Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

No contracts have been signed, but Jamie Stauffer says it looks like he will go from being a privateer working on his own bikes to a factory AMA Supersport rider with the Yoshimura Suzuki team.

“It’s not definite yet. I haven’t signed anything, but I’d say that’s what is going to happen,” the 23-year-old Australian told Roadracingworld.com Wednesday. “Hopefully, I’ll be riding for them. We’ll just have to wait and see. I’m pretty sure they want me. I speak to them (Yoshimura) tomorrow, but I would say I would be going to (the AMA team test at Road) Atlanta.”

Stauffer hopes to follow the lead of Troy Corser, Mat Mladin, Damon Buckmaster, Marty Craggill, the Gobert brothers and other Australian riders who have traveled across the Pacific Ocean to find good professional rides in America. “I came to Laguna Seca last year (during the AMA Superbike/World Superbike event) and was handing out my resumes to teams, factory-backed teams. But I know at least one of them threw it the garbage can as I was walking away. And that was a team far below the quality of the Yoshimura team.”

No American team rang Stauffer’s phone over the off-season, and he began to look at another year in the Australian National series. “I was supposed to ride for Radar’s Yamaha in Australia,” said Stauffer. “Yamaha pulled out of backing Radar’s Yamaha. That left me without a ride.

“I was talking to Balz (Renggli) one day. Balz and K.C. Cannon (owners of Aprilia-Ducati of Oceanside, California) wanted to get me over here. They said, ‘Come over, we’ll buy you a bike, pay for everything. Show them that you can ride, get a ride and if not we’ll do the whole year and hopefully have a ride for next year.’ Balz and K.C. are the only reason I’m here. If it wasn’t for them I would’ve just been riding for a team in Australia again. I owe it all to them, really.”

Truly a privateer, Stauffer built the Yamaha YZF-R6 he took seventh with in the Daytona Supersport race, beating several factory and factory-supported bikes in the process. “It probably hasn’t got 50 percent of what (parts) some of the other bikes out there have got,” stated Stauffer. “I put an Ohlins rear shock on it, TiForce exhaust system, cartridge kits in the front forks, a Power Commander and I got a quick-shifter, but it’s never worked. There’s been no machining of the cases or the head. I had a valve job done on it by Patrick Racing. I did the cam timing and dyno tuning myself here, and I added race fuel.” Stauffer was even “pulled down”, as he says, at Fontana and found to perfectly legal by the AMA Pro Racing technical officials.

“A lot of people over here don’t think a privateer can run with factory riders, but a lot of riders talk themselves out of beating the factory guys,” said Stauffer, who added he didn’t get much support for his decision to come be a privateer in America. “Everyone who I spoke to over here and at home said I was an idiot for doing it. ‘You’ll wreck your career and blah, blah, blah…’ At this stage it seems to be working out good.

“If you hear of anybody who wants a Yama…well, I probably shouldn’t say that yet because we haven’t done it. But there will hopefully be some R6s up for sale soon.”

From a press release issued by American Suzuki:

Australian Phenom Jamie Stauffer to Race 600 SuperSport for Team Yoshimura Suzuki

BREA, Calif., April 9, 2003 – American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC) today announced that Australian road racer Jamie Stauffer will contest the AMA 600 SuperSport Series aboard the 2003 Suzuki GSX-R600 for the factory-supported Yoshimura Suzuki team for the remainder of the 2003 season.

“It’s really great to be a part of a team as good as Yoshimura Suzuki,” said Stauffer. “It’s a team I wouldn’t have expected to get onto yet. I’d have thought I’d have to work my way up to it. But I’m happy to be on the team and riding the Suzuki GSX-R600. Hopefully I can win some races and show them they made the right decision to hire me.”

Originally from Kurri Kurri, New South Wales in Australia, 23-year-old Stauffer currently lives in Oceanside, Calif. Before coming stateside, he successfully campaigned Australia’s national Superbike and Formula Xtreme series. Prior to that he captured a number of regional and national dirt-track titles. Most recently, he raced the AMA 600 SuperSport race at Daytona and finished an impressive seventh.

“Jamie brings a wide variety of racing experience to the team,” said Team Manager Don Sakakura. “From dirt-track to speedway to road racing, he’s done it all. With this breadth of experience, Jamie’s riding talent and the strengths of the Suzuki GSX-R600, we believe that the 2003 AMA 600 SuperSport season will be a successful one.”

Stauffer’s first riding stint with Team Yoshimura Suzuki is scheduled for the upcoming test at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Ga., on April 14-16, 2003.

From a press release issued by WERA:

WERA National Series Returns to Carolina Motorsports Park

KERSHAW, S.C.- The WERA National Challenge Series and the Dunlop/WERA National Endurance Series return to Carolina Motorsports Park this weekend, April 11-13, for a weekend of motorcycle road racing.

WERA has not held a national-level event at Carolina Motorsports Park (CMP) in two years, and many riders will be visiting the 2.235-mile road course for the first time.

Friday, April 11 will be a practice day for all of the racers participating in the weekend’s events. On Saturday, April 12, round two of the Dunlop/WERA National Endurance Series will get underway with a four-hour race.

The Vesrah Suzuki GSX-R1000 won the first race of the season with a five-lap margin of victory at Jennings GP. CMP, however, is thought to be a track better suited to smaller bikes because of its shorter straights and tighter corners. Army of Darkness hopes to put their Suzuki GSX-R600 at the top of the podium, and Northern Getaway will be combining the agility of their Suzuki GSX-R750 and the home-track advantage of their riders to compete for the win.

The WERA National Challenge Series sprint races will be held on Sunday, April 13. There will be 12 races consisting of 10 laps each. Tray Batey got an early lead in the season with wins in 750 Superstock, Heavyweight Twins and Pirelli Formula One at Jennings GP, but he will face a battle from local riders at CMP. Many of the racers who hail from WERA’s Southeast region have extensive experience at CMP, and will be using their knowledge of the track to head for the front. Greg Moore will be a top contender in 600 and 750 Superbike, and Arclight Racing’s Scott Harwell will be favored for 750 Superstock.

More information about WERA can be found on the Internet at www.WERA.com. Details about CMP, including directions to the track, can be found at www.CarolinaMotorsportsPark.com.

Since 1974, WERA Motorcycle Roadracing has showcased the talents of amateur motorcycle racers. Many of WERA’s former champions have gone on to successful professional careers in AMA Pro Racing, Grand Prix, World Superbike and Formula USA. Close competition and fresh talent are the hallmark of WERA Motorcycle Roadracing.

From a press release:

(Cupertino, California) Ducati North America announced today a nationwide price rollback on all new 2001 and 2002 model year Ducati motorcycles. The price reductions, range from $200 up to $3,200 on some models.

“These price reductions are important first steps towards not only sales growth, but also towards our long term goal of making Ducatis more affordable and price competitive in North America,” said Michael Lock, CEO of Ducati North America. “We want every knowledgeable, bargain-hunting rider in the land to take a second look at Ducati this season.”

Among the more notable models offered in this sale are:

The 2002 Monster 750D – was $7,995, now $6,995

The 2002 900 Sport – was $9,995, now $7,995

The 2002 ST2 – was $12,395, now $10,995

The 2002 998 Superbike Mono/Bip – was $17,695, now $14,495

The other 32 models included in this sale are posted on the company’s web site www.ducatinorthamerica.com.

Copyright 2003, www.mcnews.com.au, used with permission

By Trevor Hedge, www.mcnews.com.au

Australia’s fastest motorcycle racers converge on South Australia’s Mallala Motorsport Park this weekend to kick off the 2003 Shell Advance Australian Superbike Championship.

Over 180 competitors will ride this weekend in what is the opening round of Australia’s most exciting form of motorsport.

Shannon Johnson will be fighting through the pain barrier after a recent crash at the Victorian Titles left the young Victorian battered and bruised. But, like the true racer he is, Johnson is still looking forward to this weekend with confidence. “Mallala is a fairly physical circuit and there is absolutely no rest on the superbike around there at all. But if we can reproduce the times we did during testing then I know we will be challenging for the win.”

20 years ago Shannon’s father, the legendary Andrew ‘AJ’ Johnson, put in one of his most famous performances back in what was then the Australian 500 GP Championship. ‘AJ’ remembers the ride like it was yesterday, “The 500 Honda I rode that year was a particularly special factory bike and the way it howled up the Mallala back straight was just awesome, but the kink was always just a little ‘too’ exciting on the tyres we had back then.”

While the wicked two-stroke 500 machines are only a memory, the current crop of 180hp Superbikes are just as awesome around the South Australian circuit.

Young Sydney charger Josh Brookes joins Shannon to form the new Castrol Honda Race Team for 2003. Shannon is the current reigning Australian Supersport Champion while Josh won the Supersport Championship in 2001. Both riders will race the Supersport and Superbike classes this year.

But, like Shannon, Josh is heading to Mallala carrying injuries from last weekend’s round of the Victorian Titles. There he broke his collarbone and underwent surgery this week to plate the break. But the gutsy youngster will still attempt to score some important points in this first round of the Shell Advance Australian Superbike Championship.

One young rider with many reasons to be happy is Shepparton’s Craig Coxhell. This year the experienced 20 year old joins reigning Australian Superbike Champion Shawn Giles in the recently dominant Team Suzuki.

But the all-conquering power of the Phil Tainton tuned GSX-R1000 will have both Coxhell and Giles working hard around the extremely physical Mallala track.

“I aim to try and come away from this opening round unscathed and with as many points as I can, you can’t win a championship in the first round so this year I am aiming for consistency,” commented Coxhell.

His three-time Australian Superbike Championship winning team-mate, Shawn Giles, was due to test at Mallala last week but could not ride due to a chronic bout of food poisoning. The 32 year old is still coming back to full strength from that ailment, but in any shape Giles will always be a threat for the win.

The Suzuki and Honda camps will be under fierce competition from the new factory supported Nikon Yamaha Racing Team. This is the first time a factory Yamaha squad have raced at the South Australian circuit for two years and South Australian fans of the tuning fork brand will be hoping for a win. With Kevin Curtain and Daniel Stauffer in their armoury, the Yamaha boys are odds-on to do just that.

In recent outings the Suzuki has shown a horsepower advantage. But in the tight cut and thrust battles, which are a feature of Australian racing, the Yamaha has recently proven the more nimble machine. Around the tricky 2.6km Mallala track agility is vital for a good lap time, here the Yamaha is sure to shine.

A top field of privateer entries will also battle hard. Riders such as Alistair Maxwell, Stephen Tozer, Jay Normoyle, Nick Henderson, Brent George, Scott Charlton and Robert Bugden all add strength to what is a quality Superbike field.

While Kawasaki has no entry in the premier Superbike class they do field a strong effort in the 600cc Supersport ranks. New South Wales teenager Russell Holland heads the Kawasaki charge and will be backed up by at least half a dozen riders starting the championship on the all new ZX-6RR machine.

But the green machines will have heady competition in the shape of riders such as Kevin Curtain and ex-500 GP competitor Brendan Clarke. These two world class talents form a mighty duo in Yamaha’s quest to take the 2003 Australian Supersport Championship.

Shannon Johnson will be aiming to defend his supersport title for Honda but will have his work cut out for him as the new CBR600RR machines have only just arrived and will be raced in standard trim. Suzuki has no factory entry in the Supersport class but will be well represented by privateers such as Reece Bancell and Ross Cooper.

While the Supersport and Superbike classes are the premier events, a talented supporting cast of 46 Superstock riders includes 14 South Australians, the locals aiming for a home track advantage.

The slideways sidecars always entertain around Mallala and a 16 strong field of the three-wheeled machines is guaranteed to produce some major action.

In 125 Grand Prix a junior motocross star makes his road race debut this weekend at Mallala. Bryan Staring is a 15 year old Western Australian with a string of national and state motocross championships under his belt. He will gain plenty of knowledge in his first tarmac outing from experienced campaigners such as Peter Galvin, Paul Campbell, Cath Thompson, Tim Inkster, Josh Waters and Rudi Muller. 250 GP should also prove exciting and these thoroughbred machines will share the track with a good field of 250 Production bikes.

From a press release issued by American Suzuki:

Team Yoshimura Suzuki Sweeps AMA Superbike Races at California Speedway

BREA, Calif. – American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC) congratulates Team Yoshimura Suzuki for sweeping victories at Rounds Two and Three of the AMA Superbike Championship Series at California Speedway in Fontana, Calif., on April 5-6, 2003.

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Mat Mladin qualified on pole for both of the weekend’s races, while teammate Aaron Yates qualified second. In the first Superbike race, Mladin came away the victor and Yates finished an impressive second. In the following day’s race, Mladin again captured the win while Yates finished a healthy fourth.

“It’s great to be winning races again,” said Mladin, a three-time AMA Superbike Champion. “In the off season, the Yoshimura Suzuki team worked extremely hard and it shows. The new 2003 Suzuki GSX-R1000 is running great and I’m not at all surprised to have scored wins so early in the season with such an impressive bike.”

AMA Superbike wasn’t the only arena in which Yoshimura Suzuki and the new 2003 Suzuki GSX-R1000 carded a win. Young gun Ben Spies qualified on pole in Sunday’s Formula Xtreme race and went on to capture the top spot on the podium.

“Obviously, we at Suzuki are thrilled with these race results,” said Mel Harris, vice president of ASMC’s motorcycle/ATV division. “Team Yoshimura Suzuki has the strongest team in the paddock. By combining riders of such high caliber with a competitive racing machine like the new 2003 Suzuki GSX-R1000, we’ll bring home the AMA Superbike and AMA Formula Xtreme Championships for sure. “

Team Yoshimura Suzuki’s next race will be May 4, 2003, at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

From an e-mail sent by a reader:

I have been following racing for many years and I still can’t understand why the AMA can’t keep up with the rest of the world’s professional racing organizations in the red flag & aggregate timing rules.

So many times I have watched AMA races get red-flagged at some point during the race, where someone has worked their butt off to secure a really good lead only to be red-flagged and have to start again without their lead taken into consideration (except for being re-gridded on pole).

In effect the AMA is saying that the first part of the race doesn’t count and doesn’t matter. It brings to mind a Superbike race a couple of years ago that was dwindled down to 6 or 7 laps due to a red-flag incident 16 laps into the race. What a joke! Why not delare the first 16 laps as “the race”?

With all the computerized timing systems surely it wouldn’t be that difficult for them to use aggregate timing like the rest of the professional racing world does in the event of a red flag mid-race. I am sure most riders would like to see it that way.

Oh, I forgot, what the riders think doesn’t really matter to AMA Pro Racing.

Frank Nolan
Hollywood, California


And our snappy editorial reply:

AMA Pro Racing Director of Competition Merrill Vanderslice has said, many times, that AMA Pro Racing will never use aggregate time as long as he is in charge, because it is confusing to spectators. Of course, we have not heard Mr. Vanderslice explain why assessing a 10-second penalty on many riders at Fontana was less confusing to spectators than using aggregate scoring.

And, as seen at Fontana, AMA Pro Racing is at times incapable of performing the most basic timing & scoring operation, that of producing results in a timely fashion following a race or qualifying session.

So, to answer your question, they don’t want to, and even if they did want to, there’s a good chance that they’d screw it up–and blame it on the racetrack afterwards.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

David De Gea has been named by the Harris WCM MotoGP team as its second rider for round two of the 2003 MotoGP series in South Africa. De Gea will join Harris WCM full-time rider Chris Burns on the Harris-framed, Yamaha-based prototypes April 25-27 at Phakisa Freeway.

Spaniard De Gea, 25, has 38 Grand Prix starts since making his first appearance as a 125cc wild card at Catalunya in 1995. After sporadic GP appearances in the 125cc and 250cc classes from 1995 to 1998, De Gea raced Kenny Roberts’ Modenas KR3 in the 500cc class 17 times in 1999 and 2000 with a best finish of eighth at Catalunya in 2000. In 2001 De Gea campaigned the entire 250cc series, collected a best finish of third at Assen and finished 19th in the Championship.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Jamie Stauffer has reached an agreement to join the Yoshimura Suzuki team and race the GSX-R600 left vacant by Aaron Yates in AMA Supersport, say sources close to Stauffer’s current team, Libasci Racing/Ducati-Aprilia of Oceanside.

Speaking at California Speedway April 4, Stauffer told Roadracingworld.com he was in discussions with several different AMA teams regarding the remainder of the 2003 season, but any possibilities were contingent on him backing up the seventh-place finish he got in the Daytona Supersport race at Fontana.

Stauffer qualified ninth at California Speedway on the Yamaha YZF-R6 he built and was racing for ninth in the final when he dropped out of the race on lap 14 of 17, resulting in a 38th-place finish. Stauffer is now 16th in the Supersport Championship, 45 points behind class leader Jamie Hacking.

Evidently, the performance was enough for Yoshimura Suzuki, who reportedly signed Stauffer and plan to have the 23-year-old Australian report for duty at the AMA team test at Road Atlanta next week.

Attempts to reach Stauffer or a representative from Yoshimura Suzuki were unsuccessful at post time.

Stauffer’s current team does not plan to stand in the way of the young Aussie’s promotion, and at California Speedway, Alan Libasci, Team Owner/Manager of Libasci Racing, actually expressed pride in the possibility that Stauffer might get picked up by a factory team.