AMA Superbike Teams Conclude Tests At Willow Springs

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September 1, 2001

AMA Superbike Teams Conclude Tests At Willow Springs

By David Swarts

American Honda, Yoshimura Suzuki, Kawasaki, Yamaha and Graves Yamaha all tested at Willow Springs International Raceway in Rosamond, California between Wednesday, August 29 and Friday, August 31 in preparation for the AMA National September 12-16.

Yoshimura Suzuki arrived at Willow on Wednesday and stayed through Friday, but reigning AMA Superbike Champion Mat Mladin finished his testing schedule early, said he was ready for the upcoming races at Willow and Virginia International Raceway, and left the track Friday around noon. Aaron Yates and Jamie Hacking continued to test their Superbikes Friday after having already sorted out their 600cc Supersport machines earlier in the week. Yoshimura Suzuki Team Manager Rich Doan said that Friday would conclude the 2001 Yoshimura Suzuki testing schedule. All three of the Yoshimura Suzuki riders have contracts to stay with the team in 2002.

Honda, like Yoshimura, brought both of the team’s semi-trucks to Willow Springs, but arrived one day later, on Thursday morning. Honda continued testing on Friday without Nicky Hayden. Hayden flew out Thursday night to attend the flat track triple-header this weekend in Springfield, Illinois. Hayden’s tuner Dan Fahie said that Hayden had completed his testing schedule early. “He is 10 times better at giving feedback this year,” said Fahie of Hayden. “Now we have a dedicated data acquisition guy that has helped Nicky a lot. Before it was up to us to do both, go over the data with Nicky and work on the bike. There was usually only enough time to make the changes, let alone go over the data in detail. Nicky being able to spend time working with the data is the big difference.” Fahie said that during the day the team had enough time left to let Hayden go out and play, laying long rubber streaks all over the track for fun. “He likes to do that,” said Fahie.

Miguel Duhamel and Kurtis Roberts rode their CBR600F4i Hondas on Thursday as well as their Superbikes, but Duhamel and Roberts continued Friday on only their RC51s. Roberts’ crew chief David McGrath said that Friday was a much more productive day for Roberts on his Superbike compared to Thursday. Roberts was able to lower his time by over half-a-second on Friday while riding in a pack with Duhamel and Mladin. Word at the track was that Duhamel has reached an agreement to continue riding for Honda, but that an announcement would probably not be made until the Honda dealer show in September. Roberts and Hayden will be staying with Honda in 2002.

Yamaha’s Anthony Gobert and Tommy Hayden were joined by the Graves Motorsports Yamaha Australian duo of Damon Buckmaster and Aaron Gobert for testing on Wednesday and Thursday, according to those at the track Friday.

Anthony Gobert spent his time on his YZF-R6 while Hayden split his time between his Superbike and Supersport bike. Buckmaster only rode his Formula Xtreme YZF-R1/R7 hybrid, but Aaron Gobert rode both his FX and Supersport Yamahas.

As reported here on Roadracingworld.com earlier, Yamaha’s future in AMA Superbike racing may hinge on the company’s ability to keep Anthony Gobert. In the paddock after the Brainerd race, Anthony Gobert told Roadracing World that he would probably stay here in the U.S. with Yamaha. Tommy Hayden’s destiny with the team is unknown at this time, although Hayden has been with Yamaha since 1999. Aaron Gobert has already signed to stay with the Graves Motorsports Yamaha team for 2002, but Damon Buckmaster is the top candidate to move up to a AMA Superbike ride for the coming year.

Dennis Smith’s Sport Tire Service brought out a tire changing crew to service the AMA testers, but most of the teams brought their own tires.

Suzuki sources said that Dunlop engineers developed two new, single-compound rear tires for this year’s Superbike race at Willow, but Kawasaki mechanics said they didn’t know of any new Dunlops to try. Doug Chandler said that he would probably be happy with the rear tire he raced on at Pikes Peak but said that he was informed by Dunlop that there were no more of those tires available. Sources said Dunlop had a total of 32 of those tires at Pikes Peak and that some riders, an example being Larry Pegram, didn’t have one of the new tires for the race at Pikes Peak.

Eric Bostrom worked hard on his ZX-6R Supersport bike Friday morning with plans to roll out his ZX-7RR Superbike in the afternoon. When asked how things were going, Bostrom said, “We’ll know here pretty soon.” Bostrom confirmed that he is committed to winning both the Superbike and 600cc Supersport Championships. “One is within my grasp, but the other’s gonna take some work. I think if I can win both of the next Superbike races, I’ll win the Chamionship,” explained Bostrom. When asked if winning the Championships would have any effect on whether he accepted a ride in America or in Europe for 2002, Bostrom said, “I think we’ll have it worked out before the Championships are over.”

Kawasaki Team Manager Mike Preston confirmed that Bostrom is a free agent and that the talented young rider has a burning desire to race in Europe.

Unofficial Lap Times From AMA Testing At Willow Springs As Of 12:00 p.m. PDT
Friday, August 31:

Superbike (Lap Record, Steve Rapp, Ducati 996, 9/30/00, 1:19.029):
Mat Mladin, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:19.85
Nicky Hayden, Honda RC51, 1:20.24
Doug Chandler, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:20.62
Kurtis Roberts, Honda RC51, 1:20.74
Tommy Hayden, Yamaha YZF-R7, 1:20.97
Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:21.05
Jamie Hacking, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:21.37
Miguel Duhamel, Honda RC51, 1:21.49
Anthony Gobert, Yamaha YZF-R7, 1:22.20

600cc Supersport (Lap Record, Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 9/30/00,
1:21.939):
Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:22.70
Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:23.42
Aaron Gobert, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:23.45
Kurtis Roberts, Honda CBR600F4i, 1:23.49
Miguel Duhamel, Honda CBR600F4i, 1:23.54
Jamie Hacking, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:23.75

Formula Xtreme (Lap Record, Jake Zemke, Honda CBR929RR, 9/29/00, 1:20.571):
Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha YZF-R1/R7, 1:21.71
Aaron Gobert, Yamaha YZF-R1/R7, 1:21.74

Air Fence Fund Reaches $144, 421 And We Still Need Much More Air Fence

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September 1, 2001

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Air Fence Fund Reaches $144, 421 And We Still Need Much More Air Fence

The Roadracing World Air Fence Fund has reached $144,421 after adjusting for uncollected pledges, and the view out the press-room windows at Memphis Motorsports Park as this is posted suggests that there is much more work to do.

The final set of corners at Memphis sends riders through the drag strip staging lanes and onto the drag strip itself, the course lined with concrete walls buffered, on this day, with many haybales.

The riders at Memphis and other regional events are as important to their loved ones and to this sport as the professional riders already benefitting from the use of Air Fence at AMA Pro races and Formula USA Nationals. In fact, several riders who have competed with AMA and F-USA this season are here racing for contingency and purse money at Memphis as well. The Air Fence Fund isn’t just about this sanctioning body or that sanctioning body–it is, first and foremost, about the riders and about increasing their safety.

And with enough work and support, the day will come when Air Fence will be available at all types of events all over the country, including races like this weekend’s event at Memphis.

The latest contributions include Scott Greenwood/New England Performance sending in $200, Justin Blake sending in $100, Jim Frost contributing $50, Joe Davidson/Comet Racing sending $50 In Memory of Toby Jorgensen & Jamie Bowman, Jack Giesecke sending $50 and Christopher Clark contributing $10

Scott Greenwood/New England Performance (AMA 600cc Supersport, 750cc Supersport and F-USA Sportbike #89, LRRS #28) wrote, “I have personally tested the Air Fence Bike product that New Hampshire International Speedway purchased last year, during the AMA National in 2000, and as we all know, it does work! I walked away from that crash because of the Air Fence with only a minor concussion–without it I am sure it could have been much worse. When I first heard about the Air Fence fund, my initial reactions were ‘we pay enough money to support AMA Pro Racing and they are making boatloads of money off of us racers. They should be the ones forking over the money to protect the people who help make the show, both superstar factory riders and the unsupported privateer.’ And after following the project on www.roadracingworld.com, it has finally set in that they are not going to do the right thing and the only way to get this done is for a fund just like this one! I also think it’s great you are expanding the fund to support F-USA events and club regions as well. Thank you for your initiative to help protect us!”

Jack Giesecke wrote, “Meant to donate at CMRA/TWS. This is easier (donating online). Thanks. And thanks from all racers. This is a much-needed project.”

MRA racer Christopher Clark wrote, “Thank you, John Ulrich, for your single-handed initiation and coordination of the highly successful Air Fence Fund. I have just read the 7/31/01 update posted on the RoadracingWorld web page. Your efforts, and those of all contributors, move me. Every contribution is valuable , as donations range from $10 to $5800. Noteworthy to me is the large contribution by my friend and fellow MRA (AMA and AHRMA) racer Jon Glaefke. In 1994 I was seriously injured during an MRA race. During my two-month hospitalization, the MRA (led by former MRA president Dave Lucas, racer Tony Baker, and many others) raised significant funds on my behalf to assist with expenses not covered by insurance. The camaraderie and concern amongst motorcycle road racers in virtuous. Of course, it is a shame that the AMA has not acknowledged the failure of its own Air Fence coordination, and offered you more recognition for your honorable undertaking. Thank you.”

The list of contributors now reads as follows:
Erik Buell/Buell Motorcycle Company $5800
Trent Thompson/Paramount Racing $5000
Anonymous $4725
Wegman Benefit Fund/Gordon Lunde Sr. $3850
Dynojet Research $3200
Steve Brubaker/Race Tire Service $3000
Patrick Roskam/HangingOff.com $3000
John Ulrich/Roadracing World $2900
Aprilia USA $2900
American Suzuki Motor Corp. $2900
Ducati North America $2900
Jonathan Glaefke $2900
Susie and Bruce Meyers/BCM Racing Ducati $2900
Performance Machine $2900
Dunlop Motorcycle Tire Co. $2900
Max McAllister/Traxxion Dynamics $2900
Tom Chauncey/Team Wreckless $2900
Willow Springs Int’l Raceway $2900
Wendell Phillips/Lockhart Phillips $2500
Advanced Motor Sports/In Memory of Dirk Piz $2000
L.A. Bikers/labiker.org $1760
Dennis Smith/Sport Tire Services $1500
Marc Salvisberg/Factory Pro Tuning $1450
Bob Dragich/Roadracing World $1450
Fred Renz/Yoyodyne $1450
WERA Motorcycle Roadracing $1450
Bob Blandford/N.E. Sportbike Assn. $1100
Chuck Warren/Arclight Suzuki $1000
Jim Rashid/4&6 Cycle $1000
Scott Willock/In Memory of Larry Schwarzbach $1000
Don Emde/In Memory of Cal Rayborn $1000
Jason Pridmore’s Star Motorcycle School $1000
Mark E. Dobeck/Techlusion Performance Group $1000
G.M.D. Computrack Network $1000
California Superbike School $1000
Tachyon Racing/Tachyon Sports Injury Research Foundation $1000
Team Pro-Motion Sportbike Club $1000
Anthony and Aaron Gobert $1000
Andrew M. Cross $1000
Andy Kettle/Honda of Milpitas $1000
Lindemann Engineering $1000
Marcus McBain $1000
Linda,John & Susanne Hopkins/In Memory of Roy Hopkins $895
Intrepid Café Racers $775
Yoshimura Racing $750
Team Daemon Racing $600
Derek and Gordon King $600
CMRRA $537
Don Lemelin/Scuderia West $500
Kevin Erion/Erion Racing $500
Pinky’s Pizza of Walnut Creek $500
Doug Gonda $500
Jerry Wood/Penguin School $500
Mike Canfield/Chandelle Motorsports $500
Jim Davis/J6 Racing/In Memory of Dirk Piz $500
Brooks Gremmels/Shogun Motorsports $500
Jim Di Salvo/Alien Racing $500
Dale Kieffer/Racers Edge Performance $500
The Plummer Menapace Group $500
Reg Kitrelle $500
Specialty Sports Ltd/Teknic $500
Ronnie Lunsford/Northwest Honda $500
Bob Holcomb $500
Aaron Yates $500
James D. Randolph $500
OMRRA $500
Terry Knott $500
Shawn Higbee/Team KWS/Millenium Technologies $500
Harley Davidson of Reno $500
Walt Schaefer $500
Gary Christopher/American Honda $500
Full Spectrum Design $500
Indigo Sports $500
Ed Robinson/Robinson Partners $500
Bill St. John/Project Monza $400
Jerry Jirkovsky $330
Ice Holes $301
Richard Hood/Reptillian Racing $300
Edward S. Siccardi, Jr. $300
Dan Fischer/Copier1.com $300
David Finniff $300
Marietta Motorsports $300
Brendan Guy $300
Dean Scarpa $300
Anonymous $300
Kurtis Roberts $300
James Siddall/World Sports/Corbin Grand Prix $300
“Old Slo Gene Templet”/CMRA $300
Eric Kelcher/Blockworks $300
Zachry Lee $300
N.I.T.R.O. (Northern Illinois Touring and Riding Organization) $300
Martin Von Wyss $300
In Memory of Charles Wooldridge, Sr. $300
James Lickwar $290
Texas Sport Bike Association $260
Scott Fisher/Fisher Technical Services $250
Chris Pyles & Beth Walters $250
Peter Hively $250
Brian Mitchell $250
Al Ludington $250
Tim Simpson $250
Spectrum Motorsports/VJB Racing $250
David Roy, Ducati N. America $250
Debbie Roy/Frenotec $250
Joshua Hayes $250
Gina Nadeau $250
Jeannne Pyles $250
John Ross/Ross Racing $250
Brian Cincera $250
C. Renard Fiscus $250
Bruce & Edith Lind $250
Andre Espaillat $250
Aramel Racing $250
WMRRA $250
Bo Poulsen $250
Papa Thiam/WERA BBS $200
Bill Capshaw/ICE Motorsports $200
Scott Decker $200
Terry Embury $200
Jim “Dutch” MacKenzie/WERA BBS $200
Scott Jenkins/Desmoto-sport $200
Cliff Nobles $200
Jodie York/RPM Cycles Ventura/WSMC #11 $200
Mostro.org/Jeffrey Fillmore $200
Jeff Bowis $200
Rich & Lynda Alexander/In Memory of Dirk Piz $200
Nils Menten $200
Melissa Tomlinson/G-Man Racing $200
DP Enterprises $200
Jeffrey S. Stathes $200
RPM $200
Wayne Nielsen/sportbikeworld.com $200
Dennis Woods/Doppio Racing $200
Tom David $200
Sierra Sportbike Association $200
Terry McKeever $200
“Barnacle” Bill Burns $200
Scott Greenwood/New England Performance $200
Roger Lyle/In Memory of Jimmy Adamo $200
MZ Scorpion Cup Racers $100
Chris Kelley/California Cycleworks $150
Robb Mc Elroy $150
Tim Chin/Team Bandit $150
Ed & Catherine Sorbo $150
Damon Buckmaster $150
Chris Hamilton/Grand Prix Direct $150
Marc Palazzo/Synergy Racing Honda $150
Stuart Stratton/Stratton Racing $150
Hewitt & Prout Attorneys at Law $150
Jim Williams/13x.com $125
David Boosales/WERA BBS $125
Pete Martins $125
Road Atlanta Crash Truck Crews $111
Chris Normand/Firestorm Racing $101
Lucky Deleoni $100
Pat Stricker $100
Gary Rand/In Memory of Rusty Bradley $100
Michael Roberson/WERA BBS $100
Sean Jordan/WERA BBS $100
Army of Darkness $100
Stuart Gregg $100
Pinky’s Pizza/Lippman Racing $100
Bob Szoke $100
TyrSox $100
Ron West/Omzig Productions $100
Joe Facer $100
Preston Rash $100
Geoff Maloney/GP Tech $100
Melissa Berkoff/Neighbor Of The Beast $100
Caesar Gonzales/WERA BBS $100
Dorina Groves $100
Dorina Groves/In Memory of Jamie Bowman $100
Philip Rusin/RC51.net $100
Allen “Spence” Spencer $100
Matt Wadsworth $100
Dean N. De St. Croix $100
Tony Tugwell/TZ250.com $100
Bart Fuqua/Team LGC $100
Brian Stokes/Marietta Motorsports $100
Chris “Opie” Caylor/Marietta Motorsports $100
David McElvain/NEDoD $100
Ned “Peanut” Brown/NESBA/TPM $100
Vance Hacecky $100
Patrick Mee $100
Dave and Jason Parker $100
Tom Drumm $100
David Brown $100
Steve Moonitz/Team Squid Pro Quo $100
Jake Swan $100
Chris Story $100
Chris Eklund $100
Randy Ball/WERA BBS $100
Mark Hellvig $100
Gary Schilling/On Time Racing/WERA BBS $100
Steve Sumner $100
Laura Granato/WERA BBS $100
Norm Viano/Lawdog Sports Mgmt $100
Kevin Jordan/Jordan Motorsports $100
Val Gregory/In Memory of Dirk Piz $100
Dave Gess $100
Rob Berlind $100
Paul Black $100
Steve Hewitt $100
Mike Ciccotto $100
Tripp Nobles $100
Scott Rehl $100
Steve & Lorraine Aledort $100
Jeff Rozycki/29dreams.com Racing $100
Chris Ulrich/In Memory of Russ Paulk And Toby Jorgensen $100
Giorgio Milesi/Galfer Brakes USA $100
Al Lyons/CMRRA $100
Linda Hopkins $100
John Hopkins/In Memory of Jamie Bowman and Toby Jorgensen $100
Vicky&Michael Menard $100
Silvia Salenius/Ducati.net Online $100
HG Racing/AMA Pro Thunder $100
Red Fox Racing $100
Greg Ruffin $100
John Donald/PTC Racing $100
Larry Pegram $100
Pamela Skaff/WERA BBS $100
J.D. Hord/Meccanica Corse Racing $100
Mark Sutton $100
Steve Scott/LRRS#47 $100
Eric Putter $100
Jim Doerfler $100
Ira Englebardt $100
Joe & Nancy Fenech $100
Earl Hayden $100
Chuck Sorensen $100
Jeff Wilson/American Suzuki $100
Adam Vella/Webcrush Racing $100
Chuck Gault/Motobama $100
Gary Longren $100
Stephan Hottenrott $100
David Kunzelman $100
C.R. “Critter” Gittere/WERA BBS $100
John Light/Lightsmith Racing $100
Ken & Arlene Block (Ed Sorbo’s Mom) $100
Chris Link/CMRA/In Memory of Jamie Bowman $100
Josh Steinberg $100
Broad Squad/CCS NE $100
Logan Young $100
Bob & Sherrie Young $100
Ann Sands $100
Troy Green/www.TG-Racing.com $100
Colin Fowler $100
Asphalt & Gas $100
CelentoHenn Architecture + Design $100
Norm Mc Donald/CMRA $100
Andrew S. Mueller/WERA BBS $100
Mary Miskovic $100
Mark Van Hoff/The Plastic Doctor/WERA BBS $100
Anonymous $100
Mauro Cereda/In Memory of Jamie Bowman $100
James B. Norwood/Bad Iguana Racing $100
Bakersfield Yamaha $100
Matt Gerard/In Memory of Gordy Lunde Jr. $100
MMCZYK/Concerned Fan $100
Kendall Davis/WERA #326 $100
Jerry Daggett $100
Miller’s Modern Garage $100
TFS Racing $100
Sabrina Phillips 100
Jane Phillips $100
Twin Cities Yamaha $100
Fernando Peris $100
Louis Gagne $100
Peter Christensen & Stasia Moore $100
Paul D. Harrell $100
Manny Otmane/Team Hooters $100
Rich Desmond/WERA BBS $100
Larry Lawrence $100
Tony Iannarelli $100
Marcel Fortney $100
Tim Fowler $100
Dennis Hurst/Deken Power $100
Tommy Bright/Logistics & Information $100
John F. Penrose $100
Russ & Lisa Dancho $100
Leonard Lloyd $100
Blake/www.BadWeatherBikers.com $100
Loren Chun, $100
Joe & Pam Axberg $100
Paul Sedillo $100
Robert C. Vester $100
Dale W. Dandrea $100
Bob Domenz/3D Racing $100
Justin Blake $100
Berde Brothers Racing $100
Ted Johnson/Last Chance Racing $100
Larry Spektor/In Memory of Toby Jorgenson $80
Tyson Kamp $75
Vito Dionisio/WERA BBS $75
R.J. McLeod $60
George Gervasi/Projekt9 Racing $60
Christopher Gosch $60
Kelly Thornton $58
Erica B. Smith & John F.X. Walsh $55
Stephen Bauman $55
Max Buxton/NEDoD $50
Nelo Hakola $50
Tyler Sandell $ 50
David J. Kopfinger $ 50
Aaron Loyd $50
Martin Voelker $50
Steve Hopkins $50
Louis DeBlois $50
Leigh Taunton/EMGO $50
Randy Sinisi $50
Danny Hull $50
Team Skidmark Racing $50
Ryan Meskimen/WERA BBS $50
Erik Astrup $50
Paul Zavada $50
James Greeson/WERA BBS $50
Victor Mokler $50
Steve Clark/J. Guthridge/Tight Squeeze Racing $50
Nate Olsen $50
Anthony Moey $50
Dustin Miller $50
Steve Martinez $50
Jason Temme/Serpent Racing $50
Mike Hodgson/WERA BBS $50
Chris Borre/Motorcycleroadracer.com $50
Richard Barker/AIM/In Memory of Dirk Piz $50
Mike Reish/Reish Dot Net $50
Kenyon Kluge/K2 Racing $50
Darin Nichols/Team Unit $50
Richard Davis $50
Allen Lyon/Ducati.net Online $50
Eric H. Mathy $50
Steve Breckenridge $50
Jim Race/Speaksy Racing $50
James Aragon $50
James Hayton/Kochenbaulz Racing/WERA BBS $50
Anthony D’Augusta $50
Norm Brown $50
Isaac Ward $50
Jason K. Michelson $50
Qi Guo/WERA BBS $50
Schaefer Brothers Racing $50
Tommy Lancaster/Tommy Built Fireplaces $50
James Gaal $50
Rod Mahr/Follow the Helmet Racing $50
Charles Brothers/CMRA $50
Francisco Prats $50
Keith Mc Cammon $50
Rick Haskins $50
Larry, Janice & Jimmy /Moto Liberty $50
Friends & Family/Firestorm Racing $50
Akos Feher $50
Brian Cox/CMRA#318 $50
Greg Gorman $50
James E. Schaefer $50
Kevin Hanson $50
Nick Tulloh/In Memory of Jimmy Adamo $50
Robin Clark, $50
Carl Liebold, $50
Peter Young, $50
John Walsh $50
John Caudle/Thanks to Grigg Racing $50
Jim Frost $50
Joe Davidson/Comet Racing/In Memory of Toby Jorgensen & Jamie Bowman $50
Jack Giesecke $50
Mark Anzalone $50
George M. Noeth $50
David Yesman $40
Rod Klebsch $40
Mark Crane, $40
Don Moody $35
Andy & Kate Kupfer, $35
Lindsey Leard $30
Dave Deggendorf/WERA BBS $30
Bob Elam $30
The Heidepriems/WERA BBS $30
Kimberly Scheffel/rider/race fan/pit keeper $30
Bryan Norton $30
Scott D. Cortese $30
Stephen Warburton/Ducati Online $30
John Scherer $30
Charles Lederer $30
Greg Gabis $29
Ripley Howe $29
Mark Hatten/Meccanica Corse Racing $29
Ted Angle $25
Susanne Hopkins $25
Nolan Ballew $25
Josh Loberant $25
Charles Tomes $25
Jon DeMent $25
Timothy Wilson $25
Mark Novak $25
Rene Ferron $25
Sean Patrick Brisini $25
Richard Korol $25
Eric and Christine Loranger $25
Dee Moses $25
Kyle Kirschenmann/Bayou Riders of Louisiana $25
Marc Asmus $25
Mike Henry $25
Henry Hallmark $25
Ronnie Reyes/CMRA $25
Kathleen Mc Laughlin $25
John Jancoski $25
John C. Pfeiffer $25
Bernis B. Conatser $25
Tony Day $25
Harlan Weishahn $25
Chad Littrell $25
David Osser $25
Margaret Corra $25
Kerry Lynn Hanley $25
T. Kershaw, $25
Allan Karman, $25
Anonymous $25
Peter Gallant $25
S.C. Pittman $20
Jamieson D. Yonker $20
Garret Swearingen $20
Darrin Zumbaum $20
Andy Lenz/CMRRA $20
Dave Harrison $20
Jeff Harrison $20
Sled/Cross $20
David L. Osser $20
Irwin Arnstein/CMRA $10
Frank Shacklee/CMRA $10
John & Arlene Gerard/In Memory of Gordy Lunde Jr. $10
Becky Rechek, $10
Lee D’Amico $10
Johnny Newell, $10
Christopher Clark $10
Anomymous $10
Jan Steven/Carpet Dog $5
Anonymous $5
Joe Knight $5
Erik Schmitt/CMRA $1

To pledge a contribution, call Roadracing World at (800) 464-8336 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, when operators will be standing by. Credit cards accepted. Pledges can also be made by e-mailing [email protected]. Make checks payable to Roadracing World, and mail to P.O. Box 1428, Lake Elsinore CA 92531. Money raised will be used for buying Air Module/Air Fence sections, as well as for deployment expenses and for shipping, tax and import duties.

WERA National Endurance Race At Memphis Cancelled Due To Weather

Breaking News

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September 1, 2001

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WERA National Endurance Race At Memphis Cancelled Due To Weather

The WERA National Endurance Series race scheduled for today at Memphis Motorsports Park has been cancelled.

The track had just dried during a break in the weather when another rain shower moved into the area.

Rubber on the drag strip/front straightaway is a problem for riders, provided no grip in wet conditions and limiting the line out of the last turn and onto the front straightaway to a narrow strip of pavement next to the inside wall.

WERA officials have said that they will not hold races in the wet at Memphis for just that reason.

The WERA National Challenge Series sprint races scheduled for tomorrow will go on, weather permitting.

Webster Fastest In Sidecar Final Qualifying In Germany

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September 1, 2001

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Webster Fastest In Sidecar Final Qualifying In Germany

From a Superside press release:

Sidecar World Champion Steve Webster qualified fastest for tomorrow’s race, held in conjunction with the Superbike World Championship event at Oschersleben, Germany.

Points leader Klaus Klaffenbock, who was unable to make an impression in yesterday’s first qualifying session because of engine trouble, bounced back today to finish fourth-fastest in Saturday-morning qualifying for the seventh round of the Championship.

Klaffenbock and Webster, who shaved half a second off yesterday’s time, are running neck-and-neck at the top of the points standings.

But they both know that it will be difficult to have it their own way this weekend as Steve Abbott poses a major threat, having finished all three sessions in second place.

Jorg Steinhausen completed the front row on home territory by claiming third in the dying seconds of the sunny session.

British wildcards and multiple TT winners, Rob Fisher and Rick Long, dropped almost four seconds to qualify in sixth position.

Qualifying Results:

1. Webster/Woodhead, 1:32.428
2. Abbott/Biggs, 1:33.077
3. Steinhausen/Hopkinson, 1:33.885
4. Klaffenbock/Parzer, 1:34.538
5. Hanks/Biggs, 1:35.495
6. Fisher/Long, 1:35.792
7. Guy/Peach, 1:35.842
8. Muldoon/Crone, 1:36.823
9. Schroder/Waffler, 1:36.963
10. Van Gils/Van Gils, 1:37.078

Troy Corser Fastest In First Qualifying At Oschersleben World Superbike

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August 31, 2001

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Troy Corser Fastest In First Qualifying At Oschersleben World Superbike

By Glenn LeSanto

Things haven’t gone all Troy Corser’s way in recent months. After making the perfect start to the season with a double win in the first round at Valencia, Corser’s season been one of ups and downs. At one stage it got tricky for him with suggestions in the press that the Aprilia Team weren’t happy with Corser’s commitment. Corser countered by claiming that his tires were giving problems, something that didn’t at first register on Aprilia’s data loggers, and that he was as committed as ever. Then, the technicians found the problem and it was reported that Corser’s Dunlop tires weren’t true – they were more oval than round!

The problem seems to have been solved, given Corser’s performance today. The only rider to make it into the 1:27 bracket, he lapped at 1:27.868 to top the session ahead of Troy Bayliss on the Infostrada Ducati at 1:28.146.

“That wasn’t so bad,” commented Bayliss after the session. “but we’ve got more up our sleeves for tomorrow.”

Ben Bostrom, who admitted that he felt very rusty before getting on the bike soon loosened up to finish Friday qualifying in provisional third, just behind Bayliss on 1:28.146. Bostrom wasn’t 100 percent happy with his bike, though, saying “the bike isn’t doing exactly what I want it to do.”

Bostrom’s sparring partner in many of the recent races in the WSB series, Neil Hodgson, struggled in his first-ever visit to the track. Hodgson’s teammate, James Toseland, who also hasn’t been to Oschersleben before, finished the session 12th-fastest, one ahead of Hodgson. The GSE Team, which competed in British Superbikes last year, has never been to the track, near Magdeburg in Germany, so the crew men need to find settings and the riders need to learn the track. Last year was the first season WSB racing had visited the circuit.

Ruben Xaus showed he’s a young rider with potential finishing today in provisional fourth, just ahead of Superbike World Champion Colin Edwards with a time of 1:28.392 compared to Edwards’ 1:28.396. Tady Okada, who has said he learned a lot from riding the VTR at the recent Suzuka 8-hours race, was sixth-fastest today.

Superbike World Championship qualifying
Friday, August 31, Best times:

1. Troy Corser, Australia, Aprilia, 1:27.868
2. Troy Bayliss, Australia, Ducati, 1:28.146
3. Ben Bostrom, USA, Ducati, 1:28.268,
4. Ruben Xaus, Spain, Ducati, 1:28.392
5. Colin Edwards, USA, Honda, 1:28.396
6. Tady Okada, Japan, Honda, 1:28.493
7. Regis Laconi, France, Aprilia, 1:28.524
8. Stephane Chambon, France, Suzuki, 1:28.900
9. Gregorio Lavilla, Spain, Kawasaki, 1:28.907
10. Akira Yanagawa, Japan, Kawasaki, 1:28.923

Yamaha Superbike Rumor is No Rumor, and Today May Be the Day

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August 31, 2001

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Yamaha Superbike Rumor is No Rumor, and Today May Be the Day

Inside sources have confirmed that Yamaha is considering abandoning AMA Superbike unless Anthony Gobert re-signs for 2002.

The latest information turns what had been a rumor into a fact. Final word on what Gobert will do – and the fate of Yamaha’s Superbike program – is expected later today.

A World Supersport Team Reveals The Benefit Of Testing

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August 31, 2001

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A World Supersport Team Reveals The Benefit Of Testing

This press release from Team Ten Kate Honda reveals the benefit of stand-alone test sessions for well-funded teams. Which may also explain why AMA Superbike teams have been testing at Willow Springs this week.

The press release follows:

Ten Kate Honda reap the benefits of a month’s hard work

While the Supersport circus took a month off from racing Team Ten Kate Honda stayed hard at work, developing the bikes, testing both on the bench (dyno) and at the track. The results are plain to see today as both Fabien Foret and Pere Riba have made it into the top three in first qualifying.

“This is the result of all our hard work in testing,” commented Team Manager Ronald ten Kate. “We are already 95% sorted due to testing here twice already in the past month. Now we are trying to find that last 5% to make it perfect.”

Fabien Foret was happy to have qualified in provisional second. “It always seems that when I am first on Friday I go backwards for the rest of the weekend, but I’ll be fighting for that pole position in tomorrow’s session,” said the Frenchman, who along with his teammate Pere Riba has already signed to ride for the team for next year.

“I’m happier now it’s dry,” said Foret after the dry qualifying session. “I think I can go another half-a-second faster on Saturday as the bike wasn’t set up perfectly. But we’ll have the settings worked out for the morning.”

Pere Riba was also happy with his qualifying time, saying “Testing has paid off, we have made a good start today and we can do more tomorrow.” He was also very pleased to sign again to race with Ten Kate Honda for the 2002 World Supersport Championship. “I am happy to ride for such a professional team again next year.”

The team also entered their former Superstock rider, Kyro Verstraeten, in the Supersport competition. “We are taking it step by step with Kyro,” said Ronald ten Kate, “we don’t want to rush things. But already he is getting on the pace and we are happy with his progress.”

The entire team are full of confidence for the rest of the weekend, ready to build on the strong platform that there efforts in testing have given the team.

It’s Raining At Memphis

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August 31, 2001

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Rain has moved over Memphis Motorsports Park in Millington, TN, site of this weekend’s WERA National Endurance Series and National Challenge Series event.
Very few racebikes are on the course this morning for practice on the Memphis course, which consists of a dragstrip and return roads.

Benelli Back Seeking More World Superbike Points

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August 31, 2001

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Benelli Back Seeking More World Superbike Points

From a press release issued by Benelli:

After a month-long break the Benelli Sport Superbike team is back in action with the Tornado Superbike this weekend at Oschersleben, near Magdeburg in Germany. The team is already making steady progress, despite never having been to the track before.

“For every race it’s the same situation for us at the moment,” commented rider Peter Goddard. “Each track is completely new to us and this leaves us at a disadvantage compared to most teams, who have been here before and have set up data to work from. This means we spend the first sessions finding a base setting to work from, and that means Saturday’s final qualifying comes around all too quickly. But that’s how it is and we knew it would be like this, so we have to try learn as much as we can so we can start from a better level next year.”

Team members haven’t been idle since the last race a month ago at Brands Hatch in England. “We’ve been working to get both our bikes up to the same level,” explained Team Manager Max Zani. “We won’t be doing anything that involves big changes to the bike before the end of the season, we’ve concentrated on reliability for now. But when the season ends we have many new parts and engineering solutions to try, but these things need time and that’s what we don’t have so much of at the moment. When we have more time we can test everything thoroughly and we hope to make some big gains in performance for next season. We already have lighter wheels and radial brakes to try, but we haven’t used them yet.”

Both bikes have run perfectly so far this weekend, so it looks like the hard work during the recess has paid off. But the pressure is on the team to perform; Goddard scored points in both of the last two meetings so the racing world is looking for a continuation of that form. “That puts a lot of pressure on us all,” said Goddard. “If we go away without scoring more points people will think we’re slipping!”

The weather at Oschersleben has been changeable, with the track being wet for free practice in the morning but dry for qualifying. “I’d prefer it to stay dry,” said Goddard. “The track feels very slick when it’s wet.”

The Benelli Tornado was 20th-fastest in timed qualifying with a time of 1:29.768. Goddard finished only 0.256-second outside of a provisional place in the Superpole.

A More Complete Press Release From The AMA Regarding Offensive Kraft Advertisement

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August 31, 2001

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A More Complete Press Release From The AMA Regarding Offensive Kraft Advertisement

This just in:

AMA OBJECTS TO KRAFT ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), prompted by inquiries from a number of its members, has asked Kraft Foods to reconsider its portrayal of motorcyclists in a current Nabisco advertising campaign. The
following article, entitled “The Devil, Prison…and Motorcyclists?” was published today on the Association’s website, AMADirectlink.com.

If you ride a motorcycle, then you just may be keeping some pretty interesting company, at least according to Nabisco and Kraft Foods. Nabisco’s `Corn Gone Wrong’ promotion, hoping to give its Cornnuts snacks a new image, shows cartoonish characters in three `hardcore’ scenes: as the devil, as criminals in jail, and in one more example of something `gone wrong’: on motorcycles.

After a number of AMA members contacted us to voice their objections, the AMA spoke with Nabisco officials. Nabisco is part of Kraft Foods, a company that markets everything from Maxwell House coffee to Oreo cookies, Kool-Aid and
Jell-O. Elisabeth Wenner, speaking for Kraft Foods, said this in a written statement: “We certainly did not mean to offend anyone with this ad. The intent of the ad was to celebrate the independent spirit and freedom of motorcyclists
and was in no way intended to discourage motorcycling.”

The motorcycling ad features three tough-looking cartoon characters riding down the road on choppers, while a wide-eyed rabbit flees being crushed under the front wheel of the lead bike. The tag line reads: `Surprisingly hardcore…in
seven mean flavors.’ The other two `Corn Gone Wrong’ ads feature a character dressed as the devil, and another of several of the characters in jail.

“Kraft and Nabisco have targeted a young market with these ads, in magazines like Teen, Spin, Marvel Comics and others,” said Tom Lindsay, the AMA’s public information director. “We’re concerned about the message this sends to kids,
and we find Kraft’s explanation sorely lacking.

“We suggest motorcyclists go to http://www.cornnuts.com/cn_cgw.htm and see for themselves,” Lindsay continued, “and then send a polite e-mail expressing their opinion to Michael Mudd, Senior VP for Corporate Affairs at Kraft Foods ([email protected]). We hope that Nabisco and Kraft will reconsider their decision to include motorcyclists in this promotion, and any future campaign that equates motorcycling with `going wrong.'”