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/128214
o
c
c
The Zongshen Suzuki GSX·R 1000
(1
LJ
n
u
team of Warwick Nowland and Stephane
Mertens won the Imola 200, the first
round of the 2003 World Endurance
Championship in Imola, Italy, on May 4,
CJ
AMA Pro Racing's inaugural Red Bull Supermoto event will be held in con·
junction with the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship/World
Superbike round held at Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca, July 1 J -13, and
AMA Pro Racing released a map last week of exactly what the Don Canet·
designed racetrack will look like.
That track will be located in the open area between turns two and five of
the main road course at Laguna.
"Our objective was to locate the Supermoto track in such a manner that
fans had convenient access and could easily view all of the Supermoto and
road races," says Cameron Gray of Race Promotion Management, the event
promoter. "By placing the track where we did, we're offering fans an entirely
new component to their race weekend. Th.e Supermoto race program com·
plements the AMA and World Superbike schedule so fans won't miss any
action. Also, spectators can now visit the manufacturer displays and view
the AMA Red Bull Supermoto races all in the same general location."
The track will be approximately six-tenths of a mile long and will feature
a 70/30 pavement·to·dirt ratio. It also features several jumps including a
3D-foot double step·down, tabletop jump, according to AMA PJ'o Racing.
"Finding a suitable on·site course area for this event has presented a for·
midable challenge," said Canet. ·We've made the most of the space we
have to work with and feel confident that the riders and fans will find the lay·
out very eXciting."
The main straight of the Supermoto track utilizes pavement that was part of the original Laguna Seca layout along with a mix of tight
tums that will place aopremium on braking skill, the AMA says.
·While there just isn't room enough for a sweeping road course element, we're certain to see plenty of back·it·in, bum·it·out action,"
assures Canet. "If I see big grins on the faces of fans and riders, I've done my job as a track builder."
A notable list of riders is planning to contest the AMA Red Bull Supermoto Championship. In addition to riders who have already
announced their participation (Chris Carr, Mike Metzger, Scott Russell and Kevin Schwantz) several other top·level riders have expressed
their intention to race the series. Included on this list are current AMA Superbike racer Eric Bostrom and AMA Motocross and Supercross
legend and current Indy car driver Jeff Ward.
Suzuki GB Phase One teamsters
o
o
o
n
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Olivier Four and James Ellison finished
second, ahead of the Yamaha Aus·
tria team of Saiger, Wilding and Truch·
sess.
The television sohedule for the
l..J 2003 AMA Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championship has been released, and five more
events are to be televised on Speed
Channel this season, in addition to the
Daytona Short Track event that was
aired in March. In 'addition to Grand
National coverage, select Harley-Davidson Sportster Performance Series races
will be shown. AMA Flat Track fans will
get a mix of racing venues to watch -
c
c
from the famous Springfield Mile to its
neighboring TT circuit. There will also be
the opportunity to catch televised racing
from a new venue. the half·mile at
Sharon Speedway in Hartford, Ohio, as
well as the race at Scioto Downs in
Columbus, Ohio. "Flat track racing is
traditionally some of the closest in all of
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
c
AMA Pro Racing,' said Bruce Bober,
AMA Pro Racing's flat track manager.
"We're confident that the sport will continue to win new fans as they are able to
watch these races on Speed Channel.
We're fortunate to have companies such
as Progressive Insurance and HarleyDavidson Motor Company, whose support helps make these flat track broad-
always produces exciting finishes decid·
Cooke (BMXer), Allen Cooke