From a Ducati press release:

WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP
Testing – Valencia (Spain)
Thursday 13th December 2001

DUCATI DUO POWER TO SUPERB TIMES IN SPAIN

Troy Bayliss (Ducati Infostrada) and Ben Bostrom (Ducati L&M) both came close to the official track record at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia as the factory Ducati Corse squad completed its final test of the year in southern Spain.

In sunny conditions (air 11-16° C / track 13-23° C) and on a perfect track, WSBK champion Bayliss (Ducati Infostrada) fired a warning to his rivals by posting a time of 1:34.70 on qualifying tyres. The 32-year-old Australian, who also set a time of 1:35.36 on race tyres during his 55 laps today, expressed satisfaction at the outcome of the tests and said he was looking forward to defending his title next year.

“I’m very pleased because we made a few small modifications to the settings since the last time we tested here in November and you can see the results”, declared Bayliss. “A time of 1:34 shows the progress we have made, the problem now is to find that little bit more, because for sure we won’t go as fast as this in the race. The last time we were here I didn’t try a qualifying tyre, but now we got very close to the circuit record. On the results of these tests, I’ll have to keep an eye on Haga and Ben next year because both went really quick here. The dice I had with Haga for a few laps yesterday reminded me of Assen and it should be great racing against him again next year!”

Ducati L&M’s Ben Bostrom was also on superb form throughout the two-day test at one of his favourite tracks despite not feeling particularly well. The 27-year-old Californian, who was slightly quicker than Bayliss, posted a best time of 1:34.56 on qualifying tyres, just a fraction of a second away from the outright circuit record, 1:34.496, set by Yamaha’s Max Biaggi in Valencia GP qualifying two months back. Bostrom, who also recorded a best lap of 1:35.31 on race tyres during his 56 laps, was convinced he could have smashed the circuit record.

“We just needed an extra half-hour and I would have smashed the lap record because the bike just keeps getting better and better”, said Bostrom. “I found a great Q-tyre but there was traffic on the final lap and the sun was in my eyes, otherwise I would have done a 1:34 flat with it. I did my fastest lap on qualifying tyres this morning, but the bike feels great on race tyres as well. We’ve got a good set-up, and I already feel really excited about next year.”

Ducati Infostrada rider Ruben Xaus did not take part in the two-day Valencia test as he was involved in promotional activities for the Italian manufacturer. The 23-year-old tested here with Bayliss in November.

SBK RECORDS (all held by Corser, Aprilia): qualifying 1:35.504; superpole 1:36.185; lap record 1:36.128.

UNOFFICIAL TIMES: 1. BOSTROM (DUCATI L&M) 1:34.56; 2. BAYLISS (DUCATI INFOSTRADA) 1:34.70; 3. Martin (Ducati DFX) 1:35.90; 4. Antonello (Ducati DFX) 1:36.90.

The next Ducati Corse test is scheduled for January 24-26, 2002 at Kyalami, South Africa.

This just in:

“I ordered a set of Tiger Angels. Nicely made leathers. After two wearings, it was apparent they were not going to stretch enough so I sent them to Palo Alto to have Tiger Angel’s alteration guy do his thing.

“FedEx delivered them to Stanford University’s athletic department (by mistake) where they were misplaced (ie: stolen). I’m in the process of litigating with FedEx because they don’t want to pay the claim. But that’s not the reason I’m writing. I would like your suggestion as to how to get the word out either by editorial letter or perhaps take out an ad. Someone in the San Francisco or Monterey area is wearing a set of black Tiger Angels with red sleeves. If they have removed the extensive graphics on the arms, legs and back which have cornerspeed and cornerspeed.net emblazoned everywhere, the thread holes outlining where the letters used to be should be a good indication of who truly owns the leathers.

“Most likely they will turn up on someone at a track day, school or club race. If I ever retrieve them, they will probably be trashed so I would like to offer a reward not for the return of the leathers but for the arrest of the person who has them in their possession. If the person is convicted, I will give a bonus reward. I would imagine that the leathers would be returned afterwards but as I stated, I’m sure they’ll be trashed.

“If we can get the word out, I’ll file a complaint with the Palo Alto police department so they have a file on record.

“I’ve been on this for several months with no results so perhaps this is the direction to take. Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

“Wishing you all the best this holiday season.

“Aaron Stevenson
“Cornerspeed”
[email protected]

From a press release:

1-888-FASTLAP/1888fastlap.com Announces $2 Million Racer Contingency Program

1-888-FASTLAP/1888fastlap.com has a new racer contingency program for 2002 that is worth a staggering $2,026,560. This is by far the largest racer contingency program ever offered by any aftermarket company, and may be larger than all the other aftermarket motorcycle road racing contingency programs combined.

Paul Wright, from 1-888-FASTLAP and 1888fastlap.com, says the program will pay back through 10th place in nearly every sprint race in the country. Most racing organizations are involved, including AMA, WERA and affiliates, CCS/FUSA and affiliates, and CRA.

The new program is based on the use of 4 products imported to the US and available through 1888fastlap.com or 1-888-FASTLAP. Racers who purchase and use Kobe leathers, Venom exhausts, FM helmets, and ExtremeTech steering dampers will each pay contingency certificates, and you do not have to have all 4 to get paid, as each product will pay independently of the others.

Last year contingency was available through 1-888-FASTLAP/1888fastlap.com for Kobe leathers, and Paul Wright says those people who bought Kobe leathers last year will still get paid contingency, based on the 2001 program, for a full year from the date they purchased the leathers. To be eligible for the increased 2002 payouts, a new suit must have been purchased after November 30, 2001.

To be eligible for the program you must purchase the products new, return the warranty card, use the products at the races, list 1888fastlap.com and the product as a sponsor, and run FASTLAP decals and product decals on your race bike.

Contingency payouts for Kobe leathers, Venom exhausts, and FM helmets are 1st place through 10th place:
AMA Superbike
$500 – $400 – $300 – $250 – $200 – $150 – $100 – $75 – $50 – $25

AMA SuperSport & 250GP, WERA Nationals, FUSA Nationals:
$100 – $75 – $65 – $50 – $40 – $35 – $30 – $25 – $20 – $20

WERA, CCS, CRA, regional sprints:
$75 – $50 – $40 – $30 – $25 – $20 – $20 – $10 – $10 – $10

Contingency for ExtremeTech steering dampers, 1st place through 10th place:
AMA Superbike:
$300 – $200 – $150 – $100 – $75 – $50 – $40 – $30 – $25 – $20

AMA 600/750 SuperSport & 250GP, WERA Nationals, FUSA Nationals:
$75 – $50 – $40 – $35 – $30 – $25 – $20 – $20 – $15 – $15

WERA, CCS, CRA, regional sprints:
$40 – $30 – $25 – $20 – $20 – $15 – $15 – $10 – $10 – $10

The program is designed to pay the largest number of racers possible, and put support in the hands of up-and-coming racers who don’t always finish on the podium. To achieve this, each of the four products will pay certificates based on your best finishing position of each weekend race event. Using all 4 products and winning an AMA Superbike race would get you contingency totaling $1800 for that event, and a first place at a WERA regional event would net you $265 in certificates. The certificates are redeemable through 1-888-FASTLAP or 1888fastlap.com towards any of the hundreds of products offered through their catalog or website. With this program anyone has the chance to get some financial support for their racing.

Full details of the program, eligible classes, and more information about the products is available at 1888fastlap.com, or by calling 1-888-FASTLAP.

Despite a popular website’s continuing assertions that Shawn Higbee rode a GSX-R1000 “Formula Xtreme” bike at Daytona during the recent Dunlop tire tests, Higbee was in fact riding a Formula USA-spec GSX-R750 on DOT-labelled tires.

F-USA rules limit horsepower to 145.

A typical Formula Xtreme bike, which runs on slicks, makes between 165 and 190 horsepower.

Copyright 2001, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Valvoline EMGO Suzuki Crew Chief (and former racer) Keith Perry married AMA grid official (and club racer) Laura Edmondson Hardy in Apopka, Florida today.

MRO Chaplain Brent Houston officiated at the private ceremony.

It is the second marriage for both.

The rings exchanged by the couple were made by Jerry Derhammer, AMA Pro Road Racing Chief Steward, who is involved in the jewelry business in real life.

In the calm before the storm, bidding on Nicky Hayden’s leathers–being auctioned off on eBay to benefit the Roadracing World Air Fence Fund–has reached $3600, rising only $50 in the sixth day of the 10-day auction. But bidding is expected to intensify as the close of the sale approaches. The auction ends at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time Sunday, December 16 with all proceeds from the sale of the leathers, minus eBay and escrow service fees, going to the Roadracing World Air Fence Fund.

The highest bid is currently held by “cmra_5” although “shogunone” and “hondaron39” are still active in the bidding. There have been a total of 39 bids on the leathers. The bidding price has risen from the opening bid of $500 to the current bid of $3600.

To see photos of the leathers and read a detailed description, use the following link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1044691248

Copyright 2001, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

American Honda’s Nicky Hayden recorded the fastest Superbike lap time Wednesday morning of the Dunlop tire tests at Daytona International Raceway while Yoshimura Suzuki’s Aaron Yates led all 600cc Supersport riders on the morning of the last day of the test.

Hayden’s best lap, a 1:49.897, came on the first flying lap of a 22-lap endurance test on what Hayden described as “what Dunlop thinks is going to be the race tire in March”. Hayden rode the 2002-spec RC51, fitted with new vortex-generating tape strips, in the endurance run before handing the bike off to Miguel Duhamel just before lunch. Within just a few laps, Duhamel turned significantly quicker times on the new Honda Superbike versus his times on his 2001 RC51. Duhamel spent most of the morning testing a new two-way, rider-to-pit radio system from Racing Radios. Residing inside the foam aero-hump of his leathers and activated by a button on his left handle bar, the NASCAR-like radio system is legal only in the AMA Superbike class.

Yamaha’s Anthony Gobert turned the second-fastest Superbike lap time late in the morning session despite feeling less than 100% physically and spending most of the morning riding his YZF-R6. Gobert’s 1:50.052 was his best effort of the test to this point.

Mat Mladin lapped in the 1:50s on his first flying lap of the morning and ended up the third-fastest Superbike rider with a 1:50.422. Mladin and crew continued to work through their testing agenda of new parts and tires all morning.

Yates rode his GSX-R600 just long enough to turn what may end up being the fastest 600cc lap of the test at 1:53.970. Yates then jumped on his Suzuki Superbike long enough to turn the fifth-fastest Superbike lap time at 1:51.319, just before the lunch break.

KWS Motorsports’ Shawn Higbee lapped at a best of 1:53.381 on his Formula USA Unlimited Superbike GSX-R750 with Dunlop DOT-labeled tires while he was supposed to only be riding around for pictures, according to KWS’ Kevin Hunt.

Erion Racing’s Mike Hale continued to spend time on his 2001 CBR929RR Formula Xtreme bike despite the fact that the FX class will most likely not race at Daytona in March, but the race’s exclusion has not been officially decided by officials from Daytona and AMA Pro Racing.

Tripp Nobles and Dave Estok continue to do comparison testing between 2001 Buell X-1 Lightning and Pro Thunder racers and the 2003-model Buell Firebolt XB9R machines. After the majority of their testing is completed and the expensive diagnostic instruments are removed from the Pro Thunder version of the Firebolt, Nobles and Estok will attempt to turn the fastest lap of Daytona by a push-rod-equipped motorcycle. Nobles currently holds that mark with a 1:58 on the old version of the Buell Pro Thunder bike.

Wednesday Morning’s Unofficial Lap Times:
1. Nicky Hayden, Honda RC51, 1:49.897
2. Anthony Gobert, Yamaha YZF-R7, 1:50.052
3. Mat Mladin, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:50.422
4. Kurtis Roberts, Honda RC51, 1:50.837
5. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:51.319
6. Pascal Picotte, Ducati 998, 1:51.828
7. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:51.839
8. Miguel Duhamel, Honda RC51, 1:52.165
9. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:52.233
10. Shawn Higbee, Suzuki GSX-R750, 1:53.381
11. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:53.600*
12. Aaron Yates, Suzuki GSX-R600, 1:53.970
13. Anthony Gobert, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:54.506
14. Roger Lee Hayden, Honda CBR600F4i, 1:55.178
15. Damon Buckmaster, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:55.295
16. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki ZX-6R, 1:55.418
17. Mike Hale, Honda CBR929RR, 1:56.046
18. Alex Gobert, Honda CBR600F4i, 1:57.080
19. Jake Zemke, Honda CBR600F4i, 1:57.180

*Cut chicane on fastest lap time.

Copyright 2001, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Hugh Fleming has been named AMA Pro Racing Director of Safety and will convene a panel of doctors to develop improved crash response procedures.

AMA Pro Racing CEO Scott Hollingsworth said at Friday’s AMA Awards Banquet that noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. Art Ting will be involved on the panel, along with two doctors with experience in car racing.

Roadracing World has asked AMA Pro Racing to also consider involving AMA Pro racer Dr. David Kieffer, an orthopedic surgeon, and Dr. Jim Adams, an emergency room physician who runs a Cook County, Illinois EMT training program and, along with his two sons, club races.