From a press release issued by the AMA:

AMA Applauds Efforts to Extend Emissions Comment Deadline

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) praised three Illinois congressmen for asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to extend the comment deadline on the agency’s proposed emissions standards for
road-going motorcycles.

In a letter to the EPA, Republican Congressmen Timothy Johnson, Donald Manzullo and John Shimkus asked that the comment deadline of Nov. 8 be extended to Jan. 8, 2003.

“The cost-effectiveness and safety issues regarding this proposed rule are the primary, though certainly not the sole, areas of concern raised by small business owners, motorcycle riders, and other stakeholders in our districts,” the congressmen wrote. “The seriousness of these concerns warrants additional time to review and comment on the proposed regulations.

“Three months is simply insufficient time for affected parties to thoroughly examine — and EPA to properly address — the impact it will have on our constituents,” the letter said.

Edward Moreland, AMA vice president for government relations, noted that the AMA has been involved in the rule-making process from the beginning, including testifying before EPA officials on Sept. 17.

“EPA officials have been receptive to the suggestions of riders during this long
rule-making process, which began nearly two years ago,” Moreland said, “and we sincerely hope that the EPA will continue its course of considering the needs of riders by granting this comment deadline extension.”

The EPA is about to implement revised national emissions standards for new road motorcycles that would require those bikes to meet strict emissions standards beginning with 2006 models. The federal standards would be the same as those adopted by the state of California, but would go into effect two years after California’s standards.

The first tier of the new national standards would go into effect in 2006 and the second tier would be in place for 2010.

The new national emissions standards are expected to result in an increased use of fuel injection and catalytic converters on new motorcycles. Some motorcycles sold in the United States already meet California’s strict 2008 standards, which is the same as the planned federal EPA 2010 standard.

The new California standard that begins with the 2004 model year, and the planned federal standard that would take effect for the 2006 model year, require new motorcycles to emit no more than 1.4 grams per kilometer traveled of hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides and 12 grams per kilometer of carbon monoxide.

The current federal emissions standards for street motorcycles are 5.0 grams of hydrocarbons and 12 grams of carbon monoxide per kilometer traveled.

The EPA is accepting written comments on its proposed street motorcycle emissions rules until Nov. 8. You can e-mail comments to [email protected], or go to the Rapid Response Center at the AMA website at www.AMADirectlink.com to send comments. You can see the proposed rules in the “Protecting Your Right to Ride” part of the website.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

1. Toni Elias, Aprilia, 2:09.258
2. Marco Melandri, Aprilia, 2:09.608
3. Sebastian Porto, 2:09.928
4. Fonsi Nieto, Aprilia, 2:10.067
5. Roberto Rolfo, Honda, 2:10.471
6. Emilio Alzamora, Honda, 2:10.560
7. Randy de Puniet, Aprilia, 2:10.688
8. Franco Battaini, Aprilia, 2:10.695
9. Roberto Locatelli, Aprilia, 2:10.822
10. Shahrol Yuzy, Yamaha, 2:11.095


From a press release issued by MS APrilia:

Second time, first provisional row for Marco Melandri in the first day of qualifying sessions at Sepang.

The rain that briefly dampened the MotoGP sessions came down hard at the start of the 250 qualifying. Much of the session thus took place on a wet track with humidity sky high. Marco Melandri opened up fully only at the very end of the session and, moments before the flag came down he made a terrific lap, which moved him up from 11th to 2nd provisional place. Three Aprilias on the front row: Elias (Aprilia) takes pole, followed by Marco Melandri, Porto (Yamaha) and Nieto (Aprilia).

# 3 Marco Melandri – (MS APRILIA RACING) – 2nd – 2’09.608

“A tough session, with a wet track almost to the very end. The track was dry enough and in a good state for the fast lap only in the last five minutes. Perhaps I waited a bit too long before switching over to dry tyres. I’m very pleased with the way the bike’s going and we’re just about ready for the race. We’ll make a few tweaks to the geometry of my Aprilia and to the suspension, and then we’ll test the tyres. The few laps in the dry didn’t give us all the references we needed to make a definitive choice and we’ll do all the duration testing we need tomorrow. On Sunday, I’ll be racing for the championship. I’m calm, all the team’s calm and I don’t feel I’m under pressure. I’m just going to make sure I don’t run any risks and try to make a dream come true.”

From a press release issued by Kawasaki:

ERIC BOSTROM “CRUISES FOR KIDS”
Kawasaki lends support to charitable event

Irvine, Calif. – Kawasaki Road Racing’s Eric Bostrom will switch from his NINJA ZX-7R-based Superbike to a Kawasaki VulcanÒ cruiser this weekend to participate in the fourth annual Cruise 4 Kids. The event gets underway Sunday, October 20, from three separate staging areas located in Orange and Los Angeles Counties and ends with a post-ride party at CBS Studio Center in Studio City. All proceeds benefit the Olive Crest Abused Children’s Foundation. Bostrom will join Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, Orange County Sheriff Michael Corona and motion picture and television actor Perry King and well-known auto racing legend Dan Gurney at the charity function.

After the ride, Bostrom will be stationed at the Kawasaki Road Racing semi in the streets of CBS Studio Center signing autographs and mixing with the crowd. Bostrom has also donated his racing leathers as one of many prizes scheduled to be given away at the post-ride party. Other Cruise 4 Kids activities include a street rod show, food, a special effects show, CBS studio tours, and live entertainment by 2000 Lbs. Of Blues, The Soul Dogs with David Carradine and Sticky Fingers, a Rolling Stones cover band.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

1. Daniel Pedrosa, Honda, 2:14.275
2. Manuel Poggiali, Gilera, 2:14.508
3. Arnaud Vincent, Aprilia, 2:14.803
4. Steve Jenkner, Aprilia, 2:14.992
5. Pablo Nieto, Aprilia, 2:15.471
6. Klaus Nohles, Honda, 2:15.634
7. Youichi Ui, Derbi, 2:15.721
8. Lucio Cecchinello, Aprilia, 2:15.967
9. Stefano Bianco, Aprilia, 2:15.970
10. Andrea Ballerini, Aprilia, 2:15.987

From a press release issued by Honda Motor Sports:

2002 MotoGP World Championship, round 14
Malaysian Grand Prix, Sepang
October 11/12/13

COMPETITON FOR WINS HEATS UP AT SEPANG

The second phase of a whistle-stop Far East MotoGP tour, held over three consecutive weekends in Japan, Malaysia and Australia, takes place this Sunday, 13 October, at Sepang, one of the most modern circuits in the world.

Located a short drive from the busy Kuala Lumpur International Airport the 5.448km circuit, back on the MotoGP calendar for the fourth consecutive year, hosts the steamiest, most stamina-sapping MotoGP event imaginable. The year-round high temperatures and punishing humidity are the biggest obstacles the riders have to overcome, before thoughts of winning are even considered.

Round 14 of this year’s 16-race campaign may have no significance in terms of deciding the overall champion, with Valentino Rossi (Repsol Honda Team RC211V) having been crowned Lord of the new four-stoke MotoGP world at Brazil last month, but the ever-increasing numbers of dominant V-5 Hondas make the outcome of individual races more unpredictable than ever.

Rossi’s championship-securing win at Rio was his 10th victory of a remarkable season, having only been beaten on two prior occasions up to that point and then latterly at the most recent round at Motegi.

Rossi himself has publicly acknowledged that the championship will only get harder with an increasing number of 990cc four-strokes filling the grid from now until the last race of the season in early November.

“Other manufacturers are also increasing their four-stroke interest in the series and this has made the job of winning races much more difficult,” said the four-times World Champion.

Rossi’s premier class record at Sepang is made up of two extreme experiences, a no-score in his rookie season of 2000, and a win (during which he set the current lap record pace of 2m 06.618s) last year. Another win at Sepang on Sunday would give him 50 career victories in all classes.

“We had some problems at Motegi but I hope we can have a clear run at Sepang. I know what it’s like to win there and I want to repeat the performance on the four-stroke.”

Honda’s policy of steadily increasing the number of four-stoke riders as the season progresses has seen Daijiro Kato (Fortuna Honda Gresini RC211V) and most recently Alex Barros (West Honda Pons RC211V) take control of their own awesome RC211Vs, replacing their existing two-stroke machinery. Reigning 250cc champion Kato was immediately competitive but Barros outdid even his excellence with a debut ride win at the most recent round in Motegi.

Barros’ fifth career victory perfectly illustrates the prowess of the latest Honda four-stroke racing ideal made metal – all despite never having ridden it before the start of the first training session in Japan.

Said Barros after his victorious entry into the four-stroke MotoGP club; “I was surprised how fast the RC211V was right from the start at Motegi, and it proved enough to let me take a win at the first attempt. That makes me feel very confident for the rest of the season and I would love to repeat my victory in one of the next races.”

Finishing fourth last weekend, Tohru Ukawa (Repsol Honda Team RC211V) gave of his all on home ground as usual, reaffirming his long-term status of second in the championship. The highest-placed Japanese rider is looking to continue his resurgence in the overall points classification at Sepang.

“Motegi was good for me because I regained the second place I had enjoyed through most of the year,” said Ukawa. “I hope to make it more secure at Sepang – and to challenge for the win itself.”

With a quartet of four-stroke powered MotoGP races under his belt, and despite some impressive race and practice performances on the RCV, the diminutive Daijiro Kato has yet to win a race; a fact that made him particularly regretful about scoring a DNF at Motegi.

“I was very disappointed about that, especially as I had taken pole position. I hope to do better than that in Malaysia because I really want to win there on this bike, like I did on the 250 in 2001.”

A truly awe-inspiring demonstration of sustained riding skill and boundless determination from Barros’ team-mate Loris Capirossi (West Honda Pons NSR500) gave him not only top two-stroke rider status at Motegi, but a somewhat unexpected podium finish, in a season during which the four-strokes have won every race.

“I think third position was the most I could have hoped for from a bike with these characteristics,” said Capirossi, “and we will have to see how the two-strokes perform in relation to the four-strokes at Sepang. I think it will be very difficult there as well.”

Tetsuya Harada (Pramac Honda NSR500) has worked hard for little tangible reward on his return to the premier class of racing, with the diminutive Japanese struggling against the rising tsunami of powerful four-strokes flooding the grids.

Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Kanemoto Racing Honda NSR500) takes heart from turning a dismal Motegi qualifying into a battling 13th place. “We made some radical set-up changes before the very start of the Motegi race and it allowed me to compete in the race itself,” quoted the experienced Dutchman. “I hope we can improve on this finish at Sepang but with such long straights and lots of hard acceleration out of the slower corners I think it will be hard for the two-strokes.”

Robby Rolfo (Fortuna Honda Gresini NSR250) lies third in his championship standings in the run up to Sepang, having scored sixth at Motegi. “The long straights may be a problem for us, but we will be going all out to score our first win of the season before the end at Valencia.”

Rolfo’s team-mate Emilio Alzamora (Fortuna Honda Gresini NSR250) was in strong contention for a win at Motegi in the early stages of the race, and despite falling back to finish fifth hopes Sepang will reward him with at least his second podium of the year. “With a good bike set-up, and two strong qualifying sessions at Sepang, we should be in a good position for the race.”

Daniel Pedrosa (Telefonica Movistar Jr Team Honda RS125R) enjoyed a brilliant and unchallenged win at Motegi, putting him closer to the championship lead and in determined mood before Malaysia. “I think I must win at Sepang and all the rest of the races if I am to stay in contention for the title, but I will be taking it one race at a time.”

The MotoGP season continues with the last of the consecutive flyaway rounds outside Europe taking place at Phillip Island, Australia, on 18/19/20 October. The championship year ends back in Europe at Valencia on November 3.

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

AMA PRO RACING ANNOUNCES TENTATIVE 2003 AMA CHEVY TRUCKS U.S. SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — AMA Pro Racing announced today a tentative schedule for the 2003 AMA Chevy Truck U.S. Superbike Championship. “We’ve got the majority of the schedule firmly in place for 2003 and are making good progress each week on the few events that are still listed as tentative,” said Scott Hollingsworth, CEO of AMA Pro Racing. “We are also actively exploring some additional opportunities for 2003 and beyond, but wanted to share what’s confirmed for the 2003 schedule now to assist teams in their planning process.”


March 5-9 Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL

April 4-6 California Speedway, Fontana, CA
(Doubleheader)

May 2-4 Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, CA – TENTATIVE
(Doubleheader)

May 16-18 Road Atlanta, Braselton, GA – TENTATIVE
(Doubleheader)

May 30 – June 1 Pikes Peak International Raceway, Fountain, CO

June 6-8 Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI
(Doubleheader)

June 27-29 Brainerd International Raceway, Brainerd, MN – TENTATIVE

July 10-13 Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, CA **

July 25-27 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, OH
(Doubleheader)

August 29-31 Virginia International Raceway, Alton, VA
(Doubleheader)

**AMA & WSB combined weekend

Dates and Locations Subject to Change

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Valentino Rossi will drive in the final round of the 2002 World Rally Championship. In a deal set up through the Italian rally team Grifone, the 23-year-old four-time motorcycle road racing World Champion will drive a Michelin-shod Peugot 206 WRC in the Network Q Rally of Great Britain November 14-17.

Gauloises Yamaha Tech 3’s Shinya Nakano and Olivier Jacque tested their new Yamaha YZR-M1s Tuesday, October 8 at the Shah Alam circuit in Malaysia. The pair will trade in their Yamaha YZR500 two-strokes and race the M1s in the final three rounds of the 2002 MotoGP season.

Nakano tested early versions of the 990cc inline four-cylinder on two previous occasions, but the recent test was the first time Jacque had ever ridden a four-stroke race machine.

From a press release issued by Henry DeGouw, manager of Team North America:

North American Team Set For Macau GP

Three riders from the United States and Canada have been selected for this year’s Macau Grand Prix Motorcycle Road Race.

Brian Livengood of Snellville, Ga. will compete on the HSA Suzuki 750 and tuned by Lee’s Performance Center of Charlotte, NC. Livengood won this year’s AMA Superbike Rookie Of The Year award.

Joining him will be Canadians, Frank Trombino and Kevin Lacombe on a pair of Honda Canada, Golden Palace-sponsored RC51s.

Trombino from Ontario is the 2000 & 2001 Canadian Open Sportbike Champion, while 20-year-old Lacombe, from Quebec won the final Canadian Superbike National this year at Shannonville.

All three are on their first trip to Macau. The team departs for Hong Kong on November 9th.

The 60-mile Macau GP race on Saturday the 16th is run on a 4-mile through-the-streets course.

After the race, riders and crews will be treated to a complimentary 8-night vacation in Thailand.

Anyone interested in accompanying the team should contact Henry DeGouw at (561) 793-3394 for prices and itinerary.

From a press release:


FASTRACK RIDERS ASSOCIATION EVENT DATES 2003


TRACK DAYS:

March 10th @ California Speedway Infield Course (Monday)

March 28th @ California Speedway AMA Track (Friday)

April 3rd @ California Speedway AMA Track (Thursday before AMA event weekend)

May 5th @ California Speedway Infield Course (Monday)

May 23rd @ California Speedway AMA Track (Friday)

June 16th @ California Speedway Infield Course (Monday)

June 27th @ California Speedway AMA Track (Friday)

July 25th, 26th & 27th @ California Speedway AMA Track (Saturday & Sunday)

August 11th @ California Speedway Infield Course (Monday)

August 29th @ California Speedway AMA Track (Friday)

September 27th & 28th @ California Speedway Infield Course (Saturday & Sunday)




AFM SOUTH RACE EVENTS:

March 29th & 30th @ California Speedway AMA track (weekend before AMA National)

April 19th & 20th @ Buttonwillow Raceway

May 24th & 25th @ California Speedway AMA Track

June 28th & 29th @ California Speedway AMA Track

August 30th & 31st @ California Speedway AMA Track

October 11th & 12th @ Buttonwillow Raceway