From a press release issued by Fuchs Kawasaki:

MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2004
MOTORRAD GRAND PRIX DEUTSCHLAND – SACHSENRING

FUCHS KAWASAKI: A POPULAR STOP ON THE MOTOGP PADDOCK TOUR

The Fuchs Kawasaki pit box was a popular place to visit during last weekend’s Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland, with the team playing host to riders from the German Red Bull Rookies Cup and Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Interior and Sports, Ute Vogt.

On Thursday evening, 19 riders from the German Red Bull Rookies Cup were given a guided tour of the Kawasaki Racing Team pit box by Team Coordinator, Michael Bartholemy. The tour also included the opportunity to watch the team’s mechanics preparing Shinya Nakano’s and Alex Hofmann’s Ninja ZX-RR machines for the following day’s opening practice session for the German Grand Prix.

Emanuel Buchner, one of the mechanics working as part of Alex Hofmann’s pit crew, then gave the Rookies a brief overview of the Ninja ZX-RR and an explanation of the role of the mechanics in the team, before wheeling one of Alex’s bikes out to the front of the pit box for the Rookies to be photographed on.

With the pit tour over, and many questions answered, the Rookies were escorted back to the Kawasaki Racing Team hospitality unit for dinner, where they had the chance to chat with Team Manager, Harald Eckl, and team riders, Shinya Nakano and Alex Hofmann.

“Firstly I’d like to thank the Mr. Eckl for the invitation, and for giving us the chance to meet Alex Hofmann and Shinya Nakano,” said 15-year-old Joshua Sommer, who won the Rookies race at Sachsenring and is currently leading the championship. “I was deeply impressed to see how much effort and money goes into running a factory MotoGP team, because my goal is to ride for such a World Championship team in the future. It was good to sit on Alex’s Ninja ZX-RR; it’s not as intimidating as I thought it was going to be. The food in the hospitality was delicious too!”

While most of the youngsters present were male, the Rookies Cup also boasts four regular female competitors. 18-year-old Jennifer Kaulbach finished sixth in the Sachsenring race – round four of the eight round Rookies Cup – and currently lies fourth in the championship standings.

“I was particularly impressed with the relaxed atmosphere in the team; I had expected it to be a lot more tense so close to a race weekend,” commented Jennifer, who was second in the Rookies Cup standings going into Sachsenring. “The mechanics and the riders seem to understand each other well and have a good working relationship. The mechanics were great and answered any technical questions about the bike that we had. I was especially interested in the thumb brake that Alex uses on his bike. It was great to get to sit on Alex’s bike, now I’d like to get the chance to actually ride it! We also got the chance to speak to Alex and Shinya. Alex told us about his fitness training and also gave us a few tips for the weekend. Altogether it was an exciting and interesting visit, so thank you to Mr. Eckl and the Kawasaki team.”

On Sunday, just before the MotoGP race, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Interior and Sports, Ute Vogt, visited the Fuchs Kawasaki pit box. Alex Hofmann was on hand to present the politician with an Alex Hofmann cap and a Kawasaki Racing Team shirt, before chatting about his chances in the German Grand Prix.

After wishing Hofmann the best of luck, Ms. Vogt was then given a guided tour of the Fuchs Kawasaki race transporters by Team Manager Harald Eckl, before heading off to join event organisers on the grid for the start of the MotoGP race.

Joining the Fuchs Kawasaki Racing Team at Donington Park for this weekend’s British Grand Prix will be the three young Kawasaki fans who won a ‘Design a Bike’ competition organised by Kawasaki dealer, Planet Bikes, and supported by both Kawasaki Motors UK and the Fuchs Kawasaki Racing Team.

Katherine Carter, the eight-year-old winner of the junior category, will be joined at Donington by the winner and runner up in the senior category, Connor Nowell and Jamie Allsop, both of whom are 11-years-of-age.

The three competition winners, who will be accompanied to Donington by their parents, will receive a guided tour of the Kawasaki pit and hospitality areas, as well as getting to show the team’s MotoGP riders, Alex Hofmann and Shinya Nakano, their winning bike designs. The three youngsters will then be kitted out in Kawasaki team wear before being escorted to the grandstand to watch the MotoGP race.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Butler Machinery’s Robert Jensen won the Suzuki World GSX-R Cup qualifying race at Mid-Ohio Wednesday afternoon, earning a spot as one of three Americans who will compete in the Suzuki World GSX-R Cup Finals.

Jensen led flag-to-flag in a four-rider breakaway that became a three-rider battle when Ben Attard crashed. Vesrah Suzuki’s Brian Stokes finished a close second with Motion Cycle Sport’s Ty Howard third.

The Suzuki World GSX-R Cup Final will be held October 13-17 at Road Atlanta, in conjunction with the WERA Grand National Finals.

Along with the slot in the World Cup Finals, Jensen also won an American Suzuki support deal for the 2005 racing season, including use of a new GSX-R750 and a parts budget.

Suzuki World GSX-R Cup Qualifying Race Results (all Suzuki GSX-R750 mounted):

1. Robert Jensen, 10 laps
2. Brian Stokes, -0.546 second
3. Ty Howard, -0.652 second
4. Logan Young, -14.253 seconds
5. Scott Greenwood, -15.352 seconds
6. Shawn Conrad, -16.449 seconds
7. Blake Young, -23.697 seconds
8. Jeff Muskopf, -29.248 seconds
9. Brian Hall, -30.581 seconds
10. Manual Garza, -59.838 seconds
11. Ben Attard, -71.436 seconds, crash
12. Phillip Lawlis, -4 laps, DNF
13. Ben Thompson, -8 laps, DNF

From a press release issued by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation:

Robert Gladden Appointed Project Manager for California Motorcyclist Safety Program (CMSP)

Irvine, Calif. – The Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) has announced the appointment of Robert Gladden as project manager for the California Motorcyclist Safety Program (CMSP). With over 60 authorized sites throughout California, CMSP is the largest motorcycle training program in the United States, and is expected to train an estimated 42,000 students in 2004. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) has contracted with the MSF to administer the CMSP for 2004/2005.

Gladden, a California native and lifelong motorcycling enthusiast, came to the MSF in 2001 to take the helm of the MSF DirtBike School, the MSF’s newest curriculum product at that time. His 14 years of industry experience includes sales, marketing, and management positions with Scotts Performance Products, Answer Products, and Acerbis USA.

As project manager for the California Motorcyclist Safety Program, Gladden’s responsibilities include fostering relationships with training sponsors; monitoring quality assurance and delivery systems; evaluating proposed site installations; directing program processes and administrative readiness; and managing general business aspects of the program.

The California Motorcyclist Safety Program is a hands-on, 15-hour training class for on-highway motorcycle riders offered by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation through a contract with the California Highway Patrol. Motorcycles are provided for the Basic RiderCourse. Training sites are located throughout the state.

For CMSP RiderCourse locations and information call (877) RIDE-411 or visit www.ca-msp.org

Since 1973, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) has set internationally recognized standards that promote the safety of motorcyclists with rider education courses, operator licensing tests, and public information programs. MSF works with the federal government, state agencies, the military, and others to offer training for all skill levels so riders can enjoy a lifetime of safe, responsible motorcycling.

MSF is a not-for-profit organization sponsored by BMW, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, Piaggio/Vespa, Suzuki, Vengeance, Victory, and Yamaha. For RiderCourse locations, call (800) 446-9227 or visit www.msf-usa.org

CALIFORNIA MOTORCYCLIST SAFETY PROGRAM
2 Jenner Street, Suite 150
Irvine, CA 92618-3806

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

According to series boss Colin Fraser, points leader Pascal Picotte predicted a second catastrophic Dunlop rear tire failure during a riders’ meeting held at Mosport, following Jeff Williams’ top-gear fall on Saturday of the double-header Canadian Superbike weekend.

True to Picotte’s prediction, the rear tire on Steve Crevier’s GSX-R1000 exploded during Sunday’s Superbike race, throwing him off his bike at an estimated 170 mph.

Riders encountered a rash of issues with Dunlop 17-inch slicks at Mosport, with Williams, Picotte and Crevier all pitting for new rear tires after encountering abnormal tire vibration during practice.

Race organizers were so concerned with Picotte’s prediction that they instructed Dunlop riders to install new tires during an early red-flag break in Sunday’s Superbike race. Although Crevier’s crew did that, his tire failed during the restarted race.

According to Fraser, the tires that failed are being sent to Dunlop R&D headquarters in England for analysis. Fraser told Roadracingworld.com that Dunlop officials have denied charges made by Canadian teams that the company has been selling rejected tires from the AMA series in Canada.

Bikes run in the Canadian Superbike Series are limited to 170 horsepower and are regularly checked on a mobile Dynojet dyno following qualifying and races. Crevier was docked 13 starting positions after qualifying at a previous round in Calgary, where his bike dynoed at 173.8 horsepower. Race organizers also use a radar gun to make sure top speeds reflect performance on the dyno.


See related post:

7/19/2004 Exploding Dunlops At Mosport Sent Crevier, Williams Down The Road At 170+ mph

From a press release issued by Honda Canada/Fast Company Racing:

HONDA CANADA/FAST COMPANY RACING

A pair of podiums

BOWMANVILLE, ON The Honda Canada/Fast Company racing team enjoyed its best outing of the 2004 Parts Canada Superbike Championship season as Jordan Szoke scored a pair of podium finishes at Mosport International Raceway last weekend.

The Brantford, ON rider took his Honda CBR1000RR to a second place finish in Sunday’s second Superbike race of the doubleheader weekend, while a day earlier he scored a third in the first of two Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike races.

Szoke had a fourth in the opening Superbike race at Mosport and ended the weekend second in the Parts Canada Superbike standings after five of eight events.

“I consider Mosport one of my favourite tracks,” said Szoke. “We were so close today. It’s sad we didn’t get it [the win].”

Szoke was race winner Pascal Picotte’s closest challenger on the CBR1000RR and was in front when a red flag halted action after seven of a scheduled 16 laps.

He didn’t get as strong a start when action resumed but fought his way up from fourth at the end of the opening lap to move into second two laps from the end.

Szoke is 89 points behind Picotte, 259-170 with three races remaining in the Parts Canada Superbike season but the CBR1000RR, which debuted this year is starting to show its abundant potential.

Teammate Andrew Nelson of Kars, ON had a ninth and a sixth in the two Superbike races on his Honda CBR1000RR. In the second race he took advantage of an excellent start after the red flag to run fifth after one lap, but was in a fierce five-way battle for the spot. He is now seventh in the Parts Canada Superbike standings with 121 points.

Szoke also challenged for the lead in the first Pro 600 Sport Bike race at Mosport and ran at the front for five of the 14 laps on his Honda CBR600RR before settling for third. Nelson, who had qualified second was forced out after only two laps with a rare mechanical problem.

On Sunday, Szoke and Nelson set the early pace in the wet conditions on the CBR600RR’s, with Nelson leading the first five laps. But as the track dried their rain tires started to wear and they slipped to sixth and seventh at the finish, Nelson ahead of Szoke.

Szoke is now fifth in the Pro 600 Sport Bike standings, just 15 points out of second, while Nelson is sixth.

The Honda Canada/Fast Company team will be back in action at Nova Scotia’s Atlantic Motorsport Park Aug. 6-8.



More, from a press release issued by Team Shoulder Check:

Team Shoulder Check’s Suzuki SV650 rider Rich Peillard rode to a gritty third place here in soggy Mosport, Ontario in Saturday’s Diablo SV Cup. Although the race ended with some controversy, nothing can take away from the brave wet weather riding which placed the #46 bike on the podium for the first time. Rich collected a total of 41 points this weekend which makes it his largest single weekend points total ever.

Sunday’s Amateur 600 National race also saw its fair share of rain. After the initial red flag stopping the race, excellent progress from a determined Pat Boyd, qualified 19th, put him as high as 9th midway into the race with conditions drying. A predominately dry track caused the #48 machine slip to 13th place but Boyd battled back in the last corner to capture 12th after a mistake by #40 Marco Sousa. Alan Burns (DNF) had to drop out of the race on lap 5 because the wet conditions proved too much for his DOT Michelin rubber. David Fong (DNQ) experienced a difficult weekend and did not race in the final.

Pat Boy (AM #48 Yamaha R6), twelfth
“After my 12th place finish at Mosport I’m finally coming to grips with the R6 and I’m expecting some great things at Mont Tremblant.”

Alan Burns (AM #113 Honda F3), DNF
“It was a tough weekend for me but I was confident after the Friday afternoon practice that I could put in some good times in qualifying. Unfortunately qualifying was cancelled and the organizers used the Saturday morning times. I was fast enough to make the field but I was going to be starting in the 9th row. On Sunday morning I worked on some passing lines and Drafting techniques in preparation for the race. I found some good lines that I could use for passing and I was looking forward to a good race on a dry track. When the skies opened up right before the start I knew it was going to be tough to keep up on the DOT tires. I was having a good race with the rider on the number 34 bike who was the only other person on DOTs. We were battling for 26th place when the rain tire equipped leaders came by. We decided it would be best to stay out of the way so we both pulled off. I’m looking for a better result this weekend at the RACE 25th anniversary round at Shannonville.”

David Fong (AM #28 Yamaha R6), DNQ
“We seemed to change everything through the weekend and I still didn’t feel comfortable. Even though I was riding better the set-up was still not quite right. What a shame. We’ve been having problems all through the weekend but we were hoping to have a strong qualifying. The rain delays cancelled qualifying so there was nothing left to do. We’ve just got to move on now to Tremblant.”

Rich Peillard (AM #46 Suzuki SV650), third & 18th
“I was lucky to make the correct tire decision prior to the start of the first race. This was one of the most fun races I have been part of. It was not until I came into the pits after the red flag that my team informed me of my position. The second race was difficult, I got a good start, but the inside line into turn 1 did not allow me to move up. I had some good battles with the riders that were around me. After making an error in turn 9 and 10, I lost one position as the last lap flag was displayed. I was able to regain that position in turn 5 and hold on for an 18th place finish. Thanks to everyone that helped me make this weekend a success.”

From a press release issued by Safety First Racing:

Safety First Racing is proud to report a successful raffle held Saturday, July 17th, to benefit the “Safety First” helmet program for kids.

The raffle was held in conjunction with a Customer Appreciation Day at Sportland Motorsports in Urbana, Illinois.

Safety First Racing owner, Kevin Hanson, gave his account of the day: “The day was a huge success. We had our new race hauler and Suzuki GSX-R1000 racebikes on display. Team rider, 16-year-old Jesse Janisch, drove down from Wisconsin and was present to sign autographs and visit with customers. Sam Selle, owner of Sportland Motorports, really went out of his way to make it a great day by giving away several door prizes, free food, and having a band play in the afternoon, on top of several financing and discounted promotions.”

The highlight of the day was the raffle drawing for a new Suzuki SV650S, an AMA Road Atlanta trip and a new Suomy Helmet. Winners included:

1st prize–2004 Suzuki SV650S: The winner, Marcy McAnnally, a Champaign, Illinois State Farm agent, said her husband was extremely excited about getting a new motorcycle after she purchased the winning ticket.

2nd prize–airfare, hotel, crew passes for 2 at AMA Road Atlanta round: The winner, Champaign Police Lieutenant Holly Nearing, actually donated the prize to a co-worker and her 11-year-old son who is a huge motorcycle fan and has never been to a motorcycle race.

3rd prize–Suomy Spec 1R helmet: The winner, Derrick Cantrell, stated that he saw a post about the raffle on Roadracingworld.com and just wanted to make a donation to the “Safety First” program.

Safety First Racing would also like to thank the following sponsors of the raffle for all of their help: American Suzuki, Suomy, Champaign Cops for Kids, 1-800 Motorcycle, Sportland Motorsports and Parts Unlimited.

From a press release:

VP RACING ADDS TO SALES & TECH SUPPORT STAFF FOR ATLANTIC REGION

NEWARK, DE (July 21, 2004) – VP Racing Fuels, Inc., an industry leader in the production and distribution of racing fuels and other performance products, named Mike Farr as a Sales Representative, based out of VP’s Delaware office. Farr will join the Sales & Technical Support Staff in VP’s Atlantic region, which includes Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Eastern Ohio, Ontario and Quebec.

Farr has been involved with motorsports his entire career, primarily as a service and sales representative for two major shock absorber manufacturers – Carrera and Pro Shocks. With an emphasis on dirt and asphalt circle track racing during his 20+ year career, Farr has been involved with many notable racers and racing teams, including Bobby Allison, Jeff Gordon, Alan Kulwicki and Dale Earnhardt, as well as Scott Bloomquist, Chub Frank, Donnie Moran, Jackie Boggs and many others. “Mike will be a tremendous resource to our Atlantic region customers due to his vast knowledge of the racing industry,” said Jim Kelly, Regional Manager for VP’s Atlantic region. “Mike is one of the most respected manufacturer reps in the business with a reputation for success through hard work . And like many of his colleagues here at VP, he himself was, and is, a racer. So he knows the sport and the business of racing and will be a real asset to our customers in helping them determine the best fuel and other VP performance products for their respective applications.”

Farr began drag racing as a teenager in northern Pennsylvania, gradually moving to oval track racing in the Sportsman division. “They were almost like a Late Model–a Late Model chassis with no front on it, like an IMCA Modified,” explained Farr. “I drove the Sportsman for two years then jumped into a DIRT Modified and drove that at Sharon and Raceway 7.” Farr continued to race competitively until the mid 80’s when he began his career as a manufacturer’s representative. His current racing efforts are primarily recreational.

Farr has received many honors during his career, including the “All-Star Circuit of Champions Dirt Late Model Appreciation Award” in 1987; the 1995 “Man of the Year Award” from the Renegade Dirt Car Racing Series; and in 2003, he was nominated for the Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame in the “Lifetime Achievement” category.

“I’m very excited to be coming on board with VP Racing,” exclaimed Farr. “VP has a reputation for manufacturing the best racing fuels in the industry, and as a long-time VP customer myself, it’s much easier to represent a product I truly believe in.”

The official fuel of NHRA Championship Drag racing, VP Racing has fueled champions in virtually every racing category and class — from drag racing and circle track to motocross, off-road, off-shore and even airplane racing. Throughout its 29-year history, VP Racing has earned a reputation for producing high quality racing fuels with superior power and consistency – as illustrated by the NHRA Pro Stock Champions who have made VP their fuel of choice for 27 consecutive years, a record unmatched by any major sponsor in the industry. In addition to fuels, VP’s product line includes synthetic oils, 2-cycle lubricants, performance chemicals, traction compounds and racing-related accessories – each designed to produce the most power and best performance in their respective racing applications. More information can be obtained from VP’s website – vpracingfuels.com.

From a press release issued by Camel Honda:

British GP – MotoGP

Two wins in two races for Camel Honda team

Last Sunday, barely two weeks after the success of Makoto Tamada in Rio, the Camel Honda team celebrated another victory, this time by Max Biaggi at the Sachsenring, before moving on to Great Britain with the satisfaction of being the the only team in MotoGP to have won with both riders at the halfway point in the championship. After the big handshake with which Max congratulated Makoto on the lap of honour in Brazil, in Germany it was the turn of the Japanese rider to race to hug his team-mate underneath the podium, joining the whole team in its moment of joy. The season continues non-stop however, and the team are already thinking about the challenging, ‘two-faced’ Donington Park circuit. The challenge of the British track lies in its peculiar design, the fast and flowing first part is then undone by the slow second-half which culminates in a series of near-180º corners.

Sito Pons – Camel Honda (Team Principal)
“After the last two splendid races for our team, the world championship is in the balance. We have to remain 100% concentrated so we maintain our competitive level for the second, crucial half of the season. Max is going through his best phase as a Honda rider and with our team, and that’s so important as we prepare to tackle the decisive second part of the year. Makoto has also developed superbly and his results have contributed greatly to the teams championship standings. I’m sure that the pair will continue to provide a lot more satisfaction in the weeks to come.

Max Biaggi #3: (Michelin Tyres)
“The German race was brilliant, and so important too, but now it’s a time to be looking forward. This championship is living up to all expectations and is as hard-fought as ever. This means it is important to keep our feet on the ground, and continue to work calmly and meticulously on our next objective. At the end of the day, all these races in quick succession haven’t bothered me, because they have given those riders that have made mistakes or have had bad luck to make up for it straight away, whilst those that have gone well can keep their rhythm going. Donington is a track I like quite a bit, but to be fair all the tracks are fantastic when you manage to get the bike working as you want it to. That’s why the first aim as ever will be to get the set-up even better than in the last two races, where thanks to the great work done by the team and by Honda, this has been achieved successfully.”

Luca Montiron – Camel Honda (Makoto Tamada Team Manager)
“Donington will be an important chance for us to see if we can get a good consistent performance out of the tyres at all the tracks. The front group was quite distant once again at Sachsenring, and even though this gap has been cut back since the beginning of the year, the hard work must continue. Makoto has already shown he is capable of winning, now we have to get him into a position where he can prove this once more.”

Makoto Tamada #6: (Bridgestone Tyres)
“I don’t like the Donington track too much, but that was also the case in Sachsenring and once I found a good set-up there it felt a lot better! This will probably be the case again in England. In the Germany race I enjoyed a good fight-back ride, but sixth place isn’t what I’m aiming for. The bike is going really well, if we can also get the tyres to be just as competitive, I’m certain that there will be a lot more tracks that I will enjoy more.”