Yamaha has announced that the new four-stroke YZR-M1 GP bike will be seen in public for the first time and will make demonstration laps during the Catalunya Grand Prix weekend, June 15-17.

The text of a Yamaha press release on the matter follows:

“Yamaha YZR-M1 rides at the GP Marlboro de Catalunya!

“Yamaha’s all-new four-stroke MotoGP prototype, the YZR-M1, is scheduled to commence the second leg of its European test program at the Catalunya
circuit in Barcelona, Spain, in the week after round six of the MotoGP World Championship. Taking advantage of the machine’s availability, Yamaha has the pleasure of announcing that the YZR-M1 will make its first public appearance
in action on Sunday prior to the day’s racing activities on June 17, 2001, 10:45 a.m. CET.

“The YZR-M1 is planned to be ridden on the Catalunya circuit by Yamaha test rider Norihiko Fujiwara, who will do two laps in front of an expected 100,000 strong crowd. It will be the first time ever that the public will have the opportunity to see and hear a 2002 MotoGP four-stroke prototype machine and get a taste of what the future holds for the pinnacle of motorcycle road racing.

“After the public appearance on Sunday, two YZR-M1 test machines will stay on to join the Marlboro Yamaha Team for a three-day test. Regular Yamaha factory race development riders Kyoji Namba and Norihiko Fujiwara will again
be joined by John Kocinski. Yamaha’s top men Max Biaggi and Carlos Checa will also test the bike to provide further pure racer feedback on the YZR-M1 development and compare the M1 with their latest two-stroke YZR500.

“The primary objective for Biaggi and Checa however, is to test the current YZR500 two-stroke machines as part of the team’s on-going monthly testing schedule. The aim is to further improve their 2001 YZR500s for the second half of the highly competitive MotoGP 500 World Championship season, concentrating on new engine parts and new aerodynamics.”

Tom Kipp will replace injured Jason Pridmore on Attack Suzuki’s Formula Xtreme racebike for at least the next two AMA Nationals, at Road America June 9 and Loudon June 16, and possibly at Laguna Seca July 7 and Mid-Ohio July 21 as well.

Pridmore underwent surgery by Dr. Art Ting in Northern California on Tuesday, May 29, to repair extensive damage done to one leg and ankle in a crash during the Formula Xtreme race at Road Atlanta May 19.

Kipp is a former AMA 750cc Supersport Champion and last rode last year, in British Superbike events.

Marcellino Lucchi led an Aprilia sweep of the top five positions in the first 250cc qualifying session at Mugello Friday, while Tony Elias topped the 125cc session on a Honda.

Fastest times follow:


250cc Qualifying Session #1:

1. Marcellino Lucchi, Italy, Aprilia, 1:54.939
2. Jeremy McWilliams, GB, Aprilia, 1:55.382
3. Tetsuya Harada, Japan, Aprilia, 1:55.636
4. Randy dePuniet, France, Aprilia, 1:56.081
5. Marco Melandri, Italy, Aprilia, 1:56.108
6. Daijiro Katoh, Japan, Honda, 1:56.141
7. Roberto Rolfo, Italy, Aprilia, 1:56.163
8. Roberto Locatelli, Italy, Aprilia, 1:56.229
9. Naoki Matsuda, Japan, Yamah, 1:56.339
10. Franca Battaini, Italy, Aprilia, 1:56.343
11. Klaus Nohles, Germany, Aprilia, 1:56.775
12. David Checa, Spain, Honda, 1:56.823
13. Sebastian Porto, Argentina, Yamaha, 1:57.111
14. Alex Debon, Spain, Aprilia, 1:57.132
15. Lorenzo Lanzi, Italy, Aprilia, 1:57.266



125cc Qualifying Session #1

1. Toni Elias, Spain, Honda, 2:00.605
2. Manuel Poggiali, San Marino, Gilera, 2:00.619
3. Youichi Ui, Japan, Derbi, 2:00.626
4. Lucio Cecchinello, Italy, Aprilia, 2:00.905
5. Gianluigi Scalvini, Italy, Italjet, 2:01.128
6. Mirko Giansanti, Italy, Honda, 2:01.345
7. Stefano Perugini, Italy, Italjet, 2:01.600
8. Steve Jenkner, Germany, Aprilia, 2:01.603
9. Andrea Ballerini, Italy, Aprilia, 2:01.610
10. Alex De Angelis, San Marino, Honda, 2:01.612

An appeals board has criticized AMA Pro Racing’s handling of a fuel sample and has reduced a penalty accessed against Jay Springsteen after the fuel from his dirt tracker failed a specific gravity test.

Historically, members of an appeal board, which is composed of volunteers assembled on a case-by-case basis, have not been asked back (to serve on another appeals board) if they do not rule in favor of AMA Pro Racing officials or if they criticize AMA handling of a case.

An AMA press release on the Springsteen case follows:

“PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Jay Springsteen was disqualified from his third-place finish in Houston on April 21 for having illegal fuel. Springsteen appealed the disqualification and an appeals board heard the evidence on May 24 and saw fit to modify Springsteen’s penalty. The penalty modification allows Springsteen to get eight of his original 16 championship points from the race reinstated and he has been assessed a fine of $500.

“The appeals board found that while the fuel collected from Springsteen’s race bike was below the minimum specific gravity, it was so by just two thousandths (the lower specific gravity limit is .715, Springsteen’s fuel was found to be .713). While the fuel was technically illegal, the board found no intent by Springsteen’s team to violate the rules. Further, the board found that AMA Pro Racing technical officials made an error in collecting the sample. This error, which involved not getting proper signatures on the sample, did figure in the board’s decision to modify Springsteen’s penalty. The board also felt that the fuel violation did not provide Springsteen with a significant performance advantage.

“In consideration of all the evidence the board came to its decision to assess Springsteen a $500 fine and a loss of half of the championship points he originally earned in the Houston round.
The board cautioned that future fuel violations would result in disqualification. It further recommended that AMA Pro Racing officials take steps to ensure that fuel sample handling procedures are beyond reproach.”

Honda’s Valentino Rossi turned the quickest lap and reached the highest top speed during the first 500cc qualifying session for the Gran Premio Cinzano d’Italia, at Mugello, Italy Friday.

Rossi’s quickest lap was a 1:52.838 and his bike reached 305.9 kph (190 mph). The second-quickest rider was Kenny Roberts at 1:53.151 but his bike was only eighth-fastest at 299.9 kph (186.357 mph).

Fastest laps and top speeds follow:

1. Valentino Rossi, Italy, Honda, 1:52.838
2. Kenny Roberts, USA, Suzuki, 1:53.151
3. Alex Barros, Brasil, Honda, 1:53.694
4. Loris Capirossi, Italy, Honda, 1:53.842
5. Norick Abe, Japan, Yamaha, 1:54.247
6. Noriyuki Haga, Japan, Yamaha, 1:54.247
7. Shinya Nakano, Japan, Yamaha, 1:54.411
8. Max Biaggi, Italy, Yamaha, 1:54.946
9. Alex Criville, Spain, Honda, 1:54.946
10. Sete Gibernau, Spain, Suzuki, 1:55.140
11. Tohru Ukawa, Japan, Honda, 1:55.242
12. Carlos Checa, Spain, Yamaha, 1:55.568
13. Jurgen v.d. Goorbergh, Holland, Proton, 1:55.568
14. Chris Walker, GB, Honda, 1:55.910
15. Jose Luis Cardoso, Spain, Yamaha, 1:56.415
16. Haruchika Aoki, Japan, Honda, 1:57.060
17. Jason Vincent, GB, Pulse, 1:57.099
18. Johan Stigefelt, Sweden, Sabre, 1:59.341

(Did not qualify under 107% of pole time, or 2:00.736)
Barry Veneman, Holland, Honda, 2:00.953
Anthony West, Australia, Honda, 2:01.275
Vladimir Castka, Slovakia, Paton, 2:12.261
Mark Willis, Australia, Pulse, 2:27.539




Top Speeds:
1. Rossi, 305.9 kph
2. Ukawa, 304.8 kph
3. Capirossi, 303.8 kph
4. Biaggi, 302.7 kph
5. Criville, 302.7 kph
6. Haga, 301.3 kph
7. Gibernau, 301.1 kph
8. Roberts, 299.9 kph
9. Walker, 299.8 kph
10. Checa, 299.0 kph
11. Abe, 298.7 kph
12. Nakano, 298.5 kph
13. Barros, 297.4 kph
14. Cardoso, 296.1 kph
15. v.d. Goorbergh, 289.8 kph
16. Stigefelt, 286.9 kph
17. Vincent, 285.4 kph
18. Aoki, 278.8 kph
19. Veneman, 272.9 kph
20. West, 269.7 kph
21. Castka, 266.5 kph
22. Willis, 248.6 kph

According to a press release issued by the American Motorcyclist Association, it is seeking recognition as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) by the United Nations so it can provide input to the U.N.’s World Forum on the Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations, a group set up to propose global vehicle standards.

The United States is one of the countries that helped create the forum, which could set policy in the areas of energy efficiency, safety, emissions, and theft prevention. America’s involvement establishes the possibility of
the international standards being implemented here in the U.S. The AMA seeks recognition in order to officially participate by contributing the views of American motorcyclists.

The United Nations Economic and Social Council has recommended that the AMA be recognized as a NGO. The AMA’s status as an NGO is anticipated to take effect in July. A request for similar status by the U.S.-based Motorcycle Riders Foundation has been defered but is expected to be granted next year, according to the AMA.

For more information, contact the AMA at 1-800-AMA-JOIN or go online to www.ama-cycle.org.

About 130 feet of Air Fence Bike will be assembled and deployed at Texas World Speedway for use by CMRA and RPM racers, during the second week in July. The Air Fence Bike sections will be deployed in the turn that claimed the life of CMRA and WERA racer Ryan Smith in 1999, and will be positioned in front of an existing steel barrier and tire wall outside the corner.

The new Air Fence Bike will be in position for CMRA/CCS races at Texas World July 21-22 and October 27-28, and for an RPM/WERA race August 18-19.

The deployment of the Air Fence Bike at Texas World is being funded by the Roadracing World Air Fence Fund.

Details of a cooperative deployment agreement and provisions for storage of the Air Fence Bike when it is not being used remain to be worked out with RPM and CMRA, although representatives from both organizations have agreed in basic principle to the arrangement.

Assembly and installation of the Air Fence Bike sections will be supervised by Andy Coffey, Managing Director of Air Fence Safety Systems (Australia).

Air Fence Bike is a non-inflatable version of Air Fence which is designed to stay at a track instead of being transported from track to track. Each unit measures about 6.5 feet long x 4.0-feet tall x 3.25 feet deep. The deployment at Texas World Speedway will involve 20 sections purchased at a cost of $11,000 including freight. The deployment will bring Roadracing World Air Fence Fund disbursements to a total of $115,000.

About $130,000 has been pledged to the Roadracing World Air Fence Fund but several people and companies have not actually sent in their pledged money yet. Actual collections to date total about $97,000 with the shortfall to date being covered by Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. on a temporary basis.

A list of persons and companies who have pledged but not actually paid will be posted in the near future. Further disbursements cannot be made until more pledges are made good.

Coffey will travel to the Texas track immediately after the World Superbike races at Laguna Seca July 8 and will need the help of two or three workers from the Texas race clubs to assemble and position the Air Fence Bike. Volunteers are being solicited and can contact Coffey via e-mail at [email protected].

Big Bill Spencer, a noted race announcer, television broadcaster and magazine columnist died yesterday, May 30, of a heart attack.

Friends said they thought he was in his late 50s.

Spencer lived in Mountain View, California.

More details will be posted as they become available.