Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Bart Maciejewski came to the April 27 round of the 2003 Buell BattleTrax Series at Camarillo Airport in Camarillo, California for some free food and rode home with a Regional Championship and a free trip to the Buell BattleTrax National Championship event in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Maciejewski rode his Michelin-Pilot-shod 1998 Ducati 916 to the fastest time of the day, 33.70 seconds, on a 20-turn course laid out on the tarmac of the Camarillo Airport, but it was consistency in the competition, not speed in practice that earned Maciejewski a very close win over a tight field of 16 BattleTrax competitors.

The BattleTrax, which started six years ago and continues as a Buell Motorcycle Company promotional tool, introduces riders to motorcycle road racing in a safe, low-cost manner while keeping much of the same excitement. The same basic skills of line choice and smooth throttle and brake application are utilized on the chalk-and-traffic-cone parking courses of BattleTrax as are used on 160-mph road courses with less danger and a much smaller investment.

Although BattleTrax has been run as a fastest-time competition in the past, the 2003 Buell BattleTrax Series runs with a bracket racing-style format. One at a time on the course, competitors make electronically-timed practice laps in the morning to figure out their Target Time. After selecting their Target Time, riders then try to come as close to that time on each of four runs during the afternoon’s Target Rounds. Competitors are allowed to go over or under their Target Time because all four laps are averaged. The difference between a rider’s average lap time and their Target Time is what determines a winner. The rider with the average time closest to their Target Time, over or under, wins.

Maciejewski, who admitted that he only came to the event because he heard there would be free food and drinks (supplied by Ventura Harley-Davidson), arrived late but did a number of practice laps in rapid succession before setting a Target Time of 35.10. Maciejewski got off to a shaky start by hitting the very first cone on the course, drawing a 0.5-second penalty and resulting in a first lap time of 37.00 – well over his Target Time.

Due to the allowance to go under the Target Time, Maciejewski was able to go faster in his remaining laps to lower his average time closer to his goal. After a second run of 34.73 and third run of 34.57, Maciejewski’s friend and impromptu Team Manager, determined (with the assistance of the calculator on his mobile phone) that Maciejewski needed a time of 34.04 on his final run to have his average time match his Target Time. Incredibly, Maciejewski’s final run was a 34.03, resulting in an actual four-run average of 35.117 seconds, or 0.017-second off his Target Time.

“I was a little worried on that last run,” said Maciejewski, a 26-year-old Polish immigrant who works as a bookkeeper in Ventura, California. “I spun it up over that pavement transition in the back and almost dropped it.”

For his efforts, Maciejewski was awarded a Buell leather jacket and declared a Regional Champion. Nine other BattleTrax Regional Champions will be determined in the national touring series and flown at Buell’s expense to Las Vegas, Nevada, July 16, 2003, for a National Championship run-off where they will compete on identical Buell XB9R Firebolts and XB9S Lightnings.

Asked about having to give up his highly customized Ducati for one of the new Buells, Maciejewski said, “I can’t wait to get on the Buell!”

BattleTrax BattleMaster Reg Kittrelle said Maciejeski’s time difference and the results of all of the top finishers at Camarillo were the closest yet in the 2003 Buell BattleTrax Series.


Buell BattleTrax Results, Camarillo, California April 27 (amount average lap time varied from Target Time):

1. Bart Maciejewski, Ducati 916, 0.017-second
2. Steve Natt, Buell XB9R, 0.023-second
3. Paul Pecoraro, Buell XB9S, 0.035-second
4. Lance Wood, Buell X1, 0.132-second
5. Tim Norton, Buell XB9R, 0.137-second
6. Al Bradford, H-D FXD, 0.325-second

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. Kristy Roberts–sister of former AMA Supersport and Formula Xtreme Champion Kurtis Roberts and former 500cc World Champion Kenny Lee Roberts, daughter of three-time 500cc World Champion Kenny Leroy Roberts–and fiance Jason Hoar had a daughter, Berkeley Kurtis Roberts, April 25, 2003 in Modesto, California. CMRA racer Harry Tomlinson and G-Man Racing team owner Melissa Tomlinson had a daughter, Grace (Graci) Christine Tomlinson, April 29, 2003 in Fort Worth, Texas.

From a press release:

ProMotion Powersports to Debut New ProMotion Racing Team at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma this Weekend

12th Ranked Privateer Jack Pfeifer Signs On to Ride for ProMotion Racing

LAS VEGAS, Nevada. –– ProMotion Powersports, Las Vegas’s soon-to-be premier retailer of high-performance motorcycles, accessories, and apparel, today announced that the ProMotion Racing Team will make its 2003 season debut at the upcoming AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike races at Infineon Raceway on Saturday, May 3rd. The team is anchored by one of the top AMA superbike privateers, Jack Pfeifer, who has been racing on the AMA Professional circuit for over 10 years and has been one of the top club racers at Willow Springs.

“I’m extremely proud and excited to bring the new ProMotion Racing Team to the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Series,” commented Steve Cullen, President of ProMotion Powersports and team owner. “Jack Pfeifer is an outstanding talent with the ability to run up front with the best. Our aim is to sell what we race and we’ll be fielding a superbike with the best components from the top manufacturers so that we can offer those same top-quality bits to our customers.”

Pfeifer is currently 12th in the AMA Superbike standings, having raced the initial events on private funding. With ProMotion Powersports behind him, Jack will be mounting the distinctive graphite and white bannered ProMotion Racing 2003 Suzuki GSXR1000 superbike. “With a top superbike and the new ProMotion Racing team supporting me, I’m looking forward to being even more competitive with the top racers,” said Pfeifer. “Make no mistake about it, ProMotion Racing is as serious about winning at the track as they are about delivering high-performance motorcycle gear for enthusiasts in the Las Vegas Valley.”

About ProMotion Powersports
Headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, ProMotion Powersports is starting up operations. ProMotion Motors is slated to be Las Vegas’s premier retailer of high-performance motorcycle accessories and apparel. ProMotion Powersports, Incorporated is a family of powersports related businesses including ProMotion Motors, ProMotion Racing, ProMotion Events, ProMotion Research, and ProMotion Distribution. For more information, please visit www.promotionps.com.

From a press release issued by Scuderia Caracchi NCR Nortel Networks, verbatim:

David Garcia operated at his hands

(Bologna, 2003 Aprile 29)

David Garcia, the Spanish rider of Scuderia Caracchi NCR Nortel Networks, has today afternoon undergone surgery operation in the Villa Serena hospital in Forlì at his hands to reduce the fractures suffered last Saturday due a bad crash during the final qualifying session at Sugo.

The surgical operation, directly organised from Japan by the managers of Clinica Mobile in Japan, drs. Mattioli and Corbascio, has been performed by a team managed by dr. Gondolini and established by drs. Pilla, Casalboni, Mattioli and Sangiorgi and needed about three hours and half working.

The surgical operation concerned both the fracture and dislocation of the right hand metacarpus and requested the fitting of a mini plaque and 5 screws, as well the fracture of the left hand scaphoid, suffered in a previous crash some year ago, fitted by and Herbert screw.

David Garcia must keep for 21 days time a Scotch Cast hard bandage to both hands and then could start the rehabilitation period; Garcia will miss the Monza round next May 18th, and he is confident to be able for contest Oschersleben round next June 1st.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

From e-mails sent to [email protected]:

I have been thinking about the new Formula Xtreme rules as proposed by the AMA.

Having raced in Formula-2 club classes, I know a 250cc two-stroke has very little chance of being competitive against “highly modified” four-stroke 600cc Fours and 750cc Twins.

How many of us want to race for the back half of the field?

The offer of 330cc is nice, but insufficient. There are not oversize parts currently being offered for the RS250 or TZ250 models.

It is very unlikely that Honda or Yamaha will spend their limited resources to develop a larger displacement engine just for the small US/AMA market. Especially since there is no similar requirement for GP or any other National series.

We and the AMA also need to look at what happened last year with the MotoGP class. The 500cc vs. 990cc formula did not make for very equal competition. What makes the AMA think that the two-to-one displacement formula would work for a hot-rod class such as they are proposing?

Then there is the problem that parts availability do not lend themselves to a 330cc two-stroke Twin.

We as a group need to flood the AMA during the comment period to get them to at least increase the displacement size to 350cc. At least that way we could pick-and-choose existing pistons and parts from 175cc Singles. And there was precedent back in the 1970s for 350cc Twins. Some of you may even be old enough to remember that there used to be a 350cc World Championship class.

If you hope to have a chance next year, vs. just running at the back, we will need to apply pressure to the AMA.

It’s up to you.

Bruce J. Lind
AMA 250 GP #78 1978 – 2001
(Retired after 37 seasons)
Seattle, Washington




Now we know the AMA is out to lunch. 250cc-330cc two-strokes. “This will allow them to develop their bike further.” I would like to talk to the “nut” who came up this one. A larger piston will be too heavy and will slow them down. Then while the four-strokes are gone and the two-strokes are still on the starting line, how is that fair? Then as the two-strokes run them down in the corner, the four-strokes will be parked in the corner.

I call on all, racers, mechanics, sponsors and fans to boycott the AMA.

Enough Already!

Craig Ramey
Lemoore, California

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

G.M.D. Computrack of Virginia has moved to 39 McWhirt Loop #112, Fredericksburg, VA 22406, (703) 282-6776.

From a press release issued by Honda Motor Co., Ltd.:

To express our deepest condolences to Mr. Daijiro Kato, a MotoGP Grand Prix rider who has passed away on April 20, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. will conduct a “Farewell Memorial” .

The racing machine with which he won the World Grand Prix 250cc Championship in 2001 will be exhibited together with photos to share with you our memories of Mr. Daijiro Kato.

Date and Location

Date: May 18, 2003 11:00 am-4:00 pm

Location : Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
Welcome Plaza (1st floor) and Honda Hall (2nd floor) 2-chome 1-1, Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku Tokyo

Please come at your convenient time in plain attire. We appreciate your understanding as we would like to abstain from receiving any condolence money or gift.

From two press releases issued by Norm Viano:

BOSS NEWS

This week marks the return of Eric (and Ben) from their ten day South African trip. Eric and Ben’s idea of a trip to that part of the world is guaranteed to be very different than most people’s. There were no safaris scheduled. Instead, lots of competitive activities between the two that were designed to push each other hard. Activities that you can bet included surfing and rock climbing. Preparation for the trip included bouldering at a special area in Atlanta called “Boat Rock”. “It was a pretty cool place. Real pretty and real zen.”

Said Eric before taking off from Atlanta last week; “Four days of productive testing and it’s going to be nice to get out to South Africa and take a little bit of a breather and get refreshed and motivated for Infineon. I’m planning on coming back and improving upon our second place finish at Fontana.”

While in the Atlanta area, Eric tested at Road Atlanta and also the new Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama. “There is so much elevation and there are corners where you would be able to put all the power down but you’re going over the crest of the hill or you’re going down into a dip or something. And it just changes it up and makes it so tricky and challenging that Barber is going to be a good time. Period.”

Fans of Eric will also be excited to hear that Eric will be participating in a few rounds of the RedBull AMA Supermoto series on a very trick Kawasaki. “The boys are working on my Supermoto bike right now. The chassis is down at the race shop, Brembo is doing the brakes for me, and Mike Young (from Big Gun) is doing the motor up. It should be done by the time we get back. It looks like we might have a special Kawasaki race bike when I get home.”



BB NEWS

Ben Bostrom, like brother Eric, is returning from South Africa today after a ten day training excursion there. This following four days of testing at Road Atlanta and the new Barber track in Birmingham. “We’ve been testing a lot. We got our asses kicked in the Atlanta test, though. But that new track in Birmingham, that was real fun. The best facility I’ve ever seen in the whole world. And I mean that sincerely. It was that clean and well put together. I’m still blown away by it. That track was like a small version of a GP track.

“And we’re going fast on it, which is another plus. We’ve been getting a lot of feel for the Honda finally, which is great because we’ve been getting our asses kicked lately. And I’m sure that Honda doesn’t appreciate that so much. But going to that track made me remember how good it was to be on those world tracks. Real fun, fast, flowing.

“In between riding the bikes and testing, we’ve been doing some climbing and bouldering. Quite a bit of that, actually. We had a really neat climb, more than 500 feet, at home in Vegas. Also had some fun bouldering in Atlanta, just trying to get strong for our ten day training & climbing trip to South Africa with my brother. Hopefully the training will pay off. We’ll fly back before Infineon, also a cool track, rest a few days, jump on the bikes and hopefully take everything we learned recently from these last couple tests and put that thing closer to the front.”