Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

World Superbike veteran Pierfrancesco Chili, 40, will ride a CBR1000RR for Klaffi Honda in the 2005 World Superbike Championship, according to an announcement on the Klaffi Honda team website.

Chili has been a popular and successful fixture in the World Superbike Championship since 1995. In his 239 race starts, Chili has earned 61 podium finishes, 17 race wins, 29 fastest race laps and 10 pole positions.

Though he spent most of his years riding V-Twin-powered Ducatis, Chili is no stranger to inline Fours. The Italian rode a Suzuki GSX-R750 from 1999 to 2001, collecting three wins and 18 podium finishes during that time.

The highest Chili has finished in the World Superbike Championship standings was fourth (1998 and 2000). He finished fifth in the 2004 Championship on a PSG-1 Ducati 998/999 hybrid.

Chili was quoted in the announcement as saying “thank you” to his crew members, none of whom accepted other job offers while waiting for him to finalize his deal with Klaffi Honda.

According to Klaffi Honda Team Owner and Manager, Klaus Klaffenbock, his decision for his lead rider came down to Chili or Ben Bostrom.

Bostrom is expected to be announced to the Renegade Honda World Superbike team some time after January 1, 2005.

The Klaffi Honda team will also field 21-year-old German Max Neukirchner in World Superbike. (Neukirchner, along with Sebastien Charpentier, rode for Klaffi Honda in the 2004 World Supersport Championship.) Fin Tatu Lauslehto will ride on Klaffi Honda’s World Supersport squad in 2005.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

What started with one man’s hope to make Christmas a little merrier for a neighbor in need has resulted in the entire motorcycle community donating over $18,000 in cash plus gifts to the young family of six.

It all started with a December 16 posting on the WERA Motorcycle Racing electronic bulletin board (www.wera.com) by custom leathers maker “Barnacle Bill” Burns. Burns’ neighbors’ oldest of four sons, 12-year-old Christopher Powers, has had serious medical problems since birth, and even with health insurance, Christopher’s worsening condition and ever-increasing medical expenses had drained the family’s finances to the point where there would be little in the way of Christmas at their small Kentucky home.

Inspired by the Roadracing World Action Fund drive to raise money to increase racetrack safety, Burns decided the best way he could make a difference was to start a raffle. He offered entries at $5.00 each to win a custom-made set of racing leathers. His original post dreamed of getting 1000 people to each buy one ticket, which would result in a $5000 donation to the family.

Thanks to members of the WERA BBS spreading the word to other online motorcycle forums and the establishment of a website (www.expertfriend.com/ffcr_home.html) and PayPal account ([email protected]) by volunteer Dave Arkle, the $5000 mark was surpassed in less than two days and donations have continued to pour in from every corner of the U.S and as far away as the Kawasaki Triples Club of Norway.

Other business owners in the motorcycle community have donated additional prizes – like racing tires, fuel, motorcycle parts and pit flooring – to be awarded as secondary prizes in the raffle. A group of 10 racers have pledged to place decals representing these companies, or any company that donated $100 or more in cash or prizes, on their racebikes for the 2005 season. And some contributors donated video games, toys and department store gift cards directly to the family in time for Christmas.

At post time, cash donations had surpassed $18,000, a portion of which was given to the Powers family prior to Christmas.

Because donations continue to come in daily, some from repeat donors, Burns has not decided on an exact date he will close the raffle to entries. The drawing is expected to take place some time in early-January, however, so that the winner of the leathers can have their new suit completed prior to the start of the 2005 racing season.

To enter the raffle or just make a donation, go to www.PayPal.com and donate to: [email protected]. Donations can also be mailed in to: Barnacle Bill’s, Attn: Christopher Powers, 1106 Logan Rd., Springfield, KY 40069. Checks should be made payable to Barnacle Bill’s Christopher Fund. For additional information, call “Barnacle Bill” Burns at (859) 336-7375 or e-mail [email protected].

From a press release:

Privateer AMA Superbike racer Jack Pfeifer has created a new website.

Please start your new year with a glimpse at a “Privateer’s Dream” at www.jackpfeifer.com.

Highlights of the new site include great action photos, sponsorship opportunities, Jack’s bikes including his 4th-place-finishing Daytona 200 Suzuki GSX-R1000 for sale, and most importantly a Pfeifer Fan page where you could win a new Suomy helmet.

From a press release:

FAST Riding School adds “Phase R” race school for 2005

12/31/04 Shannonville, Ontario, Canada — FAST Riding School is pleased to announce it will be offering “Phase R,” a new course level that is intended for riders who plan to begin racing in 2005 or licensed racers who would like to improve their abilities.

“Many of the riders who begin racing at Shannonville have already attended our school” said FAST Riding School owner and 3-time Canadian Superbike Champion, Michel Mercier. “But we thought a specialized course for beginning and novice racers would be useful. Phase R will cover topics such as starting, passing and strategy, these are things we don’t concentrate on in our other courses.”

The Phase R courses are scheduled at Shannonville Motorsport Park’s Nelson circuit on April 27 and April 28, 2005. Successfully completing Phase R in April means students will be able to apply for their race license in time to enter the first races of the season which begin in May. Students must supply their own racebikes and riding gear.

More information can be found at the FAST Riding School website at www.fastridingschool.com.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The news last week that Virginia International Raceway had not included an AMA event on its 2005 schedule was met with disappointment from racers.

“It’s a bummer, for sure,” 2004 AMA Supersport Champion Tommy Hayden told Roadracingworld.com. “I always liked going there (VIR). I’ll be disappointed to only have 10 races. We need to keep as many races as we can, and VIR is definitely one of our good tracks. I hope this gets worked out, but it doesn’t look very good.”

“It’s never good to lose races off the schedule,” said American Honda’s Jake Zemke. “It would be nice to see if we can find a replacement or go back to another track twice. If we lost (VIR) and Brainerd in one year, that wouldn’t be good.”

“It’s always disappointing to lose a racetrack,” said 2004 AMA Formula Xtreme Champion Miguel Duhamel. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to replace it, if that does happen.”

With the AMA event at Brainerd International Raceway also listed by the AMA as tentative, due, in part, to the facility being put up for sale, and the possibility that all AMA support classes will not race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca this season, Duhamel was asked what he thought about the possibility of racing AMA Formula Xtreme only eight times in 2005.

“The point structure is made to be tight. They want to keep it tight. If there’s only eight races, if anything it’s just going to make it tighter. Hopefully, no one has a problem,” said Duhamel. “I’m just going to jump into the season. There’s not much I can do about it, personally. All I can do is give it my best effort. I’m going into the season pretty confident that no matter what they throw at us we’re going to have a good season. To this point in my career, I’m pretty much immune to anything they (AMA Pro Racing) could do. I’ve seen pretty much everything. That’s why I’m not anticipating too high or too low. I’m just going to really keep my head down and hope they keep it fair for everybody.”

From a press release:

Visionsports’ Racer University Dates for 2005

“Super” Dave Rosno’s Visionsports, Inc. will have two Visionsports’ Racer University (VRU) programs in 2005.

VRU dates are:

May 26th

August 25th

The location for VRU will be at the recently repaved Blackhawk Farms Raceway in Rockton, Illinois.

Visionsports’ Racer University programs are special small groups of instruction for road racing license holders that do race with regularity. Visionsports’ owner, Dave Rosno states, “It was apparent that there was a difference between a racer that raced with regularity versus more recreationally. This program is for a regular racer that needs that extra bit of input into their set up and riding for regular amateur and expert club racing.”

Enrollees will work with Chief Instructor “Super” Dave Rosno exclusively. Enrollments are limited to eight racers per event.

For more information about Visionsports’ programs, contact Visionsports, Inc. at 262-594-3883

Or at http://www.team-visionsports.com

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Roberto Rolfo has signed to ride in the 2005 MotoGP World Championship on a Dunlop-shod d’Antin Ducati Desmosedici, according to Dorna.

The 24-year-old Italian finished eighth and second in the 2004 and 2003 250cc World Championships, respectively.

Dorna is also reporting that 2003 British Superbike Champion Shane “Shakey” Byrne is a possibility for the second d’Antin Ducati.

Byrne rode in MotoGP for Aprilia in 2004.

Ruben Xaus and Neil Hodgson rode Michelin-equipped d’Antin Ducati Desmosedicis in 2004.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Corona Extra Suzuki intends to race in the AMA Superbike and Superstock classes with Dunlop-shod GSX-R1000s ridden by 22-year-old Brent George in 2005.

“That’s our intention,” Corona Extra Suzuki team principal Tim Saunders told Roadracingworld.com Wednesday. “It’s our intention to stay with what we have done for the last four years. Our deal with Corona is a multi-year affair. We don’t have anything signed with Suzuki yet, but we are expecting our bikes to arrive in the next two weeks. So at least it appears as if things are moving forward there.”

At the 2004 Suzuki Cup Finals at Road Atlanta, George finished third in the GSX-R1000 final, third in the GSX-R750 race and second in the GSX-R600 main event.

Saunders said his team is also speaking to riders to fill a possible second slot on the team.

Corona Extra Suzuki will not be at the AMA team test at Daytona International Speedway January 3-5, 2005.

From a press release issued by Clear Channel Entertainment – Motor Sports:

Suzuki Crossover Challenge

AURORA, Ill. (December 28, 2004) – Clear Channel Entertainment – Motor Sports and American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC) announced today that the eighth-annual Suzuki Crossover Challenge will take place at San Francisco’s SBC Park Saturday, January 29 during the night program of THQ World Supercross GP/THQ AMA Supercross Series. This year’s participants will compete on the widely popular DRZ 110 mini bike.

The Crossover Challenge is comprised of 24 action sport athletes and celebrities who are given the once-in-a-lifetime chance to race on a professional THQ World Supercross GP/THQ AMA Supercross Series track, under the lights and inside one of the most prestigious stadiums in the world.

Last year’s Suzuki Crossover Challenge – for the first time ever – ran during the night program of THQ World Supercross GP/THQ AMA Supercross Series at San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium. This year athletes and celebrities will race on the smaller, more adaptable DRZ 110 Suzuki motorcycle, which will make for better racing.

The 24-rider line-up is a three-lap, go-for-broke race that allows the winner to present $1,000 to a charity of his choice.

Action sports athletes and celebrities that would like to register for a place in the Suzuki Crossover Challenge, must submit – via email – a small bio on themselves as well as two letters from editors, stating that they will guarantee – at least – two pages of coverage on the Suzuki Crossover Challenge. Please submit all requests to [email protected].

The Suzuki Crossover Challenge moved from southern California to the bay area to pay tribute to the inaugural Dew Action Sports Tour stop in San Jose, September 8-11, 2005, at HP Pavilion. The Dew Action Sports Tour is the first-ever season-long professional multi-sport tour in action sports.

Supercross LIVE!, the only place on the planet to catch THQ World Supercross GP/THQ AMA Supercross Series live at home, is available for fans at every race, starting at 7:00 p.m. local time at supercross.cc.com. Listen as Supercross LIVE! hosts Jim Holley and Jason Wiegant capture the live race call, a pre-race show, a post-race show, post-race press conference, on-air industry guests and celebrities, in-depth interviews, promotions, call-ins and more. In 2003-2004, more than a half-million listeners logged on to Supercross LIVE!

For more information, or to purchase tickets, please log on to www.sxgp.com, www.ticketmaster.com, www.unlvtickets.com (Las Vegas only), www.tickets.com (San Francisco only). Media requests please contact Denny Hartwig at 630-566-6305 or email at [email protected].

About THQ World Supercross GP(tm)/THQ AMA Supercross Series THQ World Supercross GP is a 17-round global series that is produced and promoted by Clear Channel Entertainment and Dorna Off Road S.L. Riders must compete in the international rounds to be eligible to win the world championship. In 2004-2005, the 17-event THQ World Supercross GP will be comprised of two international events and 15 of the 16 events that are conducted in major cities throughout the United States as a part of the THQ AMA Supercross Series. The other THQ AMA Supercross Series event held in Daytona Beach, Fla., is independently produced by the International Speedway Corporation and is not a part of the THQ World Supercross GP. A THQ AMA Supercross Series rider will be crowned as the national champion for the series of events conducted in the United States only. Clear Channel Entertainment is the largest promoter and producer of live events in the world, with a broad based tradition in the promotion and production of motorcycle racing events. The FIM, Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme, is the body that globally governs motorcycle sport at the world level. Among other matters, the FIM groups together 85 affiliated National Federations relating to the sport of motorcycle racing. AMA Pro Racing is the National Federation representative that sanctions motorcycle-racing events in the United States. Dorna Off Road S.L. is an internationally recognized sports management group established in 1988 with an emphasis on major international motor sports events. Dorna is headquartered in Madrid, Spain with branch offices in Barcelona, London and Tokyo. In addition to its involvement with THQ World Supercross GP, Dorna manages the rights to MotoGP. For more information on THQ World Supercross GP and the THQ AMA Supercross Series, log on to www.supercross.cc.com.

About AMA Pro Racing AMA Pro Racing is the leading sanctioning body for motorcycle sport in the United States. Its properties include the THQ AMA Supercross Series, the AMA Motocross Championship, the AMA Superbike Championship, the AMA Progressive Insurance Flat Track Championship and the AMA Supermoto Championship. For more information about AMA Pro Racing, visit www.amaproracing.com