From a press release:

MALLORY PARK RACE OF THE YEAR

BIG NAME LINE-UP FOR WINNER-TAKES-ALL CLASSIC

The cream of British road racing is set to battle it out at the 41st Race of the Year at Mallory Park, Leicestershire, on October 12.

Newly crowned British Superbike Champion Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne heads the star-studded line-up, which includes BSB big-hitters Michael Rutter, Leon Haslam, Steve Plater, Mark Heckles, Gary Mason, Chris Burns, Glen Richards, Scott Smart, Lee Jackson and Sean Emmett.

Joining this formidable cast for the two all-action 20 lap races will be former GP star and 1997/1999 Race of the Year winner Jason Vincent, aboard a Honda NSR500V.

As well as the famous Race of the Year, which has been won over the years by many of the greatest names in motorcycling, including Giacomo Agostini, Mike Hailwood, Barry Sheene and Randy Mamola, spectators will also be able to enjoy action from Supersport 600s, GP125s and 250s, Powerbike, Super Sidecars and much more.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Tony “The Tiger” Meiring and Roger Lee Hayden will ride for Attack Kawasaki in 2004.

The two will be contracted to Kawasaki Motors Corp. and assigned to Attack, which ran as Attack Suzuki during the last several seasons and prior to that raced Yamahas.

Attack has reached a support agreement with Kawasaki for 2004, although the team is still under contract to American Suzuki Motor Corp. through December 2003.

From a press release issued by FGSport Group:

Vallelunga : A great championship “finale”

Suzuki Police Nationale, Yamaha GMT94 and DRE Ducati Rise Above Pressure

The Vallelunga 200 Miles was the race that Suzuki Zongshen 1 had to win to hold onto their World
Endurance Champion status. The pressure began back in August when the team failed to score any points at two consecutive races, allowing Suzuki GB Phase One to take a commanding championship lead. Zongshen 2 rider and Vallelunga circuit specialist Piergiorgio Bontempi was consistently fastest during practice and qualifying, and team manager Michel Marqueton took the decision to pair him with Warwick Nowland on the number 1 bike to make a team which on paper looked unbeatable. Suzuki GB Phase One seemed to have the
title comfortably within their grasp, until a pair of out of character accidents sidelined two of their best riders.

Jason Pridmore broke his leg in an AMA race, and Jimmy Lindstrom broke has collarbone in a Swedish
Supersport Championship race. Junior team rider Andi Notman was brought in at short notice to join brothers James and Dean Ellison on the senior bike, with instructions to ride a safe race.

Piling the pressure on were a handful of teams who felt they deserved the Vallelunga victory. Yamaha GMT94, fresh from their Oschersleben 24 Hour victory, had entered two teams in a determined drive to prove their win wasn’t a flash in the pan. Suzuki Police Nationale were equally confident of a good result at Vallelunga after a fifth place at Suzuka, and DRE Ducati team were racing on home turf in front of top
factory personnel.

The stage was set for an epic end of season show down, with even the weather contributing; torrential rain began to fall just before the bikes were due to form up on the grid. The combination of a slick track and the pressure on the riders claimed its first victims after only half a dozen laps, with first Mertens for Zongshen 2 and then Checa for GMT94 pushing in after crashes. Zongshen 1’s Bontempi also had a minor spill, DRE Ducati incurred a stop/go penalty and a mistimed tyre choice by Phase One badly affected their lap times.

With the second set of compulsory fuel and rider stops out of the way, the race seemed to be coming down to an all out sprint between Giabbani on the Police Nationale Suzuki, Scarnato on the GMT94-96 Yamaha and Mike Edwards on the DRE Ducati. Fate had one more trick to play, with the circuit safety cars being brought out while the track was cleared of an earlier oil spill. This closed the gap between Giabbani and Scarnato, but
left Edwards on the Ducati some thirty seconds adrift behind the second pace car.

Giabbani spent the rest of his session doing everything in his power to stay in front of the faster Scarnato, holding out until the chequered flag to claim the first race win for the French Police Nationale Suzuki team, leaving Yamaha GMT94-96 in second place and DRE Ducati in third. German Suzuki squad KFM Herber claimed a hard-earned but well deserved fourth place, with Zongshen 1 in fifth and Suzuki GB Phase One in
twelfth place; enough to earn them the 2003 World Endurance Championship.

2003, October 9
Final 2003 World Endurance Championship Standing
Team Nat. Bike Total

1. Suzuki GB – Phase One, GBR, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 143 points

2. Zongshen 1, CHN, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 127 points

3. Yamaha GMT94, FRA, Yamaha YZF-R1, 109 points

4. 22 Police Nationale, FRA, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 104 points

5. Zongshen 2, CHN, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 91 points

6. Yamaha Endurance Moto 38, FRA, Yamaha YZF-R1, 72 points

7. Yamaha Austria Rac. Team, AUT, Yamaha YZF-R1, 62 points

8. Bolliger Team, SUI, Kawasaki ZX-9R, 56 points

9. Jet Team SUI, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 38 points

10. Ducati DRE 5, ITA, Ducati 998, 37 points

11. TIE, PS Schlesinger Endurance, GER, Suzuki GSX-R1000/Trackdaze 11, GBR, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 33 points

13. Phase One Junior, GBR, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 30 points

14. Team Sakurai Honda 71, JPN, Honda RC51, 25 points

15. KFM Herber End., GER, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 21 points

16. GMT96 – 96, FRA, Yamaha YZF-R1, 20 points

17. TIE, Fabi Corse, ITA, Suzuki GSX-R1000/Folch Endurance, SPA, Yamaha YZF-R1/Hofmann Racing Team, GER, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 16 points

20. DUCATI D.R.E 101, ITA, Ducati 996, 15 points

From a press release issued by Daytona International Speedway:

Speedway Offers Advance Super Ticket For Fall Cycle Scene

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., (Oct. 8, 2003) — The best way to catch every lap of thrilling motorcycle action on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway during the Oct. 16-19 Fall Cycle Scene is through the four-day Advance Super Ticket.

The Advance Super Ticket is good for admission to all four days of championship motorcycle racing during Fall Cycle Scene, providing access to the infield, paddock, garage, as well as free parking.

The Advance Super Ticket costs $35 and must be purchased by Thursday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. from the Daytona International Speedway ticket office at (386) 253-RACE or online at http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com

Beginning with the 56-lap Team Challenge Final on Thursday, there will 31 races contested during Fall Cycle Scene. Highlighting the racing schedule is Sunday’s lineup of Formula USA races — the Unlimited Superbike, Formula USA Sportbike, Thunderbike, Expert Unlimited Grand Prix and the Amateur Unlimited Grand Prix.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Motojournalist Brian Catterson won the inaugural “Airhead Invitational” race for air-cooled BMWs, held in conjunction with a double round of the AHMRA Pro-Flo Historic Cup Series October 4-5 at Talladega Gran Prix Raceway in Talladega, Alabama.

Catterson rode Chris Hodgson’s 1000cc San Jose BMW “Wrecking Ball” to wins on both days.

The Airhead Invitional drew 19 BMW racers from as far away as California and Germany.

According to participant Jerry Settle, talks are under way with AHRMA to make the Airhead Invitational an annual event.


Saturday’s Race Results:

1. Brian Catterson, 1000cc
2. Mark Mitchell, 750cc
3. Ivan Messina, 750cc
4. Troy McAfee 750cc
5. Glenn Campbell, 750cc
6. Bucky Sexton, 750cc
7. Jerry Settle, 852cc
8. Glenn Maxwell, 750cc
9. Scott Olofson, 800cc
10. Walt Sweat, 750cc
11. Michael Burke, 750cc
12. Gary Brown, 750cc
13. Brad Phillips, 500cc
14. Larry Campbell, 500cc
15. Willie Betsch, 500cc
16. Cary Nyberg, 500cc
17. Tom High, 750cc, DNF
18. Anton Largiader, 750cc, DNS


Sunday’s Race Results:

1. Brian Catterson, 1000cc
2. Frank Shockley, 750cc
3. Mark Mitchell, 750cc
4. Ivan Messina, 750cc
5. Troy McAfee, 750cc
6. Anton Largiader, 750cc
7. Walt Sweatt, 750cc
8. Jerry Settle, 852cc
9. Brad Phillip, 500cc
10. Larry Campbell, 500cc
11. Willie Betsch, 500cc
12. Michael Burke, 750cc
13. Carl Nyberg, 500cc
14. Scott Olofson, 800cc, DNF
15. Glenn Campbell, 750cc, DNF
16. Tom High, 750cc, DNF
17. Glenn Maxwell, 750, DNS
18. Gary Brown, 750, DNS

From a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service:

SUZUKI GSX-R CUP – THE FINALISTS

Suzuki has released the final entry list for the 2003 Worldwide GSX-R Cup Final that takes place at the Magny-Cours circuit in central France as part of the final round of the World Superbike series on October 19th.

A total of 28 Suzuki GSX-R riders from 15 countries around the world have been competing in qualifying races in their home countries for a place on the start line of this unique Cup Final event where they will all start with an equal chance of winning.

All the finalists will draw for identically prepared GSX-R750 machines fitted with Michelin Pilot tires and Yoshimura silencers and brake components. Seating and footrest adjustments are allowed as well as fine tuning of the fuel injection system, but beyond that it is down to rider skill.

The GSX-R Cup final will consist of two races within the main WSB and WSS race program on Sunday 19th October.

RIDERS LIST
1. Luca Conforti. Italy.
2. Alessandro Melone. Italy.
3. Anttonio Mancuso. Italy.
4. Stefan Nebel. Germany.
5. Herbert Kaufmann. Germany.
6. Michael Peh. Germany.
7. Oriol Fernandez. Spain.
8. Steve Brogan. UK.
9. Kenny Everest. UK.
10. Ben Mossey. UK.
11. Zenon Nelson. Canada.
12. Brian Neilsen. Canada.
13. Thomas Frueckiges. Switzerland.
14. Koen Vleugels. Belgium.
15. Klaus Kaltenbacher. Austria.
16. Tray Batey. USA.
17. Chris Caylor. USA.
18. Cory Eaton. USA.
19. Akira Tamitsuji. Japan.
20. Koji Teramoto. Japan.
21. Viktor Kispataki. Hungary.
22. Hudson Kennaugh. South Africa.
23. Robert Di Foggia. France.
24. Thomas Metro. France.
25. Jean-Charles Mercier. France.
26. Stavroulakis Stavros. Greece.
27. David Butler. Australia.
28. Robert Bugden. Australia.

From a press release issued by ATK:

ATK MOTORCYCLES ANNOUNCES FORMATION OF NEW PARTS AND SERVICE DIVISION

Salt Lake City, UT – Having purchased the remaining Cannondale Motorsports parts inventory, ATK Motorcycles has formed a new division to support the previous Cannondale Motorsports product lines. This move paves the way for Cannondale dealers to team up with ATK in providing Cannondale parts and service to thousands of off-road motorcycle and ATV riders worldwide.

In January 2003, Cannondale Motorsports filed bankruptcy, and closed its doors leaving dealers unable to obtain Cannondale products and spare parts (see www.cannondaler.com). In September ATK purchased the entire remaining inventory of Cannondale Motors and Parts (weighing-in over 480 tons) and shipped them to ATK’s Utah parts warehouse, in preparation for filling a backlog of orders from parts-hungry Cannondale dealers.

As a result of the purchase of Cannondale parts, ATK has received many inquiries regarding the future of Cannondale Motorsports products. To clarify, ATK only purchased parts, not Cannondale’s “intellectual property.” Dinli Metals, a Taiwanese manufacturer of ATVs, purchased the “IP.” Neither Dinli nor ATK has purchased the rights to the name “Cannondale.”

Located in Centerville, Utah, ATK Motorcycles is America’s 2nd oldest continuing motorcycle manufacturer. ATK builds high-quality off-road racing bikes, as well as the Homeland Defender series of off-road police and military motorcycles.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

Mike Morgan, AMA #811 writes, that he has “no answers or suggestions” to remedy the seemingly unfair and inconsistent manner in which the AMA treats privateers. Well, for what it is worth, I have one. Don’t support them. Don’t ride in their races. Don’t help them put on a show. Let the Factory guys race around alone for a few races.

Until the privateers stand as one and get the AMA’s attention ($$$$), little if anything will change in the way they view and value your presence and participation. If they truly cared, they would not treat you with such disregard.

If they do not care, they will not care, until you make them care.

David McGrath, MD
OMRRA #95
Corvallis, Oregon




FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

I have been watching and reading in horror at the BS that AMA Pro Racing bestows on its riders. I could not imagine paying my hard-earned money to race for such a joke of an organization. What to do?

Maybe its time for the riders to just say “enough” and totally withdraw themselves for 2004. Yes, that’s not going to be easy but maybe it’s worth a try. Instead, go race FUSA or their local club – at least you could still race.

Jeff Lind
Portland, Oregon