From a press release issued by Shawn McDonald:

2002 Season Kick Off Party for Washington Road Racing & Alan Schwen Fund Raising April 7, 2002

WMRRA needs your help in starting off the 2002 Road Racing Season with a big bang.

The WMRRA sponsored and sanctioned event is being presented by SB Motorsports and Paragon Restaurant for the specific purpose of raising funds for the 2002 WMRRA #1 Overall Champion Alan Schwen. Alan was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Hodgkin’s Lymphoma after he had secured his first WMRRA Overall Championship after 17 years of road racing. The prognosis for Alan looks very good with early detection and treatments of chemotherapy and radiation. The very high deductibles on the medical insurance though are hard to pay. He is our brother in many ways and needs your help. Roadracers, spectators and streetbike riders who attend the party will be charged $20 per person with all proceeds going to the Schwen Cancer Fund. Coming to the party gets you a free buffet prepared by Chef/Owner Christopher Cunio, beverages, music, bench racing, motorcycle door prizes and a select auction on premier motorcycle items. Visa, Master Card, American Express and cash are accepted.

The WMRRA 2002 Season Kick Off Party will be on April 7 from 2 P.M till 6 P.M. at the Paragon Restaurant, 2125 Queen Anne Ave, Seattle, WA.

For more information contact Rick or Annis Salmon at SB Motorsports 253-535-3795.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

After a 16-year hiatus, 1995 Endurance World Champion Stephane Mertens has returned to Daytona International Speedway to race.

Mertens is using the Formula USA National Road Race Series event February 28-March 3 as a warm-up to race in the AMA Superstock (formerly 750cc Supersport) and Superbike races next weekend at Daytona.

“I have not been here in so long, not since 1986,” said the 42-year-old Belgian. Mertens recalled that he entered AMA 250cc Grand Prix that year as a warm-up for his 250cc World Championship effort. “I stopped after the warm-up lap to re-fuel. I stopped at the back of the grid on pit lane. When we were finished, they stopped me and said it was too late. I had to start last, after everyone. I finished the race in 8th. So it was not too good but not too bad.

“I am still trying to get used to the track. The track is the same, but it has been a long time and it is very different on a 750. It feels very special. Plus I haven’t been on a bike since August of last year. I am just hoping to have some fun. I hope to do well in the Superstock race, but I am doing the Superbike just for more practice time.”

Mertens will be riding a Suzuki GSX-R750 on Dunlops at Daytona. The bike is owned by Joseph Buxton and the whole deal was set-up through Full Spectrum Racing’s Dick Suarez. Mertens and Suarez met during the 2001 Suzuka 8-hour race in Japan, where Suarez was working with the Hooters Suzuki effort and Mertens was riding with his regular World Endurance team, Zongshen. Zongshen was also a major player in Mertens’ return to Daytona.

“Zongshen is a very large motorcycle company in China. They sponsor our World Endurance team, but that does not take them to the United States. They were very happy to be involved with me racing here at Daytona since it is a very big race in America. They are sending over TV crews and reporters to cover my races for the Chinese people.”

In addition to continuing in the 2002 World Endurance Championship with Zongshen, Mertens plans to defend his 2001 BMW Boxer Cup Championship in 2002.

Mertens also finished second in the 1989 World Superbike Championship riding a Honda RC30. Mertens was beaten in the Championship in the last race by Rumi Honda’s Fred Merkel.

From an AMA Pro Racing Press Release:
AMA Pro Racing to implement new, high-tech timing and scoring system in Daytona at first Superbike race of season
AMA Pro Racing, the leading sanctioning body for motorcycle sport in the U.S., announced today it will implement new, state-of-the-art timing and scoring equipment at this year’s AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited. The new equipment will be in place at the series opener, March 6-10, at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla.
The new equipment will, for the first time ever, give teams split times at three different locations around the track. It will also provide up-to-the-minute stats on everything from fastest lap time to individual rider segment times around the track.
“This commitment to leading-edge timing and scoring technology delivers significant benefits to the race teams that compete in AMA Pro Racing’s U.S. Championships,” said John C. Farris, Jr., vice president commercial development, AMA Pro Racing. “The investments we’ve made in safety, technology and staff have allowed us to make great strides in elevating the professionalism of AMA Pro Racing operations, further developing the AMA brand of professional motorcycle racing.”
The new equipment, both software and hardware, is from AMB i.t. – the same company used by NASCAR, CART and the IRL, as well as numerous other racing organizations throughout the world. AMA Pro Racing has its own custom designed software package to handle registration, transponder assignments, race results and the creation of results on its website, amaproracing.com.
“This new system enables us to provide more benefits to our riders and teams. They are given a lot more information, and more ways to access it quickly and conveniently,” said Ken Rogers, director of timing and scoring, AMA Pro Racing.
The new equipment has been tested at several different AMA Superbike tests the past few months. The new timing equipment will also be used at the March 9 Daytona AMA Supercross events and possibly some of the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Motocross Championship rounds this season.
The timing system starts with a loop of underground wire that acts as an antenna. Each bike is fitted with a transponder with a unique ID number, and as each bike passes over the loop the antenna picks up the I.D. and sends information into a decoder. From the decoder the information goes into a timing computer running the AMB timing software – Time Gear.
Time Gear software has the ability to manage up to 16 decoders and produce data on any number of segments. It is completely customizable. AMA Pro Racing will use this software to create custom result screens that can be seen over the in-house television system and by the teams via a new wireless video feed. These results screens can show overall results for practice, qualifying and races, as well as segment times.
All racing teams will have access to the new wireless network to obtain statistics and information in the paddock. Each team has a receiver or wireless network card in their transporters that can access an Intranet web site. This web site will have results and times from every practice, qualifying session and race. It will also have daily schedules, information alerts and an archived results section.
So far, four of the five major factory teams are participating in the program and several support teams are also considering the upgrade.


(Editorial note: Which, unless pricing has changed since the 2001 season finale at VIR, costs each team $5000.)

From an AMA press release:

CARR TO BEGIN TITLE DEFENSE AT DAYTONA

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Three-time AMA Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Champion Chris Carr is set to begin his quest for a fourth championship when the series kicks off Saturday night March 9, at Municipal Stadium in Daytona Beach, Fla. Carr, who comes into this season with new sponsorship from Quality Checked Pre-Owned Ford, is a two-time winner at the Daytona short track. He and veteran Terry Poovey are both hoping to tie the record of three wins at Daytona.

Carr has had his share of ups and downs on Municipal Stadium’s hard-to-master 1/4-mile limestone-based dirt oval. Even though the Californian-turned-Pennsylvanian has won twice at Daytona, he’s only managed two top-five finishes in the last five years.

“When I’ve done well down there it was when the track was dry,” Carr explains. “I’ve struggled when the track was wet, so the key for me is to find a good bike set-up early. Friday night’s race (the AMA Hot Shoe Series event) is going to be important to find the right combination. And then you have to hope the conditions don’t change the next night.”

Predicting a winner at Daytona is always tough to do and this year even more so with the new 505cc displacement rule for single-cylinder machines. Carr points out that a good start at Municipal Stadium is critical. “If you get behind it’s hard to catch back up.”

Carr says that the Daytona opener is so unpredictable that saying exactly who is going to be his biggest challenger is tough to do. “A few years ago Rich King won Friday night’s Hot Shoe race and was watching from the sidelines during the Grand National,” Carr said. “You can look at the results in the last few years and get an idea of who’s going to be strong down there, but someone always seems to come through and surprise you.”

Studying the results proves Carr’s point. Only one rider has managed to be able to finish in the top five each year at Daytona over the last five years. That rider is Brett Landes. Landes, the 1995 Daytona winner who hails from Los Gatos, Calif., is always a threat on short-tracks and has been the most consistent top finisher at Daytona. Landes is also the last “young” rider to win Daytona (he was 24 in 1995). If there is a pattern at Daytona it is that it seems to favor veteran racers. The average age of Municipal Stadium’s winner of the last five years is 37. Two-time winner Poovey is 43 and no one is counting him out despite his being one of the oldest riders in the field. Another fan favorite will be 44-year-old Jay Springsteen. The three-time national champ from Michigan is starting his 28th season on the AMA Grand National circuit.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
MUNICIPAL STADIUM, DAYTONA BEACH, FL
MARCH 9, 2002

SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 2002
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon, Registration and Tech Inspection at the track

12:15 p.m., Riders Meeting

12:30 p.m., Practice

1:30 p.m., Qualifying Heats

6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Open Pits for Spectators

8:30 p.m. – 8:40 p.m., 1st GNC heat

8:40 p.m. – 8:50 p.m., 2nd GNC heat

8:50 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., 3rd GNC heat

9:00 p.m. – 9:10 p.m., 4th GNC heat

9:10 p.m. – 9:20 p.m., 5th GNC heat

9:20 p.m. – 9:30 p.m., 6th GNC heat

9:30 p.m. – 9:40 p.m., 1st GNC Semi

9:40 p.m. – 9:50 p.m., 2nd GNC Semi

9:50 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., 3rd GNC Semi

10:00 p.m. – 10:10 p.m., 4th GNC Semi

10:10 p.m. – 10:25 p.m., Intermission

10:25 p.m. – 10:40 p.m., AMA Progressive Insurance Grand National Championship Final

This just in from Don Emde, 1972 Daytona 200 winner:

54 IS SHAW’S MAGIC NUMBER IN DAYTONA 200

In preparation for a future 2nd edition of Don Emde’s book: “The Daytona 200. The History of America’s Premier Motorcycle Race,” we’ve updated our database and guess what we found?

Rick Shaw is now only 192 miles behind Warren Sherwood as the all-time mileage leader in Daytona 200 events. Sherwood, who raced in the Daytona 200 from 1950 to 1971, amassed a total of 3,187 miles in his career. Shaw, after the 2001 race, now sits with 2,995 miles and will pass Sherwood when he completes 54 more laps.

As the race currently run 56 laps, Shaw could break the record this year.

Stay tuned.

From an AMA press release:

DESPAIN LEADS ALL-STAR BROADCAST TEAM FOR DAYTONA BIKE WEEK TV COVERAGE

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Dave Despain will host Speed Channel’s coverage of the 61st running of the Daytona 200 by Arai and the season opener of the 2002 AMA Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championship, both from Daytona Beach, Fla. Despain heads up a talented crew of broadcasters that includes AMA racing greats and TV regulars David Sadowski and Steve Morehead. Speed Channel will bring racing fans unprecedented coverage of 2002 Bike Week, including coverage of AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbikes, AMA Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track and AMA EA Sports Supercross, all being produced by Chet Burks Productions out of Marietta, Ga.

Despain will provide play-by-play of the 2002 AMA Grand National season opener from Daytona’s Municipal Stadium. Chris Carr is hoping to defend his title in the series and, along with veteran Terry Poovey, is looking for his third win at the Daytona Short Track. Joining Despain will be pit announcer J.B. Norris, one of the most knowledgeable experts in the series, and expert color will be provided by AMA Pro Racing’s own Steve Morehead. Morehead was a 27-year veteran of the AMA Grand National Series and will bring an insider’s perspective to racing fans.

Speed Channel’s Daytona Short Track coverage will be shown on a tape-delayed basis on Tuesday, March 19 at 8 p.m. Eastern time.

Once again it will be Despain hosting a half-hour Daytona 200 by Arai pre-race show on Sunday, March 10 at 1 p.m. Despain will then hand off the broadcast of the race to play-by-play man Brian Drebber and 1990 Daytona 200 winner Sadowski. Covering the busy pit action for the 200 will be Greg White and Larry Maiers. That will be the same team for the broadcast of the MBNA 250 Grand Prix, Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock and the Pro Honda Oils Supersport races.

Defending AMA Superbike champ Mat Mladin is shooting to be the first rider in the history of the prestigious Daytona 200 to win three-straight times. The Suzuki rider from Australia is also opening his campaign to become the first four-time champion in AMA Superbike history.

Here’s a rundown of Speed Channel’s coverage of Daytona Bike Week 2002:

2002 BIKE WEEK SPEED CHANNEL BROADCAST SCHEDULE
(All times are Eastern)

Sunday, March 10, Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship Pre-race, 12:30 p.m.-1:00 p.m., LIVE

Saturday, March 23, Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship Pre-race, 8:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 23, Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship Pre-race, 12:00 a.m.-12:30 a.m.

Sunday, March 24, Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship Pre-race, 12:00 p.m.-12:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 10, Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship, 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m., LIVE

Saturday, March 23, Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship, 8:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 23, Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship, 12:30 a.m.-1:30 a.m.

Sunday, March 24, Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship, 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m.

Friday, March 8, Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock Series, 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., LIVE

Tuesday, March 12, Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock Series, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m.

Sunday, March 24, Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock Series, 3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.

Friday, March 8, Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport Championship, 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m., LIVE

Tuesday, March 12, Pro Honda Oils U.S. Supersport Championship, 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 9, AMA EA Sports Supercross 125/250), 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m., LIVE

Sunday, March 17, AMA EA Sports Supercross (125/250), 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.

Sunday, March 10, MBNA 250 Grand Prix Series, 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., LIVE

Tuesday, March 12, MBNA 250 Grand Prix Series, 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 16, MBNA 250 Grand Prix Series, 12:00 a.m.-1:00 a.m.

Tuesday, March 19, MBNA 250 Grand Prix Series, 10:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m.

Tuesday, March 19, MBNA 250 Grand Prix Series, 3:00 a.m.-4:00 a.m.

Tuesday, March 26, MBNA 250 Grand Prix Series, 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.

Tuesday, March 19, AMA Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track, 8:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.

Check your local listings for broadcast times or go to SpeedTV.com for additional information.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Andy Coffey of Airfence Safety Systems of Victoria, Australia is at Daytona along with 20 new sections of Air Fence funded by the Roadracing World Air Fence Fund for use at Formula USA road races.

Coffey arrived in Daytona on Monday and, working with Formula USA Safety Director Roger Lyle, installed 18 sections on Tuesday, with two in reserve.

The sections are installed outside turn one, turn six, along the wall at the top of the banking exiting the infield and the chicane, and at the entrance to the chicane.

The Air Fence installation has been supplemented by haybales.

At post time on Thursday afternoon, no one had actually hit any Air Fence in two days of on-track activity, including a Team Hammer Advanced Riding School & Track Rides day on Wednesday and CCS/F-USA practice and racing on Thursday.

The 20 sections will be transported to other Formula USA races by a Clear Channel Entertainment Motor Sports semi-truck.

Before arriving at Daytona, Coffey was in England and Sweden for meetings and maintenance of Air Fence sections used by the Swedish Series; he’ll return to England prior to flying back to the U.S. and installing about 500 linear feet of non-inflatable Air Fence Bike at California Speedway in Fontana, California.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The number of riders who have entered in each class for this weekend’s AMA National at Brainerd International Raceway:

Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock, 64
Chevy Trucks Superbike, 55
Lockhart-Phillips USA Formula Xtreme, 43
Pro Honda Oils Supersport, 36
MBNA 250cc Grand Prix, 25
Buell Pro Thunder, 21


The number of riders who actually rode in Friday morning practice for each class for this weekend’s AMA National at Brainerd International Raceway:

Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock, 49
Chevy Trucks Superbike, 46
Lockhart-Phillips USA Formula Xtreme, 34
Pro Honda Oils Supersport, 28
MBNA 250cc Grand Prix, 19
Buell Pro Thunder, 15


The number of riders entered in each class for this weekend’s AMA National at Brainerd International Raceway after second class entries on the same machine are eliminated:


Genuine Suzuki Accessories Superstock, 43
Pro Honda Oils Supersport, 36
Lockhart-Phillips USA Formula Xtreme, 30
MBNA 250cc Grand Prix, 25
Buell Pro Thunder, 21
Chevy Trucks Superbike, 16