From a press release issued by Safety First Racing:

Safety First Racing is proud to announce their 2005 AMA lineup. In speaking with team owner, Kevin Hanson, he related for 2005, Safety First Racing will be expanding to a three-rider team with backing from American Suzuki again.

“Our mission is to be the cutting edge, support team that grooms, upcoming racers for the manufactures,” stated Hanson. “I provide an environment where quality racers are brought into my program and provided with everything they need to be successful in the AMA. We focus on honing their racecraft, public speaking skills, and innovative marketing of the riders, while providing riders with top level equipment and every tool necessary in a toolbox to be successful. It really gives them an environment where they only have to focus on riding and being a racer,” explained Hanson.

600 Supersport – For 2005, 17-year-old Jesse Janisch will be back racing in the 600 Supersport. “I moved Jesse to 600s in order to really teach him to ride the bike at the limit,” related Hanson. “On the 1000s, Jesse did well, but the big bikes are so unforgiving when you make a mistake. Supersport will be a great environment for him to continue to develop his skills in an ultra-competitive class.”

600 Supersport – Safety First Racing is also proud to announce the addition of Wisconsin resident, Jason Farrell. “I’ve known Jason for several years and was really impressed with his results this year for the limited number of 600 Supersport rounds he competed in,” admitted Hanson. Jason finished 10th in half the rounds of Superpsport he contested. “Additionally, I witnessed how many teething problems and long nights Jason had at the racetrack working on racebikes with a buddy just trying to make the race the next day. I fully expect Jason to turn some heads next year through his determination and being able to focus solely on riding.”

Superstock/Superbike – J.J. Roetlin who hails for Kalona, IA will be focusing on Superstock and also competing in the Superbike class. “I’ve known J.J. for the last three years and have always been impressed with his pleasant nature and tenacity as a racer,” commented Hanson. “J.J. has been one of these guys that has posted some good results during his three-year AMA career, but has never really been able to take it to the next level that he’s capable of. I remember watching J.J. coming down the front straight at Road America last year and watching the bike violently tank slapping lap after lap and he just stayed in it and never gave up. His scenario was typical of every privateer effort, working long hours as a father/son team trying to figure everything out. I’m really looking forward to providing everything J.J. needs to be successful and watching him make it to the next level!”

Crewchief/Jim Rashid of 4 & 6 Performance – “I’m really excited to have Jim on board again and the 4 & 6 crew back at the shop in Chicago, IL. Last year, was the start of a great partnership that continues to grow. Not much needs to be said about Jim. He’s been around the AMA a long time, knows how to compete at the AMA level, win and be competitive. Plus they have a full blown, race shop that can do everything from engine/suspension building, manufacture parts, GMD Computrack and a Factory dyno. The racing aspect of my business is now based out of their shop in Chicago.”

Team owner/manager Kevin Hanson – “I really feel like I’m luckiest man in the world with the coolest job because I’ve found a way to create the perfect job around what I love doing -racing and working with kids. My business is now based out of downtown Chicago and for next year my role is to handle all of the marketing/promotion/management of the team and ‘Safety First’ helmet program.

“Promotional wise, we will continue with school/youth presentations of our ‘Safety First’ helmet program. However, I’m proud to announce we will be branching out and doing large scale, promotional events in malls and movie theaters.

“This allows Safety First Racing and its sponsors to reach all demographics of people from kids through adults. Malls are a perfect venue because you can reach all age groups and people are there killing time hanging out and shopping. What better way to promote our sponsors and Safety First Racing,” related Hanson. “I’ve already got venues set where I can reach more people in one day at a mall than the largest attended AMA race weekend!”

Sponsorship – “We are continually negotiating sponsorship deals but wanted to announce our confirmed sponsors for next year. We will be returning with American Suzuki, 1-800-MOTORCYCLE, and Armour bodies bodywork. However, we are proud to announce new partnerships with AGV leathers, Virtual Bodyshop, and Kicker car stereo equipment. Currently, we are finishing negotiations with a large, corporate sponsor that will be a great opportunity from outside the motorcycle industry,” concluded Hanson.

Those wishing to contact Safety First Racing can contact Kevin Hanson at 217-493-3811 or [email protected]

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Two-time AMA 750cc Supersport/Superstock Champion Jimmy Moore is scheduled to be a guest instructor at the Advanced Roadracing School at Arroyo Seco Raceway, near Deming, New Mexico, February 12-13, 2005.

The two-day school is limited to 15 students to obtain a five-to-one student-to-instructor ratio.

For more information, call 505-494-4796 or go to www.arroyosecoraceway.com.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Hal’s Performance Advantage, the speed shop located within Hal’s Harley-Davidson/Buell near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has plans to test and race a Formula Xtreme Buell XB12R with Mike Ciccotto at Daytona International Speedway.

“We’ve definitely got plans,” Hal’s Performance Advantage Team Manager Jim Winters told Roadracingworld.com Wednesday. “We will test at the tire test next week, and we will race in the Daytona 200. From there, we will have to see what happens with money and stuff as to whether or not we will be able to do the rest of the season.”

Erik Buell, founder and Chief Technical Officer of Buell Motorcycle Company, recently told Roadracingworld.com that his company would not be able to support its Buell dealer-based AMA Formula Xtreme race teams as it had in past years.

Winters said his crew intends to do durability testing on its Buell and evaluate Pirelli tires at Daytona next week. The team’s XB12R is close to the same specification as it ended the 2004 AMA season (including the new V-Force air intake system introduced at the Road Atlanta round), according to Winters, except for a few “internal modifications” to increase reliability.

Hal’s Performance Advantage’s Formula USA Thunderbike rider Dan Bilansky will also attend the test at Daytona.

Innovative Motorcycle Research’s Rich Cronrath, which ran Michael Barnes on a Buell XB12R in the 2004 AMA Formula Xtreme series, did not have any solid plans to announce at post time but said he may race Formula Xtreme with Barnes on a dealer-supported Buell in 2005.

From a press release issued by Ducati North America:

THE DUCATI MONSTER CHALLENGE PLOT THICKENS WITH NEW WINNERS FROM SEATTLE

The Daytona grand finale is gearing up to be the biggest and baddest display of Monsters in North America.

Cupertino, CA – December 29th, 2004 – Ducati is still looking for the coolest Monster in North America after concluding the Seattle round of the Ducati Monster Challenge. The Pacific Northwest Ducatisti proved that sunny Southern California isn’t the only place with awesome Monsters. The Seattle Cycle World IMS show brought out loads of unique Monsters up North, some so dramatically modified they were entered for exhibition only since they were no longer registered as Monsters.



1st place went to Sean Kelii whose bike began life as a 1999 Cromo model but suffered a dramatic crash. When the bike was resurrected, Sean rebuilt it using nearly every carbon fiber piece he could find in the Ducati Performance catalog. And all that carbon really makes a difference. Sean says, “The coolest thing about my monster is the weight, its only 338 pounds!” But its not just flashy carbon bits that make Sean’s bike unique. He’s got performance too, including 998 Superbike forks, an Ohlins rear shock, and Brembo full floating rotors with 2-piece billet Brembo calipers.

A.J. Ralston is from Portland, Oregon where he works as a Ducati technician at MotoCorsa by day. His 2000 Monster 900 won both 2nd place overall and “The People’s Choice” award voted by show attendees. His bike had a very nice, clean paint job and was more of a “rider’s bike.” Some of his creative modifications include a custom mounted Ducati Performance dash, antique acid etched triple clamps, anodized fork tubes and caps, powder coated swingarm, and wrapped Ducati Performance exhaust system. A.J. said it simply and honestly, proclaiming his favorite thing he’s done to his monster is ride it. Even after working all day on other people’s Ducati’s he still enjoys taking the time to find new ways to customize his own bike.

3rd place was Rick De Pena from Seattle and his 1999 Monster 900 Cromo. Rick’s bike was tastefully modified giving it a clean, sleek look. A beautiful high-mount Termignoni oval aluminum exhaust system highlighted the rear of the bike. He also added carbon fiber bits and painted many pieces flat black to contrast the chrome fuel tank. But again, Rick is a rider and said his favorite thing about his bike was riding it from San Diego to Seattle (1600 miles) in 25 hours. Even Iron Butt Record Holder, Gary Eagan, thinks that’s a respectable ride.

From a press release issued by Team Hammer, Inc.:

Team Hammer, Inc. has signed M4 Performance Exhausts as a new primary title sponsor and will race as Team M4 EMGO Suzuki during the 2005 and 2006 AMA seasons.

M4 is based in Dallas, Texas and has been an associate sponsor of the team since 1999.

“We at M4 are extremely excited about the 2005 racing season and our stepped-up involvement with Team Hammer,” said M4 Vice President Kyle Martin. “We believe we can make an important contribution toward a winning season for Team Hammer and we’re proud to be associated with the only professional motorcycle road racing team in America that’s been racing continuously for 25 consecutive seasons.”

M4 replaces Valvoline, which has elected to concentrate its racing-related promotional activities in NASCAR.

EMGO International, a manufacturer and importer of oil filters, continues as the team’s secondary title sponsor. EMGO has been involved with Team Hammer since the team was founded.

Team Hammer has won two AMA National Championships, five F-USA National Championships, and 13 WERA National Endurance Championships.

More information on M4 Performance Exhausts is available online at www.m4exhaust.com or via phone at (972) 481-9300.

More information on Team Hammer is available online at www.teamhammer.com

From a press release issued by CCS:

December 28, 2005, Fort Worth, Texas

The Championship Cup Series announced today its 2005 Season schedule.

2005 Race of Champions XXII
October 20-23 Daytona Intl Speedway Daytona Beach, FL

CCS Sanctioned Races
February 12-13 Homestead -Miami Spdwy< Homestead, FL
March 6 Firebird East Chandler, AZ
March 2-6 Daytona Intl Speedway* Daytona Beach, FL
March 12-13 Arroyo Secco Raceway^ Deming, NM
March 19-20 Moroso Motorsports Park< West Palm Beach, FL
April 2-3 Jennings GP< Jennings, FL
April 9-10 Arroyo Secco Raceway^ Deming, NM
April 22-23 Road America** Elkhart Lake, WI
April 24 Road America** Elkhart Lake, WI
April 23-24 New Hampshire Intl.> Loudon, NH
Apr 30 Las Vegas Classic Course** Las Vegas, NV
May 1 Las Vegas Classic Course** Las Vegas, NV
April 30-May 1 Jennings GP< Jennings, FL
April 30-May 1 Summit Point @ Summit Point, WV
May 7-8 Blackhawk Farms* South Beloit, IL
May 14-15 Arroyo Secco Raceway^ Deming, NM
May 14-15 New Hampshire Intl.> Loudon, NH
May 29-30 Moroso Motorsports Park< West Palm Beach, FL
May 28-29 Blackhawk Farms South Beloit, IL
May 28-30 Summit Point* Summit Point, WV
June 5 Firebird Intl Chandler, AZ
June 11 Roebling Road Raceway** Faulkville, GA
June 12 Roebling Road Raceway** Faulkville, GA
June 11-12 Arroyo Secco Raceway^ Deming, NM
June 11-12 New Hampshire Intl.> Loudon, NH
June 17-19 New Hampshire Intl*.> Loudon, NH
June 19 Heartland Park* Topeka, KS
June 25-26 Homestead -Miami Spdwy< Homestead, FL
June 25-26 Autobahn CC Joliet, IL
June 24-26 Virginia Intl* Danville, VA
July 2 Mid-America Motorplex** Pacific Junction, IA
July 3 Mid-America Motorplex** Pacific Junction, IA
July 2-3 Summit Point @ Summit Point, WV
July 16-17 Blackhawk Farms South Beloit, IL
July 23 Roebling Road Raceway** Faulkville, GA
July24 Roebling Road Raceway** Faulkville, GA
July 23-24 New Hampshire Intl. Loudon, NH
July 23-24 Moroso Motorsports Park West Palm Beach, FL
July 31 Gingerman Raceway South Haven, MI
Aug 6-7 New Hampshire Intl.> Loudon, NH
August 12-14 Barber Motorsports* Leeds, AL
August 20-21 New Hampshire Intl. > Loudon, NH
August 27-28 Blackhawk Farms South Beloit, IL
August 27-28 Moroso Motorsports Park < West Palm Beach, FL
August 27-28 Shenandoah Circuit Summit Point, WV
September 3-4 New Hampshire Intl.> Loudon, NH
September 10-11 Jennings GP< Jennings, FL
September 10-11 Autobahn CC* Joliet, IL
September 10-11 Arroyo Secco Raceway^ Deming, NM
September 17 Las Vegas Classic Course** Las Vegas, NV
September 18 Las Vegas Classic Course** Las Vegas, NV
September 24-25 Blackhawk Farms South Beloit, IL
September 24-25 Virginia Intl Danville, VA
September 25 Firebird Intl Chandler, AZ
October 1-2 New Hampshire Intl.> Loudon, NH
October 1-2 Moroso Motorsports Park< West Palm Beach, FL
October 8-9 Arroyo Secco Raceway^ Deming, NM
October 9 Gingerman Raceway* South Haven, MI
October 9-10 Shenandoah Circuit* @ Summit Point, WV
November 12-13 Arroyo Secco Raceway^ Deming, NM
November 19 Firebird East * Chandler, AZ
December 3-4 Homestead -Miami Spdwy* Homestead, FL


All Dates Are Subject to Change.
* = Double Points
** = Twin Sprint Event
@ = Friday Licensing Clinic
^ = Hosted by ASMA – Limited CCS Classes
^^ = Hosted by Fasttrax-Limited CCS Classes
< = Hosted by CCS Florida
> = Hosted by LRRS

From a press release issued by Team Suzuki:

For Australian Mat Mladin, the nine seasons he has spent racing in the highly-competitive American Superbike Championship has brought with it considerable success.

Since making the move to the AMA series in 1996, he has been associated with the factory Yoshimura Suzuki team for all bar one of those seasons, having raced for Eraldo Ferracci in his Fast By Ferracci Ducati team in 1997.

In this period he has emerged as one of the most decorated riders in the sport: Five AMA Superbike Championships, 32 career race wins including three Daytona 200’s and 37 career pole positions, which rates him as the best in the business.

Mladin and his tight knit crew has become the yardstick of the American Superbike Championship. His rivals see him as the man to beat. He has many fans as well as detractors, but that does not distract him from the task at hand – winning championships.

Fresh from his recent championship success, Mladin took time to answer a number of questions relating to his season and his time spent racing in the grueling AMA series.

With five AMA Superbike crowns to your credit, how do you rate this year’s title win?

MM: This year was a pretty tough championship. We were up against it, especially over the first two-thirds of the year. The motorcycle was a little behind due to the rule changes imposed after last season. As far as how hard it was, it definitely was hard. As far as how satisfying it was, it was the most satisfying by far.


You went into 2004 as the defending champion but were not rated as the pre-season favourite to take the title. How did that sit with you?

MM: You are probably right and all that was based on one off-season tyre test at Daytona when the Honda guys came out and went really fast. They put a good spin on the publicity there and that seemed to blow a lot of things out of proportion for what could have happened and I think it did.

You won the Daytona 200 for the third time this year and with the rule changes proposed by the AMA for 2005 (it will run as a Formula Extreme class) it could well be the last. What are your thoughts on that decision?

MM: I’d hate to say that it would be the last time that Superbikes race the Daytona 200 because who knows what they are going to have for the future and are they going to have to turn that decision around. Is it really going to be the last Superbike Daytona 200? I’m not really certain of that.

It’s very highly thought of by the manufacturers. Myself as a non-American racer, I don’t place as much importance on it as an American would. For me, it’s the first race of the championship and I don’t want to do anything silly there that would leave me catching up a whole heap of points.

Was there a particular high point for you this year?

MM: The two wins at the penultimate round at Road Atlanta were huge for us. That was a weekend where the championship could have either tightened way up for the final two races at Virginia, or we could essentially clinch it. Even though mathematically we couldn’t clinch it, we could put all of the competitors away at that race and that’s what happened. It made it extra special because there was that tension and pressure that was growing between Miguel DuHamel and myself and we came away with maximum points after taking pole and leading most laps in each race on the way to the two wins. It was a nice way to leave there.

Was it a turning point in the season, even though it was quite late?

MM: I don’t think it was a turning point as we led the whole season. Laguna Seca really stopped the bleeding for us after the few fast race tracks where we lost points to our rivals. Laguna stopped that for us and then we got a win at the following round at Mid-Ohio where we started to stretch the points out again. Then at Atlanta, we put it to bed.

When did you feel that the championship was yours to win?

MM: After Atlanta. We felt pretty comfortable and had over a race in points in the lead of the championship, so it would have taken a big mess up for us to lose it after that.

Has there been any one particular facet that would be the key to your success in America?

MM: The biggest thing was learning six or seven years ago that I needed a strong team to be able to win championships. It’s something that I really woke up to after my year with Eraldo Ferracci. You can’t win titles, especially consistently, without having a solid team who do the same every weekend.

How important has it been to have such a dedicated group of guys around you that form the nucleus of your team?

MM: My long time crew chief Peter Doyle and mechanic Reg O’Rourke have been joined by other members, Johnny Asher, Manny and Henry, but the key is that they are a really solid group that works extremely well together.

They all know what to do. At the track we get the job done and if we win, we go out and have dinner and some fun, but if we don’t, we still go out have dinner and some fun. That’s what it is all about.

How enjoyable has it been over the past two years where you have been able to race 1000cc multi-cylinder Superbikes?

MM: Last year, the Suzuki GSX-R1000 was by far the best motorcycle on the racetrack. Last year we won a lot of races reasonably comfortably and it was good to have won that fourth championship, but it certainly wasn’t as near as hard as this year. This year I’ve spoken about the motorcycle not being fast enough at times, but again, it all goes back to the rule changes that were implemented very late last year, so the motorcycle just wasn’t up to the same specification as the others we were racing against this year. Next year it will be, so we’ll see how it goes then.

How do rate the next crop of riders emerging in the US?

MM: There are a few guys over here doing very well. The Hayden brothers, Tommy and Roger Lee at Kawasaki – Tommy won the Supersport Championship, while there’s also a couple of younger guys over at Yamaha. Aaron Gobert did well in winning the Superstock championship while Jason Disalvo seems to be pretty fast. In my Yoshimura Suzuki team, Ben Spies will be stepping up to Superbike next year so we’ll see how he goes there.

Do you still have that desire for either GP or World Superbike or will you conclude you career in America?

MM: I’d imagine that I’d finish my racing career here in the US. The GP thing has always interested me since I was there in ’93, but certainly even less the more years that we go along because it is one of those things where you really do need the right package – bike and team – or else you are wasting your time. There are only so many factory bikes to go around and the unfortunate thing is that I’m unlikely to get one. Honda has already stated that it will only have two official factory bikes in MotoGP.

As for World Superbike, it just doesn’t interest me full stop. The level of racing I don’t think is that high. To have to travel around the world to say that you race in World Superbike does not appeal to me. I see it as a huge step backwards to what I’m doing here in America. The rules between SWC and the AMA may be slightly different, but the teams here still get the very latest equipment from the factories, so on that score this series is very strong.

To give you an idea, we had factory rider Regis Laconi race here at the final round last weekend straight after being a title contender in the SWC a week earlier and he couldn’t get within a second and a half a lap of our times. During the second race I had to do a stop-go for jumping the start and was still able to catch and beat him by over five seconds at the end of the race. The AMA is not an easy series by any stretch of the imagination.

You’ve spent nine year’s racing in America. You must enjoy the way of life you have created for yourself there?

MM: I love it here. There are so many things that I’ve been able to do because of my time here. My import company is directly attributed to the people I have been fortunate to deal with over here such as Yoshimura and Joe Rocket. My success over here with racing has led to some successful business ventures.

Not only that, but you do tend to live a fairly normal lifestyle where you live in your own house, go and race, then come back to it where you do normal type things. Things like that that I do enjoy.

Many may perceive your over-confidence to verge on arrogance. How do you read this with the positive nature it takes for anyone to win a championship title and where is the fine line?

MM: Personally I see it as a minority that would see it like that. You always have your detractors no matter who you are. Overall I think it is a minority. Some people see me that way, but I do have a lot of fans over here, I enjoy racing, I have a passion for it and finishing second doesn’t sit well with me. So when I lose, it’s annoying until I get to the next race and make amends for it. I like to perform at my best whatever it is – a bit like everyone I guess.

You are very vocal regarding track safety in America. Do you feel that you are being heard by those who make the decisions?

MM: When it comes to track safety, there’s never enough that can be done. You certainly like to see more done, but unfortunately it’s one of those areas that you keep pushing for and make more improvements, but things never seem to be quick enough. Certainly America doesn’t seem to have track safety as high a priority as the European countries are, especially the World Championship circuits.

However, a few have made steady changes over the years, which is great, but there are still a couple of places where the whole circuit is still terrible. I don’t know why we still race there, especially the speeds carried by the current crop of motorcycles.

What do you see in the future direction of Superbike?

MM: The current 1000cc Superbike is an excellent platform. I think they will always have a platform, as they are different to GP bikes. Horsepower figures are not that different between them. The current Superbikes are putting out well over 205hp, while the lead MotoGP machines are around 235 to 240hp.

There will always be a place for them as they are the bikes that people buy and therefore a huge marketing tool for the manufacturers, which is also the reason why they are all getting back into World Superbike next year.

What lies ahead contract wise for you?


MM: I’m done for 2005. I’ll be back to defend the title and see if we can make it six, but after that we have to see what happens. As long as I’m still enjoying it and have that fire in my belly I’d like to keep winning and I guess I’ll be doing it for a few more years yet.

From a press release issued by Cornerspeed:

Cornerspeed’s 2005 Schedule:

Saturday, January 22nd, 2005 Jennings GP, Jennings FL. Cornerspeed Advanced Rider Workshop with AMA Superbike rider Scott Carpenter and 2004 F-USA Pro Superbike Champion Scott Harwell

Sunday, January 23rd, 2005 Jennings GP, Jennings FL. Cornerspeed Advanced Rider Workshop with AMA Superbike rider Scott Carpenter and 2004 F-USA Pro Superbike Champion Scott Harwell

Monday, March 21st, 2005 Virginia International Raceway, North Course. Cornerspeed Riderschool with additional groups for Sport Enthusiasts and Licensed Racers.


APRIL DATES TBA


Monday, May 2nd, 2005 Virginia International Raceway, North Course. Cornerspeed Riderschool with additional groups for Sport Enthusiasts and Licensed Racers.

Thursday, June 23rd, 2005 Virginia International Raceway, North Course. F-USA National week-end. Cornerspeed Riderschool and open practice for Licensed Racers.


ADDITIONAL JUNE DATES TBA


Monday, July 25th, 2005 Virginia International Raceway GRAND Course. Cornerspeed Riderschool with additional groups for Sport Enthusiasts and Licensed Racers.

Monday, August 15th, 2005 Virginia International Raceway, North Course. Cornerspeed ALL WOMEN’S Riderschool with additional groups for Sport Enthusiasts and Licensed Racers.

Friday, September 23rd, 2005 Virginia International Raceway, North Course. CCS Cornerspeed Riderschool with VIR’s open practice for Licensed Racers.

Monday, October 17th, 2005 Virginia International Raceway, North Course. Cornerspeed Riderschool with additional groups for Sport Enthusiasts and Licensed Racers.

Monday, November 7th, 2005 Virginia International Raceway GRAND Course. Cornerspeed Riderschool with additional groups for Sport Enthusiasts and Licensed Racers.


Office phone 704-332-3147 or email us at
[email protected]
website: http://www.cornerspeed.net


Editorial Note: Scott Harwell is the 2004 Formula USA Formula Sportbike Champion.