From a press release issued by Yamaha Motor Corp. U.S.A.:

Yamaha Weekend of Champions

Moves to Laguna Seca for MotoGP

Cypress, Calif.-February 16, 2005, – Yamaha is proud to announce that after six years at Daytona International Speedway, its prestigious Weekend of Champions event will move to Monterey, California for this year’s U.S. MotoGP event at Laguna Seca Raceway on July 8-10th.

Racing fans will be treated to autograph sessions with past Yamaha racing champions such as former World Championship and Laguna Seca winners Wayne Rainey and Eddie Lawson, as well as many other champions from both road racing and motocross. The autograph sessions will be part of the many activities planned for the Yamaha display area.

“Yamaha marks its 50th anniversary this year and we are proud to celebrate with these racing icons. Plus it is a great opportunity for fans to meet them in person,” said Bob Starr, Yamaha Corporate Communications Manager. “It was only natural to feature these past champions who have been such an integral part of our success over the years.”

From a press release issued by FGSport Group:

SUPERBIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Provisional Qatar Entry List
23-24-25-26 February 2005

1. 1, James Toseland, GBR, Ducati 999F05, Ducati Xerox Team
2. 3, Norick Abe, JPN, Yamaha YZF-R1, Yamaha Motor France – IPONE
3. 6, Mauro Sanchini, ITA, Kawasaki ZX-10R, Team PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse
4. 7, Pierfrancesco Chili, ITA, Honda CBR1000RR, Team Klaffi Honda
5. 8, Ivan Clementi, ITA, Kawasaki ZX-10R, Team Kawasaki Bertocchi
6. 9, Chris Walker, GBR, Kawasaki ZX-10R, Team PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse
7. 10, Fonsi Nieto, ESP, Ducati 999RS, Team Ducati SC – Caracchi
8. 11, Troy Corser, AUS, Suzuki GSX-R1000, Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra
9. 12, Lorenzo Alfonsi, ITA, Yamaha YZF-R1, D.F. X. Treme
10. 17, Miguel Praia, POR, Yamaha YZF-R1, DFXtreme Sterilgarda
11. 19,Lucio Pedercini, ITA, Ducati 999RS, Team Pedercini
12. 20,Marco Borciani,ITA, Yamaha YZF-R1, DFXtreme Sterilgarda
13. 23,Jiri Mrkyvka, CZE, Ducati 999RS, SBK Team JM
14. 24,Garry McCoy, AUS, PETRONAS FP1, Foggy PETRONAS Racing
15. 25,Alessio Velini,ITA, Ducati 999RS, Team Pedercini
16. 30, Jose Luis Cardoso, ESP,Yamaha YZF-R1, D.F. X. Treme
17. 31,Karl Muggeridge, AUS, Honda CBR1000RR, Winston Ten Kate Honda
18. 32,Sebastien Gimbert, FRA,Yamaha YZF-R1, Yamaha Motor France – IPONE
19. 41,Noriyuki Haga, JPN, Yamaha YZF-R1, Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team
20. 45,Gianluca Vizziello, ITA, Yamaha YZF-R1, Team Lorenzini by Leoni
21. 55,Regis Laconi, FRA, Ducati 999F05, Ducati Xerox Team
22. 57,Lorenzo Lanzi, ITA, Ducati 999RS, Team Ducati SC – Caracchi
23. 71,Yukio Kagayama,JPN, Suzuki GSX-R1000, Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra
24. 76,Max Neukirchner, GER, Honda CBR1000RR, Team Klaffi Honda
25. 77,Chris Vermeulen, AUS, Honda CBR1000RR, Winston Ten Kate Honda
26. 88,Andrew Pitt, AUS, Yamaha YZF-R1, Yamaha Motor Italia WSB Team
27. 99,Steve Martin, AUS, PETRONAS FP1, Foggy PETRONAS Racing
28. 155, Ben Bostrom, USA, Honda CBR1000RR, Team Renagade KOJI
29. 200, Giovanni Bussei, ITA, Kawasaki ZX-10R, Team Kawasaki Bertocchi
30. 22, Ivan Silva Alberola, SPA, Yamaha YZF-R1, La Glisse
31. 95, Talal Al Nuami,QAR, Yamaha YZF-R1, La Glisse

From a press release:

Daytona Worker List Being Finalized.

Experienced marshalls interested in working the rapidly approaching Daytona races who have not been in contact with Egor Emery, should call or email Egor immediately.

Are you interested in participating in motorcycle racing? Consider contributing your time and talents by becoming a marshal. Corner workers are needed every time motorcycles turn a wheel on a race track. Marshalls provide racers with information about changes in race track conditions, they protect downed riders and get them medical care when needed, they clean up crash scenes, and they communicate what they see and do with race and track officials. The bulk of a marshal’s time is spent just watching the races, from the closest vantage points available.

Consider starting at Daytona in March. The many consecutive days of racing at Daytona provide time to gain experience rapidly. There will be training daily and a Pro Marshal lecture will be offered before the AMA event. There are a limited number of training positions available. Respond quickly to join our crew.

Egor Emery,
Daytona Safety Crew
35544 Estes RD
Eustis FL 32736
352-360-3003
email: [email protected]
web: usmarshalls.org

From a press release issued by Daytona International Speedway:

Classic Rock All-Stars To Play Kickstand City At Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., (Feb. 16, 2005) — The lead singers and founding members from Blues Image, Rare Earth, Sugarloaf and Cannibal and the Headhunters will join March 7 and 8 to rock Kickstand City in the infield of historic Daytona International Speedway.

The Classic Rock All Stars have performed many times at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip, according to Rod Woodruff, owner of Sturgis South Dakota’s Legendary Buffalo Chip Campground® and Kickstand City’s concert promoter.

“They’ve become a part of the Buffalo Chip family we look forward to seeing,” Woodruff said. “Now bringing them back to Daytona is a natural. Our crowds just love them.”

Drummer Peter Rivera is the founder of Motown’s awesome Rare Earth and responsible for rock hits “Get Ready,” “I Just Want To Celebrate,” “(I know) I’m Losin’ You,” and “Hey Big Brother.” The band had eight gold albums, three platinum and six top five singles. The album “Get Ready” is honored in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Jerry Corbetta, original lead singer, keyboardist, founder and leader of Sugarloaf. The band produced two platinum and three gold albums. Top singles included “Green-Eyed Lady,” “Don’t Call Us, We’ll Call You,” and “Bach Doors Man.” Corbetta also toured and recorded with Franki Valli and the Four Seasons.

Guitar virtuoso Mike Pinera was the original singer and guitarist for Blues Image, whose hits include “Ride Captain Ride.” He wrote, recorded and toured with Iron Butterfly, whose hits included Inna Gadda Da Vida and “Butterfly Bleu.” “Inna Gadda Da Vida” is also in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Pinera also toured and recorded with Alice Cooper and appeared extensively on two of Alice’s platinum albums.

Bass guitarist Dennis Noda was the leader and musical director for the group Cannibal and the Headhunters, whose hits included “Land of a Thousand Dances” which has become the all-time dance party anthem.

Woodruff said the All Stars “have the chops to rock our audience and the never fail to do so. We very excited to have them back for two shows at Daytona.”

Kickstand City at Daytona will provide overnight parking and nightly concerts each day of Bike Week in the infield at Daytona International Speedway.

Woodruff said more concert announcements will be coming soon. More information is available at www.kickstandcity.com.

From a press release issued by TrackDaz:

The granddaddy of em all!!! The world famous Daytona 200!!!

Come on down to Hooters Anaheim on Saturday March 12 to watch the AMA Superbike and Daytona 200 races!!

Through a special arrangement with Hooters, they will be opening their doors early to let us in, get some breakfast, get some lunch, and for those so inclined, drink some beer!

TrackDaz is partnering with some of our sponsors to bring you raffles for free motorcycle parts,
accessories and apparel, so there will be more reasons to be there than just the race!! Oh yeah, I guess we will be giving away some track days too!! That’s only fair, right??

Also, schedule permitting we will be re-airing the
Superstock and Supersport races aired on March 10. So you get the whole Daytona weekend in one felled swoop!!

The race coverage is from 8am to 130 pm, and thanks to Hooters who will be opening their doors for us at the positively Zero Dark Thirty time of 9am – pretty much the crack of dawn!!

So come on out, bring your friends, bring your
friends’ friends’!! We have plenty of room and
Hooters has plenty of TV’s to watch the race on.

Saturday March 12
Hooters Anaheim
2438 E Katella Avenue
Anaheim, CA 92806
714-634-9464

From a press release issued by FGSport Group:

2005 Title Fight – The Contenders

2004 was a good year for Yamaha, with victories in MotoGP and the World Endurance Championship earning them two out of the three FIM road racing championships. This year’s World Endurance Championship is set to be a tough challenge, and Yamaha must square up to strong opposition from Suzuki and Kawasaki.

Two of the Yamaha front runners have significantly strengthened their rider lineups this year, with Gwen Giabbani joining Igor Jerman, Horst Saiger and Thomas Hinterreiter at Yamaha Austria, and Yamaha Phase One teaming double World Endurance Champion Warwick Nowland with Andi Notman and Damian Cudlin.

Suzuki have hit back with Keichi Kitagawa joining the strong pairing of Vincent Philippe and Mathieu Lagrive at Suzuki Castrol, and have thrown in a completely revised GSX-R1000. The K5 bike specifications have been enough to cause at least one team (Suzuki Austria 76) to switch from Yamaha to Suzuki.

2004 was a development year for Kawasaki’s ZX10R in the World Endurance Championship, but with teams as experienced as Bolliger Kawasaki now able to play to the machine’s strengths, the compact and powerful ZX10R is expected to be a force to be reckoned with this year.

Round one of the World Endurance Championship takes place over the Easter weekend at Assen. With six manufacturers already represented in the entry list, we’ll have to wait until then before making any predictions…

From a press release:

Motorcycle Mechanics Institute Announces Jeremy McGrath Scholarship

Call for Entries

PHOENIX (Feb. 15, 2005)—Motorcycle Mechanics Institute (MMI) and American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Supercross champion Jeremy McGrath, in partnership with Clear Channel Communications, are inviting individuals with a passion for motorcycles – and an interest in becoming a professional motorcycle technician – to apply for the 2005 MMI Jeremy McGrath Scholarship.

This is the second year for the scholarship, which pays the full tuition (valued at approximately $18,000) for one recipient to complete a 57-week motorcycle technician specialist program at MMI’s Phoenix or Orlando campus.

From the pool of applicants, five finalists will be selected for Jeremy McGrath’s personal review. McGrath, who will select the scholarship winner, is looking for an individual who is dedicated to the industry and wants to experience the intense, professional training provided by MMI. Applicants must complete a standard entry form (available online at www.uticorp.com) and submit a two-minute home video explaining why McGrath should choose them for this prestigious opportunity.
All applications must be received by April 16, 2005. McGrath will announce this year’s MMI Jeremy McGrath scholarship at the THQ World Supercross Finals on May 7, 2005, in Las Vegas.

“We’re thrilled to have Jeremy McGrath endorsing this exclusive scholarship,” said Terry Emig, director of events for MMI. “This program allows a deserving individual to live the dream of becoming a professional motorcycle technician.”

About Jeremy McGrath
Jeremy McGrath is considered the greatest motocross rider of all time; a rider who helped put motocross on the map in the U.S. and other countries. McGrath has the record for the most AMA Supercross championship wins in the 250cc class (seven) and has won an outstanding 60 percent of the races he has entered. In 1993 and 1996, McGrath brought home the gold from the Motocross de Nations, and in that same year, he had a banner season, winning a record 14 out of 15 Supercross races. McGrath is a 2003 Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductee, and recently retired; however, he continues to race in Supermoto events.

About Universal Technical Institute, Inc. and Motorcycle Mechanics Institute
Universal Technical Institute, Inc., is a nationwide provider of technical education training for students seeking careers as professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians. The company offers undergraduate degree, diploma and certificate programs at eight campuses across the United States, and manufacturer-sponsored advanced programs at 22 dedicated training centers. Through its campus-based school system, Universal Technical Institute, Inc., offers specialized technical education programs under the banner of several well- known brands, including Universal Technical Institute (UTI), Motorcycle Mechanics Institute and Marine Mechanics Institute (MMI) and NASCAR Technical Institute (NTI). For more information, visit www.uticorp.com.

From a press release issued by Winston Ten Kate Honda:

WINSTON TEN KATE HONDA TAKES OFF IN MILAN

With just over a week until the start of the 2005 World Superbike and Supersport championships, the Winston Ten Kate Honda team was launched officially this afternoon at a glittering affair in the Rolling Stone event hall in the heart of Milan, Italy.

The event was attended by more than a hundred international press and TV journalists who heard from executives from Japan Tobacco International (JTI), owner of the team’s new title partner, Winston, and from Honda Europe Motorcycles.

Daniel Torras, vice-president of sponsorship at JTI, said: “I know that this exciting project will further strengthen the partnership between Honda and JTI, giving the Winston Ten Kate Honda team and its riders the greatest possible opportunity for success in this year’s championships.”



His sentiments were echoed by Yutaka Negishi, president of Honda Europe Motorcycles, who added: “I think that World Superbike and Supersport are the ideal formula to point out the quality of a motorcycle and to prove the riding capacities of a rider; for this reason we, at Honda Europe, have been supporting the Ten Kate Team for many years.”

Team owner, Gerrit ten Kate, impressed on the audience that the family atmosphere running through the team that has won the last three World Supersport titles, will continue. “This is more like a big family wedding than a team launch,” he said. “We welcome Winston, our new title partner, and really look forward to this season’s new challenges.”

The team will now depart for Doha, Qatar and the Losail circuit, where an official test takes place this weekend (19th-20th February) followed by the first round of the 2005 World Superbike and Supersport championships at the same circuit on 26th February.

From a press release issued by the AMA:

AMA’S ‘JUSTICE FOR ALL’ GAINS MOMENTUM, SUPPORT

— Individuals & organizations contribute time & money to campaign —

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has announced that its “Justice for All” campaign enters its second year with promising legislative momentum, as well as active participation and generous financial support from enthusiasts nationwide.

Justice for All focuses on the inadequate sentencing of drivers who kill or seriously injure other motorists. The AMA hopes to get new laws passed in all 50 states to increase penalties for these drivers, and seeks to include motorcyclist-awareness instruction in each state’s driver-education programs.

The AMA has confirmed that 16 states — including Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, Texas and Virginia — are considering Justice for All-related legislation. Other states already have taken action.

Pennsylvania increased penalties for careless driving resulting in injury or death; ABATE of Pennsylvania, backed by the AMA, was the driving force in getting the bill passed. The Washington (state) Road Riders Association worked for a law that makes it more likely that reckless motorists who injure or kill others will be charged with vehicular assault.

The Massachusetts Motorcycle Association led a successful effort to include a motorcycle-awareness component in state driver-education classes; a similar law was enacted in Washington state. Massachusetts and Washington join Maine, New York, Virginia, and West Virginia in educating drivers to become more aware of motorcyclists, and comparable bills are being considered in five other states.

Beyond legislative advocacy, others are contributing financial support to Justice for All.

The Hey Dude! Foundation Trust donated $4,000 — on top of $3,500 donated the year before — raised through a charity golf tournament. The Floribama Riders, an AMA-chartered club of sport and touring motorcyclists, donated $400. George Kemmerer of Pennsylvania, whose son, Eric, was killed by a careless driver, contributed $4,000. Along with donations, the AMA is fielding a daily stream of calls, letters and e-mails from motorcyclists asking how to get involved in Justice for All.

The AMA launched Justice for All in February of 2004, after a number of cases involving inadequate sentences made national and regional news.

An Iowa driver crossed the center line and struck a group of six motorcyclists, killing three and seriously injuring two, and yet received only a $70 fine. An Oklahoma motorist ran over a motorcyclist who was slowing to make a right turn, pleaded guilty to negligent homicide, and was sentenced to 30 months probation and unspecified “acts of kindness.” And in South Dakota, a U.S. congressman and former governor with a long history of traffic offenses sped through a stop sign at more than 70mph, colliding with and killing a motorcyclist. He was convicted of second-degree manslaughter and sentenced to only 100 days in jail.

For more information about Justice for All, visit
www.AMADirectlink.com/justice, e-mail [email protected], or call the AMA’s Terry Lee Cook at (614) 856-1900, ext. 1288.