Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn Le Santo

At the start Ivan Clementi ran onto the grass on the inside of the track as the pack ran into turn one after being bumped by Troy Corser. Unable to brake properly for turn one as he was by now riding on the grass, Clementi rode straight across the track going into turn one. Clementi broadsided Corser, who was now tipping into the turn, and the pair went down in front of Chris Walker and Frankie Chili. Both Chili and Walker crashed and several riders had to take to the grass to avoid the melee.

Some riders assumed that the crash, which had dragged dirt onto the track, would bring out he red flag. Ruben Xaus actually sat up in the saddle and backed off the throttle. The crash served to split the pack into essentially two parts. In the front pack Hodgson, Toseland and Atsushi Watanabe were pursuing Laconi, who had taken the lead going into turn one.

Hodgson overhauled Laconi on lap four and from there on out there was no holding him back as he powered away to his fifth win in five races.

“I passed Regis on the main straight purely because my bike is so fast, there was no skill in it but I was relieved to get by him,” admitted Hodgson after the race.

Laconi pushed hard to keep on Hodgson’s tail pipes, but a mistake convinced him that second was better than nothing. “I got a good start but when Hodgson went by I tried a little too hard to keep up and made a mistake. Then I decided second was possible and first wasn’t so I calmed down and tried to stay smooth.”

James Toseland took third, someway ahead of Xaus who was himself ahead of a titanic scrap between Gregorio Lavilla and Hitoyasu Izutsu. They traded places a few times, but Lavilla managed to clinch it at the end of the race despite riding on a pair of thoroughly overcooked tires.

The result means Hodgson extends his lead at the front, to 32 points. Toseland meanwhile leaps up from sixth to third place ahead of Lavilla and Laconi.

World Superbike Results
Race One
Sugo Sportsland, Japan

1. Neil Hodgson, UK, 999F03, 37:57.829

2. Regis Laconi, France, Ducati 998RS, 38:04.996

3. James Toseland, UK, Ducati 998F02, 38:12.682

4. Ruben Xaus, Spain, Ducati 999F03, 38:26.128

5. Gregorio Lavilla, Spain, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 38:30.211

6. Hitoyasu Izutsu, Japan, Honda RC51, 38:30.413

7. Lucio Pedercini, Italy, Ducati 998RS, 38:58.444

8. Atsushi Watanabe, Japan, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 38:59.983

9. James Haydon, UK, Petronas Foggy FP1, 39:05.261

10. Juan Borja, Spain, Ducati 998RS, 39:09.275

11. Mauro Sanchini, Italy, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 39:15.183

12. Giovanni Bussei, Italy, Yamaha YZF-R1, 39:16.799

13. Marco Borciani, Italy, Ducati 998RS, 39:25.675

14. Kenichiro Nakamura, Japan, Honda RC51, 39:25.877

15. Steve Martin, Australia, Ducati 998RS, 38:00.830

16. Walter Tortoroglio, Italy, Honda RC51, 18 laps, DNF

17. Noriyasu Numata, Japan, Ducati 996 RS, 16 laps, DNF

18. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 0 laps, DNF

19. Troy Corser, Australia, Petronas Foggy FP1, 0 laps, DNF

20. Chris Walker, UK, Ducati 998F02, 0 laps, DNF

21. Pierfrancesco Chili, Italy, Ducati 998RS, 0 laps, DNF

Fastest Lap: Hodgson, 1:29.999

From a press release issued by WCM:

Non participation in the Africas Grand Prix

view a pdf version of the ruling here

It is with some sadness that I have to confirm that we are unable to take part in the Africas Grand Prix following a ruling by the FIM stewards that they consider our Harris WCM machine illegal. An opinion that we completely disagree with.

The decision of the FIM Stewards overturned a 3 to 1 vote by the Race Direction that there were no grounds to exclude us from the event. The single vote was from the FIM representative on the Race Direction. The FIM appealed that decision to the FIM stewards. The FIM stewards agreed with the FIM.

I notified the stewards that we shall appeal this decision and requested most strongly that we be allowed to race pending the appeal. That request was refused even though I believe such a refusal is unprecedented in anything like similar circumstances within the history of the FIM World Championship.

It is quite beyond me to imagine how the sport is in any way compromised by our team being able to compete pending appeal. If the appeal goes in our favour we cannot be given back the chance to compete in this Grand Prix.

Our whole Harris WCM project has been carried out with absolute commitment to the spirit of MotoGP racing, to develop this season a prototype machine entirely of our own design and that of our technical partners.

We agreed with Harris at the beginning of this project that we would each put in the maximum effort because the potential was so huge. Though the immediate goal was to compete successfully in 2003 World Championship we realised that it go far beyond that. Developing a WCM engine not only presented a large potential racing market but also opened up the opportunity to produce our own road bikes.

We realised that we were initiating a project of unlimited scope. It was a perfect example of what on the face of it was a very difficult situation presenting the chance to do something we would not otherwise have contemplated. We are fully aware that the window of opportunity to achieve success in this was small. Every race is vital to us for so many reasons. The most obvious being we need the track time to develop the engine and bike and we need the public exposure to attract backers to the project. Missing any race has a terrible knock-on effect on our competitiveness for the rest of the season.

The window of opportunity is so small because if we don’t succeed in making progress this season we will probably have to take the Easy option of forming a partnership with one of the major manufacturers for the 2004 season. To that end Mr. Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna has been tremendously supportive, stating that no matter what the outcome this year our contract with Dorna and the two valuable places that it secures us on the grid in the long term is secure.

It would be incredibly sad though if the FIM’s decision not to let us race while we are appealing their decision aborts a new motorcycle industry. We have not previously publicly made reference to our hopes for this project but this has been a major part of the motivation for us.

The effects of the FIM’s actions are hard to exaggerate, not just for WCM and Harris but for the riders and our other technical partners all of whom have generously committed to a team that was in an extremely difficult situation at the end of the 2002 season.

The imbalance is quite extraordinary; the damage done to us in not allowing us to compete compared with damage done to no one that I can see had we raced while under appeal.

Peter Clifford
Director of Racing
World Championship Motorsports

Welkom
26/4/2003



A point-by-point response from Peter Clifford to the FIM decision:

WCM Engine

Addressing the legality points raised by the FIM with respect to the WCM MotoGP engine

According to the document that they submitted to the Race Direction the FIM claim that our motorcycle is illegal on two points within regulation 2.2.1 of the Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix Regulations

FIM Point 1. Original design

I believe that every important power and performance-producing component, profile and dimension within the engine is unique to our motorcycle. Specifically; –

The bore and stroke.
The size of the valves, both inlet and exhaust.
The shape of the combustion chamber.
The design, dimensions, material and manufacturer of the valve seats
The shape of the inlet and exhaust tracts.
The length of the inlet and exhaust.
The shape of the crankcases both internally and externally.
The lubrication system, i.e. oil flow rate, oil pressure, sump design, surge control.
The wall thickness of the cylinders.
The weight of the crankcases.
The electronic engine management system.
The design, dimensions, material and manufacturer of the pistons.
The design, dimensions, material and manufacturer of the valves.
The design, dimensions and manufacturer of the cams.
The design, dimensions, material and manufacturer of the conrods.
The design, dimensions, material and manufacturer of the crankshaft.
The design, dimensions and manufacturer of the clutch.
The design, dimensions and manufacturer of the primary gears.
The design, dimensions and manufacturer of the gears.

I am sure that our design is just as original as other manufacturers’ in MotoGP.

On Wednesday we gave the FIM unrestricted access to any and all of our engines including one that was disassembled. They took some digital photos but made no measurements so how they determined that the design is not original is entirely beyond me. It is after all for them to prove that we are not original rather than the other way round. There is no homologation requirement in MotoGP.


FIM Point 2. Industrial production.

Last week I emailed the FIM pointing out that I felt that the term ‘Industrial Production’ had no meaning in this situation. I said:

All crankcases and indeed all motorcycle parts are made by ‘industrial production’ so any cast engine will “use castings of the crankcase, cylinder or cylinder head derived from the industrial production.”

Either all cast engines are legal or all are illegal. Please tell me which it is.

I received no response.

I cannot see how the term ‘Industrial production’ provides any definition at all. The FIM are well used to putting numbers to such definitions as they do for homologation of superbikes etc. There is no number in this definition at all so it is irrelevant if our cases are cast in their 10s or 1,000s. They are equally ‘Industrial production’ as are the cases cast by Honda, Yamaha etc. for their MotoGP machines. It is impossible to make an engine that is not ‘Industrial production.’

According to the FIM’s definition of illegality as they have applied it to us the sport is faced with the prospect of the entire MotoGP grid being protested and found illegal on exactly the same point.

During his submission to the Race Direction the FIM’s Mr. Oriol Puig Bulto (CTI President) stated that the rule did need some clarification and that he intended to make changes at a later date. He repeated the same assertion before the stewards. We are found illegal by the FIM on a point that the FIM says needs clarification and the rule re-writing.

Peter Clifford
Director of Racing
World Championship Motorsports

Welkom
26/4/2003

From a press release issued by Mat Mladin’s publicist:

MLADIN RELISHES SUPERBIKE TESTING PROGRAM

Australia’s Mat Mladin may be leading the 2003 American Superbike Championship at present, but this position has not altered his Yoshimura Suzuki team’s attitudes to continually improve the Suzuki GSX-R1000 that they are campaigning for the first time in the championship.

Fresh from a double victory at the California Speedway in Fontana (April 6), Mladin has had little time to relax as he and his Yoshimura Suzuki team have completed two valuable test sessions at Road Atlanta (Georgia) and Pikes Peak (Colorado) over the past week.

As he has been for much of this season, Mladin was the fastest rider at the three-day Road Atlanta test which was held last week. With all of the major teams present, Mladin recorded a best time of 1:23.88 around the Georgian circuit, outpacing teammate Aaron Yates who recorded the second fastest time of the test with a 1:24.18.

“It was a good test for us at Road Atlanta as we were able to get further ahead with the bike,” said Mladin. “With the new bike we have had a lot more input and attention from Suzuki, who sent out two of their leading technicians for the test. To have these people present at the test is invaluable. We can learn so much from it and getting a better understanding of what we are doing with the bike.

“At the end we were consistently quicker than the other guys, so that’s the main thing. We were quick from when we first rolled the bike out of the truck on the first day, so that’s a nice feeling in itself.

“We have been able to improve the chassis set up of the bike immensely over what it was early in the year. It’s a shame we aren’t heading back to Daytona to race this year, because the bike is running so much better now than what it was in March and we have sorted the chassis out to a point where we are getting much more improved tyre wear.

“The new Suzuki is coming along nicely, but we are still down a little bit on top end speed, which does come down to the aerodynamic package that we have. Some of the other teams have spent a lot of time working on this area, but we are still to do so.”

With the Road Atlanta test completed, the team headed to Pikes Peak in Colorado where they tested for two days. In contrast to the Road Atlanta test, they were the only team present at Colorado.

“Pikes Peak is certainly one track that I’ve struggled on in the past, so it was good to come up and get our bike onto an oval type track and see what happens. The lap times were encouraging compared to what we did last year, so we were very happy with what we have achieved here along with last week’s test.”

With this series of testing completed, Mladin is preparing himself for the upcoming double header round (rounds 4 & 5) of the championship at the Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California on May 3 & 4. The three-times AMA Superbike champion heads the championship points chase with a total of 99 points, seven clear of Honda’s Miguel DuHamel.

From a press release issued by World Superbike:


PRESS RELEASE
Round 3 – Japan – Sugo,
Sugo, 27 April 2003

Six Motorcycle Manufacturers on the Sugo Starting Grid

The Japanese round of the World Superbike Championship promises to be a breath-taking show at the highest technical level. The starting grid brings together six manufacturers and seven different models. This year’s change of regulations, made at the beginning of this season, has opened the class to four cylinder 1000cc machines, enriching and broadening the technical panorama by bringing together two, three and four cylinder bikes ranging in displacement from 750cc to 1000cc. In 2004 the rules will change again, establishing a 1000cc limit for all machines regardless of the number of cylinders. Performance will be equalized for engines from two to six cylinders by minimum weight limits and inlet tract restrictors, used at present only on four cylinder 1000cc models.
Here are the magnificent six manufacturers prepared to square off against each other at Sugo.

DUCATI – The reigning manufacturers champion enters two models, the all-new 999 and the glorious 998F02. The new machine has made the best of possible debuts, winning the first four races of the 2003 season in the capable hands of Neil Hodgson. The 998 is also putting in good results. Both bikes are fuel injected, twin-cylinder machines with trellis frames. The works Fila Ducati bikes are shod by Michelin, the satellite, works-supported GSE team runs Dunlop tires while the satellite DFX squad is working to develop tires for the Pirelli company, a firm that is becoming more and more involved in World Superbike.

HONDA – In 2002 the Japanese giant won the riders’ championship with Colin Edwards. For the Sugo race HRC (Honda Racing Corporation) has entered a works VTR-SPW 1000cc twin, ridden by the newly-signed Hitoyasu Izutsu. The big twin was first entered by Honda in the World Superbike Championship in 2000 and took the title in two of the last three seasons. At Sugo the VTR-SPW has won three of the last four races, and now it is up to Izutsu. The factory Honda will run on Michelin tires. This model will be retired in 2004 and will probably be replaced by a four cylinder machine to continue the fascinating battle with Ducati and the other seasoned challengers.

SUZUKI – Suzuki is the first brand to accept the four cylinder 1000cc challenge. Although development of the GSX1000R began only in January, the results so far are very promising. In Australia the new Suzuki allowed Gregorio Lavilla to earn a place on the podium and record the second fastest lap of the day. At Sugo Suzuki will add a second machine in the hands of national champion Atsushi Watanabe. The big Suzuki makes a claimed 200 horse power, ten more than the Ducati and Honda twins. The works Suzukis are equipped with Dunlop tires.

PETRONAS Foggy FP1 – This is the big news in the 2003 Superbike season. The giant Petronas concern, the world’s fourth largest petroleum company, has taken up the challenge to build a large capacity road bike, starting from scratch to take on the world’s leading manufacturers. The ambitious project is headed up by four times World Champion Carl Fogarty, the most successful rider in World Superbike history. Petronas has managed to build a three-cylinder 900cc bike in only a year and managed to start the first race of the season on the front row. In 2004 Petronas may convert the Foggy FP-1 to full 1000cc displacement and become a true threat to the other factories. These future challengers are being ridden by former World Champion Troy Corser and young James Hayden. The Petronas is equipped with Michelin tires.

YAMAHA – The Iwata factory is present via the UnionBike GiMotorsport team that enters the capable Giovanni Brussei on the R1 1000cc fuel injected four cylinder machine, running on Dunlop tires. The Yamaha R1 won the opening round of the Italian Superbike Championship, ridden by Alex Gramigni.

KAWASAKI – The ZX-7RR, homologated in 1996, is the oldest bike on the grid. The Italian Bertocchi team is running the 750cc fours, ridden by Mauro Sanchini and Ivan Clementi. The factory from Akashi won the World Championship in 1993 with Scott Russell and carefully following the evolution of the Superbike regulations with an eye to the probable entry of a new 1000cc machine in 2004.

SBK Press Office

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn Le Santo

Although he didn’t actually win it, Gregorio Lavilla was the real glory man in the second WSB race in Sugo.

Neil Hodgson took win number six at Sugo in race two, but only after he had to work really hard to shake off a determined challenge from Lavilla on the constantly improving GSX-R1000 Suzuki.

Lavilla actually led the race in the early stages, for three laps, before Hodgson blasted past him on the main straight to claim the lead. But Lavilla didn’t give up, and chased Hodgson all the way home.

“I was struggling for rear grip,” said Lavilla, “I simply couldn’t get on the throttle as early as Neil and this gave me a disadvantage on the straights.”

Hodgson enjoyed the pressure supplied by the Alstare Suzuki rider, “That was the best race of the season for me without doubt,” he said. “If you win a race by a distance then it just becomes like qualifying. I am a racer and I want to race with other bikes like today, it was fun!”

The pair were chased all the way by Frankie Chili, who was unhurt in the spectacular first-race, turn-one pile-up. At the end he’d used up too much rear tire catching them and just didn’t have the grip left to make a move.

“At the end of the race Neil just opened the throttle and I simply couldn’t stay with him,” said Chili. “At that point I decided third was a good result!”

Ruben Xaus took fourth, just under a second in front of James Toseland. Hitoyasu Izutsu was the first wild card home, in sixth place.

Results
World Superbike Championship
Round Three, Sugo, Japan
Race Two

1. Neil Hodgson, UK, Ducati 999F03, 37:56.499, best lap 1:30.207

2. Gregorio Lavilla, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 37:57.317, best lap1:30.247

3. Pierfrancesco Chili, Italy, Ducati 998RS, 37:57.969

4. Ruben Xaus, Spain, Ducati 999F03, 38:06.969

5. James Toseland, UK, Ducati 998F02, 38:07.632

6. Hitoyasu Izutsu, Japan, RC51, 38:18.103

7. Regis Laconi, France, Ducati 998RS, 38:18.452

8. Ivan Clementi, Italy, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 38:45.356

9. Juan Borja, Spain, Ducati 998RS, 38:58.269

10. Mauro Sanchini, Italy, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 39:01.788

11. Giovanni Bussei, Italy, Yamaha YZF-R1, 39:05.824

12. Troy Corser, Australia, Foggy PETRONAS FP1, 39:11.783

13. Marco Borciani, Italy, Ducati 998RS, 38:03.204

14. Kenichiro Nakamura, Japan, Honda RC51, 38:06.205

15. Walter Tortoroglio, Italy, Honda RC51, 38:15.758

16. Atsushi Watanabe, Japan, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 13 laps, DNF

17. Noriyasu Numata, Japan, Ducati 996 RS, 7 laps, DNF

18. James Haydon, UK, Foggy PETRONAS FP1, 7 laps, DNF

19. Steve Martin, Australia, Ducati 998RS, 4 laps, DNF

20. Chris Walker, UK, Ducati 998F02, 2 laps, DNF

21. Lucio Pedercini, Italy, Ducati 998RS, 0 laps, DNF

Fastest Lap: Chili, 1:30.146

Championship Point Standings after race two, round three:
1. Hodgson, 150
2. Xaus, 106
3. Lavilla, 75
4. Toseland, 67
5. Laconi, 63


More, from a press release issued by the SBK Press Office:

HODGSON DOUBLES UP AGAIN IN PERFECT STYLE

A truly dramatic day of race action at Sugo saw Neil Hodgson (Ducati Fila) secure two wins on his full factory 999 machine, giving him a perfect six-from-six start to the 2003 season.

The clear championship leader, now by a margin of 44 points, had to start from fifth place in each race, but enjoyed a seven second win over second place man Regis Laconi (Ducati NCR) in the 25-lap opener. Laconi had started from pole, and took his first podium finish of the year in race one, a seventh in race two.

A four-rider crash at the first corner of race one saw Troy Corser (Foggy Petronas), Ivan Clementi (Bertocchi Kawasaki), Pierfrancesco Chili (PSG-1 Ducati) and Chris Walker (HM Plant Ducati) all crash, without serious injury. The race continued, with some riders having to make up significant ground after being run off track, even if they did not fall.

James Toseland (HM Plant Ducati) escaped the first corner collision, and ended up third, after local wild card rider Atsushi Watanabe (Team Suzuki) went straight on at one corner on lap five, returning to finish eighth after restarting in last place, only 1.470 seconds behind Hodgson.

In race two the hard charging Gregorio Lavilla (Alstare Suzuki) had an excellent race with Hodgson, losing out over the line by only 0.8 seconds after having led three laps in the early stages. Pierfrancesco Chili put in another of his gritty rides to take third place on his 998 Ducati.

For Ruben Xaus, Hodgson’s team mate, Sugo proved to be a major obstacle to his championship ambitions, as he fought his way to a pair of fourth places. Remote from the leading group.

Toseland’s third in race one was converted to fifth in the second race and his team mate Walker ended the day with two no scores after he crashed, re-started and was forced to retire in race two.

With Lavilla fifth in race one, surging through from an off track excursion after the first lap pile up, local wild card rider Hitoyasu Izutsu (HRC Team) could only finish sixth on both races, failing to emulate his Kawasaki double race win in the 2000 SBK season.

Ivan Clementi made up for his exit in race one with a fighting eighth in the re-run, ahead of Juan Borja (DFX Ducati) and Mauro Sanchini (Bertocchi Kawasaki). The last top ten places in race one were shared out between Lucio Pedercini (Pedercini Ducati) in seventh, through Watanabe, James Haydon (Foggy Petronas) to Juan Borja (DFX Ducati) in tenth.

In the overall championship standings, Hodgson has a perfect score of 150, from Xaus on 106 and Lavilla on 75.

In the Supersport World Championship, Yamaha rider Christian Kellner made it three different winning manufacturers in as many races this season, holding off a spirited challenge from long term leader Ryuichi Kiyonari, who was entered as a wild card rider by the BKM Honda team.

In third place early leader Stephane Chambon (Alstare Suzuki) took the last podium position, with Yamaha wild card Tekkyu Kayo fourth and World Championship leader Chris Vermeulen (Ten Kate Honda) fifth, one place ahead of his team-mate Karl Muggeridge.

This result puts Vermeulen ten points clear of Suzuki rider Katsuaki Fujiwara, who fell while in second place and remounted to finish 15th. Kellner’s win promoted him to third overall.

The next rounds of both Superbike and Supersport championships take place at Monza on May 18.


More, from a press release issued by Steve Martin’s publicist:

A weekend to forget for Steve Martin

It was another weekend in Japan that will be best forgotten for Steve Martin after a finishing 15th in race one and pulling out with an oil leak in race two.

It was never going to be an easy weekend at what is in effect Dunlop’s test track, appalling weather on Friday and Saturday just made matters worse.

“We had so little dry weather track time during qualifying that in race one my set up was way out,” explained Steve.

His team worked hard during the interval to get a better set up for race two.

“We changed just about everything, including tyres, ride height, springs, damping, you name it, we changed it,” said Steve.

It was a risky strategy but one that could have paid off if it hadn’t been for an unforeseen problem early in the race.

“The bike was much better, it was competitive. But when my foot started slipping off the peg I realised I had a big problem, I looked down and there was an oil mist coming from the motor. I had no choice but to retire from the race,” he said. Frustratingly for Steve the oil leak was caused by an engine cover fastener that had worked loose.

Steve now travels direct to Italy to prepare for the next round in Monza. “I’ll be glad to get to Europe and forget all about this weekend!”



More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

DUCATI CORSE PRESS INFORMATION

HODGSON TAKES DUCATI WSBK VICTORY TOTAL TO 199 WITH DOUBLE WIN IN JAPAN

TWO FOURTHS FOR DUCATI FILA TEAMMATE XAUS

Britain’s Neil Hodgson scored Ducati’s first victory in Japan since 1995 as he powered to his fifth and sixth wins of the season at the Sugo Sportsland circuit. Fellow Brit Carl Fogarty was the last rider to take the honours for the Italian manufacturer when he won race 2 in his 1995 championship-winning year. Neil’s third successive double win of the year also took Ducati’s total race win haul to 199 in 16 years of World Superbike.

Hodgson’s superb start from the outside of row 2 helped him avoid the first corner pile-up that eliminated three top riders, Corser (Foggy Petronas), Walker (HM Plant Ducati) and Chili (PSG-1 Ducati). Hodgson then passed Laconi for the lead on lap 4 and took the chequered flag a comfortable 7 seconds ahead of the Frenchman. “If I hadn’t got such a good start, I might have been involved in the crash” declared Neil, “so I was really pleased with my start. Because of the limited practice time in the dry, I’d only tried my race tyre once so I took things easy on the first lap and then in the middle I eased off a bit as well. We are on a brand-new bike and when you come to a new circuit, you’ve got no baseline settings so we had to work that bit harder than usual”.

Hodgson was made to work much harder for his win in race 2. After swerving at the start to avoid Laconi (NCR Ducati) on the front row, he then took the lead on lap 5 from Lavilla. The Suzuki rider pressured him until lap 20 before Hodgson broke away to take his sixth successive win. “It was pretty scary at the start because Laconi almost stopped in front of me and I had to shut the throttle” declared Neil. “Gregorio gave me a hard time today, he kept the pressure on and his Suzuki and my Ducati were pretty evenly matched. Five laps to go I picked up the pace deliberately and that was enough. The old Neil Hodgson wouldn’t have done that but I’m starting to use my head a bit now and administer the races better!”

Ruben Xaus came away from Sugo with two fourth places, which keep him in second place in the table. The Spanish rider was lucky not to get caught out in the first corner incident in race 1 and lost a lot of time. Then in race 2 he had a good start and moved into fourth on lap 9, a position he held to the flag after a great scrap with Toseland. “I started 12th and finished 4th twice today so that’s quite good” declared Ruben. “I was really slow in the first split and it was here that I lost the race and the whole weekend. That was the only reason – between the second corner entry and third corner exit, everyone was faster than me. The bike felt mine today, and only today. In the warm-up we improved a lot and I had a better feeling with the bike in both races today. I think if I hadn’t lost all that time in the first split, I could have been fighting with Lavilla and Chili for sure”.



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

PODIUM SECOND PLACE FOR GREGORIO!

Team Alstare Suzuki rider Gregorio Lavilla stormed his way to a superb second place of the Superbike World Championship race at Sugo today. He took the lead on the second lap and held off Neil Hodgson (Ducati) for three laps before being overtaken. He then stuck to Hodgson’s rear for rest of the 25-lapper, taking a well deserved second place. The Ducati’s superior performance allowed Hodgson to pull out the smallest of margins with a couple of laps remaining and that was enough to ensure victory. Gregorio took a comfortable second, with Chili(Ducati) nearly one and a half seconds behind the Alstare rider. Gregorio’s runner-up spot followed a tremendous fifth in the first race. Gregorio had been forced into the gravel on the opening lap after a four-rider incident in turn one, but managed to keep his Alstare Suzuki upright and steer it through the mud and slush from yesterday’s heavy rain. By the time he rejoined the race he was one place off last, but he put his head down and charged back into the reckoning. Lap after lap, he moved his way up through the field and by lap eight was up to fifth behind fellow countryman Xaus (Ducati). He began to close in on Xaus, but had worn out his tyres in the chase and had to settle for fifth instead. Hodgson won the race comfortably, with Laconi second and Toseland third ­ making it a clean sweep for the Bologna marque. Gregorio’s second in race two will get the glory, but his performance in the first race was no less impressive.

GREGORIO LAVILLA Race 1: 5th, Race 2: 2nd
If I can do races like today, I’m happy. If I had finished 30 seconds behind the leader, I would not have been pleased, but to lead the race and be right with Hodgson for the whole race is a good feeling. Hodgson’s Ducati has been developped over many years, but our Suzuki is brand new and we only received it in January, so I think we are doing very well. Our top speed is still not as fast as we’d like and I’m losing grip exiting the corners, but we’re working hard at making the bike as good as possible. I lost ground to Neil (Hodgson) on the exits and couldn’t keep with him there, so I had to make up for it on the brakes. It’s a pity that I was forced off the track in the first race, because I was certain I could get a podium. I could’ve pulled in, but I thought I might as well push hard and see what happens and that’s what I did. It was very satisfying to get all the way up to fifth from nearly last ­ almost as good as my second place in race two! We still have a lot of work to do, but if we can get the bike to work a bit better in some areas, I’d like to think I can win a race this year.



More, from a press release issued by Troy Corser’s publicist:

2003 World Superbike Championship
Round 3, Sugo, Japan, Sunday 27th April 2003
Circuit: 3.737 kms, Weather: Dry, sunny 18-21 Deg C.

WEEKEND TO FORGET FOR TROY
The third round of the championship was one that Troy would happily forget, thanks to a DNF in the first race and a lowly twelfth in the second. The DNF was not of his own making, but the no-score and the four points in the second meant that is the worst weekend so far this year. Troy didn’t even get further then turn one in the first race. A collision on the front straight caused an incident, which ended up taking out four riders. For a while it looked like the race would be red-flagged, but it carried on leaving Troy and three others out of contention. Troy injured his left calf and thigh in the fall, but no bad enough to cause him to take part in race two. Neil Hodgson (Ducati) went on to win it by a comfortable margin, with Laconi (Ducati) second and Toseland (also Ducati-mounted) third. Troy was in ninth place at the end of lap one in race two, but after two or three laps the rear tyre started spinning and then his left foot began to slip off the gear lever. A small oil seepage was the cause and soon it also affected the right footpeg. Troy kept an eye on the situation, but decided to carry on and ended up by taking twelfth place. The race was once again won by Hodgson, but this time he faced a fierce challenge from Lavilla (Suzuki) throughout the 25-lapper. The Spaniard hounded him right to the flag, but could not find enough to pass the Briton. Chili (Ducati) took third spot, ahead the Ducatis of Xaus and Toseland, with Izutsu (Honda) slotting into sixth.

TROY – Race 1: DNF, Race 2: 12
Well, what I’d like to say is that this is a weekend to forget! It didn’t start particularly well and it just got worse. The first race was a disaster, because I never even got to complete a lap! On the way down to turn one after the start, somebody hit me and then I got tangled up with Clementi I think, My elbow had been hit and I was hanging off the front of the bike trying to recover. Clementi went on to the grass and then came back onto the track and then hit me. After that it was bikes and bodies flying everywhere – I think I hit Chris (Walker) and we both hit Frankie (Chili) and that was that. My left ankle was a bit sore, but otherwise I was OK.

Race two started OK, but then I felt the rear spinning and my left foot began to slip. I looked down and saw what looked like a little bit of oil; so I thought I’d take it steady and see what happened. Later, my right foot started slipping and after that it was just a case of trying to nurse the bike home and get some points. The only good news is that we’ve taken part in another race and I’ve given the mechanics lots of data to analyse. There’s still lots to improve, but it’s a brand new bike and we’re learning all the time. Here’s to Monza!



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

PODIUM SECOND PLACE FOR GREGORIO!

2003 Superbike World Championship.
Round 3, Sugo, Japan.
Sunday 27th April 2003

Team Alstare Suzuki rider Gregorio Lavilla stormed his way to a superb second place of the Superbike World Championship race at Sugo today. He took the lead on the second lap and held off Neil Hodgson (Ducati) for three laps before being overtaken. He then stuck to Hodgson’s rear for rest of the 25-lapper, taking a well deserved second place. The Ducati’s superior performance allowed Hodgson to pull out the smallest of margins with a couple of laps remaining and that was enough to ensure victory. Gregorio took a comfortable second, with Chili(Ducati) nearly one and a half seconds behind the Alstare rider. Gregorio’s runner-up spot followed a tremendous fifth in the first race. Gregorio had been forced into the gravel on the opening lap after a four-rider incident in turn one, but managed to keep his Alstare Suzuki upright and steer it through the mud and slush from yesterday’s heavy rain. By the time he rejoined the race he was one place off last, but he put his head down and charged back into the reckoning. Lap after lap, he moved his way up through the field and by lap eight was up to fifth behind fellow countryman Xaus (Ducati). He began to close in on Xaus, but had worn out his tyres in the chase and had to settle for fifth instead. Hodgson won the race comfortably, with Laconi second and Toseland third ­ making it a clean sweep for the Bologna marque.

Gregorio’s second in race two will get the glory, but his performance in the first race was no less impressive.

GREGORIO LAVILLA Race 1: 5th, Race 2: 2nd
If I can do races like today, I’m happy. If I had finished 30 seconds behind the leader, I would not have been pleased, but to lead the race and be right with Hodgson for the whole race is a good feeling. Hodgson’s Ducati has been developped over many years, but our Suzuki is brand new and we only received it in January, so I think we are doing very well. Our top speed is still not as fast as we’d like and I’m losing grip exiting the corners, but we’re working hard at making the bike as good as possible. I lost ground to Neil (Hodgson) on the exits and couldn’t keep with him there, so I had to make up for it on the brakes. It’s a pity that I was forced off the track in the first race, because I was certain I could get a podium. I could’ve pulled in, but I thought I might as well push hard and see what happens and that’s what I did. It was very satisfying to get all the way up to fifth from nearly last ­ almost as good as my second place in race two! We still have a lot of work to do, but if we can get the bike to work a bit better in some areas, I’d like to think I can win a race this year.


More, from a press release issued by HM Plant Ducati:

Toseland moves up to fourth in championship

James Toseland has moved up to fourth place overall in the 2003 Superbike Championship after taking fifth place on his HM Plant Ducati in the second race at Sugo, which was won by former team-mate Neil Hodgson. Chris Walker was once again out of luck on the second HM Plant Ducati as he crashed out of contention on the third lap of the race.

The Superbike field successfully negotiated the tricky first turn at the start of the race and the HM Plant Ducatis were riding in close formation among the leading group. However, with Toseland running in a strong top five position, Walker lost his mount at turn 10 (Horse Back Corner).

“It didn’t feel like I had made a mistake,” said the unfortunate Nottingham rider who has slipped from third to sixth in the overall standings as a result of his two DNFs in Japan. “I went into the corner as normal and the front end just went from beneath me. With so little dry track time and being taken out on the first corner of the first race, I hadn’t really had the benefit of running a full race distance. My feet are in agony after the crashes I’ve had this weekend, but I had to have a go in the second race in an attempt to score some points.”

With Hodgson, Lavilla and Chili making a break at the front of the field, Toseland was left in a titanic battle with Fila Ducati’s Ruben Xaus. Try as he might, the HM Plant Ducati rider was unable to take the advantage over the Spaniard in the dash to the chequered flag.

“It was a struggle for everyone out there today,” said Toseland. “I was getting good side grip, but then was struggling to get traction out of the corners. That meant that I wasn’t able to carry the momentum of the HM Plant Ducati past Xaus – it was a case of swings and roundabouts on our set-up. That was a faster race than the first one and I didn’t finish that far behind the race winner, which was a good performance in front of our guests from HM Plant and Hitachi Construction Machinery at their home event.”



HM Plant Ducati Team Manager Colin Wright summarised the mixed fortunes experienced by his riders: “You get good and bad days in racing. Fortunately for James, it was one of his good days. Unfortunately, for Chris it was one to forget. As a result, I’ve got mixed feelings from today, but I’d like to thank the team for all the hard work they’ve put into this weekend. I think we’ll all look forward to getting back to Europe and the next round of the series at Monza next month.”


More, from a press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing:

Haydon highlight of tough Japanese debut for Foggy PETRONAS Racing

A second race dogged by mechanical problems completed a frustrating third round of the World Superbike championship at Sugo, Japan, for Foggy PETRONAS Racing.

Having secured his first top ten fnish of the season in race one, James Haydon was forced to retire after seven laps of race two when the FP1, the Malaysian superbike, showed signs of engine seizure. Team-mate Troy Corser, who was involved in a four-man crash at the first corner of the first race, was able to compete in the afternoon repeat, but was also the victim of mechanical misfortune on his way to a 12 th -placed finish.

Team owner Carl Fogarty said: “It has been a frustrating weekend for us and it’s clear we have some issues to sort out before the championship gets back to Europe. The one positive was James’ performance in the first race, his best result of the season, and at a new circuit for him.”

Team manager Nigel Bosworth said: “We didn’t really expect to be both competitive and reliable at this stage of the project but the good start to the season probably hid the fact that we still have a long way to go and a lot of hard work to do. James slugged it out well in the first race, considering the fact that his bike was over-heating, and found a better set-up for the future. It was unfortunate that Troy suffered intermittent miss-firing in the second race.”

James said: “Obviously I’m pleased with the first race and we made some changes for the second, stiffening the rear. I felt that was a step forward until my water bottle started filling up and spraying over me, the first sign of an engine problem. It then tightened a couple of times and slowed as though I was on the back brake. It then cut out and I started to feel like I was going to crash so I thought it was best to come in so we could identify the problem, rather than blowing the engine. It has been a difficult weekend but I think we will be able to take some positives into Monza and make some changes.”

Troy said: “That was a day I want to forget! After the crash in race one I had problems from the start of race two with the electrics and also leaking oil. I thought I would have to come in but I basically slowed down so I could at least score some points.”


More, from a press release issued by Steve Martin’s publicist:

A weekend to forget for Steve Martin

It was another weekend in Japan that will be best forgotten for Steve Martin after a finishing 15th in race one and pulling out with an oil leak in race two.

It was never going to be an easy weekend at what is in effect Dunlop’s test track, appalling weather on Friday and Saturday just made matters worse.

“We had so little dry weather track time during qualifying that in race one my set up was way out,” explained Steve.

His team worked hard during the interval to get a better set up for race two.

“We changed just about everything, including tyres, ride height, springs, damping, you name it, we changed it,” said Steve.

It was a risky strategy but one that could have paid off if it hadn’t been for an unforeseen problem early in the race.

“The bike was much better, it was competitive. But when my foot started slipping off the peg I realised I had a big problem, I looked down and there was an oil mist coming from the motor. I had no choice but to retire from the race,” he said. Frustratingly for Steve the oil leak was caused by an engine cover fastener that had worked loose.

Steve now travels direct to Italy to prepare for the next round in Monza. “I’ll be glad to get to Europe and forget all about this weekend!”


More, from a press release issued by Scuderia Caracchi NCR Nortel Networks:

Laconi runner-up at Sugo!

In a splendid springtime day Regis Laconi rode the 998RS Ducati Caracchi NCR Nortel Networks onto the winner rostrum in Race-1 at Sugo, with a fantastic second place behind the Neil Hodgson’s factory 999 Ducati. The French rider started in a pefect way from the pole position, leading the race for three out of 25 of scheduled laps, then Hodgson overtook him in the long line downhill and Regis could only manage his runner-up, defending it from the attacks of evo factory Suzuki of Watanabe and from Toseland. In race-2 instead at the start the Laconi’s bike broke the O-ring of hydraulic clutch shaft and the bike started a bad wheelie; Laconi lost several positions, ending the first lap only in 11th position. Despite the clutch troubles he remounted very fast, stopped only by Izutsu’s factory Honda; the two riders fighted for several laps, then Laconi finally overtook his rival, but at the last braking for the chicane the gearbox failed remaining neutral, just due to the clutch trouble, an Izutsu passed him again, scoring the final sixth place under the chequered flag.

“The clutch’s trouble has been really a pity.” – commented Laconi back in the pit – “The bike has done a bad wheelie and a lot of riders overtook me, so I found me in the middle of the group and to pass I needed several lap, also because the clutch wasn’t running well anymore. In the start confusion I believe also that I touched Pedercini and I am sorry about it, just because I couldn’t manage correctly the bike. When I reached Izutsu I spent a lot of time to pass him, because on this track isn’t easy to pass, finally I’ve been able to overtook him, but just at the last lap braking at the chicane, the clutch failed once more and the gearbox got the neutral position, so the Honda passed me and in the hill climbing I’ve been not able to recover. Race-1 has been fantastic. I started very fast, then during the fourth lap Hodgson passed me, but I was able to manage al the other rivals and to finish second has been great. They have been three days of hard work, most of all for the weather conditions, but at the end this result pays for all the work all the team has done, and also the problem in race-2 is not due to the team work. It’s a pity for the Championship standing, because after race-1 I was only 2 points behind the third position, but also if now the gap increased I’m still very close and now I’m waiting for Monza. I must thank all people of the team and I’m happy to give them this satisfaction, and of course I’m happy for me too!”

From a press release issued by Mat Mladin’s publicist:

2003 AMA Chevy Trucks US Superbike Championship
Rounds 4 & 5 – Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, California, USA
Event preview

MLADIN AIMS TO CONSOLIDATE AMERICAN SUPERBIKE POINTS LEAD

The early rounds of the 2003 AMA Chevy Trucks US Superbike Championship are beginning to accumulate, with Australia’s Mat Mladin hoping to extend his current points lead in this year’s championship following this weekend’s (May 3 & 4) ‘Double Header’ round at the revised Infineon Raceway (formerly known as Sears Point).

A former race winner at the track in 1999, Mladin and his Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 have been in dominating form this season and will head into this weekend’s fourth and fifth round of the championship holding a seven point lead over Honda’s Miguel DuHamel.

Since taking a double race win at the last round at Fontana, Mladin and his team have been busy undertaking further testing to their new Superbike-spec GSX-R1000s and arrive at Infineon full of confidence.

“The team has been busy since the last round at Fontana as we have been able to complete two separate test sessions, so I’m looking forward to heading to Infineon and having a good weekend, where hopefully we can come away with an extended points lead,” said three-times American Superbike champion Mladin.

“It’s a crucial stage of the championship where there are still 15 races to go, but we need to push on as hard as we can for the next six or eight races and then see where we are at that point in time.”

Since last year’s corresponding round, the 12-turn circuit has undergone minor changes, which has shortened its overall length from 2.32 miles (3.73km) to its new length of 2.2 miles (3.54km)

“I don’t mind the circuit layout that they have there,” added Mladin. “I haven’t been there since they made the minor circuit changes, but I don’t think that will be a big deal for us. The changes have supposedly made the track safer, so that’s what counts.

“The track bothers me less, knowing that I’ve got a good motorcycle under me and that it’s working well. It steers how I want it to steer and we’ve made some further improvements with set up as a result of our testing, so as long as the bike feels comfortable, which way the track goes doesn’t really matter.”

Qualifying for round begins on Friday (May 2), before final qualifying and the first of the two 28-lap Superbike races are held on Saturday, followed by the second on Sunday afternoon.

From a press release issued by the Parts Canada Superbike Championship:

TROMBINO TOPS IN TESTING

SHANNONVILLE, ON – Frank Trombino set the pace as the Parts Canada Superbike Championship conducted a preseason test at Shannonville Motorsport Park Thursday.

The Kleinburg, ON rider toured the 1.53-mile Shannonville ‘Pro’ Track in 1:08.282 aboard his Brooklin Cycle Yamaha YZF-R6. Orion Motorsport Honda riders Michael Taylor of Toronto and Kevin Lacombe from Granby, QC were second and third quickest, respectively. Taylor set a time of 1:08.442 while Lacombe recorded a 1:09.384.

Trombino is making his return to the Brooklin Yamaha team after riding for Honda last season. He won back-to-back International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Open Sport Bike national titles with the team in 2000 and 2001.

Trombino will ride Yamaha’s YZF-R1 in the Parts Canada Superbike feature class this summer and race a new YZF-R6 in the Hindle Pro 600 Sport Bike national support class.

“The team’s fantastic,” Trombino said. “I feel like we’re picking up from where we left off in 2001. I was very comfortable right off the start.”

Trombino and Brooklin Yamaha teammate Darryn Wilbur of Maple, ON enjoyed some track time earlier this spring in Jennings, FL, where they both took part in regional racing events.

Taylor has moved back to the Honda camp after running Yamahas last season. He will ride a CBR954RR in the Superbike division and the brand new CBR600RR in Pro 600 Sport Bike competition. He was the pacesetter for much of the day.

“The 954 is similar to the bike I rode a couple of years ago,” said Taylor, who raced a Honda CBR929RR in 2001. “It’s got more power and torque. We just don’t have it handling yet. The 600 is a dream.”

Lacombe is a heavy favorite for the 2003 Parts Canada Superbike title after winning the final race last season. He will again race the Honda RC51, which has been modified to reflect the new Superbike rules that limit horsepower and restrict modifications.

He will also race a CBR600RR in the Hindle Pro 600 Sport Bike class.

“I have the best of everything. Now I just have to go out and do the job,” Lacombe said.

Yamaha riders Jean-Francois Cyr of Laval, QC, Wilbur and Benoit Pilon of St-Jerome, QC had the fourth through sixth fastest times, respectively.

Australian Robbie Baird, making his first appearance in Canada, was seventh fastest for the Orion Motorsports Honda squad.

The teams from Canadian Kawasaki Motors, Coors Light Racing/Blackfoot Suzuki and Diablo Suzuki did not take part in the Shannonville test as they continued preseason preparations in the U.S. Diablo’s Steve Crevier and Coors Light Racing/Blackfoot Suzuki rider Clint McBain were both at Shannonville to perform television duties.

The Parts Canada Superbike season opens on Shannonville’s ‘Pro Track’ May 16-18.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn Le Santo

He’s been in great form all weekend, fast, but not as fast as Neil Hodgson. But Regis Laconi was fastest when it counted, on his Superpole lap – while a mistake from Hodgson pushed him back onto the second row.

Superpole was interrupted by spectacular crash when Nello Russo lost the rear end in turn two. At first he seemed to have saved a highside but as the bike ran into the gravel trap he was flipped off the machine and landed heavily in the safety bales. He was taken to the medical center and the latest report is that he’s hurt, possibly with broken bones, but he’s not in a serious condition. He’s been airlifted to Sendai hospital for precautionary brain scans.

After the restart it was Walker who impressed–riding with a serious injury to his left foot, Walker nonetheless finished sixth, just behind Hodgson. Pierfrancesco Chili tried hard to rob Laconi of pole, failing by just 0.02-second.

“I had a few set-up problems in Superpole,” said Chili, “but I think we’ll have a better set up for the Sunday.”

Laconi not only took his first-ever pole position but was the first Frenchman to take pole for 11 years.

“Normally I prefer fast tracks, and here there are many slow turns,” said Laconi. “But I am happy because it seems now I am fast in both fast and slow turns. I am also happy to put an Italian bike on pole in Japan.”

Third on the grid was taken by Gregorio Lavilla on the ever-improving Suzuki GSX-R1000.

“Every time we go take the bike out on the track I can feel some improvement,” commented Lavilla. “I am very happy with today’s result which again demonstrates the potential of the GSX-R. But I think in Monza we’ll see the real level of the bike!”

The three regular riders are joined on the grid by All-Japan Champion Atsushi Watanabe who claimed to have only ridden his bike for the first time two weeks ago. This prompted a clearly sceptical Chili to shout, “Pinocchio!” suggesting Watanabe might have been a little economic with the truth.

World Superbike Championship
Round Three, Sugo, Japan
25-26-27 April 2003-04-25

Superpole result:

1. Regis Laconi, FRA, Ducati, 1:30.064
2. Pierfrancesco Chili, ITA, Ducati, 1:30.084
3. Gregorio Lavilla, ESP, Suzuki, 1:30.496
4. Atsushi Watanabe, JPN, Suzuki, 1:30.582
5. Neil Hodgson, GBR, Ducati, 1:30.636
6. Chris Walker, GBR, Ducati, 1:31.033
7. James Toseland, GBR, Ducati, 1:31.053
8. Troy Corser, AUS, FP1, 1:31.369
9. H. Izutsu, JPN, Honda, 1:31.500
10. Lucio Pedercini, ITA, Ducati, 1:31.593



More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

HODGSON (TEAM DUCATI FILA) MISSES OUT ON FRONT ROW START IN SUPERPOLE – XAUS DOWN IN TWELFTH

Team Ducati Fila riders Neil Hodgson and Ruben Xaus will start the Japanese Round of the World Superbike Championship at Sugo from row 2 and 3 respectively after this afternoon’s Superpole session.

29-year-old Hodgson set the pace in the morning’s second and final qualifying session, ending up with a time of 1:30.708, but an improvement of just one-tenth of a second in the one-lap dash left him fifth quickest, half a second away from eventual polesitter Regis Laconi (NCR Ducati). “I didn’t put a good lap together really and you only get one chance. I had a few slides and pushed hard but it didn’t feel right at all” said Neil. “My set-up for the race is not 100% perfect but I don’t think anyone will have a perfect set-up, we just didn’t get enough lap time. I set my quickest qualifying time on my race tyre and did a good long-run so I’m pretty happy with the way the bike is. Starting from row 2 shouldn’t be that much of a problem because you can judge the start a little bit better”.

Teammate Xaus continued to struggle on the second factory Ducati 999 and will start from row 3 after setting 12th-quickest time. “All weekend I haven’t had the right feeling and I can’t even do a 1:31 lap time” declared Ruben. “I think it’s a set-up problem because I know I’m not that slow. The 999 is a new bike and it’s quite difficult to ride around this circuit, the other guys have gone pretty fast so what we needed to do was find the right direction to go and we didn’t do that. If I get a good feeling in the races, I can fight for top 3 but I need that feeling, otherwise I’m not going to push hard for nothing. I’ve started from row 3 before, it’s not so good but that’s not the problem for me. I need to ride the bike and at the moment the bike is riding me.”



More, from a press release issued by Troy Corser’s publicist:

2003 World Superbike Championship
Round 3, Sugo, Japan, Saturday 26th April 2003, Final Qualifying
Circuit: 3.737 kms, Weather: Dry, mostly sunny 23 C.

SECOND ROW FOR TROY
After a difficult opening day of qualifying yesterday, it was back to regular business today at Sugo. The heavy overnight rain had left the track sodden, but by the time the morning qualifying started there was a dry line virtually around the whole track. But there were still a few damp patches about to catch out the unwary and there were many fallers in both the sessions today. Troy used the better weather to his advantage and steadily improved throughout the day. His Superpole lap was not one of his best, but he still managed to his Foggy Petronas FP1 onto the second row of the grid without a problem. Frenchman Regis Laconi (Ducati) took pole position today, with a time of 1:30.064 – the first time a Frenchman has been on pole in eleven years! Second quickest is Pierfrancesco Chili (Ducati), with Gregorio Lavilla (Suzuki) third and ‘wild card’ rider Atshusi Watanabe (Suzuki) fourth.

TROY – 8th, 1:31.369
Well I’m a lot happier then I was at the same time yesterday! Today we spent a lot of time trying different gearing, because this track gearing is critical. You have to get it spot on, but it’s always a bit of a compromise here. We maybe will try and change the internals for tomorrow’s warm-up and see if that makes our life a bit easier. At the moment the bike is handling pretty reasonably round here, but we’re just lacking a bit of grunt and acceleration. We’re using second gear a bit too much round here and running too high revs in the corner, so we’ll try and fix that for tomorrow. I had a small get-off this morning; when I went straight on at turn one. I was upright and OK, but the rain had made the run-off a mudbath and I just slipped over at slow speed. In the afternoon, I had a mechanical problem with one bike, but we can fix that also. In the wet yesterday, we had a bit of a tyre problem, so all us Michelin riders will be hoping it’s dry tomorrow. As long as it is, and I make a good start, I think we can get a couple of good results.


More, from a press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing:

Second row start for Foggy PETRONAS Racing in Japan

Foggy PETRONAS Racing rider Troy Corser made the second row of the grid for tomorrow’s two World Superbike championship third round races at the Japanese circuit of Sugo.

The Australian went into the afternoon Superpole session 11th fastest but climbed three places on his FP1, the Malaysian superbike, with a time of 1:31.369. His best time of the day had been posted in the afternoon practice session, at 1:31.152.

Team-mate James Haydon was unable to qualify in the top 16 by the end of his first hour at this testing circuit in dry track conditions, following yesterday’s rain. But he made encouraging progress in the afternoon practice session to finish 17th fastest, more than a second quicker than his morning time, with 1:33.104.

Troy decided against using a qualifying tyre in the morning session, following a slow crash after over-shooting turn one and then an engine problem towards the end of the session. But he put together a typically smooth Superpole lap to start ahead of factory Ducati rider Ruben Xaus and three of the four local wild cards, with Regis Laconi claiming pole position.

Troy said: “I should probably have used a new front tyre for my Superpole lap, instead of one which had already done seven laps. I am going to go shorter overall with the gearing for tomorrow and make second gear longer internally, as I’m using fifth down the straight and second round the rest of the track. The crash this morning was similar to the one in warm-up for the races in 1998 but this time, instead of trying to turn in, I accelerated through the gravel up the hill and dropped it down. I am happy with the second row but need a good start as we might struggle out of the final chicane and it is difficult to pass on other parts of the circuit. But I feel that a top ten finish is achievable.”

James said: “The whole story has been about time for me as this is the type of circuit where there is no substitute for laps. There are so many line entries, little bumps and the final chicane makes such a difference. I am still not totally comfortable with the bike, which certainly doesn’t help at a new circuit, but it is getting better all the time. My best lap time in the afternoon was on race tyres and if I had done that in the previous session, when I ran out of time after a spark plug problem, I would have qualified for Superpole. I have never failed to qualify for Superpole before and, starting from the back row, I am going to need the kind of good start that I have been having so far.”

Team manager Nigel Bosworth said: “It would have been better to have sorted the gearing out yesterday, but we are effectively two hours behind after yesterday’s weather. On a new bike, at a new circuit, that makes such a big difference. Troy’s performance was very encouraging and James made good progress through getting his head down and learning the circuit. We feel we have good race tyres and a repeat of our Phillip Island results would be an achievement.”


More, from a press release issued by HM Plant Ducati:

Close formation for HM Plant Ducatis

Chris Walker and James Toseland have qualified in sixth and seventh positions respectively for the third round of the Superbike World Championship at Sugo in Japan. The HM Plant Ducati riders continued their trend of lapping in almost identical times in 2003, but shared contrasting fortunes in the dry conditions after Friday’s downpour.

Chris Walker may have just beaten his team-mate in Superpole, but the gutsy Nottingham star is riding through the pain barrier after a crash in this morning’s second qualifying session. The HM Plant Ducati highsided at turn four with Walker breaking his little toe and losing some skin off the top of his foot as a result of the accident.

“That was painful,” said a brave Walker, who currently lies third in the championship after the first two rounds at Valencia and Phillip Island. “My foot is very uncomfortable and I’m anticipating that I’m going to be in agony tomorrow. This type of injury always feels worse on the second day after the adrenalin has died down a bit. The crash was my fault – I was pushing too hard in the first dry session before I had got the right balance for the set-up of my HM Plant Ducati.”

Team-mate James Toseland had a better day at the 3.737km circuit near Sendai. “I don’t feel that my Superpole lap gives a true reflection of my prospects for tomorrow,” said the 22-year-old Sheffield rider. “If it rains, I‘ve got a fantastic set-up on the HM Plant Ducati, but I think we’d all prefer dry conditions. I believe that I’ve been riding smoothly enough to get the best out of the bike around this circuit. I’d like to have been on the front row of the grid, but I’m in good shape for the two races and I should be able to run quite strongly.”

The timesheets were headed by Regis Laconi and Frankie Chili on Ducatis, with championship leader Neil Hodgson in fifth position after Superpole. Hodgson had been fastest after qualifying on his Ducati Corse 999, with a clear advantage over his team-mate and title challenger Ruben Xaus. Ducati hasn’t won a race at Sugo since 1995, but the signs look good in 2003, with the HM Plant Ducati team looking to extend its excellent start to the season.


More, from a press release issued by Scuderia Caracchi NCR Nortel Networks:

Laconi in pole at Sugo!

(Sugo 2003, April 26)

The weather let in peace Sugo area today, and also if cloudy the practice could run in dry conditions. With a perfect Superpole session Regis Laconi earned his first pole position in a world championship event of his career, bringing on the top a French rider after more as ten years (Roche’s time) for a front row formed exceptionally by all Dunlop rider.

After his third fastest in qualifying session Regis has been really fantastic in Superpole, without any small mistake, and neither Chili nor’ Hodgson, started after him, have been able to get a better performance. That’s an historical pole position, the first for Scuderia Caracchi NCR in Superbike World Championship in the modern era.

Regis is of course at the seventh heaven and his word show his happiness: “Everything did run in a perfect way and the team gave me a perfectly setted bike as well as tyres which worked very well. When I crossed the finish line I’ve seen on the cockpit the laptime that I’ve recorded I left my hand to the heaven for a joyful exploit because I’ve seen immediately that also for my rivals could not be easy to do better. Chili has been very fast, but not enough, and Hodgson rode a bad Superpole lap. Of course the race will be tomorrow, but for the moment I could offer this success to the team and I’m very happy for that. For the race Hodgson will be for sure a hard challenger, as well as Chili and the Suzuki’s riders, but for the moment we could enjoy this moment, it’s not easy for a private team that could happen. Usually I love the track with fast corners, but from today on I love Sugo too!”

The happiness for Laconi’s performance has been ruined from the bad crash in the morning of David Garcia: he started the final qualifying session a bit nervous due all the problems he had yesterday. Then David was starting to push looking for a good qualifying laptime when he has done a mistake, putting the front wheel out of the track on the wet grass and the crash has been inevitable. It has been a bad crash and David suffered the fracture and dislocation of the right thumb, as well several contusions and bruises. The dislocation has been fast recovered by the Clica Mobile people, but the fracture needs a surgery operation that will be done at the return in Europe, with the goal to be ready for Monza’s round next May 18.

“My God, what unbelievable day! ” – comments Garcia – “Yesterday I not actually practised, so this morning I started a bit nervous. I stopped several times to the pit for setting the bike that yesterday I wasn’t able to set, then about 20 minutes to the end of the session I started to push; at the moment of my crash my split time was the eleventh fastest, and it was just the second lap that I was pushing, but I put my front wheel on the grass and, when I rejoined the asphalt the bike put itself askance and did throw me out. I have been a lot of time asking the marshals to put my helmet out because I wasn’t able to do by myself due my hands pain, but they didn’t understand me and I wasn’t able to breathe! It has been a terrible moment. Back in Europe I’ll have a surgery operation at the hand, and I’m confident I’ll be able to race in Monza.”

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn Le Santo

Neil Hodgson waited until the final minute of qualifying to snatch provisional pole in front of Frankie Chili and Regis Laconi.

The clouds cleared enough to allow some sunshine to dry out the track surface after heavy overnight rain. The surface wasn’t completely dry as there were still some damp patches, principally where water was draining across the track.

In the closing moments of the session a battle for pole developed between Chili, Hodgson, Laconi and Atsushi Watanabe, with all four sharing a spell at the top. But with the clock already down to zero, it was Hodgson who got the best of the battle with his final lap with a lap at 1:30.708. Chili, who crossed the line after Hodgson, managed to secure provisional second on the grid.

Despite the improved conditions there was a spate of crashes during the session; the worst involved David Garcia who ran wide in a turn, got his wheels on the grass and crashed heavily. Garcia dislocated his right wrist and suffered deep cuts and bruising to his shoulder, left elbow and his right knee. He will not race this weekend as a result of these injuries.

There were 10 crashes in total, two more than in the terrible conditions on Friday. Troy Corser crashed twice and his teammate James Haydon once. Japanese Star Hitoyasu Izutsu also crashed, spoiling his challenge for a provisional front row position. Chris Walker, who had been a contender for provisional front row place suffered severe abrasion to the 4th and 5th toes on his left foot. At the time of posting this article no announcement had been made on whether he would or wouldn’t appear in Superpole, or Sunday’s race.

World Superbike Championship
Round Three, Sugo, Japan
25-26-27 April 2003-04-25

Saturday Qualifying, best lap times:

1. N. Hodgson, GBR, Ducati, 1:30.708
2. P. Chili, ITA, Ducati, 1:30.863
3. R. Laconi, FRA, Ducati, 1:31.192
4. A. Watanabe, JPN, Suzuki, 1:31.351
5. G. Lavilla, ESP, Suzuki, 1:31.446
6. L. Pedercini, ITA, Ducati, 1:31.607
7. C. Walker, GBR, Ducati, 1:31.971
8. J. Toseland, GBR, Ducati, 1:31.994
9. H. Izutsu, JPN, Honda, 1:32.027
10. R. Xaus, ESP, Ducati, 1:32.413

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

SPIES EMERGES AS FRONTRUNNER IN AMA LOCKHART PHILLIPS USA FORMULA XTREME SERIES

PICKERINGTON, Ohio – Ben Spies might be re-thinking his pre-season goals after easily winning the opening round of the Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Series in Fontana, Calif., last month. After being hired by Yoshimura Suzuki this winter Spies hoped to get a few podiums and at least be a top challenger in the series, but now he’s thinking championship all the way. Spies, 18, from Longview, Texas, comes into round two of the 10-race Formula Xtreme Series on May 3 at Infineon Raceway (formerly Sears Point Raceway) the heavy favorite.

Spies, a former AMA Horizon Award winner during his amateur racing career, is now in his third year of professional racing and seems to be fulfilling the promise he showed as an amateur. At Fontana he totally dominated – setting the pole by over a half-second faster than second-place qualifier Jamie Hacking and then led every lap of the 17-lap final en route to a 5.5-second margin of victory over Erion Honda’s Jake Zemke.

“My confidence is high right now,” Spies allowed. “I have the best team behind me and the best bike, so all I really need to do is just ride it up to its potential and I should come out okay. I know it’s a long season so I’m not going to get too pumped up about leading the series at this point, but I have to admit that Fontana was a pleasant surprise.”

Spies comes to Infineon seeking his first victory at the Sonoma, Calif., circuit. He finished fifth in the Formula Xtreme race there last year. If he is to win he’ll have to overcome the likes of Damon Buckmaster and Jason Pridmore, both former Formula Xtreme winners at Infineon Raceway.

Both past winners have some catching up to do at Infineon. Buckmaster finished fifth in the season opener on his factory Yamaha R1. The friendly Aussie has to feel that he’s long overdue to win a Formula Xtreme title. Buckmaster led nearly the entire season in 2001, only to lose the championship by one point to John Hopkins in the last race. Last year Buckmaster again led the Formula Xtreme point standings for much of the season only to suffer bad luck mid-season. He is the winningest rider in the series and one of the crowd favorites coming into this round. Expect to see him near the front.

Pridmore’s title defense got off to an even shakier start. His Attack Suzuki blew up at the season opener and he comes into this weekend’s race needing to quickly regroup. Pridmore has always been strong at Infineon, so look for him to be a top runner.

Jake Zemke was runner up to Buckmaster at Infineon last year and he’ll be looking for another strong showing on the Erion Honda CBR954 this Saturday.

Marty Craggill came back strong after having surgery to repair a crushed disk in his neck during the off-season. The Aussie rider took third in the season opener aboard the Bruce Transportation Honda. Craggill was third at Infineon last year, so he has what it takes to be a leading contender.

Yamaha’s Jamie Hacking is expected to be another leading contender this weekend. He crashed out of the season opener while running third.

The Infineon Raceway Formula Xtreme round will be shown on Speed Channel on Tuesday, May 13 at 10 p.m. EST.


Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock Series

Tommy Hayden is proving that Kawasaki’s ZX636 just might have the perfect combination of handling and speed to outdo the bigger 750cc bikes in the Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock Series. Hayden is riding a three-race winning streak in the series dating back to last year’s season finale. The eldest of the racing Hayden brothers already has built a solid 18-point lead in the Superstock series over Adam Fergusson of Corona Suzuki. Hayden’s teammate Tony Meiring, from nearby Tracy, Calif., is third in the standings. Hayden will attempt to be the first rider to put a bike smaller than a 750 atop the Infineon Raceway Superstock podium. The large field of Suzuki GSX-R750-mounted riders will do everything they can to prevent that.


MBNA 250 Grand Prix Series

Rich Oliver, a 23-year veteran of AMA racing, comes into Infineon Raceway leading the MBNA 250 Grand Prix Series with two wins. Oliver, 41, of Auberry, Calif., is a four-time 250 GP winner at Infineon, but is looking for his first win at the track since 1997. He announced at the start of the season that this would be his last full year as a pro racer. Defending series champ Chuck Sorensen, of San Jose, Calif., is second to Oliver coming into this weekend’s race. Sorensen has won three of the last four 250 Grand Prix races at Infineon.