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KTM 250cc Rider Hiroshi Aoyama To Sit Out Jerez With Hand Injury

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Aoyama to miss first European Grand Prix in Jerez Due to the injury that he suffered at the Qatar Grand Prix, Red Bull KTM 250 rider Hiroshi Aoyama will not take part at the first European round in Jerez next week. After his unlucky crash, which left him with considerable damage to skin and tendons of the little finger of his right hand, he flew straight back to Barcelona and underwent immediate surgery in the famous Clinica Santiago Dexeus. Dr. Xavier Mir, a popular microsurgeon who has helped numerous athletes and motorcycle racers in the past, reconstructed the tendons and immobilised the finger with a pin for the initial healing period. As the treatment has been a full success, Aoyama is recovering very quickly. But he will still follow his doctor’s recommendation to give his finger additional rest and time, especially for the lost skin to grow back. In the meantime, Red Bull KTM Technical Director Harald Bartol worked overtime in his Austrian workshop to solve the chattering problems that hampered all three Red Bull KTM 125 riders at the season-opening Qatar Grand Prix last week. Thorough bench tests with current and with previous carburation systems confirmed that the engine set-up of Qatar had caused the trouble, and the problem was fixed for the upcoming round in Jerez. Hiroshi Aoyama (Red Bull KTM 250) “žMy finger injury was not that serious, but I still spent two days in the hospital, because there was a lot of sand in the wound, and I had to undergo a thorough antibiotic treatment to avoid a possible infection. The operation itself went very well, Dr. Xavier Mir re-joined the tendon with artificial material and put a pin into my finger to keep it still. I can’t move it and I have to keep it straight for a total of ten days, then the pin will come out again. After that, I will still need some time, because I lost a lot of skin, and before the wound hasn’t healed up, it’s easy to cause more damage or to get an infection. Of course I would like to race in Jerez, at least for some points, but I respect my doctor’s recommendations. Xavi has done a fantastic job with the operation, I am very happy in fact, the finger looks better now than before!” Harald Bartol (Technical Director) “žIt’s unfortunate for Hiroshi and for our team that he most likely won’t be able to start in Jerez, but we have a long season ahead of us, and it is better to treat this injury without taking any risks. As far as our technical progress goes, we keep working on the rideability of our 125 cc machines. We have been able to confirm that the chattering in Qatar was caused by the engine, which wasn’t running smoothly in a partly open throttle position. It looks as if our new carburettors need some more fine-tuning in terms of needle position and other details, because when I made engine tests with last year’s carburettor, the problem was gone completely!”

Mladin, Spies Fastest As Two-day, Multi-team Tests Concludes At Barber Motorsports Park

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Yoshimura Suzuki’s Mat Mladin and Ben Spies were unofficially the fastest two riders during a two-day, multi-team test that concluded today at Barber Motorsports Park, in Birmingham, Alabama. No official times were available, but according to several sources at the test Mladin and Spies both recorded lap times in the 1:24.6 range (while using race tires on their GSX-R1000s), which is 0.8 second quicker than the fastest race lap time from 2006 and even quicker than Spies’ 2006 pole position/lap record time of 1:24.830. “It went good,” Spies told Roadracingworld.com via cell phone. “The bike was working pretty good from the get-go. One of the big problems I’ve had with the bike has been backing in. We did something to the bike and pretty much eliminated that. Now I can brake as deep as I have talent to. (laughs) “I’ll admit Barber and those types of tracks are kind of my weaker tracks that I’ve been working on and getting better on. Obviously, last year we had a good weekend at Barber, but still it’s not my strongest track. Last year in testing we were a bit off from Mat [Mladin], then at the race we closed it up. This year, at least, we were pretty much dead-even in testing. The test couldn’t have gone any better for us, really.” Spies said he also did a 1:26.3 (0.7 second faster than the fastest race lap time from 2006) during the limited laps he made on his Superstock GSX-R1000. Few Superstock lap times were available, but Ben Bostrom reported doing a 1:26.4 during a very productive test of his YZF-R1. Several Superbike riders did laps in the low-1:26 range, including Yoshimura Suzuki’s Tommy Hayden and American Honda’s Miguel Duhamel and Jake Zemke. A little further down the order, were Yamaha’s Eric Bostrom, who said he did a 1:26.3, and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jamie Hacking, who reported doing a 1:26.5, about the same as his teammate Roger Hayden. Eric Bostrom said he did not know what time his teammate Jason DiSalvo did, but he did know that DiSalvo was ill at the test and only rode a limited number of laps. Zemke and Team M4 EMGO Suzuki’s Michael Barnes also said they were under the weather at the test. Barnes was one of three riders known to have crashed. Graves Yamaha’s Josh Herrin crashed in turn 11, the fast left at the end of the back straightaway, and Fast By Ferracci MV Agusta’s Matt Lynn had a big get-off coming over the blind right-hand crest at turn three. According to several riders, Lynn would have hit the same Armco barrier that Roger Hayden slid into and broke his leg last year if the barrier had not been moved during the off-season. Spies said he thinks the barrier is still too close, however. Members of the new Rider Safety Council for Road Racing, along with AMA Racing Road Race Manager Morgan Broadhead met with Barber Motorsports Park management Monday evening. According to Zemke, a member of the Council, the track has made several improvements that riders asked for last year and were very receptive to their new requests for more, minor changes, like new curbs and gravel traps. The test was attended by Celtic Racing, American Honda, Corona Extra Honda, Monster Energy Kawasaki, Attack Kawasaki, Fast By Ferracci MV Agusta, Yoshimura Suzuki, Team M4 EMGO Suzuki, Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki, Blackfoot Picotte Performance Suzuki, Yamaha, Graves Yamaha and Erion Honda’s Josh Hayes, who rode his personal CBR600RR. Weather for the test was very good except for some high winds on Monday. Ambient temperatures were in the mid-70s F, and track temperatures were reported to have exceeded 40 C, which one Crew Chief described as “toasty.”

Martin Let Go By DFX Honda Due To Lack Of Finances

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Steve Martin Unexpectedly Left Without A Ride for Remainder of the WSBK Season Steve Martin was today unexpectedly informed that his ride with the DFX Honda World Superbike team was no longer available, due to lack of finances for the Italian squad. Just days before being due to leave his home in Switzerland for the next round of the championship at Donington in the UK, the vastly experienced Aussie rider was clearly disappointed and bemused by the news, commenting, “I’m absolutely gutted. Not just for me but also my whole bike crew. “Just before the start of the season I was reassured by DFX that they definitely had sufficient money to run both me and Fabrizio for the whole year, and on that basis I decided to continue with the team, despite still having other options of rides at that time. So to now be told, just two races into the season, that the team doesn’t actually have enough budget is unbelievable and puts me in a position that could have been avoided. “It’s also so disappointing after how much progress we’ve made with the bike during testing over the off-season, to now not be able to progress with that and turn it into some good results. “But most of all I’m a racer and just want to race, as I know I’m as capable and competitive as ever to run with the front of the field. “I’ve obviously spent the day on the phone talking to everyone to try and secure funding or avenues for another ride, but as expected, so early into the season is not the time of the year to be trying to find either of those.” The DFX team will continue to run with team-mate Fabrizio in the 2007 Superbike World Championship as he is a Honda Europe rider, and therefore financed from that source. Steve will still be at Donington for the third round of the championship on 30/31 March – 1 April, and plans to remain in Europe for the remainder of the racing season, rather than return to his native Australia, in order to try and secure sponsorship or an alternative place on the World Superbike grid.

Pinkys Pizza, Longtime Supporter Of Northern California Racing, Could Reopen This Week

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Read About It Here: ~http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/16919232.htm~

More From This Past Weekend’s Various Races

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Millnic Media Honda on the Podium, first for the all new Honda CBR600RR! www.millnicmediahonda.com The Millnic Media Honda team of Melissa Paris and Greg White finished the first round of the WERA/AMA National Endurance Series on the Middle Weight Superstock podium at Roebling Road Raceway over the weekend. Millnic Media Honda had a great first outing on the all new Honda CBR600RR by posting some fast lap times and holding off Apex Racing by just over six seconds to finish third in class. WERA announced that the National Endurance Series is now co-sanctioned by the AMA (American Motorcyclist Association) making it a “Pro” Series. With the co-sanctioning of WERA and the AMA for the National Endurance Series, Millnic Media is the first team to put the 2007 CBR600RR on the podium. Even before race action gets started, the planning of pit strategies plays an important role in any Endurance race result. Millnic Media Honda talked extensively about the tire situation. With the help of Steve Brubaker from Dunlop, Millnic Media Honda felt confident going the entire four hour race on one set of tires. The talk around the paddock was how hard the fresh pavement at Roebling Road Raceway was eating front tires. Steve told Greg White and Melissa Paris of Millnic Media Honda that a one heat cycled front would go the distance”¦ and it did! The big unanswered question for the team was fuel consumption. The 2007 CBR600RR Millnic Media Honda raced had zero miles on it Friday morning and started the race Saturday afternoon with just over 200 miles on it. With the stock fuel gauge intact the plan was to ride the motorcycle until the last bar was blinking red. That plan worked out great. Melissa Paris started the team from the second wave. After 50 minutes at full throttle she rode the Honda into the pits 4th in class. When Greg brought the motorcycle back in to the pits for the second pit stop of the day the Millnic Media Honda Team was 2nd in class. Toward the end of the race and 2 pit stops later Melissa found herself 3rd in class, but right on the edge of a possible last lap pit stop for fuel. So with the help of 2006 AMA Formula Xtreme Champion Josh Hayes, master mechanic Chuck Giacchetto and Millnic Media Honda team rider Steven Breckenridge it was decided that with 12 minutes to go they would bring Melissa in, do a splash and go and put Greg on the bike for the last part of the race. When Greg re-entered the race track to finish things off he was only 5 seconds ahead of fourth place Apex Racing. A few quick laps ensured a solid 3rd place in class for the first time endurance team. After the race it was noted that Greg White of the Millnic Media Honda team set the team’s personal fastest lap of the race on lap 141 of 177! How good were the Dunlop tires? The team did the entire race on one set of Dunlop D209 DOT approved tires. After the race Melissa Paris has this to say, “I am totally stoked on this result! We came into the weekend not expecting anything. We just wanted to set some good laps, represent our sponsors well and most of all have fun. Finishing on the podium is a great way to start the season. This is exactly the quality track time I need to keep my lap times low during my sprint races on Sunday.” Greg White echoed Melissa comment with this statement, “3rd today is a great boost for our team. Not having to make tire changes saved us a lot to time in the pits and Melissa really got us off to a great start. We really have to thank Josh Hayes for all his work. That guy sat on pit wall all day long taking every single lap time. A huge thanks to Chuck Giacchetto who worked the fuel can and Steven Breckenridge for the pit board and fire extinguisher work. This is such great motivation to keep working out and working on my riding. WERA put on a great event, without any red flags. You can check out www.millnicmediahonda.com for more information about the team. Look for a variety of video features from the team over the course of the 2007 racing season.

Pridmore, Yates To Appear At Grand Opening Of Hudson Valley Motorcycles In New York

Hudson Valley Motorcycles is excited to announce a Grand Opening and Open House celebration event weekend, Saturday March 24th and Sunday March 25th. We will have the Jordan Suzuki Racing Team truck on site, as well as Jordan Suzuki Racing Team riders Jason Pridmore and Aaron Yates. Kawasaki Drag Racing rider Rickey Gadsen will be available for autographs and one on one question and answer sessions as well! Are you looking to start racing? Jason, Aaron and Rickey will be there to answer all your questions, discuss advanced riding techniques, throttle control, braking, body position drills and more! Learn from the professionals about your new ride! Local radio and news stations will be present, broadcasting live over the weekend! We will also have plenty of door prizes with tons of cool gear for all ages! Hudson Valley Motorcycles has recently relocated to a new 15,000 sq/ft building in Ossining NY, only 5 miles from the former location in Millwood, just 10 minutes north of White Plains, and 35 minutes north of New York City! Please come by to see the gorgeous new showroom, Westchester County’s largest selection of parts and accessories, and the expanded service facility! Since 1966 Hudson Valley Motorcycles has been known as the source for professional service, technical expertise, and great customer care in Westchester County NY. Join us for this event and see why our customers are raving! Do you need new gear? Representatives from the best companies in the industry like Arai, Joe Rocket, Alpinestars, First Gear, Icon, Shoei, HJC, Held, Sidi, Answer, KBC, AGV, Thor, Fox, Ohlins, Dunlop, Metzler, Michelin, Brembo Maxima, Sato Racing, TiForce, NOS, Vance & Hines, Orient Express and others will be on hand to give you the best advice and inside information! The Grand Opening and Open House celebration event weekend will run Saturday March 24th from 9am to 4pm, and Sunday March 25th from 9am to 2pm. Please bring your friends and family to see what Hudson Valley Motorcycles has to offer! Food and beverages will be provided, so come hungry! www.hudsonvalleymotorcycles.com 179 North Highland Ave Ossining, NY 10562 914.762.2722 Tel 914.762.4402 Fax

NESBA Announces 2007 Track Day Calendar

2007 season promises to be most expansive in club’s history Mohnton, PA Northeast Sportbike Association (NESBA,) the countries largest volunteer run track day organization, is proud to announce its 2007 schedule. With 153 events being held in 5 regions across the country this schedule has something for everyone. MIDATLANTIC REGION 4/7/2007 BeaveRun Motorsports Complex 4/7/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Jefferson 4/8/2007 BeaveRun Motorsports Complex 4/8/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Main 4/14/2007 Pocono Raceway East 4/21/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Jefferson 4/22/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Jefferson 5/4/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Main 5/5/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Jefferson 5/5/2007 BeaveRun Motorsports Complex 5/6/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Jefferson 5/6/2007 BeaveRun Motorsports Complex 6/8/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Main 6/9/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Jefferson 6/10/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Jefferson 6/23/2007 Nelson Ledges 6/24/2007 Nelson Ledges 7/7/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Jefferson 7/8/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Jefferson 7/9/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Main 7/14/2007 BeaveRun Motorsports Complex 7/15/2007 BeaveRun Motorsports Complex 8/4/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Jefferson 8/11/2007 Pocono Raceway Formula USA 8/25/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Jefferson 8/26/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Jefferson 8/27/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Main 9/2/2007 Pocono Raceway East 9/7/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Main 9/8/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Jefferson 9/8/2007 BeaveRun Motorsports Complex 9/9/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Jefferson 9/9/2007 BeaveRun Motorsports Complex 9/29/2007 Pocono Raceway East 9/30/2007 Pocono Raceway East 10/13/2007 Nelson Ledges 10/14/2007 Nelson Ledges 10/20/2007 BeaveRun Motorsports Complex 10/21/2007 BeaveRun Motorsports Complex 10/26/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Main 10/27/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Jefferson 10/28/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Jefferson SOUTHEAST REGION 3/3/2007 Barber Motorsports Park 3/4/2007 Barber Motorsports Park 3/10/2007 Virginia International Raceway South 3/11/2007 Virginia International Raceway South 3/12/2007 Virginia International Raceway North 3/24/2007 Roebling Road Raceway 3/25/2007 Roebling Road Raceway 4/6/2007 Road Atlanta 4/7/2007 Road Atlanta 4/8/2007 Road Atlanta 4/28/2007 Barber Motorsports Park 4/29/2007 Barber Motorsports Park 5/5/2007 Talladega GP 5/6/2007 Talladega GP 5/26/2007 Road Atlanta 5/27/2007 Road Atlanta 6/9/2007 Carolina Motorsports Park 6/10/2007 Carolina Motorsports Park 6/23/2007 Barber Motorsports Park 6/24/2007 Barber Motorsports Park 7/7/2007 Virginia International Raceway South 7/8/2007 Virginia International Raceway South 7/9/2007 Virginia International Raceway North 7/20/2007 Virginia International Raceway Full Course 7/21/2007 Virginia International Raceway Patriot 7/22/2007 Virginia International Raceway Patriot 7/28/2007 Road Atlanta 7/29/2007 Road Atlanta 8/18/2007 Barber Motorsports Park 8/19/2007 Barber Motorsports Park 8/25/2007 Virginia International Raceway South 8/26/2007 Virginia International Raceway South 8/27/2007 Virginia International Raceway North 9/1/2007 Barber Motorsports Park 9/2/2007 Barber Motorsports Park 9/8/2007 Carolina Motorsports Park 9/9/2007 Carolina Motorsports Park 10/6/2007 Barber Motorsports Park 10/7/2007 Barber Motorsports Park 10/20/2007 Virginia International Raceway Patriot 10/21/2007 Virginia International Raceway Patriot 10/22/2007 Virginia International Raceway Full Course 11/10/2007 Barber Motorsports Park 11/11/2007 Barber Motorsports Park 11/12/2007 Barber Motorsports Park MIDWEST REGION 4/14/2007 Blackhawk Farms Raceway 4/15/2007 Blackhawk Farms Raceway 4/21/2007 Grattan Raceway Park 4/22/2007 Grattan Raceway Park 5/5/2007 Putnam Park Road Course 5/6/2007 Putnam Park Road Course 5/28/2007 Road America 5/29/2007 Road America 6/2/2007 Blackhawk Farms Raceway 6/3/2007 Blackhawk Farms Raceway 6/16/2007 Putnam Park Road Course 6/17/2007 Putnam Park Road Course 6/23/2007 Grattan Raceway Park 6/24/2007 Grattan Raceway Park 6/30/2007 Gingerman Raceway 7/1/2007 Gingerman Raceway 7/4/2007 Road America 7/5/2007 Road America 7/14/2007 Blackhawk Farms Raceway 7/15/2007 Blackhawk Farms Raceway 7/23/2007 Autobahn Country Club Full Course 7/28/2007 Autobahn Country Club North 7/29/2007 Autobahn Country Club North 9/1/2007 Blackhawk Farms Raceway 9/2/2007 Blackhawk Farms Raceway 9/8/2007 Putnam Park Road Course 9/9/2007 Putnam Park Road Course 9/22/2007 Gingerman Raceway 9/23/2007 Gingerman Raceway 10/13/2007 Putnam Park Road Course 10/14/2007 Putnam Park Road Course 10/20/2007 Grattan Raceway Park NORTHWEST REGION 4/21/2007 Pacific Raceways 4/22/2007 Pacific Raceways 5/7/2007 Pacific Raceways 5/23/2007 Portland International Raceway 6/2/2007 Pacific Raceways 6/3/2007 Pacific Raceways 6/25/2007 Pacific Raceways 7/14/2007 Pacific Raceways 7/15/2007 Pacific Raceways 7/23/2007 Portland International Raceway 7/30/2007 Pacific Raceways 8/13/2007 Pacific Raceways 9/1/2007 Pacific Raceways 9/2/2007 Pacific Raceways 9/24/2007 Pacific Raceways 10/13/2007 Pacific Raceways 10/14/2007 Pacific Raceways MIDCENTRAL REGION 4/28/2007 Mid-America Motorplex 4/29/2007 Mid-America Motorplex 5/12/2007 Heartland Park Topeka 5/13/2007 Heartland Park Topeka 6/9/2007 Heartland Park Topeka 6/10/2007 Heartland Park Topeka 7/7/2007 Hallett Motor Racing Circuit 7/8/2007 Hallett Motor Racing Circuit 7/28/2007 Heartland Park Topeka 7/29/2007 Heartland Park Topeka 8/4/2007 Mid-America Motorplex 8/5/2007 Mid-America Motorplex 8/19/2007 Miller Motorsports Park AMA 8/20/2007 Miller Motorsports Park AMA 9/8/2007 Iowa Speedway 9/9/2007 Iowa Speedway NESBA would also like to remind its members that every event is run and organized only by NESBA staff in order to maintain the high standards our members expect from us. Visit us on the web at www.nesba.com for sign up and member information. See you at the track!

LRRS To Use Spec Fuels in 2007

2007 LRRS Spec Fuel Rule Details The LRRS staff, after much thought and consideration, has decided to implement a Spec Fuel for the 2007 race season, as announced at the LRRS awards banquet. Although the details of the rule were not completely finalized when the concept was announced, the intent to follow this course of action was made public to give the maximum amount of notice to LRRS competitors. In addition, LRRS officials wanted enough time to completely evaluate all of the options available before finalizing the rule. A number of comments were voiced through various channels, many of which contained solid ideas that helped to mold the original concept into what it has become today. Background There were many things that led us down this path. Over the past several years there have been several fuels introduced from a number of manufacturers in the motorcycle industry that have produced sizable performance gains — some as large as 6-7%. As these fuel companies worked to make better and better fuels, two things happened: (1) Many of the fuels became considerably more toxic and (2) Most the fuels got considerably more expensive. Riders and teams at national events in recent years have on occasion used fuels that have made crew members physically ill and even required the use of Haz-Mat suits while dispensing fuel into the tank. As these fuels become more commonplace, they will begin to trickle into club races like LRRS. You don’t even have to be the one running this fuel to be affected. Most people who have worked around top performing fuels can attest to the rather accelerated rate at which a person can feel the effects of being in any kind of proximity to these fumes. Long gone are the days of being competitive with other top riders while running $5-$6 per gallon gas. The top AMA fuels, most of which are currently present at every LRRS weekend, retail anywhere from $20-$25 per gallon. Even at the conservative consumption rate of 7 gallons per weekend, that nets out to over $150 per weekend in fuel. In addition, most of these fuels need to be flushed out every single weekend (top pro teams do it every night) or there is a strong likelihood of fuel system and/or valvetrain deterioration. After a brief survey, approximately 80% of the expert LRRS riders we polled had lost at least one fuel pump to the effects of these fuels. Thus, we feel that the Spec Fuel rule will be in the best interest of maintaining both the physical and financial health of the LRRS riders and crew. The Evolution of the Rule At the LRRS banquet it was announced that the LRRS riders would be allowed 2 options; either the Sunoco Race fuel at the track or Pump gas from a designated gas station. This concept has been altered for reasons of both enforceability and viability. It was extremely important to LRRS to offer fuel choices that did not place a significant financial burden on it’s racers. At 7 gallons per weekend, riders who used pump gas spent between $17.50 and $21 per weekend on fuel, depending mainly on the prices at the pump which varied from $2.50 to $3.00 per gallon during last season. The original concept was to allow for the use of this pump fuel, but this led to a problem of enforceability. The main issue is that pump gas is oxygenated, and it is very easy to introduce additives into oxygenated fuel that are very difficult to detect. There was also the issue of consistency and the ability to produce repeatable test results with fuel stored in underground tanks. The Sunoco fuel at the pumps in 2006 would have worked work for most riders, but since then NASCAR has outlawed their higher octane leaded fuels for 2007. This created a legitimate concern that certain riders with built engines would suffer failures if they used this new 98 octane fuel. This was obviously not an acceptable scenario. As such, LRRS put the word out that it was looking for a fuel company to work with. The primary targets were to find a company that had widely available fuels suitable for all bikes, the ability to easily test these fuels for legality and the desire to support LRRS riders with a contingency program. The 2007 Spec Fuel Rule Details After the consideration of several options, Bob Bahre of NHIS agreed to forgo the sale of track fuel in favor of program that was more beneficial to the LRRS riders. VP racing fuels will be the supplier of all racing fuel for LRRS, and will fully back the program with both a testing program to ensure enforceability and a contingency program to support the riders. All fuel should be purchased from the VP fuel truck at NHIS. There will be 2 fuels available. VP C12 will be sold at the track for $8/gallon. This is a long-standing benchmark racing fuel with a 108 octane rating that is capable of safely delivering solid performance in any motor without risk of detonation. It is widely available and many tuners have experience with it. For those riders running stock engines, VP MS93 will be sold at the track for $3.25/gallon. This is an affordable non-oxygenated unleaded fuel with a R+M/2 octane rating of 95, and is the spec fuel for a number of racing series around the country. The mapping for this fuel is identical to pump gas, and will allow riders formerly using pump gas to collect contingency money at LRRS events. The lack of oxygen in both of these fuels makes enforcement of the rule possible, as additives and foreign fuels are easily detected. Enforcement All riders are required to use VP spec fuel during all LRRS activities. This includes not only the races but also all Saturday and Sunday practice sessions. Random testing may be done at any time once the first practice goes green on Saturday. LRRS officials, in conjunction with VP technical personnel, will perform all tests at the track. In the event of a protest where fuel is in question and a laboratory test is required, a protest fee schedule and procedure will be announced at the first race weekend of 2007 during the Saturday riders meeting. At the discretion of LRRS officials, penalties for noncompliance may result in fines and/or license suspension for blatant violations. Fuel that is purchased from VP dealers outside of the track will not be eligible for contingency and may not pass the fuel test due to cross contamination from reused drums. The VP sold at the track will all come out of new drums to ensure no cross contamination. The drums at the track will be used as the baseline for testing all season long. Contingency Requirements In addition to running a VP decal on each side of your motorcycle, you must buy at least 5 gallons of VP fuel from the racetrack vendor at LRRS events each weekend. Again, fuel that is purchased from VP dealers outside of the track will not be eligible for contingency and may not pass fuel test due to the contamination. The VP vendor at the track will record your purchase and your number at each event to qualify you for contingency on that weekend. The payout will be as follows: 1st – $25, 2nd-6th – $10. This payout schedule is specific to LRRS and replaces the current posted CCS contingency postings. An added bonus for the LRRS program is that your contingency will be claimed directly at the track, and will be available at the conclusion of each race weekend and useable at any subsequent LRRS in 2007. Riders buying drum of fuel from the track vendor will be made eligible for multiple weekends as follows: 15 gallon drum – 3 weekends, 30 gallon drum – 6 weekends, 55 gallon drum – all of 2007. However, in order for VP to ensure rider eligibility, riders who intend to collect contingency may not share drums of fuel. Program Effective Date & Fuel Distribution It is apparent to LRRS that many riders will want the opportunity to tune their motorcycles for this new fuel. These VP fuels are available prior to the first LRRS weekend from dealers across New England and New York. For the name of the local dealer near you please contact VP at VP-Atlantic Newark, DE Phone: 302-368-1500 Fax: 302-368-1869 [email protected] This program will become effective on the 2nd LRRS weekend of 2007 on May 12/13. This will not only allow riders a chance to test and tune their motorcycles, but will also give everyone the chance to buy a drum of fuel to last them for several weekends. Riders can also use the first LRRS weekend to burn off any fuel remaining from past weekends of racing. All riders are encouraged to pre-order fuel from VP Atlantic for delivery to NHIS during the first LRRS weekend in April. We look forward to seeing everyone at Loudon on April 28/29 to kick off a new season.

BMW Motorrad Posts Record Gains In Sales, Production And Profits For 2006

BMW MOTORRAD MAINTAINS CONSISTENT SUCCESS Increase in all key figures once again. Munich. All the figures point upwards: BMW Motorrad’s sales, production, turnover and operating profits achieved new records in the business year 2006. The pre-tax operating profits increased by 10.0 per cent to 66 million euros (previous year 60 million euros). Turnover climbed by 3.4 per cent to 1,265 million euros (previous year 1,223). Product and sales increased impressively an outstanding feat in view of the currency-related position of Japanese competitors and the regressive German market. For the first time in the company’s history, over 100,000 motorcycles were produced at the Berlin plant 101,352 units to be precise. In addition, 2,407 units were produced in cooperation with Aprilia (Piaggio S.p.A.). At the Berlin plant alone six new model launches were successfully handled in 2006. In sales, too, a historical record was achieved. Exactly 100,064 BMW motorcycles were supplied by dealers to customers worldwide. As compared to the previous year (97,474 units) this meant a sales increase of 2.7 per cent, underscoring the success of the current product offensive. These sales figures appear even more impressive in the context of the last few years. Starting from a figure of 50,465 units in 1996, sales of BMW motorcycles have virtually doubled within the last ten years. Another historic figure was achieved for company statistics last business year: the total number of BMW motorcycles since 1923 passed the two-million mark in 2006; exactly 2,061,977 motorcycles have been built bearing the blue and white logo. Experts estimate that over 70 per cent of motorcycles built since the war are still functional and owned by customers an impressive confirmation that BMW Motorrad builds motorcycles which consistently sustain demand. The new models presented at INTERMOT 2006 have already given the market important impulses. The new single cylinder series is built by BMW in cooperation with the Italian manufacturer Aprilia an important role model for the strengthening of the motorcycle industry in Europe as a whole. While the 4-cylinder BMW K 1200 R Sport has already met with a positive response, the market launch of the highly exclusive HP2 Megamoto in May is anticipated with great excitement. In addition to the US market, it is the markets in Western Europe which have the largest share in the impressive sales figures. In Germany, 23,617 units were supplied, making BMW the market leader in its home country. The second strongest market was Italy (13,651 units), while Spain ranked third with 10,002 units here sales have doubled in just two years. Since 2004, BMW Motorrad has put 17 new models on the market and undertaken a complete revision of its model range over two-year period. In just a single decade, BMW Motorrad has become the biggest and most important European manufacturer of large-volume motorcycles.

Nakano Hopeful Of A Good Result At Jerez

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KONICA MINOLTA Honda hopeful of better things at Jerez KONICA MINOLTA Honda are confident of better things at this weekend’s race at Jerez in southern Spain. At the first round in Qatar ten days ago, a steady start saw Shinya Nakano come home in 10th place, while other championship challengers crashed around him. Finishing the race was the aim for the former 250GP runner-up, but as the season progresses, both Team and rider are confident of improved results on the new-for-2007 800cc V4. The KONICA MINOLTA Honda Team have been scrutinizing the data from Qatar at their technical headquarters in Verona to ensure that the lack of corner-entry confidence that afflicted Shinya at the Losail circuit isn’t a problem in Spain. It is hoped that the tighter Jerez circuit should better suit both the bike and the 29-year-old Japanese rider’s style. Gianluca Montiron Team Manager KONICA MINOLTA Honda “We all expect maximum effort from each other, the rider, Team and myself this is why we compete, so we will give 100% at Jerez. Qatar was the first race in a long season, so I think we will have to be three or four races in before we have a clear vision of where we are in comparison with our competitors and at every race we will work hard to close the gap on the leaders. For Jerez, we are aiming to be in the top five or six positions. I believe we have the best technical package in MotoGP, but everything must work at 100% for us to give the best package to Shinya and then he can improve too. We acquired a lot of information from Qatar GP, they’ll be useful to make steps ahead in all sectors.” Shinya Nakano Rider, KONICA MINOLTA Honda “We learned a lot about the bike at Qatar, but we didn’t get a good start, and this is so important at Jerez, so hopefully we can adjust something for this weekend. We didn’t have any big problems in Qatar, the bike was stable, and it feels good everywhere, but we need some strong point in our technical package to move us forward. Everyone tells me I have a classic 250cc style, which is smooth and hopefully as we progress this will suit the new 800cc bike. I’ve tried changing my style in the past, to try to be more aggressive on the brakes, but then I crash, so I believe in my riding style! I need a good contact feeling with the front tyre, but being smooth should also be better for longer tyre life. I like the Jerez track a lot it’s very technical and for the last two years I’ve had good qualifying and race positions, so I’m hopeful of a good result. Jerez always gives me a very special feeling as it’s one of the best GPs to race at and attend. It’s a pleasure to ride in front of so many fans and I’m also very excited that my father is flying in from Japan to watch! My parents have flown in a few times to Europe to watch races, but never Jerez. With its unique atmosphere I wanted to show him the Spanish GP at Jerez. I think he will love it!” Giulio Bernardelle Technical Director, KONICA MINOLTA Honda “We have checked the data from Qatar and we understand that on the entry of the corner Shinya was not so confident. To help with this we have decided to test something different with the front tyre on Friday morning in Jerez, so we shall see how this helps. Machine balance is one of most important differences between the five-cylinder Honda RC211V and the four-cylinder 212V, as with the new bike there’s more weight over the front. So, we will make some small adjustments in the machine geometry to see if that helps. Our base setting from the IRTA test last month is good, so we are hopeful that Shinya can be fast from Friday morning. With race starts, we knew what Shinya’s habits were with the Kawasaki and we’ve tested a lot over the winter with the new electronic set-up of the starting system on the 800cc machine, so we’re hoping we can improve that also. Jerez is a different track and our winter tests results have been much better than Qatar, so we’re more confident of a good result at Jerez.”

KTM 250cc Rider Hiroshi Aoyama To Sit Out Jerez With Hand Injury

Aoyama to miss first European Grand Prix in Jerez Due to the injury that he suffered at the Qatar Grand Prix, Red Bull KTM 250 rider Hiroshi Aoyama will not take part at the first European round in Jerez next week. After his unlucky crash, which left him with considerable damage to skin and tendons of the little finger of his right hand, he flew straight back to Barcelona and underwent immediate surgery in the famous Clinica Santiago Dexeus. Dr. Xavier Mir, a popular microsurgeon who has helped numerous athletes and motorcycle racers in the past, reconstructed the tendons and immobilised the finger with a pin for the initial healing period. As the treatment has been a full success, Aoyama is recovering very quickly. But he will still follow his doctor’s recommendation to give his finger additional rest and time, especially for the lost skin to grow back. In the meantime, Red Bull KTM Technical Director Harald Bartol worked overtime in his Austrian workshop to solve the chattering problems that hampered all three Red Bull KTM 125 riders at the season-opening Qatar Grand Prix last week. Thorough bench tests with current and with previous carburation systems confirmed that the engine set-up of Qatar had caused the trouble, and the problem was fixed for the upcoming round in Jerez. Hiroshi Aoyama (Red Bull KTM 250) “žMy finger injury was not that serious, but I still spent two days in the hospital, because there was a lot of sand in the wound, and I had to undergo a thorough antibiotic treatment to avoid a possible infection. The operation itself went very well, Dr. Xavier Mir re-joined the tendon with artificial material and put a pin into my finger to keep it still. I can’t move it and I have to keep it straight for a total of ten days, then the pin will come out again. After that, I will still need some time, because I lost a lot of skin, and before the wound hasn’t healed up, it’s easy to cause more damage or to get an infection. Of course I would like to race in Jerez, at least for some points, but I respect my doctor’s recommendations. Xavi has done a fantastic job with the operation, I am very happy in fact, the finger looks better now than before!” Harald Bartol (Technical Director) “žIt’s unfortunate for Hiroshi and for our team that he most likely won’t be able to start in Jerez, but we have a long season ahead of us, and it is better to treat this injury without taking any risks. As far as our technical progress goes, we keep working on the rideability of our 125 cc machines. We have been able to confirm that the chattering in Qatar was caused by the engine, which wasn’t running smoothly in a partly open throttle position. It looks as if our new carburettors need some more fine-tuning in terms of needle position and other details, because when I made engine tests with last year’s carburettor, the problem was gone completely!”

Mladin, Spies Fastest As Two-day, Multi-team Tests Concludes At Barber Motorsports Park

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Mat Mladin and Ben Spies were unofficially the fastest two riders during a two-day, multi-team test that concluded today at Barber Motorsports Park, in Birmingham, Alabama. No official times were available, but according to several sources at the test Mladin and Spies both recorded lap times in the 1:24.6 range (while using race tires on their GSX-R1000s), which is 0.8 second quicker than the fastest race lap time from 2006 and even quicker than Spies’ 2006 pole position/lap record time of 1:24.830. “It went good,” Spies told Roadracingworld.com via cell phone. “The bike was working pretty good from the get-go. One of the big problems I’ve had with the bike has been backing in. We did something to the bike and pretty much eliminated that. Now I can brake as deep as I have talent to. (laughs) “I’ll admit Barber and those types of tracks are kind of my weaker tracks that I’ve been working on and getting better on. Obviously, last year we had a good weekend at Barber, but still it’s not my strongest track. Last year in testing we were a bit off from Mat [Mladin], then at the race we closed it up. This year, at least, we were pretty much dead-even in testing. The test couldn’t have gone any better for us, really.” Spies said he also did a 1:26.3 (0.7 second faster than the fastest race lap time from 2006) during the limited laps he made on his Superstock GSX-R1000. Few Superstock lap times were available, but Ben Bostrom reported doing a 1:26.4 during a very productive test of his YZF-R1. Several Superbike riders did laps in the low-1:26 range, including Yoshimura Suzuki’s Tommy Hayden and American Honda’s Miguel Duhamel and Jake Zemke. A little further down the order, were Yamaha’s Eric Bostrom, who said he did a 1:26.3, and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jamie Hacking, who reported doing a 1:26.5, about the same as his teammate Roger Hayden. Eric Bostrom said he did not know what time his teammate Jason DiSalvo did, but he did know that DiSalvo was ill at the test and only rode a limited number of laps. Zemke and Team M4 EMGO Suzuki’s Michael Barnes also said they were under the weather at the test. Barnes was one of three riders known to have crashed. Graves Yamaha’s Josh Herrin crashed in turn 11, the fast left at the end of the back straightaway, and Fast By Ferracci MV Agusta’s Matt Lynn had a big get-off coming over the blind right-hand crest at turn three. According to several riders, Lynn would have hit the same Armco barrier that Roger Hayden slid into and broke his leg last year if the barrier had not been moved during the off-season. Spies said he thinks the barrier is still too close, however. Members of the new Rider Safety Council for Road Racing, along with AMA Racing Road Race Manager Morgan Broadhead met with Barber Motorsports Park management Monday evening. According to Zemke, a member of the Council, the track has made several improvements that riders asked for last year and were very receptive to their new requests for more, minor changes, like new curbs and gravel traps. The test was attended by Celtic Racing, American Honda, Corona Extra Honda, Monster Energy Kawasaki, Attack Kawasaki, Fast By Ferracci MV Agusta, Yoshimura Suzuki, Team M4 EMGO Suzuki, Team Roadracingworld.com Suzuki, Blackfoot Picotte Performance Suzuki, Yamaha, Graves Yamaha and Erion Honda’s Josh Hayes, who rode his personal CBR600RR. Weather for the test was very good except for some high winds on Monday. Ambient temperatures were in the mid-70s F, and track temperatures were reported to have exceeded 40 C, which one Crew Chief described as “toasty.”

Martin Let Go By DFX Honda Due To Lack Of Finances

Steve Martin Unexpectedly Left Without A Ride for Remainder of the WSBK Season Steve Martin was today unexpectedly informed that his ride with the DFX Honda World Superbike team was no longer available, due to lack of finances for the Italian squad. Just days before being due to leave his home in Switzerland for the next round of the championship at Donington in the UK, the vastly experienced Aussie rider was clearly disappointed and bemused by the news, commenting, “I’m absolutely gutted. Not just for me but also my whole bike crew. “Just before the start of the season I was reassured by DFX that they definitely had sufficient money to run both me and Fabrizio for the whole year, and on that basis I decided to continue with the team, despite still having other options of rides at that time. So to now be told, just two races into the season, that the team doesn’t actually have enough budget is unbelievable and puts me in a position that could have been avoided. “It’s also so disappointing after how much progress we’ve made with the bike during testing over the off-season, to now not be able to progress with that and turn it into some good results. “But most of all I’m a racer and just want to race, as I know I’m as capable and competitive as ever to run with the front of the field. “I’ve obviously spent the day on the phone talking to everyone to try and secure funding or avenues for another ride, but as expected, so early into the season is not the time of the year to be trying to find either of those.” The DFX team will continue to run with team-mate Fabrizio in the 2007 Superbike World Championship as he is a Honda Europe rider, and therefore financed from that source. Steve will still be at Donington for the third round of the championship on 30/31 March – 1 April, and plans to remain in Europe for the remainder of the racing season, rather than return to his native Australia, in order to try and secure sponsorship or an alternative place on the World Superbike grid.

Pinkys Pizza, Longtime Supporter Of Northern California Racing, Could Reopen This Week

Read About It Here: ~http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/16919232.htm~

More From This Past Weekend’s Various Races

Millnic Media Honda on the Podium, first for the all new Honda CBR600RR! www.millnicmediahonda.com The Millnic Media Honda team of Melissa Paris and Greg White finished the first round of the WERA/AMA National Endurance Series on the Middle Weight Superstock podium at Roebling Road Raceway over the weekend. Millnic Media Honda had a great first outing on the all new Honda CBR600RR by posting some fast lap times and holding off Apex Racing by just over six seconds to finish third in class. WERA announced that the National Endurance Series is now co-sanctioned by the AMA (American Motorcyclist Association) making it a “Pro” Series. With the co-sanctioning of WERA and the AMA for the National Endurance Series, Millnic Media is the first team to put the 2007 CBR600RR on the podium. Even before race action gets started, the planning of pit strategies plays an important role in any Endurance race result. Millnic Media Honda talked extensively about the tire situation. With the help of Steve Brubaker from Dunlop, Millnic Media Honda felt confident going the entire four hour race on one set of tires. The talk around the paddock was how hard the fresh pavement at Roebling Road Raceway was eating front tires. Steve told Greg White and Melissa Paris of Millnic Media Honda that a one heat cycled front would go the distance”¦ and it did! The big unanswered question for the team was fuel consumption. The 2007 CBR600RR Millnic Media Honda raced had zero miles on it Friday morning and started the race Saturday afternoon with just over 200 miles on it. With the stock fuel gauge intact the plan was to ride the motorcycle until the last bar was blinking red. That plan worked out great. Melissa Paris started the team from the second wave. After 50 minutes at full throttle she rode the Honda into the pits 4th in class. When Greg brought the motorcycle back in to the pits for the second pit stop of the day the Millnic Media Honda Team was 2nd in class. Toward the end of the race and 2 pit stops later Melissa found herself 3rd in class, but right on the edge of a possible last lap pit stop for fuel. So with the help of 2006 AMA Formula Xtreme Champion Josh Hayes, master mechanic Chuck Giacchetto and Millnic Media Honda team rider Steven Breckenridge it was decided that with 12 minutes to go they would bring Melissa in, do a splash and go and put Greg on the bike for the last part of the race. When Greg re-entered the race track to finish things off he was only 5 seconds ahead of fourth place Apex Racing. A few quick laps ensured a solid 3rd place in class for the first time endurance team. After the race it was noted that Greg White of the Millnic Media Honda team set the team’s personal fastest lap of the race on lap 141 of 177! How good were the Dunlop tires? The team did the entire race on one set of Dunlop D209 DOT approved tires. After the race Melissa Paris has this to say, “I am totally stoked on this result! We came into the weekend not expecting anything. We just wanted to set some good laps, represent our sponsors well and most of all have fun. Finishing on the podium is a great way to start the season. This is exactly the quality track time I need to keep my lap times low during my sprint races on Sunday.” Greg White echoed Melissa comment with this statement, “3rd today is a great boost for our team. Not having to make tire changes saved us a lot to time in the pits and Melissa really got us off to a great start. We really have to thank Josh Hayes for all his work. That guy sat on pit wall all day long taking every single lap time. A huge thanks to Chuck Giacchetto who worked the fuel can and Steven Breckenridge for the pit board and fire extinguisher work. This is such great motivation to keep working out and working on my riding. WERA put on a great event, without any red flags. You can check out www.millnicmediahonda.com for more information about the team. Look for a variety of video features from the team over the course of the 2007 racing season.

Pridmore, Yates To Appear At Grand Opening Of Hudson Valley Motorcycles In New York

Hudson Valley Motorcycles is excited to announce a Grand Opening and Open House celebration event weekend, Saturday March 24th and Sunday March 25th. We will have the Jordan Suzuki Racing Team truck on site, as well as Jordan Suzuki Racing Team riders Jason Pridmore and Aaron Yates. Kawasaki Drag Racing rider Rickey Gadsen will be available for autographs and one on one question and answer sessions as well! Are you looking to start racing? Jason, Aaron and Rickey will be there to answer all your questions, discuss advanced riding techniques, throttle control, braking, body position drills and more! Learn from the professionals about your new ride! Local radio and news stations will be present, broadcasting live over the weekend! We will also have plenty of door prizes with tons of cool gear for all ages! Hudson Valley Motorcycles has recently relocated to a new 15,000 sq/ft building in Ossining NY, only 5 miles from the former location in Millwood, just 10 minutes north of White Plains, and 35 minutes north of New York City! Please come by to see the gorgeous new showroom, Westchester County’s largest selection of parts and accessories, and the expanded service facility! Since 1966 Hudson Valley Motorcycles has been known as the source for professional service, technical expertise, and great customer care in Westchester County NY. Join us for this event and see why our customers are raving! Do you need new gear? Representatives from the best companies in the industry like Arai, Joe Rocket, Alpinestars, First Gear, Icon, Shoei, HJC, Held, Sidi, Answer, KBC, AGV, Thor, Fox, Ohlins, Dunlop, Metzler, Michelin, Brembo Maxima, Sato Racing, TiForce, NOS, Vance & Hines, Orient Express and others will be on hand to give you the best advice and inside information! The Grand Opening and Open House celebration event weekend will run Saturday March 24th from 9am to 4pm, and Sunday March 25th from 9am to 2pm. Please bring your friends and family to see what Hudson Valley Motorcycles has to offer! Food and beverages will be provided, so come hungry! www.hudsonvalleymotorcycles.com 179 North Highland Ave Ossining, NY 10562 914.762.2722 Tel 914.762.4402 Fax

NESBA Announces 2007 Track Day Calendar

2007 season promises to be most expansive in club’s history Mohnton, PA Northeast Sportbike Association (NESBA,) the countries largest volunteer run track day organization, is proud to announce its 2007 schedule. With 153 events being held in 5 regions across the country this schedule has something for everyone. MIDATLANTIC REGION 4/7/2007 BeaveRun Motorsports Complex 4/7/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Jefferson 4/8/2007 BeaveRun Motorsports Complex 4/8/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Main 4/14/2007 Pocono Raceway East 4/21/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Jefferson 4/22/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Jefferson 5/4/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Main 5/5/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Jefferson 5/5/2007 BeaveRun Motorsports Complex 5/6/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Jefferson 5/6/2007 BeaveRun Motorsports Complex 6/8/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Main 6/9/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Jefferson 6/10/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Jefferson 6/23/2007 Nelson Ledges 6/24/2007 Nelson Ledges 7/7/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Jefferson 7/8/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Jefferson 7/9/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Main 7/14/2007 BeaveRun Motorsports Complex 7/15/2007 BeaveRun Motorsports Complex 8/4/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Jefferson 8/11/2007 Pocono Raceway Formula USA 8/25/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Jefferson 8/26/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Jefferson 8/27/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Main 9/2/2007 Pocono Raceway East 9/7/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Main 9/8/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Jefferson 9/8/2007 BeaveRun Motorsports Complex 9/9/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Jefferson 9/9/2007 BeaveRun Motorsports Complex 9/29/2007 Pocono Raceway East 9/30/2007 Pocono Raceway East 10/13/2007 Nelson Ledges 10/14/2007 Nelson Ledges 10/20/2007 BeaveRun Motorsports Complex 10/21/2007 BeaveRun Motorsports Complex 10/26/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Main 10/27/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Jefferson 10/28/2007 Summit Point Motorsports Park Jefferson SOUTHEAST REGION 3/3/2007 Barber Motorsports Park 3/4/2007 Barber Motorsports Park 3/10/2007 Virginia International Raceway South 3/11/2007 Virginia International Raceway South 3/12/2007 Virginia International Raceway North 3/24/2007 Roebling Road Raceway 3/25/2007 Roebling Road Raceway 4/6/2007 Road Atlanta 4/7/2007 Road Atlanta 4/8/2007 Road Atlanta 4/28/2007 Barber Motorsports Park 4/29/2007 Barber Motorsports Park 5/5/2007 Talladega GP 5/6/2007 Talladega GP 5/26/2007 Road Atlanta 5/27/2007 Road Atlanta 6/9/2007 Carolina Motorsports Park 6/10/2007 Carolina Motorsports Park 6/23/2007 Barber Motorsports Park 6/24/2007 Barber Motorsports Park 7/7/2007 Virginia International Raceway South 7/8/2007 Virginia International Raceway South 7/9/2007 Virginia International Raceway North 7/20/2007 Virginia International Raceway Full Course 7/21/2007 Virginia International Raceway Patriot 7/22/2007 Virginia International Raceway Patriot 7/28/2007 Road Atlanta 7/29/2007 Road Atlanta 8/18/2007 Barber Motorsports Park 8/19/2007 Barber Motorsports Park 8/25/2007 Virginia International Raceway South 8/26/2007 Virginia International Raceway South 8/27/2007 Virginia International Raceway North 9/1/2007 Barber Motorsports Park 9/2/2007 Barber Motorsports Park 9/8/2007 Carolina Motorsports Park 9/9/2007 Carolina Motorsports Park 10/6/2007 Barber Motorsports Park 10/7/2007 Barber Motorsports Park 10/20/2007 Virginia International Raceway Patriot 10/21/2007 Virginia International Raceway Patriot 10/22/2007 Virginia International Raceway Full Course 11/10/2007 Barber Motorsports Park 11/11/2007 Barber Motorsports Park 11/12/2007 Barber Motorsports Park MIDWEST REGION 4/14/2007 Blackhawk Farms Raceway 4/15/2007 Blackhawk Farms Raceway 4/21/2007 Grattan Raceway Park 4/22/2007 Grattan Raceway Park 5/5/2007 Putnam Park Road Course 5/6/2007 Putnam Park Road Course 5/28/2007 Road America 5/29/2007 Road America 6/2/2007 Blackhawk Farms Raceway 6/3/2007 Blackhawk Farms Raceway 6/16/2007 Putnam Park Road Course 6/17/2007 Putnam Park Road Course 6/23/2007 Grattan Raceway Park 6/24/2007 Grattan Raceway Park 6/30/2007 Gingerman Raceway 7/1/2007 Gingerman Raceway 7/4/2007 Road America 7/5/2007 Road America 7/14/2007 Blackhawk Farms Raceway 7/15/2007 Blackhawk Farms Raceway 7/23/2007 Autobahn Country Club Full Course 7/28/2007 Autobahn Country Club North 7/29/2007 Autobahn Country Club North 9/1/2007 Blackhawk Farms Raceway 9/2/2007 Blackhawk Farms Raceway 9/8/2007 Putnam Park Road Course 9/9/2007 Putnam Park Road Course 9/22/2007 Gingerman Raceway 9/23/2007 Gingerman Raceway 10/13/2007 Putnam Park Road Course 10/14/2007 Putnam Park Road Course 10/20/2007 Grattan Raceway Park NORTHWEST REGION 4/21/2007 Pacific Raceways 4/22/2007 Pacific Raceways 5/7/2007 Pacific Raceways 5/23/2007 Portland International Raceway 6/2/2007 Pacific Raceways 6/3/2007 Pacific Raceways 6/25/2007 Pacific Raceways 7/14/2007 Pacific Raceways 7/15/2007 Pacific Raceways 7/23/2007 Portland International Raceway 7/30/2007 Pacific Raceways 8/13/2007 Pacific Raceways 9/1/2007 Pacific Raceways 9/2/2007 Pacific Raceways 9/24/2007 Pacific Raceways 10/13/2007 Pacific Raceways 10/14/2007 Pacific Raceways MIDCENTRAL REGION 4/28/2007 Mid-America Motorplex 4/29/2007 Mid-America Motorplex 5/12/2007 Heartland Park Topeka 5/13/2007 Heartland Park Topeka 6/9/2007 Heartland Park Topeka 6/10/2007 Heartland Park Topeka 7/7/2007 Hallett Motor Racing Circuit 7/8/2007 Hallett Motor Racing Circuit 7/28/2007 Heartland Park Topeka 7/29/2007 Heartland Park Topeka 8/4/2007 Mid-America Motorplex 8/5/2007 Mid-America Motorplex 8/19/2007 Miller Motorsports Park AMA 8/20/2007 Miller Motorsports Park AMA 9/8/2007 Iowa Speedway 9/9/2007 Iowa Speedway NESBA would also like to remind its members that every event is run and organized only by NESBA staff in order to maintain the high standards our members expect from us. Visit us on the web at www.nesba.com for sign up and member information. See you at the track!

LRRS To Use Spec Fuels in 2007

2007 LRRS Spec Fuel Rule Details The LRRS staff, after much thought and consideration, has decided to implement a Spec Fuel for the 2007 race season, as announced at the LRRS awards banquet. Although the details of the rule were not completely finalized when the concept was announced, the intent to follow this course of action was made public to give the maximum amount of notice to LRRS competitors. In addition, LRRS officials wanted enough time to completely evaluate all of the options available before finalizing the rule. A number of comments were voiced through various channels, many of which contained solid ideas that helped to mold the original concept into what it has become today. Background There were many things that led us down this path. Over the past several years there have been several fuels introduced from a number of manufacturers in the motorcycle industry that have produced sizable performance gains — some as large as 6-7%. As these fuel companies worked to make better and better fuels, two things happened: (1) Many of the fuels became considerably more toxic and (2) Most the fuels got considerably more expensive. Riders and teams at national events in recent years have on occasion used fuels that have made crew members physically ill and even required the use of Haz-Mat suits while dispensing fuel into the tank. As these fuels become more commonplace, they will begin to trickle into club races like LRRS. You don’t even have to be the one running this fuel to be affected. Most people who have worked around top performing fuels can attest to the rather accelerated rate at which a person can feel the effects of being in any kind of proximity to these fumes. Long gone are the days of being competitive with other top riders while running $5-$6 per gallon gas. The top AMA fuels, most of which are currently present at every LRRS weekend, retail anywhere from $20-$25 per gallon. Even at the conservative consumption rate of 7 gallons per weekend, that nets out to over $150 per weekend in fuel. In addition, most of these fuels need to be flushed out every single weekend (top pro teams do it every night) or there is a strong likelihood of fuel system and/or valvetrain deterioration. After a brief survey, approximately 80% of the expert LRRS riders we polled had lost at least one fuel pump to the effects of these fuels. Thus, we feel that the Spec Fuel rule will be in the best interest of maintaining both the physical and financial health of the LRRS riders and crew. The Evolution of the Rule At the LRRS banquet it was announced that the LRRS riders would be allowed 2 options; either the Sunoco Race fuel at the track or Pump gas from a designated gas station. This concept has been altered for reasons of both enforceability and viability. It was extremely important to LRRS to offer fuel choices that did not place a significant financial burden on it’s racers. At 7 gallons per weekend, riders who used pump gas spent between $17.50 and $21 per weekend on fuel, depending mainly on the prices at the pump which varied from $2.50 to $3.00 per gallon during last season. The original concept was to allow for the use of this pump fuel, but this led to a problem of enforceability. The main issue is that pump gas is oxygenated, and it is very easy to introduce additives into oxygenated fuel that are very difficult to detect. There was also the issue of consistency and the ability to produce repeatable test results with fuel stored in underground tanks. The Sunoco fuel at the pumps in 2006 would have worked work for most riders, but since then NASCAR has outlawed their higher octane leaded fuels for 2007. This created a legitimate concern that certain riders with built engines would suffer failures if they used this new 98 octane fuel. This was obviously not an acceptable scenario. As such, LRRS put the word out that it was looking for a fuel company to work with. The primary targets were to find a company that had widely available fuels suitable for all bikes, the ability to easily test these fuels for legality and the desire to support LRRS riders with a contingency program. The 2007 Spec Fuel Rule Details After the consideration of several options, Bob Bahre of NHIS agreed to forgo the sale of track fuel in favor of program that was more beneficial to the LRRS riders. VP racing fuels will be the supplier of all racing fuel for LRRS, and will fully back the program with both a testing program to ensure enforceability and a contingency program to support the riders. All fuel should be purchased from the VP fuel truck at NHIS. There will be 2 fuels available. VP C12 will be sold at the track for $8/gallon. This is a long-standing benchmark racing fuel with a 108 octane rating that is capable of safely delivering solid performance in any motor without risk of detonation. It is widely available and many tuners have experience with it. For those riders running stock engines, VP MS93 will be sold at the track for $3.25/gallon. This is an affordable non-oxygenated unleaded fuel with a R+M/2 octane rating of 95, and is the spec fuel for a number of racing series around the country. The mapping for this fuel is identical to pump gas, and will allow riders formerly using pump gas to collect contingency money at LRRS events. The lack of oxygen in both of these fuels makes enforcement of the rule possible, as additives and foreign fuels are easily detected. Enforcement All riders are required to use VP spec fuel during all LRRS activities. This includes not only the races but also all Saturday and Sunday practice sessions. Random testing may be done at any time once the first practice goes green on Saturday. LRRS officials, in conjunction with VP technical personnel, will perform all tests at the track. In the event of a protest where fuel is in question and a laboratory test is required, a protest fee schedule and procedure will be announced at the first race weekend of 2007 during the Saturday riders meeting. At the discretion of LRRS officials, penalties for noncompliance may result in fines and/or license suspension for blatant violations. Fuel that is purchased from VP dealers outside of the track will not be eligible for contingency and may not pass the fuel test due to cross contamination from reused drums. The VP sold at the track will all come out of new drums to ensure no cross contamination. The drums at the track will be used as the baseline for testing all season long. Contingency Requirements In addition to running a VP decal on each side of your motorcycle, you must buy at least 5 gallons of VP fuel from the racetrack vendor at LRRS events each weekend. Again, fuel that is purchased from VP dealers outside of the track will not be eligible for contingency and may not pass fuel test due to the contamination. The VP vendor at the track will record your purchase and your number at each event to qualify you for contingency on that weekend. The payout will be as follows: 1st – $25, 2nd-6th – $10. This payout schedule is specific to LRRS and replaces the current posted CCS contingency postings. An added bonus for the LRRS program is that your contingency will be claimed directly at the track, and will be available at the conclusion of each race weekend and useable at any subsequent LRRS in 2007. Riders buying drum of fuel from the track vendor will be made eligible for multiple weekends as follows: 15 gallon drum – 3 weekends, 30 gallon drum – 6 weekends, 55 gallon drum – all of 2007. However, in order for VP to ensure rider eligibility, riders who intend to collect contingency may not share drums of fuel. Program Effective Date & Fuel Distribution It is apparent to LRRS that many riders will want the opportunity to tune their motorcycles for this new fuel. These VP fuels are available prior to the first LRRS weekend from dealers across New England and New York. For the name of the local dealer near you please contact VP at VP-Atlantic Newark, DE Phone: 302-368-1500 Fax: 302-368-1869 [email protected] This program will become effective on the 2nd LRRS weekend of 2007 on May 12/13. This will not only allow riders a chance to test and tune their motorcycles, but will also give everyone the chance to buy a drum of fuel to last them for several weekends. Riders can also use the first LRRS weekend to burn off any fuel remaining from past weekends of racing. All riders are encouraged to pre-order fuel from VP Atlantic for delivery to NHIS during the first LRRS weekend in April. We look forward to seeing everyone at Loudon on April 28/29 to kick off a new season.

BMW Motorrad Posts Record Gains In Sales, Production And Profits For 2006

BMW MOTORRAD MAINTAINS CONSISTENT SUCCESS Increase in all key figures once again. Munich. All the figures point upwards: BMW Motorrad’s sales, production, turnover and operating profits achieved new records in the business year 2006. The pre-tax operating profits increased by 10.0 per cent to 66 million euros (previous year 60 million euros). Turnover climbed by 3.4 per cent to 1,265 million euros (previous year 1,223). Product and sales increased impressively an outstanding feat in view of the currency-related position of Japanese competitors and the regressive German market. For the first time in the company’s history, over 100,000 motorcycles were produced at the Berlin plant 101,352 units to be precise. In addition, 2,407 units were produced in cooperation with Aprilia (Piaggio S.p.A.). At the Berlin plant alone six new model launches were successfully handled in 2006. In sales, too, a historical record was achieved. Exactly 100,064 BMW motorcycles were supplied by dealers to customers worldwide. As compared to the previous year (97,474 units) this meant a sales increase of 2.7 per cent, underscoring the success of the current product offensive. These sales figures appear even more impressive in the context of the last few years. Starting from a figure of 50,465 units in 1996, sales of BMW motorcycles have virtually doubled within the last ten years. Another historic figure was achieved for company statistics last business year: the total number of BMW motorcycles since 1923 passed the two-million mark in 2006; exactly 2,061,977 motorcycles have been built bearing the blue and white logo. Experts estimate that over 70 per cent of motorcycles built since the war are still functional and owned by customers an impressive confirmation that BMW Motorrad builds motorcycles which consistently sustain demand. The new models presented at INTERMOT 2006 have already given the market important impulses. The new single cylinder series is built by BMW in cooperation with the Italian manufacturer Aprilia an important role model for the strengthening of the motorcycle industry in Europe as a whole. While the 4-cylinder BMW K 1200 R Sport has already met with a positive response, the market launch of the highly exclusive HP2 Megamoto in May is anticipated with great excitement. In addition to the US market, it is the markets in Western Europe which have the largest share in the impressive sales figures. In Germany, 23,617 units were supplied, making BMW the market leader in its home country. The second strongest market was Italy (13,651 units), while Spain ranked third with 10,002 units here sales have doubled in just two years. Since 2004, BMW Motorrad has put 17 new models on the market and undertaken a complete revision of its model range over two-year period. In just a single decade, BMW Motorrad has become the biggest and most important European manufacturer of large-volume motorcycles.

Nakano Hopeful Of A Good Result At Jerez

KONICA MINOLTA Honda hopeful of better things at Jerez KONICA MINOLTA Honda are confident of better things at this weekend’s race at Jerez in southern Spain. At the first round in Qatar ten days ago, a steady start saw Shinya Nakano come home in 10th place, while other championship challengers crashed around him. Finishing the race was the aim for the former 250GP runner-up, but as the season progresses, both Team and rider are confident of improved results on the new-for-2007 800cc V4. The KONICA MINOLTA Honda Team have been scrutinizing the data from Qatar at their technical headquarters in Verona to ensure that the lack of corner-entry confidence that afflicted Shinya at the Losail circuit isn’t a problem in Spain. It is hoped that the tighter Jerez circuit should better suit both the bike and the 29-year-old Japanese rider’s style. Gianluca Montiron Team Manager KONICA MINOLTA Honda “We all expect maximum effort from each other, the rider, Team and myself this is why we compete, so we will give 100% at Jerez. Qatar was the first race in a long season, so I think we will have to be three or four races in before we have a clear vision of where we are in comparison with our competitors and at every race we will work hard to close the gap on the leaders. For Jerez, we are aiming to be in the top five or six positions. I believe we have the best technical package in MotoGP, but everything must work at 100% for us to give the best package to Shinya and then he can improve too. We acquired a lot of information from Qatar GP, they’ll be useful to make steps ahead in all sectors.” Shinya Nakano Rider, KONICA MINOLTA Honda “We learned a lot about the bike at Qatar, but we didn’t get a good start, and this is so important at Jerez, so hopefully we can adjust something for this weekend. We didn’t have any big problems in Qatar, the bike was stable, and it feels good everywhere, but we need some strong point in our technical package to move us forward. Everyone tells me I have a classic 250cc style, which is smooth and hopefully as we progress this will suit the new 800cc bike. I’ve tried changing my style in the past, to try to be more aggressive on the brakes, but then I crash, so I believe in my riding style! I need a good contact feeling with the front tyre, but being smooth should also be better for longer tyre life. I like the Jerez track a lot it’s very technical and for the last two years I’ve had good qualifying and race positions, so I’m hopeful of a good result. Jerez always gives me a very special feeling as it’s one of the best GPs to race at and attend. It’s a pleasure to ride in front of so many fans and I’m also very excited that my father is flying in from Japan to watch! My parents have flown in a few times to Europe to watch races, but never Jerez. With its unique atmosphere I wanted to show him the Spanish GP at Jerez. I think he will love it!” Giulio Bernardelle Technical Director, KONICA MINOLTA Honda “We have checked the data from Qatar and we understand that on the entry of the corner Shinya was not so confident. To help with this we have decided to test something different with the front tyre on Friday morning in Jerez, so we shall see how this helps. Machine balance is one of most important differences between the five-cylinder Honda RC211V and the four-cylinder 212V, as with the new bike there’s more weight over the front. So, we will make some small adjustments in the machine geometry to see if that helps. Our base setting from the IRTA test last month is good, so we are hopeful that Shinya can be fast from Friday morning. With race starts, we knew what Shinya’s habits were with the Kawasaki and we’ve tested a lot over the winter with the new electronic set-up of the starting system on the 800cc machine, so we’re hoping we can improve that also. Jerez is a different track and our winter tests results have been much better than Qatar, so we’re more confident of a good result at Jerez.”