From a press release issued by AHRMA:

Vintage racing extravaganza at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days

More than 1,200 members of the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association will compete in four types of national-championship vintage competition during the July 18-20 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington and at the nearby Ashland County Fairgrounds in Ashland, Ohio.

A round of The Classic Motor Cycle/Metro Racing Dirt Track Series takes place Friday night at Ashland.

On Saturday the day begins with a Speed & Sport observed trial in the woods on the Mid-Ohio grounds, followed by a round of the Pro-Flo/Progressive Suspension Historic Cup Series on the Mid-Ohio road course.

In addition to a full array of classes for machines up to the early 1980s, AHRMA road racing also showcases modern singles and twins classes.

Road racing continues on Sunday, along with the Speed & Sport motocross national for pre-1975 machines at Mid-Ohio.

Racing legends like Jim Pomeroy, Jay Springsteen and Jeff Smith will take part in the weekend’s racing action. For full details, visit the VMD page at www.ahrma.org.

From a press release issued by the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum:

WOMEN & MOTORCYCLING EXHIBIT TO APPEAR AT STURGIS MUSEUM DURING 2003 RALLY

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum has announced that the traveling version of its acclaimed “Women & Motorcycling” exhibit will be on display at the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame during the 2003 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

The exhibit centers around colorful illustrated panels, packed with information about the role of women in American motorcycling. The panels include timelines depicting milestones from the past century, quotes from notable women past and present, and the names of more than 1,500 women who are currently active in various aspects of motorcycling.

The goal of the Women & Motorcycling exhibit is to show visitors that many women have contributed to the evolution and growth of motorcycling, from the sport’s earliest days. The traveling version of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum’s Women & Motorcycling exhibit has been installed in 15 cities since 2000.

“After the Women & Motorcycling exhibit’s great success here at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, we were asked to show it at other locations around the U.S.,” said Mark Mederski, Executive Director of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. “So we adapted it to travel, and we’re pleased to loan it to the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame for the next twelve months.”

The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame exhibits motorcycles and historic information about motorcycling, with special emphasis on the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, and recognizes those who have dedicated much of their lives toward the sport of motorcycling. It opened its doors on June 1, 2001, moving its present location at the corner of Main and Junction, the old U.S. Post Office building, in June of 2002. It rotates exhibits often, featuring national and international marques.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Five forged magnesium wheels carrying Dunlop developmental tires and a works Showa shock stolen from the Yoshimura Suzuki tent Thursday night in the paddock at Laguna Seca have been recovered.

“One of our customers called and said he knew the group that had the wheels and shock,” said Yoshimura Suzuki Team Manager Don Sakakura by phone this morning. “We made arrangements to recover the goods and they were in perfect condition. It was some guys out in the campground, which is on the other side of the track, which just goes to show how bad the security level was; I don’t know if they were asleep or what. I’m surprised nothing else was missing. These guys were just free to go anywhere they wanted in the paddock.”

In fact, there were no security personnel at the gate between the food vendor area and the paddock after hours at Laguna Seca, and Roadracing World staffers staying in a motorhome in the paddock saw spectators roaming around on foot and on minibikes at all hours of the night, every night.

At night, many road racing teams leave equipment and in some cases racebikes underneath zipped-up canopies attached to their semi-trucks.

Roadracingworld.com was tipped off to the recovery of the stolen Yoshimura parts by two e-mails sent by a WSMC racer from Bakersfield. We knew it was genuine because the theft of the works Showa shock had not been reported in a previous post on the theft. The combined text of the two e-mails follows:

“I have been informed that wheels and shock have been returned to Yosh. When the good people found out what the bad people did, they made them give the parts up, contacted Yosh, and got their stuff back to them. Thankfully there are still honest people around.

“Some drunken campers (3) from Bakersfield, California took the stuff. They had no clue what to do with it, or why they took it in the first place. When they sobered up the next morning and realized what they had done, they wanted to return it. But, things had tightened up, and they didn’t want to go to jail, and get kicked out of the races, so they just sat on the stuff.

“And when all the other riders/campers from Bakersfield found out what they had done, well, we wanted to kill then, or at least hurt them real bad. So we got the parts, called Yosh, and made arrangements for it all to be returned.

“Yosh picked up the wheels and shock from one of us honest riders, we don’t want to have the world look down on us (people from Bakersfield) just because of a couple of stupid partiers.”

See related post,
7/12/2003 Equipment Stolen From Yoshimura Suzuki Pit At Laguna Seca

From a press release issued by Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course:

TWO-WHEEL ROCKETS RETURN TO MID-OHIO

DUBLIN, Ohio – The AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Tour rockets back to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course during the Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire, July 25-27. This year’s event promises excitement for everyone with fantastic racing action on the track, and stellar fan activities taking place around the weekend.

Mat Mladin’s recent win at Laguna Seca propelled the AMA’s all-time wins leader past Eric Bostrom, who trails Mladin by just 6 championship points. It’s been feast or famine for Mladin, who has captured 7 wins this season, but has finished out of the top-5 in each of the other five races. Honda riders Miguel Duhamel, with seven career wins at Mid-Ohio, Ben Bostrom, returning this season from World Superbike and a former winner at Mid-Ohio, and Kurtis Roberts, with a recent hot streak to place himself in the thick of the points race, are all threats to win during either of the Wiseco Superbike 100 races on Saturday and Sunday during the Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire.

The on-track action isn’t confined to just the Superbike series, with Supersport, Superstock, Formula Xtreme and 250 Grand Prix classes all taking to the track during the weekend.

Tommy Hayden has captured three wins in the Superstock class, but trails leader Josh Hayes after a failed technical inspection early in the year penalized the Owensboro, Kentucky native 20 championship points. Damon Buckmaster, Alex Gobert and Ben Spies are among the field that is currently looking up at Supersport points leader Jamie Hacking.

The 250 Grand Prix is a battle for second place, with competitors wondering if anyone can stop Rich Oliver. Oliver has captured all eight 250 GP races this season and could clinch the title with a seventh place finish or higher at Mid-Ohio, regardless of how the rest of the field fairs. Ben Spies and Damon Buckmaster’s Formula Xtreme duel looks like it will head down to the wire, with both looking for a leg up in the title chase with a win at Mid-Ohio.

The thirteenth annual Mid-Ohio Dealer Ride gives fans the opportunity to take a lap of the track during the lunch break on Sunday and has grown into one of the most anticipated events of the season. Riders are able to register in advance for the ride at over 90 dealerships in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. With the dealer ride comes hundreds of motorcycles that will be on display in the infield on Sunday, July 27.

The Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire is the second half of Cycle-Fest at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, following AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, July 18-20. Spectators wishing to attend both motorcycle events are able to purchase a combo ticket good for general admission to both the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days on July 18-20 and Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire at a savings of up to $28 when purchased in advance of Vintage Motorcycle Days. The combo ticket includes a paddock pass for the latter event.

The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) will be hosting a Super Cycle Fanfest at PromoWest Pavilion in Columbus, Ohio’s arena district on Wednesday, July 23. Gates will open for the free event at 5:00 p.m. to give fans the chance to meet AMA superstars Josh Hayes, Vincent Haskovec, Jordon Szoke and Jessica Zalusky. The rock rumblings of bands Twin Cam and Th’ Flyin’ Saucers and prize pack giveaways from PromoWest Pavilion, A.D. Farrow Co., Harley-Davidson/Buell, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Columbus Blue Jackets, Newport Music Hall and more will provide entertainment throughout the weekend.

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is located approximately halfway between Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio off of Interstate 71. Commonly referred to as the “Most Competitive in the U.S.”, Mid-Ohio hosts six motorsports events throughout the summer, beginning with the Sprint Vintage Grand Prix and including the Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire and the Valvoline Runoffs, September 15-21. For event information and tickets, call 1-800-MID-OHIO or visit www.midohio.com.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

As a long-time AMA and World Superbike fan, I have to take exception to the “press release” that Eric Bostrom’s publicist submitted to your site, as well as to a few other sites up and down “the dial.” While I appreciate the talent, drive, and determination of Eric Bostrom, especially in light of the fact that he is riding a bike with 200cc less displacement than pretty much everyone else on the Superbike grid and I also appreciate the obvious interest that Eric’s publicist has in Eric, what I do not appreciate is the publicist’s obvious need to convey his own personal opinion with regard to Aaron Yates.

So, Eric’s publicist thinks that Aaron is a bad man. We get it. Perhaps Eric also feels the same way. But the difference is, Eric’s publicist possibly saw fit to censor Eric’s true opinion of Aaron while communicating his own personal opinion.

With all due respect, we do not care what Eric’s publicist thinks of Aaron Yates. We do care what Eric thinks. So, in the future, perhaps Eric’s publicist can devote his time to publicizing Eric Bostrom and not himself.

Yes, he should.

Sean Bice
Columbus, Ohio



See related post,
7/16/2003 Badly Dislocated Shoulder Threatens Eric Bostrom’s Season



More, from publicist Dorina Clarke:

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

After spending nearly the last three years doing PR for road racers, motocrossers, freestyle motocrossers and the AMA Superbike series last year I learned the proper way to inform fans about my clients. A cardinal rule was to NEVER bash a client’s competition in a press release. Everyone has a right to their opinion and if it’s going to be in print let it come from the involved parties’ mouths in an interview or press conference, not in a press release announcing the client’s results of a race weekend. I like Eric’s publicist very much but even I was surprised at the content of the press release when I read it.

“That’s racing” is a popular saying and most often, the reality of most on-track incidents. I watched the race and it appeared to me a most unfortunate accident that took out some riders, including Eric. I’m curious how many privateers out there have ever had some “unwelcome” contact with Eric when he’s trying to get through traffic in an AMA Superbike weekend.

Dare I say that the content of the press release was based on an emotional reaction of serious disappointment after hearing the extent of Bostrom’s injuries which could seriously, if not undoubtedly, take him out of contention for the Superbike championship which he is currently second in points?

Maybe the route to take for the press release should have been to focus on the positives of Eric’s weekend leading up to the incident and then switch the focus to Eric’s recovery, which may come quicker than projected simply based on Bostrom’s level of physical fitness and the sheer will and determination to get back on the bike as soon as possible.

Dorina Clarke
Olathe, Kansas

From a press release issued by the Parts Canada Superbike Championship series:

TIGHT FIGHT HITS MOSPORT

TORONTO, ON – The 2003 Parts Canada Superbike Championship comes to a critical stage at Mosport International Raceway this weekend.

The eight-race series reaches its halfway point at the Miller Genuine Draft presents the Chevy Trucks Mosport Double Header. With Superbike races set for Saturday and Sunday afternoon one racer could break open one of the tightest points battles in Canadian Superbike history.

Three different riders have won the first three events of the season and only 22 points separate the top six in the standings. A total of 56 points are available to the winner of each Parts Canada round.

After three events Joliette, QC’s Jean-Francois Cyr leads the Parts Canada Superbike standings. The Michelin Yamaha ace has 110 points to the 104 of Steve Crevier following his first career national win at Autodrome St-Eustache two weeks ago.

Crevier, from Maple Ridge, BC missed the St-Eustache event after suffering a crash in an earlier race. The Diablo Suzuki pilot, winner of the season opener at Shannonville Motorsport Park will be back for Mosport, however, as he bids for a record-extending 22nd career national Superbike win.

Pascal Picotte of St-Cecile de Milton, QC is third in the standings with 96 points. The Picotte Racing Yamaha rider earned a season-high second-place finish at St-Eustache.

Michael Taylor of Toronto is fourth in points with 94 and Rock Forest, QC rider Francis Martin sits fifth on 93. Riding for Orion Motorsport Honda, Taylor was victorious in round 2 of the season in Calgary, while Coors Light Racing/Blackfoot Suzuki’s Martin has a second and third place finish to his credit in the first three races.

Martin’s teammate Clint McBain of Calgary currently lies sixth in the standings with 88 points.

Kleinburg, ON’s Frank Trombino is only seventh in the rankings with 73 points, but the Brooklin Yamaha rider scored back-to-back Mosport wins in 2000 and 2001.

Chardon, OH’s Tom Kipp will also be a threat on the Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-7RR. Kipp comes to Mosport 10th in points with 61 after a non-finish at St-Eustache.

The Mosport weekend also features the fourth round of the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike and International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike national support classes.

Picotte has a commanding lead in the Pro 600 Sport Bike points with 146 to the 93 of Kars, ON’s Andrew Nelson, who rides for Z1 Cycletech Honda, and the 92 of defending class champion McBain.

In Amateur 600 Sport Bike, Jeremy Leduc of Keremeos, BC is going for his third straight victory on his Yamaha. He leads the points with 110 to the 102 of Ottawa’s Dan Henri, also on a Yamaha and the 95 of Wellsley, ON Honda rider Bill Card.

Qualifying for the first Superbike race at Mosport goes Friday afternoon, with time trials for Sunday’s event slated for Saturday morning. Qualifying for the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike and International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike classes will run Saturday afternoon.

This weekend’s event will be televised on TSN in two parts. The first show will air on Saturday, Aug. 9 at 12:30 p.m. EDT with the second on Sunday, Aug. 10, also at 12:30 p.m. Mosport action will also be shown later this year on Quebec’s RDS and across Canada on the Outdoor Life Network.

From a press release:

Safety First Racing expands educational program to Monterey, CA.

While racing the AMA race weekend at Laguna Seca, Safety First Racing team owner/rider, Kevin Hanson, conducted two safety presentations at the Monterey Park District Youth Camps in front of approximately 170 kids ranging in ages from 5-13 years old. Cindy Vierra, Recreation Superintendent of the Monterey Park District, stated that she was “thankful that Officer Hanson took time out of his weekend to speak to the kids about safety. The kids really enjoyed it and were still talking about the presentations the next day.”

Kevin Hanson, a 10-year veteran police officer with the city of Champaign Police Department in Illinois, founded his “Safety First” program in 2002 in an effort to reduce the number of sports injuries in children, specifically bicycle related head injuries. During his safety presentations, Kevin explains the safety gear he wears as a police officer, motorcycle racer and bicyclist through the use of several visual aids during his presentations which include: his Dunlop sponsored, Suzuki GSX-R1000 racebike that is painted like a police squad car, his previously crashed Suomy helmets and his mountain bicycle. Kevin stated, ” I’ve found that the kids really seem to get the importance of wearing a helmet when I tell an animated story about how I suffered a high-speed crash racing and landed head first wearing my helmet without suffering injury.”

For 2003, Kevin Hanson has already conducted 10 safety presentations. This coming weekend, Kevin will be conducting safety presentations in Champaign, IL at “A Day in the Park” which features an expected audience of 10,000 attendees.

Anyone wishing to contact Kevin Hanson regarding a safety presentation at future 2003 AMA events, please contact him at 217-493-3811.

From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM IN ACTION AT BRNO AND MUGELLO

Brno (Czech Republic), 16 July 2003: The Ducati Marlboro Team was involved in testing action on two fronts today in view of the upcoming rounds of the MotoGP championship. While riders Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss were testing at the Brno circuit in the Czech Republic, the development team was simultaneously testing at Mugello.

Four bikes out on the track in the same day, four separate structures and teams of engineers and mechanics: all aimed at bringing about improvements to the Ducati Desmosedici, in view of the remaining eight rounds of the 2003 MotoGP championship as well as next season.

Today was the first of two days’ testing at Brno and Mugello.

At Brno the two riders aimed to put in as many laps as possible to find the right set-up for the bike on this fast and technical circuit, which will be the venue for the Czech Republic Grand Prix on August 17. Loris’s best lap (out of 33) was 1:59.86, while Troy completed 55 laps, recording a quickest time of 2:01.43.

The Desmosedici performed exceptionally well on its first visit to the circuit; Loris in fact lapped much quicker than the best time recorded in last year’s race.

At the same time at the Mugello circuit in Italy, the development team were working on a series of components and solutions for the 2004 version of the Ducati Desmosedici, in particular taking advantage of the high temperatures (38°C) to improve engine cooling efficiency.

Ducati Corse factory test-rider Vittoriano Guareschi was joined for this test session by Randy Mamola, four times 500cc championship runner-up, and currently involved with the Desmosedici Biposto twin-seater bike. The American therefore is just the right man to provide further information and data for Ducati Corse engineers.

The two testing sessions will conclude tomorrow Thursday.

From a press release issued by Eric Bostrom’s publicist:

“General E” Laguna Seca report

Just like that, Aaron Yates’ mistake ruined Eric Bostrom’s Laguna Seca weekend. The American Suzuki rider low-sided going into the very first turn in the very first lap of the very first World Superbike race at Laguna Seca this weekend. Aaron’s interesting and optimistic line going into turn one proved costly, for others at least. The resulting low-side took out multiple racers, including fan and AMA Superbike title favorite, Eric Bostrom. Eric suffered a badly dislocated right shoulder, as well as injuring his neck and back. He was unable to race either World Superbike race as a result of this incident and it is unknown at this time what effect it will have on the next AMA round in less than two weeks time, much less the rest of his AMA Superbike season. “I feel like a chicken that got caught in a tractor’s rut. For now I’m just planning on taking it easy for a couple of weeks to try and get ready for Mid-Ohio.

“But I’m pretty disappointed because until Sunday I was having a tough time with tires. We didn’t have a tire that worked on our bike. The only tire that I liked, we couldn’t run because it had given my bike tons of chatter. So we made some pretty big changes and finally on Sunday morning I felt I was able to race with that tire that I had wanted to run all weekend. I was really pumped because I could finally run consistently good lap times; lap times that the winners ended up running. But in the end, I didn’t get the chance to try it out. It’s a shame, because I think we honestly had the chance to win both races.”

Yates, however, was able to remount and race in both World Superbike races, finishing 6th in race one and then crashing again in race two. Always one to take the classy approach, Eric was hesitant to comment about the racing incident with Yates, “I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. It happens.” Although perhaps one of Eric’s fans said it best when he emailed Eric today at his website and said, “It really sucks to see such an awesome, safe, and consistent rider as yourself go down so hard due to someone else’s careless riding.”

Yes, it does.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Via e-mail:

Would appreciate you posting this info on my son Shaun Summers. Shaun was seriously injured on the first lap of the 600cc National on Friday at Laguna Seca. Shaun was exiting turn 11 to complete the first lap when he had a huge slide that highsided him out of the seat–feet off the pegs, hands off the bars, basically laying on the top of the bike. The bike was also knocked out of gear. He crawled back in the seat and tried to find a gear. Unfortunately he had lost a great deal of momentum and was slowing. He was then hit on the right side by another rider.

Shaun was knocked from the bike and landed in the middle of the track. It was obvious that he had suffered a serious lower right leg injury. He was taken to Monterey Community Hospital where on advice of staff, he was flown to Stanford University Hospital where a team of specialists were waiting. They stabilized bone fractures and cleaned a huge wound on the top of his right foot. He had a second surgery on Tuesday morning to plate a broken fibula.

We are waiting for a decision from plastic surgeons as to when they will begin treating the wound itself. They will be taking skin from his thighs to cover the foot wound. Sum total, broken fibula, broken talus (major foot bone), broken heel, massive wound.

We have received a great number of calls checking on Shaun’s welfare. Thanks to all. He has a long recovery ahead of him. There is still a major risk of infection so we are keeping our fingers crossed.

Shaun is expected to remain in Stanford for about two weeks. Cards and letters can be sent to his home address:
Shaun Summers
3450 Jefferson Blvd.
West Sacramento, CA 95691
or he can be contacted via e-mail, [email protected]


Mike Summers
Sport Bike Night Racing