From a press release:

SHANE PRIETO HANGS ‘EM UP

In last Sunday’s CCS Florida Region race at Moroso, Shane Prieto graciously announced his retirement. A dominant rider for 10 years, Prieto left holding several records, including Most Consecutive Unlimited Grand Prix victories with 12. And, Most Unlimited GP Victories All-Time. “I had been thinking about it for awhile, and last week, it just clicked in my head that it was time,” said Prieto. “I intend to spend weekends water-skiing with my family now.” When Prieto was younger his family did that together and he misses it. He is an accomplished bare-foot skier.

By the time racing started Sunday morning, everyone in the paddock had heard the news, and there was more attention than usual paid to the battles throughout the day between Prieto and this year’s champ Marco Martinez. These two have produced some very exciting contests throughout the last several years, and this event was no exception. In this day’s Unlimited GP, both were riding Suzuki GSX-R1000s.

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Prieto jumped out to a 15-bike lead before Martinez made an outside pass in turn seven, to mixed emotions from the crowd, on lap five of the six-lap sprint. On lap three, Martinez set a new track record running him down on the newly tightened course. Prieto was on Pirelli DOTs and Martinez used Dunlop slicks.

Shane Prieto was the overall champion for two different seasons riding with the Number One plate in 1995 and 2001. Mounted on Suzukis, his brother Sean Prieto has been his mechanic, operating out of Prieto Racing, Inc. in Pompano Beach, FL. Prieto Racing is now the foremost road racing shop in Florida.

Florida Region Promoter Henry DeGouw says: “I hate to see him go, he’s been such a fixture here.” DeGouw, a former Florida Champ too, knows what he’s going through. He retired after three years himself, sat out for a year and “I was going crazy” he said. “Then I came back for 18 more years.”

CCS Racing in Florida features 12 races this year at Moroso Motorsports Park in West Palm Beach, Homestead Miami Speedway, and North Florida Motorsports Park in Jennings, FL.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

A lack of Thursday practice prior to this weekend’s AMA Pro National at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and the inclusion of a qualifying round for the World GSX-R Cup drew a contingent of AMA Pro-licensed riders to the AMA Grand National Championships held Monday and Tuesday at the Lexington, Ohio racetrack.

Participating Pro riders include Rich Conicelli, who has been in the top 10 in AMA Superbike points this year, as well as Jason DiSalvo, who won the AMA Superstock National at Road America in June.

The appearance of Pro-licensed racers has reignited the debate over who should be allowed to participate in an “Amateur” event, and never mind that manufacturer contingency money has been posted for the races.

Complicating matters is the fact that AMA Pro Racing Director of Competition Merrill Vanderslice has in the past suggested that Thursday practice is not important and that riders can participate in club races prior to AMA Nationals if they need more set-up and practice time than that afforded in official AMA practice starting on Friday of a race weekend. Now, when AMA Pro riders have shown up at a club race as suggested by Vanderslice, AMA Amateur officials have discouraged their participation and in at least one case went so far as to briefly suggest that they might be disqualified if they insisted on racing.

At least one rider has pointed out that the AMA Pro riders are AMA members, are legal entrants and have complied with all published rules.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Brian Livengood won the second of three slots for U.S. riders in the Suzuki World GSX-R Cup scheduled for September 14 at Magny Cours, France, by finishing second in a qualifying race at Mid-Ohio Tuesday.

Livengood, who is currently 10th in AMA Superbike points, and his mechanic will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the World GSX-R Cup, which will match riders from various countries on identical Suzuki GSX-R750s fitted with Michelin tires.

Ty Howard won the race at Mid-Ohio in a runaway but was ineligible because he did not have any Suzuki Cup points.

Livengood came out on top of a battle for second that also included John Jacobi–who had crashed in the heat race and started at the back of the grid–Rich Conicelli and Jason DiSalvo.

The final World GSX-R Cup qualifier will be decided during next weekend’s WERA National Challenge Series event at Summit Point Raceway.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

John Dugan of Washougal, Washington became the first rider to qualify to represent the U.S. in the World GSX-R Cup scheduled for September 14 in Magny-Cours, France.

Dugan won the qualifying race at Portland, Oregon on Sunday, July 21, beating Allan Schmidt and Nathan Hester.

Dugan was racing with a cracked pelvis sustained in a crash at Laguna Seca during the AMA National/World Superbike weekend.

Schmidt crashed in turn nine while leading the first lap during the morning heat race held to determine the grid, and his racebike was destroyed. Schmidt’s crew installed the engine in a spare chassis and Schmidt started the final from the back of the grid.

Dugan and a mechanic will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to France for the World GSX-R Cup final, which features riders on spec bikes drawn by lot. The World GSX-R Cup bikes will be fitted with Michelin tires.

Another qualifying round will be held during a Fasttrax event tomorrow at Mid-Ohio and the final qualifying round will be held during the WERA National scheduled for Summit Point, West Virginia on August 3-4. A total of three riders will qualify to represent the United States in the World GSX-R Cup event.

From a press release issued by series organizers:

SZOKE STREAKS TO RECORD

BOWMANVILLE, ON – Parts Canada Superbike Championship points leader Jordan Szoke continued his dominance of the 2002 season by winning his fourth event in a row at Mosport International Raceway Sunday.

Riding the Coors Light Racing/Fast Company Team Suzuki GSX-R1000 the Brantford, ON racer led virtually all the way to establish a new record for consecutive race wins in a single season. He had shared the mark of three wins with Steve Crevier.

Michael Taylor finished second on his Brooklin Cycle Yamaha YZF-R1 after briefly leading Szoke on the opening lap and hounding him most of the way. The Toronto rider was 5.040 secs. behind at the finish after he was forced to back off with mechanical trouble.

“There was a ton of pressure to win this weekend,” said Szoke after his 13th career national Superbike win, placing him second on the all-time list. “It’s Mosport. It’s the place. But we just put our head down in the race and got it done.”

Huntington Beach, CA resident Owen Weichel finished third on his Canadian Kawasaki ZX-7RR after a dramatic battle with the Coors Light Racing/Fast Company Suzuki GSX-R1000 of Francis Martin and Kevin Lacombe’s Orion Honda RC51.

Szoke picked up a perfect score of 56 points for qualifying on pole, winning and leading the most laps in Sunday’s race and moved into an almost insurmountable lead in the Parts Canada Superbike point standings.

He now has 262 points to the 177 of Weichel with a total of 112 points available in the final two races of the season. The series continues at Atlantic Motorsport Park Aug. 9-11.

In other action at Mosport, Australian Craig Connell completed a perfect weekend by winning the National Pro Honda Oils/Yoshimura 600 Sport Bike race over Arclight Suzuki teammate Lee Acree.

After sweeping both legs of Saturday’s Lockhart-Phillips Superbike/International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Open Sport Bike event Connell beat Acree by 4.585 secs. on his Suzuki GSX-R600.

Coors Light Racing/Blackfoot Suzuki’s Clint McBain won a wild battle for third to extend his lead in the Yoshimura 600 Sport Bike standings.

Connell’s performance helped Team USA defeat Team Canada in the SUPERSHOW 2003 presents the Coors Light Canada vs. USA Match Races and gave him the “King of Mosport” crown.

This weekend’s races will be televised on TSN Saturday, Aug. 10 and Saturday, Aug. 24. Start time for both shows is 11:30 am EDT. Action from Mosport will also be shown later this year on Quebec’s RDS and across Canada on the Outdoor Life Network.


Results of Sunday’s fifth round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Mosport International Raceway, showing finishing position, rider name, hometown and type of motorcycle:

1.Jordan Szoke, Brantford, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 2. Michael Taylor, Toronto, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1; 3. Owen Weichel, Huntington Beach, CA, Kawasaki ZX-7RR; 4. Francis Martin, Sherbrooke, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 5. Geoff May, Cumming, GA, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 6. Frank Trombino, Kleinburg, ON, Honda RC51; 7. Jeff Williams, Harrowsmith, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 8. Benoit Pilon, St-Jerome, QC, Yamaha YZF-R1; 9. Kevin Lacombe, Granby, QC, Honda RC51*; 10. Ugo Levert, Lorraine, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 11. Jean-Francois Cyr, Joliette, QC, Yamaha YZF-R6; 12. Greg Boki, Montreal, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 13. Darryn Wilbur, Maple, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1; 14. Philip Onisto, Bolton, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 15. Dave Young, Woodstock, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 16. Jerome Plourde, St-Hubert, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 17. Gaston Labrie, Brossard, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 18. Joel McDonald, North York, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6; 19. Clint Hines, Burlington, ON, Suzuki GSX-R750; 20. Pauly Sherer, Freeport, NY, Suzuki GSX-R750; 21. Steve Dufresne, St-Barthelemy, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000

DNF. John Brundl, Etobicoke, ON, Honda CBR954RR; DNF. Mike Walsh, Toronto, ON, Suzuki GSX-R750; DNF. Chris Murray-Audain, Scarborough, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1; DNF. Dean Osborne, Ajax, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000; DNF. Mike Desmarais, North Bay, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000

* — Kevin Lacombe penalized four positions for a jump start

Time of Race: 23:47
Margin of Victory: 5.040 secs.
Fastest Lap: Jordan Szoke, 1:21.911 on lap 5

Parts Canada Superbike Championship point standings following the fifth round at Mosport International Raceway Sunday, showing position, rider name and point total:

1.Jordan Szoke, 262; 2. Owen Weichel, 177; 3. Francis Martin, 145; 4. Kevin Lacombe, 144; 5. Frank Trombino 141; 6. Michael Taylor, 138; 7. Jean-Francois Cyr, 107; 8. Benoit Pilon, 100; 9. Darryn Wilbur, 88; 10. Philip Onisto, 84; 11. Ugo Levert, 73; 12. Bruce McDonald 64; 13. Tim Easton, 49; 14. Jeff Williams, 48; 15. John Brundl, 29; 16. Geoff May, 29; 17. Dave Young, 27; 18. David Klassen 27; 19. Nick Ienatsch, 21; 20. Michael Leon 21; 21. Matthew McBride 19; 22. Jerome Plourde, 18; 23. Greg Boki, 15; 24. Clint Hines 15; 25. Gaston Labrie, 14; 26. Tony Bouffard, 12; 27. Dave Hodge 12; 28. Mike Desmarais 10; 29. Steve Crevier 4; 30. Joel McDonald, 4; 31. Jim Proulx 4; 32. Pauly Sherer, 1

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Jeremy Toye again beat Chuck Graves in a wheel-to-wheel showdown in Toyota Cup Unlimited Formula One action at Willow Springs Raceway Sunday, in a battle that came down to a chance encounter with a lapped rider and a desperate last-half-lap scramble.

When the checkered flag flew, Toye and his Lee’s Cycle Suzuki GSX-R1000 had beaten Graves and his Graves Yamaha YZF-R1 powered YZF-R7 Superbike, both on Dunlop slicks. Chris Ulrich finished third on a Superstock GSX-R1000 on Michelin DOT-labelled tires.

The lapped rider pulled it down on Graves as Toye went around the outside in turn four and Graves’ best chance to win was gone; Toye then ran wide in turn five and got a poor drive off turn six, yet still held off Graves in turn eight. Graves got up outside Toye in turn nine but Toye’s bike was stronger in the run to the line.

Toye did most of the leading in the 12-lap race, Graves trying to get underneath into turn one several times before making it happen, and Toye quickly repassing in the run to turn two. Graves had the lead to the line two laps from the finish with Toye trying to get around on the outside into turn one, the pair so close together as they dove for the apex that it seemed certain they would collide–but they didn’t. On the last lap Toye led into turn one.

The pace was 1:21s, faster than Toye qualified last month for the front row of September’s $50,000-to-the-winner Toyota 200, which will be 80 laps on the 2.5-mile Willow Springs course.

Toye also won the 750cc Superstock, L&L Motorsports 750cc Superbike, and 750cc Modified Production races.

Graves won Saturday’s Solo GTO race and Sunday’s Performance Machine Open Superbike, Open Superstock, Graves Motorsports 650cc Superbike, and Roadracingworld.com 600cc Superstock races. In Open Superstock, Graves won on a 2002 Yamaha YZF-R1 that he had run three laps of practice on.

On Friday, Aaron Gobert locked in a front-row starting position for the Toyota 200, qualifying at 1:23.896, 107.276 mph. Gobert crashed out of Saturday’s Solo race and sat out Sunday with bruises. Gobert was structurally uninjured, according to his Graves Yamaha crew.


More, from a Willow Springs press release:

WILLOW SPRINGS TOYOTA 200 QUALIFYING UPDATE!

Yamaha’s Aaron Gobert joins last month’s fast qualifier Jeremy Toye with a guaranteed start position on the front row for Willow Springs Raceway’s $150,000.00 200 mile roadrace event to be held on September 15, 2002.

At the 2nd round of qualifying on Friday, July 19th Gobert, on his factory Yamaha YZF-R6 600cc supersport-spec bike, ran a best lap of 1:23.896 averaging over 107 mph around the 2.5 mile Willow Springs road course.

Toye remains fastest with last months fast lap of 1:22.960 on his Suzuki GSX-R1000. Upcoming qualifying dates are on Friday, August 16 and Friday, September 13 and the fastest rider each date will join Toye and Gobert on the front row of the 40 rider field. Other top times to date include Jack Pfeifer at 1:23.502, former 250cc GP National Champ David Emde at 1:25.652 and Clinton Whitehouse at 1:25.814.

Info on racer entry and spectator ticket information is online at www.willowspringsraceway.com

Spectators may also call 661.256.6666 for special advance ticket information packages currently available from WSIR.

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing, and we think what it’s trying to say is, these guys have already won two or three races during Mid-Ohio doubleheader weekends, and hope to end next weekend with a fourth or fifth race win:

YATES, CHANDLER AND DUHAMEL VYING TO BECOME FIRST FOUR-TIME AMA CHEVY TRUCKS U.S. SUPERBIKE WINNER AT MID-OHIO DOUBLEHEADER

PICKERINGTON, Ohio – Blimpie Yoshimura Suzuki’s Aaron Yates and HMC Ducati’s Doug Chandler come to Lexington, Ohio, this weekend, July 26-28, as the only three-time winners of the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course doubleheader round of the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship. Both AMA Superbike veterans have the chance this weekend to become the first four-time, or even five-time if things go really well, Superbike winner at Mid-Ohio. Then again, Honda Racing’s Miguel Duhamel, who has two Superbike wins at the scenic Central Ohio circuit, could sweep the doubleheader weekend and come away as the first four-timer. But while all three of these top riders hope to come away from Mid-Ohio victorious, they’ll likely have to figure out a way to get around Nicky Hayden and Eric Bostrom, the two hottest riders in the series this year. AMA Superbike round 13 will be held on Saturday and Sunday will see round 14 of the 16-race series.

Hayden, 20, from Owensboro, Ky., leads the championship with seven wins on his factory Honda RC51 — the most Superbikes wins in a single season since Fred Merkel won a record 10 of 13 Superbike rounds in 1984. With the Mid-Ohio and Virginia International Raceway doubleheaders left to go, Hayden has at least a fighting chance to break Merkel’s longtime record. He could also move past Wayne Rainey for third on the all-time AMA Superbike career wins list this weekend.

“Mid-Ohio is always a fun race for me,” said Hayden, the 1999 AMA Pro Athlete of the Year. “It’s the closest race to home so a lot of my friends from Owensboro usually come up. It’s a challenging track. You have to be at your best to do well there because of the combination of tight turns and high-speed sections. It’s a real racers’ track.”

Bostrom is second in the championship with eight podium finishes to date, including wins at Pikes Peak and Laguna Seca. If the Kawasaki ace is to have any chance of catching Hayden he will have to experience a breakthrough at Mid-Ohio. Bostrom has never won the Superbike race at the track. His best result was runner-up last year to defending series champ Mat Mladin in Saturday’s race.

Yates always seems to do well at Mid-Ohio. The tall Georgian excels on twisty and technical circuits like Mid-Ohio. Yates is the only rider who has swept the Mid-Ohio doubleheader and he accomplished that feat in 2000.

Chandler seems ripe for another win at Mid-Ohio. The veteran rider from Salinas, Calif., has three wins at the track dating back to 1989. He’s finished on the podium in the last two rounds and looks to be improving on the HMC Ducati each week out. If Chandler manages to win one of the races this weekend it would mark his first victory in the series in three years.

Austin Bleu Bayou Ducati’s Pascal Picotte is yet another former winner at Mid-Ohio. The Canadian’s last win on the Superbike tour came at Mid-Ohio in 1996.

One of the big stories in the series this year is the strong showing by privateer Superbike riders. Californian Brian Parriott is sixth in the championships on his White Tip Racing Suzuki. Parriott has earned seven top-10 finishes in the championship this year. HSA Suzuki’s Brian Livengood is ranked 10th. The Georgian has also scored seven top-10 finishes in the Superbike ranks.

For additional information contact Mid-Ohio at (614) 793-4600 or visit www.midohio.com.

Tune into Speed Channel for live coverage of the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship on Saturday, July 27 beginning at 2 p.m., and at 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 28, with repeats on Tuesday, July 30 at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., 1 a.m. and 2 a.m.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship
Presented by Parts Unlimited

Honda Super Cycle Weekend Presented by Dunlop Tires

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course – July 26-28, 2002

Thursday, July 25
Registration: Riders, Crew, Sponsors & Guests, 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Tech Inspection: 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Friday, July 26
Registration: Riders, Crew, Sponsors & Guests 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Entries Close for all Classes at 10:00 AM
Tech Inspection: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Practice (in the following order) from 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM
1. Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport
2. Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme
3. Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock
4. MBNA 250 Grand Prix

Chevy Trucks Superbike Practice, 10:40 AM – 11:40 AM

Lunch Break, 11:40 AM – 12:40 PM

Mandatory Rider Briefing for All Classes at 12:00 PM

Practice in same order as morning session, 12:40 PM – 2:30 PM

Chevy Trucks Superbike Qualifying, 2:40 PM – 3:30 PM

Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock Qualifying, Even #s 4:20 PM – 4:40 PM

Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock Qualifying, Odd #s 4:50 PM – 5:10 PM


Saturday, July 27

Registration: Crew, Sponsors & Guests, 7:30 AM – 3:00 PM

Tech Inspection: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Practice (in the following order) from 8:00 AM – 9:40 AM
1. Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport
2. MBNA 250 Grand Prix
3. Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock
4. Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme

Chevy Trucks Superbike Qualifying, 9:50 AM – 10:50 AM

Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport Qualifying, Even #s 11:00 AM – 11:20 AM

Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport Qualifying, Odd #s 11:30 AM – 11:50 AM

Lunch Break, 11:50 AM – 12:40 PM

Chevy Trucks Superbike Practice, 12:40 PM – 1:00 PM

Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Qualifying, 1:10 PM – 1:45 PM


FINAL EVENTS

Chevy Trucks Superbike Race 1 (100K – 26 laps), 2:00 PM

MBNA 250 Grand Prix Qualifying, 20 Minute Session

Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock Race (60k – 16 laps)


Sunday, July 28

Registration: Crew, Sponsors & Guests, 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Tech Inspection Opens: 9:00 AM

Practice (in the following order): 9:00 AM – 10:50 AM
1. Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport
2. MBNA 250 Grand Prix
3. Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme
4. Chevy Trucks Superbike

Lunch Break, 11:00 AM


Nondenominational Chapel Service, 11:10 AM


FINAL EVENTS (in the following order)starting at 12:00 PM:

Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport Final (60k – 16 laps)

MBNA 250 Grand Prix (60k – 16 laps)

Chevy Trucks Superbike Race 2 (100k – 26 laps) 2:00 PM

Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme (60k – 16 laps)

From a press release issued by Proton Team KR:

DOUBLE TOP TEN FOR PROTON PAIR IN GERMANY

Round 9: German GP, Sachsenring
Race Report: Sunday, July 21, 2002

Jeremy McWilliams: Seventh
Nobuatsu Aoki: Eighth

Proton Team KR riders Jeremy McWilliams and Nobuatsu Aoki scored a double top ten in today’s German GP, the team’s first of the season in which the lightweight 500cc two-stroke is fighting for the last time against the new generation of 990cc four-stroke MotoGP prototypes. Next year, Proton Team KR will campaign their own new V5 four-stroke.

Given the horsepower and top speed deficit compared with the bigger machines, today’s result was a vindication of the design philosophy of the KR3 … and a tribute to the skill and determination of both riders, who were only 15 and 18 seconds respectively behind the race winner and runaway championship leader Valentino Rossi on the 990cc V5 Honda.

Exploiting the light weight and agile handling of the three-cylinder Proton KR3 to the full, McWilliams had even held provisional pole position after the first day of practice, and made a strong start from the second row of the grid, holding sixth at the end of lap one. Although clearly slower on the pit straight, McWilliams was regaining ground throughout the rest of the twisting 3.704km Sachsenring circuit outside Chemnitz. He lost the leading group only at the end of the 30 lap race as his tyre grip deteriorated. The first six riders finished within less than three seconds of the leader.

Aoki shrugged off the after-effects of a heavy crash in practice and also made a good start – but lost positions in the first corner when an attempt to ride round the outside backfired. He fought back, and spent much of the race tailing 500cc Yamaha rider Garry McCoy. On the last lap, his plan to overtake the Australian came good, and he finished three tenths ahead of him. It was his fifth top ten finish of the year, and he is ninth overall after the halfway point of the season.

Rossi’s eighth win in the nine-race-old season came only after two other riders – Olivier Jacque and Alex Barros – had collided and crashed out while in front of his V5 Honda. Now the GP circus breaks up for the summer holiday, beginning again at the end of August at Brno in the Czech Republic, another circuit where continuous corners favour the sweet-steering Proton KR3.


JEREMY McWILLIAMS
“I did everything I could, but the way the four-strokes were flying past me on the straight was frightening. My race was getting a bit silly: I dived underneath Max Biaggi in the first corner and nearly hit him, and I was running up behind people through the turns and messing up my lap time. I was worried I might make a fool of myself, and in the end I just had to line up and think about finishing. It was easier at the end when I lost some side grip, and I was on my own. I’d have loved a top-four finish, but though Bridgestone have come a long way in their first year, but we still have more work to do.
I’m happy with seventh, and some good points.”

NOBUATSU AOKI
“My start was good, but I tried to pass more riders round the outside in the first corner, and instead I lost many places. After that I pushed very hard, and I got behind McCoy, who was also making very consistent laps. I was thinking I might get past and catch Jeremy. Then about ten laps from the end I started to have the same gear-shifting trouble as in England – the pedal going really stiff. I could kick through the upshifts; but downshifting was really difficult, especially from sixth to first at the end of the straight. I had to concentrate very hard, and work out where to attack McCoy on the last lap. In the end he made a small mistake and made it easy for me, but I think I would have passed him anyway.”

CHUCK AKSLAND – Team Manager
“It’s good to get both bikes home in the top ten. They both did a great job, and so did the whole team. It was a tense afternoon for us, and a cruel joke when the TV flashed up a line that Aoki had crashed. Luckily we could see him go down the hill from the pit wall, so we knew right away Nobu was still in the race”.



From a press release issued by Suzuki:

SUZUKI RIDERS UNHURT AFTER CRASH

Sachsenring, Germany – Race Report
Sunday July 21, 2002:

TELEFONICA MOVISTAR SUZUKI Suzuki riders Sete Gibernau and Yukio Kagayama escaped unhurt after both were involved in a mid-race collision with a third rider in today’s German GP.

The incident took place on the 11th of 30 laps at the tight 3.704km Sachsenring circuit outside Chemnitz, when the Suzuki pair were lying 10th and 12th, with Honda rider Daijiro Kato sandwiched between them. On one of the few fast corners at the tortuous circuit, the slowest on the GP calendar, the trio came together in a clash of racing lines, with all three falling as a result.

Gibernau, a Telefónica MoviStar Suzuki team regular, suffered injuries to his left little finger, but with the five-week summer break beginning directly, he will be fully recovered in time for the restart of the season at the Czech Republic GP at the end of August.

Kagayama was racing in place of Kenny Roberts Jr., who is at home in California recovering from corrective surgery to his right arm. The Japanese rider’s full-time job is as a factory Suzuki rider, campaigning the GSV-R V4 MotoGP four-stroke in the All-Japan Superbike championship.

The third Suzuki in the race, ridden by Kagayama’s usual team mate Akira Ryo, finished 11th. Ryo was racing as a wild card.

The race was won by defending champion and current points leader Valentino Rossi, but only after two other riders – Olivier Jacque and Alex Barros – had collided and crashed out in front of him.

SETE GIBERNAU – Did Not Finish
“It should have been a good race for me. I made a good start, but in the first corner Rossi and I were both dropped back by my team-mate. He was riding very well, but also very aggressively. I recovered and started to pick up my pace again, and I had worked my way back up with Kato until we were both behind Kagayama. On the way into the corner we all collided in a big mess. Luckily none of us were badly hurt, because it was a fast corner.”


YUKIO KAGAYAMA – Did Not Finish
“I was enjoying the race, and thought I was going well. The team helped me such a lot this weekend, and had some very good ideas on how to improve my machine. I had no warning of the crash. I just felt a bang from behind. It was completely unexpected.”

GARRY TAYLOR – Team Manager
“Yukio was riding well, with lap times in the 1:26 bracket, half-a-second slower than the new lap record, and faster than the old one. In fact he was a couple of tenths quicker than Sete, who was also in the 1:26s. That proves the quality of our bike, and it’s also impressive that it was his first time on the four-stroke on Michelin tyres. The way it ended has to be regarded as a typical racing incident. It’s fruitless to try to attach blame. In racing you have a bunch of very skilful riders trying very hard. In these circumstances, accidents sometimes happen. It’s a pity to lose both our team riders in one crash, but the good thing is that there were no serious injuries.”



From a press release issued by Marlboro Yamaha:

GERMAN GP, SACHSENRING
Race Day, Sunday July 21 2002

MARLBORO YAMAHA SHINE IN DAZZLING GERMAN GP

Marlboro Yamaha Team YZR-M1 riders Max Biaggi and Carlos Checa finished second and fourth in today’s thrilling German GP, a non-stop rollercoaster of a ride around the ultra-tight Sachsenring.

The leading eight-man pack ran nose to tail until three laps from the finish when two-stroke leaders Olivier Jacque (Yamaha) and Alex Barros (Honda) crashed, putting four-stroke men Valentino Rossi (Honda) and Max Biaggi out front. Biaggi rode a great race, fighting back from seventh in the early stages. Checa was right there throughout, crossing the line just 2.33 seconds behind the winner.

“I enjoyed that race very much, but first I’d just like to give my condolences to Olivier, he was very unlucky,” said YZR-M1 project leader Ichiro Yoda who intends to use today’s two-stroke versus four-stroke battle to further development of the M1. “Both our riders tried very hard and now we will analyze the data to study the difference between the two-stroke and the four-stroke, so that we can make more improvements to our bike. Now we have a month’s break before the next race, but we will still be working hard in the run-up to Brno.”


BIAGGI TAKES M1 SO CLOSE TO VICTORY
Watched by 78,000 noisy fans, Max Biaggi came within seven tenths of a second of scoring the YZR-M1’s first victory today. The Marlboro Yamaha Team star was in typically determined form, gathering himself after a difficult first few laps to battle back and forth with Valentino Rossi, then contesting third place. When Alex Barros took out Olivier Jacque, the two Italians were promoted to first and second but Biaggi couldn’t quite get back in front of Rossi on the final lap.

“I’m very, very satisfied with the result, a gift from poor Jacque and Barros,” said Biaggi after his second successive runner-up finish. “I rode my own race, though the first few laps were difficult because I was struggling with the weight of the bike and a full tank of gas. Also, we changed the geometry after warm-up. I hadn’t had a chance to test it, so it took me five or six laps to get used to the feeling, then I started pushing hard. I got McWilliams, Abe and Nakano, then caught up the front guys but it was tough to overtake. Who knows what would’ve happened if Jacque and Barros hadn’t crashed? Yamaha and the team are working very hard and we’re progressing well. Now I’m off on holiday – maybe ten days on a boat doing nothing, having fun with my girlfriend and friends.”


CHECA TAKES A SUPER-CLOSE FOURTH
Carlos Checa had a frustrating race – fast as anyone out there but unable to get any closer to the front. Just 1.1 seconds behind the race leader at half distance, the Marlboro Yamaha Team man was just metres behind the winner at the finish. Around this track, the shortest in GP racing, the difference in lap times is tiny, so while Checa had the second-quickest average lap time in yesterday’s final qualifier, he ended up on the third row, which put him tenth at the end of the first lap at a track around which overtaking is particularly difficult. He made headway in the race but couldn’t get close enough to attack third-finisher Tohru Ukawa (Honda) at the finish.

“My start wasn’t so bad, I passed a few guys and near the end I was thinking of trying to take Ukawa but the leaders raised their pace in the final laps, so I didn’t get the chance,” said the Spaniard. “All weekend we struggled to find a set-up that worked through the faster part of the track. I tried everything to be quicker through there, including adapting my riding style and body position, but I was always losing time through the fast downhill and uphill corners. Now we take a break from racing and I think we need it, everyone’s been working so hard this year.”


ROSSI GIFTED EIGHTH WIN
World Championship leader Valentino Rossi scored his eighth win of 2002, taking the lead for the second time when Alex Barros and Olivier Jacque crashed. Their lighter two-strokes had dominated most of the race at this tortuous circuit and for once it seemed Rossi wouldn’t win, his RCV obviously detuned to make it more manageable on super-short gearing. “That was a great race for the fans,” he smiled. “The two-strokes were faster in the first, tighter part of the track because they’re lighter, but I could overtake in the faster downhill section at the end of the lap. This win was a bit of a gift but I still had to stay concentrated to beat Biaggi.”

From a press release issued by Honda:

HONDA RACING INFORMATION

MotoGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2002
GERMAN GRAND PRIX, SACHSENRING
Race Day, Sunday July 21

ROSSI MAKES IT EIGHT WINS

Valentino Rossi (Repsol Honda Team RC211V) took the eighth MotoGP win of his amazing 2002 season in unusual circumstances, after 30-laps of intense action at the Sachsenring. Starting from a second row grid position Rossi worked his way to the race lead with 11 laps to go, only to lose two places on lap 24, as the early pace-setters Alex Barros (West Honda Pons NSR500) and Olivier Jacque (Yamaha) blew past him in close company.

A turn one incident on lap 28, during which an ambitious overtake from Barros saw him lose the front under braking, caused both riders to crash out of contention. The stalking Rossi capitalised on the situation, easing away to a narrow but safe 0.730 second win over Max Biaggi (Yamaha) and Tohru Ukawa (Repsol Honda Team RC211V).

Rossi, who extended his championship lead once more, knew he was fortunate to have an unfettered run to the flag, even if he recognised that he still had work to do to stay clear of the chasing duo. “A few laps from the end I saw Barros brake too deep, try to stop, but it was impossible,” said eyewitness Rossi. “Jacque was unlucky, but the race was not finished because I had Biaggi and Ukawa behind. It was difficult for me to concentrate 100% on those last few laps, but we won and I am very happy about that. The win was good for me and the race was good for the show.”

Further proof of his current dominance in the class came from his new lap record of 1:26.226, which he set on the second last lap. Rossi now enjoys 96-point advantage over his closest rival Ukawa, 220 to 124.

Ukawa had an outstanding race considering the foot and coccyx injuries he picked up at the previous Donington round. The gritty Japanese rider led the race for six laps and eventually scored his sixth podium finish of the year; more than anyone could have realistically expected in such a close race. “Today was an especially hard race for me,” said a clearly suffering Ukawa. “I was experiencing so much pain it was difficult to keep my position. I tried so hard during the race, however, and it was great to get a podium.”

With Barros out and some of the regular NSR riders failing to finish, the top Honda two-stroke was ridden to tenth place by substitute rider Alex Hofmann (West Honda Pons NSR500). A top ten result was a great reward for not only local rider Hofmann, but also the 78,000 fans that packed out the Sachsenring on raceday. “I was a little lucky missing all the crashes because at the beginning it was chaos,” said Hoffman. “I was also unlucky, because I lost out on some places at that time. I passed many riders later in the race and I feel that I have learned a lot and gained a good feel for the bike and the tyres. Unfortunately I have to give the bike back to Loris Capirossi now!”

Hofmann’s now former team-mate Barros was particularly disappointed not to finish a race he thought he had a genuine chance of winning. “I was having a great race and I think I could have won, especially when Rossi made an error and both Jacque and I passed him,” said Barros. “Jacque was overtaking me every time on the main straight because my bike was not fast enough. I could not wait until the end of the race to overtake him and I made a mistake in calculation. It was my mistake and I feel sorry for him.”

Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Kanemoto Racing Honda NSR500) had a frustrating day, unable to lap at a pace he was happy with, although due to the high attrition rate ahead of him, he took an unexpected 12th place. “I was putting in low 1:28 second laps all race but couldn’t get under that time,” said a disappointed van den Goorbergh. “I pushed almost to the end however, until Regis Laconi eliminated himself three laps from the finish. I cruised in after that. I was hoping to score a point, but because of all the crashes I actually scored four. But I’m not that happy with the result.”

A three-rider melee put Daijiro Kato (Fortuna Honda Gresini NSR500) out of the race on lap 11, when he, Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki) and Sete Gibernau (Suzuki) were involved in a peculiar incident, with all three riders in the dirt and unable to restart. “I think it was Gibernau’s bike that hit me,” opined Katoh. “I think he slid off first but sincerely I saw nothing. It was a pity for my race to finish in this way, because I wanted to leave my NSR with a good result. But from the next race I am thinking only about my new RC211V.”

Tetsuya Harada (Pramac Honda NSR500) retired from the race on lap 14, with a worn rear tyre.

Robby Rolfo (Fortuna Honda Gresini NSR250) was deprived of a possible win after the scheduled 29-lap race was terminated early, due to a light fall of rain.

Rolfo was leading his fellow Italian Marco Melandri (Aprilia) for much of the race, but Melandri had taken the lead before he crashed out on lap 23, just as the gentle shower started to affect the track conditions. The incident warranted a red flag to call a halt to proceedings, and with the race counted back to the 22nd lap, Melandri was awarded the win by the margin of 0.181 seconds.

Disappointed with his misfortune, Rolfo was philosophical about his fate. “The weather decided the race because it could have been a spectacular battle between me and Marco until the end,” stated Rolfo. “I started very fast and my bike was really good today. When Marco passed me I saw some rain on the screen and after a few minutes the rain washed across the track and he crashed. Anyway, the race direction made a good decision to stop the race.”

Rolfo sits third in the championship with 127 points, behind Melandri on 170 and Fonsi Nieto (Aprilia) on 145.

Emilio Alzamora (Fortuna Honda Gresini NSR250) crashed out of the race on lap seven, one of many fallers in a race littered with incident. Only 19 machines made it to the finish.

Alzamora was subdued after experiencing misfortune again. “I was behind Ralf Waldmann, fighting with him, but after I passed him I crashed.” He continued: “Now we have a holiday, I hope to arrive in Brno in good shape, to be lucky and have a good race.”

Haruchika Aoki (Arie Molenaar Racing Honda RS250R/W) had a heavy crash on lap 16, ending his chances of a top ten finish. Although prostrate at the trackside for some time, he was not seriously hurt.

The top private Honda was ridden by Leon Haslam (By Queroseno Racing Honda RS250R/W) who took 13th place, one ahead of his team-mate Jason Vincent.

Daniel Pedrosa (Telefonica Movistar Jr Team Honda RS125R) proved to be the top Honda finisher in a tough 27-lap 125 race. Circulating in a potential podium position before half distance, he slipped back through the field to finish seventh. “I think this has been the most complicated weekend of my sporting career,” said Pedrosa. “Both the team and myself have worked to the maximum to try and resolve my suspension problems but we couldn’t do it. My bike was quick, but in the left-hand turns which are almost all of them I was sliding constantly. There are races in which you fight for victory, and races where you have to fight just to finish. Today was one of those.”

A sterling effort by Mika Kallio (Red Devil Honda RS125R) delivered him a ninth place at this tight and demanding circuit, enhancing the flying Finn’s growing reputation.

Joan Olive (Telefonica Movistar Jr Team Honda RS125R) finished his race just outside the top ten, his 11th place netting him five championship points. “The machine was sliding but we already knew we had to race in this condition. All we could do was fight and get the most possible points,” said Olive in summation.

Vincent’s win promoted him to second in the championship, at the expense of Pedrosa, with the top three order now Poggiali on 160, Vincent 153 and Pedrosa 140.

A long summer break beckons for all MotoGP classes, with Round 10 scheduled for Brno, in the Czech Republic, on August 25.


HONDA TEAM QUOTES:

Valentino Rossi: Repsol Honda Team: 1st:
“That win was good for me and the race was good for the show. I got a bad start and a bad first lap where I lost a position. There are some places on the track where the 4-stroke is quicker and I managed to get to the front. I try to push to get away but I make a mistake and lose places to Jacque and Barros. I then see Barros brake too late for the corner and for me it is a gift. But the race is not over. Biaggi and Ukawa are very fast and I have to keep full concentration to stay in the position. I now look forward to a holiday.”

Tohru Ukawa, Repsol Honda Team: 3rd:
“That was a very, very hard race for me. After the Donington crash I still hurt a lot. I got a great start here and led for several laps. But I was in a lot of pain and gradually got overtaken by Jacque, Barros, Rossi and Biaggi. It was difficult to keep concentration. Finally I get the podium and I’m very happy. This position from a week ago was only a dream. Much thanks to the medical staff.”

Alex Hofmann, West Honda Pons: 10th:
“I did not get a good start but little by little I started to increase the pace and lower my lap times, overtaking riders like Harada, Ryo and others. The tenth position is incredible for me because it means I have scored good points in my second race with this bike I am very happy for me and for the crowd, who had a very good time here today. However, I am also sad because in the next race I will not continue. The bike performed very well and I would like to thank all the team members for the way they have accepted me into their team for these two races and for the help they have given me.”

Sito Pons:
“It was a spectacular race, as we predicted. We are conscious of the fact that Alex Barros had a chance for victory and it is a real shame because he really thought he could win. I do think, though, that we should congratulate him because he battled away for the whole race, he gave it everything he had, and he never gave up. He demonstrated that he is a very brave rider with a strong will to win. I am sorry for Jacque, who also had a great race, but things like this are all part of racing. Meanwhile, I would like to say that Alex Hofmann has taken another important step forward in finishing tenth in a race where he has lapped very quickly. I congratulate him too because his work was not easy.”

Jurgen van den Goorbergh, Kanemoto Honda, 12th: “As I said yesterday, I could run 1:28s all day. I had a lot of under steer, but as soon as I hit the throttle, I got over steer! I raced at the maximum for 30 laps. If I tried to get into 1:27s, I risked crashing. Sure I could do it for two-three laps but I would crash on the fourth if I tried. It was not worth the risk for an extra point or two. But I’m happy with my riding, and that’s important.”

Erv Kanemoto, team owner manager: “We are a little disappointed with the result today even with the 12th place. Now we go to Mugello for a two-day test where we hope to get a better understanding of where we are right now, and where we need to be. The test will be in a controlled environment and should show us need to know for the second half of the season.”

Alex Barros, West Honda Pons, (crashed): “I was having a great race and I think I could have won, especially when Rossi made an error and both Jacque and I passed him. Olivier was overtaking me on every time on the main straight because my bike was not fast enough, which is a problem we have had all season. There were two overtaking places, but to have a go I needed to take a huge risk because he was always 20 metres in front of me at that point. I could not wait until the end of the race and I made an error in calculation. I turned too sharply into the corner and we hit each other, because we both wanted to win. It was my mistake and I feel sorry for him. It is a shame for the championship and a shame because I have missed a great chance to win a race this season with a two-stroke bike. Now I want to get over this race as soon as possible, take a break with my family, and recharge the batteries ahead of Brno.”

Daijiro Kato, Fortuna Honda Gresini, crashed: “I think that Gibernau’s bike hit mine, he slid off and the bike hit me, but sincerely, I saw nothing. I have a lot of pain from my bruised thigh, but Dr. Costa told me that I wouldn’t have problems with it. During the race my bike was not really handling well with a full fuel tank, the handling improved as the fuel load went down and I was enjoying the race in the top group. It’s a pity that the race finished in this way, I would have liked to leave my NSR500 with a good result, but from the next race I am thinking only about the RC211V four-stroke.”

Fausto Gresini: “I’m sorry for what happened to Kato but this sort of thing can always happen in a race. He couldn’t show his value because of the accident. Luckily he wasn’t injured too much. Everybody is now thinking about their holidays but we will not have too much: the team mechanics must go to Japan to familiarise themselves with the RC211V and Daijiro will go to Suzuka for the ‘8 Hours.’ The next appointment is in Brno, where we will show our desire to do well.”

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

250cc Grand Prix Results:

1. Marco Melandri, Aprilia, 32:12.725, 22 laps
2. Roberto Rolfo, Honda, -0.181 second
3. Sebastian Porto, Yamaha, -2.150 seconds
4. Fonsi Nieto, Aprilia, -8.471 seconds
5. Roberto Locatelli, Aprilia, -15.565 seconds
6. Toni Elias, Aprilia, -29.543 seconds
7. Naoki Matsudo, Yamaha, -29.857 seconds
8. Franco Battaini, Aprilia, -29.890 seconds
9. Ralf Waldman, Aprilia, -38.653 seconds
10. Alex Debon, Aprilia, -40.533 seconds
11. Shahrol Yuzy, Yamaha, -42.231 seconds
12. Dirk Heidolf, Aprilia, -59.989 seconds
13. Leon Haslam, Honda, -60.304 seconds
14. Jay Vincent, Honda, -60.434 seconds
15. David Checa, Aprilia, -60.569 seconds

DNF, Vincent Philippe, Aprilia, -3 laps
DNF, Haruchika Aoki, Honda, -7 laps
DNF, Randy De Puniet, Aprilia, -8 laps
DNF, Emilio Alzamora, Honda, -16 laps
DNF, Casey Stoner, Aprilia, -21 laps