BMW officials are inviting private owners of BMW off-road models, particularly the F650 and R1150GS, to come join them on a ride and photo shoot for the 2002-model F650 and R1150GS in the Death Valley National Park. The ride will take place on Tuesday May 8, 2001 and kicks off at 8:00 a.m. from the Furnace Creek Ranch on California Highway 190. BMW is extending this invitation in order to create an effect similar to the start of the Paris-Dakar Rally, according to a press release from BMW North America.

BMW officials are recommending that riders who wish to participate stay in the area the night before they are well-rested for the ride. BMW will supply bottled water, a catered BBQ lunch, commemorative gifts for participants, and a chase vehicle equipped with a BMW-certified mechanic on the day of the shoot. BMW is recommending that riders be prepared for a physically strenuous ride over a variety of paved and non-paved surfaces and that riders bring plenty of fluids to drink as the daytime temperatures can reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

The ride will be led by ALEM Team rider Helli Kornton, best known as the rider of the bike in the current BMW R1150GS TV commercials running on ESPN2 and Speedvision.

This photo shoot is part of BMW’s newest marketing plan to include real BMW riders and enthusiasts in marketing material as well as to get direct feedback from the most loyal BMW customers.

For additional information, call BMW Brand and Event Marketing Manager Laurence Kuykendall by phone at (201)307-3926 or via e-mail at [email protected].

Yamaha’s Anthony Gobert was fastest in Friday morning Superbike practice. A computer glitch in the official timing and scoring system delayed the release of official times until after 2:00 p.m., AMA spokesman Larry Lawrence said. The times follow:

1. Anthony Gobert, Yamaha, 1:35.351
2. Mat Mladin, Suzuki, 1:35.709
3. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki, 1:35.891
4. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, 1:36.086
5. Steve Rapp, Ducati, 1:36.287
6. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki, 1:36.325
7. Miguel Duhamel, Honda, 1:36.342
8. Kurtis Roberts, Honda, 1:36.451
9. Tommy Hayden, Yamaha, 1:36.641
10. Doug Chandler, Kawasaki, 1:36.753
11. Pascal Picotte, Harley-Davidson, 1:36.826
12. Larry Pegram, Ducati, 1:36.81
13. Nicky Hayden, Honda, 1:37.241
14. Mike Smith, Harley-Davidson, 1:37.669
15. Brian Parriott, Suzuki, 1:38.196*
16. Jordan Szoke, Harley-Davidson, 1:38.279
17. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki, 1:38.998*
18. Andreas Meklau, Ducati, 1:39.014
19. Mark C. Foster, Yamaha, 1:39.088
20. Lee Acree, Suzuki, 1:39.387*
21. Rich Alexander, Suzuki, 1:40.106*
22. James Randolph, Suzuki, 1:40.411*
23. Anthony Lupo, Suzuki, 1:40.441*
24. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki, 1:41.174*
25. Doug Pitcock, Suzuki, 1:42.244*
26. Alan Schmidt, Suzuki, 1:42.388*
27. Dean Mizdal, Suzuki
28. Ben Spies, Suzuki, 1:42.819*
29. Tony Meiring, Suzuki, 1:42.967*
30. Shane Reilly, Suzuki, 1:43.702
31. Scott Gooch, Suzuki, 1:43.922*
32. Scott Jensen, Suzuki, 1:44.727*
33. James Doerfler, Suzuki, 1:45.658
34. Eric Haugo, Suzuki, 1:46.135
35. Randall Mennenga, Suzuki, 1:49.050*
36. Greg Fryer, Yamaha, 1:51.722

* = 750cc Supersport entrant on GSX-R750 Supersport bike

Times from the first round of Superbike qualifying at Sears Point follow.

Friday Superbike Qualifying Times From Sears Point

1. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, 1:34.024
2. Larry Pegram, Ducati, 1:34.694
3. Mat Mladin, Suzuki, 1:34.788
4. Kurtis Roberts, Honda, 1:34.835
5. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki, 1:35.089
6. Miguel Duhamel, Honda, 1:35.212
7. Anthony Gobert, Yamaha, 1:35.407
8. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki, 1:35.464
9. Doug Chandler, Kawasaki, 1:35.556
10. Tommy Hayden, Yamaha, 1:35.646
11. Pascal Picotte, Harley-Davidson, 1:35.666
12. Nicky Hayden, Honda, 1:35.722
13. Jordan Szoke, Harley-Davidson, 1:36.240
14. Steve Rapp, Ducati, 1:36.378
15. Andreas Meklau, Ducati, 1:36.972
16. Brian Parriott, Suzuki, 1:37.878*
17. Mark Foster, Yamaha, 1:38.086
18. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki, 1:38.511*
19. Chris Ulrich, Suzuki, 1:38.863*
20. Michael Smith, Harley-Davidson, 1:38.875
21. Lee Acree, Suzuki, 1:39.192*
22. Rich Alexander, Suzuki, 1:39.236*
23. Tony Lupo, Suzuki, 1:39.576*
24. Vince Haskovec, Suzuki, 1:39.727*
25. James Randolph, Suzuki, 1:40.367*
26. Robert Mesa, Suzuki, 1:41.191*
27. Ben Spies, Suzuki, 1:41.241*
28. Dean Mizdal, Suzuki, 1:41.811
29. James King, Suzuki, 1:42.050
30. Doug Pitcock, Suzuki, 1:42.053
31. Shawn Reilly, Suzuki, 1:42.136
32. Tony Meiring, Suzuki, 1:42.404*
33. Alan Schmidt, Suzuki, 1:42.828*
34. Ed Milhausen, Suzuki, 1:43.061*
35. James Doerfler, Suzuki, 1:43.252
36. Scott Gooch, Suzuki, 1:43.441*
37. Brian Long, Suzuki, 1:44.023
38. Scott Jensen, Suzuki, 1:44.228
39. Randall Mennenga, Suzuki, 1:46.585
40. Mauro Cereda, Suzuki, 1:47.127
41. Greg Fryer, Yamaha, 1:48.523

* = 750cc Supersport entrant on Suzuki GSX-R750 Supersport bike

1. Rich Oliver, Yamaha, 1:37.651
2. Chuck Sorensen, Yamaha, 1:37.684
3. Roland Sands, Yamaha, 1:38.919
4. Jeffrey Leggitt, Honda, 1:41.132
5. Ed Marchini, Yamaha, 1:41.502
6. Jim Filice, Yamaha, 1:41.717
7. Andre Castanos, Honda, 1:42.399
8. Michael Hannas, II, Yamaha, 1:42.616
9. Perry Melneciuc, Yamaha, 1:43.399

Colin Jensen was listed as having the fastest time on his Aprilia RS250, but his 1:09 lap was obviously a cut-through at turn one.

1. Miguel Duhamel, Honda, 1:37.709
2. Brian Parriott, Suzuki, 1:38.566
3. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki, 1:38.788
4. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki, 1:38.936
5. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki, 1:39.030
6. Josh Hayes, Suzuki, 1:39.139
7. Anthony Gobert, Yamaha, 1:39.200
8. Aaron Gobert, Yamaha, 1:39.472
9. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, 1:39.592
10. Kurtis Roberts, Honda, 1:39.592
11. Roger Lee Hayden, Honda, 1:39.660
12. Jake Zemke, Honda, 1:39.685
13. John Hopkins, Suzuki, 1:39.808
14. Grant Lopez, Suzuki, 1:40.003
15. Lee Acree, Suzuki, 1:40.157
16. Vincent Haskovec, Suzuki, 1:40.276
17. Joseph Gill, Yamaha, 1:40.380
18. Tommy Hayden, Yamaha, 1:40.537
19. Jimmy Moore, Suzuki, 1:41.929
20. Damon Buckmaster, Suzuki, 1:42.547

Andreas “Andy” or “Meki” Meklau gained notice by winning the first National Superbike race he entered in his home country of Austria, in 1991. That result led to Meklau’s World Superbike debut later that same year at the Osterriechring in Austria. Meklau came onto the World Superbike scene full time in 1992, and in 1993, Meklau took his one and only World Superbike win at the Osterriechring. During his career, Meklau earned four World Superbike podium finishes and two fastest laps. His 140 World Superbike race appearances places Meklau second among current World Superbike racers, four appearances behind Pierfrancesco Chili (144) and 16 ahead of reigning Superbike World Champion Colin Edwards II (124). Meklau spent most of his time in World Superbike as a privateer, and spent every season on a Ducati. When not racing World Superbike, 33-year-old Meklau records top finishes in the German National Superbike series.

Just prior to the start of the 2001 World Superbike season, the Remus Racing team withdrew from the World Superbike Series, leaving Meklau without a ride. Now Meklau is coming to America to fill the HMC Ducati seat vacated by injured Scott Russell.

Several riders were considered for the open Ducati North America Superbike seats, but were told that they needed to bring a sponsor with them. Candidates included former AMA Superbike/World Superbike/ Grand Prix racer Mike Hale, former Australian Ducati Factory rider Craig Connell and former NCR Ducati World Superbike racer Lance Isaacs, among others.

In addition to his strong ties with the Ducati factory, the fact that Andreas Meklau brought exhaust maker Remus with him as a sponsor was probably the deal maker.

Andreas Meklau’s Superbike World Championship Series Finishes:

1992 34th (tie)
1993 15th (1 win)
1994 6th (behind 1. Fogarty, 2. Russell, 3. Slight, 4. Polen, 5. Crafar)
1995 13th
1996 18th
1997 18th
1998 18th
1999 11th
2000 13th

Former racer and strident AMA critic Ken Vreeke is advising AMA Pro Racing on a new public relations strategy.

Vreeke, who now owns Vreeke & Associates Advertising, wrote a 1984 expose of AMA racing activities that was published in Cycle magazine. The piece so enraged AMA Trustees that they threatened to sue the magazine and full-time staffer Vreeke.

Now, nearly 20 years later, Vreeke hosted an April 30 conference call with AMA staff members to discuss the association’s current public relations problems and to suggest solutions.

The biggest public relations problem the AMA faces is that it often does a poor job of communicating with members and media representatives, and often fails to get the word out when it does something right or improves its racing programs. Word is also hard to get as to how and why various AMA decisions are made.

The fact that little or no attention is paid to AMA success stories has frustrated association staffers. And what press releases do come out of the association are often issued in reaction to outside criticism or forces instead of proactively addressing problems or announcing pending programs or improvements.

Recently, AMA Pro Racing has expanded its staff, hiring John Farris as Vice President, Commercial Development; Chris Bradley as Associate Director, Commercial Development; and Michele Rossi as Financial Analyst. But exactly why they were hired and what they are going to do remains a mystery to most “stakeholders”, which is what AMA Pro Racing likes to call AMA members involved in AMA professional competition. For that matter, there have been no press releases explaining why AMA Pro Racing, which is owned by the non-profit AMA, needs anyone working on “commercial development” in the first place.

Stay tuned.

Sears Point International Raceway in Sonoma, California will honor tickets from last year’s rained-out AMA Superbike National, for this coming weekend’s event.

Tickets from last year will be honored at the gate, according to a track spokesperson.

More information is available from Sears Point Raceway at (707) 938-8448.

In a 5:20 PDT phone call to Roadracing World headquarters, Sears Point Raceway spokesman John Cardinale said that the parking problems at the Sonoma, California racetrack are temporary and that big improvements will be seen in time for next year’s racing season.

Cardinale also said that Sears Point officials will position vendors behind turn 10 instead of in the paddock this year, to make more room for race team support vehicles. And the area immediately in front of the new garages being built in the paddock will be paved tommorow, allowing the removal of construction fences and making more room.

“We’ll make room,” Cardinale said when asked if all the competitors expected for this weekend’s AMA race will fit in the paddock despite space lost to garage construction.

According to Cardinale, the paddock will be 80 percent larger next year, and run-off room in several corners will be increased, so that every corner has at least 50 to 100 feet of run-off.

“It’s going to be a tight fit this year,” Cardinale admitted. “But we had to do this work sometime, to get this track out of the dark ages.”

Cardinale also denied that teams were promised that parking would begin at noon. “We wouldn’t have made that promise knowing that the school was here today,” Cardinale said.

“We wouldn’t have showed up here at noon if they hadn’t said that,” a team member still waiting at the front gate said.

A reduction in available room and a lack of parking procedures and planning has left a total of 30 non-factory AMA race team transporters waiting at the Sears Point gate for the last five hours.

While factory and support team semi-trucks were escorted in and parked after mid-day and throughout the afternoon, non-factory teams and private riders have been left waiting at the Sears Point gate and, as this is posted, are still waiting at 5:00 p.m. PDT.

Prior to arrival at Sears Point, some teams who called the racetrack were told that parking for this weekend’s AMA National would start at noon, and many hurried to arrive in time to make that deadline.

According to AMA Superbike Operations Manager Ron Barrick, who arrived at the track about 2:30 PDT this afternoon and was reached on his cell phone just before 5:00 p.m. PDT, the hold-up has been caused by students taking a CLASS school at Sears Point spreading out all across the available paddock, blocking orderly parking of non-semi-truck transporters.

Barrick said that track officials did not think to contain the CLASS students in one area of the paddock to expedite parking of AMA teams.

Sears Point officials are now saying that no more vehicles will be allowed through the gates until 6:00 p.m..

Similar parking foul-ups have plagued AMA teams going back years at various tracks, and it is common for promised parking times to be missed, despite the fact that some teams and riders drive long distances day and night to make announced parking deadlines.

A similar delay was encountered by teams at Road America last June, for example.