From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

DUCATI AND XEROX ANNOUNCE NEW WORLD SUPERBIKE PARTNERSHIP

Bologna (Italy), February 3rd, 2005 – Ducati Corse announced today that it will take part in the 2005 World Superbike Championship with a new title sponsor, Xerox. The announcement was made today during the international media launch of the team in the Ducati factory in Bologna, Italy.



The deal, which will initially run for two years, will see the team renamed Ducati Xerox Team. The partnership marks Xerox’s second year in World Superbike sponsorship. Xerox, who were introduced to the world of Superbike racing in 2004 with Stefano Caracchi’s satellite Ducati NCR team, are now aiming for the very top through their association with the Championship’s most successful protagonists.

The Ducati Corse factory team has dominated the sport in recent years, winning five of the last seven World Riders Championships. Ducati Xerox Team enters 2005 as the reigning champions in both Constructor and Rider Championships. Briton James Toseland and Frenchman Regis Laconi finished one-two last year with a total of 28 podium finishes including 10 race victories across the 11 round/22 race season.



Commenting on the sponsorship, Richard Wergan, Head of Marketing Communications for Xerox Europe said: “Ducati has a rich legacy of producing winning teams and bikes which perform to the highest standard. They also have a dynamic and unrivalled image, and so a Xerox partnership with a brand such as Ducati – both demonstrating technological innovation and high performance – is an extremely desirable one.

“World Superbikes is one of the most exciting and fastest growing motor sports in the world and sponsoring the number one team is highly appropriate for a market leader such as Xerox,” he said.

“World Superbike continues to be vitally important for Ducati and we have demonstrated that with our commitment over the years, even when the championship has been going through a less healthy period” declared Ducati Corse CEO Claudio Domenicali. “Now we are very pleased to welcome the return of our traditional competitors to the championship because it again offers us the possibility of showcasing our racing products against world-class opposition on a level playing-field.

“Racing is in Ducati’s DNA and World Superbike is essential for the development and evolution of our production bikes. When we race and win, we know that the spin-off from racing will eventually be felt throughout the entire Ducati production range.

“This year it gives me great pleasure to welcome the new partnership with Xerox, who become our new title sponsor. Xerox and Ducati are both leaders in their respective fields, both are internationally-renowned, highly successful and enthusiastic companies and we are sure that the new Ducati Xerox Team will be a force to contend with in the championship” he concluded.

The 2005 World Superbike Championship will be held over 12 rounds beginning in Doha, Qatar on February 26. The Championship will cross three continents before culminating at Magny Cours, France October 9. The first European race of the season will be at Valencia, Spain on April 24.

From a press release:

SPANISH SHAKEDOWN FOR WINSTON TEN KATE HONDA

The Winston Ten Kate Honda team today completed a three-day initial test at the Almeria circuit in southern Spain in preparation for this year’s World Superbike and World Supersport championships.

As well as being the first time the four-man team has taken to the track in its new Winston colours, the Almeria test also represented the first opportunity to test Ten Kate’s winter development of the Honda CBR1000RR and the new CBR600RR, which has been heavily revised for 2005.

Cold weather restricted testing time on both machines but Winston Ten Kate Honda team manager, Ronald ten Kate, declared himself happy with the three-day exercise.

“For the supersport team we have two new riders in Katsuaki Fujiwara and Sébastien Charpentier,” he said. “We also have some new mechanics and, of course, the new CBR600RR. All these new ingredients are mixing well together already.”

He continued: “We’ve worked hard on the CBR1000RR superbike over the winter, but it’s been evolutionary, rather than revolutionary. Last year was a development year with Chris Vermeulen but we were competitive towards the end of the season. I think that Chris and now Karl Muggeridge, who tested in November, have found that the overall package has been improved in certain key areas.

“We now head for two more days testing at Valencia,” concluded ten Kate, “where we already have some data on both bikes from last year. Hopefully the weather will be warmer and we will get a much clearer idea on how our preparations for the season are going.”

Copyright 2005, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Pikes Peak International Raceway is for sale but that will not impact motorcycle racing at the Fountain, Colorado speedway in 2005.

That’s the word from a track spokesman, who said racers and fans should expect “status quo” during this coming racing season.

More information will be posted as it becomes available.

Copyright 2005, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Mid-Ohio, Daytona and Loudon have each purchased additional soft barriers to deploy during motorcycle races.

Mid-Ohio bought about 800 linear feet of Airfence brand soft barriers previously owned by Dan Murphy’s company, which used the soft barriers during combined World Superbike and AMA Superbike races at Laguna Seca it promoted at Laguna Seca. The Airfence soft barriers purchased by the Lexington, Ohio racetrack include a mix of inflatable and non-inflatable Airfence Bike units.

Daytona bought about 500 linear feet of Alpina brand non-inflatable Defender soft barriers.

Loudon bought a container of Alpina Defender non-inflatable soft barriers; at post time, the linear feet figure of the Loudon purchase was not available.

From a press release issued by OzBike USA:

US MINIGP in collaboration with Infinity Group (www.infinitygpracing.com), OZBIKE USA, SAVA tires and Metrakit are stepping up their National mini road racing program in Central USA through CMRA (817-239-0739) with a $5000.00 contingency program. The monies will be paid through 3rd place for any riders aboard a Metrakit machine using specific equipment as required by USMINIGP.

The monies will be distributed as follows: $250.00, $150.00, $100.00 Any monies not distributed at any one of the ten races will roll over and be available for any CMRA license holder at the last race of the 2005 season in Oak Hill. For more details contact Cycle Imports at 305-889-1800 or visit www.minigp50cc.com

Copyright 2005, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Daytona 200 mileage record holder Rick Shaw (#79) is looking for a ride in the 2005 Formula Xtreme Daytona 200.

“This will be my final 200 after setting the all-time mileage record in 2003,” wrote Shaw in an e-mail to Roadracingworld.com. “This, hopefully, will give me the record for number of starts. If there is anyone interested in supporting this record-breaking event please call any time at cell 305-299-0079 or home 305-258-5234.”

In real life, Shaw is a police officer working in Miami-Dade County, Florida.

From a press release:

Great Lakes Mini-Motard Racing Series Set to Launch This Weekend

With the winter still ever present, the Great Lakes Mini-Motard Racing Series’ (GLMMRS) inaugural season begins February 6th at Kart 2 Kart (www.kart2kart.com), located in Sterling Heights, Michigan.

Kart 2 Kart, an indoor karting facility began hosting motorcycles in the form of pocketbikes not long ago. Within a few short weeks, a motard class began and quickly grew to over 20 guys and girls banging bars and having a blast while doing it. This prompted the beginning of GLMMRS; a race series focusing on one of the latest, most unique, and incredibly fun forms of racing; mini-motard racing. Based on the heavily popular CRF/XR-50, GLMMRS will be running 3 spec-classes featuring these bikes in a 6-round, 22-race series for bragging rights and big championship trophies.

What makes this form of racing great is that it’s for everybody. Road racers, dirt trackers, motocrossers, street riders, trail riders, young, old; everyone. People from every background of motorcyles can come and either drag a knee or their foot in an incredibly affordable adrenaline fix.

Honda East (www.hondaeasttoledo.com) headlines the sponsor list of GLMMRS; and the 88-Extreme class, along with Classic Honda (www.hondaminitrail.com) supporting the GLMMRS 50cc Superstock class. Ice Nine Choppers (www.iceninechoppers.com) will be sponsoring the GLMMRS Unlimited class, featuring heavily modified CRF/XR-50s along with the increasingly popular SDG, Xtreme 107, and Icon bikes.

With members from Indiana, Illinois and Ohio, GLMMRS looks to attract riders all over the Midwest. Make sure and have your bike ready for the first event. Medals, championship trophies, 3-4 races per event, endurance racing, random prize giveaways, along with clean racing at Kart 2 Kart’s top-notch indoor racing facility will make for a great time.

Additional information can be found at www.glmmrs.com.

GLMMRS 2005 Winter Schedule

Round One February 6th, 2005
Round Two February 20th, 2005
Round Three March 6th, 2005
Round Four March 20th, 2005
Round Five April 3rd, 2005
Round Six April 17th, 2005

Chase for the Championship. 22 races and 550 points up for grabs!

From a press release issued by Ducati Motor Holding:

NEW APPOINTMENTS AND RESTRUCTURING IN DUCATI MOTOR HOLDING

Bologna- Ducati Motor Holding, S.p.A. (NYSE: DMH, Borsa Italiana S.p.A: DMH), today defined a new organization structure in view of an internal reorganization of the company’s technical area.

Claudio Domenicali, in addition to his consolidated role of Ducati Corse Managing Director, is appointed to the position of Product Director. Domenicali will manage all the resources involved in strategic planning, development, marketing, design and product quality.

Gigi Mengoli is appointed Assistant Product Manager, a position that will see him involved in specific projects as well as giving precious support for Domenicali in his new job, advising him in the growth of the structure and the processes that will guide Ducati product development in the years to come. This is a significant role which will enable the company to maintain at Ducati’s disposal the vast experience and the passion of a historical figure like Mengoli, who will assist Domenicali in this exciting and difficult new challenge.

Mengoli will also take on the role of President of the Ducati Foundation, which will be formed with the aim of collecting, evaluating and spreading the history of Ducati: from the Museum to the technical archives; from restoration projects to theme exhibitions.

Filippo Preziosi, Ducati Corse Technical Director, takes on the new position of Ducati Corse Director General with the responsibility of managing all Ducati Corse operating activities, and will continue to report to Claudio Domenicali, Ducati Corse Managing Director.

These are major modifications that represent an important restructuring of the organization of Ducati and which will radically affect the company, employees, working processes and which change a series of consolidated working balances and methods.

“I am convinced that our new organization structure”, commented Federico Minoli, Chairman and Managing Director of Ducati Motor Holding, “will combine the wisdom and the unique nature of the technical solutions developed over the course of our history with the potential and the efficiency of a method today successfully applied within Ducati Corse and which I would like to become the future standard for the entire company.”

This restructuring is completed with the appointment of Cristiano Silei, who after two years spent as Director of Strategic Planning and Product Development, returns to the position of Commercial Director of Ducati Motor Holding, a role he successfully held from 1997 to 1998.

Founded in 1926, Ducati builds racing-inspired motorcycles characterized by unique engine features, innovative design, advanced engineering and overall technical excellence. Ducati has won thirteen of the last fifteen World Superbike Championship titles and more individual victories than the competition put together. The Company produces motorcycles in five market segments which vary in their technical and design features and intended customers: Superbike, Supersport; Monster, Sport Touring and Multistrada. The Company’s motorcycles are sold in more than 60 countries worldwide, with a primary focus in the Western European and North American markets. For more information about the Company, please visit our web site at http://www.ducati.com

From a press release issued by Gauloises Yamaha:

Santa Caterina, Italy

Wednesday 2 February, 2005

GAULOISES YAMAHA TEAM TAKES TO THE SNOW IN BORMIO



Gauloises Yamaha riders Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards swapped the racetrack for the snow today as they took to the slopes of Santa Caterina in the Italian Alps on Yamaha RX1 snowmobiles. The villages of Santa Caterina and Bormio are currently hosting the 2005 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, and Yamaha took the opportunity to bring the two sports together in spectacular style. After three days of testing in the heat of Sepang last week, the sub-zero temperatures on the slopes were something of a shock to the World Champion and his new team-mate, but both enjoyed the chance to show off for the press and the many fans who had gathered.

The press conference that preceded the on-slope activities was officially opened by the president of the Lombardia region of Italy, Roberto Formigoni, and the mayor of Valfurva, Idilia Antonioli.



Six-time World Champion Valentino Rossi, who will celebrate his 26th birthday this month, talked about his hopes for the 2005 Championship. “We are looking forward to another great season, last year was unforgettable for me and the entire team. It’s going to be really hard, but of course we will try to win again! The bike last year was good, but we came to the limit with its development and now Yamaha has made us a bike that is almost completely new. It’s already fast but of course there is more work to do on it. I think this will be a very exciting Championship; it’s clear Ducati have made some improvements and of course Biaggi and Gibernau will be competitive, so there is a big challenge for us!”

Rossi’s Texan team-mate Colin Edwards returns to Yamaha this year, having previously raced for the Japanese manufacturer in the World Superbike Championship. “I’m really glad to be back and it was an easy decision to make. It’s all going good so far and Valentino and the team already had the bike pointing in the right direction when I joined! This is my third different manufacturer in three years and of course any change to a new bike is always a challenge. But I’ve been searching for a bike that suits my style and I think that the Yamaha is it.”

Edwards is looking forward to the new addition to the MotoGP calendar in Laguna Seca this year and finally having the chance to ride in front of his home fans on a MotoGP bike. “I’m really excited about Laguna Seca; it should be a fantastic race with great fans, plus I get to spend more time at home!”

Gauloises Yamaha Team Director Davide Brivio spoke about the recent changes to Yamaha’s managerial structure, commenting, “There are big changes this year; Yamaha Motor Racing has moved from its previous home in the Netherlands to Yamaha Italia’s headquarters here in the Lombardia region of Italy. So now the administration and management of the Factory Team is all in one place.”

Brivio, who worked with Edwards in his World Superbike days, was enthusiastic about the American’s return. “We’re very pleased to welcome Colin back; he started with Superbikes in 1995 when he was very young and it was his first time away from the US! Now I think he’s ready to achieve the best possible results with us and we have a great team with him and Valentino.”

Going on to speak about the new bike and the task facing his team to have it ready for the first race in April, he said, “The 2005 version of the YZR-M1 is very different, it has had an engine redesign, although we still have an in-line four according to Yamaha’s philosophy. Yamaha has also changed the chassis and cowling and there are many other new details. Already we have made progress in the development of this new bike and we have five more tests to continue to improve, so we hope we will be ready.”

Rossi and Edwards, both keen snowboarders, were pressed to reveal their predictions for Sunday’s Men’s Downhill event, the finale of the World Ski Championships. Edwards stayed loyal to fellow countryman and top championship contender Bode Miller, and Rossi agreed with Edwards, joking, “Bode is very fast and I think, just this time, the Americans will beat the Italians!”