Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128181
a series of information which will be useful for Ducati Corse in the future development of our Desmosedici prototype.· Ducati's World Superfbike rider Ruben Xaus was another road racer testing in Spain, riding the Ducati 999 on which he will compete in the 2003 World Superbike Championship. Xaus stepped onto the 999 Superfbike for the second time after a brief test session in September and completed 66 laps. continuing setup work on the brand-new twin-cylinder bike from the Borgo Panigale factory. Road race tuner Gary Medley has joined the No limit Motor Sports Honda team to assist in their racing program for 2003 and beyond. according to a release issued by the team. Long associated with No limit Rider Doug Chandler. Medley will be working with the rest of the No limit crew in preparing the 2003 Honda CBR954RR for the AMA Formula Extreme and the all new CBR600RR for the Honda Pro Oils Supersport class. Medley's duties will include overseeing the No limit racing program. and his stated goal is to put the No limit Riders. both Chandler and Jason Curtis. on the podium numerous times during the upcoming season and bring home at least one championship for the second year team. the release says. A new system of allocating permanent starting numbers to the riders will be used as of 2003 in the FIM Individual Motocross World Championship. in addition to the introduction of fourstroke machines in all classes and the new denomination of the three classes: Motocross GP (250cc two-stroke and over 290cc up to 450cc four-stroke); 125cc (1 25cc two-stroke and over 175cc up to 250cc four-stroke); and 650cc (500cc two-stroke and over 475cc up to 650cc four-stroke). The criteria for the allocation of the permanent starting numi?ers are the following: 1. Those riders who have scored World Championship points in any class during [J!)@r!A!l 1!l!l@[?O@) @GfJ[ff)@[?@ilf!:I@Il@GfJ[ff)@fJ1B[ff)@[?[J [X]GfJO@0 The Superbike Commission, composed of Claude Danis (FIM), Paolo Alberto F1ammini (SBK International), Takanao Tsubouchi (MSMA) and Giulio Bardi (team representative), has unanimously decided to introduce the following modifications to the Road Racing World championship Regulations for Superbike and Supersport (application as from 1-1-2003), according to the FIM: Tires (Superbike - to be added to Art. 2.4.6_7); At each event, during free practices, qualifying practices and Superpole, a maximum of 13 rear slick tires may be used. A Technical Steward must mark these 13 tires. There is no restriction on the number of front or wet tires that may be used.. On race day, there is no restriction on the number of rear slick tires that may be used. During free practices, qualifying practices and Superpole, no motorcycle may enter the track without the rear slick tire being marked. If a rider is given a red flag during a Superpole lap for reasons beyond the rider's control, the Technical Director may allow an additional rear slick tire to be used. Fuel pump (Superbike - replaces the third paragraph of Art. 2.4.9): Electric fuel pumps must be wired through a circuit cut-out, which will operate automatically when the motorcycle is on its side_ This circuit cut-out must de-activate the fuel pump and the ignition system within one second. The de-activation of the fuel pump and the ignition system may be checked anytime during the event at the instruction of the Technical Director. Tires (Supersport - Art. 2.5.6_7, replaces previous text): Tires must be a fully molded type carrying all size and sidewall marking of the tires for commercial sale to the public. Tires of V and Z rating must be used. The depth of the tire treads must be at least 2.5 mm over the entire tire pattern width at a pre-race control. The tires must have a positive and negative tread of 96 percent positive and minimum 4% negative (land and sea ratio). The maximum distance from the extemal edge of the tire to 50% of the tread elements is 35 mm. One size for the front and two sizes for the rear are allowed. Each size, front and rear, must be available with the same tread pattem as the commercial tires for the road use. The manufacturers may only submit one front and rear pattern for approval. The previous approved tire pattem will expire one year after the introduction of a new approved tire pattem. The FIM/CCR will grant the approval. The manufacturers must the previous year will be ranked according to the total amount of points earned (all classes together.• overall" ranking); 2. If a rider scored World Championship points in several classes. these points will be added together and the rider ranked according to the new total number of points (" overall" ranking); 3. If riders are tied on points. then priority will be given firstly to the Motocross GP class, secondly to the 125cc class, and finally to the 650cc class; 4. The current World Champion will have the possibility of using the number-one plate. if com- submit the tire for approval 30 days prior to its flfSt use, Templates proving the land and sea ratio must be included, The tires must have a DOT and/or E mark, The DOT and/or E mark must appear on the tire sidewall. Only when a race or practice has been declared "wet, • the use of a special tire commonly known as a full wet tire is allowed, Wet tires must be a fully molded tire; no hand cutting is allowed on molded tires. The use of hand cut tires is not allowed. Wet tires do not need to carry DOT or E marks; however these tires must be marked "Not for Highway Use" or "NHS." At each event, during free practices and qualifying practices, a maximum of 12 rear tires may be used. A Technical Steward must mark these 12 tires. There is no restriction on the number of front or wet tires that may be used. On race day, there is no restriction on the number of rear tires that may be used_ During free and qualifying practice, no motorcycle may enter the track without the rear tire being marked. Cylinder Head (Supersport - replaces the last sentence of paragraph 6, Art. 2.5.6.20): The use of titanium valves are permitted for use in machines that are equipped with titanium valves in the original homologated machine. Fuel pump (Supersport - replaces the 3rd paragraph of Art. 2.5.9): Electric fuel pumps must be wired through a circuit cut-out, which will operate automatically when the motorcycle is on its side. This circuit cut-out must de-activate the fuel pump and the ignition system within one second. The de-activation of the fuel pump and the ignition system may be checked anytime during the event at the instruction of the Technical Director. Superbike Homologation Information (Homologation extension for 1000cc 4-cylinder motorcycles for 2003): A manufacturer having a valid Stocksport or Superproduction homologation for a 1000cc 4-cylinder motorcycle will automatically receive a Superbike homologation for this motorcycle. This will be done by adding the motorcycle to the Superbike homologation list and informing the manufacturer; if the manufacturer wishes to add an optional carburetion instrument, a homologation of the optional carburetion instrument will be required. The FIM will charge the homologation fee; if no Stocksport or Superproduction homologation exists, then a new Superbike homologation will be required. peting in the same class as the previous year. However, if he wishes to do so. he can choose a • career number" which will then be allocated to him. He must use this • career number" whenever he competes in another class from the one in which he won the World Title the previous year; 5. All of the ranked riders. except the current World Champions (all classes together, • overall" ranking) will be allocated a number beginning with number two (if the number has not yet been allocated as a • career number" to a current World Champion); 6. Riders who did not score any World Championship points during the previous year will be allocated a number beginning with 200. Oregon Motocross for Kids. a nonprofit organization which benefits lowincome and foster children interested in the sport of motocross. is accepting donations for the 2003 motocross season. For more information. e-mail Roger Hendershot at Motocross4kids@motocross.com. or call 503/566-5884. M Jerry" Kiesow. 84. of Joli· et. Illinois. died on November 7 after being admitted to the hospital with a gallbladder infection that eventually led to his passing. Kiesow was a lifelong AMA member. an early member of the Joliet Ramblers Motorcycle Club and former expert dirt tracker. He worked from the mid 1960s until his retirement in 1995 in the service department of illinois Harley-Davidson. Kiesow's racing career was highlighted by wins at the 1966-67 24-hour motorcycle marathon race held in St. Louis. He competed professionally aboard a Harley-Davidson dirt tracker from 1947-1949. Gerald HIRED: Chris Williams by Factory Effex as export sales. rider.support coordinator and media relallons. Williams will work from his home until mid-December and will begin working from the Factory Effex offices in Valencia. California. on December 16. For more information. call 770/237-3764. HIRED: Jack and Vicki Abbott, by the Barber Motorsports Park as SIGNED: Larry Roeseler to a sponsorship deal with Motorex USA facilities manager and marketing director/events coordinator of Barber lubricants. Motorsports Park. respectively. effective immediately. They have several years of experience working in the field both independently and as • a team. NAMED: Carter Gumee as the rider support coordinator for Race Tech. effective immediately; Jake Thompson as the "technical support hotline go-to guy- far Race Tech. For more information. call 909/279- • ACCEPTING: Gearbox Intemational. importer for Suomy helmets. is 6655. ext. 110. now acceptin9 resumes for the 2003 road·race season. Resumes can be sent to Donny Schmidt at dschmidt@gearbaxintemational.com, or to 950 Gilman St. #800. Berkeley. CA 94710. HIRED: Marc Dixon as the sales manager for CHM Performance APPOINTED: Darryl Atkins as the manager of Fly Racing in Europe. according to Fly Racing USA. Atkins is retiring from racin9 after a 10- year Grand Prix motocross career. .................................................................................................. ".... .. .. The fifth annual A Day In The Dirt weekend gets started on Friday. November 29. when world·class stuntmen. stuntwomen. producers. directors. musicians. actors. extreme-sports athletes. auto racers and supercross/motocross stars come together for three days of exhaust systems. effective immediately. For more information, call 916/944-8500. MOVED: DSP. LLC to 18033 S. Santa Fe Ave.. Rancho Dominguez. CA 90221. 310/668-9050. 310/688-9052 (fax). .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. cycle . n e _ S • Continued on page 72 3 NOVEMBER 20. 2002 r