Race News from Around the World, May 2004 c/o mcnews

American Superbike Championship 2004 - Infineon - Round 4/5, May 1^st, 2004.

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Mat Mladin continued his winning ways on Saturday at Infineon Raceway by capturing the 98 Rock Superbike Challenge.

MotoGP 2004 - Round 2- Jerez, 250 Race, May 2^nd, 2004.

On the last lap West was holding down third but Nieto was right on his tail and looking for a way past and Nieto did exactly that to secure the final podium position on his factory backed machine from West on his privateer bike.Rolfo took a great win from  Randy De Puniet.

MotoGP 2004 - Round 2 - Jerez - MotoGP Race, May 2^nd, 2004.

Gibernau took the win from Biaggi while a long way back was Alex Barros in third.  Valentino Rossi just managed to hold off Hayden to secure fourth.

FIM World Endurance Championship - Round 2 – China, May 2^nd, 2004.

Yamaha GMT94 have won the Zhuhai 6 Hours round of the FIM World Endurance Championship after a race long battle with Suzuki Castrol. Suzuki Castrol had lead the race constantly from the first half hour until a crash dropped them out of the lead with less than ten minutes to go, after a final splash-and-dash fuel stop. Second place went to Suzuki Zongshen Team 81 and third to Yamaha Endurance Moto 38.

American Superbike Championship 2004 - Infineon - Round 3 – Sunday, May 2^nd, 2004.

Honda’s Miguel Duhamel used a thrilling last-lap pass to take the victory on Sunday at Infineon Raceway in the AMA Supercuts Superbike Challenge. The event was part of the Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown weekend.

Just how much trouble is Aprilia really in?, May 4^th, 2004 .

Italian motorcycle manufacturer Aprilia is rumoured to be in dire financial trouble and the internet went in to overdrive last week with talk of ceased production and all sorts of other ‘rumoured’ happenings. As far as we have been able to ascertain only the scooter section of the company is in dire trouble and this section of the entity is under some sort of government enforced administration.

Sydney Harbour Tunnel Speedster cops period detention, May 4^th, 2004.

A motorcyclist who raced through the Sydney Harbour tunnel at speeds of up to 212kph for a "mad adrenalin rush" was today sentenced to six months' periodic detention. Paul Jason Myers, 31, had pleaded guilty to 12 charges in Hornsby Local Court, including driving at dangerous speeds and failing to obey a police direction to stop. The court heard Myers was detected speeding through the tunnel four times between January 23 and February 6 this year at speeds ranging from 159 kph to 212 kph.

Myers had an obscured number plate to escape apprehension. On February 16, he evaded police officers from Operation Knievel, set up to catch him, leading them on a chase along the Gore Hill Freeway at speeds of up to 220kph. But he was later tracked down and arrested by police. Myers' lawyer, Ken Stewart, told the court his client had been devastated by the death of a friend and perhaps "that mad adrenalin rush ... acts as an opiate for that pain in his mind". But Magistrate Maxwell Taylor said the offences were in the most serious category and Myers posed both a danger to himself and the community. He sentenced Myers to six months periodic detention, fined him $2,200 and disqualified him from driving for three years.

Aprilia release statement saying they are in the all clear, May 7^th.

Aprilia is pleased to announce to have reached the business financing agreement with the pool of Banks with whom the issue was under discussion in the last few weeks. As a result of this agreement, Aprilia will be able to resume the production at full speed and satisfy the high demand of bikes coming from the market approaching to its main important part of the season.

Suzuki's all new GSX-R750 arrives down under, May 12^th, 2004.

SPECS - Suzuki GSX-R750

• Engine: 749cc, four-stroke, four-cylinder, DOHC, liquid-cooled (148hp claimed)
• Bore x Stroke: 72 x 46mm
• Compression: 12.3:1
• Induction: SDTV electronic fuel injection, 4 x 42mm throttle bodies
• Starter: Electric
• Transmission: Six speed
• Final Drive: Chain
• Wheelbase: 1395mm
• Dimensions (L x W x H): 2075 x 715 x 1145mm
• Seat Height: 825mm
• Dry Weight: 163kg
• Fuel Capacity: 17 litres
• Tyres: Front _ 120/70ZR17; Rear _ 180/55ZR17
• Suspension: Front _ Showa 43mm inverted forks, stepless preload, compression and rebound adjustment; rear _ Showa shock, adjustable preload and stepless compression and rebound damping adjustment
• Ground Clearance: 128mm
• Brakes: Front _ Dual 300mm discs with radial mounted four piston callipers and radial master cylinder; rear _ single 220mm disc with twin piston calliper
• Price: $16,690.

Motorcycle noise laws set to change, May 13^th, 2004.

The gripe of most motorcyclists is that they were being unfairly and unequally legislated against with regard to exhaust noise - as of 1st of January next year this is not the case as every vehicle as sold is required to meet the same design rule – ADR 83.00 (Vehicle noise). The new ADR 83.00 replaces the old ADR 39.00 and brings with it ‘whole’ vehicle noise limits, which will reduce vehicle noise on the road in Australia. The tougher drive-by tests will determine that all vehicles will need to be quieter to pass ADR compliance testing, to be sold in Australia.

However ADR’s do not apply on the road, and recently the national and state bodies have met and have agreed to the revision of the “Australian Vehicle Standards Rules”, outlining next year’s in-service (on the road) noise testing guidelines, in line with the introduction of ADR 83.00.

What is agreed is that as the tougher drive-by limits are introduced, it will bring about a reduction of vehicle noise. At this stage there will be no requirement for ‘E’ marking in-service, as previously thought, however there will be a simple requirement to remain within 5 dB(A) of the original signature noise limit. (The ‘signature’ stationary noise test is taken during compliance.) This allows manufacturing tolerances, replacement systems and some appreciable wear and tear of the exhaust system. This information will be on the frame label, as it is currently.

Currently in most states*, under the national standard ‘Vehicle In-service noise testing guidelines”, the allowed limit is 94 dB(A) at stationary test, but for older motorcycles (pre- February 1985), it is 100 dB(A). If you have a replacement system or muffler fitted you are required to not exceed these noise limits. There will be no upper limit imposed on the new bikes due to the fact that original vehicle noise will be substantially reduced over ADR 39.00. The same testing criteria apply to replacement systems or mufflers. Provided they do not produce greater than 5 dB(A) than standard they will pass the national standard.

If your original system is fitted, you are required to continue to comply with ADR 39.00 or ADR 83.00 and therefore required to carry the original ‘frame label’ fitted to the bike when new. It is suggested not to remove the label; however recent interpretations allow this to be fitted under the seat, or some other easily accessible place, provided it is permanent and not-removable without destruction. If it is not in place, contact your manufacturer to obtain a new one.

In NSW, if you have a replacement muffler or system, you are also required to carry a label on the muffler stating what the new tested limit is. It is a rather complex set of rules imposed by the EPA (now DEC) and is being reviewed by the DEC with the assistance of the MCC of NSW.

*Please refer to your state motorcycling body for clarification of your state regulations.

Noise Cameras, May 14^th, 2004.

The State government environmental departments of Australia have been trialling a noise camera to capture excessively loud vehicles. The proposed offence is "Objectionable Noise". Penalties have yet to be announced. If the camera is set to a certain trigger level, it can pick up similar sounds, quieter and closer to the microphone. It is anticipated that each recording and subsequent photograph will be listened to and viewed by an enforcement officer. If it is found that a vehicle other than a truck has triggered the camera, the vehicle may be directed to be tested in accordance to the Australian Vehicle Standards Rules. It will then of course be required to comply with the relevant noise level for its production year and vehicle type. The trigger point is expected to be quite high, in the order of 110dB(A) to capture the very loud vehicles. It may, however, also capture an excessively noisy motorcycle passing the capture point that produces noise in the same frequency range.

Motorcyclists need to understand that there is no real way state noise enforcement agencies can apply the "drive-by" noise test level to a vehicle on the road, even if stock, as the testing regime for new motorcycles is reliant on a number of constants, not present in normal use. Motorcycles, when tested by the drive-by method are required to pass by the sound meter at a very specific speed, gear position and throttle position. It is not used in-service as it is costly and difficult to do correctly. It is, however, the method used to test new vehicles in order to meet Australian Design Rules approval for sale in Australia. Stationary noise testing is the accepted method of testing exhaust noise in-service and this can only be performed whilst the motorcycle is stationary, due to the number of variables present on the road.

American Superbike Championship 2004 - Barber - Round 6, May 15^th, 2004.

Australian Mat Mladin scored his twenty ninth career AMA Superbike race victory after a stunning charge in the final few laps saw him take the race lead and the resulting win on the final lap of today’s sixth round of the American AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship being held at the Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama.

World Superbike 2004 - Round 4 - Monza - Race 1, May 16^th, 2004.

Laconi was out in a world of his own storming away in front.  Toseland was a clear second place from McCoy in the closing few laps and that was the way it remained when the chequered flag came out.

World Supersport 2004 - Round 4 - Monza - Race Report, May 16^th, 2004.

Curtain was running well before his engine went bang.  Then in the closing laps Fujiwara lost his strong position when his engine failed. No problem for Muggeridge though as he just streaked away out in front to a clear win from Fabien Foret. But then post race Fabien Foret was excluded from the results for a technical infringement.  His machine's automatic cut-out feature failed to function post race which led to the penalty.

World Superbike 2004 - Round 4 – Monza, May 16^th, 2004.

Race 1 Results	Race 2 Results	Championship Points
Laconi Toseland McCoy Vermeulen Haslam Fuertes Borciani Walker Corser Bontempi Clementi De Matteis Saiger Sala	Laconi Vermeulen Toseland McCoy Haslam Corser Borciani Walker Martin Sanchini Clementi Bontempi Pedercini Velini Saiger	Laconi 120 Toseland 113 Vermeulen 103 Chili 97 McCoy 84 Haga 69 Walker 68 Borciani 67 Corser 65 Haslam 62 Martin 61

MotoGP 2004 - Round 3 - Le Mans, May 16^th, 2004 - By, Trevor Hedge.

Lapped traffic became a major problem on the last lap which destroyed the chance for Checa, Biaggi and Rossi to battle all the way to the line.  Gibernau takes the win, Checa comes home second between a pair of lappers and Biaggi takes the final podium position.

MotoGP 125 Results	MotoGP 250 Results	MotoGP Results	MotoGP Championship Points
Dovizioso Locatelli Lorenzo Giansanti Barbera Kallio Nieto Stoner Bautista Jenkner Borsoi Pasini Simon	Pedrosa De Puniet Elias Aoyama De Angelis West Nieto Battaini Debon Olive Smrz Davies Faubel	Gibernau Checa Biaggi Rossi Edwards Melandri Barros Bayliss Tamada Capirossi Hayden Roberts McWilliams	Gibernau 66 Biaggi 56 Rossi 51 Barros 38 Checa 36 Edwards 29

May 17 - News - Vermeulen stripped of his second place in WSBK Race Two, Foret stripped of second place in WSS Race.  Automatic engine cut-out feature failed to function on both bikes post race.

Motorcycle deaths up in Victoria, May 19^th, 2004  -  AAP.

This AAP piece will no doubt find it's way in to the Melbourne newspapers tomorrow or sometime this week.

Car drivers and inexperienced motorcyclists have been blamed for an almost 40 per cent increase in motorcycle deaths on Victoria's roads this year. The Victorian Motorcyclists Union (VMU) said the state's roads had claimed 18 motorcyclists so far this year, compared to 13 over the same period last year. VMU spokesman Alex Money said drivers who failed to look out for motorcyclists contributed significantly to the alarming statistics. "Most of the increase has been caused by car drivers forcing us off the road," he said. "Car drivers don't see us: they don't look and they don't see us." He also said inexperienced motorcyclists featured high on the carnage list this year and he called for better training for those without experience. "They need to be protected in some way against errant drivers because they are running us off the road and hitting us," he said. Mr Money also called on the Victorian government and the Transport Accident Commission to meet and discuss strategies to address the alarming trend. He urged the government to consider harsher penalties for drivers who hit motorcyclists, better training for motorists and a motorcycle safety campaign for the general public.

Andrew Pitt will join the MotoGP grid at Mugello, May 24^th, 2004.

Former Kawasaki grand prix rider and world supersport champion Andrew Pitt will race a Moriwaki prototype in five rounds of this year’s MotoGP championship, including the Cinzano Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Victoria’s Phillip Island on October 15-17.

World Superbike 2004 - Round 5 – Oschersleben, May 30^th, 2004.

Laconi had it all by himself out in front with over 20 seconds on second placed Toseland.  Laconi came home the very clear winner from Toseland, Haslam third with a rapidly closing Garry McCoy taking fourth.

Race 1 Results	Race 2 Results	Championship Points
Haga Toseland Chili Corser Martin Laconi Haslam Oelschlager McCoy Sanchini Clementi Nannelli Meklau Bontempi Vermeulen Velini Praia Berthelsen	Laconi Toseland 21.5secs Haslam 24.6secs McCoy 27.4secs Nannelli Sanchini Walker Vermeulen Clementi Meklau Bontempi Velini	Toseland 157 Laconi 155 Chili 113 McCoy 107 Haga 94 Vermeulen 92 Haslam 89 Corser 79 Walker 78 Martin 73