Copyright 2005, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Race promoter (and former racer) Henry DeGouw’s controversial plan to encourage racers in the Formula One class at his CCS-sanctioned events to run without mufflers goes into full effect Saturday, February 12 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The schedule calls for practice on Saturday with racing starting at 9:30 a.m. Sunday.

See related posts:

2/2/2005 Updated: More Reaction To Unmuffled CCS/Florida Racebikes

2/1/2005 Updated: CCS/Florida To Pay Racers To Make More Noise



And now some reader reaction:

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

I have to add my two cents worth about Henry DeGouw.

HENRY IS ONE OF THE FEW REASONS ROAD RACING IS ALIVE IN THE US.

For twenty-five years plus he has provided the opportunity for racers to compete at well run events. If you win at these events you want to build a display case your awards, not paper the walls of your garage with them.

His events offer a sense of celebration and class unavailable at most club events, which tend to be unglorified pay to ride track days.

His ideas have been copied by other clubs. The $1000 Shoot Out, a chance for expert riders to win money at club events–WHAT A CONCEPT. That was twenty-five years ago. Henry’s love and devotion to the sport and his efforts to make his events exciting and well attended are to be applauded.

He has had his finger on the pulse of road racing a long time, as a racer, manager, promoter, and motorcyclist. If he says we need to make some noise,

LET’S MAKE SOME NOISE!

Thank You,

Richard Chambers
Potomac, Maryland

From a press release issued by AGV Sports:

AGV Sports Group, Inc. is proud to reveal its 2005 Contingency Programs for CCS, CMRA, FUSA and WERA.

For yet another year AGV Sport is standing behind its racers with outstanding contingency programs. Whether you are an amateur or an expert, AGV Sport has a program for you! Please check out your local racing organization or www.agvsport.com for more details. Good luck on your 2005 season!

From a press release issued by CMRA:

AF1 RACING SPONSORS CMRA ENDURANCE AND SPRINT SERIES

AF1 Racing will continue their support of the Central Motorcycle Roadracing Association (CMRA) for 2005, with sponsorship of the Heavyweight Twins Expert class and the Formula 5 class in the CMRA Mini Endurance Series.

The ten-round AF1 Racing Heavyweight Twins class will feature a $1,500 championship bonus to the top three finishers at the end of the season, with payouts of 1st-$750, 2nd-$500 and 3rd-$250 in this popular sprint race. The AF1 Racing Formula 5 class awards will total $250 at each of the six CMRA Mini Endurance Series round, with payouts of 1st-$125, 2nd-$75 and 3rd-$50 in the two, four and six-hour events.

AF1 Racing (www.af1racing.com) specializes in high-end performance tuning for all motorcycle brands and is the world’s largest Aprilia aftermarket specialty parts supplier. AF1 Racing hosts and sponsors www.ApriliaForum.com , the recognized world leader in Aprilia support, technology and news. Located in Austin, Texas, AF1 Racing utilizes a Factory Pro EC997 eddy-current dynamometer with integrated 4-gas EGA to provide professional race level tuning. AF1 Racing-supported riders secured 14 championships in three different regional series during the 2004 season.

Founded in 1974, Central Motorcycle Roadracing Association (CMRA) is an independent, non-profit road race organization with over 650 members. For 2005, the ten CMRA events will feature sprint racing for Novice and Expert status riders, a seven-round endurance series of 4 to 8-hour-long races, mini-bike racing for riders as young as 10 years old, and an accredited new riders school. The many world and national champions who began racing with CMRA include Colin Edwards, Nicky Hayden, Tommy Hayden, Jamie James, John Kocinski, Sam McDonald, Doug Polen, Kevin Schwantz, Freddie Spencer, Ben Spies and Britt Turkington. For more information, please visit www.cmraracing.com.

From a press release issued by KTM:

Kallio shakes off the rust at Valencia

Mika Kallio showed his eagerness to get back into action with the fastest time on the first day of 125cc tests at Valencia on Wednesday.

The KTM rider starts the season as one of the favourites for the title and today confirmed that status in his first preseason test with an impressive lap time of 1:41.725 despite cool and damp conditions at the Spanish circuit.

Swiss youngster Thomas Luthi was second fastest on the Honda, just ahead of local favourite Sergio Gadea, with Lorenzo Zanetti some way off Gadea’s pace in fourth place.

Unofficial lap times:

1.- Mika Kallio – KTM – 1:41.725 (52 laps)
2.- Thomas Luthi – Honda – 1:41.887 (49)
3.- Sergio Gadea – Aprilia – 1:41.907 (52)
4.- Lorenzo Zanetti – Aprilia – 1:42.492 (60)
5.- Gabor Talmacsi – KTM – 1:42.550 (52)
6.- Andrea Iannone – Aprilia – 1:43.414 (61)
7.- Héctor Faubel – Aprilia – 1:43.652 (49)
8.- Imre Toth – Aprilia – 1:43.684 (49)
9.- Julián Miralles – Aprilia – 1:43.691 (42)
10.- Jordi Carchano – Aprilia – 1:44.126 (58)

From a press release issued by the FIM:

Supersport World Championship
2005 Permanent Entry Lists
Final list


3, Jurgen Van Den Goorbergh, NED, Ducati 749R, Team Ducati Selmat
8, Stephane Chambon, FRA, Honda CBR600RR, Team Gil Motorsport
11, Kevin Curtain, AUS, Yamaha YZF-R6, Yamaha Motor Germany
12, Xavi Fores, ESP, Suzuki GSX-R600, Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra
14, Andrea Berta, ITA, Ducati 749R, Team Ducati Selmat
15, Matteo Baiocco, ITA, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, Team Lightspeed Kawasaki
16, Sebastien Charpentier, FRA, Honda CBR600RR, Winston Ten Kate Honda
19, Jarno Jansen, NED, Suzuki GSX-R600, Team Suzuki Nederland
21, Katsuaki Fujiwara, JPN, Honda CBR600RR, Winston Ten Kate Honda
23, Broc Parkes, AUS, Yamaha YZF-R6, Yamaha Motor Germany
24, Christophe Cogan, FRA, Suzuki GSX-R600, MOTO1 – Suzuki
25, Tatu Lauslehto, FIN, Honda CBR600RR, Team Klaffi Honda
30, Alessandro Antonello, ITA, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, Team Kawasaki Bertocchi
45, Sebastien LeGrelle, BEL, Honda CBR600RR, Team le Grelle DHOLDA in Action
48, David Garcia, ESP, Kawasaki ZX-6RR, Team Lightspeed Kawasaki
58, Tomas Miksovsky, CZE, Honda CBR600RR, Intermoto Czech Republic
59, Pawel Szkopek, POL, Honda CBR600RR, Intermoto Czech Republic
69, Gianluca Nannelli, ITA, Ducati 749R, Team Caracchi
72, Stefan Folkesson, SWE, Honda CBR600RR, Stiggy Motorsports
77, Barry Veneman, NED, Suzuki GSX-R600, Team Suzuki Nederland
84, Michel Fabrizio, ITA, Honda CBR600RR, Team Italia Megabike
88, Julien Enjolras, FRA, Yamaha YZF-R6, Tati Team Beaujolais Racing
99, Fabien Foret, FRA, Honda CBR600RR, Team Megabike
116, Johan Stigefelt, SWE, Honda CBR600RR, Stiggy Motorsports

From a press release issued by Protac:

Protac and Hopkins part amicably

TRUCKEE, Calif. – Protac, a leading rider representation firm headed by Douglas Gonda, has announced an affable parting with Suzuki MotoGP rider John Hopkins. Protac helped guide Hopkins’ career from his early days of AMA racing through his first three years of MotoGP.

“We feel very good about the direction in which we helped guide John’s career,” said Protac’s Doug Gonda. “He definitely had the talent, and even though some argued he didn’t have the racing credentials that would warrant a Grand Prix ride, we were able to convince the GP teams that John was a solid risk. He’s proven to be one of the leading up-and-coming riders in the series.”

After winning the AMA 750 Supersport Series in 2000 and the AMA Formula Xtreme Series in 2001 with the Valvoline EMGO Suzuki squad Protac was able to move Hopkins into a MotoGP ride with Red Bull Yamaha. He then signed with the factory Suzuki team in 2003 and will continue with Suzuki in 2005.

“I would like to thank Doug and his company Protac for the work he has done in moving my career forward,” Hopkins said. “His guidance, assistance, contacts and skillful negotiations have been a major factor in getting me into MotoGP and keeping me in MotoGP. I’m not sure I could have done it without Doug. My decision to change management is based simply on my desire to try something different.”

Protac wishes the best for Hopkins and is confident he will reach his potential in the near future.

Protac is a full service rider management and sponsorship procurement company. Gonda continues working for clients in the industry and can be contacted at (530) 582-1061.

From a press release issued by Team Suzuki:

New Suzuki British Superbike rider Scott Smart is excited about his upcoming first test on the Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000K5 following the positive feedback on the new machine from World Superbike and American Superbike teams.

The 28 year old will join British Superbike Champion John Reynolds at Valencia on February 18th and 19th for the team’s initial test of the bike and he is already in a positive mood that his first ride will be a success.

Scott said: “I have spoken with my chief technician Norris Farrow and my bike is ready for testing. I am pretty excited and Valencia cannot come quick enough.

“We have put the new Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000K5 on the dyno and it is returning some impressive horsepower figures – and that’s without starting to tune it. I’m not allowed to reveal its power output but it is right on the money and certainly more than I have ever had before.

“The potential with the bike is enormous and we already have an indication of how good the bike is going to be thanks to the AMA and WSB test reports. The Suzukis have been posting the fastest times wherever they are testing and the riders are very confident.

“What’s particularly impressive is the simulated race distances the teams are doing. The overall race time is reduced significantly and the lap times are consistently at record pace. That’s without any attempts at qualifying or going for a pure lap time and it is very encouraging for both ‘JR’ and me.

“The hard graft for Rizla Suzuki starts now with our Valencia test and the further development of the bike. We have plenty of testing options available after Valencia and the remaining six weeks before the racing starts is going to be very busy.”

The team starts the defence of its British Superbike and Manufacturer titles at Brands Hatch, Kent on Bank Holiday Monday, March 28th.

From a press release issued by Suzuki Racing:

GASTON RAHIER: 1946 – 2005

Team Suzuki Press Office – February 9, 2005.

Suzuki all-time great Gaston Rahier passed away on Saturday in Paris after a long illness. He was 58 years old.

Belgian-born Rahier was a founding member of Suzuki’s participation in the 125cc Motocross World Championships. His great accomplishment of three consecutive world titles in 1975, 1976 and 1977 established Suzuki’s unprecedented run of 10 consecutive world championships and he still holds the record of 29 Grand Prix victories in the 125cc class.

His motocross career came to an abrupt end in 1982 following a serious accident in which he almost lost a hand. He recovered and in 1983, participated for the first time in the demanding Paris-Dakar Rally but retired following a mechanical breakdown whilst leading. He returned in 1984 and 1985 and dominated again, becoming the first non-French rider to claim victory.

Rahier made a tremendous contribution towards making Rally racing a more widely popular sport. His Paris-Dakar and Pharaoh’s Rally victories in 1984. 1985 and 1988, his professional approach towards Rallies, and his open personality made him a celebrity, known not only by fans and supporters of motorcycle sport, but also by a much wider general public.

As a member of the Belgian Motocross Team, he also won the Trophy des Nations in 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1978 and the Motocross of Nations in 1976.

Suzuki Motor Corporation wishes to express our deepest sympathy and offer our condolences to his family at this sad time.

Copyright 2005, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

FYI, we’ve updated our statement here:
http://officer.proteus.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27282

Certainly that kinda crap has no place on Officer.com, and certainly does not represent the feelings of law enforcement in general. It was a very poorly designed sarcasm as the individual has told us it was meant as satire, not reality. Either way, it’s just not the kind of posts we typically have on Officer.com. The user was removed, but we did leave the post since you were linking to it since folks should see it as it was.

Some bikers did come on and act VERY inappropriately back (understandable in some cases, but not the vulgarity and threats)….but things seem relatively calm now.

Any questions let me know. Hopefully the end result will be more education and information, on both sides, so that something good comes out of something otherwise bad.

Thanks,

Dave Iannone
Officer.com



See related post:

2/8/2005 Updated: Law Enforcement Website Hoax? Purported Police Officer Describes Joy At Seeing Fleeing Motorcyclist Seriously Injured…