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.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

American Honda’s Miguel Duhamel broke his left collarbone in a crash during the AMA Supersport race at Infineon Raceway May 4, but after recent surgery Duhamel is upbeat about his chances of racing in the next round of the AMA National series, May 17-19 at Road Atlanta.

Duhamel was racing for third on the final lap of the 600cc race when his Honda CBR600RR slid on what the veteran racer speculated was a “green” section of Infineon Raceway’s newly-added turn 9A chicane. Duhamel crashed, fell awkwardly and broke his collarbone. Remarkably, it is the first time the AMA veteran has ever broken a collarbone.

“I had surgery on Monday (May 5) with Dr. (Arthur) Ting,” Duhamel told Roadracingworld.com Wednesday. “It was really a good thing that Ting was able to get me in quickly.

“I broke the bone in three pieces. He put the puzzle back together and pinned it up. I guess that’s the new procedure for it to heal quickly.”

In the past, broken collarbones have been plated together to allow racers to return to action quickly.

Duhamel is remaining in the San Francisco bay area and under the close supervision of Dr. Ting, Sports Medicine Rehab Specialist Tuan Nguyen and “nurse Linnea” (Duhamel’s girlfriend) in order to return to race fitness more quickly.

The French-Canadian is also utilizing an ice-water pressure wrap and a bone stimulator to quicken his recovery, but the relative lack of pain is encouraging to Duhamel.

“The fact that I haven’t needed the pain medication is a good sign,” said Duhamel. “The pain has never been bad enough to take pain medicine. Even when I broke it, the pain wasn’t that bad.

“It’s totally day-by-day,” Duhamel says of his outlook. “The goal is to not miss Road Atlanta, get some points and keep an outside chance of winning the Championships alive. But I don’t want to go out and do something stupid and endanger myself or anyone else. We’ll see.”

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Submitted via e-mail:

Despite being kept from the grid for Sunday’s race (750 Superstock) at Infineon Raceway (due to the constant rains preventing AMA from holding qualifying sessions), I did get out on track for enough practice laps to get some birds-eye views of the “goings-on” that happen on track. This was my first real exposure to AMA pro racing, despite having road raced at the club and WERA endurance series level for the last 13 years. One aspect of what I saw on track, concerned me enough that I felt it worthwhile to share it publicly on the Roadracingworld.com website.

All of us have seen occasions in TV footage from the AMA races, where certain top racers (especially those known to be more on the aggressive side) have used some form of body action to publicize their distaste for having been slowed in their progress around the track by slower privateer riders.

One of the more commonly seen body actions, is what I’ll refer to as “The Kick.” This consists of the passing AMA top-level rider taking one leg off their footpeg as they’re passing the slower rider, and kicking their foot directly in the rider’s direction. It appears that the kick usually doesn’t make actual physical contact, but comes very close, and is apparently done to project a message to the slower rider of “Get the Hell off the track and out of my way from now on.”

During one of the practice sessions this weekend, I saw one of the top 10 AMA pro riders, Jason DiSalvo, in the 750 Superstock practice just ahead of me. I was totally amazed to see him perform this very “Kick” action to a slower privateer, as he was passing him. From my vantage point I had observed the being-passed racer had done absolutely nothing erratic or wrong in their riding, holding a normal line, riding at a reasonable pace (though slower than DiSalvo on superior equipment), and not making any conscious efforts to keep anyone behind him.

In my opinion this “Kick” action by this top-level racer was TOTALLY inappropriate, and what I consider unacceptable behavior for anyone circulating a racetrack at speed ….. even at the club level … much less behavior shown by a “Professional.” Seeing this event up close and personal on track, only served to drive home the point that this form of “get out of my way, I’m a factory fast guy” physical aggression behavior is becoming more and more “the norm” these days. The fact that this “kicking” pro racer was a very young racer, only served to show that he’d likely learned this behavior from observing other older, and more long-term professional, AMA fast guys.

I can’t imagine the AMA condoning an environment on-track where all of the less-than-lightning-quick privateers (riders who do, however, more than meet the 112% lap time rule set down by the AMA) need to be in constant concern for being kicked, bumped, and punted off the track by the top pro team’s “fast guys.” In my opinion that would be nothing short of total lack of responsibility on the part of the AMA pro racing organization, to look the other way in addressing such behavior.

Thanks for letting me vent on this issue, as I suspect it’s something that many other AMA privateers can relate to, from their own personal experiences on track.

Gary Jaehne
AMA #231
Santa Cruz, California


And now a reaction from another racer, submitted via e-mail:

After reading the response of another viewer/racer, I would also like to comment on the behavior of the “fast factory” riders.

Ben Spies, a former favorite of mine (mainly because he’s not a midget, rides hard and rides a Suzuki) acted like a spoiled kid gesturing to other riders and shaking his head at them, as if to say, ‘Way to go, loser,’ during the 600 race last weekend.

Sorry, Ben, you’re not the only show on the track. If the factory guys think I would show up to see 10 bikes go around the track they are nuts.

Cory Mann
Citrus Heights, California


And now a reaction to Cory Mann’s reaction, from Ben Spies’ mother, submitted via e-mail:

Cory Mann might want to review the tapes to see the gesture that Ben Spies gave to a fellow rider was a thumbs-up for moving to the side of the track. Cory might also then consider an appointment with an eye specialist.

Mary Spies
Longview, Texas

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Zero Gravity, the aftermarket windscreen company, has moved to:

912-A Pancho Rd.
Camarillo, CA 93012
(805) 388-8803
www.zero-gravity.com

From a press release:

CLEAN SWEEP


On Sunday May 4, 2003 at Shannonville Motorsport Park the Nodell Motorsports Grand Prix motorcycle team competed in round one of the RACE Superseries.

Rider Stuart Nodell qualified on the pole for the Pro 250 Grand Prix race as well as the Pro Formula race aboard their 250 Grand Prix bike.

In the 250 main event Nodell went uncontested as he led from start to finish for the teams first victory of 2003. Following the race Nodell stated, “This is a great way to start our season by winning the pole and the race in defending our championship.”

The team anticipated the task in PRO Fomula would be more difficult as Nodell was competing against the factory teams on the 250cc while they were on unlimited displacement equipment.

Nodell had a good launch as he was in second position on lap one and threatening the lead position. By turn two on the second lap Nodell took the lead and checked out immediately gapping the field. The race was stopped on lap four due to an incident in turn five. When the race was restarted Nodell immediately grabbed the lead, put his head down and checked out on the entire field winning in fine style in the 14-lap feature.

Following the race Nodell commented, “This team put me on an excellent bike that gave us the opportunity to win. The Bridgestone tires were flawless.” This is the team’s first victory in Pro Formula and it has been quite a few years since a Grand Prix team won the feature event.

Nodell Motorsports would like to thank the R.A.C.E organization and staff.

Our next event will be the opening round of the CAN-AM 125 Grand Prix North American championship on May 18 at Shannonville Motorsport Park held in conjunction with the Canadian Superbike Championship. We are the defending champions from 2002 and will be wearing the number one plate.

Pro 250
1. Stuart Nodell Hon
2. Mike MacNeil Hon
3. John Dempsey Hon
4. Christian Rose Hon
5. George Osmond Hon

Pro Formula ( feature event)
1. Stuart Nodell Hon 250
2. Matt McBride Kaw 600
3. Frank Trombino Yam 1000
4. Joel McDonald Yam 600
5. Jim Proulx Kaw 750

From a press release:Suzuki Gets Into NASCAR!

American Suzuki Partners with NASCAR Driver Kenny Schrader


BREA, Calif., May 7, 2003 – American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC) today announced that the company is partnering with four-time NASCAR Winston Cup winner and longtime motorcycle/ATV enthusiast Kenny Schrader and K Schrader Racing.

Thanks to this new relationship, NASCAR fans will see Suzuki logos on the “B” post of Schrader’s NASCAR Winston West, NASCAR Southwest Tour and ARCA race cars. Suzuki logos will also be displayed on the “B” post of Schrader’s NASCAR Craftsman truck and two of his vehicle haulers.

“NASCAR fans are some of our best customers, so partnering with Kenny Schrader was a natural choice for Suzuki,” said Mel Harris, vice president of ASMC’s motorcycle/ATV division. “On top of that, Kenny’s a great guy and we’re thrilled that he’ll be endorsing Suzuki motorcycles and ATVs.”

In addition to touting Suzuki on his vehicles, Schrader will provide personal endorsements of Suzuki products in national ad campaigns and billboards throughout the Southeast. He’ll also be available for making personal appearances at select Suzuki motorcycle and ATV dealerships.

“There’s so much cross-over in the motorcycle industry and NASCAR,” enthused CAS Communications President Carol Stacy, who brokered the Suzuki/Schrader deal. “Kenny’s been riding Suzuki motorcycles and ATVs for years and he’s excited to share his enthusiasm.”

Look for Suzuki signage on Schrader’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck at Lowes Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C., on May 16, 2003.

From a press release:

For the eighth year in a row, American Honda Motor Corp. recently donated over $7000 worth of HondaPro chemicals and lubricants to the HonTech division of the Motorcycle Mechanics Institute (MMI) in Phoenix, Arizona.

The American Honda donation to HonTech was supervised by Motorcycle Parts and Accessories Assistant Manager, Rick Mitchell.

For more information on HonTech call (800) 528-7995.

From a press release issued by FGSPORTGROUP:

Imola 200 Mile – Race Analysis

Sunday’s 200 Miglia di Imola race – the San Marino round of the world endurance championship – was an excellent illustration of the highs and lows that accompany any form of motorcycle racing.

The Chinese Zongshen team experienced both elation and disappointment. Their No.1 bike, ridden by Warwick Nowland and Stephane Mertens, won the race by over a minute with Nowland also putting in the fastest lap of the race.

Meanwhile, the Zongshen No.2 bike, ridden by Jerman, Bonhuil and Bontempi, seemed to be in a comfortable second place until three laps from the end of the race when the bike’s clutch failed, forcing the team to retire.

The Zongshen No.2 bike’s failure played in to the hands of the other teams which had been pushing to catch it. Suzuki GB Phase One were happy to settle for their eventual second place. Brit James Ellison and Frenchman Olivier Four have formed a rider partnership capable of consistent lap times which are the envy of other teams.

Yamaha Austria were ecstatic with third place. This was the Superbike specification Yamaha R1’s first race after a winter of development, and proof that the bike could run with the best. With more racing miles under its wheels the R1 can only improve.

The Police Nationale squad arrived at Imola with only one bike ready to race and very little testing time behind them. Finishing the race in fourth place shows that their move from Kawasaki to Suzuki has paid off, and that challenging for the championship is now a real possibility.

Bolliger Team put in their usual solid performance to finish fifth, showing that team work can be moreimportant than simple lap times. Ducati DRE’s No. 5 bike finished lower in the field than expected (owing to clutch problems) but the Ducati DRE 101 bike’s seventh place shows the potential for endurance success in the new Ducati 999.

Yamaha GMT94 will be disappointed with sixth place, but the resilient and ultra-professional French team now know what they have to achieve before the next race at Assen in three weeks time. From that race Williams Costes will join again the team.

Next Endurance World Championship round will be held in Assen on May 25th .

From a press release issued by Road Atlanta:

LOCAL AMA RACER OPIE CAYLOR READY FOR THE
AMA SUZUKI SUPERBIKE SHOWDOWN AT ROAD ATLANTA

BRASELTON, GA — Chris “Opie” Caylor knows the fast way around Road Atlanta, and he hopes to use that knowledge during the AMA 750 Superstock race during the Suzuki Superbike Showdown presented by Dark Dog, May 16-18.

Caylor, a resident of Marietta, Ga., has been racing on Road Atlanta’s 2.54-mile road course since 1996. In the past, he was done well at Road Atlanta in the WERA Suzuki Cup Finals, winning an SV650 Cup race, second in the GSX-R600 and GSX-R750 races, and finishing third in the GSX-R1000 event.

Next week, Caylor will be riding his Team EMGO/1-888-FASTLAP Suzuki GSX-R 750 in the Superstock race, which will be held on Saturday, May 17.

“Road Atlanta is my home track; I have a lot of laps there,” commented Caylor. “A lot of laps doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to be the fastest guy. It’s the quality of those laps that counts. I’m looking forward to the race. Home track, home crowd, the track makes me feel at home.”

For the past two years, Caylor has been competing in AMA Pro Racing’s 750 Superstock Series, one of the most exciting and popular series that runs in conjunction with AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Series.

In 2002, Caylor was the recipient of the prestigious AMA Horizon Award, given to one rider each year who shows potential as a rising star in professional roadracing.

Although the 2003 season is only just beginning, Caylor has already proved that he is one of the top privateers in the series. At the second round, held at California Speedway in Fontana, Caylor finished fourth and was the top privateer in the race. Last weekend at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., Caylor finished eighth in the Superstock race, and comes to Road Atlanta ranked eighth in the championship standings with 64 points. Tommy Hayden of Owensboro, Ky., the winner all three rounds this far on his Kawasaki, leads with 111 points.

Since its inception in 2001, Caylor has been an instructor with the Kevin Schwantz Suzuki School, based at Road Atlanta. The extra track time has allowed Caylor to learn more about the challenging road course.

“Road Atlanta has a lot of character, and some lines that work better than others. As many laps as I’ve had there, I’ve had an opportunity to experiment”, said Caylor. “I’ve tried a lot of different stuff for different corners. I might have one or two or three different lines to try through a corner, so if I have to make a pass I might have a bit of an advantage.”

Caylor will take time out of his busy schedule during race week to visit Children’s Health Care of Atlanta to share the excitement of racing with the children there.

“It’s totally cool, having the support from your friends,” said Caylor about racing at Road Atlanta. “It makes a big deal for the rider, I think. It pumps me up when I see people cheering and screaming. It’s awesome to see people getting behind it and supporting it as the sport grows.”

Fans who want to cheer on Caylor and the other AMA racers can purchase one, two and three day tickets for the Suzuki Superbike Showdown presented by Dark Dog at Road Atlanta, May 16-18. Tickets are available at www.RoadAtlanta.com or by calling 1-800-849-RACE.

Fans will be treated to two rounds of the Superbike Series, one on Saturday and the second on Sunday. Additional races throughout the weekend include 750 Superstock, 600 Supersport and 250 GP.