Sears Point International Raceway will give ticket vouchers good for admission on Saturday of the 2002 AMA Superbike race weekend to fans who donate three food items to the track’s Thanksgiving Food Drive for needy families.

Out-of-the-area fans can mail or ship food items and receive a voucher in return mail.

The 2002 AMA Superbike National at Sears Point, located in Sonoma, California, will be held May 3-5.

A press release announcing the program, issued by the track, follows:


Fans Can Trade Food for Tickets at Thanksgiving Food Drive

SONOMA, Calif. (IMMEDIATE RELEASE) – Community members and race fans have the chance to help those in need while helping themselves to race tickets at Sears Point Raceway’s “Thanksgiving Food Drive.”

To help feed the needy in Sonoma County, Sears Point is partnering with Friends In Sonoma Helping (FISH) to collect non-perishable food items. Everyone is encouraged to bring food items to the raceway during regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.) from October 15 – November 16. Items can be dropped in bins located in the main office. People can also mail in the food items to: Diana Rose, Sears Point Raceway, Highways 37 and 121, Sonoma, CA, 95476.

As a reward for their generosity, those who donate three or more food items will receive a free ticket to the American Motorcyclist Association Superbike qualifying on Saturday, May 4. To receive your ticket voucher, simply present a photo ID with your non-perishable food items to the employee at the front desk. Only two tickets allowed per family.

FISH of Sonoma Valley works to provide emergency and temporary assistance to Sonoma Valley residents experiencing times of need. In 2000, FISH supplied 1853 households with three days of groceries, and over 2500 calls for food requests continue to come in each year.

For more information, please contact Diana Rose at (707) 938-8448 ext. 118 or by e-mail at [email protected]

From a press release issued by American Honda:

American Honda announced today that long-time road racing technician Al Ludington will return to Honda Racing’s factory road racing team as the Crew Chief for multi-AMA Superbike and 600cc Supersport Champion Miguel Duhamel. Together, the pair has won more AMA road racing championships than any other rider-technician duo in history.

“Honda Racing has always been my home. Most of my championship titles have been made possible thanks to Honda’s tireless efforts to achieve excellence. It’s good to be home,” said a happy Ludington.

Also joining Honda Racing’s road racing squadron for 2002 is Danny Hull. Hull will be responsible for Kurtis Roberts’s Erion Racing/Honda RC51 Superbike chassis development. Hull has worked with Roberts in the past on the Erion Racing team and is excited to be joining forces with Roberts to contest in the upcoming 2002 AMA Superbike championship.

“I’m glad to be working with American Honda and Kurtis Roberts,” said Hull. “Kurtis and I have won a Formula Xtreme title together, and I look forward to winning a Superbike championship. It’s going to be a great year.”


(Editor’s note: Ludington left Honda two years ago and went to Kawasaki when Team Honda’s then-manager, Gary Mathers, did not renew Ludington’s contract. Mathers has since retired from Honda and is now an AMA official.)

A press release issued by Munroe Motors, sponsor of AMA Pro Thunder points leader Tom Montano:

Age And Experience Beats Youth And A Fat Bankroll

Thomas Montano, the wily road racing veteran from Berkeley, California, proved the old adage true when he topped the field in the AMA Pro-Thunder Nationals at Virginia International Raceway, Alton Virginia, Sunday, September 30th on his Ducati 748R motorcycle, sponsored by local dealer Munroe Motors.

Pitted against stiff opposition from three nationally accomplished but less experienced riders on factory-supported Buell motorcycles, Montano played his hand to perfection and left the competition floundering in his wake. “I just stayed out of trouble and looked for an opening” said Montano. “Those Buells come out of the corners really hard, but the Ducati had the advantage in a few spots around the track”.

The weekend started well enough with practice on Thursday, but then Tom crashed on Friday afternoon just after setting some fast lap times, and the team from Munroe Motors, the Ducati dealership in San Francisco, worked to repair the damage late into the night.

Saturday proved to be a tough day as the team failed to match the speed of the previous afternoon… a chronic front-end chatter was plaguing the handling of the bike, but it would not improve with any chassis or suspension adjustments. Sundays’ grid positions were set on Saturday afternoon by the results of two heat races, all entrants competing in one or the other. Buell rider Mike Ciccotto won the faster heat race, thereby earning pole position and the extra championship point, whereas Montano struggled to a third place finish in the other heat, giving him a second row starting position for the race.

On Sunday morning, the team mounted a new set of tires for the pre-race warm-up and amazingly the chatter problem disappeared, allowing Tom to set the fastest time of the morning practice and give the team hope for a good finish.

The race was run right after the Superbike final, and the three factory Buell riders shot off the starting line into the lead using the massive torque of the 1300cc Harley engines. Montano meanwhile took up position 50 feet off the rear wheel of the third rider. The lead swapped between Buells several times over the first few laps, but Montano hung back. On the ninth lap of 17 he started pushing forward, passing Tripp Nobles for third place, then swung past Dave Estok and pole winner Ciccotto to take the lead on lap 10. Nobles started to fade with engine problems and Ciccotto also slowed up a little with handling problems, but Estok hung tough and narrowly retook the lead. On lap 13 however, Estok’s machine spluttered right at the exit of turn one, and Montano following closely hit the rear end of Estok’s Buell with his handlebars, nearly throwing the Ducati rider to the ground.

“I thought I was going down” said Montano, “Dave put his hand up as his motor lost power, but I couldn’t avoid running into him. I’m just lucky the bike stayed upright”. With Estok out, there was no-one left in the fight, and Montano rode the last few laps to victory.

The result puts Montano and the Munroe Motors Ducati 748 team in the championship points lead as they head into the final round of Pro-Thunder at Road Atlanta, on October 27th.

For more information, please contact Nick Hayman of Munroe Motors. Tel 415-626-3496 ext 4, e-mail [email protected]

From a press release:

Sport Management to partner billiards, motorcycling in cross-marketing promotion

WESTERVILLE, OH- Sport Management has signed an agency of record agreement with Colorado Springs-based Billiard Congress of America, and is working to identify partners for a cross-promotion between the powerful consumer groups that both motorcycling and billiards represent.

Sport Management has a long history building motorsports marketing programs for AMA professional racing properties, and the agency wants to identify a synergy between its relationships in motorcycling and the game of pool.

The Billiard Congress of America is dedicated to promoting and growing cue sports worldwide through industry research and promotion, participating in the process of Olympic recognition, hosting amateur, junior and professional tournaments, and supporting its business members by enhancing the image of billiards and broadening its appeal.

“The Billiard Congress of America is enthusiastic about our partnership with Sport Management, Inc. to promote BCA events and the sport of billiards,” said Stephen D. Ducoff, Executive Director of the BCA. “We have exciting amateur and pro tournaments, a huge league program and plans to enhance the image and promote the game nationally to all ages. Pool is a lifetime sport and with the assistance of Sport Management, we are confident we will make ‘Pool – Everybody’s Game.'”

Sport Management will initially support and assist the BCA in national cable network TV negotiations, and will build marketing platforms for the widely-recognized BCA Open 9-Ball Championships, which will be held May 12-18, 2002, at the Riviera Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Top professional athletes Jeanette Lee (aka the “Black Widow”) and Corey Deuel will return to defend their national titles. The pro event runs concurrent to the BCA National 8-Ball Championships, where 7,500 amateur players compete for over $750,000 in prize money. The amateur players are members of the BCA’s league
system that has over 50,000 sanctioned members throughout North America.

“There’s a new breed of pool player in the game today, and it’s about fitness, finesse, and an overall professionalism – much like the modern-day motorcyclist,” said Tom Mueller, president of Sport Management. “We have been fortunate to participate in many successful promotions in the motorcycle industry, and we believe that cross-marketing billiards and motorcycling makes sense. We will be working to identify corporate partners who are interested in new promotional ideas that break through the clutter and attract attention.”

Over 37 million consumers play pool in America. Companies can contact Sport Management, Inc. at 614.899.9476 to learn more about programs and opportunities with the Billiard Congress of America.



And now this comment, in response to our posting:

Thanks for running the media release re: the Billiards Congress. We have seen some excellent billiards/NASCAR cross-promotion, and we want to apply this model to motorcycle racing.

Tom Mueller
Sport Management, Inc.
5805 Chandler Court, Suite A-2
Westerville, OH 43082
614.899.9476
614.899.6917 fax
[email protected]
www.sportmanager.com

Copyright 2001, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

AMA Pro Racing CEO Scott Hollingsworth has declined to sell a Superbike National sanction to Willow Springs International Raceway for 2002, citing a lack of available TV time.

The racetrack had planned to hold a Superbike National in September, 2002.

The track’s September 13-16 race this year was postponed following the September 11 terrorist attacks, and later cancelled when AMA and track officials could not agree on a rescheduling date.

According to sources close to the 2002 negotiations, Hollingsworth said that the AMA has lined up TV coverage of 10 Superbike races for 2002, leaving no room for Willow Springs on the schedule.

There will be an AMA National held in 2002 at California Speedway in Fontana, California, about 100 highway miles from Willow Springs, near the location of the now-defunct Ontario Motor Speedway.

Reached by phone October 10 and asked if there is a limit to how many AMA Nationals can be televised, Speedvision Productions President Dan Murphy said that his company has a contract with the AMA to cover 10 National races, with a set budget. Additional races could be covered, but the AMA or an individual race promoter would have to pick up the substantial bill.

“Plus,” Murphy said, “In my personal opinion, four races in the state of California is too many. You have too many races in one area and you start cannibalizing, and it’s not fair to promoters who have worked hard to establish their event.”

Besides producing TV coverage of AMA events for Speedvision, Murphy’s company promotes the combined AMA/World Superbike event at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California, usually held in July.

Other AMA Nationals are scheduled at Sonoma, California’s Sears Point International Raceway in May and at California Speedway.

From a press release issued by Mike Ciccotto’s agent, Norm Viano of Lawdog Sports Management:

PRO THUNDER – Still Up for Grabs!

October 10, Atlanta, Georgia

While the rest of the classes in the AMA Superbike Championship have been decided for the 2001 season, the Buell Pro Thunder series remains undecided. With three Pro Thunder rounds run at WERA events this season, the Championship will not be actually decided until the final race at Road Atlanta, October 23-28th.

Most glance at the current points and assume that Thomas Montano has an insurmountable lead in the class (279 to 218), but this is misleading because every rider is allowed to drop their two worst results at the end of the season. And since Mike Ciccotto missed two rounds to run a Formula USA race and a World Endurance race (at Brands Hatch, earlier in the season), he actually is closer to Montano than you would initially think. Dropping Montano’s current two worst rounds, a fourth place at Daytona (27 points) and a sixth place at Pikes Peak (25 points) reduces his current points lead to 227 points, just 9 points ahead of Ciccotto and 15 points ahead of Dave Estok. So with the final round approaching at Road Atlanta, the Championship race is tighter than ever.

Consider the following scenario: If Ciccotto wins the race and earns the two extra points (for Laps Lead and Pole Position), then his total points for the season would be 256. If Montano finishes 3rd, his total points would also be 256. And in that tie-breaker scenario both racers would have two 1st place finishes, but Ciccotto would have more 2nd place finishes (3 to Montano’s 2) and would win the Championship!

Also to consider is that although Ciccotto did not race two rounds, he still earned more Pole Points and Lap Leader points this season than any other Pro Thunder rider (3 Pole Points and 3 Lap Leader points, for a total of 6 extra points). So it is very possible that Mike will earn these points at the final round, especially since Road Atlanta is his favorite track and he is often very fast there. In May, for example, he qualified almost a second faster than the 2nd place qualifier (Ben Spies) in the 750cc Supersport class, then went on to win the race by almost 5 seconds.

Further evidence that Mike is up to the challenge is the fact that at the recent AMA round at VIR, a flat tire during the race was the only thing that prevented him from dominating all weekend, having been fastest in practice, and in qualifying.

So what are Ciccotto’s thoughts for Road Atlanta and the Championship he might win there? “All I am thinking about is going to Atlanta, winning pole, leading the most laps, winning the race, and as far as the Championship is concerned – well, all I can do is my best. If I get the Championship, great. I’d love to do that for Hal’s Performance Advantage and for Buell. But, if I don’t get another flat tire, I’ll dominate there. Count on it.”

By Bruce Wilkins/Lake County Breeze

The AMA U.S. Superbike Championship will hold a double-header at Virginia International Raceway next season, according to track co-developer Connie Nyholm.

Speaking at a meeting of the Danville Sports Club Monday night (October 8), Nyholm said that next year’s AMA event in October at VIR will feature two Superbike points races, one on Saturday and one on Sunday.

(On Tuesday, October 9, VIR Public Relations & Media Director Laura Comstock said that while the track hoped to host an AMA double-header in late September 2002, the deal had not been finalized.)

Nyholm also said:

• The traffic problems will be worked out to make sure police are at the pertinent intersections on BOTH days.

• VIR definitely needs to be linked to Danville/Pittsylvania County’s water and sewer systems in order to increase the number of toilets and showers, as well as to go further into their 10-year plan which includes having an on-premise 80-120 room hotel.

• In response to a question from a local reporter, Nyholm stated, “Yes we would absolutely love to host WERA’s GNF. They’re great people…(WERA President) Ev (Clarke) was one of our very first club members here at VIR, and they are customers whom we value very highly. It would have a great impact on the local economy and is just another reason why we need to be hooked up to the water and sewer system. We would really work hard to see that we got this event.”

• In response to a question about new access to the track she said, “We don’t feel like we deserve to ask for a four-lane highway straight to the facility right now. We need the water and sewer first. Now, if someone said, ‘Yeah, you can have this four-lane highway’ then we’d of course gladly accept it. But right now, our main priority is the water and sewer system so we can grow.” She also stated that in an “as the crow flies” distance, the north end of the track is only about 2000 feet from U.S. 58.

• In response to a question about the financial impact of the recent AMA event, she stated that the track broke even and that she was very upbeat about next year’s event.

• In response to a question of what the fastest speed that has been recorded at VIR is, she said a Cadillac LMP900 race car did 202 mph down the long backstretch of the full course. One of the Cadillacs struck a groundhog at 200 mph, she added.

• In response to another question from a local reporter, Myholm said, “Yes, I would love to take some hot laps on a road racing bike if I had the chance.”

From a press release, issued by Traxxion Dynamics’ Max McAllister:

Traxxion Dynamics Incorporated would like to alert its customers and all potential customers that an imposter business has opened just 15 miles from us in Cumming, Georgia. A guy named Milan Harris attended a CCS motorcycle race, saw our trailer, saw our name, saw what we were doing and decided to copy us, all the way down to using our name. He attended a Race Tech Seminar and then opened a store about two months ago. He is calling his company “Advanced Traxxion” until my trademark lawyers can stop him.

If you search the Atlanta phone directory on the internet, it will pull his company name up, and already we have had many customers misled to his place of business through this deception. Until we have succeeded in forcing this man to stop using our name, we encourage all customers to make sure they are dealing with Traxxion Dynamics, Inc. For more information, visit
www.traxxion.com.

The charity golf tournament held in conjunction with the annual AMA Pro Racing Awards Banquet will benefit a fund which works exclusively with injured professional motocrossers.

According to an October 8 AMA Pro Racing press release announcing scheduling of the banquet, “Following the banquet will be a day of golf, benefiting the Road 2 Recovery Foundation, which helps pro riders who suffer career-threatening injuries while racing. The Road 2 Recovery Foundation is dedicated to providing financial, motivational, emotional and spiritual support to AMA licensed members in the event of a career-ending injury.”

The release makes no mention of the fact that the Foundation works with injured Pro motocrossers ONLY, and, by using the terms “pro riders” and “AMA licensed members” instead of “pro motocrossers”, actually creates the opposite impression.

Details of the Road 2 Recovery Foundation’s work can be seen at www.road2recovery.com.