THREE NEW VENUES ON 2002 AMA U.S. FLAT TRACK
CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Another chapter in AMA Grand National dirt-track racing will be written in the 2002 AMA U.S. Flat Track Championships. A new formula for the series will see the advent of street-based 1000cc motors, such as Suzuki TL1000s, Aprilia RSV Milles, Buells, Ducatis and others being raced against the long established Harley-Davidson 750cc pure-bred racing motors.

2002 will see the implementation of AMA Pro Racing’s five-year plan for flat-track racing to help incorporate more brands into the series. Since 1999 the 1000cc bikes ran in the now defunct SuperTrackers Series. The 2002 series will feature a mix of established events and several new rounds giving racing fans in different parts of the country a chance to watch the wheel-to-wheel racing action.

The championships will see its traditional kick off on March 9 during Daytona Bike Week at Municipal Stadium’s short track. This is one of the most competitive tracks in the series and has witnessed eight different winners in 13 years of racing. Speedvision will televise the opening round.

Round two will be on April 7 at a new venue for AMA Grand National racing — Will Rogers Down in Claremore, Okla. Fans will benefit from the glass-enclosed grandstands and a restaurant that overlooks the track. The track has previously hosted AMA National Hot Shoe Series races.

Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Ill., is the second track new to the AMA Grand National racing circuit. Tri-City is located just across the river from St. Louis and will host a race on June 15. The area last hosted an AMA Grand National in the mid-1980s when a Short-Track National was held in Busch Stadium.

On July 20 Oglethorpe Speedway Park in Savannah, Ga., will host its first AMA Grand National. Oglethorpe is not new to most of the series racers however, since the clay half-mile is the site of the yearly AMA Hot Shoe Series kick off.

In addition to these new racing venues the series will return to traditional strongholds such as Springfield, Ill., which will host rounds on Memorial Day and Labor Day holiday weekends; Peoria, Ill., home of the famous TT race; Allen County Fairgrounds in Lima, Ohio, a crushed limestone half-mile that has become one of the fan favorites; the Du Quoin (Ill.) Mile, known as the Magic Mile for the closeness of the racing, as well as races in Mineralwells, W. Va., Hagerstown, Md., Charlotte, N.C., Harrington, Del., Sedalia, Mo. and Vernon, N.Y.

AMA Pro Racing is working to complete the 2002 schedule, especially adding events during the late-April and early-May time period.

TENTATIVE 2002 AMA U.S. FLAT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS

March 9, Municipal Stadium, Daytona Beach, FL, Short Track

April 7, Will Rogers Downs, Claremore, Oklahoma, Mile

April 20, TBA

April 27, TBA

May 4, TBA

May 18, West Virginia Motor Speedway, Mineralwells, West Virginia, Half-mile

May 25, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, Illinois, TT

May 26, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, Illinois, Mile

June 1, Hagerstown Speedway, Hagerstown, Maryland, Half-mile

June 15, Tri-City Speedway, Granite City, Illinois, Half-mile

June 22, TBA

June 29, Allen County Fairgrounds, Lima, Ohio, Half-mile

July 6, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, Illinois, Short Track

July 13, TBA

July 20, Oglethorpe Speedway Park, Savannah, Georgia, Half-mile

July 27, Lowes Motor Speedway, Charlotte, North Carolina, Half-mile

Aug. 3, Delaware State Fairgrounds, Harrington, Delaware, Half-mile

Aug. 10, Hagerstown Speedway, Hagerstown, Maryland, Half-mile

Aug. 18, Peoria Motorcycle Clubgrounds, Peoria, Illinois, TT

Aug. 24, State Fair Speedway, Sedalia, Missouri, Half-mile

Aug. 30, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, Illinois, Short Track

Aug. 31, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, Illinois, Mile

Sept. 1, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, Illinois, Mile

Sept. 7, Vernon Downs, Vernon, New York, Mile

Sept. 28, Du Quoin State Fairgrounds, Du Quoin, Illinois, Mile

The Marlboro Yamaha Grand Prix team is testing at Phillip Island, Australia on Tuesday, November 27 through Friday, November 30th.

Clear Channel Motor Sports has announced another stadium deal, this time with Sam Boyd Stadium in las Vegas.

Clearly, the stadiums that have served as venues for the Supercross Series are siding with Clear Channel and not AMA Pro Racing and its new Supercross promoter, Jam Productions.

A press release from Clear Channel follows:

Las Vegas’ Sam Boyd Stadium Named Clear Channel’s
Supercross Finals Location For The Next Four Years

Clear Channel Entertainment and Sam Boyd Stadium extend agreement through 2005

AURORA, Ill. (November 26, 2001) – Clear Channel Entertainment’s motor sports division announced today a four-year agreement with Las Vegas’ Sam
Boyd Stadium to host the Supercross finals through 2005.

The agreement ensures Clear Channel Entertainment’s Supercross Series finals will remain in Las Vegas for the next four years.

Sam Boyd Stadium, home to the UNLV Rebel Football team, is Nevada’s premier outdoor facility, located just eight miles east of the famous Las Vegas Strip. Along with being the crown jewel of both the Monster Jam and EA SPORTS Supercross tours, the stadium has also hosted the biggest names in touring entertainment, including U2, The Eagles, Ozzy Osbourne, N’Sync, Metallica and The Dave Matthews Band.

In 1998, the Stadium underwent a major renovation and expansion project, creating more luxurious seating and the annual Supercross finale that fans
have come to expect in recent years.

Daren Libonati, facility director of Sam Boyd Stadium, said, “We are proud to announce the mutual long-term continuation of Supercross. Clear Channel Entertainment’s Supercross finals have consistently brought Sam Boyd Stadium
capacity audiences, along with national television exposure. We are pleased to extend our hospitality to Clear Channel’s Supercross fans for another four years.”

Last year, Supercross fans from all 50 states and 27 different countries attended the EA SPORTS Supercross finals, resulting in a $28.2 million economic impact on the city of Las Vegas, according to R&R Research, a Las Vegas based independent firm.

“Las Vegas is the best place for the Supercross finals, and when you couple Sam Boyd Stadium’s endless list of amenities along with its convenient proximity to Las Vegas’ offerings, you get an unequalled destination event. We’re honored to call Sam Boyd Stadium and The City of Las Vegas the home to supercross’ ultimate event,” said Charlie Mancuso, President of Clear
Channel Entertainment’s motor sports division.

This just in from David Roy, Ducati North America Manager of Racing Operations, and a former AMA Pro Thunder racer:


“I went to the new North Florida Motorsports Park track this Sunday for a few laps on my 996. The track design is quite technical with a few high-lean, high-speed corners, that make you pucker pretty good, and every corner has lots of run-off.

“Their facilities are still a bit primitive but it looks like they are working on them daily. Overall it is probably one of the most fun tracks I have ridden in awhile, and most likely has the best track surface in the U.S., no seams, no patches, no concrete.

“Unofficially I set a new track record of 1:21.972 hand-timed by Bill Weber, or 1:22:002 by my wife Debbie, or 1:21.9 on my lap timer. I don’t know if you are supposed to average them or take the lowest?”

Copyright 2001, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Tom Sera’s Fastrack Riders has scheduled several dates at California Speedway, and is expanding into sanctioning races as well as running rider schools and track days at the Fontana, California facility.

FRA (Fastrack Riders Assn.) will hold races on its two-day and three-day weekends at California Speedway, including the March 29-31 weekend prior to the April 5-7 AMA National; the March 29 Friday will consist of official practice as well as a new riders’ school.

Because the March 29-31 weekend includes sanctioned races and official practice on Friday, AMA licensed riders will be eligible to participate on all three days despite current AMA Pro Racing restrictions on pre-event practice.

Other FRA race dates at California Speedway will include February 23-24, July 13-14 and August 3-4.

According to Sera, FRA classes will include:

600cc Superstock
750cc Superstock

750cc Superbike

Open Formula

250cc Grand Prix
125cc Grand Prix

Open Twins
Heavyweight Twins

Novice Heavyweight
Novice Middleweight
Novice Lightweight

The Open Formula class is modeled after AMA Formula Xtreme.

Sera said that his racing program will include 5-lap heat races and 15-20 lap final races.

FRA dates scheduled for California Speedway follow:

Monday, January 28

Saturday, February 23
Sunday, February 24

Friday, March 29
Saturday, March 30
Sunday, March 31

Monday, June 3

Saturday, July 13
Sunday, July 14

Saturday, August 3
Sunday, August 4
Monday, August 12

These dates are in addition to Fastrack Riders’ dates at the Willow Springs and Streets Of Willow courses in Rosamond, California.

More information is available from Fastrack at (661) 256-8660.

Sent to us by racer and NHIS Motorcycle Safety Director Jerry Wood, who originally posted this on the Internet in response to New Englanders angry at the AMA for abandoning the Loudon AMA National and seemingly spending time and effort primarily to fight mandatory helmet laws for street riders:

First and foremost, if you are a motorcyclist, then you should be a member of The American Motorcyclist Association. The AMA protects our rights to ride and does a damn good job doing it! The helmet law is only the first step. There have been all sorts of stupid laws proposed like leg guards, even seat belts.

The Danforth bill (circa 1987) would have outlawed sportbikes as we know them. The do-gooder lawmakers have tried banning us from roads, parks, towns and more.

The AMA has full-time representation, many times stopping unfair laws early in the process. Other times it is a long, drawn-out battle.

The insurance is a bonus, many of our riders rely on the ARMOR insurance as all that they can afford. I have Blue Cross with a big deductible and use the ARMOR as a backup, before my insurance kicks in. You can reduce your premium by a bunch by having a large deductible.

The AMA Pro Racing Department has thousands of people angry right now and they deserve it! Just for your information, the AMA did not quit Loudon because of excessive danger. They are pissed at the Bahres for venting anger at them. They don’t understand why they would become so upset just because the customers are screaming mad. Now with the Supercross mess, even more folks are upset. WE ALL can help implement change as members by voting and supporting the candidates for change.

I also belong to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. On September 11th they grounded all of us and there was talk of never letting us fly again. The AOPA fought long and hard to get us in the air again. I have sent them membership money for 23 years and they just made it worth every penney.

In a perfect world our freedoms would be guaranteed but in the real world freedom is fought for and won. None of can go this alone, we need an association.

The bottom line is if you love motorcycling, then you should kick in the $40 towards keeping your freedom.

Jerry Wood

From an AMA press release:

MLADIN EARNS FINAL AMA/SPEEDVISION PRO ATHLETE OF THE YEAR NOMINATION

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Australian racing sensation Mat Mladin is the fourth and final nominee for the 2001 AMA/Speedvision Athlete of the Year. Mladin is coming off another outstanding season in AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship competition – winning his third straight title. Mladin is the first rider to produce three-consecutive championships in AMA Superbike since Motorcycle Hall of Famer Fred Merkel accomplished the feat in 1986. Next year he will attempt to become the first four-time AMA Superbike champion.

Mladin, 29, started the 2001 racing campaign with his second win in the prestigious Daytona 200. He then went on to victory on his Yoshimura Suzuki GSXR750 at Road Atlanta, Road America and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, bringing his season tally to four wins. Mladin is now tied for fifth on the all-time AMA Superbike wins list with a career total of 14 wins. Mladin also became the leading all-time AMA Superbike pole winner this season.

Mladin joins Pro Honda Oils 600 SuperSport champ Eric Bostrom, AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Motocross and AMA EA Sports Supercross winner Ricky Carmichael and Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track titlist Chris Carr as the nominees for this year’s Pro Athlete of the Year award.

“I really have to thank my team for the work they put into helping me win the Superbike Championship this year,” said Mladin, a former Australian Superbike champ who has raced in the U.S. since 1996. “It’s very much a team effort and I happen to be fortunate to have the best team behind me.”

This is Mladin’s third time being nominated for AMA/Speedvision Pro Athlete of the Year. He won the award last year. He has the chance to become the first rider to win back-to-back Athletes of the Year since Rick Johnson and Bubba Shobert were named co-winners in 1986 and 1987.

The AMA/Speedvision Athlete of the Year winner is awarded $5000 and will have their name enshrined alongside some of the all-time greats of the sport.

The 2001 AMA/Speedvision Pro Athlete of the Year will be announced during the 27th annual AMA Pro Racing Champions Awards Banquet Dec. 7, 2001, at the luxurious Desert Springs Marriott Resort & Spa in Palm Springs. To purchase tickets to the awards banquet, contact AMA Pro Racing at (614) 856-1900.

Copyright 2001, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

The Central Motorcycle Roadracing Association (CMRA), the Southwest CCS affiliate, announced that the first stage of repaving Oak Hill Raceway in Henderson, Texas has been completed.

The track was originally built in 1975 by paving contractor and go-kart racer Jack Reed in 1975 for private use, but has been raced on by the CMRA (and before it became CMRA, by CRRC, Central Road Racing Club) for much of its 26-year history. A young Freddie Spencer raced at Oak Hill with CRRC in 1975.

The tight, twisting, 1.8-mile road course still incorporated sections of the original 26-year-old pavement in 2001.

Two years ago, CMRA officials started working to fund repaving of the track by collecting a tariff of $10 per racebike on race days, and local government and a go-kart association, SWRA (Southwest Roadracing Association) also contributed. But despite the efforts, the organization came up short of funds.

It looked like the CMRA would have to wait another year to begind repaving the track, until a CMRA member who asked to remain anonymous donated $10,000 to help complete the effort on schedule.

According to CMRA’s Eric Kelcher, the track was slightly graded down, especially at its edges where portions of the pavement had eroded away or been covered by earth, and repaved from turn eight (the last corner) through turn two, a distance of approximately one-third of a mile.

The material used was the same as originally used to pave the track, a mix of Uvalde asphalt and aluminum slag.

Oak Hill Raceway will remain closed to let the new pavement cure for at least 60 days and is expected to re-open in time for the first CMRA event, a new riders school, in February 2002.

As a result of the track surface improvement, the CMRA has decided to close the small section of paddock that had been outside of turn one in anticipation of increased speeds out of the final turn and through the first corner. That area will serve as new run-off room for turn one, and CMRA will rent nearby pasture fields for extra parking space on race weekends.

The CMRA and its partners plan to repave another section of the track in 2003, from turn two through turn four.

In other CMRA news, Kelcher also said that he and Derek Heaton would be going to Salt Lake City, Utah in January 2002 to be trained by Alpina Safety Systems personnel in the installation and maintenance of Aplina Air Modules before returning to Texas with four sections of Alpina Air Modules for use by the CMRA. Kelcher said that the CMRA bought the Alpina sections in “used” condition at a considerable discount over new. The Alpina sections will be used in the School House Turn (turn seven) at Oak Hill, in turns one and two at Hallett Motor Racing Circuit in Hallett, Oklahoma and in turn 8A at Texas World Speedway (where several sections of Airfence Bike are also in use) during CMRA events. The CMRA also races at the Motorsport Ranch in Cresson, Texas but no safety barriers are needed at that course.

The Castrol Honda World Superbike team is producing race-ready, World Supersport-spec Honda CBR600F4i motorcycles for sale, presumably to anyone who wants to buy them. The bikes are being prepared at Honda’s race team headquarters in Louth, Lincs in the United Kingdom.

The bikes will include:

– a World Supersport-spec engine
– race-ready suspension
– an Arrow racing exhaust system
– carbon-fiber bodywork
– an HRC close-ratio transmission
– an HRC engine “power-up” kit
– racing brakes, chain and tires
– a spare set of wheels
– a spares kit
– data sheets, set-up information and list of parts suppliers

Honda’s Roger Harvey is quoted in a press release, posted on the team’s website, as saying, “This is a project we’ve been trying to get under way for some time, we’ve finally made a plan and we’re all very excited about its potential.” Harvey said that the team sold six bikes within the first 24 hours after the announcement and claimed that it would probably take the average person two months to put together a bike like the one the team is offering.

Customers will also receive a free test day to set up their new bike with assistance from the Honda race team technicians.

Price: 14,500 British pounds (about $20,600 U.S.)

For additional information, call Roger Harvey at 011-44-1889-583349 or Neil Tuxworth at 011-44-1507-605843