This press release just in from Tom Shields, who was President and Race Director of RPM, the Texas-based WERA affiliate formed after CMRA and WERA split up:

“With a very heavy heart, I regret to inform the members of RPM, its staff, volunteers, media, manufacturers, and the motorcycle racing community that as of Friday, September 21, 2001, my permanent position with RPM has been terminated.

“Furthermore, I will no longer be working with the club in any capacity. As we all have a responsiblity to our families first, I can no longer work part-time as Race Director and President of RPM, the WERA South Central region.

“Thank you one and all for your input, friendship, and fun spirit at every RPM event and function. You can reach me directly at (713) 557-1143 if necessary.”

Reached by phone, Shields said, “I’m out completely. I’d given it two years and it’s just not enough. My permanent position with the club cannot continue to exist, it cannot support me. It wasn’t financially possible for me to stay there full time. It’s a damn shame.”

From a press release:

VALENCIA GRAND PRIX, VALENCIA, Race Day, Sunday September 23, 2001

HONDA RACING PRESS INFORMATION

Alex Barros (West Honda Pons NSR500) came within 0.293 seconds of winning his second GP of the year at Valencia today. The Brazilian rode a dazzling race in treacherous damp conditions and but for a cautious tire choice might have beaten eventual winner Sete Gibernau (Suzuki). The pair fought side by side for the last two thirds of the crash-ridden race, with reigning World Champion Kenny Roberts (Suzuki) finishing just behind in third.

World Championship leader Valentino Rossi (Nastro Azzurro Honda NSR500) scored his worst finish of the year after making a particularly conservative tire choice to ensure he didn’t fall on the ice-like track, made perilous by a brief pre-race shower. He ended the race in 11th but only lost one point to title-rival Max Biaggi (Yamaha).

Barros led more laps than Gibernau and looked the strongest of the trio until the crucial final laps, by which time the racing line was dry and he didn’t have enough grip to tackle the Spaniard. He had chosen an intermediate front and slick rear, while the Suzuki duo went for slicks all round, and the fact that he could stay with them spoke volumes for his riding and the user-friendly performance of his NSR500.

“I tried everything but during the last laps I couldn’t catch Sete on the brakes because he had a slick front and I didn’t,” explained the Brazilian. “The early laps were unbelievable, this track is so slippery in the wet. Anyway, I’m happy with the result which compensates me for my bad luck at Estoril, when I was taken out at the first turn. It’s also helped my championship position and now I hope for good results at the last four races.”

The early laps were chaotic with many riders falling victim to the hazardous surface. First to go was Loris Capirossi (West Honda Pons NSR500) who slid out of the lead at the very first corner. The Italian had already fallen on the warm-up, starting the race on his spare bike. “I had a rain front tire and intermediate rear but even that wasn’t enough for the conditions,” he said.

Tohru Ukawa (Repsol YPF Honda NSR500) rode a determined race for fifth, crossing the line sixth, just a fraction behind Olivier Jacque, both men finishing a fair way behind Carlos Checa (Yamaha). “I did the worst first lap of my life today,” said the Japanese, who completed lap one in tenth spot. “I had to slow to avoid Capirossi and that lost me several places. Then the same thing happened when Haga and Aoki crashed, which lost me a huge amount of time. After that I tried to maintain a good pace but it was a difficult race.”

Rossi was just pleased to have score some points, and though title-rival Max Biaggi (Yamaha) took tenth place from him in the final laps, his series advantage shrank by just one point and he goes into the final four ‘flyway’ GPs 42 points ahead of his compatriot. “So much effort for so little return,” said Rossi, who ran intermediates front and rear and comfortably led the race until the track began to dry. “Thinking of the championship we had to choose conservatively, so we didn’t risk too much in the early laps. Then I had to accept the others passing me and just make sure I finished.”

Former World Champion Alex Criville (Repsol YPF Honda NSR500) was one of many who fell victim to the conditions. Fighting a determined battle with Gibernau, he got forced off line and on to the damp, losing the front as he entered a turn. “Sete took the inside line and I had to leave him some room and run wide,” said Criville. “I could’ve won this race, I made the right tire choice and easily caught the leaders.”

Upcoming Rounds:


10/7 Twin Ring Motegi, Japan


10/14 Phillip Island, Australia

From a press release issued by Ducati North America.

DUCATI RAFFLES STEVE RAPP FOR DISASTER RELIEF

Pompton Plains, NJ, September 24, 2001: Race fans had better get ready for the thrill of their lives when Ducati fires up a factory 996RS Superbike with a back seat and dares you to get on for three hot laps with Team HMC Ducati star Steve Rapp. The ride takes place when racing concludes on Sunday at the final round of the Chevy Trucks AMA Superbike Championship being held this weekend – September 29 & 30 – at Virginia International Raceway.

Ducati is raffling the ride at Virginia throughout the weekend, and all spectators are welcome to buy the $10 tickets. All proceeds from the raffle will be donated to the Red Cross as it strives to offer relief after the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

The full-spec Superbike has been specially fitted with a stronger subframe to carry the passenger, and is unique in America. Even with its extra passenger, the Ducati will lap at near race pace, and the winner will find out first hand how hard these machines can stop, how deeply they hit an apex and what a rush of acceleration they have.

As well as the thrill of the pillion ride, Suomy is giving the winner a helmet in Steve Rapp’s colors, which they can wear on the ride and keep as a memento.

The two-seater Superbike will then go to Las Vegas for Ducati Revs America, where World Superbike Champion Troy Bayliss and factory rider Ben Bostrom will take other lucky passengers on the joyrides of the lives.

The Virginia raffle will be drawn on Sunday at 11:15 a.m. sharp at the Ducati display truck in the vendors’ area of the circuit, and the winner must be present to claim the prize there and then, otherwise the raffle will be re-drawn.

Copyright 2001, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Beth Wyse

The WERA National Challenge Series ran today at Virginia International Raceway, with a full schedule of 18 6-lap sprint races on the 2.25-mile North Course.

In the Open Superstock race, Scott Harwell shot to the front of the pack with Mark Junge close behind, both coming from the front row of the grid. Chris Ulrich quickly closed the gap between himself and Junge, coming from row five on the grid to take second place exiting the last corner on the last lap. Junge finished third and clinched the Open Superstock Championship. All three were on GSX-R1000 Suzukis.

In 600cc Superstock, David Yaakov was leading at the end of the first lap, but was soon passed by Chris “Opie” Caylor. Lee Acree worked his way up and passed Caylor with two laps remaining. Caylor finished second, followed by John Hopkins, who had started on the 11th row of the grid. Hopkins was racing this weekend to get practice in preparation for the AMA races at Virginia International next week.

Jason Peters only had to win the 125cc GP race in order to secure his Championship. He did just that, passing Brian Kcraget early in the race. Kcraget wound up second while John Hjelm took third.

Randy Renfrow won the F2 race on his TSR Honda RS250, with Mike Himmelsbach second on a Yamaha TZ250 running Pirelli tires.

Starting from the fifth row, John Hopkins got the lead in the B Superbike race on his GSX-R600 and stretched his margin of victory to the length of the entire front straight. Ken Snyder finished second and David Yaakov finished third.

The Formula 1 race was a showcase of AMA racers’ talent, as the top three spots went to Aaron Gobert, Grant Lopez and Damon Buckmaster, respectively. Hopkins was at the front of the field, but an electrical problem and resultant serious misfire forced him to pull into the pits on lap three.

From a press release:

DOUBLE ROSTRUM FOR WINNING SUZUKI TEAM

Round 12, World Grand Prix, Race Result, Valencia, Sunday, September 23.

Team Telefónica MoviStar Suzuki riders Sete Gibernau and Kenny Roberts finished first and third in today’s Valencia GP, conquering extraordinarily difficult mixed conditions to dominate a race that started on a slippery wet track, riders tip-toeing round and several falling, but finished in sunshine, the surface fully dry.

The team’s fine result came from a combination of clever team tactics and tyre choice, and courageous riding in very difficult conditions.

Gibernau and Roberts both gambled on full slick tyres, and started cautiously on the very slippery track, as Rossi led away with the advantage of intermediate tyres. Gibernau was second, losing three seconds on the leader as the field tiptoed round the 4.005-km circuit on the first lap. Roberts was eighth on that lap, but gradually picked his way through, and he was with the leading group as they caught and easily passed the fading Rossi on the eighth of 30 laps.

With the track drying fast as the sun broke through, Sete held the lead from laps eight to 13, with Alex Barros second and Roberts right behind in third. Then Barros led for a spell and Sete dropped to third, the leading trio pulling more than 10 seconds clear of the next man.

On the penultimate lap, Sete was back ahead of his teammate, and saw his chance to pounce on the leader. He held on, to finish almost three tenths of a second ahead of Barros, with Roberts less than a second behind in third. It was the 28-year-old Spanish rider’s first GP win, achieved at home in front of a vast crowd of 120,000 fans, who greeted their hero’s fine victory with a storm of fireworks and smoke bombs, and the first win of the season for the Telefónica MoviStar Suzuki team.

The sponsors were also celebrating victory in the 250cc race, and a close second in the earlier 125cc event.

On the slow-down lap, Sete laid his bike down to greet the crowd, and Kenny also stopped to embrace his successful teammate. It was also defending World Champion Kenny Roberts’s best result of the year so far. The 28-year-old Californian wore a New York Fire Department cap on the rostrum, as a tribute to heroes of the recent catastrophe in New York.

SETE GIBERNAU – First Place
“It’s no big secret that for the last couple of years I’ve been in a difficult situation, with poor results. It’s never easy to deal with that, but I’ve kept my head down. Maybe now is the time it starts to pay off. The tyre choice was a gamble. I may be Spanish, but I had no idea that the rain would go away. Using slicks meant the first laps were really difficult, but I knew I had to just stay on to get the benefit later. Passing Alex at the end was as close as it could be, but I knew I was faster than him at that part of the track. From then on I just went as fast as I could until I saw the chequered flag. I have to thank my team, and Suzuki, and also congratulate Kenny, because I know what a difficult race it was. I know it’s going to be hard to do it again, but I will never stop trying.”

KENNY ROBERTS – Third Place
“I wasn’t the quickest guy on a Suzuki today, and the main thing is to congratulate Sete. This was a very tough race – the sort you have to win with your head. And that’s what happened. The team did a great job. In the beginning, it was like riding on ice. I didn’t want to jump off when I was sure it would get dry. I had slightly different tyres than Sete – I chose a softer compound. If the track had still been grimy after it dried, my tyres would have been better. As it was, the harder compound worked better, and that’s what made the difference … with six laps left, my race was run. I’m trying to be realistic about this, but it was a fun race, and it’s good to be on the rostrum again.”

GARRY TAYLOR – Team Manager
“What an incredible day. If you’d have asked me two weeks ago whether we could get two riders on the rostrum, I would have said yes, but not believed myself. I don’t have the words to express my feelings about what Sete achieved today, It’s the result of him keeping cool in a very difficult season, and always pushing himself to improve. If ever anyone deserved a GP win, it was him. Third place probably felt almost as good as a win for Kenny after a bad season so far. There was a lot of uncertainty about the weather conditions at the start, and I need to pay tribute to the whole crew, but especially Stuart, Bob and Warren. Now we have to build on this – and I am sure the factory will take heart from today, and that it will motivate them even more for the future.”

Sete Gibernau won the 500cc GP at Valencia on a Suzuki RGV500, beating West Honda Pons’ Alex Barros and Suzuki teammate Kenny Roberts.

A Marlboro Yamaha press release describes what happened:

MARLBORO VALENCIA GRAND PRIX, VALENCIA
Race Day, Sunday September 23 2001

MARLBORO YAMAHA MEN SURVIVE CRASH-STREWN RACE

Marlboro Yamaha Team riders Carlos Checa and Max Biaggi came home fourth and tenth in this afternoon’s rain-hit and crash-strewn Marlboro Valencia GP. The race started on a wet track after a brief rain shower and the damp but drying surface proved to be as treacherous as ice, with a number of riders sliding off during the warm-up lap and early race laps, the survivors just babying it around. Checa was one of the unlucky men to tumble before the start and he only got back into the race on his spare bike, starting from pit lane at the back of the pack. The Spaniard performed a miracle, coming from last, and was the fastest man on track for much of the 30 laps. Biaggi staged a late-race charge to beat series leader and early race leader Valentino Rossi (Honda).

“Carlos chose slicks front and rear because he’s not in the championship race, so he could afford to gamble, and he rode a fantastic race,” explained Marlboro Yamaha Team manager Geoff Crust. “Max is second in the championship, so he had to play a bit safer. There were so many people falling off that it must’ve been hard for them to gauge how much grip was available. This place is obviously very, very slippery in the wet and it’s so easy to make a tiny mistake and end up with nothing. We’d been pit boarding Max for 11 laps, so he knew he was closing on Rossi. We’ve shortened the points gap, not by much, but that’s better than going the other way.”

Today’s race started after a minute’s silence in honour of those who lost their lives in last week’s terrorist attacks in America and ended without a podium champagne celebration.

SUPER-FAST CHECA FOURTH

Carlos Checa’s hopes of winning this home-territory race evaporated on the warm-up lap when he slid off his Marlboro Yamaha Team YZR500. The Spanish favourite dashed back to the pits where he took his spare bike, also wearing slicks front and rear, and started the race dead last from pit lane. From there he staged a miraculous comeback, often lapping up to a second faster than the leading trio of winner Sete Gibernau (Suzuki), Alex Barros (Honda) and Kenny Roberts (Suzuki), and finishing just a few seconds behind them.

“Coming from last in those conditions was really scary,” he said. “It was like riding on ice, the rear spinning up all the time. I did my best but lost the race on the warm-up lap. The track conditions were unbelievable, I just touched the throttle and the bike went away. Once we’d started I just concentrated on doing my best lap by lap, and that was all I could do. I tried to catch the guys up front and I was closing quite fast at some stages but during the last laps I realised it would be impossible to catch them, unless someone made a mistake.”

BIAGGI TENTH IN TREACHEROUS RACE

Max Biaggi came home tenth today but he did beat World Championship rival Valentino Rossi. The Marlboro Yamaha Team rider chose an intermediate front and slick rear but had a nasty moment in the early stages and was unable to run up front. However, he later closed in on Rossi, stealing one point from his arch-rival, leaving the gap at 42 points with four races to go.

“There were a lot of guys falling off, it was like riding on ice, I had to stay upright, it was vital not to crash,” said the Italian. “When I saw Capirossi crash at the first turn I knew Rossi was my target, and when I saw I was closing on him I pushed harder. Even one point can make the difference and anyway, it’s good for morale. Congratulations to Sete, he must’ve ridden a very brave race, though the guys up front aren’t fighting for the championship so they could take more risks. It’s a shame this is the last race in Europe. We now start a long journey with four ‘flyaway’ races and they can always be difficult. No matter, I’ll keep trying to the end.”

GIBERNAU WINS FIRST GP

Sete Gibernau gambled on slicks front and rear to win his first GP success, and Suzuki’s first of 2001. The Spaniard spent most of the race locked in battle with Alex Barros and teammate Kenny Roberts, winning by just 0.293 seconds to send the local 120,000 fans wild. “The first laps were difficult, because it was so slippery and carbon brakes don’t work when you’re going so slow,” he said. “There were people on the floor everywhere but my tyre choice paid off in the end. It was a difficult race, everyone was so tense, and right now I can’t put this win into words.”

Barros finished second, running an intermediate front/slick rear combination, with Roberts third, replicating Gibernau’s choice. Series leader Rossi made a cautious choice, running intermediates front and rear, and though he led early on he slipped to 11th as the track dried.

RESULTS
1. Sete Gibernau (SPA) Telefonica Movistar SUZUKI 54:39.391
2. Alex Barros (BRA) West HONDA Pons +0.293
3. Kenny Roberts (USA) Telefonica Movistar SUZUKI +1.241
4. CARLOS CHECA (SPA) Marlboro YAMAHA Team +7.052
5. Olivier Jacque (FRA) Gauloises YAMAHA Tech 3 +29.809
6. Tohru Ukawa (SPA) Repsol YPF HONDA Team +29.863
7. Shinya Nakano (JPN) Gauloises YAMAHA Tech 3 +31.093
8. Norick Abe (JPN) Antena 3 YAMAHA-d’Antin +31.609
9. Jurgen vd Goorbergh (NED) PROTON Team KR +32.783
10. MAX BIAGGI (ITA) Marlboro YAMAHA Team +37.774

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
1. Valentino Rossi 225
2. MAX BIAGGI 183
3. Loris Capirossi 147
4. Alex Barros 127
5. Shinya Nakano 116
6. Norick Abe 108
7. CARLOS CHECA 102
8. Sete Gibernau 93
9. Alex Criville 91
10. Kenny Roberts 88

MARLBORO YAMAHA TWIN-SEATER MAKES THEIR DAY

The Marlboro Yamaha Team YZR500 twin-seater made its final European appearance of 2001 at Valencia this morning, giving three more VIPs the most thrilling chauffeur ride in the world.

The 285-kph machine – ridden by former 500 GP winner Randy Mamola – made three outings, with Michelin Group CEO Edouard Michelin, TV personality Lorenzo Mila and popular film actor Jorge Sanz.

Monsieur Michelin, making his first visit to a bike GP, was astounded by the ride, which gave him a first-hand feeling for the amazing powers of his company’s bike-racing slicks.

“I was worried how far we were away from the limit” said Michelin, a keen sports car driver who will later witness his company’s 50th consecutive 500 Grand Prix victory. “I’ll never, ever forget that ride, and my thanks to everyone who made it possible. You know that the racing world is a big family and Michelin feel we are a part of this family.”

After the ride, Mamola added “I’m glad we’ve finally got the Michelin man on the bike.” To which Michelin replied “I’ll have to put on some weight before I look like the Michelin man”

Keen biker Sanz, who counts many of Spain’s GP stars as personal friends, said “Impressive, and sooo fast But I felt very secure – the leaning was the most spectacular thing. I found the braking very tiring, on the last lap I had to hold my elbows against my knees to secure myself.”

Even TV personality Lorenzo Mila found himself stuck for words, initially, at least. “I have no words” he said. “Really it’s just the way he accelerates and changes gear. It’s like vertigo. The changes of direction were also very impressive. My arms wouldn’t have lasted much longer, he was braking so late and so hard. You can’t think because everything happens so fast. I was shouting inside my helmet”

The twin-seater YZR500 was introduced to GP racing last year to give celebrities and VIPs a fascinating insight into the high-speed world of 500 GP racing. The machine is virtually identical to those raced by Marlboro Yamaha Team riders Max Biaggi and Carlos Checa. Mamola will give the bike another outing at next month’s Australian GP.

Additional 500cc Results:
11. Valentino Rossi, Italy, Honda, +40.512 seconds
12. Garry McCoy, Australia, Yamaha, +96.743 seconds
13. Anthony West, Australia, Honda, -1 lap
14. Johan Stigefelt, Sweden, Sabre, -1 lap
15. Barry Veneman, Holland, Honda, -2 laps
16. Leon Haslam, Great Britain, Honda, -2 laps
17. Jose Luis Cardoso, Spain, Yamaha, -4 laps
18. Brendan Clarke, Australia, Honda, -16 laps, DNF, retired
19. Alex Criville, Spain, Honda, -23 laps, DNF, crash
20. Noriyuki Haga, Japan, Yamaha, -29 laps, DNF, crash
21. Haruchika Aoki, Japan, Honda, -30 laps, DNF, crash
22. Loris Capirossi, Italy, Honda, -30 laps, DNF, crash

250cc Results, Part 1, 9 laps (run in two parts)
1. Daijiro Katoh, Japan, Honda, 14:46.268
2. Tetsuya Harada, Japan, Aprilia, -0.155 seconds
3. Fonsi Nieto, Spain, Aprilia, -4.882
4. Jeremy McWilliams, Great Britain, Aprilia, -6.091
5. Naoki Matsudo, Japan, Yamaha, -6.438
6. Roberto Rolfo, Italy, Aprilia, -7.296
7. Emilio Alzamora, Spain, Honda, -9.104
8. Alex Debon, Spain, Aprilia, -9.971
9. Roberto Locatelli, Italy, Aprilia, -11.079
10. Randy de Puniet, France, Aprilia, -11.299
26. Katja Poensgen, Germany, Honda, -43.596
31. Marco Melandri, Italy, Aprilia, -6 laps, DNF

250cc Results, Part 2, 18 laps (run in two parts)
1. Daijiro Katoh, Japan, Honda, 29:15.585
2. Tetsuya Harada, Japan, Aprilia, -4.788 seconds
3. Emilio Alzamora, Spain, Honda, -5.868
4. Fonsi Nieto, Spain, Aprilia, -7.489
5. Jeremy McWilliams, Great Britain, Aprilia, -14.954
6. Roberto Locatelli, Italy, Aprilia, -15.544
7. Naoki Matsudo, Japan, Yamaha, -19.379
8. Roberto Rolfo, Italy, Aprilia, -19.480
9. Alex Debon, Spain, Aprilia, -25.401
10. David DeGea, Spain, Yamaha, -33.610
24. Katja Poensgen, Germany, Honda, -99.662
29. Marco Melandri, Italy, Aprilia, -18 laps, DNF, crash.

250cc points
1. Katoh, 247
2. Harada, 198
3. Melandri, 169
4. Rolfo, 136
5. Nieto, 114

125cc Results
1. Manuel Poggiali, Italy, Gilera, 42:45.422
2. Toni Elias, Spain, Honda, -0.022 second
3. Daniel Pedrosa, Spain, Honda, -0.263
4. Youichi Ui, Japan, Derbi, -0.305
5. Gino Borsoi, Italy, Aprilia, -0.561
6. Simone Sanna, Italy, Aprilia, -0.586
7. Steve Jenkner, Germany, Aprilia, -0.654
8. Lucio Cecchinello, Italy, Aprilia, -1.596
9. Max Sabbatani, Italy, Aprilia, -2.005
10. Joan Olive, Spain, Honda, -2.078

125cc Points
1. Elias, 178
2. Poggiali, 170
3. Ui, 132
4. Cecchinello, 116
5. Sanna, 105

This one from a press release issued by Yamaha Racing:

Yamaha Racing Communications

MotoGP reportRd 12 Spain
CircuitValencia
Circuit length4005 m
Date23.09.2001

Carlos: last to fourth!

Carlos Checa produced a gutsy ride at a home MotoGP, held in Valencia, Spain, on September 23 -starting the wet 30-lap race from pit lane before sliding his way through the field to finish fourth. With rain falling prior to the start of the 500 race, followed by sunshine, tyre choice was going to be a gamble. With most riders opting for intermediates, slicks, or a combination of a intermediate front and slick rear the 22-bike field headed out on its warm-up lap.

Loris Capirossi (Honda) only managed to get to turn four before sliding off the track, remounting to make it onto the grid just before the start.

Checa was another to fall victim to the slippery conditions. But he was not so fortunate and was forced into the pits to change onto his slick shod number two machine – as a result he started the race from pit lane.

It was the bruised Capirossi who lead the charge into turn one, although the Italian never made it out the other side, crashing for the second time within as many minutes. This left Valentino Rossi (Honda) to pick up the pieces and he took the race lead ahead of Alex Barros (Honda), Shinya Nakano (Gauloises Yamaha Tech 3) and polesitter Max Biaggi (Marlboro Yamaha Team).

Haruchika Aoki (Honda) was the next to fall – also on the first lap. Yet still the falls continued when fourth placed José Luis Cardoso (Antena 3 Yamaha d’Antin) and fifth placed Noriyuki Haga (Red Bull Yamaha) simultaneously highsided while exiting the tight left-hander side-by-side.

Once the race finally settled it was Checa who was on the move, reeling in the leading trio of Sete Gibernau (Suzuki), Alex Barros (Honda) and Kenny Roberts (Suzuki) – the three eventually finishing in that order. By lap five Checa was already seventh and closing fast, but the initial deficit was just too great and the Spaniard had to be content with fourth. He was followed by the fifth placed Olivier Jacque and Tech 3 teammate Nakano (seventh). Norick Abe (Antena 3 Yamaha d’Antin) finished the day eighth after a bad start.

Meanwhile world championship points runner-up Biaggi overcame an unlucky tyre choice to finish tenth – one place ahead of his main rival Rossi.

Marlboro Yamaha Team
Carlos Checa 4th: “Coming from last in those conditions was really scary. It was so slippery with the rear spinning up all the time. I did my best but lost the chance of a win on the warm-up lap. The track conditions were unbelievable, I just touched the throttle and the bike went away. Once we’d started the race I just concentrated on doing my best lap by lap, and that was all I could do. I tried to catch the guys up front and I was closing quite fast at some stages but during the last laps I realised it would be impossible to catch them, unless someone made a mistake.”

Max Biaggi 10th: “There were a lot of guys falling off, it was like riding on ice. I had to stay upright, it was vital not to crash. When I saw Capirossi crash at the first turn I knew Rossi was my target, and when I saw I was closing on him I pushed harder. Even one point can make the difference, and anyway it’s good for morale. Congratulations to Sete, he must’ve ridden a very brave race, though the guys up front aren’t fighting for the championship so they could take more risks. It’s a shame this is the last race in Europe. We now start a long journey with four ‘flyaway’ races and they can always be difficult. No matter, I’ll keep trying right to
the end.”

Gauloises Yamaha Tech 3
Olivier Jacque 5th: “The beginning of that race was like riding around on glass. We were going so slow that it felt like the bike just wanted to fall over, but we had to. Then the track started to dry out and I was able to begin working on a rhythm. It’s about this point I started making up most of the time, but I think I left it a little too late.

“I tried to pull in the lead group but near the end I lost the front a few times, the cut slick couldn’t handle the pace so I just settled for fifth. Even so I’m happy because this was my first wet race on the 500.”

Shinya Nakano 7th: “I managed a great start, but I lost concentration when I saw Capirossi crash. By the time I’d gotten it all together again too many other riders had past me. Considering all of it I’m happy. I made a full race distance without any pain from my wrist. At least I now know I am back physically, and I’m looking forward to Japan.”

Antena 3 Yamaha d’Antin
Norick Abe 8th: “The start was so slippery. I needed a good start but all I did was wheel spin all the way down the straight. I couldn’t believe it; I thought I was going backwards. Then as the race wore on things began to improve, the track was slowly drying and I was able to start making up for the ground I’d lost. That was until there was nearly a completely dry line. At this point of the race the front intermediate tyre I was using just began to push on every corner.”

José Luis Cardoso DNF: “I was racing well, but it only lasted for two laps! I think I need to do that for a little bit longer if I want to get better results. I managed a great start and the bike felt good, even with slicks on. When Haga came through to make the pass I tried to get off the turn a little harder and the back just came around on me. We didn’t touch but I think the same happened to him.”

Red Bull Yamaha WCM
Garry McCoy 12th: “I had a huge slide on the fifth lap and nearly crashed. Luckily I managed to save it but the foot peg swung around and dug into my right leg. The pain was unbelievable, and then my leg felt numb. I couldn’t put my weight on it to push the bike through the right-handers.

“I think I started the day with a good setup. About the only thing I’d change would have been to run a backed off dry setup rather than a full wet setup.”

Noriyuki Haga DNF: “It was slippery, but I was feeling good out there. I like those conditions because they suit me for some reason. I saw the gap that Cardoso had left so I took it. Only problem was that I’d gotten on the gas a little too hard and paid the price.”



Matsudo slides into sixth

Naoki Matsudo (Petronas Sprinta Yamaha TVK) had a perfect start to the 12th MotoGP 250 race of the year, held in Valencia, Spain, on September 23 -launching off his eighth placed grid position to be fourth by the end of the first lap, and as high as third before rain interrupted proceedings. The dry restart led to the results being decided on aggregate times, which saw him finish sixth overall.

In the opening leg Matsudo was running fifth on lap four when third-placed Marco Melandri (Aprilia) and fourth-placed Fonsi Nieto (Aprilia) touched -Melandri coming off the unluckiest and exiting the race with a spectacular highside. The incident allowed Matsudo to slip past Nieto before the Spaniard fought back.

Then with 17 laps remaining the race was red flagged due to rain causing three riders to crash out – Alex Debon (Aprilia), Randy de Puniet (Aprilia) and Shahrol Yuzy (Petronas Sprinta Yamaha TVK). The latter making the restart to finish the day 12th on aggregate times.

Championship leader Daijiro Katoh (Honda) produced yet another dominating performance to cross the line ahead of Tetsuya Harada (Aprilia) and Nieto, who filled the final podium spot.

Petronas Sprinta Yamaha TVK
Naoki Matsudo 6th: “That was a tough race. The conditions changing like that and forcing the race to stop only disrupted the rhythm I had at the beginning. Even so I managed to put in a performance I’m happy with in the second leg. I had a few moments out there because the track seemed a little slipperier today than yesterday, but we survived.”

Shahrol Yuzy 12th: “I made a great start to be well in the top ten on the first few laps. I was feeling very good on the bike and things were going to plan. I noticed the drops on my visor, but it didn’t seem like it was raining that hard that I need to worry too much about it. The next thing I knew I’d lost the front. I guess I’m lucky, though, that I managed to make the restart.”

From a Ducati press release:

FOGARTY INJURY UPDATE

Four times World Superbike Champion Carl Fogarty, who was injured in a supermoto testing accident in Britain yesterday, is expected to be back to full fitness in 8-10 weeks.

The former Ducati factory rider suffered a fractured tibia and fibula of his right leg, the same as the one broken early in his career, in a slow corner crash with the factory CCM supermoto team at Anglesey in North Wales.

According to reports, he lost the front end of his 640 bike and his leg became caught up as it cart-wheeled.

On Friday evening, doctors at Bangor Hospital, where Fogarty was taken, manipulated the bones back into place and a reassessment of the injury was due to be made Saturday morning.

Professor Andy Carr, the specialist who followed Fogarty’s arm injury after last year’s career-ending smash, estimated that he would be back to fitness in two months time.

Michaela Fogarty declared: “Obviously we are very concerned at the injury. We had just managed to get him right with his shoulder so the last thing we needed now was an injury to his right leg”.

Fogarty, together with current factory Ducati rider Ruben Xaus, was expected to take part in one of the world’s most prestigious supermoto races at Mettet, Belgium next month.

AMA rules restricting pre-race practice forced Damon Buckmaster and rival John Hopkins to make special trips to Virginia International Raceway a week before the final race of the Formula Xtreme season, scheduled for VIR.

Buckmaster and Hopkins, who both headed to VIR with their teams this weekend seeking crucial testing and set-up improvements, are tied in Formula Xtreme points and the Championship will be decided by simple finishing position. If Buckmaster beats Hopkins, he becomes Champion, and vice versa.

Neither will be able to practice on Thursday prior to the AMA race because AMA rules ban any rider who is in the top 10 in Superbike or 600cc Supersport points in the current or previous year from participating in any practice days that are not part of an official race event or weekend, up to 10 days prior to the start of an AMA weekend at the same track. Official AMA practice usually starts on the Friday immediately prior to a race weekend, with Thursday practice designated Promoter Practice because it is usually conducted by the racetrack or race promoter.

Hopkins is in the top 10 in current AMA 600cc points, while Buckmaster was in the top 10 in 2000 AMA 600cc points.

Neither rider has ever raced at VIR, and neither has tested at VIR this year.

At this weekend’s WERA race, practice is extremely limited because two back-to-back endurance races have been scheduled for Saturday, with one 30-minute official practice session scheduled prior to the start of the first endurance race. WERA officials and regular endurance teams agreed to the arrangement because WERA teams and riders can participate in Friday practice run by the track itself.

The AMA practice restrictions were established because factory teams–which conduct many independent test sessions, typically costing each team between $70,000 and $100,000 throughout the year–don’t want to participate in promoter practice sessions and couldn’t come to an agreement among themselves. The wide net cast by the AMA rule has snared riders from independent teams racing in classes like Formula Xtreme and 750cc Supersport–like Hopkins–several times, with no sympathy from AMA officials.

Independent teams and riders rely on Thursday practice to get their bikes and riders up to speed, and find the extra expense of arriving one day earlier prior to an AMA National to be far less than conducting independent tests or making additional trips to participate in non-AMA races at any given track.

In this case, and with the championship on the line, Buckmaster’s team, Graves Yamaha, and Hopkins’ team, Valvoline EMGO Suzuki, felt the only choice was to spend the time and money to get what practice was available at the WERA event. Both teams were thus forced to spend money on five extra days of hotel rooms.

Why the AMA rule is not class-specific and why it must apply to riders in practice for classes other than Superbike and 600cc Supersport has not been explained by AMA Pro Racing officials, who have no personal experience running independent teams nor racing as independent professional riders seeking to make racing their primary means of support.

During Wednesday’s American Honda dealer convention, Nicky Hayden emphasized the importance of pre-race testing–and plenty of it–when he told the crowd that he was confident going into the AMA Superbike finale at VIR because his team had conducted extensive tests at the track, in independent test sessions.

The rule restricting practice emphasizes AMA Pro Racing’s focus on factory Superbike teams with little concern for non-factory teams and riders.