From a press release issued by Honda Motor Company:

HONDA RACING INFORMATION
To Members of the Press Corps

Corporate Communications Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Accident Investigation Committee to be Established to Probe Cause of MotoGP Rider Daijiro Kato’s Accident

April 25, 2003 – Honda has announced that it will establish an independent third party Accident Investigation Committee, to be chaired by Professor Ichiro Kageyama of Nihon University’s College of Industrial Technology, to conduct minute analysis on Daijiro Kato’s MotoGP accident at Suzuka Circuit, in an attempt to identify the cause of the crash.

Since immediately after the crash, Honda has been analyzing the accident vehicle with Honda Racing Corporation in order to clarify the cause of the accident, however, there has been no analytical data retrieved thus far which would suggest that there was any type of irregularity with the motorcycle.

Committee members to serve on the Accident Investigation Committee will be chosen shortly hereafter in an effort to promote identification of the cause of the accident.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Provisional 250cc Grand Prix Qualifying Results:

1. Fonsi Nieto, Aprilia, 1:36.777
2. Manuel Poggiali, Aprilia, 1:36.998
3. Franco Battaini, Aprilia, 1:37.025
4. Randy De Puniet, Aprilia, 1:37.058
5. Sebastian Porto, Honda, 1:37.098
6. Toni Elias, Aprilia, 1:37.387
7. Matsudo Naoki, Yamaha, 1:37.974
8. Anthony West, Aprilia, 1:38.094
9. Roberto Rolfo, Honda, 1:38.153
10. Hector Faubel, Aprilia, 1:38.585
11. Johan Stigfelt, Aprilia, 1:38.603
12. Eric Bataille, Honda, 1:38.986
13. Alex Debon, Honda, 1:39.117
14. Joan Olive, Aprilia, 1:39.142
15. Sylvain Guintoli, Aprilia, 1:39.204
16. Dirk Heidolf, Aprilia, 1:39.269
17. Chaz Davies, Aprilia, 1:39.271
18. Erwan Nigon, Aprilia, 1:39.323
19. Alex Baldolini, Aprilia, 1:39.495
20. Jaroslav Hules, Yamaha, 1:39.584

25. Katja Poensgen, Honda, 1:43.311

From a press release issued by Infineon Raceway:

Lafayette’s Stanton Eyes Second Straight
AFM Motorcycle Championship

LOCAL RIDER ONE OF THE FAVORITES DURING FIRST WEEKEND OF CYCLE GEAR SONOMAFEST 2003 AT INFINEON RACEWAY

SONOMA, Calif. (IMMEDIATE RELEASE) — There’s nothing like a three-year break to get the old batteries recharged, at least if you’re Lafayette’s David Stanton.

Stanton, an Acalanes High School graduate, took a three-year break from motorcycle racing from 1997-2000. He had been racing competitively since 1989 in the American Federation of Motorcyclists (AFM) and the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA).

“I had to take some time off,” said Stanton, 33, who works in software development at PeopleSoft in Pleasanton. “It was becoming like a regular job. It just wasn’t fun anymore. When it becomes a job it loses that euphoric feeling. I had to take a step back.”

As it turns out, that step back was the best tonic for Stanton, who returned to competitive racing in 2001 and has taken the AFM by storm, culminating in winning the coveted No. 1 plate in the premier Formula Pacific class for the 2002 season. Stanton will be one of the favorites when the AFM kicks off Cycle Gear Sonomafest 2003 at Infineon Raceway, April 26-27.

Sonomafest is a nine-day motorcycle bonanza, highlighted by the AMA Supercuts Superbike Challenge, presented by Honda of Milpitas, May 2-4. More than 800 AFM riders will take center stage that first weekend in 23 divisions, and Stanton will be one of them. Practice takes place on Saturday, with main events set for Sunday.

Stanton will debut his 2003 Arclight Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000 and is looking to rebound after a seventh-place showing in the AFM’s first race of the season in March at Infineon Raceway. The AFM features an eight-race series for 2003, with three events in the Sonoma Valley.

“I was essentially riding a 750 Superstock bike and was running in fourth place and saw the leaders getting away from me,” Stanton said. “I got frustrated, pushed it too much and ran off the track. This time I’ll have the new bike and I’m looking forward to it.”

Stanton began his passion for motorcycle racing as a student at Acalanes High School. His neighbor had a number of street bikes and dirt bikes, and Stanton began riding. After watching his first AFM race, he caught the bug and attended a motorcycle race school at Riverside International Raceway in Southern California.

“After I watched that first race, my eyes got huge,” he said. “I knew that was what I wanted to do. Everything developed after I watched that first AFM race in Sonoma.”

Stanton took first place in his debut AFM race in the Novice class in 1989, and it has been a wild journey ever since. He took three years off from 1997-2000 to focus on his career and family (he has a 7-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son).

In addition to AFM, Stanton will also compete in the AMA Superbike events on the West Coast, riding for Arclight Racing. He will participate in the U.S. Chevy Trucks Sueprbike division, as well as Formula Xtreme. He has a number of top-five finishes at the premier AMA level, but has never won. To pull a double victory at Sonomafest in AFM and AMA would be the ultimate storybook ending.

“Even to get to the podium for AMA would be great,” he said. “I’d like to do that before it’s all said and done with my career.”

With the batteries recharged, don’t count Stanton out.

WHAT: Cycle Gear Sonomafest 2003: AFM Two-Wheel Challenge.
WHEN: April 26-27.
WHERE: Infineon Raceway.
NOTABLE: Lafayette’s David Stanton is holder of the No. 1 plate and the defending AFM Formula Pacific Champion.
OF INTEREST: The weekend will also feature motorcycle demo-rides by Aprilia and Buell.
TICKETS: $5 Saturday, $10 Sunday, $10 weekend ticket. Children 12 and under free. All tickets can be purchased at the gate.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Testing continues for a third day at Barber Motorsports Park, the lavish new track located near Birmingham, Alabama that features Muzak piped in over the loudspeakers and giant bug sculptures adjacent to the course.

Three teams have been testing at the track since Tuesday, including Valvoline EMGO Suzuki, Annandale Honda and Kawasaki Canada. Annandale packed up and left this morning, to get ready for the AMA National at Infineon Raceway May 1-4.

Weather conditions were fair and sunny with moderate wind and a high of about 79 degrees on Tuesday and fair and sunny, slightly cooler and calm-to-light winds on Wednesday. Conditions today are cloudy with light mist at times; predictions call for scattered thundershowers, and Valvoline EMGO Suzuki and Kawasaki Canada riders are staying on track during what would have been the lunch break to take advantage of all available dry track time.

In between practice sessions on Tuesday, Team Hammer Advanced Riding School & Track Ride sessions were held.

Michelin is at the test, working with Valvoline EMGO Suzuki and Annandale to sort through both slick and DOT-labeled treaded tires. Kawasaki Canada is a Pirelli team and brought its own tire-changing equipment.

The Kawasaki Canada technical effort is being led by suspension expert Dale Rathwell.

GMD Computrack’s Kent Soignier is working with the Valvoline EMGO Suzuki crew on suspension set-up, and was seen measuring various team bikes at the track on Tuesday, using the Computrack measuring machine.

Track workers placed a row of haybales in front of a guardrail outside turn four after Steve Rapp said he came close to losing the front while coming over a rise in slightly windy conditions. Riders have also expressed concerns about the exit of the final turn, leading onto the front straightaway.

Haybales were used because no soft barriers were available or could be accessed immediately.

Despite early reports that the track features plenty of run-off room, several areas will require soft barriers (such as Airfence or Alpina modules) for motorcycle racing events.

Cornerworkers on site report that Rapp turned a 1:27.0 on his Superbike-legal Valvoline EMGO Suzuki GSX-R1000 on Tuesday.

The involved teams have not released any lap times.

From a press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing:

Corser aims for further improvement in Japan

Troy Corser is aiming to make the most of the latest developments to the FP1 in order for Foggy PETRONAS Racing to meet the challenges set at the third round of the World Superbike championship in Japan this weekend.

Following a fifth-placed finish in the previous round at Phillip Island, Corser is hoping that further progress in Sunday’s races will help banish painful memories of the Sugo circuit.
The Australian crashed and ruptured his spleen in the morning warm-up for the final two races of 1998, resulting in his new boss, Carl Fogarty, securing a third world title. And, while grip remains a constant issue at the hillside circuit near the northern city of Sendai, Corser realises that he and team-mate James Haydon will have to contend with the inclusion of local Japanese wild card entrants in order to maintain current progress.

Troy said: “I’m confident the bike will handle well round here and I’m just hoping that our latest engine developments will give extra power and torque, especially coming out of the last chicane before going onto the uphill start-finish straight. I’ve done well there in the past and have nearly always been near the podium but it’s
always a difficult race because of the fast Japanese wild cards.”

The FPR team has been working closely with Swiss engine developers Suter Racing Technology to constantly improve the FP1 package. Team manager Nigel Bosworth said: “A development of the camshafts should give more power and torque which will be important, especially out of the last chicane. We also have a revised exhaust system, with new balance pipes to provide extra power. And we’ve also worked hard on fuel and ignition mapping, to produce a far smoother curve.”

James said: “Obviously, having never ridden here before, I know it’s going to be a difficult weekend but I am still really looking forward to it. I am pretty good at learning circuits so I want to concentrate on getting the FP1 working
how I need it to work. So far I haven’t been able to prove what I can do and the pressure will be on until I am running up at the front all weekend.”

Team owner Carl Fogarty, whose surgeon advised against long-distance flights within a week of an operation to remove a plate from his leg, is unable to attend the event.

Circuit information: Sugo, Japan

Best lap: Makoto Tamada, 1:28.658 (2001)

Superpole record: Makoto Tamada, 1:28.797 (2001)

Race record: Makoto Tamada, 1:29.108 (2001)

Pole position: Left. Circuit length: 3.737km

Corners: 6 left, 9 right. Corner radius: 250m maximum, 20m minimum

Maximum slope: 10 per cent

Race times: 0400 and 0730 hours, GMT.

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

HACKING LOOKS TO EXTEND AMA PRO HONDA OILS U.S. SUPERSPORT CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY SHOEI POINTS LEAD AT INFINEON RACEWAY

Duhamel shoots for fourth AMA Supersport win at Infineon

PICKERINGTON, Ohio – Infineon Raceway has not been kind to Yamaha’s Jamie Hacking over the years. Hacking has suffered more than his share of misfortune at the challenging Sonoma Valley circuit. Since first racing at Infineon Raceway (formerly Sears Point) in 1997, Hacking has finished only one Supersport race – that was last year when he finished third. Prior to that Hacking crashed out of every Supersport race at the circuit, or sat out the race after crashing earlier in the weekend. The 31-year-old South Carolinian hopes to turn things around this year and is shooting to win at Infineon on Sunday, May 4.

Hacking comes into the AMA Supersport event at Infineon with a 14-point lead over teammate Aaron Gobert. He feels he’s ready to turn around his luck at Infineon.

“It’s definitely not been one of my better tracks, that’s for sure,” Hacking admitted. “It was a track that I really didn’t like before and I don’t think I was concentrating on the proper things there and I crashed a lot. But the track has improved a lot over the last few years and while it’s still probably not one of my favorites, I think I can do well there. Last year I finally was able to finish the race, so I don’t see any reason why I can’t win it this year the way we’ve been going.”

Hacking has put a small gap on the rest of the field after only two rounds. The battle behind Hacking is wide open with seven riders within 10 points of one another.

Perhaps Hacking’s biggest threat at Infineon will be Miguel Duhamel. The Honda rider has won the Supersport race at the track three times and will be the only former winner in the field. He is third in the series standings coming into this race. This year will mark the 10th anniversary of Duhamel’s first AMA Supersport win at Infineon Raceway.

Aaron Gobert is experiencing a strong comeback this year after sitting out most of 2002 while recovering from serious injuries suffered at Daytona last year. Gobert would love to break through and win his first AMA Supersport race at Infineon, a circuit where his older brother Anthony has won both Superbike and Supersport races in recent years.

Damon Buckmaster finished fourth in the race last year. The Aussie veteran is looking to earn his first Infineon Supersport podium finish to keep in the thick of the championship chase. The youngest of the Yamaha factory riders, Jason DiSalvo, comes into the event fifth in the series standings and is hoping to take his first career Supersport podium this weekend. Erion Racing’s Jake Zemke has two top-10 Supersport results at Infineon and he is shooting for a third this year.

Ben Spies, ranked seventh, is the leading Suzuki rider in the series so far. Spies will get some help when Aussie Jamie Stauffer joins the Yoshimura Suzuki team after showing great potential in the first two rounds on a privateer Yamaha. Reigning champion Aaron Yates will not contest the Supersport series for the remainder of the year choosing to focus instead on the Superbike class.

Tommy Hayden is counting on continued improvement to his factory Kawasaki at Infineon. After finishing a disappointing 13th at the season opener in Daytona, Hayden came back strong with a third last month in Fontana. That result moved him into eighth in the series standings and he’ll be looking to improve on that ranking. Hayden was runner-up to Yates in the Supersport series last year.

The Infineon Raceway Supersport race will be shown on Speed Channel during primetime on Tuesday, May 6 at 8 p.m. Eastern. For ticket information contact Infineon Raceway at (800) 870-RACE or visit www.infineonraceway.com.

From a press release issued by the AMA:

Federal Safety Agency Sets Hearings on ATVs

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The federal Consumer Products Safety Commission — the agency that banned three-wheeled all-terrain vehicles in the 1980s — will hold a new series of public hearings on ATV safety beginning in June, the All-Terrain Vehicle Association reports.

According to a notice published in the Federal Register today, the commission will hold a public hearing June 5 in Morgantown, W.Va. The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. at West Virginia University in the Robert C. Byrd Health Science Center.

The commission states that it is “concerned about the dramatic increase in ATV-related injuries and the continued increase in ATV-related deaths, and believes that holding a hearing will provide an opportunity for the interested public to share their concerns about ATVs and ATV safety.”

The commission will take testimony on issues ranging from the availability of safety training to whether there should be “performance standards” set for ATVs. The commission notes that there has been an increase in the number of injuries to riders using ATVs with engine sizes of 400cc and greater.

The commission also will take testimony on a proposal by a coalition of groups made up of the Consumer Federation of America, the Natural Trails and Waters Coalition, the Bluewater Network and others seeking a ban on the sale of adult-sized ATVs sold for use by children under 16.

The coalition originally called for a ban on all ATV use by those under the age of 16 but the CPSC said that it could not enforce such a ban. ATVA Director Doug Morris noted that under a longstanding agreement between the ATV industry and the federal agency, only the smallest ATVs
— those with engines displacing 90cc or less — have been sold for use by riders in that age group.

In addition, Morris questioned the motivation behind some of the groups involved in this attack on ATVs. He noted that the Natural Trails and
Waters Coalition and the Bluewater Network have never had any involvement with, or interest in, ATV safety. Instead, their agenda has been to block access to public lands for ATV riders and others involved in motorized recreation.

“Including these anti-access organizations in this coalition makes for an odd alliance at the very least,” Morris said, “since the interests of
two of the coalition partners are in eliminating ATVs, not making them safer.”

To testify before the Consumer Product Safety Commission in West Virginia, contact Rockelle Hammond, Office of the Secretary, Consumer
Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C., 20207. Tel: (301) 504-6833. Fax: (301) 504-0127. E-mail: [email protected].

You can also send written testimony until July 5 to Attn: ATV Hearing, Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington,
D.C., 20207.

From a press release issued by CRA:

Central Roadracing Association kicks off the 2003 Racing Season

The Central Roadracing Association kicked off the 2003 racing season in Council Bluffs, Iowa, at the Midamerica Motorplex, April 11-13. Great weather and fierce racing depicted the first weekend of the year for many Midwesterners. Many top racers from around the Midwest, including Robert Jensen, Shawn Conrad, and Larry Denning, put on a great show in the battle for the CRA Championship.

In the racing action, Robert Jensen dominated the Middleweight and Unlimited Expert Classes, while Steve Atlas rode away in the Heavyweight Classes. In the Lightweight and 250GP Expert classes, Brett Donahue, Brent Juusola, and Mark Sorenson took the field of racers. After the weekend of racing, Brett Donahue is the point leader for the expert class, while Sean Edget leads in the novice class.

For 2003, CRA has another event scheduled at Midamerica Motorplex for August 23-24. Four weekends are scheduled for Brainerd Intl Raceway, located in Brainerd, Minnesota: May 2-4, June 21-22 (weekend prior to AMA National), July 19-20, and September 12-14.

CRA would like to thank all of our great volunteers, racers, fans, and sponsors! If you are interested in learning more about becoming a volunteer, racer, or sponsor, please check out www.cra-mn.org or call (612) 332-4070.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Rain ended testing at Barber Motorsports Park today at about 1:00 p.m.

Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki and Kawasaki Canada are packing up as this is posted.

From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

DUCATI CORSE PRESS INFORMATION
Sugo (Japan)
April 24, 2003


TEAM DUCATI FILA HUNGRY FOR MORE SUCCESS IN JAPAN

Ducati Fila riders Neil Hodgson and Ruben Xaus aim to continue their 100% 1-2 win record at this weekend’s Japanese Round of the World Superbike Championship, which takes place at the Sugo Sportsland circuit in the mountainous north-east of the country. With two of the 12 rounds already down, Hodgson and Xaus have a comfortable points lead over their closest rivals as they start the second overseas race of the year. The weekend is not going to be an easy one however due to the characteristics of the circuit and the presence of a couple of strong local ‘wild-card’ riders.

HODGSON: NO RECORD BREAKER
Hodgson has a good recent record at Sugo, the Englishman finishing fourth and third last year on a satellite Dunlop-shod HM Plant Ducati 998. The Michelin tyres Neil is riding on this year helped Colin Edwards win one of the 2002 races with Honda and the 29 year-old Isle of Man resident is confident he can gain good results again with the brand-new Ducati 999. “I feel very motivated now after a month’s gap since the last race in Australia. Physically I feel really good as well” commented Neil. “I’m not worried about trying to break any records or win as many races as possible, I just want to win the championship. There are a few wild card riders here which could make things difficult. The circuit is fantastic, it’s in my top 3 of all circuits, it’s just the last corner that causes a few problems and it’s easy to make a mistake. My form is quite good here, even in 1998 I twice finished fifth on a Kawasaki with a couple of wild-cards ahead of me, while last year I nearly beat Colin Edwards.”

XAUS: POSSIBLE TO WIN
Xaus scored a ninth place finish last year after injuring his hand in the first race. With four second places on the board already, the 25 year-old from Barcelona wants to go one better and notch up his first win of the year in Japan. “This is a really technical track, quite difficult and to go fast you need to go slow” declared Ruben. “You need to find a good set-up here because there is not much grip. We hope to do a good race, qualify in front of the Japanese guys and then start Europe as a new season with a lot of points. For sure it’s possible to win here, I have to find a good set-up, the bike is perfect, the best bike here but you need time to get the best out of it.”

CIRCUIT: Sugo Sportsland first opened as a test track for Yamaha in 1975 and since then it has been transformed into a massive outdoor leisure facility, incorporating a 3.737 km international racetrack. The circuit is situated close to the city of Sendai which has a population of one million people. The track has a total of 15 corners (6 left and 9 right), a tricky first gear chicane at the bottom of the hill and a finish-line straight of 700 metres.

POINTS (after 2 of 12 rounds): Riders – 1. Hodgson (Ducati Fila) 100; 2. Xaus (Ducati Fila) 80; 3. Walker (HM Plant Ducati) 48; 4. Lavilla (Suzuki) 44; 5. Martin (Ducati DFX) 41; 6. Toseland (HM Plant Ducati) 40; etc. Manufacturers – 1. Ducati 100; 2. Suzuki 44; 3. Petronas 32; 4. Kawasaki 18; 5. Yamaha 7.

STATISTICS: Lap record: Tamada (Honda) 1’29.108 (2002); Superpole: Tamada (Honda) 1’28.797 (2001); Qualifying : Tamada (Honda) 1’28.658 (2001).

2002 RESULTS: Race 1: 1. Edwards (Honda); 2. Tamada (Honda); 3. Haga (Aprilia). Race 2: 1. Tamada; 2. Edwards; 3. Hodgson (Ducati).