From a press release issued by Honda Racing Information:

HONDA RACING INFORMATION

Czech Republic tops IRTA Best Grand Prix Trophy poll

The superbly organised Czech Republic Grand Prix, held at the Brno circuit in Moravia, has won the coveted IRTA ‘Best Grand Prix Trophy’ for 2004. The Brno organisation regained the trophy they won for the first time in 1999, in the process ending three years of dominance by Spanish circuits. Brno beat off strong challenges from Valencia, Trophy winners in 2002 – 03, with Sepang in third place.

The first road racing circuit was opened at Brno in 1930, the 29.1km Masaryk Circuit open road circuit developed for automobile races. Brno’s long and successful association with motorcycle racing began in 1950, initially promoting races featuring riders from the former ‘Eastern block’ on a shorter 17.8km circuit. However, in the mid-fifties despite the extremely dangerous nature of the ultra-fast track Brno became a venue for the ‘Continental Circus’ attracting virtually every top flight European rider to the annual international races. In 1965 the CZ Federation were granted an FIM Grand Prix with the revised 13.9km Brno circuit as host.

Technical development in motorcycle racing intensified in the 1970’s and rendered the old road circuit obsolete leaving Brno with no alternative than to cease road race promotions in 1982 and build a permanent circuit.

The result is the present superbly laid out 5.403km track, situated 15km from Brno City center, which opened in 1987. Featuring six left hand corners and eight right handers the fifteen meters wide track was designed with safety the overriding priority. The gravel traps are wide and deep and the track is ringed by an ambulance service road.

The undulating circuit has a difference in elevation of 73.63 mts resulting in fast flowing downhill sections and a long uphill run to the final chicane just before the end of the lap. The part of the circuit between the two sections forms a natural amphitheater a dream for spectators who crowed the area in their tens of thousands.

Facilities are among the very best with 27 large, well-equipped pit boxes, extensive paddock area and good hospitality areas. Communications systems are good and when the planned alterations to the media center have been completed Brno will be the envy of all rivals.

The IRTA ‘Best Grand Prix’ Trophy is awarded based on a points scoring system that covers every aspect of running a grand prix. Track safety, medical facilities, paddock and media facilities, event management, and on-track officials. Brno won in 2004 not solely because of their performance this season, Brno has a long series of well-run grands prix to their credit and shows every indication of retaining their reputation as one of GP racing’s top venues into the future.

Ludek Starham, CEO and Director of the Board of Automotodrom Brno, a.s. and Events manager Radka Dvorakova both have extensive international event promotion experience and have established a mutually respectful rapport with the teams. Together with the on-event staff they run a first class grand prix with style and efficiency.

Clerk of the Course Vaclav Janek runs a solid operation and his track marshals are among the best encountered on the 16-race calendar every emergency swiftly dealt with whether it’s a minor crash or more serious incident. The medical staff, under the guidance of MUDr Ivo Dedek, work from a state of the art on track mini-hospital in total harmony with FIM Medical Director Claudio Macchiagodena.

IRTA President Sito Pons said.” The recognition of best GP of the year is an award well deserved by the Circuit of BRNO for its continued effort in improving its services and infrastructures. It currently meets the expectations of the teams and also of the public as host of an event of the magnitude of the Motorcycling World Championship. The teams are grateful for this and the audiences are on the increase. Although held in the middle of the summer, what may be a deterrent by some standards, the BRNO GP is highly valued by all the teams.”


IRTA Trophy Roll of Honour
1984 Silverstone / GB
1985 Hockenheim / Germany
1986 Nurburgring / Germany
1987 Assen / Netherlands
1988 Suzuka / Japan
1989 Donington Park / GB
1990 Jerez / Spain
1991 Donington Park / GB
1992 Catalunya / Spain
1993 Eastern Creek / Australia
1994 Eastern Creek / Australia
1995 Mugello / Italy
1996 Mugello / Italy
1997 Mugello / Italy
1998 Phillip Island / Australia
1999 Brno / Czech Republic
2000 Mugello / Italy
2001 Catalunya / Spain
2002 Valencia / Spain
2003 Valencia / Spain
2004 Brno / Czech Republic

From a press release issued by Pacific Track Time:

Pacific Track Time’s 2005 AFM “New Racers School” Schedule:

2/28 – Monday – Thunderhill Park
3/14 – Monday – Thunderhill Park
3/28 – Monday – Thunderhill Park *
6/27 – Monday – Thunderhill Park
9/26 – Monday – Thunderhill Park
10/17 – Monday – Thunderhill Park

*AFM NRS rainout reserve date


Pacific Track Time’s 2005 Track Day Schedule:

Pacific Track Time Releases 2005 Track Day Schedule

1/19 – Wednesday – Infineon Raceway
1/24 – Monday – Mazda Laguna Seca
2/8 – Tuesday – Infineon Raceway
2/28 – Monday – Thunderhill Park
3/14 – Monday – Thunderhill Park
3/28 – Monday – Thunderhill Part
4/1 – Friday – Thunderhill Park
4/14 – Thursday – Thunderhill Park
5/2 – Monday – Thunderhill Park
5/25 – Wednesday – Thunderhill Park
6/3 – Friday – Thunderhill Park
6/27 – Monday – Thunderhill Park
7/22 – Friday – Thunderhill Park
7/30 – Saturday – Buttonwillow Raceway Park
7/31 – Sunday – Buttonwillow Raceway Park
8/17 – Wednesday – Thunderhill Park
8/26 – Friday – Thunderhill Park
9/12 – Monday – Thunderhill Park
9/26 – Monday – Thunderhill Park
10/17 – Monday – Thunderhill Park

Season Passes available for a limited time.

For additional information, e-mail [email protected] or call (530) 223-0622.

http://www.pacifictracktime.com

http://www.afmracing.org

From a press release:

Larry Pointer and David Pyles of FastrackRiders would like to thank the following sponsors and individuals, on behalf of the John Barr Memorial Fund, for their time, effort, and donations:

California Speedway-Phil Tucker
Dunlop/Sport Tire Services-Dennis Smith and Terry Newby
Roadracing World-Trudy Ulrich
VP Fuels/L&L Motorsports-Louie Burrows
Shoei Helmets-Bret Milan
Cycle Parts of LA-Johnny and Wayne
Yamaha-Rocky Aiello
Wilson’s Motorcycle Shop-Robert Cottle
SoCal Track Days-Mickey
Race Tech-Randy and Mike
AFAM-Steven Tyler
Chatterbox-Ramon Oreta
Jason Perez, Kim Nakashima, Darren Fulce
Everybody else who made a cash donation and made the weekend a success.

Special thanks to Jason DiSalvo, and the Yamaha Crew!

Collectively, we raised over $4,500 for the fund at our last event, held at California Speedway. FastrackRiders covered the remaining balance, and gave a check to the Fund for $5,000.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Although the 2005 AMA Pro Racing schedule tentatively lists a season–ending Superbike event at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) for September 17-19, an AMA Superbike event will not be held at VIR in 2005 and the AMA’s date has been booked to CCS, according to a track official.

“The AMA is not on our schedule for next year,” VIR spokesman John Gardner told Roadracingworld.com Monday afternoon. “We have not officially released our schedule yet. We will do that after the New Year. The date the AMA had has been taken by CCS.”

Gardner referred further questions to VIR General Manager Cal Frye, who was not immediately available.

Attempts to reach AMA Pro Racing Vice President, Director of Communications Kerry Graeber were unsuccessful at post time.

VIR has been a popular venue with AMA teams, riders and spectators since it joined the AMA series in 2001, but race postponements in 2003 and 2004 strained relations between the track and the sanctioning body.

If the situation with VIR does not get resolved, the 2005 AMA Superbike series could have only 10 dates. With the AMA event at Brainerd International Raceway (June 25-26, 2005) also listed as tentative and the recent announcement that not all AMA support classes will run at the AMA Superbike/MotoGP event at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca (July 8-10, 2005), some AMA classes could race only eight times in 2005.

From a press release issued by Aztrackday:

2005 Schedule:

1/23 – Firebird East, Chandler, AZ
2/20 – Firebird West, Chandler, AZ
3/13 – Firebird West, Chandler, AZ
3/20 – Firebird East, Chandler, AZ
4/17 – Firebird West, Chandler, AZ
5/15 – Firebird Main, Chandler, AZ
8/7 – Firebird East, Chandler, AZ
10/9 – Firebird West, Chandler, AZ
10/16 – Firebird East, Chandler, AZ
11/13 – Firebird West, Chandler, AZ
12/11 – Firebird East, Chandler, AZ

For additional information, contact:

Aztrackday.com, LLC
6925 W. Topeka Drive
Glendale, AZ 85308
602-763-6827
www.aztrackday.com

From a press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing:

Christmas came early for some lucky Aussie kids thanks to new FPR man Steve Martin.

Steve, back at his Melbourne home for Xmas, took part in an annual Toy Run with local over-50s bikers club, Ulysses.

He explained: “They do it every year and the idea is that everyone carries a present on the back of their bike. I rode down, from Frankston down the Mornington Peninsula, with Sandra on the back and she chose our present – a Barbie doll! The toys are distributed to local kids where we stop off.”

Steve, who copped a speeding ticket on the drive over from Melbourne, has also been busy helping his mum move house in Adelaide. He said: “I’ve been flat out doing all the niggly little jobs like putting shelves up.”

After all his work for others he was looking forward to the delivery of a new KTM enduro bike this weekend.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

2003 World Superbike Champion Neil Hodgson tested a Dunlop-shod Ducati 999 Superbike December 16-17 at Jerez, Spain, in preparation for his 2005 AMA Superbike season with Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin.

Hodgson will next test, with his new teammate Eric Bostrom, January 3-5, 2005, at Daytona International Speedway.

The 2005 Fila Ducati factory World Superbike team of Regis Laconi and James Toseland, the 2004 World Superbike Champion, also attended the test, their last until official World Superbike testing resumes in February 2005.

Ducati Corse test rider Vittoriano Guareschi continued his work on a “development” version of the Desmosedici MotoGP bike, according to Ducati.

Guareschi is not subject to the MotoGP winter testing ban because neither he nor his Desmosedici race at MotoGP events.

The MotoGP winter test ban ends January 20, 2005.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

AMA Superbike will be a part of the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix July 8-10 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, but all of the AMA Superbike series support classes (Supersport, Superstock and Formula Xtreme) may not race at the event.

“We have confirmed AMA Superbike, BMW Motorrad Power Cup (replacement for the Boxer Cup) and the Super Stars of Super Karts. We intend to have additional AMA classes, but not all of them. I’m not certain when the remaining classes will be confirmed. We are working through the scheduling logistics with AMA and Dorna,” Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca spokesman Ed Nicholls wrote in an e-mail to Roadracingworld.com.

Nicholls added that the pedestrian bridge at turn 9 is scheduled to be moved December 23.

From a press release issued by Coolskunk Promotions:

Coolskunk Promotions announces Redline Cycle Imports as sponsor for the 2005 season. Redline Cycle Imports is a corporate sponsor for the USGPRU, a national race series taking place on the East and West coasts over the 2004 season. The sponsorship package will include a HRC KIT Parts deal for the Coolskunk KyDs Road Racing Development Team in 2005.

Coolskunk Promotions continues to seek additional companies to represent in 2005 and welcomes product sponsorship and/or race discounts as well as financial support for the Flat Track and Road Race teams.

For more information contact Philip Rispoli, Coolskunk Promotions telephone: (603) 479-1259 or email at [email protected] check us out on the web at www.coolskunk.com

About Coolskunk KyDs Racing

CoolSkunk KyDs is a sports promotion organization that has formed a racing club dedicated to the pursuit of life learning values in competitive youth motor sports. Our vision includes helping to bring out the passion, flexibility, excitement and demonstrated appetite for success and adventure, waiting to be exposed in our youth.

About Redline Cycle Imports

The company stocks and distributes Grand Prix racing motorcycles, race parts and accessories. Redline carries Factory Race Parts for the Honda RS125, RS250, CBR600RR, CBR1000RR & RC51-SP and Yamaha TZ125, TZ250 & YZF600R6. Redline is a distributor for VHM, Jha, Talon, Zero Gravity, Motion Pro and several other manufacturers of the best aftermarket performance parts and accessories.