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.

From a press release issued by Eric Bostrom’s publicist:

Seventh Podium for EB

Finishing on the podium for the seventh time this season, as usual Eric Bostrom gave the 1000cc twins all they could handle at Brainerd this weekend, finishing a scant .188 behind Nicky Hayden, but over 9 seconds ahead of Doug Chandler and his factory Ducati.

“Obviously I was disappointed, but I knew going in that it was going to be an uphill battle, because of the nature of the track and the mile-long straightaway. I managed to get my third pole (position) in a row, and got off to a great start, but by the time we hit the end of the straightaway and threw it into turn one, I went straight to the back and was looking at sixth. And that was even in Nicky’s draft! It’s unfortunate that I wasn’t able to get to the front fast enough, had I been able to I would have tried to break away earlier, while the tires were still fresh. When I finally made it to the front and tried to make a little bit of a break, Nick did a good job of following me. But at the end, it was just too much. The tires were too slippery and I had trouble maintaining the pace. I kept trying hard after he passed me, and we were seesawing a bit. I’d catch him in the infield, he’d make it up on the long straight. And at the end there, I got killed lapping the
traffic. It cost me a second and although I was able to make up most of it back up in the infield, I wasn’t able to make a pass on him in the last lap. Going into the last turn, I was either going to shut my eyes and make a bonzai pass or wait until Laguna for my revenge.”

With only two weeks until Laguna, Eric is feeling confident about winning at his favorite track in AMA Superbike and making things interesting in the WSB race, as well. Interestingly, it looks as if Eric will face some of the same AMA racers in Sunday’s WSB races, as wild cards. “I think Nicky will do well at Laguna (in WSB). But, honestly, I’d be surprised if any of the domestic guys, including myself, get top five. That’s not lowering expectations, it’s just reality. I’m looking forward to it, don’t get me wrong, and my Kawasaki is definitely better this year, but I have to be realistic. There hasn’t been one four cylinder on the podium yet this year. Not one! Laguna is a good track for me to try and become the first.”

And with only three rounds (5 races) remaining, and with this being the final year of his Kawasaki contract, Eric realizes that people are already beginning to talk about next year. “My goal this year was to do the best I possibly could to win this AMA Championship. Although we’re currently 2nd, it’s been tough. As a team, we didn’t really gel as quickly as we might have. Now, we’re really getting on well and also working well together and that has made a big difference. But as far as next year goes, I’d like to compete in a World Championship and, of course, on a championship-winning bike. I believe I can win championships, as I’m really riding well at the moment. I’m certainly up to the challenge.”

But which World Championship? Superbike or motoGP? “I don’t really have a preference at the moment. Both are great series. Maybe one will be a stepping stone to the other. But I’d be pretty happy to be in either one.”


More, from a press release issued by Austin Bleu Bayou Ducati:

Austin/Bleu Bayou Ducati Brainerd AMA Superbike Report

Austin/Bleu Bayou Ducati rider Pascal Picotte finished seventh in Sunday’s Chevy Trucks US Superbike event at Brainerd, Minnesota. Picotte and the Austin/Bleu Bayou Ducati team fought through a difficult weekend to consolidate his fifth place in the championship for the Canadian rider. Honda’s Nicky Hayden won the 21 lap event, held in hot and sunny conditions on the 3.0 mile, ten turn Brainerd circuit.

Pascal faced a cracked exhaust and a tire issue in the race that slowed him from the lead pack. “My team worked really hard. I can’t believe how hard they worked this weekend,” Picotte said. “We had some problems here at Brainerd and they worked very late all three days. They pretty much didn’t even have time to even eat but they never gave up. Today, it was my job not to give up out there and do the best to get the best finish we could get. I don’t think it was that great because my guys deserve better than seventh, but it was good to make it to the finish line.”

The team was met with an unfortunate supplier problem at Brainerd, yet it is expected the situation will be rectified by the next race at Laguna Seca in two weeks.

Pascal believes the Austin/Bleu Bayou Ducati can improve at Laguna, as the team continues to learn about Michelin tires and Ducati Superbikes after the project began this spring after Daytona. “One thing about Laguna is that the World guys go there, so Michelin has some experience there and I think we will be in better shape,” Picotte said.


More, from a Honda press release:

American Honda’s Nicky Hayden won his seventh AMA Superbike race of the season, this one a thrilling affair on a sweltering day at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minnesota. Teammate Miguel DuHamel was fourth, with Erion Honda’s Kurtis Roberts, in his first race since Daytona in March, fifth after leading early in the race.

“Definitely, it’s nice to get a win,” Hayden, 22, of Owensboro, Kentucky, said. “Kind of needed that. You get used to that. Starting to lose isn’t fun.” The win allowed him to stretch his championship points lead to 42 points, 349 to 307, over Kawasaki’s Eric Bostrom, a close second today. DuHamel, who won the previous two Superbike races, moves to third in points with his fourth place finish today. Hayden led the first lap, then Roberts took over, something of a surprise. He’d been out of racing for three months, since injuring his right leg in a practice crash at California Motor Speedway in April. The leg didn’t bother him in the early going and he and Hayden swapped the lead on the high-speed three-mile course for the first seven laps. Then Bostrom came by, controlling the pace until Hayden made his move on the 17th of 21 laps. Using the power of the Honda RC-51, Hayden moved past on the kilometer long straight to take a lead he would never cede. Bostrom came at him in the final corner, but Hayden was resolute, wining by 0.188 seconds. Then came Bostrom, with former GP rider Doug Chandler third on the Ducati after passing DuHamel and Roberts two laps from the end.

Nicky Hayden, First Place
“When Eric (Bostrom) came by I knew he was going to drop the hammer and go for it. Right there, kind of midway when he was setting the pace, I was just holding on but I couldn’t charge on him or nothing. Then a few more laps went by and I started getting more comfortable, maybe both our tires got greasier. As the race went on I felt better and better and more comfortable. Just one of those deals that it worked out really good at the end. I was able to get a win. It was really nice. It was an awesome weekend right from the start. Me and my bros and my parents and some friends of ours, we chartered a plane up here and we stayed right here at the track condos so in the morning I’d be watching the 600 practice brushing my teeth.”

Miguel DuHamel, Fourth Place
“On the third lap going into turn one (at over 150 mph) I lost the front end pretty bad, like I almost got off the bike. Probably for a lot of guys the same thing happened. For me, since we did a little change to the front end of the bike, it kind of spooked me pretty good. I just was not comfortable hanging it out with those guys. That pace was about as quick as I wanted to go and when Eric (Bostrom) took the lead he took it up a notch and that’s when they split from me. Then after that it was just really trying to keep those guys behind me, Kurtis (Roberts) and Doug (Chandler). Like I said, with the set-up change I just couldn’t get my lines. And here if you’re a little bit off line you’re on the tar patches. I’m pretty happy I didn’t put it on the ground. I had a couple of big moments here and there.”

Kurtis Roberts, Fifth Place
“Going in, with the heat the humidity and not being on a bike for three months I was a little skeptical of the physical aspect of it. Mentally, it was tough. Right after Eric (Bostrom) got around me I started missing some shifts and backshifts and it started playing with my head and it just slowly went downhill from there. Kind of not being around, I thought it was worse than it was. You’re all frustrated. Saw Miguel (DuHamel) get around me and pull away and tried to catch back up. Caught back up to him and got
screwed by some lapper and Doug (Chandler) got around me when I was in third and kind of put his head down and didn’t even drag my leg the last two laps. It was done. Right handers, if it hit the ground the last two laps it felt it. I kept it up the last two laps and it was sore.”

Honda was equally successful in the ultra-competitive Pro Honda Oils 600cc Supersport class. The lead changed hands three times on the final with Bruce Transportation Group’s Jake Zemke taking it for the final time and holding off a persistent Tommy Hayden to win his first Supersport race by 0.243 seconds and give Honda their second win in a row at Brainerd International Raceway. “I’m so happy,” Zemke said after giving Honda their first win since Miguel DuHamel won here last year. “I’ve never been on a 600 podium before and for the first one to be a win that’s incredible.”

In the Formula Xtreme class, Zemke moved into second the championship point standings, just three points out of first, after a shadow second to Marty Craggill (Suzuki). Starting from the pole, Zemke led the most laps, but came up 0.202 short at the checkered flag. The stifling Midwestern heat was a contributing factor. “The pace definitely dropped, but I think it hurt me worse than anybody,” Zemke said. “Off the time charts all weekend it seemed like I had maybe half a second on everybody in every session.”


From a press release issued by Valvoline EMGO Suzuki:

Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Marty Craggill fought off the pain from a broken left foot and came from behind to win the AMA Formula Xtreme race at Brainerd International Raceway, averaging 107.938 mph in the 13-lap, 39-mile race.

Craggill, who broke his foot during practice at Road America three weeks ago, rebroke bones in the foot during the race, when he saved a near-highside but in the process slammed the top of the injured foot against the footpeg.

Iron man Craggill took a few laps to overcome the pain, took a deep breath and went back on the charge, running down and working his way through the lead group. Craggill took the lead three laps from the finish; when he was passed twice, Craggill immediately retook the lead, and held off his pursuers to win by 0.202-second.

It was a great turnaround for the team, which embarked on a rush development program to find more speed after its bikes proved too slow at Road Atlanta, three races ago.

At Brainerd, Craggill was caught on radar at 184 mph, and after the race his competitors commented on the speed of his Valvoline EMGO Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Craggill’s teammate Tom Kipp ran with the lead group early on but DNF with a mechanical problem. Josh Hayes, making his return to racing after three months recovering from a hand injury, finished 7th on his GSX-R1000, running a 2001-spec engine.

In the AMA Superstock race at Brainerd, Valvoline EMGO Suzuki’s Chris Ulrich crashed out, without injury.

In the AMA Supersport race at Brainerd, Kipp finished 9th on his Suzuki GSX-R600, and is a solid 5th in series points.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

European magazines have obtained photos of what they are identifying as the new Ducati 999 street bike.

The photos show what appears to be a manufacturer prototype dressed in flat black bodywork with several stickers and duct tape as a disguise. The bike in the photos has stacked projector beam head lights bracketed by ram-air intakes in the front fairing and turn signals built into the rearview mirrors, similar in appearance to the MV Augusta F4. A trellis-style frame can be seen in the pictures, and the bike is reported to have an under-seat exhaust.

More details as they become available.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Red Bull Yamaha WCM has confirmed plans to run Honda V5 engines in Moriwaki chassis in the 2003 MotoGP series. Red Bull Team Manager Peter Clifford called Roadracingworld.com Tuesday and confirmed that his team plans to run the Honda/Moriwaki combination. “Nothing is cast in stone, but that is our plan,” said Clifford.

Red Bull’s 19-year-old sensation John Hopkins talks about the team’s future plans in his column, The GP Kid, in the September issue of Roadracing World, due out in early August.

After finishing seventh in the Dutch Grand Prix June 29, his best GP finish to date, Hopkins is 10th in the MotoGP World Championship standings. In addition, Hopkins is one of only two riders to have scored Championship points in every MotoGP round this season. The other rider is Valentino Rossi.