From a press release issued by Hoppe & Associates:

Thanks to the support of the motorcycle industry we have outgrown our current location. Our new office/warehouse will accommodate more tires, provide quicker, more efficient shipping, and allow us growth for the future.

December 14, 2004, our new address will be:

6911-A 216th Street SW
Lynnwood, WA 98036-7348

Phone, FAX and e-mails will remain the same.

Our offices will be closed December 10th and 13th while we move.

Thank you for your patience over this transition period.

From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM ENCOUNTERS WET WEATHER CONDITIONS AT VALENCIA

Valencia (Spain), 29 November 2004 – Poor weather conditions at the Valencia circuit in Spain (air 19°/track 13°C) hampered the first day of testing for the Ducati Marlboro Team today. The track, which remained wet despite the rain stopping in the afternoon, failed to dry out and conditions for the riders were particularly difficult all day.

Loris Capirossi and team-mate Carlos Checa however took the opportunity to try out three different kinds of Bridgestone wet-weather tyres.

Carlos, who rode the Desmosedici GP5 for the first time, completed a total of 24 laps, setting a best time of 1:48.14 with the new-spec machine, while Loris completed 26 laps on the GP4 with a quickest time of 1:48.56.

The two Ducati Marlboro Team riders were, as at Jerez last week, again joined by Régis Laconi. The French rider focussed on engine mapping work for the ‘laboratory’ version of the Desmosedici, setting a best time of 1:51.48 out of a total of 26 laps.

The Ducati Marlboro Team’s test schedule and the tyre testing programme for next season will continue tomorrow with a second day at Valencia, the final session before the enforced winter testing break.

From a press release:

Traxxion Dynamics Ramps Up Production Capabilities, Promotes From Within Again; Axxion Cartridges Soon To Follow

Traxxion Dynamics recently began production of their world famous Axxion Valve Kits in house by purchasing a high-tech Haas TL-15 CNC Turning Center. To compliment their production capabilities, owner and President Max McAllister has purchased a Haas VF-3 Vertical Milling Center. The CNC Mill went “online” around November 15th.

“Our CNC Lathe is simply amazing” according to McAllister. “It has a barfeeder, which feeds raw material into one end of the machine. The front side of the part is machined; then a secondary spindle comes across the machine and grabs the part and takes it back across the machine so that the back side can be machined. When the part is done, it is carried over to a ramp, and dropped into a hopper. It literally makes finished parts in one operation!

“I saw an immediate need for milling capability, so I decided to add this second, also amazing piece of equipment. We can literally machine engine cases with it if we want to. Fork and shock parts will be a snap.”

The ultimate goal, according to McAllister, will be to have a supersport legal, complete racing fork cartridge kit for under $1000 available by January 1st, 2005.

“Our Axxion Kit Cartridges will set the standard for quality, performance, and ease of installation. It will be complete with springs, spacers, oil, tools, and instructions. An average racer will be able to install it in less than 30 minutes. It will be made of higher quality materials, have finer polished, hard-coat finishes, and will simply outperform anything else on the market. To top it off, it will cost HALF of what any other kit on the market sells for. It has been a dream of mine to be able to equip club racers and track day riders with affordable, factory quality components for many many years. I am thrilled that it will finally happen.”

With production moving in house at Traxxion, a job position opened, as someone was needed to manage all of the material acquisition and inventory. “I had a great guy already on the payroll”. Lee Spitler has worked at Traxxion as a Service Technician, and is now the Production Manager at Traxxion. “Lee has knowledge and experience we just weren’t taking advantage of. It has been ideal to have Lee work in the shop for some time, because he is intimately familiar with fork and shock build and function as a result.”

Online photos of our CNC Facility can be seen at www.traxxion.com under the “Tour Our Facility” link. For more information on Axxion Cartridges, contact Traxxion Dynamics at 770 592-3823.

From a press release issued by Telefonica Movistar Honda:

THE RAIN SPOILS THE FIRST DAY OF TESTING IN VALENCIA

The riders of the Team Telefonica decided not to risk in rainy conditions

Valencia, 29th November 2004

After three days of hard work of testing at Jerez de la Frontera, the Team Telefonica MoviStar Honda MotoGP moved to Valencia on Saturday for the last test session scheduled for the 2004 season before the winter break in compliance with the regulations.

Heavy rain has spoiled the first day of testing: Sete Gibernau and Marco Melandri decided to postpone to tomorrow the program of work scheduled for today. Both riders in fact needed dry conditions to carry on the work started in Jerez.

SETE GIBERNAU
“Together with the team, we decided not to test today because on wet conditions I cannot evaluate the job I had to do, that is to say to look for the best package of what I have and to test some new particulars. Hopefully, tomorrow it is not raining because we have a hard program of work to carry on and this is the last testing session of the year. “

MARCO MELANDRI
“It was not worthy to risk in such bad weather conditions. After I made my debut on RC211V in Jerez I need to lap a lot in order to understand and to know the new bike. I didn’t want to risk on wet. I’m sorry because today we had scheduled different set-up tests. Tomorrow it should be cloudy but dry.”

From a press release issued by Proton Team KR:

McWILLIAMS PROVES PACE AT PROTON KTM TESTS

Former Proton Team KR rider Jeremy McWilliams joined his old racing partners for special tests of the Proton KR prototype machine, powered by the KTM engine, at Jerez this week–and in two days was circulating within sight of the Spanish GP circuit’s lap record.

McWilliams recorded a best time of 1:43.00. The lap record, set by Rossi’s Honda in 2003, stands at 1:42.788.

“There was definitely more to come,” said the experienced Ulsterman, very impressed by the Mk1 prototype, in only its fourth full day at a race-track. “With another day or two, it could easily run in the low 1:42s.”

As further proof of the potential of the new package, in its second full test outing, McWilliams knocked fully 1.5 seconds off the Proton KR V5’s qualifying time for the Spanish GP at the same circuit earlier this year.

This is the second time the V4 KTM engine has been tested at a circuit – on both occasions in a Proton KR V5 chassis specially modified for the Austrian engine.

The first tests were at Estoril, after the Portuguese GP at the circuit in September. Results with team regular rider Nobuatsu Aoki were very promising.

The second round of tests has confirmed that early potential. With McWilliams in the saddle, the prototype was not only impressively fast and full of further promise, it also proved easy to ride, with plentiful power served out in a manageable way.

“I was really impressed,” said McWilliams. “I didn’t expect it to perform anything like it did. There’s plenty of potential, but it’s already really easy to ride. It’s deceptive, because you don’t realise how fast you’re going. The handling is great, and the engine response is smooth and predictable.”

During his tests, McWilliams worked on improving the fuelling, and control of engine braking – but the level of the machine was already much higher than he had imagined.

“There’s nothing about this bike I can compare to the Proton KR V5 I rode in 2003. It’s so much better in every way. The chassis works really well, and the motor has good power all the way through the range. And it’s willing to keep revving. Our top speed at these tests was only four or five km/h slower than the Hondas!”

Team manager Chuck Aksland was delighted with the rider’s confirmation of their own impressions. “It’s the first time ever that the rider hasn’t asked for more power,” he said. “There was an upgraded-spec engine on hand, but Jeremy didn’t want to try it. What he had was working so well.”

Aksland thanked Aprilia, who had loaned them McWilliams for the test. On the third day, Spanish racer Gregorio Lavilla continued testing, recording a valuable mass of data; and on the fourth 2004 team rookie Kurtis Roberts ran a few shake-down laps, “just to get the feel of the thing.”

The lap times were only part of a generally very positive test, continued Aksland. “Thanks to the help of Michelin, we were able to try out a potential combination – our chassis, the KTM engine, and their tyres – and to prove to ourselves that it offers a serious chance of being competitive.

“We’ve spent eight years working up to this point – gaining knowledge and experience, often the hard way. Technically, this is the best package we’ve ever had,” said Aksland.

From a press release issued by the PR Group on behalf of California Superbike School:

CALIFORNIA SUPERBIKE SCHOOL EXPANDS AGAIN IN 2005 ADDING 5 NEW TRACK LOCATIONS IN THE US!

Keith Code, Founder of the legendary California Superbike School, has added Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Reno Fernley Raceway in Nevada, Firebird Raceway in AZ, Texas World Speedway in TX and Autobahn Country Club in IL.

The locations have been added to returning schools in AL, Northern & Southern CA, FL, IL, OH, PA, and VA and bring the 2005 school dates to over 50 across the USA.

Keith and his Instructors look forward to welcoming new and returning students on all the excellent tracks for what is shaping up to be the best and most exciting travel year ever!

To see the full 2005 dates, states and tracks schedule visit www.superbikeschool.com or call the school directly at: 323-224-2734 for a list of 2005 locations. Global schools links are also on the website.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Former racer and current AMA and CCS race official Bill Parr died Friday night.

Parr was diagnosed with cancer shortly before the 2004 AMA Superbike finale at VIR and suffered a heart attack while officiating during the CCS Race Of Champions weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway October 20-24.

Parr was promoted to Pit Steward for the 2004 AMA Superbike Series.

Friends said that the high point of Parr’s racing career was qualifying for an AMA 600cc Supersport race at Daytona.

More information will be posted as it becomes available.

Roadracingworld.com staffers offer condolences to his family and friends, and wish him Godspeed.



More, from AMA Pro Racing official Laura Perry:

Bill was one of my two Pit Stewards for the AMA races.

According to Gary McQuiston there is no plan for a public service. Bill’s only request was for people to donate to the AirFence Fund (AKA Roadracing World Action Fund).

He will be missed.

Laura Perry
Athens, Alabama

From a press release issued by Team Telefonica Movistar Honda:

LAST DAY AT JEREZ FOR THE TEAM TELEFONICA MOVISTAR HONDA

Sete Gibernau fastest Honda at Jerez, Marco Melandri more confident on the RC211V
Jerez de la Frontera, MotoGP test day 3

The riders of the team Telefonica MoviStar Honda MotoGP, Sete Gibernau and Marco Melandri have worked hard during the last day of testing at Jerez before moving to Valencia where, next week, the last test session of the 2004 season is scheduled for the 29th and 30th of November. The Spaniard Sete Gibernau has carried on the work on the bike testing many different particulars in order to find the best package of all the material he has, while his new team mate, Marco Melandri, continued his apprenticeship on Honda, riding more confidently.

SETE GIBERNAU (78 laps, 1:40.500)
“Today we have carried on testing all the material we have at disposal trying to define the best package. We are working with Michelin that is working us a lot. I’d like to thank Honda and Michelin, we are doing a hard work but it’s worth and absolutely necessary.”

MARCO MELANDRI (56 laps 1:42.240)
“After having completed 101 laps yesterday, today I started a little bit later. I’m happy because my feeling with the bike is improving and a have a good rythm. Unfortunately I still cannot used well the new tyres and I continue to have a better feeling with used tyres. we need to work on setting and I still have to do a lot of kilometres for getting confidence and I look forward to next test session scheduled at Valencia on the 29th and 30th of November.”

FAUSTO GRESINI, Team manager
“This was an important test session. I’m very happy of Marco Melnadri’s debut on a Honda, for him evrything was new: the bike, the team and also the way of working. I saw Marco happy and motivated and this is very important. At this moment it’s important to work with calm, Marco needs to make a lot of laps to understand and know the bike.

“With Sete we are doing a very important job, we are testing some different particulars such as suspensions, breaks and tyres. We are happy because he always lapped with a good rhythm . It’s a hard work but necessary.”

LAP TIMES
1. Sete Gibernau (Esp/Honda) 1:40.500
2. Troy Baylis (Aus/Honda) 1:40.739
3. Makoto Tamada (Jap/Honda) 1:41.528
4. Nicky Hayden (USA/Honda) 1:41.541
5. Marco Melandri (Ita/Honda) 1:42.240
6. Tohru Ukawa (Jap/Honda) 1:45.199
7. Kurtis Roberts (USA/Proton) 1:52.097



More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing:

MotoGP test Jerez, Spain November 26. The final day of the three-day test.

Honda riders successfully complete three-day Jerez test programme

Honda MotoGP teams and riders successfully completed the HRC three-day RC211V test programme at the Jerez circuit, Spain today. The teams tested a variety of chassis – suspension combinations based on the 2004 RCV, and the latest tyres developed for the RCV by GP tyre provider Michelin.

Repsol Honda rider Nicky Hayden played catch up today. The American crashed at high speed yesterday, the resulting machine damage restricting his track time. Hayden made up for it today with a 97-lap stint on his 5-cylinder, 990cc RC211V grand prix machine. Working with his new team crew he steadily worked his way through a series of tests with new chassis parts in conjunction with testing the new range of tyres Michelin developed for the RCV.

Telefonica MoviStar team leader Sete Gibernau was again the fastest Honda rider at Jerez. The Spaniard circulated the 4.423km circuit at 1:40.50, half a second faster than his best time of yesterday. Like Hayden Gibernau concentrated his day on chassis and tyre testing.

Marco Melandri, new man at Telefonica MoviStar, continued the steady progress he made over the first two days of the test. The young Italian quickly found a good rhythm to set consistent lap times using the base set up established with tried and trusted Michelin tyres over the first two days. However, he has yet to find the same feeling with the RCV when fitted with fresh tyres.

Makoto Tamada, riding for the newly launched Konica Minolta Honda team, ran race distance simulations on his RCV testing a range of Michelin tyres. The Japanese star, a double GP winner in 2004, grows in confidence with each test session. Tamada will race on Michelin rubber for the first time in 2005 and views the Jerez test, and the two day session at Valencia on Monday and Tuesday next, as vital in the build up to the new season.

The Honda teams and riders will go to Valencia in confident mood seeking to confirm the valuable data gleaned from three hard days work at Jerez. Valencia offers a different set of challenges. The tight and twisty circuit is more demanding of chassis and tyre performance in several areas.


Honda rider lap times and quotes:

Nicky Hayden: 1:41.50 – 97 laps.
“Was quite a tough test overall. I wasn’t able to run the sort of lap times that I had hoped to do but we learned a lot and have got a lot of useful information that we can take with us onto Valencia next week. After a lot of down time yesterday when the guys were rebuilding the bike after the crash we had a lot to pack into today and tried some new Michelins and tried a few different things with the chassis and the electronics. Some things worked pretty well – some not so well. The new team are working real hard and there is a great-spirit there already which is so important to me.”

Sete Gibernau: 1:40.50 – 78 laps.
“Today we have carried on testing all the material we have at disposal trying to define the best package. We are working with Michelin that is working us a lot. I’d like to thank Honda and Michelin, we are doing a hard work but it’s worth and absolutely necessary.”

Marco Melandri: 1:42.240 – 56 laps.
“After having completed 101 laps yesterday, today I started a little bit later. I’m happy because my feeling with the bike is improving and a have a good rhythm. Unfortunately I still cannot use well the new tyres and I continue to have a better feeling with used tyres. we need to work on setting and I still have to do a lot of kilometers for getting confidence and I look forward to next test session scheduled at Valencia on the 29th and 30th of November.”

Fausto Gresini: Telefonica MoviStar team manager
“This was an important test session. I’m very happy of Marco Melandri’s debut on a Honda, for him everything was new: the bike, the team and also the way of working. I saw Marco happy and motivated and this is very important. At this moment it’s important to work with calm, Marco needs to make a lot of laps to understand and know the bike. With Sete we are doing a very important job, we are testing some different particulars such as suspensions, breaks and tyres. We are happy because he always lapped with a good rhythm. It’s a hard work but necessary.”

Makoto Tamada: 1:41.528 – 60 laps (estimated).
“I am really pleased with the results of this test. The Michelin tyres have impressed me and my confidence is growing. Today we ran race distance simulations so I could improve my understanding of how the tyres work as the race progresses. Even so I set my best ever time here on partly used tyres, so I have to be pleased. “

From a press release issued by Mojotown.com:

AMA/AFM Road Racer Michael Aron will be appearing on a new Discovery Channel Show called “Fit TV.”

East Coast Times
11/27- 4:00 PM
11/28- 8:00 PM, 11:00 PM

Aron, the former Art Director and Data Acquisition engineer for Team Fast By Ferracci, has been actively racing with the AFM and made a few appearances with the AMA during the 2003 250cc GP season.

“Keeping busy with marketing numerous race teams, bike shops and running a full time gig as the owner of Mojotown.com has left little time for me to work out,” says Aron. “With the new addition of my Ducati 999 I found myself needing more muscle to work with.”

Enter FIT TV.

http://fittv.discovery.com/fansites/housecalls/profiles/profiles.html

The 1-hour-long show based all of the workouts around Michael’s racing needs as well as things he could do at the track or on the road. So far the results have been positive, only next year will tell.