From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

AMA PRO RACING ON DAYTONA TIRE TEST

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (Jan. 30, 2004) — An AMA Pro Racing-organized two-day tire test was conducted under nearly ideal conditions this past Sunday and Monday (January 25 and 26) at Daytona International Speedway. The test was attended by several top teams and tire manufacturers Dunlop, Michelin and Pirelli. At the direction of AMA Pro Racing, the test focused on AMA Superbike and AMA Superstock equipment.

The primary objective of the test was to further evaluate tire durability in advance of the 2004 racing season, particularly at Daytona International Speedway. High-speeds, coupled with the track’s unique characteristics and layout, place a higher degree of stress on tires at Daytona than at most other tracks.

AMA Pro Racing roadrace operations personnel and executive staff members attended the test. AMA Pro Racing CEO, Scott Hollingsworth was on hand and was pleased with what was learned. “At the conclusion of the test we met with each tire company individually,” said Hollingsworth. “We also had extensive staff discussions and meetings Monday evening and continuing all-day Tuesday.”

AMA Pro Racing announced that, based in some measure on the findings of the test, the 2004 Daytona 200 will be run under its existing, traditional format and the 2004 Daytona Superstock race will be shortened to 12 laps.

“These decisions were made partially as a result of the valuable information shared by the companies involved in this test,” said Hollingsworth. “Considering everything we’ve seen this is the direction we need to go for this year’s event.”

Hollingsworth added that restoring confidence among the riders was an important objective of the test, too. “It’s evident that a great deal of work was done by the tire makers since last December’s test,” said Hollingsworth. “New constructions and compounds were evaluated with encouraging results. Ultimately, it’s a matter of supplying tires that deliver the performance standards required by modern-day Superbike and Superstock equipment along with sufficient durability. It appears that these objectives have been met by Dunlop, Michelin and Pirelli.”



See related post:

1/28/2004 Insiders: Daytona 200 As Usual, Superstock 12 Laps

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

Please help save Arizona Motorsports Park!

http://www.ipetitions.com/campaigns/arizona_motorsports_park

Thank you!

Robert W. Gresens, DO
TARRC Prov. EX #203
Clarkdale, Arizona

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Telefonica Movistar Honda MotoGP racer Colin Edwards II will be a guest on Dave Despain’s Wind Tunnel call-in talk show on SPEED Channel Wednesday, February 4, according to an announcement appearing on Edwards’ official website. Check local listings for show time in your area.

From a press release issued by Maxxis Tires:

WERA National Endurance Series to Begin in March 2004

Team Xtreme Racing Partners with Maxxis and Suzuki


Maxxis and Team Xtreme Racing are proud to announce their partnership in the WERA National Endurance Series. Team Xtreme Racing has signed a two-year contract with Maxxis to compete in both the 2004 and 2005 events. The 2004 event schedule consists of 10 races beginning March 27th in Jennings, FL and ending October 22nd in Braselton, GA at Road Atlanta.

The WERA National Endurance Series is perhaps the oldest and most prestigious Motorcycle Road racing event in the country. In addition, with five separate race classes it also ranks among the most exciting and diverse the sport has to offer. Maxxis sponsored riders Billy Ethridge, Mark Edwards, Jeff Walker and Mark Crozier will team up to compete in the Heavyweight Superstock class. Each rider brings with him different racing experience and together they hope to bring home a championship. Team Xtreme is also excited to welcome support from Suzuki as team members will ride new GSX-R 1000 motorcycles.

Maxxis, Team Xtreme Racing and Suzuki are truly excited about the opportunity to compete in the WERA National Endurance Series. For more information about the event please visit www.wera.com. The list of coordinating sponsors include Pennzoil, Yoshimura, Vortex, Shoei, Pit Bull, Vesrah, Cheetah, RK, Zero Gravity, Thermosman Suspension, Moto-Heaven.com, MPA, Sidi, Suzuki of Canton, Motorsports Graphics.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Former racer Rodney Fee has been named in an MSNBC.com report on a complicated E-commerce fraud case involving antique furniture purchased on eBay and shipped to the United States from China.

To read the report, go to http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4073159


Fee left the U.S. and moved to China several years ago, leaving behind a string of unpaid debts, including money owed to Roadracing World.

Before he left the country, Fee submitted a series of first person articles to Roadracing World, detailing his adventures racing a Honda RS125 in Europe.

While in China, Fee managed a Supersport race team running Hondas.

His current whereabouts are unknown.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

I saw the posting for someone to forward information about an available trailer boot. I purchased one recently from Cabelas, which is a large distributor of outdoor apparel and goods. The cost was $50 and seems to be a reasonably well constructed unit that comes with a lock. Their website is www.cabelas.com. Sorry to hear about that person’s loss. Hope this can help others in the market for one.

Plus, I wanted to say thanks for publishing online and in print a really excellent publication.

Charlie Wright
CCS Ex #411
Downers Grove, Illinois



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

Regarding your story on yet another stolen trailer, here are a couple of suggestions for anti-theft wheel boots.

http://www.immobilize.com/

http://www.utilityaz.com/wheel_lock.htm

Hope this helps,

Scott Gilmore
San Diego, California



FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail

Is this what you’re looking for?

http://www.cantstealit.com/Products.htm

This one from http://trailershitcheslocks.com/ is about half the price of the one offered by the cantstealit folks.

Tom Short
ThinkFast Racing
CCS Midwest #128 EX
Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin



Here’s a link to a place that sells them pretty reasonable.

http://www.snappinturtle.com/trailer_main.html

the main website is www.snappinturtle.com. I believe the first link up there takes you straight to the page the boot is on. It’s under “Trailer accessories”.

Hope you guys can get this new out and people will purchase them. I know Chad/Robyn Dupree who had theirs stolen right after the GNF just got their new trailer and purchased the Gorilla trailer tongue lock AND the wheel boot for their new trailer.

Todd Clark
WERA Novice #42, Southeast Region
Conyers, Georgia



Other sources suggested by readers:

http://www.roofnrack.com/RRProducts/item12.htm

http://trailershitcheslocks.com/

http://www.palmaautoboot.com/

http://www.trailerlock.com

See related post:

1/29/2004 Another Poor Soul’s Race Trailer Stolen, This Time In Tempe, Arizona

From a press release issued by Ducati:

The enthusiasm and fascination expressed by the public from all over the world for these new Ducati concept bikes has convinced the Bologna company to schedule all three SportClassic models for production

DUCATI SPORTCLASSIC, A DREAM COME TRUE

Bologna, January 30, 2004 – On the heels of the remarkable public and media success that followed the presentation of the new SportClassic family of bikes at the Tokyo Motorshow, further acclaim has been arriving from all over the world. The three Ducati concept bikes have been presented at the most important world exhibitions, captivating attention and meeting with widespread approval from the public.

This positive impact was also backed up by Internet statistics (on www.ducati.com official site), with more than 310,000 pageviews testifying to the enormous interest in this new Ducati machine. The website was also utilised to canvass more than 16,000 questionnaires in which visitors were asked to provide feedback and show their preferences in relation to the three models. In addition, endless free discussions about the new machines could be followed in forums on top international motorcycle sites, plus emails and a host of other positive input confirming the huge level of interest generated by the new products.

Ducati, which has always made a point of sharing its commercial and sporting strategies with customers and fans, could hardly remain indifferent to such a tangible display of enthusiasm, so it comes as no surprise that the Italian makers have decided to set up a production programme for all three SportClassic models, bringing dreams to life yet again.

The first bike to roll off the production lines will be the magnificent and exclusive “Paul Smart”, which will be in the showrooms from November 2005. This machine will be initially produced in a limited edition of one thousand in the original livery of the bike that inspired this model, i.e. the legendary “750 Imola Racer” with which Paul Smart won the historic Imola race in 1972. This initial limited edition series will feature top level components (including Öhlins rear shock absorber and front forks).

Subsequently the “Sport 1000” will enter production starting from March 2006; handsome, original, fascinating, and keenly aggressive, this bike has all it takes to become a cult icon and trendsetter. A muscular Café Racer style distinguished by the unmistakeable Ducati bright yellow colours. Timeless beauty coupled with all the performance that true enthusiasts have come to expect.

And just six months after this initial launch customers will be able to purchase the “GT 1000”, scheduled to enter production in September 2006. The new GT 1000 is the perfect expression of a long tradition of stylistic elegance and top-level components, with the ease of handling associated with modern machines.

For the present, since it is not possible to determine the exact industrialisation costs on such a long-term basis, we have established price ranges for each model:

Paul Smart 14-15,000E 9-10,000£ 14-16,000$ 1,700-1,900,000Yen

Sport 1000 11-12,000E 7500-8500£ 11-13,000$ 1,500-1,700,000Yen

GT 1000 10-11,000 E 7-8000£ 10-12,000$ 1,300-1,500,000Yen

For those who decide to realise their dreams, orders for the bikes will be accepted from 1 March up to 1 September of this year at a guaranteed sale price of 14,000 Euro for the Paul Smart, 11,000 Euro for the Sport 1000, and 10,000 Euro for the GT1000.

Deliveries will strictly reflect production schedules.

In the words of Ducati Chairman and Managing Director Federico Minoli “I’m delighted with the success that this bike is encountering. The three SportClassic machines we are presenting today represent a compendium of the unbeatable technology that has become a Ducati hallmark over the years, plus the innate Ducati style of timeless beauty.”

“Once again, in the light of the positive feedback we have received from Ducati enthusiasts from all over the world, we have decided to make our dreams a reality.”

Founded in 1926, Ducati builds racing-inspired motorcycles characterized by unique engine features, innovative design, advanced engineering and overall technical excellence. Ducati has won eleven of the last thirteen World Superbike Championship titles and more individual victories than the competition put together. The Company produces motorcycles in five market segments which vary in their technical and design features and intended customers: Superbike, Supersport; Monster, Sport Touring and Multistrada. The Company’s motorcycles are sold in more than 40 countries worldwide, with a primary focus in the Western European and North American markets. For more information about the Company, please visit our web site at http://www.ducati.com.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Club racer Jeff Selbert, who was hired as Racing Manager by Pirelli Tire North America, Motorcycle Division late last year, was fired yesterday.

Selbert replaced interim Pirelli Racing Manager Jeff Johnston, who returned to his job as Product Specialist working with dealers to promote retail sales.

Roadracingworld.com was unable to obtain official comment from Pirelli Tire North America, Motorcycle Division prior to posting that Selbert had been fired despite leaving phone messages for Mark Wilhelm, the man in charge of Pirelli’s motorcycle operations in the U.S., and for Johnston. But Selbert responded to our original post by calling roadracingworld.com.

“What happened to me at Pirelli was as unfair as what happened to (former Pirelli Racing Manager) Rich Munson and which happened to Jeff Johnston in the span of 12 months, and it was all due to the same guy, Mark Wilhelm,” said Selbert.

“We were all three backed into a corner. We’re operating in the best interests of Pirelli’s desire to pursue road racing in the U.S. and there’s an individual who’s holding us back, and that’s current country manager Mark Wilhelm.

“It was unfair the way I was treated yesterday and something will be done about it and I hope (Pirelli International Racing Manager) Eddie Roberts and all of his efforts are able to overcome this.

“I have nothing against Pirelli, it’s definitely one individual who’s throwing people under the bus. There’s some very unfair things happening at Pirelli right now and I just got caught up in the mix.

“I was very excited about this opportunity, it was the opportunity of a lifetime for me, and it was taken away very quickly and very unfairly,” concluded Selbert.

During Selbert’s brief tenure, long-time Pirelli stalwarts Arclight Suzuki switched to Dunlop, starting in 2004. But Selbert said that he was in no way responsible for the decision by Arclight co-owner Chuck Warren to switch tire brands.

Hooters Suzuki has also switched from Pirelli to Dunlop for the 2004 season.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies and Aaron Yates are testing today at Spring Mountain Motorsports Park in Pahrump, Nevada, about an hour west of Las Vegas.

Spies is testing his GSX-R600 Supersport and GSX-R1000 Superstock machines, while Yates is reported to be doing photo and film work.

Sources on the scene report that the weather is very good, and depending on how much Spies and his Tom Houseworth-led crew get accomplished today, the team may or may not stay on for additional testing Friday.

Spies spent over three months recovering from injuries sustained when his rear Dunlop exploded at 186 mph during tire testing at Daytona International Speedway in October. The 2003 AMA Formula Xtreme Champion made his return to the racetrack last week in a test at Laguna Seca Raceway and was up to speed quickly, according to his team.

There are no Dunlop tire engineers, technicians or fitters working at Pahrump today, and members of the team are changing are their own tires.

There were also no Dunlop tire engineers or technicans present when Spies tested at Laguna Seca last week, although Sport Tire Services, which distributes Dunlop racing tires in the western United States, did send two tire fitters to Laguna Seca.