Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Keiichi Kitagawa won round one of the 2003 All-Japan Road Race Series on a Kenz/J Trust-sponsored Suzuki GSX-R1000 JSB1000-class machine at the revised Suzuka circuit March 23.

Kitagawa, who raced a Prototype-class Suzuki GSX-R1000 for Kenz/J Trust in the 2002 All-Japan series, qualified on pole with a 2:08.390, turned the fastest lap of the race at 2:10.351 and won the 18-lap event by 1.2 seconds.

The race included 44 starters in three different classes; JSB1000, Superbike and Super-NK. The first 14 finishers were on JSB1000-class machines, and 29 of the 44 entries were in the JSB1000 class.

Takeshi Tsujimura finished second on a JSB1000-spec F.C.C. TSR Honda CBR954RR, while Tatsuya Yamaguchi, the defending All-Japan JSB1000 Champion, took third on a Castrol Honda CBR954RR, some 10 seconds behind Tsukimura.

Reigning All-Japan Superbike Champion Atsushi Watanabe finished fifth overall and in the JSB1000 class on a Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000, 23 seconds behind the winner.

Masataka Hayashi, 15th overall, won the Super-NK class on a Team Moto Sport Yamaha YZF-R1, and Tomoki Arakawa, 21st overall, won the Superbike class on a Sofukai/Suzuka Racing Team Honda RC51.

The next round of the All-Japan Road Race Series is April 27 at Sugo.

All-Japan Results From Suzuka:

1. Keiichi Kitagawa, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 18 laps, 39:25.527
2. Takeshi Tsujimura, Honda CBR954RR, -1.216 seconds
3. Tatsuya Yamaguichi, Honda CBR954RR, -11.627 seconds
4. Hitoyasu Izutsu, Honda CBR954RR, -19.409 seconds
5. Atsushi Watanabe, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -23.228 seconds
6. Osamu Deguichi, Honda CBR954RR, -23.335 seconds
7. Ryuichi Kiyonari, Honda CBR954RR, -23.521 seconds
8. Ken Eguchi, Honda CBR954RR, -34.786 seconds
9. Takuma Yamamoto, Honda CBR954RR, -36.751 seconds
10. Akira Tamitsuji, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -37.144 seconds