From a press release:

MARLBORO YAMAHA TEAM GRAND PRIX PREVIEW

MALAYSIAN GRAND PRIX, SEPANG
October 11/12/13 2002

MARLBORO YAMAHA MEN CHASE GLORY IN THE TROPICS
The MotoGP circus makes a flying visit to Malaysia this week for the 14th race of this year’s 16-round World Championship. Sepang will be a particularly challenging event for the Marlboro Yamaha Team and its MotoGP rivals and not only because of the stifling tropical weather. The Grand Prix is the middle event of a gruelling run of three back-to-back GPs, following last Sunday’s Pacific GP in Japan and preceding next weekend’s Australian GP. Riders and bikes only arrived at the nearby KLIA airport on Monday night/Tuesday morning and will be heading back to KLIA on Sunday evening for the southward dash to Phillip Island.

Max Biaggi and Carlos Checa will get barely a moment’s rest during their stay in Malaysia but they are both highly motivated for this race at Sepang, where they both got to ride the YZR-M1 for the very first time in December 2000. Sunday’s race will be crucial for both riders – Biaggi is currently chasing second overall while Checa is lying fifth and aiming to improve.

The 2002 MotoGP season concludes a fortnight after the Australian GP, at Valencia in Spain on November 3.


THE HEAT IS ON FOR EVER-IMPROVING M1
This weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix is generally recognised as the toughest event of the MotoGP season – tough on bikes, tough on tyres, tough on riders, tough on everyone. With ambient temperatures hovering in the mid-thirties (C) and humidity levels often over 80 percent, Sepang stretches riders to the limit on the scorching track and subjects mechanics to toiling on boiling motorcycles in the stifling pits.

“The conditions are difficult for everyone, especially for the riders, but also for the people working on the bikes,” says Marlboro Yamaha Team director Davide Brivio. “But we’ve been there before, we know what to expect and we’re ready for it. I think this race will be particularly interesting because we’ll be able to see how far we’ve come since we tested here last December. Those tests were one of the team’s first real sessions with the M1, so it’ll be great to check our progress in terms of lap times.

“For sure, Sepang will be a four-stroke track, with two long straights and a lot of fast, open corners, so I think we can expect to see the 500 lap record well and truly beaten. I think we have a good chance to fight for victory this weekend, our bike has been good for some while now, and our engine performance continues to improve.”

If this weekend is gruelling for everyone in pit lane, it will be especially demanding for YZR-M1 project leader Ichiro Yoda who has two extra riders to look after. Yamaha has equipped Tech 3 riders Olivier Jacque and Shinya Nakano with one M1 apiece for the last three races of the season.

“This will be a very busy weekend for all Yamaha racing staff!” smiles Yoda, a man who knows the meaning of hard work, having been shuttling back and forth between Europe and Japan all summer. “We now have two more M1 riders, but this is good for us because it delivers more feedback, which allows us to test more solutions and make faster development progress, though, of course, the Marlboro Yamaha Team remains Yamaha’s number one priority. The bikes that Jacque and Nakano will ride will be the same spec as the machine used by Max to win at Brno in August.”

“Sepang is a significant race for us because it was here that Max and Carlos tested the M1 for the very first time in December 2000, when our Japanese test riders were doing most of the riding. I think our lap times from that test were around 2m 06s, last December we did 04s and I think we can do high threes in qualifying this weekend.

“This is one of the toughest tracks for rear tyres, so we will work throughout practice to manage tyre life to the best effect, setting up the bike to be gentler with the rear tyre. We also have some chassis parts to try, we had these parts at Motegi but weren’t able to try them there. Otherwise, we won’t be making any big changes to our set-up. Since Brno we’ve had a good base set-up, so I’m confident we can have another good weekend.”

BIAGGI STILL AIMING FOR SECOND OVERALL
Max Biaggi needs a good points haul at Sepang this weekend to re-ignite his bid for runner-up spot in the first-ever four-stroke-based MotoGP World Championship. The Marlboro Yamaha Team man moved into second place following last month’s rain-lashed Rio Grand Prix but slipped five points behind rival Tohru Ukawa (Honda) at Motegi last Sunday, after a risky front-tyre choice went wrong and forced him into the pits.

The DNF was a major blow for Biaggi, who had scored top-two finishes at four of the previous five GPs, including a first win for the M1 at August’s Czech GP. Nevertheless, the hard-riding Italian is confident of getting back up front this weekend, using the ever-improving M1’s performance to maximum effect at this challenging high-speed track. “The bike is very competitive now,” he says. “At the beginning of the season we weren’t competitive, after a few races we were competitive and since then the bike has grown up with us race by race.”

This weekend Biaggi is likely to concentrate on the latest-spec M1 chassis, one of a whole package of performance-enhancing parts introduced race by race since the start of the season. This particular chassis arrived in August, but Biaggi only raced it for the first time at Motegi. He hopes he’ll be able to use it to better effect in Malaysia.

“Sepang is a great track but the weather conditions can make life hard for everyone, not just the riders,” says Biaggi. “It’s so hot and humid that the mechanics and technicians have a tough time too, especially since they’re working on red-hot bikes. The conditions make the whole experience more intense, but personally I don’t mind the heat, in fact I generally race well in these conditions.

“The track is very wide, wider than anywhere else we race, so you don’t need all of the track, you don’t go white line to white line, so it’s difficult to find the right line all the time. But the width does make it easier for overtaking.”

Although Biaggi enjoys the challenging layout of Sepang, he hasn’t enjoyed the best of records at the track. His best result here was fourth two years ago, though he did score a podium finish in the 1998 Malaysian 500 GP, hosted by the Johor circuit, next door to Singapore. Biaggi qualified third at Sepang last year but crashed out during the hectic early stages of the race, after colliding with Kenny Roberts (Suzuki).


CHECA AIMS TO CONTINUE IMPRESSIVE MALAYSIAN RECORD
Carlos Checa aims to be back up front this weekend after a difficult race at Motegi last Sunday. The Marlboro Yamaha Team man struggled to a fifth-place finish at the Japanese venue and knows he’s capable of much better if all goes well at Sepang. Checa has already proved his pace aboard the mighty M1 this year, qualifying on pole for last month’s Portuguese GP and scoring an excellent second-place result in that race. Now he wants to go one better. And a win here would be the perfect 30th birthday present for the Spaniard, who hits the big three-zero next Tuesday.

“I was in at the start of the M1 project and I feel ready to win with this bike,” says Checa, who is looking forward to having two more M1s on the grid. “The racing is more open now and with extra M1s from Sepang onward, I think it will be even more exciting. I like Sepang and I like the heat. The track layout is interesting but the most important factor is probably the heat. There are some tight turns and some very long turns, where the bike is at maximum angle for a long time, with brake on into the corner and gas on coming out. It’s a great track for sliding, the surface is so hot that it’s easier to slide, so you can have a lot of fun, though this isn’t so good for going fast. It’s important to work closely with Michelin to choose the correct tyre, though Michelin have done great work this year – I can always keep a good pace all the way to the end of the race.

“As well as focusing on tyres, we’ll also need to work on power delivery, to help control wheelspin, and on braking, because there’s several parts of the track where you’re braking very hard from very high speeds.”

Checa has enjoyed good times in Malaysia ever since he came to the premier class in 1996. He scored his first podium finish with a third-place result at the 1996 Malaysian GP at Shah Alam and took second in the 1998 event at Johor. He was again second at Sepang in 1999, his first ride for the Marlboro Yamaha Team, and followed that with third at the track two years ago. Last year technical problems consigned him to a tenth-placed finish.

WHAT THE TEAM SAYS
Fiorenzo Fanali, Max Biaggi’s crew chief:
“You need a lot of everything at Sepang – good power, good braking and good direction changing, especially on the gas. You can take the first part of the track as an example – a long straight that leads into a very tight turn one, then a very quick right/left flick into turn two. We tested there last December but the bike has changed a lot since then, it’s got better in every way – engine, chassis, electronics, everything. Max should have a good weekend, the bike is now fully competitive at every track, so we can expect to be in competition for pole position and race victory.”

Antonio Jimenez, Carlos Checa’s crew chief:
“Sepang is always tough, just because the weather conditions are so extreme. But I think it will be good for us. Carlos rode the M1 for the first time at Sepang in December 2000 and immediately got a good feeling for the bike. You need a compromise set-up for Sepang, with good braking stability for the first and last corners and settings that allow you to keep a good rolling speed through the turns. We will also adapt the set-up to help the tyres because it’s a tough track for tyres – when it’s hot, the tyres slide more and that reduces tyre life.”

THE TRACK
Sepang is one of the longest tracks on the World Championship calendar – only Assen and Suzuka are longer – and boasts the longest-lasting lap in Grand Prix racing, several seconds longer than the Dutch and Japanese venues.

The Malaysian GP venue is also one of the widest racetracks in the world, putting riders and machines to the test with an excellent variety of corners and high-speed straights. Withering heat and humidity are further challenges, not only for riders and machines, but also for technicians and everyone else working in pit lane.

Sepang hosted its first Grand Prix in April 1999 and was an instant hit with riders and teams. The state-of-the-art complex, built adjacent to Kuala Lumpur’s brand-new international airport, took circuit and infrastructure design to a new level, combining a fast, safe track layout with ultra-impressive pit, media and corporate facilities.


Lap record: Valentino Rossi (Honda), 2:06.618, 157.741kmh/98.016mph

Pole position 2001: Loris Capirossi (Honda), 2:05.637

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

After finishing 14th in the Formula USA Pro Singles mile event at Del Mar Fairgrounds in Del Mar, California Sunday October 6, Matt Wait has increased his point lead from four to six over Larry Pegram in the F-USA Grand National Championship. Wait now leads Pegram 97 to 91 going into the final round of the combined road race/dirt track series, a road race at Daytona International Speedway October 20.

If Wait finishes fourth or better in the 600cc Sportbike race at Daytona, he should become the first Formula USA Grand National Champion.

Arclight Suzuki’s Craig Connell is third in the GNC point standings even though he has only competed in road race events.

F-USA Grand National Championship Point Standings (with one road race round remaining):

1. Matt Wait, 97
2. Larry Pegram, 91
3. Craig Connell, 68
4. Glen Schnabel, Jr., 67
5. Terry Poovey, 65
6. Joe Kopp, 63
7. Cory West, 59
8. Michael Barnes, 58
9. Lee Acree, 44
10. Rich King, 39

From a press release issued by Kneedraggers.com:

Former AMA Superbike and FIM 500GP rider Matt Wait has agreed to ride for Kneedraggers.com in 2003. Wait, the current Formula USA Grand National Championship points leader, will ride 600cc machinery in both the AMA and Formula USA series.

“Matt works extremely well with our team, and his latest road racing results have been very very exciting for everyone,” commented Kneedragger’s President, Sam Lehrfeld, referring to Wait’s second-place finish at the previous Formula USA round in Portland, Oregon. “We’ve always felt Matt was one of the most talented riders around and we’re looking forward to bringing him back to the front of road racing in America,” added Lehrfeld.

“I am very excited to be given the opportunity to be able to race for a great bunch of people and be affiliated with the Kneedraggers.com team,” said Wait. “I think that it will definitely be a strong and successful joint effort for 2003, being that everyone is on the same page, gets along well, works well together and winning is the main objective for both Kneedraggers.com and myself. I can’t wait to get the year started, it’s going to be great.”

Coordinated with the racing effort, Kneedraggers.com will also be vending to racers and spectators for both AMA and Formula USA events.

Interested parties may contact Sam Lehrfeld at Kneedraggers.com for more information. His phone number is 877-294-2920.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

In a phone call to Roadracing World Monday morning, Vic Fasola confirmed that he has taken a job with Austin/Bleu Bayou Ducati as Crew Chief for Anthony Gobert:

Fasola said he was contacted by team owner Terry Gregricka.

“When it came out that I had left Yoshimura he called me up and we talked back and forth,” said Fasola. “He finally got approval from Italy to go ahead with the program and had already signed Gobert. He hired me Friday.”

Concerning the chances of winning AMA Superbike races with Gobert, Fasola said “If I can’t, I need to quit. You got a Ducati with Anthony Gobert sitting on it, damn!”

Fasola also said that the team’s race shop may be moving from its current location in Temple, Texas to Austin.

From a press release:

Loris Capirossi signs with Sidi for ’03

New Ducati MotoGP rider, Loris Capirossi, and Sidi boots are pleased to announce that Loris has re-signed for the 2003 season. Loris, who currently sits 7th in the championship has not been too happy with how his year has gone so far.

“I have had some disappointment this year but never with the boots, staying with Sidi for 2003 was an easy decision to make” Loris commented in a very “Italian” way.

Another way to look at this is; Loris is a hard rider to satisfy but Sidi did so with ease in 2002 so he is back in Sidi’s Vertebra Race boot for another season of MotoGP races!

From a press release:

ACTEVA’S SECURE ONLINE PAYMENT PROCESSING SPEEDS REGISTRATION & PAYMENT FOR MOTORCYCLE ENTHUSIASTS

SAN FRANCISCO – Acteva, best known for its flagship web-based service for event registration and payment processing, today announced that the Fastrack Riders Association (FTRA), the leading “track day” company that promotes motorcycle safety, has selected Acteva’s secure, no-risk online service for its event bookings, online marketing initiatives and classified advertising sales.

“Setting up our online services with Acteva has streamlined the registration process for all Fastrack events and initiatives,” says David Pyles, president of FTRA. “Now, we are able to fulfill a request in almost half the amount of time.”

With Acteva’s state-of-the-art solution, FTRA website visitors can register and pay online for riding events at all levels and price ranges, including formula sessions, new rider safety orientations and riding classes. In addition FTRA customers are able to receive special discounts electronically, access bike and parts trader services, and post and pay for on line classified advertisements on the association’s web site.

“Fastrack Riders Association is another example of Acteva’s success in providing a reliable, easy-to-use registration and payment processing system for customers in the sporting and recreation industry,” said Pankaj Gupta, CEO and president of Acteva.

Acteva enables its customers to increase sales and meeting attendance while decreasing administrative headaches. Acteva offers secure, online registration and payment processing for any activity, including classes, fund-raisers, performances and other events. There are no risks, and no up-front costs—customers are able to collect event or class fees immediately. In fact, customers pay only a small transaction fee when attendees sign up.

About the Fastrack Riders Association
Fastrack Riders Association (FTRA) is a sales, promotional, and marketing company focused on promoting track day events for the motorcycle enthusiast. The goal is to establish FTRA as the premier “track day” company within the motorcycle industry. Events are held at Willow Springs International Raceway and California Speedway. FTRA’s primary focus is to promote motorcycle safety through training and on-the-track experience. For more information, please visit their web site at www.fastrackriders.com.

About Acteva
More than 5,000 customers use Acteva’s secure, online registration and processing services to manage their fee collections. Customers include Microsoft, Wharton School of Business, The United Nations, London School of Business, Key3Media (Comdex and Seybold), Stanford, The U. S. Olympic Committee, Pt. Reyes National Seashore Park, The Webby Awards to name a few. Acteva is a privately held company based in San Francisco, California. For further information please contact [email protected], call 415/374-8222 or visit us at www.acteva.com

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Sources in Europe confirmed Monday that Antena 3 Yamaha D’Antin’s Norick Abe will race a Yamaha YZR-M1 four-stroke in the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island, October 19. Abe joins Marlboro Yamaha riders Max Biaggi and Carlos Checa and Gauloises Yamaha Tech 3 riders Olivier Jacque and Shinya Nakano to be the fifth M1 rider on the grid.

Barring any last-minute wild cards, there will be 13 four-strokes (five Yamahas, four Hondas, two Suzukis, one Aprilia and one Kawasaki) and eight two-strokes (three Hondas, three Yamahas and two Protons) on the grid at Phillip Island.

Abe’s teammate Pere Riba, will sit out the remaining three MotoGP rounds with lingering injuries. Riba’s Yamaha YZR500’s seat will be filled by Jose Luis Cardoso, say team sources.

Elements inside Team Proton KR say development of the team’s new V5 four-stroke is right on schedule, and the new bike should begin track testing after the final round of the 2002 MotoGP season. Other sources close to the team say it looks as though both Nobuatsu Aoki and Jeremy McWilliams will be re-signed to Team Proton KR for 2003.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

This just in from Superbike World Champion Colin Edwards, via e-mail, regarding his autograph session at Firebird on Friday:

Just to let you know, I was there for at least an hour and signed an autograph for everyone. Some came back for seconds. No one was denied!!

Cheers,

Colin II



(Editorial note: Edwards’ autograph appearance was coordinated by racer Rick Stratton.)


More, via e-mail from Chris Geary:

I was at Firebird on Friday. Colin Edwards was there from about 2:00 p.m. to about 3:00 p.m. He was generous with his time, chatting with the riders and posing for pictures. He signed Castrol Honda posters, shirts, helmets,
tailsections, etc., and gave out tons of Castrol stickers. He was friendly and smiling. He made comments to the effect that he expected to be in
MotoGPs next year, which everyone thought he deserved. There were only about 40 riders there, so everyone got as much time with the World Champion as they wanted. Thanks to Rick Stratton and AZ Motorsports Group for making a great day even better!

Christopher R. Geary

DUCATI CORSE PRESS INFORMATION
From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

Mugello, 7 October 2002

DOUBLE DEBUT FOR DUCATI AT MUGELLO WITH BAYLISS (DESMOSEDICI MOTOGP) AND HODGSON (999 SUPERBIKE)

Today saw a double debut for Ducati at the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello as Troy Bayliss and Neil Hodgson stepped onto their 2003 bikes for the first time. One week after the final round of the World Superbike Championship at Imola, another chapter began in the extraordinary career of Troy Bayliss, who did his first laps on the new Ducati Desmosedici. Britain’s Neil Hodgson also made his track debut with the Superbike version of the Ducati 999.

The 33 year old Australian, WSBK champion in 2001 and runner-up this year, who completed 30 laps on the new Ducati prototype, which will make its debut next year in the MotoGP championship, was enthusiastic and satisfied with the work completed today.

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“It’s a completely new toy!” declared Troy. “The last few months I’ve been seeing the bike and I’ve wanted to get on it for a long time. It took a while before we got going this morning because it was so foggy and the track was quite wet and we didn’t really start until after lunch.

“We know we’ve got a great big job ahead of us but I’ve enjoyed what we’ve done so far and we’re making pretty good progress already. That’s why we’ve started a week after Imola, we know we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us and that’s what we’re doing. We’ve got plenty of tests before the racing starts but we’re looking forward to it.

“This is not my Superbike for sure!” he added. “It’s very different, much lighter and more powerful, there is nothing from the Superbike on this, we’ve just got to start and learn everything again. Vito has already been testing on it, he’s done a good job, but basically I have to start from scratch and get ready for MotoGP.”

While Troy was lapping with the Desmosedici, development work was continuing on the new Ducati 999 Superbike, for the first time with Neil Hodgson doing the riding duties. The 29 year-old British rider, third this year with team HM Plant Ducati in the WSBK championship, has been promoted to the factory team for 2003, the year in which Ducati will be trying to take back the Riders’ championship title.

Hodgson, after riding the 999 for the first time, also expressed positive comments about the Italian manufacturer’s new bike after completing a total of 70 laps on the spectacular Tuscany circuit.

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“I feel a lot less nervous than I did this morning when I was quite excited about how it would be to ride the 999” declared Neil. “It’s a big step for me, but already now I feel much more relaxed after the first day with my new team.

“The bike feels very different to my 998, with the new aerodynamics and the tyres” he added. “Even the riding position feels different so it’s taking a bit more time to feel very comfortable. The engine is fantastic and the power feels very smooth, better than my old bike for sure.

“I also rode on Michelins for the first time today since 1997. After a few laps to get used to them, the feeling was really positive and every tyre we’ve tried so far has been good.”

Tomorrow will see the second and final day of testing at Mugello for Bayliss with the Ducati Desmosedici and Hodgson on the Ducati 999 Superbike.

From a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service:

SUZUKI SWEEPS PODIUM IN WORLD ENDURANCE

World Endurance, Round Six, Vallelunga, Italy, October 6th:

SUZUKI dominated the final World Endurance race of the season at Vallelunga today, taking the first five places across the finish line. In the process, Suzuki claimed all the podium spots in the World Championship standings as well.

The race was won by Zongshen 9 on a GSX-R1000, helping the team to second place in the Championship. In second place in the race was the Suzuki GSX-R1000 mounted GMT94 team, securing third place in the overall standings. In third place and wrapping up the World Championship was Zongshen 2, again using the awesome GSX-R1000.

The 200-mile race at the Italian Vallelunga track was fast and frantic, with the short circuit lending itself to plenty of hot action. While Suzuki’s dominant GSX-R1000 took the first four places in the race, in fifth was the Herman Verboven team on a GSX-R750, demonstrating the in-depth strength of the GSX-R range.

The amazing performance of the GSX-R1000 means it beat all-comers from the World Superbike, Stocksport and SuperProduction classes to dominate the Standings and win the Endurance World Championship. The Suzuki GSX-R1000 adds the Endurance World Championship to its domination of the non-World Championship 2002 Masters of Endurance, another endurance race series.

Race Result: 1: Zongshen 9 (Suzuki), 2: GMT94 (Suzuki), 3: Zongshen 2 (Suzuki), 4: QB Phase One (Suzuki), 5: Herman Verboven 6 (Suzuki), 6: Piazza
Corse (Ducati), 7: Bollinger Team (Kawasaki), 8: Herman Verboven 5 (Suzuki), 9: Endurance Moto 38 (Yamaha), 10: X-One.

Championship Standings: 1: Zongshen 2 123, 2: Zongshen 9 107, 3: GMT94 95, 4: Endurance Moto 38 83, 5: QB Phase One 69, 6: Herman Verboven Racing 5 60, 7: Bollinger Team 47, 8: Piazza Corse 35, 9: Yamaha Austria (Yamaha) 30, 10: Team 22 Police Nationale (Kawasaki) 30.


More, from a press release issued by Octagon Motorsports:

Apology:

Ducati France have confirmed that they will be running a 998 in the Vallelunga 200 mile next weekend, not a 999 as earlier reported. Ducati Corse’s Mr Ciabatti reports that the 999’s international race debut will take place in 2003. Apologies for any confusion we may have caused.”