Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

SBR (Semoff Brothers Racing) won the WERA National Endurance Series 6-Hour at Summit Point Raceway Saturday, beating series points leaders Vesrah Racing by five laps. Army of Darkness finished third overall.

SBR’s Glenn Szarek and Joe Prussiano used a Suzuki GSX-R750 to beat Vesrah’s GSX-R1000 ridden by Mark Junge, Tray Batey and John Jacobi.

Vesrah encounted a quick-change rear axle problem and lost five laps making repairs.

The Army of Darkness GSX-R600 was ridden by Mark Crozier, Jim Williams and Sam Fleming, and finished first in Mediumweight Superbike as well as third overall.

Both SBR and Vesrah competed in the Heavyweight Superbike class.

In Suzuki World Cup qualifying action, David Yaakov and Chris Rankin started on the front row of the heat race to determine starting position and finished one-two, while Jason DiSalvo came from the back of the grid to finish third and earn a front-row starting position. Robert Jensen also came from the back of the grid, and finished fourth, but was disqualified for being underweight and will start Sunday’s final on the back of the grid.

The winner of Sunday’s race earns an all-expenses-paid trip to the Suzuki World Cup to be held next month in France.

Details to follow.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Suzuka Special Stage Qualifying Results:

1. 2:06.577 – Alex Barros, 2:06.577/Yuichi Takeda, 2:09.523, Superbike, Honda RC51

2. 2:06.840 – Colin Edwards, 2:06.840/Daijiro Kato, 2:07.291, Superbike, Honda RC51

3. 2:07.332 – Makoto Tamada, 2:07.332/Tadayuki Okada, 2:09.052, Superbike, Honda RC51

4. 2:07.494 – Akira Ryo, 2:07.792/Yukio Kagayama, 2:07.494, Superbike, Suzuki GSX-R750

5. 2:07.934 – Yukio Nukuni, 2:10.449/Shinichi Nakatomi, 2:07.934, Superbike, Honda RC51

6. 2:08.069 – Wataru Yoshikawa, 2:08.069/Takeshi Tsujimura, 2:08.083, Superbike, Yamaha YZF-R7

7. 2:08.429 – Noriyaso Numata, 2:09.090/Keiichi Kitagawa, 2:08.429, Prototype, Suzuki GSX-R1000

8. 2:08.824 – Morihiko Fujiwara, 2:10.449/Tekkyu Kayoh, 2:08.824, Superbike, Yamaha YZF-R7

9. 2:09.160 – Shinya Takeishi, 2:11.619/Tamaki Serizawa, 2:09.160, Prototype, Suzuki Tornado S1

10. 2:09.433 – Osamu Nishijima, 2:10.491/Ryuji Tsuruta, 2:09.433, Superbike, Kawasaki ZX-7RR

11. 2:09.555 – Satoshi Tsujimoto, 2:12.264/Yu-ki Takahashi, 2:09.555, Superbike, Honda RC51

12. 2:10.237 – Yoshiteru Konishi, 2:10.316/Manabu Kamada, 2:10.237, X-Formula, Honda CBR954RR

13. 2:11.045 – Doug Polen, 2:11.045/Takahito Mori, 2:22.917, X-Formula, Honda CBR954RR

14. 2:11.079 – Shohei Karita, no time/Isami Higushimura, 2:11.079, Superbike, Kawasaki ZX-7RR

15. 2:11.426 – Yoshihiro Konno, 2:12.935/Akira Tamitsuji, 2:11.426, X-Formula, Suzuki GSX-R1000

16. 2:11.154 – Adam Fergusson, 2:11.154/Jordan Szoke, 2:11.927, Super Production, Suzuki GSX-R1000

17. 2:11.550 – Shogo Moriwaki, 2:12.099/Masao Okuno, 2:11.550, X-Formula, Honda CBR954RR

18. 2:11.717 – Osamu Deguichi, 2:11.717/Hiroki Noda, 2:12.610, Superbike, Honda RC51

19. 2:11.972 – Yasuhiko Satoh, 2:15.649/Makoto Tokinaga, 2:11.972, X-Formula, Yamaha YZF-R71

20. 2:12.066 – Kasuhiro Kanayama, 2:22.235/Toshiyuki Hamaguchi, 2:12.066, X-Formula, Suzuki GSX-R1000

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Arclight Suzuki’s Craig Connell extended his Formula USA Pro Honda Oils 600cc Sportbike point lead by earning pole position, and the bonus point that comes with it, in Saturday’s 40-minute qualifying session at Road America. Connell turned a lap of 2:17.451 early in the session for a new lap record, beating the old lap record held by John Hopkins at 2:20.265 from May of 2000. The top six 600cc Sportbike qualifiers went faster than Hopkins’ old record, set on a 2000 GSX-R600 in AMA 600cc Supersport trim.

Team Hooters Mountain Dew Suzuki’s Larry Pegram was second-fastest from the outset of the session and steadily worked closer to Connell’s mark, but came up short with a time of 2:17.735 on his Suzuki GSX-R600. Pegram’s teammate Michael Barnes and Connell’s teammate Lee Acree, third- and fourth-fastest qualifiers respectively, will also start from the front row for Sunday’s 12-lap Sportbike final.

Lee Acree suffered second-degree burns during last weekend’s AMA National round at Mid-Ohio, and his task at Road America was made that much more difficult by a high-speed crash Saturday morning due to fluid on the track from another machine. “I’ve felt better,” said Acree as he changed bandages on his burned thigh Saturday afternoon.

Bettencourt Suzuki’s Jeff Wood was fifth-fastest on his back-up bike, Matt Wait qualified sixth on a borrowed Big Show Racing Suzuki GSX-R600, regional racer Monte Nichols was seventh-fastest on his Citgo-backed Yamaha YZF-R6 and young gun Steve Atlas qualified eighth on his Numbskullz Suzuki.


Honda Pro Oils Sportbike Qualifying Results:

1. Craig Connell, Suzuki, 2:17.451
2. Larry Pegram, Suzuki, 2:17.735
3. Michael Barnes, Suzuki, 2:18.233
4. Lee Acree, Suzuki, 2:19.013
5. Jeff Wood, Suzuki, 2:19.399
6. Matt Wait, Suzuki, 2:20.141
7. Monte Nichols, Yamaha, 2:20.393
8. Steve Atlas, Suzuki, 2:21.109
9. Scott Greenwood, Suzuki, 2:21.303
10. Andrew Nelson, Honda, 2:22.548
11. David Wappler, 2:22.651
12. Ray Bowman, Honda, 2:22.879
13. Cory West, Honda, 2:23.058
14. Dr. Jeff Purk, Suzuki, 2:23.859
15. Darrin Mitchell, 2:24.275
16. Dave Rosno, Suzuki, 2:25.415
17. Scot Stevens, 2:25.698
18. Jason Temme, Yamaha, 2:25.700
19. Kurt Marmor, Ducati 748, 2:26.796
20. Rick Bretl, 2:26.937

Previous Sportbike lap record: 2:20.265, John Hopkins, 5/00

From a press release from the SBK Press Office:

Superbike International and the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo together to 2005

London: The President of Superbike International Mr. Paolo Alberto Flammini and the General Circuit Director Jose Maria Oltra have signed a three-year contract.

The Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo will host the FIM World Superbike Spanish Round in the years 2003, 2004 and 2005.

The circuit has already held a Superbike Round in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Moreover, attendance has increased constantly each year for both media and public.

Jose Maria Otra declared: “This is a great opportunity for the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo to become the green light of the Superbike World Championship, and we are very confident of the success the Superbike races will have.”

Mister Paolo Alberto Flammini said: “I am very happy about the 3-year agreement which will give the Circuit and SBK the possibility to build a tradition of Superbike in the Country and in one of the most beautiful Spanish circuit. In a short time the synergy between both Companies will produce the same success that the Superbike World Championship has achieved all around the world.”

From a press release:

Prieto Racing, Inc. announces expansion of its racer support to include an all-new trackside garage. Upgrades, repairs, and service will be performed at the track, on an as-needed basis.

The addition of post-crash repairs, consultations, oil changes, gearing changes, various installations, etc. will be available to assist riders at the racetrack. Along with the parts and accessories currently available at the races, the current level of inventory will be increased to provide improved trackside service.

Shane Prieto’s retirement from racing is not related to Prieto Racing, Inc.; Sean and Wendy Prieto continue to provide services at the shop and at the track, as well as sponsorship to Amateur racer Ralph Fernandez.

For more information contact Prieto Racing, Inc. at 954 788-7528 or visit their website at www.prietoracing.com.

From a press release:

DUCATI MOTOGP AND SBK TESTING CONCLUDES AT MUGELLO

Two days of testing for Ducati Corse at the Mugello Circuit in Italy concluded today without any problems, both for the ‘laboratory’ version of the new Ducati Desmosedici MotoGP and the Superbike version of the new Ducati 999.

Today the Desmosedici, in the hands of Italian test-rider Vittoriano Guareschi, did a total of 38 laps, while Australian Steve Martin of the Ducati DFX team and Ducati Corse tester for the two days, completed 51 laps.

From a press release:

For the next time you decide to go out racing or trail/desert riding, following is information about why you might consider having one of these on you…

TOTALLY FREE EMERGENCY MEDICAL DECALS

About two months ago, a friend of Dave Kimmey, president of Engine Ice, was at a local motocross track and got hurt really bad–bad enough to get flown out. As if that wasn’t bad enough, he had brought his five-year-old son with him.

A riding buddy was there, but he soon realized that he only knew the downed rider’s name and home phone. That was no help, being no one was at home and he didn’t know what to do about the rider’s 5 yr. old boy.

Have you been in this situation before?

Engine Ice Hi-Performance Coolant realized that many riders do not have and/or, do not carry any emergency information on them when they’re riding. Many tracks only require you to sign a waiver, but keep no actual information on each and every rider.

As a public service to anyone who rides and/or races a motorcycle (street or dirt), Engine Ice has decided to help do something about this.

TOTALLY FREE EMERGENCY MEDICAL DECALS

It is a high quality, vinyl decal specially coated with a write-on surface and is the size of a business card. It fits cleanly on the underside of a motocross helmet visor without distracting your vision. On the card is space for riders name, Date of Birth, Medical Allergies, Medical History and Emergency Phone #.

“This could save your life or the life of a friend. Myself and the staff at Engine Ice hope that by year’s end, every rider will have one of these, or something similar on his or her helmet,” said Engine Ice president David Kimmey.

To receive your free Medical Decal, send a Postage Paid, self addressed envelope to:

Engine Ice
Dept.: Medical Decals
707 SW 3rd Ave
Boynton Beach, FL 33426

From a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service:

RYO AND KAGAYAMA THIRD QUICKEST IN QUALIFYING AT SUZUKA

2002 FIM World Endurance Championship – Qualifying Session, Round 4, Suzuka, Japan, Friday, August 2, 2002.

In the first morning qualifying session, Team Suzuki rider Akira Ryo raced to the top of the A group with a time of 2:07.593. Team Suzuki’s Yukio Kagayama was next out in the second morning session and managed to gain a time of 2:07.309, the second quickest of the session, just before it started to rain.

In the third rider’s session, Team Suzuki rider Atsushi Watanabe finished with the quickest lap.

Team Suzuki ended the morning session ranked 3rd overall courtesy of Kagayama’s time.

The first afternoon session saw Ryo put in a few laps before the rains came. Kagayama went out in the second session on a dry track but was unable to beat his time set in the morning qualifying.

Overall, Team SUZUKI finished third fastest in the overall standings with Kagayama’s second time taken as the qualifying time. Barros/Takeda (Honda) qualified first and Kato/Edwards (Honda) qualified in second.

Akira Ryo – 2:07.593
“We had planned to use the morning session to find a good set-up for the bike and then use the afternoon session to put some quick laps in. But when I was ready for the time attack in the afternoon session, it started to rain and we were unable to get any good lap-times in. The bike has been really good so far and the temperature has not been too bad yet. It was just a rehearsal today. I hope to keep us on track for the final race by not risking too much.”

Yukio Kagayama – 2:07.309
“I had my chance to do my best lap-times robbed by a shower in the morning and by slow riders in the afternoon. I am disappointed with the time of 2:07 as I had expected to bag a 2:06 lap, and I sure that my pace today was good enough to make it. But, I’m happy with the bike – it’s been improved by each ride and we now have a really competitive machine. So, I think we have done everything we need to do. I hope it will not be too hot at the Special Stage and that we can get a good position for the final race.”

Qualifying session:

1. Barros/Takeda (Honda)

2. Kato/Edwards (Honda)

3. Ryo/Kagayama (TEAM SUZUKI)