Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

As expected, Pirelli has been named the spec tire of the Superbike World Championship.

The deal will have far-reaching ramifications as it will preclude wild-card riders who have conflicting tire sponsorship deals from competing in Superbike World Championship events.

For example, Mat Mladin, Aaron Yates and Eric Bostrom would not have been able to compete in the World Superbike race at Laguna Seca this year if the spec tire rule were already in place, because they ride for Dunlop-sponsored teams.

However, Michael Barnes and Geoff May would have been able to compete, since they are sponsored by Pirelli.


More, from a press release issued by Pirelli:

PIRELLI NAMED WORLD SUPERBIKE SPEC TIRE FOR 2004-2005 CHAMPIONSHIPS

Exclusive Tire Deal Also Includes World Supersport
and European Superstock Championships

Rome, GA–FGSport Group, the promoters of the World Superbike Championship, announced today that Pirelli will become the exclusive tire for the 2004-05 seasons of the FIM World Superbike, World Supersport, and European Superstock championships. The new program will see Pirelli become the “exclusive supplier of tires for all the teams that take part in the 45 races in 10 countries for the title of World and European Champion.”

According to the official announcement from the FGSport press office in Rome, Italy, “The program will enable all the participants to compete under the same conditions with respect to tires, which makes the performance of motorcycle manufacturers, team members and riders all the more important. The agreement with Pirelli guarantees the supply of tires for the Superbike World Championship for at least the next two years, 2004 and 2005, in addition to offering the teams additional advantages, such as:

“Guarantee of continuity and quality of the tires supplied and the relevant services to all the teams and riders, in all the nations hosting the championship;

“Continuity of the technological development of the tires;

“Tires supplied will be of uniform high quality and available at advantageous and identical prices for all teams;

“Availability, for the entire duration of the partnership, of a PIRELLI prize fund dedicated to riders, also to attract young talented riders to participate in the Championship.”

The announcement again reiterates that a single tire brand moves the three championships closer to the original concept of a more level playing field, so to speak: “In compliance with the pledges of the Superbike, Supersport and Superstock championship, and in compliance with requests submitted by the FIM – International Motorcycle Federation – to return the Superbike World Championship to its original [concept] that is as near as possible to the characteristics [of] production motorcycles, Pirelli has accepted the supply proposal offered by the organizer of the Championship.”

The President of the FGSport Group, Maurizio Flammini, commented: “The agreement with Pirelli, a world leader in the manufacture of tires, guarantees the development and the continuity of the Superbike World Championship, which has been the primary thought behind our Group that has been committed to the organization of the Championship since 1988. Moreover, the agreement strictly adheres to the philosophy of the Championship that is to offer equal racing conditions to all participants. In this respect, we would like to thank Pirelli for the significant organizational and technological efforts that it will undertake over the next few years which, we are certain, will create the ideal conditions for new, important developments for motorcycle manufacturers, teams and riders in the Championship and in racing itself .”

Ugo Forner, General Manager of the Pirelli Motorcycle Business Unit, said: “For our Tires Department, the Superbike World Championship represents a challenge from both a technical and technological development point of view the maximum expression of live trials that support and finalize advanced research and development carried out in our laboratories all over the world. It is further confirmation of the importance that Pirelli has always attributed to the competition for two- and four-wheel production vehicles, in order to experiment [with] innovative solutions and accumulate know-how that can be implemented in producing our high-performing tires”.

Pirelli is no stranger to the over-the-top action of World Supersport, having won the championship in 2002 and currently holding a sizable lead in the 2003 series with the factory Ten Kate Honda team and rider Chris Vermeulen. Stateside, the Pirelli brand has enjoyed some excellent growth and acceptance in North America over the past several years. Last year, Pirelli racing tires won a very impressive 322 U.S. national and regional road race championships, including a host of F-USA and WERA titles, and broke 20 U.S. track records. In Canada, Pirelli is the choice of both Team Honda Canada and Team Kawasaki in the 2003 Canadian Superbike Series.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The fastest Supersport times turned during team tests at Barber Motorsports Park this week belonged to Yamaha YZF-R6 riders Jamie Hacking, Damon Buckmaster and Jason DiSalvo.

Our wrap-up post on the tests originally credited Tommy Hayden as being the fastest man on the Supersport bike, but he actually did his fast time on his Superstock-class Kawasaki ZX-6R (636).

A number of other news sites also made the same mistake, based on at-times-confusing AMA Timing & Scoring data, which has several bikes and riders mixed up as far as which bike a rider was on at any given time.

The wrap-up post has now been corrected.

See related post:

7/31/2003 Corrected Post: At The End Of The Day, Mladin Is The Man In Team Tests At Barber

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

Hey ya’ll. The last day is fast approaching for a chance at winning my “Top Jimmy” replica helmet from Helmet Harbor.com! Check it out! Raffle tickets are only $10! If ya win, you’ll get a cool Shoei Z2 “Top Jimmy” helmet in your very own size. If ya can’t do it, tell a friend! This is a smokin’ deal! Good Luck!

Jimmy Moore
Eugene, Oregon


Note: Moore is recovering from serious injuries suffered in a crash during Thursday practice at Brainerd International Raceway in June. The raffle is to help him pay mounting medical bills.

From a press release issued by Harley-Davidson:

HARLEY-DAVIDSON RACING PROGRAMS TO BE RUN BY P&A DIVISION

H-D Factory Dirt Track and Drag Racing Programs Will Fly Screamin’ Eagle Colors

MILWAUKEE, WIS. – (August 1, 2003) Harley-Davidson recently announced that its factory drag racing and factory dirt track racing programs will be consolidated and managed within the Harley-Davidson Parts & Accessories Division and promoted under the Screamin’ Eagle brand.

Mike Kennedy, Director of Marketing for Parts & Accessories, becomes responsible for Harley-Davidson’s racing strategy, plans and programs under this new alignment. In a related move, Anne Paluso is named to the newly created position of Racing Manager.

“Harley-Davidson has a long and proud history of motorcycle racing. This move will tie our racing efforts directly to our line of Screamin’ Eagle performance parts, which will be beneficial in the development and expansion of our products,” said Ron Hutchinson, Vice President Parts & Accessories.

Screamin’ Eagle Performance Parts are inspired by and built in the spirit of the raw adrenaline and power of motorcycle racing, offering both racing-grade and street-legal performance options for the Harley-Davidson motorcycle owner. Visit www.harley-davidson.com for more information.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Seven Stars Honda 11’s Nicky Hayden earned the provisional pole position Friday for the 26th running of the Suzuka 8-Hours at Suzuka Circuit, in Suzuka, Japan.

Hayden used a new set of Michelin race tires to record a 2:07.312 on his third lap of official qualifying Friday morning and the time held up to earn provisional pole for Sunday’s endurance race.

“The condition was better in the morning than it was in the afternoon,” Hayden was quoted as saying in a press release from Honda. “I was riding with full loaded fuel tank in the afternoon and that’s why I was slower. It was difficult for us to get a good compromise concerning the front suspension set-up, but finally we got it.”

“Overall, I think it’s better we run his setting,” Hayden told Roadracingworld.com, refering to the overall set-up developed by his teammate, Ruuichi Kiyonari. “With his setting, I was having a little bit of a problem finishing the corner. I like a lot of rebound. Tip in and really finish the corner good. (But he didn’t like the extra rebound,) so we went back to his setting, and he liked it a lot better. Overall, it’s what’s better for the team.

“Lap-time-wise he made a bigger improvement by making the change than I did. It didn’t hurt me lap-time-wise, just feel-wise. This thing, for me, I haven’t hardly changed anything. Coming from the V5, which is such a handful at times, this thing here, the Superbike, it doesn’t have the feel. So I haven’t wanted to change anything. I guess that’s good and bad.”

“Although I am not satisfied with my lap time, I tried my best,” Hayden’s teammate Kiyonari said. “Till this afternoon, we had different front suspension set-up, but Nicky made a compromise to my set-up. We cannot talk directly (due to language) but Nicky is very nice and relaxing.”

“Nicky’s lap time was more than we had expected. We had a little trouble sorting out the front suspension set-up and we asked Nicky to make a compromise. Now the set-up is OK. However, I will tell both riders not to push too much tomorrow,” said Seven Stars Honda 11 Team Manager Katsunori Suzuki.

Hayden’s mark fell short of Alex Barros’ provisional pole time of 2:06.660 from 2002, but the Suzuka Circuit has been changed twice during 2003.

Second-fastest overall and first among JSB1000 entries was the Yoshimura Suzuki GP1 Daxim pairing of Atsushi Watanabe and Yukio Kagayama, with Watanabe recording a lap of 2:07.540 on the team’s Dunlop-equipped GSX-R1000.

The second Michelin-sponsored Seven Stars Honda RC51, the number 7 machine ridden by Tohru Ukawa and Hitoyasu Izutsu, was third-fastest with a 2:08.178.

Takeshi Tsujimura and two-time 8-Hours winner Shinichi Itoh qualified fifth overall and first in X-Formula Division One on their Bridgestone-tired F.C.C. TSR Zip-FM Racing Honda CBR954RR.

Corona Extra TiForce Endurance’s Adam Fergusson used a new set of race-compound Dunlops to record a lap of 2:09.688 Friday afternoon for the 13th-fastest overall and third-fastest XF1 time.

“That was making sure we get in Superpole (Special Stage),” said an excited Fergusson. “The whole day today was working up to that. The set of tires I was supposed to use went off after two laps. We thought it was going to rain, so I went out on Anthony’s new set to make sure we got a good time. Hopefully with that, Dunlop will give us something special for Superpole, maybe a proper qualifying tire. I reckon I’ll be able to do a 2:08 on a Q.”

Fergusson said the set-up he and teammate Anthony Gobert have developed isn’t “lightning fast” but is “comfortable.” Fergusson also said he believes they have the fastest motorcycle in a straight line at Suzuka. Gobert, meanwhile, reminded the Corona team to not get too excited over qualifying on Friday.

The Corona Light TiForce Endurance Suzuki GSX-R1000 ridden by Jordan Szoke and Paul Young was 31st overall in qualifying but fifth among Super Production machines with a 2:11.888. (Sport Production bikes run with engines that have less tuning allowed than an AMA Supersport engine.)

Fastest Super Production qualifiers were Zongshen Suzuki 1 (Stephane Mertens/ Warwick Nowland), the reigning World Endurance Champions, with a 2:10.941 on their Dunlop-fitted Suzuki GSX-R1000. Mertens felt their position among the teams eligible to receive World Endurance Championship points was very good and is looking forward to a good race with the other Super Production teams.

Zongshen Suzuki 2 (B. Bonhuil/I. Jerman/P. Bontempi) qualified 23rd with a 2:10.954.

Doug Polen and Yoshiyuki Sugai qualified 24th overall on the Moto Liberty Arata-EX & Kiss-FM Honda CBR954RR. Polen was fined 1000 Swiss Francs “for non-respect of the Black Flag with the orange disc” during Group B Session 1 Friday morning.

Jason Pridmore, James Ellison and Jimmy Lindstrom will start the Suzuki GB Phase One from the 25th position on Sunday after Pridmore posted a 2:11.180. Both Pridmore’s teammates’ best times are in the 2:14s.

Although they were all inside of the 115 percent cut-off time, none of the six X-Formula Division 2 entries were inside the top 66 qualifiers. This included former AMA 750cc Supersport regular Daigoro Suzuki on the Team Surf Jaja Suzuki SV1000S, which he called “very slow,” and 19-year-old American Mickey Lane on the Spec-A Yamamoto Racing Honda CB1300SF, which he called a “big, heavy, wobbling thing.”

Friday’s Unofficial Qualifying Results:

1. Seven Stars Honda 11 (N. Hayden/R. Kyonari), Honda RC51, SB, 2:07.312
2. Yoshimura Suzuki GP1 Daxim (A. Watanabe/Y. Kagayama), Suzuki GSX-R1000, JSB, 2:07.540
3. Seven Stars Honda 7 (T. Ukawa/H. Izutsu), Honda RC51, SB, 2:08.178
4.Team Cha-llenger (N. Fujiwara/T. Kayo), Yamaha YZF-R1, JSB, 2:08.864
5. F.C.C. TSR Zip-FM Racing Team (T. Tsujimura/S. Itoh), Honda CBR954RR, XF1, 2:08.919
6. YSP & Presto Racing (S. Nakatomi/W. Yoshikawa), Yamaha YZF-R1, JSB, 2:09.107
7. F.C.C. TSR (Y. Konishi/T. Mori), Honda CBR954RR, JSB, 2:09.189
8. Team Sakurai Honda 74 (C.Kameya/T. Okada), Honda RC51, SB, 2:09.229
9. Kenz JTrust Mojo Suzuki (K. Kitagawa/K. Fujiwara), Suzuki GSX-R100, JSB, 2:09.254
10.Masked Rider 555 Honda (T. Yamaguchi/Y. Takahashi), Honda CBR954RR, JSB, 2:09.255
11.Garfield RSK (H. Kobayashi/H. Ogata), Suzuki GSX-R1000, XF1, 2:09.471
12. Weider Honda ATS DDBoys (O. Deguchi/H. Aoki), Honda CBR954RR, JSB, 2:09.650
13. Corona Extra TiForce Endurance (A. Fergusson/A. Gobert), Suzuki GSX-R1000, XF1, 2:09.688
14. Alpha OMC Racing Supply (A. Tamitsuji/Y. Konno), Suzuki GSX-R1000, JSB, 2:09.996
15. Team Sakurai Honda 71 (Y. Nukumi/G. Kamada), Honda RC51, SB, 2:10.118
16. Wins Factory & Vega Sports (H. Kawase/K. Teramoto), Suzuki GSX-R1000, JSB, 2:10.258
17. Moriwaki Motul Racing (M. Okuno/R. Tsuruta), Honda CBR954RR, XF1, 2:10.303
18. Team Etching Factory 15 (S. Takemi/K. Hasegawa), Yamaha YZF-R1, XF1, 2:10.492
19.Club Yamaha Motorcycle Racing (M. Tokinaga/A. Morita), Yamaha YZF-R1/7, 2:10.512
20.RS-Itoh & Kaze (I. Higashimura/S. Karita), Kawasaki ZX-7RR, SB, 2:10.553
21. Heat Magic by Wins Factory (T. Onishi/T. Yoshida), Suzuki GSX-R1000, JSB, 2:10.743
22.Zongshen Suzuki 1 (W. Nowland/S. Mertens), Suzuki GSX-R1000, SP, 2:10.941
23. Zongshen Suzuki 2 (I. Jerman/B. Bonhuil/P. Bontempi), Suzuki GSX-R1000, SP, 2:10.954

24. Moto Liberty Arata-EX & Kiss-FM (D. Polen/Y. Sugai), Honda CBR954RR, XF1, 2:11.030

25. Suzuki GB Phase One (J. Pridmore/J. Ellison/J. Lindstrom), Suzuki GSX-R1000, SP, 2:11.180

27. Team 22 & Tsukigi Racing (G. Giabbani/T. Kishida), Suzuki GSX-R1000, SP, 2:11.250

31. Corona Light TiForce Endurance (J. Szoke/P. Young), Suzuki GSX-R1000, SP, 2:11.888

56. Driver Stand R.T. (T. Nakamura/T. Shimizu), Suzuki GSX-R1000, ST, 2:14.464

71. Team Surf Jaja (D. Suzuki/E. Samura), Suzuki SV1000S, XF2, 2:17.317

75. Spec-A Yamamoto Racing (T. Tuda/M. Lane), Honda CB1300SF, XF2, 2:17.725

More, from a press release issued by FGSport Group:

Honda Take Provisional Pole

Hayden Makes His Mark on the Suzuka 8 Hour

Provisional pole position has gone to the No.11 Seven Stars Honda SP-W of Nicky Hayden and Riuchi Kiyonari. Hayden’s fastest lap of 2:07.312 was put in during this morning’s first session, when track conditions were ideal. MotoGP rookie Hayden is having a great time this weekend: “This is a race we hear a lot about in the states; all my heroes have raced at the Suzuka 8 Hour so I’m just happy to be here. I hope we can put on a good show for the race on Sunday.”

Second fastest is the only other team to break into the 2:07s, the Daxim Yoshimura Suzuki of Atushi Watanabe and Yukio Kagayama with a best lap of 2:07.540.

The full-time championship teams are all having tyre problems. Suzuki Police Nationale’s Gwen Giabbani seems to be having the most trouble: “It’s still no good. The bike won’t grip, it won’t turn. It’s just no good today. We are trying to find the solution, but…”

The situation is similar for Suzuki GB Phase One in the adjoining pit garage. Rider Jason Pridmore explains: “The rear is just spin, spin, spin… and with this tyre rule we can’t try different compounds.”

Suzuki Zonshen No.2’s Igor Jerman seems disappointed with his performance today, convincing himself that performance on Sunday is more important: “I think we can do 2:12s in the race; I did that last year with no problems.”

Zongshen No.1’s Warwick Nowland is the fastest of the permanent riders, but is always convinced there is more to come: “I could have gone quicker if we’d had qualifying tyres – the ten tyre rule has caused us lots of problems. We need nine sets of tyres for the race which means Stephane and I are sharing a qualifier.”

The X-One Mondial team are enjoying their first visit to Suzuka, and are confident of qualifying for the oversubscribed grid. Their main competition for the race comes in the shape of the Formula Xtreme Kawasaki Z1, the two BMW R1100Ss and the pair of Honda CB1300s, a popular class with both racers and spectators.

A sizeable crowd has gathered in the grandstand opposite pitlane, displaying banners supporting everyone from old-hand Shinichi Itoh to Suzuka novice Nicky Hayden. Today’s pitlane walkabout opened with a sprint as those fans clamoured – in an orderly and polite Japanese way – for riders’ autographs and the chance to be photographed with the “Race Queen” promo girls.

As ever at Suzuka the weather is hot and humid, but the temperatures are not as high as expected.

The first 20 places on the grid will be decided by a series of Superpole “Special Stage – Attack / Jump-Up” sessions to be held tomorrow after the Supersport Suzuka 4 Hour support race. Special tyres can be used for Superpole, so times are expected to fall further when the special qualifiers come out.

From a press release issued by the AMA:

AMA SEEKS DELAY IN OFF-ROAD MOTORCYCLE CONVERSION BAN

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association is asking the California Department of Motor Vehicles to postpone a new directive that no longer allows motorcyclists to convert off-highway motorcycles to on-highway or dual-sport use.

In a memorandum dated July 23, Candy Wohlford, deputy director of the DMV Communications Program Division, informed all DMV field offices that they may no longer convert any off-road motorcycles made since 1978 for use on public roads. This represents a major change in policy for the agency, since the DMV’s own registration manual, and a California Highway Patrol bulletin, spell out procedures for legally making such conversions.

The memo notes that this change in policy stems from California Air Resources Board emissions regulations for on-highway motorcycles that went into effect with 1978 year models. DMV officials contend that because off-highway motorcycles don’t have an emission label indicating they are certified by the manufacturer to meet those emissions regulations, they can’t be converted for on-highway or dual registration.

Some riders convert their off-road motorcycles to on-road or dual-sport use so they can use public roads to connect trails.

“As we read this memo, we’re encouraged that nothing in it indicates that motorcycles converted prior to July 23 of this year will be illegal,” said Sean Maher, AMA director of state affairs. “We will work closely with DMV officials to try to ensure that those motorcycles remain legal.”

The AMA is seeking a postponement in implementation of the directive because state officials gave motorcyclists no warning of this policy shift. The Association is asking for time to get the word out to the motorcycling community, and to deal with issues raised by this change of direction.

Besides asking for that postponement, the AMA is also considering legislative remedies that would ensure the continued availability of dual-sport conversion registrations in California and in other states.

“We have seen other states impose prohibitions on allowing the conversion of off-highway motorcycles for dual-sport use,” Maher said, “and we suspect still more are considering such measures. This could become a trend with major implications not only for trail riders, but for off-road racers as well.”

California riders can express their concerns to the California Department of Motor Vehicles by going to the StateWatch section of the Rapid Response Center at the AMA’s website, www.AMADirectlink.com.

From a press release issued by Mat Mladin Motorsports:

MLADIN GETS FIRST HAND LOOK AT BARBER MOTORSPORTS PARK, ALABAMA

Leeds, Alabama, USA (Friday, 1 August) – Current American Superbike Championship points leader, Australian Mat Mladin, had his first look at the new Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama this week as he took part in an official three-day AMA test session at the circuit which will host the final round of this years Chevy Trucks US Superbike Championship on the weekend of September 20 – 21.

Mladin and his Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 were fastest at the end of each days testing at the 16-turn 3.70km (2.3 miles) Alabama circuit, recording a best time of 1:25.054 set on the final day of the test.

Mladin’s final day time was an amazing four seconds quicker than the one he set on the opening day of the test. Second fastest at the test was teammate Aaron Yates (1:25.749), with American Honda’s Ben Bostrom the third fastest with a time of 1:25.942. The top trio were the only riders to drop into the 1:25 bracket.

As has been the case for much of the season, the test was again hampered by wet weather. Fortunately though, the showers cleared sufficiently for those taking part to make use of the valuable track time.

“It was good to come down here and get a look at the track, that’s for sure,” said Mladin. “We found out that Dunlop have to bring something different in the way of front tyres, because even the hardest front tyre didn’t really cope with this race track. Overall though, it was a pretty good test where the team and Dunlop learnt a lot about the track. It’s always good to know that you are quick and things are set up well, so to leave with the fastest time was nice.

“The layout seems OK, but I think that there are a few areas where they could address some safety issues,” commented Mladin on the Barber complex. “Overall it seems OK, it’s a bit small and tight, but otherwise fine. Some people had commented after being here that it had a European feel about it, but I don’t think it’s like that. I didn’t get the same feeling from this place as I did when I raced at Assen (Holland) for the first time for example. It’s still a nice track and will be a good venue for the final round.”

With the test completed, Mladin will now prepare for the penultimate double-header round of the season which takes place at Virginia International Raceway on August 30 – 31.

Heading to Virginia, Mladin has worked his way to a 33-point lead over Yates in the championship, but with four races remaining the chase is far from over.


Leading Superbike Times

Mat Mladin (Yoshimura Suzuki), 1:25.054
Aaron Yates (Yoshimura Suzuki), 1:25.749
Ben Bostrom (American Honda), 1:25.942
Giovanni Bussei (Ducati Austin), 1:26.870
Kurtis Roberts (Erion Honda), 1:26.984
Miguel DuHamel (American Honda), 1:27.862

2003 AMA Chevy Trucks US Superbike Championship (points after 14 of 18 rounds)
1. M Mladin (431)
2. A Yates (398)
3. B Bostrom (376)
4. E Bostrom (350)
5. K Roberts (349)
6. M DuHamel (332)
7. J Pridmore (315)
8. S Higbee (299)
9. V Haskovec (221)
10. J Szoke (212)

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Seven Stars Honda’s Nicky Hayden was the fastest rider in timed qualifying Friday morning at the Suzuka 8 Hours in Japan. Hayden turned his fast time, 2:07.312, on his third lap of the day aboard his works Honda RC51 before using the rest of the morning working on race set-up and fuel mileage calculations.

Hayden said the JSB-spec Suzuki GSX-R1000s of teams like Yoshimura Suzuki GP1 Daxim and Kenz JTrust Mojo Suzuki were much faster than his Honda on the straights, but he believes they are having tire life issues. Tires, however, are somewhat of an issue for everyone as teams are limited by rule to 10 sets of marked tires from the start of official practice Friday morning through the end of the race.

Qualifying takes place all day Friday with separate sessions for “A,” “B” and substitute riders. The top 20 teams at the end of Friday qualify for Saturday’s Special Stage, a session very similar to World Superbike Superpole. The remaining 46 teams of the 66-rider-maximum grid will start from positions earned Friday, provided they turn a time within 115 percent of the Friday’s fastest qualifying time.

Tires used in the Special Stage do not count against a team’s allocated 10 sets of tires.

Group A Qualifying Times Friday Session 1:

1. Seven Stars Honda 11 (N. Hayden), Honda RC51, SB, 2:07.312

2. Yoshimura Suzuki GP1 Daxim (A. Watanabe), Suzuki GSX-R1000, JSB, 2:07.540

3. Seven Stars Honda 7 (T. Ukawa), Honda RC51, SB, 2:08.178

4. Masked Rider 555 Honda (T. Yamaguchi), Honda CBR954RR, JSB, 2:09.255

5. F.C.C. TSR (Y. Konishi), Honda CBR954RR, JSB, 2:09.718

6. Garfield RSK (H. Kobayashi), Suzuki GSX-R1000, XF1, 2:10.579

7. F.C.C. TSR Zip-FM Racing Team (T. Tsujimura), Honda CBR954RR, XF1, 2:10.929

8. Team Challenger (N. Fujiwara), Yamaha YZF-R1, JSB, 2:10.939

9. Wins Factory & Vega Sports (H. Kawase), Suzuki GSX-R1000, JSB, 2:10.948

10. Moriwaki Motul Racing (M. Okuno), Honda CBR954RR, XF1, 2:11.150


13. Corona Light TiForce Endurance (J. Szoke), Suzuki GSX-R1000, SP, 2:12.794


17. Zongshen Suzuki 2 (I. Jerman), Suzuki GSX-R1000, SP, 2:13.421


Group B Qualifying Times Friday Session 1:

1. YSP & Presto Racing (S. Nakatomi), Yamaha YZF-R1, JSB, 2:09.107

2. Kenz JTrust Mojo Suzuki (K. Kitagawa), Suzuki GSX-R1000, JSB, 2:09.254

3. Alpha OMC Racing Supply (A. Tamitsuji), Suzuki GSX-R1000, JSB, 2:09.996

4. Team Sakurai Honda 74 (C. Kameya), Honda RC51, SB, 2:10.115

5.Team Sakurai Honda 71 (Y. Nukumi), Honda RC51, SB, 2:10.118

6. Club Yamaha Motorcycle Racing (M. Tokinaga), Yamaha YZF-R1, XF1, 2:10.795

7. Weider Honda ATS DDBoys (O. Deguchi), Honda CBR954RR, JSB, 2:10.815

8. Honda Sofukai Suzuka Racing Team (T. Arakawa), Honda RC51, SB, 2:11.348

9. Zongshen Suzuki 1 (W. Nowland), Suzuki GSX-R1000, SP, 2:11.411

10.Corona Extra TiForce Endurance (A. Fergusson), Suzuki GSX-R1000, XF1, 2:11.819

11. Suzuki GB Phase One (J. Pridmore), Suzuki GSX-R1000, SP, 2:12.428


17. Moto Liberty Arata-EX & Kiss-FM (D. Polen), Honda CBR954RR, XF1, 2:13.842*

*Fined 1000 Swiss Francs “for non-respect of the black flag with orange disc.”


Group A Qualifying Times Friday Session 2:

1. Yoshimura Suzuki GP1 Daxim (Y. Kagayama), Suzuki GSX-R1000, JSB, 2:08.704

2. Team Cha-llenger (T. Kayo), Yamaha YZF-R1, JSB, 2:08.864

3. Seven Stars Honda 7 (H. Izutsu), Honda RC51, SB, 2:09.446

4. F.C.C. TSR Zip-FM Racing Team (S. Itoh), Honda CBR954RR, XF1, 2:09.727

5. Seven Stars Honda 11 (N. Hayden), Honda RC51, SB, 2:09.939

6. Masked Rider 555 Honda (Y. Takahashi), Honda CBR954RR, JSB, 2:10.162

7. Heat Magic By Wins Factory (T. Yoshida), Suzuki GSX-R1000, JSB, 2:10.743

8. Wins Factory & Vega Sports (K. Teramoto), Suzuki GSX-R1000, JSB, 2:11.456

9. Team Nobunaga Ramen (M. Furusawa), Suzuki GSX-R1000, JSB, 2:12.172

10. Clever Wolf Racing Team (T. Fukami), Yamaha YZF-R1/7, XF1, 2:12.317


13. Moriwaki Motul Racing (R. Tsuruta), Honda CBR954RR, XF1, 2:13.967


16. Corona Light TiForce Endurance (P. Young), Suzuki GSX-R1000, SP, 2:14.408


21. Zongshen Suzuki 2 (B. Bonhuil), Suzuki GSX-R1000, SP, 2:16.002


38. Spec-A Yamamoto Racing (M. Lane), Honda CB1300SF, XF2, 2:23.473


Group B Qualifying Times Friday Session 2:

1. Team Sakurai Honda 74 (T. Okada), Honda RC51, SB, 2:09.413

2. Kenz JTrust Mojo Suzuki (K. Fujiwara), Suzuki GSX-R1000, JSB, 2:09.428

3. YSP & Presto Racing (W. Yoshikawa), Yamaha YZF-R1, JSB, 2:10.127

4. Team Sakurai Honda 71 (G. Kamada), Honda RC51, SB, 2:10.693

5. Weider Honda ATS DDBoys (H. Aoki), Honda CBR954RR, JSB, 2:10.736

6. Alpha OMC Racing Supply (Y. Konno), Suzuki GSX-R1000, JSB, 2:10.813

7. Team Etching Factory 15 (K. Hasegawa), Yamaha YZF-R1, XF1, 2:11.677

8. Honda Sofukai Suzuka Racing Team (K. Matsushita), Honda RC51, SB, 2:11.730

9. Zongshen Suzuki 1 (S. Mertens), Suzuki GSX-R1000, SP, 2:12.789

10. Team Hashimotogumi (T. Kawakami), Suzuki GSX-R1000, JSB, 2:12.851

11. Corona Extra TiForce Endurance (A. Gobert), Suzuki GSX-R1000, XF1, 2:13.339*

12. Team 22 & Tsukigi Racing (T. Kishida), Suzuki GSX-R1000, SP, 2:14.180


15. Moto Liberty Arata-EX & Kiss-FM (Y. Sugai), Honda CBR954RR, XF1, 2:14.402

16. Suzuki GB Phase One (J. Ellison), Suzuki GSX-R1000, SP, 2:14.647

* Fined 250 Swiss Francs for exceeding pit lane speed limit.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

A “Supplementary Regulation” limiting teams to 10 sets of tires for all of practice and qualifying at the Suzuka 8-Hours was a surprise to regular Endurance World Championship teams and is forcing many to make compromises.

“No, we just found out when we arrived here,” said Zongshen Suzuki’s Stephane Mertens when asked if he knew of the 10-tire limit before coming to Suzuka. “We didn’t know anything about it. It’s very strange because we are competing the World Championship–this is a race part of the World Endurance Championship, and they don’t follow the rules of the World Championship. This is a personal rule of Suzuka.

“It’s a question of agreement between FIM and Suzuka organizer. Of course something is wrong. Like with three riders. In the World Championship, we can compete with three riders. Not at Suzuka. For the first time they, the organizer, agreed that the World Championship teams can race with three riders if they want to. So for that they agree, but for the tires…no, they don’t want to change their personal rules for the FIM one. Sometimes it’s a little bit strange.”

The 10 sets of tires have to last teams for up to eight hours of practice and qualifying Friday, a 20-minute warm-up Sunday morning and the 8-hour race. (Tires used during the Superpole-like “Special Stage” and the “Special Stage” warm-up session are excluding from the 10-tire limit.)

As a result, some teams, even Seven Stars Honda 11’s Nicky Hayden and Ryuichi Kiyonari, have had to share tires. “I got one new set this morning,” said Hayden. “Then I put four laps on a tire and Ryuichi used it. Then I’m about to go out on one of his old ones.”

Zongshen Suzuki 1 only used two sets of tires Friday, but because they will run an 8-stop race, they will also have to re-use one set of tires. Suzuki GB Phase One put a few laps on many tires in practice and plan to re-use several of them in the race.

“Our particular problem is we have no knowledge of which tires work best here,” said Suzuki GB Phase One Team Manager Russell Benney. “We’ve had to compare a few tires while at the same time put a few aside for the race. That’s led us into a situation where we have a whole selection of tires for the race rather than anything that’s pre-planned. We’ve got five tires set aside that we feel are optimum, and we’ve got a pile of tires that are four or five laps old. It should be interesting. Clearly, the teams that have had the opportunity to test here (like Seven Stars Honda and several Japan-based teams) will have an advantage, but for the bulk of the field it just throws another wobbler into the equation.”