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

From an e-mail to Roadracing World Air Fence Fund founder John Ulrich:

We’ve never met, but I wanted to write you this e-mail to thank you once again.

From all accounts (and they still keep coming in), the crash I had at Road Atlanta this past weekend would have been devastating if it weren’t for the Air Fence. I don’t remember the details of the impact other than I was running in third place and we were flying when the crash occurred.

Instead, I walked away (moments later) with a bike that appears (key word here) fixable. In fact, I actually made the restart on a different bike, although my intentions, at that point, were geared more toward rounding Turn 3 successfully and not ending the season on a crash.

I can’t help to imagine if the Air Fence weren’t there and what would have happened the few times I raced there prior when the Fence wasn’t there. My only concern now is what happens the next time I visit Road Atlanta, run through that corner, and realize there is no Air Fence. That is something that I’ll need to work on until we can get more people to understand the importance of this Fence.

After the crash (torn and dazed), I walked up to personally ask Chris (Ulrich) (whom I’ve never met) to thank you for me and tell him what a great person you have been to this sport. Unfortunately, Chris wasn’t there. He’s fortunate to have someone like youself so involved.

I’m embarassed that my procrastination in donating had to wait until I needed it, but just the same, it has been made and I will probably donate more as my funding allows. I made it a point to explain to everyone in the pits, after the crash, the importance of the Air Fence and that everyone should donate. My exact words were, “I wouldn’t be standing here if it weren’t for the Air Fence.”.

Again, I just wanted to thank you. Please understand that my thankfulness includes that of everyone around me.

I hope your efforts to Take Back the AMA work. I live in a different region (Pittsburgh, PA), but if there’s anything I could ever do to help you help others, please do not hesitate to ask.

Thanks again,
Keith S. Reed
Empty Pockets Racing (#34)

The latest American Honda press release touting the company’s low-emissions expertise illustrates the good-news/bad-news aspect of the situation.

On one hand, low emissions are better for the environment. On the other hand, if one company (Honda) can meet ultra-low-emissions standards now, there’s no excuse for other companies not to meet the standards now, which could impact street motorcycle performance and retail pricing, and require the use of catalytic converters on some models.


Now, on to the press release:

American Honda is pleased to announce that the 2002 AquaTrax F-12 and F-12X personal watercraft with 4-stroke engines have received emissions
certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Honda’s two all-new watercraft models are the first 4-stroke powered personal watercraft to meet the EPA’s 2006 emissions standards. The 2006 EPA standards set a 75 percent emissions reduction compared to conventional carbureted two-stroke engines.

Certification of the two AquaTrax models to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) 2004 Two-Star Very Low Emission standards is expected soon. Marine engines meeting the Two-Star CARB standard produce 20 percent fewer emissions than engines meeting the 2006 U.S. EPA standards.

In September 2000, Honda was the first company to announce 4-stroke powered personal watercraft. On September 19, 2001 Honda unveiled two low-emissions family-sized models, the 125-horsepower AquaTrax F-12 and the 165-horsepower turbocharged AquaTrax F-12X, at the company’s annual motorcycle dealer meeting in Las Vegas.

American Honda’s President and CEO, Koichi Amemiya told dealers, “When we say ‘performance first’ this also means putting the environment first. We believe this is our responsibility. Introducing 4-stroke technology throughout the lineup and other new technologies will make our products more friendly to the environment even as we advance performance.”

The AquaTrax F-12 has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $8999 and the AquaTrax F-12X has an MSRP of $9999. The AquaTrax models will go on sale in early 2002.

Today, efficient 4-stroke engines power all Honda motorcycles, scooters, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and personal watercraft for use on public roads, lands and waterways in the U.S.

Honda has a long history of introducing low-emissions products, often meeting engine emission standards years ahead of schedule.

Since 1973, Honda has only manufactured 4-stroke marine engines, which are 90 percent cleaner, and up to 50 percent more fuel-efficient, than traditional two-stroke outboard engines.

The 1975 Honda Civic CVCC was the first and only engine to comply with the original (1970) Clean Air Act standards, without the use of a catalytic converter while running on leaded gasoline.

In 1989, Honda introduced the VTEC (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control) automobile engine, the foundation engine technology for the simultaneous achievement of high performance, low emissions and exceptional fuel efficiency. The VTEC engine, now used in more than 60 percent of all Honda and Acura vehicles, powers Honda’s leadership in corporate average fuel economy. Honda automobiles and light trucks have consistently topped the EPA’s Top Ten list of most fuel-efficient vehicles since first created in 1977.