From a press release issued by the Wegman Benefit Fund:

Corse Superbikes owner Virgil Kreder and General Manager Sam Milella have released their plan to support the Wegman Benefit Fund:

“Corse Superbikes is proud to announce our sponsorship of this very necessary and important organization. For many years Gordon Lunde has shouldered the responsibility to keep this fund alive and available to our fallen comrades. We are honored to help him in this cause. Starting January 1, 2004 we will be financially supporting the Wegman Fund with a contribution for every retail motorcycle we deliver. This is our way of saying thank you to the racers and their families for the enjoyment they bring to us. We feel there is more to our business than just selling and servicing motorcycles. What we do is nurture the sport we love by helping the people that make our pastime as enjoyable as it truly is.”

The Wegman Fund wishes to thank Corse Superbikes for their generous support. To date the Wegman Fund has paid out $150,000 for roadracers who have been injured in racing accidents. We also support the Roadracing World Action Fund and Motor Racing Outreach in their roles to assist racers and their families.

Corse Superbikes is a Ducati/Aprilia/Moto-Guzzi/KTM dealer located in Saukville, WI. Please see their website at www.corsesuperbikes.com.

For more information on the Wegman Benefit Fund please contact Gordon Lunde at 414-321-2338 or [email protected].

Gordon Lunde
Wegman Benefit Fund
3741 S. 71 Street
Milwaukee, WI 53220-1814
414-321-2338

From a press release issued by Erion Honda:

Erion Racing signs Anthony Gobert to compete in 2004 AMA Superstock series on Honda CBR1000RR

Orange, Calif. – Erion Racing announced today the signing of Anthony Gobert to compete in the AMA’s 2004 Superstock series on the new Honda CBR1000RR.

Kevin Erion, president of Erion Racing said, “We are excited to showcase Honda’s CBR1000RR in the AMA’s Superstock class in 2004, and we are equally excited to have a rider of Anthony’s caliber competing in this class on the Erion team.”

Gobert will race alongside his youngest brother and teammate Alex, who will also compete on a CBR1000RR in the Superstock class. “These guys have won championships and they have a very strong team,” said Anthony. “As for me, I am 28 and I’ve never been a quitter. Kevin Erion is giving me a chance to prove myself and I am ready to race.”

Gobert is a veteran AMA Superbike and Supersport rider and finished second in the 2001 AMA Supersport Championship. The Australian hails from a racing family and is the eldest of three brothers (also Alex and Aaron) currently competing in AMA events. Anthony began competing in motocross at age 11 and won numerous titles by the age of 16, including the Australian 125 Supercross Championship. He joined Honda Racing Australia in 1993 and competed in the Superbike series at age 17—one year later he won the 1994 Australian Superbike Championship. Gobert has also competed in many road racing series including World Superbike, World GP and AMA Superbike and Supersport. He is known as a gifted rider whose racing performances electrify the crowd.

About Erion Racing
Erion Racing is the official factory-supported race team of American Honda. The 2004 season marks the 11th year of this remarkably successful relationship, an alliance that has yielded championship-caliber results from one of the most formidable teams in all of American road racing. In the AMA Formula Xtreme series, Erion Racing won nine of nine races in 1999; won the most consecutive races by a single rider (six in 2000); won the most consecutive pole positions (eight in 2000); and won the most class championships, with four in six years. Erion Racing earned two titles in AMA 600 Supersport competition, winning the championships in 1999 and 2000. For more information about Erion Racing, visit www.erionracing.com.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

A Roadracing World reader and military veteran has asked us to find 10 active-duty road racers or racing fans deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan who would like to receive a subscription to Roadracing World, which he will pay for.

If you are (or know someone who is) on active duty in Iraq or Afghanistan and would like (or know someone who would like) to receive the print edition of Roadracing World, e-mail your (or their) name, APO address, country of deployment and e-mail address to:

[email protected]

From a press release issued by Traxxion Dynamics

Traxxion WAS First Elka Dealer After All

Let me clear up some confusion on the new Elka Shock. I reached a formal agreement with Elka at the Dealer Expo in Indianapolis in February of 2003. The shocks didn’t even exist at this point and the first prototypes were finished shortly thereafter.

I have not made a public announcement because I did not want to sell their shocks until I was finished doing the development with Elka. There were several improvements that had to be made to put them right on par with Penske. That work is done now, and I am ready to sell them.

So Mr. Erion, you are wrong, but you will be able to benefit from my development work. I hope you have many satisfied Elka customers in the future.

You’re welcome,

Max McAllister
Traxxion Dynamics
Woodstock, Georgia


See related posts:

2/7/2004 Two Brothers: No, Traxxion Was Not The First. We Were.

2/6/2004 Traxxion Adds Elka Shocks

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Nicky Wimbauer, 15, is testing with an Italian team at Misano this coming Saturday and Sunday.

If the test is a success, Wimbauer will race a YZF-R6 Yamaha for the team in the Italian Championship, with wild-card rides in the Supersport World Championship Series.

Wimbauer turns 16 later this month. He is currently based in Munich, Germany, where his grandparents live.

Wimbauer has moved from Colorado to Germany with his father, a native of Germany who is also a motorcyle road racer.

From a press release issued by CTS:

AMA Superbike Racing Legend Miguel Duhamel Joins The Ranks of Elite Athletes Trained By CTS

Colorado Springs, CO – AMA Superbike racing legend Miguel Duhamel signed this January with Carmichael Training Systems, the leader in remote-based endurance coaching, where he will work one-on-one with premiere CTS coach Dean Golich. The 36 year-old Canadian native from Quebec, known for his incredible drive and competitive instincts, has not only won more Superbike races than anyone in history, he has also had the longest Superbike winning streak and has set the AMA 600 Supersport record with 5 titles, 40 wins, and 10 consecutive wins in a row.

From riding his first minibike at age 3, entering his first race at age 8 and eventually emerging as the “King of AMA Superbike Racing,” Miguel Duhamel will continue to push his competitive edge by training with Golich. As Duhamel admits, “You need more than just the ability to go fast on a motorcycle to beat the other guys-I think a desire to win is what motivates me the most.”

A desire to win, and iron guts, Duhamel’s career hasn’t been without its setbacks. In the midst of his stunning career in the ‘90s, which included winning 2 Daytona 200 races, 5 AMA Supersport championships and some 20 Superbike races, Duhamel suffered a double compound fracture to his left leg mid season in ‘98, which severely jeopardized his career. Showing his championship spirit by attending the Daytona 200 nine months later, hobbling with a cane and weakened by the injury, he stunned himself and all onlookers by winning both the 600 Supersport and Superbike races.

However, another crash at the end of the season broke his left leg again, making it an inch shorter and causing him to change his training program altogether. Instead of running, he now focuses on weight-lifting, cycling, and cardiovascular exercises, and with CTS’ help, will continue to improve his fitness, move forward, and focus on the next race.

Who wouldn’t be impressed by this fiery competitor, still considered the King of Superbike Racing? Dean Golich was equally impressed by Duhamel’s desire to continually improve. “Here you have one of the best technical riders in the world,” remarks Golich, “and yet he’s still striving to improve; so if we can increase his aerobic conditioning and get his physical abilities honed to optimal performance, he’ll continue to stay atop the AMA Superbike rankings.”

Miguel will begin the 2004 AMA Superbike season in Daytona Beach, FL on March 3-6.

Carmichael Training Systems, founded in 1999, is a community of athletes and coaches dedicated to improving the performance and lives of athletes of all levels and disciplines. Led by Chris Carmichael, CTS brings coaching expertise, product advice and endurance sports information to the athletic community via the Internet (www.trainright.com) and through personal training camps and clinics. CTS works with a wide variety of athletes including five-time Tour de France Champion Lance Armstrong, 2000 Triathlon Olympic Gold Medalist Simon Whitfield, Montreal Canadiens Captain Saku Koivu, 2001 Mountain Bike World Champion Alison Dunlap, World Record Swimmer Ed Moses and Indy Car racer Eliseo Salazar. CTS is also the official coaching authority of the US Postal Service Cycling Team and the Trek/VW Mountain bike team. CTS also serves as the official coaching service for the US Paralympic cycling team.

From a press release issued by AHRMA:

Nixon and Springsteen set for rematch of Daytona Legends race

Racing greats Gary Nixon and Jay Springsteen will reprise their Battle of Legends match during American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association action Monday and Tuesday, March 1 and 2, at Daytona International Speedway.

The excitement was dampened somewhat during AHRMA’s Classics Days 2003 when rain played havoc with Nixon’s M3 Racing 1972 Honda CR750 and Springsteen thundered away for the win aboard the Hourglass Racing 1972 Harley-Davidson XR750TT. Retired national champs don’t like to lose, even at vintage racing, so 1967 Daytona 200 winner Nixon can be expected to come out with all four cylinders howling to avenge his third-place finish behind Springsteen and Triumph-mounted Geir Jacobsen of Norway.

The past champions will face off in a Battle of Legends race in the Formula 750 class both days, while Nixon also is entered to compete in the Formula Vintage class on the fast M3 Honda.

Nixon, 63, won back-to-back AMA Grand National Championships in 1967 and ‘68 on Triumphs. He began his professional racing career in 1958, and over the next 22 seasons logged 19 AMA national wins in over 150 finishes. Along the way he developed into an excellent roadracer. In 1976, he should have won the world Formula 750 series, but was denied the title after international politics cost him a victory. He was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum in 1998 and lives in Maryland.

The 46-year-old “Springer” is a three-time AMA Grand National Champion (1976, ‘77 and ‘78) with over 40 national dirt track wins to his credit. His pro career began in 1975, and after approximately 400 races he isn’t done yet, as his 10th-place finish in the 2003 AMA national series testifies. The popular Michigan racer also has found success on pavement, most notably in the early ‘80s on Harley-Davidson’s “Lucifer’s Hammer” Battle of the Twins racer, as well as a fifth in the 1986 Daytona 200 on a Yamaha. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003.

For more details, visit the Bike Week preview page at www.ahrma.org.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

(A report from WERA West’s Larry Pointer, a California boy on a fact-finding mission at Talladega.)

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

Subject: Update from Tally

Sunday, February 8

Well, it’s another refreshing day here at Talladega (23 degrees at 7:30 a.m.)

No little flakes today, just crisp air, blinding sunshine, and tasty coffee from the snack bar.

Some great racing today despite the cold weather. WERA had about 150 entries today to start off the first sprint races of the year. It is amazing to see the racing action with 40 riders on the track (a 1.35-mile, 9-turn track) going into turns that were made for one bike at a time.

For me, the highlight of the two-day weekend were the Minis. The kids, 9-10 years of age, with their father’s helping and cheering them on, put on a truly inspirationally show. True racing at its best, no attitudes and complete respect for others.

Lastly, at the end of the racing day, awards are given out to the top three finishers, in front of everybody, it felt like a big happy family!

David Pyles and I look forward to bringing WERA racing and that ‘family’ feeling to the West Coast.

From a press release:

Center of Gravity, OGK/Arata USA importers, Is now excepting road race resumes for the 2004 season. Please send all resumes to [email protected], [email protected], and/or mail to address below.

OGK/Arata is also exhibiting at the Indy dealer show,booth 3913 in Section 9, for all interested dealers.

Center of Gravity
19744 Beach Blvd.
Suite 415
Huntington Beach, CA 92648

www.ogk-helmet.com
www.arata-ex.com