Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Jeff Nash, the 2000 AMA Pro Thunder Champion and current candidate for the South Central AMA Board of Trustees seat, has retired from AMA Pro Racing as a rider but has taken the first step toward improving his presence as a racing team owner by relocating his Advanced Motor Sports Ducati shop to a larger facility.

We were surprised to first hear of Nash’s retirement as a rider from a third party and called the New Zealand immigrant Tuesday, January 8 to check on his situation. “I’m still trying to deny it myself,” said Nash, when asked about his retirement. “Basically, with the changes in my life, I felt that it was the right time to retire. Unfortunately, I’m suffering from a bit of…the knock on the head from Virginia (2001 AMA Pro Thunder race at Virginia International Raceway) is still giving me some trouble with balance. It hasn’t got a lot better. That’s one of the reasons.

“Other than that, I want to stay involved in the sport. So the best way I can do it, stay in racing, at this stage was to move shop, buy a bigger building, and do it from a support-type side and eventually get a team going in the future. I’ve sort of decided to turn my focus a little more to my business in order to stay sane, you know?”

Nash crashed at high speed in the Pro Thunder heat race at VIR on Saturday, September 29, breaking several ribs, injuring his right hand and suffering a serious concussion. “It’s kind of like a vertigo problem that I get,” disclosed 39-year-old Nash. “Like, I can’t stand on a ladder or anything like that, unfortunately. I’ve been to see some specialists, and they say it’s a time thing. It may or may not get better. It’s just one of those deals where you just have to wait and see.

“That wasn’t my decision for retirement. I’ve enjoyed racing, and I gave it my best shot last year to win the Championship, but Tom (Montano) had a little better luck than I did and congratulations to him. I feel like I rode better than I have ever ridden before. Certainly, I had put in as much effort as I had the year before, if not more, in terms of physical training. I thought it was a good time to park it. I would rather park it, stay healthy and work with some new, young guys in the future. It’s not an easy thing to do when you’re a racer. I’m not saying that I won’t do any club stuff or the occasional ride here in the future, but as far as the commitment for AMA Pro Racing, it’s definitely time to retire.”

But aside from hoping to serve as the AMA Trustee from the South Central Region of the United States (ballots are being accepted until January 15) , Nash is already working through his plans to expand his business in an effort to build another racing team in the future. “Obviously, over the years of racing, we’ve developed a pretty good clientele as far as Ducati service is concerned,” explained the soft-spoken father of two. “I’ve really kept it small because of the fact that we were traveling all of the time. So now I’ve sort of broken out and purchased a 10,000 square foot shop. Obviously, our main focus will be on Italian motorcycles, everything from customer service to race preparation and race services.

“It’s something that where probably the next time you pass through Texas you have to stop in because it’s quite unique. We’ve built it with lots of different facets in mind. It’s definitely a niche market shop. We’ve built a showroom that’s pretty ‘out there’ with a museum of Ducati racing motorcycles, dating back from the ‘70s right through to 2002. To give you an idea, we have on display Neil Hodgson’s 2001 Ducati Superbike. I purchased that for a customer of mine, and that’s on display. We have a couple of Supermonos, another 996 Superbike, Casoli’s 2000 Ducati 748. As I said, Ducati factory racebikes dating back to 1973. I’ve had a lot of my customers bring in their bikes for me to display. It’s a pretty neat place to visit.

“Our (old) workshop was 1200 square feet, but we also had three warehouses full of crap. We’ve combined it all into this large building, which is fantastic. We’ve completed the showroom and the workshop. Phase two, which will start in February, will be a fully climate-controlled dyno room and machine shop. It’s all here, but it’s just taking the time getting it the way we want it.

“We’re located in Alvarado, Texas, just South of Fort Worth. R.E.S., Racing Engine Service, is probably just 400 yards down the road. GMD Computrack’s new shop is seven miles from us. It’s the new hub of motorcycling.”

Nash ended our conversation by saying that he plans to put someone on his 2001 Ducati 748RS for the Pro Thunder race at Daytona and possibly may field a team for the entire season with a major new player in AMA Pro Thunder.

Advanced Motor Sports’ new address and phone numbers follow:

11550 East F.M. 917
Alvarado, TX 76009
Phone (817) 790-0200
FAX (817) 783-8883

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

The Daytona tire test held in December each year not only offers the debut of new teams, riders, and bikes, but also reveals many riders’ new personal gear sponsors.

During the 2001 racing season, Arai helmets dominated the AMA professional road racing paddock, covering the heads of a vast majority of the top riders. But as seen at Daytona this past December, Arai’s competitors are putting forth extra effort for 2002.

Suomy Helmets has signed all three Gobert brothers, but probably the biggest moves are being made by Shoei. “This year we made a big push,” says Shoei Motorsports Manager Rob Vallejos. “Part of it is that we have more budget, part of it is that there are more opportunities out there. We get a set budget every year, and we had been pushing for it for a long time to expand our race program. This year, we got a good answer from (Shoei headquarters). They wanted us to get at least one or two marquee riders and we ended up getting Kurtis Roberts.”

To some, Shoei’s push appears so large that representatives from other companies are suggesting that Shoei is throwing large amounts of money around to convert riders from competing brands.

“In order to get a marquee rider from the other company…part of it is that they (Arai) have a huge stable of riders,” explained Vallejos. “Unfortunately, our budget was strapped about four years; we were stuck with the same budget. With riders’ expenses going up and contracts going up, we had to sacrifice a lot of key riders.

“So in turn, for us to get these riders back, to say that we are throwing an insane amount of money there, that’s not entirely true. There’s a point to where it’s no longer valuable. To spend $500,000 on anybody is insane and we’re not going to recoup that. So it doesn’t make sense.

“There are other companies out there, not necessarily a high-end company, but I know there’s lower-end, some of the cheaper stuff in the market, that are trying to establish recognition. They’re having to buy that from other racers.

“We’ve had that situation with some of our riders shifting teams just because of the amount of money that was thrown at them. We, as a high-end company, we recognize that our product has an inherent value to itself. So we don’t need to, for instance, double our contracts in order to keep a majority or our riders that want to go to some of the lower-end helmets because the riders recognize that the product, especially the higher-end stuff, I won’t say the other company but you know who it is, they recognize that. And because of that, it has its own inherent value on top of the contract fee because they feel confident in the product and they feel comfortable in it too, which is the key at 185 mph.

“I’ll give you a rundown of who we are looking to add for the new (2002) year. Obviously, Kurtis Roberts was one of the marquee guys that we wanted to add to our team, along with Miguel (Duhamel) and Pascal (Picotte). We’ve got Pascal now on the fast Ducati, and he will do very well there hopefully. From what I understand at the tire testing, he went very well.

“We also have Tony Meiring, a new up-and-coming young guy for Kawasaki. Jimmy Moore came over to our side also. We’re really looking forward to having him in our strong group. Mike Hale. We’ve had a long relationship with him regardless of what helmet he was wearing, actually. Of course, there’s (Jake) Zemke and Damon Buckmaster, Rich Oliver, Chuck Sorensen, Perry Melneciuc and Ed Sorbo. We’re adding a total of five more guys.

“We have some other stuff brewing that hasn’t quite materialized yet. Nothing I can really talk about.”

Duhamel’s replica helmet was updated in 2001, and Picotte wore an updated version of his joker helmet design at Daytona. Will Kurtis Roberts have a replica helmet?

“What you saw there (on Roberts at the Daytona tire tests) was kind of the first rendition of the replica,” pointed out Vallejos. “We’re actually going to be finalizing that (design) within the next two to three months. That’s probably going to be a mid-year introduction.”

But what about 2003? “The future all depends on what happens with the year and what happens with the market. Right now, I’m sure you guys are aware the economy for the motorcycle side of the business, the motorcycle sales are still growing. It seems to be a bit shielded from the actual economy and what’s going on in current events.

“We’re looking to grow our business a little more next year and then possibly adding some more riders, but a lot of times, we’ll spend some time with the younger riders creating a relationship. It’s a lot more difficult to get a rider that’s been with a manufacturer for a long time. These guys are all loyal and we respect that.”

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

WERA racer and Roadracing World contributor Beth Wyse is scheduled to appear as a call-in quest tonight on Larry O’Donohue’s weekly “In The Pits” racing talk show. The show is broadcast on WAGE 1200 AM and can be heard in the northern Virginia/ Washington D.C. area, but can also be heard over the Internet on the website www.wage.com.

Wyse is expected to join the show at approximately 7:05 p.m. Eastern Time and plans to talk about her racing misadventures and the formation of a new all-female WERA National Endurance Racing team, Sirens.

From an AMA press release:

NEUBAUER AND CARNEGIE JOIN AMA SPORTS STAFF

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) today announced two additions to its AMA Sports staff.

Douglas Neubauer is the new Director of AMA Sports, replacing Hugh Fleming, who recently joined AMA Pro Racing as its Director of Safety & Logistics. Doug will be responsible for leading the AMA Sports staff, which manages more than 2800 AMA-sanctioned amateur, pro-am, ATV and youth competition events each year. He comes to the AMA from IHRA Motorsports, where he served as assistant to the organization’s president, managing a variety of marketing, promotion, and program-development tasks. An Ohio native, Doug also brings a special interest in motocross to his new position, including experience in motocross-track development.

Steven Carnegie has joined the staff as AMA Sports Manager. Along with fellow Manager Roger Ansel and Coordinator Cherie Daniels, Steve will manage AMA Sports’ competition programs. Before coming to the AMA, Steve gained experience as an amateur motocross racer and referee, an AMA Pro Racing official, a motocross “boot camp” instructor, and an off-road delegate to AMA Congress from Georgia’s District 9.

“Doug and Steve are valuable additions to the AMA Sports team,” said Bill Amick, Vice President of AMA Member Events & Entertainment, which oversees AMA Sports. “Along with their motorsports experience, they bring a special enthusiasm for amateur competition, and we’re pleased to have them on-board.”

Rossi will keep #46. Hopkins will wear #21. Jason DiSalvo is not listed for 250cc Grand Prix, despite earlier plans to compete in the 250cc World Championship in 2002.

125cc Class:
Competition Number, Rider, Nation, Machine, Team
1. Manuel Poggiali, RSM, Gilera, Gilera Racing Team
4. Lucio Cecchinello, ITA, Aprilia, Safilo Oxydo Race LCR
5. Masao Azuma, JPN, Honda, Liegeois Competition
6. Mirko Giansanti, ITA, Honda, CE BA Corse
7. Stefano Perugini, ITA, Italjet, Racing Service
8. Gabor Talmacsi, HUN, Italjet, Racing Service
10. Jarno Muller, GER, Honda, Pev-Spalt-Moto ADAC Sachsen
11. Max Sabbatani, ITA, Aprilia, Bossini Fontana Racing
12. Klaus Nohles, GER, Honda, Pev-Spalt-Moto ADAC Sachsen
15. Alex de Angelis, RSM, Aprilia, Safilo Oxydo Race LCR
16. Simone Sanna, ITA, Aprilia, MS Eros Ramazzotti Racing
17. Steve Jenkner, GER, Aprilia, LAE UGT 3000
18. Jakub Smrz, CZE, Honda, Budweiser Budvar Elit
19. Alex Baldolini, ITA, Aprilia, LAE UGT 3000
20. Chaz Davies, GBR, Aprilia, Matteoni Racing
21. Arnaud Vincent, FRA, Aprilia, WWC
22. Pablo Nieto, SPA, Aprilia, Valencia Circuit – Aspar Team
23. Gino Borsoi, ITA, Aprilia, LAE UGT 3000
24. Alvaro Bautiste, SPA, Honda, Liegeois Competition
25. Joan Olive, SPA, Honda, Telefonica Movistar Jr Team
26. Daniel Pedrosa, SPA, Honda, Telefonica Movistar Jr Team
27. Jorge Lorenzo, SPA, Derbi, Derbi LM
28. Mika Kallio, FIN, Honda, Red Devil Honda
31. Mattia Angeloni, ITA, Gilera, Team Italia
32. Michel Fabrizio, ITA, Gilera, Team Italia
33. Stefano Bianco, ITA, Aprilia, Bossini Fontana Racing
34. Andrea Dovizioso, ITA, Honda, CE BA Corse
39. Jaroslav Hules, CZE, Aprilia, Matteoni Racing
41. Youichi Ui, JPN, Derbi, Derbi LM
47. Angel Rodriguez, SPA, Aprilia, Valencia Circuit – Aspar Team

Reserve/pending:
9. Noboru Ueda, JPN, Honda, Team Angaia/Semprucci


250cc Class:
Competition Number, Rider, Nation, Machine, Team
3. Marco Melandri, ITA, Aprilia, MS Aprilia Racing
4. Roberto Rolfo, ITA, Honda, Fortuna Honda Gresini
6. Alex Debon, SPA, Honda, Shell Advance Honda
7. Emilio Alzamora, SPA, Honda, Fortuna Honda Gresini
8. Naoki Matsudo, JPN, Yamaha, Yamaha Kurz
9. Sebastian Porto, ARG, Yamaha, Petronas Sprinta Yamaha TVK
10. Alfonso Nieto, SPA, Aprilia, Valencia Circuit – Aspar Team
11. Haruchika Aoki, JPN, Honda, Arie Molenaar Racing
12. Toni Elias, SPA, Aprilia, Valencia Circuit – Aspar Team
14. Katja Poensgen, GER, Honda, Shell Advance Honda
15. Roberto Locatelli, ITA, Aprilia, MS Eros Ramazzotti Racing
18. Sharol Yuzy, MAL, Yamaha, Petronas Sprinta Yamaha TVK
19. Leon Haslam, GBR, Honda, By Queroseno Racing Team
21. Franco Battaini, ITA, Aprilia, WWC
22. Raul Jara, SPA, Aprilia, PR2 (Equipe Nacional RFME)
23. Taro Sekiguchi, JPN, Yamaha, Yamaha Kurz
24. Jason Vincent, GBR, Honda, By Queroseno Racing Team
25. Vincent Philippe, FRA, Aprilia, Equipe de France – Scrab GP
27. Casey Stoner, AUS, Honda, Safilo Oxydo Race LCR
28. Dirk Heidolf, GER, Aprilia, Aprilia Germany
32. Hector Faubel, SPA, Aprilia, PR2 (Equipe Nacional RFME)
41. Jarno Janssen, NED, Honda, Arie Molenaar Racing
42. David Checa, SPA, Honda, Safilo Oxydo Race LCR
51. Hugo Marchand, FRA, Aprilia, Equipe de France – Scrab GP
57. Lorenzo Lanzi, ITA, Aprilia, Campetella Racing
66. Alex Hofmann, GER, Aprilia, Racing Factory
81. Randy de Puniet, FRA, Aprilia, Campetella Racing


MotoGP Class (500cc two-strokes, 990cc four-strokes):
Competition Number, Rider, Nation, Machine, Team
3. Max Biaggi, ITA. Yamaha, Marlboro Yamaha Team
4. Alex Barros, BRA, Honda, West Honda Pons
6. Norick Abe, JPN, Yamaha, Repsol-YPF Yamaha d’Antin
7. Carlos Checa, SPA, Yamaha, Marlboro Yamaha Team
8. Garry McCoy, AUS, Yamaha, Red Bull Yamaha WCM
9. Nobuatsu Aoki, JPN, Proton KR, Proton Team KR
10. Kenny Roberts, USA, Suzuki, Telefonica Movistar Suzuki
11. Tohru Ukawa, JPN, Honda, HRC
15. Sete Gibernau, SPA, Suzuki, Telefonica Movistar Suzuki
17. Jurgen van den Goorbergh, NED, Honda, Kanemoto Racing
19. Olivier Jacque, FRA, Yamaha, Gauloises Yamaha Tech 3
21. John Hopkins, USA, Yamaha, Red Bull Yamaha WCM
28. Alex Criville, SPA, Yamaha, Repsol-YPF Yamaha d’Antin
31. Tetsuya Harada, JPN, Honda, Hardwick Racing
46. Valentino Rossi, ITA, Honda, HRC
55. Regis Laconi, FRA, Aprilia, MS Aprilia Racing
56. Shinya Nakano, JPN, Yamaha, Gauloises Yamaha Tech 3
65. Loris Capirossi, ITA, Honda, West Honda Pons
74. Daijiro Katoh, JPN, Honda, Fortuna Honda Gresini
99. Jeremy McWilliams, GBR, Proton KR, Proton Team KR

The January 8, 2002 issue of Cycle News included a piece written by Scott Rosseau (and edited and approved by Paul Carruthers), said piece decrying journalists appearing in “as used by” advertisements and using the phrase “whored-out editorial drivel” to describe their work.

The same issue of Cycle News contained an article by Alan Cathcart, who is listed on the Cycle News masthead as European Editor and who frequently writes tests of both streetbikes and racebikes for the tabloid.

From a press release issued by the FIM:

Superbike, Supersport & Sidecar World Championships

Changes in the Rules for the 2002 season

The main changes to the 2002 Superbike, Supersport & Sidecar World Championship Regulations are the following:

Sporting Regulations

-All manufacturers must be in possession of the appropriate FIM Manufacturers’ Licence.

-Each team must submit to the Secretariat of Superbike International, by 1st January of the year in question, an entry for their team.

-No substitution or replacement of the entered rider may be made after 14h00 on the day preceding the day of the first practice session of the event. The riders and/or teams must compulsorily attend any briefing organised by the race Director and the Race Direction.

-Entries: a rider shall be deemed to have taken part in the event when he participates in, at least, one practice session. A rider shall be deemed to have started a race when he participates in, at least, the first lap of the race.

-Riders in the top ten positions in the Superbike class will be required to carry two on-board cameras on their motorcycles.

-Finish of a race and race results: to be counted as a finisher in the race and be included in the results, a rider must cross the finish line on the race track (not in the pit lane) within five minutes of the race winner. The rider must be in contact with his machine.

-As from 01.01.2003, races will not be stopped for changes in adhesion resulting from climatic changes.



Superbike Technical Specifications

-Minimum weights for the Superbike: 750cc 4 cylinders: 159 kg (350.5 pounds) – 900cc 3 cylinders: 162 kg (357 pounds) – 1000cc 2 cylinders: 164 kg (361.5 pounds).


Supersport Technical Specifications

-Airbox: the air filter element may be removed or replaced.

-Carburetor intake insulators can be modified. Fuel injection system: throttle bodies intake insulators can be modified.

-Exhaust system: the number of exhaust final exit(s) must remain as homologated. The exit(s) must be on the same side(s) of the homologated model.

-The following items may be removed: emission control items in or around the air box, oxygen sensor, air injection devices.



All disciplines

-Helmets must be of the full face type and conform to one of the recognised international standards: Europe: ECE 22-04 & ECE 22-05 ‘p’ – Great britain: BS 6658 Grade A – USA: DOT Federal Standard n° 218/SNELL M95 & M2000.

The AFM racer who contacted us about a month ago regarding a bodywork delivery problem should re-contact us ASAP, as we have been able to resolve the problem with the product’s new distributor. (Pending receipt of documentation.)

From a press release issued by Gearbox International:

GBI Changing Gear

Gearbox International, Northern California based distributor of motorcycle helmets, apparel and accessories, announced a new market strategy today. It will devote more resources to the Suomy Helmet brand, and has terminated its relationship with the Diadora Company.

“Suomy Helmet sales have grown exponentially”, said company president Rick Marlin “and it is time to re-evaluate our market strategy. The Suomy Helmet brand is taking off in the United States, and as the exclusive importer and distributor, we intend to devote more time and attention to Suomy.

“We have seen Diadora’s sales in the United States increase in the last two years” continued Marlin, “and there is great potential for further growth in the motorcycle apparel field, but for the moment we must redirect our energies toward the helmet market. It is with great regret that we bid goodbye to Diadora, and wish the company the very best for the future. Meanwhile, we are preparing for strong further growth from Suomy.”

Gearbox International will expand the range of premium Suomy street helmets offered in the US this year to include more race replicas and the new top-of-the-line Spec 1-R series of solid-color and replica helmets.

Suomy Helmet sponsor World Superbike Champions Troy Bayliss and Troy Corser. American Superbike hero Ben Bostrom, winner of five Superbike races in 2001, is also sponsored by the company.

From a press release:

RS Taichi USA is pleased to announce the signing of Team Suzuki’s Aaron Yates to wear RS Taichi leather suits and gloves for the 2002 AMA Superbike and 600 Supersport nationals.

RS Taichi USA has a new address and phone number:

RS Taichi USA
2531 West 237th St. Suite# 109
Torrance, CA 90505
310.326.2867