Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Three-time AMA Superbike Champion Doug Chandler has officially joined the HMC Ducati team, replacing Pascal Picotte.

“It’s a done deal. Mitch (Hansen, HMC Team Owner) has said I could put the word out,” said HMC Ducati Team Manager/Crew Chief Mark Sutton. “I don’t think there’s any signed contract yet, but I think they’re working on that.”

As he spoke to Roadracingworld.com, Sutton said that Ducatis with Chandler’s number on them were being loaded into the team transporter, which is bound for a test at Laguna Seca. HMC plans to test with Chandler, alongside other factory teams, for three days next week at the Monterey, California circuit.

Sutton said he could not comment when asked if there had been any other changes in team personnel.

From a press release:

CCS presented by Lockhart Phillips event will have Air Fence* this weekend

Fort Worth, TX, (March 21, 2002) – Formula USA officials announced today that this weekend’s March 22-24 Championship Cup Series presented by Lockhart Phillips event at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Ill., will feature multiple sections of the recently acquired Air Fence inflatable safety barriers, donated to Formula USA/CCS by the Roadracingworld.com Action Fund.

The feature is a major safety innovation in motorcycle road racing and a first for stand alone CCS presented by Lockhart Phillips events. CCS is providing a premier safety feature normally seen at the Formula USA National Road Race Series events and other worldwide premier road racing events.

“We’re pleased to be able to utilize the Air Fence product at both our Formula USA national events and our CCS presented by Lockhart Phillips sportsman events like this one at Gateway”, said Bill Syfan, Formula USA director of road racing. “In addition, the product will be in place for the LP USA Privateer Sport Rider Track Day on Friday, which will benefit our licensed CCS racers as well as the newcomer street riders participating in the track day. Formula USA is grateful to the Roadracingworld.com Action Fund for their contribution and continuing efforts”.

Formula USA plans to make the Air Fence sections available at additional select CCS events in the future.

For more information on CCS presented by Lockhart Phillips USA, visit www.ccsracing.com.

* Air Fence is a registered trademark of Airfence Safety Systems of Australia.

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Shogun Motorsports’ Josh Demuth won the Clear Channel Entertainment Speed Stick National Arenacross Championship. In his third season in the series, 22-year-old Demuth won 25 Arenacross main events on his Shogun Motorsports Yamahas and won the Championship by 129 points over Darcy Lange.

Formerly a Formula USA road race team, Shogun Motorsports is owned by Texas road racer and business executive Brooks Gremmels. When television coverage still had not materialized for the Formula USA National Road Race Series at the end of the 2001 season, Gremmels moved his program to the 2002 Clear Channel Entertainment Arenacross series.

Gremmels still sponsors several regional road racers as well as Jason Pridmore’s Star Motorcycle School, and sits on the Board of Directors of the CMRA.

This just in from American Honda:

An incorrect retail price of $10,199.00 was given at the tech briefing for the 2002 Honda RC51. The correct retail price for the 2002 Honda RC51
is $10,999.00, same as last year’s model.

From a press release:

HONDA RACING NEWS

Honda HRC Suzuka test. Final day of two day test session.

Weather, fine and sunny; temperature, 24 degees C; track conditions, good.

Honda HRC Riders Better Suzuka Lap Times on Final Day

Repsol Honda factory tam riders Valentino Rossi and Tohru Ukawa ended the two-day HRC Suzuka test session on a high note. Both men slashed over a second off their best times of day one.

In bright sunny conditions the two riders spent the entire day improving still further the traction and handling of the 5-cylinder 990cc four-stroke MotoGP machines they will race in the 2002 grands prix.

Fortuna Honda Gresini rider Daijiro Katoh was the fastest man of the day, riding the NSR500 V-4 two-stroke on the day with a lap time of 2:04.44. The reigning 250cc World Champion is a Suzuka specialist who has won four 250cc grands prix at the 5.859km circuit.


Noriaki Nakata: HRC Team Manager.
“This was the first time we have tested the RCV on the modified Suzuka circuit (changes have been made to the Dunlop curve). Considering this I feel it was a very good test, with a good job done by everybody in the team. We concentrated our efforts on tyre and suspension testing and I’m very pleased with the results we achieved, and the overall development of the RCV.”


Valentino Rossi: RC211V 2:04.53, 53 laps.
“Today was a good day for us, testing was much better than yesterday. Here at Suzuka there seems to be little difference between the four-stroke RCV and the NSR two-stroke. But I’m happy with my machine as we found better settings than we tried on the first day, particularly on the suspension. Now I’m looking forward to the final test here, just before the grand prix. I’m sure what we learned here will help improve the RCV still further.”


Tohru Ukawa: RC211V 2:05.10, 67 laps.
“I’m happy with the results of the two day test. We worked quite hard on testing many tyres, then tyre and suspension combinations. We did so many laps today and the results were positive. The RCV development is definitely going in the right direction but there is little between the RCV and NSR, the two machines are well balanced here at Suzuka.”


Daijiro Katoh: NSR500 2:04.40, 61 laps.
“My NSR500 was really good today. Like everybody else at the test we concentrated on tyres and suspension to get the bike set-up before trying for fast times. My team did a good job for me and I’m very satisfied. I could not have gone faster with the settings we used. I’m still learning about the 500 but it’s not easy but and we will test here again before the grand prix, I’m ready for that.”

Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publiching, Inc.

Showtrax International has been named the new exclusive importer for North and South America for Floortrax pit flooring and wall systems.

The Swiss-made products were formerly imported by Braselton, Georgia’s Pro Show, but, according to former Pro Show National Sales Manager Bill Brown, Pro Show recently went out of business. After relocating to Gainesville, Georgia-based Showtrax, a company specializing in display set-ups for trade shows, Brown successfully worked toward taking over as exclusive importer of the products.

Brown said that he recently added Team Stargel Aprilia (which won the Daytona 250cc Grand Prix race with Chuck Sorensen) to his list of customers, as well as Annandale Racing.

Then named “Pro Show Performance Flooring,” the polypropylene copolymer flooring and dress-up wall systems were featured in the October 2001 issue of Roadracing World (“Dressing Up The Pit Area”).

For more information on Showtrax International or Floortrax, call Director of Motorsports Bill Brown at (770) 533-4080, FAX (770) 718-9598, e-mail [email protected], www.showtrax.net.

This just in from BMW:

BMW MOTORCYCLES
BMW TRACK DAY INVITATION
2nd. Annual Loudon BMW Motorcycles Track Day

New Hampshire International Speedway, Loudon, New Hampshire

Track Date: Wednesday, April 24, 2002 8 am – 6 pm

All BMW Motorcycle owners are invited to join BMW as part of a photo shoot for the 2003 BMW Motorcycles Full Line Catalog taking place on Wednesday, April 24 at the New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire.

Up to 180 riders may participate in the event, which will include open track time, a catered breakfast and lunch for all attendees, plus free gifts and a chance to mix with fellow BMW owners and celebrate the opening of the new riding season.

This year we will also add a hour-long “Slow School” component, allowing riders to receive group instruction by the same motorcycle police officers who train the police motor officers in riding techniques. (Sorry, no pointers on how to avoid speeding tickets will be provided.) Riders will add not just track time, but also more prosaic (but just as important) everyday in-traffic riding skills.

Ride participants will be directed into prearranged track and slow school time slots in order to maximize the amount of track time for each person, and avoid the delays that occasioned last year’s Track Day event. Details will be provided to riders once their Registration Forms have been received and accepted.

SPACE IS LIMITED: Because only 180 riders can be accommodated, registration is absolutely required by April 15 either via fax or via the special link on the BMW Motorcycle web site. If you register on line you will receive immediate confirmation; if you register via fax we will call you within 3 days to confirm your attendance.

All approved, registered riders will be contacted by BMW before Thursday, April 18 to provide further essential details of the Track Day experience. Please read further for complete ride rules and registration information.

Local accommodations at Loudon are available at numerous hotels in the area including the Courtyard Concord at 70 Constitutional Avenue in Concord, NH where the core BMW team will be staying (phone 603-225-0303.)

TO REGISTER BY FAX: FAX the signed Ride Registration and Ride Waiver forms to Maureen Farley at 201-307-3726. You will receive a telephone confirmation within 3 days so don’t forget to provide your home and office phone numbers!

TO REGISTER ON-LINE: Go to www.bmwmotorcycles.com and click on the “News, Previews and More” section on the home page to the “Loudon Track Day” blurb. This will link you to Events/BMW Events/Loudon Track Day in the “Community” section of the site where there’s an active link to the registration website www.regonline.com. From there, just follow instructions, remembering to read/accept the waiver and release forms and read all track rules. You will receive immediate confirmation (provided of course that track slots are still available.)


BMW MOTORCYCLES
BMW TRACK DAY RULES

New Hampshire International Speedway
Loudon, New Hampshire
Track Date: Wednesday, April 24, 8 am – 6 pm

All BMW Motorcycle owners are invited to join BMW as part of a photo shoot for the 2003 Full Line Catalog taking place on Wednesday, April 24 at the New Hampshire International Speedway in Loudon, New Hampshire. This includes the provision of track time for participants, under the NHIS “tune and test” policy, which means NO RACING. The following are the BMW Track Day Rules: all participants will also be required to adhere to the NHIS track regulations and the terms of the waiver they will sign on location, before being allowed on the track.

BMW Track Day Rules

 Riders must have a motorcycle-validated driver’s license and insurance for the motorcycle they are taking on the track. No insurance coverage for participants will be provided by NHIS or by BMW NA – this is the individual rider’s responsibility.

 Riders will be required to sign a waiver before going on the track.

 All participants ride at their own risk.

 No inside passing on ANY corner.

 No racing and no obviously dangerous riding: this also means that the group ride leader may not be passed.

 Riders are expected to ride within their limits.

 Riders will be grouped according to individual riding experience and the bike they are riding.

 Individual riders will be divided in advance into appropriate time slots for Slow School instruction and Track Time to maximize time on the track and reduce delays for all participants.

 Before going on the track, all riders will cover mirrors, turn signals and headlamps.

 All, NHIS staff, corner worker or ALEM staff instructions will be followed or the rider will be ejected. No exceptions.

 In pre-track tech inspection a neat and clean appearance of motorcycle is required (I.E. WASH YOUR BIKE COMPLETELY PRIOR TO TECH).

 Appropriate riding gear is required (full face helmet, full riding gear
including over-the ankle boots and gloves.)

 No riding up two-up (i.e. with a passenger) is permitted.

 Riders will be allowed onto the track for no more than 15 minutes at a time between photo shoot sessions in order to reduce fatigue.

 Riders must not intentionally stop on course during practice.

 Pit road maximum speed is 50 mph at all times.

 No equipment shall be left on pit row on the course side of the wall at any time or its owner will be ejected.

From a press release:

FTA has lowered the prices to $295.00 for non-licensed riders and $195.00 for racers. The prices are for the AMA course and the infield course at California Speedway. Our next event is March 29th, 2002.

FTA Racing has its next practice on March 29th, the cost is 195.00. We also have a class for new racers for $250.00. Prices on Sunday, race day, have been lowered to $120.00 for the first race entered, $80.00 for the second race entered and $60.00 for each additional after that. Races are 15 laps long, plenty of racing for only $8.00 per lap (first race entered).

Please support road racing in Southern California at California Speedway. The safety crew is the best in the business and the facility is in excellent condition. Come experience the best.

See you at the track.

Larry Pointer
714-915-8113

From a press release:

HONDA RACING NEWS

Honda HRC test – Day 1 – 19 March 2002


On the opening day of the 2-day HRC test at the Suzuka circuit, Japan, the Repsol Honda riders and team technicians spent their time finding optimum settings for the RC211 V – four stoke Honda.

Team riders Valentino Rossi and Tohru Ukawa have virtually no Suzuka experience with the 5-cylinder 990cc RCV, and spent the majority of their time testing new parts for engine and suspension.

Tomorrow the test continues when the riders will develop new parts in ready-ness for the final pre-season test next week.

Valentino Rossi: 2:05.710
“At the beginning of the test I had problems with traction and the suspension settings. But in the afternoon I began to understand better how to work on the RCV to find the best settings for me.

“Suzuka circuit is one of the most difficult tracks to set up a bike for racing. For example Suzuka feels much harder to work for me than Sepang. But after today I’m confident we are working in the right direction.”

Tohru Ukawa: 2:06.310
“Although I know the Suzuka circuit well, today we were slow to find good settings for the RCV. After discussing everything with Valentino we both
understand the direction we should take with this machine.

“At the end of the day I was satisfied with my lap times and with the settings I found. I am sure that tomorrow we will progress further and I
will set better times.”

Team Fortuna Honda Gresini, also attended the Suzuka test. Team rider Daijiro Katoh, the reigning 250cc Champion, was testing the team NSR500 -four cylinder- two stroke for the first time at the 5.859 km long Japanese circuit. Daijiro Katoh set a time of 2:07.3

From a WMRRA press release:

The Washington Motorcycle Road Racing Association (WMRRA) is purchasing 350 feet of Air Fence* to protect its riders in three different corners at the newly renamed Pacific Raceways (formerly Seattle International Raceway), and one corner at Spokane Raceway Park. Air Fence and similar products have proven very effective in preventing injury or worse, in tracks around the U.S. with safety issues similar to those faced by WMRRA at Pacific Raceways and Spokane Raceway Park.

In 2002, WMRRA will be hosting seven race weekends at Pacific Raceways, and two at Spokane Raceway Park. Pacific Raceways has three major areas of concern that can and should be addressed with this equipment. Spokane has one area of immediate danger that can and must be addressed with Air Fence

Air Fence is designed to absorb impact. The corners posing the greatest problem with impact at PR are turns 5, 7 and 8. At Spokane, the area of concern is turn 11

PR’s turn 5 is a 4th-gear left-hander at the end of the back straight. Until recently, turn 5 had ample runoff, but a wall has been recently erected directly in the middle of the crash zone. The purpose of the wall is to protect car racers from dropping off of the large cliff just behind the wall. However, this wall now poses a significant threat to motorcycle racers, as it has essentially removed all run-off for a racer losing control in the braking or turn-in zone.

WMRRA plans to use 125 feet of Air Fence IIs to protect racers from this wall. This fence will be delivered in time for use at the season opener on April 14th. Racing at PR without Air Fence on this wall is not considered an option. In addition, the Air Fence II s being purchased for Turn 5 can be used in Turn 11 at Spokane Raceway Park.

Turn 7 is a classic “highside” corner. It is the entrance to the crucial hill climb up to turn 8, and the drive out of turn 7 is very important. Many crashes occur on the exit due to losing traction at the rear wheel. An embankment very close to the track means little run-off and high impact. Over the years, there have been several injuries in this corner, including two injuries that required ambulance transport in 2001.

Starting at our June date, this corner will be protected by 100 feet of Air Fence Bike.

Turn 8 is a very-high-speed, 5th-gear corner that is taken at full throttle and full lean angle. The problem with turn 8 is that there is a hard embankment with fencing on the top! In addition to this, on the other side of the embankment is a steep drop-off. On multiple occasions, bikes and riders have literally launched themselves off this embankment and down the hill on the other side. The force of impact on the haybales and tire wall is usually quite high. In the last two seasons, five riders have had injuries serious enough to warrant ambulance transport from crashing in this corner.

For years, WMRRA has dealt with turn 8 by putting multiple layers of haybales in front of the tire wall that abuts the banking.

Options for the racetrack to improve this situation are very limited, as the track does not own the property on the other side of the fence.

Until the new wall was built in 5, turn 8 was considered the priority for Air Fence, and is still considered to be of very high importance.

Starting at our June date, the exit/crash zone of Turn 8 will be protected with 125 feet of Air Fence Bike.

The total cost for this air fence will be approximately $30,000. The track management has agreed that it is in everyone’s best interest to purchase this fencing and has agreed to contribute a significant portion of the cost of the equipment. They have also agreed to be responsible for the set up and storage of the Air Fence. The benefit of this is that it will allow at least some of this fence to be used to protect riders during the myriad of non-racing track days that PR is hosting this summer.

However, the rest of the funding has to be supplied by WMRRA, as well as the cost of maintenance and repair. The new WMRRA Air Fence Fund has set a goal of raising $25,000 towards this. Should it become an issue, any money raised in excess of $25,000 in 2002 will be donated to the Roadracing World Air Fence Fund.

The good news is that since an announcement went out to WMRRA members in e-mail on Friday, March 15th response has been overwhelming! The WMRRA Air Fence Fund has already received pledges in excess of $10,000! This will almost cover the first purchase of Air Fence to cover turn 5 and we will have it for our first race weekend. This Air Fence has been ordered.

The bad news is that WMRRA still needs to raise $15,000 more for the second purchase by June.

To pledge to the WMRRA Air Fence Fund, or if there are questions, contact Briggs Willoughby by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at (425) 254-0141.

Donations can be sent by check (made out to WMRRA) and mailed to:
WMRRA Air Fence Fund
c/o Briggs Willoughby
12044 SE 76th ST.
Newcastle, WA 98056

100% of the proceeds of donations to the WMRRA Air Fence Fund will be used to purchase and maintain Air Fence.

All contributors to the WMRRA Air Fence Fund will receive acknowledgement on the WMRRA website http://www.wmrra.com, in the WMRRA newsletter (“The Apex”) and in WMRRA race day programs throughout the season, and in press releases.

Links of interest:

http://www.wmrra.com

http://www.airfence.com


*Air Fence is a trademark of Airfence Safety Systems of Australia.