The Ducati Superbike Concorso continues to impress. Cupertino, California Ducati North America announces today the winners for the second round of the Superbike Concorso, a celebration of Ducati Superbikes. The second round of the Superbike Concorso was held during the Red Bull US GP at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Entrants for the second round boasted an impressive array of Ducati Superbikes, ranging from an immaculately restored 750 SS to a 1098 Superbike dressed in custom paint and carbon fiber bodywork. Four amazing motorcycles were awarded top honors in the four respective categories of the Superbike Concorso. The People’s Choice ballot went to Chris Lovng, for his 2003 749 S. Brian Larrabure was awarded Best Original Superbike for his 1983 TT-1, which he graciously revved up for the Concorso crowd. The award for the “Best Modified” category was presented to a very special bike, none other than Doug Polen’s 1992 888 World Superbike. It was a rare treat for fans to examine such a desirable machine up close. As announcers Greg White and Ralph Sheheen brought the event to a close, the highly anticipated “Best in Show” award went to Rick Henry, for a bike with a special story. Rick had previously entered his Mike Lancaster-prepared 996 in the Fontana round of the Superbike Concorso. He left Fontana after finding the caliber of bikes to be much higher than anticipated, and set about rebuilding his 996 to a higher standard. The efforts paid off in the best possible way- by winning “Best in Show.” The next round of the Superbike Concorso will be held at the Mid Ohio round of the AMA Superbike Championship, August 3-5, 2007. The event will also make a final stop at Road Atlanta, September 1-2, 2007. Full contest details and additional information can be found at www.ducatisuperbikeconcorso.com.

Los Altos Hills, CA Keigwins@theTrack, one of the country’s oldest and largest providers of trackdays and schools, announced plans to raise funds to help pay for the purchase of air fence by the American Federation of Motorcyclists (AFM). Last year the AFM, in cooperation with the Roadracing World Action Fund and Infineon Raceway, acquired air fence now used for improved safety at AFM races. The air fence is also available to trackday companies for a nominal fee. Keigwins air fence fundraising will come from funds received through a special trackday event to be held on Monday, August 27th at Buttonwillow Raceway in Buttonwillow, CA. “The AFM went into hock to buy this pricey fencing, knowing that it might save lives and limbs,” said Lance Keigwin, co-owner of Keigwins@theTrack. “We think that is a very noble thing to do and we’d like to thank them by helping pay the bill.” The rider fee for August 27th’s fundraising trackday includes a fully catered BBQ lunch, free paddock camping, and full services. In addition, Sport Tire Services and Dave Moss of Catalyst Reaction Systems will attend. Doug Chandler will be running another of his outstanding mini-camps for a small number of riders and racers. Keigwins will run the race configuration to be used at the next AFM race weekend, and will conduct a special practice “race starts” session during the lunch hour. “Although the funds we raise will benefit the AFM directly, indirectly we all win”, said Keigwins instructor and AFM and AMA racer, Martin Szwarc. “The air fence is there for all of us, not just racers. So this special trackday is structured for racers and trackday riders of all skills. Everyone is more than welcome!” Sign-up is possible on Keigwins website at www.keigwin.com or by calling their offices to reserve spots. About Keigwins@theTrack Keigwins@theTrack, headquartered in Los Altos Hills, CA has been running motorcycle racetrack events for 10 years, and has hosted hundreds of trackdays and schools for many thousands of riders. Events are held at Thunderhill, Infineon, Laguna Seca, Buttonwillow, Miller Motorsports and Reno-Fernley raceways. Contact information: 650-949-5609, www.keigwin.com

The increase in fatalities among motorcyclists reported this week by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration underscores the critical need for new research into the causes of motorcycle crashes, the American Motorcyclist Association reports. According to NHTSA data released this week, 4,810 motorcyclists were killed on the nation’s highways during 2006, an increase of 5 percent over 2005. That marks the ninth year of increasing deaths after more than a decade of declining fatalities. For several years, the AMA and the motorcycling community have been campaigning to get federal funding for a comprehensive study into the causes of traffic crashes involving motorcycles. The last such study was completed in 1980, and its conclusions have become less useful as the traffic environment has changed over the past quarter-century. Recently, Congress appropriated funding for a motorcycle-crash study that required the motorcycling community to come up with matching funds before the research can begin. Thanks to a major contribution from the motorcycle industry, through the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, along with pledges from the American Motorcyclist Association and individual riders, that funding is now assured, and the study should begin this fall at the Oklahoma Transportation Center, which is an independent and respected research center at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. “The increasing number of fatalities among motorcyclists over the past nine years have concerned us,” said Ed Moreland, AMA vice president for government relations. “And that’s why we’ve worked so hard to get an updated study of the causes of motorcycle crashes. “We look forward to getting this valuable research that will help save lives on the nation’s highways.”

The online edition of USA Today includes an article about Valentino Rossi and MotoGP in America. Read it here: ~http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/2007-07-25-motogp-rossi_N.htm~

Moto Forza of Escondido has recently added MV Agusta and Benelli to its product line-up. With the addition of these two historic brands to the already exclusive motorcycle selection from Ducati, Husqvarna, and Aprilia, Moto Forza is Southern California’s only choice for a complete range of Italian performance motorcycles. Moto Forza is located at 572 N. Tulip St., Escondido, CA 92025. For more information please call 760-746-6001 or go to www.moto-forza.com.

A hand-painted banner displayed at the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca July 20-22 and autographed by Nicky Hayden is being auctioned off on eBay with proceeds from the sale to be split 50/50 between the Roadracing World Action Fund, which promotes the use of soft barrier technology to prevent racing injuries, and the Red Flag Fund, which assists seriously injured road racers. The banner was displayed from the viewing deck of the pit road hospitality suite of USMotoGPFans at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca July 20-22. The auction began July 19 and will end July 29. Go to the auction here: ~http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160134319363~

Long time WMRRA Racer Rick Perreault (#73) and his wife Kelly had a daughter, Kate Perreault, July 24 in Seattle, Washington. Former CMRA racer and CMRA board of director member Steve Breen and wife Dayna had a daughter, Addison Breen, on July 25 in Dallas, Texas.

Childress Racing’s Nick Hayes, Director of Engine Research & Development, to be Keynote speaker at this year’s AETC™ planned for Dec. 3-5 in Orlando, Florida The Power of Fuels; Winning Today with Tomorrow’s Fuel Technology will be the focus of choice for speakers at the upcoming Advanced Engineering Technology Conference™ to be staged Dec. 3-5 at the Orange Country Convention Center’s South Building Room S330. The AETC™ has become the perfect pre-PRI Show event bringing together industry leaders, engineers and icons of the automotive aftermarket looking to learn and share the latest engine technology. Along with the ability to hear and speak with cutting-edge engine development specialists, the between speaker discussions have proven to be extremely productive for all attendees. The Keynote speaker for the 18th Annual AETC™ is Nick Hayes, the Director of Engine Research & Development for Richard Childress Racing. Hayes is an accomplished race engine designer having worked in the development of Michael Schumacher’s 1994 Formula 1 Cosworth HB engine and as the Engine Development and Research Director for Kevin Harvick’s winning 2007 Daytona 500 Nextel Cup and 2006 NASCAR Busch Series Championship efforts. His will be discussing “Success in Racing.” In addition to Hayes, a number of speakers have been announced, each topically focused on fuels and fuel systems. The speakers and topics noted so far include: – FUEL ADDITIVES FOR RACING AND PERFORMANCE Tom Hayden and Yvonne Thiel, Incyte Technologies, LLC – ENGINE BUILDING FOR MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE ON ALCOHOL David Currier, TRD (Toyota Racing Development) – START TO FINISH, THE EVOLUTION AND FUTURE OF RACING GASOLINE Steve Burns, Owner/President – VP Fuels To find out more about the upcoming 18th Annual AETC™ and to make plans to attend, call us at 1-866-893-2382, or visit us online at www.aetconline.com.