From a press release issued by Buell:

CICCOTTO TAKES FOURTH BUELL PRO THUNDER PODIUM

Buell Firebolt Rider Second at Brainerd Event

Brainerd, MN (June 30, 2002) – Mike Ciccotto of Sebastian, Fla. rode a Hal’s Performance Advantage Buell Firebolt XB9R its fourth consecutive podium finish, placing second in the Buell Pro Thunder Series event at The Colonel’s Brainerd International Raceway here today. The strong finish helped Ciccotto maintain his second position in the Buell Pro Thunder Series points standings.

The race was not without some drama for Ciccotto, who was running in the draft of Kirk McCarthy down Brainerd’s long front straight when a gust of wind almost blew him off the track. “I was just coming into Turn One really hot at about 150 mph when the wind caught me and I lost the front end,” said Ciccotto. “The bike slid right to the edge of the track before I caught it. It was a little unnerving.”

Ciccotto recovered from the slide, but was unable to catch Buell Pro Thunder Series points leader McCarthy, who won the race aboard a Ducati 748. Thomas Montano of Berkeley, Calf. was third, also aboard Ducati. David Estock of New Smyrna Beach, Fla., rode a Buell Firebolt XB9R entered by Tilly’s Harley-Davidson to fourth place.

The fifth and final event on the Buell Pro Thunder Series is July 13, 2002 at Laguna Seca Raceway, Monterey, Calif., and Ciccotto thinks a season of hard work will pay off at that event.

“This was just our fourth race on the Buell Firebolt, and we’ve made progress by leaps and bounds at every event,” said Ciccotto. “At Brainerd we made gains in both top speed and chassis set-up, and it looks like we’ll have more power on tap at Laguna Seca. I’m really focused to score a win out there, as that’s a track where the handling and torque of the Firebolt will really shine.”

To learn more about Buell Motorcycles, visit your local Buell dealer today and experience the pure streetfighter attitude, style, and performance only found on board a Buell. Call 1-800-4909-9635 for the Buell dealer nearest you. Or pull into www.buell.com



From a press release issued by RevUp Ducati:

RevUp Ducati racer, Jessica Zalusky, took on the challenge of racing a Yamaha R6 in 600 Supersport in addition to Buell Pro Thunder at Brainerd Intl Raceway. Challenges arrived for the new rookie when Jessica had to make quick transitions between two completely different bikes and having her two races scheduled back-to-back.

In Jessica’s debut in 600 Supersport she finished 27th, followed by a strong 9th place finish in Pro Thunder. After having only raced 3 of the 4 rounds of Pro Thunder, Jessica is currently 9th in the point standings.

RevUp Ducati is pleased with the finishes and plans to defend their top ten point standing at Laguna Seca.


From Team America:

PODIUM CONTINUES FOR DISALVO

In the sweltering heat at Brainerd International Raceway in Minnesota, with the temperatures in the mid 90s, Team America Grand Prix Racing’s Jason DiSalvo continued his streak of podiums by finishing 3rd in the 250GP class.

During a hectic weekend, which saw Jason ride 3 classes, giving him very little rest for the 3-day event. In the 750 Superstock Class, Jason qualified 6th then posted the fastest time in morning practice. He got into an early race battle with a local track specialist and while running in the 4th position crashed in lap nine. With the heat on the track Jason commented “I lost the front and went down”. With time to repair the 750 for the next days Superbike race, the team including Michael Earnhardt, James Siddall, Oliver Hutchinson and Mark Bull, worked well into the night and early morning hours to repair the equipment. Morning practice sessions, as well as afternoon finals, forced Jason to mount the 250 and 750 machines back to back.

The schedule for the afternoon started with the 250 race which Jason grided in the second row. With a good start Jason went into turn 1 behind the pole setter. 3 laps later a red flag incident stopped the race which was restarted as a complete new race. Again getting a good start from row 2 and ultimately finishing 3rd in the race which gave him his 6th consecutive podium in the AMA series.

Due to the red flag in the 250 race Jason had about 12 minutes to prepare himself for the 21 lap Superbike Race. Starting from row 3, as top privateer qualifier, Jason went into turn 1 behind the 9 factory machines. For the next 20 laps he battled the local track specialist for the top privateer position swapping places between laps. In the last lap he made a bid for 8th overall top privateer but couldn’t make it stick commenting, “I thought I could get by but a back marker kept me from completing the pass. It was a good race and it was a lot of fun racing with a competitor who knew the track so well”. Finishing 9th overall in his 6th Superbike appearance puts Jason in the top 20 in the AMA Superbike series along with being 3rd overall in the 250 series and 6th overall in the Superstock series.

Team America owners, Jim and Connie DiSalvo and Freddie Spencer along with Coach Jeff Haney, felt the weekend was very productive and showed Jason’s ability and stamina to ride in multiple events.

Team America’ success is made possible by the generous support of our sponsors, who include: Applied Business Systems, Cruise America, Freddie Spencer’s High Performance Riding School, Dunlop Tires, Arai, HRC, Kushitani, Alpinestars, Roadracing World, Nutec Race Fuel, Chatter Box, Cytosport, DID Chain, GMD Computrack, and Select Collision.

From a press release:

If you haven’t yet heard about BeaveRun MotorSports ComPlex, the new, 400-acre motorsports and driving enthusiast destination near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, read on! (And mark your calendars–we’re planning a very special grand opening for Thursday, September 13, 2002.) Currently, BeaveRun’s professional six-acre vehicle dynamics area, suitable for all types of vehicle testing and training, is open, as is the top-notch Karting Center and challenging 8/10-mile short track. The first of BeaveRun’s two world-class Alan Wilson-designed road courses is scheduled for completion at the end of July 2002. Stay tuned for more BeaveRun news–or call us if you need more information right now.

BeaveRun MotorSports ComPlex is the One-Stop Destination for Multitude of Driving and Motorsports Experiences

Four hundred acres of racing, driving, testing and training excitement are now open for enthusiasts and their favorite four- or two-wheeled vehicles

July 1, 2002 (Big Beaver Borough, PA) – BeaveRun MotorSports ComPlex, the country’s newest destination for driving and motorsports enthusiasts, has opened its gates to the public. With an initial phase of construction almost completed, consumer and corporate customers can now reserve time at two of BeaveRun’s planned three race tracks—a challenging 8/10-mile short track and the first of two road courses.

Also available for booking are the top-tier BeaveRun Karting Center, the expansive Vehicle Dynamics testing area and a wide selection of driving instruction and training programs offered through the BeaveRun Vehicle Dynamics Academy. Excavation for the 400-acre multi-use complex began on December 4, 2002 (sic) and additional development will continue through the end of 2003. Designed and operated by enthusiasts for enthusiasts, BeaveRun MotorSports ComPlex is a true one-stop destination for anyone who loves the sport, the challenge of competition and the art—and pure fun—of driving. It is also an ideal training ground for any driver who wants to improve his or her skills.

A second phase of construction is scheduled for completion by BeaveRun’s fall 2002 grand opening. It includes the addition of premium support facilities, such as climate-controlled classroom and meeting spaces, professional pit and service areas and a private Track Club.

During its final phase, scheduled to conclude by summer 2003, BeaveRun will open a second road course as well as an exclusive motocross track.

Altogether, these facilities pack more diversity of driving experiences into a single location than most any other motorsports park or racetrack. And, because BeaveRun is located just minutes from Interstate 76, north of Pittsburgh, the facility is accessible to a greater number of driving enthusiasts—half of the U.S. population resides within a 500-mile radius of BeaveRun MotorSports ComPlex. BeaveRun co-founders and general partners Tim Silbaugh and Tom Wettach, both longtime motorsports enthusiasts, broke ground for BeaveRun MotorSports ComPlex in the spring of 2002, after nearly four years of development and planning. “One of the best decisions we made early on was to retain Alan Wilson, who has designed 16 of the country’s most successful racetracks. Alan promised us that he’d talk us out of the project,” said Silbaugh. “Fortunately, he took one look at the terrain and the topography and immediately saw the potential for transforming it into a world-class motorsports complex.”

In addition to offering driving enthusiasts an exciting new destination choice, BeaveRun also brings a positive economic contribution to western Pennsylvania. The complex is initially expected to bring over 100 jobs to the region, and generate up to $2.5 million in revenue for the area’s hospitality industry.

Three Race Tracks Designed to Challenge—and Exhilarate

With two distinctive road courses, a challenging short track and five possible course configurations, BeaveRun has been designed to offer both professional racers and driving enthusiasts a level of diversity found at few other racetracks. To match the unique character and topography of the western Pennsylvania landscape to his vision of what makes a track truly desirable, designer Alan Wilson drew on decades of racing and event management expertise. Wilson is one of the few design professionals to have managed events for virtually all forms of racing, from World Championship Formula I, Indy Car, IMSA, GTP, SCCA and Trans-Am to International Motorcycle Championships. It is this depth of real-world expertise, including his experience as an SCCA-approved Official Track Safety Inspector that Wilson has infused into every inch of BeaveRun’s design.

The first Wilson-designed track to open at BeaveRun is the 8/10-mile short course, the centerpiece of the BeaveRun Karting Center. The 18-turn track features moderate elevation changes and offers a high level of challenge and fun for both kart and motorcycle racing as well as solo timed car events, such as Autocross and Solo I competition.

The first of BeaveRun’s two road courses, due to open in early July features 1.6 miles of fast-flowing, 36-foot wide pavement. The track winds through gently rolling terrain with significant elevation changes and incorporates 12 comparatively high-speed turns and long straight sections. This combination offers the opportunity for aggressive speeds and challenges drivers to find the optimal line for their vehicles. An expansive 900-foot long, 60-foot wide pit area will accommodate all levels of racing support, and high-elevation spectator points around the track allow panoramic views of virtually the entire course. The second road course, scheduled to open during the summer of 2003, includes a series of track connectors and extensions. The 2.0-mile track will take full advantage of higher-elevation sections of the terrain and carve through densely wooded areas of land. Designed to be the more technical of the two tracks, the course layout includes several complex corners which, combined with the elevation changes, creates a challenging circuit. Together, the two road courses offer nearly four miles of racing excitement, as well as five possible track configurations.

“Our tracks have been designed and purpose-built to host some of the country’s most exciting car, karting and motorcycle racing, from Sports Car Club of America competition to manufacturer series,” said Tim Silbaugh. “And, because we have such exciting elevation changes throughout BeaveRun, visitors who would rather watch racing than participate in the events benefit from exceptional spectator areas with sweeping views of the entire complex.”


BeaveRun Karting Center is One of Country’s Best

Only three Karting tracks in the United State are designed to meet the stringent specifications of Commission International du Karting (CIK), the global sanctioning organization for professional kart racing. The BeaveRun Karting Center joins this elite group with a facility that easily accommodates national-level kart racing events, and is also intended to introduce newcomers to the sport.

Combining a purpose-built, challenging 8/10-mile, 18-turn track with a full range of karting instruction, racing events and retail operations, the facility will earn top accolades from karting enthusiasts and racers around the country. The BeaveRun Karting Center is also an ideal venue for anyone new to karting who desires instruction and equipment rental. New drivers can take advantage of the Center’s “Arrive and Drive” program, which includes Trackmagic rental karts, helmets, safety gear and beginner instruction.


BeaveRun Vehicle Dynamics Area Designed to Test Limits

Exclusively designed for manufacturer product and component testing, driver training and autocross and slalom events, the BeaveRun Vehicle Dynamics Area (VDA) features every element needed to safely test a vehicle’s limits. Encompassing a generous six-acre stretch of top-grade pavement, the BeaveRun VDA also exceeds most industry standards for vehicle testing facilities.

Customers can take advantage of a full complement of vehicle dynamics features, including an expansive 400-foot diameter skid pad—one of the largest available anywhere. The VDA also offers an impressive 1,000-foot ramp-up road that allows high-speed testing. Additional unique features include a special change lane with four-inch pavement differential, ideal for both system testing or driving instruction applications, and a number of varying driving surfaces designed especially for suspension testing.


BeaveRun Vehicle Dynamics Academy

Learning new driving skills or improving the level of existing expertise is the full-time focus of the BeaveRun Vehicle Dynamics Academy.

BeaveRun’s resident driving professionals, as well as the country’s best racing and specialty driving school instructors, offer ongoing public and corporate programs for driving enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels. Currently scheduled programs range from the BeaveRun Teen Driving Program, a full-day advanced driving skills course for young drivers, to motorcycle racing schools conducted by Team Promotion and the Northeast Sports Bike Association, Law Enforcement Driving and Instructor Training sessions and adverse weather driving skills programs, to the HSR Racing School, taught by the E. Paul, Inc. High-Performance team. The PennDOT motorcycle safety program will be operated from BeaveRun beginning in 2003.


The BeaveRun MotorSports Club

For individuals and corporations within driving distance of BeaveRun MotorSports ComPlex, the BeaveRun MotorSports Club will offer an exclusive opportunity to have preferred access to BeaveRun facilities at members-only rates. Currently under development, the Club will give members the opportunity to reserve time at any of BeaveRun’s tracks and facilities at reduced rates, and during time periods available only to members. Additional benefits will include exclusive events and hospitality and private Club facilities open only to members.

About BeaveRun MotorSports Complex BeaveRun MotorSports ComPlex (www.beaverun.com) is conveniently located in Big Beaver Borough, Pennsylvania, just 40 minutes north of Pittsburgh on Route 18. With I-76 (Pennsylvania Turnpike) Exit 2 just two miles south of the 400-acre destination complex, and Pittsburgh Airport only 25 minutes away, driving and motorsports enthusiasts from around the country can take full advantage of BeaveRun’s world-class, multi-use facilities. BeaveRun MotorSports ComPlex encompasses some of the most scenic terrain in western Pennsylvania, and features premium facilities that create an unmatched experience for both amateur driving enthusiasts and professional racers.

Phase One of BeaveRun’s planned development includes the first of two planned road courses. The 1.6-mile, 36-foot wide track will ultimately connect to a second road course, planned for completion in 2003.

Together, the courses offer nearly four miles of world-class road racing. The BeaveRun Karting Center, one of only three national karting facilities to be certified by the Commission International du Karting (CIK), includes a challenging 8/10-mile, 18-turn paved track, also ideally suited to motorcycle racing and many forms of testing.

Also open for public and corporate use are the testing and training facilities of the six-acre BeaveRun Vehicle Dynamics Area, home of the BeaveRun Vehicle Dynamic Academy. Future plans call for continued expansion of facilities, including the addition of a private Track Club, expansive pit areas, panoramic spectator areas and a motocross track.

From a Ducati North America press release:

STAR WARS’ EWAN MCGREGOR TO ATTEND LAGUNA WSBK

Ducati will play host to film sensation Ewan McGregor at the up-coming World Superbike round at Laguna Seca July 13-14. McGregor is currently in the US working on his latest project with Renee Zellweger, and will take a short break to attend the race and spend time with World Superbike Champion Troy Bayliss.

The Scottish actor, most famous for his role as Obi-Wan in the new Star Wars episodes, is a self professed bike nut, owning several models including a 996. Racing is also one of McGregor’s passions, and he has sponsored race teams in the U.K. including an all-women’s team. Racing is the main reason for his visit to Monterey but he will also make time in his schedule to join Bayliss, Ben Bostrom, Ruben Xaus and Doug Chandler on Ducati Island Saturday night for the annual Ducati Party.

McGregor first rocketed to fame in the cult movie Trainspotting and has recently appeared in Black Hawk Down and Moulin Rouge with Nicole Kidman, another Ducati fan.

Ducati is pleased to have Ewan as their guest at Laguna and hope they can treat him to another double win like at last year’s round.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Aprilia and FIM 250cc Grand Prix points leader Marco Melandri have announced that they will be holding an eBay auction to sell race memorabilia from Melandri’s special “Spider Man” appearance, according to a press release issued by the company.

To promote the Italian release of the blockbuster film in Italy, Melandri wore Spider Man-theme riding gear and his Aprilia was clad in special bodywork for the Mugello round of the FIM 250cc Grand Prix series, which Melandri won.

The sale, which will run from July 8-15 in the Charity section of www.ebay.it, will benefit the charity Emergency.

Included in the auction will be the bodywork from Melandri’s RSW250 Aprilia, the Aprilia RS50 scooter Melandri used during that weekend, and all of Melandri’s riding gear.

From a press release:

FAST COMPANY BANKS ON NEW SPONSOR

KITCHENER, ON – One of Canada’s top motorcycle racing teams has added a new partner in a deal that may change the way people look at banking.

Kitchener, ON’s Coors Light Racing Fast Company Team Suzuki has landed sponsorship from The Mortgage Centre, a division of CIBC Mortgages Inc.

In addition to sponsoring Fast Company Team Suzuki in its bid for the 2002 Parts Canada Superbike Championship The Mortgage Centre is launching a contest, with first prize a Suzuki SV650 motorcycle.

Fast Company Team Suzuki rider Jordan Szoke of Brantford, ON currently leads the Parts Canada Superbike point standings thanks to victories in the two most recent races in Calgary. His teammate, Sherbrooke, QC’s Francis Martin, sits fifth in the standings with four races remaining.

“Anytime you can bring a sponsor from outside the industry to our sport it’s a big deal,” said Suzuki Canada Marketing Manager Ian McKinstray. “This will expose motorcycle racing to a whole new demographic. Team Owner Scott Miller has really done a lot to make this happen and we’re very excited about it.”

With over 375 consultants in more than 65 locations across Canada, The Mortgage Centre network funds over $3 billion in residential mortgages annually. Independent mortgage specialists provide service and products to clients through the centre’s exclusive ‘Mortgage Market’ shopping service.

“We feel this sponsorship opportunity is a great fit for our brand because the people who watch the Parts Canada Superbike Championship are customers of ours,” said Dan Putnam, Director of Mortgage Centre Canada.

Ballots for the Suzuki SV650 draw will be available in the Fast Company Team Suzuki pits at the final three rounds of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Mosport International Raceway July 19-21, Nova Scotia’s Atlantic Motorsport Park Aug. 9-11 and Shannonville Motorsport Park Aug. 30-Sept. 1.

Fans can also enter the contest by visiting one of The Mortgage Centre specialists across Canada, or by going online at www.mortgagecentre.com.

“Going through financing is traditionally a nerve-wracking experience,” Putnam added. “But it shouldn’t be like that. Applying for a mortgage should be a simple and stress-free process and we’ve just taken it one step further by adding an element of fun to it.”

From a press release:

Scuderia West, America’s #1 Aprilia dealer, is having a pre-Laguna World Superbike open house starting Saturday, July 6th from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., with lots of free food and discounts.

The Aprilia factory demo truck will be there for Aprilia motorcycle demo rides.

The fun continues on Monday, July 8th when Aprilia World Superbike factory rider Noriyuki Haga will be on hand to sign autographs from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.

Scuderia West is inviting all to come by and show support for Nitro Nori!

Scuderia West is located in San Francisco at 69 Duboce Ave.

From a press release issued by the AMA:

AMA Fighting for Open Trails in California

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has presented a check for $54,795.28 to AMA District 37 in southern California for use in the fight to keep motorized trails open, the AMA reports.

The money comes from the Save Our Trails Fund, created in April to accept donations for District 37 legal battles and other efforts to protect riding areas for off-highway motorcycle and ATV riders. Right now, District 37 is in a fight to keep large areas of the California desert open to motorized recreation.

District 37 has incurred substantial legal bills fighting closures in California. The AMA is matching contributions made to the fund dollar for dollar, up to $50,000 (for a fund total, combining donations from the public and matching funds from AMA, of up to $100,000).

Half of the $54,798.28 ($27,399.14) just delivered to D37 was from contributions received as of 5/10/02. The other half was from AMA matching funds.

Supporters can donate to help protect trails by sending contributions to:
Save Our Trails
AMA
13515 Yarmouth Dr.
Pickerington, OH 43147

or can donate online by going to the AMA website at www.AMADirectlink.com and clicking on “Protecting Your Right to Ride.”


(Editorial Note: The fund was proposed by AMA South West Region Director John Ulrich and approved by the AMA Board of Directors in February, 2002, at the first Board meeting of Ulrich’s term as a Director.)

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Road racers Matt Wait, Larry Pegram and Cory West rode in the Formula USA Pro Singles event at the State Fair Speedway in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma June 22.

Racing in the “MotoTT” event as part of the Formula USA Grand National Championship series, which includes both road race and dirt track events, Wait took home the best finish of the three riders with seventh in the 25-lap main after winning his heat race on his Synergy Honda CRF450F.

Wait’s 17-year-old teammate West, finished 15th in the main, one position better than Suzuki-mounted Pegram.

Rich King won the race on a Harley-Davidson while Glen Schnabel. Jr. took second on a Honda. With a second in Oklahoma and a win at the last dirt round of the GNC series in New Hampshire, Schnabel now leads the GNC point standings without riding in the road race round at Loudon. Schnabel’s 38 points lead Wait’s 33. Pegram is third with 30 points ahead of dirt trackers Terry Poovey and Joe Kopp, who are tied with 26 points. West is sixth with 23 points.

Another road racer/dirt tracker who rode in the latest F-USA dirt track is Danny Eslick, age 16; Eslick finished sixth in the Oklahoma MotoTT on a Yamaha. More recently, Eslick rode his Yamaha to third in the Pro Sport 505cc class of the 2002 AMA Dirt Track Championships, held July 1 in Springfield, Illinois. Eslick is the 2001 CMRA/CCS South Central Region GP Singles Champion.

Nicky Cummings, 15, of Mount Morris, Michigan had an even more successful day at the AMA Dirt Track Grand Championships. Riding a Rotax and a Honda, Cummings won the 505cc Modified race and placed second in both the 250cc Modified Premier and the 600cc Modified Premier events.

Cummings is the son of dirt track team owner Tom Cummings, who once fielded a very young Nicky Hayden on his machines. Nicky Cummings has begun road racing a Honda RS125 and in April raced for the lead before crashing out of the USGPRU 125cc Grand Prix race at Road America.

From a Ducati press release:

TULLIO MASSERINI WINS MOTOGIRO D’ITALIA 2002 AND DONATES FIRST PLACE PRIZE , A CUSTOM DESIGNED DUCATI 750 SUPERSPORT, TO CHARITY

After 1,500 kilometers of riding through the backroads of the Emilia Romagna, Umbria, Lazio and Tuscany, the Motogiro closed on June 20th with a spectacular prize-giving ceremony.

Bologna, June 28, 2002

The Motogiro d’Italia 2002, the historic revival of the vintage motorbike classic, completed its five-day itinerary through central Italy on June 20th, 2002. The winner of this year’s overall Vintage Racing Class (bikes manufactured pre-1957, with maximum 175cc) event is Tullio Masserini, from the Desio Club (Lombardy). As first prize, Ducati Motor-–lead sponsor of the Motogiro for the second consecutive year-–awarded Masserini with a special edition Ducati SS 750. The prize bike was inspired by the legendary Ducati ridden by Paul Smart in the Imola 200 miles race in 1972. Carlo Di Biagio, the managing director of Ducati Motor Holding, presented the prize at the Gala Dinner, held at the Villa des Vergers (Rimini). Over 350 Motogiro participants, staff and friends attended the dinner. In a gesture of extreme generosity, Masserini decided to donate the motorbike to the Italian Motorcycle Federation, which will auction it off to raise money for disadvantaged children in Africa.

The Vintage Racing Class is at the heart of the Motogiro and this year, Alfio Sorgato (winner of the Motogiro 2002) came in second place on his Morini 175cc; Angelo Cattaneo, on his Gilera 175, placed third. In addition to the Vintage Racing Class, this year Ducati introduced the Taglioni Memorial Class, in honour of the late engineer Fabio Taglioni. This classification included motorbikes manufactured between 1968 and 1978 and was won by Antonio Benelli on his splendid Aermacchi HD SS.

The Motogiro d’Italia 2002 started its engines on June 16th at the Santamonica Racetrack (Misano, Italy) where the third World Ducati Week, Ducati’s largest ever rally, was being held. All participants in the Motogiro rode in a Lap of Honour to the cheers of 20,000 Ducatisti from around the world. Leading the parade were the World Superbike Champions Troy Bayliss, Ben Bostrom and Ruben Xaus and another special guest, Damon Hill-–the 1996 Formula One world champion–who rode a Ducati 125.

The first overnight stop on the itinerary was Terni, home of the Motoclub “L. Liberati,” which provided technical support for the event. The next day, the Motogiro headed for the Mediterranean seaside town of Gaeta, south of Rome. On Day 3, many riders experienced what they described as “the best road ever”—-a twisting mountain pass winding through the National Park of Abruzzo, after which they arrived in Tivoli. On Day 4, participants rode through Umbria and Tuscany to Chianciano Terme. The final leg of the Motogiro, on June 20th, led the 250 participants back to Romagna, over the spectacular Passo di Viamaggio, famous to motorcyclists throughout Italy for its curves and magnificent panoramas.

This final leg witnessed the historic return to the road of the Ducati 250 Bicilindrica, created by Engineer Fabio Taglioni specifically for Mike Hailwood in 1960. The bike, owned by the Ducati Museum, was recently restored by experts at the Ducati factory. This two-wheeled masterpiece was re-introduced to the road during the Motogiro, when Alan Cathcart, journalist and motorcycle expert, had the opportunity to ride the motorbike on select stretches of road between Chianciano Terme and Riccione. The Ducati 250 Bicilindrico will be put on display at the Ducati Museum in Bologna.

Winding up the five-day event, all 250 participants gathered in Riccione’s seaside Piazza San Martino, where crowds gathered to meet the riders—including Motogiro greats from the 1950’s, Remo Venturi and Giuliano Maoggi.

The Motogiro 2002 hosted a large number of international guests: of the 250 participants and 53 accompanying passengers, 136 were foreign. The largest non-Italian group came from the UK, which counted over 60 riders, led by Chris Bushell of the Ducati Sporting Club. Over 35 Americans attended, led by Vicki Smith, the first woman ever to compete and complete the Motogiro in 2001. Participants also came from Spain, Holland, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Germany, Australia, Canada, South Africa and Japan. The 2002 edition was also characterised by a strong female presence: 10 on bikes and over 30 in the accompanying passenger class.

The Motogiro d’Italia 2002, organised by Dream Engine, the Bologna-based entertainment company, was made possible thanks to the generous support of: Ducati Motor (main sponsor for the second consecutive year), Shell, Marzocchi, Corriere dello Sport-Stadio, Motociclismo d’Epoca, Regione Emilia Romagna, Bologna Turismo, Viaggi Salvadori 1929. Dream Engine would like to thank the Motoclub Terni “Libero Liberati” for its technical support, and the Italian Motorcycle Federation. Dream Engine would also like to extend special thanks to Davida for donating a selection of beautifully designed custom helmets to select vintage racers—Maoggi, Venturi and Tartarini.

Dream Engine hopes to see you at next summer’s edition of Motogiro d’Italia 2003.