From a press release issued by USGPRU:

The USGPRU, 125GP road racing series, will be running in conjunction with F-USA at VIR this weekend, 27-29 June. The eastern-region field of top 125 racers will be running in their penultimate race for the region. Local favorite Brian Kcraget will be striving to regain some points lost during a crash at the Loudon event. While regional points leader, Scott Moxey, will be challenging Brian on his home turf.

There will be a 20 minute qualifying session Sunday morning, followed by a 14 lap final that afternoon. $500 Purse and prizes will be awarded.

USGPRU is sponsored by: CCS/F-USA, Motion Pro, Braking USA, Silkolene, VP fuels, EBC, GPStar, Bridgestone tires, and Hjelm Motorsports.

For more information, visit our website at www.USGPRU.org

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.


The CMRA will end its affiliation with CCS at the end of this year. That’s the word from CMRA President Brooks Gremmels, who said that the cost of affiliation exceeded the benefits. More details to follow, as available.

From a press release:

PCS Daytona Celebrates 20 years!

Hard to believe that we went full-time in our first shop location (Personal Cycle Service) 20 years ago!

To celebrate 20 years in Daytona & to thank our loyal customers & friends, PCS Daytona is planning an Open House on Saturday, July 26, 1:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.

Featuring a Peoples Choice Bike Show with Extreme, Sportbike, Vintage, Classic, and Cruiser Classes; a DynoJet Dyno Shoot Out; Suspension, Tire, and TrackDay Seminars; Live Music and BBQ.

Mark your calender, help us celebrate!

Tony R Foster
PCS Daytona
386.253.2586
fax 253.3578
info www.pcsdaytona.com/20years.htm

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Former racer Phil McDonald remains heavily sedated in intensive care at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma, while being treated for injuries suffered in a streetbike crash over the weekend.

According to his father, Norm, Phil McDonald suffered compound fractures of both arms and extensive left shoulder damage, including torn ligaments and nerves. Norm McDonald said that a bystander applying a tourniquet to Phil’s left arm saved his life, and that he needed seven pints of blood when he reached the hospital. Phil McDonald also suffered a broken right foot.

According to Norm McDonald, a truck pulled out of a parking lot, hitting Phil McDonald and sending him into the center median, which had an 8-inch curb. The impact with the curb sent Phil McDonald airborne, and he flew into a highway sign, bending the sign pole flat and continuing on another 150 feet.

McDonald thanked Roadracing World readers for their calls and e-mails. “When you put that on Roadracingworld.com (yesterday), we started getting calls from everywhere in the U.S.,” said Norm McDonald “It makes you really feel good when you’re down and have that kind of support.

“We really appreciate it, it’s just overwhelming the amount of calls and e-mails we’ve gotten, it makes you really proud to be a part of motorcycling,” Norm McDonald continued.

“The guy that hit him came up to the hospital, he was so devastated,” said Norm McDonald. “He said ‘The traffic was so heavy I just didn’t see him.’ He and his wife just stayed out there and bawled and bawled. There was so much blood on the scene when the TV crew showed up that they put it on as a motorcycle fatality, but didn’t give any names, thankfully. Somebody must have been looking out for us because thankfully somebody at the scene put a tourniquet on him. Most of the time people don’t want to get involved.”

Cards can be sent to:
Phil McDonald
c/o K&N Motorcycles
6105 New Sapulpa Rd.
Tulsa, OK 74131

E-mail can be sent to Phil McDonald c/o [email protected]

From a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service:

KAGAYAMA JOINS HOPKINS AT ASSEN

Team Suzuki regular John Hopkins will have a new temporary team-mate at the Dutch TT at Assen next Saturday.

With 2000 Suzuki World Champion Kenny Roberts Junior sidelined by injury for a second successive race, factory Suzuki rider Yukio Kagayama makes a Grand Prix return on the second GSV-R MotoGP prototype.

Hopkins, who turned 20 earlier this year, will be maintaining his 100-percent start record in his first season with the factory Suzuki team. Hopkins was also injured at the Italian GP, where Roberts suffered chest injuries; but was able to ride on through the pain barrier one week later at the Catalunyan GP.

Kagayama, Suzuki rider since 1993, has ridden in GPs as a substitute and a wild card several times over the years, with a best of sixth in 1998 in Malaysia. The 29-year-old Japanese rider, who has earned a reputation as a determined and spirited racer, comes to Assen hotfoot from Brands Hatch, where he is campaigning a Rizla Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000 in the British Superbike championship series.

The pair will face one of the greatest challenges on the World Championship trail at the long and technically challenging Assen circuit. Although one section was revised last year, the circuit has retained all the character and difficulty that earned it the respectful nickname: the Cathedral.

With Suzuki’s new 2003 GSV-R developing race by race, Hopkins and Kagayama hope that the circuit might help them take another step towards the radical new motorcycle’s obvious full potential. Assen replaces the more usual modern tight corners with long and complex sets of faster more sweeping curves. Technique, and a well-set-up motorcycle, can be combined to iron out other performance differences.

The team is fresh from two days of testing after the last round at Catalunya, where 1993 Suzuki World Champion Kevin Schwantz was in the pits and at the trackside. All-time racing hero Schwantz achieved all of his 25 500cc GP wins riding a factory Suzuki, and gave valuable support and advice.

“I believe that the new GSV-R is capable of being competitive, but there are some problems that need to be fixed, especially with handling. I’ll do whatever I can to help them find the answers,” said Schwantz, who in retirement runs a series of racing schools in the USA, and now also in Europe.

Team manager Garry Taylor welcomed the input. “The factory engineers and the team are working flat out. Kevin’s help has given us even more impetus, and helped the team spirit.

“We really appreciate John’s efforts, especially in recent weeks, and wish Kenny a speedy recovery and return. We’re also looking forward to working with Yukio again – he really gives it everything he’s got.

“And we’re all confident of success in our goal … of putting the factory Suzuki riders back up front, where they belong.”

Assen is the seventh of 16 rounds in the World Championship.

JOHN HOPKINS – READY TO KEEP LEARNING
It’s been good to have a weekend off to recuperate … I was feeling pretty knocked about after Mugello, and the whole weekend in Catalunya was very difficult and very uncomfortable. Assen is an awesome track, and I’m looking forward to going back there. I was seventh last year, my best finish of the year, and I really enjoyed it. They say you learn more about Assen every time you go back, so here’s hoping.

YUKIO KAGAYAMA – I FEEL LUCKY
I rode the GSV-R a lot last year, including at GPs and in the All-Japan championship, where I won three races. We were working on developing the new 2003 machine, and this will be my first chance to race it. Also my first time at Assen. I feel very lucky.

ABOUT THIS RACE
The Dutch TT is the most historic race on the World Championship calendar, pre-dating the World Championship series, now in its 55th year. The first TT on the public roads around the town of Assen, in the flat and windswept northern province of Drenthe, was held in 1925, and “Speed Week” has continued ever since, interrupted only by World War Two. Held close to mid-summer’s day, the race draws huge crowds, a northern rival to Jerez as the most popular GP. Tradition dictates that the Dutch TT is held on a Saturday – all other GPs take place on Sunday. This year, after the success of a similar change last year during the football World Cup, racing has been delayed by an hour over the normal schedule to make the most of the long daylight. At the same time, strict crowd control measures have been introduced, banning alcohol and canned drinks at the track, to reduce the likelihood of a track invasion, as happened last year. “Enjoy, don’t destroy,” is the motto of the event.

ABOUT THIS TRACK
The longest and fastest track on the calendar was altered last year –the stretch behind the paddock moved backwards to make more space, while reproducing the previous layout as far as possible. As a result, Kevin Schwantz’s 1991 lap record, set on a 500cc Suzuki, was never broken. The new version has lost 22 metres and now measures 3.745 miles, and the average speed rose by almost one mile an hour, preserving the status as the fastest circuit at more than 110mph. The new version still retains traces of its public-roads origins – it only became a closed circuit in the Nineties, when a new bypass road was completed. It is especially unique in its complexity – each section of the circuit is made up of strings of mainly high-speed corners. A mistake in any one bend costs times throughout the remainder of that section, and Assen puts a premium on good machine handling, as well as smooth and accurate riding. The “cathedral of motorcycle racing” has earned its status, and is a favourite with fans and riders alike.


GP DATA

Assen Circuit

Circuit Length: 3.745 miles / 6.027 km

Lap Record: 2:00.973 – 111.446 mph / 179.355 km/h. Valentino Rossi (Honda) 2002


2002 Results

Race Winner: Rossi (Honda)

Race Average: 38.49.425 -109.966 mph / 176.973 km/h

Fastest Race Lap: see lap record

Pole Position: Rossi (Honda) 2:01.691

Kenny Roberts: Sixth, qualified third, 2:01.836 (Telefónica MoviStar Suzuki)
Fastest Race Lap: 2:02.896

Sete Gibernau: DNF, qualified 16th, 2:03.908 (Telefónica MoviStar Suzuki)
Fastest Race Lap: 2:03.563

John Hopkins: Seventh, qualified tenth, 2:02.764
Fastest Race Lap: 2:03.507

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Racer Monty Warsing and wife Dianna had a daughter, Carleigh Jean Warsing, June 22 in Frederick, Maryland.

Racer Troy Corser and wife Sam had a son, Kalanie Gray Corser, June 24 in Monaco.

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

SECOND HALF OF AMA LOCKHART PHILLIPS USA FORMULA XTREME SERIES BEGINS AT BRAINERD

Buckmaster could earn a share of all-time wins leader in the class

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (June 24, 2003) — The second half of the 2003 AMA Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Series begins Saturday, June 28 at Brainerd International Raceway. If the next five rounds are as exciting as the first five, then race fans are in for a real treat. Australian veteran Damon Buckmaster of Team Yamaha holds a narrow two-point lead over young Ben Spies from the Yoshimura Suzuki squad. Not far behind are five other leading riders vying to earn the series championship; any one of whom could conceivably leave Brainerd with the series lead. The series has been very competitive so far this season. In the first half of the year there have been three winners in five rounds and the points chase has witnessed three different riders atop the standings.

Buckmaster, the 30-year-old former Australian Supersport champion, finds himself leading the series after winning two straight rounds on his factory Yamaha R1. Buckmaster comes to Minnesota looking for his first victory at Brainerd. If he manages to win Saturday, Buckmaster would tie Kurtis Roberts and Eric Bostrom as the all-times wins leader in Formula Xtreme. Roberts and Bostrom have nine wins apiece to lead the category.

Buckmaster earned his eighth-career win with his victory in Elkhart Lake, Wis., earlier this month.

“This is developing into a great championship race,” said Buckmaster, whose best finish in the Brainerd Formula Xtreme race was fourth last year. “It’s a bit more of a challenge for me since I’m in the middle of this and the Supersport title chase. I would love to win two AMA titles in one year. It would help make up for being so close so many times in the past.”

Spies is looking to get back on top of the series at Brainerd. The 18-year-old Texan dominated the first two rounds on his factory Suzuki before running into some bad luck that knocked him out of the series lead. A win at Brainerd would put young Spies back atop the championship.

Josh Hayes earned his first podium finish of the year in Elkhart Lake. That result moved him up to third in the Formula Xtreme championship.

Insiders say that the oft-injured Hayes is completely healthy and gaining more confidence in his racing ability each week. Hayes could easily break through to win his first AMA National in four years this weekend.

Erion Honda’s Jake Zemke held the Formula Xtreme Series lead before crashing at the last round in Elkhart Lake, Wis. Zemke has been successful at Brainerd over the last few seasons. He won the Formula Xtreme race there in 2001 and the Pro Honda Oils Supersport event last year. Look for Zemke to be a major factor at BIR.

Marty Craggill is the defending Brainerd Formula Xtreme winner. Craggill switched teams and now rides for the Bruce Transportation Group Honda squad. Craggill won last year’s race with a broken foot so you can rest assured that the Aussie rider is eager to take to the track 100 percent fit in Minnesota.

Another factor to consider at Brainerd are local riders. Over the years locals who club race regularly at BIR have broken through a few times to surprise the AMA series regulars. Few will forget Minnesotan Greg Fryer’s surprising Formula Xtreme victory on a soggy Brainerd circuit in 1997.

Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock Series

Corona Extra Suzuki’s Jimmy Moore hopes to become the first rider to win three Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock races at Brainerd. Moore is running a two-year Brainerd winning streak coming into this weekend’s race. Czech immigrant Vincent Haskovec leads the Superstock series. The likable Haskovec is attempting to give the Hooters Suzuki teams its first AMA Championship. Meanwhile Kawasaki’s Tommy Hayden could tie Fred Merkel for fourth on the all-time AMA Superstock wins list should he take victory at BIR. Moore’s Corona Extra Suzuki teammate Adam Fergusson is a close third in the series behind Haskovec and Hayden. Fergusson is looking to earn his first Superstock win of the year. Also, look for Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Steve Rapp to post a strong showing coming off his Superstock victory at Road America.

MBNA 250 Grand Prix Series

As every week goes by Rich Oliver solidifies his claim to being the best MBNA 250 Grand Prix rider of all time. Oliver and his Team Oliver Yamaha remain undefeated this season coming into Brainerd having won six straight so far this year. Defending 250GP champ Chuck Sorensen, of Stargel Aprilia, hopes to stop Oliver’s streak this weekend. Brainerd was the site of Sorensen’s very first AMA National win back in 1994. Since that year it’s been either him or Oliver that have won every Brainerd round. When Sorensen won his first race in 1994 he was riding for Team Oliver Yamaha.

The Brainerd Formula Xtreme round along with highlights of Superstock and 250 Grand Prix action will be taped and shown on Speed Channel’s Two-Wheel Tuesday lineup on July 8 at 10 p.m. EST.

For additional information on the race contact BIR at (218) 824-7220 or visit www.brainerdraceway.com.

From a press release issued by the AMA:

AMA PRESENTS “BRIGHTER IMAGE AWARD” TO NASCAR DRIVER KYLE PETTY

PICKERINGTON, OHIO — The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has announced that Kyle Petty is the latest recipient of the AMA Hazel Kolb Brighter Image Award. The presentation took place this morning in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The award, presented to Petty for his commitment to a wide range of charitable causes, is the AMA’s highest honor for activities that generate positive publicity for motorcycling.

An avid motorcyclist, Petty is best known as the driver of the #45 Georgia-Pacific/Brawny Dodge in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. In 1995, he founded the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America to benefit children’s charities. Since then, the event has logged over 24,000 miles, involved over 3,000 riders, and generated over $3.5 million for children’s hospitals across the country.

“Motorcyclists, as a group, are among the most active and generous Americans,” said Robert Rasor, President of the AMA. “Through his Charity Ride Across America, Kyle Petty has shown extraordinary leadership, showing what can be accomplished through commitment and passion, and he’s most deserving of this award.”

In October 2000, Kyle and his wife, Pattie, partnered with actor Paul Newman to launch The Victory Junction Gang Camp, a medical camp for children and their families living with chronic and/or life-threatening illnesses. The project was founded in honor of the Pettys’ son Adam, who was killed five months earlier during practice for a NASCAR Busch Grand National Series race.

Petty, 43, also works with numerous other charities, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Winston Cup Racing Wives Auxiliary. In 2000, he was named, along with his father, Richard, as “Persons of the Year” by NASCAR Winston Cup Illustrated magazine for their charitable work.

For more information about the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America, visit www.kylepettycharityride.com or call (704) 714-4545.

The American Motorcyclist Association, founded in 1924, is a non-profit organization with more than 250,000 members. The Association’s purpose is to pursue, protect and promote the interests of motorcyclists, while serving the needs of its members. For more information, visit the AMA website at www.AMADirectlink.com, or call 1-800-AMA-JOIN.

From a press release issued by Mat Mladin’s publicist:

2003 AMA Chevy Trucks US Superbike Championship
Round 11 – Brainerd International Raceway, Minnesota, USA
Event Preview

MLADIN CHASES MAIDEN VICTORY AT BRAINERD

Brainerd, Minnesota, USA (Tuesday, 24 June) – Yoshimura Suzuki’s Mat Mladin arrives at Minnesota’s Brainerd International Raceway, host of round 11 of the 2003 AMA Chevy Trucks US Superbike Championship holding down second place in the championship, just one point shy of Kawasaki’s Eric Bostrom.

The season has been a battle of wills for the Australian. He has won six of the ten races held this season, but has had his consistency affected by tyre related problems. With just seven races remaining for the season, Mladin will be digging deep to obtain the results that he needs to regain the championship lead.

Brainerd is one of Mladin’s favourite circuits on the American race calendar and always looks forward to the cross-country trip.

“Along with Road America, Brainerd is a place that I look forward to,” said Mladin. “I like the countryside around here where you can get out and do a few different outdoor activities. I also like the circuit itself. It’s a place that we’ve done well at in the past, but are yet to crack it for a win, hopefully we can change that this weekend.”

While the three-times AMA Superbike champion does like the circuit and is the existing Superbike lap record holder around the 4.828km (3.00miles) complex, he has never won there. He has been runner-up on three occasions, but his last two visits saw him leave empty handed after suffering a first lap crash in 2001 and engine problems last year. With the new Suzuki GSX-R1000 at his disposal this year, Mladin will be aiming at a return to the winner’s podium this weekend. Further incentive for Mladin to aim for the top step on the podium is that Suzuki have never won at Brainerd in the 20-year history of the event.

“We need to get back to winning. It was good to get the win at the first race at Road Atlanta, but we made a wrong tyre choice for the second race and paid the price. Tyres have definitely been the most crucial factor for us this year. We have been working closely with Dunlop, so hopefully we can get a tyre from them that will suit the needs of the Suzuki.”

Preparations for this Sunday’s 21-lap Superbike national get underway with practice and qualifying sessions commencing on Friday and continuing through Saturday.



BRAINERD INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY – FAST FACTS

Circuit length: 4.828km (3.00miles)
2002 Pole position: Eric Bostrom (Team Kawasaki ZX-7RR) 1:36.421

2002 Results:
1. Nicky Hayden (American Honda RC51)
2. Eric Bostrom (Team Kawasaki ZX-7RR)
3. Doug Chandler (HMC Ducati 998RS)
Lap Record: Mat Mladin (Team Yoshimura Suzuki) 1:35.320 (2001)

2003 AMA Chevy Trucks US Superbike Championship (points after 10 of 18
rounds)
1. E Bostrom (294); 2. M Mladin (293); 3. A Yates (276); 4. B Bostrom (274); 5. K Roberts (272); 6. M DuHamel (246); 7. L Pegram (211); 8. S Higbee (207); 9. J Pridmore (200); 10. V Haskovec (159).

From a press release issued by Speed TV:

SPEED CHANNEL SCHEDULE CHANGE BRINGS WIND TUNNEL, AUTO PROGRAMMING TO PRIME TIME

FASTEST GROWING SPORTS NETWORK DEBUTS NEW SCHEDULE AUG. 4

Closing in on 60 million U.S. cable households, SPEED Channel will shift its Monday-Thursday Prime Time lineup beginning Aug. 4.

“This is something we have been working on for some time,” said SPEED Channel President Jim Liberatore. “Much of our first year was spent developing relationships with multiple race series and accumulating additional programming. The new schedule is the next step in SPEED’s natural evolution. We think this new lineup is a more attractive mix of some of our stronger programs and better defines the network moving forward.”

As part of the new schedule, SPEED Channel will create a one-hour, Prime Time block of auto enthusiast programming Mondays through Thursdays beginning at 8 p.m. ET, including Car Crazy, American Muscle Car, AutoWeek, Dream Car Garage, Hot Rod TV, MotorWeek, My Classic Car and Two Guys Garage.

In addition, SPEED Channel’s Friday night viewer call-in program, Wind Tunnel with Dave Despain, will now go live four nights a week in Prime Time, running Monday through Thursdays beginning at 9 p.m.

“The auto programs have performed well for us in the weekend morning time slot and we want to be more aggressive in serving that section of our viewing audience,” Liberatore said. “Wind Tunnel is a program that we believe in and want to profile as one of our signature shows. Dave does a great job of engaging our passionate viewers in discussions on everything from their favorite race series to their favorite muscle car.”

NASCAR TV, which includes the popular Inside Winston Cup and Trackside, will anchor the Prime Time lineup, airing from 6 to 8 p.m. ET Monday through Thursday and all night on Friday. The 10 p.m. to midnight block will be dedicated to racing.

“Our new lineup is a reorganization of our existing programming with more emphasis on our highest rated programs,” Liberatore said. “We also have created a lineup that facilitates more effective promotion of those programs. We have not dropped any racing series, as racing remains a critical component of SPEED Channel. To make room, we removed several race replays that simply weren’t performing well enough to be part of SPEED’s Prime Time lineup.”

In 2003, SPEED Channel is the exclusive U.S. cable home for many of the top motor sports series in the world, including Formula One, The Champ Car World Series, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, USAC, World Rally, ASA, IHRA, ALMS, Grand American Road Racing, F3000 and live coverage of AMA and FIM motorcycle road racing events. Now available in more the 62 million homes in North America, SPEED Channel is the fastest growing sports cable network in the country and the home to NASCAR TV.