Copyriught 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Saturday was a rare perfect day at Willow Springs Raceway with temperatures reaching the 70s and no wind. However, Sunday of this WSMC race weekend dawned cold, with the ambient temperature at 34 degrees F when practice started at 8:00 a.m., and the wind kicking up at 9:00 a.m.

At post time, practice was delayed due to clean-up of an oil spill on the front straightaway and into turn one.

More to follow…

From a press release issued by Team Wurth Honda BQR:

Report on today´s second round of the Spanish Formula Extreme National Championship held on Sunday, November 21, 2004 at Jerez de la Frontera (Jerez, Spain)

Kenny Noyes Ninth in Spanish Formula Extreme in Jerez

Jose Luis Cardoso (Laglisse – d´Antin Yamaha R1), won his sixth consecutive Formula Extreme race today at Jerez de la Frontera in the final round of the 2004 Spanish National Championship season. The 29-year-old from Seville, a former 500 and 250 Grand Prix regular, had already clinched the title last week in Valencia and has also signed with the DFXtreme Yamaha team in the World Superbike Championship for 2005.

The top three places were swept by past and current GP riders, with former 250 GP rider David Tomas (Yamaha R1) taking second. José David de Gea (Honda CBR1000RR), current 250 GP and former MotoGP and 500 rider, just got the best of a scrap for third over Carmelo Morales (Suzuki GSX-R1000).

“This is what we needed to do,” said Cardoso. “At 29 years old a lot of people considered me finished and I knew it wouldn´t be enough just to win the title, I needed to win races and break records everywhere if I wanted to get back into the World Championship. I had a couple of 250 offers, but I´m a four-stroke rider now and I´m headed for World Superbike. When I was in the Grand Prix back when I was a teen-ager I didn´t really appreciate how lucky I was, but getting this chance to go back at this point in my career is really something I intend to make the most of.”

American Kenny Noyes (who is Spanish-born with American parents and actually holds dual American and Spanish nationalities) came back from 13th at the end of lap one on his Honda CBR1000RR to finish in the middle of a three-way scrap for eighth, just a bikelength back of another former GP regular, Josep Sardá (Kawasaki) and the same distance in front of three-time Spanish Supersport Champion José Oriol Fernández.

“I got a good start but lost a lot of time when there was a lot of fairing banging in turn one. Then it took me a couple of laps to get my pace back. At the end I caught Sardá and Fernández and was running the same pace as the guys fighting for fifth, but I was a little too conservative on the last lap because after four DNFs with a combination of crashes and bike problems I needed to finish this race on two wheels. I passed Sardá and Fernandez on the last lap but Sardá just got me back,” said the former Formula USA Pro Singles Dirt Track National Champion who has now completed three years in the premier Spanish National FX class and is considering a return to the U.S. to compete in the AMA National Series.

Cardoso´s race average of 149.489 kph (or 92.908 mph) would have placed him fifteenth in MotoGP in 2003 (the last time the Spanish GP was run at Jerez in the dry), just back of Colin Edwards on the Aprilia RS Cube and in front of Andrew Pitt on the factory Kawasaki and three other riders, Hofmann, Melandri and McCoy. In general the Spanish FX races now are being run at the speeds of the 500s of the Mick Doohan era–very fast for 375 pound production machines running under Superstock-type regulations compared to the old 285-pound two-strokes.

Michelin dominated the championship this season, using last year´s MotoGP 17 inch fronts and a new 17 inch rear based on MotoGP experience with the 16.5s. Dunlop, off the pace at mid-season, brought a new and very effective 17 inch rear to the final two races, but by then Cardoso and teammate Ivan Silva has already pulled out insurmountable points leads.

With World Superbike exclusively using Pirelli tires, both Dunlop and Michelin have concentrated their development in the British, American, Spanish and German production-based national championships.

Cardoso will test his new Yamaha DFXtreme at the World Superbike winter tests at Misano on November 29 and 30, his first opportunity to try the control Pirelli tires.

Noyes, a tester for Spain´s La Moto magazine, will have the opportunity to compare the championship-winning Yamaha R1, Morales´ GSX-R1000 Suzuki, Sardá´s Kawasaki ZX-10R, his teammate De Gea´s Honda CBR1000RR and the importer´s Ducati 999RS at Albacete on Wednesday, November 24.

“They wouldn’t let the magazine test until the season was over and then I had some minor wrist surgery to remove a screw from an old dirt track crash on Thursday, but I’m really looking forward to getting the feel of the Suzuki and the Yamaha on Michelin and the Kawasaki on Dunlop to see how they stack up against what de Gea and I had this year. You don’t often get a chance to ride your rivals’ bikes,” said Noyes.

Results Spanish National Formula Extreme
(Production-based machines up to 1000cc)

1. José Luis Cardoso (Yamaha R1-Michelin) 30´10.757

2. David Tomas (Yamaha R1-Michelin) 30´16.709

3. José David de Gea (Honda CBR100RR-Dunlop 30´20.340

4. Carmelo Morales (Suzuki GSX-R-Michelin) 30´20.342

5. Lucas Oliver Bultó (Suzuki GSX-R-Michelin) 30´23.855

6. Dani Ribalta (Yamaha R1-Michelin) 30´26.232

7. Ivan Silva (Yamaha R1-Michelin) 30´26.878

8. Josep Sardá (Kawasaki ZX-10R-Dunlop) 30’39.751

9. Kenny Noyes (Honda CBR1000RR-Dunlop) 30´39.914

10. José Oriol Fernández (Suzuki GSX-R-Dunlop) 30´40.140

11.Josep Monge (Yamaha R1-Dunlop) 30´42.604

12. Paco Ruiz (Yamaha R1-Dunlop) 30´53.839

13. Antonio Salom (Yamaha R1-Dunlop) 31´02.137

14. Victor Casas (Yamaha R1-Dunlop) 31´16.434

15. José Nion (Honda CBR1000RR-Dunlop) 31´16.989

total starters 36
finishers 31 (26 riders finished on lead lap)

Winner´s race average speed 94.244 mph (FX Record)
Pole: Cardoso 1´44.093 (FX Record)
Fastest lap: Cardoso 1´45,144 (FX Record)

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

CCS officials today confirmed that Mark Ledesma set a new motorcycle lap record for Chandler, Arizona’s Firebird International Raceway during a CCS race event November 14.

Riding his Honda CBR1000RR on a revised layout of the “East” course during qualifying for the Unlimited Grand Prix race, Ledesma recorded a 55.619-second lap on CCS’ electronic timing system to set the new official record.

Ledesma later backed up his fast lap with a 55.763 lap during the Unlimited Grand Prix final.

According to CCS Southwest Regional Race Director Randy Stem, the Firebird East course revision included eliminating a “busstop” section and utilizing a “sweeper” between turns four and six, which riders liked because it allowed “the track to flow,” Stem wrote in an e-mail to Roadracingworld.com.

From a press release issued by Fastrack Riders:

John Barr Memorial Fund Ride A Thon

Fastrack Riders will be staging a Ride-A-Thon for the John Barr Memorial Fund at their November 27th & 28th California Speedway AMA Track Day event.

All riders are challenged to get sponsorship for the day they ride and make contributions to John Barr’s fund. The Memorial Fund was established by the San Diego Harbor Police to assist family members and officers in times of need.

Sunday, November 28th Fastrack Riders will be running their Yamaha R1 bike in every session of the day to raise money as well. Several sponsors will be sponsoring the bike including Cycle Parts of Los Angeles, Dunlop Tires & Sport Tire Services, Road Racing World Magazine, Shoei Helmets, L & L Motorsports, Erion Racing, and Yamaha. Chatterbox is providing food for all the riders.

All motorcyclists or any individual that wants to assist is welcome to visit the Speedway to watch the activities and make contributions as well.

From a press release issued by Ducati North America:

PUPPIES ARE COMING

The ultimate Italian stuffed animal, the Ducati Cucciolo, a collaboration between Ducati and Accademia creates a collectable animal that celebrates the first Ducati sport motorcycle, the “Cucciolo” of the 1940s and 1950s.

It all started with a little puppy. In 1926, the Ducati brothers founded an appliance business in a suburb of Bologna. Their motorcycle breakthrough came in 1946. The Cucciolo or “Puppy” was no more than a 48cc four-stroke engine bolted to a bicycle frame. But Italians loved it and more than a quarter of a million were sold over the next decade. These early scooters, fast, reliable, efficient – with a robust little engine – laid the groundwork for a motorcycle revolution that led to high performance sport bikes like the 916 and 999 and cult motorcycles like the Ducati Monster and Multistrada.

Today, Ducati celebrates the birth of the Cucciolo with a range of children’s stuffed animals manufactured by Accademia. Designed to closely resemble the original puppy that appeared in Ducati advertising for the Cucciolo, the animals are made of fine plush material with a stuffing of 100% polyester. Puppies come with Ducati bandanas and tee shirts or logo caps with the Ducati Corse symbol and race graphics. The Puppies are available in four sizes, 15 centimeters, 20cm, 30cm and 60cm. In addition, there is a keychain version.

Beginning in April of 2005, a range of vintage Puppies will be launched, dressed in the historic “Meccanica” logo and graphics that celebrate Ducati’s heritage which dates back to the founding of the company in Bologna in 1926.

Founded in 1995, in the span of just a few years, Accademia has become a European leader in the back-to-school business. Since 2001, the company has been expanding in the gift business with noted success in stuffed animals. The collaboration with Ducati began in 1999 with a collection that includes stationery and back to school items – segments in which Accademia is a European leader. Distribution of the line is strictly controlled to only the best boutiques and distribution outlets.

“Ducati is thrilled about its first-ever collection of stuffed animals,” said David Gross, Ducati’s Creative Director, “The Cucciolo is one of the most beloved of Ducati icons and the first sport motorcycle produced by the company.”

From a press release issued by Macau Grand Prix organizers:

Rutter makes it five wins with a hat trick in Macau

Michael Rutter, on board the 1000cc Red Bull Honda, made it three wins in a row when he won the 38th Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix-Hotel Fortuna this afternoon.

The 31-year-old racer from Leicestershire had to work hard for his win, the fifth of his career in the Far East Classic, after rival John McGuinness (999cc Monstermob Ducati), who had been fastest in practice, took the lead at the start of the 15-lap race.

Rutter admitted that he thought his rival had pulled too far away to be caught on the opening lap, but decided to ride as hard as he could and hope that McGuinness would make a mistake.

Rutter’s chance to take the lead came on lap eight when McGuinness, the 32-year-old from Lancashire, was slower than normal on the fast straight to Lisboa Bend and Rutter was able to pull out of the slipstream and pass him on the brakes.

McGuinness refused to give in though, and was only half a second down on Rutter at the chequered flag.

It was a good day for the Cumbrian-based Paul Bird-owned Monstermob Ducati team with 21-year-old Scot Stuart Easton finishing third.

Austrian Thomas Hinterreiter (1000cc Yamaha), was fourth, nearly 13 seconds behind Easton.

Three Americans pulled off a major surprise by filling the next three places. Josh Hayes, 29, on the 1000cc Attack Kawasaki making his debut at the race, was fifth, 24 year-old Geoff May on the 1000cc Hot Bodies Racing Suzuki was sixth and Jeremy Toye (1000cc Roadracingworld.com Yamaha) took seventh place.

Callum Ramsay was the winner of the FIM 600 Supersport event, but a one-time 14 second lead had been cut to just over two seconds by Australian Cameron Donald (China Yuan XGJao Honda) at the end of the race.

Chris Palmer, Ramsay’s team mate, on the second Valmoto Triumph was third, just over two seconds behind Donald with the trio taking 19th, 20th, and 21st places in the overall results.

Cheung Wai On, the talented 23-year-old Hong Kong racer, made an impressive debut on a home-built 600cc Honda, finishing 25th overall out of the 34 starters and fourth in the 600 Class.


Macau Grand Prix Results:

1. Michael RUTTER, GBR, Honda, 15 laps, 37:30.397
2. John McGUINNESS, GBR, Ducati, -0.518 second
3. Stuart EASTON, GBR, Ducati, -24.821 seconds
4. Thomas HINTERREITER, AUT, Yamaha, -37.534 seconds
5. Josh HAYES, USA, Kawasaki, -52.457 seconds
6. Geoff MAY, USA, Suzuki, -59.116 seconds
7. Jeremy TOYE, USA, Yamaha, -73.969 seconds
8. Steve ALLAN, GBR, Kawasaki, -79.371 seconds
9. James McBRIDE, GBR, Suzuki, -99.698 seconds
10. Stephen THOMPSON, GBR, Suzuki, -102.024 seconds
11. Les SHAND, GBR, Suzuki, -102.728 seconds
12. Marcel KELLENBERGER, SUI, Kawasaki, -106.211 seconds
13. Martin FINNEGAN, IRL, Yamaha, -110.440 seconds
14. Markus BARTH, GER, Kawasaki, -130.865 seconds
15. Richard BRITTON, GBR, Suzuki, -136.480 seconds
16. Rui REIGOTO, POR, Suzuki, -141.406 seconds
17. Horst SAIGER, AUT, Yamaha, -143.594 seconds
18. Jos LEITE, POR, Kawasaki, -143.951 seconds
19. Callum RAMSAY, GBR, Triumph, -146.007 seconds
20. Cameron DONALD, AUS, Honda, -148.454 seconds



More, from a press release issued by MonsterMob Ducati:

DOUBLE ROSTRUM FOR MONSTERMOB AT MACAU GRAND PRIX

MCGUINNESS AND EASTON SECOND AND THIRD IN FAREWELL RACE FOR DUCATI

MonsterMob Ducati riders John McGuinness and Stuart Easton claimed second and third place respectively in today’s 38th Hotel Fortuna Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix as they gave the Paul Bird Motorsport team a glorious send-off in their final race for Ducati.

After four memorable years with Ducati, whereby the team has accrued a total of 40 race wins from 102 starts with a further 44 podium finishes also, the VK MonsterMob F04 pairing were hoping to add to the race victory tally having qualified in first and second on the grid.

32 year old McGuinness, from Morecambe, led for the opening seven laps chased hard by last year’s winner Michael Rutter (Honda) with 21 year old Easton keeping a watching brief in third place as they pulled clear of the field.

At half distance, Rutter hit the front but McGuinness, who won the race in 2001, shadowed the Honda man but despite his best efforts, couldn’t get past and had to settle for second place once more around the Far Eastern 6.12km street circuit.

“It was very frustrating as when Michael took the lead, he was holding me up in the ‘Town’ section but I just couldn’t put a safe pass on him. I had a look at a couple of the hairpins and was hoping to do it on the last lap but I’m really disappointed I couldn’t pull it off. The team deserved this win but it wasn’t to be,” said the six times TT winner.

Meanwhile Easton, reunited with the team that he won the 2002 British Supersport title with, rode an exceptional race to clinch third place on the rostrum ahead of a number of experienced Macau veterans. On only his second ever superbike race at the former Portuguese colony, the Hawick born but now Dalbeattie based rider was happy with his performance.

“A rostrum is perfect for me and is what I came here to achieve. It was great to work with the team again and it’s a pity we couldn’t have sent them away with a win on their swansong with Ducati but a double rostrum is a good result for us all,” said the young Scot.

Team boss Paul Bird spoke highly of his riders afterwards, and of the emotion in the camp: “I could have asked for no more from them, they both gave 100% and that’s all I can ever ask of a rider. Of course it would have been nice to win our final race for Ducati and it was very frustrating for John that he couldn’t re-pass Michael as I reckon he could have won that and as for Stuart, he was simply sensational. I’m very, very proud of my team and can honestly say that this is an end of a very special era. Even John had a tear in his eye which is most unusual!” said the Penrith businessman.

From a press release:

Fullerton, CA – WSMC GTU Champion Matthias Jezek and IJSBA Pro Watercraft Racing World Champion Kenny Ritchie are collaborating to create www.LArace.com, a Southern California-based race team that will compete in the 2005 WERA National Endurance Championship Series.

A collection of talent is being brought to the table with old-time AMA 250cc GP road racer and Team USA participant at the Isle of Man TT James Henderson as team manager and Steve Stricklin of watercraft racing fame as chief mechanic.

LArace.com is offering partial team ownership options. For this and more info, please visit www.LArace.com

From a press release:

ROSSI ATTENDS YAMAHA CHAMPIONSHIP CELEBRATION FACTORY VISIT

Recently crowned MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi made a historic journey to Yamaha’s head office today in Iwata, Japan to visit the facility and the people that supported his 2004 campaign. He also received a personal ‘thank you’ from the company’s president Mr. T. Hasegawa. The flamboyant Italian arrived at Yamaha Motor Company’s Communication Plaza by helicopter and was greeted by the huge applause of management and factory staff upon his arrival.

After receiving a personal message from Mr. T. Hasegawa, Rossi then made a number of appearances throughout the Yamaha complex before participating in the official press conference. It was at that moment that Mr. T. Hasegawa presented Rossi a certificate of ownership for a YZR-M1 – the very YZR-M1 which he piloted to his sixth world title.

“Valentino Rossi is more than the world’s best motorcycle racer; he is a personality that is not limited to just the confines of the MotoGP championship,” explained Mr. T. Hasegawa. “From the moment you work with Rossi you instantly become a fan, and you are naturally driven to give more than 100 percent to support him. It is this very trait, and his ability as a rider that led to him winning the world title in his first year. Because of this skill and personality I am proud to present Valentino with the YZR-M1 as a sign of our appreciation for his efforts this year.”

A very happy Rossi said: “This is the best gift I could wish for. I must say thank you to Yamaha and Mr. Hasegawa for giving me my very own M1 to take home. I’m not sure where I will keep it, maybe next to my bed, or maybe in a safe at a bank!”

Rossi was then taken on a private tour of the Yamaha prototype factory where the components of his YZR-M1 are produced, before attending an official Yamaha championship celebration dinner in his honour in nearby Hamamatsu.

Rossi and Yamaha’s Factory Team now head to Malaysia for a test at the Sepang circuit next week, where Rossi will make his second outing aboard the 2005 prototype YZR-M1.

From a press release:

Susquehanna Valley Harley-Davidson/Buell race team wins four Championship Cup Series Regional Championships in debut season.

SVHD Racing took a pair of 2003 Buell XB9Rs, added a few performance parts, a killer orange and black paint job, and a couple decades of racing experience on rice burners, and turned it into a bunch of race wins and Championships.

Original plans for the team in 2004 had rider Arthur Diaz (three-time Summit Point Track Champion) and crew members Rodger Martin and Ken Strauser getting familiar with the new bikes while taking a shot at the CCS Summit Point Track Championship. A review of the points after the first two races at Summit Point showed the team also leading the Overall Mid-Atlantic Regional point standings and running in the top three of several class championships. Despite giving the rest of the teams a head start by missing two early season events at Daytona and Roebling Road, the team decided to contest the rest of the season.

By striking the right balance of speed and consistency, the team earned wins at three out of the four tracks in the region and finished the season with the following CCS Regional Expert Championships:

Mid-Atlantic Region

· Overall Points Championship and the #1 plate for 2005

· Summit Point Track Championship

· Unlimited GP Class Championship

· Top Three in Ultra Lightweight Superbike, Lightweight GP and Middleweight GP



South East Region

· Overall Points Championship and the #1 plate for 2005

· Top Three in Roebling Road Track Championship and Ultra Lightweight Superbike

Arthur Diaz was also selected to receive an award at the 14th annual Wisconsin Motorsports Charities Recognition Dinner. The charity banquet draws top drivers from various racing series and has raised $350,000 over the last 13 year for Ranch Community Services, a facility for developmentally disabled adults and children.

The team of sponsors behind the SVHD Racing was a critical part of the team’s success.

From a press release issued by Infineon Raceway:

2nd Annual Sonoma Valley Cyclocross Comes to Infineon Raceway, Nov. 27

SONOMA, Calif. (IMMEDIATE RELEASE) – The steeplechase of cycling will invade Infineon Raceway for the second consecutive year on Saturday, Nov. 27, with the 2nd annual Sonoma Valley Cyclocross.

Cyclocross is the latest cycling rage: a hybrid of mountain biking, road biking and running all in one race. Infineon Raceway Cycling/Napa Valley Velo will host the event, which will be sanctioned by USA Cycling, the largest cycling sanctioning body in the country.

The 1.5-mile temporary course at Infineon Raceway will be laid out behind Turn 2 and will include a variety of terrains and elevations, as well as barriers and stairs. Competitors will race their bikes, as well as dismount and carry them over barriers and up stairs.

Athletes will be faced with a steady flow of obstacles, including tricky turns on dirt, speedy pavement straightaways and a challenging run up four flights of stairs to the Earnhardt Terraces (Turn 2). Lap times are in the 5-7 minute range, and races range from 30 minutes for novices to 60 minutes for professionals. Bicycles are usually road bikes with more powerful brakes, custom gearing and meatier tires.

More than 175 cyclists turned out for the inaugural event last year, with San Anselmo’s Rachel Lloyd and Nevada City’s Jason Moeschler emerging as the winners in the women’s and men’s elite races, respectively. It was the first-ever Cyclocross event held at Infineon Raceway.

The event will span from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., with action in several categories for men and women, based on experience level. Entry fee is $25 and $5 for juniors (ages 14-18). Riders must have a USA Cycling license to compete – a one-day license may be purchased through Infineon Raceway Cycling/Napa Valley Velo on the day of the event. For more information, visit www.napavalleyvelo.org/svcx/. Spectators are free.

A portion of the proceeds from the event will go to the Dillon Family Fund, which benefits Ross Dillon, a Sonoma County cyclist who suffered severe brain injuries as the result of an accident in 2002. Dillon will attend the event on Nov. 27. For more information, visit www.rossdillon.com.

The cycling theme will continue in 2005 at Infineon Raceway with the Infineon Cougar Mountain Classic, slated for Sept. 9-11. The event, which was held for the first time in May as the California Outdoor Sports Championships, will feature various cycling disciplines including: road circuit racing; road criterium racing; mountain bike cross country; mountain bike short track; and gravity disciplines such as mountain cross and downhill racing. For the second straight year, Infineon Raceway will partner with Sea Otter Classic LLC on the event.