From a press release issued by SBK, organizers of the Superbike World Championship:

Round 9 – Laguna Seca– (USA)
12 – 14 July 2002

Laguna Seca, 11 July 2002

California Dreaming

Situated close to the famous coastal town of Monterey, Laguna Seca features a captivating layout, the shape of which is determined by the sloping walls of the dry lake the track nestles within.

Originally built in 1957, on US Army land, the original track was a near complete circle around the lakebed, until the requirements of international competition lengthened it to its present 3.610km. Laguna is home to the spectacular Corkscrew, which sees the track drop left, down a 30% incline from its highest point. A unique section, it is approached blind and is one of many challenging sections on the track.

Few permanent buildings feature in the pit area at Laguna, due to the peculiar status of the track location, with the circuit itself operated as a charitable trust by the SCRAMP organisation. The tented village, which springs up on race weekends, however, does lend a carnival atmosphere to proceedings.

The normally hot and dry atmosphere makes life fun for the spectators, gruelling for the competitors, who swelter in the high afternoon temperatures. The current lap record dates to 1999, and his held by Anthony Gobert, on a 1:25.185.

The story of the 2002 season so far has been an almost exclusive Troy Bayliss (Ducati Infostrada) and Colin Edwards (Castrol Honda) battle, although peculiarly, nether of these riders have won at Laguna before. With the exception of local wild-card Makoto Tamada’s race two win at Sugo, Bayliss and Edwards have won every race so far, with Edwards on two and Bayliss on a whopping 13.
As neither rider has won at Laguna in SBK before, there has never been a better time for one of the other riders to break their personal 2002 duck.

Six-time 2001 race winner Ben Bostrom (L&M Ducati) may be the most confident of those riders, with good memories of his double Laguna win fresh in his mind. Another major force at Laguna last year was Neil Hodgson (HM Plant Ducati), and on his 2002 form he also stands a good chance at one of his most favoured tracks.
Hodgson will be joined once more by his younger team-mate James Toseland, a rider still learning how to beat the best Superbike exponents in the world, but moving closer with ever outing.

Noriyuki Haga (Playstation 2 Aprilia) is the lone Aprilia runner and a proven force at Laguna, looking to jump-start his 2002 season once more.

The final factory twin cylinder rider due to compete at Laguna is none other than Ruben Xaus, team-mate of Bayliss and exciting to the point of hysteria on occasions.

Other factory riders in the Laguna mix ride three or four four-cylinder machines. Peter Goddard competes on the Benelli triple, while the best placed four-cylinder rider at present is Chris walker, from the Kawasaki Racing Team.

Gregorio Lavilla forms a one man Alstare Suzuki factory team, and will be anxious to show himself in a good light against the other strong four-cylinder riders.

Regular American Superbike racer Eric Bostrom has once more been drafted into the factory SBK Kawasaki team (replacing the still injured Hitoyasu Izutsu).

Six local AMA wild card riders will be allowed to compete at Laguna, and will make life hard for all the top riders. They are current AMA Championship leader Nicky Hayden, his Honda team-mate Miguel Duhamel, the injured but recovering Anthony Gobert (Yamaha), Suzuki riders Mat Mladin and Aaron Yates, plus the local Ducati charger, Doug Chandler.

With the intense July heat and a very physical circuit to negotiate, wins at Laguna have never come cheap. The track has also seldom favoured Michelin riders; such is the base of combined knowledge the near-exclusively Dunlop supported riders in AMA championship have to call on.

Of the current runners in SBK, Ben Bostrom (L&M Ducati) has been the most recent winner, taking a double last season and a race two success in 1999, while he was still an AMA competitor.

Noriyuki Haga (Playstation2 Aprilia) has also scored two wins, both on Yamahas.

Significantly, almost any manufacturer’s machine has proved capable of winning at Laguna, opening up the enticing prospect of a four-cylinder winner for the first time this season.

Laguna Seca is the one round of the SBK championship which does not feature a round of the World Supersport Championship.


From a press release issued by Suzuki:

SUZUKI IN THE STATES

2002 Superbike World Championship, Preview, Round 9, Laguna Seca, USA, July 14th

ROUND nine of the Championship takes the teams out of Europe for the first time since April and is the last of this year’s flyaway trips.

Laguna Seca has been a fixture on the calendar since 1995 and is one of the most spectacular racetracks of the series. The 3.610 kilometre circuit featuresserious changes of elevation and one of the most famous corners in motorsport ­the Corkscrew. A blind approach is followed by a difficult left-right swoop,which plunges no less than fifty feet. Last year, local hero Ben Bostrom dominated the event, taking Superpole and winning both 28-lap races. Although circuit knowledge is vital, of the past 14 races, six have been won by Americans and eight by overseas riders.

Last year Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Gregorio Lavilla was racing for another team and took a 12th in the first race, but DNF’d in the second. Laguna Seca is a demanding circuit ­ physically and technically ­ and the team know it’s going to be a hard weekend ­ especially in view of the strength of the numerous ‘wild card’ riders taking part.

GREGORIO LAVILLA
“Laguna Seca has not been a particularly kind track for me in the past, so I’m hoping to have a good weekend there this year. Last year was not that good and the year before I didn’t take part due to injury, so I think it is bout time for some good results. This year has proved to be as hard as we all expected in some ways, but there are some positive signs of improvement head. We made some progress in the last round and if we can carry that through and build on it, we will continue going forward.

“Unfortunately at Laguna Seca ­like all the circuits we go to this year ­we have no data that we can use from last year because we are running different suspension. It means that every time we get to a track, we have to start from scratch and spend a lot of the qualifying trying to get a good bike set-up. It’s a fact, nothing more, nothing less. Some tracks are better than others for our bike and I’m hoping my Suzuki handles well, so that I can really attack Laguna Seca.”

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

According to a press release, White Buffalo Racing, a road racing parts and accessories business, has established a new website at www.whitebuffaloracing.net.

The company also fields a racing effort in WSMC.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

The 25th Suzuka 8-Hour endurance race will feature many Americans but few international racing stars, according to a provisional entry list.

In stark contrast to past Suzuka races that included nearly every top rider from international and domestic road racing series around the world, the provisional entry list for the 25th running of the classic endurance event is relatively light on star power. The biggest names for the Coca-Cola-sponsored contest are Tohru Ukawa, Daijiro Kato, Alex Barros and Akira Ryo.

Former Suzuka 8-Hour winners Ukawa and Kato will team on a Team Cabin Honda RC51. Makoto Tamada will ride another Honda RC51 pairing with Cabin Honda Team Manager and former Suzuka winner Tadayuki Okada. Alex Barros will join Yuichi Takeda on a Team Sakurai Honda RC51. Takeda is third in the All-Japan Road Race Series point standings.

Having finished on the Suzuka podium for the past two years, Ryo and Yukio Kagayama will be tough on a factory-supported Suzuki GSX-R750; Ryo and Kagayama have been test riding the prototype GSV-R in 2002.

The top Yamaha team appears to be the YSP Racing & Prest duo of Takeshi Tsujimura and Wataru Yoshikawa, fourth and fifth in All-Japan Series points.

Although an Akira Yanagawa/Eric Bostrom/Chris Walker team on a factory ZX-7RR would have been exciting, Kawasaki will have no official factory team in the Suzuka field this year.

Although the Suzuka race is round four of the FIM Endurance World Championship, few of the series regulars make the long and expensive journey to race in Japan. Among the World Endurance regular teams signed up for this year’s race, Zongshen has entered two Stock Sport teams on Suzuki GSX-R1000s with Stephane Mertens and Warwick Nowland riding the first and Igor Jerman and Bruno Bonhuil riding the second. GMT94’s Sebastien Scarnato and William Costes are scheduled to race on another Stock Sport Suzuki GSX-R1000.

American Jason Pridmore and Brit Mike Edwards will take their usual seats on a QB Phase One World Endurance Suzuki GSX-R1000 in the Stock Sport class. Similarly, Mike Ciccotto and David Estok will ride a Herman Verboven/Hooters/Ti Force Suzuki GSX-R1000 at Suzuka.

It appears as though the Arata-Ex & Tsukigi team has replaced Doug Chandler with Mike Smith as partner to Doug Polen on an X-Formula Honda CBR954RR. Polen’s history at Suzuka is long and varied, but Smith, riding with teammate Takuma Aoki, finished third at the 1993 edition of the Suzuka 8-Hour on a Honda. Scott Russell and Aaron Slight won that race on a Kawasaki with Eddie Lawson and Satoshi Tsujimoto taking second on a Honda. Names appearing below Smith’s on the result sheet included Mick Doohan and Daryl Beattie, fourth on a Honda, Alex Barros and Peter Goddard, seventh on a Suzuki, Kenny Roberts Junior in eighth on a Yamaha, Randy Renfrow and Steve Crevier, 42nd on a Honda and Scott Zampach, Mike Hale and Noriyuki Haga DNF.

The biggest surprise on the Suzuka entry list is Team Corona Extra/EBSCO/Ti Force riders Adam Fergusson and Steve Rapp on an X-Formula Suzuki GSX-R1000.

There are 87 teams entered for the August 4 race, 21 in Superbike, 14 in Stock Sport, four in X-Formula, 38 in JSB1000 and eight in Prototype.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Kawasaki will not build a 1000cc Superbike to meet proposed 2003 AMA rules and may not continue to compete with the 750cc ZX-7RR, either.

That’s the word from Kawasaki Road Race Manager Mike Preston, who said Tuesday that the company’s future course in AMA road racing is uncertain.

One problem is that the ZX-7RR’s World Superbike homologation has expired; the company does not plan to homologate a new 750cc racebike and will end its World Superbike program at the conclusion of the 2002 season. Development of the 750cc machine has ended, and it’s unknown whether there will be enough parts left over to campaign the ZX-7RR for another season in AMA racing.

Another problem is that a 1000cc Inline Four cannot be competitive under the current rules proposal, said Preston.

An obvious solution would be to change the rules to make 1000cc Inline Fours competitive against current Superbikes. But, Preston said, another solution would be to eliminate existing (currently competing) factory Superbikes and apply the same closer-to-production rules across the board to everything, including 1000cc V-Twins (like the Honda RC51).

What happens in the next few months will determine whether or not Kawasaki competes in AMA Superbike in 2003.

Meanwhile, officials at Suzuki said that the Yoshimura Blimpie Suzuki team may compete in Formula Xtreme instead of Superbike in 2003, unless the Superbike rules are changed.

Yamaha officials are also seriously considering pulling out of AMA Superbike.

Which may effectively make Formula Xtreme the premier AMA class in terms of competition, albeit with a relatively small purse, and may effectively reincarnate the Superbike class as a sort of big-purse, factory-bike Pro Thunder competition for V-Twins.

For reference, the Superbike race at Brainerd paid $4000 to win while the Formula Xtreme race and the Pro Thunder race each paid $1250 to win.

From SPEED:

2:00 p.m. AMA Superbike, Brainerd
3:00 p.m. AMA Supersport, Brainerd

7:00 p.m. Bike Week
7:30 p.m. Motorcyclist
8:00 p.m. AMA Formula Xtreme, Brainerd
9:00 p.m. On Any Sunday
11:00 p.m. Corbin’s Ride On
11:30 p.m. American Thunder
12:00 a.m. Bike Week
12:30 a.m. Motorcyclist
1:00 a.m. AMA Formula Xtreme, Brainerd
2:00 a.m. On Any Sunday

All times are Eastern Time.

Amid complaints that AMA Pro Racing hasn’t notified riders regarding the status of their entries for next weekend’s races at Laguna Seca, the professional competition arm of the American Motorcyclist Association finds time to issue a trio of chatty press releases written by contractor Larry Lawrence:

HAYDEN HOPING TO JOIN DUHAMEL AND SMITH AS THREE-TIME LAGUNA SECA PRO HONDA OILS SUPERSPORT WINNERS

PICKERINGTON, Ohio – On May 2, 1999, Tommy Hayden turned in one of the most impressive victories in the history of the Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship. That day on a rainy Laguna Seca Raceway (now called Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca) Hayden decimated the rest of the field winning the Supersport final by 17 seconds – one of the largest margins of victory in ever in the 16 years of AMA Supersport racing. The eldest of the three racing Hayden brothers returns to Monterey, Calif., this Friday, July 12, attempting to join Miguel Duhamel and Mike Smith as three-time winners of the AMA Supersport race at Laguna Seca.

Hayden comes into this race, which is round eight of the 10-race AMA U.S. Supersport Championship, ranked second behind Blimpie Yoshimura Suzuki rider Aaron Yates. He’s been playing catch up in the championship since getting caught up in a multi-bike accident in the opening round at Daytona Beach, Fla., in March.

“The accident at Daytona really put us in a tough situation as far as the championship is concerned,” said Hayden, who rides for Kawasaki. “Now all I can do is go out there and give it my all and hope for the best. Another win at Laguna would be great. I’ve done well there in the past and it would be nice to get a third victory there.”

Whoever wins the Supersport race this week will have pulled off a major accomplishment. Suzuki teammates Yates and Jamie Hacking have both won the race before and will line up for Friday’s event, as will Hayden. Also expected to race is Duhamel. It will be a special appearance in the series by the five-time AMA Supersport champ. Duhamel is hoping to be the first four-time winner of the race.

Also on Friday at Laguna Seca will be a round of the Buell Pro Thunder Series. Australian Kirk McCarthy is trying to become the first rider to clean sweep the series. He’s won all of the series races coming into this Friday’s contest riding an AMS Ducati. Hal’s Performance Buell rider Mike Ciccotto is the only rider with a chance to catch McCarthy in the championship. Ciccotto has finished on the podium at every round, but has yet to find a way to finish in front McCarthy.

The Lockhart Phillips Formula Xtreme final will be held Saturday. The series is a tossup this year between the top three riders. Jason Pridmore, of Attack Suzuki, holds a slim three-point lead over Bruce Transportation Honda’s Jake Zemke. Graves Yamaha’s Damon Buckmaster is still very much in the hunt; ranked third just eight points out of first. Buckmaster is the defending race winner.

On Sunday the Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock and MBNA 250 Grand Prix finals will be held in between the two legs of the World Superbike Series.

Defending Superstock champ Jimmy Moore and Lee Acree are locked in a great duel for that championship. Moore, who rides for Corona Extra Suzuki, is looking for his first win at Laguna Seca. Tommy Hayden is third in the series riding a Kawasaki ZX6R against the field of 750cc machines. Last year’s winner Chris Ulrich, of Valvoline EMGO Suzuki, has suffered a tough season so far, but defending his Superstock win a Laguna Seca would go a long way in easing some of his disappointment.

Chuck Sorensen, 29, of Sunnyvale, Calif., comes into Laguna Seca leading the MBNA 250 Grand Prix Series. Sorensen has tasted victory at many of the circuits on the tour, but Laguna Seca isn’t one of them. He will have to overcome the resurgent Rich Oliver, who has lost part of a finger and toes in separate accidents this year, but has twice come back to race competitively. Oliver won the last round in Brainerd, Minn., and is a five-time AMA 250GP winner at Laguna.

Live coverage of the AMA Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport final begins at 3:30 p.m. Eastern on Speed Channel, with a repeat on Sunday, July 14 at 4 p.m. Eastern. Speed Channel’s coverage of the Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Series from Monterey will air Tuesday, July 23 at 8 p.m. and again at 1 a.m. (July 24) Eastern.

For additional ticket information contact Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca at (800) 327-SECA or visit www.laguna-seca.com.



HAYDEN ON A QUEST TO SET NEW AMA SUPERBIKE RECORDS

PICKERINGTON, Ohio – Nicky Hayden comes into round 12 of the 16-race AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship this Saturday, July 13, at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif., having one of the best seasons any AMA Superbike rider could ever experience. The 20-year-old factory Honda rider from Owensboro, Ky., has not only won seven of the 11 races leading up to this weekend’s event, but he also holds a 42-point lead in the championship over Kawasaki’s Eric Bostrom. If Hayden continues on this pace he could become the youngest AMA Superbike champion in the history of the championship. There’s also a strong possibility that Hayden could better a long-standing AMA Superbike record that many thought could never be beaten. With five rounds of the series remaining Hayden has a real shot of matching or even breaking Fred Merkel’s 1984 record of 10 AMA Superbike wins in a single season.

This weekend’s AMA Superbike event is part of the annual Honda International Superbike Classic, which features the U.S. round of the World Superbike Championship as well as a full slate of AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship events.

Hayden’s year thus far has been simply phenomenal. He opened the season in March with a victory in the prestigious Daytona 200. He then went on to win six of the following 10 races, including a five-race winning streak – the second longest winning streak in AMA Superbike history. To top it all off Hayden spends his vacation weekends racing in select AMA Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championship races. In his spare time Hayden has picked up two wins in that series, becoming the first two-time winner in that championship this year. He and his brothers Tommy and Roger Lee also became the first brother combination to finish one-two-three at an AMA national in May in Springfield, Ill.
“My goal all along was to win the AMA Superbike Championship,” said Hayden. “Honda’s been good about letting me go out and do some of these other races and it’s been fun, but I’m still focused on winning the Superbike title. I’d love to win at Laguna again this year. It’s such a big event and a win there would go a long way in helping me get this championship wrapped up. There’s still a long way to go.”

Eric Bostrom still has hopes of catching Hayden. “I’ll probably need for him to make a mistake or have a mechanical problem,” admitted Bostrom, who is the defending winning at Laguna Seca. “But I’m going to do everything I can to be in a position to win the championship if at all possible.”

Miguel Duhamel is having one of his better seasons in AMA Superbike. The veteran rider, who is a native of Montreal and now lives in Las Vegas, has earned six podium finishes this year including two wins. Duhamel is another past winner at Laguna Seca. He won there on a Honda in 1998.

Other past winners of the AMA Superbike event at Laguna Seca who will race Saturday include Doug Chandler, Anthony Gobert and Pascal Picotte. This is Chandler’s home track and he would love nothing better than to ride his HMC Ducati to victory. Chandler is seeking his third win in the event – he previously won in 1996 and 1997. Gobert is expected to return to action at Laguna Seca after suffering a broken right leg in Superbike qualifying for Road Atlanta in May. Gobert is hoping to give Yamaha its first AMA Superbike victory at Laguna Seca. Picotte won at Laguna Seca in 1994 on a Ferracci Ducati. The Canadian is hoping to earn his first AMA Superbike win in over six years.

Tune into Speed Channel for live coverage of the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship on Saturday, July 13, beginning at 3:30 p.m. Eastern. Additional broadcasts will be July 16 at 8 p.m. & 1 a.m., and July 23 at 2 p.m. Eastern on Speed Channel.

For additional ticket information contact Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca at (800) 327-SECA or visit www.laguna-seca.com.



THE WORLD COMES TO MONTEREY

PICKERINGTON, Ohio – Monterey, California’s Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca will host the annual Honda International Superbike Classic on July 12 – 14. The esteemed event features both the SBK World Superbike Championship and America’s most important road racing series, the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship, in what has become the largest motorcycle-racing event in America – last year over 90,000 fans attended the four-day festival of racing. This marks the eighth year that Laguna Seca has hosted the U.S. round of the World Superbike Championship. Past winners include many of the top riders in the history of World Superbike including Troy Corser, Anthony Gobert, John Kocinski, Nori Haga and Ben Bostrom.

Australian Troy Bayliss has dominated the World Superbike Championship coming into this weekend’s races, winning 13 of the 16 rounds so far on his factory Infostrada Ducati 998R. While Bayliss has turned in a record-setting performance, Americans Colin Edwards and Ben Bostrom are acquitting themselves quit well in World Superbike this season.

Edwards, the Castrol Honda rider from Conroe, Texas, has finished on the podium in all but one round of the series and has earned victories in Japan and Great Britain. Edwards is ranked second in the world championship standings coming into Laguna Seca.

Ben Bostrom, the defending winner at Laguna Seca, is ranked fifth in the championship coming into this Sunday’s races. Bostrom, who rides for L&M Ducati, is looking for his first victory on the circuit this year and coming home to California may just be the boost to help him get back on track.

Bostrom’s younger brother Eric is focusing on the AMA Superbike title, but has turned in a few solid performances in his limited appearances this year in World Superbike. Eric raced in Japan, Italy and Great Britain, with his best result being a seventh in the second race at Italy on May 12. The Kawasaki ace is ranked 19th in the series despite only competing in six of the 16 rounds this year. He is expected to be a top contender at Laguna Seca.

Bringing added excitement to this year’s U.S. round is the fact that seven of America’s top domestic Superbike riders will be racing against the best in the world on Sunday. Doug Chandler, Miguel Duhamel, Anthony Gobert, Nicky Hayden, Mat Mladin and Aaron Yates as well as Eric Bostrom are expected to compete in the World Superbike rounds. In addition Mark Miller, a former top AMA Formula Xtreme rider, is slated to ride as a replacement rider for a Swiss team.

While both Chandler and Gobert are both former winners in the World Superbike Championship, undoubtedly Nicky Hayden’s debut in the series is one of the most highly anticipated unveilings in motorcycle racing this year. Hayden is clearly the fastest rider in AMA Superbike this season and many think he has a strong chance of winning in his first World Superbike appearance.

“I’m just looking forward to getting out there and racing with the World Superbike guys,” said Hayden, 20-year-old from Owensboro, Ky. “I’d like to think that our AMA riders are among the best there is, so I think we’re all ready to go out and see how we stack up. It’s going to be an awesome race that’s for sure.”

This will also be a great opportunity for three-time and defending AMA Superbike Champion Mat Mladin to earn a solid highlight in what has otherwise been a sub-par season for the 30-year-old Aussie. Mladin seriously injured his left elbow during practice for the Daytona 200 in March and never seemed to fully recover. After dominating the AMA series for three years, Mladin has yet to earn a victory on the circuit this season.

This just in from Monstermob Ducati publicist Larry Carter:

Just a quick note to advise that following the last-lap incident at Knockhill on Sunday, Steve Hislop has had his shoulder injury assessed and X-rayed in the Isle of Man yesterday (Monday) and the prognosis is that the right clavicle (collarbone) is indeed broken.

It is a straightforward break to the existing injury he suffered at Rockingham in September 2001 and he has been advised by Doctors to rest for a couple of weeks.

Steve is in good spirits and is confident that the injury will be sufficiently healed in order for him to defend his (British Superbike) championship lead at the next round at Thruxton on August 11th.

From a press release issued by Team Oliver Yamaha:

Rich Oliver Medical Update #4, Santa Rosa Trauma Center sends bill for “extra” services!

Rich has improved the condition of his mangled arm to the point where he is able to do most of the normal things in life, including brushing his teeth and paying the bills at least once a month like most people. He was even able to win Pikes Peak and Brainerd, along with a second place at Elkhart Lake.

We let Rich pick up the story from here, “Well, I got home after all that great racing, and went straight to bed! But the next morning I decided to attack the huge stack of mail on my desk, and guess what, most of it was from Santa Rosa Hospital! I thought that the bill for my 4 operations would be high, and man was it, but over $100,000?

After I climbed back on my chair, I started to read the fine print and look over the itemized charges and that’s when I became just horrified. You see, the staff up there was just so nice and accommodating to me, and quite frankly I was under the impression that they thought I was a semi celebrity!

So looking the bill over, I see the usual outrageous charges for band-aids, drywall screws, galvanized strap and that kind of stuff, no big deal. But as you may remember I consumed quite a few after 4pm Merlot IV drips and five to eight gourmet dinners and a healthy number of the fruit and cheese plates during my agonizing and difficult stay. Plus, I ordered lots of little perks and gifts for my swimsuit model roommate that I assumed were, you know, on the house!

Well, it turns out they had the gall to charge my insurance company for all those little inconsequential extras, to the tune of $36,000. Did I mention I was horrified! Thankfully Blue Cross of California only raised my rates by 24 dollars a month, so I’m still well ahead of the game. Next time I’m in the hospital, I guess I’d better order box wine and the microwave meal, or maybe I’ll just tell them I’m Miguel Duhamel!

Swimsuit model becomes much less attractive!

Rich had the good luck to be roomed up with a very attractive swimsuit model that had an unfortunate encounter with a rogue wave during a photo shoot. After the two got to know each other during their hospital stay, the sparks were flying between them, but unfortunately it was not to last past the first date.

Rich tells the sad tale, “Oh, she was great at first, you know like I said before we had so much in common, she loved racing, and I loved swimsuits! But then on our first date she really changed. It was really awful, she started asking me all these questions like, what were my core beliefs, what I thought the real meaning of life was, what was our purpose here on earth, what I thought about ancient cultures and people, what I felt about the state of the world and the conflict in the middle east, and on and on and on.

I tried to get her back on point and focused about what was really important, namely swimsuits, but it was hopeless. I mean, she just wanted to get so deep, and I’m from California, we just don’t have the time for that kind of discussion out here, unless you want to talk about Survivor or the Bachelor show or something meaningful like that. I wanted to talk about the state of hip hugger pants, belly rings, cosmetic surgery and things that really matter, but I guess it wasn’t meant to be for us. I still have hope though, they say love will come along when you least expect it!”

Team Oliver Yamaha is sponsored by:

Yamaha Motor Corp. USA
Dunlop Tires
Advanced Motion Controls
SHOEI Helmets
Silkolene Lubricants
Wilson’s Motorcycles
Sunsports Motorcycles
Auto Werks Paint
Rick Shell Crankshafts
Lindemann Engineering
Supertech
Sharkskinz
VP Racing Fuels
NGK Spark Plugs
EK Chain
AFAM
Chicken Hawk Tire Warmers
Kushitani Leathers
Helimot Leathers
Marietta Motorsports
Ferodo and Braketech
Frenotec
I Need Stickers. Com
Doc’s Custom and Collision
South Coast Inc.
AST Research
Cytomax, Cyto Sport


And more, from another press release issued by Team Oliver Yamaha:

Brainerd race report:

Oliver wins 58th AMA race on his Yamaha TZ in front of Sorensen and DiSalvo!

Rich Oliver rode to victory with the help of a recharged Yamaha TZ250, the machine producing proper horsepower again after problems were diagnosed by the Factory Dyno Team at the Brainerd track. Back at full steam, and with much improved handling capabilities due to the fine tuning adjustments by Jim Lindeman of LE Suspension, Rich was able to perform again at near maximum speed.

Asked about his fitness during the hot and humid race, Rich states, “I was pretty hot, but I just focused on what we teach at my Mystery School and that carried me through. I’m still healing up all my injuries, but each race I seem to get stronger.”

Rich also wanted to talk about Crew Chief Robert Ward, “Robert has really been a steady and reliable guy during the tough times we’ve had earlier in the season, he believes in me, and it’s great to win and reward all the effort that he’s put in with a victory for both of us and our great team sponsors.” Rich has moved up quite quickly from 20th place in the title chase and is now tied for 7th in the point’s championship.

Melneciuc finishes a fine 4th place!

Perry Melneciuc battled with Jason Disalvo for the last podium spot at Brainerd, the first time this year that Perry and Jason have been able to race head to head. Perry’s Yamaha TZ was amazingly fast, especially considering the huge size difference between the two riders.

Perry comments further on the race, “It was cool to race with Jason, however I’m a little disappointed to have finished fourth, coming up next is Laguna Seca and that’s a great track for me, I hope to gain the podium there for sure!”

Perry is still a strong second in the championship points tally.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

This just in from Kevin Lacombe:

I just wanted to give you an update on my latest situation. I am now back on a Honda and winning.

Yeah, I started the season on Suzuki for a private team, then as fate wanted it Steve Crevier busted his kneecap befor the end of race weekend one and a couple of 600s & RC51s were left vacant. A friend of mine, Stephane Dion, also acting as my part-time manager was able to make the deal with Honda.

This weekend was the first National with my new Hondas. I rode my 600 on the pole & finally capitalized in the final to win for Honda, with the whole back straight to myself. It was a great feeling to be back on top.

Superbike, on the other hand, was quite a handful. A limited confidence from Honda in my ability to ride a real Superbike got me riding the older version (the 2000 RC51). It would rev 2000 rpm lower than the current SP2. They first wanted me to prove something–fair enough. Well, I did. I rode the thing as hard as it would go to finish fourth.

Most important, Honda management saw what they wanted to see. They gave me the green to ride the real deal–Crevier’s stuff–for the remaining three Nationals.

I am second in 600cc points, third in Superbike points with three rounds to go.

Kevin Lacombe