Copyright 2001, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Firestorm Racing’s Chris Normand was wrongly disqualified from his third-place finish in the AMA Buell Pro Thunder final on Sunday, September 30 at Virginia International Raceway for being underweight.

Normand told Roadracing World as he rolled his Suzuki Cup-spec SV650 out of the tech barn at VIR, “I weigh 352 (pounds) and they said that I have to weigh a minimum of 380 (pounds).”

But while AMA Pro Racing rules at one point established a minimum weight limit of 380 pounds for all Pro Thunder machines, a February 9, 2001 AMA Pro Racing bulletin issued by AMA Chief Technical Inspector Rob King announced that: “Due to our association with WERA and input from competitors, the following changes are being made.

“Effective immediately, the minimum weight rule is removed for the following two engine displacement sub classes, (Page 55, 2001 AMA Pro racing Rulebook):

“Unlimited 4-stroke single cylinders
“600cc – 850cc 4-stroke liquid-cooled twin cylinders (except desmodronic)(sic)”

The Suzuki SV650 is a non-desmodromic, 650cc, liquid-cooled, twin-cylinder machine and therefore exempt from the minimum weight requirement.

Yet when asked about the disqualification at VIR, AMA Media Relations Contractor Larry Lawrence confirmed the disqualification of Normand and produced revised results showing Thomas Fournier as finishing third in the Pro Thunder final.

Apparently, AMA tech officials at VIR were not familiar with the rule change and consulted a rulebook which had not been updated.

Contacted Monday, October 1 by telephone, Normand said, “I went to (AMA Pro Racing’s) Ron Barrick after I got disqualified and asked him, ‘Why do you guys make 70-horsepower machines weigh the same as machines making 130 horsepower?’ He was like, ‘Well you know, that’s the rules.’ I said, “I thought you all wanted SV650s to run in this class?’ He said, ‘Well, that’s what the rules are.'”

Normand stands to lose $800 in purse, $750 in Suzuki contingency and $300 in Pirelli contingency for a total of $1850 if the AMA’s mistake is not corrected. “That’s awesome!” yelled Normand over the phone when told that a mistake had obviously been made. “Thank you guys very, very much.”

At post time, official results posted on the AMA Pro Racing website did not include Normand’s name.

The applicable rule can be seen at:

http://www.amaproracing.com/rulebook/combuls/combul65.pdf

It was not known at post time if AMA officials will correct their error, and Ron Barrick had not returned a phone message asking for comment.

From a press release:

October 1, 2001

Dunlop introduces new D207 RR tire at Ducati Revs America, October 26-28, 2001

Buffalo, NY: Dunlop Tires, the official and exclusive sponsoring motorcycle tire company for Ducati Revs America (DRA), announced that it will introduce the company¹s next generation premium sport tire, the Dunlop D207 RR, at DRA.

The D207 RR merges together the best in track and street motorcycle tire technology to bring the ultimate in performance to the most demanding and discriminating sport-riding enthusiasts. This tire combines the race-winning grip of the D208 GP with the handling characteristics of the D207 ZR.

Since the D207 RR is Dunlop’s newest premium sport tire, Ducati Revs America provides the perfectly appropriate venue for the D207 RR’s American introduction. With the introduction of the D207 RR, Dunlop will expand its support of this groundbreaking event by offering special pricing to DRA participants on both the new D207 RR and the racing-version D208 GP. This will provide a unique opportunity for participants to enjoy exclusive, full-on Dunlop factory treatment at the Dunlop racing support truck, the same truck and trailer that services many of the top racing teams, including the two American Ducati road racing teams. Dunlop tire technicians will provide tire information and technical support, and will help participants choose the right tire for their specific riding needs.

DRA makes its debut in Las Vegas during October 26-28, 2001. This premier event marks the USA’s inaugural nation-wide gathering of Ducati aficionados.

A proposed new AMA Pro Racing rule changing race gridding from four-straight-across to four-staggered-across has already been implemented, even though the comment period on proposed new rules to go into effect January 1, 2002 doesn’t end until October 14.

A new system touted as heralding a bold new era in communication between AMA officials and affected riders, mechanics and teams includes a specific system for gathering input on proposed new rules well prior to their enactment.

The comment period on the staggered-grid rule opened September 14 and is to run for 30 days.

So it was a surprise when teams showed up at Virginia International Raceway this weekend and found the staggered grid already in use.

So much for the new system of gathering input…

From a press release issued by Eric Bostrom’s manager, Norm Viano:

BOSTROM STAYS WITH KAWASAKI

October 1, 2001 – Alton, VA. The intense rumors that have been swirling around Eric Bostrom for the past few months are both correct and incorrect. It is true that Eric had significant interest from various teams here and abroad, but the “Boss” has decided to stay with Kawasaki for another season, and compete once again in the AMA Superbike Championship. After clinching the 2001 600cc Supersport Championship this weekend but coming up short in the Superbike Championship (finishing 2nd), Eric will graduate to being a Superbike-only rider and will mount another challenge for the Superbike title in 2002.

“I’m stoked to be back with the same team because of the relationship we’ve been building over the years – and we’ve been stronger each year. Definitely, the crew that works with me is really good, and changing teams can be – well, you can spend a lot of time learning how to work with the crew. So being back with the same team means you start off ahead of the game.”

This just in from cornerworker Sean Jordan:


Just some first-hand info on the fire…

I was the second cornerworker on the scene with one of the Cold Fire extinguishers. My post was corner station 16, and Mladin’s crash was almost directly across from 17a. When Mladin crashed, the cornerworkers at 17 seemed to have things under control, but when we saw the bike burst into flames, I grabbed our extinguisher and started running. Since I had to stay out of the immediate impact zones, I would guess, (very roughly) that the distance I had to run was around 75 yards or more. When I arrived at the bike, the cornerworker from 17 ran out of fluid from his extinguisher. I began to use mine, and had the blaze defeated in somewhere around 2 or so.

The initial fire fighting efforts were hampered due to two reasons. Mr. Crumpton’s assertion that gas was still fueling the fire is correct. Also, Mladin’s bike came to rest with the underbelly pointing more towards the straightaway, and the top of the bike pointed away. The way the wind was blowing, the majority of smoke and fire was around the tank and seat area, and that’s also where the fire was being fed. The first cornerworker was loathe to approach the fire from that angle, and instead fired from behind the fire, and was not able to get the Cold Fire into the area where it was needed most. When I arrived, the wind had changed direction slightly, and I was able to get into the tank area and put out the fire.

In retrospect, I would say that two extinguishers at every station would have provided a greater margin for safety, but under the circumstances, one would have been sufficient if applied more effectively.

(See related post on 9/30/01)

Yamaha’s Anthony Gobert battled with Honda’s Miguel Duhamel and Yoshimura Suzuki’s Aaron Yates for all 17 laps of the Honda Pro Oils 600cc Supersport final at Virginia International Raceway. The three-way battle was decided when Gobert passed Yates for the lead into turn one on the final lap and was able to navigate through lapped riders better.

With only 27 riders in the race, Kawasaki’s Eric Bostrom only had to complete half of the race distance to claim Kawasaki’s first AMA 600cc Supersport Championship since 1993. Bostrom finished seventh in the race.

Honda Pro Oils 600cc Supersport Final Results:
1. Anthony Gobert, Yamaha, 17 laps
2. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, +1.138 seconds
3. Miguel Duhamel, Honda, +1.320 seconds
4. John Hopkins, Suzuki, +3.420 seconds
5. Kurtis Roberts, Honda, +7.815 seconds
6. Tommy Hayden, Yamaha, +9.133 seconds
7. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki, +20.018 seconds
8. Jake Zemke, Honda, +22.539 seconds
9. Josh Hayes, Honda, +22.594 seconds
10. Grant Lopez, Suzuki, +27.059 seconds
11. Lee Acree, Suzuki, +27.257 seconds
12. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki, +35.471 seconds
13. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha, +35.565 seconds
14. Chris Caylor, Suzuki, +36.841 seconds
15. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki, +55.470 seconds
16. Robert Jensen, Suzuki, +63.538 seconds
17. Daigoro Suzuki, Kawasaki, +70.698 seconds
18. David Ortega, Suzuki, +70.982 seconds
19. Tyler Wadsworth, Yamaha, +91.664 seconds
20. P. Valiente, +94.080 seconds

Unofficial Final 600cc Supersport Point Standings:
1. Eric Bostrom, 285 points
2. Anthony Gobert, 265 points
3. Miguel Duhamel, 259 points

Tom Montano won the Buell Pro Thunder race at Virginia International Raceway Sunday, consolidating his series points lead.

Dave Estok was leading when his bike momentarily stopped running while entering a corner 3 laps from the finish–Montano collided with Estok and went by. Estok’s bike started running again shortly afterwards and he took off in pursuit, about six seconds behind Montano. But Estok’s bike then quit for good and he was eventually credited with ninth place.

Mike Ciccotto finished second on a Buell at VIR, 17 seconds behind Montano, with Chris Normand third on a Suzuki SV650.

After the race, Normand was disqualified for his Suzuki SV650 weighing only 352 pounds, under the 380-pound weight limit. The disqualification promoted Thomas Fournier to third.

Results follow:

1. Tom Montano, Ducati
2. Mike Ciccotto, Buell, -17.016
3. Tom Fournier, Ducati, -1 lap
5. Steve Keener, Suzuki, -1 lap
6. Dr. Dave Kieffer, MD, Ducati, -1 lap
7. Charles Walker, Ducati, -1 lap
8. Josh Bryan, Buell, -1 lap
9. Dave Estok, Buell, -2 laps
10. Paul March, Ducati, -2 laps
11. Deborah Venega, Ducati, -2 laps
12. Mark Gardiner, MZ, -3 laps
13. Tripp Nobles, Buell, -7 laps, DNF, crashed

By Glenn Le Santo

If you thought World Superbike racing was in decline, then think again. Ruben Xaus, Troy Bayliss and Regis Laconi showed why the series is still so popular with the people who matter, the spectators, with a memorable display of ultra-close racing in the first World Superbike race at Imola. The three fought hard for most of the race distance, with the lead constantly changing hands as the trio gave everything they had to gain an advantage.

Any of the three could have snatched the win at the historic Imola circuit, but fate intervened on the penultimate lap when Bayliss lost the back end exiting the Curva Rivazza. For a split second it looked like he might save it, but as the bike whipped left and right he was unable to hold on. Bayliss dropped the Ducati right in front of Laconi’s Aprilia.

Luckless Laconi, who was right behind Bayliss at the time, was skittled by Bayliss’ careering bike, sending them both tumbling across the track in an ugly-looking incident. Unfortunately Bayliss broke his collarbone in the incident while Laconi was shaken but uninjured. Laconi had amply demonstrated that he’s a force to be reckoned with in World Superbike racing with a brilliant display of hard racing up until the crash. Xaus had no idea what had occurred behind him and continued to ride like his life depended
upon it, almost crashing as he ran over the curb halfway round the final lap. But he stayed on to take another Superbike win.

Troy Corser inherited second as a result of the crash, with Colin Edwards snatching third. Edwards’ fellow American, Ben Bostrom was fourth and Okada fifth.

Results follow:

1. Ruben Xaus, Spain, Ducati, 38:42.598
2. Troy Corser, Australia, Aprilia, -3.601 seconds
3. Colin Edwards, USA, Honda, -4.079
4. Ben Bostrom, USA, Ducati, -6.340
5. Tadayuki Okada, Japan, Honda, -13.737
6. Steve Martin, Australia, Ducati, -21.421
7. Gregorio Lavilla, Spain, Kawasaki, -24.100
8. Stephane Chambon, France, Suzuki, -24.280
9. Lucio Pedercini, Italy, Ducati, -46.537
10. Neil Hodgson, Great Britain, Ducati, -49.078

DNFs included James Toseland, Troy Bayliss, Pierfrancesco Chili.

James Ellison rode a mature and patient race to retain his European Superstock title Sunday at the historic Imola circuit in Italy. Even if his championship rival Walter Tortoroglio won the race, all Ellison needed to do was finish fourth. Ellison knew exactly what the position was before the race and was content to sit at the back of a group of four riders who broke away from the pack early in the race.

Torto, as the likeable Italian is known, rode the wheels off his GSX-R1000, leading the race from start to finish. But with Ellison taking no risks and simply hanging on to the back of the four-man leading pack, it was a frustrating race for Torto.

Ellsion’s fellow British rider Marty Nutt did most of the work for Ellison by running in second and harrying the Italian for the first half of the race. When Nutt made a mistake and dropped back into third, Torto had the lead to himself, and managed to make a small breakaway. To compound Torto’s dilemma Ellison slipped past Nutt late in the race to widen the points gap even further. The pressure started to show on Tortoroglio, who almost crashed as he ran wide over the rumble strips and got his Suzuki sideways in what could have been a decisive moment.

Although Torto no doubt enjoyed another race win, it wasn’t enough to clinch the title, which went to Ellison by 162 points to Torto’s 157. To compound Torto’s disappointment the unfortunate Italian dropped his bike on the slow down lap!

Ellison, still only 19 years old, is the only British rider to win an International Championship in 2001.

Results follow:

1. Walter Tortoroglio, Italy, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 25:18.608
2. Markus Wesscheider, Italy, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -3.009 seconds
3. James Ellison, Great Britain, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -4.805
4. Marty Nutt, Great Britain, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -6.045
5. Mark Heckles, Great Britain, Honda CBR929RR, -6.315
6. Gianluca Vizziello, Italy, Yamaha YZF-R1, -11.699
7. Olivier Four, France, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -11.699
8. Lorenzo Mauri, Italy, Ducati, -27.469
9. Andy Notman, Great Britain, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -27.520
10. Ludovic Fourreau, France, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -29.727

Final points:
1. Ellison, 162
2. Tortoroglio, 157
3. Heckles, 104