Copyright 2001, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Formula USA is not only working toward holding “match races” at the combined F-USA/Canadian Superbike round at Mosport July 19-21, 2002, but, according to Formula USA National Road Race Event Manager Kenny Abbott, Clear Channel Entertainment is very close to a deal that would have F-USA’s best road racers compete against Britain’s best at Donington Park as a support race for the FIM World Championship Grand Prix July 12-14.

On the races at Mosport, Abbott said, “The deal is still being negotiated, but initially we were contacted by Colin Fraser (Parts Canada Superbike Championship series organizer) and Bar Hodgson (promoter of the Mosport race event) to hold a joint event. We were excited about it just because of the competition that they have up there, similar sponsors, similar (race) format, and they run a good program up there.

“Our rules are really close, and the penalties are very close. The two programs integrate very easily. They’re both dyno-controlled classes, weight-controlled classes. The numbers that I’ve seen are very comparable if not the same numbers. DOT tires are required (in both). I believe the weight limits are the same. There’s not really much rule modifications involved.”

The plan, according to Abbott, is for the Formula USA Unlimited Superbike and Pro Sportbike classes to run with the Canadian Series’ Open Sport Bike and 600cc Sport Bike classes, respectively.

“The Canadian Open Sport Bike class limit is 150 horsepower and their 600cc Sport Bike class is 110 horsepower,” outlined Abbott. “So we would probably run with 115 horsepower in the 600 class, and 150 horsepower in the open class, taking the higher of each limit, but the details are still being worked out.

“Yes, 115 horsepower is going to be our (Formula USA) Sportbike (horsepower) limit for next year (2002). It will still be 145 horsepower for Unlimited Superbikes, and both classes will have the same (minimum) weight limits (as in 2001 – 370 pounds for Unlimited Superbikes and 365 pounds for Pro Sportbikes).

“We’re also taking the Buell Lightning series (to Mosport), which is going to have some concessions in 2002 so that the new Firebolts can run with the Lightnings head-to-head. Unlimited Superbike, Pro Sportbike and Buell Lightning will be the only three points-paying classes that we will be taking up there with us.

“Hopefully, it will build a good camaraderie and they’ll (Canadians) want to come down and participate in our Road America event in August, which is just two weeks later. We’re going to invite them to come over and participate in that event.”

And as for the USA versus UK Match Races? “Together with the management of Donington Park, we’re trying to put together a Trans-Atlantic Challenge as well, where we would take 10 of our competitors over to compete against 10 of the British Superbike Series’ best riders,” explained Abbott. “It’s the start of an expansion, something that we can offer our riders that’s a little different, new opportunities. We’re excited about it.

“Originally, it was going to be at the final round of the British Superbike National Series in September, but now we’re actually looking at the World Grand Prix event in July, July 13-14, the weekend right before Mosport.

“The concept is to have one manufacturer of motorcycles prepare the motorcycles. We’ll take 10 Americans from our series, they bring 10 riders from their series, they will all ride identically-prepared motorcycles for a grid of 20 and it would be like a 10-lap race. We would allow them to set up the bikes, bring their own shocks and that type of deal, but the motors would be sealed.

“The date’s locked in. If we are going to do it, we’re going to do it on that date. The next big hurdle is getting a commitment from a manufacturer. Buell has shown a lot of interest. If that’s the case and you are a betting man, you’d have to bet on the U.S. Just think about who we would take. It would be guys like Michael Barnes, Mike Ciccotto, Shawn Higbee, Richie Morris, Tripp Nobles, guys who have been in on the development of the Buells. Talk about a stacked deck!

“We’d take 10 guys, and I would probably want to take some of our returning Champions like Lee Acree, Michael Himmelsbach and then look at it from there for guys who are available, interested, already running the series that can go fast. We’d get guys like Chris Ulrich and Don Canet to race and write about it in the magazines. We’ll take the rider and their tuner, fly them over and stay at the Donington Manor and enjoy a MotoGP weekend.”