ARNCHU Racing Appeals WERA DQ, Appeals Board Agrees. The outcome of the WERA National Endurance 6-hour race at Grattan Raceway on July 15th was released with details noting that two teams were disqualified based on their use of aftermarket master cylinders. However, the two teams involved, ARNCHU Racing and 5150 Racing, have been awarded their on-track finishing positions and resulting contingencies. ARNCHU Racing filed an eight-page appeal to WERA who then supplied the document to an Appeal Board. The board overruled WERA’s initial decision. ARNCHU Racing finished 1st in the Heavyweight Superstock class, taking the championship points lead from the #1-plated team. ARNCHU also moves up to 2nd in the overall championship. WERA is now considering making some aftermarket parts that are legal according to its 2006 rulebook illegal for 2007. Information about the team’s successes and the appeal can be found at www.arnchu.net And now some reader feedback: FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: I just thought that I would say how impressed that I am by ARNCHU Racing’s appeal of the DQ from a recent endurance round at Grattan raceway. The appeal was properly researched well written, and it appears that the dialogue between WERA and ARNCHU was civil, professional, and proper in all aspects. Good points that would serve well as an example for other teams and sanctioning bodies were brought up, and it would do well for all to read it. As this has played out in the media somewhat, it was nice to see that it was done in a civil manner for a change. It is exposure like this that is actually good for the sport and would go a long way towards demonstrating both the way problems should be addressed, and the growing professionalism in the sport. I see that it has resulted in an overturn of the protest, (good for the team) and a review and probable clarification of the rule book by WERA. (Good for everyone). Kudos to ARNCHU Racing and WERA both on the professional manner that it appears this was handled in. More issues should be handled like this by everyone. Mark Lewellen Ozark, Missouri

Ciabatti: “Unless the AMA adopts World SBK Rules we will have to withdraw.” Speaking in the paddock at Brands Hatch last weekend, Ducati Superbike Director Paolo Ciabatti said that Ducati will not continue in the AMA Superbike series unless there is some last-minute agreement in the AMA to adopt World Superbike rules, including an increase to 1200cc displacement for Twins whenever the FIM approves it. “Just having traction control legalized in the AMA is not enough to allow a Twin to compete with Fours,” Ciabatti told Roadracing World. “We need the compensations that we have in World Superbike. We need to be able to run a lighter crankshaft and to change primary gear ratios as we do here. Unless the AMA adopts World SBK Rules we will have to withdraw. Otherwise our 999 Twin under AMA rules is running at too big a disadvantage against the four-cylinder bikes.” Adopting World Superbike rules across the board would make AMA Superbikes faster than they currently are, a sticking point since the bikes are already considered too fast for many AMA tracks. Ciabatti plans to attend the AMA Superbike races at VIR August 18-20.

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Jeff Ward, an eight time AMA national champion, will be honored with induction into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America at its annual induction ceremony on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2006 at the State Theatre in Detroit. Ward, 45, began his professional racing career in 1978. After winning seven AMA Motocross and Supercross titles, primarily in the 1980s, Ward switched to open-wheel cars. He was named Indy 500 Rookie of the Year in 1997 and went on to have a successful stint in the Indy Racing League. In addition to winning one race and finishing as high as sixth in the final season standings, Ward had finishes of second (1999), third (1997) and fourth (2000) in the Indianapolis 500. In 1999, Ward was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame on the campus of the American Motorcyclist Association in Pickerington, Ohio. Ward then made an unexpected return to national motorcycle racing in the AMA Supermoto Championship in 2003. Despite competing against riders half his age, Ward showed that he still possessed the aggressive and smooth racing style that won him his earlier titles. In 2004 Ward won the AMA Supermoto Championship. It marked his eighth AMA national title. Ward leads the 2006 AMA Supermoto Championship mid-way through the season. The Newport Beach, Calif., resident continues to build on his already impressive resume. This past Sunday, Aug. 6, Ward became the oldest male gold medalist and the oldest Moto X medalist in X Games history by winning the AMA-endorsed X Games Supermoto race in dramatic fashion. Ward edged silver medalist Mark Burkhart by 0.572 second. “It’s a big honor to be put in the Motorsports Hall of Fame,” said Ward, who will attend the induction ceremony. “There are only a handful of motorcycle racers in there and when you look at the names it’s pretty humbling to be considered in the category with those riders.” Ward joins a select group of motorcycle racers who have been inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, including Jay Springsteen, Don Vesco, Gary Nixon, Eddie Lawson, Freddie Spencer, Bob Hannah, Bart Markel, Carroll Resweber, Jim Davis, Malcolm Smith, Roger DeCoster, Dick Mann, Joe Petrali, Joe Leonard, Kenny Roberts and Cannon Ball Baker.

MotoGP World Championship Will Make Annual North American Stop At Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca July 20-22; Public Tickets Will Be Sold Beginning November 1 MONTEREY, Calif. The Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula (SCRAMP) announced today the dates for the 2007 Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix featuring the MotoGP World Championship and the AMA Superbike Championship. The largest motorcycle race in North America will take place at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca July 20-22, 2007. The date for the event is tentative, subject to the release of the full FIM calendar in September. Despite record high temperatures, 145,111 spectators witnessed Nicky Hayden win his second consecutive home Grand Prix in 2006, stretching his World Championship points lead in the process. The Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca remains the only North American stop on the MotoGP World Championship calendar. Tickets for the 2007 Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix will be available to the general public beginning November 1, 2006. Tickets and information for the remaining events on the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca 2006 calendar, including the 33rd Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races August 18-20 and the Monterey Sports Car Championships featuring the American Le Mans Series October 20-22 are available by calling (800) 327-SECA or on-line at www.laguna-seca.com.

The American Sportbike Racing Association heads to Barber Motorsports Park August 11, 2006 for round six of the eight national motorcycle road racing competitions for the series. Championship Cup Series presented by Lockhart Phillips joins the event to fill the grids and stands as racers and fans alike can spectate and/or participate in a full weekend of knee dragging. Racing begins Friday August 11 with the ASRA Team Challenge series and doesn’t stop until Sunday August 13 when the checkered flag flies for the 36th race of the weekend. Leading the ASRA series in both Factory Pro Sportbike and Superbike classes is 2005 Triple Crown National Champion Jeff Wood of the Arclight Suzuki team. Wood is in a current battle with Martin Moto’s Triumph pilot Mike Himmelsbach for the Sportbike title. The two professional caliber riders will rub elbows at the most prestigious of turns this weekend as Himmelsbach attempts to lessen Wood’s 26 point lead. With a first place finish paying 35 points, both racers have a real chance at a championship. ASRA Thunderbike is the premier twin cylinder class for the series. The 2004 Thunderbike Champion Bryan Bemisderfer currently leads the 2005 Thunderbike Champion Dave Estok in the class. The two riders are separated by only 10 points as they prepare their Buells to duel for the national title once again. CCS series championships are also up for grabs as riders from both Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions will meet on the track to carve out the corners. Nate Kern of Mainline BMW currently leads the points in both regions. The returning Mid-Atlantic Champion will attempt to fight off advances from Ryan Patterson and Darren Luck to protect his lead. More information on how to become a Championship Cup Series licensed racer can be found at www.ccsracing.us. CCS has been promoting amateur and expert motorcycle racing since 1984 and has grown to be the largest club level motorcycle racing organization in the country with 60 sanctioned events in 2006.