Copyright 2005, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Three-time AMA Champion Kurtis Roberts will ride for Parts Unlimited PJ1 Erion Racing Honda in the 2005 AMA Superbike series.

“He’s going to race Superbike and most likely the Daytona 200 in Formula Xtreme. Then Superbike only after that,” Team Owner Kevin Erion told Roadracingworld.com Tuesday at Daytona.

Roberts, who is acting as his own manager, accepted Erion’s offer with a telephone call Monday evening.

Like American Honda is doing in 2005, Erion Honda will start with “kit” bikes.

“We’ll start with kit bikes,” confirmed Erion. “We’ll be starting with a higher platform than we’ve ever started with before, and we have all the vendors and parts people ready to go. It’ll be a challenge for sure. It won’t be easy, but I think it’s going to be fun and we’re excited about it.”

Erion Honda Crew Chief Rick Hobbs will continue to oversee the entire team, but additional staff will be hired before the start of the season.

Copyright 2005, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Five-time and current AMA Superbike Champion Mat Mladin was the fastest rider for the second straight day during a three-day, multi-team tire test at Daytona International Speedway, but the 32-year-old Australian ended his day Tuesday with a crash into a trackside barrier and a ride to the hospital.

Mladin ran a 1:40.309 to lead all times Tuesday, but he suffered a rare crash at approximately 4:00 p.m. local time while testing tires on his 2005 GSX-R1000 Superbike. Mladin’s friend Jason Pridmore was an eyewitness to the entire incident.

“Out of that left (new turn five), he was getting on the throttle,” Pridmore told Roadracingworld.com. “He was getting on it, getting on it. It looked like it just spun up and flicked him up, about midway between the two turns. He kind of came down on top of it, kind of saved it, but by that time he was going so fast, he was way, way past any point of braking. He kind of came down on top of it, had no control over it and was in the grass. The bike started snapping to the left. I thought it was going to highside him, but he jumped off. And when he jumped off, he just continued across the track and right into that wall, right into the barrier. The bike went up and over the (spectator) fence. It was resting in the fence. He went (tumbling) into that barrier where all the haybales and that stuff are.”

Not knowing if there were any safety workers in the area, Pridmore rode to Mladin’s aid. “I’m not a doctor, I guess I could almost be a doctor with all the injuries I’ve had,” joked Pridmore, “but it looked like he probably hit his head. He was moving all of his extremities. He was moving around a little bit. He unzipped his leathers, took his chest pad out so he could breathe a little bit. He got the wind knocked out of him pretty heavily.

“They transported him straight to Halifax (Medical Center). He took a pretty heavy hit. He was probably doing 80 mph when he went into that thing, I would say.”

Crew Chief Peter Doyle said Mladin went into the barrier feet-first and was complaining of pain in his lower left leg.

As Yoshimura Suzuki was packing up to leave the racetrack at 6:00 p.m., the mandatory time that everyone must leave the facility, Mladin had not yet been seen by a doctor at the hospital.

Hal’s Performance Advantage Buell’s Mike Ciccotto also crashed Tuesday afternoon in the chicane. According to his team, Ciccotto “hurt” his right hand and suffered a concussion but did not go to the hospital. Ciccotto’s teammate Dan Bilansky crashed without injury Tuesday morning.

Mladin’s teammate Ben Spies nearly matched the senior rider’s best time with a 1:40.411 on his GSX-R1000 Superbike. Mladin’s other teammate Aaron Yates focused on his GSX-R1000 Superstock racer until the bike died while he was going for a fast time in the closing stages of the day. Still, Yates gave a glowing report of his new GSX-R1000.

Brit Neil Hodgson was third-fastest Tuesday with a 1:41.151 on his Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin 999 Superbike. Hodgson said he was much more comfortable than on Monday and spent his time Tuesday trying to get a good balance with his Ducati and build his relationship with his new team.

American Honda’s Jake Zemke turned a 1:41.386 on his Showa-suspended CBR1000RR, good enough for the fourth-fastest time Tuesday afternoon. Zemke’s teammate Miguel Duhamel said he lowered his best Formula Xtreme lap time Tuesday by installing Ohlins suspension, but didn’t see as much success with Ohlins components on his CBR1000RR Superbike. Duhamel was ninth-fastest overall Tuesday afternoon with a 1:42.134 on his Superbike.

Jason DiSalvo was the fastest man on both his factory Yamaha YZF-R6 Supersport bike and his Graves Yamaha YZF-R1 Superstock machine Tuesday. Riding his YZF-R1, DiSalvo turned a 1:41.498 on his last lap of the day and was fifth-fastest overall.

The test will conclude on Wednesday.

Tuesday Afternoon’s Best Lap Times (as supplied by AMA Pro Racing):

1. Mat Mladin, Suz GSX-R1000 Superbike, 1:40. 309
2. Ben Spies, Suz GSX-R1000 Superbike, 1:40.411
3. Neil Hodgson, Duc 999F05 Superbike, 1:41.151
4. Jake Zemke, Hon CBR1000RR Superbike, 1:41.386
5. Jason DiSalvo, Yam YZF-R1 Superstock, 1:41.498
6. Eric Bostrom, Duc 999F05 Superbike, 1:42.026
7. Damon Buckmaster, Yam YZF-R1 Superstock, 1:42.117
8. Miguel Duhamel, Hon CBR1000RR Superbike, 1:42.134
9. Aaron Yates, Suz GSX-R1000 Superstock, 1:42.479
10. Steve Rapp, Suz GSX-R1000 Superstock, 1:42.540
11. Jason Pridmore, Suz GSX-R1000 Superstock, 1:42.571
12. Tommy Hayden, Kaw ZX-10R Superstock, 1:42.708
13. Vincent Haskovec, Suz GSX-R1000 Superstock, 1:42.719
14. Josh Hayes, Kaw ZX-10R Superbike, 1:42.945
15. Aaron Gobert, Yam YZF-R1 Superstock, 1:43.547
16. Roger Lee Hayden, Kaw ZX-10R Superstock, 1:44.035
17. Miguel Duhamel, Hon CBR600RR Formula Xtreme, 1:44.602
18. Michael Barnes, Yam YZF-R6 Supersport, 1:44.955
19. Aaron Gobert, Yam YZF-R6 Supersport, 1:45.101
20. Geoff May, Suz GSX-R600 Supersport, 1:45.169
21. Damon Buckmaster, Yam YZF-R6 Supersport, 1:45.228
22. Matt Lynn, Suz GSX-R1000 Superbike, 1:46.673
23. Alex Gobert, Hon CBR600RR Formula Xtreme, 1:46.847
24. Mike Ciccotto, Buell XB12R Formula Xtreme, 1:46.906
25. Ben Attard, Kaw ZX-6RR Formula Xtreme, 1:47.741
26. Matt Lynn, Suz GSX-R1000 Superstock, 1:48.023
27. Taylor Knapp, Yam YZF-R6 Supersport, 1:49.723
28. Dan Bilansky, Buell XB12R Formula Xtreme, 1:55.574

From a press release issued by Harley-Davidson:

HARLEY-DAVIDSON ANNOUNCES “OPERATION EXTEND THE RIDE”

Harley-Davidson and Buell Extend Warranty Coverage for Deployed Military Personnel in Middle East

MILWAUKEE, WI – Harley-Davidson Motor Company and Buell Motorcycle Company recently announced the implementation of “Operation Extend the Ride,” a plan to extend warranty coverage to military personnel deployed in support of operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

“Men and women from around the world have made great personal sacrifices to serve their countries during military efforts in the Middle East,” said Steve Phillips, Vice President of Quality, Reliability and Technical Service. “Harley-Davidson and Buell want to recognize these military personnel by extending the warranty on Harley-Davidson and Buell motorcycles owned by those who have served and been unable to ride while they were on duty.”

The program will apply to owners of Harley-Davidson and Buell motorcycles who are coalition military personnel from any country deployed to an area controlled by CENTCOM, or deployed in support of coalition operations in the Middle East from November 1, 2001 and on. If their motorcycle is under warranty, Harley-Davidson and Buell will provide an extension of the factory warranty for the number of days they were deployed to account for the balance of the remaining warranty period. If the warranty on any of their Harley-Davidson or Buell motorcycles expired while they were deployed in the designated areas, Harley-Davidson will offer additional warranty coverage for a period of time equal to the length of their deployment, but not to exceed the original factory warranty period.

Harley-Davidson and Buell owners who believe they are eligible for Operation Extend the Ride should see their local dealer upon return from deployment. Service men and women will need to provide the dealer with a copy of their orders or a signed statement from their Commanding Officer that specifies the period of time for which they were involved in active duty.

Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company for the group of companies doing business as Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Buell Motorcycle Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services. Harley-Davidson Motor Company produces heavyweight street, custom and touring motorcycles and offers a complete line of motorcycle parts, accessories, apparel and general merchandise. Buell Motorcycle Company produces sport motorcycles in addition to motorcycle parts, accessories and apparel. Harley-Davidson Financial Services, Inc. provides wholesale and retail financing and insurance programs to Harley-Davidson/Buell dealers and customers.

Copyright 2005, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Former AMA Supercross, motocross and Supermoto Champion Jeff Ward, 43, will test an Erion-Racing-prepared Honda CBR600RR Formula Xtreme bike Wednesday at the AMA team test at Daytona International Speedway. He is working on a deal to race a Honda in the 2005 Daytona 200 by Arai, which he hopes will improve his pavement skills for Supermoto racing.

“It’s just going to help me out with the Supermoto stuff, because a lot of these Europeans are coming over. Boris Chambon is the brother of a road racer. Those guys have more experience (on the pavement). So hopefully this will help give me a little more insight into tire wear and bike set-up. And it will be good publicity for the (Troy Lee Designs) team,” Ward told Roadracingworld.com Tuesday at Daytona. “I’m just looking to have a good time. I don’t want any pressure. I’m coming in here, and on the Internet it’s already saying can I win Daytona? ‘Ward’s won everything else, can he win Daytona?’ I’m just going to have fun and stay out of the way.”

Ward, who won an Indy Racing League car race in 2002 and finished in the top-four of the Indianapolis 500 four times during his 10-year auto racing career, said he has absolutely no experience with a road race bike on a road race track but plans to attend a Freddie Spencer “Pro school” and train on an ex-Miguel Duhamel CBR600RR prior to the Daytona 200 in March.

Ward said he has also raced in the Rolex 24-hour car endurance race on the infield road course at Daytona, before quickly pointing out that he knew the motorcycles will run a different course.

Copyright 2005, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Former Canadian Superbike Champions Steve Crevier and Francis Martin will race in the full AMA Superbike series in 2005.

“Diablo (Paintballs) wants to do the AMA series. They want to branch out in America and get more exposure,” Crevier told Roadracingworld.com Monday at Daytona International Speedway. Crevier rode for Diablo Suzuki for the past two Canadian Superbike seasons. “We’re going to focus on the AMA Superbike class. We’re gonna have a hard time, but we’re gonna try.”

Crevier said the team’s program had not been finalized at post time, but he said he hoped to be riding Suzuki GSX-R1000s on Dunlop tires again in 2005.

From a press release issued by Clear Channel Motorsports:

MICHAEL JORDAN MOTORSPORTS ANNOUNCES 2005 RACE TEAM

Team Adds Suzuki Sponsorship and Will Debut at Daytona Dunlop Tire Test

(January 3, 2005, Aurora, IL) — Michael Jordan Motorsports / Suzuki today announced that riders Jason Pridmore, Steve Rapp and Montez Stewart will compete on Suzuki GSXR 1000 motorcycle road race equipment for the 2005 American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Superbike Series.

The riders will concentrate on two classes of racing. Pridmore will focus on both the AMA series 1000cc Superbike and 1000cc Superstock feature classes, with Rapp and Stewart focusing on the Superstock class. Rapp and Stewart are also scheduled to appear in the Superbike class with Superstock equipment throughout the season. All riders will compete using new 2005 Suzuki GSXR 1000 machines prepared by Gemini Technology Systems.

Primary sponsorship for the Michael Jordan Motorsports team will come from the Jordan Brand. Other major team sponsors include Suzuki Motor Company, Yoshimura R&D, Gatorade, and Dunlop Tires, with more to be announced at a later date. Pete Mauhar of Gemini Technology Systems of Wisconsin will again manage the technical aspects of the team. Ammar Bazzaz of BPD (formerly with Yoshimura / Suzuki’s Mat Mladen) will also be assigned as team Superbike Crew Chief and attend to the technical data acquisition and electronic management systems. BPD will also provide the suspension maintenance for all 3 riders.

Racer Jason Pridmore, 35, is the 1997 AMA 750 SuperSport Champion, 2002 AMA Formula Extreme Champion, 2003 FIM World Endurance Champion, and is the founder of the STAR Motorcycle School. The 32-year old Rapp won 2 AMA Superstock races in 2003, with 5 more top-5 finishes. Montez Stewart, 30, raced for Michael Jordan Motorsports in 2004 and is the only returning rider for the team. Richie Alexander, 1998 AMA 750 Super Sport Champion and Pridmore’s fellow STAR School Instructor will also work with the team as the Superstock class Crew Chief overseeing all three Superstock machines, riders, and crew.

The Michael Jordan Motorsports team will attend the Dunlop Tire test with new Suzuki GSXR 1000 equipment at Daytona International Speedway from January 3-5, 2005. Pridmore, Rapp and Stewart will all attend the tests.

Legendary NBA star Michael Jordan formed Michael Jordan Motorsports in 2004 as a result of his passion for motorcycle racing. His mission is to bring a new level of excellence and style to the motorcycle racing industry.

Michael Jordan Motorsports race team operations are being managed by Clear Channel Motorsports, a division of Clear Channel Entertainment.

Copyright 2005, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Five-time AMA Superbike Champion Mat Mladin was the quickest rider Monday morning at the start of a three-day AMA team test at Daytona International Speedway, in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Riding his 2005 Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike, Mladin turned a 1:45.994 on the revised and shortened (from 3.56 miles to 2.95 miles) infield road course.

Asked what he thought of the revised course, Mladin told Roadracingworld.com, “I think it’s good because it gets rid of that one (west) banking over there. A few of the (new infield) turns are reasonably tight. My only real complaint about the new course is that last turn coming onto the back straight; it fires you straight at the wall.”

Mladin arrived at the test looking very fit and reported that he was approximately 12-14 pounds lighter than he was at the end of the 2004 race season. The intense Australian said he is on his way to a target weight in the high-160-pound range, the lightest he’s been in years.

Although the track was ready for action before 10:00 a.m. local time, few riders made laps Monday morning. Some Dunlop-supported riders said they were unable to go out on track Monday morning due to delays with their tires being mounted, and a brief rain shower at 11:45 a.m. forced everyone to take an early lunch break.

Teams present at the test include: Yoshimura Suzuki with Mladin, Aaron Yates and Ben Spies; Team M4 EMGO Suzuki with Vincent Haskovec and Geoff May; Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki with Jason Pridmore, Steve Rapp and Montez Stewart; Yamaha/Graves Yamaha with Aaron Gobert, Damon Buckmaster and Jason DiSalvo; Kawasaki with Tommy Hayden and Roger Lee Hayden; Attack Kawasaki with Josh Hayes and Ben Attard; Ducati Austin with Eric Bostrom and Neil Hodgson; American Honda with Miguel Duhamel and Jake Zemke; Erion Honda with Alex Gobert; Hal’s Performance Advantage Buell with Mike Ciccotto and Dan Bilansky; Team Embry’s Matt Lynn and privateers Taylor Knapp and Michael Barnes.

Yamaha/Graves Yamaha’s Jamie Hacking is not at Daytona due to complications with his still-broken collarbone, suffered in a crash in the middle of the 2004 season. Hacking is expected to have surgery at the hands of Dr. Arthur Ting this week to re-plate the collarbone, according to his team. Hacking should be ready to test in February.

Team M4 EMGO Suzuki, Hal’s Performance Advantage Buell, Lynn, Knapp and Barnes are riding on Pirelli tires. The rest of the riders present are using Dunlop rubber.

There were no Michelin representatives or Michelin-equipped riders at Daytona Monday morning.

Monday Morning’s Best Lap Times (as supplied by AMA Pro Racing):

1. Mat Mladin, Suz GSX-R1000 Superbike, 1:45.994
2. Miguel Duhamel, Hon CBR600RR Formula Xtreme, 1:49.674
3. Aaron Gobert, Yam YZF-R1 Superstock, 1:51.331
4. Damon Buckmaster, Yam YZF-R6 Supersport, 1:52.793
5. Jason DiSalvo, Yam YZF-R1 Superstock, 1:53.691
6. Mike Ciccotto, Buell XB12R Formula Xtreme, 1:54.603
7. Ben Spies, Suz GSX-R600 Supersport, 1:54.870
8. Alex Gobert, Hon CBR600RR Formula Xtreme, 1:57.552
9. Dan Bilansky, Buell XB12R Formula Xtreme, 1:57.863
10. Taylor Knapp, Yam YZF-R6 Supersport, 2:00.825

Copyright 2005, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The revised and shortened infield road course at Daytona International Speedway drew mixed reviews from the AMA racers who tried the new layout on Monday, the first day of a three-day multi-team test.

“It’s still Daytona. They just put a band-aid on a problem,” said Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki’s Jason Pridmore. “It won’t be any fun for fans to watch out there. It’s first gear on our bike (GSX-R1000), and I hear it’s even first gear on some of the 600s. They cured some problems with run-off area, but it’s mediocre at best.

“I’m always amazed how they can repave a track and still have bumps. There are huge bumps going onto the back straightaway.”

“It’s a little too tight for my liking,” said Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki’s Steve Rapp. “On the other hand, if it makes the tire situation safer, it’s good.”

“It doesn’t feel like Daytona,” said Yamaha/Graves Yamaha’s Jason DiSalvo. “It just feels weird. You don’t have ‘The Kink’ or the west horseshoe. Those were classic Daytona corners.”

“It’s OK,” said Kawasaki’s Roger Lee Hayden. “Some corners are fun. Some aren’t so good. It’s all a bit slick. Other than that, it’s another racetrack that I need to learn to get around better than everyone else.”

“It’s still one of those tracks that you show up, put up with it and leave, but it’s getting better,” said 2004 AMA Superstock Champion Aaron Gobert.

“It’s not so bad,” said Yoshimura Suzuki’s Aaron Yates. “I’m still just figuring out where to go on it. There are some lines I’d like to try, but it’s just too dirty right now and no one is going out there. The decreasing radius turns are tough, but it seems like there are some areas where you can make up some time if you’re willing to push it hard and if you’ve got a bike that flip-flops good.”

“I guess it’s an improvement from what we had to ride before,” said Attack Kawasaki’s Josh Hayes, “but it feels really narrow and there aren’t a lot of passing opportunities. It will change the way the race plays out. There will be a lot of ‘Follow the Leader,’ and you could lose a lot of time if you get caught behind a slower rider in the infield.”

Two riders, however, had much different opinions of the track due to their lack of experience with the venue.

“It’s pretty crazy. It’s a bit of a shock to the system,” said Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin’s Neil Hodgson. “I raced here 10 years ago, and I can’t remember it at all, it’s so different. I know they changed the track, but running around on the banking seems so fast, so bumpy, so out of control!

“I raced a Superbike, but I was only 21 and it was a privateer Ducati, an old 888, which probably had about 150 brake horsepower. Now we’re up to about 192 (horsepower). And the track must be bumpier because it hasn’t been paved in all that time. The bumps are horrendous.

“I watched the race on TV, and the banking looked easy. But it’s not! I wish everybody could experience what it feels like. A roller coaster ride is the best way to describe it, except one that is really scary.”

“Oh my gosh!” said Attack Kawasaki’s Ben Attard after riding his Formula Xtreme ZX-6RR around Daytona for the very first time. “It is the most scary thing I’ve ever done. I’d rather go meet a girl’s parents for the first time than do this.”

Copyright 2005, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Not only did basketball legend Michael Jordan bring his new, three-man AMA Superbike and Superstock team, Michael Jordan Motorsports Suzuki, to the three-day test session at Daytona International Speedway Monday, he also brought a few of his friends, including rock star Kid Rock and Chris Chelios, of professional hockey’s Detroit Red Wings, to see the sport up-close and in-person.

“We came to check out (Jordan’s) team,” Kid Rock, a.k.a. Robert Ritchie, told Roadracingworld.com. “I’m a big SPEED Channel race fan, generally NASCAR. I had a top fuel (drag racing) car. I did a car with Tony Stewart in the (NASCAR) Busch Series – me, Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart. I’ve been a NASCAR fan for years and speed, in general.”

Kid Rock, who rides “choppers” and motocross regularly and appeared in the major motion picture “Biker Boyz,” said he is looking to get involved in motorcycle road racing.

“I keep hearing about it,” said Kid Rock. “Mike’s (Jordan) pretty much got me sold on it. I’ve just got to check it out for myself now. TV doesn’t do any type of racing justice, I think.”

Copyright 2005, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

After a long partnership, Team Hammer, Inc., which races as Team M4 EMGO Suzuki (formerly Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki) in the AMA Superbike series, has ended its relationship with French tire manufacturer Michelin. The Alabama-based team will use Pirelli tires in 2005.

“We felt the need to make a change,” Team M4 EMGO Suzuki Crew Chief Keith Perry told Roadracingworld.com Monday at Daytona International Speedway. “Michelin in the U.S. has been behind us 100 percent, but they depend on getting that kind of support from France.

“We’ve been loyal Michelin users for 10-12 years, or whatever it is, and we wanted to stay with them, but we felt the kind of support we needed wasn’t there anymore.

“We are excited to be working with Pirelli, because they are excited to be working with us.”

Team M4 EMGO Suzuki will race with Vincent Haskovec and Geoff May in 2005. Both riders have had recent experience – and success – on Pirelli tires.