Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Larry Denning broke his own track record for Gingerman Raceway in South Haven, Michigan during a CCS regional event August 11. Riding a 2002-model Yamaha YZF-R1 on Pirelli DOT-labeled tires, Denning turned a lap of 1:23.08 to beat his old mark of 1:23.79.

CCS officials just confirmed the lap record last week.

Denning told Roadracingworld.com that he set the time while battling with Fritz Kling and Vesrah Suzuki’s Mark Junge in an Unlimited Supersport sprint race. Denning won all six races he entered over the weekend at Gingerman including GTO, GTU, Middleweight Supersport, Middleweight Superbike, Unlimited Supersport and Unlimited Grand Prix.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Tony Morris has issued an e-mail claiming that his 14K The Movie project is proceeding.

In his e-mail, Morris also announced a motocross movie project and blasted roadracingworld.com editor John Ulrich for writing a First Person/Opinion piece after reading the 14K script, which Morris had called up and volunteered to send him to review.

In his e-mail, sent to companies involved in the 14K project, Morris claimed that Ulrich had agreed not to publish any comment on the 14K script.

In fact, the e-mail to which Morris attached the script contained no restrictions on publication, and Morris did not mention any restrictions when he initially called and volunteered to e-mail the script to Ulrich.

Ulrich commented on the movie script in an opinion piece published on roadracingworld.com, in which he stated he couldn’t understand how running two race teams in two different untelevised racing series had anything to do with raising money to make a movie.

To read that piece, click here.

After Ulrich’s personal opinion piece was posted, Morris claimed he had sent an e-mail–subsequent to his e-mailing the script–asking that no comment be published on the script; that e-mail was never received by roadracingworld.com or Ulrich.

According to timelines published on the 14K website last year, filming was supposed to start last October. Morris’ new communication says filming will start soon, making the actual filming of the project about a year late.

Here, then, is the latest communication from Morris regarding his movie projects:


Greetings from all of us at Orion Marketing and “14K The Movie”!

I just wanted to drop you all a quick note to give you a better picture of what we are up to here at Orion Marketing and the “14k The Movie” project.

The Inception
I started working with a small team in the WERA National Endurance series and got the bug. I raised $50,000 in sponsorship for a race team, and bought a ZX6 R Kawasaki. Through Kawasaki, I was introduced to Eric Wood.

At that point, I started getting to know everyone in the industry both good and bad. I was asked by Mike Murphy of Formula USA if I would be interested in working with them to promote the sport of Motorcycle road racing. The movie idea was born.

I went to Hollywood and spoke to a studio. I put $50,000 of my own money down to get the script written. Draft 5 and 6 months into the project, we went to Suzuki to see if they would be interested. I was now approaching the industry to gain support.

Draft 9, and 3 months later I went back to Suzuki to give them an update and came away with 6 bikes. I started asking the sponsors what they thought of us building a race team to market the movie. They all, without exception, agreed that it was a great idea and all wanted to support the project. The 14k Media team was born.

Next, we went racing. Eric Wood in FUSA, myself, Dennis King and Mike Swank went Endurance racing in the WERA National endurance Series. And soon we found our biggest problem to be the Engine builder. We looked for a company that would be able to benefit from a project of this size, and be able to withstand the bulk of work that it would bring in at the time of the movie release. We located Mike Cox from White Tip Racing out of San Diego, California. Our agreement was that we would supply everything to them for the building of our engines, and they would supply labor free of charge in exchange for the exposure. We then sent them 4 engines.

About a month from the Daytona opening race, all panic was on getting the team ready for our grand unveiling of the 14k Media Team. Finally, the engines arrived 3 days before we were to leave for Daytona. The Team arrived at Daytona, with the bike all painted and looking good.

Day one of the FUSA Weekend.
Debbie Evens, a stuntwoman from Hollywood, takes out one of the GSX R600’s and it starts to make bad noises. Then, Jeff’s motor goes “Bang”! Next, Eric’s motor goes “Bang”! While we are all in the pits working on blown engines, the time comes to go out for the first race, a 200 Mile Challenge. Running around 5th place Dennis crashes the bike in a slow speed low side. About 7 laps from the finish on the race I catch a gust of wind while hauling butt around the “Dogleg”, and then take an off course excursion that ends at the Halifax Medical center. Not cool!

Day two of the FUSA weekend
Out of the 5 bikes we had there, we ended up with just one 600 still working. In fact, we had to borrow an engine to prepare a bike for Eric to race. All but one of the White tip engines had blown up once they were put into the frame. This gave White Tip a scare. But the only thing that they felt could be done is some sort of damage control.

Mike Cox, angry because all his engines had exploded, takes the three blown engines to repair them. At this point, Eric won’t ride another bike with a motor built by White Tip. Cox hears that we are looking for an alternative engine builder and our relationship with White Tip worsens. Mike Cox, realizing that his reputation is in jeopardy, decides to take action by submitting a press release to Road Racing World that we are frauds.

Additionally, he begins making calls to probably everyone he knows in the industry, attempting to save face by slandering our team. Soon, I find myself trying to defend my reputation, wasting important time on personal defense. In doing so, I call on John Ulrich to fill him in on the project and to see if he would like to become involved in the film.

John Ulrich, having not read the script, says that he would like to read it. I sent him the script on the understanding that he not publish anything negative, at which time he did just that. John Ulrich posts a statement saying that he feels that this is all just a scam. Now damage control was required on my behalf, and more valuable time was spent off the project trying to defend my position.

As a result of John Ulrich’s slander, we lost all of our web-based support associates (websites, links, etc). They all feared that John Ulrich would lash out at them as well. For some reason, people seem to be predisposed to believing the first thing that they hear, versus calling to confirm nasty rumors that tend to cost those of us on the receiving end.

The media race team has done well and many of you have told me to run the team again next year, it really depends on the response from this email to whether we do that. As it stands now, we have lost the interest of a few of our sponsors as a result of these slanderous remarks. And though this certainly will not cost us the production of this movie, it does stand to damage the reputations of those of us trying to better the industry through honest efforts and projects like this one. And be it known that I try to avoid negative exchanges, I felt it necessary to inform you of this situation to hopefully steer you from this type of negative influence.

Our Current Status
We sent the script to Ewan McGregor, and have had multiple discussions with his agent. If he agrees to get involved in the film, we have tentative agreements from 4 major studios to co-produce the movie. We now have the following in place:

Attorney
Producer
Writer
Director
Creative Director
Casting Director
Product Placement Group

I still believe that this project will be great for the racing industry and I will continue to look for support for 2003. There are many things that I can do to make this project a reality, but without the support of companies like yours, it will be very difficult and perhaps more than that disheartening as we are trying to promote and help the sport we love. We have had our share of problems along the way, but our biggest problem to date has been one of negativity from others. For some reason, people have gone out of their way to display their feelings against this film. Obviously some people do not want this project to succeed. I don’t know if it is out of jealousy of accomplishment, or if it is just the negative human nature. All that I can say is that I believe in what I’m doing, and have proven it by the amount of money and time that I’ve put into this project. I have literally worked full time on the project foregoing my normal income earning work as my heart and soul and dwindling resources are committed to its success. For those that don’t understand what I’m trying to accomplish, buckle your seat belts! It’s going to be a long ride!

We are looking to start production of the “Colorado Motocross” movie over the winter and many if not all of you will be included as just another way to get you the exposure you are looking at me to give your company, as you
are involved in “14K”. It too is a great movie and the benefit for me is we will capture both ends of the motorcycle spectrum. If you have any questions at all just reply to this email or call me. You should all by now have all my telephone numbers.

Thanks again for all of your support. It won’t be long now, until the filming begins and the movie will begin to take shape!

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Team America Grand Prix Racing’s Jason DiSalvo has offers to ride factory Supersport bikes in both the AMA and World Championships in 2003, but is only really considering his AMA offers, according to his father and team owner, Jim DiSalvo.

The DiSalvos started working toward finalizing Jason’s 2003 deal after returning from the Suzuki GSX-R World Cup races held at Magny Cours, France September 13-14. Jason DiSalvo finished third overall in the Suzuki GSX-R World Cup.

“We’ve been negotiating back and forth ever since we got here on Tuesday (September 17), every day into the evening with phone calls to the west coast trying to make a decision which way we’re going,” said Jim DiSalvo. “The offers are very good. At this point in time, nothing has been decided. We’re still in the negotiation stage, but we’re close. I would say that within a week…I’m hoping by Tuesday or Wednesday (September 24-25). That’s my hope.”

When asked what type of rides they were looking at, Jim DiSalvo said, “Good rides. AMA Supersport here and World Supersport. The European (offer) isn’t as strong as the American.”

DiSalvo’s father said the American offers were better financially and better for Jason’s career.

“American Supersport is good solid racing,” said Jim DiSalvo. “Nobody gives up the line, but they’re not out to kill somebody and World Supersport is. Right now, it is the most cut-throat sport in motorcycles.”

After winning several amateur dirt track Championships in the Northeast United States as a youth, Jason DiSalvo switched to road racing on a Honda RS125 in 1998 at age 14 and won a WERA Novice National Championship in his first season. Racing as an Expert the next year, DiSalvo won the WERA National Challenge Series 125cc GP Championship. Also in 1999, DiSalvo became the youngest American to race in a FIM Grand Prix event, racing at Rio and Argentina as a wild card at age 15, and won the AMA Road Racing Horizon Award. During 2000-2001, DiSalvo competed in several National and continental Championship series in Europe on 125cc and 250cc Hondas, to gain experience on Grand Prix tracks.

At age 18, DiSalvo returned to race in the 2002 AMA National Championships competing in 250cc Grand Prix, Superstock and Superbike. In addition to finishing as the runner-up in the AMA 250cc Championship, DiSalvo won a Superstock race and was the top finishing privateer in several AMA Superbike races, with a best finish of fifth in race two at VIR.

From a press release issued by Michelin:

ROSSI WINS 22nd PREMIER-CLASS CROWN FOR MICHELIN

Italian genius uses new Michelin rain tyre to win rain-lashed Rio GP and MotoGP world title

Valentino Rossi (Repsol Honda Team RC211V-Michelin) reached another landmark in his remarkable career at Rio, winning his 49th GP victory to secure his fourth World hampionship in six years. His 23rd premier-class win also takes him ahead of King Kenny Roberts, Geoff Duke and John Surtees in the all-time winners’ list. The Italian youngster’s tenth win of 2002 was achieved in treacherous conditions, just ahead of arch-rival Max Biaggi (Marlboro Yamaha Team YZR-M1-Michelin). Kenny Roberts (Telefonica Movistar Suzuki GSV-R-Michelin) led much of the race, eventually finishing third, well ahead of local-hero Alex Barros (West Honda Pons NSR500-Michelin) who was top 500 finisher. The only other man to lead was Carlos Checa (Marlboro Yamaha Team YZR-M1-Michelin), who went from last place to first, then fell moments after taking the lead from Rossi.

Rossi’s title success is Michelin’s 11th consecutive premier-class World Championship and its 22nd in 27 years. Michelin riders currently hold the top ten places in the 2002 points chase and are as yet unbeaten in MotoGP. Today’s first eight riders home all used Michelin tyres, Rossi winning with a new compound rear and the first non-Michelin runner 69.9 seconds behind. Biaggi and Checa also used the new tyre, Checa lapping within 7% of the lap record, when 12-15% is a more usual wet-to-dry difference.

“This is like a dream, but it’s too early to explain how I feel because my head’s still full of the race,” said Rossi, whose path to the title was eased when rival Tohru Ukawa (Repsol Honda Team RC211V-Michelin) fell. “I couldn’t see anything in the spray, that’s the main reason I passed Roberts, just to see which way the track went!”

Michelin have been as impressed as anyone with Rossi’s amazing 2002 form. “He’s a very complete racer,” says Michelin’s chief of motorcycle competition Nicolas Goubert. “He never tries the impossible, he never panics and he doesn’t worry about leading every practice session, he just works for the final result. He’s a very complete racer in all conditions.”

Michelin Grand Prix manager Emmanuel Fournier added: “Valentino is very clever and always listens to his tyre technicians and his engineers. He understands good advice, so he’s prepared to experiment, which means he’s excellent for our development programme”

Rossi has won in all conditions with Michelin, in fact he’s become a bit of a wet-weather expert since joining Michelin when he moved to 500s in 2000, winning his first 500cc race in the wet and scoring three more soaking wins this year. “Michelin has done great work this year,” declared Rossi. “The new four-strokes have been a big change, especially for the tyre companies who quickly realised that even their best 500 tyres wouldn’t be enough. Last November, when we first tested the RCV in Europe, the bike was so demanding that we could only do five laps with 500 tyres. We realised that we needed more edge grip, because the four-stroke weighs 145 kilos and all that weight presses through a tiny contact patch, and more traction, because my bike has 150 horsepower when you open the throttle at maximum lean.

“When we first tried the new S4 profile rear last December it was a big, big step forward and since then Michelin have kept making small improvements. The four-stroke’s smoother engine makes the bike easier to control but the tyres work much harder because our bike is the toughest on tyres. There’s no doubt that we’re a bit closer to the limit with the four-stroke, so you have to think about conserving your tyres, but I think that’s only natural because Michelin made great 500 tyres for 25 years, while this is their first year of MotoGP.”

This year Rossi has also benefited from a new Michelin front, introduced midseason. Until then the youngster had used basically the same front for one-and-a-half seasons. “The front is a different story in motorcycles because it’s a psychological thing,” he added. “It’s easy to change rears but once you’ve found a front you like, you stay with it. I stayed with basically the same front for the first half of this season, with just a slightly stronger construction for the four-stroke’s extra weight. I really liked that tyre, it was great for braking and it had very good feel and feedback. But when Michelin gave us the new front, I quickly realised it gives the same feeling with more precise steering, so it’s easier to put the bike where you want to put it.”

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Masao Azuma won the 125cc Grand Prix in Rio, and Arnaud Vincent increased his points lead by finishing second to title-rival Manuel Poggiali’s third.

1. Masao Azuma, Honda, 46:28.675
2. Arnaud Vincent, Aprilia, -1.705 seconds
3. Manuel Poggiali, Gilera, -1.760
4. Gabor Talmacsi, Honda, -9.177
5. Pablo Nieto, Aprilia, -26.468
6. Stefano Perugini, Italjet, -32.745
7. Jorge Lorenzo, Derbi, -34.150
8. Mika Kallio, Honda, -34.488
9. Klaus Nohles, Honda, -036.641
10. Lucio Cecchinello, Aprilia, -40.381
18. Steve Jenkner, Aprilia, -73.948
31. Daniel Pedrosa, Honda, 19 laps, DNF

Points, with 4 races remaining:
1. Vincent, 214
2. Poggiali, 187
3. Pedrosa, 166
4. Cecchinello, 132
5. Jenkner, 122

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Final 250cc Grand Prix Race Results:

1. Sebastian Porto, Yamaha, 22 laps, 47:01.307
2. Roberto Rolfo, Honda, -14.114 seconds
3. Franco Battaini, Aprilia, -15.812 seconds
4. Marco Melandri, Aprilia, -26.998 seconds
5. Toni Elias, Aprilia, -29.533 seconds
6. Casey Stoner, Aprilia, -31.868 seconds
7. Emilio Alzamora, Honda, -45.373 seconds
8. Naoki Matusdo, Yamaha, -71.324 seconds
9. Shahrol Yuzy, Yamaha, -73.787 seconds
10. Leon Haslam, Honda, -75.478 seconds
11. Jaroslav Hules, Yamaha, -76.715 seconds
12. David Checa, Aprilia, -110.844 seconds
13. Erwan Nigon, Aprilia, -118.717 seconds
14. Dirk Heidolf, Aprilia, -132.040 seconds
15. Jakub Smrz, Honda, -1 lap


More, from a press release issued by Aprilia:

From a press release issued by Aprilia:

Aprilia Wins World Manufacturers Championship in 250 Class

Four races from the end of the season, Aprilia has already conquered the manufacturers’ title in the 250 Class.

This is the 16th world title for the Venetian constructor in the World Road Racing Championship, and the 18th in the history of Aprilia when the two Trial titles are also considered.

The 250 championship of 2002 was conquered thanks to 7 wins by Marco Melandri, 3 wins by Nieto, De Puniet’s second place in Suzuka and the Franco Battaini’s third place today.

This the 9th time Aprilia has won the 250 championship, in which it has won 5 rider titles: ‘94, ‘95, 96, ‘98, ‘99, and 4 manufacturers’ titles in ‘95, ‘98, ‘99, 2002.

The Racing Department of Noale’s 250 has won 10 of the 12 races so far this season and the coveted award came today: the world laurels.

Aprilia would like to express its gratitude to the riders, the technicians and the teams for their contribution to the prestigious 2002 title, the latest in a long line of awards won by the Venetian company.

The 2002 season is still far from over and now Aprilia is setting its sights on final victory in the three championships in which it is currently leading the ratings: the 250 riders’, the 125 riders’ and the 125 manufacturers’ championships.


More, from a press release issued by MS Aprilia:

Marco Melandri’s tactical race in Brazil rain.

Aprilia wins 250 Class Manufacturers’ World Championship

Another “tactical” race for Marco “Macio” Melandri – fourth past the chequered flag, but still notching up a further points difference over his closest rival, Aprilia-mounted Fonsi Nieto. The gap has now reached 45 points. After a good start to the race, with good, dry trajectories along the track, a fine but intense rain started coming down again on the eighth lap. At this point, the race needed to be approached with a precise tactic in order not to lose ground in the points ratings. And that is precisely what Marco did. 4 races from the end of the championship, Aprilia has already conquered the Manufacturer’s title in the 250 class, and the young lion from Ravenna has made a huge contribution to this success. Marco has taken the Aprilia RSW 250 to victory no fewer than 7 times this year.

# 3 Marco Melandri – (MS APRILIA RACING) – 4th – 47’28.305

“The dry patches on the track immediately disappeared when it started raining again and things got much more complicated after that. I certainly didn’t want to make any mistakes that might jeopardise things. I’d have loved to win, but if I’d made a slip I just wouldn’t have forgiven myself. Then from the pits they told me Fonsi was down so I was able to take things a bit easier: he’d been behind and had been gaining ground. So I got another 13 very important points for the championship. Porto was great and deserved to win: the first three laps were the ones that assured victory for him: he just upped the pace and it was very hard trying to get hold of him. Now let’s hope the next races are in the dry – I’m a bit fed up with all this rain.”

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Cinzano MotoGP Race Results:

1. Valentino Rossi, Honda RC211V, 24 laps, 49:09.516
2. Max Biaggi, Yamaha YZR-M1, -1.674 seconds
3. Kenny Roberts, Suzuki GSV-R, -18.764 seconds
4. Alex Barros, Honda NSR500, -24.759 seconds
5. Loris Capirossi, Honda NSR500, -32.354 seconds
6. Norick Abe, Yamaha YZR500, -34.360 seconds
7. Olivier Jacque, Yamaha YZR500, -44.250 seconds
8. Sete Gibernau, Suzuki GSV-R, -57.150 seconds
9. Jurgen vd Goorbergh, Honda NSR500, -69.987 seconds
10. Garry McCoy, Yamaha YZR500, -77.611 seconds
11. Jose Luis Cardoso, Yamaha YZR500, -80.837 seconds
12. Nobuatsu Aoki, Proton KR3, -110.774 seconds
13. Tetsuya Harada, Honda NSR500, -1 lap
14. John Hopkins, Yamaha YZR500, -1 lap, crash
15. Regis Laconi, Aprilia RS3, -2 laps, DNF, crash
16. Carlos Checa, Yamaha YZR-M1, -8 laps, DNF, crash
17. Jeremy McWilliams, Proton KR3, -20 laps, crash
18. Shinya Nakano, Yamaha YZR500, -21 laps, crash
19. Tohru Ukawa, Honda RC211V, -23 laps, crash
20. Daijiro Kato, Honda RC211V, -24 laps, crash

MotoGP World Championship Standings:

1. Rossi, 270*
2. Biaggi, 164
3. Ukawa, 156
4. Barros, 118
5. Checa, 116
6. Abe, 109
7. Capirossi, 86
8. Kato, 80
9. Roberts, 74
10. Jacque, 57
11. Hopkins, 51
12. Aoki, 47
13. Nakano, 45
14. TIE, Gibernau/Harada, 42

*With only 100 points available in the four remaining rounds of the 2002 MotoGP season, Rossi clinches his second consecutive World Championship.

More, from a press release issued by Red Bull Yamaha:

RIO GRAND PRIX

SATURDAY, 21st SEPTEMBER 2002
RACE DAY

Garry McCoy and John Hopkins claimed 10th and 14th places respectively at today¹s rain-soaked Rio GP as the Red Bull Yamaha duo were foiled in their efforts to convert early weekend promise into a more positive outcome.

For Australian McCoy, it was a somewhat disappointing conclusion to round 12 of the MotoGP world championship after he had looked back to his best yesterday when grabbing his second front-row start in the last three races.
Unfortunately, the fine and hot conditions that greeted riders for the opening two days of qualifying were replaced this morning by a grey and gloomy skyline.

Conditions were at their worst for the 24-lap MotoGP race and both McCoy and Hopkins found it difficult to make the impact they hoped for as the rain worsened throughout.

McCoy was beset by a visor problem as the spray kicked up by riders in front of him seriously hampered visibility. McCoy’s problem was compounded by rain leaking onto the inside of his visor.

One he felt more confident to push harder, the 30-year-old settled into a good rhythm and set his fastest time of the race on lap 19 despite the tricky conditions.

Hopkins battled his way back into the points having crashed his YZR500 out of 13th place on lap 10. He lost the front end and even though he was able to remount, he cited a poor set-up and poor tire choice for his problems.

GARRY McCOY, ­10th
World Championship 19th, 32 points
“The start was good and I was third going into the first turn. But then I started to get a lot of trouble with my visor. Every time somebody passed me it would fill with water. There must have been a problem and it made it really difficult for me to see anything. About halfway through the race I got my confidence back and when somebody passed me I tried to stay with them, and my lap times started to come down. The Dunlop rear tire was very grippy but I could have done with a bit more grip from the front. It was a pushing a little bit when I got on the gas.”

JOHN HOPKINS, 14th
World Championship 11th, 51 points
“I’m not very happy at all. Pretty much from the start I realized that we didn’t have the right set-up and we’d got the wrong tire choice. I’ll hold my hands up and say I got it wrong because both were my decisions with what to run with. I just went for the wrong choice on tires and set-up but that is all part of learning and getting more experience. I got two points but hopefully things will be better in Japan.”

PETER CLIFFORD ­ DIRECTOR OF RACING
“It was a disappointing afternoon, especially considering that Garry had started from the front row of the grid. It was good to see John pick the bike up and finish the race again but obviously it is not a race that we want to remember. All we can do is look forward to better things in Japan.”

More, from a press release issued by Marlboro Yamaha:

RIO GP, JACAREPAGUA
Race Day, Saturday September 21 2002

MARLBORO YAMAHA TEAM MEN DAZZLE IN RIO GLOOM

Marlboro Yamaha Team YZR-M1 riders Max Biaggi and Carlos Checa played starring roles in this afternoon’s rain-soaked Rio GP, pole-starter Biaggi finishing an excellent second, Checa storming through from last place to first, only to slide off when victory seemed within his grasp.

Checa’s ride through the pack awed the 41,000 fans who’d braved the Rio weather but he got no rewards for his effort, his M1 refusing to start after he’d slid into a trackside gravel trap.

“Carlos was so, so fast, I couldn’t believe it,” declared M1 project leader Ichiro Yoda. “But he gave me a headache at the start -he was in neutral, not first, when the race started. His fighting spirit is incredible; he had caught the leaders so fast that he knew he could win the race if he didn’t make any mistakes. Max had maybe his best-ever ride in the wet and we’re very happy he’s now second overall, this is a good reward for all his effort. The M1 was once again very good this weekend. We have now scored three pole positions in a row and we are always running up front, even when the conditions are bad, I think this shows that our bike is very user-friendly.”

BIAGGI FINISHES SECOND, NOW SECOND OVERALL
Max Biaggi isn’t a great fan of riding in the rain but the Marlboro Yamaha Team star was in sparkling form at rain-lashed Rio this afternoon, riding to a superb second-place finish that moves him to second overall, ahead of Tohru Ukawa (Honda) who fell on lap two. The Marlboro Yamaha Team man started well from pole position, holding third place just behind Kenny Roberts (Suzuki) and Valentino Rossi (Honda). When Rossi took the lead, Biaggi also passed Roberts and was then briefly demoted back to third by team-mate Carlos Checa, ending the race just 1.6 seconds down on Rossi.

“It was very wet out there but I felt comfortable,” said Biaggi after his sixth podium finish of the year. “I was trying to ride my own race and ride my best, then I saw my pit board saying ‘Ukawa out’, so I automatically slowed down because I was looking for the points to go to second overall. Considering how we started the year I think moving into second is a great result, so thanks to everyone in the team and at Yamaha. I’d also like to congratulate Rossi on winning the title, he deserves it. Now I will focus on continuing my battle with Ukawa at the last four races.”

CHECA: FROM LAST TO FIRST, THEN.
Carlos Checa staged one of the most remarkable comebacks in modern racing history today, recovering from dead last to take the lead seven laps from the flag, only to fall a few corners later. The Marlboro Yamaha Team man found himself in neutral when the race started and was last away from the grid but was quickly down to business, carving through the pack at astounding speed, often lapping over a second faster than the leaders and at one stage 2.5 seconds quicker.

“I thought I was in first gear for the start, but I wasn’t,” said the calm and philosophical Spaniard. “After that I said: ‘Okay, I’ll try my best’. The bike and tyres were working very well, so I just concentrated on my riding and I was amazed at how fast I caught the leaders. When I was with Biaggi, Roberts and Rossi I took my time, then I took the lead from Rossi because it was more comfortable to have a clear track ahead, there was just too much water around when I was behind them. I flicked into that turn the same as I had before, but maybe something was different. I was focusing on the front going into the corner and the rear lost grip, I don’t know why. So now I must look to Motegi. I’m confident because Yamaha have done a great job with the bike, you could see that today, that’s why I re-signed with them, I have 100 percent faith in the M1 project.”

ROSSI CLAIMS MotoGP TITLE
Valentino Rossi wrapped up the first-ever MotoGP title with his fifth consecutive Rio race victory, adding the crown to his previous successes in the 500, 250 and 125 World Championships. He was virtually assured of the crown after sole title-rival and team-mate Tohru Ukawa fell on lap two.

“This is like a dream for me, but it’s too soon to express how I feel,” he said. “The race wasn’t easy, it was so wet I couldn’t see. That’s why I took the lead from Kenny, so I could see where I was going.” Rossi’s last four victories have all been inherited from riders crashing ahead of him, but, as racing’s favourite maxim says: to finish first, first you must finish.

More, from a press release issued by Proton Team KR:

DIRE WEATHER TURNS RIO GP SOUR FOR PROTON TEAM

Round 12: Rio GP, Jacarepagua
Race: Saturday, September 21, 2002

Nobuatsu Aoki: 12th
Jeremy McWilliams: Did Not Finish

Proton Team KR ran out of luck today at the Rio GP. After the strongest-yet qualifying performance, with Jeremy McWilliams starting from the front row of the grid and Nobuatsu Aoki close behind, the race started going bad from the first corner. Aoki was hit by another rider and pushed off the track, rejoining in a distant last place. Jeremy escaped the carnage, and was running a strong fifth after four laps … only to crash out when unexpectedly cold conditions caused his engine to seize.

The race was run in streaming wet conditions, which would usually favour the lightweight three-cylinder two-stroke 500, especially at a track where its agility and high corner speed more than compensated for a relative lack of top speed compared with the new-generation 990cc four-strokes.

McWilliams started strongly, fourth at the end of the first of 24 laps of the 4.933km circuit. He was holding up well after being passed by Brazilian rider Alex Barros. Then the engine nipped up without warning as he entered the first corner to start lap five. The rear wheel locked, and he was thrown heavily over the high side, landing hard and suffering a small fracture to his right collarbone.

Aoki’s problems began when Sete Gibernau’s Suzuki failed to stop for the first corner. He collided with Aoki, and though the Japanese star managed to stay on the bike, he ran right across the gravel trap and onto the grass at the far side, giving him a long and slow journey to regain the tarmac. The collision left him with a painful injury to his right elbow, but he ignored the stiffness and swelling, and made for the finish as best he could, ending up as the last rider on the same lap as the leaders.

The sodden race was won by defending champion Valentino Rossi, who also secured the first MotoGP four-stroke world championship as a result. Next season, Proton Team KR will return with a 990cc V5 four-stroke of their own, but will first conclude this season with a rearguard defence of 500cc two-stroke honour.

NOBUATSU AOKI
A terrible afternoon. I started well and I was just tipping in to the first corner when Sete ran right into me. His handlebar hit my elbow a painful blow – it’s very swollen now. It took a very long time to get back to the track, miles behind everybody else. Apart from my painful arm, my other problem was that my front wet tyre didn’t work as well as it did in the morning warm-up, so it was very difficult. I just have to hope for better luck at Motegi, my second home GP, in two weeks.

JEREMY McWILLIAMS
The race was going really well until that point -it was dead easy. We don’t have a really good wet rear tyre yet, and considering that I think I was doing rather well. I was fifth, and I felt I could hold on to that for a while, though I’m not sure what would have happened later on. The pace may have increased, but I was able to stay with Barros quite easily. The engine seized right as I closed the throttle and went down a gear for Turn One. The rear locked and it high-sided me. It was all over in a split second. I landed heavily and I have a small fracture, but I’ll definitely be back for Motegi in two weeks.

TOM O’KANE – Chief Race Engineer
It seems that Jeremy’s engine suffered a cold seizure. It was running 60-65 degrees in warm-up, and we added extra tape to mask the radiator, but in the race there was a lot more water splashing around, and the engine was running ten degrees cooler. It just nipped up one of the cylinders.

More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service:

ROBERTS TAKES TOP-THREE ROSTRUM IN RIO

MotoGP – Round 12, Jacarepagua, Brazil, September 21, 2002

Team Telefónica MoviStar Suzuki rider Kenny Roberts Jr. took his best result of the year so far and his first rostrum finish on the new four-stroke GSV-R racer in a rain-sodden Rio GP today, leading half the race, and finishing third.

Team-mate Sete Gibernau finished eighth to make a double top-ten for the team, in a brave ride after being involved in a first-corner incident that meant he finished the first lap last but one.

Roberts was following up fourth place at Portugal two weeks before, and overcame a fourth-row grid position and appalling conditions to burst through to the front, taking the lead on the second of 24 laps of the 4.933km Nelson Piquet circuit outside Rio de Janeiro. Roberts had been fastest in the damp morning warm-up, and with the rain now falling constantly the 2000 World Champion stayed in front until after half distance, when he lost the position to eventual winner Valentino Rossi.

Kenny dropped to fourth in a fierce battle up front, and was promoted to third when one of the protagonists, Carlos Checa, fell off after taking the lead. Rossi went on to win, securing the first MGP World Championship, with Max Biaggi second and Roberts a secure third.

Sete had an equally dramatic afternoon, for different reasons. A problem going into the first corner meant he collided with another rider, triggering a chain reaction that ended with Sete and three other competitors right off the track and over the gravel trap, losing a lot of time before being able to rejoin. In spite of the pain from his dislocated collarbone sustained two weeks ago, Gibernau set about improving his position, pulling through from 18th on the first lap to an eventual eighth.

KENNY ROBERTS – Third Position
“I was in the right place at the right time after starting from the fourth row of the grid, and I was up to second by the third corner. I knew from warm-up that I had a good pace. My pit board was only showing me the gap with Valentino, so I was trying to look at other people’s boards to see how the race was panning out. After 12 laps, Valentino passed me. I decided I would do everything he did, but he opened the gas in a place in the corner where I couldn’t even think of it. Then Biaggi and Checa came by me on the back straight – I didn’t expect them at all, and it gave me quite a fright. As the fuel load lightened I wasn’t able to load the front wheel as I needed, and the new clutch was dragging the back down. The team and the factory are working hard on making the bike better – you can measure the improvement. At the start of the year I could barely ride the bike in the wet. Now I can lead the race and finish on the rostrum.”

SETE GIBERNAU – Eighth Position
“I had a problem slowing for Turn One, and I couldn’t get the bike to stop. I hit another bike and ran right off the track. It took a long time to get back on, and my race was already over by then. After that, I just did my race as best I could, and managed to get back into the top ten.”

GARRY TAYLOR – Team Manager
“It was awesome to see Kenny come from the back of the grid into second in just three corners, and then to see him lead the race for 12 laps. Finishing on the podium is not quite perfect, but it’s pretty close, and obviously shows how Suzuki have got the bike from where he could barely ride it in the rain to almost being able to dominate. It looks as though the Kenny who won the title is back, but we knew that he’d never really gone away. Sete had a brave ride, in a lot of pain, with a lot of disadvantages in tough conditions. The bike is obviously getting a lot better; and I have to say that the Michelin tyres were fantastic.”

More, from a press release issued by Honda:

HONDA RACING NEWS

MotoGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2002
CINZANO RIO GRAND PRIX, BRAZIL
Race Day, Saturday September 21st, 2002

ROSSI WINS WET RIO RACE AND MotoGP CHAMPIONSHIP

Valentino Rossi (Repsol Honda Team RC211V) scored his tenth win of the 2002 season and in doing so was crowned champion of racing’s premier class for the second successive year, with only 12 of 16 rounds completed. The latest triumph of man and machine also means that Honda’s RC211V and Rossi have taken the first title win in the new era of four-stroke based MotoGP regulations.

Rossi’s championship winning race performance was the culmination of a dramatic and incident filled 24-lap event at the Nelson Piquet circuit, situated in the outskirts of Rio. His main championship rival Tohru Ukawa (Repsol Honda Team RC211V) fell after completing only one lap, and from then on Rossi appeared content to sit behind Kenny Roberts (Suzuki) until lap 14, when the Italian rider subsequently took the lead, a lead that was only headed for a corner or two during the rest of the 118.392km race. A rash of crashes meant that there were only 14 finishers at a drenched Rio circuit.

Showboating to the finish by repeatedly backing the rear of his V5 Honda into the fast turn one, despite the soaking track surface, Rossi kept his head throughout to end his race 1.674 seconds clear of second place rider Max Biaggi (Yamaha); the only other man in with a pre-race mathematical possibility of overhauling Rossi’s points total.

For Rossi, winning the first ever MotoGP championship under the new combined 990cc four-stroke/ 500cc two-stroke formula was more than just an ambition achieved. Proof of his joy was evident during an extravagant post-race celebration, which saw Rossi hold a replica World Cup soccer trophy aloft for the cameras, alongside members of his fan club dressed in Brazil strips – a homage to the host country’s status as the most successful nation in world football

“It is fantastic to win this world championship. It’s my fourth world title and that is like a dream for me,” said the 23-year-old Italian-born London resident. “We were really hoping for a dry race because we had worked so hard to get better settings for the dry. But it was wet and it is always difficult in these conditions.

“On the second lap I read ‘Ukawa Out’ on my pit board so I was happy to follow Kenny Roberts. Then the rain started to fall too hard to let me see properly in the spray from his rear tyre. I knew which way the track went, but I could not actually see it, so I decided to overtake. I could see the track clearly from then on but I knew from my pitboard that Max Biaggi was closing behind and realised he would not give up. When Carlos Checa came past it was like he came from another planet until he fell. After that I wanted to keep the gap to Biaggi behind and make sure of the win.”

Summing up his 2002 season to date Rossi said: “We did a lot of work on the new machine in the winter and Honda came up with a very good bike from the beginning of the season. So we had a clear advantage for the first three or four races. Then the other manufacturers started to catch up, but to win ten races and take the title four races early is fantastic.”

Rossi’s impressive points total, after 12 of 16 races, is 270, with Biaggi now second on 160 and Ukawa third on 156.

Local hero Alex Barros (West Honda Pons NSR500) was the top two-stroke finisher, in a fine fourth place, overcoming his lowly start position with some élan.

“I am not frustrated to be one place off the podium at my home race,” said a smiling Barros. “I rode well and I won the two-stroke race so I am very pleased about that. I did not have the same traction as the four-strokes but my back tyre performed very well. Now I am fourth in the championship and if I ride the four-stroke in Motegi then I will be able to fight to keep this position.”

Loris Capirossi (West Honda Pons NSR500) finished seven seconds behind his teammate, after displaying caution and aggression in equal measure.

“I am happy because I consider I had a good race,” said Capirossi. “I did not make a good start and in the beginning I took it easy in order to gain more and more confidence in the difficult track conditions. When I felt more comfortable I stepped up the rhythm, but I had a lot of difficulty passing riders in front of me.”

Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Kanemoto Racing Honda NSR500) started well, fourth into the first turn, but fell back to a final ninth place after failing to find sufficient grip from the front end of his machine over full race distance.

Said the disappointed Dutchman; “I could do 2:04.5, maybe 2:04.0 laps but no more; that was my limit because the front tyre would not allow me to go any faster. I am a little disappointed because we had a good first two or three laps.”

A 13th place finish for Tetsuya Harada (Pramac Honda NSR500) was the result of the Japanese rider having to ride conservatively due to a lack of grip.

“We have been having problems with the set-up from the beginning of the year until now,” said Harada. “In the dry we have a lack of grip and in the wet we also have a lack of grip. In any conditions it is the same for us. I did not try to push hard because of this today and was careful to bring the bike home.”

Tohru Ukawa saw his slim chances of overall championship success disappear when he fell from his machine on lap two, while lying in fourth position. The fully wet track proved to be the undoing of many riders, but for Ukawa, the price he paid was heaviest of all.

“Obviously I feel disappointed,” said Ukawa from pitlane. “The whole team has worked very hard over the weekend and I feel like I have let everyone down. I knew I had to put in a good start from the third row of the grid and at the end of the first lap I was fifth. Then I fell. I don’t know why yet. Me or the machine? We need to look at the data and then we will find out. I just need to think positive and look forward to the remaining four races to do my best.”

Daijiro Kato (Fortuna Honda Gresini RC211V) was forced off the track on the opening lap and failed to finish the race, having gone too far into the trackside gravel beds to return to the tarmac.

“I didn’t see who touched me but I felt a bang on the side of the fairing and I found myself in the gravel trap – and fell,” said a regretful Katoh. “I’m very sorry because we had a really good setting for the wet conditions.”

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Forget that report about Tony “The Tiger” Meiring riding with Michael Hannas and Ken Hill in the AFM 4-hour at Sears Point this weekend.

Meiring has decided against riding the 4-hour after consulting with Kawasaki Road Race Manager Mike Preston.

“It was never 100% that I would do it,” Meiring said early Friday evening. “I said that I wanted to do it but that I would have to check with Preston, and I actually had a call into him. I told everybody I had a call into Preston.

“When he called me back, he said he doesn’t want me to go ride around for 4 hours on a bike I’m not super familiar with, and have something happen that could hold me back for some testing that’s coming up. It was a mutual agreement (not to do it).”

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

World Championship Motorsports (WCM), the team owned and operated by American Bob MacLean and Brit Peter Clifford, will continue in MotoGP despite Red Bull pulling its support at the end of this season.

That’s the word from Clifford, speaking at Rio today.

“We have every intention of continuing and it’s still our plan to run Moriwaki Hondas,” Clifford told Roadracing World Grand Prix Editor Mat Oxley. “You can’t blame Red Bull, they’ve put in a lot over the last six years, but without a win for the last two.”

Oxley reports that the team asked for a 30% bigger budget to run 4-strokes in 2003.

The team, which is negotiating with a number of potential sponsors, has Garry McCoy and John Hopkins under contract for 2003.

The team, now known as Red Bull Yamaha WCM, has been campaigning YZR500 Yamahas since its inception.

Red Bull has soured on an association with Yamaha in particular and Japanese brands in general and is thought to be planning a 2004 return to MotoGP with KTM, which, like Red Bull, is based in Austria.