From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

AMA Pro Racing announces proposed rules changes to 2003 AMA U.S. Superbike Championship

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — To better reflect motorcycle market changes and create a more level playing field, AMA Pro Racing today announced several rule-change proposals for the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship and the highly competitive AMA Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport Championship beginning with the 2003 competition season.

Starting in 2003, the AMA Superbike Championship will be open to competitors using 1000cc multi-cylinder machines with specific restrictions on weight and engine modifications. Given these restrictions, it is expected that current 750cc four-cylinder and 1000cc twin-cylinder machines will remain competitive in the series. Additionally, the new 1000cc multi-cylinder machines also will be eligible to compete in the AMA Lockhart Phillips Formula Xtreme class, adding incentive for teams to compete in both classes.

The AMA Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport Championship also will see a significant rule change. Starting next year, 750cc twin-cylinder machines will be eligible for the championship.

As part of these rules changes, no existing racing motorcycles will be made obsolete in 2003.

“The primary reason for these rules modifications is to help create an environment that allows more teams and riders to participate and be competitive in our premier road-racing Championship, AMA Superbike,” said Scott Hollingsworth, AMA Pro Racing’s CEO. “We’ve always believed that AMA Superbike racing should more closely reflect what is selling in the high-performance motorcycle marketplace and these changes should address that.”

These proposed rules changes are based on input gathered over the last year and a half from the AMA Pro Racing Road Race Advisory Board, riders, teams, manufacturers, promoters, fans and media. A more detailed explanation of the proposed rules changes can be viewed at www.amaproracing.com.

In addition to the AMA Superbike and AMA Supersport rules changes, two classes will be moving away from the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship. AMA Pro Racing is in negotiations with WERA Motorcycle Roadracing to take on the Buell Pro Thunder class in 2003, and the MBNA 250 Grand Prix class in 2004. Current Buell Pro Thunder competitors, however, will continue to be able to enter their machines in the AMA Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock Series.

AMA Pro Racing licensed riders and credential holders may comment on the proposed rules changes during a 30-day comment period that is set for Thursday, June 27, through Friday, July 26. Comments can be made on AMA Pro Racing’s RIDERS ONLY website at www.amaproracing.com/ridersonly. After the 30-day comment period concludes, AMA Pro Racing will review any suggested changes before sending the package to the AMA Pro Racing Board of Directors for final ratification.

From a press release:

The lap of a lifetime

What would you pay for a chance to ride Laguna Seca on the back of Doug Chandler’s Ducati? Fans attending Laguna Seca for the World Superbike round in July will only have to pay $2 to be in a draw to join Chandler on a hot lap of his home track, two-up, to raise money for the Roadracingworld.com Action Fund, which will use all the proceeds towards the purchase and deployment of Air Fence for AMA Pro Racing. Race promoter, RPM, feels strongly about track safety and hopes to raise both awareness and necessary funds through the charity ride.

Tickets will be on sale at Ducati Island in the center of the Laguna trade display area. Suomy helmets has generously donated a helmet to the prize winner, which will be personally signed by one of Ducati’s World Superbike riders. Ducati will have on hand a full set of Ducati leathers, boots and gloves to ensure their safety.

The ride will take place after Sunday’s World Superbike race but the raffle will be drawn at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. The winner must be present to claim the prize to ensure organizers have ample time to suit them up for the ride of their life.

For more information contact Cameron Gray at Race Promotion Management at (303) 377-3226.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Dr. Arthur J. Ting, 51, faces charges of wrongdoing made to the Medical Board of California that could result in the suspension or loss of his license to practice medicine, according to a May 24 article in the San Jose Mercury News, a San Francisco Bay Area daily newspaper.

Ting, best known to motorcycle road racing fans as having worked on racers from Mick Doohan to Nicky Hayden and who is also the official team physician for the Sharks of the NHL, the SaberCats of the Arena Football League and the Earthquakes of Major League Soccer, faces charges of allowing “a cast technician to treat patients as if he were a physician”, allowing “a physician’s assistant to prescribe controlled substances to her family” and distributing “controlled substances to a trainer for a prominent motorcycle team so he could give them to the racers”, said the Mercury News. The article outlined a number of other pending civil law suits and past brushes with the state medical board, including a two-year probation Ting received in 1996 for failing to diagnose a patient’s dislocated elbow.

“There’s really no substance to the story except that the accusations have been formalized because I haven’t gone in (to the medical board),” said Dr. Ting in a June 25 telephone call to Roadracing World. “If the medical board has a question, they want to interview you, they subpoena you to go in. You don’t have to go in, and I was advised by my attorney to not go in. All they (medical board) have is the investigative findings that they have and that people have a gripe to grind against me for some reason.”

Ting said that a disgruntled former physician’s assistant assigned to work with him while they were employees of a clinic owned and run by the Palo Alto Medical Foundation brought the charges to the California State Medical Board.

To shine more light on the lack of validity of the charges made against him, Ting pointed to the charge by the Mercury News article that he “issued 14 types of pain killers and sedatives” to trainer Dean Miller to distribute to motorcycle racers at his discretion. Ting explained that Advil, Aleve and other over-the-counter medicines made up the bulk of those 14 types.

“If there were any narcotics, they were prescribed for patients that I actually operated on. There’s never been any type of addiction problems, no performance enhancement issues, nothing of that nature,” firmly stated Ting, who then pointed out that Miller and racer Kenny Roberts were both patients under his care with prescriptions for pain medications. “We’re trying to facilitate the racers overseas. I’m trying to help people. There was nothing maliciously done at all. If anything I suffer from trying to take care of people. I know deep in my heart that all I’ve ever tried to do is help people. That’s what’s disappointing about the thing.”

Ting was unhappy with the way the Mercury News piece was written, saying, “I think it (Mercury News article) was a little one-sided. If I went through each complaint, I could defend each one.” But Ting says he can’t go over the accusations point-by-point. “Part of it is because we haven’t had a hearing. I don’t want to criticize the medical board in a way that would ultimately hurt my case simply because they have total authorization over my license. It doesn’t matter if I’m right or wrong. So I’m not in a position to criticize their investigative process.”

Even though his lawyer has discouraged him from talking to the media, Ting chose to return a call from Roadracing World asking for his side of the story. “I feel like I have to defend myself,” said Ting, before pointing out that he felt betrayed by other motorcycle news outlets, websites in particular, that didn’t call him before spreading the Mercury News’ report. “Most people that have at least some knowledge of the factors have called me before they’ve done anything. I’ve appreciated that. (However) I’ve had people from all over the country calling to say they’re ‘sorry to hear’, like I killed somebody.

“The (San Francisco) Chronicle called up here and basically told my attorney that it’s not even worth the story. The thing is the Mercury put in a couple of big name athletes that I’ve operated on, and that’s why it got on the wire. But it was sort of unfair.

“I feel like sort of betrayed from the standpoint of the media. Although, the Chronicle, the other big paper in town wouldn’t even run it. They felt that the thing was totally unworthy of it being in the paper. Then the second paper, this local paper where my office is, ran where they interviewed the athletes and the athletes have told them they felt the story was pretty wrong. But the point was, the Mercury news story that got on the wire was basically one-sided. I mean, none of the stuff has been proven.”

After pointing out his record of taking care of injured riders across the country, with or without health insurance, Ting closed by saying, “I can tell you that the accusations made we feel can be defended and that no harm was done to anybody.”

From an AMA Pro Racing press release:

OFFICIALLY LICENSED TEAM YAMAHA RACING GEAR NOW AVAILABLE TO AMA MOTOCROSS, SUPERBIKE FANS

PICKERINGTON, Ohio – Fans of Yamaha Racing will have a new opportunity to show their team support, thanks to a new cross-license merchandising deal announced by AMA Pro Racing, its new merchandising partner Wateree Sports Group, and Yamaha Factory Racing.

Fans can purchase Yamaha gear at AMA Superbike and Motocross events, and also online at www.amaproracing.com/speedshop. The merchandising deal with Yamaha is the latest in a series for Wateree Sports Group. The company has also recently signed AMA riders Nicky Hayden and Eric Bostrom to licensing deals.

For Team Yamaha, Wateree Sports Group will produce an officially licensed product and apparel line that will utilize the official logos of AMA Pro Racing and Yamaha Factory Racing.

“We are very excited to be able to include Yamaha Factory Racing as part of our new AMA Pro Racing merchandising program,” said Jeff Reeves, vice president of Wateree Sports Group. “This cross-license between Yamaha and AMA Pro Racing will allow us to offer some great new products to the Yamaha fan.”

Chris Bradley, AMA Pro Racing associate vice president of commercial development, aid, “Adding OEMs to the product mix of our official merchandise is another major step in raising the authenticity level of this program. Yamaha’s scope of participation in AMA Pro Racing’s U.S. Championships will attract significant fan interest to the new product line.”

According to Yamaha’s Licensing Manager Kim Steadman, “Wateree is the beginning of our initiative to establish core licensee partners to enhance the Yamaha brand. We are very serious about our licensing program, and we believe Wateree’s Yamaha Factory Racing/AMA Pro Racing merchandise will assist in promoting our brand to the fans at the race track.” Steadman added that in addition to Wateree Sports Group, many other licensees will be joining the Yamaha licensing program and new licensed products will be available soon.

“We are very excited about this great cross-licensing opportunity with AMA Pro Racing and Wateree Sports Group,” said Bob Starr, Yamaha’s national communications manager. “Fans will now have Yamaha Factory Racing co-branded with AMA Pro Racing fan wear available to them at selected race events.”

AMA Pro Racing, the leading sanctioning body for motorcycle sport in the U.S., has launched an officially licensed merchandise program, bringing a new level of authenticity to race fans. An official line of AMA Pro Racing products have been produced, giving race fans the opportunity to display their passion for each of the company’s U.S. Championship racing brands. The program kicked off with the announcement of a three-year licensing deal with the Rock Hill, S.C.-based Wateree Sports Group who produces an officially licensed product and apparel line for AMA Pro Racing. The lineup includes series apparel for all AMA U.S. Championships, as well as merchandise for various teams and riders.

Race fans can find the new line of official AMA Pro Racing products at multiple distribution points, including all AMA U.S. Motocross and U.S. Superbike events as well as several top AMA Flat Track Championship rounds. At the races, products will be for sale under the roof of Wateree’s newly created, 18-wheel interactive merchandise tractor-trailer. Products can also be purchased online via amaproracing.com, 1800FlatTrack.com and USMotocross.com.

Located in the heart of NASCAR country, Wateree Sports Group has extensive experience in merchandise distribution and corporate identity programs. The company’s impressive list of corporate clients includes General Mills, Sprint and Conseco Financial Services; Winston Cup drivers Kyle Petty, John Andretti, Buckshot Jones; and retired drivers and teams owners A.J. Foyt and 7-time Winston Cup Champion Richard Petty.

From a press release:

BAIRD SEEKS HOME ADVANTAGE AT QUEENSLAND RACEWAY

Queensland Raceway, south west of Brisbane plays host to round four of the Yamaha Xtreme Tri-State series, with defending champion and current points leader Robbie Baird, out to maintain his winning streak in this year’s series.

The Brisbane rider has been the overall round winner at each of the three previous rounds of the Formula Xtreme series and will be looking for continued success aboard his Radar’s Team Yamaha YZF-R1 this weekend.

Baird, along with his Radar’s Team Yamaha teammates, Kevin Curtain and Craig Coxhell, has been in strong form all season and has amassed a total of 259 points from the three rounds (12 races) held so far. Curtain, a three times Formula Xtreme Champion, holds second overall with 235 points, while Coxhell lies fourth with 137. Jamie Stauffer riding a Bio Magnetics Sport Yamaha YZF R1 is third overall with 143 points.

Baird and Coxhell recently took part in a one-day test at the 3.10km Queensland circuit, with both riders lapping at near record pace on the day. Both will be looking to match and improve those times when they take to the track for the opening qualifying sessions on Saturday.

“I’ll be taking each race as it comes, but it would be nice to win a few races, be consistent and do what I have to, to secure the championship again,” said Baird. “We tested here a few weeks ago and I was very happy with the lap times that we did. The new 2002 model YZF R1 continues to improve as the development program continues and I think it will be hard to beat here. They had truck racing at the circuit last week, so I’m not sure what the surface will be like when we get there. The weather has been perfect lately and hopefully it will stay that way and not end as it did last year with a torrential downpour.”

“It’s time for me to start turning things around and win some races,” said Coxhell. “A combination of things have meant that I haven’t got the results I was hoping for, but I’m putting that all behind me now and concentrating hard on the final three rounds of the series. As for the track, it can be a little bit boring, but it can be fun as well. There are a few places where you need to be late with your braking and that also means that the bike has to be set up well so that you can capitalize on that and maintain the corner speed. I had some good results there last year and picked up a race win, so I wouldn’t mind doing that again.”

Even though he was absent from the recent test, Curtain has been extremely busy as he has been competing in the Supersport World Championship in between race commitments here in Australia. The Newcastle resident will fly direct to Brisbane after competing at the last round of the WSS in Misano, Italy, where he finished just outside the top ten in eleventh place. He continues his busy schedule this weekend, where he again will take on dual duties of competing in both the Formula Xtreme, where he lies second and the Supersport class where he is the current points leader.

FAST FACTS – Queensland Raceway
Circuit length: – 3.10km

Formula Xtreme lap record:
Craig Coxhell (Yamaha YZF R1) 1:11.5064 (20/05/01)

Supersport lap record:
Brendan Clarke (Suzuki GSX-R600) 1:15.269 (20/05/01)



2001 RACE RESULTS:

Formula Xtreme
Pole position – Craig Coxhell (Radar’s Team Yamaha YZF R1) 1:11.6599

Race Winners:

Race 1 – Craig Coxhell (Radar’s Team Yamaha YZF R1)

Race 2 – Tony Rees (Bikebiz Racing Yamaha YZF R1)

Race 3 – Tony Rees (Bike bz Racing Yamaha YZF R1)

Race 4 – Alex Gobert (Redwing HRC Honda CBR929RR)


Supersport

Pole position – Brendan Clarke (Suzuki) 1:15.5440

Race Winners:

Race 1 – Craig Trinder (Bio Magnetic Therapy Suzuki GSXR600)

Race 2 – Brendan Clarke (Springwood Suzuki Suzuki GSXR600)

Race 3 – Brendan Clarke (Springwood Suzuki Suzuki GSXR600)

Race 4 – Cancelled due to wet weather.


2002 POINT SCORES
Yamaha Formula Xtreme, points after 3 of 6 rounds:
1. R Baird 259; 2. K Curtain 235; 3. J Stauffer 143; 4. C Coxhell 137; 5. D Stauffer 129; 6. J Brookes 115; 7. T Rees 98; 8. C McMartin 71; 9. L Magee 58; 10. S Tozer 35.

Yamaha Supersport, points after 3 of 6 rounds: 1. K Curtain 259; 2. J Stauffer 185; 3. C Donald 140; 4. D Coote 117; 5. B George 105; 6. R Holland 101; 7. A Fergusson 81; 8. R Bancell 75; 9. S Rattenbury 74; 10. D Stauffer 64.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Racer Derek Bloom died Friday, June 21 from injuries sustained in an off-road accident in Fairbanks, Alaska. According to his father, Gene Bloom, Derek was riding his new Suzuki DR-Z400 alongside a road “at speed”, hit an unmarked culvert and crashed. Bloom was 31.

Bloom was very active in motorcycling, participating in drag racing, ice racing, flat track, motocross and road racing. In April, Bloom participated in a Fast Track Riders track day at California Speedway in Fontana, California and brought Farthest North Racing Alliance’s road racing activities to Roadracingworld.com’s attention. Bloom was the #3 plate holder with FNRA in 2001.

(See related post from April 4, 2002.)

Bloom is survived by his wife Kristin, two children, his parents and all four grandparents. A celebration of Bloom’s life will be held at 7:00 p.m., Friday, June 28 at the Chena River Convention Center, 109 Clay Street, Fairbanks, Alaska. According to a release from Bloom’s family, preferential parking will be available to guests arriving on motorcycles.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Former Roadracing World contributor Wilmer E. “Slick” Lawson died at his home in Nashville, Tennessee June 22 at age 65.

In addition to being a writer, Lawson was a photojournalist with his pictures appearing in Time, Life and People magazines, a pilot, a musician and an avid motorcyclist, according to an obituary in the Nashville Tennessean newspaper.

Lawson is survived by two children, two grandchildren and a brother. Services were held Tuesday, June 25 in Nashville, Tennessee.

According to the Nashville Tennessean, the family has asked that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38102.

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing, which calls the non-AMA, money-paying events Lee Acree has competed in “club and semi-pro” races despite the fact that they pay better than most AMA Pro events:

YATES CLOSING IN ON HIS FIRST PRO HONDA OILS SUPERSPORT TITLE

PICKERINGTON, Ohio – Aaron Yates is in his seventh year of Pro Honda Supersport racing. During that time the 28-year-old Georgian has won enough races in the series to move into third on the all-time wins list in the series (only Miguel Duhamel and Mike Smith have won more AMA Supersport races). Yet despite his long and productive AMA Supersport career, Yates has yet to win a championship in the highly-competitive series. He is trying to correct that this year and coming into this Sunday’s race at Brainerd International Raceway, Yates is well on his way to earning his first AMA Supersport title. Yates, who rides for Team Blimpie Yoshimura Suzuki, has a commanding 55-point lead over Kentuckian Tommy Hayden coming into this weekend’s round seven of the 10-race championship followed by Aussie Damon Buckmaster in third.

“I feel good about where I am now,” said Yates, a 10-year AMA road racing veteran. “But I’m not taking anything for granted. I have to go out and make sure I finish out the season to win the championship and I’d like to do it on a winning note if possible.”

Yates and Suzuki teammate Jamie Hacking will line up at Brainerd as the only former AMA Supersport winners at the Central Minnesota road course, but it’s been four years since a Suzuki rider has won a Supersport event at the track.

Tommy Hayden is hoping that Yates makes a mistake somewhere along the line in the final four rounds. The eldest of the three racing Hayden brothers needs a win at Brainerd to close the points gap on Yates. Hayden’s previous best Supersport result at BIR was fourth in 2000. Buckmaster has made a strong return to Supersport after a year away from the series. Brainerd has never been one of his stronger events however; in his previous two Supersport races at Brainerd he finished 10th both times.

Be sure to tune into Speed Channel’s live coverage of the Pro Honda Oils Supersport final at 1 p.m. Eastern on Sunday, June 30.
MBNA 250 Grand Prix Series leader Chuck Sorensen comes to Brainerd — the track where he won his very first AMA National in 1994 — with a solid 45-point lead over Floridian Perry Melneciuc. Sorensen is making a strong bid to win his third AMA 250 Grand Prix championship. His main competition will likely come from last year’s winner Rich Oliver. Oliver is racing this season despite suffering serious injuries at Daytona in March then again at Sears Point in May. Oliver will be trying to win a record sixth AMA 250 Grand Prix race at Brainerd.

Minnesota racing fans will get their first chance to watch Lee Acree race this weekend in the Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock race. Acree, 31, from Jamestown, N.C., is a great story – a rider who came late to racing compared to most pros, he spent years as one of the country’s fastest club racers, but raced for fun and never seriously considered a professional racing career. Eventually his results in the club and semi-pro ranks were so strong that friends and sponsors convinced him to give pro racing a try. After a couple years of limited AMA appearances, Acree broke through and won his first AMA national last year in the Superstock season finale. He wasn’t even planning on campaigning the entire 2002 AMA Superstock Series with Arclight Suzuki, but after winning two rounds this season he finds himself leading the championship over defending champ Jimmy Moore. Acree will try to hold off the surging Moore, who rides for Corona Extra Suzuki, and Tommy Hayden, the factory Kawasaki rider who is attempting to become the first rider on a 600cc machine to win the Superstock class.

This year’s Lockhart Phillips Formula Xtreme Series is the most hotly contested in the six-year history of the series. Five riders are in serious contention for this year’s championship with Attack Suzuki’s Jason Pridmore narrowly leading Graves Yamaha’s Damon Buckmaster, Erion Honda riders Jake Zemke and Mike Hale and Pridmore’s young teammate, Ben Spies. Pridmore is on a roll having won the last two rounds, but Honda riders have dominated Formula Xtreme at Brainerd over the years. Zemke is hoping to move up in the rankings by winning his second straight Xtreme race at BIR.

Kirk McCarthy has been unstoppable in the Buell Pro Thunder Series. McCarthy is a perfect three-for-three coming into this weekend’s race. Floridian David Estok earned the win in the class last year at Brainerd and will be hoping to stop McCarthy’s run. It’s possible that McCarthy could wrap-up the title at Brainerd. Burnsville, Minnesota’s Jessica Zalusky comes into this weekend’s race ranked a very respectable 12th in the Pro Thunder standings.


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

BRAINERD A FAVORITE FOR MLADIN

Three times American AMA Superbike Champion Mat Mladin, rates Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd Minnesota, as one of his favorite circuits in the 2002 AMA Chevy Trucks US Superbike Championship, but it is also a place where he has had little success.

Brainerd will host round 11 of the championship this weekend (June 29 – 30), with Mladin and his Blimpie Yoshimura Suzuki team looking for a return to the winner’s podium after a year that has been less than rewarding.

“Brainerd is one of my favourite tracks in the championship, but it is also a place that I have never won at,” said Mladin. “I’ll be going into the round feeling much better on how things are progressing with the bike. We tested at Virginia recently and I was very happy with what we were able to accomplish there. I’ve had a lot of problems with the rear shock in the bike, as it feels like it wants to throw me off every time I get hard on the gas, but we’ve done a lot of work with the Showa technicians and I feel that we are getting on top of that now.”

In 2001, Mladin set a new Superbike lap record around the 4.828km circuit on his way to securing pole position, but his race ended with an uncharacteristic crash on the opening lap. Nicky Hayden won the race, ahead of his American Honda teammates Kurtis Roberts and Miguel DuHamel.

“It doesn’t matter which way you look at it, it will be a hard race,” said Mladin. “Brainerd is the fastest track that we will go to this year and will be suited more to the big V-twins rather than my four cylinder Blimpie Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R750. At the moment we are behind in speed compared to the Honda’s and even the Kawasaki of Eric Bostrom, but we’ll still be in there trying our best.”

From a press release:

FOGGY PETRONAS RACING: DEBUT ANNOUNCEMENT

Foggy PETRONAS Racing, the newly launched World Superbike Championship team funded by Malaysian petroleum giant PETRONAS, has reconsidered the timing of its competitive debut.

The initial target of the Laguna Seca round of the championship on July 14th has been sacrificed in favour of more testing time.

Team owner Carl Fogarty now aims to have his riders Troy Corser and James Haydon in action on the new Foggy FP1 race bike, launched last week in London, for the showcase races at Brands Hatch on July 28th.

Carl said: “It was always our intention to start racing at the first opportunity. However, the very tight deadlines for everyone involved in this programme have meant that we have had to weigh up whether the time spent travelling to America would be put to better use on additional testing time nearer to home. I now hope that our debut can be at Brands Hatch where I always received such tremendous support during my career.”