Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

WSMC 125cc Grand Prix Champion and Roadracing World “Young Gun” Chris Peris, 16, tested with the Honda Canada factory team March 30-31 at North Florida Motorsports Park in Jennings, Florida and has been tentatively offered a 600cc Sportbike ride for the 2002 Parts Canada Superbike Championship series.

“Basically, we put him on a 600,” said Honda Canada Team Manager Kevin Graham. “Very, very casual test. It wasn’t a tryout at all. We’ve just heard a lot good stuff about him, and we decided to bring him in and put him on one of our 600s, something that’s actually equivalent to what Steve Crevier won the Canadian (600cc Sportbike) Championship on last year, which is a FIM-spec CBR600F4i.

“We decided to bring him in, put him on the bike, no pressure, no stopwatches, just to see what he could do and get an idea for what his dad was like too. I’ve been talking to him on the phone a fair bit of time, but we wanted to see if he was like a ‘Hockey Dad’ or an easy-going guy. They were both great, very easy to work with.

“I feel like Chris has a lot of potential, not only in his initial speed, but just his maturity was fantastic. He did exactly what we asked him to do. He did a great job. It’s somebody that myself and the mechanics on the team felt that not only has potential but (is) someone that can add to the team. It’s worth us investing a little bit in as far as the development of a rider. So we’re in the process right now of putting a deal together for the rest of the season for him to compete in the 600cc Sportbike class.”

If the deal works out, Peris would become teammates with defending Canadian 600cc Sportbike and Superbike Champion Steve Crevier and defending Canadian Open Supersport Champion Frank Trombino. Crevier rides a RC51 Superbike and CBR600F4i. Trombino will ride a RC51 in the Superbike class and a CBR954RR in the Open Supersport races.

“So we have Frank (Trombino), Steve (Crevier) and Chris is kind of our future,” added Graham, the equivalent of American Honda’s Chuck Miller. “Basically, it’s an opportunity for him to learn. He’s got two great teammates to learn from, good equipment, no pressure. We just want to see what he can do, but we have a feeling that he’s going to progress rapidly. Hopefully, we can keep him in the country for another year.”

When asked what he thought of the new North Florida Motorsports Park, Graham exclaimed, “Fantastic! I think my riders are going to get spoiled testing there is the problem. We don’t have anything that smooth (in Canada). We have some nice tracks, like Mosport, but that track (North Florida Motorsports Park) is like a billiard table. I’d say it’s got to be the best track in North America for motorcycles. It’s perfectly flat, good pavement, good sight lines, complete run-off; there’s nothing to hit. You couldn’t ask for better.”

Roadracingworld.com was unable to reach Chris Peris, or his father Fernando, before post time.

From press releases:


PROTON JOINS THE HISTORY MAKERS

A new era in motorcycle racing begins on Sunday – and Proton Team KR will be among those writing their name in the new chapter in the history books.

The occasion is the Japanese Grand Prix, where the new 990cc MotoGP four-strokes will be seen for the first time, for the first battle against the established 500cc two-strokes.

The Proton KR3 is defending the faith. The three-cylinder lightweight machine is a two-stroke – nimble, responsive, and highly polished over three generations of development. The new four-stroke machines are more powerful and have a higher top speed. But they are also heavier, and very new, with all the race-development still to be done.

The KR3’s nimble handling could be a crucial factor at the opening round. The Japanese GP is at the Suzuka circuit – long and fast, but also highly technical, with corner sets running one into the other. A machine that can hold a faithful cornering line can make up a lot through these sections, to compensate for a relative lack of speed on the track’s two straights.

Proton Team KR is the only truly independent team in the highest level of GP racing, and comes to the fray this year with two new riders, as well as a change in tyre supplier.

The riders are both experienced men – Jeremy McWilliams from Northern Ireland, and Japanese star Nobuatsu Aoki.

The tyres are Japanese Bridgestones, making their entry in the top class for the first time, after a full year of high-intensity testing. Aoki was one of two full-time test riders for the team.

The Japanese GP is the first of 16 rounds in the 2002 MotoGP World Championship, with the South African GP in two weeks time, before the start of the European season.

JEREMY McWILLIAMS – SHORTER IS SWEETER
“It seems this is a track where the Bridgestones work well – especially if there is some temperature, so I’m hoping the race will be warm. I’ve already gone faster than last year’s qualifying time, and though it’s a bit off-putting to see the four-strokes setting such fast times, there’s still the question of tyre life, and how many laps they can run at those speeds. I’ve changed the bike a fair bit since my first ride – I’m using a shorter chassis, which turns quicker. It works well through the first section of the track here, through the Esses, which is where we’ll be looking to make up the most time.”

NOBUATSU AOKI – TURNING FOR THE BETTER
“The testing here went pretty well – though I made a couple of mistakes when I was going for a fast lap, and I was a little off my target. I did a lot of testing with the 17-inch rear Bridgestone, which turns better than the 16.5. It worked well, but because of trying different tyres I didn’t have a chance to work on chassis settings to solve some chattering problems. I’ll concentrate on that during qualifying. The KR3 can run with the four-cylinder two-strokes, so I am quite optimistic for the race.”

KENNY ROBERTS – TEAM OWNER
“I hope it rains like hell – I think our tyres could be an advantage if it does, and our bike works well in the wet. The odds will be better in the wet. Either way, we picked a good tyre during testing. The main thing for us is to get out bike better than it was last year – that’s the progress we’re aiming for.”



HONDA RACING NEWS

2002 MotoGP 500 World Championship, round 1
Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka
April 5/6/7 2002

ROSSI LEADS FOUR-STROKE CHARGE AT SUZUKA

This weekend motorcycle GP racing speeds into its new four-stroke era at Suzuka, where the Japanese Grand Prix opens the 16-race 2002 MotoGP World Championship which throws 990cc four-strokes into battle with 500cc two-strokes. It is perhaps fitting that the figure-of-eight circuit should be chosen to lift the curtain on this exciting new period in racing, for Suzuka first opened four decades ago in 1962, when the dominant four-strokes were locked in combat with a growing threat from the two-strokes.

The ultra-challenging track was constructed at the command of Honda founder Soichiro Honda, so success at this venue is of huge importance to the Honda Motor Company. Last year’s Japanese GP at Suzuka was possibly the factory’s greatest moment in more than 50 years of motorcycling success. Honda riders won all three GPs – 125, 250 and 500 – with Valentino Rossi taking victory in the premier class to score the marque’s 500th Grand Prix success. This was the first of Rossi’s 11 victories during 2001 which gave him the last-ever 500 crown. Now the sublimely talented Italian returns to Suzuka aboard his all-new four-stroke MotoGP bike, the awesome RC211V, aiming to begin the new era as he ended the last, with victory.

Rossi’s winter testing form has been phenomenal. He has shattered lap records wherever he’s tested, from Sepang in Malaysia, to Valencia in Spain and at Suzuka, where he topped a group teams’ test session last weekend. The 23-year old is already firm favourite for the 2002 MotoGP crown but he warns against over-optimism.

“Some people say I’ve already won the championship but I’m not so sure,” says Rossi (Repsol Honda Team RC211V). “The Italian media give me a lot of pressure and (Loris) Capirossi and (Max) Biaggi also say I’ve already won it, they say only I can lose this championship. I’ll give 100 per cent to try to win and I’m sure the others will give 110 per cent to beat me.

“But the RCV is incredible. The first time I tested it at Suzuka last July we found quite a few problems, the second time at Jerez last November it wasn’t so good, but we made a good test. I’m good at understanding what I want from the bike and HRC are very good at giving me what I want. Since the Jerez tests everything has basically changed: the engine character, all the electronic parts, the cowling, the seat, it’s a new bike.”

Last Sunday Rossi recorded the quickest-ever motorcycle lap at Suzuka, at 2:04.343s, leading a Honda one-two-three. Second fastest was team-mate Tohru Ukawa (Repsol Honda Team RC211V), underlying the V5’s stunning performance, with reigning 250 World Champion Daijiro Katoh (Fortuna Honda Gresini NSR500) third on his NSR500 two-stroke.

“We set some good lap times during the tests,” Rossi adds. “And we tested many things to find good set-up solutions for the race. We worked very hard and are finally satisfied with the development of the bike. Now we have three days rest and we’re anxious to see what will happen next Sunday when the two-strokes and four-strokes race together for the first time.”

Although he’ll be doing his best to relax before next weekend, Rossi will spend one day in Honda’s wind-tunnel facility, evaluating the RCV’s aerodynamics, along with Ukawa, who is also deeply impressed with Honda’s first four-stroke bike in two decades.

“The RCV was very fast right from the start, but we had to work to improve drivability out of the corners,” says the former 250 GP winner. “The bike is definitely my favourite machine, it’s better than the two-stroke because it’s got flatter power and torque curves, so it’s easier on the gas. The regulations demand the four-strokes to be 15 kilos heavier than the 500, so you get a little snaking into corners and you carry less corner speed.

“This year is going to be very interesting, I hope to fight with Rossi for the World Championship. Last time I fought with him was in ’99 when we were contesting the 250 World Championship. That year I was with Honda and he
was with Aprilia and he won the title. This year I’ve got the same bike and the same team, so there can be no excuses for me. I’m looking forward to a good battle with him!

“I can’t wait for the Suzuka race. The circuit has changed a little this year. They’ve changed Dunlop curve to make it safer, the corner is now tighter and slower, but I think that lap times are faster because the track is around 30 metres shorter.”

While Rossi and Ukawa focus on developing the all-new RCV, Katoh has quickly got to grips with the latest version of Honda’s NSR500, the most successful bike in 500 GP history. During recent private HRC tests at Suzuka he was a fraction faster than Rossi, at 2:04.40s, and is widely expected to be the quickest 500 rider when he makes his MotoGP debut on Sunday.

“This NSR500 still has great potential,” he says. “I’m learning about the machine and although it’s not an easy job, I feel pretty confident. During last weekend’s tests we tried new solutions for the suspension and chassis and we know which direction to work in for the race.”

Four other riders use NSR500s in this year’s MotoGP series and all are keen to get the season underway. Loris Capirossi (West Honda Pons NSR500), who finished third in last year’s 500 series, has also been very fast in pre-season tests. “Winter tests have shown we still have a good chance with the 500, especially at some tracks,” says the Italian. “My Suzuka lap times improved during last weekend’s tests and I got close to the leaders. Now I’m looking forward to the start of the World Championship, because racing is much more fun than testing!”

Team-mate Alex Barros (West Honda Pons NSR500) has been more circumspect in testing, concentrating on perfecting settings rather than going for ultra-quick lap times. “We’ve been looking at various aspects of machine performance, working in different directions to test different solutions,” says the veteran Brazilian, who made his GP debut way back in 1986. “Suzuka is going to be a very interesting race, I think everyone is looking forward to the weekend; I just hope the weather is okay.”

Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Kanemoto Racing Honda NSR500) and Tetsuya Harada (Pramac Honda NSR500) will also be on the grid at Suzuka next weekend, along with HRC test rider Shinichi Itoh.

Itoh, a former All Japan Superbike Champion and 500 grand prix rider, will race an RCV in HRC colours on Sunday. The Japanese star has been on the pace in testing, setting top ten times at the recent IRTA test at Suzuka.

In the 250 class Honda’s two NSR250-mounted title challengers are Emilio Alzamora (Fortuna Honda Gresini NSR250) and Robby Rolfo (Fortuna Honda Gresini NSR250). Alzamora, who returned to the 250 class last year after winning the 1999 125 title, has high hopes of challenging for the 250 crown. “We are in good shape for the new season and the bike is great,” says Alzamora. “Suzuka will be difficult as always, mainly because there will be many wild card riders there. But we’ll do our best and go on to the next races, determined to score consistent finishes at every race. That is the secret to winning a world title.”

Rolfo, who rode a privateer Aprilia in 2001, has spent the winter acquainting himself with his user-friendly NSR. “The bike is very different to what I’m used to but I really like it,” says the young Italian. “The first races are going to be very interesting. Suzuka is very important though my focus is the full season. I can’t wait to get started.”

Honda-mounted wild card entries in the Suzuka 250 GP are Shinichi Nakatomi, Chojun Kameya, Daisaku Sakai and Hiroshi Aoyama.

Sunday’s Japanese GP will commence with the 125 race, won last year by Masao Azuma (Liégeois Competition Honda RS125) who hopes to begin another strong title challenge on home tarmac. Azuma is joined on Honda machinery by Spanish teenage sensations Daniel Pedrosa and Joan Olive (MoviStar Junior Team) and many others.

After Sunday’s racing the GP circus packs up and heads to South Africa for the Welkom GP on April 21. The long European season begins at Jerez, in
Spain, on May 5. The 2002 campaign ends in Spain, at Valencia, on November 3.



Kanemoto Racing

SUZUKA HOSTS A NEW TEAM AT THE START OF A NEW ERA

Sunday 7 April 2002 will mark an historic date in motorcycle racing, as the Japanese Grand Prix lifts the lid on the start of the most eagerly awaited season in grand prix history. The Suzuka race also marks the welcome return of Kanemoto Racing, under the direction of Erv Kanemoto with the proven Dutch rider Jurgen van den Goorbergh at the helm of the factory Honda NSR500.

The unique figure of eight, 5.821kms circuit will inaugurate the start of the most unpredictable season in 50 years. For the first time ever, 990cc four-stroke machines will be allowed to compete against the all-conquering 500cc two-strokes in the 16 round championship battle.

Van den Goorbergh is set for the fray aboard his first factory machine ride and determined to make the most of the opportunity. The 32-year-old former 250cc and 500cc Privateer Champion has been rewarded for all his hard work and determination during an 11-year grand prix career and he is delighted with the opportunity to join Erv Kanemoto’s new team.

“This is a great opportunity for me and it will be so good to start the season on the Honda NSR at Suzuka, heart of the Honda organisation, on a machine which is performing so well. The NSR is giving me more power than I’ve ever had before I must now make sure I can use that power to our absolute advantage.”

Kanemoto’s Technical and Management pedigree is unrivalled, having clinched seven world championship titles and a staggering 64 grand prix victories, in a 21-year career in the most demanding of world sporting arenas. Kanemoto built up his reputation as a top tuner in the United States before coming to Europe to work for former world champion Barry Sheene in 1981. Since then he has masterminded world championship titles for; Freddie Spencer, Eddie Lawson, Luca Cadalora and Max Biaggi and also worked with world champions Wayne Gardner and John Kocinski.

The Team returns after a two-year racing absence during which time they were involved in tyre development and testing for Bridgestone, a partnership that continues into the 2002 season.

“It’s great to be starting with such a competitive package we have the opportunity to combine the well-proven Honda NSR with the experience of Jurgen, who has really shown his potential over recent years. We are also very excited to be riding on Bridgestone tyres, after working on testing programmes with them last year and seeing first-hand their commitment to the development of racing.” Explained Team Owner and Manager Erv Kanemoto.

The combination of Kanemoto and Van den Goorbergh is set to give the new four-strokes a tough time in what promises to be a superb opening season to the all-new, renamed MotoGP World Championship.


SUZUKA FACT FILE
Suzuka has hosted the Japanese Grand Prix every year from 1987, apart from 1999. Circuit reduced in length this year by 38.13m with the alterations to the Dunlop curve. The slope on the sweeping uphill left-hander has been moderated improving visibility into the corner. The corner has also been shifted further to the left, allowing run off area on outside to be increased.

Length: 5.821kms
Width: 15m
Direction: Clockwise
Pole position: left
Right corners: 11
Left corners: 9
Longest straight: 1.200m
Constructed: 1961
Modified: 2002

Lap Record (old circuit): Tohru Ukawa Jpn (Honda), 2:06.805 – 166.337kmh
8/4/01.

2001 Pole-setting lap (old circuit): Loris Capirossi ITA (West Honda Pons) 2:04.777.

2001 500cc Race Winner (old circuit): Valentino Rossi ITA (Honda) 44:51.501, 164.570kmh.

From a press release:

The No Limit Motorsports Race Team will race two 2002 Yamaha R-1s at Fontana this weekend in the Lockhart-Phillips Formula Xtreme race. To our knowledge No Limit is the only team on the 2002 model bikes. Rider Jason Curtis will be joined by South African, Lance Isaacs on the R-1s. Lance and Jason have been training for the past 4 weeks, and look forward to a good race weekend.

Lance comes to No Limit Motorsports following a very succesful career in South Aftrica, as well as two seasons in World Superbike, as a teammate of Ben Bostrom. Jason has scored some impressive wins, and podium finishes at Willow Springs in Club Racing, and looks forward to his first season in AMA national event racing. Jason and Lance recently finished a session with Jeff Haney and Freddie Spencer at Spencer’s Riding School in Las Vegas, and they are anxious to get on the track, and make use of the training they received.

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.”