Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Kris Bickford, manager of the Blackmans Aprilia Formula USA Unlimited Superbike team, told Roadracingworld.com Thursday at Daytona International Speedway that he is actively working toward racing Aprilias in AMA Superbike in 2003 and beyond.

“I’m working with an international motorsports marketing firm to get the cash to go into AMA Superbike racing,” said Bickford. “It would be a multi-year program. Our sponsors would have to buy in for the long haul because we wouldn’t be competitive next year. We would be racing the Aprilia RSV1000Rs (Aprilia currently races RSV1000SP homologation specials in the World Superbike Championship), but we are anticipating that there will be a new 2004 Aprilia model that would be eligible and competitive for AMA Superbike. What I’m trying to do is position ourselves to be ready when Aprilia is ready to go into AMA Superbike so that we would hopefully be the team to do that for them.

“We’re looking at running a two-rider team, but we have not made any decisions on riders or crew yet. Michael Himmelsbach (Blackmans Aprilia’s current rider) is certainly a possibility, but we’re in discussions with other riders.

“I hope to know something on the deal within two or three weeks.”

Bickford then added, “The firm that I’m working with also represents Colin Edwards.”

When asked what the name of the firm is, Bickford said, “I can’t say right now.”

From a press release issued by Harley-Davidson:

HARLEY-DAVIDSON, INC. REPORTS RECORD THIRD QUARTER

Strong Demand Drives 100th Anniversary Accessories & MotorClothes Revenue

Milwaukee, Wis.- Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE: HDI) announced record revenue and earnings for its third quarter ended September 29, 2002. The Company’s third quarter revenue was $1.14 billion, an increase of 31.8 percent over the third quarter last year. Diluted earnings per share were 54 cents, a 50 percent increase compared with last year.

“As we began our year-long 100th Anniversary Celebration, we achieved our biggest quarter ever, setting new records in revenue and earnings,” said Jeffrey L. Bleustein, chairman and chief executive officer of Harley-Davidson, Inc. “The commemorative products for our 100th Anniversary Celebration were a major driver for our exceptional third quarter performance and are a great springboard for growing demand for the future.”

“Our global dealer network sold nearly 18 percent more new motorcycles over the past nine months. This, together with better than expected accessories and MotorClothes sales in a difficult economy, gives us confidence in the robust demand for our products,” said Bleustein. “In response, we are increasing our 2002 production target for Harley-Davidson motorcycles from 262,000 to 263,000, and for 2003 our target is being set at 289,000, a ten percent increase over 2002.”

Motorcycles and Related Products Segment – Third Quarter Results

Third quarter revenue from Harley-Davidson motorcycles was $832.7 million, an increase of 28.4 percent over the third quarter last year. Shipments totaled 67,474 units, up 10,863 units or 19.2 percent over the same period last year.

Revenue from Parts and Accessories (P&A), which consists of Genuine Motor Parts and Genuine Motor Accessories, totaled $199.3 million, a 32.3 percent increase from the year-ago quarter. Third quarter revenue from General Merchandise, which consists of MotorClothesÔ apparel and collectibles, totaled $83.1 million, an 88.5 percent increase over the same period last year.

The Company’s 100th Anniversary commemorative products drove the performance of both product lines. Revenue from 100th Anniversary P&A products was $21 million and revenue from General Merchandise associated with the 100th Anniversary was $25 million. “We expected P&A revenues during this anniversary year to be strong, and General Merchandise revenues to be even stronger,” said Bleustein, “but these third quarter results have exceeded even our expectations.” For the longer term, the Company expects the growth rate for P&A revenues to be slightly higher than Harley-Davidson’s motorcycle unit growth rate and the General Merchandise growth rate is expected to be lower than the motorcycle unit growth rate.

Third quarter gross margin was 34.9 percent of revenue, up from 34.5 percent of revenue for the same period last year. Gross margin improved primarily due to Parts & Accessories’ margin contribution, a higher percentage of U.S. motorcycle shipments and worldwide price increases on the 2003 model year motorcycles.

Third quarter operating margin for the Motorcycles and Related Products Segment was 19.6 percent of revenue, an improvement on last year’s third quarter margin of 18.0 percent. The increase in gross margin was the primary contributor to the increase in operating margin.

Retail Sales Data
Harley-Davidson retail motorcycle sales through September grew in the U.S. (19.1 percent), Europe (8.0 percent) and Japan (13.9 percent) compared to the same period last year. Industry data is available through August. Harley-Davidson retail sales resulted in market share gains in all major heavyweight motorcycle markets.

Financial Services Segment – Third Quarter Results

Harley-Davidson Financial Services, Inc. (HDFS), a subsidiary of Harley-Davidson, Inc., reported third quarter operating income of $29.7 million, a $13.4 million increase compared to the year-ago quarter. The subsidiary continues to benefit from the increase in Harley-Davidson’s U.S. motorcycle sales, growing acceptance of its consumer financing program and decreased cost of funds due to lower interest rates.

HDFS sold approximately $390 million of a previously announced $600 million securitization during the third quarter. The subsidiary completed the sale of the remaining $210 million securitization in the fourth quarter. HDFS recorded a gain of $17.0 million on the loans sold during the third quarter. This compares with a gain of $13.1 million on a $302 million securitization during the third quarter of 2001.

The Company expects HDFS’ full year 2002 operating income to be approximately 55-60 percent higher than in 2001. The Company expects HDFS’ full year 2003 operating income to be approximately 20 percent higher than 2002 expectations. Over the longer term, the Company expects the HDFS growth rate to be slightly higher than the Company’s motorcycle unit growth rate.

Cash Flow – Nine Month Results
Operations generated cash of more than $734 million during the first nine months of 2002 providing the Company the ability to invest $183 million in capital expenditures, repurchase 1.1 million shares of company stock, pay $30 million in dividends and contribute $50 million to the Company’s pension plans. Even with these investments, the Company’s cash increased by more than $200 million.

Harley-Davidson, Inc. – Nine Month Results
For the nine month period ended September 29, 2002, revenues totaled $3.06 billion, a 22.5 percent increase over the year-ago period. Diluted earnings per share were $1.41, an increase of 35.0 percent.

Through the first nine months of this year, Harley-Davidson® motorcycle revenue was $2.34 billion, a 20.8 percent increase compared with the same period in 2001 and shipments of Harley-Davidson motorcycles were 197,683, a 15.7 percent increase.

For the first nine months of 2002, P&A revenue totaled $499.3 million, a 25.4 percent increase compared with the same period in 2001, while General Merchandise revenue totaled $176.7 million, a 51.8 percent increase.

Through the first nine months of 2002, HDFS operating income was $78.9 million, a 78.0 percent increase over last year.

Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company for the group of companies doing business as Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Buell Motorcycle Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services, Inc. Harley-Davidson Motor Company, the only major U.S.-based motorcycle manufacturer, produces heavyweight motorcycles and offers a complete line of motorcycle parts, accessories, apparel, and general merchandise. Buell Motorcycle Company produces sport and sport-touring motorcycles. Harley-Davidson Financial Services, Inc. provides wholesale and retail financing and insurance programs to Harley-Davidson dealers and customers.

Forward-Looking Statements
The Company intends that certain matters discussed in this release are “forward-looking statements” intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can generally be identified as such because the context of the statement will include words such as the Company “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects” or “estimates” or words of similar meaning. Similarly, statements that describe future plans, objectives, outlooks, targets or goals are also forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated as of the date of this release. Certain of such risks and uncertainties are described below. Shareholders, potential investors, and other readers are urged to consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements and cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this release are only made as of the date of this release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

The Company’s ability to meet the targets and expectations noted depends upon, among other factors, the Company’s ability to (i) continue to realize production efficiencies at its production facilities through the implementation of innovative manufacturing techniques and other means, (ii) successfully implement production capacity increases in its facilities, (iii) successfully introduce new products and services, (iv) avoid unexpected P&A /general merchandise supplier backorders, (v) sell all of the motorcycles it has the capacity to produce, (vi) continue to develop the capacity of its distributor and dealer network, (vii) avoid unexpected changes in the regulatory environment for its products, (viii) successfully adjust to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, (ix) successfully adjust to interest rate fluctuations, and (x) successfully manage changes in the credit quality of HDFS’s loan portfolio.

In addition, the Company could experience delays in the operation of manufacturing facilities as a result of work stoppages, difficulty with suppliers, natural causes or other factors. Risk factors are also disclosed in documents previously filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For tables please click on the following link: http://www.harley-davidson.com/CO/NEW/en/news.asp?bmLocale=en_US

From a press release issued by Daytona International Speedway:

Rapp Looking For Chemistry, Wins During Fall Cycle Scene At Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., (Oct. 17, 2002) — Steve Rapp is not fighting for any championships in the season finales of the Championship Cup Series or the Formula USA National Road Racing Series during this weekend’s Fall Cycle Scene at Daytona International Speedway.

Rapp is using this weekend’s races to get familiar with his new team – Valvoline EMGO Suzuki. The 30-year-old veteran rider of Corona, Calif., recently signed on with owner John Ulrich and Valvoline EMGO Suzuki to compete in the AMA Formula Xtreme and Supersport classes in 2003.

This weekend, Rapp will be competing in several races, including Thursday’s Team Challenge Final. While Rapp naturally wants to win, he’s also looking to ignite some chemistry with his new team.

“We figured the sooner you start the better,” said Rapp, who was fourth in Lockhart-Phillips Unlimited Superbike afternoon practice on Thursday with a timed lap of 1:53.57. “It’s the first weekend together. It’s my first time on Michelin tires.

“I know all the crew guys from being at the races. I get along with them good. I like them all. (Teammate) Chris (Ulrich) and I are good friends. I’m really excited after the really bad season last year. I’m just happy that John has faith in me to ride for a team like his.”

Rapp has been a part of several top-notch rides during his career, including a HMC Racing Ducati effort in U.S. Superbike. He’s delighted that he has found a home with Ulrich and Valvoline EMGO Suzuki.

“It’s totally first class (team),” Rapp said. “I’ve ridden for factory teams before, and this is every bit of that as far as the organization and looks and the way they run it. When they do things, they say they’re going to do them and it gets done. It’s a totally professional team.”

From a press release issued by Team Hammer, Inc.:

Team Hammer, Inc., long known for finding new talent, is establishing a new rider development program aimed at launching qualified riders into professional road racing careers.

One of the team’s most recent success stories is 2000 AMA 750cc Supersport and 2001 AMA Formula Xtreme Champion John Hopkins, now racing in the MotoGP World Championship. With Team Hammer guidance, Hopkins went from racing in the Aprilia Cup to MotoGP in three years.

The team, which has helped a long list of AMA National Champions and FIM World Champions early in their careers, is now looking for a new batch of talented Americans.

The most promising two prospects in the program will earn Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki rides for the 2003 Suzuki Cup Finals and the best rider may be offered a full ride with the team for the 2004 season. All program participants will receive career evaluation and guidance.

Program participants will be required to race Suzuki motorcycles, and must use Valvoline oil and products from other Team Hammer sponsors.

Full details of the program will be announced November 15. Interested riders can request a sign-up kit from Team Hammer, Inc., P.O. Box 183, Wildomar, CA 92595-0183, (909) 245-6414, www.teamhammer.com. Or, click here to complete the sign-up request form.

From a press release issued by Suzuki:

NO SEASIDE JAUNT FOR SUZUKI TEAMSTERS

MotoGP, Round 15, Australian GP, Phillip Island, Victoria – October 20, 2002:

TEAM Telefónica MoviStar Suzuki riders Kenny Roberts and Sete Gibernau go to Australia for the penultimate GP of the 2002 season with serious intent. Phillip Island’s clifftop location overlooking the Bass Strait may make it one of the most picturesque circuits of the year, but the scenery will just be something that flashes past at high speed.

At the front of the riders’ minds will be two other matters. The first, obviously, is to get the best possible result at a fast and rhythmic circuit that irons out machine differences and rewards smooth and creative riding skills – and where Kenny Roberts still holds the lap record.

The second is to continue the fruitful task of gathering data and experimenting with different technical solutions as the 990cc four-stroke prototype Suzuki GSV-R nears the end of its first race-development year.

Results have been improving significantly after the mid-point of the season, but the focus is less on this year than next. Senior factory race-department engineering staff, including the engine’s designer Kunio Arase, have been at the last two races at Motegi in Japan and Sepang in Malaysia, having face-to-face meetings with team engineers and riders as they finalise plans for next year’s Mk2 version, incorporating the fruits of the first year of public development of the all-new concept.

That doesn’t rule out another set of good top-10 or better results at the Australian circuit. The sweeping layout, with high-speed corners running one into the next, a minimum of hard braking, and a downhill straight approached from a set of fast corners, is a favourite with riders as well as fans – and the Suzuki pair are no exception.

The nature of the classic circuit, on an island south of Melbourne, often leads to very close racing, and last year’s last-ever 500cc two-stroke event was a vintage, with nine riders passing the chequered flag within little more than two seconds after jousting for almost the full distance. Gibernau was the last man in the group, after catching up from a poor start. Roberts also finished in the points, but out of touch after getting boxed in at the start, preventing him from repeating his runaway performance the year before.

This year, the Suzuki – youngest of the new-generation Japanese factory four-strokes – promises that the riders will again be able to run with the pack. The design is still undergoing development, against machines with a full 12 months or more of testing.

The smooth rhythm of Phillip Island might tip the balance in favour of Suzuki.


KENNY ROBERTS – A TRACK WHERE YOU CAN FLY
“Phillip Island is one of those tracks where if the bike is working well you can really fly, but little problems can cost you a lot of time. We’ll hope to avoid them, and our approach will be the same as at all these last races – to go there looking to improve the bike and give the engineers as much feedback as we can towards next year’s machine. We’re not just racing for this GP, but also for next year. It’s hard to say if the track will favour us or not.”


SETE GIBERNAU – BE REALISTIC, BUT BE HOPEFUL TOO
“We have to be realistic, the race could be hard. But I had a very good race there last year on the Suzuki, finishing less than three seconds behind the winner. I like the place, and I’m confident I’m capable of good results. This is a development year, and that is our real focus.”


KUNIO ARASE – ENGINE DESIGNER
“I have attended the last two GPs, and now I go back to Japan to continue working on next year’s machine. We’ve learned a lot from working with the riders and the team pit crews, and watching the other bikes, and I already have some good ideas. In fact, we’ve already started drawings for things that will improve the engine braking performance. We have some quite different solutions, but they are still secret for the present. We are confident of a big difference next year.”



RACE DATA
Phillip Island
Circuit Length: 2.764 miles / 4.448m.

Lap Record: 1:32.743 –107.282 mph / 172.654 km/h.
KENNY ROBERTS (Telefónica MoviStar SUZUKI,1999)

2001 Race Winner: Valentino Rossi (Honda)

2001 Race Distance: 27 laps, 74.624 miles / 120.096 km

2001 Race Average: 42:22.383 – 105.667 mph / 170.055 km/h

2001 Fastest Race Lap: 1:32.993 – 106.996mph / 172.194, Max Biaggi (Yamaha)

2001 Pole Position: M Biaggi, 1:31.984

2001 S Gibernau: Ninth, qualified fourth (Telefónica MoviStar SUZUKI)

2001 Kenny Roberts: 15th, qualified 12th (Telefónica MoviStar SUZUKI)

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

An e-mail from Australia, from Desiree Crossman, with John Hopkins:

Subject: G’day from Down Under!

Hello all,

Well, it’s been awhile since I’ve written because we have been traveling, and the line in my motel room doesn’t work so I’ve been running around trying to find a line to connect to. We arrived in Melbourne on Tuesday morning. From the airport, it was a two-hour ride to the Island. But we stopped to get something to eat at a small cafe in the country before getting to the Island. But we are here.

The area that we are in is nothing but country. It’s quite nice and it looks alot like the midwest with farms, cows, horses, etc….though they don’t speak with a western drawl. Melbourne looks alot like America and it’s nice to go to a country where they speak fluent English. In Malaysia, English is a second language there but here it’s a bit better. When we stopped in Singapore for our connection, they, too, speak English. BUT, they speak sssoooooooo fast that it would totally pass you that they are speaking English. They are probably the fastest English speakers I have ever encountered.

Anyway, back to Australia. Yes, we are out in the sticks here but more like country. The island is really nice, the little town is a small racing town where everything evolves around bikes. It’s pretty neat, they also have surf shops, cafes…it’s your average small town and around it are huge pastures and farms. The island isn’t very big, but big enough to hold a Grand Prix.

The weather, here, however is freezing cold! It is so cold, it’s a complete change from Malaysia. John loves it, he say the tires might actually work in this type of weather.(Let’s hope so). We also saw little joeys(kangaroos), they are the cutest things. There is a small petting type farm that is a home to the joeys and they are so tiny. John is doing a Dorna trip to go pet them, I envy him.

Righto, I have to go now but wanted to let you know that we are down under and it’s pretty cool. Hope all is well. The Bali tragedy is hitting here pretty badly. Sete Gibernau and his sister were supposed to go there for a small holiday before heading to Aussie Land on Sunday evening but luckily they didn’t go. It’s really sad, it’s their 9/11. Hopefully the GP will help get their minds off of it.

Des

From a press release:

Gearbox International, importer of Suomy helmets, is now accepting resumes for the 2003 road racing season. Please submit resumes via e-mail to Donny
Schmidt at [email protected] or snail mail at:

Gearbox International
950 Gilman St. #800
Berkeley, CA 94710

Deadline December 31, 2002

From a press release issued by Honda:

HONDA RACING INFORMATION

2002 MotoGP World Championship, round 15
Australian Grand Prix, Phillip Island
October 18/19/20

HONDA RIDERS READY THEMSELVES FOR THE PENULTIMATE CHALLENGE

The strain and adrenaline surge of three flyaway MotoGP races, held over three consecutive weekends, culminates at the wondrously sculpted Phillip Island circuit in Australia this weekend; one of the most popular races on the 16-round MotoGP calendar. For riders, teams and support staff alike, Phillip Island will nonetheless be reached with a sense of relief that the taxing trio of Pan Asian races are about to be completed. Motegi in Japan was the first halt on the whistle-stop tour, then the steamy haze of Malaysian circuit Sepang, and now the southbound circus descends on the environs of Australia’s second city, Melbourne, on 18/19/20 October.

Phillip Island, located two hours drive from the city, on the Southern tip of the state of Victoria, has been a MotoGP circuit for many years, alternating with the Eastern Creek track near Sydney on occasion, although ‘The Island’ is now a virtually permanent fixture on the GP campaign trail.

The generally grippy 4.445 Km circuit features every type of corner and undulation imaginable and is unsurpassed as a test of rider racecraft and machine-set-up, with suspension and chassis solutions having to be matched to the heavy braking loads, slow hairpins and flat out cornering forces generated by the track’s unique topography. Picturesque and welcoming, the ocean-side track can nonetheless feature extremes of weather, although all expectations are for a much cooler event than the previous Japanese and Malaysian races.

Valentino Rossi (Repsol Honda Team RC211V) has scored no fewer than 10 race wins out of the 14 events thus far, winning the title in Brazil with four races to go. Until that point only two riders had overcome the surge of the Tavullia rider, the last man to win a 500cc Championship and now the first rider to secure the title in the new 990cc four-stroke era.

Since his Rio rampage Rossi has yet to win another race, having to settle for second at the last race in Sepang and being put to the samurai sword in Japan by Honda’s latest four-stroke ‘rookie’, the veteran premier class competitor Alex Barros (West Honda Pons RC211V).

Suffering from the wrath of two new factors which were avoided in the early season – a clutch of previously undiscovered set-up problems and simply more and more competitive riders mounted on the 990cc four-strokes Rossi acknowledges that he has some serious work to do to follow up on his 2001 Phillip Island race win. Nonetheless his enthusiasm for the Victorian circuit is clear in his pre-race comments.

“For sure I look forward to racing in Australia. I love the circuit and have some great memories from Phillip Island,” he stated after the race at Sepang. “We did test there before the season, but we tested at Sepang before the season and that didn’t seem to give us any advantage! We’ve had some problems with the bike’s set-up over the last few races. It is moving a lot on the brakes, much more than at the beginning of the season. We need to look at what we have changed and maybe go back to some of the older settings. We sometimes get new parts but I am not so sure we are going in the right direction sometimes. The competition at the front is strong now. We need to improve for the last two races of the season.”

Tohru Ukawa (Repsol Honda Team RC211V) battled hard in the last few races, also experiencing some previously unknown set-up problems on his officially entered V-5, although it all came together nicely in Sepang.

“I like the circuit at Phillip Island and am looking forward to the race,” said Ukawa. “At the moment I have a good feeling from the machine. The team worked really hard in Sepang and we managed to get good power, good drive from the engine and a good feeling from the suspension, which allowed the tyres to work well in difficult conditions. I nearly crashed several times in the race but that was because the battle was so fierce! Let’s hope we can find the optimum set-up for Phillip Island so I can keep the pressure up for the rest of the season. We have two races left and 50 points to fight for and I am now only seven points behind Biaggi, who is second in the championship. Second position is my target!”

For the aforementioned Barros, his season has been transformed since his first exposure to the awesome RC211V four-stroke at Motegi, a race he won. Setting pole at Sepang, Barros led the race for some time, before tangling with the world champion, eventually settling for third place.

“We have taken two podium finishes, one of them a win, since we received the four-stroke, so we have been successful from the start,” said Barros in the run-up to Phillip Island. “I am glad to have been given this opportunity and I hope to continue our good form through Phillip Island and take another win or two in the last two races. The bike is easier to work on than the two-stroke as well and that helps a lot.”

Loris Capirossi (West Honda Pons NSR500), Barros’ team-mate has been battling hard on the two-stroke NSR, and qualified an outstanding fourth at Sepang. As he himself predicted, it was to be a different story in the race, with the increasing numbers of four-stroke competitors swamping the former 125 and 250 World Champion on Sepang’s two long straights, pushing him to ninth. Phillip Island is a very different circuit to Sepang, and maybe there Capirossi will experience less of a disadvantage than of late.

“I think Sepang is the worst possible track for two-strokes, but still we finished top in the race-within-a-race,” said the Italian rider. “I hope to not only do that again but finish higher up the order at Phillip Island. Our task is not getting any easier with so many four-strokes coming onto the grids – and there will be another one at Phillip Island as well.”

Daijiro Kato (Fortuna Honda Gresini RC211V) was one of the riders blessed with four-stroke power mid-season, and despite some great rides the reigning 250 Champion has yet to score a race win in his rookie year of premier level competition. He was particularly disappointed to have a no-score at Motegi and a fifth at Sepang.

“Now I have to think about Phillip Island and find a victory, this fifth place is not my maximum performance,” said the lone Fortuna rider.

Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Kanemoto Racing Honda NSR500), will be joined by wild card rider Shinichi Itoh (Kanemoto Racing Honda NSR500) at Phillip Island, each continuing development of Bridgestone’s MotoGP tyre programme. As van den Goorbergh himself stated at Sepang, the main factor holding back his set-up and race performances is the sheer workload at races.

“Our main problem is that when we arrive at the track we have to spend a lot of time sorting through many tyres, to find out which combination is going to perform best,” affirmed van den Goorbergh. “This costs us a lot of time.”

Tetsuya Harada (Pramac Honda NSR500) has found his return to the premier category particularly tough, as he helps to develop Dunlop’s MotoGP product on a somewhat outgunned two-stroke. He looks to Phillip Island to improve on his season best of tenth place, searching for race-long longevity of grip at each race.

Robby Rolfo (Fortuna Honda Gresini NSR250) scored a battling third place at Sepang, to maintain his third place in the 250cc championship, and will be looking for at least another podium at Phillip Island.

“Set-up will be crucial at Phillip Island, and if we get the right setting I hope to take at least a podium, especially after scoring third at Sepang, a track on which we lost out on acceleration somewhat. I really want to win a race and we will, as always, try our best to get it.”

Rolfo’s team-mate Emilio Alzamora (Fortuna Honda Gresini NSR250), out for a race mid-season as he recovered from an arm operation, sits eighth in the championship but has been rallying his colours in the last race or two.

“At the end of the Sepang race I was running the same pace as the leaders, so with good work in qualifying I will be trying to keep that pace throughout the race.”

Three Honda wildcards will join the Phillip Island tempest of 250cc talent, and they are Peter Taplin (EMS Racing Honda RS250R), Mark Stanley (Stu Avant – MSR Elf Honda RS250) and Brendan Clarke (Team Armstrong Honda RS250) Daniel Pedrosa (Telefonica Movistar Jr Team Honda RS125R), cruelly robbed of second place after a shortening of the race distance in the 125ccc Sepang race, will be going for a win and nothing less at Phillip Island. He injured his back and feet in a big pre-race accident at Sepang but still challenged for the lead throughout.

“I think my back and feet injuries will be a lot better by the time Phillip Island comes around. I was pleased to run at race pace at Sepang and I will be trying to win in Australia.”

In addition to Pedrosa’s team-mate Joan Olive, and the other Honda 125 regulars, there are a gaggle of local Honda wild cards in the Island mix. Peter Holmes (Holmes Earth Moving Honda RS125R), Tim Inkster (CMSA Protectaprint Honda RS125R), Jeremy Crowe (Ruffnuts Honda RS125R) and Sepang entry Joshua Waters (Waters Racing Honda RS125R) make up the short handful of local hopefuls. The final race in the inaugural MotoGP season takes place at the compact and bijou circuit of Valencia on November 3, two weekends after the Phillip Island race.

From a press release issued by Pirelli:

Yes, Pirelli’s For Real

PIRELLI AIMS FOR FORMULA-USA CHAMPIONSHIP SWEEP AFTER WINNING WORLD SUPERSPORT CHAMPIONSHIP

(Rome, GA) This weekend in Daytona, it’s for all the marbles. And Pirelli and its DOT Supercorsa radial – could walk away with the lion’s share of the five major 2002 Formula-USA National Road Race Series championships. This, fresh on the heels of the Supercorsa’s first World Supersport championship, thanks to the factory Honda Ten Kate race team and Fabian Foret.

(No, we’re not making up the following statistics): Coming into this weekend’s F-USA Daytona final, Pirelli and the DOT Supercorsa hold both first and second places (Craig Connell and Michael Barnes, respectively), and seven of the top ten points positions in Unlimited Superbike. Pirellis have won 10 of the 14 Unlimited Superbike races thus far in 2002. At the last round in Portland, 15 of the 18 bikes were on Pirelli in Race One, 14 of the 17 in Race Two including sweeps of both race podiums. As if that weren’t enough, in the first race, Pirelli and Michael Barnes broke both the PIR class and outright track records!

In the Pro Sportbike Series, a giant hole would have to open in the earth and selectively swallow the top five points leaders before Pirelli could miss a chance at claiming the championship. Connell, Larry Pegram, Barnes, Lee Acree, and Matt Wait are the five. Supercorsas have won five of the seven ’02 Sportbike finals, and were on 16 of the top 20 at Portland, including another podium sweep and another Michael Barnes class track record.

Pirellis are on eight of the top nine in the Buell Lightning championship chase, including the first two places. They’ve won all seven 2002 series races thus far, and took the top five spots and seven of the first eight at Portland. Oh, and what’s-his-name and his Pirellis blasted this class track record, too, on his way to the win; Dave Estok was second. “Barnie” leads the championship, with Clint Brotz second.

In Thunderbike, Pirelli has won two of the six finals; Jeff Johnson leads the championship on Supercorsas. While in Unlimited Grand Prix, five of the seven finals have gone to Pirelli. As for the company’s championship chances in GP, Geoff May and Mike Himmelsbach – number one and number two lead six of the top 10 riding on Pirelli.

And in answer to the question you haven’t asked: Yes, Pirelli and its Supercorsa radial are for real. And the results are proving it.