From a press release issued by Willow Springs International Raceway:

After considering input from numerous riders and teams who want to participate in the Toyota 200, but had contractual obligations to their sponsors to race in all the AMA road racing events in 2003, including the season-ending races at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama on September 19-21, 2003, Willow Springs International Raceway has decided to move the Second Annual Toyota 200 date from September 19-21, 2003, to October 17-19, 2003.

“Over the years, we’ve dealt with the issue of event scheduling from every perspective,” said Chris Huth, Director of Operations at the facility. “Unfortunately, scheduling conflicts are a part of the motorsports business that are practically unavoidable. You’re going to be too close to, or on top of some other event, somewhere, and the people most affected are the competitors. The last thing we want to do is put them in the middle of something they have no control over. Because of our position in this particular event, as promoter, track owner, and sanctioning body, we have total control, and the capabilities of moving the race date without too many problems.

“Even though we spent money advertising the date before AMA announced their schedule, we felt it was the right move. Make no mistake, we had no problem going head-to-head with the AMA event. We know we’ll fill the 40-rider grid with quality racers, and judging by our inaugural event we’ll get plenty of race fans in the house, and we really wanted to make September the traditional month of this classic event. But in the end it was consideration for the racers’ needs that made up our minds. We want the racers to know that Willow Springs and WSMC have always been about them.”

From a press release issued by series organizers:

AMATEURS GET NATIONAL SHOT

TORONTO, ON – The development of Canada’s future motorcycle road racing stars enters a new era when the Parts Canada Superbike Championship opens at Shannonville Motorsport Park May 15-18.

That event will see the debut of the International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike class, a category designed specifically to breed the next generation of top racers. The new class will be featured at all seven stops on the Canadian national tour and run alongside the feature Parts Canada Superbike class and the Yoshimura 600 Sport Bike Pro national support category.

SUPERSHOW Racing has signed a three-year deal to sponsor the class and supplied a year-end purse of $12,500 for 2003, with the champion getting $2,500.

The Parts Canada Superbike Championship’s “Big Kahuna” style doubleheader weekend at Mosport International Raceway July 18-20 is also promoted by SUPERSHOW Racing.

Additionally, Parts Canada racing manager Todd Shyiak has announced the company has augmented the winner’s payout with a $1,000 top prize. That will increase to $2,500 if the class champion wears an HJC helmet. Parts Canada is the Canadian distributor for HJC products.

The Amateur 600 champion will also receive the loan of a 2004 version of the make of motorcycle they won the 2003 crown on for use in the national series in 2004.

Equipment rules for the new class will be identical to those in the Yoshimura 600 Sport Bike division. Only production based street motorcycles with a maximum of 620cc displacement are eligible and machines are subject to a maximum horsepower of 110 hp and minimum weight of 360 lbs.

Both horsepower and weight will be checked after official qualifying sessions and races. Horsepower will be measured on the official series Dynojet Dyno and weight will be verified with the series’ official scales. Only tires that meet DOT standards may be used.

The new class will be fully administered and promoted by the Parts Canada Superbike Championship staff and be included in television coverage of the series shown on The Sports Network, Le Reseau des Sports and the Outdoor Life Network.

“We have an obligation to encourage the development of up-and-coming racers for the Parts Canada Superbike Championship,” said Colin Fraser of Professional Motorsport Productions, the company that organizes the national tour. “The creation of the International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike Championship gives amateur racers the opportunity to race in front of the major motorcycle industry representatives at every national round. They also benefit from the national television and on-site exposure that comes from being part of the Parts Canada Superbike tour.

“Additionally, these racers will get a taste of the commitment required to race at the national level, and hopefully enter the Pro ranks well prepared to make an impact.”

First year Pros are eligible for the HJC Pro Rookie of the Year award, which was won in 2002 by Diablo Performance Suzuki rider Ugo Levert.

Full details of the International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike class will be available to racers at a seminar being hosted by PMP at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 4 in conjunction with the North American International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW at Toronto’s International Centre.

From a press release issued by Team Yamaha Belgarda:

Date: 19th December 2002, Day 1
Circuit: Ricardo Tormo, 4.005 kms

RAIN UPSETS PLANS
An absolute downpour ruined yet another day of winter tests for Team Yamaha Belgarda Supersport. The non-stop rain was a set-back for Dutch rider Jurgen Van den Goorbergh’s debut on the Yamaha YZF-R6, but Jamie Whitham put on his oversuit in the afternoon and stoically completed eight laps.

ANOTHER DELAY
Once again Team Yamaha Belgarda Supersport were out of luck. In November, Casoli’s serious crash ruined the two-day tests and restricted the programme’s development. This time it was atrocious weather that hindered proceedings and even though Van den Goorbergh is used to wet weather, he was understandably not keen on venturing out on an unfamiliar bike for the first time. “The rain was far too strong,” he said “and on the track there was a lot of standing water–maybe two centimetres of it! In these conditions, it is pointless going out. I have never ridden a Supersport bike and this Yamaha ride is my first opportunity on one. I normally ride in MotoGP and I am curious to find out what a Supersport bike like the YZF-R6 is like. I hope we get better weather, so I can find out.”

WHITHAM IMPATIENT
Whitham missed the first test in November and was impatient to get his leg over the new bike. At four o’clock he decided that, despite the conditions, he would try and make some laps. Afterwards he said, “The first feeling was a positive one. With the old R6, the power came in a rush and it wasn’t an easy bike to control ­ especially in the wet. The new bike is easier ­ probably due to the fuel injection system. I’m happy with my first contact with the bike and now I’d like one good, dry day to really see what it can do.”

STILL AT THE BEGINNING
In practical terms, the development of the new Yamaha YZF-R6 is still at the first stage and a lot of work has to be done before the start of the 2003 season.

“At this moment we have a new bike for each rider, and everbody also has a 2002 R6 in order to make a comparison.” explained Sporting Director Massimo Meregalli. “Pirelli has many different tyres for us to try, and we must also try out different WP suspension options. We didn’t use Pirelli or WP last season, so both are new for us and require learning. We have worked on the engines on the test-bench at our workshop, but we’d like to see how they perform on the track. If it carries on raining tomorrow, we’ll not even complete 70% of the work we’d planned. I hope this test is not going to be a disaster.”

From a press release issued by freelance publicist Dorina Clarke, for Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki:

Rapp Breaks Lap Record During Tests At North Florida

Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Steve Rapp set a new lap record on the second day of team tests at North Florida Motorsports Park, then lowered it again on the third day. The tests were held Tuesday, December 17 through Thursday, December 19.

Rapp set the record at 1:16.61 on Wednesday, and lowered it to 1:16.27 on Thursday, riding his Formula Xtreme Suzuki GSX-R1000. The old record was 1:17.22.

Rapp tested an AMA Supersport-spec GSX-R600 all day Tuesday and on Wednesday morning before switching to his Formula Xtreme GSX-R1000, turning a total of 202 laps on the 2.0-mile road course located in Jennings, Florida.

His teammate, Chris Ulrich, turned a total of 229 laps during the three-day test, riding an AMA Superstock-spec GSX-R750 until the afternoon of the third day, when he switched to a Formula Xtreme GSX-R1000. The test marked Ulrich’s first ride on the GSX-R1000 he will race in Formula Xtreme next year, and his first test with the team since he underwent shoulder surgery in September. His best lap was a 1:17.40 on his GSX-R750.

The purpose of the test was to refine chassis and suspension set-up for the 2003 season.

From a press release issued by Fuchs Kawasaki:

MOTOGP 2003
SEPANG TEST DAY 3
WEDNESDAY 18TH DECEMBER 2002

QUICKER LAP TIMES – AND MUCH MORE TO COME

Kawasaki Racing Team finished their three day-test in Malaysia on a high note, with further improved lap times of their riders, and with plenty of input for the Japanese engineers in their search for the best chassis and engine components on the new Ninja ZX-RR MotoGP racer. Australian team-mates Garry McCoy and Andrew Pitt mainly focussed on different swing arm settings to improve driveability on the corner exits. Japanese test rider Akira Yanagawa continued his search for the best mapping of the Ninja ZX-RR’s new fuel injection system, whereas Alex Hofmann went through another stack of new Dunlop tyres.

After a short Christmas break, the team and all four riders will be back for more, with another three-day session in Sepang on January 15th – 17th, followed by three days of testing in Phillip Island, Australia, on January 21st to 23rd, before joining the other MotoGP teams for the official IRTA tests in Spain in February, 2003.

Garry McCoy (39 laps – best time 2:07.44):
“When I rode the bike yesterday morning, I really felt that today was going to be a big improvement. But then, we didn’t improve as much as I was hoping for. We’ve done a quick time early on, then we changed a lot of settings, like with the steering angle, and the dampening on the front fork. We just kept trying different things, so we could walk away from here with some answers about the direction that we want to go in for the next test, and what we want Kawasaki to concentrate on. We went sort of up and down, we did some quick times, and then some slow times, went quick again, then slow again.

“We then swapped bikes. I rode Andrew’s bike, then Akira’s bike, which was really interesting. I felt his bike had a bit of an advantage over mine. Each rider had a different pivot point for the rear swing arm. With my bike, I found it a little bit difficult to get really hard on the gas exiting turns, and it wasn’t until I rode Akira’s bike that it seemed easy. I still didn’t go fast on Akira’s bike because it is all set-up for him, and I wasn’t really comfortable, it didn’t seem to turn that well for me. I’d now like to get the pivot he had and set the bike up around me. There are a number of other things to be addressed, but I think the main thing that we have to discuss between the factory and the riders is whether to stick to just a single pivot point or to work on a multiple choice solution that allows certain changes.

“These three days in Malaysia were my first real test on the bike, and it’s too early to say where we really stand. We didn’t really want to change the gearbox, or run through a heap of tyres. Instead, we concentrated mainly on the chassis, just so that the engineers could go back and get something ready for the next test. When we return in January, we’ll start to set up the bike properly for race conditions and rider’s preferences on this track, and that’s when lap times will start to count!”

Andrew Pitt (61 laps – best time 2:07.70):
“I did a lot of laps, and I’m pretty happy with the direction we went with the bike. We made some more changes overnight, and each change we made picked up what we wanted it to do. When we wanted it to steer better, it steered better, and when we wanted it a bit more stable, it did that. These were only little things, but we’re going in the right direction. All the areas I’ve been complaining about, we’re improving bit by bit. We also made a few little improvements with the injection, playing around with the mappings. We still need to do more work on that for sure, as it is still a bit rough, but we are getting there. We also tried tyres, different constructions and stuff, and my only disappointment was that I didn’t get to put some of the softer stuff on in the end, because when I went out late in the afternoon, it started to rain. But anyway, I’m happy with the progress we made, I feel a lot more comfortable right now, as the bike is more the way I want it!”

Alex Hofmann (40 laps – best time 2:08.88):
“We started our day with a re-check of the new slipper clutch that we’ve tested yesterday, and went back to the original setting which turned out to be the best so far. We then were slowed by some small problem on the brake and on the cooling system, but after that I had plenty of time left to test another whole family of Japanese Dunlop tyres, with five or six different compounds. Whenever I would find one that didn’t have the same grip level of the others, I would try to improve on my sliding abilities at the corner exits, and this was a lot of fun.

“Later on, I checked on the data recording, and learned that the rear tyre heats up to temperatures between 170 and 200 degrees on a long slide, which is quite impressive! All in all, I had good three days, I got plenty of kilometres under my belt, I got used to sliding on the corner exits, and I have made another step forwards in riding this powerful machine even though it doesn’t really reflect in my lap times – we just tested so much stuff, and concentrated to get as much data for Dunlop as possible!”

Akira Yanagawa (47 laps – best time 2:07.85):
“I had a minor crash today. My seat cushion is attached with some Velcro, which came off all of a sudden, and I slipped and ran off the track. I was lucky, because I slowed right down before the bike tipped over. Under normal conditions, I would have saved it and made it back to the road, but my body simply wasn’t strong enough after my long recovery from the Motegi crash. Luckily, I didn’t get hurt again, so it’s okay.

“We tried another off-set and other changes to the chassis set-up, but we still have the same problems, with some chattering and the bike turning too slowly. Compared to yesterday, it was a little bit better though, and my lap time was one second faster. But we are still much slower than the track record, so we have to keep going!”

Harald Eckl – Team Manager:
“This test here was very positive and successful. We did many kilometres and gained a lot of experience with all our four riders. Alex Hofmann completed a huge tyre testing program and is getting faster and faster. Andrew also continues to gain experience and expertise with every lap he is out there, and I am sure that he found another half a second a lap just in his own riding style. Akira also was a big surprise. He suffered for many weeks from a serious hip injury, but bounced back almost if nothing had happened, and did impressive lap times considering what he had gone through. Garry McCoy went through his first real test on our bike in convincing style, improved step by step, and we will make another giant leap ahead once the set-up is right for him. We are also very happy with what we’ve learned about the new Dunlop tyres even though it didn’t show in the lap times straight away. All the tyre testing was about this weekend was to provide the engineers with certain data that they need to puzzle together for their next evolution step!”

From a press release issued by Aprilia:

Aprilia Racing Press Information
Valencia (Spain)
Private Tests
17/18 December 2002

Wednesday 18 December

Private Aprilia MotoGP tests in Valencia wind up. RS Cube developing fast.

On the closing day of the Valencia tests, the Aprilia MotoGP team’s work was slowed down by afternoon rain. Colin Edwards continued his work on the settings of the new RS Cube for 2003, notching up 48 laps with the bike in race configuration throughout. The American ace was thus able to discover all the qualities of the three-cylinder from Noale on a track – Valencia – that he knows like the back of his hand. Rain started coming down at about two o’clock this afternoon, and this hampered the tyre test that had been planned for the moment when Colin had started aiming for top lap speeds. Noriyuki Haga put in about 40 laps and was due to try out the Cube 2003 for the first time, but bad weather put an end his hopes and he will get his first impressions of the new bike only in the next session of tests.

“I’m very pleased with this third session of winter tests”, said Colin Edwards. “Especially because I know the Valencia circuit really well. It’s very different from Jerez, where there’s last-minute braking and rapid acceleration: Here, you can build up a constant, harmonious rhythm, and there are many corners to connect together so you get a smooth ride. I know each hump and each detail of this track, and in these conditions you can feel every aspect of the bike perfectly. And you can appreciate all its qualities. We’ve made lots of progress and work on the settings is going flawlessly. We’ve also tried out some tyre solutions, but it’s a pity about the rain as I was gradually building up on the lap times. What really matters, and what I’m very pleased about, though, is that I’ve got a great feeling for the Cube.”

“I can’t say it’s been dead simple getting the settings right on my bike” said Noriyuki Haga, who a few days ago married his companion Yurie in Japan. “I didn’t have the same feeling with the Cube on the Valencia track as I did during the recent tests in Jerez, so I worked hard on the settings of the bike. Even so, I still didn’t manage to get exactly the right set-up and then unfortunately the bad weather prevented me from making my first tests on the RS 3 for 2003. Still, I’m happy with the way work’s going ahead for the next season.”

Colin Edwards – 48 laps – Best Time: 1:34.5

Noriyuki Haga – 42 laps – Best Time: 1:36.0

From a press release issued by Belgarda Yamaha:

JURGEN VAN DEN GOORBERGH TO TEST THE YAMAHA YZF-R6.

The Dutch rider Jurgen Van den Goorbergh will test the Yamaha Belgarda World Supersport YZF-R6 on Thursday 19th and Friday 20th December at Valencia. It will also be the first time Jamie Whitham will ride the new 2003 bike–having missed the first tests in November as he was recovering from a knee operation.

WAITING FOR GASOLIO
Thirty-two year old Van den Goorbergh is temporarily substituting for Paolo Casoli who was injured in the November test. The strong trauma to the head is not yet reabsorbed completely, but his general condition is improving daily. This bodes well for a complete physical recovery, but the doctors want to make sure that Casoli fully convalesces before allowing his return to the racetrack.

MAIO MEREGALLI
“In the first Valencia test, we collected little data. Casoli was unfortunate because he did not even complete a lap on the new bike ­ and Whitham wasn’t even there. The start of the World Championship will soon be with us and we cannot afford to waste any more time, so we asked the very experienced Jurgen Van den Goorbergh to work with us now and in the January tests. By then we should have found a good base set up for the bike and hopefully we should have some idea of how Casoli’s condition is coming along. These are our priorities.

JURGEN VAN DEN GOORBERGH
He was born on 29th December 1969, at Breda, in
Holland. He entered GP racing in 1991 and has taken part in 164 races. Valencia will mark his Supersport debut.

WHITHAM’S FIRST RIDE ON THE NEW YZF-R6
“I missed the first test in November on advice by my specialist. My knee would not have been fully healed and strong enough – and if I crashed, it might’ve caused big problems. Now, it’s much stronger and I am looking forward to seeing how good the new Yamaha is.”

A LOT OF WORK
In two days, Whitham and Van den Goorbergh will have a lot of Pirelli tyres to test. The team’s technicians will also be focussed on all other aspects of the new bike ­ engine, chassis etc.

From a press release issued by Ed Meyer:

2003 Calendars Now Selling to Benefit Roadracing World Action Fund and Tight Squeeze Racing Injury Fund

Looking for a way to help the racing community and also keep track of those important dates in 2003? Ed Meyer, photographer and racing enthusiast, has the perfect solution with the “Ladies of Club Racing” calendar. The calendar was developed as a way to help raise money for the Roadracing World Action Fund, a not-for-profit endeavor to purchase and implement soft air barriers at motorcycle racing events, and the Tight Squeeze Racing (TSR) Injury Fund, an organization formed to help injured racers with some of their expenses.

“My brother Mike and I were discussing how we could use the pictures to help raise money for the Roadracing World Action Fund and Tight Squeeze Racing Injury Fund,” said Ed Meyer of SoulRacer and Ed Meyer Photography. “We decided to do a benefit calendar and feature some of the ladies from the WERA motorcycle racing community and the idea just took off from there.”

The calendar features the wives, sisters and friends of the WERA motorcycle racing community, as well as some female racers posing with some beautiful racebikes. A “Studs” calendar is also available for the ladies.

The calendars are selling for $25.00 each (add $2.50 for shipping) and all proceeds ($13 after the cost of printing) will be split 50/50 between the Roadracing World Action Fund and the TSR Rider Injury Fund. All other costs to produce the calendar, including the pictures and layout, were donated by Soul Racer and Ed Meyer Photography. For more information on how to purchase these calendars and help with two great causes, please contact Ed Meyer at (330) 334-1999 or e-mail at [email protected]. You can also visit www.soulracer.com for more information.




From a press release issued by CCS racer Stan Bates:

I will give $20 off retail price and donate $10 to the Roadracing World Action Fund for each bedliner that is purchased by racers/riders who mention this when they get their spray-in bedliner from me.

Stan Bates
CCS #44
Inland Line-X
2900 Adams St. #B-7
Riverside, CA 92504
(909) 354-2519
[email protected]

From a press release issued by FIM:

2002 FIM World Champions’ Awards

The 2002 FIM World Champions’ Awards will be held in St-Vincent, Val d’Aosta, Italy, on December 21. The programme of the event, organised by Dorna, is the following:
09h00: Winter sport activities in Cervinia
17h00: Press Conference at the Grand Hotel Billia, St-Vincent
19h00 Welcome to the FIM Awards at the Grand Hotel Billia, St-Vincent
19h30 FIM World Champions’ Awards Ceremony
The Individual World Champions in Road Racing, Motocross, Trial, Enduro and Track Racing, whose presence is compulsory, and representatives of Manufacturers’ World Champions will receive their Medals and Trophies from FIM President Francesco Zerbi.
21h45 Gala Dinner

From a press release issued by Matt Drucker:

MD Racing Street & Track Performance is proud to introduce an upgrade in services!

In conjunction with Two time AMA tuner of the year Dan Kyle, MD Racing will be offering computer assisted Chassis measurement, alignment, optimization & straightening. MD Racing will be utilizing the Dan Kyle developed KYLE-GORDIS Systems for the motorcycle chassis measurement.

This system boasts leading accuracy & repeatability. This is very important for accurate measurement and customer satisfaction.

MD Racing should have this service on-line and available shortly after the first of the year.

This upgrade will make MD Racing a virtual one stop shop for motorcycle performance. MD Racing already provides professional Engine Building and top level Suspension revalving featuring Race Tech & Penske. We also have an efficient mail order parts department for all of your original equipment and aftermarket parts needs

You can contact Matt Drucker for further information: MD Racing, 310 10th Ave., Orion, IL 61273; www.mdracingstp.com ; (309) 526-3246 ; [email protected]