From a press release:
Noale and Pontedera, FEBRUARY 15TH 2002
APRILIA AND PIAGGIO SIGN A JOINT PROCUREMENT AGREEMENT
Aprilia S.p.A. and Piaggio & C. S.p.A., the two leading motorcycle manufacturers in Europe, traditionally competitors, announce an unprecedented cooperative agreement in their sector: the adoption of joint sourcing strategies for the purchase of direct and indirect materials, through a formal Joint Procurement initiative.
The agreement between Aprilia e Piaggio stems from the need of an innovative approach to face a more and more competitive and challenging market in terms of model offering and pricing. The two Companies decided to collaborate and adopt common sourcing strategies improving the efficiency of their purchasing and R&D processes, although preserving their independence as separate entities and continuing to compete on the market. Economic benefits are expected to be immediate, but the initiative will also bring forth further savings in the medium and long term.

Specifically, in the scooter segment, Aprilia and Piaggio will purchase together vehicle components and equipment, while adopting common engine platforms. Several indirect services, still to be defined, will be eventually included in the Joint Procurement agreement.

“The Joint Procurement between Aprilia and Piaggio is an important and innovative step” – says Mr. Stefano Rosselli del Turco, Piaggio’s CEO – “we will keep competing on the market, while our suppliers will perceive us as partners. We will thus enjoy significant cost reductions and increase our competitive position against Asian manufacturers.”
According to Mr. Ivano Beggio, Aprilia’s Chairman , “Thanks to the synergies of a common sourcing strategy, our Companies will be able to redirect resources to the enhancement and support of our expansion plans. Collaboration is the way we choose to continue being competitors, first of all”.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.



Two-strokes Take Top Two Times

Red Bull Yamaha’s Gary McCoy put in another excellent performance Sunday, February 17 in the last day of testing at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia, Spain, in cold conditions. McCoy topped all riders with a best lap of 1:34.070 on his Dunlop-tired Yamaha YZR500, the fastest of the three-day test. McCoy’s time was 0.4-second quicker than Max Biaggi’s 2001 pole time of 1:34.496.

Also under Biaggi’s time, second-fastest rider on the final day was Gauloises Tech 3 Yamaha YZR500 rider Shinya Nakano with a time of 1:34.360.

Marlboro Yamaha’s Max Biaggi suffered his second crash of the test Sunday with his YZR-M1 and procured test rider John Kocinski’s M1 four-stroke for the remainder of the day. Biaggi went faster on his first flying lap with Kocinski’s set-up–which includes a different frame and engine mounting position–than on his own bike.

Nevertheless, Biaggi’s teammate, Carlos Checa, was the third-fastest rider, and fastest four-stroke rider, of the test with a 1:34.654 on his YZR-M1.

American John Hopkins was 14th fastest as his crew continued to work him through a test program designed to familiarize Hopkins with the YZR500 and how it reacts to various set-up changes.

The next IRTA test for MotoGP and 250cc riders begins Wednesday, February 20, at Estoril in Portugal.

MotoGP
Garry McCoy, Yamaha YZR500, 1:34.070
Shinya Nakano, Yamaha YZR500, 1:34.360
Carlos Checa, Yamaha YZR-M1, 1:34.654
Daijiro Katoh, Honda NSR500, 1:34.722
Max Biaggi, Yamaha YZR-M1, 1:34.820
John Kocinski, Yamaha YZR-M1, 1:34.828
Alex Barros, Honda NSR500, 1:35.213
Norick Abe, Yamaha YZR500, 1:35.226
Loris Capirossi, Honda NSR500, 1:35.353
Jurgen V.d. Goorbergh, Honda NSR500, 1:35.566
Olivier Jacque, Yamaha YZR500, 1:35.738
Jeremy McWilliams, Proton KR3, 1:35.862
Sylvain Guintoli, Yamaha YZR500, 1:36.495
John Hopkins, Yamaha YZR500, 1:36.501
Regis Laconi, Aprilia RS3, 1:36.744
Shinichi Itoh, Honda NSR500, 1:36.501
Nobu Aoki, Proton KR3, 1:36.951
Tetsuya Harada, Honda NSR500, 1:37.768

250cc
Alfonso Nieto, Aprilia, 1:35.680
Randy De Puniet, Aprilia, 1:36.998
Casey Stoner, Aprilia, 1:37.046
Alex Debon, Aprilia, 1:37.325
Franco Battaini, Aprilia, 1:37.344

Of Hopkins’ testing, team manager Peter Clifford said, We just told John to take it easy. He did a really good three days. And he’s put a huge amount of effort into his physical training since he tested in Malaysia.”

People who have seen Hopkins lately cannot believe his transformation into an obviously very fit athelete, and the change in his muscle definition.

From a press release:

Net profit, excluding extraordinary gains in 2000, up 176%.
World Ducati Week enrollment open: tens of thousands of fans expected.

Bologna, Italy, February 15, 2002: Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. (NYSE: DMH and Borsa Italiana S.p.A: DMH), a leading manufacturer of high performance motorcycles, today announced record financial results for 2001. Net profit, excluding extraordinary gains in 2000, was up 176%.

For 2001, as previously reported, revenues were Euro 407.8 million representing like-for-like growth of 9.3% over 2000. Total sales were up 7.5% from Euro 379.5 million during the previous year. This discrepancy is due to a decrease of “miscellaneous other sales” of Euro 6.5 million, reflecting the one-off buy-back of inventory by the newly established UK subsidiary from the previous importer in January 2000. Revenues from Ducati motorcycles increased 9.2% to Euro 345.5 million and represented 84.7% of revenues. Motorcycle-related products rose 9.8% to Euro 61.4 million over last year.

For the fourth quarter, revenues were Euro 124.4 million representing a growth of 18.9% over 2000.

Gross margin for 2001 was 40.8% versus 39.7% in the previous year, mainly attributable to production efficiencies and the positive effect of motorcycle-related products sales.

In 2001, EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest Depreciation and Amortization) increased 10.1% to Euro 66.1 million from Euro 60.0 million last year, representing 16.2% of sales versus 15.8% of the previous year. This is mainly thanks to the factors mentioned above and increased sponsorship revenues more than off-setting US restructuring costs. R&D investments for the Moto GP were 0.4% of revenues.

2001 net income was €Euro 10.6 million, slightly higher than the €Euro 10.5 million in 2000. However, stripping out the one-off profit pick-up of €Euro 6.7 million from the revaluation of the Ducati brand name in 2000, net income for 2001 increased 176% over previous year. This was mainly thanks to improved operating profits, lower financial charges and lower taxes.

“I am very pleased that Ducati has delivered record results, by any measurement, for the fifth year in a row,” said Carlo Di Biagio, Ducati Chief Executive Officer. “2001 has been a very busy year for the Company, and the results are impressive – especially given the challenges of the economic environment. Our new models, especially the 998 Testastretta and the Monster 620 injection, are being received with enthusiasm by the market. In Autoby, the most popular motorcycle Magazine in Japan, for example, the 998R was voted motorcycle of the year for 2001.”

“In particular, three things stand out in 2001: a phenomenal tenth victory in twelve years in the World Superbike Championship; the announcement of an exciting new family, the Ducati Multistrada, available in 2003; and full year “quality” earnings almost trebling.”

While official world registrations data for the period are not yet available, the Company’s best estimates suggest that they were up 10% in the fourth quarter of 2001, continuing the improving pattern over the year with Q1 down 8%, Q2 up 2% and Q3 up 9%. Full year 2001 registrations increased 2% over 2000 with sustained strength in Japan (+51%), UK (+10%) and France (+8%) and weakness in the US (–14%) and in Italy (–3%).

New independent Ducati Stores exclusively selling Ducati motorcycles and accessories continued to open around the world, including new stores in Cape Town in South Africa, Mittelland in Switzerland, Berlin in Germany and Foggia in Italy, bringing the total to 92.

“Given the still significant uncertainties the world economy faces,” stated Enrico D’Onofrio, Ducati Chief Financial Officer, “our guidance for 2002 is high single digit top line growth, delivering an EBITDA margin around 16%.”

Ducati’s net debt at December 31, 2001 was €Euro 112.9 million, increasing versus the €Euro 97.4 million at the same date a year earlier. The company’s net debt to total capitalization ratio was 42% at December 31, 2001 versus 41% at the same date a year earlier.

“Ducati’s priorities for the future are clear”, said Mr. Di Biagio. “We will stay focused on building our brand around the globe; on revamping operations in the US; and, above all, on innovating our products to drive our growth.”

“And of course we are busily preparing the ground for this year’s World Ducati Week in June. It is going to be spectacular. In 2000, over 20,000 people came just for a weekend. This year the event is seven days long, and we are expecting record numbers. We have just opened enrollment and all Ducati fans are invited to join us by signing up on Ducati.com.”

A conference call with management will take place at 16.00 Milan time, 15.00 GMT or 10.00 EST. To access the call, please go to www.ducati.com, and click on Ducati Investor Relations in the Ducati News section.

PLEASE NOTE: These results are still subject to final approval and may be changed. Final approved data will be announced on March 8, 2002, and following the Board of Directors’ Meeting on March 7, 2002.

Founded in 1926, Ducati builds racing-inspired motorcycles characterized by unique engine features, innovative design, advanced engineering and overall technical excellence. Ducati has won nine of the last eleven World Superbike Championship titles and more individual victories than the competition put together. The Company produces motorcycles in four market segments which vary in their technical and design features and intended customers: Superbike, Supersport, Monster and SportTouring. The company’s motorcycles are sold in more than 40 countries worldwide, with a primary focus in the Western European and North American markets. For more information about the Company, please visit our web site at http://www.ducati.com.

This press release contains statements that are forward-looking and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, as described in the Company’s 2000 annual report, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 20-F, dated July 2, 2001.

For further information, please contact:
Christopher Spira
Director, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A.
Via Cavalieri Ducati, 3
Bologna 40132
Italy
Main Tel: + 39 051 6413 111
Direct tel: + 39 051 6413 222
Direct fax: + 39 051 6413 223

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

The seven-day eBay auction of a custom set of Jamie James’ leathers and boots has ended with “jayroot” winning the auction with a high bid of $810. The auction was held to benefit the Roadracing World Air Fence* Fund.

The auction started on Friday, February 8 and received three bids as it ran through Friday, February 15. “jayroot” placed his first, only and winning bid on the first day to beat out Texas racer Marcus McBain. The winning bidder could not be reached at post time.

The James leathers auction is the latest in a series of racing memorabilia, products and services being auctioned to benefit the Roadracing World Air Fence Fund. The next item should go up for auction within the next few days.

If you have racing memorabilia, products or services that you would like to donate for auction to benefit the Roadracing World Air Fence Fund, call Roadracing World at (909) 245-6411, Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and ask to speak to David Swarts.

The Roadracing World Air Fence Fund was established in April 2001 to raise money to purchase and deploy Air Fence and Air Module soft barriers to protect crashed riders from hitting walls and other hard objects at racetracks. In less than one year, the Fund has raised over $170,000, with over $11,000 coming from the auctions of donated racing memorabilia such as this suit. For more information about the Roadracing World Air Fence Fund, including a full accounting of the collections and disbursements and stories about racers being saved by soft barriers, follow the link on this website, “The history and future of our Air Fence Fund”.

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

From a press release:

Media Release from Superside FIM Sidecar World Championship

Friday 15 February 2002 – Track Sessions at Cartagena

Superside testing successful in Spain

The top Superside teams completed a successful two-day test session at Cartagena in southern Spain today with extremely positive feedback.

Of the thirteen teams to compete, world championship front-runner combinations of Steve Abbott and Jamie Biggs and Tom Hanks and Phil Biggs proved consistently fast as expected throughout the two days.

What was pleasantly surprising though, was the improvements made over the winter by the likes of Delannoy and Vannier, Schröder and Wäfler and Morrissey and Frith. Each of these teams demonstrated their commitment to the coming season through not only their increased on track performance, but also their presentation in the paddock.

French pairing of Delannoy and Vannier were the biggest movers during the testing, coming to terms with the state of the art Windle chassis combined with the power of the Suzuki GSXR engine. The conversion from last year’s relatively older style chassis and early model Honda CBR1100XX engine was dramatic, with noticeably faster corner speed and acceleration.

Schröder and Wäfler completed the most laps of any team for the two days, testing two of their three race engines as well as a variety of other settings. The Swiss pairing put in some competitive times as well as getting value from their extensive track time.

All teams considered the testing extremely valuable to the start of the 2002 season and have already committed to further testing sessions in the future.

MRA New Rider Schools

April 6, Classroom
April 7, Second Creek Raceway
April 20, Classroom
April 21, Continental Divide Raceway
May 18, Classroom
May 19, Second Creek Raceway


MRA Race Schedule

May 4/5, Pueblo Motorsports Park

May 18/19, Second Creek Raceway

June 1/2, AMA National, Pikes Peak International Raceway

June 8/9, Pikes Peak International Raceway

June 29/30, Second Creek Raceway

July 27/28, Continental Divide Raceway

August 10/11, Pueblo Motorsports Park

August 24/25, La Junta Raceway

September 14/15, Second Creek Raceway

September 28/29, Pueblo Motorsports Park

October 5/6, Second Creek Raceway

MRA Hotline: 303-530-1234
New Rider Director: Mark Schellinger 303-944-0333
Un-Official MRA website–www.mra-racing.com
Official MRA website–www.mra-racing.org

From press releases:

Antena 3 Yamaha d’Antin MotoGP rider Alex Criville held a press conference at Valencia, Spain Saturday, the site of ongoing IRTA team testing, to announce that he is taking a medical leave of absence from his career as a racer to have a disturbing medical condition evaluated.
“I have been forced to take a break from my sporting career due to physical problems” said the 31-year-old Spaniard. “Since 1999, I have had a condition whereby I temporarily lose consciousness from time to time. It is not serious, but after consulting the best specialists in the field I was advised to stop riding for a while, to take the time to relax and undergo the necessary tests.”
While Criville plans to have further medical examinations and tests, Team Manager Luis d’Antin confirmed that he would be looking for a rider to fill-in until Criville’s return to the MotoGP series. Criville’s teammate Norick Abe continued testing at Valencia, making the most laps of any rider at the Ricardo Tormo circuit Saturday with 51 laps and a best time of 1:35.908, making him fifth-fastest.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Red Bull Yamaha’s Garry McCoy recorded the fastest lap time during IRTA team testing at Valencia in Spain. Despite wind and rain during parts of the second day of the test, McCoy completed 30 laps and improved his best time to 1:34.557 on his Dunlop-equipped Yamaha YZR500. McCoy’s time is only 0.1-second slower than Max Biaggi’s pole time from the 2001 Grand Prix at Valencia. Biaggi finished day two with the third-fastest time.

Young American John Hopkins struggled as his crew worked through a test program, constantly changing the set-up on Hopkins’ YZR500.

Top times follow:

MotoGP
Garry McCoy, Yamaha YZR500, 1:34.557
Carlos Checa, Yamaha M1, 1:35.225
Max Biaggi, Yamaha M1, 1:35.341
Shinya Nakano, Yamaha YZR500, 1:35.774
Norick Abe, Yamaha YZR500, 1:35.908
John Kocinski, Yamaha M1, 1:36.173
Alex Barros, Honda NSR500, 1:36.202
Regis Laconi, Aprilia, 1:36.855
Jurgen van der Goorbergh, Honda NSR500, 1:37.331
Olivier Jacque, Yamaha YZR500, 1:37.599

250cc
Alfonso Nieto, Aprilia, 1:37.032
Casey Stoner, Aprilia, 1:37.670
Roberto Locatelli, Aprilia, 1:37.848
Randy De Puniet, Aprilia, 1:38.251
Sebastian Porto, Yamaha, 1:38.546