Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Four-time 250cc World Champion Max Biaggi and sponsor Pramac have reached an agreement to join the Honda Pons team for 2003.

Pramac owner Paolo Campinotti is quoted on the Honda Pons website as saying, “We are very pleased to have reached an agreement with Honda Pons so that our rider may compete in the 2003 Championship. Our goal is to compete at the highest level possible and we feel that the combination of Max with Pramac and Honda Pons is a winning formula that will be a real contender for the World Championship. Pramac always strives to be the best in its field and we are looking forward to achieving further successes from our partnership with Max and with Honda Pons.”

Honda Pons team owner, two-time 250cc World Champion Sito Pons is also quoted on his team’s website as saying, “Max is a fantastic rider, a born winner, and we are convinced that in the right team with the right bike he will be World Champion. Max certainly has the skill and attitude to be World Number 1 and our job now is to give him the best equipment and support to achieve this goal. We know that there is a lot of work to do, but everyone in the team is relishing the challenge. Max joining the team is a real cause for excitement for us and everyone is looking forward to seeing him on the RC211V in the first preseason testing sessions. I am very pleased to have reached an agreement with Paolo Campinoti and Max so that we can compete together in 2003. Next season’s championship promises to be a thrilling affair and no one should bet against Max taking Valentino’s crown.”

Honda Pons lost its West tobacco company sponsorship and its 2002 riders, Loris Capirossi signing with Ducati and Alex Barros signing with the Gauloises Yamaha Tech 3 squad.

Biaggi, 31, signed a three-year agreement with Italian engineering firm Pramac earlier this season, but the pairing did not have a team entry for the 2003 MotoGP season.

The agreement between Biaggi/Pramac and Honda Pons is for 2003 only. The announcement on the Honda Pons website goes on to name Antonio Cobas as the team’s Technical Director, Santi Mulero as Biaggi’s Chief Mechanic and states that a second rider will be announced in the next few days. Some reports from Europe indicate that Tohru Ukawa will likely be the second Honda Pons rider.

From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

DUCATI CORSE PRESS INFORMATION
Valencia (Spain)
Thursday 7 November 2002

SECOND AND FINAL DAY OF DUCATI CORSE TESTING DISTURBED BY STRONG WINDS – CAPIROSSI, BAYLISS AND GUARESCHI CONTINUE DUCATI DESMOSEDICI DEVELOPMENT WORK, TOGETHER WITH XAUS ON THE 999 SUPERBIKE

Ducati Corse wrapped up a two-day testing session at the Valencia circuit in Spain today. The team’s two MotoGP riders were present: Troy Bayliss and Loris Capirossi, who was given the OK to test by his current team manager Sito Pons and who stepped onto his next year’s challenger for the second time today. Test rider Vittoriano Guareschi was also on hand to complete development work.

Strong winds and desert sand disturbed today’s session, making the track dirty and thwarting any attempt to improve on yesterday’s times.

Capirossi and Bayliss continued to get to grips with their new bikes, accumulating useful data for the development of the Desmosedici. In his 57 laps, Loris mainly worked on chassis and suspension settings and was pleased with the fact that the bike responded positively to the various changes. Troy completed 71 laps, concentrating mainly on bike set-up.

Guareschi also notched up the miles in his 71 laps, which included a successful 30-lap long-run.

Ruben Xaus, Ducati Corse factory rider for the 2003 World Superbike Championship, lapped without any problems today, and the Spanish rider tried out numerous different Michelin front tyres during his 77 laps.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Daijiro Kato, 25, was named the 2002 MotoGP Rookie of the Year today by Dorna Sports. Kato rode for the Fortuna-sponsored Gresini Honda team spending the first portion of the 2002 season on a NSR500 two-stroke and ending the season on a RC211V four-stroke. Kato finished on the MotoGP podium twice in 2002, second both times, once on the NSR500 in Jerez and once on the RC211V at Brno. Kato also earned one pole position at Motegi Twin-ring and had one fastest race lap at Brno. Kato finished seventh in the final MotoGP World Championship standings with 117 points.

Kato made his first Grand Prix appearance as a wild card at Suzuka in 1996 and finished third in that race. Kato returned to win the 1997 and 1998 Suzuka 250cc Grand Prix races as a wild card before getting his first full-time FIM 250cc GP ride in 2000. Kato won four races in 2000 and finished a close third in the Championship behind Olivier Jacque and Shinya Nakano and ahead of Tohru Ukawa. Kato dominated the 2001 250cc Grand Prix World Championship by taking a record number of wins (11) and record number of points (322) for a single season.

From a press release issued by Willow Springs Motorcycle Club:

All-time Top 30 Cash Award Winners With WSMC

(from December 1991 through October 1, 2002, figures do not include manufacturer contingency awards)

1. Chuck Graves, $95,025.00
2. Curtis Adams, $39,435.00
3. Jeremy Toye, $27,750.00
4. Vincent Haskovec, $22,565.00
5. Bryan Kovarick, $17,660.00
6. Paul Harrell, $14,015.00
7. Bryce Gross, $13,905.00
8. Frank Aragaki, $13,077.50
9. Dean Vincent, $12,572.50
10. Clinton Whitehouse, III, $12,520.00
11. Michael Montoya, $11,335.00
12. Lance Holst, $10,570.00
13. Stephen Hewitt, $10,025.00
14. Ken Chase, $9310.00
15. John Hilton, $9160.00
16. Vicky Jackson-Bell, $8640.00
17. Tokey Beck, $8565.00
18. Paul Mumford, $8550.00
19. Andy Milton, $8545.00
20. Jeff Stern, $8540.00
21. Richard Headley, $8445.00
22. Peter Christensen, $8245.00
23. Jack Pfeifer, $8160.00
24. Robert Miller, $7985.00
25. Bruce Tebo, $7570.00
26. Willie Burr, $7380.00
27. John Hopkins, $7135.00
28. Kent Kunitsugu, $6740.00
29. Lucio Nicolodi, $6570.00
30. Steve Teschke, $6415.00

WSMC has paid out over $733,500.00 in cash awards to our racers since December 1991.

From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

DUCATI CORSE PRESS INFORMATION
Valencia (Spain)
Wednesday 6 November 2002

CAPIROSSI MAKES DUCATI DESMOSEDICI DEBUT AT VALENCIA TOGETHER WITH BAYLISS AND GUARESCHI – XAUS GETS 999 SUPERBIKE TESTING PROGRAMME UNDERWAY

Ducati Corse’s MotoGP programme switched into top gear today as Loris Capirossi rode the Ducati Desmosedici prototype for the first time at the Valencia Circuit in Spain. Capirossi was testing together with his future team-mate Troy Bayliss, who has already ridden the Desmosedici twice at Mugello and Valencia last month and Vittoriano Guareschi, factory test-rider for the MotoGP programme.

Loris Capirossi, a Honda Pons-contracted rider until the end of the year, has received special dispensation from his Spanish team manager to take part in the scheduled tests from now until the end of the year. Ducati Corse will respect Loris’s current contract and as a result his bike will run without any sponsor logos and with white fairings in these and forthcoming tests.

The 29-year-old Italian, who is riding a four-stroke bike for the first time in his lengthy racing career, completed 56 laps of the 4.005 km circuit and soon got used to the different engine-braking and acceleration characteristics of the Ducati Desmosedici. He mainly concentrated on front-end set-up and his best time was 1:35.8.

Three days after making a ‘demo’ lap of Valencia in front of 120,000 spectators before the final round of the 2002 season on Sunday, Troy Bayliss continued his learning curve on Ducati’s new MotoGP challenger. Today Troy completed 59 laps, focussing on comparative tests between the 16.5″ front tyre, which he has always used on the 998 Superbike, and the 17″ one, currently used by all riders in MotoGP. The Australian’s best time was 1:35.4.

Ducati Corse Race Technical Director Corrado Cecchinelli commented: “We are really pleased with how things went today and in particular the way Troy and Loris worked together. Throughout the day, Troy, who has a lot of experience with four-stroke machines, and Loris, who has been around in 500 and MotoGP for a long time, exchanged a series of information which will be useful for Ducati Corse in the future development of our Desmosedici prototype”

Today also saw intense activity for the Spanish rider Ruben Xaus, who began his testing programme with the Ducati 999 Superbike with which he will tackle next year’s World Superbike Championship.

Ruben, who was recently confirmed as factory Ducati Corse 2003 Superbike rider for the 2003 championship, stepped onto the 999 Superbike for the second time after a brief test session in September and completed 66 laps, continuing set-up work on the brand-new twin-cylinder bike from the Borgo Panigale factory. Ruben’s best time today was 1:36.0″.

Tomorrow will see the second and final day of Ducati Corse testing at Valencia.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The owners of MotorSport Ranch in Cresson, Texas plan to expand the facility and extend the 1.7-mile road course by another 1.5 miles, with the project expected to be completed in 2003.

“The preliminary dirt work is done,” said General Manager Kurt Routson. “We’re scheduled to start paving in Spring 2003 and be ready for an early Summer completion. The new section is very tight and twisty with very steep grades.”

The new extension will allow the track to run as one, combined 3.2-mile course or as two separate, shorter pieces of the course.

The two separate courses will also allow more track time for members of the MotorSport Ranch club, who currently have to alternate regularly-scheduled open practice sessions between open-wheel cars, sports cars and motorcycles. With the opening of the new extension, cars will be able to run one short course while bikes run the other short course.

Additional plans call for the expansion of the hot pit area and paddock, as well as the building of additional on-site storage units/garages.

The MotorSport Ranch currently has approximately 150 on-site storage units/garages with air, water and power. The facility also features a 20,000-square-foot clubhouse with meeting space, locker rooms and showers; a skid pad; a covered pre-grid area capable of accomodating 20 cars; a race control tower; and an industrial park housing several motorsports-related businesses, including the Annandale Honda Racing team.

Aside from its member activities, MotorSport Ranch hosts CMRA/CCS regional motorcycle races and popular motorcycle riding schools.

For more information about MotorSport Ranch, call 817-512-3162, FAX 817-512-3175 or go to www.motorsportranch.com.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

This just in from Dave Rosno:

AHRMA Road Race Director Jack Turner received a Priority Letter from AHRMA giving him 30 days notice that his contract will not be renewed.

Jack Turner stated in an e-mail to me:

“Since no one had expressed any problem with my performance previous to this, and none was expressed in this letter either, I was quite surprised. But, all things must come to an end,
and I guess this is mine with AHRMA. I wanted to make sure my circle of friends was informed by me before reading something somewhere.

“I’ll see you around the track.”

From SPEED:

2:00 p.m. FIM World Supersport, Imola, Italy
3:00 p.m. FIM 125cc GP, Sepang, Malaysia

7:00 p.m. Bike Week
7:30 p.m. Motorcyclist
8:00 p.m. FIM 250cc GP, Valencia, Spain
9:00 p.m. FIM MotoGP, Valencia, Spain
10:00 p.m. FIM 125cc GP, Phillip Island, Australia
11:00 p.m. Corbin’s Ride On
11:30 p.m. American Thunder
12:00 a.m. Bike Week
12:30 a.m. Motorcyclist
1:00 a.m. FIM 250cc GP, Valencia, Spain
2:00 a.m. FIM MotoGP, Valencia, Spain
3:00 a.m. FIM 125cc GP, Phillip Island Australia

All times are Eastern.

From a press release issued by Honda:

New Men at Honda Begin 2003 Preparations at Valencia Today

The inaugural MotoGP season drew to a close on Sunday at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit, at Valencia, the fourth race over an arduous five-week period for the teams and riders. For two of the world’s top premier class riders, however, the 2003 season began today, at the same venue.

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Italian Max Biaggi, runner-up in the MotoGP series and Spaniard Sete Gibernau tested RC211V Hondas at the 4.005km circuit. Both riders return to Honda equipped teams for next season’s 16 round series and will race the latest versions of the five-cylinder, 990cc four-stroke that they tested today.

The two men spent the day acquainting themselves with the characteristics of the machine that won 14 of the 16 races in the 2002 MotoGP World Championship.

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At the end of what was just a shake down test for the riders, before the serious winter testing action begins, both men were pleased with what the day had revealed for them.

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Max Biaggi: “Today was just my first taste of a new machine. It is a little bit different, but I am pleased with the decision I have taken. We tested the measurements of the bike, such as the handlebars, footpegs and levers, to see how I fit onto it. I was simply trying to understand the character of the machine on this track, and because we have just raced here it was comfortable for me. It will take time to get experience on this bike, everything is very new to me, and I will have to get used to its different sensations.”

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Sete Gibernau: “It’s been really exciting, just jumping on this bike you can tell that it has been winning, and it is definitely a bike that works well in many different areas. It is a very well balanced machine, and as a rider I am satisfied, and I feel confident for next year. With Telefonica MoviStar I believe we have chosen the best team and the best bike, and whilst we still have to get the motorcycle to suit me and my riding style, I feel that with a lot of hard work over the winter, we can be very competitive.”

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This season Italian Valentino Rossi won 11 races aboard his RC211V on the way to a stunning MotoGP title win. Rossi’s Repsol Honda team-mate, Japanese rider Tohru Ukawa, won one race on his RCV, eventually finishing third in the series. Brazilian Alex Barros scored two memorable victories aboard his West liveried RC211V, including last Sunday’s 30-lap Grand Prix of Valencia.

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Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

This just in from John Anderson:

Mid-Atlantic CCS racer Mark Johnson and multi-time Mid-Atlantic CCS Regional Champion Samantha Cotter got engaged this past Saturday evening in front of a large group of Mid-Atlantic racers.

Mark is a former Regional Amateur Champion and currently rides a Honda RS250. Samantha has been GP Singles Champion 3 years running on her Honda RS125. The couple is always at or near the top of the lightweight categories.

Under the guise of Samantha’s 30th birthday, the group assembled to celebrate and for some bench-racing when Mark stole the show and proposed.

Congratulations Mark and Samantha from the whole WCW posse!