From a press release issued by JT International:

Camel and Honda Pons embark on a new partnership in MotoGP

Geneva, January 28 2003 – JT International and the Grand Prix team Honda Pons are proud to announce the birth of a new partnership that will see the tobacco giant’s Camel brand holding the Title Sponsorship of the MotoGP World Championship team for the next three years.

The new partnership between one of the most famous cigarette brands worldwide and a team with the pedigree of Honda Pons, with its 20 years of experience in World Championships, is a perfect match.


From left, Max Biaggi, Sito Pons, Tohru Ukawa.

The team, expertly managed by two-time World Champion and IRTA President Sito Pons, and headed by technical genius Antonio Cobas is one of the most successful teams in MotoGP, finishing as one of the top three teams in the last three Championship seasons. With the incorporation of 2002 Championship runner-up Max Biaggi and third-placed Tohru Ukawa, both riding the supremely dominant Honda RC211V, the prospects for success for the Camel Pramac Pons team are extremely high.


Max Biaggi.

Following its acquisition of the international operations and brands of R.J. Reynolds in 1999, JT has become one of the top three global tobacco companies with tobacco sales of 453.5 billion cigarettes and 31.4 billion USD in fiscal year ended March 31, 2002. JT owns three of the top five tobacco brands worldwide, including not only Camel, but also Mild Seven, sponsor of the Renault Formula One team.


Tohru Ukawa.

While this is the Camel’s first participation in Motorcycle Road Racing Championships, the brand has had a long time association with Motor Sports, most notably with its involvement in Formula 1 in the late 80’s and early 90’s, with the Jordan, Lotus, Benetton and Williams teams.

Celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, Camel is one of the world’s leading brands, sold in nearly 100 countries. Leveraging its rich heritage as one of the most renowned consumer brands worldwide and its reputation for innovation, Camel introduced its latest generation product range in 2002, supported with a new brand logo and advertising campaign. The MotoGP sponsorship is another move by Camel to enhance its international premium image, in an effort to increase market share globally.

The official presentation of the Camel Pramac Pons team will take place on the evening of March 14th 2003 in Barcelona, at a venue to be confirmed.

Patrick Enright (Camel Commercial Vice-President, JTI):
“We are extremely excited about the new partnership with Honda Pons. To enter into the MotoGP arena, as Title Sponsor of a team is a significant milestone for Camel and we are delighted that the Camel brand will be represented around the world by such a prestigious and successful team. We are convinced that the technical expertise and experience of the Camel Pramac Pons team, coupled with the brilliance of born-winners Max Biaggi and Tohru Ukawa, will bring much success both on and off the track to everyone involved in the project.”

Sito Pons (General Manager, Camel Pramac Pons):
“We are delighted to be able to welcome Camel into the world of MotoGP and particularly honoured that they have chosen to work with our team for the next three years. Right from the beginning Camel have demonstrated a whole-hearted commitment to the new MotoGP project and the passion, enthusiasm and experience they bring is a great plus not only for our team, but also for the Championship as a whole. Our aim, as always, is to win and now, with Camel’s support, we have added the final piece to the jigsaw of what we hope will be a championship-winning combination of riders, team, bike and sponsor. And in Max Biaggi and Tohru Ukawa, we certainly have the riders with the ability to claim the much-coveted World Title for the Camel Pramac Pons Team.”

From a press release:

Team Yamaha Belgarda Newsletter
Date: Tuesday 28th January 2003
Circuit: Ricardo Tormo, 4.005 kms, Day 2

VAN DEN GOORBERGH ATTACKS THE RECORD
Team Yamaha Belgarda successfully concluded their test at Valencia with their riders Jurgen van den Goorbergh and Simone Sanna on the 2003 YZF-R6s. Today Dutchman van den Goorbergh completed 60 laps, with a best of 1:38.2, half a second off the official Valencia lap record. His teammate Simone Sanna carried on his good work on the new YZF-R6, but was only able to complete seven laps due to a technical problem. Nevertheless the Tuscan, on his Supersport debut, finished the test with a promising time of 1:39.3.

PROBLEMS FOR SIMONE
The Italian had a small get-off in the morning session on one of the new YZF-R6 Yamahas and as they only had one completely new bike for the Tuscan, they decided to allow him to sit out the final session. The more experienced van den Goorbergh then continued working on the remaining 2003 YZF-R6, testing different rear shocks and a variety of rear Pirellis. Van den Goorbergh put in a superb string of laps in the afternoon session and he and team were able to collect vital information about the bike in preparation for the first race of the year on 2nd March – at Valencia.

PROGRESS FINALLY
“After our bad experiences in the November tests and Paolo Casoli’s crash, I was beginning to wonder how or when we would begin our development of the new bike properly,” said Yamaha Belgarda Sporting Director Massimo Meregalli. “But in these three days we have made really good progress and I’m very pleased with the performance of both our riders. They’ve worked really hard and given the team a lot of really good feedback and now we are starting to go forward. After Casoli and Whitham’s departure, we were all very downhearted, but the performance of van den Goorbergh has lifted us all up again. He’s worked very hard and given the team a lot of very good information. He has been fast, consistent and his ability to adapt to this new class has been a revelation to us all. Simone Sanna has also surprised us by getting on the pace so quickly, despite this being so different to what he has been used to. Despite being new to four strokes and new to Supersport, his time of 1’39″3 has given us a great deal of satisfaction and promises a lot more to come. Van den Goorberg really put in the time today and he was still on the track late in the day, when he could’ve easily stopped.”

The team will spend the next few days analysing all the data gathered by van den Goorbergh and Sanna in preparation for the start of the season. The next test will take place (again at Valencia) on 21st and 22nd February and will be the first official test with all the teams present. The season then kicks off on 2nd March on the same Spanish track.

From a press release issued by Yamaha:

Yamaha sets new benchmark during Valencia pre-season test

Valencia, Spain
28/1/2003

After completing its second pre-season test, held in Valencia January 25-27, the factory Yamaha MotoGP contingent departs the Spanish venue satisfied with its progress and is now looking forward to continuing the development of the latest spec YZR-M1. Alex Barros followed on from his impressive end of season form to set the pace on the Gauloises Yamaha Team YZR-M1, yet again. The 32-year-old posted a 1:32.8, circulating one full second under his own 2002 official circuit lap record, set during the final MotoGP, and half a second faster than the circuit’s best ever lap – a 1:33.211 set by Max Biaggi.

With weather conditions proving to be much more agreeable than the recent three-day Jerez test Barros was able to concentrate his efforts on tyre and chassis development. Meanwhile his Gauloises Yamaha teammate Olivier Jacque was absent from the Valencia programme in an effort to allow his right wrist, which recently saw the removal of several pins, to heal sufficiently for the February IRTA test.

“After the Jerez test we were somewhat disappointed but this Valencia test was a completely different story,” said Gauloises Yamaha Team Manager Hervé Poncharal. “We were very happy with the impressive times that Barros achieved, but more importantly he did them consistently. It’s also very positive that Barros is adapting to the M1 so quickly and the team too. We spent most of our time testing tyres because we feel this is the key to a successful year, and judging from the results Michelin is as driven as we are to succeed.”

The potential of the 2003 YZR-M1 was underlined by the performance of Spaniard Carlos Checa (Fortuna Yamaha Team, 1:32.9), who lapped the 4005m circuit only one tenth slower than the Brazilian, despite a tumble. Checa focussed his efforts on developing the latest fuel-injection offering.

“Our target for this test was to improve many things including chassis set-up and continuing development of the fuel-injection system,” said Checa. “There is still progress to be made in these areas. However I am very pleased because today I set a time almost one second faster than my qualifying time from my last race here. For me the most important thing now is to ensure that Yamaha and myself head in the right direction leading up to the first race.”

Checa’s Fortuna Yamaha teammate Marco Melandri (1:34.7) was disappointed with his performance after a number of minor tumbles, but is looking forward to the next tests. “Today has not been great as I’ve have had some engine troubles. Although I completed many laps and achieved a great deal it was frustrating because I had to come in and out of the pits many times,” explained the young Italian.

Shinya Nakano (d’Antin Yamaha, 1:33.7) also spent the majority of the three-days testing tyres and his race distance endurance. “I’m very happy because I’ve been able to try many things,” said Nakano. “We tested different chassis’ and we have found a good set-up for the future IRT test.”

Lap times (best of 3 days)
Alex Barros, Gauloises Yamaha Team 1:32.8
Carlos Checa, Fortuna Yamaha Team 1:32.9
Shinya Nakano, d’Antin Yamaha 1:33.7
Marco Melandri, Fortuna Yamaha Team 1:34.7

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

FEDERAL JUDGE ISSUES ORDER IN ONGOING AMA PRO RACING DISPUTE

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Pursuant to a motion to enforce a settlement agreement filed by AMA Pro Racing against Clear Channel Motorsports, an order was issued by Federal Court Judge James L. Graham directing Clear Channel to fulfill a series of specific obligations. The order was issued on Friday, January 24 in Columbus, Ohio.

“Once again, we’re glad that the court has interceded in this situation,” said Scott Hollingsworth, CEO of AMA Pro Racing. “At stake here is the elimination of the AMA brand from AMA Supercross. We will not allow that to happen.”

According to the agreed-to order, Clear Channel must, among other things, re-insert AMA identity into a number of elements including television coverage, on-track signage, announcer copy, advertising messages and event promotion.

AMA Pro Racing and Clear Channel Motorsports reached a settlement agreement on December 17, stemming from a dispute over the terms of the Supercross Sanctioning Agreement between the companies. AMA Pro Racing had filed a motion for a temporary restraining order but the parties were able to reach an agreement to resolve the issue. However, in AMA Pro Racing’s opinion, Clear Channel has not met its obligations. The judge’s order in this latest proceeding supports that contention. Clear Channel must immediately take steps to resolve these deficiencies.

“As always, our goal is to deliver the best possible racing experience to all our stakeholders including riders, teams, AMA members and every fan of American Supercross,” said Hollingsworth. “We’re hopeful this order resolves the issue in federal court and that Clear Channel Motorsports and AMA Pro Racing can work together to present the AMA Supercross Series in the best manner possible.”

Judge Graham will retain authority to enforce the order.

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

AMA PRO RACING OFFERS INCENTIVES TO LEADING WERA RIDERS

PICKERINGTON, Ohio–A program has been developed by AMA Pro Racing and WERA Motorcycle Roadracing to give leading WERA riders a better opportunity to compete in the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship. Riders finishing in the top three in WERA’s 600 and 750 National Challenge classes will be awarded free AMA Pro Racing licenses and a set number of free entries for the 2003 season.

The program will work as follows: First place riders in WERA 600 and 750 National Challenge classes will be provided a free AMA Pro Racing license and seven free entries into AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship events. Second-place riders will receive the license and five free entries, and third-place riders will get a license and three free entries. Entries may be used for any class in which the rider is licensed to participate in 2003.

“We see WERA as a valuable partner in developing America’s road-racing talent,” said Scott Hollingsworth, AMA Pro Racing CEO. “We would like to provide WERA’s best riders a better opportunity to make a smooth transition into the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship and this program will help make that possible.”

WERA President Evelyne Clarke sees the AMA Pro Racing/WERA alliance as a great opportunity to give WERA riders much deserved recognition.

“WERA has always been a training ground for riders who have gone on to win national and world championships,” said Clarke. “We are happy to see our riders go on to be successful in AMA Pro Racing. This union between WERA and AMA Pro Racing should provide even more of an opportunity to showcase our top riders and to give them help in making the transition to AMA Pro Racing.”

For additional information on this program contact AMA Pro Racing at (614) 856-1900 or via e-mail at [email protected].

About WERA
WERA Motorcycle Roadracing, Inc, is one of the oldest and largest national sanctioning bodies conducting motorcycle roadraces at road courses across the United States. 1999 marked the 25th Anniversary for WERA Motorcycle Roadracing. There are over 3,000 road racers holding a competition license and 250 holding a support membership.

About AMA Pro Racing
AMA Pro Racing is the leading sanctioning body for motorcycle sport in the United States. Its properties include the AMA Supercross Championship, the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Motocross Championship, the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S Superbike Championship and the AMA Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championship. Nearly 2 million race fans attended AMA Pro Racing events during the 2002 season. For more information about AMA Pro Racing, visit www.amaproracing.com.

Two-Wheel Tuesday Line-up on SPEED for January 28:

All times E.S.T.–

12:00 p.m., On Any Sunday Revisited

1:00 p.m., AMA FORMULA XTREME MOTORCYCLES, Mid-Ohio

2:00 p.m., SPEEDWAY GRAND PRIX, Denmark

3:00 p.m., The Year in Racing, FIM Motorcycles

5:30 p.m., American Thunder

6:00 p.m., Corbin’s Ride On

7:00 p.m., Bike Week

7:30 p.m., Motorcyclist

8:00 p.m., SPEEDWAY GRAND PRIX, Australia

9:00 p.m., FIM WORLD SUPERBIKE, Imola – Race 1

10:00 p.m., FIM WORLD SUPERBIKE, Imola – Race 2

11:00 p.m., Corbin’s Ride On

11:30 p.m., American Thunder

12:00 a.m., Bike Week

12:30 a.m., Motorcyclist

1:00 a.m., SPEEDWAY GRAND PRIX, Australia

2:00 a.m., FIM WORLD SUPERBIKE, Imola – Race 1

3:00 a.m., FIM WORLD SUPERBIKE, Imola – Race 2

From a press release issued for Team Hammer, Inc. by freelance publicist Dorina Clarke:


Team Hammer Talent Search Presented By Alpinestars Draws Range Of Participants

Lake Elsinore, Calif. – With only a few days left before the sign-up deadline, participants in the Team Hammer Talent Search Presented by Alpinestars range in age from 17 to 39.

The oldest participant was also the first to sign up, being John Ross, 39, of San Antonio, Texas. The youngest is 17-year-old Matt Elliott, a first-year Expert from Blountville, Tennessee.

Other participants accepted into the program so far include Chris Siglin, 22 of Clayton, California and first-year Experts Greg Moore, 25 of Brookwood, Alabama and Mathew Wise, 24, of McKinney, Texas.

Program participants will be provided with set-up specs and the assistance of Valvoline EMGO Suzuki mechanics at three set-up and practice days, February 26 at Daytona, March 28 at Fontana and April 22 at Barber.

Two program finalists will be seeded into the GSX-R750 heat races and will enjoy full rides at the 2003 Suzuki Cup Finals, including the use of a Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki GSX-R750 tended by a team mechanic, Michelin tires, entry fees and a complete set of Alpinestars leathers, boots and gloves in team colors. The best-finishing participant at the Suzuki Cup Finals will go home with a race-ready Valvoline EMGO Suzuki GSX-R750 racebike.

Judging of finalists will be based on a number of factors, including the ability to be competitive at a variety of racetracks, rider improvement over the course of the season and race results in 2003.

One of the two finalists will be considered for a 2004 ride with Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki.

More information is available in the News section at www.teamhammer.com, via e-mail [email protected] or on the phone from (909) 245-6414.

From a press release issued by Fortuna Yamaha:

FORTUNA YAMAHA TEAM TESTS
Valencia, Spain
27 January, 2003

CHECA FASTER THAN CIRCUIT BEST IN VALENCIA WHILE MELANDRI MAKES STEADY PROGRESS

The Fortuna Yamaha Team leaves Valencia this evening after making substantial developments during their three-day test. Carlos Checa worked on chassis set-up and development of Yamaha’s fuel injection system, completing a total of 186 laps over the three days. He made steady progress and was pleased to record a best time of 1:32.9, almost a second faster than his own qualifying time at November’s Valencia Grand Prix, and quicker than the fastest official lap of the circuit set by former team-mate Max Biaggi (1:33.211).

Italian Marco Melandri was not as happy with his progress over the three days, as he continued his familiarisation with his new YZR-M1. The 20-year-old reigning 250cc World Champion struggled to feel comfortable braking at Valencia’s tight circuit, and he suffered a number of minor tumbles. Melandri completed a total of 202 laps during the test, with a best time of 1:34.7.

“Our target for this test was to improve many things including chassis set-up and continuing development of the fuel injection system,” said Carlos Checa. “There is still progress to be made in these areas. However I am very pleased because today I set a time almost one second faster than my qualifying time from my last race here. For me the most important thing now is to ensure that Yamaha and myself head in the right direction leading up to the first race. I feel I have ridden the bike at a good level during this test, completing many laps, and have found a good reference to see which steps to take next.”

Checa’s Fortuna Yamaha team-mate Melandri was disappointed with his performance but is looking forward to the next tests. “Today has not been great as we have had some engine troubles and although I completed many laps it was quite frustrating because I had to come in and out of the pits many times,” explained the young Italian. “I felt more comfortable on the bike at the last test in Jerez, as here I had problems with front braking, and I wasn’t able to ride the way I wanted to. We need to find a different solution to this braking problem to suit my style, and I’ll work with my team on this. Hopefully we can come back here to test again.”

Team Director Davide Brivio was generally pleased with the progress made in Valencia. “This has been quite a positive test, we had the chance to evaluate some Michelin tyres and are very happy with the work they have done,” said Brivio. “Carlos was able to give us more information on chassis set-up. We need to improve the fuel injection system but we still have time to do so. Carlos got a good feeling here and recorded his best lap time at this circuit. Marco had the chance to continue his initiation, trying different tyres and settings, giving him more opportunity to understand the way the bike works. He has had a few problems which have hindered his progress but we still have many days of testing before the first race. To make up for the time lost to bad weather in our previous test in Jerez, we hope to fit in another test before the Jerez IRTA test on 21st to 23rd February.”


LAP TIMES (best of 3 days)

Alex Barros, Gauloises Yamaha Team 1:32.8

Carlos Checa, Fortuna Yamaha Team 1:32.9

Shinya Nakano, D’Antin Yamaha 1:33.7

Marco Melandri, Fortuna Yamaha Team 1:34.7

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Yamaha factory road racing mechanic Jefferson Burks and wife Gail Hookailo had a daughter, Azure Sofia Hookailo-Burks, January 23 in Long Beach, California.

From a press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing:

Foggy warms to the racing task

CARL Fogarty is confident that the final pieces of his Foggy PETRONAS Racing team jigsaw will fall into place in time for the start of the World Superbike season following another productive test in Malaysia.

Riders Troy Corser and James Haydon completed a three-day test of the new Foggy FP1 bike in the extreme heat and humidity at the Sepang circuit, outside Kuala Lumpur. And team owner Fogarty travelled to the home country of team sponsors and Malaysian petroleum giant, PETRONAS, in order to assess the results of the team’s final private outing before the World Superbike series moves to Valencia at the end of February.

The four-times world champion said: “It has been another excellent test really. We didn’t have the exact tyres out here that we would have liked, so the emphasis was not on lap times. But we have made very good progress with mapping, gathered a lot of new information and the engines have been stronger and more reliable.

“We still have a few things to sort out but we know how to improve them so we’ll hopefully have the perfect bike in Valencia! Obviously we needed to test more than any other team this winter as we are a new team with a new bike, and the riders needed a lot of time on track after a season out of action.

“In a perfect world, we could probably have done with the season starting a month later but, hopefully, everything will come together in time for the first race.”

The team has another three days on track at the official World Superbike winter test at Valencia, starting on February 21st, with the opening race meeting starting the following Friday, on February 28th.

Troy Corser said: “I have noticed a 30 percent improvement in the engine since our last test at Valencia and I know there is room for more improvement. The good thing about the chassis is that I have hardly changed it from our last test at Phillip Island, so I haven’t had to concentrate too much on the set-up.”

James Haydon said: “I could still do with some more time on the track but, before, we had a long list of things to work through and now we have narrowed then right down. We have mainly been concentrating on the mapping here and we have made a big improvement with the ignition mapping in particular.”