From a press release issued by Dan Murphy of RPM, the promoter of the combined World Superbike and AMA Superbike event scheduled for July 11-14 at Laguna Seca Raceway:


The World Superbike Commission announced today that the following six riders will be the wild card entries at the Laguna Seca round. These riders include: Nicky Hayden, Miguel DuHamel, Aaron Yates, Matt Mladin, Anthony Gobert and Doug Chandler. Eric Bostrom is already entered as a permanent rider in the WSBK series.

The top priority used in making these selections was the Commission’s judgment as to the rider’s ability to finish within the top 5 of each leg.

The Commission will now verify that all six entrants are still willing and able to ride at Laguna Seca. If a rider is not able to compete, a first alternate will be chosen between Pascal Picotte, Jamie Hacking and Kurtis Roberts.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

2001 World Superbike Champion and current point leader in the 2002 World Superbike Championship Troy Bayliss is the clear choice to ride the Ducati Desmosedici MotoGP bike in 2003, says a fan poll on Ducati.com. The poll asked fans to vote for who they would like to ride the Desmosedici in 2003 and gave a list of riders – some current Ducati World Superbike riders, some riders for other teams – to choose from.

Bayliss was the clear winner collecting 47 percent of votes. Current Yamaha factory MotoGP rider Max Biaggi, an Italian, collected 13 percent, while another Italian MotoGP rider, Loris Capirossi, earned 10 percent of the votes. American Ben Bostrom finished fourth in the poll with nine percent ahead of Ruben Xaus (8%), Noriyuki Haga (4%), Alex Barros (3%), Colin Edwards (3%), Carlos Checa (2%) and Kenny Roberts (1%). Valentino Rossi was not listed as a choice.

Ducati.com then followed up with another pole, which is currently running, asking fans to choose who they would like to see as Bayliss’ teammate on the 2003 Ducati.com MotoGP team. Currently, Capriossi is leading the voting with 28%. Biaggi and Bostrom are tied with 18% each, ahead of Edwards (10%), Xaus (9%), Haga (7%), Checa (7%), Barros (3%) and Roberts (3%).

In other Ducati news, the Ducati Desmosedici MotoGP bike will make its first public appearance outside of Italy July 12-14 when it will be displayed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in Sussex, England.

From SPEED:

2:00 p.m. FIM 125cc GP, Catalunya
3:00 p.m. FIM 250cc GP, Assen

7:00 p.m. Bike Week
7:30 p.m. Motorcyclist
8:00 p.m. AMA Superbike, Brainerd
9:00 p.m. AMA Supersport, Brainerd
10:00 p.m. FIM MotoGP, Assen
11:00 p.m. Corbin’s Ride On
11:30 p.m. American Thunder
12:00 a.m. Bike Week
12:30 a.m. Motorcyclist
1:00 a.m. AMA Superbike, Brainerd
2:00 a.m. AMA Supersport, Brainerd
3:00 a.m. FIM MotoGP, Assen

All times are Eastern Daylight Time.

From a press release:

Thanks to the efforts of the AMA, Central Roadracing Association and The Colonel’s Brainerd Int’l Raceway, $1725 was raised for the Wegman Benefit Fund over the AMA Pro road racing weekend at BIR.

Spectators were offered a track ride on both Saturday and Sunday plus a t-shirt for a $25 donation to the Wegman Fund.

The Wegman Fund is a non-profit corporation that raises money to assist seriously injured road racers pay medical and related expenses from road racing accidents.

From a WERA press release:

WERA Sportsman Series Presented by Akins Ford Brings Local Racers to Road Atlanta

BRASELTON, Ga.- Road Atlanta will host some of the southeast’s best motorcycle road racers when the WERA Sportsman Series Presented by Akins Ford visits July 6-7.

The weekend of racing will get underway on Saturday, July 6, with the WERA National Vintage Series and the Sportsman Series Solo 20 races. The Vintage Series sprint races are all six laps and feature vintage race bikes ranging from 30 to five years old.

The Solo 20 races are mini-enduros and will include Lightweight, Mediumweight and Heavyweight races, with bikes being divided according to engine size.

On Sunday, July 7, the WERA National Sportsman Series sprint races will entertain fans with close racing and plenty of action. There will be 16 races, with bikes divided according to engine size and the amount of modifications made to the bike.

Akins Ford, presenting sponsor of the weekend, will have a display of their current Ford and Dodge vehicles for fans to see, with a spotlight on the broad range of pickup trucks that they have to offer. The dealership is located near Road Atlanta in Winder. This is the second year that Akins Ford has sponsored the WERA Sportsman Series at Road Atlanta.

Tickets are available for the weekend for just $20 or $15 for the sprint races on Sunday. Camping is also available in Road Atlanta’s infield for $25 for the weekend. More information can be found on Road Atlanta’s website at www.RoadAtlanta.com or by calling the track at 1-800-849-RACE.

Fans will be hearing about the WERA Sportsman Series Presented by Akins Ford event on Star 94, 96 Rock and 96.7 The Buzz. Each station will also have opportunities for fans to win free tickets for the weekend.

WERA Motorcycle Roadracing has been one of the top road racing organizations in the United States since 1971. The series is a breeding ground for many future motorcycle road racing stars that move on to compete in series such as AMA Superbike, World Superbike and Grand Prix. More information about WERA, including the season schedule and complete results from each round, can be found on WERA’s website at www.WERA.com.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

West Honda Pons MotoGP rider Loris Capirossi will miss the British Grand Prix July 12-14 and is in doubt for the MotoGP event at Sachsenring July 19-21 after suffering broken bones in a crash in the MotoGP race at Assen June 29, says a release from West Honda Pons.

According to the team, Capirossi suffered a “double-fracture in his right forearm” as the Italian rider tried to hold on to his bucking NSR500 while racing with the lead pack last Saturday. Capriossi was third in the MotoGP World Championship point standings before the Assen race and now slips to sixth.

On a happier note, Capirossi’s teammate Alex Barros took a battling second place in the Dutch Grand Prix, his first podium finish of the 2002 season, and moves into fifth in the Championship standings, one point behind Carlos Checa.

From a press release:

AMA CLUBS & PROMOTERS RAISE OVER $5.8 MILLION FOR CHARITY

PICKERINGTON, OHIO — The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has announced that its chartered clubs and promoters reported raising $5,816,999 for charitable causes in 2001.

The most generous AMA-chartered promoter in 2001 was the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation of Asheville, North Carolina, reporting a total of $2.8 million. The top AMA-chartered club, New York City’s chapter of the Harley Owners Group
(HOG), reported raising $160,000.

“When it comes to giving, no other group can match the generosity of American motorcyclists,” said Robert Rasor, President of the AMA. “We’re pleased to recognize the good works of our clubs and promoters.”

Total donations reported in 2001 represent an increase of more than $1 million over the previous year.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

From Formula Xtreme Qualifying:

1. Ben Spies, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 186 mph
2. Mike Hale, Honda CBR954RR, 185 mph
3. Tom Kipp, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 184 mph
4. Marty Craggill, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 183 mph
5. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha YZF-R1, 182 mph
6. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR954RR, 182 mph
7. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 182 mph
8. Roger Lee Hayden, Honda CBR954RR, 180 mph
9. Adam Fergusson, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 180 mph
10. Josh Hayes, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 179 mph
11. Steve Rapp, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 178 mph
12. Lance Isaacs, Yamaha YZF-R1, 176 mph
13. Jason Curtis, Yamaha YZF-R1, 172 mph


From Friday’s Superbike Qualifying Session:

1. Kurtis Roberts, Honda RC51, 184 mph
2. Nicky Hayden, Honda RC51, 183 mph
3. Miguel Duhamel, Honda RC51, 183 mph
4. Doug Chandler, Ducati 998RS, 182 mph
5. Pascal Picotte, Ducati 998RS, 181 mph
6. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 181 mph
7. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R750, 178 mph
8. Mat Mladin, Suzuki GSX-R750, 178 mph
9. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki GSX-R750, 176 mph
10. Alan Schmidt, Suzuki GSX-R750, 170 mph
11. Pedro Valiente, Suzuki GSX-R750, 170 mph
12. Michael Barnes, Suzuki GSX-R750, 169 mph
13. Lee Acree, Suzuki GSX-R750, 169 mph
14. Brian Parriott, Suzuki GSX-R750, 169 mph
15. Ty Howard, Suzuki GSX-R750, 169 mph
16. Brian Livengood, Suzuki GSX-R750, 169 mph
17. Chris Caylor, Suzuki GSX-R750, 168 mph
18. Andy Deatherage, Suzuki GSX-R750, 168 mph
19. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki GSX-R750, 168 mph
20. Jason DiSalvo, Suzuki GSX-R750, 168 mph
21. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R750, 166 mph
22. Robert Jensen, Suzuki GSX-R750, 166 mph
23. Scott Jensen, Suzuki GSX-R750, 166 mph
24. Shawn Conrad, Suzuki GSX-R750, 165 mph
25. Shane Clarke, Suzuki GSX-R750, 165 mph
26. Randall Mennenga, Suzuki GSX-R750, 165 mph
27. J.J. Roetlin, Suzuki GSX-R750, 165 mph
28. Justin Blake, Suzuki GSX-R750, 165 mph
29. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki GSX-R750, 164 mph


From Friday Afternoon Supersport Practice:

1. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 161 mph
2. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 160 mph
3. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR600F4i, 159 mph
4. Andrew Nelson, Honda CBR600F4i, 159 mph
5. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki GSX-R600, 158 mph
6. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSX-R600, 158 mph
7. Michael Hannas, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 157 mph
8. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha YZF-R6, 156 mph
9. Roger Lee Hayden, Honda CBR600F4i, 156 mph
10. Mike Hale, Honda CBR600F4i, 156 mph
11. Jimmy Filice, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 155 mph
12. Tom Kipp, Suzuki GSX-R600, 154 mph

From Saturday morning Formula Xtreme practice:

1. Ben Spies, 183.8 mph
2. Tom Kipp, 183.7 mph
3. Marty Craggill, 183.4 mph
4. Mike Hale, 182.7 mph
5. Jason Pridmore, 182.1 mph
6. Josh Hayes, 181.6
7. Damon Buckmaster, 181.1 mph
8. Adam Fergusson, 181.1 mph
9. Jake Zemke, 179.7 mph
10. Steve Rapp, 179.7 mph
11. Lance Isaacs, 176.6 mph
12. Jason Curtis, 170.4 mph

From Saturday’s Superstock practice session:

1. Chris Ulrich, 168.3 mph
2. Jimmy Moore, 167.2 mph
3. Adam Fergusson, 167.1 mph
4. Craig Connell, 166.7 mph
5. Lee Acree, 166.4 mph
6. Brian Livengood, 163.7 mph
7. Chris Caylor, 159.3 mph

From a press release:

The Swiss Wet-Motos World Superbike Team will field French rider Bertrand Stey and American Mark Miller on Dunlop equipped HRC RC51s for the Laguna Seca round of the World Superbike Championships. The Honda satellite team will be title sponsored by U.S. company Wood-Ease Hand Cleaner for the July event.

As an official SBK replacement rider, Miller will not have to compete for a US wildcard slot.

“This will be a one-off ride for me,” says the former Erion Honda rider. “I am looking forward to the weekend and welcome the opportunity to compete on a proper superbike.”