Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

World Championship Road Race Series Round B: Donington Par all on the first "out" lap on the new rubber - and though the accidents were different (Ukawa lost the front, for instance, and Rossi the rear), the tire was withdrawn as a precaution. BRIEFLY••• Alex Barros may have been pipped at the last race at Assen, but his national team won the Football World Cup the next day, and he made sure of rubbing it in - appearing at the pre-race press conference draped in his national Rag. Kenny Roberts Jr. flew straight home to the hospital in the USA after the race, for surgery on his right arm. He has been suffering worsening "pumping problems" caused by compartment syndrome all year, he revealed, and put the planned operation forward by a week after a marked deterioration at Assen and in Donington Park. He will miss the German GP next weekend, to give himself the maximum possible recovery time during the summer break, before the Czech Republic GP on August 25. "I'd planned to have the operation quietly in the summer break," he said. "But I had bad problems at Assen and again here, so we decided to put the operation forward to give myself maximum chance of coming back strong in Czecho, and for the rest of the year." Riding the four-stroke had really brought the problem on from the start of the year, he said, with the extra weight of muscling the heavier bike around and also the need to blip the throttle under braking. His father Kenny Sr. and brother Kurtis have both had similar surgery for a complaint common among motorcycle racers. Donington Park's 10th anniversary Riders for Health Day of Champions topped the 100-grand (pounds) mark for the first time on the day before the British GP meeting, breaking previous records as BOOO fans came to the track to enjoy the chance to meet the riders, share in the GP paddock atmosphere, and bid for memorabilia at the charity auction. The biggest bid was for a set of original leathers donated by triple World Champion Wayne Rainey, which reaiized $10,330, contributing to a total of $156,000 for the day. One potential customer was Garry McCoy. who pulled out soon after the $4,700 mark was passed. Max Biagg;'s leathers sold for $9000. Ten years have seen the Riders for Health charity win prizes for effiCiency and use of funds, establishing and maintaining motorcycle-based health-care systems in rural Arnca. The FIM acted to forestall track invasion problems in England, with the MotoGP field pulled straight off the track at the first comer while disappointed fans leaped fences and banners further around the circuit. There were problems at Mugello, with some bikes damaged and several narrow escapes from injury. Who goes where? The annual question is particularly acute this season, and speculation is already reaching a fever pitch. Insiders cannot remember a time when there was so much potential for major change. Sponsors and all but two of the top riders are all coming to the end of their contracts. Who will go where? The rider who is settled is Valentino Rossi, with Honda; while McCoy has reached an agreement with Red Bull for next season (see separate story). The rest are up for grabs, including Max Biaggi and Carlos Checa from Yamaha, Kenny Roberts Jr. and Sete Gibemau from Suzuki, Loris Capirossi and Alex Barros from Pons Honda, and many others. Potential deals tend to be interlinked, so it might be that sponsorship will have to be finalized before the riders know where they can or cannot look. Marlboro has been strongly linked with a potential move to Ducati, in conjunction with Biaggi. Telefonica MoviStar has yet to renew its contract with Suzuki, the sponsor joining the wait-and-see mood. Repsol's contract with Honda also expires at the end of the year. West is also at the end of their contract with Team Pons; while Camel is among other tobacco sponsors thought to be anxious to join the MotoGP party, with AMA rider Nicky Hayden at the top of their shopping list for a Honda ride (Mick Doohan missed the British GP in favor of the Laguna Seca World Superbike round, where he was thought to be trying to advance this deaD. The 2003 GP calendar has been announced, with few changes compared with this year's calendar. A period of stability sees the same 16 rounds and circuits as this year, with only a few changes in running order. The dates are as follows: March 23 South Africa CWelkom); April 6 - Japan (Suzuka); May 4 - Spain (Jerez); May 25 - France (Le Mans); June B - Italy (Mugello): June 15 - Catalunya (Montmelo); June 2B - Netherlands (Assen); July 13 - Great Britain (Donington Park); Juiy 27 - Germany (Sachsenring); August 24 - Czech Republic racing, and he's like Mike Hailwood - he always seems to be able to pull out that little bit extra. " Donington Park came in for strong criticism from the visiting MotoGP riders, after plans to upgrade the circuit and build new and modem pit and paddock facilities came to naught after last year's race. The track is now one of the worst in the world in terms of pit, paddock and parking facilities, access roads and so on. This year, the perennially difficult surface and worsening bumps caused so many accidents that danger was added to the list of complaints. In practice alone, there were 42 spills compared with 24 last year in the same period, and in spite of fine, dry weather throughout. And some high-profile victims. As well as factory Honda men Ukawa and Rossi on the first day, with the former out for the weekend, the other factory riders also joined the list. Roberts was lucky to walk away from a 120-plus·mph spill at Starkey's Bridge on Saturday morning: Suzuki teammate Gibernau had fallen the day before; and both Yamaha riders Biaggi and Checa also tumbled, as well as Nakano, Rlba (out with a broken leg), Kato and Hopkins in the big class. Rolfo, Locatelli, Stoner and de Puniet were among 250-c1ass crashes, the last two twice; and a horde of 125 riders. Lucio Cecchinello was eloquent. "It's funny that IRTA [based in England] are very strict about parking, paddock and everything, and also about safety - but when you come here, the situation is very bad. They should renew this track. The number of crashes shows how dangerous it is." Over the years. the surface has been often criticized for low grip levels, although a scientific survey confirmed that the coefficient of friction

• Cover