Copyright 2001 Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

More than a decade after he last rode one, Kevin Schwantz was back on a Yoshimura Suzuki Superbike during team tests at Road Atlanta Tuesday.

Schwantz took five laps on the bike with an on-board camera to gather video footage that will be used to promote the AMA Superbike National at Road Atlanta. Previously, Schwantz had last ridden a Yoshimura Suzuki Superbike at Daytona in 1988, when he won the Daytona 200.

“It makes Road Atlanta seem like a pretty tight little racetrack,” said Schwantz about the bike he rode, which is normally ridden by Mat Mladin. Mladin missed the test with a broken lower left leg.

“The biggest thing that I noticed about it is how quick you need to be ready to shift gears when you get off turn seven and twist it wide open,” continued Schwantz. “It’s almost like you have to preload your foot and be ready to get two, maybe three gears bam-bam-bam.

“I’m not used to riding stuff that’s that fast. Well, I did ride Kenny’s bike in November but that’s different, it was at Philip Island, a big, long place,” Schwantz said, refering to a brief ride he had on Kenny Roberts 500cc World Championship-winning RGV500 during post-season tests following the last Grand Prix of 2000, in Australia.

“And it sure liked to stop, it stopped right now,” Schwantz said, refering again to the GSX-R750. “(Yoshimura’s) Don (Sakakura) was on the back straight with a radar gun when I was on it and I reached 163 mph on the back straight and the fastest (Superbike) through there for the day was 165, 166. And it sure seems to stop itself quick, and the bike feels really stable on the brakes.

“Just like Kenny’s bike it feels real nervous to me, probably because it’s been so long since I’ve ridden something that fast and I’m not riding it hard enough and not loading it enough. It was probably a little stiff for me.

“Speedvision had a camera on it, for some TV spots for the Big Kahuna (AMA Superbike race scheduled for May 17-20).

“I was kind of hoping they didn’t get any footage and we’d have to try it again. It was fun. I really enjoyed it.

“I think I did 32 on it, it shows that you’ve got to go out and really push to go as fast as most of these guys are going now.

“Low 25 is what (Aaron) Yates did, but most of those guys are in the high 25s, 26 is what these guys did. Everybody who’s here is basically within a second of each other and I was five or six seconds off that so it just shows you the level of the playing field these days.

“It was a very pleasant experience,” concluded Schwantz.

Schwantz also said that the track was covered with fallen pollen which looked like yellow dust when bikes disturbed it. The pollen had to have some affect on traction, especially off line, Schwantz said.

Schwantz added that Grant Lopez’s Valvoline EMGO Suzuki Formula Xtreme GSX-R1000 registered the highest top speed on Sakakura’s radar gun, reaching 168 mph. The highest AMA Superbike reading was between 165 and 166 mph, Schwantz said.

Besides Yates and Lopez, riders testing at Road Atlanta include Jamie Hacking, Steve Crevier, Mike Smith, Jordan Szoke, Anthony Gobert, Tommy Hayden, Doug Chandler, Eric Bostrom, Ben Spies, Chris Ulrich and Larry Pegram.

Hacking spent all day on his GSX-R600 Supersport bike, while Yates switched back and forth between his 600 and his Superbike.

Hayden and Gobert ran 600s in the morning and Superbikes in the afternoon.

Spies and Ulrich were riding Formula USA GSX-R750s all day. Lopez started the day on his Formula USA GSX-R750 and then switched to his Formula Xtreme GSX-R1000.

Honda’s new four-stroke Grand Prix racebike, known as the RC211V, was seen testing in public for the first time April 10 at Sugo Sports Land, in Sendai, Japan.

Former 500cc World Champion and AMA Superbike winner Kevin Schwantz is back on a Superbike today, riding one of Mat Mladin’s Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R750s during tests at Road Atlanta.

Mladin broke his lower left leg and cannot attend the tests, which are scheduled to run through Thursday.

A group of teams shared the cost of renting the track, hiring ambulances, buying haybales and buying insurance for the tests. Each team’s share was about $6000.

The Wegman Benefit Fund, Inc., which raises money and distributes it to injured road racers, has upgraded its informational website at www.wegmanfund.org.

The Wegman Benefit Fund is run by Gordon Lunde Sr. and is endorsed by Roadracing World.

Lance Holst, who has worked with Jason Pridmore’s STAR school since its inception, has signed on with the new Suzuki-sponsored riding school being hosted by former 500cc World Champion Kevin Schwantz at Road Atlanta.

At post time it was unknown when Holst will leave the STAR school. Jason Pridmore and Mark Gallardo, two principals in the STAR school, could not be reached for comment prior to posting.

Information on the new Kevin Schwantz Suzuki Riding School is available from www.kevin-schwantz.com or from www.roadatlanta.com.

According to a cryptic e-mail sent out to AMA Pro Racing employees and contractors by AMA Pro Racing Director of Competition Merrill Vanderslice, Dan Lance has again left the organization.

The e-mail, dated April 5 and obtained by Roadracing World on April 10, read as follows:

“Effective today, Dan Lance has resigned as Safety/Logistics Officer to pursue other interests.

“Merrill Vanderslice”

Lance could not be reached prior to post time. Responding to an e-mail requesting clarification, Vanderslice declined to comment, stating that he was not “at liberty to comment on private personnel issues”.

Lance was well-liked by riders and team members for his practical approach to problems faced by riders, including track set-up.

He originally left his part-time job with AMA Pro Racing last fall because the organization would not pay him enough to even cover his direct expenses incurred getting to AMA Pro Races. Lance was lured back this spring with a full-time staff job based out of AMA headquarters in Ohio.

Stayed tuned for details.

Yamaha has issued a press release announcing the official name of its four-stroke Grand Prix racebike. The release reads:


“Yamaha is proud to announce the official designated name of the OW-M1 machine, which is the
YZR-M1. The name has been derived from the following key elements: The YZR component of the name represents it as a Yamaha factory prototype Grand Prix motorcycle. The M1 signifies Yamaha’s new #1 Mission, which is for the new bike to win the MotoGP GP-1 World Championship in its debut year. While at the same time playing a key role for Yamaha as an R&D test-bed for new four-stroke technology. This crucial data will be fed back into the company’s future four-stroke production models, providing its customers the edge over the competition with the most technologically advanced production motorcycles.

“The YZR-M1’s intensive testing program is continuing in preparation for the 2002 season, and its performance in both lap times and race distance endurance tests have met all expectations to date. The lightweight Inline, four-cylinder powerplant has already achieved better acceleration and higher top speeds than the current two-stroke machines. Track tests have been carried out at Yamaha’s own Fukuroi testing circuit. A further test was then held at Sepang, Malaysia in December 2000, when Marlboro Yamaha Team riders Max Biaggi and Carlos Checa both sampled the new bike. Yamaha then moved to Phillip Island, Australia at the end of February 2001.

“For the very latest test this week, from April 3-5, the testing team again returned to Sepang and it was here that the YZR-M1 completed almost 200 laps and proved its durability, even under extreme weather conditions. Now Yamaha is ready for the next phase, in search of the best balance between the compact, high performance engine and the lightweight chassis–which is based on the YZR500’s twin-spar Deltabox design. These tests will be carried out in Europe at several current GP tracks over the next six months. The YZR-M1 development is on schedule, and it is ready to achieve the next set of objectives in order to be fully ready for its Mission in 2002.”

Former 500cc World Champion Kevin Schwantz pitched in and helped Yoshimura crew members place haybales around the Road Atlanta road course Monday afternoon, in preparation for team tests Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Valvoline EMGO Suzuki mechanics also pitched in, along with VES Crew Chief Keith Perry.

Schwantz won the 500cc World Championship in 1993.

According to a press release issued April 10 by Morgan Broadhead, special dual-compound Michelin tires designed for use at Willow Springs will be available for the balance of the WSMC season and for the April 19-22 Formula USA National at the Rosamond, California racetrack. The press release read as follows:

“Freddie Spencer’s High Performance Product Line recently received a shipment of special Michelin Pilot Race tires for use at Willow Springs International Raceway. The ‘Willow’ DOT tires will be available trackside through Racers Edge Performance during all remaining WSMC events and round two of the Formula USA National Road Race Series.

“Willow Springs International Raceway is known to be one of the toughest tracks for the tire manufacturers to come to grips with. The ultra-fast turn 8-9 combination puts incredible stresses on the right side of tires while the left side is used in only three corners. This special dual-compound rear tire was developed specifically for Willow Springs and features a very soft left side coupled with a durable right side to handle the unique stresses Willow Springs puts on a tire.

“For more information please call Morgan Broadhead at Freddie Spencer’s High Performance Product Line: 702-591-8915.”