of wheelspin. I had a bad start but I didn’t want anyone to get away and so I had to make a lot of places up before I got behind Capirossi. I had a bit more speed than him and that was it.”

Max Biaggi (Camel Pramac Pons RC211V) was more relieved than happy at securing a solid points haul when he was in danger of coming away with little or nothing in the early qualifying stages.

“I’m happy with this after the qualifying troubles,” he said. “On Friday I was down in 12th, then I was on the front row on Saturday and now today a podium. Everyone dreams of winning and riding with the number one plate but in these conditions you take what you can get. I had a lot of fun overtaking other riders in the early laps but it was quite lonely towards the end.”

Things got better as the race wore on for Tohru Ukawa (Camel Pramac Pons RC211) who wasted a front row grid slot with a sluggish start and then couldn’t push through the field until after mid-race distance.

“The bike was not giving me enough confidence to push at the start,” said the Japanese star. “Then as the race went on things actually got better and I could make up places, but it was too late to make decent progress. Maybe there’s a small problem with me too, I seem to take too long to get into a rhythm at the moment.”

For Sete Gibernau (Telefonica Movistar Honda RC211V) it was all a case of what might have been. “It was a real shame,” said the Spaniard. “When I was chasing Valentino the front end let go. I didn’t want to settle for second in front of this great crowd but I still have to adapt to this bike. We’re staying to test tomorrow and hopefully I’ll arrive at Le Mans with another chance of winning.”

Makoto Tamada (Pramac Honda RC211V) made his rookie tag look faintly ridiculous as he stormed to sixth in only his third MotoGP race and his first visit to Jerez. “I’m very satisfied,” he said. “A day like this really pumps up the motivation. This is what we need to move forward and I’m really looking to the Le Mans race although we need to remember not to get carried away with this result.”

Nicky Hayden (Respsol Honda RC211V) went out on lap nine. “My start wasn’t great,” he said. “Then I caught a good group and got into a rhythm before the engine felt a little slower. Then I fell off and I’m disappointed because I knew I was going to finish higher. I’m aching a bit now as it was a pretty fast fall.”

Rossi leads the points standings after three races with 70, Biaggi is second on 56 points with Bayliss on 40 and Gibernau with 38.

A scintillating 250 race was won by home-ground hotshot Tony Elias (Aprilia) who came out on top of a four-way last lap fight for the second 250 race win of his career. Roberto Rolfo (Fortuna Honda RS250RW) grabbed second with Randy De Puniet third.

“We are starting to get somewhere,” said Rolfo. “I could ride round the outside of the Aprilias in the corners but just didn’t quite have the acceleration to get past them. I had to concentrate at 100% all through the race and when the rear tyre started to go off in the middle of the race I was worried but I guess it was the same for the others as I didn’t lose too much ground.”

Sebastian Porto (Telefonica Movistar Junior Team RS250RW) rode a typically gritty race to sixth carrying a painful injury. “This has been the worst weekend of my life,” said the Argentine. “I had engine problems and then I crashed and the bike ran over my neck in qualifying. I was in pain in the race and couldn’t turn my head very much at all. I’ll take the 10 points because these are the sort of rides you need to put in with a Championship at stake.”

Alex Debon (Troll Honda BQR RS250RW) finished ninth. “I am happy with my race,” he said. “The team did a great job. The bike was almost perfect, despite the hot conditions it only lost a little power. I hope this is the beginning of some good results for us.”

Manuel Poggiali (Aprilia) who finished fourth head the points table with 63, Rolfo lies second with 40 with De Puniet and Porto tied with 36 in third.

The 125 Grand Prix was won by Lucio Cecchinello (Aprilia) with Steve Jenkner (Aprilia) second and Alex De Angelis (Aprilia) in third. Daniel Pedrosa (Telefonica Movistar Junior Team RS125R) finished fourth after getting wrapped up in a fierce fight with Stefano Perugini (Aprilia) on the final two laps.

“I’m really not happy with the race,” said Pedrosa. “But the result will have to do. I know everyone’s expected to fight to the maximum but not the way Perugini did it picking impossible lines and generally losing us the chance of staying with group. And now I’ve lost the Championship lead.”

Andrea Dovisioso (Team Scot Racing RS125R) finished ninth after leading the early laps. “I chose a hard compound tyre for the front and rear,” he said. “The front was perfect but the rear started sliding early in the race and I could do nothing to stay with the leaders. Aprilia have been here testing several times and it helped them in the race.”

The world Championship points table now shows Jenkner on 52 points after three races, Pedrosa tied on 46 with Cecchinello and Dovisioso fourth with 38.

MotoGP
Valentino Rossi, Repsol Honda, 1st :”I’m happy with the win. The biggest problem for everyone was traction and during the practice we worked hard on race set-up so that we could control the bike under spinning conditions. Racing at this track is always a dream for a rider to perform in front of so many people. It’s fantastic. At the start I lost time – I went wide to avoid a rider and lost time. Then I see Gibernau and Capirossi going away and I don’t want the same thing as South Africa so I push. I make a good lap and overtake four or five riders and arrive behind Capirossi. I was a little bit more fast and it was possible to go. 25 points is very important for me to take 100%.”

Max Biaggi, Camel Pramac Pons, 2nd :”I’m really pleaseed with my results because, even if a rider’s thought goes always to the win, looking where we were on Friday, the progress we made has been great. The race has been funny only in the first laps. Entering the first turn somebody touched me on the rear and made me loosing the best line. Everybody was really ‘hot’ looking only for going into the turn without thinkinh how to get out!. I remained calm even if I found myself in fifth position. I got my fan overtaking the others till I arrive in second position, after then the race becaime quite boring. The weather so warm made the pace quite slower compared to this morning and yesterday also. I think I got the 100% from my bike and that this result was the maximum I could hope for. The team has been great sorting out the problems we had on Friday and I wish to thanks them for this. We’ll go on working race by race without thinking to much to the future and we’ll try to take advantage of every occasions, if there will be some.”

Tohru Ukawa, Camel Pramac Pons, 4th :”at the start of the race the bike was sliding a lot and I did not feel to confident, but as the laps went by I started to feel better and in the end I had an excellent feeling on the bike. The same thing happened to me at Suzuka, but clearly this time it was too late in the race to challenge for the lead. The set-up was not perfect but you have to accept that not everything is perfect in the world of racing. I hope to make another important step forward in Le Mans and battle for a podium finish. So I think that the testing we will be carrying out there on suspensions and the engine will be a great help.”

Sito Pons, Team Manager: “We are very satisfied with the preformance of our riders, both on whom have once again shown their true class. Max tried everything and has achieved the best result that we could have hoped for here today, while Tohru finished very strongly. I would also like to highlight the enormous amount of work and dedication our technical team have put in to prepare the bikes for the race.”

Makoto Tamada, Pramac Honda, 6th :” A real uphill race, with a fight to reach the head of the pack. When it was time to make my attack, I was no longer able to deliver all the power down to the ground because I was losing grip at the rear. I got past Barros and Ukawa by shutting down the throttle at the very last moment and braking harder. Two fine duels. But then, after three laps in fourth place, I had to let them by. When I’m decelerating, I still get vibrations that make the saddle painful and riding extremely difficult. But if we can solve these little snags, we’ll be able to go even faster. But I’m very satisfied as it is. A day like this really pumps up the motivation. This is what we need to go forwards and get better and better. Now I can look forward to the Le Mans race with real confidence, even though I know we mustn’t overdo things: we’ve got to take one step at a time.”

Sete Gibernau, Telefonica Movistar Honda, dnf : “What can I say? It was a real shame. This weekend was difficult because we have had many changes. It was my first race on this machine, I made a good start up to second but when I was chasing Valentino the front end went from underneath me. We have loaded quite a lot of weight onto the front end of the bike and that made it difficult to turn. I still have to adapt to this bike but here in Jerez, in front of this great crowd, I did not want to settle for second place. I want to go for everything but it wasn’t to be. I am sorry for all the people who have come here to support me and for my team who have worked so hard. Tomorrow we will stay to test and hopefully will arrive at Le Mans with a chance of victory”.

FAUSTO GRESINI, Team Manager: “It was a real shame. I think we had a chance of making the podium. Crashes, like so many other things that happen during a race, are part of this sport. That’s racing…”

Nicky Hayden, Repsol Honda, dnf :”I’m really pretty disappointed because after a difficult couple of qualifying days we actually had the bike going quite good. My start was not so great and in all the jockeying for position in the first corner I got knocked by someone and my whole brake lever system got twisted round. I then out-braked myself and managed to get sorted and got into quite a good rhythm and began to work my way forward. I caught up a good group and picked up a few places and then felt the engine slow a little. I fell off pretty quick – not really too sure what happened – all I do know is I’m disappointed as I knew I was going to finish higher and I’m aching a bit now – it was a fast place to fall.”

250cc race:
Roberto Rolfo, Fortuna Honda, 2nd: ” We are starting to get somewhere with the engine, it was not so bad today. But we need more acceleration. The team worked really, really well here and the chassis was near perfect. We continue to improve all the time. In the race could ride around the outside of the Aprilia’s in the corners but couldn’t get in front of them. The difference is only the lack of acceleration. I had to concentrate at 100% all through the race. When the rear tyre started to go off in the middle of the race I was a ittle worried but I stayed with them and it paid of at the finish.”

Sebastien Porto, Telefonica MoviStar Honda Junior Team, 6th: “This is the worst weekend of my racing life. I am happy it’s over. We have been having problems with the engine and then my crash when the bike ran over my neck. It was very painful and uncomfortable in the race, I couldn’t turn my head at all. Still, it was important to race as hard as I could and finish with some points. I’m happy with sixth position, and the 10 points. That is the important thing, take points for the championship classification.”

Alex Debon, Troll Honda BQR, 9th: “I am happy with my race and thank my team for this good result, they did a great job. The bike was almost perfect, despite the hot conditions it only lost a little power. I hope this result is the first in a line of good results for us.”

125cc race.
Daniel Pedrosa, Telefonica Movistar Junior Team, 4th :”I am not happy at all with this race, not just with the result but with the real reason for it, which was the attitude of Perugini. I know that you have to fight to the maximum in the races, but not in this way. It was in both our interests to push hard and make sure the lead three didn’t escape, and maybe try something on the last lap – not try and pick impossible lines with three laps still remaining and risking a crash for both of us. At the start I tried to escape but when I saw it was not possible I dropped back to try and control my rivals. The bike was going well and I thought I had a chance. But I wasn’t counting on the actions of Perugini. The result is that I have lost the leadership and I was unable to fight for the victory as I would have liked”.

Andrea Dovizioso, Scot Racing Honda, 9th: “I chose a hard compound tyre for the front and rear. The front was perfect but the rear started sliding early in the race and I could do nothing to stay with the leaders. Aprilia have been here testing several times and it helped them in the race. Still, the main problem today was the sliding rear tyre.”

Masao Azuma, Ajo Motorsports Honda, 11th: “We changed many things on the suspension for the warm up. In the race I tried to follow the top group but they had too much acceleration and I could not. It was very hot today and that was the problem, my engine was just not quite perfect. It was a very hard race in these conditions.”

Thomas Luthi, Elit Honda, 12th: “My start was perfect I caught four guys on the first lap. Later in the race I ran wide and let three of them back passed me but fought back to lead the group. On the last lap I knew Azuma was right behind me so I chose a line that would keep him there but I had a big slide and he got passed.”

Mika Kallio, Ajo Motorsports Honda, 16th: “My start was not so bad but I got hit by another rider on the first lap and he pushed me wide. A lot of guy’s came passed me and I just lost too much time. I was sliding really badly Lorenzo was in front of me and he was not having the same problem so I tried to use his lines but it made no difference.”

Simone Corsi, Scot racing Honda, 21st: “I didn’t have a good feeling at all in the race. I was in some pain from my crash in practice and decided not to push too hard.”

RESULTS RACE :

MotoGP

Race Classification MotoGP: (27laps=119.421)

Pos/Rider/Nation/Team/Motorcycle/Time/Km/h

1/Valentino ROSSI /ITA /Repsol Honda /HONDA/46m50.345/152.976

2/Max BIAGGI /ITA /Camel Pramac Pons /HONDA/46m56.678/152.632

3/Troy BAYLISS /AUS /Ducati Marlboro Team /DUCATI/47m02.422/152.321

4/Tohru UKAWA /JPN /Camel Pramac Pons /HONDA/47m06.531/152.100

5/Alex BARROS /BRA /Gauloises Yamaha Team /YAMAHA/47m08.975/151.968

6/Makoto TAMADA /JPN /Pramac Honda /HONDA/47m14.498/151.672

7/John HOPKINS /USA /Suzuki Grand Prix Team /SUZUKI/47m21.304/151.309

8/Shinya NAKANO /JPN /d’Antín Yamaha Team /YAMAHA/47m21.563/151.295

9/Nobuatsu AOKI /JPN /Proton Team KR /PROTON KR/47m26.347/151.041

10/Olivier JACQUE /FRA /Gauloises Yamaha Team /YAMAHA/47m27.911/150.958

11/Noriyuki HAGA /JPN /Alice Aprilia Racing /APRILIA/47m34.098/150.630

12/Jeremy McWILLIAMS /GBR /Proton Team KR /PROTON KR/47m34.239/150.623

13/Kenny ROBERTS /USA /Suzuki Grand Prix Team /SUZUKI/47m39.236/150.360

14/Colin EDWARDS /USA /Alice Aprilia Racing /APRILIA/47m42.473/150.190

15/Andrew PITT /AUS /Kawasaki Racing Team /Kawasaki/47m58.524/149.352

Fastest Lap: Valentino ROSSI /1m42.788 /154.909 km/h

World Championship Positions:
1 ROSSI 70, 2 BIAGGI 56, 3 BAYLISS 40, 4 GIBERNAU 38, 5 BARROS 30, 6 UKAWA 23, 7 NAKANO 20, 8 HAYDEN 18, 9 CAPIROSSI 16, 10 HOPKINS 15, 11 ABE 13, 12 CHECA 13, 13 JACQUE 13, 14 EDWARDS 12, 15 TAMADA 12.


250cc

Race Classification 250cc: (26 laps = 114.998 km)

Pos/Rider/Nation/Team/Motorcycle/Time/Km/h

1/Toni ELIAS /SPA /Team Repsol Telefonica Movistar /APRILIA/46m10.793/149.413

2/Roberto ROLFO /ITA /Fortuna Honda /HONDA/46m11.314/149.385

3/Randy De Punet /FRA /Safilo Oxydo-LCR /APRILIA/46m11.332/149.384

4/Manuel POGGIALI /RSM /MS Aprilia Team /APRILIA/46m11.400/149.380

5/Anthony WEST /AUS /Team Zoppini Abruzzo /APRILIA/46m22.841/148.766

6/Sebastian PORTO /ARG /Telefonica Movistar jnr Team /HONDA/46m24.997/148.651

7/Fonsi NIETO /SPA /Team Repsol Telefonica Movist /APRILIA/46m33.256/148.211

8/Naoki MATSUDO /JPN /Yamaha Kurz /YAMAHA/46m48.633/147.400

9/Alex DEBON /SPA /Troll Honda BQR /HONDA/46m53.613/147.139

10/Joan OLIVE /SPA /Aspar Junior Team /APRILIA/46m59.614/146.826

11/Franco BATTAINI /ITA /Campetella Racing /APRILIA/47m02.978/146.651

12/Alex BALDOLINI /ITA /Matteoni Racing /APRILIA/47m05.497/146.520

13/Eric BATAILLE /FRA /Troll Honda BQR /HONDA/47m06.882/146.448

14/Christian GEMMEL /GER /Kiefer Castrol-Honda Racing /HONDA/47m08.501/146.364

15/Dirk HEIDORF /GER /Aprilia Germany / APRILIA/47m14.226/146.069

Fastest Lap: Manual POGGIALI / 1m45.350s / Lap2

World Championship Positions:
1 POGGIALI 63, 2 ROLFO 40, 3 DE PUNIET 36, 4 PORTO 36, 5 ELIAS 33, 6 BATTAINI 32, 7 NIETO 28, 8 MATSUDO 22, 9 WEST 21, 10 AOYAMA 20, 11 TAKAHASHU 16, 12 GUINTOLI 13, 13 DEBON 12, 14 OLIVE 9, 15 BALDOLINI 8.


125cc

Race Classification 125cc : (23 laps = 101.729km )

Pos/Rider/Nation/Team/Motorcycle/Time/Km/h

1/Lucio CECCHINELLO /ITA /Safilo Oxydo-LCR /APRILIA/41m52.177/145.779

2/Steve JENKNER /GER /Exalt Cycle Red Devil /APRILIA/41m52.265/145.774

3/Alex De ANGELIS /RSM /Racing World /APRILIA/41m52.555/145.757

4/Daniel PEDROSA /SPA /Telefonica Movistar jnr Team /HONDA/41m53.562/145.699

5/Stefano PERUGINI /ITA /Abruzzo Racing Team /APRILIA/41m53.684/145.692

6/Casey STONER /AUS /Safilo Oxydo-LCR /APRILIA/42m03.579/145.121

7/Hector BARBERA /SPA /Master-MXOnda-Aspar Team /APRILIA/42m03.673/145.115

8/Youichi UI /JPN /Sterilgarda Racing /APRILIA/42m07.754/144.811

9/Andrea DOVIZIOSO /ITA /Team Scot /HONDA/42m10.781/144.708

10/Mirko GIANSANTI /ITA /Matteoni Racing /APRILIA/42m11.074/144.691

11/Masao Azuma /JPN / Ajo Motorsports / HONDA/42m15.709/144.426

12/Thomas LUTHI /SWI /Elit Grand Prix /HONDA/42m15.777/144.422

13/Gino BORSOI /ITA /Racing World /APRILIA/42m15.987/144.410

14/Marco SIMONCELLI /ITA /Matteoni Racing /APRILIA/42m.16.385/144.388

15/Jorge LORENZO /SPA /Caja Madrid Derbi Racing /DERBI/42m17.316/144.335

Fastest Lap: Stefano PERUGINI / 1m47.766s / 147.753 Km/h /Lap6

World Championship Positions:
1 JENKNER 52, 2 PEDROSA 46, 3 CECCHINELLO 46, 4 DOVIZIOZO 38, 5 PERUGINI 36, 6 UI 31, 7 GIANSANTI 27, 8 DE ANGELIS 26, 9 NIETO 20, 10 STONER 16, 11 KALLIO 14, 12 BORSOI 14, 13 BARBERA 12, 14 AZUMA 12, 15 LUTHI 11.

From a revised press release issued by Mat Mladin’s publicist, Steve Reeves:

MLADIN CHASES THIRD DOUBLE RACE VICTORY THIS WEEKEND AT ROAD ATLANTA

The 2003 AMA Chevy Trucks US Superbike Championship heads to Georgia this weekend for the third of this season’s double-header Superbike rounds at the Road Atlanta circuit in Braselton, with Australian Mat Mladin eyeing another pair of race wins.

Mladin, a three-times American AMA Superbike champion, has made a sensational start to his 2003 season, winning four of the five Superbike rounds and leads the championship by 24-points from Yoshimura Suzuki teammate Aaron Yates as they head into the weekend’s sixth and seventh rounds of the series.

Mladin took out the double race win at Road Atlanta in 2000 and made it three wins at the Georgian circuit with another race win in 2001. Earlier this year, Mladin, along with a number of other AMA competitors, tested at Road Atlanta and came away with the fastest time recorded at the three-day test showing his liking for the 4.087km (2.54miles), 12-turn layout.

“We’re looking forward to the race that’s for sure and hopeful we can continue on with winning some races,” said Mladin. “I like the race track. It’s got a lot of different aspects about it that makes it interesting. It’s a good event where the fans get right into it, so it’s always nice to do well there.

“As for the weekend, we have to go there and play smart, win a couple of races and extend the points gap. With thirteen races remaining, there is a huge amount of the season left to go. At the moment we have a full race worth of points break over fourth place in the championship and it would be nice to leave Atlanta with that same margin over second place.”

The Atlanta round will also mark the first of a hectic four-round schedule that will see Mladin and his fellow competitors criss-cross America before returning to California in July.

“After this round, we’ll be on the road for a couple of months living out of the motorhome, for the upcoming rounds at Pikes Peak (Colorado), Road America (Wisconsin) and Brainerd (Minnesota), before heading back to California for the combined World Superbike / AMA round at Laguna Seca on July 13. It’ll be good fun, it allows us to get out and see a bit of the country as well as giving us some different training routines as we prepare for each of those particular rounds. It’s a time of the year that I actually look forward to.”

Qualifying for this weekend’s double header round begins on Friday, with final qualifying scheduled for Saturday morning followed by the opening 28-lap Superbike national on Saturday afternoon. The second of the 28-lap Superbike races takes place on Sunday afternoon.



ROAD ATLANTA – FAST FACTS

Circuit length: 4.087km (2.54miles), 12-turn
2002 Pole position: Nicky Hayden (American Honda) 1:23.287mins

2002 Results:

Race 1:
1. Nicky Hayden (American Honda)
2. Miguel DuHamel (American Honda)
3. Aaron Yates (Blimpie Yoshimura Suzuki)

5. Mat Mladin (Blimpie Yoshimura Suzuki)

Race 2:
1. Nicky Hayden (American Honda)
2. Eric Bostrom (Team Kawasaki)
3. Miguel DuHamel (American Honda)

6. Mat Mladin (Blimpie Yoshimura Suzuki)

Superbike lap record: Nicky Hayden (American Honda) 1:23.287mins (2002)

2003 AMA Chevy Trucks US Superbike Championship (points after 5 of 18
rounds)
1. M Mladin 174
2. A Yates 150
3. B Bostrom 142
4. E Bostrom 138
5. K Roberts 131
6. M DuHamel 121
7. L Pegram / S Higbee 99
9. V Haskovec 94
10. J Pridmore 91.