Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By John Marley
Courtesy Cycle Scene Magazine

In the CCS Florida region races at Jennings GP last weekend, Mike Smith had entered three bikes in the Suzuki Contingency races, hoping for a big payday. Smith, a former factory rider, had to beat the Florida Champion, Darren Luck, to get the biggest share of the available money.

Florida’s other fastest riders, Mike Barnes and Marco Martinez, were racing in the AMA Superbike races at Infineon Raceway in California.

In their first money race, Expert Unlimited Supersport, Luck put up a fight but couldn’t beat Smith at the end. Later they went at it again in Expert Middleweight Supersport with the same result. In their third match-up, Expert Heavyweight Supersport, Smith followed Luck before taking the lead on the last lap and holding it to the checkered flag.

Afterwards, Smith found out he had been disqualified by Tech Inspector Bill Parr for a crankcase vent hose infraction on all three. This would temporarily take away the $3000 of Suzuki contingency money Smith thought he had won. Smith denied that he had intentionally violated the rules, instead blaming it on his mechanic. Bystanders observing the exchange gave Smith the benefit of the doubt. The offending vent hose had been pinched on all three bikes. Said by some to give a slight horsepower advantage, the trick is now out of favor due to the possibility of a disastrous loss of purse money.

Fit to be tied, Smith was ready to pack up his stuff and go home before the 20th and final race of the day, the purse-paying Shootout, aka Expert Unlimited Grand Prix. Promoter Henry DeGouw intervened, explaining that Smith could protest the ruling and likely prevail. Since the Shootout has few rules, and none involving crankcase ventilation, DeGouw explained to Smith that any purse he won would not be in jeopardy.

The Shootout would be Luck’s last chance to beat Smith, but Smith won again by using the skills he has developed over many years in the tighter sections of the track, pocketing the $550 share for the first place of the $1500 purse. With that consolation, Smith went home to wait for the ruling.

Smith’s case had to go to CCS headquarters in Texas for the final judgment, but DeGouw said it shouldn’t be a case of “The Death Penalty,” as he termed it, but rather a fine.

Kevin Elliot, Director of Racing for CCS concurred, saying “An infraction of this type is not a class disqualification, but a tech violation, and has never resulted in a race disqualification before.”

On Thursday afternoon CCS Appeal Board met by telephone and reinstated Smith’s three race victories, and fined him $200 for each of the three infractions. The way was now clear for him to collect his Suzuki contingency money.

When the smoke cleared, DeGouw said a matter like this would not be permitted to get to this stage again, but would be solved trackside with a fine on the spot. DeGouw said he would enlighten racers at the next riders’ meeting at Moroso on May 26th, but you read it here first.

From a press release issued by the Pramac Racing Press Office:

PRAMAC RACING PREVIEW

MotoGP – Round 3 – Jerez de la Frontera (Spain)

JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA: FIRST EUROPEAN ROUND OF THE 2003 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

After the first two rounds of the 2003 championship in Japan and South Africa, the MotoGP comes to Europe. A long series of European events kicks off in the Spanish city of Jerez: there will be nine of them in the old continent before the 12th GP of the year takes place in South America on 20 September. The Jerez circuit has recently undergone significant modifications to improve its level of safety. The most recent change, made last February, was an enlargement of the escape road on the last corner before the home run.

Jerez is a track where the bike’s handling capabilities are crucial. So it is important to achieve very fluid power delivery and to ensure the bike is perfectly balanced for those parts of the circuit that require a particular trim. In the long part of the track that leads into the Dry-Sack corner, there are some bends that are very difficult to link up correctly. As for the choice of tyres, Jerez usually does not put their duration particularly to the test.

Jerez is gearing up for the excitement of every year, for the entire city gets caught up and takes an active part in the motorcycling event of the year not just from the grandstands and the hills around the circuit – there are always over 100,000 spectators – but also in the streets of the historic centre.

THE TRACK: 4,423 metres – lefthanders: 5 – righthanders: 8 – longest straight: 600 metres – maximum width: 11 metres – Constructed in 1986.

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

CIRCUIT RECORDS.125 class: Azuma 1’48,385 (2001) – 250 class: Katoh 1’4,444 – (2001) – 500 class: Rossi (ITA) Honda.


MAX BIAGGI AND THE CAMEL PRAMAC PONS TEAM MAKE SECOND CONSECUTIVE PODIUM

A great start to the season for the Pramac colours. Four-times world champion Max Biaggi stepped up onto the rostrum in the first two GPs of 2003: he was second at Suzuka and third in South Africa. But in the race at Welkom, Massimiliano Biaggi achieved an important record when his third place in the ratings made him the rider who, in the history of motorcycling, has achieved the greatest number of points (2310), beating the previous record of 2298 that had been held by Mick Doohan.

PRAMAC HONDA TEAM RIDER MAKOTO TAMADA CONTINUES HIS MOTOGP APPRENTICESHIP

For Pramac Honda Team rider Makoto Tamada, results so far are looking positive. Makoto entered the Welkom race in a psychological state that was far from ideal. He has never displayed the pain he feels for the loss of his friend Daijiro, but he certainly took part in the race gritting his teeth and trying to overcome the pent-up emotions accumulated in the fortnight he
spent watching over his dear friend.

Tamada came 14th in South Africa, in a race that enabled considerable amounts of information and data to be collected for the ongoing development
of the Bridgestone tyres on his Honda RC211V. In Jerez, Makoto will again find himself on a track he has never seen before, and this will be an
excellent opportunity to assess the level of progress achieved since the beginning of the championship. Bridgestone tyres are constantly evolving, and it is here at Jerez that some new features on the rear tyre will be tested, coming shortly after the good results achieved on the front tyre with which the technicians and rider are very satisfied.

At least as far as this year of apprenticeship for the Japanese rider is concerned, the challenge will be the same as ever: to make the most of the four hours of practice on Friday and Saturday in order to reach the starting grid on Sunday with the best possible tyres to be really competitive in the race.

From a press release issued by CMRA:

CMRA announces two new motard classes and end of year prize

The Central Motorcycle Roadracing Club (CMRA) has announced an expansion of their successful Motard series. In addition to the Motard and Super Motard classes, the CMRA has introduced Jr. Motard and Unlimited Motard.

Jr. Motard is a series for 8-12 year old riders on 90cc or smaller machines with automatic clutches. Riders can wear full motocross gear or road racing leathers. Rider’s school is free of charge with a $25 license, and class entry is $10. All entrants will receive a trophy. Complete rules are available on www.cmraracing.com CMRA Board of Directors member Norm McDonald described the function of the class, “This class was formed to introduce the fun and skills of Road Racing to these young riders. The Jr. Motard class is a very inexpensive way to get a young person into our sport.”

Unlimited Motard is a natural extension of the fast growing and popular Motard series. The previous maximum displacement limit in super Motard was 450cc, which eliminated the larger machinery such as the BMW F650 and water cooled Honda XR650. Unlimited motard allows for unlimited engine displacement based on CMRA motard rules. The Motard rules are available on www.cmraracing.com or in the CMRA addendum in the 2003 CCS rulebook.

The unprecedented addition of the mid season class was driven by rider demand and the success of the motard series. Bryan Norton, CMRA Board of Directors member comments, “Our riders asked for it, and we delivered. The motard series is growing at a rapid pace, and the CMRA would like to remain a leader in the sport. Our last race saw 16 motards on the grid not including the mini series. The races are fun to watch, and the riders tell me these bikes have a huge grin factor. For next year we are also looking into a production based Super Motard class, where the bikes will have to retain the stock wheels, and creating a Mini Motard class exclusively for smaller machines like the TTR125 which already run in the mini series.”

Entrants in the new Unlimited Motard class will be eligible for the year end giveaway for all participants in the CMRA motard series. CMRA president Brooks Gremmels explained the prize, “This year-end prize which will be awarded at the annual CMRA Awards banquet is being offered by Shogun Motorsports with help from Moto-Connection.com. Every rider who enters a race in the CMRA’s new motard series becomes eligible to win a brand new 2003 Yamaha WR 450F. This four-stroke electric start Yamaha will be fully ‘motarded’ with components furnished by Moto-Connection.com and other companies such as Yoshimura. The construction of the bike is being carried out by Motion CycleSports in Dallas, by the same team that has built the national championship winning Yamahas for the Shogun arenacross team. A photo essay covering the construction of this premium give-away prize will be carried in the CMRA’s newsletter, The Inside Line.”

The CMRA is currently offering a $20 discount on entry fees when running a motard class other than Jr. Motard. Both of the new classes will be available at the CMRA’s next event, May 23-25 at Hallett, Oklahoma.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. Former racer David Wasson and wife Amber had a son, Stuart Chase Wasson, April 25, 2003 in Monterey, California. According to Wasson, “We named him Stuart in memory of former teammate Stuart Stratton who died tragically at Daytona in October 2001. We want everybody who considered themselves a friend of Stuart Stratton to consider themselves a friend of Stuart Wasson. We look forward to getting little Stuart acquainted with all his new friends at Laguna Seca in July.”

From a press release issued by Team Obsolete:

Re-emergence of “Lost” AJS 7R3 “Triple Knocker”

Cadwell Park – Beezumph Rallye
July 11-12, 2003

Team Obsolete and the National Motorcycle Museum, UK, are pleased to announce the debut of the “lost” 1952 AJS 7R3. There were four of these machines built for the 1952 AJS Works Team. They were a threat from their very first appearance.

For the 1954 season works team manager Jack Williams revamped the machines, with lower frames and pannier fuel tanks. In the process the earlier machines were dismantled. After a twelve-year search Team Obsolete has found most of the essential original parts and restored one machine to running condition for the National Motorcycle Museum. Cadwell Park will be its debut.

The National Motorcycle Museum’s 1954 Pannier tank model will also run at Cadwell Park, thus marking the first time that two 7R3’s have appeared together since 1954.

The Museum’s 1954 E95 Porcupine may make a lap or two if it can be readied in time.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The Willow Springs Motorcycle Club (WSMC) has announced the following manufacturer contingency dates:

Kawasaki will pay contingency in 600cc Superstock, 650cc Superbike and Open Superbike on May 18, July 20 and October 19.

Honda contingency money will be available in 600cc Superstock, 650cc Superbike, Open Superbike and Formula One on June 15, August 17 and October 19.

Suzuki contingency money and Suzuki Cup points will be available May 18, June 15, July 20, August 17 and September 21 in the 600cc Superstock, 750cc Superstock, Open Superstock, Middleweight Twins and Heavyweight Twins classes.

Aprilia USA will pay contingency on May 18, July 20, August 17 and September 21.

WSMC has also announced that its Solo Endurance Series will begin May 17 and continue on June 14, July 19 and August 16 before concluding September 20.

The WSMC Solo Endurance classes are GTO for machines over 650cc, GTU for machines between 650cc and 550cc and GT Lights for bikes displacing less than 550cc.

For additional information, go to www.race-wsmc.com.

From a press release issued by WERA:

NASHVILLE SUPERSPEEDWAY HOSTING THREE DAYS OF WERA RACING

LEBANON, Tenn.- WERA Motorcycle Roadracing will combine their National Challenge Series, Dunlop National Endurance Series and Sportsman Series for three days of motorcycle road racing at Nashville Superspeedway, May 9-11.

WERA only combines regional and national events three times each year, including the Grand National Finals that conclude the season.

The first series to get underway will be the Dunlop National Endurance Series, which will start at 1:00 pm CDT on Friday, May 9. The race will be four hours in length and as always will feature five classes of bikes.

Saturday, May 10 will feature the Sportsman Series races, which start at noon following morning practice sessions. The races will be awarding points for the Southeast and Mid-Central region championships. The 16 sprint races will each consist of ten laps around Nashville’s 1.5-mile road course, which utilizes both the oval banking and an infield road course.

The National Challenge Series will wrap up the weekend as some of the most talented riders in the U.S. take to the track on Sunday, May 11. The 12 sprint races, each 12 laps long, will include popular series such as 600 Superstock Expert, STAR School 600 Superstock Novice, Pirelli Formula One and Open Superstock.

Fans who want to see motorcycle road racing action and get a chance to see riders and bikes up close in the pits can purchase one-, two- or three-day tickets. A one-day ticket for Sunday is $15, Saturday/Sunday combination tickets are $20, and all three days are just $30.

Camping is also available. The North Lot will provide space for tents and is $30 for the weekend. RV spots are available with hookups outside the garage area for $50 for the entire weekend.

More information about WERA, including schedules and race results, can be found on the Internet at www.WERA.com. Nashville Superspeedway’s site is www.NashvilleSuperspeedway.com, which includes track information as well as directions and a listing of local hotels.

From a press release issued by Kawasaki Racing Team:

MOTOGP 2003
ROUND 3 – JEREZ, SPAIN
6 MAY 2003 – EVENT PREVIEW
ALEX HOFMANN RETURNS TO RACING
Fuchs Kawasaki Racing Team – Preview Spanish Grand Prix

After visiting the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Barcelona as a special guest of Germany’s RTL television station, Fuchs Kawasaki Racing Team test rider Alex Hofmann is in the right mood for his own return to racing action. The 22-year-old German, who went through an extensive tyre testing schedule over the course of the past six months, will enter this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez aboard his Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR, one of up to six MotoGP races that are planned for Hofmann this year.

“It was quite an experience to be in the Formula 1 paddock. The professionalism, the organization and the money spent are just overwhelming. I also had a chance to explain the differences between F1 and MotoGP racing in a television interview. The top speed of the best F1 cars happened to be exactly the same as the best speed during the official Barcelona MotoGP test session in March. That gave me a chance to explain the difference in corner speed. The F1 cars are much faster thanks to their aerodynamics and to their tyre width, but we make up for it with our looks – a racing motorcycle at full lean angle with the rider’s knee scraping along the kerbs is definitely a more spectacular sight!

“The line-up of luxurious motorhomes and hospitalities is impressive, but it’s not easy to have a chat and to get in touch with the drivers. Seeing a Formula 1 Grand Prix made me realize how much I feel at home in the motorcycle paddock, and how open and friendly the atmosphere is during a MotoGP weekend. I haven’t raced since the German Grand Prix on the Sachsenring last year, where I finished tenth as a replacement rider on a 500 two-stroke. After more than 20 days and 4000 kilometers of testing, I can’t wait to race in Jerez. My goal is to challenge my colleagues within the green force, and, with a little luck, to take some points!”

Despite steady improvements on the all-new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR, Fuchs Kawasaki Racing Team riders Garry McCoy and Andrew Pitt finished outside the point rankings in this season’s two races so far, but managed to narrow the gap to the fastest machines in this year’s highly competitive MotoGP line-up.

“We are getting closer. We have improved our lap times wherever we went, and even though we finished just out of the points at the last race in South Africa, we found a promising new chassis set-up and established a good base from which to work on at the European Grands Prix”, says Fuchs Kawasaki Racing Team manager Harald Eckl. “For the Spanish Grand Prix, Dunlop will come up with a new generation of tyres that are based on the test data gathered in Jerez, and on the two MotoGP races so far. The Kawasaki engineers will supply us with new parts for the chassis. I’m confident that we can make another step forward, in terms of bike development as much as lap times and results!”


Editorial Note: Other Jerez wild cards announced by the FIM include 250cc class competitors Luis Manuel Castro of Spain, Alvaro Molina of Spain, Javier del Amor of Spain, Gregory Leblanc of France and Angel Rodriguez of Spain; and 125cc class racers (all from Spain) David Bonache, Sergio Gadea, Ruben Catalan and Ismael Ortega.

Each MotoGP event may include up to five wild cards for the 125cc class, six wild cards for the 250cc class and two wild cards for the MotoGP class.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Kawasaki Racing Team Manager Michael Preston said he is disappointed with a 20-point penalty and $2000 fine recently levied against rider Tommy Hayden by AMA Pro Racing, related to Hayden’s Superstock win at California Speedway April 5.

“For sure, we’re disappointed,” said Preston in a telephone interview late Wednesday, May 7. “The most important thing is we didn’t do it maliciously or to go against the rules. We don’t think it’s a performance enhancing thing.

“They (AMA Pro Racing) said it was machining. There was no machining there. This year you’re allowed to machine the gasket surfaces, and we’ve machined the gasket surfaces. What’s happened is our guy there has de-burred around the valve pockets, and they’re basically saying it’s against the rules and we can’t de-burr — something everybody does, break off sharp edges.”

Preston said AMA Pro Racing officials impounded cylinder heads from both Hayden’s and Tony Meiring’s Kawasaki ZX-6Rs, but only Hayden’s was found illegal during inspections carried out during the event at Infineon Raceway.

“Different assemblers and people who machine them, but like I said we’re pretty flabbergasted. They’re the same thing,” said Preston. “We ran a head that we had them check and approve for this weekend (at Infineon Raceway), and we had the same results (victory in Superstock). So I’m even more frustrated. But they are the governing body and they set the rules and they have judgments…I guess we have to live by them whether we agree with them or not. It’s real difficult for us.

“It wasn’t malicious. It wasn’t trying to read a gray area. We’re not looking at a performance gain. It’s a practice that everybody does. Probably the biggest factor I have for us is I feel ashamed for our team, (but) I’m really embarrassed for Tommy. He’s doing his job, and he’s expecting us to do our job. I feel that we’ve let him down somewhat, but I don’t know. What are you gonna do?”

Preston said that instead of appeal the penalty, Hayden will take his now-six-point (down from 26-point) lead in the Superstock class and “just win some more races.”

From a press release issued by Proton Team KR:

SPAIN MAKES ONE MORE TWO-STROKE RACE FOR PROTON

Proton Team KR riders Jeremy McWilliams and Nobuatsu Aoki will line up for Sunday’s Spanish GP – first race of the European season and third on the season – for one more outing on the stalwart KR3 500cc two-stroke.

Work on developing the all-new 990cc V5 four-stroke replacement has gone on non-stop in the two weeks since the South African GP, but hopes of a racing debut at the Spanish round were put on hold after teething troubles delayed planned roll-out tests in Britian. After the weekend, the decision was taken to continue to campaign the two-stroke until the new bike has completed successful track tests.

“We’re getting our new bike done as quickly as we can – but we won’t put it on the track until it’s ready. It’s frustrating, but it’s kind of what we expected,” said team owner Kenny Roberts.

While dynamometer engine development continues back at the Banbury base, and the first test ride imminent, team and riders can look forward to one last chance of harassing the 990cc four-strokes on their slower but lighter and nimbler 500cc machine, and another chance to rewrite the two-stroke record books.

At the previous round in South Africa, Jeremy McWilliams again put another Proton fastest-ever two-stroke lap into the record books when he qualified in the thick of the four-stroke pack … only to be knocked off as innocent victim of a start-line crash. He already holds the same distinction at other tracks, including Rio and Phillip Island.

And team-mate Nobuatsu Aoki also feels he can draw strength from one more two-stroke ride. At last year’s Spanish GP the Japanese star gave a brilliant demonstration of riding skill to finish seventh overall. Aoki beat all but two of the new 990cc four-strokes as he shoed how superlative handling can make up for a lack of outright top speed.

The two-stroke rebels will make the most of it. “We took the decision not to try to race the new machine at Jerez after a few problems delayed our planned tests in Britain,” explained team manager Chuck Aksland.

“We’ve been working away, with a lot of things happening and steady progress. Our first target was Jerez, but just because the thing is up and running only means you move on to the next problem. This is a very complex new motorcycle, and there are a lot of systems to test before we even know how much faster than the two-stroke it can be,” concluded Aksland.

The Spanish GP is the first of a series of nine races in Europe – the major part of the World Championship season. The Jerez circuit is an icon of motorcycle racing in Spain – the oldest GP track in a country that has three races. As the opening round, it traditionally draws huge crowds to the Andalucian showpiece, recently given a major face-lift.

JEREMY McWILLIAMS: MAKE THE MOST OF IT
It’s obviously a difficult time, but everybody in the team is pulling in the same direction and the goal keeps getting closer. I felt in South Africa on the two-stroke I could have finished in the top ten, and I think I can have the same aim at Jerez. Our bike goes well there. But I’m looking forward to testing the new one.

NOBUATSU AOKI: PROVING THE PROGRESS
The last race at Welkom showed how much faster we are this year than last, and how much better the tyres have become. Last year I really enjoyed Jerez, because there are quite a few places where the two-stroke has an advantage. I hope it will be the same this year, and as always I will try my best.