From a press release issued by American Suzuki:

“Suzuki Fines Aaron Yates”

BREA, Calif. – American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC) today announced that Team Yoshimura Suzuki factory rider Aaron Yates will be sanctioned for his actions at the season-opening round of the AMA/Chevy Trucks Superbike Championship Series in Daytona Beach, Fla., on Saturday, March 6, 2004.

According to ASMC, Yates acted in an unsportsman-like manner while representing Team Yoshimura Suzuki. His personal conduct has resulted in ASMC levying a $25,000 fine against Yates.

“I understand the frustration that Aaron was feeling,” said Mel Harris, vice president of ASMC’s Motorcycle/ATV Operations. “This was the second consecutive year where he would have had a podium finish at the Daytona 200 if circumstances hadn’t intervened. Despite that frustration, cooler heads must prevail in professional racing situations. We at Suzuki feel that the fine is appropriate for the conditions.”

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

First of all, you guys have the best mag in the States. Thanks for all your work.

Now to the real point of this letter. I think Aaron Yates should be banned from racing in the AMA. He is one of the most talented riders in AMA racing. However, he is also a hot-head cry baby. I lost respect for him a couple years ago when I saw him get all bent out of shape when a slower rider was in his way during a practice session for a race. I can’t remember which track it was, but he was shaking his head and pumping his arms in disgust as he passed a back marker.

Then there’s the incident at Leguna Seca last year with Eric Bostrom. From what I could tell, Aaron showed poor judgment on his line selection, but I suppose one could argue that Yates was inadvertently in the wrong place at the wrong time.

But his behavior at Daytona this past weekend was totally unsportsman-like and shows that he can not control his temper. What if he loses control of his temper at 190 mph on the banking? In my opinion, he is a danger to himself and the other riders. Motorcycle racing is dangerous enough without a short-tempered egomaniac riding a 190 bhp motorcycle around with 30 other guys that might get in his way.

Don Proctor
Plymouth, Michigan



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

The behavior of Yoshimura Suzuki Rider Aaron Yates after yesterday’s on track incident during the Daytona 200 was reprehensible.

Whether or not Mr. Fania or Mr. Yates was at “fault” for the racing incident is not the issue here. Racing incidents happen and must be dealt with as many other adversities in the sport. How champions deal with that adversity is what sets them apart from the other competitors. Mr. Yates displayed abominably poor sportsmanship after the incident jumping, kicking, pushing and butting a possible injured fellow sportsman.

Yates displayed this behavior last year as well by lying on an active racetrack at VIR obviously more concerned about getting back in the race than the safety of his fellow competitors.

In my opinion, the solution is easy. Throw a punch – miss at least one race.

It would be easy enough to verify the aggressor from cornerworkers and video tape. The impact to the teams and sponsors would keep the riders in line.

Physically brutal behavior in direct-contact physical sports is embarrassing but somewhat understandable if you take the physical contact too far.

In motorsports there is no such excuse…. Aaron Yates is a thug. He needs to be dealt with for the good of the series and the sport.

Tom Tracey
Bartlett, Illinois



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

Yates is a whiny little spoiled child, out of control, and should be suspended for a race. Aside from that, I hope that he gets sued and loses some coin for this too.

In the last two years, he has ran and laid down in the middle of the track to draw a red (VIR I think), made unnecessary contact with a number of riders, last year he intentionally ran into someone who “got in his way” at Fontana – well after exiting the corner, and he has generally been an asshole on the track. And who can forget the WSB incident where he took out 4 riders, one for the remainder of the year.

A recent article in popular mag portrayed him as easygoing and soft spoken. Yeah. Whatever….

This was clearly his fault, there was plenty of room on the inside, and the guy he was passing was not a slouch rider. Nobody on the grid was really a slouch. Yates decides to make a hairball pass on the outside, gets caught out for it, and then chops into the guy’s front wheel. I don’t give a sh*t who he was trying to chase down, make your pass cleanly, you ain’t gonna lose that much time – and in the end he lost quite a bit of time, didn’t he.

I would love to send a message to Yates personally. Gotta go find his email address, or I can send one to Yosh to properly air my opinion. Or hopefully he will see it here.

This case clearly calls for a suspension, not docking of points or a monetary fine, unless they are added to a suspension. Sit him down, take him out of the championship run this year so he will not feel the need to knock anyone else down unnecessarily. He is dangerous, plain and simple. Show a little backbone, AMA, and do what is right.

Steve Sturm
WSMC #98
Glendora, California



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

I was considering the purchase of an HJC helmet, but no more. I prefer to spend my discretionary income on products made by companies that do not
endorse thugs.

Scott Gilmore
San Diego, California



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

Too bad a few of the SBK guys and Eric didn’t do to Yates what he feels so compelled to do to others–ride without thought to consequence(s) because it’s “never my fault—-just racing” until it happens to him, then it’s ok to react in whatever manner he pleases. I think if I were Aaron’s mother I would be mortified at what an asshole my son turned out to be. Suzuki, do you think maybe it’s time to let a loser like that go and bring on some of the obviously equally talented and much more mature riders like Ben Spies. Now there is a personality the marque could be proud to advertise with, instead of being ashamed to showcase a number two rider that is a number one jerk.

Hugh Flanary
Bow, Washington



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

Wasn’t Yates the fellow that ran out and lay spread eagle on the track after crashing once a while back?

Den Hatch
Tampa, Florida



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

I just finished watching the Daytona 200. So Yates was up to his usual shenanigans… firstly, he runs into Fania – all his fault, of course; secondly, he throws a tantrum like 1 year-old; thirdly, he starts kicking and head-butting the guy! I was waiting for him to throw rocks at bikes going by and then go lie down in the middle of the track, like he did at Virginia. Whatever little respect I had for him (mainly because of his riding abilities) has all but evaporated.

The AMA will do their “official” investigation and fine him and take points away or whatever, but now I think it is time for Yoshimura Suzuki to step up and take decisive action against their “professional” rider, Aaron Yates. No more of that “we stand behind our guy all the way” bullshit! He is dangerous on the track when other bikes are present. Period. Take his factory ride away and give it any of the top privateers; anyone of them can do just as good a job than him, if not better. Let Yates ride a privateer bike if he wants, with his own money, so that he can realize his blessings. Yates destroys a privateer’s bike (his shit is completely paid for) and then has the audacity to kick and scream!

Fania, for my money, was a complete gentleman. He walked away, not once but twice, after getting his bike destroyed at the hands of this asshole, then getting kicked by him and still then, getting head-butted by him. Fania should be the one kicking and screaming.

Full kudos to Speed TV for showing the incident live and not cutting away. And then to Despain for addressing it in his closing remarks. It is kind of refreshing to see politically-incorrect TV.

I wouldn’t care if I ever see Yates ride again. His past behavior and his constant tenacity to run into privateers proves to me that he doesn’t belong on the racetrack with other bikes.

Gohar Fayyaz
Colorado Springs, Colorado



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

I was appalled with the unsportsmanlike like conduct from Aaron Yates in the Daytona 200 race. I understand his frustration, but it is the lapping riders responsibility to make a clean and safe pass and not the one being passed. I was further appalled when Yates proceeded to drop kick and head butt the privateer rider. In my opinion, Aaron Yates should be chastised, fined, and forced to make an apology to the privateer rider and the fans of AMA professional road racing.

Jeff Syar
Columbus, Ohio



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

The actions of Aaron Yates during the 2004 Daytona 200 were unacceptable. His attack upon a fellow rider immedately following a crash clearly caused by Yates’ overzealous outside passing move should be punished by Yoshimura Suzuki Racing and the AMA.

I personally believe that Yates should lose his Yoshimura ride for the remainder of the season. This kind of behavior brings very negative publicity to the sport of motorcycle racing and to his team and sponsors. He should also be banned from at least three races this season – if not the entire season.

As one of the most respected publications in motorcycle racing, I hope Roadracing World gives this incident the coverage it deserves.

Bill Conn
Valley Center, California



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

I have read with interest the comments you have posted about Mr. Yates. I can see political correctness is alive and well at your mag. Don’t you people follow racing. Can you imagine what might happen if the riders was Tony Stewart, Kurt Bush or Jimmy Johnson. This stuff happens all the time. It is FIRE. The thing that make these guys great. It looked to me like the other rider shot his mouth off and brought on the second attack himself. I was always taught to hold your line and do not help the passing rider. If your do signal so he know which side to go on. This didn’t happen here. Yes Mr. Yates has FIRE and he was hot when this bonehead took him out. I am sure the AMA will fine him but to toss him out?? Nascar had better toss out some of its top drivers then but heck look at the ratings on their sport compared to ours.

Steve Snyder
Eugene, Oregon



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

I can’t belive that not one person has talked about Yates’ antics in the 600 race. He was pulling the same old crap in the infield. The crowd would actually gasp everytime he made VERY close and unnecessary passes on the warm up lap and in the race.

I was up in one of the suites in the Winston tower, Sadowski and Drebber where in the booth next to us and we could see the live feed from the 200 not being shown. It was unreal the amount of yelling and such coming from the Yosh team and crew. Not only was Yates unprofessional, so was his team. I hope Teknic and HJC see what kind of spokesperson they have and pull their product. It’s plain to see by your article on Yates what kind of money he gets from his sponsors.

Great magazine and website.

Tommy Morgan
Ocala, Florida



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

I am not at all impressed with Aaron Yates’s child like behavior during the 2004 Daytona 200. It was his responsibility to find a safe way to pass the rider he was lapping during the race. He caused the crash, and then he had the poor moral character to attack the rider he knocked down. I hope Yoshimura will take the appropriate actions against their disgraceful rider.

Tom Hagan
Torrance, California



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

I just wanted to say that the whole mishap was Aarons fault. Basic racing rules say it is up to the guy in the back to make a clean pass and clearly Aaron did not do that. I hope the AMA steps up and suspends him for a minimum of 2 races and a hefty fine and then the AMA donate that money to your Airfence program! On top of that I hope he is sued and pays another big fine along with some community service and anger management classes. Also I hope Suzuki fires him because I will never buy a Suzuki just because of him. Also he is a shitty spokesman for Suzuki as he just blasted his new Suzuki GSX-R600 saying it was way down on power. Yeah, Aaron that’s a good way to sell your product you dipshit.

Also I hope I don’t see you at any California Nationals because I along with a bunch of people are going to boycott you and Yoshimura. Now go home and watch that race with your wife and kids and then say look honey and kids what a ASSHOLE daddy looks like on National TV.

Tim Kamholz
Newark, Calif
AFM #15



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

I feel that if Yoshimura doesn’t fire Yates then they are supporting and endorsing his totally unacceptable behavior. Maybe if enough people boycott Yoshimura Suzuki and the products they sell it would get their attention.

Ron Cornelius
Speedsport Leathers
Tulsa, Oklahoma



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

When will the AMA hit this guy where he deserves it. To just list a few: The crash on the 600 after winning the race that could have injured someone, the red flag he caused by crashing off track and then running on the track putting other riders in danger, trying to end Eric Bostrom’s career with a bonehead move at Laguna and now trying to push a privateer from the line that was taken and then trying to hurt the guy after he gets up. Yates could not have known how bad this guy was hurt. How about a life time suspension? I don’t want to watch him on any track again.

Scott England
Fresno, California



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

Fallout from the Aaron Yates incident is sure to include the factory rider opinion of backmarkers and how much of a nuisance they are. Several factory riders have been vocal about this subject in the past. I’m sure The Daytona 200 would be just as exciting with 8 bikes lining up at the start instead of the usual 30-60! Yeah, everyone would tune in to see that.

Aaron is 100% wrong and should be suspended for his actions. The FIM probably would have shot him for what he did!

Scott Schneider
Bellport, New York



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

Can you say capital “a” for asshole!?

Yate’s behavior was totally unacceptable. Suzuki should have the balls to fire him just like they did with Gobert a few years back. Give michael barnes the ride or some other top privateer (Someone who would relish the ride and make the team proud to have him).

We’ve seen enough f–kups and tantrums from this guy—it’s time for a reality check for Mr. Yates. I hope they fire your ass like I would be fired from my job if I pulled a stunt like that. Accountablility for one’s actions is a bitch!

Thats’s my two cents on the deal.

Jim kelch
Vacaville, California



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

Aaron Yates should vist the same bar at Daytona that Scott Russell did. What was the name of that bar? Uppercut Alley?

On a lighter side….. Looks like he’s taking dance lessons from Ashton his kid. I wonder if he will dance like that for the AMA or Suzuki after they fine him.

Mike Reeves
Martinez California



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

Regarding Yates behavior today and previously— Suzuki and/or AMA need to put that redneck dipshit on the first bus back to Hayseed Gap. As a former racer, it disappoints and embarrasses me to see our sport degenerating to the level of other “professional sports” which seem to idolize the “win-or-cry” attitude. Certainly, there are a dozen other unsigned riders out there capable of putting a factory GSXR1000 on the podium with regularity (witness Pfeifer, Orlando, etc in the top 10). And there are probably thousands who could dismount the same bike in the dirt with more dignity than Yates will ever have. Yates attitude is perfectly suited to the WWE, but should not be condoned by the AMA or the racers and fans who support the AMA Superbike Championship. Somebody please send Yates back to the minor leagues, and put a qualified professional rider on his bikes!

Ken Downing
Denver, Colorado



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

It’s so easy for everybody to bash Yates and not admit that everybody can have a temper, try running two thirds of a 57 lap race just to have a backmarker not a hold a tight consistent line and collide together, shouldn’t Fania’s bike been turning into the corner or did Yates turn too early…….seems to me the blame can go either way, Yates gets abusive but Fania’s hand gestures on his lower body could have been just as offensive to some people. I have been in races many years ago and have had Yates go by me at different tracks, I’ve never had a problem, racing is racing and shit happens.

Joe Conforth
Newark, New Jersey




FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

Anthony Fania is a racer’s racer. He’s a privateer in every sense of the word and has been racing for a long time. Having watched Fania race for the last 10 years, I know personally he is all business on the track and a good person off the track. He has been running the 200 for a lot of years and knows the proper racing etiquette when it comes to racing against factory riders on superior machines. Fania simply doesn’t do stupid things. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for Yates.

John Anderson
Somerset, New Jersey




FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t Aaaron have a little trouble negotiating that turn at Laguna Seca last year? Nobody tried to assault him when the dust settled…

I have always enjoyed watching Aaron compete (e.g. in the 600 Supersport race), but I am now convinced that he is a pea-brained hypocrite.

He’s like school on a Saturday…..NO CLASS!

Greg Jacob
Haddonfield, New Jersey



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

This is getting out of hand. It’s time for the bosses to tame their riders down. It’s amazing that it’s never their fault. These overpaid prima-donnas need to take a step back and look around. They run into people and blame the guy that get hits by them. Must be tough to be perfect. They spend all their time complaining about the non-factory guys, so then what happens? The AMA bows down and reduces the cutoff for the races and you have 37 guys in the field and they still hit people and blame the other guy. Those other riders in the field make the factory “stars” look pretty good and it sure seems they also bring out their own stupity. But it’s not their fault. I understand that things happen, I’ve been around for awhile but give me a break.

Miguel punching Paul Harrell at Mid-Ohio, Yates putting his bike and body on the track at VIR to get a red flag, Ben Bostrom takes 3 guys out at Barber and then Eric Bostrom has the balls to go on Speedvision and blame the other guys, Miguel throwing rocks on the track in the same incident. Do you see a pattern? It’s time to stop this crap, but I’m sure the AMA will bow down once again because after all they now have to keep the field as large as they can. It’s getting so stupid that it’s sickening, these whining over-paid prima-domnas need to start using their heads. But as we have seen that is probably a stretch.

Greg Esser
Pompano Beach, Florida




FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

First, great magazine and website, thanks!

I could not believe that a Suzuki factory rider would actually drop kick and head butt a man that he hit from behind. Racing Daytona is scary enough Fania got blindsided and while he was making sure he had all parts of his body the guy that hit him is coming at him with a drop kick. Whats next, the people’s elbow? No room for such childish behavior in pro racing. Pull his license and give it to the next guy in line. To the Privateers if the AMA doesn’t punish Yates like he should be pull out of the rest of the season. Let’s see how the paddock looks with 6 riders. I do wonder what the Yoshimura/Suzuki boss will do?

Carmen Centennial
Fort Knox, Kentucky



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

I will admit to being somewhat of a fan of Yates … his (ultimately unsuccessful) attempt to breakaway on his underpowered bike in the morning race was inspirational.

Except in a voyeuristic sort of way, I’m not a fan of what we saw on TV.

The accident was just that, an accident. Either rider can try to blame the other, even though we all try to subscribe to the idea that it is the passers responsibility to complete the pass cleanly.

The aftermath was excessive, but we all only SAW it — we were not there, and did not hear what was being said. If you believe maybe Yates was stood up, but he shouldn’t have carried it any farther, the same could be said about Fania’s gesturing. They both should have dropped it — but at lap 48, that weren’t likely to happen, was it?

Reviewing the tape supports the comments later made by BOTH riders — Fania feels aggrieved, Yates surely didn’t seem to put any real rancor into his actions … but it ain’t up to public opinion, and past actions shouldn’t be a factor. Hopefully the AMA deals with THIS action, fairly.

Not many people are as monstrous as our flamemails would make them out to be. When we all come out from behind our firewalls, most folks are pretty decent.

B.J. Worsham
Old Westbury, New York



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

At 8:00 a.m. this morning, March 8, 2004, Anthony Fania, Jr. filed an affidavit with the State Attorney’s Office in Daytona detailing the assault.

Anthony Fania, Sr.
Milford, New Jersey

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION:

Via E-mail:

Racing has extreme highs and extreme lows. It almost seems like there’s no in-between when you race at the level that I do. For me, after racing 170 grueling miles, I realized that I had a chance to win the race.

With about eight laps to go, I came up on some lapped riders. I set up to pass, using the same racing line that I’d been using on this part of the track all day – in both the 200 and in the 600 SuperSport race.

I came through on the brakes on the outside and in my peripheral vision I saw a rider stand his bike up. So I got on the brakes harder and stood my bike up a bit to give him some room. But I was running out of racetrack.

We went down and were sliding toward the wall and I was honestly thinking that I was going to break both of my legs. Thankfully, the impact was softer than I’d anticipated. I got up thinking that I’d raced 49 laps with eight left to go and a second-place finish in the Daytona 200 was down the drain.

I couldn’t believe that this was actually happening. But I never had any intention of hurting anyone. The last thing that I want is for people to get hurt at the track. This is not the way that I wanted to look back on Daytona ’04. And this is definitely not what I want the race fans to think of when they think of me.

I’m just so sorry that the whole incident ever happened. And I’m sorry if my actions offended or disappointed anyone.

Aaron Yates

From a press release:
Motonation focuses its sales and operations teams!

We all know that today’s clients need and demand more and more interaction and attention to detail with each passing day. Motonation has certainly been aware of this and has taken steps to address this fact of business life by restructuring its sales, marketing and operations teams. With that said let us present to you Motonation’s new structure:

The overall direction of Motonation, its sales and marketing plans as well as future product and brand developments will continue to be lead by Motonation’s President; Bill Berroth.

The Sales Department will now be divided into two regions. East headed by Jeff Noland and West headed by long-time Motonation staffer James Tebockhorst. Each Regional Sales Manager will be responsible for all commercial activities in their regions and will be focused on lending their dealers and reps the highest possible levels of support.

Jeff and James will be supported by a new internal operations structure that will allow for a more focused approach. Six staff members (some new and some old) have been assigned the specific and focused responsibilities to: a) Manage Motonation’s remote warehouse. b) Handle the infamous “paper trail” i.e.: the bookkeeping and accounting tasks. c) Manage the production/ordering/in bound shipping of Motonation’s lines. d) Coordinate the companies support rider and sponsored rider efforts. e) Manage Motonation’s product warrantee, its Internet site and advertising. f) And James and Jeff’s new favorite person…their own Sales Assistant!

Where we gonna fit all these guys? Good question because they certainly will not all fit in our present Poway CA location! Effective March 29th we will be in our new digs (phone numbers and address to follow) in El Cajon CA (2 miles from the MX track!!!) which were specifically selected to complement the new staff structure and to position Motonation to handle its next big growth spurt…Ten million a year here we come!

From a press release issued by Yamaha:

ROSSI VOICES 2004 EXPECTATIONS AT JAPANESE MOTOGP PRESS CONFERENCE

New Yamaha recruit Valentino Rossi represented this year’s Yamaha MotoGP line-up at a press conference held by Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. (YMC) at a hotel in Tokyo on Saturday. Rossi was accompanied on stage by Davide Brivio, Team Director of the Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha team, YMC Senior Managing Director Takashi Kajikawa, YMC Managing Director Kunihiko Nakajima, and YMC Technology Development Division Manager Masao Furusawa. Much to the delight of the attending local media Japanese TV personality Tokoro George put in a guest appearance, and he and Rossi amused the onlookers with lively talk of racing.

Senior Managing Director Kajikawa summarized the aims of Yamaha’s race activities as a means to nurture in Yamaha employees the “spirit of challenge” that lies at the core of YMC’s corporate culture, and to develop and refine advanced technologies in the highly competitive arena of racing and feed those technologies back into the company’s production models. And finally, to spread awareness of the Yamaha brand worldwide and build its image by continuing to compete at the very highest-level of international motor sports competition.

“2004 is a very important year for us at YMC, being the final year of our current mid-term management plan called “Next 50,” before Yamaha Motor celebrates the 50th anniversary of the company’s founding next year,” explained Mr Kajikawa. “And in the area of motorcycle racing we are undertaking a high-level challenge this season. Part of this includes welcoming Valentino Rossi, who is widely acknowledged as the greatest rider competing today, to the Yamaha team in an all-out effort to win the 2004 MotoGP championship title.

“What we at Yamaha hope to see in Mr. Rossi this year is his tremendous spirit of challenge. The spirit of challenge is something that lies at the very core of Yamaha Motor, and if we can bring together these two spirits this season, it will surely create the kind of Kando that Yamaha is dedicated to as our corporate mission.”

He concluded with the statement, “I would like to promise you that this season you will see Yamaha competing with a passion.”

Development Chief of the YZR-M1 factory machine Mr. Furusawa said, “Until recently our main themes in the development of this machine have been brake control, top speed and traction control, but with the 2004 model YZR-M1 we focused primarily on improving traction control. Meanwhile, with regard to the machine as a whole, we have improved the engine performance, refined the handling with a focus on stability by optimizing the geometry of the chassis, lowered the centre of gravity of the rear arm and optimized the link ratio and also improved the aerodynamics. We have now completed three of our six planned test sessions before the season’s opening round and everything is proceeding well.”

Rossi told the press: “The tests have been going well. There may be some difficult times in the first half of the season, but we will continue to work on the machine’s performance and I promise you I will be standing on the centre step of the podium soon. I hope everyone will be cheering for me.”

After the conference, Tokoro George presented Rossi with a Samurai Set, claiming “Long ago, everyone in Japan used to wear one of these.” In response Rossi presented Tokoro with a Rossi replica helmet, the Japanese entertainer promising that he would wear it as he cheered for Rossi in front of the TV when the season begins.

Rossi will attend the forthcoming Yamaha test at the Phillip Island circuit in Australia on 9,10,11 March.

From a press release:

San Francisco Motorcycle Club 100th Anniversary Celebration

The San Francisco Motorcycle Club is pleased to announce that during the weekend of June 17th thru June 20th we will be hosting our 100th Anniversary Celebration

This centennial celebration will commence with our weekly Thursday Night meeting at 7pm where members, guests, and a list of motorcycle dignitaries will view our many photos and artifacts and learn the history of our fine club.

On Friday at 8pm, we will be co-hosting with the Secret Society Scooter Club an annual Beer Tasting event. Members of other motorcycle clubs are encouraged to attend.

On Saturday at 11am, we will be closing the 2100 block of Folsom Street (between 17th and 18th St.) where we will be dancing in the street to the sounds of Latin music performed by local talent and rocking with “Johnny and the River Rats.” There will be a Motorcycle Show with showing classes for Vintage, Contemporary, Scooter and “Rat” Bikes. There will also be a display of motorcycles from the SFPD . There will be vendors selling T-Shirts, jewelry, leather goods, motorcycle parts and other goodies. There will also be a Dyno-Test Machine for those who want to show off their horsepower. There will also be several ethnic food concessioners supplying tasty delicacies. Further, there will be an area set aside for the kids that will include a Jumper Castle, Face-Painting and more. As a special treat, we will have an Observed Trials Rider entertaining us with his mastery of his motorcycle over difficult terrain and obstacles. The Street Fair will end at 6pm and at 7pm the San Francisco Motorcycle Club will open its Clubhouse doors for “A Mid Summer”s Night” Old Timers” Dance where many of the members of “Days Gone By” will be in attendance.

On Sunday at 10am, we will culminate our celebration with “The Ride.” This will be a ride thru the streets of San Francisco to view our City’s many unique and wonderful landmarks. A commemorative photograph will be taken as a keepsake for all the riders who participate. A short final ceremony will take place at the SFMC Clubhouse at the end of the ride. The members of the San Francisco Motorcycle Club hope that everyone will take this opportunity to attend one or more of these functions and learn more about the San Francisco Motorcycle Club, its history, its present, and its future.


Some highlights from club history:

1904
In November of this year, the SFMC holds its first meeting at the Thor Motorcycle shop, owned by A. Freed, on the 1400 block of Market street near Fulton. 12 charter members were in attendance. A few were: C.C. “Daddy” Hopkins, J.L. Tormey George Peyton, Joe Holle, Harry Rockwell, A. Freed

1905
In the summer of ’05, the club held its first run. It was to be a 5 mile race from the clubroom to the top of the hill in Daly City by way of Mission Street. The weather would not cooperate and the event was cancelled as none of the 12 riders could make it past Geneva Avenue as they were bogged down by rain and mud. At that time Mission Street was dirt south of Army Street.

1906
April 18th, a day that all San Franciscans remember, the Great Earthquake and Fire strikes and fire ravages the SFMC clubroom and all its possessions.

1907
The club finds a new clubroom at 25th and Mission Streets just outside the earthquake;fire damaged area.

1911
The membership of the SFMC hits its peak with over 500 members including San Francisco’s mayor P.H. McCarthy.

1913
Dudley “Red” Perkins Sr. joins the SFMC, a spirited rider, he gains recognition as a champion hill-climber aboard his Harley-Davidson. One year later, he opens a Harley Davidson dealership.

1924
San Francisco Motorcycle Club joins the American Motorcycle Association as club number 142. Dud Perkins wins the National Hill-Climb
Championship. The club also wins big at Motorcycle Polo led by Pat Speer.

From a press release issued by Honda Racing:

REPSOL HONDA PAIR CONCLUDE SUCCESSFUL VALENCIA TEST

2004 Repsol Honda team mates Nicky Hayden and Alex Barros finished their scheduled two-day test at Valencia this afternoon (Sunday) pleased with their work and the way the teams testing schedule is developing.

In bright sunshine today they worked at the 4.005km Ricardo Tormo circuit putting more km’s on their factory Honda RC211V’s in readiness for the start of the 16-round 2004 MotoGP world championship that starts at Welkom in South Africa in exactly six weeks time.

Hayden and Barros will shortly fly back to America and Brazil respectively before returning to Spain (Barcelona) for the official launch of the Repsol Honda Team on March 25th and the IRTA tests the following weekend.

Nicky Hayden
“A good couple of days. I’ve gone faster here than I ever have before which is good. The teams working real well and I’m looking forward to the IRTA tests at the end of the month when the season will really start to build. In Barcelona they’ll be all the teams, great atmosphere, a little bit of hype. We then have one more test at Jerez then the fun starts with the first race. I’m really excited.”

Saturday best lap 1:33.7 70 laps
Sunday best lap 1:33.3 91 laps

Alex Barros
“Today we tested a lot of different solutions on the bike for this circuit and am very happy with the results over the weekend. I can now make consistently fast laps and I don’t seem to be too bothered by the shoulder with seems to be coming better with every test we do. We are still not at 100% but I’m pleased we are on the schedule we set ourselves when we started testing this year. That is to take it steady with the bike and the shoulder in order to be at 100% for the first GP in South Africa. I’m travelling back to Brazil shortly and will return to Spain for the IRTA tests at the end of the month.”

Saturday best lap 1:33.5 81 laps
Sunday best lap 1:33.65 85 laps



More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

PROGRESS AND OPTIMISM FOR DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM AFTER VALENCIA TESTS

Valencia (Spain), 7 March 2004: The Ducati Marlboro Team’s two-day testing session at the Valencia circuit in Spain has concluded successfully. Spring-like weather and clear skies (air 17°-24° C / track 20°-27° C) helped Loris Capirossi, Troy Bayliss and engineering staff make progress in the work schedule and terminate the day with a series of positive indications for the development of the new Desmosedici GP4.

Satisfaction and optimism were the sensations expressed by the Ducati Marlboro Team, which after two days of intense work, returns home with a series of data on which to work but also with the knowledge that the GP4 project is moving in the right direction.

Loris Capirossi made a major improvement on yesterday during his 68 laps, recording a quickest time of 1:33.4. The Italian rider appeared to be pleased with the two days of testing. “Today was intense but extremely positive” commented Loris. “I’m getting to know the Desmosedici GP4 and its handling much better now. We worked a lot on the suspension and chassis and now the bike is more stable, agile and it has improved under braking. We also focussed on improving power delivery, and we’ll be doing some more work on that in the future.”

It was a positive day also for Troy Bayliss, who completed 79 laps, covering a distance of more than 300 kms and recording a best time of 1:33.5. “Today went well again” declared Troy, clearly satisfied with the progress. “I continued testing the front tyres and I can say we’re at a good point. We still need to do a bit more work on improving the set-up, and then my Desmosedici will be perfect for the start of the championship.”

Further indications were also provided by the ‘development’ team, present at the Spanish circuit with test-rider Vittoriano Guareschi, which is continuing to offer vital support for the Factory race team.

The next appointment for the Ducati Marlboro Team is scheduled for March 26-28 at the Montmelò circuit (Barcelona) for the first session of official MotoGP tests.


More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki:

SUZUKI CONFIDENT AFTER BEST TESTS

Team Suzuki Press Office – March 7 2004.
Team Suzuki MotoGP completed the fourth tests of the new GP year at Valencia today – with former World Champion Kenny Roberts Jr. reporting further progress on the road towards making the GSV-R MotoGP machine fully competitive.

They were, said team manager Garry Taylor, “our best tests for two years.”

Roberts was again joined by ex-Suzuki Superbike rider Gregorio Lavilla for the two days of testing at the Ricardo Tormo GP circuit. The Spanish racer was standing in for team regular rider John Hopkins, still sidelined by ankle injuries sustained in an off-road bike crash.

Following promising tests in Australia, the team reported further progress with the evolutionary process of the powerful 990cc V4 four-stroke GSV-R, the fastest racing motorcycle ever built by Suzuki. The team is still testing an interim machine – another development stage in the evolution towards the full 2004 racer.

“We’re getting more and more things figured out every time – and going faster on race tyres than we did last year on qualifying tyres. That’s quite a big difference,” said Roberts, before flying home to the States, to prepare for the next round of tests before the start of the season in South Africa in mid-April.

Team manager Garry Taylor also reflected the upbeat mood of the team after the tests.

“As usual, we are not releasing lap times, but that was our most positive test for a couple of years. You can see by his manner how Kenny is feeling. He is a racer, and he has the sniff of a chance of success!

“It’s the result of a lot of hard work from the factory, addressing the problems we had last year, and also a systematic programme of testing. We’ve made real progress,” said Taylor.

He also thanked Spanish rider Lavilla for “a very significant contribution. He’s a really good rider, and he helped us to learn a lot. He and Kenny spoke a lot, and he made very similar comments about all the changes we tried.”

Hopkins is expected to be fit for the next round of IRTA tests in Catalunya in three weeks.

KENNY ROBERTS – “A PRETTY BIG CHANGE”

We’re getting more and more things figured out, and we’re starting to get the bike so it has a better feeling. It’s impossible to say that we’re competitive already; it wouldn’t be constructive to think about that. We can only base our progress on what we achieved last year – and we’d win every time compared with that. We are consistently faster on race tyres than we were last year on soft qualifying tyres, good for only a couple of laps. That’s a pretty big change.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Late in Sunday’s 63rd running of the Daytona 200 by Arai AMA Superbike race at Daytona International Speedway, Yoshimura Suzuki’s Aaron Yates was in second place and running hard to stay with his teammate Mat Mladin, the race leader and eventual winner.

Coming into the west horseshoe turn in the infield, Yates and KSW Insurance’s Anthony Fania, Jr. collided, and both riders crashed hard.

“It was a racing incident,” Fania told Roadracingworld.com after the race. “Whether I was running wide, or he thought I was running wide, or whatever he said, I stood the bike up, bullshit! I was dead center of the racetrack. I was committed to the corner, to where I was going. I’ve been doing this as long as he has. He’s not going to tell me I was doing something wrong.”

“I was coming around the outside of the guy, and he stood the thing up, went straight,” said Yates. “I tried to stand up a little, and he ran into me. We got together.”

Neither rider was injured in the crash, but when they finished tumbling, they started rumbling.

“I stood up and saw it was him, Yates, and he came running right at me, yelling at me, ‘You took me out! You took me out!'” said Fania. “I started yelling at him, ‘Asshole, you hit me! You took me out!’ And at that point, he head-butted me, or whatever he did.”

Video replays of the incident appeared to show Yates attempt to drop-kick Fania before the head-butt, but Fania said, “There was no drop-kicking, no drop kicking involved. All he did was head-butt me, like the jerkoff that he is.”

“I was just upset,” Yates told Roadracingworld.com. “I didn’t really do anything major (to Fania), you know? Let’s just say I didn’t put any effort into what I did. I felt I had to do something, but I didn’t want to push him or nothing. But I just didn’t really kick at him. I just kind of jumped up (and) brushed him with my feet. I didn’t extend my legs or try to kick him or anything. And then he was trying to get me started and f—king with me. ‘Come on, come on, do something.'”

Asked what action, if any, he thought AMA Pro Racing would take against him for the head-butt, Yates said, “Oh, I’m sure they’ve got to punish me some how. I felt like I didn’t do anything. It wasn’t my fault.”

Yates’ Yoshimura Suzuki Team Manager Don Sakakura described his rider’s actions after the crash as “a bit excessive.”

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Brian Parriott rode his San Jose BMW to victory in the BoxerCup race at Daytona, breaking away from the pack to cross the finish line 2.7 seconds head, out of drafting range.

This just in:

At 5:10 p.m. local time, BMW officials announced in the media center that Oriol Fernandez, the second-place finisher in Saturday’s BMW Boxer Cup final, has been disqualified for a “technical infringement with the exhaust system.” All race finishers below Fernandez have been elevated one position.

Revised BMW Boxer Cup Results(All on BMW R1000S):

1. Brian Parriott, USA
2. Thomas Hinterreiter, Austria
3. Markus Barth, Germany
4. Sebastian Legrelle, Belgium
5. Stephane Mertens, Belgium
6. Roberto Panichi, Italy
7. Gwen Giabbani, France
8. Barry Burrell, Great Britain
9. Klaus Nies, Germany
10. Guillaume Dietrich, France
11. Ricky Orlando, USA
12. Javier Valera, Spain
13. Alex Busquets, Spain
14. Katja Poensgen, Germany

18. Greg White, USA

20. Brad Hendry, USA
21. John Glaefke, USA
22. Jon Simisky, USA
23. Sylvester Lemanski, USA

25. Frank Shockley, USA, -3 laps, crash
Nate Kern, USA, DNF, mechanical

Mike Ciccotto, USA, DNS

Oriol Fernandez, ESP, Disqualified, exhaust infringement

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Provisional Saturday Morning AMA Superbike Practice Times:

1. Eric Bostrom, Ducati 999F04, 1:48.774
2. Aaron Gobert, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:49.614
3. Ben Bostrom, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:49.680
4. Miguel Duhamel, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:50.076
5. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:50.600
6. Mat Mladin, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:51.553
7. Pascal Picotte, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:52.246
8. Geoff May, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:52.278
9. Lee Acree, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:53.253
10. Larry Pegram, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:53.429
11. Chris Caylor, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:53.877
12. Eric Wood, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:54.035
13. Josh Hayes, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:54.577
14. Jack Pfeifer, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:54.967
15. John Haner, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:55.348
16. Ricky Orlando, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:55.910
17. Anthony Fania, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:56.012
18. C. Fitspatrick, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:56.047
19. Frank Trombino, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:56.273
20. J.J. Roetlin, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:56.395