FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: I made my reservations prior to the announcement of the MotoGP at Laguna Seca, for the dates of July 1-July 11. I don’t have the exact date of the reservations, but it was just a couple of days after returning from the WSBK races last year. I received the State Government rate of $94 Sun-Thur and $147 Fri-Sat (excellent deal, might I add…) Last week, on July 21st around 2:30pm, I double checked my reservations on-line, and discovered, much to my horror, that the reservations were for July 1-July 7. I had received no phone calls, no communication whatsoever, and I had not contacted the hotel at all. I immediately called the hotel, and “Hope” told me that according to the computer, I had called Embassy Suites on June 14th and voluntarily cancelled the tail end of my reservations. I vehemently denied doing this, explaining that I had $1,000 worth of tickets purchased (two premier pit row suites), and there would be no sensible explanation for my cancelling those reservations. She said I would need to call “Gerard,” who had processed the cancellation. He would be in at 3pm. At 3pm I called, and Gerard was not yet in. I explained the need for immediate action regarding this. Hope again stated that she couldn’t do anything, and added that this was the first person she had talked to who had their reservations cancelled without being notified. She said that others were called and offered rooms in Santa Cruz. I told her that was unacceptable, considering how long ago I had made my reservations. I then added that Gerard should call me, I wasn’t going to keep trying to hunt him down for a problem that the hotel had created. I also stated that if this did not get resolved, I would seek legal restitution. At 3:15, Gerard called back. He apologized for the “computer error.” He said he didn’t remember doing the transaction, but that perhaps someone else had been logged on to his computer. He said that the reservation was back in place, at the original rate (interestingly, the rate now shows $147 for every night, but my faxed reservation confirmation does have a note saying to honor the original rates.) So, at this point, the problem has been resolved. But I shudder to think what would have happened if I had not double checked my reservation, and shown up on the 1st with nothing but my word against theirs and no hotel room for the big race. The added problem now is that I would like to change my reservation to arrive on the 3rd, but I don’t want to call or contact Embassy Suites for fear that they will use that as an excuse to cancel my race weekend reservations. Barbara Baker Sacramento, California See related post: DA Investigates Hotel Problems In Monterey June 25, 2005 ~https://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=23266~

The Fastrack Riders truck was stolen from the parking lot of the Cannery Hotel on Craig Road, near I-15, in North Las Vegas Thursday night. The theft delayed the start of Friday practice held in conjunction with the combined WERA National and WERA West Regional races held on the Classic Course at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS) this weekend. The truck is a 2004 turbodiesel Ford F350 Crew Cab Lariat with a gooseneck hitch, white exterior with grey leather, a CB radio antenna on top, a Line-X bedliner, and 6-inch Fastrack stickers on the side and back windows. The VIN # is 1FTW32P94ED01931. Anyone with information on the truck should contact Larry Pointer at 714-425-2159. In the meantime, Wheel Two Wheel, the west coast Pirelli distributor, volunteered to haul the Fastrack 5th-wheel trailer back from LVMS to Southern California.

ESTOK RIDES BUELL FIREBOLT TO THUNDERBIKE VICTORY AT VIR Bilansky is Second on a Buell, Estok Shares Thunderbike National Series Points Lead ALTON, Va. (June 26, 2005) Millville & Wildwood Harley-Davidson/Buell rider David Estok won the Formula USA Thunderbike National at Virginia International Raceway aboard a Buell Firebolt. The victory is the second of the season for Estok and boosts him into a tie for first place in Thunderbike National series points. Five other Buell riders placed in the top ten, including second-place finisher Hal’s Performance Advantage rider Dan Bilansky. Estok was the top Thunderbike qualifier on Saturday with a 1:33.605 lap, a new qualifying record for Thunderbike at the 2.25-mile North Course at VIR. Weather conditions on Sunday were variable, and the 12-lap Thunderbike race started on a wet-but-drying track. Suzuki rider Darren Danilowicz led the first couple of laps before Bilansky passed him and started pulling away. Estok made a smart decision by choosing an intermediate rear tire, which helped him weave his way through the pack as the track dried out. He overtook Bilanksy about halfway through the race and turned on the steam, winning the race by more than 13 seconds. Danilowicz finished third, ahead of Suzuki rider David Yaakov, who placed fourth. Seven of the 14 Thunderbike qualifiers were riding Buell motorcycles. In addition to Estok and Bilansky, the following Buell riders finished in the top ten; Kenwood/Sirius Satellite Racing rider Sam Rozynski in fifth, Blue Springs Harley-Davidson/Buell rider Walt Sipp in sixth, Daytona Harley-Davidson/Richie Morris Racing rider Clint Brotz in eighth and Kenwood/Sirius Satellite Racing rider Joe Rozynski in ninth. Defending Thunderbike series champion Bryan Bemisderfer, riding for Evo-Twin Racing/Harding Harley-Davidson, qualified fifth but dropped out of the Thunderbike race after four laps due to a mechanical failure. After five of eight Formula USA Thunderbike National events, Estok and Yaakov each have 123 points to share the series points lead. Bemisderfer is in third place with 91 points. Danilowicz has 87 in fourth place, with Joe Rozynski close behind at 83. The next event on the Formula USA schedule is August 12-14 at Barber Motorsports Park near Birmingham, Ala. The Formula USA National Thunderbike series is a horsepower-to-weight ratio restricted class, open to a variety of production-based motorcycles. Buell-mounted riders compete in the eight-event 2005 Thunderbike series race for a share of the $70,500 contingency fund posted by Buell Motorcycle Company. To learn more about Buell motorcycles, visit your local Buell dealer today and experience the pure streetfighter attitude, style and performance only found on board a Buell. For the Buell dealer nearest you, pull into www.buell.com. More, from a press release issued by CCS Florida: Martinez Unbeatable on Ducati CCS Florida at Homestead-Miami Speedway June 26, 2005 Marco Martinez was unbeatable on the Desmomaniac’s prepared Ducati 996 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. This winning force, a combined effort between Champion Racing and Desmomaniacs, succeeded in its mission of putting Ducati back on the podium. Martinez took home four first place trophies for his efforts, winning the Unlimited Grand Prix, GTO, Middleweight Superbike and Supertwins classes. The Supertwins race was combined with Unlimited Superbike, which Martinez also entered. He started with the second wave and was able to push his way up front in the Supertwins class and work his way through half of the Superbike field to finish fifth in that class. Desmomanic’s choice of machine for Martinez is Carl Fogarty’s 1999, ex World Superbike, which Martinez exclaimed to be “Unbelievable.” More, from a press release issued by Blue Springs Racing: Sipp has an up and down weekend at VIR! Alton, VA Blue Springs Harley-Davidson rider Walt Sipp finished 6th at round five of the Formula USA Thunderbike Championship, held at picturesque Virginia International Raceway. After missing the first round of practice Friday due to a late arrival at the track, Sipp worked quickly to get on pace. He used the CCS Thunderbike race as a tune-up finishing a respectable 4th place. Saturday practice was even better with him further quickening his lap times; although it wasn’t without incident. “Yeah I was coming out of turn two and just got on the gas a little too hard. The rear spun up and almost high-sided me. I saved it, but I came down on the windscreen shattering it with my chest. From what I hear, the guys behind me got a pretty good show!” Qualifying looked to be even better with the shiny new slicks mounted. However, it was not to be. On the third lap of qualifying a rear brake issue caused the rear end to lock up and come around almost high-siding him again! This time though he was not as lucky as he found his way in to the grass and crashed. All wasn’t lost though, as the one lap Walt did do was good enough for 8th on the grid with a 1:37.260. “I was pretty disappointed with not being able to run more laps in qualifying; I was just getting warmed up. With as effortless as the low 1:37 felt, I’m sure I could have run 1:36 flat,” said Sipp. After two hot, but beautiful days, things changed dramatically Sunday. The rain came and soaked the track along with much cooler temperatures. So with the damage from Saturday fixed, Walt began then to prepare the bike for a wet race. Walt said, “I wouldn’t call myself wet weather specialist, but the rain doesn’t bother me. I think that’s a big part of it, you know keeping a positive attitude.” With full rains mounted he took off for the sighting laps; only one problem though, the rain had stopped and the sun started coming through and drying the track. With no time to change to a different tire, he was forced to start on the super soft rain tires. After getting held up a little bit on the start behind a rider with DOT’s on and falling back to eleventh, he slowly started making his way back to the front. “When the track was still pretty damp I felt good, but as the race wore on and the track got more and more dry I started to get worried about my tires. I caught and passed as many people as I could, but on the last few laps I backed my pace down trying to make sure my rains would last till the end. After the race was over the new Dunlop rains still looked good. I probably could have pushed even harder and caught at least one more person,” said Walt. As it turned out he made his way up to 6th at the end. Not what he was looking for, but it’s something to build on after the tough luck so far this season. Look for Walt and the Blue Springs crew to be back fighting for a podium at the next round August 12-14 at Barber Motorsports Park. Find out more at www.waltsipp.com.

Howard, Small, Young, Tan, Falt and McDonald at Oak Hill Raceway Ty Howard, Heath Small, Logan Young, Tyler McDonald, Alan Tan and Eric Falt all cashed in with big wins at round six of the CMRA Championship Roadracing Series held at Oak Hill Raceway in Henderson, Texas. Temperatures approached the century mark at the east Texas venue as 481 sprint entries filled the grids for an action-packed and crash-filled weekend of racing. Howard was the top money winner, claiming over $4000 in Kawasaki contingency money in addition to CMRA purse money after taking four wins during Sunday’s sprint action. Howard’s wins came in the Racing Performance Services B Superstock Expert race, which features a $150 purse; the C Superstock Expert race, which features a $500 purse; the Pace American Trailers Formula 1 Expert race, which features a $1000 purse; and the RaceworX C Superbike Expert race, which features a $150 purse. Howard also added $150 for taking the Mr. Corder Racing Fast Lap Award, which pays $150 for the fastest sprint lap. He turned a 1:22.918 during his win in the C Superstock Expert race. Tyler McDonald also claimed a paycheck by taking wins in the 125 GP class, which features a $250 purse, and the South Central Race Center D Superbike Expert division, which features a $150 purse. Other riders visiting the pay window included Heath Small, who took wins in the Motorcycles Unlimited A Superbike Expert race, which features a $150 purse, and the Komodo Racing B Superbike Expert race, which features a $250 purse; and Logan Young, who won the Sum of All Parts A Superstock Expert class, which features a $150 purse. Eric Falt claimed the lion’s share of the $500 purse paid in the Lightweight Twins Expert division by taking a hard-earned win in the race, while Alan Tan topped a fast field in the Formula 2 Expert race and took the winner’s share of a $250 purse. Jon Francis won the AF1 Racing Heavyweight Twins Expert race, which pays a year-end points fund. In the Novice divisions, Cory Burleson was the only multiple winner, taking wins in the D Superstock, D Superbike, B Superstock, C Superstock, A Superstock and C Superbike Novice classes. In Saturday’s Shogun Motorsport’s Mini Endurance Series, Team K&N Racing took first place in the 6-hour event, topping Team Jesus by two laps in the process. Team K&N was the top finishing Formula 4 entry, ahead of Team Jesus, while RS Express finished third overall and third in the F4 class. The top-placing Formula 5 entry was Awtooling, in fifth overall, while STD Racing 2won the F6 division in 9th overall and Excel won the F7 class in 13th overall. In Saturday’s Mini Sprint action, Tyler McDonald topped Zac Chapman to win the Formula 4 race, while Dennis Dudley beat out Conner Blevins for the Formula 6 win. In the Formula 5 race, Derek Wagnon edged Anthony Smith and Conner Blevins returned to top the Formula 7 division over Dirk Anderson. The CMRA returns to racing on July 30-31 at Texas World Speedway, in College Station, Texas for round seven of its championship series.

Racers Edge’s Dale Kieffer and Vesrah Suzuki’s Tray Batey were the big winners in the fifth round of the WERA National Challenge series at Las Vegas International Speedway’s Classic Course, Sunday, June 26th. Kieffer took flag-to-flag wins in both the A Superstock and Formula 1 races on his Suzuki GSX-R1000, while Batey battled Jack Pfeiffer for the Heavyweight Twins Supersport victory on his Suzuki SV1000, and also took his Suzuki GSX-R750 to a commanding win in the B Supestock race. Arclight Suzuki’s Chris Siglin continued to run well in the 600cc ranks, winning a close C Superstock race over Vesrah Suzuki’s Mark Junge, and finishing third in the 750cc B Superstock race on his 600. Racer Supply Co/Raceworks rider Ben Thompson had a successful weekend in Las Vegas, winning the B Superbike race, taking a close second to Kieffer in both the Formula 1 and Open Superstock races, and finished second to Batey in B Superstock. Young gun Josh Herrin used his Yamaha YZF-R6 to take the C Superbike win, and also finished fourth in the C Superstock race, while Howard Lynggard took his Yamaha YZF-R1 to the Senior Superbike victory. Yamaha’s Jason DiSalvo showed up at Las Vegas, where the factory rider recently purchased a new home, to get in extra testing time on his Yamaha YZF-R1 and R6 machines prior to the upcoming Laguna Seca AMA National. Because DiSalvo had no WERA points, he was forced to start from the back of the grid. Although he was able to make his way to the front of several races, including Formula 1, DiSalvo elected to pull off on the final lap in all the races he rode so as not to take any contingency or purse money. AMA regular John Haner also made the trip to Las Vegas in hopes of getting added track time and also making some money, but a crash in Sunday morning practice put him out of the event. Haner was unhurt in the crash, but his GSX-R750 was heavily damaged. RESULTS Formula 1 Expert 1. Dale Kieffer (Suz GSX-R1000) 2. Ben Thompson (Suz GSX-R1000) 3. David Weber (Suz GSX-R1000) 4. David Sanders (Suz GSX-R1000) 5. Jason Curtis (Suz GSX-R1000) 6. John Jacobi (Suz GSX-R750) Formula 1 Novice 1. Jon Lawson (Suz GSX-R1000) 2. Mitch Ward (Suz GSX-R600) 3. Tony Palarie (Suz GSX-R750) 4. Eddie Barajas (Suz GSX-R1000) 5. Daniel Shaff (Kaw ZX-6RR) A Superstock Expert 1. Dale Kieffer (Suz GSX-R1000) 2. Ben Thompson (Suz GSX-R1000) 3. Mark Junge (Suz GSX-R1000) 4. Corey Eaton (Suz GSX-R1000) 5. Michael Beck (Yam YZF-R1) 6. Premek Glinz (Suz GSX-R1000) A Superstock Novice 1. Jon Lawson (Suz GSX-R1000) 2. Tony Palarie (Suz GSX-R750) 3. J.B. Layman (Yam YZF-R6) 4. Eddie Barajas (Suz GSX-R1000) 5. Scott Layman (Suz GSX-R750) B Superstock Expert 1. Tray Batey (Suz GSX-R750) 2. Ben Thompson (Suz GSX-R750) 3. Chris Siglin (Suz GSX-R600) 4. Reuben Frankenfield (Suz GSX-R750) 5. John Jacobi (Suz GSX-R750) 6. David Weber (Suz GSX-R750) B Superstock Novice 1. J.B. Layman (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Mitch Ward (Suz GSX-R600) 3. Tony Palarie (Suz GSX-R750 4. Terry Heard (Yam YF-R6) 5. Javier Ramirez (Yam YZF-R6) 6. Kirk Wilde (Suz GSX-R750) C Superstock Expert 1. Chris Siglin (Suz GSX-R600) 2. Mark Junge (Suz GSX-R600) 3. John Jacobi (Suz GSX-R600) 4. Josh Herrin (Yam YZF-R6) 5. David Weber (Suz GSX-R600) 6. Chad Lewin (Suz GSX-R600) C Superstock Novice 1. Nick Scoggins (Kaw ZX-6RR) 2. J.B. Layman (Yam YZF-R6) 3. Curtis Cash (Kaw ZX-6RR) 4. Mitch Ward (Suz GSX-R600) 5. Javier Ramirez ((Yam YZF-R6) 6. Terry Heard (Yam YZF-R6) C Superbike Expert 1. Josh Herrin (Yam YZF-R6) 2. Derek Keyes (Yam YZF-R6) 3. Brian Land (Yam YZF-R6) 4. Mark Crozier (Kaw ZX-6RR) 5. David Siminski (Suz GSX-R600) 6. Will Eikenberry (Kaw ZX-6R) C Superbike Novice 1. Nick Scoggins (Kaw ZX-6RR) 2. Mitch Ward (Suz GSX-R600) 3. J.B. Layman (Yam YZF-R6) 4. Javier Ramirez (Yam YZF-R6) 5. Daniel Shaff (Kaw ZX-6RR) 6. Terry Heard (Yam YZF-R6) Heavyweight Twins Supersport Expert 1. Tray Batey (Suz SV1000) 2. Jack Pfeiffer (Apr RSV1000) 3. Vincent Chu (Duc 999) 4. Gary Schilling (Suz SV650) 5. Morgan Broadhead (Suz SV650) Heavyweight Twins Supersport Novice 1. David Nguyen (Dun 999) Heavyweight Twins Superbike Expert 1. Jack Pfeiffer (Apr RSV1000) 2. Vincent Chu (Duc 999) Heavyweight Twins Superbike Novice 1. David Nguyen (Dun 999) Lightweight Twins Supersport Expert 1. Gary Schilling (Suz SV650) Formula 2 Expert 1. John Ulrich (Yam TZ250) 2. Morgan Broadhead (Suz SV650) 3. Nicole Johnson (Hon RS125) 4. Chuma Gault (Yam FZR400) Formula 2 Novice 1. Peter Bilicki (Hon NT650) 2. Dennis Ergo (Yam FZR400) D Superbike Expert 1. Chuma Gault (Yam FZR400) D Superstock Novice 1. Peter Bilicki (Hon NT650) D Superbike Novice 1. Dennis Ergo (Hon NT650) Senior Superbike Expert 1. Howard Lynggard (Yam YZF-R1) 2. John Thomas (Suz GSX-R750) 3. Vincent Chu (Duc 999) 4. James Davis (Yam YZF-R6) Senior Superbike Novice 1. Curtis Cash (Kaw ZX-6RR) 2. Tom Trainer (Suz GSX-R600) Clubman Novice 1. Peter Bilicki (Hon NT650) Mini 50 1. Vincent Chu (Der 50) Mini 80 1. John Cagle (Yam 80)

According to Formula USA boss Kevin Elliott, F-USA will return to New Hampshire International Speedway (NHIS) in Loudon, New Hampshire even if the Speedway’s attempts to regain its traditional Father’s Day AMA National date are successful. F-USA currently races on that weekend, which previously hosted AMA Nationals. Elliott said that he has discussed the situation with NHIS management and that F-USA would run at the track on the weekend before the AMA National, as it does at Daytona. But while local news outlets have run enthusiastic reports headlining the possible return of the AMA Superbike Series to NHIS, the track faces an uphill battle. An AMA delegation consisting of AMA Superbike Series Manager Ron Barrick, AMA Superbike Champion Mat Mladin and former 500cc World Champion Kevin Schwantz recently visited the track to discuss possible changes to the course. Mladin drew a proposed course map that would require extensive track modifications, including the use of removeable pit wall sections along the front straight, in the approach to turn one of the road course. Other proposed modifications would change the outfield section of the course and move the re-entry to the infield, providing run-off room for turn three of the road course.

Kneedraggers.com’s Robert Jensen won two Formula USA races Sunday at Virginia International Raceway (VIR), near Danville, Virginia, while Arclight Suzuki’s Jeff Wood and Millville & Wildwood Harley-Davidson/Buell’s Dave Estok each won a single race during changeable weather conditions. Jensen won the wet Superbike race on his Michelin-rain-tire-equipped Yamaha YZF-R6, and later won the dry Formula Sportbike race on his Suzuki GSX-R750. Arclight Suzuki’s Jeff Wood finished second to Jensen in Superbike and Formula Sportbike but made a dramatic come-from-behind move to beat Team M4 EMGO Suzuki’s Geoff May by 0.006 second in Sportbike. The Thunderbike final was started on a wet-but-quickly-drying track. Estok made the best choice of Pirelli tires and won going away over Hal’s Performance Buell’s Dan Bilansky and CAD Racing’s Darren Danilowicz, who rode a Suzuki SV650. May and teammate Michael Barnes (who crashed out of the wet Superbike race earlier in the day) slugged it out on their GSX-R1000 AMA Superstock-spec bikes in the CCS Unlimited Grand Prix. In preparation for the AMA National at VIR later this year, each rider was testing a different compound of rear Pirelli tire, and Barnes made the most of his tire to win. May finished a close second. Jensen was a distant third on his Suzuki GSX-R750. Race Results From Virginia International Raceway (VIR): F-USA Sportbike: 1. Jeff Wood (Suz GSX-R600), 15 laps 2. Geoff May (Suz GSX-R600), -0.006 second 3. Michael Himmelsbach (Yam YZF-R6) 4. Scott Greenwood (Kaw ZX-6RR) 5. Robert Jensen (Yam YZF-R6) 6. Scott Harwell (Suz GSX-R600) 7. Ryan Elleby (Suz GSX-R600) 8. Adam Dolney (Yam YZF-R6) 9. Brandon Parrish (Suz GSX-R600) 10. Brent Lilly (Hon CBR600RR) 11. Adam Swetlow (Kaw ZX-6), -1 lap 12. Jonathan Lawrence (Yam YZF-R6), -2 laps 13. Bob Michael (Suz GSX-R600), -7 laps 14. Joshua Wohlstein (Suz GSX-R600), -7 laps 15. Scott Harwood (Hon CBR600), -10 laps F-USA Superbike: 1. Robert Jensen (Yam YZF-R6), 16 laps 2. Jeff Wood (Suz GSX-R600), crash, -32.496 seconds 3. Trey Yonce (Yam YZF-R) 4. Scott Greenwood (Kaw ZX-6R) 5. Geoff May (Suz GSX-R600) 6. Michael Himmelsbach (Yam YZF-R6) 7. Adam Dolney (Yam YZF-R6) 8. Brandon Parrish (Suz GSX-R600) 9. Ryan Patterson (Yam YZF-R6), -1 lap 10. Chris Rockwell (Yam YZF-R6), -2 laps 11. Robert Lombardi (Suz GSX-R600), -2 laps 12. Scott Harwell (Suz GSX-R600), -9 laps, DNF, mechanical 13. Michael Barnes (Suz GSX-R600), -14 laps, DNF, crash F-USA Formula Sportbike: 1. Robert Jensen (Suz GSX-R750), 16 laps 2. Jeff Wood (Suz GSX-R750), -20.113 seconds 3. Jesse Janisch (Suz GSX-R750) 4. Scott Harwell (Suz GSX-R750) 5. Joseph Spina (Suz GSX-R750) 6. Scott Carpenter (Suz GSX-R750) 7. Joe Ribeiro (Suz GSX-R750) 8. Brandon Parrish (Suz GSX-R750), -1 lap 9. Rick Beggs (Kaw ZX-6), -8 laps, DNF, retired F-USA Thunderbike: 1. Dave Estok (Buell XB12R), 12 laps 2. Dan Bilansky (Buell XB12R), -13.719 seconds 3. Darren Danilowicz (Suz SV650) 4. David Yaakov (Suz SV650) 5. Sam Rozynski (Buell XB12R) 6. Walt Sipp (Buell XB12R) 7. Joseph Romano (Duc 748) 8. Clint Brotz (Buell XB12R) 9. Joe Rozynski (Buell XB12R) 10. Gary Bunner (Duc 748), -1 lap 11. Matthew Buck (Suz SV650), -1 lap 12. Mark Evry (Suz SV650), -1 lap 13. Russell Masecar (Suz SV650), -2 laps, DNF, crash 14. Bryan Bemisderfer (Buell XB12R), -8 laps, DNF, mechanical CCS Unlimited Grand Prix: 1. Michael Barnes (Suz GSX-R1000), 7 laps 2. Geoff May (Suz GSX-R1000), -1.69 seconds 3. Robert Jensen (Suz GSX-R750) 4. Jesse Janisch (Suz GSX-R750) 5. Scott Carpenter (Suz GSX-R1000) 6. Joseph Spina (Suz GSX-R750) 7. Joe Ribeiro (Suz GSX-R750) 8. Kenny Rodriguez (Hon CBR1000RR) 9. Brent Lilly (Hon CBR600RR) 10. Arnold Hastings (Suz GSX-R750) 11. Matthew Huber (Hon CBR1000RR) 12. Tony Sawyer (Duc 998) 13. Donald Martin (Hon CBR954RR)