From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

AMA PRO RACING EVENTS RESCHEDULED

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (Sept. 17, 2004) — AMA Pro Racing announced today that the AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship season finale scheduled to be held this weekend at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) in Alton, Va., and the AMA Supermoto Championship race also scheduled for this weekend at nearby South Boston Speedway in South Boston, have been rescheduled for the weekend of Oct. 9-10.

Both events had been postponed due to complications surrounding the effects of Hurricane Ivan, a major storm tracking toward the region. According to the National Weather Service as of Friday, the area surrounding VIR is under both tornado and flood watch.

“Given the magnitude of this storm and the expectation that it would severely impact the area, we made the decision on Tuesday to postpone these events,” said Kerry Graeber, AMA Pro Racing Vice President, Director of Communications. “Since then, AMA Pro Racing officials have been working with each event organizer to reschedule both races. Because of the championship implications, particularly in road racing, it’s important to hold these events if at all possible. If we had been unable to reschedule the event at VIR we were prepared to look at other tracks to hold the Superbike season finale. For the sake of fans who would like to attend both events, officials at South Boston Speedway felt strongly about tying the two events together and were able to make the necessary changes to enable the supermoto race to run on the same weekend.”

Graeber pointed out that while the AMA Formula Xtreme Championship has already been determined; the championships for Superbike, Supersport and Superstock are still undecided.

The AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship event at VIR will be held on Oct. 9-10. An updated event schedule is forthcoming.

The AMA Supermoto Championship event at South Boston Speedway will be held on Oct. 9.

VIR management indicated that all previously purchased tickets will be honored. Tickets will be available from ticket outlets and at the gate. A list of ticket outlets is available online at www.virclub.com, and purchases from ticket outlets will be at the advance-ticket discount. For more information on the Suzuki Lightning Nationals, call the track toll free at (888) 722-3099, ext. 112.

South Boston Speedway also confirmed that previously purchased tickets will be honored. Tickets for the rescheduled event are available at www.tickets.com. For additional information call (877) 440-1540.



More, from a press release issued by VIR:

Suzuki Lightning Nationals Rescheduled

Alton, Va. (Sept. 17) –The Pro Racing Division of the American Motorcyclist Association issued a statement today rescheduling the Suzuki Lightning Nationals at VIRginia International Raceway, which was originally scheduled for this weekend, to Oct. 9-10.

VIR reminds fans that three-day tickets will allow access to the facility for a promoter’s test day on Friday. Gates will be opened for fan access on Thursday, Oct. 7, at 6:00 p.m.

VIRginia International Raceway is a multi-purpose road racing facility, located on the Dan River between Danville and South Boston, Va., and just north of historic Milton, N.C. In addition to its 3.27-mile natural-terrain road racing circuit (designed to be operated as two autonomous, full-service courses), VIR is the cornerstone of VIR Club, America’s first motorsports country club; the VIR Raceplex Industrial Park; the VIR Gallery, which is a showroom for high-end collector and racing cars; the VIR Safety and Security Institute, which provides specialized training for U.S. Government and military groups; and the VIR Euro Rally and Corporate Motorsport Experience, which features four rally stages plus a kart track as well as an ATV and SUV trials course and trails. Future plans include The Lodge at VIR, a 27-room hotel overlooking the track, and the Oak Tree Tavern, a full-service restaurant located within the circa-1840 Plantation Clubhouse.

VIR made history from 1957 to 1974 and is doing so again. The renovated original circuit has 17 challenging turns and 130 feet of elevation change. In addition to spectator events, the track is also available to rent for testing, driving schools and club days.

For more information, visit the track’s website at www.virclub.com or contact VIR toll-free at 888-RACE099. For more information on the VIR Euro Rally and Corporate Motorsport Experience, call toll-free 877-RALLY66 or visit their website at www.vireurorally.com. For more information on the AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship, visit their website at www.ussuperbike.com.


More, from a press release issued by Mat Mladin Motorsports:

2004 American AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship
Rounds 17 & 18 – Virginia International Raceway, Alton, Virginia, USA

Event News

FINAL AMERICAN SUPERBIKE ROUND RESCHEDULED

The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) have announced that the weekend of October 9 & 10 has been nominated as the new date for the postponed final round of this year’s American AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship at Virginia International Raceway.

The AMA had postponed the round (which was originally scheduled to run this weekend) after concerns over the widespread impact of hurricane Ivan that struck the south-east region of the United States over the past few days.

With the new date announced, Mat Mladin and his Yoshimura Suzuki team will head to Virginia holding a 42-point advantage at the top of the championship table and will be aiming to secure an unprecedented fifth American Superbike crown.

Mladin has led the championship from the start of the season after winning the prestigious Daytona 200 (for the third time) in March and has amassed a total of eight race wins from sixteen starts this year.

2004 AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship (Points after 16 of 18 rounds)
1. Mat Mladin (532, 8 wins); 2. Jake Zemke (490, 2 win): 3. Miguel DuHamel (477, 4 wins): 4. Ben Bostrom (364, 1 win): 5. Geoff May (344): 6. Eric Bostrom (336, 1 win): 7. John Haner (312): 8. Aaron Yates (298): 8. 9. Eric Wood (284): 10. Josh Hayes (267).

From a press release issued by event organizer and CCS racer Stan Simmerson, RN:

All-Star Celebrity Auction Hits Full Stride

The All-Star Ride for Life charity motorcycle ride to benefit Duke Children’s Hospital may be over, but the All-Star Celebrity Auction is just hitting full stride. The auction, held in conjunction with the charity ride, is now under way, with several items that would make any motorcycle racing enthusiast drool. Among the items up for bid on ebay.com are leathers from Jamie Hacking, Ben Bostrom and Jake Zemke, plus gloves from Miguel Duhamel, Bostrom and Zemke, and boots from Zemke, Aaron Yates, Bostrom, and much more!

Also available are limited-edition artwork prints from artists Lee Bivens and Tana Hayes. Ben Bostrom, Scott Russell and Mat Mladin are featured in the works available. All prints are signed by the riders too. You can also see all the items available by just typing “All-Star Ride” into ebay’s search engine, and all items will pop right up.

The All-Star Ride for Life is in its fifth year, and is shaping up to be the most successful year yet! Riders Scott Russell, Jamie Hacking and Jamie James led off the procession of over 320 motorcycles on Saturday, Sept. 11th in Raleigh NC. Over $20,000 was raised for the Duke Children’s Hospital, with more coming at the end of the auction. For more information on the All-Star Ride for Life, go to www.AllStarRide.org

From a press release issued by Dorna Sports:

Motegi the first stop for MotoGP’s orient express

The MotoGP World Championship stopped off at the Twin Ring Motegi circuit in Japan today in preparation for the first of four ‘flyaway’ races in five weeks across Asia, the Middle East and Australia. The trip across the orient represents a crucial stage in the season for the MotoGP teams and riders, with a maximum haul of 100 points on offer before the final round at Valencia in Spain and titles up for grabs in all three of the Grand Prix categories.

The Camel Grand Prix of Japan sees current MotoGP World Champion and series leader Valentino Rossi return to the home of Honda, the factory he turned his back on at the end of last season in favour of a switch to their great rivals Yamaha. The Italian today admitted it would be a tough task to overcome a legion of six regular Honda riders, plus wildcard Tohru Ukawa, at their own private testing ground as he looks to extend a 29-point advantage over Sete Gibernau at the top of the standings.

“It will be difficult, like always, maybe more,” said Rossi, who finished fourth here last season after running off track. “Last year there were four Hondas in the top four, it was a great battle – not only with Biaggi and Gibernau, also Tamada and Hayden. Last year also Melandri had a good race with Yamaha, he finished fifth, so maybe our bike is not so bad here. The weather is good today, we just have to hope it stays like this all weekend.”

Gibernau took time to relax today, joining fellow MotoGP rider Nicky Hayden, who returns to action after injury, and 125cc series leader Andrea Dovizioso on a visit to the Fun Fan Lab at the circuit, home of Honda’s humanoid robot Asimo. Whilst Gibernau will be desperate to make up points on Rossi after finishing fourth at the last round in Portugal, the man on form at the moment is local hero Makoto Tamada. The Japanese rider, who finished second to Rossi at Estoril after starting from pole for the first time, is currently in the best form of his career and made no secret of his intentions today.

“To be honest I think I am in perfect shape,” declared Tamada, who was disqualified from the race last season for colliding with Gibernau after finishing third. “The tyres suit the track and so does the bike. I have come here to win and that is exactly what I intend to do. Valentino had too much fun with me in the last race – this time I plan to have fun with him.”

Tamada is not the only Japanese rider looking to make an impression this weekend, Shinya Nakano making his first appearance on home soil with Kawasaki. Like Tamada, Nakano is running Bridgestone tyres and is placing his optimism in the Japanese rubber manufacturer. “I went to the Bridgestone factory yesterday and they promised me they have a special Motegi tyre,” commented Nakano. “I know the fans are excited about this race and I want to show Kawasaki’s potential here.”

Also looking to please the home crowd will be former 125cc favourite Youichi Ui, set for his MotoGP debut with the WCM team as a replacement for the departed Michel Fabrizio. The second WCM place has been rented out to Japanese chassis manufacturer Moriwaki, who will run former 250cc World Champion Olivier Jacque on the MD2211VF prototype, his first start since the end of 2003. “I am very happy to be back and to be involved in such an ambitious project,” said Jacque. “It would be great if my performance this weekend gave me a chance of a full-time return to MotoGP in 2004 but there is no pressure on me and I am just planning to enjoy myself.”

In both the 250cc and 125cc classes the onus is also on challengers from other factories to confront Honda riders at their home circuit. Dani Pedrosa defends Japanese factory honour in the quarter-litre class alongside the in-form Toni Elías, Roberto Rolfo, Hiroshi Aoyama and wildcard star Yuki Takahashi, whilst Randy de Puniet and Sebastian Porto lead an army of Aprilia riders trying to haul in the Spanish youngster at the top of the championship.

In the minor class Dovizioso will be joined on a Honda by Manuel Hernandez this weekend, replacing the injured Julián Simon, as he also looks to hold off an Aprilia challenge to his championship dominance from Hector Barberá and Roberto Locatelli.


From a press release issued by Fuchs Kawasaki:

MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2004
JAPANESE GRAND PRIX – MOTEGI
16TH SEPTEMBER 2004 – EVENT PREVIEW

SUPER SHINYA HAPPY TO BE RACING AT HOME

The Twin Ring Motegi track, venue for Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix, holds special memories for Fuchs Kawasaki rider Shinya Nakano.

It was at Motegi in 1999 that Nakano, in a superb rookie performance, won his first Grand Prix with victory in the 250cc Japanese GP.

Five years on and 26-year-old Nakano is established at the top echelon of MotoGP, and is now enjoying his first season with the Fuchs Kawasaki factory squad; spearheading the Ninja ZX-RR MotoGP campaign.

Adding to the significance of the Motegi race is its status as a home Grand Prix, not only for Nakano, but for motorcycle and industrial powerhouse Kawasaki and their tyre partner Bridgestone.

As usual Nakano is joined at Motegi by Fuchs Kawasaki team-mate Alex Hofmann, who is in his first full season of MotoGP competition.

The emerging 24-year-old German rookie will be returning to the compact Motegi circuit after an absence of three years. His last race at this track was in the 250cc category.

The Motegi race week will be a busy one for both Kawasaki riders, especially the popular Nakano, with additional demands from fans, media, corporate activities and personal appearances.

The Twin Ring Motegi track is located 100km north-west of Tokyo. At 4.1km in length the track comprises 14 turns with a longest straight of just 760 metres; features which combine to provide just a once-per-lap opportunity for a flat-out burst in sixth gear for the 990cc MotoGP bikes.

Stop-go in nature, Motegi places significant demands on stability under braking and then acceleration. Both of these performance criteria have been an important part of the Kawasaki development programme in recent months.

The Japanese GP signals the beginning of a demanding end-of-season schedule of five races. The Motegi race is followed in quick session by flyaway GPs in Qatar, Malaysia and Australia prior to the final race at Valencia in Spain, all in just six weeks.

Shinya Nakano: #56
“Motegi is always a special race for me because I’m competing in front of my local fans and, of course, it is the home race for Kawasaki. This is important, because I have just moved to Kawasaki this year and I can sense that Kawasaki supporters are very enthusiastic and are anticipating good results. Motegi is a stop-go circuit; hard braking followed by short straights, but I have a lot of experience at this track and some very happy memories from my first win in 1999. So far acceleration has been our weak point, but the factory has been concentrating on improving power delivery, so I know everyone is working very hard to find a good set-up for this race. Even though I have been busy in the lead-up to the race, I am enjoying being at home.”

Alex Hofmann: #66
“I’m sure racing at Motegi will be a motivating factor for everyone in our team, and there will be a lot of additional focus on our efforts from Kawasaki and the fans. It is three years since I raced here, but the track is not a difficult one to remember. The past couple of races have been a little disappointing for me, although I made a lot of progress at the Estoril test after the Portuguese GP. I will have to wait and see how this track suits the ZX-RR, but my real focus is to race closer to Shinya’s pace over race distance. He was faster than me earlier in the season but, overall, I think I’m closing the gap, and for sure, I want to beat him at least once this season, even if it’s at his home race.”

From a press release issued by Fuchs Kawasaki:

MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2004
JAPANESE GRAND PRIX – MOTEGI
16TH SEPTEMBER 2004 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NAKANO AND HOFMANN IMPRESSED BY BRIDGESTONE VISIT

Fuchs Kawasaki’s Shinya Nakano and Alex Hofmann took time out from their preparations for Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix to spend a day as guests of Bridgestone, at the Japanese tyre manufacturer’s headquarters in Tokyo and at their motorcycle tyre production facility in Nasu.

Bridgestone’s headquarters, just a short walk away from Tokyo’s central rail station, was the first stop for Nakano and Hofmann. The two Fuchs Kawasaki pilots were joined by fellow Bridgestone riders; Kenny Roberts, John Hopkins and Makoto Tamada as they were introduced to Bridgestone’s CEO, Mr. Shigeo Watanabe.

After the formal introductions, talk quickly turned to this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi; an important race for both Bridgestone and the Fuchs Kawasaki Racing Team.

While Nakano admitted he was looking forward to racing in front of his home crowd for the first time this season, Hofmann explained that, while he enjoyed racing at Motegi, this weekend would mark his first appearance at the track in the MotoGP class, with his only previous experience of the Japanese circuit being on a 250cc machine.

After meeting Mr. Watanabe, the riders then embarked on a two hour drive to Kuroiso City, to visit Bridgestone’s Nasu plant.

Kuroiso City is a major Bridgestone production hub, with four facilities located in close proximity. The Tochigi and Nasu plants manufacture tyres for both commercial and industrial applications, while the Kuroiso plant produces the steel cord used by Bridgestone in the tyre manufacturing process. Kuroiso City is also home to the Bridgestone proving ground.

Established in 1962, Bridgestone’s Nasu plant employs close to 600 people and manufactures more than 27,000 tyres per day. The Nasu plant is also the only production facility in Japan producing Bridgestone’s range of road and competition motorcycle tyres.

On arrival at the plant, the riders were met by an enthusiastic workforce, who all competed for signed postcards and caps during a question and answer session held at the plant reception centre.

After signing autographs and posing for photographs with the Bridgestone staff, the riders were then given a guided tour of the Nasu plant by the plant General Manager.

“I’d like to thank Yamada-san and the rest of the Bridgestone staff for making this visit possible” said Nakano. “The factory tour was interesting, because we got the opportunity to see the motorcycle tyre making process from start to finish. Tyres are an important factor when you’re racing in MotoGP, but I had no idea that the manufacturing process was so complex.”

“It was also good to meet the people who actually produce the tyres. Sure they can see the positive results of their work when the races are shown on television, but it was nice to be able to thank them for their efforts in person. Hopefully we can go from here to Motegi and show our appreciation properly with a good result on Sunday,” continued Nakano.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Willow Springs Raceway’s Stephanie Huth announced today that Sport Tire Services will pay $1000 cash to the best-finishing, non-contracted Dunlop rider in the Toyota 200.

The Toyota 200 is scheduled for October 15-17 at the Rosamond, California racetrack. The Roadracingworld.com 250/50 for 250cc Grand Prix machines will run the same weekend.

The winner of the Toyota 200 will earn $50,000, with $30,000 for second and $10,000 for third. Riders who qualify and start the race will earn a minimum of $1000 in purse money, with the grid limited to the 40 fastest riders.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

Hurricane Frances recently visited Asheville, NC last week and dropped HUGE amounts of rain. The photos below are the results, and these are just a small part.

Washed out roads, Asheville’s water supply out and contaminated until (September 15), plus power to a lot of the region was out for several days.

It will take a while before everything’s back to normal, and Ivan’s headed here too! We are a long way from an ocean, but it still hit hard.

If people want to see what can happen – this will show them it wouldn’t be a whole lotta’ fun to end the AMA Superbike Season this way!

Take care y’all!

P.J. Jackson-Frisby

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The September 17-19 AMA Superbike series event at Virginia International Raceway being postponed has inconvenienced many of the teams, riders and assorted personnel who follow and make their living within the series, but few are facing a more difficult situation than Graves Yamaha’s Aaron Gobert.

Gobert, 23, hoped to defend his five-point lead at VIR and win the AMA Superstock Championship, the first of his career. Then the day after the races, he and his girlfriend Melanie Riley planned to fly home to Australia to make the final preparations for their October 6 wedding.

Now, with talk of the VIR event being rescheduled for October 8-10, Gobert is faced with a choice between the wedding and the Championship.

“We’re getting married on an island. There’s like 35 of us going to this island, and at the moment there’s only going to be 33, because Mel and I aren’t going,” Gobert told Roadracingworld.com Wednesday. “We have to wait and see what happens, but we can’t get married if we’re in America. The problem is, the time of year it is and everything, nothing’s refundable. I’m gonna have to pay for two weddings.”

Although he realizes it may not be completely fair to Tommy Hayden and Jamie Hacking, his two closest challengers, Gobert would like to see the final race cancelled.

From a press release issued by Speedwerks:

Speedwerks Launches New Web Site with Online Store

Dover, DE – Speedwerks, an independently owned and operated motorcycle shop, just launched www.speedwerks.com. The new web site showcases the shop and its services, and is complete with an online store for purchasing motorcycle-related racing and street necessities.

Speedwerks Owner, Steve Long (2003 WERA Clubman Expert National Champion), has brought fellow racer and mechanic, Brian Roach, on board to build a web site that showcases his shops services, products and long-standing reputation in the racing community. Roach, an expert racer in the USGPRU series, was a former software engineer for America Online® who decided to combine his passion for racing and programming expertise to start a new career. As a former customer who raced and won two WERA regional championships on Speedwerks-built machines, Roach knew his skills and professional standards would match well with Long’s business philosophy of excellent customer service and attention to detail. The partnership has created the new SpeedWerks.com.

Racers and street riders who visit the new www.speedwerks.com site will find information about the shop (which has been in business for almost ten years), the SpeedWerks Race Team and its racing customers, a classifieds section, and much more. But the greatest feature the new site boasts is the SpeedWerks.com online store, featuring apparel for men and women and all the fun goodies you could need for your motorcycle. Racers, track day riders, and street riders can find everything they need and order it from the comfort of their desk chair.

Speedwerks, because of its long-standing relationship with dealers and manufacturers, has always maintained extremely competitive pricing on products, so they decided to branch out beyond their immediate customers and offer these deals online. Although SpeedWerks will be going up against tough competition in the online motorcycle store arena, they are confident in this new endeavor. “We have something that other stores don’t have,” said Roach, “we are not just a warehouse shipping products out to customers. We are an experienced shop that works on bikes for a living, and can provide expert technical assistance and take care of motorcycle-related issues that typical retail stores can’t.”

The online store is launching with approximately 3,000 products available for purchase, and they are aggressively adding products to their database every day. The products currently online are just a snapshot of the thousands of products they have available for purchase through their shop, and they are more than happy to assist riders in purchasing products that aren’t displayed on the site yet.

SpeedWerks.com will be entering Phase II of its web site launch in the coming months and adding such features as personal web pages for customers, an online newsletter, and much more.

From a press release issued by Scuderia Caracchi NCR Nortel Networks:

The bad weather shuts off the Misano’s test of Gianluca Nannelli

(Misano Adriatico 2004, September 16)

The atrocious weather conditions on the Adriatic coast did shut off the practice day organised by Team Xerox Ducati Nortel Networks today on the Santamonica circuit for the first contact of Gianluca Nannelli on the 999RS that the Florentine rider will ride in the final rounds of 2004 World Superbike at Imola and Magny Cours.

The incessant rain allowed to Gianluca “Conann” Nannelli only a few laps on the flooded track, just 18, and Nannelli could just set the bike for his requirements, the riding position and start to know his new team.

“Of course with those weather conditions I’m not able to give a fair judgement on the 999RS”. – Said Gianluca Nannelli, soaking wet but satisfied at the end of the test – “The rain didn’t stop a moment and I must ride always with rain tyres on. But also is this has been my first approach I could appreciate the working system of the team, I esteem the bike and I got a good feeling easily. But for sure un a dry track and in the racing fight it will be another thing. The Xerox 999RS Ducati feels more aggressive as the 998RS I rode still now, but I must know that just riding today this bike, which has been one of the fastest during all the season, I’m able to appraise as my 998RS that Donato Pedercini got at my disposition still now is a very good bike and I wish to thank him for giving me the possibility to put me in a good light. Now we’ll ride in Imola and Magny Cours, two circuits where last year I made good performances that I’m confident to repeat this year too.”

Also Stefano Caracchi, Team Xerox Ducati Nortel Networks team manager, is satisfied for today’s first approach.

“Gianluca showed today too, under the flood, that his will to ride a bike is inexhaustible.” – commented Caracchi – “I had any hesitation to enter the track with the flooded track and, rejoining the pit, gave correct information following the experience reached by the team during the season. We are sure that our decision about Gianluca is good and we are confident that “Nanna”, together Garry McCoy and Miguel Praia, will be able to give to our sponsor all the satisfaction missing in the final events after the splendid season’s debut in Australia and Monza.”

Gianluca Nannelli profile

Born in Florence 1973, August 22

2003 – Supersport Italian Champion (Yamaha)

– 15th Supersport World Championship (Yamaha)

2002 – 9th Supersport Italian Championship (Ducati)

– 22nd Supersport World Championship (Ducati)

2001 – 4th Supersport Italian Championship (Ducati)

– 5th Supersport European Championship (Ducati)