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/128198
tion, and ,n return we were able to get a huge amount out of it as well. Having the people who build the bikes in Japan here at the test to help make them better was great. " Mat Mladin was able to post a lap time within two seconds of that set by Suzuki MotoGP rider and former World 500cc champion Kenny Roberts Jr., at the Malaysia test. Given the nature of the circuit and the top speeds achieved by the MotoGP machine, Mladin was more than pleased with his lap times and the performance of the new bike during the test. The three-time AMA Superbike Champion returns home to Australia briefly after the test before returning to America to prepare for the team's next test at Fontana and the start of the AMA Superbike Championship at Daytona on March 9. The Yamaha Belgarda World Supersport team is waiting for the results of medical tests that injured team member Paolo Casoli was slated to undergo on Monday, January 20. Casoli has been rehabilitating since his suffering a head Injury while testing in Spain in November. He IS waiting for doctors to give him the okay to retum to the racetrack. - We still have some time before we make our final plans for the season. " said team manager Maio Meregalli, - but before we do that. we will wait for 'Gasoho's' news. If he is able to ride, we could go to Misano at the beginning of February and test again. Everything will be decided in the next few days." Meanwhile, Dutchman Jurgen van den Goorbergh continued to substitute for Casoli in team tests at Valencia in Spain, with the Dutchman's lapping qUicker than team regular Jamie Whitham. Van den Goorbergh lapped at 1 :39.3. while Whitham turned a 1:39.6. Ducatl's Ruben Xaus recently completed a test of the World Superbike Ducati at Valencia in Spain, completing 171 laps over the course of the two-day test. Xaus' best lap was a 1:35.3 on race tires. "The weather hasn't been too good the last two days, and as a result we lost a lot of time," Xaus said in a Ducati press release. - But despite this. we still lapped on the same pace as last year's race. I'm feeling pretty good with the 999 now, and even though the bike is still new, it's coming on well in view of the official SBK tests here in a month's time. Basically, the bike is fast, and we 've found some good front tires over the last couple of days." Brit Neil Hodgson, the Ducati team's second rider, was still recovering from corrective surgery on his left wrist and didn't participate in the test. BP MotorSports and Race Town 395 have joined forces to present the first Hi-Dez MX Series of the season on January 25 in Adelanto, California. Senes championship titles will be awarded at the end of the series, and all classes from 50cc on up are available. FollOWing the series opener on January 25. rounds will be held on February 8 and 22, March 15 and 20 and Apnl 12. For more Information. call BPMS at 760/373-2198 Corbin Motors is being sued for allegedly taking millions in cash and parts from dealers. suppliers and investors while delivering next to nothing, according to reports in newspapers in Hollister, California. The biggest SUIt has been filed by Dr. Andrew Carver, a Bay Area podiatrist who wants the $281,585 he paid for 13 dealerships, plus millions more in punitive damages. The lawsuits are over the one-person electric three-wheeled Corbin Sparrow, an electric car that retails for companies hosting small groups. They also feature multiple televisions, wet bar. refrigerator. private bathroom and outdoor seating. The 10 double-car garages are each 16 feet wide and 32 feet deep. Each features one walkthrough door and roll-up doors on both front and back, making it easy for teams to move their cars and support equipment from their trucks in the paddock, into the garages and out onto Pit Lane. "Today marks the beginning of a new era at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca," said Gill Campbell, general manager. "This facility has evolved a great deal since hosting its first race 45 years ago. And though many improvements have been made over the years, none is as important to the viability of this track as the opening of these hospitality suites and garages. This was all made possible due to the support and relationships we have with Monterey County, Mazda and our many volunteers, sponsors and fans. We thank you all for your support and look forward to many successful racing seasons together." $16,900. The company has been under fire since early 2002, when dealers. suppliers, investors and individual clients became increasingly frustrated by the company's alleged mishandling of funds and the inability to provide cars for which the company had been paid, according to newspaper reports. Meanwhile, Tom Corbin says the electnc car startup is doing the best it can in a failing economy. "America is experiencing some of the worst economic times as a nation since the early 1940s and the 1930s Depression," Tom Corbin wrote in an e-mail to the newspaper, The Hollister Pinnacle. "We are proud to have pushed so hard and to be so close to having created a profitable business in times with so much economic turmoil." Carver, meanwhile, says he received only a fraction of the electric cars for which he paid, which resulted in the suit against Corbin alleging fraud and breach of contract. Carver has managed to hold on to only hiS San Rafael dealership The new Premier Pit Row Suites and garages at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca were unveiled on January 17 The new complex is located inside Turn 11 at the entrance to Pit Rowand contains 12 Saddleback Motorsports Park in Southern California won't open its doors in January as originally planned, according to the racetrack's website "While we have made great progress over the last few months In our quest to reopen the finest motocross facility in Orange County, we are disappointed that we did not meet our original January deadline. " a report on the website states. "Currently our project team is in the process of performing preliminary environmental studies to ensure that the new facility is long lived. Unfortunately, these studies are very time consuming and are taking longer than expected. As a result, we now anticipate breaking ground by June of 2003." For more information, see Saddleback's website at www.saddlebackmx.com. hospitality suites on top of 10 double-car garages. The project broke ground on February 8, 2002, was built at a cost of $7.5 million and is the first phase of a major capital Improvement campaign underway at the facility, according to the racetrack. The Premier Pit Row Suites feature four corporate suites and eight individual suites, directly overlooking the action on Pit Row. Corporate suites are designed for companies hosting up to 40 guests in a climate-controlled environment and include indoor and outdoor seating, multiple televisions, wet bar, refrigerator. private bathroom and a conversational seating area. The individual suites are designed for individual fans or The Buell Motorcycle Company recently announced its road racing support program for 2003, with $61,000 in contingency paid back to 15th place for racers aboard Buell motorcycles in the eight-round national Formula USA Thunderbike class, including $5000 for the series champion, if aboard a Buell for the entire series. "This is a lucrative support program for our customers and dealers which gives them the opportunity to compete at a national level in road racing. We're proud to support their efforts," said Erik Buell, chairman and chief technical officer of Buell Motorcycle Company. The schedule for the eight Formula USA National Road Race Series rounds are as follows: Daytona International Speedway on March 2: Mid-America Motorplex on May 25: New Hampshire International Speedway on June 15, TBA on July 20, Virginia Inter- AUTOGRAPH SIGNING: At Montclair Yamaha in Montclair, Cah- forinia. on January 31 from 6 to 7 p.m. Team Yamaha's Chad Reed, Tim Ferry. DaVid Vuillemln, Ivan Tedesco. Brock Sellards. Josh Hansen, Craig Anderson. Nick Wey. Heath Voss and off-readers Ty Davis and Russ Pearson are scheduled to appear, For more information. call 909/946-8488. NAMED: Bobby Olszewski as the corporate development manager for OMS Sports. effective Immediately. Olszewski can be reached at MOVED: Montclair Yamaha/Sea-Doo. to 5505 Moreno Street. Montclair. CA 91763,909/946-8488, 8oo/RIDE-YAM. 734/222-0688. AUTOGRAPH SIGNING: At H&H KTM World in Dougiasville, Geor- MOVED: Cycle Shop in Salt Lake City, Utah. to 2700 South 350 West. Salt Lake City. UT 841 15. Cycle Shop is a KTM and Benelli deal- gia. on February 21 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. KTM/Red Bull nders Grant Langston. Joaquim Rodnques. Steve Boniface and Brett Metcalfe are scheduled to attend. For more mfo call 770/920-1371 er. BORN: Myne Fritz Metzger. to freestyle legend Mike Metzger and his chasing for White Brothers. HIRED: Jeff Ratzloff by FTM Enterpnses, Inc.. as its general manager. effective February 1. Ratzloff was most recently the director of purwife. Mandi. on December 21 In Southern California. ACCEPTING: Team Ape is now accepting racer resumes for the '" SIGNED: Five-time National Enduro Champion Mike Lafferty Jr. to a 2003 season. Resumes can be sent to Team Ape Road Racing, P.O. deal with Big Gun Exhaust Systems for the 2003 racing season. Box 6998. Burbank, CA91510. FORMED: SSM Trading Corporation as the sole marketing and distri- ACCEPTING: Suspension By Jake IS now accepting racer resumes bution agency for Carbone Lorraine brake pads in North Amenca. For more Information, call 877/MOTOPAD. for the 2003 season. Resumes can be sent to Suspension By Jake. 232 North Sherman, Unit #F. Corona, CA 92880. national Raceway on July 28: Road America on August 10: Summit Point Raceway on September 8: and the Daytona finale on October 20. Buell's Henry Continued 011 page 64 cue I e n e _ S • JANUARY 29.2003 3