Jerry Jirkovsky and his California Race Services will be on hand selling Metzeler and Pirelli race tires for all five days of free (for WSMC members) testing at Willow Springs Raceway, December 26-30.
More information is available from Jirkovsky at 714) 305-6846.
From a press release:
Skorpion Racing, the North American Importers for Texport Leathers and Wiz knee sliders, is expanding its very popular privateer discount program. Effective December 15, 2001, any 2001 or 2002 licensed racer from AFM, AHRMA, AMA, CCS, CMRA, CRA, MRA, MARRC, NESBA, OMRRA, RPM, WERA, WMRRA and WSMC will receive a 30% discount on any Texport race suit or Superpole gloves purchased, along with a 15% discount on Wiz Racing’s GP leather or GP plastic knee sliders. New racers who have not yet completed their required membership course but who have paid (in full) and are scheduled to attend their course within 60 days may also qualify upon verification. (Program not valid with other discount offers).
Contact Skorpion Racing at 800-764-6789 or online at www.skorpionracing.com.
Copyright 2001, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
Theo Lockwood, 37, who worked with the Graves Motorsports team in 2001 as Crew Chief for Damon Buckmaster, has accepted a job with Eckl Kawasaki as Crew Chief for Chris Walker in the Superbike World Championship Series.
Lockwood worked with Roger Lee Hayden for Chaparral Suzuki in 2000, and with Rich Alexander, Tom Kipp and Buckmaster for Chaparral in 1999.
Lockwood spent 1998 tuning at AFM races for Mark Foster, after working with Mike Smith for Kinkos Kawasaki in 1997. Lockwood tuned for Chris Rogers in 1996; in 1996 Lockwood tuned for Chuck Graves and Tray Batey, then members of Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki.
Lockwood will live in Wieden, Germany.
Cycle World Road Test Editor (and former racer) Don Canet and wife Erin had a son, Cameron, Monday, December 17 in Mission Viejo, California.
From a press release:
HONDA RACING NEWS
HRC RC211V Test Phillip Island, Australia, December 21, 2001
Riders Quotes and Lap Times of the third day RC211V Test
Weather was partially cloudy but the temperature was OK: 25° C
Quotes from the pits:
Valentino Rossi: “The results of this test are positive, after the Jerez tests the Honda technicians made some changes following my suggestion and were very skill to make it. We start to understand how to set up the bike
and I enjoy to ride the bike on this circuit. This bike start to be fun to ride. Now we have to work a lot to improve some points but in general I am quite satisfied now, I think that everybody need some vacation and so I wish you a great Holiday Season and see you on 2002!”
Tohru Ukawa: “After three days of test I can said I am quite happy with the new bike, we tested a lot of different settings and parts. Today I did a lot of laps, over 90, as three GP and now is time to get a little of rest.”
Daijiro Katoh: “Today I got a good time, I am satisfied about my feeling with the NSR 500
but I still need to learn the right style to handle a so powerful bike.”
Jurgen vd Goorbergh: “I am happy with the bike and now I am anxious to get the 2001 model
to start to ride it. These three days were very useful to find a good feeling with bike but I need more time to get the right riding style.”
Rossi: RC211V, 62 laps, best time 1:32.00
Ukawa: RC211V, 92 laps, best time 1:33.00
Katoh: NSR500, 80 laps, best time, 1.32.57
VD Goorbergh: NSR500, 40 laps, best time, 1:34.03
Itoh: NSR500, 58 laps, best time, 1:33.97
From a press release:
FORBES MAGAZINE NAMES HARLEY-DAVIDSON AS COMPANY OF THE YEAR
Performance, passion and outlook cited in story
Harley-Davidson Motor Company has been named Company of the Year by FORBES Magazine, one the world’s leading business publications. The honor and accompanying article entitled “Love Into Money” appears in the January 7, 2002 edition of FORBES and on the magazine’s Web site at www.forbes.com.
Key factors cited for the FORBES Company of the Year award include Harley-Davidson’s record sales growth and earnings, along with strong overall financial performance. In addition, the article notes the Company’s long and storied history as well as the devotion of its enthusiasts as deciding factors. “Harley-Davidson stirs passion in its riders, its dealers and its employees and translates that passion into profit,” the article states.
The article also focuses on Harley-Davidson’s new V-Rod motorcycle and its development, the Buell line of motorcycles, the Rider’s Edge New Rider Course, and the Company’s history and technological advancement.
Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company for Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Buell Motorcycle Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services, Inc. Harley-Davidson Motor Company, the only major U.S.-based motorcycle manufacturer, produces heavyweight motorcycles and offers a complete line of motorcycle parts, accessories, apparel, and general merchandise. Buell Motorcycle Company produces sport and sport-touring motorcycles. Harley-Davidson Financial Services, Inc. provides wholesale and retail financing, insurance and credit card programs to Harley-Davidson dealers and customers.
Lotus Tours has released a long list of international motorcycle tour destinations for the 2002 season.
New for 2002 are tours through former Eastern Bloc countries such as the Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. Other trips are available to The Isle of Man, Turkey, Tuscany, and Corsica & Sardinia. Motorcycle “expeditions…for experienced riders looking for rugged journeys with difficult off-road riding conditions and limited amenities” are available to Northern Australia, Peru, Mongolia, Tibet-to-Nepal and The Great Wall of China.
Lotus Tours has programs that provide motorcycle training to customers looking to prepare themselves for their big tours and expeditions, including custom training packages at Freddie Spencer’s High Performance Riding School in Las Vegas, Nevada and at Gary LaPlante’s Ride-In-Ranch Dirt Bike Clinics in California.
For additional information, call Lotus Tours at (312) 951-0031, FAX (312) 951-7313, e-mail [email protected], website www.lotustours.com.
While we thought it was all about motorcycle racing, it turns out that to the AMA brass, it’s all about “markets.” Well, there are some bikes that are green like lettuce, and some others that are red like radishes, and some that are yellow like bananas, so maybe that works. Uh, is this a required class for an MBA?
From an AMA press release:
JAMSPORTS, AMA PRO RACING ANNOUNCE 2003 AMA SUPERCROSS MARKETS
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — JamSports and AMA Pro Racing today announced the list of major-market cities that will constitute the 2003 AMA U.S. Supercross Championship. The season will kick off in Los Angeles on January 4 and conclude in New York on May 3.
The cities included in the 2003 AMA U.S. Supercross season are: New York, Los Angeles (two rounds), Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Boston, New Orleans, Charlotte, Tampa, and Daytona.
The 2003 markets reinforce JamSports’ and AMA Pro Racing’s commitment to spread the AMA U.S. Supercross Championship geographically and to include more heavily populated areas that better represent the entire country.
“It was extremely important that our 2003 series send a clear signal of our commitment to the sport and its incredibly talented athletes,” said Jerry Mickelson a principal in JamSports. “We are dedicated to growing AMA Supercross, and we will not allow cost factors, yesterday’s excuses or obstructions of any kind to deter us from doing the right thing.”
John Farris, AMA Pro Racing vice president of commercial development, concludes, “The announcement of these markets comes as a result of extensive conversations with our participants, our television partners who help us promote the series and its stars, and current and prospective sponsors of both the Championship and the teams. Brands like Chevy Trucks, Budweiser and Parts Unlimited sell their products nationwide. In 2003, we will deliver a superior marketing platform that will take AMA Supercross across the country into a great list of major markets.”
JamSports’ Tony Dimitriades adds, “We have tried to demonstrate that in this new era of AMA Supercross we will listen to the needs of everyone who has a stake in the growth of the sport. Our series will be showcased in the largest markets available and the riders and sponsors will benefit from exposure in seven of the top-10 markets in the country.”
“I am delighted with the new relationship with JamSports,” said Scott Hollingsworth, CEO, AMA Pro Racing. “The next era of growth of AMA Supercross is dependent upon live television and nationwide markets. We were excited to announce this month a live television package with Speed Channel, and now we have markets in place that will ensure AMA Supercross is seen by fans coast-to-coast. Combine that with the heritage of the AMA Championship, our rulebook and our plan to ensure rider participation in the growth of the sport, and the foundation is solidly set for a successful season in 2003 and beyond.”
For the first-time in its 29-year history, the 2003 AMA Supercross Championship will be broadcast LIVE nationally on Speed Channel. Speed Channel will also promote each race in every venue weekly prior to telecast, providing racing fans with a consistent, live schedule of the best riders in the world.
Copyright 2001, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
By David Swarts
Two-time AMA 250cc Grand Prix Champion Chuck Sorensen lapped under the official track record at Roebling Road Raceway in Faulkville, Georgia Sunday, December 16 during a shake-down run on his new Stargel Racing Aprilia RSV250. Sorensen turned a 1:12.07 on his team’s hand-held stop watches, significantly lower than Steve Grigg’s official mark of 1:12.75 set in May of 1995 on a Michelin-slick-shod Muzzy Raptor.
The bikes Sorensen rode at the test were Aprilia RSV250s, two 1999 ex-Jeremy McWilliams machines and one 2000-model. “I only picked (the bikes) up less than two weeks before the test and basically spent what free time I had just laying hands on them and getting familiar with how everything went together,” said Sorensen’s new team owner/tuner, Rocky Stargel. “I’ve never wrenched on them. So we essentially wanted to see how they ran and try to get up to speed on what they wanted as far as jetting and very, very basic set-up.
“The suspension that was on them was box-stock stuff that was very old. The forks, for instance, were original and I don’t think the fork oil had ever been changed. So the suspension was far from optimal. I ran the same internal gear ratios that came in the bikes and didn’t even have time to pull it and check it. So we’re not even sure what the internals were. We do know that they weren’t optimized for Roebling, either.
“From a tuning standpoint, the bikes were extremely fast, but I’ve got a long way to go to get the maximum horsepower out of them. I mean it was impressive that they were that good straight out of the box, and we were encouraged due to the fact that we know there’s a whole lot more to come.
“We had a bunch of small problems and glitches that held us up about half a day on Saturday. What laps we did get in at the end of the day, Chuck did a 1:14.0, maybe a 1:13.9, and I asked him how hard it was to run that pace. He said, ‘I’m not trying at all.’ I knew then we were 1.2 seconds off the lap record, and I said, ‘Maybe tomorrow, if we get things working a little bit better, that’s a goal we can shoot for.’
“We broke (the lap record) quite easily at a 1:12.4 and then came back within two laps and did a 1:12.0. I really thought on the very next lap that he would have a high 1:11 just because he was taking it down in such big chunks, but there were other folks out on the track and one fellow got in his way going into a corner and Chuck wasn’t going to be rude or do anything risky and he backed off.
“(Roebling Road is) my favorite close track, and a lot of people talk about going down there and flirting with the record. The fact that we were able to literally do it so easily, I’m pretty excited about that.
“If you would have been there and seen the sheer straightaway speed of this bike. I expected to be impressed with the speed of the bike but was really kind of blown away.”
Unfortunately, Stargel wasn’t able to provide as many details about his team’s 2002 racing plans. “We’re hoping to issue a broader statement about (our plans) in the next two weeks outlining all of our intentions and sponsorship and that kind of thing,” Stargel explained in a telephone call to Roadracing World. “We do plan on doing the whole AMA 250cc Grand Prix season next year. We just want to give that all out at one time when we have all of the details in place. We’ve got some really good sponsorship and support lined up, and I think they’ll want to make that announcement themselves. Very strong inside-the-industry support and something that I think the 250 class sorely needs.
“The last couple of years I’ve club raced 250s myself and spent a lot of time working with the things and realized just how much I love them. We’re just trying to talk it up another notch and see if we can make a legitimate impact on things.”
Stargel did say that Sorensen would be his only rider and, “As it stands right now, I’m doing the majority of the tuning, working in conjunction with the factory guys in Italy.”
While we had Stargel on the phone, we asked him about the 1993 ROC-framed Yamaha YZR500 Grand Prix bike that he purchased in 2000.
“Right now we’re getting parts for it,” explained Stargel. “The engine’s in pieces and it’s being gone over with a fine-tooth comb. When I get the pieces back in, it’s going back together and we’re going to do a good bit of dyno time with it, checking ignition advance and jetting and that type thing. Eventually, I would like to get it out on the track and do something with it just to have the excitement of people getting to see the thing run.”
What about having Sorensen race the YZR500 in the proposed $250,000 race at Willow Springs in 2002? “I’ll tell you, I did get kind of excited about that,” admitted Stargel. “And Chuck and I have talked about it. For what it’s worth, you should twist (Willow Springs owner) Bill Huth’s arm. What he’s (Huth) saying to Chuck is that they want to do a real long race and have pit stops, and obviously that’s not very well suited to a 500 GP bike. If it was in any kind of a normal race format, yeah, we would have interest in participating. But if it’s a pit-stop type situation, that’s kind of tough. That’s not a race. That’s an endurance (race). That’s going to appeal to a lot of folks, and I won’t argue with that. But personally, I was somewhat disappointed that he wanted to take that approach with it. He could break it up and have two races like World Superbike.
“I think Chuck’s best time around (Willow Springs) on a 250 is a 1:21.5, and we felt like to be serious about it you’d have to run consistent low-1:19s. (Sorensen) seemed to feel like on a 500 he could do that.
“I own that bike, and there’s another newer 500 that I have access to. Like I say, I would consider putting something together if it was a good fit and if it was a truly no-hamstrung-rules approach, i.e. we would run carbon brakes and a full GP set-up.”
This just in:
Firstly let me thank you for chatting at Homestead racetrack in December. It was with interest that the following Friday I received in the mail a flyer from the incumbent Trustee for my region (Southeast) asking me to vote for him. What struck me as being strange was how he knew my street address?
After carefully reading the flyer I realised that he must have received my address from the AMA mailing list.
Later that night while visiting the local burger joint’s weekly motorcycle event, I met a fellow handing out flyers on behalf of Kevin Schwantz. I immediately offered to help and have since been handing them out to all that I meet.
The point I am try to make here is that, is it not fair that if the incumbent member has access to the mailing lists, then surely the person running in opposition should also have access to the mailing list.
Perhaps I am mistaken, but I for one do not appreciate the AMA using my name and address in this manner.
And once again, many thanks for the best motorcycle magazine in the world, bar none.
Regards,
Neville Hall-Reace
CCS, AMA, AHRMA
Jerry Jirkovsky and his California Race Services will be on hand selling Metzeler and Pirelli race tires for all five days of free (for WSMC members) testing at Willow Springs Raceway, December 26-30.
More information is available from Jirkovsky at 714) 305-6846.
From a press release:
Skorpion Racing, the North American Importers for Texport Leathers and Wiz knee sliders, is expanding its very popular privateer discount program. Effective December 15, 2001, any 2001 or 2002 licensed racer from AFM, AHRMA, AMA, CCS, CMRA, CRA, MRA, MARRC, NESBA, OMRRA, RPM, WERA, WMRRA and WSMC will receive a 30% discount on any Texport race suit or Superpole gloves purchased, along with a 15% discount on Wiz Racing’s GP leather or GP plastic knee sliders. New racers who have not yet completed their required membership course but who have paid (in full) and are scheduled to attend their course within 60 days may also qualify upon verification. (Program not valid with other discount offers).
Contact Skorpion Racing at 800-764-6789 or online at www.skorpionracing.com.
Copyright 2001, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
Theo Lockwood, 37, who worked with the Graves Motorsports team in 2001 as Crew Chief for Damon Buckmaster, has accepted a job with Eckl Kawasaki as Crew Chief for Chris Walker in the Superbike World Championship Series.
Lockwood worked with Roger Lee Hayden for Chaparral Suzuki in 2000, and with Rich Alexander, Tom Kipp and Buckmaster for Chaparral in 1999.
Lockwood spent 1998 tuning at AFM races for Mark Foster, after working with Mike Smith for Kinkos Kawasaki in 1997. Lockwood tuned for Chris Rogers in 1996; in 1996 Lockwood tuned for Chuck Graves and Tray Batey, then members of Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki.
Lockwood will live in Wieden, Germany.
Cycle World Road Test Editor (and former racer) Don Canet and wife Erin had a son, Cameron, Monday, December 17 in Mission Viejo, California.
From a press release:
HONDA RACING NEWS
HRC RC211V Test Phillip Island, Australia, December 21, 2001
Riders Quotes and Lap Times of the third day RC211V Test
Weather was partially cloudy but the temperature was OK: 25° C
Quotes from the pits:
Valentino Rossi: “The results of this test are positive, after the Jerez tests the Honda technicians made some changes following my suggestion and were very skill to make it. We start to understand how to set up the bike
and I enjoy to ride the bike on this circuit. This bike start to be fun to ride. Now we have to work a lot to improve some points but in general I am quite satisfied now, I think that everybody need some vacation and so I wish you a great Holiday Season and see you on 2002!”
Tohru Ukawa: “After three days of test I can said I am quite happy with the new bike, we tested a lot of different settings and parts. Today I did a lot of laps, over 90, as three GP and now is time to get a little of rest.”
Daijiro Katoh: “Today I got a good time, I am satisfied about my feeling with the NSR 500
but I still need to learn the right style to handle a so powerful bike.”
Jurgen vd Goorbergh: “I am happy with the bike and now I am anxious to get the 2001 model
to start to ride it. These three days were very useful to find a good feeling with bike but I need more time to get the right riding style.”
Rossi: RC211V, 62 laps, best time 1:32.00
Ukawa: RC211V, 92 laps, best time 1:33.00
Katoh: NSR500, 80 laps, best time, 1.32.57
VD Goorbergh: NSR500, 40 laps, best time, 1:34.03
Itoh: NSR500, 58 laps, best time, 1:33.97
From a press release:
FORBES MAGAZINE NAMES HARLEY-DAVIDSON AS COMPANY OF THE YEAR
Performance, passion and outlook cited in story
Harley-Davidson Motor Company has been named Company of the Year by FORBES Magazine, one the world’s leading business publications. The honor and accompanying article entitled “Love Into Money” appears in the January 7, 2002 edition of FORBES and on the magazine’s Web site at www.forbes.com.
Key factors cited for the FORBES Company of the Year award include Harley-Davidson’s record sales growth and earnings, along with strong overall financial performance. In addition, the article notes the Company’s long and storied history as well as the devotion of its enthusiasts as deciding factors. “Harley-Davidson stirs passion in its riders, its dealers and its employees and translates that passion into profit,” the article states.
The article also focuses on Harley-Davidson’s new V-Rod motorcycle and its development, the Buell line of motorcycles, the Rider’s Edge New Rider Course, and the Company’s history and technological advancement.
Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company for Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Buell Motorcycle Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services, Inc. Harley-Davidson Motor Company, the only major U.S.-based motorcycle manufacturer, produces heavyweight motorcycles and offers a complete line of motorcycle parts, accessories, apparel, and general merchandise. Buell Motorcycle Company produces sport and sport-touring motorcycles. Harley-Davidson Financial Services, Inc. provides wholesale and retail financing, insurance and credit card programs to Harley-Davidson dealers and customers.
Lotus Tours has released a long list of international motorcycle tour destinations for the 2002 season.
New for 2002 are tours through former Eastern Bloc countries such as the Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. Other trips are available to The Isle of Man, Turkey, Tuscany, and Corsica & Sardinia. Motorcycle “expeditions…for experienced riders looking for rugged journeys with difficult off-road riding conditions and limited amenities” are available to Northern Australia, Peru, Mongolia, Tibet-to-Nepal and The Great Wall of China.
Lotus Tours has programs that provide motorcycle training to customers looking to prepare themselves for their big tours and expeditions, including custom training packages at Freddie Spencer’s High Performance Riding School in Las Vegas, Nevada and at Gary LaPlante’s Ride-In-Ranch Dirt Bike Clinics in California.
For additional information, call Lotus Tours at (312) 951-0031, FAX (312) 951-7313, e-mail [email protected], website www.lotustours.com.
While we thought it was all about motorcycle racing, it turns out that to the AMA brass, it’s all about “markets.” Well, there are some bikes that are green like lettuce, and some others that are red like radishes, and some that are yellow like bananas, so maybe that works. Uh, is this a required class for an MBA?
From an AMA press release:
JAMSPORTS, AMA PRO RACING ANNOUNCE 2003 AMA SUPERCROSS MARKETS
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — JamSports and AMA Pro Racing today announced the list of major-market cities that will constitute the 2003 AMA U.S. Supercross Championship. The season will kick off in Los Angeles on January 4 and conclude in New York on May 3.
The cities included in the 2003 AMA U.S. Supercross season are: New York, Los Angeles (two rounds), Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Boston, New Orleans, Charlotte, Tampa, and Daytona.
The 2003 markets reinforce JamSports’ and AMA Pro Racing’s commitment to spread the AMA U.S. Supercross Championship geographically and to include more heavily populated areas that better represent the entire country.
“It was extremely important that our 2003 series send a clear signal of our commitment to the sport and its incredibly talented athletes,” said Jerry Mickelson a principal in JamSports. “We are dedicated to growing AMA Supercross, and we will not allow cost factors, yesterday’s excuses or obstructions of any kind to deter us from doing the right thing.”
John Farris, AMA Pro Racing vice president of commercial development, concludes, “The announcement of these markets comes as a result of extensive conversations with our participants, our television partners who help us promote the series and its stars, and current and prospective sponsors of both the Championship and the teams. Brands like Chevy Trucks, Budweiser and Parts Unlimited sell their products nationwide. In 2003, we will deliver a superior marketing platform that will take AMA Supercross across the country into a great list of major markets.”
JamSports’ Tony Dimitriades adds, “We have tried to demonstrate that in this new era of AMA Supercross we will listen to the needs of everyone who has a stake in the growth of the sport. Our series will be showcased in the largest markets available and the riders and sponsors will benefit from exposure in seven of the top-10 markets in the country.”
“I am delighted with the new relationship with JamSports,” said Scott Hollingsworth, CEO, AMA Pro Racing. “The next era of growth of AMA Supercross is dependent upon live television and nationwide markets. We were excited to announce this month a live television package with Speed Channel, and now we have markets in place that will ensure AMA Supercross is seen by fans coast-to-coast. Combine that with the heritage of the AMA Championship, our rulebook and our plan to ensure rider participation in the growth of the sport, and the foundation is solidly set for a successful season in 2003 and beyond.”
For the first-time in its 29-year history, the 2003 AMA Supercross Championship will be broadcast LIVE nationally on Speed Channel. Speed Channel will also promote each race in every venue weekly prior to telecast, providing racing fans with a consistent, live schedule of the best riders in the world.
Copyright 2001, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.
By David Swarts
Two-time AMA 250cc Grand Prix Champion Chuck Sorensen lapped under the official track record at Roebling Road Raceway in Faulkville, Georgia Sunday, December 16 during a shake-down run on his new Stargel Racing Aprilia RSV250. Sorensen turned a 1:12.07 on his team’s hand-held stop watches, significantly lower than Steve Grigg’s official mark of 1:12.75 set in May of 1995 on a Michelin-slick-shod Muzzy Raptor.
The bikes Sorensen rode at the test were Aprilia RSV250s, two 1999 ex-Jeremy McWilliams machines and one 2000-model. “I only picked (the bikes) up less than two weeks before the test and basically spent what free time I had just laying hands on them and getting familiar with how everything went together,” said Sorensen’s new team owner/tuner, Rocky Stargel. “I’ve never wrenched on them. So we essentially wanted to see how they ran and try to get up to speed on what they wanted as far as jetting and very, very basic set-up.
“The suspension that was on them was box-stock stuff that was very old. The forks, for instance, were original and I don’t think the fork oil had ever been changed. So the suspension was far from optimal. I ran the same internal gear ratios that came in the bikes and didn’t even have time to pull it and check it. So we’re not even sure what the internals were. We do know that they weren’t optimized for Roebling, either.
“From a tuning standpoint, the bikes were extremely fast, but I’ve got a long way to go to get the maximum horsepower out of them. I mean it was impressive that they were that good straight out of the box, and we were encouraged due to the fact that we know there’s a whole lot more to come.
“We had a bunch of small problems and glitches that held us up about half a day on Saturday. What laps we did get in at the end of the day, Chuck did a 1:14.0, maybe a 1:13.9, and I asked him how hard it was to run that pace. He said, ‘I’m not trying at all.’ I knew then we were 1.2 seconds off the lap record, and I said, ‘Maybe tomorrow, if we get things working a little bit better, that’s a goal we can shoot for.’
“We broke (the lap record) quite easily at a 1:12.4 and then came back within two laps and did a 1:12.0. I really thought on the very next lap that he would have a high 1:11 just because he was taking it down in such big chunks, but there were other folks out on the track and one fellow got in his way going into a corner and Chuck wasn’t going to be rude or do anything risky and he backed off.
“(Roebling Road is) my favorite close track, and a lot of people talk about going down there and flirting with the record. The fact that we were able to literally do it so easily, I’m pretty excited about that.
“If you would have been there and seen the sheer straightaway speed of this bike. I expected to be impressed with the speed of the bike but was really kind of blown away.”
Unfortunately, Stargel wasn’t able to provide as many details about his team’s 2002 racing plans. “We’re hoping to issue a broader statement about (our plans) in the next two weeks outlining all of our intentions and sponsorship and that kind of thing,” Stargel explained in a telephone call to Roadracing World. “We do plan on doing the whole AMA 250cc Grand Prix season next year. We just want to give that all out at one time when we have all of the details in place. We’ve got some really good sponsorship and support lined up, and I think they’ll want to make that announcement themselves. Very strong inside-the-industry support and something that I think the 250 class sorely needs.
“The last couple of years I’ve club raced 250s myself and spent a lot of time working with the things and realized just how much I love them. We’re just trying to talk it up another notch and see if we can make a legitimate impact on things.”
Stargel did say that Sorensen would be his only rider and, “As it stands right now, I’m doing the majority of the tuning, working in conjunction with the factory guys in Italy.”
While we had Stargel on the phone, we asked him about the 1993 ROC-framed Yamaha YZR500 Grand Prix bike that he purchased in 2000.
“Right now we’re getting parts for it,” explained Stargel. “The engine’s in pieces and it’s being gone over with a fine-tooth comb. When I get the pieces back in, it’s going back together and we’re going to do a good bit of dyno time with it, checking ignition advance and jetting and that type thing. Eventually, I would like to get it out on the track and do something with it just to have the excitement of people getting to see the thing run.”
What about having Sorensen race the YZR500 in the proposed $250,000 race at Willow Springs in 2002? “I’ll tell you, I did get kind of excited about that,” admitted Stargel. “And Chuck and I have talked about it. For what it’s worth, you should twist (Willow Springs owner) Bill Huth’s arm. What he’s (Huth) saying to Chuck is that they want to do a real long race and have pit stops, and obviously that’s not very well suited to a 500 GP bike. If it was in any kind of a normal race format, yeah, we would have interest in participating. But if it’s a pit-stop type situation, that’s kind of tough. That’s not a race. That’s an endurance (race). That’s going to appeal to a lot of folks, and I won’t argue with that. But personally, I was somewhat disappointed that he wanted to take that approach with it. He could break it up and have two races like World Superbike.
“I think Chuck’s best time around (Willow Springs) on a 250 is a 1:21.5, and we felt like to be serious about it you’d have to run consistent low-1:19s. (Sorensen) seemed to feel like on a 500 he could do that.
“I own that bike, and there’s another newer 500 that I have access to. Like I say, I would consider putting something together if it was a good fit and if it was a truly no-hamstrung-rules approach, i.e. we would run carbon brakes and a full GP set-up.”
This just in:
Firstly let me thank you for chatting at Homestead racetrack in December. It was with interest that the following Friday I received in the mail a flyer from the incumbent Trustee for my region (Southeast) asking me to vote for him. What struck me as being strange was how he knew my street address?
After carefully reading the flyer I realised that he must have received my address from the AMA mailing list.
Later that night while visiting the local burger joint’s weekly motorcycle event, I met a fellow handing out flyers on behalf of Kevin Schwantz. I immediately offered to help and have since been handing them out to all that I meet.
The point I am try to make here is that, is it not fair that if the incumbent member has access to the mailing lists, then surely the person running in opposition should also have access to the mailing list.
Perhaps I am mistaken, but I for one do not appreciate the AMA using my name and address in this manner.
And once again, many thanks for the best motorcycle magazine in the world, bar none.
Regards,
Neville Hall-Reace
CCS, AMA, AHRMA
