From a press release:

Lake Forest, CA – Aprilia dealer Spectrum Motorsports will have a customer demo day at their dealership on June 30th from 11 am to 3.30 pm. Please contact Greg Guthrie at 949 859 3186 and make an appointment as the spaces will fill very quickly.

The 2002 models available for demonstration are the Capo Nord, Futura, Mille and Falco.

Spectrum Motorsports is located on the corner of Lake Forest Drive and Rockfield in the city of Lake Forest. www.spectrumotorsports.com

From a press release:

Buell Firebolt Scores first national roadrace victory

Eric Wood Tops Formula USA Sportbike Field at 79th Annual Loudon Classic

Loudon, NH (June 16, 2002) – Eric Wood rode the new Buell Firebolt XB9R to its first national roadrace victory in the Formula USA Honda Pro Oils Sportbike final held at New Hampshire International Speedway. The race was Wood’s first outing aboard the Kosco Buell/Innovative Motorcycle Research Firebolt, and the first appearance of the team in the highly competitive horsepower and weight restricted class.

“This was a great start for the Firebolt,” said Wood, of Mansfield, Mass. “We just got this bike two weeks ago and ran a club race last weekend to warm it up. The Firebolt has a lot of potential and we’re only going to get stronger as the season goes on.”

Facing a 45-bike field filled with Suzuki, Honda, Yamaha and Kawasaki riders, Wood was running a strong second when race leader Scott Greenwood (Suzuki) faltered on lap 19 of the 20-lap feature. Wood stormed into the lead and beat Suzuki riders Michael Barnes and Larry Pegram to the checkered flag.

“The Buell’s tractability and drive off the corners really worked for me at Loudon,” said Wood. “In some turns I was able to put the Buell in places where the four-cylinder bikes couldn’t go. The Firebolt has the chassis dynamics of a Grand Prix bike, and the smooth power delivery of the V-Twin engine was really easy on the back tire. As the race worn on, I think my tire was holding up better and I was able to pull away from the field.”

“The Firebolt was designed to be the best backroad bike ever,” said Erik Buell, Chairman and Chief Technical Officer of Buell Motorcycle Company. “Loudon is a technically challenging track, just like the backroads we designed the Firebolt to dominate on. My congratulations go out to Eric Wood and the entire Kosco Buell and Innovative Motorcycle Research Team.”

The Formula USA Sportbike class features production-based motorcycles limited to a maximum of 115 horsepower and a minimum of 365 pounds. The Buell Firebolt XB9R is powered by a fuel-injected 984cc V-Twin.

The fourth round of the Formula USA National Road Race Series will take place at Mosport International Raceway at Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada, July 19-21.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Sunday Morning MotoGP Practice Times:

1. Valentino Rossi, Honda RC211V, 1:44.977
2. Carlos Checa, Yamaha YZR-M1, 1:45.248
3. Tohru Ukawa, Honda RC211V, 1:45.346
4. Sete Gibernau, Suzuki GSV-R, 1:45.599
5. Alex Barros, Honda NSR500, 1:45.771
6. Kenny Roberts, Suzuki GSV-R, 1:45.951
7. Regis Laconi, Aprilia RS3, 1:45.968
8. Max Biaggi, Yamaha YZR-M1, 1:45.985
9. Loris Capirossi, Honda NSR500, 1:46.021
10. Daijiro Kato, Honda NSR500, 1:46.143
11. John Hopkins, Yamaha YZR500, 1:46.228
12. Shinya Nakano, Yamaha YZR500, 1:46.297
13. Norick Abe, Yamaha YZR500, 1:46.665
14. Olivier Jacque, Yamaha YZR500, 1:46.786
15. Nobuatsu Aoki, Proton KR3, 1:47.325
16. Akira Ryo, Suzuki GSV-R, 1:47.401
17. Tetsuya Harada, Honda NSR500, 1:47.488
18. Jurgen vd Goorbergh, Honda NSR500, 1:47.570
19. Jeremy McWilliams, Proton KR3, 1:47.598
20. Pere Riba, Yamaha YZR500, 1:47.882
21. Alex Hofmann, Yamaha YZR500, 1:48.404

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Sunday Morning 125cc GP Practice Times:

1. Daniel Pedrosa, Honda, 1:51.408
2. Manuel Poggiali, Gilera, 1:52.318
3. Joan Olive, Honda, 1:52.435
4. Stefano Perugini, Italjet, 1:52.452
5. Alex De Angelis, Aprilia, 1:52.481
6. Mika Kallio, Honda, 1:52.516
7. Lucio Cecchinello, Aprilia, 1:52.550
8. Gino Borsoi, Aprilia, 1:52.676
9. Pablo Nieto, Aprilia, 1:52.761
10. Andrea Dovizioso, Honda, 1:52.851

From a press release:

GARRY McCOY- AIMING FOR BRITISH GP RETURN
Injured Australian Rider Garry McCoy is eager to return to racing the Red Bull Yamaha after his recent leg surgery in Austria.

The 3 time 500cc GP winner is following an intensive training program to build muscle in the leg and to regain race fitness. He is aiming to be riding the YZR 500 at the British Grand Prix in 4 weeks.

Garry McCoy

“Things are going well here in Andorra and my ankle is feeling really good. I’ve been doing a lot of work on my stationary bicycle since coming back from Austria where I had the operation and the immediate post op. physiotherapy. Even right after the operation I felt more movement in the ankle and it has just been going well since then.”

“I’m sorry that I’m not coming to the GP in Catalunya to spectate but I’ll keep working on the training instead, as I’d rather get back on the Yamaha as soon as possible. I’ve got the TV set up in front of the bike so I’ll be watching it all anyway.”

“Obviously I’ve been doing a lot of other training as well to get my fitness up apart from just the work with the leg and the ankle. I am planning to be riding at Donington and there is still half the season left so I’m looking forward to it.”

For more information on the Red Bull Yamaha Team – visit www.redbull-yamaha.com

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Sunday Morning Pro Honda Oils 600cc Sportbike Practice Times:

1. Owen Weichel, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:27.206
2. Craig Connell, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:27.947
3. Scott Greenwood, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:28.267
4. Shawn Higbee, Buell Firebolt XB9R, 1:28.466
5. Eric Wood, Buell Firebolt XB9R, 1:28.991
6. Jeff LaPointe, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:30.013
7. Joseph Bilianksi, Ducati 748, 1:30.706
8. Dana Stanley, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:30.798
9. Orlando Gonzalez, Honda CBR600, 1:31.655
10. Jim Lester, Honda CBR600F4i, 1:32.508

15. Larry Pegram, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:33.434

18. Don Canet, Buell Firebolt XB9R, 1:34.995

Several riders, including Lee Acree, Jeff Wood and Tim Bemisderfer, did not participate in Sunday morning’s Sportbike practice.

The track was completely wet for the chilly Sportbike warm-up but had less standing water than on Saturday.

At 9:45 a.m. Eastern Time, it was not raining at New Hampshire International Raceway, but the weather forecast for Sunday calls for the possibility of more rain.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Sunday Morning 250cc GP Practice Times:

1. Toni Elias, Aprilia, 1:48.560
2. Marco Melandri, Aprilia, 1:48.663
3. Roberto Rolfo, Honda, 1:48.862
4. Roberto Locatelli, Aprilia, 1:48.947
5. Sebastian Porto, Yamaha, 1:48.958
6. Fonsi Nieto, Aprilia, 1:48.968
7. Emilio Alzamora, Honda, 1:48.969
8. Casey Stoner, Aprilia, 1:49.111
9. Alex Debon, Aprilia, 1:49.197
10. Naoki Matsudo, Yamaha, 1:49.271
11. Franco Battaini, Aprilia, 1:49.443
12. Shahrol Yuzy, Yamaha, 1:49.523
13. Randy De Puniet, Aprilia, 1:49.628
14. Vincent Philippe, Aprilia, 1:49.643
15. David Checa, Aprilia, 1:49.941

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

250cc Grand Prix Race Results:

1. Marco Melandri, Aprilia, 41:40.377
2. Roberto Rolfo, Honda, -2.193 seconds
3. Fonsi Nieto, Aprilia, -2.689 seconds
4. Randy De Puniet, Aprilia, -2.950 seconds
5. Franco Battaini, Aprilia, -4.538 seconds
6. Casey Stoner, Aprilia, -23.101 seconds
7. Naoki Matsudo, Yamaha, -23.215 seconds
8. Shahrol Yuzy, Yamaha, -23.374 seocnds
9. Emilio Alzamora, Honda, -24.586 seconds
10. Toni Elias, Aprilia, -30.721 seconds
11. Haruchika Aoki, Honda, -37.908 seconds
12. David Checa, Aprilia, -38.456 seconds
13. Alex Debon, Aprilia, -40.607 seconds
14. Hugo Marchand, Aprilia, -60.034 seconds
15. Raul Jara, Aprilia, -62.087 seconds


More, from Aprilia:

Marco Melandri reigns supreme at Catalunya – now even closer to Championship lead


Riding out ahead, Marco Melandri made his third victory this season, the fourth in his 250 career. Macio took the lead from the first corner and from then on never surrendered it to anyone. As from the 13th lap, he pulled out ahead and left his rivals without any hope. Today’s victory comes just a few days after his equally fantastic first place at Mugello, and gives him more precious points: he is now just six short of the top spot in the World Championship ratings. The Ravenna-born rider made a fine show of strength and character and, together with the technicians, found the solutions he needed to dominate a race which, in extreme weather conditions, was by no means easy to negotiate.

# 3 Marco Melandri – (MS APRILIA RACING) – 1st – 41’40.377

“I tried to go flat out right from the first few laps: I was trying to get down to one minute 38, but I didn’t make it straight away. Then I upped the ante and saw that no one else could catch up with me. So I realised it was time to make my attack – I really needed to look after my front tyre because the rear one was sliding anyway. We did a lot of good work after Mugello – on the suspension too – which meant we were able to make best use of the tyres. We’re beginning to get results, and the bike’s OK now so I feel it’s closer to me and I can ride much better and more effectively. Once again, as I was sweating it out in the heat today, I thought of what the president, Beggio, told me at Mugello: “just try to have fun, keep your cool and do your race”. I’d like to dedicate this victory to the whole team and to the technicians – they’ve done a really grand job – but to myself as well.”