From a press release:

Arai Helmets will be the theme of Spectrum Motorsports’ April 8th Bike Night. Arai will have a display booth set up and Bruce Porter, Head of Arai’s Racing department, will be in attendance to demonstrate why Arai helmets are the safest and most comfortable fitting helmets made today.

The Bike Night will start at 6 00 p.m. There will be two Arai helmets to be raffled off; other raffle prizes include T-shirts, hats and a Fastrack Riders voucher.

Spectrum Motorsports, an Aprilia, Ducati, Honda and Polaris dealer, is located at 45 Oldfield Rd Irvine 92618 at the entrance to the Irvine Auto Center.

Refreshments will be available.

From a press release:

Every privateer racer listed in the AMA press release (touting the more competitive AMA Superbike field) has also made the switch over to MARVIC Piuma 16.5″ magnesium race wheels.

We at Yoyodyne would also like some of the credit for this reduction in lap times. Current reports show that our wheels with new generation rubber are worth a second to a second and a half at any racetrack.

Racers who want to go a second and a half faster are encouraged to call our race support office at 973-401-1954 for more details on our wheel program.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

1993 500cc Grand Prix World Champion Kevin Schwantz injured his left hand when he crashed his Suzuki DR-Z400 in the STTARS Super TT race Sunday at California Speedway.

“(Mike) Cinqmars, the freestyle motocross guy, got into me at the start of the Middleweight race,” Schwantz told Roadracingworld.com Monday. “I tangled bars with his seat as we were coming out (of the first turn). He was trying to shove me into the haybales, and I fell.

“There’s something broken in my (left) hand, but I haven’t gone to the doctor yet. I don’t know if the handlebar landed on it or what exactly, but something’s not right. It may be all dislocated or it may be broke, I’m not sure. The knuckles aren’t even skinned up. The gloves, there isn’t anything even wrong with them.

“You know what I’m thinking maybe happened is when the handlebar got stuck in his seat and the handlebar started to get yanked out of my hand, I held on even tighter. And the grip I had may have jammed or dislocated some of the bones in my hand, because it yanked it real hard.”

Schwantz retired from professional Grand Prix racing due to a lack of mobility in his left wrist, the result of crash-related injuries, but the Texan says his wrist wasn’t affected in the fall. “My fingers are OK, my wrist’s OK, but it’s the back of my hand. I just got into Atlanta, and I’m going to get it looked at tonight. I’m going to see a doctor out here. We’ve got a (Kevin Schwantz Suzuki) school then the (AMA team) test and all that stuff coming up out here (Road Atlanta), so I figured I’d get it done out here.

“I stayed for the (Formula) Xtreme race and the start of the Superbike race, then I left to go to the hospital. But I got fed up with waiting in line with a bunch of crying, sneezing, S.A.R.S. (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome)-infected Asians. So I left. I figured S.A.R.S. will kill me, what’s wrong with my hand won’t.”

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

California Speedway officials estimated the one-day attendance for Sunday’s AMA Superbike event at their facility to be “over 20,000.”

Speedway Public Relations Director Dennis Bickmeier said the Speedway doesn’t give official attendance figures, but said Sunday’s attendance was “for sure over 20,000.”

While the main grandstand on the front straight looked relatively empty, the pit lane hospitality suites, pit-lane sky boxes and the infield grandstands were packed, according to Bickmeier.

“Did you see that new grandstand (by infield turn nine)? It was packed, and all of the infield grandstands were full,” said Bickmeier.

The newly-erected, 6500-seat grandstand Bickmeier referred to will now be a permanent fixture at the expense of space normally used to park recreational vehicles during oval race events. The grandstands were trucked out to California from Nazareth Speedway, a one-mile oval track in eastern Pennsylvania also owned by International Speedway Corporation (ISC), the owners of California Speedway.

Bickmeier also pointed out that the capacity of the Speedway’s parking lots gave a good indication of the fan attendance.

You can read one fan’s perspective on the Yamaha Superbike Challenge on California Speedway’s website at www.californiaspeedway.com.

Because most race venues choose not to announce attendance figures, it’s difficult to rank the two-year-old AMA event at California Speedway with other stops on the AMA Superbike circuit, however, one estimate puts Fontana ahead of the Pike’s Peak event, equal to if not ahead of the Brainerd race weekend and not far off the attendance at Virginia International Raceway.

The events at Road Atlanta, Sears Point, Road America, Mid-Ohio, Daytona and Laguna Seca are the most popular AMA Superbike events in terms of attracting spectators.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Telefonica Movistar Honda’s Daijiro Kato is fighting for his life in the intensive care unit of a Japanese hospital following a crash into a wall during the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit on Sunday.

According to reports coming out of Japan, Kato crashed for unknown reasons entering the revised Casio Triangle chicane, impacted the wall on rider’s left at speed and bounced back onto the racetrack, where he narrowly missed getting run over. Kato received life-saving attention at the scene, including efforts to re-start his heartbeat and breathing, before being transported to the infield care center and then flown to a nearby hospital.

Kato is currently diagnosed as having head, neck and chest trauma and is listed in “serious” condition.

Concerns about the level of safety at the famed Japanese racetrack were raised after Marco Melandri, the 2002 250cc World Champion, broke his right leg, and Kato’s crash has resulted in many riders, most notably Kenny Roberts, speaking out about safety problems at Suzuka Circuit.

More details as they become available.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Sunday Morning AMA Formula Xtreme Practice Times:

1. Jamie Hacking, Yamaha, 1:25.792
2. Ben Spies, Suzuki, 1:25.977
3. Jake Zemke, Honda, 1:26.514
4. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha, 1:26.554
5. Steve Rapp, Suzuki, 1:27.041
6. Roger Lee Hayden, Honda, 1:27.249
7. Adam Fergusson, Suzuki, 1:27.570
8. Josh Hayes, Suzuki, 1:27.856
9. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha, 1:27.955
10. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki, 1:27.985
11. Marty Craggill, Honda, 1:28.232
12. Doug Chandler, Honda, 1:28.266
13. Craig Connell, Honda, 1:28.437
14. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki, 1:29.187
15. James Randolph, Suzuki, 1:30.284
16. Jason Curtis, Honda, 1:30.357
17. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki, 1:31.307
18. Mark Ledesma, Honda, 1:31.534
19. Lenny Beckman, Suzuki, 1:32.507
20. Sandor Bitter, Suzuki, 1:32.534

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Sunday Morning AMA Supersport Practice Times:

1. Jamie Hacking, Yamaha, 1:27.988
2. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha, 1:28.135
3. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha, 1:28.536
4. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki, 1:28.559
5. Ben Spies, Suzuki, 1:28.664
6. Miguel Duhamel, Honda, 1:29.119
7. Jake Zemke, Honda, 1:29.228
8. Doug Chandler, Honda, 1:29.237
9. Roger Lee Hayden, Honda, 1:29.358
10. Jason DiSalvo, Yamaha, 1:29.446
11. Craig Connell, Honda, 1:29.552
12. Matt Wait, Yamaha, 1:29.912
13. Jamie Stauffer, Yamaha, 1:29.946
14. Marty Craggill, Honda, 1:30.107
15. Alex Gobert, Honda, 1:30.245
16. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki, 1:30.729
17. Chris Peris, Honda, 1:30.987
18. Clint McBain, Suzuki, 1:31.320
19. Nate Wait, Kawasaki, 1:31.725
20. Andrew Nelson, Honda, 1:31.888

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies won the Formula Xtreme race at Fontana, beating Erion Honda’s Jake Zemke by 6.565 seconds. Marty Craggill was third on a Bruce Transportation Group Honda.

Defending class Champion Jason Pridmore ran off the track early on and then retired his Attack Suzuki with mechanical problems. Jamie Hacking crashed out his Graves Yamaha while racing for second; Craig Connell crashed his Annandale Honda on the first lap due to a mechanical problem, and his teammate Ty Howard ran out of gas on the last lap, while running 10th.

Results
1. Ben Spies, Suzuki GSX-R1000
2. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR954RR, -6.565 seconds
3. Marty Craggill, Honda CBR954RR, -12.847
4. Josh Hayes, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -13.879
5. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha YZF-R1, -15.626
6. Roger Lee Hayden, Honda CBR954RR, -17.022
7. Steve Rapp, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -25.975
8. Adam Fergusson, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -26.865
9. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha YZF-R1, -33.119
10. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -37.851
11. Doug Chandler, Honda CBR954RR, -44.481
12. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -70.040
13. Jason Curtis, Honda CBR954RR, -79.158
14. Ty Howard, Honda CBR954RR, -1 lap
15. Marco Martinez, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -1 lap
16. David Guy, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -1 lap
17. Eric Haugo, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
18. John Wilson, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
19. Steve Engelbrecht, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
20. James King, Suzuki GSX-R750, -1 lap
21. Alex McElyea, Honda, -1 lap
22. Jamie Hacking, Yamaha YZF-R6, -9 laps, DNF, crash
23. Mark Ledesma, Honda CBR954RR, -11 laps, DNF
24. Mickey Lane, Suzuki GSX-R750, -12 laps, DNF
25. Michael Kosta, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -13 laps, DNF
26. David Bell, Aprilia RSV1000, -14 laps, DNF
27. Sandor Bitter, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -14 laps, DNF
28. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -15 laps, DNF
29. Mark Simon, Suzuki GSX-R750, -16 laps, DNF
30. Craig Connell, Honda CBR954RR, DNF, crash
31. Lenn Beckman, Suzuki GSX-R1000, DNF

Provisional Points
1. Spies, 38
2. Zemke, 32
3. Craggill, 29
4. Hayes, 27
5. Buckmaster, 26
6. Hayden, 25
7. Rapp, 24
8. Fergusson, 23
9. Gobert, 22
10. Moore, 21
11. Chandler, 20
12. Ulrich, 19
13. Curtis, 18
14. Howard, 17
15. Martinez, 16

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

1. Rich Oliver, Yamaha
2. Chuck Sorensen, Aprilia, -14.459 seconds
3. Simon Turner, Honda, -40.497
4. Colin Jensen, Aprilia, -67.924
5. Perry Melneciuc, Yamaha, -85.740
6. Michael Montoya, Yamaha, -86.171
7. Darren Fulce, Yamaha, -89.163
8. Chris Pyles, Honda, -1 lap, crash
9. Ed Marchini, Yamaha, -1 lap
10. Sandy Noce, Yamaha, -1 lap
11. Greg Esser, Honda, -1 lap
12. Mark Watts, Honda, -1 lap
13. Sean Crane, Yamaha, -1 lap
14. John France, Honda, -1 lap
15. Steve Scott, Yamaha, -1 lap
16. Stephen Bowline, Honda, -1 lap
17. Sean Wray, Yamaha, -1 lap
18. Ben Welch, Yamaha, -1 lap
19. Shawn Murray, Honda, -1 lap (penalized 10 seconds)
20. Richard Denman, Honda, -1 lap
21. Michael Janzen, Honda, -2 laps
22. Sean McNew, Honda, -10 laps, DNF
23. Leonard Mellgren, Yamaha, -12 laps, DNF (penalized 10 seconds)
24. Ed Sorbo, Yamaha, DQ

AMA 250cc Grand Prix Point Standings:

1. Oliver, 75 points
2. Sorensen, 64 points
3. Turner, 58 points
4. Jensen, 54 points
5. Melneciuc, 51 points
6. Pyles, 47 points
7. Marchini, 44 points
8. Esser, 39 points
9. Bowline, 28 points
10. Sorbo, 10 seconds

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Reacting to recent news reports quoting DORNA boss Carmelo Ezpeleta as saying that there will be a Grand Prix race in the United States in 2004–and that the race will feature the MotoGP class run with AMA National classes–AMA Pro Racing officials say they have had no discussions with DORNA.

AMA Pro Racing Vice President of Communications Kerry Graeber said that there has been no contact with DORNA and no planning involving running an AMA National in conjunction with a MotoGP race.

Speaking at California Speedway Sunday morning, Graeber said that AMA Pro Racing was not opposed to the idea, in principal.

AMA Pro Racing West Coast Vice President Andy Leisner added that any such event would have to be scheduled to work within the AMA National schedule.