From a press release:

Triumph Motorcycles – Recall

Our in-service monitoring program has identified that on some of the single sided swingarm models below, the rear wheel roller bearing may seize resulting in an inability to control the stability of the motorcycle. This information has been forwarded to our dealer network via Service Bulletin 313. Consumers should check their Service/Warranty handbook which accompanies the Owners Manual, a note should have been entered by the selling dealer upon completion of this NHTSA Recall Campaign. If there is no note, please contact your dealer to verify this repair has been completed or make an appointment to have the machine inspected / updated.

Models included are:
Centennial Daytona, Sprint ST and Speed Triple

Affected VIN (frame numbers, last 6 digits) are: 132693 through 161257

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Arclight Suzuki is making plans to race in the Formula USA 600cc Superbike class in 2003 but may have to do without the services of two-time F-USA 600cc Sportbike Champion Lee Acree, a four-year member of the Arclight team.

“We haven’t signed our deal with American Suzuki, but I believe we will be racing in the 600cc Superbike class of Formula USA and four AMA rounds: Daytona, Sears Point, Laguna Seca and Road Atlanta,” said Arclight Suzuki co-owner and crew chief Chuck Warren. “We have agreed to terms with Scott Harwell to be one of our national riders, and we are negotiating with others for the second seat. Lee Acree is one of the people we are talking to, but I think Lee is looking to land an AMA ride.”

“I’m looking for an AMA ride,” Acree said Thursday morning at Road Atlanta. “My understanding is that those guys (Arclight Suzuki) aren’t going. I’m having trouble getting excited about Formula USA’s program – a club race with a big purse, the ‘Arclight and Matt Wait Show.’ They don’t even have a class for teams like KWS and Blackmans (Aprilia) unless they want to run in one of the support classes. And from what I understand, and I haven’t talked to Steve DeKamp or anything, Hooters is going to the AMA. So they won’t be in F-USA.

“Arclight and I have had a good relationship together, and you never know what could happen. I could run Formula USA with them, or they could end up in the AMA. We’ll just see what happens.”

“We are negotiating to go Formula USA racing with Arclight,” said American Suzuki’s Morgan Broadhead at Road Atlanta. “Who will be the riders is undecided at this point.”

Arclight Suzuki is at Road Atlanta working with Harwell, who is riding in the GSX-R600, GSX-R750 and GSX-R1000 Suzuki Cup Finals. Harwell is making his return to racing following a three-month recovery from a severe injury to his right wrist suffered in July during the Suzuki GSX-R World Cup Qualifying race at Mid-Ohio.

“I broke several bones in my right wrist, tore all the ligaments and dislocated the whole wrist and hand,” said 28-year-old Harwell. “I’m nowhere near 100%. I instructed at a riding school at VIR three weeks ago, and I couldn’t move my wrist enough to brake and blip the throttle. It’s better than that now, though. I’m good enough for this weekend. My goal is to win all three Suzuki Cup races.”

Acree, who is ineligible for the Suzuki Cup Finals, is at Road Atlanta to ride in the final round of the WERA National Endurance Series with Andrew “Woody” Deatherage and Chris “Opie” Caylor on Loudoun Motorsports’ Pirelli-sponsored GSX-R1000.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Marietta Motorsports’ Mike Smith was the star at Road Atlanta on Thursday, the opening day of the WERA Grand National Finals. Smith won two races, B Superstock (750cc) and C Superstock (600cc), on a pair of Pirelli-shod Suzuki GSX-Rs bought for him earlier this year by his parents.

Smith started from the seventh row of the 40-rider B Superstock grid but took the race lead on lap two of eight by passing early leader Brian Stokes. Over the first half of the race Smith slowly pulled away from Stokes, Roadracingworld.com-sponsored John Haner and Chris “Opie” Caylor, eventually gaining a 1.8-second advantage on lap four. Over the closing laps, however, Caylor moved into second and closed Smith’s lead despite former factory Superbike racer Smith dropping his lap times as low as 1:27.85. Caylor completely erased Smith’s lead on the final lap, but Smith was able to beat Caylor to the checkered flag by half-a-bikelength. Haner finished a close third while Stokes just held on to fourth ahead of second-wave-starter Tray Batey.

“I was trying a different tire,” said Smith when asked about lurid rear-wheel slides he was getting through fast turn 12. “I think we got the tire pressure wrong.”

Smith had to fight even harder for his second win. Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Matt Furtek took the holeshot from the second row and led the first five laps while Stokes and Smith worked their way up from the back of the grid to the front. For the second half of the eight-lap race, the three riders ran a pace of mid-to-high 1:29s, exchanging positions in nearly every corner and setting up a dramatic last-lap finish.

Smith led the trio of Suzuki GSX-R600 riders down the back straight before young Furtek dove underneath Smith on the brakes for turn 10. “He got in there on the inside, but he was in too hot and ran a little wide,” said Smith. “I just tucked back up underneath him.”

Furtek and Smith tripping over each other in turn 10 allowed Stokes a clean run through the turn 10 chicane and a strong drive up the hill and under the Suzuki bridge. The three riders came over the crest of turn 11 three-wide, elbow-to-elbow-to-elbow coming down the hill to turn 12, the final corner. Stokes was on the outside, got elbowed out wide going into the high-speed final corner and was lucky to stay on the track and out of the air barriers. Smith held the inside line and was able to beat Furtek to the line by a wheel.

Other Expert winners Thursday at Road Atlanta included Brian Kcraget in Sportsman 125cc GP; Andrew Weiss in Clubman; Yamaha FZR460 rider Jason Temme in D Superbike; Scott Carpenter in C.O.R.C. (a.k.a Crusty Old Racers Class); and MB Motorsports/Richmond Suzuki’s Bradley Champion in Lightweight Twins and Formula 2.

Novice class winners included Ducati 750-mounted Lance Pentecost in Clubman; Martin Musil in D Superbike; Kevin Cesar in C.O.R.C.; Phillip Chapin in Lightweight Twins; and Phillip Fortune in Formula 2.

WERA Vintage race winners included 18-year-old Josh Smith-Moore in Formula RD; former Isle of Man TT winner Dave Roper in 500cc GP and 350cc GP; Doug Bowie in 250cc GP; Chris Spargo in Formula 2-Stroke; Mark Morrow in Formula 500; William “Buff” Harsh in Vintage 1; Tom Joyce in Vintage 2 and Vintage 3; Frank Shockley in Vintage 4; Harold Page, Jr. in Vintage 5; William Mayfield in Vintage 6; Lance Yeager in Vintage 7 Middleweight; and Dale Burroughs in Vintage 7 Heavyweight.

Friday’s action at the WERA GNF will include the final round of the WERA National Endurance Series and five more eight-lap sprint races. Saturday and Sunday’s program will feature Suzuki Cup qualifying heat races and finals plus the final round of the WERA National Challenge Series.

From a press release issued by Michelin:

VALENTINO ROSSI TESTS THE MICHELIN-206 WRC…

Freshly back from Australia where he notched up the 50th motorcycling Grand Prix victory of his career, the MotoGP World Champion was given his first opportunity today to test the Michelin-206 WRC he will drive in November’s Rally of Great Britain (November 14th-17th).

Valentino Rossi is due to make his debut in world class rallying next month when he takes part in the final round of the 2002 championship, the Rally of Great Britain. Today saw the motorcycle racing superstar get acquainted for the first time with the Michelin-206 WRC he will drive on the British event at a test session organised near Imperia, Italy. Who else but Michelin could have brought together the 2002 MotoGP World Champion (with Honda-Michelin) and the 2002 World Rally Championship winning Peugeot-Michelin?

After officially unveiling their strikingly decorated 206 WRC, and in readiness for next month’s Rally of Great Britain, Valentino Rossi, 23, and his co-driver Carlo Cassina, 42, got down to business today with their first test session on gravel roads in the mountains behind the Italian Riviera resort of Imeperia.

Although located a long way from the Welsh forests that will host Britain’s round of the 2002 world series, the tracks used for the session offered similar conditions to those that the Italian crew will encounter in November and allowed the pair to familiarise themselves with their ‘customer-specification’ 206 WRC prepared by Genoa-based specialist Grifone.

Valentino Rossi has already driven World Rally Cars in the past on events like the Michelin Race of Champions and the Bologna Rallysprint, but this time it was a case of getting to grips with and setting up this powerful machine in genuine rally stage conditions.

For the four-times motorcycling World Champion, today’s session was a particularly valuable exercise : “It’s a fantastic opportunity for me to be able to drive in a World Championship round because rallying is my second passion after motorbikes,” he said. “The kilometres I have been able to cover today have allowed me to familiarise myself with my Michelin 206 WRC and above all accustom myself to listening to the pacenotes read out by my co-driver Carlo.”

“I felt very comfortable with the car and felt the same sensations as I do in MotoGP concerning cornering lines and engine power. On the other hand, braking distances are very different. “

“I won’t be driving 100% on the first day of Rally GB. My objective? I’ve got about as much chance of winning the rally outright as I have of winning the soccer World Cup! There’ll be at least fifteen drivers ahead of me fighting for that. I just really want to go all the way to the finish…”

Following his first run with the car today, Rossi will get back behind the wheel of his Michelin-206 WRC at the beginning of November for a further two-day session as part of his build up to the big event, the Rally of Great Britain, which starts from Cardiff on November 14th.

The fourteenth and final round of the 2002 World Championship features 381km of timed stages for a total distance of 1,617km divided into three lags which will run entirely in South Wales.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Two-time WERA National Endurance Champion Vesrah Suzuki has renewed its deal with American Suzuki and will defend its title in 2003. That’s the word from American Suzuki’s Morgan Broadhead and Vesrah Suzuki team owner Mark Junge, both speaking at Road Atlanta Thursday.

“We’ll be back, same team, same program,” Junge told Roadracingworld.com. “Tray Batey, John Jacobi and I will be back on the GSX-R1000 in the 2003 WERA National Endurance Series. We will also be sprinting in the WERA National Challenge Series but we haven’t decided which riders will ride in which classes. We may be doing something with the new SV1000, though.”

“We will continue to work with Vesrah Suzuki next year on the WERA Endurance series,” confirmed Broadhead.

Suzuki has won the WERA National Endurance Series for the last three consecutive years and has won at least 16 of the last 20 WERA National Endurance Championships.

From a press release:

TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES DEALER CONFERENCE SHOWCASES
NEW PRODUCTS; HINCKLEY FACTORY FULLY OPERATIONAL AND 100 YEAR LEGACY

NEWNAN, GA.- October 23, 2002 — Triumph Motorcycles (America) Ltd. reported today that the company hosted their largest dealer conference ever earlier this month at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, celebrating 100 years of motorcycling. Conference attendees included US and Canadian dealers as well as distributors from Latin America who were invited to the unveiling of the company’s new 2003 model year products and services – and 100th year celebration dinner party.

The company also released information about the rebuilt Hinckley, UK factory which became fully operational as planned, in September, just six months after fire damaged the factory. The company was pleased to announce new Triumph motorcycles were arriving in North America this week.

During 2002, the USA continued as Triumph’s number one marketplace worldwide. With locations in every state, Triumph has established a strong network of 200 dealers nationwide.


New Product Announcements

Attendees at the Dealer Conference enthusiastically welcomed Triumph’s unveiling of the newest member of the Triumph model line-up, the new 2003 Speedmaster. Aside from performance, the Speedmaster profiles miles of style – a blend of classic British looks and American attitude. Inspired by the America introduced by Triumph last year, the Speedmaster sports a matte-black engine, gunfighter-type seat, tachometer (standard and located in tank dash), six-spoke cast aluminum wheels with dual front disc brakes and “shotgun-style” tapered exhaust. The bike will be in dealer showrooms in January, 2003.

“Last year, Triumph introduced the company’s first bike specifically designed for the “cruiser” market, the America, which quickly became the number one selling motorcycle for Triumph during 2002,” stated Mike Vaughan, Chief Executive Officer, Triumph Motorcycles (America) Ltd. “The Speedmaster and America create a whole new line of Triumph motorcycles that appeal to a new group of Triumph customers. The company recognizes the cruising rider’s need to personalize his or her ride, consequently the America and Speedmaster offer the most extensive line of accessories Triumph has ever offered on a new motorcycle.”

In addition for the 2003 model year, Triumph introduced more new motorcycle accessories as well as a substantial number of fashionable new garments for men and women riders.

Development of new motorcycles continued apace throughout the factory rebuilding program and the company announced to the Dealer Conference attendees Triumph’s plans to launch other exciting new bikes in the future.


Jacknell Road Site in Hinckley, UK Fully Operational

The Dealer Conference attendees cheered as Triumph announced the company was back in production again and on schedule — as planned. The first new units rolled off the production line on September 17, 2002. “It is a remarkable achievement to be back in production six months after the fire destroyed a third of our production facility. This is a testament to Triumph’s character.” stated Karl Wharton, Managing Director, Triumph Motorcycles.


Celebrating Legacy: 100 Years

Triumph enthusiasts around the world have been taking part in events to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first Triumph motorcycle. The Dealer Conference hosted the closing festivities.

“We launched Triumph’s 100th celebration in New York City close to the original location where Triumph began its history in the United States,” explained Mike Vaughan. “We wanted to close the US 100th year celebrations with our dealer network, in recognition to those who have helped us surpass our goals and deliver to the people who matter most, the American consumers.”

This summer, Triumph owners took part in an epic coast-to-coast Triumph Across America celebration ride. The 4,200 miles ride passed through 15 states, 14 celebration stops with dealers along the way. Triumph Across America concluded with over 2,000 in attendance at a gala party on Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, California — directly across the street from legendary Johnson Motors, former home of Triumph’s West Coast distributor.

“What these celebrations represent and what has become even clearer to all of us, are the feelings of heritage, adventure, quality and fun Triumph evokes in so many people around the world, especially here in the United States,” stated Mike Vaughan.

Triumph Motorcycles (America) Ltd., is located in Newnan, GA and services the Triumph dealer organization throughout the United States, Canada and Latin America.

From a press release issued by Octagon Motorsports:

2003 FIM World Endurance Championship Schedule

4/6 tba

5/25 Assen, Holland, 200 miles

6/28-29 Albacete, Spain, 12-hour

7/20 A-1Ring, Austria, 6-hour

8/3 Suzuka, Japan, 8-hour

8/23-24 Oschersleben, Germany, 24-hour

10/5 Vallelunga, Italy, 200 miles

From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

DUCATI CORSE CONCLUDES POSITIVE TWO-DAY TEST SESSION AT VALENCIA

DESMOSEDICI SET TO MAKE FIRST APPEARANCE IN PUBLIC WITH DEMO LAPS AT VALENCIA MOTOGP WEEKEND

Two weeks after their last session, Ducati factory riders Troy Bayliss and Neil Hodgson, together with tester Vittoriano Guareschi, are again hard at work developing the two Ducati bikes that will take part in next year’s MotoGP and World Superbike championships. After a series of ‘shakedown’ tests at Mugello during the summer, Ducati Corse’s development programme continued yesterday and today, for the first time away from Italy, at the Valencia track in Spain. The Ricardo Tormo Circuit is ideal for track development not only due to the favourable climatic conditions in this period, but also due to the fact that it is the regular venue for rounds of both championships, thus offering considerable assistance to team engineers.

Troy Bayliss spent two more days getting to grips with the new Ducati Desmosedici prototype, with which the Australian rider will tackle his first MotoGP season next year. Troy concentrated mainly on settings, front tyres and bike set-up, and the 34 laps yesterday (due to gusty wind conditions) and 84 today allowed the 2001 Superbike champion to dial in to the greater power and carbon brakes of the Desmosedici.

“We’ve done a really good job these past two days” declared Troy. “The conditions of the track weren’t so good but today in particular we got a lot of work done. We’ve made a lot more progress since Mugello and I’m feeling better every time I step on the bike. There are a lot more things to do, but we’re getting there”.

Meanwhile Guareschi, who focussed on component testing, in particular different cooling solutions and new Shell Advance lubricants, specifically studied for high-revving engines, also completed a 30-lap ‘non-stop’ race simulation with the second Desmosedici.

Neil Hodgson, on his second time out with the 999 Superbike, continued his learning curve with a completely new bike. The 999 has been slightly modified since the previous outing at Mugello to improve overall comfort for the British rider, who now feels more at ease with the set-up, the suspension and the Michelin tyres. After yesterday’s 57 laps and today’s 86, Hodgson commented: “Today in particular I did a lot of laps to get a better feeling with the bike and it’s good to see that we are going in the right direction; the bike is getting easier to ride and everything I asked for after Mugello to improve my position on the bike has been done”.

The Ducati Corse testing programme will be continuing virtually non-stop in the next few weeks, with the next appointment scheduled for Wednesday 6 and Thursday 7 November, again at the Valencia track.

Before the next test the Desmosedici will make its first appearance in public during the weekend of the GP Marlboro de la Comunitat Valenciana, the final round of this year’s MotoGP championship. Troy Bayliss will make several demo laps during the morning of Sunday 3 November before the start of the 125 race.