Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

2001-2003 Suzuki GSX-R1000 Approved For 2003 AMA Superbike Competition

By Michael Hannas

AMA Pro Racing National Technical Director Rob King said today that 2001-2002 GSX-R1000 models as well as the 2003 model Suzuki GSX-R1000 will be approved for competition in the 2003 AMA Superbike Championship Series.

Many teams and competitors planning on racing in the 2003 series may have assumed this to already be fact, but it wasn’t.

Only approved and homologated motorcycles may be used in AMA Superbike competition. AMA Pro Racing homologation policy allows only one model year of any given motorcycle to be homologated for Superbike racing per season. Once a motorcycle has been homologated, it remains legal for competition until new rules or regulations deem it illegal.

American Suzuki is planning on racing the 2003 GSX-R1000 with Team Yoshimura Suzuki, and only applied for homologation for the 2003 GSX-R1000, which met the requirements and was thus homologated. But the 2003 model isn’t expected to be available at dealers until sometime around Daytona, way too late for effective race preparation.

The 2001-2002 models were not legal for the AMA’s pre-2003 750cc-Four/1000cc Twin Superbike formula, and didn’t need to be homologated for AMA Formula Xtreme, where GSX-R1000 models had been racing; FX rules only require that motorcycles be produced for U.S. street use and be available through U.S. dealers. Which meant that the 2001-2002 model GSX-R1000s currently available were illegal for AMA Superbike, prior to today.

According to King, AMA Pro Racing officials realized this situation would keep many racers out of the season-opening Daytona 200, and so they decided to also allow the 2001-2002 model Suzuki GSX-R1000.

King noted that this went against the normal policy of allowing only one model per season to be homologated, but added that it was in the best interest of fair competition to make the change, given that Superbike rules changed to 1000cc for all engine configurations in 2003.

King said racers should expect AMA Pro Racing to issue a list of approved motorcycles for 2003 AMA Superbike competition shortly.

From a press release issued by MRA:

Manitoba Roadracing Association Announces 2003 Race Dates

All races held at Gimli Motorsport Park in Gimli, Manitoba, Canada

May 10-11
June 7-8
July 26-27
Aug 9-10
Sept 6-7

In addition the MRA is proud to announce a new webpage address at www.mrasuperbike.ca

From a press release issued by Proforma Services on behalf of WERA:

Pirelli To Sponsor WERA National Challenge Series Formula 1 Class

WERA Motorcycle Roadracing announced today that it has finalized an agreement with Pirelli Motorcycle Tire Division to sponsor the Formula 1 Expert class in the 2003 WERA National Challenge Series.

Evelyne Clarke, president of WERA, said, “We’re excited to have Pirelli step up and sponsor one of the premiere classes in WERA’s National Challenge Series. The Formula 1 class features a wide variety of equipment with virtually no limitations, which, along with the $1000 per event purse, makes it one of the most anticipated races of the weekend.”

“Pirelli is pleased to continue our long relationship with the WERA National Challenge Series program,” said Rich Munson, Race Manager for Pirelli Motorcycle Tire Division. “With the continued development of our 16.5″ racing slicks, the Formula 1 class provides a perfect proving ground for our products, as well as reinforcing the Pirelli name in everyone’s mind. We expect riders on Pirelli tires to fill the Formula 1 podium on a regular basis.”

Look for the Pirelli Formula 1 Expert class at the WERA National Challenge Series opener at North Florida Motorsports Park, March 28-30, 2003.

From a press release issued by Fortuna Yamaha:

FORTUNA YAMAHA TEAM TESTS
Barcelona, Spain
10 February, 2003

UNFORTUNATE TUMBLE FOR CHECA, BREAKTHROUGH FOR MELANDRI

Carlos Checa crashed out of today’s Fortuna Yamaha Team test in Barcelona, Spain, not long after he took to the track. The Spaniard fell at the second turn and landed heavily on his bottom. He was taken to hospital as a precaution but released soon afterwards without needing any treatment. He had completed 21 laps before the fall and took no further part in the day’s action but is expected to ride at his home circuit again tomorrow.

Team-mate Marco Melandri, meanwhile, made a significant breakthrough with the minor braking problems he experienced at the team’s previous test in Valencia. The Italian had found difficulties with his front braking and spent today trying to rectify this. This was his first test with the YZR-M1 at the Catalunyan circuit, and he adapted well to the longer and faster straights, ending the day with a best time of 1:46.2 having completed a total of 52 laps.

Team Director Davide Brivio was philosophical about the day, “We have had good weather conditions considering it is only February. We can only have about four or five hours a day of testing, as the track temperature is too low the rest of the day but we knew this before we came here”, said the Italian. “It’s a great shame that Carlos fell again, we hope that he will be back out tomorrow. He is seeing his physiotherapist tonight so hopefully that will help him. Marco has been working very hard on his front end braking problem with the support of Brembo. His lap times today were not too bad. We are basically finding a way to adjust the braking system to his riding style, and will continue to do so tomorrow.”

LAP TIMES

Alex Barros, Gauloises Yamaha Team 1:44.8 (52 laps)

Shinya Nakano, D’Antin Yamaha 1:46.1 (56 laps)

Marco Melandri, Fortuna Yamaha Team 1:46.2 (52 laps)

Carlos Checa, Fortuna Yamaha Team 1:46.6 (21 laps)

Olivier Jacque, Gauloises Yamaha Team 1:49.1 (41 laps)

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

KTM and HMC are planning a new AMA SuperMotard program built around former Superbike World Champion Scott Russell.

KTM’s involvement is serious enough to include providing a new semi-truck for the effort.

At post time it was unknown how Russell will handle complications related to total-disability insurance payouts he received after what was thought to be a career-ending crash on the Daytona 200 starting grid two years ago.

KTM, which plans to join the MotoGP Series in 2004 and has also been taking a hard look at possible involvement in AMA Pro road racing, hopes to use the SuperMotard program to develop future road racing stars.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Ben and Eric Bostrom are two of the most gifted and popular motorcycle racers in the world. They are rich, stylish, extremely fit and popular with the ladies. They also build and maintain their own dirt bikes, don’t put much stock in material things but do cherish personal gifts from fans and their privacy away from the racetrack, and are each other’s fiercest competitor and biggest cheerleader at the same time.

The Bostroms recently shared some valuable off time with us at their ranch in Southern California. We rode motocross with the pair on their full-scale private track, took 50cc minibikes around a separate scaled-down motocross track complete with 20-foot double jumps, learned a lot about rock climbing, talked about dating super models/television personalities and learned a lot about what make these two stars tick.

Read about it all–and check out lots of photos of the pair in action at home–in an upcoming issue of Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology magazine.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The Art & Cultural Center at Fallbrook, a division of the nonprofit Fallbrook Village Assn. of Fallbrook, California, has scheduled an art-gallery showing of motorcycles and motorcycle-related art.

Wheels Of Desire, The Art Of The Motorcycle At Fallbrook, is scheduled to run between May 18 and June 1.

A show flyer states, “We are seeking sponsorships for this exciting exhibition showcasing some of the world’s most exciting and historically important machines. The show includes numerous vintage racing and street motorcycles circa 1899 up to the present along with fabulous motorcycle art.”

Former racer and AFM official Dick Pearce, who is now a semi-retired 72-year-old with a commercial flower growing operation in Fallbrook, is involved in the show project as a consultant.

The Art & Cultural Center at Fallbrook is located at 103 South Main St., Fallbrook, CA 92028.

More information is available from Pearce at (760) 728-7273 or from Mary Perhacs, Director of Exhibitions, at (760) 728-1414 or (800) 919-1159, or via e-mail at [email protected].

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

No Limits Honda’s Doug Chandler and Jason Curtis are planning to test one day at Willow Springs International Raceway before heading to Daytona, according to Team Manager Gary Medley.

“Well, probably go out to Willow Springs on the 20th (of February) with Honda, then straight to Daytona,” Medley told Roadracingworld.com Friday. The Willow Springs test day Medley refers to is a shake-down test of the 2003-model Honda racebikes currently being built by the American Honda race team in the HRC race shop in Japan.

Medley added that the No Limits team would also use the CCS/Formula USA race weekend (February 26 – March 2) prior to the AMA event (March 5-9) for additional set-up time.

Meanwhile, Curtis has been riding an ex-Erion Honda CBR600F4i racebike at Las Vegas Motor Speedway under the tutelage of Freddie Spencer.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

With several magazines in the midst of comparison-testing the new 600cc-class sportbikes, news from a Cycle World drag-strip test done yesterday at California Speedway (the drag strip is located outside the road course) is that a 2003 Honda CBR600RR ran in the 10-second bracket, with its competitors all running in the 11s.