From a press release issued by Pramac:

PRAMAC HONDA TEAM



The Tuscany-based Pramac Industrial Group has long been interested in and committed to sport, and its racing department, Pramac Racing, will be working at the forefront of the forthcoming MotoGP championship. Today sees the official launch of the ‘Pramac Honda Team’ which will be participating in the world championship with the five-cylinder Honda RC 211V, ridden by Japanese ace Makoto Tamada, and with the colossal Japanese tyre manufacturer Bridgestone as a technical partner.

For the Tuscan industrial group, this involvement in the MotoGP will be a new and significant step in its commitment to sport, and it provides clear demonstration of Pramac’s great interest in and passion for motorcycle racing. It is an important project and is one that flanks the prestigious challenge for the 2003 world title.

The ‘Pramac Honda Team’ is the outcome of the programme made possible thanks to the acquisition only for 2003, of one of the Spanish D’Antin team’s MotoGP World Championship entry seats.

The ‘Pramac Honda’ project has come into being thanks to the close ties between the Pramac Industrial Group and the Honda Racing Corporation, and in addition there is the considerable interest of Bridgestone in continuing its research and development in first-class motorcycle racing. The Japanese tyre manufacturer’s undisputed dominance of Formula 1 has paved the way for this decisive operation in the world of motorcycling, and the results acquired in recent years suggest there are excellent reasons for continuing along this track.

Pramac Group also makes official the top-level appointment of Mr Tetsuo Iida. Mr Iida is the new President of Pramac Racing. His international career with the Japanese giant Honda has taken him all the way up to become President of Honda Europe, a post he has held for nine years. Mr Iida today picks up the gauntlet thrown down by the Campinoti family and the Pramac Industrial Group, and he will be taking part in this new world-championship adventure as a head of the Racing Division.

General management of the ‘Pramac Honda Team’ has been entrusted to Gianluca Montiron, who successfully managed the Pramac Group MotoGP project last year. Twenty-six year old Makoto Tamada from Ehime, runner-up in the Japanese Superbike and winner of three SBK world championship races, is facing a challenge of immense importance. His task will be to combine the phenomenal competitiveness of the Honda RC 211V with the Bridgestone’s tire development work.

The Pramac Honda Team is set to make its first sortie on the track in the winter tests slated for 20/21/22 January at Sepang (Malaysia).

From a press release issued by CRA:

The Central Roadracing Association has firmed dates for the 2003 racing season. CRA has sustained the same racing fees as last year, along with eliminating a DB Com fee to provide the most affordable racing! CRA has also deployed Airfence at Brainerd International Raceway for added safety measures.

For more information on CRA racing, volunteering or spectating, please visit www.cra-mn.org or call (612) 3320-4070

April 11-13 Midamerica Motorplex*

May 2-4 Brainerd International Raceway*

June 21-22 Brainerd International Raceway (wkd before AMA)

July 19-20 Brainerd International Raceway

Aug 23-24 Midamerica Motorplex

Sept 12-14 Brainerd International Raceway

*Indicates New Riders School

From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

NEW DUCATI CORSE COMMUNICATIONS STRUCTURE

In order to face up to a demanding 2003 racing season, Ducati Corse has reorganised its communications sector with the creation of a new structure.

45-year-old journalist Francesco Rapisarda has been appointed Director of Communications. Francesco, who has considerable experience in motorcycles (Motosprint, RJ Reynolds and Aprilia) returns to the sector after a period spent working in football and tennis (Director of Communications Lotto Sport Italia).

Francesco Rapisarda, who will report directly to Ducati Corse Managing Director Claudio Domenicali, will be responsible for the management of this important and delicate structure. He will be present at all the MotoGP races and will also coordinate Ducati Corse’s Superbike and Corporate activities.

The Ducati Corse Communications Office will be completed by Julian Thomas (Superbike Press Officer) and Sonia Braggio (Assistant).

The new structure becomes operational from January 8, 2003.

(Editorial Note: Rapisarda handled PR for Aprilia at the time the original Aprilia Mille was launched.)

From a press release issued by Team Roberts:

Formula One Designer John Barnard Joins Team Roberts

Banbury, England – January 7, 2003: Team Roberts is proud to announce that John Barnard has joined the team as Technical Director. Mr. Barnard assumes this role, effective immediately, at the team’s United Kingdom base of operations.

Mr. Barnard is famous for his prolific design work with racing cars, especially in Formula One. In a career spanning some 35 years he has worked for companies such as Lola Cars, McLaren, Benetton, Ferrari, Arrows and Prost.

Barnard assisted Gordon Coppuck in the design of McLaren’s 1974 F1 World Championship-winning M23. From 1975 through 1978 he designed the Vel’s Parnelli Jones VPJ6 series of Indy Cars. The series used an in-house developed turbocharged Cosworth DFV engine, the first turbo application of that of engine type. The VPJ6B is also noteworthy for initiating the use of a transverse mounted gearbox.

Other notable Barnard penned cars include Jim Hall’s 1980 Indy 500 and Indy Car championship winning Chaparral 2K, and the first all composite monocoque Formula One car – the McLaren MP4/1, which claimed it’s first victory by taking the 1981 British GP at Silverstone during it’s maiden season. The MP4/1 led to McLaren’s dominance of F1 in the mid-80’s. While heading up Ferrari’s Guildford Technical Office in England, Barnard developed Formula One’s first semi-automatic gearbox. The 1998 Arrows A19 F1 car was the first car to use a carbon composite gearbox, which was designed by Barnard.

In the capacity of Technical Director for Team Roberts, Mr. Barnard will be responsible for all engineering and technical development of the organization’s projects, including the 2003 Proton KR V-5 four-stroke grand prix racing motorcycle. He will also oversee all technical aspects of the racing team.

“There are a lot of things that can be done with motorcycles,” stated Barnard. “It’s all very exciting. There are new ways to make things as well as new ways to approach things in general.” He added, “Above all we must be realistic. We need to build a good foundation and get our feet on the ground, from there we can move forward.”

Team Roberts owner, Kenny Roberts commented, “Bringing John into our organization is another step in our quest to achieve a higher level of engineering, overall expertise, and competitiveness. He added, “I’ve known John for a lot of years and have complete faith in his ability to help us evolve our company and our team to a higher level.”

From a press release issued by the Chrysler Group of Daimler-Chrysler:



Dodge Tomahawk: Breaking Boundaries at Full Throttle

Life just got more extreme. Much more extreme.

The Viper-powered Dodge Tomahawk concept vehicle shatters all the barriers of conventional thinking about personal transportation. This four-wheel, single-passenger vehicle is a sleek, rolling sculpture that combines art-deco styling with extreme engineering.



The 500-horsepower Viper V-10 engine powering the dual rear wheels gives this radical vehicle a potential top speed of nearly 400 miles per hour – for anyone who wants to test it. The Tomahawk roared into public view at the North American International Auto Show.



“The Dodge brand philosophy always challenges us to grab life by the horns,” said Trevor Creed, Senior Vice President – Design, Chrysler Group. “In the case of Tomahawk, grabbing and holding onto anything for dear life is a necessity. It’s just that extreme and passionate; a glimpse into the soul and commitment of true enthusiasts.”

Initial reaction to the concept vehicle typically comes in two words: “Wow” and “why.”

The “wow” is easy to understand from Dodge, the brand that continues to drive its foot to the floor – most recently with the all-new 2003 Viper, Heavy Duty and Light Duty Rams and an SRT lineup dedicated to engineering the most powerful production vehicles in their segments.

But “why” would a company, famous for its innovative car and truck designs, go down this particular path?

“Tomahawk is an icon of the extreme thinking for a brand that is known not only for the legendary Viper and Ram, but also for all new, innovative vehicles such as the Magnum SRT-8 and Durango concepts,” said Creed.



That extreme thinking produced a machine in the true tradition of power-junkie passion, powered by a 505 cu. in., 8300 cc aluminum Viper V-10 engine.

“This is a bold faced slap against mediocrity,” Creed said. “Tomahawk is a scintillating example of what creative minds can do when given the opportunity to run free. It is a pure mechanical sculpture and a joyous celebration of the artistry and emotion of design.”

The Dodge Tomahawk is a Chrysler Group design concept that is as much a Viper-powered work of art as it is a whole new type of vehicle invention. It is both a sculpture that can be ridden, as well as a bold statement about the Chrysler Group’s enthusiast culture and passion for design.

“Tomahawk moves design concept introductions and the concept car game to a whole new level – as only Dodge and the Chrysler Group can,” said Creed.

DODGE TOMAHAWK CONCEPT VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS

GENERAL INFORMATION

Body Style: Single-seat Viper-powered motorcycle concept vehicle

DIMENSIONS:

Overall Length: 102 inches
Overall Width: 27.7 inches
Overall Height: 36.9 inches
Wheelbase: 76 inches
Seat Height: 29 inches
Curb Weight: 1,500 lbs.
Track, Front: 8.75 inches
Track, Rear: 10 inches
Weight Dist., % F/R: 49/51
Ground Clearance: 3 inches
Fuel Tank Capacity: 3.25 gallons

ENGINE: 8.3-LITER, OHV, 20-VALVE SMPI V-10

Type and Description: 10-cylinder 90-degree V-type, liquid-cooled
Displacement: 505 cubic inches (8277 cc)
Construction: 356-T6 aluminum alloy block with cast-iron liners, aluminum alloy cylinder heads
Bore x Stroke: 4.03 inches x 3.96 inches (102.4 x 100.6)
Valve System: Two pushrod-actuated overhead valves per cylinder with roller-type hydraulic lifters
Fuel Injection:Sequential, multi-port electronic with individual runners
Compression Ratio: 9.6:1
Power (SAE net): 500 bhp (372 kW) @ 5600 rpm (60.4 bhp/liter)
Torque (SAE net): 525 lb.-ft. (712 N•m) @ 4200 rpm
Max Engine Speed: 6000 rpm
Fuel Requirement: Unleaded premium, 93 octane (R+M/2)
Oil System: Dry Sump
Oil Capacity: 8 qts. Mobil1 10W30 Synthetic
Cooling System: Twin aluminum radiators mounted atop engine intake manifolds, force-fed from front-mounted, belt-driven turbine fan
Coolant Capacity: 11 qts.
Exhaust System: Equal-length tubular stainless steel headers with dual collectors and central rear outlets

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:

Alternator: 136-amp high-speed
Battery: Leak-resistant, maintenance-free 600 CCA
Lighting: Headlights consist of 12 five-watt LEDs, front, with beam-modifying optics and masked lenses. Eight LEDs, rear. Headlamps articulate with wheels.

TRANSMISSION: Manual, foot-shifted two-speed

Type: Aluminum-cased two-speed, sequential racing-style with dog ring, straight-cut gears
Gear Ratios:
1st18:38
2nd23:25
Clutch:Double-disc, dry-plate with organic friction materials, hand lever actuated with assist

FINAL DRIVE: Dual 110-link motorcycle-style chains

Front Sprockets: 14 teeth
Rear Sprockets:35 teeth

BODY/CHASSIS:

Layout:Longitudinal, centrally mounted engine, rear-wheel drive
Chassis Construction: Monocoque, engine is central, stressed member
Body Construction: Billet aluminum

SUSPENSION:

Front: Outboard, single-sided parallel upper and lower control arms made from polished billet aluminum. Mounted via ball joint to aluminum steering uprights and hubs. Five degrees caster. Single, fully adjustable centrally located coil-over damper (2.25-inch coil with adjustable spring perch); pullrod and rocker-actuated mono linkage. Center-lock racing-style hubs

Rear: Hand-fabricated box-section steel inboard swing arms, incorporating “hydral-link” lockable recirculating hydraulic circuit parking stand. Single fully adjustable centrally located Koni coil-over damper (2.25-inch coil with adjustable spring perch); pushrod and rocker-actuated mono linkage. Center-lock racing-style hubs

STEERING:

Type: Dual hub center type.
Steering Linkage: Rocker arm and push/pull rod with roller bearings. Polished billet aluminum steering yoke with turned aluminum grips and billet levers
Steering Lock: 20 degrees, left and right
Lean Angle: 45 degrees, left and right

TIRES (4):

Mfr. and Model:Dunlop custom-made symmetrical
Size, Front (2): P120/60R-20
Size, Rear (2): P150/50R-20

WHEELS (4):

Type and Material: Billet aluminum discs, asymmetrical
Size, Front (2): 20×4
Size, Rear (2):20×5

BRAKES:

Front:20-inch perimeter-mounted drilled machined stainless steel rotors, one per wheel. Two four-piston fixed aluminum calipers per wheel (16 pistons total), custom designed. Blue anodized caliper finish. Hand-activated.
Rear:20-inch perimeter-mounted drilled cast-iron rotors, one per wheel. One four-piston fixed aluminum caliper per wheel (8 pistons total), custom designed. Blue anodized caliper finish. Foot-activated.

PERFORMANCE:

0-60 mph:2.5 seconds (est.)
Top Speed: 300+ mph (est.)

From a press release issued by Dr. Rob Tuluie:

Tul-aris Racing Team Business Registered; New Tul-aris Sponsors


Minneapolis, MN: Dr. Rob Tuluie’s Tul-aris racing team will continue its design and development of racing motorcycles, in particular the day-to-day operation of the Tul-aris racing team under the name MotoLab.

In addition, we welcome as new official sponsors:

Carbon Fiber Specialty Products, a business specializing in carbon fiber and other composites products for motorcycle

DCM Services, a manufacturer of limited production, high-performance machined components

Deus Ex Machina Engineering, Inc., an electronic design and embedded software consulting business

Look for their logos as well as our regular sponsors’ decals on the side of the Tul-aris fairing.

In other news, the Tul-aris will be on display at the Cycle World Motorcycle Show from January 24-26th.

MotoLab and the Tul-aris project is sponsored by:

Michelin Tires – Walt Schaeffer Michelin Racing Tires
Nutec Racing Fuel
Hot Seat Performance
Ohlins USA
Lofgren Racing/Manley Cycle
Mason Racing Tires
MTS Systems Corporation
Yoyodyne Titanium
GP Tech
Carbon Fiber Specialties Products
DCM Services
Deus Ex Machina

Special thanks to:
Chad Pierce and Eric Christensen (Polaris) for engine parts
Arrowhead Printing

From a press release issued by the FIM:

Mies, January 7

Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix
Main changes to the Rules for the 2003 season

The Grand Prix Commission, composed of Messrs. Carmelo Ezpeleta (Dorna, Chairman), Claude Danis (FIM), Sito Pons (IRTA) and Takanao Tsubouchi (MSMA), in the presence of Mr Paul Butler (Secretary of the meeting), unanimously decided to introduce the following modifications to the Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix Regulations, among which the introduction of the neutralisation of the race in the MotoGP class for climatic reasons, with safety car, pit stop and rolling start. For immediate application:

SPORTING REGULATIONS

1.18 Start Procedure
(…) On returning to the grid the riders must take up their positions with the front wheel of their motorcycle up to or behind the front line and between the side lines defining the grid position and keep their engines running.
(…) Anticipation of the start is defined by the motorcycle moving forward when the red lights are on.

1.20 “Wet” and “Dry” Races
(…) Dry Races – A race classified as dry will be interrupted (125cc/250cc) or neutralised (MotoGP) by the Race Director, if he considers that climatic conditions affecting the surface of the track makes it likely that riders will wish to change tyres.
Wet Races – A race classified as wet, usually commenced in varying or wet conditions, will not be interrupted (125cc/250cc) or neutralised (MotoGP) for climatic reasons and riders who wish to change tyres must enter the pits and do so during the actual race.
In all cases where the first race is interrupted (125cc/250cc) or neutralised (MotoGP) for climatic reasons, then the restart will, automatically, be a “wet” race.

1.22 Flags and Lights used to provide information
Green Flag: (…) Two green flags will be waved at the start line (one at each side) to resume a neutralised race.
Flashing Blue Lights: Will be switched on at the pit lane exit at all time during practices and races.
White Flag with diagonal red cross: Shown motionless at each flag marshal post. The race is neutralised. Riders must slow down. A SAFETY CAR is on the race track. Riders may enter the pit lane at the end of the current lap or may continue on the track to catch up the SAFETY CAR. Overtaking the SAFETY CAR is forbidden.

1.25 Interruption of a race
If the Race Director decides to interrupt a race, then red flags will be displayed at the finish line and at all marshals’ posts and he will switch on the red lights around the circuit. Riders must immediately slow down and return to the pit lane. (…)
If three laps or more have been completed by the leader of the race and all other riders on the same lap as the leader, but less than two-thirds of the original race distance, rounded down to the nearest whole number of laps, then for the 125cc/250cc class, the race will be re-started according to art. 1.26 with the laps and times of the two races added together to arrive at a final result. For the MotoGP class, the race will be resumed according to art. 1.28.
If it is found impossible to re-start or to resume the race, then the results will count and half points will be awarded in the Championship.
If the results calculated show that two-thirds of the original race distance rounded down to the nearest whole number of laps have been completed by the leader of the race and by all other riders on the same lap as the leader, then for the 125cc and 250cc classes the race will be deemed to have been completed and full Championship points will be awarded. For the MotoGP class, the race will be resumed according to art. 1.28. If it is found impossible to resume the race, then the results will count and full Championship points will be awarded.

1.26 Re-Starting a race that has been interrupted
If a race has to be re-started, then it will be done as quickly as possible, consistent with track conditions allowing. As soon as the riders have returned to the pits the Clerk of the Course will announce a time for the new start procedure to begin which, conditions permitting, should not be later than 10 minutes after the initial display of the red flag. (…)

1.27 Neutralisation of a Race (MotoGP only) – New article
According to circumstances a MotoGP class race may be neutralised several times.
If the Race Director decides to neutralise a race due to climatic conditions or some other reason then the following procedure will apply:
1. White flags with a diagonal red cross will be displayed motionless at each flag marshal post.
2. A safety car will leave the pit lane and make one lap. The pit lane exit will be closed with red lights and red flag.
3. Riders may enter the pit lane at the end of their current lap or make one more lap to check the conditions of the track and then enter the pit lane.
4. Riders who decide to make one more lap must prepare to catch up the safety car. Overtaking the safety car is forbidden.
5. At the end of his lap the safety car will enter the pit lane and the track will be closed with red flags. Riders following the safety car must enter the pit lane.
6. The safety car will stop approximately 50 metres beyond the exit of pit lane.
7. In the pit lane riders may change tyres, make adjustments to the motorcycle, refuel or change machine.
8. If the race is neutralised before the last lap, a provisional race classification will be published. The provisional race classification will be the results taken at the last point where the leader and all other riders on the same lap as the leader had completed a full lap without the neutralisation flags being displayed calculated as in the principle set out in article 1.25.1. Riders already in the pit lane can be classified. Riders who did not complete 75% of the laps completed by the leader will not be classified. The race will be resumed according to article 1.28.
9. In case of neutralisation during the last lap the following procedure will apply:
if at least one rider has completed the scheduled number of laps of the original race, the race classification will be calculated as in the principle set out in the exception in article 1.25.1 and race will not be resumed.
if no rider has completed the scheduled number of laps of the original race, the provision of article 1.27.8 will apply and the race will be resumed according to article 1.28.
10. In the case of more than one neutralisation the provisional race classification for positions and eligibility to take part in the resumed start will always be those based on the provisional race classification taken at the latest neutralisation.
11. In all cases the provisional race classification will be displayed on the official timekeeping monitors.

1.28 Resuming a race that has been neutralised (MotoGP only) – New article
1. The Race Direction will announce when the Safety Car will leave the pit lane to resume the race.
2. The number of laps to go will be the difference between the scheduled number of laps of the original race and the number of laps of the provisional race classification. If the difference is less than 3 the number of laps to go will be 3 laps.
3. In the case of more than one neutralisation, the number of laps to go will be the difference between the scheduled number of laps of the original race and the number of laps completed in all the previous parts. If the difference is less than 3, the number of laps to go will be 3 laps.
4. Only riders included in the latest provisional race classification may resume the race.
5. 2 minutes before the Safety Car leaves the pit lane, the pit lane exit will be opened with green lights and flags to allow the riders to form up behind the safety car in the order of the provisional race classification.
6. 30 seconds before the Safety Car leaves the pit lane, all riders should be ready behind the safety car in the order of the provisional race classification.
7. At the time announced by the Race Direction, the pit lane exit will be closed with red flags and lights and the safety car will make one lap followed by the riders. Overtaking the safety car is forbidden. Any riders remaining in the pit lane will resume the race from the pit lane.
8. In all cases the time to go before the safety car departs and the pit lane exit closes will be displayed on a countdown board or clock at the pit lane exit and on the official timekeeping monitors.
9. At the end of his lap the safety car will enter the pit lane whilst the riders continue on the track.
10. The race will resume by rolling start when the riders cross the start line where two green flags (one at each side) will be waved and the green start lights will be switched on. At that time a time penalty may be imposed by the Race Direction on any rider:
* who is not behind the rear wheel of the motorcycle in front of him.
* who is in a higher position than in the provisional race classification.
* who is more than 3 seconds behind the rider in front of him.
11. After the last rider in the file has passed the pit lane exit the green lights will be switched on and the green flag will be waved to allow the riders who are still in the pit lane to resume the race.
12. The final race classification will be established according to the position and the consolidated number of laps of each rider at the time he crossed the finish line at the end of the race. Provisions of article 1.23.5. will apply.

TECHNICAL REGULATIONS

2.5 Weights
The following are the minimum weights permitted:
– 125cc motorcycle + rider 136 kg
– 250cc 1 cylinder motorcycle 100 kg
2 cylinders motorcycle 100 kg
(…) For the 125cc class the weight checked will be the total of the rider with full protective clothing plus the weight of the motorcycle. Random weight controls may be carried out during practice in a designated weighing area.

2.6 Fuel Tanks
The fuel tank capacities for prototype motorcycles are:
(…)- 4-stroke engines: maximum 24 litres

2.7.3 Brakes
(…) In the 125cc and 250cc classes, only brake discs of ferrous materials are allowed.

2.9 Numbers and Backgrounds
(…) Numbers must be a minimum height of 140mm.
Backgrounds must be of one single colour over an area large enough to provide a minimum clear area of 25mm around the numbers.

From a press release issued by Kneedraggers.com:

Kneedraggers.com Race Team Signs Crew Chief for 2003

The KneeDraggers.com team has retained the services of Chuck Giachetto to be their crew chief and tuner for the 2003 season. Giachetto, based in Dallas, Texas, will be working with Matt Wait, the 2002 Formula USA Grand National Champion, in both the AMA and FUSA series.

“We felt Chuck’s previous experience in road racing would prove invaluable to a new team like ours,” commented KneeDraggers.com’s president Sam Lehrfeld. “Aside from his knowledge about motors and setup, his familiarity with running a team is going to give us a real advantage that we wouldn’t have had without him.”

“First I would like to KneeDraggers.com for the great opportunity to work with a national championship winning team,” said Giachetto. “I am definitely excited to be working with Matt in 2003. I think people will see a real difference in our program. We aim to retain the Grand National Championship and to be a dominant force in 2003 and beyond.”

“I am very happy and excited to have Chuck on the Kneedraggers.com Yamaha team as my mechanic and crew chief. I feel that we will definitely have what it takes to get the job done and retain our championship in 2003,” added Matt Wait.

The team will have their first outting this weekend doing testing in Louisiana.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Miguel Duhamel, Ben Bostrom and Roger Lee Hayden set the pace Tuesday during AMA team testing on the revised 2.36-mile infield road course at California Speedway in Fontana, California.

Riders with American Honda, Parts Unlimited PJ1 Erion Honda, Annandale Honda and the Kawasaki Road Racing Team were greeted with reduced wind speeds, warm temperatures and a revised course layout when they arrived at the track Tuesday morning. The entrance to the first chicane on the infield straightaway, turns 10/11, has been opened up slightly, and on Tuesday afternoon speedway personnel tried an alternative version of the turn 7/8 chicane, which leads into right-hand turn nine.

The alteration to the turn 10/11 chicane was generally accepted as a good change, although the unusually tall curbing on rider’s left–which contributed to Josh Hayes’ crash during the AMA National weekend last year–is still in place.

The different turn 7/8 chicane, however, slowed riders’ times by an average of nearly two seconds and interrupted the flow of the track in exchange for increased safety in turn nine, the launching point of the crashed motorcycle that re-entered the track at turn four and killed racer Ricky Lundgren last April.

Track changes aside, American Honda’s Duhamel turned the fastest overall time of the test, a 1:27.17, on his 2002-spec RC51 Superbike Tuesday morning, faster than the 1:27.423 he recorded during qualifying for the AMA Superbike race at California Speedway in April 2002. Bostrom wasn’t far off Duhamel’s pace as he learned the track, running a 1:28.30.

In the afternoon, Duhamel concentrated on his CBR600RR, while Bostrom bounced back and forth between a 2002-spec RC51 and a RC51 updated with different brake, chassis and engine parts. In the end, Bostrom preferred and went faster on the 2002-spec bike with the second-best time of the afternoon, a 1:30.35.

The fastest overall rider in the afternoon–on the modified track–was Erion Honda’s Roger Lee Hayden on his CBR954RR Formula Xtreme bike. Hayden said he picked up a few pointers by following Ben and Eric Bostrom around the track, mounted a new 240-compound (a “hard” tire, according to Hayden mechanic Danny Hull) rear Dunlop and did a 1:30.22 to lead all riders.

“When I came in they thought I cut a chicane, but the times were so close back-to-back that you could tell it was real,” said Hayden. “It definitely feels good to be quickest, especially with the Superbike guys here. It’s a confidence booster even though it is only testing. It’s really just hats off to my crew. The Parts Unlimited PJ1 Erion Honda team have really stepped it up this year.”

Kawasaki’s Eric Bostrom wasn’t feeling 100 percent physically and said he never got comfortable on the Fontana track, which was still dirty from wind-blown dust.

Erion Honda’s Kurtis Roberts also wasn’t feeling comfortable riding in the wind at the track where he had his worst crash. “He got pretty banged up here last year,” said Roberts’ Crew Chief David McGrath. “You just can’t dismiss that.”

Japanese racer Tamaki Serizawa made a surprise appearance at the test, riding a 2002 Erion Honda CBR600F4i to “see an American racetrack and see what we do,” according to Erion Honda Crew Chief Rick Hobbs. “It’s kind of a favor to some people we deal with in Japan, plus we had the extra bike.”

Serizawa, who speaks no English, is best known for his third-place finish in World Superbike race two at Sugo in 2001 (Ben Bostrom got fourth) and a third-place finish in the 2000 Suzuka 8-Hour with Peter Goddard. Both of Serizawa’s results came on a Kawasaki ZX-7RR. Serizawa rode a Yoshimura Tornado S-1 prototype machine in the 2002 All-Japan Superbike series and was not eligible for Championship points or finishing positions.

The next AMA team test is schedule for late January at Laguna Seca Raceway.

Morning Track Configuration Lap Times:

1. Miguel Duhamel, Honda RC51, 1:27.17
2. Ben Bostrom, Honda RC51, 1:28.30
3. Kurtis Roberts, Honda RC51, 1:29.48
4. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:30.43
5. Miguel Duhamel, Honda CBR600RR, 1:30.52
6. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR600RR, 1:30.86
7. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, 1:31.40
8. Craig Connell, Honda CBR600RR, 1:32.44
9. Roger Lee Hayden, Honda CBR600RR, 1:32.60
10. Ty Howard, Honda CBR600RR, 1:32.65
11. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, 1:32.74
12. Kurtis Roberts, Honda CBR600RR, 1:33.70
13. Ben Bostrom, Honda CBR600RR, no times provided

Afternoon Track Configuration Lap Times:

1. Roger Lee Hayden, Honda CBR954RR, 1:30.22
2. Ben Bostrom, Honda RC51, 1:30.35
3. Miguel Duhamel, Honda RC51, 1:30.72
4. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR954RR, 1:30.90
5. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:31.98
6. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki ZX-6R (636cc), 1:32.00
7. Miguel Duhamel, Honda CBR600RR, 1:32.17
8. Kurtis Roberts, Honda RC51, 1:32.79
9. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki ZX-6R (636cc), 1:33.94
10. Alex Gobert, Honda CBR600RR, 1:34.30
11. Ty Howard, Honda CBR600RR, 1:34.40
12. Tamaki Serizawa, Honda CBR600F4i, 1:34.50
13. Craig Connell, Honda CBR600RR, 1:35.00

From a press release issued by Wilson Motorsport, Inc.:

FIRST LAPS AT ARIZONA MOTORSPORTS PARK

Gary Stiles, a senior instructor at the Team Arizona Motorcycle School became the first rider to test the brand new 2.227 mile Arizona Motorsports Park race track in Phoenix on Friday, January 3, when he helped track designer Alan Wilson determine curb, corner posts and safety system locations for the new facility.

The new track, whose final race surface was completed on Sunday is located adjacent to the Luke Airforce Base on Camelback Road in Maricopa County, approximately twenty minutes ride from Phoenix’s Skyharbor International Airport. The 40ft wide course, which incorporates two independent 1.11 mile sub-tracks into one 16 turn championship course has little elevation change but features several extremely technical and challenging corner sequences. Extensive safety zones and a minimum of barriers provide for wide open and very smoothly graded run-off areas.

Arizona Motorsports Park is expected to host several motorcycle race weekends each season and will be the new home for the Arizona Motorcycle School who will be able to use three circuit configurations and the 15 acre asphalt driving pad to conduct their multiple training programs.

The AMP facility is in easy reach of the Southern California market area and offers a brand new racing opportunity for the nation’s most competitive racers.

More information on AMP is available at their website www.arizonamotorsportspark.com.