From a press release issued by Mini GP Canada:

Mini GP Canada Ltd. is proud to open its virtual doors to the Canadian racing scene on July 1, 2004. We are the sole Canadian distributor of the Metrakit Group of products including the Mini GP line of race bikes. Mini GP Canada Ltd. began its operations in the spring of 2004 to provide a high performance reliable product that would be available to consumers in Canada and Internationally. We carry all Metrakit Group products, a proven manufacturer that has been in business for over 25 years.

The Mini GP line of race bikes are road race competition motorcycles of reduced dimensions and weight, designed for children between 7 and 16 years that want to get started in road racing. Adults wanting an inexpensive and fun way to race have also looked to this type of motorcycle, as racing a 600cc bike for one weekend can cost more then racing a Mini GP for an entire season!

The Mini GP bike line are competition asphalt motorcycles equipped with either 50, 70 or 80 c.c. engines that develop 11 hp to 25 hp at the rear wheels without modifications. The bikes are either 12″ or 17″ wheel, purpose built, production race bikes with the geometry and features of a world GP machine and components you would expect to see on only the best of race bikes. All the mini GP models, as well as their components, have been designed to duplicate those used on Grand Prix bikes, producing motorcycles with very similar reactions to those of 125 cc used in the World Championship races.

Our “FLASH” site is currently online at www.minigpcanada.com, our online store will be opening on July 1, 2004.

Rob Ferrier, General Manager
Mini GP Canada Ltd.
PO Box 119 St. Albert CSO
St. Albert, Alberta T8N 1N2
Canada
[email protected]
http://www.minigpcanada.com
Toll Free: 1-800-910-5525
Phone: 780-984-5525

From a press release issued by d’Antin Ducati:

XAUS & HODGSON READY TO GET DWON TO THE RIO GP BEAT

With no time for rest after the Dutch TT, the World Championship lands in Brazil this weekend, a short break away from the European leg of the calendar. Since 1996 this race has taken place at the Jacarepaguá circuit, on the outskirts of Río de Janeiro, the city which lends its name to the race. The track is famous for being quick, but the surface can often be bumpy and not offer too much in the way of grip.

The d´Antin MotoGP riders have gradually settled into the class, increasingly playing a bigger part in the outcome of races, with Rubén Xaus currently heading the Rookie of the Year standings after three fantastic races in a row, whilst Neil Hodgson has a smile back on his face after the latest Grand Prix in Assen, where he achieved his primary objective of finishing amongst the top ten. Both riders arrive in Rio full of hope, and determined to shine once more at the handlebars of their Ducati Desmosedici.

RUBÉN XAUS flew straight to Río from Assen, making the most of the days off to do a little bit of sightseeing, although he has been to the area before when he raced here in 1996. “I came to race in Río when I rode as a replacement for a 250cc rider during five races. I was very young and inexperienced, but I picked up the provisional pole in the wet on the first day, and that’s a memory you just can’t forget about. I remember that I liked the circuit although the asphalt was quite bumpy, but I’m coming to this race as excited as ever. We’re doing some good work at the moment, and we’re consistently performing well. At first it was hard for us to get going, but that’s normal because everything was new for us. We mustn’t forget, as I frequently repeat, that we are still in a learning process, but I’m confident of my continued improvement as the season goes on.”

NEIL HODGSON, who took a couple of days out at his Isle of Man residence, will have his morale boosted as he arrives in Rio: “I was satisfied with my result in Holland after what was a truly difficult weekend. I had a good race pace and I honestly believe that if I had got a better grid position I could have ridden with the second group no problem. After the tests in Barcelona we made a huge step forward and it’s almost as if we’ve started the season again now. I raced in Rio in 1995 and the main thing I can remember is the undulating asphalt, but I’m sure it will have improved since then, and in any case, the most important thing is that I’m optimistic going into this race and I hope to continue to enjoy riding my Ducati, just like I did in Assen.”

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

AMA racers testing today at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio have reported that the recent surface work to smooth the transitions between the asphalt and concrete patches in the corners has left troublesome grooves.

The transition smoothing was done with a grinder, which has left grooves in the surface that are causing the AMA racebikes to move around quite a bit, according to several riders at the test.

Present at the test are Michelin-sponsored Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin’s Eric Bostrom and Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Steve Rapp and Vincent Haskovec.

Among the Dunlop-supported teams, American Honda has brought Ben Bostrom and Miguel Duhamel; Erion Honda’s Jake Zemke is on track but Alex Gobert is not at the test; Yoshimura Suzuki has Mat Mladin, Aaron Yates and Ben Spies riding; Kawasaki’s Tommy and Roger Lee Hayden are in action; Attack Kawasaki’s Josh Hayes and Tony Meiring are circulating; and Yamaha/Graves Yamaha’s Jamie Hacking, Aaron Gobert and Jason DiSalvo are testing without the company of still-recovering-from-injury Damon Buckmaster.

DiSalvo crashed Wednesday morning in the Keyhole section. His condition was not known at post time. The weather, however, is reported to be very good with ambient temperatures near 80 degrees.

Scheduled to end Thursday, the shared tire test contradicts public statements issued by Dunlop–which bought up a slew of test dates for the express purpose of excluding Michelin teams–that said closed, one-brand tire tests were required to protect data and technology.

Late in 2003, Dunlop Vice President Mike Buckley, then a member of the AMA Board of Directors and the AMA Pro Racing Board of Directors, bought out test dates scheduled by a co-op of AMA teams and specifically excluded Michelin-sponsored squads, which had shared the tests with Dunlop-sponsored teams many times over the last seven years.

The Mid-Ohio test now going on was originally set up by Michelin, which issued statements that any AMA teams could participate in any of its tests, regardless of tire brand used, on a shared-cost basis. Dunlop-sponsored Honda teams also tested with Michelin teams at Pikes Peak earlier this year.

Tuesday, June 29, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tom Lindsay
Phone: (614) 856-1900 x1357
E-mail: [email protected]

MOTORCYCLING GROUPS SUPPORT AMA’S ‘JUSTICE FOR ALL’

The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has announced that a number of state and national motorcycling organizations have formally voiced their support of the AMA’s “Justice for All” campaign.

Among the groups backing the goals of Justice for All are the Gold Wing Road Riders Association, ABATE of Indiana, ABATE for Missouri, ABATE of South Dakota, ABATE of Wisconsin, BikePAC of Colorado, the Connecticut Motorcycle Riders Association, and the Massachusetts Motorcycle Association.

Although Justice for All focuses the public’s attention on inadequate sentencing of drivers who seriously injure or kill motorcyclists, the AMA advocates legislation establishing tougher penalties when traffic offenses or criminal actions by any motorist result in another’s death or serious injury.

“By endorsing the goals of Justice for All, these organizations demonstrate their commitment to working in the best interests of American motorcyclists,” said Edward Moreland, Vice President of AMA Government Relations. “We’re gratified to have their leadership and support, and we look forward to working with them to effect change that benefits riders nationwide.”

In August, the AMA will take Justice for All to South Dakota for the 64th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Sturgis rallygoers can visit the AMA’s Justice for All information center at the Sturgis Music Festival grounds, located one block off Main Street at the corner of 2nd and Lazelle, from Tuesday, August 10 through Friday, August 13. Card-carrying AMA members will have access to special parking (as space is available), as well as a 10% discount at the Sturgis Music Festival’s food court and access to the Sturgis Music Festival VIP area.

For more information about Justice for All, or to order a Justice for All kit, visit www.AMADirectlink.com/justice, e-mail [email protected], or call 800-AMA-JOIN.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. Formula USA official Eric Kelcher and his wife, CCS/F-USA Event Manager Tiffiney Kelcher, had a daughter, Madison Grace Kelcher, June 5 in Irving, Texas. Tiffiney Kelcher is planning to return to work in early-August. Race team owner/tuner Rich Cronrath and wife Wendy had a daughter, Xantha Kaylee Cronrath, June 6 in Morristown, New Jersey. Because his team, Kosco Buell, raced Saturday, June 5 at Road America, Cronrath was able to fly home just in time for his daughter’s birth on Sunday, June 6.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

A crash in which Jamie Hacking broke his collarbone brought testing to an early halt at Mid-Ohio this afternoon.

The test stopped at 4:25 local time when Hacking was transported in the only ambulance on site.

Jason DiSalvo, Roger Lee Hayden and Eric Bostrom crashed earlier, without any substantial injury–all three continued testing afterwards.

The rough, ground surface of the pavement played havoc with riders during the test, and proved especially difficult for the men on 1000cc Superstock machines.

Hacking was the fastest rider on a Supersport bike prior to his crash.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Highlights of the AMA Lockhart-Phillips USA Formula Xtreme and Repsol Superstock races at Brainerd International Raceway (June 24-25) will be aired Sunday, July 4 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Speed Channel.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The daily schedule posted on the official AMA Superbike series website for the July 9-11 AMA/World Superbike event at Laguna Seca Raceway includes an error.

The AMA schedule for the afternoon of Friday, July 9 includes:

3:25 – 3:55 p.m. Repsol Superstock Qualifying, Group 1

4:05 – 4:35 p.m. Repsol Superstock Qualifying, Group 2

4:45- 5:15 p.m. Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Qualifying, Group 1

5:25 – 5:55 p.m. Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Qualifying, Group 2

3:50 – 4:20 p.m. Chevrolet Superbike Qualifying, Group 1

4:30 – 5 p.m. Chevrolet Superbike Qualifying, Group 2

The Chevrolet Superbike Qualifying sessions on the Friday schedule are “clearly an error,” according to AMA Pro Racing Kerry Graeber, who told Roadracingworld.com that he would check into the situation and see that it is corrected.

The AMA/World Superbike event at Laguna Seca is a three-day event for 2004, where it had been a four-day event in the past.

From a press release:

Noted designer Tony Foale is holding a seminar on suspension Monday and Tuesday, July 19-20 at the AMA museum in Pickerington, Ohio (a suburb of Columbus).

That is the week between the AMA Vintage
Days/AHRMA races and AMA Superbike events at Mid-Ohio in Lexington, Ohio (about 45 minutes north).

The price will be $250 for both days, or $390 with a copy of Tony’s book on PDF disk, and suspension kinematics software included.

Here is the Internet address for information on the seminar, including how to sign up:

www.tonyfoale.com/seminar/ohiosem.htm

The seminar is open to anyone, and we currently have many engineers from within the industry signed up, and are hoping for many more. The conference room is limited to 35 people, and we are reserving spaces on a first-come basis. If there is enough interest, we may hold a 2nd seminar later in the week.