By Glenn Le Santo


Round 11 of the World Superbikes has started at Oschersleben in Germany after a one-month summer break in the series. Australian Troy Bayliss goes into the round leading the Championship by 53 points, ahead of the reigning World Champion Colin
Edwards.

Bayliss has been the most consistent rider this season; he’s finished in every race and taken five wins on his Infostrada Ducati.

Meanwhile, Edwards had reliability problems with his Honda VTR/RC51 early in the season but insists he’s still in with a chance to retain his title. “I won both races here last year and the track really seems to suit the VTR Honda,” said Edwards before the weekend, “so I’m hopeful of a repeat of that. As far as the Championship goes, well, there’s little more I can do other than win as many of the last six races as possible, hopefully starting on Sunday.”

Unlike his Ducati-riding competitors, Edwards has spent the last month hard at work–he co-rode to victory in the pretigious Suzuka 8-hours with Valentino Rossi on the VTR/RC51.

Ben Bostrom, winner of the last five World Superbike races, can’t be discounted, even though he hasn’t swung a leg over his bike all month. “I’m gonna be a little rusty,” said the talented American, “but I’ll soon get dialed back in and I am confident I am in with a chance to win the title.” Bostrom’s incredible run of success recently has turned him from an also-ran to a genuine title contender. He’s now 56 points back from Bayliss and only three points behind fellow American Edwards.

British fans have still got something to shout about, despite the retirement of Carl Fogarty. Neil Hodgson’s form has been good all year and recently the World Superbike series has become the Ben and Neil show with Bostrom and Hodgson entertaining the crowds with some classic racing duels at the front of the pack. Hodgson, riding a year-old Ducati 996, stands fifth in the title and is rapidly catching fourth-place man Troy Corser, the Australian whose form has deteriorated recently after tire troubles on his Aprilia.

Hodgson, riding for the British GSE Ducati Team is the highest-placed privateer in the series, and is ahead of many factory riders in the title chase, including veteran Pierfrancesco Chili. Hodgson’s teammate, the young Yorkshireman James Toseland, is the second-highest privateer, back in 13th in the title. The GSE pairing have scored more points between them than the factory Suzuki pairing of Chili and Stephan Chambon, which speaks volumes for Hodgson and Toseland’s talents, as well as the professionalism of the GSE team.

By Glenn Le Santo

Australian Adam Fergusson has taken provisional pole with a solid performance in the opening timed qualifying session at the Oschersleben
round of the World Supersport Championship.

Fergusson hasn’t had the best season so far and needs a good result this weekend as the end of the season, and contract renegotiation time approaches. “I need to turn a few heads this
weekend,” admits Fergusson, “otherwise I’ll be out of a job for next season.”

Fegusson currently rides a Honda CBR600F4i for the Alpha Technik Team. The team tested here earlier in the month, Fergusson admitted, telling a reporter, “Testing here has helped me as I’ve never ridden here before so I’ve been able to learn the track before this weekend. Now we are concentrating on getting the settings right for the conditions. There’s not much rubber down so the track’s not as grippy as it was, but as the weekend passes and the rubber gets laid down that should change.”

There was heavy overnight rain, which served to ‘clean’ the track as well as giving the riders the chance to select some wet settings when
they went out for free practice this morning on the still-wet track.

The Ten Kate teamsters, Fabien Foret and Pere Riba, don’t have Fergusson’s job worries. They’ve both already been re-signed to contest next season
aboard the CBR600F4i with the Dutch-based Ten Kate Honda team. “I am very happy to be riding with Ten Kate again next year,” said Riba. “I had some offers from non-factory teams to ride in WSB but I would rather stay here with a team I know where I can ride for wins, rather than have to start again with a privateer Superbike team.”

Foret was also pleased to have his next season
secure already, saying “I can concentrate on my job, which is to win races.”

The two Ten Kate riders get on well together, an advantage for both them and the team. “Working another year with Pere Riba is great, I couldn’t wish for a better colleague,” said Foret. “Pere is the most experienced Honda rider in the Supersport scene, and we work together perfectly.”

Foret and Riba were second and third in the qualifying session, respectively.

Brands Hatch winner Jorg Teuchert struggled in the session. The championship points leader is suffering from an injury he picked up in practice at Brands and can’t wrestle the bike through the final chicanes as hard as he needs to stay on the pace. He finished ninth in the session. His teammate Christian Kellner was fourth with Piergorgio Bontempi in fifth.

Supersport first qualifying
Friday, August 31, best times:

1. Adam Furgusson, Australia, Honda, 1:30.894
2. Fabien Foret, France, Honda, 1:31.005
3. Pere Riba, Spain, Honda, 1:31.128
4. Christian Kellner, Germany, Yamaha, 1:31.265
5. Piergorgio Bontempi, Italy, Yamaha, 1:31.411
6. Andrew Pitt, Australia, Kawasaki, 1:31.520
7. James Whitham, Great Britain, Yamaha, 1:31.613
8. Cristoph Cogan, France, Yamaha, 1:31.688
9. Jorg Teuchert, Germany, Yamaha, 1:31.719
10. Katsuaki Fujiwara, Japan, Suzuki, 1:31.749

It has continued to rain this afternoon at Memphis Motorsports Park, with few riders braving the tricky dragstrip-and-return-roads course during practice for this weekend’s WERA National Endurance Series and National Challenge Series races.

Riders are routed through the drag-strip staging lanes, turn sharply onto the dragstrip, and then must stay within four or five feet of the near wall to avoid the ultra-slippery rubber built-up on the drag strip.

Among the few brave men currently on track is Shane Clarke, who is in the process of making his return to road racing after nearly a season off working as a race mechanic and engine builder.

Clarke is riding a GSX-R1000 carrying number 119.

Paddock rumors are flying to the effect that Yamaha may fold up its AMA Superbike program at the end of the 2001 season.

The decision may hinge on whether or not Yamaha can sign Anthony Gobert for the 2002 season.

Yamaha is expected to continue its AMA Formula Xtreme program with Graves Motorsports, however. The company may also continue with its 600cc Supersport program.

Factory team involvement in AMA Superbike has historically been cyclical. Typically factory team involvement builds up to an expensive peak, followed by periods of little or no factory involvement. The last time most of the factories bailed out–in the mid-1980s–only American Honda continued racing in the entire AMA series.

The discovery of Kevin Schwantz–and his success in a few one-off rides on a Yoshimura Suzuki– pulled Suzuki back into AMA racing in 1985. Kawasaki and Yamaha followed Suzuki back into AMA racing later in the decade.

From an AMA press release:

“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 web site, 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.”



There was no “following article” included in the e-mailed press release, and no attachment. More information may be available at the AMA website.

This report just in from Ed Siccardi of Eyeball Engineering:

I just got back from a day ride to Rausch Creek Raceway to check out the progress they’re making on the new racetrack. A year ago they said they wanted to open in the spring of 2001 and we all know they were delayed but I figured they must be pretty far along by now. Boy, was I surprised!

THERE’S NOTHING GOING ON AT THE SITE! Not only is there no asphalt down, the grading doesn’t seem to be complete and the site looks like it did in their website pictures a year ago! The most surprising thing was there was no-one around and there was no equipment of any kind in sight – no earth-moving equipment, no trucks, no dozers, no tractors, nothing.

The construction office/trailer was buttoned up tight and looked like no one had been there for some time.

It looks like all work stopped several months ago and the site has just been weathering this past spring and summer. I think I can safely predict, based on what I saw today, that the track won’t be opening this year or next year, either.

Four of the remaining factory AMA Superbike teams are testing at Willow Springs this week, in preparation for the upcoming AMA National at the Rosamond, California racetrack.

Yoshimura Suzuki started testing Wednesday, along with the Yamaha Superbike team and Graves Yamaha.

On Thursday, Honda joined Yoshimura Suzuki and Yamaha, and, on Friday, Kawasaki will test.

The teams are at Willow Springs now to avoid the AMA restrictions on pre-event testing for riders who are in the top 10 in Superbike and 600cc Supersport points.

The Willow Springs National is scheduled for September 14-16, following a Team Hammer School and Track Ride day on Wednesday, September 12 and a Team Hammer Pro Practice on Thursday, September 13.

Reached by phone on Thursday, August 30, Team Kawasaki’s Al Ludington–Crew Chief for Eric Bostrom–confirmed that Kawasaki planned to test on Friday.

Ludington also commented on the recently announced news that Kawasaki and Suzuki had formed a strategic alliance, saying, “We’ve requested Mat’s set-up notes, but we haven’t heard back from Suzuki yet.”

Kawasaki and Suzuki have announced that the companies will work together in the future, in the areas of design, development and production of motorcycles and ATVs. Exactly what that means–and what effect the cooperation will have on the product lines and racing activities of the two companies–is unknown.

Each company issued press releases on Wednesday, August 29, and while the majority of the content of the releases was very similar, Kawasaki’s press release made the point that each company will continue to go its own way in the development of large-displacement sportbikes.


Suzuki’s release read:

“Suzuki Motor Corporation and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. today announced an agreement to form a strategic business relationship in the areas of product development, design, engineering, manufacturing of motorcycle and ATV products and purchasing components.

“Based in the spirit of reciprocity, equality, and combining resources, the agreement is designed to make Suzuki’s and Kawasaki’s motorcycle business more profitable despite increasing globalization and intensifying competition.

“Both companies will collaborate in the area of product development, OEM supply of product, commonizing parts and components, and joint purchasing and manufacturing, so that the competitiveness and profitability of their motorcycle business can be improved. The first step will be to combine resources and create immediate synergy with the cruiser, scooter, motocross and ATV lines. Suzuki and Kawasaki will preserve autonomy in the area of marketing and sales, with each company using its own brand and sales network as before.

“Both companies expect that this agreement will help them respond to the variety of customer needs and to contribute to the healthy growth of the industry.”


Kawasaki’s statement was worded a little differently:

“Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. and Suzuki Motor Corporation have agreed to join forces in the development, procurement and production of motorcycles and ATVs.

“The alliance is expected to strengthen the companies’ global motorcycle and ATV businesses through combining resources. It will allow production of more new and improved models for our customers at competitive prices.

“Kawasaki and Suzuki will each continue to maintain their own brands, completely separate and independent from each other. We will each market and sell only our brand motorcycles and ATVs through our respective dealer networks.

“The companies will begin utilizing each others’ expertise for cruiser, scooter, motocross and ATV models. Each company will continue its independent development of large displacement sportbikes.

“Kawasaki feels that through this alliance we will be able to better meet the varying needs and expectations of our customers and more strongly compete in the global motorcycle and ATV industries.

“Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.”


At post time, Suzuki and Kawasaki spokesmen had not returned phone calls requesting comment, but Yamaha’s Brad Banister said, “The marketplace is really competitive right now. The market in America is still strong, but things are getting tight in Europe and Japan. So everybody has a close eye on the bottom line.”

A Honda spokesman declined to make any comment.

While motorcycle manufacturers prepare to unveil their 2002 models at various dealer conventions and international motorcycle shows during the coming weeks, the first offspring of the Kawasaki/Suzuki cooperation most likely would not be seen until 2003 or 2004 at the earliest.

From a Honda press release originally issued August 24 and corrected August 28:

2002 Honda Gold Wing exceeds CARB 2008 emissions standards

Torrance, CA — American Honda Motor Company’s 2002 GL1800 Gold Wing motorcycle has been certified to meet the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) tough 2008 emissions standards. But there’s more to the story…

In fact, the 2002 Gold Wing’s powerful 118-bhp engine exceeds the CARB 2008 emissions standard for carbon monoxide by 67 percent and the standard for hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen by 63 percent. This remarkable achievement is realized through the use of Honda’s sophisticated programmed fuel injection and the use of a 3-way closed-loop fuel management system that utilizes two exhaust catalyzers.

“Honda has made a global commitment to produce low emission engines that do not sacrifice performance and driveability,” said Honda’s Motorcycle Division Vice President Ray Blank. “It’s yet another example of our ‘Performance First’ philosophy, and we are very pleased that we can offer our riders this combination of power and low emissions in the Gold Wing.”

The 2002 Gold Wing is now on sale at Honda motorcycle dealers throughout the US. For 2002, Honda offers three stunning new colors: Pearl Orange, Metallic Silver and Illusion Blue. Illusion Red, Pearl Yellow and Black complete the offerings for 2002. The Gold Wing is also available with Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS) in all six colors.

The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the 2002 Gold Wing in Pearl Orange, Metallic Silver, Pearl Yellow and Black is $17,699. Illusion Blue and Illusion Red are available for $17,999, only $300 more for the eye-catching ChromaFlair light interference pigment that alters hue as lighting conditions change. The ABS-version of the Gold Wing adds $1000 — $18,699 for Pearl Orange, Metallic Silver, Pearl Yellow and Black and $18,999 for Illusion Blue and Illusion Red.

For further information, visit the Honda website at www.hondamotorcycle.com or contact the nearest authorized Honda motorcycle dealer.