From a press release issued by Camel Honda Racing Information:

Camel Honda team tightens around Makoto

Ten days after the spectacular Camel Honda one-two in Rio de Janeiro, which saw Makoto Tamada taking his first Grand Prix victory and Max Biaggi back on the podium for 20 points on his birthday, the team is now more than ready for any challenge thrown up by the twisty Sachsenring circuit in Germany. Most importantly the team is sharing the burden of the sad loss of Mrs. Sakae Tamada, Makoto’s mother, after she passed away on the Tuesday after the Brazilian GP. Luca Montiron, Tamada’s team manager, flew to Japan last weekend to attend the funeral, and team-mate Max Biaggi as well as the entire Camel Honda team, led by Sito Pons, sympathise with the Japanese rider. Due to these circumstances, it was decided not to contact Tamada in Japan for his statement regarding the German GP. Makoto will of course be at the media’s disposal, as always, on the Thursday before the race.

Sito Pons – Camel Honda (Team Principal)
“After the great joy of the Brazilian GP, where our team achieved its main goals with Tamada’s fantastic victory and an extremely important second place for Biaggi, we go to Germany a little saddened by Makoto’s loss. We are all so sorry that after such a brilliant victory, Makoto has had to undergo this kind of grief. The team will do everything to help to him at this difficult time. The next race is going to be a massive challenge for us, but we are hopeful that our riders can express themselves in the same way as in Brazil. Last year Max was quickest both in practice and in the race, where he paid the price trying to recover from a bad start with a crash. He has the official lap record however, which just shows he will be competitive there. Makoto will have to find the strength within himself to endure this difficult time, and as I have already said, we will do all we can to get him in the right shape for the race.”

Luca Montiron – Camel Honda (Makoto Tamada Team Manager)
“Last Thursday I left for Japan because I wanted to be with Makoto in what is a truly distressing time for him, and he was as humble as ever, as is his nature, although he remained upbeat and positive. We hardly had time to savour the joy of his marvellous triumph in Rio, because that very evening Makoto flew to Japan, where he had time to embrace his mother. There’s not much we can say other than we will try to do everything we can for Makoto during the upcoming German Grand Prix, because we know that for him to get a good result and do his best in his work as a rider is the perfect way to honour his mother, who has always been there to support him throughout his career.”

Max Biaggi #3: (Michelin Tyres)
“The Rio race was really important, but it’s just as important now to back up the positive comeback we made in Brazil. Sachsenring is a very unique track, which requires a bike to be very agile in the steering department, so that will be our aim to achieve by the end of Friday’s practices. Last year we managed to do it, even though in the race I made a mistake whilst I was pushing hard to catch up to the front runners. It would be ideal to be set up by Saturday afternoon because the battle for the front row will be hard-fought, given that starting from the front here is more important than normal. The track is winding, there’s no real straight and above all in the first part it’s difficult to overtake because the track is also quite narrow. In the last section, it gets a bit wider so there’s space to overtake, but it’s always best to be in a position whereby you don’t have to make up positions. I’m convinced that we can do well, because in the Rio race my bike was going particularly well.”

Makoto Tamada #6: (Bridgestone Tyres)
Makoto Tamada returned to Japan, where last Saturday at ten o´clock in Matuyama-Shi, in the Osaka region, he attended the funeral of his mother, Sakae Tamada. Tamada lost his father several years ago.

Sachsenring Circuit


2003 Podium

1. S. Gibernau (Honda)
2. V. Rossi (Honda)
3. T. Bayliss (Ducati)


Pole Position
M. Biaggi (Honda – 2003)
1’23.734

Ofiicial Lap Record
M. Biaggi (Honda – 2003)
1’24.630

Nº of Laps
30 (110.13km)

MotoGP timetable:
14.00 (GMT +2)
*One hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time


Characteristics
Length: 3,671 m
Width: 10m
Right Corners: 4
Left Corners: 10
Constructed in: 1996
Last modified: 2003

From a press release issued by the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation:

Indianapolis Ride for Kids(r) “stars” with Tony and Jennifer Certa at the 2nd Annual Indianapolis Ride for Kids(r)

America’s farmland played host to the 2nd Annual Indianapolis Ride for Kids(r) on Sunday, July, 11, 2004. Since 1984, the Ride for Kids(r) program has raised funds to support the research and family support programs of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. On this particular Sunday, the motorcyclists raised $14,117 for pediatric brain tumor research.

With the warm summer sun shining brightly on them, the 150 motorcyclists, fundraisers, volunteers and patient families set out on a scenic, police-escorted ride through beautiful rolling pastureland and corn fields. Once arriving at their destination, the riders gathered under the festive red and white striped “Big Top Tent” for the Celebration of Life ceremony. There, they listened closely as National Ride for Kids(r) Manager Kyle Clack visited with the five Ride for Kids(r) “stars” in attendance. Joe, a young brain tumor survivor, told the motorcyclists, “Thank you all so much. You really make a big difference in our lives.”

Tony and Jennifer Certa were the Top Individual Fundraisers with a total of $3,076. The Top Club was GWRRA IN Chapter A whose members raised $4,376. Lake Cycle, of Merrillville, IN, customers raised $3,726 making them the Top Dealer. The winners of the grand prize Honda motorcycle donated by the American Honda Motor Company were Tony and Jennifer Certa of Valparaiso, IN.

Thanks to Indianapolis Ride for Kids(r) Task Force Leaders Donna and Eddie Cross and Betty and Jack Critchlow and their team of volunteers for organizing the Ride.

The next Ride for Kids(r) events are on Sunday, July 18 in Chicago, Illinois and Utica, New York.

For more information about the Ride for Kids(r) and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, please visit www.rideforkids.org or www.pbtfus.org or call (800) 253-6530.

From a press release issued by Clear Channel Communications:

MOUNTAIN DEW NAMED TITLE SPONSOR OF NBC & CLEAR CHANNEL’S NEW ACTION SPORTS FRANCHISE

Dew Action Sports Tour Set for 2005 Launch; Dew’s National Free Flow Tour Becomes Official Amateur Series

NEW YORK – July 12, 2004 – Mountain Dew, a brand synonymous with the phenomenal growth of action sports, has agreed to a long-term agreement to become the title sponsor of the Dew Action Sports Tour. The first-ever, season-long, nationally televised — network and cable — professional Tour for skateboarding, BMX, and freestyle motocross, the Tour was announced last March and is owned and operated by NBC Sports and Clear Channel Entertainment’s Motor Sports division.

The Dew Tour debuts in May 2005 and boasts five major, multi-sport Tour events, the biggest competitive purse in action sports, a Million-Dollar Bonus Pool based upon year-end standings, and the largest network and cable television broadcasting commitment ever. John Galloway, Director of Sports for Pepsi-Cola North America, and Wade Martin, General Manager for the Dew Action Sports Tour, made the joint announcement.

“We are thrilled that we’re partnering with NBC and Clear Channel to be the title sponsor of the Dew Tour,” said Galloway. “This will help grow action sports across America, and that’s great for the sports, the athletes and all the brands involved.”

As part of Pepsi’s agreement with NBC and Clear Channel, the Dew Free Flow Tour, a 16-city, amateur grassroots skateboarding event that began in 2002, will become an integral part of the Dew Action Sports Tour as the official amateur and development tour, designed to foster the growth and grassroots infrastructure of these sports.

Mountain Dew has been aligned with action sports since the early 1990s and has become the leading non-endemic brand in this space. A long-standing sponsorship commitment to ESPN’s X Games franchise and the Vans Triple Crown Series since their inception represents Mountain Dew’s ongoing dedication to action sports athletes and fans. Mountain Dew sponsors many of today’s top action sports athletes, including Shaun White (Snowboarding / Skateboarding), Hannah Teter (Snowboarding), Luke Mitrani (Snowboarding) and Allan Cooke (BMX).

“Attracting Pepsi’s powerful Mountain Dew brand as the title sponsor of the pro tour is the greatest testament to the Tour’s credibility,” said Martin. “Mountain Dew passionately shares our commitment to help grow these sports, and has long been considered a pioneer in action sports and ‘best in class’ in terms of sponsorship activation. With Mountain Dew’s support, marketing power, and rich action sports heritage, NBC and Clear Channel have partnered with the ideal brand to launch and build the Dew Action Sports Tour for the growing legion of competitors, fans and TV viewers,” said Martin.

A series of five major events, the 2005 Dew Action Sports Tour will consist of multi-sport and entertainment festivals covering over one million square feet in both indoor and outdoor venues. In addition to the primary sports of skateboarding, BMX, and freestyle motocross, each tour stop will feature a “specialty comp” such as super moto, surfing, inline vert, or wakeboarding, depending upon local interest. Overall Tour winners in skateboarding (street and vert), BMX (street, dirt & vert) and freestyle motocross will be awarded each year with a Dew Cup. Key lifestyle elements will include live cutting-edge music, video gaming, and interactive events (skateparks, dirt courses). The Dew Action Sports Tour is in active discussions with over 20 major markets, and 2005 Tour cities and dates will be announced at a later time.

NBC, which had announced 16 hours of network coverage, has increased its 2005 Dew Action Sports Tour coverage plans to 19 hours of primarily live coverage. A cable broadcast partner, and programming plans will be announced at a later date.

Clear Channel Entertainment – Motor Sports will be an integral partner on the Dew Action Sports Tour, lending its considerable expertise in live event touring and promotion, including a wide range of off-channel assets including Clear Channel’s Radio, Outdoor and Music divisions.

The Dew Free Flow Tour, a grassroots amateur skateboarding series, will bring jam-style contests to U.S. skate parks this summer. New for this year’s tour is the first-ever Free Flow finals event at California’s Encinitas YMCA Skatepark, bringing together all 39 winners from this year’s tour.

NBC Sports Ventures

NBC Sports Ventures, the business development arm of NBC Sports, produces 80 hours of programming annually for the NBC Television Network including the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship, The National Dog Show Presented by Purina, Jeep World of Adventure Sports, AVP Tour, The ADT Golf Skills Challenge, Office Depot Father/Son Challenge & the Budweiser Boxing Series.

Clear Channel Entertainment – Motor Sports

Clear Channel Entertainment – Motor Sports owns, produces and promotes specialized, motor sports events primarily staged in stadiums and arenas. The company stages over 600 events per year and produces over 250 hours of television programming, featuring such premier properties such as THQ World Supercross GP/THQ AMA Supercross Series; USHRA Monster Jam Presented by Ford Trucks & Advance Auto Parts; Hooter’s IHRA Drag Racing Series & IFMA Freestyle Motocross. Clear Channel Entertainment-Motor Sports, a division of Clear Channel Entertainment, is a subsidiary of Clear Channel Worldwide (NYSE: CCU), a global leader in the out-of-home, advertising industry.

Pepsi-Cola North America

Pepsi-Cola North America (www.pepsi.com), headquartered in Purchase, N.Y., is the $4 billion beverage division of PepsiCo, Inc. (www.pepsico.com) in the United States and Canada. Its U.S. brands include Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Pepsi Twist, Pepsi ONE, Pepsi Edge, Wild Cherry Pepsi, Pepsi Vanilla, Mountain Dew, Mountain Dew Code Red, Mug, Sierra Mist, Slice, Aquafina, SoBe and Dole single-serve juices. The company also makes and markets North America’s #1 ready-to-drink iced teas and coffees, respectively, via joint ventures with Lipton and Starbucks.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The AMA Superbike race at Laguna Seca was red-flagged after 15 of 28 laps due to Jeff Tigert’s crashed Honda CBR1000RR lying in the track at the entrance to turn 11.

In a remarkable coincidence, the red flag will allow Jake Zemke’s crew to make repairs to his ailing Honda.

The highlight of the race prior to the red flag was an amazing lap-two, turn-two pass Mat Mladin made on Ben Bostrom and Zemke to take the lead. Bostrom ran it in very deep underneath Zemke, running them both wide, and Mladin drove underneath both of them; Bostrom had to pick it up as Mladin carved underneath him.

At the time of the red flag, the running order was:

1. Mat Mladin, Suzuki
2. Ben Bostrom, Honda, -0.868 second
3. Miguel Duhamel, Honda, -4.142 seconds
4. Jake Zemke, Honda, -5.896
5. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, -8.576
6. Eric Bostrom, Ducati, -26.392
7. Josh Hayes, Kawasaki, -35.313
8. Jake Holden, Suzuki, -44.794
9. Geoff May, Suzuki, -47.948
10. Larry Pegram, Yamaha, -48.245
11. Jeremy Toye, Yamaha, -58.280
12. Marty Craggill, Suzuki, -58.801
13. Shawn Higbee, Suzuki, -59.073
14. Ken Hill, Suzuki, -65.782
15. Eric Wood, Suzuki -66.366
16. John Haner, Suzuki
17. Chris Siglin, Yamaha
18. J.J. Roetlin, Suzuki
19. Mark Ledesma, Honda
20. Mike Sullivan, Yamaha

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Two-time AMA Superstock Champion Jimmy Moore is planning on returning to the AMA series at the Road Atlanta event in September and riding with Corona Extra Suzuki, the team he won his Championships with.

That’s the word from Moore, who was at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Sunday spectating and having meetings.

Moore said he felt physically strong enough to race at Mid-Ohio, the AMA event, but said, “I don’t want to come back until I’m 100 percent. If I wait until Road Atlanta, it’ll give me almost two months of lifting weights and riding my dirt bike so I can be as normal as I’ve ever been. I want to build up my strength before trying to wrestle these beasts around.”

Among several other injuries, Moore badly broke his left upper arm when he crashed in Brainerd International Raceway’s turn one at over 160 mph and slid into a tree in 2003. Moore aggravated the injury in a near-crash during the 2004 AMA event at California Speedway and has been out of action since.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Renegade Ducati’s Leon Haslam broke both bones in his left forearm when he crashed his 999RS during the second World Superbike race Sunday at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

“We had an electrical problem with the bike. It kept cutting out and it highsided me,” Haslam told Roadracingworld.com.

Haslam said the fractures were immediately set and cast by Dr. Arthur Ting, who was the Chief Medical Officer of the event. Haslam plans to seek follow-up X-rays when he returns to his home in England.

The young Brit said he hopes to be fit enough to ride in the next round of the World Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch in three weeks.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Provisional Sunday Morning AMA Superbike Practice Times:

1. Mat Mladin, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:25.314
2. Ben Bostrom, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:25.765
3. Miguel Duhamel, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:26.128
4. Eric Bostrom, Ducati 999F04, 1:26.239
5. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:26.259
6. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:26.412
7. Josh Hayes, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 1:27.347
8. Jake Holden, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:28.572
9. Shawn Higbee, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:29.047
10. Jeremy Toye, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:29.892
11. Larry Pegram, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:29.989
12. Marty Craggill, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:30.200
13. Chris Siglin, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:30.300
14. Jeff Tigert, Honda CBR1000RR, 1:30.495
15. Eric Wood, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:30.515
16. Tom Montano, Ducati 999R, 1:30.553
17. Chris Caylor, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:31.097
18. Geoff May, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:31.102
19. Ken Hill, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:31.111
20. Lee Acree, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:31.152

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

Lazarus Landin (WSMC #514), the racer who was airlifted out of Willow Springs on June 20 as a result of a collision in turn one, is back in San Diego. He has been placed in a nursing facility to recuperate from his injuries, which included broken left collarbone, radius, ulna, tibia, fibia, punctured lung, and head trauma. His leg and arm have been pinned, and he is recovering from the head injuries.

He was in a coma for three days on life support, and is slowly recovering his mental faculties. He now responds well to any question posed to him, and we are all hoping for a complete recovery.

Any visitors can see him at Sharp Cabrillo Medical Center, San Diego, room #812.

I would like to thank all the people who have sent cards and who are thinking of him. Please keep him in your prayers, and like he would say, “keep ‘er on one wheel!”

Cards and letters can be sent to:
Lazarus Landin
Room #812
c/o Sharp Cabrillo Hospital
3475 Kenyon St.
San Diego, CA 92110

SoCalElite is having a charity ride for him on the 17th at Alba Action Sports. Details to follow.

Steve Wilkening
San Diego, California

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Racer Bryan Paquette was killed Friday at New Hampshire International Raceway, during an LRRS race weekend.

According to Paquette’s long-time friend Eric Wood, Paquette crashed when his motorcycle lost its front brake pads and he ran into the tire wall in front of the barrier outside turn three.

Wood said that Paquette was a former AMA Pro Superbike racer making a return to road racing, running in a class for riders over age 40, for fun. Paquette, who had been participating in track days at Loudon, was married and had three children, Wood said.

Paquette often worked as a member of the Dunlop tire fitting crew at AMA Nationals, Wood said.

Further details will be posted as they become available.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

1. Chris Vermeulen, Honda, 28 laps
2. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati, -4.127 seconds
3. Steve Martin, Ducati, -5.707
4. James Toseland, Ducati -8.347
5. Regis Laconi, Ducati, -8.390
6. Noriyuki Haga, Ducati, -18.560
7. Garry McCoy, Ducati, -21.290
8. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki, -31.795
9. Leon Haslam, Ducati, -34.166
10. Troy Corser, Foggy Petronas, -38.175
11. Marco Borciani, Ducati, -43.554
12. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati, -57.948
13. Piergiorgio Bontempi, Suzuki, -78.242
14. Horst Saiger, Yamaha, -82.532
15. Chris Walker, Foggy Petronas, -2 laps, DNF
16. Warwick Nowland, Suzuki, -2 laps, DNF
17. Gianluca Nannelli, Ducati, -11 laps, DNF
18. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki, -13 laps, DNF
19. Alessio Velini, Yamaha, -19 laps, DNF
20. Jiri Mrkyvka, Ducati, -21 laps, DNF
21. Miguel Praia, Ducati, DNS

Note: Haga started last, from pit lane, after stalling his Renegade Ducati on the grid before the warm-up lap.


More, from a press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing:

Disappointing opener for FPR at Laguna

Foggy PETRONAS Racing riders Troy Corser and Chris Walker endured a disappointing first race of the seventh round of the Superbike World Championship at Laguna Seca today.

The omens were ominous when Chris’s first bike suffered an engine problem on his formation lap and the spare bike had to be wheeled onto the grid. He was running in 12th spot when, with two laps remaining, he was lucky to avoid a crash on the fast downhill section of the Californian circuit when further engine problems forced him to retire.

Troy Corser, starting from fifth on the grid, finished in 10th. He said: “I was losing too much acceleration on Sanchini and Haslam in front of me, who were pulling away out of the corners. I used the harder tyre compound but will consider trying a softer compound for the second race, although the difference in lap times between me and the riders in front remained pretty constant.”

Chris said: “I don’t deserve the luck I am having at the moment. I think the only reason I didn’t crash was because there was so much oil that the bike didn’t grip and I was able to use the camber to stay on. I was stuck behind Borciani for the whole race.”

Race one results, Superbike World Championship, round 7, Laguna Seca, USA: 1 Vermeulen; 2 Chili +4.127; 3 Martin +5.707; 4 Toselnd +8.347; 5 Laconi +8.390; 6 Haga +18.560; 7 McCoy +21.290; 8 Sanchini +31.795; 9 Haslam +34.166; 10 Corser (Foggy PETRONAS Racing) +38.175; 11 Borciani +43.554; 12 Pedercini +57.948; 13 Bontempi +1.18.252; 14 Saiger +1:22.532