This just in from Trevor Hedge, editor of www.mcnews.com.au:

At the suggestion of and in consultation with Suzuki Australia, and the McCarthy family, we have set up an email address where all messages of condolence may be forwarded. These will be collated by Suzuki Australia and forwarded to the McCarthy family. Send your condolences to [email protected]

From a press release issued by Dorna Sports:

MotoGP riders reconvene in Czech Republic

The MotoGP World Championship paddock was reunited in the Czech Republic today after a four week summer break since the last round in Great Britain. The riders looked relaxed and refreshed as they prepared for the first of seven races in two months, which will bring the curtain down on what has already been a stellar 2004 season.

After nine close races, which have produced four different winners, the fast and flowing Brno circuit promises more of the same – with memories still fresh of the last year’s race, when Valentino Rossi beat Sete Gibernau by just 0.042 seconds. Rossi returned from his holidays in Ibiza and at home in London already focused on a repeat performance, aware that he will have to be on top form for the remainder of the season if he wants to retain the title of MotoGP World Champion, which he has held for the past three seasons.

“I made a beautiful race in Brno last year,” said Rossi, who currently leads the standings by 22 points from Gibernau and Max Biaggi. “It’s not necessarily my favourite circuit and I really don’t know how the M1 will go here as it’s so diverse; high speed but still with many turns, up and downhill sections and adverse cambers. Although I’m leading the championship it’s not by enough points to feel safe yet, every point from now on is crucial if we are to think about being in a position to win the championship.”

Troy Bayliss also took a starring role in the race last year, leading for the opening laps before finishing third, less than a second behind Rossi. It is a result the Australian would love to repeat, and he admits to feeling confident after recent progress made by Ducati. “I honestly think we’re moving in the right direction now and things are coming together,” commented Bayliss, who was one of several riders to hone their competitive edge at a local shooting range today. “I am not one for looking into the past but I enjoyed this racetrack last year and another performance like that one would be nice.”

Colin Edwards enjoyed his best performance in MotoGP with second place at Donington Park before the break and admitted that he was more than ready to return to action despite a meningitis scare just days before returning to Europe from his Texas home. “I was taken ill for a couple of days and we weren’t sure what it was,” commented the American, who was cleared to ride by the MotoGP doctors this afternoon.

“There was a worry that it might be meningitis but it turned out to be a viral infection and I’m okay. Now I’m just looking forward to getting back on the racetrack – we’ve finally sorted out our problems with the bike and now I can show people the real Colin Edwards for the rest of the season.”

Marco Melandri was also given the green light after an examination on the broken hand he suffered at Donington Park, whilst 250cc rider Roberto Rolfo also paid a visit to the Clinica Mobile for a check-up on the dislocated shoulder he sustained in a rare crash at the same track.

Rolfo is one of four factory Honda riders looking to prevent Aprilia from claiming their 100th victory in the quarter-litre class this weekend, although the favourite to do so is undoubtedly rookie sensation Dani Pedrosa. The young Spaniard has finished in the top two at eight of the opening nine rounds this season and leads the championship by 34 points from Randy De Puniet. However, the Frenchman has not thrown in the towel yet and is confident of repeating his victory at this circuit from one year ago. “The race here last season was one of the best of my career and obviously if I could repeat that on Sunday I will be happy,” commented De Puniet. “Dani has a strong lead but there are seven races left in which I will be giving my maximum and anything could happen.”

Pedrosa’s 125cc heir at Honda, Andrea Dovizioso, also leads the championship but faces extra competition this weekend after his clear victory at Donington Park. Casey Stoner returns with renewed determination after a two-race absence and is joined at KTM by young Austrian wildcard Michael Ranseder, who makes his Grand Prix debut just across the border from his and the team’s home country. With Aprilia, Derbi, Gilera and Malaguti also represented, the number of manufacturers in the minor class will boosted to seven this weekend with the return of Yamaha, who compete with Japanese wildcard rider Tomoyoshi Koyama.



More, from a press release issued by Fuchs Kawasaki:

MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2004
GAULOISES CZECH REPUBLIC GRAND PRIX
AUTODROM BRNO 19TH AUGUST 2004
EVENT PREVIEW

FUCHS KAWASAKI TEAM READY TO RACE AT BRNO

Refreshed and motivated after a three week summer holiday, Fuchs Kawasaki riders, Shinya Nakano and Alex Hofmann, are eagerly awaiting a return to track action in the Czech Republic Grand Prix at Brno this weekend.

The race is the tenth round of the MotoGP World Championship, and the first of seven GPs to complete the second half of a season that will conclude at Valencia in October.

Nakano took time off to go home to Japan to visit family and friends, while team-mate Hofmann relaxed mainly at his home in Switzerland. Both riders kept up their fitness programs with motocross riding, although Hofmann also spent a lot of time cycling in the mountains near his home.

But while Nakano and Hofmann were on vacation, there was no rest for Kawasaki engineers and Japanese test rider Akira Yanagawa.

The latest development parts for the in-line four cylinder Ninja ZX-RR engine came on stream in August, with Yanagawa completing a series of important test sessions in Japan.

Positive results from an engine specification featuring revised crankshaft mass and cylinder heads has the Kawasaki squad facing the second half of the season with renewed confidence. With the Kawasaki MotoGP project still in an evolution stage, the primary focus is on improved rideability and mid-range acceleration, although the latest engine specification has also meant a small increase in RPM and top end power.

While the ZX-RR went through its paces in Japan, Kawasaki’s tyre partner Bridgestone was also hard at work. Hot weather Bridgestone test sessions at Brno, in conjunction with the Suzuki test team, have produced valuable data in advance of the Czech GP, which is a notoriously hot and fast mid-summer race. Both Kawasaki and Suzuki share a technical partnership with Bridgestone and testing by both factories returns mutual benefits.

Brno is a legendary stop on the World Championship calendar, with the city successfully making the transition from hosting races on a famous public road course to a modern and extremely challenging 5.4 km permanent circuit.

Going into the Czech GP, Nakano is 13th on the championship table with 37 points, and still aiming for his pre-season goal of a top ten finish in his first season with Kawasaki. German young gun Hofmann is on 24 points in 17th place.

Shinya Nakano: #56
“I had a very good holiday in Japan, but I’m ready to go back racing after three weeks away from the track. During the break I just relaxed with my family and did some motocross riding and training to keep up my fitness. I want better results over the second part of the season and, hopefully, the work done by the Kawasaki engineers will enable us to capitalise on the potential of the ZX-RR. I know Yanagawa-san did a lot of testing, so I’m looking forward to riding the bike at Brno where you need a strong motor. I’m just happy to be getting back on the bike.”

Alex Hofmann: #66
“I did a lot of training in the holidays, mainly cycling in the mountains, as the second part of the season is very busy – with four races outside Europe – which cuts into training time. This will be my first time at Brno on the latest ZX-RR and I think it will suit the fast flowing sections of this track, although the uphill part and the long straight are always a test of engine performance. It’s one of my favourite circuits, with a really great atmosphere and usually a lot of fans from Germany. I had some bad luck in the first part of the season, but that is behind me now. My aim is to be in the points at every GP and finish the season strongly.”

Harald Eckl: Team Manager
“There is no time to rest in MotoGP, as our hard working Kawasaki engineers in Japan demonstrated during the short break between Donington Park and Brno. But I’m sure all our rival factory teams were doing the same, so I expect this first race back will be just as tough as all the others. The next stage of our engine development program has produced a little more top end power, with more RPM, but it has also focussed on improving mid-range engine response. Akira Yanagawa tested motors with revised crankshaft mass and cylinder heads and Brno now provides the opportunity to measure the performance in race conditions. Alex and Shinya are rested, motivated and ready to race; and I’m confident that the work done by Bridgestone at Brno will also prove to be a step forward.”

From a press release issued by Canadian Superbike series organizers:

LACOMBE ON THE RISE

MONT-TREMBLANT, QC Pascal Picotte sits on the brink of clinching his second straight Parts Canada Superbike Championship title at Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant this weekend, but another Granby, QC racer has also started making headlines.

With his victory in the previous round of the series at Atlantic Motorsport Park in Shubenacadie, NS two weeks ago Kevin Lacombe vaulted from fifth to second in the series standings and ended Picotte’s four-race winning streak.

With only one race remaining after this weekend’s seventh round of the series, Picotte is all but assured of the Parts Canada Superbike title. The Team Yamaha / Picotte Performance Yamaha rider has 287 points to Lacombe’s 216. A rider can earn a maximum of 56 points at each series round.

But Lacombe is a rider on the move. In addition to scoring the win at AMP the Lacombe Racing / Brooklin Cycle Yamaha rider also qualified on pole.

Lacombe is now four points clear of Brantford, ON’s Jordan Szoke in the series standings. Riding the Honda Canada / Fast Company Honda, Szoke has finished second in the past two Parts Canada Superbike series races.

There is also a tight battle for fourth in series points with two races left on the schedule. Calgary’s Clint McBain holds a one-point edge over DXS Diablo Suzuki rider Steve Crevier of Maple Ridge, BC, 169-168. McBain’s Coors Light Racing / Blackfoot Suzuki teammate, Australian Craig Connell is next in points with 163.

Another threat for victory this weekend will be Canadian Kawasaki factory rider Francis Martin of Rock Forest, QC. Martin finished a season high fourth at AMP two weeks ago and Tom Kipp gave Kawasaki the win at last year’s Mont-Tremblant event.

Action this weekend will also feature the penultimate rounds of the Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike Championship and the International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike series.

Picotte also holds a commanding lead in the Pro 600 Sport Bike standings following his fourth win of the year at AMP on his Yamaha. The defending class champion now has 296 points to Crevier’s 228 and the 212 of McBain.

In the Amateur 600 Sport Bike title chase, Mississauga, ON’s Rudy Raposo opened up a 33-point lead over fellow Yamaha rider Darren James of North Vancouver, 171-138 after claiming his first victory of the year at AMP.

Action this weekend opens with practice on Friday. Qualifying for all three national classes will take place Saturday afternoon with races on Sunday.

This weekend’s event will be televised on TSN on Oct. 10 at 1:00 p.m. EDT and on Quebec’s RDS on Oct. 23 at 2:00 p.m EDT. The action will also appear in one-hour format this fall on TORONTO1 and A-Channel stations in Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton.


For more series information, visit www.cdnsuperbike.com


2003 Mont-Tremblant Winners

Parts Canada Superbike: Tom Kipp, Chardon, OH (Kawasaki)

Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike: Tom Kipp, Chardon, OH (Kawasaki)

International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike: Jeremy Leduc, Keremeos, BC (Yamaha)

Mont-Tremblant Fast Facts

…Pascal Picotte continues his quest to gain sole possession of third place on the all-time national Superbike wins list at Mont-Tremblant this weekend. The Granby, QC native currently sits in a tie with Rueben McMurter, Michel Mercier and Don Munroe on 12 victories. Steve Crevier leads with 22 career successes and Jordan Szoke is second on 14.

…What a difference a year makes. When Tom Kipp won the Superbike feature at Mont-Tremblant last season he became the sixth different race winner in seven events. When Kevin Lacombe won the previous round of this year’s title chase at Atlantic Motorsport Park he was only the third different victor in six races.

…Should Picotte go on to win his second straight Parts Canada Superbike series title, he will become only the third rider in the 25-year history of the national championship to win back-to-back crowns. Mercier was the first in 1986-87, while Crevier won three in a row between 1991-’93 and also claimed back-to-back crowns in 2000-01.

2004 Point Standings

Parts Canada Superbike: 1. Pascal Picotte (Yamaha) 287; 2. Kevin Lacombe (Yamaha) 216; 3. Jordan Szoke (Honda) 212; 4. Clint McBain (Suzuki) 169; 5. Steve Crevier (Suzuki) 168

Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike: 1. Pascal Picotte (Yamaha) 296; 2. Steve Crevier (Suzuki) 228; 3. Clint McBain (Suzuki) 212

International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike: 1. Rudy Raposo (Yamaha) 171; 2. Darren James (Yamaha) 138; 3. Dominic Lavoie (Kawasaki) 109

Provisional Weekend Schedule

Saturday August 21

1:00 p.m.-1:25 p.m. Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike Qualifying

2:10 p.m.-3:10 p.m. International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike Qualifying

3:20 p.m.-4:15 p.m. Parts Canada Superbike Qualifying

Sunday August 22

12:30 p.m. Hindle Exhaust Pro 600 Sport Bike Race 12 laps

International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Amateur 600 Sport Bike Race 10 laps

2:50 p.m. Parts Canada Superbike Race 15 laps

From a press release issued by Race Promotion Management’s Dan Murphy:

I would like to announce that RPM will not return to Laguna Seca to continue to promote either a World GP or a World Superbike race in 2005. SCRAMP, the track operator has decided it in their best interests to run the race without us. We are disappointed in this decision since our event had become one of SCRAMP’s most profitable events. In addition we think our expertise in the motorcycle industry was a major factor in the success of the race weekend. However we wish them the best of luck and we hope next year’s race is a big success.

I am proud of the fact that we were able to combine both an AMA race weekend and World Superbike weekend to make an international race weekend finally work at Laguna. We tried all sorts of new things from stunt riders, to fan rides, to Supermoto to keep the event new and different each year. We want to thank all of our sponsors and fans who supported the event the last ten year but especially those who supported us in the early years. Three different promoters tried and failed at Laguna to run an international race and it took a leap of faith to jump on with us in the first year.

We wish SCRAMP the best of luck in their new venture and I look forward to coming to the race as a fan instead of a worker.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Local Monterey, California news reports say the 2005 U.S. GP at Laguna Seca will be held on the weekend of July 8-10.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Former CCS Southwest (#191) racer and current Air Force Staff Sergeant Leonard Novak, III, married Amanda Foss August 10 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Foss is stationed in Okinawa, Japan.

From a press release issued by Honda Racing Information:

GIBERNAU AND BIAGGI POISED TO REEL IN ROSSI

The pulsating 2004 MotoGP season resumes this weekend at Brno in the Czech Republic with Honda riders Sete Gibernau (Telefonica MoviStar Honda RC211V) and Max Biaggi (Camel Honda RC211V) locked together on 142 points as they chase MotoGP series leader Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) who has 164 points.

With seven races of this 16-race season left to run, there are 175 points up for grabs more than enough to suggest that even beyond the halfway point of this compelling season nothing can be taken for granted.

Even Colin Edwards (Telefonica MoviStar Honda RC211V) who had been having a wretched season up until the British Grand Prix at the end of July is now likely to be a factor in the title run-in. It may be too late for him to nurse title dreams in fourth overall on 95 points, but his results are likely to have a bearing on the final outcome if he can maintain his Donington form and steal points from other riders.

The most consistent riders in the Championship are Biaggi and Edwards. They are the only two to have scored points at every round so far. As a result they lie third and fourth in the points table. Gibernau has failed to finish twice, Rossi once. Further DNFs for any title aspirant will now prove disastrous as Brno and the six races beyond become a reality after the summer break.

Brno lies 200km south-east of Prague and the area is steeped in the rich history of Grand Prix racing. Races were run on an imposing closed roads course before the dedicated circuit was built in 1987. The 5.403km track is a spectacular environment for motorcycle racing and its plunging turns and a power-sapping climb demand a maximum from riders and machines.

The track drops 73m from its highest to its lowest point and this gradient is felt chiefly by way of downhill corner entries that that ask a lot from the front tyre. Some of these tricky entries are compounded by negative camber that further increases demands for dependable front-end grip. And from turn four to turn 11 it’s all downhill.

There are fast chicanes requiring a chassis set up for rapid changes of direction. Precise steering is a must here even though the track is exceptionally wide at 15m without accurate turn-in at the high sustained speeds achieved here not even this super-wide circuit can accommodate wayward exits resulting from inaccurate turn-in.

Another factor is the huge, enthusiastic crowd, The Czechs love their motorcycle racing and tens of thousands flock to Brno where the viewing facilities are excellent. The event won’t quite attract the crowds of 250,000 who used to watch in the 1970s, but Brno, like the best tracks, always has a charged atmosphere.

One of the most successful riders here in recent times is Max Biaggi. The Roman maestro has won here four times (back-to-back) on a 250 between 1994 and 1997, and he has also scored three premier class wins here too in 1998, 2000 and 2002. Of all the riders hoping for a victory here this weekend, perhaps Max is man best qualified to reasonably expect one…

“This season has already proved however that nothing is decided until the end, and it is with this spirit that I will take on the second part of the year. I’m delighted that we kick off again with Brno, because it is a track that I like without a doubt, but I will approach it as I do any other. In the end every track is great when you feel at one with your bike. And every track can be a pitfall when you don’t think it will be. So, it’s good to go to Brno, but the job more importantly than ever is to work well with the team, with Honda and with Michelin to get ourselves into the best shape technically by Sunday so we can fight for victory.” he said

His team-mate Makoto Tamada (Camel Honda RC211V) riding on Bridgestone tyres said, “The Brno track is one of my favourites; the design and the track’s rhythm are very special. I really think I can go well there. During the summer break the tyre development will have moved on, and with the right choice to suit the climate in the Czech Republic we can feature prominently in this race.”

For Sete the battle begins again. “We are going to fight for this World Championship,” he said. “And Brno is a track I love a lot, it’s one of my favourites. Both the setting and layout of the track are excellent. It has good grip and very few bumps. From the first corners to about three fourths the length of the track the circuit descends, while for the last quarter the ascent is very pronounced with two chicanes, a very slow one and another very fast one which brings you to the straightaway. I always like racing in Brno.”

Colin Edwards too is ready for the challenge of Brno. “It’s a great place and full of character. The best bit is about halfway round where there’s a mini-stadium section. It’s really difficult but it’s good. It’s a nice flowing track, and you’ve got to pick the right lines every time. After Donington I can’t wait to get back racing, to show people the real Colin Edwards again.”

Alex Barros (Repsol Honda RC211V) currently lies fifth in the overall points standings and said, “I’m really looking forward to getting back on the bike on Friday and pushing hard. This season has been very frustrating for me so far. The team is working very hard but there are times when things don’t seem to go my way. But I think we should go well in Brno. The new exhaust system helps with traction out of slower corners and this circuit has several second gear turns where it is important to get the power down smoothly. I’m looking to make this race the start of the best half of the season.”

Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC211V) in sixth overall is another rider in need of a stronger second half to his season. “I was ready to get back racing half way through the break I’m so excited about the rest of the season! We’re working real tight as a unit and we’ve had a few good sessions and races but no weekend has been 100% yet and this is the goal. In my first year I finished fifth in the championship and any racer’s goal is to go better with every season.”

In the 250cc category Dani Pedrosa (Telefonica MoviStar Junior Team RS250RW) has simply set the class alight in his rookie year and the young Spanish flyer leads his nearest rival Randy de Puniet (Aprilia) by 34 points with Sebastian Porto (Aprilia) in third 18 points behind de Puniet.

Again consistency is the key and de Puniet has finished every race in the points and despite his single win to Pedrosa’s four the Frenchman is ahead of Portoin third who’s scored two wins but twice failed to finish. But Pedrosa’s rookie record so far is astonishing; four wins, four seconds and just one DNF from his first nine races in the class.

Dani said, “We’ve had a good first half to the season, better than we expected, but the end will be very tough and we have to be ready. I’m glad we’re starting off in Brno because it is a circuit that has always been good for me with the 125. There are only two races left in Europe, other than the last round at Valencia, and the ‘flyaways’ will be stressful, with a circuit that we don’t know thrown in at Qatar. I’m very motivated and I’m looking forward to getting back on track.”

“I was looking forward to going home to Japan after so long away,” said Hiroshi Aoyama (Telefonica MoviStar Junior Team RS250RW), “Although I am very happy in Barcelona. The holidays were really nice, I was able to relax and recharge the batteries for the rest of the season. At the start of this year everything was new for me but now I feel more and more at home in the category and in the competition, although every Grand Prix represents a new adventure for me. I think I have had some good races, although I still need a little extra. I have been close to the podium on two occasions and I would like to be up there before the end of the season.”

Tony Elias (Fortuna Honda RS250RW) said, “I like racing at Brno, it’s fast with corners you can do something with and I’m looking forward to it after the break. The remaining races are very important for me and I have to win to improve my position in the Championship. The bike is fast but we need to work more on the rolling chassis to get the very best out of the machine now.”

Andrea Dovizioso (Team Kopron Scot Honda RS125R) currently heads the 125cc table just as he has done all season. He has finished every race in the points so far and with three wins among those finishes, the young Italian is showing the combination of speed and discretion that defines a potential World Champion.

But seasoned campaigner Roberto Locatelli (Aprilia) is on his tail and hungry Hector Barbera (Aprilia) is only two points behind him. And even sitting on a considerable points cushion, ‘Dovi’ is in no mood to discount the challenges ahead of him.

“I’m going to Brno in good condition, said Dovi. “I have been training hard to improve my physique while on holiday in Sardegna. Running long distance and riding my CR450 Supermotard, a gift from our sponsors. Brno is not one of my favourite tracks and last year I had trouble getting the bike to turn as precisely as I needed on the wide corners. Even though I don’t really like the circuit I’m confident I will have a good race there. The team is working very hard for me, the bike is really good and I rode well at Donington.”

From a press release issued by PR firm Plummer-Menapace Group on behalf of Helmet House:

HELMET HOUSE GROWS AGAIN

Three New Management Hires And A Promotion

(Calabasas Hills, CA) Helmet House, one of the industry’s premier distributors, continues to grow with the addition of three new management people and the promotion of a third.

Eli Whitney, a 27-year Helmet House veteran, has been promoted to Tour Master Brand Sales Manager. It marks the first time in the company’s 35-year history that a sales manager has been appointed solely for the rapidly-growing and expanding Tour Master® and Cortech® lines of riding apparel, gloves, soft bags and luggage, and rainsuits. Whitney spent his first 22 years as a Helmet House sales representative in the Southern California market. Five years ago he was promoted to Field Sales Trainer and then, in 2001, to Regional Sales Manager.

Described as someone who “eats, sleeps, and breathes Tour Master”, Whitney’s new role will see him working more closely with the New Products department, assisting with product improvements and new-product development and testing. He will also aid the Regional Sales Managers in continuing to build the Tour Master and Cortech brands and further increase their market shares, along with conducting dealer and consumer seminars. A serious motorhead, Whitney has owned and ridden “countless” motorcycles, has put over 53,000 miles on his Honda ST1100 in the past year and a half, is a former open-wheel and stock-car racer, and has devoted decades to the building and restoration of street rods.

To fill Whitney’s former position, Helmet House has hired Scott McBrien as a Regional Sales Manager. McBrien comes to the company with an extensive background in sales, sales management, and sales training. An avid rider himself, he is “extremely passionate about bikes and the motorcycle industry, and this ‘passion’ for the sport and his work is something we actively seek in Helmet House personnel,” said David Kane, National Sales Manager. McBrien, his wife and two children are currently re-locating from Phoenix, AZ.

Jim Reznik is another new Regional Sales Manager added to the Helmet House roster. And while he may be new to our industry, he has an extremely solid background in sales, coming in with over 20 years as an independent sales representative in the golf equipment industry (which is going to make him really popular with a lot of bike-industry people). For the past eight years, Reznik was the Sales Manager of Sayco International, a golf equipment distributor in the Midwest. Of course, motorcycles are a major part of his life: “The reason I was drawn to the position at Helmet House was my enthusiasm for motorsports dating to my pre-teen years. I am an active Enduro and Hare-Scramble rider, and have participated in the Michigan CCC, 7-day Enduro for over 13 years, as well as the Colorado Trail Ride of the Rookies, and other riding events.”

Randy Hutchings is the other addition to the management staff, in the position of Chief Financial Officer. Hutchings is no stranger to Helmet House; for the past eleven years he has been with the company’s accounting firm, which gives him a uniquely-thorough knowledge of Helmet House’s financial operations. A CPA and native southern Californian, Hutchings received his accounting degree from the University of Southern California. “During my last 15 years in accounting, I have worked with numerous companies, and I have always admired the organization, professionalism, and bright future that make Helmet House so distinctive and successful,” Hutchings said. When not “crunching numbers”, he added that he enjoys spending time with his wife, Linda, and sons, Zachary and Ian, along with sports and travel.

Founded in 1969, Helmet House is a full-service national motorcycle-products distributor. Its core brands are Shoei and HJC Helmets, Tour Master and Cortech. Shoei, Tour Master, and Cortech are exclusive with Helmet House. The company maintains two distribution centers in Calabasas, CA and Memphis, TN. Its headquarters are at 26855 Malibu Hills Road, Calabasas Hills, CA, 91301.

From a press release:

Fastrack Riders & WERA West August Events

Fastrack Riders will have a track day on Saturday, August 28th on the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Infield / Oval combination track which is approximately 2.5 miles in length. All riders will have access to air cooled garages to keep cool while not riding. The price is $195 per rider for the day with the Novice Rider School being an additional $100 for first timers to the track. Register on line @ www.fastrackriders.com or call 877-560-2233 to reserve a spot.

WERA West is staging their fifth event of their first season Sunday, August 29th at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on the 2.5 mile Infield / Oval track. There will be eighteen Sportsman Event races run that day with points going towards the WERA West overall championship series. The top fifteen riders in points in each class for each Region will be invited to the Grand National Final held at Road Atlanta October 12th through the 17th. There will be a $10 per person gate fee for the August 29th race day.

The final WERA West race of the season will again be at Las Vegas Motor Speedway but on the exterior 2.5 mile Classic Road Course run in the same configuration as the WERA West May event on Sunday, October 3rd.

WERA West is in the process of negotiating dates for 2005 and look to expand the series to a seven to eight race one day Sportsman events. Fastrack Riders will have a track day on each Saturday before a WERA West race event in 2005.