Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Penguin Racing School’s Jerry, Eric and Jeff Wood combined to take six CCS regional race wins Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida.

Father Jerry, age 55, won the Lightweight GP on his Yamaha TZ250 and finished third in the Heavyweight Sportsman sprint, after crashing his Ducati 944 out of the lead on the second lap and remounting.

Jeff tasted victory three times on his Suzuki GSX-R600; winning in GTU, Middleweight Supersport and Middleweight Superbike. His brother Eric won the first race of the day, GTO, and the last race of the day, Unlimited Grand Prix, on his Dunlop-slick-shod Suzuki GSX-R750 Formula USA Unlimited Superbike.

In the red-flag-interrupted GTO race, Eric Wood went from third to first when defending CCS Florida Regional Champion Marco Martinez crashed his Suzuki GSX-R1000 on lap two and second-place rider Rick Narup took evasive action to avoid Martinez. From there, Eric Wood managed to hold off Michael Barnes to take the win.

Riding Per Hogdahl’s Honda NSR500V Grand Prix bike to second place, Barnes suffered Carpal Tunnel Syndrome symptoms in the GTO race and chose to sit out the rest of the day.

In the Unlimited Grand Prix, Eric Wood again came from behind to take the race lead from Martinez on lap two of six, turned a 1:27.40 on lap three (the fastest lap of the weekend) and pulled away to win by four seconds.

“We come down here every year. It’s a great winter break,” said Eric Wood. “This is the first time I’ve been completely healthy at the end of the year, and my bike was working great – I hardly had to touch it all weekend. So it was a lot of fun and not a lot of work, and that’s what this weekend is all about.

“Our family winning a bunch of races is good. It helps enforce all of the things we teach at the school.”

Somewhat overshadowed by the Wood family’s performance, Lucky Racing’s Darren Luck took race wins in Heavyweight Superbike and Unlimited Supersport, earned several other podium finishes and wrapped up eight CCS Florida regional class Championships, winning the 2002 CCS Florida Regional Champion. Based on his number of Championships, Luck is the winningest rider in CCS Florida region history, according to CCS Florida race boss Henry Degouw.

“Not bad for a first-year Expert, huh?” said Luck. “I couldn’t have done it without the help from sponsors like Cheetah Bodywork and Pirelli tires.” Luck said he planned to contest the Formula USA Sportbike and Unlimited Superbike classes, as well as chase local contingency money, in 2003.

Another new Expert, Alex Ferreira, won three races in his Expert racing debut on his 2wf.com-sponsored Suzuki SV650. Ferreira won in GT Lights and Lightweight Superbike and took a second in Lightweight Supersport to Erick Maillard.

Ferreira won several Amateur CCS National Championships at the CCS Race of Champions in October.

2000 Irish 600cc Champion Declan Swanton fought to finish third in GTU on a borrowed Kawasaki ZX-6R after the clutch started slipping on the second lap of the race. Swanton then borrowed a Yamaha YZF-R6 in the middle of Sunday afternoon’s race program and won the Middleweight GP race on the unfamiliar machine.

Swanton came over for the CCS races at Homestead with hopes of getting his name out in the American road racing scene and landing an AMA Supersport or Superstock ride for 2003. Swanton, age 23, finished third in the 2001 British Junior Superstock Championship and raced in the 2002 European Superstock Championship for EMS Racing on a Suzuki GSX-R1000 before breaking his back early in the season.

CCS Unlimited Grand Prix Results:

1. Eric Wood, Suzuki GSX-R750, 6 laps
2. Marco Martinez, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -4.1 seconds
3. Darren Luck, Suzuki GSX-R750
4. Rick Narup, Suzuki GSX-R750
5. John Dalton, Suzuki GSX-R1000
6. Jim Pihokken, Suzuki GSX-R750
7. Scott Ritchey, Suzuki GSX-R1000
8. Edward Lis, Suzuki GSx-R750
9. Charles Sandoz, Aprilia RSV1000
10. Travis Pepin, Suzuki GSX-R750

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Moto-Heaven, exclusive North American importer of Wintex leathers and safety gear, is accepting racer resumes for 2003 support and inquiries from independent product representatives at their new address.

Moto-Heaven
226 E. Main Street
Youngsville, PA 16371
Toll free (877) 416-0969
phone/Fax (814)563-7292
www.moto-heaven.com
[email protected]

From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

SBK VALENCIA TEST – DAY 1

Ducati Corse Press

The first day of testing for the Ducati Corse team at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit saw Ducati’s two 2003 factory riders, Neil Hodgson and Ruben Xaus out on the track together for the first time. Some of the protagonists of next year’s World Superbike Championship were also at the test: James Toseland and Chris Walker with the HM-Plant Ducati team, Steve Martin, Juan Borja and Marco Borciani with Team DFX Pirelli and, with the new Anglo-Malaysian Foggy Petronas team, Troy Corser and James Haydon.

From a press release issued by CCS/Formula USA:

CCS/Formula USA National Series

2/27-3/2 Daytona Int’l Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL
5/24-26 Mid-America Motorplex, Pacific Junction, IA
6/13-15 New Hampshire Int’l Speedway, Loudon, NH
6/27-29 Virginia Int’l Raceway, Alton, VA
7/TBA TBA
8/8-10 Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI
9/5-7 Summit Point Raceway, Summit Point, WV
10/16-19 Daytona Int’l Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL


Central Motorcycle Roadracing Association (CMRA) Championship Sanctioned By CCS

2/22-23 Oak Hill Raceway, Henderson, TX
3/15-16 Texas World Speedway, College Station, TX
5/3-4 Motorsport Ranch, Cresson, TX
5/24-25 Hallett Motor Racing Circuit, Hallett, OK
6/14-15 Texas World Speedway, College Station, TX
6/28-29 Oak Hill Raceway, Henderson, TX
7/19-20 Hallet Motor Racing Circuit, Hallett, OK
9/6-7 Texas World Speedway, College Station, TX
9/27-28 Oak Hill Raceway, Henderson, TX
10/12-13 Motorsport Ranch, Cresson, TX


Florida Roadracing Championship Sanctioned by CCS

2/8-9 Homestead-Miami Speedway, Homestead, FL *
2/27-3/2 Daytona Int’l Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL
3/15-16 Moroso Motorsports Park, W. Palm Beach, FL
4/5-6 N. Florida Motorsports Park, Jennings, FL
5/3-4 N. Florida Motorsports Park, Jennings, FL
5/25-26 Moroso Motorsports Park, W. Palm Beach, FL
6/21-22 Homestead-Miami Speedway, Homestead, FL
7/19-20 Moroso Motorsports Park, W. Palm Beach, FL
8/23-24 Moroso Motorsports Park, W. Palm Beach, FL
9/6-7 N. Florida Motorsports Park, Jennings, FL
9/20-21 Moroso Motorsports Park, W. Palm Beach, FL
12/6-7 Homestead-Miami Speedway, Homestead, FL *


Great Lakes Roadracing Championship

4/5-6 Blackhawk Farms Raceway, S. Beloit, IL *
4/25-27 Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI**
5/17-18 Gingerman Raceway, S. Haven, MI
5/31-6/1 Blackhawk Farms Raceway, S. Beloit, IL
6/14-15 Gateway Int’l Raceway, Madison, IL
7/5-6 Mid-America Motorplex, Pacific Junction, IA**
8/8-10 Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI*
8/23-24 Blackhawk Farms Raceway, S. Beloit, IL
9/13-14 Gateway Int’l Raceway, Madison, IL**
9/27-28 Gingerman Raceway, S. Haven, MI*


Great Plains Roadracing Championship

4/5-6 Blackhawk Farms, S. Beloit, IL *
4/25-27 Road America, Elkhart, WI**
5/17-18 Gingerman Raceway, S. Haven, MI
5/24-26 Mid-America Motorplex, Pacific Junction, IA*
6/14-15 Gateway Int’l Raceway, Madison, IL
7/5-6 Mid-America Motorplex, Pacific Junction, IA**
8/16-17 Barber Motorsports Park, Leeds, AL**
9/13-14 Gateway Int’l Raceway, Madison, IL**
10/4-5 Gateway Int’l Raceway, Madison, IL *


Loudon Road Race Series (LRRS) Championship Sanctioned by CCS

4/26-27 New Hampshire Int’l Speedway, Loudon, NH
5/17-18 New Hampshire Int’l Speedway, Loudon, NH
6/7-8 New Hampshire Int’l Speedway, Loudon, NH
7/5-6 New Hampshire Int’l Speedway, Loudon, NH
7/26-27 New Hampshire Int’l Speedway, Loudon, NH
8/16-17 New Hampshire Int’l Speedway, Loudon, NH
8/30-31 New Hampshire Int’l Speedway, Loudon, NH
9/27-28 New Hampshire Int’l Speedway, Loudon, NH


Mid-Atlantic Roadracing Championship

2/27-3/2 Daytona Int’l Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL
3/29-30 Roebling Road Raceway, Faulkville, GA**
4/12-13 Virginia Int’l Raceway, Alton, VA
5/3-4 Summit Point Raceway, Summit Point, WV
5/24-26 Summit Point Raceway, Summit Point, WV
6/27-29 Virginia Int’l Raceway, Alton, VA*
7/12-13 Summit Point Raceway, Summit Point, WV
7/26-27 Roebling Road Raceway, Faulkville, GA**
8/16-17 Barber Motorsports Park, Leeds, AL**
9/5-7 Summit Point Raceway, Summit Point, WV*
9/27-28 Virginia Int’l Raceway, Alton, VA
10/11-12 Summit Point Raceway, Summit Point, WV *


Mid-West Roadracing Championship

4/5-6 Blackhawk Farms Raceway, S. Beloit, IL *
4/25-27 Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI**
5/10-11 Blackhawk Farms Raceway, S. Beloit, IL
5/23-25 Mid-America Motorplex, Pacific Junction, IA*
5/31-6/1 Blackhawk Farms Raceway, S. Beloit, IL
6/14-15 – Gateway Int’l Raceway, Madison, IL
7/5-6 Mid-America Motorplex, Pacific Junction, IA**
7/19-20 Blackhawk Farms Raceway, S. Beloit, IL
8/8-10 Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI*
8/23-24 Blackhawk Farms Raceway, S. Beloit, IL
9/6-7 Blackhawk Farms Raceway, S. Beloit, IL
9/27-28 Gingerman Raceway, S. Haven, MI
10/4-5 Gateway Int’l Raceway, Madison, IL*


Pacific Roadracing Championship

2/1-2 Streets of Willow, Rosamond, CA *
3/15-16 Firebird Int’l Raceway (East), Chandler, AZ
4/5-6 Thunderhill Park, Willows, CA
5/17-18 Las Vegas Classic Courses , Las Vegas, NV
5/31-6/1 Streets of Willow, Rosamond, CA
7/5-6 Buttonwillow Raceway Park, Buttonwillow, CA
8/16-17 Thunderhill Park, Willows, CA
8/29-31 Las Vegas Classic Course, Las Vegas, NV**
10/4-5 Thunderhill Park, Willows, CA
11/1-2 Buttonwillow Raceway Park, Buttonwillow, CA
11/29-30 Streets of Willow, Rosamond, CA*


Southeast Roadracing Championship

2/27-3/2 Daytona Int’l Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL
3/29-30 Roebling Road Raceway, Faulkville, GA**
4/12-13 Virginia Int’l Raceway, Alton, VA
5/3-4 N. Florida Motorsports Park, Jennings, FL
6/14-15 Roebling Road Raceway, Faulkville, GA**
6/27-29 Virginia Int’l Raceway, Alton, VA*
7/26-27 Roebling Road Raceway, Faulkville, CA**
8/16-17 Barber Motorsports Park, Leeds, AL**
9/6-7 N. Florida Motorsports Park, Jennings, FL
9/27-28 Virginia Int’l Raceway, Alton, VA*


Southwest Roadracing Championship

2/1-2 Streets of Willow, Rosamond, CA *
3/15-16 Firebird Int’l Raceway (East), Chandler, AZ
4/12-13 Firebird Int’l Raceway (East), Chandler, AZ
5/17-18 Las Vegas Classic Course, Las Vegas, NV
5/31-6/1 Streets of Willow, Rosamond, CA
7/5-6 Buttonwillow Raceway Park, Buttonwillow, CA
8/29-31 Las Vegas Classic Course, Las Vegas, NV**
9/27-28 Firebird Int’l Raceway, Chandler, AZ
11/1-2 Buttonwillow Raceway Park, Buttonwillow, CA
11/15-16 Firebird Int’l Raceway (East), Chandler, AZ *


2003 Race of Champions XX

10/16-19 Daytona Int’l Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL

*double points
** twin sprint weekend

According to CCS sources, the TBA Formula USA National date in July will most likely be held in Texas or Oklahoma.

For additional information, call CCS at (817) 332-4822, FAX (817) 870-9790, www.ccsracing.com.

From a press release issued by Yamaha:

YAMAHA FACTORY TEAM TESTS
Valencia, Spain
Friday December 6 2002

CONTENTED YAMAHA FACTORY TEAM COMPLETE FINAL DAY OF TESTING AT VALENCIA

Yamaha Factory Team riders Carlos Checa and his new team-mate Marco Melandri completed a three day test at Valencia Friday. The factory team continued their hard work on the Yamaha YZR-M1, winning machine of two Grands Prix in 2002.

Reigning 250 World Champion Melandri made his debut with Yamaha on the M1 which he rode methodically on all three days, today completing a total of 67 laps. Checa spent the first two days continuing development of Yamaha’s fuel injection system and today concentrated on Michelin tyre testing. Both riders were pleased with their performance in this penultimate test of the year despite windy conditions forcing all three Yamaha teams to finish early on the second day.

“This is the first test at the start of our new project”, said Team Director Davide Brivio. “It’s important for us to have both this and next week’s test in Jerez. Our target is for Carlos to give as much information as possible to our Yamaha and Michelin engineers before Christmas in order to start with the best possible advantage for testing in 2003. Now we are going to concentrate our winter testing in Europe in order to have immediate comparisons of bike and rider information from the same circuits in January.”

Checa was generally pleased with progress during the test, “The first day I found it quite difficult to get used to the bike again after not riding for one month,” said the Spaniard who finished this season fifth overall.

“Yesterday the weather was not so good but I tried to make use of the track time anyway. Today I am much happier and was able to give good input to my engineers about the fuel injection system. I also did a tyre test to give Michelin information about how they can improve the tyres even more for us. I found a good rhythm today and I’m content with the information I have provided.” Checa completed 72 laps today.

Now the Yamaha Factory Team will travel to Jerez in the south of Spain where they will continue testing from Monday 9 to Wednesday 11 December.

Lap times (from all 3 days)
CARLOS CHECA 1:33.71
MARCO MELANDRI 1:34.83

Alex Barros 1:34.0
Olivier Jacque 1:35.1
Shinya Nakano 1:34.2

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

AMA 250cc Grand Prix racer Simon Turner is back on his feet and preparing for the 2003 AMA season after breaking his leg and a vertebrae at Daytona International Raceway October 18, during the CCS Race of Champions event.

Turner was testing Bridgestone tires on his Priority Racing/Irish Bike-sponsored Yamaha TZ250 in practice at Daytona when he suffered a highside crash at the exit of the International Horseshoe. Turner broke both the tibia and fibula in his left leg and fractured his C7 vertebrae. Turner had a rod surgically inserted into his tibia, while an external fixator was attached to his left leg; he also wore a back brace for several weeks.

“I’ve been walking on it for about a week now,” said Turner Saturday, December 7 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. “I could’ve been on a bike already, but thankfully I have some more time to get ready. Actually, it’s my back that’s giving me more trouble than my leg. The muscles around where I broke the vertebrae are still a wee bit sore.”

Turner, a resident of Belfast, Northern Ireland, is currently in Florida preparing his 2002 racebikes for sale to customers, helping Tony Pogue tune Per Hogdahl’s Honda NSR500V – which Michael Barnes is racing in the CCS races this weekend – and settling his plans for the 2003 AMA 250cc Grand Prix series. Turner said he had acquired the late Randy Renfrow’s TSR Honda RS250 but does not know if he will run Dunlop or Bridgestone tires next season.

Meanwhile, Michael Barnes said his plans for 2003 are not set, but he is considering returning to the Hooters Mountain Dew Suzuki team to run the AMA Superstock series.

From a press release issued by the World Superside (Sidecar) Championship:

Ian Guy releases plans

Ian Guy, who has recently been heard as the expert voice commentating on Eurosport’s coverage of the Superside World Championship events, is eagerly looking at the possibilities for a racing return to the series next season.

Guy finished equal 5th in the 2001 Sidecar World Championship for the liveonscreen.com team partnered by Andy Peach and scored the pair’s first (and so far only) ever rostrum at world level with a 3rd place at Brands Hatch – after coming close on a number of previous occasions.

“Unfortunately I couldn’t raise enough sponsorship at the end of last season to stay with the team,” Ian explained “But whilst initially it was a real blow, I’ve actually been glad of a year out of action. I started racing seriously in 1993 (after several years retirement from club racing) with the aim of getting to the World Championships and in 1995 I started doing the European championships, finally getting into the GPs full time in ’98.

“Seven full seasons of travelling around Europe and the World was beginning to take its toll – so it’s been good to sit back this year, relax and recharge, and even have a holiday!” he reflected after returning from the Maldives recently.

But Yangi, as he’s known in the paddock, hasn’t managed to stay away from the sport.

“I went over to Monza, for a busman’s holiday to see how everybody was getting on. While I was there I got asked to do a guest commentary slot on the Octagon world TV feed, and following that was asked to do the job of roving reporter/podium interviewer at the following rounds – a sort of Suzi Perry of the sidecar world, only slightly less sexy!” laughed Ian.

By Brands Hatch, Ian was even more involved:

“I’d planned a Wildcard ride at the Brands round, but then Superside asked if I would be interested in joining Jack Burnical for the commentary on Eurosport, taking over from Niall MacKenzie for the Superside races.

“The sponsor who was going to help me decided that it would be better for me to bring some ‘articulate and expert’ commentary – not my description I hasten to add – to the World Championship events, rather than take a one-off ride that wouldn’t really prove anything.”

Ian said that although he’s very much enjoyed the TV work that, after a year out he’s keen to get back in action next year.

“The rest from competing has given me a chance to sit back and analyse my approach to the races over the past few seasons; what I could do differently to gain that final bit of performance that would get me on the rostrum regularly, and in the right circumstances, win a World Championship race. And I seriously believe that it is possible for me to do that. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t bother coming back, because I’ve achieved the dream I’d had since I was about 10 years old, which was to stand on the rostrum at a World Championship race.”

Speaking about the 2001 season, Ian explained “I wasn’t particularly happy with my performance, although we were told to use it simply as a learning year with the team. 2001 was my first season on a four-stroke (after the two-stroke were outlawed at the end of 2000), and also we were coming back from a huge accident at the end of 2000, when the handlebar broke at over 130mph at Oscherleben and we ploughed into the Armco.”

Although not physically hurt in the incident, it was very nasty crash and had an effect on Ian mentally. “I was determined not to crash or have any ‘moments’ in 2001, which meant that most of the time I was riding at 95%. Even during that great scrap with Steini at Misano I had a bit in hand and knew I could beat him at the end of therace…but then the crank broke!”

And the ‘safety first approach’ was going to plan until the very last round at Imola, when Guy and Peach were forced into the gravel at 100 mph during practice to avoid the spinning Karttiala brothers. “I wanted to keep a clean sheet, but didn’t quite manage it,” said Ian with a grin.

“But I really wasn’t that happy with the GSXR-WP 1200. The motor was very powerful, but it was too heavy, with the weight high up. And as I’m built like a jockey, I struggled all year with chronic understeer. Don’t get me wrong, I’m extremely proud of what we achieved, but I know that if I’d been happier with the handling I could have achieved a lot more”.

Ian is therefore pleased with the move of Superside towards the 1000cc format, with the smaller, lighter engines that rely more on top end power. He explained “I’m told they handle a lot more like the old two-strokes, which suits me just fine”

The recent Superside 2003 Qualification event saw Ian back on a sidecar for the first time in 12 months.

“Andy Peach let me ride his outfit at Nogaro in France and it felt really good to be back in the cockpit again. Unfortunately the gear-change was ‘back to front’ and I kept messing it up, but I was very happy to get a decent time in only a few laps and then park it, especially as the others had been riding all year,” he said.

“It wasn’t enough time to really get a feel for the 1000 motor, but it seemed bloody quick after the seat in the commentary box I can tell you!

“I’ve been talking to a few people about next year, and there are some interesting options. And I haven’t ruled out the possibility running my own team again. But as always – whichever route I decide to take – it will come down to being able to raise enough sponsorship to cover the budget of being in a competitive team, and that’s proving difficult at the moment,” concluded Yangi.

With a lot of new teams vying for a position in the championship for 2003, stay in touch with Superside.com to see if Yangi gets a ride. Who knows, maybe he can provide a ‘special’ sort of race commentary?

From a press release issued by HM Plant Ducati:

2003 WSB starts here

While thousands of race fans will be out doing their Christmas shopping this weekend, HM Plant Ducati will be beginning its preparations for the 2003 Superbike World Championship. The festive season has come early for the GSE Racing squad, who took delivery of four 2002-spec factory Ducati 998 FO2 machines last month.

The new HM Plant Ducatis will therefore take to the track for the first time at Valencia on 7-9 December in the capable hands of James Toseland and team debutant Chris Walker. However, the HM Plant Ducati team mates have had contrasting build-ups to the first pre-season test at the Spanish circuit.

New signing Chris Walker has been recovering from his Supermoto accident last month in Belgium and only had his plaster removed on Tuesday – four days before he will be putting that same leg over the HM Plant Ducati! He is however looking forward to the experience.

“Removing the plaster was a success and I think that it’ll be a case of my ankle feeling better each day,” said the world number nine. “I’m still on crutches because I have a further operation on 17 December, but I don’t anticipate that I’ll have any problems riding the HM Plant Ducati.”

From WSMC:

2003 WSMC Toyota Cup Motorcycle Roadrace Event Schedule:

January 18-19
February 15-16
March 15-16
April 19-20
May 17-18
June 14-15
July 19-20
August 16-17
September 20-21
October 18-19
November 15-16
December 20-21

Fro additional information, call (661) 256-1234, FAX (661) 256-1583, www.race-wsmc.com, e-mail [email protected].