Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
A dispute with the City of Birmingham over a vacant building threatens the government funding George Barber needs to bring a MotoGP event to Barber Motorsports Park, a local newspaper reports.
To read the report, go to:
http://www.al.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news/108685910348430.xml?birminghamnews?nmet
Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
Edge Performance Riding Courses will host a track day event June 28, the Monday following the AMA Superbike event at Brainerd International Raceway, according to a press release.
The event is open to all makes and models of motorcycles, and pre-registration is not required.
For additional information, call Edge Performance at (763) 531-1947 or go to www.edgeracing.net
From a press release issued by Ducati North America:
DUCATI NORTH AMERICA EXPANDS CUPERTINO BASED TEAM WITH TWO NEW EMPLOYEES
Moving into its second year at the new location in Cupertino, California, Ducati North America continues to increase the strength of its staff.
June 2004 – Ducati North America continues to grow the headquarters-based team with the addition of two new members of the management team. With a 35% growth in sales during the first five months this expansion reflects the increasing popularity of Ducati in the U.S. market.
Greg Zanghi joins Ducati North America as the National After Sales Manager. His overall responsibilities include customer care, service communications, legal matters, systems and development. Zanghi has a recent background in the motorcycle industry. For the past 3 years he worked as the general manager at Eastside MotoSports, a Bellevue, Washington based Ducati dealership.
“I’m excited about working with the team at Ducati and continuing to build its strength. Ducati ownership is unique and we will improve the customer experience even further. Strong relationships with our Ducati fans are very important to the company.” Zanghi said.
John Cupp will take over the position of Area 23 Sales Manager, which includes California, Arizona, Hawaii, and Nevada. The incumbent, Brad Hagi, takes up a new position for Ducati this fall within the Export Sales department at Ducati’s World Headquarters in Bologna, Italy. Mr. Cupp joins Ducati with experience in positions at American Honda where he worked in Customer Service and as a District Sales Manager. An avid motorcyclist, John has raced with the Willow Springs Motorcycle Club in Southern California.
From a press release issued by Honda Racing Information:
SILVERSTONE SIGNALS END OF PART ONE
After the dramas and uncertainty of the previous round at Oschersleben on May 30 the 10-round World Supersport Championship is about to embark on its last outing for almost two months, to Silverstone in Great Britain this weekend.
At Silverstone, machine speed and fast cornering confidence is the key for the majority of the lap but a tight and twisty final section, including the season’s most cramped and slowest chicane, makes the modern 5.094km Silverstone circuit one of contrasts.
After the temporary exclusion of the six top Honda riders at Oschersleben all their points and finishing positions have been restored, significantly altering the state of play in the overall World Championship fight at a crucial stage.
Thanks to the efforts of three of the supported riders equipped with the all-conquering CBR600RR the Oschersleben podium places were ultimately an all-Honda affair, with Karl Muggeridge and Broc Parkes from the Ten Kate squad finishing first and second respectively, and Sebastien Charpentier (Klaffi Honda) a close third.
Muggeridge’s win, his third in a row and Honda’s fourth of the year, puts him in the lead of the championship, 87 points to the 82 of Yamaha rider Jurgen van den Goorbergh. Parkes, thanks in large part to his two-second places at Monza and Oschersleben, sits third, with 53 points. Charpentier, now sixth overall, looks forward to fighting for his second podium of the season at what is the first of two British-based rounds on the calendar.
Charpentier’s 20-year-old team-mate Max Neukirchner (Klaffi Honda CBR600RR) will have his first taste of yet another new track this weekend, the rookie WSS rider proving to be a real asset for now and the future. He scored a career best fifth place at Oschersleben, after a race-long fight with some legendary figures in Supersport racing.
Team Italia Megabike Honda riders Alessio Corradi (Team Italia Megabike Honda CBR600RR) and Denis Sacchetti will be looking to Silverstone as another opportunity to move into the top places.
Now back on top of the championship on riding merit, Muggeridge is looking to continue his amazing run of form and is already concentrating on the job in hand. “It should be good again this weekend. We are improving the bike every time we get put on it. I keep hoping the job of making the set-up better gets easier and easier but each time we go faster we arrive at another small problem, which we solve. It’s just a continual job. I want to just concentrate on the set-up for race conditions and I don’t expect too many changes, even though we have new fork settings and so on to try. Silverstone is two tracks in one. The more open part is all high speed cornering, like Phillip Island or Assen and the other bit is like a Supercross arena. By necessity, set-up is always a compromise atSilverstone.”
For Parkes, a new training regime has already paid dividends, and he will be all out to take his first win in WSS in the UK. “Silverstone is pretty good to me. Last year I was on the front row in first qualifying. I like the track even though last year my engine didn’t have the power I do this year. I’m going there aiming to do what I did at the last two races and get on the podium. I’m training a lot more than usual, and I’ve started running a lot. I never used to run but I’m doing it every day now and I’ve noticed a huge difference. It’s not just a physical fitness thing it also helps with concentration and now I’m just as strong at the end of a race as I was at the beginning. To get my points back from Oschersleben was great and if the top two riders have a DNF then it changes things dramatically. I would be right in there again.”
After the intense joy of his first podium finish, in what has been an often-fraught season so far, Charpentier is looking forward to a quick hop across the channel, aiming to plunder some English silverware. “All three of the next tracks, Silverstone, Brands Hatch and Assen are good tracks for me and after what happened after Oschersleben, to go to Silverstone in sixth place is OK. I’m looking forward to it.”
Track knowledge for Neukirchner could allow him a good chance to continue his rapid growth in this tough series. “It was a big boost to me to finish so well in Germany, my best ever result. Silverstone is another new track for me on the CBR600RR but my bike is fast, the tyres have been good and my team helps me a lot.”
Corradi’s season has also featured some ups and downs, with the diminutive Italian with a big talent concentrating on the positives “I like the Silverstone layout very much, or at least all of it except that last chicane, which no-one likes. It is no problem for me to approach a fast circuit like this with the machine and set-up we have so I am looking forward to the weekend.”
For Sacchetti, Silverstone is another new challenge. “I earned good points in Germany and I want to continue that on in England. It is a very different track from Oschersleben but we will do our best.”
With the World Supersport championship not following the Superbike series to the American round at Laguna Seca on July 11th, the seventh round of the series takes place at Brands Hatch on August 1.
Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
By Kel Edge
On Thursday afternoon a driving competition was held at Silverstone at a special 4×4 course. The competition was between a UK team (Chris Walker, James Toseland and Leon Haslam) and an International team (Regis Laconi, Noriyuki Haga and Chris Vermeulen).
At the end, Haga and Toseland scored the best points, but Haga was given the prize because Toseland was adjudged to have ‘conveniently moved a couple of marker cones’ before Laconi went out for his lap.
Regis Laconi, Noriyuki Haga and Chris Vermeulen
From a press release issued by Honda Racing:
Sete Gibernau defends MotoGP Championship lead on home ground
Spanish MotoGP rider Sete Gibernau goes into the Montmelo circuit for Grand Prix of Catalunya holding a 10 point lead in the MotoGP World Championship. Gibernau tops the point’s chart by virtue of two victories and two other podium finishes from the four races run this season riding for the Telefonica MoviStar Honda Team.
Now 31 years old Gibernau, from near by Barcelona, has a motorcycling pedigree second to none. Sete grew up surrounded by motorcycle engineers, riders and aficionados, he is steeped in the history of the Spanish two-wheel industry and racing. When he arrives at the Montmelo circuit gate to begin GP practice the first thing he see’s is the statue of his grandfather, the late Francisco Bulto, ‘Don ‘Paco,’ founder of the Bultaco marque.
Sete’s father Manuel is himself a former racer who also managed the Bultaco Competition Department for several years. But despite a race career of his own Father Manuel is too nervous to watch his son race but his Mother, Cristina is an avid fan and race watcher who follows every MotoGP race either live or on television.
Everyone in the family rides motorcycles, virtually on a daily basis. Manuel now rides a Honda Forsight 250 in heavy trafficof Barcelona, Mother Cristina prefers a Scoopy 125 for all her chores. Sete’s younger sister, and press officer, Cristina is more adventurous and rides regularly she has just taken delivery of a CBR600RR Honda. The family often took rides together but Sete’s intense racing and testing schedule, plus the ever increasing associated promotional work have restricted the family’s opportunites to share fun rides together.
“My family have played a very important role in my career they have all given me their full support, my parents, sisters, and my grand parents.” Said the series leader. “We are a close family, in fact it was my uncle who gave me my nickname ‘Sete.’ My Grandfather, Don Paco, was a great person he created an industry, developed many exciting motorcycle he helped many riders over the years, great riders from all over the world. He was a huge influence on my career but he never pushed me. He was, above all else, my friend and a real human being.”
Gibernau’s path to the top of his profession has not been meteoric. He made a relatively late entry into road race competition, at 19 years of age following several years competing in Trials events. He began his tarmac career in Spanish 125cc sports production racing earning himself a unique place in the history of the Montmelo circuit – Sete won the first ever motorcycle race held at the circuit, a 125cc Cagiva Cup race.
From there he moved into the 250 class in the Ducados Series making his GP debut as a wild card for the Wayne Rainey Yamaha squad in1992. However he made a full entry into world championship racing in 1996 finishing 22nd in the 250series.
He moved to 500s in ’97 to begin his positive march towards joining the elite of his chosen profession. Sete raced for the Rainey Yamaha squad in ’97 before moving to Honda in 1998 as replacement rider for the injured Takuma Aoki, on a 500cc V-twin. The following year he moved on to the NSR500 V-four vacated by the injured, five times world champion, Michael Doohan and finished the season in fifth place.
After an unroductive 1999 season sete moved on to Suzuki for two years, in 2001 – ’02 where, in his first year with the team, he won the GP of Valencia on a 500cc 2-stroke. He returned to Honda and the fabulous RC211V for the 2003 season and promptly won four races to end the year as Vice World Champion.
A calm intelligent and fun loving man with a passion for everything he does in life, Gibernau has his feet firmly planted on the ground, a man with a clear vision of life and what he hopes to achieve.
“I’m not obsessed with racing, I have a life outside the sport and it makes me realise the importance of down time away from the track, you cannot let it control your life completely.” Sete explained. “When you go out and see others less fortunate than us, even in these times some people just don’t have a life through particular circumstances, that makes you realise how important it is to live a rich and varied life. Don’t get me wrong, I love racing and want to win as much as the next man, I’m dedicated but not obsessed.”
The two-week break between Le Mans allowed Gibernau to indulge his other sporting passions, cycling, jogging, gym work and Super Motard, which he rides for both exercise and fun but he arrived at Mugello ready to race. He said. “I enjoyed the break was but once the show gets going I want to get on with it. Sure I like a break but I’m in good form physically and mentally, the team is working really well and the bike improves with each race. I’m relaxed and not about to get too excited about the situation we are in by leading the championship, we have a lot to learn and there is a long way to go to the end of the season.”
Team Telefonica MoviStar Honda Gresini and the RC211V have proven an ideal combination and Sete is quick to praise the team for the superb machinery and technical back up they provide him with.
“I have the best team in the paddock, the best in racing. We have a very strong work ethic, everyone in the team gives 100% and we almost always improve. I’m happy with the situation. Honda has also helped us when it was possible, like the test after Jerez where we sorted out most of our chatter problems. They have been very fair with us. But we are a satellite team, that will not change and we have to get the best out of what we have. The team has done a brilliant job so far and everyone if fully focussed ”
“Montmelo is one of my favourite tracks, it’s very near the spot where I was born. It’s also has special memories because I won the first ever motorcycle race held at the track, a Spanish 125cc Cagiva Sports Production race in 1991 It’s a great track with a really good fast layout. I’ve had some good GP results at Montmelo, we did well last season with third place and we hope to better that next Sunday. Confidence plays a big part in achieving your goals and we are confident in what we are doing at this point in the championship, we have a strong mental attitude.”
He added. “We go to Montmelo and try to win of course. If we don’t we will sit down and analyse just why we didn’t and try to improve before the next race.”
The GP of Catalunya is one of three grands prix held in Spain, great for Spanish riders and race fans alike. Gibernau is happy to be part of it all. As a former race fan Sete understands the importance of spectators to the sport. “We receive great support from the Spanish fans and it’s good that we can repay them with good performances. I won the Jerez race this year and I’ve won at Valencia, it would be great to win at Montmelo, the fans would love that, me too. Wouldn’t it be incredible if we could win all three Spanish races in one season!”
Having experience of the very best 500cc 2-stroke machines and the MotoGP 990cc 4-strokes, Gibernau is qualified to make comparisons.
“The 4-strokes are now getting just like the 500cc 2-strokes, lean and mean! They are quite different bikes, although at the end both are demanding and the amount of concentration to ride them has to be very high. The basic differences are the power delivery and the engine brake, much stronger on the RC211V.” Commented Gibernau.
He went on to say. “They are, in some ways, a little easier to ride than the 2-stroke but at the top end just as difficult to get everything out of them. They are very, very fast and have changed the nature of some tracks we race at, some corners for sure. Take the double right hand corners at Jerez – we used to go into the first one then a quick burst on a straight before throwing it into the second right. The 4-stroke changed that, its now one corner. Concentration is everything, you have to retain concentration for the whole race on the 4-stroke it’s very exciting but also very demanding mentally. I think the reason is that there are so many good riders in MotoGP and the differences between us are very small, one error can cost you a lot. Fast or slow corners you can never relax, if you do someone will catch you, or get passed you.” Commented Gibernau.
Rain or shine Gibernau and the Telefonica MoviStar Honda RC211V are capable of winning at Montmelo on Sunday. He will not lack support from his team or the 100,000 fans in attendance. The rest is in his own hands, few would doubt his skill and commitment for the task. He heads the championship and is highly unlikely to fail to take a place on the podium on Sunday, which step of the three is the only question still open.
Sete Gibernau – Spain
Race team: Team Telefonica MoviStar Honda MotoGP. Racing number: 15
Race machine: Honda RC 211V
Date of birth: December 15, 1972
Place of birth: Barcelona, Spain
Residence: Barcelona
Marital status: single
Height: 177 cm
Weight: 70 kg
First GP : 1992 250cc Spanish Grand Prix – Jerez
First GP victory: 2001 – 500cc Grand Prix of the Community of Valencia
Victories: 7
Podiums: 20
Career highlights -Sete Gibernau
1984 : First racing experience in Trials.
1990 : Debut in the “Gilera Cup” Championship Gilera
1991 : Spanish Junior Champion Junior Champion
Catalan Junior Champion.
1992 : European Championship, 250cc class Yamaha.
1993 : 3rd 250cc Spanish Championship Yamaha
Wild card entry 250cc Spanish GP.
1994 : 5th 250cc Spanish Championship.
1995 : 3rd 250cc Spanish Championship Yamaha
1996 : 21st 250cc World Championship Yamaha.
1997 : 13th 500cc World Championship Yamaha.
1998 : 11th 500cc World Championship Honda.
1999 : 5th 500cc World Championship Honda HRC Team.
2000 : 15th500cc World Championship, 500cc Repsol Honda Team.
2001 : 9th 500cc World Championship Suzuki 1 win.
2002 : 16th MotoGP World Championship Suzuki
2003 : 2nd MotoGP World Championship Team Telefonica MoviStar Honda 4 wins.
2004 : Current leader MotoGP World Championship Team Telefonica MoviStar Honda 2 wins
From a press release issued by USGPRU:
USGPRU National Championship Round 5 Results
ROSAMOND, CA – June 6, 2004 – The USGPRU 125GP and 250GP Championships stormed in with the California high desert gale force winds at The Streets of Willow Raceway this weekend. Pit crews hung on to EZ-Ups and all their under-belongings while riders and mechanics prepped bikes for Round 5 in the National Championships.
With only 8 tenths separating the top three 125 qualifiers, the stage was set to see if experience could triumph over youth. Carlos Neves took the hole shot to lead the 12 lap 125GP race. A broken tachometer forced Neves to make onboard repairs while still trying to maintain the lead. Unfortunately he hit the kill switch giving way to the freight train just behind. Josh Herrin led Jon Schendel and Mike Orien while Neves gave chase, only to be dogged with another problem when his Jolly Moto expansion chamber ruptured half way through the race. The podium was captured by Herrin, Schendel, and Neves.
There was also plenty of action further behind the leaders. Early in the race, Manny Juarez executed a spectacular save after running off the track through the back esses. Scott Bourke and Ryan Ferris ran a heated race for eighth place as they swapped positions several times on every lap.
The desert winds had no mercy on the 250GP as they continued a display of crunching metal and plastic from Saturday. Mark Watts made repairs just in time for qualifying on Saturday after his bike was knocked over by the wind. Robin Clark’s bike had suffered great damage in a get-off during Saturday practice. Vince Rolleri crashed out during Qualifying, causing him to retire for the weekend.
Mark Watts took the lead from Scott McNew at the end of the first lap after he ran wide exiting the back esses, closely followed by Schendel, and Herrin. Neves, gridded in last place as a result of a late entry, gained too fast on McNew in the Bowl slammed on brakes for a high speed stoppie causing his front number plate to be rubbed off by McNew’s rear tire and tail section. Herrin, attempting an outside pass on Neves had nowhere to go as Neves went down. Both managed to regain and rejoin the race with significant damage to both bikes and riders. Shortly after being rear-ended by Neves, McNew’s motor seized and was forced to retire. Schendel made a late charge on Watts in the last laps but was held up by a lapped rider coming into the last set of turns while Watts was able to drive inside and pass the rider. Rounding out the 250GP podium was Watts, Schendel, and Clark.
FINAL RESULTS:
125GP
1. Josh Herrin Hon RS125 12 laps
2. Jon Schendel Yam TZ125 12 laps
3. Carlos Neves Hon RS125 12 laps
4. Mike Orien Hon RS125 12 laps
5. Kirk Snell Hon RS125 12 laps
6. Phil Krenn Hon RS125 12 laps
7. Britt Bohannan Hon RS125 12 laps
8. Scott Bourke Hon RS125 12 laps
9. Ryan Ferris Yam TZ125 12 laps
10. Darrell Baker Hon RS125 12 laps
11. Joel Manes Hon RS125 11 laps
12. Manny Juarez Hon RS125 11 laps
13. Brian Hees Hon RS125 11 laps
14. Frank Pate Hon RS125 11 laps
15. Stephan John Hon RS125 10 laps
16. John Lee Hon RS125 9 laps
250GP
1. Mark Watts Yam TZ250 12 laps
2. Jon Schendel Yam TZ125 12 laps
3. Robin Clark Yam TZ250 12 laps
4. Mike Lytle Yam TZ250 11 laps
5. Gordon Wood Hon RS125 11 laps
6. Frank Pate Hon RS125 10 laps
7. Josh Herrin Hon RS125 10 laps
8. Scott McNew Hon RS250 5 laps DNF
9. Carlos Neves Hon RS125 3 laps DNF
Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. FIRST PERSON/OPINION By John Ulrich Reports from the AMA Superbike weekend at Road America posted on MotorcycleUSA.com included cut-and-pasted and slightly-altered copyrighted material posted earlier on Roadracingworld.com and on superbikeplanet.com. A MotorcycleUSA.com post headlined “AMA SB: RA Notes – Update II 6/6/2004 by Herod Lowery,” included copyrighted material posted on Roadracingworld.com on June 3 and on June 5, written by Associate Editor David Swarts. It also included material posted earlier on superbikeplanet.com, written by Evan Williams. Contacted by phone, Herod Lowery denied lifting any material from Roadracingworld.com and said “I didn’t do it. If it’s in there, I don’t know how it got there.” Lowery called back a short time later and said that he had copied the material for use as notes, that he planned to talk to the people quoted himself, and that he had sent the material to MotorcycleUSA by mistake. But the lifted material had minor revisions that make it hard for Roadracingworld.com to believe it was anything but a blatant example of plagiarism. Reached by phone, MotorcycleUSA.com’s Don Becklin said the offending post would be removed from the site immediately. Lowery, who has done some freelance work for Roadracing World in the past, will not be doing any work for Roadracing World in the future. Besides his freelance work for Roadracing World and MotorcycleUSA.com, Lowery is the AP correspondent for MotoGP. For an example of the lifted material, compare a 6/5/04 post on Roadracingworld.com headlined “F-USA Champ Greenwood Replaces Pistoni On Corona Suzuki At Road America,” which started out “Reigning Formula USA Sportbike Champion Scott Greenwood is riding in place of Christian Pistoni on the Corona Extra Suzuki team in this weekend’s AMA event at Road America. ‘I heard Tim (Saunders) was looking for a rider,’ Greenwood told Roadracingworld.com. ‘I called him up Tuesday (June 1), on the way back from (the Formula USA races at) Summit Point. He called me back Wednesday at work. We worked out a few sponsor conflicts. All the people I talked to said it would’t be a problem. Tim said if I showed up I would have a bike to ride, and here I am.'” The 6/6/2004 post on MotorcycleUSA.com read “Reigning Formula USA Sportbike Champion Scott Greenwood is riding in place of Christian Pistoni on the Corona Extra Suzuki team this weekend. ‘I called them Tuesday on the way home from Summit Point,’ said Greenwood. ‘They called me back Wednesday and we worked out a few sponsor conflicts. All the people I talked to said it wouldn’t be a problem. They said if I showed up I would have a bike to ride, and here I am.'” Other material lifted from Roadracingworld.com and included in Lowery’s report concerned Harley-Davidson seeking to enter the Chinese market, as well as Pascal Picotte replacing injured Tez Stewart, with quotes from Picotte and team owner James Casmay. Reached by phone, Casmay said, “I don’t recall talking to the guy. Word for word, that’s kind of ridiculous. It’s most likely that I didn’t.” Asked if he had spoken to Herod Lowery at Road America, Greenwood said, “I only remember two people coming over and talking about the whole thing to me, David Swarts and Henny Ray Abrams of Cycle News.”
From a press release:
Pair of Fourth Place Finishes for DiSalvo at Road America
Jason DiSalvo of Stafford, NY a Yamaha factory racer just returned from a successful weekend in Elkhart Lake, WI June 4, 5, and 6th where he posted two 4th place finishes in the American Motorcycle Association Superbike Series. With the season marking the halfway point the championship standings are becoming more important with each race.
In the 600 Supersport class Jason qualified 4th quickest on Saturday giving him a front row starting position for Sunday’s main event. With a great start Jason lead the field into turn 1 and ran with the lead pack finishing 4th at the checkered flag. The championship points show Jason 5th overall in the current standings.
The 1000 Superstock class saw Jason qualify 6th on Saturday putting him in row 2 of the starting grid. Having a good start Jason ran with the lead pack of seven, which diced for position and at the final flag Jason ended up 4th. The current point standings moves Jason into 4th place putting him within reach of the top 3.
The Superstock Race from Road America will be shown on Speed Channel Tuesday, June 15th at 2:00PM.
Jason commented “Having two 4th place finishes this weekend is ok but I’m looking for wins and podiums to move up in the point standings.”
The Yamaha team and Jason will spend the next two weeks preparing for the Brainerd, MN race coming up June 25, 26, and 27th.
More, from a press release issued by Joe Rocket:
“COMPETITION LEAVES ROAD AMERICA RED AND GREEN WITH ENVY!”
History books will once again need to be altered thanks to accomplishments from the Rocket Racing Team after this past weekend’s AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship, hosted by the historical, Road America. A trio of race wins for American Honda’s Miguel Duhamel and a pair of wins for Factory Kawasaki’s Tommy Hayden made for a perfect weekend as these two Rocket Racers refused to share the spoils of victory!
Miguel “The Warrior” Duhamel has again accomplished what no other rider ever has. Accomplishing a unprecedented “three-peat”, #17 raced three races and won them all! Miguel gave the fans a masterful show during two Superbike races and one Formula XTreme race over the AMA Superbike “Doubleheader” weekend. Joining Miguel in the Winner’s Circle after both Superbike races were fellow Rocket Racers Mat Mladin and Jake Zemke, thus adding two more Joe Rocket Superbike podium sweeps to the tally.
Advancing his AMA 600 Supersport winning streak and points lead, the young but thoroughly experienced Tommy “Gun” Hayden proved to be un-stoppable while aboard his Kawasaki ZX-6R motorcycle, riding it to the winner’s circle after a hard fought battle. Doing back-to-back duty, Tommy also rode his Kawasaki ZX-10R motorcycle to within striking distance of the AMA Superstock Championship points lead, winning Sunday’s Superstock race in his typical dominant fashion.
A “Three-peat” by Miguel Duhamel and double wins by Tommy Hayden proves once again that the Joe Rocket brand of protective motorcycle apparel and the Rocket Racing Team is the best in the business! “We are very proud to work with theses riders and their respective teams. Congratulations to all!” said Bruce Parker, Marketing Director of Joe Rocket Sports gear.
The Rocket Racing Team will return to action June 25 – 27 at Brainerd.
From a press release issued by Harley-Davidson:
Harley-Davidson Moves to Bolster China Presence
Motorcycle Maker Announces Relationship with Chinese Company
MILWAUKEE – Harley-Davidson, Inc. today announced the signing of a memo of understanding with the Zongshen Motorcycle Group which could facilitate Harley-Davidson’s entry into the Chinese motorcycle market and enhance Zongshen’s capabilities in its home market. The announcement came during a visit by Harley-Davidson Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Bleustein and other company officials to Zongshen’s headquarters in Chongqing, China.
Both companies emphasized that the memo of understanding provides a framework for a potential relationship, but that many details are yet to be discussed before the two companies commit to a formal agreement.
“Harley-Davidson’s primary objective is to export our American-made motorcycles to China and to develop political and motorcycle industry alliances in anticipation of the market becoming more accessible,” said Bleustein. “We do not believe it will be necessary for Harley-Davidson to manufacture its motorcycles in China in order to be able to sell them there,” he said.
Under the contemplated relationship, Harley-Davidson would work with Zongshen to gain a better understanding of the business practices, markets and distribution channels it will encounter in China. Zongshen is a recognized leader in the Chinese motorcycle industry. “We believe there is a lot we can learn from working with a company that has intimate market and industry knowledge in China,” said Bleustein.
Harley-Davidson would share certain technology of a non-competing nature, as well as marketing philosophies and practices with Zongshen, under the contemplated agreement.
“In China, there are hundreds of motorcycle companies. However, Harley-Davidson is known around the world and throughout China for its outstanding reputation,” said Zongshen Motorcycle Group Chairman Zuo Zongshen. “Harley-Davidson’s status as an American-made motorcycle has a strong appeal here, and we believe an association with Harley-Davidson holds solid value for us in China,” he said.
While in China, Bleustein is also pressing Harley-Davidson’s case for market entry with government officials. The day before his visit to Zongshen, Bleustein met in Beijing with China’s Vice Minister of Commerce, Wei Jianguo, to urge the easing of official and unofficial trade barriers that limit Harley-Davidson’s ability to sell its premium American-made motorcycles in China.
Those barriers include a 50 percent import duty on motorcycles. The duty is scheduled to drop to 30 percent by January 2005, a level which is still onerous according to Harley-Davidson. In addition, local governments in China often limit the number of motorcycle licenses they will grant, and motorcycles are singled out for outright bans from operating in many of China’s largest cities.
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, Inc. Harley-Davidson Motor Company, the only major U.S.-based motorcycle manufacturer, produces heavyweight 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 dealers and customers.
Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
A dispute with the City of Birmingham over a vacant building threatens the government funding George Barber needs to bring a MotoGP event to Barber Motorsports Park, a local newspaper reports.
To read the report, go to:
http://www.al.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news/108685910348430.xml?birminghamnews?nmet
Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
Edge Performance Riding Courses will host a track day event June 28, the Monday following the AMA Superbike event at Brainerd International Raceway, according to a press release.
The event is open to all makes and models of motorcycles, and pre-registration is not required.
For additional information, call Edge Performance at (763) 531-1947 or go to www.edgeracing.net
From a press release issued by Ducati North America:
DUCATI NORTH AMERICA EXPANDS CUPERTINO BASED TEAM WITH TWO NEW EMPLOYEES
Moving into its second year at the new location in Cupertino, California, Ducati North America continues to increase the strength of its staff.
June 2004 – Ducati North America continues to grow the headquarters-based team with the addition of two new members of the management team. With a 35% growth in sales during the first five months this expansion reflects the increasing popularity of Ducati in the U.S. market.
Greg Zanghi joins Ducati North America as the National After Sales Manager. His overall responsibilities include customer care, service communications, legal matters, systems and development. Zanghi has a recent background in the motorcycle industry. For the past 3 years he worked as the general manager at Eastside MotoSports, a Bellevue, Washington based Ducati dealership.
“I’m excited about working with the team at Ducati and continuing to build its strength. Ducati ownership is unique and we will improve the customer experience even further. Strong relationships with our Ducati fans are very important to the company.” Zanghi said.
John Cupp will take over the position of Area 23 Sales Manager, which includes California, Arizona, Hawaii, and Nevada. The incumbent, Brad Hagi, takes up a new position for Ducati this fall within the Export Sales department at Ducati’s World Headquarters in Bologna, Italy. Mr. Cupp joins Ducati with experience in positions at American Honda where he worked in Customer Service and as a District Sales Manager. An avid motorcyclist, John has raced with the Willow Springs Motorcycle Club in Southern California.
From a press release issued by Honda Racing Information:
SILVERSTONE SIGNALS END OF PART ONE
After the dramas and uncertainty of the previous round at Oschersleben on May 30 the 10-round World Supersport Championship is about to embark on its last outing for almost two months, to Silverstone in Great Britain this weekend.
At Silverstone, machine speed and fast cornering confidence is the key for the majority of the lap but a tight and twisty final section, including the season’s most cramped and slowest chicane, makes the modern 5.094km Silverstone circuit one of contrasts.
After the temporary exclusion of the six top Honda riders at Oschersleben all their points and finishing positions have been restored, significantly altering the state of play in the overall World Championship fight at a crucial stage.
Thanks to the efforts of three of the supported riders equipped with the all-conquering CBR600RR the Oschersleben podium places were ultimately an all-Honda affair, with Karl Muggeridge and Broc Parkes from the Ten Kate squad finishing first and second respectively, and Sebastien Charpentier (Klaffi Honda) a close third.
Muggeridge’s win, his third in a row and Honda’s fourth of the year, puts him in the lead of the championship, 87 points to the 82 of Yamaha rider Jurgen van den Goorbergh. Parkes, thanks in large part to his two-second places at Monza and Oschersleben, sits third, with 53 points. Charpentier, now sixth overall, looks forward to fighting for his second podium of the season at what is the first of two British-based rounds on the calendar.
Charpentier’s 20-year-old team-mate Max Neukirchner (Klaffi Honda CBR600RR) will have his first taste of yet another new track this weekend, the rookie WSS rider proving to be a real asset for now and the future. He scored a career best fifth place at Oschersleben, after a race-long fight with some legendary figures in Supersport racing.
Team Italia Megabike Honda riders Alessio Corradi (Team Italia Megabike Honda CBR600RR) and Denis Sacchetti will be looking to Silverstone as another opportunity to move into the top places.
Now back on top of the championship on riding merit, Muggeridge is looking to continue his amazing run of form and is already concentrating on the job in hand. “It should be good again this weekend. We are improving the bike every time we get put on it. I keep hoping the job of making the set-up better gets easier and easier but each time we go faster we arrive at another small problem, which we solve. It’s just a continual job. I want to just concentrate on the set-up for race conditions and I don’t expect too many changes, even though we have new fork settings and so on to try. Silverstone is two tracks in one. The more open part is all high speed cornering, like Phillip Island or Assen and the other bit is like a Supercross arena. By necessity, set-up is always a compromise atSilverstone.”
For Parkes, a new training regime has already paid dividends, and he will be all out to take his first win in WSS in the UK. “Silverstone is pretty good to me. Last year I was on the front row in first qualifying. I like the track even though last year my engine didn’t have the power I do this year. I’m going there aiming to do what I did at the last two races and get on the podium. I’m training a lot more than usual, and I’ve started running a lot. I never used to run but I’m doing it every day now and I’ve noticed a huge difference. It’s not just a physical fitness thing it also helps with concentration and now I’m just as strong at the end of a race as I was at the beginning. To get my points back from Oschersleben was great and if the top two riders have a DNF then it changes things dramatically. I would be right in there again.”
After the intense joy of his first podium finish, in what has been an often-fraught season so far, Charpentier is looking forward to a quick hop across the channel, aiming to plunder some English silverware. “All three of the next tracks, Silverstone, Brands Hatch and Assen are good tracks for me and after what happened after Oschersleben, to go to Silverstone in sixth place is OK. I’m looking forward to it.”
Track knowledge for Neukirchner could allow him a good chance to continue his rapid growth in this tough series. “It was a big boost to me to finish so well in Germany, my best ever result. Silverstone is another new track for me on the CBR600RR but my bike is fast, the tyres have been good and my team helps me a lot.”
Corradi’s season has also featured some ups and downs, with the diminutive Italian with a big talent concentrating on the positives “I like the Silverstone layout very much, or at least all of it except that last chicane, which no-one likes. It is no problem for me to approach a fast circuit like this with the machine and set-up we have so I am looking forward to the weekend.”
For Sacchetti, Silverstone is another new challenge. “I earned good points in Germany and I want to continue that on in England. It is a very different track from Oschersleben but we will do our best.”
With the World Supersport championship not following the Superbike series to the American round at Laguna Seca on July 11th, the seventh round of the series takes place at Brands Hatch on August 1.
Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
By Kel Edge
On Thursday afternoon a driving competition was held at Silverstone at a special 4×4 course. The competition was between a UK team (Chris Walker, James Toseland and Leon Haslam) and an International team (Regis Laconi, Noriyuki Haga and Chris Vermeulen).
At the end, Haga and Toseland scored the best points, but Haga was given the prize because Toseland was adjudged to have ‘conveniently moved a couple of marker cones’ before Laconi went out for his lap.
Regis Laconi, Noriyuki Haga and Chris Vermeulen
From a press release issued by Honda Racing:
Sete Gibernau defends MotoGP Championship lead on home ground
Spanish MotoGP rider Sete Gibernau goes into the Montmelo circuit for Grand Prix of Catalunya holding a 10 point lead in the MotoGP World Championship. Gibernau tops the point’s chart by virtue of two victories and two other podium finishes from the four races run this season riding for the Telefonica MoviStar Honda Team.
Now 31 years old Gibernau, from near by Barcelona, has a motorcycling pedigree second to none. Sete grew up surrounded by motorcycle engineers, riders and aficionados, he is steeped in the history of the Spanish two-wheel industry and racing. When he arrives at the Montmelo circuit gate to begin GP practice the first thing he see’s is the statue of his grandfather, the late Francisco Bulto, ‘Don ‘Paco,’ founder of the Bultaco marque.
Sete’s father Manuel is himself a former racer who also managed the Bultaco Competition Department for several years. But despite a race career of his own Father Manuel is too nervous to watch his son race but his Mother, Cristina is an avid fan and race watcher who follows every MotoGP race either live or on television.
Everyone in the family rides motorcycles, virtually on a daily basis. Manuel now rides a Honda Forsight 250 in heavy trafficof Barcelona, Mother Cristina prefers a Scoopy 125 for all her chores. Sete’s younger sister, and press officer, Cristina is more adventurous and rides regularly she has just taken delivery of a CBR600RR Honda. The family often took rides together but Sete’s intense racing and testing schedule, plus the ever increasing associated promotional work have restricted the family’s opportunites to share fun rides together.
“My family have played a very important role in my career they have all given me their full support, my parents, sisters, and my grand parents.” Said the series leader. “We are a close family, in fact it was my uncle who gave me my nickname ‘Sete.’ My Grandfather, Don Paco, was a great person he created an industry, developed many exciting motorcycle he helped many riders over the years, great riders from all over the world. He was a huge influence on my career but he never pushed me. He was, above all else, my friend and a real human being.”
Gibernau’s path to the top of his profession has not been meteoric. He made a relatively late entry into road race competition, at 19 years of age following several years competing in Trials events. He began his tarmac career in Spanish 125cc sports production racing earning himself a unique place in the history of the Montmelo circuit – Sete won the first ever motorcycle race held at the circuit, a 125cc Cagiva Cup race.
From there he moved into the 250 class in the Ducados Series making his GP debut as a wild card for the Wayne Rainey Yamaha squad in1992. However he made a full entry into world championship racing in 1996 finishing 22nd in the 250series.
He moved to 500s in ’97 to begin his positive march towards joining the elite of his chosen profession. Sete raced for the Rainey Yamaha squad in ’97 before moving to Honda in 1998 as replacement rider for the injured Takuma Aoki, on a 500cc V-twin. The following year he moved on to the NSR500 V-four vacated by the injured, five times world champion, Michael Doohan and finished the season in fifth place.
After an unroductive 1999 season sete moved on to Suzuki for two years, in 2001 – ’02 where, in his first year with the team, he won the GP of Valencia on a 500cc 2-stroke. He returned to Honda and the fabulous RC211V for the 2003 season and promptly won four races to end the year as Vice World Champion.
A calm intelligent and fun loving man with a passion for everything he does in life, Gibernau has his feet firmly planted on the ground, a man with a clear vision of life and what he hopes to achieve.
“I’m not obsessed with racing, I have a life outside the sport and it makes me realise the importance of down time away from the track, you cannot let it control your life completely.” Sete explained. “When you go out and see others less fortunate than us, even in these times some people just don’t have a life through particular circumstances, that makes you realise how important it is to live a rich and varied life. Don’t get me wrong, I love racing and want to win as much as the next man, I’m dedicated but not obsessed.”
The two-week break between Le Mans allowed Gibernau to indulge his other sporting passions, cycling, jogging, gym work and Super Motard, which he rides for both exercise and fun but he arrived at Mugello ready to race. He said. “I enjoyed the break was but once the show gets going I want to get on with it. Sure I like a break but I’m in good form physically and mentally, the team is working really well and the bike improves with each race. I’m relaxed and not about to get too excited about the situation we are in by leading the championship, we have a lot to learn and there is a long way to go to the end of the season.”
Team Telefonica MoviStar Honda Gresini and the RC211V have proven an ideal combination and Sete is quick to praise the team for the superb machinery and technical back up they provide him with.
“I have the best team in the paddock, the best in racing. We have a very strong work ethic, everyone in the team gives 100% and we almost always improve. I’m happy with the situation. Honda has also helped us when it was possible, like the test after Jerez where we sorted out most of our chatter problems. They have been very fair with us. But we are a satellite team, that will not change and we have to get the best out of what we have. The team has done a brilliant job so far and everyone if fully focussed ”
“Montmelo is one of my favourite tracks, it’s very near the spot where I was born. It’s also has special memories because I won the first ever motorcycle race held at the track, a Spanish 125cc Cagiva Sports Production race in 1991 It’s a great track with a really good fast layout. I’ve had some good GP results at Montmelo, we did well last season with third place and we hope to better that next Sunday. Confidence plays a big part in achieving your goals and we are confident in what we are doing at this point in the championship, we have a strong mental attitude.”
He added. “We go to Montmelo and try to win of course. If we don’t we will sit down and analyse just why we didn’t and try to improve before the next race.”
The GP of Catalunya is one of three grands prix held in Spain, great for Spanish riders and race fans alike. Gibernau is happy to be part of it all. As a former race fan Sete understands the importance of spectators to the sport. “We receive great support from the Spanish fans and it’s good that we can repay them with good performances. I won the Jerez race this year and I’ve won at Valencia, it would be great to win at Montmelo, the fans would love that, me too. Wouldn’t it be incredible if we could win all three Spanish races in one season!”
Having experience of the very best 500cc 2-stroke machines and the MotoGP 990cc 4-strokes, Gibernau is qualified to make comparisons.
“The 4-strokes are now getting just like the 500cc 2-strokes, lean and mean! They are quite different bikes, although at the end both are demanding and the amount of concentration to ride them has to be very high. The basic differences are the power delivery and the engine brake, much stronger on the RC211V.” Commented Gibernau.
He went on to say. “They are, in some ways, a little easier to ride than the 2-stroke but at the top end just as difficult to get everything out of them. They are very, very fast and have changed the nature of some tracks we race at, some corners for sure. Take the double right hand corners at Jerez – we used to go into the first one then a quick burst on a straight before throwing it into the second right. The 4-stroke changed that, its now one corner. Concentration is everything, you have to retain concentration for the whole race on the 4-stroke it’s very exciting but also very demanding mentally. I think the reason is that there are so many good riders in MotoGP and the differences between us are very small, one error can cost you a lot. Fast or slow corners you can never relax, if you do someone will catch you, or get passed you.” Commented Gibernau.
Rain or shine Gibernau and the Telefonica MoviStar Honda RC211V are capable of winning at Montmelo on Sunday. He will not lack support from his team or the 100,000 fans in attendance. The rest is in his own hands, few would doubt his skill and commitment for the task. He heads the championship and is highly unlikely to fail to take a place on the podium on Sunday, which step of the three is the only question still open.
Sete Gibernau – Spain
Race team: Team Telefonica MoviStar Honda MotoGP. Racing number: 15
Race machine: Honda RC 211V
Date of birth: December 15, 1972
Place of birth: Barcelona, Spain
Residence: Barcelona
Marital status: single
Height: 177 cm
Weight: 70 kg
First GP : 1992 250cc Spanish Grand Prix – Jerez
First GP victory: 2001 – 500cc Grand Prix of the Community of Valencia
Victories: 7
Podiums: 20
Career highlights -Sete Gibernau
1984 : First racing experience in Trials.
1990 : Debut in the “Gilera Cup” Championship Gilera
1991 : Spanish Junior Champion Junior Champion
Catalan Junior Champion.
1992 : European Championship, 250cc class Yamaha.
1993 : 3rd 250cc Spanish Championship Yamaha
Wild card entry 250cc Spanish GP.
1994 : 5th 250cc Spanish Championship.
1995 : 3rd 250cc Spanish Championship Yamaha
1996 : 21st 250cc World Championship Yamaha.
1997 : 13th 500cc World Championship Yamaha.
1998 : 11th 500cc World Championship Honda.
1999 : 5th 500cc World Championship Honda HRC Team.
2000 : 15th500cc World Championship, 500cc Repsol Honda Team.
2001 : 9th 500cc World Championship Suzuki 1 win.
2002 : 16th MotoGP World Championship Suzuki
2003 : 2nd MotoGP World Championship Team Telefonica MoviStar Honda 4 wins.
2004 : Current leader MotoGP World Championship Team Telefonica MoviStar Honda 2 wins
From a press release issued by USGPRU:
USGPRU National Championship Round 5 Results
ROSAMOND, CA – June 6, 2004 – The USGPRU 125GP and 250GP Championships stormed in with the California high desert gale force winds at The Streets of Willow Raceway this weekend. Pit crews hung on to EZ-Ups and all their under-belongings while riders and mechanics prepped bikes for Round 5 in the National Championships.
With only 8 tenths separating the top three 125 qualifiers, the stage was set to see if experience could triumph over youth. Carlos Neves took the hole shot to lead the 12 lap 125GP race. A broken tachometer forced Neves to make onboard repairs while still trying to maintain the lead. Unfortunately he hit the kill switch giving way to the freight train just behind. Josh Herrin led Jon Schendel and Mike Orien while Neves gave chase, only to be dogged with another problem when his Jolly Moto expansion chamber ruptured half way through the race. The podium was captured by Herrin, Schendel, and Neves.
There was also plenty of action further behind the leaders. Early in the race, Manny Juarez executed a spectacular save after running off the track through the back esses. Scott Bourke and Ryan Ferris ran a heated race for eighth place as they swapped positions several times on every lap.
The desert winds had no mercy on the 250GP as they continued a display of crunching metal and plastic from Saturday. Mark Watts made repairs just in time for qualifying on Saturday after his bike was knocked over by the wind. Robin Clark’s bike had suffered great damage in a get-off during Saturday practice. Vince Rolleri crashed out during Qualifying, causing him to retire for the weekend.
Mark Watts took the lead from Scott McNew at the end of the first lap after he ran wide exiting the back esses, closely followed by Schendel, and Herrin. Neves, gridded in last place as a result of a late entry, gained too fast on McNew in the Bowl slammed on brakes for a high speed stoppie causing his front number plate to be rubbed off by McNew’s rear tire and tail section. Herrin, attempting an outside pass on Neves had nowhere to go as Neves went down. Both managed to regain and rejoin the race with significant damage to both bikes and riders. Shortly after being rear-ended by Neves, McNew’s motor seized and was forced to retire. Schendel made a late charge on Watts in the last laps but was held up by a lapped rider coming into the last set of turns while Watts was able to drive inside and pass the rider. Rounding out the 250GP podium was Watts, Schendel, and Clark.
FINAL RESULTS:
125GP
1. Josh Herrin Hon RS125 12 laps
2. Jon Schendel Yam TZ125 12 laps
3. Carlos Neves Hon RS125 12 laps
4. Mike Orien Hon RS125 12 laps
5. Kirk Snell Hon RS125 12 laps
6. Phil Krenn Hon RS125 12 laps
7. Britt Bohannan Hon RS125 12 laps
8. Scott Bourke Hon RS125 12 laps
9. Ryan Ferris Yam TZ125 12 laps
10. Darrell Baker Hon RS125 12 laps
11. Joel Manes Hon RS125 11 laps
12. Manny Juarez Hon RS125 11 laps
13. Brian Hees Hon RS125 11 laps
14. Frank Pate Hon RS125 11 laps
15. Stephan John Hon RS125 10 laps
16. John Lee Hon RS125 9 laps
250GP
1. Mark Watts Yam TZ250 12 laps
2. Jon Schendel Yam TZ125 12 laps
3. Robin Clark Yam TZ250 12 laps
4. Mike Lytle Yam TZ250 11 laps
5. Gordon Wood Hon RS125 11 laps
6. Frank Pate Hon RS125 10 laps
7. Josh Herrin Hon RS125 10 laps
8. Scott McNew Hon RS250 5 laps DNF
9. Carlos Neves Hon RS125 3 laps DNF
Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. FIRST PERSON/OPINION By John Ulrich Reports from the AMA Superbike weekend at Road America posted on MotorcycleUSA.com included cut-and-pasted and slightly-altered copyrighted material posted earlier on Roadracingworld.com and on superbikeplanet.com. A MotorcycleUSA.com post headlined “AMA SB: RA Notes – Update II 6/6/2004 by Herod Lowery,” included copyrighted material posted on Roadracingworld.com on June 3 and on June 5, written by Associate Editor David Swarts. It also included material posted earlier on superbikeplanet.com, written by Evan Williams. Contacted by phone, Herod Lowery denied lifting any material from Roadracingworld.com and said “I didn’t do it. If it’s in there, I don’t know how it got there.” Lowery called back a short time later and said that he had copied the material for use as notes, that he planned to talk to the people quoted himself, and that he had sent the material to MotorcycleUSA by mistake. But the lifted material had minor revisions that make it hard for Roadracingworld.com to believe it was anything but a blatant example of plagiarism. Reached by phone, MotorcycleUSA.com’s Don Becklin said the offending post would be removed from the site immediately. Lowery, who has done some freelance work for Roadracing World in the past, will not be doing any work for Roadracing World in the future. Besides his freelance work for Roadracing World and MotorcycleUSA.com, Lowery is the AP correspondent for MotoGP. For an example of the lifted material, compare a 6/5/04 post on Roadracingworld.com headlined “F-USA Champ Greenwood Replaces Pistoni On Corona Suzuki At Road America,” which started out “Reigning Formula USA Sportbike Champion Scott Greenwood is riding in place of Christian Pistoni on the Corona Extra Suzuki team in this weekend’s AMA event at Road America. ‘I heard Tim (Saunders) was looking for a rider,’ Greenwood told Roadracingworld.com. ‘I called him up Tuesday (June 1), on the way back from (the Formula USA races at) Summit Point. He called me back Wednesday at work. We worked out a few sponsor conflicts. All the people I talked to said it would’t be a problem. Tim said if I showed up I would have a bike to ride, and here I am.'” The 6/6/2004 post on MotorcycleUSA.com read “Reigning Formula USA Sportbike Champion Scott Greenwood is riding in place of Christian Pistoni on the Corona Extra Suzuki team this weekend. ‘I called them Tuesday on the way home from Summit Point,’ said Greenwood. ‘They called me back Wednesday and we worked out a few sponsor conflicts. All the people I talked to said it wouldn’t be a problem. They said if I showed up I would have a bike to ride, and here I am.'” Other material lifted from Roadracingworld.com and included in Lowery’s report concerned Harley-Davidson seeking to enter the Chinese market, as well as Pascal Picotte replacing injured Tez Stewart, with quotes from Picotte and team owner James Casmay. Reached by phone, Casmay said, “I don’t recall talking to the guy. Word for word, that’s kind of ridiculous. It’s most likely that I didn’t.” Asked if he had spoken to Herod Lowery at Road America, Greenwood said, “I only remember two people coming over and talking about the whole thing to me, David Swarts and Henny Ray Abrams of Cycle News.”
From a press release:
Pair of Fourth Place Finishes for DiSalvo at Road America
Jason DiSalvo of Stafford, NY a Yamaha factory racer just returned from a successful weekend in Elkhart Lake, WI June 4, 5, and 6th where he posted two 4th place finishes in the American Motorcycle Association Superbike Series. With the season marking the halfway point the championship standings are becoming more important with each race.
In the 600 Supersport class Jason qualified 4th quickest on Saturday giving him a front row starting position for Sunday’s main event. With a great start Jason lead the field into turn 1 and ran with the lead pack finishing 4th at the checkered flag. The championship points show Jason 5th overall in the current standings.
The 1000 Superstock class saw Jason qualify 6th on Saturday putting him in row 2 of the starting grid. Having a good start Jason ran with the lead pack of seven, which diced for position and at the final flag Jason ended up 4th. The current point standings moves Jason into 4th place putting him within reach of the top 3.
The Superstock Race from Road America will be shown on Speed Channel Tuesday, June 15th at 2:00PM.
Jason commented “Having two 4th place finishes this weekend is ok but I’m looking for wins and podiums to move up in the point standings.”
The Yamaha team and Jason will spend the next two weeks preparing for the Brainerd, MN race coming up June 25, 26, and 27th.
More, from a press release issued by Joe Rocket:
“COMPETITION LEAVES ROAD AMERICA RED AND GREEN WITH ENVY!”
History books will once again need to be altered thanks to accomplishments from the Rocket Racing Team after this past weekend’s AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship, hosted by the historical, Road America. A trio of race wins for American Honda’s Miguel Duhamel and a pair of wins for Factory Kawasaki’s Tommy Hayden made for a perfect weekend as these two Rocket Racers refused to share the spoils of victory!
Miguel “The Warrior” Duhamel has again accomplished what no other rider ever has. Accomplishing a unprecedented “three-peat”, #17 raced three races and won them all! Miguel gave the fans a masterful show during two Superbike races and one Formula XTreme race over the AMA Superbike “Doubleheader” weekend. Joining Miguel in the Winner’s Circle after both Superbike races were fellow Rocket Racers Mat Mladin and Jake Zemke, thus adding two more Joe Rocket Superbike podium sweeps to the tally.
Advancing his AMA 600 Supersport winning streak and points lead, the young but thoroughly experienced Tommy “Gun” Hayden proved to be un-stoppable while aboard his Kawasaki ZX-6R motorcycle, riding it to the winner’s circle after a hard fought battle. Doing back-to-back duty, Tommy also rode his Kawasaki ZX-10R motorcycle to within striking distance of the AMA Superstock Championship points lead, winning Sunday’s Superstock race in his typical dominant fashion.
A “Three-peat” by Miguel Duhamel and double wins by Tommy Hayden proves once again that the Joe Rocket brand of protective motorcycle apparel and the Rocket Racing Team is the best in the business! “We are very proud to work with theses riders and their respective teams. Congratulations to all!” said Bruce Parker, Marketing Director of Joe Rocket Sports gear.
The Rocket Racing Team will return to action June 25 – 27 at Brainerd.
From a press release issued by Harley-Davidson:
Harley-Davidson Moves to Bolster China Presence
Motorcycle Maker Announces Relationship with Chinese Company
MILWAUKEE – Harley-Davidson, Inc. today announced the signing of a memo of understanding with the Zongshen Motorcycle Group which could facilitate Harley-Davidson’s entry into the Chinese motorcycle market and enhance Zongshen’s capabilities in its home market. The announcement came during a visit by Harley-Davidson Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Bleustein and other company officials to Zongshen’s headquarters in Chongqing, China.
Both companies emphasized that the memo of understanding provides a framework for a potential relationship, but that many details are yet to be discussed before the two companies commit to a formal agreement.
“Harley-Davidson’s primary objective is to export our American-made motorcycles to China and to develop political and motorcycle industry alliances in anticipation of the market becoming more accessible,” said Bleustein. “We do not believe it will be necessary for Harley-Davidson to manufacture its motorcycles in China in order to be able to sell them there,” he said.
Under the contemplated relationship, Harley-Davidson would work with Zongshen to gain a better understanding of the business practices, markets and distribution channels it will encounter in China. Zongshen is a recognized leader in the Chinese motorcycle industry. “We believe there is a lot we can learn from working with a company that has intimate market and industry knowledge in China,” said Bleustein.
Harley-Davidson would share certain technology of a non-competing nature, as well as marketing philosophies and practices with Zongshen, under the contemplated agreement.
“In China, there are hundreds of motorcycle companies. However, Harley-Davidson is known around the world and throughout China for its outstanding reputation,” said Zongshen Motorcycle Group Chairman Zuo Zongshen. “Harley-Davidson’s status as an American-made motorcycle has a strong appeal here, and we believe an association with Harley-Davidson holds solid value for us in China,” he said.
While in China, Bleustein is also pressing Harley-Davidson’s case for market entry with government officials. The day before his visit to Zongshen, Bleustein met in Beijing with China’s Vice Minister of Commerce, Wei Jianguo, to urge the easing of official and unofficial trade barriers that limit Harley-Davidson’s ability to sell its premium American-made motorcycles in China.
Those barriers include a 50 percent import duty on motorcycles. The duty is scheduled to drop to 30 percent by January 2005, a level which is still onerous according to Harley-Davidson. In addition, local governments in China often limit the number of motorcycle licenses they will grant, and motorcycles are singled out for outright bans from operating in many of China’s largest cities.
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, Inc. Harley-Davidson Motor Company, the only major U.S.-based motorcycle manufacturer, produces heavyweight 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 dealers and customers.
