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/128208
o o o o Con tin ued from page 2 c process, 1ike a Jet fighter plane does, There are very few who hold a world wheel-driven speed record in excess of 400 mph: The Summers Brothers set a 409-mph record in 1964 in the Unsupercharged category, and AI Teague who mirrored that record in 1991 with a 409mph record, but in the Supercharged category, Both still reign supreme in their respective classes, Don Campbell had the turbine record that Don Vesco bettered in 2001 , The testing has concluded and it's time to get started. On April 4, practice and qualifying will begin for the opening round of the MotoGP World Championship at the Suzuka Circuit in Japan, and at least some of the questions should be answered. If the final shakedown tests at Suzuka on March 30-3 I were any indications, World Champion Valentino Rossi is still the man to beat - but the others are close, really close. Rossi finished the two-day official IRTA tests at the Japanese circuit as fastest rider on both days, with his best time of 2:04. I 70. Naturally, the 24-year-old four-time World Champion from Tavullia, Italy, is satisfied that he is ready for the long fight ahead to retain his title. "I'm happy after the two days of tests here," Rossi said in a Honda release. "We've been concentrating on a good race setup, and I'm satisfied with the results. This will be a very hard year for everybody, because there are so many riders who will want to fight for the win. I think it will be a great season for everyone who, loves racing. Every race will be a battle. We have a couple of days' rest here in Japan, and after that we go - we are ready for the seasonl" The second-fastest rider at the end of the two-day test was Camel Honda's Tohru Ukawa. The Japanese rider lapped at 2:04.359, marginally better than the 2:04.567 turned in by his teammate Max Biagg!. Ukawa, however, crashed in the final minutes of the final session and was taken to hospital, where doctors diagnosed a small fracture of a bone in his left knee, where the intemal ligament is joined. Despite the setback, Ukawa will be fit to ride in the first practice session for the Japanese Grand Prix on Friday morning, according to his team. "We still have not fixed the problem, which has been hindering our progress all preseason, although I hope to lind a solution before the race," Biaggi said in a release issued by his team. "There are six or seven riders who are very close, and we must continue to work to be competitive. I hope to make a good start in the championship, although so far I have given my aU and we have got the maximum performance out of the material we have. From now on we will continue to work along these tines and, if possible, test some new parts to improve the bike, which, in its base form, is very good, although it has a margin for improvement, which we must exploit to the maxi- C n r r I I Ed Moreland, the AMA's vice president for government relations, represented the interests of American motorcyclists at the recent United Nations Working Party 29 (WP.29J meeting, which was held March 11-14 in Geneva, Switzerland. During the meeting, Moreiand met with members of the parliament of the European Union, officials of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Dr. Jeffrey Runge, administrator of the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSAJ. Moreland reports that these discussions will prove useful in the coming months as the United Nations considers Global Technical Regulations (GTRsJ on emissions testing, brake standards, and noise. The WP.29 meeting was part of the World Forum for the Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations, a United Nations group considering international motor-vehicle standards in areas such as safety, emissions, energy efficiency and theft prevention. The United States is among the countries that signed the agreement creating the Forum, raising the possibiiity that standards set by the international agency could become law here. In October of last year, the AMA attended Forum meetings in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Montreal, Quebec, offering motorcyciists' perspectives on efforts to create worldwide standards for motorcycle brakes and for testing exhaust emissions. The United Nations Economic and Social Council granted the AMA Non-Governmental Organization (NGOl status in July of 2001. With NGO status, the AMA is able to participate in the Forum and has the opportunity to offer U.S. riders' input as well as monitor regulations that could affect this nation's 6 million motorcyclists. L O O O O O O o o AMA Pro Racing has released the 2003 rule book governing its newest series, the AMA Red Bull Supermoto Championship. The rule book can be accessed at www.amaproracing.com. The new series was introduced at a press conference during Bike Week in Daytona Beach. The announcement has sparked interest from both within and outside the motorcycle industry. According to Chris Bradley, AMA Pro Racing associate \....! director of commercial development, inquiries have exceeded AMA Pro RacLJ ing's expectations. "We knew there was a great deal of interest in this series, but L the response since our announcement has been amazing," said Bradley. "We've had calls from potential promoters, toplevel riders, sponsors, and even a couple O C C r U r rl n O o 0122 APRIL 9, 2003' II: Y II: I ... young career. "I've had an enjoyable couple of days here," Hayden said. "If I think back to my first experience on the five-cylinder RC2 I I V here at Suzuka at the back end of last year, I'm happy because I've knocked a load of time off the laps and I'm feeling so much more comfortable and confident on the bike. The team's working well, and I'm feeling really positive about my first MotoGP race." mum." Fourth fastest in the test was Gauloises Yamaha's Alex Barros, the Brazilian lapping at 2:04.605. "Another good day'" Barros said in his team release. "I'm very happy with the progress we made during these two days. We've tested many new parts, including the fairing, and today, the exhaust which I like very much. It looks good and sounds great! I also tried a new rear swingarm, which seems iike it has potential, but I need a little more time to evaluate it thoroughly. The lap times are very fast, and very close, which should make for a great race this weekend. From what I've seen here these past two days, I beiieve that Rossi will be the biggest threat for the championship this year. He is very consistent, and that's what wins championships; speaking of which, it's about time to start racing." The rest of the top 10 from the test is as follows: 5. Sete Gibernau (2:04.616); 6. Daijiro Kato (2:04.629); 7. Colin Edwards (2:04.846); 8. Loris Capirossi (2:04.889); 9. Carlos Checa (2:04.908); 10. Noriyuki Hag.a (2:05.193). Nicky Hayden, Rossi's 21-year-old Repsol Honda teammate, ended up 12th fastest in his final test before the first MotoGP of his of cities who are interested in hosting a race. We're responding to calls as qUickly as we can." Superrnoto is unique in that it combines the disciplines of both onand off-road racing. Slightly modified motocross machines are primarily used, and the action takes place on courses that are approximately SO-percent pavement and 20-percent dirt. A long list of top-level riders are committed to participating in this AMA Pro Racing series, including former World GP Champion Kevin Schwantz, reigning AMA Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Champion Chris Carr, multi-time X-Games gold medallist/Freestyle Motocross star Mike Metzger, and five-time Daytona 200 winner Scott Russell. Energy-drink maker Red Bull is the title sponsor of the series, and KTM Sportmotorcycles is a class sponsor. The series is scheduled to begin this summer and will culminate at the championship finale run in conjunction with the AMA Pro Racing awards banquet in Las Vegas in November. The sixrace series, which will be broadcast on n ... _ s the Outdoor life Network, will include rounds held at existing AMA Pro Racing events as well as selected stand-alone events. Hundreds of motorcycle enthusiasts are expected to take part in a ride on May 17 that will benefit Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Grand marshal Mike Morris. a morning-show host on KFAN radio and a former Minnesota Viking, will lead the pack of riders from its origination point at Toohey's Bar & Grill in Savage, Minnesota. "This is another great opportunity to help Families of SMA. I look forward to joining motorcyclists at the selected stops along the way. Minnesota has such a tremendous motorcycling population and some of the best riding roads," said Morris. The Ride For A Cure event will begin at 10 a.m .. followed by a scenic ride to selected stops through the rural Minneapolis/St. Paul areas, including a rest at Indian motorcycle dealer Fury Motors in South St. Paul. Participating riders in 'Ride For A Cure' will be asked to donate a mini- mum of $10 to benefit FSMA. The event will conclude at Toohey's Bar & Grill, where a live auction of motorcycle memorabilia and other prizes, along with live music and a barbacue, will top off the day's festivities. The event is one of three fundraisers spearheaded by Morris and KFAN to benefit Families of SMA. For more event information, visit www.kfan.com. Pacific Super Sport Riders has released its 2003 track-day schedule. The group puts on track days and rider-safety schools in the Northwest. Its home track is Portland International Raceway in Portland, Oregon, but the group also has sessions at Pacific Raceway in Seattle and at ThunderHill Park in Willows, California. The current schedule is as follows: Portland International Raceway - April 17, May 22, July 1S, August 22, September 4, October 2: Pacific Raceway - July 9; Thunderhill Park - October 29. For more information, visit www.pssrtrack.com. or call 503/614-1965. eN