From a press release issued by Motonation:

Spidi Sport, one of the worldwide market leaders in the street and roadrace motorcycle apparel segment, is proud to announce the selection of Motonation as its new exclusive importer for the American market effective immediately.

Simone Fin, Spidi Export Sales Director, states: “Spidi products have been available for a number of years in the USA in a somewhat limited fashion. With Motonation’s focused sales and distribution system we are quite excited, and looking forward to seeing the Spidi brand grow in sales as well as name recognition in the years to come.”

Bill Berroth, President of Motonation commented: “The street apparel market is one that Motonation has always felt would be a good match to our company, our existing brands, and our dealer exclusivity sales style for some time now. We did not want to make this step with just any brand but with a market leader. When we learned this summer that the Spidi brand was available we jumped at the chance and established a partnership that will see Motonation and Spidi working together towards the growth of the USA market for the brand for years to come. We are very honored and excited to have this opportunity.”

Retailers interested in acquiring an exclusive Spidi sales territory for their market area should contact Motonation at 877-789-4940 or write to [email protected] or [email protected]


More, from a press release issued by CCS:

California CCS Riders

SBRtrackday.com is hosting a track day at Willow Springs’ Streets of Willow race track this weekend on Wed. Oct. 20th. They would like to offer a discount to CCS riders in an effort to fill empty spaces for their event. Regular price is $130 dollars, however CCS riders can take advantage of a special promotion for this event only with a $30 discount.

When registering on-line, just enter “CCS 30 dollar discount” in the “motorcycle experience” box on our registration page @ www.sbrtrackday.com

For further questions, feel free to contact SBR Track Days Director Ken at 949-751-8368.


More, from a press release issued by the Eastern Airways Sidecar Championship:

Eastern Airways Sidecar Championship ­ Round 10

DOUBLE RACE WIN, CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE AND NEW LAP RECORD EARNS WEBSTER AND WOODHEAD WRANGLER FOOTWEAR TEAM AWARD

The Castrol Suzuki pairing of Steve Webster and Paul Woodhead have won the Wrangler Footwear Team of the Meeting award for Sunday¹s 10th round of the Eastern Airways Sidecar Championship at Mallory Park.

The pairing won both races of the final round to clinch the title in breathtaking fashion and also smashed the lap record at the Leicestershire track.

Webster concluded one of his busiest seasons ever with wins 10 and 11 from 18 races in the Eastern Airways Championship, all after securing World and European titles.

“It really has been an incredible year, one of my best,” said Webster. “I’m really pleased to collect the Wrangler Footwear Team award after a perfect day for us at Mallory Park on Sunday.”

He continued: “The chase for the Eastern Airways title went down to the final round – anything could have happened on Sunday. And we’ve had four different race winners this year so it all looks promising for the future.”


More, from a press release issued by Proforma:

HOTBODIES RACING TEAM RESULTS FROM WERA GRAND NATIONAL FINAL AT ROAD ATLANTA

The Hotbodies Racing Team participated at the 2004 Parts Unlimited WERA Grand National Final and Suzuki GSX-R Cup Finals at Road Atlanta. Riders under the red and white Hotbodies Racing tent at Road Atlanta included Geoff May, Giovanni Rojas and Blake Young.

Geoff May
Geoff raced in the Suzuki GSX-R600 and GSX-R1000 Cup Final races as well as the WERA National Challenge Formula 1 event on Sunday, with a sixth in the 600 race and wins in the other two finals. “The 600 race, realistically I knew I wasn’t gonna be able to run with those guys,” said Geoff. “I figured I’d just stick it up there and hope for a podium or something. This was only the fifth time I rode the bike, and we just put a shock on it. I rode it as hard as I could, and that’s where I ended up. With the 1000, I knew I had faster times than everyone else all weekend, I figured I just had to do my best and get a good start. Brent (George) got an awesome holeshot, he went flying up into one, and went a little wide. I squared it up and fired it up the hill and put my head down. My pit crew was giving me signals, so I didn’t even look back until after the halfway point. I saw a huge gap so I just put it on cruise control. I didn’t wat to be the idiot of the day and throw it down winning the race. My main goal for the weekend was to win the 1000 Cup.”

“I won the WERA Formula 1 race as well, came from the fourth row,” added Geoff. “Tray Batey got a flyer, I got held up behind (David) Weber and (John) Jacobi and a few other guys. It took me about half a lap to get by each guy. I was just stronger in a few spots. Batey put a big gap, and I knew Mike Smith was probably right on my heels the whole time. I never looked back at him. I didn’t care, I was trying to catch Batey. Unfortunately for him, he was on a 750, or it might have been a different story.”

Giovanni Rojas
Giovanni won the WERA National Challenge 600 Superbike race at Road Atlanta after a race-long battle with Tristan Schoenewald. “At the start, this guy in front of me went sideways and Tristan got in front of me,” said Gio. “I went through the pack and passed him on the second lap. I made a mistake back in turn five. I ran off the track a little bit, and I think that’s where he gained on me. He was right there, I could feel somebody in the draft behind me. On the lap before the last lap, he got me in turn 10, so I just followed him through there. When we went down to turn twelve, he was really weak through there. I made a lot of ground through there, and I passed him going into (turn) one. On the last lap, he passed me back in turn 10 on the brakes again. So I followed him through there. I had a great drive out of there, he went to the outside, I just stuck it in the inside, and went down turn 12 down the hill to the checkers. It was great!”

Blake Young
Blake had an eventful first visit to the Suzuki Cup Finals at Road Atlanta. He finished ninth in the hotly contested GSX-R600 Cup Final, dicing throughout the race with Nicky Moore, David Weber, Mark Junge and Matt Furtek. In the GSX-R750 Cup Final, he finished fourth on the track, but was disqualified when it was discovered that his GSX-R750 had a 600 swingarm mounted instead. Blake ran as high as fourth in the GSX-R1000 Cup Final, but ended up finishing ninth after his front brake lever started coming into the handlebar at about the halfway point. He continued on during the remainder of the race, using his rear brake and downshifting to slow the bike for the corners. “All in all, it was a good weekend,” said Blake. “It was my first time at the Cup Finals, and I had a few problems, but I had some good races with a bunch of guys. Mark Junge really helped me out, especially on my 1000.”

Stay tuned for the Hotbodies Racing Team plans for 2005.

For more information, please contact Hotbodies Racing at 1-800-555-2805 or visit www.hotbodiesracing.com


More, from a press release issued by Garrett Carter Racing

16 year old Honda 125 GP racer, Garrett Carter, won the WERA National 125 GP Sportsman Title after a 6 week lay off from breaking his collar bone. He took the title away from former champion Brian Kcratget in a race that had 3 red flags of which Garrett and Brian both crashed in the same oil soaked corner causing the third red flag. The frustrated WERA officials decided to restart the race at the end of the day with time permiting. This allowed both riders to repair their bikes for the restart. The shortened 6 lap race saw Kcratget take the lead followed by Carter and Aprilia mounted teenage rider, Ryan Clay, in third. Both Garrett and Ryan soon pasted the leader and raced wheel to wheel to the finish line with Garrett pulling out the victory by half a bike length. Aprilia Super Tuner Rocky Stargel worked on both teenager’s bikes to great success. Rocky also put Garrett on his former AMA 2002 Championship bike, the Aprilia 250 of Chuck Sorenson fame, for the Formula 2 race. This was Garrett’s first time on a 250 GP bike and he finished fourth in a large field of starters. Garrett’s final race of the season will be in the Spanish National GP series in Jerez in November.


More, a press release issued by Mystery School:

Rich Oliver and Robert Ward had another successful race at Willow Springs, coming home first some 22 seconds ahead of hard chargers Michael Montoya, Mark Watts, Nobi Iso, Ed Marchini, and the rest of the huge 48 rider field.

The Roadracingworld.com event was special this time to Rich and Robert, as they were able to work together again after a year break. The two veterans got right back in the groove the first day, tuning and tweaking the bike until it was turning sharp and running sizzling fast like it should.

Rich comments, “I was interested to see how I would do, after not racing for a year. I guess it’s a good test of the Mystery School training as I participated in my own 5 Day Pro Camp along with my four students the week before this race. I did all the drills and exercises that we teach and to tell you the truth I felt great at Willow. I even missed practice Sunday morning and had to go out cold in the race, but we actually have a drill for that situation in our Pro Camp, so it was no big deal.

“My timing came in after I rode Friday practice, I noticed that I could hit my exact marks on the track starting Saturday, and by Sunday I was feeling just like last year.

“We improved the bike quite a bit during the weekend, and it’s a shame it was so windy that the conditions wouldn’t let us really go for the track record of 1.21.6. We got close on Saturday, with a 1.22.1, but Sunday everyone was just happy that the rain let up and we could race in the dry.

“I have many people to thank, so let’s start with John Ulrich from Roadracingworld.com, Stephanie and Ashley Huth from Willow Springs Raceway, Keith McCarty, Tom Halverson, Jeff Jones, Bob Starr and Jennifer Davie from Yamaha, Les, Jim, Dennis and the crew from Dunlop, Jeff Gehrs from Ferodo, Doug Cameron from Micron, Jim Lindemann from LE Suspension, Dennis Zickrick from Supertech, Brett Milan from Shoei, June Kushitani from Kushitani leathers, Greg Sabatini from Paint by Sabatini, Steve Whitelock from Drive Systems USA, Robert and Cindy Ward, Wilson’s, Paul from AST Sports Science, Eric from Cytosport, and all my friends fans and fellow competitors that cheered or jeered us on!

“Last but not least my Mom was relieved that I was somewhat forced to retire last year, so I only told her that I was racing again a few days before this race, which happened to be on her Birthday! So, Happy Birthday Mom, I’m now retired again, at least till next October!”

http://www.richoliver.net/MysteryImageOfTheWeek6.html


More, from a press release issued by Proforma:

BLAKE YOUNG HAS SUCCESSFUL FIRST SUZUKI CUP FINALS

Blake Young, armed with Young America Suzuki GSX-R600, GSX-R750 and GSX-R1000 race bikes, had an eventful first visit to the Suzuki Cup Finals during the 2004 Parts Unlimited WERA Grand National Finals at Road Atlanta today. A Junior in high school, sixteen-year-old Blake has had a successful first year of professional racing.

Blake finished ninth in the hotly-contested GSX-R600 Cup Final, dicing throughout the race with Nicky Moore, David Weber, Mark Junge and Matt Furtek. “I had a good race,” said Young. “Nicky came with me from behind. We caught Furtek and Mark, and I was able to go with Nicky around them, but I wasn’t able to get past Weber before the end of the race.”

In the GSX-R750 Cup Final, he finished fourth on the track, but was disqualified when it was discovered that his GSX-R750 had a 600 swingarm mounted instead. “I ran third in the first part of the race, then there was the red flag,” Blake said. “On the restart I slotted into fourth, then started running with Jeff Wood. I got past him on the white flag lap going into ten, and was able to hold him off on the last lap.”

In only his second ride on the bike, Blake ran as high as fourth in the GSX-R1000 Cup Final, but ended up finishing ninth after his front brake lever started coming into the handlebar at the halfway point. He continued on during the remainder of the race, using his rear brake and downshifting to slow the bike for the corners. “I got a really, really good start,” Blake said. “I was running fourth, and (Russell) Holland came past me into ten, and I tried to get the thing stopped, but the brake lever came into the bar. Holland went inside me, and I tried to stay with him, but the brakes didn’t get any better. I figured I’d finish the race and see where I ended up.”


More, from a press release issued by Proforma:

LEE ACREE RACES TO THIRD IN SUZUKI GSX-R600 CUP FINAL

Lee Acree raced to a fine third place in today’s Suzuki GSX-R600 Cup Final at the 2004 WERA Grand National Finals at Road Atlanta. Acree ran as high as second until a last lap incident with another rider pushed him nearly into the grass and he held on for third.

“The start was pretty poor,” said Lee, who had set the third fastest time during Saturday’s qualifying session. “I got to turn one a ways back, but was able to make a good number of spots up around the outside of one, and then a couple more spots at the top going into the new section. I didn’t anticipate Jeff (Wood) getting such a jump, and so he got a big gap early. Once I got clear, I started working on that. I found another remnant from my spill the other morning, having fallen on the left side. I had the shifter stick a couple of times and not return, so I made a couple of trips from turn five to turn six just in third (gear), because I couldn’t get it to return so I could upshift it. Those happend while I was chasing Jeff, and that was where Mike really closed up on me dramatically. Then Mike got by, and he was weaving a bit to break the draft, seemed a little hazardous at points. He even had contact with Brent George, they made contact and it locked up George’s front wheel in the middle of the back straightaway. The second to last lap, I was able to get down into the braking zone in 10, was able to go from fourth to second. Had I wanted to force the issue, I probably could have taken first, but it would have been a little over the top. So I held second the rest of the lap around, but wasn’t quite close enough to make a run at Smith in the braking zone for 10. George came up and had basically the same situation I had had the lap before on Smith, George had on me, and his choice was different. He took both of us to the edge of the track, and we would have hit and both probably fallen had I not relented when I got out to the edge. Either that, or my other option was to keep it pinned and go straight through the gravel. So I picked the option that seemed the most feasible at the time, and it resulted in a third place.”


From a press release issued by Team Velocity Racing:

Team Velocity Racing Wins Heavyweight Superstock Race and Championship at Road Atlanta

BRASELTON, Ga. – Team Velocity Racing rode to a finish of second overall during the four-hour season finale of the WERA National Endurance Series, held at Road Atlanta on Friday, October 15, winning the Heavyweight Superstock race and the class championship.

This is the first championship for Team Velocity Racing, who moved up to the Heavyweight Superstock class for 2004 in only their second year as an endurance team.

Chuck Ivey, Bradley Champion, Reuben Frankenfield and Steven Breckenridge rode the team’s Yamaha YZF-R1 during the tenth and final round of the season.

Champion started the race from the front row, and he pitted shortly before the end of the first hour while running second overall and first in class. Ivey took the bike back onto the track, and despite losing several positions during the stop the team was soon back in second.

Breckenridge rode the third stint, followed by Champion again. Frankenfield climbed on the Yamaha for the final minutes of the race, just one month after breaking his foot and scapula during round eight at Nelson Ledges. Frankenfield had to hold off a charge from Ben Spies on the Team Schwantz School bike, managing to stay ahead of the factory Suzuki racer until the checkered flag.

Team Velocity Racing finished the season with a 90-point lead in the Heavyweight Superstock class, and their strong result at Road Atlanta helped move them into second in the overall championship.

Ivey said that, “on race day we were all pretty excited. We knew what we had to do and definitely wanted to make it a clean race and come out of it with what we knew we could get. To come out and win the championship in just our second year, I think it shows just how much we can pull together and accomplish as a team. We’ve had our ups and downs, but we’ve still pulled together and come through with it.”

“It was mentally and physically challenging for my first stint,” said Champion, who mentioned that strong winds were a factor on the track. “I went out again, and I felt better. I was able to get right into the groove, and worked around the wind better. We couldn’t have done any better. We put forth an effort and got a good return out of it.

“The crew put new tires on the bike for me, and they did the pit stop in just over a minute on a Superstock bike,” enthused Breckenridge. “I turned my fastest laps at the end of my stint. It’s so easy to go fast on the R1. It’s been an awesome year.”

“I just went out for the last 15 minutes,” explained Frankenfield, who had not ridden since his crash. “I pretty much wanted to bring the bike home in one piece. It was good to get the checkered flag in the last race of the year to close this chapter.”

More information about Team Velocity Racing can be found at www.TeamVelocityRacing.com.


More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki:

AMERICANS TAKE HOME ADVANTAGE
Team Suzuki Press Office

Team America used the home advantage to take the top two spots in the World Suzuki Cup finals at Road Atlanta in Georgia.

Scott Jenson beat teammate Jake Holden for overall honors, Jenson topping Holden by less than a tenth of a second for the race one win and finishing half a bikelength behind Spaniard Javier Fores in race two. Holden was a shadow third in race two.

“I had to beat Jake (Holden) to get the overall,” Jenson said. “If Jake finished second, I could get third, but who wants to settle for second or third. I wanted to win.”

Fores wanted it just a little more. The Spaniard was making his first trip outside of Spain and proved a quick study. The 19-year-old from Valencia led most of the second race, giving up the lead briefly on the ninth of 12 laps, then taking it back and holding off Jenson at the line by 0.037 secs. Holden was a tenth of a second back in third.

Fores had no shot at the overall after the fuel line on his George Vukmanovich-prepared GSX-R750 came off on the first lap of the first race. “I almost cried because of all the work the team put into it,” Flores said through a translator.

Third overall on the day went to South African Hudson Kennaugh through a pair of fourth place finishes.

RACE ONE:
1. Robert Jenson (USA)
2. Jake Holden (USA)
3. Martin Bauer (Germany)
4. Hudson Kennaugh (South Africa)
5. Tristan Palmer (UK)
6. Thomas Metro (France)
7. Ilario Dionisi (Italy)
8. Roman Stamm (Switzerland)
9. Zeiser Christian (Austria)
10. Robert Ulm (Germany)

RACE TWO:
1. Javier Flores (Spain)
2. Robert Jenson (USA)
3. Jake Holden (USA)
4. Hudson Kennaugh (South Africa)
5. Martin Bauer (Germany)
6. Brian Stokes (USA)
7. Tristan Palmer (UK)
8. Ben Wilson (UK)
9. Zaiser Christian (Austria)
10. Antonio Mancuso (Italy)

OVERALL

1. Robert Jenson. USA. 37pts
2. Jake Holden. USA. 32pts
3. Hudson Kennaugh. South Africa. 26pts
4. Martin Bauer. Germany 26pts
5. Javier Fores. Spain. 20pts
6. Tristian Palmer. UK. 20pts
7. Zeuser Christian. Austria. 14pts
8. Ilario Dionisi. Italy. 14pts
9. Roman Stamm. Switzerland. 12pts
10. Antonio Mancuso. Italy 11pts
11. Brian Stokes. USA. 10pts
12. Thomas Metro. France. 10pts
13. Robert Ulm. Germany. 9pts
14. Ben Wilson. UK. 8pts
15. Scott Chalrton. Australia. 4pts
16. Bruce Rulfo. France. 4pts
17. Yoshihiro Konno. Japan. 3pts
18. Akira Tamitsuji. Japan. 2pts
19. Zonon Nelson. Canada. 0pts
20. Frank Heidger. Germany. 0pts
21. Chris Perris. Cnaada. 0pts
22. Sebastien Lager. France. 0pts
23. Alessandro Melone. Italy. 0pts