Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Saturday Morning 125cc GP Practice Times:

1. Daniel Pedrosa, Honda, 1:39.794
2. Pablo Nieto, Aprilia, 1:40.001
3. Arnaud Vincent, Aprilia, 1:40.284
4. Alex DeAngelis, Aprilia, 1:40.435
5. Hector Barbera, Aprilia, 1:40.531
6. Manuel Poggiali, Gilera, 1:40.611
7. Gino Borsoi, Aprilia, 1:40.616
8. Max Sabbatani, Aprilia, 1:40.854
9. Steve Jenkner, Aprilia, 1:40.905
10. Gabor Talmacsi, Honda, 1:40.943

37. Chris Peris, Honda, 1:49.915

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, INc.

Final MotoGP Qualifying Results:

1. Max Biaggi, Yamaha YZR-M1, 1:33.211
2. Alex Barros, Honda RC211V, 1:33.584
3. Daijiro Kato, Honda RC211V, 1:33.641
4. Garry McCoy, Yamaha YZR500, 1:33.794
5. Carlos Checa, Yamaha YZR-M1, 1:33.815
6. Valentino Rossi, Honda RC211V, 1:33.855
7. Tohru Ukawa, Honda RC211V, 1:34.053
8. Jeremy McWilliams, Proton KR3, 1:34.139
9. Shinya Nakano, Yamaha YZR-M1, 1:34.177
10. Sete Gibernau, Suzuki GSV-R, 1:34.242
11. Olivier Jacque, Yamaha YZR-M1, 1:34.276
12. Loris Capirossi, Honda NSR500, 1:34.280
13. Regis Laconi, Aprilia RS3, 1:34.480
14. Kenny Roberts, Suzuki GSV-R, 1:34.525
15. Jurgen vd Goorbergh, Honda NSR500, 1:34.536
16. Nobuatsu Aoki, Proton KR3, 1:34.579
17. John Hopkins, Yamaha YZR500, 1:35.044
18. Andrew Pitt, Kawasaki ZX-RR, 1:35.107
19. David Garcia, Proton KR3, 1:35.186
20. Norick Abe, Yamaha YZR-M1, 1:35.333
21. Jose Luis Cardoso, Yamaha YZR500, 1:35.337
22. Tetsuya Harada, Honda NSR500, 1:35.606

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Friday Morning 125cc GP Practice Times:

1. Max Sabbatani, Aprilia, 1:41.063
2. Manuel Poggiali, Gilera, 1:41.223
3. Daniel Pedrosa, Honda, 1:41.291
4. Pablo Nieto, Aprilia, 1:41.298
5. Lucio Cecchinello, Aprilia, 1:41.587
6. Hector Barbera, Aprilia, 1:41.869
7. Mirko Giansanti, Honda, 1:42.006
8. Alex De Angelis, Aprilia, 1:42.038
9. Arnaud Vincent, Aprilia, 1:42.058
10. Gino Borsoi, Aprilia, 1:42.241

36. Chris Peris, Honda, 1:50.278

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

This just in, via e-mail, from Jerry Wood:


I have been reading with interest about the Boxer Cup at Daytona and Erik Buell’s response to the elimination of the Pro Thunder class. I would like to add the following:

I was in the AMA offices years ago when they were discussing eliminating the old Sportster class. They brought up the fact that they were down to six or seven entries at some events and interest was at an all-time low.

I asked that they consider running a series that ran all of the air-cooled Twins together along with Singles and some of the Triples, much like the BEARS class. They might be able to keep Harley-Davidsons support and let them compete with their real sportbike – Buell against other machines with similar performance and price. I pointed out that it would have more publicity value for Harley-Davidson to compete with other motorcycles in the same market.

The other key players like Ducati with their air-cooled two-valve Supersport line along with Moto Guzzi, BMW and others are often bought for daily riding by hard-core enthusiasts that are likely to attend the AMA road racing series and become AMA members. The class could also could be a good place for a new racer to get noticed.

They said that it sounded good and asked me to put it on paper. When I wrote the paper, the points that I stressed were that to keep any one machine from dominating they DO NOT ALLOW the new Triumph 955 Water-cooled Triple and the Ducati 748.

Well, somehow some Triumph folks lobbied hard and got the machine in. The Triumph won six of the top 10 spots in the Championship the first season.

The next time I spoke with the AMA Pro Racing guys I politely asked what they were going to even up the chances for other brands and they told me that they were going to include the 748. I stated in the strongest terms that the 748 would TAKE OVER the class and the only other bikes near the front would be a few factory supported Buells. they said that they had it all figured out and that would not happen.

We all know what did happen and now the class is to be eliminated.

Even today they could make a set of rules that would allow for a number of different brands to compete. Air-cooled Twins up to 1000cc and water-cooled Twins up to 650cc would work reasonably well. Many of us enjoy the sound of the twin-cylinder machines on the track.

I think that it a shame that the AMA and AMA Pro Racing have become two entities. If they could go back to having the same goals of attracting members rather and being inclusive rather than exclusive I think that we will all be better off for it.

The elimination of the 250GP class is another mistake that is certain to alienate AMA members and enthusiasts as well.

As a long-time AMA supporter I hope that something can be worked out.

Jerry Wood

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Friday’s MotoGP Qualifying Times From Valencia:

1. Alex Barros, Honda RC211V, 1:33.584
2. Max Biaggi, Yamaha YZR-M1, 1:33.638
3. Daijiro Kato, Honda RC211V, 1:33.641
4. Valentino Rossi, Honda RC211V, 1:34.159
5. Shinya Nakano, Yamaha YZR-M1, 1:34.177
6. Carlos Checa, Yamaha YZR-M1, 1:34.264
7. Jeremy McWilliams, Proton KR3, 1:34.458
8. Garry McCoy, Yamaha YZR500, 1:34.518
9. Loris Capirossi, Honda NSR500, 1:34.604
10. Regis Laconi, Aprilia RS3, 1:34.618
11. Kenny Roberts, Suzuki GSV-R, 1:34.641
12. Tohru Ukawa, Honda RC211V, 1:34.884
13. Olivier Jacque, Yamaha YZR-M1, 1:34.902
14. Sete Gibernau, Suzuki GSV-R, 1:35.280
15. Jurgen vd Goorbergh, Honda NSR500, 1:35.403
16. John Hopkins, Yamaha YZR500, 1:35.636
17. Nobuatsu Aoki, Proton KR3, 1:35.857
18. Tetsuya Harada, Honda NSR500, 1:35.907
19. Norick Abe, Yamaha YZR-M1, 1:35.955
20. Jose Luis Cardoso, Yamaha YZR500, 1:35.964
21. David Garcia, Proton KR3, 1:36.102
22. Andrew Pitt, Kawasaki ZX-RR, 1:36.659

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Friday’s 125cc GP Qualifying Times:

1. Daniel Pedrosa, Honda, 1:39.784
2. Hector Barbera, Aprilia, 1:39.916
3. Arnaud Vincent, Aprilia, 1:40.117
4. Youichi Ui, Derbi, 1:40.611
5. Mika Kallio, Honda, 1:40.626
6. Mirko Giansanti, Honda, 1:40.676
7. Pablo Nieto, Aprilia, 1:40.677
8. Manuel Poggiali, Gilera, 1:40.791
9. Andrea Ballerini, Honda, 1:40.826
10. Steve Jenkner, Aprilia, 1:40.849

107% cut-off time: 1:46.768

DNQ. Chris Peris, Honda, 1:48.537

From a press release issued by the Parts Canada Superbike Championship Series:

Riders test at Mont Tremblant

The on-track testing at the newly reconstructed Circuit Mont Tremblant that was originally scheduled for July, finally took place on October 3 in an hour-long session on the classic road course.

The test consisted of five riders including 2002 HJC Rookie of the Year Ugo Levert, Benoit Pilon, Kevin Lacombe, Matt McBride, and Jean-Francois Cyr. Also along for a ride were Diablo Performance Racing team boss Eddy Brunet, Honda Canada team manager Kevin Graham, and Parts Canada Superbike series organizer Colin Fraser.

Mont Tremblant, originally constructed in 1964, was completely rebuilt in 2000 with new pavement all the way around the 4.3-km 15-turn road course. Tremblant offers racers an incredibly smooth racing surface along with challenging elevation changes.

“This track is the smoothest track I’ve ridden,” said Kevin Lacombe. “And the fun of the elevation changes is just like going to La Ronde.” (an amusement park in Montreal)

The October 3 test planned on using only the Short Track section of the circuit. The Short Track uses the north loop of the Long Track making for a 2.5-km lap. Due to concerns about limited access to the southern section of the track, series organizers had thought that it would be more spectator friendly to run an event on the Short Track. The riders involved in the test disagreed after a few had a chance to try the full length version of Mont Tremblant.

“Having tried the Long Track, I say Wow!” commented Eddy Brunet. “Finally a real race track with some fast corners. The Short Track looks and feels like it’s made for go-karts in comparison.”

Even though the preference is to race on the Long Track, everyone involved said they would still want to compete at Mont Tremblant regardless of track configuration.

“The long track is more appropriate to use, but the short track is also very fun,” said Ugo Levert. “It is a very nice track to attract spectators.”

Because Mont Tremblant was mainly used for car racing in the past, there was some initial concern about safety for motorcycle racers at the circuit. As part of the refurbishing project in 2000 the track was widened from 28 to 36 feet with run-off areas being added or rebuilt in many corners. In general, the riders felt the circuit was safe, but could use some air-fencing in certain areas.

“Coming up the hill under the bridge while we enter the left-hander we are really close to the wall,” commented Matt McBride. “There would need to be an air fence there.”

Another area of concern with the riders was the entrance to turn one. “The race track is very smooth and very wide and safe except for the outside wall in corner one,” said Jean-Francois Cyr of the safety concerns at the track.

Series organizers hope to hold a race at Mont Tremblant, about a 1-1/2 hour drive from Montreal, as part of the 2003 Parts Canada Superbike Championship.

“Given the opportunity to use the Long Track,” added Brunet, “we could bring Canadian Motorcycle road racing up another level.”