From a press release:

I just wanted to let everyone know that Wheel Two Wheeel Support, Inc. will have available the full line of Pirelli tires at this weekend’s WSMC 2005 season opener and all season long. Any inquires should call Tom Jirkovsky at 661-248-6869 or at the the track at 661-378-1532.

From a press release issued by Ducati North America:

ATLANTA MONSTER CHALLENGE SHOWS SERIOUS HORSEPOWER

The Monster Challenge continues in Atlanta, GA where fans came in force to record over 900 People’s Choice votes.

Cupertino, CA – January 14, 2005 – Ducati is one round closer to finding the coolest Monster in North America as part of the Ducati Monster Challenge. The Atlanta edition of this competition concluded last weekend during the Cycle World International Motorcycle Show. As with the other events, competition was stiff and some contestants traveled from Texas and Florida for their shot at getting to the final round in Daytona where they could win a new S4R or trip to a MotoGP race.

Michael McIntyre from El Paso, Texas was the first place winner and will be going to Daytona for the Grand Finale during Bike Week. His 2005 S4R is turbocharged and makes a claimed 206 horsepower. Michael says the coolest part about his Monster is, “It makes 200 horsepower!” If you are looking to go fast, what more could you need?

2nd place went to John O’Dell from Ft. Walton Beach, Florida. When John isn’t riding his Monster, he works in the Air Force as a Master Sargent. This 1999 Monster 900S has a host of upgrades including loads of carbon fiber parts and Marvic Penta wheels. His other bikes include a Ducati 999R, 996, and MV Agusta and he claims, “My Monster gets more attention than all of them. Must be the carbon fiber?”

Byron Kauffman won 3rd place with his 2000 Monster 900. His bike started as a disassembled M750 Dark which he changed to a 900SP motor done in crinkle black paint like an old Ferrari engine. Additional custom work includes 851 swingarm, wire spoke wheels, and Conti pipes. Byron does all the work himself and the bike is constantly evolving.

The hotly contested “People’s Choice” award went to Leslie Vecchione of Alpharetto, GA. Her 2001 Monster 900 was a real show-stopper with a beautifully retro Italian flag paint scheme. Over 900 people voted during the 3-day IMS Show.

Founded in 1926, Ducati builds racing-inspired motorcycles characterized by unique engine features, innovative design, advanced engineering and overall technical excellence. The Company produces motorcycles in five market segments which vary in their technical and design features and intended customers: Superbike, Supersport; Monster, Sport Touring and Multistrada. The Company’s motorcycles are sold in more than 60 countries worldwide, with a primary focus in the Western European, Japan and North American markets. Ducati has won thirteen of the last fifteen World Superbike Championship titles and more individual victories than the competition put together. For more information about the Company, please visit our web site at www.ducati.com.

Copyright 2005, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Damon Buckmaster will race his factory Yamaha YZF-R6 Supersport bike in this weekend’s Willow Springs Motorcycle Club (WSMC) event at Willow Springs International Raceway, in Rosamond, California.

Buckmaster practiced Friday at the track with a full data acquisition system installed on his YZF-R6 and factory team mechanics working on his bike.

Asked if he was going to compete in the club races, Buckmaster told Roadracingworld.com, “Of course. We’re just here to have a bit of fun and try some thing out. There’s always something to try.”

Buckmaster’s Superstock Team Owner Chuck Graves, a WSMC regular, is also preparing to race this weekend. Graves rode a YZF-R1 in Friday’s practice session.

Other top professionals expected to race this weekend at Willow Springs are: Vincent Haskovec, Chris Ulrich, Jeremy Toye, Chris Peris and Jason Perez.

Having professional riders compete in their races during the winter months is nothing new to WSMC racers. Riders who have raced with WSMC during winters past include: Aaron Gobert, Anthony Gobert, Tommy Hayden, Tony Meiring and Josh Hayes, among others.

From a press release:

Lewisville, TX — Road Race For Kids, a Dallas, TX based 501 c (3) non-profit corporation announces its first annual track day. Road Race For Kids brings the appeal of motorcycle road racing to kids as an alternative to drug and alcohol abuse.

The track day will be held on Monday January 24, at Motor Sport Ranch, located just south of Forth Worth in Cresson, TX. The track will be run counter-clockwise, the same way it will be run in the first round of the 2005 CMRA series.

Track space is limited to 45 licensed racers only, on race-ready machinery. Track time should be plentiful with only 2 small groups (amateur/expert), and 20 minute revolving sessions.

For event information, please contact:

Michael Newhouse
[email protected]
214-728-5915

Copyright 2005, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

A decision on whether or not Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca will host a stand-alone round of the AMA Superbike series in the fall of 2005–in addition to the combined MotoGP/AMA race in July–could be made as early as next week.

That’s what raceway CEO/General Manager Gill Campbell told Roadracingworld.com in a phone interview this morning.

“Our September 9-11 date has become available because CHAMP car can’t make up their minds about what they’re doing,” said Campbell. “We’ve let them know we’re moving on. I have about three options on the table for consideration and an AMA stand-alone event is certainly one of them. It comes down to how the numbers crunch out and what we feel is the absolute best event for this Racetrack in September.

“I have to put budgets and proposals together for my executive committee,” continued Campbell. “They meet next week. I don’t know whether I’ll have a decision then or not. I have a lot of homework to do.”

Asked if she would characterize the percentage chances of a stand-alone AMA National being held on the date at the Monterey, California racetrack, Campbell said “Not at this point. It’s real, real early stages.”

Asked what other events are in competition with the AMA Series for the date, Campbell said “I’m not at liberty to say right now.”

Copyright 2005, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Internet-fueled rumors of the death of former racer and current race starter Al Wilcox are untrue.

“I’m feeling great,” said Wilcox when he called Roadracingworld.com this afternoon, returning a phone message left at his home in Trenton, New Jersey. “I turned 86 last week and I can’t wait for it (racing) to start again.”

Wilcox said he plans to again serve as the starter for WERA events at Summit Point Raceway in 2005.

“I’m down to Summit Point only now,” said Wilcox, explaining that since his wife, Julia, died in 1999, he hasn’t wanted to travel too far in his motorhome by himself. “Traveling by myself started to get to me a little bit.”

Wilcox mentioned in his phone call that he handled the green flag and checkered flag for the first, 50th and 100th WERA National Endurance Series race wins by Team Hammer, which also raced as Team Suzuki Endurance and Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki between 1981 and 1997 and left the series with 127 overall race wins and 13 National Endurance Championship titles.

Copyright, 2005, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Local news reports say that damage from a tornado started a fire in a building at a Michelin car tire plant in Laurens, South Carolina.

Tires are burning in the fire.

Racers Eric Bostrom, Vincent Haskovec, Steve Rapp and Chris Peris toured the facility the Monday after the hurricane-delayed 2004 AMA finale at VIR.


FIRST PERSON/OPINION:

Via e-mail:

Hello,

Please revise the information you have posted online about South Carolina Michelin Tire Factory Building On Fire The fire occured at a warehouse operated by TNT Logistics that houses tires produced by Michelin. It is not a tire manufacturing facility.

Also, while I cannot confirm it, I am reasonably sure that Eric Bostrom toured a different facility. I believe he toured a tire manufacturing facility in Greenville, S.C.

Regards,
Phil Romba
Senior Public Relations Manager
Michelin North America

From a press release issued by Rizla Suzuki:

Dread rolls up with Rizla Suzuki

BRITISH Superbike Championship winning team Rizla Suzuki has appointed clothing specialist Dread for the third consecutive year as its official team-wear supplier.

Dread will supply corporate team clothing plus a full range of identical replica wear which will be for sale at all BSB race meetings throughout the season, as well as selected dealers nationwide.

Rizla Suzuki says Dread’s unparalleled quality of manufacture, design innovation and use of cutting edge materials made the choice of the Milton Keynes based manufacturer as its official team-clothing supplier a formality.

The Rizla Suzuki team clothing is designed to an extremely high specification, combining striking appearance with practical comfort and an appeal to fans and the general public who appreciate its unique fashion.

Dread also produces a wide range of corporate and team clothing for many diverse clients, including: Porsche, Brother and the local brownie packs.

Dread MD Dan Wheeler said: “Working with Rizla Suzuki is a very exciting project for us, they are British Champions and with the inclusion of Scott Smart in the team to partner John Reynolds I can only see them getting stronger, something which we are doing all the time.”

Rizla Suzuki team manager Robert Wicks said: “Rizla Suzuki makes a lot of demands of its clothing. It must be comfortable and practical for the mechanics to work on our Superbikes as well as representing our team in a colourful and attractive manner. It also has to be readily available for our fans.

“Dread ticks these boxes and for the first time ever we are now providing a replica range for general sale that will be identical in every aspect to the team clothing. Our merchandising programme in 2004 was extremely successful and we plan to further enhance and develop the range this year.

“We are the Champion team and will settle for nothing less but the best from suppliers and that is why we will be using Dread in 2005. I have no doubt that Rizla Suzuki will be the best dressed team in the Championship!”

The full range of Rizla clothing will debut at the first round of the British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch on 28th March. For more information on Dread, visit www.dread.cc or call 01908-221666.