A press release, issued by the organizers of the Superside FIM Sidecar World Championship:


Abbott signs with Maxsym

Maxsym to provide engines for 2002

Steve Abbott Racing, the World Championship Formula 1 Sidecar team, announced an engine deal with Maxsym Race Engines, the race division of Maxsym Engine Technology Ltd.

Maxsym, which has provided its dry sump system to a number of sidecar teams for the last two seasons, will be responsible for all aspects of the team’s engines.

“Drawing on our staff’s experience of Formula One, Indy Car and World Rally Car, we aim to help Steve become the most professional team in the paddock,” said Patrick Walker or Maxsym. “We don’t want Steve worrying about the engines. He needs to concentrate on racing.”

Abbott, who finished third in the Championship last season, will stick with the Yamaha EXUP engine. He is a big fan of the engine because it is light and compact, but Maxsym will bring it right up to date with some major engine modifications. As well as the dry sump system, Maxsym will increase engine capacity, modify the cylinder head, crankshaft and crankcases and totally redesign the cooling and oil systems. The modified engine will be unveiled at the Autosport Show in January on Maxsym’s stand.

The division has access to Maxsym’s extensive facilities, including the latest fully automated test cells, in-vehicle data acquisition systems and fully equipped vehicle workshops. These are used by Maxsym Engine Technology to design, test and develop complete engines from scratch, principally for U.S. original equipment manufacturers. The company specializes in high-performance 4-strokes for off-highway and recreational products. It focuses on markets traditionally dominated by 2-strokes, which are being forced to turn to 4-strokes due to environmental pressures. Maxsym’s proprietary 4-strokes provide OEMs with a no-compromise alternative to 2-strokes without weight penalties for comparable power delivery.

The Sidecar Championship has followed the trend in these markets by changing to 4-stroke. Maxsym Race Engines’ Mike Richards, an ex-Formula 2 Sidecar Champion himself, said “This gives us the ideal platform from which to build. Sidecars are still accessible to the privateer and since the link with Superbikes their profile has increased dramatically. It is an obvious target for us to demonstrate our strength in high performance 4-strokes.” Technical information learned from the race division will feed back into Maxsym’s other development programmes.

A dyno development and pre-season track support programme will initially iron out teething problems and focus on reliability. Patrick Walker said “This is our first full season. We want to do things properly. We don’t expect
miracles, but we have what it takes and we expect Steve to be in contention.”

Steve’s other main sponsors, Eastern Airways and Les Knight Transport are confident.

“We are delighted. With Maxsym on board, Steve has a great chance this year,” said Richard Lake, Chairman of Eastern Airways.

From a press release:

NEW FASTLAP RACER SUPPORT AVAILABLE FOR ALL RACERS

1-888-FASTLAP/1888fastlap.com now has a racer support program beyond their standard discounted racer prices, and in addition to the amazing $2 million racer contingency program announced earlier this month. Send in your information and a FAX copy of your current race license (FAX #770-424-4165) and they will add you into their computer under the new racer support program.

The support package includes special discounts on most race items, and you automatically receive your race support discounts every time you order. Racers on the new support program will also be notified immediately of any new contingency programs, all new racing products that become eligible for the support program.

The FASTLAP racer program is free, every racer should take advantage of it, and more details are available at 1888fastlap.com, or by calling 1-888-FASTLAP.

The passing of Christmas, 2001 marks another broken promise on the part of AMA Pro Racing CEO Scott Hollingsworth, who assured the audience at the AMA Pro Racing “banquet” held December 7 that a 2003 AMA Supercross schedule would be released by Christmas.

Instead, AMA issued a list of “markets” where AMA Supercross races will allegedly be held, without naming dates or actual facilities, just cities.

AMA Pro Racing will start its own Supercross series to battle current Supercross promoters Clear Channel Communications starting in 2003, in a division of the sport that could have far-reaching ramifications for the entire AMA.

Copyright 2001, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Moto-heaven, the North American importer for Wintex Motorcycle Fashion and Safety Gear, is now selling the air-bag-equipped Aero safety vest. The lightweight Aero vest is made from Airdura, a synthetic textile with abrasion-resistant qualities, includes storage pockets, 3M reflective stripes and comes in sizes XS to 5XL. But the main feature of the Aero is the air bag system.

The Aero vest is activated by a rip-cord attached to the bike, and is triggered when the rider falls off. A replaceable CO2 cartridge, weighing 32 grams, inflates air pockets at the back of the neck, around the collarbone, the chest, sides, kidneys and back in less than 0.2-second.

According to Moto-heaven owner Phil Caudill, in the very unlikely event that the vest inflates unintentionally while riding, the inflated vest should not cause a rider to lose control of the machine. Caudill also pointed out that the reusable vest can be worn in several applications, such as off-road riding, snowmobiling, etc.

The Aero vest has a suggested retail price of $399. For more information about the Aero vest or to request a free, 50-page Wintex catalog, call Moto-heaven, (877) 416-0969, e-mail [email protected], www.moto-heaven.com.

From a press release issued by 4&6 Cycle’s Jim Rashid:

4&6 Racing has signed 17-year-old Andrew Nelson of Canada to ride in the F-USA Sportbike class and selected AMA 600cc Supersport rounds on Kawasaki ZX-6Rs for the 2002 season. Also riding with Andrew will be Owen Weichel at selected FUSA and AMA rounds.

This will be an exciting year for us at 4&6 Racing having the veteran talents of Weichel and Andrew the rising star riding for us.

Also back to support the program is Starnet Wx, one of the largest Internet service providers in the U.S. and one of the few outside-the-industry sponsors in our sport today.

Copyright 2001, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Formula USA is not only working toward holding “match races” at the combined F-USA/Canadian Superbike round at Mosport July 19-21, 2002, but, according to Formula USA National Road Race Event Manager Kenny Abbott, Clear Channel Entertainment is very close to a deal that would have F-USA’s best road racers compete against Britain’s best at Donington Park as a support race for the FIM World Championship Grand Prix July 12-14.

On the races at Mosport, Abbott said, “The deal is still being negotiated, but initially we were contacted by Colin Fraser (Parts Canada Superbike Championship series organizer) and Bar Hodgson (promoter of the Mosport race event) to hold a joint event. We were excited about it just because of the competition that they have up there, similar sponsors, similar (race) format, and they run a good program up there.

“Our rules are really close, and the penalties are very close. The two programs integrate very easily. They’re both dyno-controlled classes, weight-controlled classes. The numbers that I’ve seen are very comparable if not the same numbers. DOT tires are required (in both). I believe the weight limits are the same. There’s not really much rule modifications involved.”

The plan, according to Abbott, is for the Formula USA Unlimited Superbike and Pro Sportbike classes to run with the Canadian Series’ Open Sport Bike and 600cc Sport Bike classes, respectively.

“The Canadian Open Sport Bike class limit is 150 horsepower and their 600cc Sport Bike class is 110 horsepower,” outlined Abbott. “So we would probably run with 115 horsepower in the 600 class, and 150 horsepower in the open class, taking the higher of each limit, but the details are still being worked out.

“Yes, 115 horsepower is going to be our (Formula USA) Sportbike (horsepower) limit for next year (2002). It will still be 145 horsepower for Unlimited Superbikes, and both classes will have the same (minimum) weight limits (as in 2001 – 370 pounds for Unlimited Superbikes and 365 pounds for Pro Sportbikes).

“We’re also taking the Buell Lightning series (to Mosport), which is going to have some concessions in 2002 so that the new Firebolts can run with the Lightnings head-to-head. Unlimited Superbike, Pro Sportbike and Buell Lightning will be the only three points-paying classes that we will be taking up there with us.

“Hopefully, it will build a good camaraderie and they’ll (Canadians) want to come down and participate in our Road America event in August, which is just two weeks later. We’re going to invite them to come over and participate in that event.”

And as for the USA versus UK Match Races? “Together with the management of Donington Park, we’re trying to put together a Trans-Atlantic Challenge as well, where we would take 10 of our competitors over to compete against 10 of the British Superbike Series’ best riders,” explained Abbott. “It’s the start of an expansion, something that we can offer our riders that’s a little different, new opportunities. We’re excited about it.

“Originally, it was going to be at the final round of the British Superbike National Series in September, but now we’re actually looking at the World Grand Prix event in July, July 13-14, the weekend right before Mosport.

“The concept is to have one manufacturer of motorcycles prepare the motorcycles. We’ll take 10 Americans from our series, they bring 10 riders from their series, they will all ride identically-prepared motorcycles for a grid of 20 and it would be like a 10-lap race. We would allow them to set up the bikes, bring their own shocks and that type of deal, but the motors would be sealed.

“The date’s locked in. If we are going to do it, we’re going to do it on that date. The next big hurdle is getting a commitment from a manufacturer. Buell has shown a lot of interest. If that’s the case and you are a betting man, you’d have to bet on the U.S. Just think about who we would take. It would be guys like Michael Barnes, Mike Ciccotto, Shawn Higbee, Richie Morris, Tripp Nobles, guys who have been in on the development of the Buells. Talk about a stacked deck!

“We’d take 10 guys, and I would probably want to take some of our returning Champions like Lee Acree, Michael Himmelsbach and then look at it from there for guys who are available, interested, already running the series that can go fast. We’d get guys like Chris Ulrich and Don Canet to race and write about it in the magazines. We’ll take the rider and their tuner, fly them over and stay at the Donington Manor and enjoy a MotoGP weekend.”

From a press release:

AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE HERITAGE FOUNDATION TO HOST 14TH ‘FRIEND-RAISING BREAKFAST’ AT DAYTONA

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation (AMHF) will host its 14th Annual Daytona Friend-Raising Breakfast on Saturday, March 9, 2002 at 8:00 a.m., at the Holiday Inn in DeLand, Florida. The special guest at this year’s breakfast will be motocross legend Jim Pomeroy.

Pomeroy rode his Bultaco to victory in the 1973 World Motocross Grand Prix, becoming the first American to win a world-championship motocross event and the first rider to win a Grand Prix on a Spanish motorcycle. He was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999, and will serve as Grand Marshal of both AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days events in 2002.

The Daytona Friend-Raising Breakfast gives enthusiasts of the legends and history of motorcycling the opportunity to meet and share experiences, while supporting the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. The Museum, located on the campus of the American Motorcyclist Association in Pickerington, Ohio, is administered by the AMHF.

A limited number of tickets are available for this year’s Daytona Friend-Raising Breakfast; the cost is $15 per person. To make reservations, call (614) 856-2222. Any remaining tickets will be sold at the door on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Holiday Inn DeLand is located at 350 East International Speedway Boulevard, west of Daytona International Speedway.

From a press release:

1999 Formula USA National Champion Mike Sullivan has opened The Mike Sullivan Road Racing School.

Fifteen dates at Three Northwest tracks, Pacific Raceway(formerly Seattle International Raceway), Portland International Raceway, and Spokane Raceway Park.

For more information see www.Sullivan Race School.com or phone at (360) 736-2791.

Copyright 2001, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Red Bull Yamaha Grand Prix racer John “Hopper” Hopkins, 18, moved his family into a new house in time for Christmas.

The one-acre site in Southern California includes a main house, a guest house, and a spacious garage.

Since becoming a professional racer at age 16, Hopkins has won the 1999 Aprilia Cup Challenge Championship, the 2000 AMA 750cc Supersport Championship, and the 2001 AMA Formula Xtreme Championship.

He was the youngest-ever AMA Supersport Champion and the youngest-ever AMA Formula Xtreme Champion, riding GSX-R Suzukis for Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki.