From a press release issued by Ducati North America:

FIRST DUCATI MONSTER CHALLENGE WINNERS CHOSEN AT SAN FRANCISCO IMS SHOW

The search for the coolest Monster has begun, and the coolest Monster in Northern California was determined this weekend.

Cupertino, CA – November 11, 2004 – Ducati’s search for the coolest Monster in North America started with a bang this past weekend at the San Mateo IMS Motorcycle show. The Monsters entered were each unique creations making the judges’ job difficult to choose a clear winner. Judges chose Stuart Baker from Burbank, California as 1st place for his 1999 Retro inspired Monster 750. The trek to Northern California was well worth it since he won a trip to Daytona, Florida during bike week for the final round of the Monster Challenge.



“Well, I was unable to enter the Long Beach show as I’m getting married that weekend, so it had to be Northern California, or not at all. And without my future wife Patricia’s support I couldn’t have made this possible. I had just completed the bike about a month prior, and was just picking off the list of things to do when I heard of the Monster Challenge. I knew I had to enter. I had NO IDEA I would win, heck, I didn’t even know if I would get any awards at all! After seeing the competition, I didn’t really think that I had a shot at anything,” said Stuart.

Not only was Stuart’s bike visually different, he had done all of the work himself including the conversion to a dry clutch. He converted the bike to fuel injection, made a custom rear frame and tail bodywork, and made a custom box to house all of the electrical components out-of-sight. This last bit of attention to detail allows a clear view through the front part of the frame and really sets the bike apart from anything else.

2nd place went to Martin Wong from Sacramento, CA for his completely carbon creation 1996 M900. He went home with a $250 Ducati Performance gift certificate. Finally, 3rd place winner, James Martin received a $100 Ducati Performance gift certificate for his marble 2002 Monster S4.

The People’s Choice winner, “Tigre” as Steve Metz calls it, was a favorite among the young and old IMS patrons. The outrageous tiger paint job, tiger tail, and even tiger colored leathers brought everyone’s attention to his 2000 Monster 900. Steve was instantly identified around the show with his tiger jacket.



Michael Lock, Ducati North America CEO, said “How are we going to choose a winner? Daytona is going to be difficult for the judges. If this first show is any indication of what’s to come, the Ducatisti have really raised the bar for what’s considered a ‘cool’ Monster in my book.”

The next event will be at Dallas, Texas, November 19-21, where Ducati will continue their search for the coolest Monster in North America. To enter, visit www.ducatiusa.com for details or send an email with your contact information and photos to [email protected]. There is no cost to enter and chosen entrants receive a free t-shirt, dinner Friday night with Iron Butt record holder Gary Eagan, and a free ticket to the IMS show.

Founded in 1926, Ducati builds racing-inspired motorcycles characterized by unique engine features, innovative design, advanced engineering and overall technical excellence. The Company produces motorcycles in five market segments which vary in their technical and design features and intended customers: Superbike, Supersport; Monster, Sport Touring and Multistrada. The Company’s motorcycles are sold in more than 60 countries worldwide, with a primary focus in the Western European, Japan and North American markets. Ducati has won thirteen of the last fifteen World Superbike Championship titles and more individual victories than the competition put together. For more information about the Company, please visit our web site at www.ducati.com.

From a press release:

38TH MACAU MOTORCYCLE GRAND PRIX – HOTEL FORTUNA TWO-WHEEL KING OF MACAU SET FOR RETURN AS HOTEL FORTUNA TAKES TITLE SPONSORSHIP


Briton Michael Rutter, who notched up his fourth Macau title in six years in 2003, is set for a return to one of the most unique and demanding road races on earth – the 38th Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix – Hotel Fortuna. Testament to the increasing profile of this extraordinary race, it has this year attracted a title sponsor for the first time.

Rutter, fresh from a tremendous year in the British Superbike Championship, which saw him finish the season second on the leaderboard in the highly-competitive series, the 31-year-old will be aboard a 1000cc Honda Racing Team machine for this year’s Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix as he continues his charge to break motorcycle legend Ron Haslam’s unbeaten record of six Macau victories.

However, such is the quality of the entry this year, that Rutter will find it tough to repeat his dominance of the event last year.

On-track arch rival and off-track friend, John McGuinness, who won the event in 2001 and has been runner-up to Rutter for the last two years, will be aboard a 1000cc Monstermob Ducati and no doubt with the determination to break his adversary’s run of wins. The 32-year-old fellow Briton has had a brilliant season, winning the Formula 1 and Junior events at the Isle of Man TT and also competing in the British Superbike Championship winning the Brands Hatch round. In the TT, McGuinness set a new outright lap record.

Britons, with their superior experience on street circuits, have won the Macau event for the last six years, and included in the strong UK contingent is multi-Isle of Man TT winner Ian Lougher and racing journalist Gus Scott who describes the Guia Circuit as “the most challenging and exciting track I have ever ridden on”. Scott, who is making his 6th trip to the Far East Classic and has been competing in the British Superbike Cup this year finishing a creditable 7th, will ride the 1000cc Vodka Kick Slingshot Honda.

Macau regulars Iain Duffus and last year’s third place finisher Brian Morrison have hung up their leathers but the lure of Macau has inspired them to form their own team and bring Macau newcomers Les Shand and Dean Ellison. Other British newcomers include James McBride, Ian Armstrong and Roy Richardson who is mounted on the Fylde Superbikes 636cc Kawasaki.

Returning to Macau after a two-year absence is Scotsman Roger Bennett. Making his 14th visit, Bennett has always sworn to conquer the Guia Circuit, just missing out on a victory in 1996 when he finished second. Bennett won the Scottish Championship in 2002 and 2003 on a 1000cc Suzuki.

The truly international field also includes three of the best riders from the USA includingtwo from the top ten of the 2004 American Superbike Championship. Geoff May made his Macau debut last year, finishing 8th. Geoff is currently 5th in the US Championship ahead of numerous factory entries. Jeremy Toye also debuted in 2003 with 9th place. The newcomer taking on the daunting Macau circuit is Josh Hayes on the factory Kawasaki who currently lies 10th in the American standings.

From Germany comes 32-year-old Markus Barth, making his 7th trip to Macau where he has just missed out on a podium finish twice, but has won the Supersport class. For 2004 he has secured a seat on the second Fylde Superbikes entry, a 1000cc Kawasaki.

Thomas Hinterreiter from Austria, winner of the prestigious BMW Motorrad BoxerCup this year, joins newcomer and countryman Horst Saiger on a pair of 1000cc Yamaha Austria machines.

From Switzerland, making his 5th Macau appearance, comes Marcel Kellenberger on the Bolliger Kawasaki.

After impressive results in the 2004 TT, Jun Maeda will once again fly the flag for Japan on his 954cc Honda Dream Racing bike. The 36-year-old will be making his 4th visit to Macau.

Run alongside the Superbike class is the ultra competitive FIM 600cc class. Due to a change in their model line up, the Triumph factory team will make its swansong in 600cc racing at Macau. The Valmoto entered team are making a real effort to go out with a final victory by securing the services of TT winner Chris Palmer and Macau veteran Callum Ramsay.

Former British 600cc Champion, 21-year-old Stuart Easton returns to Macau for a 3rd time, this year on the 750cc Ducati Coventry machine. Easton has competed in the British Superbike and Supersport Championships this year, and will be looking to add a second Macau 600cc victory to his impressive portfolio

Another 600cc class entry includes German Benny Jerzenbeck on Peter Rubatto’s machine.

Representing Macau on home turf will be Leong Iok Choi, Sou Se Hong and Ip Weng Keong who will make this debut in the Motorcycle Grand Prix.

The 15-lap 38th Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix – Hotel Fortuna moves this year from its traditional early morning Saturday slot to 3:15pm in the afternoon. This will give even more two-wheel racing fans a chance to catch one of the most spectacular – and breathtaking – motorcycle races on the planet.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Stay off drugs, stay out of gangs, stay in school and if you’re going to push the limits of your vehicle do it at the racetrack. That’s the message carried by Team Sheriff Racing, a not-for-profit community education and outreach program endorsed by the Los Angeles County (California) Sheriff’s Department.

Conceived by Deputy Bill Chaffin in 1993, the program is made up of full-time Deputies who volunteer their free time to go racing, then use their racing, their race machines and their racing equipment to capture the attention of and deliver their message to driving-age youths at various school and community events throughout Southern California.

The program has used various drag racing cars over the past decade, but recently added a 2004 Honda CBR600RR, provided by American Honda and backed by numerous motorcycle industry sponsors, to its fleet of vehicles.

The rider will be Deputy Michael Churney, 28, a long-time motorcyclist, an eight-year veteran of the Department and a member of Team Sheriff Racing for several years.

“I’ve been helping out with the team for the last few years. I liked the program but drag racing wasn’t really my thing,” said Churney, who said he has lost several friends in sportbike riding accidents on Southern California’s canyon roads and has had to respond to several serious motorcycle accidents as a law enforcement officer. “We saw what kids were doing with motorcycles. We started seeing an increase in popularity with sportbikes, stunters and what not. So we toyed around with the idea of doing a road race bike, and it went from there.”

Deputies involved in the program find that racing helps them counteract any negative perception of uniformed police officers and to better connect with children, according to Churney. When dealing with driving-age kids, the racing program allows the L.A. County Sheriffs Department to offer a better, long-term alternative to would-be street racers.

“Rather than be the jerk cop who cites them, tows their car, tells them to take it to the track, we kind of take them there, show them the ropes, show them what’s going on and let them get bit by the track bug,” said Churney. “When local drag strips have their test-and-tune nights, we’ll have what we call ‘Beat The Heat,’ where we get the kids out on the track. We basically hand walk them through the procedures for getting on the track. What we’ve found out, the kids don’t necessarily want to race on the street, but they just don’t know where else to do it. They see it on TV, they know about the track but it has that mystique of, ‘It’s a Pro-only venue. I don’t belong there. I can’t go race there.’ So they don’t know where else to do it.

“What we’re trying to do now is carry that over to motorcycle track days. We get teens between 16-21, who are out there riding the canyons, being canyon racers, (and) we’ll take them to a track day, have some MSF instructors (and) some Expert-level riders. We’ve even got a couple of AMA racers who are wanting to help out and participate. We’ve got Jason Curtis from No Limit, and there’s a possibility that (Jake) Zemke and (Miguel) Duhamel will be able to come out for a couple of the events as well.

“It won’t so much be a cornering school. The riders are there to give them a few pointers and have fun while riding on the track with them at a reduced cost. That’s their reward for doing the right thing, and at the same time, it’s exposing them to the track environment so they can see if they want to take their bike to its limit or above the limit, with regards to the street, the track is the place to do it.”

Churney said he is currently working with Willow Springs International Raceway, the proposed Learning Curves test track in Riverside, California and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s (MSF) Motorcycle Training Center (MTC) in Colton, California in hopes of holding the first Team Sheriff Racing motorcycle track day in the summer of 2005. In the meantime, Churney is working toward competing in his first motorcycle road race in January 2005 by attending Freddie Spencer High Performance Riding Schools and other track days in the Southern California area.

For additional information, go to www.sheriffsracing.com.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

While the official line is that nothing has been decided regarding the Michael Jordan Motorsports program, a Clear Channel rep who contacted an AMA rider on behalf of the Jordan team said that the team will race Suzukis on Dunlop tires in 2005.

“He told me that it would be Suzukis on Dunlop tires, that Jason Pridmore was the primary rider and that they wanted a second rider, which is where I would come in,” said the contacted rider, who requested that he not be named because he is the midst of 2005-season contract negotiations. “I just told them to call my agent.”

Clear Channel rep Kenny Abbott made the phone call to the rider in question on November 3, and contacted the rider’s agent on the same day.

Michael Jordan is represented by a division of Clear Channel Entertainment, and when the former NBA superstar became interested in motorcycle road racing, Clear Channel Entertainment Motorsports employee Abbott was assigned to work on the project.

Ironically, a recent Internet news report (which quoted Abbott as denying that anything had been finalized) characterized recent reporting on the Jordan deal as “rampant Internet speculation.”

Leaving us to ask, as opposed to what, gullible acceptance of PR spin?



See related posts:

11/9/2004 Jordan Team To Run Suzukis On Dunlop Tires

11/5/2004 Who’s Got Jordan? Honda And HRC? Suzuki And Yoshimura? Who? And On What Tire Brand?

From a press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing:

FPR Launches Online Auction

Foggy PETRONAS Racing fans can now bid to own a part of the team’s history with today’s launch of the FPR Auction.

Unique FPR items will go under the hammer from today on the team’s www.foggyPETRONASracing.com website.

Parts of the FP1 rescued from crashes, memorabilia, signed merchandise and many other one-off items that would make imaginative and memorable Christmas presents can be bid for from today, with new items appearing on a regular basis.

For each item sold a donation will be made to the team’s official charity, the NSPCC, and to a charity of PETRONAS’ choice.

Included amongst the launch lots are: a fuel tank from Chris Walker’s bike used at the FPR team’s test at Magny-Cours in August 2004, a pair of signed Alpinestars knee sliders used by Troy Corser at Assen in September 2004 and a race screen from Troy’s bike with a small perforation from a piece of gravel thrown up at Phillip Island in March 2003.

Team owner Carl Fogarty said: “In just our first two years racing we have accumulated a lot of history and memorabilia – and a few too many crash parts to mention! It’s fantastic for our supporters to have a chance to buy into that history – and the auction process is fun as well. I know that if I was bidding, I would definitely want to win! And it’s great that two worthy charities will also be benefiting from the sale of these items.”

These lots will normally attract a reserve price but, as an introductory offer, the initial batch of items will only have a reserve price of just £1.

To take part in the online auction, simply visit the FPR Auction section of the website. Click on the item you want to bid for and you will be notified of the previous highest bid. You must then better that bid by a minimum of the incremental sum indicated. You will be notified by email if someone has outbid you for the item before the expiry date for the item. Each item carries with it a delivery charge on top of the successful bid amount.

Look out for more items to be added regularly to the FPR Auction, including memorabilia from the team’s two new riders Garry McCoy and Steve Martin.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Provisional Entry List For The 38th Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix:

No.
Rider
Nat.
Team/ Entrant
Machine/ CC

1
Michael RUTTER
GBR
Red Bull Honda Racing
Honda/ 1000

2
John McGUINNESS
GBR
Monstermob Ducati
Ducati/ 999

3
CHEUNG Wai On
HKG
CHEUNG Wai On
Yamaha/ 600*

4
Erwin WILDING
AUT
Honda Austria
Honda/ 1000

5
Roger BENNETT
GBR
ETI Racing
Ducati/ 998

6
Markus BARTH
GER
Fylde Superbikes
Kawasaki / 1000

7
Gus SCOTT
GBR
Slingshot Monstermob
Honda/ 1000

8
Marcel KELLENBERGER
SUI
Bolliger Team Switzerland
Kawasaki / 998

9
Stuart EASTON
GBR
Monstermob Ducati
Ducati/ 999

10
Thomas HINTERREITER
AUT
Yamaha Austria
Yamaha/ 998

11
Horst SAIGER
AUT
Yamaha Austria
Yamaha/ 998

12
Roy RICHARDSON
GBR
Fylde Superbikes
Kawasaki / 636

13
SOU Se Hong
MAC
Ao’s Racing Team
Yamaha/ 600*

15
Dean ELLISON
GBR
DMR Racing
Honda/ 600*

16
Umberto RUMIANO
ITA
RXR
MV Agusta/ 750

17
Joao FERNANDES
POR
Ao’s Racing Team
Yamaha/ 600*

18
Richard BRITTON
GBR
P.J. O’Kane
Suzuki/ 1000

19
LEONG Iok Choi
MAC
Ao’s Racing Team
Yamaha/ 600*

21
Pete JENNINGS
GBR
Matlock Motomax
Honda/ 600*

22
James McBRIDE
GBR
Inchcape/ JV-Racing
Suzuki/ 1000

23
Stephen THOMPSON
GBR
P.J. O’Kane
Suzuki/ 1000

24
Nigel DAVIES
GBR
Fylde Superbikes
Suzuki/ 1000

25
Nick WINTHROPE
GBR
Tracktorque
Suzuki/ 1000

27
Ian ARMSTRONG
GBR
Star Hire
Yamaha/ 1000

28
Steve ALLAN
GBR
ETI Racing
Kawasaki / 998

29
Takuma YAMAMOTO
JPN
China Yuan XGJAO Racing
Honda/ 600*

30
Masayuki YAMANAKA
JPN
China Yuan XGJAO Racing
Honda/ 600*

31
Rui REIGOTO
POR
Vodafone BPN Sendo
Suzuki/ 1000

32
Luis CARREIRA
POR
Repsol Honda Team
Honda/ 1000

33
Jose LEITE
POR
Kawasaki Fundevilla Rodicentro
Kawasaki / 1000

35
IP Weng Keong
MAC
Ao’s Racing Team
Yamaha/ 600*

41
Josh HAYES
USA
Attack Racing
Kawasaki / 1000

45
Martin FINNEGAN
IRL
RPM Performance
Yamaha/ 1000

55
Chris PALMER
GBR
Valmoto
Triumph/ 600*

57
Jeremy TOYE
USA
Roadracingworld.com
Yamaha/ 1000

59
Jun MAEDA
JPN
Allstar Motorsport/Team Wood
Honda/ 954

60
Callum RAMSAY
GBR
Valmoto
Triumph/ 600*

71
Mark PARRETT
GBR
Kingscourt Foods
Yamaha/ 1000

77
Les SHAND
GBR
DMR Racing
Suzuki/ 1000

78
Giorgio CANTALUPO
ITA
Team Augusta P.M.S.
Aprilia/ 1000

86
Cameron DONALD
AUS
China Yuan XGJAO Racing
Honda/ 600*

99
Geoff MAY
USA
Hot Bodies Racing
Yamaha/ 1000

* FIM 600cc Supersport Class

From a press release issued by Rob Muzzy Racing:

Rob Muzzy Racing is pleased to announce the re-signing of Ryan Schnitz for the 2005 racing season. Ryan has ridden for RMR since 2002 and in that time has won three AMA Prostar Drag Racing Championships, two in 600 Supersport and one this year in the new 1000 Supersport class. Ryan has also been an invaluable asset in the development of the Kawasaki ZX-12R NHRA Prostock motorcycle. Unfortunately, Kawasaki Motors Corp. has not chosen to continue their support of the ZX-12R Prostock Drag Racing program and therefore a further change is in order.

Rob Muzzy Racing is also excited to be able to announce that, starting in 2005 Team Muzzy with Ryan Schnitz will run the full NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle series with an S&S V-twin powered Buell Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Rob Muzzy is no stranger to V-Twins, having been instrumental in the development of the Honda 750 Dirt Track Twin that won three Grand National Championships for Honda with Rickey Graham and Bubba Shobert aboard in the 1980’s.

Testing for the new Pro Stock team will commence in January and the first race for the team will be at the Mac Tools NHRA Gatornationals, in Gainesville Florida, March 20, 2005.

Muzzys Performance Products will of course continue their thriving performance products business with continuing emphasis on components for Kawasaki, Honda Suzuki, and Yamaha sport and cruiser motorcycles. Also, Team Muzzy will continue to participate in selected drag racing events in 2005 with Ryan Schnitz aboard a Muzzy built turbocharged street bike.

Rob Muzzy and Team Muzzy would like to sincerely thank Kawasaki Motors Corp. in addition to all their current and past sponsors for their loyalty and support over the past 16 years, hundreds of races, and multiple championships. Racing is a sport of constant change and evolution and this move is significant in that process. Team Muzzy is actively seeking marketing partners to share this exciting new chapter in the Rob Muzzy Racing story.

From a press release:

Event: Eric Bostrom Autograph Signing
Date: Thursday, November 11th
When: 7-8:30pm
Where: Von Dutch Store in Boca Park
750 S. Rampart Blvd, Suite 14
Las Vegas, Nevada
Next to the Cheesecake Factory
Ph. 702-932-5765

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

C. Edward Link, author of the popular children’s book The Little Motorcycle, is auctioning a special, racer-autographed edition of his book on eBay with all of the proceeds going to the Roadracing World Action Fund, which advocates the use of soft barriers to reduce racetrack injuries.

The book being auctioned was autographed by several of the 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