From an e-mail:

Thursday practice? I’m still trying to get up to speed after missing all of last season – and trying to learn how to ride these big four-cylinders. For me, I wish there was a Wednesday practice at this point in the learning curve! My guy who helps me couldn’t come down for both weekends, so I didn’t get anything done other than learning the track (at Fontana on Saturday). There won’t be any continuity between the two weekends. 

Compared to some of these other teams that are testing here – I have it pretty good. It’s only seven hours. But it forces the guys from the other coast like Chris Pyles and Opie Caylor to come out a week early for the club weekend. How expensive is that? And the tables will be turned when the series heads to Road Atlanta and VIR.

It’s interesting that the teams like Attack Suzuki who have already tested here this winter in the AMA tests are back here for FTA. I’m sure they would rather show up a day early next week.

Even after riding on Saturday, I am undecided about coming back next weekend for the National because of the limited track time.

From a press release:

FIRST PICTURES OF THE NEW DUCATI FOR THE MOTOGP CHAMPIONSHIP

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The bike will be presented to the world’s press during the Italian GP at Mugello on May 30.

Bologna, April 1, 2002 – The development of the Ducati prototype bike for the new MotoGP championship is continuing on schedule. Wind-tunnel testing has been taking place over the past few months and an aerodynamic configuration offering extremely high performance levels has already been obtained, despite the shape undergoing constant development. The final version will only be defined after track tests and the intense wind-tunnel testing programme have been completed.

“Thanks to the freedom our engineers were given in the design of a new bike and a new engine at the same time, we were able to apply the concept of integration to the full”, declared Claudio Domenicali, Ducati Corse Managing Director, who is in charge of the MotoGP project. “In particular the engine has been designed in line with the demands of the bike, and everything in function of the position of the rider. The result is a very compact bike, one that has been created around the rider giving him maximum freedom of movement through corners as well as allowing him to take up an extremely aerodynamic straight-line position with minimum physical effort.

“Extensive 3D CAD design has allowed us to analyse the layout and perfect the interaction between every component in a virtual mock-up modelled around the shape of the rider, obtaining unprecedented integration between all components.

“No aspect has been neglected in such a demanding and important project for our company. We have therefore also given particular attention to the search for an extremely low aerodynamic drag, which we view as vitally important because regulations based on fuel consumption reward the most efficient designs. The excellent wind tunnel results have also been obtained thanks to the compact nature of the Desmosedici engine, which has enabled a bike to be designed around it with the rider placed in an aerodynamically efficient position”.

The tubular steel trestle frame and the exhausts pipes under the tail fairing, together with the desmodromic system and the L-shaped layout of the engine, maintain intact some of the characteristics typical of Ducati’s sportsbike models.

“The tubular trestle frame was a natural choice”, continued Domenicali. “Our victories in the World Superbike Championship confirm that this is an excellent technical design. The MotoGP prototype however has been built around an innovative structure, which by exploiting the layout of the L-shaped Desmosedici engine to the full, uses it as a stress-bearing member and reaches the required levels of stiffness with a substantial reduction in frame weight and dimensions.

“The decision to place the exhausts under the tail, which gives the bike a ‘family feeling’, in line with Ducati’s road-going sportsbikes, was made above all because of its aerodynamic advantage.

“Thanks to the commitment of the team headed by Ducati Corse Technical Director Filippo Preziosi, everything is continuing according to plan, and today we are in a position to announce the date when the definitive version of the bike will be presented to the world’s press”, concluded Domenicali. “The bike launch will be Thursday 30 May, during the Italian GP at Mugello. Ducati fans will also have an exclusive opportunity to see the bike during WDW2000 (World Ducati Week, Misano Adriatico, June 14–16), the event held every two years that brings thousands of ‘Ducatisti’ from all over the world to Italy to celebrate with us their passion for our bikes”.

According to an AMA Pro Racing press release, Rich Oliver used to be Chuck Sorensen’s protege. We think they meant “mentor”; Sorensen used to be the junior member of Oliver’s team. The release follows:

HAYDEN HOPES TO BREAK AMA SUPERBIKE RECORD AT CALIFORNIA SPEEDWAY

PICKERINGTON, Ohio – Honda Racing’s Nicky Hayden comes to rounds two and
three of the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship in Fontana, Calif., as the unquestionable rider to beat. The 20-year-old racing prodigy from Owensboro, Ky., is on the verge of matching, and possibly breaking, a seven-year record held by his teammate Miguel Duhamel. Hayden is riding a five-race winning streak coming into the Yamaha Superbike Challenge at California Speedway on April 5-7.

His winning streak began last July at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and continued through the opening round of this year’s championships at Daytona Beach, Fla. If Hayden manages to win the first race of the Superbike doubleheader weekend he will tie Duhamel’s record of six AMA Superbike wins in a row. If he wins both rounds in Fontana, Hayden could leave Fontana with the longest winning streak in the history of the series.

Fontana will also mark the return of three-time and defending AMA Superbike Champion Mat Mladin. The No. 1 Blimpie Yoshimura Suzuki rider injured his left elbow in practice for last month’s Daytona 200 and missed the opening round. Despite coming into Fontana with no points, Mladin is confident that he can get back in the hunt for an unprecedented fourth title with 15 of the 16 races still to be held. He’s looking to start his comeback with a strong showing at Fontana.

Mladin’s Blimpie Yoshiumura Suzuki teammate Jamie Hacking finds himself second in the series standings after another great Daytona performance. The South Carolinian took second to Hayden with a last-lap pass on Yamaha Factory Racing’s Anthony Gobert. Hacking sees his fast start as a springboard to a solid and consistent AMA Superbike season. Hacking feels it’s his time to show that he can be a true contender for the U.S. Superbike Championship, especially considering he’s never finished the season ranked higher than eighth in his four years as a factory Superbike rider.

Aussie Anthony Gobert has to be considered one rider at Fontana who can stop the Hayden onslaught. Gobert showed true grit by getting out of a hospital bed the day before the Daytona 200 and riding to an amazing third-place on his factory Yamaha R7. Gobert should be fully recovered from the injuries he suffered in the Pro Honda Oils Supersport race at Daytona. He was
consistently the fastest rider in pre-season testing at Fontana.

Fontana will also witness the return of three-time AMA Superbike champion Doug Chandler. Chandler, of Salinas, Calif., will be racing the HMC Ducati having just completed a deal that brought him to the team just two weeks before this race.

The Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport Championship is more competitive than ever. The third Blimpie Yoshimura Suzuki rider Aaron Yates comes into next weekend’s race leading the points race after a surprising win at Daytona. Yates and teammate Hacking are expected to be the top contenders for the title this year, but look for Yamaha’s Anthony Gobert putting on a hard charge to get back in the championship race after crashing out of round one in Daytona.

His teammate and fellow Australian Damon Buckmaster turned in a strong performance at Daytona, finishing sixth, and has said a factory ride would be the key to him becoming a top rider in the series.

Erion Racing’s Mike Hale plans on coming back and mixing it up with the established stars of the Supersport Championship after a seven-year absence from the series. Texan Hale was one of the leading AMA Supersport racers in the mid-1990s, finishing runner-up to Miguel Duhamel in 1995.

The Kawasaki camp is led by Tommy Hayden, oldest of the three racing Hayden brothers. Hayden was caught up in the Daytona crash that took out Anthony Gobert and his brother Aaron and will be coming into California Speedway intent on making up lost ground.

Corona Extra Suzuki’s Jimmy Moore had a successful kickoff in defense of his No. 1 plate in Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock. Moore, who won Daytona over new teammate Jordan Szoke will face one of the most talented filled (Maybe they mean “one of the most talented fields…Ed.)of Superstock riders ever in the history of the class.

Two-time MBNA 250 Grand Prix Champion Chuck Sorensen comes to Fontana hoping to start a winning streak that will lead him to a third title. Sorensen’s Team Stargel Aprilia had plenty of speed on the high banks of Daytona last month and that should serve him well at California Speedway. Watch for Sorensen to face a tough challenge from former protégé Rich Oliver, who is planning on racing at Fontana despite breaking his hip and losing part of a finger in a Daytona accident.

Young Jason DiSalvo is another rider that should be a top contender at Fontana. The 18-year-old former top AMA amateur challenged Sorensen at Daytona before making a rookie mistake and crashing out of the race while battling for the lead.

For ticket information of the Yamaha Superbike Challenge contact California Speedway at (800) 944-7223 or visit the website at www.californiaspeedway.com.

AMA Pro Racing is the leading sanctioning body for professional motorcycle sport in the United States.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Pascal Picotte has reached a deal to ride a Ducati Superbike for the Austin Bleu Bayou team, which campaigned Harley-Davidsons with Jordan Szoke last year. That’s the word from former racer Alan Labrosse, who manages Picotte.

The team may be on Michelin tires.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Despite AMA Pro Racing’s insistence that, in addition to needing Thursdays to set up their infrastructure and equipment, not having Thursday practice days will save competitors money, AMA regulars attending the FasTrack Association (FTA) track day/race event at California Speedway March 31 said otherwise. Roadracingworld.com asked several of the privateer AMA regulars at the new Fontana, California venue Sunday, March 31 if it cost them more money to come to an AMA track a day early for Thursday practice or to come to a club race at an AMA venue prior to the National event.

“It costs a lot more to come to a club day versus a Thursday practice day,” said 250cc Grand Prix racer Chris Pyles. “From this weekend, the entry fees for two practice days – I mean you got a lot of (track) time – but it’s double the cost. But then you’re taking off an extra week of work to come out here, whereas coming to a Thursday practice, you’re only have to take off an extra day. I’d say it costs more money to do a practice day versus a Thursday practice day.”

“I would say it probably cost us $10,000 to come this weekend. It would have cost us another $500-600 to come to a Thursday practice,” stated Annandale Racing’s Ty Howard, a Supersport and Superstock competitor. “We have to fly out here and fly back tonight (Sunday) to get back to work. Then we have four or five days of food and lodging, just all the added expenses of coming an extra weekend versus coming a day early to practice.

“For some of the people that can’t make the club races and have never been to this track and have to come ride on Friday, they get two practice sessions to learn the track, in the 750 (Superstock) class before qualifying. If I had to come here and not get this weekend as practice, I wouldn’t even make the field. It’s a safety issue with people coming in and not knowing the track. Every corner on this track has to flow together perfect, and it’s very hard to learn. It just doesn’t make any sense not to have a Thursday practice.”

“I would rather go to a Thursday practice,” said Marietta Motorsports Chris “Opie” Caylor, a Superstock racer. “The fact is, we showed up to a new track. I needed the time here because I want to do really well. It forced me to have to come out a week early. Between the extra hotel fees and the extra food fees, yeah, I would rather have a Thursday practice big time compared to having to come to a club day. I think it makes a lot more sense to have a Thursday practice.

“We ended up having to leave Wednesday (March 27) to get out here in time to be able to ride Friday (March 29). So yeah, I ended up having to take almost an extra week off (from work). On top of that, my mechanic had to take off work himself to be able to come out and to help me during the club days. If it were a Thursday through Sunday deal, I think it would be a lot more effective, a lot less costly and, like I said, it just makes a lot more sense.”

“Actually, it costs you more when you figure your extra travel costs in,” says Team America Grand Prix Racing owner Jim DiSalvo, father of 250 GP and Superstock racer Jason DiSalvo. After two years of learning new tracks while racing in Europe, DiSalvo knows the need for extra track time. “It would be nice to just have the track day the day before. That’s the optimum as far as we’re concerned. Practice days in the European and Spanish Championships, they always have a practice day before the race weekend event, whether it’s a promoter’s practice day or a school practice day. Generally speaking, you get on the track on Thursday, then you have your normal practice day on Friday. Without that extra day, you can’t get your bike set up if you haven’t been to the track before. And without this weekend here, we would not be ready for the AMA race next weekend.

“Overall, it’s like going to another race. Instead of us having 10 races this year, we have 17 because on seven other weekends we’re going to be at a track (for extra practice). It’s just like adding seven races to the schedule. It’s a big cost. Coming in on Thursdays would probably save 20% of the (annual) budget easily, probably $120,000.”

From a press release:

Due to a high volume of calls to the California Speedway Ticket Office at 1-800-944-RACE (7223), some new options are a available to purchase tickets:

Visit your local Yamaha Dealer (list of participating dealers included) for special ticket offers.

Hahm Motorsports 125 E. Ball Road, Anaheim — 714-563-1700
Bellflower Motorsports 10401 Alondra Blvd., Bellflower — 562-925-5097

Corona Yamaha 1245 Pomona Rd., Corona — 909-738-8111

Bert’s Mega Mall 1151 N. Azusa Ave., Covina — 626-974-6600

Motoworld of El Cajon 660 El Cajon Blvd., El Cajon — 619-442-0941

John Burr Yamaha 9008 Sierra Ave., Fontana — 909-823-1338

Pacific Yamaha 1358 Pacific Coast Hwy., Harbor City — 310-891-6990

LeBard & Underwood 321 E. Imperial Hwy., La Habra — 714-879-8252

Mission Yamaha 25891 Crown Valley Pkwy., Laguna Niguel — 949-582-0351

Antelope Valley Yamaha 400 W. Avenue I., Lancaster — 661-948-1019

Long Beach Yamaha 3291 Cherry Ave., Long Beach — 562-427-2779

Marina Yamaha 4082 Lincoln Blvd., Marina Del Rey — 310-306-7906

Temecula Motorsports 26860 Jefferson Ave., Murrieta — 909-698-4123

Yamaha of North Hollywood 5626 Tujunga Ave., N. Hollywood — 818-766-6134

South Bay Yamaha 1 W. 35th St., National City — 619-420-2300

JMG Motorsports 25601 Arch St., Newhall — 661-259-8460

Montclair Yamaha 11195 S. Central Ave, Ste. # 1, Ontario — 909-628-4748
Pasadena Yamaha 2270 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena — 626-577-3000

Yamaha of Cucamonga 9760 Foothill Blvd., Rancho Cucamonga — 909-987-2411

Yamaha of Redlands 215 E. Redlands Blvd., Redlands — 909-793-2473

Del Amo Motorsports 1512 Aviation Blvd., Redondo Beach — 310-372-8891

Malcolm Smith Motorcycles 7563 Indiana Ave., Riverside — 909-687-1300

Chaparral Motorsports 555 S. H Street, San Bernardino — 909-889-2761

Fun Bike Center 4689 Convoy St., San Diego — 858-278-6635

San Luis Motorsports 6 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo — 805-541-2200

Simi Valley Yamaha 2902 E. Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley — 805-522-3434

Kolbe Cycle Sales 22123 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills — 818-348-7865

You may also purchase your tickets in person at the speedway’s box office at 9300 Cherry Ave., Fontana, CA.

The box office will open on Monday, April 1 at 8:30 a.m.

** Tickets can be purchased on site throughout the event weekend **

** A special AMA Superbike e-mail order for GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS ONLY. Please e-mail your request to [email protected] with the following information:

Subject Line – AMA Tickets;

Include in the body of the e-mail – Name, address, phone number; number of general admission tickets you want to order; credit card number, expiration date and complete name as it appears on the card. THESE TICKETS CAN BE PICKED UP AT WILL CALL STARTING ON Friday, April 5th, at 7:00 a.m.. WILL CALL IS LOCATED AT GATE 14. You must bring a photo ID to pick up tickets.

TICKET INFORMATION: Saturday and Sunday single-day general admission tickets are $30. Friday’s practice and qualifying tickets are $10 in the general admission area. Children 12 and under are free in the general admission areas for single-day ticket purchases. Wristbands can be picked up for children 12 and under at all information booths at the speedway.

SEATING FOR GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS: General Admission tickets allow for seating in the temporary grandstands in the infield near turns 9 and 10 and near turns 13 and 14. Seating is also available in the grass area on the inside of the infield portion of the road course. The temporary seating, as well as the grass area, puts you right on top of the action as the bikes wind through the speedway’s new interior road course. General admission seating is also available in Turns 1 and 4 in the main grandstands.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Rich Oliver said Sunday that he practiced at Fontana last Friday against doctor’s orders because he had to learn the track prior to next weekend’s AMA National, which does not include Thursday practice.

“The reason I was there was actually against doctor’s orders because I am supposed to continue to allow my injuries from Daytona to heal, but since there is no Thursday practice (before next weekend’s AMA National) I had to arrange with my teammate Perry Melneciuc to drive (the team truck and equipment) from Florida a week early to make this Fastrack Riders day on Friday.

“My entire focus of that day was not to go out and set a track record, but just to learn which way the corners went because I knew I wouldn’t have the Thursday to familiarize myself with the track. As much as Team Oliver Yamaha is supported by all our great sponsors, we don’t have enough money to do a private test.

“This Friday’s Fastrack Riders day was the least expensive thing we could come up with and it’s just unfortunate that we had to do this instead of relying on Thursday.

“My feeling with Thursday practice has always been that it is a safety issue, most important it affects track safety. Under practice conditions, not under qualifying conditions, the track can be adjusted, altered, improved, especially a man-made track like Fontana because they have artificial chicanes. If they need to make a change, the day can be written off, instead of changing the track once qualifying starts.

“It’s a way to fine-tune everybody’s systems. The AMA has on occasion had problems getting lap times out on the first day of practice, sometimes the timing and scoring system has a few bugs to work out and I think Thursday is a good day to get all the bugs out before the real pressure-cooker of qualifying starts.

“How may times has Yamaha been to Fontana already? Anthony Gobert has been to Fontana, at least twice, (for five days total). I’ve been there none. I got 30 minutes on Friday. Just think of the people who didn’t go on Friday. Thursday practice can be an advantage to everybody. If the factory teams don’t want the additional expense of Thursday for the crews and the higher usage of the engines, that’s a very specific financial requirement that affects a few guys, it’s very understandable to me that they would be opposed to Thursday practice.

“But if you add up all the tests that they do, you wonder what the costs are of all the testing they do as opposed to a single day on Thursday before a National. And they don’t have to come on Thursday if they don’t want to.

“Teams like mine can’t afford to test, and we find a test day at the racetrack when we’re already there, far more productive and useful.

“As a small independent team, I really appreciate the opportunity to come to a track on Thursday and test. I am what makes the AMA the AMA–a team like mine. Without teams like mine, all you’re gonna have is factories. It seems like you’d want to help the middle guy like me and keeping Thursday practice around is a really easy way to do it.

“Thursday practice is also good for Jason DiSalvo, for Chuck Sorensen, for Mike Himmelsbach, it makes racing safer and better for everyone. If all I cared about was getting a personal advantage, I’d try to raise the money and do independent tests and get an advantage on those guys. But having Thursday practice is the right thing to do, for everybody. I think Thursday practice is the best answer for everybody.”

From a press release:

MONSTERMOB DUCATI BRITISH SUPERBIKE TEAM

Round 1 – British Superbike Championship, Silverstone, Sunday 31st March/Monday 1st April 2002

Race Report

HIZZY LEADS CHAMPIONSHIP

MonsterMob Ducati rider Steve Hislop grabbed the initiative to lead the MCN British Superbike Championship after the opening round at Silverstone today.

The 40-year-old Isle of Man based Scot followed up a second place in the opening race with a comprehensive victory in race two to lead the 13 round series by 4 points.

Fastest in practice, Hizzy stalked fellow Ducati rider Sean Emmett in race one and was poised to make a move on the penultimate lap but he got a poor run through the backmarkers and had to settle for 2nd.

In the second race, Hislop was determined not to get caught out again and led from the start only for the race to be stopped after 4 laps whilst he held a 4.5 second lead. However, Hislop made no mistakes in the restart and ended up winning by 7.5 seconds at the end of the two part race.

“We made some suspension alterations and they worked fine for race two. This is a great start to the year and I hope to bag more good points at round two” said Hislop.

But it wasn’t such good luck for MonsterMob Ducati Supersport rider Stuart Easton who crashed out on the opening lap through no fault of his own.

The 17 year old from Hawick was running towards the front when he was collected by another rider at the hairpin.

“I peeled into the corner and the next thing I knew I was on the floor. My first round jinx has struck again” said Easton.

Nonetheless Team owner Paul Bird was pleased with the start to the season. “We were unlucky in race one but Steve pulled it off in race two. Just so long as we’re leading the championship at the end of the year when it matters” said the Penrith businessman.

Race One Result
1. Sean Emmett (Ducati) 30:26.668
2.Steve Hislop (MonsterMob Ducati) 30:27.066
3. Steve Plater (Yamaha) 30:42.080
4.John Reynolds (Suzuki) 30:43.766
5.Shane Byrne (Ducati) 30:45.804
6.Karl Harris (Suzuki) 30:48.490

Race Two Result
1.Steve Hislop (MonsterMob Ducati) 30:23.034
2.John Reynolds (Suzuki) 30:30.733
3. Sean Emmett (Ducati) 30:33.521
4.Michael Rutter (Ducati) 30:34.153
5.Paul Brown (Ducati) 30:41.071
6.Steve Plater (Yamaha) 30:44.742

Supersport Result
1.Jim Moodie (Yamaha) 26:27.729
2.Scott Smart (Honda) 26:29.880
3.Danny Beaumont (Yamaha) 26:30.374
4.Jimmy Lindstrom (Suzuki) 26:39.109
5.Jeremy Goodall (Suzuki) 26:41.121
6.Ben Wilson (Honda) 26:42.189

British Championship Standings
1. Steve Hislop (MonsterMob Ducati) 45pts
2. Sean Emmett (Ducati) 41pts
3. John Reynolds (Suzuki) 33pts
4. Steve Plater (Yamaha) 26pts
5. Michael Rutter (Ducati) 22pts
6. Paul Brown (Ducati) 19pts