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How We Became The Bad Guys…

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How We Became The Bad Guys…

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

By John Ulrich

I was minding my own business, editing a magazine story in my office when Associate Editor David Swarts walked in.

Swarts told me that he was working on a nice little website update on Ben Spies’ preparations for the 2005 season, and had gotten quotes from Spies. During the phone interview, Spies had said that he was working with a trainer who had been the first American to compete in the Tour de France.

Hey, we’re motorcycle guys, and all I personally know about the Tour de France is that it’s really, really hard and that Lance Armstrong wins it a lot. So I wasn’t surprised that, in the course of his routine fact checking, Swarts looked up the name of the trainer, Jonathan Boyer, on the Internet.

What did surprise me was the news that the routine background search didn’t just bring up verification that Boyer was the first American competitor in the bicycle classic, but also that he is a convicted child molester who pleaded guilty to 10 felony counts, including three counts of “penetration with a foreign object,” in a case that involved a girl who was 11 years old when the illegal conduct began. Boyer has since served time in jail and is currently on probation.

My first reaction was, we need to contact Ben Spies, and since I’m in charge of this operation, I need to do it myself. I called Ben Spies’ cell phone, and he didn’t answer. So I called his mother and manager, Mary Spies, and she answered her cell phone.

I told her that Swarts was working on a story, had done a background check on Boyer to make sure he had his facts straight about Boyer’s bicycle racing career, and that, to our surprise, found…

“I know about it,” Mary Spies told me, without even waiting for me to finish the sentence. “It’s out there. It’s hanging over his head.”

The short version of what Mary Spies then told me was, Boyer wasn’t really guilty as charged, and that he had his reasons for pleading the case to a conclusion instead of going to trial. She did not sound concerned on any level, and did not ask me to do anything.

What followed next in my office was a brief discussion of what we should do.

Based on my 32 years of experience in journalism, I believed that if we ran the story about Spies working with Boyer and didn’t mention Boyer’s legal troubles, we would soon receive e-mails from somebody who had read about the case in the Monterey Herald or the Salinas Californian (both published in the Laguna Seca area) accusing us of supressing the information because Swarts has been a personal friend and fan of Ben Spies since Spies showed up at WERA National races when he was about 12 years old. This isn’t a purely hypothetical concern–we’ve seen this kind of reaction in the past and try to avoid it when we can.

Worse, some paddock regular who travels to AMA races with a young daughter might later accuse us of endangering children by not revealing what had already been published in newspapers local to Laguna Seca. Again, this is not a purely hypothetical concern–I have often seen another racer’s young daughter hanging out in the motorhome area of the AMA paddock, and I know that I would have wanted to know about anything like this when my now-grown daughters were young girls accompanying me to races.

So I told Swarts, run the story with the information.

He posted the story.

And all hell broke loose, beginning with an irate phone call from Ben Spies himself, who yelled at and berated Swarts. To his credit, Spies called back his long-time supporter moments later and apologized for the yelling part, but he then added that he would never again answer any race-related question posed by Swarts, who should save both of them embarassment by not asking any questions in future post-race press conferences. And, added Spies, various American Suzuki luminaries are also very mad at us.

Then came the e-mails from Spies friends, fans and associates. They claimed that we purposely posted that Ben Spies was associating with a convicted child molester because we have it out for Spies, (and never mind all the magazine and website coverage of Spies doing great things on the racetrack that his entourage didn’t object to in the slightest). They said that we are irresponsible, and should have known better. They proclaimed that it’s all our fault, we made a bad decision to publish the information on Boyer, we’re arrogant, and we are very, very bad guys.

All in a day’s work, I suppose. But I feel bad for David Swarts, who is the hardest-working, most honest journalist I have had the pleasure of working with in my career. Here’s a guy who takes his work seriously, who does his fact checking, and who knows that his job is to accurately report all the relevent facts, popular and unpopular.

To the Spies contingent bombarding our e-mail inbox with condemnation, I leave you with this: In David Swarts’ profession, reporting what is true is more important that what is convenient, and asking him (on the basis of friendship with Ben Spies) to not report that Ben Spies’ new trainer is a convicted child molester would be like asking Ben Spies (on the basis of friendship with David Swarts) to not pass David Swarts on the racetrack.

As for making it look like Ben Spies is knowingly associating and working with a convicted child molester, the only person who has any control over that is…Ben Spies.


Surgery For Hopkins

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Surgery For Hopkins

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Suzuki MotoGP racer John Hopkins underwent surgery this morning to remove hardware from both of his ankles and a rod from his left femur. The operation took two hours and 10 minutes and was performed by Dr. Arthur Ting at the Fremont Surgery Center in Freemont, California.

Hopkins will stay in Fremont to work with Sports Medicine Rehabilitation Specialist Tuan Nguyen for the next two weeks before returning home to Ramona, California.


2005 Canadian Superbike Schedule Released

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2005 Canadian Superbike Schedule Released

From a press release issued by Professional Motorsport Productions:

BUSY SEASON FOR SUPERBIKES

TORONTO, ON The busiest season in Canadian Superbike racing’s 26-year history is set to hit the track.

The 2005 Parts Canada Superbike Championship title chase will consist of eight races over seven weekends and the tour will visit six different venues across the country.

For the first time in almost a decade the season will not end at Shannonville Motorsport Park on the Labour Day Weekend. Instead the champion will be crowned a week later at the Mont-Tremblant circuit in Quebec.

And the race held in conjunction with the Molson Indy Montreal Champ Car World Series event will now count as a points round of the series instead of running as a non-championship invitational. Only the Superbike feature class will run in Montreal, however, not the Pro and Amateur 600 Sport Bike national support classes.

The Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike division will probably run a doubleheader at one of the existing series stops, giving it the same number of points races as the Superbike class.

The event at Mosport International Raceway in mid-July will once again run as a doubleheader. But after also featuring a doubleheader format last season the second round of the series at Calgary’s Race City Motorsport Park will return to a single race set-up, although it is the most likely venue for a second Pro 600 Sport Bike race.

“This will be an exciting season for the Parts Canada Superbike Championship,” said Colin Fraser of series organizer Professional Motorsport Productions. “Over the past few years we have added some impressive new venues and events to our schedule and that has allowed us to produce the most interesting and diverse schedule in our history for 2005.”

For the fifth straight year the Parts Canada Superbike Championship will open at Shannonville Motorsport Park on the May 20-22 Victoria Day Weekend. Competitors will once again tackle the 1.53-mile, 11-turn Pro track.

After a five-week break action will resume on the July 1-3 Canada Day Weekend at the high-speed 2.0-mile Race City circuit in Calgary.

From there the riders and teams will head back east to Mosport’s daunting 2.45-mile circuit for their lone doubleheader July 15-17. Feature races for the Parts Canada Superbike and Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike classes will run Saturday and Sunday, while the International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike class will run Sunday only.

The second half of the season opens at the 1.46-mile Atlantic Motorsport Park track in Shubenacadie, NS, near Halifax Aug. 5-7.

The series then wraps up with a busy stretch in late August and early September. The Superbike class will run on the fabled 2.7-mile Circuit Gilles Villeneuve at the Molson Indy Montreal Aug. 26-28. There is still a chance this round may move a week earlier.

“We had a fabulous debut at the Molson Indy Montreal last year,” Fraser said. “Even though it was a non-championship event our riders showed their stuff in front of a crowd of 50,000 on race day. There was no question of us coming back.”

The Montreal round won’t be a full points-paying event. Every rider who starts the Superbike feature race will receive the same amount of series points.

The tour will return to Shannonville Motorsport Park for a race on the 2.5-mile Long Track on the Sept. 2-4 Labour Day Weekend.

A week later the season will wrap up at the 2.65-mile Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant in the Quebec Laurentians. This will mark the first time the national tour hasn’t concluded at Shannonville since 1996, when the Alma, QC street race was the final round.

Thursday test days will be held before the opening Shannonville round, as well as the Race City, Mosport and Mont-Tremblant events.

All events will again be televised on The Sports Network across Canada, and through the French language Reseau des Sports in Quebec.

Pascal Picotte of Granby, QC will be gunning for a third straight title in both the Parts Canada Superbike and Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike classes. Levis, QC’s Dominic Lavoie is the defending International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike champion.


2005 Parts Canada Superbike Championship Schedule

Round 1 May 20-22 Shannonville Motorsport Park (Pro Track) Shannonville, ON

Round 2 July 1-3 Race City Motorsport Park Calgary, AB

Round 3 July 15-16 Mosport International Raceway Bowmanville, ON

Round 4 July 15-17 Mosport International Raceway Bowmanville, ON

Round 5 Aug. 5-7 Atlantic Motorsport Park Shubenacadie, NS

Round 6 Aug. 26-28 Molson Indy Montreal (Superbike Only) Montreal, QC

Round 7 Sept. 2-4 Shannonville Motorsport Park (Long Track) Shannonville, ON

Round 8 Sept. 9-11 Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant Mont-Tremblant, QC

Bidding At $200 For Racer-autographed Copy Of ‘The Little Motorcycle’

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Bidding At $200 For Racer-autographed Copy Of ‘The Little Motorcycle’



Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Bidding for a racer-autographed copy of C. Edward Link’s popular children’s book The Little Motorcycle is currently at $200 with just under six days remaining in the eBay auction to benefit the Roadracing World Action Fund, which promotes the use of soft barriers to reduce racetrack injuries.

The book being auctioned was autographed by several top stars of AMA road racing during the 2004 season finale at Virginia International Raceway. Riders who have signed the book include: Mat Mladin, Miguel Duhamel, Jake Zemke, Ben Bostrom, Eric Bostrom, Aaron Yates, Doug Chandler, Roger Lee Hayden, Freddie Spencer, Kevin Schwantz and more.

Link will also autograph the book, if the winning bidder so requests.

The auction is currently live, until November 21, at the following link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7934171230

For additional information on the Roadracing World Action Fund, go to:

http://actionfund.roadracingworld.com

Ben Bostrom Close To 2005 Deal

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Ben Bostrom Close To 2005 Deal

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

1998 AMA Superbike Champion Ben Bostrom could announce his 2005 deal within the next week, according to his manager.

“Right now, we have some offers in World Superbike that we are fielding and working our way through and also a couple of AMA opportunities. We pretty much went through the offers, and in Ben’s mind he knows where he wants to be and what he’d like to do. It’s just a matter of, basically, looking to see what’s there and selecting the one that best enables him to accomplish his career goals,” Bostrom’s manager Fred Bramblett, President of OMS Sports, told Roadracingworld.com Monday. “Everything’s gone back-and-forth several times, so we should be in the last days of it. We should be able to do some sort of informal announcement on it between now and Monday.”

The AMA opportunities being considering are Superbike rides, according to Bramblett.

Bramblett is currently recovering from injuries sustained in a motocross crash four weeks ago.

“I fell off my dirt bike and shattered my right humorous and rotator cuff and tore my bicep loose, a bunch of different damage. They couldn’t piece me back together again, so they did a complete joint replacement. They went with a titanium prosthesis,” said Bramblett. “It’s a long slow healing process. It’s just one of those things you have to work through. I’ve got an immobilizer on, going to therapy. It’s a little bit of inconvenience with traveling and stuff over the next few weeks, but other than that, everything’s fine.”

Bramblett said he didn’t expect to ride again for six to eight months.


Still More Reader Feedback On Possible Exploding Superbike Tire Lawsuit

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Still More Reader Feedback On Possible Exploding Superbike Tire Lawsuit

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION:

Via e-mail:

I believe that it’s pretty common knowledge that liability waivers aren’t worth the paper they’re written on. We sign them knowing that we aren’t completely unprotected from negligent behavior. Whether Dunlop is negligent or not would be up to the courts if this does proceed. There have been a number of serious incidents recently involving Dunlop tires. The issue with Continental tires several years ago and the resulting exclusion from racing is the complete opposite of how the AMA has handled Dunlop’s problems. That’s pretty unfair and it probably comes down to the almighty dollar.

Lawsuits are bad for our sport but this is not a one-time event and the problem has been known long enough where something should have been done. Whether they knew about the problems before Livingood’s incident will be debated but they definitely knew afterward and there have been several failures since.

I won’t use Dunlops because I don’t want to worry about that extra nail in my coffin. The crap with testing dates last season is also another reason to not buy Dunlops.

Peter Rollins
Lincolnville, Maine


FIRST PERSON/OPINION:

Via e-mail:

I agree with the idea Dunlop (and any other manufacturer) should be held responsible if defective products, known defective products, are sold for any use especially racing. Dunlop had all their Factory riders in meetings at least 3 times last year stating to them (but not the press!) that they had discovered ‘The Problems’ with their 17 inch slicks and then their 16.5 slicks as well. Still failures occcurred and yet, it seems, Dunlop continued to supply doubtful tires. I believe it will take a lawsuit or at least the discovery phase thereof, to make Dunlop tell the truth…..and that’s too bad!

Scot M. Tway
Auburn, Alabama


FIRST PERSON/OPINION:

Via e-mail:

First, I will preface my statements with the fact that I have been a road racing competitor since 1987. I’ve raced GP bikes, endurance racers, production bikes, and some priceless Vintage machinery.

Second, I’ve had the great opportunity to race on various tires over those years: Avon, Bridgestone, Dunlop, and Michelin. Currently, I am happy to say that I have a great and long standing relationship with Michelin.

Racing certainly has an amount of risk that a person in the normal world does not consider to be necessary. Life IS full of risks, regardless. Racing, in general, is about the development of products under circumstances that allow manufacturers to test products for increased durability, better traction, develop new technologies, and so on. Again, these developments are not without any risk whatsoever to products, machines, or individuals. Nothing is ever going to be perfect all of the time. Developing these products on a racetrack are not the “normal” risks that most individuals might take.

As a racer that is on Michelin tires, I understand the care and concern that guys like Ron Wood, Jim Rhodes, Walt Schaefer, and Tom Mason have for me and my other fellow Michelin riders. However, having worked with Jim Allen when I was on Dunlops, I know that he and the staff he works with certainly would not recommend or utilize a tire without discussing options with a rider. Certainly, some tires just can’t be used. Others can be. But honest mistakes can be made during the process of manufacturing, mounting, and use, or a combination there of, that cannot necessarily be accounted for. Yeah, there are failures, but there are a lot of tires out there, too. Given the variations on everything, a rider must assume that something can happen at some point. That’s the risk we assume as racers.

I wish Brian all the best. Always keep praying and never give up.

“Super” Dave Rosno
Eagle, Wisconsin

Ward Wraps Up 2004 AMA Supermoto Championship With Win At Las Vegas

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Ward Wraps Up 2004 AMA Supermoto Championship With Win At Las Vegas

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

OFFICIAL RESULTS

AMA SUPERMOTO CHAMPIONSHIP

BALLY’S HOTEL & CASINO, LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOV. 12-13, 2004

AMA SUPERMOTO RACE RESULTS – NOV. 13, 2004

Pos. No. Rider name Hometown
Bike Laps Pts Team name

1 3 Jeff Ward Newport Beach, CA
Honda CRF450R 18 50 Team Troy Lee Designs Honda

2 52 Jurgen Kunzel Heidenheim, Germany
KTM 450SMR 18 49* Red Bull KTM

3 23 David Baffeleuf Clermont Ferrand,
France KTM 450SMR 18 40 HMC Racing

4 31 Kurt P Nicoll Amherst, OH
KTM 450SMR 18 36 Red Bull KTM

5 19 Doug A Henry Torrington, CT
Honda CRF450R 18 32 Team Troy Lee Designs Honda

6 100 Eddy Seel Dison, Belgium
Husqvarna SM 450R 18 – Pacifico Husqvarna Supermoto

7 11 Christopher S Fillmore Oxford, MI
Honda CRF450R 18 15 Team Troy Lee Designs Honda

8 30 Boris Chambon Entraigues, France
KTM 450SMR 18 – Red Bull KTM

9 875 Mike Metzger Sun City, CA
Honda CRF450R 18 14 Team Metzger Action Sports

10 73 Steve Drew Winchester, CA
Honda CRF450R 18 13 American Supercamp White
Brothers Honda

11 45 Benjamin T Carlson West Bend, WI
KTM 450SMS 18 12 HMC Racing

12 6 Mark Burkhart Pickerington, OH
Yamaha YZ450F 18 11 Team Ultimate Edge Racing
Yamaha

13 1 Ben D Bostrom Las Vegas, NV
Honda CRF450R 18 – Ben Bostrom

14 28 Leonardo Bagnis Lodi, CA
Husqvarna SM450R 18 10 Pacifico Husqvarna Supermoto

15 47 Alexandre Thiebault Antibes, France
Honda CRF450R 18 9 CHM Exhaust Pro Honda Oils

16 93 Daniel Muller ,
Yamaha YZ450F 18 8 Fast 50s

17 428 Josh W Chisum Bakersfield, CA
Honda CRF450R 18 7 Joker Machine QTM Warren

18 7 Mark Avard Balcolyn, NSW
Husqvarna SM450R 18 6 Pacifico Husqvarna Supermoto

19 49 Jeff K Wood Mansfield, MA
Honda CRF450R 17 5 Bettencourts Honda

20 39 Matt W Burton Ottumwa, IA
Yamaha WR450F 17 4 RJ Maxxis Yamaha

21 210 Massimiliano GazzarataSan Carlos, CA
Honda CRF450R 17 3 JST Racing Terramodena
Motostrano.com

22 357 Gary R Trachy Orange, CA
Honda CRF450R 17 2 Marzocchi Trachy Honda

23 72 Larry Pegram Baltimore, OH
KTM 450SMR 17 1 HMC Racing

24 98 Jason W Baldwin Asheboro, NC
Honda CRF450R 17 S&B Motorsports

RACE TIME: 26:36.11 min.

WINNER’S AVG. LAP TIME: 01:28.7

*Superpole Winner – Five Bonus Points Paid

Heat race 1 results

Pos. No. Rider name Hometown
Bike Laps Team name

1 52 Jurgen Kunzel Heidenheim, Germany
KTM 450SMR 6 Red Bull KTM

2 31 Kurt P Nicoll Amherst, OH
KTM 450SMR 6 Red Bull KTM

3 93 Daniel Muller ,
Yamaha YZ450F 6 Fast 50s

4 30 Boris Chambon Entraigues, France
KTM 450SMR 6 Red Bull KTM

5 45 Benjamin T Carlson West Bend, WI
KTM 450SMS 6 HMC Racing

6 39 Matt W Burton Ottumwa, IA
Yamaha WR450F 6 RJ Maxxis Yamaha

7 41 Matthew Wait Lodi, CA
Honda CRF450R 6 CHM Exhaust Pro Honda Oils

8 555 Greg J Trachy Long Beach, CA
Honda CRF450R 6 Marzocchi Trachy Honda

9 51 Don A Biava Rancho Murieta, CA
Honda CRF450R 6 CHM Exhaust Pro Honda Oils

10 66 Alex Hofmann Richterswil,
Switzerland Kawasaki KLX400 6 Team Red
Bull USGP 2005 Kawasaki

RACE TIME: 9:12.94 min.

WINNER’S AVG. LAP TIME: 01:32.2

Heat race 2 results

Pos. No. Rider name Hometown
Bike Laps Team name

1 23 David Baffeleuf Clermont Ferrand,
France KTM 450SMR 6 HMC Racing

2 100 Eddy Seel Dison, Belgium
Husqvarna SM 450R 6 Pacifico Husqvarna Supermoto

3 47 Alexandre Thiebault Antibes, France
Honda CRF450R 6 CHM Exhaust Pro Honda Oils

4 1 Ben D Bostrom Las Vegas, NV
Honda CRF450R 6 Ben Bostrom

5 98 Jason W Baldwin Asheboro, NC
Honda CRF450R 6 S&B Motorsports

6 72 Larry Pegram Baltimore, OH
KTM 450SMR 6 HMC Racing

7 861 Calvin J Andlovec Roseville, CA
Honda CRF450R 6 Fast 50s

8 232 Nick Daniels Mattoon, IL
Honda CRF450R 6 Fat Boy Racing XG-AD.com
Racer Supply.com

9 414 Brandon Currie Anaheim, CA
Honda CRF450R 6 Marzocchi Trachy Honda

10 43 Micky M Dymond Placentia, CA
KTM 450SMR 0-DNF All Access Racing

RACE TIME: 9:13.5 min.

WINNER’S AVG. LAP TIME: 01:32.3

Heat race 3 results

Pos. No. Rider name Hometown
Bike Laps Team name

1 3 Jeff Ward Newport Beach, CA
Honda CRF450R 6 Team Troy Lee Designs
Honda

2 11 Christopher S Fillmore Oxford, MI
Honda CRF450R 6 Team Troy Lee Designs
Honda

3 73 Steve Drew Winchester, CA
Honda CRF450R 6 American Supercamp White
Brothers Honda

4 6 Mark Burkhart Pickerington, OH
Yamaha YZ450F 6 Team Ultimate Edge Racing
Yamaha

5 7 Mark Avard Balcolyn, NSW
Husqvarna SM450R 6 Pacifico Husqvarna Supermoto

6 49 Jeff K Wood Mansfield, MA
Honda CRF450R 6 Bettencourts Honda

7 343 Matt J Pursley Bakersfield, CA
Yamaha YZ450F 6 Team Ultimate Edge Racing
Yamaha

8 33 Glen Jr Schnabel West Bend, WI
Yamaha YZ450F 6 Memphis Shades Yamaha
Schnabel

9 748 Don Howard Clovis, CA
Honda CRF450R 6 Team HPH Motorsports Honda

RACE TIME: 9:09.37 min.

WINNER’S AVG. LAP TIME: 01:31.6

Heat race 4 results

Pos. No. Rider name Hometown
Bike Laps Team name

1 19 Doug A Henry Torrington, CT
Honda CRF450R 6 Team Troy Lee Designs
Honda

2 875 Mike Metzger Sun City, CA
Honda CRF450R 6 Team Metzger Action Sports

3 210 Massimiliano Gazzarata San Carlos, CA
Honda CRF450R 6 JST Racing Terramodena
Motostrano.com

4 28 Leonardo Bagnis Lodi, CA
Husqvarna SM450R 6 Pacifico Husqvarna Supermoto

5 357 Gary R Trachy Orange, CA
Honda CRF450R 6 Marzocchi Trachy Honda

6 428 Josh W Chisum Bakersfield, CA
Honda CRF450R 6 Joker Machine QTM Warren

7 431 Sam I Halbert Graham, WA
Honda CRF450R 6 Aqua Flo Halbert Bros
Racing Honda

8 123 Michael R Hale Azle, TX
Honda CRF450R 6 Hale Moncrief Racing
Rockwall Honda

9 214 Curtis Cooksey Las Vegas, NV
Honda CRF450R 6 Acceleration Supermoto

RACE TIME: 9:10.09 min.

WINNER’S AVG. LAP TIME: 01:31.7

Semi race 1 results

Pos. No. Rider name Hometown
Bike Laps Team name

1 45 Benjamin T Carlson West Bend, WI
KTM 450SMS 4 HMC Racing

2 49 Jeff K Wood Mansfield, MA
Honda CRF450R 4 Bettencourts Honda

3 7 Mark Avard Balcolyn, NSW
Husqvarna SM450R 4 Pacifico Husqvarna Supermoto

4 39 Matt W Burton Ottumwa, IA
Yamaha WR450F 4 RJ Maxxis Yamaha

5 41 Matthew Wait Lodi, CA
Honda CRF450R 4 CHM Exhaust Pro Honda Oils

6 343 Matt J Pursley Bakersfield, CA
Yamaha YZ450F 4 Team Ultimate Edge Racing
Yamaha

7 555 Greg J Trachy Long Beach, CA
Honda CRF450R 4 Marzocchi Trachy Honda

8 66 Alex Hofmann Richterswil,
Switzerland Kawasaki KLX400 4 Team Red
Bull USGP 2005 Kawasaki

9 748 Don Howard Clovis, CA
Honda CRF450R 4 Team HPH Motorsports Honda

10 51 Don A Biava Rancho Murieta, CA
Honda CRF450R 4 CHM Exhaust Pro Honda Oils

11 33 Glen Jr Schnabel West Bend, WI
Yamaha YZ450F 1 Memphis Shades Yamaha
Schnabel

RACE TIME: 6:10.15 min.

WINNER’S AVG. LAP TIME: 01:32.5

Semi race 2 results

Pos. No. Rider name Hometown
Bike Laps Team name

1 357 Gary R Trachy Orange, CA
Honda CRF450R 4 Marzocchi Trachy Honda

2 428 Josh W Chisum Bakersfield, CA
Honda CRF450R 4 Joker Machine QTM Warren

3 72 Larry Pegram Baltimore, OH
KTM 450SMR 4 HMC Racing

4 98 Jason W Baldwin Asheboro, NC
Honda CRF450R 4 S&B Motorsports

5 861 Calvin J Andlovec Roseville, CA
Honda CRF450R 4 Fast 50s

6 431 Sam I Halbert Graham, WA
Honda CRF450R 4 Aqua Flo Halbert Bros
Racing Honda

7 232 Nick Daniels Mattoon, IL
Honda CRF450R 4 Fat Boy Racing XG-AD.com
Racer Supply.com

8 123 Michael R Hale Azle, TX
Honda CRF450R 4 Hale Moncrief Racing
Rockwall Honda

9 414 Brandon Currie Anaheim, CA
Honda CRF450R 2 Marzocchi Trachy Honda

10 214 Curtis Cooksey Las Vegas, NV
Honda CRF450R 0-DNS Acceleration Supermoto

11 43 Micky M Dymond Placentia, CA
KTM 450SMR 0-DNS All Access Racing

RACE TIME: 6:15.91 min.

WINNER’S AVG. LAP TIME: 01:34.0

Superpole results

Pos. No. Rider name Bike
Qualifying time

1 52 Jurgen Kunzel KTM 450SMR
01:28.9

2 3 Jeff Ward Honda CRF450R
01:29.5

3 23 David Baffeleuf KTM 450SMR
01:29.7

4 31 Kurt P Nicoll KTM 450SMR
01:29.8

5 19 Doug A Henry Honda CRF450R
01:30.2

6 100 Eddy Seel Husqvarna SM 450R
01:30.2

7 11 Christopher S Fillmore Honda CRF450R
01:30.4

8 875 Mike Metzger Honda CRF450R
01:31.2

FINAL 2004 AMA SUPERMOTO CHAMPIONSHIP POINT STANDINGS

Pos. Pts No. Rider, hometown
Wins

1 186 3 Jeff Ward, Newport Beach, CA
3

2 157 52 Jurgen Kunzel, Heidenheim, GERMANY

3 148 19 Doug A Henry, Torrington, CT
4

4 113 23 David Baffeleuf, Cpermont Ferrand, FRANCE

5 110 31 Kurt P Nicoll, Amherst, OH

6 88 6 Mark Burkhart, Pickerington, OH

7 86 11 Chris L Fillmore, Oxford, MI

8 86 73 Steve Drew, Winchester, CA

9 83 47 Alexandre Thiebault, Antibes,

10 80 45 Benjamin T Carlson, West Bend, WI

11 69 428 Josh W Chisum, Bakersfield, CA

12 59 27 Leonardo Bagnis, Lodi, CA

13 55 875 Mike Metzger, Menifee, CA

14 44 357 Gary R Trachy, Orange, CA

15 36 414 Brandon Currie, Anaheim, CA

16 31 39 Matt W Burton, Ottumwa, IA

17 22 72 Larry Pegram, Baltimore, OH

18 20 199 Travis A Pastrana, Davidsonville, MD

19 19 93 Daniel Muller, Muri AG, SWITZERLAND

20 17 74 Mark Willis, East Brisbane, QL

21 17 49 Jeff K Wood, Mansfield, MA

22 16 7 Mark Avard, Balcolyn, NS

23 15 343 Matt J Pursley, Bakersfield, CA

24 13 210 Massimiliano Gazzarata, San Carlos, CA

25 13 555 Greg J Trachy, Long Beach, CA

26 12 31 Micky M Dymond, Placentia, CA

27 9 98 Jason W Baldwin, Asheboro, NC

28 8 200 Johnny A Murphree, Paso Robles, CA

29 8 861 Calvin J Andlovec, Roseville, CA

30 7 51 Don A Biava, Rancho Murieta, CA

31 6 62 Cory A Call, Sacramento, CA

32 6 214 Curtis Cooksey, Las Vegas, NV

33 5 30 Brian Capper, Johannesburg, SOUTH AFRICA

34 4 56 Don Hart, Antelope, CA

35 4 123 Michael R Hale, Azle, TX

36 3 232 Nick Daniels, Mattoon, IL

37 2 80 Leighton Haigh, Scunthorpe, UNITED
KINGDOM

38 1 33 Glen JR Schnabel, West Bend, WI

39 1 41 Matthew Wait, Lodi, CA

FINAL 2004 AMA SUPERMOTO CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM STANDINGS

Pos. Pts. Team
Wins

1 306 Team Troy Lee Designs
7

2 231 Red Bull KTM

3 179 HMC Racing

4 98 CHM Exhaust Pro Honda Oils

5 84 American Supercamp White Brothers Honda

6 84 Marzocchi Trachy Honda

7 75 Team Ultimate Edge Racing Yamaha

8 66 Joker Machine QTM Warren

9 53 Team Metzger Action Sports

10 52 Pacifico Husqvarna Supermoto

11 33 East Hills Motorsports

12 28 RJ Maxxis Yamaha

13 26 RAD Racing Disanto Yamaha

14 24 Fast 50’s

15 20 Cernic’s Racing Suzuki

16 18 JST Racing Terramodena Motostrano.com

17 14 Bettencourts Honda

18 9 S&B Motorsports

19 8 Ben Bostrom

20 6 Acceleration Supermoto

21 4 Hale Moncrief Racing Rockwall Honda

22 3 Fat Boy Racing SX-AD.com Racer Supply.com

23 2 Scotty’s Speed Shop

24 1 Memphis Shades Yamaha Schnabel

AMA SUPERMOTO UNLIMITED RACE RESULTS – NOV. 13, 2004

Pos. No. Rider name Hometown
Bike Laps Pts Team name

1 31 Kurt P Nicoll Amherst, OH
KTM 525SMR 16 50 Red Bull KTM

2 30 Boris Chambon Entraigues, France
KTM 525SMR 16 – Red Bull KTM

3 23 David Baffeleuf Clermont Ferrand,
France KTM 525SMR 16 44 HMC Racing

4 45 Benjamin T Carlson West Bend, WI
KTM 525SMR 16 40 HMC Racing

5 86 Gerald Delepine Haccourt, Belgium
Husqvarna SM630R 16 – Pacifico Husqvarna Supermoto

6 767 Frederic Fiorentino Ressaix, Belguim
KTM 525SX Racing 16 – Fast 50s

7 43 Micky M Dymond Placentia, CA
KTM 525SMR 16 36 All Access Racing

8 7 Mark Avard Balcolyn, NSW
Husqvarna SM630R 16 32 Pacifico Husqvarna Supermoto

9 54 Darryl Atkins Corona, CA
KTM 525SMR 16 15 HMC Racing

10 861 Calvin J Andlovec Roseville, CA
KTM 525SX Racing 16 14 Fast 50s

11 319 Justin Ross Hesperia, CA
KTM 525SMR 16 13 Joker Machine QTM Warren

12 55 Jason W Chisum Salinas, CA
KTM 525EXC 15 12 Bloodshot Racing

13 181 Craig S Mason Auburn, CA
KTM 525MXC 15 11 Fast 50s

14 146 Luke E Terlinden Kewaskum, WI
KTM 525SMR 15 10 Crank Works

15 149 Paul Nafziger Henderson, CO
KTM 525SX Racing 15 9 Fat Boy Racing XG-AD.com Racer
Supply.com

16 505 Cole T Walsdorf New Holstein, WI
KTM 525MXC 15 8 Crank Works

17 154 Monte Frank Oklahoma City, OK
KTM 525SMR 15 7 Team Cycleworks SSFU KTM

18 12 Ryan Pugh Tacoma, WA
KTM 525SX Racing 15 6 IceHoles S&M Seattle Cycle
Center

19 114 Steven L Ayler Bakersfield, CA
KTM 525SX Racing 15 5 Ayler X Racing KTM

20 161 Jeff E Grace Colorado Springs, CO
KTM 525SMC 15 4 Team Apex Sports

21 235 Cassidy J Anderson Provo, UT
KTM 525SMR 14 3 MotoVoy

22 52 Jurgen Kunzel Heidenheim, Germany
KTM 525SMR 10 2 Red Bull KTM

23 108 Olivier Annequin Denver, CO
Husaberg FS650e 8 1 Husaberg USA

24 28 Leonardo Bagnis Lodi, CA
Husqvarna SM630R 1 Pacifico Husqvarna Supermoto

RACE TIME: 23:57.44 min.

WINNER’S AVG. LAP TIME: 01:29.8

Heat race 1 results

Pos. No. Rider name Hometown
Bike Laps Team name

1 52 Jurgen Kunzel Heidenheim, Germany
KTM 525SMR 6 Red Bull KTM

2 31 Kurt P Nicoll Amherst, OH
KTM 525SMR 6 Red Bull KTM

3 86 Gerald Delepine Haccourt, Belgium
Husqvarna SM630R 6 Pacifico Husqvarna Supermoto

4 45 Benjamin T Carlson West Bend, WI
KTM 525SMR 6 HMC Racing

5 235 Cassidy J Anderson Provo, UT
KTM 525SMR 6 MotoVoy

6 767 Frederic Fiorentino Ressaix, Belguim
KTM 525SX Racing 6 Fast 50s

7 319 Justin Ross Hesperia, CA
KTM 525SMR 6 Joker Machine QTM Warren

8 146 Luke E Terlinden Kewaskum, WI
KTM 525SMR 6 Crank Works

9 641 Travis C Marks Lake Elsinore, CA
KTM 525SMR 6 JST Racing Terramodena
Motostrano.com

10 114 Steven L Ayler Bakersfield, CA
KTM 525SX Racing 6 Ayler X Racing KTM

11 142 A J Herrera Santa Barbara, CA
KTM 525SMR 6 Herrera Racing

12 55 Jason W Chisum Salinas, CA
KTM 525EXC 6 Bloodshot Racing

13 108 Olivier Annequin Denver, CO
Husaberg FS650e 6 Husaberg USA

14 12 Ryan Pugh Tacoma, WA
KTM 525SX Racing 6 IceHoles S&M Seattle Cycle
Center

15 505 Cole T Walsdorf New Holstein, WI
KTM 525MXC 6 Crank Works

16 137 Mark Cernicky Newport Beach, CA
KTM 525SX Racing 6 AVDealz.com Cernicky Dunlop

17 272 Brian Stephenson Fort Collins, CO
KTM 525MXC 6 Distinctive Homebuilders

RACE TIME: 9:09.29 min.

WINNER’S AVG. LAP TIME: 01:31.5

Heat race 2 results

Pos. No. Rider name Hometown
Bike Laps Team name

1 30 Boris Chambon Entraigues, France
KTM 525SMR 6 Red Bull KTM

2 23 David Baffeleuf Clermont Ferrand,
France KTM 525SMR 6 HMC Racing

3 43 Micky M Dymond Placentia, CA
KTM 525SMR 6 All Access Racing

4 28 Leonardo Bagnis Lodi, CA
Husqvarna SM630R 6 Pacifico Husqvarna Supermoto

5 54 Darryl Atkins Corona, CA
KTM 525SMR 6 HMC Racing

6 7 Mark Avard Balcolyn, NSW
Husqvarna SM630R 6 Pacifico Husqvarna Supermoto

7 861 Calvin J Andlovec Roseville, CA
KTM 525SX Racing 6 Fast 50s

8 181 Craig S Mason Auburn, CA
KTM 525MXC 6 Fast 50s

9 121 Joel A Tarquin Oceanside, CA
KTM 525SMR 6 East Hills Motorsports

10 149 Paul Nafziger Henderson, CO
KTM 525SX Racing 6 Fat Boy Racing XG-AD.com
Racer Supply.com

11 161 Jeff E Grace Colorado Springs, CO
KTM 525SMC 6 Team Apex Sports

12 393 Terry Meyer Saint Louis, MO
KTM 525SX Racing 6 Fat Boy Racing XG-AD.com
Racer Supply.com

13 71 Mitchel D Armstrong Golden, CO
KTM 525MXC 6 Fat Boy Racing XG-AD.com
Racer Supply.com

14 410 Brian L Lehfeldt Fort Collins, CO
KTM 525SX Racing 6 Team Erickson Sun Honda

15 132 Rick Pearce Bakersfield, CA
Honda CR500 6 Hi Tech Racing

16 24 Darrick Lucchesi San Rafael, CA
KTM 525SMR 5 JST Racing Terramodena
Motostrano.com

17 154 Monte Frank Oklahoma City, OK
KTM 525SMR 3 Team Cycleworks SSFU KTM

RACE TIME: 9:07.8 min.

WINNER’S AVG. LAP TIME: 01:31.3

Semi race 1 results

Pos. No. Rider name Hometown
Bike Laps Team name

1 149 Paul Nafziger Henderson, CO
KTM 525SX Racing 4 Fat Boy Racing XG-AD.com
Racer Supply.com

2 114 Steven L Ayler Bakersfield, CA
KTM 525SX Racing 4 Ayler X Racing KTM

3 108 Olivier Annequin Denver, CO
Husaberg FS650e 4 Husaberg USA

4 161 Jeff E Grace Colorado Springs, CO
KTM 525SMC 4 Team Apex Sports

5 12 Ryan Pugh Tacoma, WA
KTM 525SX Racing 4 IceHoles S&M Seattle Cycle
Center

6 55 Jason W Chisum Salinas, CA
KTM 525EXC 4 Bloodshot Racing

7 505 Cole T Walsdorf New Holstein, WI
KTM 525MXC 4 Crank Works

8 154 Monte Frank Oklahoma City, OK
KTM 525SMR 4 Team Cycleworks SSFU KTM

9 132 Rick Pearce Bakersfield, CA
Honda CR500 4 Hi Tech Racing

10 410 Brian L Lehfeldt Fort Collins, CO
KTM 525SX Racing 4 Team Erickson Sun Honda

11 71 Mitchel D Armstrong Golden, CO
KTM 525MXC 4 Fat Boy Racing XG-AD.com
Racer Supply.com

12 137 Mark Cernicky Newport Beach, CA
KTM 525SX Racing 4 AVDealz.com Cernicky Dunlop

13 272 Brian Stephenson Fort Collins, CO
KTM 525MXC 4 Distinctive Homebuilders

14 121 Joel A Tarquin Oceanside, CA
KTM 525SMR 4 East Hills Motorsports

15 142 A J Herrera Santa Barbara, CA
KTM 525SMR 4 Herrera Racing

16 641 Travis C Marks Lake Elsinore, CA
KTM 525SMR 0-DNF JST Racing Terramodena
Motostrano.com

17 393 Terry Meyer Saint Louis, MO
KTM 525SX Racing 0-DNF Fat Boy Racing XG-AD.com Racer
Supply.com

18 24 Darrick Lucchesi San Rafael, CA
KTM 525SMR 0-DNS JST Racing Terramodena
Motostrano.com

RACE TIME: 6:29.02 min.

WINNER’S AVG. LAP TIME: 01:37.3

FINAL 2004 AMA SUPERMOTO UNLMITED CHAMPIONSHIP POINT STANDINGS

Pos. Pts. No. Rider, hometown
Wins

1 166 31 Kurt P Nicoll, Amherst, OH
3

2 148 43 Micky M Dymond, Placentia, CA

3 138 45 Benjamin T Carlson, West Bend, WI

4 131 52 Jurgen Kunzel, Heidenheim, GERMANY
4

5 126 23 David Baffeleuf, Cpermont Ferrand, FRANCE

6 81 54 Darryl Atkins, Corona, CA

7 81 319 Justin Ross, Hesperia, CA

8 74 235 Cassidy J Anderson, Provo, UT

9 72 7 Mark Avard, Balcolyn, NS

10 60 27 Leonardo Bagnis, Lodi, CA

11 54 9 Graham Cheney, Newbridge, NS

12 52 505 Cole T Walsdorf, New Holstein, WI

13 50 55 Jason W Chisum, Salinas, CA

14 48 154 Monte Frank, Oklahoma City, OK

15 42 149 Paul Nafziger, Henderson, CO

16 39 121 Joel A Tarquin, Oceanside, CA

17 35 181 Craig S Mason, Auburn, CA

18 26 861 Calvin J Andlovec, Roseville, CA

19 26 114 Steven L Ayler, Bakersfield, CA

20 25 641 Travic C Marks, Lake Elsinore, CA

21 23 146 Luke E Terlinden, Kewaskum, WI

22 23 132 Rick Pearce, Bakersfield, CA

23 16 98 Jason W Baldwin, Asheboro, NC

24 15 7 Mark Burkhart, Pickerington, OH

25 13 173 Jason E Palmer, Winchester, VA

26 12 12 Ryan Pugh, Tacoma, CA

27 10 200 Johnny A Murphree, Paso Robles, CA

28 10 161 Jeff E Grace, Colorado Springs, CO

29 9 129 Curt Jones, Mechanicsville, VA

30 9 110 Olivier Annequin, Denver, CO

31 7 410 Brian L Lehfledt, Fort Collins, CO

32 6 333 Chris Caplinger, Foristell, MO

33 5 71 Mitchel D Armstrong, Golden, CO

34 4 24 Darrick Lucchesi, San Rafael, CA

35 4 137 Mark Cernicky, Newport Beach, CA

36 2 108 Scott Hoffman, Irvine, CA

37 2 190 Nathan Wilder, Montpelier, VA

38 1 393 Terry Meyer, Saint Louis, MO

FINAL 2004 AMA SUPERMOTO UNLIMITED CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM STANDINGS

Pos Pts Team
Wins

1 292 Red Bull KTM
7

2 234 HMC Racing

3 126 All Access Racing

4 116 Pacifico Husqvarna Supermoto

5 78 Joker Machine QTM Warren

6 71 MotoVoy

7 69 Crank Works

8 67 East Hills Motorsports

9 64 Husaberg-USA.com Saunders Husagerg

10 62 Fast 50`s

11 47 Bloodshot Racing

12 46 Fat Boy Racing XG-AD.com Racer Supply.com

13 45 Team Cycleworks SSFU KTM

14 25 Team TMM Honda

15 23 Hi Tech Racing

16 23 Ayler X Racing KTM

17 18 KTM 3 Bros

18 16 S&B Motorsports

19 14 JST Racing Terramodena Motostrano.com

20 13 Shenandoah Honda Bemisderfer Honda

21 9 Jones Racing KTM

22 9 IceHoles S&M Seattle Cycle Center

23 7 Team Apex Sports

24 7 Team Erickson Sun Honda

25 4 AVDealz.com Cernicky Dunlop

26 2 Mameko Racing Johnson Honda

Honda Red Riders Jr. Supermoto Challenge presented by the HRCA Race
results

Pos. No. Rider name Hometown
Bike Laps

1 10 Chad Cose Fremont, CA
Honda CRF150 8

2 9 Justin Hanna Belleville, IL
Honda CRF150 8

3 13 Taylor Clemens Denver, CO
Honda CRF150 8

4 12 Tommy Aquino Saugus, CA
Honda CRF150 8

5 14 Colter Dimick Ft. Collins, CO
Honda CRF150 8

6 4 Jamie Siever Belle Plaine, KS
Honda CRF150 8

7 2 Brandon Dooley Belle Plaine, KS
Honda CRF150 8

8 5 Shane Narbonne Lowell, MA
Honda CRF150 8

9 16 Michael Johnson Mt. Morris, MI
Honda CRF150 8

10 17 Matthew Weidman Westerlo, NY
Honda CRF150 8

11 7 Tyler Fisher Greeley, CO
Honda CRF150 8

12 8 Lucas Scherb Decatur, TX
Honda CRF150 8

13 3 Troy Estabrook Manchester, NH
Honda CRF150 8

14 6 Andy Wood Fallbrook, CA
Honda CRF150 8

15 15 Payton Sassman Macon, GA
Honda CFR150 8

16 18 Ryan Ferris Wildomar, CA
Honda CRF150 8

17 1 JD Beach Covington, WA
Honda CRF150 8

18 11 Mike Radley Coeymans Hollow, NY
Honda CRF150 8

RACE TIME: 14:13.12 min.

WINNER’S AVG. LAP TIME: 01:46.6

Spies Looking Forward To 2005 And Is Working With Former Bicycle Racer Boyer

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Spies Looking Forward To 2005 And Is Working With Former Bicycle Racer Boyer

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

2003 AMA Formula Xtreme Champion Ben Spies, 20, is recovering from recent surgery and plans to return to full fitness in time for a December Superbike test at Fontana.

On November 8, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Arthur Ting made repairs to torn cartilage in Spies’ left knee, a remnant of a 186-mph crash during Dunlop tire testing at Daytona International Speedway in October of last year.

(Due to his low level of activity while recovering from the serious skin abrasions suffered in that crash, Spies said he didn’t notice the problem with his knee until it was too close to the start of the 2004 season to have the required corrective surgery.)

During the same surgery session, Spies also had a condition commonly referred to as “arm pump” corrected.

Spies’ 2004 season saw him finish fourth in the Supersport Championship with one win and fifth in the Superstock Championship with two wins.

“With the bikes not working super good this year and me not being 100 percent, if that’s what we did, that’s pretty good,” Spies told Roadracingworld.com Monday. “It’ll be pretty good to be 100 percent, in 2005.”

Spies said he is aggressively working toward being fit in time for testing on his new GSX-R1000 Superbike.

“Oh yeah! I’ll be fully fit for our Fontana test in December,” said Spies, who added that he walked out of Dr. Ting’s clinic following his knee surgery, and with the help of physiotherapist Tuan Nguyen, has progressed to riding a stationary bicycle.

Spies said he plans to train for the next three weeks with five-time Tour de France competitor Jonathan Boyer, who was the first American to compete in the famous bicycle race.

(After Spies brought up Boyer’s name, Roadracingworld.com checked the Internet for background information on Boyer and found several press reports revealing that Boyer is currently serving five years of probation after pleading guilty to 10 felony counts of child molestation and lewd conduct–involving a girl who was 11 when the molestation began–and serving time in the Monterey County Jail in lieu of a 20-year suspended prison sentence. Publications running stories on the case included The Salinas Californian, The Monterey Herald and Bicycle Retailer And Industry News.)

Completing a laundry list of off-season medical work, Spies had his wisdom teeth removed before the knee and arm surgery, and had a root canal procedure done afterwards.


WERA Releases Tentative 2005 National Challenge/Endurance Schedule

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WERA Releases Tentative 2005 National Challenge/Endurance Schedule

From a press release issued by WERA:

Here is the schedule for the 2005 Dunlop/WERA National Endurance Series and WERA National Challenge Series. We’ll assign race lengths for the Dunlop/WERA Endurance rounds at a later date.

3/25-27 Jennings GP, Jennings, FL

5/6-8 Autobahn Country Club, Joliet, IL

5/19-22 2005 Cycle Jam, VIR, Alton, VA

6/3-5 Willow Springs Raceway, Rosamond, CA

6/24-26 Las Vegas Classic Course, Las Vegas, NV

7/15-17 Grattan Raceway, Grattan, MI

8/5-7 Summit Point Raceway, Summit Point, WV

8/19-21 Talladega Gran Prix Raceway, Talladega, AL

9/9-11 Nelson Ledges Road Course, Garrettsville, OH

9/23-25 Barber Motorsports Park, Leeds, AL

10/12-16 Grand National Finals & Suzuki Cup Finals, Road Atlanta, Braselton, GA

It’s Official: Ducati MotoGP Team To Race On Bridgestones In 2005

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It’s Official: Ducati MotoGP Team To Race On Bridgestones In 2005

From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM TO RACE WITH BRIDGESTONE

Bologna (Italy), 15 November 2004: The Ducati Marlboro Team has agreed with Bridgestone, one of the world’s largest tyre-producing companies, to take part in the 2005 MotoGP World Championship.

The excellent results obtained by the Japanese tyre manufacturer in just three years of participation in MotoGP, culminating in two race wins during the 2004 championship, and the opportunity to differentiate from Ducati’s chief rivals in such a fundamental component as tyre supply were the underlying reasons behind this choice.

“We are very satisfied to have reached an agreement with Bridgestone” declared Claudio Domenicali, Ducati Corse CEO. “Like us, the Japanese company has been present in MotoGP for not many seasons, but it has already proved that it is capable of producing successful tyres, while simultaneously demonstrating a notable capacity for development. For our part, we ended the 2004 season on an upward trend and we are convinced that the collaboration with Bridgestone will represent a further step forward in our attempt to gain a competitive advantage in a championship that is becoming increasingly demanding and exciting”.

The Ducati Marlboro Team will appear with Bridgestone in the next tests at Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, from 23-25 November, and will continue development work with the new tyres the following week, November 29-30, at Valencia.

“I would like to offer my sincerest gratitude to Michelin, and in particular Pierre Dupasquier and Nicolas Goubert, for the support they have given us in many years of collaboration” concluded Domenicali. “Together with Michelin, we won 8 World Superbike Riders’ titles and made our debut in MotoGP last year, winning our first race and finishing on the podium ten times. The relationship has been excellent both on a technical and personal level. A big thanks also for allowing us to start to work with our new partner from the next test onwards. This is a truly sporting gesture that is much appreciated and it shows that the rapport between our two companies continues to be excellent”.


How We Became The Bad Guys…

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

By John Ulrich

I was minding my own business, editing a magazine story in my office when Associate Editor David Swarts walked in.

Swarts told me that he was working on a nice little website update on Ben Spies’ preparations for the 2005 season, and had gotten quotes from Spies. During the phone interview, Spies had said that he was working with a trainer who had been the first American to compete in the Tour de France.

Hey, we’re motorcycle guys, and all I personally know about the Tour de France is that it’s really, really hard and that Lance Armstrong wins it a lot. So I wasn’t surprised that, in the course of his routine fact checking, Swarts looked up the name of the trainer, Jonathan Boyer, on the Internet.

What did surprise me was the news that the routine background search didn’t just bring up verification that Boyer was the first American competitor in the bicycle classic, but also that he is a convicted child molester who pleaded guilty to 10 felony counts, including three counts of “penetration with a foreign object,” in a case that involved a girl who was 11 years old when the illegal conduct began. Boyer has since served time in jail and is currently on probation.

My first reaction was, we need to contact Ben Spies, and since I’m in charge of this operation, I need to do it myself. I called Ben Spies’ cell phone, and he didn’t answer. So I called his mother and manager, Mary Spies, and she answered her cell phone.

I told her that Swarts was working on a story, had done a background check on Boyer to make sure he had his facts straight about Boyer’s bicycle racing career, and that, to our surprise, found…

“I know about it,” Mary Spies told me, without even waiting for me to finish the sentence. “It’s out there. It’s hanging over his head.”

The short version of what Mary Spies then told me was, Boyer wasn’t really guilty as charged, and that he had his reasons for pleading the case to a conclusion instead of going to trial. She did not sound concerned on any level, and did not ask me to do anything.

What followed next in my office was a brief discussion of what we should do.

Based on my 32 years of experience in journalism, I believed that if we ran the story about Spies working with Boyer and didn’t mention Boyer’s legal troubles, we would soon receive e-mails from somebody who had read about the case in the Monterey Herald or the Salinas Californian (both published in the Laguna Seca area) accusing us of supressing the information because Swarts has been a personal friend and fan of Ben Spies since Spies showed up at WERA National races when he was about 12 years old. This isn’t a purely hypothetical concern–we’ve seen this kind of reaction in the past and try to avoid it when we can.

Worse, some paddock regular who travels to AMA races with a young daughter might later accuse us of endangering children by not revealing what had already been published in newspapers local to Laguna Seca. Again, this is not a purely hypothetical concern–I have often seen another racer’s young daughter hanging out in the motorhome area of the AMA paddock, and I know that I would have wanted to know about anything like this when my now-grown daughters were young girls accompanying me to races.

So I told Swarts, run the story with the information.

He posted the story.

And all hell broke loose, beginning with an irate phone call from Ben Spies himself, who yelled at and berated Swarts. To his credit, Spies called back his long-time supporter moments later and apologized for the yelling part, but he then added that he would never again answer any race-related question posed by Swarts, who should save both of them embarassment by not asking any questions in future post-race press conferences. And, added Spies, various American Suzuki luminaries are also very mad at us.

Then came the e-mails from Spies friends, fans and associates. They claimed that we purposely posted that Ben Spies was associating with a convicted child molester because we have it out for Spies, (and never mind all the magazine and website coverage of Spies doing great things on the racetrack that his entourage didn’t object to in the slightest). They said that we are irresponsible, and should have known better. They proclaimed that it’s all our fault, we made a bad decision to publish the information on Boyer, we’re arrogant, and we are very, very bad guys.

All in a day’s work, I suppose. But I feel bad for David Swarts, who is the hardest-working, most honest journalist I have had the pleasure of working with in my career. Here’s a guy who takes his work seriously, who does his fact checking, and who knows that his job is to accurately report all the relevent facts, popular and unpopular.

To the Spies contingent bombarding our e-mail inbox with condemnation, I leave you with this: In David Swarts’ profession, reporting what is true is more important that what is convenient, and asking him (on the basis of friendship with Ben Spies) to not report that Ben Spies’ new trainer is a convicted child molester would be like asking Ben Spies (on the basis of friendship with David Swarts) to not pass David Swarts on the racetrack.

As for making it look like Ben Spies is knowingly associating and working with a convicted child molester, the only person who has any control over that is…Ben Spies.


Surgery For Hopkins

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Suzuki MotoGP racer John Hopkins underwent surgery this morning to remove hardware from both of his ankles and a rod from his left femur. The operation took two hours and 10 minutes and was performed by Dr. Arthur Ting at the Fremont Surgery Center in Freemont, California.

Hopkins will stay in Fremont to work with Sports Medicine Rehabilitation Specialist Tuan Nguyen for the next two weeks before returning home to Ramona, California.


2005 Canadian Superbike Schedule Released

From a press release issued by Professional Motorsport Productions:

BUSY SEASON FOR SUPERBIKES

TORONTO, ON The busiest season in Canadian Superbike racing’s 26-year history is set to hit the track.

The 2005 Parts Canada Superbike Championship title chase will consist of eight races over seven weekends and the tour will visit six different venues across the country.

For the first time in almost a decade the season will not end at Shannonville Motorsport Park on the Labour Day Weekend. Instead the champion will be crowned a week later at the Mont-Tremblant circuit in Quebec.

And the race held in conjunction with the Molson Indy Montreal Champ Car World Series event will now count as a points round of the series instead of running as a non-championship invitational. Only the Superbike feature class will run in Montreal, however, not the Pro and Amateur 600 Sport Bike national support classes.

The Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike division will probably run a doubleheader at one of the existing series stops, giving it the same number of points races as the Superbike class.

The event at Mosport International Raceway in mid-July will once again run as a doubleheader. But after also featuring a doubleheader format last season the second round of the series at Calgary’s Race City Motorsport Park will return to a single race set-up, although it is the most likely venue for a second Pro 600 Sport Bike race.

“This will be an exciting season for the Parts Canada Superbike Championship,” said Colin Fraser of series organizer Professional Motorsport Productions. “Over the past few years we have added some impressive new venues and events to our schedule and that has allowed us to produce the most interesting and diverse schedule in our history for 2005.”

For the fifth straight year the Parts Canada Superbike Championship will open at Shannonville Motorsport Park on the May 20-22 Victoria Day Weekend. Competitors will once again tackle the 1.53-mile, 11-turn Pro track.

After a five-week break action will resume on the July 1-3 Canada Day Weekend at the high-speed 2.0-mile Race City circuit in Calgary.

From there the riders and teams will head back east to Mosport’s daunting 2.45-mile circuit for their lone doubleheader July 15-17. Feature races for the Parts Canada Superbike and Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike classes will run Saturday and Sunday, while the International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike class will run Sunday only.

The second half of the season opens at the 1.46-mile Atlantic Motorsport Park track in Shubenacadie, NS, near Halifax Aug. 5-7.

The series then wraps up with a busy stretch in late August and early September. The Superbike class will run on the fabled 2.7-mile Circuit Gilles Villeneuve at the Molson Indy Montreal Aug. 26-28. There is still a chance this round may move a week earlier.

“We had a fabulous debut at the Molson Indy Montreal last year,” Fraser said. “Even though it was a non-championship event our riders showed their stuff in front of a crowd of 50,000 on race day. There was no question of us coming back.”

The Montreal round won’t be a full points-paying event. Every rider who starts the Superbike feature race will receive the same amount of series points.

The tour will return to Shannonville Motorsport Park for a race on the 2.5-mile Long Track on the Sept. 2-4 Labour Day Weekend.

A week later the season will wrap up at the 2.65-mile Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant in the Quebec Laurentians. This will mark the first time the national tour hasn’t concluded at Shannonville since 1996, when the Alma, QC street race was the final round.

Thursday test days will be held before the opening Shannonville round, as well as the Race City, Mosport and Mont-Tremblant events.

All events will again be televised on The Sports Network across Canada, and through the French language Reseau des Sports in Quebec.

Pascal Picotte of Granby, QC will be gunning for a third straight title in both the Parts Canada Superbike and Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike classes. Levis, QC’s Dominic Lavoie is the defending International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike champion.


2005 Parts Canada Superbike Championship Schedule

Round 1 May 20-22 Shannonville Motorsport Park (Pro Track) Shannonville, ON

Round 2 July 1-3 Race City Motorsport Park Calgary, AB

Round 3 July 15-16 Mosport International Raceway Bowmanville, ON

Round 4 July 15-17 Mosport International Raceway Bowmanville, ON

Round 5 Aug. 5-7 Atlantic Motorsport Park Shubenacadie, NS

Round 6 Aug. 26-28 Molson Indy Montreal (Superbike Only) Montreal, QC

Round 7 Sept. 2-4 Shannonville Motorsport Park (Long Track) Shannonville, ON

Round 8 Sept. 9-11 Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant Mont-Tremblant, QC

Bidding At $200 For Racer-autographed Copy Of ‘The Little Motorcycle’



Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Bidding for a racer-autographed copy of C. Edward Link’s popular children’s book The Little Motorcycle is currently at $200 with just under six days remaining in the eBay auction to benefit the Roadracing World Action Fund, which promotes the use of soft barriers to reduce racetrack injuries.

The book being auctioned was autographed by several top stars of AMA road racing during the 2004 season finale at Virginia International Raceway. Riders who have signed the book include: Mat Mladin, Miguel Duhamel, Jake Zemke, Ben Bostrom, Eric Bostrom, Aaron Yates, Doug Chandler, Roger Lee Hayden, Freddie Spencer, Kevin Schwantz and more.

Link will also autograph the book, if the winning bidder so requests.

The auction is currently live, until November 21, at the following link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7934171230

For additional information on the Roadracing World Action Fund, go to:

http://actionfund.roadracingworld.com

Ben Bostrom Close To 2005 Deal

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

1998 AMA Superbike Champion Ben Bostrom could announce his 2005 deal within the next week, according to his manager.

“Right now, we have some offers in World Superbike that we are fielding and working our way through and also a couple of AMA opportunities. We pretty much went through the offers, and in Ben’s mind he knows where he wants to be and what he’d like to do. It’s just a matter of, basically, looking to see what’s there and selecting the one that best enables him to accomplish his career goals,” Bostrom’s manager Fred Bramblett, President of OMS Sports, told Roadracingworld.com Monday. “Everything’s gone back-and-forth several times, so we should be in the last days of it. We should be able to do some sort of informal announcement on it between now and Monday.”

The AMA opportunities being considering are Superbike rides, according to Bramblett.

Bramblett is currently recovering from injuries sustained in a motocross crash four weeks ago.

“I fell off my dirt bike and shattered my right humorous and rotator cuff and tore my bicep loose, a bunch of different damage. They couldn’t piece me back together again, so they did a complete joint replacement. They went with a titanium prosthesis,” said Bramblett. “It’s a long slow healing process. It’s just one of those things you have to work through. I’ve got an immobilizer on, going to therapy. It’s a little bit of inconvenience with traveling and stuff over the next few weeks, but other than that, everything’s fine.”

Bramblett said he didn’t expect to ride again for six to eight months.


Still More Reader Feedback On Possible Exploding Superbike Tire Lawsuit

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION:

Via e-mail:

I believe that it’s pretty common knowledge that liability waivers aren’t worth the paper they’re written on. We sign them knowing that we aren’t completely unprotected from negligent behavior. Whether Dunlop is negligent or not would be up to the courts if this does proceed. There have been a number of serious incidents recently involving Dunlop tires. The issue with Continental tires several years ago and the resulting exclusion from racing is the complete opposite of how the AMA has handled Dunlop’s problems. That’s pretty unfair and it probably comes down to the almighty dollar.

Lawsuits are bad for our sport but this is not a one-time event and the problem has been known long enough where something should have been done. Whether they knew about the problems before Livingood’s incident will be debated but they definitely knew afterward and there have been several failures since.

I won’t use Dunlops because I don’t want to worry about that extra nail in my coffin. The crap with testing dates last season is also another reason to not buy Dunlops.

Peter Rollins
Lincolnville, Maine


FIRST PERSON/OPINION:

Via e-mail:

I agree with the idea Dunlop (and any other manufacturer) should be held responsible if defective products, known defective products, are sold for any use especially racing. Dunlop had all their Factory riders in meetings at least 3 times last year stating to them (but not the press!) that they had discovered ‘The Problems’ with their 17 inch slicks and then their 16.5 slicks as well. Still failures occcurred and yet, it seems, Dunlop continued to supply doubtful tires. I believe it will take a lawsuit or at least the discovery phase thereof, to make Dunlop tell the truth…..and that’s too bad!

Scot M. Tway
Auburn, Alabama


FIRST PERSON/OPINION:

Via e-mail:

First, I will preface my statements with the fact that I have been a road racing competitor since 1987. I’ve raced GP bikes, endurance racers, production bikes, and some priceless Vintage machinery.

Second, I’ve had the great opportunity to race on various tires over those years: Avon, Bridgestone, Dunlop, and Michelin. Currently, I am happy to say that I have a great and long standing relationship with Michelin.

Racing certainly has an amount of risk that a person in the normal world does not consider to be necessary. Life IS full of risks, regardless. Racing, in general, is about the development of products under circumstances that allow manufacturers to test products for increased durability, better traction, develop new technologies, and so on. Again, these developments are not without any risk whatsoever to products, machines, or individuals. Nothing is ever going to be perfect all of the time. Developing these products on a racetrack are not the “normal” risks that most individuals might take.

As a racer that is on Michelin tires, I understand the care and concern that guys like Ron Wood, Jim Rhodes, Walt Schaefer, and Tom Mason have for me and my other fellow Michelin riders. However, having worked with Jim Allen when I was on Dunlops, I know that he and the staff he works with certainly would not recommend or utilize a tire without discussing options with a rider. Certainly, some tires just can’t be used. Others can be. But honest mistakes can be made during the process of manufacturing, mounting, and use, or a combination there of, that cannot necessarily be accounted for. Yeah, there are failures, but there are a lot of tires out there, too. Given the variations on everything, a rider must assume that something can happen at some point. That’s the risk we assume as racers.

I wish Brian all the best. Always keep praying and never give up.

“Super” Dave Rosno
Eagle, Wisconsin

Ward Wraps Up 2004 AMA Supermoto Championship With Win At Las Vegas

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

OFFICIAL RESULTS

AMA SUPERMOTO CHAMPIONSHIP

BALLY’S HOTEL & CASINO, LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOV. 12-13, 2004

AMA SUPERMOTO RACE RESULTS – NOV. 13, 2004

Pos. No. Rider name Hometown
Bike Laps Pts Team name

1 3 Jeff Ward Newport Beach, CA
Honda CRF450R 18 50 Team Troy Lee Designs Honda

2 52 Jurgen Kunzel Heidenheim, Germany
KTM 450SMR 18 49* Red Bull KTM

3 23 David Baffeleuf Clermont Ferrand,
France KTM 450SMR 18 40 HMC Racing

4 31 Kurt P Nicoll Amherst, OH
KTM 450SMR 18 36 Red Bull KTM

5 19 Doug A Henry Torrington, CT
Honda CRF450R 18 32 Team Troy Lee Designs Honda

6 100 Eddy Seel Dison, Belgium
Husqvarna SM 450R 18 – Pacifico Husqvarna Supermoto

7 11 Christopher S Fillmore Oxford, MI
Honda CRF450R 18 15 Team Troy Lee Designs Honda

8 30 Boris Chambon Entraigues, France
KTM 450SMR 18 – Red Bull KTM

9 875 Mike Metzger Sun City, CA
Honda CRF450R 18 14 Team Metzger Action Sports

10 73 Steve Drew Winchester, CA
Honda CRF450R 18 13 American Supercamp White
Brothers Honda

11 45 Benjamin T Carlson West Bend, WI
KTM 450SMS 18 12 HMC Racing

12 6 Mark Burkhart Pickerington, OH
Yamaha YZ450F 18 11 Team Ultimate Edge Racing
Yamaha

13 1 Ben D Bostrom Las Vegas, NV
Honda CRF450R 18 – Ben Bostrom

14 28 Leonardo Bagnis Lodi, CA
Husqvarna SM450R 18 10 Pacifico Husqvarna Supermoto

15 47 Alexandre Thiebault Antibes, France
Honda CRF450R 18 9 CHM Exhaust Pro Honda Oils

16 93 Daniel Muller ,
Yamaha YZ450F 18 8 Fast 50s

17 428 Josh W Chisum Bakersfield, CA
Honda CRF450R 18 7 Joker Machine QTM Warren

18 7 Mark Avard Balcolyn, NSW
Husqvarna SM450R 18 6 Pacifico Husqvarna Supermoto

19 49 Jeff K Wood Mansfield, MA
Honda CRF450R 17 5 Bettencourts Honda

20 39 Matt W Burton Ottumwa, IA
Yamaha WR450F 17 4 RJ Maxxis Yamaha

21 210 Massimiliano GazzarataSan Carlos, CA
Honda CRF450R 17 3 JST Racing Terramodena
Motostrano.com

22 357 Gary R Trachy Orange, CA
Honda CRF450R 17 2 Marzocchi Trachy Honda

23 72 Larry Pegram Baltimore, OH
KTM 450SMR 17 1 HMC Racing

24 98 Jason W Baldwin Asheboro, NC
Honda CRF450R 17 S&B Motorsports

RACE TIME: 26:36.11 min.

WINNER’S AVG. LAP TIME: 01:28.7

*Superpole Winner – Five Bonus Points Paid

Heat race 1 results

Pos. No. Rider name Hometown
Bike Laps Team name

1 52 Jurgen Kunzel Heidenheim, Germany
KTM 450SMR 6 Red Bull KTM

2 31 Kurt P Nicoll Amherst, OH
KTM 450SMR 6 Red Bull KTM

3 93 Daniel Muller ,
Yamaha YZ450F 6 Fast 50s

4 30 Boris Chambon Entraigues, France
KTM 450SMR 6 Red Bull KTM

5 45 Benjamin T Carlson West Bend, WI
KTM 450SMS 6 HMC Racing

6 39 Matt W Burton Ottumwa, IA
Yamaha WR450F 6 RJ Maxxis Yamaha

7 41 Matthew Wait Lodi, CA
Honda CRF450R 6 CHM Exhaust Pro Honda Oils

8 555 Greg J Trachy Long Beach, CA
Honda CRF450R 6 Marzocchi Trachy Honda

9 51 Don A Biava Rancho Murieta, CA
Honda CRF450R 6 CHM Exhaust Pro Honda Oils

10 66 Alex Hofmann Richterswil,
Switzerland Kawasaki KLX400 6 Team Red
Bull USGP 2005 Kawasaki

RACE TIME: 9:12.94 min.

WINNER’S AVG. LAP TIME: 01:32.2

Heat race 2 results

Pos. No. Rider name Hometown
Bike Laps Team name

1 23 David Baffeleuf Clermont Ferrand,
France KTM 450SMR 6 HMC Racing

2 100 Eddy Seel Dison, Belgium
Husqvarna SM 450R 6 Pacifico Husqvarna Supermoto

3 47 Alexandre Thiebault Antibes, France
Honda CRF450R 6 CHM Exhaust Pro Honda Oils

4 1 Ben D Bostrom Las Vegas, NV
Honda CRF450R 6 Ben Bostrom

5 98 Jason W Baldwin Asheboro, NC
Honda CRF450R 6 S&B Motorsports

6 72 Larry Pegram Baltimore, OH
KTM 450SMR 6 HMC Racing

7 861 Calvin J Andlovec Roseville, CA
Honda CRF450R 6 Fast 50s

8 232 Nick Daniels Mattoon, IL
Honda CRF450R 6 Fat Boy Racing XG-AD.com
Racer Supply.com

9 414 Brandon Currie Anaheim, CA
Honda CRF450R 6 Marzocchi Trachy Honda

10 43 Micky M Dymond Placentia, CA
KTM 450SMR 0-DNF All Access Racing

RACE TIME: 9:13.5 min.

WINNER’S AVG. LAP TIME: 01:32.3

Heat race 3 results

Pos. No. Rider name Hometown
Bike Laps Team name

1 3 Jeff Ward Newport Beach, CA
Honda CRF450R 6 Team Troy Lee Designs
Honda

2 11 Christopher S Fillmore Oxford, MI
Honda CRF450R 6 Team Troy Lee Designs
Honda

3 73 Steve Drew Winchester, CA
Honda CRF450R 6 American Supercamp White
Brothers Honda

4 6 Mark Burkhart Pickerington, OH
Yamaha YZ450F 6 Team Ultimate Edge Racing
Yamaha

5 7 Mark Avard Balcolyn, NSW
Husqvarna SM450R 6 Pacifico Husqvarna Supermoto

6 49 Jeff K Wood Mansfield, MA
Honda CRF450R 6 Bettencourts Honda

7 343 Matt J Pursley Bakersfield, CA
Yamaha YZ450F 6 Team Ultimate Edge Racing
Yamaha

8 33 Glen Jr Schnabel West Bend, WI
Yamaha YZ450F 6 Memphis Shades Yamaha
Schnabel

9 748 Don Howard Clovis, CA
Honda CRF450R 6 Team HPH Motorsports Honda

RACE TIME: 9:09.37 min.

WINNER’S AVG. LAP TIME: 01:31.6

Heat race 4 results

Pos. No. Rider name Hometown
Bike Laps Team name

1 19 Doug A Henry Torrington, CT
Honda CRF450R 6 Team Troy Lee Designs
Honda

2 875 Mike Metzger Sun City, CA
Honda CRF450R 6 Team Metzger Action Sports

3 210 Massimiliano Gazzarata San Carlos, CA
Honda CRF450R 6 JST Racing Terramodena
Motostrano.com

4 28 Leonardo Bagnis Lodi, CA
Husqvarna SM450R 6 Pacifico Husqvarna Supermoto

5 357 Gary R Trachy Orange, CA
Honda CRF450R 6 Marzocchi Trachy Honda

6 428 Josh W Chisum Bakersfield, CA
Honda CRF450R 6 Joker Machine QTM Warren

7 431 Sam I Halbert Graham, WA
Honda CRF450R 6 Aqua Flo Halbert Bros
Racing Honda

8 123 Michael R Hale Azle, TX
Honda CRF450R 6 Hale Moncrief Racing
Rockwall Honda

9 214 Curtis Cooksey Las Vegas, NV
Honda CRF450R 6 Acceleration Supermoto

RACE TIME: 9:10.09 min.

WINNER’S AVG. LAP TIME: 01:31.7

Semi race 1 results

Pos. No. Rider name Hometown
Bike Laps Team name

1 45 Benjamin T Carlson West Bend, WI
KTM 450SMS 4 HMC Racing

2 49 Jeff K Wood Mansfield, MA
Honda CRF450R 4 Bettencourts Honda

3 7 Mark Avard Balcolyn, NSW
Husqvarna SM450R 4 Pacifico Husqvarna Supermoto

4 39 Matt W Burton Ottumwa, IA
Yamaha WR450F 4 RJ Maxxis Yamaha

5 41 Matthew Wait Lodi, CA
Honda CRF450R 4 CHM Exhaust Pro Honda Oils

6 343 Matt J Pursley Bakersfield, CA
Yamaha YZ450F 4 Team Ultimate Edge Racing
Yamaha

7 555 Greg J Trachy Long Beach, CA
Honda CRF450R 4 Marzocchi Trachy Honda

8 66 Alex Hofmann Richterswil,
Switzerland Kawasaki KLX400 4 Team Red
Bull USGP 2005 Kawasaki

9 748 Don Howard Clovis, CA
Honda CRF450R 4 Team HPH Motorsports Honda

10 51 Don A Biava Rancho Murieta, CA
Honda CRF450R 4 CHM Exhaust Pro Honda Oils

11 33 Glen Jr Schnabel West Bend, WI
Yamaha YZ450F 1 Memphis Shades Yamaha
Schnabel

RACE TIME: 6:10.15 min.

WINNER’S AVG. LAP TIME: 01:32.5

Semi race 2 results

Pos. No. Rider name Hometown
Bike Laps Team name

1 357 Gary R Trachy Orange, CA
Honda CRF450R 4 Marzocchi Trachy Honda

2 428 Josh W Chisum Bakersfield, CA
Honda CRF450R 4 Joker Machine QTM Warren

3 72 Larry Pegram Baltimore, OH
KTM 450SMR 4 HMC Racing

4 98 Jason W Baldwin Asheboro, NC
Honda CRF450R 4 S&B Motorsports

5 861 Calvin J Andlovec Roseville, CA
Honda CRF450R 4 Fast 50s

6 431 Sam I Halbert Graham, WA
Honda CRF450R 4 Aqua Flo Halbert Bros
Racing Honda

7 232 Nick Daniels Mattoon, IL
Honda CRF450R 4 Fat Boy Racing XG-AD.com
Racer Supply.com

8 123 Michael R Hale Azle, TX
Honda CRF450R 4 Hale Moncrief Racing
Rockwall Honda

9 414 Brandon Currie Anaheim, CA
Honda CRF450R 2 Marzocchi Trachy Honda

10 214 Curtis Cooksey Las Vegas, NV
Honda CRF450R 0-DNS Acceleration Supermoto

11 43 Micky M Dymond Placentia, CA
KTM 450SMR 0-DNS All Access Racing

RACE TIME: 6:15.91 min.

WINNER’S AVG. LAP TIME: 01:34.0

Superpole results

Pos. No. Rider name Bike
Qualifying time

1 52 Jurgen Kunzel KTM 450SMR
01:28.9

2 3 Jeff Ward Honda CRF450R
01:29.5

3 23 David Baffeleuf KTM 450SMR
01:29.7

4 31 Kurt P Nicoll KTM 450SMR
01:29.8

5 19 Doug A Henry Honda CRF450R
01:30.2

6 100 Eddy Seel Husqvarna SM 450R
01:30.2

7 11 Christopher S Fillmore Honda CRF450R
01:30.4

8 875 Mike Metzger Honda CRF450R
01:31.2

FINAL 2004 AMA SUPERMOTO CHAMPIONSHIP POINT STANDINGS

Pos. Pts No. Rider, hometown
Wins

1 186 3 Jeff Ward, Newport Beach, CA
3

2 157 52 Jurgen Kunzel, Heidenheim, GERMANY

3 148 19 Doug A Henry, Torrington, CT
4

4 113 23 David Baffeleuf, Cpermont Ferrand, FRANCE

5 110 31 Kurt P Nicoll, Amherst, OH

6 88 6 Mark Burkhart, Pickerington, OH

7 86 11 Chris L Fillmore, Oxford, MI

8 86 73 Steve Drew, Winchester, CA

9 83 47 Alexandre Thiebault, Antibes,

10 80 45 Benjamin T Carlson, West Bend, WI

11 69 428 Josh W Chisum, Bakersfield, CA

12 59 27 Leonardo Bagnis, Lodi, CA

13 55 875 Mike Metzger, Menifee, CA

14 44 357 Gary R Trachy, Orange, CA

15 36 414 Brandon Currie, Anaheim, CA

16 31 39 Matt W Burton, Ottumwa, IA

17 22 72 Larry Pegram, Baltimore, OH

18 20 199 Travis A Pastrana, Davidsonville, MD

19 19 93 Daniel Muller, Muri AG, SWITZERLAND

20 17 74 Mark Willis, East Brisbane, QL

21 17 49 Jeff K Wood, Mansfield, MA

22 16 7 Mark Avard, Balcolyn, NS

23 15 343 Matt J Pursley, Bakersfield, CA

24 13 210 Massimiliano Gazzarata, San Carlos, CA

25 13 555 Greg J Trachy, Long Beach, CA

26 12 31 Micky M Dymond, Placentia, CA

27 9 98 Jason W Baldwin, Asheboro, NC

28 8 200 Johnny A Murphree, Paso Robles, CA

29 8 861 Calvin J Andlovec, Roseville, CA

30 7 51 Don A Biava, Rancho Murieta, CA

31 6 62 Cory A Call, Sacramento, CA

32 6 214 Curtis Cooksey, Las Vegas, NV

33 5 30 Brian Capper, Johannesburg, SOUTH AFRICA

34 4 56 Don Hart, Antelope, CA

35 4 123 Michael R Hale, Azle, TX

36 3 232 Nick Daniels, Mattoon, IL

37 2 80 Leighton Haigh, Scunthorpe, UNITED
KINGDOM

38 1 33 Glen JR Schnabel, West Bend, WI

39 1 41 Matthew Wait, Lodi, CA

FINAL 2004 AMA SUPERMOTO CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM STANDINGS

Pos. Pts. Team
Wins

1 306 Team Troy Lee Designs
7

2 231 Red Bull KTM

3 179 HMC Racing

4 98 CHM Exhaust Pro Honda Oils

5 84 American Supercamp White Brothers Honda

6 84 Marzocchi Trachy Honda

7 75 Team Ultimate Edge Racing Yamaha

8 66 Joker Machine QTM Warren

9 53 Team Metzger Action Sports

10 52 Pacifico Husqvarna Supermoto

11 33 East Hills Motorsports

12 28 RJ Maxxis Yamaha

13 26 RAD Racing Disanto Yamaha

14 24 Fast 50’s

15 20 Cernic’s Racing Suzuki

16 18 JST Racing Terramodena Motostrano.com

17 14 Bettencourts Honda

18 9 S&B Motorsports

19 8 Ben Bostrom

20 6 Acceleration Supermoto

21 4 Hale Moncrief Racing Rockwall Honda

22 3 Fat Boy Racing SX-AD.com Racer Supply.com

23 2 Scotty’s Speed Shop

24 1 Memphis Shades Yamaha Schnabel

AMA SUPERMOTO UNLIMITED RACE RESULTS – NOV. 13, 2004

Pos. No. Rider name Hometown
Bike Laps Pts Team name

1 31 Kurt P Nicoll Amherst, OH
KTM 525SMR 16 50 Red Bull KTM

2 30 Boris Chambon Entraigues, France
KTM 525SMR 16 – Red Bull KTM

3 23 David Baffeleuf Clermont Ferrand,
France KTM 525SMR 16 44 HMC Racing

4 45 Benjamin T Carlson West Bend, WI
KTM 525SMR 16 40 HMC Racing

5 86 Gerald Delepine Haccourt, Belgium
Husqvarna SM630R 16 – Pacifico Husqvarna Supermoto

6 767 Frederic Fiorentino Ressaix, Belguim
KTM 525SX Racing 16 – Fast 50s

7 43 Micky M Dymond Placentia, CA
KTM 525SMR 16 36 All Access Racing

8 7 Mark Avard Balcolyn, NSW
Husqvarna SM630R 16 32 Pacifico Husqvarna Supermoto

9 54 Darryl Atkins Corona, CA
KTM 525SMR 16 15 HMC Racing

10 861 Calvin J Andlovec Roseville, CA
KTM 525SX Racing 16 14 Fast 50s

11 319 Justin Ross Hesperia, CA
KTM 525SMR 16 13 Joker Machine QTM Warren

12 55 Jason W Chisum Salinas, CA
KTM 525EXC 15 12 Bloodshot Racing

13 181 Craig S Mason Auburn, CA
KTM 525MXC 15 11 Fast 50s

14 146 Luke E Terlinden Kewaskum, WI
KTM 525SMR 15 10 Crank Works

15 149 Paul Nafziger Henderson, CO
KTM 525SX Racing 15 9 Fat Boy Racing XG-AD.com Racer
Supply.com

16 505 Cole T Walsdorf New Holstein, WI
KTM 525MXC 15 8 Crank Works

17 154 Monte Frank Oklahoma City, OK
KTM 525SMR 15 7 Team Cycleworks SSFU KTM

18 12 Ryan Pugh Tacoma, WA
KTM 525SX Racing 15 6 IceHoles S&M Seattle Cycle
Center

19 114 Steven L Ayler Bakersfield, CA
KTM 525SX Racing 15 5 Ayler X Racing KTM

20 161 Jeff E Grace Colorado Springs, CO
KTM 525SMC 15 4 Team Apex Sports

21 235 Cassidy J Anderson Provo, UT
KTM 525SMR 14 3 MotoVoy

22 52 Jurgen Kunzel Heidenheim, Germany
KTM 525SMR 10 2 Red Bull KTM

23 108 Olivier Annequin Denver, CO
Husaberg FS650e 8 1 Husaberg USA

24 28 Leonardo Bagnis Lodi, CA
Husqvarna SM630R 1 Pacifico Husqvarna Supermoto

RACE TIME: 23:57.44 min.

WINNER’S AVG. LAP TIME: 01:29.8

Heat race 1 results

Pos. No. Rider name Hometown
Bike Laps Team name

1 52 Jurgen Kunzel Heidenheim, Germany
KTM 525SMR 6 Red Bull KTM

2 31 Kurt P Nicoll Amherst, OH
KTM 525SMR 6 Red Bull KTM

3 86 Gerald Delepine Haccourt, Belgium
Husqvarna SM630R 6 Pacifico Husqvarna Supermoto

4 45 Benjamin T Carlson West Bend, WI
KTM 525SMR 6 HMC Racing

5 235 Cassidy J Anderson Provo, UT
KTM 525SMR 6 MotoVoy

6 767 Frederic Fiorentino Ressaix, Belguim
KTM 525SX Racing 6 Fast 50s

7 319 Justin Ross Hesperia, CA
KTM 525SMR 6 Joker Machine QTM Warren

8 146 Luke E Terlinden Kewaskum, WI
KTM 525SMR 6 Crank Works

9 641 Travis C Marks Lake Elsinore, CA
KTM 525SMR 6 JST Racing Terramodena
Motostrano.com

10 114 Steven L Ayler Bakersfield, CA
KTM 525SX Racing 6 Ayler X Racing KTM

11 142 A J Herrera Santa Barbara, CA
KTM 525SMR 6 Herrera Racing

12 55 Jason W Chisum Salinas, CA
KTM 525EXC 6 Bloodshot Racing

13 108 Olivier Annequin Denver, CO
Husaberg FS650e 6 Husaberg USA

14 12 Ryan Pugh Tacoma, WA
KTM 525SX Racing 6 IceHoles S&M Seattle Cycle
Center

15 505 Cole T Walsdorf New Holstein, WI
KTM 525MXC 6 Crank Works

16 137 Mark Cernicky Newport Beach, CA
KTM 525SX Racing 6 AVDealz.com Cernicky Dunlop

17 272 Brian Stephenson Fort Collins, CO
KTM 525MXC 6 Distinctive Homebuilders

RACE TIME: 9:09.29 min.

WINNER’S AVG. LAP TIME: 01:31.5

Heat race 2 results

Pos. No. Rider name Hometown
Bike Laps Team name

1 30 Boris Chambon Entraigues, France
KTM 525SMR 6 Red Bull KTM

2 23 David Baffeleuf Clermont Ferrand,
France KTM 525SMR 6 HMC Racing

3 43 Micky M Dymond Placentia, CA
KTM 525SMR 6 All Access Racing

4 28 Leonardo Bagnis Lodi, CA
Husqvarna SM630R 6 Pacifico Husqvarna Supermoto

5 54 Darryl Atkins Corona, CA
KTM 525SMR 6 HMC Racing

6 7 Mark Avard Balcolyn, NSW
Husqvarna SM630R 6 Pacifico Husqvarna Supermoto

7 861 Calvin J Andlovec Roseville, CA
KTM 525SX Racing 6 Fast 50s

8 181 Craig S Mason Auburn, CA
KTM 525MXC 6 Fast 50s

9 121 Joel A Tarquin Oceanside, CA
KTM 525SMR 6 East Hills Motorsports

10 149 Paul Nafziger Henderson, CO
KTM 525SX Racing 6 Fat Boy Racing XG-AD.com
Racer Supply.com

11 161 Jeff E Grace Colorado Springs, CO
KTM 525SMC 6 Team Apex Sports

12 393 Terry Meyer Saint Louis, MO
KTM 525SX Racing 6 Fat Boy Racing XG-AD.com
Racer Supply.com

13 71 Mitchel D Armstrong Golden, CO
KTM 525MXC 6 Fat Boy Racing XG-AD.com
Racer Supply.com

14 410 Brian L Lehfeldt Fort Collins, CO
KTM 525SX Racing 6 Team Erickson Sun Honda

15 132 Rick Pearce Bakersfield, CA
Honda CR500 6 Hi Tech Racing

16 24 Darrick Lucchesi San Rafael, CA
KTM 525SMR 5 JST Racing Terramodena
Motostrano.com

17 154 Monte Frank Oklahoma City, OK
KTM 525SMR 3 Team Cycleworks SSFU KTM

RACE TIME: 9:07.8 min.

WINNER’S AVG. LAP TIME: 01:31.3

Semi race 1 results

Pos. No. Rider name Hometown
Bike Laps Team name

1 149 Paul Nafziger Henderson, CO
KTM 525SX Racing 4 Fat Boy Racing XG-AD.com
Racer Supply.com

2 114 Steven L Ayler Bakersfield, CA
KTM 525SX Racing 4 Ayler X Racing KTM

3 108 Olivier Annequin Denver, CO
Husaberg FS650e 4 Husaberg USA

4 161 Jeff E Grace Colorado Springs, CO
KTM 525SMC 4 Team Apex Sports

5 12 Ryan Pugh Tacoma, WA
KTM 525SX Racing 4 IceHoles S&M Seattle Cycle
Center

6 55 Jason W Chisum Salinas, CA
KTM 525EXC 4 Bloodshot Racing

7 505 Cole T Walsdorf New Holstein, WI
KTM 525MXC 4 Crank Works

8 154 Monte Frank Oklahoma City, OK
KTM 525SMR 4 Team Cycleworks SSFU KTM

9 132 Rick Pearce Bakersfield, CA
Honda CR500 4 Hi Tech Racing

10 410 Brian L Lehfeldt Fort Collins, CO
KTM 525SX Racing 4 Team Erickson Sun Honda

11 71 Mitchel D Armstrong Golden, CO
KTM 525MXC 4 Fat Boy Racing XG-AD.com
Racer Supply.com

12 137 Mark Cernicky Newport Beach, CA
KTM 525SX Racing 4 AVDealz.com Cernicky Dunlop

13 272 Brian Stephenson Fort Collins, CO
KTM 525MXC 4 Distinctive Homebuilders

14 121 Joel A Tarquin Oceanside, CA
KTM 525SMR 4 East Hills Motorsports

15 142 A J Herrera Santa Barbara, CA
KTM 525SMR 4 Herrera Racing

16 641 Travis C Marks Lake Elsinore, CA
KTM 525SMR 0-DNF JST Racing Terramodena
Motostrano.com

17 393 Terry Meyer Saint Louis, MO
KTM 525SX Racing 0-DNF Fat Boy Racing XG-AD.com Racer
Supply.com

18 24 Darrick Lucchesi San Rafael, CA
KTM 525SMR 0-DNS JST Racing Terramodena
Motostrano.com

RACE TIME: 6:29.02 min.

WINNER’S AVG. LAP TIME: 01:37.3

FINAL 2004 AMA SUPERMOTO UNLMITED CHAMPIONSHIP POINT STANDINGS

Pos. Pts. No. Rider, hometown
Wins

1 166 31 Kurt P Nicoll, Amherst, OH
3

2 148 43 Micky M Dymond, Placentia, CA

3 138 45 Benjamin T Carlson, West Bend, WI

4 131 52 Jurgen Kunzel, Heidenheim, GERMANY
4

5 126 23 David Baffeleuf, Cpermont Ferrand, FRANCE

6 81 54 Darryl Atkins, Corona, CA

7 81 319 Justin Ross, Hesperia, CA

8 74 235 Cassidy J Anderson, Provo, UT

9 72 7 Mark Avard, Balcolyn, NS

10 60 27 Leonardo Bagnis, Lodi, CA

11 54 9 Graham Cheney, Newbridge, NS

12 52 505 Cole T Walsdorf, New Holstein, WI

13 50 55 Jason W Chisum, Salinas, CA

14 48 154 Monte Frank, Oklahoma City, OK

15 42 149 Paul Nafziger, Henderson, CO

16 39 121 Joel A Tarquin, Oceanside, CA

17 35 181 Craig S Mason, Auburn, CA

18 26 861 Calvin J Andlovec, Roseville, CA

19 26 114 Steven L Ayler, Bakersfield, CA

20 25 641 Travic C Marks, Lake Elsinore, CA

21 23 146 Luke E Terlinden, Kewaskum, WI

22 23 132 Rick Pearce, Bakersfield, CA

23 16 98 Jason W Baldwin, Asheboro, NC

24 15 7 Mark Burkhart, Pickerington, OH

25 13 173 Jason E Palmer, Winchester, VA

26 12 12 Ryan Pugh, Tacoma, CA

27 10 200 Johnny A Murphree, Paso Robles, CA

28 10 161 Jeff E Grace, Colorado Springs, CO

29 9 129 Curt Jones, Mechanicsville, VA

30 9 110 Olivier Annequin, Denver, CO

31 7 410 Brian L Lehfledt, Fort Collins, CO

32 6 333 Chris Caplinger, Foristell, MO

33 5 71 Mitchel D Armstrong, Golden, CO

34 4 24 Darrick Lucchesi, San Rafael, CA

35 4 137 Mark Cernicky, Newport Beach, CA

36 2 108 Scott Hoffman, Irvine, CA

37 2 190 Nathan Wilder, Montpelier, VA

38 1 393 Terry Meyer, Saint Louis, MO

FINAL 2004 AMA SUPERMOTO UNLIMITED CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM STANDINGS

Pos Pts Team
Wins

1 292 Red Bull KTM
7

2 234 HMC Racing

3 126 All Access Racing

4 116 Pacifico Husqvarna Supermoto

5 78 Joker Machine QTM Warren

6 71 MotoVoy

7 69 Crank Works

8 67 East Hills Motorsports

9 64 Husaberg-USA.com Saunders Husagerg

10 62 Fast 50`s

11 47 Bloodshot Racing

12 46 Fat Boy Racing XG-AD.com Racer Supply.com

13 45 Team Cycleworks SSFU KTM

14 25 Team TMM Honda

15 23 Hi Tech Racing

16 23 Ayler X Racing KTM

17 18 KTM 3 Bros

18 16 S&B Motorsports

19 14 JST Racing Terramodena Motostrano.com

20 13 Shenandoah Honda Bemisderfer Honda

21 9 Jones Racing KTM

22 9 IceHoles S&M Seattle Cycle Center

23 7 Team Apex Sports

24 7 Team Erickson Sun Honda

25 4 AVDealz.com Cernicky Dunlop

26 2 Mameko Racing Johnson Honda

Honda Red Riders Jr. Supermoto Challenge presented by the HRCA Race
results

Pos. No. Rider name Hometown
Bike Laps

1 10 Chad Cose Fremont, CA
Honda CRF150 8

2 9 Justin Hanna Belleville, IL
Honda CRF150 8

3 13 Taylor Clemens Denver, CO
Honda CRF150 8

4 12 Tommy Aquino Saugus, CA
Honda CRF150 8

5 14 Colter Dimick Ft. Collins, CO
Honda CRF150 8

6 4 Jamie Siever Belle Plaine, KS
Honda CRF150 8

7 2 Brandon Dooley Belle Plaine, KS
Honda CRF150 8

8 5 Shane Narbonne Lowell, MA
Honda CRF150 8

9 16 Michael Johnson Mt. Morris, MI
Honda CRF150 8

10 17 Matthew Weidman Westerlo, NY
Honda CRF150 8

11 7 Tyler Fisher Greeley, CO
Honda CRF150 8

12 8 Lucas Scherb Decatur, TX
Honda CRF150 8

13 3 Troy Estabrook Manchester, NH
Honda CRF150 8

14 6 Andy Wood Fallbrook, CA
Honda CRF150 8

15 15 Payton Sassman Macon, GA
Honda CFR150 8

16 18 Ryan Ferris Wildomar, CA
Honda CRF150 8

17 1 JD Beach Covington, WA
Honda CRF150 8

18 11 Mike Radley Coeymans Hollow, NY
Honda CRF150 8

RACE TIME: 14:13.12 min.

WINNER’S AVG. LAP TIME: 01:46.6

Spies Looking Forward To 2005 And Is Working With Former Bicycle Racer Boyer

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

2003 AMA Formula Xtreme Champion Ben Spies, 20, is recovering from recent surgery and plans to return to full fitness in time for a December Superbike test at Fontana.

On November 8, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Arthur Ting made repairs to torn cartilage in Spies’ left knee, a remnant of a 186-mph crash during Dunlop tire testing at Daytona International Speedway in October of last year.

(Due to his low level of activity while recovering from the serious skin abrasions suffered in that crash, Spies said he didn’t notice the problem with his knee until it was too close to the start of the 2004 season to have the required corrective surgery.)

During the same surgery session, Spies also had a condition commonly referred to as “arm pump” corrected.

Spies’ 2004 season saw him finish fourth in the Supersport Championship with one win and fifth in the Superstock Championship with two wins.

“With the bikes not working super good this year and me not being 100 percent, if that’s what we did, that’s pretty good,” Spies told Roadracingworld.com Monday. “It’ll be pretty good to be 100 percent, in 2005.”

Spies said he is aggressively working toward being fit in time for testing on his new GSX-R1000 Superbike.

“Oh yeah! I’ll be fully fit for our Fontana test in December,” said Spies, who added that he walked out of Dr. Ting’s clinic following his knee surgery, and with the help of physiotherapist Tuan Nguyen, has progressed to riding a stationary bicycle.

Spies said he plans to train for the next three weeks with five-time Tour de France competitor Jonathan Boyer, who was the first American to compete in the famous bicycle race.

(After Spies brought up Boyer’s name, Roadracingworld.com checked the Internet for background information on Boyer and found several press reports revealing that Boyer is currently serving five years of probation after pleading guilty to 10 felony counts of child molestation and lewd conduct–involving a girl who was 11 when the molestation began–and serving time in the Monterey County Jail in lieu of a 20-year suspended prison sentence. Publications running stories on the case included The Salinas Californian, The Monterey Herald and Bicycle Retailer And Industry News.)

Completing a laundry list of off-season medical work, Spies had his wisdom teeth removed before the knee and arm surgery, and had a root canal procedure done afterwards.


WERA Releases Tentative 2005 National Challenge/Endurance Schedule

From a press release issued by WERA:

Here is the schedule for the 2005 Dunlop/WERA National Endurance Series and WERA National Challenge Series. We’ll assign race lengths for the Dunlop/WERA Endurance rounds at a later date.

3/25-27 Jennings GP, Jennings, FL

5/6-8 Autobahn Country Club, Joliet, IL

5/19-22 2005 Cycle Jam, VIR, Alton, VA

6/3-5 Willow Springs Raceway, Rosamond, CA

6/24-26 Las Vegas Classic Course, Las Vegas, NV

7/15-17 Grattan Raceway, Grattan, MI

8/5-7 Summit Point Raceway, Summit Point, WV

8/19-21 Talladega Gran Prix Raceway, Talladega, AL

9/9-11 Nelson Ledges Road Course, Garrettsville, OH

9/23-25 Barber Motorsports Park, Leeds, AL

10/12-16 Grand National Finals & Suzuki Cup Finals, Road Atlanta, Braselton, GA

It’s Official: Ducati MotoGP Team To Race On Bridgestones In 2005

From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM TO RACE WITH BRIDGESTONE

Bologna (Italy), 15 November 2004: The Ducati Marlboro Team has agreed with Bridgestone, one of the world’s largest tyre-producing companies, to take part in the 2005 MotoGP World Championship.

The excellent results obtained by the Japanese tyre manufacturer in just three years of participation in MotoGP, culminating in two race wins during the 2004 championship, and the opportunity to differentiate from Ducati’s chief rivals in such a fundamental component as tyre supply were the underlying reasons behind this choice.

“We are very satisfied to have reached an agreement with Bridgestone” declared Claudio Domenicali, Ducati Corse CEO. “Like us, the Japanese company has been present in MotoGP for not many seasons, but it has already proved that it is capable of producing successful tyres, while simultaneously demonstrating a notable capacity for development. For our part, we ended the 2004 season on an upward trend and we are convinced that the collaboration with Bridgestone will represent a further step forward in our attempt to gain a competitive advantage in a championship that is becoming increasingly demanding and exciting”.

The Ducati Marlboro Team will appear with Bridgestone in the next tests at Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, from 23-25 November, and will continue development work with the new tyres the following week, November 29-30, at Valencia.

“I would like to offer my sincerest gratitude to Michelin, and in particular Pierre Dupasquier and Nicolas Goubert, for the support they have given us in many years of collaboration” concluded Domenicali. “Together with Michelin, we won 8 World Superbike Riders’ titles and made our debut in MotoGP last year, winning our first race and finishing on the podium ten times. The relationship has been excellent both on a technical and personal level. A big thanks also for allowing us to start to work with our new partner from the next test onwards. This is a truly sporting gesture that is much appreciated and it shows that the rapport between our two companies continues to be excellent”.


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