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Barros Fastest In Yamaha Team Tests At Catalunya

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From a press release issued by Fortuna Yamaha:

FORTUNA YAMAHA TEAM TESTS
Barcelona, Spain
10 February, 2003

UNFORTUNATE TUMBLE FOR CHECA, BREAKTHROUGH FOR MELANDRI

Carlos Checa crashed out of today’s Fortuna Yamaha Team test in Barcelona, Spain, not long after he took to the track. The Spaniard fell at the second turn and landed heavily on his bottom. He was taken to hospital as a precaution but released soon afterwards without needing any treatment. He had completed 21 laps before the fall and took no further part in the day’s action but is expected to ride at his home circuit again tomorrow.

Team-mate Marco Melandri, meanwhile, made a significant breakthrough with the minor braking problems he experienced at the team’s previous test in Valencia. The Italian had found difficulties with his front braking and spent today trying to rectify this. This was his first test with the YZR-M1 at the Catalunyan circuit, and he adapted well to the longer and faster straights, ending the day with a best time of 1:46.2 having completed a total of 52 laps.

Team Director Davide Brivio was philosophical about the day, “We have had good weather conditions considering it is only February. We can only have about four or five hours a day of testing, as the track temperature is too low the rest of the day but we knew this before we came here”, said the Italian. “It’s a great shame that Carlos fell again, we hope that he will be back out tomorrow. He is seeing his physiotherapist tonight so hopefully that will help him. Marco has been working very hard on his front end braking problem with the support of Brembo. His lap times today were not too bad. We are basically finding a way to adjust the braking system to his riding style, and will continue to do so tomorrow.”

LAP TIMES

Alex Barros, Gauloises Yamaha Team 1:44.8 (52 laps)

Shinya Nakano, D’Antin Yamaha 1:46.1 (56 laps)

Marco Melandri, Fortuna Yamaha Team 1:46.2 (52 laps)

Carlos Checa, Fortuna Yamaha Team 1:46.6 (21 laps)

Olivier Jacque, Gauloises Yamaha Team 1:49.1 (41 laps)



L&L To Provide Tire Support At Arroyo Seco, And ASMA Opens Website

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Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. California-based L&L Motorsports says it will be the exclusive tire and race fuel vendor for ASMA races at Arroyo Seco in 2003. The racetrack, located near Deming, New Mexico, was not regularly serviced by any tire vendors in 2002. In related news, ASMA now has a website, ASMAracing.com.

KTM And HMC Planning AMA SuperMotard Program Based Around Scott Russell

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Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

KTM and HMC are planning a new AMA SuperMotard program built around former Superbike World Champion Scott Russell.

KTM’s involvement is serious enough to include providing a new semi-truck for the effort.

At post time it was unknown how Russell will handle complications related to total-disability insurance payouts he received after what was thought to be a career-ending crash on the Daytona 200 starting grid two years ago.

KTM, which plans to join the MotoGP Series in 2004 and has also been taking a hard look at possible involvement in AMA Pro road racing, hopes to use the SuperMotard program to develop future road racing stars.



One Day Away From The Track With The Bostrom Brothers

0


Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Ben and Eric Bostrom are two of the most gifted and popular motorcycle racers in the world. They are rich, stylish, extremely fit and popular with the ladies. They also build and maintain their own dirt bikes, don’t put much stock in material things but do cherish personal gifts from fans and their privacy away from the racetrack, and are each other’s fiercest competitor and biggest cheerleader at the same time.

The Bostroms recently shared some valuable off time with us at their ranch in Southern California. We rode motocross with the pair on their full-scale private track, took 50cc minibikes around a separate scaled-down motocross track complete with 20-foot double jumps, learned a lot about rock climbing, talked about dating super models/television personalities and learned a lot about what make these two stars tick.

Read about it all–and check out lots of photos of the pair in action at home–in an upcoming issue of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine.




Motorcycle Art Show Scheduled For Fallbrook, California

0

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The Art & Cultural Center at Fallbrook, a division of the nonprofit Fallbrook Village Assn. of Fallbrook, California, has scheduled an art-gallery showing of motorcycles and motorcycle-related art.

Wheels Of Desire, The Art Of The Motorcycle At Fallbrook, is scheduled to run between May 18 and June 1.

A show flyer states, “We are seeking sponsorships for this exciting exhibition showcasing some of the world’s most exciting and historically important machines. The show includes numerous vintage racing and street motorcycles circa 1899 up to the present along with fabulous motorcycle art.”

Former racer and AFM official Dick Pearce, who is now a semi-retired 72-year-old with a commercial flower growing operation in Fallbrook, is involved in the show project as a consultant.

The Art & Cultural Center at Fallbrook is located at 103 South Main St., Fallbrook, CA 92028.

More information is available from Pearce at (760) 728-7273 or from Mary Perhacs, Director of Exhibitions, at (760) 728-1414 or (800) 919-1159, or via e-mail at [email protected].



No Limits Honda Will Test One Day Before Heading To Daytona

0


Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

No Limits Honda’s Doug Chandler and Jason Curtis are planning to test one day at Willow Springs International Raceway before heading to Daytona, according to Team Manager Gary Medley.

“Well, probably go out to Willow Springs on the 20th (of February) with Honda, then straight to Daytona,” Medley told Roadracingworld.com Friday. The Willow Springs test day Medley refers to is a shake-down test of the 2003-model Honda racebikes currently being built by the American Honda race team in the HRC race shop in Japan.

Medley added that the No Limits team would also use the CCS/Formula USA race weekend (February 26 – March 2) prior to the AMA event (March 5-9) for additional set-up time.

Meanwhile, Curtis has been riding an ex-Erion Honda CBR600F4i racebike at Las Vegas Motor Speedway under the tutelage of Freddie Spencer.



CBR600RR Runs 10-Second Quarter-mile

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Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

With several magazines in the midst of comparison-testing the new 600cc-class sportbikes, news from a Cycle World drag-strip test done yesterday at California Speedway (the drag strip is located outside the road course) is that a 2003 Honda CBR600RR ran in the 10-second bracket, with its competitors all running in the 11s.




Stokes Was Fastest During Pirelli Test At Jennings GP

From a press release:

TEAM EMBRY SETS FASTEST LAP TIMES DURING
PIRELLI TEST AT JENNINGS GP

JENNINGS, Fla.–Team Embry’s Brian Stokes and Geoff May set the quickest lap times during a two-day test hosted by Pirelli Tires at Jennings GP in
Florida.

Pirelli invited a number of their privateer AMA riders to attend the test, held February 4-5. The riders participating included Stokes, May, Opie Caylor, Mike Himmelsbach, Scott Harwell, Bill St. John and Scott Carpenter.

The purpose of the test was for the riders to sample the latest tire offerings from Pirelli, including DOTs, slicks and qualifying compounds.

The fastest lap of the weekend was set by Stokes, who has joined Team Embry for the 2003 season. On the second day of the test, Stokes set a fast lap time of 1:16.18 on his Suzuki GSX-R750 that he will ride in AMA 750 Superstock this year. He was testing a set of supersoft DOT tires at the time.

Stokes’ fast time was quick enough to set the new supersport record at Jennings GP, also known as North Florida Motorsports Park. The overall track record is only 3/10’s of a second faster than Stokes’ time.

“Pirelli has been so supportive of the privateer riders,” commented Stokes, who is also sponsored by 1888FASTLAP. “We’re grateful to them for offering us the chance to test their new compounds before the race season starts. Based on the times and longevity of the tires that we have seen here, Pirelli will be a dominant manufacturer in the AMA this year.”

The second-quickest time of the weekend was set by May, who is beginning his second season with Team Embry. May ran a 1:16.5 on his Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike. May was running supersoft slicks when he ran his fast lap.

The AMA Pro Racing season gets underway March 7-9 at Daytona International Speedway.

Morris And Brotz Join Wood On Kosco Buell Team

0

From a press release issued by Richie Morris:

Brotz Motorsports, with riders Clint Brotz and Richie Morris, will join Erik Wood and the Kosco Buell/Harley-Davidson race team in 2003. All 3 riders will run XB9R Buell Firebolts in the Clear Channel Formula USA series. Morris will run select races while Brotz & Wood will make a full run for the points championship.

In addition to Morris riding, he will also assume the position of P.R. Manager for the Brotz Motorsports division. “It has always been a priority of mine to take care of the sponsors and make sure they are getting the recognition they deserve. Daytona Harley-Davidson and The Ocean Deck have been with me for 10 years now. My goal is to find more sponsors like them to join the team. I was seriously considering retiring from racing. My wife and I have a horse ranch in Elkhart Lake, and it takes a tremendous amount of my time. However, when we discussed this combination, it seemed a perfect fit. To race fewer races and be there to help the team in promotion and sponsorships made sense.

“Actually, riding a bike prepared by Rich Cronrath and Kosco will be the biggest hoot. I have chased that bike, bitched and moaned about it being so fast the past two years. Now it is ironic Clint and I will have the privilege to ride them.

“The Thunderbike series should be a very interesting in 2003. Last year, many of the top-notch race teams had priorities with the AMA Pro Thunder series. With that gone, there will be a number of talented riders concentrating on the Formula USA series. Clint certainly learned how to ride the Buells fast last year, so look for him to be up front. And just maybe I can remember how to run up there, too,” says Morris.

For team information Morris can be reached at 920-207-3977 or at [email protected].







Recent Birth

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Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

CMRA (Calgary Motorcycle Roadracing Association) racer Ryan Taylor and wife Carrie had a daughter, Cassidy Jasmine Taylor, February 7 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.




Barros Fastest In Yamaha Team Tests At Catalunya

From a press release issued by Fortuna Yamaha:

FORTUNA YAMAHA TEAM TESTS
Barcelona, Spain
10 February, 2003

UNFORTUNATE TUMBLE FOR CHECA, BREAKTHROUGH FOR MELANDRI

Carlos Checa crashed out of today’s Fortuna Yamaha Team test in Barcelona, Spain, not long after he took to the track. The Spaniard fell at the second turn and landed heavily on his bottom. He was taken to hospital as a precaution but released soon afterwards without needing any treatment. He had completed 21 laps before the fall and took no further part in the day’s action but is expected to ride at his home circuit again tomorrow.

Team-mate Marco Melandri, meanwhile, made a significant breakthrough with the minor braking problems he experienced at the team’s previous test in Valencia. The Italian had found difficulties with his front braking and spent today trying to rectify this. This was his first test with the YZR-M1 at the Catalunyan circuit, and he adapted well to the longer and faster straights, ending the day with a best time of 1:46.2 having completed a total of 52 laps.

Team Director Davide Brivio was philosophical about the day, “We have had good weather conditions considering it is only February. We can only have about four or five hours a day of testing, as the track temperature is too low the rest of the day but we knew this before we came here”, said the Italian. “It’s a great shame that Carlos fell again, we hope that he will be back out tomorrow. He is seeing his physiotherapist tonight so hopefully that will help him. Marco has been working very hard on his front end braking problem with the support of Brembo. His lap times today were not too bad. We are basically finding a way to adjust the braking system to his riding style, and will continue to do so tomorrow.”

LAP TIMES

Alex Barros, Gauloises Yamaha Team 1:44.8 (52 laps)

Shinya Nakano, D’Antin Yamaha 1:46.1 (56 laps)

Marco Melandri, Fortuna Yamaha Team 1:46.2 (52 laps)

Carlos Checa, Fortuna Yamaha Team 1:46.6 (21 laps)

Olivier Jacque, Gauloises Yamaha Team 1:49.1 (41 laps)



L&L To Provide Tire Support At Arroyo Seco, And ASMA Opens Website

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. California-based L&L Motorsports says it will be the exclusive tire and race fuel vendor for ASMA races at Arroyo Seco in 2003. The racetrack, located near Deming, New Mexico, was not regularly serviced by any tire vendors in 2002. In related news, ASMA now has a website, ASMAracing.com.

KTM And HMC Planning AMA SuperMotard Program Based Around Scott Russell

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

KTM and HMC are planning a new AMA SuperMotard program built around former Superbike World Champion Scott Russell.

KTM’s involvement is serious enough to include providing a new semi-truck for the effort.

At post time it was unknown how Russell will handle complications related to total-disability insurance payouts he received after what was thought to be a career-ending crash on the Daytona 200 starting grid two years ago.

KTM, which plans to join the MotoGP Series in 2004 and has also been taking a hard look at possible involvement in AMA Pro road racing, hopes to use the SuperMotard program to develop future road racing stars.



One Day Away From The Track With The Bostrom Brothers


Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Ben and Eric Bostrom are two of the most gifted and popular motorcycle racers in the world. They are rich, stylish, extremely fit and popular with the ladies. They also build and maintain their own dirt bikes, don’t put much stock in material things but do cherish personal gifts from fans and their privacy away from the racetrack, and are each other’s fiercest competitor and biggest cheerleader at the same time.

The Bostroms recently shared some valuable off time with us at their ranch in Southern California. We rode motocross with the pair on their full-scale private track, took 50cc minibikes around a separate scaled-down motocross track complete with 20-foot double jumps, learned a lot about rock climbing, talked about dating super models/television personalities and learned a lot about what make these two stars tick.

Read about it all–and check out lots of photos of the pair in action at home–in an upcoming issue of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine.




Motorcycle Art Show Scheduled For Fallbrook, California

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The Art & Cultural Center at Fallbrook, a division of the nonprofit Fallbrook Village Assn. of Fallbrook, California, has scheduled an art-gallery showing of motorcycles and motorcycle-related art.

Wheels Of Desire, The Art Of The Motorcycle At Fallbrook, is scheduled to run between May 18 and June 1.

A show flyer states, “We are seeking sponsorships for this exciting exhibition showcasing some of the world’s most exciting and historically important machines. The show includes numerous vintage racing and street motorcycles circa 1899 up to the present along with fabulous motorcycle art.”

Former racer and AFM official Dick Pearce, who is now a semi-retired 72-year-old with a commercial flower growing operation in Fallbrook, is involved in the show project as a consultant.

The Art & Cultural Center at Fallbrook is located at 103 South Main St., Fallbrook, CA 92028.

More information is available from Pearce at (760) 728-7273 or from Mary Perhacs, Director of Exhibitions, at (760) 728-1414 or (800) 919-1159, or via e-mail at [email protected].



No Limits Honda Will Test One Day Before Heading To Daytona


Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

No Limits Honda’s Doug Chandler and Jason Curtis are planning to test one day at Willow Springs International Raceway before heading to Daytona, according to Team Manager Gary Medley.

“Well, probably go out to Willow Springs on the 20th (of February) with Honda, then straight to Daytona,” Medley told Roadracingworld.com Friday. The Willow Springs test day Medley refers to is a shake-down test of the 2003-model Honda racebikes currently being built by the American Honda race team in the HRC race shop in Japan.

Medley added that the No Limits team would also use the CCS/Formula USA race weekend (February 26 – March 2) prior to the AMA event (March 5-9) for additional set-up time.

Meanwhile, Curtis has been riding an ex-Erion Honda CBR600F4i racebike at Las Vegas Motor Speedway under the tutelage of Freddie Spencer.



CBR600RR Runs 10-Second Quarter-mile

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

With several magazines in the midst of comparison-testing the new 600cc-class sportbikes, news from a Cycle World drag-strip test done yesterday at California Speedway (the drag strip is located outside the road course) is that a 2003 Honda CBR600RR ran in the 10-second bracket, with its competitors all running in the 11s.




Stokes Was Fastest During Pirelli Test At Jennings GP

From a press release:

TEAM EMBRY SETS FASTEST LAP TIMES DURING
PIRELLI TEST AT JENNINGS GP

JENNINGS, Fla.–Team Embry’s Brian Stokes and Geoff May set the quickest lap times during a two-day test hosted by Pirelli Tires at Jennings GP in
Florida.

Pirelli invited a number of their privateer AMA riders to attend the test, held February 4-5. The riders participating included Stokes, May, Opie Caylor, Mike Himmelsbach, Scott Harwell, Bill St. John and Scott Carpenter.

The purpose of the test was for the riders to sample the latest tire offerings from Pirelli, including DOTs, slicks and qualifying compounds.

The fastest lap of the weekend was set by Stokes, who has joined Team Embry for the 2003 season. On the second day of the test, Stokes set a fast lap time of 1:16.18 on his Suzuki GSX-R750 that he will ride in AMA 750 Superstock this year. He was testing a set of supersoft DOT tires at the time.

Stokes’ fast time was quick enough to set the new supersport record at Jennings GP, also known as North Florida Motorsports Park. The overall track record is only 3/10’s of a second faster than Stokes’ time.

“Pirelli has been so supportive of the privateer riders,” commented Stokes, who is also sponsored by 1888FASTLAP. “We’re grateful to them for offering us the chance to test their new compounds before the race season starts. Based on the times and longevity of the tires that we have seen here, Pirelli will be a dominant manufacturer in the AMA this year.”

The second-quickest time of the weekend was set by May, who is beginning his second season with Team Embry. May ran a 1:16.5 on his Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike. May was running supersoft slicks when he ran his fast lap.

The AMA Pro Racing season gets underway March 7-9 at Daytona International Speedway.

Morris And Brotz Join Wood On Kosco Buell Team

From a press release issued by Richie Morris:

Brotz Motorsports, with riders Clint Brotz and Richie Morris, will join Erik Wood and the Kosco Buell/Harley-Davidson race team in 2003. All 3 riders will run XB9R Buell Firebolts in the Clear Channel Formula USA series. Morris will run select races while Brotz & Wood will make a full run for the points championship.

In addition to Morris riding, he will also assume the position of P.R. Manager for the Brotz Motorsports division. “It has always been a priority of mine to take care of the sponsors and make sure they are getting the recognition they deserve. Daytona Harley-Davidson and The Ocean Deck have been with me for 10 years now. My goal is to find more sponsors like them to join the team. I was seriously considering retiring from racing. My wife and I have a horse ranch in Elkhart Lake, and it takes a tremendous amount of my time. However, when we discussed this combination, it seemed a perfect fit. To race fewer races and be there to help the team in promotion and sponsorships made sense.

“Actually, riding a bike prepared by Rich Cronrath and Kosco will be the biggest hoot. I have chased that bike, bitched and moaned about it being so fast the past two years. Now it is ironic Clint and I will have the privilege to ride them.

“The Thunderbike series should be a very interesting in 2003. Last year, many of the top-notch race teams had priorities with the AMA Pro Thunder series. With that gone, there will be a number of talented riders concentrating on the Formula USA series. Clint certainly learned how to ride the Buells fast last year, so look for him to be up front. And just maybe I can remember how to run up there, too,” says Morris.

For team information Morris can be reached at 920-207-3977 or at [email protected].







Recent Birth

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

CMRA (Calgary Motorcycle Roadracing Association) racer Ryan Taylor and wife Carrie had a daughter, Cassidy Jasmine Taylor, February 7 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.




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