From a press release issued by series organizers:

SZOKE SHOOTS FOR SIX

TORONTO, ON – He may have already clinched the 2002 title, but there is still plenty left on the agenda for Jordan Szoke at this weekend’s final round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Shannonville Motorsport Park.

The Brantford, ON rider comes to Shannonville poised to rewrite the national record book. A win in Sunday’s feature race would be the sixth of the season for the Coors Light Racing/Fast Company Team Suzuki rider and his sixth in a row, breaking the records he currently shares with Steve Crevier. Crevier won the first five races of the 1992 season on his way to the second of three consecutive titles.

After finishing third in the Parts Canada Superbike season opener, also at Shannonville, Szoke began his winning streak with a sweep of the doubleheader at Calgary’s Race City Motorsports Park June 8-9. He then added wins at Autodrome St-Eustache, Mosport International Raceway and Atlantic Motorsport Park.

The AMP win was Szoke’s most dramatic, as he charged up from 11th on the opening lap to score the victory and clinch his second national Superbike crown with an untouchable 316 points.

While the title is decided second place in the series standings is still up for grabs. Canadian Kawasaki Motors’ Owen Weichel leads Szoke’s Coors Light Racing/Fast Company Team Suzuki teammate Francis Martin by 23 points, 214-191, with 56 points available at this weekend’s final round.

There is also a tight race for fourth. Kevin Lacombe leads fellow Orion Motorsports Honda rider Frank Trombino by just one point, 145-144, with Brooklin Yamaha’s Michael Taylor and Jean-Francois Cyr close behind on 138 and 132 points, respectively.

This weekend’s event will also decide the International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Open Sport Bike and Yoshimura 600 Sport Bike national support classes.

In Open Sport Bike, any one of four riders could realistically claim the title. Martin leads the standings with 172 points but Blackfoot Suzuki’s Clint McBain is close behind with 161. Also in contention are Cyr, with 153 points and Taylor on 148.

McBain holds a slim six-point advantage over Lacombe, 219-213, heading into the 600 Sport Bike finale.

Official practice for this weekend’s races begins Friday with qualifying on Saturday and all three national class races Sunday afternoon.

This weekend’s races will be televised on TSN Sunday, Oct. 13 at 3:30 p.m. EDT and on Quebec’s RDS Saturday, Sept. 21 at 7:00 p.m. Extended hour-long coverage will air on the Outdoor Life Network on Thursday, Nov. 7 at 6:00 p.m eastern.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

AMA Pro Racing may be backing away from plans to phase in 1000cc four-cylinder Superbikes for 2003.

A memo dated August 27 from AMA Pro Director of Competition Merrill Vanderslice to members of the Road Race Advisory Board included the statement, “AMA Pro Racing is reviewing its position on equipment eligibility for 2003, and may not allow eligibility of 1000cc multi’s (sic) in AMA Superbike competition during the 2003 season. We expect to announce our 2003 and 2004 rules in September 2002.”

The memo also contained confirmation that members of the Advisory Board, which is hand-picked by Vanderslice and has been criticized as being non-representative of the paddock and as being stacked with factory team and manufacturer representatives, will vote on rules proposals.

The memo also seems to indicate that the only input being considered at this stage of rules development is input from the Advisory Board.

The memo states “There was general agreement on many suggestions. The revised proposed rules…reflect those suggestions. On other items, opinions were split. Here, we have narrowed the options to the most prominent alternatives and ask that you reconsider your position on those matters. Ultimately, AMA Pro Racing staff and its Board of Directors will determine the technical rules based on your input and the effect those rules have on meeting our objectives of balanced and affordable competition for the greatest number of participants.”


Note the phrase “based on your input” above.

The question is, of course, if the objective truly is “balanced and affordable competition for the greatest number of participants,” who represents Superbike privateers such as Brian Parriott, Brian Livengood and others, and who represents private teams such as No Limits Racing in this final stage of the process?

And given that the membership of the Advisory Board is not publicized, how is an individual rider or team owner even supposed to know who to contact to express his point of view?

Stay tuned…

From a press release issued by Ducati Corse Press Information:

Mugello, 27-28 August 2002

POSITIVE TWO-DAY DUCATI CORSE TEST AT MUGELLO FOR THE DESMOSEDICI PROTOTYPE AND THE NEW 999 SUPERBIKE

Ducati Corse has concluded another two-day test session at the Mugello Circuit in Tuscany with the Ducati Desmosedici prototype. Yesterday test-rider Vittoriano Guareschi completed 36 laps in perfect weather conditions, continuing the new bike’s shakedown tests. This morning the Italian did a few laps on a damp track, which was also useful to verify the bike’s behaviour in all conditions. The track then gradually dried out and today’s testing programme was concluded, with Guareschi completing a total of 48 laps.

“Every time I went out my feeling with the new bike improved” declared Guareschi. “Even in the wet the Desmosedici is easy to ride and we are very satisfied. The bike is improving all the time and I can’t wait to get back on it again to see the progress we have made over the past few days”.

“We are making good progress with the Desmosedici prototype” commented Corrado Cecchinelli, Ducati Corse Track Technical Director, “and we are satisfied with the way the bike is behaving. In particular we are concentrating on the chassis, verifying different swing-arms, aerodynamics and general set-up. The guys back in the factory have done an excellent job and all the indications we received one month ago, when we tested for the first time at Mugello, have been put to good use. Considering that there has been a month’s holiday in between, that’s not a bad result”.

Australian rider Steve Martin also continued track testing with the new Ducati 999 Superbike. The shakedown tests are going according to plan and the heir to the legendary 998 is giving considerable satisfaction to the Borgo Panigale engineers.

Ernesto Marinelli, responsible for the development of the Superbike project, declared: “We are already at a good level of development with the 999 Superbike. The new chassis has confirmed the positive impressions from the road bike and the new 999 handles better than this year’s bike”.

Testing of the two new bikes will continue in Italy in the next few weeks and will then move on to Spain in October.

From a press release issued by Eric Bostrom’s manager:

Eric Bostrom. Germany.

August 28, 2002 – Oschersleben, Germany. This weekend, Eric Bostrom will get another chance to compete against the World Superbike regulars at the Oschersleben track in Germany. After a strong finish in AMA Superbike, winning the final race of the year at VIR and finishing a strong 2nd in the Superbike Championship, Eric is ready to ride. This despite the boating accident that he and his brother, Ben, and friend, Kat, suffered through a little over a week ago in Sardinia.

And although he has never been to Oschersleben, Eric is feeling confident. “I’m pretty pumped. From the track map, it looks like a really fun track. I’m a little bummed because my ribs are still sore from our boat accident, but I should be strong for the race. I’m looking forward to trying to get myself and the Kawasaki back in the lead of a World Superbike race (like at Laguna), but for more than three or four laps this time!”

Eric will ride the Kawasaki Superbike prepared by his US-based AMA Superbike crew and shipped to Germany especially for this race. His mechanics, crew chief, and team manager will also be in attendance.

From a press release issued by, no surprise, a PR agency contracted by Dunlop:

Dunlop Streaks

The 2002 racing season in America has returned results of epic proportions for Dunlop. No other motorcycle tire manufacturer even begins to approach the success Dunlop has earned throughout a stunningly wide variety of championship venues.

The season began with Yamaha of Troy¹s Chad Reed handily winning the 125 East Supercross title. Next came Honda¹s Ricky Carmichael, who wrapped up the 2002 AMA Supercross crown by winning 11 of 16 races‹a dominating show of force. Add a victory by his Dunlop-mounted teammate Nathan Ramsey, and the tally works out to 12 out of 16 wins in 250 Supercross for Dunlop in 2002. Carmichael then went on to win an astonishing 22 consecutive motos–11 overall event wins–to win the AMA 250 National Motocross championship before the season was even over.

On pavement, the Dunlop sweep continued, beginning with the AMA’s Pro Honda 600 Supersport championship, which was won by Suzuki’s Aaron Yates on Dunlop tires. His title marked the 16th consecutive 600 Supersport championship for Dunlop–no other tire manufacturer has ever won a single title in this wildly competitive class.

When the AMA road racing series concluded at Virginia International Raceway in August, Dunlop riders completed a sweep of every single AMA national road racing class in 2002. Honda’s Nicky Hayden took his first Superbike title, marking 13 titles in a row for Dunlop in this premier class, and became the youngest rider in AMA Superbike history to take the crown.

Meanwhile, Jason Pridmore rode his Attack Suzuki to the Formula Xtreme championship in the tightest of all the road racing title battles. Pridmore finished the season tied in points with Jake Zemke and his Dunlop-equipped Bruce Transportation Honda, but the Suzuki rider earned the crown by merit of having one more race win.

And Dunlop rider Chuck Sorensen awarded Aprilia its first-ever 250 GP title in AMA racing, a class Dunlop has historically dominated. In AMA Superstock competition, Corona Extra EBSCO Media Suzuki’s Jimmy Moore defended his Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock title.

Dunlop would like to congratulate all the 2002 champions, and the hard-working team members who helped these riders win the most coveted championships in AMA racing.


(Editorial Note: Dunlop apparently has forgotten that Kirk McCarthy won the 2002 AMA Pro Thunder Championship on an Advanced Motor Sports Ducati 748.)

From a press release issued by series promoters:

SUPERBIKES AT SUPPER TIME

TORONTO, ON – Motorcycle racing fans will be able to enjoy a little Superbike with their supper this Fall.

The Parts Canada Superbike Championship will be shown on the Outdoor Life Network from 6:00-7:00 pm EDT on Thursday nights beginning with the season opener from Shannonville Motorsport Park on Sept. 19. The eight-week series will conclude Nov. 7 with the final round, also from Shannonville.

The hour-long programs will provide the most extensive television coverage of the 2002 season. As well as race action from the featured Parts Canada Superbike class, the shows will include expanded coverage of the International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Open Sport Bike and Yoshimura 600 Sport Bike national support classes. There will also be personality and technical features.

The programs will be hosted by TSN motorsport voice Vic Rauter and Colin Fraser of series organizer Professional Motorsport Productions.

“A lot of race fans enjoy the in depth coverage and added features of the one-hour program,” Fraser said. “The early evening timeslot will make it easy for our viewers to see the races and relive the key moments of a dramatic season.”

The shows will air from 3:00-4:00 am EDT each Thursday morning as well.

The Parts Canada Superbike Championship is also shown in a half-hour format on TSN and French language RDS. Next up is the penultimate round of the series from Atlantic Motorsport Park, which will debut on RDS Sept. 1 at 1:30 pm and on TSN Sept. 14 at 12:00 pm.

The Parts Canada Superbike Championship concludes at Shannonville this weekend. Brantford, ON’s Jordan Szoke has already clinched the 2002 title for Coors Light Racing/Fast Company Team Suzuki but will try to claim his sixth consecutive race win, which would establish a new record.

Shannonville (Pro Track)
Thursday, Sept. 19, 6:00 pm

Calgary Race 1
Thursday, Sept. 26, 6:00 pm

Calgary Race 2
Thursday, Oct. 3, 6:00 pm

St-Eustache
Thursday, Oct. 10, 6:00 pm

Mosport I
Thursday, Oct. 17, 6:00 pm

Mosport II
Thursday, Oct. 24, 6:00 pm

Atlantic Motorsport Park
Thursday, Oct. 31, 6:00 pm

Shannonville (Long Track)
Thursday, Nov. 7, 6:00 pm

From a press release issued by Castrol Honda:

HONDA RACING INFORMATION

Title in sight for determined Edwards

Castrol Honda’s Colin Edwards is looking to add to his tally of wins at the Oschersleben track in Germany as the World Superbike championship resumes with round 11 on Sunday.

The impressive Edwards and Castrol Honda combination has won three of the four races held so far at the circuit near Magdeburg and Edwards believes Sunday could well be a turning point in the championship.

“We’ve always been strong at Oschersleben and there’s no reason to believe this weekend should be any different,” predicts Edwards.

He continues: “I spent a couple of days testing with Michelin in France last week and I know that they have the tyres it takes to win in Germany and HRC have been busy in the August break improving the SP-2.”

Edwards trails championship leader Troy Bayliss by 39 points with three rounds, six races, to go in the 2002 campaign.

“Two wins for me in Germany would mean the points gap would be down to little more than a race win and that’s if Troy’s second in both races,” Edwards explains.

Edwards also arrives in Germany having won the last three races and also secured victory in the Suzuka 8 hours race in Japan. His 2002 form has also seen him take 19 successive podium finishes in the championship from the 20 races so far just a fourth place in the opening race of the year preventing a clean sweep.

Team manager Neil Tuxworth says: “Colin is at the top of his game, riding better than ever and we’ve every reason to believe he will push Troy Bayliss and Ducati all the way in the battle for the 2002 title.”

Castrol Honda Rumi team’s Mark Heckles is hoping the tight and twisty Oschersleben circuit will provide him with an opportunity for two strong finishes aboard the HRC kit SP-2 machine.

“I’m sure I can do well at Oschersleben – providing we can find a good setting with the machine,” says Englishman Heckles. “It’s more down to the rider there and not so much horsepower so I’m looking for two points-scoring finishes.”

Honda’s World Supersport Championship title hope Fabien Foret defends a nine-point lead in the series with three rounds remaining. The Frenchman has impressed throughout the 2002 campaign, taking three victories and he arrives in Germany in confident mood.

Foret set the pole position time at Oschersleben 12 months ago and took victory in the race, he believes: “The title is mine to win or lose now. We’ve worked hard to build up the points advantage and a win on Sunday in Germany will be crucial to winning the title.”

The Frenchman adds: “The Oschersleben circuit suits the CBR600 machine so I’ve every reason to believe that I can win but I’ll also be looking for points so a safe ride in Sunday’s race is also very important.”

Victory in the last round at Brands Hatch promoted Suzuki’s Katsuaki Fujiwara to second place in the 12-round series with the top four riders now separated by 25 points, the total on offer for a race win.

A host of other Honda riders will all be looking for a strong end of season finish starting with success in Sunday’s race, the first of three in September which conclude the championship.

Chris Vermeulen, on the Van zon Honda, is out to make amends after being taken out in a first-corner crash in last year’s race while Foret’s teammate Iain MacPherson knows that a top three finish in Sunday’s race would give him a realistic chance of a top six championship finish.

Oschersleben data:

Superbike:
2001 Qualifying: Ben Bostrom (Ducati) 1:27.610
2001 Superpole: Neil Hodgson (Ducati) 1:27.325
2001 winners: Colin Edwards (Castrol Honda) and Ruben Xaus (Ducati)
Lap record: Ruben Xaus (Ducati) 1:27.669 (September 2001)

Supersport:
2001 pole position: Fabien Foret (Honda) 1:30.620
2001 winner: Fabien Foret (Honda)
Lap record: James Whitham (Yamaha) 1:30.806(September 2001)






From a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service:

LAVILLA IN POSITIVE MOOD

2002 Superbike World Championship, Preview – Round 11, Oschersleben, Germany, 1st September:

THE 11th round of the 2002 Superbike World Championship takes place at Oschersleben in Germany and is the third time that the circuit has hosted a round of the championship.

Oschersleben is also the first round since Brands Hatch at the end of the July and the first of two races on successive weekends. The summer break has given Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Gregorio Lavilla time for his injuries to mend and the Spaniard is looking forward to the race.

He took runner-up spot there in 2000, but knows that a podium will be more difficult to take this time.

GREGORIO LAVILLA
“The time off since Brands Hatch has meant that my injuries are now much better and I have been able to train again. It is one thing racing unfit and one thing racing whilst injured. At least I know that I will be able to push hard at Oschersleben ­ something I could not do at Brands Hatch. Not many teams have tested at Oschersleben, so we will not be so disadvantaged this time and I hope that we can come away with a couple of strong results. I know that the season is coming towards an end, but we all want to finish on a good note and that’s what we’ll be chasing at Oschersleben and the final two races.”

2001 results
Race 1: GREGORIO LAVILLA ­ 11TH,
Race 2: GREGORIO LAVILLA ­ 7TH


FUJI AND CHAMBON READY TO ATTACK

2002 Supersport World Championship, Preview – Round 10, Oschersleben, Germany, 1st September:

THE 10th round of the Supersport World Championship at Oschersleben is a critical one for the hopes and fortunes of Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra riders Katsuaki Fujiwara and Stephane Chambon.

Second and third currently, both know that nothing less than a good result at the German circuit will do if one of them is to take the title this year. In the last round at Brands Hatch, Fujiwara took a superb victory and will be looking to do the same again at Oschersleben. His teammate Chambon fell heavily at Brands and caused the race to be red-flagged. He suffered a deep wound in his arm, and wanted to take part in the re-start but was prevented to take his place on the grid by the medical officials and could only watch as his rivals scored valuable title points.

Chambon won the Supersport race at Oschersleben in 2000 and would like to do the same again this time, but will have a strong fight on his hands from many riders, including his own teammate Fujiwara.

KATSUAKI FUJIWARA
“It was so good to win a race properly ­ at Brands Hatch ­ and now that I’ve done it, I want more! Last year, at Oschersleben, I didn’t get to finish the race, but this year I am confident that I can make a good result. I quite like the track ­ it’s a bit technical ­ and I think I can get a good result. It is quite narrow in places and the first turn is very important. You have to have a position on the first two rows of the grid and then get a good start; otherwise you have too much work to do. I would like to get pole position and then run the race from the front, but I think many other riders want the same thing!”

STEPHANE CHAMBON
“I wanted so badly to take part in the re-start at Brands Hatch because I was worried that I would be losing points on my rivals. But, I think that the decision of the doctors was right. It does mean that I need to win at Oschersleben to restore my title dreams though. It’s not an easy track, but I’ve won there before and I know I can do it again. My arm will not bother me in the race and I am ready to give everything I have to get a good result. I’d like a 1-2, with me first and maybe ‘Kats’ second.”

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The following riders have qualified so far for the $150,000-purse Toyota 200 scheduled for September 15 at Willow Springs Raceway; 40 riders will qualify, the winner will be paid $50,000 and the purse pays $1000 for 40th place.

The final qualifying session for the race will be held September 13.

1. Vincent Haskovec, GSX-R750, 1:22.557
2. Jeremy Toye, GSX-R1000, 1:22.960
3. Aaron Gobert, YZF-R6, 1:23.896
4. Jack Pfeifer, GSX-R1000, 1:23.502
5. Dave Emde, GSX-R1000, 1:24.985
6. Jason Perez, GSX-R600, 1:25.199
7. Jacob West, YZF-R6, 1:25.743
8. Clinton Whitehouse, GSX-R750, 1:25.814
9. Stuart Smith, YZF-R1, 1:25.847
10. Phil Herrin, GSX-R750, 1:26.146
11. Dale Kieffer, YZF-R6, 1:26.368
12. Chad Jensen, GSX-R1000, 1:26.655
13. Jason Catching, YZF-R1, 1:27.052
14. Tyler Paulson, GSX-R1000, 1:27.141
15. Jeff Stern, GSX-R1000, 1:27.371
16. Sam Carnibucci, YZF-R6, 1:27.597
17. Marte Cooksey, GSX-R750, 1:27.978
18. Ron Northup, YZF-R6, 1:30.164
19. Dan Salver, GSX-R750, 1:30.534
20. Jason Paden, GSX-R600, 1:30.804
21. Bryant Kwon, YZF-R1, 1:31.013
22. Mark Hargis, YZF-R6, 1:31.179
23. Rich Gann, YZF-R6, 1:31.585
24. Rocky Caceres, GSX-R750, 1:32.026
25. Carlin Dunne, YZF-R6, 1:32.044

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Added races in Switzerland and Holland have transformed what was the AMA Supercross Series into the Supercross World Championship, but the big question is whether or not any U.S. teams will actually attend the overseas rounds.

Also up in the air is Daytona’s participation in the series schedule, which currently lists Daytona’s March 8 date as a TBA.

The transformation of the AMA Series into a World Championship is fallout from the aborted AMA/Clear Channel Entertainment Supercross split, announced last fall, which would have resulted in two competing series, ala IRL vs. CART.

AMA and CCE rejoined forces this spring, and, in theory, the AMA Supercross Series is a Championship within a Championship.

Factory team honchos say they have no interest in racing outside the country, and also cite budget and staff burnout problems with an extended Supercross Series. In addition, new bikes won’t be ready in time for the earlier start of the series, they say.

The schedule follows:

December 7, Geneva, Switzerland
December 14, Arnhem, Holland
January 4, Anaheim, California
January 11, Phoeniz, Arizona
January 18, Anaheim, California
January 25, San Francisco, California
February 1, Anaheim, California
February 8, San Diego, California
February 15, Minneapolis, Minnesota
February 22, Atlanta, Georgia
March 1, Indianapolis, Indiana
March 8, TBA
March 22, St. Louis, Missouri
March 29, Houston, Texas
April 5, Pontiac, Michigan
April 12, Dallas, Texas
April 26, Salt Lake City, Utah
May 5, Las Vegas, Nevada



More, from a press release just issued by Clear Channel Entertainment–Motor Sports:

Clear Channel Entertainment – Motor Sports and Dorna Off Road Announce the International Rounds of The 2003 FIM World Supercross GP Schedule

AURORA, Ill. and MADRID, SPAIN–Clear Channel
Entertainment – Motor Sports and Dorna Off Road announced two international dates to complete the 2003 FIM World Supercross GP schedule. Round one will be held at the Palexpo in Geneva, Switzerland on Saturday, December 7, 2002 and round two at the Gelredome in Arnhem, Holland on Saturday, December 14.

“This is an exciting time for supercross. With the success supercross already has in the United States and arrival of this premier series in Europe, we are at the beginning of an important new era for the sport,” said Wolfgang Srb, motocross commission president, FIM.

“This opens doors on a global level for expanded television exposure and sponsorship opportunities for riders and teams, exposing the American sport of supercross to a worldwide audience,” said Charlie Mancuso, president, Clear Channel Entertainment – Motor Sports.

Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO and managing director of Dorna added, “We are proud to bring supercross to fans internationally, exposing the sport to millions of fans worldwide and continuing the tradition of bringing the sport into premier venues, such as the Palexpo and Gelredome.”

The two international events join the 15 Clear Channel produced events of the AMA Supercross Series to make up the 17-round FIM World Supercross GP schedule. Fans will be able to purchase tickets to the first two events of the World Supercross GP on September 14. The remaining rounds are already on sale.

The 2003 FIM World Supercross GP Schedule, sponsored by Thor and Parts Unlimited follows:

Dec 7 Palexpo Geneva, Switzerland
Dec 14 Gelredome Arnhem, Holland
Jan 4 Edison International Field Anaheim, Calif.*
Jan 11 Bank One Ballpark Phoenix*
Jan 18 Edison International Field Anaheim, Calif.*
Jan 25 Pacific Bell Park San Francisco *
Feb 1 Edison International Field Anaheim, Calif.*
Feb 8 Qualcomm Stadium San Diego*
Feb 15 H.H.H. Metrodome Minneapolis*
Feb 22 Georgia Dome Atlanta*
Mar 1 RCA Dome Indianapolis*
Mar 8 Daytona International Speedway Daytona, Fla.*^
Mar 22 Edward Jones Dome St. Louis*
Mar 29 Reliant Stadium Houston*
Apr 5 Silverdome Pontiac, Mich.*
Apr 12 Texas Stadium Dallas*
Apr 26 Rice-Eccles Stadium Salt Lake City*
May 3 Sam Boyd Stadium Las Vegas*

*Part of the AMA Supercross Series.
^Daytona is not part of the FIM World Supercross GP Series.

For more information or to purchase tickets, log on to www.pacesupercross.com