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MotoGP Race At Mugello Was The Most-watched Motorcycle Race Ever In Italy

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Mugello’s Italian festival lifts MotoGP TV audience to all-time high in Italy The breathtaking racing in last Sunday’s MotoGP race in Mugello, Italy, which saw four Italian riders scoring an historic clean sweep after scrapping for victory in front of 88,000 elated fans, led the Gran Premio Alice d’Italia to become the most followed motorcycle race ever in Italy. The 45-minute spectacle that saw superstar Valentino Rossi finally win out against fellow countrymen Max Biaggi, Loris Capirossi and Marco Melandri recorded a 47.3% market share and was seen by an average 7.6 million viewers through Mediaset’s channel Italia 1. This is the largest ever audience figure for motorcycle racing in Italy in terms of market share, and the figures are even more impressive considering the fact that the total number of single viewers who tuned into the transmission during the whole programme was well over 10 million.The all-Italian battle also had excellent audiences in the United Kingdom, where the BBC scored 1.3 million viewers and a 16% share. In Spain, despite Sete Gibernau’s crash, the market share for the broadcast in TVE-1 was over 31%.

Updated Post: Assorted Recent Press Releases

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Mad Kaw Racing stands on class podium during WERA National Endurance at Willow Springs. Mad Kaw Racing had their best finish to date during the 6-hour WERA Endurance event at Willow Springs Raceway on June 4. The team brought home their CycleTires.com Kawasaki ZX6-R second in the Middleweight Superstock Class and Twelfth overall, and just as at VIR two weeks prior, they did it on remanufactured Tomahawk Tires. “We made some changes to the rear tire profile after VIR that have given us more side grip” said Team Owner Ivan Messina. “We didn’t want to come to Willow with what we had before, the long continuous right hand corners here are really tough on tires. I would go as far as to say that no other track in the country is more abusive on tires than Willow. We tested a few different compounds on Friday, and found one we thought would work.” It got warmer on Saturday though, and the first tire the team used during the race didn’t work very well. “It was too soft, and we ended up having to switch to a harder compound during the race, but that’s why we’re out here, to find out what works and continue to develop these tires.” said Ivan. The team was ready for the rear tire changes, and they went well, but they were unprepared for the number of front tire changes. We have never had to change a front tire in a 6-hour event. We changed two here, and with no front quick change equipment we lost some time in the pits.” said Ivan. “The pit crew did a great job with what I gave them though. Phil Herrin volunteered to help us out, and he brought his own sprint crew over to assist. Without them we would have had a difficult time, and I have to give all of our volunteers a big Thank You.” The team brought in a new rider for this event, former WSMC racer Frank Nolan. James Toohey and Ivan Messina rounded out the riders. “Frank is a great addition to the team, consistent and fast.” said Ivan. “We are all really starting to gel, and I think the result here shows that.” More, from a press release issued by Team Stumpy: Greg “Stumpy” Steltenpohl competes in AMA Supersport action at Road America Greg “Stumpy” Steltenpohl had a successful weekend in his first-ever AMA competition at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin’s Road America. Aboard the #256 Team Stumpy Racing Lithium Motorsports Honda 600rr, Steltenpohl qualified 33rd on the Supersport grid and placed 29th in the race. “The entire event went really smooth,” says Steltenpohl. “Every time I went on the track, I’d find a faster way to go and drop some time. Qualifying was more stressful for me than the actual race. I’m not great at competing against a clock. I like to dice and have a ‘carrot’ to chase, but things came together and the session went good. Tom Mason picked out a great set of Michelins for the qualifying session that stuck great the whole time. I did have to come in for gas with a few minutes left and was hoping to do one more ‘flyer’, but the clock ran out.” Sunny skies prevailed for the Sunday Supersport final, despite warnings of severe weather. “The race was so fun. I put my head down and was determined to make all 10 laps and I did. With the competition I was facing, I was looking for top 30, so that goal was met,” explained Steltenpohl. “It was the best 29th place I’ve ever won! “The icing on the cake were all the fans there cheering me on,” says Steltenpohl. “I always have the best group of people supporting me, whatever I’m up to. I really wanted to put on a good show for them and I thank everyone for their support and encouragement. I can’t wait for next year!” More, from a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing, which we’re running because former road racer Chris Carr is leading the dirt track points: KOPP SEEKING GRANITE CITY REPEAT PICKERINGTON, Ohio (June 7, 2005) — Joe Kopp returns to Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Ill., on June 11, for round five of the AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track Championship. Kopp, of Mica, Wash., hopes to repeat his victory at Tri-City in 2003 and inch closer to series leader Chris Carr. “Tri-City is one of those tracks that suits my style,” said Kopp, the 2000 AMA Grand National Champion who rides for Latus Harley-Davidson/Jones Powersports. “The track has bumpy dirt and it gets kind of rough during the course of a national and I was able to ride that pretty well the last time we were there.” Kopp is tied for second in the series standings with Ken Coolbeth, 14 points behind defending champ Carr. Kopp thinks it’s going to take consistency throughout the entire season to win back the AMA Grand National title from Carr. “I gained two points on him at Springfield (during the AMA Grand National Doubleheader over Memorial Day weekend), but that’s not enough,” Kopp said. “I haven’t been on the podium yet and I need to start doing that consistently to be able to catch Chris.” Coolbeth is also a proven threat at Granite City. The Connecticut native was runner up in both nationals held at Tri-City Speedway. He too would like to make up ground on Carr Saturday night. Bryan Bigelow, of Au Gres, Mich., won the race in 2002. Bigelow comes into Granite City ranked 13th in the standings. Jake Johnson and JR Schnabel have both scored victories in the series this year, but neither scored impressive results in the previous two Granite City nationals. Both riders are proven on short track and TT circuits, but know they will have to step up their performances on the bigger tracks to be considered true title contenders. Iowan Rich King is the hottest rider in the series. He is coming off a victory in the Springfield (Ill.) Mile over Memorial Day Weekend. King has scored a pair of top-10 finishes in Granite City. With the hopes of many riders high coming into this weekend’s race, the championship still goes through Quality Checked Certified Pre-Owned Ford rider/team owner Chris Carr. The six-time AMA Grand National Champion has missed the podium only once this year and his record at Granite City is solid. In 2002 he finished fourth in the race and third in the 2003 edition. Tri-City Speedway will also host the second round of the Harley-Davidson Sportster Performance Series. Warminster, Pennsylvania’s Scott Stump leads the championship on his Lima Harley-Davidson sponsored 883 Sportster after winning the opening round in Springfield. Stump is a two-time 883 series runner up. Take in a bike show and pig roast before the national. For ticket information call (636) 329-1122 or visit the website www.tricityspeedway.net. More, from a press release issued by Team Morse Racing: Team Morse Racing Wins in the Wet & the Dry! Team Morse Racing rode their way to 6 podium finishes and 3 race wins during round three of the MRA roadrace series at Second Creek Raceway in Denver Colorado. The weekend started with cold wet conditions on Saturday morning, and those conditions continued on through much of the day. By early afternoon it was clear that the mid-afternoon endurance races were going to be run in full wet conditions, however Dave Gallant and Mike Applehans were confident their Pirelli Super Corsa Pro DOT tires were up to the task at hand. By turn 3, Dave and Mike had put their RacerSupply.com Suzuki SV650s in the top two positions, then proceeded to put in silky smooth laps running at the front. Lap after lap, Dave and Mike diced their way through the first wave of Middleweight bikes using their nimble SV650s to their advantage. By the time the checkered flag flew, Dave had built up a comfortable lead to take the Lightweight Endurance class win and finished 3rd overall against a large Middleweight grid. Mike’s injuries sustained at Mid-America Motorplex two weeks earlier however forced him to ride more conservative towards the end of the long race, and he took home a 3rd place finish in the Lightweight Endurance class putting two Team Morse Racing riders on the podium. “Even though the conditions were terrible, they were the same for everyone and it forced me to be perfect every lap” commented Dave Gallant after the finish endurance race. “The SV650 is the best tool for rain riding. If I had rain tires on I am confident we could have been challenging the first wave of Middleweight bikes for the overall win!” added Dave Gallant of Team Morse Racing. With the Rocky Mountains close at hand the Colorado weather changes quickly. By Sunday morning the clouds had dispersed and it was nothing but sunshine and warm temperatures for the entire day of MRA sprint racing action. First up on the schedule was Lightweight Grand Prix with Dave and Mike aboard their RacerSupply.com Suzuki SV650s once again. Once again, Dave and Mike led the first lap flying in formation, then proceeded to gap much of the field. Two riders gridded at the rear however used their well-suited bikes and skill on the tight twisty track to cut down the advantage. By the end of the 8 lap sprint race it was a 4 rider lead pack consisting of the two Suzuki SV650s, one KTM 525, and one Honda RS125 ridden by the very talented John Hjelm. At the line, Dave was able to take home the victory however 2nd place was too close to call between Mike Applehans and the KTM mounted rider. The results credit Mike with a third place finish, and with that ruling Team Morse Racing riders once again filled two positions of the podium for the class. Next up for Dave Gallant was an MRA Premier class called “Race of the Rockies GTU”, with much the same rule structure of the AMA Formula Extreme series. Twenty one riders comprised the grid for the double-the-distance race with many of the fastest racers in Colorado contesting it. Dave got off to a good start with the lead pack of riders, then closed the gap to the 3rd place and 4th place riders. This hard work did not pay off however, and Dave was forced to practice his dirt-tracking skills after loosing the rear entering turn four and running off the track. By the time the tires were clean and Dave was back up to speed, the race was winding down and he crossed the finish line in 7th place overall. “That was a really tough race. Running a Supersport legal bike against some of those built monsters is difficult, however I could make time in many corners which is a credit to how good Ryan from Suspension Solution has my suspension dialed in. It is not perfect yet, but it is better than most other’s out here on our tight and twisty tracks. That right there really makes a world of difference, and a top-ten finish is something I can’t complain about today” commented Dave after the grueling race. Next up on the schedule for the both team members was Supertwins GTU. This hotly contested class features everything from superbike-spec SV650s to brand new Ducati 749R race bikes. Dave and Mike took their front row gridding positions, nailed the start, and battled amongst themselves for the entirety of the eight lap race. At the checkered flag it was a Team Morse Racing 1/2 finish, with Dave just squeaking by for the win. Both Dave and Mike put in good performances in Middleweight Supersport as well as Open Supersport, but the day was completed with a spectacular Heavyweight Supersport race. Both riders were off to a good start but were shuffled back to 10th and 12th place by turn two. Neither were pleased with this position, but Mike Applehans turned on the heat and began picking off riders one by one. At the finish line, Mike crossed it in 4th place passing 6 riders in 8 laps against heavy competition! “That was great fun! My RacerSupply.com GSXR750 really felt good out there, and just like on Dave’s GSXR600, Ryan at Suspension Solutions really has the suspension working well for our tracks and my style. I was hoping to get up one or two more positions by the time the race was over, but this result is great and I look forward to doing even better as we continue to improve the bike!” stated Mike Applehans of Team Morse Racing. “This is what it is all about for us – Riding hard and making sure our team sponsors are mentioned during almost every race of the day!” commented Scott Morse, owner of Morse Racing Products / GP Composites. “Fielding four bikes for our riders also gives the shop an opportunity to stress test new bodywork technologies to find ways to make our bodywork that much better. We are already running the next generation bodywork on these four bikes and I excited to see how well it is holding up while at the same time being even more lightweight and flexible!” added Scott Morse of Team Morse Racing. Team Morse Racing will compete in round 4 of the MRA series at Continental Divide Raceway (formerly Mountain View Raceway) on June 18th-19th. More, from a press release issued by Jason DiSalvo’s publicist: TWO PODIUMS AND NEW TRACK RECORD FOR DISALVO AT ROAD AMERICA Jason DiSalvo competed in the AMA SuperBike Championship at the Road America 4.1 mile course in Elkhart Lake WI June 3, 4th and 5th. The race weekend included a severe thunderstorm during the first SuperBike race on Saturday afternoon but had no effect on the 1000cc SuperStock or 600cc SuperSport classes. With practice on Friday qualifying on Saturday with the final races being Sunday morning and Sunday afternoon. In the 1000cc SuperStock class Jason continued his domination by getting his fourth consecutive pole position in this class while establishing a new track record of almost 1 1/2 seconds faster than previous. With a strong start from his pole position Jason ran a consistent race finishing third securing another podium finish. The 600cc SuperSport class saw Jason finish second fastest in qualifying giving him another front row starting position. Jason had a perfect start leading the pack into turn 1 and running a consistent race while being challenged numerous times by one of his team mates. At the checkered flag Jason finished third again securing the last podium place of the race. With good results at Road America Jason stands second in points in the 1000cc SuperStock class and tied for fifth in the 600cc SuperSport class. The team has traveled to Mid-Ohio for testing and will be concentrating on the upcoming event at Laguna Seca the first week of July which will host Moto GP for the first time in many years. More, from a press release issued by Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki: MICHAEL JORDAN MOTORSPORTS SUZUKI: HIGHS AND LOWS AT ROAD AMERICA The Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki team had highs and lows at round six of the AMA Superbike Championship at Road America, June 3-5. The highs were Steve Rapp’s two 8th place finishes in Sunday’s Superstock and Superbike races, as well as teammate Montez Stewart’s best finish of the year with an 18th place finish in Superstock. The lows included Jason Pridmore’s short-lived return to racing action, when a freak mechanical problem caused him to crash and break a bone in his right foot during Thursday’s test day, as well Rapp’s first-lap crash in Saturday’s rain-plagued Superbike event. Jason Pridmore “We don’t know what happened, that’s the problem,” said Pridmore. “It’s just so frustrating, because I just wanted to ride and see where I was, coming back from my injury. I did maybe 6 laps all day. I was just accelerating out of the slowest corner on the track, turn 5, on my out lap and the front wheel locked up on me. I’d just started to go up the hill to turn 6. I was doing 60 miles per hour, maybe. Next thing you know, I’m flopping over the bars. There wasn’t even a cornerworker where I fell; the cornerworker had to come down from turn 6. When I got up and went to the bike, the front wheel was locked up, and they don’t know what happened. It’s just frustrating.” Steve Rapp Saturday’s Superbike Final – Crash – DNF “First lap, I was behind Kurtis (Roberts), 9th or 10th place,” said Rapp. “I went through turn 8, there was lots of sealer, I couldn’t really see where I was because I was right behind Kurtis. I followed him through and as soon as I touched the throttle, it went 180 and wiped me out. I learned a little bit in case it rains tomorrow.” Sunday’s Repsol Lubricants Superstock Final – 8th Place “I could stay with the group the first half of the race,” said Rapp of the lead group of frontrunners. “Maybe 4 or 5 laps into it I went deep into 5 and ran wide, and that was the end of my race right there. I lost the group by about 6 or 7 bikelengths. After that I couldn’t really do much else. By then, my tires were starting to slide a little bit anyway. I was trying to make up ground on the brakes, then I’d lose my drive a little bit.” Sunday’s Superbike Final – 8th Place “I was ahead of (Aaron) Yates and Josh (Hayes) for a couple of laps,” said Rapp. “Then they passed me down the front straight, and I followed Josh for maybe 3 or 4 more laps and he pulled a little gap on me. I rode by myself for the rest of the race. I had plus 15 on my board at one point. The bike was really good. We tried a few things after the Superstock race and they were better.” Montez Stewart Sunday’s Repsol Lubricants Superstock Final – 18th Place “Those guys who finished in front of me, I was matching their pace all the way around the track,” said Stewart. “They were getting their bikes up on the middle of the tire better than me. I was beating them on the brakes everywhere, but they were setting up the corners better. The lap times were the best I turned all weekend. It’s still not fast enough, but I’m making progress. I almost crashed, because I nearly got caught up in that mess in turn 5.” Superstock Results – Round 6 – Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI 1. Aaron Yates, Yoshimura Suzuki 2. Geoff May, M4 EMGO Suzuki 3. Jason Disalvo, Yamaha 4. Roger Lee Hayden, Kawasaki 5. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki 6. Michael Barnes, M4 EMGO Suzuki 7. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha 8. Steve Rapp, Jordan Suzuki 9. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha 10. Jake Holden, Lion Racing Suzuki Superbike Results – Race 1 – Round 6 – Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI 1. Neil Hodgson, Ducati 2. Mat Mladin, Yoshimura Suzuki 3. Josh Hayes, Kawasaki 4. Ben Spies, Yoshimura Suzuki 5. Marty Cragill, Mat Mladin Suzuki 6. Jake Zemke, Honda 7. Miguel Duhamel, Honda 8. Larry Pegram, Hotbodies Honda 9. John Haner, Lion Racing Suzuki 10. Akira Tumitsuji, Suzuki Superbike Results – Race 2 – Round 6 – Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI 1. Mat Mladin, Yoshimura Suzuki 2. Ben Spies, Yoshimura Suzuki 3. Jake Zemke, Honda 4. Eric Bostrom, Ducati 5. Aaron Yates, Yoshimura Suzuki 6. Josh Hayes, Kawasaki 7. Kurtis Roberts, Honda 8. Steve Rapp, Jordan Suzuki 9. Lee Acree, Millennium KWS Suzuki 10. Clint McBain, Blackfoot Suzuki 2005 Superstock Point Standings (After 6 Races) 1. Aaron Yates, 190 2. Jason Disalvo, 184 3. Tommy Hayden, 168 4. Jamie Hacking, 156 5. Steve Rapp, 152 6. Jake Holden, 130 7. John Haner, 126 8. Roger Lee Hayden, 118 9. Aaron Gobert, 118 10. Geoff May, 113 21. TIE, Akira Tamitsuji/Montez Stewart, 39 26. TIE, Jason Pridmore (injured)/Matt Lynn, 29 2005 Superbike Point Standings (After 10 Races) 1. Mat Mladin, 325 2. Ben Spies, 300 3. Aaron Yates, 265 4. Neil Hodgson, 249 5. Eric Bostrom, 231 6. Miguel Duhamel, 204 7. Jake Zemke, 186 8. Marty Craggill, 186 9. Jake Zemke, 178 10. Lee Acree, 178 27. Jason Pridmore, 49 (injured) More, from a press release issued by Pirelli: Pirelli Racers Lead Laps in Two Classes at Road America, Scoring Podium Finishes Superstock After leading six laps of the Road America Superstock race, Pirelli rider Geoff May was passed on the last lap and finished second by only .795 of a second. May was ecstatic with how his Pirelli Super Corse tires allowed him to defeat a pack of five factory riders. Superstock is a class of heavyweight bikes in a field of heavyweight teams, yet Geoff May and Michael Barnes, each riding for the M4 EMGO Suzuki team, together led nine laps of the 10-lap Superstock race at Road America. The recently un-retired Barnes finished sixth, in just his second professional road racing event since Daytona. With the dry conditions of the race on Road America’s ultra-fast high-horsepower track, Pirelli’s grabbing the second-highest step on the podium shows how well its tires meet the harshest measure of performance. Another Pirelli shod rider finishing in the top ten was Jacob Holden, coming home tenth on his Lion Racing Suzuki. Holden is now sixth in Superstock points with his teammate John Haner seventh and May tenth. Formula Xtreme In Formula Xtreme action, run on a wet track, M4 EMGO Suzuki’s Michael Barnes finished third, after leading four laps. Barnes, from Boca Raton, Florida, was recently enlisted by the M4 EMGO Suzuki team to fill in for injured rider Vincent Haskovec. Barnes was pleased with the edge he had in the rain with his Pirellis, noting how his advantage was equal, wet or dry. Joining Barnes in the top ten in Formula Xtreme were Pirelli-riders Danny Eslick, 5th; Mike Hale, 7th; and Justin Filice, 10th. This event marked Hale’s return to professional racing. High-ranked Pirelli riders in the season’s points include Team Hotbodies Racing teammates Nicky Moore in seventh (Moore sat out this round) and Taylor Knapp in eighth. Supersport Geoff May’s strong and consistent performances include a six-place finish at Road America in the brutally-competitive Supersport class. This finish places May at seventh in Supersport points for the season. Also finishing in the top fifteen in Supersport were Pirelli-shod riders Blake Young, Jason Ferrell, Nathan Hester and Taylor Knapp. Superbike In the Superbike class, Privateer racers John Haner and Lee Acree each posted a ninth-place finish, Haner in Saturday’s red-flagged-shortened race in the rain, and Acree in Sunday’s race. Acree, riding for the Millennium KWS team, has had a season of top finishes that has positioned him tenth in Superbike points, and as the second-highest ranked privateer.

Scott Russell Voted Into Motorcycle Hall Of Fame

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MOTORCYCLE HALL OF FAME MUSEUM ANNOUNCES CLASS OF 2005 PICKERINGTON, OHIO — The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, home of the nation’s only Hall of Fame honoring American motorcycling’s legendary racers, inventors, promoters, designers, enthusiasts and journalists, today announced 9 new members for 2005 induction. The annual Hall of Fame weekend, highlighted by a special Museum reception, a world-class Concours d’Elegance and the popular induction ceremonies is scheduled for October 7 – 8, 2005. The Class of 2005 includes some of todays’ best-known racing champions and industry leaders, as well as memorable individuals who played a major role in creating and building the nation’s rich motorcycling heritage. Induction into the exclusive Motorcycle Hall of Fame ensures that inductees’ achievements, as well as the colorful stories surrounding them, are preserved for the enjoyment and education of future generations of riders, enthusiasts and all who appreciate American history. The weekend honoring the Class of 2005 begins with a Friday, October 7 evening reception at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. Festivities continue on Saturday, October 8 with the 4th annual by-invitation-only Concours d’Elegance featuring over 100 rare vintage motorcycles. The Hall of Fame weekend concludes with the induction dinner and ceremonies Saturday evening. Attendance to all events is open to the public with reservations required for the Museum reception and the induction. “Each year we’re proud to honor the memorable individuals who helped create such a vibrant and continuously expanding community of American motorcycle enthusiasts,” said Mark Mendell, chairman of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. “Last year’s induction ceremony attendance broke all records. We hope that an even greater number of industry members and riding enthusiasts will help us honor the Class of 2005 this October.” The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Class of 2005 includes: Ralph Berndt Dominant Harley-Davidson tuner from 1957 to 1967. Won four consecutive #1 plates with Carroll Resweber and George Roeder. 8-Mile, 14-Half-Mile, 2-short-track and 4-road-race wins. Worked for over 30 years at Harley-Davidson Motor Company in both the racing and experimental division. Helped develop the modern frame Harley Lowboy. Jerry Branch Master tuner of Harley-Davidson motors for AMA Grand National Dirt Track racing as well as stock based engines for the street. Owner of Branch Flowmetrics. Known worldwide for his pioneering work on the flow bench with Harley-Davidson heads. Noted author of many books on Harley-Davidson engine optimization. Tom Cates General Manager for K&N Engineering. Sales rep for Honda motorcycles in early 1960s. West Coast BSA Distribution Manager in mid-1960s, followed by BSA National Sales Manager. Served on the Board of Directors of both the Motorcycle Industry Council and the Trailblazers. Established several long distance records at Daytona in 1969. Tom Christenson Last successful campaigner of Norton drag bikes in the U.S. National record holder in the 1970’s. Builder of the 1620cc “Hog Slayer,” the motorcycle that represents the bridge between drag racing’s early amateur days and today’s professional sport. The “Hog Slayer” was retired to the National Motorcycle Museum in England. Doug Henry AMA Motocross and Supercross Champion: 1993 125cc East Supercross; 1993 & 1994 125cc Motocross; 1998 250cc Motocross. 1998 AMA Athlete of the Year. Member of the United States 1998 Motocross des Nations team. Bill Johnson First U.S. importer and distributor of Triumph and Ariel motorcycles. Owner of Johnson Motors Inc. (JoMo). Sponsored and promoted TT and flat-track racing with such legendary racers as Joe Leonard and Skip Van Leeuwen. Pioneer in the establishment and growth of British motorcycle sales in the U.S. Nick Nicholson Competitor and sponsor of Catalina Grand Prix, desert races, trials competition, scrambles, flat track and road racing. Multi-winner of Catalina Grand Prix and 1954 winner of the 100-mile Daytona Beach race. One of the first Americans to compete in the British Scrambles. In 1959 Nicholson Motors, Inc. became the American distributor of Greeves Motorcycles. Scott Russell AMA Superbike Champion 1992, AMA Superstock Champion 1990-1992. World Superbike Champion 1993. Superbike Rookie of the Year 1988. Athlete of the Year 1992. Won 1994 Suzuka Eight Hour. First five-time winner of the Daytona 200, earning him the nickname “Mr. Daytona.” Gavin Trippe Legendary promoter of virtually every type of racing, including Trans AMA series, US Grand Prix Motocross, Superbikers, Trans Atlantic Match Races, Ascot 1/2 mile dirt track. Brought the 500cc U.S. Grand Prix of Motocross to America. Invented, promoted, and trademarked the “Superbikers,” the foundation for today’s “Super Motard” competition. One of the promoters of the original ABC Wide World of Sports Superbikers from 1979 -1985. About The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Each year, the Motorcycle Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to motorcycling, including those known for their contributions to road riding, off-road riding and all categories of racing, as well as those who have excelled in business, history, design and engineering. The Class of 2005 will be inducted on Saturday, October 8, during ceremonies at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, located on the campus of the American Motorcyclist Association in Pickerington, Ohio. Supported by families, industry peers, friends, past Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductees and media, the induction is an emotional celebration that brings together some of the most recognizable names in the world of motorcycling. The Hall of Fame Weekend will also feature the Museum’s 4th annual Concours d’Elegance, which drew over 100 juried entries in 2004″”including many of the machines that Motorcycle Hall of Fame members became forever linked with. The 2005 inductees will join the legendary men and women already immortalized in the Motorcycle Hall of Fame. Each Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductee is recognized with a plaque, and related motorcycles, photos and memorabilia which become part of the Museum’s exhibitions. Any motorcycling enthusiast may submit a person to be considered for induction into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame; complete biographical information should accompany the submission. Inductees are chosen by nine committees consisting of Hall-of-Fame members and independent experts in various disciplines. For a nomination form and instruction, visit www.motorcyclemuseum.org. About the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum The goal of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum is to tell the stories and preserve the history of motorcycling. Located on the campus of the American Motorcyclist Association in Pickerington, Ohio, the Motorcycle Hall of Fame honors those who have contributed notably to the sport, and three major exhibition halls showcase the machines and memorabilia that have shaped motorcycling. The Museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; and is closed on New Year’s, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Adult admission is $10 per person; students 12 17, $3. AMA members $5. Seniors receive a $2 discount and members of motorcycle clubs and organizations are eligible for a $1 discount per ticket. A $25.00 family rate and group rates are also available. For more information, call (614) 856-2222, or visit the Museum’s website at www.motorcyclemuseum.org.

Motorcycle Show Circuit Will Kick Off In Fort Worth This Coming November

MOTORSPORTS WEEKEND EXTRAVAGANZA TO DEBUT IN FORT WORTH, TEXAS

2005-2006 Arenacross Championship Series and 25th Annual Cycle World International Motorcycle Shows presented by Toyota Trucks Share a Home

Santa Ana, CA – June 6, 2005 – Advanstar Communications, Inc. – a leading publisher of print, event and online media for the powersports, off-road and automotive aftermarket industries – today announced the kickoff dates for its two firsts – an all new Arenacross Championship Series and stop number one on the 25th Annual Cycle World International Motorcycle Shows tour. Both events will take place at the Fort Worth Convention Center and Arena on November 4-6, 2005 in Fort Worth, Texas.

“Combining action-packed racing with America’s leading consumer motorcycle show series is a great way to capture the excitement of competition and have it translate to even more enthusiasm on the motorcycle show floor. This combined entertainment experience is unequalled in the motorcycle market,” said Skip Johnson, Vice President of the Powersports Consumer Events division of Advanstar. “For the first time ever, we’ll offer our OEM, accessory, and enthusiast customers a fully integrated and interactive motorcycle experience over the course of a weekend. Race fans and enthusiasts will have the opportunity to witness the latest technologies, new launches, accessories and merchandise from leading manufacturers on Friday and Saturday nights, and experience those products first-hand on the show floor the next day.”

Home of the first-ever Arenacross produced in 1984 by Mike Kidd Promotions, Fort Worth is an ideal starting point for both events. “We’re very excited and proud to be launching our combined program in Fort Worth. It’s a part of the country that’s full of committed motorcycle racers, enthusiasts, and fans. It’s also where the Advanstar Arenacross team calls home – what can be better than that?” said Mike Kidd, Race Director.

Kidd’s team recently opened their new racing event headquarters in Forth Worth and expanded its staff with the addition of Shane Schaffer, Show Manager, Becky Koons, Database Coordinator and Sandra Kidd, Operations Coordinator. “We continue to grow and strengthen our event production team with experienced professionals capable of delivering world caliber racing events, said Kidd.

Advanstar will feature the motorcycle show and race combination in select markets across the United States, with the second stop in Long Beach, CA on December 9-11, 2005. “Many motorcycle manufacturers and accessory companies call Southern California home – the Cycle World International Motorcycle Shows presented by Toyota Trucks have always attracted the “who’s who” in the motorcycle industry – adding high caliber professional racing on Friday and Saturday nights, along with a full amateur program on Sunday is sure to enhance the motorcycle crowd coming to Long Beach”, said Jeff D’Entremont, IMS Show Director.

Complete schedules for the Arenacross Championship Series and the Cycle World International Motorcycle Shows presented by Toyota Trucks will be announced shortly.

New Sponsorship Deal

TrackDaz and NJK Leathers Have it Covered! Riverside, CA – TrackDaz and NJK Leathers are very pleased to announce a partnership, and that NJK Leathers will now be outfitting TrackDaz and its staff members in its super cool leathers! To say that we at TrackDaz are looking forward to this partnership would be a bit of an understatement. NJK Leathers is renowned for its cool cutting edge designs, and ultimately for its protection, and we can’t wait to put them on! From Kelcey Gordon of NJK, “We at NJK Leathers look forward to working with such a professional organization as TrackDaz. We feel this relationship will help strengthen our roots, and our support of the motorcycle industry in all disciplines – from the street rider, to the canyon carver, from the road racer to the flat tracker.” We hope to have some of the TrackDaz staff suited up for the next trackday on July 30-31 at Streets of Willow with the cool new design that NJK has made, and to be able to show those off, and show the build and design quality of NJK. TrackDaz can be found on the web at www.trackdaz.com, and NJK Leathers at www.njkleathers.com. Come out and play with us and check out our cool new cowhide covers!

Howard Took Five Wins In CMRA Action At MotorSport Ranch

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By Shan Moore Ty Howard was virtually unstoppable at round five of the CMRA Championship Roadracing Series held at MotorSport Ranch near Cresson, Texas. The Weatherford, Texas-resident won 5 of the 6 events he entered over the weekend and claimed over $11,000 in CMRA cash and manufacturer’s contingency money for his efforts. Howard rode a combination of Suzuki and Kawasaki machinery in order to make the most of the available contingency money offered over the weekend and posted wins in the Racing Performance Services B Superstock Expert race (which features a $150 purse), the C Superstock Expert (which features a $500 purse), the Pace American Trailers Formula 1 Expert race (which features a $1000 purse), the Sum of all Parts A Superstock Expert race (which features a $150 purse) and the RaceworX C Superbike Expert race (which features a $150 purse). Howard also added $150 to his take by winning the Mr. Corder Racing Fast Lap Award for turning the fastest lap during the sprint races. His only defeat came in the A Superbike Expert race, where he finished third behind Heath Small and Randall Kienast. Also cashing in on CMRA purse money were Will Gruy, who won the 125 GP ($250 purse) and Super Motard ($250 purse) races, Bryan West, who won the Racing B Superbike Expert class ($250 purse), Heath Small who won the Motorcycles Unlimited A Superbike Expert race ( $150 purse), Dane Westby, who won the lion’s share of the $500 purse paid in the Lightweight Twins Expert class and Jon Francis, who won the AF1 Racing Heavyweight Twins Expert class, which features an end-of-the-year cash award. Notable performances in the Novice divisions were turned in by Cory Burleson, who claimed seven Novice-class wins, and by Derrick Smith, who won two. Over 540 sprint entries, including 46 mini sprints, participated in Sunday’s sprint races, which were run in the clockwise direction. While on Saturday, CMRA officials turned away endurance entries in order to keep the grid at the 55-team limit. During Saturday’s endurance action, Village Idiots won round four of the Shogun Motorsports Endurance Series by two laps over series points leader Northwest Honda Racing in a race that looked as though it might go down to the wire. The 5-hour race, which pays an $1125 purse, featured several different leaders during the first three hours of action; however, the Yamaha R6-mounted Village Idiots went the full distance on the same set of tires, while Northwest Honda Racing required three rears to go the distance on their Honda CBR1000RR, which ultimately was the difference in the contest. With the second place finish, Northwest Honda Racing claimed the Formula 1 class-win, while Desert-Rats.net finished third overall and top A Superstock entry. KNMotorcycles.com finished fourth overall and were the top placing C Superstock finishers, while Faltless Racing won the Formula 2 division with a 13th overall. Overall winners Village Idiots were also first in the C Superbike class. In the Shogun Motorsports Mini Endurance event, which features a $250 payout, Team K&N took their third overall and Formula 4-class wins of the series and kept their record perfect for 2005 by claiming a one-lap margin of victory over second place finishers Team Jesus. Third place went to Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, while AF1 Racing won the Formula 5 division with a sixth overall finish. In the Formula 6 division, STD Racing took the win with a 16th overall and Excel won the Formula 7 class with a 25th overall finish. In Mini Sprint action, Tyler McDonald topped Zac Chapman for the Formula 4 win and Dennis Dudley edged Johnny Lee Clark for the Formula 6 win. In the Formula 5 division it was Anthony Smith taking the win over Derek Wagnon, while Dirk Anderson came home with the win in the Formula 7 class with Walker Keene finishing second. The CMRA returns to action on June 25th and 26th at Oak Hill Raceway near Henderson, Texas with a full slate of sprint racing on Sunday and Mini Sprints on Saturday.

Lougher Takes Isle Of Man Junior TT Win

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HONDA RACING INFORMATION Junior TT victory for Lougher and Honda CBR600RR Ian Lougher powered his CBR600RR Honda to a comfortable victory in the Supersport 600 Junior TT race, taking his seventh success in 21 years of racing the Isle of Man Mountain Course by some 22 seconds ahead of John McGuinness. The 41 year old had complained of a stomach upset earlier in the day, but he shrugged that aside with a superb ride that featured a high-speed duel for supremacy with Ryan Farquhar, riding Kawasaki, in the first half of the race. Lougher was running a little over a second ahead after a first lap at 122.397mph, but as they pitted for fuel next time around the 37.73 miles of public road action, it was young Farquhar who held the advantage, just, by 0.6 seconds. But then it was all change. Farquhar was quickly away from the pits, but disappointment was only half a dozen miles away – just as in Sunday’s Superbike race, he was sidelined by machine problems. That left the way clear for Lougher to take Honda to their first victory in this event since 1999, and he did it in style: “That was fantastic – I knew that it was going to be tough early on so was concentrating hard all of the way, but then Ryan went out, leaving John in second place.” Said Lougher. “I got my head down because I wanted to beat him fair and square – he is the lap record holder, and it means a lot to get ahead of him and take this victory. The Honda is a magic little bike around here -it handles so well and has great corner speed, and that is just what I needed,” Lougher smiled, ” and, 21 years on from my first race here, I am still enjoying it just as much.” “This victory also makes up for my mishap in this race last year when I crashed a Union Mills – that went through my mind every time I went through that section, but this year it all came good with the victory.” McGuinness, aboard a Yamaha, had no complaints. “I rode the wheels of the bike and tried everything – I felt as fast as anyone out there and had no problems.” His team-mate Jason Griffiths took third place, ahead of Suzuki rider Bruce Anstey, while fifth place went to Guy Martin on a Honda. Anstey had earlier taken the victory in the three lap Superstock TT race, inheriting the lead at the Bungalow when his team-mate Adrian Archibald ran out of fuel on the third and final lap with little more than six miles of the race remaining. Archibald had set the pace throughout and had a 20 seconds advantage as he dashed onto the Mountain section for the final time, but by the time he reached the Bungalow his bike was spluttering to a halt. “He just went off line, slowed and stopped – it was a pity as he was riding so well and had me beat,” said Anstey who was taking his fourth victory on the Island, finishing some 36 seconds ahead of Lougher, aboard a Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade. “I made a slow start – I was really feeling ill, quite sick, and the signals telling me that I was running seventh made me feel worse, but then I got my head down, and started pulling time back,” Lougher explained. The extent of his hard riding finish was, over the last lap, to transform a nine seconds deficit on Farquhar into a one second advantage – enough to give him second place, at the expense of the Kawasaki rider. Jason Griffiths, Guy Martin and Paul Hunt completed the top six, ahead of the Honda trio of Martin Finnegan, Richard Britton and Ian Hutchinson with Chris Heath, riding Yamaha in tenth place.

Recent Births: Twins Jacob and Joshua Simone, Matthew Evan Caylor

Race tuner Scott Simone and wife Stephanie had twin boys, Jacob and Joshua, June 3 in Providence, Rhode Island. AMA Pro racer Chris “Opie” Caylor and wife Tracy had a son, Matthew Evan, June 4 in Marietta, Georgia.

Updated Post: Various Press Releases From The AMA Superbike Event At Road America

Superbike Double-Header at Road America, June 4-5 At Road America, as always, the yearly AMA Superbike races were a dramatic, frantic, frenetic hodgepodge of thrills, with the Hotbodies Racing Honda Team riders mixing it up in multiple classes and weather conditions. Formula Xtreme and Race One of Superbike were run in the rain, with the Superbike race being shortened to eight laps due to a red flag. Race Two in Superbike was run in the dry but was restarted due to an early red flag. Larry Pegram, #72 On the ultra-fast, four-mile Road America circuit, Larry Pegram qualified his Hotbodies Racing Honda HRC-kitted CBR1000RR on row three, in tenth position, for the weekend’s two Superbike races. In the rain-shortened Race One, Pegram finished eighth. In Race Two, a mechanical problem took Pegram out of the top 25. Pegram said, “Practice and qualifying were good and we were quickly in the top ten with our times. We did the qualifying on race tires, rather than a qualifier, so I was confident for the race. And then it rained. We didn’t have the bike set up as well as I’d like for the rain, but everyone else was crashing so we ended up eighth. We were sixth when the red flag came out, but backing the race up a lap put us back in eighth. Road America has some slippery spots but those same tar strips have been there for years. Two years ago when we raced there I was third in the rain.” In Race Two on Sunday, Pegram’s weekend came to an end three laps too soon, when a bike problem caused him to pull out of the event. Pegram was officially credited with 26th and is now 12th in the points for the season. “On Sunday’s first start I got away well. But in the second start Yates missed a shift right in front of me and I rear-ended him. That dropped me way back. Late in the race we had a tire issue and my race was done. But I like Road America. It’s a real race track, it’s high speed, it’s what roadracing is all about.” Jeremy Toye, #57 For Road America, Hotbodies Racing Honda rider Jeremy Toye qualified his somewhat-partially HRC-kitted CBR1000RR in 29th, after completing 12 laps of the circuit in two days. And then wet or dry, Toye ripped his way through the grid to finish 17th on Saturday and 15th on Sunday. We attribute the following as generally coming from the mouth of Toye. “We had a pretty eventful weekend. We showed up at promoter practice with high hopes because we’d just built a new motor. It started to smoke on the first lap. The “people” who did the pistons made a ring wrong and we never checked it. That night the guys at Erion were righteous enough to hook us up with some pistons and totally save my ass. But we only had HRC-kit head gaskets. I did three laps and it started spraying water in my face. We had an hour before qualifying and no time so we put on new tires. The bike was handling badly and pissing water so I went and qualified. After that Erion gave us a head gasket because they’re cool. We put it on and then I could think about how to ride a motorcycle. “Race One was kind of fun in the rain. Being from California, I don’t get do that much. It’s totally out of control and your relying on nothing but”¦ well there is nothing to rely on. I think my motocross background helped. “We had one dry session Sunday morning and we actually had time to set up the bike. We made a couple changes and the bike was working well so I decided to stay in this state and do the next race. We got to the finish. It’s like all season we’re behind the gun and trying to catch a break. My guys did a great job. It showed in the race by how I was progressing. A new 2005 model of Toye will there for Laguna.” Justin Filice #170 Hotbodies Racing Honda rider Justin Filice qualified his Honda CBR600RR in 18th for Supersport, but had his race end prematurely due to rider error. You know, he fell. Filice said, “On the last lap I crashed in Canada Corner while running 13th. I went over the front and even though I got up and finished too many riders had gone by. Even so, I like this place. I like going fast and at this place you go fast a lot. My fall really hurt me in the points. I was happy it didn’t rain for Supersport because it was safer.” Filice was credited with 34th. In Formula Xtreme, Filice had his luck go the other way, qualifying 24th and finishing in the top ten. Filice said, “The bike’s set up was a little off. The front was chattering so we changed to a softer tire and I went 2.5 seconds faster in practice. But the race was in the rain and it was the first time I’d ever done that. So I went fast on the straights and super slow in the corners. There are really, really slippery patches. If you hit one you’ll be on your head before you know you crashed. I was scared going out there at first but then after our three laps of rain practice I felt better. After lap seven I caught Mike Hale and then he wicked it up. I wasn’t expecting to do so well after qualifying and I was actually hoping for a dry race. My dirt tracking skills really helped me I was sideways and the bike and I were going in two different directions at one point.” With his 10th-place finish Filice is now 13th in Formula Xtreme points. More, from a press release issued by Team Hotbodies Racing: Cory West #187 Cory West, as we’re wont to often remind you is the 2004 Superbike Rookie of the Year, qualified 20th for the Road America double header, finishing Race One and Two 33rd and 12th, respectively. West said, “We had a rough weekend. We blew both of our motors in promoter’s practice. Then on Friday the bike oiled me down on my fast lap. I pulled in and saved the engine. But by Saturday I’d dropped a second off my times. I never had a clean lap until then and everything was good and I put my head down. In Race One I crashed on the warm up lap. I was able to get to the grid and I started even though I didn’t have a right foot peg. After a few laps of that in the rain I couldn’t continue so I came in. “In Race I had a really good start. I took off with some fast guys but then ran off at Canada Corner. Then I passed some more and ran off again a few laps later. Then I made sure I didn’t make that mistake again. I caught some more guys; I think some of them ran out of gas. “This year there were lots of spectators. It’s fun seeing all of them around the track. The track is one of a kind. There’s no other place where you can hold it wide open in top gear for so long. And this track has three of those places.” West is now 16th in Superbike points. Keith Marshall #292 Hotbodies Racing Team member Keith Marshall qualified his Suzuki GSX-R600 in 27th for Supersport, and finished a nicely-improved 18th. Marshall said, “This was my first time at this track so it went bad as far as I’m concerned. It’s a real horsepower track and the Suzuki 600 is down on it. And with four miles a lap there’s a lot to learn and not much time to learn it. I had only eight laps for practice before qualifying. Mike Fitzgerald set up the bike real good for me though. “On the start the green went so fast everyone was caught off guard. As we came up to turn one I just kept going. Everyone seemed to check up. I think I went into one in 30th and came out of turn three in 15th. But in the race some guys held me back. It was hard, these guys were getting a draft on me so I had to keep shutting the door and driving as hard as possible on the brakes. Some riders were slow in the turns but their bikes were faster.” Marshall, who is only doing selected AMA events, will be competing at Mid-Ohio in July. Giovani Rojas #50 Now in his second partial year in the AMA Superbike series, Hotbodies Racing Team rider Giovani Rojas qualified his motorcycle in 17th for Supersport and finished a position of slight-improvement at 16th. At press time, Rojas had nothing to say about his weekend. Nicky Moore #28 Hotbodies Racing Team member Nicky Moore did not compete at Road America due to convalescing needs of his injuries suffered at Barber Motorsports Park. That Moore competed in three race weekends since Barber is not confusing to those who understand racers. Despite his non-appearance, Moore is ranked seventh for the season in Formula Xtreme points. Moore is expected to be ready to race by the next event at Laguna Seca. Taylor Knapp #38 In Formula Xtreme, Taylor Knapp qualified his Yamaha YZF-R6 in 16th, but ended up 30th in the race, after completing three laps. Knapp said, “I like the track. I was there a long time ago on a 125, so I knew my way around. I like the high speed and everything went good in practice. I was trying to get into the fast group for qualifying but was again the fastest rider in the slower group. But in qualifying I managed to be faster than some in the fast group. It started raining in the race and I crashed in turn 5. I think I hit a tar strip; the bike came around fast. In the crash it blew a fuss and wouldn’t start. I was trying to get up and go.” Knapp is 8th in Formula Xtreme points. In Supersport, on his other Yamaha R6, Knapp qualified 20th and finished the race a much more happy-making 15th. Knapp said, “I was in the fast group for Supersport qualifying and was towed and made it to row five. But in the race we made a wrong choice on gearing. It was geared to low and in the draft it was revving out so we were about a tooth off.” More, from a press release issued by Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin: BOSTROM FINISHES A HARD FOUGHT FOURTH AT ROAD AMERICA Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin (June 5) – Ducati Austin’s Eric Bostrom fought for the podium on Sunday at Elkhart Lake Wisconsin, finishing just short of making it as he finished fourth on his Ducati 999. Bostrom was a part of a three rider scrap for second but caught some bad breaks with lapped traffic and was unable to make a last lap pass for position on Road America’s long straight as he had planned. Saturday’s race winner Neil Hodgson was 19th after a mechanical problem. “We’re pretty happy with the direction things went,” said Bostrom. “We had better entry grip than we ever had before on the 999. We struggled some with gearing, but overall the bike went well at Elkhart. The second split was our best all weekend and that had been where we were hurting, in the turns. Now it’s our strong point.” Eric diced for second place and was in sight of the position, but ended up fourth after having a rougher time through the backmarkers than his rivals. “There was a shake-up between two riders in front of me, so there was an opportunity to make up some ground,” said Bostrom, the winner at Pikes Peak last month. “To work so hard for it and have the opportunity disappear was frustrating. When we went into turn 11, I was right on their heels. I was basically in position to make a move in the last turn.” While Bostrom could have benefited with one more lap in the race, Neil Hodgson would have liked one fewer. “Unfortunately, a belt broke on Neil’s bike today,” said team engineer Luca Ferraccioli. Hodsgon could not finish the 16th and final lap of the race after running behind Bostrom for most of the event. “I only had a quarter of a lap to go,” said a frustrated Hodsgson, clearly wanting to back up his Saturday win with another good finish. “After yesterday, I was so pleased to win and wanted to have another good day today, but the race was disappointing. I was pretty much near the limit in the race.” Hodgson is still in fourth place in AMA Superbike points. Still, the weekend will be remembered for Hodgson’s first AMA victory. Hodgson is the only man in the modern era to win in AMA Superbike, British Superbike, and World Superbike. The team will next race at Laguna Seca Raceway at the combined MotoGP/AMA weekend on July 8-10. Race results – 1. Mat Mladin (Suzuki), 2. Ben Spies (Suzuki), 3. Jake Zemke (Honda), 4. ERIC BOSTROM (PARTS UNLIMITED DUCATI AUSTIN 999), 5. Aaron Yates (Suzuki), 6. Josh Hayes (Kawasaki), 19th NEIL HODGSON (PARTS UNLIMITED DUCATI AUSTIN 999) AMA Superbike Points (After 10 of 17 races) – 1. Mat Mladin (Suzuki) 325, 2. Ben Spies (Suzuki) 300, 3. Aaron Yates (Suzuki) 265, 4. NEIL HODGSON (PARTS UNLIMITED DUCATI AUSTIN 999) 249, 5. ERIC BOSTROM (PARTS UNLIMITED DUCATI AUSTIN 999) 231, 6. Miguel Duhamel (Honda) 204 More, from a press release issued by Team M4 EMGO Suzuki: MAY AND BARNES ON THE PODIUM IN ELKHART LAKE Team M4 EMGO Suzuki concluded the Road America weekend with another tremendous performance on Sunday. One day after Mike Barnes claimed a podium finish in the Formula Xtreme race at Elkhart Lake, WI, his teammate Geoff May finished as the runner-up in the 60k Superstock final. The two were both major players aboard their Pirelli-shod GSX-R1000s Sunday, with Barnes leading the race’s opening laps and May sweeping by to hold down the top position for the next portion of the exciting race. Once out in front, the Georgian fought to break away for the win but ended up second after a final-lap clash for victory. May was pushed back to second early on the last lap and unfortunately his hope to draft back by for the win was foiled when he just ran out of time. He explained after coming up less than a second short of the top spot on the box, “I made some time in Canada Corner, and I made some more time up in the back section, but there wasn’t enough real estate left to get the draft.” Afterwards, he spoke of his podium finish. “It’s great. I could never imagine what it would be like. It’s a lot different than winning club races — this is the show. I was racing for the lead with guys I remember watching when I was in high school.” After leading early, Barnes picked up a solid sixth-place finish in his second Superstock ride of the season with Team M4 EMGO Suzuki filling in for Vincent Haskovec. The Floridian almost joined May on the podium, finishing just 1.164 seconds off of third place. May also enjoyed a fine ride in the Supersport contest. He piloted his GSX-R600 to sixth place, his best result of the season, to conclude the successful Road America weekend for the team. May and Barnes will next race with the M4 EMGO Suzuki team at Laguna Seca on July 8-10.

Beck Stars In WERA National Challenge Series Action At Willow Springs

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Local young gun Michael Beck was the star of the fourth round of the WERA National Challenge series at Willow Springs International Raceway Sunday. Beck, 16, used his Yamaha YZF-R1 to win the Formula 1 and A Superstock races, both close wins over Racer’s Edge’s Dale Kieffer, and also finished second to Arclight Suzuki’s Chris Siglin in the C Superstock event on his Yamaha YZF-R6. Vesrah Suzuki’s Tray Batey was the other big winner, taking victory in B Superstock as well as third in Formula 1 on his Suzuki GSX-R750, and also winning the Heavyweight Twins race on his Suzuki SV1000. Siglin finished runner-up to Batey in the B Superstock race despite stepping up and running his GSX-R600 against a field of mostly 750cc machines. Young gun Josh Herrin took a close win over fellow young gun Nicky Moore in the C Superbike event, while Moore was able to edge out Herrin for third in the C Superstock race. Both were on Yamaha YZF-R6s. Yet another young gun, Tommy Aquino, used his Honda RS125 to win the Formula 2 and 125cc GP races, while in the Lightweight ranks Suzuki SV650-mounted riders Chris Perrish and Josh Galster took the Supersport and Superbike wins respectively. RESULTS: FORMULA 1 EXPERT: 1. Michael Beck (Yam YZF-R1); 2. Dale Kieffer (Suz GSX-R1000); 3. Tray Batey (Suz GSX-R750); 4. David Weber (Suz GSX-R1000); 5. Jacob West (Suz GSX-R1000); 6. John Jacobi (Suz GSX-R750). FORMULA 1 NOVICE: 1. Terry Heard (Hon CBR1000RR); 2. Daniel Shaff (Kaw ZX-6RR); 3. Tony Palarie (Suz GSX-R750); 4. Jon Lawson (Suz GSX-R1000); 5. Steve Netter; 6. David Sharerdi (Suz GSX-R1000). A SUPERSTOCK EXPERT: 1. Michael Beck (Yam YZF-R1); 2. Dale Kieffer (Suz GSX-R1000); 3. Mark Junge (Suz GSX-R1000); 4. Ben Thompson (Suz GSX-R1000); 5. Nicky Moore (Yam YZF-R1); 6. John Chen (Suz GSX-R1000). A SUPERSTOCK NOVICE: 1. J.B. Layman (Yam YZF-R6); 2. Tony Palarie (Suz GSX-R750); 3. Jon Lawson (Suz GSX-R1000); 4. Stephen Netter (Suz GSX-R1000); 5. Scott Layman (Suz GSX-R750); 6. David Sharerdi (Suz GSX-R1000). B SUPERSTOCK EXPERT: 1. Tray Batey (Suz GSX-R750); 2. Chris Siglin (Suz GSX-R600); 3. Corey Eaton (Suz GSX-R750); 4. John Jacobi (Suz GSX-R750); 5. Ritchie Thorup (Suz GSX-R750); 6. Nicky Moore (Yam YZF-R6). B SUPERSTOCK NOVICE: 1. Tony Palarie (Suz GSX-R750); 2. J.B. Layman (Yam YZF-R6); 3. Daniel Shaff (Kaw ZX-6RR); 4. Chris Yaklgian (Suz GSX-R600); 5. Terry Heard (Yam YZF-R6); 6. Javier Ramirez (Yam YZF-R6). C SUPERSTOCK EXPERT: 1. Chris Siglin (Suz GSX-R600; 2. Michael Beck (Yam YZF-R6); 3. Nicky Moore (Yam YZF-R6); 4. Josh Herrin (Yam YZF-R6); 5. John Jacobi (Suz GSX-R600); 6. David Weber (Suz GSX-R600). C SUPERSTOCK NOVICE: 1. Nick Scoggins (Kaw ZX-6RR); 2. J.B. Layman (Yam YZF-R6); 3. Daniel Shaff (Kaw ZX-6RR); 4. Curtis Cash (Kaw ZX-6RR); 5. Ron Gallegos (Hon CBR600RR); 6. Deshon Thomas (Hon CBR600RR). B SUPERBIKE EXPERT: 1. David Siminski (Suz GSX-R750); 2. Jason Caldwell (Suz GSX-R750); 3. Ademar Nunes (Yam YZF-R6); 4. Dustin O’Hara (Suz GSX-R750); 5. John Thomas (Suz GSX-R750); ; 6. Joe Hayes (Suz GSX-R750). B SUPERBIKE NOVICE: 1. Tony Palarie (Suz GSX-R750); 3. J.B. Layman (Yam YZF-R6); 4. Brad Pitnam-Armstrong (Suz GSX-R600); 5. Kirk Wilde (Suz GSX-R750); 6. Mike Warren (Suz GSX-R750). C SUPERBIKE EXPERT: 1. Josh Herrin (Yam YZF-R6); 2. Nicky Moore (Yam YZF-R6); 3. Mickey Lane (Kaw ZX-6RR); 4. David Siminski (Suz GSX-R600); 5. Mark Crozier (Kaw ZX-6RR); 6. Derek Keyes (Yam YZF-R6). C SUPERBIKE NOVICE: 1. 1. Nick Scoggins (Kaw ZX-6RR); 2. J.B. Layman (Yam YZF-R6); 3. Ron Gallegos (Hon CBR600RR); 4. Daniel Shaff (Kaw ZX-6RR); 5. Javier Ramirez (Yam YZF-R6); 6. Brad Pitnam-Armstrong (Suz GSX-R600). FORMULA 2: 1. Tommy Aquino (Hon RS125); 2. Mike Lytle (Yam TZ250); 3. Chris Parrish (Suz SV650); 4. Chuma Hunter-Gault (Yam 400). 125cc GRAND PRIX: 1. Tommy Aquino (Hon RS125). HEAVYWEIGHT TWINS SUPERSPORT EXPERT: 1. Tray Batey (Suz SV1000); 2. Cale Swiger (Suz SV1000). HEAVYWEIGHT TWINS SUPERSPORT NOVICE: 1. David Nguyen (Duc 999). HEAVYWEIGHT TWINS SUPERBIKE EXPERT: 1. Jeff Eklund (Bue XB12R). HEAVYWEIGHT TWINS SUPERBIKE NOVICE: 1. David Nguyen (Duc 999). LIGHTWEIGHT TWINS SUPERSPORT EXPERT: 1. Chris Parrish (Suz SV650); 2. Josh Galster (Suz SV650); 3. Gary Schiling (Suz SV650). LIGHTWEIGHT TWINS SUPERBIKE EXPERT: 1. Josh Galster (Suz SV650). SENIOR SUPERBIKE EXPERT: 1. Howard Lynggard (Yam YZF-R1); 2. Stan Bates (Yam YZF-R6); 3. John Thomas (Suz GSX-R750); 4. Ron Northup (Yam YZF-R6); 5. James Davis (Yam YZF-R6). SENIOR SUPERBIKE NOVICE: 1. Curtis Cash (Kaw ZX-6RR); 2. Mickie Peyton (Kaw ZX-6R).

MotoGP Race At Mugello Was The Most-watched Motorcycle Race Ever In Italy

Mugello’s Italian festival lifts MotoGP TV audience to all-time high in Italy The breathtaking racing in last Sunday’s MotoGP race in Mugello, Italy, which saw four Italian riders scoring an historic clean sweep after scrapping for victory in front of 88,000 elated fans, led the Gran Premio Alice d’Italia to become the most followed motorcycle race ever in Italy. The 45-minute spectacle that saw superstar Valentino Rossi finally win out against fellow countrymen Max Biaggi, Loris Capirossi and Marco Melandri recorded a 47.3% market share and was seen by an average 7.6 million viewers through Mediaset’s channel Italia 1. This is the largest ever audience figure for motorcycle racing in Italy in terms of market share, and the figures are even more impressive considering the fact that the total number of single viewers who tuned into the transmission during the whole programme was well over 10 million.The all-Italian battle also had excellent audiences in the United Kingdom, where the BBC scored 1.3 million viewers and a 16% share. In Spain, despite Sete Gibernau’s crash, the market share for the broadcast in TVE-1 was over 31%.

Updated Post: Assorted Recent Press Releases

Mad Kaw Racing stands on class podium during WERA National Endurance at Willow Springs. Mad Kaw Racing had their best finish to date during the 6-hour WERA Endurance event at Willow Springs Raceway on June 4. The team brought home their CycleTires.com Kawasaki ZX6-R second in the Middleweight Superstock Class and Twelfth overall, and just as at VIR two weeks prior, they did it on remanufactured Tomahawk Tires. “We made some changes to the rear tire profile after VIR that have given us more side grip” said Team Owner Ivan Messina. “We didn’t want to come to Willow with what we had before, the long continuous right hand corners here are really tough on tires. I would go as far as to say that no other track in the country is more abusive on tires than Willow. We tested a few different compounds on Friday, and found one we thought would work.” It got warmer on Saturday though, and the first tire the team used during the race didn’t work very well. “It was too soft, and we ended up having to switch to a harder compound during the race, but that’s why we’re out here, to find out what works and continue to develop these tires.” said Ivan. The team was ready for the rear tire changes, and they went well, but they were unprepared for the number of front tire changes. We have never had to change a front tire in a 6-hour event. We changed two here, and with no front quick change equipment we lost some time in the pits.” said Ivan. “The pit crew did a great job with what I gave them though. Phil Herrin volunteered to help us out, and he brought his own sprint crew over to assist. Without them we would have had a difficult time, and I have to give all of our volunteers a big Thank You.” The team brought in a new rider for this event, former WSMC racer Frank Nolan. James Toohey and Ivan Messina rounded out the riders. “Frank is a great addition to the team, consistent and fast.” said Ivan. “We are all really starting to gel, and I think the result here shows that.” More, from a press release issued by Team Stumpy: Greg “Stumpy” Steltenpohl competes in AMA Supersport action at Road America Greg “Stumpy” Steltenpohl had a successful weekend in his first-ever AMA competition at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin’s Road America. Aboard the #256 Team Stumpy Racing Lithium Motorsports Honda 600rr, Steltenpohl qualified 33rd on the Supersport grid and placed 29th in the race. “The entire event went really smooth,” says Steltenpohl. “Every time I went on the track, I’d find a faster way to go and drop some time. Qualifying was more stressful for me than the actual race. I’m not great at competing against a clock. I like to dice and have a ‘carrot’ to chase, but things came together and the session went good. Tom Mason picked out a great set of Michelins for the qualifying session that stuck great the whole time. I did have to come in for gas with a few minutes left and was hoping to do one more ‘flyer’, but the clock ran out.” Sunny skies prevailed for the Sunday Supersport final, despite warnings of severe weather. “The race was so fun. I put my head down and was determined to make all 10 laps and I did. With the competition I was facing, I was looking for top 30, so that goal was met,” explained Steltenpohl. “It was the best 29th place I’ve ever won! “The icing on the cake were all the fans there cheering me on,” says Steltenpohl. “I always have the best group of people supporting me, whatever I’m up to. I really wanted to put on a good show for them and I thank everyone for their support and encouragement. I can’t wait for next year!” More, from a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing, which we’re running because former road racer Chris Carr is leading the dirt track points: KOPP SEEKING GRANITE CITY REPEAT PICKERINGTON, Ohio (June 7, 2005) — Joe Kopp returns to Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Ill., on June 11, for round five of the AMA Ford Quality Checked Flat Track Championship. Kopp, of Mica, Wash., hopes to repeat his victory at Tri-City in 2003 and inch closer to series leader Chris Carr. “Tri-City is one of those tracks that suits my style,” said Kopp, the 2000 AMA Grand National Champion who rides for Latus Harley-Davidson/Jones Powersports. “The track has bumpy dirt and it gets kind of rough during the course of a national and I was able to ride that pretty well the last time we were there.” Kopp is tied for second in the series standings with Ken Coolbeth, 14 points behind defending champ Carr. Kopp thinks it’s going to take consistency throughout the entire season to win back the AMA Grand National title from Carr. “I gained two points on him at Springfield (during the AMA Grand National Doubleheader over Memorial Day weekend), but that’s not enough,” Kopp said. “I haven’t been on the podium yet and I need to start doing that consistently to be able to catch Chris.” Coolbeth is also a proven threat at Granite City. The Connecticut native was runner up in both nationals held at Tri-City Speedway. He too would like to make up ground on Carr Saturday night. Bryan Bigelow, of Au Gres, Mich., won the race in 2002. Bigelow comes into Granite City ranked 13th in the standings. Jake Johnson and JR Schnabel have both scored victories in the series this year, but neither scored impressive results in the previous two Granite City nationals. Both riders are proven on short track and TT circuits, but know they will have to step up their performances on the bigger tracks to be considered true title contenders. Iowan Rich King is the hottest rider in the series. He is coming off a victory in the Springfield (Ill.) Mile over Memorial Day Weekend. King has scored a pair of top-10 finishes in Granite City. With the hopes of many riders high coming into this weekend’s race, the championship still goes through Quality Checked Certified Pre-Owned Ford rider/team owner Chris Carr. The six-time AMA Grand National Champion has missed the podium only once this year and his record at Granite City is solid. In 2002 he finished fourth in the race and third in the 2003 edition. Tri-City Speedway will also host the second round of the Harley-Davidson Sportster Performance Series. Warminster, Pennsylvania’s Scott Stump leads the championship on his Lima Harley-Davidson sponsored 883 Sportster after winning the opening round in Springfield. Stump is a two-time 883 series runner up. Take in a bike show and pig roast before the national. For ticket information call (636) 329-1122 or visit the website www.tricityspeedway.net. More, from a press release issued by Team Morse Racing: Team Morse Racing Wins in the Wet & the Dry! Team Morse Racing rode their way to 6 podium finishes and 3 race wins during round three of the MRA roadrace series at Second Creek Raceway in Denver Colorado. The weekend started with cold wet conditions on Saturday morning, and those conditions continued on through much of the day. By early afternoon it was clear that the mid-afternoon endurance races were going to be run in full wet conditions, however Dave Gallant and Mike Applehans were confident their Pirelli Super Corsa Pro DOT tires were up to the task at hand. By turn 3, Dave and Mike had put their RacerSupply.com Suzuki SV650s in the top two positions, then proceeded to put in silky smooth laps running at the front. Lap after lap, Dave and Mike diced their way through the first wave of Middleweight bikes using their nimble SV650s to their advantage. By the time the checkered flag flew, Dave had built up a comfortable lead to take the Lightweight Endurance class win and finished 3rd overall against a large Middleweight grid. Mike’s injuries sustained at Mid-America Motorplex two weeks earlier however forced him to ride more conservative towards the end of the long race, and he took home a 3rd place finish in the Lightweight Endurance class putting two Team Morse Racing riders on the podium. “Even though the conditions were terrible, they were the same for everyone and it forced me to be perfect every lap” commented Dave Gallant after the finish endurance race. “The SV650 is the best tool for rain riding. If I had rain tires on I am confident we could have been challenging the first wave of Middleweight bikes for the overall win!” added Dave Gallant of Team Morse Racing. With the Rocky Mountains close at hand the Colorado weather changes quickly. By Sunday morning the clouds had dispersed and it was nothing but sunshine and warm temperatures for the entire day of MRA sprint racing action. First up on the schedule was Lightweight Grand Prix with Dave and Mike aboard their RacerSupply.com Suzuki SV650s once again. Once again, Dave and Mike led the first lap flying in formation, then proceeded to gap much of the field. Two riders gridded at the rear however used their well-suited bikes and skill on the tight twisty track to cut down the advantage. By the end of the 8 lap sprint race it was a 4 rider lead pack consisting of the two Suzuki SV650s, one KTM 525, and one Honda RS125 ridden by the very talented John Hjelm. At the line, Dave was able to take home the victory however 2nd place was too close to call between Mike Applehans and the KTM mounted rider. The results credit Mike with a third place finish, and with that ruling Team Morse Racing riders once again filled two positions of the podium for the class. Next up for Dave Gallant was an MRA Premier class called “Race of the Rockies GTU”, with much the same rule structure of the AMA Formula Extreme series. Twenty one riders comprised the grid for the double-the-distance race with many of the fastest racers in Colorado contesting it. Dave got off to a good start with the lead pack of riders, then closed the gap to the 3rd place and 4th place riders. This hard work did not pay off however, and Dave was forced to practice his dirt-tracking skills after loosing the rear entering turn four and running off the track. By the time the tires were clean and Dave was back up to speed, the race was winding down and he crossed the finish line in 7th place overall. “That was a really tough race. Running a Supersport legal bike against some of those built monsters is difficult, however I could make time in many corners which is a credit to how good Ryan from Suspension Solution has my suspension dialed in. It is not perfect yet, but it is better than most other’s out here on our tight and twisty tracks. That right there really makes a world of difference, and a top-ten finish is something I can’t complain about today” commented Dave after the grueling race. Next up on the schedule for the both team members was Supertwins GTU. This hotly contested class features everything from superbike-spec SV650s to brand new Ducati 749R race bikes. Dave and Mike took their front row gridding positions, nailed the start, and battled amongst themselves for the entirety of the eight lap race. At the checkered flag it was a Team Morse Racing 1/2 finish, with Dave just squeaking by for the win. Both Dave and Mike put in good performances in Middleweight Supersport as well as Open Supersport, but the day was completed with a spectacular Heavyweight Supersport race. Both riders were off to a good start but were shuffled back to 10th and 12th place by turn two. Neither were pleased with this position, but Mike Applehans turned on the heat and began picking off riders one by one. At the finish line, Mike crossed it in 4th place passing 6 riders in 8 laps against heavy competition! “That was great fun! My RacerSupply.com GSXR750 really felt good out there, and just like on Dave’s GSXR600, Ryan at Suspension Solutions really has the suspension working well for our tracks and my style. I was hoping to get up one or two more positions by the time the race was over, but this result is great and I look forward to doing even better as we continue to improve the bike!” stated Mike Applehans of Team Morse Racing. “This is what it is all about for us – Riding hard and making sure our team sponsors are mentioned during almost every race of the day!” commented Scott Morse, owner of Morse Racing Products / GP Composites. “Fielding four bikes for our riders also gives the shop an opportunity to stress test new bodywork technologies to find ways to make our bodywork that much better. We are already running the next generation bodywork on these four bikes and I excited to see how well it is holding up while at the same time being even more lightweight and flexible!” added Scott Morse of Team Morse Racing. Team Morse Racing will compete in round 4 of the MRA series at Continental Divide Raceway (formerly Mountain View Raceway) on June 18th-19th. More, from a press release issued by Jason DiSalvo’s publicist: TWO PODIUMS AND NEW TRACK RECORD FOR DISALVO AT ROAD AMERICA Jason DiSalvo competed in the AMA SuperBike Championship at the Road America 4.1 mile course in Elkhart Lake WI June 3, 4th and 5th. The race weekend included a severe thunderstorm during the first SuperBike race on Saturday afternoon but had no effect on the 1000cc SuperStock or 600cc SuperSport classes. With practice on Friday qualifying on Saturday with the final races being Sunday morning and Sunday afternoon. In the 1000cc SuperStock class Jason continued his domination by getting his fourth consecutive pole position in this class while establishing a new track record of almost 1 1/2 seconds faster than previous. With a strong start from his pole position Jason ran a consistent race finishing third securing another podium finish. The 600cc SuperSport class saw Jason finish second fastest in qualifying giving him another front row starting position. Jason had a perfect start leading the pack into turn 1 and running a consistent race while being challenged numerous times by one of his team mates. At the checkered flag Jason finished third again securing the last podium place of the race. With good results at Road America Jason stands second in points in the 1000cc SuperStock class and tied for fifth in the 600cc SuperSport class. The team has traveled to Mid-Ohio for testing and will be concentrating on the upcoming event at Laguna Seca the first week of July which will host Moto GP for the first time in many years. More, from a press release issued by Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki: MICHAEL JORDAN MOTORSPORTS SUZUKI: HIGHS AND LOWS AT ROAD AMERICA The Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki team had highs and lows at round six of the AMA Superbike Championship at Road America, June 3-5. The highs were Steve Rapp’s two 8th place finishes in Sunday’s Superstock and Superbike races, as well as teammate Montez Stewart’s best finish of the year with an 18th place finish in Superstock. The lows included Jason Pridmore’s short-lived return to racing action, when a freak mechanical problem caused him to crash and break a bone in his right foot during Thursday’s test day, as well Rapp’s first-lap crash in Saturday’s rain-plagued Superbike event. Jason Pridmore “We don’t know what happened, that’s the problem,” said Pridmore. “It’s just so frustrating, because I just wanted to ride and see where I was, coming back from my injury. I did maybe 6 laps all day. I was just accelerating out of the slowest corner on the track, turn 5, on my out lap and the front wheel locked up on me. I’d just started to go up the hill to turn 6. I was doing 60 miles per hour, maybe. Next thing you know, I’m flopping over the bars. There wasn’t even a cornerworker where I fell; the cornerworker had to come down from turn 6. When I got up and went to the bike, the front wheel was locked up, and they don’t know what happened. It’s just frustrating.” Steve Rapp Saturday’s Superbike Final – Crash – DNF “First lap, I was behind Kurtis (Roberts), 9th or 10th place,” said Rapp. “I went through turn 8, there was lots of sealer, I couldn’t really see where I was because I was right behind Kurtis. I followed him through and as soon as I touched the throttle, it went 180 and wiped me out. I learned a little bit in case it rains tomorrow.” Sunday’s Repsol Lubricants Superstock Final – 8th Place “I could stay with the group the first half of the race,” said Rapp of the lead group of frontrunners. “Maybe 4 or 5 laps into it I went deep into 5 and ran wide, and that was the end of my race right there. I lost the group by about 6 or 7 bikelengths. After that I couldn’t really do much else. By then, my tires were starting to slide a little bit anyway. I was trying to make up ground on the brakes, then I’d lose my drive a little bit.” Sunday’s Superbike Final – 8th Place “I was ahead of (Aaron) Yates and Josh (Hayes) for a couple of laps,” said Rapp. “Then they passed me down the front straight, and I followed Josh for maybe 3 or 4 more laps and he pulled a little gap on me. I rode by myself for the rest of the race. I had plus 15 on my board at one point. The bike was really good. We tried a few things after the Superstock race and they were better.” Montez Stewart Sunday’s Repsol Lubricants Superstock Final – 18th Place “Those guys who finished in front of me, I was matching their pace all the way around the track,” said Stewart. “They were getting their bikes up on the middle of the tire better than me. I was beating them on the brakes everywhere, but they were setting up the corners better. The lap times were the best I turned all weekend. It’s still not fast enough, but I’m making progress. I almost crashed, because I nearly got caught up in that mess in turn 5.” Superstock Results – Round 6 – Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI 1. Aaron Yates, Yoshimura Suzuki 2. Geoff May, M4 EMGO Suzuki 3. Jason Disalvo, Yamaha 4. Roger Lee Hayden, Kawasaki 5. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki 6. Michael Barnes, M4 EMGO Suzuki 7. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha 8. Steve Rapp, Jordan Suzuki 9. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha 10. Jake Holden, Lion Racing Suzuki Superbike Results – Race 1 – Round 6 – Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI 1. Neil Hodgson, Ducati 2. Mat Mladin, Yoshimura Suzuki 3. Josh Hayes, Kawasaki 4. Ben Spies, Yoshimura Suzuki 5. Marty Cragill, Mat Mladin Suzuki 6. Jake Zemke, Honda 7. Miguel Duhamel, Honda 8. Larry Pegram, Hotbodies Honda 9. John Haner, Lion Racing Suzuki 10. Akira Tumitsuji, Suzuki Superbike Results – Race 2 – Round 6 – Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI 1. Mat Mladin, Yoshimura Suzuki 2. Ben Spies, Yoshimura Suzuki 3. Jake Zemke, Honda 4. Eric Bostrom, Ducati 5. Aaron Yates, Yoshimura Suzuki 6. Josh Hayes, Kawasaki 7. Kurtis Roberts, Honda 8. Steve Rapp, Jordan Suzuki 9. Lee Acree, Millennium KWS Suzuki 10. Clint McBain, Blackfoot Suzuki 2005 Superstock Point Standings (After 6 Races) 1. Aaron Yates, 190 2. Jason Disalvo, 184 3. Tommy Hayden, 168 4. Jamie Hacking, 156 5. Steve Rapp, 152 6. Jake Holden, 130 7. John Haner, 126 8. Roger Lee Hayden, 118 9. Aaron Gobert, 118 10. Geoff May, 113 21. TIE, Akira Tamitsuji/Montez Stewart, 39 26. TIE, Jason Pridmore (injured)/Matt Lynn, 29 2005 Superbike Point Standings (After 10 Races) 1. Mat Mladin, 325 2. Ben Spies, 300 3. Aaron Yates, 265 4. Neil Hodgson, 249 5. Eric Bostrom, 231 6. Miguel Duhamel, 204 7. Jake Zemke, 186 8. Marty Craggill, 186 9. Jake Zemke, 178 10. Lee Acree, 178 27. Jason Pridmore, 49 (injured) More, from a press release issued by Pirelli: Pirelli Racers Lead Laps in Two Classes at Road America, Scoring Podium Finishes Superstock After leading six laps of the Road America Superstock race, Pirelli rider Geoff May was passed on the last lap and finished second by only .795 of a second. May was ecstatic with how his Pirelli Super Corse tires allowed him to defeat a pack of five factory riders. Superstock is a class of heavyweight bikes in a field of heavyweight teams, yet Geoff May and Michael Barnes, each riding for the M4 EMGO Suzuki team, together led nine laps of the 10-lap Superstock race at Road America. The recently un-retired Barnes finished sixth, in just his second professional road racing event since Daytona. With the dry conditions of the race on Road America’s ultra-fast high-horsepower track, Pirelli’s grabbing the second-highest step on the podium shows how well its tires meet the harshest measure of performance. Another Pirelli shod rider finishing in the top ten was Jacob Holden, coming home tenth on his Lion Racing Suzuki. Holden is now sixth in Superstock points with his teammate John Haner seventh and May tenth. Formula Xtreme In Formula Xtreme action, run on a wet track, M4 EMGO Suzuki’s Michael Barnes finished third, after leading four laps. Barnes, from Boca Raton, Florida, was recently enlisted by the M4 EMGO Suzuki team to fill in for injured rider Vincent Haskovec. Barnes was pleased with the edge he had in the rain with his Pirellis, noting how his advantage was equal, wet or dry. Joining Barnes in the top ten in Formula Xtreme were Pirelli-riders Danny Eslick, 5th; Mike Hale, 7th; and Justin Filice, 10th. This event marked Hale’s return to professional racing. High-ranked Pirelli riders in the season’s points include Team Hotbodies Racing teammates Nicky Moore in seventh (Moore sat out this round) and Taylor Knapp in eighth. Supersport Geoff May’s strong and consistent performances include a six-place finish at Road America in the brutally-competitive Supersport class. This finish places May at seventh in Supersport points for the season. Also finishing in the top fifteen in Supersport were Pirelli-shod riders Blake Young, Jason Ferrell, Nathan Hester and Taylor Knapp. Superbike In the Superbike class, Privateer racers John Haner and Lee Acree each posted a ninth-place finish, Haner in Saturday’s red-flagged-shortened race in the rain, and Acree in Sunday’s race. Acree, riding for the Millennium KWS team, has had a season of top finishes that has positioned him tenth in Superbike points, and as the second-highest ranked privateer.

Scott Russell Voted Into Motorcycle Hall Of Fame

MOTORCYCLE HALL OF FAME MUSEUM ANNOUNCES CLASS OF 2005 PICKERINGTON, OHIO — The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, home of the nation’s only Hall of Fame honoring American motorcycling’s legendary racers, inventors, promoters, designers, enthusiasts and journalists, today announced 9 new members for 2005 induction. The annual Hall of Fame weekend, highlighted by a special Museum reception, a world-class Concours d’Elegance and the popular induction ceremonies is scheduled for October 7 – 8, 2005. The Class of 2005 includes some of todays’ best-known racing champions and industry leaders, as well as memorable individuals who played a major role in creating and building the nation’s rich motorcycling heritage. Induction into the exclusive Motorcycle Hall of Fame ensures that inductees’ achievements, as well as the colorful stories surrounding them, are preserved for the enjoyment and education of future generations of riders, enthusiasts and all who appreciate American history. The weekend honoring the Class of 2005 begins with a Friday, October 7 evening reception at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. Festivities continue on Saturday, October 8 with the 4th annual by-invitation-only Concours d’Elegance featuring over 100 rare vintage motorcycles. The Hall of Fame weekend concludes with the induction dinner and ceremonies Saturday evening. Attendance to all events is open to the public with reservations required for the Museum reception and the induction. “Each year we’re proud to honor the memorable individuals who helped create such a vibrant and continuously expanding community of American motorcycle enthusiasts,” said Mark Mendell, chairman of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. “Last year’s induction ceremony attendance broke all records. We hope that an even greater number of industry members and riding enthusiasts will help us honor the Class of 2005 this October.” The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Class of 2005 includes: Ralph Berndt Dominant Harley-Davidson tuner from 1957 to 1967. Won four consecutive #1 plates with Carroll Resweber and George Roeder. 8-Mile, 14-Half-Mile, 2-short-track and 4-road-race wins. Worked for over 30 years at Harley-Davidson Motor Company in both the racing and experimental division. Helped develop the modern frame Harley Lowboy. Jerry Branch Master tuner of Harley-Davidson motors for AMA Grand National Dirt Track racing as well as stock based engines for the street. Owner of Branch Flowmetrics. Known worldwide for his pioneering work on the flow bench with Harley-Davidson heads. Noted author of many books on Harley-Davidson engine optimization. Tom Cates General Manager for K&N Engineering. Sales rep for Honda motorcycles in early 1960s. West Coast BSA Distribution Manager in mid-1960s, followed by BSA National Sales Manager. Served on the Board of Directors of both the Motorcycle Industry Council and the Trailblazers. Established several long distance records at Daytona in 1969. Tom Christenson Last successful campaigner of Norton drag bikes in the U.S. National record holder in the 1970’s. Builder of the 1620cc “Hog Slayer,” the motorcycle that represents the bridge between drag racing’s early amateur days and today’s professional sport. The “Hog Slayer” was retired to the National Motorcycle Museum in England. Doug Henry AMA Motocross and Supercross Champion: 1993 125cc East Supercross; 1993 & 1994 125cc Motocross; 1998 250cc Motocross. 1998 AMA Athlete of the Year. Member of the United States 1998 Motocross des Nations team. Bill Johnson First U.S. importer and distributor of Triumph and Ariel motorcycles. Owner of Johnson Motors Inc. (JoMo). Sponsored and promoted TT and flat-track racing with such legendary racers as Joe Leonard and Skip Van Leeuwen. Pioneer in the establishment and growth of British motorcycle sales in the U.S. Nick Nicholson Competitor and sponsor of Catalina Grand Prix, desert races, trials competition, scrambles, flat track and road racing. Multi-winner of Catalina Grand Prix and 1954 winner of the 100-mile Daytona Beach race. One of the first Americans to compete in the British Scrambles. In 1959 Nicholson Motors, Inc. became the American distributor of Greeves Motorcycles. Scott Russell AMA Superbike Champion 1992, AMA Superstock Champion 1990-1992. World Superbike Champion 1993. Superbike Rookie of the Year 1988. Athlete of the Year 1992. Won 1994 Suzuka Eight Hour. First five-time winner of the Daytona 200, earning him the nickname “Mr. Daytona.” Gavin Trippe Legendary promoter of virtually every type of racing, including Trans AMA series, US Grand Prix Motocross, Superbikers, Trans Atlantic Match Races, Ascot 1/2 mile dirt track. Brought the 500cc U.S. Grand Prix of Motocross to America. Invented, promoted, and trademarked the “Superbikers,” the foundation for today’s “Super Motard” competition. One of the promoters of the original ABC Wide World of Sports Superbikers from 1979 -1985. About The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Each year, the Motorcycle Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to motorcycling, including those known for their contributions to road riding, off-road riding and all categories of racing, as well as those who have excelled in business, history, design and engineering. The Class of 2005 will be inducted on Saturday, October 8, during ceremonies at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, located on the campus of the American Motorcyclist Association in Pickerington, Ohio. Supported by families, industry peers, friends, past Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductees and media, the induction is an emotional celebration that brings together some of the most recognizable names in the world of motorcycling. The Hall of Fame Weekend will also feature the Museum’s 4th annual Concours d’Elegance, which drew over 100 juried entries in 2004″”including many of the machines that Motorcycle Hall of Fame members became forever linked with. The 2005 inductees will join the legendary men and women already immortalized in the Motorcycle Hall of Fame. Each Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductee is recognized with a plaque, and related motorcycles, photos and memorabilia which become part of the Museum’s exhibitions. Any motorcycling enthusiast may submit a person to be considered for induction into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame; complete biographical information should accompany the submission. Inductees are chosen by nine committees consisting of Hall-of-Fame members and independent experts in various disciplines. For a nomination form and instruction, visit www.motorcyclemuseum.org. About the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum The goal of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum is to tell the stories and preserve the history of motorcycling. Located on the campus of the American Motorcyclist Association in Pickerington, Ohio, the Motorcycle Hall of Fame honors those who have contributed notably to the sport, and three major exhibition halls showcase the machines and memorabilia that have shaped motorcycling. The Museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; and is closed on New Year’s, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Adult admission is $10 per person; students 12 17, $3. AMA members $5. Seniors receive a $2 discount and members of motorcycle clubs and organizations are eligible for a $1 discount per ticket. A $25.00 family rate and group rates are also available. For more information, call (614) 856-2222, or visit the Museum’s website at www.motorcyclemuseum.org.

Motorcycle Show Circuit Will Kick Off In Fort Worth This Coming November

MOTORSPORTS WEEKEND EXTRAVAGANZA TO DEBUT IN FORT WORTH, TEXAS

2005-2006 Arenacross Championship Series and 25th Annual Cycle World International Motorcycle Shows presented by Toyota Trucks Share a Home

Santa Ana, CA – June 6, 2005 – Advanstar Communications, Inc. – a leading publisher of print, event and online media for the powersports, off-road and automotive aftermarket industries – today announced the kickoff dates for its two firsts – an all new Arenacross Championship Series and stop number one on the 25th Annual Cycle World International Motorcycle Shows tour. Both events will take place at the Fort Worth Convention Center and Arena on November 4-6, 2005 in Fort Worth, Texas.

“Combining action-packed racing with America’s leading consumer motorcycle show series is a great way to capture the excitement of competition and have it translate to even more enthusiasm on the motorcycle show floor. This combined entertainment experience is unequalled in the motorcycle market,” said Skip Johnson, Vice President of the Powersports Consumer Events division of Advanstar. “For the first time ever, we’ll offer our OEM, accessory, and enthusiast customers a fully integrated and interactive motorcycle experience over the course of a weekend. Race fans and enthusiasts will have the opportunity to witness the latest technologies, new launches, accessories and merchandise from leading manufacturers on Friday and Saturday nights, and experience those products first-hand on the show floor the next day.”

Home of the first-ever Arenacross produced in 1984 by Mike Kidd Promotions, Fort Worth is an ideal starting point for both events. “We’re very excited and proud to be launching our combined program in Fort Worth. It’s a part of the country that’s full of committed motorcycle racers, enthusiasts, and fans. It’s also where the Advanstar Arenacross team calls home – what can be better than that?” said Mike Kidd, Race Director.

Kidd’s team recently opened their new racing event headquarters in Forth Worth and expanded its staff with the addition of Shane Schaffer, Show Manager, Becky Koons, Database Coordinator and Sandra Kidd, Operations Coordinator. “We continue to grow and strengthen our event production team with experienced professionals capable of delivering world caliber racing events, said Kidd.

Advanstar will feature the motorcycle show and race combination in select markets across the United States, with the second stop in Long Beach, CA on December 9-11, 2005. “Many motorcycle manufacturers and accessory companies call Southern California home – the Cycle World International Motorcycle Shows presented by Toyota Trucks have always attracted the “who’s who” in the motorcycle industry – adding high caliber professional racing on Friday and Saturday nights, along with a full amateur program on Sunday is sure to enhance the motorcycle crowd coming to Long Beach”, said Jeff D’Entremont, IMS Show Director.

Complete schedules for the Arenacross Championship Series and the Cycle World International Motorcycle Shows presented by Toyota Trucks will be announced shortly.

New Sponsorship Deal

TrackDaz and NJK Leathers Have it Covered! Riverside, CA – TrackDaz and NJK Leathers are very pleased to announce a partnership, and that NJK Leathers will now be outfitting TrackDaz and its staff members in its super cool leathers! To say that we at TrackDaz are looking forward to this partnership would be a bit of an understatement. NJK Leathers is renowned for its cool cutting edge designs, and ultimately for its protection, and we can’t wait to put them on! From Kelcey Gordon of NJK, “We at NJK Leathers look forward to working with such a professional organization as TrackDaz. We feel this relationship will help strengthen our roots, and our support of the motorcycle industry in all disciplines – from the street rider, to the canyon carver, from the road racer to the flat tracker.” We hope to have some of the TrackDaz staff suited up for the next trackday on July 30-31 at Streets of Willow with the cool new design that NJK has made, and to be able to show those off, and show the build and design quality of NJK. TrackDaz can be found on the web at www.trackdaz.com, and NJK Leathers at www.njkleathers.com. Come out and play with us and check out our cool new cowhide covers!

Howard Took Five Wins In CMRA Action At MotorSport Ranch

By Shan Moore Ty Howard was virtually unstoppable at round five of the CMRA Championship Roadracing Series held at MotorSport Ranch near Cresson, Texas. The Weatherford, Texas-resident won 5 of the 6 events he entered over the weekend and claimed over $11,000 in CMRA cash and manufacturer’s contingency money for his efforts. Howard rode a combination of Suzuki and Kawasaki machinery in order to make the most of the available contingency money offered over the weekend and posted wins in the Racing Performance Services B Superstock Expert race (which features a $150 purse), the C Superstock Expert (which features a $500 purse), the Pace American Trailers Formula 1 Expert race (which features a $1000 purse), the Sum of all Parts A Superstock Expert race (which features a $150 purse) and the RaceworX C Superbike Expert race (which features a $150 purse). Howard also added $150 to his take by winning the Mr. Corder Racing Fast Lap Award for turning the fastest lap during the sprint races. His only defeat came in the A Superbike Expert race, where he finished third behind Heath Small and Randall Kienast. Also cashing in on CMRA purse money were Will Gruy, who won the 125 GP ($250 purse) and Super Motard ($250 purse) races, Bryan West, who won the Racing B Superbike Expert class ($250 purse), Heath Small who won the Motorcycles Unlimited A Superbike Expert race ( $150 purse), Dane Westby, who won the lion’s share of the $500 purse paid in the Lightweight Twins Expert class and Jon Francis, who won the AF1 Racing Heavyweight Twins Expert class, which features an end-of-the-year cash award. Notable performances in the Novice divisions were turned in by Cory Burleson, who claimed seven Novice-class wins, and by Derrick Smith, who won two. Over 540 sprint entries, including 46 mini sprints, participated in Sunday’s sprint races, which were run in the clockwise direction. While on Saturday, CMRA officials turned away endurance entries in order to keep the grid at the 55-team limit. During Saturday’s endurance action, Village Idiots won round four of the Shogun Motorsports Endurance Series by two laps over series points leader Northwest Honda Racing in a race that looked as though it might go down to the wire. The 5-hour race, which pays an $1125 purse, featured several different leaders during the first three hours of action; however, the Yamaha R6-mounted Village Idiots went the full distance on the same set of tires, while Northwest Honda Racing required three rears to go the distance on their Honda CBR1000RR, which ultimately was the difference in the contest. With the second place finish, Northwest Honda Racing claimed the Formula 1 class-win, while Desert-Rats.net finished third overall and top A Superstock entry. KNMotorcycles.com finished fourth overall and were the top placing C Superstock finishers, while Faltless Racing won the Formula 2 division with a 13th overall. Overall winners Village Idiots were also first in the C Superbike class. In the Shogun Motorsports Mini Endurance event, which features a $250 payout, Team K&N took their third overall and Formula 4-class wins of the series and kept their record perfect for 2005 by claiming a one-lap margin of victory over second place finishers Team Jesus. Third place went to Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, while AF1 Racing won the Formula 5 division with a sixth overall finish. In the Formula 6 division, STD Racing took the win with a 16th overall and Excel won the Formula 7 class with a 25th overall finish. In Mini Sprint action, Tyler McDonald topped Zac Chapman for the Formula 4 win and Dennis Dudley edged Johnny Lee Clark for the Formula 6 win. In the Formula 5 division it was Anthony Smith taking the win over Derek Wagnon, while Dirk Anderson came home with the win in the Formula 7 class with Walker Keene finishing second. The CMRA returns to action on June 25th and 26th at Oak Hill Raceway near Henderson, Texas with a full slate of sprint racing on Sunday and Mini Sprints on Saturday.

Lougher Takes Isle Of Man Junior TT Win

HONDA RACING INFORMATION Junior TT victory for Lougher and Honda CBR600RR Ian Lougher powered his CBR600RR Honda to a comfortable victory in the Supersport 600 Junior TT race, taking his seventh success in 21 years of racing the Isle of Man Mountain Course by some 22 seconds ahead of John McGuinness. The 41 year old had complained of a stomach upset earlier in the day, but he shrugged that aside with a superb ride that featured a high-speed duel for supremacy with Ryan Farquhar, riding Kawasaki, in the first half of the race. Lougher was running a little over a second ahead after a first lap at 122.397mph, but as they pitted for fuel next time around the 37.73 miles of public road action, it was young Farquhar who held the advantage, just, by 0.6 seconds. But then it was all change. Farquhar was quickly away from the pits, but disappointment was only half a dozen miles away – just as in Sunday’s Superbike race, he was sidelined by machine problems. That left the way clear for Lougher to take Honda to their first victory in this event since 1999, and he did it in style: “That was fantastic – I knew that it was going to be tough early on so was concentrating hard all of the way, but then Ryan went out, leaving John in second place.” Said Lougher. “I got my head down because I wanted to beat him fair and square – he is the lap record holder, and it means a lot to get ahead of him and take this victory. The Honda is a magic little bike around here -it handles so well and has great corner speed, and that is just what I needed,” Lougher smiled, ” and, 21 years on from my first race here, I am still enjoying it just as much.” “This victory also makes up for my mishap in this race last year when I crashed a Union Mills – that went through my mind every time I went through that section, but this year it all came good with the victory.” McGuinness, aboard a Yamaha, had no complaints. “I rode the wheels of the bike and tried everything – I felt as fast as anyone out there and had no problems.” His team-mate Jason Griffiths took third place, ahead of Suzuki rider Bruce Anstey, while fifth place went to Guy Martin on a Honda. Anstey had earlier taken the victory in the three lap Superstock TT race, inheriting the lead at the Bungalow when his team-mate Adrian Archibald ran out of fuel on the third and final lap with little more than six miles of the race remaining. Archibald had set the pace throughout and had a 20 seconds advantage as he dashed onto the Mountain section for the final time, but by the time he reached the Bungalow his bike was spluttering to a halt. “He just went off line, slowed and stopped – it was a pity as he was riding so well and had me beat,” said Anstey who was taking his fourth victory on the Island, finishing some 36 seconds ahead of Lougher, aboard a Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade. “I made a slow start – I was really feeling ill, quite sick, and the signals telling me that I was running seventh made me feel worse, but then I got my head down, and started pulling time back,” Lougher explained. The extent of his hard riding finish was, over the last lap, to transform a nine seconds deficit on Farquhar into a one second advantage – enough to give him second place, at the expense of the Kawasaki rider. Jason Griffiths, Guy Martin and Paul Hunt completed the top six, ahead of the Honda trio of Martin Finnegan, Richard Britton and Ian Hutchinson with Chris Heath, riding Yamaha in tenth place.

Recent Births: Twins Jacob and Joshua Simone, Matthew Evan Caylor

Race tuner Scott Simone and wife Stephanie had twin boys, Jacob and Joshua, June 3 in Providence, Rhode Island. AMA Pro racer Chris “Opie” Caylor and wife Tracy had a son, Matthew Evan, June 4 in Marietta, Georgia.

Updated Post: Various Press Releases From The AMA Superbike Event At Road America

Superbike Double-Header at Road America, June 4-5 At Road America, as always, the yearly AMA Superbike races were a dramatic, frantic, frenetic hodgepodge of thrills, with the Hotbodies Racing Honda Team riders mixing it up in multiple classes and weather conditions. Formula Xtreme and Race One of Superbike were run in the rain, with the Superbike race being shortened to eight laps due to a red flag. Race Two in Superbike was run in the dry but was restarted due to an early red flag. Larry Pegram, #72 On the ultra-fast, four-mile Road America circuit, Larry Pegram qualified his Hotbodies Racing Honda HRC-kitted CBR1000RR on row three, in tenth position, for the weekend’s two Superbike races. In the rain-shortened Race One, Pegram finished eighth. In Race Two, a mechanical problem took Pegram out of the top 25. Pegram said, “Practice and qualifying were good and we were quickly in the top ten with our times. We did the qualifying on race tires, rather than a qualifier, so I was confident for the race. And then it rained. We didn’t have the bike set up as well as I’d like for the rain, but everyone else was crashing so we ended up eighth. We were sixth when the red flag came out, but backing the race up a lap put us back in eighth. Road America has some slippery spots but those same tar strips have been there for years. Two years ago when we raced there I was third in the rain.” In Race Two on Sunday, Pegram’s weekend came to an end three laps too soon, when a bike problem caused him to pull out of the event. Pegram was officially credited with 26th and is now 12th in the points for the season. “On Sunday’s first start I got away well. But in the second start Yates missed a shift right in front of me and I rear-ended him. That dropped me way back. Late in the race we had a tire issue and my race was done. But I like Road America. It’s a real race track, it’s high speed, it’s what roadracing is all about.” Jeremy Toye, #57 For Road America, Hotbodies Racing Honda rider Jeremy Toye qualified his somewhat-partially HRC-kitted CBR1000RR in 29th, after completing 12 laps of the circuit in two days. And then wet or dry, Toye ripped his way through the grid to finish 17th on Saturday and 15th on Sunday. We attribute the following as generally coming from the mouth of Toye. “We had a pretty eventful weekend. We showed up at promoter practice with high hopes because we’d just built a new motor. It started to smoke on the first lap. The “people” who did the pistons made a ring wrong and we never checked it. That night the guys at Erion were righteous enough to hook us up with some pistons and totally save my ass. But we only had HRC-kit head gaskets. I did three laps and it started spraying water in my face. We had an hour before qualifying and no time so we put on new tires. The bike was handling badly and pissing water so I went and qualified. After that Erion gave us a head gasket because they’re cool. We put it on and then I could think about how to ride a motorcycle. “Race One was kind of fun in the rain. Being from California, I don’t get do that much. It’s totally out of control and your relying on nothing but”¦ well there is nothing to rely on. I think my motocross background helped. “We had one dry session Sunday morning and we actually had time to set up the bike. We made a couple changes and the bike was working well so I decided to stay in this state and do the next race. We got to the finish. It’s like all season we’re behind the gun and trying to catch a break. My guys did a great job. It showed in the race by how I was progressing. A new 2005 model of Toye will there for Laguna.” Justin Filice #170 Hotbodies Racing Honda rider Justin Filice qualified his Honda CBR600RR in 18th for Supersport, but had his race end prematurely due to rider error. You know, he fell. Filice said, “On the last lap I crashed in Canada Corner while running 13th. I went over the front and even though I got up and finished too many riders had gone by. Even so, I like this place. I like going fast and at this place you go fast a lot. My fall really hurt me in the points. I was happy it didn’t rain for Supersport because it was safer.” Filice was credited with 34th. In Formula Xtreme, Filice had his luck go the other way, qualifying 24th and finishing in the top ten. Filice said, “The bike’s set up was a little off. The front was chattering so we changed to a softer tire and I went 2.5 seconds faster in practice. But the race was in the rain and it was the first time I’d ever done that. So I went fast on the straights and super slow in the corners. There are really, really slippery patches. If you hit one you’ll be on your head before you know you crashed. I was scared going out there at first but then after our three laps of rain practice I felt better. After lap seven I caught Mike Hale and then he wicked it up. I wasn’t expecting to do so well after qualifying and I was actually hoping for a dry race. My dirt tracking skills really helped me I was sideways and the bike and I were going in two different directions at one point.” With his 10th-place finish Filice is now 13th in Formula Xtreme points. More, from a press release issued by Team Hotbodies Racing: Cory West #187 Cory West, as we’re wont to often remind you is the 2004 Superbike Rookie of the Year, qualified 20th for the Road America double header, finishing Race One and Two 33rd and 12th, respectively. West said, “We had a rough weekend. We blew both of our motors in promoter’s practice. Then on Friday the bike oiled me down on my fast lap. I pulled in and saved the engine. But by Saturday I’d dropped a second off my times. I never had a clean lap until then and everything was good and I put my head down. In Race One I crashed on the warm up lap. I was able to get to the grid and I started even though I didn’t have a right foot peg. After a few laps of that in the rain I couldn’t continue so I came in. “In Race I had a really good start. I took off with some fast guys but then ran off at Canada Corner. Then I passed some more and ran off again a few laps later. Then I made sure I didn’t make that mistake again. I caught some more guys; I think some of them ran out of gas. “This year there were lots of spectators. It’s fun seeing all of them around the track. The track is one of a kind. There’s no other place where you can hold it wide open in top gear for so long. And this track has three of those places.” West is now 16th in Superbike points. Keith Marshall #292 Hotbodies Racing Team member Keith Marshall qualified his Suzuki GSX-R600 in 27th for Supersport, and finished a nicely-improved 18th. Marshall said, “This was my first time at this track so it went bad as far as I’m concerned. It’s a real horsepower track and the Suzuki 600 is down on it. And with four miles a lap there’s a lot to learn and not much time to learn it. I had only eight laps for practice before qualifying. Mike Fitzgerald set up the bike real good for me though. “On the start the green went so fast everyone was caught off guard. As we came up to turn one I just kept going. Everyone seemed to check up. I think I went into one in 30th and came out of turn three in 15th. But in the race some guys held me back. It was hard, these guys were getting a draft on me so I had to keep shutting the door and driving as hard as possible on the brakes. Some riders were slow in the turns but their bikes were faster.” Marshall, who is only doing selected AMA events, will be competing at Mid-Ohio in July. Giovani Rojas #50 Now in his second partial year in the AMA Superbike series, Hotbodies Racing Team rider Giovani Rojas qualified his motorcycle in 17th for Supersport and finished a position of slight-improvement at 16th. At press time, Rojas had nothing to say about his weekend. Nicky Moore #28 Hotbodies Racing Team member Nicky Moore did not compete at Road America due to convalescing needs of his injuries suffered at Barber Motorsports Park. That Moore competed in three race weekends since Barber is not confusing to those who understand racers. Despite his non-appearance, Moore is ranked seventh for the season in Formula Xtreme points. Moore is expected to be ready to race by the next event at Laguna Seca. Taylor Knapp #38 In Formula Xtreme, Taylor Knapp qualified his Yamaha YZF-R6 in 16th, but ended up 30th in the race, after completing three laps. Knapp said, “I like the track. I was there a long time ago on a 125, so I knew my way around. I like the high speed and everything went good in practice. I was trying to get into the fast group for qualifying but was again the fastest rider in the slower group. But in qualifying I managed to be faster than some in the fast group. It started raining in the race and I crashed in turn 5. I think I hit a tar strip; the bike came around fast. In the crash it blew a fuss and wouldn’t start. I was trying to get up and go.” Knapp is 8th in Formula Xtreme points. In Supersport, on his other Yamaha R6, Knapp qualified 20th and finished the race a much more happy-making 15th. Knapp said, “I was in the fast group for Supersport qualifying and was towed and made it to row five. But in the race we made a wrong choice on gearing. It was geared to low and in the draft it was revving out so we were about a tooth off.” More, from a press release issued by Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin: BOSTROM FINISHES A HARD FOUGHT FOURTH AT ROAD AMERICA Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin (June 5) – Ducati Austin’s Eric Bostrom fought for the podium on Sunday at Elkhart Lake Wisconsin, finishing just short of making it as he finished fourth on his Ducati 999. Bostrom was a part of a three rider scrap for second but caught some bad breaks with lapped traffic and was unable to make a last lap pass for position on Road America’s long straight as he had planned. Saturday’s race winner Neil Hodgson was 19th after a mechanical problem. “We’re pretty happy with the direction things went,” said Bostrom. “We had better entry grip than we ever had before on the 999. We struggled some with gearing, but overall the bike went well at Elkhart. The second split was our best all weekend and that had been where we were hurting, in the turns. Now it’s our strong point.” Eric diced for second place and was in sight of the position, but ended up fourth after having a rougher time through the backmarkers than his rivals. “There was a shake-up between two riders in front of me, so there was an opportunity to make up some ground,” said Bostrom, the winner at Pikes Peak last month. “To work so hard for it and have the opportunity disappear was frustrating. When we went into turn 11, I was right on their heels. I was basically in position to make a move in the last turn.” While Bostrom could have benefited with one more lap in the race, Neil Hodgson would have liked one fewer. “Unfortunately, a belt broke on Neil’s bike today,” said team engineer Luca Ferraccioli. Hodsgon could not finish the 16th and final lap of the race after running behind Bostrom for most of the event. “I only had a quarter of a lap to go,” said a frustrated Hodsgson, clearly wanting to back up his Saturday win with another good finish. “After yesterday, I was so pleased to win and wanted to have another good day today, but the race was disappointing. I was pretty much near the limit in the race.” Hodgson is still in fourth place in AMA Superbike points. Still, the weekend will be remembered for Hodgson’s first AMA victory. Hodgson is the only man in the modern era to win in AMA Superbike, British Superbike, and World Superbike. The team will next race at Laguna Seca Raceway at the combined MotoGP/AMA weekend on July 8-10. Race results – 1. Mat Mladin (Suzuki), 2. Ben Spies (Suzuki), 3. Jake Zemke (Honda), 4. ERIC BOSTROM (PARTS UNLIMITED DUCATI AUSTIN 999), 5. Aaron Yates (Suzuki), 6. Josh Hayes (Kawasaki), 19th NEIL HODGSON (PARTS UNLIMITED DUCATI AUSTIN 999) AMA Superbike Points (After 10 of 17 races) – 1. Mat Mladin (Suzuki) 325, 2. Ben Spies (Suzuki) 300, 3. Aaron Yates (Suzuki) 265, 4. NEIL HODGSON (PARTS UNLIMITED DUCATI AUSTIN 999) 249, 5. ERIC BOSTROM (PARTS UNLIMITED DUCATI AUSTIN 999) 231, 6. Miguel Duhamel (Honda) 204 More, from a press release issued by Team M4 EMGO Suzuki: MAY AND BARNES ON THE PODIUM IN ELKHART LAKE Team M4 EMGO Suzuki concluded the Road America weekend with another tremendous performance on Sunday. One day after Mike Barnes claimed a podium finish in the Formula Xtreme race at Elkhart Lake, WI, his teammate Geoff May finished as the runner-up in the 60k Superstock final. The two were both major players aboard their Pirelli-shod GSX-R1000s Sunday, with Barnes leading the race’s opening laps and May sweeping by to hold down the top position for the next portion of the exciting race. Once out in front, the Georgian fought to break away for the win but ended up second after a final-lap clash for victory. May was pushed back to second early on the last lap and unfortunately his hope to draft back by for the win was foiled when he just ran out of time. He explained after coming up less than a second short of the top spot on the box, “I made some time in Canada Corner, and I made some more time up in the back section, but there wasn’t enough real estate left to get the draft.” Afterwards, he spoke of his podium finish. “It’s great. I could never imagine what it would be like. It’s a lot different than winning club races — this is the show. I was racing for the lead with guys I remember watching when I was in high school.” After leading early, Barnes picked up a solid sixth-place finish in his second Superstock ride of the season with Team M4 EMGO Suzuki filling in for Vincent Haskovec. The Floridian almost joined May on the podium, finishing just 1.164 seconds off of third place. May also enjoyed a fine ride in the Supersport contest. He piloted his GSX-R600 to sixth place, his best result of the season, to conclude the successful Road America weekend for the team. May and Barnes will next race with the M4 EMGO Suzuki team at Laguna Seca on July 8-10.

Beck Stars In WERA National Challenge Series Action At Willow Springs

Local young gun Michael Beck was the star of the fourth round of the WERA National Challenge series at Willow Springs International Raceway Sunday. Beck, 16, used his Yamaha YZF-R1 to win the Formula 1 and A Superstock races, both close wins over Racer’s Edge’s Dale Kieffer, and also finished second to Arclight Suzuki’s Chris Siglin in the C Superstock event on his Yamaha YZF-R6. Vesrah Suzuki’s Tray Batey was the other big winner, taking victory in B Superstock as well as third in Formula 1 on his Suzuki GSX-R750, and also winning the Heavyweight Twins race on his Suzuki SV1000. Siglin finished runner-up to Batey in the B Superstock race despite stepping up and running his GSX-R600 against a field of mostly 750cc machines. Young gun Josh Herrin took a close win over fellow young gun Nicky Moore in the C Superbike event, while Moore was able to edge out Herrin for third in the C Superstock race. Both were on Yamaha YZF-R6s. Yet another young gun, Tommy Aquino, used his Honda RS125 to win the Formula 2 and 125cc GP races, while in the Lightweight ranks Suzuki SV650-mounted riders Chris Perrish and Josh Galster took the Supersport and Superbike wins respectively. RESULTS: FORMULA 1 EXPERT: 1. Michael Beck (Yam YZF-R1); 2. Dale Kieffer (Suz GSX-R1000); 3. Tray Batey (Suz GSX-R750); 4. David Weber (Suz GSX-R1000); 5. Jacob West (Suz GSX-R1000); 6. John Jacobi (Suz GSX-R750). FORMULA 1 NOVICE: 1. Terry Heard (Hon CBR1000RR); 2. Daniel Shaff (Kaw ZX-6RR); 3. Tony Palarie (Suz GSX-R750); 4. Jon Lawson (Suz GSX-R1000); 5. Steve Netter; 6. David Sharerdi (Suz GSX-R1000). A SUPERSTOCK EXPERT: 1. Michael Beck (Yam YZF-R1); 2. Dale Kieffer (Suz GSX-R1000); 3. Mark Junge (Suz GSX-R1000); 4. Ben Thompson (Suz GSX-R1000); 5. Nicky Moore (Yam YZF-R1); 6. John Chen (Suz GSX-R1000). A SUPERSTOCK NOVICE: 1. J.B. Layman (Yam YZF-R6); 2. Tony Palarie (Suz GSX-R750); 3. Jon Lawson (Suz GSX-R1000); 4. Stephen Netter (Suz GSX-R1000); 5. Scott Layman (Suz GSX-R750); 6. David Sharerdi (Suz GSX-R1000). B SUPERSTOCK EXPERT: 1. Tray Batey (Suz GSX-R750); 2. Chris Siglin (Suz GSX-R600); 3. Corey Eaton (Suz GSX-R750); 4. John Jacobi (Suz GSX-R750); 5. Ritchie Thorup (Suz GSX-R750); 6. Nicky Moore (Yam YZF-R6). B SUPERSTOCK NOVICE: 1. Tony Palarie (Suz GSX-R750); 2. J.B. Layman (Yam YZF-R6); 3. Daniel Shaff (Kaw ZX-6RR); 4. Chris Yaklgian (Suz GSX-R600); 5. Terry Heard (Yam YZF-R6); 6. Javier Ramirez (Yam YZF-R6). C SUPERSTOCK EXPERT: 1. Chris Siglin (Suz GSX-R600; 2. Michael Beck (Yam YZF-R6); 3. Nicky Moore (Yam YZF-R6); 4. Josh Herrin (Yam YZF-R6); 5. John Jacobi (Suz GSX-R600); 6. David Weber (Suz GSX-R600). C SUPERSTOCK NOVICE: 1. Nick Scoggins (Kaw ZX-6RR); 2. J.B. Layman (Yam YZF-R6); 3. Daniel Shaff (Kaw ZX-6RR); 4. Curtis Cash (Kaw ZX-6RR); 5. Ron Gallegos (Hon CBR600RR); 6. Deshon Thomas (Hon CBR600RR). B SUPERBIKE EXPERT: 1. David Siminski (Suz GSX-R750); 2. Jason Caldwell (Suz GSX-R750); 3. Ademar Nunes (Yam YZF-R6); 4. Dustin O’Hara (Suz GSX-R750); 5. John Thomas (Suz GSX-R750); ; 6. Joe Hayes (Suz GSX-R750). B SUPERBIKE NOVICE: 1. Tony Palarie (Suz GSX-R750); 3. J.B. Layman (Yam YZF-R6); 4. Brad Pitnam-Armstrong (Suz GSX-R600); 5. Kirk Wilde (Suz GSX-R750); 6. Mike Warren (Suz GSX-R750). C SUPERBIKE EXPERT: 1. Josh Herrin (Yam YZF-R6); 2. Nicky Moore (Yam YZF-R6); 3. Mickey Lane (Kaw ZX-6RR); 4. David Siminski (Suz GSX-R600); 5. Mark Crozier (Kaw ZX-6RR); 6. Derek Keyes (Yam YZF-R6). C SUPERBIKE NOVICE: 1. 1. Nick Scoggins (Kaw ZX-6RR); 2. J.B. Layman (Yam YZF-R6); 3. Ron Gallegos (Hon CBR600RR); 4. Daniel Shaff (Kaw ZX-6RR); 5. Javier Ramirez (Yam YZF-R6); 6. Brad Pitnam-Armstrong (Suz GSX-R600). FORMULA 2: 1. Tommy Aquino (Hon RS125); 2. Mike Lytle (Yam TZ250); 3. Chris Parrish (Suz SV650); 4. Chuma Hunter-Gault (Yam 400). 125cc GRAND PRIX: 1. Tommy Aquino (Hon RS125). HEAVYWEIGHT TWINS SUPERSPORT EXPERT: 1. Tray Batey (Suz SV1000); 2. Cale Swiger (Suz SV1000). HEAVYWEIGHT TWINS SUPERSPORT NOVICE: 1. David Nguyen (Duc 999). HEAVYWEIGHT TWINS SUPERBIKE EXPERT: 1. Jeff Eklund (Bue XB12R). HEAVYWEIGHT TWINS SUPERBIKE NOVICE: 1. David Nguyen (Duc 999). LIGHTWEIGHT TWINS SUPERSPORT EXPERT: 1. Chris Parrish (Suz SV650); 2. Josh Galster (Suz SV650); 3. Gary Schiling (Suz SV650). LIGHTWEIGHT TWINS SUPERBIKE EXPERT: 1. Josh Galster (Suz SV650). SENIOR SUPERBIKE EXPERT: 1. Howard Lynggard (Yam YZF-R1); 2. Stan Bates (Yam YZF-R6); 3. John Thomas (Suz GSX-R750); 4. Ron Northup (Yam YZF-R6); 5. James Davis (Yam YZF-R6). SENIOR SUPERBIKE NOVICE: 1. Curtis Cash (Kaw ZX-6RR); 2. Mickie Peyton (Kaw ZX-6R).