Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

On-track activities at Infineon Raceway have officially ended due to rain. A new Saturday schedule has been published, as follows:

8:00-9:40 a.m., Practice
9:45-10:05 a.m., Superstock Qualifying, Even #s
10:10-10:30 a.m., Superstock Qualifying, Odd #s
10:40-11:10 a.m., Superbike Qualifying
11:20-11:40 a.m., Supersport Qualifying, Even #s
11:50-12:10 a.m., Supersport Qualifying, Odd #s
12:10-12:40, Lunch
12:40-1:00 p.m., Superbike Practice
2:00 p.m., Superbike race, 18 laps, followed by 250cc GP Qualifying, followed by Superstock race, 17 laps.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

AMA Supersport practice started at approximately 11:20 a.m. Friday at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California, was stopped 11 minutes later and was re-started again minutes later.

Practice was delayed due to a wet track caused by overnight rains, practice was then stopped for more light rain and at post time Supersport riders were being called back out to continue the stopped practice.

“There were some areas of standing water,” said AMA Pro Racing Vice President, Director of Communications Kerry Graeber, when asked about the delay to the start of Friday practice. “We were not comfortable with putting bikes on a damp track.

“According to Ron Barrick (AMA Pro Racing Series Manager), this track has too many different racing surfaces, and it doesn’t hold water well. The track cannot be run in the wet.”

A complete resurfacing of the Infineon Raceway road course is planned for the off-season, and AMA Pro Racing hopes the new surface will allow racing in the rain.

When practice started AMA Pro Racing timing and scoring appeared to be functioning properly.

Before the most recent rain and delay, AMA Pro Racing had issued the following revised Friday schedule:

11:20 a.m. – 1:20 p.m. Practice:

1. Pro Honda Oils Supersport
2. Lockhart-Phillips USA Formula Xtreme
3. Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock
4. MBNA 250cc Grand Prix

1:30 – 2:10 p.m. Chevy Trucks Superbike Practice

2:10 – 2:40 p.m. Lunch Break

2:20 p.m. Mandatory Rider Briefing for All Classes

2:40 – 4:00 Practice (same order as morning session)

4:10 – 4:50 p.m. Chevy Trucks Superbike Qualifying

5:00 – 5:30 p.m. Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock Qualifying, Even #s

5:40 – 6:10 p.m. Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock Qualifying, Odd #s

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Infineon Raceway Public Relations Manager John Cardinale made an announcement in the media center at approximately 2:35 p.m. Pacific Time that AMA Pro Racing would not call Friday’s activities at the Sonoma, California racetrack rained out until 4:00 p.m. local time.

Cardinale said AMA Pro Racing will wait until 4:00 p.m. to publish a revised weekend schedule.

If it stops raining before 4:00 p.m., on-track activities can run until 7:00 p.m. local time, according to Cardinale.

When the AMA practice and qualifying schedule resumes, the MBNA 250cc Grand Prix practice session will be the first thing on the track.

“Worst case scenario and Saturday gets entirely rained out,” said Cardinale, “they (AMA Pro Racing) will grid by points, pre-entry and post entry, and everything will run on Sunday including both Superbike races.”

Cardinale said these announcements were also made in a rider’s meeting held by AMA Pro Racing Series Manager Ron Barrick.

Weather radar shown on television monitors in the media center makes any more on-track activities Friday look unlikely. It is currently raining at the track, and a wide band of heavy rain showers is still en route to the area of the track.

From a press release issued by the WCM MotoGP team:

WCM has now received the first castings for the next version of the WCM engine. These feature a Cassette Gearbox, allowing the internal ratios to be changed without splitting the engine. The castings will now be sent for machining.

WCM has to hope that the FIM allow them to compete in Jerez and further GPs so that the engine development can continue.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Former AMA Champion Jamie James has taken on a new role, as a suspension consultant for Ohlins.

Speaking at Infineon Raceway Friday, James said he would be attending the rest of the 2003 AMA National road race events to “talk to riders and help them come up with a better set-up, break down the communications barrier and maybe do some testing.”

James said he worked with suspension expert Dale Rathwell during much of his racing career, but that quality suspension help was not readily available to all riders.

“Back when I was racing, I don’t think it was available to everybody,” said James. “Most of the factory teams already have Ohlins technicians, but I’m here to help anyone who is using Ohlins suspension on their bikes. There are no favorites at the Ohlins truck.”

James won AMA National Championships in 750cc Supersport and Superbike in 1989, Pro Twins GP1 in 1990 and 600cc Supersport in 1994.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Friday Morning AMA Supersport Practice Times:

1. Jamie Hacking, Yamaha, 1:40.774
2. Doug Chandler, Honda, 1:41.971
3. Marty Craggill, Honda, 1:42.104
4. Ben Spies, Suzuki, 1:42.475
5. Jake Zemke, Honda, 1:42.596
6. Alex Gobert, Honda, 1:42.612
7. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha, 1:42.761
8. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki, 1:43.030
9. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha, 1:43.488
10. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki, 1:43.903
11. Miguel Duhamel, Honda, 1:43.964
12. Jason DiSalvo, Yamaha, 1:44.351
13. Steve Crevier, Suzuki, 1:45.238
14. Chris Peris, Honda, 1:45.275
15. Scott Simpson, Suzuki, 1:46.301
16. Chris Siglin, Suzuki, 1:46.445
17. Jason Curtis, Honda, 1:46.982
18. Brien Whitlock, Suzuki, 1:47.023
19. Jeff Williams, Suzuki, 1:47.582
20. Francis Martin, Suzuki, 1:47.585
21. Thad Halsmer, Yamaha, 1:47.860
22. Lance Williams, Yamaha, 1:49.128
23. Nathan Wait, Kawasaki, 1:49.356
24. Mark Degross, Honda, 1:50.721
25. Oliver Jervis, Kawasaki, 1:55.074
26. Chris Velarde, Kawasaki, 1:55.834
27. Charlie Hewitt, Kawasaki, 1:57.149
28. Heath Small, Yamaha, 2:10.380

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Superstock
1. Adam Fergusson, GSX-R750, 1:40.511
2. Tommy Hayden, ZX-6R, 1:40.766
3. Marty Craggill, CBR600RR, 1:40.845
4. Jake Zemke, CBR600RR, 1:41.335
5. Opie Caylor, GSX-R750, 1:41.558
6. Josh Hayes, GSX-R750, 1:41.587
7. Alex Gobert, CBR600RR, 1:41.703
8. Jason DiSalvo, YZF-R6, 1:41.872
9. Ty Howard, CBR600RR, 1:42.241
10. John Dugan, GSX-R750, 1:42.868
11. Jordan Szoke, GSX-R750, 1:42.936
12. Mike Ciccotto, GSX-R750, 1:43.068
13. Rich Connell, GSX-R750, 1:43.140
14. Chris Ulrich, GSX-R750, 1:43.292
15. Craig Connell, CBR600RR, 1:43.597
16. Tony Meiring, ZX-6R, 1:43.662
17. Vincent Haskovec, GSX-R750, 1:43.778
18. Chris Peris, CBR600RR, 1:44.383
19. Nate Wait, ZX-6R, 1:44.648
20. Allan Schmidt, GSX-R750, 1:44.792
21. Chris Siglin, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:44.815
22. Brian Stokes, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:44.852
23. Jeff Bostrom, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:45.682
24. Jeremy Toye, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:45.700
25. Scott Simpson, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:45.769
26. Michael Hannas, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:45.860
27. Hawk Mazzotta, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:45.881
28. Jeff Williams, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:46.115
29. Danny Eslick, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:46.401
30. Andy Carman, Honda CBR600, 1:46.402
31. Christopher Ancien, Suzuki GSX-R750
32. Matt Furtek, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:46.890
33. Darin Edwards, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:46.911
34. Brien Whitlock, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:47.188
35. Mickey Lane, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:47.319
36. David Bell, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:47.666
37. J.J. Roetlin, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:47.857
38. Mark Simon, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:48.046
39. Kenan Rappuchi, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:48.460
40. Lance Williams, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:48.554
41. Jeremy Chisum, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:48.997
42. Mark Degross, Honda CBR600, 1:49.220
43. Sean Crane, Kawasaki, 1:49.465
44. Jason Chisum, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:48.997
45. Tom Wertman, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:49.857
46. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:49.904
47. Paul Timman, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:50.160
48. Chad Rolland, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:50.312
49. Nathan Hester, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:51.177
50. Charlie Hewitt, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, 1:51.547
51. Michael Dantonio, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:51.720
52. Bryan Edginton, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:54.062
53. Rocky Caceres, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:57.446



Formula Xtreme Practice Times:

1. Damon Buckmaster, YamahaYZF-R1, 1:40.187
2. Ben Spies, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:40.216
3. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:40.419
4. Adam Fergusson, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:41.321
5. Mat Mladin, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:41.402
6. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:41.503
7. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR954RR, 1:41.706
8. Steve Rapp, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:41.834
9. Jamie Hacking, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:41.879
10. Doug Chandler, Honda CBR954RR, 1:42.229
11. Lee Acree, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:42.884
12. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:43.671
13. Jason Curtis, Honda CBR954RR, 1:44.452
14. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:44.872
15. Stoney Landers, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:46.048
16. Mickey Lane, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:46.971
17. Danny Eslick, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:47.170
18. Kim Nakashima, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:47.369
19. Doug Pitcock, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:47.430
20. Darin Edwards, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:47.603
21. Garry Combs, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:47.621
22. Mark Simon, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:47.897
23. David Bell, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:48.069
24. Bryan Edington, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:48.181
25. Christopher Ancien, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:49.138
26. Kenan Rappuchi, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:49.452
27. Mark Woodward, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:49.558
28. John Scott Wilson, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:49.939
29. Shawn Reilly, Kawasaki ZX-9R, 1:50.024
30. Paul Timman, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:51.501
31. Michael Dantonio, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:51.800
32. Nathan Hester, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:53.277
33. Oliver Jervis, Kawasaki ZX-9R, 1:54.777
34. Tony Cook, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:55.297
35. Rocky Caceres, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:57.496
36. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 2:07.703
37. Josh Hayes, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 2:59.766

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

It’s raining at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California, and activities at the AMA National are on hold.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

This just in, from former racer Bruce Lind:

Performance evaluations for larger twin-cylinder
two-stroke racebikes in AMA competition.

A really good, late model TZ250 puts out about 85 bhp at the rear wheel on a Dynojet dyno.

Divide 85 bhp by 250cc. That yields 0.34 bhp per cc.

Assuming that this efficiency can be maintained while increasing the size and weight of the piston (which is highly unlikely) then the following engine sizes will yield the following BHP.

330cc X 0.34 = 112 BHP
350cc X 0.34 = 119 BHP
400cc X 0.34 = 136 BHP

Several very well know tuners believe that you can get 140-150 BHP out of a full 600cc four cylinder superbike.

I do not believe that you can actually get 136 BHP out of a 400cc twin cylinder two stroke engine, especially one that is developed by private individuals using a current TZ250 as the baseline, but limiting the displacement to 330cc will assure that the bikes disappear from the AMA scene.

Bruce Lind
AMA # 78 from 1978 – 2001
F-750, F-1, Sidecar, 250 GP
Retired after 37 seasons