From a press release:

ROYAL BOOST AS UK MOTORCYCLE COMPANY TRIUMPHS OVER ADVERSITY

His Royal Highness the Duke of York, Prince Andrew, Has Given Britain’s Only Motorcycle Manufacturer a Boost as the Company Triumphs Over Adversity

NEWNAN, GA.–Within hours of learning about a fire at one of Triumph Motorcycles’ production facilities, the Duke of York, Prince Andrew, who is Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, rearranged his schedule to make a goodwill visit to the company as reconstruction work gets under way in Hinckley.

Accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Mr. Timothy Brooks, His Royal Highness donned a hard hat, toured affected areas, talked to staff and heard about the company’s plans for a rapid recovery.

After the tour, the Duke of York said he was delighted to hear that work was about to start on rebuilding the factory, and predicted that the great British institution would come back stronger than ever. “This is a great British company that has been a leader in its field for many years. I wanted to let them know how important they are to the UK economy,” he said. And he told staff: “As Britain’s only motorcycle manufacturer, you have a big part to play in the market place. Triumph is going to rebuild and that is good news for the industry and for British engineering.”

The Duke of York was shown around the factory by Karl Wharton, Managing Director of Triumph Motorcycles, who said: “The Duke’s visit was a real boost for Triumph and everyone involved in helping to rebuild the company. Construction is soon to start and we are optimistic that production will be back to normal before the end of the summer. “It is very important for all our customers and dealers and staff to know that there is so much support for Triumph,” he said.

The Duke of York’s activities in his new role are in support of British Trade International (BTI), the government body set up to support UK countries trading internationally and encourage foreign investment.

Triumph, who manufactures more than 33,000 motorcycles in Britain a year, supplies bikes, parts and accessories to over 25 different countries, including those in western Europe, the United States of America, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and several markets in Latin America. As 80% per cent of the company’s production is for export, Triumph has reassured its 800-dealer network across the world that the fire will have no immediate impact on its overseas business.

“Distribution of the Triumph range of motorcycles, parts and accessories, and our warranty service, will continue as the company prepares to work round the clock to ensure that motorcycles roll off the new assembly line by late August,” added Karl Wharton.

Triumph Motorcycles America, Ltd., is a wholly owned subsidiary of Triumph Motorcycles, Ltd., the manufacturer of Triumph motorcycles and accessories. Triumph Motorcycles America is located in Newnan, GA and services the Triumph dealer organization throughout the United States, Canada and Latin America.

From press releases:

DUCATI CORSE PRESS INFORMATION
WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP
Round 3 – Kyalami (South Africa), 7 April 2002

PREVIEW

With two rounds down and eleven to go, the second of three consecutive fly-away races for World Superbikes takes place this weekend at the high-altitude Kyalami circuit on the outskirts of Johannesburg, South Africa. A scintillating start to the season by the reigning world champion Troy Bayliss (Ducati Infostrada), with four wins and maximum points from Valencia and Phillip Island, has catapulted the Australian, who celebrated his 33rd birthday last week, into a commanding championship lead. However Bayliss knows that the championship is far from over and anything could happen in the remaining races, starting from this weekend’s round at Kyalami.

“The last two races in Spain and Australia have obviously gone very well and they were both circuits where we tested during the winter. We’ve also tested here as well and improved on last year’s performance, so I’ll be aiming to continue where I left off at the last round” declared Bayliss. “I love coming to Kyalami, it’s a great track and we always have a good time so I’m looking forward to racing here on Sunday. The whole package gets better every year, Ducati make improvements with the bike, the engine and the tyres and I’m sure we’re going to go a lot faster than we did last year if we get good weather.”


Ducati Infostrada team-mate Ruben Xaus’s season switched into top gear in Australia when he twice finished on the podium with third place in both races. The 23-year-old from Barcelona finished ninth and fifth in the two South African races during his first WSBK season, but now believes he has the ability and the results behind him to take on the front-runners.

“I just want to improve all the time and finish races in the top positions like in Australia because last year I made a lot of mistakes” declared Xaus. “To be on the podium would be OK for me here. The Phillip Island races have given me a lot of confidence but the season is long and I want to go well in these overseas rounds before we get to Europe where I know the circuits better. Kyalami is very difficult but it’s a really nice track, this one has something special and I hope to do well here.”


Ben Bostrom (Ducati L&M) holds all the records around Kyalami after his performance at this track last year when he finished fourth in race 1 and won the second. The 27-year-old Californian comes to Kyalami confident that the track will offer a more level playing-field and enable him to repeat his 2001 results.

“Kyalami is a great place to race and I sure hope that we can challenge for the lead on Sunday. It’s a bit frustrating to know that you want to race for the win, but are not in a position to do so, like it was in Australia” declared Ben.

“Things should go a lot better around here, I know the circuit well, having won here last year and the bike was perfect last time around at Phillip Island. I aim to get a good start to the weekend tomorrow and then we’ll get down to some real action on Sunday”.


THE KYALAMI CIRCUIT

Kyalami means ‘My Home’ in Zulu and has been the home of South African motorsport since it opened in December 1961. The complex has been remodelled a couple of times in its history and the latest version of the circuit dates back to 1991. The complex, located in the Midrand area of Johannesburg, which is the fastest growing industrial and commercial area in South Africa, is at 1700 metres above sea level, which results in an engine power-loss of around 10% due to the thinner atmosphere.



CIRCUIT RECORDS

Lap Record: Bostrom (Ducati) 1:42.928 (2001). Superpole: Bostrom (Ducati) 1:41.689 (2001). Qualifying: Bostrom (Ducati) 1:42.089 (2001).



EDWARDS CHASING SOUTH AFRICAN GLORY

Castrol Honda’s Colin Edwards is looking for two wins in Sunday’s third round of the World Superbike championship at the Kyalami circuit in South Africa as the American bids to close the points gap to current series leader Troy Bayliss.

Edwards arrives at the Johannesburg circuit in confident mood, having won at the hillside venue for the last two years. Improvements to his SP-2 machine and a three-day Michelin tyre test at Kyalami in January are expected to benefit the 28-year-old’s chances of adding to his 20 career wins.

Edwards has won three of the last four races at Kyalami and believes the South African round will launch his 2002 title challenge.

“I love the place and the circuit and feel really at home here,” says Edwards. “I’ve always had success here and won the first race of the year on
the new V-Twin Honda two years ago so this place has some good memories for me.

“After Kyalami I’m looking to the next four rounds knowing I can win at all of them. If I can get the sequence under way on Sunday I’ll go to Japan in two weeks on a roll.”


HONDA ACES CHASE SOUTH AFRICAN SUCCESS

Honda’s World Supersport duo of Karl Muggeridge and John McGuinness are chasing success in Sunday’s third round of the World Supersport championship at Kyalami in South Africa.

Muggeridge believes victory is achievable after the Australian rider moved through to fourth place in the last round in Australia before a retirement ended his chances of a podium finish.

“The team’s worked very hard since Australia, we’ve improved the motor a lot and I’m confident I can be there to win on Sunday,” says Muggeridge.
“Kyalami’s a good looking circuit and I can’t wait to get going.

“We know the Pirelli tyres will be good here but Kyalami’s about 6000 feet above sea level so every machine loses about 20 per cent power. But that’s the same for everyone so it won’t be a problem.”

McGuinness – like Muggeridge – is making his debut at Kyalami and the British rider is also returning to action after a shoulder injury ruled him out of the last round in Australia.

“I raced in the opening round in Spain and the pain from the shoulder was too much,” admits McGuinness. “The four-week break has done me good and I’m confident I won’t feel any more pain.”



ANDREW PITT OUT TO MAKE IT TWO IN A ROW AT KYALAMI

Fuchs Kawasaki’s Andrew Pitt arrives in South Africa for the third round of the 2002 World Supersport championship keen to continue the run of form that saw him take his first race win in the series at his home circuit of Phillip Island just two weeks ago.

A three day visit to the famous Sun City resort was designed to allow Pitt and the rest of the Fuchs Kawasaki team to acclimatise themselves to the South African heat, but the reigning World Supersport Champion ended up contracting a stomach bug, from which he’s only just started to recover. Despite not feeling 100% for tomorrow’s opening practice and qualifying sessions, Pitt is still hopeful of making it two wins in a row at Kyalami.

‘I’m looking forward to the weekend, for sure,’ commented Pitt. ‘I just wish I wasn’t suffering with the stomach problems I’ve had for the last few days. Apart from my guts, we’re in pretty good shape for the weekend ahead. We’ve already got workable settings from the test we did here last year and we know which tyres work well, so we should be able to concentrate on setting a good qualifying time from the off. If everything goes well for us, then there’s no reason why we shouldn’t top the podium again this weekend.’

Kyalami was the venue for James Ellison’s first full test aboard the Kawasaki ZX-6R and the reigning European Superstock Champion is looking forward to returning to the 4.263Km South African circuit, despite having had problems with suspension settings and tyre choice on his first visit.

‘I didn’t have much luck here in preseason testing, but it was my first proper test on the bike and, after two races, I know it a lot better now,’ said Ellison. ‘We’ve also taken delivery of some new front suspension components, a different rear shock and new tyres since that first test, so we should be able to find a good set-up during practice and qualifying. I’m looking forward to the race and I’m pretty confident I can improve upon my finishes so far this season.’

The altitude of the Kyalami circuit brings with it a significant reduction in power for both Superbike and Supersport machines; something that Hitoyasu Izutsu, the leading four-cylinder rider in the championship, is very aware of.

‘With its constantly changing gradients, Kyalami is a real power circuit,’ said Izutsu. ‘Unfortunately, because of the altitude, we’re down on a power when we need it most. But it’s the same for everyone, so nobody gains any real advantage from it. I guess I’ll just have to ride harder through the turns this weekend, to make up for the speed we lose down the straights.’

Chris Walker celebrated his 30th birthday with two top ten finishes at Phillip Island, and the ‘Stalker’ – as he’s known to his army of fans – is determined to continue that success at Kyalami this weekend; starting with qualifying.

‘I need to improve my qualifying position this weekend,’ said Walker. ‘Although I’m pretty good at getting the bike off the line, there are less people to box you in at the first corner if you get a good start from the front of the grid rather than the middle. My face is continuing to improve, but for some reason my eye is no better. With the heat here in South Africa I’m expecting to have the same problems with sweat running into it that I had in Australia. I’ve got a sweatband that I’ll be wearing under my helmet to try and combat the sweat, but I won’t know if it actually works until I actually get out on track for the first practice session.’


The now traditional annual SBK pilgrimage to the capital of African motorsports, Kyalami, hosts the third race weekend of the 2002 season.


And now a release from the series organizers, SBK:

Kyalami is indisputably one of the best tracks on the SBK calendar, and remains a true test of any motorcycle racer’s skill and commitment to the task of winning.

With a great propensity for providing close racing at the sharp end, yet with the curious habit of also delivering frequent double winners, Kyalami is always a backdrop for controversy and contention.

Last year the American duo of Edwards (Castrol Honda) and Ben Bostrom (L&M Ducati) were the conquerors of the 4.263km track, which features 11 left and six right hand corners, and a total spectator capacity of 86,000.

Colin Edwards would have possibly won both races in 2001, had he not had engine problems on his factory VTR1000, but the man who capitalised on Edwards’ misfortune, Ben Bostrom, was a deserving winner in any case, and holds the race lap record for the track, 1:42″928.

Thus far many riders have challenged for podium finishes in the four races that have comprised the 2002 SBK season, but there has been only one in possession of the complete package required to score wins – Troy Bayliss.

The reigning world champion and his speedy Ducati Infostrada machine have swept all before them so far, and have created history with their 100 points after four races.

Twice the Kyalami bridesmaid in his first full debut season in 2001, Bayliss looks likely to be in the running for yet another podium-topping consummation, as he attempts to extend his honeymoon period to more than four races.

Ruben Xaus, the impatient young charger in the factory twins’ pack, will also fancy himself to improve on his Phillip Island brace of third places, armed as he is with an identical machine to Bayliss.

The factory four cylinder riders have yet to take a podium this year, but the fact that Kyalami has seemed to favour neither Michelin or Dunlop, twin or four cylinder machines – or at least not to the extent of other circuits on the calendar – will give any of them an opportunity to take at least one podium finish.

The men and machines we are talking about are of course Gregorio Lavilla (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra) and the Kawasaki Racing Team pairing of Hitoyasu Izutsu and Chris Walker.

The privateer dark horse is NCR rider Pierfrancesco Chili, who took a fabulous double Kyalami win for the factory Ducati squad in 1998. Now on a year old works Ducati, Chili will try to rekindle his old flames of brilliance on his Dunlop-shod machine.

Another man with similar equipment, Neil Hodgson, was fastest in Kyalami winter testing in the run up to the 2001 season, but unlike the factory Honda and Ducati teamsters, Hodgson has not tested at Kyalami this year, which may prove to be a serious disadvantage.

In Supersport, the championship returns after a two-year leave of absence, with all the top runners out to prove something to themselves and others on their return Africa.

The only previous World Supersport race at Kyalami was won by Iain Macpherson, in 1999, during his debut Kawasaki factory season. Naturally enough, he is still the World Supersport lap record holder, with a 1’48″343.

Now riding for the Ten Kate Honda team, alongside Valencia race winner Fabien Foret, MacPherson may not be a favourite this time round, but there are no shortage of possible race winners. The Belgarda Yamaha pairing of Paolo Casoli and James Whitham plus Yamaha Motor Germany entries Jörg Teuchert and Christian Kellner lead the Yamaha chargers, while Stephane Chambon and Katsuaki Fujiwara ride the top Suzukis.

The reigning World Champion, Andrew Pitt will be hoping that Kyalami really is a Kawasaki track, but for Piergiorgio Bontempi (NCR Ducati) the Kyalami circuit would be a perfect venue if it proves to be a twins’ circuit. Second at Phillip Island, Bontempi was something of a surprise package, but this time around, his rivals will be ready for him.

Mark Willis plays the part of the stand-in Saveko Yamaha rider this time around, while a healthy entry of local wild cards will include Greg Dreyer, Arushden Moodley, Stewart Macleod, Trevor Crookes, Noel Haarhoff and Graeme van Breda.

The Superside Championship takes to the track for the second round of the three-wheeled world championship.

From a press release:

This Press release is to inform you about the new AMA Pro Thunder Team NICOLODI RACING based out of North Hollywood, CA.

For the Fontana Event the new crew will send their 2001 Ducati 748 RS in the Superbike race and try to do well and get some track time for Czech republic racer and AMA Pro Vincent Haskovec. Unfortunately the bike arrived just yesterday.

The technical crew is led by Italian Stefano Louise who has years of experience working for the Aprilia Factory Team in GP and has worked for greats like Max Biaggi etc. He is co-owner of a beautiful independent Italian motorcycle shop for DUCATI, Aprilia and MV Agusta: NICOLODI RACING.

The Team is also backed by co-owner and Racing enthsiast Sergio Luevano.

“Italio-German” European Superbiker and former GP team advisor Dino Bez is another link to becoming a strong new team in AMA Pro Racing, in Superbike as well as in Pro Thunder.

The team has planned to enter more Superbike events this season. Please come and see the new team this weekend at Fontana.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

In an e-mail response to Mark Webster, a motorcycle enthusiast who sponsors CMRA racer Jason Peterson in regional events and asked why AMA Pro Racing discourages Thursday practice, AMA Pro Racing Director of Professional Competition Merrill Vanderslice charged that Roadracing World Editor, race team owner and AMA Southwest Director John Ulrich supports Thursday practice prior to AMA Nationals for purely financial reasons.

“Certainly John Ulrich of Roadracing World is in favor of keeping Thursday practices intact because he makes money conducting them,” wrote Vanderslice. “He rents tracks on the Thursday before our nationals and charges riders to practice. I don’t think it takes a genius to see the motivation there…”

Last year, 135 AMA Pro racers, mechanics and team owners signed a petition in favor of Thursday practice prior to AMA Nationals. Roadracing World learned Monday that after the signatures were presented to members of the AMA Board of Directors and members of the AMA Pro Racing Board of Directors last fall, Vanderslice dismissed the issue of Thursday practice as being made up by Ulrich for his own personal gain. (Ulrich has since been elected to the AMA Board and took office in February.)

Ulrich is a vocal advocate of Thursday practice, and, putting his money where his mouth is, used his company Team Hammer Inc. to promote a single Thursday pro practice in front of an AMA National in 2001, at Brainerd. That event, which included Air Fence, a cornerworking crew, three on-site ambulances and rider medical insurance, attracted 36 riders and cost $1100 more to put on than riders paid to participate.

Team Hammer also sublet two hours of track time on the Thursday prior to the 2001 AMA National at Road Atlanta for a track ride event, in a continuation of a deal that originally made it financially feasible for the Road Atlanta race promoters to hold Thursday practice. That event also lost money.

Ulrich was not involved in any other Thursday pro practice, track ride or school days in front of AMA Nationals in 2001.

Webster posted Vanderslice’s e-mail on a website and the false accusation spread to various other sites and internet lists. One attacker posted, “Finally, being the cynical person I am, what do I think is really driving this issue? Money. And advantages lost. Or should I say, a lack of money, going into Johnny’s pocket. See, someone usually runs these practice days, and guess who that is at a lot of the tracks? Uh huh, Mr Roadracingworld himself. The AMA by banning Thursday practices takes money out of Johnny’s pocket. Ouch, that hurts.”

Confronted by Ulrich via phone, Vanderslice admitted that he had no evidence to back up his claim. Vanderslice subsequently sent a follow-up e-mail to Webster, with a copy to Ulrich, as follows:

“I made statements about a perception without knowing whether or not John actually made money on practices and that wasn’t right. John called to assure me that he is not in it for the money and I believe him. He has shown that he has a genuine interest in improving the sport and safety through his air module fund-raising program (that has actually cost him money) and his effort to become a member of the AMA Board of Directors, thereby taking part in a variety of programs to benefit all motorcyclists. No one should make accusations purely on perception.”

John Ulrich issued the following statement, as an individual AMA member and not in his official capacity as an AMA Director: “As an employee of the AMA and an official of AMA Pro Racing, Merrill Vanderslice has an obligation to treat AMA members involved in AMA Pro Racing fairly. Making up something to personally smear somebody he disagrees with is completely against the principles the AMA and AMA Pro Racing are supposed to stand for. That he did so in a case involving an AMA Director says a lot about his judgement. If Merrill Vanderslice says the sky is blue, best be looking before you believe him.”

From a press release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GP Star To Sponsor Diablo Paintball Can-Am 125GP Challenge

GP Star, a leader in the United States in the sales and importing of Grand Prix motorcycles along with HRC parts, has come on board as a leading sponsor of the series for 2002.

GP Star will provide $175 in “GP Star Bucks” for each round. First through third will receive certificates, and a fourth certificate will be raffled off to to a rider who finished outside the top three.

1st $75
2nd $50
3rd $25
Bonus $25

Along with providing a 25% discount on GP Star branded merchandise to participants of the series, the series champion will receive a Miyuki Racing Exhaust System, valued at $390.

GP Star’s entire line of products can be viewed at their website www.gpstar.net

The official Diablo Paintball Can-Am125GP Challenge web site is www.can-am125gp.com

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Reigning AMA Superbike Champion Mat Mladin will make his return to competition during the Yamaha Superbike Challenge March 5-7 at California Speedway. The first of three California races this season will mark Mladin’s first race action since crashing in practice at Daytona, suffering a fractured elbow, and undergoing subsequent surgery.

Even though he was in pain and less than 100% healed, the three-time AMA Superbike Champion rode in a test at Laguna Seca March 26-28. Even more amazing was the positive attitude of Mladin, one of the most intense competitors in any arena.

“You’ve got to be positive,” said 30-year-old Mladin on March 28. “We’ve won three Championships in the last three years and we got injured in the first race. It’s always hard to handle when you can’t race the first race of the year, especially when you’ve won it the last two years. It’s the way it goes. We’ve had a good run.

“You have to put things into perspective and realize that we’ve had a good run for three years, we had a bit of trouble there at Daytona and we need to pick ourselves up and keep going. It’s just one of those things. I think any team in the paddock will take three Championships and miss one Daytona, if you gave them the chance. I’ve been lucky that I haven’t been injured the last three or four years and have been able to do the job we’ve done. We’ve got to pick ourselves up and keep going. There’s 15 races to go and we’re 38 points out of the lead. It’s not over by a long shot.”

Mladin admitted that he was having trouble riding his Team Blimpie Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R750 at the Laguna Seca test due to his injured left elbow. “Just anything to do with the left-handers is bothering me,” said the Australian. “It’s just anything where I’ve got a lot of pressure on my left hand or I’ve got to hold with my left arm to accelerate out of turns. I just can’t get up (to) the front of the bike. I just can’t really do what I want to do. That’s alright. By the looks of things, we’re only consistently half-a-second off the pace, maybe a little bit more, 0.7-second.

“This track is probably a lot worse than Fontana (California Speedway) when it comes for my elbow. This place has a lot of left-handers where you’re laying on it a long time, and a lot of left-handers where you’re actually braking for a long time and tipping into the corner (under) hard braking.

“I think Fontana, the turn one section as you drop off there, that fast chicane thing. That long turn one (the apron turn) and that first flip-flop might be a problem. I don’t think it will be as big of a problem as here, and with another week’s healing, I think I’ll be alright to go. I mean, it’s no excuses. We crashed. I crashed it. That’s it. That’s the way it goes. Shit happens.”

In his first time on a V-Twin in over six years and first time on a Ducati in eight years, HMC Ducati’s Doug Chandler recorded the fastest lap of the recent test at the Monterey, California track. Many observers at the test felt that Chandler’s smooth riding style and the Ducati 998RS were a good match. When asked about the match of Chandler and the Italian V-Twin Superbike, Mladin said, “The bike and anybody is a good match. You don’t win 10 World Championships out of 12 if it’s not a good motorcycle. This is the only country in the world where V-Twins haven’t dominated.

“That’s not taking anything away from anyone. I guess the best way to look at it is Doug’s consistently quicker than he’s ever been at Laguna Seca.

“It’s a good bike and he’d be the first one to tell you. It’s a good motorcycle. It’s a different breed. You’re talking a lot more horsepower, a lot more torque, a motorcycle that’s very well sorted out, a motorcycle that’s been around for a long time – sort of hard to beat. Now Ducati has a good, solid, steady rider on the bike. There was nobody out here that you’d ever put in front of Doug for that ride. The sheer fact that Doug didn’t have a ride for this year was a bit of a joke, if you ask me. He didn’t have a great year last year because he wasn’t comfortable on the bike and that sort of stuff, but I mean there’s a lot of people in this paddock that could do with his services.

“And you know what my thoughts are on the Superbike rules (1000cc V-Twin machines racing against 750cc Inline four-cylinder bikes), I think it’s a joke. Then people say to me, ‘Yeah, but you’ve won the last three Championships.’ I won the last three Championships because we’ve been the most organized team in the paddock, the best team in the paddock. Not because of the motorcycle I’m sitting on. In the 750 race, we would’ve won the Championship easy, no problem, a lot easier than what we’ve been winning it.”

From a press release:

ARAI’S CONSUMER SERVICE PAVILIONS BEGIN 2002 RACE-EVENT SCHEDULE AT FONTANA

(Daytona Beach, FL) Following the “tremendous” positive response from consumers after its 12-city tour of the 2002 International Motorcycle Shows, and its maiden voyage at last year’s AMA race at Virginia International Raceway, Arai has announced that it will be continuing the highly-successful Consumer Service Pavilions at AMA/Chevy Trucks Superbike Championship Road Race Series events in 2002. The first appearance will be at Fontana this coming weekend.

The Pavilion will be manned by Arai technical personnel who can provide full helmet service and inspections, hard-to-find parts and accessories, answers to questions of fit and features, among other things.

New this year will be a “Lounge Area” with a 50+ helmet display of Arai’s 2002 line-up, officially-licensed Arai casual wear featuring Arai racers like Chris Carr, Nicky Hayden, Colin Edwards, Eric Bostrom, Kevin Windham, and Mick Doohan, and some very cool new Arai street threads. Arai racers might even be there hanging out and signing things.

Arai introduced this unique customer service idea last September at the final round of AMA road racing at Virginia International Raceway. For years the company has had an ongoing tech-service presence at pro race events, providing helmet tech service and support to its many road race, dirt track, MX and off-road racers. That weekend, however, the company expanded its effort to include street riders who own Arai helmets. The reaction was “so incredible”, said Arai’s Robert Miller, “we knew we had to keep it going. So we added it to the IMS Shows that traveled around the country this past winter, and it got even better. It’s great for our customers because we get to meet them and help them face-to-face. It’s just another little way we can show them how different a company Arai really is.”

Look for the Arai Service Pavilion at these following AMA/Chevy Trucks Superbike Championship Road Race Series events in 2002:

4/7 Fontana, CA
5/5 Sonoma, CA
5/19 Braselton, GA
6/2 Fountain, CO
6/9 Elkhart Lake, WI
6/30 Brainerd, MN
7/13 Monterey, CA
7/28 Lexington, OH
8/11 Alton, VA

Also visit www.araiamericas.com to see where else the Service Pavilion may be visiting in 2002.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Kawasaki Heavy Industries has opened an English-language website devoted to the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR MotoGP racebike. The site contains no new information but does include an artist’s rendering of the bike with text saying the machine will be a liguid-cooled, DOHC, Inline Four of less than 990cc and will include ram air induction. The description also says that “strategically located edges” seen on the conceptual image were designed for aerodynamic benefits.

The site also includes quotes from Kawasaki test rider Akira Yanagawa and the Ninja ZX-RR Team Manager Takashi Yasui.

The site can be found at the following link:

http://www.khi.co.jp/mcycle/msinfo/gp/index_e.html

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

During AMA team testing at Laguna Seca March 26-28, Kawasaki’s Eric Bostrom revealed some of his 2002 season plans, beyond racing in the AMA Superbike Series.

“I’m looking forward to Sugo for sure,” said the 25-year-old Californian, referring to the April 19-21 round of the World Superbike series. “It’s going to be good. I’ve been wanting to see the Dunlops do good in one of these World Superbike races, but so far they’ve been getting kind of worked over. Hopefully, it will happen before that. Hopefully, my brother (Ben Bostrom) will win South Africa (April 5-7). If not, I guess we’ll have to go there and do it.”

Bostrom raced in a round of the All-Japan Championship series at Sugo after the 2001 AMA Superbike series ended. In that race, Bostrom rode a bike supplied by Kawasaki. For this year’s race at Sugo, Bostrom will bring over the fastest of his two AMA Superbikes. Bostrom’s Crew Chief Matt Worbes will again accompany the soft-spoken racer to Sugo. Also making the trip to Japan will be Bostrom’s AMA mechanics Kenny Hunter, Jeremy Robinson and data acquisition specialist Mike Perez.

Bostrom told Roadracingworld.com that he would be doing at least three World Superbike races in 2002. “We’re definitely going to try and do Sugo, Laguna and after the season we’re going to go over and do a German round at Oschersleben (8/30-9/1). There’s still two more rounds after that (Assen 9/6-8 and Imola 9/27-29). It’s just a matter of how well we do this season (as to) how much support we get, I think.”

Bostrom then went on to confirm that there are plans for him to ride the four-stroke MotoGP racebike that Kawasaki has begun to test. “Really, the only thing is we’re supposed to ride it a couple of times this year, but that’s it. I haven’t heard when or where or anything,” said Bostrom.

Kawasaki officials have said they intend to race their yet-unnamed MotoGP machine in select rounds of the 2002 MotoGP series. Considering that the AMA season ends on August 11, Eric Bostrom would be available to ride in seven different MotoGP rounds if the Kawasaki men decide to use him.