From a press release issued by Team Suzuki:

WICKS HEADS UP RIZLA SUZUKI


World Superbike Marketing Manager Robert Wicks is to take over the reigns of Rizla Suzuki’s British Superbike Team next year from Paul Denning, who has been appointed Team Manager of Suzuki Motor Corporation’s MotoGP squad.

Wicks, who has spent the past five year’s in his role, said: “I love motorcycle racing. It is in my blood and I’m very fortunate to have been part of the organisation of the World Superbike Championship and thoroughly enjoyed my time there. But now I am realising my own personal dream to be part of a top team thanks to this opportunity with Crescent and Rizla Suzuki.

“I will be taking over most of the day-to-day tasks from Paul Denning within Rizla Suzuki, letting him concentrate on his new position managing the Factory Suzuki MotoGP team. Of course, Paul will continue to have an active interest in the Rizla Suzuki BSB team and his Crescent Racing business.

“Rizla Suzuki is already one of the highest profile and most professional teams in BSB – or any Championship for that matter – and with the team staff staying largely unchanged for 2005, I will be hitting the ground running with a proven team of winners to work with. We all share the same aims to win on track; win off track by returning even more value to our partners and sponsors; defend our title in 2005; and make the whole trackside presentation even better,” added the 35 year old.

He will take the helm of Rizla Suzuki on November 1st 2004 and will be based out of the Crescent Performance Centre in Verwood, Dorset, ably supported by triple BSB Champion Niall Mackenzie, team co-ordinator Simon Green and an experienced technical crew.

Apart from the appointment of Denning to the MotoGP effort, the staff at both Rizla Suzuki and the Suzuki Factory MotoGP team will remain largely unchanged: The Suzuki Factory MotoGP team will continue to be based at Edenbridge in Kent with the BSB team based at the Crescent Performance Centre.

Said Denning: “The appointment of Robert is a massive boost to an already-strong team. He brings a wealth of experience and commercial acumen to a demanding job and I am sure he will help Rizla Suzuki re-write the rule books both on and off the track in all areas of performance. I have every confidence in Robert’s ability to deliver, especially with the support of Niall Mackenzie and an extremely strong team.

“I am naturally delighted to have been appointed to operate the Suzuki Factory MotoGP team. I will be starting to work on the MotoGP team in January 2005, but plenty is happening behind the scenes already. I only accepted the MotoGP appointment on the understanding that the Rizla Suzuki BSB team would remain a high priority for me and our commitment to win will be as strong as ever.

“I remain committed to Rizla Suzuki in BSB and will be keeping a close eye on all developments next season. The staff members are some of the best in the world and they are relishing the opportunity to get on and do an even better job.

“The MotoGP team has some of the most experienced and hardest working staff on its books and I look forward to helping them realise their full potential in 2005,” he added.

From a press release issued by AMA:

AMA ANNOUNCES NOMINEES FOR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PICKERINGTON, OHIO — The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has announced the results of its recent nomination process for the AMA Board
of Directors.

In the Southeast Region, the candidate will be Carl Reynolds (incumbent, unopposed).

In the South Central Region, the candidate will be Stan Simpson (unopposed).

In the Southwest Region, the candidates will be Dana Bell and Arthur More.

These four nominees will appear on the ballot appearing in the January, 2005 issue of American Motorcyclist magazine. Each AMA member in the
Southwest region will then have the opportunity to vote on the candidates in that region. The three successful candidates will be seated at the February, 2005 meeting of the AMA Board of Directors.

A minimum of 25 nominations was required to appear on the ballot. Nominations closed on October 8, 2004, and were independently tabulated and the results certified by the accounting firm of Ernst & Young, which also verified eligibility. Ernst & Young also will tabulate the ballots cast in the election.

The AMA Board of Directors consists of twelve members. Six individual Directors are elected by the general membership in their respective
regions and serve three-year terms. Six corporate Directors are elected by the corporate membership and serve two-year terms. The AMA Board of Directors meets four times a year.

From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

DUCATI MARLBORO MEN LOOK FORWARD TO ISLAND BUZZ

This weekend’s Australian Grand Prix completes a gruelling series of three back-to-back ‘flyaway’ races that precedes the season finale at
Valencia, Spain, in two weeks time. Sunday’s race is therefore everyone’s last-but-one chance to impress before the end of the 16-round
2004 MotoGP campaign.

Ducati Marlboro Team riders Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss are determined to impress once again at Phillip Island, where last year they
qualified second and fourth quickest. Loris scored a brilliant 2nd place finish while Troy crashed in the early stages of the race while he was with the leading group. The Australian circuit, which has hosted nine GPs since the nation’s inaugural World Championship event in 1989, is one of the most popular tracks on the GP fixture list. Riders love the picturesque seaside venue because it is ultra-quick and challenging, delivering one of the biggest buzzes of the season.

“All the riders love this track,” says Ducati Marlboro Team technical director Corrado Cecchinelli. “I like it too, especially because of the spectacular surroundings – it’s great to see bikes racing with the sea in the background. Phillip Island is also very different from the last two races – the weather will be much cooler! This circuit isn’t like most places – brake, corner, accelerate – it’s all fast corners and fast changes of direction with no really long braking areas. These characteristics should suit our bike, and I’m sure Loris and Troy will demonstrate it! ”

Ducati Marlboro Team director Livio Suppo reckons his team is in good spirits after Capirossi’s charging ride to sixth in Malaysia last Sunday. “We come to Phillip Island in positive mood and expecting a good weekend,” says Suppo. “We were very fast at last year’s race, so we’ll be working hard to have another good race.”

The Ducati Marlboro Team will be the only team to remain at Phillip Island after the race for two days’ testing during which a new version
of the tubular frame will be tested.

CAPIROSSI: UP FOR A SLICE OF THE ACTION

Phillip Island will always be a special place for Ducati Marlboro Team man Loris Capirossi. The Italian won his first World Championship at the track way back in 1990, inspiring a local Italian restaurant to create the Capirossi pizza in honour of his achievement. This weekend the
31-year-old comes back to the Island looking for his first podium finish of the year to back up his brilliant ride to second place at last year’s Australian GP.

“Ducatis always seem to go well at Phillip Island,” he says. “Last year we had a great race there, and though our preseason tests at the track weren’t so good, the bike has come a long way since then, especially in the second half of the season. But the level of the MotoGP championship is so high now, that even when we improve, we know that the other factories are also improving. As always in racing, we are looking for a little more performance.

Phillip Island is a really good track – it is one of those circuits where the rider can make the difference. I enjoy riding there, except
for the weather, which usually isn’t so good at this time of year. The cold and the wind can cause you problems, both with set-up and when
you’re riding.”

HOME-TRACK BOOST FOR BAYLISS

Troy Bayliss was going great guns at Phillip Island last year until he tumbled out of the race after making contact with another rider. Like Ducati Marlboro Team partner Capirossi, the New South Welshman is also searching for his first podium result of the year and would love nothing more than to achieve a top-three finish in front of his home crowd.

“The fans always give me a lot of support at this race, which gives me a bit of a boost,” says Bayliss who has won both Australian Superbike and World Superbike races at the track. “I love going back there, it reminds
me of when I started racing because we used to do a lot of races on the island, plus it’s a great track. It’s one of those circuits where you can have a lot of fun and it always makes for really close racing.”

Bayliss reckons that the track’s final left-handers are his favourite corners in MotoGP. Like most riders he also believes that bravery is a big part of success at this track, simply because so many of the turns are so quick. “The left before Honda hairpin is probably the scariest corner on the track,” he adds. “There’s been a few times I’ve lost the front there and then saved it. When that happens it gives you a bit of a blood rush!”

THE TRACK

Situated 130 kilometres south east of Melbourne, Phillip Island hosted its first motorcycle races way back in the 1920s, when riders competed
over a dusty 12-mile street circuit and the only access to the island was by boat! The circuit fell into disrepair but was redeveloped in the
late eighties and hosted Australia’s first bike GP in 1989. Since then the circuit has been renowned for creating ultra-close racing action.
The track is the second fastest currently used for motorcycle GP racing (after Dutch GP track Assen, another riders’ favourite) and demands much of machines and tyres. There are three essentials for a good result at the Victorian state venue: guts, determination and a sweet-handling motorcycle. Most riders count the track as one of their favourites because unlike many modern circuits that have been built to contain the speed of F1 cars, the Island is dominated by super-quick curves that test rider skill and daring to the limit. The Australian GP’s only negative is the area’s unsettled early spring
weather that can whip up dangerously strong winds off the nearby Bass Strait.

PHILLIP ISLAND DATA

Lap record: Valentino Rossi (Honda), 1:31.421 (2003)
Pole position 2003: Rossi, 1:30.068

DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM RIDER DATA LOGS
LORIS CAPIROSSI
Age: 31 (April 4, 1973)
Lives: Monaco
Bike: Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici GP4
GP victories: 23 (1xMotoGP, 2×500, 12×250, 8×125)
First GP victory: Britain, 1990 (125)
First GP: Japan, 1990 (125)
GP starts: 214 (44xMotoGP, 59×500, 84×250, 27×125)
Pole positions: 36 (3xMotoGP, 5×500, 23×250, 5×125)
First pole: Australia, 1991 (125)
World Championships: 3 (125: 1990, 1991, 250: 1998)
Phillip Island 2003 results: Grid: 2nd. Race: 2nd

TROY BAYLISS
Age: 35 (March 30, 1969)
Lives: Monaco
Bike: Ducati Marlboro Team Desmosedici GP4
First GP: Australia, 1997 (250)
GP starts: 31 (30xMotoGP, 1×250)
World Superbike victories: 22
World Championships: 1 (Superbike: 2001)
Phillip Island 2003 results: Grid: 4th. Race: DNF

From a press release:

Infinity GP Racing, LLC ( A Delaware based company) announces it increased involvement with the National 125GP class for 2005.

“We have decided to step up the pace of financial involvement to help develop the younger talent for this class. With the help of Patriot Promotions, LLC (a motorsports race promoter) we are offering limited purse money to regional classes in the US and Canada.”

Currently Infinity GP Racing is working on a schedule for the 2005 year which will host a National series 125/250GP modeled after the FIM support classes in Italy, Spain, and Eastern Europe.

For more details contact Patriot Promotions at (214) 483-2307

From a press release issued by Team Suzuki:

HOPKINS ON THE WARPATH

MotoGP Round Fifteen. Australian GP, Phillip Island – October 17, 2004

The Australian GP, second-last round of a classic 2004 MotoGP season, is set for a climatic finish to a gruelling trio of “flyaway” GPs. The fast and sweeping Phillip Island circuit is once again expecting an epic.

While defending champion Valentino Rossi attempts to gain his fourth consecutive World Championship, the race is also important for the rival teams. In particular, for Suzuki, approaching the climax of a highly fruitful campaign of fast-forward development for the V4 GSV-R MotoGP prototype racer.

For the factory team, it is another trial in combat for the fast-developing racer, which has found ever-improving form throughout the now almost completed race-development phase.

For rider John Hopkins, it is a chance to avenge his bad luck.

The 21-year-old Anglo-American was injured in the same accident that sidelined team-mate Kenny Roberts Jr. five weekends ago at the Japanese GP. The Suzuki riders were among five innocent victims of a first-corner pile-up, when Loris Capirossi lost control within sight of the start line.

Roberts suffered a dislocated left elbow – an injury requiring careful recuperation, and hopes to make his racing return for the final GP in Valencia. Hopkins suffered the painful, but less troublesome injuries of fractured ribs and a gashed buttock. Riding through the pain barrier, he was able to take part in the next two races.

In the desert heat of Qatar, Hopkins finished a strong eighth; but his bad luck returned at Sepang in Malaysia. Riding hard in the top ten in the first lap, Hopkins’s machine suffered a rare race failure on the second, and he was forced into the pits.

In both those races, Japanese rider and star of British Superbike racing, Yukio Kagayama, took the place of the recuperating Roberts, and twice finished in the points. Roberts had returned home to the USA from Japan, where he was diagnosed with minor fractures and ligament damage as a result of the elbow dislocation. He hopes to be fit to take part at Valencia, in the final race of 2004.

In Australia, Kenny’s bikes will be ridden by Gregorio Lavilla, former Suzuki World Superbike rider and in 2004 the full-time tester for the MotoGP project. The Spanish rider not only has the benefit of machine familiarity, but also a good acquaintance of the picturesque and technically challenging seaside circuit at Phillip Island.

“John will have plenty to prove at Phillip Island,” said team manager Garry Taylor.

“With the machine improvements over recent races, as well as the constant development of the Bridgestone tyres, he has been qualifying and racing exceptionally well, but too often luck’s been against him. I know he’ll give it everything at this race, and the team will be doing everything to give him the best possible machine for the job.”

Taylor continued: “Gregorio has experience both of the bike and of the track, and has been testing tyres and machine parts during the season, giving valuable feedback to the racing team. I’m sure he’ll make the most of another GP outing, and give yet more impetus to the closing stages of development of this generation of Suzuki’s MotoGP bike,” said Taylor.

The Suzuki has improved both in qualifying lap times and race results, not only from last year to this, but also during the 2004 season. One important step earlier in the season was a revised firing order for the V4. More recently, a new set of exhausts has liberated significantly more mid-range power.

Phillip Island is a real rider’s circuit, where the challenging high-speed corners give the Suzuki pair a chance to exploit the machine’s strengths. Together with the latest tyres, the Suzuki’s handling allows high corner speeds. This makes up for a relative lack of top speed, enabling the rider to achieve faster exit speeds to be in a good position to slipstream rivals down the circuit’s fast straight.

The Australian GP follows a wearying routine: four races in five weekends, from Japan to Phillip Island via Qatar and Malaysia. There is one weekend’s respite before the final round at Valencia on October 31.


JOHN HOPKINS
I was so disappointed at Sepang. I’d been good in qualifying, got the bike better in the morning, had a relaxing swim back at the hotel, and had my head together for the race. Then the bike stopped. For Australia, it’s a great track and we have the basic bike set-up good for everywhere. As I’ve said for the latter part of this year, I’ll be disappointed if I’m not in the top five.


GREGORIO LAVILLA
This is my first race since Brno in August, so I’m looking forward to get back in among other riders, after testing mainly by myself. I love this circuit. I think all the riders do. It’s difficult, but a fast lap feels really satisfying.


GP DATA

Phillip Island Circuit
Circuit Length: 2.764 miles / 4.448 km
Lap Record: 1:31.421 – 108.836 mph / 175.154 km/h. V Rossi (Honda), 2003
2003 Race Winner: Rossi
2003 Race Average: 41:53.543 – 106.880 mph / 172.006 km/h.
2003 Fastest Race Lap: see lap record
2003 Pole Position: Rossi 1:30.068
2003 KENNY ROBERTS: Ninth, qualified 14th (Suzuki)
2003 JOHN HOPKINS: 12th, qualified 13th (Suzuki)
2003 GREGORIO LAVILLA: DNS

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

AMA PRO RACING ON TV THIS WEEK

(All times Eastern)

AMA Supermoto Championship, Downtown Reno, Reno, Nevada – Oct. 13, 8 p.m. – Outdoor Life Network (OLN)

AMA Supermoto Championship, Downtown Reno, Reno, Nevada – Oct. 13, 11 p.m. – Outdoor Life Network (OLN)

AMA Prostar Drag Racing, Virginia Motorsports Park, Richmond, Virginia – Oct. 13, 11 p.m. – The Outdoor Channel

AMA Prostar Drag Racing, Virginia Motorsports Park, Richmond, Virginia – Oct. 16, 9 a.m. – The Outdoor Channel

AMA Progressive Insurance Flat Track Championship, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, Illinois (Mile) – Harley-Davidson Sportster Performance Final – Oct. 16, 1:30 p.m. – SPEED Channel

AMA Supermoto Championship, Downtown Reno, Reno, Nevada – Oct. 16, 3:30 p.m. – Outdoor Life Network (OLN)

AMA Prostar Drag Racing, Virginia Motorsports Park, Richmond, Virginia – Oct. 17, 2:30 a.m. – The Outdoor Channel

AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship, Virginia International Raceway, Alton, Virginia (Superbike Race 1) – Oct. 19, 12 p.m. – SPEED Channel

AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship, Virginia International Raceway, Alton, Virginia (Superbike Race 2) – Oct. 19, 1 p.m. – SPEED Channel

All times subject to change. Check local listings

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

Tommy Hayden: 2004 AMA Supersport Champion

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (Oct. 12, 2004) — Tommy Hayden broke through to win his first AMA road racing title by taking home the 2004 Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship Presented by Shoei with a conservative sixth-place finish aboard his Kawasaki ZX-6R Sunday at Virginia International Raceway.

Hayden held an 11-point lead in the series over younger brother Roger Lee coming into the VIR finale. The championship boiled down to those two and Tommy simply tucked in behind Roger and kept him in sight for the entire race.

Tommy acknowledged winning the Supersport title is a special accomplishment for him. “I’ve been second and third in the championship so many times that it’s a relief more than anything to finally win a championship,” he said. “Having to wait these extra three weeks added to the feeling of relief. You can play things in your head as many times as you want, but until you get out there [on the track] you never know what it’s going to be like.”

This is Hayden’s tenth year in AMA road racing. He’s finished runner-up in a series four times, including once to his brother Nicky in the hard-fought 1999 Supersport campaign. Hayden’s championship marks only the second time in AMA road racing history that brothers have won championships. With Tommy’s title he and Nicky share that distinction with Ben and Eric Bostrom.

Hayden explained that the pressure building up to this race may have gotten to him. “I crashed here in practice and I don’t think I’ve crashed in two years.”

Future plans for Hayden are uncertain at the moment, but he affirmed his satisfaction with Kawasaki and his desire to return to AMA Superbike racing. “They know that’s what I want to do and we’re working on it.”

Hayden also expressed faith that his youngest brother Roger Lee will soon follow in his and Nicky’s footsteps to become the third Hayden brother to win an AMA title next year. “If Roger keeps riding like he did in the second half of this season he’ll get a championship real soon.”

Kawasaki shares in the glory with Hayden by winning its third AMA Supersport championship and an impressive one-two finish in the series. Eric Bostrom won the AMA Supersport title on a Kawasaki in 2001 as did Miguel Duhamel in 1993.


More, from a press release issued on behalf of Jason DiSalvo:

DiSalvo Sweeps VIR

Jason DiSalvo of Stafford, New York competed in the AMA SuperBike National Road Race at Virginia International Raceway Saturday and Sunday October 9th and 10th due to hurricane IVAN the race weekend was shortened to two days. Beginning with practice and qualifying Saturday morning the 1000cc SuperStock race scheduled for late Saturday afternoon and the 600cc SuperSport race being scheduled for Sunday afternoon. Perfect weather conditions set the scene for a perfect weekend.

In the 1000cc SuperStock class Jason started Saturday morning qualifying with the fastest time, then breaking the track record with a blistering 1 min. 25.328 seconds bettering the previous record by well over 2 seconds. From the green light start Jason lead into turn 1 never looking back and bettering the field by a 1/2 second per lap, at one point having a nine second gap over the second place rider ultimately winning by 7 seconds in a wire to wire race.

The 600cc SuperSport class began qualifying Saturday with Jason smashing the existing track record by setting a pole position with 1 min. 26.762 seconds 7/10’s better than the previous record. The race began with a great start Jason leading into turn 1 with his teammates, Jamie Hacking and Damon Buckmaster in hot pursuit. During the 17-lap race Jason lead 14 laps swapping places with two of his teammates ultimately finishing 1st by 2/10’s of a second with Jamie Hacking second and Aaron Gobert third giving him the final piece of a perfect weekend.

Jason commented, “My Yamaha and Graves team mechanics, crew chiefs and all gave me two great bikes to finish the season. The Dunlop tire choice we made with Jim Allen did the job very well.”

Jason had a perfect weekend with 2 pole positions, 2 track records, and 2 class wins. The final championship points find Jason in 4th place in the 1000cc SuperStock class, I point behind third and 7 points behind first. In the 600 SuperSport class Jason finished fifth.

Team Yamaha set a record at VIR with all 3-podium positions in the 600cc SuperSport class. Yamaha’s Aaron Gobert also claimed the SuperStock championship.

With the season ending, Jason will be vacationing in Ireland attending his mechanics wedding (Seamus Taffe to Jennifer Medvidick) and spending 2 days in London, England before returning to his testing in Nevada in November.

From a press release issued by Camel Honda Racing Information:

AUSTRALIA SEES END OF MOTOGP’S INTERCONTINENTAL TOUR


The MotoGP World Championship lands at one of the most prestigious events on the whole calendar this week. The Phillip Island circuit in Australia is widely regarded as one of the most scenic and challenging around, and it is hard to deny its difficulty from both a technical level for the bike’s preparation, as well as the test it provides for riders. The Camel Honda team arrives at the race on the back of a satisfying event, where strength of character and the ability to react to new situations once again came to the fore, as Max Biaggi took his eighth podium finish of the season and Makoto Tamada fought back courageously up to fifth spot. The squad’s aim is to continue to show themselves as one of the best outfits in the championship, getting both riders in a position to be fighting for victory.

Sito Pons – Camel Honda (Team Principal)

“The great race in Malaysia has given us strength and confidence, and the right kind of enthusiasm with which to confront a challenging event like the one in Australia. Max turned a corner in Sepang, after an especially unlucky period, and he took a fantastic podium. Makoto showed once more that he is a fast and determined fighter and he has performed at the highest level in this second half of the season. We have to continue like this. We want to win again before the end of the season and both Max and Makoto have the chance of doing so.”

Max Biaggi #3: (Michelin Tyres)

“We come to one of my favourite circuits feeling a range of emotions and sensations. Satisfaction for having returned to the podium after three races to forget about, a great motivation to continue at this level, and to go on to get on the top step, and perhaps more than anything, regret at not being able to fight for the title with my rivals. However, seeing as it is useless to look back, we’ll be focusing on the next race. The winter tests here went really well, but I don’t want to think too much about those results, because it’s possible that now the conditions will be completely different. I’ll just say that I hope to be quick straight away on Friday, but I’m also ready to deal with any more difficult situation, like in Malaysia, where with my team and the Honda technicians, we reacted well to the difficulties we came up against.”

Giulio Bernardelle – Camel Honda (Makoto Tamada’s Technical Director)

“The Australian GP will be a big challenge for us. In last year’s GP we had a few problems adapting the tyres to the track’s particular configuration, whilst in the February tests we got some positive results, but still with things left to test. In fact Makoto rode much better than in the race, but at the same time we had to finish the tests a day early because Bridgestone decided to put some of the material they brought through further tests. In any case, they have done a lot of work since then and made so much progress, so we are ready to take on this challenge with great confidence.”

Makoto Tamada #6: (Bridgestone Tyres)

“I left Malaysia on Monday and arrived in Australia on Tuesday. Three races one after the other don’t give you the time to return home of course and seeing as Phillip Island isn’t exactly a metropolis, perhaps I will dedicate my time before Thursday to one of my favourite hobbies, fishing… At least there will be fish there! Joking aside, the Australian race will be very tough, above all because it will be very cold. We have to check how our tyres react to such a diverse temperature change from the last two races. However, in this second part of the championship they have proved themselves to work in many different situations, so I hope that they will let me go well here.”