From a press release:
BRP, the U.S. importer of Champion Equipment, is currently accepting racer resumes for the 2003 season.
For more information visit www.fastbikes.us or call 866.462.7770.
BRP RACER SUPPORT TEAM
From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:
DUCATI CORSE PRESS INFORMATION
Jerez de la Frontera (Spain)
Wednesday 20 November 2002
DUCATI DESMOSEDICI TESTING AT JEREZ CONCLUDES WITH MORE BAD WEATHER
Bad weather again affected Ducati Corse testing today at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit in Spain. The Italian manufacturer, which will make its MotoGP debut in 2003, had planned a three-day session this week at the venue for next May’s Spanish round of the championship, but the final day was also disturbed by rain.
The unusually uncertain weather conditions in the south of Spain in this period led to a change in the programme, allowing Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss to test the Ducati Desmosedici in wet-weather set-up, and although both riders put in few laps today, numerous positive indications emerged on a technical level.
While Loris lapped with the ‘Four Pulse’ version of the Italian V4 engine, Troy tested the Desmosedici with the ‘Twin Pulse’ layout. The Australian established a good feeling with this version of the power-unit, which adapts well to low-grip conditions. The two riders will continue the next tests with both engine versions.
Track Technical Director Corrado Cecchinelli commented: “Unfortunately we haven’t been very lucky in the last two days but day 1 gave us a series of positive indications. Loris lapped quite well on a track he loves, while for Troy it was his first time out on a new circuit. Today both riders did very few laps due to the bad weather but despite this we look at the three-day ession here at Jerez as positive”.
Ducati Corse is unable to supply any images or rider comments of Loris Capirossi until the end of 2002.
FIRST PERSON/OPINION: This just in, via e-mail: Regarding the article written on 11/18/02 by Michael Hannas about his visit to the Barber Motorsports Park: The facility is everything, and more, as he stated. But, as the Project Manager for the glass contractor on the Museum I feel I must clear up the comment about the glass replacement on the Museum Building. “All” of the glass was not replaced. Only about 15 pieces of glass were installed as Mock-up pieces of glass for the sole purpose of letting the people with the Barber organization view it before ordering the huge quantity of glass required for the job. It is true that the mock-up glass was not up to their expectations. Another glass supplier was brought in that has produced acceptable glass and we are installing the glass now. Just wanted to put an end to one of the many over-exaggerated rumors coming out of that project. Scott Padgitt Alabaster, Alabama
Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
By David Swarts
MB Motorsports co-owners Frank Strohman and Matt Blashfield have decided to end their two-year partnership and concentrate on their separate businesses.
“He’s got to concentrate on his sign business (Blashfield Signs/Communications),” Strohman told Roadracingworld.com Wednesday from his shop in Fayetteville, North Carolina. “He has a lot at stake there, and he’s been real busy this past year and hasn’t had much time to devote to MB Motorsports, as he would like to. So he basically just wanted to get out.
“Basically our philosophies were a little bit different,” continued Strohman. “I was more racing oriented and wanted to do the racing and the R&D (research and development) through the racing, and I think Matt wanted to go in the direction of more marketing for parts and stuff like that. So you know, just a little bit of difference of philosophy, but more than anything else he had to have the time to concentrate on his business.
“He does a lot of military work (for the U.S. Army post, Fort Bragg). He hasn’t had the opportunity to travel with the team and help like he kind of wanted to. So he just needed to back out. I think he’s going to do some of the little regional races, he teaches at that Learning Curves school and I think that’s about all he has time for right now.”
With several National road racing Championships as a rider and a tuner to his credit, Strohman plans to continue doing engine building, chassis tuning and race-prep work for lightweight Twins under a new company name, Twin Works Factory, and says he will start expanding into big-bore Twins. “I figured that we’d go ahead and start another company and have that company carry the race team through next year and so on,” said Strohman. “So nothing’s really changed except the name, and it will be a sole proprietorship. We’re busy getting a website together to put up right now.
“Nothing’s really changed except for one less partner. Everything else, all the services remain the same, same race team, same people on the race team, nothing’s changed, except the name. Bradley (Champion) will be riding. Bobby Fisher is coming back next year; so he’ll be back. So between Bradley and Bobby and backing them up with Zoran and Bernie Huntt, we ought to be pretty damn good to go.”
MB Motorsports won the 2002 SV650 Suzuki Cup Championship with Bradley Champion and the 2001 CCS Lightweight Superbike National Championship with Robert Fisher, also on a Suzuki SV650, as well as many other Championships. For more information on Twin Works Factory, call Strohman at (843) 665-9255.
Reached by phone and asked to comment, Blashfield said, “Until my legal representation has completed the dissolution process, I have been advised not to comment on the situation.”
Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
By David Swarts
Corona Extra Suzuki is planning on fielding two-time Canadian Superbike Champion Jordan Szoke in the 2003 AMA season alongside returning riders Jimmy Moore and Adam Fergusson.
“That’s the plan,” said Corona Extra Suzuki team principal Tim Saunders Wednesday.
Szoke rode with the Corona team at the beginning of the 2002 AMA season, scoring a close second-place finish in the Superstock race at Daytona behind winner Moore, and finished third in the Superstock race at California Speedway to take the AMA Superstock Championship points lead.
But Szoke ran into visa problems trying to enter the United States to race at Sears Point in May. Szoke’s visa troubles lingered and the 23-year-old Canadian decided to race in the Parts Canada Superbike Championship. Szoke ran away with that title, his second, on a Coors Light-sponsored Suzuki GSX-R1000.
Later in the year, Szoke teamed up with his replacement, Fergusson, on a Corona Extra Suzuki GSX-R1000 to finish 10th overall at the Suzuka 8-hours Endurance World Championship race.
“Everything’s been resolved,” said Saunders when asked about Szoke’s visa troubles. “All that issue is behind him, or at least I have it on good authority that it’s behind him.”
Saunders added that his team has agreed to terms with American Suzuki, saying, “We’re just waiting to sign contracts.”
Which riders will be riding in which classes is still up in the air, however. “That’s up to Suzuki’s negotiations with the riders. Obviously, we’ll be in the same classes (Formula Xtreme, Superstock) as before,” said Saunders, who explained that American Suzuki contracts directly with some riders, and determines which classes they will compete in.
Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
By David Swarts
Peter Goddard claims that Italian motorcycle manufacturer Benelli will not race the Tornado 900cc Inline Triple in World Superbike in 2003. Goddard, the sole Benelli rider over the past two years, made the announcement Wednesday on his personal website, www.petergoddard.com.
“Benelli have told me they won’t be in next year’s championship, but I want to keep racing in World Superbikes and there are some options with other teams I’m looking into,” Goddard is quoted as saying on his website.
Goddard, age 38, is hoping to land a competitive ride for 2003.
Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
The Motorcycle Roadracing Association (MRA) has released the results of the organization’s 2003 Board election.
2003 MRA Board (Election Results)
Andrew Drattlo – President
Mark Nudelman – Vice President
Lisa Deeming – Treasurer
Gina Fallon – Secretary
Bart McKiernan – VP Rules and Tech.
Doug Lyle – Track Marshal
Mark Schellinger – New Rider Director
Jim Brewer – Rider Representative
Glen Conser – Rider Representative
Victor Mokler – Rider Representative
Alice Palmer – Rider Representative
For more information, call MRA at (303) 530-5678, or go to www.mra-racing.org, or write to:
Motorcycle Roadracing Association Inc.
P.O. Box 40187
Denver, Colorado 80204
From a press release issued by Aprilia:
Aprilia Racing Press Information
Jerez de la Frontera (Spain)
20 November 2002
Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
By David Swarts
The tentative 2003 WERA race schedule includes both regional and national race events at the yet-to-open Barber Motorsports Park near Birmingham, Alabama. The 2003 WERA schedule, as posted on www.wera.com, includes an April 19-20 event at the Barber track for WERA’s North Central, Mid-Central and Southeast regions. The WERA/G.M.D. Computrack National Endurance Series schedule also lists a TBA September date at Barber.
WERA’s tentative schedule also includes a return to Grattan Raceway park in Grattan, Michigan and a first-ever National Endurance round at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, South Carolina. WERA also hopes to add dates at BeaveRun Motorsports Complex near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
WERA President and CEO Evelyn Clarke and WERA Operations Manager Sean Clarke are currently traveling to the AMA Pro Racing awards banquet scheduled for Saturday, November 23, in Las Vegas, Nevada, and could not be reached for comment.
To view the tentative 2003 WERA race schedule, go to www.wera.com.
Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:
DUCATI CORSE PRESS INFORMATION
Jerez de la Frontera (Spain)
Tuesday 19 November 2002
SECOND DAY OF TESTING FOR CAPIROSSI AND BAYLISS WITH THE DUCATI DESMOSEDICI DISTURBED BY BAD WEATHER
Today’s Ducati Corse test session at Spain’s Jerez de la Frontera circuit was disturbed by bad weather, ruining any attempt by the Italian team’s two riders Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss to put in some consistent laps during the second day of the scheduled three-day session.
After rain had fallen throughout the night and most of the day, Loris and Troy were only able to take to the track late in the afternoon, when it was still wet but the rain had ceased. Troy completed 32 laps and Loris 18.
The Desmosedici, which ran on a wet surface for the first time, satisfied both riders. Despite the considerable power available, both Loris and Troy were enthusiastic about the engine’s performance and the bike’s ‘driveability’ even in low-grip conditions.
Capirossi also completed 6 laps with the engine in ‘Twin Pulse’ configuration, receiving positive indications.
The Jerez tests will conclude tomorrow and, weather conditions permitting, both riders will run with both versions of the V4 engine.
N.B. Ducati Corse is unable to supply any images or rider comments of Loris Capirossi until the end of 2002.
From a press release:
BRP, the U.S. importer of Champion Equipment, is currently accepting racer resumes for the 2003 season.
For more information visit www.fastbikes.us or call 866.462.7770.
BRP RACER SUPPORT TEAM
From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:
DUCATI CORSE PRESS INFORMATION
Jerez de la Frontera (Spain)
Wednesday 20 November 2002
DUCATI DESMOSEDICI TESTING AT JEREZ CONCLUDES WITH MORE BAD WEATHER
Bad weather again affected Ducati Corse testing today at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit in Spain. The Italian manufacturer, which will make its MotoGP debut in 2003, had planned a three-day session this week at the venue for next May’s Spanish round of the championship, but the final day was also disturbed by rain.
The unusually uncertain weather conditions in the south of Spain in this period led to a change in the programme, allowing Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss to test the Ducati Desmosedici in wet-weather set-up, and although both riders put in few laps today, numerous positive indications emerged on a technical level.
While Loris lapped with the ‘Four Pulse’ version of the Italian V4 engine, Troy tested the Desmosedici with the ‘Twin Pulse’ layout. The Australian established a good feeling with this version of the power-unit, which adapts well to low-grip conditions. The two riders will continue the next tests with both engine versions.
Track Technical Director Corrado Cecchinelli commented: “Unfortunately we haven’t been very lucky in the last two days but day 1 gave us a series of positive indications. Loris lapped quite well on a track he loves, while for Troy it was his first time out on a new circuit. Today both riders did very few laps due to the bad weather but despite this we look at the three-day ession here at Jerez as positive”.
Ducati Corse is unable to supply any images or rider comments of Loris Capirossi until the end of 2002.
FIRST PERSON/OPINION: This just in, via e-mail: Regarding the article written on 11/18/02 by Michael Hannas about his visit to the Barber Motorsports Park: The facility is everything, and more, as he stated. But, as the Project Manager for the glass contractor on the Museum I feel I must clear up the comment about the glass replacement on the Museum Building. “All” of the glass was not replaced. Only about 15 pieces of glass were installed as Mock-up pieces of glass for the sole purpose of letting the people with the Barber organization view it before ordering the huge quantity of glass required for the job. It is true that the mock-up glass was not up to their expectations. Another glass supplier was brought in that has produced acceptable glass and we are installing the glass now. Just wanted to put an end to one of the many over-exaggerated rumors coming out of that project. Scott Padgitt Alabaster, Alabama
Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
By David Swarts
MB Motorsports co-owners Frank Strohman and Matt Blashfield have decided to end their two-year partnership and concentrate on their separate businesses.
“He’s got to concentrate on his sign business (Blashfield Signs/Communications),” Strohman told Roadracingworld.com Wednesday from his shop in Fayetteville, North Carolina. “He has a lot at stake there, and he’s been real busy this past year and hasn’t had much time to devote to MB Motorsports, as he would like to. So he basically just wanted to get out.
“Basically our philosophies were a little bit different,” continued Strohman. “I was more racing oriented and wanted to do the racing and the R&D (research and development) through the racing, and I think Matt wanted to go in the direction of more marketing for parts and stuff like that. So you know, just a little bit of difference of philosophy, but more than anything else he had to have the time to concentrate on his business.
“He does a lot of military work (for the U.S. Army post, Fort Bragg). He hasn’t had the opportunity to travel with the team and help like he kind of wanted to. So he just needed to back out. I think he’s going to do some of the little regional races, he teaches at that Learning Curves school and I think that’s about all he has time for right now.”
With several National road racing Championships as a rider and a tuner to his credit, Strohman plans to continue doing engine building, chassis tuning and race-prep work for lightweight Twins under a new company name, Twin Works Factory, and says he will start expanding into big-bore Twins. “I figured that we’d go ahead and start another company and have that company carry the race team through next year and so on,” said Strohman. “So nothing’s really changed except the name, and it will be a sole proprietorship. We’re busy getting a website together to put up right now.
“Nothing’s really changed except for one less partner. Everything else, all the services remain the same, same race team, same people on the race team, nothing’s changed, except the name. Bradley (Champion) will be riding. Bobby Fisher is coming back next year; so he’ll be back. So between Bradley and Bobby and backing them up with Zoran and Bernie Huntt, we ought to be pretty damn good to go.”
MB Motorsports won the 2002 SV650 Suzuki Cup Championship with Bradley Champion and the 2001 CCS Lightweight Superbike National Championship with Robert Fisher, also on a Suzuki SV650, as well as many other Championships. For more information on Twin Works Factory, call Strohman at (843) 665-9255.
Reached by phone and asked to comment, Blashfield said, “Until my legal representation has completed the dissolution process, I have been advised not to comment on the situation.”
Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
By David Swarts
Corona Extra Suzuki is planning on fielding two-time Canadian Superbike Champion Jordan Szoke in the 2003 AMA season alongside returning riders Jimmy Moore and Adam Fergusson.
“That’s the plan,” said Corona Extra Suzuki team principal Tim Saunders Wednesday.
Szoke rode with the Corona team at the beginning of the 2002 AMA season, scoring a close second-place finish in the Superstock race at Daytona behind winner Moore, and finished third in the Superstock race at California Speedway to take the AMA Superstock Championship points lead.
But Szoke ran into visa problems trying to enter the United States to race at Sears Point in May. Szoke’s visa troubles lingered and the 23-year-old Canadian decided to race in the Parts Canada Superbike Championship. Szoke ran away with that title, his second, on a Coors Light-sponsored Suzuki GSX-R1000.
Later in the year, Szoke teamed up with his replacement, Fergusson, on a Corona Extra Suzuki GSX-R1000 to finish 10th overall at the Suzuka 8-hours Endurance World Championship race.
“Everything’s been resolved,” said Saunders when asked about Szoke’s visa troubles. “All that issue is behind him, or at least I have it on good authority that it’s behind him.”
Saunders added that his team has agreed to terms with American Suzuki, saying, “We’re just waiting to sign contracts.”
Which riders will be riding in which classes is still up in the air, however. “That’s up to Suzuki’s negotiations with the riders. Obviously, we’ll be in the same classes (Formula Xtreme, Superstock) as before,” said Saunders, who explained that American Suzuki contracts directly with some riders, and determines which classes they will compete in.
Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
By David Swarts
Peter Goddard claims that Italian motorcycle manufacturer Benelli will not race the Tornado 900cc Inline Triple in World Superbike in 2003. Goddard, the sole Benelli rider over the past two years, made the announcement Wednesday on his personal website, www.petergoddard.com.
“Benelli have told me they won’t be in next year’s championship, but I want to keep racing in World Superbikes and there are some options with other teams I’m looking into,” Goddard is quoted as saying on his website.
Goddard, age 38, is hoping to land a competitive ride for 2003.
Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
The Motorcycle Roadracing Association (MRA) has released the results of the organization’s 2003 Board election.
2003 MRA Board (Election Results)
Andrew Drattlo – President
Mark Nudelman – Vice President
Lisa Deeming – Treasurer
Gina Fallon – Secretary
Bart McKiernan – VP Rules and Tech.
Doug Lyle – Track Marshal
Mark Schellinger – New Rider Director
Jim Brewer – Rider Representative
Glen Conser – Rider Representative
Victor Mokler – Rider Representative
Alice Palmer – Rider Representative
For more information, call MRA at (303) 530-5678, or go to www.mra-racing.org, or write to:
Motorcycle Roadracing Association Inc.
P.O. Box 40187
Denver, Colorado 80204
From a press release issued by Aprilia:
Aprilia Racing Press Information
Jerez de la Frontera (Spain)
20 November 2002
Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
By David Swarts
The tentative 2003 WERA race schedule includes both regional and national race events at the yet-to-open Barber Motorsports Park near Birmingham, Alabama. The 2003 WERA schedule, as posted on www.wera.com, includes an April 19-20 event at the Barber track for WERA’s North Central, Mid-Central and Southeast regions. The WERA/G.M.D. Computrack National Endurance Series schedule also lists a TBA September date at Barber.
WERA’s tentative schedule also includes a return to Grattan Raceway park in Grattan, Michigan and a first-ever National Endurance round at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, South Carolina. WERA also hopes to add dates at BeaveRun Motorsports Complex near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
WERA President and CEO Evelyn Clarke and WERA Operations Manager Sean Clarke are currently traveling to the AMA Pro Racing awards banquet scheduled for Saturday, November 23, in Las Vegas, Nevada, and could not be reached for comment.
To view the tentative 2003 WERA race schedule, go to www.wera.com.
Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:
DUCATI CORSE PRESS INFORMATION
Jerez de la Frontera (Spain)
Tuesday 19 November 2002
SECOND DAY OF TESTING FOR CAPIROSSI AND BAYLISS WITH THE DUCATI DESMOSEDICI DISTURBED BY BAD WEATHER
Today’s Ducati Corse test session at Spain’s Jerez de la Frontera circuit was disturbed by bad weather, ruining any attempt by the Italian team’s two riders Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss to put in some consistent laps during the second day of the scheduled three-day session.
After rain had fallen throughout the night and most of the day, Loris and Troy were only able to take to the track late in the afternoon, when it was still wet but the rain had ceased. Troy completed 32 laps and Loris 18.
The Desmosedici, which ran on a wet surface for the first time, satisfied both riders. Despite the considerable power available, both Loris and Troy were enthusiastic about the engine’s performance and the bike’s ‘driveability’ even in low-grip conditions.
Capirossi also completed 6 laps with the engine in ‘Twin Pulse’ configuration, receiving positive indications.
The Jerez tests will conclude tomorrow and, weather conditions permitting, both riders will run with both versions of the V4 engine.
N.B. Ducati Corse is unable to supply any images or rider comments of Loris Capirossi until the end of 2002.
