Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Yamaha teammates Anthony and Aaron Gobert completed two days of testing on the 1.6-mile Streets of Willow racetrack in Rosamond, California Wednesday and are planning to return to competition during the July 11-14 AMA/World Superbike event at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California. The test at Willow was conducted in 110 degree F weather.

In his first track outing since breaking his right leg in a Superbike qualifying crash at Road Atlanta May 17, Anthony Gobert rode for two days, Tuesday and Wednesday, July 2-3, on his factory Yamaha YZF-R7 Superbike.

“At the start of the test, my leg wasn’t too good,” said Go-Show. “I didn’t have any strength or much movement in it, and my foot kept coming off the foot rest.” The eldest Gobert added that his leg got better over the two days and that he was happy with how the test went. “My leg wasn’t real good over these two days, but I have a few more days to rest.

“Now I’m just excited about Laguna. The plan is to race all four races (AMA Supersport, AMA Superbike, and both World Superbike races). My fitness won’t be what it could be. Sitting on the couch for four weeks with your leg elevated isn’t exactly good for the endurance, but I’ll take it kind of easy in practice and save myself for the race.

“I’m just really stoked that I got the wild card for the World Supers. I mean, I’m really pumped! I really wanted to race at Laguna because I always get tons of supporters there and I want to put on a good show for them.”

In his first ride since suffering a list of injuries in a Supersport race crash at Daytona International Speedway in early March, Aaron Gobert, age 21, rode his factory Yamaha YZF-R6 at the test.

“It went good,” said the middle Gobert brother. “I went three seconds per lap faster on the second day than the first.”

When asked why the team chose the Streets course for the test, Aaron replied, “If you can ride there, you can ride anywhere.”

Saying he planned to recover from the exhausting test over the holiday, Aaron Gobert added that Graves Motorsports Yamaha’s Chuck Graves is building another YZF-R1-based Formula Xtreme bike over the Fourth of July weekend so Aaron can race in both the FX and Supersport races at Laguna Seca. Graves team members sacrificed their Memorial Day weekend to build Damon Buckmaster’s latest generation R1 Formula Xtreme bike for the race at Pikes Peak.

The third racing Gobert brother, 18-year-old Alex, will be at Laguna Seca but will be unable to race due to his broken right foot, said brother Aaron.

From a press release issued by event organizers:

SZOKE PACES PRACTICE

ST-EUSTACHE, QC – Brantford, ON’s Jordan Szoke led the way in practice Friday for this weekend’s round of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Autodrome St-Eustache.

The Coors Light Racing/Fast Company Team Suzuki rider set a time of 47.292 secs. around the 1.2-mile track on his Suzuki GSX-R1000. Szoke leads the Parts Canada Superbike Championship point standings coming into this weekend’s Suzuki Superbike Challenge, the fourth event of the seven-race series.

Frank Trombino of Kleinburg, ON was a close second on an Orion Motorsport Honda RC51 with a time of 47.295 secs. and Szoke’s Coors Light Racing/Fast Company Suzuki teammate Francis Martin of Sherbrooke, QC placed third with a lap of 47.864 secs. on another GSX-R1000.

“We just spent the day trying to get a good set-up, then the times will come,” said Szoke, the 1998 Canadian Superbike champion. “We’re just climbing back up to where we want to be.”

Qualifying for the national Superbike class will be held Saturday afternoon. The fastest qualifier will receive the MPM Array Pole Award, a Swiss Force Carbon Fiber embellished watch.

Martin holds the lap record of 46.723, which he set two years ago.

Toronto’s Michael Taylor finished the day with the fourth fastest time, a 47.901, aboard the Brooklin Cycle Yamaha YZF-R1. Orion Motorsport Honda’s new recruit Kevin Lacombe of Granby, QC completed the top five with a time of 48.167 secs. on another RC51.

Practice sessions were also run for the International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW Open Sport Bike and Yoshimura 600 Sport Bike national support classes.

Trombino was quickest in Open Sport Bike with a time of 47.931 secs. on his Orion Motorsports Honda CBR954RR.

Joliette, QC’s Jean-Francois Cyr led the 600 Sport Bike division with a time of 49.070 secs. on his Brooklin Yamaha YZF-R6.

Official qualifying for the Open Sport Bike and 600 Sport Bike divisions will also be held Saturday. Practice begins at 10:00 am with 600 Sport Bike qualifying session scheduled for 1:00 pm.

Feature races will run Sunday afternoon.

This weekend’s event will be televised on TSN on Sunday, Aug. 4 at 1:00 pm EDT and later this year on Quebec’s RDS and across Canada on the Outdoor Life Network.

Friday Afternoon Canadian Superbike Practice Times From Autodrome St. Eustache:

1. Jordan Szoke, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 0:47.292
2. Frank Trombino, Honda CBR954RR, 0:47.295
3. Francis Martin, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 0:47.864
4. Michael Taylor, Yamaha YZF-R1, 0:47.901
5. Kevin Lacombe, Honda RC51, 0:48.167
6. Owen Weichel, Kawasaki, 0:48.225
7. Jeff Williams, Suzuki, 0:48.708
8. Benoit Pilon, Yamaha, 0:48.962
9. Clint McBain, Suzuki, 0:48.977
10. Ugo Levent, Suzuki, 0:49.009

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Held has replaced Helimot European Accessories as its U.S. distributor over Helimot’s refusal to sell Held gloves made in Pakistan.

Helimot was the original U.S. importer of German-made Held gloves, which used kangaroo and cow hide and earned a reputation for toughness.

Recently Held has moved some of its production to Hungary and now is also selling Pakistani-produced gloves and accessories.

Helimot owners Helmut and Linda Kluckner declined to sell the Held products made in Pakistan, and while they still wanted to sell European-made Held gloves and tank bags, their refusal to sell the complete line of Held products–including Pakistani-sourced gloves–led to their replacement as Held’s U.S. importer.

A press release issued by Helimot stated “At this time, we have a fairly large stock of Held gloves and Held luggage, and we will continue to sell these products until they are gone. After that we will not be carrying Held products.

“This change was caused by irreconcilable differences over the selection and number of Held products to be imported into the United States. Held’s European-made products were the only ones we agreed to import and distribute. Over the years, the amount of Held goods we would not and could not import, due to quality and country of origin issues, grew. Therefore, Held has decided to go with a different distributor whom he feels will better serve his interests.

“We are currently in the development stage for a new, U.S.-made Helimot glove, as well as three new models from manufacturers in Austria and Germany. We should have the first prototype for the Helimot glove in July. We plant to introduce it, along with the other new gloves, at the San Francisco Motorcycle Show in November. If they are available sooner, we will introduce them sooner.

“Helimot European Accessories is proud of its reputation for quality and service and this change gives us the best opportunity to continue that reputation and to build on it. We think U.S. motorcyclists will be pleased with future Helimot products.”

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

Alex Hofmann will fill in for injured West Honda Pons MotoGP racer Loris Capirossi for the British Grand Prix July 12-14 and the German Grand Prix July 19-21, according to a press release issued by West Honda Pons.

Capirossi crashed at Assen during the Dutch GP, breaking two bones in his right forearm. According to the West Honda Pons release, Capirossi has been instructed by doctors to sit out for 20 days of “complete rest”, forcing the Italian rider to miss the next two Grands Prix. With the mid-season break following the German race, West Honda Pons officials expect Capirossi back at full fitness for the Czech Republic GP in August.

The release also announced Hofmann as Capirossi’s replacement with Team General Manager Alfonso “Sito” Pons calling Hofmann “the best available rider”.

A veteran of 45 250cc Grand Prix starts, Hofmann was left without a ride for 2002 when his sponsor backed out just prior to the season. Since that time the 22-year-old German has tested on Kenny Roberts’ Proton KR3 and raced as a fill-in for Garry McCoy on the Red Bull Yamaha YZR500 at Catalunya and the Assen.

Due to McCoy’s return to Red Bull for the GP at Donington Park, Hofmann was available to take the West Honda Pons offer. Now Hofmann will have to adapt from a Yamaha YZR500 to a Honda NSR500 and from Dunlops to Michelins in the course of two, back-to-back race meetings.

From a press release issued by Buell:

CICCOTTO TAKES FOURTH BUELL PRO THUNDER PODIUM

Buell Firebolt Rider Second at Brainerd Event

Brainerd, MN (June 30, 2002) – Mike Ciccotto of Sebastian, Fla. rode a Hal’s Performance Advantage Buell Firebolt XB9R its fourth consecutive podium finish, placing second in the Buell Pro Thunder Series event at The Colonel’s Brainerd International Raceway here today. The strong finish helped Ciccotto maintain his second position in the Buell Pro Thunder Series points standings.

The race was not without some drama for Ciccotto, who was running in the draft of Kirk McCarthy down Brainerd’s long front straight when a gust of wind almost blew him off the track. “I was just coming into Turn One really hot at about 150 mph when the wind caught me and I lost the front end,” said Ciccotto. “The bike slid right to the edge of the track before I caught it. It was a little unnerving.”

Ciccotto recovered from the slide, but was unable to catch Buell Pro Thunder Series points leader McCarthy, who won the race aboard a Ducati 748. Thomas Montano of Berkeley, Calf. was third, also aboard Ducati. David Estock of New Smyrna Beach, Fla., rode a Buell Firebolt XB9R entered by Tilly’s Harley-Davidson to fourth place.

The fifth and final event on the Buell Pro Thunder Series is July 13, 2002 at Laguna Seca Raceway, Monterey, Calif., and Ciccotto thinks a season of hard work will pay off at that event.

“This was just our fourth race on the Buell Firebolt, and we’ve made progress by leaps and bounds at every event,” said Ciccotto. “At Brainerd we made gains in both top speed and chassis set-up, and it looks like we’ll have more power on tap at Laguna Seca. I’m really focused to score a win out there, as that’s a track where the handling and torque of the Firebolt will really shine.”

To learn more about Buell Motorcycles, visit your local Buell dealer today and experience the pure streetfighter attitude, style, and performance only found on board a Buell. Call 1-800-4909-9635 for the Buell dealer nearest you. Or pull into www.buell.com



From a press release issued by RevUp Ducati:

RevUp Ducati racer, Jessica Zalusky, took on the challenge of racing a Yamaha R6 in 600 Supersport in addition to Buell Pro Thunder at Brainerd Intl Raceway. Challenges arrived for the new rookie when Jessica had to make quick transitions between two completely different bikes and having her two races scheduled back-to-back.

In Jessica’s debut in 600 Supersport she finished 27th, followed by a strong 9th place finish in Pro Thunder. After having only raced 3 of the 4 rounds of Pro Thunder, Jessica is currently 9th in the point standings.

RevUp Ducati is pleased with the finishes and plans to defend their top ten point standing at Laguna Seca.


From Team America:

PODIUM CONTINUES FOR DISALVO

In the sweltering heat at Brainerd International Raceway in Minnesota, with the temperatures in the mid 90s, Team America Grand Prix Racing’s Jason DiSalvo continued his streak of podiums by finishing 3rd in the 250GP class.

During a hectic weekend, which saw Jason ride 3 classes, giving him very little rest for the 3-day event. In the 750 Superstock Class, Jason qualified 6th then posted the fastest time in morning practice. He got into an early race battle with a local track specialist and while running in the 4th position crashed in lap nine. With the heat on the track Jason commented “I lost the front and went down”. With time to repair the 750 for the next days Superbike race, the team including Michael Earnhardt, James Siddall, Oliver Hutchinson and Mark Bull, worked well into the night and early morning hours to repair the equipment. Morning practice sessions, as well as afternoon finals, forced Jason to mount the 250 and 750 machines back to back.

The schedule for the afternoon started with the 250 race which Jason grided in the second row. With a good start Jason went into turn 1 behind the pole setter. 3 laps later a red flag incident stopped the race which was restarted as a complete new race. Again getting a good start from row 2 and ultimately finishing 3rd in the race which gave him his 6th consecutive podium in the AMA series.

Due to the red flag in the 250 race Jason had about 12 minutes to prepare himself for the 21 lap Superbike Race. Starting from row 3, as top privateer qualifier, Jason went into turn 1 behind the 9 factory machines. For the next 20 laps he battled the local track specialist for the top privateer position swapping places between laps. In the last lap he made a bid for 8th overall top privateer but couldn’t make it stick commenting, “I thought I could get by but a back marker kept me from completing the pass. It was a good race and it was a lot of fun racing with a competitor who knew the track so well”. Finishing 9th overall in his 6th Superbike appearance puts Jason in the top 20 in the AMA Superbike series along with being 3rd overall in the 250 series and 6th overall in the Superstock series.

Team America owners, Jim and Connie DiSalvo and Freddie Spencer along with Coach Jeff Haney, felt the weekend was very productive and showed Jason’s ability and stamina to ride in multiple events.

Team America’ success is made possible by the generous support of our sponsors, who include: Applied Business Systems, Cruise America, Freddie Spencer’s High Performance Riding School, Dunlop Tires, Arai, HRC, Kushitani, Alpinestars, Roadracing World, Nutec Race Fuel, Chatter Box, Cytosport, DID Chain, GMD Computrack, and Select Collision.

From a press release:

If you haven’t yet heard about BeaveRun MotorSports ComPlex, the new, 400-acre motorsports and driving enthusiast destination near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, read on! (And mark your calendars–we’re planning a very special grand opening for Thursday, September 13, 2002.) Currently, BeaveRun’s professional six-acre vehicle dynamics area, suitable for all types of vehicle testing and training, is open, as is the top-notch Karting Center and challenging 8/10-mile short track. The first of BeaveRun’s two world-class Alan Wilson-designed road courses is scheduled for completion at the end of July 2002. Stay tuned for more BeaveRun news–or call us if you need more information right now.

BeaveRun MotorSports ComPlex is the One-Stop Destination for Multitude of Driving and Motorsports Experiences

Four hundred acres of racing, driving, testing and training excitement are now open for enthusiasts and their favorite four- or two-wheeled vehicles

July 1, 2002 (Big Beaver Borough, PA) – BeaveRun MotorSports ComPlex, the country’s newest destination for driving and motorsports enthusiasts, has opened its gates to the public. With an initial phase of construction almost completed, consumer and corporate customers can now reserve time at two of BeaveRun’s planned three race tracks—a challenging 8/10-mile short track and the first of two road courses.

Also available for booking are the top-tier BeaveRun Karting Center, the expansive Vehicle Dynamics testing area and a wide selection of driving instruction and training programs offered through the BeaveRun Vehicle Dynamics Academy. Excavation for the 400-acre multi-use complex began on December 4, 2002 (sic) and additional development will continue through the end of 2003. Designed and operated by enthusiasts for enthusiasts, BeaveRun MotorSports ComPlex is a true one-stop destination for anyone who loves the sport, the challenge of competition and the art—and pure fun—of driving. It is also an ideal training ground for any driver who wants to improve his or her skills.

A second phase of construction is scheduled for completion by BeaveRun’s fall 2002 grand opening. It includes the addition of premium support facilities, such as climate-controlled classroom and meeting spaces, professional pit and service areas and a private Track Club.

During its final phase, scheduled to conclude by summer 2003, BeaveRun will open a second road course as well as an exclusive motocross track.

Altogether, these facilities pack more diversity of driving experiences into a single location than most any other motorsports park or racetrack. And, because BeaveRun is located just minutes from Interstate 76, north of Pittsburgh, the facility is accessible to a greater number of driving enthusiasts—half of the U.S. population resides within a 500-mile radius of BeaveRun MotorSports ComPlex. BeaveRun co-founders and general partners Tim Silbaugh and Tom Wettach, both longtime motorsports enthusiasts, broke ground for BeaveRun MotorSports ComPlex in the spring of 2002, after nearly four years of development and planning. “One of the best decisions we made early on was to retain Alan Wilson, who has designed 16 of the country’s most successful racetracks. Alan promised us that he’d talk us out of the project,” said Silbaugh. “Fortunately, he took one look at the terrain and the topography and immediately saw the potential for transforming it into a world-class motorsports complex.”

In addition to offering driving enthusiasts an exciting new destination choice, BeaveRun also brings a positive economic contribution to western Pennsylvania. The complex is initially expected to bring over 100 jobs to the region, and generate up to $2.5 million in revenue for the area’s hospitality industry.

Three Race Tracks Designed to Challenge—and Exhilarate

With two distinctive road courses, a challenging short track and five possible course configurations, BeaveRun has been designed to offer both professional racers and driving enthusiasts a level of diversity found at few other racetracks. To match the unique character and topography of the western Pennsylvania landscape to his vision of what makes a track truly desirable, designer Alan Wilson drew on decades of racing and event management expertise. Wilson is one of the few design professionals to have managed events for virtually all forms of racing, from World Championship Formula I, Indy Car, IMSA, GTP, SCCA and Trans-Am to International Motorcycle Championships. It is this depth of real-world expertise, including his experience as an SCCA-approved Official Track Safety Inspector that Wilson has infused into every inch of BeaveRun’s design.

The first Wilson-designed track to open at BeaveRun is the 8/10-mile short course, the centerpiece of the BeaveRun Karting Center. The 18-turn track features moderate elevation changes and offers a high level of challenge and fun for both kart and motorcycle racing as well as solo timed car events, such as Autocross and Solo I competition.

The first of BeaveRun’s two road courses, due to open in early July features 1.6 miles of fast-flowing, 36-foot wide pavement. The track winds through gently rolling terrain with significant elevation changes and incorporates 12 comparatively high-speed turns and long straight sections. This combination offers the opportunity for aggressive speeds and challenges drivers to find the optimal line for their vehicles. An expansive 900-foot long, 60-foot wide pit area will accommodate all levels of racing support, and high-elevation spectator points around the track allow panoramic views of virtually the entire course. The second road course, scheduled to open during the summer of 2003, includes a series of track connectors and extensions. The 2.0-mile track will take full advantage of higher-elevation sections of the terrain and carve through densely wooded areas of land. Designed to be the more technical of the two tracks, the course layout includes several complex corners which, combined with the elevation changes, creates a challenging circuit. Together, the two road courses offer nearly four miles of racing excitement, as well as five possible track configurations.

“Our tracks have been designed and purpose-built to host some of the country’s most exciting car, karting and motorcycle racing, from Sports Car Club of America competition to manufacturer series,” said Tim Silbaugh. “And, because we have such exciting elevation changes throughout BeaveRun, visitors who would rather watch racing than participate in the events benefit from exceptional spectator areas with sweeping views of the entire complex.”


BeaveRun Karting Center is One of Country’s Best

Only three Karting tracks in the United State are designed to meet the stringent specifications of Commission International du Karting (CIK), the global sanctioning organization for professional kart racing. The BeaveRun Karting Center joins this elite group with a facility that easily accommodates national-level kart racing events, and is also intended to introduce newcomers to the sport.

Combining a purpose-built, challenging 8/10-mile, 18-turn track with a full range of karting instruction, racing events and retail operations, the facility will earn top accolades from karting enthusiasts and racers around the country. The BeaveRun Karting Center is also an ideal venue for anyone new to karting who desires instruction and equipment rental. New drivers can take advantage of the Center’s “Arrive and Drive” program, which includes Trackmagic rental karts, helmets, safety gear and beginner instruction.


BeaveRun Vehicle Dynamics Area Designed to Test Limits

Exclusively designed for manufacturer product and component testing, driver training and autocross and slalom events, the BeaveRun Vehicle Dynamics Area (VDA) features every element needed to safely test a vehicle’s limits. Encompassing a generous six-acre stretch of top-grade pavement, the BeaveRun VDA also exceeds most industry standards for vehicle testing facilities.

Customers can take advantage of a full complement of vehicle dynamics features, including an expansive 400-foot diameter skid pad—one of the largest available anywhere. The VDA also offers an impressive 1,000-foot ramp-up road that allows high-speed testing. Additional unique features include a special change lane with four-inch pavement differential, ideal for both system testing or driving instruction applications, and a number of varying driving surfaces designed especially for suspension testing.


BeaveRun Vehicle Dynamics Academy

Learning new driving skills or improving the level of existing expertise is the full-time focus of the BeaveRun Vehicle Dynamics Academy.

BeaveRun’s resident driving professionals, as well as the country’s best racing and specialty driving school instructors, offer ongoing public and corporate programs for driving enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels. Currently scheduled programs range from the BeaveRun Teen Driving Program, a full-day advanced driving skills course for young drivers, to motorcycle racing schools conducted by Team Promotion and the Northeast Sports Bike Association, Law Enforcement Driving and Instructor Training sessions and adverse weather driving skills programs, to the HSR Racing School, taught by the E. Paul, Inc. High-Performance team. The PennDOT motorcycle safety program will be operated from BeaveRun beginning in 2003.


The BeaveRun MotorSports Club

For individuals and corporations within driving distance of BeaveRun MotorSports ComPlex, the BeaveRun MotorSports Club will offer an exclusive opportunity to have preferred access to BeaveRun facilities at members-only rates. Currently under development, the Club will give members the opportunity to reserve time at any of BeaveRun’s tracks and facilities at reduced rates, and during time periods available only to members. Additional benefits will include exclusive events and hospitality and private Club facilities open only to members.

About BeaveRun MotorSports Complex BeaveRun MotorSports ComPlex (www.beaverun.com) is conveniently located in Big Beaver Borough, Pennsylvania, just 40 minutes north of Pittsburgh on Route 18. With I-76 (Pennsylvania Turnpike) Exit 2 just two miles south of the 400-acre destination complex, and Pittsburgh Airport only 25 minutes away, driving and motorsports enthusiasts from around the country can take full advantage of BeaveRun’s world-class, multi-use facilities. BeaveRun MotorSports ComPlex encompasses some of the most scenic terrain in western Pennsylvania, and features premium facilities that create an unmatched experience for both amateur driving enthusiasts and professional racers.

Phase One of BeaveRun’s planned development includes the first of two planned road courses. The 1.6-mile, 36-foot wide track will ultimately connect to a second road course, planned for completion in 2003.

Together, the courses offer nearly four miles of world-class road racing. The BeaveRun Karting Center, one of only three national karting facilities to be certified by the Commission International du Karting (CIK), includes a challenging 8/10-mile, 18-turn paved track, also ideally suited to motorcycle racing and many forms of testing.

Also open for public and corporate use are the testing and training facilities of the six-acre BeaveRun Vehicle Dynamics Area, home of the BeaveRun Vehicle Dynamic Academy. Future plans call for continued expansion of facilities, including the addition of a private Track Club, expansive pit areas, panoramic spectator areas and a motocross track.

From a Ducati North America press release:

STAR WARS’ EWAN MCGREGOR TO ATTEND LAGUNA WSBK

Ducati will play host to film sensation Ewan McGregor at the up-coming World Superbike round at Laguna Seca July 13-14. McGregor is currently in the US working on his latest project with Renee Zellweger, and will take a short break to attend the race and spend time with World Superbike Champion Troy Bayliss.

The Scottish actor, most famous for his role as Obi-Wan in the new Star Wars episodes, is a self professed bike nut, owning several models including a 996. Racing is also one of McGregor’s passions, and he has sponsored race teams in the U.K. including an all-women’s team. Racing is the main reason for his visit to Monterey but he will also make time in his schedule to join Bayliss, Ben Bostrom, Ruben Xaus and Doug Chandler on Ducati Island Saturday night for the annual Ducati Party.

McGregor first rocketed to fame in the cult movie Trainspotting and has recently appeared in Black Hawk Down and Moulin Rouge with Nicole Kidman, another Ducati fan.

Ducati is pleased to have Ewan as their guest at Laguna and hope they can treat him to another double win like at last year’s round.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Aprilia and FIM 250cc Grand Prix points leader Marco Melandri have announced that they will be holding an eBay auction to sell race memorabilia from Melandri’s special “Spider Man” appearance, according to a press release issued by the company.

To promote the Italian release of the blockbuster film in Italy, Melandri wore Spider Man-theme riding gear and his Aprilia was clad in special bodywork for the Mugello round of the FIM 250cc Grand Prix series, which Melandri won.

The sale, which will run from July 8-15 in the Charity section of www.ebay.it, will benefit the charity Emergency.

Included in the auction will be the bodywork from Melandri’s RSW250 Aprilia, the Aprilia RS50 scooter Melandri used during that weekend, and all of Melandri’s riding gear.

From a press release:

FAST COMPANY BANKS ON NEW SPONSOR

KITCHENER, ON – One of Canada’s top motorcycle racing teams has added a new partner in a deal that may change the way people look at banking.

Kitchener, ON’s Coors Light Racing Fast Company Team Suzuki has landed sponsorship from The Mortgage Centre, a division of CIBC Mortgages Inc.

In addition to sponsoring Fast Company Team Suzuki in its bid for the 2002 Parts Canada Superbike Championship The Mortgage Centre is launching a contest, with first prize a Suzuki SV650 motorcycle.

Fast Company Team Suzuki rider Jordan Szoke of Brantford, ON currently leads the Parts Canada Superbike point standings thanks to victories in the two most recent races in Calgary. His teammate, Sherbrooke, QC’s Francis Martin, sits fifth in the standings with four races remaining.

“Anytime you can bring a sponsor from outside the industry to our sport it’s a big deal,” said Suzuki Canada Marketing Manager Ian McKinstray. “This will expose motorcycle racing to a whole new demographic. Team Owner Scott Miller has really done a lot to make this happen and we’re very excited about it.”

With over 375 consultants in more than 65 locations across Canada, The Mortgage Centre network funds over $3 billion in residential mortgages annually. Independent mortgage specialists provide service and products to clients through the centre’s exclusive ‘Mortgage Market’ shopping service.

“We feel this sponsorship opportunity is a great fit for our brand because the people who watch the Parts Canada Superbike Championship are customers of ours,” said Dan Putnam, Director of Mortgage Centre Canada.

Ballots for the Suzuki SV650 draw will be available in the Fast Company Team Suzuki pits at the final three rounds of the Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Mosport International Raceway July 19-21, Nova Scotia’s Atlantic Motorsport Park Aug. 9-11 and Shannonville Motorsport Park Aug. 30-Sept. 1.

Fans can also enter the contest by visiting one of The Mortgage Centre specialists across Canada, or by going online at www.mortgagecentre.com.

“Going through financing is traditionally a nerve-wracking experience,” Putnam added. “But it shouldn’t be like that. Applying for a mortgage should be a simple and stress-free process and we’ve just taken it one step further by adding an element of fun to it.”

From a press release:

Scuderia West, America’s #1 Aprilia dealer, is having a pre-Laguna World Superbike open house starting Saturday, July 6th from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., with lots of free food and discounts.

The Aprilia factory demo truck will be there for Aprilia motorcycle demo rides.

The fun continues on Monday, July 8th when Aprilia World Superbike factory rider Noriyuki Haga will be on hand to sign autographs from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.

Scuderia West is inviting all to come by and show support for Nitro Nori!

Scuderia West is located in San Francisco at 69 Duboce Ave.