Palatine, IL – StarNet, a leading provider of telephony products and services throughout North America, announced today that it has agreed to sponsor SafetyFirst Racing on behalf of its VoiceEclipse Broadband telephone service. The sponsorship will cover the entire racing season for 2005, including all American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) races and SafetyFirst appearances to promote bicycle safety and helmet usage for children.

“We are impressed with the commitment SafetyFirst has made to communities across the United States with their helmet program and safety demonstrations,” said Russ Intravartolo, president of StarNet. “We’re thrilled to be aboard and we look forward to being out front with VoiceEclipse as a major sponsor of SafetyFirst Racing.”

Kevin Hanson, president of SafetyFirst, added, “Our partnership with StarNet and VoiceEclipse lets us take our program to the next level. In addition to the racing sponsorship for our 2005 season, StarNet is supporting SafetyFirst’s helmet program for kids, an effort we know saves lives.  StarNet’s corporate sponsorship will also include a number of promotional appearances at races, malls, movie theaters, and elementary schools throughout the country.”

About StarNet

StarNet, a service of US LEC, is a leading provider of telephony products and services throughout North America. The MegaPOP® network is designed to help ISPs become more competitive in the marketplace by providing consistency in high speed, quality, and extensive area coverage for dial-up access.  StarNet is poised to repeat its tremendous success in the wholesale dialup access market with the introduction of VoiceEclipse and vePipe services to deliver comprehensive broadband VoIP phone services.  Fore more information about VoiceEclipse contact Dave Zortea 847-963-0116 or go to www.voiceeclipse.com

About SafetyFirst Racing

SafetyFirst Racing is a professional motorcycle racing team and safety services company headed by founder and President Kevin Hanson. Committed to saving children’s lives through the promotion of its Bicycle Helmet for Kids program, SafetyFirst has been putting helmets on kids and giving safety talks as the race team makes its way around the U.S. on the televised AMA roadracing circuit. For more information about SafetyFirst, contact Kevin Hanson 217-493-3811 or [email protected].

MOTORCYCLE HALL OF FAME MUSEUM TO HOST MOTOCROSS REUNION IN CELEBRATION OF “MOTOCROSS AMERICA” EXHIBIT DEDICATION

PICKERINGTON, OHIO The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, the premier museum of motorcycling history in America, will celebrate the opening of its next major exhibit,  “Motocross America,” with a special Motocross Reunion, bringing together many of the racing and industry legends who helped shape the history of America’s first action sport.  Scheduled for July 14, 2005, this gathering of champions, industry icons and Motorcycle Hall of Fame members will include some of the best-known names and faces in the sport, such as David Bailey, Mike Bell, Dick Burleson, Roger DeCoster and Chuck Sun.

In addition to the exhibit dedication ceremony, the July 14 festivities will also feature a special Museum reception honoring the men and women profiled in “Motocross America,” autograph sessions, entertainment and more. Motocross Reunion activities will continue July 15 through 17 at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, held at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio, just 90 minutes from the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum.  Throughout the weekend, more than 45,000 expected enthusiasts will be able to see and meet their favorite motocross heroes, from appearances at the Museum’s Motorhead Café to parade laps on Mid-Ohio’s motocross track. 

“Preserving American motorcycling heritage through storytelling is an important part of our mission, and we expect the Motocross Reunion to add entirely new chapters to the history book,” said Mark Mederski, Executive Director, Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum.  “We’re looking forward to America’s original ‘action heroes’ bringing the legends to life on July 14th.”

Motocross America is currently in the installation phase and will open in March 2005.  Every inch of the exhibit has been designed to reflect the high energy and excitement of the sport, from innovative design elements like soaring Supercross bikes and challenging whoops to victory podium photo opportunities with a ‘virtual’ James Stewart.  The 8,000 square-foot exhibit features over 60 famous motocross machines, hundreds of artifacts and personal treasures, a multitude of photographs spanning eight decades of action, interactive kiosks and displays and special educational sections, such as a Motocross Resource Center designed to help parents and kids get involved in racing.  In addition, visitors won’t just see the machines, gear and memorabilia, but they will be able to feel and sense the action while watching some of the sport’s greatest names race into the history books. 

The July 14 Motocross Reunion begins at 6:30 pm with the “Motocross America” exhibit dedication.  A by-reservation only reception follows from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at the Museum.  Tickets for the reception, which includes refreshments, are available for $20.00 for AMA members, $25, for non-members.  Motocross America will be on display through the end of 2006.
 
For more information on “Motocross America,” as well as AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, please 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.

PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse Team scored the first points of the season in a week-end of uncharacteristically weather conditions

The free practices and the qualifying session of the first race of the season have been affected by unpredictable rainfalls and the riders of the Team weren’t able to exploit the qualifying tyres.

Chris Walker, as per the Superpole result, started from the 11th position and Mauro Sanchini from the 24th.

Chris Walker did a great start jumping immediately from the 11th to the 5th position and placing his bike in the head group of the race. His very fast Kawasaki ZX10R showed immediately the potential for a good race, but a contact with a rider who was trying to overtake him caused the crash of the rear brake lines, forcing Chris to fight for keeping his position.

Because of the rain the race has been interrupted during the 10th lap for safety reasons.

Mauro Sanchini who couldn’t work properly on the set-up of his bike during the test days and the practices because of a bad flu, tried to do his best in order to get a good position and score some points.

After the interruption of the race Chris Walker did another great start from the 13th position, keeping the concentration for the remaining 8 laps. Unfortunately for a problem occurred to the front of the bike he finished his race in 14th position. This result permitted to Chris to score 2 points.

Mauro Sanchini held on for all the second part of the race keeping on working on the set-up of its bike.
 
In race Two Mauro Sanchini managed to score one more important point for the Team. The Italian rider, who couldn’t test properly his bike during the pre race test, did a good job on the set-up during race One, in race Two started in 24th position and lap by lap he gained positions finishing in 15th place.

Chris Walker showed all his intentions to fight with the top riders, but a crash due to an attempt of overtaking by Muggeridge stopped his race during the 9th lap.

PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse Team showed the potential  of the ZX10R and the good feeling between all the technical staff and the riders, and the points scored are the first step of this new challenge in a high competitive Championship.

Multiple AMA Teams Ready to Test Infineon Raceway in March

FANS INVITED TO WATCH TWO-DAY TEST SESSION FOR FREE

SONOMA, Calif. – Infineon Raceway will host a two-day motorcycle test session, March 17-18, in advance of the upcoming Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown, presented by Supercuts.

The six manufacturers that have signed up for the March test are: Kawasaki, Yamaha, American Honda, Erion Racing, Austin Ducati and Yoshimura Suzuki. Race fans will have free admission to watch the test session from the main grandstand.

This will mark the only test session of its kind in advance of the Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown weekend, slated for May 13-15, over the 12-turn, 2.2-mile road course. A promoter’s practice will be held at the raceway on Thursday, May 12.

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Mat Mladin and American Honda’s Miguel Duhamel won the Superbike events at last year’s doubleheader weekend in the Sonoma Valley. Duhamel holds the record for career Superbike victories at Infineon Raceway with five.

Testing will place from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. both days (March 17-18).

Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix

2005 Entry List

125cc class -        

6        Joan Olive        SPA        Aprilia        Nocable.it Race       

7        Alexis Masbou        FRA        Honda        Ajo Motosport       

8        Lorenzo Zanetti        ITA        Aprilia        Fontana Racing       

9        Toshihisa Kuzuhara        JPN        Honda        Angaia Racing       

10        Federico Sandi        ITA        Honda        Angaia Racing       

11        Sandro Cortese        GER        Honda        Kiefer – Bos – Castrol Honda       

12        Thomas Lüthi        SUI        Honda        Elit Grand Prix       

14        Gabor Talmacsi        HUN        KTM        Red Bull KTM GP125       

15        Michele Pirro        ITA        Malaguti        Malaguti Reparto Corse       

16        Raymond Schouten        NED        Honda        Arie Molenaar Racing       

18        Nicolas Terol        SPA        Derbi        Caja Madrid – Derbi Racing       

19        Alvaro Bautista        SPA        Honda        Seedorf RC3 – Club Tiempo Holidays       

22        Pablo Nieto        SPA        Derbi        Caja Madrid – Derbi Racing       

25        Dario Giuseppetti        GER        Aprilia        AB Cardion Blauer USA       

26        Vincent Braillard        SUI        Aprilia        Road Racing Team Hungary       

28        Jordi Carchano        SPA        Aprilia        MVA Aspar Team       

29        Andrea Iannone        ITA        Aprilia        Abruzzo Racing Team       

31        Sascha Hommel        GER        Malaguti        Malaguti Reparto Corse       

32        Fabrizio Lai        ITA        Honda        Racing World       

33        Sergio Gadea        SPA        Aprilia        Master Aspar Team       

35        Raffael de Rosa        ITA        Aprilia        Matteoni Racing       

36        Mika Kallio        FIN        KTM        Red Bull KTM GP125       

41        Alex Espargaro        SPA        Honda        Seedorf RC3 – Club Tiempo Holidays       

43        Manuel Hernandez        SPA        Aprilia        Totti Top Sport – 3C       

44        Karel Abraham        CZE        Aprilia        AB Cardion Blauer USA       

45        Imre Toth        HUN        Aprilia        Road Racing Team Hungary       

47        Angel Rodriguez        SPA        Honda        Galicia Team       

52        Lukas Pesek        CZE        Derbi        Metis Racing Team       

54        Manuel Poggiali        RSM        Gilera        Metis Racing Team       

55        Hector Faubel        SPA        Aprilia        Master Aspar Team       

58        Marco Simoncelli        ITA        Aprilia        Nocable-it Race       

60        Julian Simon        SPA        KTM        Red Bull KTM GP125       

63        Mike di Meglio        FRA        Honda        Racing World       

71        Tomoyoshi Koyama        JPN        Honda        Ajo Motosport       

75        Mattia Pasini        ITA        Aprilia        Totti Top Sport – 3C       

84        Julian Miralles        SPA        Aprilia        MVA Aspar Team       

250cc class –
       
1        Daniel Pedrosa        SPA        Honda        Telefonica Movistar Honda 250cc       

5        Alex de Angelis        RSM        Aprilia        MS Aprilia Italia Corse       

6        Alex Debon        SPA        Honda        Wurth Honda BQR       

7        Randy de Puniet        FRA        Aprilia        Aprilia Aspar Team 250cc       

8        Andrea Ballerini        ITA        Aprilia        Abruzzo Racing Team       

9        Hugo Marchand        FRA        Yamaha        Team UGT Kurz       

12        Frederik Watz        SWE        Yamaha        Team UGT Kurz       

14        Anthony West        AUS        KTM        Red Bull KTM GP250       

15        Roberto Locatelli        ITA        Aprilia        Carrera Sunglasses – LCR       

17        Steve Jenkner        GER        Aprilia        Nocable.it Race       

19        Sebastian Porto        ARG        Aprilia        Aprilia Aspar Team 250cc       

20        Gabriele Ferro        ITA        Fantic        Scuderia Fantic Motor GP       

21        Arnaud Vincent        FRA        Fantic        Scuderia Fantic Motor GP       

24        Simone Corsi        ITA        Aprilia        MS Aprilia Italia Corse       

25        Alex Baldolini        ITA        Aprilia        Campetella Racing       

27        Casey Stoner        AUS        Aprilia        Carrera Sunglasses – LCR       

28        Dirk Heidolf        GER        Honda        Kiefer – Bos – Castrol Honda       

32        Mirko Giansanti        ITA        Aprilia        Matteoni Racing       

34        Andrea Dovizioso        ITA        Honda        Team Scot       

36        Martin Cardenas        COL        Aprilia        Aprilia Team Germany       

38        Gregory Leblanc        FRA        Aprilia        Equipe GP de France – Scrab       

44        Taro Sekiguchi        JPN        Aprilia        Campetella Racing       

48        Jorge Lorenzo        SPA        Honda        Fortuna Lotus Honda       

50        Sylvain Guintoli        FRA        Aprilia        Equipe GP de France – Scrab       

55        Yuki Takahashi        JPN        Honda        Team Scot       

57        Chaz Davies        GBR        Aprilia        Aprilia Germany       

64        Radomil Rous        CZE        Honda        Wurth Honda BQR       

73        Hiroshi Aoyama        JPN        Honda        Telefonica Movistar Honda 250cc       

80        Hector Barbera        SPA        Honda        Fortuna Lotus Honda       

96        Jakub Smrz        CZE        Honda        Arie Molenaar Racing       

MotoGP class –
       
3        Max Biaggi        ITA        Honda        Repsol Honda Team       

4        Alex Barros        BRA        Honda        Camel Honda       

5        Colin Edwards        USA        Yamaha        Gauloises Yamaha Team       

6        Makoto Tamada        JPN        Honda        Konica Minolta Honda       

7        Carlos Checa        SPA        Ducati        Ducati Marlboro Team       

10        Kenny Roberts        USA        Suzuki        Team Suzuki MotoGP       

11        Ruben Xaus        SPA        Yamaha        Fortuna Yamaha Team       

12        Troy Bayliss        AUS        Honda        Camel Honda       

15        Sete Gibernau        SPA        Honda        Team Movistar Honda MotoGP       

21        John Hopkins        USA        Suzuki        Team Suzuki MotoGP       

24        Toni Elias        SPA        Yamaha        Fortuna Yamaha Team       

27        Franco Battaini        ITA        Blata        Blata WCM       

33        Marco Melandri        ITA        Honda        Team Movistar Honda MotoGP       

44        Roberto Rolfo        ITA        Ducati        D’Antin MotoGP       

46        Valentino Rossi        ITA        Yamaha        Gauloises Yamaha Team       

56        Shinya Nakano        JPN        Kawasaki        Kawasaki Racing Team       

65        Loris Capirossi        ITA        Ducati        Ducati Marlboro Team       

66        Alex Hofmann        GER        Kawasaki        Kawasaki Racing Team       

67        Shane Byrne        GBR        Proton KR        Team Roberts       

69        Nicky Hayden        USA        Honda        Repsol Honda Team       

77        James Ellison        GBR        Blata        Blata WCM       

Troy discusses the preseason tests and his adaptation to the Camel Honda team

Troy Bayliss is generally recognised as a friendly, easy-going character in the paddock and an aggressive and determined competitor on the track, a true warrior who gets the most out of his talent in a race, more than in qualifying or testing. Last year, at the end of a difficult season which saw himself and his team-mate Loris Capirossi struggle with a bike which had been taken down a less-than-perfect path of development, the former World Superbike Champion signed off with a superb podium at Valencia, demonstrating the tenacity he had needed to gradually improve the set-up of his Ducati.

Having moved from SBK to MotoGP two years ago, the switch to Camel Honda at the end of 2004 signals another decisive point in his career, which for Troy is another major source of motivation:

“For me the switch from Ducati to Honda is a bigger change than coming from Superbikes to MotoGP”, commented the Australian before departing for Qatar, where he will begin three days of tests tomorrow. “But it is a challenge which I am ready to take on and it gives me a lot of motivation.”

“Occasionally it’s still a bit of a strange feeling because at the end of the day Honda has been the rival bike for such a long time,” he continued. “But the team is fantastic and we’re already getting a good rapport going. There’s a really good team spirit not just with Sito, Santi, Ramon and my mechanics but also with Alex and his team. It’s incredible how hard everybody is working to help me find a better feeling with the bike, which is still a fast machine capable of winning races, as the lap times of my factory colleagues have shown and the times I set myself in Spain at the end of 2004. The first stage of our preseason preparations has definitely had high and low points, with great results at Jerez and a few too many difficulties at Sepang. But Malaysia has never been one of my favourite tracks and things went a lot better the following week at Phillip Island.”

Troy admits that he has to improve several areas of the set-up of the bike but he is ready to work with the team with the objective of being ready for the first race of the season and remains positive as he continues his learning period.

“At the end of the day the season starts at Jerez, where we looked strong, whilst Malaysia is towards the end of the season and we will have had a lot of time to get ready for that race,” he smiles.

The Camel Honda team will be back on track at the Losail circuit in Qatar alongside several other top MotoGP teams for three days of tests starting tomorrow.

“I can’t wait,” says Bayliss. “I want to complete as many kilometres as possible and continue the work we started in Australia. We won’t make major changes to the set-up but we’ll just keep going step by step, trying to find a good rhythm and improving the feeling, working on the electronic management system and the suspension. Qatar is a strange circuit where I haven’t ridden much and where we have very few references. The Superbikes have just raced there so the track might not be too dirty but you never know, it only takes a bit of wind to blow sand onto the track. Anyway, it’s good to be able to test there.”

Finally, Troy commented on the new rules in MotoGP, which will see quite a few changes next season.
“I’m not convinced by the new flag-to flag rule in case of rain but, as far as I’m concerned, I think it’s a good idea to just have one qualifying session on a Saturday afternoon.  That way on a Friday we can concentrate solely on finding a good set-up for the bike and there’ll be more time for testing, without worrying about lap times”.

After the Qatar test and before the first IRTA sessions in Spain, Troy Bayliss, Alex Barros and the rest of the Camel Honda team will be in Italy on the 16th March for the official team presentation in Milan.

Harley-Davidson Motor Company and Jay Leno raised $800,100 for tsunami relief efforts through the eBay auction of a 2005 Road King, signed by Tonight Show guests. For the past several weeks, the motorcycle was on the set of The Tonight Show, and more than 60 celebrity guests signed it. A total of 219 bids were received for the motorcycle on eBay. David P. Steiner, CEO of Waste Management, Inc., was the winning bidder at $800,100 and all of the proceeds will go to support tsunami relief efforts.

Harley-Davidson donated the 2005 white Road King motorcycle as part of the Harley-Davidson Foundation Tsunami Relief Fund Effort, which will continue throughout 2005. Harley-Davidson has set a goal to raise $1 million, which will be donated to those relief agencies targeting the areas most heavily affected by the disaster.

The Foundation will match monies contributed to the fund by employees, dealers, suppliers and customers on a dollar-for-dollar basis, up to a total Foundation donation of $500,000. The Fund is being administered through U.S. Bank in Milwaukee, Wis. All contributions in excess of $250 will be acknowledged in writing by the Harley-Davidson Foundation for personal accounting/tax receipt purposes.

For more information, visit www.harley-davidson.com and click on the relief effort box.

ODENTON, MD. – The United States Grand Prix Riders Union
(USGPRU) released the calendar of events for the 2005 National Series.  As
with previous years, the 2005 Series is comprised of five East Coast and
five West Coast Regional races, with a final National Championship race. The
USGPRU will run both the 125GP and 250GP classes again in 2005.  Race and
event formats consist of timed qualifying sessions, 50 km GP-length races,
points to 25th place, and cash purses.

Racers will choose a home region to race in, and have the option of applying
one of their best out of region race points to the overall championship
series.

East Coast
Mar. 3-4                        Jennings GP - WERA (non points event)
Apr. 2-3                         Jennings GP - CCS Florida
June 24-26                    VIR - F-USA
July 19-21                     Mid Ohio - AMA Sports
Aug. 12-14                    Barber - F-USA
Sep. 10-11                    Autobahn South - FUSA

West Coast
Apr. 30 - May 1 Vegas Classic - CCS
June 25-26                    Portland - OMRRA
July 16-17                     Thunder Hill - AFM
Aug. 13-14                    Vegas Speedway Infield - WERA West
Sep. 24-25                    California Speedway Infield - WERA West

National Championship Finale
Oct. 1-2                        Texas World Speedway - CMRA

About USGPRU

The USGPRU is the officially recognized Motorcycle 125 Grand Prix National
Championship and 250 Grand Prix National Championship series.  The
USGPRU emulates true World MotoGP racing experience and serves to attract
young riders to gain experience in a professional environment and provide a
path to world-class motorcycle racing.  The USGPRU structures events with
extended length grand prix racing exclusive to the GP machines, timed
qualifying and strong contingency and sponsor support.  For additional
details, visit www.USGPRU.net