From a press release issued by Fuchs Kawasaki:

MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2004
PRESEASON TESTING – SEPANG, MALAYSIA
20TH JANUARY 2004

NAKANO MAKES HIS KAWASAKI DEBUT AT SEPANG

Just six days after the official announcement that Shinya Nakano would ride for the Kawasaki Racing Team in 2004 the 26-year-old Japanese rider made his debut aboard the Ninja ZX-RR MotoGP machine during the first day of a planned four day test at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia.

Sporting his trademark ‘mooneyes’ helmet, Nakano took to the track aboard the very latest version of the Ninja ZX-RR and spent the day familiarising himself with the characteristics of both the 990cc, inline four-cylinder MotoGP machine and the Bridgestone tyres. Despite this being his first outing on the Kawasaki, the popular Japanese rider ended the day just 1.5s off his best lap time in October’s Malaysian Grand Prix.

Former Kawasaki test and development rider, and now full time MotoGP contender, Alex Hofmann, spent today carrying out comparison tests using the 2003 version of the Ninja ZX-RR MotoGP machine, but still managed to improve upon his previous best lap time around the Sepang circuit. Having been impressed with the consistency of the Bridgestone tyres during today’s rain shortened session the former European 250cc Champion is looking forward to testing the tyres further on the 2004 version of the Ninja ZX-RR tomorrow.

Shinya Nakano: best time – 2:06.5 (44 laps)
“I was very excited about riding the Ninja ZX-RR for the first time today and, after just this short test session, my first impression of the Kawasaki is that it is a very compact, but very powerful machine. Now we need to work at finding a good chassis balance, as well as setting the bike up to be more stable on the brakes, but this is to be expected with a completely new chassis. We’ll also be making a few changes to the gearbox tonight, ready to start testing again tomorrow morning. Overall, I’m very happy with how things have gone today.”

Alex Hofmann: best time – 2:06.2 (41 laps)
“I started with the old bike today, as we had a couple of modifications we wanted to evaluate before switching to the new bike tomorrow, but I still managed to go quicker than my previous best lap time at this circuit. The consistency of the Bridgestone tyres is impressive; I did my fastest time today on a set of tyres with almost 20 laps on them. Now I can’t wait to try them on the new bike tomorrow.”

Harald Eckl: Team Manager
“It has been interesting to watch Shinya adapt step by step to the new bike and it has given me confidence in the fact that we are moving in the right direction. We have a lot more parts and settings to test over the next three days and we’re looking forward to leaving here with enough data to enable us to make the next step in the development process when we return to Sepang in February. It has also been good to see what is effectively a new team starting to work together to produce the results we know the bike and riders are capable of. This, in particular, bodes well for the rest of the season.”

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Long-time Roadracing World contributor Herod Lowery was part of the Associated Press team covering the arraignment of entertainer Michael Jackson in Santa Maria, California, last Friday. Lowery normally covers MotoGP in Europe plus the Laguna Seca World Superbike event for AP. He was asked to help out with the Jackson proceedings in Santa Maria by AP Los Angeles as he has lived in Santa Maria for the last 40 years. AP Los Angeles sent three photographers, two reporters and two court reporters. There were 130 accredited media representatives at this event.

“I got to the courthouse at 6:20 a.m. and it was just like going into the GP at Jerez in Spain! There was designated media parking and you needed a press pass to park there. Just like Jerez, there were booths lining the street on the way in to the courthouse selling food and drink and trinkets. This was about 30 minutes before sunrise, it was very cold but there had to be at least 700 people milling about. Most of them were protesting that Jackson was innocent.

“It was a circus, it was nuts. At one time there were five helicopters above the courthouse. Over 100 police (local, state, federal and FBI) were assigned for crowd control and security. After the hearing, Jackson got a police escort to the Highway 101 freeway so he could go south to his Neverland Ranch, about 15 miles south of Santa Maria.

“At its peak, the crowd was estimated at 2500 people. No one was really sure as we’ve never seen 2500 hundred mammals at one time in Santa Maria, save for the occasional cattle round-up. The largest building here only holds about 700 people.”

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Australian racer Andrew Pitt, 27, has been signed to the Moriwaki Racing team to test and race its Honda V5-powered MD211VF prototype in as many as five MotoGP rounds.

Pitt is currently testing the Moriwaki machine on Dunlop tires at Sepang in Malaysia alongside several other MotoGP teams.

MD211VF project leader Mamoru Moriwaki told reporters that Pitt started his test Tuesday on the same spec bike that Tamaki Serizawa rode in the MotoGP race at Motegi last year and will move on to the 2004-version of the machine on Wednesday.

Pitt, the 2001 FIM Supersport World Champion, rode for Fuchs Kawasaki in 2003 and finished 26th, last, in the MotoGP Championship standings with a best finish of 14th at Assen.

From a press release issued by the FIM:

Mies, January 20, 2004

Nicolas Schmit

FIM Honorary President Nicolas Schmit passed away on Sunday evening in Luxembourg, at the age of 85.

Mr Schmit was elected FIM President at the Congress in Benalmadena, Spain, in October 1983, as the successor of Don Nicolas Rodil del Valle, and then re-elected in 1986 at the Congress of Palermo (Italy) for a second three-year mandate. He retired in 1989 at the Congress of Maastricht.

Nicolas Schmit entered the FIM at the 1966 Congress in Warsaw, as a member of the Commission Internationale de Tourisme Motocycliste. At the Congress in Ljubljana in 1969 he became Treasurer of the FIM, a function he would keep until his election as FIM President in 1983. He was also President of the Motor Union of Luxembourg for several years.

The funeral will be held for the family only. A mass will be celebrated at the decanal church in Wiltz, Luxembourg, on Thursday 22 January at 16h30.

All the members of the FIM present their sincere condolences to his family and friends.

From a press release issued by Honda Racing Information:

MotoGP Test, January 20 2004, Sepang, Malaysia

2004 pre-season in full swing for Honda riders at Sepang

The New Year saw its first MotoGP action at the Sepang Circuit today, with a packed test session at the Malaysian track bringing to an end the testing prohibition in place for the last month. In contrast to the thunderous downpours that shrouded the region on the eve of the test, the Honda riders were greeted with bright sunshine on their arrival at the circuit around 9am, and began work right away to avoid the forecast afternoon drenching.

With the air temperature hovering between the 30º C and 35º C mark throughout the day, testing is tough at this circuit for both rider and machine, but the limit-pushing extremes of this, the accommodating yet challenging circuit and the constant warm asphalt temperatures mean that testing here is vital to most team’s pre-season plans. Camel Pramac Pons’ Max Biaggi is a past winner here, and is no stranger to the conditions, he clocked a lap time of 2:03.47 today, breaking the lap record set in the race here just three months ago. Following him past this benchmark was Telefonica MoviStar Honda’s Sete Gibernau, who set a best lap of 2:03.51, last year’s runner-up keen not to be outdone in the early psychological battles.

Gibernau’s new team-mate Colin Edwards continues his rapid adaptation to the RC211V, setting a 2:04.26, with Camel Honda’s Makoto Tamada enjoying the extreme track conditions to record a 2:04.00 on his Bridgestone shod RCV. Nicky Hayden made his first ride of the 2004 pre-season after undergoing surgery on his thumb, and posted a 2:04.72, whilst Tohru Ukawa rode a development machine in his new role as HRC’s official test rider, clocking 2:05.66. The riders stopped around an hour early at 4pm due to light rain affecting parts of the track.

Max Biaggi – 2:03.47. 47 laps

I had a good month’s rest, which we need to recharge the batteries for this pan-continental test. I like the conditions here in Malaysia, hot and humid, when you haven’t got too many things to test, it’s certainly good physical preparation. We are working on a single bike here, waiting for the new machines, and we are testing mainly suspension and tyres. It’s good, because it will make a good comparison when the 2004 bike arrives and we test it here next month.

Sete Gibernau – 2:03.51. 58 laps

I’ve trained well so it wasn’t really a problem riding today in the heat, although obviously you have to settle into things first. My morale is so high at the moment, and it’s helped today by the fact that we have already made improvements on the race record time. We worked mainly on tyres today, and with Michelin’s 17″ front. For the rest of the test we’ll probably move on to suspension and other such things, but I’m happy with our work today.

Makoto Tamada- 2:04.00. 41 laps.

We didn’t really work on tyres today as I expected, and concentrated more on the machine set-up as a whole, which showed some good results. The conditions are difficult here, but today as a whole was good, I’ve done my training well, so it was no problem for me at all. The rest of this test we will dedicate now to the tyres above all.

Colin Edwards – 2:04.72. 51 laps.

We were working a bit on the set-up, which isn’t too different from that of Valencia to be honest, and also playing with a few different rims, working with Michelin. We’ve tried a lot of that before so not much new there. As for my adaptation to the new bike in these conditions, after having been in the mountains and with thin air for a month I thought I might come here a hero, but it’s still too hot! As regards my adaptation, Hondas have a certain character, and whether it’s Superbike or MotoGP, it’s got those similar characteristics, so it’s never a problem for me, just getting back into the swing.

Nicky Hayden – 2:04.72. 57 laps

“That was great to get back on the bike and open the throttle after what has felt like quite a time. It’s good to see all the team again – exactly the same as last year so it feels real comfortable. We had a little difficulty at the start of the session but quickly resolved it and started to have fun. I had hoped to carry on more but the rain came so we packed up mid-afternoon. We’ve still got two days here, which is good. My hand has held up well today; feels a lil’ weak but that’s not surprising. A pretty good and enjoyable first day back.”

Tohru Ukawa – 2:05.66. 62 laps.

So this is the first time for me as a test rider, which is a strange situation. I’m happy with the direction that the development bike is going, with the new engine, frame and suspension spec all looking good to me. However I wasn’t happy with my lap time. The bike feels comfortable and everything, and physically I am okay, I think that just as test rider it will take time to get used to. There are still two days though, so by the last day I hope to have set a good time.

Copyright 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Engineers and technicians from Bridgestone, Dunlop and Michelin are all present during MotoGP team tests currently under way at Sepang, Malaysia.

All three companies are conducting continuing development testing with their sponsored teams and are apparently unphased and unhindered by the presence of their competitors in the ongoing MotoGP tire war.

From a press release issued by Bridgestone:

Bridgestone Increases Road Race Contingencies for 2004

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Bridgestone/Firestone North
American Tire, LLC (BFNT) has announced an increase in the amount of contingencies offered to riders who participate in 2004 events sanctioned by fourteen various motorcycle clubs and organizations around the country. Winners using Bridgestone tires will earn a minimum of $100 in expert classes, up to $250 in Formula USA competition and $500 in AMA sanctioned nationals.

“We wanted to be sure that the riders who support our products are being rewarded,” said Bob Graham, Motorcycle & Kart Product Manager for BFNT.

“We have very competitive products that can get the job done on the track, but sometimes it takes a little incentive to get riders to make
the switch,” added Graham. “Some of the technology that we have learned in our MotoGP tire development will now be seen in a few of the tires that we offer in American competition.”

Bridgestone offers race tires for all motorcycle road racing divisions, including; Supersport, Superstock, Formula Extreme, Superbike, 250 Grand Prix and 125 Grand Prix.

All winnings will be paid in the form of tire certificates that can be used to purchase additional tires through Performance Tire Service Company in Indianapolis, Ind.

For a complete listing of 2004 contingencies, logon to www.motorcycle-karttires.com. If additional information is needed, please contact Bob Graham at 615-937-3442 or PTSC at 800-828-91343.

The Nashville-based Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC, is a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world’s largest tire and rubber company. BFNT develops, manufactures, and markets Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton and associate and private brand tires. The company is focused on wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off-road, agricultural, motorcycle and other tires to its customers in North America.

From a press release issued by Proton Team KR:

Nobu Signs for 2004

Nobu Aoki stays with Proton Team KR for 2004

Japanese racing star Nobuatsu Aoki (32) will race the second-generation Proton KR V5 in 2004, for his third year with the independent England-based racing team.

Aoki, who was the first rider to score championship points last year on the all-new four-stroke prototype, agreed terms to remain with Proton Team KR early in January.

“I am very glad to stay with this exciting project. I was in it from the start, and it means a lot to me to be able to develop a completely original racing motorcycle,” said Aoki, speaking from his home in Japan.

The popular Nobu, who won a 250 class GP before moving to the premier class, where he finished third overall in his first season, is one of the most experienced riders on the MotoGP grid. He even spent a full year in 2001 as development tester for Bridgestone tyres, further polishing his analytical and development skills.

His experience was an important part of the effort that took the new V5 rapidly forward during its high-intensity race-development programme.

“All last year, the bike improved. Then after the season I tested a development chassis that was another step – much better rear control, and much easier to slide. The engine is also getting better.

“This team is always going forward. That is why I am so happy to be part of it,” he added.

“Of course, most of all I like to race. We all want the same thing. To make the V5 fully competitive as soon as possible.”

Team owner Kenny Roberts expressed his confidence in the Japanese rider, who combines development talent with a strongly competitive streak, once the race begins.

“Nobu has done a great job for the team over the last two years – making the most of things when the chances come up, and sticking with the programme during the difficult early development times of the new four-stroke.

“Of course it’s important to have continuity in developing a machine, and Nobu gives us that continuity,” said Roberts.

From a press release:

Learning Curves Race Licensing Clinics:
March 27 Heartland Park Raceway, KS
April 10 Virginia Intl’ Raceway, VA
April 23(Friday) Road America, WI
May 8 Blackhawk Farms, IL
May 15 Gateway Intl’ Raceway, IL
May 29 Blackhawk Farms, IL
June 12 Roebling Road Raceway, GA
June 19 Heartland Park Raceway, KS
June 26 Virginia Intl’ Raceway, VA
July 2(Friday) Mid America Motorplex, IO
July 17 Blackhawk Farms,IL
July 24 Roebling Road, GA
Aug. 1 Gingerman Raceway, MI
Aug. 14 Barber Motorsports Park, AL
Aug. 28 Blackhawk Farms, IL
Sept. 18 Blackhawk Farms, IL
Sept. 25 Virginia Intl’ Raceway, VA
Oct. 9 Gingerman Raceway, MI
Nov. 13 Heartland Park Raceway, KS

Learning Curves Advanced Racing Clinics
May 10 Blackhawk Farms, IL
May 31 Blackhawk Farms, IL

Learning Curves Ladies Only Street Clinics
July 19 Blackhawk Farms, IL
Aug. 30 Blackhawk Farms, IL

See the Learning Curves website for more details:

http://www.learningcurves,com
or E-mail: [email protected]