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Bryan Cassell Memorial Track Days Scheduled At Jennings GP

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From a press release :

T-Bone Racing Presents…
RIDE FOR LIFE
When: December 13th and 14th 2003

Where: Jennings GP – 4960 NW CR152 Jennings FL, 32053

Why: T-Bone Racing and Jennings GP will be attempting to raise funds for the Bryan Cassell II Memorial Foundation. This foundation will help out Privateer riders in their time of need. We all know how difficult it is to get started and some start out with bad tires and unsafe gear. This foundations purpose is to help riders with the proper gear to be safe. We will also be raising money to donate to Bryan’s family to help with whatever is needed. It is a tragedy when we lose a fellow rider to unforeseen situations. It is time for us to all pull together and help those who have lost loved ones while living out their dreams of racing.

Cost:
Track Day Pricing
Saturdays & Sundays $125 per day per Rider
Mondays $85 per Rider

Book all three days (Sat/Sun/Mon) for $299 per Rider

Please pre book to avoid disappointment

Block booking discounts & club membership also available.

Call 386.938.1110 or email us at [email protected]

All riders are welcome street riders and racers

All Track fees to be paid to Jennings JP.

Please sign up in advance so we can get an Idea of how much food and drinks to bring.

FREE STUFF!!!
We will start the Grill and tap the 1st keg after the last practice session. Food and Beer are FREE compliments of T-Bone racing. Live music and Raffle will shortly follow the lighting of the grill.

For any questions please contact Josh Holley @ [email protected] or Laura Bramble @ 239-229-4309

Thanks and see you there!!

Event sponsors: XT Racing, Woodcraft-CFM, 1-888-FASTLAP, Motul, Suomy, Gaerne, Chicken Hawk Racing, Baxley Trailer Co., Darrin Talbott

American Noyes Seventh In Spanish FX Series Finale

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From a press release issued by Team Troll Honda BQR:

Report on today’s final round of the Spanish National Formula Extreme Championship held on Sunday, November 23rd, 2003 at Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.

Cardoso Wins Race, De Gea the title and Noyes Is 7th in Spanish Formula Extreme Final

Europe’s last major road racing series, the Spanish Formula Extreme Championship, was decided in spectacular fashion today at Jerez de La Frontera under a steady rain, and at the end of 17 laps around the 2.7 mile Grand Prix circuit former 250 and 500 GP star Jose Luis Cardoso won his third consecutive National on his Team D’Antin Laglisse Yamaha R1, but was beaten in the points table by the narrowest of margins, 121-120, by current MotoGP WCM rider José David de Gea on his Alstare Corona Suzuki GSX-R1000.

In the mix was American Kenny Noyes (Troll BQR Honda) who was 30th into the first corner but managed to move up 22 positions to finish 7th. The Californian, who won the Spanish Bancaja Superperies (Superstock) Championship two weeks ago at Valencia, passed fifteen riders on lap one, but was very cautions when he came up on De Gea on lap two.

“I got caught out by the rain in qualifying and didn’t get in a good lap on a qualifying tire while it was dry and that put me back on the fifth row. To make it worse I spun up at the start and was one of the last riders out of the first corner. I passed a lot of riders on the opening lap but I waited for a very clear opportunity to pass De Gea because I knew he was riding for the championship and I didn’t want to screw him up,” said Noyes. “Once I got around him I got into a long fight with Salvador Cabana (Suzuki) for seventh. I finally got him with five laps to go but by then I was too far back to catch anybody else. Without the rain we’d have been another six or seven places back on out bike, with a better start I could have been fourth or fifth.”

Former 125 GP regular Josep Sardá (Mistral Suzuki) was just managing to hold off Cardoso for the lead going into lap thirteen while De Gea was back in tenth. At that point, with five laps to go De Gea was in position to win the title by five points, but Sarda had a slow speed crash at the hairpin. Cardoso went into the lead but Sarda kept his engine running and was back up and still in second. On that same lap De Gea, who had been dicing with Jesús Moreno (Yamaha) since lap one with the two passing and re-passing each other several times, moved up a place and a point and held that place to the finish. If De Gea had finished tenth instead of ninth he would have tied Cardoso 120-120 but lost the crown on the basis of having two wins to Cardoso’s three.

For Cardoso his three race winning streak just might be enough to earn the 30 year Andalusian from Seville a 250 GP ride in 2004. For De Gea the title capped a hectic season that saw the 25 year old from Murcia riding in both MotoGP with the uncompetitive WCM and in Formula Extreme with the Alstare Suzuki.

Cardoso’s team mate Javier del Amor was third in front of Sete Gibernau’s cousin Lucas Oliver Bultó, himself a former 250 Grand Prix regular.

Noyes’ seventh place, the best result this season by Honda in the Spanish FX class, moved the American from 16th to 12th in the final points table, easily the top Honda rider in a championship that saw Suzukis take the title and eleven of the top fifteen places. Yamahas were second, ninth and fourteenth and Noyes’s Honda was 12th.

“Our objective for Kenny this year was to win the Superstock and finish top ten in FX. We accomplished the first objective but just missed on the second because of a big crash at the first Jerez when he was headed for a solid seventh and a rim problem in Jarama that cost us at least four points, but now we can finally park the old 954 and start working with the new Fireblade,” said BQR team owner Raúl Romero.

In the other Spanish National races, Martin Cardenas of Colombia on a D’Antin Yamaha R6 won the wet Supersport race from Spaniards Javier Fores (Repsol Honda) and Julián Mazuecos (ADT Yamaha) with already-proclaimed 2003 Champion Ivan Silva fourth on his D’Antin Yamaha. American teenager Cory West, in the points at mid-race, eventually finished 21st on his 2002 CBR600RR Honda, completing a promising rookie season for the Monllau team of Barcelona in the very competitive Spanish Supersport championship which is limited to riders under 23.

In 125 Grand Prix star Alvaro Bautista (Seedorf Aprilia) , who clinched the title last week in Valencia, won handily in the rain from Hungarian GP regular Gabor Talmasci (factory Malaguti) and Bautista’s team mate Ismael Ortega.


Harley-Davidson Passport To Ride Sweepstakes Winner Announced

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From a press release issued by Harley-Davidson:

PASSPORT TO RIDE WINNER GETS THE KEY TO A 100TH ANNIVERSARY SPORTSTER


Besides attending the events taking place during the 100th Anniversary, Harley-Davidson encouraged riders to “ride and have fun” with the Passport to Ride Sweepstakes. This sweepstakes offered riders an opportunity to visit Wisconsin dealerships, meet up with other enthusiasts for the 100th Anniversary events in Wisconsin and win a 100th Anniversary Sportster motorcycle.

Jennifer Hogan won the grand prize, a 2003 XL Sportster 1200 Custom motorcycle, while visiting both her parents and her husband’s parents in Chicago and Minnesota, and celebrating Harley-Davidson’s 100th Anniversary in August. Hogan collected 12 points while visiting dealerships in Wisconsin and mailed the Passport to Ride postcard. Hogan was selected as a winner in late October and looks forward to riding her new motorcycle in 2004.

Fifty first prize winners received a 100th Anniversary Carpet Bag and 75 second prize winners received a “100 Years of Harley-Davidson” Book, by Willie G. Davidson.

Updated Post: Hayes To Kawasaki

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Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

After agreeing to a deal with American Suzuki Motor Corporation but before company lawyers finished printing out the final version of the contract, Josh Hayes negotiated a deal with Kawasaki and will ride an Attack-prepared ZX-10RR Superbike in the 2004 AMA Superbike series. Hayes will also compete in the Superstock series on an Attack Kawasaki.

Placing Hayes on the Attack support team allows Kawasaki to skirt AMA rules preventing factory riders from participating in both Superbike and Superstock in 2004, even though Hayes will be directly contracted to and paid by Kawasaki Motors Corp.

Kawasaki has re-structured its rider line-up and will now run Tommy Hayden and Roger Hayden on the factory team and Hayes and Tony Meiring on the Attack Kawasaki support team.

Ben Bostrom Wins AMA Supermoto Race, Championship In Las Vegas

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Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Honda factory road racer Ben Bostrom won the final round of the 2003 AMA Red Bull Supermoto series, and with it became the first-ever Champion of the series, Friday at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Riding an American Honda CRF450R, Bostrom came from as far back as sixth to take the lead from Jeff Ward with less than three laps to go and held on for the victory.

Team Motodynamics Tuluie Yamaha’s Doug Henry, winner of the Irwindale round, followed Bostrom past Ward but could not get his YZ450F in front of Bostrom’s Honda before the flag.

Troy Lee Designs Honda’s Ward finished third.

Frenchman Alexandre Thiebault led most of the laps on his Honda CRF450R before slipping back to fifth late in the race.

Former road racer Larry Pegram finished eighth on his Red Bull HMC KTM, just behind Ward’s teammate Jeremy McGrath. Another road racer, Jeff Wood, DNF, dropping out after eight of 14 laps.

Former 500cc Grand Prix World Champion Kevin Schwantz did not start his qualifying heat or semi races, after injuring an ACL on his first lap of practice.

2003 AMA 125cc Motocross Champion Grant Langston won the Supermoto Unlimited class and Championship on a KTM525.

Infineon Raceway, Kawasaki Reach Three-year Sponsorship Deal

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From a press release issued by Infineon Raceway:

Kawasaki, Infineon Raceway Strike Strategic Partnership

SONOMA, Calif. – Kawasaki Motors Corp. and Infineon Raceway have reached a multi-year strategic partnership that will make the powersports industry company the “Official Motorcycle, ATV and Personal Watercraft of Infineon Raceway,” according to officials from both companies.

The three-year partnership will also give Kawasaki the title sponsorship of the nationally televised AMA (American Motorcyclist Association) U.S. Chevy Trucks Superbike Championship event at Infineon Raceway. The event will be known as the Kawasaki Showdown, beginning with the 2004 season. This grows an ongoing relationship with Kawasaki, which had been the “Official Motorcycle of Infineon Raceway” for three years (2000-2003).

“Kawasaki is a quality manufacturer, a terrific brand and an outstanding marketing partner. We’re delighted to build on our existing relationship and to tie them in with one of our premiere events,” said Steve Page, president and general manager of Infineon Raceway.

Kawasaki will also receive a hospitality package, dominant signage, as well as rights to use the Infineon Raceway name and logo in consumer-based promotions. The partnership will also include the benefits associated with the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup and NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, two other premiere events on the Infineon Raceway calendar each year. Another piece of the partnership will be an annual consumer sweepstakes for race fans, where one lucky fan will be a winner of a new Kawasaki NinjaR motorcycle.

“Kawasaki’s increased partnership is gratifying and their vote of confidence is something we appreciate a great deal. We look forward to helping Kawasaki grow sales and look forward to working with them on exciting promotions that give back to the fans,” said Tim Schuldt, vice president of sales and marketing at Infineon Raceway.

Kawasaki, based in Santa Ana in Southern California, leads the global powersports industry, from leading NinjaR sportbikes and thundering VulcanT cruisers to the rugged PrairieR ATVs, MuleT utility vehicles and JET SKIR watercraft.

Hodgson Sets The Record Straight Concerning Foggy Comments

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Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

A war of words erupted in the British press earlier this month between four-time World Superbike Champion Carl Fogarty and 2003 World Superbike Champion Neil Hodgson, but Hodgson is looking to put an end to the public feud.

In early November, England’s MCN quoted Hodgson as saying, “I don’t fear Rossi liked Foggy feared Doohan. Carl would never admit that but that’s probably why he never took up the challenge. He talked about it but never did it. But I’m going to do it. I want to be judged against the best riders in the world and that means in MotoGP.”

Fogarty responded in a November 10 press release issued by his team, Foggy Petronas Racing, stating, “I think it’s a cowardly comment. The simple truth is that I never got a chance to ride in GPs. I would have loved to have been given that chance, because I was certainly never scared of anyone on the track.

“It’s cowardly because I can’t go out there and race anymore and do anything about it. And people will know for sure that it’s an absolute lie. They will realize that Neil is trying hard not to be boring.

“He has a long way to go before he can be mentioned in the same breath of me. He has won nothing yet – he was given the World Superbike title this year.”

Hodgson, however, sought to set the record straight with a November 19 entry on his website, writing, “You’ve probably read a whole load of stuff about me and Carl Fogarty going at each other. Well, my website seems to be the best place to put the record straight once and for all so here it is, the last official statement on the whole mess:

“Around the time that Carl retired he was quoted, rightly or wrongly, as saying that he thought he was a better rider than Mick Doohan. I was asked what my personal opinion of that statement was and my opinion, which I think I’m fully entitled to, was that I considered Mick Doohan to have been a better rider than Carl Fogarty and, in my opinion, I doubt whether Carl would really have wanted to race against him because of that. And that’s it. As a rider I respect Carl so much and always have. I totally look up to him as a motorcycle racer and I think he’s achieved so much for racing and for World Superbikes. In the press my opinion maybe looked like an attack on Carl, but it wasn’t. Now he’s saying some pretty crazy things in the press and I’m sorry, but I’m not entering into a public slanging match. That’s it, over, case closed.”

SpeedFreaks Radio Show To Broadcast From AMA Awards Banquet In Las Vegas

From a press release:

The Country’s Most Popular Motorsports Radio Show Goes “Camera Up” At The American Motor Cycle Association’s Banquet

Hollywood, California (November 21, 2003) – The fierceness and irreverence of the SpeedFreaks’ quartet, Statt Mann Caruthers, Lugg Nuttz, Crash Gladys and Kenny Sargent, will commandeer the red carpet camera this Saturday night as they entertain and interview the biggest stars on two wheels for the AMA year ending awards banquet. Riders expected to roll down the red into the Freak Nation include Ricky Carmichael, James ‘Bubba’ Stewart, Aaron Yates and Chris Carr.

“Saturday night will be off the hook when the Freaks roll out the camera mojo for the top three riders from AMA Supercross, Motocross, Flat Track, Superbike, Supermoto, Hillclimb and Drag Racing series,” says former Price is Right understudy host – turned SpeedFreaks President, Kenny Sargent. “To be asked to anchor AMA’s red carpet arrivals says one thing… I just can’t say it here cuz we four are ready to go jungle with excitement!”

The public is invited to the banquet. Tickets are just $125, which includes banquet admission, hors d’oeuvres and dinner. For ticket information, call (614) 856-1900, ext. 1342. To reserve a room at the Rio All Suites Hotel and Casino at the special rate of $125 plus tax per night, contact the Rio directly at (888) 746-6955. Be sure to mention AMA Pro Racing.

SpeedFreaks will also unload a unique Las Vegas edition of their award winning Freak Nation broadcast on KSFN’s Hot Talk 1140 this weekend, which will take place live trackside at the AMA Red Bull Supermoto Finale, loaded for bare behind the Rio Hotel. Bumpin’!

SpeedFreaks, (www.SpeedFreaks.TV) with Kenny Sargent, Lugg Nuttz, Statt Mann Caruthers and Crash Gladys are part of the Freak Radio Network and can be heard every Sunday Night on over 80 radio stations across the United States including Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Indianapolis, Boston, Detroit, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Sacramento, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Albuquerque (New Mexico), Charlotte, Charleston, etc. For an additional SpeedFreaks affiliate listing, log on to www.sportsbyline.com/affil.htm. Additional live coverage can also be heard on the Internet at www.SportsByline.com, the Armed Forces Network and on Sirius Satellite Radio’s channel 122, via Sports Byline USA.

Lights Going Up At California Speedway

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From a press release issued by California Speedway:

Light Poles Raised at California Dragway



FONTANA, Calif. — As part of a lighting project to light the entire two-mile, D-shaped oval and quarter-mile drag strip at California Speedway, light poles were raised at California Dragway on Wednesday, November 19th.

More than half-a-dozen light poles were raised along the south perimeter of the strip. Each light pole is constructed of four separate pieces and varies from four to seven light fixtures atop the poles. The poles were placed on top of cement foundations that were drilled earlier this month and will reach 60-ft. into the air.



The pole placement along California Dragway should be completed by Thanksgiving. Additional lighting poles will be raised along the exterior of California Speedway’s oval beginning next week.

California Speedway’s 2004 individual race tickets go on sale December 1st, while season ticket packages, the Ultimate Season Package, the NASCAR Six-Pack Package and the Pick Your NASCAR Weekend Package, are on sale now and can be purchased by calling 1-800-944-RACE (7223) or at www.californiaspeedway.com.

Australian Superbike Champ Coxhell To British Superbike

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Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

2003 Australian Superbike Champion Craig Coxhell will ride for the Vitrans Honda team in the 2004 British Superbike Championship.

According to Trevor Hedge, www.mcnews.com.au, Coxhell, 21, has reached an agreement that will see him ride a Honda CBR1000RR on Pirellis in the British Superbike series.

Coxhell won the 2003 Australian Superbike Championship on a Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Coxhell’s teammate will be countryman Paul Young, who will race a Honda CBR600RR in British Supersport.

Vitrans fielded Michael Laverty and Dean Thomas in the 2003 British Supersport series. Laverty and Thomas finished fourth and fifth in the Championship, respectively.

Bryan Cassell Memorial Track Days Scheduled At Jennings GP

From a press release :

T-Bone Racing Presents…
RIDE FOR LIFE
When: December 13th and 14th 2003

Where: Jennings GP – 4960 NW CR152 Jennings FL, 32053

Why: T-Bone Racing and Jennings GP will be attempting to raise funds for the Bryan Cassell II Memorial Foundation. This foundation will help out Privateer riders in their time of need. We all know how difficult it is to get started and some start out with bad tires and unsafe gear. This foundations purpose is to help riders with the proper gear to be safe. We will also be raising money to donate to Bryan’s family to help with whatever is needed. It is a tragedy when we lose a fellow rider to unforeseen situations. It is time for us to all pull together and help those who have lost loved ones while living out their dreams of racing.

Cost:
Track Day Pricing
Saturdays & Sundays $125 per day per Rider
Mondays $85 per Rider

Book all three days (Sat/Sun/Mon) for $299 per Rider

Please pre book to avoid disappointment

Block booking discounts & club membership also available.

Call 386.938.1110 or email us at [email protected]

All riders are welcome street riders and racers

All Track fees to be paid to Jennings JP.

Please sign up in advance so we can get an Idea of how much food and drinks to bring.

FREE STUFF!!!
We will start the Grill and tap the 1st keg after the last practice session. Food and Beer are FREE compliments of T-Bone racing. Live music and Raffle will shortly follow the lighting of the grill.

For any questions please contact Josh Holley @ [email protected] or Laura Bramble @ 239-229-4309

Thanks and see you there!!

Event sponsors: XT Racing, Woodcraft-CFM, 1-888-FASTLAP, Motul, Suomy, Gaerne, Chicken Hawk Racing, Baxley Trailer Co., Darrin Talbott

American Noyes Seventh In Spanish FX Series Finale

From a press release issued by Team Troll Honda BQR:

Report on today’s final round of the Spanish National Formula Extreme Championship held on Sunday, November 23rd, 2003 at Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.

Cardoso Wins Race, De Gea the title and Noyes Is 7th in Spanish Formula Extreme Final

Europe’s last major road racing series, the Spanish Formula Extreme Championship, was decided in spectacular fashion today at Jerez de La Frontera under a steady rain, and at the end of 17 laps around the 2.7 mile Grand Prix circuit former 250 and 500 GP star Jose Luis Cardoso won his third consecutive National on his Team D’Antin Laglisse Yamaha R1, but was beaten in the points table by the narrowest of margins, 121-120, by current MotoGP WCM rider José David de Gea on his Alstare Corona Suzuki GSX-R1000.

In the mix was American Kenny Noyes (Troll BQR Honda) who was 30th into the first corner but managed to move up 22 positions to finish 7th. The Californian, who won the Spanish Bancaja Superperies (Superstock) Championship two weeks ago at Valencia, passed fifteen riders on lap one, but was very cautions when he came up on De Gea on lap two.

“I got caught out by the rain in qualifying and didn’t get in a good lap on a qualifying tire while it was dry and that put me back on the fifth row. To make it worse I spun up at the start and was one of the last riders out of the first corner. I passed a lot of riders on the opening lap but I waited for a very clear opportunity to pass De Gea because I knew he was riding for the championship and I didn’t want to screw him up,” said Noyes. “Once I got around him I got into a long fight with Salvador Cabana (Suzuki) for seventh. I finally got him with five laps to go but by then I was too far back to catch anybody else. Without the rain we’d have been another six or seven places back on out bike, with a better start I could have been fourth or fifth.”

Former 125 GP regular Josep Sardá (Mistral Suzuki) was just managing to hold off Cardoso for the lead going into lap thirteen while De Gea was back in tenth. At that point, with five laps to go De Gea was in position to win the title by five points, but Sarda had a slow speed crash at the hairpin. Cardoso went into the lead but Sarda kept his engine running and was back up and still in second. On that same lap De Gea, who had been dicing with Jesús Moreno (Yamaha) since lap one with the two passing and re-passing each other several times, moved up a place and a point and held that place to the finish. If De Gea had finished tenth instead of ninth he would have tied Cardoso 120-120 but lost the crown on the basis of having two wins to Cardoso’s three.

For Cardoso his three race winning streak just might be enough to earn the 30 year Andalusian from Seville a 250 GP ride in 2004. For De Gea the title capped a hectic season that saw the 25 year old from Murcia riding in both MotoGP with the uncompetitive WCM and in Formula Extreme with the Alstare Suzuki.

Cardoso’s team mate Javier del Amor was third in front of Sete Gibernau’s cousin Lucas Oliver Bultó, himself a former 250 Grand Prix regular.

Noyes’ seventh place, the best result this season by Honda in the Spanish FX class, moved the American from 16th to 12th in the final points table, easily the top Honda rider in a championship that saw Suzukis take the title and eleven of the top fifteen places. Yamahas were second, ninth and fourteenth and Noyes’s Honda was 12th.

“Our objective for Kenny this year was to win the Superstock and finish top ten in FX. We accomplished the first objective but just missed on the second because of a big crash at the first Jerez when he was headed for a solid seventh and a rim problem in Jarama that cost us at least four points, but now we can finally park the old 954 and start working with the new Fireblade,” said BQR team owner Raúl Romero.

In the other Spanish National races, Martin Cardenas of Colombia on a D’Antin Yamaha R6 won the wet Supersport race from Spaniards Javier Fores (Repsol Honda) and Julián Mazuecos (ADT Yamaha) with already-proclaimed 2003 Champion Ivan Silva fourth on his D’Antin Yamaha. American teenager Cory West, in the points at mid-race, eventually finished 21st on his 2002 CBR600RR Honda, completing a promising rookie season for the Monllau team of Barcelona in the very competitive Spanish Supersport championship which is limited to riders under 23.

In 125 Grand Prix star Alvaro Bautista (Seedorf Aprilia) , who clinched the title last week in Valencia, won handily in the rain from Hungarian GP regular Gabor Talmasci (factory Malaguti) and Bautista’s team mate Ismael Ortega.


Harley-Davidson Passport To Ride Sweepstakes Winner Announced

From a press release issued by Harley-Davidson:

PASSPORT TO RIDE WINNER GETS THE KEY TO A 100TH ANNIVERSARY SPORTSTER


Besides attending the events taking place during the 100th Anniversary, Harley-Davidson encouraged riders to “ride and have fun” with the Passport to Ride Sweepstakes. This sweepstakes offered riders an opportunity to visit Wisconsin dealerships, meet up with other enthusiasts for the 100th Anniversary events in Wisconsin and win a 100th Anniversary Sportster motorcycle.

Jennifer Hogan won the grand prize, a 2003 XL Sportster 1200 Custom motorcycle, while visiting both her parents and her husband’s parents in Chicago and Minnesota, and celebrating Harley-Davidson’s 100th Anniversary in August. Hogan collected 12 points while visiting dealerships in Wisconsin and mailed the Passport to Ride postcard. Hogan was selected as a winner in late October and looks forward to riding her new motorcycle in 2004.

Fifty first prize winners received a 100th Anniversary Carpet Bag and 75 second prize winners received a “100 Years of Harley-Davidson” Book, by Willie G. Davidson.

Updated Post: Hayes To Kawasaki

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

After agreeing to a deal with American Suzuki Motor Corporation but before company lawyers finished printing out the final version of the contract, Josh Hayes negotiated a deal with Kawasaki and will ride an Attack-prepared ZX-10RR Superbike in the 2004 AMA Superbike series. Hayes will also compete in the Superstock series on an Attack Kawasaki.

Placing Hayes on the Attack support team allows Kawasaki to skirt AMA rules preventing factory riders from participating in both Superbike and Superstock in 2004, even though Hayes will be directly contracted to and paid by Kawasaki Motors Corp.

Kawasaki has re-structured its rider line-up and will now run Tommy Hayden and Roger Hayden on the factory team and Hayes and Tony Meiring on the Attack Kawasaki support team.

Ben Bostrom Wins AMA Supermoto Race, Championship In Las Vegas

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Honda factory road racer Ben Bostrom won the final round of the 2003 AMA Red Bull Supermoto series, and with it became the first-ever Champion of the series, Friday at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Riding an American Honda CRF450R, Bostrom came from as far back as sixth to take the lead from Jeff Ward with less than three laps to go and held on for the victory.

Team Motodynamics Tuluie Yamaha’s Doug Henry, winner of the Irwindale round, followed Bostrom past Ward but could not get his YZ450F in front of Bostrom’s Honda before the flag.

Troy Lee Designs Honda’s Ward finished third.

Frenchman Alexandre Thiebault led most of the laps on his Honda CRF450R before slipping back to fifth late in the race.

Former road racer Larry Pegram finished eighth on his Red Bull HMC KTM, just behind Ward’s teammate Jeremy McGrath. Another road racer, Jeff Wood, DNF, dropping out after eight of 14 laps.

Former 500cc Grand Prix World Champion Kevin Schwantz did not start his qualifying heat or semi races, after injuring an ACL on his first lap of practice.

2003 AMA 125cc Motocross Champion Grant Langston won the Supermoto Unlimited class and Championship on a KTM525.

Infineon Raceway, Kawasaki Reach Three-year Sponsorship Deal

From a press release issued by Infineon Raceway:

Kawasaki, Infineon Raceway Strike Strategic Partnership

SONOMA, Calif. – Kawasaki Motors Corp. and Infineon Raceway have reached a multi-year strategic partnership that will make the powersports industry company the “Official Motorcycle, ATV and Personal Watercraft of Infineon Raceway,” according to officials from both companies.

The three-year partnership will also give Kawasaki the title sponsorship of the nationally televised AMA (American Motorcyclist Association) U.S. Chevy Trucks Superbike Championship event at Infineon Raceway. The event will be known as the Kawasaki Showdown, beginning with the 2004 season. This grows an ongoing relationship with Kawasaki, which had been the “Official Motorcycle of Infineon Raceway” for three years (2000-2003).

“Kawasaki is a quality manufacturer, a terrific brand and an outstanding marketing partner. We’re delighted to build on our existing relationship and to tie them in with one of our premiere events,” said Steve Page, president and general manager of Infineon Raceway.

Kawasaki will also receive a hospitality package, dominant signage, as well as rights to use the Infineon Raceway name and logo in consumer-based promotions. The partnership will also include the benefits associated with the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup and NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series, two other premiere events on the Infineon Raceway calendar each year. Another piece of the partnership will be an annual consumer sweepstakes for race fans, where one lucky fan will be a winner of a new Kawasaki NinjaR motorcycle.

“Kawasaki’s increased partnership is gratifying and their vote of confidence is something we appreciate a great deal. We look forward to helping Kawasaki grow sales and look forward to working with them on exciting promotions that give back to the fans,” said Tim Schuldt, vice president of sales and marketing at Infineon Raceway.

Kawasaki, based in Santa Ana in Southern California, leads the global powersports industry, from leading NinjaR sportbikes and thundering VulcanT cruisers to the rugged PrairieR ATVs, MuleT utility vehicles and JET SKIR watercraft.

Hodgson Sets The Record Straight Concerning Foggy Comments


Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

A war of words erupted in the British press earlier this month between four-time World Superbike Champion Carl Fogarty and 2003 World Superbike Champion Neil Hodgson, but Hodgson is looking to put an end to the public feud.

In early November, England’s MCN quoted Hodgson as saying, “I don’t fear Rossi liked Foggy feared Doohan. Carl would never admit that but that’s probably why he never took up the challenge. He talked about it but never did it. But I’m going to do it. I want to be judged against the best riders in the world and that means in MotoGP.”

Fogarty responded in a November 10 press release issued by his team, Foggy Petronas Racing, stating, “I think it’s a cowardly comment. The simple truth is that I never got a chance to ride in GPs. I would have loved to have been given that chance, because I was certainly never scared of anyone on the track.

“It’s cowardly because I can’t go out there and race anymore and do anything about it. And people will know for sure that it’s an absolute lie. They will realize that Neil is trying hard not to be boring.

“He has a long way to go before he can be mentioned in the same breath of me. He has won nothing yet – he was given the World Superbike title this year.”

Hodgson, however, sought to set the record straight with a November 19 entry on his website, writing, “You’ve probably read a whole load of stuff about me and Carl Fogarty going at each other. Well, my website seems to be the best place to put the record straight once and for all so here it is, the last official statement on the whole mess:

“Around the time that Carl retired he was quoted, rightly or wrongly, as saying that he thought he was a better rider than Mick Doohan. I was asked what my personal opinion of that statement was and my opinion, which I think I’m fully entitled to, was that I considered Mick Doohan to have been a better rider than Carl Fogarty and, in my opinion, I doubt whether Carl would really have wanted to race against him because of that. And that’s it. As a rider I respect Carl so much and always have. I totally look up to him as a motorcycle racer and I think he’s achieved so much for racing and for World Superbikes. In the press my opinion maybe looked like an attack on Carl, but it wasn’t. Now he’s saying some pretty crazy things in the press and I’m sorry, but I’m not entering into a public slanging match. That’s it, over, case closed.”

SpeedFreaks Radio Show To Broadcast From AMA Awards Banquet In Las Vegas

From a press release:

The Country’s Most Popular Motorsports Radio Show Goes “Camera Up” At The American Motor Cycle Association’s Banquet

Hollywood, California (November 21, 2003) – The fierceness and irreverence of the SpeedFreaks’ quartet, Statt Mann Caruthers, Lugg Nuttz, Crash Gladys and Kenny Sargent, will commandeer the red carpet camera this Saturday night as they entertain and interview the biggest stars on two wheels for the AMA year ending awards banquet. Riders expected to roll down the red into the Freak Nation include Ricky Carmichael, James ‘Bubba’ Stewart, Aaron Yates and Chris Carr.

“Saturday night will be off the hook when the Freaks roll out the camera mojo for the top three riders from AMA Supercross, Motocross, Flat Track, Superbike, Supermoto, Hillclimb and Drag Racing series,” says former Price is Right understudy host – turned SpeedFreaks President, Kenny Sargent. “To be asked to anchor AMA’s red carpet arrivals says one thing… I just can’t say it here cuz we four are ready to go jungle with excitement!”

The public is invited to the banquet. Tickets are just $125, which includes banquet admission, hors d’oeuvres and dinner. For ticket information, call (614) 856-1900, ext. 1342. To reserve a room at the Rio All Suites Hotel and Casino at the special rate of $125 plus tax per night, contact the Rio directly at (888) 746-6955. Be sure to mention AMA Pro Racing.

SpeedFreaks will also unload a unique Las Vegas edition of their award winning Freak Nation broadcast on KSFN’s Hot Talk 1140 this weekend, which will take place live trackside at the AMA Red Bull Supermoto Finale, loaded for bare behind the Rio Hotel. Bumpin’!

SpeedFreaks, (www.SpeedFreaks.TV) with Kenny Sargent, Lugg Nuttz, Statt Mann Caruthers and Crash Gladys are part of the Freak Radio Network and can be heard every Sunday Night on over 80 radio stations across the United States including Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Indianapolis, Boston, Detroit, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Sacramento, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Albuquerque (New Mexico), Charlotte, Charleston, etc. For an additional SpeedFreaks affiliate listing, log on to www.sportsbyline.com/affil.htm. Additional live coverage can also be heard on the Internet at www.SportsByline.com, the Armed Forces Network and on Sirius Satellite Radio’s channel 122, via Sports Byline USA.

Lights Going Up At California Speedway

From a press release issued by California Speedway:

Light Poles Raised at California Dragway



FONTANA, Calif. — As part of a lighting project to light the entire two-mile, D-shaped oval and quarter-mile drag strip at California Speedway, light poles were raised at California Dragway on Wednesday, November 19th.

More than half-a-dozen light poles were raised along the south perimeter of the strip. Each light pole is constructed of four separate pieces and varies from four to seven light fixtures atop the poles. The poles were placed on top of cement foundations that were drilled earlier this month and will reach 60-ft. into the air.



The pole placement along California Dragway should be completed by Thanksgiving. Additional lighting poles will be raised along the exterior of California Speedway’s oval beginning next week.

California Speedway’s 2004 individual race tickets go on sale December 1st, while season ticket packages, the Ultimate Season Package, the NASCAR Six-Pack Package and the Pick Your NASCAR Weekend Package, are on sale now and can be purchased by calling 1-800-944-RACE (7223) or at www.californiaspeedway.com.

Australian Superbike Champ Coxhell To British Superbike


Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

2003 Australian Superbike Champion Craig Coxhell will ride for the Vitrans Honda team in the 2004 British Superbike Championship.

According to Trevor Hedge, www.mcnews.com.au, Coxhell, 21, has reached an agreement that will see him ride a Honda CBR1000RR on Pirellis in the British Superbike series.

Coxhell won the 2003 Australian Superbike Championship on a Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Coxhell’s teammate will be countryman Paul Young, who will race a Honda CBR600RR in British Supersport.

Vitrans fielded Michael Laverty and Dean Thomas in the 2003 British Supersport series. Laverty and Thomas finished fourth and fifth in the Championship, respectively.