Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

While the official line is that nothing has been decided regarding the Michael Jordan Motorsports program, a Clear Channel rep who contacted an AMA rider on behalf of the Jordan team said that the team will race Suzukis on Dunlop tires in 2005.

“He told me that it would be Suzukis on Dunlop tires, that Jason Pridmore was the primary rider and that they wanted a second rider, which is where I would come in,” said the contacted rider, who requested that he not be named because he is the midst of 2005-season contract negotiations. “I just told them to call my agent.”

Clear Channel rep Kenny Abbott made the phone call to the rider in question on November 3, and contacted the rider’s agent on the same day.

Michael Jordan is represented by a division of Clear Channel Entertainment, and when the former NBA superstar became interested in motorcycle road racing, Clear Channel Entertainment Motorsports employee Abbott was assigned to work on the project.

Ironically, a recent Internet news report (which quoted Abbott as denying that anything had been finalized) characterized recent reporting on the Jordan deal as “rampant Internet speculation.”

Leaving us to ask, as opposed to what, gullible acceptance of PR spin?



See related posts:

11/9/2004 Jordan Team To Run Suzukis On Dunlop Tires

11/5/2004 Who’s Got Jordan? Honda And HRC? Suzuki And Yoshimura? Who? And On What Tire Brand?

From a press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing:

FPR Launches Online Auction

Foggy PETRONAS Racing fans can now bid to own a part of the team’s history with today’s launch of the FPR Auction.

Unique FPR items will go under the hammer from today on the team’s www.foggyPETRONASracing.com website.

Parts of the FP1 rescued from crashes, memorabilia, signed merchandise and many other one-off items that would make imaginative and memorable Christmas presents can be bid for from today, with new items appearing on a regular basis.

For each item sold a donation will be made to the team’s official charity, the NSPCC, and to a charity of PETRONAS’ choice.

Included amongst the launch lots are: a fuel tank from Chris Walker’s bike used at the FPR team’s test at Magny-Cours in August 2004, a pair of signed Alpinestars knee sliders used by Troy Corser at Assen in September 2004 and a race screen from Troy’s bike with a small perforation from a piece of gravel thrown up at Phillip Island in March 2003.

Team owner Carl Fogarty said: “In just our first two years racing we have accumulated a lot of history and memorabilia – and a few too many crash parts to mention! It’s fantastic for our supporters to have a chance to buy into that history – and the auction process is fun as well. I know that if I was bidding, I would definitely want to win! And it’s great that two worthy charities will also be benefiting from the sale of these items.”

These lots will normally attract a reserve price but, as an introductory offer, the initial batch of items will only have a reserve price of just £1.

To take part in the online auction, simply visit the FPR Auction section of the website. Click on the item you want to bid for and you will be notified of the previous highest bid. You must then better that bid by a minimum of the incremental sum indicated. You will be notified by email if someone has outbid you for the item before the expiry date for the item. Each item carries with it a delivery charge on top of the successful bid amount.

Look out for more items to be added regularly to the FPR Auction, including memorabilia from the team’s two new riders Garry McCoy and Steve Martin.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Provisional Entry List For The 38th Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix:

No.
Rider
Nat.
Team/ Entrant
Machine/ CC

1
Michael RUTTER
GBR
Red Bull Honda Racing
Honda/ 1000

2
John McGUINNESS
GBR
Monstermob Ducati
Ducati/ 999

3
CHEUNG Wai On
HKG
CHEUNG Wai On
Yamaha/ 600*

4
Erwin WILDING
AUT
Honda Austria
Honda/ 1000

5
Roger BENNETT
GBR
ETI Racing
Ducati/ 998

6
Markus BARTH
GER
Fylde Superbikes
Kawasaki / 1000

7
Gus SCOTT
GBR
Slingshot Monstermob
Honda/ 1000

8
Marcel KELLENBERGER
SUI
Bolliger Team Switzerland
Kawasaki / 998

9
Stuart EASTON
GBR
Monstermob Ducati
Ducati/ 999

10
Thomas HINTERREITER
AUT
Yamaha Austria
Yamaha/ 998

11
Horst SAIGER
AUT
Yamaha Austria
Yamaha/ 998

12
Roy RICHARDSON
GBR
Fylde Superbikes
Kawasaki / 636

13
SOU Se Hong
MAC
Ao’s Racing Team
Yamaha/ 600*

15
Dean ELLISON
GBR
DMR Racing
Honda/ 600*

16
Umberto RUMIANO
ITA
RXR
MV Agusta/ 750

17
Joao FERNANDES
POR
Ao’s Racing Team
Yamaha/ 600*

18
Richard BRITTON
GBR
P.J. O’Kane
Suzuki/ 1000

19
LEONG Iok Choi
MAC
Ao’s Racing Team
Yamaha/ 600*

21
Pete JENNINGS
GBR
Matlock Motomax
Honda/ 600*

22
James McBRIDE
GBR
Inchcape/ JV-Racing
Suzuki/ 1000

23
Stephen THOMPSON
GBR
P.J. O’Kane
Suzuki/ 1000

24
Nigel DAVIES
GBR
Fylde Superbikes
Suzuki/ 1000

25
Nick WINTHROPE
GBR
Tracktorque
Suzuki/ 1000

27
Ian ARMSTRONG
GBR
Star Hire
Yamaha/ 1000

28
Steve ALLAN
GBR
ETI Racing
Kawasaki / 998

29
Takuma YAMAMOTO
JPN
China Yuan XGJAO Racing
Honda/ 600*

30
Masayuki YAMANAKA
JPN
China Yuan XGJAO Racing
Honda/ 600*

31
Rui REIGOTO
POR
Vodafone BPN Sendo
Suzuki/ 1000

32
Luis CARREIRA
POR
Repsol Honda Team
Honda/ 1000

33
Jose LEITE
POR
Kawasaki Fundevilla Rodicentro
Kawasaki / 1000

35
IP Weng Keong
MAC
Ao’s Racing Team
Yamaha/ 600*

41
Josh HAYES
USA
Attack Racing
Kawasaki / 1000

45
Martin FINNEGAN
IRL
RPM Performance
Yamaha/ 1000

55
Chris PALMER
GBR
Valmoto
Triumph/ 600*

57
Jeremy TOYE
USA
Roadracingworld.com
Yamaha/ 1000

59
Jun MAEDA
JPN
Allstar Motorsport/Team Wood
Honda/ 954

60
Callum RAMSAY
GBR
Valmoto
Triumph/ 600*

71
Mark PARRETT
GBR
Kingscourt Foods
Yamaha/ 1000

77
Les SHAND
GBR
DMR Racing
Suzuki/ 1000

78
Giorgio CANTALUPO
ITA
Team Augusta P.M.S.
Aprilia/ 1000

86
Cameron DONALD
AUS
China Yuan XGJAO Racing
Honda/ 600*

99
Geoff MAY
USA
Hot Bodies Racing
Yamaha/ 1000

* FIM 600cc Supersport Class

From a press release issued by Rob Muzzy Racing:

Rob Muzzy Racing is pleased to announce the re-signing of Ryan Schnitz for the 2005 racing season. Ryan has ridden for RMR since 2002 and in that time has won three AMA Prostar Drag Racing Championships, two in 600 Supersport and one this year in the new 1000 Supersport class. Ryan has also been an invaluable asset in the development of the Kawasaki ZX-12R NHRA Prostock motorcycle. Unfortunately, Kawasaki Motors Corp. has not chosen to continue their support of the ZX-12R Prostock Drag Racing program and therefore a further change is in order.

Rob Muzzy Racing is also excited to be able to announce that, starting in 2005 Team Muzzy with Ryan Schnitz will run the full NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle series with an S&S V-twin powered Buell Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Rob Muzzy is no stranger to V-Twins, having been instrumental in the development of the Honda 750 Dirt Track Twin that won three Grand National Championships for Honda with Rickey Graham and Bubba Shobert aboard in the 1980’s.

Testing for the new Pro Stock team will commence in January and the first race for the team will be at the Mac Tools NHRA Gatornationals, in Gainesville Florida, March 20, 2005.

Muzzys Performance Products will of course continue their thriving performance products business with continuing emphasis on components for Kawasaki, Honda Suzuki, and Yamaha sport and cruiser motorcycles. Also, Team Muzzy will continue to participate in selected drag racing events in 2005 with Ryan Schnitz aboard a Muzzy built turbocharged street bike.

Rob Muzzy and Team Muzzy would like to sincerely thank Kawasaki Motors Corp. in addition to all their current and past sponsors for their loyalty and support over the past 16 years, hundreds of races, and multiple championships. Racing is a sport of constant change and evolution and this move is significant in that process. Team Muzzy is actively seeking marketing partners to share this exciting new chapter in the Rob Muzzy Racing story.

From a press release:

Event: Eric Bostrom Autograph Signing
Date: Thursday, November 11th
When: 7-8:30pm
Where: Von Dutch Store in Boca Park
750 S. Rampart Blvd, Suite 14
Las Vegas, Nevada
Next to the Cheesecake Factory
Ph. 702-932-5765

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

C. Edward Link, author of the popular children’s book The Little Motorcycle, is auctioning a special, racer-autographed edition of his book on eBay with all of the proceeds going to the Roadracing World Action Fund, which advocates the use of soft barriers to reduce racetrack injuries.

The book being auctioned was autographed by several of the top stars of AMA road racing during the 2004 season finale at Virginia International Raceway. Riders who have signed the book include: Mat Mladin, Miguel Duhamel, Jake Zemke, Ben Bostrom, Eric Bostrom, Aaron Yates, Doug Chandler, Roger Lee Hayden, Freddie Spencer, Kevin Schwantz and more.

Link will also autograph the book, if the winning bidder so requests.

The auction is currently live, until November 21, at the following link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7934171230

For additional information on the Roadracing World Action Fund, go to:

http://actionfund.roadracingworld.com

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

AMA PRO RACING RENAMES SERIES WEBSITES

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (Nov. 10, 2004) – To more closely align each series website with its respective racing brand, AMA Pro Racing has renamed its family of series websites. USMotocross.com is now available at www.amasupercross.com or www.amamotocross.com. USSuperbike.com has been renamed to www.amasuperbike.com, and 1800FlatTrack.com has been renamed to www.amaflattrack.com.

“We take great pride in the family of series websites that we have grown over the last few years,” said Matt Ringlien, AMA Pro Racing web development and content manager. “They have proven to be great resources for fans seeking reliable and insightful content from each of our racing properties.”

According to John C. Farris, Jr., AMA Pro Racing vice-president of commercial development, “The strong growth in traffic on each site has proven highly valuable to our series sponsors and also attracted industry advertisers seeking to reach core racing enthusiasts through these official series’ websites.”

Farris continued, “Additionally, the AMA Speed Shop, where fans can purchase officially licensed AMA Pro Racing merchandise, has grown into a one-stop shopping experience for fans seeking to acquire the latest racing related merchandise.”

www.amamotocross.com, the official website of the AMA Motocross Championship, has seen double-digit growth since it launched in 2002. During the supercross season, the website which can also be viewed at amasupercross.com and serves as the source for complete official results and live times for the THQ AMA Supercross Series.

www.amasuperbike.com, the official website of the AMA Superbike Championship, has also seen traffic bumps each year since its inception in 2003.

www.amaflatrack.com is the first AMA Pro Racing series website, launched in 2001 with the help of AMA Flat Track Championship sponsor Progressive Insurance.www.amaflattrack.com is the leading news source online about AMA Flat Track.

www.amasupermoto.com is the newest series website. As the official website of the AMA Supermoto Championship, it has quickly emerged as one of the top destinations for news on the growing sport of supermoto racing.

“The investment AMA Pro Racing has made and continues to make in its online properties is another example of our commitment of the growth of AMA Championship motorcycle racing,” added Ringlien.

From a press release issued by Telefonica Movistar Honda/Gresini Racing:

THE TEAM TELEFONICA MOVISTAR HONDA MOTOGP IS NOW COMPLETE

Marco Melandri signed today with Fausto Gresini for the 2005 season

FAENZA (10.11.2004) – Today the Gresini Racing and Marco Melandri reached an agreement for the 2005 season. The young Italian will ride a RC211V with the Telefonica MoviStar Honda MotoGP Team as Sete Gibernau’s new team mate.

Thanks to this agreement, the Team is now complete and Fausto Gresini will line up next year the 22 year old 250 World Champion together the experienced Sete Gibernau, MotoGP Vice Champion for the second year in a row.

Fausto Gresini, team Manager:

“I’m very satisfied and proud to announce that Marco Melandri will ride for us next season. We tried to do something together since Marco moved on the 250 class but we never succeeded, now we have finally reached an agreement thanks to the support of Telefonica MoviStar and Honda. I’m sure that we can offer Marco the right atmosphere to work and that he will give us many satisfactions.

Being an Italian team, we are very happy to have an Italian rider, the last time it happened was in the 1999 with Loris Capirossi. Today starts a new adventure and we are ready for it.”

Marco Melandri:

“I’m enthusiast to become part of this team that it’s more than a team for me, it is a family. We have worked hard to reach this agreement and now that we made it I’m much more serene. I’m motivated and ready for this new challenge, I look forward to it and would like to start as soon as possible.”

After having signed in Faenza where Fausto Gresini has the offices, he went to visit the Race department in Misano Adriatico. Together with Fabrizio Cecchini, his Chief mechanic, they started to prepare the forthcoming season.

Marco Melandri will ride the RCV211 for the first time in occasion on the next test session scheduled at Jerez de la Frontera on the 24th, 25th and 26th of November.



Marco Melandri
Date of birth: 7.08.1982
Place of birth: Ravenna (Italia)
World Titles: 1 – World Champion 250 (year 2002)

Carreer
1997 Italian Championship 125GP (Honda)
winner of Honda trophy 125 Rs
1997 European Championship 125 (Honda) 4th classified
1998 World Champion 125 (Honda) 3rd classified (2 victories)
1999 World Champion 125 (Honda) 2nd classified (5 victories)
2000 World Champion 250 (Aprilia) 5th classified
2001 World Champion 250 (Aprilia) 3rd classified
(1 victory, 8 podiums)
2002 250 World Champion (Aprilia)
2003 MotoGP World Champion (Yamaha) 15th classified
2004 MotoGP World Champion (Yamaha) 12th classified (2podiums)

From a press release issued by Dorna:

MotoGP crowds on the rise again in 2004

The MotoGP World Championship recorded record onsite crowds once again in 2004, with increased figures at all but one of the sixteen rounds and an average total rise of over 10% on corresponding Grand Prix attendances from the previous season. Valentino Rossi’s historic first season with Yamaha proved to be an irresistible pull to MotoGP fans all over the world, 1.7 million of whom who flocked to traditional venues across five continents as well as a new home for the series at the Losail International Circuit in Doha, Qatar.

Whilst the Qatar race made MotoGP accessible to a whole new public sector in the Middle East, established circuits such as Mugello, Catalunya, Sachsenring, Donington Park, Brno and Valencia welcomed unprecedented levels of support. Indeed, it was the Gauloises Grand Prix Ceske Republiky at Brno in July which recorded the highest increase, with an incredible rise of 22,766 fans on race day alone and a weekend total of 104,719 – almost 30,000 more than the previous season.

Weekend increases of more than 20% were recorded at the Gran Premio Cinzano d’Italia, at Mugello, and the Cinzano British Grand Prix, at Donington Park, whilst the Camel Grand Prix of Japan at Motegi and the Marlboro Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Sepang also noted significantly improved attendances.

Despite being washed out by rain on race day the traditionally popular opening European round, the Gran Premio Marlboro de España at Jerez, still attracted record crowds in excess of 200,000 people. However, Spanish enthusiasm went overboard at the final round in Valencia, where a capacity race-day crowd of 122,034 boosted the overall attendance for the Gran Premio Marlboro de la Comunitat Valenciana to a massive 211,468 as local hero Dani Pedrosa celebrated his coronation as the 250cc World Champion.

The Veltins Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland at Sachsenring was the third event in the season to score over the 200,000 spectators mark for the three days of action.


GRAND PRIX
RACE-DAY WEEKEND TOTAL
2003
2004
2003
2004

SOUTH AFRICA – Welkom
44.621
45.051
56.521
58.764

SPAIN – Jerez
128.423
124.933*
203.324
206.936

FRANCE – Le Mans
73.225
75.560
133.770
136.645

ITALY – Mugello
72.901
85.169
104.127
126.707

SPAIN – Catalunya
96.054
102.301
147.303
168.498

NETHERLANDS – Assen
90.345*
90.322
130.900
130.438

BRAZIL – Rio
50.326
55.726
67.882
73.582

GERMANY – Sachsenring
91.808
93.408
204.061
207.745

G. BRITAIN – Donington Park
72.000
82.091
107.020
129.738

CZECH REPUBLIC – Brno
44.865
67.631
74.960
104.719

PORTUGAL – Estoril
X
X
50.112
55.115

JAPAN – Motegi
56.008
67.158
80.238
94.703

QATAR – Losail
x
2.951
x
5.089

MALAYSIA – Sepang
30.150
40.025
39.699
46.318

AUSTRALIA – Phillip Island
40.960*
42.536
87.154
87.332

SPAIN – Valencia
121.342
122.034
201.366
211.468



* Under rain conditions