Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Nobuatsu Aoki, who has ridden for Kenny Leroy Roberts’ Proton Team KR MotoGP team since 2002, will serve as a test rider for the Suzuki MotoGP team and may race the Suzuki GSV-R as a wildcard in 2005, according to a translation of a posting on Aoki’s website.

Aoki wrote that he has already tested the GSV-R in Japan and plans to attend another test with the Suzuki MotoGP team at Sepang, in Malaysia, next week.

Proton Team KR plans to test at Jerez, Spain, next week using a KTM V4 engine in the team’s existing chassis. Kurtis Roberts is scheduled to ride at the test even though he has not committed to the team for 2005.

Proton Team KR also plans to use the test to decide whether it will stay with Dunlop tires or switch to another brand next season.

From a press release issued by Fastrack Riders:

4th Annual ToyRide.Org Ride for Kids

If you can make it, it is a great cause and Fastrack has donated 4 track-days to be given away. Please come on out to support the kids or you can just make a donation.

When: Sun Dec 12th 2004 (Rain or Shine)

Begin: Edison International Field (57 Freeway and Katella in Anaheim, California)

Final Stop: Edison International Field

Route: To Be Determined

Benefit: Hollygrove Children’s Home (AKA Los Angeles Home for Orphans)

Registration starts at Edison International Field at 8:00 am and ends promptly at 9:00 am. Line up for the ride will begin at 9:15 am with photos. Ride will begin at 9:30. The registration fee is $10.00 and a new unwrapped toy valued at $10.00 or more. Your registration fee includes a raffle ticket and lunch catered by 211 Catering, in Huntington Beach. Each toy donation worth $10.00 or more will receive a raffle ticket. Raffles are based in $10 increments. If the gift is $20 the rider will receive 2 tickets, $30 will receive 3 and so on. Multiple $10 donations will receive multiple tickets. Cash donations are also accepted. Please come gifted up and ready to go. The group will follow a set route, which can be viewed at www.toyride.org. The ride will end at Edison International Field with refreshments and raffles.

Remember, Pre- Register and get an extra raffle ticket! All types of bikes welcome!!!

Gift donations of new unwrapped toys will be collected at Edison International Field beginning at registration. The average age of the children is 8-10. Gifts may also be purchased on www.amazon.com. Click on “Wish List” and search for “Hollygrove.” Please print out the receipt and bring it with you the day of the ride to receive the proper raffle tickets. To bring a toy for a specific child, please contact Michelle Lee at [email protected].

Cash donations may be made to ToyRide.org for the purchase of gifts on the day of the event or via PayPal at [email protected]. All cash donations will receive raffle tickets. Tax ID Information is available prior to event by request. Tax ID 501(c) information will be with each registration packet during registration.

Pre-Registration is at the following webpage click here to pre-register http://toyride.org/pre-reg.php

Please arrive prior to 8:30 if you plan to register at the event. Cut off for pre-registration is Friday December 10th 2004.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Notes Regarding The Americans

By Steve Atlas
On Site At Macau

Jeremy Toye had issues with a cracked front wheel, which he found out when he put the new tire on the warmer just before the session. Thus he had to use a front with 30 laps on it as there was no time to mount a new one.

Josh Hayes is getting up to speed quickly, as is Geoff May but both said they rode conservatively after seeing the crash from yesterday. Also, British rider Gus Scott got out of shape ending the final corner, tried to run off into hot pit lane, but hit the outside wall and landed on an embankment, nearly in the ocean. Scott suffered an injured shoulder, but is in stable condition at the local hospital.



More, from a press release issued by series organizers:

John McGuinness and Stuart Easton, the Monstermob Ducati Team duo, topped the qualifying leaderboard for Saturday’s 38th running of the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix-Hotel Fortuna at the end of the one-hour timed session at the Far East Classic this morning.

McGuinness, the 32-year-old former bricklayer from Morcambe, Lancashire, and the fastest man ever at the Isle of Man TT races, grabbed pole position early on and never looked like being beaten.

But Easton, the 21-year-old Scot, was the big surprise. A last-minute offer to ride with McGuinness prevented him having to miss the meeting when his 2004 sponsor pulled out of the sport and he finished just 1.32 seconds slower than his team mate.

Thomas Hinterreiter (1000cc Yamaha), the 37-year-old Austrian, was third quickest, seven tenths of a second slower than Easton on a machine he normally races in Endurance events.

Michael Rutter (1000cc Red Bull Honda), the man chasing his third Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix victory in succession, was only fourth, struggling with tyres that did not work well in the cool morning temperatures.

The 31-year-old Leicestershire racer, looking for his fifth win in the event, was 2.24 seconds slower than McGuinness but was confident that the new afternoon starting time for the 15-lap race on Saturday will be more suited to his tyres.

Callum Ramsay, the 29-year-old Scot, maintained his grip on the FIM 600 Supersport Class by being fastest in all three practice sessions on the Valmoto Triumph.

But 27-year-old Australian Cameron Donald, twice winner of the class in the past three years, was second quickest on the China Yuan XGJao Racing Honda, just seven tenths of a second down.


More, from a press release issued by MonsterMob Ducati:

MonsterMob Ducati British Superbike and Supersport Championship Team

38th Hotel Fortuna Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix
Saturday, 20th November 2004

MONSTERMOB DUO IMPRESS AT FAREWELL MACAU GRAND PRIX

TEAM MATES MCGUINNESS AND EASTON TOP QUALIFYING SHEETS IN THE FAR EAST

MonsterMob Ducati’s John McGuinness will start tomorrow’s 38th Hotel Fortuna Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix from Pole Position having scorched around the twisty Circuito da Guia nearly one and a half seconds faster than team mate Stuart Easton who will start alongside the Lancastrian.

Going into the team’s swansong race after four memorable years with Ducati, the VK MonsterMob F04 pairing out-paced Austrian Thomas Hinterreiter (Yamaha) and pre-event favourite Michael Rutter (Honda) around the Far Eastern 6.12km track, to clinch the top two slots on the grid in readiness for tomorrow’s race.

Six times TT winner McGuinness set the early pace in the first free practice session before Rutter speeded up in the second one but in the all important timed session today, John set a time of 2:28.663 which was good enough to clinch him the pole as he goes for his second Macau victory.

Reunited with the team that won the 2002 British Supersport title, young Scot Stuart Easton was riding a Superbike at the former Portuguese colony for only the second time and chased McGuinness home in a time of 2:29.986, the only two riders to crack the two and a half minute lap barrier.

Riding the Slingshot built MonsterMob Honda, veteran journalist Gus Scott ended up fifth fastest but a spill coming out of the final corner injured the Cumbrian’s shoulder and he may be forced to miss the race.

Speaking from Macau, team boss Paul Bird said that their joy was tempered with a tinge of sadness:

“To claim one and two on the grid for our final race with Ducati is brilliant but the whole team has a lump in their throats and it’s strange because there are a few long faces around when we should really be celebrating. It would be magnificent if we could get the race win tomorrow and a rostrum also would be fitting. Whatever happens, it’s going to be a very emotional time for us all.”

From a press release:

Ozbike is proud to announce the names of the five American riders who qualified to represent the USA at the World Mini GP event scheduled for December 18-19 in Almeria, Spain.

The top five riders in the season finale, held with WERA at Nashville Super Speedway November 13-14, were selected for the trip to Spain and are as follows:

1. Miles Thornton, 10, of West Point, Georgia
2. Rey Dominquez, 11, Miami, Florida
3. Alex Nieves, 12, of Miami, Florida
4. Jake Lewis, 9, of Princeton, Kentucky
5. Josh Cook, 9, of Ravenna, Ohio

The race was the most exciting of the weekend with a close (0.011-second gap) battle for first.

Please contact US MINI GP at 305-880-1800 or see www.minigp50cc.com for more race details

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Friday’s Provisional Qualifying Times From The Macau Grand Prix:

1. John McGUINNESS, GBR, Ducati, 2:28.663
2. Stuart EASTON, GBR, Ducati, 2:29.986
3. Thomas HINTERREITER, AUT, Yamaha, 2:30.663
4. Michael RUTTER, GBR, Honda, 2:30.906
5. Gus SCOTT, GBR, Honda, 2:31.122
6. Marcel KELLENBERGER, SUI, Kawasaki, 2:32.126
7. Roger BENNETT, GBR, Ducati, 2:32.640
8. Josh HAYES, USA, Kawasaki, 2:33.206
9. Markus BARTH, GER, Kawasaki, 2:33.262
10. Geoff MAY, USA, Suzuki, 2:33.320
11. Steve ALLAN, GBR, Kawasaki, 2:33.705
12. Les SHAND, GBR, Suzuki, 2:33.893
13. Stephen THOMPSON, GBR, Suzuki, 2:34.494
14. Martin FINNEGAN, IRL, Yamaha, 2:34.667
15. Richard BRITTON, GBR, Suzuki, 2:35.311
16. Jeremy TOYE, USA, Yamaha, 2:35.385
17. James McBRIDE, GBR, Suzuki, 2:35.999
18. Callum RAMSAY, GBR, Triumph, 2:36.016
19. Jun MAEDA, JPN, Honda, 2:36.691
20. Cameron DONALD, AUS, Honda, 2:36.784

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Marietta, Georgia’s Ducshop provided us with missing information for a Triumph spec chart we’re working on for publication in Roadracing World magazine.

Our thanks go to:

Ducshop
1000 Cobb Parkway North, Suite C
Marietta, GA 30062
(678) 594-7717

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Racer Dave Estok, 32, was arrested Wednesday, November 17 at his home in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, when agents of the Volusia (County) Bureau of Investigation served a warrant at his home and found “a major marijuana growing operation,” according to a report on the website of Local 6 News, WKMG-TV, Central Florida.

The report states that agents seized a large number of marijuana plants, which were found in “an extensive growing operation that had been set up inside a mobile home on the property.”

Estok was booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach, Florida on several drug-related charges.

To see the full report, go to:

http://www.local6.com/news/3926813/detail.html

Estok, a long-time professional racer, was the 2003 Formula USA Thunderbike Champion.


Additional information is available online at:

http://65.77.232.5/sheriff/press/040160.htm

From a press release issued by the Macau Grand Prix:

McGuinness Quickest in Opening Practice Session

John McGuinness, the 32-year-old British rider on the 999cc Monstermob Ducati, topped the opening practice session for Saturday’s 38th running of the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix – Hotel Fortuna. McGuinness, the fastest man ever round the Isle of Man TT Circuit in June threw down the gauntlet to his major rival four-time winner Michael Rutter in the opening session.

Rutter, the 31-year-old from Leicestershire looking for his third win in a row, was only fourth quickest in the 1000cc Red Bull factory Honda, 2.4 seconds a lap slower than McGuinness.

Austrian Thomas Hinterreiter on the 1000cc Yamaha pulled off the biggest surprise of the 50-minute session by setting second-best time, 1.8 seconds slower than McGuinness.

Gus Scott, the 40-year-old from Cumbria, was third best just over a tenth of a second slower than the Austrian.

Scot Roger Bennett, back at Macau after a two-year absence, was fifth best on the 998cc ETI Racing Ducati, and German Markus Barth on the 1000cc Fylde Superbikes Kawasaki rounded off the top six.

American Josh Hayes was eighth fastest on the 1000cc Attack Racing Kawasaki despite it being his first ever visit to the Far East road circuit event.

Callum Ramsay on board the Valmoto Triumph was best of the FIM 600 Supersport competitors, in 14th place overall, lapping one and a half seconds a lap quicker than his British team mate Chris Palmer who was second best.

Cameron Donald, China Yuan XGJao Honda, two-time winner of the class which runs concurrently with the Grand Prix, was third best in the 11-strong line up.

First qualifying will be later this afternoon with the second and deciding session on Friday morning to set the grid for the 40-strong field in Saturday afternoon’s 15-lap race.


Thursday Morning Practice Times:

1. John McGUINNESS, GBR, Ducati, 2:31.938
2. Thomas HINTERREITER, AUT, Yamaha, 2:33.763
3. Gus SCOTT, GBR, Honda, 2:33.877
4. Michael RUTTER, GBR, Honda, 2:34.342
5. Roger BENNETT, GBR, Ducati, 2:34.959
6. Markus BARTH, GER, Kawasaki, 2:35.148
7. Marcel KELLENBERGER, SUI, Kawasaki, 2:35.722
8. Josh HAYES, USA, Kawasaki, 2:35.862
9. Steve ALLAN, GBR, Kawasaki, 2:37.612
10. Stuart EASTON, GBR, Ducati, 2:38.132
11. Geoff MAY, USA, Yamaha, 2:38.160
12. Stephen THOMPSON, GBR, Suzuki, 2:38.337
13. Jeremy TOYE, USA, Yamaha, 2:38.908
14. Callum RAMSAY, GBR, Triumph, 2:38.969
15. James McBRIDE, GBR, Suzuki, 2:39.129
16. Martin FINNEGAN, IRL, Yamaha, 2:39.231
17. Nigel DAVIES, GBR, Suzuki, 2:39.349
18. Jun MAEDA, JPN, Honda, 2:40.434
19. Richard BRITTON, GBR, Suzuki, 2:41.227
20. Erwin WILDING, AUT, Honda, 2:41.352