From a press release issued by the AMA:

AMA & NHTSA PARTNER TO COMBAT IMPAIRED MOTORCYCLE RIDING

PICKERINGTON, OHIO — The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today announced a partnership on a national impaired-riding campaign. The program is intended to
educate motorcyclists about the dangers of drinking and riding.

In 2001, 41 percent of the fatally injured motorcycle riders were impaired, with blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 g/dl or greater – the legal limit of impairment in many states. Impaired-riding issues were listed among the urgent recommendations of the National Agenda for Motorcycle Safety, a national plan that was developed by the motorcycling community in late 2000.

“After contributing to the development of the National Agenda for Motorcycle Safety, it’s natural for the AMA to now take the lead in addressing the issue of impaired riding,” said Robert Rasor, President of the American Motorcyclist Association. “The AMA is proud to be the first national motorcycling organization to act on a recommendation of the National Agenda.”

“My years in law enforcement have shown me that alcohol and motorcycles are a deadly combination,” stated NHTSA Deputy Administrator Annette Sandberg. “I commend the American Motorcyclist Association for providing national leadership to help reduce impaired riding among its membership and all motorcyclists.”

The AMA’s “Ride Straight” campaign will develop messages specifically targeting motorcyclists and will incorporate segments of NHTSA’s current “Friends Don’t Let Friends Ride Drunk” campaign.

The AMA will launch Ride Straight in mid-2003.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The 2003 Suzuki GSX-R1000 has surfaced in Europe, and is being introduced to the public at the Intermot show.

The bike features stacked headlights in all-new bodywork, and has a new black frame with straighter main frame spars.

  

It is slightly lighter and makes slightly more power than the 2002 version.

The U.S. model GSX-R1000 is expected to be unveiled at American Suzuki’s dealer show, scheduled for September 23-25 in Las Vegas.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Riding a Suzuki GSV-R MotoGP prototype on Dunlop tires, Akira Ryo finished first in round seven of the All-Japan Road Race Series at Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Japan September 15. Starting from pole position with a time of 2:05.901, Ryo finished the 20-lap race in 42 minutes, 42.475 seconds, 15 seconds ahead of the next competitor.

Because prototype machines race only for exhibition in the All-Japan series, the actual Suzuka Superbike race win went to Atsushi Watanabe riding a Suzuki GSX-R750. Watanabe was just able to hold off Yamaha YZF-R7-mounted YSP Racing and Presto teammates Wataru Yoshikawa and Takeshi Tsujimura by a fraction of a second. Shinichi Itoh finished fourth among the Superbike on a Team Sakurai Honda RC51.

Watanabe now leads the All-Japan Road Race Series point standings by 21 points over Yoshikawa with two rounds and 50 points remaining.

Makoto Tamada was one point behind Watanabe coming into Suzuka, but Tamada crashed his Team Cabin Honda RC51 on lap 12 and DNF at Suzuka. Tamada is now third in the points, 26 behind Watanabe.

Ryo’s Suzuki teammate Yukio Kagayama turned the fastest lap of the race, a 2:06.938 on lap four, but crashed his Suzuki GSV-R prototype out of the race on lap 12.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Mike Sullivan set a new lap record for Spokane Raceway Park on Setember 1, during a WMRRA weekend.

Sullivan set the new record in the Formula Ultra race, riding a Suzuki GSX-R1000 on the 2.5-mile road course located in Spokane, Washington.

His time of 1:29.086 was verified by Troy Moe of Spokane Raceway Park, Inc.

From a press release issued by Team Orthopedics, a team sponsored by a surgeon with crew members all outfitted in scrub shirts like those TV stars:


Jack Pfeifer and Team Orthopedics battle the factories at the first annual Toyota 200 Grand Prix at Willow Springs Raceway!

“We had a great weekend,” says orthopedic surgeon Dr. Paul Canale, who organized Team Orthopedics Racing to sponsor Jack “The Fastest Man in Vegas” Pfeifer. Jack pulled the holeshot on his Suzuki GSX-R1000 to the first corner. After a blistering 10-second first pit stop Jack was handily holding off a great charge by factory Kawasaki rider Tommy Hayden for fourth place when he was black-flagged because a muffler support bolt backed out, a hard lesson for the crew that Loctite is no match for safety wiring. “We lost approximately 90 seconds fixing the problem and got Jack back out where he hammered it home and fought back to a sixth-place finish.”

Travis Ryan, Team Manager:
“In a short two months, we brought together a diverse and capable support team to mount a solid effort to back up our hugely talented rider, Jack Pfeifer, and place him into contention with the well-financed factory-backed efforts. We’re committed to helping Jack win big and establish himself as a recognized champion and we’ve been working feverishly on getting him onto more developed machinery and better equipment. Once we get closer parity on the equipment to the factory guys, Jack will beat them. He has finished top-10 at the AMA national level has an aggressive and sophisticated approach to riding and his training regimen.

“We need to get more power out of the motor and get the suspension dialed in. We have consulted some experienced suspension experts who have gotten us much closer, but we’re still fighting some handling gremlins and Jack can only compensate so much to control high-speed wobbles and loss of traction in the corners.

“We put on an impressive effort with only two months true development work, and our tentative plan is to continue the 2002 WSMC series where Jack is currently leading the points in two classes, and after acquiring more sponsor funding we will be a competitive AMA national team in 2003.”

Team Orthopedics and Jack Pfeifer would like to thank our sponsors, Elite Racing, Galfer brakes, Arrow Exhausts, VP racing fuels, Motorex, Skorpion racing/Texport leathers, Fastrack riders, Dunlop tires, Dynojet, Lockhart Phillips Racing, Hansen and Associates, Allstar Auto, Desert Motorsports, Miguel Duhamel, WSMC, for making Jack’s racing success possible!

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

BAM! Entertainment, makers of World Rally Championship, Dropship and Way of the Samurai, has released Riding Spirits, a new motorcycle riding/racing simulation video game for the Sony Playstation 2.

Similar to the driving simulation game series Gran Turismo, Riding Spirits players earn points by winning races and then use their points to purchase motorcycles and riding gear and to make upgrades to their machines and equipment. Players can choose from nearly 200 officially-licensed Vintage, current and prototype motorcycles from Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Honda and HRC and select from riding gear from Alpinestars, Arai, Dianese, Kushitani, RS Taichi, Shoei, Sidi and Takai.

Riding Spirits features 16 different tracks across Europe, America and Japan, both day and night racing, quick-play mode or career mode, one or two-player, split-screen racing action, several training courses and bonus challenges.

Developed by Spike of Japan over the last two years, Riding Spirits is rated E for Everyone and is available now for an MSRP of $49.99 at most consumer electronics stores.

For more information on Riding Spirits, go to www.ridingspirits.net or www.bam4fun.com

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Photos of a new Suzuki SV1000 have been springing up overseas.

From an AMA Pro Racing press release announcing that former Harley-Davidson factory road racer Chris Carr just won his fourth AMA dirt track title:

CARR DEFENDS HIS AMA PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE U.S. FLAT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP

PICKERINGTON, Ohio–Chris Carr made history Saturday in Tunica, Miss., by becoming only the third rider in the 49-year history of the AMA Grand National Championship to win four titles. Carr, 35, of Fleetwood, Pa., locked up the 2002 AMA Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championship with his fifth-place finish in Tunica. Carr’s 49-point lead going into the final two rounds of the series gives him an insurmountable lead over second-ranked Johnny Murphree. Carr joins Carroll Resweber and Scott Parker as the third rider to win at least four AMA Grand National titles (Parker won a record total of nine AMA Grand National Championships).

Carr got off to a relatively slow start to the season, but after winning round four on the Mile at Springfield, Ill., he took over the series points lead and never relinquished it. For much of the season his lead was a narrow one, but in the later rounds his consistency paid off and he gradually pulled away to secure the No. 1 plate. In all, Carr has scored seven podium finishes with two rounds remaining including two wins on the Springfield Mile and a victory at the new-to-the-series half-mile circuit in Prestonsburg, Ky. In the final two weeks of the season nationals in Columbus, Ohio, and Du Quoin, Ill., will round out the 20-race championship.

“There’s been 12 different winners in our series so far this year,” said the newly crowned Carr. “That speaks volumes for how competitive our series is. There’s no other series in AMA racing right now that can boast that kind of parity and it’s a real testament to new riders coming up and the older riders who are hanging in there. We’ve got a very competitive field of riders right now so it means a lot to me to win a championship in a series like that.”

Carr won the title on a variety of tracks. This year the series featured more TT and short-track circuits to go along with the traditional mile and half-mile tracks.

“To me a perfect series would be five short tracks, five TTs, five miles and five half-miles,” said Carr. “That shows the true balance of a racer. A good balance of variety would produce a true all-around dirt track champion. So I’m glad we’re getting more short-track and TT races in the series.”

Carr rode a stable of bikes tuned by longtime tuner Kenny Tolbert, who has been with Carr in all four of his championships. He campaigned a Harley-Davidson XR750 at the majority of races and rode a combination of equipment at the short track and TT events including VORs and Rotax-based ATKs. Quality Checked Certified Pre-Owned Ford sponsored his effort.

Carr previously won the championship in 1992, 1999 and 2001.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Eric Bostrom is at the Kawasaki dealer convention in San Antonio, Texas and has signed a letter of intent to ride for the team, but company officials have said they are uncertain exactly what they’ll do with him.

The final decision seems to be hinging on what the still-unannounced AMA Superbike rules package is for 2003 and beyond.

Tommy Hayden and Tony Meiring are already signed contracts to ride for Kawasaki again.

The Kawasaki dealer show started yesterday and runs through today. Dealer shows are used to get dealers familiar with a manufacturer’s new-year model line and to take dealer orders.

Kawasaki officials have also hinted that they will introduce a new ZX-10R in mid-2003.


This apparently contradictory press release just in from Bostrom’s manager, Norm Viano:

Eric Bostrom makes his decision

September 16, 2002 – As ‘silly season’ continues to move forward, Eric Bostrom has taken his name out of the ring and has decided to remain a Kawasaki rider. “I’m happy that Kawasaki was very interested in keeping me on a green bike. I’m comfortable here, have had good results with them, my crew is really good, and there are some exciting Kawasaki machines coming in the near future.”

The popular Las Vegas racer has come to terms with Kawasaki for the next two years and will continue to challenge for AMA Road Racing Championships, potentially setting up a brotherly rivalry between brother Ben (who is racing for Honda in the States next year) that would be nothing but healthy for the sport. Fans that enjoyed the fierce battles between Eric and Nicky Hayden this season will certainly enjoy similar, and perhaps even more intense, battles next season. In addition, Eric retains a strong connection to the Kawasaki motoGP project, as he will be testing the machine for Kawasaki before the year is out and again next season. This was a final component that convinced Eric to stay with Kawasaki.

“With this deal, I can’t lose. I have a great opportunity with the Kawasaki motoGP team in the near future, plus I can race in a championship here in the States until then. It’s a championship that I’d like to see grow as it has in the past. And my brother will be home next year, too. I’d like nothing better than to race against Ben, as he’s a fun guy to race against. And the motoGP option is something I really want, as well, so it’s an ideal situation. I can’t lose either way and my goals remain the same; to win championships. Here at home, always. And then to race motoGP for Kawasaki soon. And if we don’t end up racing the motoGP full time next year, maybe that will be a little bit better actually. We can get a little bit of development out of the way and jump on it when it’s a bit more sorted out. I’m obviously excited to be a part of the development, though, and I’m looking forward to riding a bike with all that HP. Hopefully it won’t spoil me, as the Superbike might feel a bit soft after that!”

How does Eric rate his brotherly opponent for next season? “Ben is going to be tough to beat, period. All of his years on the world stage, and he certainly has his act together more than anyone else here. But all the same, he hasn’t seen the tracks here for a few years, so maybe that will play into my hands. It’ll be great fun and good for the sport. Ben’s going to be the guy to beat going into it. He’s got the target on his back and I’d love to take race wins from him and win the championship.”


More, from a press release Viano issued about Meiring’s contract renewel:

Tiger signs

September 16, 2002 – Tracy, CA. Tony ‘the Tiger’ Meiring will return to Kawasaki for the 2003 and 2004 seasons and contest the AMA 600 Supersport and 750 Superstock Championships. The 18 year old rider impressed many last year in his first year as a factory rider and even scored a podium when he finished 2nd at Pikes Peak in the 600 Supersport race there. “I’m really happy to be back with Kawasaki. Their new 636 and 600s are going to be winning bikes, that’s for sure. Last year was a good learning year and I’m going to try to win as many races as I can on the new Kawasakis.”

Although the AMA season ended a month ago, Tony has been training hard in early preparation for next season and is anxious to race Kawasaki’s new ZX-6RR, a bike which he believes will impress many Kawasaki owners and fans. “That new 600 is going to be such a hit for Kawasaki. It’s a race-built bike. It’s very comfortable to ride, but it will also be a great bike to race. When I rode it a few weeks ago, I was able to light up the rear tire. For a stock 600, the power and handling were just incredible. And that new 636 was impressive too. It will certainly help me when I race it in the Superstock class next year”

Considered one of the brightest stars in American road racing, the likeable Californian and AMA Horizon winner (1999) is glad that Kawasaki gave him the chance to show his talents last year. “I’d like to thank Kawasaki for giving me the opportunity last year to do what I love to do, which is race motorcycles. I’m glad that they liked what they saw in me and are expecting more good things from me in the future. I’m looking forward to winning championships for them soon.”

Issued: Monday September 16 2002
From a press release issued by Castrol Honda:

EDWARDS AND SP-2 BREAK IMOLA LAP RECORD

Castrol Honda’s Colin Edwards smashed the lap record at the Imola circuit in Italy on Monday during a one-day test session ahead of the final round of the World Superbike championship.

Edwards was 1.2-second inside the existing record as the 28-year-old American rider goes in search of victory in the decisive 13th round of the
championship at the Imola track on September 29.

He powered the SP-2 Honda machine around the 3.04-mile circuit in 1:48.10 and remains confident of taking a second title, adding to his 2000 success.

“We’ve had a good test, I’ve done a lot of miles and now I’m ready to race,”
said Edwards. “The guys from Michelin and Showa have gone home happy and I think we’re just about set for the final round here next week.”

Edwards’ lap time was also faster than the fastest lap recorded in last year’s inaugural World Superbike round at the famous Italian venue. That lap was set by Ruben Xaus, at 1:48.462 during the Saturday morning qualifying
session.

The Castrol rider added: “It’s OK going fast but the main reason for the test was to find a good race set-up and we¹ve pretty much done that so you
have to say today’s been a success.”

Edwards, winner of the last seven races, leads the championship by one point from defending champion Troy Bayliss as the pair head for a final-round showdown.



More, from another Honda press release announcing that John McGuinness has been replaced:

LAVERTY TO RACE FOR HONDA AT IMOLA

Young Irish rider Michael Laverty will make his World Supersport championship debut at the final round at Imola, Italy on September 29.

Laverty, 21, will join Australian Karl Muggeridge in the Honda UK team for the 12th round, replacing team regular John McGuinness.

Laverty has secured third place in this year’s British Supersport championship on a CBR600 Honda and Honda UK team manager Roger Harvey believes the time is right for the Ulsterman to move onto the world stage.

“Michael has developed tremendously during the 2002 season and after winning three of the last four British championship rounds he deserves this chance,” says Harvey.

Harvey continues: “I spoke with John McGuinness and he fully understands the need to change rider for the final round. John’s tried his hardest this year but has found it difficult to adjust to the cut and thrust of the world championship.”

Laverty will miss the final round of the British championship to take up the offer of a world championship debut.

“It’s a great opportunity for me,” reckons Laverty. “It’ll be great to dip a toe in the water at this level ­ even though I know how tough it will be against the championship regulars.

“I’m looking forward to getting on the Pirelli tyres too, I’ve used them a couple of times and really like them.”

Former Supermoto champion Laverty is hoping the Imola experience can benefit his promising career, he adds: “After racing at Assen earlier this month I’ve certainly taken a liking to the atmosphere and I’m really looking forward to the Italian experience.:


MICHAEL LAVERTY

FULL NAME:
Michael John Laverty

DATE OF BIRTH:
June 7 1981

PLACE OF BIRTH:
Ballymena, N. Ireland

HOME TOWN:
Toombridge, N. Ireland

MARRIED:
No

HOBBIES:
Skiing, cycling, running

FIRST RACE:
1998, Aghadowey, Honda 125

FIRST WIN:
1998, Mondello Park, Honda 125

FAVOURITE CIRCUIT:
Brands Hatch GP circuit

TEAM/MACHINE:
Honda CBR600F Sport

HELMET: Arai
LEATHERS: Dainese
BOOTS: Daytona


Michael Laverty
Career history

1998 Raced a 125cc Honda for Joe Millar Racing, winning numerous club races.

1999 Raced a 125cc Honda for Joe Millar Racing, finishing 15th in British championship. Also finished runner-up in Irish Supermoto championship.

2000 Raced a 125cc Honda for Joe Millar Racing, finishing seventh in British championship. Also won Irish Supermoto championship.

2001 Switched from 125cc class to Supersport class, racing for Team Ireland, finished 15th in British Supersport championship. Finished in third place in Donington Park 125 round, best finish of seventh in Supersport, at Mallory Park.

2002 Racing for Joe Millar Racing in British Supersport championship, finished third with wins at Thruxton, Cadwell Park and Mallory Park. Winner of Dutch round of European Superstock championship at Assen.