From a press release from the SBK Press Office:

Superbike International and the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo together to 2005

London: The President of Superbike International Mr. Paolo Alberto Flammini and the General Circuit Director Jose Maria Oltra have signed a three-year contract.

The Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo will host the FIM World Superbike Spanish Round in the years 2003, 2004 and 2005.

The circuit has already held a Superbike Round in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Moreover, attendance has increased constantly each year for both media and public.

Jose Maria Otra declared: “This is a great opportunity for the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo to become the green light of the Superbike World Championship, and we are very confident of the success the Superbike races will have.”

Mister Paolo Alberto Flammini said: “I am very happy about the 3-year agreement which will give the Circuit and SBK the possibility to build a tradition of Superbike in the Country and in one of the most beautiful Spanish circuit. In a short time the synergy between both Companies will produce the same success that the Superbike World Championship has achieved all around the world.”

From a press release:

Prieto Racing, Inc. announces expansion of its racer support to include an all-new trackside garage. Upgrades, repairs, and service will be performed at the track, on an as-needed basis.

The addition of post-crash repairs, consultations, oil changes, gearing changes, various installations, etc. will be available to assist riders at the racetrack. Along with the parts and accessories currently available at the races, the current level of inventory will be increased to provide improved trackside service.

Shane Prieto’s retirement from racing is not related to Prieto Racing, Inc.; Sean and Wendy Prieto continue to provide services at the shop and at the track, as well as sponsorship to Amateur racer Ralph Fernandez.

For more information contact Prieto Racing, Inc. at 954 788-7528 or visit their website at www.prietoracing.com.

From a press release:

DUCATI MOTOGP AND SBK TESTING CONCLUDES AT MUGELLO

Two days of testing for Ducati Corse at the Mugello Circuit in Italy concluded today without any problems, both for the ‘laboratory’ version of the new Ducati Desmosedici MotoGP and the Superbike version of the new Ducati 999.

Today the Desmosedici, in the hands of Italian test-rider Vittoriano Guareschi, did a total of 38 laps, while Australian Steve Martin of the Ducati DFX team and Ducati Corse tester for the two days, completed 51 laps.

From a press release:

For the next time you decide to go out racing or trail/desert riding, following is information about why you might consider having one of these on you…

TOTALLY FREE EMERGENCY MEDICAL DECALS

About two months ago, a friend of Dave Kimmey, president of Engine Ice, was at a local motocross track and got hurt really bad–bad enough to get flown out. As if that wasn’t bad enough, he had brought his five-year-old son with him.

A riding buddy was there, but he soon realized that he only knew the downed rider’s name and home phone. That was no help, being no one was at home and he didn’t know what to do about the rider’s 5 yr. old boy.

Have you been in this situation before?

Engine Ice Hi-Performance Coolant realized that many riders do not have and/or, do not carry any emergency information on them when they’re riding. Many tracks only require you to sign a waiver, but keep no actual information on each and every rider.

As a public service to anyone who rides and/or races a motorcycle (street or dirt), Engine Ice has decided to help do something about this.

TOTALLY FREE EMERGENCY MEDICAL DECALS

It is a high quality, vinyl decal specially coated with a write-on surface and is the size of a business card. It fits cleanly on the underside of a motocross helmet visor without distracting your vision. On the card is space for riders name, Date of Birth, Medical Allergies, Medical History and Emergency Phone #.

“This could save your life or the life of a friend. Myself and the staff at Engine Ice hope that by year’s end, every rider will have one of these, or something similar on his or her helmet,” said Engine Ice president David Kimmey.

To receive your free Medical Decal, send a Postage Paid, self addressed envelope to:

Engine Ice
Dept.: Medical Decals
707 SW 3rd Ave
Boynton Beach, FL 33426

From a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service:

RYO AND KAGAYAMA THIRD QUICKEST IN QUALIFYING AT SUZUKA

2002 FIM World Endurance Championship – Qualifying Session, Round 4, Suzuka, Japan, Friday, August 2, 2002.

In the first morning qualifying session, Team Suzuki rider Akira Ryo raced to the top of the A group with a time of 2:07.593. Team Suzuki’s Yukio Kagayama was next out in the second morning session and managed to gain a time of 2:07.309, the second quickest of the session, just before it started to rain.

In the third rider’s session, Team Suzuki rider Atsushi Watanabe finished with the quickest lap.

Team Suzuki ended the morning session ranked 3rd overall courtesy of Kagayama’s time.

The first afternoon session saw Ryo put in a few laps before the rains came. Kagayama went out in the second session on a dry track but was unable to beat his time set in the morning qualifying.

Overall, Team SUZUKI finished third fastest in the overall standings with Kagayama’s second time taken as the qualifying time. Barros/Takeda (Honda) qualified first and Kato/Edwards (Honda) qualified in second.

Akira Ryo – 2:07.593
“We had planned to use the morning session to find a good set-up for the bike and then use the afternoon session to put some quick laps in. But when I was ready for the time attack in the afternoon session, it started to rain and we were unable to get any good lap-times in. The bike has been really good so far and the temperature has not been too bad yet. It was just a rehearsal today. I hope to keep us on track for the final race by not risking too much.”

Yukio Kagayama – 2:07.309
“I had my chance to do my best lap-times robbed by a shower in the morning and by slow riders in the afternoon. I am disappointed with the time of 2:07 as I had expected to bag a 2:06 lap, and I sure that my pace today was good enough to make it. But, I’m happy with the bike – it’s been improved by each ride and we now have a really competitive machine. So, I think we have done everything we need to do. I hope it will not be too hot at the Special Stage and that we can get a good position for the final race.”

Qualifying session:

1. Barros/Takeda (Honda)

2. Kato/Edwards (Honda)

3. Ryo/Kagayama (TEAM SUZUKI)

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Gauloises Yamaha Tech 3 test rider Sylvain Guintoli will race a Yamaha YZR500 as a wild card at the Czech Republic Grand Prix at Brno August 23-25, say sources in Europe.

The 20-year-old Frenchman previously raced in the 2001 250cc Grand Prix at Brno, finishing 13th.

From a press release issued by Team Oliver Yamaha regarding the Mid-Ohio AMA 250cc Grand Prix race:

Oliver wins 60th Grand Prix race in front of Sorensen, Disalvo, and Turner! TZ250 Yamaha again on top of podium!

Rich Oliver of Team Oliver Yamaha was again the dominate rider in Sunday’s 250 Grand Prix race, during the Mid-Ohio AMA Superbike race weekend. Rich was able to ease out a 5-second win with a strategy of observe, copy, execute, then slice and dice.

Asked about this confusing strategy, Rich commented thusly; “Well, Chuckie was riding really well as usual, so in the race I thought if I followed his lines I could learn where I was slower. Then what I did was adjust my lines to copy his where they were better, and keep my lines the same where mine worked pretty well. At that point I was getting around the track quite quickly and decided to take the lead. This put me in great position to take any advantage possible to scrape him off in traffic, which I was able to do after a couple attempts. Then all that was left was to hammer out a few fast laps, and build a lead to the finish.

“A bonus was that I also won the pole and led the most laps, so I took all 38 points available for the race. This helped my teammate Perry hold on to second in the Championship tally going into the last race next week in Virginia.

“I have to thank Rick Schell for sending me a new crankshaft after Laguna, and of course big kudos go to Robert Ward for spinning the wrenches and changing the brass all weekend long. Also a big thanks goes to Team Stargel for all the kind mentions in their current press release. Shucks guys, you’re going to give me a big head!”


Perry Melneciuc again rides hurt, rides spare bike, but hangs on to second place in the Championship with a 5th-place finish!

Perry Melneciuc finished 5th place in Sunday’s main event, after jumping off his spare machine Saturday morning in a high-speed 5th-gear crash!

Perry executed a front wheel lock-up, shoulder grind, back-spin, low level dismount with a reluctant-grip release. This later was termed a self torpedo with a hot back and finished with a cattle mutilation! (See below for glossary of terms.) Not to be dissuaded, Perry and wife Kellee dove into repair mode, and as the pile of smashed, mangled, grass-and-dirt-clod-filled parts grew higher, the Melneciuc TZ250 slowly came back to life.

Perry dragged his aching and still bleeding carcass out to the line Sunday, and in a gutsy and determined ride raced hard for 4th with Simon Turner and Chris Pyles, Pyles later cracking under the Melneciuc pressure and spinning down going into the infamous keyhole section of the course! Turner was able to finish 4th, Perry going on to finish the hot and humid race in 5th, and stay in the hunt for the AMA 250 Championship!

For the benefit of our fans who hear highly technical terms emanating from inside the Team Oliver tent, and may not completely understanding them, a further explanation in layman’s terms now follows:


CATEGORY: Crashing terms and related topics.

“Leaped off, jumped off, took a fast walk, spun her down, stepped off, took a break early, rode in on the truck, sanded her down, took the shine off, gave up when I was dragging the bar, and, it’s still out there, what’s left anyway!”
These all mean crashing. See also; Get out the bike cover. See also; Santa Rosa Trauma Center. See also; Swimsuit model. See also; Titanium hardware, not from Yoyodyne.


Following are more specific terms for certain types of crashes.

“Human auger!”
Crashing and screwing yourself into the pavement. See also; Kerry Bryant

“Snapped her to heaven!”
Big highside crash. See also; Turning down the damper now. See also; More rear rebound. See also; Hey, my front number is upside down. See also; Water leak.

“I could see my shadow!”
Big highside crash, minimum height at least 10 feet in the air. See also; Duhamel, Laguna. See also; Oliver, Daytona. See also; Momentarily delayed pain. See also; Anticipation of same.

“Head whacker with a twist!”
Banging your helmet and twisting your neck in the process.

“I had some pillow talk!”
Hitting the Air Fence.

“It was a cattle mutilation!”
Hitting the haybales and scattering a cloud of hay. See also; mowing the back 40.

“Torpedoed him!”
Losing the front and crashing into another rider. See also; Oliver, Pomona.


CATEGORY: Engine terms.

“She’s hacking up a lung!”
This refers to overreving of the engine until reed flutter sets in and the engine pops and coughs. See also; Oliver, Pikes Peak

“Blew the fat lady!”
Seizing a big rod end. See also; Oliver, Laguna.

“Dropped a snake!”
Chain came off.

“Locked her down tight!”
Seized the piston to the cylinder

“Running like a raped ape!”
Running well and fast. See also; Laguna, Brainerd, and Pikes Peak.


CATEGORY: Paddock terms, and rider nicknames.

“Circus is in town!” or “Snap the floor, pop the top, set up shop and let’s rock!”
Let’s get to work on setting up the team pit area and tent. See also; Wednesday morning. See also; 9:00 AM. See also; Sharp.

“Five minute break!”
Pretty lady walking by the team tent. See also: Corona Suzuki. See also; A and R racing.

“Rocked, locked and docked at the shore, she’s not sailing anymore!”
Woman is married. See also; Large diamond. See also; Bodybuilder husband.

“Pit fly by!”
When a rider we compete against has crashed earlier, but has now fixed his bike and rides by our tent on same fixed bike revving engine and starring at us. See also; I’m not hurt, just bleeding profusely. See also; Computrack. See also; Sharkskinz. See also; Do you have any spare pipes? See also; OK, well then can I borrow your torches?

Rider Nicknames:

“Sandman”
Roland Sands

“Chuckie”
Chuck Sorensen

“Smoke”
Simon Turner

“Piles”
Chris Pyles

“D’ Salvinator”
Jason DiSalvo

“Sore Hole”
Ed Sorbo

“Mad Bomber, or just yelling FRANCE and rolling the R!”
John France

“T-D-P”
Ty Piz

“Paint job”
Collin Jensen

“The Check”
Perry Melneciuc

“That big-nosed four-eyed old bastard”
Rich Oliver

From a Ducati Press Release:

DUCATI MOTOR HOLDING ANNOUNCES RECORD REVENUES
FOR SECOND QUARTER AND FIRST HALF 2002

– Over 25,000 Ducati fans attend World Ducati Week –

Bologna, Italy–Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. (NYSE: DMH, Milan’s Telematico: DMH), a leading manufacturer of high performance motorcycles, announced record consolidated revenues for the second quarter and first half, ended June 30, 2002.

For the second quarter, revenues were Euro 130.1 million an increase of 7.6% from Euro 120.9 million during the same period in the previous year. Revenues from Ducati motorcycles for the period increased 3.3% to Euro 107.1 million and represented 82.3% of revenues. Motorcycle-related products, including spare parts, technical accessories and apparel reached Euro 22.3 million, a rise of 30.0% versus the comparable period in the previous year.

For the first half of 2002, revenues were Euro 236.4 million, up 6.7% from Euro 221.5 million during the same period in the previous year. Revenues from Ducati motorcycles for the period increased 3.8% to Euro 196.4 million and represented 83.1% of revenues. Motorcycle-related products reached Euro 39.1, up 22.9% over the same period last year.

“I am pleased to announce these record results for the first half of 2002,” said Carlo Di Biagio, CEO of Ducati. “As first announced in early Spring, we are going ahead with our strategy of reducing inventories world wide, in preparation for the launch of a strong model year for 2003. In the US, we continue to re-structure our operations, and are especially focussed on de-stocking our dealers and building up high-quality distribution channels.”

While official world registrations data for the period are not yet available, the Company’s best estimates suggest that registrations for the six-month period have grown approximately 7%, with particular strength in Japan (+20%), Italy (+9%), UK (+5%), and all countries not covered by a subsidiary (+19%). In the US, registrations were flat.

During the second quarter of 2002, new Ducati Stores exclusively selling Ducati motorcycles and accessories were opened, including one in Glasgow and Fukuoka (Japan), bringing the total to 102 stores worldwide at half-end.

World Ducati Week, held in Misano in June, was a huge success, attracting over 25,000 Ducatisti from all over the world. Highlights included presentations of the Multistrada – a new motorcycle designed to bring sport motorcycling to a broader audience – and of the prototype Ducati Desmosedici, a motorcycle due to race in the MotoGP in 2003. Crowds gathered when the Ducati racing team joined devotees to pose for photographs and sign autographs, and collectors battled for rare pieces of Ducati memorabilia in a charity auction held with Sotheby’s, which raised Euro 38,000. Among the most emotional moments was when 2000 fans set off on their Ducatis to Lugo di Romagna, birthplace of Fabio Taglioni, in homage to the famed Ducati Engineer who passed away in 2001. The event also hosted the departure of the historic Motogiro d’Italia, a glorious five-day classic motorcycle race around the country roads of central Italy, which attracted hundreds of participants and press from around the world.

From an e-mail from Dr. Rob Tuluie:

The Tul-aris is featured repeatedly in the brand new motorcycle engineering book “Motorcycle Handling and Chassis Design” by Tony Foale. The book is a comprehensive review and an assessment of the current state of motorcycle design and development, investigating many interesting aspects of motorcycle engineering with sound physical reasoning. Several times throughout the book the unique aspects of the Tul-aris are described, including a discussion of the ground-breaking work using laboratory vehicle dynamics testing as well as virtual dynamic simulations for the design and development of the Tul-aris. The book considers the Tul-aris project a trend setter for the future of motorcycle design and development. More information on the new book is available at www.tonyfoale.com

In addition, the Tul-aris design and development process was presented at the 2000 SAE Motorsports conference, which is attended by many industry-leading engineers in the car and motorcycle racing world. The accompanying SAE paper describing this work is SAE 2000-01-3576, available at www.sae.org/servlets/index

From a press release issued by the AMA:

AMA exposes Insurance Institute errors

PICKERINGTON, OHIO — The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), responding to a July 30 press release issued by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), has pointed out significant errors in the IIHS’s arguments concerning crashes involving older motorcyclists.

In its release, the IIHS claimed that the annual Black Hills Rally & Races in Sturgis, South Dakota, serves as a case-in-point illustration of the increase in motorcycle-related fatalities in recent years, notably among riders over age 40. Specifically, the IIHS said that 36 of the 69 motorcycle-related fatalities in South Dakota between 1995 and 2000 occurred in the month of August, when the Sturgis event is held.

However, the IIHS neglected to take into account the enormous increase in the motorcycling population of South Dakota as a result of the rally, leading the group to erroneous conclusions, the AMA noted.

According to figures from the IIHS release, there were six motorcyclists killed in South Dakota during the month of April over the six-year period, four in May, seven in June, eight in July, four in September and four in October. No motorcycle-related fatalities were recorded from November through March. The IIHS then said that the 36 motorcyclist fatalities in the month of August during the six-year period made it clear that older motorcyclists at the rally were raising overall fatality numbers in the state.

An AMA analysis of the data, however, shows that the IIHS’s conclusion is unsupported by the facts. The AMA pointed out that figures from the Motorcycle Industry Council for 1998, the middle of the time period cited by the IIHS, show there were 19,600 motorcycles licensed for street use in South Dakota. But during August, when the Black Hills Rally and Races attract riders from across the country, the motorcycling population of the state surges to more than 400,000.

“That’s a 2,000 percent increase in the number of motorcyclists riding South Dakota’s roads,” noted Edward Moreland, AMA vice president for government relations, “while the fatalities reported by the IIHS amount to a 360 percent increase over the monthly average during the riding season in the state.

“Failing to make the connection between that enormous increase in the state’s motorcycling population and the much more modest increase in motorcycle accidents indicates that the IIHS either doesn’t understand this situation or chose not to reveal the full story,” Moreland said.

The AMA also disputed the IIHS’s contention that recent increases in the median age of motorcyclists who were victims of fatal accidents “isn’t because of the aging of the population.” In fact, according to figures from the MIC quoted by the IIHS, the average age of a motorcycle owner in America has risen from 24 in 1980 to 38 today. As a result, a much-larger percentage of the motorcycles on the road are being ridden by riders over 40, and that trend is reflected in accident statistics.

In addition, the IIHS stated that changes in helmet laws in some states “are contributing to the increases in motorcycle deaths.” But the group failed to note that motorcycle sales have increased by approximately 20 percent in each of the last four years, meaning that the number of motorcycles on the road has grown enormously. Meanwhile, fatalities have increased by about a third during the entire four-year period and were actually down by 11 percent in the period from 1990 through 2000 and down by nearly 50 percent since 1980, a better safety record than any other type of highway transportation.

“For the IIHS to issue its opinions in the guise of a ‘news release’ is embarrassing,” said Moreland. “Not only is this release full of old news and misused statistics, it once again exposes that the IIHS is willing to say virtually anything to support its preconceived conclusions.

“We’re concerned, of course, about even one motorcycle-related fatality,” Moreland continued. “The AMA encourages anyone who’s truly interested in reducing motorcycling fatalities, and not simply promoting a political agenda, to join us in calling for a comprehensive, independent, nationwide study of motorcycle accident data.”

Moreland recently testified before a U.S. House subcommittee asking Congress to fund comprehensive research to determine the causes of motorcycle crashes.

In 2000, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation released a National Agenda for Motorcycle Safety to serve as a blueprint for improving motorcycling safety in the future. Representatives of the AMA and other industry groups were part of a team that helped shape the plan, which calls for more research into the causes of motorcycle accidents and potential ways to reduce them.

The most recent comprehensive federal study of motorcycle accident data was published in 1980, and sampled accident data only in Southern California. NHTSA officials have said they hope to begin work on a new study in the near future.