Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Spaniard Sete Gibernau has re-signed to ride for Telefonica Movistar Honda through the 2005 season, reports Dorna Sports, the organizers of the FIM-sanctioned MotoGP World Championship.

Gibernau, 30, was quoted as saying he wanted to squash any rumors about his 2004 plans so he could concentrate on finishing the current season. He is second in the MotoGP point standings (with four wins) with four races left in the 2003 season.

The report made no mention of a future teammate for Gibernau. Currently, Ryuichi Kiyonari, a 20-year-old Japanese rider, is Gibernau’s teammate.

From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

XAUS AND HODGSON (DUCATI FILA) THIRD AND FOURTH IN FRIDAY QUALIFYING

Imola (Italy), 26 September: Ruben Xaus and Neil Hodgson powered their Ducati Fila 999 machines to a provisional third and fourth place on the grid in Friday first qualifying for the Imola World Superbike round.

James Toseland (HM Plant Ducati) and Regis Laconi (NCR Ducati) were the quickest today as only these four riders dipped beneath the 1:50 mark.

“It’s a bit of a bumpy track, compared to Assen, which is really smooth and today was quite a struggle but in the end I actually enjoyed it for the first time because I relaxed a bit” declared the new world champion. “You’ve got to be loose on the bike with all the bumps. My Ducati Fila 999 was a bit dodgy through the fastest part of the track but we changed it a bit to make it more stable. I’m having some good slides because it spins a lot on the track. If you can control that in the race, you know that when your tyres go off you will have a good feeling. I’m sure I can make up a tenth here and there all over the circuit and knock a lot more off my time tomorrow”.



“I wasn’t happy this morning because I had a technical problem and I had to come in and change to my other bike, which didn’t have an ideal set-up” declared Ruben. “This is a track that you really need to get used to and as it is only Friday running in 1:49 for me is good. We were really close with times for qualifying and race tyres. Every time we come here to Imola it’s different because I have a different bike and team so winning here in the past doesn’t count. For me the races are the only important thing and I want to come away with two victories or at least two good results. It’s important that the people enjoy and that Ducati enjoy what I do on Sunday”.

TIMES: 1. Toseland (HM Plant Ducati) 1:49.011; 2. Laconi (NCR Ducati) 1:49.472; 3. Xaus (Ducati Fila) 1:49.505; 4. Hodgson (Ducati Fila) 1:49.538; 5. Walker (HM Plant Ducati) 1:50.145; 6. Lavilla (Suzuki) 1:50.570; 7. Corser (Petronas) 1:50.752; 8. Chili (PSG-1 Ducati) 1:50.859; 9. Martin (Ducati DFX) 1:50.892; 10. Pedercini (Ducati) 1:51.206.


More, from a press release issued by HM Plant Ducati:

Toseland on provisional pole

James Toseland proved to be the fastest man around the Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit in today’s first qualifying session. The 22-year-old Yorkshireman beat his nearest challenger Regis Laconi by almost half a second to take provisional pole ahead of Saturday’s final qualifying and Superpole. His HM Plant Ducati team-mate Chris Walker put in a solid performance to provisionally book fifth place on the grid with a best lap of 1:50.145.

Toseland has been on excellent form all season and barring a few unfortunate incidents, he has consistently been one of the fastest riders at every round. This is his second provisional pole of the season – the first being at Monza – and he is aiming to hold on to the coveted starting position.

“I’m pleased with the way things have gone so far,” said Toseland. “Psychologically, it’s good to be fastest straight away, but there’s still some way to go yet and I’m hoping to up the stakes a bit tomorrow. I spent most of the session at the top of the time sheets doing mid-1:50s on race tyres, so things are looking good for the rest of the weekend.”

Chris Walker wasn’t quite able to match the pace of his team-mate. Nevertheless, he still recorded the fifth fastest time of the day on only his second visit to the Italian circuit.

“That wasn’t too bad,” said Walker. “I got plenty of laps in and was pretty consistent throughout. Neil [Hodgson], Laconi and Xaus were always going to be the boys to beat around here and James is in really good form, so there’s a bit of gap between me and the top four at the moment but the HM Plant Ducati is working perfectly and I’m expecting to be on the front row by the end of tomorrow.”

First qualifying: 1. J. Toseland (HM Plant Ducati) 1:49.011; 2. R. Laconi (Ducati) 1:49.472; 3. R. Xaus (Ducati) 1:49.505; 4. N. Hodgson (Ducati) 1:49.538; 5. C. Walker (HM Plant Ducati) 1:50.145; 6. G. Lavilla (Suzuki) 1:50.570; 7. T. Corser (Foggy) 1:50.752; 8. P. Chili (Ducati) 1:50.859; 9. S. Martin (Ducati) 1:50.892; 10. L. Pedercini (Ducati) 1:51.206


More, from a press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing:

Corser maintains Foggy PETRONAS Racing progress

Troy Corser maintained Foggy PETRONAS Racing’s recent progress with a promising first day of qualifying for the penultimate round of the World Superbike championship at Imola, Italy.

The Australian former world champ was seventh fastest in the afternoon session, on the team’s first day of action at the challenging circuit. Troy sliced 2.5 seconds off his best morning time to post a fastest lap of 1:50.752, within two seconds of provisional polesetter James Toseland.

Troy said: “I am only really starting to get used to the track again. We just made small adjustments to the suspension from this morning to soften the bike, as the track is very bumpy. The set-up we found was not bad and, although the bike is still moving around a little bit, you would expect that on a bumpy surface. I will change the offset for tomorrow to see if it will hold the line better. It’s encouraging that we are closer to the front runners on a Friday than we have been for a while.”

Team-mate James Haydon also made headway on his first visit to Imola since 1996. And, although he suffered a frustrating afternoon, there were signs that his luck had taken a turn for the better. James said: “I was so lucky on my final lap of the morning session. I was going flat out in fifth gear into the double right-hander and as soon as I hit the brakes a squirrel ambled onto the track. At first I thought it was a dog because its tail was up and it was looked so big. There was no way I could move because I was so hard on the brakes, and Neil Hodgson was right behind me as well. It would have been a massive crash if I had hit it. I haven’t been so freaked out by something like that for ages. We made a step forward in the afternoon, but not enough. I know I could have been in the 53s but a mechanical problem meant that I could not improve my time on a qualifying tyre. My injured hand is sore when I am off the bike but is not slowing me up.”

Friday qualifying times, World Superbike championship round 11, Imola, Italy: 1 Toseland (HM Plant Ducati) 1:49.011; 2 Laconi (NCR) 1:49.472; 3 Xaus (Ducati Fila) 1:49.505; 4 Hodgson (Ducati Fila) 1:49.538; 5 Walker (HM Plant Ducati) 1:50.145; 6 Lavilla (Alstare Suzuki) 1:50.570; 7 Corser (Foggy PETRONAS Racing) 1:50.752; 8 Chili (PSG-1) 1:50.859; 9
Martin (DFX) 1:50.892; 10 Pedercini (Team Pedercini) 1:51.206; 18 Haydon (Foggy PETRONAS Racing) 1:54.023

Free Practice times: 1 Laconi (NCR) 1:50.540; 2 Lavilla (Alstare Suzuki) 1:50.659; 3 Hodgson (Ducati Fila) 1:51.076; 4 Walker (HM Plant Ducati) 1:51.147; 5 Martin (DFX) 1:51.318; 6 Toseland (HM Plant Ducati) 1:51.507; 7 Chili (PSG-1) 1:51.569; 8 Xaus (Ducati Fila) 1:51.625; 9 Borja (DFX) 1:51.724; 10 Pedercni (Team Pedercini) 1:52.673; 14 Corser (Foggy PETRONAS Racing) 1:53.235; 19 Haydon (Foggy PETRONAS Racing) 1:56.101


More, from a press release issued by Scuderia Caracchi NCR Nortel Networks:

Laconi second fast in the debut day at Imola

A splendid sun shined on Imola for the debut day of the penultimate round of 2004 Superbike World Championship on the 4933 meters of the track beside de Santerno river, full of glory in motorcycle racing.

Remembering his 2001 victory here in Imola Regis Laconi recorded today the second fastest in the first qualifying session, after has been the fastest in the morning’s free practice session. Laconi looks to be satisfied of today work on his 998RS Ducati Caracchi NCR Nortel Networks looking for the best set up for this difficult track.

“Yes, I’m quite satisfied of today’s work. We’ve lost some time for a braking system problem in one out of the two bikes, so later we concentrate on the second one. In my fastest lap with soft tyres I found some slow rider along the track, so I believe that I could a bit faster. Also on race set with race tyres we recorded quite good laptime, there’s of course some small details to set, but for tomorrow as well for the race I’m confident that we’ll be OK.”

David Garcia recorded a good 13th fastest; the hard physical rehabilitation word done in Forlì is giving some result, but the pain is still heavy, especially on an engaging track like Imola.

“Toady I’ve been fast enough and I got easily the result. ” – said Garcia at the end of the day – “The heaviest problem remains the pain in my arm after a few laps, more on this track with several points with hard braking that mean a big effort for the arms. I hope to be able to finish the race, but it would be difficult.”


More, from a press release issued by Troy Corser’s publicist:

SUPER SEVENTH FOR TROY ON OPENING DAY

Troy was happy at the end of one of his best opening days in this year’s Superbike World Championship. Despite spending the best part of the two sessions getting reacquainted with the demanding 4.933 kilometre Imola circuit, Troy was able to post the seventh quickest time of the day. Also, his lap time was not so far from provisional pole-setter James Toseland (Ducati). Toseland’s best lap of 1:49.011 was well under the lap record and he was followed by Regis Laconi, Ruben Xaus, Neil Hodgson and Chris Walker – all Ducati-mounted. Spaniard Gregorio Lavilla (Suzuki) was sixth fastest, just ahead of Troy.

TROY – 7TH, 1:50.752
Well that was one of the best first days we’ve had all season and I’m pretty happy with how it all went today. I really used most of the day getting to know the track again, so I didn’t really feel I was pushing hard at all. We made some small changes to the suspension in the afternoon and we’ll carry on trying to improve the bike tomorrow. The track felt a bit more bumpy then when I last rode here and that upsets the suspension quite a bit. We’ll try changing the offsets for tomorrow to see if we can get the bike to hold a line better. Today we are closer to the front then we’ve been for a while and that makes me and the team very happy.

From a press release issued by series organizers:

WEBSTER “SMASHES” OPPOSITION AT IMOLA

Steve Webster and Paul Woodhead shattered the lap record by almost a second to snatch provisional pole position after Friday’s combined qualifying at Imola, Italy in round 10 of the 2003 Superside World championship.

“It is quite simply a smashing bike,” said Webster. “Imola is a real driver’s circuit and I enjoy it immensely.” Webster and Woodhead continued their qualifying hot streak as they aim for a 26th consecutive pole position.

Woodhead echoed his driver’s sentiments: “It was a good session for us. We were scrubbing in the tyres and I think we can lap at this pace tomorrow.”

The session was red-flagged after 10 minutes following an accident involving Gerhard Hauzenberger and his passenger, Ian Simons. The latter was taken to hospital suffering from concussion and a suspected fractured leg.

Jörg Steinhausen and Trevor Hopkinson recorded the second fastest time, 0.728s adrift of the championship leaders with Martien and Tonnie van Gils a brilliant third. The Maton Racing team manager and sponsor, Peat Leijten was visibly pleased with the performance: “That’s a very good result for us.”

Championship chasing Klaus Klaffenböck, who failed to record a time in the morning session, was sixth in the time sheets, almost five seconds down on Webster.

Friday’s Superside World championship qualifying times:

1 Steve Webster, GB (Suzuki) 1:56.583

2 Jörg Steinhausen, Germany (Suzuki) +0.728s

3 Martien van Gils, Holland (Suzuki) +2.604

4 Steve Abbott, GB (Suzuki) +3.546

5 Tom Hanks, GB (Yamaha) +3.612

6 Klaus Klaffenböck, Austria (Yamaha) +4.849

7 Bill Philp, GB (Yamaha) +5.601,

8 Rob Cameron, GB (Suzuki) +5.696

9 Renaud Dernoncourt, France (Suzuki) +5.934

10 Chris Founds, GB (Yamaha) +6.946.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

AMA Pro Racing CEO Scott Hollingsworth has confirmed plans for a limited feasibility test on Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s infield road course on Wednesday, October 1, the week after the FIA Formula One car race.

“We’ve been working with the facility now for two or three years,” said Hollingsworth Sunday in the media center at Barber Motorsports Park. “We went there before they laid it out. We’ve been watching its progress. We made comments at the time they designed it to make sure that it was adequate for motorcycles. There will be some issues that we’ve got to look at. We want to see bikes on the track to make sure it’s suitable. Most of the interior road portion we expect to be fine, and we’ve got plans to address the one kind of known issue.”

Hollingsworth said the “known issue” was the first turn on the speedway oval, which is taken in the opposite direction when the road course is utilized. The outside of the high-speed turn is lined with retaining walls. Hollingsworth said a chicane has been designed and would be installed for any race at Indy but no chicane will be used during the proposed test.

“We just want to get them out there, take a look and make sure it’s something we can do if we’re presented the opportunity to,” said Hollingsworth. Erion Honda’s Jake Zemke and Ducati Austin’s Giovanni Bussei are expected to attend the test with the possibility of a third rider being added.

That third rider could be Vincent Haskovec, who tested on a Ducati Austin racebike at Pikes Peak earlier this season.

From a press release issued by Motonation:

Sidi boots now accepting resumes for the 2004 season!

Motonation, the exclusive importer of Sidi boots, is now accepting resumes for rider support for the 2004 season.

A limited amount of support is available in both the off road and road segments. Interested riders should send their resumes to:

If sending via mail:

Motonation
C/O Sidi rider support
14168 Poway Rd, ste 205
Poway CA 92064

If sending via fax: 1-858-513-6285

If sending via Email: [email protected]

From a press release issued by the AMA:

AMA REACTS TO CBS NEWS REPORT ON EXTREME STREET RIDING

PICKERINGTON, OHIO — The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), reacting to a CBS News report on so-called “extreme street riding,” points out that this illegal and dangerous conduct represents only a small percentage of the American motorcycling community.

The CBS News “Eye on America” report, which aired during the September 25th broadcast of “The CBS Evening News with Dan Rather,” documented groups of motorcyclists who ride at high speeds and perform stunts on public streets and highways. A CBS News producer, conducting research for the report, had contacted the AMA in mid-August.

“For the most part, the CBS News segment correctly portrayed extreme street riding as an isolated phenomenon,” said Tom Lindsay, AMA Public Information Director. “It’s unfortunate, however, that the irresponsible conduct of such a small number of motorcyclists gets national attention, while the overwhelming majority of American motorcyclists are responsible and law-abiding.”

The AMA believes that stunt riding, like that portrayed in the CBS News report, has no place on public streets and highways, where it endangers both motorcyclists and other motorists.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Miguel Duhamel, the winningest AMA Superbike rider of all time, says he will ride for Honda again in 2004.

“Honda’s been having a lot of meetings,” Duhamel told Roadracingworld.com Friday in a telephone interview. “And all the time, they told me not to worry. I will be with Honda next year. I don’t like to talk too positive, because you don’t know what happens in this beautiful world until something is signed, but I’ve come to know the people at Honda really well and they know me, too. I take them at their word that we will have a deal for next year. So I’m looking forward for that.”

Duhamel said he underwent surgery by Dr. Arthur Ting Thursday in Fremont, California to remove a metal rod from his collarbone, broken in a crash at Infineon Raceway in early May

“Yeah, I’m totally metal-free,” said Duhamel. “It went really, really well. It took about an hour. I was out of there before you could imagine it. I was in there making jokes with them about whether they had cable or direct TV, and the next thing you know, I woke up and I was done.

“Ben [Bostrom] was there, too, so it was like a team meeting. I kept telling the nurse they should shave his eyebrows and sideburns, give him a new look.”

Duhamel said he is keeping the rod as a souvenir and that he should be able to ride and train again in about six weeks.

From a press release issued by Pirelli:

Pirelli appointed exclusive tyre supplier for the 2004 World Superbike and Supersport and European Superstock Championships

 “We sell the tyres we race, we race the tyres we sell”: production standards guarantee quality, reliability and performance continuity.

 Partnership with the development team to fine-tune avant-garde technology available to everyone

 A prize fund of 300,000 euros and equal opportunities for young up-and-coming riders

Imola, 26th September 2003 – From the 2004 season Pirelli will be the exclusive tyre supplier for the World Superbike and Supersport and European Superstock Championships. The agreement reached with the FGSport Group on the 31st of July will continue through to 2005 and commits Pirelli to supplying tyres for all the teams competing in the 45 races in 10 different countries for the World and European Championship titles.

This programme will allow all participants to compete on equal terms with regards to tyres, making the efforts of the bike constructors, the teams and the riders all-important. In accordance with the wishes of the FIM (International Motorcycling Federation), the World Superbike Championship thus returns to its origins as a category for bikes with features and characteristics as close as possible to those of production machines.

For Pirelli, the agreement with FGSport has the immediate significance of valorising the investment programme initiated in 2000 with the company’s participation in the Supersport Championship and continued the following year with the debut of a development team in the World Superbike Championship.

With its long-term commitment to production motorcycle racing throughout the world, Pirelli is now in a position to confirm the continuity of its know-how in the technological development of racing tyres, offering a product with uniform high performance characteristics. The agreement for the exclusive supply of tyres for the Superbike, Supersport and Superstock championships represents the logical development of Pirelli Moto’s competition strategy.

The standardisation of the industrial process will allow Pirelli to make highly specialised and reliable tyres with absolutely consistent performance available to every team and manufacturer. In this sense, the application of Pirelli’s “Zero Degree” metal belt production technology to all the covers is a guarantee of quality and neutral performance with respects to the diverse characteristics of the racing machinery.

However, standardization does not mean “a single tyre for all”. The development of the Pirelli range for the 2004 World and European championships will, as ever, be guided by the adaptation of the product to the meteorological conditions and the varying track characteristics: this fine-tuning will be conducted in partnership with the development teams to be defined by FGSport together with bike manufacturers.

Pirelli will provide the teams with a range of tyres with different specifications, designed and tested to be capable of tackling the various World Championship circuits and the foreseeable temperature, wear and stress conditions, while maintaining the highest levels of safety. In particular, three dry covers will be developed for each circuit. This programme will fully respect the “fair conditions” guideline guaranteed by FIM supervision of the use of the tyres assigned to the teams at every race.

Pirelli’s participation as exclusive supplier of tyres for the Superbike, Supersport and Superstock Championships also involves a significant commitment in industrial, logistical and organizational terms: over 50,000 tyres will be manufactured and distributed during the course of the season, requiring considerable physical and human resources.

With the objective of guaranteeing optimum service from the points of view of quality and rapidity, Pirelli plans to create two specialist working areas for each race: one exclusively for the Superbike Championship with slick tyres and 16.5″ rims, the other dedicated to the Supersport and Superstock categories for the fitting of DOT tread tyres on 17″ rims.

“We race the tyres we sell, we sell the tyres we race”; for Pirelli there is more than technology to the agreement with FGSport; the exclusive tyre supplier is, in fact, committed to promoting the Championships during the course of the season using all the available media, from TV to the press and Internet in order to widen awareness of the Superbike Championship.

Pirelli’s decision to provide a prize fund of 300,000 euros to be dedicated to the riders through the association of racing teams is also of great significance. The company has taken on this new challenge with the aim of making an important contribution to the emergence of numerous young riders in conditions of equal opportunities among the various teams.

www.pirellimoto.com

From a press release issued by BrakeTech:

CONGRATULATIONS
Team Oliver Racing!

A genuine and hearty congratulations to you and your team, Rich, on capping off a truly remarkable career with yet another perfect season. Your professionalism and dedication to the sport should serve as inspiration to the legions of upcoming kids and young racers who need positive role models in a time where, sad to say, they are hard to find.

Although I’m sad to see the purity of 250GP slip into the history books now, you can be proud of the fact it has provided some of the most exciting wheel-to-wheel action on the track with many of the biggest names in racing. In that you’ve become iconic. I’ll certainly miss the unmistakable scent of two-stroke exhaust wafting through the paddock as the final call for the race blares over the PA system. That era has now come to a close as we set our sights on the future of the sport in the hopes that fine tradition will be carried forward in a new incarnation.

We here at Ferodo and BrakeTech can unabashedly say it has been a great pleasure and a honor to have worked with you over the past few years. Knowing you and your determination, I can only imagine the growth and success of the Mystery School to become a cornerstone for serious and upcoming racers looking to hone their craft. In that, we wish you all the best.

Jeff Gehrs
BrakeTech USA
Lake Elsinore, California

From a press release issued by HM Plant Ducati:

Sights set on Italian success

Imola was first introduced to the Superbike World Championship calendar in 2001 and the last two years have seen some epic battles around the 4.93km Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit. Last year the Italian venue was the setting for a breathtaking season finale during which Colin Edwards snatched the 2002 title from Ducati’s Troy Bayliss. In 2001 it was the turn of Ruben Xaus as Regis Laconi to come to the fore.

This year, the French circuit of Magny Cours will stage the final round of the season on 19 October and Fila Ducati’s Neil Hodgson has already wrapped up the 2003 championship with four races yet to run. But this certainly does not mean that there will be any shortage of fireworks at the weekend. Hodgson will no doubt be keen to remind everybody just why he was crowned 2003 Superbike World Champion and Laconi and Xaus will be hoping to recreate their previous results at Imola.

However, these three Ducati riders will have their work cut out if they are to repel the orange attack that will be heading their way courtesy of James Toseland and Chris Walker.

For the HM Plant Ducati team-mates, Imola presents both challenges and opportunities. Toseland now has his sights firmly set on second place in the championship by the end of the season and is hoping to claw back some of the 51-point advantage that Xaus currently holds over him.

“I’m really fired up for this one,” said Toseland. “Getting a DNF at Assen has really put the cat among the pigeons. It might have been a slightly different situation if I’d got two fourths and moved out of Laconi’s reach. Then I could have ridden with nothing to lose at Imola – but I’m going to anyway, because that’s just me.

“It’s going to be every man for himself out there and everyone will be trying to get past at every opportunity, so I’m sure there’ll be elbows rubbing now and again. I desperately want second in the championship but I’ve also got to watch my back.”

Many other riders will be just as eager to impress as they look to secure their championship positions and hopefully a ride for 2004. The on-track competition is guaranteed to be fierce and this is something that Chris Walker, for one, will relish.

“This season has had its fair share of ups and downs for me,” said Walker. “A few unlucky injuries have made life difficult but on the whole I’ve had a great time with HM Plant Ducati. It’s a real shame that the team doesn’t feel that it is able to take part in the championship next year but there are still two rounds left to go this season and I want to do the best possible job for them. I’m on good form and really looking forward to the weekend. If things go my way there’s the opportunity to improve on sixth place in the championship before the end of the season and I’ve still got time to get my first World Superbike race win.”


More, from a press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing:

Foggy PETRONAS Racing face uphill task at Imola

Carl Fogarty today sounded a note of caution ahead of his Foggy PETRONAS Racing team’s penultimate World Superbike championship round of the season at Imola, Italy, this weekend.

The four-times World Superbike champion was encouraged by the performance of Troy Corser at the previous round in The Netherlands, when the Australian achieved his second best finish of the season on the FP1 – the Malaysian superbike – with a stylish sixth place in the opening race. But Carl warned that the engine modifications which contributed to that improvement at the fast-flowing Assen circuit are unlikely to have as marked an effect around Imola’s tight corners and uphill sections.

Foggy said: “Just because we had a sixth at Assen doesn’t necessarily mean we will be able to repeat that at Imola, where you need a lot more acceleration and power for the slow corners and uphill drags. I have only ridden here once, for a Ducati test in 2000 with Ben Bostrom and Ruben Xaus. The weather was not helpful, but I did find it a difficult circuit to learn and my team has not tested here. So we will be aiming to finish in the top ten and I think that anything more than that will be a bonus.”

Corser still holds the Superpole record at Imola and was second in the first race of his only visit here, in 2001. But he echoed Carl’s realism, saying: “I really like the circuit but I do not think it will suit the FP1, at this stage of development, as much as Assen did. You need a lot of horsepower here as there are a few up and downhill climbs. The start-finish straight is also long, with top speed important. So I think this weekend is going to be one of the harder ones for us.”

Team-mate James Haydon has been struggling to recover from a hand injury sustained in a spectacular Assen crash, but is hopeful that, with painkilling injections, the strained tendons will not prevent a positive finish to his season. He said: “I would say that the hand is 80-85 per cent okay and some of the movements that I still can’t do I won’t really need for riding. I still don’t like people shaking my hand and it is a bit swollen but I have my grip back, which was what stopped me from racing at Assen. I also went out for a hard enduro session in Andorra, which is what you have to do with an injury like this, to break down the internal scar tissue.”

Circuit information: Enzo e Dino Ferrari Circuit, Imola, Italy

Superpole record: Troy Corser, 1:48.649 (2001).

Lap record: Troy Bayliss, 1:48.389 (2002 race)

Pole position: Left. Circuit length: 4.933km.

Corners: 10 left, 6 right

Corner radius: Maximum 60 degrees, minimum 11 degrees.

Slope: Downward 6.22 per cent. Upward 7.81 per cent


More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

Mission accomplished for Ducati Fila as the Team returns to Italy with two World Superbike titles

Imola (Italy), 25 September: Imola, the scene for last year’s titanic battle between Bayliss (Ducati) and Edwards (Honda), opens its gates again this weekend to World Superbike, which reaches the penultimate round of the 2003 championship. Team Ducati Fila’s mission for 2003 was accomplished at Assen when Neil Hodgson picked up the Riders’ title to go with the Manufacturers’ crown that Ducati had already clinched at Brands Hatch.


“Imola is exciting, historic and demanding” says the newly-crowned world champion. “and in particular I really enjoy the uphill part of the circuit after the tight corner, the flat out right then downhill to the Acque Minerali. It’s special, a real privilege to race for the factory with the support of all the fans, you have a responsibility to put on a good show. Although I have never had a good result at Imola, I am looking forward to this race like no other. I won the title at Assen but for me the only enjoyment out there comes from winning and I want to get two first places at Imola.”


Team-mate Ruben Xaus will also be looking for two good results to consolidate his second place in the championship. Ruben has already won at Imola for Ducati but does not feel any particular pressure at what is essentially Ducati’s ‘home’ race. “I feel no pressure here, it’s worse for me when I am at Valencia so the Imola race doesn’t create any problems” says Ruben. “I finished first and second in 2001 and twice third last year but I love racing here because there are thousands of ‘ducatisti’, the track is in Italy and Ducati has always obtained fantastic results at Imola, starting with the 200 Miles race in 1972”.


Circuit: the Autodromo Enzo & Dino Ferrari has been permanent since 1979, when it was updated and modified to become an established Formula 1 venue. The first World Superbike round was held here in 2001, and last year’s spectacular race was watched by a record-breaking 97,000 spectators, the highest-ever figure in Italian motorcycling history. The 4.933 km sloping circuit has 10 left and 6 right-hand corners and a finish line straight measuring 358 metres.


Ducati employees: The Imola race will also be a special event for the many Ducati employees who work at the Borgo Panigale factory just a quick trip up the motorway. A 500-seat grandstand has been reserved for employees, suppliers and supporters directly in front of the Ducati Fila pit garage and they are sure to make a spectacular sight with their red Ducati T-shirts! Meanwhile down at the Rivazza curve the usual display of pyrotechnics has been organised by the Ducati Desmodromic Club of Rome to cheer on the Ducati riders at that point of the circuit.


Fila Guests: Ducati Fila’s title sponsor will be bringing along three of its athletes, all keen Ducati fans, to Imola to lend their support to the team at the penultimate round of the championship: Italian ice-hockey star Gianluca Tomasello, Olympic slalom skier Giorgio Rocca and cross-country skiing expert Cristian Zorzi.


More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Racing:

Yamaha supported teams Yamaha Belgarda and Yamaha Motor Germany will each enter an additional rider at round ten of the Supersport World Championship, in Imola this weekend (26-28 September).

One event entries have been granted for current Japanese 250 champion Tekkyu Kayo and five-times Australian champion Kevin Curtain. Kayo will ride in the colours of the Italian Yamaha Belgarda Team, for whom he finished fourth in his one and only previous World Supersport outing – at Sugo – earlier this year. The 24-year-old Japanese has had a varied season this year. His ‘full-time’ job has involved defending his All-Japan 250 title and, in addition to the Sugo outing, he has also raced as a wild-card at the Japanese 250GP and at the Suzuka 8-Hour, where he qualified strongly on a YZF-R1.



“Sugo was the first time I rode the YZF-R6 but I found that I had no trouble adapting to it after the two-stroke TZ250,” explained Kayo. “Before that race I also had concerns about communicating with the Italian team but I found them to be very professional and had no problems at all. At Sugo I learned about the team and bike and although Imola is a new track for me I have watched videos of races there so that I can learn a little about it. I do not have to consider the championship standings and I hope to thank the team for this opportunity by getting a good race result – hopefully at least as good as at Sugo.”


Kevin Curtain
By contrast Curtain is an experienced World Supersport rider with 28 previous appearances in the championship. A full-time WSS rider in 2001 and 2002, he won two races in the 2001 season. This year he won both the Australian Formula Xtreme and Supersport championships racing a YZF-R1 and YZF-R6. Earlier this year he also rode his domestic championship R6 as a wild-card at the Australian World Supersport round in Phillip Island, finishing fifth and Yamaha Motor Germany team manager Terrell Thien is hoping to use all of the rider’s experience.

He said: “Kevin is a proven rider. He knows the Yamaha R6, knows Dunlop tyres and he likes the Imola circuit. We’ve built a bike for him with an identical specification to that of our regular riders. I’ve spoken to Kevin many times over the years and I know that he is keen to return to the world championship full-time. He will be motivated to do well and I am sure that he will be able to provide us with a lot of valuable technical feedback.”

Curtain added: “I’ve been over in Europe since Monday and that has given me a chance to meet the team and adjust little things like the position of the handlebars and footpegs. They’ve built a bike especially for me and I’m hoping to repay the team by getting a good result at Imola.”


More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Racing:

Race date: 28 September 2003
Track length: 4933m
Year opened: 1952
2002 WSB winner: Colin Edwards (Honda) (both races)
WSB lap record: 1:48.717 – Colin Edwards (Honda)
2002 WSS winner: Katsuaki Fujiwara (Suzuki)
WSS lap record: 1:53.954 – Fabien Foret (Honda)

Imola – Kayo and Curtain add extra spice
The Supersport World Championship makes its third and final visit to Italy this season when the penultimate round of the 2003 campaign takes place at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, on the outskirts of the town of Imola, a 20 minute drive from the city of Bologna, next weekend (September 26-28).

This undulating 4.9km circuit is one of four circuits shared between the World Supersport and Formula One car racing series, which means that teams and fans alike can expect to find great facilities. Imola has been the scene of many great battles on both four wheels and two and last season’s World Superbike title showdown between Troy Bayliss and Colin Edwards showed that this circuit can produce some great bike racing action.

This year the Imola event will be especially hectic for Yamaha. In addition to the seven regular supported Supersport riders, Yamaha will also have two additional entries for this race: Japanese 250 champion Tekkyu Kayo and five-times Australian champion Kevin Curtain. Kayo will ride in the colours of the Italian Yamaha Belgarda Team, while the experienced Curtain is riding for Yamaha Motor Germany.

Yamaha YZF-R6 set-up report – an interesting layout

Imola, like so many circuits used by Formula One cars, is bumpy with a lot of surface changes making chassis set-up critical. The many chicanes added in to slow down the cars over the years have emancipated fast and challenging corners like Tamburello and Villeneuve and contribute to the stop-start nature which puts a premium on front-end feel. For the riders it is an interesting track to ride, although one of the more challenging tracks at which to find an optimum setting.

These slow corners provide a good opportunity to outbrake rivals, making stability and front-end feedback vital. To cope with the bumps, which are small and rippled, the riders will normally run a fairly soft front spring to provide a plush ride, although this does cause the bike to bottom out under hard braking. To compensate, a smaller air chamber will be used in the front forks.

Supersport rules allow the use of different camshafts, air intakes and fuel injection mappings to boost power over the stock bike. The many slow corners at Imola means that the top-power specification used at some of the faster tracks will be replaced by a more conservative motor tuned to deliver strong mid-range power between 8,000 and 12,000rpm. This mid-range punch is a real benefit at Imola, which has two uphill sections. These follow low-gear corners where it is difficult to make an advantage from carrying high corner speed.

Power counts up these hills, and the Yamaha has generally worked well on these types of circuit, with the R6 regularly recording the fastest speed trap figures thanks to this strong acceleration out of the slow corners.

Season so far – Vermeulen can win the title in Italy
A crash for Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Yamaha Belgarda Team) at Assen may have ruled the Dutchman out of the championship race, but there is still plenty to play for at the final two races.

The Australian with the Dutch name, Chris Vermeulen (Honda), looks to have one hand on the title and will secure the title with a finish of eighth or better in Imola. Second in the final standings is still a possibility for Van den Goorbergh, who is keen to chalk up his first win in a debut Supersport season that has seen him on the podium in four of the ten races so far.

Christian Kellner (Yamaha Motor Germany) was a winner in Sugo and some strong results in the last two rounds could see him with a top five championship finish. Challenging him for that honour will be Italian rider Alessio Corradi (Yamaha Team Italia Spadaro) who is currently seventh in the series and always impressive on home territory.