DUCATI 749 JOINS POLICE DEPARTMENT’S “STREET LEGAL” RIDER AWARENESS PROGRAM FOR 2005

Edmonton Police Use Specially Outfitted Ducati as Exotic Tool to Help Reduce Youth Fatalities, Getting Young Riders “Off the Streets and onto the Tracks”

Cupertino, CA – February 9th, 2005 – Ducati North America today announced that a 2005 Ducati 749 Biposto, customized by Argyll Motorsports of Edmonton, Alberta (Canada), will join the Edmonton Police Department in a unique capacity. Rather than being outfitted as a traditional pursuit or traffic enforcement motorcycle, the exotic Argyll Motorsports-Ducati support vehicle has been assigned to the Department’s special Blue Line Racing division, which conducts an innovative STREET LEGAL Program that attempts to get youngsters and their high performance vehicles off the streets and onto local drag strips.

The STREET LEGAL Program, operated by a group of Edmonton Police Department constables, includes two drag racing cars and now the new Ducati 749 Superbike. STREET LEGAL’s goal is to reduce death and injury of youths age 15-25 caused by traffic-related collisions, by developing an awareness for young drivers and riders to operate motor vehicles in a safe and responsible manner. Rather than cracking down with increased traffic patrols and tickets, Edmonton’s Police Department has opted for a different tactic, using the stylish and powerful Ducati to reach out to young riders and drive home its “take it to the track” safety messages.

“Edmonton has seen an increase in the number of sport bike rider deaths in the past few years peaking with a total of eight sport bike-related deaths in 2004,” says Edmonton Police Constable Ryan Sparreboom, an avid motorcycle racer and the officer in charge of the specially prepared Ducati 749. “We’ll be using our race cars and the eye-catching 2005 Ducati 749 Biposto to bring added attention to our program and, hopefully, save some lives in the process.”

Rick Fluery, the owner of Argyll Motorsports, the Edmonton-based firm that loaned the Ducati to the police department for a year at no charge, was instrumental in the selection. “When we were approached by the Department about the possible addition of a sport bike to the STREET LEGAL Program, they had a Japanese bike in mind,” says Fluery. “We suggested the Ducati 749 Biposto would get them more bang with the kids because of its inherent exotic appeal and definitive performance.”

The newest member of Blue Line Racing proved an enormous draw when it officially debuted at the Edmonton Motorcycle Show in early February. Throughout 2005, police team members plan to bring the three vehicles to community events, schools, auto and motorcycle shows, track days, and make personal appearances to educate young drivers and riders.

From a press release issued by T.E.A.M. Arizona:

T.E.A.M. Arizona will be hosting a racer’s practice date on Friday March 4 at Firebird International Raceway’s East track. March 4 is the day prior to CCS Southwest’s inaugural round of the 2005 racing season. To reserve a space for March 4, call T.E.A.M. Arizona at (480) 998-9888.


From an e-mail from Kevin Elliott, Director of Operations-Road Race for Clear Channel Entertainment – Motor Sports:

Is there any way we can make it clear that TEAM Arizona’s track day is not affiliated with CCS Southwest? The posting makes it look like they are associated with us and they are not.

As a matter of fact, CCS Southwest has their own Lockhart Phillips Sport Rider Day on Saturday, March 5 for racers and street riders.

Call 623-214-2615 for more information.

From a press release issued by FGSport:

2005 CORONA EXTRA SUPERBIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

PRE-SEASON TESTING – VALENCIA, SPAIN 7-8 FEBRUARY 2005

RAIN AFFECTED VALENCIA TEST ENDS SBK PRESEASON IN EUROPE

TWO DAYS, ONE CLIMATE: With some top runners in attendance at the final unofficial World Superbike test of the 2005 off-season, the expectations were for class-leading times. But the weather conditions, damp and cold on day one, fully wet then slowly drying on day two, prevented too many fast attacks on the tortuous Circuito Ricardo Tormo, situated in the outskirts of Valencia, Spain. The 4.005km circuit is a favourite for testing but the weather was hardly kind to the assembled competitors, all looking for an advantage before the championship embarks on a new adventure – the first ever World Superbike race in Qatar, which will be preceded by an official SBK/Pirelli test at the Losail venue on 19 and 20 February.

TIME OUT: With conditions proving treacherous on the track on both days, few riders pushed the stopwatch too hard this close to the start of the season, making times from this test almost irrelevant in the great scheme of things. Nonetheless, this was an important test; for some it was even their first real chance to ride their 2005 machinery.

FASTEST MAN: On day one of the test Regis Laconi (Xerox Ducati 999F05) took the best time of all, with a 1:41.36, edging out new SBK competitor Jose Luis Cardoso (Yamaha DFX) and his 1:41.70 lap. Laconi also set a respectable full rain tyre time of day two, but Cardoso used his local knowledge to set a best of 1:42.39, electing to use intermediate Pirelli rubber. Laconi had a crash on day two, but was unhurt.

CHAMPION’S PROGRESS: James Toseland (Xerox Ducati 999F05) left the Valencia venue happy that he had set some reasonable times on his 2005-spec machine, but frustrated at not having a chance to make a true full speed run before heading off to Losail for the first race of his title defence. 1:43.6 was his best and the Englishman was lucky after a punctured front tyre caused him some moments of alarm on day two.

NIETO LIGHTS UP SPANISH SKIES: Despite the dark clouds overhead Fonsi Nieto made a sunny debut in World Superbike, taking his Scuderia Caracchi Ducati 999RS to a fine first day time of 1:43.80. He set 50 laps on day one, and 25 on day two, despite no rider venturing onto the track until just before the unofficial lunch break on the 8th. A welcome addition to the SBK paddock, he has shown he can make the transition to vee-twin four-stoke machinery already. His team-mate in the Caracchi set up, Lorenzo Lanzi, joined in one day of action, but erred on the side of caution in such slippery conditions, with a best time of 1:47.00, set after only a handful of laps.

ABE MAKES SBK TESTING DEBUT: Norick Abe, a big name inductee into the Yamaha Motor France squad alongside Valencia absentee Sebastien Gimbert, spent two days trying to overcome a slippery track, all the time learning the nuances of his Yamaha YZF-R1. Turning 41 laps on day one and 29 on the second, he had a largely incident-free test, and scored a best time of 1:46.15.

WINSTON TEN KATE HONDA: SBK rookie Karl Muggeridge passed on the chance to make any laps at this test and indeed the entire Ten Kate team, in both Superbike and Supersport categories, cleared out of the Valencia circuit after the early weather proved so atrociously wet on the second day. Chris Vermeulen (Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR) did single digit laps on day one to make a basic shakedown of one machine, but the Dutch-based team erred on the side of caution by leaving early.

DFX MEN MOVE ON: An impressive four rider Yamaha DFX team has made a quick transition to R1 power in SBK, with local ace Cardoso the fastest of the group. Marco Borciani, Miguel Praia and European Superstock Champion Lorenzo Alfonsi were also in the yellow and blue of DFX. Kawasaki Bertocchi rider, Giovanni Bussei and Ivan Clementi only did one day of testing on their Bertocchi ZX-10 Kawasakis. Lucio Pedercini and Allessio Velini, of the Pedercini Ducati squad, also attended the test, but did not register lap times.

SUPERSPORT: Of the top Supersport runners on display, the best recorded time came from Gianluca Nannelli (SC Ducati 749) who scored a 1:43.96 on day one, while Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Ducati Foti) slithered around to get the hang of riding a Ducati in such slippery conditions. Winston Ten Kate Honda rider Katsuaki Fujiwara lapped in a lowly 1:49.40 on day one, and his team-mate Sebastien Charpentier did not ride at all.

SUPERSTOCK. Alstare Suzuki Superstock riders Riccardo Chiarello and Javier Simeon riding at Valencia, with Simeon the faster, setting a 1:48.50.



More, from a press release issued by Suzuki:

SUZUKI’S SPANISH TESTS RAINED OFF

Team Suzuki Press Office – February 9, 2005.

Heavy rain at Valencia in Spain cut short Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra’s first World Supersport and Superstock test sessions this week involving new riders Javier Fores, Xavier Simeon and World Superstock number five Riccardo Chiarello.

But, according to the team, it was a successful first meeting for the new riders, team members and unveiling of the new 2005 GSX-R600s. Fores (pictured) and Simeon lapped the circuit on the 2005 Supersport and Superstock bikes while Chiarello rode his 2004 GSX-R1000 Superstock machine.

Due to the inclement weather and also because the track was very slippery, the Suzuki squad and other factory race teams were unable to put down a great deal of laps: Formula One teams had also tested extensively at the circuit previously and had laid down a lot of rubber, which kept lap times down.

JAVIER FORES (World Supersport). Best lap 1:48:
“Yesterday, conditions were terrible and it was very hard to do any good lap times because the track was so slippery. It was hard to learn much but it was a good chance to meet all the team and begin the work this year. I don’t think there was any time when the track was completely dry so we just used the test to try and find a good base set up and get some ideas. For me, the next time on the bike will be in practice at the first round so I hope that I can be competitive right from the start.”

XAVIER SIMEON (Superstock 600). Best lap 1:52:
“Like Javier, I have raced many times in Spain and Valencia is one of my favourite tracks, but the conditions made it very difficult to put in some good lap times. After last week, there was a lot of rubber on the track. That would have been bad enough, but then it was wet and that made it a bit like an ice rink. Now, I’m looking forward to riding the Alstare Suzuki in good, dry conditions.”

RICCARDO CHIARELLO (Superstock 1000). Best lap N/A.
“The track was very slippery and I didn’t want to do anything stupid, especially as I will be getting the 2005 bike soon. Xavier and Javier are so young, that suddenly I feel a bit old now! I’m looking forward to the next time out on the bike because the conditions should be much better – and also because I shall be on the new bike.”


More, from a press release issued by Yamaha Racing:

New Yamaha Motor France rider Norick Abe may have hoped for better weather for his two-day test on his Yamaha YZF-R1 but the Circuit Ricardo Tormo track surface remained wet for both days of his acclimatisation test, hampering his preparations for his rookie season in the Superbike World Championship.

A veteran of the MotoGP field, and a three-time MotoGP race winner for Yamaha, rode the 2005 R1 at Valencia, in what proved to be treacherous conditions. Despite the inclement weather on day one Abe completed 41 laps, setting a best time of 1:46.15 as he got to ride on a track, if not a machine, he knows well. The torrential rain which heralded the second morning of testing looked as if it might wipe out the entire day but Abe carried on to set 29 laps, although conditions did not enable him to improve on his first day time.

The Yamaha Motor France team could not complete all the tests they had planned; such was the condition of the circuit throughout. One more two-day test at the Losail circuit in Qatar, the venue for the first of 12 world superbike rounds in 2005, separates the entire paddock from the first race. With Abe having raced there in MotoGP last season, he is well acquainted with the circuit’s nuances; an advantage he will draw on as testing begins on February 19. Abe’s track knowledge will also be of great assistance to his team-mate Sebastien Gimbert, who had already planned to sit out the Valencia test. The two-leg race itself breaks world superbike’s tradition of Sunday racing by being held on a Saturday, February 26.

The Yamaha Motor Italia squad elected to miss the test due to the inclement weather.

Norick Abe (Yamaha Motor France)
“Today was the same as yesterday. Both days were not like a real test because we could not make the performance better, just because of the weather. Maybe in Qatar, in the two-day test, we can try many different settings on the bike, which even in this bad weather feels strong. I was not sure how the R1 racebike would be. I thought that it would maybe have a softer chassis than I’m used to, and much less power, but I was surprised. Even though we were limited by a wet track, the bike felt stiff and the power was not so bad. Still less than a MotoGP bike, but not by as much as I expected. The whole bike feels good; it feels like a racebike. I think it will be the first time in Qatar for most of the other riders, but it will be the first time racing the R1 for me. So it will be a bit of a balancing act.”

Martial Garcia (Team Co-ordinator Yamaha Motor France)
“We did not get to test everything because of the weather but at least Norick got some kilometres in on the bike; that was the most important thing. We only used wet tyres on day two because testing intermediates was not important. We prefer to test only fully wet or slick tyres. Of course communication is different between the Japanese and the Europeans but Norick is obviously very professional and we had a good first contact. Sebastien Gimbert did not come to the test because he has already made tests in November, December and January on the bike, and all our equipment has to be in the crate in two days from now, and on their way to Qatar. We are nearly happy but we are very close the first race. I hope we can have a small advantage over the others due to Norick’s track knowledge, because as a beginner in this category you need every advantage you can get.”

From a press release:

Michigan Teen Signs With British Team to Race in Spain

Garrett Carter, 15, has signed with Ecurie Sports Competition to compete in the Spanish National Series (CEV). Garrett will run the full CEV schedule in what is regarded as the toughest 125 series in the world – producing the likes of Sete Gibernau, Kenny Roberts Jr. and Luis D’Antin. Testing begins March 26th in Albecete through to March 31st in Valencia. Garrett caught the eye of Ian Edwards of Ecurie Sports Competition after an impressive debut at the CEV’s final round last year in Jerez, Spain.

Ian Edwards Of Ecurie Sports said “We are both pleased and excited that we have agreed terms with Garrett for the 2005 season. Taking someone from the States is new for us and we are looking forward to it. Having studied Garrett’s progress so far, we feel he has the potential to go far in this sport and look forward to the first test so we can start building the relationship to achieve the success we both aim for.”

Garrett will also be racing a full program stateside in the National USGPRU series. He will be riding the team’s newly acquired Aprilia RS125. The team will have the benefit of AMA 250GP winning tuner Rocky Stargel at the season opener in Jennings, Florida. They will begin testing in Jennings on February 12.

From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

TYRE TEST TEAM AND CARLOS CHECA ON TRACK TOMORROW AT SEPANG

Shinichi Itoh to make his debut with the Ducati-Bridgestone Tyre Test Team Desmosedici. Sidelined with flu at the first Sepang tests, Carlos Checa also out on track.

Bologna, 9 February 2005 – After a fortnight’s break, the MotoGP teams are back at Sepang for a second successive test session at the Malaysian circuit.

Tomorrow is important for Ducati in that it will see the debut of the Tyre Test Team, the result of a joint collaboration between Ducati and Bridgestone with tester Shinichi Itoh. The aim of the totally new team is to specifically develop tyres for the Ducati Desmosedici and it will see Luca Gasbarro (Troy Bayliss’s former race engineer) in the role of track technical director and in charge of the Bridgestone/Ducati MotoGP project.

For this first test Itoh will be using a GP4, while from his next appearance onwards, scheduled for the IRTA tests in Barcelona, he will have a new GP5 at his disposal.

This structure will flank the Ducati Corse Development Team with Vittoriano Guareschi, which will be testing at Jerez on February 24-25.

Carlos Checa, sidelined by flu and still recovering from his minor incident at Madonna di Campiglio, was only able to test on the first day of a scheduled three-day session at Sepang at the end of January. The Spanish rider decided to make up for lost ground by opting to bring forward the start of his test session by one day.

Carlos will begin testing tomorrow in the torrid heat of the Malaysian track, where he will be joined by team-mate Loris Capirossi on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The positive results of the first tests carried out at Sepang in January, when Loris and Carlos had a GP4 and a GP5 at their disposal for eventual back-to-back tests, have convinced Ducati Marlboro Team engineers to give two GP5 machines to both riders. The performance of the 2005 Desmosedici is currently more than satisfactory and demonstrates that the bike is the result of a valid project and has a sound basis for future development.

The Ducati Marlboro Team will take part in the following test sessions:

February 10-13 at Sepang (Malaysia)
February 17-19 at Phillip Island (Australia)
March 1-3 at Doha (Qatar)

From a press release:

Las Vegas Racing’s Jack Pfeifer will be taking up the Aprilia challenge!

Beginning this month at Willow Springs International Raceway Jack Pfeifer will be competing on a 2004 Aprilia Mille supplied by active racing enthusiast and now sponsor David Nguyen of Archille Performance Inc. in Las Vegas Nevada.

Jack is excited to take up the challenge, and is very anxious to ride the new bike citing that riding a bike that looks as good as the Aprilia does–and which comes with lots of trick goodies on it–should make it a lot of fun!

To Pfeifer, starting a little behind in the points (being that he did not compete in the January WSMC Twins class race) just makes this task more of a challenge! And don’t worry, all you die-hard fans of the super fast Formula One class out at WSMC, Jack will still be competing in that class on a still undecided brand that should be that finalized really, really soon!

See Jack’s latest race results and info at www.jackpfeifer.com

From a press release:

Ben Bostrom will be stopping by and visiting Greg White today at Speed Channel’s studios in Charlotte and will be discussing his 2005 race plans in detail. Immediately after the show, Ben will be catching a late flight to Europe in preparation for this year’s World Superbike Championship. Greg’s Garage is scheduled to air at 8pm Eastern Time this evening as part of Speed Channel’s “Two Wheel Tuesday” lineup. Visit www.SpeedTV.com for more information.

From a press release:

We will be having our 9th annual Daytona 200 & superbike race party at Classic Sports yet again. Classic Sports is at 3300 S. Glenstone, Springfield, MO.

Race starts at 10:00 am Central and runs until 3:30 pm. There will be a lunch buffet. (Buffet tenative)

Sponsored by the Springfield Sport Riders Assoc.

call or e-mail Mark Lewellen (417)581-9604 for additional info. or: [email protected]

From a press release issued by NESBA:

Wyomissing, PA (February 8, 2005)-This year the Northeast Sportbike Association (NESBA) will host 111 track days at premier racetracks across the country. New to the schedule are dates at Autobahn Country Club, Joliet, IL; Calabogie Motorsports Park, Calabogie, ON; and Club Motorsports, Tamworth, NH.

NESBA also initiated a brand new track day–Advanced-only days. The days, specifically for Advanced or expert riders only, are a test bed for other single/double class days in a response to requests by club members for more track time per day. NESBA is starting with three Advanced-only days and if all goes well, will start to incorporate more single/double class dates in late 2005 or 2006. In order to participate in the Advanced-only days, riders must be in NESBA’s Advanced riding class or hold an expert road racing license. Participants get an open track all day long.

This year’s schedule is as follows:

3/12-13 Virginia Int’l Raceway-South, Danville, VA

3/14 Virginia Int’l Raceway-North, Danville, VA

3/25-26 Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, AL

4/16 Pocono Int’l Raceway-East, Long Pond, PA

4/16-17 Blackhawk Farms Raceway, Beloit, IL

4/21 Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI

4/23-24 Summit Point Raceway-Jefferson, Summit Point, WV

4/25 Summit Point Raceway-Main, Summit Point, WV

4/30 Pacific Raceways, Kent, WA

5/1 Pacific Raceways, Kent, WA

5/7-8 BeaveRun Motorsports Complex, Wampum, PA

5/7-8 Putnam Park Road Course, Mount Meridian, IN

5/9 Portland Int’l Raceway, Portland, OR

5/14-15 Blackhawk Farms Raceway, Beloit, IL

5/14-15 Summit Point Raceway-Jefferson, Summit Point, WV

5/14-15 Virginia Int’l Raceway-South, Danville, VA

5/16 Summit Point Raceway-Main, Summit Point, WV

5/16 Virginia Int’l Raceway-North, Danville, VA

5/21-22 Road Atlanta, Braselton, GA

5/30-31 Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI

6/4-5 Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, AL

6/10* Summit Point Raceway-Main, Summit Point, WV

6/11-12 Carolina Motorsports Park, Kershaw, SC

6/11-12 Summit Point Raceway-Jefferson, Summit Point, WV

6/11 Autobahn Country Club-North, Joliet, IL

6/12 Autobahn Country Club-South, Joliet, IL

6/13 Autobahn Country Club-North, Joliet, IL

6/13 Pacific Raceways,Kent, WA

7/9 Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, AL

7/9-10 Summit Point Raceway-Shenandoah, Summit Point, WV

7/9-10 Putnam Park Road Course, Mount Meridian, IN

7/10* Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, AL

7/16-17 Virginia Int’l Raceway-Patriot, Danville, VA

7/17 BeaveRun Motorsports Complex, Wampum, PA

7/18 Virginia Int’l Raceway-North, Danville, VA

7/30-31 Blackhawk Farms Raceway, Beloit, IL

7/30-31 Spokane Raceway, Spokane, WA

8/5 Summit Point Raceway-Shenandoah, Summit Point, WV

8/6-7 Summit Point Raceway-Jefferson, Summit Point, WV

8/13 Pocono Int’l Raceway-FUSA, Long Pond, PA

8/13-14 Autobahn Country Club-North, Joliet, IL

8/15 Autobahn Country Club-Full, Joliet, IL

8/15 Pacific Raceways, Kent, WA

8/20-21 Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, AL

8/27-28 Virginia Int’l Raceway-South, Danville, VA

8/29 Virginia Int’l Raceway-North, Danville, VA

9/3-4 Blackhawk Farms Raceway, Beloit, IL

9/4 Pocono Int’l Raceway-East, Long Pond, PA

9/5 Summit Point Raceway-Shenandoah, Summit Point, WV

9/10-11 Carolina Motorsports Park, Kershaw, SC

9/10-11 Club Motorsports-West, Tamworth, NH

9/10-11 Putnam Park Road Course, Mount Meridian, IN

9/12 Club Motorsports-Full 3.3, Tamworth, NH

9/17-18 Pacific Raceways, Kent, WA

9/24-25 Autobahn Country Club-North, Joliet, IL

9/26* Autobahn Country Club-Full, Joliet, IL

9/30 Calabogie Motorsports Park-Full, Calabogie, ON

10/1-2 Calabogie Motorsports Park-Full, Calabogie, ON

10/1-2 Pocono Int’l Raceway-East, Long Pond, PA

10/8-10 Autobahn Country Club-South, Joliet, IL

10/8-9 Club Motorsports-West, Tamworth, NH

10/8-9 Portland Int’l Raceway, Portland, OR

10/15-16 Putnam Park Road Course, Mount Meridian, IN

10/15-16 Summit Point Raceway-Shenandoah, Summit Point, WV

10/22-23 BeaveRun Motorsports Complex, Wampum, PA

10/22-23 Virginia Int’l Raceway-Patriot, Danville, VA

10/24 Virginia Int’l Raceway-Full, Danville, VA

10/28 Summit Point Raceway-Main, Summit Point, WV

10/29-30 Summit Point Raceway-Jefferson, Summit Point, WV

11/19-20 Road Atlanta, Braselton, GA


*Advanced-only track day

Visit www.nesba.com for the most current schedule-more dates may be added.

NESBA is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization that sponsors track days and provides riding instruction at premier racetracks across the country, including Barber, Road America, Road Atlanta and VIR. For more information, visit www.nesba.com or call 1-877-AT-NESBA.