From a press release:

Team Suzuki News Service

CATALUNYA IS STAGING POST FOR SUZUKI

MotoGP, Preview, Round Six, Catalunya GP, Montmelo – June 16, 2002

THE Catalunyan GP, the sixth race in the stunning new Suzuki GSV-R four-stroke racer’s first season, is an important staging post for the machine, the team and for Telefónica MoviStar Suzuki riders Kenny Roberts Jr. and Sete Gibernau.

As well as the team regulars, both on the track and in the pits, a full squad of Japanese race-department engineers and a blindingly fast Japanese rider – Akira Ryo – will be adding to team strength, helping to consolidate their ever-improving position.

The youngest of the new-generation Japanese MotoGP four-strokes has shown great promise and very impressive progress in the first five rounds, even though it still in the early stages of development, boosted by a superb second place in the first race.

Roberts and Gibernau stayed on for further successful tests following the last race, the Italian GP at Mugello, where they were able to try the new 2002 Michelin rear tyres for the first time after switching to the French brand after the first two rounds.

The results were highly promising. Added to the continuous stream of new components and ideas from the factory, the tests were another boost both to machine performance and team morale.

For the Catalunyan race, the second of three rounds in Spain, there will be yet another shot in the arm. As well as the latest round of technical improvements, a full squad of factory engineers and factory racer Ryo will join the team regulars at the Montmelo circuit outside Barcelona.

Among their number will be Kunio Arase, the designer of the powerful four-camshaft V4 motor. Arase’s portfolio includes the ultra-successful GSX-R1100. His latest engine – the Suzuki factory’s first high-performance V4 – proved so successful in early tests that the factory decided to release the GSV-R into competition a full year earlier than planned.

Rider Ryo is also an important addition to Suzuki’s strength. Reigning Japanese Superbike champion, Ryo claimed second place in the opening round at Suzuka, as a wild card entry, and will join Roberts and Gibernau in the same capacity for the next three GP rounds.

“Ryo is a strong racer in his own right – but he also not only has extensive test-track experience with the new four-stroke, but also has access to newer evolutions of the GSV-R,” said team manager Garry Taylor.

“With Ryo on the track and Mr. Arase in the pits, this will be a valuable chance to cross-reference between the GP team and the factory engineers. Obviously we work in close contact all the time, but the programme is moving rapidly ahead, and there’s nothing like face-to-face contact,” said Taylor.

Meantime, the tyre tests at Mugello had been very positive, continued Taylor. “Both riders had the chance to try the latest rear Michelin tyres for the first time, and both said they can see what everyone else is raving about.

“The tyres minimised some problems we’ve been having with development parts, and were very consistent in endurance tests. We’re looking forward to the time when we will be able to use the full Michelin range for races,” he said.

The team switched tyre brands after two races, but because of the late decision have so far used only 2001 tyres, while the French company increases production to meet the new demand.

Roberts won the wet Catalunyan GP in 2000, but in 2001 was out of luck, crashing out in the early stages while challenging the leaders, after setting a lap time even faster than he had in qualifying. The race was a triumph for Sete Gibernau, in his first season with the Telefónica MoviStar Suzuki team, with a strong fifth place. Gibernau went on to win the next race in Spain later in the season, the Valencia GP.


KENNY ROBERTS Jr. – OUT OF THE DARKNESS
“The tests of the 2002 Michelins were interesting. They certainly have an advantage over last year’s tyres, and when we can use them I’d anticipate much more consistent performance over race distance. We’re going to Catalunya with the same plan as the last race – get a good start, pass as many people as possible, and wait and see what comes. Jerez was our first race back on Michelins, and France was better again. At Mugello we were kind of caught up with the 2001 tyres; the new rubber will be another added advantage. We’re improving all the time as far as development stuff goes. We’ll have to wait and see what the factory has for us at Catalunya.”


SETE GIBERNAU – HOME AGAIN, AND HARD ON THE GAS
“Everybody can see that the bike is new, and that we’re working on development. Of course that’s frustrating. I want to be fighting for the top positions, and after winning in Spain last year, it’s hard to be patient. I hope that for the next race the work the team and the factory have been doing will pay off and I can get a better result. Riding at home puts on extra pressure, but that can also work in your favour. Our tests after Mugello went a long way to making me more optimistic. As I said, it’s just hard to wait.”


ABOUT THIS RACE
Motorcycle GP racing was inaugurated at Montmelo in 1992, as the European GP. The annual race took the name of Catalunya in 1996, a second race in Spain, reflecting the growing national passion for the sport. Now there are three Spanish races, and another in Portugal, and the fans come in vast numbers to cheer their local heroes, like Telefónica MoviStar Suzuki rider Sete Gibernau – who achieved a landmark fifth with a heroic ride at last year’s race. Gibernau can count on further Spanish adulation at this race, close by his Catalunyan home. The track is fast, and riders will be chasing a lap-time average of more than 100 mph in the race.


ABOUT THIS TRACK
The Montmelo circuit, built with no expense spared in the early Nineties to coincide with the Barcelona Olympics, is still a state-of-the-art facility, with spacious paddock buildings and facilities, extensive grandstands, and a variety of viewing areas. It also plays host to Spain’s F1 car grand prix, and is a popular testing track for the cars. With the immense braking and cornering forces generated, this has caused some damage to the track surface, while another wave-like deformation from the track’s construction is also a factor, especially on the straight. At 1.4 kilometres it is the longest of the season, and the new four-strokes will be likely to exceed 200 mph again, as a handful did two weeks ago at Mugello.



GP DATA
Montmelo Circuit

Circuit Length: 2.937 miles / 4.727 km

Lap Record: 1:46.619 – 99.175 mph / 159.607 km/h. V Rossi (Honda) 2001

2001 Results
Race Winner: V Rossi (Honda)
Race Average: 44.57.142 –98.011 mph / 157.733 km/h.
Pole Position: Rossi 1:45.507

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn LeSanto

Foret Stripped of race win and championship points

Just when he thought he’d taken the lead in the World Supersport championship along came the scrutineers and everything changed…

Fabien Foret was stripped of his race win at Lausitzring when his rear wheel was found not to be a homologated part. James Whitham and Paolo Casoli were also excluded. Casoli was excluded because his bike was underweight and also failed to start with the electric starter after the race, a stipulation of the rules. Whitham’s bike was the correct weight, however it also failed to start.

Katsuaki Fujiwara was handed the race win, and Stephane Chambon regained his title lead.

REVISED LAUSITZRING WORLD SUPERSPORT RACE RESULTS:

1. Katsuaki Fujiwara, Suzuki
2. Andrew Pitt, Kawasaki
3. Stephane Chambon, Suzuki
4. Christian Kellner, Yamaha
5. Chris Vermeulen, Honda
6. Jorg Teuchert, Yamaha
7. Kevin Curtain, Yamaha
8. Stefano Cruciani, Yamaha
9. Piergiorgio Bontempi, Ducati
10. Iain MacPherson, Honda


REVISED WORLD SUPERSPORT CHAMPIONSHIP POINT STANDINGS:

1. Chambon, 112
2. Pitt, 103
3. Fabien Foret, 93
4. Fujiwara, 84
5. Kellner, 65
6. Paolo Casoli, 60
7. Teuchert, 60
8. Vermeulen, 58
9. James Whitham, 55
10. Bontempi, 46


More, from a Van Zon Honda TKR release:

Mixed weekend for Van Zon Honda TKR at Lausitzring

For Werner Daemen the weekend at Lausitzring will be an event he’ll hope to forget. During practice a pin inserted into his injured shoulder after his recent crash at Monza popped out under heavy braking. He’s due for more surgery on Tuesday 11 June and won’t know until then if he’ll be fit to race at Misano.

His team mate Chris Vermeulen finished the race sixth, but was then moved up to fifth after race winner Fabien Foret was excluded for a technical infringement.

The 19-year-old started the race from ninth on the grid and found himself embroiled in a race long battle with Jamie Whitham. Vermeulen got the better of Whitham late in the race, partly due to the superior late-race performance of his Pirelli tyres.

“My Pirelli tyres were working really well at the start of the race, and even better at the end!” commented Vermeulen.

“I got a pretty good start and got up to seventh and then got into a real battle with Whitham, which I won!” Vermeulen said.

The result leaves the Queenslander eighth in the championship.

The Van Zon Honda TKR rider added, “I’ve gone up one place in the championship battle and it’s very close. We tested well at Misano a few weeks ago, so I’m confident that in the race there I can get back on the podium.”

Fabien Foret took his third win of the year, before the technical exclusion.

The championship continues on June the 23rd at San Marino, Misano.

From a press release:

New Sponsor For Diablo Paintball Can-Am 125gp Challenge

Durmach Industries of Oshawa, Canada, a tier one supplier to General Motors, has come on board with the Can-Am 125gp series as a major sponsor.

Durmach Industries is a machine shop specializing in tools, dies, jigs and fixtures.

Mike Orchard, President of Durmach attended the Canadian Superbike National at Shannonville last month and was overwhelmed with the Can-Am series. After the race Orchard contacted series organizer John Bickle and asked how he could be involved. Orchard and his wife Greta are past Canadian Sidecar champions and have a passion for GP motorcycles.

Durmach has contributed a generous sum of cash to the series, which will be used in the purses and year-end fund.

Durmach joins Diablo Paintball as the second major outside-the-industry sponsor for the series.

The Can-Am is excited to have them as a series sponsor.

Diablo Paintball Can-Am 125gp Challenge continues with Round Two at Grattan Raceway June 14-16

From a press release:

Race 1 Report: AMA Chevy Trucks Superbike Round 6

Date: June 8, 2002

Circuit: Road America, Elkhart Lake WI

HMC Ducati rider Doug Chandler finished today’s first race at Elkhart Lake in sixth position, struggling with tire problems for the duration of the race. His morning practice times indicate Chandler could have run easily with the top runners had things been right.

“The way we went this morning we should have been right in the middle of things,” said Chandler. “I think we may have sprung a tire because it felt out of balance the whole race. It’s frustrating because it seems like we can never get a break. I thought about coming in after the sighting lap because the bike was shaking right through the warm-up. But I decided to stay out, hoping I could wear that part down. At one stage it felt like I could have almost kept in touch with those guys but then I had a moment and I knew I was really pushing it over the top.

“I felt really good out there. I wish we could put on a new tire and do it again, just to get some redemption. But we’ll get our chance tomorrow.”

Former HMC rider Scott Russell won an exciting supermotard race today at the adjoining Briggs and Stratton Motorplex on his HMC sponsored Husqvarna. The three-times National Champion came from third row on the grid to take the checkered flag in first place, pausing to wave to his fans as he crossed the line.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

AMA Supersport Race Results:

1. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, 10 laps
2. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha, -0.011
3. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki, -0.0260
4. Jake Zemke, Honda, -0.770
5. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki, -1.800
6. Tom Kipp, Suzuki, -4.203
7. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki, -9.679
8. Ben Spies, Suzuki, -11.384
9. Roger Lee Hayden, Honda, -13.488
10. Mike Hale, Honda, -13.747
11. Alex Gobert, Honda, -16.454
12. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki, -18.414
13. Ty Howard, Suzuki, -39.519
14. Monte Nichols, Yamaha, -43.103
15. Andrew Nelson, Honda, -44.575
16. Jimmy Filice, Kawasaki, -49.439
17. Tyler Wadsworth, Yamaha, -49.949
18. Scott Ruehle, Yamaha
19. Scott Hermersmann, Suzuki
20. Kevin Lehman, Honda
21. Brian Salazar, Suzuki
22. Kevin Pates, Suzuki
23. Chris Weeden, Yamaha
24. Justin Blake, Suzuki
25. Chris Siebenhaar, Honda
26. Hector Romero, Yamaha
27. Martin Sims, Suzuki
28. Dirk Sanchez, Kawasaki
29. Almontez Stewart, Suzuki
30. Calvin Martinez, Suzuki
31. Russ Intravartolo, Kawasaki
32. David Wappler, Honda, -9 laps, DNF
33. Michael Hannas, Kawasaki, -9 laps, DNF
34. Jason Hobbs, Suzuki, -9 laps, DNF
35. Shawn Conrad, Yamaha, DNS

Supersport Point Standings:

1. Yates, 205 points
2. Tommy Hayden, 150 points
3. Damon Buckmaster, 143 points
4. Pridmore, 141 points
5. TIE, Meiring/Kipp, 138 points
7. Hale, 135 points
8. Hacking, 128 points
9. Spies, 122 points
10. Roger Lee Hayden, 115 points
11. Zemke, 112 points
12. Howard, 97 points
13. Alex Gobert, 86 point
14. TIE, Anthony Gobert/Filice, 66 points

Celebrating his victory, Yates did a rolling burnout up the front straightaway but crashed, without injury, at the entrance to Victory Lane.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Racer Bill Syfan, who has spent the last 2-1/2 years as Director of Road Racing for Clear Channel Entertainment Motor Sports, said Sunday at Road America that he has resigned, effective following the June 14-16 Formula USA National at Loudon, New Hampshire.

Syfan, 44, said, “The plan we had when I signed on to do this job and the plan the company has had to adopt are different, for a lot of reasons. I wanted to build the premier racing organization in the United States and that is no longer possible.

“Formula USA is in good hands and a big part of what I was doing was helping CCS, helping guide it and expand it, and we’ve done that. Double-digit growth in our sportsman series in the last two years is pretty impressive, and that’s the base for road racing in the U.S.”

Syfan said he is currently exploring employment opportunities in the racing industry. “I’d be interested in consulting with riders and teams,” said Syfan, who can be reached at (817) 989-0060.

Syfan said he is also looking forward to personally racing again in the near future. He last raced in 1995.

Clear Channel Entertainment Motor Sports Vice President of Operations Roy Janson could not be reached for comment at post time.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Pro Thunder Results:

1. Kirk McCarthy, Ducati 748RS, 10 laps
2. Tom Montano, Ducati 748R, -0.632
3. Mike Ciccotto, Buell XB9R, -7.014
4. Tripp Nobles, Buell XB9R, -18.143
5. Heath Small, Ducati 748RS, -44.528
6. Richie Morris, Buell X-1, -54.211
7. Dan Bilansky, Buell X-1, -54.278
8. Dave Estok, Buell XB9R, -70.538
9. Josh Bryan, Ducati 748, -72.088
10. Kevin Hanson, Ducati 748, -80.455
11. Clark Freatman, Ducati 748
12. Brian Weber
13. Jessica Zalusky, Ducati 748
14. Alex Freeman, Suz SV650, -1 lap
15. Charles Sipp, Buell 1200, -1 lap
16. Chris Knight, Ducati 748, -4 laps
17. Michael Handegard, Suzuki SV650, -4 laps, DNF, crash
18. Greg Avello, Buell X-1, -5 laps
19. Shawn Higbee, Buell XB9R, -7 laps

Pro Thunder Point Standings:

1. McCarthy, 113 points
2. Ciccotto, 90 points
3. Montano, 73 points
4. Bryan, 72 points
5. Freatman, 63 points
6. Estok, 55 points
7. Charlie Hewett, 47 points
8. Sipp, 44 points
9. Small, 42 points
10. Hull, 40 points

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn LeSanto

Foret takes a the Lausitz lap record, the race win and the championship lead

Fabien Foret put in another faultless display in his Ten Kate Honda to take the win at Lausitzring in the World Supersport championship race. Foret, who qualified for the race in pole, was third into the first bend behind holeshot man Katsuaki Fujiwara and Andrew Pitt.

On lap two Foret shot by Pitt under brakes into turn one, a move he repeated on lap four when he passed Fujiwara for the lead. For lap after lap it looked like he wouldn’t be able to break Fujiwara, who clung grimly onto the back of Foret and his superfast Honda.

Then in the closing stages Foret poured on the style, taking the lap record as late as lap 18. Fujiwara had no answer to Foret’s late pace, and slipped to nearly two seconds behind. Foret slowed right up on the last lap but still finished 0.7 seconds up on Fujiwara.

In the latter stages of the race a fight developed for second place between Fujiwara, Chambon, Pitt and Christian Kellner. Pitt managed to squeeze past Chambon on lap 22, which put Chambon further adrift from Foret in the title chase. Foret’s win meant that he moved into the
championship lead, nine points up on Chambon. Foret had trailed Chambon by three points going into the race.

It was a disappointing day for Karl Muggeridge who lost the front end of his Honda early in the race while carving through the pack. He was lying third when he crashed. He remounted to finish 17. Kellner ended up fifth in front of the young Australian Chris Vermeulen.


Lausitzring World Supersport Race Results:

1. Fabien Foret, Honda CBR600F,23 laps, 40:02.756
2. Katsuaki Fujiwara, Suzuki GSX-R600, -0.721
3. Andrew Pitt,Kawasaki ZX-6R,-1.354
4. Stephane Chambon, Suzuki GSX-R600, -1.691
5. Christian Kellner, Yamaha YZF-R6, -3.339
6. Chris Vermeulen, Honda CBR600F, -17.532
7. James Whitham, Yamaha YZF-R6, -18.695
8. Jörg Teuchert, Yamaha YZF-R6, -21.344
9. Kevin Curtain, Yamaha YZF-R6, -21.480
10. Paolo Casoli, Yamaha YZF-R6, -31.041
11. Stefano Cruciani, Yamaha YZF-R6, -37.601
12. Piergiorgio Bontempi, Ducati 748R, -39.217
13. Iain MacPherson, Honda CBR600F, -39.938
14. Alessio Corradi, Yamaha YZF-R6, -42.511
15. Robert Ulm,Honda CBR600F, -43.968
16. Christian Zaiser, Yamaha YZF-R6, -50.114
17. Karl Muggeridge, Honda CBR600F, -52.160
18. David De Gea, Honda CBR600F, -62.953
19. Antonio Carlacci, Yamaha YZF-R6, -67.286
20. Gianluca Nannelli, Ducati 748R, -67.851
21. Claudio Cipriani, Yamaha YZF-R6, -70.285
22. Rico Penzkofer, Ducati 748R, -78.915
23. Diego Giugovaz, Yamaha YZF-R6, -3 laps, DNF
24. James Ellison, Kawasaki ZX-6R, -13 laps, DNF 25. Christophe Cogan, Honda CBR600F,-21 laps, DNF
26. Matthieu Lagrive, Yamaha YZF-R6, -22 laps, DNF
27. Ron Van Steenbergen, Honda CBR600F, -22 laps, DNF
28. Robert Frost, Yamaha YZF-R6, -23 laps, DNF
29. Kyro Verstraeten, Honda CBR600F, DNS

More, from Ten Kate Honda:

Foret takes his third win of the season at Lasitzring

Ten Kate Honda rider Fabien Foret put in a masterful display at Lausitzring today to take his third win of the season. Pole sitter Foret
took the race win in style, even setting the lap record on lap 18! The win put him nine points clear at the top of the championship table.

“The track really suits my racing style,” commented Fabien after the race. “Both my bike and the Pirelli tyres worked very well. It was easy for me this weekend, I just had to get on my bike and ride. Everything was perfect.”

When asked how it was possible for him to set the lap record so late in the race at a time when other riders were starting to suffer from tyre
wear, Foret replied; “The Pirelli tyres I used today are incredible. They gave their best all through the race and right up to the chequered
flag they were still working perfectly. But it’s also due to the quality of the suspension because the WP Suspension helps me to conserve the tyres.”

It wasn’t such a good day for Iain MacPherson; “I’m obviously disappointed. But I’ll be back at Misano, which is a track I like, and
I’ll trying hard for a win there.”

After the race Fabien Foret’s engine was once more examined by the race officials and found to be perfectly within all the competition’s rules.

“We build our bikes to be very fast,” commented team manager, Ronald ten Kate, “but we build them fairly. “Today has once again shown the quality
of Fabien Foret,” he continued, “His display on the track was incredible, so mature, and yet so fast. But it’s not a solo effort, the entire team has worked very hard to ensure that he had the perfect set up for the dry. And credit has to go once again to WP Suspension and Pirelli Tyres for their invaluable contribution to our success.”

Ronald ten Kate had some positive words for Iain MacPherson; “I don’t think this circuit suits his style, he struggled here last year. But the team is 100% behind him and we’re confident he’ll be very strong at Misano. He’s proved in recent races, and testing, that he can be just as fast as Foret.”