Racer Eric Falt married Diane Groves April 28 in Dallas, Texas. Racer Brian Roach is engaged to marry Laura Granato in April 2003. (Handy editorial hint: Submit wedding, engagement, birth and other milestone information via e-mail sent to [email protected]. Include your contact information, daytime phone number and evening phone number in case further information is needed.)
Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
The AMA National At Mid-Ohio July 26-28 has one of the largest purses in the Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship. The Superbike purse totals $82,000 with half paid out in each of two Superbike races. The four support races each have a purse of $9500.
Chevy Trucks Superbike
Total Purse $82,000
(Half paid for each race)
1. $10,450
2. $7350
3. $5000
4. $4000
5. $3500
6. $3150
7. $3050
8. $2950
9. $2850
10. $2750
11. $2650
12. $2550
13. $2450
14. $2350
15. $2250
16. $2150
17. $2050
18. $2000
19. $1950
20. $1850
21. $1750
22. $1650
23. $1550
24. $1450
25. $1300
26. $1200
27. $1100
28. $1000
29. $900
30. $750
31. $550
32. $450
33. $400
34. $350
35. $300
MBNA 250 Grand Prix
Lockhart Phillips Formula Extreme
Pro Honda Oils Supersport
Suzuki Genuine Accessories Superstock
$9500 Purse Each
1. $1500
2. $1200
3. $900
4. $650
5. $600
6. $550
7. $500
8. $450
9. $400
10. $375
11. $350
12. $325
13. $300
14. $275
15. $250
16. $225
17. $200
18. $175
19. $150
20. $125
From a press release:
SHANE PRIETO HANGS ‘EM UP
In last Sunday’s CCS Florida Region race at Moroso, Shane Prieto graciously announced his retirement. A dominant rider for 10 years, Prieto left holding several records, including Most Consecutive Unlimited Grand Prix victories with 12. And, Most Unlimited GP Victories All-Time. “I had been thinking about it for awhile, and last week, it just clicked in my head that it was time,” said Prieto. “I intend to spend weekends water-skiing with my family now.” When Prieto was younger his family did that together and he misses it. He is an accomplished bare-foot skier.
By the time racing started Sunday morning, everyone in the paddock had heard the news, and there was more attention than usual paid to the battles throughout the day between Prieto and this year’s champ Marco Martinez. These two have produced some very exciting contests throughout the last several years, and this event was no exception. In this day’s Unlimited GP, both were riding Suzuki GSX-R1000s.
Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
A lack of Thursday practice prior to this weekend’s AMA Pro National at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and the inclusion of a qualifying round for the World GSX-R Cup drew a contingent of AMA Pro-licensed riders to the AMA Grand National Championships held Monday and Tuesday at the Lexington, Ohio racetrack.
Participating Pro riders include Rich Conicelli, who has been in the top 10 in AMA Superbike points this year, as well as Jason DiSalvo, who won the AMA Superstock National at Road America in June.
The appearance of Pro-licensed racers has reignited the debate over who should be allowed to participate in an “Amateur” event, and never mind that manufacturer contingency money has been posted for the races.
Complicating matters is the fact that AMA Pro Racing Director of Competition Merrill Vanderslice has in the past suggested that Thursday practice is not important and that riders can participate in club races prior to AMA Nationals if they need more set-up and practice time than that afforded in official AMA practice starting on Friday of a race weekend. Now, when AMA Pro riders have shown up at a club race as suggested by Vanderslice, AMA Amateur officials have discouraged their participation and in at least one case went so far as to briefly suggest that they might be disqualified if they insisted on racing.
At least one rider has pointed out that the AMA Pro riders are AMA members, are legal entrants and have complied with all published rules.
Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
Brian Livengood won the second of three slots for U.S. riders in the Suzuki World GSX-R Cup scheduled for September 14 at Magny Cours, France, by finishing second in a qualifying race at Mid-Ohio Tuesday.
Livengood, who is currently 10th in AMA Superbike points, and his mechanic will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the World GSX-R Cup, which will match riders from various countries on identical Suzuki GSX-R750s fitted with Michelin tires.
Ty Howard won the race at Mid-Ohio in a runaway but was ineligible because he did not have any Suzuki Cup points.
Livengood came out on top of a battle for second that also included John Jacobi–who had crashed in the heat race and started at the back of the grid–Rich Conicelli and Jason DiSalvo.
The final World GSX-R Cup qualifier will be decided during next weekend’s WERA National Challenge Series event at Summit Point Raceway.
Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
John Dugan of Washougal, Washington became the first rider to qualify to represent the U.S. in the World GSX-R Cup scheduled for September 14 in Magny-Cours, France.
Dugan won the qualifying race at Portland, Oregon on Sunday, July 21, beating Allan Schmidt and Nathan Hester.
Dugan was racing with a cracked pelvis sustained in a crash at Laguna Seca during the AMA National/World Superbike weekend.
Schmidt crashed in turn nine while leading the first lap during the morning heat race held to determine the grid, and his racebike was destroyed. Schmidt’s crew installed the engine in a spare chassis and Schmidt started the final from the back of the grid.
Dugan and a mechanic will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to France for the World GSX-R Cup final, which features riders on spec bikes drawn by lot. The World GSX-R Cup bikes will be fitted with Michelin tires.
Another qualifying round will be held during a Fasttrax event tomorrow at Mid-Ohio and the final qualifying round will be held during the WERA National scheduled for Summit Point, West Virginia on August 3-4. A total of three riders will qualify to represent the United States in the World GSX-R Cup event.
From a press release issued by series organizers:
SZOKE STREAKS TO RECORD
BOWMANVILLE, ON – Parts Canada Superbike Championship points leader Jordan Szoke continued his dominance of the 2002 season by winning his fourth event in a row at Mosport International Raceway Sunday.
Riding the Coors Light Racing/Fast Company Team Suzuki GSX-R1000 the Brantford, ON racer led virtually all the way to establish a new record for consecutive race wins in a single season. He had shared the mark of three wins with Steve Crevier.
Michael Taylor finished second on his Brooklin Cycle Yamaha YZF-R1 after briefly leading Szoke on the opening lap and hounding him most of the way. The Toronto rider was 5.040 secs. behind at the finish after he was forced to back off with mechanical trouble.
“There was a ton of pressure to win this weekend,” said Szoke after his 13th career national Superbike win, placing him second on the all-time list. “It’s Mosport. It’s the place. But we just put our head down in the race and got it done.”
Huntington Beach, CA resident Owen Weichel finished third on his Canadian Kawasaki ZX-7RR after a dramatic battle with the Coors Light Racing/Fast Company Suzuki GSX-R1000 of Francis Martin and Kevin Lacombe’s Orion Honda RC51.
Szoke picked up a perfect score of 56 points for qualifying on pole, winning and leading the most laps in Sunday’s race and moved into an almost insurmountable lead in the Parts Canada Superbike point standings.
He now has 262 points to the 177 of Weichel with a total of 112 points available in the final two races of the season. The series continues at Atlantic Motorsport Park Aug. 9-11.
In other action at Mosport, Australian Craig Connell completed a perfect weekend by winning the National Pro Honda Oils/Yoshimura 600 Sport Bike race over Arclight Suzuki teammate Lee Acree.
After sweeping both legs of Saturday’s Lockhart-Phillips Superbike/International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Open Sport Bike event Connell beat Acree by 4.585 secs. on his Suzuki GSX-R600.
Coors Light Racing/Blackfoot Suzuki’s Clint McBain won a wild battle for third to extend his lead in the Yoshimura 600 Sport Bike standings.
Connell’s performance helped Team USA defeat Team Canada in the SUPERSHOW 2003 presents the Coors Light Canada vs. USA Match Races and gave him the “King of Mosport” crown.
This weekend’s races will be televised on TSN Saturday, Aug. 10 and Saturday, Aug. 24. Start time for both shows is 11:30 am EDT. Action from Mosport will also be shown later this year on Quebec’s RDS and across Canada on the Outdoor Life Network.
Results of Sunday’s fifth round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Mosport International Raceway, showing finishing position, rider name, hometown and type of motorcycle:
1.Jordan Szoke, Brantford, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 2. Michael Taylor, Toronto, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1; 3. Owen Weichel, Huntington Beach, CA, Kawasaki ZX-7RR; 4. Francis Martin, Sherbrooke, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 5. Geoff May, Cumming, GA, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 6. Frank Trombino, Kleinburg, ON, Honda RC51; 7. Jeff Williams, Harrowsmith, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 8. Benoit Pilon, St-Jerome, QC, Yamaha YZF-R1; 9. Kevin Lacombe, Granby, QC, Honda RC51*; 10. Ugo Levert, Lorraine, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 11. Jean-Francois Cyr, Joliette, QC, Yamaha YZF-R6; 12. Greg Boki, Montreal, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 13. Darryn Wilbur, Maple, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1; 14. Philip Onisto, Bolton, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 15. Dave Young, Woodstock, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 16. Jerome Plourde, St-Hubert, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 17. Gaston Labrie, Brossard, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 18. Joel McDonald, North York, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6; 19. Clint Hines, Burlington, ON, Suzuki GSX-R750; 20. Pauly Sherer, Freeport, NY, Suzuki GSX-R750; 21. Steve Dufresne, St-Barthelemy, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000
DNF. John Brundl, Etobicoke, ON, Honda CBR954RR; DNF. Mike Walsh, Toronto, ON, Suzuki GSX-R750; DNF. Chris Murray-Audain, Scarborough, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1; DNF. Dean Osborne, Ajax, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000; DNF. Mike Desmarais, North Bay, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000
* — Kevin Lacombe penalized four positions for a jump start
Time of Race: 23:47
Margin of Victory: 5.040 secs.
Fastest Lap: Jordan Szoke, 1:21.911 on lap 5
Parts Canada Superbike Championship point standings following the fifth round at Mosport International Raceway Sunday, showing position, rider name and point total:
1.Jordan Szoke, 262; 2. Owen Weichel, 177; 3. Francis Martin, 145; 4. Kevin Lacombe, 144; 5. Frank Trombino 141; 6. Michael Taylor, 138; 7. Jean-Francois Cyr, 107; 8. Benoit Pilon, 100; 9. Darryn Wilbur, 88; 10. Philip Onisto, 84; 11. Ugo Levert, 73; 12. Bruce McDonald 64; 13. Tim Easton, 49; 14. Jeff Williams, 48; 15. John Brundl, 29; 16. Geoff May, 29; 17. Dave Young, 27; 18. David Klassen 27; 19. Nick Ienatsch, 21; 20. Michael Leon 21; 21. Matthew McBride 19; 22. Jerome Plourde, 18; 23. Greg Boki, 15; 24. Clint Hines 15; 25. Gaston Labrie, 14; 26. Tony Bouffard, 12; 27. Dave Hodge 12; 28. Mike Desmarais 10; 29. Steve Crevier 4; 30. Joel McDonald, 4; 31. Jim Proulx 4; 32. Pauly Sherer, 1
Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
Jeremy Toye again beat Chuck Graves in a wheel-to-wheel showdown in Toyota Cup Unlimited Formula One action at Willow Springs Raceway Sunday, in a battle that came down to a chance encounter with a lapped rider and a desperate last-half-lap scramble.
When the checkered flag flew, Toye and his Lee’s Cycle Suzuki GSX-R1000 had beaten Graves and his Graves Yamaha YZF-R1 powered YZF-R7 Superbike, both on Dunlop slicks. Chris Ulrich finished third on a Superstock GSX-R1000 on Michelin DOT-labelled tires.
The lapped rider pulled it down on Graves as Toye went around the outside in turn four and Graves’ best chance to win was gone; Toye then ran wide in turn five and got a poor drive off turn six, yet still held off Graves in turn eight. Graves got up outside Toye in turn nine but Toye’s bike was stronger in the run to the line.
Toye did most of the leading in the 12-lap race, Graves trying to get underneath into turn one several times before making it happen, and Toye quickly repassing in the run to turn two. Graves had the lead to the line two laps from the finish with Toye trying to get around on the outside into turn one, the pair so close together as they dove for the apex that it seemed certain they would collide–but they didn’t. On the last lap Toye led into turn one.
The pace was 1:21s, faster than Toye qualified last month for the front row of September’s $50,000-to-the-winner Toyota 200, which will be 80 laps on the 2.5-mile Willow Springs course.
Toye also won the 750cc Superstock, L&L Motorsports 750cc Superbike, and 750cc Modified Production races.
Graves won Saturday’s Solo GTO race and Sunday’s Performance Machine Open Superbike, Open Superstock, Graves Motorsports 650cc Superbike, and Roadracingworld.com 600cc Superstock races. In Open Superstock, Graves won on a 2002 Yamaha YZF-R1 that he had run three laps of practice on.
On Friday, Aaron Gobert locked in a front-row starting position for the Toyota 200, qualifying at 1:23.896, 107.276 mph. Gobert crashed out of Saturday’s Solo race and sat out Sunday with bruises. Gobert was structurally uninjured, according to his Graves Yamaha crew.
More, from a Willow Springs press release:
WILLOW SPRINGS TOYOTA 200 QUALIFYING UPDATE!
Yamaha’s Aaron Gobert joins last month’s fast qualifier Jeremy Toye with a guaranteed start position on the front row for Willow Springs Raceway’s $150,000.00 200 mile roadrace event to be held on September 15, 2002.
At the 2nd round of qualifying on Friday, July 19th Gobert, on his factory Yamaha YZF-R6 600cc supersport-spec bike, ran a best lap of 1:23.896 averaging over 107 mph around the 2.5 mile Willow Springs road course.
Toye remains fastest with last months fast lap of 1:22.960 on his Suzuki GSX-R1000. Upcoming qualifying dates are on Friday, August 16 and Friday, September 13 and the fastest rider each date will join Toye and Gobert on the front row of the 40 rider field. Other top times to date include Jack Pfeifer at 1:23.502, former 250cc GP National Champ David Emde at 1:25.652 and Clinton Whitehouse at 1:25.814.
Info on racer entry and spectator ticket information is online at www.willowspringsraceway.com
Spectators may also call 661.256.6666 for special advance ticket information packages currently available from WSIR.
From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing, and we think what it’s trying to say is, these guys have already won two or three races during Mid-Ohio doubleheader weekends, and hope to end next weekend with a fourth or fifth race win:
YATES, CHANDLER AND DUHAMEL VYING TO BECOME FIRST FOUR-TIME AMA CHEVY TRUCKS U.S. SUPERBIKE WINNER AT MID-OHIO DOUBLEHEADER
PICKERINGTON, Ohio – Blimpie Yoshimura Suzuki’s Aaron Yates and HMC Ducati’s Doug Chandler come to Lexington, Ohio, this weekend, July 26-28, as the only three-time winners of the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course doubleheader round of the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship. Both AMA Superbike veterans have the chance this weekend to become the first four-time, or even five-time if things go really well, Superbike winner at Mid-Ohio. Then again, Honda Racing’s Miguel Duhamel, who has two Superbike wins at the scenic Central Ohio circuit, could sweep the doubleheader weekend and come away as the first four-timer. But while all three of these top riders hope to come away from Mid-Ohio victorious, they’ll likely have to figure out a way to get around Nicky Hayden and Eric Bostrom, the two hottest riders in the series this year. AMA Superbike round 13 will be held on Saturday and Sunday will see round 14 of the 16-race series.
Hayden, 20, from Owensboro, Ky., leads the championship with seven wins on his factory Honda RC51 — the most Superbikes wins in a single season since Fred Merkel won a record 10 of 13 Superbike rounds in 1984. With the Mid-Ohio and Virginia International Raceway doubleheaders left to go, Hayden has at least a fighting chance to break Merkel’s longtime record. He could also move past Wayne Rainey for third on the all-time AMA Superbike career wins list this weekend.
“Mid-Ohio is always a fun race for me,” said Hayden, the 1999 AMA Pro Athlete of the Year. “It’s the closest race to home so a lot of my friends from Owensboro usually come up. It’s a challenging track. You have to be at your best to do well there because of the combination of tight turns and high-speed sections. It’s a real racers’ track.”
Bostrom is second in the championship with eight podium finishes to date, including wins at Pikes Peak and Laguna Seca. If the Kawasaki ace is to have any chance of catching Hayden he will have to experience a breakthrough at Mid-Ohio. Bostrom has never won the Superbike race at the track. His best result was runner-up last year to defending series champ Mat Mladin in Saturday’s race.
Yates always seems to do well at Mid-Ohio. The tall Georgian excels on twisty and technical circuits like Mid-Ohio. Yates is the only rider who has swept the Mid-Ohio doubleheader and he accomplished that feat in 2000.
Chandler seems ripe for another win at Mid-Ohio. The veteran rider from Salinas, Calif., has three wins at the track dating back to 1989. He’s finished on the podium in the last two rounds and looks to be improving on the HMC Ducati each week out. If Chandler manages to win one of the races this weekend it would mark his first victory in the series in three years.
Austin Bleu Bayou Ducati’s Pascal Picotte is yet another former winner at Mid-Ohio. The Canadian’s last win on the Superbike tour came at Mid-Ohio in 1996.
One of the big stories in the series this year is the strong showing by privateer Superbike riders. Californian Brian Parriott is sixth in the championships on his White Tip Racing Suzuki. Parriott has earned seven top-10 finishes in the championship this year. HSA Suzuki’s Brian Livengood is ranked 10th. The Georgian has also scored seven top-10 finishes in the Superbike ranks.
For additional information contact Mid-Ohio at (614) 793-4600 or visit www.midohio.com.
Tune into Speed Channel for live coverage of the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship on Saturday, July 27 beginning at 2 p.m., and at 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 28, with repeats on Tuesday, July 30 at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., 1 a.m. and 2 a.m.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship
Presented by Parts Unlimited
Honda Super Cycle Weekend Presented by Dunlop Tires
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course – July 26-28, 2002
Thursday, July 25
Registration: Riders, Crew, Sponsors & Guests, 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Tech Inspection: 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Friday, July 26
Registration: Riders, Crew, Sponsors & Guests 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Entries Close for all Classes at 10:00 AM
Tech Inspection: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Practice (in the following order) from 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM
1. Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport
2. Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme
3. Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock
4. MBNA 250 Grand Prix
Chevy Trucks Superbike Practice, 10:40 AM – 11:40 AM
Lunch Break, 11:40 AM – 12:40 PM
Mandatory Rider Briefing for All Classes at 12:00 PM
Practice in same order as morning session, 12:40 PM – 2:30 PM
Chevy Trucks Superbike Qualifying, 2:40 PM – 3:30 PM
Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock Qualifying, Even #s 4:20 PM – 4:40 PM
Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock Qualifying, Odd #s 4:50 PM – 5:10 PM
Saturday, July 27
Registration: Crew, Sponsors & Guests, 7:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Tech Inspection: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Practice (in the following order) from 8:00 AM – 9:40 AM
1. Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport
2. MBNA 250 Grand Prix
3. Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock
4. Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme
Chevy Trucks Superbike Qualifying, 9:50 AM – 10:50 AM
Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport Qualifying, Even #s 11:00 AM – 11:20 AM
Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport Qualifying, Odd #s 11:30 AM – 11:50 AM
Lunch Break, 11:50 AM – 12:40 PM
Chevy Trucks Superbike Practice, 12:40 PM – 1:00 PM
Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Qualifying, 1:10 PM – 1:45 PM
FINAL EVENTS
Chevy Trucks Superbike Race 1 (100K – 26 laps), 2:00 PM
MBNA 250 Grand Prix Qualifying, 20 Minute Session
Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock Race (60k – 16 laps)
Sunday, July 28
Registration: Crew, Sponsors & Guests, 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Tech Inspection Opens: 9:00 AM
Practice (in the following order): 9:00 AM – 10:50 AM
1. Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport
2. MBNA 250 Grand Prix
3. Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme
4. Chevy Trucks Superbike
Lunch Break, 11:00 AM
Nondenominational Chapel Service, 11:10 AM
FINAL EVENTS (in the following order)starting at 12:00 PM:
Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport Final (60k – 16 laps)
MBNA 250 Grand Prix (60k – 16 laps)
Chevy Trucks Superbike Race 2 (100k – 26 laps) 2:00 PM
Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme (60k – 16 laps)
From a press release issued by Proton Team KR:
DOUBLE TOP TEN FOR PROTON PAIR IN GERMANY
Round 9: German GP, Sachsenring
Race Report: Sunday, July 21, 2002
Jeremy McWilliams: Seventh
Nobuatsu Aoki: Eighth
Proton Team KR riders Jeremy McWilliams and Nobuatsu Aoki scored a double top ten in today’s German GP, the team’s first of the season in which the lightweight 500cc two-stroke is fighting for the last time against the new generation of 990cc four-stroke MotoGP prototypes. Next year, Proton Team KR will campaign their own new V5 four-stroke.
Given the horsepower and top speed deficit compared with the bigger machines, today’s result was a vindication of the design philosophy of the KR3 … and a tribute to the skill and determination of both riders, who were only 15 and 18 seconds respectively behind the race winner and runaway championship leader Valentino Rossi on the 990cc V5 Honda.
Exploiting the light weight and agile handling of the three-cylinder Proton KR3 to the full, McWilliams had even held provisional pole position after the first day of practice, and made a strong start from the second row of the grid, holding sixth at the end of lap one. Although clearly slower on the pit straight, McWilliams was regaining ground throughout the rest of the twisting 3.704km Sachsenring circuit outside Chemnitz. He lost the leading group only at the end of the 30 lap race as his tyre grip deteriorated. The first six riders finished within less than three seconds of the leader.
Aoki shrugged off the after-effects of a heavy crash in practice and also made a good start – but lost positions in the first corner when an attempt to ride round the outside backfired. He fought back, and spent much of the race tailing 500cc Yamaha rider Garry McCoy. On the last lap, his plan to overtake the Australian came good, and he finished three tenths ahead of him. It was his fifth top ten finish of the year, and he is ninth overall after the halfway point of the season.
Rossi’s eighth win in the nine-race-old season came only after two other riders – Olivier Jacque and Alex Barros – had collided and crashed out while in front of his V5 Honda. Now the GP circus breaks up for the summer holiday, beginning again at the end of August at Brno in the Czech Republic, another circuit where continuous corners favour the sweet-steering Proton KR3.
JEREMY McWILLIAMS
“I did everything I could, but the way the four-strokes were flying past me on the straight was frightening. My race was getting a bit silly: I dived underneath Max Biaggi in the first corner and nearly hit him, and I was running up behind people through the turns and messing up my lap time. I was worried I might make a fool of myself, and in the end I just had to line up and think about finishing. It was easier at the end when I lost some side grip, and I was on my own. I’d have loved a top-four finish, but though Bridgestone have come a long way in their first year, but we still have more work to do.
I’m happy with seventh, and some good points.”
NOBUATSU AOKI
“My start was good, but I tried to pass more riders round the outside in the first corner, and instead I lost many places. After that I pushed very hard, and I got behind McCoy, who was also making very consistent laps. I was thinking I might get past and catch Jeremy. Then about ten laps from the end I started to have the same gear-shifting trouble as in England – the pedal going really stiff. I could kick through the upshifts; but downshifting was really difficult, especially from sixth to first at the end of the straight. I had to concentrate very hard, and work out where to attack McCoy on the last lap. In the end he made a small mistake and made it easy for me, but I think I would have passed him anyway.”
CHUCK AKSLAND – Team Manager
“It’s good to get both bikes home in the top ten. They both did a great job, and so did the whole team. It was a tense afternoon for us, and a cruel joke when the TV flashed up a line that Aoki had crashed. Luckily we could see him go down the hill from the pit wall, so we knew right away Nobu was still in the race”.
From a press release issued by Suzuki:
SUZUKI RIDERS UNHURT AFTER CRASH
Sachsenring, Germany – Race Report
Sunday July 21, 2002:
TELEFONICA MOVISTAR SUZUKI Suzuki riders Sete Gibernau and Yukio Kagayama escaped unhurt after both were involved in a mid-race collision with a third rider in today’s German GP.
The incident took place on the 11th of 30 laps at the tight 3.704km Sachsenring circuit outside Chemnitz, when the Suzuki pair were lying 10th and 12th, with Honda rider Daijiro Kato sandwiched between them. On one of the few fast corners at the tortuous circuit, the slowest on the GP calendar, the trio came together in a clash of racing lines, with all three falling as a result.
Gibernau, a Telefónica MoviStar Suzuki team regular, suffered injuries to his left little finger, but with the five-week summer break beginning directly, he will be fully recovered in time for the restart of the season at the Czech Republic GP at the end of August.
Kagayama was racing in place of Kenny Roberts Jr., who is at home in California recovering from corrective surgery to his right arm. The Japanese rider’s full-time job is as a factory Suzuki rider, campaigning the GSV-R V4 MotoGP four-stroke in the All-Japan Superbike championship.
The third Suzuki in the race, ridden by Kagayama’s usual team mate Akira Ryo, finished 11th. Ryo was racing as a wild card.
The race was won by defending champion and current points leader Valentino Rossi, but only after two other riders – Olivier Jacque and Alex Barros – had collided and crashed out in front of him.
SETE GIBERNAU – Did Not Finish
“It should have been a good race for me. I made a good start, but in the first corner Rossi and I were both dropped back by my team-mate. He was riding very well, but also very aggressively. I recovered and started to pick up my pace again, and I had worked my way back up with Kato until we were both behind Kagayama. On the way into the corner we all collided in a big mess. Luckily none of us were badly hurt, because it was a fast corner.”
YUKIO KAGAYAMA – Did Not Finish
“I was enjoying the race, and thought I was going well. The team helped me such a lot this weekend, and had some very good ideas on how to improve my machine. I had no warning of the crash. I just felt a bang from behind. It was completely unexpected.”
GARRY TAYLOR – Team Manager
“Yukio was riding well, with lap times in the 1:26 bracket, half-a-second slower than the new lap record, and faster than the old one. In fact he was a couple of tenths quicker than Sete, who was also in the 1:26s. That proves the quality of our bike, and it’s also impressive that it was his first time on the four-stroke on Michelin tyres. The way it ended has to be regarded as a typical racing incident. It’s fruitless to try to attach blame. In racing you have a bunch of very skilful riders trying very hard. In these circumstances, accidents sometimes happen. It’s a pity to lose both our team riders in one crash, but the good thing is that there were no serious injuries.”
From a press release issued by Marlboro Yamaha:
GERMAN GP, SACHSENRING
Race Day, Sunday July 21 2002
MARLBORO YAMAHA SHINE IN DAZZLING GERMAN GP
Marlboro Yamaha Team YZR-M1 riders Max Biaggi and Carlos Checa finished second and fourth in today’s thrilling German GP, a non-stop rollercoaster of a ride around the ultra-tight Sachsenring.
The leading eight-man pack ran nose to tail until three laps from the finish when two-stroke leaders Olivier Jacque (Yamaha) and Alex Barros (Honda) crashed, putting four-stroke men Valentino Rossi (Honda) and Max Biaggi out front. Biaggi rode a great race, fighting back from seventh in the early stages. Checa was right there throughout, crossing the line just 2.33 seconds behind the winner.
“I enjoyed that race very much, but first I’d just like to give my condolences to Olivier, he was very unlucky,” said YZR-M1 project leader Ichiro Yoda who intends to use today’s two-stroke versus four-stroke battle to further development of the M1. “Both our riders tried very hard and now we will analyze the data to study the difference between the two-stroke and the four-stroke, so that we can make more improvements to our bike. Now we have a month’s break before the next race, but we will still be working hard in the run-up to Brno.”
BIAGGI TAKES M1 SO CLOSE TO VICTORY
Watched by 78,000 noisy fans, Max Biaggi came within seven tenths of a second of scoring the YZR-M1’s first victory today. The Marlboro Yamaha Team star was in typically determined form, gathering himself after a difficult first few laps to battle back and forth with Valentino Rossi, then contesting third place. When Alex Barros took out Olivier Jacque, the two Italians were promoted to first and second but Biaggi couldn’t quite get back in front of Rossi on the final lap.
“I’m very, very satisfied with the result, a gift from poor Jacque and Barros,” said Biaggi after his second successive runner-up finish. “I rode my own race, though the first few laps were difficult because I was struggling with the weight of the bike and a full tank of gas. Also, we changed the geometry after warm-up. I hadn’t had a chance to test it, so it took me five or six laps to get used to the feeling, then I started pushing hard. I got McWilliams, Abe and Nakano, then caught up the front guys but it was tough to overtake. Who knows what would’ve happened if Jacque and Barros hadn’t crashed? Yamaha and the team are working very hard and we’re progressing well. Now I’m off on holiday – maybe ten days on a boat doing nothing, having fun with my girlfriend and friends.”
CHECA TAKES A SUPER-CLOSE FOURTH
Carlos Checa had a frustrating race – fast as anyone out there but unable to get any closer to the front. Just 1.1 seconds behind the race leader at half distance, the Marlboro Yamaha Team man was just metres behind the winner at the finish. Around this track, the shortest in GP racing, the difference in lap times is tiny, so while Checa had the second-quickest average lap time in yesterday’s final qualifier, he ended up on the third row, which put him tenth at the end of the first lap at a track around which overtaking is particularly difficult. He made headway in the race but couldn’t get close enough to attack third-finisher Tohru Ukawa (Honda) at the finish.
“My start wasn’t so bad, I passed a few guys and near the end I was thinking of trying to take Ukawa but the leaders raised their pace in the final laps, so I didn’t get the chance,” said the Spaniard. “All weekend we struggled to find a set-up that worked through the faster part of the track. I tried everything to be quicker through there, including adapting my riding style and body position, but I was always losing time through the fast downhill and uphill corners. Now we take a break from racing and I think we need it, everyone’s been working so hard this year.”
ROSSI GIFTED EIGHTH WIN
World Championship leader Valentino Rossi scored his eighth win of 2002, taking the lead for the second time when Alex Barros and Olivier Jacque crashed. Their lighter two-strokes had dominated most of the race at this tortuous circuit and for once it seemed Rossi wouldn’t win, his RCV obviously detuned to make it more manageable on super-short gearing. “That was a great race for the fans,” he smiled. “The two-strokes were faster in the first, tighter part of the track because they’re lighter, but I could overtake in the faster downhill section at the end of the lap. This win was a bit of a gift but I still had to stay concentrated to beat Biaggi.”
Racer Eric Falt married Diane Groves April 28 in Dallas, Texas. Racer Brian Roach is engaged to marry Laura Granato in April 2003. (Handy editorial hint: Submit wedding, engagement, birth and other milestone information via e-mail sent to [email protected]. Include your contact information, daytime phone number and evening phone number in case further information is needed.)
Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
The AMA National At Mid-Ohio July 26-28 has one of the largest purses in the Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship. The Superbike purse totals $82,000 with half paid out in each of two Superbike races. The four support races each have a purse of $9500.
Chevy Trucks Superbike
Total Purse $82,000
(Half paid for each race)
1. $10,450
2. $7350
3. $5000
4. $4000
5. $3500
6. $3150
7. $3050
8. $2950
9. $2850
10. $2750
11. $2650
12. $2550
13. $2450
14. $2350
15. $2250
16. $2150
17. $2050
18. $2000
19. $1950
20. $1850
21. $1750
22. $1650
23. $1550
24. $1450
25. $1300
26. $1200
27. $1100
28. $1000
29. $900
30. $750
31. $550
32. $450
33. $400
34. $350
35. $300
MBNA 250 Grand Prix
Lockhart Phillips Formula Extreme
Pro Honda Oils Supersport
Suzuki Genuine Accessories Superstock
$9500 Purse Each
1. $1500
2. $1200
3. $900
4. $650
5. $600
6. $550
7. $500
8. $450
9. $400
10. $375
11. $350
12. $325
13. $300
14. $275
15. $250
16. $225
17. $200
18. $175
19. $150
20. $125
From a press release:
SHANE PRIETO HANGS ‘EM UPIn last Sunday’s CCS Florida Region race at Moroso, Shane Prieto graciously announced his retirement. A dominant rider for 10 years, Prieto left holding several records, including Most Consecutive Unlimited Grand Prix victories with 12. And, Most Unlimited GP Victories All-Time. “I had been thinking about it for awhile, and last week, it just clicked in my head that it was time,” said Prieto. “I intend to spend weekends water-skiing with my family now.” When Prieto was younger his family did that together and he misses it. He is an accomplished bare-foot skier.
By the time racing started Sunday morning, everyone in the paddock had heard the news, and there was more attention than usual paid to the battles throughout the day between Prieto and this year’s champ Marco Martinez. These two have produced some very exciting contests throughout the last several years, and this event was no exception. In this day’s Unlimited GP, both were riding Suzuki GSX-R1000s.
Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
A lack of Thursday practice prior to this weekend’s AMA Pro National at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and the inclusion of a qualifying round for the World GSX-R Cup drew a contingent of AMA Pro-licensed riders to the AMA Grand National Championships held Monday and Tuesday at the Lexington, Ohio racetrack.
Participating Pro riders include Rich Conicelli, who has been in the top 10 in AMA Superbike points this year, as well as Jason DiSalvo, who won the AMA Superstock National at Road America in June.
The appearance of Pro-licensed racers has reignited the debate over who should be allowed to participate in an “Amateur” event, and never mind that manufacturer contingency money has been posted for the races.
Complicating matters is the fact that AMA Pro Racing Director of Competition Merrill Vanderslice has in the past suggested that Thursday practice is not important and that riders can participate in club races prior to AMA Nationals if they need more set-up and practice time than that afforded in official AMA practice starting on Friday of a race weekend. Now, when AMA Pro riders have shown up at a club race as suggested by Vanderslice, AMA Amateur officials have discouraged their participation and in at least one case went so far as to briefly suggest that they might be disqualified if they insisted on racing.
At least one rider has pointed out that the AMA Pro riders are AMA members, are legal entrants and have complied with all published rules.
Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
Brian Livengood won the second of three slots for U.S. riders in the Suzuki World GSX-R Cup scheduled for September 14 at Magny Cours, France, by finishing second in a qualifying race at Mid-Ohio Tuesday.
Livengood, who is currently 10th in AMA Superbike points, and his mechanic will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the World GSX-R Cup, which will match riders from various countries on identical Suzuki GSX-R750s fitted with Michelin tires.
Ty Howard won the race at Mid-Ohio in a runaway but was ineligible because he did not have any Suzuki Cup points.
Livengood came out on top of a battle for second that also included John Jacobi–who had crashed in the heat race and started at the back of the grid–Rich Conicelli and Jason DiSalvo.
The final World GSX-R Cup qualifier will be decided during next weekend’s WERA National Challenge Series event at Summit Point Raceway.
Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
John Dugan of Washougal, Washington became the first rider to qualify to represent the U.S. in the World GSX-R Cup scheduled for September 14 in Magny-Cours, France.
Dugan won the qualifying race at Portland, Oregon on Sunday, July 21, beating Allan Schmidt and Nathan Hester.
Dugan was racing with a cracked pelvis sustained in a crash at Laguna Seca during the AMA National/World Superbike weekend.
Schmidt crashed in turn nine while leading the first lap during the morning heat race held to determine the grid, and his racebike was destroyed. Schmidt’s crew installed the engine in a spare chassis and Schmidt started the final from the back of the grid.
Dugan and a mechanic will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to France for the World GSX-R Cup final, which features riders on spec bikes drawn by lot. The World GSX-R Cup bikes will be fitted with Michelin tires.
Another qualifying round will be held during a Fasttrax event tomorrow at Mid-Ohio and the final qualifying round will be held during the WERA National scheduled for Summit Point, West Virginia on August 3-4. A total of three riders will qualify to represent the United States in the World GSX-R Cup event.
From a press release issued by series organizers:
SZOKE STREAKS TO RECORD
BOWMANVILLE, ON – Parts Canada Superbike Championship points leader Jordan Szoke continued his dominance of the 2002 season by winning his fourth event in a row at Mosport International Raceway Sunday.
Riding the Coors Light Racing/Fast Company Team Suzuki GSX-R1000 the Brantford, ON racer led virtually all the way to establish a new record for consecutive race wins in a single season. He had shared the mark of three wins with Steve Crevier.
Michael Taylor finished second on his Brooklin Cycle Yamaha YZF-R1 after briefly leading Szoke on the opening lap and hounding him most of the way. The Toronto rider was 5.040 secs. behind at the finish after he was forced to back off with mechanical trouble.
“There was a ton of pressure to win this weekend,” said Szoke after his 13th career national Superbike win, placing him second on the all-time list. “It’s Mosport. It’s the place. But we just put our head down in the race and got it done.”
Huntington Beach, CA resident Owen Weichel finished third on his Canadian Kawasaki ZX-7RR after a dramatic battle with the Coors Light Racing/Fast Company Suzuki GSX-R1000 of Francis Martin and Kevin Lacombe’s Orion Honda RC51.
Szoke picked up a perfect score of 56 points for qualifying on pole, winning and leading the most laps in Sunday’s race and moved into an almost insurmountable lead in the Parts Canada Superbike point standings.
He now has 262 points to the 177 of Weichel with a total of 112 points available in the final two races of the season. The series continues at Atlantic Motorsport Park Aug. 9-11.
In other action at Mosport, Australian Craig Connell completed a perfect weekend by winning the National Pro Honda Oils/Yoshimura 600 Sport Bike race over Arclight Suzuki teammate Lee Acree.
After sweeping both legs of Saturday’s Lockhart-Phillips Superbike/International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Open Sport Bike event Connell beat Acree by 4.585 secs. on his Suzuki GSX-R600.
Coors Light Racing/Blackfoot Suzuki’s Clint McBain won a wild battle for third to extend his lead in the Yoshimura 600 Sport Bike standings.
Connell’s performance helped Team USA defeat Team Canada in the SUPERSHOW 2003 presents the Coors Light Canada vs. USA Match Races and gave him the “King of Mosport” crown.
This weekend’s races will be televised on TSN Saturday, Aug. 10 and Saturday, Aug. 24. Start time for both shows is 11:30 am EDT. Action from Mosport will also be shown later this year on Quebec’s RDS and across Canada on the Outdoor Life Network.
Results of Sunday’s fifth round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Mosport International Raceway, showing finishing position, rider name, hometown and type of motorcycle:
1.Jordan Szoke, Brantford, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 2. Michael Taylor, Toronto, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1; 3. Owen Weichel, Huntington Beach, CA, Kawasaki ZX-7RR; 4. Francis Martin, Sherbrooke, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 5. Geoff May, Cumming, GA, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 6. Frank Trombino, Kleinburg, ON, Honda RC51; 7. Jeff Williams, Harrowsmith, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 8. Benoit Pilon, St-Jerome, QC, Yamaha YZF-R1; 9. Kevin Lacombe, Granby, QC, Honda RC51*; 10. Ugo Levert, Lorraine, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 11. Jean-Francois Cyr, Joliette, QC, Yamaha YZF-R6; 12. Greg Boki, Montreal, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 13. Darryn Wilbur, Maple, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1; 14. Philip Onisto, Bolton, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 15. Dave Young, Woodstock, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 16. Jerome Plourde, St-Hubert, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 17. Gaston Labrie, Brossard, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000; 18. Joel McDonald, North York, ON, Yamaha YZF-R6; 19. Clint Hines, Burlington, ON, Suzuki GSX-R750; 20. Pauly Sherer, Freeport, NY, Suzuki GSX-R750; 21. Steve Dufresne, St-Barthelemy, QC, Suzuki GSX-R1000
DNF. John Brundl, Etobicoke, ON, Honda CBR954RR; DNF. Mike Walsh, Toronto, ON, Suzuki GSX-R750; DNF. Chris Murray-Audain, Scarborough, ON, Yamaha YZF-R1; DNF. Dean Osborne, Ajax, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000; DNF. Mike Desmarais, North Bay, ON, Suzuki GSX-R1000
* — Kevin Lacombe penalized four positions for a jump start
Time of Race: 23:47
Margin of Victory: 5.040 secs.
Fastest Lap: Jordan Szoke, 1:21.911 on lap 5
Parts Canada Superbike Championship point standings following the fifth round at Mosport International Raceway Sunday, showing position, rider name and point total:
1.Jordan Szoke, 262; 2. Owen Weichel, 177; 3. Francis Martin, 145; 4. Kevin Lacombe, 144; 5. Frank Trombino 141; 6. Michael Taylor, 138; 7. Jean-Francois Cyr, 107; 8. Benoit Pilon, 100; 9. Darryn Wilbur, 88; 10. Philip Onisto, 84; 11. Ugo Levert, 73; 12. Bruce McDonald 64; 13. Tim Easton, 49; 14. Jeff Williams, 48; 15. John Brundl, 29; 16. Geoff May, 29; 17. Dave Young, 27; 18. David Klassen 27; 19. Nick Ienatsch, 21; 20. Michael Leon 21; 21. Matthew McBride 19; 22. Jerome Plourde, 18; 23. Greg Boki, 15; 24. Clint Hines 15; 25. Gaston Labrie, 14; 26. Tony Bouffard, 12; 27. Dave Hodge 12; 28. Mike Desmarais 10; 29. Steve Crevier 4; 30. Joel McDonald, 4; 31. Jim Proulx 4; 32. Pauly Sherer, 1
Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
Jeremy Toye again beat Chuck Graves in a wheel-to-wheel showdown in Toyota Cup Unlimited Formula One action at Willow Springs Raceway Sunday, in a battle that came down to a chance encounter with a lapped rider and a desperate last-half-lap scramble.
When the checkered flag flew, Toye and his Lee’s Cycle Suzuki GSX-R1000 had beaten Graves and his Graves Yamaha YZF-R1 powered YZF-R7 Superbike, both on Dunlop slicks. Chris Ulrich finished third on a Superstock GSX-R1000 on Michelin DOT-labelled tires.
The lapped rider pulled it down on Graves as Toye went around the outside in turn four and Graves’ best chance to win was gone; Toye then ran wide in turn five and got a poor drive off turn six, yet still held off Graves in turn eight. Graves got up outside Toye in turn nine but Toye’s bike was stronger in the run to the line.
Toye did most of the leading in the 12-lap race, Graves trying to get underneath into turn one several times before making it happen, and Toye quickly repassing in the run to turn two. Graves had the lead to the line two laps from the finish with Toye trying to get around on the outside into turn one, the pair so close together as they dove for the apex that it seemed certain they would collide–but they didn’t. On the last lap Toye led into turn one.
The pace was 1:21s, faster than Toye qualified last month for the front row of September’s $50,000-to-the-winner Toyota 200, which will be 80 laps on the 2.5-mile Willow Springs course.
Toye also won the 750cc Superstock, L&L Motorsports 750cc Superbike, and 750cc Modified Production races.
Graves won Saturday’s Solo GTO race and Sunday’s Performance Machine Open Superbike, Open Superstock, Graves Motorsports 650cc Superbike, and Roadracingworld.com 600cc Superstock races. In Open Superstock, Graves won on a 2002 Yamaha YZF-R1 that he had run three laps of practice on.
On Friday, Aaron Gobert locked in a front-row starting position for the Toyota 200, qualifying at 1:23.896, 107.276 mph. Gobert crashed out of Saturday’s Solo race and sat out Sunday with bruises. Gobert was structurally uninjured, according to his Graves Yamaha crew.
More, from a Willow Springs press release:
WILLOW SPRINGS TOYOTA 200 QUALIFYING UPDATE!
Yamaha’s Aaron Gobert joins last month’s fast qualifier Jeremy Toye with a guaranteed start position on the front row for Willow Springs Raceway’s $150,000.00 200 mile roadrace event to be held on September 15, 2002.
At the 2nd round of qualifying on Friday, July 19th Gobert, on his factory Yamaha YZF-R6 600cc supersport-spec bike, ran a best lap of 1:23.896 averaging over 107 mph around the 2.5 mile Willow Springs road course.
Toye remains fastest with last months fast lap of 1:22.960 on his Suzuki GSX-R1000. Upcoming qualifying dates are on Friday, August 16 and Friday, September 13 and the fastest rider each date will join Toye and Gobert on the front row of the 40 rider field. Other top times to date include Jack Pfeifer at 1:23.502, former 250cc GP National Champ David Emde at 1:25.652 and Clinton Whitehouse at 1:25.814.
Info on racer entry and spectator ticket information is online at www.willowspringsraceway.com
Spectators may also call 661.256.6666 for special advance ticket information packages currently available from WSIR.
From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing, and we think what it’s trying to say is, these guys have already won two or three races during Mid-Ohio doubleheader weekends, and hope to end next weekend with a fourth or fifth race win:
YATES, CHANDLER AND DUHAMEL VYING TO BECOME FIRST FOUR-TIME AMA CHEVY TRUCKS U.S. SUPERBIKE WINNER AT MID-OHIO DOUBLEHEADER
PICKERINGTON, Ohio – Blimpie Yoshimura Suzuki’s Aaron Yates and HMC Ducati’s Doug Chandler come to Lexington, Ohio, this weekend, July 26-28, as the only three-time winners of the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course doubleheader round of the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship. Both AMA Superbike veterans have the chance this weekend to become the first four-time, or even five-time if things go really well, Superbike winner at Mid-Ohio. Then again, Honda Racing’s Miguel Duhamel, who has two Superbike wins at the scenic Central Ohio circuit, could sweep the doubleheader weekend and come away as the first four-timer. But while all three of these top riders hope to come away from Mid-Ohio victorious, they’ll likely have to figure out a way to get around Nicky Hayden and Eric Bostrom, the two hottest riders in the series this year. AMA Superbike round 13 will be held on Saturday and Sunday will see round 14 of the 16-race series.
Hayden, 20, from Owensboro, Ky., leads the championship with seven wins on his factory Honda RC51 — the most Superbikes wins in a single season since Fred Merkel won a record 10 of 13 Superbike rounds in 1984. With the Mid-Ohio and Virginia International Raceway doubleheaders left to go, Hayden has at least a fighting chance to break Merkel’s longtime record. He could also move past Wayne Rainey for third on the all-time AMA Superbike career wins list this weekend.
“Mid-Ohio is always a fun race for me,” said Hayden, the 1999 AMA Pro Athlete of the Year. “It’s the closest race to home so a lot of my friends from Owensboro usually come up. It’s a challenging track. You have to be at your best to do well there because of the combination of tight turns and high-speed sections. It’s a real racers’ track.”
Bostrom is second in the championship with eight podium finishes to date, including wins at Pikes Peak and Laguna Seca. If the Kawasaki ace is to have any chance of catching Hayden he will have to experience a breakthrough at Mid-Ohio. Bostrom has never won the Superbike race at the track. His best result was runner-up last year to defending series champ Mat Mladin in Saturday’s race.
Yates always seems to do well at Mid-Ohio. The tall Georgian excels on twisty and technical circuits like Mid-Ohio. Yates is the only rider who has swept the Mid-Ohio doubleheader and he accomplished that feat in 2000.
Chandler seems ripe for another win at Mid-Ohio. The veteran rider from Salinas, Calif., has three wins at the track dating back to 1989. He’s finished on the podium in the last two rounds and looks to be improving on the HMC Ducati each week out. If Chandler manages to win one of the races this weekend it would mark his first victory in the series in three years.
Austin Bleu Bayou Ducati’s Pascal Picotte is yet another former winner at Mid-Ohio. The Canadian’s last win on the Superbike tour came at Mid-Ohio in 1996.
One of the big stories in the series this year is the strong showing by privateer Superbike riders. Californian Brian Parriott is sixth in the championships on his White Tip Racing Suzuki. Parriott has earned seven top-10 finishes in the championship this year. HSA Suzuki’s Brian Livengood is ranked 10th. The Georgian has also scored seven top-10 finishes in the Superbike ranks.
For additional information contact Mid-Ohio at (614) 793-4600 or visit www.midohio.com.
Tune into Speed Channel for live coverage of the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship on Saturday, July 27 beginning at 2 p.m., and at 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 28, with repeats on Tuesday, July 30 at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., 1 a.m. and 2 a.m.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship
Presented by Parts Unlimited
Honda Super Cycle Weekend Presented by Dunlop Tires
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course – July 26-28, 2002
Thursday, July 25
Registration: Riders, Crew, Sponsors & Guests, 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Tech Inspection: 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Friday, July 26
Registration: Riders, Crew, Sponsors & Guests 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Entries Close for all Classes at 10:00 AM
Tech Inspection: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Practice (in the following order) from 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM
1. Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport
2. Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme
3. Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock
4. MBNA 250 Grand Prix
Chevy Trucks Superbike Practice, 10:40 AM – 11:40 AM
Lunch Break, 11:40 AM – 12:40 PM
Mandatory Rider Briefing for All Classes at 12:00 PM
Practice in same order as morning session, 12:40 PM – 2:30 PM
Chevy Trucks Superbike Qualifying, 2:40 PM – 3:30 PM
Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock Qualifying, Even #s 4:20 PM – 4:40 PM
Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock Qualifying, Odd #s 4:50 PM – 5:10 PM
Saturday, July 27
Registration: Crew, Sponsors & Guests, 7:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Tech Inspection: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Practice (in the following order) from 8:00 AM – 9:40 AM
1. Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport
2. MBNA 250 Grand Prix
3. Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock
4. Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme
Chevy Trucks Superbike Qualifying, 9:50 AM – 10:50 AM
Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport Qualifying, Even #s 11:00 AM – 11:20 AM
Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport Qualifying, Odd #s 11:30 AM – 11:50 AM
Lunch Break, 11:50 AM – 12:40 PM
Chevy Trucks Superbike Practice, 12:40 PM – 1:00 PM
Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Qualifying, 1:10 PM – 1:45 PM
FINAL EVENTS
Chevy Trucks Superbike Race 1 (100K – 26 laps), 2:00 PM
MBNA 250 Grand Prix Qualifying, 20 Minute Session
Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock Race (60k – 16 laps)
Sunday, July 28
Registration: Crew, Sponsors & Guests, 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Tech Inspection Opens: 9:00 AM
Practice (in the following order): 9:00 AM – 10:50 AM
1. Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport
2. MBNA 250 Grand Prix
3. Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme
4. Chevy Trucks Superbike
Lunch Break, 11:00 AM
Nondenominational Chapel Service, 11:10 AM
FINAL EVENTS (in the following order)starting at 12:00 PM:
Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport Final (60k – 16 laps)
MBNA 250 Grand Prix (60k – 16 laps)
Chevy Trucks Superbike Race 2 (100k – 26 laps) 2:00 PM
Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme (60k – 16 laps)
From a press release issued by Proton Team KR:
DOUBLE TOP TEN FOR PROTON PAIR IN GERMANY
Round 9: German GP, Sachsenring
Race Report: Sunday, July 21, 2002
Jeremy McWilliams: Seventh
Nobuatsu Aoki: Eighth
Proton Team KR riders Jeremy McWilliams and Nobuatsu Aoki scored a double top ten in today’s German GP, the team’s first of the season in which the lightweight 500cc two-stroke is fighting for the last time against the new generation of 990cc four-stroke MotoGP prototypes. Next year, Proton Team KR will campaign their own new V5 four-stroke.
Given the horsepower and top speed deficit compared with the bigger machines, today’s result was a vindication of the design philosophy of the KR3 … and a tribute to the skill and determination of both riders, who were only 15 and 18 seconds respectively behind the race winner and runaway championship leader Valentino Rossi on the 990cc V5 Honda.
Exploiting the light weight and agile handling of the three-cylinder Proton KR3 to the full, McWilliams had even held provisional pole position after the first day of practice, and made a strong start from the second row of the grid, holding sixth at the end of lap one. Although clearly slower on the pit straight, McWilliams was regaining ground throughout the rest of the twisting 3.704km Sachsenring circuit outside Chemnitz. He lost the leading group only at the end of the 30 lap race as his tyre grip deteriorated. The first six riders finished within less than three seconds of the leader.
Aoki shrugged off the after-effects of a heavy crash in practice and also made a good start – but lost positions in the first corner when an attempt to ride round the outside backfired. He fought back, and spent much of the race tailing 500cc Yamaha rider Garry McCoy. On the last lap, his plan to overtake the Australian came good, and he finished three tenths ahead of him. It was his fifth top ten finish of the year, and he is ninth overall after the halfway point of the season.
Rossi’s eighth win in the nine-race-old season came only after two other riders – Olivier Jacque and Alex Barros – had collided and crashed out while in front of his V5 Honda. Now the GP circus breaks up for the summer holiday, beginning again at the end of August at Brno in the Czech Republic, another circuit where continuous corners favour the sweet-steering Proton KR3.
JEREMY McWILLIAMS
“I did everything I could, but the way the four-strokes were flying past me on the straight was frightening. My race was getting a bit silly: I dived underneath Max Biaggi in the first corner and nearly hit him, and I was running up behind people through the turns and messing up my lap time. I was worried I might make a fool of myself, and in the end I just had to line up and think about finishing. It was easier at the end when I lost some side grip, and I was on my own. I’d have loved a top-four finish, but though Bridgestone have come a long way in their first year, but we still have more work to do.
I’m happy with seventh, and some good points.”
NOBUATSU AOKI
“My start was good, but I tried to pass more riders round the outside in the first corner, and instead I lost many places. After that I pushed very hard, and I got behind McCoy, who was also making very consistent laps. I was thinking I might get past and catch Jeremy. Then about ten laps from the end I started to have the same gear-shifting trouble as in England – the pedal going really stiff. I could kick through the upshifts; but downshifting was really difficult, especially from sixth to first at the end of the straight. I had to concentrate very hard, and work out where to attack McCoy on the last lap. In the end he made a small mistake and made it easy for me, but I think I would have passed him anyway.”
CHUCK AKSLAND – Team Manager
“It’s good to get both bikes home in the top ten. They both did a great job, and so did the whole team. It was a tense afternoon for us, and a cruel joke when the TV flashed up a line that Aoki had crashed. Luckily we could see him go down the hill from the pit wall, so we knew right away Nobu was still in the race”.
From a press release issued by Suzuki:
SUZUKI RIDERS UNHURT AFTER CRASH
Sachsenring, Germany – Race Report
Sunday July 21, 2002:
TELEFONICA MOVISTAR SUZUKI Suzuki riders Sete Gibernau and Yukio Kagayama escaped unhurt after both were involved in a mid-race collision with a third rider in today’s German GP.
The incident took place on the 11th of 30 laps at the tight 3.704km Sachsenring circuit outside Chemnitz, when the Suzuki pair were lying 10th and 12th, with Honda rider Daijiro Kato sandwiched between them. On one of the few fast corners at the tortuous circuit, the slowest on the GP calendar, the trio came together in a clash of racing lines, with all three falling as a result.
Gibernau, a Telefónica MoviStar Suzuki team regular, suffered injuries to his left little finger, but with the five-week summer break beginning directly, he will be fully recovered in time for the restart of the season at the Czech Republic GP at the end of August.
Kagayama was racing in place of Kenny Roberts Jr., who is at home in California recovering from corrective surgery to his right arm. The Japanese rider’s full-time job is as a factory Suzuki rider, campaigning the GSV-R V4 MotoGP four-stroke in the All-Japan Superbike championship.
The third Suzuki in the race, ridden by Kagayama’s usual team mate Akira Ryo, finished 11th. Ryo was racing as a wild card.
The race was won by defending champion and current points leader Valentino Rossi, but only after two other riders – Olivier Jacque and Alex Barros – had collided and crashed out in front of him.
SETE GIBERNAU – Did Not Finish
“It should have been a good race for me. I made a good start, but in the first corner Rossi and I were both dropped back by my team-mate. He was riding very well, but also very aggressively. I recovered and started to pick up my pace again, and I had worked my way back up with Kato until we were both behind Kagayama. On the way into the corner we all collided in a big mess. Luckily none of us were badly hurt, because it was a fast corner.”
YUKIO KAGAYAMA – Did Not Finish
“I was enjoying the race, and thought I was going well. The team helped me such a lot this weekend, and had some very good ideas on how to improve my machine. I had no warning of the crash. I just felt a bang from behind. It was completely unexpected.”
GARRY TAYLOR – Team Manager
“Yukio was riding well, with lap times in the 1:26 bracket, half-a-second slower than the new lap record, and faster than the old one. In fact he was a couple of tenths quicker than Sete, who was also in the 1:26s. That proves the quality of our bike, and it’s also impressive that it was his first time on the four-stroke on Michelin tyres. The way it ended has to be regarded as a typical racing incident. It’s fruitless to try to attach blame. In racing you have a bunch of very skilful riders trying very hard. In these circumstances, accidents sometimes happen. It’s a pity to lose both our team riders in one crash, but the good thing is that there were no serious injuries.”
From a press release issued by Marlboro Yamaha:
GERMAN GP, SACHSENRING
Race Day, Sunday July 21 2002
MARLBORO YAMAHA SHINE IN DAZZLING GERMAN GP
Marlboro Yamaha Team YZR-M1 riders Max Biaggi and Carlos Checa finished second and fourth in today’s thrilling German GP, a non-stop rollercoaster of a ride around the ultra-tight Sachsenring.
The leading eight-man pack ran nose to tail until three laps from the finish when two-stroke leaders Olivier Jacque (Yamaha) and Alex Barros (Honda) crashed, putting four-stroke men Valentino Rossi (Honda) and Max Biaggi out front. Biaggi rode a great race, fighting back from seventh in the early stages. Checa was right there throughout, crossing the line just 2.33 seconds behind the winner.
“I enjoyed that race very much, but first I’d just like to give my condolences to Olivier, he was very unlucky,” said YZR-M1 project leader Ichiro Yoda who intends to use today’s two-stroke versus four-stroke battle to further development of the M1. “Both our riders tried very hard and now we will analyze the data to study the difference between the two-stroke and the four-stroke, so that we can make more improvements to our bike. Now we have a month’s break before the next race, but we will still be working hard in the run-up to Brno.”
BIAGGI TAKES M1 SO CLOSE TO VICTORY
Watched by 78,000 noisy fans, Max Biaggi came within seven tenths of a second of scoring the YZR-M1’s first victory today. The Marlboro Yamaha Team star was in typically determined form, gathering himself after a difficult first few laps to battle back and forth with Valentino Rossi, then contesting third place. When Alex Barros took out Olivier Jacque, the two Italians were promoted to first and second but Biaggi couldn’t quite get back in front of Rossi on the final lap.
“I’m very, very satisfied with the result, a gift from poor Jacque and Barros,” said Biaggi after his second successive runner-up finish. “I rode my own race, though the first few laps were difficult because I was struggling with the weight of the bike and a full tank of gas. Also, we changed the geometry after warm-up. I hadn’t had a chance to test it, so it took me five or six laps to get used to the feeling, then I started pushing hard. I got McWilliams, Abe and Nakano, then caught up the front guys but it was tough to overtake. Who knows what would’ve happened if Jacque and Barros hadn’t crashed? Yamaha and the team are working very hard and we’re progressing well. Now I’m off on holiday – maybe ten days on a boat doing nothing, having fun with my girlfriend and friends.”
CHECA TAKES A SUPER-CLOSE FOURTH
Carlos Checa had a frustrating race – fast as anyone out there but unable to get any closer to the front. Just 1.1 seconds behind the race leader at half distance, the Marlboro Yamaha Team man was just metres behind the winner at the finish. Around this track, the shortest in GP racing, the difference in lap times is tiny, so while Checa had the second-quickest average lap time in yesterday’s final qualifier, he ended up on the third row, which put him tenth at the end of the first lap at a track around which overtaking is particularly difficult. He made headway in the race but couldn’t get close enough to attack third-finisher Tohru Ukawa (Honda) at the finish.
“My start wasn’t so bad, I passed a few guys and near the end I was thinking of trying to take Ukawa but the leaders raised their pace in the final laps, so I didn’t get the chance,” said the Spaniard. “All weekend we struggled to find a set-up that worked through the faster part of the track. I tried everything to be quicker through there, including adapting my riding style and body position, but I was always losing time through the fast downhill and uphill corners. Now we take a break from racing and I think we need it, everyone’s been working so hard this year.”
ROSSI GIFTED EIGHTH WIN
World Championship leader Valentino Rossi scored his eighth win of 2002, taking the lead for the second time when Alex Barros and Olivier Jacque crashed. Their lighter two-strokes had dominated most of the race at this tortuous circuit and for once it seemed Rossi wouldn’t win, his RCV obviously detuned to make it more manageable on super-short gearing. “That was a great race for the fans,” he smiled. “The two-strokes were faster in the first, tighter part of the track because they’re lighter, but I could overtake in the faster downhill section at the end of the lap. This win was a bit of a gift but I still had to stay concentrated to beat Biaggi.”
