From a press release issued by the AMA:

AMA URGES MOTORCYCLISTS TO MEET WITH LAWMAKERS

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) urges all concerned motorcyclists to meet with their members of Congress now, while Congress is in recess.

During the congressional recess, which lasts until January 20, federal lawmakers normally return to their home districts and hold town hall meetings to meet with constituents.

Attending those town hall meetings is a good way to let federal lawmakers know that motorcyclists are concerned about issues, and that motorcyclists vote, said Terry Lee Cook of the AMA Government Relations Department.

Cook suggests telling lawmakers that there is a great need for a comprehensive nationwide study of the causes of motorcycle crashes, and to ensure off-highway riders get their fair share of Recreational Trails Program money to build and maintain motorized trails.

“This is one of the few opportunities people have to meet with their federal legislators,” Cook said. “We need to be sure that they know that motorcyclists are voters.”

For background on motorcycling issues to discuss with your lawmakers, contact Cook at (614) 856-1900, ext. 1288; or by e-mail [email protected].

To find out the names and telephone numbers of the members of your congressional delegation, go to the AMA website at www.AMADirectlink.com and click on the Rapid Response Center.

In addition to attending town hall meetings and speaking out in support of your right to ride, please forward the dates, times and locations of any town hall meetings to your family, friends, fellow riders, and to the AMA Government Relations Department so we can share the information with the motorcycling and ATV communities.

Also, take advantage of the recess to try to schedule personal meetings with your lawmakers or their staff in their district offices to discuss the need for a crash study and for recreational trails funding.

From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM CONCLUDES THREE DAYS OF TESTING AT VALENCIA

BOTH DESMOSEDICI RIDERS QUICK IN FINAL 2003 TESTS – BAYLISS (1:33.15), CAPIROSSI (1:33.48)

Valencia (Spain), 12 December 2003 – Third and final day of testing at Valencia for Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss, who together with Vittoriano Guareschi have concluded the Ducati Marlboro Team’s intense testing schedule before the Christmas break.

The 2003 season comes to a successful end for the Ducati Marlboro Team which made its debut in MotoGP at the start of this year. It finished second overall in the constructors’ championship, and fourth with Capirossi and sixth with Bayliss in the riders’ standings. This, together with a historic win in the Catalunya GP and numerous other positive results, are just reward for the commitment of riders and team.

The experience accumulated during the season and the intense work carried out until now, are the starting-point for the 2004 season. “The results of these tests are the best way to end this wonderful season” – commented Ducati Marlboro Team director Livio Suppo at the end of the Valencia tests. “I want to thank the team and in particular Loris, Troy and Vittoriano, who have done a great job, their determination, ability and professionalism have been decisive on every occasion. From tomorrow everyone gets a well-earned break, even though we can’t wait for the new season to start, bringing with it a fresh challenge, and a battle that promises to be even and hard-fought. We can only look ahead with optimism, it is sure to be another great season for Ducati.”

The final day of testing at Valencia was characterised by excellent weather conditions, with temperatures much higher than on the previous days: 20° air / 25°C track.

Troy and Loris both ran a race simulation distance; the Italian continued to test the 16.5-inch front and completed a total of 62 laps, recording a quickest time of 1:33.48. The positive results obtained with the smaller size front wheel give the riders a wider choice in bike set-up for the different circuits.

Bayliss was quickest rider of the day, stopping the clock in 1:33.15 in his 73 laps, the Australian preferring to continue testing with the 17-inch front.

Vittoriano Guareschi continued development work on the 2004 ‘lab’ Desmosedici, testing a series of new components for reliability and efficiency. The Italian, who completed a series of long runs, did 38 laps with a best time of 1.36.70.

The Ducati Marlboro Team will return to the track for further pre-season testing next January.

From a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

DUCATI CORSE PRESS INFORMATION
Valencia, 12 December 2003

LANZI NOTCHES UP THE MILEAGE IN DUCATI 749R SUPERSPORT TESTING

Italian Lorenzo Lanzi has concluded the latest test for the factory Ducati 749R, the bike that will mark Ducati Corse’s return to the World Supersport arena in the 2004 championship, with a major improvement on the time he recorded in November.

The 22-year-old from Cesena, who was out on track for three days in MotoGP company, improved his quickest time to 1:38.9 at the end of the day after fitting a softer tyre. This was not far off the times recorded by the best Supersport riders in the Valencia championship opener earlier in the year.

Lanzi used the Valencia test to make a major step forward in the 749R’s development curve as he notched up a total of 194 laps in the three days, the equivalent of over 750 kms of track time.

The engine mapping made on the Ducati Corse dyno after November’s test at Valencia proved to be extremely useful as Lanzi knocked four-tenths of a second off his previous best time around the 4.005 km circuit in perfect conditions.

“I’m pleased with the progress we have made since the last test” declared Lanzi. “There has been a lot of development, we know where we have to work on and the direction we have to take”.

The Ducati 749R’s next test will be at Phillip Island, Australia from 13-15 January 2004.

From a press release:

Oregon Motorcycle Road Racing Association Board of Directors for 2004:

President, Jim Kennedy; Vice President, Les Green; Vice President, TJ Janss;
Secretary, Roxanne Pense; Treasurer, Pirkko Haavisto; Rider Representative, TJ
Janss; Worker Representative, Deanna Olson; Members At Large, Brad Hochhalter, Gina
Howard, Simon-Pierre Smith, Chris Locatell, Dave Salmi.

Advisory Board Members: Frank Berthold, Kurt Fry, Dale Pestes, Herb Wagner.



Washington Motorcycle Road Racing Association Executive Board for 2004:

President, Joel Crabtree; Vice President, April Brock; Vice President, Jim Sharp;
Vice President, Mark Creager; Secretary, Nadia Shashani; Treasurer, LaDonna
Wichern; Vintage Rep, Duncan Craick; Novice Rep, Dave Huck; Superbike/GP Rep,
Tyler Sandell; Supersport Rep, Luke Gaylor.

Board of Directors: Kory Gill,
Mark McGuire, Briggs Willoughby, Greg Zanghi.

From a press release issued by American Suzuki:

The Suzuki Cup Finals will air on Fox Sports this Saturday, 12/13. The show will repeat on 12/17.

Check your local listings for times.

http://www.foxsports.com/content/view?contentId=1636002

From a press release issued by Honda Racing:

MotoGP test
Valencia, Spain, December 12, 2003.

Temperature: 19 degrees C
Weather: Sunny

Honda Riders Fast on Final Day in Valencia

Progress continued on the final day of the three-day final test of 2003 at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia, Spain, with two of the four Honda riders improving their times and the fourth holding onto the fastest time overall.

For the second time in three days, Telefonica MoviStar Suzuki’s Sete Gibernau finished the day with the fastest time, the Barcelona native making progress while working through the choice between the 16.5 inch and 17 inch front tires. Gibernau ended the day with a time of 1:33.20, well under the 1:33.404 he turned in the season-ending Community of Valencia Grand Prix just six weeks ago. “In the whole three days I haven’t touched one click of the bike, just to keep the bike how it was. And that’s why I’m so happy,” he said. Tomorrow Gibernau is off to play golf with countryman Sergio Garcia.

Teammate Colin Edwards reverted to fork settings he’d used en route to the 2002 World Superbike Championship aboard the Castrol Honda VTR1000SP-2 and the change was instant and dramatic. A new set of forks installed at mid-day inspired confidence in the Texan and he instantly dropped half a second from his lap time, then consistently lapped in the mid 1:33’s, the fastest he’d ever been around the 4.005 kilometer circuit. “They’re basically World Superbike forks,” Edwards said. “Put it on there and went half a second faster in two laps and kept it there.” Edwards lost more than half the day when a mechanical problem sidelined him in the early going. Once back on track, he attacked with his trademark aggression and smoothness, which translated to his best times of the weekend.

Pramac Honda’s Makoto Tamada nearly equaled his best lap time from the previous day before crashing after just 20 laps. The Japanese rider had little warning when an oil leak coated his rear tire sending him over the high-side. He was up quickly and unhurt, but his testing day was over.

Camel Pramac Pons’ Max Biaggi found an infuriating chatter this morning that never went away. The veteran Italian said the problem was perplexing and kept him from improving on the best lap of the test, a 1:32.88 done on Thursday afternoon. “Basically I lost one day because in the morning I have a chatter problem, big problem,” he said.

Overall though, the test was deemed a success by Honda Racing Corporation team manager Shoji Tachikawa. “Everybody made many laps and we tested many items for Michelin and Bridgestone, and they’re happy,” he said. He was also happy that HRC was able to supply advanced spec motors at the end of the race year, rather than early in the 2004 test season. “We planned the new spec engine a little early. Normally it’s January or February. We prepared for the riders now because it’s necessary. It’s an evolution engine and we’ll have a new one for the first test of the New Year.”

Sete Gibernau, 1:33.20, 78 laps.
I think we’re doing a great job exactly, that’s our main goal to work very hard on what we think has to be the correct bike and the correct setting and the correct tires and that takes a lot of effort from not only me but the whole time to be very concentrated every lap for three days. And not. Just focused on that. And in racing it’s very difficult because at the end of the day everyone is looking for the lap time but many of the times you have to put that behind to see what the pace is, to see what happens when you’ve got 30 laps on the tyre. It’s very difficult to go back and forth between the 16.5 and the 17-inch the riding style is completely different. So that’s why at the end I’d been able to do low 33’s with both and that is why I’m so happy. Now I can race with any of the tyres, although I think my mind is quite clear on what I would like to have. We tried 16.5-inch small rim, big rim, 17 inch small, wide. The overall is the reaction and the speed that the bikes moves from one lean angle completely to the other. That is the biggest difference. The 16.5 really moves very fast from the right to the left. It can’t be straight up and down and then throw it. Really when you’re on the side to the other side it’s faster. There’s other areas that we need to work.

Colin Edwards, 1:33.40, 63 laps
I struggled for the two days just trying to find where the limit was. I had no clue. The front wasn’t telling me anything. When I rode this thing at Barcelona, the Showa guys said we have your fork valving from Superbike ready, so you can test that in Valencia. As it turned out that particular setting is one that probably went through about 15 or 18 different settings in 2002, found that one, never changed all year. Same valving, unheard of. Never changed the valving and you know how good that bike was. As it turned out we didn’t put it on until midday today. We changed forks, just totally forks. Just different all around. Different valving, different coding, different everything. Did 33’s the whole time. It was good. I had no clue what was going on. Then as soon as I put those forks on I remember these. ‘I missed you. Thanks honey for coming back.’ Stayed on 16.5. This 16.5 is different from the one I was on in 2002, even last year. I was just milling around while the bike was getting put back together. So I was like, when I get back on we’ll go as hard as we can for as long as we can.

Makoto Tamada, 1:33.50
We had a small problem and for this moment they’re checking it. It caused me to fall when there was oil on the tyre. It happened very suddenly in the right at the top of the track before the last corner after the short cut. Luckily, I was not injured. Before I fell, we changed the front fork settings and it helped. But we had a lot of things to test. I wanted to make the fast lap of this test.

Max Biaggi, 1:33.85, 50 laps
In the morning and afternoon we changed the tyre, the front the rear, we changed the suspension. No change. We used the 17. I tried the 16.5. No change. So a surprise. Also the Japanese are surprised because they see on the data big chatter. They don’t know where it’s coming from. We set the fast time yesterday and normally you want to go faster. I ended up with such a big problem that we didn’t have yesterday at all. When you watch the data, it’s fair. That’s what happened. That’s what you see. They must check.

From a press release issued by Pramac Honda Team:

Valencia – (Spain)
Private Tests
10/11/12 December 2003
Friday 12 December

Third and last day of tests in Valencia for Pramac Honda Team

The private tests in Valencia came to an end today for the Pramac Honda Team, in the last session of tests in 2003. Makoto Tamada only went out on the cold track this morning, but he still managed to post a highly respectable time: 1:33.5. He then went for a harmless slide on the sixth left-hander, which the riders take in first gear, and that put an end to Tamada’s test sessions. He suffered no harm, however, and had been as galvanised as ever, and highly motivated by the second-best time he recorded yesterday.

To let Makoto continued with his test work, it would have been necessary to interrupt the development work that had been carried out by Shinichi Itoh on his RC211V 2003, while Tamada spent these three days concentrating on working out the details of his 2004-version RC211V.

Shinichi Itoh, on the other hand, spent a really full day working on next year’s Bridgestone tyres, trying out about 15 different combinations. The team’s official test rider clocked up seventy-five laps, with very fast average times. The best was 1:34.5. So his pace was pretty similar to the world-championship race times set last November. After a long convalescence to get over a fractured shoulder in a Superbike race in Japan, as well as having to get back into physical shape, Itoh once again showed his extraordinary talent and determination today.

“I was sorry about the slide in the morning” said Makoto Tamada “I was really gassed up and we were going for a good lap time on the last day of tests. Especially, after what I was able to do yesterday, I really was trying to go flat out today. I can’t say I was gunning for a record, but I must say I was hoping for an important result to finish the year in style. But I must say I’m pretty pleased with the engine will be using next year. Over the last three days I’ve got the right feeling for the bike, and yesterday’s and this morning’s times on a cold track prove this quite clearly. It’s taken us no time at all to get up to a highly satisfactory level of settings.”

From a press release issued by Mat Mladin Motorsports:

AMA Chevy Trucks US Superbike Championship
Daytona International Speedway, Florida, USA
Dunlop tyre test

MLADIN: SUPERBIKES HAVE OUTGROWN DAYTONA

Daytona Beach, Florida, USA (Thursday, 11 December) – The annual Dunlop tyre test at the famed Daytona International Speedway in Florida, came to an abrupt end after two of the scheduled three days and has raised serious questions and doubts about the leading superbike riders taking to the circuit for the opening round of the 2004 Chevy Trucks US Superbike Championship on March 6.

The drama began after Yamaha rider, Jason DiSalvo crashed at over 270kph (170mph) on the circuit’s ultra-fast banked section on the second day of the test. The cause of the accident was an alleged rear tyre failure and is the fourth high-speed incident to have occurred this year.

The incident saw Dunlop officials call a premature end to the test for the Superbike riders, leaving just the 600cc Supersport competitors out on the track for the third and final day.

The 2003 season saw a number of high speed tyre failures, including that of four-times American Superbike Champion Mat Mladin who had a rear tyre let go at 270kph (170mph) while leading the opening race at Road Atlanta in May. The day prior a privateer rider had a tyre fail at almost the same place as Mladin, leaving the rider with multiple injuries.

In October, Mladin’s Yoshimura Suzuki teammate Ben Spies had a rear tyre fail at Daytona during an end of season test at Daytona. He suffered severe abrasions and is still unable to ride.

The spate of tyre problems has left chief supplier Dunlop working frantically on finding a solution. This week’s three-day test was designed to sort through more tyres in preparation for next March’s opening round of the championship the Daytona 200.

This week’s tyre failure has left a number of riders concerned and undecided as to the role that they will play in that opening race, including Mladin, a two-time winner at Daytona and he is very concerned at the latest incident and it’s ramifications.

“We were told in a meeting with Dunlop, the day before the test started, that they essentially assured us (the riders) there wasn’t going to be any trouble with the tyres of the same sort we have had in the past, with tyre deflation etc,” said Mladin.

“Unfortunately there was one such incident on the second day of the test and as I’ve said many times, the bikes and the speed of the new 1000cc motorbikes has gotten beyond what this race track is capable of and the tyres cannot handle the abuse that they are given around here.

“The point that must be made and I’ve said before, Dunlop cannot be held totally responsible for what is happening. Any tyre manufacturer that would come here and see what goes on with tyres would be pulling their hair out with trying to develop tyres for this track. They (Dunlop) cannot be held responsible, we have to hold someone responsible at other tracks and Dunlop may be partly to blame there, but here the AMA need to look at what’s going on and the performance of the motorcycle.

“The bikes have increased in performance so much in the past five years that it is becoming frightening. The new Honda did essentially 310kph (190mph) on the 31 degree banking and with all of the funny things that happen on the banking, the G forces are unbelievable.

“If something is not done about it, I certainly won’t be racing in the 200 under the circumstances we are at, at the moment. I would rather put a set of tyres on a 600 Supersport and race that, rather than a 200+hp Superbike as no one can guarantee our safety when it comes to tyres here. Motorcycle racing is full of inherent dangers and things that go wrong, but it has come to a point where there are no guarantees that you’ll come around the next lap, even if you don’t do anything wrong and I think that’s a risk not worth taking.

“Tyre wear is also not the issue or the reason why for the failures. Ben (Spies) had a tyre fail after about four or five laps and then (Jason) DiSalvo had one let go after about ten laps on a 1000cc Superstock bike and we’ve got to do 20 laps on a tyre in the 200 race.

“The problem Dunlop is facing is that they just don’t know why it’s happening. They think they’ve got a handle on why it happened and then they’ve got another failure. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not criticising Dunlop for not working on the problem as I know that they’ve worked day and night on this. I can’t fault them for the amount of work and time they’ve put in over the past three months, it’s been incredible. The bottom line is that the speeds and the forces generated on the banking, I don’t think can be replicated in a closed testing environment and that makes it hard. The banking does have what feels like very sharp holes, what would feel like stutter bumps on a motocross bike, but at 270kph, so is this additional load causing the tyre to fracture. That’s the thing at the moment, we just don’t know.

“This is a big problem and it needs to be addressed now. What is going to happen in a few years time when the manufacturers start to develop 240hp bikes? Just six years ago we had 155hp and now we have just over 200. One day it has to come to a point where it seriously needs to be addressed.

“We know that Daytona is the worst track on the calendar as far as safety goes, but getting it taken off the calendar won’t happen next year, so something has to be done quickly. I think the series has outgrown Daytona. Even the 600cc Supersport bikes are doing 270kph (170mph) on the banking.

“We’re going to speeds with these 1000cc bikes of over 320kph after they’ve been in the draft and that’s crazy as you are surrounded by a concrete wall. So far the recent incidents have been during practice, but what will happen if a tyre fails during the race when there’s a five-bike train happening and there are five riders on the track at 270k’s and a field of bikes following them. You can imagine it’s not going to be good.

“We met the AMA officials late on Wednesday afternoon to discuss ways of fixing it so that the race will happen next year, with less than three months before the race, a lot of things will need to be sorted out.”

Mladin left the Daytona circuit on Wednesday afternoon and will return to Australia for the festive season, before resuming his testing commitments with Yoshimura Suzuki in January.

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

AMA PRO RACING TO ASSESS TIRE TEST SITUATION

Additional Test Scheduled for January

PICKERINGTON, Ohio (Dec. 11, 2003) — AMA Pro Racing, in concert with teams, riders, Daytona International Speedway (DIS) officials and representatives from the major tire manufacturers will work together in assessing the situation resulting from two tire-failure related crashes that occurred while tire testing at Daytona International Speedway.

Much was learned from the just-concluded tests at the speedway, but two dramatic incidents have forced all involved to carefully re-evaluate the situation. Yamaha’s Jason DiSalvo walked away from a crash on Tuesday, day two of the Dunlop-hosted test, and Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies had a similar crash while testing in October. Both incidents were the result of tire failure at high speed.

AMA Pro Racing, CEO Scott Hollingsworth was on hand at the Dunlop test and commented on the situation: “Obviously we’re thankful that both Jason and Ben are okay and that their injuries weren’t more extensive,” said Hollingsworth. “We’re taking this matter very seriously and are exploring all possible options in terms of dealing with it. We’ve met with, and will continue to meet with, every major team, DIS officials and representatives from the tire companies to explore possible solutions. It’s premature to say what those solutions may be, but restoring the confidence level in the minds of each and every one of our racers is just one of our objectives.”

Hollingsworth was upbeat about the valuable input put forth by several participants in the test. “By and large, everyone has a good grasp of the challenges and most are offering good, productive ideas to mitigate the concerns,” said Hollingsworth. “It’s a matter of ‘do you want to be part of the problem or part of the solution.’ I’m happy to report that there’s a high level of effort being expended to arrive at answers.”

Hollingsworth welcomes the opportunity for the teams to test again at Daytona before the 2004 AMA road racing season begins in March. “Ultimately it’s going to require additional testing to resolve this matter and DIS was able to free-up a date in late January for another tire test.” said Hollingsworth. “That’s significant because it will now allow the tire makers to analyze their data, determine what’s causing these failures and arrive at new solutions. Essentially it comes down to a balancing act between grip and wear and this added test should go a long way towards delivering tires that adequately achieve both objectives.” Hollingsworth added that the additional test will be open to all tire makers competing in AMA Superbike racing.


See related post:

12/10/2003 Worried About Exploding Dunlops, Daytona Speedway And AMA Schedule Another Tire Test In January, Will Invite Michelin And Pirelli

From a press release issued by Eric Bostrom’s publicist:

The Cycle World International Motorcycle Show will be taking place this weekend at the Long Beach Convention Center and Eric Bostrom will be there to sign autographs in his first public appearance as a Ducati rider.

Fresh off his successful Michelin test at Daytona, Eric is scheduled to be in the Ducati area Saturday, December 13, and part of Sunday, December 14 to sign autographs and meet fans. Come to the show and be a part of Eric’s “debut”!

Additionally, there will be a 1 hour question and answer period with Bostrom from 11am to 12pm at the Ducati SportClassics display.

For further information, please visit www.DucatiUSA.com