From a press release issued by Alstare Suzuki through the World Superbike Championship press office:

Round 2 – Phillip Island – Australia

The second round of this year’s Superbike World Championship takes place at Phillip island – undoubtedly one of the most spectacular racetracks in the world. It is one of the few circuits where the ocean can be seen in the background and is a track which always features as a favourite amongst riders and spectators alike. The 4.445 kilometre circuit is fast, flowing, undulating and always provides exciting racing. Last year local hero Troy Bayliss (Ducati) dominated the event, winning both races with Colin Edwards(Honda) and Ruben Xaus (Ducati) taking the remainder of the podium places.

Team Alstare Suzuki rider Gregorio Lavilla was seventh in the first race and eighth in the second and will be hoping for an improvement this time round.

GREGORIO LAVILLA
Last year, I was on a new bike with new suspension and this year, it will be another new bike and new suspension again. It’s always hard work when you change bikes and suspension, so it’s something that you just have to get used to. The change to the new GSX-R1000 Suzuki has not been without problems, but we knew that this was going to be the case, so it’s just a matter of getting on with the job in hand and moving forwards. Everybody at Alstare Suzuki is working hard and we are looking forward to Phillip Island because it is a much more flowing track then Valencia in the last round. I’m hoping that some of the problems we encountered there will not exist at Phillip Island, but we shall see on the first day of practice. I like the track and hope that my bike likes it as well!

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Michael Hannas

James Randolph fired the first shot in the battle for the 2003 AFM Championship, taking the AFM Mach One Motorsports Formula Pacific season opener Sunday at Infineon Raceway (Sears Point) on a Dunlop slick-shod Suzuki GSX-R1000. In what looks to be shaping up as the year of the 1000 in AFM, Mike Raab and Rob Mesa followed Randolph home in the final two podium spots, both Suzuki GSX-R1000-mounted. 2003 Kawasaki ZX-6R-mounted Ken Hill and Suzuki GSX-R750-mounted Dave Stanton were in the 1000 parade early on, but a admittingly impatient Stanton ran off the track while attempting a pass on Hill in the narrow new turn one section, and came back to finish seventh. Hill and the 636 eventually succumbed to the GSX-R1000s of Raab, Mesa, and Jeff Tigert, who said he was “conducting research” for his employer (American Honda R&D) as well as racing. Mark Foster powered his ancient ex-Muzzy WSB-framed Kawasaki ZX-7RR ahead of Hill to finish fifth.

AFM Formula Pacific, Round One
Sears Point, March 23

1. James Randoph, Suzuki GSX-R1000
2. Mike Raab, Suzuki GSX-R1000
3. Rob Mesa, Suzuki GSX-R1000
4. Jeff Tigert, Suzuki GSX-R1000
5. Mark Foster, Kawasaki ZX-7RR

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Keiichi Kitagawa won round one of the 2003 All-Japan Road Race Series on a Kenz/J Trust-sponsored Suzuki GSX-R1000 JSB1000-class machine at the revised Suzuka circuit March 23.

Kitagawa, who raced a Prototype-class Suzuki GSX-R1000 for Kenz/J Trust in the 2002 All-Japan series, qualified on pole with a 2:08.390, turned the fastest lap of the race at 2:10.351 and won the 18-lap event by 1.2 seconds.

The race included 44 starters in three different classes; JSB1000, Superbike and Super-NK. The first 14 finishers were on JSB1000-class machines, and 29 of the 44 entries were in the JSB1000 class.

Takeshi Tsujimura finished second on a JSB1000-spec F.C.C. TSR Honda CBR954RR, while Tatsuya Yamaguchi, the defending All-Japan JSB1000 Champion, took third on a Castrol Honda CBR954RR, some 10 seconds behind Tsukimura.

Reigning All-Japan Superbike Champion Atsushi Watanabe finished fifth overall and in the JSB1000 class on a Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000, 23 seconds behind the winner.

Masataka Hayashi, 15th overall, won the Super-NK class on a Team Moto Sport Yamaha YZF-R1, and Tomoki Arakawa, 21st overall, won the Superbike class on a Sofukai/Suzuka Racing Team Honda RC51.

The next round of the All-Japan Road Race Series is April 27 at Sugo.

All-Japan Results From Suzuka:

1. Keiichi Kitagawa, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 18 laps, 39:25.527
2. Takeshi Tsujimura, Honda CBR954RR, -1.216 seconds
3. Tatsuya Yamaguichi, Honda CBR954RR, -11.627 seconds
4. Hitoyasu Izutsu, Honda CBR954RR, -19.409 seconds
5. Atsushi Watanabe, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -23.228 seconds
6. Osamu Deguichi, Honda CBR954RR, -23.335 seconds
7. Ryuichi Kiyonari, Honda CBR954RR, -23.521 seconds
8. Ken Eguchi, Honda CBR954RR, -34.786 seconds
9. Takuma Yamamoto, Honda CBR954RR, -36.751 seconds
10. Akira Tamitsuji, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -37.144 seconds

From an e-mail:

This is a correction to a press release issued by Willow Springs International Raceway on 3/17/2003, titled Updated Post: Toye Wins Again At Willow, Pfeifer Second

In the article, the writer makes the following comment:
Round Four of the Toyota Cup will be held April 18-20th, with the main event scheduled for Sunday, April 20th. Race schedules and ticket information can be obtained from the track office at (661) 256-2471. Admission including pit passes and camping privileges is only $10/person for all three days.

The writer was incorrect when he stated that we charge $10 for all three days at WSMC events. The Fridays preceding each of our race weekends are seperate form the weekend event. Fridays are testing and tuning sessions for licensed racers on the Big Track here at Willow Springs, along with track sessions for riders that are not licensed. There is a $10 charge at the gate for Fridays, and a $10 gate fee for the weekend event.

Several people noticed this inaccuracy, and called to see if our program had changed. I just wanted to notify others who may have read this release, in order to eliminate any confusion at the gate at our next event in April.

Thanks for your attention.
Best Regards,
Christopher Huth
Willow Springs International Raceway
[email protected]
phone 661-256-1944
www.willowspringsraceway.com

From a pair of press releases, the first issued on behalf of Eric Bostrom and the second issued on behalf of Ben Bostrom:

First, Eric Bostrom’s release:
Eric has been pretty busy since his 5th place run at Daytona over a week ago. He traveled home to Las Vegas and also has spent some time at his southern California ranch. “Well, I’m licking my wounds a bit after Daytona. I’m sure Ben would like to do it over again, but I don’t. The test we just had at Sears Point (Infineon) was very successful, though. It seemed like we were setting the pace all day. Mostly we were trying to dial in the new design of the track. It seems a lot safer now and more raceable. It’s still a tight track. It’s still Sears Point, you know, so it’ll be a lot of work to get around there and will be quite a workout. But we ran through some different suspension settings and tested some other things on the bike and everything worked pretty well.”

“After Daytona, Ben and I have been doing our usual routine; having a great time, rock climbing, of course, and surfing. Our house (in Vegas) is coming along pretty well, too, as we’re doing some pretty extensive work to it. We also went dirt tracking. It was pretty fun. Both my mechanics, Dan and Kenny, and also Ben and myself. I was on my KLX400, which is all dirt-tracked out. We were mostly out there swapping bikes around, just trying to figure out how to make the best bike. Everybody was pretty competitive. The next night we did Danny Walker’s Supercamp. Ben and I were blasting around with Shawn Russell and Danny and the rest of his staff. It was a real good time.”

And finally, for the biggest news shocker in this update, Eric’s manager (Norm Viano, aka ‘Lawdog’) has presented a further title incentive for Eric. The bet made with Eric is as follows: If Eric wins the AMA Superbike title, Norm will enter the Pit Daddy contest! And not only enter the contest, but also wear whatever outfit Eric makes him wear.

“Norm is a brave guy for not only agreeing to enter the Pit Daddy contest, but to leave it in my hands by agreeing to go out there in whatever outfit I can come up with. I’d be very worried if I were him. And I’m feeling pretty good about this year. I’m looking forward to getting on with things and leading the way with the number one plate. He might be wishing he hadn’t made that bet.

“Maybe Ben will help throw the championship just to see that sight, though!”


Now, Ben Bostrom’s release:
“Since Daytona, I have been replaying that last lap in my head about a hundred times. I wish I had had eyes in the back of my head, because I would have done the chicane a lot differently. Miguel wouldn’t have gotten by me. It’s a bummer.

“After Daytona, I flew to Charlotte to do the Speed Channel show with Greg White. I took some big hits off a RedBull during the whole show. It’s funny, because people were asking me about it afterwards, even wondering if it was a prop or a fake can! It was real, man, and I drank it! I only had three hours of sleep, I needed it. After the show I flew home and got even less sleep the next night. I was just running it.

“After things settled down a bit, we went climbing and surfing, and we also went dirt tracking. We did the Danny Walker school too, which was fun. Everyone was really cool at the school and riding really well, actually. And I was impressed with how Danny taught the school. He knows those 100s so well. He really knows those bikes. And Danny doesn’t care if you crash, he just wants to help you ride those bikes and to learn. I learned quite a bit myself, actually. It’s amazing, you always learn. Every time you get on a bike, you learn.

“We headed up to Sears Point (Infineon) afterwards for a quick test. I hadn’t been to the track in about four years and it is quite a bit different from when I was there last. They actually made the track much safer and it even has two more passing areas now. And they are right at the end of the racetrack, where you can set someone up for a finish line pass. Some thought the new design hurt the flow of the track, but I thought it was really fun and even provided a few more technical corners than before. It was just as much fun to ride as before, just safer.

“Overall, I’m feeling good about my decision to come home. The two best series in the world right now are AMA Superbike and MotoGP. All the factories are putting all their support into these two. They both have the majority of the best riders and bikes. It all leads to the best racing. You’re always going to have more than several guys up front, going really fast. So I’m really excited and happy with my choice. My bikes are fantastic, and I find myself on another good team.

“Oh, and no way am I going to throw the championship just to see Norm in a thong.”

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Lee Acree will race Arclight Suzukis in the rest of the 2003 F-USA Sportbike and Superbike Series, with selected appearances at AMA events.

Acree and Arclight Suzuki co-owner and Crew Chief Chuck Warren reached an agreement Friday morning, covering the rest of the 2003 season.

“Susan and I are thrilled to have Lee back working with the team. We’ve have a great deal of success working with Lee in the past and we expect to have a great deal of success with him in the future,” Warren said.

Warren and his wife Susan have owned and operated Arclight Racing, Inc. since they founded it in 1991.

From a press release:

No Limit Motorsports Honda was at the Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California along with other top AMA teams for a day of testing and getting acquainted with the new layout of the Track.

The team was accompanied by Tom Brandon, a new addition to the team who fills the job of Team Manager. Gary Medley, Crew Chief, was happy with the progress made during the day at Sonoma. The team brought only their CBR954RR Formula Extreme Hondas for testing. The team will be campaigning the new CBR600RR in Supersport during the entire AMA season, but those machines were left in the Canyon Country, California shop where they are being prepared for the season ahead.

Riders Doug Chandler and Jason Curtis both made good strides in getting the bikes set-up to suit their individual styles of riding. Both riders had praise for the revised track layout at Infineon, with some reservations about T11 and T1. Team administration has great praise for the cooperation of the management at the Infineon Facility, and wants to thank them for their gracious assistance.

The team has had limited time with the open-class machines on racetracks, and are slowly getting them up to speed. Their track time at Daytona over the past few weeks was limited by the weather, and hence the team was not able to get in the laps that would be have given them a more conclusive test session. In keeping with the intent of testing of this type, more concentration is given to bike set-up and “seat time” than to trying to ‘cut the fastest lap’. The Team is overall happy with the results of the day.

From a press release issued by Harley-Davidson regarding the recent death of Dick O’Brien, the father of WERA co-founder Patty O’Brien Frank and the grandfather of former motorcycle racer and current car racer AJ Frank:

Dick O’Brien 1921 – 2003

It is with deep regret that Harley-Davidson Motor Company reports the death of Richard H. “Dick” O’Brien on Monday, March 17, 2003. He was 81 years old.

O’Brien served as Harley-Davidson Director of Racing from 1957 until 1983. In his 26 years at the helm of the Harley-Davidson factory racing program, O’Brien helped develop the dominating XR 750 and worked with legendary riders Bart Markel, Cal Rayborn, Gary Scott, Jay Springsteen, Randy Goss and Scott Parker.

Factory Harley-Davidson dirt track team tuner Bill Werner remembers O’Brien as a focused individual.

“He was very driven, very purposeful, a real no-nonsense type of guy,” Werner said. “Racing was his passion, and he dedicated his life to it. He was the one who was responsible for the XR. He had two goals with that engine. The short-term goal was to bring the XR out, and we did that with the cast iron XR, and his long-term goal included the switch to the aluminum XR. History shows that his vision was correct.”

Indeed, with factory rider Mark Brelsford aboard, the aluminum XR750 won the AMA Grand National Championship in 1972, its first season. Since then, the Harley-Davidson XR750 engine has won an additional 23 AMA dirt track titles.

O’Brien is survived by his wife, Pat, daughters Peggy Berose (Frank) and Patricia Frank (Peter), a stepson, Gregory O’Neil, and a brother, Jesse. A memorial service will be held at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 4600 Belle Terra Causeway, in Palm Coast, Florida, on March 31 at 10 a.m.

From a press release issued by Dunlop’s PR agency, 10 days after the Daytona 200:

Dunlop Dominates Daytona


Buffalo, NY: Dunlop, Official Tire of Daytona 200 Week, dominated the 2003 edition of the prestigious Daytona International Speedway event. Dunlop-equipped motorcycles won all of the major AMA races held at the World Center of Racing, on the dirt and the pavement.

“Dunlop has a long history of success at Daytona,” said Mike Buckley, Vice President, Motorcycle Tires. “We have been very fortunate to be associated with some of the best teams and riders in the history of this great event.”

Two-time defending Supercross champion Ricky Carmichael is defending his title valiantly. On a muddy one-line track, Carmichael carved through ruts and lappers to win his fourth consecutive Daytona Supercross. The victory marked his seventh since the series began in January and Carmichael is well on his way to a third Supercross championship in 2003. So devastating was Carmichael’s victory at Daytona that he lapped all the way up to third place. While competing tire manufacturers showed up with highly specialized tires for Daytona, Carmichael competed on a standard D773 tire.

Multi-time 250 Grand Prix champion Rich Oliver started the AMA road racing season off just the way he likes it: on the podium. Oliver turned in 18 laps of perfection when he took yet another 250 Grand Prix race win on Dunlop tires. For Dunlop, Oliver’s victory marks 23 wins out of the last 25 250 GP races at Daytona.

In Supersport action Dunlop swept the podium with Kurtis Roberts, Jamie Hacking and Miguel Duhamel all taking their Dunlop D208GP-shod 600 machines to a nail-biting finish. Roberts’ 600 win is Dunlop’s 15th in 18 AMA Supersport races at Daytona. Tommy Hayden followed suit, winning the Superstock race on Dunlops aboard his factory Kawasaki 636 to post Dunlop’s 11th 750-class win at the Speedway.

Racing in the rain-delayed Daytona 200 was also an all-Dunlop affair. Dunlop-sponsored factory Honda road racers Duhamel, Ben Bostrom and Roberts finished the 200-miler with only 0.155 second separating first and third. The win marked Duhamel’s fourth Daytona 200 win: 1991, 1996, 1999 and again in 2003. With the 2003 Daytona 200 victory, Dunlop has won an amazing 13 of the last 16 Superbike races at Daytona.

“We’re very proud of our longstanding relationship with Daytona International Speedway, and our unrivaled racing record at this, the World Center of Racing,” said Goodyear Dunlop Tires North America, Ltd., Vice Chairman and President Jim Galoppo. “Dunlop has become synonymous with motorcycle racing in America, and our commitment to support racers at all levels, from amateur to professional, has never been stronger.”

Dunlop Motorcycle Tires have won more AMA National championships in virtually every category of racing than any other tire manufacturer, including all 16 AMA 600 Supersport titles, and the last 13 AMA Superbike championships in a row. In AMA motocross and Supercross competition, Dunlop has long been a dominant force, winning 67 national championships in the past 23 years.

For more information on Dunlop tires, go to www.dunlopmotorcycle.com

From a press release issued by Infineon Raceway, formerly known as Sears Point Raceway:

AMA Riders Pleased with Overall Changes to Circuit at Infineon Raceway

SONOMA, Calif. — Top riders from the AMA U.S. Chevy Trucks Superbike Series tested three new portions of track on Thursday at Infineon Raceway, and riders agreed the changes were a step in the right direction.

AMA factory teams Honda, Yamaha and Kawasaki were joined by Austin Ducati, Bruce Transportation (Honda), No Limit (Honda), Erion (Honda) and Graves (Yamaha) on the twisting Sonoma Valley circuit for a one-day test session under sunny skies. In all, 20 riders gave the course a full-day shakedown.

Riders were anxious to test three new portions of track at Turns 1, 8-10 and 11, which have been redesigned to address rider concerns for the AMA Supercuts Superbike Challenge, presented by Honda of Milpitas, May 2-4.


Miguel Duhamel taking the new series of turns that connects Turns 8-10. Photo by Ian Donald.

“I like the changes a lot,” said Honda rider Miguel Duhamel, winner of the Daytona 200. “I especially like the new section at Turns 8-9. That area is going to be a lot safer but it’s going to be more exciting, too. It’s the best of both worlds.”

Ben Bostrom (Honda), a former AMA Superbike champion who has spent the last three years in World Superbike, was also pleased.

“I just like the fact that Infineon talked with the riders before they made the changes. They gave us a chance to have some input. We don’t see that everywhere we go,” Bostrom said. “I think you’re going to see a much safer track. We don’t have to ride around here anymore with a constant fear. This track is a lot safer and that’s what we want. I’m happy.”

Raceway officials made the changes to the three portions of track after a one-day consultation in October with AMA riders Duhamel, Bostrom, Aaron Yates (Suzuki) and Eric Bostrom (Kawasaki), as well as AMA Road Race Manager Ron Barrick.


Eric Bostrom taking the new Turn 9 corner. Photo by Ian Donald.

Turn 1 had been a sweeping left-hander, putting riders at a precarious angle as they approached a pedestrian bridge at the apex of Turn 1. The circuit has now been extended 50 feet in a straight line before entering Turn 1. Riders will then make a left turn at approximately 90 degrees, which is designed to direct them away from the bridge and up the circuit toward Turn 2.

Riders tested various apexes at Turn 1 on Thursday, and track officials may alter the turn a bit for the AMA Superbike doubleheader in May.

“We may tinker with a couple of the corners, but we don’t anticipate any other major changes,” said Steve Page, track president and general manager. “We’re pleased with what the riders had to say today. It was a good test.”

The entry into Turn 10, considered the fastest segment of the road course with speeds approaching 160 mph, has also been altered. As riders crest Turn 8A, they will no longer continue down the famous esses. Instead they will continue down a straight line for 900 feet, parallel with the Hillside Terraces at Turn 9, before making a 90-degree right-hand turn, followed by a sharp left-hand turn, which will blend them back with the original road course just before Turn 10. This alteration will slow the bikes down substantially entering Turn 10. This new segment of track has been dubbed the “Bus Stop.”

The final enhancement is at Turn 11, which has been shortened by approximately 40 feet. The change will direct riders toward the start/finish line after they exit the hairpin at Turn 11. This marks the second change to Turn 11, which was shortened by two-tenths of one mile in 2000 to provide riders with nearly 300 additional feet of runoff. The three changes to the track have shortened the circuit from 2.32 miles, to 2.2 miles.

“I think the track is going to be fine,” said Yamaha rider Damon Buckmaster. “The changes they made are going to make this place safer. There are a few areas that can be tweaked (Turn 1), but overall it’s good.”