Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

125cc Grand Prix Final Qualifying Results:

1. Manuel Poggiali, Gilera, 1:38.078
2. Lucio Cecchinello, Aprilia, 1:28.216
3. Daniel Pedrosa, Honda, 1:38.437
4. Youichi Ui, Derbi, 1:38.606
5. Gino Borsoi, Aprilia, 1:38.620
6. Joan Olive, Honda, 1:38.646
7. Alex De Angelis, Aprilia, 1:38.692
8. Andrea Ballerini, Honda, 1:38.758
9. Mike Kallio, Honda, 1:38.878
10. Masao Azuma, Honda, 1:38.893

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

MotoGP Practice Times From Donington Park:

1. Alex Barros, Honda NSR500, 1:32.220
2. Max Biaggi, Yamaha YZR-M1, 1:32.421
3. Carlos Checa, Yamaha YZR-M1, 1:32.453
4. Sete Gibernau, Suzuki GSV-R, 1:32.544
5. Valentino Rossi, Honda RC211V, 1:32.576
6. Kenny Roberts, Suzuki GSV-R, 1:32.817
7. John Hopkins, Yamaha YZR500, 1:33.002
8. Jeremy McWilliams, Proton KR3, 1:33.130
9. Garry McCoy, Yamaha YZR500, 1:33.193
10. Regis Laconi, Aprilia RS3, 1:33.232
11. Norick Abe, Yamaha YZR500, 1:33.296
12. Tetsuya Harada, Honda NSR500, 1:33.346
13. Olivier Jacque, Yamaha YZR500, 1:33.510
14. Shinya Nakano, Yamaha YZR500, 1:33.545
15. Nobatsu Aoki, Proton KR3, 1:33.587
16. Daijio Kato, Honda NSR500, 1:33.688
17. Pere Riba, Yamaha YZR500, 1:34.032
18. Akira Ryo, Suzuki GSV-R, 1:34.359
19. Jurgen vd Goorbergh, Honda NSR500, 1:34.460
20. Alex Hofmann, Yamaha YZR500, 1:35.058
21. Tohru Ukawa, Honda RC211V, no time

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

AMA Superstock Practice Times:

1. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:30.527
2. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR600F4i, 1:30.765
3. Jason DiSalvo, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:30.803
4. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:30.881
5. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:30.976
6. Brian Parriott, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:31.012
7. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:31.214
8. Craig Connell, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:31.427
9. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:31.468
10. Ben Spies, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:31.753
11. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:31.792
12. Ty Howard, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:31.846
13. Chris Caylor, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:31.866
14. Lee Acree, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:31.882
15. Christopher Rankin, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:32.102
16. Robert Jensen, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:32.348
17. Rich Conicelli, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:32.451
18. Brian Livengood, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:32.817
19. John Dugan, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:32.941
20. Andrew Nelson, Honda CBR600F4i, 1:32.949

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Friday’s 250cc GP Qualifying Results:

1. Fonsi Nieto, Aprilia, 1:33.679
2. Marco Melandri, Aprilia, 1:34.339
3. Toni Elias, Aprilia, 1:34.360
4. Roberto Rolfo, Honda, 1:35.174
5. Sebastian Porto, Yamaha, 1:35.299
6. Franco Battaini, Aprilia, 1:35.309
7. Haruchika Aoki, Honda, 1:35.313
8. Randy De Puniet, Aprilia, 1:35.324
9. Naoki Matsudo, Yamaha, 1:35.425
10. Emilio Alzamora, Honda, 1:35.509
11. Alex Debon, Aprilia, 1:36.052
12. David Checa, Aprilia, 1:36.053
13. Roberto Locatelli, Aprilia, 1:36.234
14. Shahrol Yuzy, Yamaha, 1:36.554
15. Vincent Philippe, Aprlia, 1:36.626


Friday’s 125cc GP Qualifying Results:

1. Manuel Poggiali, Gilera, 1:38.078
2. Daniel Pedrosa, Honda, 1:38.437
3. Youichi Ui, Derbi, 1:38.606
4. Alex De Angelis, Aprilia, 1:38.858
5. Lucio Cecchiello, Aprilia, 1:38.989
6. Arnaud Vincent, Aprilia, 1:39.035
7. Masao Azuma, Honda, 1:39.103
8. Pablo Nieto, Aprilia, 1:39.179
9. Gino Borsoi, Aprilia, 1:39.207
10. Andrea Dovizioso, Honda, 1:39.395

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIM rules restrict track time for “riders contracted to compete in the Championships” during the six days prior to a World Superbike race (on the track the race will be held on) but do not mention restrictions on wild card riders and allow specifically exemptions.

The exemptions include “Official practice sessions of a National Championship event organized by the FMN which issued the rider’s license.”

In the case of Laguna, the involved FMN (or National federation) would be the AMA.

Which means that even if the restrictions are applied to wild card riders at Laguna Seca, practice for the AMA Superbike race is not included in the restrictions.

Leaving one to wonder, what was World Superbike Race Director Roberto Nosetto talking about in the first place, and never mind which year he was talking about!

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Provisional 2003 MotoGP Race Calendar:

3/23 Welkom, South Africa
4/6 Suzuka, Japan
5/4 Jerez, Spain
5/25 Le Mans, France
6/8 Mugello, Italy
6/15 Catalunya, Spain
6/28 Assen, Holland
7/13 Donington Park, United Kingdom
7/27 Sachsenring, Germany
8/24 Brno, Czech Republic
9/7 Estoril, Portugal
9/20 Jacarepagua, Brazil
10/5 Motegi, Japan
10/12 Sepang, Malaysia
10/19 Phillip Island, Australia
11/2 Valencia, Spain

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn LeSanto

Bayliss shows he’s the boss in the Laguna Seca sunshine

The man of the moment in World Superbike racing, Troy Bayliss, piled on the style to win a big battle for provisional pole here at Laguna Seca, California, this afternoon.

Despite a concerted challenge from both Bostrom brothers and Matt Mladin and Neil Hodgson, Infostrada Ducati Troy Bayliss grabbed the provisional pole at the last moment with a scorching lap time of 1:25.127. Bayliss dipped inside Anthony Gobert’s long standing record lap time of 1:25.185 set in 1999. But because Bayliss’ time was set in qualifying, Gobert’s lap record remains on the books for now.

For a short while it looked like the wild card riders might pull off a surprise, with Mat Mladin on the Suzuki and Eric Bostrom on the Kawasaki both setting fast laps. Officially Eric Bostrom is a regular, because he’s actually still filling in for the injured Hitoyasu Izutsu. But as the last minutes ticked away the World Superbike regulars rallied with Ben Bostrom taking provisional second at 1:25.233 and Neil Hodgson third with 1:25.721 both on Dunlop shod Ducatis. Mladin was relegated to fourth in front of Eric Bostrom. All the wild card riders are using Dunlop tyres with Xaus, Bayliss and Edwards the only riders fielding Michelins.

Noriyuki Haga was sixth fastest in the session ahead of another wild card, Aaron Yates. Meanwhile Colin Edwards, who everyone had expected to do well back home in America, languished in eighth on 1:26.121. Nicky Hayden plummeted to 12th as the session matured, that was after setting an early pace fast enough to get him into the top three on the time sheet.

There were plenty of incidents, Hodgson retired with smoke pouring from his HM Plant Ducati early on, returning to the fray on his spare bike. Bayliss was also out on his number two bike, having parked his stricken Infostrada Ducati early on. Mladin made an unsporting gesture during qualifying, which may yet get him into trouble with the race organisers. He used a one-finger salute to inform Ruben Xaus of exactly what he thought of the Spaniard using the racing line on an out lap!

On Saturday there’s another timed qualifying session followed by Superpole in the afternoon.

Friday’s World Superbike Qualifying Times:

1. Troy Bayliss, Ducati 998F02, 1:25.127
2. Ben Bostrom, Ducati 998F02, 1:25.233
3. Neil Hodgson, Ducati 998F01, 1:25.721
4. Mat Mladin, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:25.834
5. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:25.875
6. Noriyuki Haga, Aprilia RSV1000, 1:26.015
7. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:26.025
8. Colin Edwards, Honda RC51, 1:26.121
9. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati 998RS, 1:26.141
10. Doug Chandler, Ducati 998RS, 1:26.315
11. James Toseland, Ducati 998F01, 1:26.390
12. Nicky Hayden, Honda RC51, 1:26.420
13. Steve Martin, Ducati 998RS, 1:26.637
14. Ruben Xaus, Ducati 998F02, 1:26.770
15. Chris Walker, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:26.955
16. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati 998RS, 1:26.961
17. Miguel Duhamel, Honda RC51, 1:27.218
18. Gregorio Lavilla, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:27.317
19. Marco Borciani, Ducati 998RS, 1:27.471
20. Peter Goddard, Benelli Tornado 900, 1:28.030
21. Broc Parkes, Ducati 998RS, 1:28.452
22. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:28.588
23. Serafino Foti, Ducati 996RS, 1:28.771
24. Anthony Gobert, Yamaha YZF-R7, 1:28.826
25. Alessandro Antonello, Ducati 998RS, 1:29.395
26. Bertrand Stey, Honda RC51, 1:30.304
27. Mark Heckles, Honda RC51, 1:30.501
28. Mark Miller, Honda RC51, 1:30.649
29. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:30.663
30. Jiri Mrkyvka, Ducati 996RS, 1:30.980

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Everybody involved is now claiming that it was a misunderstanding and that wild card riders will be able to compete in both the AMA Superbike National and the World Superbike races at Laguna Seca this weekend.

This new version of reality followed an urgent meeting between Dan Murphy of RPM and Paulo Flammini of World Superbike.

An RPM spokesman now says that World Superbike Race Director Roberto Nosetto was refering to next year, when he he told RPM’s Cameron Gray, in front of a reporter, that wild card riders at Laguna Seca would have to choose between racing in AMA Superbike or World Superbike and couldn’t do both.

Gray immediately called Murphy, and said Murphy would meet with Flammini to sort out the matter.

The fact that the meeting between Murphy and Flammini took place at all testifies to the fact that Nosetto was refering to this event, this year.

In any case, wild card riders will now face certain restrictions on their participation in World Superbike practice sessions, but will be allowed to compete in both AMA and World Superbike.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

First Person/Opinion:

By John Ulrich

There are a lot of people upset with the proposed 2003 AMA road racing rules.

I don’t blame people for being upset: The new Superbike rules are radically different, and the stated justification for eliminating Pro Thunder (in 2003) and 250cc Grand Prix (in 2004) looks like bullshit meant to cover up the shortcomings of current AMA Pro Racing management to get a handle on operations, and I don’t think their problem is too much to do.

Having said that, I still think that paddock dwellers should be rejoicing that we’re having this argument now, instead of in December, and that the new rules package is a proposal and wasn’t just dropped in everybody’s lap as being how it would be, period. Simply declaring new rules, period, has been AMA Pro Racing standard operating procedure for years; we need only look back a year or two to find examples of finalized rules being issued at the last minute, with no chance to comment at all.

This deal where proposed rules are announced in June, with input invited for 30 days, is a major shift in how AMA Pro Racing operates, and it was a hard-fought change.

Much of the anger in the paddock stems from long-standing mistrust of AMA Pro Racing, a mistrust built up over decades; people have learned the hard way not to believe what AMA Pro Racing officials say, and many think that offering any input will be an exercise in futility.

Some of the anger comes from how the proposed rule changes were announced, via e-mailed press release during the Brainerd National weekend, with no senior representative of AMA Pro Racing on hand to field questions and take input.

And, of course, it is possible that meaningful input will be ignored, and that the rules will be enacted as currently written.

But I don’t think that will happen.

Participants in AMA road races should make their input, participate in the process, and see what happens.

I’m not ready to write off this deal quite yet, and I remain optimistic that it will turn out well.

Having any process at all is already an improvement…

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

1. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, 1:29.798
2. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki, 1:29.900
3. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki, 1:30.228
4. Miguel Duhamel, Honda, 1:30.334
5. Anthony Gobert, Yamaha, 1:30.592
6. Tony Meiring, Kawasaki, 1:30.789
7. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha, 1:30.812
8. Jake Zemke, Honda, 1:30.908
9. Steve Rapp, Suzuki, 1:30.912
10. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha, 1:31.285
11. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki, 1:31.473
12. Roger Lee Hayden, Honda, 1:31.500
13. Alex Gobert, Honda, 1:31.546
14. Adam Fergusson, Suzuki, 1:31.661
15. Tom Kipp, Suzuki, 1:31.782
16. Josh Hayes, Suzuki, 1:32.582
17. Ben Spies, Suzuki, 1:32.646
18. Andrew Nelson, Honda, 1:32.992
19. Ty Howard, Suzuki, 1:33.184
20. Michael Hannas, Kawasaki, 1:33.487
21. Mike Hale, Honda, 1:33.602
22. Jeffrey Tigert, Suzuki, 1:34.822
23. Tyler Wadsworth, Yamaha, 1:35.343
24. Scott Simpson, Kawasaki, 1:35.552
25. Matt Zurbuchen, Suzuki, 1:35.579
26. Robert Campbell, Kawasaki, 1:36.122
27. Chris Siglin, Suzuki, 1:36.799
28. Patrick Dowd, Suzuki, 1:37.252
29. Dirk Sanchez, Kawasaki, 1:37.559
30. Kevin Pate, Suzuki, 1:37.600
31. G. Hugh Pestes, Suzuki, 1:37.731
32. Chris Siebenhaar, Honda, 1:37.809
33. Justin Blake, Suzuki, 1:37.904
34. Daryl Woodward, Yamaha, 1:38.077
35. David Guy, Suzuki, 1:38.827
36. Michael Ellsworth, Kawasaki, 1:38.867
37. Tom Wertman, Suzuki, 1:39.168
38. Martin Sims, Suzuki, 1:40.209
39. Tyrone Toloy, Honda, 1:40.752
40. Alex Florea, Kawasaki, 1:40.823
41. Brian Lowe, Suzuki, 1:41.629