Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Eric Wood’s company, Woodcraft, is now a distributor for HMF Engineering exhaust systems.

According to a press release from Woodcraft, HMF makes full racing exhaust systems for most popular racebikes. Woodcraft is also accepting racer support resumes until March 1. For more information, contact Woodcraft at (508) 339-5772.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

SCRAMP (Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula), the organization that runs Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca, is searching for a new General Manager for the historic racetrack. John Stornetta, the track’s GM for the last four years, left Laguna Seca at the end of the 2001 season without discussing his future plans, said track spokesman Matt Skryja.

Gill Campbell, of Campbell Productions, has taken over as the venue’s interim General Manager while SCRAMP, with the assistance of outside employment agencies, conducts a nationwide search for a new GM.

In other Laguna Seca news, tickets for their 2002 spectator events, including the Honda International Superbike Classic combined AMA and World Superbike event July 12-14, have gone on sale on the track’s website www.laguna-seca.com.

Skryja said that the track expects to receive final approval from Monterey County to begin Phase One of the construction of new, permanent pit lane garages and bigger and better infrastructure buildings. Skryja said that the construction of 10 new garages topped with hospitality suites could begin January 22, the same day Monterey County is expected to grant final approval on the project. Construction is not expected to interfere with any on-track activities during a four-day AMA Superbike test scheduled for January 21-24. The new garages will start at the turn 11 end of pit lane and be completed in time for the CART FedEx Championship Series event scheduled for June 7-9.

For more information about Laguna Seca or the Honda International Superbike Classic, call (831) 648-5111, FAX (831) 373-0533 or go to www.laguna-seca.com.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

American Rick Murray hopes to be the first American sidecar driver to compete in the Sidecar World Championship, and is proceeding with plans to race a Suzuki-powered LCR sidecar in the Europe-based Championship.

Murray and passenger John Scott, a Brit now living in Houston, will see their new LCR for the first time during Sidecar team tests at Cartagena, Spain on February 14-15.

Murray is uncertain how he and Scott–running as Team RGM–will fare against the series regulars, and said “We’re good here, but over there’s another thing.” But Murray said that Scott, who has passengered on the World Championship circuit before, has told him that they’ll do fine.

Murray is also uncertain as to how many rounds of the World Championship he and Scott will be able to do, given that they started on the project in November and have no sponsors. He hopes to find sponsorship to run the entire series.

The text of a press release issued by Murray follows:

Team to be first to enter World Championship for road racing sidecars

The heart of any business are the concepts of Teamwork, Partnership and Trust. The sport of Sidecar Racing is the ultimate demonstration of these concepts.

It’s neither an automobile nor a motorcycle. It’s a breed of animal called the “Road Racing Sidecar”. This aerodynamic and high-speed creature is anything but a reincarnation of the vehicle from Hogan’s Heroes.

Why has this motorsport so firmly captured the excitement of spectators? Perhaps more than the excitement of sheer speed, the sport demonstrates the pure essence and spirit of togetherness, a true family of participants. Sidecar racing brings the reality of what can normally only be imagined through movies, to the racetracks first hand. Fans know sidecar racing is much more than shear nerve, team and machine pushing against the violence and physical limits of raw power and speed. They thrive on a very special kind of magic that lives within the teams themselves. Every turn and moment from flag to flag, with their very lives in the balance.

The team of Rick Murray of North Highlands, California and John Scott of Houston, Texas has held the North American #1 title for Road Racing sidecars in 2000 and 2001. Rick Murray, the driver of this mature team has held the #1 title all but one year since the series began in 1996.

This experienced team has been invited to participate in the World Championship series in 2002. They are soliciting sponsors and support for
this effort.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Mr. Murray directly at 916-339-1778 or [email protected] by e-mail.

From a press release issued by Marlboro Yamaha:


YAMAHA YZR-M1 PRESENTATION

Milan, Italy

January 11, 2002

BIAGGI EXCITED BY NEW FOUR-STROKE MOTOGP SERIES

Max Biaggi has voiced his enthusiasm for this year’s new-look MotoGP World Championship, which introduces big-bore four-strokes to the world’s fastest motorcycle racing series.

Speaking at an Italian presentation of Max and his all-new Yamaha YZR-M1 four-stroke, organised in Milan by Yamaha Belgarda, the company’s Italian distributor, the Roman revealed that he has no regrets about the change in technical regulations which will lead to the eventual demise of the two-strokes that have ruled bike racing’s premier series for quarter of a century.

“I’ve no regrets about the end of the two-stroke era, in fact I already prefer riding the M1 four-stroke,” said Biaggi, who finished second overall in last year’s final 500 World Championship aboard a Marlboro Yamaha Team YZR500. “I realise that the future is four-stroke and that’s why this is such an exciting time for motorcycle racing. Everyone is waiting for the season to start because it’s the first with all the new bikes.”

Biaggi, now preparing for his fourth consecutive global campaign with the Marlboro Yamaha Team, adapted his riding style to suit the M1 during several test sessions last year and will continue development of the machine when he commences a busy series of European tests in Spain later this month.

“I feel good on the M1, though we still have some work to do before the first race in April,” he added during the presentation, hosted by Italian TV star Federica Panicucci at top Milan nightspot, the Rolling Stone discotheque. “The main thing is that I believe in Yamaha and I believe in this project. During my three years with the factory we really improved the YZR500 and we only missed the championship by one place in 2001. So far we’ve done a good job together and I know that the M1 has more potential, so I’m hoping to go one better this season.”

Fellow Italian Davide Brivio, the new Marlboro Yamaha Team director, also expressed optimism about the new MotoGP series. Formerly team manager of Yamaha’s World Superbike team, Brivio is running the team’s push for world success from a new base outside Milan.

“This is going to be a very exciting year for everyone and I have to say it’s already been a great experience working with someone like Max,” he said. “He’s one of the best riders of all time, he works so hard and he’s so precise on the racetrack. Now it’s up to us to give him the machinery with which to win. Starting later this month we have a final two months of intensive testing with the YZR-M1. It’s hard work for everyone, for the riders, the team and the engineers, but we want to make sure that we have the right package by the time the season starts.

“In Carlos [Checa] too we have a great rider who has a lot of experience and has proved he can be very fast. He really enjoys riding the four-stroke so we’re expecting a lot from Carlos as well this year.”

Biaggi and team-mate Checa, who met the Spanish media during a Yamaha Motor Spain presentation outside Barcelona, will have their first public outing on their Marlboro Yamaha Team YZR-M1s during the IRTA team tests at Valencia, Spain, on February 15/16/17. They will ride the bikes in anger for the first time at the season-opening Japanese GP on April 7.

From a press release:

DUCATI NORTH AMERICA ANNOUNCES NEW COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

New York – Friday, January 11, 2002 – Ducati Motor is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Myrianne Gaeta as the new in-house Public Relations Manager of Ducati North America, located in Pompton Plains, New Jersey.

Ms. Gaeta comes to Ducati with an extensive background in sector press relations, having recently spent several months at Ducati Motor Holding in Italy where, in addition to her duties as sector press liaison, she had the opportunity to spend time in the Bologna factory and museum learning about the brand first-hand from Ducati’s engineers and designers. Prior to her arrival at Ducati, Ms. Gaeta handled press relations for Yamaha Motorcycles and Hill and Knowlton Global.

Ms. Gaeta is looking forward to working directly with sector press throughout North America. Ms. Gaeta’s plans for Ducati North America include establishing a “Press Park” on both the East and West coasts to enable journalists to test ride any current model from the Ducati family of motorcycles. “The Ducati brand has a powerful impact on the U.S. market not only because of its performance and unique design, but because it epitomizes Italian style. I look forward to working with the Ducati North America team to see the brand continue to thrive and grow here,” said Ms. Gaeta of her hopes for the future.

In 1996, the 50-year-old Bologna-based motorcycle company created Ducati North America – a wholly owned subsidiary of Ducati Motor – to build the brand and cater to the North American market. Since then, Ducati has become one of the premier brand of motorcycles worldwide and is now traded on both the NYSE and Milan Exchange (Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A./ NYSE: DMH, Milan’s Telematico: DMH).

Ducati builds racing-inspired motorcycles – sold in more than 40 countries worldwide, with a primary focus in the Western European and North American markets – that are characterized by unique engine features, innovative design, advanced engineering and overall technical excellence. Ducati motorcycles are widely regarded as the dominant force in the arena of world championship motorcycle racing (it has one of the most highly regarded R&D divisions of any motorcycle company), having won nine of the last eleven World Superbike Championship titles and more individual victories than the competition put together.

A January 10 press release from the FIM finalizes the 2002 Endurance World Championship schedule by removing the two “TBA” dates resulting in a six-round series, with only one 24-hour race.

The 2002 Endurance World Championship schedule follows:

4/28 200-mile Imola, San Marino
5/19 200-mile Silverstone, England
6/16 6-hour Brno, Czech Republic
8/4 8-hour Suzuka, Japan
8/10-11 24-hour Oschersleben, Germany
10/6 200-mile Vallelunga, Italy

For additional info, call FIM at 011-41-22-950-9500, FAX 011-41-22-950-9501, e-mail [email protected], www.fim.ch.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

The SuperTT race series is holding a pre-season warm-up event Saturday, January 12 in the parking lot of Edison Field in Anaheim, California during the U.S. Hot Rod Monster Jam, and some of road racing’s biggest names are expected to race.

Don Canet, Road Test Editor of Cycle World magazine and founder of the SuperTT series, has announced that 1993 500cc World Champion Kevin Schwantz will be racing on a specially-prepared Suzuki DR-Z400. Former factory Ducati Superbike racer and Grand National dirt tracker Larry Pegram will also race, on a White Brothers-prepared Honda CR450F.

Joining Canet, Schwantz and Pegram could be many of the SuperTT series regulars including former AMA Motocross Champion Gary Jones, former AMA 250cc Grand Prix Champion Roland Sands, and former AMA pro road racers Mark Miller and Mark Foster. According to series organizers, other possible attendees may include Yamaha factory Superbike star Anthony Gobert, American Honda superstar Nicky Hayden and former AMA Superbike Champion Doug Chandler.

There are three classes of racing with SuperTT at Anaheim including Open, for open-displacement single-cylinders with unlimited modifications and any size of wheel acceptable; Sportsman, for open-displacement single-cylinders with 21-inch front wheels, full suspension travel, stock brake calipers and any type of tire including DOTs; and Mini-Motard, for up to 150cc 4-stroke Singles with unlimited modifications.

SuperTT will hold a similar event Saturday, January 26 at the same location with many of the same racers scheduled to appear including Schwantz and with the possible addition of Yoshimura Suzuki’s Aaron Yates.

For more information, for racers or spectators, go to www.supertt.com.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Formula USA is considering buying 2000 linear feet of a built-to-order modified version of Alpina Super Defender impact-absorbing modules for use at dirt tracks during the 2002 racing season.

Alpina Super Defender modules are non-inflatable, and use foam and an inner chamber at ambient air pressure to absorb energy.

The modules would be connected to form a free-standing impact-absorbing wall and would be positioned several feet inside the perimeter wall on half-mile tracks. The modules would positioned against the perimeter wall on straightaway sections exiting the corners.

If all goes according to plan, the 2000 feet of Alpina modules would be transported to F-USA dirt track races using two semi-trucks already owned by Clear Channel Entertainment Motor Sports, which owns F-USA.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Willow Springs owner Bill Huth said today that his Toyota 200 unlimited professional race will be held September 13-14-15 and will pay $50,000 to win.

The field for the WSMC-sanctioned 200-mile race will include 40 riders, and everybody who qualifies and starts the race will make at least $1000.

The race is open to any licensed rider on any type of road racing motorcycle.

Huth originally planned to hold the race on October 18-19-20 but spontaneously decided to move it to September when it was pointed out that the original date would conflict with the October 16-20 F-USA finale/CCS Race of Champions at Daytona.

The purse payout follows.

1. $50,000
2. $30,000
3. $10,000
4. $5000
5. $3000
6. $3000
7. $3000
8. $2000
9. $2000
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11. $2000
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16. $2000
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19. $1500
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22. $1500
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25. $1500
26. $1500
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28. $1500
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30. $1000
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34. $1000
35. $1000
36. $1000
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39. $1000
40. $1000

From a press release:

AMA CHALLENGES RECENT IIHS REPORT

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reported today that a recent opinion paper published by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is a hopelessly flawed analysis of motorcycling fatalities.

The IIHS “Status Report,” released yesterday and entitled “Special Issue: Motorcycle Deaths,” states that “motorcycles are a dim spot in the overall highway safety picture,” despite the fact that motorcycling fatalities have declined by nearly 52% since 1980 — a far better track record than any other form of highway transportation.

“This opinion paper simply recycles old news and misuses statistics to support preconceived conclusions, and yet the IIHS wants the American public to believe that it’s done serious research,” said Edward Moreland, Vice President of Government Relations for the AMA. “Even though we debunked these theories months ago, the IIHS seems to believe that if it repeats half-truths often enough, its statements will be accepted as fact.”

The IIHS report opens with statistics released last year by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), showing an increase in fatalities among motorcyclists age 40 and older, and yet it fails to note that these statistics reflect a natural and predictable demographic trend. The report then uses a three-year increase in motorcycling fatalities — ignoring the preceding 17-year trend of steadily decreasing fatalities — to support its call for mandatory helmet-use laws.

Elsewhere in the report, in a graph comparing states with and without helmet laws, data for a state with a mandatory helmet-use law is erroneously combined with that for a state without such a law to represent “universal coverage,” the report’s term for a mandatory helmet-use law.

“It’s no secret that the IIHS is bankrolled entirely by insurance companies, and that its real agenda here is to justify increasing rates,” said the AMA’s Moreland. “Motorcyclists have battled the IIHS many times in the past, and we’ve won. We’ll win again, and the first step is to expose this opinion paper for what it is.

“We’re concerned, of course, about any increase in motorcycle-related fatalities,” Moreland continued, “but what we have here are questions, not answers. 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 nationwide study of motorcycle accident data.”

In 2000, the AMA — along with the Motorcycle Safety Foundation and other industry groups — succeeded in incorporating a motorcycle-accident study into the National Agenda for Motorcycle Safety. As a result, NHTSA officials have said they hope to begin such a study in the near future. The most recent comprehensive federal study of motorcycle accident data was published in 1980, and sampled accident data only in Southern California.

The AMA believes there is a clear distinction between the use of helmets and mandatory helmet-use laws. Although the AMA strongly encourages helmet use by all motorcyclists, as part of a comprehensive approach to motorcycle safety, it maintains a long-standing fundamental belief that adults should continue to have the right to voluntarily decide when to wear a helmet.