From a press release:
Team Suzuki News Service

SUZUKI’S NEW FOUR-STROKE MEETS THE RIVALS

Team Telefónica MoviStar Suzuki riders Sete Gibernau and Kenny Roberts and factory colleague Akira Ryo met the new four-stroke opposition for the first time at the Catalunyan GP circuit–and their brand new GSV-R motorcycle showed a fine turn of speed at only its fourth test outside of Japan.

The new 990cc V4 MotoGP machine posted impressive top speed figures, with Ryo running at 308.2 kph (191.5 mph) on the kilometer straight, fourth fastest time out of the 23 four-stroke and two-stroke machines at the final European IRTA tests.

Ryo also posted the fastest lap time of the trio, placing tenth, with Gibernau one position and less than two-tenths slower, and Roberts 15th overall, another four tenths down.

Suzuki’s four-stroke project is still at an early prototype stage, having been put forward by a full season to join the first year of the new 990cc MotoGP class. Originally, Suzuki had planned to release the new racer for the 2003 season.

SETE GIBERNAU: 11th Position, 1:46.243:
“It’s difficult to compare our bike with others who are a year-and-a-half in front of us in terms of development, but the team and the Suzuki factory have been working day and night, and we need to know how much more improvement is required. My motivation is high, and I’m physically ready. I hope we can get everything together so we can try to win races later this year. At this stage, we need to get better, and as long as we keep doing that race by race – closing the gap on the fastest bikes every time – then we can be satisfied we can keep that target. I can accept where we are with such a new bike, and I know Suzuki understand that we need to keep pushing hard. I will always try my hardest to make the best of what we have got.”

KENNY ROBERTS: 15th Position, 1:46.625:
“We came here to understand where we are at with this bike, and to see what we need to improve. Our position is as we anticipated, and we need to improve every aspect of the motorcycle and the tyres. There is a lot of work to be done to make this bike competitive. At the same time, the bike has run for only 14 days, and we have lost almost half that time to bad weather and other problems. We need to keep working hard.”

KUNIO ARASE – Project Leader:
“Since our earlier tests in Malaysia and Australia, we have refined the fuel injection map, and reduced the mechanical losses with a major internal change to the engine. Our next goal is to refine the exhaust system, to give more power and a better power curve. We are developing all the time.”

GARRY TAYLOR – Team Manager:
“It’s been a baptism of fire. We learned a lot – including that the bike is on target at still a very early stage. The team worked well together, and got through a huge amount. We have no illusions about the fact that there is still a lot of work to be done before the bike is fully competitive.”

From a press release:

HONDA RACING NEWS

Honda announces the name of the factory MotoGP team of the year 2002

Repsol Honda Team Launch , Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona, March 9-10:

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has announced that the name of the Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) factory team that will participate in MotoGP class of FIM 2002 Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix, will be “REPSOL Honda.”

HRC will be responsible for all aspects of the team’s racing programme from development to overall management. The riders will be Valentino Rossi (#46, Italy), who won the championship last year, and Tohru Ukawa (#11, Japan).

They will both be aiming to win the first championship to be governed by the new technical regulations which come into effect this year, aboard the four-stroke “RC211V” equipped with a V5 990cc engine.

In addition, Shinichi Ito (Japan), who competed in the 500cc grand prix class from 1993 to 1996, has been confirmed as a wild-card rider for the opening round of the World Championship. “The Moto Grand Prix of Japan,” to be held at Suzuka Circuit in Mie Prefecture from April 5th, (Fri.) to 7th, (Sun.). Ito has been responsible for the development of RC211V from its inception and will be racing for “TEAM HRC”, overseen by Tadayuki Okada, himself a successful former grand prix rider.


Address by Mr. Koji Nakajima, Director, Honda Racing Corporation:

“Ladies and gentlemen, good evening.

“First of all, on behalf of Honda and Honda Racing Corporation, I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation for your unchanging support to our Grand Prix racing activities. We would like to thank the people of the media, our fans, sponsors, the FIM, Dorna, and everyone in the motorcycle community.

“The road racing Grand Prix World Championships, the world’s top class motorcycle racing series, is now facing a historical change this year.

“We at Honda have developed the RC211V for this championship, a completely new four-stroke GP race machine, investing almost all of our newest technology in the project.

“When we embarked upon the challenge of developing a four-stroke GP machine, the first and foremost thing in our mind was to build an uncompromising racing machine by a never-challenged approach.

“We finally chose the V5 engine configuration for the reason that it is something that no one has ever done before.

“And in order to maximise the mass-centralisation advantage, and the compact packaging, derived from the V5 engine, we also invested a lot of new technology on the chassis, such as the Unit Pro-link suspension and the under-the seat fuel tank.

“Needless to say, it must have been much easier for us to develop the machine by using the existing, race proven technology. And also, it is true in one aspect that the process to victory does not matter but the result does. But for us, that is not the be-all and the end-all of racing.

“We deliberately take the round about route to victory, through which we develop new technology, train our people, and learn all sorts of valuable lessons.

“That is always how we do things at Honda.

“We developed the RC211V with a motorcyclists passion, enthusiasm and the strongest possible message. It is our latest symbol, ‘The Power of Dreams’.

“In such a special year, it is our great pleasure to announce the continuation of our partnership with REPSOL, who have supported our Grand Prix activities more than anyone for many years. I am confident that the great partnership between REPSOL and Honda will find its place in the first page of this new page in the history of MotoGP.

“We finished last season with 525 GP victories to our credit. We now look forward to add more pages to the record book with this new machine.

“Thank you very much.”



The Repsol Honda race team management and team riders also gave their comment on the RC211V and the forthcoming season.

Mr. Nakata, HRC Team Manager:
“As Mr. Nakajima has commented, everything about the project is totally new. We have had a very fast but thorough development process and the whole project team has worked extremely hard. The winter testing has taught us a lot about the bike and we are pleased to make steady improvement.

“The new MotoGP season is very nearly upon us and we are all looking forward to the challenges that this new era in motorcycle racing will bring with it. We know there is more potential in the new RC211V and in the coming season we look forward to developing the machine still further.”



Mr. Carlo Fiorani, HRC Sporting Manager:
“We have worked with Valentino in 500 GP racing for the last two years and together we won the 2001 World Championship. For this season Valentino will have exactly the same team around him as he did last year. The only thing that has changed is, obviously, the bike we will race with but as you have already heard; the bike and rider are getting along fine!

“This year we welcome Torhu Ukawa into the new REPSOL Honda Team. Tohru will again be working with his team of engineers and technicians from 2001.

“There is a great spirit in the team that we have developed over the past months during testing and speaking on behalf of the riders, they can’t wait
to get out and race the new RC211V.”



Valentino Rossi, REPSOL Honda Team:
“For sure, I will try to win all the time. The new 4-stroke is a new bike to me but I like the machine very much. The testing has gone well and I look forward very much to the first race in Suzuka.”



Tohru Ukawa, REPSOL Honda Team:
“I’m looking forward to the season, very much. I like the Suzuka circuit and I like 4-strokes. I especially like the RC211V, which is getting better to ride after each test session. We are now re confirming a lot of what we have learnt during the tests and now we are really looking forward to the first race!”

This just in from Clear Channel:


Speed Channel Taps CMI to Execute Public Relations For Network Launch and Programming

East Rutherford, NJ (March 11, 2002) — Speed Channel, a motor sports cable network based in Charlotte, N.C., has tapped CMI, a full-service global marketing and promotions agency, to execute public relations projects for the network’s re-launch, original programming and on-air talent. The Charlotte, N.C.-based PR group of CMI will handle the account.

The deal continues a partnership that began two years ago, when CMI served as the primary public relations agency for Speedvision, which was purchased by FOX in the summer of 2001 and re-launched as Speed Channel in February.

“The CMI team has a working knowledge of the network and a strong feel for its history,” said Speed Channel President Jim Liberatore. “CMI’s work over the last two years with media relations and providing general counsel has played a critical role in the growth of Speed Channel. With CMI’s extensive background in motor sports, understanding of our brand and expertise in public relations, we feel they will be an asset as we continue to develop Speed Channel.”

“Partnering with clients on the cutting edge of their industry is what helps define CMI’s approach to brand activation,” said Charlie Horsey, Chief Operating Officer, CMI. “We’re excited about teaming with Speed Channel as they redefine motor sports television.”

About CMI
CMI is a full-service global marketing and promotions agency comprised of brand activation experts who create and facilitate passionate relationships between brands and target consumers through the medium of live by creating highly interactive marketing platforms that tap consumers’ emotions to achieve specific business objectives. CMI offers clients one-stop, turnkey service as well as a menu of capabilities from sponsorship consulting, negotiation and ROI measurement to creative/concept development, mobile marketing, public relations and event management. As part of the Clear Channel Worldwide family, CMI can seamlessly integrate its proprietary solutions into strategically appropriate assets from the global leader in out-of-home entertainment. CMI is headquartered in East Rutherford, NJ with offices in Atlanta, GA, Charlotte, NC and Washington, D.C.

About Speed Channel
Speed Channel, which celebrated its sixth anniversary in January 2002, is the first and only 24-hour cable network devoted exclusively to motor sports and the human fascination for speed. In addition to being the home of NASCAR TV, Speed Channel also brings viewers much of the world’s marquee racing events including CART, F1, Classic Cars, LeMans, the American LeMans Series, World Rally and car shows from around the globe. Currently seen in more than 46 million homes, Speed Channel was acquired by Fox Cable Networks Group in July 2001.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Three-time AMA Superbike Champion Mat Mladin went out on his Superbike this morning at Daytona but immediately pitted and declared that he could not ride in this afternoon’s Daytona 200.

Mladin was in too much pain from his left elbow, injured in a crash Friday morning, and decided he could not physically handle the bike at speed.

Mladin underwent surgery to remove bone chips from the elbow Friday night.

Unofficial Lap Times From Sunday Morning Superbike Warm-up:
1. Nicky Hayden, Honda RC51, 1:51.904
2. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:52.040
3. Miguel Duhamel, Honda RC51, 1:52.451
4. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:52.528
5. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:52.678
6. Anthony Gobert, Yamaha YZF-R7, 1:54.213
7. Larry Pegram, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:56.054
8. Eric Wood, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:56.653
9. Michael Barnes, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:56.879
10. Pascal Picotte, Ducati 998RS, 1:58.584
11. Alan Schmidt, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:58.734
12. Greg Fryer, Yamaha YZF-R7, 1:58.879
13. Rich Conicelli, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:59.405
14. Pedro Valiente, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:59.504
15. John Jacobi, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:59.556
16. Randall Mennenga, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:59.652
17. Brian Livengood, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:59.777
18. Kurtis Roberts, Honda RC51, 1:59.805
19. Owen Richey, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:59.850
20. John Pearson, Suzuki GSX-R750, 2:00.197

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn LeSanto

Fabien Foret, the flying Frenchman, won a battle of France to take the win at the opening World Superbike round in Valencia. He spent most of
the race racing with fellow Frenchman Stephane Chambon in a thrilling battle to the line for victory.

Foret got a poor start on his Ten Kate Honda but recovered to take second place by the middle of lap one. Then he twice tried without success to pass Chambon to grab first place. The first time Foret got past, he ran wide on the brakes and was pushed back down into second. The second attempt saw him run even wider, narrowly avoiding a trip into the gravel trap. This time he was pushed down into fourth place.

Foret recovered and picked his way back to the front to start a fantastic duel with Chambon. By lap seven he got the better of Chambon and moved in front. Riding in his usual spectacular style Foret used all the track and then some to stay ahead of Chambon. But even when he ran so wide on the exit of the last turn he didn’t even think about closing the throttle, much to the amazement of the spectators in the main-straight grandstand. He repeated this spectacular move several times.

Christian Kellner, back in third, could only watch as the front pair got further into the distance. He then came under attack from a determined Chris Vermeulen, who is this year riding for Team Van Zon TKR. Kellner got the better of Vermeulen in the drag for the line to hang onto third place. Kellner’s teammate Jorg Teuchert lost the front end on lap five after touching the brake lever midway through a turn. He remounted but could only finish 16th.

World Supersport race result:
1 Fabien Foret, France (Honda) 38:11.646
2 Stephane Chambon, France (Suzuki) 38:11.962
3 Christian Kellner, Germany (Yamaha) 38:18.922
4 Chris Vermeulen, Australia (Honda) 38:18.947
5 Andrew Pitt, Australia (Kawasaki) 38:19.916
6 James Whitham, GB (Yamaha) 38:20.063
7 Alessio Corradi, Italy (Yamaha) 38:32.253
8 Paolo Casoli, Italy (Yamaha) 38:33.849
9 Antonio Carlacci, Italy (Yamaha) 38:43.484
10 Werner Daemen, Belgium (Honda) 38:45.271

World Supersport championship points after one of 12 rounds:
1 Foret 25
2 Chambon 20
3 Kellner 16
4 Vermeulen 13
5 Pitt 11
6 Whitham 10
7 Corradi 9
8 Casoli 8
9 Carlacci 7
10 Daemen 6.

Manufacturers1 points:
1 Honda 25
2 Suzuki 20
3 Yamaha 16
4 Kawasaki 11
5 Ducati 5

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Four-time AMA 250cc Grand Prix Champion Rich Oliver blames his crash Friday morning at Daytona on poor flag station positioning.

Oliver said he crashed wide-open in fourth gear up on the banking well after exiting the chicane, when he hit a wet spot on the pavement.

Oliver had seen warning flags in the chicane but thought they applied to the chicane, and that once he was out of the chicane, the track was free of any problems.

In fact, the flags at the exit of the chicane apply all the way around the banking until the next flag station, at the start/finish line. Oliver said it’s crazy to have such a long run of track between flag stations, and that it’s even crazier that race officials have never explained that set-up to the riders.

“I learned something about Daytona that I didn’t know,” Oliver said.

“The flagging here is screwed up,” Oliver continued. “And my body and my finger don’t appreciate it.”

In the crash, one finger on Oliver’s left hand was ground off down to the first joint, and his pelvis was fractured.

Oliver said he thought about racing today but decided that, because he wants to have a normal life after racing, he should sit out the event.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn LeSanto

Italian Vittorio Iannuzzo took the opening race win in the European Superstock Championship Series in Valencia. The race was held in conjunction with the first round of the 2002 Superbike World Championship.

Iannuzzo’s Corona Suzuki teammate Giacomo Romanelli used the superior outright speed of his Suzuki to grab second place from Lorenzo Alfonsi on the DFX Ducati as the pair drag-raced out of the final turn and to the finish line.

Freddy Papunen and Andy Notman got themselves into the record book for all the wrong reasons when they crashed out on the first lap of the first race of the season. They were the only crashers in the race.

Romanelli, Alfonsi and last year’s runner-up in the championship Walter Tortoroglio spent most of the race trading paint as they fought for second place after Iannuzzo took off up front. Tortoroglio, who had led the race in the early stages, got the rough end of the deal and in the last few laps another Ducati, this one ridden by Sergio Fuertes, also got by. ‘Torto’ had to settle for fifth.

European Superstock
Finishing Order

1. V Iannuzzo, ITA, Suzuki, 21:58.519
2. G Romanelli, ITA, Suzuki, 22:04.969
3. L Alfonsi, ITA, Ducati, 22:04.971
4. S Fuertes, ESP, Ducati, 22:05.389
5. W Tortoroglio, ITA, Honda, 22:06.594
6. L Fourreau, FRA, Suzuki, 22:08.784

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Troy Bayliss takes first race win of 2002

By Glenn LeSanto

World Superbike, Race One report from Valencia

Reigning Superbike World Champion Troy Bayliss made it clear that he doesn’t intend to give up his Number One plate at the end of the season. The Australian led the first race of the season from start to finish, despite coming under some fierce early pressure from Noriyuki Haga and Ben Bostrom. As the laps ticked by, Bayliss steadily took control of the race, finishing the race 3.176 seconds up on Haga.

Behind him Bostrom and Haga spent the race locked in a titanic battle for the second step on the podium. Whenever it looked like Bostrom was getting away and leaving Haga behind, the Japanese wildman would pull off an awesome pass on the brakes. Bostrom didn’t seem to have an answer for Nori’s late braking at the end of the front and back straights.

As the race wore on it looked like Bostrom had used up his rear tire. He was clearly faster than Haga into most of the turns but on the exit it was the reverse, with Haga getting the better drive out. Bostrom’s Ducati was sliding and bucking in the longer turns as the Californian searched for grip.

Behind the pair Colin Edwards looked unable to close the half-a-second gap that existed for most of the race and had to settle for fourth. Ruben Xaus secured fifth, unable to recover from a poor grid position caused by an indifferent Superpole performance.

Bayliss dominated the race to such an extent that he finished over 30 seconds up on 10th-place man Chris Walker on the factory Kawasaki. Walker’s teammate, Hitoyasu Izutsu was first man home on a four-cylinder machine, and he finished seventh.

“It was a real hard race but also the funnest race I’ve had in a long time,” said Bostrom. “I’m kinda pissed off to finish back in third. But it was real fun out there and awesome to come back to such a great race. In race two I want to make sure I finish first!

“I think if Noriyuki Haga and me hadn’t fought so hard with each other in the race Troy Bayliss might not have got away so much. Our fight caused us to put in some pretty slow laps. And Troy is the kind of rider who’ll just sit on the bike and ride it and go. At the end he was just playing with us.

“I want to say how great it is to be back racing, it’s been a long winter and I’ve missed the feeling of racing and all the atmosphere from the crowd,” concluded Bostrom.

“It was a very tough race,” said Haga, who, like Bostrom, was on Dunlop tires. “By lap six my rear tire was sliding and Troy Bayliss had gone. Then Ben and me got into a really big fight, it was very hard but also very enjoyable. I’m very happy to be back in World Superbike racing.”

“I said after Superpole I planned to be first into the first corner, said Bayliss, “and I was! At first I got in a big fight with Ben, we were riding really close and we even touched a couple of times.

“I have to say that my bike was working really well, I’ve never ridden so hard and then hopped off the bike and felt like I’d done nothing, like I do now. The bike is that good.

“About two-thirds distance I lost concentration a bit and got into a bit of trouble in one corner. I guess I was thinking about lunch or something. You have to try to keep your head and keep smooth when you are out ahead like that, but I’m an aggressive kind of rider and sometimes that takes over.” Bayliss won on Michelin tires.


World Superbike Results From Valencia, Race One:

1. Troy Bayliss, Ducati, 36.51.963
2. Noriyuki Haga, Aprilia, 36:55.139, -3.176 seconds
3. Ben Bostrom, Ducati, 36:55.279, -3.316
4. Colin Edwards, Honda, 36:55.990, -4.027
5. Ruben Xaus, Ducati, 37:00.673, -8.710
6. Neil Hodgson, Ducati, 37:06.408, -14.445
7. Hitoyasu Izutsu, Kawasaki, 37:07.858, -15.895
8. Gregorio Lavilla, Suzuki, 37:22.778, -30.815
9. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati, 37:22.783, -30.820
10. Chris Walker, Kawasaki, 37:23.559, -31.596
11. Juan Borja, Ducati, 37:23.630
12. James Toseland, Ducati, 37:28.233
13. Alessandro Antonello, Ducati, 37:31.935
14. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati, 37:35.765
15. Broc Parkes, Ducati, 37:38.615
16. Marco Borciani, Ducati, 37:39.535
17. Steve Martin, Ducati, 37:40.830
18. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki, 38:15. 961
19. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki, 38:17.806
20. Thierry Mulot, Ducati, 38:28.476
21. Mark Heckles, Honda, 22 laps