Back in 2001, at the February WSMC event at Willow, I broke my arms. The doctors at UCI did a CT Scan as a precaution. They found a tumor on the left kidney. Had it removed in an operation, and the docs told me it was kidney cancer! The docs also told me the crash saved my life. Crashing was good that time. Larry Pointer Santa Ana, California See related post: Martin’s Involvement In Crash At Magny-Cours Blessing In Disguise Nov 07, 2005 ~https://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=24448~

AMA PRO RACING ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO FLAT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP PICKERINGTON, Ohio AMA Pro Racing announced that it will move forward with plans to implement major changes to the AMA Flat Track Championship. Beginning with the 2006 racing season the championship will feature two separate classes, one for twin-cylinder equipment and one for single-cylinder equipment. The changes come at the conclusion of a series of comprehensive meetings with series stakeholders including the AMA Flat Track Advisory Board, riders, sponsors, tracks, promoters and manufacturers, among others. In making the announcement, AMA Pro Racing CEO Scott Hollingsworth confirmed that the input of everyone involved with the meetings has been invaluable. “This has been an extremely worthwhile process and one which provided us with a wealth of insightful information,” said Hollingsworth. “The objectivity and desire to improve flat track racing exhibited by virtually all parties has been encouraging.” The championship will now feature two equal classes. Twins will run primarily on mile and half-mile tracks with consideration of other venues and the singles will run on short-track, TT courses and selected half-miles. Each class will award points independently and a champion will be crowned in each series. Riders are encouraged to campaign both championships and the schedule will be created to allow such participation. The twins class will continue to feature equipment with displacement between 750cc and 1250cc while single-cylinder engines up to 450cc will be allowed in the singles class. Also, plans call for combined points from both series to be totaled for a year-end points fund distributed to the top 20 riders. Hollingsworth confirmed that the overriding objective of this plan is to build on the popularity of flat track racing while recognizing the tremendous heritage and history of the discipline. “There’s no question that expanding rider, fan and manufacturer involvement is in the best interest of flat track racing,” said Hollingsworth. “One of the best ways to accomplish this goal is to offer a class that features equipment from one of the most popular and fastest growing motorcycle categories and that is 450cc motocross bikes. Similar to what we’ve done with Supermoto racing, a racer will be able to field a competitive bike by easily modifying a production 450 motocrosser.” Bruce Bober, AMA Pro Racing Flat Track Series Manager added that the support and interest of all major OEMs is a key factor in the new direction. “Showcasing this equipment through expanded forms of racing was an idea that has been strongly embraced by each of the manufacturers, particularly the Japanese,” said Bober. “Now, in addition to AMA Supercross, AMA Motocross and AMA Supermoto, manufacturers can market their products in this important sales category through participation in the AMA Flat Track Championship.” In addition to fielding factory and support level teams Bober expects to see additional OEM backing in the form of increased contingency, event sponsorship and technical assistance. Pat Alexander, Sports Promotion Manager at American Suzuki Motor Corporation believes the changes will be good for the sport of flat track. “We’re glad to see that AMA Pro Racing is implementing these changes,” said Alexander. “The increased opportunity for our competitors to get involved in the sport will enhance the racing and provide more prospects for individual riders and teams.” Harley-Davidson, undoubtedly the motorcycle brand with the biggest investment in flat track racing agreed and is also supportive of the plan. “We’re pleased with the new direction AMA Pro Racing is taking their flat track series, and we believe this will inject new excitement and foster a higher level of competition in this purely American form of motorcycle racing,” said Harley-Davidson Racing Manager Anne Paluso. The 2006 AMA Flat Track Championship is set to kick off at Daytona Municipal Stadium during Daytona Bike Week, March 6-11. AMA Pro Racing plans to release additional details including a complete schedule in the coming days. About AMA Pro Racing AMA Pro Racing is the leading sanctioning body for motorcycle sport in the United States. Its properties include the Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series, the AMA Motocross Championship presented by FMF, the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, the AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track Championship and the AMA Supermoto Championship. For more information about AMA Pro Racing, visit www.amaproracing.com.

Heartland Park Topeka, near Topeka, Kansas, is putting the finishing touches on a $20 million renovation project that includes a complete repaving of its multi-configuration road course. All configurations of the facility’s road course have been milled down to the base (which was re-trimmed), under- and over-track drainage issues have been addressed and a new layer of competition grade asphalt was laid 45-feet wide. In addition, FIM-spec curbing was added in most corners, the radius of the 2.5-mile course’s turn one was lessened from approximately 105 degrees to 90 degrees and more camber was added to the 180-degree carousel of the 2.5-mile course, which has not been used for several years due to its deterioration. The front straightaway of the road course was separated from the drag strip (utilizing hot pit lane as the front straightaway) before the renovation project began. The revised front straight re-joined the drag strip in the shut-off area (beyond where VHT and various traction chemicals are used) with a blind, right-hand, uphill bend called “Turn Zero.” This transitional turn has had its crest shaved down to increase safety, and the electronic scoring loop embedded in the asphalt near Turn Zero has been relocated further up-track on the front straightaway to avoid racers having to race to a checkered flag, real and electronic, at the entrance of the turn. A rider impacted concrete K-rail barriers in a crash during a Formula USA race at Heartland Park in 2003. Asked if trackside barriers had been moved, removed or added, Heartland Park Topeka Director of Media/Public Relations Jamie Overocker said, “All of the above. We brought in a racetrack safety consultant, Ed Ozment, and we’ve received his input on what he feels comfortable with, not only from a road racing automobile side but also from a motorcycle standpoint.” Roadracingworld.com was unable to reach Ozment at the phone number Heartland Park Topeka provided Tuesday. The owner of Heartland Park Topeka, Raymond Irwin (who also owns Blackhawk Farms Raceway in South Beloit, Illinois) gave the new road course surface his personal seal of approval after lapping on it in his personal 800-horsepower, tube-frame racecar late last month. With the road course repaving complete, Heartland Park Topeka is concentrating on the next phase of its renovation project, which includes adding: 23 acres of paddock space (which will be paved with competition-grade asphalt so it can be used as an autocross race course) for a total of 45 acres of paved paddock, permanent garage buildings, a technical inspection building, buildings for tire vendors, a new credentials area and a 4000-square-foot, two-story timing and scoring building just for the road course. Overocker did not immediately know what or when the first motorcycle event on the newly-repaved road course would be but said 2006 will be the facility’s busiest season on record. Asked if the track had talked with AMA Pro Racing about bringing AMA Superbikes back to its road course (the AMA Superbike series raced at Heartland Park from 1989 to 1991), Overocker said, “Not yet, but we have been discussing that internally.”

Paul Bird Motorsport is pleased to announce that double British Superbike Championship runner up Michael Rutter will ride for the Stobart Motorsport team in the 2006 British Superbike Championship (BSB). Rutter, who has both 500cc Grand Prix and World Superbike Championship points under his belt in addition to many years’ BSB experience, will join existing teamster Michael Laverty in a two man team for the former double BSB champions, whereby Rutter will also contest the 2006 International North West 200 and the 2006 Macau Grand Prix for the team. “I’m very pleased to be joining the Stobart Motorsport team as they made it very clear that they really wanted me from the start” said Rutter. “I was in the fortunate position of having a number of lucrative offers for 2006 but I have chosen to go with Birdy as I think that’s where I have the best chance of winning. The team is well up for it and so am I and I can’t wait to start testing” said the 32 year old eleven times North West 200 winner, one time TT winner and five times Macau GP winner. Both Rutter and Laverty will ride Honda Fireblades for The Mob, Vent-Axia and VK Vodka Kick backed team and team owner Paul Bird is delighted to have secured the services of a rider he has admired for many seasons: “This is fantastic news for us as we’ve tried many times before to sign Michael and for various reasons, it has never happened. We’ve never looked forward to working with anyone so much before and we know Michael will do a good job for us. These are exciting times for Stobart Motorsport and signing Michael is the icing on the cake” declared the Cumbrian businessman who last month celebrated winning the National Rally Championship himself to round off a clean sweep of British Championships for the Stobart Rally Team. Rutter started racing in 1989 aboard an RGV 250 Suzuki before progressing to British Championship level in the 1991 Superteen series. Barring one year (1999) whereby he contested a full season of 500cc GP’s, Rutter has been ever-present in the British Superbike Championship, racking up 25 wins and 65 podium finishes, as well as 16 pole positions from his 229 BSB starts. Michael Rutter Biography Full Name: Michael Rutter Status: Partner, Sandrine, two daughters Date of Birth: 11/04/1973 Place of Birth: Wordsley, West Midlands Residence: Kirkby Mallory, Leicestershire Hobbies: Skiing, Football, Mountain Biking Dream: To win BSB and keep racing First Race: 1989 Snetterton First BSB Race 1992 Donington Park Career Highlights (short circuits): 1991 3rd Superteen Championship 1992 11th 750cc British Championship (Moto Cinelli Ducati) 1993 8th TT Superbike Championship (Medd Kawasaki) 1994 5th TT Superbike Championship (McCulloch Ducati) 1995 5th TT Superbike Championship (McCulloch Ducati) 1996 4th British Superbike Championship (McCulloch Ducati) 1997 3rd British Superbike Championship (V & M Honda) 1998 6th British Superbike Championship (Honda Britain) 1999 27th 500cc World Championship (Miller Honda) 2000 9th British Superbike Championship (Level 3 Yamaha) 2001 6th British Superbike Championship (Kawasaki UK) 2002 2nd British Superbike Championship (Renegade Ducati) 2003 3rd British Superbike Championship (Renegade Ducati) 2004 2nd British Superbike Championship (HM Plant Honda) 2005 3rd British Superbike Championship (HM Plant Honda)

The D’Antin Pramac Ducati MotoGP team will test with 2005 rider Roberto Rolfo, James Ellison and Jose Luis Cardoso at Valencia Wednesday and Thursday, November 9-10. According to a press release issued by the team, the three men will ride the Ducati Desmosedici GP4 (2004-spec) that Rolfo raced in the 2005 MotoGP World Championship. They will ride the bike on Dunlop tires, which Rolfo used in 2005.

Team Roberts has confirmed it has secured 2006-spec Honda V5 engines for use in next year’s MotoGP World Championship. That’s the word from Chuck Aksland, General Manager of UK-based, Proton-sponsored Team Roberts, who responded to an e-mail inquiry from Roadracingworld.com Tuesday. Team Roberts previously used an in-house designed and built 990cc V5 engine in 2003, 2004 and in 2005, after KTM pulled its support and its V4 engine program in the middle of the 2005 season. Aksland wrote that his team’s 2006 plans will not be finalized until budgets are set, but the team will likely continue to run Michelin tires and that Kenny Lee Roberts, eldest son of Team Roberts principal Kenny Leroy Roberts, is at the top of the team’s “wish-list”¦as he has the experience and speed to get the results we hope to achieve with this package.” The team will most likely field only one rider. Team Roberts is currently designing a new chassis in which to fit the Honda V5. It is expected to be completed within six to eight weeks, meaning the first test of a Honda-powered Team Roberts MotoGP racebike will not come until January 2006, after the annual holiday season testing ban ends.

Three-time Australian Superbike Champion Shawn Giles is looking to make history by claiming a record fourth Australian Superbike Championship at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit this weekend. Heading into the final seventh round, Team Suzuki rider Giles – who is currently the only rider to have won three titles – has a 10-point advantage and is well positioned to lift the series. A veteran of the sport at 35, he is still ultra-fast and out-pacing the young up-and-coming riders in the field. The Suzuki star is quietly confident and remains focussed on the job at hand as he continues to develop his GSX-R1000 race bike. “Winning a fourth title would be something very special for me, the team and for Suzuki, but there’s still a lot of points up for grabs and I need to focus on winning each race as it comes,” said Giles. “The competition is very tough this year and even though I love racing at Phillip Island, so do my main rivals Josh Brookes and Adam Fergusson. It’s going to be really close, hard racing between us and hopefully Team Suzuki will be holding the trophy at the end.” Giles won his first Australian Superbike title in 2000 aboard the all-conquering Suzuki GSX-R750 before stepping up to the powerful Suzuki GSX-R1000 and taking successive victories in 2001 and 2002. Piloting a Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike throughout the 2005 season, Giles is the most successful rider in the field having won three of the six rounds contested so far Current Championship Points (After 6 of 7 rounds): 1. Shawn Giles (Suzuki GSX-R1000) 241, 2. Josh Brookes (Honda) 231, 3. Adam Fergusson (Honda) 226, 4. Jamie Stauffer (Kawasaki) 207, 5. Robert Bugden (Yamaha) 182, 6. Glenn Allerton (Suzuki GSX-R1000) 177, 7. Scott Charlton (Suzuki GSX-R1000) 159, 8. Tony Rees (Yamaha) 124, 9. Daniel Stauffer (Yamaha) 119, 10. Shannon Johnson (Yamaha) 118.