From a press release issued by MS Aprilia Racing Press Information:

PREVIEW

Tuesday 29 October 2002

Valencia, Spain, last round of World Championship. Curtain comes down on 2002 season.

The 2002 season comes to an end, winding up an extraordinary year with neck-and-neck races and many world championship titles already won. The name of the 125 Class World Champion, however, is still in the balance. It is a close-run contest, and the final verdict will be made here in Valencia during the final race. Arnaud Vincent (Aprilia) and Manuel Poggiali (Gilera) will battle it out to the bitter end in the magical ‘Comunidad Valenciana’ arena. And that’s because the very technical circuit with its breathtaking corners was designed for the public: this is a sort of immense stadium where the entire track can be seen from the stands. Sporting passion reaches soccer-like levels in this 150,000-spectator facility, making Valencia one of the most intriguing events in the MotoGP. Familiar to the riders, Valencia has one of the tracks most often used in Europe for the winter tests. The paddock is absolutely colossal and the entire facility, which was constructed only recently, has extremely up-to-date infrastructure. The technical characteristics of the circuit and the mild climate due to its proximity to the sea mean that Valencia is also often used for F1 tests.


The circuit. Length: 4,005 metres – 9 left corners – 5 right corners – longest straight: 876 metres – Maximum width: 12 metres – Year of construction: 1999.


2001 winners. 125 Class: Poggiali (RSM) Gilera – 250 Class: Kato (Jap) Honda – 500 Class: Gibernau (SPA) Suzuki.


Circuit records – 125: 1’40.631, Ui 2000 – 250: 1’36.398, Nakano, 2000 – 500: 1’36.085, Criville, 2000.


APRILIA, 3 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Aprilia has already conquered 3 world titles this year: the riders’ title in the 250 class, with Marco Melandri, and the manufacturers’ title in both the 250 and the 125 class. The Venetian company has thus notched up 18 world championships in the road racing championship, and 20 since it entered motorcycle racing. Aprilia is indeed proud to hold two world titles in the trial championship (1992).


And yet there is another, highly sought-after title Aprilia is aiming for: the 125 riders’ world championship. If Arnaud Vincent, currently at the top of the standings with an 8-point advantage over Manuel Poggiali, wins the race on Sunday, he will give Aprilia an extraordinary four-of-a-kind, an absolute record for the Noale-based company. Indeed, the greatest number of world championships won so far in a single season was in 1998, when Aprilia scored a hat-trick: riders’ and manufacturers’ in the 250 class (Capirossi), and the riders’ in the 125 (Sakata).


125 CLASS, WORLD TITLE ALMOST WITHIN REACH

It will be no easy enterprise but Arnaud Vincent, currently leading the ratings with 8 points to play with, will make his attempt to become world champion this Sunday. Manuel Poggiali, his closest rival, is in fighting form and is going to battle it through to the bitter end, knowing that in a closely fought class like the 125, it is not that difficult to make up eight points. On the other hand, Aprilia’s great French rider Vincent has all the determination it takes to win and he has indeed already paid more than his due in terms of the bad luck that has targeted him during recent races. Arnaud has everything he needs to get to the top spot on the podium at Valencia and put his hands on the world title: he will just need to use his points lead to best advantage and make his final rush when he gets the opportunity.


250 CLASS: APRILIA AND MELANDRI WORLD CHAMPIONS

The world 250 class match can be said to be over. Marco Melandri won a truly terrific race at Phillip Island. He fought his rival Nieto (Aprilia) right through to the end, when his strategy and technical skill gave him the edge he needed. He won the Australian race in spectacular fashion, earning a world championship for the first time in his career. Aprilia had already won the 250 class manufacturers’ championship four races from the end of the season, and this is its third title this year. After ten days of intense PR work, the new world champion Marco Melandri has given countless interviews and has been the star guest on a number of television programmes. Macio is now ready for the closing race of the season. This is the final catwalk that the Ravenna-born champion would like to crown with yet another victory.


MOTOGP, REGIS LACONI MAKES 100

Valencia is a special occasion for official RS Cube rider Régis Laconi, for this will be his hundredth Grand Prix race. Régis has always performed really well at Valencia. In 1999, he won the 500 race in the pouring rain, and came sixth the following year. On the Aprilia RSV Mille he came second in the 2001 Superbike qualifying, and fourth in the first of the two races. Now, on Sunday’s historic anniversary, he will be bringing all his energy to bear and the talented Italian-French rider could indeed achieve a great result on the Valencia circuit, one of his favourites.

From a press release issued by Ducati Motor Holding, S.p.A.:

DUCATI MOTOR HOLDING ANNOUNCES GROWING REVENUES FOR THE THIRD QUARTER AND FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 2002

Wins 11th World Superbike Manufacturer’s title

Bologna, Italy, October 15, 2002 – Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. (NYSE: DMH, Milan’s Telematico: DMH), a leading manufacturer of high performance motorcycles, today announced record consolidated revenues for the third quarter and nine months, ended September 30, 2002.

For the first nine months of 2002, revenues were Euro 298.9 million, up 5.5% from Euro 283.4 million during the same period in the previous year. Revenues from Ducati motorcycles for the period increased 2.4% to Euro 242.1 million and represented 81.0% of revenues. Motorcycle-related products reached Euro 55.8 million, up 20.2% over the same period last year.

For the third quarter, revenues were Euro 62.5 million, an increase of 1.0% from Euro 61.9 million during the same period in the previous year. Revenues from Ducati motorcycles for the period decreased 3.1% to Euro 45.7 million and represented 73.1% of revenues. Motorcycle-related products, including spare parts, technical accessories and apparel reached Euro 16.7 million, a rise of 14.2% versus the comparable period in the previous year.

“These positive results for the period were reached despite adverse foreign exchange, country and product mix effects,” said Enrico D’Onofrio, CFO of Ducati. “In the fourth quarter, we expect the country mix to improve thanks to the recovery of our US business and the product mix to benefit from shipments of the new 999 Superbike.”

“Overall, I am very pleased with the reception of the full model year 2003 presented at the International Motor Show in Munich in September. We have introduced innovative improvements across the board – from ABS breaks on the ST4s to new engines in the Supersport and Monster families. The 999 Testastretta continues to be acclaimed as a revolution by the motorcycle world,” said Carlo Di Biagio, CEO of Ducati.

“At our annual US dealer meeting in California last week, our new model year for 2003 was given a very strong reception,” added Mr. Di Biagio. “The network there is particularly keen to get the 999 Superbike and the Multistrada 1000 in dealerships. As the re-structuring of our US subsidiary continues steadily, we look forward to strong sales there over the next few months.”

While official world registrations data for the period are not yet available, the Company’s best estimates suggest that Ducati registrations for the nine-month period have grown approximately 3%, despite a decline of around 6% in the Ducati relevant market, with particular strength in Japan (+16%), all countries not covered by a subsidiary (+12%), UK (+7%) and Italy (+6%). In the US, registrations were down 1%.

During the third quarter of 2002, new Ducati Stores exclusively selling Ducati motorcycles and accessories were opened, including one in Toulouse and one in West Tokyo, bringing the total to 106 stores worldwide at September 30, 2002.

“Our racing fans were given a real treat at the final and deciding leg of the World Superbike Championship on September 29,” added Di Biagio. “In an extraordinary display of skill and competitive spirit, Troy Bayliss, Ducati’s 2001 world champion and Honda’s Colin Edwards produced the most exciting race of the season at the famous Imola circuit in Italy. Ducati’s dominance of this championship was confirmed when we took our 11th manufacturer’s title in the last twelve years, and in the rider’s title, Bayliss handed over his crown to his arch-rival after a nail-biting finish.”

Founded in 1926, Ducati builds racing-inspired motorcycles characterized by unique “desmodromic” engine features, innovative design, advanced engineering and overall technical excellence. Ducati has won eleven of the last thirteen World Superbike Championship titles and more individual victories than the competition put together. The Company produces motorcycles in five market segments which vary in their technical and design features and intended customers: Superbike, Super Sport, Monster, Sport Touring and Multistrada. The Company’s motorcycles are sold in more than 40 countries worldwide, with a primary focus in the Western European and North American markets. For more information about the Company, please visit our web site at http://www.Ducati.com.

This press release contains statements that are forward-looking and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, as described in the Company’s 2000 annual report, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 20-F, dated July 1, 2002.

From a press release issued by Lawdog Sports Management:

Lee Bivens captures Nicky Hayden

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Team Kohtake RSC’s Ryuichi Kiyonari took the overall race and JSB1000 class wins at round eight of the nine-round All-Japan Road Race Series, at the rain-soaked 2.3-mile TI Aida Circuit in Southern Japan October 20. Kiyonari rode a Honda CBR954RR to beat Suzuki test rider Yukio Kagayama, on the GSV-R MotoGP prototype, and Team Cabin Honda’s Makoto Tamada, on a RC51, second and third overall, respectively, in the wet race. Tamada finished first in the Superbike class, but Prototype machines, such as the Suzuki ridden by Kagayama, race only for exhibition purposes and don’t earn points in the All-Japan Road Race Series.

Superbike points leader Atsushi Watanabe finished 12th overall and fifth in Superbike on his Suzuki GSX-R750 at TI Aida, one lap down to Kiyonari. Watanabe could have theoretically clinched the 2002 All-Japan Superbike Championship, but his low finish combined with Tamada’s Superbike class win puts Tamada within 12 points of Watanabe going into the final round of the series this weekend at Suzuka Circuit.

To win the Championship Watanabe must finish third or better if Tamada wins the final Superbike race. Five points behind Tamada and 17 points behind Watanabe, YSP Racing & Presto’s Wataru Yoshikawa has an outside chance of winning the title on his Yamaha YZF-R7 after finishing seventh overall and third in Superbike at TI Aida.

The win was Kiyonari’s first entry in JSB1000 during the 2002 season, and the Honda rider now sits ninth in the JSB1000 point standings. Suzuki GSX-R1000 rider Akira Tamitsuji, 11th overall and fifth in JSB1000 at TI Aida, leads the JSB1000 Championship by four points over Tatsuya Yamaguchi going into the final round at Suzuka.

All-Japan Road Race Series Round Eight Results:

1. Ryuichi Kiyomari, JSB1000, Honda CBR954RR, 25 laps, 45:39.760

– Yukio Kagayama, Prototype, Suzuki GSV-R, -52.252 seconds

2. Makoto Tamada, Superbike, Honda RC51, -56.238 seconds

3. Yuichi Takeda, Superbike, Honda RC51, -69.312 seconds

4. Tatsuya Yamaguchi, JSB1000, Honda CBR954RR, -82.455 seconds

5. Osamu Deguchi, JSB1000, Honda CBR954RR, -84.203 seconds

6. Wataru Yoshikawa, Superbike, Yamaha YZF-R7, -90.050 seconds

– Keichi Kitagawa, Prototype, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -92.992 seconds

7. Takeshi Tsujimura, Superbike, Yamaha YZF-R7, -102.723 seconds

8. Hiroaki Kawase, JSB1000, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -1 lap

9. Akira Tamitsuji, JSB1000, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -1 lap

10. Atsushi Watanabe, Superbike, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap

From a press release issued by Suzuki:

SUZUKI SAYS THANK YOU TO TELEFÓNICA MOVISTAR

October 31st: Team Suzuki says goodbye to their sponsors of three years, Telefónica MoviStar, after this weekend’s Valencia GP. This brings to an end a successful association between the Japanese racing factory and the Spanish telecommunications giant – a partnership that has yielded five Grand Prix wins, and victory in the 500cc World Championship in 2000.

“We joined forces with Telefónica MoviStar in 2000, after starting negotiations the previous year, when the team had regained its usual championship-winning potential – Kenny Roberts Jr. won four GPs in 1999. and finished second in the World Championship,” said team manager Garry Taylor.

“The next year was even better. Kenny won four more races, but more importantly scored highly in almost every event to win the World Championship. It was a great year for the Suzuki team, and for Telefónica MoviStar as well.

“Last year we added another win with Sete at Valencia – a home triumph for the rider and the sponsors,” continued Taylor.

“We understand that this sponsorship has now run its course, and on behalf of Suzuki Motor Corporation, I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their support.

“Telefónica MoviStar has been a fantastic sponsor to the team and to the factory race department –very professional, always supportive in good times and bad, and above all highly enthusiastic at every level. It’s been a pleasure working with them over the past three years, and we all wish them well in their new venture.

“For our part, I’d like to think we’ve made a very positive contribution to their increased brand awareness. We’ve certainly learned a lot from them,” Taylor said.

“Next year Team Suzuki will continue to contest the MotoGP World Championship with an all-new Mk2 version of the 990cc four-stroke machine V4 GSV-R,” he added.

“We have signed Kenny Roberts Jr. for at least two more years, while the factory has redoubled its commitment to turning our new four-stroke racer from the first-year prototype to a serious championship contender. We are very focused on winning the championship again.

“We hope to make an announcement shortly about our second rider, and new sponsorship plans,” Taylor concluded.

Roadracing World contributer Beth “Wednesday Addams” Wyse and Website Editor
Melissa “Cheerleader of the Beast” Berkoff. Photo by Bob Branam/Branam’s Photography.

From a press release issued by FIM:

Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix

Valencia Grand Prix: wild-card riders

125cc class:

51 – Alvaro Bautista, SPA – Aprilia, Team Atietico de Madrid

52 – Julian Simon, SPA – Honda, Telefonica Movistar Jr. Team

59 – Vincent Braillard, SUI – Honda, Team Philippe Coulon

71 – Ruben Catalan, SPA – Aprilia, MIR Racing

98 – Chris Peris, CDN – Honda, Bikecards.com

250cc class:

34 – Eric Bataille, FRA – Honda, Cibertel Honda BQR

38 – Alvaro Molina, SPA – Yamaha, Kolmer Racing Team

39 – Luis Manuel Castro Garcia, SPA – Yamaha, Cordoba Patrimonio Human

74 – Angel Rodriguez, SPA Aprilia, PS Racing Team

90 – Chuck Sorensen, USA – Aprilia, Team Stargel Aprilia

MotoGP class:

29 – David Garcia, SPA – Proton, Proton Team KR

84 – Andrew Pitt, AUS – Kawasaki, Kawasaki Racing Team