Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Beth Wyse

This weekend’s Grand Bayou Festival of Speed, January 11-12, at No Problem Raceway in Belle Rose, Louisiana will be the first major event put on by local racing team Church of Speed. The competition is to include road racing, drag racing and a stunt show.

The road racing portion of the Festival of Speed is open to racers who have a license with any of the major road racing organizations. Graduates of a racing school offered by the Church of Speed will be eligible, as well.

Saturday, January 11, will consist of practice and qualifying. The 20-lap races will be held on Sunday, and will include Heavyweight and Middleweight classes for both Experts and Novices. A Lightweight race will be combined Expert and Novice.

Organizers say that in each Expert class, the winner will receive $1000, while second place wins $500 and third gets $400. The payback goes through 10th place.

The feature race of the weekend will be a second Expert Heavyweight race. The race length will be extended to 25 laps, and the winner will receive $1200. Second place earns $750 and third receives $450. The winnings for the rest of the top 10 finishers will be the same as the shorter races.

In races with at least 40 entries, there will be a $300 holeshot award.

The Church of Speed expects to raise the money through entry fees and participating sponsors.

In the Novice classes, the winner will receive products from sponsors of the weekend, including EBC brakes and Silkolene. The winner will also get three sets of tires from the vendor of their choice.

All races will feature a LeMans start, in which riders are positioned on one side of the starting grid, with their bikes lined up on the other side. On the start, they have to run across the track to their bikes.

According a track spokesman, the cornerworkers for the weekend will consist of both veteran Church of Speed workers and many of the cornerworkers from the track’s car racing and track day events.

Haybales have been placed in impact zones throughout the track and both Airfence and haybales will be used in turn 14. The right-hand turn leads onto the front straight, which doubles as the runoff area for the track’s drag strip. Riders have to pass through a gap in a concrete wall that lines the drag strip, making the turn the primary safety concern at the facility for motorcycle racers.

From a press release issued by Ducati:

CAPIROSSI MAKES FIRST OFFICIAL VISIT TO DUCATI FACTORY



Loris Capirossi finally appeared in Ducati colours today as he made his first official visit to the Italian manufacturer’s factory in Borgo Panigale, Bologna.

Capirossi and Australian Troy Bayliss will spearhead Team Ducati Marlboro in the 2003 MotoGP championship with the Desmosedici as they bring the famous Italian name back to the elite class of motorcycle racing for the first time in over thirty years.

The Italian, to all effects a Ducati rider only from the start of this year, toured the factory and the museum and met Ducati Motor Holding Chairman, Federico Minoli, and CEO, Carlo Di Biagio, as well as receiving a warm welcome from the entire company.

“We are very proud to have Loris officially with us” declared Federico Minoli. “It is a great moment for Ducati because it opens up a very bright future. The real test however will be the race-track and the entire company will be cheering for him in April at the first round of the championship in Japan. Having an Italian rider on an Italian bike is a dream come true, we are both from Emilia-Romagna and we both share the same passion for racing”.

After setting excellent times in pre-season testing at Jerez and Phillip Island in November and December, Capirossi spent a couple of weeks in Australia on holiday with his wife Ingrid, and the 29-year-old from Castel San Pietro returns to Italy justifiably upbeat about his first season with an official factory team in the second year of MotoGP.

“I have in fact felt part of Ducati since the start of the year” declared Capirossi. “I have had an excellent reception here, the company is really well-prepared, full of professionals and we are making a lot of progress together. It is a pleasure to form part of a motorcycle manufacturer like Ducati and I am sure we can obtain some great satisfaction together”.

Loris, together with Troy, will next be in action at Malaysia’s Sepang circuit where Ducati Corse’s pre-season testing programme continues from January 20-22.

From a press release issued by Suzuki:

SUZUKI TAKE A ROLLING START TO THE NEW SEASON

Team Suzuki opens the 2003 testing season next week, with five days at Sepang near Kuala Lumpur. And the MotoGP team riders Kenny Roberts Jr. and John Hopkins will have plenty of company–-with a full house of Suzuki four-stroke racers circulating the Malaysian GP circuit.

For the GP team, the first tests of the new year start an intensive programme in the run up to the first race of the 2003 season – the Japanese GP at Suzuka on April 6. This is the second championship season for the new premier MotoGP class, the 990cc four-stroke prototypes; and also for Suzuki’s booming fuel-injected V4 GP bike, the GSV-R.

2000 World Champion Kenny Roberts will be returning to the machine that he put on the rostrum at Rio last year. The new Suzuki had came to the tracks a year earlier than planned, for a season of race-development.

Since the last race, intensive development work at the factory has incorporated all the lessons learned, to upgrade every area of performance for the maturing GSV-R. Malaysia gives the experienced Roberts his first chance to assess the latest improvements.

Team-mate Hopkins, several times a production-racing champion in the USA and a top rookie on a two-stroke last MotoGP season, will be renewing the acquaintance he made with the GSV-R in tests at the same track last year, after the end of his impressive debut MotoGP season riding a 500cc two-stroke.

The team regulars will be joined by Suzuki factory race-department tester Kosuko Akioshi.

The MotoGP machine they will test is still an interim prototype – built around last year’s successful machine, but with revisions throughout.

“We have a a long list and full test schedule for all the new components, from chassis, suspension and tyres to different engine characteristics and other details,” said team manager Garry Taylor.

“With several alternatives in all areas, and any number of combinations to try, we’re scheduled to test from Monday to Friday. That’s probably more time than we need, but you need to make allowances for the weather out there.

“It’s part of out continuous development schedule – a step along the way, rather than the final version that we expect to race,” added Taylor. “That will continue to evolve in the coming months.”

The MotoGP squad will be joined on track also by World and US factory-backed Superbike teams.

Spanish rider Gregorio Lavilla will be testing the latest GSX-R Superbike, in preparation for the 12-race season that starts in Spain on March 2.

The California-based US Yoshimura Suzuki team are also testing at Sepang. Former triple champion Mat Mladin and team-mates Aaron Yates and new recruit Ben Spies will be testing their AMA Superbike Suzuki GSX-R machines for the forthcoming season.

The MotoGP team has further tests scheduled at Phillip Island in Australia in the first week of February, before starting a programme of Spanish tests at the end of that month.

From a press release issued by FIM:

Road Racing World Classic Series

Main rules and calendar for the 2003 season

A series of races counting toward the FIM Road Racing World Classic Series for riders will be organised as of 2003. The International Classic Association (INCA) is the coordinator of the Series. The main points of the Regulations are the following:

Riders must hold a valid licence. The practice schedule includes 2 qualifying sessions of 30 minutes each, or 1 free session of 20 minutes and 2 qualifying sessions of 20 minutes each.

The length of the races will be of 45 km min. and 50 km max. (determined by the FIM and INCA after publication of the calendar). The final time schedule will be determined by the organisers in the Supplementary Regulations, subject to FIM approval.

For each race, Series points will be awarded following the current scale of Road Racing World Championships (25, 20, 16, 13 , 11 etc.). All races except one (the worst result for each rider) will count for the FIM Road Racing World Classic Series classification.

The series is open to production and factory machines with 4 stroke engines which were produced solely for racing used in the period up to and including 1972 or replicas thereof with a capacity of 351- 500 cc. Road based models will not be allowed. Number plates: black numbers on yellow backgrounds to be used.

Only original parts or copies relevant to the period may be used unless specified. There will be no weight restriction. Tyres must be of a treaded type only and of standard production pattern. No additional cutting of the pattern is allowed. Specially produced wet tyres are not allowed.

The use of fairings which will catch and retain oil / petrol is compulsory. These fairings must not be fitted with drain plugs. These must be removable to permit scrutineering.

The full Regulations will be shortly available on the FIM website (www.fim.ch, Rules and Codes, Road
Racing).

See below the calendar and the INCA address.
Date, Country, Circuit
March 30, Great Britain, Silverstone
June 8, Austria, A1-Ring
June 28, Spain, Albacete
July 13, Great Britain, Donington Park
July 27, Germany, Sachsenring
August 3, Netherlands, Assen
August 17, Czech Rep., Brno (tbc)
August 31, Czech Rep., Most

INTERNATIONAL CLASSIC ASSOCIATION (INCA)
Kingscrest, Lower Moor Road, Coleorton, Leicestershire LE67 8FJ

Tel: 011-44-1530-813-925, 011-44-1530-223-611, FAX 011-44-1530-813-925, 011-44-1530-224-300

From a press release issued by BIR:

BIR to Make History with the ‘Big Race’

All-motorcycle drag race expected to feature 1,000 racers, all major manufacturers

BRAINERD, Minn. – The largest motorcycle drag race in history is scheduled this summer at Brainerd International Raceway, featuring a $150,000 purse and as many as 1,000 drag bikes from both domestic and import maunfacturers. The event is scheduled for July 21-27.

The BIR Big Race will be a historical event because the total payout is the largest ever and it’s the first all-motorcycle race that will involve every major manufacturer. The top racers from the All Harley Drag Racing Association, National Hot Rod Association, AMA/Prostar Series and affiliated racing groups around the world will compete on BIR’s quarter-mile drag strip.

According to BIR officials, the key to the event is when domestic bikes face off against the imports. Harley-Davidson dragsters, for example, rarely race against the imports, but the BIR Big Race’s Pro Stock category will feature separate ladders for domestic and import drag bikes, with the winners of each facing off in the finals.

“Nobody’s ever attempted anything like this in the history of drag racing,” BIR President Bill Singleterry said. “We’ll have the fastest drag bikes and the best riders from around the world competing for big prize money. For those who love motorcycle drag racing, it doesn’ get any better than the BIR Big Race.”

The race will feature 12 classes, including everything from the fastest racers in the Top Fuel category down to Junior Racers. All racers will be competing for substantial prize money. Friday of the event will feature a separate $35,500 E.T. Shootout, which is the largest Sportsman payout in motorcycle drag racing history.

“We felt the time was right for an event like this, especially since it coincides with the 100th anniversary of Harley-Davidson,” Singleterry said. “Harley will have a substantial presence at this event, as will every other major motorcycle manufacturer.”

BIR is a subsidiary of Michigan-based Sports Resorts International Inc., a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ exchange (SPRI). Now in its 34th season, BIR is one of North America’s largest racetracks, featuring 800 acres of rustic camping, nearly 200 full-service RV sites and on-site condos. BIR is about 120 miles north of the Twin Cities, and it now has a new concrete drag strip that is one of the flattest and fastest in the country. Visit www.brainerdraceway.com.

For more information, visit the BIR Big Race Web site at www.birbigrace.com or contact PR Coordinator Geoff Gorvin at 218-821-9513.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

After two years without any public admission that the program exists, AMA Pro Racing has finally announced that riders who pre-enter the entire road racing season will receive a free guest pass.

An AMA Pro Racing memo addressed to “License Applicants” dated October 15, 2002 but postmarked January 3, 2003 states “Riders who are pre-entered for the entire race season can apply for a guest credential for a spouse, significant other or family member at no charge. The credential will not be issued to persons under the age of 16 and is not to be used for crew members.”

Since the secret policy–which until now had never been acknowledged in any AMA Pro printed materials, web postings, press releases or riders’ meetings–was enacted in 2000, dozens of riders who pre-entered for an entire season bought credentials for wives, girlfriends and relatives at a cost of $55 per race.

Last month AMA Pro Racing issued $550-per-season refund checks to those riders, with no explanation other than a notation of “guest pass refund” on the check stub, and with no apology.

The secret policy was first exposed and made public by Roadracingworld.com almost a year ago.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

The Grand Bayou Festival of Speed begins Friday, January 10 and runs until Sunday, January 12 at No Problem Raceway at Belle Rose, Louisiana. The festival is scheduled to include road racing, drag racing, a stunt riding competition and assorted side activities such as live bands, fireworks and a trophy girl contest.

Road racing practice begins Friday, timed qualifying takes place on Saturday and the final races will begin — with LeMans-style starts — Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Promoters say that the top 40 qualifiers will receive free race entries and a refund of their $20 gate fee.

Six races are planned, in five classes. Lightweight Experts & Novices (125cc GP bikes, Yamaha FZR400s, Suzuki SV650s, etc.) will race against each other for a $3000 cash purse. Middleweight Novices (mainly 600cc machines) and Heavyweight Novices (750cc and up machines) will race for tires, brake pads, Sunoco race fuel and gift certificates. Middleweight Experts will also race for a $3000 cash purse. Heavyweight Expert will have two races. The first race will be 20 laps of the 1.8-mile road course for a $3000 purse. The second Heavyweight Expert race will run for 25 laps for a $3500 purse.

Purse payouts for all $3000 races are:
1st – $1000
2nd – $500
3rd – $400
4th – $300
5th – $250
6th – $200
7th – $150
8th – $100
9th – $60
10th – $40

The purse payout for the $3500 race is:
1st – $1200
2nd – $750
3rd – $450
4th – $300
5th – $250
6th – $200
7th – $150
8th – $100
9th – $60
10th – $40.

Races with 40 or more riders will also feature a $300 Holeshot bonus for leading the first lap.

All classes will be run under Superbike rules and technical requirements, as set forth by the Church of Speed, the organizer of the event. The Church of Speed’s Kevin Nolde told Roadracingworld.com that he will accept any license issued by a recognized racing organization in the past two years.

For more information, call Kevin Nolde at (225) 383-7743 days, (225) 675-5879 evenings, e-mail [email protected] or go to www.churchofspeed.us.

From two press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing:

FPR’s Logistical Challenge

Mobilising a World Superbike team for a long-haul race or test is no mean feat.

And Foggy PETRONAS Racing experienced this first hand during a busy Christmas break as the team prepared its freight to be shipped overseas for two back-to-back tests this month in Phillip Island, Australia followed by Sepang near Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia – the home of team sponsors PETRONAS.

With hundreds of different items from plastic funnels to engines having been collated, the team packed 5,200 kilograms of equipment into 22 flight cases, which departed FPR’s Burton headquarters this morning for the twenty four hour flight to Australia.

Robin Budinger, Foggy PETRONAS Racing’s Stores and Stock Controller commented: “The volume and range of equipment and parts required for a fly-away test or race never ceases to amaze me and, it’s hard to appreciate what a logistical challenge a ‘pack-up’ is until you do it!

“As the team will not be returning to the UK in between the tests, it’s vital that they have enough equipment and parts with them to cater for every eventuality. Should the team desperately need something when testing in Europe, then at a last resort it could be flown out, but with a long haul there isn’t that luxury.”

Along with four Foggy FP1 bikes, a raft of spare parts were included to ensure the team has ample supplies for both tests, as was hundreds of litres of various lubricants for the engine, gearbox, suspension and brakes, and even dustbins for the pit garage.

The fourteen sets of spare wheel rims required a freight case all to themselves, although a box of 5,000 essential plastic tie-wraps used to tidily secure the hundreds of metres of cabling throughout the pit garage, a mere twenty cans of polish for keeping the Foggy FP1 bikes sparkling clean and even the hoover, all had their carefully allocated places in the freight!

FPR’s Aussie Troy Corser is excited to be returning to his home soil to test at the Phillip Island track, and both he and team-mate James Haydon are greatly looking forward to their first outing on the spectacular Sepang circuit in Malaysia at the end of the month.


Foggy Focus On Key Test

Carl Fogarty is hoping to the next two tests will provide a real indication of the chances of Foggy PETRONAS Racing for the 2003 World Superbike championship campaign.

His team is due to test at the Australian circuit of Phillip Island next week, followed by a three-day test in Malaysia the following week.

And the team owner recognises that the remaining track time is crucial for his two riders, James Haydon and Troy Corser.

Carl, who will not be in Phillip Island because of family commitments but who will be joining the team in Malaysia, said: “Australia is a big test for us.

“Whatever happens in the next two tests is probably going to reflect how we will kick-off at the first race of the year in Valencia on 2 March.

“We are hoping for a little more power and reliability from the engine so that we can get some race distances under our belts.

“Troy will have a good idea of what to expect as he knows the track inside out and knows what a Ducati and Aprilia would do round there. And I’ve got a good knowledge of the times to expect at Phillip Island. I think James has only been there once in the past.

“So, all things considered, we should get some good pointers before we head off to Sepang.”

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Harris WCM, formerly known as Red Bull Yamaha WCM, has signed 22-year-old British racer Chris Burns to ride for the team in the 2003 MotoGP World Championship, say sources in Europe. Harris WCM will race a prototype with a Harris-designed chassis powered by a highly-modified Yamaha YZF-R1 engine.

Burns has experience in the British Superstock series and the FIM 125cc Grand Prix World Championships but is a relative unknown in International racing. However, taking a gamble on an unproven-in-Grand-Prix racer who has shown some talent is nothing new for WCM Director of Racing Peter Clifford. Clifford gambled when he signed Aussie Garry McCoy, who went on to win several 500cc World Championship Grands Prix with WCM, and again on young American John Hopkins, who impressed enough in 2002 to earn a ride on the factory Suzuki MotoGP bike for 2003.

From a press release issued by Fortuna Yamaha, which will test again at Jerez January 20-22 and at Valencia January 25-27):

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS WITH MARCO MELANDRI AFTER YAMAHA FACTORY TEST IN VALENCIA (DECEMBER ’02)

Q: How do you feel having ridden the YZR-M1 for the first time at these tests in Valencia and Jerez? What is your first impression of the bike?

A: The night before I rode the bike for the first time in Valencia I was so excited I didn’t sleep at all! The first lap with the M1 was really strange – I could not believe a bike could go so fast. And the thing that I noticed most was the power. It felt hard to control at first but after a few laps it got easier and easier. At this stage I feel like I need maybe eight days more of testing until I can control the bike properly. I am pleased and surprised with my best lap time from this test – 1:34.83.

Q: From your first impressions, how does the four-stroke differ from the 250cc you have ridden until now?

A: I thought the engine braking would be stronger on the four-stroke but in fact it feels more similar to the 250. The biggest difference between the two is in the power delivery. With the four-stroke, the straight does not seem long enough! The M1 feels very light and more manoeuvrable than the 250. I would say that I felt a greater general difference when I changed from a 125cc bike to a 250cc, than I have done from the 250cc to the four-stroke MotoGP bike.

Q: How does it feel to be working with a completely new team?

A: I am really happy because the team is great, everyone wants to help me as much as they can. No-one has compared me to Biaggi so far! They have told me that I should keep my head down, learn as much as I can and enjoy myself. I am very lucky to have Fiorenzo Fanali as my crew chief, he has worked with so many great riders in the past including heroes of mine like Agostini and Lawson. I am trying to improve my English and I now need to speak it to the Japanese Yamaha engineers, even though most of my crew are Italian.

Q: How is it to have Carlos Checa as your new team-mate?

A: I am also very happy to work with Carlos – I think he’s a really good guy. I can learn a lot from him, and sometimes I can see from his times and lap data where I should be improving.

Q: What are your hopes for next season?

A: I’ve only had three days of testing, and the weather conditions at Jerez were very difficult so I couldn’t test much. But I can feel myself getting better each day with the bike, and we have many tests before the first Grand Prix in April. The Barcelona test in March, the last test before we start racing, is where I will see my true potential for the first race.