New Hampshire International Speedway has applied high-traction sealer to parts of the Loudon, New Hampshire track’s road course to eliminate slick spots under rainy conditions. The track will also apply the sealer to the entire NASCAR oval in May, prior to the arrival of the AMA National scheduled for June 15-17. The goal, according to NHIS Safety Director Jerry Wood, is to “not have any slick pavement in the wet or dry.”
Insiders say that proposals from Blackmans Cycle and Pro Italia are finalists in Aprilia USA’s plans for a 2001 racing program. Aprilia Cup Challenge Champion Aaron Clark may ride the Pro Italia machine while Chris Carr may ride the Blackmans bike at Daytona with Mike Himmelsbach riding after Daytona. Matt Capri may be involved in parts development for the two programs.
David Swarts has joined the staff of Roadracing World and has reported for full-time duty at Roadracing World headquarters in Lake Elsinore, California. Swarts is a long-time contributor who has specialized in covering events, including races and court trials.
AMA 250cc Grand Prix Champion Chuck Sorensen will campaign a Yamaha TZ250 in GP Tech colors in 2001.
“We have a test scheduled in January. Derrick King will also ride and we’re still debating on another rider,” said team owner Geoff Maloney, who is retiring from active competition to manage the effort. GP Tech fielded King, Michael Barnes and Maloney in 2000.
Maloney added that GP Tech has become the distributor of AP Racing motorcycle brake components in the U.S.
Graves Race Tire Services, which handles Michelin race tire distribution at racetracks in the Western United States, has quit the tire business. The company, owned by brothers Chuck, Tom and Mike Graves, increased Michelin racing tire sales from 800 units to 5000 units per year and increased percentage of grid fitment from 2% to 50% in classes requiring DOT-labeled tires in the 3-1/2 years since taking over Michelin distribution in the West.
Issues leading to the split included problems with sales incentives, for-sale product availability and being undercut on pricing by big distribution companies like Parts Unlimited, according to sources familiar with the deal.
Asked to comment, Chuck Graves said “We felt that our ability to be competitive and profitable was terminally limited by the current needs of Michelin North America. We want to be competitive in all aspects of our business and they don’t want to be or are unable to be at this time. It’s better for us to spend our resources in other areas.” Graves and his brothers also own and operate Graves Motorsports, a high-performance parts and accessories manufacturer, and Graves Racing, an AMA Formula Xtreme team.
Asked if his team would be switching to Dunlop tires for the 2001 season, Chuck Graves said “Yes. Those guys are committed to doing whatever it takes to win races.”
AMA Pro Racing officials are encouraging race promoters to drop classes on doubleheader Superbike weekends at Road Atlanta, Mid Ohio and Road America, which feature one Superbike race on Saturday and one on Sunday.
AMA Road Race Manager Ron Barrick has asked Road America officials to drop the Formula Xtreme race on the basis that the bikes are over-stressed and more likely to oil the track than other machines, sources at the Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin track said December 14.
Barrick has also discussed dropping the Pro Thunder race from the doubleheader weekends.
But any plans to eliminate Formula Xtreme will likely encounter strong resistance. “They can’t drop the class because we’ve been selling it,” said Speedvision Productions’ Cameron Gray December 14. “It’s part of the TV package and I’ve already sold it (commercial time) to people.”
Blackmans Aprilia Team Manager Kris Bickford said December 11 that, contrary to an internet news report, Blackmans does not have a letter of intent, or even a verbal deal, with Aprilia USA to campaign a RSV Mille R in the 2001 Formula USA Series, with Chris Carr riding the bike at Daytona.
“We do not have a deal with Aprilia,” Bickford said. “We do not have a letter of intent. We do not have a final deal with anyone. It’s no secret that we want to go racing and we’ve been talking to several people, including Aprilia. Yes, we’ve been talking to Chris Carr, but we don’t even have a signed agreement with Chris. What happened was that a call came in for Mark Blackman (the young son of Blackmans owner Kathy Blackman), who was working in the parts department, and he did not know who he was talking to and got fast-talked and did not know what he was saying.”
Blackmans, the largest Aprilia dealer in the U.S., was founded by Leon Blackman circa 1960 and was run by his son Gary Blackman from the early 1980s until Gary died in a plane crash in 1997. Since that time Gary’s widow, Kathy Blackman, has run the company, lately with assistance from Bickford.
Yuasa Battery has been shopping around for a Daytona Formula USA ride for Carr, discussing the possibility with several established teams. Aprilia USA has also been shopping for a Formula USA effort, considering proposals from established race teams and from Aprilia dealers interested in either establishing racing programs or expanding existing racing programs.
The Daytona 600: ZX-6R vs. GSX-R600 vs. TT600 vs. YZF-R6 Letters To The Editor Inside Info 2001 Suzuki GSX-R600 Press Intro And Tech Briefing First Person/Opinion: GSX-R600 Epiphany On Wheels Kenny Lee Roberts Wins 500cc World Championship In Brazil Brazillian Grand Prix Notes New Champion Roberts Runs Away In Pacific Grand Prix At Motegi Pacific Grand Prix Notes Edwards Seals Superbike World Championship With A Win At Brands Hatch Brands Hatch World Superbike Notes Nicky Hayden Wins AMA National At Willow Springs AMA Willow Inside Info 600cc Comparison Suspension Set-up Hopkins and Lopez 1-2 Daytona F-USA Finale F-USA Daytona Inside Info Army Of Darkness 2000, Part IV First Person/Opinion: Letters From The Belly Of The Beast New Products Acree’s The Man At Suzuki Cup Finals Arclight Wins WERA 4-Hour At Road Atlanta First Person/Opinion:Why Suzuki GSX-R600 Valve Retainers Break Racing And School Calendar High Performance Parts & Services Directory The Crash Page Website Directory Guide To Racing Organizations Want Ads Ad Index And Phone Directory First Person/Opinion: Club Racer’s Guide The Future Of Grand Prix Racing: 2-strokes vs. 4-strokes Chris Ulrich: Adventures Of A Racer On The Cover: Four 600cc Sportbikes in front of the tri-oval at Daytona International Speedway, where they were flogged without mercy. From left, the Yamaha YZF-R6, 2001 Suzuki GSX-R600, Triumph TT600 and 2001 Kawasaki ZX-6R. In the other photo, Sam Fleming hustles the 2001 Suzuki GSX-R600 through the esses at Road Atlanta during the press intro and tech briefing. Photos by Brian J. Nelson.
Inside Info Letters To The Editor GP Mutterings: Grand Prix Racing And The Art Of Intimidation McCoy Wins Portugese Grand Prix Portugese Grand Prix Notes McCoy Wins Valencia Grand Prix Valencia Grand Prix Notes Edwards And Haga Win At Assen World Superbike Assen World Superbike Notes Edwards Wins Twice At Oschersleben World Superbike Oschersleben World Superbike Notes Kawasaki Race Team Shop Tour Yamaha Race Team Shop Tour Yamaha Road Racing Supervisor Tom Halverson Vesrah Wins WERA 24-Hours West At Willow Springs Ukawa and Katoh Win Suzuka 8-Hours AMA Tests At Virginia International Raceway CCS At Firebird Arclight Wins WERA 6-Hour At VIR WERA National Challenge Series At VIR LRRS at Loudon First Person/Opinion: Army Of Darkness 2000, Part III First Person/Opinion: Letters From The Belly Of The Beast The Crash Page CCS At Moroso USCRA At Loudon CCS At Moroso Ad Index And Phone Directory Website Directory Guide To Racing Organizations Racing And School Calendar Chris Ulrich: Adventures Of A Racer Want Ads High-Performance Parts & Services Directory On The Front Cover: Fuel injection reaches the 600cc class with the 2001 Honda CBR600F4i and the 2001 Suzuki GSXR600. And the open class gets a new contender with the 165-horsepower 2001 Suzuki GSXR1000
Inside Info Letters To The Editor Which Fuel Makes The Most Power? Biaggi Wins Czech 500cc Grand Prix Czech GP Notes Bayliss, Hodgson Win At Brands Hatch World Superbike Brands Hatch Superbike Notes Jeremy McWilliams: A Racer’s Uphill Battle Against Himself Duhamel Wins AMA Superbike At Brainerd AMA Brainerd Inside Info Racers In Real Life: John Hjelm Bostrom Wins AMA Superbike At Pikes Peak AMA Pikes Peak Inside Info WERA National Challenge At Carolina Motorsports Park WERA National Challenge At Summit Point SBR Wins WERA Endurance At Summit Point Roger Lee Hayden: Rippin’ Rog Hopkins Wins PACE F-USA At Portland Hopkins, Pegram Win PACE F-USA At Pocono PACE F-USA Pocono Inside Info PACE F-USA Portland Inside Info Nicky Hayden: Young Gun World Ducati Weekend CMRA/CCS At MotorSport Ranch LRRS At Loudon New Products WSMC At Willow Springs Tommy Hayden: Superbike Kid The Crash Page Racing And School Calendar Website Directory Guide To Racing Organizations Ad Index And Phone Directory Want Ads High-Performance Parts & Services Directory Chris Ulrich: The Adventures Of A Racer On The Front Cover: Kurtis Roberts winning the AMA Formula Xtreme Championship on his Honda CBR929RR, and Aaron Clark ramming Shane Clarke in the AMA 750cc Supersport race at Pikes Peak. Photos by Brian J. Nelson.
New Hampshire International Speedway has applied high-traction sealer to parts of the Loudon, New Hampshire track’s road course to eliminate slick spots under rainy conditions. The track will also apply the sealer to the entire NASCAR oval in May, prior to the arrival of the AMA National scheduled for June 15-17. The goal, according to NHIS Safety Director Jerry Wood, is to “not have any slick pavement in the wet or dry.”
Insiders say that proposals from Blackmans Cycle and Pro Italia are finalists in Aprilia USA’s plans for a 2001 racing program. Aprilia Cup Challenge Champion Aaron Clark may ride the Pro Italia machine while Chris Carr may ride the Blackmans bike at Daytona with Mike Himmelsbach riding after Daytona. Matt Capri may be involved in parts development for the two programs.
David Swarts has joined the staff of Roadracing World and has reported for full-time duty at Roadracing World headquarters in Lake Elsinore, California. Swarts is a long-time contributor who has specialized in covering events, including races and court trials.
AMA 250cc Grand Prix Champion Chuck Sorensen will campaign a Yamaha TZ250 in GP Tech colors in 2001.
“We have a test scheduled in January. Derrick King will also ride and we’re still debating on another rider,” said team owner Geoff Maloney, who is retiring from active competition to manage the effort. GP Tech fielded King, Michael Barnes and Maloney in 2000.
Maloney added that GP Tech has become the distributor of AP Racing motorcycle brake components in the U.S.
Graves Race Tire Services, which handles Michelin race tire distribution at racetracks in the Western United States, has quit the tire business. The company, owned by brothers Chuck, Tom and Mike Graves, increased Michelin racing tire sales from 800 units to 5000 units per year and increased percentage of grid fitment from 2% to 50% in classes requiring DOT-labeled tires in the 3-1/2 years since taking over Michelin distribution in the West.
Issues leading to the split included problems with sales incentives, for-sale product availability and being undercut on pricing by big distribution companies like Parts Unlimited, according to sources familiar with the deal.
Asked to comment, Chuck Graves said “We felt that our ability to be competitive and profitable was terminally limited by the current needs of Michelin North America. We want to be competitive in all aspects of our business and they don’t want to be or are unable to be at this time. It’s better for us to spend our resources in other areas.” Graves and his brothers also own and operate Graves Motorsports, a high-performance parts and accessories manufacturer, and Graves Racing, an AMA Formula Xtreme team.
Asked if his team would be switching to Dunlop tires for the 2001 season, Chuck Graves said “Yes. Those guys are committed to doing whatever it takes to win races.”
AMA Pro Racing officials are encouraging race promoters to drop classes on doubleheader Superbike weekends at Road Atlanta, Mid Ohio and Road America, which feature one Superbike race on Saturday and one on Sunday.
AMA Road Race Manager Ron Barrick has asked Road America officials to drop the Formula Xtreme race on the basis that the bikes are over-stressed and more likely to oil the track than other machines, sources at the Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin track said December 14.
Barrick has also discussed dropping the Pro Thunder race from the doubleheader weekends.
But any plans to eliminate Formula Xtreme will likely encounter strong resistance. “They can’t drop the class because we’ve been selling it,” said Speedvision Productions’ Cameron Gray December 14. “It’s part of the TV package and I’ve already sold it (commercial time) to people.”
Blackmans Aprilia Team Manager Kris Bickford said December 11 that, contrary to an internet news report, Blackmans does not have a letter of intent, or even a verbal deal, with Aprilia USA to campaign a RSV Mille R in the 2001 Formula USA Series, with Chris Carr riding the bike at Daytona.
“We do not have a deal with Aprilia,” Bickford said. “We do not have a letter of intent. We do not have a final deal with anyone. It’s no secret that we want to go racing and we’ve been talking to several people, including Aprilia. Yes, we’ve been talking to Chris Carr, but we don’t even have a signed agreement with Chris. What happened was that a call came in for Mark Blackman (the young son of Blackmans owner Kathy Blackman), who was working in the parts department, and he did not know who he was talking to and got fast-talked and did not know what he was saying.”
Blackmans, the largest Aprilia dealer in the U.S., was founded by Leon Blackman circa 1960 and was run by his son Gary Blackman from the early 1980s until Gary died in a plane crash in 1997. Since that time Gary’s widow, Kathy Blackman, has run the company, lately with assistance from Bickford.
Yuasa Battery has been shopping around for a Daytona Formula USA ride for Carr, discussing the possibility with several established teams. Aprilia USA has also been shopping for a Formula USA effort, considering proposals from established race teams and from Aprilia dealers interested in either establishing racing programs or expanding existing racing programs.
The Daytona 600: ZX-6R vs. GSX-R600 vs. TT600 vs. YZF-R6 Letters To The Editor Inside Info 2001 Suzuki GSX-R600 Press Intro And Tech Briefing First Person/Opinion: GSX-R600 Epiphany On Wheels Kenny Lee Roberts Wins 500cc World Championship In Brazil Brazillian Grand Prix Notes New Champion Roberts Runs Away In Pacific Grand Prix At Motegi Pacific Grand Prix Notes Edwards Seals Superbike World Championship With A Win At Brands Hatch Brands Hatch World Superbike Notes Nicky Hayden Wins AMA National At Willow Springs AMA Willow Inside Info 600cc Comparison Suspension Set-up Hopkins and Lopez 1-2 Daytona F-USA Finale F-USA Daytona Inside Info Army Of Darkness 2000, Part IV First Person/Opinion: Letters From The Belly Of The Beast New Products Acree’s The Man At Suzuki Cup Finals Arclight Wins WERA 4-Hour At Road Atlanta First Person/Opinion:Why Suzuki GSX-R600 Valve Retainers Break Racing And School Calendar High Performance Parts & Services Directory The Crash Page Website Directory Guide To Racing Organizations Want Ads Ad Index And Phone Directory First Person/Opinion: Club Racer’s Guide The Future Of Grand Prix Racing: 2-strokes vs. 4-strokes Chris Ulrich: Adventures Of A Racer On The Cover: Four 600cc Sportbikes in front of the tri-oval at Daytona International Speedway, where they were flogged without mercy. From left, the Yamaha YZF-R6, 2001 Suzuki GSX-R600, Triumph TT600 and 2001 Kawasaki ZX-6R. In the other photo, Sam Fleming hustles the 2001 Suzuki GSX-R600 through the esses at Road Atlanta during the press intro and tech briefing. Photos by Brian J. Nelson.
Inside Info Letters To The Editor GP Mutterings: Grand Prix Racing And The Art Of Intimidation McCoy Wins Portugese Grand Prix Portugese Grand Prix Notes McCoy Wins Valencia Grand Prix Valencia Grand Prix Notes Edwards And Haga Win At Assen World Superbike Assen World Superbike Notes Edwards Wins Twice At Oschersleben World Superbike Oschersleben World Superbike Notes Kawasaki Race Team Shop Tour Yamaha Race Team Shop Tour Yamaha Road Racing Supervisor Tom Halverson Vesrah Wins WERA 24-Hours West At Willow Springs Ukawa and Katoh Win Suzuka 8-Hours AMA Tests At Virginia International Raceway CCS At Firebird Arclight Wins WERA 6-Hour At VIR WERA National Challenge Series At VIR LRRS at Loudon First Person/Opinion: Army Of Darkness 2000, Part III First Person/Opinion: Letters From The Belly Of The Beast The Crash Page CCS At Moroso USCRA At Loudon CCS At Moroso Ad Index And Phone Directory Website Directory Guide To Racing Organizations Racing And School Calendar Chris Ulrich: Adventures Of A Racer Want Ads High-Performance Parts & Services Directory On The Front Cover: Fuel injection reaches the 600cc class with the 2001 Honda CBR600F4i and the 2001 Suzuki GSXR600. And the open class gets a new contender with the 165-horsepower 2001 Suzuki GSXR1000
Inside Info Letters To The Editor Which Fuel Makes The Most Power? Biaggi Wins Czech 500cc Grand Prix Czech GP Notes Bayliss, Hodgson Win At Brands Hatch World Superbike Brands Hatch Superbike Notes Jeremy McWilliams: A Racer’s Uphill Battle Against Himself Duhamel Wins AMA Superbike At Brainerd AMA Brainerd Inside Info Racers In Real Life: John Hjelm Bostrom Wins AMA Superbike At Pikes Peak AMA Pikes Peak Inside Info WERA National Challenge At Carolina Motorsports Park WERA National Challenge At Summit Point SBR Wins WERA Endurance At Summit Point Roger Lee Hayden: Rippin’ Rog Hopkins Wins PACE F-USA At Portland Hopkins, Pegram Win PACE F-USA At Pocono PACE F-USA Pocono Inside Info PACE F-USA Portland Inside Info Nicky Hayden: Young Gun World Ducati Weekend CMRA/CCS At MotorSport Ranch LRRS At Loudon New Products WSMC At Willow Springs Tommy Hayden: Superbike Kid The Crash Page Racing And School Calendar Website Directory Guide To Racing Organizations Ad Index And Phone Directory Want Ads High-Performance Parts & Services Directory Chris Ulrich: The Adventures Of A Racer On The Front Cover: Kurtis Roberts winning the AMA Formula Xtreme Championship on his Honda CBR929RR, and Aaron Clark ramming Shane Clarke in the AMA 750cc Supersport race at Pikes Peak. Photos by Brian J. Nelson.
