From a press release issued by GP Tech:

Formula Extreme
Round 9
July 24, 2004
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio

Ty Howard and GPtech had a successful race weekend with a 6th place finish in FX class.

Using Tues and Wed WERA events as a warm-up to the weekend,
Ty Howard rode a flawless race coming from the last position on the grid to finish 6th in the AMA FX class.

Everything looked as if Ty was going to start from no further back than the second row up until qualifying. During qualifying the team ran into a handling problem that could not be solved on pit road. The team just made the last available spot on the grid by the sheer determination and skill of Howard’s riding.

Marcus McBain of RPS suspension (Traxxion Dynamics action center) found the problem after qualifying and together with GPtech was able to resolve the handling troubles. Saturday morning warm-up confirmed that the problem had been solved. Now the handling was sorted it was time to focus on power delivery – Dick Swarez at Full Spectrum Racing Engine Services built the perfect engine for the job.

As Ty was gridded for the finale everyone on the team realized it was going to be a real nail biter. Nobody could have predicted the determination Ty had inside himself. During the race Ty charged hard right from the start and never looked back. Practically every lap Ty was passing multiple riders. By the time Ty was able to challenge for 5th the tires (understandably) would take no more. Ty rode an absolutely incredible race. Determined, smooth, and calculated are words best describing his style to grab 6th place.


More, from a press release issued by HMC Racing:

HMC RACING: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

HMC Ducati Milwaukee Racing – July 28, 2004

The Good:
Oh what a weekend! The course was lined with raving fans and Team HMC Ducati Milwaukee Racing, the factory-backed Formula Xtreme 749R race team for Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. (NYSE: DMH, Borsa Italiana S.p.A.: DMH), qualified a strong P5 on the second row for Saturday’s race.

After weeks of fuel mapping issues that reduced the race bike’s power, it got straighten out and the 749R was back in the hunt. Continuing to work on the setup, the team cut a half a second off their qualifying time during the morning practice before the race.

Off the line, Doug Chandler got an excellent start, leaped past two racers, and slotted into third place by the first turn. During the race the 749R was consistently meeting its horsepower potential and looking very racey.

The Bad:
With just a handful of laps to go, Doug was running a strong second when he thought he felt a loose peg. A few turns later he determined that it was actually oil on the peg, a very serious issue. Concerned that he needed to bring the race bike home in one piece, he began to lower the pace and run conservatively.

With Chandler’s reduced pace, the Suzuki-mounted Jason Pridmore was able to reel him in, taking second for himself.

The Ugly:
With just four laps to the checkered flag, the HMC Ducati Milwaukee race bike was smoking considerably. Doug decided to pull in to ensure that he didn’t oil down the track and create a dangerous situation for all of the competitors.

It was determined that an inexpensive oil seal lead to Chandler’s retirement. The agony of defeat was present after the race and still lingers days after the race. Racing can be heartbreaking.

Team HMC Ducati Milwaukee is taking the summer break to reload and get ready for the final two rounds. With luck and hard work Chandler could well prove a man to be reckoned with as the season resumes on Sept. 3.

Founded in 1926, Ducati builds racing-inspired motorcycles characterized by unique engine features, innovative design, advanced engineering and overall technical excellence.

The Doug Chandler 749R Replica Race Bike kits are available through team owner Mitch Hansen. Hansen has the engine, seat, chassis, and suspension upgrades to make your awesome 749R race bike into a mind blowing, fire breathing, racer replica. Contact Mitch Hansen at 262-284-2725.

Race Team Update:
Updates are located at: www.hmcracing.com



More, from a press release issued by Joe Rocket:

Rocket Racers rumble Mid Ohio!

In a weekend marred with red flags, rain delays, and unfortunate crashes, the record number of fans in attendance at Mid Ohio, were once again treated to the high flyin’ styles of the Rocket Racing Team.

The doubleheader format of the AMA Superbike Championship weekend spread the excitement over Saturday and Sunday. Superbike race #1 saw 4-time AMA Superbike Champion Mat Mladin slice and dice with Miguel Duhamel. Mladin took the checker flag with Duhamel right on his heels to take second place. Superbike race #2 seemed to provide the perfect outlet for Jake Zemke to vent the frustration of his crash in an earlier Formula Xtreme event. Taking the holeshot, Jake never looked back as he decimated the field to win the race by a whopping 12 seconds. Ben Bostrom joined Jake on the podium and Mat Mladin. Miguel Duhamel uncharacteristically crashed out of the same race during its closing stages. Miguel was unhurt in the crash but unfortunately was unable to complete the race.

Fan favorite and Factory Kawasaki rider Roger Lee Hayden prevailed after the 600 Supersport race was restarted three times. Fellow Rocket Racer and rising star Ben Spies lead the race earlier on but was forced to settle for second place after hounding Roger Lee all the way to the finish line. Spies also rode his American Suzuki GSXR1000 to second place in the AMA Superstock battle, which was also red flagged and restarted three times.

American Honda ace Miguel Duhamel raced that much closer to the Formula Xtreme Championship, winning Saturday’s FX race in his own typical fashion. Erion Honda rider Jake Zemke was making Miguel earn every lap place until he had an off track excursion into the Mid Ohio green grass.

The entire Rocket Racing Team will have a month’s time to rest before they resume the fight at Road Atlanta, September 4-5.

More, from a press release issued by The Familie:

JAKE ZEMKE CONTINUES TO RIDE LIKE A VETERAN, WINNING HIS SECOND SUPERBIKE RACE AT MID-OHIO

Carlsbad, CA – Rookie Superbike Rider Jake Zemke certainly didn’t look like a newcomer at the ninth stop of the AMA Chevrolet Superbike Series. Racing at the Mid Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, Jake Zemke took to his second win for the season, July 24, 2004.

Zemke took the holeshot from the pole and never looked back. By the end of the twenty six lap race Zemke had opened his lead to 12.723 seconds. Following his win this weekend, Zemke has closed in on the championship title, trailing leader Matt Mladin by only 11 points.

Zemke has had an impressive season, surprising many industry insiders. Zemke approached the season with the goal winning the season, despite being a newcomer to the sport. Zemke preceded his Superbike season with top finishes in the 600 and Formula Xtreme.

The series will resume racing September 3 -5th in Atlanta, Georgia. With another impressive finish, Zemke could easily take over top position in the race for the title.

Recognized as the leading action sport agency, The Familie, a division of Wasserman Media Group, offers an array of marketing services that include public relations, creative services, event marketing, licensing, trend research, promotions, and athlete management. For more information on The Familie and the services they offer, please contact Cristina Kown at (760) 602-6200 ext. 103 or email her at [email protected].


More, from a press release issued by Buell:

BARNES FOILED BY MECHANICAL IN FORMULA XTREME AT MID-OHIO
Buell Rider on Pace for Season Best Performance until Engine Problem Ended Run

LEXINGTON, Ohio – Kosco Buell/Innovative Motorcycle Research rider Michael Barnes battled for a podium position and a season best performance aboard his Buell Firebolt at the AMA Lockhart Phillips Formula Xtreme race held at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course but was thwarted by a mechanical problem that forced him out of the race.

Barnes qualified eighth for the event, among the ever deepening field of solid Formula Xtreme entries. A great start moved Barnes up to fourth position by the end of the first lap, where he battled for a podium position with a pack that included Yamaha rider Larry Pegram, Suzuki racers Jason Pridmore and Vincent Haskovec, and Ducati-mounted Doug Chandler. Barnes was in fifth place on lap 12 of the 16-lap event, when he experienced an engine problem that ended his race. The race was won by American Honda factory rider Miguel Duhamel, who also leads the series in season points.

The Hal’s Performance Advantage team, which has also been contesting the AMA Formula Xtreme series with a Buell Firebolt, skipped the Mid-Ohio round to let rider Mike Ciccotto recover from injuries suffered in a super-moto training accident. The Hal’s team plans to be back in action at the next Formula Xtreme event.

“Michael put in a great ride,” said Erik Buell, chairman and chief technical officer at Buell Motorcycle Company. “These Buell dealer teams are going through a big learning year, as they have not competed at this level before, and the bikes are still under development. But each race they get stronger, and they definitely have respect now. The AMA is right on target with Formula Extreme. The class is really exciting. It’s the class with the most brands able to participate, and the rules structure appears to have created a fair playing field. We hope to see the entry list and the mix of machinery continue to grow at every event.”

AMA Formula Xtreme is a class open to highly-modified motorcycles with 600cc four-cylinder engines or larger-displacement V-Twin engines. The next stop on the 2004 AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship schedule is Sept. 3-5 at Road Atlanta near Braselton, Ga.