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on the Thursday prior to the 2001 AMA National at Road Atlanta for a track ride event, in a continuation of a deal that originally made it financially feasible for the Road Atlanta race promoters to hold Thursday practice.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.

From an e-mail:

Thank you Dottie

On March 21, 2002 the Mid-Atlantic Road Racing Club (MARRC) lost one of its long time supporters and charter members, Dottie Bacon, the wife of Len Bacon and the mother of AMA, Formula USA and MARRC safety crew training expert Roger Bacon. I first met Dottie at the races in the late seventies and over the years she became much like a second mother to me and so many of us at the track. Her care, hospitality and wit always made everyone feel like they were family. Over the years, the Bacon family has been very generous with their contributions and support of motorcycle road racing. Thank you Dottie for making the sport a better place for all of us, and for being that special person, an ambassador of MARRC and Mother at the track that cared for us in so many ways. Your kindness will never be forgotten.

Dave Back
[email protected]
Wilmington, Delaware
MARRC Board Member and Road Racing School Instructor


Dorothy C. Bacon
June 26, 1921 – March 21, 2002


A visitation was held Monday, March 25 and a funeral was held Tuesday, March 26 at the Demaine Funeral Chapel in Springfield, Virginia. A burial service was held with military honors at the Quantico National Cemetery on March 26.


In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Dorothy C. Bacon to either:

The Franconia Volunteer Fire Department
6300 Beulah Street
Franconia, VA 22310

Hospice of Northern Virginia
9300 Lee Highway Suite 500
Fairfax, VA 22031-1207

Cards may be sent to:

Leonard A. Bacon
6017 Saint John Drive
Alexandria, VA 22310

Roger A. Bacon
5470 Bradford Court #232
Alexandria, VA 22311-5470

From two press releases:

SUZUKI IN TOP FIVE AT CRUCIAL TESTS

April 2nd, 2002.
TEAM Telefónica MoviStar Suzuki rider Kenny Roberts Jr. posted fifth-fastest times at the Japanese GP circuit at the final pre-season tests before the first ever race of the new MotoGP era. The 2000 World Champion put the Suzuki well up among the new-generation four-stroke machines, with his team-mates close behind.

Roberts circulated the revised Suzuka circuit in 2:05.807, within 1.5-seconds of session leader Valentino Rossi. Kenny’s Suzuki was the next-best four-stroke, after Rossi and his Honda team-mate Tohru Ukawa, who both had extra sessions at this difficult circuit the previous weeks.

Full-time team-mate Sete Gibernau was within two tenths of Roberts, placed ninth fastest, sandwiched by factory testers Akira Ryo (eighth) and Yukio Kagayama.

This was the team’s first outing since the last European tests at Catalunya in Spain, and revisions to both engine and chassis performance had the riders complimenting the factory on the rapid progress with the all-new V4 machine – the GSV-R, which was released a full year earlier than planned to take part in the new era of GP racing.

KENNY ROBERTS – BETTER EVERY TIME.
“The bike has been constantly improving in all the different aspects. Some things were in the pipeline already, others are in response to what we found in our tests. The factory is trying to fix them all at the same time. We’re still getting a handle on how it all works – the motor, the chassis and the tyres. We’ve gotten past the big problems. Now we’re working on the little things that make up the last two seconds.”

SETE GIBERNAU – BIG STEP FORWARD
“The tests were encouraging in the progress with the bike since the last time we rode it. The team worked hard then, and the factory has worked hard to improve the problems we found early on. It’s a positive step, but I’m under no illusions. We’re still at an early stage of development, playing catch up. We need to keep working at the same pace.”

GARRY TAYLOR – TEAM MANAGER
“We were really impressed by the step in development to the bike. Looking at where we were in the tests compared with some four-stroke teams who have been developing their machine for a lot longer, I’d say the riders and the factory are seeing the fruits of their labours. Tyre-wise, everyone knows that Dunlop are coming back into the top class. We got through a lot of tyre development work during testing, and we hope that the information we’re giving them will help them to develop race tyres for the coming season.”

SUZUKA IRTA TEST – Official Times
1. Valentino ROSSI, ITA (Honda) – 2:04.343 2. Tohru UKAWA, JPN (Honda) – 2:04.943 3. Daijiro KATOH, JPN (Honda) – 2:05.540 4. Loris CAPIROSSI, ITA (Honda) – 2:05.782 5. Kenny ROBERTS, USA (Suzuki) – 2:05.807 6. Carlos CHECA, SPA (Yamaha) – 2:05.821 7. Shinichi ITOH, JPN (Honda) – 2:05.931 8. Akira RYO, JPN (Suzuki) – 2:06.065 9. Sete GIBERNAU – SPA (Suzuki) – 2:06.085 10. Yukio KAGAYAMA – JPN (Suzuki) – 2:06.130




SUZUKI JOINS IN THE BIG NEW ADVENTURE

Round One, Preview, Japanese GP, Suzuka – April 7, 2002.
THE great new MotoGP adventure starts at Suzuka on Sunday, April 7 – and the Telefónica MoviStar Suzuki riders Kenny Roberts Jr and Sete Gibernau will be lining up with the other new four-stroke GP prototypes to underline Suzuki’s entry in the first chapter of the new pages of history.

The first race of the 2002 season starts the new era. After 53 years with the premier class in racing defined by a 500cc engine capacity limit, the biggest change in the history of motorcycle racing opens the class also to a new breed of four-stroke racer. The MotoGP machines can be up to 990cc, with different minimum weight limits depending on the number of cylinders. But they must all be genuine full-race prototypes, with no links to production machines.

Suzuki’s response was the exciting new GSV-R – a 200-plus horsepower V4, with double overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, fuel injection … and a massive 200-plus horsepower. Not to mention a barking exhaust note that sends shivers down the spine.

This is the machine that Roberts and Gibernau will be lining up for the start of the first race of the Grand Prix era. And all eyes will be on the new-generation 990cc four-strokes, as they fight not only to establish the new pecking order amongst themselves, but also do their utmost to put the well-developed surviving two-strokes in their place.

Released a full year earlier than planned, the Suzuki has had less testing time than some of its direct four-stroke rivals. But all the new 990cc prototypes are generations behind the well-polished two-strokes. While the new machines have a significant advantage on horsepower and top speed, the old-timers will be making the most of their finely honed balance and overall handling performance, acquired over many years of expert development.

Suzuki has been involved in GP racing for more than 40 years, and the factory’s commitment to improving the breed through the highest levels of the sport has again been demonstrated by the early entry in MotoGP.

For the team, in spite of these being early days for the new bike, the objective is the same as ever.

“We go racing with the intention of winning races,” said team manager Garry Taylor; “And for both riders to claim the maximum possible championship points.

“It’s been a difficult road for the factory to get where we are with the new bike so quickly. We’re looking forward to the continued development that we know is coming. Now were are together in combat with all the others for the first time. Whatever we do achieve will be a tribute to the factory and the racing department.”

KENNY ROBERTS – EARLY DAYS, INTERESTING TIMES
“The bike has improved every time. We’ve made the big steps. Now we’re working on the little details, the small things that can make such a big difference. After the tests, I estimated we’re a couple of seconds off race-winning pace. The first second should be easy to find as we continued to develop the bike. That last second is real difficult. That’s where we’re heading. Generally, it’s too early to say anything just yet. Race pace will be a lot different from testing.”

SETE GIBERNAU – BIG STEP FORWARD
“The tests were encouraging in the progress with the bike since the last time we rode it. The team worked hard then, and the factory has worked hard to improve the problems we found early on. It’s a positive step, but I’m under no illusions. We’re still at an early stage of development, playing catch up. We need to keep working at the same pace.”

GARRY TAYLOR – TEAM MANAGER
“We were really impressed by the step in development to the bike. Looking at where we were in the tests compared with some four-stroke teams who have been developing their machine for a lot longer, I’d say the riders and the factory are seeing the fruits of their labours.”

ABOUT THIS TRACK
Suzuka’s unique and historic figure-eight circuit has undergone further revisions for this year’s race. The famous Dunlop curve, leading over the hill after the long and complicated Esses, has been reprofiled to improve safety. As a result, the track has lost 38 metres of length – hardly enough to make a difference, at one of the longest circuits of the year. Technical difficulties of the fine circuit include also the double-apex Degner bends (named after Suzuki’s famous first World Champion), the infamously long Spoon Curve, and the fearsome 130R at the end of the long main straight. As often with flowing circuits, which put as much emphasis on riding skill as out and out speed, Suzuka has often played host to very close racing in the past 15 years.

ABOUT THIS RACE
The home GP is special to all the Japanese factories – none less than Suzuki, winners here on five previous occasions. This is the 16th year at Suzuka, but only the 15th GP – in 1999 it moved to Motegi for one year (where Suzuki added a sixth win to their home tally). In fact, there had been earlier Japanese GPs here, for five years from 1963 – but they were only for the smaller classes. Over and above the first race of the season, and of the new MotoGP four-stroke era, Suzuka has a special atmosphere. The presence of senior Japanese industry figures lends importance to the race, while the track itself is a magnificent challenge.

RACE DATA
Suzuka
Circuit Length: 3.617 miles / 5.821 km (2002)

Lap Record: 2:06.805 –103.357 mph / 166.374 km/h. Tohru Ukawa (Honda 2001) (old circuit)

2001 Race Winner: Valentino Rossi (Honda)

2001 Race Distance: 21 laps, 76.461 miles / 123.039 km

2001 Race Average: 44:51.501 – 102.259 mph / 164.570 km/h

2001 Fastest Race Lap: see lap record

2001 Pole Position: Loris Capirossi (Honda), 2:04.777

2001 Kenny Roberts: Seventh, qualified ninth (Telefónica MoviStar Suzuki)

2001 Sete Gibernau: DNF, qualified 14th (Telefónica MoviStar Suzuki)