From a press release:

Kcraget Makes It 4 Straight Wins With Another Bullet At Virginia International Raceway in 125GP National

VIR Win Makes Kcraget the 2002 Eastern Regional Champion & Favorite for the 2002 USGPRU 125GP National Championship October 4-5 at Virginia International Raceway

Sunday July 28, 2002 – In true Rossi-esque style, Speedwerks & NESBA’s Brian Kcraget took his fourth-straight win in the Eastern region of the USGPRU 125GP National Championship. Brian rode his Phil Dodd-tuned Honda RS125 to a convincing win making him the undefeated 2002 Eastern Region Champion with 125 total points, the maximum possible in the USGPRU Regional Championship. With the National Championship Final scheduled for October 4-5 at VIR Brian could make this a storybook season with an undefeated record in ’02.

The fourth round of the USGPRU 125GP National Championship began with practice Friday morning at VIR. Many west-coast riders had trekked across the country to VIR to learn the track and prepare for the USGPRU Final scheduled for October at the same venue. Most were worn and tired from cross country flights or the long 3000+ mile haul, but by the afternoon nearly two-dozen 125GP machines were on the track preparing for the Sunday event.

“Most of the California racers arrived for Friday practice but the long haul created gremlins forcing everyone to work on their bikes [that morning], so by the time I got out [it was] for afternoon practice, we were all basically going out on the track for the first time together,” said John Rabasa.

Saturday practice began with two casualties when both Bill Clery and 16-year-old Joe Ford both crashed in separate incidents. Bill was out for the weekend with a broken left clavicle but Joe Ford’s spectacular end-over-end crash left him shaken but unhurt.

This week’s win was not without incident for Kcraget as he seized his engine in near-100-degree heat during qualifying and was high-sided mid-corner at high speed.

Second through sixth place had all qualified within 1 second of each other but despite the get-off Brian was on pole having put in the day’s fastest qualifying lap on the previous lap, he was the only rider to record times in the 1:35s. Phil and Brian worked furiously to re-assemble the bike in time and as final call was made Brian was there on the grid to try and extend his winning streak.

Unfazed by his crash in qualifying Brain took an early lead and was never challenged.

California rider John Rabasa recalls, “By the halfway mark [of the thirteen lap event] riders began to notice the heat and humidity. I’ve raced in heat before, but not this much humidity. I was breathing heavily under my helmet while under full tuck… breathing all that hot, humid air was not helping this old man! We pulled into the pits for the normal post-race weigh-in after [the race]. I parked, pulled my leathers down, collapsed on someone’s chair in the shade and watched another gallon of sweat dripping off my body. I WAS EXHAUSTED!.”

Second place was the battle of the day as Stewart Aitken-Cade, Ryan Andrews, Scott Moxie and Steve Genter fought throughout the race swapping positions more times than anyone could count.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Annandale Racing has announced a deal that will see the team race Hondas in the 2003 AMA Supersport and Formula Xtreme Championships.

“We submitted a proposal to Chuck Miller (American Honda Racing Team Manager) at Laguna Seca,” said Anna Johnston, the Anna in Annandale Racing, in a July 29 telephone call to Roadracingworld.com, “and he came back with a proposal for us at Mid-Ohio. The whole team has worked so hard for this. We’re very excited!”

Johnston said that Jeff Haney and Freddie Spencer were instrumental in making the contacts needed to put together the deal, which will result in American Honda providing enough bikes and parts for two riders, including current Annandale rider Ty Howard.

Howard is currently 11th in AMA Superstock and 12th in AMA Supersport point standings in his first full year of AMA racing.

Johnston’s team will now be known as Annandale Honda Racing. “But we’re still looking for an outside-industry sponsor,” said Johnston. “We’re hoping that our new factory support will help attract a sponsor that wants to replace the Annandale in the team name with their own.”

Johnston says that talks with all three major tire manufacturers – Pirelli, Michelin and Dunlop – and talks with current crew members are ongoing and will hopefully be sorted out by the end of the AMA season finale at VIR August 9-11.

Aside from impressive results for a privately-owned, rookie AMA team and running racebikes in bright orange colors, Annandale Racing’s main claim to fame has been the fact that the team employs four, full-time, female crew members. Johnston said that having an all-female crew was not a goal, but that the team will continue to offer opportunities to crew members new to the sport. Johnston also said ex-racer/team mechanic Ryan Landers and current racer/lead mechanic James Compton have been great assets to the team and are sometimes overshadowed by media attention on the women.

“James’ greatest talent is his ability to teach the other team members,” said Johnston, adding that Compton is being pursued by other AMA teams for the 2003 season. “The girls on the team are setting new goals for themselves over the winter, too. They want to learn how to ride the bikes and they want to learn how to build engines.”

Johnston ended her phone conversation with Roadracingworld.com by saying that she has heard Honda will introduce a new CBR600 at a dealer show in September.

In other Honda-related news, Bruce Transportation Group Honda Crew Chief Joey Osowski confirmed that the team will return to AMA racing “as big as ever” in 2003 despite rumors to the contrary.

Long time Roadracing World contributor Michael Ross has been promoted to the position of Curriculum Developer for the Motorcycle Mechanics Institute.

Ross, previously the Chief Instructor of Hontech, has been with MMI for 11 years. Ross will write curriculum for both the Phoenix and Orlando campus locations.

From a press release:

Team Stargel Aprilia Regains Championship Form

The ninth round of the AMA 250GP series at Mid-Ohio saw Team Stargel Aprilia return to their class leading ways.

Acknowledging the importance of the possibility of their first American championship, the Aprilia Race Department in Italy prepared a new engine for the team and delivered it, along with the assistance of former Valentino Rossi engine builder, Fausto Colombo. The new engine proved to be both fast and reliable as the team set the fastest time in Friday morning’s practice session.

After logging the top time in Saturday morning’s practice, Team Stargel Aprilia hoped to capture pole position in the afternoon qualifying session. Turning three laps in the 1:31 range, Chuck Sorensen looked to secure the pole, only to have it snatched away by .07 of a second on the last lap.

Sunday’s race began with Sorensen getting a lackluster start that found him in fourth place going into turn one. He moved into second place to start lap two and immediately set his sights on the leader. On lap three, Sorensen passed for the lead and led the next four laps. After being repassed, Sorensen began to encounter lapped traffic and unfortunately was dealt with some unlucky breaks. The gap from first to second quickly grew to about two seconds and Sorensen wisely brought his Aprilia home to finish second and secure 32 championship points.

It is worth noting that on lap seven Sorensen posted a time of 1:31.141 seconds. This proved to be the fastest lap of the 250GP race.

Recently, the AMA has decided to discontinue the 250GP race effective immediately after the 2003 race season. As for factors in making this decision, they cited a lack of fan support and poor competitiveness of the class. Upon comparing lap times, you will see that Sorensen’s best race lap was a full half-second faster than any lap turned in either the 600 supersport race or the 750 superstock race. In regards to the seeming lack of fan support, Team Stargel Aprilia only wished that they had brought more posters, hats, and t-shirts to Mid-Ohio as hundreds were gobbled up by eager, well-wishing fans.

As the tenth and final 2002 AMA 250GP race at Virginia International Raceway beckons, Team Stargel Aprilia holds a 31 point lead in the championship with 267 points. The team will make every effort to win their fifth race of the season and help Sorensen to claim his third career AMA 250GP title.

Team Stargel Aprilia would like to thank the supporters who make their efforts possible: Aprilia USA, Aprilia Italy, FGF Corse, Dunlop, Performance Powersports, VP Racing Fuels, Castrol, EBC Brakes, Shoei, Helimot, Held Gloves, Daytona Boots, Fox Racing, Smith Sport, TC’s Specialized Graphics, Regina Chains & Factory Pro Tuning, Mr. Fausto Colombo.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

This just in from Jim DiSalvo:

I received the AMA schedule for VIR which does not indicate a practice on Thursday, August 8, 2002. In speaking with Jack Abbott at VIR there in fact is a track practice from noon until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 8th. $150.00 for AMA riders with one bike and $50.00 extra for each additional bike.

Jack also asked if you would post on your breaking news that water rationing is in effect and would advise all race teams to wash their vehicles prior to arriving at the track.


(Editorial note: This information should have been included in the AMA Pro Racing mailer for the race. The fact that it was not is another example of AMA Pro Racing’s continuing inability to effectively communicate with AMA race promoters and with AMA members who hold AMA Pro Racing licenses.)

From a press release:

Spanish-based American Kenny Noyes, the 2000 Formula USA Pro Singles Dirt Track Champion, made his first podium appearance on July 28th at Cartagena, Spain, when he finished third on his Cibertel Honda CBR954RR in round four of the Superseries National Championship for production 1000cc bikes running on Superstock engine regulations and spec DOT Dunlop tires.

Kenny started poorly from the second row and was seventh, four seconds back from the group of four fighting for third, after five laps. The track temperature was a sizzling 117 degrees and as the machines began to slide around Noyes began a charge that could eventually take him to third, just 0.082 back of second-place finisher and reigning National Superseries Champion Alex Sirera on his Ducati 996.

Race winner Isaac Martin (R1) won his third race of the season to extend his points lead over Sirera after other top runners, Enrique Rocamora and Victor Carrasco (both on Suzuki GSX-R1000s) crashed out. Noyes, who is now fifth in the points table, had a previous best result of seventh place at Valencia.

“This is the first time I have really ever felt I was getting near the limits of the Honda,” said Kenny. “I ride this same bike but with different preparation and on Michelin slicks in the National Formula Xtreme series and I’m looking forward to the next round of that Championship in Albacete to try and keep building on this result.

“I was on a 600 last year and never felt comfortable but this big Fireblade always has enough power to break the rear loose. I feel more in control when the bike is moving around, but sometimes it gets so hooked up on the slicks that I’m just not sure where the limit is. Our season runs into late November, so I’ve got plenty of races and plenty of time to get on the pace in Xtreme and try to win one in Superseries.

“This was my first podium since Del Mar in 2000 and I haven’t won one since the Phoenix half mile that same year. I’m finally starting to feel on the road racer like I used to feel on the dirt tracker, but it has been a long, hard year-and-a-half.”

From a press release issued by WERA:

WERA National Series Brings Motorcycle Roadracing to Summit Point Near the Nation’s Capitol; Suzuki World Cup Qualifier Race to be Held

SUMMIT POINT, W. Va.- Summit Point Raceway will host the WERA National Challenge Series and the WERA/GMD Computrack National Endurance Series August 2-4, bringing some of the most competitive motorcycle road racing in the nation to West Virginia.

Round seven of the WERA/GMD Computrack National Endurance Series will be held on Saturday, August 3. The six-hour race will feature plenty of action on the track among the five classes of motorcycles. Bikes are divided according to engine size and the amount of modifications made to them. The fastest class is Heavyweight Superbike, with the Vesrah Suzuki GSX-R1000 at the top of the field.

During the endurance race, fans will enjoy the opportunity to get a close-up view of pit stops. Each team consists of three to four riders, and teams will stop periodically for a rider change, refueling and tire changes. Pit strategy plays a key role in endurance racing and some teams are able to complete a pit stop in less than 20 seconds.

The WERA National Challenge series gets underway on Sunday, August 4. Twelve sprint races, consisting of 10 laps each, will feature some of the best racers in the country battling in close competition. Vesrah Suzuki’s Tray Batey and John Jacobi, Scott Harwell of Arclight Racing, Mark Crozier and Washington, D.C., resident Dave Yaakov are among the riders who will be present.

Featured races throughout the day include Open Superstock, for stock racebikes of unlimited engine size and Formula One, with riders on highly modified bikes of unlimited size.

The Dunlop 600cc Superstock race is for 600cc stock motorcycles, including the Suzuki GSX-R600 and the Yamaha YZF-R6.

The 125 GP race is a favorite among fans for the exciting racing and the fast cornerspeed of the Honda RS125 and similar machines.

One of the highlights of the weekend at Summit Point will be the third and final qualifying race for the Suzuki World GSX-R Cup for Suzuki GSX-R 750 racebikes. The winner of the race will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Magny Cours, France, where they will compete against riders from all over the world in the World GSX-R Cup race on September 14.

Tickets are available for the weekend for only $25. Sunday-only tickets are just $15. Camping is available for fans, and Summit Point has a beautiful wooded area in the infield for campers.

Summit Point is a two-mile, 10-turn road course set in West Virginia, just 70 miles west of downtown Washington, D.C. More information about the track, including directions, can be found on the track’s website at www.SummitPoint-Raceway.com or by calling Summit Point at 304.725.8444

Since 1974, WERA Motorcycle Roadracing has showcased the talents of amateur motorcycle racers. Many of WERA’s former champions have gone on to successful professional careers in AMA Pro Racing, Grand Prix, World Superbike and Formula USA. Close competition and fresh talent are the hallmark of WERA Motorcycle Roadracing.

From a press release issued by VIR:

Hayden Looking Forward to VIR Return

America’s best motorcycle road racers will return to VIRginia International Raceway over the weekend of Aug. 9-11 for the VIR Lightning Nationals, the double-header season finale for the Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, and defending race winner Nicky Hayden is hoping for a repeat performance.

Hayden, from Owensboro, Ky., rides for the factory Honda team and is currently leading the point standings in this year’s championship 381-345 over Kawasaki’s Eric Bostrom, who won the most recent round at Laguna Seca Raceway. With one race remaining at Mid-Ohio before the series returns to VIR and 37 points available from each of the season’s three remaining races, Hayden thinks it will be a fight to the finish.

“I’m sure it’s going to go down to the wire,” he said. “VIR is going to be a double-header, so I’m sure that’s where the title will be decided. It’s going to be huge weekend for us.”

With seven victories from 12 starts so far this season, Hayden has been the dominant rider, failing only once to finish in the top five. He loves a good race, and he thinks VIR will be the perfect venue to settle the issue.

“VIR is definitely one of the best tracks we have in America,” he said, “as far as safety and fun, and just being a real road course. I enjoy it. It’s a track that you’ve definitely got to ride around, too, so I like that. There are a lot of really technical sections, and you’ve kind of got to get in a rhythm and put them all together. You screw up one little corner, it’s going to cost you for a long way. The track is difficult, but it’s a good challenge.”

In a multi-team test at VIR last month Hayden set the unofficial fastest time, posting a 1:25.060 lap over the 2.225-mile VIR North Course to best the pole-winning 1:25.428 set by Suzuki’s Mat Mladin in last year’s inaugural Lightning Nationals. Hayden feels like he and the team are in good shape for the run to the finish.

“It’s going to be good,” he grinned. “I’m ready to go. I think it’s going to be really fun. I’ve got a little bit of a lead right now, but not a lot. We’re just going to try to keep doing what we’re doing, and hopefully when we come back to VIR we’ll be in a good position. It’s going to be tough, but I’m really excited about the rest of the year.”

Following Hayden and Bostrom in the championship point standings are Hayden’s teammate, Miguel Duhamel (298), Suzuki’s Aaron Yates (287) and Ducati’s Pascal Picotte (277). Rounding out the top 10 in the points chase currently are privateer Suzuki rider Brian Parriott (235) and a tightly-bunched pack comprising Ducati’s Doug Chandler (209), Suzuki teammates Jamie Hacking (208) and defending series champ Mladin (207) and the Suzuki-mounted privateer Brian Livengood (201).

In addition to the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship, the VIR Lightning Nationals will also include the season finales for the Pro Honda Oils U.S. SuperSport Championship, the Lockhart-Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Series, the Genuine Suzuki Accessories SuperStock Series, and the MBNA 250 Grand Prix Series.

Three-day advance Super Tickets priced at $50 and single-day advance tickets for Saturday ($30) and Sunday ($35) will be available through July 25. Check VIR’s website, www.virclub.com, for ticket outlets. At the gate, three-day Super Tickets will be priced at $55 and one-day tickets for Friday ($10), Saturday ($35) and Sunday ($40) will also be available. VIR is a family-friendly facility, where children 12 and under are admitted free with a paying adult. Spectator camping is available.

VIRginia International Raceway is a multi-purpose road racing facility, located on the Dan River 12 miles east of Danville, Va., and just north of historic Milton, N.C. In addition to its 3.27-mile natural-terrain road racing circuit (which is also designed to be operated as two autonomous, full-service courses), VIR is the cornerstone of VIR Club, America’s first motorsports country club, and the VIR Raceplex Industrial Park.

VIR made history from 1957 to 1974 and is doing so again. The renovated original circuit has 17 challenging turns and 130 feet of elevation change. In addition to spectator events, the track is also available to rent for testing, driving schools and club days. Future plans for VIR include resort lodging and the VIR Euro Rally School and Corporate Motorsport Experience, which will feature three rally stages plus a kart track, motocross track, ATV and SUV training grounds and an advanced safari course.

For more information, contact VIR at 888-RACE099 or visit the track’s website at www.virclub.com.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Racer John Hopkins underwent surgery today, when Dr. Arthur Ting screwed together a broken bone in his left hand. Desiree Crossman reports:

Well, everyone, John got through his operation. It lasted only about 45 minutes at Dr. Ting’s office. He placed in three screws and the bone looks like it wasn’t even broken from the X-rays. He said that it was a good idea that he did get it operated on due to some muscle tissue grown in between the broken area which was the metacarpal.

The healing will take about three full weeks but John can be back to his regularily scheduled program of training by the end of the week, but only light. Before the Czech race, he will have to use the muscles more to get full movement to ride the bike.

Other then that, it went well, we see him tomorrow for a post-surgery observation and that’s it. Good as new.