Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Friday Morning European Superstock Practice Times:

1. Stefan Nebel, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:33.010
2. Walter Tortoroglio, Honda CBR900RR, 1:33.677
3. Didier Vankeymeulen, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:33.690
4. Gianluca Vizziello, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:34.043
5. Koen Vleugels, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:34.110
6. Alessandro Brannetti, Honda CBR900RR, 1:34.189
7. Riccardo Chiarello, Ducati 998S, 1:34.583
8. Lorenzo Mauri, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:34.627
9. Vittorio Iannuzzo, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:34.737
10. Benjamin Nabert, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:34.749

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Tony “The Tiger” Meiring attended a Dp Safety School Thursday, August 29 at Laguna Seca, and spent the day being coached by former Superbike star Jeff Haney.

Following the day on the track, Meiring and Haney went training at a gym.

Haney works as a riding coach and trainer when he’s not instructing at the Freddie Spencer Riding School at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Brian Livengood, the privateer who was named AMA Rookie Of The Year for 2002, actually participated in the series prior to this year, scoring 11 Superbike points in 2000.

AMA Pro Racing has not published criteria for the Rookie Of The Year Award but in the past has disqualified riders who have participated in Superbike races in prior years, even if they had not competed for a full season prior to the season in question.

Privateer Brian Parriott finished better than Livengood in 2002 Superbike points, 6th place versus 9th place.

“This was definitely my Rookie year in AMA competition,” Parriott said when reached by phone Friday at his family dealership, Parriott Motors in St. Helena, California. “I never in my life competed in an AMA Superbike race prior to 2002. We ran qualifying sessions and practice with Arclight last year for practice, but we never competed in an event.”

AMA Pro Racing has not explained why Livengood was named Rookie of the Year instead of Parriott.

From the SBK Press Office:

Edwards Fastest On Day One

First Qualifying Session

A charging final lap of 1:26.609, a new absolute circuit record at Oschersleben, gave Colin Edwards (Castrol Honda) the provisional pole position, after a day in which the stopwatch was pounded by the top two protagonists.

Running slightly behind schedule due to operational equipment delays, the first hour of timed qualifying saw Edwards dip under the 1:27 barrier in the early stages, looking like he had set his best lap of the session at the start.

In splendid isolation for the most part, the American was eventually joined on the 1:26 mark by world Champion Troy Bayliss (Ducati Infostrada) who set a best of 1:29.984, and was the only other man to do so.

Spurred on by the renewed competition to his supremacy, Edwards set out for one final lap and scorched to his best of 1:26.609, showing the form that has given him three out of the last four race wins at the circuit near Magdeburg.

Another regular challenger for pole honours, Neil Hodgson (HM Plant Ducati) went third fastest overall, just outside the 1:26s with a 1:27.164. Hodgson was, however, inside the existing race lap record of 1:27.669.

Former Oschersleben race winner, Ruben Xaus (the holder of the current lap record) jumped back to form at one of his favourite tracks, and went fast enough to roar into the first day top four, ahead of the final full factory Ducati on the grid – the L&M machine of Ben Bostrom.

Chris Walker took his four-cylinder Kawasaki to an excellent sixth place, albeit 1.444 seconds down on the leader’s time, losing out on acceleration on the short straights, which typify the Oschersleben layout.

James Toseland (HM Plant Ducati), who will be Walker’s team-mate in 2003, scored seventh quickest on the stopwatch, ahead of Pierfrancesco Chili (NCR Ducati). Both riders had been inside the top four at one stage, before being forced to yield in the final analysis.

Another fine performance, this time from Italian privateer Marco Borciani (Pedercini Ducati) saw him run out ninth, ahead of the factory Alstare Suzuki GSX-R 750 of Spaniard Gregorio Lavilla.

Noriyuki Haga (Playstation 2 Aprilia) was 1.722 seconds from the pole time, and in 11th place.

The provisional third row was completed by Aussie privateer Steve Martin on his Pirelli-sponsored DFX Ducati team. He in his part just outpaced the Spaziotel Ducati of Juan Borja, ultimately 13th.

AMA hero Eric Bostrom once more found the World Championship pace hotter than in his native US, and went 14th quickest, hoping for some more track and tyre familiarity to make a push towards the higher echelons; not to mention improved fitness after a recent boating accident.

Lucio Pedercini and Broc Parkes rounded out the top 16 provisional pole qualifiers, with factory riders Hitoyasu Izutsu (Kawasaki Racing Team) and Peter Goddard (Benelli) in 17th and 18th places respectively.

The pace at the front was so hot at Oschersleben that fully five riders failed to set qualifying times on the first day of action and must try again in the remaining session, before the specialised discipline of Superpole beckons for the top 16 on Saturday afternoon.

In the Supersport World Championship the leading light Fabien Foret shone brightest once more, flaying his Ten Kate Honda’s throttle with typical gusto and thus moving to the top of the timesheets with a 1:30.275.

Katsuaki Fujiwara, another championship hopeful, took second fastest time on his Alstare Suzuki, ahead of BKM Honda rider Christophe Cogan.

Chris Vermeulen (Van Zon Honda) was good value for his fourth place, finishing ahead of Kawasaki rider Andrew Pitt, the reigning World Champion.

The top Yamaha runner proved to be local hero Jörg Teuchert in sixth, while Yamaha Belgarda team member James Whitham proved too injured to ride after his big Brands Hatch crash, and was replaced by Gianluigi Scalvini.

The final qualifying sessions in all classes take place on Saturday 31st August, with Superpole following on from the Superbike final regulation qualifying session.

SBK Press Office

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Friday European Superstock Qualifying Results:

1. Walter Tortoroglio, Honda CBR900RR, 1:32.253
2. Stefan Nebel, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:32.288
3. Vittorio Iannuzzo, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:32.445
4. Lorenzo Alfonsi, Ducati 998S, 1:32.511
5. Didier Vankeymeulen, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:32.588
6. Fabrizio De Marco, Honda CBR900RR, 1:32.727
7. Koen Vleugels, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:32.789
8. Gianluca Vizziello, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:32.898
9. Andy Notman, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:32.914
10. Alessandro Brannetti, Honda CBR900RR, 1:32.946




Note: The model known as the CBR900RR is Europe is the same as the CBR954RR in the United States.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Jason DiSalvo spent Wednesday, August 28th at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, riding a stock GSX-R750 on Michelin tires in preparation for the uncoming Suzuki World Cup.

Participants in the Suzuki World Cup will compete on identical, stock GSX-R750 Suzukis on Michelin tires, in an event held at Magny Cours, France September 15.

DiSalvo was joined on track by Freddie Spencer school instructor Jeff Haney, a former Superbike racer. Spencer himself was present during the all-day training session.

DiSalvo raced a GSX-R750 on Dunlop tires in 2002, as well as a Honda RS250, and won the AMA Superstock race at Road America.

The stock GSX-R750 DiSalvo rode at Las Vegas was supplied by Dynojet.

From a press release issued by series organizers:

SZOKE SETS EARLY PACE

SHANNONVILLE, ON – Newly crowned Parts Canada Superbike champion Jordan Szoke led the way in practice Friday for the final round of the series at Shannonville Motorsport Park.

The Brantford, ON rider took his Coors Light Racing/Fast Company Suzuki GSX-R1000 to a time of 1:46.290 in the second of two 45-minute sessions.

Toronto’s Michael Taylor was second quickest with a lap of 1:46.354 on the Brooklin Cycle Yamaha YZF-R1 and Frank Trombino of Kleinburg, ON was third on the Orion Motorsports Honda RC51 at 1:46.513.

Szoke clinched the national title at the previous round of the series in Halifax but is aiming to become the first rider to win six races in a season and six in a row.

“I’m still trying to get used to some new things on the bike,” Szoke said. “We’re going to make some small changes and that will make a big difference for tomorrow.”

Taylor slowly worked his times down through the afternoon session. His last flying lap was his fastest, but he said he would have been quicker on the next one had the checkered flag not come out to end the session.

“We’ve been working on the suspension,” Taylor said. “I’m really excited about Sunday. Nobody has anything to lose and I think it’ll be a great race for the fans.”

Owen Weichel was fourth in Friday practice on the Canadian Kawasaki Motors Kawasaki ZX-7RR with a time of 1:46.839. The Huntington Beach, CA resident is second in the Superbike standings.

The last rider to break into the 1:46 range was Orion Motorsports Honda’s Kevin Lacombe. The Granby, QC racer recorded a 1:46.948 on his RC51.

Trombino led International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Open Sport Bike practice with a time of 1:47.523 on his Orion Honda CBR954RR. Points leader Francis Martin of Coors Light Racing/Fast Company Team Suzuki was fourth and his closest challenger, Blackfoot Suzuki’s Clint McBain, placed eighth.

In his first Canadian appearance this season Kars, ON’s Andrew Nelson paced Yoshimura 600 Sport Bike practice with a time of 1:49.309 on his Honda CBR600F4i. Title rivals Lacombe and McBain were second and third, respectively.

Qualifying sessions for all three national classes will be held Saturday afternoon beginning at 1:00 p.m. Feature races will run Sunday.

This weekend’s action will be televised on TSN Sunday, Oct. 13 at 3:30 p.m. EDT and on Quebec’s RDS Saturday, Sept. 21 at 7:00 p.m. Extended hour-long coverage will air on the Outdoor Life Network on Thursday, Nov. 7 at 6:00 p.m eastern.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn LeSanto

2003 World Superbike calendar includes a trip to Malaysia

The 2003 World Superbike provisional calendar has been released. Missing is the usual trip to South Africa, replaced next year by a round at Sepang in Malaysia. This is a development no doubt helped by former Superbike World Champion Carl Fogarty’s high profile involvement with Petronas, a Malaysian company.

Lausitzring is missing, because of the circuit’s financial collapse.

There are suggestions that the series will visit Hockenheim, Germany in 2003.

France has finally been added to the SBK list of countries, with a visit to Magny-Cours scheduled for October 5, 2003.

Superbike World Championship
2003 Pre-Calendar

3/9 Valencia, Spain
3/30 Phillips Island, Australia
4/27 Sugo, Japan
5/4 Sepang, Malaysia
5/18 Monza, Italy
6/1 tba, Germany
6/15 Silverstone, Great Britain
6/22 Misano, San Marino
7/13 Laguna Seca, United States
7/27 Brands Hatch, Great Britain
8/31 tba
9/7 Assen, Netherlands
9/28 Imola, Italy
10/5 Magny-Cours, France
10/19 tba

From a press release issued by CRA:

Jensen sets lap record at Midamerica during CRA weekend

During the last round of racing at Midamerica Motorplex held August 23-25, Central Roadracing Association’s very own, Robert Jensen, set the lap record of 1:31.913 aboard his Suzuki GSXR-750. Other Midwesterners, including Steve Atlas and Weg Pogue, came to join the fun, although conscious of the mud-filled infield due to the prior record-setting rainfall.

In 750 Supersport, Grand Prix, and Superbike Races, Jeff Kramer dominated the field on his Suzuki GSXR-750 fighting off Steve Johnson aboard the Tul-Aris. After a fulfilling season of racing AMA, Robert Jensen was victorious in the 600 Supersport Race, while Shawn Conrad dominated the 600 Superbike. In the Lightweight division, Bryant Soberg dominated Lightweight Supersport, Grand Prix, and Superbike Races. In the Novice 600 and 750 Races, Mark Nelson and Adam Dolney cleaned house, even with the uneventful swan dive of Dolney and his 600 into a mud-filled pond.

When it came time for the Dash for Cash, racers laid it all on the line. Jeff Kramer held a huge lead on second place, Jason Swan, in the Heavyweight Class and Shane Butts dominated the Lightweight Class.

In a twist of events, AMA Racer Jessica Zalusky, was fed up with the North Dakota hairstyle of Robert Jensen, so she took the sharpest scissors she could find and cut Robert’s hair. Robert was pleased with the do, although he did comment that Jessica should stick with road racing.

CRA would like to thank all of their workers and racers for their efforts during the Midamerica weekend. For more information on CRA, visit www.cra-mn.org.

From the SBK Press Office:

SBK INTERNATIONAL and MOTOPARK OSCHERSLEBEN
WILL DONATE MONEY TO HELP GERMAN FLOOD RECOVERY EFFORTS

29th August 2002: On the eve of the latest round of the Superbike World Championship event at Oschersleben in Germany, promoter SBK International and the Motopark Oschersleben have announced that they will jointly donate the money raised from the two weekend Pit Walks to a non-profit-organisation set up to help the Magdeburg region recover from the recent floods that have ravaged much of Germany. SBK President Paolo Flamini, said “The local area around Oschersleben has been very badly affected by the recent flooding and hopefully this donation from SBK International and the circuit goes some way to assisting the recovery efforts”. His sentiments were echoed by Motopark managing director, Peter Rumpfkeil, who said ” The complete MOTOPARK Team feels with all the people who are infected of the biggest catastrophe in Eastern Germany in the last years. We hope that with this donation we can relieve the suffering of the people a little bit. We thank the organisation of SBK International for their understanding and their fast and flexible help.”

The two Pit Walks take place from 12:55 to 13:25 on Saturday and 11:10 to 11:30 on Sunday. The money will handed over at the next motorcycle race meeting to be held at the circuit, the IDM (International German Championship) from 13-14 September 2002.

In a related gesture, the DMSB (Deutscher Motor Sport Bund) will give a further Euro 5.000 to the money that will be collected from the Superbike World Championship event. The DMSB donation comes from money collected during the Pit Walk held at the last round of the German Motorcycle Championship, held at the Nürburgring two weeks ago.


SBK Press Office