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].

From a press release issued by Club PCS:

Club PCS announces a new addition to our Track Days format for 2003.

Beginning Jan 13th we will offer “Private Track Days” one Monday a month at the perennial favorite, Roebling Road Raceway in Savannah, Ga.

These events will be limited to the first TEN entries, and will be an OPEN track format. No sessions, no limits, & we’ll still have instructors on hand for New Track Rider’s Schools, or Skills Enhancement Classes, or Race Certificate School. Formal Tech Inspection is still required, and pre entry is required.

Don’t want to run with “the crowd”? Want to feel like you “own” the track? Club PCS’ Private Track Days are your ticket to unlimited track time, the freedom to chase that “lap record” without getting “bottled up” in the middle of your best lap ever!

We will still have weekend events at Talladega GPR & Jennings GP for those that want to escape yard work, or the in laws, these events will have entry limits of 36 for Talladega, and 46 for Jennings GP, and will again be pre entry only. The weekend events will run 3 skill level groups in twenty minute sessions, in constant rotation. Instructors will be on hand at EVERY Club PCS Event, for New Track Riders and Skills Enhancement Classes.

We are also working on a new Monday event calendar at Jennings GP North Florida.

Roebling Road Raceway

Jan 13th ~ Feb 10th ~ March 17th ~ April 7th ~
May 12th ~ June 9th ~ Sept 15th ~ Oct 20th ~ Nov 17th

Talladega Gran Prix Raceway

May 24th and 25th ~ Sept 6th and 7th

Jennings GP North Florida dates to be announced!

For a list of tech requirements, event costs, skill level groups, entry form or maps & directions to the circuits……. www.pcsdaytona.com/clubpcs.htm

From a press release issued by Octagon Motorsports, organizers of the FIM World Endurance Championship:

A great souvenir of the endurance year

2002 World Endurance Championship Yearbook

The official FIM 2002 World Endurance Championship yearbook is now available. It features coverage of the championship races, full race results and championship statistics, background information and histories for all the permanent championship teams and in-depth articles on the key figures of the 2002 season.

The book makes a great souvenir of the endurance year for the riders, teams, sponsors and all world endurance fans.

The glossy, 112 full colour page, 24x32cm [9.4 x 12.6 inches] book is co-written in English and French by Valerie Moreno and Martin Gelder, edited by Vittorio Gargiulo and features hundreds of images from top Endurance photographer Giovanni Paterlini.

The 2002 World Endurance Championship Yearbook is published by SEP Editrice, is priced at 50 Euros [approximately $50 USD] and is available from the championship website at www.worldendurance.com (click on Megastore button).

The yearbook is also available directly from SEP Editrice, Via Roma 74, Cassina de pecchi – Milan (Italy) – [email protected].

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publication, Inc.

By David Swarts

There are no UPS safeguards for merchants shipping a package COD to an unknown private party.

According to United Parcel Service (UPS) spokesperson Steve Holmes, the only method of payment acceptable for a UPS COD (collect on delivery) shipment is check or money order, but UPS is not liable if that check or money order is fraudulent.

“It’s the merchant who has chosen to take the risk by accepting the check. If you’re accepting checks from unknown people, unknown customers, that would be the merchant’s decision to take that risk,” said Holmes in a telephone call to Roadracingworld.com from UPS headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. “It’s the same as if a merchant sells merchandise via credit card. UPS is not liable if that credit card is fraudulent.

“It’s no different than at the store-level if someone is going to decide whether or not to accept checks. We’re only serving as the conduit of the payment in that scenario. If the merchant chooses to accept checks, then they have opened themselves to the risk of accepting checks.”

Holmes was sympathetic to the story of KWS owner Kevin Hunt’s negative experience shipping via UPS overnight COD delivery (see related post, KWS Warns Motorcycle Businesses Of Counterfeit Check Scam, 12/3/02), saying, “If there was an investigation to go on, we would cooperate in terms of answering police questions. Unfortunately, that is the way the world has become. There are bad apples out there that are going to try to scam a system one way or another.” Holmes suggested not shipping COD to unknown parties.

Even with the risks involved, Holmes says shipping by COD is still a popular choice for businesses. As evidence, Holmes referenced a Forbes magazine article he said he helped a reporter put together. That article, according to Holmes, stated that Gateway Computers shipped eight percent of its computers COD in 1999.

UPS, through its financial subsidiary UPS Capital Corporation, offers “COD Secure,” a COD payment guarantee service, but the payment insurance program is only for business-to-business shipping.