Teknic is offering cash contingency in certain CCS classes for the rest of the 2001 racing season. Riders must use either a Teknic leather suit or Teknic boots and gloves in order to be eligible to receive the contingency awards. Also riders must display Teknic stickers on both sides of their bike and must list Teknic as a sponsor. There is no minimum rider field required and there are no contingency forms to be filled out.

The eligible CCS classes include Lightweight Supersport Amateur, Middleweight Supersport Amateur, and Unlimited Grand Prix Expert. At normal CCS events, Teknic pays $40 for first, $25 for second, and $10 for third. At the Race of Champions at Daytona International Speedway October 17-21, Teknic will pay $75 for a win, $50 for a second, and $25 for a third.

For more information on the Teknic CCS contingency program, call Teknic/Specialty port Ltd. at (616) 866-3722, FAX (616) 865-1119, or www.teknicgear.com.

AMA Pro Racing Director of Competition Merrill Vanderslice solicited spec-tire proposals from the three tire manufacturers involved in AMA Grand National Championship dirt track racing, Goodyear, Continental and Maxxis.

Continental has submitted a proposal, as detailed in a September 29 post on roadracingworld.com, and Goodyear either has or plans on submitting a proposal. Maxxis is apparently not planning on submitting a proposal.

The fact that AMA Pro Racing solicited spec tire proposals for dirt track could indicate that the organization may consider a similar spec tire program for one or more road racing classes.

Spec tire programs require all competitors to buy and use a single brand of tires, and eliminate traditional tire manufacturer support of riders and teams, which may include free tires and performance incentives.

Tire manufacturers currently involved in AMA Pro road racing competition with rider and team support programs include Dunlop, Michelin, Metzeler/Pirelli and Bridgestone.

Creating a spec tire in any given class will grant one brand a monopoly, with guaranteed sales and with all riders and teams paying for their tires. The elimination of tire support would greatly increase costs for teams.

Asked what impact a spec-tire program could have on his team, using as an example a deal that saw Dunlop declared the spec tire for 750cc Supersport, Arclight Suzuki’s Chuck Warren said, “The immediate impact is that we wouldn’t be able to participate. Secondarily, maybe I don’t understand the situation well enough, it always seems to me that a spec tire deal is a way for the sanctioning body to generate funds for themselves. It seems to me they get an up-front fee for the tire company to use their tire, and then they get a percentage of each tire sold. It seems to me that they’re taking the money directly out of the racers’ pockets and putting it into their pockets and the pockets of the tire manufacturer.

“This team has built up a relationship with Metzeler/Pirelli over the last eight years and we don’t want to see that relationship artificially ended.”

Copyright 2001, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

In a October 4 press release, Erion Honda’s Mark Miller made official what he told many people at VIR – that he is retiring from AMA Pro Racing competition. “I may come back for a one-off deal for fun or fill in for somebody that gets injured, but I’m done,” said Miller.

According to the release, 29-year-old Miller considers himself “the luckiest man on the planet to be able to achieve a boyhood dream of being a full-time, paid professional road racer for six years. Additionally, I’ve been fortunate to have worked in a motorcycle racing community with some of the most incredible and interesting people in the world.”

Miller’s release continued, “In light of the recent WTC disasters, my final race weekend at VIR will be especially memorable to me not only as my final pro race, but because it was our first pro race back since the attacks of September 11.

“While being lucky enough to put on our show from the east to the west coasts of the United States, we in this racing circus are given a particular and intimate perspective into how special and unique each city and town really is. Then to imagine 6000 people, 6000 fans, vanishing out of their neighborhoods is, simply numbing.

“Last weekend at VIR, us in the paddock and all in the stands were ready to mindfully celebrate life once again, the spirit of competition, and a new sense of community. Pretty cool feeling.”

Miller caught the road racing bug while studying aeronautical science at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Arizona. With a student credit card, Miller bought his first racebike, a 1986 Honda VFR750 Interceptor, and won his first Novice-class race. The following year, Miller finished with his studies and went racing full-time.

Highlights of Miller’s career include placing 6th in the 1996 AMA 750cc Supersport series and 13th, the top privateer, in the Superbike series that same year. In 1997, Miller again finished the AMA 750cc Supersport campaign in 6th in addition to a 19th-place season finish in 600cc Supersport. In 1998, Miller finished third in the AMA Formula Xtreme Championship including one race win at Pikes Peak, finished 4th at the Macau Grand Prix and 10th in the AMA Pro Thunder Championship on a Buell. In 1999, the Arizona native took another fourth at Macau and fourth in the AMA Formula Xtreme Championship while setting class track records at Road Atlanta, Sears Point, Loudon and Laguna Seca. Miller spent 2000 earning 15th in the AMA 600cc Supersport Championship, 7th in the Formula Xtreme Championship and taking third at the Macau GP while setting the fastest lap ever by an American at Macau. Miller finished the 2001 season seventh in the Formula Xtreme Championship.

Miller says that his next short-term project will be to release a home video production called “Superbike Life.” The video, which Miller says is “a insider’s look at motorcycle road racing”, is set for a March 2002 release. In between shoots at VIR, Miller told Roadracing World that his next big goal is to become involved in the production of full-length feature films.

Miller’s release ended with thanks to “Bill Syfan, Richard Stanboli, Steve Blakeney, Henry DeGouw, Kevin Erion and Rick Hobbs, Chuck Graves, Jeff Chann, Nick Haymen, Tom Houseworth, Pete and Carol Swetish, Andre Castanos, Tim Lee, Chuck Yu, Mel Blaney, Mom and Dad, Mid-Cities Honda, AMA Pro Racing staff, tire guys, sponsors, Speedvision staff, print/web media, photographers, the fans and especially the beautiful Miss Tammi.”

From a press release received Wednesday morning, October 3:

YAMAHA ANNOUNCES 2002 FACTORY ROAD RACE TEAM

Yamaha riders in Superbike, 600 Supersport and Formula Xtreme

CYPRESS, Calif., October 2, 2001 – Yamaha announced today that it will field a three rider factory team in 2002. The talented and fan favorite, Anthony Gobert will return to Yamaha to make an assault on both the Superbike and 600 Supersport championships. Joining him in the 600 Supersport class will be his younger brother Aaron Gobert and Damon Buckmaster. The deal will also see Buckmaster and Aaron Gobert riding the Formula Xtreme class under the Graves’ Motorsports banner.

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Anthony Gobert

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Gobert, who finished a close second in the 600 Supersport championship series, will ride race-proven Yamaha YZF R-series motorcycles and be the sole factory Yamaha Superbike rider in 2002.

“Both the Yamaha R7 and R6 were very competitive,” Anthony Gobert said. “And despite the bit of bad luck early on with my injuries, I think that overall I rode very well. I feel really good about coming back strong next year.”

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Aaron Gobert

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Aaron Gobert and Formula Xtreme runner-up Damon Buckmaster will compete in 600 Supersport on factory prepared Yamaha YZF-R6 motorcycles run out of the factory Yamaha transporter. The pair will continue to compete in Formula Xtreme on the all-new fuel injected 2002 R1 powered motorcycles for Graves’ Motorsports.

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Damon Buckmaster

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“We’re happy to be working with Graves’ Motorsports,” Yamaha race team manager Keith McCarty said. “The team exemplifies professionalism and they put a lot of themselves into their program.”

As for the 2002 team, McCarty said, “It’s a strong line up. I think Anthony Gobert speaks from himself, and we expect to see good things from his brother Aaron who quickly got up to speed in his first year. Buckmaster’s exciting last turn pass for the win at Laguna Seca this year and his strong second place finish in the Formula Xtreme series prove that he’s got what it takes. It will definitely be an exciting season next year.”

From a press release:

Sidi boots is very happy to announce that…Team Castrol Honda’s Colin Edwards renewed his Sidi boot contract for another two years. Although approached by other boot manufacturers Colin, being the Texan that he is, said it was an easy decision to remain what he calls “A Sidi guy”.

“I’ve used Sidi for many years now, the company has always been there for me and with the development of the Vertebra Race boot I feel my career will be enhanced by using Sidi boots. That thing is so damn strong I never even think about foot or ankle injuries any more!” Colin said over the lip of a margarita at Sidi’s headquarters in Maser, Teviso, Italy.

Look for Colin to…begin preparations for an assault on the 2002 World Superbike Championship. Continuing into 2003 Colin has his sights set on the new GP1 class.

For more information on the Sidi Vertebra Race or any other quality Sidi boot please visit www.motonation.com

From an e-mail sent by an American Honda Motor Co. spokesman:

Attention Editors:

Many of you have contacted our office asking, “what is Honda doing…?” to help after the September 11 attacks in New York and Washington, DC. We have explained that it is not American Honda’s policy to publicize our response to
tragedies that occur in the U.S.

As associates (employees) of the Honda companies, we have been raising funds that Honda is matching. Today, this copy was posted on our corporate website at: www.honda.com: (http://www.honda.com/hondaresponds.html).


From the Honda website:

Honda and our associates and dealers offer our sincere condolences and respect to the victims and families involved in the tragic events of September 11, 2001. We also offer our deep appreciation and support for the inspiring efforts of the thousands of American heroes involved in rescue and recovery during this time of national need.

– The Honda Family of Companies

Together with our associates, Honda is working to support assistance programs designed to help cope with these devastating losses.

Direct associate contributions have raised $416,376 from thousands of Honda associates, contractors and retirees from every Honda company in North America.

In addition, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Honda of America Mfg., Inc. and other sister companies in North America have contributed a total of $1,060,001, including company matching funds and direct cash contributions.

These combined efforts total $1,476,377. The bulk of these funds have been earmarked to the United Way of New York “September 11 Fund,” and the American Red Cross.

As an immediate step, Honda donated all terrain vehicles (ATVs) to help rescue workers quickly navigate the difficult terrain around the World Trade Center. These vehicles provide immediate aid to speed recovery efforts and cleanup in the area. We remain in touch with New York authorities to determine their need for additional equipment and materials such as generators and water pumps. Honda had previously donated commercial generators to the American Red Cross for use in disaster-relief efforts such as this.

Honda continues to evaluate the most effective and meaningful ways to address the needs brought about by these tragic events.

To find out how you can help, we invite you to join countless others and visit www.libertyunites.org, a clearinghouse for online donations to several relief organizations.

Copyright 2001, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

According to VIR Public Relations Coordinator Laura Comstock, the three-day paid attendance for the September 27-30 Virginia International Raceway Lightning AMA Superbike National was 25,000, with 15,000 people passing through the gate on Sunday.

Although the attendance was a pleasant surprise for organizers, the relative smoothness of the race weekend was no accident. VIR staffers–including Comstock and co-General Managers Jack and Vicky Abbott–attended several AMA Nationals at other venues throughout 2001, gathering input. “We have to thank the staffs from some of the other facilities that we visited because they were very helpful to us,” said Comstock on Tuesday, October 2. “Everything went very smoothly. The AMA, Ron Barrick especially, Chet Burks Productions, the teams, the riders, everyone was so easy to work with. And the spectators were just awesome. We didn’t have any problems with any spectators, and the campers left this place so clean you wouldn’t believe it.”

The track also expects increased sales of membership in the VIR Country Club. “Later this month we will have our grand opening of the Country Club itself,” continued Comstock. “The TV time we got on Speedvision and Fox Sports Net was invaluable. There are so many people that don’t even know that we are open yet. Now they will have an opportunity to actually see the facility and see how nice it is. I know I plan on staying up as late as I have to tonight to watch the races on Speedvision.”

And what about those much-talked-about mini-still trophies? “Connie Nyholm (co-developer of VIR, along with Harvey Siegel) came up with the concept for the trophies. She has a brother-in-law, L.B. Nyholm, that is a steel worker in Sweden. So the metal part, the actual steel part, was crafted in Sweden. The little jugs were also hand-crafted by a local artist, Vicky Vaden. I thought they were quite unique and, from an artist’s standpoint, quite valuable. We can’t even say how much they cost because L.B. hasn’t even billed us for them yet. He is a big motorcycle enthusiast and may not even charge us for them.

“The next thing for us is to spend this week going over the spectator surveys that we handed out and figure out where people came from for the event, how they heard about it, what they liked and didn’t like, and start planning for next year.”

Using the 2000-season attendance figures as listed in the 2001 AMA Pro Racing media guide for comparison purposes, VIR’s three-day attendance of 25,000 would have ranked the race as the seventh-best-attended event behind Laguna Seca, Daytona, Road Atlanta, Mid-Ohio, Loudon and Road America; and ahead of Brainerd, Pikes Peak and Willow Springs.

From a press release issued by Ducati North America:

Race Report
AMA Chevy Trucks Superbike Round 10
September 30, 2001
Virginia International Raceway

The AMA 2001 Chevy Trucks Superbike Championship season came to a close today with the grand finale race – a challenging 42 laps covering 94 miles. It was held for the first time at Virginia International Raceway and required a mandatory pit-stop that create some confusion midway through the race. Ducati rider Andy Meklau finishing the race in seventh position, Steve
Rapp finished ninth, while Larry Pegram finished in eleventh ahead of newly crowned Champion Mat Mladin.

Steve Rapp stayed on after the Pro Thunder race to take one lucky winner for three hot laps of the Virginia racetrack on the back of his modified 996RS. The ride, an initiative of one of HMC Ducati’s technicians looking for a way to help the victims of the September 11 assault, raised an astounding $2,770 for the Red Cross. Winner Jeremy Demar also won a Steve Rapp replica helmet, compliments of Suomy, and was both delighted and terrified by his three fast laps on the specially designed passenger seat fitted to Rapp’s racebike.


Andreas Meklau – 7th
Andy Meklau had a good finish to his first season on the AMA Superbike series. The HMC Ducati rider was the first to stop for the mandatory pit-stop, which seemed to work in his favor.

“The crew did a great job with the pit stop,” said Meklau proudly. “Our strategy was to do 15 laps on one tire before pitting and when I rejoined the field I was on my own, which made the race hard. Finally in the last two laps Steve [Rapp] passed me coming off the straight and I had someone to battle with. I’d like to say thanks to my sponsors for allowing me to ride in the USA. It was a hard year for me with new tires and unfamiliar tracks, but an enjoyable one all the same.”


Steve Rapp – 9th
HMC Ducati rider, Steve Rapp, ran off the track just before he was due to pit, adding 20 seconds to his lap time. He fought hard to reclaim the lost time and finally finished in ninth position, taking him to seventh overall for the season.

“I was really happy with the performance of the bike, tires and team during the pit-stop,” he said. “I needed just a few more laps and I would have caught Tommy Hayden but I just ran out of time. It was confusing out there for a while, not knowing what position I was in, but I guess everyone was in the same boat. Thanks to the HMC Ducati team for a good first season.”


Larry Pegram – 11th
Competition Accessories rider, Larry Pegram, had a great start to the race, climbing as high as fifth before the wrong choice in front tire forced him to slow his pace.

“We hadn’t put enough distance testing the front tire I chose and I started losing grip,” said Pegram. “We were only set up to change the rear tire and it would have hurt us more in time to change the front. The start of the race I was right up there, running in fifth comfortably, but I was having trouble going deep into the corners and I started dropping back. I really thought I could have done better.”



Pro Thunder
Munroe Motors’ Tom Montano brought his Ducati home for an easy victory in the penultimate round of the AMA Pro Thunder Championship today. With a
strong points lead going into final round in Atlanta, Montano is confident of a Championship victory. AMS Performance Ducati rider, Jeff Nash, suffered a bad crash in yesterday’s heat race and was unable to compete today.

“That was a fun race,” said Montano after his second win of the season. “Dave [Estok] and I were going for it when his bike coughed and, committed to my line, I hit him. I’m amazed we didn’t both come off. Dave retired leaving me to coast around for an easy victory.” Montano won by 17 seconds.