From a press release issued by Infineon Raceway, which is located in Sonoma, California, in the San Francisco Bay area:

Bay Area Teens Learn Driving Skills at Infineon Raceway

SONOMA, Calif. (IMMEDIATE RELEASE) Nearly 400 high school students from eight Bay Area high schools learned some valuable driving skills this week at AAA¢s High School Safe Driver Program at Infineon Raceway.

The participating high schools were: San Ramon Valley (Danville); New Technology (Napa); Vintage (Napa); Junipero Serra (San Mateo); San Marin (Novato); Las Lomas (Walnut Creek); Petaluma; and Mission Valley (Fremont). The four-day program was also sponsored by the Jim Russell Racing Drivers School and the California Highway Patrol.

Each school had the opportunity to send 50 students to the raceway for a free four-hour session. Students got behind the wheel to learn important skills and techniques necessary to make them better drivers. The course, which exposed teens to extreme driving conditions (skidding, speeding, threshold braking, road obstacles, spinning out of control), also included classroom instruction. The on-track instruction was administered by professional instructors from the Jim Russell Racing Drivers School, which is based at Infineon Raceway. This marked the eighth year of the program, which ran from Monday-Thursday.

“This was a very good experience,” said Al Bahn, Dean of Students at Vintage High. “This program teaches the kids how to handle potentially dangerous situations, and I think they learned a great deal.”

Vintage senior Katie Priebe wished she had taken this class long ago. She was involved in a car accident just six months after getting her license while driving the Silverado Trail in Napa.

“I only had my license for six months before I got in that accident,” Priebe said. “I wish I had this class before. I learned a lot of things today, especially to not panic when I’m behind the wheel.”

“This was the best field trip I’ve had in my four years here,” said San Marin senior Andrew Walton. “I learned many things that will help me when I’m driving. What really stands out is now I feel confident that I can handle a skid properly. I had no clue how to handle that before I came here.”

The students qualified for the program by implementing a safety project within their respective high school that stressed safety while on the roadways. AAA judged the safety projects before selecting the eight high schools.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Reader Shalonda Daniels pointed out in an e-mail that a press release issued by Daytona International Speedway yesterday (see 2/27/2003, Pre-packaged Daytona Quotes) quoted and described Mat Mladin as follows:

“… We’ll see what happens.” – two-time Daytona 200 By Arai champion Mat Mladin, rider of the No. 1 Yoshimura Suzuki.

To which Ms. Daniels asks, “No. 1? Doesn’t he wish!”

Of course, three-time AMA Superbike Champion was dethroned by Nicky Hayden in 2002; Mladin is actually running #66 in 2003, and the reference was a mistake made by the Daytona PR staff.

Roadracingworld.com publishes press releases as received, labels them as being press releases, and does not correct errors in them.


This just in, from Mat Mladin himself, via e-mail:
Tell Ms. Daniels they are keeping it warm for me.

From a press release issued by Honda Racing:

NEW TYRE RULES BROUGHT INTO FORCE

New World Supersport championship tyre regulations were introduced today at Valencia, Spain with each rider allowed a maximum of 13 rear tyres in each of this year’s 11 rounds.

The new ruling means riders must decide how many of their allocation of soft compound rear tyres for qualifying are used on Friday or how many are saved for Saturday.

Ronald Ten Kate, team manager of the Pirelli-shod Ten Kate Honda team said: “It’s the same rule for everyone so from that side it’s OK. It’s aimed at cost reduction which is always a good thing.

“But it has taken away that little bit of research and development the tyre manufacturers did at the events, that will now have to take place at private test sessions.”

Eddie Roberts of Pirelli commented: “It’s not a major issue and if there’s any spots of rain then it will all be insignificant anyway as there’s no tyre restrictions for wet conditions. It’s certainly stopped any rider going crazy and using four or five soft compound race tyres in the dying stages of qualifying.”

Klaffi Honda team rider Robert Ulm commented: “The new rule means we have to think out the day a little bit more, two rear tyres in the morning and four in the afternoon.”

Steve Whitelock of the sport’s governing body, the FIM, commented: “We’re aiming to reduce the cost a little but also hoping to ensure Supersport remains as competitive as it has always been.”

From a press release:

Triumph ValMoto completes successful first test

Following its launch on Monday 24 February 2003 the Triumph ValMoto team has completed a successful first test at Croft circuit.

On a sunny morning in the north-east the team was at last able to put the Triumph ValMoto Daytona 600 through its paces and get an early indication of how the bike will perform in its challenge for the British Supersport title this season.

Triumph ValMoto team manager Jack Valentine is delighted with the early indications: “Today went very well indeed!”he said. “I don’t want to get too excited but we’ve seen some times today that can equal the best we have achieved in the past.

“My objective from today was to gather as much data as possible to take forward to our next test and to let the riders get the feel of the bike and feel comfortable out on the track. We’ve more than exceeded all of that; we have an excellent bike and the complete package is working really well.”

Riders Craig Jones and Jim Moodie are equally pleased with their first taste of the Triumph Daytona 600 and are both eager to get back out on the track and get as many laps as possible under their wheels as soon as they can.

Craig Jones, last year’s British Junior Superstock champion, describes the bike as mega and wicked. He said: “Today was fantastic, I really enjoyed it. It’s a brilliant bike, the engine feels really strong and the chassis, suspension and brakes are excellent. In fact the brakes are probably one of the bike’s best features.

“We hardly had a problem at all; just a few set-up problems but nothing serious and certainly nothing to worry about. I’m really happy with my times, and my mechanics Paul and James are doing a great job to get the bike running so well.”

Jim Moodie is also pleased with the day’s results. He added: “It went very well today; there is no major work to do. I am just familiarising myself with the bike and the speed but to be honest it only needs minor adjustments
and could race right now!

“Considering that the track was cold and dusty today, after not being used all winter, the times were fantastic, we just need a bit more fine tuning but that’s being sorted out and I just can’t wait to get on the bike again.”

From a press release:

TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES CAPTURES LEAD IN HOLLYWOOD

Triumph Motorcycles Star in Hollywood Blockbusters: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Daredevil, Terminator III, Torque, Tuck Everlasting, Mission Impossible II

NEWNAN, GA – Triumph Motorcycles has long been a
preferred motorcycle of Hollywood starring with the legendary likes of Marlon Brando, Clint Eastwood and Steve McQueen. Today, Triumph’s modern day star power is shining brighter than ever as Triumph’s motorcycles are being selected by top studios for feature placements in Hollywood’s leading box office hits.

Paramount Studio’s current big screen success, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, features a fun love story with Matthew McConaughey, Kate Hudson and a 2003 Triumph Bonneville. “What’s cool about a bike,” exclaims McConaughey’s character while on a motorcycle ride with screen star Kate Hudson, “it’s great on gas, good in traffic, easy to park, and at the end of the day, chicks dig ’em!” Offscreen McConaughey, 33, is equally a great motorcycle enthusiast and regularly rides his Triumph Thunderbird Sport. The customization of the onscreen Triumph Bonneville was personally appointed and directed by McConaughey.

“Triumph Motorcycles is Hollywood’s darling! ” exclaims Christopher Wagner, President, Royal Promotions and Placement, a leading motion picture and television product placement agency. “Triumph’s outstanding reputation as an ultra cool and quality motorcycle, combined with its broad line of products from Bonnevilles to Daytonas, has positioned Triumph as the motorcycle ‘of choice’ in Hollywood.”

This past weekend, Daredevil, an action-thriller starring Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, Michael Clarke Duncan and Colin Farrell topped box offices — entertaining movie fans across America. As the superhero’s plot thickens, Colin Farrell dominates the big screen with a Triumph America.

“Hollywood has taken note of Triumph’s rebirth,” stated Mike Vaughan, Chief Executive Officer, Triumph Motorcycles (America) Ltd. “Triumph’s reception from American and world-market consumers continues to grow, and we are pleased that Hollywood is recognizing what motorcycle enthusiasts have come to know over the past decade with the reintroduction of Triumph.”

Recent requests from leading motion picture and television studios to Triumph Motorcycles have resulted in key motorcycle placements within blockbusters including: Mission Impossible II, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Daredevil, Tuck Everlasting, Torque and Terminator III.

“The good news,” added Vaughan, “is that discussions are ongoing for additional placements of Triumph Motorcycles within feature movies and television productions. We thank the continuing growth of Triumph fans – and enthusiasts — for that!”

Triumph Motorcycles (America) Ltd., is a wholly owned subsidiary of Triumph Motorcycles, Ltd., the manufacturer of Triumph motorcycles and accessories. Triumph Motorcycles (America) Ltd., is located in Newnan, GA and services the Triumph dealer organization throughout the United States, Canada and Latin America.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.


The MidCities Motorsports 1 team of Calvin Martinez, Dave Ebben and Brian Baker won the F-USA 200-mile Team Challenge race at Daytona International Speedway Thursday afternoon, by nearly two minutes. The winning team ran a Suzuki GSX-R1000.

The track dried out for the 200-miler after a day plagued by rain.

New England Motorsports finished second overall, second in the GTO class, with Mark Reynolds and Chad Healy riding an Aprilia Mille, crossing the finish line 1 minute, 45 seconds behind.

The King’s Fitness team of Dennis King and Mike Swank was originally credited as finishing third overall, first in the GTU class, but revised results gave the GTU class win to I&E Homes Racing’s Thomas Pfuner and Darren Mulvaney. Third overall went to the GTO entry of Shaw Racing (Rick Shaw, Brian Shaw), consisting of Daytona veteran Rick Shaw and his nephew Brian.

CornerSpeed’s Aaron Stevenson and Eric Gray won in the GT Lights class at 17th overall on a Suzuki SV650.


Offical Revised Results:

1. MidCities Motorsports (Calvin Martinez/Dave Ebben/Brian Baker), GTO, Suz GSX-R1000, 56 laps; 2. New England Motorsports (Mark Reynolds/Chad Healy), GTO, Apr RSV1000R, 56 laps; 3. Shaw Racing (Brian Shaw/Rick Shaw), GTO, Suz GSX-R750, 55 laps; 4. BAI Racing (Joe Bennardi, Sr./Joe Bennardi, Jr./Mike Ciccotto), GTO, Suz GSX-R1000, 55 laps; 5. I&E Homes Racing (Thomas Pfuner/Darren Mulvaney), GTU, Suz GSX-R600, 54 laps; 6. Racerhouse.com (Andrew Nelson/Bill Card), GTU, Hon CBR600RR, 54 laps.

GTO: 1. MidCities Motorsports; 2. New England Motorsports; 3. Shaw Racing; 4. BAI Racing; 5. Big Valley Honda (Rich Thorwaldson, Jim Gronshong), Hon CBR929RR, 53 laps; 6. Performance Cycle (Arthur Wagmer, Jr./Michael Wingen/Thomas Aquino), Suz GSX-R750, 53 laps.

GTU: 1. I&E Homes Racing; 2. Racerhouse.com; 3. Team Hooters Suzuki (Nathan Kern/Michael Himmelsbach), Suz GSX-R600, 54 laps; 4. King’s Fitness (Dennis King), Suz GSX-R600, 53 laps; 5. Hooter’s Northeast (Tom Bibeau/Brian Cushing/Vincent Haskovec), Suz GSX-R600, 53 laps; 6. TTR Racing (John Briody/Aaron Aaronsen), Yam YZF-R6, 52 laps.

GT Lights: 1. CornerSpeed Racing (Aaron Stevenson/Eric Gray), Suz SV650, 50 laps; 2. Naked Boy Racing (Harold Jordan/Pete Butler), Buell XB9R, 49 laps; 3. Irish Bike Racing (Mark Hamilton/Richard Britton), Suz SV650, 49 laps; 4. SB Racing (Tim Hall/Robert Stellfox), Suz SV650, 48 laps; 5. Bad Monkey Racing (Ray Silika/Brian McClain), Suz SV650, 48 laps; 6. Great White Racing (Steve Del Grasso/Matthew Eaton/Thomas Deloriea), Suz SV650, 46 laps.


More, from a press release issued by Daytona International Raceway:

Team Challenge Lands First-Time Winners

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The first checkered flag from motorcycle racing has waved at Daytona International Speedway as two-wheel thunder got underway on Thursday with the 200-mile Team Challenge event.

The No. 93 Midcities Motorsports Suzuki 1000, with Wisconsin’s Calvin Martinez and David Ebben aboard, put on a dominating performance to capture the overall victory. It was the first win for both riders at the “World Center of Racing.”

“Not a single problem the whole day,” said the 28-year-old Ebben, who started the race and took the lead immediately. “This is my fifth time at Daytona and my first win. It’s awesome. It hasn’t hit me just yet.”

Said the 39-year-old Martinez: “The bike handled great. The tires never gave out on us. It ran all day long. The tires are still good for maybe another 20 laps, but that might be pushing it. It’s my first win at Daytona and this is my second year. It’s real special.”

Rounding out the podium was the No. 1 New England Motorsports Aprilia 1000 with riders Mark Reynolds and Chad Healy and finishing third overall was the No. 205 King’s Fitness Suzuki 600 and riders Dennis King and Mike Swank.

King and Swank also took top honors in the GTU class. Winning the GTL class was the No. 88 entry from CornerSpeed Racing with riders Aaron Stevenson and Eric Gray.

Formula USA and Championship Cup Series events continue through the weekend at the Speedway.

SPEED Channel: Daytona 200 Week will garner plenty of television coverage from SPEED Channel as the fastest growing sports cable network will broadcast 11 hours motorcycle racing from Daytona International Speedway.

Included in SPEED Channel’s 11 hours of coverage are live broadcasts of the Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock and the Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport on March 7 and the MBNA Grand Prix, the inaugural BMW BoxerCup and the Daytona 200 By Arai on March 9.

SPEED Channel will also broadcast the Daytona Supercross By Honda same-day tape delayed on March 8 and the AMA Flat Track action at Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium on March 11.

Of course, there’s nothing like being able to watch Daytona 200 Week in person. Tickets for the Daytona 200 and the Daytona Supercross are available by logging on to http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or calling the Speedway ticket office at (386) 253-7223.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

It’s raining at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, on the opening day of official practice for this weekend’s F-USA and CCS races.

The weather was perfect on Wednesday, a Team Hammer school, track ride and practice day.

The local forecast calls for on-and-off rain for the next several days.

No Limits Honda, Dream Team Ducati and Valvoline EMGO Suzuki have already moved into the garages they’ll occupy at Daytona for the next 11 days leading up to the Daytona 200 on March 9.

From a press release issued by Yamaha:

MotoGP pre-season IRTA Tests
Thursday 27 February 2003 (day 2 of 2)
Estoril, Portugal

YAMAHA RIDERS UP FRONT IN ESTORIL

The MotoGP pre-season IRTA tests in Estoril concluded today with Yamaha riders Alex Barros and Carlos Checa leading the pack. The morning rain started to dry out this afternoon enabling the riders to make the most of the time they had left after the wash-out of yesterday’s session.

Carlos Checa was the lone rider today for the Fortuna Yamaha Team, as team-mate Marco Melandri flew back to Bologna in Italy after injuring his collarbone in a tumble yesterday. Checa tried to find a better balance with the suspension on his Yamaha YZR-M1, and tested Michelin tyres. He completed a total of 72 laps with a best lap time of 1:40.04, not managing to better his 2002 pole position time of 1:39.793. Gauloises Yamaha Team rider Alex Barros topped today’s times with a best of 1:39.69.

Checa was quite pleased with his day’s performance, “We have had a short amount of decent track time but we tried to work with the bike as best we could”, commented the Spaniard. “The balance of the bike from track to track seems good. We did more Michelin tyre testing today focusing on the front tyre. The track conditions could have been better this afternoon, I’m disappointed I didn’t go faster but I was quite consistent and was very close to my pole position time from last year. We still want to improve, and will keep working.”

Team Manager Geoff Crust commented, “The weather was awful but we still achieved a certain amount of work that we needed to get through. I’m happy that Carlos managed to get consistent laps with his 2003-spec M1. We have now scheduled an extra test in Barcelona, and we hope to get good times there. I hope that Marco will be back to full fitness then.

“The team has worked extremely hard – although we have had to add extra testing time they are keeping up the same level of hard work.”

The Fortuna Yamaha Team’s extra test will take place in Barcelona, Spain on 12th and 13th March, followed by the next MotoGP IRTA group test there on 15th and 16th March.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Rocky Drebber, father of SpeedTV motorcycle racing commentator Brian Drebber, died February 20th in New Mexico. He was 82.

Funeral services were held February 24 in Albuquerque, and he was buried with full military honors at Santa Fe National Cemetery.

Brian Drebber tells his story:

Rocky lived in Belen, New Mexico, just south of Albuquerque. He was a rider all his life and naturally my connection to motorcycling began with him.

The story is that he was to be stationed on Guam just after WWII while serving in the U.S. Army. He was a career officer and eventually retired with the rank of Major. My mother procured a job with the Navy — also on Guam. They shipped over together in late 1948 or early 1949. Shortly thereafter he arranged thru his supply sergeant buddies to have an Ariel Square Four shipped to him. One night Rocky and Charlotte took a moonlight ride to the high point on the island. There were three of us on the way back down. My first motorcycle rides were therefore before I was born — also on Guam in July of 1950.

The Ariel was one of 91 motorcycles Rocky owned in his life. The most recent is a Honda CB400 which he purchased via the Internet in New Hampshire last fall. Scott Greenwood, Geoff May and Jeff Bostrom collaborated in getting it from New Hampshire to Daytona to Atlanta to Albuquerque before, during and after the ROC and GNF weekends.

Rocky raced also. Amateur Hare scrambles, hillclimbs, enduros, etc. The war interrupted his racing career, it seems.

Rest In Peace.