AHRMA, the AMA-affiliated Vintage racing organization that has been involved in a decades-long pissing match and extended litigation with AHRMA founder, Team Obsolete race team owner, race promoter and now-expelled-AHRMA-member Rob Iannucci, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, according to the official AHRMA website. Recently, the law firm representing AHRMA in the continuing litigation with Iannucci filed papers with the court stating that it no longer wished to represent the organization. Observers familiar with the case speculate that the firm did so because AHRMA can no longer pay it, having exhausted its insurance coverage and bank accounts; the bankruptcy of AHRMA’s liability insurance carrier complicated matters, and the personal liability exposure of individual AHRMA Trustees in the matter is unknown. The news of the bankruptcy filing was not released until after nominations for the upcoming AHRMA Trustees election were closed. The pending litigation between Iannucci and AHRMA involves AHRMA terminating Iannucci’s membership and banning riders from competing if they rode machines owned by Iannucci, listed Team Obsolete as a sponsor or displayed Team Obsolete logos on their motorcycles. In a fascinating turn of events, motorcycles owned by Iannucci and displaying Team Obsolete stickers have appeared at certain AHRMA race venues, Daytona and Mid-Ohio, when either the racetrack (Daytona) or the overall event promoter (AMA Sports) intervened, most recently during AMA Vintage Days held at Mid-Ohio last summer. Iannucci’s current litigation also targets the AMA, charging that the organization failed to protect the rights of its members to participate in AMA-sanctioned competition. Former AHRMA boss Jeff Smith–who was at the center of the dispute with Iannucci–is an elected member of the AMA Board of Directors. Read more about it here: ~http://www.ahrma.org/whatsnew.htm~ ~http://forums.13x.com/showthread.php?t=123948&page=11~ ~http://teamobsoleteforum.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=4f236841a4decc32bffbd36643ffa2a7&topic=41.0~

Thieves broke into NJK Leathers in San Clemente, California sometime between Thursday evening and Friday morning, making off with about 50 pieces of sportbike apparel, according to NJK’s Kelcey Gordon. Among the stolen goods are about five red/black one-piece leather racing suits with flourescent yellow flames; several solid red and solid blue one-piece suits; four or five blue/black/white two-piece suits; a ladies’ custom two-piece suit with GATES on the back; a blue one-piece custom speedway suit with GOMEZ on the back; and numerous jackets. A reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest in the case. More information is available from Kelcey Gordon at 949-481-3005.

MV AGUSTA-FAST BY FERRACCI TEST SUCCESSFUL First Shakedown with Riders a Success The return of MV Agusta to racing in America is a reality. Using the F4 1000R in Superstock trim, Eraldo Ferracci brought the rudiments of his team and a pair of young riders to Jennings GP for a private two-day test using Pirelli tires on November 8 and 9, 2006. Italian Superstock champion Luca Scassa (age 23) and American Matt Lynn (age 22) turned laps under mostly favorable conditions at the Florida track looking for basic setup information and a shakedown for the nearly stock motorcycles. Scassa is well acquainted with the MV Agusta motorcycle and brought his suspension settings with him to an unfamiliar track. Lynn has raced at Jennings GP but started from scratch on a bike he had never seen or ridden. Both worked through the challenges diligently to arrive at a point where they could begin fine-tuning and offering feedback to keep the MV Agusta technicians heading in the direction of fielding a competitive machine for the US Superbike series. By afternoon on the first day, both riders were already tantalizingly close to the track record of 1:15:444 of Canadian champion Pascal Picotte set earlier this spring at a joint test of all the Canadian Superbike teams. Just before lunch on day two, Scassa went 1:15.448 and Lynn 1:15.545 hand-timed. Under sunny skies and with track temperatures climbing nicely, Scassa smashed the record in the mid-afternoon with a 1:14:81 and backed it up a lap later with a 1:14:85 on spec Pirelli tires identical to those used in the Canadian Superbike Championship. Lynn’s best of 1:15.2 was also under the old track record and two seconds faster than he had ever been at Jennings GP. Scassa said, “It’s cool being in America, but for sure I came here to do a job and we did some good work. We have much more to do to make the MV Agusta into a superbike but the bike is good and work is OK for me. I’m excited to do this.” “I’m really excited,” Lynn added. “We came here with a blank sheet of paper and went to work. It was a lot different from what I have been riding, but once we got the MV basically set up it was really fun. Eraldo knows what he’s doing and what he wants. We just kept at it and that’s what we need to do. I can’t wait to ride it some more. It’s fast!” Ferracci will now travel to Italy to consult with the factory again, delivering information from the test and input from the riders and technicians. The next outing for the Fast by Ferracci MV Agusta F4 1000R will be at the Daytona tire test in December, after which the team will prepare in earnest for the 2007 AMA Superbike Championship. For sponsorship inquiries, please e-mail [email protected].

SONOMA, Calif. Only one week remains for race fans and community members to help feed the needy and take advantage of Infineon Raceway’s 6th annual Thanksgiving Food Drive ticket giveaway. Those who donate four or more non-perishable food items by Friday, Nov. 17, will be rewarded with a ticket to qualifying for the 2007 Kawasaki AMA Superbike Challenge at Infineon Raceway on Friday, May 18. This race weekend is presented by Supercuts. Infineon Raceway has partnered with Mary’s Pizza Shack, Froggy 92.9 FM and Destination RKA to help generate a record-breaking donation for Friends In Sonoma Helping (FISH) this holiday season. Infineon Raceway and its partners have donated more than 7,000 pounds of non-perishable food items to FISH since 2000. In 2005, a donation of 2,000 pounds of food was donated to FISH, marking one of the largest single donations of the holiday season. The public is encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to the raceway or to one of the satellite drop-off locations (see below) during regular business hours by Friday, Nov. 17. The raceway is located at 29355 Arnold Dr., Sonoma, CA 95476 (800-870-RACE or www.infineonraceway.com for directions). Those who cannot make the trip to Infineon Raceway can still participate in the food drive. Satellite drop-off locations are located at: · Destination RKA in Windsor, which is located at 930 Shiloh Rd, Bldg 41-C. For directions, call (707) 836-7659 or visit www.rka-luggage.com. · Froggy 92.9 FM radio station, located at 1410 Neotomas Ave., Suite #200 in Santa Rosa. Call (707) 543-0100 or visit www.froggy929.com for directions. · Any of the 10 North Bay Mary’s Pizza Shack locations. Visit www.maryspizzashack.com for restaurant locations and directions. · Food items can also mailed to: Diana Rose, Infineon Raceway, Highways 37 and 121, Sonoma, CA, 95476. FISH, the beneficiary of the food drive, has been helping Sonoma Valley residents in times of need since 1970. In addition to food, FISH also aids families in need of clothes and rental assistance. For more information, call (707) 996-0111. For more information on the food drive, please contact Diana Rose at (707) 933-3918 or by e-mail at [email protected].

ALEX BARROS will ride the brand new DUCATI GP7, equipped with BRIDGESTONE tires, for the first time this year at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit from the 28th to 30th of November. The PRAMAC D’ANTIN Brasilian rider will begin working with his technicians to gather important data before the mandatory Winter test ban to develop his machine for the 2007 MotoGP World Championship challenge. ALEX BARROS #4: “I am very happy because I will ride the DUCATI GP7 800cc before the our next scheduled test, which will be in January at Sepang. We can begin to work on the general set-up of the racebike, and to further develop the bike without any delay, compared to some of the other teams. I am feeling very good with my new team and I am sure we will continue working well together. Finally, I have to thank Ducati for accelerating their timetable and providing PRAMAC D’ANTIN with the brand new machine much sooner than we thought possible!”

AMA FLAT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED PICKERINGTON, Ohio The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) and AMA Pro Racing have announced the schedule for the 2007 AMA Flat Track Championship. 2007 AMA Flat Track Championship Schedule Date/Location/Type/Series March 7 Municipal Stadium, Daytona Beach, FL Short Track GNC Singles March 8 Municipal Stadium, Daytona Beach, FL Short Track GNC Singles May 26 Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL Tourist Trophy GNC Singles May 27 Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL Mile GNC Twins June 16 Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds, Davenport, IA Half-mile GNC Twins June 23 Route 66 Raceway, Joliet, IL Half-mile GNC Twins June 30 Allen County Fairgrounds, Lima, OH Half-mile GNC Twins July 14 Virginia Motor Speedway, Saluda, VA Half-mile GNC Twins July 21 Darke County Fairgrounds, Greenville, OH Half-mile GNC Twins July 28 Hagerstown Speedway, Hagerstown, MD Half-mile GNC Twins August 7 Jackpine Gypsies Clubgrounds, Sturgis, SD Short Track GNC Singles August 10 Castle Rock Race Park, Castle Rock, WA Tourist Trophy GNC Singles August 11 Castle Rock Race Park, Castle Rock, WA Short Track GNC Singles August 19 Peoria Race Park, Peoria, IL Tourist Trophy GNC Singles August 25 I-96 Speedway, Lake Odessa, MI Half-mile GNC Twins September 1 Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL Short Track GNC Singles September 2 Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, IL Mile GNC Twins October 6 Scioto Downs, Columbus, OH Half-mile GNC Twins Dates and locations subject to change CASSIDY ANDERSON: 2006 AMA HOT WHEELS SUPERMOTO LITES CHAMPION PICKERINGTON, Ohio Cassidy Anderson earned his first AMA national title by winning the 2006 AMA Hot Wheels Supermoto Lites Championship Sunday, Nov. 5, at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, Calif. Anderson rode his Troy Lee Designs Honda to a safe fifth-place finish in the ‘Duel at the Docks’ season finale. That was more than enough to clinch the 2006 Lites crown. “You have no idea how good this feels,” an elated Anderson commented. “These three days out here have felt so long. Troy (Lee) did a great job. Jeff (Ward) went out and won his title in the first race. I rode a pretty conservative race; I just didn’t want to make any mistakes. I’m just so happy for the whole team.” Anderson, 26, of Provo, Utah, had an outstanding season in Supermoto Lites. He won seven of the 10 rounds, opening the season with five-straight wins. He built a large lead in the series halfway through the year and held it to the final race. Brandon Currie and David Pingree were the other riders to score victories in the class this year. “It was an unbelievable season,” said Anderson, who just completed his third year in Supermoto, his first in the Supermoto Lites class. “Riding for Troy Lee Designs Honda was a great opportunity. I don’t know what’s in store for me next year. I’d like to come back and keep progressing in the sport.” Graves Motorsports Yamaha’s Brandon Currie finished second in the series, 17-points down to Anderson. Frenchman Alex Thiebault, of the GP Husqvarna team, was third. Anderson, along with team owner/rider Troy Lee combined to clinch the Supermoto Lites Team Championship in the second year of the class’s existence. BEN CARLSON: 70/30 RACING AMA SUPERMOTO UNLIMITED CHAMPION PICKERINGTON, Ohio Team Red Bull KTM HMC’s Ben Carlson was crowned 70/30 Racing AMA Supermoto Unlimited champion for 2006 following a hard-fought title fight that concluded Sunday, Nov. 5, at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, Calif. Carlson raced his Red Bull KTM HMC to a runner up finish in Long Beach to clinch the title. It marked the first championship for the 21-year-old from West Bend, Wisc. “It feels good,” Carlson said. “It’s been a hectic couple of weeks. We just rode smart. There’s nothing like it; you work so hard to get a championship and we finally got one.” Carlson had a season-long battle with GP Husqvarna’s David Baffeleuf and 2005 champ Micky Dymond of All Access Racing. Dymond won the final race in Long Beach, but it wasn’t enough to catch Carlson, who controlled his own destiny and did what he needed to do at Long Beach, finishing 2.3 seconds behind Dymond. “I set pole, which was good,” Carlson explained. “I knew I had the speed if I needed it in the race. The first start of the race was hectic so after the restart I just rode smart and consistent. Mickey kind of got away and you know what? I was like, ‘Go for it. I’m just going to ride my own race and just have a lot of fun and win the championship.'” Baffeleuf was only four points behind Carlson coming into the finale, but the Frenchman jumped the start. He served a stop-and-go penalty and then went back out and stalled his motorcycle on the Parts Unlimited UrbanCross jump. The mistake effectively ended his championship hopes. Baffeleuf finished 17th and third in the final standings. Carlson scored seven podium finishes, including wins at California Speedway, USA International and the Briggs & Stratton Motorplex. He ends 2006 tied for third on the all-time Supermoto Unlimited wins list. Carlson’s title is the fourth straight for KTM in the Unlimited class. Carlson, Kurt Nicoll, Brian Capper and John Lewis teamed to win the Unlimited Team Championship for Team Red Bull KTM HMC.

AT VALENCIA ANOTHER SEASON BEGINS With the 2006 World Superbike season only completed a few weeks previously, the build up to the 2007 season begins in earnest at the Pirelli tests, Valencia, on 14 and 15 November. Nominated teams from each manufacturer, in both Superbike and Supersport classes, will be out to test the latest Pirelli tyre developments in order to choose the most suitable rubber to use when the season kicks off next year. SUPERBIKE TEAMS OUT FOR EARLY CONFIDENCE BOOSTERS As well as the primary job of tyre testing and set-up evaluation, the top riders in the Superbike class will be travelling to Valencia to set fast times in order to boost morale for their teams before the next set of Development Team tests, at Qatar on 19-21 December. The Ten Kate squad will represent Honda, with Roberto Rolfo once more testing for the team alongside the retained James Toseland – with each running ostensibly the same machines as Ten Kate campaigned during the 2006 season. Ducati will be represented by the championship-winning Ducati Xerox team (with Troy Bayliss and Lorenzo Lanzi in control) while the Kawasaki interest will be via the PSG-1 team, based in Italy. Fonsi Nieto and Regis Laconi are the PSG-1 pairing ready for action at Valencia. Alstare Corona Extra Suzuki, a team that has made a high profile signing in Max Biaggi recently, will also be in with the competition for the first time this winter. Recent All Japan Superbike race winner, and team regular, Yukio Kagayama, will join him. The factory Superbike collective is completed by the Yamaha Motor Italia squad, as Troy Corser makes his first real public debut for his new team, alongside Noriyuki Haga. With two remaining pre-season tests for Pirelli expected to be fully subscribed, and then a further two official FGSport tests coming shortly after the start of the 2007 season, the top teams will have no shortage of track time this winter. SUPERSPORT TEAMS READY FOR FIRST SHAKEDOWN TESTS Five manufacturers will be represented in the Supersport tests at Valencia. New official team, and long time WSS supporters Gilmotor Kawasaki will in the vanguard, along with Hoegee Suzuki. Ducati will also field a one-rider team via the SC Caracchi squad. The by now traditional championship challengers, Winston Ten Kate Honda and Yamaha Motor Germany, complete the World Supersport line up. Defending double champion Sebastien Charpentier and 2006 sensation Kenan Sofuoglu are back for Ten Kate, with the 2006 Yamaha line-up of Kevin Curtain and Broc Parkes back together again.

Luca Scassa went under the JenningsGP motorcycle track record today aboard a Fast by Ferracci MV Agusta F4-1000R racebike on Pirelli tires. Scassa turned a 1:14.810 backed up by a 1:14.850, breaking the previous record set by Pascal Picotte at 1:15.444 last spring. Matt Lynn also tested with Ferracci, and told roadracingworld.com, “We tested for two days. Mike ‘Thermos Man’ Fitzgerald came with me and he brought some shocks with him. We had to put Ohlins shocks on the bikes, put the tires on the bikes, so we didn’t get out on the track until around noon on the first day. “There were three bikes down there. Chuck Sorensen came down and had one, Luca Scassa had a bike, and then I had a bike. Scassa had brought some of his own bits and pieces as far as forks and a shock for his. “For me the bike was just a blank canvas and we had to go to work on it. I was very impressed with the amount of work they had already put into the bike and I was excited to ride it. It’s the best bike I’ve ever ridden, it was great. I really enjoyed it. “My fastest time was a 1:15.2; the fastest I had been there before was a mid-1:17. Chuck stayed in the 1:18s I believe and Luca ended up breaking the track record. “I’m not sure on the details, but I know I will be testing the bike at Daytona for the Pirelli tire test (December 7-8). I look very much forward to riding the bike on an AMA track with the AMA data we have there so we have a basis for comparison.”