From a press release issued by Octagon Motorsports, organizers of the FIM World Endurance Championship:

A great souvenir of the endurance year

2002 World Endurance Championship Yearbook

The official FIM 2002 World Endurance Championship yearbook is now available. It features coverage of the championship races, full race results and championship statistics, background information and histories for all the permanent championship teams and in-depth articles on the key figures of the 2002 season.

The book makes a great souvenir of the endurance year for the riders, teams, sponsors and all world endurance fans.

The glossy, 112 full colour page, 24x32cm [9.4 x 12.6 inches] book is co-written in English and French by Valerie Moreno and Martin Gelder, edited by Vittorio Gargiulo and features hundreds of images from top Endurance photographer Giovanni Paterlini.

The 2002 World Endurance Championship Yearbook is published by SEP Editrice, is priced at 50 Euros [approximately $50 USD] and is available from the championship website at www.worldendurance.com (click on Megastore button).

The yearbook is also available directly from SEP Editrice, Via Roma 74, Cassina de pecchi – Milan (Italy) – [email protected].

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publication, Inc.

By David Swarts

There are no UPS safeguards for merchants shipping a package COD to an unknown private party.

According to United Parcel Service (UPS) spokesperson Steve Holmes, the only method of payment acceptable for a UPS COD (collect on delivery) shipment is check or money order, but UPS is not liable if that check or money order is fraudulent.

“It’s the merchant who has chosen to take the risk by accepting the check. If you’re accepting checks from unknown people, unknown customers, that would be the merchant’s decision to take that risk,” said Holmes in a telephone call to Roadracingworld.com from UPS headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. “It’s the same as if a merchant sells merchandise via credit card. UPS is not liable if that credit card is fraudulent.

“It’s no different than at the store-level if someone is going to decide whether or not to accept checks. We’re only serving as the conduit of the payment in that scenario. If the merchant chooses to accept checks, then they have opened themselves to the risk of accepting checks.”

Holmes was sympathetic to the story of KWS owner Kevin Hunt’s negative experience shipping via UPS overnight COD delivery (see related post, KWS Warns Motorcycle Businesses Of Counterfeit Check Scam, 12/3/02), saying, “If there was an investigation to go on, we would cooperate in terms of answering police questions. Unfortunately, that is the way the world has become. There are bad apples out there that are going to try to scam a system one way or another.” Holmes suggested not shipping COD to unknown parties.

Even with the risks involved, Holmes says shipping by COD is still a popular choice for businesses. As evidence, Holmes referenced a Forbes magazine article he said he helped a reporter put together. That article, according to Holmes, stated that Gateway Computers shipped eight percent of its computers COD in 1999.

UPS, through its financial subsidiary UPS Capital Corporation, offers “COD Secure,” a COD payment guarantee service, but the payment insurance program is only for business-to-business shipping.

From a press release issued by Ducati Corse Press Information:

DUCATI CORSE AND FILA RACE TOGETHER

Partnership agreement reached between the two Italian companies to develop a line of innovative Ducati Corse/Fila branded apparel/footwear and sponsor the official Superbike and MotoGP teams.

Bologna, 5 December 2002 – Ducati Corse S.r.l. and Fila Holding S.p.A. have announced a broad-based partnership agreement covering sponsorship and the official supply of apparel, footwear and accessories for riders and engineers in Ducati Corse’s two official Superbike and MotoGP teams, and for the first time ever, the development of sportswear collections inspired by the fascinating world of motorcycle racing.

Fila will act as Title Sponsor for the official Superbike team, which will be known as Team Ducati Fila, as well as appearing on the bikes and racing suits of riders in Team Ducati Marlboro MotoGP as sponsor.

The two-year agreement will run from January 2003 and includes an exclusive world licence for Fila to use the “Ducati Corse” brand to develop and market garments, footwear and accessories for sport and leisurewear.

Under the terms of this agreement, Fila will develop two distinct collections (starting from autumn/winter 2003), based on the Superbike and the MotoGP teams, that represent the values of style, design, performance and passion that both companies share.

The collections will be marketed through the network of Ducati Stores and Ducati dealers, through Fila Sport.Life Stores and the best fashion and sportswear outlets. Products can also be purchased through the companies’ respective websites at www.ducati.com and www.fila.com.

According to the agreement, the two official Ducati teams, with Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss competing in the MotoGP championship, and Neil Hodgson and Ruben Xaus in Superbike, will endorse the two lines of Ducati by Fila apparel at leading racetracks throughout the world as a way of promoting the products and brands established by the new partnership.

From a press release issued by AMA Pro Racing:

SCOTT HOLLINGSWORTH ANSWERS QUESTIONS ABOUT AMA SUPERCROSS

PICKERINGTON, OHIO – The following is an interview with Scott Hollingsworth, CEO of AMA Pro Racing, concerning the upcoming 2003 AMA Supercross Series. This interview was conducted for the February issue of American Motorcyclist magazine, the official publication of the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA). Due to the timely nature of the subject matter, it is being released now, prior to its publication.

American Motorcyclist: On November 26, the news broke that AMA Pro Racing had filed a lawsuit against Clear Channel Entertainment over the operation of the AMA Supercross Series. What exactly is the nature of that lawsuit?

Scott Hollingsworth: The complaint that we’ve filed asks the court to order Clear Channel to live up to the terms of the Supercross Sanctioning Agreement we signed with them in March. That contract specifically states that AMA Pro Racing will be the sole sanctioning body for all events in the AMA Supercross Series. In recent weeks, it’s become obvious that Clear Channel has also sanctioned these races through the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) and is now billing the AMA Supercross Series, with the addition of a couple of smaller races in Europe, as the Supercross World Championship.

We have asked the court for a preliminary injunction against Clear Channel primarily to prevent it from having FIM sanctions, FIM rules and FIM officials involved with the races that are part of the AMA Supercross Series.

AM: What difference does it make whose name is on the races?

Hollingsworth: It makes a big difference, for several reasons. First, the AMA and AMA Pro Racing have spent 28 years building this series into the premier Supercross championship in the world, just as our motocross and Superbike series have risen to premier status worldwide. To have the FIM take over a series that we’ve invested so much money, time and effort in simply isn’t fair. The FIM and its various contract partners that have come and gone have tried repeatedly over the years to establish their own World Supercross Championship, and have failed to produce a series worthy of that name. But that doesn’t mean the FIM should be allowed to take our series.

Another big problem is what this could mean for American riders, teams and fans. Currently, our fans know they’re going to see the best Supercross competition on earth, week after week, in stadiums across the United States. That’s the series we’ve built. If the FIM is going to try to turn that into a world championship, it’s likely to mean fewer chances for American fans to see the stars of the sport, along with enormous logistical problems for American teams and riders. We have always been supportive of the international development of motocross and supercross, but in a cooperative fashion, not a predatory one.

Frankly, we have concerns about the competence of the FIM to manage a world-level supercross series. The FIM has established a contract with Dorna Offroad to handle its motocross and supercross events, but as I’ve mentioned, that combination has failed completely to create a competitive supercross series. And its grand prix motocross championship has never been in a weaker state.

American fans are familiar with the disaster surrounding the 2002 Motocross of Nations, which was planned and put together entirely by Dorna, the FIM’s contract partner, without asking for or accepting any involvement by the AMA or AMA Pro Racing. At the last minute, that event fell apart when it became clear that the FIM, Dorna and their promoting partner could not produce that one event.

But the bottom line here is that the FIM is free to create a Supercross world championship. They just can’t take ours.

AM: Wasn’t FIM involvement a part of this package since the beginning, when Clear Channel announced the Supercross schedule last winter?

Hollingsworth: What’s changed is the nature of the FIM’s involvement. The contracts we’ve signed allow the FIM to count the points from the 15 rounds of the AMA Supercross Series promoted by Clear Channel–which means all of the AMA Supercross Series except the Daytona race–toward a world championship. It specifically states that AMA Pro Racing will be the sole sanctioning authority for the AMA Supercross Series. As such, Clear Channel is prohibited from inviting the FIM to impose its rules and to have its officials in charge of our races.

We discussed these issues specifically during negotiations regarding the 2003 season, and we agreed that in the interests of furthering the international appeal of the sport, we would work toward adopting an unleaded-fuel requirement like the one used by the FIM. That would make it easier for riders and teams from all countries to participate. We never agreed to allow our events to be run by FIM rules, or for the FIM to take over those races as its own.

AM: This agreement has been in effect for a number of months. Why is the suit being filed now?

Hollingsworth: Because it has become increasingly obvious that the AMA Supercross Series is in jeopardy of being dismantled. When we reached the agreement in March, we were certain that when the 2003 season kicked off, we’d be presenting the quality of Supercross racing fans have come to expect. In early April, representatives of AMA Pro Racing and Clear Channel met to discuss ways of accommodating international involvement in the series, and we agreed to work on an unleaded fuel requirement for our races.

Then in July, we were notified by Wolfgang Srb, president of the FIM’s Motocross Commission, that FIM rules would apply to all 17 races of the FIM World Supercross Championship, including the 15 Clear Channel-promoted rounds of the AMA Supercross Series. In addition, Srb said the FIM was appointing a person affiliated with Clear Channel as race director to run the races in place of the AMA Pro Racing staff that has effectively carried out those responsibilities since the series began in 1974.

We weren’t sure what to make of that, since AMA Pro Racing doesn’t have a contract with the FIM regarding the AMA Supercross Series. The AMA, our parent organization, is a member organization of the FIM, but their relationship does not involve AMA Supercross, or any other series operated by AMA Pro Racing. Our contract is with Clear Channel, and it is very specific on these issues. So we notified Srb and the FIM that we would be adhering to our contract by sanctioning the events and officiating at them.

It wasn’t until Clear Channel began advertising the series this fall that we realized the extent to which the FIM was seeking to take over our series. The first round of advertising correctly identified it as the AMA Supercross Series, but in subsequent ads it was identified as the “FIM World Supercross GP,” then “World Supercross,” and finally as the “THQ World Supercross GP.” In the meantime, Clear Channel told us that it intended to install its employee as the race director, and to enforce FIM rules at AMA Supercross Series races. We notified Clear Channel that this was a violation of our contract, and their attorneys told us they disagreed.

Our contract with Clear Channel calls for arbitration of any disagreements, but it was apparent that the arbitration procedure could not be completed before the AMA Supercross Series got under way January 4. Therefore, we have gone to court to compel Clear Channel to abide by the contract it signed.

AM: You have mentioned that the AMA is the parent organization of AMA Pro Racing, and that it’s AMA Pro Racing that actually enters into contracts regarding the AMA Supercross Series. What exactly is the relationship between these organizations?

Hollingsworth: I know this can be confusing, because for years, the AMA’s professional racing series were run by a department of the AMA. Nearly a decade ago, the AMA realized that if it was to compete in an increasingly professional motorsports climate, it would have to create a separate organization that would actually run the races, negotiate contracts, line up sponsorships and so forth. The organization that was created is officially Paradama Productions Inc., but our trade name is AMA Pro Racing.

Basically, the AMA remains a non-profit membership organization whose purpose is to pursue, promote and protect the interests of motorcyclists while serving the needs of its members. AMA Pro Racing, formed in 1995, is a subsidiary of the AMA, created to respond to the rising popularity and tremendous growth of professional motorcycle racing in America. This separate company, with its own management and Board of Directors, allows the AMA to focus on government relations, membership growth, amateur motorcycle sport and other matters.

The AMA is the U.S. member organization of the FIM, which is made up of national motorcycling federations in 85 countries. And recently, the FIM’s president sent the AMA a letter saying that it could be expelled from the FIM unless it agreed to accept FIM sanction and race direction at AMA Supercross Series races. However, neither the AMA nor the FIM is a party to the contract in question here. That contract is between AMA Pro Racing and Clear Channel.

AM: The first round of the 2003 AMA Supercross Series is just a little over a month away. What effect will this legal dispute have on that race?

Hollingsworth: We fully expect that on January 4, our 30th season of AMA Supercross competition will kick off at Edison International Field in Anaheim, California. We have not asked the court to do anything that would put that race, or any of the 15 rounds of the AMA Supercross Series that follow it, in jeopardy. We have asked only that the court require our contract partner–Clear Channel Entertainment–to live up to the agreement it signed.

After January 5, 2003, this material will become Copyright 2003, American Motorcyclist Association/American Motorcyclist.

About AMA Pro Racing AMA Pro Racing is the leading sanctioning body for motorcycle sport in the United States. Its properties include the AMA Supercross Championship, the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Motocross Championship, the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship and the AMA Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championship. Nearly 2 million race fans attended AMA Pro Racing events during the 2002 season. For more information about AMA Pro Racing, visit www.amaproracing.com.

From a press release:

The 8th Annual Steel Shoe Fund 3 hr ice endurance race will be held Sunday, January 19, 2003 at Gimmer’s Sunset Marina on Lake Koshkonong in Ft. Atkinson, Wisconsin.

This AMA snactioned event is held each year as a benefit for seriously injured motorcycle flat track racers. The initial event in 1996 was held as a one-time deal for Steve Champine of Wisconsin who was paralyzed in a fall from a deer hunting stand. Since then the Steel Shoe Fund was formed as a branch of the Wegman Benefit Fund for injured road racers and all collections are used to assist flat trackers who have been injured during competition.

This event attracts riders from all over the midwest and all disciplines to run this 1.5-mile road course layout in front of the Sunset Marina. The average turnout has been about 35 teams running in three separate classes in recent years.

Entry fee per team is $100 (2 – 4 riders per team).

Registration is from 8:30 – 10 in the Sunset tavern, practice runs from 9:30 – 11 and the race starts at noon.

Classes are; Lightweight 125 -200cc, midweight 201 – 350cc and open 351cc and up.

No quads, minibikes or scooters are allowed and AMA ice race fender rules will be enforced.

For more information 262-754-0686 or [email protected]. For race day conditions 920-563-5702

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

We sent parts COD to San Francisco. Got a fake money order for $500. This guy ordered unique parts–something I would remember. A couple weeks later I got another call for the same unique parts. I checked on the internet the address he gave. It was around the corner from the first address.

I thought, “Now’s my chance to get this guy.” I sent him a box of rocks. I called UPS and told them what I did and that they should send a cop to the scene and check for a fake money order. UPS’ fraud guy refused, saying it might endanger someone’s life if this guy opens the box and sees he got rocks. UPS sent the box back to us. The guy who ordered the parts kept calling so I sent another box, this time with parts that were basically scrap parts. I figured if he turned out to be legit I’d overnight new ones. So I told UPS to just deliver it and get the money order. They delivered it and had the UPS fraud guy call me. He told me he had the money order in his hand and that it was legit. I told him there is no way, it had to be fake. We got into a heated argument. I told him to hold while I called the bank – IT WAS FAKE. When UPS finally admitted it was fake they claimed this was the best fake they ever received and that these crooks somehow got the paper that the money orders are printed on. UPS claimed they were getting the FBI, local cops, and their fraud guys involved. “We know who these guys are and we’re going to get them,” they said. I never heard from UPS again.

When UPS accepted cash, if they received counterfeit money they would be out the money because they sent the shipper a UPS check. I think they would take it very seriously if it was their money being lost.

The UPS boards the drivers use to take signatures are very high tech – maybe it’s time the receiver put his thumb print somewhere or driver license info. You will never be able to completely stop this but something needs to be done.

Oh yeah–the crook who got the scrap parts called me after he got them and had the nerve to complain that we had bad business practices. All phone numbers he called me from were stolen cell phones.

Matt Griffen
Vortex
Port Richey, Florida





Last year we also got hit with fraud for about $1000. Same MO, Hayabusa, overnight, etc. Reported it to our local P.D. as well as the P.D. in the delivery jurisdiction. I was told by both P.D.’s that there is almost no way for them to track the parts or the thief down without considerable manpower and they really didn’t consider $1k big enough for that kind of expense.

This was a hard lesson because as the business owner, that money came directly out of my pocket. Now, we do not overnight or take checks or money orders unless you’re already in our customer database.

And we got this tip from the guys at Sharkskinz, after getting a couple of orders in South America, and almost taking it in the shorts – do not accept credit cards outside of the U.S. Require an international money order or wire transfer, and wait until it clears before shipping.

The internet has made business easier and more complicated at the same time. Doing a couple basic checks protects the customer as well as the business. Regular customers understand. The bottom line is if it smells fishy, it probably is.

Terry Embury
Hi-Side Racing
The Racer’s Source
www.hi-sideracing.com
Phoenix, Arizona




RE: Fraudulent checks: I sold an F4 two years ago to a guy who paid me with a forged cashier’s check. He just went to Office Depot and got blank checks for his laser printer and printed checks to look like a bank check. I (foolishly) didn’t inspect the check nor did I get any ID from the guy. Indeed, I didn’t discover my duping until 10 days later when the check was returned to me by mail from the bank. Apparently, there was a ring of thefts in the Atlanta area with the exact same MO aiming always for nearly new sport bikes.

Luck was on my side and I recovered my F4 a year later in great shape other than a trashed set of tires and 5K more miles that when I first sold it. The bike had been sold a couple of times and the latest owner was convinced he had bought a legitimate bike and was quite shocked to find out otherwise. I certainly sympathized with him having been in his shoes until the bike was found. He ended up with the bike confiscated and having to pay on a 6K personal loan and no bike to show for it.

Seller beware!!

Allen Dollar, MD
Atlanta, Georgia

From a press release:

DUCATI CORSE PRESS INFORMATION
Jerez de la Frontera (Spain)
Wednesday 4 December 2002

DUCATI CORSE CONCLUDES THREE-DAY MOTOGP TEST SESSION AT JEREZ

Ducati Corse wrapped up a three-day MotoGP test session at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit in Spain today with positive results. Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss were able to put in some consistent laps on the third and final day, which was marked by cloudy but good conditions.

Both riders covered a lot of mileage around the 4.423 km circuit in southern Spain to improve their feeling with the new Ducati Desmosedici after chiefly concentrating on set-up work and Michelin tyre testing.

Loris Capirossi, who again used the traditional firing order version of the Desmosedici engine, completed 62 laps. The 29-year-old Italian was able to define a good set-up for the Spanish track, and consistently lapped under the 1:43 mark. His best time of the day was 1:42.1, a time that would have put him in pole position for last May’s Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez. The result, although excellent, is not distracting the team and the Italian champion however from the massive amount of development work required to get ready for the 2003 MotoGP championship.

Troy Bayliss, who also tested the Desmosedici with the engine in Twin Pulse mode, concentrated on suspension and chassis settings as well as comparative tests between 16.5″ and 17″ front rims. The 33-year-old Australian’s feeling with the difficult Spanish circuit and the greater power of the Desmosedici over the Superbike has improved and Troy was satisfied with the work done over the past three days. Today he completed 62 laps with a best time of 1:44.5.

Corano Cecchinelli, Ducati Corse Track Technical Director, declared: “These have been important tests for us. For the first time we were able to really put the Desmosedici through its paces and we are very satisfied with the times obtained and the reliability of our new engine. We are still in the development phase however and we know that there is a lot more work to do. At Jerez we were competitive with respect to this year’s GP times, and we’re obviously very satisfied with that result, but for sure our rivals have also improved since May so we mustn’t think that we are already in a good position. What we can say however is that the Desmosedici is going well right from the start and doesn’t appear to have any structural problems, and that’s positive.”

Ducati Corse is unable to supply any images or rider comments of Loris Capirossi until the end of 2002.

From a press release issued by Honda Pons:

Excellent debut for Tohru Ukawa with Honda Pons

Tohru Ukawa completed a very successful two days of private testing at the Comunitat Valenciana Circuit during which he rode for the first time the Honda Pons RC211V. The debut of the Japanese rider was very positive and over the two days he completed a total of 712 kilometres and set the fastest lap time of 1:33.7, one tenth quicker than the lap record established in the last Grand Prix by Alex Barros. The weather conditions were not favourable with cold temperatures (14 degrees) and wind. Tohru Ukawa will take part in another testing session from Monday to Wednesday next week at the Jerez Circuit which will be the last test of the year. The first testing in 2003 is planned to take place in Sepang (Malaysia) in mid-January.

Tohru Ukawa:
“It has been an excellent start for me and I am very happy with my debut in the new team which is very professional. Everything has gone very well for me and the proof is that I have set my fastest lap ever at the Valencia circuit. The track conditions, with cold winds, were not exactly ideal, but I felt comfortable on the bike and I think with this team we will be able to do some very interesting things this year”.

Antonio Cobas (Technical Director):
“Two very productive days testing for the team, concentrating on three aspects of work: defining the method of working together for next season, working on the settings, and carrying out various tyre tests. Everything has gone very smoothly, as the results demonstrate. It has been the first testing session together and we have started our relationship with Tohru in a most positive way”.

Sito Pons:
“Today we have got to know Tohru Ukawa better and the truth is that he has demonstrated to me just what a professional and serious-minded rider he is. He is also very easy to work with. This first session together was very important for the rider to know the way the team works and for our technical team to start to understand the way Tohru rides and his technical necessities. For me the results of these tests are really exceptional as he has set his fastest lap ever at the circuit and has ridden under the lap record”.

From a press release issued by Aprilia, which came with photos of Lucchi instead of Edwards, for unknown reasons; maybe they like Lucchi’s leathers better:

Aprilia Racing Press Information
Jerez de la Frontera (Spain)
Private Tests
2/3/4 December 2002
Wednesday 4 Dec.

Last day of tests for Aprilia at Jerez. Colin Edwards out on the track with the 2003 RS Cube ‘evolution’.

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The second session of Aprilia winter tests has come to an end on the Jerez de la Frontera circuit after three days of intense work. Colin Edwards went out onto the track today with the 2003 version of the RS Cube evolution. The “lab” bike was fine-tuned by works test rider Marcellino Lucchi from the Racing Department of Noale, and today it was Colin who tried out the latest changes made to the new RS3, now being prepared for next year’s racing season. The American rider covered 800 km in the three days of tests and today clocked up 76 laps, with his best performance being a lap in 1:42.9. The 2003 Cube has a new frame with a different geometry from that of the 2002 version and the bike has slimmed down by three kilos.

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Colin highly appreciated the characteristics of the Cube evolution he used in the tests this afternoon and yet another improvement on his lap time shows how the Texan has really spent very little time getting a great feeling for the new bike.

“You feel the lightness of the new Cube immediately” said Colin Edwards. “As soon as I got on the bike, I felt it was going twice as fast and, the first time I braked, I could feel it has a far more efficient braking system. The bike is actually much lighter and its power is thus considerably greater. I’m really impressed with the Cube evolution and today was truly special. This test session was really important, not just for the new features, but for all the work we did. I generally manage to get even more work done in a test session but with the Cube it’s different: each single detail needs to be worked out to perfection and we examine each of the choices for the settings in much greater detail. We’ve still got more work to do but we’re moving forward by leaps and bounds and that makes me really satisfied.”

Colin Edwards – Aprilia RS3 – 1:42.9

From a press release issued by Dunlop:

Dunlop Daytona Tire Test web site goes live December 4

Buffalo, NY: Every year, Dunlop hosts an invitational tire test at the Daytona International Speedway in preparation for the AMA national road racing season opener. This year, the test takes place from December 9-11, and the top AMA teams will be there, many of them shaking down their new 2003 racing machines, including the new 1000cc four-cylinder Superbikes allowed under the new AMA rules.

This year, Dunlop has created a special website to give road racing fans an inside look at this closed testing session. The site goes live on December 4, 2002 with a four-part interview with Dunlop’s racing guru Jim Allen, who talks about who will attend, the intricacies of tire testing at Daytona, the state of race-tire technology, and many other insights into the most comprehensive tire test in American road racing.

Throughout the event, Dunlop will post live updates on the site, beginning on December 9, including a photo gallery that will give fans an inside look at the teams, the racers and the racing machines. For your all-access pass to the Dunlop Daytona Tire Test, just aim your browser at www.dunlopmotorcycle.com.