Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

This just in, from Patty Roberts, mother of racers Kenny and Kurtis, regarding the October 27 death of their grandfather, Buster Roberts:


The entire Roberts family wishes to thank everyone around the world who expressed their sympathy for Buster’s passing. We truly appreciated all of the prayers, calls, cards, flowers. He will be missed by all, but will be in our hearts forever.

And we have a very special Thank You to Joe and Nancy Fenech and their family for all of their love and kindness given to Buster; he loved you dearly.

God Bless you forever, Buster.

Thank you again.


The Roberts Family

From a press release issued by Kawasaki:

KAWASAKI’S EXECUTIVE V.P., SALES, PAUL TROTTA, TO RETIRE AFTER 34-YEAR CAREER WITH THE COMPANY

Tony Murr, a 28-year Kawasaki veteran, to assume top sales position

IRVINE, Calif. (Nov. 25, 2002) —Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. (KMC) has announced the planned retirement of Paul Trotta, executive vice president, sales. According to Steve Hamada, president, Trotta’s departure will coincide with the close of this calendar year. Hamada simultaneously announced that Tony Murr, assistant vice president, sales will be promoted, effective January 1, to the post of vice president, sales.

Trotta’s long sales and operations career with the recreational and utility products marketer began in 1969 in the company’s New Jersey offices. He has had national responsibility for brand sales since 1991, when he was promoted from a regional position to director of sales. That was followed by a 1997 promotion to vice president, sales, and in 2000 Trotta was elected to the Board of Directors commensurate with his being named executive vice president.

“The company and all of those associated with KMC owe Paul a debt of gratitude for the commitment he has shown to the brand’s growth over the past three decades,” said Hamada. “His leadership has added immeasurably to the success that we’ve enjoyed, and will continue to enjoy in future years,” Hamada concluded.

Trotta, a charter life member of the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), is looking forward to pursuing his personal sports and outdoorsman interests and spending time with his extended family which now includes five grandchildren.

The longtime Kawasaki executive said “KMC will continue to grow and be a strong force in our industries. The company’s strength has always been its capable leadership, its dedicated employees, and its strong dealer network.”

Murr’s Strong Sales Background

Murr, who is also a charter life member of the AMA, began his career with KMC in 1974, joining the sales organization as dealer development coordinator in the company’s Atlanta regional offices. He was promoted to district manager two years later and while holding that position was recognized three times as the East Region district manager of the year. He also served on Kawasaki’s prestigious President’s Council.
Promoted to regional sales manager in 1990, Murr had responsibility for all of the brand’s product lines in the Central Region, prior to moving to California in 2001 to accept a similar position in the company’s West Region offices.

In January of this year, Murr was named assistant vice president, sales.

“Tony has shown through his many years of dedication to our products and our dealers that he is the right person to help us move forward in the coming years. We are fortunate to have his expertise available to guide our sales efforts,” said Hamada.

Murr has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Georgia State University. He is married and has two daughters, one a schoolteacher in Pennsylvania and the other a college junior.

Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., is the wholesale distributor of Kawasaki motorcycles, ATVs, JET SKI® watercraft, MULE™ utility vehicles, portable generators and power products. Kawasaki’s tagline, Let the good times roll™, is recognized worldwide for the spirit of fun, adventure and high performance that characterizes the Kawasaki recreational vehicle line. Kawasaki product lines are sold through a network of more than 8,000 independent retailers. The company and its affiliates employ nearly 2,400 people in the United States, with approximately 550 of them located at the Irvine, California headquarters.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Australian Damon Buckmaster finished second in the 2000 AMA 750cc Supersport Championship and second in the 2001 AMA Formula Xtreme Championship. Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s John Hopkins won the 2000 AMA 750cc Supersport Championship and the 2001 AMA Formula Xtreme Championship, thanks in part to his lead mechanic, Barry McMahan. While Hopkins prepares for his second year in the MotoGP World Championship series, McMahan has been hired by Graves Motorsports Yamaha to be Buckmaster’s lead Formula Xtreme mechanic for the 2003 AMA season.

“I’m really pleased,” said Buckmaster of gaining McMahan’s services. “Everyone over the last couple of years seem to be really pleased and always after his services, and the fact that I’ve got him now just seems to be a bonus. Obviously, time will tell when we get on the racetrack and start working together. I’ve known him for a couple of years and always had an interest in working with him.”

When asked about his relationship with his 2002 lead mechanic John Asher, Buckmaster said, “I had a real good relationship with John. For whatever reason, he’s taken a different career path with another team (No Limits Honda). He felt that was the right thing for him to do. I can’t be angry with the guy. He’s made a career decision and good on him. I wish him all the best.”

“He’s just missed it for the last three years as far as winning, two of them because of me and Hopper” McMahan said of Buckmaster. “So he’s right on the verge of doing it. It seems like this should be his year. As long as he hasn’t lost focus and been down with the last three years, still got determination and still wants to do it, I think we can do it. With the support Chuck (Graves) has from Yamaha, with the parts that we have, and the bikes, and the crew Chuck put together; it seems like we should have a really good year. I’m looking forward to working with Damon. I think if I can start off on the right foot with my relationship with him, which I usually have good relationships with my riders, hopefully we can build on that.”

Riders, crews and teams change regularly during the off-season, but the change in teams was fairly significant for McMahan. A successful regional racer from Texas prior to becoming a mechanic, McMahan only worked for Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki in his career as a professional race mechanic before joining Graves Motorsports Yamaha.

“It was just a matter of me moving on, trying something else and seeing what it was like to be on another team,” said McMahan. “I felt I had gone as far as I could with the team, and I wanted to actually try to get to a Superbike team. To be honest, none of them really stood out. Chuck was talking to me, and I was talking to a few other teams besides Chuck, but he just had the best deal and the best offer for me.

“I had pretty much settled down where Valvoline’s based, in Alabama. I’ve got a house, a girlfriend, four dogs; I thought I was going to be there for a while. It just didn’t work out the way I had hoped, but it doesn’t mean things are done there. Things may change for that team. It may be different down the road, but for now I’ve got a new home. It seems to be working out pretty good so far. I’m kind of looking forward to the year.

“Adjusting to life in California is the most difficult part right now. California is something I never thought would be a part of my career. Like I told you, I thought I was going to be in Alabama for a long time. I’ve been avoiding California for a long time. To get out here and see the way it really is a real culture shock.

“It’s quite different. Cost of living, the rent is outrageous. Fuel prices, there are some stations that are fairly reasonable. Some prices in the grocery store are different. Then the traffic is unbelievable. There is no speed limit, really. There’s a speed limit sign, but nobody’s obeying it.

“The weather is pretty good. I will admit to that. I’ve been calling home pretty much everyday. The weather at home, it’s in the 50s and cloudy and rainy, which is the norm for Alabama at this time. Some times it will dip down to the 20s and 30s at night and get up to the 50s in the afternoon, but it’s still cold and gloomy – that’s the way my girlfriend describes it. But out here, it’s chilly in the morning, in the 50s, then come afternoon it’s just smoking hot. It’s crazy!”

While speaking with McMahan, we asked him how he thought his former rider, Hopkins, did during his rookie year in the MotoGP World Championships. “He did pretty much what I expected,” said McMahan. “He needed to go out there and finish races and get Championship points, which is what he did. To score Championship points at that level is incredible. Considering it was his first season there, and a lot of the tracks he scored points at, he hadn’t been there. He tested at a few of the places, but he was just learning the tracks in the first practice session at most of them. And he progressed from there. And to be off the pace that he was, which was very small, is incredible. And he was on an under-powered bike. He had to go from riding four-strokes back to riding a two-stroke again.

“I think he’s going to be a threat next year on that Suzuki, for sure. He’s got a lot of carrots; he’s got a lot of other Americans to chase after. He’s got Kenny (Roberts), he’s got Colin (Edwards), he’s got Nicky (Hayden). He’s not going to let those other guys beat him. It’s going to be a very interesting year in GPs next year.

“I’ve always heard people talk down about John. I worked with the kid for two years. Anybody who has ever been around him and seen him ride or worked with him, they know. They know John can ride. He’s an excellent rider. He’s got a lot of natural talent. Some things he lacked in, as far as set-up, but he knew what he was after. Even if the bike didn’t work for him, he found a way to ride around it. And that’s what makes him so good. If the bike is not working for him, he’ll find a way to go fast on it. If the bike changes during the course of a race, he’s going to make the changes to compensate to be able to go still competitive laps on a bike that’s not working.

“He’s done some incredible stuff. We had a problem at the last race (of 2001), and he was able to put in his fastest laps with a broken bolt in the steering stem. The thing was just shaking and chattering, and the guy was still able to put in competitive lap times. He finds a way. He digs deep and he does it.”

From a press release issued by Buell:

BUELL LIGHTNING XB9S RECOGNIZED BY CHICAGO MUSEUM OF ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN

Milwaukee, WI (Nov. 25, 2002) – The Buell Lightning XB9S has been selected as a recipient of the 2002 Good Design Award presented annually by the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design.

The award acknowledges the best and finest new design innovation for products and graphics. Two distinguished juries comprised of authorities in the design world based their decisions on aesthetic criteria measures such as: innovation, form, materials, concept, and function to select award winners.

“I was pleased to see that the Museum of Architecture and Design recognized Buell’s ability to merge stunning good looks with technical innovation,” said Mike Samarzja, Manager of Industrial Design for Buell Motorcycle Company. “The Lightning XB9S combines sensuousness and raw brutality in its visual appeal.”

The Buell Lightning XB9S will be on display for the Chicago Athenaeum’s Good Design Show Exhibition in Chicago, Ill., from April 1 to May 17, 2003. The list of award winners will be posted on The Chicago Athenaeum web site:

www.chi-athenaeum.org on January 1, 2003.

From a press release:

TRAXXION DYNAMICS, INC. POSTS $200,000 FOR 2003 SEASON

TRAXXION DYNAMICS, INC. is proud to announce a CASH PAYING NATIONAL CONTINGENCY PROGRAM!!! OVER $200,000 AVAILABLE!!! No suspension company in history has ever dared to give so much back to the racing community!!!

Traxxion, in conjunction with Axxion Centers, Inc. will post $170,000 in CASH (yes, spendable US currency, not funny money…) and $40,000 in Championship Certificates for their customers during the 2003 racing season. FUSA and CCS Racers will be able to compete for $125K worth of awards, and WERA National and WERA Sportsman Racers will compete for $85K worth of prizes.

Eligibility Requirements:

1. Racers must purchase one New Aftermarket Racing Shock and one set of Axxion Valve Kitted Forks at retail price. (No discounts or dealer pricing available). This purchase will be eligible for two years of contingency.

2. Fill out one time application and submit copy of receipt of purchase of the above.

3. Display Traxxion decals on both fork lowers. No Exceptions Made.

4. List Traxxion as an official sponsor on all entries and media related materials.

5. Riders will be eligible for cash in one region per set of suspension purchased. National Programs are considered to be one region. Riders cannot be eligible for both National and Regional payouts with one set of
suspension.

6. Riders who purchased forks and a shock from Traxxion in 2002 can become eligible by submitting their forks and shock for full service and update prior to the start of the 2003 season.

7. To be eligible for regional payout, you must purchase your components from your local Axxion Center Rep, as that rep will provide your trackside support.

With the help of the new Axxion Center Reps, this program will help put money back in the pockets of our many loyal customers. We will have detailed info available by Christmas at www.traxxion.com and www.axxioncenters.com.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Honda’s all-new CBR600RR and Kawasaki’s hard-edged ZX-6RR have raised the level of competition forthe 2003 AMA Supersport series, but Yamaha’s YZF-R6–which doesn’t look all-new–will be a contender.

At least that’s what Yamaha factory road race mechanic Jeff Myers says.

“I would have to say one of the most obvious things is the chassis itself,” said Myers. “The technology they’re using there, it’s basically a cast chassis rather than stamped pieces welded together. So the accuracy and rigidity of the chassis has been much improved over past models. They’re claiming the same kind of rigidity as the R7, as far as torsional rigidity. I think that’s going to be a big improvement.

“Obviously, the fuel injection is going to help keep a flatter fuel curve. We’re not going to have the rich/lean area you have with carburetion. It’s pretty hard to get a flat fuel curve with carburetors. So the fuel injection is going to help us there.

“They changed the way the axle clamps on the forks, and things like that that should again improve on the rigidity of the whole package.

“They changed the geometry. They took a little bit of offset out of it, which gave a us a little more trail which will help us on the track, too.

“The new air intake system doesn’t look a whole lot different from our old system as far as volume and stuff like that. I think the airbox might have a little more volume than the past one, but it’s minimal.

“The engine has been changed. I’d say 80 percent of the parts in the engine are new. There’s only a 15-20 percent of carryover parts from the previous R6. Some of the issues that they’ve addressed there that should help out is they got rid of the liners in the cylinder. Now it’s direct plating on the cylinder bores, so bore accuracy, I think, is going to be improved. The cooling of the engine with no liner, heat transfer, should be better. They changed the radiator on it. We have a larger curved radiator now, so the bike should be running a little cooler than they have in the past. That’s always ran a little hot for us, for our liking. That’s going to help there, too. Changes to the transmission. The ratios are essentially the same, but the dogs and the tooth faces have been changed.

“Little things like that are small improvements that add up. If you start looking at, like the Kawasaki, having an RR model and the obvious things they’re touting, adjustable (swingarm) pivot, comes with slotted cam sprockets, well that’s kind of a moot point. The adjustable pivot’s a nice feature, but some of the other things they beat their chest about on that bike, we can do that to ours. So it’s not really an issue.

“The Honda, they’re claiming a lot of parallels with their GP bike, as far as suspension. It’s still got to be damped and all that.

“I think our bike isn’t extremely different. I think the development process, what we’ve learned with the older bike, should cross over into this bike a little easier than like with the Honda. From like their F4i to their new one, they’re talking about a whole different package, learning that. There’ll be a bit of a learning curve for them that we probably aren’t going to be faced with. We’ll see what happens.”

Myers said Yamaha plans to shake down the new 600s during an upcoming test before heading to Daytona for the annual Dunlop tire test in early December.

In 2002, Myers led the three-rider factory Yamaha Supersport racing effort, but in 2003, Myers will share those duties with Tony Romo.

“They re-structured the team a little bit,” said Myers. “Basically, the factory effort is 600-only for Yamaha next year. The people who were involved in Superbike are obviously moved into a 600 capacity this year. So we have Tony (Romo) directing one side of the 600 team, two mechanics and two riders; and I’ll be directing the other side of the 600 team, two mechanics and two riders. Engine building duties and all that kind of stuff get split up between Tony and me.

“I think last year we learned kind of a lesson. One guy overseeing three guys is a little much. It’s not really fair to the riders. Of course with our team, we had a lot of injuries last year. I think it wasn’t until Laguna Seca, because we had all three guys healthy at the track for the first time. We went, ‘Whoa! This isn’t really working.’ Daytona was the first race we had to deal with that format, and then we didn’t have to deal with it again until Laguna Seca and the races following. We learned then that it wasn’t the best system. We worked on that this year with the team structure.

“I’m not really sold,” said Myers when asked about the rule proposal to allow electric shifters in AMA Supersport racing in 2003. “Obviously there were teams running shift kills last year and actually the year before. Honda, Suzuki, Kawi; all of them pretty much were running it last year. I can tell you we weren’t, and we were right in there at several races. Granted, we really didn’t get to the top of the box last year in 600, but we got a few second-place finishes and we’re not running it. If you look at qualifying times and lap times, we did have some pole positions.

“So is there a whole lot of advantage to having a shift kill? How much time is really saved having it versus not having it? I think it’s kind of nice having it because psychologically riders like having it. So I think it’s a benefit from that point. How that parlays into seconds off a lap time, who knows? I can’t really say from my first-hand experience that it’s going to make a difference, but it’s kind of nice having the ability to play with that. Some of the other rule changes they pushed through I questioned.”

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Yamaha Motor Corporation introduced its 2003 racing teams to members of the motorsports media Thursday, November 21 at Dromo One, a go-kart racetrack near Yamaha’s U.S. headquarters in Cypress, California.

While journalists, Yamaha’s racers and crew members teamed up for a 200-minute go-kart endurance race, Roadracingworld.com sat down with Keith McCarty, Yamaha Division Manager for Racing. We asked McCarty about his 2003 road racing line-up, which will see Damon Buckmaster, Aaron Gobert and Jamie Hacking race in Supersport on factory Yamaha YZF-R6s and in Formula Xtreme on Graves Yamaha YZF-R1s; while 18-year-old Jason DiSalvo will ride an R6 in Supersport and Superstock.

“The rider line-up is awesome, said McCarty. “They’re all a great group of guys. They should get a long really well, and the team’s going to give them 100 percent.

“Damon (Buckmaster) has rode for us for a couple of years now, done a really good job. He’s fallen short of the Formula Xtreme Championship, but I thought he really matured this year a lot. He really did well at Mid-Ohio and had some really good races to put himself in that Championship hunt after some bad luck. He did a really good job, but unfortunately things didn’t work out for him. We really look for good things. We know he can get the job done, it’s just a matter having all of the pieces right.

“Aaron (Gobert), we were really motivated the year before, after Virginia. He won that last race (2000 season) in Formula Xtreme and looked really good. I was really excited, testing was going good in (2002) pre-season and Daytona, having that big accident just took him out of the year. Really the goal was to get him back on the bike, get him strong. Even when you’re riding it takes six months to get ready. He’s been working very hard, getting himself physically fit because it’s a demanding job. Things should go very well for him, and I know he’s excited to be back.

“Jamie Hacking. What can you say? The guy’s done some great things the last couple of years. He did great things even before that on a Yamaha. We feel like we needed to have some sort of a leader guy on our team. He goes right for it right from the beginning. So it’s a good target for everybody to shoot for lap-time-wise. He’s maturing. Every year he’s learning a little bit more, learning when to slow down and when he needs to win and that. So I think this should be a very good season for him. He’s very comfortable at Yamaha as well.

“Jason DiSalvo, he’s a young, talented guy coming up. He’s got a lot of potential, a lot of desire. His family supports himself 100 percent. We’re really lucky to have him here. He’s excited to have the group of guys he’s got to ride with and learn with, and he’s got ideas of his own. He’s not waiting for anybody to show him anything. He wants to get out there and go.”

When asked about the decision to enter DiSalvo in Superstock, formerly known as 750cc Supersport, on his R6, McCarty said, “We feel the new R6 is going to be a competitive bike, and Jason certainly rides it very well. Track time is what it’s all about for the young guys. We’ve got to get them out there racing. You learn so much every lap you’re out there, every race you’re in. That’s what it’s all about, going to school and continuing to learn.

“We would love to be (in Superbike),” explained McCarty on Yamaha’s lack of a 2003 Superbike class effort. “We had some meetings with the AMA. We gave them what we thought would be an equitable program for this year.

“It’s a transition year for everybody, you know, with the rules changing to allow 1000cc Fours. We thought there was a bit of an advantage for some of the guys out there that continued to race things that they’ve already tested and they know what they’ve got. We wanted to be there on a 1000 R1, but the AMA did a different deal with the rules. So we’re going to do what we sell. We sell R6s right now.

“We talked to these (AMA) guys and told them what we needed to have, what we thought was fair and equitable for everybody to make good racing. Nobody wants to spend this kind of money and not have a chance. The AMA wants us to fill the field. That’s understandable, but we don’t want to be back there in 10th place for nothing. We want to go where we feel we have a chance to win against everybody.

“They made some rules…I guess a few people are going to try to over-bore a 750 to race in that class. I think it’s a silly thing to do myself, but they made the decision. We made ours, no hard feelings.”

Were you tempted at all to enter a YZF-R1 in Superbike? “No,” stated McCarty. “You’ve got to look at it that with the way the rules are a Formula Xtreme (bike) can have more modifications than the (Superbike) rule package they put together (allows). There’s no way we would want to go with that rules package with no chassis, no anything, trying to compete against guys who have been there for three years on the same bikes. It’s silly. I don’t think that makes for good television. It certainly doesn’t make for good racing.”

From a press release issued by Cibertel Honda BQR:

American road racer Kenny Noyes (Honda) battled Grand Prix regular Jose Luis Cardoso (Yamaha) for third place at the rainy final round of the Spanish National Formula Xtreme Championship at Jerez de la Frontera on November 24th but was taken down at the Nieto corners on the last lap just a mile from the finish when Cardoso, who had come past on the inside, high-sided. Neither rider was injured.

The race was won by Edu Ullastres with Josep Sarda second, both on Yamahas, but the surprise of the day came from Noyes (23), a former Formula USA Pro Singles Dirt Track Champion who now lives in Hostalets de Belanyá, north of Barcelona, and a rookie this year in the Spanish Formula Xtreme series. “Everybody was surprised when I was 10th in qualifying and then they were more surprised when I was fifth in the warm-up, but I’ve been working up to a race like this. Things just kinda started to click for me in Valencia last week where I was 12th. I tried to go with Ullastres but he started to pull away a bit and then Sarda and Cardoso caught me. Sarda got past but I spent quite a few laps dueling with Cardoso. On the last lap I passed him on the inside at Pons corner coming onto the long back straight but his bike was just a little quicker and he led into the Dry Sack Hairpin where I got back past on the brakes. I figured he’d have a last try at me at the Nieto corners and he did, a good clean move, but he was in just a little hot and I figured I’d be able to get him back on the exit. Then he high-sided when he was right in front of me and I couldn’t avoid him. Third would have been great, but the main thing is that I’m finally figuring out how to ride up front at this level.”

Cardoso, who rode for the D’Antin team as teammate to Norick Abe in the MotoGP class in 2002, apologized after the race saying, “I took us both out. That was the only place where I thought I could pass Kenny today, but I just got on the gas a little too soon.”

Noyes rides for the Cibertel Honda BQR team which runs race-kitted RS250 Hondas in the World 250 GP series. The BQR team will concentrate entirely on GP racing next year, but will provide personal sponsorship to Noyes who will join the Procurve Honda team (based in Mataró, on the coast just north of Barcelona) which, in the absence of BRQ, will become the top Honda team in the nationally televised Spanish Formula Xtreme Championship.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Eric Bostrom will race a ZX-6RR in the AMA Supersport race at Daytona and will race an over-bored ZX-7RR Superbike in the 2003 AMA Superbike series.

“For sure, Eric will ride the 600 at Daytona,” said Kawasaki Road Racing Team Manager Michael Preston Friday, November 22. Preston made the announcement at Kawasaki’s 2002-2003 Motorsports Celebration held at Oakley’s world headquarters in Foothill Ranch, California.

When asked if his team will take advantage of the over-bore allowance in the 2003 AMA Superbike rules, Preston said, “Absolutely. He’s going to campaign the Superbike, make an assault there and see if we can’t get that Championship.

“(The new engine) it’s in development. The rules are what, three-weeks-new? So we’re scrambling to get stuff ready to go. So like I say, it’s in the development process. I’m not sure if we’re going to have everything ready or not for (the Dunlop tire test at) Daytona. We’re still waiting for some pieces, and we want to make sure that we test them really good on the bench. And as you know, we’re running out of time fast. Daytona is very fast and can be very dangerous if we have a problem. So we don’t want to set Eric down on something that hasn’t been tested thoroughly on the bench and stuff.”

Kawasaki recently held a multi-day test at Thunderhill Race Park, a club racing track in Willows, California, but did not run the updated Superbike. “We were just shaking down some of the new 600s,” said Preston. “We just want to see how they work, just kind of shake ‘em down. We’ve got all new cowlings and new bikes, just making sure nothing rubs wrong and everything goes right so we can have a smoother run down at Daytona.

“(Bostrom) was riding his 600. It’s been a while since he’s been on it. Again, he was a Champion, so he’s definitely got a lot of experience that can help the other guys, too.”

Tommy Hayden and Tony Meiring will campaign Kawasaki ZX-6RRs full-time in AMA Supersport and the 636cc version of the ZX-6RR in AMA Superstock in 2003.

“I like it a lot,” said Hayden of his new Kawasaki 600. “It’s definitely a lot more different than I expected, but the potential the new bike has is really good. We’re pretty far away from what we’re going to have at the Daytona tire test, and even then, I think the potential of the bike is unreal. It felt really good!

“We went through a lot of basic stuff, getting comfortable on the bike. I learned a lot, and we’re going to be way ahead going into the tire tests in a couple of weeks. I’m glad we got a couple of days in.

“The (radial-mounted front) brakes are really good. I was really impressed. We tested the whole time on stock pads and everything, and they worked perfect. It’s as good as anything I raced with before. So that’s pretty good to have that stock.”

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

The 2003 AMA Superbike Championship will end September 21 at the Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, Alabama, near Birmingham. That announcement was made moments ago by AMA Pro Racing CEO Scott Hollingsworth at the AMA awards banquet in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Hollingsworth did not state if the event would be a double-header race or not.

More details as they become available.

The updated 2003 AMA Superbike Championship schedule:

March 5-9 Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL

April 4-6 California Speedway, Fontana, CA
(Doubleheader)

May 2-4 Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, CA – TENTATIVE
(Doubleheader)

May 16-18 Road Atlanta, Braselton, GA – TENTATIVE
(Doubleheader)

May 30 – June 1 Pikes Peak International Raceway, Fountain, CO

June 6-8 Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI
(Doubleheader)

June 27-29 Brainerd International Raceway, Brainerd, MN – TENTATIVE

July 10-13 Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, CA **

July 25-27 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, OH
(Doubleheader)

August 29-31 Virginia International Raceway, Alton, VA
(Doubleheader)

September 19-21 Barber Motorsports Park, Leeds, AL

**AMA & WSB combined weekend

Dates and Locations Subject to Change