From a press release issued by the Daytona International Speedway Public Relations office:

DIS Announces Changes to Public Relations Staff

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 27, 2003) – Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig announced today that David Talley has been named Director of Media Relations for the Speedway.

Talley, who recently served as International Speedway Corporation’s Director of Corporate Communications, will continue his Corporate Communications duties, as well as focus on media relations, public relations and consumer programs for the Speedway.

“As Director of Corporate Communications for the past 5 years, David brings a unique PR insight to an already talented team,” said Braig. “His contributions and past accomplishments will be invaluable as we continue to position Daytona International Speedway as the highest level of motorsports entertainment.”

Talley has a degree in Journalism from the University of South Carolina in Columbia. Prior to joining ISC, he served in the Public Relations department at CNN in Atlanta for 9 years. He has also had prior jobs at several news organizations.

Glyn Johnston, who has managed Daytona International Speedway’s communication efforts for the past four years, will focus on both DIS and ISC special initiatives.

“Leveraging Glyn’s experience in this new role will further enhance ISC’s position as the leader in motorsports entertainment” said Braig.

From a press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing:

Foggy focus on Phillip Island progress

Carl Fogarty is hoping for more progress from his Foggy PETRONAS Racing team when action in round two of the World Superbike championship starts at Phillip Island tomorrow.

Riders Troy Corser and James Haydon both scored points when the FP1 made its race debut at Valencia in the first round. And, with native Australian Corser finishing seventh in the second
race after qualifying on the front row, Carl is expecting further strides forward – from both riders.

Foggy, who had to return to England for family commitments after riding the FP1 at the Malaysian F1 Grand Prix last weekend, said: “Troy knows the track like the back of his hand and James went well in our test there after Christmas – so it would be great to think they will both be challenging for a top six finish. It was obvious that we were still lacking a bit of punch coming out of the slow corners but the fast flowing curves of Phillip Island should suit our bike a bit better, as the chassis is good at holding corner speed. We have also made one or two changes for this round, with a slight development of the exhaust system, which will hopefully improved torque at low revs.”

Troy, who has raced at Phillip Island every year since 1989 and who still holds the fastest race lap of 1:33.019 from 1999 – when he beat his current boss in both races, is relishing the return to action on home territory. “Everyone enjoys racing on their home circuit and I think the benefit for me is that it’s a circuit that suits my racing style. I find it easy to race here because I know it so well and I can almost ride without having to think where I am going.

“That means I can concentrate on what’s happening with the bike – which is important because the FP1 is still very new. I think the races will be a lot closer here – nobody will be finishing nine seconds in front of anyone. My expectations are to make the front row, or the front two rows after qualifying, and then catch the four guys expected to be at the front on the Ducatis. My next goal is to be the first Australian.”

James said: “I loved being back in a race situation at the first round and I can’t wait to get going again here. I just want to get in there and start showing what I can do and the bike can do. We had a good test here and the track will suit our bike better than Valencia at this stage of the development.”

Both FPR riders will be wearing black armbands for Sunday’s races as a mark of respect for Barry Sheene, who died earlier this month.

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

DUHAMEL LEADS HIGHLY COMPETITIVE AMA CHEVY TRUCKS U.S. SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP COMING INTO FONTANA DOUBLEHEADER

PICKERINGTON, Ohio – Miguel Duhamel is in his 15th season of AMA professional racing, but the 34-year-old native of Montreal shows signs of being in the racing form that enabled him to win the 1995 AMA Superbike title. Duhamel, the all-time AMA Superbike wins leader, is coming off his 26th-career victory in the season opener, the Daytona 200, at Daytona International Speedway on March 10. Duhamel and the rest of the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike competitors are heading to California Speedway, in Fontana, Calif., on April 4-6, for the Yamaha Superbike Challenge, rounds two and three of the 18-race championship.

This is the first time in four years that Duhamel has been atop the AMA Superbike standings. The veteran factory Honda rider is hoping to keep his momentum going as the series comes to Southern California.

“I’m feeling as strong as ever and my team has my Honda RC51 dialed in so well,” Duhamel said. “It’s going to be tough because of the great competition in the series, but I think I have a real shot at winning the championship this year. It’s been eight years, so I think it is about time I win it back.”

If Daytona was any indication, this year’s series could be the most competitive in years. In the series opener, six riders led the race on three different brands. One of those riders who led at Daytona was Anthony Gobert. Gobert won the Saturday Superbike race last year in Fontana and is looking to get his season back on track after engine problems forced him to retire at Daytona.

“I’m looking forward to Fontana,” said Gobert, a former Australian Superbike champ who rides for Ducati Austin. “We’ve got some points to make up after Daytona, but with 18 rounds this year, we have plenty of races to catch up. My goal is to go out and start winning races. If I do that then everything should fall into place for us.”

Duhamel’s Honda teammate Ben Bostrom is back in the AMA Series after three years in World Superbike. “I can’t wait for a race where we have to hang it out the entire way,” said Bostrom, referring to the normal 62-mile length of AMA Superbike races, versus the 200 miler at Daytona. “I haven’t raced at Fontana, but we have tested there. I came out of Daytona second in the points, so I feel good about where I am heading into the rest of the season.”

Kurtis Roberts has been close many times, but has yet to win his first AMA Superbike race. The 24-year-old son of legendary multi-time world champion Kenny Roberts, finished a very close third at Daytona and he is more than ready to get his first win in the books. He rides a Honda RC51 factory Superbike for Erion Racing.

While the factory Honda riders and Gobert are good bets at Fontana, the wildcards are factory Suzuki riders Mat Mladin and Aaron Yates, and Kawasaki’s Eric Bostrom. Mladin and Yates are riding the new Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbikes. The new Suzukis were mega-fast at Daytona, but with so much power on tap, the challenge was to manage tire wear. Yates had the equation figured out at Daytona and was running in the lead group before an attempted pass on a lapped rider went awry forcing Yates to run off the track. He recovered and was charging towards the leaders and finished fourth at the drop of the checkered flag. Mladin and Yates each earned podium finishes at Fontana last year, so they know what it takes to do well there. Look for the Yoshimura Suzukis to be up front.

Eric Bostrom is riding one of the established Kawasaki ZX-7-based Superbikes. Bostrom’s bike is a nimble handling machine and both rider and bike are proven winners. Eric, the younger brother of Ben, comes to Fontana ranked fifth in the standings. He thinks he’ll be able to improve on that after the California Speedway doubleheader. Plus, Eric’s coming off an extremely successful session at Infineon Raceway where top riders tested several track changes. That momentum should bode well for Eric at Fontana.

Another rider to watch at Fontana is Larry Pegram, who won an AMA Superbike race in Southern California in 1999. Pegram is on the Dream Team Racing Ducati.

Suzuki’s GSX-R1000 has proven to be the Superbike choice of top privateers. Formula Xtreme champ Jason Pridmore could easily get up amongst the factory machines at Fontana on his Attack Suzuki GSX-R1000.

The first California Speedway Superbike doubleheader will run on Saturday, April 5 and the second race on Sunday, the 6th. Both rounds will be televised Live on Speed Channel (5 p.m. April 5 and 6 p.m., April 6 EST).

From a press release issued by the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum:

Mendell to chair Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum’s Board of Directors

PICKERINGTON, OHIO — The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum has announced that Mark R. Mendell, of Boston, Massachusetts, has been named Chairman of the Museum’s Board of Directors.

Mendell was named to the Board in 2000, and most recently was its Vice Chairman. He replaces Don Emde, who stepped down from the Chairman’s position to devote more time to his publishing business. Emde will continue to serve as a member of the Board.

A life-long motorcyclist and a Life Member of the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), Mendell and his son have owned more than 25 motorcycles over the years. He became involved with the Museum in the early 1980s when it was still only a concept and, in the late 1990s, he led the team of architects and engineers responsible for designing the Museum’s current home on the AMA campus in Pickerington, Ohio.

“It’s a privilege to serve the American motorcycling community as a member of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum’s Board of Directors,” said Mendell, “and I look forward to new challenges and opportunities in my role as Chairman.

“Don Emde has my admiration and gratitude, and that of the entire Board, for his leadership during an important time in the life of the Museum,” Mendell continued. “I’ll continue to rely on his experience and contribution as a member of this Board.”

In his professional life, Mendell is President of Cannon Design, one of the nation’s largest architectural firms. He was recently elected to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects, recognizing his personal achievements and contributions to architecture.

Long committed to volunteerism in public service, Mendell serves in various capacities on a number of boards and committees, including as a Director of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. In addition, he serves on the International Board of Advisors of the University of the Middle East.

From a press release issued by HM Plant Ducati:

HM Plant Ducati targets race wins down under

The Superbike World Championship moves to the other side of the globe this weekend for the second round at Phillip Island, near Melbourne, Australia. Ducati Corse’s Neil Hodgson won both races at the first event in Valencia three weeks ago, but a third and fourth place in each race for fellow British riders James Toseland and Chris Walker sees them sharing third place in the points table.

The HM Plant Ducati riders rode impressively to record joint best results in the World Superbike series. Walker had previously finished third at the British round at Donington Park in 2000, and Toseland matched this feat at Assen in Holland last season. However, the challenge for the HM Plant Ducati duo is to move further up the podium towards that elusive first win.

Walker took third in the first race at Valencia and is already excited about his prospects in Australia: “I really like Phillip Island,” he said. “It has to be one of my favourite circuits on the World Superbike calendar. Despite the fact that I didn’t do that well on my first visit last year, I love the place. It’s such a long track that it almost becomes a new experience on every lap.

“After running so well at Valencia, I’m also looking forward to getting back on the HM Plant Ducati. After racing at Phillip Island last year on a four-cylinder machine, I am in eager anticipation of what the power and handling of the V-twin can do. I feel a bit like a sponge – I keep soaking up more and more information about the HM Plant Ducati, which in turn is helping me to improve my times.”

Toseland matched his team-mate’s performance in race two at Valencia and is also looking forward to the prospects for the Australian round: “I really like Phillip Island. It’s a fast and flowing circuit, and holds some really good memories for me – it was the first overseas track I tested at in 1998.

“I had an excellent start to the season in Spain, but I feel sure that Chris and I are going to get an extra boost in Australia. Our Chief Technician Stewart Johnstone has prepared some powerful engines for the HM Plant Ducatis, so we’ll be aiming to close the gap on the Ducati Corse machines of Neil Hodgson and Ruben Xaus this weekend.”

From a press release issued by the AMA:

AMERICAN MOTORCYCLIST ASSOCIATION REPRESENTS U.S. RIDERS AT U.N. CONFERENCE

PICKERINGTON, OHIO — Ed Moreland, the AMA’s Vice President for Government Relations, represented the interests of American motorcyclists at the recent United Nations Working Party 29 (WP.29) meeting, which was held March 11 – 14 in Geneva, Switzerland.

During the meeting, Moreland met with members of the parliament of the European Union, officials of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Dr. Jeffrey Runge, Administrator of the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Moreland reports that these discussions will prove useful in the coming months as the United Nations considers Global Technical Regulations (GTRs) on emissions testing, brake standards, and noise.

The WP.29 meeting was part of the World Forum for the Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations, a United Nations group considering international motor-vehicle standards in areas such as safety, emissions, energy efficiency and theft prevention. The U.S. is among the countries that signed the agreement creating the Forum, raising the possibility that standards set by the international agency could become law here.

In October of last year, the AMA attended Forum meetings in Ann Arbor, Michigan and Montreal, Quebec, offering motorcyclists’ perspectives on efforts to create worldwide standards for motorcycle brakes and for testing exhaust emissions.

The United Nations Economic and Social Council granted the AMA Non-Governmental organization (NGO) status in July of 2001. With NGO status, the AMA is able to participate in the Forum and has the opportunity to offer U.S. riders’ input as well as monitor regulations that could affect this nation’s six million motorcyclists.

From a revised press release issued by Infineon Raceway:

Bobby O’Gorman Named Director of Operations at Infineon Raceway

SONOMA, Calif. (IMMEDIATE RELEASE)–Bobby O’Gorman, who has worked in both marketing and operations capacities at Infineon Raceway since 1999, has been named Director of Operations, raceway officials announced.

O’Gorman, a native of Sonoma, is responsible for managing all off-track operations for the facility’s major events, including traffic flow, parking, guest shuttles, security, facility layouts and guest services.

“Bobby brings a unique level of energy and enthusiasm to every job he takes on and he has developed in a short time to be one of the key members of our raceway team,” said Infineon Raceway President and General Manager Steve Page. “His efforts will be critical to providing our event guests with the best possible experience at Infineon Raceway.”

During his tenure at Infineon Raceway, O’Gorman has also held positions as the Manager of Vendor Displays and the Director of Guest Services. In those positions, O’Gorman helped to increase vendor display sales, create facility layouts, and improve the fan experience with a Fan Guide and information booths.

Prior to joining Infineon Raceway full-time, O’Gorman, 26, worked as an intern before graduating from Washington State University, where he obtained a degree in Communications.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Roadracing World is expanding its staff and is accepting applications for an Assistant Editor. While we are already looking at a couple of people, we want to make sure we haven’t overlooked any qualified candidates.

The successful applicant will:

–Be able to write.

–Have motorcycle road racing experience.

–Have a strong work ethic.

–Be responsible, with initiative and drive.

–Be able to complete assigned tasks without constant supervision.

–Be able to show up at the office (or anywhere else required) on time, when expected, every day.

–Have had work published, and will be able to produce work samples in originally submitted form (in other words, before somebody else edited them).

–Understand that magazine deadlines wait for no man (or woman).

–Be a team player.

–Be computer and Internet literate.

–Be willing to work their ass off.

–Be willing to immediately relocate to the Lake Elsinore, California area.

–Have a valid motorcycle operator’s license and a relatively clean driving record.

–Have a valid racing license issued by a recognized organization.

–Be a U.S. citizen or currently authorized to work in the United States.

–Have personal medical insurance that will cover them until their Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. coverage kicks in.

–Be a non-smoker.

–Be honest and loyal.

–Be enthusiastic about motorcycles and motorcycle racing, and about writing about motorcycles and motorcycle racing.

–Be able to follow directions.

–Know the difference between its and it’s.

–Know the difference between damping and dampening.

–Have a demonstrated ability to use pieces of equipment and vehicles without destroying them, i.e., as purely hypothetical examples, have no history of flinging a laptop computer across the parking lot while fooling around in front of an office or burning the brakes off a box van by attempting to do stoppies with five bikes in the back.

Formal education in communications/journalism is a plus; willingness to take journalism classes a must for anyone without formal education in journalism.

Apply by letter of introduction, via e-mail, 150 words max, to [email protected], by 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, Friday, April 28. Applicants with any hope of actually getting the job will be asked by e-mail to follow up with work history, race results and writing samples, addressed to:

Editor
Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
PO Box 1428
Lake Elsinore, CA 92530-1428

Do not attempt to apply by phone.

Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Aprilia USA will be offering demonstration rides on its fleet of 2003 motorcycles April 5-6 at California Speedway. Aprilia’s Mille, Tuono, Falco, Futura and CapoNord models will be among the bikes available for demo rides during the Yamaha Superbike Challenge weekend, according to Aprilia USA Marketing Coordinator Robert Pandya.

Pandya said it was surprising to him that other manufacturers and importers have not arranged to do demo rides especially considering California Speedway has laid out a special, 7.2-mile long demo ride course through the facility’s vast parking lots and has made a special demo ride start/stop point in the Speedway’s infield.

“It’s really nice to be able to do the demo rides on-site,” said Pandya. “They’ve laid out a real twisty, technical course with cones and such, which is also nice considering there aren’t a lot of exciting roads to ride near the Speedway.”

Pandya went on to say that Aprilia USA is putting on a big effort to make its demo fleet available to potential customers by attending 150 events in 2003.

To learn more about Aprilia USA’s demo ride program, go to www.apriliausa.com or call (877) APRILIA.

From a press release issued by the Superbike World Championship press office:

Special Tribute

Two time world 500cc motorcycle champion Barry Sheene will be remembered during a special two wheel tribute at this weekend’s Superbike World Championship at Phillip Island.

Sheene, 52, passed away earlier this month after a battle with cancer, however his old riding rivals have ensured he will be remembered with a special lap of Phillip Island planned.

Sheene’s Classic No 7 1961 Manx Norton racebike will be brought from the Gold Coast for the Superbike event and will be ridden by good friend and team mate Mike Farrell as a precursor to Sunday’s first World Superbike race.

The Manx Norton machine allowed Sheene to continue his passion for racing, with his famed competitive spirit surfacing at Phillip Island’s Annual Island Classic. Sheene set a new Classic lap record for the 4.45km circuit on the Manx when he raced it to victory in the 2002 event. Sheene also competed in the Classic support events at the British Grand Prix at Donington Park in recent years, as well as the Goodwood Classic Festival late last year where he recorded a hard-fought victory over 1987 World 500 Champion Wayne Gardner.

“We have many many great memories of Barry and he has done so much for motorsport in this country. He just loved to race and fans at our January historic meeting were always treated to a great showdown when he competed here,” said Fergus Cameron, Managing Director, Phillip Island Motor Sport Pty Ltd.

“In recent years, Barry, Mike, Craig Morris and Peter Guest had many great tussles around this circuit and Barry more often than not, came out in front. His love of racing, his ever competitive spirit and his unique humour will always be remembered at Phillip Island.”

Naturally, the bike – on which Sheene holds the current Classic 500cc Phillip Island lap record (1min.51.570seconds) – will be pitted at the No 7 garage this Sunday for the demonstration session – with the lap of honour allowing World Superbike riders and fans a chance to remember racing’s Cockney larrikin.

The tribute will take place at 11.00 on Sunday.

The #7 Manx Norton will be on display throughout the weekend in the Australian Motorcycle News Superbike Expo.