Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Racer and Graves Motorsports co-owner Chuck Graves says that AMA Pro Racing should allow electronic quick-shifters in the Superstock and Supersport classes in 2003.

“I believe it’s a standard racing item on most racing motorcycles and costs less than a set of tires,” said Graves in a phone call to Roadracingworld.com. “It’s cheap. They’re available for many motorcycles from many sources.

“Take for instance the Yoshimura EMS system, which is an inline engine and fuel management system. They have a provision there with an additional box and a small switch which attaches to the shift shaft, and you use the sidestand switch and you have an automatic shift kill built in.

“I believe that it would be easy to mask having one (under current rules). The privateers are smart enough to know, it’s common knowledge that the shifter is a standard racing item today.”

From a press release issued by USGPRU:

United States Grand Prix Riders’ Union
125cc Road Racing Grand Prix National Championship

Wednesday November 13, 2002 — In an online discussion open to all riders last evening, the USGPRU discussed and took comment on a number or rule revisions effecting the 2003 125GP National Championship Series.

Notice was sent to all members last week inviting them to attend the online discussion which was held at the USGPRU Yahoo Group chat area from 7-9:00 p.m. PST. The discussion lasted for over two hours and was attended by riders from all regions of the country.

After discussion on numerous topics and a brief question and answer period decisions were reached on a number of key rules for both 2003 and 2004 including fuel regulations, Points distribution, Teams Championships, etc.

Among the key decisions, reached by near consensus (riders and officials), was the decision to adopt the AMA Fuel Regulations currently governing the 250GP class in AMA competition in 2003. These rules permit the continued use of “leaded” fuel for the 2003 Championship.

We did this because fuel manufacturers are already familiar with the AMA rule and manufacture fuels specifically to meet the requirements outlined in the AMA’s regulations. Testing is straightforward and the rule addresses concern many riders had about the addition of dangerous and toxic performance/power enhancing fuel additives.

Information on the most common fuels and their compliance with the AMA rule is detailed in the tech are of the USGPRU website.

For 2004 it was resolved, with dramatic support from riders, to adopt a fuel regulation patterned after the FIM Unleaded fuel regulations. We were absolutely stunned at the support we got for this from the riders for the switch to Unleaded in 2004.

As an association we had increasing concern that US Grand Prix racing was becoming too divergent after nearly 6 years of leaded fuel use in the US after the near global switch to unleaded in 1997. Every other major national and International Championship mandates the use of unleaded fuels and the bikes have been specifically designed and manufactured to run on unleaded fuels since 1997.

By continuing to run on leaded fuels US riders were ignoring the continued advances in every aspect of engine development and punishing riders and teams who commit to the purchase of new Grand Prix machines by forcing them to convert to outdated fuels and standards that are no longer in use throughout the rest of the world. We feel this will encourage more teams to invest in new bikes in the coming seasons and elevate the level of competition throughout the field.

The decision to adopt unleaded in 2004 was made to allow over a year’s time for teams to make the conversion back to unleaded. In most cases the only change required will be to the head volume which can be done for less that $125.00 per head as machines manufactured after 1996 we all equipped with CDI’s for unleaded fuel. The rule will not apply to machines manufactured prior to 1995.

The use of Double Points for key regional and final events will be discontinued and the USGPRU will score riders and teams on the same FIM points schedule used in 2002 without the application of Double points awards at particular events.

The USGPRU has also instituted a National Team Championship. Teams will consist of two riders riding on near identical machinery of the same manufacture. Teams will be required to have identical paint schemes on both machines and may only substitute riders in the event of injury. A minimum standard for appearance of machines will be enforced and all crew members for participating teams will be required to be in uniform at all times. Team Championship sponsor decals will be required on all machines and riders will be required to list these in their individual sponsor listings as well.

Information on cost effective uniform suppliers will be posted shortly to the USGPRU web site at www.usgpru.org as well as details on rules regulating the Team Championship.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

I am an avid racing fan. I live in Orlando and this year I rode my SV650 to the races at Atlanta, Ohio, Daytona (of course) and Laguna Seca (California rocks!). My thoughts on the Tony Bell and Dorna debacle? I can tell you that I’d much rather ride two days to Indy or a full day to the Barber track in Alabama to see a real race than to ride a few hours to Homestead to see a promotional joke…

Larry Gilbert
Orlando, Florida




I couldn’t help but be disappointed when I heard that Homestead was being considered as the location of a USGP. If we are to have another chance at establishing a USGP, lets give it the best odds of survival we can. Put it at a real roadcourse, and make it convienient for fans to attend.

The solution’s obvious, use the new facility that’s been built to FIM standards in Alabama. It’s a real racetrack, not an infield-oval compromise. And at least as important, it is located much closer to the bulk of the population that you’d be trying to attract. If a fan can ride or drive to the venue in a day or less, they’re much more likely to make the journey. And yes, Miami is remotely located. I live in Missouri and it’s still 1400 miles away. The farther people have to travel, the more you’re going to restrict your customer base to the relatively few die hard fanatics(like myself), and exclude the more numerous casual fans.

Let’s do it right this time.

Matt Winnacker
AHRMA #1 BOT F2/F3
CCS #91
Fulton, Missouri




It is so apparent you have almost all missed the call here. The only thing Dorna or anyone else connected with MotoGP is interested in is the bottom line. Money talks, bullshit walks and ISC has money, hence Dorna isn’t even interested in anyone else’s racetracks at this time.

No further discussion needed.

Gordon Lunde
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

From a press release issued by Honda:

HONDA RACING INFORMATION

Nicky Hayden Tests the Honda RC211V

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American Superbike Champion Nicky Hayden today took his first step in MotoGP racing when he tested the Honda RC211V at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit, in Japan. Hayden, 21 years old from Owensboro Kentucky, completed just 50 laps of the circuit as he acquainted himself with the characteristics of the World Championship winning five-cylinder 990cc four-stroke.

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Weather at the 4.801km circuit was half-wet in the morning, because of overnight rain, as Hayden took to the track but turned out to be fine after lunch. At the end of the day Hayden said: “I’m impressed how fast it is, but the power is still real smooth. It’s like wheelie-ing everywhere. Acceleration is so hard, but really smooth. In the morning it was a little bit difficult, as the machine, tyres, carbon discs, the track, everything was new, the track was half-wet, and I haven’t been riding since the final round of AMA Superbike in August. When I hit the brake for the first time, I was kind of surprised how it doesn’t work when it’s cold!

“In the afternoon session, I started feeling more comfortable, after I had finished more than 20 laps in the morning and also after I changed the position a little bit. The bike is much smaller than the Superbike and feels different, but I like it! I really enjoyed riding. But you know, I’m still kind of learning the track and also the bike, so I’m not real comfortable yet.” Concluded the American.

The new development project leader of the RC211V, Mr. Shogo Kanaumi said:

“The purpose of this test is not to make fast lap times, but basically to let Nicky get used to the new machine, make basic adjustments for him, and correct his own request about the set-up. The track conditions were not so good in the morning, but it got better and we tried many things and completed everything what we planed to do. The machine, the track, tyres, carbon brake, everything was totally new for Nicky, and considering that, we realized his adaptability and machine control ability once again. I’m really looking forward to his success during next season.”

Team Moriwaki Honda took the opportunity offered by HRC to test at Motegi. The team brought their prototype MD211VF, RC211V’s V5 powered MotoGP machine to the track for initial shake down testing. Ridden by Masao Okuno the machine completed a full day of data recording laps.

Team owner Mamoru Moriwaki was pleased with the day’s work. He said. “Today’s test was OK for the shake-down test. I’m filled with emotions right now, as I know how hard have everyone in the team has been working until today. This is my first step to challenge the world, and I’m so happy.”

Moriwaki went on to say. “Of course we found various technical problems, but we expected that and to find problems is exactly what this test is for. But from today’s result, I became more confident about participating in MotoGP as a wild-card entry during 03. That is our first goal at this moment, and we’ll keep on working hard for that. At this moment, our MD211VF is like a newly born Deer that has stood up for the first time. We will try hard to let it run actively in the field from now on!”

From a press release issued by SBK International:

PRESS RELEASE

ORGANIZER AWARD 2002

Paolo Alberto Flammini, SBK International President, has the great pleasure to announce that the World Superbike Organizer Award for 2002 has been assigned to the TT Assen Circuit.

The top management of SBK International together with its staff, the SBK Top Teams and a Jury made up of the most representative international journalists, carefully analysed each event from an organisational, promotional and sporting point of view and awarded for the 2002 season:

Assen as the best circuit overall

We hope that this well-deserved success will be seen as reward for some of the significant investments and developments already undertaken at the circuit.

This award is a reconfirmation of the success already achieved in 2000.

London November 2002

SBK Press Officer
Renata Nosetto



The Superbike World Championship’s current achievements can be categorized as follows:
– 13 Rounds on the 5 Continents
– 2 Billion Worldwide Television Viewers
– 85 Television Networks covering 171 Countries
– 1,670 Broadcast hours during 2001 with a Television Media Value of US$ 552 Million
– 1,000,000 Race Spectators during 2001
– 25 Million Internet page views

From a press release issued by Gordy Lunde of the Wegmen Benefit Fund:

Scuderia West has donated a check for $1825 from their annual charity raffle to the Wegman Benefit Fund, which was their charity of choice for this year’s benefit event.

For more information on the Wegman Benefit Fund contact Gordon Lunde at 414-321-2338 or [email protected].

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

This just in from John Hopkins, via cell-phone from Malaysia:

I’m testing with my new team here at Sepang in Malaysia right now, and everything’s going pretty good.

The track conditions here aren’t that great with all of the moisture. It’s actually raining at the moment. That’s how it is here in Malaysia, especially around November.

On the first day, we just put in some laps and just got to a basic set-up. We didn’t want to go to any extremes. We just wanted to learn the bike, put in a good amount of laps and got comfortable with the machine.

Yesterday went really well as well. It got cut short to a half day by the rain, but we started messing with suspension settings.

One thing I definitely had to get comfortable with again was engine braking, getting into the corners and then changing lines getting out of the corners.

I guess they had a couple of problems with the clutch last year, and I think we’re running into the same problems.

Even with the clutch deal, the Suzuki four-stroke is a lot easier to ride than a 500.

The Suzuki’s quite a bit faster, but it doesn’t really feel too much faster.

I’m pretty close to my qualifying time right now on the Michelin race tires, and I’ve already gone a-second-and-a-half faster than my race lap times, consistently. At the moment, we’re not too far off the times Kenny is running, and he is testing the new prototype chassis.

I’m learning to change my style all around; I’m going back to the style I used back home in AMA.

Other than that, it’s good to get on a set of grippy tires, that’s for sure! There’s a big difference between the Dunlops and the Michelins.

It’s a big difference with the factory bike and team because you, as the rider, are taking a part in the development, and I’ve never had that before.

Kevin Schwantz is out here right now, so I’ve been hanging and talking with him. He’s going to ride the bike during a media day tomorrow. Then we don’t test again until January. It’s going to be pretty busy after January, so it’ll be good to go back home, take a little bit of time off, hang out and be a 19-year-old guy again…for a month or two.



For more, see John Hopkins’ column, “The GP Kid,” in the January issue of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

According to Tom Houseworth, Yoshimura Suzuki Crew Chief for Ben Spies, electronic quick-shifters are “the best bang for the buck” that a privateer can buy.

In a phone call to Roadracingworld.com Wednesday morning, Houseworth said, “Don’t people understand that once they’re set up, and their bikes are set up, with their engine and their suspension, that those things (electronic quick-shifters) are worth half-a-second a lap?

“That thing is the best bang for the buck. What else are you gonna spend $800 for that will get you half-a-second?

“Once your bike is set up and you have the engine you think you need, the suspension is tuned up, you’re set up and ready to go, what’s the next step? The shifter is the shit. Those things are worth half-a-second.

“I think some of them are worrying about spending their money in the wrong place.”

From a press release issued by Mid-Ohio:

2003 MID-OHIO SCHEDULE FEATURES SIX WORLD-CLASS MOTORSPORTS EVENTS

DUBLIN, Ohio (November 12, 2002) – TrueSports, Inc., parent company of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, announced today that Mid-Ohio will provide road racing fans six world-class motorsports events in 2003. Sports car racing’s past and present will be featured in June, with July giving way to two-wheeled action for the 21st consecutive year. The world’s best professional drivers converge on the track in August and set the stage for the top amateur drivers in the country competing for twenty-four national championships in late September.

The green flag waves on the 2003 season with the Sprint Vintage Grand Prix, June 20-22. The Sportscar Vintage Racing Association will turn the racetrack into a live action museum with ten classes of racing.

This year’s featured marque of the event will be Corvette, commemorating its 50th anniversary of production. Two Corvette-only races will be run on the weekend, assuring fans of the muscle car will see plenty of action on and off the track during its golden anniversary. The 5th annual British Car Showdown will bring automotive history from across the Atlantic to Mid-Ohio on Saturday.

“Daytona comes to Mid-Ohio” one week later as modern sports cars rumble onto the track for the Mid-Ohio Road Racing Classic, led by the Rolex Sports Car Series, June 27-29. The series will feature the new Daytona Prototypes, making their debut in February at the Rolex 24 at Daytona. These two seat, closed-cockpit cars will be powered by many of the world’s major car manufacturers, including Ford, Toyota, Porsche, and BMW.

The Mid-Ohio Road Racing Classic will provide a unique twist for fans. The Rolex Series race will be held on Saturday evening for the 400 kilometer (110 lap) endurance race. Also participating during the weekend is the Grand-Am Cup Street Stock Series, featuring actual production sports cars with only minimal racing modifications. The Grand-Am Cup will treat fans to twin 200 mile races, with two Grand Sport classes in one race, and two Touring classes in the second.

Harley-Davidson is currently enjoying the year-long celebration of its 100th anniversary, and will serve as the focal point of the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, July 18-20. While the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association’s (AHRMA) road racing would provide a full day of activity alone, enthusiasts should also make time to visit the many off-track activities. Mid-Ohio’s natural terrain provides course for vintage motocross time trials. The annual Will Stoner Swap Meet provides an opportunity to find that rare part to finish rebuilding a bike, or the opportunity to begin a new project. Many other activities and seminars will also be occurring simultaneously around the track’s facilities.

The sounds of history will have barely cleared the air around Lexington when the modern machines begin to rev their engines for the Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire, July 25-27. Annually one of Mid-Ohio’s largest crowds and most exciting race weekends, 2003 will once again feature two Wiseco Superbike 100 races. Miguel Duhamel, the winningest rider in AMA Superbike history, returns with teammate Kurtis Roberts on the HRC Honda Team. 2002 series champion Nicky Hayden has taken his skills to the MotoGP circuits, so Honda has signed former rider Ben Bostrom as their third factory rider. Bostrom, who captured the AMA title in 1998 before testing his skills in Europe, has a built-in rival on the circuit already in younger brother Eric, who captured the Saturday event at Mid-Ohio on his way to a runner-up finish in the 2002 standings on the Kawasaki factory team. Also returning is three-time champion Mat Mladin and Suzuki teammate Aaron Yates. Yates swept both Wiseco Superbike 100 races in 2000 at Mid-Ohio.

Mid-Ohio’s 13th annual dealer ride will once again provide spectators a chance to parade around Mid-Ohio’s 15-turn, 2.4 mile circuit just like their favorite riders. One of the most popular events during the season, the track fills with motorcycles during the lunch break on Sunday.

Defending race champion Patrick Carpentier will lead Bruno Junqueira, Paul Tracy and the rest of the Championship Auto Racing Teams participants to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for the 22nd time for the CART Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio, August 14-17. Wins have historically come in pairs at Mid-Ohio, as Carpentier will attempt to add his name to a list of back-to-back champions that include Bobby Rahal (1985 & 1986), Michael Andretti (1990 & 1991), Emerson Fittipaldi (1992 & 1993), Al Unser, Jr (1994 & 1995), Alex Zanardi (1996 & 1997) and Helio Castroneves (2000 & 2001).

The 40th edition of the Valvoline Runoffs® will celebrate 10 years at Mid-Ohio by crowning this year’s SCCA National Champions September 15-21. Amateur racers from all over the United States will compete throughout the summer to be invited to the “Olympics of Motorsports”, where the qualifiers of each of the twenty-four classes will race for 20 laps for the right to be called National Champion. Among the former Valvoline Runoffs® champions are Bobby Rahal, Jimmy Vasser, Skip Barber, Elliot Forbes-Robinson, Roger Penske and Jim Trueman.

Fans wishing to make Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course their motorsports destination this summer should act soon to take advantage of Mid-Ohio’s All Access Pass. An All Access Pass is available for $200 if purchased before February 14, 2003 and still a tremendous deal for motorsports enthusiasts at $250 after that date. Each pass holder will receive admission, reserve grandstand seating, and paddock pass to each of the events, and a pit pass to the CART Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio. Pass holders will also receive infield parking during the Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire and the CART Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio.

As an added bonus, each pass will include admission to two Dart Kart and all SCCA Regional and National Club events not open to the general public. All Access Pass holders wishing to test their skills behind the wheel will also receive a $50 gift certificate to any driving course offered by The Mid-Ohio School, including the popular Acura High Performance Course. To gather more information or purchase an All Access Pass, call 1-800-MID-OHIO or visit wwww.midohio.com.

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is located approximately halfway between Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio off of Interstate 71. Commonly referred to as the “Most Competitive in the U.S.”, Mid-Ohio hosts six motorsports events throughout the summer, beginning with the Sprint Vintage Grand Prix and including the Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire July 25-27. For event information or tickets, call 1-800-MID-OHIO or visit us on the web at www.midohio.com.