From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

HODGSON (TEAM DUCATI FILA) TAKES OPENING SUPERPOLE AT VALENCIA

Valencia (Spain), Saturday 1 March – Neil Hodgson (Team Ducati Fila) powered the brand-new Ducati 999 to its debut pole position on his first appearance for the factory team, during today’s qualifying sessions for the opening World Superbike round at Valencia, Spain.

Hodgson’s time of 1:34.863 around the 4.005 km Ricardo Tormo circuit earned him the eleventh Superbike pole position of his career and the 29-year-old British rider will line up on the grid for tomorrow’s two races with James Toseland (HM Plant Ducati) alongside in second place. The front row was completed by Ducati Fila team-mate Ruben Xaus and Troy Corser (Foggy Petronas).

“So far so good” declared Neil after Superpole, “but I’m not getting carried away because tomorrow is the big day. I’ve got the best ever race set-up I’ve ever had here and I’ve been racing for about thirteen years so I know I’ve got a great feeling with the bike. I seem to have overcome my notorious hatred for this circuit now that I’m on pole, and I actually quite enjoy riding around the place! I’ve got the track dialed, I know all the points, it doesn’t seem like an effort at all to go quick around here. Testing and practice has gone really well so far and I’ve fitted into the team. I had decided I was going to have to deal with everything one round at a time, but I’ve changed my tactics and it’s one session at a time now! So all that I’m thinking about is the morning warm-up and then the races tomorrow.”

“I feel a lot more comfortable on this track this year with the new Ducati 999” commented Ruben. “My Superpole lap time was not so bad but there was a lot of wind everywhere and it pushes you to one side a bit. For me it’s important to win the championship this year, not just do well in Superpole. The season is long and I can’t wait to get started tomorrow. Everything is new this year, a new bike, a new sponsor and a new team-mate. For sure there ‘s pressure at my home circuit, especially with Neil going well. The front of the bike is not working as well as last weekend and that changes my style of riding a bit, but I’m looking forward to racing tomorrow because I’m happy with my set-up on my race tyres.”

STARTING-GRID: 1. Hodgson (Ducati Fila) 1:34.863; 2. Toseland (HM Plant Ducati) 1:35.429; 3. Xaus (Ducati Fila) 1:35.827; 4. Corser (Foggy Petronas) 1:35.831; 5. Laconi (Ducati NCR) 1:35.853; 6. Martin (Ducati DFX) 1:35.927; 7. Chili (Ducati PSG-1) 1:36.114; 8. Walker (HM Plant Ducati) 1:36.145; 9. Pedercini (Ducati) 1:36.473; 10. Borja (Ducati DFX) 1:36.974.


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

FABULOUS FRONT ROW FOR TROY

Troy Corser astounded everybody at Valencia today with a superb performance in Superpole and ended up on the front row of the grid. His Superpole lap of 1:35.831 was half-a-second slower then his best in regular qualifying, but most riders didn’t match their previous best times due to strong winds during the afternoon. Troy’s place on the front row was a positive rebuff to all the cynics and doom-merchants who had predicted that he and the new Foggy Petronas FP1 would never even make the grid this year, let alone be competitive. Ahead of Troy on the front row are Ruben Xaus, James Toseland and Superpole winner Neil Hodgson. Toseland was on course for a Superpole win until Hodgson put in the fastest lap of qualifying and took the top spot.

TROY – 4TH, 1:35.831
If anybody would’ve told me that we’d be on the front row six months ago, I wouldn’t have believed them. It’s a great testament to all the hard work the team has put in and it’s great to be here. It’s great to be back at a racetrack and racing again, because it feels like a long time since I last was in race action. I’m happy for the whole team and it’s shown the world that not only could we be here, but also that we can be competitive. It’s good to be racing again, it’s great fun and I’ve missed it. It’s been great to get such a good result today and I hope we can have a successful day tomorrow.

From press releases issued by AMA Pro Racing:

MOORE SHOOTING TO TIE GENUINE SUZUKI ACCESSORIES SUPERSTOCK RECORD

PICKERINGTON, Ohio – Jimmy Moore returns to the 2003 AMA Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock Series with a chance to tie Scott Russell’s record of three-straight championships in the class. Moore begins his title defense on his Corona Suzuki GSX-R750 at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, March 7. The opening round of AMA Superstock will be broadcast live at 2 p.m. Eastern on Speed Channel.

It was 11 years ago when Scott Russell rode to his third-straight championship in the series that was then called AMA 750 Supersport. Since that time, Tom Kipp and Moore have managed to win back-to-back titles in the class, but no one has been able to match Russell’s three. Moore could also become the first to win two straight at Daytona International Speedway since Britt Turkington in 1994. He is looking forward to the challenge and sees the class as being more competitive than ever.

“There are so many talented riders coming into the class,” said Moore, a 35-year-old from Eugene, Ore., who will be starting his ninth year on the AMA professional circuit. “It’s going to be tough to get that third title, but I’ve got a great team behind me and I’d like to think that my experience will help me in the long run.”

Corona Suzuki may be the strongest squad in the series. Moore’s teammate Jordan Szoke should also be a frontrunner. Szoke, a two-time Canadian Superbike Champion is returning to race in the U.S. after taking his second Canadian title last year. Adding to the international flavor of the Corona Extra Suzuki Team will be Australian Adam Fergusson.

Another top team is Valvoline EMGO Suzuki with Chris Ulrich and Steve Rapp. Both Ulrich and Rapp have won two AMA Superstock races and would like to add to that tally this season. Ulrich will contest the entire series, while Rapp is slated to ride Daytona and select other rounds in the class.

Hooters Suzuki features both Mike Ciccotto and Vincent Haskovec. Ciccotto won two Superstock races in 2001 and Haskovec was a consistent top-five finisher in Superstock last season.

Suzuki’s long dominance of the class could come under fire this year from factory Kawasaki and Yamaha efforts. While the major Suzuki teams in the series are factory-supported squads, Kawasaki and Yamaha are fielding full-fledged factory teams.

Kawasaki will feature Tommy Hayden and Tony Meiring on Kawasaki’s new Ninja 636, designed specifically to contest the AMA Superstock Series. Kawasaki hopes that combining the nimble handling of a 600 Supersport bike with the extra juice of the 636cc engine will be the recipe that helps them win their first AMA Superstock title in 11 years. Hayden won three Superstock races and was runner-up in the series last year riding a Kawasaki ZX-6R Supersport machine, so he is considered a serious candidate for the championship.

Yamaha brings in youthful Jason DiSalvo, who will ride the company’s R6 Supersport bike against the bigger Superstock machines. DiSalvo, 19, won a round of the series last year at Road America. He will be at a bit of horsepower disadvantage in the Superstock class on his 600cc-based Supersport bike, but he could be tough on the shorter circuits on the schedule. Yamaha last won the series in 1995 with Tom Kipp.

A slew of top privateers could make an impact in Superstock including riders like AMA horizon Award winner and new USSuperbike.com columnist, Chris “Opie” Caylor, up-and-coming Texan John Haner, and New Englanders Eric Wood and Scott Greenwood.

Genuine Suzuki Accessories is sponsoring the series for the third year. Genuine Suzuki Accessories is the Accessory Division of American Suzuki Motor Corporation, where they research, develop and market Genuine Suzuki Motorcycle, ATV, Marine and Automotive accessories for the U.S. Genuine Suzuki Accessories offer everything from apparel and color-matched helmets to cruiser windshields. Genuine Suzuki Accessories also provides apparel for factory Suzuki Road Race and Off Road Teams. Most team apparel is available to the consumer through Suzuki Dealers.

Ron Benfield, Accessory Sales Manager at Suzuki was instrumental in continuing Suzuki’s sponsorship. “We’re delighted to continue our relationship with AMA Pro Racing by sponsoring this class. Most importantly, it allows us to gain much needed exposure for our expanding line of Genuine Suzuki Accessories,” stated Benfield.



YATES HOPING TO BECOME FIRST BACK-TO-BACK DAYTONA SUPERSPORT WINNER IN SEVEN YEARS

PICKERINGTON, Ohio – Aaron Yates surprised a lot of people with his come-from-behind victory in the Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport Series opener last year at Daytona International Speedway. But even after a convincing win in the one race that had eluded him for years, not many people are talking about Yates winning his second Daytona Supersport race, which takes place on Friday, March 7, before a live national television audience on Speed Channel. Yates will ride a factory Suzuki GSX-R600 against arguably the deepest field of any race during Bike Week. He will face the likes of Honda’s Miguel Duhamel, the all-time wins leader in AMA Supersport history; Kawasaki’s Eric Bostrom, the 2001 AMA Supersport champ who is making a rare Daytona-only return to the series; and former Daytona winners Kurtis Roberts, Doug Chandler and possibly Michael Barnes, who is still hoping to pick up a last-minute ride to compete in the event.

One of the reasons defending Supersport champ Yates is perhaps being overlooked in pre-race predictions is that while Honda, Yamaha and Kawasaki have all implemented major redesigns to their Supersport bikes, Suzuki has only made refinements to its championship-winning GSX-R600. “A lot of people are talking a lot about how improved the other bikes are this year,” Yates said. “I know not many people are saying much about me repeating this year, but that could be to my advantage. Maybe I can sneak up on people like I did at Daytona last year.”

However unlikely it is that anyone with the No. 1 on his machine is going to sneak up on anyone, Yates will have a big chore on his hands if he is to become the first back-to-back winner of the Daytona Supersport race since Duhamel did it in 1995-96. Honda, Yamaha and Kawasaki have totally retooled in an effort to dethrone Yates and Suzuki in this year’s championship.

Honda’s Duhamel certainly knows what it takes to win on the high banks of Daytona International Speedway. Honda has won the Daytona Supersport 10 times and half of those victories came with Miguel Duhamel at the controls (Duhamel won the race in 1993 race on a Kawasaki). Duhamel has nothing but rave reviews about Honda’s new CBR600RR. “Before the Hondas were great street bikes with a racing edge so that we could go out there and win,” Duhamel told AMASuperbike.com earlier this year. “This time they totally-totally-stepped away from that concept. Now, they’re going to build a race bike and then we’re going to try and make it street legal if you will, put some flashers on it and send it on the street.”

Honda comes to the Daytona Supersport party with three direct factory riders, Duhamel, Kurtis Roberts and Ben Bostrom, and a remarkable eight riders on factory-supported teams. The total of 11 Honda-backed riders in AMA Supersport is the most any one manufacturer has supported in the history of the class. That’s how serious Big Red is about winning Daytona.

Yamaha also fields a very strong team this year with riders on the redesigned R6. Jamie Hacking and Damon Buckmaster bring a wealth of experience to the team, while Aaron Gobert and Jason DiSalvo inject youthful exuberance into the squad. Yamaha follows only Honda in terms of Daytona Supersport wins. The team was won the race three times, but its last victory at Daytona came in 1990 with Jeff Farmer.

Kawasaki, like Honda, has adopted a race-first philosophy with its new ZX-6RR. In fact, in Kawasaki’s marketing material for the new ZX it states that the machine is designed specifically with the expert and professional racer in mind. Eric Bostrom, Tony Meiring and Tommy Hayden are the factory entries for Kawasaki. The team has twice won the Daytona Supersport race.

Joining Yates on the factory Suzuki AMA Supersport effort is Ben Spies. Suzuki will also field a solid group of factory-supported teams at Daytona.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Pro Honda Oils sponsorship of AMA Supersport racing. Pro Honda Oils has the distinction of being the longest continuous series sponsor in AMA Pro Racing.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn LeSanto

Hodgson Continues To Dominate Qualifying

Britain’s Neil Hodgson maintained his grip on qualifying at the first round of the 2003 WSB season here in Valencia this morning.

Although Hodgson was unable to better the time he set in yesterday’s qualifying, he stayed on top of the time sheet as no other rider was able to join him in the 1-minute 34-second bracket.

Hodgson’s Ducati Fila teammate Ruben Xaus came close, lapping at 1:35.069, but then the Spaniard was held up by a couple of slower riders on his final flying lap.

Australian Troy Corser put a smile on his boss’s face as Carl Fogarty watched his number one rider take the Petronas to an impressive third-fastest, lapping the twisting Spanish circuit at 1:35.200. But some question marks hang over the ability of the Foggy Petronas Triple maintaining the pace over race distance–James Hayden’s FP1 suffered a big engine failure during qualifying on Saturday. The Petronas team is not exactly forthcoming with real information and the riders are all under contract to be guarded when talking to the press. Nevertheless, a provisional third place on the grid as we go into Superpole is a brilliant achievement for a bike so young.

Behind Troy Corser, Chris Walker was enjoying himself, posting consistently fast lap times although unable to improve on his Friday time. Only a late charge by Xaus and Corser shifted him down the order to fourth. Walker shared a best lap time of 1:35.347 with his HM Plant Ducati teammate, James Toseland.

Australian Steve Martin did an impressive 1:35.552 on what is still pretty experimental Pirelli rubber. He was obviously pushing his tyres hard and after the session he commented; “I nearly crashed five times on that lap!”

New rules limiting the number of tyres to 13 each session may help keep budgets down but Pirelli engineers feel it counts against them. Whereas Dunlop can experiment with different covers across their many riders, Pirelli have only three men to bring back that all-important feedback, so they are going to make slower progress in choosing the ideal tyres. Creative methods of circumventing the rule have already appeared, with four grooves being hand-cut into slicks to make them “rain tyres.” There are no restrictions on the use of rain tyres in dry conditions, yet.

Combined Qualifying Times:

1. Neil Hodgson, Ducati 999F03, 1:34.932
2. Ruben Xaus, Ducati 999F03, 1:35.069
3. Troy Corser, Foggy FP1, 1:35.200
4. Chris Walker, Ducati 998F02, 1:35.347
5. James Toseland, Ducati 998F02, 1:35.347
6. Steve Martin, Ducati 998RS, 1:35.552
7. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati 998RS, 1:35.687
8. Regis Laconi, Ducati 998RS, 1:36.150
9. James Haydon, Foggy FP1, 1:36.176
10. Marco Borciani, Ducati 998RS, 1:36.305
11. Giovanni Bussei, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:36.492
12. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati 998RS, 1:36.499
13. Gregorio Lavilla, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:36.551
14. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:36.553
15. David Garcia, Ducati 998RS, 1:36.560
16. Juan Borja, Ducati 998RS, 1:36.847
17. Nello Russo, Ducati 998RS, 1:37.037
18. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:37.082
19. Walter Tortoroglio, Honda RC51, 1:37.415
20. Alex Gramigni, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:37.573

From a press release issued by Edge Racing:

EDGE PERFORMANCE RIDING COURSES CONTINUES TO OFFER MOTORCYCLE TRACK TIME AND RIDING SCHOOLS IN UPPER MIDWEST IN 2003

Exciting Opportunity for Enthusiasts and Racers

EDGE PERFORMANCE RIDING COURSES (EPRC) will continue to offer Open Track Days and Riding Schools at selected Upper Midwest road racing venues in 2003. These events will provide regional motorcyclists with a safe and controlled environment in which to develop and test their motorcycling skills. Events will be held at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, MN and at Mid-America Motorplex in Council Bluffs, IA.

According to Sean Edgett, president of EPRC, “We had a successful season in 2002. We were very pleased with the turnout at all of our events and had many people who participated in multiple track days and schools. We look forward to even more enthusiast’s making their way to the track in 2003. Today’s high performance motorcycles have capabilities that can only be exploited on a racetrack. I want to give riders a place to do just that. Our Open Track Days will provide a controlled environment for riders to test their skills”

Edgett continued, “In addition to our Open Track Days, we will continue to offer our Track Riding Schools. These schools will be a mix of classroom and on-track training provided by highly qualified instructors. This year we are expanding our school to include a race license level for the CCS and CRA racing organizations.

Edge Performance Riding Courses is pleased to have Gareth Jones, the Chief New Riders Instructor of the Central Roadracing Association, back for 2003. Gareth will continue to operate the track schools and provide instruction. Edgett adds, “Gareth’s 30 years of racing experience, which includes the Manx Gran Prix, will provide students with a unique experience.”

Edge Performance Riding Courses is pleased to announce the formation of “The Edge Kneedragger’s Club” for 2003. A $30 annual membership fee entitles riders to receive special pricing on track days. This club is unique due to the fact that the more track days a member attends the cheaper the track days become.

The 2003 Edge Performance Riding Courses schedule:

Brainerd International Raceway, Brainerd, Mn
May 5th
June 20th***
July18th***
August 4th
September15th

MidAmerica Motorplex, Pacific Junction, Ia
April 10th ***
May 26th
July 7th***
August 30th
August 31st
***Track School dates. On these dates the Track Day and Track School will be run concurrently. Track Day participants will receive a full day of track time.

To get more information or pre-register please visit www.edgeracing.net. The site contains all necessary information concerning schedule, bike prep, rules, registration, and safety. Contact Edge Performance Riding Courses by phone at 763-531-1947 or by email: [email protected].

Edge Performance Riding Courses and Edge Racing would like to also thank our sponsors for 2003. Yamaha, Sharkskinz, Lithium Motorpsorts, Bridgestone Tires, Pinnacle Signs, and Squad 19.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

High Winds Slow Supersport Qualifying

By Glenn LeSanto

Few World Supersport riders were able to better their Friday qualifying times due to high winds and problems with grip at Valencia.

Katsuaki Fujiwara clung onto pole position with a time of 1:37.687, set during Friday’s session. Young Queenslander Chris Vermeulen came close to bettering his Friday time, lapping today on the new Honda CBR600RR at 1:37.846 compared to his Friday time of 1:37.839, but it wasn’t enough to shake the Suzuki off pole. Although Vermeulen’s time wasn’t enough to snatch pole, it was the fastest time set today and made him the only rider to make it into the 1:37s today.

“I would like to have taken pole,” said Vermeulen, “but the conditions were really difficult, the wind was lifting the front wheel off the track in mid-turn.”

Vermeulen’s Ten Kate Honda teammate Karl Muggeridge couldn’t get as close to his Friday time. Muggeridge, also a native of Queensland, Australia, was down from 1:37.927 to 1:38.723, almost a second slower than his teammate and countryman.

Robert Ulm also relied on his Friday time to hang onto his front row start and making it three Hondas and one Suzuki on the front row for Sunday’s debut World Supersport race of the 2003 season.

World Supersport Final Qualifying Results:

1. Katsuaki Fujiwara, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:37.687
2. Chris Vermeulen, Honda CBR600RR, 1:37.839
3. Karl Muggeridge, Honda CBR600RR, 1:37.927
4. Robert Ulm, Honda CBR600RR, 1:37.940
5. Jorg Teuchert, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:38.101
6. Christian Kellner, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:38.128
7. Gianluca Nannelli, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:38.282
8. Pere Riba, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, 1:38.355
9. Jurgen Vd Goorbergh, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:38.382
10. Fabien Foret, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, 1:38.401
11. Alessio Corradi, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:38.537
12. Werner Daemen, Honda CBR600RR, 1:38.597
13. Christophe Cogan, Honda CBR600RR, 1:38.646
14. Broc Parkes, Honda CBR600RR, 1:38.674
15. Ian MacPherson, Honda CBR600RR, 1:38.817
16. Simone Sanna, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:38.860
17. Michael Schulten, Honda CBR600RR, 1:38.882
18. Gianluigi Scalvini, Honda CBR600RR, 1:38.981
19. Matthieu Lagrive, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:39.209
20. Kenan Sofuoglu, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:40.289


More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing:

HONDA’S NEW CBR600RR ON FRONT ROW

Honda’s new CBR600RR took three of the four front row places as the grid line-up was confirmed for Sunday’s opening round of the World Supersport championship at Valencia in Spain.

Strong winds in Saturday afternoon’s final, 45-minute qualifying session slowed riders and none of the top five qualifiers from Friday afternoon’s session improved on their times.

The grid will be headed by Katsuaki Fujiwara with promising young Australian Chris Vermeulen second on the Ten Kate Honda. Vermeulen’s best lap on Saturday was only 0.01s slower than his time from Friday but strong winds prevented him from a possible third pole position of his career.

“The wind was behind you down the start and finish straight so as soon as you turned left into the first corner it was into your side, picking the front wheel up and blowing you across the track,” Vermeulen explained. “But we’ve got a good setting for the race so I’m hopeful of a win.”

His fellow Australian and fellow Ten Kate Honda rider Karl Muggeridge starts from third, the 28-year-old was happy with a front row start as he chases his fifth career win.

Muggeridge said: “I went out early in today’s session, the track was a bit dirty and dusty and I almost crashed a couple of times. I rode like a plonker for the rest of the session but it didn’t really matter in the end anyway.”

Robert Ulm on the Klaffi CBR600RR completes the front row of the grid for Sunday¹s 23-lap race at the 2.49-mile circuit on the outskirts of Valencia.

“I may have been able to improve on my qualifying time but at the start of my very last lap another rider pulled out of pitlane in front of me, I lost one full second so there was no pulling that back,” explained Ulm. “I’m pleased for the team to be starting on the front row and it’s also the first time Pirelli have had three riders on the front row.”

Werner Daemen, on the first of the Van Zon Hondas, will start from 12th place on the third row, he said: “I was sixth fastest in this afternoon¹s session so I’m quite happy. The third row is OK but this circuit is not very good for overtaking so I know I need to be strong off the startline.”

BKM Honda’s Christophe Cogan took 13th place, the Frenchman commented: “I’m confident for the race. We have a good rear race tyre and so long as I can make a good start I think I can be in the top 10 tomorrow.”

Cogan¹s team-mate Broc Parkes was disappointed not to be higher up the grid than 14th but the gritty Australian is determined to impress on his World Supersport debut. He said: “The wind was the biggest problem today, without doubt. But I was worried about the front end of the machine as well, after crashing at the same left-hander twice. Tomorrow will be fine.”

From a press release issued by Norm Viano:

TIGER ONLINE!

Atlanta, GA. Tony “The Tiger” Meiring would like to proudly
announce the launch of his new website, www.TonyMeiring.com to his fans, partners, and to the media. This is Tony’s first website and the best way for fans to connect with the young factory Kawasaki road racer.

“I’m very excited to finally have a website, and in time for the first race of
the season. This will allow people to get to know more about me as a person, not just as a rider. And they can keep up with what’s going on in my life, on and off the track.”

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

ASTERISK MOBILE MEDICAL CENTER NOW COMPLETE

PICKERINGTON, Ohio – Construction and outfitting of the Asterisk Mobile Medical Center has been completed and the unit is now fully functional and being used at AMA Supercross events. The center will travel to all AMA Supercross and AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Motocross Championship events in 2003, and will be staffed by the experienced team of physicians Dr. John Bodnar and Dr. Steve Augustine, supported by Eddie Casillas, athletic trainer, Dr. Crystal Nyberg, physical therapist and a team of registered nurses, and medical assistants.

The new Mobile Medical Center is provided by Asterisk, a company specializing in knee protection devices. The center will be administered by AMA Pro Racing and the AMA Pro Racing Medical Advisory Board with funding from a growing list of OEMs, private teams, aftermarket companies and individuals.

“Bringing together all the elements to make the Mobile Medical Center possible has been an outstanding collaborative effort,” said Scott Hollingsworth, AMA Pro Racing CEO. “A special thanks goes to Dr. Bodnar and Tom Carson for completing much of the groundwork and to Asterisk for purchasing the mobile medical center.” The custom-made mobile center houses a variety of medical and treatment equipment, including a state-of-the-art mobile x-ray machine.

“This is a big advance in providing the best possible care for the athletes,” said Dr. Bodnar. “We will be able to evaluate a much broader spectrum of injuries with the facilities now available to us and provide faster and more efficient treatment for those injuries.”

Dr. Bodnar is based at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center in San Diego as Assistant Medical Director for the emergency room. Dr. Augustine is an assistant professor of orthopedics at the University of Florida’s Jacksonville campus.

The Asterisk Mobile Medical Center is the latest effort by AMA Pro Racing and its industry partners to advance the cause of rider safety in motorcycle racing. Beginning in 2001, with support from throughout the motorcycle industry, AMA Pro Racing implemented the use of hundreds of feet of additional air module barrier protectors at AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship and AMA Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championship events.

The Mobile Medical Center and the doctors were made possible through the financial investment of Asterisk. Contributors for the support team (R. N., Athletic Trainer Certified, Physical Therapist & supplies) are made possible by the support of many in the motorcycle industry. To date, contributors for the staff include: AMA Pro Racing, Clear Channel Entertainment/Motorsports, Dunlop Tire, Suzuki, Pro Circuit, Yamaha, Honda, Yamaha of Troy. Several of the leading riders have contributed including Ricky Carmichael, Nathan Ramsey, Ernesto Fonseca, David Vuillemin, Tim Ferry, Chad Reed, Craig Anderson, Josh Hansen, Brock Sellards and Ivan Tedesco. Contributions to help defray the continued cost of the Asterisk Mobile Medical Center are still being accepted. Send your donation to AMA, 13515 Yarmouth Drive, Pickerington Ohio 43230. For additional information contact AMA Pro Racing’s Hugh Fleming at (614) 856-1900, ext. 1281 or [email protected].

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Saturday Morning Practice Group #6 Lap Times:

1. Matt Wait, Yamaha YZF-R6, 2:00.053
2. Doug Chandler, Honda CBR600RR, 2:00.905
3. Jason Perez, Suzuki GSX-R600, 2:02.253
4. Michael Himmelsbach, Suzuki GSX-R600, 2:02.387
5. Scott Harwell, Suzuki GSX-R600, 2:02.554
6. Jonathan Gomez, 2:03.441
7. Eric Wood, 2:03.772
8. Nate Kern, Suzuki GSX-R600, 2:03.812
9. Eric Spector, Suzuki GSX-R600, 2:04.526
10. Dave Ebben, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 2:04.796