Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

2003 FIM Endurance World Champions Phase One Endurance have re-signed with Yamaha and will continue to race a YZF-R1 in the 2005 Endurance World Championship, according to FGSport Group, organizers of the Endurance World Championship.

The announcement was made November 4 at the International Motorcycle Show in Birmingham, England. However, no word of the deal has been posted on Phase One Endurance’s website at postime.

Phase One Endurance switched from Suzuki to Yamaha for 2004 and had a troubled season, finishing 10th in the final Endurance World Championship standings with a best result of third (among the series regulars) at the Suzuka 8 Hours and a fourth at the Vallelunga 200-miler.

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

HENRY EARNS 2004 AMA PRO RACING SPEED CHANNEL ATHLETE OF THE YEAR NOMINATION

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (Nov. 5, 2004) — Doug Henry is the sixth and final nominee for the 2004 AMA Pro Racing SPEED Channel Athlete of the Year. This year Henry, 35, of Torrington, Conn., began writing an epilog to his storied racing career by becoming a leading star in the AMA Supermoto Championship, this over a decade after he burst onto the scene by winning his first AMA Motocross Championship in 1993.

Henry first took up supermoto racing in the middle of last season and quickly became a leading contender in the series. He won the 2003 race at Irwindale Speedway in only his third event. This year Henry really began to hit his stride by becoming the wins leader in this year’s AMA Supermoto Championship, winning four of the six rounds leading up to the series finale in Las Vegas on Nov. 13. He runs second in the standings to Troy Lee Designs Honda teammate Jeff Ward.

“Becoming a part of AMA Supermoto racing has been amazing,” Henry said. “I still had competitive adrenaline left in me after motocross and I was working towards a move to road racing and then supermoto came along and it was a perfect fit. It feels good to be recognized as an Athlete of the Year nominee. I think more than anything else it’s an acknowledgment that AMA Supermoto is really growing.”

Henry is in his 16th year of AMA Pro Racing. This is the second time he has been nominated for the AMA Pro Racing SPEED Athlete of the Year. He won the prestigious award in 1998 after becoming the first rider to win the AMA 250 Motocross Championship on a four-stroke.

Henry joins Mat Mladin, Ricky Carmichael, Jeff Ward, Chris Carr and James Stewart as 2004 nominees for Athlete of the Year.

AMA Pro Racing will honor the champions of American professional motorcycle racing at its 30th annual AMA Pro Racing Awards Banquet on Sunday evening, Nov. 14 at Paris Las Vegas. The annual event attracts not only America’s best professional racers but also leading executives from the motorcycle industry.

The banquet is the conclusion of the nearly year-long AMA Pro Racing season comprised of nearly 80 professional racing events.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

MotoGP racer Colin Edwards will appear on SPEED Channel’s “Wind Tunnel,” a live viewer call-in show hosted by Dave Despain, Tuesday, November 9 at 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time, according to Edwards’ fan website www.ceracing.com.

Edwards recently switched to the factory Yamaha MotoGP team, as teammate to World Champion Valentino Rossi, after a disappointing season with the Telefonica Movistar Honda satellite team.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Former Grand Prix tuner Nobby Clark, 68, became a U.S. citizen on September 27, in New York City, New York.

Clark, who was born to British parents in the country of Rhodesia, which is now known as Zimbabwe, tried for years to get a British passport, including gathering documents and records showing his family’s English roots going back 150 years. Clark finally gave up his pursuit of the British passport, registered as a Resident Alien in the United States (where he has lived and worked since 1993) and began the long process of obtaining U.S. citizenship.

“It dragged on and on. I went for a medical exam and finger prints. I didn’t hear anything for it must have been two years, then I got a letter to go for this interview, which is a normal thing.

“The crazy thing about it was I couldn’t understand the guy who was doing the interview. His English was so bad that my attorney, who was with me, had to interpret. He was a nice guy and all and I’m sure he was a U.S. citizen, but he was interviewing me for citizenship and he could barely speak English!

“I didn’t hear anything more for 18 months, then I got a letter telling me to be in New York City at the Federal Plaza at 9:00 a.m. Monday morning. I got there at 8:00 a.m.”

Clark’s swearing-in ceremony took place two days before his 68th birthday. “As a birthday present, I don’t think anything could have been better,” Clark told Roadracingworld.com.

Clark is best known for tuning for the Honda factory Grand Prix team during the 1960s, followed by a long stint with Yamaha, during which, “I worked with Kenny (Leroy) Roberts until he retired, all eight years he raced in Europe,” said Clark.

Clark is currently working in a small Ferrarri shop in upstate New York.

From a press release issued by Rizla Suzuki:

Pure performance brings Rizla Suzuki and Matrix Communications together for 2005

The pursuit of ‘Pure Performance’ in the British Superbike Championship is a key target that Rizla Suzuki shares with its exciting new partner for 2005, leading information technology expert Matrix Communications Group PLC.

Matrix uses ‘Pure Performance’ in its own mission statement and is one of the fastest growing IT companies in the UK today. When Matrix was looking for a Superbike race team to reflect its own values and aspirations to be the best, it naturally turned to Rizla Suzuki.

Rizla Suzuki will be strengthened by Matrix providing the best IT hardware and software solutions for its personnel. The partnership will see Matrix using the class leading British Superbike team to increase awareness of its products and services as well as a corporate hospitality opportunity for clients, staff and partners.

“A close association with the Rizla Suzuki British Superbike Team is an exciting and valuable opportunity that will give us brand exposure on Sky Sports and BBC TV channels, and allow us to offer a wealth of exclusive hospitality to our most important partners and customers,” said Ian Smith, CEO of Matrix Communications Group plc.

“This sponsorship agreement builds on our long relationship with British motorcycle racing, and of Scott Smart in particular who we’ve been proud to support for many years.”

With reigning British Superbike Champion John Reynolds being joined by hot property Scott Smart at Rizla Suzuki in 2005, the Championship winning team is not resting on its laurels. Both Scott and triple Champion JR are familiar with the need for ‘Pure Performance’ and are planning to over deliver on the results when the racing starts in March 2005. The development of a new Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000 race bike is their priority during the off-season.

Rizla Suzuki team manager Robert Wicks said: “We’re very appreciative of the support offered by Matrix and are keen to ensure that we repeat the achievements of last season by again becoming the most successful team in BSB.

“Rizla Suzuki is a leading team and only associates with partners who are the best or most exciting in their respective fields – Matrix ticks both those boxes. This winter will be spent testing and engineering the new Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000 to achieve the highest possible levels of ‘Pure Performance’ and I am sure Matrix will assist us in achieving that with its IT provision for the team.”

From a press release issued by Honda Racing Information:

Nicky Hayden fastest MotoGP rider on second day of Valencia test.

American Nicky Hayden posted the fastest time on the final day of the two-day MotoGP test held at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit, Valencia, today. The former AMA Superbike Champion was happy with the progress made over the two days, and his outing on Monday. Hayden now leaves Europe for a short break at home before returning to Spain later this month for further HRC tests with the RC211V five-cylinder 990cc Honda.

Max Biaggi was busy all morning testing alternative chassis settings and new clutch parts for his RCV. The Italian was in and out of the pits several times and completed 46 laps. Despite the stop – start nature of his day Biaggi managed to better his fastest lap at the Valencia GP last Sunday (1:33.582) with a time of 1:33.1 at the 4.005km circuit.

The third RC211V at the test was in the hands of Spaniard Sete Gibernau but like Biaggi he was forced to call it a day after lunch. Before he stopped Gibernau managed to assess the performance of new clutch parts and alternative exhaust systems. The planned tyre test session for Gibernau with new Michelin tyres was abandoned the due to the rain.

Nicky Hayden. 1:33.2 – 40 laps. “Pretty good three days all round. Got 90 laps in yesterday and around 40 today with a best time of 1:33.18 before we stopped when slight rain fell and we all called it a day. We managed to click off a whole bunch of mid 1:33’s, which we were pretty happy with. We had a load of Michelins we were testing today – didn’t get through them all but made some pretty good progress anyway. Looking forward to a little break now before we’re all back in Spain (Jerez) towards the end of November testing again. I’m going to try and get a little bit of medical advice on my knee that hasn’t been 100% ever since the accident in August.”

Max Biaggi. 1:33.4 – 46 laps. “We tested changes to chassis and some clutch parts today and made some progress but we stopped after the rain came at 14.00. We only put in 30 or so laps but the work we did was important for us to be ready for the test at Jerez later this month.”

Sete Gibernau. 1:33.7 – 38 laps. “The rain had a big effect on our plans for today. We managed to test some new clutch parts and different types of exhaust pipes and hoped to test tyres for Michelin in the afternoon. However, the rain came just after lunchtime and we had to abandon the test.”

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

STEWART EARNS 2004 AMA PRO RACING SPEED CHANNEL ATHLETE OF THE YEAR NOMINATION

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — James “Bubba” Stewart has received a nomination for the 2004 AMA Pro Racing SPEED Channel Athlete of the Year Award. Stewart, 18, of Haines City, Fla., is coming off a stellar 2004 season, which saw him win AMA 125 Motocross and 125 East Supercross championships and set many new AMA records along the way.

Stewart is the fifth rider earning a nomination this year for the prestigious Athlete of the Year joining Mat Mladin, Ricky Carmichael, Jeff Ward and Chris Carr. The award will be presented to the winner during the 30th annual AMA Pro Racing Awards Banquet on Sunday evening, Nov. 14 at Paris Las Vegas.

2004 will certainly be a year that Stewart won’t soon forget. He dominated the AMA 125 East Supercross Series, clinching the series historically early and becoming only the second rider ever to earn both the East and West 125 Supercross titles. He won the 125 East races by an average of over 20 seconds per race, setting a fast pace all the way to the checkered flag.

“I didn’t want to give the fans anything less than my best,” said Stewart, who became the all-time winningest rider in AMA 125 Supercross racing history. “I rode every race like the rest of the riders were right on me.”

Stewart went on to win the annual Dave Coombs Sr. 125 East/West Shootout in Las Vegas in May, becoming only the second rider in history to twice accomplish that feat.

He then set his sights on the AMA 125 Motocross Championship. Again the results were nothing less than spectacular. Stewart won 23 of the 24 motos and took 11 of the 12 overall wins. A first-turn pileup at Red Bud (Buchanan, Mich.), that damaged Stewart’s bike was the only thing that kept him from a perfect undefeated motocross season. He clinched the 125 championship at round 10 in Binghamton, N.Y., one of the earliest points to wrap up the title ever, and along the way he passed Ricky Carmichael to become the all-time wins leader in AMA 125 Motocross history.

“It was really a dream year,” Stewart said of 2004. “I went out to set some new records and I got that accomplished. I did it on a two-stroke, which I’m pretty proud of, especially after I found out how good the four-stroke bikes were when I raced one at Glen Helen. It was definitely a season to remember and I’m hoping to have a few more like that in the future.”

In addition to his accomplishments on the track Stewart also broke into the consciousness of mainstream America. He was featured on the NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw and the CBS Evening News with Dan Rather. Sports Illustrated named Stewart one of the 101 Most Influential Minorities in Sports and he had a feature story written on him that appeared on the front page of the Washington Post.

Stewart will embark on his 250 racing career starting in January of 2005. It will easily be the most highly anticipated debut in the class in history.

About AMA Pro Racing

AMA Pro Racing is the leading sanctioning body for motorcycle sport in the United States. Its properties include the THQ AMA Supercross Series, the AMA Motocross Championship, the AMA Superbike Championship, the AMA Progressive Insurance Flat Track Championship and the AMA Supermoto Championship.

From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM TESTING WRAPS UP AT VALENCIA

Valencia (Spain), Thursday 4 November, 2004 – Bad weather washed out today’s final day of testing for the Ducati Marlboro Team at Valencia. Loris Capirossi and Carlos Checa were only able to lap in the morning on a dry track, but were then forced to call a halt to proceedings early in the afternoon when it started to rain at the Spanish circuit.

Loris Capirossi got his first taste of the evolution version of the Desmosedici this morning after it had been used by tester Vittoriano Guareschi yesterday. The Desmosedici, fitted with a series of electronic modifications, is still at a prototype stage and Loris completed 28 laps, mainly aiming to obtain the right feeling with the new components which are being tested by the Italian rider for the first time. Capirossi, who mainly focussed on providing Ducati Corse engineers with feedback and suggestions, set a quickest time of 1:34.8.

Carlos Checa continued his learning curve with the bike and the team and completed 40 laps, the best being 1:33.7.

The Ducati Marlboro Team will be back on track at Jerez from 23-25 November.

From a press release:

GP Champ Vicky Jackson Bell Receives WIMA USA Award

DEL MAR, CA – The Women’s International Motorcycle Association / USA (WIMA USA) honored 2000 125 Grand Prix National Champion Vicky Jackson Bell with their 2003 Image Award. The award was presented during the annual Bator International Concours d’Elegance vintage bike show and 2004 AMA Supermoto Championship races October 16-17 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. A strong competitor and role model for women and girls interested in motorcycles, Jackson Bell was chosen to receive the award for her significant successes both on-track and in demonstrating the great things of which women racers are capable.

Jackson Bell was to receive the WIMA USA Image Award in May of 2003; however, just days beforehand she suffered severe injuries during a motocross practice session at Glen Helen Raceway Park in San Bernadino, CA. After multiple surgeries, three months of being confined to a wheel chair and many more months of physical therapy, Jackson Bell made a remarkable recovery. She is able to ride again but has retired from racing.

“The possibility of being confined to a wheel chair for the rest of my life due to racing, while raising my two young boys, is simply unacceptable,” said Jackson Bell. Having ridden dirt bikes since she was nine years old, Vicky now enjoys tearing up the dirt with her sons.

Vicky and her family–husband Tony Bell and their two sons, Christopher and James–joined WIMA USA for a weekend of autograph signing, meeting old and new friends, race-watching and general fun. A racer to the core, Vicky seemed most comfortable at the track and said, “It’s great to get out and smell the [race] fuel!”

Vicky Jackson Bell, WIMA USA salutes you!

The WIMA USA Image Award is presented to women who are dedicated to the sport of motorcycling and who pave the way for future generations with their positive attitudes.

The United States Division of the Women’s International Motorcycle Association (WIMA USA) is part of the world’s largest international association for women motorcyclists, with over 3,000 members in 20 different countries. The vision of WIMA USA is to change the face of motorcycling by advancing women and girls in the sport and business and helping the industry grow.

From a press release issued by Advanstar:

Largest National Motorcycle Series Adds
New Kids-Friendly Feature Dubbed “Entire Universe Of Vehicles, Gear And Fun, Just For Kids!”

Santa Ana, CA – November 4, 2004 – Producers of the Cycle World International Motorcycle Shows® presented by Toyota Trucks realize that “kids are riders, too” – so they’re opening up a brand new section of the 2005 shows dedicated to these enthusiasts: the Kids Cycle Center.

“The Kids Cycle Center is a brand-new area of the show designed exclusively for youth ages 6-15,” says Jeff D’Entremont, Show Director for the series. “It’s full of kid-friendly features – small-displacement bikes and ATVs from major manufacturers, and right-sized apparel and safety equipment. It’s also a great way for parents and kids to get more information on local rides/events/clubs. The Kids Cycle Center is an entire universe of vehicles, gear and fun, just for kids.”

“Over 60,000 of last year’s motorcycle show attendees were under the age of 12,” adds D’Entremont. “So it’s important for us to offer family-friendly features that appeal to riders of all ages.”

The feature will be staffed by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) personnel. Printed material along with video’s showing different types of motorcycle and ATV riding will be provided by the MSF.

Sponsors for the Kids Cycle Center include: Tucker Rocky featuring Answer Racing and MSR, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Thor, Suzuki, Honda, Troy Lee Designs and Polaris.

For more information about the new Kids Cycle Center are of the motorcycle shows, visit the official show website at:www.motorcycleshows.com.

ABOUT THE SERIES
The Cycle World International Motorcycle Shows® offer an unparalleled opportunity for bike buffs along with casual enthusiasts to experience the cutting-edge of powersports vehicles, products, and services. The show boasts long-term relationships with both its title sponsor, Cycle World (12 years), the world’s foremost motorcycling magazine, and with its presenting sponsor Toyota Trucks (7 years), the world’s leading manufacturer of light trucks.
2005 SERIES SCHEDULE
San Francisco, November 5-7, 2004; Dallas, November 19-21, 2004; Southern California, December 3-5, 2004; Seattle, December 10-12, 2004; Denver, December 17-19, 2004; Atlanta, January 7-9, 2005; Washington D.C., January 14-16, 2005; New York, January 21-23, 2005; Ohio, January 28-30, 2005; Minneapolis, February 4-6, 2005; Chicago, February 11-13, 2005; Detroit, February 25-27, 2005.

ABOUT THE POWERSPORTS GROUP
The Powersports Group is the largest producer worldwide for trade and consumer shows in the powersports industry, including the single largest aftermarket trade-only event: the Dealernews International Powersports Dealer Expo. In addition to Dealer Expo, our powersports shows encompass nearly every product in all segments of the industry. Our Big Twin East and West shows represent the passion of Big Twin, bringing together the manufacturers, builders, and buyers who power the marketplace. Dirt Expo is the premier event for the off-road powersports industry, which runs alongside the Maxxis U.S. Open of Supercross in Las Vegas. Targeting key motorcycle markets across the country, the Cycle World International Motorcycle Showsâ presented by Toyota Trucks draws more than 600,000 eager powersports consumers of all levels.

ABOUT ADVANSTAR COMMUNICATIONS INC.
Based in New York, NY, Advanstar Communications Inc. (www.advanstar.com) is a worldwide business information company serving specialized markets with high quality information resources and integrated marketing solutions. Advanstar has 77 business magazines, 19 directories, 7 electronic publications, 54 tradeshows and 40 conferences, numerous Web sites, and a wide range of print and electronic direct marketing, database and reference products and services. Advanstar serves targeted market sectors including the automotive, beauty, e-learning, call center, digital media, entertainment/ marketing, healthcare, fashion & apparel, pharmaceuticals, powersports, science, telecommunications and travel/ hospitality industries. The Company has roughly 1,500 employees and currently operates from multiple offices in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia.