From a press release issued by Yamaha Racing:

Haga debuts at Phillip Island test

Yamaha’s 2005 Superbike and Supersport World Championship campaigns got into full swing at Phillip Island today, as the officially supported Yamaha Motor Italia and Yamaha Motor Germany teams completed the first day of their test at the picturesque Australian circuit.

The test marked Noriyuki Haga’s return to the manufacturer with whom he made his name in the mid-Nineties and the Japanese star completed shakedown laps aboard the Yamaha Motor Italia YZF-R1 which he will campaign in the superbike series.

Day one of the test was a familiarisation session for Haga, as he worked with his mechanics to find a comfortable seating position and a basic understanding of the YZF-R1. The Japanese ace suffered some minor fuelling problems but completed a total of 50 laps with a best time of 1:36.3.

While Haga acquainted himself with his new machine, team-mate Andrew Pitt concentrated on the fuel mapping on his YZF-R1. The Australian rider started the day on the bike with which he completed two tests at the Valencia circuit in Spain, but switched to a new machine with a slightly higher specification in the afternoon. In total Pitt ran 84 laps, with a best of 1:36.8.

Yamaha Motor Germany’s Australian duo Kevin Curtain and Broc Parkes took to the circuit on the 2005-spec YZF-R6s they hope will take them to success in the Supersport World Championship. Both riders had ridden the machine at a wet test at Valencia in December, but today’s outing was the first time the riders were able to fully evaluate the improvements made to the 2005 machine in dry conditions.

New signing Broc Parkes had an eventful morning, hampered by several brushes with the Phillip Island wildlife. On three occasions the Australian’s machine was hit at high speed by seagulls, destroying the radiator, windscreen and instrument panel of his YZF-R6.

Curtain meanwhile had no such problems and was able to evaluate a number of new parts for his Yamaha. The experienced Aussie has a huge knowledge of the R6, having campaigned the previous model in 2003 and 2004, and was able spend the whole day working on suspension settings.

The teams will remain at Phillip Island on Monday and Tuesday, when weather conditions are forecast to be even warmer than today’s 25-degree temperatures. Tomorrow Haga is due to work on the evaluation of new Pirelli tyres, while Pitt will focus on development parts for the R1. Parkes and Curtain will continue to focus on front suspension and tyre longevity.

Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia World Superbike Team YZF-R1) “Today we concentrated on making the bike how I like it. At the start of the day I found the rear end was too high, so we have been making changes to make the bike lower and more comfortable for me. We still have a few small changes to make tomorrow but otherwise my first impression is good. This is only my first test on the bike so we are still a little bit behind where we would like to be, but I love a challenge!”

Andrew Pitt (Yamaha Motor Italia World Superbike Team YZF-R1) “We’ve had a few little problems with the mapping, the injection and the balance today, but we have found a direction in which to go in tomorrow. At the end of the day, that’s what testing’s all about – finding problems and solving them – so it’s not a problem.”

Massimo Meregalli (Team Coordinator – Yamaha Motor Italia World Superbike Team) “I was waiting for this day for some time and in the end it was very exciting. Ideally it would have been best to have had this test one or two months ago but it has not been possible. The whole team has really enjoyed working with Nori. Having him in the team adds some pressure for us, but this makes it very exciting.”

Kevin Curtain (Yamaha Motor Germany World Supersport Team YZF-R6) “It’s been a good start. The front forks on the new R6 are definitely an improvement over the old bike. They give us a lot more grip and feel from the front end but at the moment we’re not getting the tyre life we want. That’s what we’ll work on tomorrow: working with the suspension set-up to get good grip but also to save the tyre.”

Broc Parkes (Yamaha Motor Germany World Supersport Team YZF-R6) “I’ve spent the Aussie summer training at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra with Andrew McFarlane (Yamaha motocross rider) and I have been really looking forward to riding the R6 in anger for the first time. It was quite windy today and I was really just riding around today to get a feel for the bike but already I am able to lap within half-a-second of my race pace from last year so it is a good start. The birds were a problem though. I hit three of them this morning and that cost us quite a lot of track time.”

Terrell Thien (Team Manager Yamaha Motor Germany World Supersport Team) “Broc only really started in the afternoon due to the problems with the birds. Between them they cost us over 2000 Euros in the first hour of the day! But he got a good rhythm in the afternoon and is starting to learn how to ride the bike and the differences between the Yamaha and a Honda. Kevin did a great job for us again but he is the sort of guy who is always expecting more. The front suspension is working well but it is also the newest part of the motorcycle, so that is what we will have to spend most time working on.”

From a press release issued by Scuderia SC Caracchi-NCR

FIRST APPROACH FOR FONSI NIETO ON THE DUCATI IN JEREZ

Fonsi Nieto made today his first test on the 999RS Ducati Caracchi-NCR on Jerez circuit. It has been just a first contact to know the new bike. There was a lot of trafic on the circuit, with a plenty of 250s running together, and of course the lighter GPs with their different riding style are a hitch for the heavier and powerful Ducati.

The fog of the morning forced the team in the pit and only nearly at midday Nieto has been able to do his first outing. Fonsi rode a total of 65 laps, entering frequently the pit to understand the new machine and how the setting modification carried out on the bike could modify the handling of a bike totally different from that he’s used to. The fastest lap time of the Spanish rider was 1:48.3, a performance of course not to compare with the performances scored by Ducati Corse factory team riders, but that wasn’t obviously the goal of today’s test.

“It’s a machine all different from the bike I’m used to.” – said Fonsi Nieto at the end of the day – “The few laps made in Almeria at the Christmas eve on a 749R haven’t been absolutely sufficient to understand how a four stroke works! Nevertheless I’m quite satisfied of this first contact, I believe I learned a lot about the bike and the working method that it requests. That thanks the help I had from the team. I could be faster, I know, but with all those 250s on the track and my insufficient knowledge of the bike it could be stupid to look for some risk. In the next test session in Valencia I could have a better feeling and to be able to look for my limits.”

The team will return to Bologna tomorrow because the Jerez circuit is open to 125 tests and the predictable traffic will made not useful any test; next date will be in February 6 and 7 in Valencia.

From a press release issued by Honda Racing Information:

HONDA RACING INFORMATION

Honda MotoGP riders back in action at Sepang.

The MotoGP winter testing programme resumed at the 5.548km Sepang circuit in Malaysia with the majority of world championship teams taking part in three-day test. Seven Honda riders, racing for four different teams took the opportunity to test the latest developments made to the five-cylinder 990cc RC211V.

For both the established Honda riders and the new to Honda for the 2005 season, Troy Bayliss (Camel Honda) and Marco Melandri the morning session was spent finding the best machine settings for fast circuit before getting down to serious work after lunch.

First Honda riders to take to the track Repsol Honda teammates Max Biaggi and Nicky Hayden, the two riders working under the supervision of legendary American race engineer Erv Kanemoto. For Biaggi the day began cautiously as the Italian has still not regained 100% movement in the right ankle he broke in a Supermotard accident in November. However, as the dare wore on Biaggi began to lower his lap time as he found his rhythm, eventually circulating just under the existing lap record.

Max concentrated his efforts on testing engine-braking systems and clutch parts while team- mate Hayden worked on refining suspension linkages and the steering of his RCV. The young American worked hard all day putting in an amazing 90 laps of the sun drenched circuit where temperatures rose to 35 with a track top temperature of 50.

Fastest Honda rider on the track was Brazilian Alex Barros who returns to the Camel Honda team from the Repsol Honda squad. Barros quickly assessed the changes made to the RCV the changes made to the RCV since the last test session, in November then put in a series of fast laps to end the session with a time of 2:02.71.

New boy to the Camel Honda team Troy Bayliss understandably took time to adjust to the Honda at Sepang but towards the end of the day the Australia former World Superbike Champion was lapping two seconds off lap record time.

Japanese star Makoto Tamada paraded his new Konica Minolta Honda. Tamada in now in his third year of GP racing his first with Michelin tyres. The ever-smiling Tamada has to rethink machine set up at each circuit having spent his career riding on Bridgestone rubber. Despite a slow crash Tamada was very happy with his days work.

Telefonica MoviStar teamsters Sete Gibernau, second in the 2004 MotoGP Championship, and Marco Melandri had very different experiences on the opening day. Melandri continued his adaptation to the characteristics of the RCV setting respectable lap times in the afternoon session. In contrast Gibernau suffered from a niggling electrical problem that held him back. The Spaniard managed just 37 laps over the day.


Honda Team Quotes:

Alex Barros, Camel Honda: 2:02.71 – 52 laps: “I’m happy, Things went better today than I had expected after two months spent a long way from the bike. I thought I’d have to spend more time getting used to it again but in fact I felt comfortable straight away. That meant I was able to work on a lot of different settings for my RCV, from engine braking to the clutch, acceleration and front brakes. We didn’t do any tyre work but we’ll do that tomorrow. I am really satisfied with the times that I set because I was consistently faster than I was at the GP here in October, right from the morning. It really is a good start to the test.”

Ramon Forcada, Camel Honda, (Chief technician for Alex Barros) : “I’m happy with the work we’ve done on the bike because we’ve completed the programme of set-up work we decided on yesterday, without any interruptions and improving step by step. So now we’re ready for the work we have to do tomorrow, which will be different tyre and suspension tests. Alex was particularly concentrated and determined, quick from the first lap and consistent from then on, continually improving. The time is very good, particularly because we didn’t use a qualifier or even a soft tyre, just race tyres.”

Nicky Hayden, Repsol Honda: 2:03.17 – 90 laps: “Nice to be back on a bike again! I wish it was the first race of the year and not the first test of the year but I know that testing is so important. These are the hard yards when you get your legs under you and set yourself up for the next few months that are so important. Sometimes when you’ve been off the bike a while you have to knock off the rust but I really didn’t feel too bad today.”

Max Biaggi , Repsol Honda: 2:03.35 – 52 laps: “Today is a great day. I’m back on the bike and I can ride. This is the most important thing. The ankle still hurts, but I don’t want to complain anymore. The first test was this one on the foot. Soon I will throw the crutches away. We are already working on the bike. New components need intense work. We must build ‘The Winning Machine’. Being in HRC, with Erv Kanemoto, means great joy and honour but also a big responsibility.”

Erv Kanemoto, Repsol Honda: “It’s a real challenge and one I’m really looking forward to. I’ll be working hard looking at all aspects of the machine and how both riders can get the most performance from the bike and from themselves. It is very early days and we gather information. We come back to Sepang next month with the 2005 machine and move forward. I’ve worked successfully with Max in the past and we have a good relationship; I look forward to working with Nicky in the same productive way.”

Sete Gibernau, Telefonica MoviStar Honda: 2:03.40 – 37 laps: “Our first day of testing here in Sepang focused on understaning the reasons of the problems we had here during the last GP. In order to record all the data, many transponders (sensori) were installed on the bike. This work took a lot of time, moroeover I had to stop frequently to check every single problem so I could make only a few laps. During my last exit on track, I coud make three laps on a row and it seemed that everything was working well. Now we need to analyse all the data and keep on working.”

Marco Melandri, Telefonica MoviStar Honda: 2:03.50 – 62 laps: “I’m very happy of the feeling I had with the bike. The engine was lighty different from the one I had tested in November, the engine I have tested today is the same of Sete and I got a good feeling. I had a good rythm during all the day , I lapped constantly on 2:03.5 and lap by lap my confidence with the bike improved. We decided to stop a little bit earlier because I had already made a lot of laps. Today we focused on working with the standard setting so that tomorrow we can start making small changes.”

Makoto Tamada, Konica Minolta Honda: 2:03.63 – 40 laps: “Now I have changed to Michelin tyres I have to rethink set up at every track so once I had found a good setting today I tried many big changes to the RCV. I worked mainly on the engine braking systems and suspension, and tyres of course. The crash was very slow. When I went out on new tyres I told my mechanics I would do 20 laps but the bike felt really good so I got up to speed to quickly and lost the front end. But I’m OK no problem.”

Troy Bayliss, Camel Honda: 2:04.81 – 80 laps: “I still haven’t found the feeling I had at the previous tests with the RC211V but I think that’s pretty normal considering how different the conditions are. At the moment I’m trying to find better traction and the data we gathered today will help us to continue working tomorrow, when we will also combine suspension and tyre tests.”

Santiago Mulero, Camel Honda (Chief technician for Troy Bayliss) : “We’ve worked a lot today, using all the time available in the session to get Troy in the best possible conditions to understand the bike at this circuit, which is very different to Jerez and Valencia in terms of both the track layout and the climatic conditions. We did a lot of work on the suspension to improve traction, the point that Troy wanted to concentrate most on. We’ve gathered a lot of data and over the next two days I’m sure we will find the perfect set-up”.


More, from a press release issued by Gauloises Yamaha:

GAULOISES YAMAHA TEAM SEPANG TEST
Sepang, Malaysia
Sunday, January 23rd, 2005

Ambient temperature: 34 degrees
Track temperature: 52 degrees
Humidity: 37%

GAULOISES YAMAHA TEAM RIDERS START 2005 WITH A BUSY DAY IN SEPANG

Reigning World Champion Valentino Rossi and his new Yamaha team-mate Colin Edwards began their 2005 MotoGP campaign today with day one of a three-day test in Sepang, Malaysia. The two riders climbed on board their new 2005 specification YZR-M1s this morning for the first time this year, having enjoyed a seven-week winter holiday since the last test in November.

Sharing the track with the Fortuna Yamaha Team as well as teams from Honda, Ducati, Kawasaki and Suzuki, the Gauloises Yamaha Team quickly got back into the swing of things and spent the day working on setting-up the new bikes. Rossi completed a total of 47 laps and recorded a fastest time of 2:02.30, the second quickest lap of the day behind Ducati man Loris Capirossi (2:02.18). His Texan team-mate Edwards, who has already tested twice with the team despite not becoming an official Yamaha rider until 1st January this year, completed 55 laps with a best time of 2:03.08, fifth fastest overall of the 17 MotoGP riders testing in Sepang.

Valentino Rossi, (2:02.30)
Today was not too bad, for the first day back! We spent the day working on settings, and for sure we know that this new bike is a good bike. There is some improvement to the engine and now the aim is to make some more changes and to try to get the same feeling as we had with last year’s bike, so I can ride it in the same way. This bike is almost completely new, plus I haven’t ridden for two months, so there is a lot of work to do and we will continue tomorrow.

Colin Edwards (2:03.08)
I’m pretty happy after this first day and it’s awesome to be back. We spent all day changing settings and just working on various small things to try to improve the set-up. The Japanese need quite a lot of information to build their database, so we spent some time doing things for them, too. We didn’t test any tyres, as we wanted to just concentrate on set-up, but tomorrow we might spend some more time with different Michelin tyres. We’ve got a new engine, a new chassis and there’s a lot to work on; some areas have improved for me and some haven’t, but we just need to find the balance and we’ll be okay.

Davide Brivio, Gauloises Yamaha Team Director
In November we tested a prototype bike and we’ve come here today with the final 2005 machine. The work we did today was just normal work to fine-tune the settings. We’ve got 18 full days of testing planned before the start of the season, so we have plenty of time to work on all the issues and hopefully find a good solution for any difficulties. Today we have only just started.

Ends

LAP TIMES:

1. Loris Capirossi (Ducati) 2:02.18
2. VALENTINO ROSSI (YAMAHA) 2:02.30
3. Alex Barros (Honda) 2:02.71
4. Kenny Roberts (Suzuki) 2:03.00
5. COLIN EDWARDS (YAMAHA) 2:03.08


More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki Racing Team:

KAWASAKI KICK OFF THE NEW YEAR AT SEPANG

After a lengthy two month break the Kawasaki Racing Team returned to the racetrack at Sepang today, for the first of three days of testing in preparation for the 2005 MotoGP World Championship season.

Kawasaki riders, Shinya Nakano and Alex Hofmann, had available to them the Ninja ZX-RR machines they campaigned last season, together with the very latest version of Kawasaki’s 990cc, inline four-cylinder MotoGP machine.

Both riders opted to start the test aboard the 2004 machines, to give themselves the chance to get back up to speed after such a long layoff, and to reacquaint themselves with the characteristics of the bike that took Nakano to tenth place in the 2004 MotoGP World Championship standings.

While Hofmann continued with the 2004 bike during the afternoon test session, Nakano took the opportunity to put the 2005 Ninja ZX-RR through its paces around the Sepang circuit, with favourable results.

Shinya Nakano: #56
“This morning it was a case of getting used to the bike again after the long winter break, and to meet the new members of my crew who joined the team over the winter. I started the test on the 2004 bike, but switched to the latest version of the Ninja ZX-RR for the afternoon session. This is a new bike, so we know there’s a lot of work to do on set-up and getting the chassis balance right, but already I can feel an improvement over the old bike in certain areas. The old bike was a bit nervous when the rear tyre started to slide, but the 2005 machine is a lot easier to control in the slide. Tomorrow we’ll continue to compare the 2004 and 2005 machines, as we work towards refining the set-up of the new bike.”

Alex Hofmann: #66
“We started today aboard the 2004 bike, to give me the chance to get my brain back up to speed after such a long break. I was quite surprised at how quickly I felt comfortable on the bike again, and it didn’t take long for me to start racking up some reasonable lap times. This afternoon we tested a new swinging arm on the 2004 bike, for comparison purposes, as well as testing some new rear tyres from Bridgestone. Tomorrow we’ll switch to the 2005 version of the ZX-RR and I’m looking forward to finding out how much of an improvement the new bike is, and where the improvements have been made.”

Naoya Kaneko: Technical Coordinator “We have both the 2004 and 2005 versions of the Ninja ZX-RR with us at this test, but both riders started today aboard the old bikes. This gave them the chance to get back into the swing of things after such a long break. While Alex spent most of the day on the 2004 bike, Shinya opted to try the latest version of the ZX-RR during the afternoon session, with promising results. Tomorrow both riders will run comparison tests between the new bike and the old, as we work to find the strengths of the new bike and how we can improve it further for both Shinya and Alex. Overall, I’m satisfied with the progress we’ve made today.”


More, from a press release issued by Camel Honda:

Alex Barros the fastest Honda on the first day of tests in Malaysia

Sepang Circuit, Malaysia, 23rd January. The 2005 season began today for the two Camel Honda riders Troy Bayliss and Alex Barros, who are preparing for their first and tenth seasons respectively with the Japanese factory in the premier class. Their approach therefore differed accordingly on the first of three days of tests at this first outing of the preseason. Alex Barros, who got straight down to the business of setting fast times on a bike he knows well, was the third quickest rider on the day and the fastest Honda, quickly finding a set-up for his RC211V and ending the session at the planned time of 1700h. Meanwhile, Troy Bayliss made use of an extra hour to understand and adapt to the bike in just his third test. The weather was warm and dry, without too much humidity.

Ramon Forcada – Camel Honda – (Chief technician for Alex Barros)
“I’m happy with the work we’ve done on the bike because we’ve completed the programme of set-up work we decided on yesterday, without any interruptions and improving step by step. So now we’re ready for the work we have to do tomorrow, which will be different tyre and suspension tests. Alex was particularly concentrated and determined, quick from the first lap and consistent from then on, continually improving. The time is very good, particularly because we didn’t use a qualifier or even a soft tyre, just race tyres.”

Alex Barros – Camel Honda – 2:02.71 (52 laps)
“I’m happy, Things went better today than I had expected after two months spent a long way from the bike. I thought I’d have to spend more time getting used to it again but in fact I felt comfortable straight away. That meant I was able to work on a lot of different settings for my RCV, from engine braking to the clutch, acceleration and front brakes. We didn’t do any tyre work but we’ll do that tomorrow. I am really satisfied with the times that I set because I was consistently faster than I was at the GP here in October, right from the morning. It really is a good start to the test.”

Santiago Mulero – Camel Honda (Chief technician for Troy Bayliss)
“We’ve worked a lot today, using all the time available in the session to get Troy in the best possible conditions to understand the bike at this circuit, which is very different to Jerez and Valencia in terms of both the track layout and the climatic conditions. We did a lot of work on the suspension to improve traction, the point that Troy wanted to concentrate most on. We’ve gathered a lot of data and over the next two days I’m sure we will find the perfect set-up”.

Troy Bayliss – Camel Honda – 2:04.8 (80 laps)
“I still haven’t found the feeling I had at the previous tests with the RC211V but I think that’s pretty normal considering how different the conditions are. At the moment I’m trying to find better traction and the data we gathered today will help us to continue working tomorrow, when we will also combine suspension and tyre tests.”


More, from a press release issued by Telefonica Movistar Honda:

TELEFONICA MOVISTAR HONDA TEAM BACK IN ACTION
First day of testing for Sete Gibernau and Marco Melandri at Sepang

Sepang (Malesia) 23rd of January 2005

After the long winter break the riders of the team Telefonica MoviStra Honda were back on track today to start working for the 2005 season that will start in Jerez de la Frontera on April the 10th. Sete Gibernau, second in the 2004 MotoGP Championship, and Marco Melandri had very different experiences on the opening day. Sete Gibernau worked on the problems encountered during the last Grand Prix here in Sepang. Many transponders were installed on the bike to record all the data and he had to stop frequently in the box to check the data. He managed to make only 37 laps because of technical problems.

Marco Melandri continued his adaptation to the characteristics of the RCV setting respectable lap times in the afternoon session. Totally he made 62 laps and run constantly on a pace of 2:03.5.


Sete Gibernau, 2:03.40 – 37 laps:
“Our first day of testing here in Sepang focused on understanding the reasons of the problems we had here during the last GP. In order to record all the data, many transponders were installed on the bike. This work took a lot of time, moreover I had to stop frequently to check every single problem so I could make only a few laps . During my last exit on track, I could make three laps on a row and it seemed that everything was working well. Now we need to analyse all the data and keep on working.”


Marco Melandri, 2:03.50 – 62 laps:
“I’m very happy of the feeling I had with the bike. The engine was slightly different from the one I had tested in November, the engine I have tested today is the same of Sete and I got a good feeling. I had a good rhythm during all the day, I lapped constantly on 2:03.5 and lap by lap my confidence with the bike improved. We decided to stop a little bit earlier because I had already made a lot of laps! Today we focused on working with the standard setting so that tomorrow we can start making small changes.”


More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

POSITIVE DEBUT FOR THE DESMOSEDICI GP5

Sepang (Malaysia) 23 January 2005 – Ducati Marlboro Team engineers spent much of the first day of testing at the Sepang circuit setting up the Desmosedici GP5 machine for its first track appearance of 2005, while Loris Capirossi and Carlos Checa were able to get back into the swing of testing after the winter break. In the sweltering Malaysian heat (temperatures of up to 35°C but with bearable humidity levels of 38%), Loris and Carlos began the Desmosedici GP5 three-day test schedule, completing 46 and 39 laps respectively. At the end of the day Capirossi had notched up an extraordinary time of 2:02.18 while Checa, despite still suffering from the injury he picked up at Madonna di Campiglio, set an encouraging time of 2:03.57.

“We spent the first part of the day checking on the reliability of the bike to get it ready for the rest of the test” declared Ducati Marlboro Team Technical Director Corrado Cecchinelli. “This was the first chance for us to see that the new design philosophy behind the Desmosedici GP5, ‘evolution not revolution’, works. The fact that an electrical component for example, can be interchanged with another meant that today we could temporarily go back to something we had used before. This enabled us to finish the day without any problems and allow Loris to set an excellent time.”

“It felt great to get back on the bike again after more than a month’s inactivity” declared Loris Capirossi. “At the end of this first day of testing I’m really satisfied and convinced that we are going in the right direction with the GP5. In addition I have to admit that the Bridgestone tyres have also given me positive indications here at Sepang, especially the front tyre. At the end of the day I even set a great time, but we have to keep our feet firmly on the ground and continue to work with passion and enthusiasm.”

“I couldn’t wait to get back on the track again”, declared Carlos Checa, “but I was still in a bit of difficulty after the banal incident at Madonna di Campiglio. Yesterday the circuit doctor removed the stitches in my left hand, but unfortunately the wound has not completely healed. I was able to lap anyway with help from the special glove brought here by Alpinestars and I could see that we were working well.”

Loris Capirossi 2:02.18
Carlos Checa 2:03.57

From a press release issued by the Motorcycle Industry Council:

Annual Motorcycle Sales Roar Through The One Million Mark

Upward Trend Continues for 12th Consecutive Year

IRVINE, Calif. – New motorcycle sales continued to climb last year, rising through the one million mark and reaching levels not seen since the 1970s. The Motorcycle Industry Council is currently estimating 2004 two-wheeler sales of nearly 1,050,000, and the upward trend continues as the industry has sold increasing numbers of bikes for the 12th straight year.

Compared with 2003, sales of the major brands last year rose 4.7 percent. Among those 12 brands, cruiser models, sportbikes, touring bikes, traditional (or “naked”) bikes, and dual-purpose bikes led the way in percentage increases. Cruisers remained the top sellers, followed by sportbikes and touring bikes.

“The success of motorcycling over the past twelve years is amazing,” said Larry Little, chairman of the MIC and vice president and publisher of Cycle World magazine. “Through years of economic challenges, veteran riders, new riders, Americans from all walks of life have made motorcycling part of their lives. Our research tells us that today’s motorcyclists tend to have a more optimistic view of life, and that’s played a role in new bike sales.”

“A wider range of Americans are becoming motorcyclists,” said Tim Buche, MIC president. “Women now account for nearly ten percent of owners, more families with kids are out riding dirt bikes, and even more seniors are enjoying two-wheel travel. As motorcycling becomes more and more part of the fabric of mainstream America, with overall consumer confidence on the rise, and with more and more people taking a look at motorcycles as viable transportation and excellent recreation, we are optimistic that the industry will continue its great ride.”

Sales in 2003 hovered at the one million mark, with the MIC reporting most of last year that the total was approximately 996,000. Last month’s final tally of 2003 sales indicated that just over one million units were sold, when small, independent brands were factored in.

YearTotal
1992278,000
1993293,000
1994306,000
1995309,000
1996330,000
1997356,000
1998432,000
1999546,000
2000710,000
2001850,000
2002936,000
20031,001,000
U.S. New Unit Motorcycle Sales –
Source: Motorcycle Industry Council

The motorcycle industry last saw this level of success in the 1970s, when baby boomers and their children took to dirt bikes and highly affordable imports, mostly from the major Japanese manufacturers. The year recognized by the MIC as having the highest number of new bike sales is 1973, when Americans purchased more than 1.5 million motorcycles. Before 2003, the last time that motorcycle sales eclipsed one million was 1979.

Sales tapered throughout the 1980s, and reached their nadir in 1992, when roughly 278,000 new motorcycles and scooters found buyers. Today, the industry sells more than that number in dirt bikes alone. Annual motorcycle sales began their sustained rise in 1993, and made huge gains in the latter part of the decade. In 1998, sales jumped 21 percent compared to the previous twelve months. In 2000, the market skyrocketed by 30 percent. Motorcycling witnessed double-digit annual percentage increases between 1998 and 2002.

“So many people at all levels in the motorcycle industry jump-started the business again,” said Ty van Hooydonk, director of product communications for Discover Today’s Motorcycling. “And the motorcycles have greatly improved over the past dozen years. The advances in technology applied to bikes has made them that much more enjoyable, really striking a connection with their riders. Modern materials and methods have opened new doors for styling and design. We’re seeing bikes on the road today that were dream stuff back in the seventies. And there’s a huge array of bikes on the market that appeal to all of the expanding buyer segments. There’s a great bike available, and likely a choice of great bikes, for anyone wanting to ride, regardless of skill level or the type of riding that’s of interest to them.”

Discover Today’s Motorcycling® at www.motorcycles.org is the communications service bureau of the Motorcycle Industry Council and a source of information about motorcycling to the media and the general public. The MIC, located in Irvine, Calif., is a not-for-profit national trade association representing manufacturers and distributors of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, scooters, motorcycle parts and accessories, and members of allied trades.

From a press release issued by Gauloises Yamaha:

Yamaha Factory Team rider Colin Edwards speaks ahead of the first test of 2005

Sepang, Malaysia. January 22nd 2005

1. How was your winter holiday? Where were you and what did you do?

I spent Christmas at home in Texas with my family and then we headed up to Wyoming, where we’ve got a place in Jackson Hole. The snow was fantastic and we spent about 20 days there, so I managed lots of snowboarding and snowmobiling!

2. Will you be heading back to America between races and tests this year, or will you have a base in Europe, as you have in the past?

I don’t think so; the calendar is so different this year that it’s going to allow me much time back home. If it weren’t for Laguna Seca in the middle of the season, I’d probably have kept the place in Italy that I had last year, but it’s not needed now. There are two weekends after Le Mans and before Mugello, so then we’ll probably go to stay with some friends in the UK, but apart from that we’ll be in the motorhome or back in the US!

3. 2005 is like a Yamaha ‘homecoming’ for you! How does it feel to be reunited with Yamaha and what’s the single best thing about it?

It’s great; to be honest I never wanted to leave the first time around! It’s been eleven years, but so many things have stayed the same that it really is like coming home. The best thing about it is the fact that Yamaha really wanted me to come back and ride the bike, which makes me feel really good.

4. How are you getting on with your new team? Have you adapted easily to working with a new group of people?

It’s been really easy, they’re a great bunch of guys. I already knew Davide Brivio from my World Superbike days, and I’ve got to know the rest of them quickly. It helps that everyone speaks English, and they all seem to understand my way of explaining things!

5. You’ve already ridden the M1 at two tests last year. What were your first impressions of the bike and what are your favourite things about it?

My first impressions of the M1 were really good, and I got a good feeling with it very quickly. It helps that Valentino and I have quite a similar way of setting the bike up. The best thing about it is that it turns so well. The corner speed is fantastic and it goes exactly where I want it to go!

6. How are you feeling about this first test of the year, are you looking forward to getting back to work?

I’m really excited to be back and starting the season, in fact I’m excited about everything this year! I’m looking forward to seeing the potential of the new bike, stretching the parameters during testing and seeing where we can go.

7. What are the key areas you’d like to work on during this test? Do you have any specific goals?

Not really, I think we’ll just see how it goes. We need to test hard and get as many laps done as possible. I’d like to be consistent, too. I guess that the main goal of the test is to get as much work done as possible!

8. You and Valentino have been successful together in the past; do you feel a lot of pressure this year as his team-mate?

A lot of people have been asking me this, but I really haven’t looked at in that way. For me it’s better; Valentino is the World Champion and he’s working on developing the same bike that I’m riding! I think we can work together a lot; we are quite similar and what works for him generally works for me, too. We’re working in the same direction and this is essential for a good team.

9. Many of the other teams on the grid are testing here in Sepang. Are you glad to get the chance to compare your performance to the rest of the MotoGP riders at such an early stage in the season?

I think it’s good, the more the merrier! It means that we know what we’re up against right from the start. However I think at this test the Honda guys will be on their old bikes for this test, whereas we’re already focusing on the 2005-spec versions, so perhaps the second test will be a better indication what’s going on.

10. What are your expectations for yourself at this early stage of your new partnership with Yamaha? How quickly do you think you can be competitive?

I hope I can be competitive tomorrow! I’m not going to sit and hope that I can be competitive by the fifth or sixth race, I’ve come here to win and I expect to be doing well right from the start.

11. How do you feel about the increase to 17 races for 2005? Are you looking forward to having the chance to race in front of your home fans in Laguna Seca?

I actually like the new calendar. It’s much more similar to the old World Superbike calendar, although with more races, and it allows me to have much more time at home. I’m already excited about Laguna Seca, I’m looking forward to having the chance to race at home again, on a track that I’ve grown up racing on. The fans are incredible there, there are so many people, so many Americans, I think it’s going to be out of control!

From a press release issued by Gauloises Yamaha:

Valentino Rossi speaks ahead of Yamaha Factory Team test in Sepang, Malaysia

Sepang, Malaysia. January 22nd 2005

1. Are you looking forward to the first test and getting back to work after the holiday?

For sure it’s good to be back. The holiday was good, although not long enough, but it’s time to restart now. The work that we do during the winter is very important; we have a new bike and it’s important to develop it during this time, and we will start tomorrow. Once the races begin it’s more difficult and there is not time for much testing.

2. What would you like to achieve during this first test; do you have any specific goals for your team?

Nothing specific, but it’s an important test for us because it’s the first of the year and because many of the other teams are here. I’ve been off the bike for two months so we need to try to understand it again, do some race simulations and test some tyres.

3. Will you continue working with both the 2004 and 2005-spec bikes during this first test?

We have the 2004 M1 here for reference, which is useful. It worked well here last year; we won the race and always did fast lap times so it will be interesting to compare it to the new bike and it will help us to understand which parts have improved.

4. You and Colin Edwards have been a successful team in the past, are you looking forward to sharing a garage with him this season?

I’m happy to be with Colin, although I enjoyed being team-mates with Checa, too. Colin is probably my best friend amongst the riders, he’s a good guy and he’s fast. I think that we will be able to help each other to get faster. When we raced in the Suzuka Eight-Hour together, we discovered that we’re not so different and we like a similar set-up, so the engineers will have more data to share between them this year.

5. During this first test you will be testing alongside most of your MotoGP competitors, including HRC and Ducati. Are you pleased to have the chance to compare yourself to your rivals this early in the season?

In some ways it’s better to be alone, as it’s quieter and we can work better without always worrying about the lap-times of the other riders. But it’s also good to have the reference of the others’ times, right from the start of the season.

6. Do you think the extended calendar in 2005 will affect the riders and make the season much harder, and are you looking forward to racing at the new circuits in China and Laguna Seca?

In my opinion we are at the limit now, and 17 races is really too much. With all the testing that we do now, it means we’re always on the bike and it’s quite difficult. However I am looking forward to the two new Grands Prix; both Shanghai and Laguna Seca are fantastic tracks and it will be good to race at them.

From a press release issued by Roadshows, Inc.

Roadshows, Inc. To Produce 10 Motorcycle Event in 2005

Reno, NV — Roadshows, Inc., of Reno, NV, producer of some of the largest motorcycle events in the nation, has expanded the number of events it will produce in 2005 to ten.

Roadshows combines great bands, thrilling entertainment, amusing bike games, incredible tours, poker runs, fabulous shopping and the hottest bikes on the planet to ensure successful events. Roadshows motorcycle events scheduled in 2005 are:

May 16-21 Myrtle Beach Bike Week “Big Bikes, Big Beach, Big Bash” – sponsored by The Carolina Harley-Davidson Dealers Association, includes live bands and specialty entertainment and stunt shows daily. Enjoy 60 miles of highway right along the coast. Salt air, sea breeze, bikes and the beach — It simply doesn’t get better than this! Enjoy Harley-Davidson Demo Rides, a Competition Ride-In Show and Bike Games. Event is open to all motorcycles. This event is huge — so get ready to party. Bike Week will rock the Convention Center at 21st Street and North Oak where you’ll find vendors and entertainment. Visit www.road-shows.com to download registration forms for the All Harley Ride-In Shows. For more vendor, sponsor or event information, call Roadshows at 800-200-4557or e-mail [email protected].

Dates TBD Pearl River Run in Chocktaw, MS, 60 miles from the State Capital of Jackson, MS will feature stunt shows, a ride in show, a poker run, a beach party, big name entertainment in a Saturday night concert and a selection of vendors who will offer everything motorcycle enthusiasts could want. Visit www.road-shows.com to download registration forms. For more vendor, sponsor or event information, call Roadshows at 800-200-4557or e-mail [email protected] .

May 29-30 West Coast Thunder V is the sixth annual event commemorating Memorial Day. Participants assemble in the morning at Skip Fordyce Harley-Davidson, the event presenter, for a parade to the Riverside National Cemetery to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. Then it’s off to the park for lunch and entertainment following the memorial service. Download a registration form at www.road-shows.com or call Roadshows at 800-200-4557or e-mail [email protected] for more vendor, sponsor or event information.

June 24-26 Mammoth Lakes Mean Mountain Run is now in its fifth year produced by professionals for motorcycle enthusiasts. Roadshows, Inc. will work with the City of Mammoth Lakes, CA for this event at the Village Pavilion lot on Old Mammoth Road. There’ll be a poker run, ride-in shows, bike games, stunt shows and rockin’ music while vendors sell their wares. Open to all motorcycles. Download a registration form at www.road-shows.com, call Roadshows at 800-200-4557or e-mail [email protected] for more vendor, sponsor or event information.

July 8-10 Ride To the Rock, San Francisco. The City By the Bay will host this motorcycle event at Pier 31 with great food, fun and all things motorcycle. Enthusiasts can expect great music and a good time with a little salt air thrown in for good measure. Download a registration form at www.road-shows.com , call Roadshows at 800-200-4557 or e-mail [email protected] for more vendor, sponsor or event information.

Sept. 21-25 Street Vibrations Motorcycle Festival is the hottest time on two wheels! A celebration of music, metal and motorcycles Street Vibrations offers tours, entertainment, parades, ride-in shows, stunt shows, Chrome Alley retail vendors, the Harley-Davidson Factory Store, big name concerts and more. The event is so big, it rocks at several locations throughout Reno, NV. Rides to historic towns and to one of the most beautiful meetings of mountains and water on earth fabulous Lake Tahoe — provide special entertainment all their own. Flirt with Lady Luck during poker walks and runs and during special slot tournaments. It’s HOG heaven! Open to all motorcycles. Visit www.road-shows.com to download a registration form. For more vendor, sponsor or event information call 800-200-4557 or e-mail [email protected].

Oct. 7-9 American Heat Palm Springs Motorcycle & Hot Rod Weekend in the desert resort cities of the spectacular Coachella Valley. Producers have married a Motorcycle event with stunt shows, live entertainment and retail vendors galore — so there is plenty to see – and do. This event is so hot it sizzles! Palm Springs is a vacation paradise and a great place to play. It’s bounded by lush mountain ranges for the perfect ride and a tour of desert cities. Live music rocks throughout the weekend along with Motorcycle activities. Open to all motorcycles and hot rods. Visit www.road-shows.com and download a registration form. For more vendor, sponsor or event information call Roadshows Inc., at 800-200-4557or e-mail [email protected].

Oct. 14-16 Bridge City Bike Rally in Lake Havasu City, AZ is the site for this 2nd year event produced by Roadshows, Inc. The home of the London Bridge won’t be falling but it will definitely be rockin’ with live entertainment, a ride-in show, poker run, and a Masquerade Parade over the legendary London Bridge. Of course vendors selling all things motorcycle completes the package of this-not-to-be-missed first-time event. Download a registration form at www.road-shows.com. For more vendor, sponsor or event information or to have a registration form mailed to you, call 800-200-4557 or e-mail [email protected].

Oct. 28-29 Anaheim Harleyween Rally in Anaheim, CA will be part of the “Autumn in Anaheim” celebration and will feature a ride-in show, poker run, entertainment, gift buying opportunities and a special Harleyween Masquarade Parade and a reception to benefit a local charity. Open to all motorcycles. Download a registration form at www.road-shows.com. For more vendor, sponsor or event information or to have a registration form mailed to you, call 800-200-4557 or e-mail [email protected].

Copyright 2005, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Zoom Zoom Trackdays, which holds events at Thunderhill Raceway Park, Infineon Raceway, Buttonwillow Raceway and Reno-Fernley Raceway, has announced it will be supported by Wheel To Wheel Support, Inc., the new west coast Pirelli race tire distributor, in 2005.

According to a press release announcing the partnership, Zoom Zoom Trackdays’ staff will use Pirelli Diablo Corsa track day tires supplied by Wheel To Wheel Support, which will offer trackside tire services for staff and participants at Zoom Zoom Trackday events.

Zoom Zoom Trackdays also provides an AFM racer licensing course.

For additional information, go to www.zoomzoomtrackdays.com.

Copyright 2005, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Arai Helmets, which has sponsored the Daytona 200 race, known as the Daytona 200 by Arai, for the last 19 years, will not be the title sponsor of the 2005 Daytona 200.

“We’ve just kind of turned back our involvement,” Arai Helmet (Americas), Ltd. President Roger Weston told Roadracingworld.com Friday. “We are the official helmet for the event week at Daytona, so we are still involved with the people. It was just a financial matter.”

Asked if the change of the Daytona 200 from a Superbike race to a Formula Xtreme race had any influence on his company’s sponsorship decision, Weston said, “Well, it didn’t make it more attractive, but we were going this route before we even knew that.”

Weston said Arai will still have a “fairly obvious” presence in the paddock at Daytona and “will be doing the same thing we’ve done”, providing racer support and sizing and product information to consumers.

Calls to AMA Pro Racing Vice President – Director of Communications Kerry Graeber seeking comment had not been returned at post time.

Copyright 2005, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION:

Via e-mail:

Not long ago I posted an ad on the internet to sell a Ghezzi-Brian. I recently received an e-mail from a Stuart Claire telling me he wanted the bike; the asking price was fine (19K) and that he would cover the shipping. He didn’t ask anything about the bike. The motorbike was to be shipped to the Benin Republic, which is in southwestern Africa.

I got onto the roadracingworld.com website; hit “search” and typed in “scam.” I have to say thanks for everyone who ever wrote into Roadracing World with their personal experiences on attempts to scam American motorcyclist out of their bikes or cash.

I did some additional research on the Benin Republic and e-mailed Mr. Claire saying that I would accept a bank draft only from the National Bank of West Africa, which has an office in San Francisco; that I would deposit that draft directly in that bank and only when that bank paid me in dollars US would I ship the Ghezzi-Brian. Naturally, I never heard back from the guy.

Again, thanks to your readers who think it important to look out for each other.

Regards,

Allan Engel
Long Beach, California