From a press release:

On October 4, 2003, David Reeder of Bunker Hill, Illinois was fatally injured while racing the Petersburg half-mile dirt track in Petersburg, Illinois. We are holding a raffle drawing in his behalf for his wife, Tammy, and 7-year-old daughter, Dustee. Dave’s insurance is refusing to pay any medical or funeral expenses (because he was killed in competition).

What we are raffling was donated to us by Bob Milleville, of Aid to Injured Riders. It’s one of only three, autographed, Nicky Hayden 2002 AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship Number One plates.

This is truly a worthy cause, and this would make a beautiful centerpiece.

Tickets are $2 each, or three for $5, seven for $10, or 15 for $20. The drawing will be held at about 7:00 p.m. on December 13, 2003. Requests by mail must be received by noon on December 12.

Any and all donations are accepted.

Tickets are available now by mail. Mail a check or money order to:

Dave Reeder Fund
Prairie Thunder Motorcycle Club
P.O. Box 11192
Springfield, IL 62791-1192

From a press release issued by Troll Honda BQR:

Report on today’s fifth round of the Spanish Bancaja Fórmula de Campeones Motociclismo Superseries held on Sunday, October 26, 2003, 2003 at Albacete, Spain.

Noyes Now Leads Spanish Superstock by 2 Points One Race to Go

Kenny Noyes of Borrego Springs, California, finished second today at Cartagena, Spain, on his Troll BQR Honda CBR954RR and has moved into the lead in the Bancaja Fórmula de Campeones Motociclsimo Superseries, a national championship for Supersport machines, by a scant two points (90-88) with only a single round to run.

The race was won by local rider Jerónimo Castillejo, Honda CBR954RR, (from (from nearby Fuerte Alamos), now third in points. José Manuel Hurtado (MIR Suzuki GSX-R1000) went into the race leading by two points and now trails by two.

“Castillejo had a better rhythm at this track today and second was the best we could do. At one point my board showed Hurtado in sixth, but he came through at the end to take third and that means to win the title we have to beat him at Valencia,” said Noyes.

The final round of the Spanish Superseries will be run on November 9.

From a press release:

MUGGERIDGE AND PARKES CARRY TEN KATE HONDA HOPES

Karl Muggeridge and Broc Parkes will ride for World Champions, Ten Kate Honda in the 2004 World Supersport championship aboard the all-conquering CBR600RR machine.

The exciting pairing will aim to clinch a third consecutive World Supersport crown for the Dutch team. “We are very excited for next year and are very happy that Karl and Broc will be spearheading our challenge in 2004,” said team manager, Ronald ten Kate.

Muggeridge had a brilliant end to the 2003 season with three consecutive wins at Assen, Imola and Magny-Cours, lifting him up to fourth in the overall standings with 134 points.

“I am very happy to be racing with Ten Kate next year and I am sure I can fight for the title. I had glandular fever at the start of this year and that cost me the first half of the season. The team did a fantastic job all year and I am looking forward to working with everybody again,” said 29-year-old Muggeridge.

Fellow Australian, Parkes had his first ride for Ten Kate in the final round of the 2003 World Supersport championship at Magny-Cours in France but fell on lap 20 while in contention for a podium place.

“After a lot of disappointment this year, I am thrilled to be racing next year and it’s a bonus to be with such an impressive outfit as Ten Kate,” said Parkes who notched his first podium at Misano Adriatico, Italy with third place and finished the season in 13th place on 47 points.

World Supersport champion, Chris Vermeulen will race for Ten Kate Honda in the World Superbike championship on the all-new CBR1000RR Fireblade machine.

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

2004 AMA CHEVY TRUCKS U.S. SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (Oct. 24, 2003) — AMA Pro Racing has released its schedule for the 2004 AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship. The upcoming road racing season will begin with the 63rd running of the Daytona 200 during Bike Week in March and conclude with a double-header event at Virginia International Raceway in September.

AMA Pro Racing Vice President of Commercial Development, John Farris states that the 2004 schedule is similar to that of 2003 but with some subtle changes implemented to improve the series overall. “By design, we set out to make the flow of the 2004 schedule consistent with the just-concluded 2003 season,” said Farris. “At the same time, we tried to be responsive to the local situations of some of our promoters in order to make each event as successful as possible.” Farris cites the events at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala., Road Atlanta in Braselton, Ga.; and Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Va., as examples of races that received new dates for the 2004 season.

Travel patterns relative to the scheduling of events were also given careful consideration. “As we do every year with all of our series, we tried to construct a schedule that was favorable to the racers and teams competing in our series,” said Farris. “The 2004 schedule has a cadence to it that will not only benefit the needs of our participants but also help continue to build our TV audience by maintaining consistent tune-in times for Speed Channel.”

Speed Channel will continue to produce a live coverage television package of the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship that will be broadcast to Speed’s universe of over 60 million homes.

The 2004 AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship schedule is as follows:

Date, Location

March 3-6, Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, FL

April 2-4, California Speedway, Fontana, CA*

April 30-May 2, Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, CA*

May 14-16, Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, AL*

May 21-23, Pikes Peak International Raceway, Fountain, CO

June 4-6, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI*

June 25-27, Brainerd International Speedway, Brainerd, MN

July 9-11, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, CA

July 23-25, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, OH*

September 3-5, Road Atlanta, Braselton, GA*

September 17-19, Virginia International Raceway, Alton, VA*

*Denotes double Superbike event

From a press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing:

Foggy thrilled by first ride of road FP1

Carl Fogarty today put the road version of the newly launched FP1 – the first Malaysian superbike – through its paces with a first public ride around the Sepang circuit.

The four-times World Superbike champion joined Malaysian star Shahrol Yuzy on the road version of the race bike that has been used by his Foggy PETRONAS Racing team in the World Superbike championship this year, backed by Malaysian petroleum giant PETRONAS.

Yesterday, Carl was joined by Malaysia’s Minister of Youth and Sports Dato’ Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and PETRONAS’ Chairman Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Azizan Zainul Abidin in unveiling the FP1 in Kuala Lumpur.

And his delight at the look of the bike was reinforced by his first ride of the unique motorcycle.

Carl said: “There is no doubt that this will be the best looking bike on the roads but now I know that it will also be the best to ride. It felt so smooth, especially in the lower power ranges. As the track was quite damp I was having great fun spinning the back wheel coming out of the corners. I was actually quite surprised at the power of the bike – it genuinely does feel like a race bike on the road.”

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

I have been reading the various blurbs you have posted about the Nigerian scams, and thought I’d show you another one that is going on. Recently, I noticed on cycletrader.com that there was an incredible amount of late-model sportbikes for sale at ridiculous prices. Like a 2002 R-1 listed (from London) for $3200, or another R-1 with custom paint, (again in London) for only $3000. There are many more examples I could quote here, but for brevity’s sake I will not.

Knowing full-well that anything that sounds too good to be true usually is, I thought I would send an e-mail to a guy that listed a 2002 R-1 for sale for only $4000. The ad said the bike was in the western part of the U.S. so I sent the guy an e-mail asking why he was selling the bike, and why was it so cheap? I received the following e-mail back from him:

“Hello,

“My name is Marco Mazonne and I’m from Rome, Italy. I am 35 years old. I am a private doctor and my wife is a nurse at a local hospital here
in Rome. I am the first owner of this bike. I sell it because I want to buy another bike and I need cash. About the bike I have to tell you that it’s absolutely perfect, never had any accident and never been repaired. The bike have USA specs, so is not a problem to register this bike in USA!Please send me your shipping details,so I can talk for the shipping of the bike! I want to use for shipping DHL services because they work fast and safe! The bike will be in your town in 4-6 days! Please let me explain to you how I want to make this deal in the following steps: First if you decide to buy the bike you must deposit the total price in USD using an Escrow company! This deposit it’s a guaranty for me that you are a
reliable person and really want to buy this beautiful bike. When the payment is confirmed the bike will be shipped to your location and
when the bike arrives in your town I will be there and personally meet you to set up the deal. If when I will arrive with bike at your place and you will decide not to buy it, I will give
you your cash back! Hope this option it will not be necessary! Please let me know if you want to make this deal with me because I have many offers and I want to make this deal fast and easy. So I will wait for your answer ASAP! Thank you.”



As you can see, anyone who believes a man would fly from Rome to my hometown to “set up the deal” probably needs to have his money taken away! I just wanted to point out to you what is going on here, and I think it would be a great idea for you to do an investigative article about this rash of fraud schemes that seem to abound around here lately. Thanks for the ear, just wanted to bring this to your attention. Check out cycletrader.com and see what I’m talking about. It’s simply crazy.

Stan Simmerson, RN
Holly Springs, North Carolina



And another…

FIRST PERSON/OPINION

Via e-mail:

It is important for everyone to know that credit cards are not sure payment for international sales, either. I was lucky enough to be late in a delivery to Indonesia or I would have been out some $2000. I just held back on an order to Mexico that apparently was fraudulent. A sure clue is anyone you have never dealt with, or heard of, in a real big hurry.

Jim Lindemann
Lindemann Engineering
Campbell, California

From a press release issued by Marcus McBain:

Racing Performance Services is now accepting sponsorship applications for the 2004 racing season. RPS is a leading provider of suspension, engine, and rider training services and trackside support in the Colorado and Texas regions.

Sponsored riders and customers won over 100 sprint races and 25 championships during the 2003 season. RPS will be providing no less than eight sponsorship positions for riders in the Colorado and Texas regions and is also accepting sponsorship applications from the New Mexico region.

Racers may send their resume and a one-page overview of their 2004 season plans to [email protected]. More information about RPS can be found at www.roadracinghelp.com.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Tuner Dan Kyle and racer Owen Weichel have taken over U.S. distribution of Arata Exhaust Systems, according to importer Sam Yamashita of Moto-Liberty.

In a phone call to Roadracingworld.com today, Yamashita said that Kyle Racing Engines will handle distribution west of the Mississippi River and that Weichel’s new company C.O.G. (Center of Gravity) will handle distribution east of the Mississippi River. Former distributor Street & Competition will continue as an Arata Exhaust System dealer.

Kyle and Weichel will also man an Arata Exhaust Systems/OGK Helmets booth at most consumer trade shows this winter, Yamashita said.