Copyright 2001, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By John Ulrich

AMA Pro Racing has issued road racing numbers for 2002, and in doing so has demonstrated its own continued disfunction.

Want an example?

Grant Lopez has been #5 in AMA Formula Xtreme for three years. In 2001, he finished 3rd in AMA Formula Xtreme points.

On the 2002 number list for Formula Xtreme, Grant Lopez has been arbitrarily assigned #19 while #5 has been arbitrarily given to Michael Barnes.

Why?

Lopez has also been assigned #19 in Superbike, a class he did not compete in at all during the 2001 season.

Why?

“This is the first I’ve heard of it,” Lopez told me when I asked him why he has suddenly become #19 instead of #5 in Formula Xtreme.

Lopez’s case is just one of many. Anybody who has actually been paying any attention to AMA Pro Racing for more than the past 10 minutes can easily spot other weirdness in the list of assigned 2002 numbers. In another case, Chris Ulrich’s request that he be allowed to retain #18 in AMA Superbike–a request first made the week after the cancellation of the Willow Springs round at which Chris was scheduled to race in Superbike, and repeated about four times since then–has been ignored and the number left unassigned, for unknown reasons. Meanwhile, Jason Pridmore has been re-assigned #43 in Superbike, although he, like Chris Ulrich, did not actually earn points in a Superbike race in 2001.

The underlying question is, why is AMA Pro Racing even issuing arbitrary numbers before the stated December 20 deadline for license renewals being turned in by riders wanting to retain their 2001 numbers? If the deadline is December 20, why is AMA Pro Racing moving numbers around now, almost two months prior to the deadline? Waiting until after the December 20 deadline would make a whole lot more sense, and cause a lot less confusion.

I can quickly name three organizations with more riders than AMA Pro Racing that do a far better job with number assignments and accommodating rider requests for given numbers: WERA, CCS, Formula USA.

Numbers are more than digits to riders. Many riders are attached to various numbers; many would like the same number in various classes they compete in.

The problem with AMA number assignments is nothing new. For 2001, AMA Pro Racing could have consolidated Lopez’s numbers in Formula Xtreme, 750cc Supersport and 600cc Supersport. Instead, he was assigned #5 in Formula Xtreme, #15 in 750cc Supersport and #65 in 600cc Supersport.

Why?

I have complained about this lack of logic in number assignments before. In response, AMA Pro Racing CEO Scott Hollingsworth suggested that, if asked nicely, his staffers would try to accommodate number requests. I guess that explains Lopez’s number problem–he didn’t ask them nicely to not give away his Formula Xtreme number without even telling him they were doing it.

The real problem is that trying to deal with the AMA staffers who handle number assignments is like trying to deal with a rock. They don’t get it, they never have gotten it, they never will get it, they don’t care what you want, and they’ll do what they want anyway.

A start toward improving the situation would be Hollingsworth asking his staffers to not give away a rider’s long-standing number–like Lopez’s #5–and to not assign that rider a completely different number–#19–for no discernable reason.

Numbers and number assignments are part of the basic rider services that appear to be of no concern whatsoever to AMA Pro Racing staffers, and I doubt that Hollingsworth even has a clue what the big deal is.

All the more reason why AMA Pro Racing needs a thorough housecleaning–from the top down–and a restaffing with people who understand the basics of racing and racing organization management.

Including rational number assignments.

Copyright 2001, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Funeral services were held today in Mt. Carmel, Illinois for racer Tony Wright, 33, who was killed Sunday in a bizarre crash at Putnam Park Road Course in Mt. Meridian, Indiana.

Wright, from Mt. Carmel, died during a track day held by Cycle Options of Cincinnati, when he took his TTR125 Yamaha dirt bike out on the course during an open session and was hit by another rider on the front straightaway.

Wright had ridden in previous sessions on a Honda RS125 racebike. He normally competed on the RS125 as a member of Emerge Racing in the WERA North Central Region.

According to racer Jim Connor, who was also participating in the track day, “…during one practice session Tony decided to ride his Yamaha TTR125 trail bike. He was on the straightaway when he was rear-ended at speed by a GSX-R750 doing approximately 140 mph. Wright’s estimated speed was 50-60 mph. The Gixxer was third in a line of three bikes when they came upon Wright three-quarters down the straight. The two front bikes swung around Wright at the last minute, leaving the Gixxer surprised and unable to avoid colliding with Wright. He was thrown approx. 700 feet. Wright died within minutes at the scene. Godspeed, Tony Wright.”

Connor said that the track was staffed with minimal cornerworkers and that the person working pit-out when Wright took the TTR125 onto the track normally worked a corner.

Wright was hit by GLRRA racer Steve Scholz, who remains hospitalized in Indianapolis with two broken wrists and severe facial and jaw injuries.

Wright, who was Director of Telecommunications for Advance Micro Electronics, is survived by his mother, Delores Shoemaker Wright; his fiance, Teresa Howe and her daughter, Shea Howe; his brother, Shannon Wright; and his grandmother, Anna May Shoemaker.


Max McAllister Remembers Tony Wright:
“I am saddened to hear about the passing of Tony Wright. He was a Traxxion Dynamics customer, and really loved riding his RS125. He worked really hard at improving his chassis and his riding skills. He even loaded his bike into his van and drove from Indiana to Georgia, just so I could push on his suspension and help him adjust it! That is real dedication to improvement! God Speed, Tony.”



Racer Shane Williams remembers Tony Wright:
“From all the racers and fans from Cincinnati, our thoughts and prayers are with our good friend Tony Wright (a fellow GP’er) who was taken from us on Sunday the 28th for a higher calling. GOD SPEED, Tony Wright, Theresa, and both of their families. Everyone whoever met Tony knows we have suffered a great loss.”

From a press release:

G.M.D. Computrack Network-Boston is expanding into New York. A new shop will be open for business the first week of November 2001. The name will be G.M.D. Computrack Network NYC, 282 woodmont Rd. Unit 16, Milford, CT 06460. The phone number is 203-876-2477. G.M.D.

Computrack Network NYC will offer free chassis measurements during the month of November.

Contact Mike Martire at NYC or Peter Kates at 508-876-9407 in Boston to book your appointment.

Contact info:
Peter Kates
G.M.D. Computrack Network Boston
11 Summer St.
Bellingham, MA 02019
508-876-9407
[email protected]

500cc first qualifying session results:
1. Valentino Rossi, 1:52.479
2. Kenny Roberts, 1:52.523
3. Norick Abe, 1:52.881
4. Shinya Nakano, 1:52.914
5. Alex Barros, 1:53.015
6. Carlos Checa, 1:53.106
7. Loris Capirossi, 1:53.109
8. Max Biaggi, 1:53.127
9. Alex Criville, 1:53.241
10. Jurgen van den Goorbergh, 1:53.293
11. Olivier Jacque, 1:53.528
12. Garry McCoy, 1:53.575
13. Sete Gibernau, 1:53.750
14. Tohru Ukawa, 1:53.963
15. Jose Luis Cardoso, 1:54.315
16. Haruchika Aoki, 1:54.319
17. Noriyuki Haga, 1:54.624
18. Anthony West, 1:54.903
19. Leon Haslam, 1:55.950
20. Brendan Clarke, 1:57.665
21. Barry Veneman, 1:58.521

250cc first qualifying session results:

1. Marco Melandri, 1:54.803
2. Daijiro Katoh, 1:54.973
3. Tetsuya Harada, 1:55.175
4. Randy De Puniet, 1:55.266
5. Jeremy McWilliams, 1:55.350
6. Alex Debon, 1:55.662
7. Roberto Locatelli, 1:55.685
8. Franco Battaini, 1:55.957
9. Roberto Rolfo, 1:56.051
10. Naoki Matsudo, 1:56.089
Did Not Qualify, Katja Poensgen, 2:03.502


125cc first qualifying session results:
1. Youichi Ui, 2:00.221
2. Toni Elias, 2:00.765
3. Andrea Ballerini, 2:00.766
4. Manuel Poggiali, 2:00.801
5. Lucio Cecchinello, 2:00.929
6. Arnaud Vincent, 2:00.977
7. Mirko Giansanti, 2:01.009
8. Max Sabbatani, 2:01.074
9. Alex De Angelis, 2:01.271
10. Stefano Preugini, 2:01.391

Copyright 2001, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

According to AMA Pro Racing’s Ron Barrick, Claude Danis of the FIM will arrive in the U.S. around November 12 and is scheduled to inspect four racetracks.

The tracks that Danis will inspect include Road Atlanta, Laguna Seca (which must be re-homologated for the 2002 season), Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama and a new track under construction in Palm Springs, California.

Copyright 2001, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

An FIM representative will inspect Road Atlanta this month and will discuss requirements for FIM World Championship homologation with track officials.

Speaking at last Sunday night’s WERA Awards Banquet, AMA Pro Racing’s Ron Barrick told members of the audience that they should write to Road Atanta and encourage track officials to make the necessary changes–including significant improvements in run-off room–to gain FIM homologation.

FIM homologation is required before a racetrack can host a World Championship event.

Road Atlanta has run-off problems in several areas, requiring extensive use of Air Fence.

The 2.52-mile road course is lined with concrete walls installed during Bob Barnard’s brief tenure as Road Atlanta’s General Manager, circa 1997-1998.

The inspection is likely to be conducted by FIM’s Claude Danis.

Road Atlanta’s address is 5300 Winder Highway, Braselton, GA 30517.

According to Barrick, while the use of Air Fence has proven effective, ultimately the best way to improve rider safety is to increase run-off room. Competition from a number of new racetracks being built to FIM spec–including the Barber track near Birmingham, Alabama–could help influence existing tracks like Road Atlanta to make run-off improvements, Barrick said.

From a press release:

DRYSDALE 988cc V8 MotoGP CUSTOMER SPEC. ENGINES

The Melbourne-based Drysdale Motorcycle Co. has designed an all-new 988cc V8 engine for the MotoGP class which is now at the mock-up stage.

With the experience gained from the design and fabrication of the Drysdale 750-V8 road bikes, Drysdale is confident that the MotoGP 988-V8 will be a very competitive package. Drysdale plans to draw on the wealth of motorsport knowledge and experience in Australia from companies such as engine management specialists MoTec to specialist magnesium foundries and world-class metallurgical facilities.

With the 2002 Grand Prix season seeing the return of four-strokes as the premier world motorcycle racing class for the first time in over 25 years, the MotoGP class is promising to become the cutting-edge class of racing on two wheels or four. The starting grid will be made up of a core of the major manufacturers with five “satellite” teams. It is to one of these teams that Drysdale plans to supply engines to be fitted to the team’s own chassis (in a similar manner to Formula One car racing teams).

Drysdale says one thing has not changed in the 45 years since Ing.Carcano designed the amazing Moto Guzzi 500-V8 Grand Prix racebike–a V8 configuration still offers the best combination of power, weight, balance and frontal area. The Drysdale 988-V8 customer spec. motor will actually be smaller in physical size than the Guzzi 500-V8 and more compact than most configurations being considered by the other MotoGP teams.

MotoGP ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS
988cc – 8 cylinder
80 degree Vee configuration (Front cylinder at 30 deg. from horizontal)
Length, 450 mm
Width, 380 mm (At crank centreline)
Height, 400 mm
Mass, 52kg complete with electrics.
Lubrication, dry sump (4 pumps)
Cooling, twin pump “reverse” flow liquid cooling.
Electrical, 36-volt alternator.
Redline, 20,000 rpm (22,000 with development)

CONTACT:
Drysdale Motorcycle Company.
Postal: PO Box 285, Dandenong, Victoria 3175, Australia
Email: [email protected]
Ph: 011-613-9562-4260 Fax : 011-613-9546-8938

FURTHER INFORMATION:
For background information on the Drysdale Motorcycle Company and its owner and founder Ian Drysdale see: http//:home.mira.net/~iwd