From a press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing:

Corser aims for further improvement in Japan

Troy Corser is aiming to make the most of the latest developments to the FP1 in order for Foggy PETRONAS Racing to meet the challenges set at the third round of the World Superbike championship in Japan this weekend.

Following a fifth-placed finish in the previous round at Phillip Island, Corser is hoping that further progress in Sunday’s races will help banish painful memories of the Sugo circuit.
The Australian crashed and ruptured his spleen in the morning warm-up for the final two races of 1998, resulting in his new boss, Carl Fogarty, securing a third world title. And, while grip remains a constant issue at the hillside circuit near the northern city of Sendai, Corser realises that he and team-mate James Haydon will have to contend with the inclusion of local Japanese wild card entrants in order to maintain current progress.

Troy said: “I’m confident the bike will handle well round here and I’m just hoping that our latest engine developments will give extra power and torque, especially coming out of the last chicane before going onto the uphill start-finish straight. I’ve done well there in the past and have nearly always been near the podium but it’s
always a difficult race because of the fast Japanese wild cards.”

The FPR team has been working closely with Swiss engine developers Suter Racing Technology to constantly improve the FP1 package. Team manager Nigel Bosworth said: “A development of the camshafts should give more power and torque which will be important, especially out of the last chicane. We also have a revised exhaust system, with new balance pipes to provide extra power. And we’ve also worked hard on fuel and ignition mapping, to produce a far smoother curve.”

James said: “Obviously, having never ridden here before, I know it’s going to be a difficult weekend but I am still really looking forward to it. I am pretty good at learning circuits so I want to concentrate on getting the FP1 working
how I need it to work. So far I haven’t been able to prove what I can do and the pressure will be on until I am running up at the front all weekend.”

Team owner Carl Fogarty, whose surgeon advised against long-distance flights within a week of an operation to remove a plate from his leg, is unable to attend the event.

Circuit information: Sugo, Japan

Best lap: Makoto Tamada, 1:28.658 (2001)

Superpole record: Makoto Tamada, 1:28.797 (2001)

Race record: Makoto Tamada, 1:29.108 (2001)

Pole position: Left. Circuit length: 3.737km

Corners: 6 left, 9 right. Corner radius: 250m maximum, 20m minimum

Maximum slope: 10 per cent

Race times: 0400 and 0730 hours, GMT.

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

HACKING LOOKS TO EXTEND AMA PRO HONDA OILS U.S. SUPERSPORT CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY SHOEI POINTS LEAD AT INFINEON RACEWAY

Duhamel shoots for fourth AMA Supersport win at Infineon

PICKERINGTON, Ohio – Infineon Raceway has not been kind to Yamaha’s Jamie Hacking over the years. Hacking has suffered more than his share of misfortune at the challenging Sonoma Valley circuit. Since first racing at Infineon Raceway (formerly Sears Point) in 1997, Hacking has finished only one Supersport race – that was last year when he finished third. Prior to that Hacking crashed out of every Supersport race at the circuit, or sat out the race after crashing earlier in the weekend. The 31-year-old South Carolinian hopes to turn things around this year and is shooting to win at Infineon on Sunday, May 4.

Hacking comes into the AMA Supersport event at Infineon with a 14-point lead over teammate Aaron Gobert. He feels he’s ready to turn around his luck at Infineon.

“It’s definitely not been one of my better tracks, that’s for sure,” Hacking admitted. “It was a track that I really didn’t like before and I don’t think I was concentrating on the proper things there and I crashed a lot. But the track has improved a lot over the last few years and while it’s still probably not one of my favorites, I think I can do well there. Last year I finally was able to finish the race, so I don’t see any reason why I can’t win it this year the way we’ve been going.”

Hacking has put a small gap on the rest of the field after only two rounds. The battle behind Hacking is wide open with seven riders within 10 points of one another.

Perhaps Hacking’s biggest threat at Infineon will be Miguel Duhamel. The Honda rider has won the Supersport race at the track three times and will be the only former winner in the field. He is third in the series standings coming into this race. This year will mark the 10th anniversary of Duhamel’s first AMA Supersport win at Infineon Raceway.

Aaron Gobert is experiencing a strong comeback this year after sitting out most of 2002 while recovering from serious injuries suffered at Daytona last year. Gobert would love to break through and win his first AMA Supersport race at Infineon, a circuit where his older brother Anthony has won both Superbike and Supersport races in recent years.

Damon Buckmaster finished fourth in the race last year. The Aussie veteran is looking to earn his first Infineon Supersport podium finish to keep in the thick of the championship chase. The youngest of the Yamaha factory riders, Jason DiSalvo, comes into the event fifth in the series standings and is hoping to take his first career Supersport podium this weekend. Erion Racing’s Jake Zemke has two top-10 Supersport results at Infineon and he is shooting for a third this year.

Ben Spies, ranked seventh, is the leading Suzuki rider in the series so far. Spies will get some help when Aussie Jamie Stauffer joins the Yoshimura Suzuki team after showing great potential in the first two rounds on a privateer Yamaha. Reigning champion Aaron Yates will not contest the Supersport series for the remainder of the year choosing to focus instead on the Superbike class.

Tommy Hayden is counting on continued improvement to his factory Kawasaki at Infineon. After finishing a disappointing 13th at the season opener in Daytona, Hayden came back strong with a third last month in Fontana. That result moved him into eighth in the series standings and he’ll be looking to improve on that ranking. Hayden was runner-up to Yates in the Supersport series last year.

The Infineon Raceway Supersport race will be shown on Speed Channel during primetime on Tuesday, May 6 at 8 p.m. Eastern. For ticket information contact Infineon Raceway at (800) 870-RACE or visit www.infineonraceway.com.

From a press release issued by the AMA:

Federal Safety Agency Sets Hearings on ATVs

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The federal Consumer Products Safety Commission — the agency that banned three-wheeled all-terrain vehicles in the 1980s — will hold a new series of public hearings on ATV safety beginning in June, the All-Terrain Vehicle Association reports.

According to a notice published in the Federal Register today, the commission will hold a public hearing June 5 in Morgantown, W.Va. The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. at West Virginia University in the Robert C. Byrd Health Science Center.

The commission states that it is “concerned about the dramatic increase in ATV-related injuries and the continued increase in ATV-related deaths, and believes that holding a hearing will provide an opportunity for the interested public to share their concerns about ATVs and ATV safety.”

The commission will take testimony on issues ranging from the availability of safety training to whether there should be “performance standards” set for ATVs. The commission notes that there has been an increase in the number of injuries to riders using ATVs with engine sizes of 400cc and greater.

The commission also will take testimony on a proposal by a coalition of groups made up of the Consumer Federation of America, the Natural Trails and Waters Coalition, the Bluewater Network and others seeking a ban on the sale of adult-sized ATVs sold for use by children under 16.

The coalition originally called for a ban on all ATV use by those under the age of 16 but the CPSC said that it could not enforce such a ban. ATVA Director Doug Morris noted that under a longstanding agreement between the ATV industry and the federal agency, only the smallest ATVs
— those with engines displacing 90cc or less — have been sold for use by riders in that age group.

In addition, Morris questioned the motivation behind some of the groups involved in this attack on ATVs. He noted that the Natural Trails and
Waters Coalition and the Bluewater Network have never had any involvement with, or interest in, ATV safety. Instead, their agenda has been to block access to public lands for ATV riders and others involved in motorized recreation.

“Including these anti-access organizations in this coalition makes for an odd alliance at the very least,” Morris said, “since the interests of
two of the coalition partners are in eliminating ATVs, not making them safer.”

To testify before the Consumer Product Safety Commission in West Virginia, contact Rockelle Hammond, Office of the Secretary, Consumer
Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C., 20207. Tel: (301) 504-6833. Fax: (301) 504-0127. E-mail: [email protected].

You can also send written testimony until July 5 to Attn: ATV Hearing, Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington,
D.C., 20207.

From a press release issued by CRA:

Central Roadracing Association kicks off the 2003 Racing Season

The Central Roadracing Association kicked off the 2003 racing season in Council Bluffs, Iowa, at the Midamerica Motorplex, April 11-13. Great weather and fierce racing depicted the first weekend of the year for many Midwesterners. Many top racers from around the Midwest, including Robert Jensen, Shawn Conrad, and Larry Denning, put on a great show in the battle for the CRA Championship.

In the racing action, Robert Jensen dominated the Middleweight and Unlimited Expert Classes, while Steve Atlas rode away in the Heavyweight Classes. In the Lightweight and 250GP Expert classes, Brett Donahue, Brent Juusola, and Mark Sorenson took the field of racers. After the weekend of racing, Brett Donahue is the point leader for the expert class, while Sean Edget leads in the novice class.

For 2003, CRA has another event scheduled at Midamerica Motorplex for August 23-24. Four weekends are scheduled for Brainerd Intl Raceway, located in Brainerd, Minnesota: May 2-4, June 21-22 (weekend prior to AMA National), July 19-20, and September 12-14.

CRA would like to thank all of our great volunteers, racers, fans, and sponsors! If you are interested in learning more about becoming a volunteer, racer, or sponsor, please check out www.cra-mn.org or call (612) 332-4070.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Rain ended testing at Barber Motorsports Park today at about 1:00 p.m.

Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki and Kawasaki Canada are packing up as this is posted.

From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

DUCATI CORSE PRESS INFORMATION
Sugo (Japan)
April 24, 2003


TEAM DUCATI FILA HUNGRY FOR MORE SUCCESS IN JAPAN

Ducati Fila riders Neil Hodgson and Ruben Xaus aim to continue their 100% 1-2 win record at this weekend’s Japanese Round of the World Superbike Championship, which takes place at the Sugo Sportsland circuit in the mountainous north-east of the country. With two of the 12 rounds already down, Hodgson and Xaus have a comfortable points lead over their closest rivals as they start the second overseas race of the year. The weekend is not going to be an easy one however due to the characteristics of the circuit and the presence of a couple of strong local ‘wild-card’ riders.

HODGSON: NO RECORD BREAKER
Hodgson has a good recent record at Sugo, the Englishman finishing fourth and third last year on a satellite Dunlop-shod HM Plant Ducati 998. The Michelin tyres Neil is riding on this year helped Colin Edwards win one of the 2002 races with Honda and the 29 year-old Isle of Man resident is confident he can gain good results again with the brand-new Ducati 999. “I feel very motivated now after a month’s gap since the last race in Australia. Physically I feel really good as well” commented Neil. “I’m not worried about trying to break any records or win as many races as possible, I just want to win the championship. There are a few wild card riders here which could make things difficult. The circuit is fantastic, it’s in my top 3 of all circuits, it’s just the last corner that causes a few problems and it’s easy to make a mistake. My form is quite good here, even in 1998 I twice finished fifth on a Kawasaki with a couple of wild-cards ahead of me, while last year I nearly beat Colin Edwards.”

XAUS: POSSIBLE TO WIN
Xaus scored a ninth place finish last year after injuring his hand in the first race. With four second places on the board already, the 25 year-old from Barcelona wants to go one better and notch up his first win of the year in Japan. “This is a really technical track, quite difficult and to go fast you need to go slow” declared Ruben. “You need to find a good set-up here because there is not much grip. We hope to do a good race, qualify in front of the Japanese guys and then start Europe as a new season with a lot of points. For sure it’s possible to win here, I have to find a good set-up, the bike is perfect, the best bike here but you need time to get the best out of it.”

CIRCUIT: Sugo Sportsland first opened as a test track for Yamaha in 1975 and since then it has been transformed into a massive outdoor leisure facility, incorporating a 3.737 km international racetrack. The circuit is situated close to the city of Sendai which has a population of one million people. The track has a total of 15 corners (6 left and 9 right), a tricky first gear chicane at the bottom of the hill and a finish-line straight of 700 metres.

POINTS (after 2 of 12 rounds): Riders – 1. Hodgson (Ducati Fila) 100; 2. Xaus (Ducati Fila) 80; 3. Walker (HM Plant Ducati) 48; 4. Lavilla (Suzuki) 44; 5. Martin (Ducati DFX) 41; 6. Toseland (HM Plant Ducati) 40; etc. Manufacturers – 1. Ducati 100; 2. Suzuki 44; 3. Petronas 32; 4. Kawasaki 18; 5. Yamaha 7.

STATISTICS: Lap record: Tamada (Honda) 1’29.108 (2002); Superpole: Tamada (Honda) 1’28.797 (2001); Qualifying : Tamada (Honda) 1’28.658 (2001).

2002 RESULTS: Race 1: 1. Edwards (Honda); 2. Tamada (Honda); 3. Haga (Aprilia). Race 2: 1. Tamada; 2. Edwards; 3. Hodgson (Ducati).

From a press release issued by Fortuna Yamaha:

FORTUNA YAMAHA TEAM PREVIEW

Africa’s Grand Prix
Welkom
April 25/26/27 2003

FORTUNA YAMAHA TEAM CROSSES CONTINENTS FOR SECOND ROUND IN WELKOM

The MotoGP World Championship will continue this weekend in South Africa after a three-week pause since the opening round in Japan on 6th April. The Fortuna Yamaha Team riders have not been idle in the interim. A disappointingly wet test at Suzuka on the Monday and Tuesday was followed by some long-haul flights for both Spaniard Carlos Checa and the team’s replacement for the injured Marco Melandri, Norick Abe. Melandri, meanwhile, flew home to Italy after Japan has been working hard on his recuperation process.

Carlos Checa travelled to the United States from Japan and has been spending time with Yamaha’s three-time World Champion Wayne Rainey at his Californian home in Monterrey. He comes to Welkom fresh for the ongoing MotoGP Championship challenge on his four-stroke Yamaha YZR-M1 and ready to improve on his Suzuka result.

The 30-year-old Spaniard will be joined in his challenge this weekend by Yamaha factory test rider Norick Abe. Due to a fall in Suzuka which left him with multiple leg injuries, Checa’s regular team-mate Marco Melandri is temporarily out of action. The 27-year old Abe is a former GP regular who finished sixth in the 2002 Championship. The Japanese rider had been due to compete in his season-opening home GP as a wildcard, but with Melandri ruled out of the race he was drafted in as a replacement and rode to 11th place.

The MotoGP paddock is still reeling from shock at the tragic loss of Japanese former 250cc World Champion Daijiro Kato. The Honda rider’s crash during the Suzuka race two weeks ago left him in a critical condition in hospital and he finally lost his battle for life early on Sunday 20th April.

“It is difficult to think about racing now that we have heard this news about Kato”, said Davide Brivio, Team Director of the Fortuna Yamaha Team. “Our thoughts go to Daijiro’s wife and children, as well as his team, and we hope they can find the strength to continue. We have to go on to race in South Africa now, and I think that is what Kato would have wanted.”

CHECA AND ABE PREPARED FOR THE AFRICAN CHALLENGE

The Fortuna Yamaha Team is ever hopeful for success as it moves to Welkom for the only MotoGP round to take place on the African continent. Carlos Checa and his new team-mate Norick Abe stayed on after the Suzuka Grand Prix for two days with members of the team for a pre-arranged Yamaha test at the Japanese circuit. During the test Abe had the opportunity to ride the latest 2003 race-spec YZR-M1, which he will ride in this weekend’s Africa’s Grand Prix. Meanwhile Checa tested a new evolution chassis which the team is considering to use in Welkom. Unfortunately heavy rain meant that scheduled track time for the pair was significantly reduced but there was at least some time for Abe to familiarise himself with the Fortuna Yamaha M1 machine.

The bike that Abe will ride differs slightly from his Spanish team-mate’s. Checa sampled a new package during the Suzuka pre-race IRTA test and the ensuing Suzuka race weekend. The new Yamaha ‘R series styled’ YZR-M1 fairing sports a different, more aerodynamic design. It features a much narrower frontal area, improvements to the unique M1 flexible air-intake system, a hard-lined rear seat cowling, and a hand-made “snub-nosed” titanium exhaust system. Abe will use the previous-spec M1 bodywork and exhaust in South Africa.

Davide Brivio, Team Director for the Fortuna Yamaha Team, is hoping that the Welkom Grand Prix will bring better fortune to the team: “It was a disappointing start to the season”, admitted the Italian, “and Carlos can do much better in Welkom compared to the result we got in Suzuka. It is good that we had a test already planned in Japan for the Monday and Tuesday following the race both for Carlos, and also for Norick to familiarise himself with the bike. Unfortunately the weather did not help us much there. Now we have to go to Welkom and get back into a position that we hoped we would be in.

“Of course Marco’s accident in Suzuka was a big blow for us – I think he could have been really good there. We are now replacing him with Norick in Welkom, and I think that he has a chance to do well. He has spent the last months getting used to the four-stroke engine in Yamaha’s testing team with a prototype M1.

“At the Suzuka test Carlos tested a new evolution of chassis and we are now considering whether he will use it in Welkom this weekend. I am confident that he has the capability at this circuit. We are also of course in regular contact with Marco, whose progress is better than we expected. I really hope to have him back with the team very soon.”

TECHNICALLY SPEAKING

The Phakisa circuit has developed a notorious reputation for being both bumpy and slippery – the latter a side effect of the area’s flat and dusty surroundings. Combined, these two elements make setting up a 210 plus horsepower MotoGP machine uniquely difficult. Therefore the key to a successful result at this isolated venue is not outright horsepower, or an overly aggressive chassis geometry; rather a place on the podium hinges on a predictable power curve and a balanced, yet receptive suspension package.

With this in mind each of the Fortuna Yamaha Team riders Carlos Checa and Norick Abe – temporarily filling in for the injured Marco Melandri – are likely to opt for a chassis set-up that is initially plusher than would usually be expected for such a medium to high speed layout, in an effort to increase predictability and feel. Balancing the YZR-M1’s rear ride-height, reducing compression damping and increasing the spring preload will reduce the likelihood of the bike’s rear suspension unit squatting under power – otherwise there is the risk of understeer during the exit of corners. However as the times drop, with the increasing presence of a cleaner racing line, the cornering forces will build and will therefore require the need for increased spring weights along with firmer compression damping.

Possibly improving the overall balance and feel further for Checa will be the availability of the latest evolution of the M1’s Deltabox frame, which he first sampled in Suzuka, following the opening round of the MotoGP World Championship. “Initial results indicate it offers improved rear wheel traction, increased predictability and greater braking stability,” says YZR-M1 Project Leader Ichiro Yoda. “However further again Checa’s M1s will benefit from the improved aerodynamics of the more aggressive fairing, which he first sampled in Suzuka, while Abe will migrate from the prototype YZR-M1 he raced with at the first round to the 2003 spec machine, as used by Melandri.

CHECA HOPING FOR BETTER RESULT

Carlos Checa did not achieve the result he was hoping for at the Japanese Grand Prix three weeks ago. The Spaniard had a front row start and took the holeshot from the starting grid on his M1 but gradually slipped back through the pack to finish a disappointing tenth. He is hoping for a better race in Welkom this weekend and the fact that he likes the African circuit should be a help on his mission.

“Not a good start to the season at all,” said Checa about the opening 2003 MotoGP round in Suzuka. “On all counts it was an unlucky race that no-one will forget. I now have to focus my attentions on Welkom and trying my best to improve our performance.

“My past performances at Welkom have not been so bad – I got a good result there in 2000, unfortunately I missed the race there in 2001 because I was injured in a training accident, and last year I finished fifth. The bike has changed so much since then that it’s hard to tell how we will do this year but the package that we have is competitive, so we will see. I won’t be happy until I am fighting for race wins.”

The Welkom circuit suits Checa’s riding style as one of its defining characteristics is its lack of grip. The surface is very slippery and Checa enjoys sliding the bike there, “Hopefully it will be dry in Welkom, it normally is. The track is especially tough on tyres and very exciting. One of my favourite corners is the fast right at the end of the back straight. I need to stay focused and calm now until the race.

“After the Suzuka GP Norick and I stayed on there for two days of testing. I tested a new chassis and am waiting to decided whether to use it in Welkom. After that I travelled to California to visit Wayne Rainey. We spent several days relaxing, I trained with a Yamaha motocross bike while Wayne rode in his go-kart. It gave me the chance to prepare mentally for the forthcoming races. It has left me in a good frame of mind for Welkom”.

ABE FEELS AT HOME ON M1, WHILE MELANDRI RECUPERATES

The Fortuna Yamaha Team’s season opener was marred by the accident of Marco Melandri, whose fall during the Friday morning practice session in Suzuka forced him to miss the rest of the Japanese Grand Prix weekend. Melandri suffered a double fracture of his ankle and a small chipped fracture of the femur in the high-speed crash. Melandri was able to return to the Japanese circuit after just one night in a local hospital. The 250cc World Champion flew back to Italy the day after the race and has since received medical treatment from the Championship’s Clinica Mobile doctors in Imola, close to his home town Ravenna. The medical staff are quite happy with his progress. Melandri will be unable to participate in this weekend’s Africa’s Grand Prix and no date has yet been set for a return to.

Meanwhile replacement rider Norick Abe has been busy since his home Japanese Grand Prix where he stepped in as Fortuna Yamaha Team replacement for Melandri. The 27-year old stayed on in Suzuka for a two day test and familiarised himself with the bike that he will race in Welkom. Despite bad weather conditions at the test Abe found the time valuable practice: “I wasn’t so happy with my result at the actual Suzuka Grand Prix but the good point is that I am going to get the chance to race again in Welkom”, said the affable Japanese. “We only had about half a day of testing out of the two days afterwards because of the rain. That’s not so long but I immediately had a good feeling on the 2003-spec M1.”

Abe competed in last year’s Africa’s Grand Prix on the two-stroke Yamaha YZR500 and finished the race in seventh position. Welkom is not one of his favourite circuits but he thinks that the M1 will make all the difference: “I’ve never felt really comfortable at the Welkom circuit, I can’t even explain why,” explained Abe. “I hope that at this race I will get a good feeling and then it will become my favourite circuit! It will of course be fairly different riding a four-stroke bike there compared to a two-stroke. I will have more power, and it should be much easier. I quite like sliding the bike in Welkom, which is a really slippery circuit.”

CARLOS CHECA : INFORMATION
Age: 30
Lives: Great Ayton, England
Bike: Fortuna Yamaha Team YZR-M1
GP victories: 2 (500)
First GP victory: Catalunya, 1996 (500)
First GP: Europe, 1993 (125)
GP starts: 137 (17 x MotoGP, 92×500, 27×250, 1×125)
Pole positions: 2 (1 x MotoGP, 1 x 500)
First pole: Spain, 1998 (500)
Welkom 2002 results. Grid: 7th, Race: 5th

NORICK ABE : INFORMATION
Age: 27
Lives: Sitges, Spain
Bike: Fortuna Yamaha Team YZR-M1
GP victories: 3 (500)
First GP victory: Japan, 1996 (500)
First GP: Japan, 1994 (500)
GP starts: 136 (16 x MotoGP, 92×500, 27×250, 1×125)
Pole positions: 0
Welkom 2002 results (YZR500). Race: 7th

Welkom MotoGP lap record
Tohru Ukawa 1:34.834 (2002)

Circuit best lap
Valentino Rossi 1:34.629 (2001)

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

The WERA Sportsman regional race event originally scheduled for Easter weekend, April 19-20, at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama has been re-scheduled for June 28-29.

According to WERA officials, all contingency awards for the original race have been carried over to the new event date, and the WERA National Vintage series classes, as originally schedule, will also be included in the new date.

The new track has been battling noise complaints from a few well-financed neighbors. On Wednesday, track personnel were seen conducting noise tests during the lunch hour, using sound meters and a noise generator to measure how much noise was actually reaching the property line in the direction of the complaining neighbors.

The Cornerspeed track day/open practice originally scheduled to precede the WERA event on Friday April 18 was also postponed until Friday, June 27.

See stories related to the race postponement posted April 14, 15 and 17.

For more information, call WERA at (770) 720-5010 or go to www.wera.com.

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited featured in over 100 hours of coverage

PICKERINGTON, Ohio – Fans of the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship will enjoy an abundance of television coverage during the 2003 season. Over 100 hours of AMA road racing action will be shown on Speed Channel, including over 20 hours live. The AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship will be the featured series with Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport presented by Shoei and Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme races also being shown. Viewers will also see highlights from the MBNA 250 Grand Prix and Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock Series.

“We’re pleased with Speed Channel’s continued emphasis on our AMA Superbike property,” said John Farris, AMA Pro Racing vice president of commercial development. “The championship has become a mainstay for the network and the popularity of the series on television has proven that motorcycle racing delivers a large and loyal audience. In addition to being a great way for fans to follow the championship, our television package provides a strong benefit to participating teams and sponsors.”

This year marks the eighth season for the AMA U.S. Superbike Championship on Speed Channel and, like event attendance, the television ratings continue to grow. “Our partnership with Speed Channel is a testament to the power of live TV and its ability to accelerate the growth of a sports property,” added Farris.

Ten of the 11 venues on this year’s Superbike calendar will feature live coverage. The Superbike race at Barber Motorsports Park will be shown on a same-day, tape-delayed basis. Six of the Supersport Championship events will also be covered live.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

WERA will help run the AMA Road Racing Grand Championships at Mid-Ohio on July 23-24, the Wednesday and Thursday prior to the AMA National.

The event will accept licenses from any recognized club but all participants will have to be AMA members.

The AMA Road Racing Horizon Award winner will be named during the event.

The event was previously run with Bob Stanley’s FASTTRAX, as a co-promotion with the AMA.

WERA is participating in the organization of the event under contract with the AMA.

The event will pay WERA points and may pay FASTTRAX points as well.

Details will be posted as available.