From a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service:

FRANCE TAKES AN EARLY LEAD IN GSX-R WORLD CUP

Magny Cours, France, September 12th:

OLIVIER FOUR from France claimed provisional pole position during the first qualification for the Suzuki GSX-R Cup Final at Magny Cours today.

Frantic action filled the first 25-minute long qualifying session, with Four consistently heading the time-sheets – he is the only rider to get under 1m 46s for the lap. Four, a Suzuki dealer during the week, is very familiar with the Magny Cours circuit. In 2001, the 24-year-old rode for the Suzuki Endurance Race Team junior team in World Endurance. This year he is lying third in the French Superstock Championship on a GSX-R1000.

Four said: “Today the track was better than yesterday, that’s for sure. My GSX-R750 is going very well, but I am having a problem with the footpegs because they are too low and I cannot turn my feet. I can take another one-second off my lap time tomorrow. Maybe even a bit more if I need to.”

Behind the French rider was 32-year-old Italian veteran Giuseppe Fiorillo. The Italian is no stranger to top-level racing and as well as finishing second in the Italian GSX-R Cup this year, he raced in 125 Grands Prix in 1990-91 and won the 250cc European Championship in 1993. Fiorillo, a mechanic by trade, said: “Today was mostly about learning the track. During the session, I suffered from a spongy front brake and we are checking it now. Tomorrow we shall check our tyres as we didn’t change from the first two practice sessions. There is long life in these tyres and it might be better to race on a set already scrubbed in. Tomorrow we think we can go better.”

In third place after first qualifying is 22-year-old Australian hot-shot Scott Charlton. He said: “I love the track, it is just great. I made a few mistakes, but I am still learning the circuit. I’m not far off and pretty pleased with my position.”

The final place on the provisional front row will be taken by 28-year-old French rider Stephane Jond. The quality of the riders competing was evident in the close qualifying times, with the top 10 riders separated by just two seconds.

While most riders are looking forward to second qualifying and the first race tomorrow, British rider Benjie Cockerill was forced to retire. Cockerill, 21, cracked his right wrist in an accident last month and rode through practice. But today the pain was too much and he decided to retire from the event.

Suzuki’s GSX-R Cup Final 2002 brings together the best motorcycle riders from around the globe to compete on identical GSX-R750 machinery. Riders will race in two finals – one on Friday 13th, the second on Saturday 14th. Each competing country is desperate to win the title for national pride. Every rider uses a Suzuki GSX-R in their home country and is already familiar with the awesome performance of the GSX-R range, which started the race-replica class of motorcycles in 1985 with the first GSX-R750.

Results, First Qualifying: 1: O Four (France) 1:45.725, 2: G Fiorillo (Italy) +0.353, 3: S Charlton (Australia) +0.762, 4: S Jond (France) +0.931, 5: S Brogan (UK) +1.154, 6: J Kirkham (UK) +1.376, 7: T Fluckiger (Switzerland) +1.502, 8: KH Hennemann (Germany) +1.612, 9: L Conforti (Italy) +1.967, 10: John Dugan (USA) +2.067.

Honda has released the European-spec CBR600RR and is showing U.S.-spec models to dealers this week.

From a press release issued by Dorina Clarke, 2002 AMA Superbike Media Relations Manager:

I have decided not to pursue the position of AMA Chevy Trucks Media Relations Manager for 2003. Though it wasn’t easy, coming to this decision was based on professional, analytical and personal reasons.

What I will miss the most is working with the the teams, all of the riders and media. That part of the job was by far the best.

I do hope to continue working in the sport but at a different capacity. Hopefully it will be doing something that brings value to the series and
makes a positive impact for the teams and riders.

For more information, I can be reached via email at [email protected] or by calling (253) 261-5723.

From a press release issued by WERA:

WERA National Series Brings Motorcycle Road Racing to Texas World Speedway

COLLEGE STATION, Tx.- WERA Motorcycle Roadracing will bring its signature excitement and competition to Texas when the WERA National Challenge Series and the WERA/GMD Computrack National Endurance Series visit Texas World Speedway, September 14-15.

The WERA National Series features the top amateur motorcycle road racers and some of the most thrilling racing in the United States.

On Saturday, September 14, the penultimate round of the WERA/GMD Computrack National Endurance Series will get underway at 11:30 a.m. The six-hour race features five classes of motorcycles, including Lightweight Superbike, Mediumweight Superstock and Superbike, and Heavyweight Superstock and Superbike.

Vesrah Suzuki won every round of the season on their Suzuki GSX-R1000 until the most recent race, when Semoff Brothers Racing (SBR) came and took the victory. SBR will compete at Texas World Speedway, as well, and both teams will be fighting to keep their bikes out front.

On Sunday, September 15, the WERA National Challenge Series will feature ten sprint races, each consisting of ten laps around the 2.9-mile road course at Texas World Speedway. The WERA Sportsman Series, featuring local riders, will also be run. Their eight races will be eight laps each.

The National Challenge and Sportsman Series races are divided according to the engine size of the motorcycles, as well as the amount of modifications made to them. Superbike races are for the bikes that have been the most modified, while Superstock classes are nearly identical to stock motorcycles.

Among the popular National Challenge Series races are Open Superstock, which features stock motorcycles of unlimited engine size. The 600 Superstock and 750 Superstock classes have large grids and intense battles for the lead, and are also fan favorites.

Tickets for the WERA National Series at Texas World Speedway are available for $20 for the weekend and $15 for Sunday only. Camping is also available for fans. More information, including directions to the Speedway, can be found on the Internet at www.TexasWorldSpeedway.com or by calling the track at 979-690-2500.

Since 1974, WERA Motorcycle Roadracing has showcased the talents of amateur motorcycle racers. Many of WERA’s former champions have gone on to successful professional careers in AMA Pro Racing, Grand Prix, World Superbike and Formula USA. Close competition and fresh talent are the hallmark of WERA Motorcycle Roadracing.

This just in, via e-mail:

With the 2002 AMA Superbike season behind me, I can reflect back on every round and smile. I am not a rider, mechanic or support person for any team. I am an avid fan. For a while I have been able to say that I love the sport; now I can say that I love the people in the sport, too.

I have always made cookies for CCS Florida race days for crew, riders and friends. Once I started to attend more national races, I started to make cookies for my friends’ sponsors and support people as well. This grew into such a tradition, that this season I have made about 40 dozen cookies for every race in the series except Road America (where I did not have enough time between races to make the dough and bake) and I handed them out to 16 teams and support crew. I have been asked repeatedly why I go through so much trouble and expense to prepare, bake, package and haul all of these cookies to the races. While you might think this is a great trouble for me, I feel it is a small gesture from which I have profited greatly. Read on and you will understand.

I have made so many friends the past few years that I feel compelled to thank them. Every week I have been told by riders and crew how much they appreciate what I do for them, I would like to let them all know how much I appreciate what they have done for me:

First of all, to everyone on teams Valvoline Emgo Suzuki, Factory Yamaha and Graves Yamaha thank you for allowing me to spend time with your teams on pit road during the races. I am so grateful to have the experience of being that close to the action on the good days and the not so good ones. It was incredibly exciting (when I could handle it, right Jeff?) and Damon, I was very proud to be your umbrella girl. As I told you before, you and your team are first class.

I also need to mention Team Corona Extra Suzuki. I felt like your pit area was home; there was always food, fun and beverage. Did I mention fun? Thank you for your ceaseless hospitality and the warm welcomes I received whenever I arrived at the track. Both were unmatched.

For the Bridgestone crew, thank you so much for letting me hang out at your trailer this entire year. I appreciate you toting my cereal to every race to ensure that I always had breakfast.

Opie and Terry, thanks for the sandwiches and the brotherly advice. Most of all, I am very proud of your successes this year. I know it has taken a great deal of effort but look how your efforts have been rewarded. Great job!

Tony and Tim from MRO, I am so glad that you are at the races. Many people, including me, would not be able to go to church at all if your services were not on race weekends. So, thank you!

Thanks to the Dunlop guys, who gave me the nickname “Cookie.” Yes, my last name really is Baker.

Thanks to the guys at Factory Honda, Bruce Transportation Group and Erion Racing for your hospitality. Hopefully I did not get too many of you in trouble when I talked your ears off.

Mark from Alpinestars, thanks for lending me the perfect reclining chair when I needed a rest.

Joey, David and Hugh thanks for at least one really hard laugh nearly every race weekend. Even now, I can laugh out loud with the memories I have.

With the AMA, thank you Leah for always greeting me at registration with a smile and thanks for the pool lessons, Mandi!

I have tried to include as many people as possible. Please forgive me if I did not mention you personally. Nonetheless, thank you for all of the hugs and the hospitality throughout the year. This season has been unforgettable for me because of all of you and, most of all, your friendship.

One last thing, my hand mixer’s motor burned up while making my last batch of cookies for VIR, believe it or not. So, we can all thank Jake Zemke when there are cookies next year because he put money towards a new Kitchen Aid commercial mixer. Thanks Jake!

I will miss you all during the off-season. I will see you in March, but hopefully sooner.

Much love,

Christine “Cookie” Baker

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Las Vegas Extremes video star Pauly Sherer is planning to enter both the Willow Springs Motorcycle Club’s (WSMC) Toyota 200 (mile) race and Fastest Wheelie competition at Willow Springs International Raceway September 13-15 in Rosamond, California.

Sherer, known best for stunt riding in the Las Vegas Extremes videos and winning several Xtreme Stunt Bike Association (XSBA) competitions, is also an Expert road racer with CCS and Formula USA.

Qualifying for both the Toyota 200 and the Fastest Wheelie contest has taken place over several WSMC weekends during the summer. Final qualifying for both will take place Friday, September 13 at Willow Springs. The Fastest Wheelie finals will happen at 12:00 p.m. Sunday, September 15. The Toyota 200 is scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m. Sunday.

The WSMC Fastest Wheelie competition is opened to WSMC licensed racers in full racing leathers. The contest will be held on the Willow Springs front straightaway and speeds will be measured with a radar gun.

For more information, contact Willow Springs International Raceway’s administration office at 661-256-2471 or e-mail [email protected].

From a press release issued by Formula USA:

2002 Daytona Race of Champions CCS/NRRS Mailer Now Available On-Line!

Due to a delay in the printing schedule, the 2002 Daytona Race of Champions Pre-entry Mailer is now available to be downloaded from our website at www.ccsracing.com. You can either download the entire mailer or just the CCS pre-entry form. Pre-entry forms for the National Road Race Series are the same as for all previous NRRS events and are available on-line as well. The regular printed mailers will go out in the mail to everyone on September 16, 2002.

Please note that the pre-entry deadline for the Race of Champions is September 27, 2002. Sorry, no exceptions.

For additional information, please call Formula USA at 817-332-4822.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

AFM South, once the road racing leader in Southern California, will be revived starting in 2003, with races at California Speedway and Buttonwillow Raceway.

That’s the word from insiders following a recent AFM Board meeting.

At one time AFM ruled road racing in California, with Chapters based in Berkeley (AFM North), Norwalk (AFM South) and Sacramento (AFM Sacramento). The organization, which was founded in 1954, was the FIM affiliate in the United States in the 1960s, and held GP-style road races when AMA events still featured dirt-track bikes on pavement.

AFM Sacramento folded up in the 1970s and AFM South dried up and was dissolved over a decade ago; the club was banned from Willow Springs in a dispute with track owner Bill Huth and lost alternative venues when other Southern California tracks–such as Riverside International Raceway–closed down.

AFM North became AFM (period), and the organization has prospered with record rider turnouts at its home track, Sears Point, along with strong participation at Thunder Hill and Buttonwillow.

In its heyday, AFM South had far more members in Southern California than WSMC, Willow Springs’ captive race sanctioning organization, currently has. At one time, AFM South held races at Willow Springs and at Carlsbad International Raceway, as well as at now-defunct Ontario Motor Speedway in Ontario, California; Orange Country International Raceway in Irvine; and Riverside International Raceway in Riverside. Prior to Thunder Hill and Buttonwillow being built, AFM North held races at Sears Point and, infrequently, at Laguna Seca.

A public announcement of the revival of AFM South is expected soon.

This just in, via e-mail from Bridgestone’s John Robinson:

Bridgestone will have the service truck at the FUSA/CCS final event at Daytona and the GNF at Road Atlanta during the month of October. We will service all riders currently using our race products and will be happy to talk with those riders interested in using our products for 2003.

To learn more about our current road race tires, riders can view our website at www.motorcycle-karttires.com or they can contact me at [email protected].

From press releases issued by Team Suzuki News Service:

GSX-R CUP FINAL GETS STARTED

Magny Cours, France, September 10th:

SUZUKI’S first GSX-R Cup Final event got off to an exciting start at Magny Cours, France on Tuesday, September 10.

Riders from all around the world made their way to the French track to enter the prestigious competition that will be run on Friday 13th and Saturday 14th of September in a nail-biting double header that will support the famous Bol d’Or 24-hour endurance race.

With around 80,000 spectators expected to flock to the track, the competing GSX-R Cup nations have pulled out all the stops to assemble a top class field that promises close racing.

Brian Livengood, a regular top-10 rider in the AMA Superbike series, heads the US challenge, while Steve Brogan from the UK comes to the event after finishing a credible third in the eighth round of the European Superstock Championship at Assen last weekend. And the home French team of Oliver Four, Stephane Jond and Jerome Tancre promise to be tough to beat. They are down for racing in the Bol d’Or 24-hour race after the second GSX-R Cup final on Saturday morning.

Alongside these riders are a host of national champions and riders from as far afield as Norway to Brazil or Australia. There is a lot of young new talent on display, as well as a few old hands – Norway’s Rolf Andreas Wallin is a nine-times road racing champion and will be tough to beat.

Today the riders got the chance to meet each other, discuss the super-strict rules that sees them all compete on identical Suzuki GSX-R750 machines with minimal changes allowed, and draw lots for the bikes they’ll ride.

While each rider took it in turn to pick a bike at random, they were informed that they couldn’t pick bike number one – that machine will be used by America’s 1993 500cc World Grand Prix Champion, Kevin Schwantz for demonstration laps later in the week.

With the rules explained by Hiroshi Kochi from Suzuki’s Planning Group, Motorcycle Division I, and the bikes allocated to each rider, all that remains is for the practice sessions to start tomorrow.

Suzuki’s GSX-R Cup Final 2002 brings together the best motorcycle riders from around the globe to compete on identical GSX-R750 machinery. Riders will race in two finals – one on Friday 13th, the second on Saturday 14th. Each competing country is desperate to win the title for national pride. Every rider uses a Suzuki GSX-R in their home country and is already familiar with the awesome performance of the GSX-R range, which started the race-replica class of motorcycles in 1985 with the first GSX-R750.



RIDERS IN ACTION AT THE GSX-R CUP FINAL

Magny Cours, France, September 11th:

THE competitors in the Suzuki GSX-R Cup Final took to the track for the first time today in two un-timed practice sessions.

The first 25-minute long session was blessed with dry conditions until the last five minutes, when rain started to fall.

The second 25-minute session took place less than an hour later and the heavens opened, drenching the circuit in water. Only a handful of brave riders ventured on to the track after the thunderstorm to try out their wet weather tyres. Amongst these hardy souls were the riders who have never raced at Magny Cours before and were desperate to learn the track.

While rain stopped many of the riders from making it out in the second session, it also caused drama for the German and Brazilian teams. With a dry track turning quickly wet in the first session, both riders fell off their bikes. Brazil’s Superbike Champion Jadson Pina Laurett was unhurt and his bike suffered only minor damage. Germany’s Jan Martensen was also unhurt, but a huge dent in the right side of his frame meant a tense wait while officials investigated if his GSX-R750 was damaged beyond repair. Fortunately for him the frame was still straight and he is allowed to continue in the event. There is a one-strike and you are out rule in the GSX-R Cup – if a rider suffers a crash and there is major damage, then they are automatically disqualified.

Without any official times to compare, the riders used most of their practice time on track familiarising themselves with its tight turns.

After receiving their bikes early in the morning, the national teams spent the day making what minor adjustments they are allowed under the rules.

Thursday, September 12th sees the first 25-minute qualification session and the action is expected to heat up quickly, with every rider aiming to win the GSX-R Cup for his home nation.

Suzuki’s GSX-R Cup Final 2002 brings together the best motorcycle riders from around the globe to compete on identical GSX-R750 machinery. Riders will race in two finals – one on Friday 13th, the second on Saturday 14th. Each competing country is desperate to win the title for national pride. Every rider uses a Suzuki GSX-R in their home country and is already familiar with the awesome performance of the GSX-R range, which started the race-replica class of motorcycles in 1985 with the first GSX-R750.