FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: It is with a heavy heart that I pass along the news of the loss of a gentle giant in the motorcycle industry. My long-time good friend and for the last year, neighbor, Marcel Fortney of Templeton, California, passed away yesterday Jan. 15th at his home, of a heart attack at the age of 49. He was instrumental in my early production and Superbike racing exploits in Southern California in the late ’70s and early ’80s. He helped arrange the one and only Factory Ride of my racing career at the then, AFM 6-Hour Endurance race for Pops and Fujio Yoshimura at Riverside Raceway in 1979. Whenever I needed help, he was there and interested in doing what ever he could to make my Suzuki racebike more competitive. Then he was instrumental in getting us “hooked up” as the Pirelli race track vendor when he worked for them in the mid-80s in California. He has helped so many racers and people in the motorcycle business along the way and he was just one of the best human beings this guy has ever met……….. He is survived by his loving wife and daughter. Funeral arrangements will be passed along as they become available. God speed Marcel, THANK YOU! All of us here will miss you tremendously, my friend. Dennis Smith Sport Tire Services Inc. Paso Robles, California

California Superbike School Announces New Fleet of Bikes for ’07 The California Superbike School, which provides rider training courses for all levels of riders across the USA, will receive an all-new fleet of 2007 Kawasaki motorcycles for the new season. The school, which has been using the Kawasaki brand since its inception over 27 years ago, will replace all of their 2005 models with brand new 2007 ZX6Rs. Keith Code, director of the California Superbike School says, “It’s hard to believe that the bikes could get better than the previous 6R but here is another quantum leap, our students loved the ’05’s, they’ll be flipped out over the ’07’s. ” New for 2007 is the redesigned Ninja ZX-6R. The Kawasaki website describes the new machine as having an “all-new engine [that] was redesigned from the crankcase up for the first time in ten years, leading to an ultra-high-rpm powerplant that produces more mid-range torque than any of its predecessors. The entire package of frame, suspension, engine and bodywork was designed to enhance the ZX-6R’s fun-to-ride factor by offering a more exciting ride.” The California Superbike School provides classes in riding techniques to students who want to improve their cornering skills. At most of the schools the students have the option of riding one of the Kawasaki student bikes or of bringing their own bike, most students opt to ride the 6Rs. The school has eighteen Kawasaki Ninja ZX6R’s available for student’s use, as well as seven 600’s and two ZX10’s for the coaching staff, plus the off-track training bikes. Code’s designed his off track training bikes to allow riders the experience of pushing the limits with reduced hazard to them. His patented lean/slide bike functions as a training tool to help riders perfect their body position as well as an advance level training tool to experience and control rear end slides and prevent high-siding. The brake rig is based on a Kawasaki Ninja 650R retrofitted with solid outriggers that act like training wheels. Students practice emergency braking and are encouraged to lock the front wheel. The bike allows them to experience what locking up the front feels like and how to control it. The bike’s design prevents it from crashing even if the front end tucks under completely. Not only are the ZX-6Rs available at all schools but riders may also rent full riding gear. The school has a complete stock of AGV Sport leathers, boots and riding gloves as well as KBC Helmets that are included in the reasonably priced rental package. For more information please visit www.superbikeschool.com or call the office at (323) 224-2734 or toll free at 1 800 530 3350

FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: I just thought I would drop you the heads-up–I was just at the Washington, DC 2007 International Motorcycle show and didn’t see one single mention of Nicky Hayden at the huge Honda exhibit. I walked up to three Honda reps and asked, “Where’s Nicky?” They all just stood there with their hands in their pockets. I asked why Honda didn’t have a picture of him, his bike or an American flag and 2006 World Champion anywhere. Their response, “Nicky Hayden doesn’t sell bikes.” I was pretty taken back and let down–even on Nicky Hayden’s home turf he can’t get any love. Yamaha had Rossi’s M1 on display but no Honda RC211V in sight! Just thought I would let folks know. Darrell Rogers Washington, DC And now some reaction… FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: In response to your email from a reader who attended the International Cycle Show in Washington D.C.; I can’t comment on if Nicky actually sells bikes or not statistically, but I can comment that the dealer-reps for Honda at the D.C. show are usually full of you-know-what and rarely know what they are talking about. So Nicky is the center of your top road bike’s ad campaign but he doesn’t sell bikes. huh? Last year I was at the same show overlooking the Honda bikes and overheard one dealer rep enthusiastically informing a lesser informed consumer on how “…ALL of the privateer road racers race Honda.” Oh really?! The only Hondas you ever see on any road racing grid are either factory riders, factory satellite riders, well, and that is about it. Anyone who knows anything about road racing knows that 90% of the grid is made up of Suzuki GSX-Rs and Yamaha R6 or R1s. So listening to a dealer rep from Honda is about as constructive as trying to knock down a brick wall with a tack hammer. Furthermore, during the same show I tried to ask some very specific questions in the Yamaha area about Rossi’s GP bike from guys who were dressed to look like somebody’s pit crew. Of course they had no idea what I was talking about. A similar thing happened in the Suzuki area when asking about Aaron Yates’ Superstock bike and in the Ducati area when asking the differences between the equipment found on the 999S vs. the 999R. In each case I found myself correcting what the reps were telling other patrons about equipment, specs, the riders who ride the bikes professionally, race stats from the past couple of years, ect. (Much of which I contribute to being a 6-year subscriber to your glorious magazine — plug plug plug). Some of which couldn’t even explain what was occuring on thier own monitors showing road racing footage from the previous AMA, WSB, and MotoGP seasons. Basically, the reps who show up at these shows don’t really represent the brand names nationally. They just tend to be sales guys from the larger local dealers out to help rep the company when the show comes to town. Ask them for a business card and they will almost always end up being your local big named shop. Comparatively speaking, the ONLY reps at the shows who seem to actually know what they are talking about are the BMW guys…now they know their stuff. Patrick Lawrence Ft. Washington, Maryland. More on the Washington motorcycle show… FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: I traveled to Washington, D.C. for the Cycle World International Motorcycle Show this past weekend. I was impressed with the Ducati booth and all the Italian eye candy. The reps were revved up and and the new 1098s and the $65,000 Desmosedici RR were on display. The BMW of North America booth had a flat screen tv with local BMW racer Nate Kern as the hero of the film! I turned my head and there was the winning bike from the inaugural Moto-ST 8 hour race from Daytona, the San Jose BMW that was raced by Stephane Mertens, Brian Parriott, and Nate Kern. Nate was there and autographing pictures for a long line of fans. Pretty cool! Another highlight of the show for me was meeting Dennis “BUB” Manning and his fastest motorcycle on earth, “Streamliner 7” raced at the Bonneville Salt Flats . Seven time National Champ Chris Carr piloted the awesome machine to a new land speed record of 350.884 mph! Dennis has been at this for 40 years. Too bad Chris did not make it to DC. Maybe he will be in New York City this weekend. There were many beautifully restored vintage race and street bikes and a lot of locals had their customized sportbikes on display. The Mid-Atlantic Road Racing Club had their annual booth with enthusiastic members preaching the gospel of local motorcycle road racing at Summit Point Raceway. All in all, it was a great show. Next time I will be there when it opens so I can see everything and catch up with my friends. I will also bring my camera. Roger Lyle Motorcycle Xcitement Track Days Hagerstown, Maryland

The stars of last season’s STK Championship, MV Agusta, have been back to the track in Valencia for some tests. There are some new faces this season including: Danilo Dell’Omo, Denis Sacchetti, Frank Millet and Loic Napoleone but Leonardo Biliotti who competed in the STK World Cup 2005 with his MV will also be in the line-up. The role given to Ayrton Badovini is that of developing the SBK version of the F4 1000 R with which he will compete in the Italian Championship. Over three days of tests, the riders clocked up huge mileage, obtained some significant times but, above all, gained confidence in both the machines and their new team mates. Ayrton Badovini: “For once I didn’t ride my Stock 1000, but spent my time working on the SBK in preparation for the Italian Championship. Considering that this was the first time I have had the F4 1000 SBK on the track, we did a good job. The bike is fantastic, but we are just at the start and still have a lot of work in front of us. The potential is there!” Denis Sacchetti: “I’m very satisfied with the work we did over the three days of testing. I needed to do a few laps to get rid of the “rust” as this was my first time back on the track since my accident a few months ago. The laps I did helped me get back into shape a bit and get some experience with an MV that I’ve never ridden before. I was immediately comfortable with the bike and it didn’t trouble me much to put up times similar to last year. The bike is amazing and I am more than happy with my new team and the engineers I’ll be working with. I can’t wait to get back on the bike!” Danilo Dell’Omo: “I’d say that my first outing with the Team UnionBike Gimotorsports was more than positive. I have a great relationship with the guys and the bike really is something else. We managed to lap with no problems and get a few miles up on the clock without losing sight of the fact the main aim of these tests was to get to know the bike a bit better. I am also very happy with the times we got as I didn’t even have to take any particular risks to set them. I’m really looking forward to the next tests because every mile in the saddle teaches me something more about my F4.” Frank Millets: “This was my first test with MV and with a 1000 bike. I am more than satisfied because I managed to constantly improve my times by increasing my rhythm on every lap. I am developing a good feeling with the bike. It is really a fantastic machine and I am sure I will do well. There is still a lot to learn but I’m really optimistic.” Leonardo Biliotti: “I concentrated mainly on testing. I am happy with the preparation work I did during the winter and I feel good on the bike. I can’t wait to get started!” Loic Napoleone: “I used these tests to get rid of some of the “rust”. I haven’t been on a bike for three months so I tried not to overdo things. I am very happy with the bike and the team and now we have to continue in this way.”

Steve Martin and the DFX Honda World Superbike squad made further testing progress during the last three days at the team’s second winter test at Valencia. With the start of the 2007 World Superbike season just six weeks away, Steve spent the three days concentrating on progressing the set up of his Honda CBR1000 in order to find his optimum base setting to take forward into the racing season. Steve said, “We made good initial progress at our first test back in November so we didn’t have to start from scratch this time, which helped us get straight into testing. “We turned the bike inside out again working on all areas including evaluation of some new parts such as the front forks, but also tested different rear suspension links, fork heights, clutch settings and gearing just to name a few, and on the final day I was feeling pretty happy with where we got to and I’m a lot more confident on the bike.” “Some new parts, including the new 2007 spec rear shock and the new engine didn’t arrive in time for this test, but I’ve been assured by Ohlins and the team that these will be with us in time for the start of the season.” Despite being a privateer team and therefore unable to benefit from testing with Pirelli’s latest specification tyres, Steve was still able to achieve a lap time of 1:36.0, one second quicker than at the November test, on old specification tyres and in cold conditions. “The conditions were really cold and not ideal for testing, especially for tyres, so to come away with the lap time that I did after only my second test on the Honda was encouraging,” continued Steve. “The team is also gelling together really well and it was funny to hear my crew chief, Baz, who I’ve worked with for the last two years, starting to throw in the odd word of Italian into his English sentences!” Steve now returns to Australia where he will be concentrating on fine tuning his fitness in preparation for one further pre season test at Valencia in February, before the opening race of the season at Qatar on 24 February.

Tom Tunstall has confirmed that he will be racing in the British Superbike Championships [BSB] in 2007. The highly popular BSB championship is renowned as not only the toughest domestic motorcycle championship in the world but also out performs all other motorsports in the UK in terms of spectators. And will once again be screened live on ITV1. With continued support from Hardinge Machine Tools & Ice Valley Natural Mineral Water the team which ran in the World Supersport Championship in 2006 will focus it efforts on the Superbike Cup Championship in 2007. Utilising the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade machine raced by the Hydrex Team in 2006, which includes further developments for 2007, combined with full technical back up and support the team are confident they have the right tools for the job. Huddersfield based rider Tunstall, who has scored World Supersport Championship points for the last three years and also manages the team is under no illusions of the challenge ahead: “The team and I learnt a massive amount from racing at world level. The BSB championship is probably the biggest it’s ever been, the challenge and opportunity to be part of it was too good to resist. For me 2007 is about learning as fast as possible and aiming to win the Cup championship.” “I cannot wait to get on the bike; I’m literally losing sleep thinking about it! I have never raced anything bigger than a 600 before so getting in some testing miles before the start of the season is crucial for me. I’ve got to learn to adjust my riding style to get the best from the bigger, more powerful bike. At the end of the day it’s got two wheels, an engine and the throttle goes both ways so we’ll see. A lot of questions will be answered in a month’s time when we get to our first test in Spain.” The team have testing planned in February and March in Spain and the UK.