From a press release:

DAYTONA VICTORY ELUDES DISALVO

Batavia, New York rider Jason DiSalvo’s brave bid to win the AMA 250cc race at Daytona was cruelly thwarted by a slower rider in the MBNA 250GP race at the International Speedway in Florida today.

The 18-year-old – riding with a broken right foot, the legacy of a crash on his 750cc 4-stroke on Wednesday – was leading the race at a third distance and involved in a titanic scrap with the two time national 250 champion when they came upon a slower rider exiting the infield.

“Everything was going as planned and my race strategy was working well and the next thing I knew I was in the dirt. It’s very disappointing as I felt I had every chance of winning that race,” said DiSalvo, who set pole position by winning a tough heat race on Friday.

Despite his AMA disappointment DiSalvo had enjoyed success at Daytona following a successful test at the Jennings circuit in North Florida where he set the outright lap record. The Team America rider also won both the 250 Lightweight and 600 Middleweight races in the CCS championship the previous weekend at Daytona.

The new team consisting of 250cc 2-stroke tuner Ian Emberton, mechanic Oliver Hutchinson, telematrist Mark Bull, 4-stroke mechanic Mike Earnhardt, and coach Jeff Haney have Jason and the bikes well prepared to win at Daytona. “We really could have done with points today and this is just what we didn’t need. But we’ll pick ourselves up and start again at Fontana in a couple of weeks time,” said team owner, Jim DiSalvo.



This reaction just in, from a reader:

Hey guys,

I read your material everyday and you do a spectacular job. I just read the Disalvo’s version of what happened at Daytona and it says nothing about the very talented and young although experienced Jason taking out a lapped rider who was indeed holding his own line. The article does do a fantastic job of promoting Jason as a racer. How about the consequences to the rider who was cruelly taken out and is probably an under financed privateer?

Bottom line is that Jason should apologize to the other rider and remember that once upon a time he also was a slower rider.

How did Nicky win the 200 doing 30 more laps with twices as many slower riders? It’s called maturity and being a true sportman.

Thanks for keeping us up on the racing world.

Mike Foster


Another reaction, from another reader:

A key difference between Nicky and Jason negotiating traffic: The slowest guys in Superbike qualified at 112% of 1:47 or around 2 minutes flat. That means the slowest guy out there is still haulin’.

There were people out in the 250 race hanging around 2:20-2:30 (on what, a bicycle?). (If Oliver had been out there several people would have had to refinish their bikes to replace the paint that had been sucked off when he went by.)

IMHO, it looked like Jason was caught out by a “swooper”. The rider started way outside and swooped to the inside to a very early apex. At the start of the pass it looked like Jason had/left plenty of room and suddenly he had nowhere to go. I’m not sure anyone was particularly at fault. Then again, perhaps Jason should have been suspicious of a guy that slow using that much track.

BTW, throwing your gloves anywhere in the vicinity of a live racetrack is a stupid thing to do. I guess that’s where the “he’s only 18” stuff comes in.

Donald Beck

From a press release:

Sears Point Raceway, Jim Russell School
Unveil Sears Point Karting Center

SONOMA, Calif. (March 13, 2002) – Sears Point Raceway unveiled today another element of its comprehensive $50 million Modernization Plan as track officials took the wraps off the state-of-the-art Sears Point Karting Center.

The Center will feature a twisting 16-turn, three-quarter-mile road course that will be 28-feet wide and can be divided into six different configurations. Some of the track highlights include an 850-foot sweeping straightaway, and another 450-foot sweeping straightaway that leads into a challenging combination of turns. The Center will be the premier karting facility in the western United States.

Memo Gidley, who drove for Target Chip Ganassi in the CART FedEx Championship Series last year and resides in nearby San Rafael, took the ceremonial first lap around the challenging circuit. He was joined at the press conference by officials from both Sears Point Raceway and Jim Russell International Karting, which will be the track operator.

“I’ve driven on many kart tracks around this country and this one ranks right up there,” Gidley said. “It has all the elements of a first-class karting track, from tight corners to sweeping straightaways. It is a premier facility.”

The Sears Point Karting Center will feature a scoreboard, two transponder-timing systems and bleachers, as well as a kart maintenance and storage center. The track, which was designed in part by Jim Russell International Karting, was built to CIK/FIA standards. The Jim Russell School has been based at Sears Point Raceway since 1996.

“This track was designed for everyone, from the serious international competitor to the business person looking for a unique recreation alternative for their clients or staff,” said Steve Page, president and general manager at Sears Point Raceway. “It’s exciting to see that design turn into reality today.”

Jim Russell International Karting will feature a variety of on-track activities to suit every enthusiast, from beginner to advanced. There will be open testing, a number of different kart racing series, as well as a variety of kart schools. Minimum age to compete is 8 years old. Please visit the Web-site at www.russellracing.com for detailed information on all programs, as well as pricing.


“Finally, Northern California has a world-class karting facility at a premier racetrack. You can’t beat that combination,” said Ken Ude, President of the Jim Russell School. “We have invested a lot of time and effort into this facility to bring karters the absolute best in terms of track, facility, equipment, instruction and racing. I truly think we have something for everyone. From our family-oriented cadet programs to sprint karts to shifters to the arrive-n-drive racing series, there is a plan for everyone.”

The Jim Russell School has been teaching the art of auto racing since 1957, and past graduates include Formula One standout Jacques Villeneuve, former CART Champion Jimmy Vasser, Emerson Fittipaldi, Casey Mears and Gidley. When not in operation by the Jim Russell School, Sears Point is open to hosting national, as well as international, karting events.

Once such event confirmed for 2002 is the “Stars of Tomorrow Series.” CART and the North American Karting Association (NAKA) have combined to host six regional kart racing series, one of which will be held at the Sears Point Karting Center. The six-race series at Sears Point begins April 21. The eventual winner of Stars of Tomorrow at the national level gets an invitation to test with a CART racing team.

The Sears Point Karting Center is part of the raceway’s ongoing $50 million Modernization Plan that will transform the facility into one of the premier road-racing and entertainment venues in the world. The comprehensive two-year project began in September, 2000, and is expected be nearly complete by the Dodge/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Winston Cup, June 20-23, 2002.

From a press release:

No Limit MotorSports of Canyon Country, California will be testing their race-prepped 2002 Yamaha R-1 at Willow Springs this coming weekend. Riders Jason Curtis and Lance Isaacs will be riding the R-1, getting used to Yamaha’s new entry into the world of Sportbikes. It is believed that No Limit MotorSports is the first team in the U.S. that will have race ready (2002)R-1s on the track.

The team has two R-1 machines that are currently being altered for racing in the AMA Formula Xtreme Class. The first race for the team will be at Fontana in early April. Although the team has race-ready Yamaha R-6 machines that they may be riding at Willow Springs this weekend as well, the decision has been made that the team will race only in the AMA Formula Xtreme Class this season. Chuck Graves of Graves Motorsports has been instrumental in getting the R-1s ready for competition.

No Limit MotorSports enjoys sponsorship assistance from:
Graves Motorsports Texport Leathers
Shoei Helmets Mechanix Wear
VP Fuels Oakley
Robertson North Hollywood Yamaha
Woodease Hand Cleaner
AFAM Curtis Sand & Gravel
Canyon Bulk, Inc.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Dema Elgin and Allan Lockheed are presenting an Engine Performance Seminar April 6-7 at Pete’s Harbor in Redwood City, California.

The seminar will focus on the development of multi-valve high-rpm engines, including tailoring the power curve to the application; exhaust design; balancing airflow, cylinder filling versus airflow and velocity, velocity/port sizes for powerband; air flow requirements vs. rod length, engine speed, cylinder size and stroke length; cam design; airflow and compression ratio versus cam events; valve seating velocity; cam lobe and tappet problems; valve spring design; and other related topics.

More information is available from D. Elgin Cams at (650) 364-2187 or Allan Lockheed & Associates at (303) 238-2414.

From an e-mail:

I saw your piece (posted 03/10/02) on how much money was available at Daytona. My total winnings for the 1972 race with all contingency money included was $13,200. I think these guys deserve a raise.

Don Emde

This just in:

My spectating at Daytona was courtesy of the Speed Channel, who (finally) aired all the speedway races live. I thought their coverage was excellent, especially the work of Dave Despain and Dave Sadowski.

What became very apparent during the course of the racing action was the number of times the Air Fences were impacted. I’ve raced Daytona and I’m well aware of impact zones, the walls and the guardrails. I have to say I was very pleased and impressed that the major impact zones had been identified and protected with the Air Fence.

From my assessment it appears that the Air Fence saved several lives and prevented some rather serious injuries. Thanks to the efforts of John Ulrich (and the Roadracing World Air Fence Fund*) road racing and road racers alike are alive and well today. Nothing dampens the growth of a sport more than the loss of a competitor. Though the announcers didn’t (couldn’t) go in to much detail about the Air Fence, a summary of incidents, estimated impact speeds and sustained injuries would be an interesting study. In my opinion it was rather evident that the Air Fence was well worth the expense and the efforts to improve the overall safety of the sport.

Dave Back

*Air Fence is a trademark of Airfence Safety Systems of Australia.

From a press release:

DAVID GARCIA: THE PROTON CONNECTION

Reigning European 250 champion David Garcia joined Proton Team KR this year, as tester and back-up rider. The 23-year-old Spaniard from Almeria will not only test the continual stream of developments from the team’s engineering base in England, but hopes also to race as a wild card entry at some GPs.

David will also run a full Spanish 600 Supersport championship campaign – a class where technical regulations have been liberated this year in line with the new four-stroke MotoGP class. The production-based bikes will be allowed to race on full slick racing tyres, with race-spec brakes and suspension.

Garcia has a unique asset – his father developed and owns the Almeria racetrack in Andalucia, so that he has private test facilities available on his own doorstep seven days a week.


Q: You are lucky to have a family motor sport background. How much difference does it make?
A: My father was always involved – in karting and in rallying. When I was growing up, he owned a go-kart track, and I played on it a lot. My first race was when I was 10 – I took the place of another boy, and won first time. I had a lot of success in karts, but the first time I tried riding a motorcycle round the kart track, I had a big crash – but I was hooked. From then on, motorcycles came first.


Q: Did your family support your motorcycle racing.
A: Yes – but my studying had to come first. I was racing just as a hobby, on 80cc clutchless bikes. But whether I could race depended on my results at school. No results, no racing that weekend. Later when I got more serious about racing, I agreed with my father to try also to continue studying. I started at university, but I didn’t finish the first year. I was only thinking about motorcycles and racing, and I realised to be successful in racing, you have to give it 100 percent of your attention.


Q: What was the path of your career?
A: I always had support from BP, when I was karting and also on motorcycles, and they continued as my sponsor in the 80cc championship, although I was still racing as a hobby. In 1996 I started to compete seriously in championships, and I won the Spanish championship on the 125cc GP class.

Then came a difficult year, in 1997. I was very fast, but also very dangerous. I was racing 125s in Spanish and European championships. Six times I was leading the race and crashed out on the last lap!

In 1998 I moved to the 250 class for the first time, and had a good season. I finished third in the Spanish championship, behind Luis d’Antin and Jose Cardoso, both of them Grand Prix riders. So I was the first national rider in the championship.

After that year, d’Antin had the Antena 3 Yamaha GP team, and he hired me and Fonzi Nieto as riders. Most of the time I was ahead of Fonzi, but the bike that year was very uncompetitive, and we didn’t get any good results.


Q: You didn’t stay with the team in 2000. What happened?
A: It was a question of money. Fonzi could bring backing, and d’Antin found another rider who could do the same. I couldn’t bring any backing, so I lost the ride. But I have no complaints about the way d’Antin treated me. If I had been in his position, I would have done the same thing.

I got a 250 GP ride with another team – PR2, but there were a lot of problems, mainly money again, and I did not finish the season with them.

That was a very bad time for me. My confidence had gone, I was just 20 years old, with no manager and no sponsors, trying to do everything for myself. I picked up my coat and went looking for sponsors, but at the end of that year I decided it was hopeless, and I more or less decided to quit racing.

Danny Amatriain somehow heard about my position, and called me. The same day I was on a plane to Barcelona, and signed a contract with him as my manager. He was a racer before, and now he had many connections, with sponsors and with the Monlau Fortuna team … Monlau is a training school for racing mechanics.

From that day, everything changed again. It felt as though I had a new life!


Q: And a new title – winning the European Championship on 250s. Was that a direct result of signing with Danny?
A: Yes. I raced a TSR Honda 250 for Monlau Fortuna, and with the right backing I was able to achieve the results I always felt I was capable of.


Q: Now you have a new connection with Proton Team KR. What is the importance of that?
A: My goal is to race in the MotoGP class. I hope this will be a step in that direction.

My confidence is very high now. I feel that I can win anything. I am racing again with Monlau Fortuna, in the Spanish 600cc championship. That is for me a preparation for MotoGP, because of the new regulations for slick tyres and racing brakes and suspension.

I will also be testing the Proton KR3, and I hope racing it – also getting MotoGP experience. It is a fantastic team, and Kenny Roberts is an inspiration for many riders, including myself, so I am very pleased with this opportunity to prove myself.


Q: Some personal questions – what are your hobbies, away from bike racing?
A: Karting, and I am very interested in car motor sport. I have a track-racing Renault Clio in the back of my truck, with almost 400 horsepower! I am able to use that on the Almeria circuit. I am also buying a CBR600 Honda, to practice there as well.


Q: Do you have a girlfriend?
A: I have a very nice girlfriend for the past two years – Reyes. She understands that at the moment motorcycle racing comes first for me.


Q: How about music?
A: All sorts, but I supposed pop-Latin is my favourite. The last CD I bought was Enrique Iglesias.



DAVID GARCIA – CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Born: Almeria, Spain – September 5, 1978

First Race: 1988 (kart)

First Motorcycle Race: 1990

1995: Spanish 80cc championship

1996: Spanish 125cc GP championship – First

1997: European and Spanish 125cc championship

1998: Spanish 250cc championship – Third

1999: 250cc World Championship – Yamaha

2000: 250cc World Championship – Aprilia, part season only

2001: 250cc European Championship – Honda – First

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Former racer Jeff Haney has left OMS, Ltd., the agency that represents racers Ben Bostrom, Rich Oliver, Larry Pegram, Jake Zemke, Tony Meiring, Lance Isaacs and Chris Carr along with former racer Freddie Spencer.

Haney’s departure from the firm was confirmed by OMS spokesperson Pat Schutte.

The list of OMS-represented riders originally provided to roadracingworld.com by Schutte did not include Isaacs or Spencer, and we updated the list after hearing from Haney.

Haney said, “Don’t forget Lance Isaacs, the former Ben Bostrom teammate from the NCR Ducati team. Before I left I secured a ride for Lance with the No Limits team owned by the Curtis family, and Jason Curtis will be the other rider.”

Haney said that OMS wanted him to continue but at a different level of commitment and that would have interfered with his other business ventures, not to mention his role as an instructor at the Freddie Spencer High Performance Riding School.

Haney will still attend the AMA rounds and possibly coach riders and teams such as Team America’s Jason DiSalvo and Annandale Racing out of Texas. Haney said, “See ya at the races!”

Yet another update, in the form of an e-mail from OMS:

Just quick note and follow-up on the Jeff Haney/OMS issue. I just want to make it plain to your readers that Jeff Haney no longer being with OMS Ltd. should not reflect negatively on Jeff as an individual or his abilities as a coach or trainer in the sport. If I had a son involved in the sport of road racing and needed a coach, I would not hesitate to go to Jeff. We wish Jeff the best with his future endeavors and thank him for his efforts while at OMS.

Fred Bramblett
Mgr. Dir.
OMS Ltd.