Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Beth Wyse

Vesrah Suzuki led from start to finish in the 6-hour opening race of the 2003 Dunlop/WERA National Endurance Series at Jennings GP in Florida.

Tray Batey, Mark Junge and John Jacobi rode the Vesrah Suzuki GSX-R1000 to a five-lap margin of victory as their success from last season continued.

Army of Darkness finished second overall and first in Mediumweight Superbike. Sam Fleming, Mark Crozier and Jeff Walker rode a Suzuki GSX-R600. Walker, who rode for Neighbor of the Beast in 2002, was racing with Army of Darkness for the first time.

Two laps behind Army of Darkness and third overall were Sean Dillon, Rob Palmieri and Greg Moore on the Team Xtreme II Suzuki GSX-R750. Their finish put them at the top of the Heavyweight Superstock class.

Team InfoTech won the 2002 Lightweight Superbike Championship, but decided to compete in the Mediumweight Superstock class for this season. In their first race in that class, they took the win on a Yamaha YZF-R6. Bradley Champion, Nicky Wimbauer and Bobby Miosek finished fifth overall.

Tight Squeeze Racing led the Lightweight Superbike class early in the race, but mechanical problems allowed their second team, Tight Squeeze II, to take the class win. The Suzuki SV650 of Steve Clark, Martin Musil and Chris Normand finished 12th overall.

Two red flags came out during the six hours. The first was for two riders who crashed in turn nine 23 minutes past the halfway mark. The second was for a rider who went down in turn 12 just before the fifth hour. There were no serious injuries.

Overall Results:

1. Vesrah Suzuki (Mark Junge/Tray Batey/John Jacobi), HSB, Suz GSX-R1000, 229 laps

2. Army of Darkness (Sam Fleming/Mark Crozier/Jeff Walker), MSB, Suz GSX-R600, 224 laps

3. Team Xtreme II (Sean Dillon/Rob Palmieri/Greg Moore), HSS, Suz GSX-R750, 222 laps

4. Velocity Crew Racing (Kevin Perkins/Paul Youngman/John Joseph), MSB, Suz GSX-R600, 221 laps

5. Team InfoTech (Nicky Wimbauer/Bradley Champion/Bobby Miosek), MSS, Yam YZF-R6, 220 laps

6. Team Xtreme (Mark Edwards/Billy Etheridge/Robert Jensen), HSB, Suz GSX-R1000, 220 laps

7. Northern Getaway (Mark Morrow/Tim Kephart/Jamie Miller), HSB, Suz GSX-R750, 219 laps

8. Ricochet Racing (Brian Suffridge/Lee Fields/Greg Ford/C.R. Gittere), MSS, Suz GSX-R600, 218 laps

9. Team Velocity Racing (Chuck Ivey/James Brown/Steve Breckenridge/Reuben Frankenfield), MSS, Suz GSX-R600, 218 laps

10. Ray C’s Racing (Dave Knapp/Fritz Kling), MSS, Yam YZF-R6, 218 laps

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

New AMA rules allowing non-full-factory riders to ride on a track hosting an AMA National during the week leading up to the National have attracted AMA Pros to three days of Fastrack practice at California Speedway in Fontana, California.

AMA Superstock regular Chris “Opie” Caylor made one of the longest treks to the Fastrack event, driving out from Georgia.

Jack Pfeifer, who finished 13th in the Daytona 200 earlier this month, is also practicing at Fontana this weekend, as well as No Limit Motorsports’ Doug Chandler and Jason Curtis, WSMC Champion Jeremy Toye and Chris Ulrich. Vincent Haskovec and Ed Sorbo said they are planning on riding on Sunday.

The Fastrack practice started on Friday, is going on today, Saturday, and will continue on Sunday.

Fastrack is also hosting a Pro practice on this coming Thursday, and official AMA practice starts on Friday for Saturday-and-Sunday’s AMA National.

Track ride groups for non-racers are also featured in Fastrack’s program this weekend, but will not be included in next Thursday’s program.

From a press release issued by MonsterMob Ducati:

MONSTERMOB DUCATI BRITISH SUPERBIKE TEAM

Round 1 – 2003 British Superbike Championship powered by HALLS, Silverstone

Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th March 2003

SECOND PLACES IN QUALIFYING FOR BYRNE AND EASTON

MonsterMob Ducati’s new recruit Shane Byrne just missed out on Pole Position in qualification for the first round of the British Superbike Championship powered by HALLS at Silverstone, Northamptonshire this afternoon.

The 26 year old from Minster, Kent qualified the new factory specification Ducati F02 in provisional pole in the qualifying session to go through to the Dunlop Super 12 (whereby the top 12 qualifiers battle it out for pole position in a 15 minute final session). Byrne just missed out to finish in second place from Michael Rutter who took pole position in a time of 1m26.235s.

“I made a little bit of a mistake on the last lap and I wasn’t quite quick enough. Hopefully we can get a good start and away we go tomorrow.” Said Byrne.

Team mate, Supersport rider Stuart Easton also just missed out on pole from the Honda of Karl Harris.

The 18 year old Scot was fastest in the first qualifying session and ended up qualifying the Ducati 748 in second place in the final session.

“I would have liked to have been on pole instead of second but before I came here my aim was to be on the front row. I lost my rhythm a bit at one stage but managed to pull a quick lap out there. Its going to be a tough year all year, hopefully I can be up there tomorrow.” Said Easton.

Team owner Paul Bird was happy with his team’s performance “I’m happy enough with both riders on the front row and I know we can go faster under race conditions tomorrow” said the Penrith businessman.

Superbike Dunlop Super 12 Qualification

1, Michael Rutter (Ducati) 1:26.235, 2. Shane Byrne (MonsterMob Ducati) 1:26.496, 3. Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki) 1:26.567, 4. Steve Hislop (Yamaha) 1:26.735, 5. Glen Richards (Kawasaki) 1:26.910, 6. John Crawford (Ducati) 127.657, 7. Gary Mason (Yamaha) 1:27.805, 8. Steve Plater (Honda) 1:28.295, 9. Jon Kirkham (Yamaha) 1:28.538, 10. Dean Ellison (Ducati) 1:28.643, 11. Scott Smart (Kawasaki) 1:28.762, 12. John Reynolds (Suzuki) DNF.

Supersport Qualification

1, Karl Harris (Honda) 1:30.063, 2. Stuart Easton (MonsterMob Ducati) 1:30.135, 3. Leon Haslam (Ducati) 1:30.148, 4. Simon Andrews (Yamaha) 1:30.324, 5. Tom Sykes (Yamaha) 1:30.507, 6. John Crockford (Honda) 1:30.541, 7. Michael Laverty (Honda) 1:30.746, 8. Mark Heckles (Honda) 1:30.862, 9. Adrian Coates (Honda) 1:30.970, 10. Rob Frost (Kawasaki) 1:31.230.

Sky Sports will be covering British Superbikes, British Supersport and the Virgin Mobile Yamaha R6 Cup live at all events. The broadcast will run from 1.00pm – 3.00pm and will be repeated on the evening of Race Day and Monday am.


More, from a press release issued by Hawk Kawasaki:

BSB Round 1, Silverstone

QUALIFYING
Saturday March 29
Weather: dry, slight breeze, overcast, 12°C
Track: dry, 12°C

Hawk Kawasaki once again proved a force to be reckoned with in the ultra-competitive British Superbike Championship, with a magnificent performance from all three of its riders during qualifying for tomorrow’s opening round of the series at Silverstone’s International circuit.

Glen Richards led the field for much of today’s fiercely fought qualifying, despite electing to stick on race tyres, rather than soft qualifying rubber, for most of the day. ‘We’ve got the Hawk Kawasaki ZX-7RR working a lot better than yesterday,’ explained Glen. ‘And that has allowed me to ride it how I want to. We made changes to the front suspension and smoothed out the carburation this morning and it now feels really good to ride. I rode for most of qualifying on race rubber and the bike’s working really well on it, so I’m really happy and just looking forward to getting out in the race tomorrow.’

Richards’ brilliant performance during qualifying meant he automatically earned a place in the ‘Dunlop Super 12′, this year’s Superpole replacement, which sees the 12 quickest riders fight for grid positions in a final all-action session. Glen looked sure of a front row starting position, after posting a scorching 1:29.910 lap around the 2.2130 track, but a flying lap from defending British Superbike Champion Steve Hislop in the final minutes of the session means the Hawk Kawasaki rider will now start tomorrow’s races from fifth on the grid.

Scott Smart and Lee Jackson also put in impressive performances, despite this being their first race meeting aboard the Hawk Kawasaki ZX-7RRs. Smart made it into the Dunlop Super 12, alongside Richards, and starts tomorrow’s races from the third row of the grid. ‘It was a good qualifying session and I got some decent laps in – I made my best times on medium rubber rather than super sticky qualifiers, which is better for the race,’ said Scott. ‘And we’ve made real progress with the Hawk Kawasaki throughout the day and got the second bike working really well too. Overall I’m happy and just looking forward to racing tomorrow.’

Despite just missing out on a place in the Super 12, Lee Jackson was pleased with his performance: ‘It’s a shame I didn’t make it into the Dunlop Super 12, but I wasn’t a million miles away,’ he said. ‘I’m happy with my lap times and I feel I’ve got a really good race pace. The thing is, there are 15 really good riders out there so I’m really chuffed to have made it inside that 15 and out-qualified the likes of Sean Emmett. The Hawk Kawasaki’s just so strong and the engine’s so good that the twins and 1000s aren’t really making anything on us. Plus it’s got such a good front end it just tempts you more to push harder and harder and that’s what we’ll be doing.’

After the day’s superb showing from his riders, Hawk Kawasaki Team Principle Stuart Hicken was understandably delighted: ‘Everyone in the team has worked incredibly hard this weekend and the reward is that we’ve found a really good race set up for tomorrow. The chassis we’ve got works extremely well and I feel there’s still a fair bit to come from the motors yet. Once we’ve got that right I think we’ll surprise a few people, especially on the handling circuits.’


FINAL GRID POSITIONS – DUNLOP SUPER 12
1)Michael Rutter, Ducati: 1:26.235.
2) Shane Byrne, Ducati: 1:26.496.
3)Yukio Kagayama, Suzuki: 1:26.567.
4) Steve Hislop, Yamaha: 1:26.735.
5) Glen Richards, Hawk Kawasaki ZX-7RR: 1:26.910.
6) John Crawford, Ducati: 1:27.657.
7) Gary Mason, Yamaha: 1:27.805.
8) Steve Plater, Honda: 1:28.295.
9) Jon Kirkham, Yamaha: 1:28.538.
10) Dean Ellison, Ducati: 1:28.643.
11) Scott Smart, Hawk Kawasaki ZX-7RR: 1:28.762.
12)
John Reynolds, Suzuki: 8:24657.
13) Lee Jackson, Hawk Kawasaki ZX-7RR: 1:28.964

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn Le Santo

Neil Hodgson put in a sensational lap to clinch pole position for Sunday’s WSB races.

David Garcia who, right up until Hodgson took to the track on his Fila Ducati 999, was sitting at the top of the timesheet provided the surprise of the day. The former GP rider put in an excellent lap on his privateer Ducati 998 and was obviously pushing his bike absolutely to the limit.

Hodgson was just over a 0.1-second slower on the first split than Garcia and yet, by the time his lap was finished, he was an incredible 1.088-second ahead.

“To be honest I think the Hodgson luck must be back,” grinned Hodgson, “because when before I went out on my lap I could see that the wind was blowing everyone around and yet, when I was on my flying lap, the wind seemed to have dropped completely.”

Frankie Chili, who had qualified fastest prior to Superpole, also relegated Garcia a further place by taking second on the grid. But Garcia was nonetheless understandably pleased with his performance; “This was my first-ever Superpole,” explained Garcia; his crash in pre-Superpole warm-up at Valencia wrecked his only bike so he was forced out of Superpole at the first round. “So I am happy to be third on the grid for Sunday.” Garcia, who test rides for Kenny Roberts’ Proton MotoGP team, seems to have settled quickly into the WSB groove. “I like it here in WSB, for me the ambience is better than in MotoGP. I also love my Ducati, I have a good feeling with the bike, the engine is good and the chassis is perfect.”

There’s one weak link in Garcia’s game plan – tyres, “We are not supported by Dunlop, we are a customer so we don’t get the best tyres. I hope that because of today we will get good tyres for the race.”

HM Plant Ducati rider Chris Walker took the final front row position. Hodgson’s teammate Ruben Xaus didn’t make it to the end of the lap, instead cementing his reputation as a crasher by throwing his bike away on the lowside in the Hayshed. He, and his team, were obviously very disappointed to see Xaus drop to the back of the second row.

World Superbike Championship
Round 2, Phillip Island, Australia
Superpole result:

1. Neil Hodgson, GBR, Ducati, 1:33.030
2. Pierfrancesco Chili, ITA, Ducati, 1:34.118
3. David Garcia, ESP, Ducati, 1:34.184
4. Chris Walker, GBR, Ducati, 1:34.211
5. James Toseland, GBR, Ducati, 1:34.329
6. Troy Corser, AUS, Foggy Petronas, 1:34.512
7. Gregorio Lavilla, ESP, Suzuki, 1:34.585
8. Ruben Xaus, ESP, Ducati, Crashed
9. Steve Martin, AUS, Ducati, 1:34.598
10. Regis Laconi, FRA, Ducati, 1:34.712


More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

DUCATI CORSE PRESS INFORMATION

SECOND SUCCESSIVE POLE FOR HODGSON (DUCATI FILA) AT PHILLIP ISLAND – XAUS EIGHTH AFTER SUPERPOLE CRASH

Neil Hodgson (Ducati Fila) stormed to a second successive pole position in blustery conditions at Phillip Island with the factory Ducati 999. Crowd favourite Pierfrancesco Chili (PSG-1 Ducati) will line up alongside for tomorrow’s two 22 lap races, while NCR Ducati’s David Garcia, in his second ever World Superbike race, and HM Plant Ducati’s Chris Walker will join them on the front row.

With Garcia setting the benchmark at an impressive 1:34.185, Hodgson and Chili had it all to do as they set off in that order on their one-lap dash. Despite not running a perfect lap, Neil’s time of 1:33.030 was a full second quicker than the Spanish rider while Chili just edged Garcia out for second place.

“I think I was lucky because the wind wasn’t there for my Superpole lap” joked Hodgson after the session. “Seriously though, I had a couple of moments so it wasn’t perfect. It’s always windy when you come here so it’s really difficult to be consistent. I wasn’t relaxed on the qualifying tyres at all because I’ve done so many laps this weekend on race tyres, and when you put one on it provides you with a lot of grip and the front was moving around so much, so that’s why my lap looked more ragged than it should have done. I’m happy with the set-up and I did a race distance on a rear tyre this morning and it looked fine so I’m feeling really confident because the tyre has done the distance even though Phillip Island is a circuit where conditions can change really quickly.”

Ruben Xaus (Ducati Fila) crashed out for the third time this weekend when the front of his Ducati 999 slid away from beneath him during his Superpole lap and he will line up on the outside of row 2 in eighth position. “I’d like to apologise to the team for this, the guys have worked hard all weekend and it’s all my fault” declared Ruben. “The crash was the same as the one this morning. With the riding style I have, I came hard into the corner, braked too late and the front end just went away from me. Despite this, I have a good set-up on the bike, I did a good race pace on my long-run, and I feel confident for the races tomorrow.”


More, from a press release issued by Troy Corser’s publicist:

2003 World Superbike Championship
Round 2, Phillip Island, Australia, Saturday 29th March, Final Qualifying
Circuit: 4.450 kms, Weather: Dry, mostly sunny 23 C.

SECOND ROW FOR TROY
Troy had a slightly disappointing Superpole – by his high standards – and ended the day sixth quickest and will start tomorrow’s pair if races from the second row of the grid. After Valencia’s stunning performance when he qualified the new Foggy Petronas on the front row of the grid, expectations were high here today. The engine in Troy’s number one bike didn’t feel strong in the final untimed session, so Troy tried his number two bike for a few laps. But that felt marginally worse; so Troy had to use his number one instead. His Superpole lap time was almost a second slower then his best time in qualifying and that was enough to push him on to the second row. Series leader Neil Hodgson (Ducati) took Superpole, with a time of 1:33.030, with fellow Ducati riders Pierfrancesco Chili, David Garcia and Chris Walker alongside on the front row of the grid.

TROY – 6th, 1:34.512
I suppose expectations were a bit high – after Valencia – and this is my home track. Before the season started, nobody expected us to be so competitive so soon and now everybody is asking when we’re going to win a race! The engine in the bike I used in my Superpole lap just didn’t have the legs and I couldn’t go as fast as I had done in practice. I’d ridden it pretty much all weekend and it was the same one that’d done two races. It’s a shame, because it would’ve been good to be on the front row here at Phillip Island in front of my fans. But the whole package is working well and I’m really happy how it’s all going. The team are going to work on the mapping a bit more and make the bike a bit easier to ride, but in terms of chassis etc, it handles really well. I’ve chosen which race tyres I’m going to use and now all I need is a good start, get up with the leaders and see what I can do. Of course, I’m shooting for a podium and if all goes well, then it could happen.


More, from a press release issued by HM Plant Ducati:

Front row start for Walker

Chris Walker qualified on the front row of the grid after a blistering Superpole lap at Phillip Island for the second round of the Superbike World Championship. He completed the 4.445km circuit near Melbourne in a superb time of 1:34.211, only 0.118 seconds ahead of his HM Plant Ducati team-mate James Toseland. Ducati Corse’s Neil Hodgson completed a good day for the British riders by taking pole position for the second consecutive event.

Walker had qualified for Superpole in fourth position, but unlike the last round at Valencia, he kept his cool for the nerve-wrecking one-lap qualifying session. “I was really disappointed with how Superpole had gone in Spain, so I was determined to do myself justice,” said the Nottingham rider. “Thankfully everything went according to plan and I can look forward to starting on the front row of the grid.

“I’d like to thank the HM Plant Ducati team who have worked tirelessly with me all weekend to find the best race set-up for this superb circuit. I’m really getting to grips with the bike and it makes such a difference not having to come and learn these tracks like I did last year. Hopefully I’ll be able to get two of my trademark good starts and blast off the line with the leading pack – it should be excellent viewing.”

Toseland thought that he had done enough to join his team-mate on the front row of the grid for tomorrow’s two Superbike races, but there was a surprise in store. “I guess I’m a little bit disappointed not to be in the top four, but to be honest I gave it my best shot. I think we were all surprised by Garcia’s fast lap in Superpole and that was the difference between fourth and fifth for me.

“After analysing my performance on Friday, I knew which parts of the circuit I had to focus on. Thanks to my technicians I’ve been able to shave over half-a-second off my time and it’s looking good for the races. I’ve got a feeling that Chris and I may be battling for podium positions again tomorrow and I hope that we can carry on where we left off in Valencia.”

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn Le Santo

Red Hot Chili stays on top

Frankie Chili stayed on provisional pole despite a strong challenge from Neil Hodgson in the final WSB qualifying session

After finishing first qualifying fastest on Friday, Chili modestly said; “I am surprised I am fastest, it must mean other riders have even more problems than I do.” But today’s performance, which included a 1:32.786 lap around Phillip Island in cool and cloudy conditions, proved it was false modesty. The truth is he’s on top because he’s the fastest rider on the track at the moment.

Neil Hodgson, fresh from a double win at Valencia, put in a determined charge to overhaul the Italian – but couldn’t get down below 1:33 so now has to settle for second going into this afternoon’s Superpole session.

Hodgson’s Ducati Fila teammate, Ruben Xaus, was third fastest despite a low-speed spill at the Honda hairpin, just in front of HM Plant Ducati rider Chris Walker. Troy Corser lost a little ground to the Ducatis, dropping back to fifth from his fourth place on Friday.

But with Superpole still to come and the weather changeable, the front row will likely change again yet.



Provisional Combined World Superbike Qualifying Results From Phillip Island:

1. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati 998RS, 1:32.786
2. Neil Hodgson, Ducati 999F03, 1:33.432
3. Ruben Xaus, Ducati 999F03, 1:33.603
4. Chris Walker, Ducati 998F02, 1:33.662
5. Troy Corser, Petronas Foggy FP1, 1:33.674
6. Regis Laconi, Ducati 998RS, 1:33.941
7. James Toseland, Ducati 998F02, 1:34.027
8. David Garcia, Ducati 998RS, 1:34.051
9. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:34.108
10. Steve Martin, Ducati 998RS, 1:34.354
11. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati 998RS, 1:34.365
12. Nello Russo, Ducati 998RS, 1:34.411
13. Gregorio Lavilla, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:34.440
14. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:34.559
15. James Haydon, Petronas Foggy FP1, 1:34.643
16. Marco Borciani, Ducati 998RS, 1:34.648
17. Juan Borja, Ducati 998RS, 1:34.760
18. Giovanni Bussei, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:34.952
19. Walter Tortoroglio, Honda RC51, 1:35.639
20. Steven Cutting, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:38.669
21. Jay Normoyle, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:38.780
22. Davide Messori, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:39.061
23. Alistar Maxwell, Honda CBR954RR, 1:39.212

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Neil Hodgson has launched a new website at www.neilhodgson.com.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Belgarda Yamaha World Supersport racer Jurgen van den Goorbergh and his wife Misha had a daughter, Quincy Tamara, March 8 in Monaco.

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

PRIDMORE OPENS LOCKHART PHILLIPS USA FORMULA XTREME TITLE DEFENSE AT CALIFORNIA SPEEDWAY

PICKERINGTON, Ohio – Jason Pridmore will be gunning for his second Lockhart-Phillips USA Formula Xtreme title starting at the series opener on April 6, at California Speedway in Fontana, Calif. The 2003 season promises to be the most competitive in the seven-year history of the series. The traditional top teams of Formula Xtreme – Attack Suzuki, Valvoline Suzuki and Erion Honda will all be present, but a new chapter will be written into the series this year with the addition of Yoshimura Suzuki and its rider Ben Spies. Since the inception of the championship the factories have competed with one another via supported teams, but this year marks the first direct factory entry into Formula Xtreme.

Pridmore, 33, of Ventura, Calif., won a tight championship battle last year over Bruce Transportation Honda rider Jake Zemke. The two actually finished tied in the final point standings, but Pridmore won the title by virtue of having earned more race wins. Pridmore had Spies as a teammate last year on the Attack Suzuki squad and Pridmore helped the young Spies along as he moved up the ranks. Pridmore even said that he felt that Spies would be a champion one day, but he’s now hoping that it won’t be this season that Spies picks to break through and wins his first AMA championship.

“Ben is going to be tough for sure, but the whole series has taken a big leap forward,” said Pridmore, son of three-time AMA Superbike champion Reg Pridmore. “This year we have top Superbike riders like Doug Chandler and Jamie Hacking coming into Formula Xtreme in addition to the strong field we’ve always had in the series. Fontana is great for me since it’s just an hour-and-a-half drive from home. So I’ll have a lot of friends and family there to support me.”

Three-time AMA Superbike Champion Doug Chandler comes to Formula Xtreme for the first time riding for No Limit Honda. Chandler’s presence in the championship immediately adds to the prestige of Formula Xtreme and the Salinas, Calif., native should be a serious contender for the title. Hacking will also add spice to an already tasty series lineup. He comes in as part of Yamaha’s stepped up commitment to Formula Xtreme and joins the always competitive Damon Buckmaster, who happens to be the winningest rider in Formula Xtreme over the last two years and winner of the season opener at Fontana last April.

Two-time AMA Superstock champ Jimmy Moore also joins Formula Xtreme this year riding for the Corona Suzuki squad to add to the list of top-name riders.

In other support racing action at Fontana, Tommy Hayden leads the Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock Series after winning at Daytona on Kawasaki’s new ZX-6R (aka the 636). It marked the first time a machine with less than 750cc displacement won the Daytona Superstock race. Hayden hopes to make the Kawasaki the first non-750 to win the AMA Superstock title. He won the Fontana Superstock race last year.

Rich Oliver, of Auberry, Calif., leads the MBNA 250 Grand Prix Series coming into Fontana. Oliver, a 23-year AMA Pro Racing veteran and Team Oliver Yamaha owner, announced at Daytona that this will be his final season of pro racing and he hopes to go out with a fifth AMA 250 GP title. Oliver last won the series in 1997. He’s sure to face a serious challenge from defending champion Chuck Sorensen who rides for Stargel Aprilia.

The Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme race will be televised on Speed Channel at 10:20 p.m. and, 3:20 a.m. (EST) on Tuesday, April 15, and again at 5 p.m. on the 22nd.

From a press release issued by Octagon Motorsports UK through the World Superbike Championship press office:

SILVERSTONE AND BRANDS HATCH SUPERBIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDS

With reference to the various rumours and speculations referring to the Silverstone and Brands Hatch homologation for the forthcoming Superbike World Championship rounds Octagon Motorsports UK would like to clarify the following:

· The Silverstone track is already homologated by the FIM for 2003.

· At Brands Hatch the FIM Circuit Inspector Claude Danis will make a visit to the track in April in order to check the modifications already completed at Dingle Dell corner and Stirling’s bend. He will also examine the works to be carried out at Paddock Hill bend in order to issue a new homologation license.

In this respect, Octagon UK management has no cause to have any concern that the regulatory process will not proceed as planned and the annual Superbike World Championship meeting take place as usual.

NOTES:

Octagon is the global marketing-led sports and event marketing company. It offers worldwide expertise across all eight major sports and event marketing disciplines: athlete representation, event management, consultancy, property representation, TV rights sales and distribution, TV production and archive, interactive and licensing and merchandising.

Octagon is part of The Interpublic Group (NYSE:IPG), the world’s largest advertising and marketing communications group. The Interpublic Group is the only marketing communications and services group with a global sports marketing capability. Octagon employs over 1500 people in 24 countries on all major continents. For further information please visit: www.octagon.com or www.octagonmotorsports.com

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Saturday Morning World Supersport Practice Times:

1. Chris Vermeulen, Honda CBR600RR, 1:36.305
2. Katsuaki Fujiwara, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:36.747
3. Karl Muggeridge, Honda CBR600RR, 1:36.805
4. Broc Parkes, Honda CBR600RR, 1:36.822
5. Gianluca Nannelli, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:36.823
6. Pere Riba, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, 1:36.869
7. Jurgen Vd Goorbergh, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:37.084
8. Stephane Chambon, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:37.144
9. Fabien Foret, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, 1:37.201
10. Kevin Curtain, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:37.240
11. Alessio Corradi, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:37.308
12. Christophe Cogan, Honda CBR600RR, 1:37.345
13. Iain MacPherson, Honda CBR600RR, 1:37.394
14. Christian Kellner, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:37.542
15. Simone Sanna, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:37.638
16. Werner Daemen, Honda CBR600RR, 1:37.814
17. Jorg Teuchert, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:37.984
18. Robert Ulm, Honda CBR600RR, 1:38.201
19. Thierry Vd Bosch, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:38.243
20. Shannon Johnson, Honda CBR600RR, 1:38.251
21. Kai Borre Andersen, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, 1:38.994
22. Gianluigi Scalvini, Honda CBR600RR, 1:39.073
23. Matthieu Lagrive, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:39.245
24. Stefano Cruciani, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, 1:39.340
25. Didier Vankeymeulen, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, 1:39.835