Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

A round of the BMW Boxer Cup will replace the moved-to-WERA AMA Pro Thunder class at Daytona next March.

The all-BMW race will take Pro Thunder’s place in the Daytona schedule, with the Final run on Sunday prior to the start of the Daytona 200.

The addition of the class to the Daytona program seems to contradict two arguments for eliminating Pro Thunder from the AMA Pro Racing line-up:

1. Reducing the number of classes will improve AMA operations by allowing staffers to do less, better.

2. Reducing the number of classes will increase the amount of practice time available to riders in the remaining classes.

The BMW Boxer Cup is an international series typically held as a support race during MotoGP weekends.

BMW hopes to have more U.S. rounds of the series in the future.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

This just in, via e-mail:

Will the AMA officiate the BMW class at Daytona? I thought as you mentioned online that they were already overwhelmed with all the classes they had. Must have been taking their vitamins over the winter!

Maybe when they eliminate 250 in 2004 we can talk some of the tracks into having a 250 race anyway! Or am I just being sarcastic?

When the AMA gets down to just 4 classes or so, they could have BMWs, go carts, a stunt show, jump contest, track ride, race of the legends, and a fly-over by a stealth bomber squadron that drops paratroopers onto the front straightaway.

You know, since they have so much less to do now.

Thanks,

Rich Oliver

From a press release:

RS Taichi is currently accepting racer resumes for the 2003 racing season. Resumes can be sent to RS Taichi USA, attn. Racer Support Program, 2531 W. 237th St. Suite 109, Torrance, CA 90505.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Buster Roberts, father of three-time 500cc World Champion Kenny Leroy Roberts and grandfather of 2000 500cc World Champion Kenny Lee Roberts and 2000 AMA Formula Xtreme and 600cc Supersport Champion Kurtis Roberts, died Sunday night in a Modesto, California hospital, from complications related to lung cancer.

Buster Roberts was 82.

Funeral services are pending.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Michael Hannas

A record number of Alpina and Air Fence soft barrier sections are being used at Road Atlanta for the WERA Grand National Finals and Suzuki Cup Finals. Thanks to a collaboration coordinated by Alpina’s Dan Lance and involving WERA, AMA Pro Racing, Formula USA and the Roadracing World Action Fund, WERA GNF and Suzuki Cup competitors are better protected than any racers to ever take to the track at Road Atlanta, including AMA Pro competitors.

With WERA directly contracting Lance to supply 20 rental sections of Alpina Air Module, AMA Pro Racing bringing 30 Air Fence and Alpina Air Module sections, and the Roadracing World Action Fund paying for the transport and set-up of 18 additional Air Fence sections used by Clear Channel Entertainment’s Formula USA and CCS series in 2002, there are 68 pieces of Air Fence and Alpina Air Module available for use at Road Atlanta. There are so many sections, in fact, that all the available pieces are not in use, with each party keeping a few pieces in reserve to replace any crash-damaged sections.

The Roadracing World Action Fund originally contributed $104,000 toward the purchase and deployment of soft barriers used by AMA Pro Racing, and originally contributed $40,000 for the soft barrier sections used by F-USA.

According to Lance, approximately 48 of the 68 available sections are being used currently at Road Atlanta. For comparison, there were 30 pieces available and in use during the Big Kahuna AMA National in May, according to AMA Pro Racing’s Hugh Fleming.

Both WERA and Suzuki Cup officials were excited to have the cooperation of all three sanctioning bodies in the project. WERA President Evelyne Clarke commented, “I think it’s great, we’re providing the best coverage we can, and that makes me feel really good.”

American Suzuki’s Pat Alexander was also pleased with the amount of protection offered to the Suzuki Cup Final participants, saying “It’s the best thing we can have. If we can protect those guys on the track at all times, the more fence the better. I just hope it carries on further down the road and everyone sees this.”

Many people were surprised to see all the parties working together on the deployment. AMA Pro Racing’s Hugh Fleming brought the most sections of Air Fence and Alpina Air Module–30–but sounded a cautionary note regarding possible future cooperation. “We are working together, it’s a joint effort, we’ve worked together very well,” said Fleming. “I don’t know if we will have the opportunity to do it again. Generally I’m at AMA races, so it’d have to be when AMA’s not racing, I can’t think of any other opportunities. I would suspect we’ll come back here next year because of the AMA/WERA affiliation.”

Lance seemed to hope that the cooperation could continue. Said Lance, “It’s great to see everyone working together for the riders, it’s what American road racing needs, to have the major sanctioning bodies come together in a safety effort.”

Contacted by phone Saturday, Roadracing World Action Fund founder and former WERA Champion John Ulrich said he was happy to contribute to the safety effort for GNF competitors. “Our goal has always been to provide air barrier protection for all riders, and this goes to show that it isn’t just for AMA Pro riders,” said Ulrich from his home in California. “We’re doing everything we can to educate people on the effectiveness of air barriers as opposed to haybales or tire walls or bare walls in preventing rider injuries.”

The Roadracing World Action Fund also paid for deployment of Lance’s rental fleet at Daytona for the F-USA/CCS Race of Champions last weekend, doubling the number of available soft barriers.

Alpina Air Modules were on display for public inspection at Daytona and are also on display at Road Atlanta as part of an educational program run by the Roadracing World Action Fund.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Former factory Superbike racer Mike Smith and former HMC Ducati crew chief and team manager Mark Sutton plan to build an AMA Superbike/Formula Xtreme Ducati for the 2003 season.

Speaking at Road Atlanta October 26, Sutton said, “We’re trying to put together a Formula Xtreme team with a Ducati 998. It would have to have the generator and electric starter, but we would build it to also be legal in Superbike. The team is called Moto Britalia/Ducshop Racing right now, but the sponsorship we’re looking for would carry naming rights.

“We’re looking for sponsorship to make the team happen right now. We have people who will be there to help us, but to do it right, we need more sponsorship. We could get most of the old HMC guys for the team. Richard Boyd, the fabricator and chassis guy, is ready to come over.

“Mike will be the only rider unless some one wants to come on as a support rider, like where they pay us to run their team and they fly in to ride at the races.”

Sutton is at Road Atlanta working with Smith, who is racing in the GSX-R600, GSX-R750 and GSX-R1000 Suzuki Cup Finals.

Sutton and Smith teamed up in 2000 to win five of nine AMA Pro Thunder races on a Ducshop Ducati 748 and finished second in the Championship behind Jeff Nash..

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Former AMA and World Superbike Champion Scott Russell won the SuperTT Pro class SuperMotard race Saturday at Road Atlanta. Russell came from behind on his Maxxis-equipped KTM World KTM LC4 to pass KTM 525 rider Aaron Howe and go on to take the victory. Howe took second in the 15-lap main event, ahead of Greg Tysor on a Honda CRF450F, Kelley Payne on a Suzuki DR-Z400 and David Sadowski on a Honda CRF450F on Maxxis tires.

Mike Smith fell behind early in the race, ran off the track several times trying to make up time and finished eighth on a Pirelli-equipped Cannondale 440.

The SuperTT course was laid out with low-profile cones, plastic barrels, haybales and tire walls in the AMA/Pro paddock inside the Road Atlanta road course, which is not used for the WERA GNF being held at Road Atlanta this weekend. The three-quarter-mile track ran down hot pit lane and into the gravel area behind the paved paddock. According to GMD Computrack’s Kent Soignier, a competitor in the SuperTT race, deep tire ruts–formed in the gravel by the racebikes–exposed buried electrical cables. During a break in the SuperTT program, track workers piled enough gravel in front of the cables to create a jump, solving the problem.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Mike Smith, Vincent Haskovec, Tray Batey, Bradley Champion and John Haner won races Sunday at the annual Suzuki Cup Finals at Road Atlanta.

Vesrah Suzuki’s Batey started the day by running away with the TL1000R Suzuki Cup final. Shawn Stinnett seemed to have second place wrapped up, but Scott Brown was close enough to Stinnett to apply pressure throughout the 10-lap final. On lap eight, Stinnett ran wide at the exit of the turn 10 chicane, got his rear wheel in the dirt and highsided violently. The crash stopped the race, and Stinnett was scored as a DNF as the cause of the red flag. Batey was awarded the win over Brown followed by Fred Faranegan, Tim Brewer, Russell Masecar and Doug Glass.

Stinnett was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center with a suspected concussion.

Only seven riders entered the TL1000R Suzuki Cup Final.

The Suzuki GSX-R750 Final started as a five-rider war at the front involving Smith, Batey, Haner, Chris “Opie” Caylor and Brian Stokes, but on lap seven of 10 Caylor and Haner tangled going into turn 10. A few laps later Stokes slowed due to arm pump. The race came down to a duel between veterans Batey and Smith. Batey took the lead on the last lap but encountered a problem down the back straightaway. Marietta Motorsports’ Smith took the win by less than a bikelength over Batey. Stokes took third, and John Jacobi finished fourth just ahead of Haskovec.

Haskovec started the GSX-R750 final from the 20th row because his bike went over the horsepower limit following his qualifying heat race on Saturday.

As many as six riders raced for the lead in the SV650 Suzuki Cup final. Late in the race, MB Motorsports/Richmond Suzuki’s Champion asserted control of the pace with 1:35 lap times, and only RTM Motorcycles’ John Linder was able to stay close. Linder led down the back straight on the final lap, but Champion beat Linder on the brakes for turn 10 and held on for the win. Linder took second three seconds ahead of first-year Expert Brian Suffridge, Caylor, David Yaakov and Greg Harrison.

Smith, Haskovec, Stokes and Jacobi formed the lead pack in the Suzuki GSX-R600 race. Smith and Haskovec exchanged the lead back-and-forth most of the time with Stokes closing late in the race and Jacobi fading with arm pump. Smith, Stokes and Haskovec went three-wide into the chicane at the end of the back straight on the final lap. Smith took the lead but slid at the exit. SGI’s Haskovec squared off the corner and drove past Smith and Stokes up the hill and to the checkered flag. Haskovec won from Smith, Stokes, Jacobi, Shan Ball and Robert Jensen.

Smith held the early lead in the Suzuki GSX-R1000 final with Mark Junge, Haner and Caylor in close pursuit. As the 10-lap race wore on rain began to fall lightly making turn seven, the tight right-hand turn leading onto the back straight, especially slick. Roadracingworld.com’s Haner wanted the win more than the rest of the field and pulled away even though his lap times slowed. Smith slowed more than Haner to take second, and Caylor admitted he settled for third in the conditions, his first podium of the day. Closing to Caylor’s tailsection across the line, Jensen took advantage of Haskovec’s hesitation due to a dirty faceshield to pass into fourth on the final lap. Haskovec took fifth just in front of Geoff May.

Unofficially, Smith was the biggest money winner of the day, earning $8000 for his win and two second-place finishes. Haskovec earned $5400, Caylor made $4100 from four races, Stokes and Batey each collected $4000, Haner took home $3800, Jensen made $3500 and Jacobi pocketed $3000 in Suzuki Cup purse money Sunday .

RESULTS:

TL1000R Cup Final:

1. Tray Batey, 7 laps
2. Scott Brown, -10.243 seconds
3. Fred Farzanegan, -27.681 seconds
4. Tim Brewer, -28.119 seconds
5. Russell Masecar, -28.409 seconds
6. Doug Glass, -58.893 seconds


GSX-R1000 Cup Final:

1. John Haner, 10 laps
2. Mike Smith, -3.280 seconds
3. Chris “Opie” Caylor, -3.655 seconds
4. Robert Jensen, -3.880 seconds
5. Vincent Haskovec, -4.215 seconds
6. Geoff May, -4.591 seconds


GSX-R750 Cup Final:

1. Mike Smith, 10 laps
2. Tray Batey, -0.134 second
3. Brian Stokes, -4.555 seconds
4. John Jacobi, -8.599 seconds
5. Vincent Haskovec, -10.214 seconds
6. Robert Jensen, -14.226 seconds


GSX-R600 Cup Final:

1. Vincent Haskovec, 10 laps
2. Mike Smith, -0.095 second
3. Brian Stokes, -0.172 second
4. John Jacobi, -5.089 seconds
5. Shan Ball, -5.829 seconds
6. Robert Jensen, -6.039 seconds


SV650 Cup Final:

1. Bradley Champion, 10 laps
2. John Linder, -0.283 second
3. Brian Suffridge, -3.600 seconds
4. Chris “Opie” Caylor, -3.683 seconds
5. David Yaakov, -3.890 seconds
6. Greg Harrison, -5.077 seconds

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Michael Hannas

Greg Moore piloted his Michelin DOT-shod Suzuki GSX-Rs sponsored by Buzz’s Psycles to five wins Friday and Saturday during the WERA GNF at Road Atlanta. Moore won every race he entered, including B Superstock Novice, C Superstock Novice, C Superbike Novice, B Superbike Novice, and Formula 1 Novice.

Jeff Walker kept Moore honest in each race, with the best battle between the two coming in C Superbike Novice, where Moore made the pass for the win on the final lap when Walker was held up by a lapper entering turn 10a.

Moore dropped his lap times into the 1:28 range by the end of the day, which is less than two seconds off the best times done so far this weekend by GSX-R750 Suzuki Cup Final participants.

Walker came home with three second-place finishes and two third-places on a Suzuki GSX-R600 borrowed from Army of Darkness.

Other Novice winners on the weekend included Phillip Chapin, who won the Lightweight Twins Novice Sportsman race on his Suzuki SV650 but was DQ’d from victory in D Superbike Novice for illegal intake modifications. The D Superbike win was given to Martin Musi, who also ran a Suzuki SV650. Lance Pentecost took the win in Clubman Novice on his Ducati 750SS, while Kevin Cesar was the fastest in the Crusty Old Racers Class (a.k.a. CORC, for riders older than age 40), taking the CORC Novice win on his Suzuki GSXR750. Phillip Fortune took his SV650 to victory in Formula 2 Novice. The Lightweight Twins Novice National was won by Sam Snellenberger on a Suzuki SV650, and Snellenberger also took second to Brad Ervin on a Ducati 996 in the Heavyweight Twins Novice Sportsman race.