Metzeler U.S. has a new website of its own at www.us.metzelermoto.com. The new site includes product information, tire fitment guides, application charts, technical information, warranty information, dealer network listings, company history, and news for American riders.

Roadracing World Circulation Manager Natalie Ulrich escaped serious injury Friday in a car accident in Lake Elsinore, California.

Ulrich, 18, was traveling at an estimated 55 mph when her Chevy Prism collided with a pickup truck making a left turn.

She suffered bruises, shoulder-belt abrasions and airbag propellant burns and was rattled, but escaped serious injury.

So if you’re making a subscription service inquiry via phone in the near future, go easy on her…

500cc Practice Times:
1. Valentino Rossi, Honda, 1:35.349
2. Loris Capirossi, Honda, 1:35.990
3. Kenny Roberts, Suzuki, 1:36.145
4. Alex Barros, Honda, 1:36.333
5. Sete Gibernau, Suzuki, 1:36.428
6. Carlos Checa, Yamaha, 1:36.710
7. Tohru Ukawa, Honda, 1:36.766
8. Norick Abe, Yamaha, 1:36.787
9. Max Biaggi, Yamaha, 1:36.897
10. Shinya Nakano, Yamaha, 1:37.235
11. Olivier Jacque, Yamaha, 1:37.253
12. Jose Luis Cardoso, Yamaha, 1:37.311
13. Noriyuki Haga, Yamaha, 1:37.377
14. Garry McCoy, Yamaha, 1:37.382
15. Alex Criville, Honda, 1:37.742
16. Jurgen vd Goorbergh, Proton, 1:37.887
17. Haruchika Aoki, Honda, 1:38.771
18. Anthony West, Honda, 1:39.115
19. Leon Haslam, Honda, 1:40.077
20. Brendan Clarke, Honda, 1:40.325

250cc Practice Times:
1. Marco Melandri, Aprilia, 1:37.346
2. Daijiro Katoh, Honda, 1:37.671
3. Jeremy McWilliams, Aprilia, 1:37.911
4. Alex Debon, Aprilia, 1:38.142
5. Roberto Locatelli, Aprilia, 1:38.473
6. Emilio Alzamora, Honda, 1:38.583
7. Randy De Puniet, Aprilia, 1:38.596
8. David De Gea, Yamaha, 1:38.627
9. Tetsuya Harada, Aprilia, 1:38.696
10. Roberto Rolfo, Aprilia, 1:38.719
11. Franco Battaini, Aprilia, 1:38.808
12. Fonsi Nieto, Aprilia, 1:38.959
13. David Checa, Honda, 1:39.036
14. Alex Hofmann, Aprilia, 1:39.150
15. Naoki Matsudo, Yamaha, 1:39.178

125cc Practice Times:
1. Toni Elias, Honda, 1:42.199
2. Lucio Cecchinello, Aprilia, 1:42.229
3. Max Sabbatani, Aprilia, 1:42.323
4. Simone Sanna, Aprilia, 1:42.745
5. Manuel Poggiali, Gilera, 1:42.776
6. Daniel Pedrosa, Honda, 1:42.852
7. Noboru Ueda, TSR-Honda, 1:42.872
8. Angel Rodriquez, Aprilia, 1:42.913
9. Angel Nieto, Jr., Honda, 1:43.106
10. Alex De Angelis, Honda, 1:43.141

From a press release:


TEAM VESRAH SUZUKI LOOKING FORWARD TO VIR

Practice began today at Virginia International Raceway for round 8 of the WERA National Endurance Series. Team Vesrah Suzuki leads the series by 60 points with three races remaining. Officially, this is the penultimate round of the series, but due to the rainout in Memphis, Tennessee, WERA will be holding two separate 3 ½ hour endurance races on Saturday. In an effort to increase their lead in the series, Team Vesrah Suzuki may field a second team aboard the back-up bike in race two. Sprint racing will also be a focus this weekend, as Mark Junge tries to clench the Open Superstock and 600 Superstock sprint championships before heading to the season final at Road Atlanta.

The dual endurance race schedule could change the race strategy for series leader Team Vesrah Suzuki. “We will run it like two 4 hour races.” Said team owner Mark Junge. “The race length will still dictate two stops for fuel and tires, but the shorter total time means we don’t have to stretch out the fuel.” Red Flags may determine when and how far apart those 2 fuel stops will be taken.

Team Vesrah Suzuki is planning on running their usual lineup during race one with riders Mark Junge, Tray Batey and Chris Ulrich. Regular team rider Glenn Szarek, who is still recovering from injuries sustained earlier in the season, will also be on hand this weekend but there is still a question as to whether or not he will ride. The decision to run a second bike in race two will not be made until after race one. Should the second team be fielded, Junge and Batey will ride the lead bike, while Chris Ulrich and either Glenn Szarek or another rider will be on the backup bike.

Mark Junge will be racing for early championships on Sunday when the WERA National Challenge Series takes center stage. Junge leads the Open Superstock championship by 30 points with only 40 points available in the two remaining rounds. A finish of 5th or better will chinch the championship with one round remaining. Mark enjoys a 16-point advantage over second place Chris Caylor in 600 Superstock. Junge could wrap up the championship if he can win and Caylor finishes no better than 3rd. Otherwise, it will go to the last round at Road Atlanta.

Team Vesrah Suzuki and Mark Junge are sponsored by Vesrah, Suzuki, Metzeler, Nielsen, Watahan, Fujico, Traxxion Dynamics, Marshall, Factory, Shoei, Sprocket Specialists, Air Tech, Vanson, Penske, Graves, DID, LP, Diadora, M4, Maxima.

Tray Batey and Chris Ulrich each run independently sponsored sprint racing programs when not riding for Team Vesrah Suzuki.

From a press release issued by Ducati North America:

Pompton Plains, NJ, September 21, 2001: Ducati has gathered together a host of priceless memorabilia, which they will auction off for charity at their Sotheby’s Auction being held on Saturday, October 27 for Ducati Revs America
at Las Vegas Speedway. The money raised from the auction will go to Riders for Health.

Dozens more tempting goods will go under the hammer, including: a brand new 1998 yellow 916, an original Ducati Corse team jacket and six racebike fairings used on the World Superbikes, each signed by at least one of the factory racers. There will be framed black and white photos of Ben Bostrom and Anthony Gobert, Carl Fogarty, as well as Lyle Lovett, all personally signed. Each of the photos were taken exclusively for the 1999 Ducati Year Book. There will also be a touching photo of the late Fabio Taglioni.

Other collectibles include Ducati Corse 2000 books, mounted disc brakes and a high quality team photo, all signed by Ducati racers. There will be a one-of-a-kind Ducati road racing bicycle constructed using a titanium frame provided by Litespeed and equipped with components provided by Campagnolo, the world leaders in high performance cycling. Ogio, producer of the world’s best golf bags, have donated an assortment of Ducati golf bags and carriers. And rock legend, Sammy Hagar, has given one of his personally signed guitars to be auctioned.

Ducati hopes to raise at least $50,000 for Riders for Health, a unique organization focused on solving one problem: ensuring the reliability and longevity of motorcycles and other vehicles used in child immunization and primary health operations in Africa.

There will also be a separate auction, for a chance to ride passenger with Ducati’s World Superbike heroes, that will raise money for the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. Two lucky bidders will have the chance to do three flying laps of Las Vegas Speedway as passengers to Ben Bostrom and our new World Champion, Troy Bayliss.

In addition to the auction items, other DRA prizes include a 2001 Monster 750 compliments of Ducati Cycle Insurance, a Foggy replica scooter from Malaguti and 12 race-replica Suomy helmets. Dunlop Tires have already donated six sets of tires that will be won by six lucky DRA registrants.

Keep a close eye on www.ducati.com for additional items being added to the auction list. We also encourage you to visit www.ridersforhealth.com to find out more about this important charity that has been largely responsible for the immunisation of thousands of African men, women and children.

500cc Provisional Qualifying Results:
1. Valentino Rossi, Honda, 1:35.434
2. Alex Barros, Honda, 1:35.556
3. Loris Capirossi, Honda, 1:35.594
4. Sete Gibernau, Suzuki, 1:35.634
5. Tohru Ukawa, Honda, 1:35.731
6. Max Biaggi, Yamaha, 1:35.774
7. Kenny Roberts, Suzuki, 1:35.936
8. Garry McCoy, Yamaha, 1:36.011
9. Carlos Checa, Yamaha, 1:36.059
10. Norick Abe, Yamaha, 1:36.124
11. Shinya Nakano, Yamaha, 1:36.151
12. Noriyuki Haga, Yamaha, 1:36.267
13. Alex Criville, Honda, 1:36.468
14. Olivier Jacque, Yamaha, 1:36.486
15. Jose Luis Cardoso, Yamaha, 1:36.516
16. Jurgen vd Goorbergh, Proton, 1:36.682
17. Haruchika Aoki, Honda, 1:37.467
18. Leon Haslam, Honda, 1:37.788
19. Anthony West, Honda, 1:38.345
20. Brendan Clarke, Honda, 1:39.339

250cc Provisional Qualifying Times:
1. Marco Melandri, Aprilia, 1:37.304
2. Tetsuya Harada, Aprilia, 1:37.370
3. Fonsi Nieto, Aprilia, 1:37.413
4. Alex Debon, Aprilia, 1:37.474
5. Jeremy McWilliams, Aprilia, 1:37.547
6. Daijiro Katoh, Honda, 1:37.549
7. Roberto Rolfo, Aprilia, 1:37.757
8. Naoki Matsudo, Yamaha, 1:38.122
9. Randy De Puniet, Aprilia, 1:38.155
10. Franco Battaini, Aprilia, 1:38.166
11. Roberto Locatelli, Aprilia, 1:38.223
12. Sebastian Porto, Yamaha, 1:38.321
13. Emilio Alzamora, Honda, 1:38.332
14. David Checa, Honda, 1:38.339
15. Alex Hofmann, Aprilia, 1:38.601

29. Katja Poensgen, Honda, 1:41.845

125cc Provisional Qualifying Times:
1. Toni Elias, Honda, 1:40.910
2. Simone Sanna, Aprilia, 1:41.110
3. Gino Borsoi, Aprilia, 1:41.399
4. Manuel Poggiali, Gilera, 1:41.418
5. Arnaud Vincent, Honda, 1:41.545
6. Daniel Pedrosa, Honda, 1:41.738
7. Max Sabbatani, Aprilia, 1:41.746
8. Masao Azuma, Honda, 1:41.796
9. Lucio Cecchinello, Aprilia, 1:41.803
10. Youichi Ui, Derbi, 1:41.857

Aprilia USA has announced serious reductions in the price of 2001-model Aprilia streetbikes from now until the end of the year.

Aprilia USA is taking $2000 off the price of the RSV1000 Mille, $2000 off the price of the RSV1000R Mille R, and $1000 off the price of the Aprilia Falco.

For more information on the Aprilia Roar In and Roar Out year-end sales event or to find the nearest Aprilia dealer, call 1 (877) APRILIA or visit www.apriliausa.com.

Motor Racing Outreach’s motorcycle racing chaplain Brent Houston will not be attending any of the remaining motorcycle races for the 2001 season. Houston, a fixture at motorcycle road races from WERA club level to AMA Pro Races, is receiving care for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, also referred to as PTSD. A press release issued from MRO’s North Carolina headquarters said that Houston’s condition is a result of the trauma experienced in 15 years of ministry and responding to racing related accidents involving the motorcycle racing community.

Besides conducting chapel services at racetracks, Houston also comforted injured riders and their families, and often visited riders in the hospital and helped them make arrangements for transportation of themselves and their equipment following a crash. Houston also counseled riders and families following fatal accidents at racetracks.

Houston’s tireless work comforting injured riders and family members–and sometimes survivors–often amazed onlookers, who wondered how one man could always manage to shoulder the grief associated with serious racing crashes at events across the country.

Houston also counseled racing officials who were affected by serious or fatal rider injuries.

In happier circumstances, Houston has officiated at the weddings of several racers and racing officials.

The MRO release stated that the organization is committed to providing chaplain services at all remaining AMA Superbike, Formula USA and WERA National motorcycle road races.

Currently, according to the release, Houston is resting at his parents’ home near Orlando, Florida before returning to his North Carolina home. Upon returning to his home, Houston will “be receiving care through services provided by Baptist Hospital in Knoxville, Tennessee,” according to the MRO release.

Houston will continue to serve the MRO as a consultant until he is ready to return to racing venues.

Those wishing to send cards or letters to Brent Houston can do so to the following address:

Brent Houston
c/o Motor Racing Outreach
Smith Tower, Suite 405
5555 Concord Parkway South
Concord, NC 28027


(Note: The original press release issued by MRO contained the wrong zip code for letters to Brent Houston. The correct zip code is as shown above, 28027.)

From a press release issued by CCS:

American Suzuki has generously agreed to pay Suzuki Cup Series contingency funds at the upcoming CCS event at Gateway Int’l Raceway on October 6-7, 2001. These monies were originally scheduled for the CCS race at Gateway on September 15-16, but that event was cancelled due to the tragedies of that week. Please be aware that only contingency funds will be paid, but that Suzuki Cup Series points paid at Gateway will not go towards the rider points totals for the Suzuki Cup Finals, as the points cutoff for that event was Sunday, September 16th.

This message in from a student/privateer:

My name is Rafiq Premji and I am an aspiring pro racer who lives in Boulder, Colorado. Being the stereotypical, broke college-student privateer, I know most every other person in my position and have made many contracts within racing (mostly at the MRA). When I read the story on your website about Scott Hollingsworth and his proposal to remove the “support” classes from AMA Pro Racing, I was crushed. Classes like 250cc GP and 750 Supersport are where I intend to make my debut in national racing. Without them, I have no chance to even become competitive with some of the big names on a national name, national televised event.

I did the only thing I thought possible that would make an impact. I first e-mailed several representatives from AMA Racing (and received replies from none of them) then created a petition protesting the decision. I have passed the URL of this petition onto a few bulletin boards and mailing lists and have even seen it circulate to some larger sites by other people.


Though the 400 signatures with many very powerful comments has impressed me and restores faith in the racing community, I know that 400 is not enough to make the impact on AMA Racing that it needs.

This type of message is what the AMA needs. To see novices, top-ranked privateers and pro all together, uniting on a cause like this. It would show them that removing the support classes would not in fact increase their revenues or race attendance but lose them many ticket sales and racers, and create even more disillusionment among long-time followers of their organization.

If you have not seen this petition before, I hope you consider my request and help out an important cause like this one.

Here is the URL to my petition, and I also encourage anyone who cares about the future of AMA Racing to write their representatives and tell them why it would be a bad decision to remove the support classes:

http://www.petitiononline.com/amarace/

Rafiq Premji
Boulder, Colorado