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LaVaughn Daniel To Ride Project Bike

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LaVaughn Daniel To Ride Project Bike

LaVaughn Montgomery Daniel will campaign the Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology project Aprilia RS250 in the 2001 Aprilia Cup Challenge Series, run at Formula USA Series events. Daniel, 29, of Chino Hills, California, won the 1999 WSMC 125cc Grand Prix Championship and finished second in the 1998 NASB 125cc Grand Prix Series, riding a Honda RS125. Daniel was also the first woman to win a WSMC race for production-based motorcycles, on a Yahama FZR400 in 1996.

The motorcycle Daniel will ride in 2001 carried John Hopkins to the 1999 Aprilia Cup Challenge Championship. In 2000, Aaron Clark rode the machine in the final round of the series, to clinch the 2000 Aprilia Cup Challenge Championship. A series of articles in Roadracing World detailed the races run by Hopkins and Clark, including machine set-up. A similar set of articles will chronicle Daniel’s adventures on the machine.

“I’m really excited about competing in the entire Formula USA Series on this proven, title-winning motorcycle,” said Daniel. “It’s a great series and I’m sure it’s going to be fun.”

Kawasaki To Discontinue Team Green Road Racing Program

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Kawasaki To Discontinue Team Green Road Racing Program

Kawasaki has dramatically scaled-back its Team Green road racing program for 2001 and will eliminate the program entirely for 2002. Kawasaki supported 13 riders in 2000 and has offered to help five riders or teams in 2001.

“We don’t have free bikes, we have discounted bikes below dealer cost and a small parts allowance, and sell additional parts at below dealer cost,” said Malcolm Wood, Team Green Road Racing Coordinator on December 19. “The program is designed to help people who are gonna be there anyway.”

Wood said he has offered 2001 support to Zlock Racing in Formula USA with riders Ty Howard and Michael Barnes; Ty Howard in CMRA events; CMRA Endurance Champions Team Green with riders Don Hawkins, Dalton Hamilton, Greg Abbott and Ty Howard; WERA endurance team Leaning Lizards with riders Tracy Shidler and Brian Healea; and Eric Wood.

But Malcolm Wood said that he had to break the bad news to the rest of his 2000 support riders that there would be no support in December, six months after preliminary discussions between Wood and his support riders started for the 2001 season started.

“It was a late change from talking to my guys in June, then having to let them down,” Wood said. “The second week in December I have to call ’em back and tell them the bad news and it broke my heart. My heart goes out to those guys. It told all these guys, the ones we will have something for, it’s really not much. There’s guys like Eric (Wood), who has been so loyal, passed up countless offers to remain loyal to the brand. And that’s what we’re trying to do, build brand loyalty. We’re just trying to sell motorcycles.” Malcolm Wood said that Eric Wood was considering alternative offers from Suzuki and Ducati.

Malcolm Wood’s job at Kawasaki is being dissolved; Wood had the job for one year, and previously worked at a dealership in Oklahoma while working part time with Kawasaki as a demo ride escort. “I’m searching. I got two weeks,” Wood said December 19.

“I don’t hold any animosity toward anybody. Companies have to make tough decision with their budgets and things that they have to do. They were charged with cutting the budget and this is where they decided to cut it. There will be no official representation in 2002.”

Malcolm Wood said that Kawasaki’s Team Green motocross and off-road support programs have not been cut and will continue.

Formula Xtreme Yes, Pro Thunder No For AMA Double-Headers

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Formula Xtreme Yes, Pro Thunder No For AMA Double-Headers

AMA Superbike double-headers at Road Atlanta, Road America and Mid-Ohio will feature Formula Xtreme, but will not include Pro Thunder. In an e-mail to Roadracing World, AMA Road Race Manager Ron Barrick wrote “We are not including the Pro Thunder class at the three Superbike double events. I did not tell Road America we would not include Formula Xtreme. Please research such stories in the future.”

Barrick was referring to an earlier news item based on sources at Road America who told Roadracing World that AMA Pro officials had asked them to not run Formula Xtreme due to TV broadcast time considerations at double-header events.

Loudon Applies Traction Sealer

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Loudon Applies Traction Sealer

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.”

Aprilia May Back Blackmans, Pro Italia

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Aprilia May Back Blackmans, Pro Italia

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.

Swarts Joins Roadracing World Staff

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Swarts Joins Roadracing World Staff

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.

Sorensen To Ride For GP Tech

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Sorensen To Ride For GP Tech

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 Quits Michelin

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Graves Race Tire Services Quits Michelin

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 Seeks To Drop Classes On Doubleheader Weekends

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AMA Seeks To Drop Classes On Doubleheader Weekends

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 Has No Deal With Aprilia

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Blackmans Has No Deal With Aprilia

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.

LaVaughn Daniel To Ride Project Bike

LaVaughn Montgomery Daniel will campaign the Roadracing World & Motorcycle Technology project Aprilia RS250 in the 2001 Aprilia Cup Challenge Series, run at Formula USA Series events. Daniel, 29, of Chino Hills, California, won the 1999 WSMC 125cc Grand Prix Championship and finished second in the 1998 NASB 125cc Grand Prix Series, riding a Honda RS125. Daniel was also the first woman to win a WSMC race for production-based motorcycles, on a Yahama FZR400 in 1996.

The motorcycle Daniel will ride in 2001 carried John Hopkins to the 1999 Aprilia Cup Challenge Championship. In 2000, Aaron Clark rode the machine in the final round of the series, to clinch the 2000 Aprilia Cup Challenge Championship. A series of articles in Roadracing World detailed the races run by Hopkins and Clark, including machine set-up. A similar set of articles will chronicle Daniel’s adventures on the machine.

“I’m really excited about competing in the entire Formula USA Series on this proven, title-winning motorcycle,” said Daniel. “It’s a great series and I’m sure it’s going to be fun.”

Kawasaki To Discontinue Team Green Road Racing Program

Kawasaki has dramatically scaled-back its Team Green road racing program for 2001 and will eliminate the program entirely for 2002. Kawasaki supported 13 riders in 2000 and has offered to help five riders or teams in 2001.

“We don’t have free bikes, we have discounted bikes below dealer cost and a small parts allowance, and sell additional parts at below dealer cost,” said Malcolm Wood, Team Green Road Racing Coordinator on December 19. “The program is designed to help people who are gonna be there anyway.”

Wood said he has offered 2001 support to Zlock Racing in Formula USA with riders Ty Howard and Michael Barnes; Ty Howard in CMRA events; CMRA Endurance Champions Team Green with riders Don Hawkins, Dalton Hamilton, Greg Abbott and Ty Howard; WERA endurance team Leaning Lizards with riders Tracy Shidler and Brian Healea; and Eric Wood.

But Malcolm Wood said that he had to break the bad news to the rest of his 2000 support riders that there would be no support in December, six months after preliminary discussions between Wood and his support riders started for the 2001 season started.

“It was a late change from talking to my guys in June, then having to let them down,” Wood said. “The second week in December I have to call ’em back and tell them the bad news and it broke my heart. My heart goes out to those guys. It told all these guys, the ones we will have something for, it’s really not much. There’s guys like Eric (Wood), who has been so loyal, passed up countless offers to remain loyal to the brand. And that’s what we’re trying to do, build brand loyalty. We’re just trying to sell motorcycles.” Malcolm Wood said that Eric Wood was considering alternative offers from Suzuki and Ducati.

Malcolm Wood’s job at Kawasaki is being dissolved; Wood had the job for one year, and previously worked at a dealership in Oklahoma while working part time with Kawasaki as a demo ride escort. “I’m searching. I got two weeks,” Wood said December 19.

“I don’t hold any animosity toward anybody. Companies have to make tough decision with their budgets and things that they have to do. They were charged with cutting the budget and this is where they decided to cut it. There will be no official representation in 2002.”

Malcolm Wood said that Kawasaki’s Team Green motocross and off-road support programs have not been cut and will continue.

Formula Xtreme Yes, Pro Thunder No For AMA Double-Headers

AMA Superbike double-headers at Road Atlanta, Road America and Mid-Ohio will feature Formula Xtreme, but will not include Pro Thunder. In an e-mail to Roadracing World, AMA Road Race Manager Ron Barrick wrote “We are not including the Pro Thunder class at the three Superbike double events. I did not tell Road America we would not include Formula Xtreme. Please research such stories in the future.”

Barrick was referring to an earlier news item based on sources at Road America who told Roadracing World that AMA Pro officials had asked them to not run Formula Xtreme due to TV broadcast time considerations at double-header events.

Loudon Applies Traction Sealer

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.”

Aprilia May Back Blackmans, Pro Italia

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.

Swarts Joins Roadracing World Staff

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.

Sorensen To Ride For GP Tech

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 Quits Michelin

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 Seeks To Drop Classes On Doubleheader Weekends

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 Has No Deal With Aprilia

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.

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