South Carolina Motor Sports Racing News
Thursday, August 26,
2010
Return to SCMSRN.com Contents Page!
Ø Blogs
Ø FOXSports.com
News for NASCAR
Ø GEORGIA STOCK CAR
RACING AUGUST 26, 2010
Ø Motorcycle USA
Article Headlines
Ø NASCAR.COM -
Sprint Cup Series Headlines
Ø NASCAR.COM -
Nationwide Series Headlines
Ø Racing Returns This Friday Night at
Florence Motor Speedway!
GEORGIA STOCK CAR RACING AUGUST 26, 2010
Thanks to Atlanta Motor Speedway for sponsoring this issue.
I've looked at all of the offers available for the NASCAR Labor Day Weekend at AMS, and probably the most economical deal is a $69 package available now. It includes:
Friday night (concert and race for the Southern Superstars on the asphalt quarter-mile) - free with Sat. or Sun. ticket
Saturday (qualifying at 2:40 and 4:40, Great Clips 300 Nationwide Race
7:00) - $30.00 (unlimited free children)
Sunday (Emory Healthcare 500 7:30, pre-race and concert 4:30) - $39.00
Monday (free Breakfast 7:00-9:00 a.m.) for race ticket holders
1-877-9-AMS-TIX http://www.atlantamotorspeedway.com/tickets/specials/
---- SCHEDULE (more events below) ----
FRI./SAT. 8/27-28:
Senoia: USCS Winged Outlaw Sprint Cars Summer Nationals
Friday: Winged Outlaw Sprint Cars Plus $1000 to win Topless Late Models vs. Crate Late Models Shootout Round #1, Hobby, Enduro and Pure Mini Stock. Admission $15, Kids 12 & Under FREE!
Saturday: Winged Outlaw Sprint Cars Plus $1000 to win Topless Late Models vs. Crate Late Models Shootout Round #2, B-Cadet, Hobby, Enduro, Modified Mini Stock and Pure Mini Stock. Admission $20, Kids 12 & Under FREE!
Racing Starts at 7:30 pm both days. http://www.newsenoiaraceway.com/
FRIDAY 8/27
West Georgia: Open practice Sept. 1
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Whitesburg-GA/West-Ga-Speedway/
350483400717
Anderson (SC) Late models 50 laps + local divs.
Modoc: Super Stock 4 $500 to win + Outlaw Super Street Race + Fastrak
Westminster (SC) TMC 30 for Fastrak teams $1500 to win. $5 admission.
Boyd's Full racing program. $1,000 to WIN Steel-head LMs 25 laps,
$800 to WIN Crate LM's 20 Laps. www.boydsspeedway.com
Oglethorpe: 2010 Season Championship Night - FREE Tee Shirts with the
first 50 Military Grandstand Admissions www.ospracing.net
SATURDAY 8/28
Dixie: Full racing program + $1500 to win crate LM race.
Lanier US Auto Sales "Lincoln Nite" Legends racing $5
grandstand/tracksideadmission http://www.lanierspeedway.com/
Greshams: NASCAR K&N Pro Series http://www.greshammotorsportspark.com
Toccoa: Regular show with eight divs. racing.
Cochran: Natl. Late Model Series $3000 to win. http://www.nlmss.com
Watermelon Capital Speedway: no racing
www.watermeloncapitalspeedway.com
Tri County: Regular racing in all classes. www.tricountyracetrack.com
441 Speedway/Dublin: Weekly Racing Show, Double pts. Bicycle races.
Adm. $10. http://www.441speedway.com
East Alabama Kids night, kids foot races. www.eamsdirt.com/
Lavonia: no racing http://www.lavoniadirttrack.com
Needmore: Adm. $10 Late models $3000 to win, Limited $1000 to win
North Georgia: Full race program. www.northgaspeedway.net
Swainsboro: Racing in Driggers Concrete Road Warrior, Love's Seafood Mini Stock, Daniels Chev. Pure Stock, Sunoco Super Street, and Aaron's Crate Late Models, www.swainsbororaceway.com
Talladega Short Track: Full racing program.
http://www.talladegashorttrack.com
Waycross: Kids School supply giveaway! Pure Stock $1500 to win 25 lap shootout + Local racing in SuperStreet, Late Models, TQ Late Models, &
Limited Sportsman. http://www.wayxspeedway.com
TUESDAY 8/31
Oglethorpe Speedway: Race for the Shrine benefit, with NASCAR drivers
David Ragan and Andrew Smith. http://www.andrewsmithracing.com/
FRI.-SAT. 9-3/4:
North Wilkesboro: PASS South late models 200 laps
Lavonia: Southeastern Latemodel Sportsman Series
www.southeasternlatemodels.com
FRIDAY 9/3:
Boyd's: Sprint Car Mania. USCS Sprints & Mini-Sprints
Atlanta Motor Speedway: Georgia Best Chevy Dealers 150 - Southern Superstars Short Track Series! $10 or free with Sat. or Sun. ticket.
Preliminaries 6:00 p.m. http://www.atlantamotorspeedway.com
SATURDAY 9/4:
Dixie: Full Racing Program (All divisions) Plus Chain Races $1,000 to
win (Preregister/must have 4 teams) http://www.dixiespeedway.com
Atlanta Motor Speedway: NASCAR Nationwide Series 7:00 p.m.
http://www.atlantamotorspeedway.com
Albany: Florida Sprint Racing Association 800hp sprint cars.
Golden Isles Natl. Late Model Series $3000 to win + local classes 8:00 p.m. Adm. $20/car load http://www.goldenislesspeedway.com/
Lavonia: USCS Sprint cars with SLMSS plus full Race Program (No SLM)
http://www.lavoniadirttrack.com
Montgomery: no racing http://www.montgomeryspeedway.com/
North Georgia: Volunteer Racing Series $3,000 to win + Full race
program. www.northgaspeedway.net
SUNDAY 9/5:
Rome: USCS Sprint Cars, + Full Racing Program + ROME BOSS Super Late
Model Championship $3,000 to win / 40 laps.
Atlanta Motor Speedway: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 7:30 p.m.
http://www.atlantamotorspeedway.com
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Mayfield Dairy Farms and its Mayfield Dairy Ice Creamier brand of products will serve as the presenting sponsor of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East event at Gresham Motorsports Park Saturday. The American Fence Association is the title sponsor of the 150 lap show, which will start 30 cars.
This is the first NASCAR-sanctioned race at the track since August 30, 1987, when Larry Pearson captured the World Crown 200 NASCAR Busch (now
Nationwide) Series race.
Joining the K&N Pro Series East division on Saturday will be the GMP Trucks, Renegades, and Mini-Stocks divisions.
Qualifying 4:00, Autograph session 5:00. Features start at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are $20. Seniors (55 and older) and Active Military Personnel are $18 while Children 6-12 are $10.
Gresham Motorsports Park is located right off I-85 at Exit 140.
Two local drivers are entered:
Brandon "Cornbread" Haley is trying to break into the big leagues of NASCAR after a long dirt short-track career. Earlier this season, Haley made his first career K&N Pro Series start wheeling the No. 51 Carter Royal Ford to a 20th-place finish at Martinsville. It was the first time Haley had ever driven a stock car on a paved surface. Haley, age 24, started his career in the Georgia dirt go kart ranks at the age of 8. Eventually, he worked his way through the ranks to the Dirt Late Model division and competes regularly at Lavonia Speedway, a quarter-mile dirt oval less than 30 miles from GMP. "I expect to qualify, hopefully in the Top-15," stated Haley. "After that, it will be all about getting good seat time. It's all about finishing the race.
That will be the goal Saturday night."
Max Gresham, a senior at Atlanta's Woodward Academy, debuted in the K&N Pro Series with three East starts and one West appearance in 2009.
This year he is fifth in points thanks to wins at South Boston Speedway
and Iowa Speedway. Gresham has raced twice at GMP. Last November, he
finished second in the World Crown 300 late model stock car event only to have the finish disallowed because of a post-race technical violation. Earlier this year, Gresham crashed in attempting to qualify for a Super Late Model event at GMP.
"Racing at my family's race track is going to be a cool," Max said.
"It will be neat to have the support of the fans that come to see the race. Knowing that many of my family members will be there will be cool
too. It means a lot." www.GreshamMotorsportsPark.com
Rising racing star Casey Roderick is set to make the next big step in his racing career this weekend as he takes on the 1.5-mile Chicagoland Speedway in Friday’s Ansell Protective Gloves 150 ARCA race.
The race is live on SPEED starting at 7:00 p.m.
Roderick, the former Legends champion from Lawrenceville, Ga., enters the race fresh off his first career ARCA victory, at New Jersey Motorsports Park on Aug. 15.
“I’m just looking forward to going to Chicagoland with Phoenix Racing,” said Roderick, whose Chevrolet Impala will be fielded jointly by Phoenix and the Bill Elliott Driver Development program. “These mile-and-a-half tracks are new to me, and it may take me a little while to get used to them and to keep the car under me for the race.
“We just need to go out there and have a good solid top-five finish and come home with a complete car.”
Roderick spent last weekend working as a mechanic with the Phoenix team and driver Ryan Newman with their Nationwide Series entry at Bristol Motor Speedway, and impressed many in the Bristol garage with his willingness to pitch in and work on the car.
“Were excited to get Casey to a superspeedway now that he has turned 18, to get him more experience,” Steve Barkdoll, general manager for Phoenix Racing, said. “Coming off of the win at New Jersey we hope to back it up with a good solid run.”
Roderick’s mentor and car owner Bill Elliott also has high hopes for the youngster, who now has a win, a seventh place finish, a runner-up finish and a pole in four career ARCA starts. He also was leading the race at Palm Beach, Fla., when he broke a transmission.
PERRY HOLMAN “VOICEMAN” PASSES AWAY (From TST website):
Our deepest sympathies goes out to the Holman family tonight, as longtime announcer Perry Holman passed away at a Birmingham Hospital early Tuesday Morning. Holman, who just turned 61, was an inspiration to all, and always had a smiling face and kind word to say to everyone.
“Not only did the racing community and family lose a special person, I lost one of my very best friends today” stated TST track GM Dennis Anton.
Funeral services will be at 2:30PM on Thursday at the funeral home (Collier–Butler Funeral Home on Highway 411 in Gadsden) followed immediately by gravesite services. The TST track Chaplin will officiate.
“I spent the entire day on the phone with racing series and racing friends from all over the country along with being with the family at their house,” Anton said. “They would like to thank everyone for the overwhelming outpouring of support and love that has been given to them at this difficult time.”
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the family to help cover expenses.
TST is also planning a special night in Honor of Perry in September of this year, and the details of that race will be announced shortly.
Please keep the Holman and TST family in your prayers tonight and the next several days as we all come together to get through this difficult time.
Racing this Saturday Night August 28th is still on as scheduled, as Perry would want it that way. It won’t be the same, but we will all come together and get through it.
Jack Starrette, a prolific dirt Late Model owner and sponsor from Augusta, died on Aug. 19 at the age of 78 from severe injuries suffered when he fell from a front-end loader at the Starrette Trucking sand pit.
Mobile Speedway announcer Jim Koblas suffered a stroke on Friday, August 20th. Jim is currently in Intensive Care at Springhill Memorial
Hospital. www.mobilespeedway.com
Reena Turner, wife of Dave Turner of Turner's Automotive, was seriously hurt Saturday at the Jackson Drag Strip when she fell off a golf cart.
Bill Brannon (Fellowship Baptist Church) reports: Beau Slocumb had
surgery for a tumor on his shoulder and had some pins put in his arm.
Evidently his cancer has returned.
Corbin (KY) Speedway has closed, and cites financial failure as the reason. During their last local show, employees worked on a volunteer basis and drivers raced for no cash, in an effort to try to save the track from doom. It didn’t work. Speedway executives say they are working on plans to possibly revive racing with a special-event-only
schedule. www.Z3Sports.com
Posted 8-10-10 by Little River Speedway, near Heflin, AL:
"The Track is CLOSED!!!!!! The equipment is being priced in a package to open gates and race. If interested In this package or doing something different please contact and we can discuss in private.
Included:
Water truck
Motor grader
Wrecker
Kubota Four wheelers
Radios
New fences, new lights and wiring.
New pa
New grading to track, really racy now, wider.
New parking area.
All concession equipment
Water pumps
All kinds of small stuff
I'll even help someone run it.
1-256-452-9390
Wren Goodman http://www.littleriverspeedway.com/
Daniel Hemric won the 30 lap, $1250 to win, 600 Legends race at the Anderson Motor Speedway August 20. Twenty cars started the Legends Summer Sizzler presented by Mid State Roofing. Sam McAulay led the first four laps of the race before he was passed by Sean Rayhall, of Winston, GA. Rayhall led the next four laps before he relinquished the top spot to Daniel Hemric. Once out front Hemric led the remainder of the race and took home the special prize money. Austin Leitner finished second. Sean Rayhall finished third. Jimmy Henderson
finished fourth. Evan Swilling finished fifth.
http://www.andersonmotorspeedway.com/
"UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF GOLDEN ISLES SPEEDWAY - There is a lot of wild speculation and misinformation on various websites regarding Golden Isles Speedway. I wanted to set the record straight. As many are aware an auction was held in our parking lot this past Saturday, August 21, involving about 350 FEMA trailers. I reluctantly agreed to allow the auction company to also list my paved parking lot and race track to appear on the flyer. I have no real desire to sell my race track but for enough money I guess everything is for sale. There were bids made on the parking lot and race track. However, they were well short of any figure I would have considered.
"As announced earlier we are back on schedule and will be racing every other weekend through December 4 and are putting together a schedule for 2011. Our next event is a National Late Model race along with all other local classes on Saturday September 4.
"In closing, just for the record:
* All payments are up to date on my parking lot and race track
* I am not being pressured by my bank to sell the property
* Any other version, speculation, or misinformation you may
encounter regarding my track and parking lot is pure fabrication."
http://www.goldenislesspeedway.com/
The new Needmore Speedway is trying to speed things up. Practice will start at 6:30, and racing immediately following.
The practice line up and racing feature line up will be:
1. Super Street
2. Limited
3. Late Model
4. Pure Stock
5. Mini Stock
6. Enduro
Due to time constraints there will be no heat races. Limited and Late Models will qualify and the other classes will draw for posistion. We will run as many features as it takes to accomodate the cars.
Our plan is to put on a great show for the fans and get everyone out
of here at a decent hour. http://needmorespeedway.com
The Checkered Flag has fallen on the 2010 racing season at Penton (AL) Raceways.
Jeff Landrum - Late Model Champion
Chris Arnet - Limited Sportsman Champion
David Martin - Hobby Champion
Cord Dodgen - Bandit Championship http://www.pentonraceways.com/
The #77 Dylan Ames Racing Team headed to the Talladega Short Track Saturday night. The Georgia Mini Sprint group was running as well, so Ames was excited to meet up with a lot of the old quarter midget and mini sprint friends from the past.
He finished third in his heat race, and started fifth in the 19 car field for the feature. He finished third.
Ames will be at Dixie Speedway this Saturday for a $1500 to win Crate race.
At West Ga Speedway, the $500.00 to win Pure Mini race winner was Bobby Arnold. The track is racing Fridays, and there's an open practice Sept. 1. They had about 70 cars recently.
Other winners:
Mod. Mini-1st-07-Frank Long/2nd-6-Eric Hogsed/3rd-28-Lane Wilt Hobby-1st-B3-Clifton Moran/2nd-20-Jay Connor/3rd-9-Brian Cobb B-Cadet-1st-22-William Blair/2nd-47-Jason Causey/3rd-29-Rusty Johnson Crate-1st-16-Tony Kemp/2nd-17-Lamar Haygood/3rd-23-Curtis Kl...ein
Info at:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Whitesburg-GA/West-Ga-Speedway/
350483400717
The Late Model Stock division will highlight the Anderson Motor Speedway race card this Friday night. When the Late Models took to the track two weeks ago the race across the Finish Line was one of the closest in recent memory as Ralph Carnes narrowly edged Randy Porter for the victory. Both will return Friday night with a host of others (to include Neil Meredith, Jeremy Burns, Justin Sorrow, Justin Ashley, Amanda Lynch, Dale Dove and more) hoping to be the one celebrating Victory Lane.
In addition to the Late Model Stocks, AMS will host six divisions of racing including B Mini Stocks, C Mini Stocks, BM Modifieds, Legends, Renegades and Front Wheel Drives. The Racer’s Edge, the Official Parts Supplier of Anderson Motor Speedway has posted $50 bonuses to each of the Mini Stock winners.
The OMG FASTRAK Late Model SE Tour will make their way to Toccoa Speedway next Saturday night. The points battle for the $10,000 first place prize could not be ANY closer as David Smith, of Inman, SC, and Royce Bray, of Hull, GA, are deadlocked with 306 points each. Every race will be vital as there are only four events left in the season.
One intriquing tid bit is both are friends but probably the most important factor is they are both very familiar with Toccoa Speedway.
Both Bray and Smith have mutiple supper late model and FASTRAK late model starts at Toccoa. This in itself should make it an interesting race. Add to that some of the toughest local competion in the country with drivers like Parker Herring, Jonathan Taylor, Frankie Beard, Mike Davidson, Doug Sanders, Rambo Franklin, Anthony Sanders, Ron "The Bull"
Parker, Ty Lowe, Dan Brewer, Steve Cook and many others every position
will be important for the two points leaders.
http://www.toccoaspeedway.info
Racing historian and Georgia Racing History.com contributor Mike Bell has estimated that there are a total of around 175 race tracks in the state of Georgia, operational or long since closed. This week, he takes a look at the Columbus Super Speedway which lasted for seven
seasons before closing in 1959. www.GeorgiaRacingHistory.com.
Atlanta Motor Speedway’s 2011 Labor Day NASCAR night racing weekend schedule has been expanded to include a 200-mile NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on Friday, Sept. 2.
The Truck Series race will precede a 300-mile NASCAR Nationwide Series race on Saturday, Sept. 3 and a 500-mile NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, Sept. 4. All three events feature evening start times.
Ted Austad, the Event Promotions/Special Events Coordinator at Atlanta Motor Speedway, says Friday night drags has been rained out three weeks in a row. He's going to try again Friday, and it's a double points night.
The show also includes the Picnic in the Pits, Big Rig show trucks (taking a lap on the big track), Show and Shine (with a chance to be in the NASCAR Weekend Showcase), and drag racing on pit road for 15 classes.
The points standings are at www.atlantamotorspeedway.com/events/drags/
Drag Race Practice Runs begin at 6:15pm. Show-N-Shine judging begins at 6:15pm. Speedway Cruise rolls off at 8:15pm. Front Stretch Awards at 9:00pm. The first elimination drag race cranks up at 9:19pm.
Spectator tickets are $7. Children ages five and under are free.
The first NASCAR fans lined up at the Speedway on Friday, Aug. 20, to grab the free camping spots for the Emory Healthcare 500 race Labor Day weekend.
Sean Rayhall's rookie season in Legends:
Won - Young Lions/Semi Pro (Legends Million) Collected $25.000.00 Won - Pro heat race (Legends Million) DNF - Mechanical (Legends Million Dollar Race). Collected $10.000.00 Won - Atlanta Thursday Thunder. Young Lions (7 wins & 3 2nds) 10 fastest laps. Set track record.
Won - Charlotte Tuesday Shootout. Young Lions. (4-wins, 2-seconds, 2-third place,1 dnf) Set track record.
Overall race record since November racing Legends and Formula cars:
54 Races
34 wins
12 second place
2 third place
2 fourth place
4 mechanical
34 poles
32 fastest lap
Winning percentage - 62.9%
Finishs in top 3 - 88.8%
In two weeks, SPRINT CAR MANIA returns to the BOYD's SPEEDWAY. The USCS Outlaw Sprint Cars headline with the GEORGIA MINI SPRINTS. Next
This Friday, a Full Regular Program is on tap with Steel-Head LM's, Crate LM's, A&B Hobby and FWD. Visit www.BOYDsSPEEDWAY.com Official Results: 8/20/10 HOT AUGUST NIGHTS 40 S.R.R.S at BOYD's SPEEDWAY 1. Skip Arp (# 97) Georgetown, TN 2. Brandon Kinzer (# 18) Allen, Ky 3. William Thomas (# 22T) Phenix City, Al 4. David Payne (# 8) Murphy, Nc 5. Randy Weaver (# B1) Crossville, Tn 6. Chad Ogle (# 10) Sevierville, Tn 7. Jake Knowles (# 66) Tyrone, Ga 8. Riley Hickman (# R1) Ooltewah, Tn 9. Tony Morris (# M31) Murfreesboro, Tn 10. Anthony Burroughs (# 121) Athens, Al 11. Jay Brinkley (# 10) Shelbyville, Tn 12. Kevin Gibson (# M45) Ringgold, Ga 13. Brett Wyatt (# 17) Crossville, Tn 14. Robert Gant (# 22) Flat Rock, Al 15. Jacob Grizzle (# 99G) Blairsville, Ga 16. Jason Welshan (# 124) Maryville, Tn 17. Ray McElhiney (# 20) Pulaski, Tn 18. Ronnie Johnson (# 5) Chattanooga, Tn 19. Josh Putnam (# 212) Florence, Al 20. Mark Douglas (# 52) Knoxville, Tn 21. John Owenby (# 48) Cleveland, Tn 22. Anthony White (# 2x) Clinton, Tn 23. Derek Ellis (# 99) Chatsworth, Ga 24. Craig Burrows (# 23) Chicamauga, Ga
Chase Elliott and his Aaron's Dream Machine crew overcame the crash of their hauler en route to the track, and a late-race spin, to win the fifth running of the Show Me The Money series at Montgomery (AL) Motor Speedway.
The weekend woes began when the team hauler, driven by Jacky Wade, went through the steel wire barrier and off of Interstate 85 just inside the Alabama state line during rainy, foggy weather. Wade was unhurt and no other vehicles were involved, but I-85 was closed down to one lane for the next five and a half hours while the transporter was pulled from the median.
The hauler was towed to the track, and the team had to use a drill to open the hydraulic door - but eventually unloaded the race car and got about five laps in the first practice of the day and all of the second practice.
Elliott qualified on the pole and started third behind Kyle Benjamin and Bubba Pollard.
At mid-race, Elliott was sent to the back of the lead lap drivers for bringing out the caution with a spin. He passed Augie Grill, Jason young, and John Bolen, giving him his third win in five Show Me The Money races.
Chase Elliott said, "It was by far the best we have ever run down there [Montgomery Motor Speedway], it was a rough day getting over there but we are all glad that Jacky was okay and really excited that we got a win."
Elliott's next race will be on Saturday at Concord (NC) Motor Speedway in the first of five USARacing series championship events in
his new Red Bull paint scheme. He has been a Red Bull Athlete since
January which is more of a personal services and not a sponsorship.
Now Red Bull has stepped up their involvement by sponsoring Chase in the last five races that make up the USARacing championship:
Concord Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, North Wilkesboro Speedway, Greenville Pickens Speedway, and South Boston Speedway
Aaron's is still on board with Chase for all of the Late Model races left on Chase's schedule
The Pro Cup Series and Concord Speedway free tickets here:
www.usarprocup.com/images/stories/con...ticket.jpg crash pix:
Darrell Lanigan’s spectacular 2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series campaign rolled on Monday night with a conquest north of the border.
The 40-year-old star from Union, Ky., stormed to victory in the tour’s rescheduled 50-lap A-Main at Autodrome Drummond, thrilling the French-Canadian fans with an impeccable performance that saw him master both the top and bottom grooves of the four-tenths-mile oval.
Clint Smith, of Senoia, GA, who started from the pole position, crossed the finish line 1.868 seconds behind Lanigan in the runner-up spot.
Results of WoO Late Model Series at Autodrome Drummond (Finishing Position/Start/Driver/Laps Completed/Money Won):
1. (4) Darrell Lanigan/50 $10,600
2. (1) Clint Smith/50 $5,575
3. (6) Tim McCreadie/50 $3,600
4. (3) Josh Richards/50 $3,100
5. (9) Steve Francis/50 $2,600
6. (5) Rick Eckert/50 $2,250
7. (7) Shane Clanton/50 $1,900
8. (2) Tim Fuller/50 $1,800
9. (10) Chub Frank/50 $1,700
10. (8) Austin Hubbard/50 $1,850
Ricky Elliott is a winner on the World of Outlaws Late Model Series – finally. The 44-year-old driver from Seaford, DE, made his long-awaited breakthrough on Tuesday night, ending his dogged pursuit of victory on the national tour with a dramatic win in the second annual ‘Dirt Demon 50’ at Brewerton Speedway.
Elliott outdueled WoO LMS stars Rick Eckert of York, Pa., Shane Clanton of Fayetteville, GA, and Darrell Lanigan of Union, Ky., to join the elite group of racers with an Outlaw triumph on their resume. He secured the lead from Clanton lap 39 and held off Eckert’s late-race bid to bank a payday of $10,575.
Elliott dedicated his win to the memory of the late Jack Starrette, a prolific dirt Late Model owner and sponsor from Augusta, Ga., who died on Aug. 19 at the age of 78 from severe injuries suffered when he fell from a front-end loader at the Starrette Trucking sand pit. Elliott received sponsorship support from Starrette and drove a Starrette-owned car several times over the past three years.
Clint Smith of Senoia, GA, completed the top five, charging forward to finish fifth after starting 18th. It was his second consecutive top-five run.
NEXT: Wed., Sept. 1, Mohawk International Raceway in Akwesasne, N.Y.
Sept. 4-5 Tri-City Speedway in Franklin, Pa., on Sept. 4-5 for a pair of 50-lap, $10,000-to-win programs that comprise the annual Oil Region Labor Day Classic.
2010 World of Outlaws Late Model Series Point Standings as of Aug. 24 –
38 A-Mains completed (rank/driver/points/deficit to leader):
1. Darrell Lanigan 5060
2. Josh Richards 5058 (-2)
3. Tim McCreadie 5014 (-46)
4. Steve Francis 4872 (-188)
5. Shane Clanton 4794 (-266)
6. Rick Eckert 4766 (-294)
7. Austin Hubbard 4718 (-342)
8. Tim Fuller 4684 (-376)
9. Chub Frank 4582 (-478)
10. Clint Smith 4530 (-530)
Watermelon Capital 8/21:
< Super Street
1. 64-Steve Barber of Hampton
2. 21-Cody Hale of Americus
3. 5-Sammy Short of Hampton
4. 11-Craig Irish of Cordele.
< Mini Stock
1. 81-Jimmy Chancy of Kathleen
2. 8-Billy Chancy of Kathleen
3. R2K-Banks Perdue of Cordele
4. 112-Justin Edwards of Warner Robins
5. 07-Ted Rowley of Perry
6. 11-Brett Roberts of Sylvester
7. 33-Loretta Folsom of Whigham
8. 1-Jake Roberts of Sylvester
9. 12-A.W. Napier of Cordele
10. 00-Cliff Hines of Vienna
11. 707-Mark Rowley of Perry
< Claimer
1. 3-Ben Massingille of Centerville
2. 411-Bill Dunn of Cordele
3. 11-Jeremy Merritt of Cordele
4. 22-Randy Cornwell of Warner Robins
5. 10-Alex Lang of Pearson
6. 72-James Yawn of Cordele
7. 36-Mike Hughes of Cordele
8. 36L-Lee Akins of Cordele
9. 28-Wesley Burke of Cordele
10. 61-Michael Olds of Cordele
< Pro Challenge Results:
1. 29-Anderson Bowen of Swanee
2. 10-Grant Crane of Zebulon
3. 11-Nick Hazelwood of Cumming
4. 6-John Tullis of Atlanta
5. 1-Austin Raines of Cumming
Next Watermelon Capital Racing - September 11th.
http://www.watermeloncapitalspeedway.com
http://www.facebook.com/themelon
carowner73 posts about the United Dirt Late Model Challenge Series race at 441/Dublin on 4m.net: "Ivadent won, Tyler Ivey fast qualifier, couldnt hardly see the cars on the track. I think 26 entries, freight train race:
Ivadent Lloyd
Jeremy Faircloth
Tyler Ivey
Darrell Padgett
Jordy Nipper
Bear6198 posts about 441/Dublin on 4m.net: "Worst race track I have ever seen. If you started on the outside you went backwards. We stood in turns one and two and could not see the cars in 3 and 4. I dont know what they could do to fix it but I would perfer not to go back there again."
New World’s Fastest Quarter Mile Oval: Slinger (WI) Super Speedway Xtreme Sprint Car Series 9.908 sec.
Former record holder: Anderson (IN) Speedway 10.28 sec.
Prior to the start of racing Thursday night at Thompson International Speedway, the track's competition director, Mike Chapman, made clear to drivers that officials were fed up with the extracurricular issues taking place regularly following events in divisions at the track. "The nonsense after the race will not be tolerated," Chapman told drivers.
A few hours after Chapman delivered the message Connecticut State Police and emergency medical technicians were responding to a vicious brawl in the pits following the 15-lap Mini Stock feature.
According to two witnesses, at least 15 people confronted and physically assaulted Mini Stock driver Rick Blanchard outside of his race hauler in the pit area at Thompson following the Mini Stock feature.
NASCAR has imposed an indefinite suspension from NASCAR competition on four drivers. The official penalty notice from NASCAR cited the drivers for “Actions detrimental to stock car racing.” Race drivers Fred, Scott, and Trevor Michalski, along with Scott Jassaume, all received the same penalty from NASCAR. In addition, the Speedway has informed these drivers and Ruth Michalski that they are no longer welcome on the
property in and around the race track.
http://blogs.courant.com/autoracing/2010/08/ugly-mini-stock-division-
pit-b.html http://www.speed51.com/
The biggest movers in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series East Region standings were Larry Harrod of Plains, GA and Terrance Nowell of Phenix City, AL, who finished one-two respectively on Saturday night at East Alabama Motor Speedway.
Harrod picked up his fourth win of the season to move into the top ten in points. He can still earn full points in four more East Region weekly events. Tod Darda, of LaGrange, picked up his sixth win of the season at New Senoia Raceway.
NeSMITH CHEVROLET WEEKLY RACING SERIES WEEK 21 RESULTS:
EAST REGION:
PENTON RACEWAY – PENTON, AL:
1. 18 Chase Edge
2. 21s Jake Sanders
3. 52 Marc Gooden
4. 23 Jeff Landrum
5. 17 N.B. Freeman
6. 19 Jeremy Britton
7. 22m Taylor Mitcham
8. 0 Cord Dodgen
TALLADEGA SHORT TRACK – EASTABOGA, AL:
1. 47 Adam Martin
2. 16 Tim Staples
3. 77 Dylan Ames
4. 32 Jason Hawkins
5. 88 Charlie Henderson
6. F22 Carlton Freeman
7. 55 Ryan King
8. 30 Karl Parks
9. 07 Jimmy Elkins Jr.
10. 72 Ronnie Revis
11. 3d Mikey Donahoo
12. 5 Mike Combs
13. 81 David Abernathy
14. 4 Kevin Henderson
15. 17 Cameron Heath
16. 81c Adam Cummings
17. 13 David Pettus
NEW SENOIA SPEEDWAY – SENOIA, GA:
1. 91 Tod Darda
2. 33 Randy Hester
3. 55 Parrish Duncan
4. 27 Doug Ludwig
5. 21 Johnny Stinchcomb
EAST ALABAMA MOTOR SPEEDWAY – PHENIX CITY, AL:
1. 27 Larry Harrod
2. 55 Terrance Nowell
3. 66k Scott Knowles
4. 18 Chase Edge
5. 19 Shane Stodghill
6. 00 Richie Stephens
7. 9 Adam Brown
8. 22 Chad Carden
9. 40 Marvin Cook
10. 19 Jeremy Britton
11. 29 Randy Allen
12. P19 Paul Walters
Gordon Park Race Results 21Aug2010
< Crate Late Model
1. z21 Zack Weathers
2. 67 Dalton Overton
3. M31 Mike Akeson
4. 71 Jimmy Maness
5. 88 Johnnie Tucker Jr.
6. 47 Bryan Addy
7. 76 Eric Cooper
8. 112 Garrett Jacobs
9. B4 Brandon Carpenter
10. 76 Brandon Overton
11. 42 Chris Usry
12. c18 David Cadle
13. 2x John Henderson
14. 87 Mike Lee
15. 77 Brian Connor DNR
16. T1 Tommy Snell DNR
17. 17 John Barfield DNR
18. 94 Wendell Chavous DQ
< Super Street
1. 75 Andy Stewart
2. 88 Johnnie Tucker Jr.
3. 99 Billy Gunter
4. 71 Jeff Hadden
5. 02 Tony Drawdy
6. 14 Jason Burton
7. 3 Kenneth Harn
8. 44 Phillip Burton
9. 22b Michael Brown
10. 15jr Jamie Corley
11. 04 Trampus Williams
12. 39 Brandon Adams
13. 17 Shaun Snelling DNR
14. 78 Charlie Black DNR
15. 0 Speedy Baughman DQ
Racing Returns This Friday Night at Florence Motor Speedway!
Timmonsville, SC (August 24th, 2010) – After the rain out two weeks ago, Florence Motor Speedway will be back in action this Friday night for the Eagle 200. Late Models, Super Stock, Stock 4 Cylinder, and Shriners Bombers will all be racing this Friday Night.
Two weeks ago, fourteen Late Models checked into the pits before rain postponed the racing action. The five hundred dollar bounty is still on for anybody that can beat Averitt Lucas. So somebody had the possibility to take home $1500 for the win.
The Super Stock division will also be racing for a bigger purse this week. Any driver that claims the victory will win $300. Can anybody knock of Brad Dewitt who has been dominating the last month?
The Stock 4 Cylinder division always puts on one of the best shows weekly. With the extra money up for grabs this week, this promises to be one of the best races of the year. Drivers can win $300 if the cross the finish line first.
Also racing are the Shriners Bombers. Several cars where in the pits two weeks ago and with more likely to show up. The winner will take home $200 for the win.
Come on out to the Florence Motor Speedway. Admission is only $12 for adults, $3 for children 8 to 12 years old, and children under 7 are free.
For current racing information and other track facts, visit the Florence Motor Speedway website, www.florencemotorspeedway.com
ARCA Nation News
Frank Kimmel, Chicagoland Pre-Race
August 26, 2010, 7 | Don Radebaugh
(MOORESVILLE, N.C.) – Frank Kimmel rolls into the Windy City with one thought in mind-- make up for what could have been last weekend in Springfield. The Ansell/Menards team watched a potential first win since 2008 slip away in a turn two wreck less than 30 laps from the finish. While the team rebounded to finish 12th and maintain their ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards points lead, Kimmel’s fire burns that much stronger to make a return to victory lane at Chicagoland Speedway Friday night.
The Ansell Protective Gloves 150 is more than just another race for Kimmel and his Ansell/Menards team. With one of his sponsors, Ansell, hosting the race and over 200 Ansell and Menards guests cheering him on, the nine-time ARCA Racing Series champion knows there would be no better place to make his return to the winners circle.
“It’s great to have a sponsor like Ansell that is sponsoring the race at Chicagoland too,” said Kimmel. “Being one of our primary sponsors and also sponsoring the race-- it is great to have that. We will have a lot of representation and support at the race track on Friday, and that is really cool. It also puts a little more pressure on the Ansell/Menards team, we know that we need to go there and run well so that we can put on a great show for everyone that is going to show up and support us.”
Kimmel is no slouch when it comes to racing at Chicagoland Speedway. As the only previous Chicagoland Speedway winner entered in the race, he boasts an impressive record at the 1.5-mile oval. In nine starts Kimmel has earned one pole, one win, four top-five and seven top-10 finishes while accumulating an average finish of 8.6. The Ansell/Menards team looks add to that record Friday night while also building on their five point lead in the championship standings.
Kimmel and his Ansell/Menards Ford Fusion will take to the track for the 100-lap, 150-mile Ansell Protective Gloves 150 on Friday, August 27 at 6:00 p.m. CDT (7:00 p.m. EST). Live flag-to-flag coverage will broadcast on SPEED at 6:00 p.m. CDT (7:00 p.m. EST). Practice is scheduled for 4:30-5:50 p.m. CDT Thursday and 8:00-9:00 a.m. Friday, with Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell taking place at 11:30 a.m. Friday. Live audio coverage and live timing and scoring of all events will be available on ARCARacing.com.
“Kimmel’s Top-10”
In anticipation of his 10th Championship, Frank Kimmel gives a look at his “Top 10” before each ARCA Racing Series event. This week the ARCA Racing Series visits one of the biggest cities they will see all season, Chicago. This week Kimmel takes a look at his top-10 favorite cities to visit when he is not at the race track.
10. New York City, I have never been to New York City but would love to go.
9. Dallas
7. Miami
8. Las Angeles
6. Chicago
5. Charlotte
4. Kansas City
3. Indianapolis
2. Louisville, it is home.
1. Las Vegas
Frank Kimmel and the No. 44 Ansell/Menards Fast Facts
No. 1 in Points: After a 12th-place finish at Springfield’s dirt oval last weekend, Kimmel maintains a slim five point lead over Tom Hessert in the ARCA Racing Series Standings. Only 10 points separate the top-three drivers in the standings in what is shaping up to be a great points battle.
Last Year: Last year Kimmel earned a top-five finish at Chicagoland’s 1.5-mile oval. After starting seventh, he motored his way to fifth in 100 laps of competition.
Did You Know: Frank scored his 50th-Career win at Chicagoland Speedway in 2003. Advance Auto Parts presented Frank with a special plaque to commemerate the event.
This Week’s Ford: Crew Chief, Bill Kimmel Jr., has chosen to bring chassis No. 320, “Carrie” to Chicagoland Speedway. This chassis has been a favorite for Kimmel as he has used this chassis at Texas, Michigan and Pocono. He has earned a pole, two top-five and four top-10 finishes in four starts with chassis No. 320 this season.
Featured Blogger: Want to hear what Kimmel has to say about each race weekend? Log on to http://www.motorracingnetwork.com/ every week to read Frank’s latest driver diary. He talks about what happened in the race, what he does when he is not at the track and his expectations for the next race weekend.
Follow Frank Kimmel: Follow Frank Kimmel at the track or in the race shop by logging on to facebook.com/frankkimmelracing and twitter.com/frankkimmel. Follow every race weekend for live updates and photos from the track and throughout the race.
Kimmel on Racing at Chicagoland Speedway:
“Chicagoland Speedway is much like a lot of the other 1.5-mile tracks that we run and also have run in the past. It is a really nice race track. It is really high speed; you enter the turns at a really high speed and carry a lot of speed through the turns. The backstretch is round, so it is a little bit different than some of the 1.5-mile tracks, but it drives very much the same. It is a very nice facility, and it is not that far from home. We enjoy going there and racing at such a high-profile race track.”
2010 STATS
Starts Wins Poles Top 5s Top 10s Ave Start Ave Finish Pts. Pos./Prev
Frank Kimmel 14 0 1 6 10 9.4 8.1 1/1
TEAM ROSTER
No. 44 Team Hometown
Crew Chief: Bill Kimmel Sellersburg, IN
Car Chief: Larry Meadors Jeffersonville, IN
Front Tire Changer: John Leslie TBA
Front Tire Carrier: Tim Morrison TBA
Jack Man: Nate House TBA
Rear Tire Changer: Willy Youtz TBA
Rear Tire Carrier: Ethan Marquardt TBA
Gas Man: Larry Meadors Louisville, KY
Catch Can: Eric Beyl Memphis, IN
Spotter: Tony Hirschman Northhampton, PA
Ansell/Menards Media Contact:
Tracy Olszewski – activ8 Communications – 704.785.6196 - tracy@goactiv8.com
Justin Marks, Win-Tron Racing Chicagoland Advance
August 26, 2010, 7 | Don Radebaugh
|
(JOLIET, Ill.) - The ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards visits Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois this Friday night for some high-speed action on the pavement, in between the two dirt track events at Springfield and DuQuoin on this year’s schedule. 29-year-old Justin Marks and his Win-Tron Racing crew will appear this weekend at the second of three consecutive races this month in the Land of Lincoln on the rebound from three straight weekends of misfortune. Gremlins continued to haunt Win-Tron last Sunday at Springfield, when what looked to be a top-10 run ended less than 40 laps from the finish due to a chain reaction crash at the front of the field. Justin would bring home the No. 32 Construct Corps machine in 22nd place; adding up to three disappointing finishes in as many weeks. The accumulation of all three doses of bad luck have dropped Justin from first to seventh in the point standings, now sitting 130 points behind new ARCA Racing Series championship points leader Frank Kimmel. “It’s really disappointing that we’re bringing fast racecars to the track but we’re not getting the finishes to show for it,” Marks said. “Now it’s time to leave it all out on the table and go for wins week in and week out, and Chicago is a great place to start doing that. This Win-Tron Racing team is not giving up; we’re still in the thick of this championship battle.” A test session at the 1.5-mile oval in Joliet last week provided the team with an opportunity to set up the No. 32 Construct Corps Toyota before unloading for the first practice session this Thursday afternoon. Working out two Toyota Camrys during the open test, Marks and his Mike Chaffee-led team worked on long green flag runs and tuned the car to the driver’s liking, setting the third fastest time of the day without running in qualifying trim. Justin will be pulling double duty this weekend, flying up to Montreal to compete for Baker Curb Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve after completing 150 miles at Chicagoland Speedway Friday night. A road course-savvy wheelman, Marks is excited to have another chance to compete for a win at the Canada track. Sunday’s start in the NAPA Auto Parts 200 will be Justin’s seventh career NNS start, the first of 2010. It will also be his third start at the2.71-mile road course, where he has qualified in the top 15 in both previous trips. The tight championship race continues to thicken as 14 of 20 races are complete in the ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards 2010 season. Coverage for this weekend’s events at Chicagoland Speedway can be found on ARCARacing.com through live timing and scoring, beginning at 4:30 PM CST on Thursday for the ARCA Racing Series’ first practice session. SPEED Channel live coverage of the Ansell Protective Gloves 150 begins at 6:00 PM CST, with ARCA Nation also carrying live coverage of all 100 laps. For more on Justin Marks, visit www.justinmarksracing.com, or follow him on Twitter (@Justin_Racing) For more on Construct Corps, visit www.constructcorps.com, and follow them on Twitter (@ConstructBuddy) For more on Win-Tron, visit www.win-tronracing.com, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@WinTronRacing) |
Justin Marks on Chicagoland
I like Chicago a lot- I think it’s a place we can run strong and contend for the win, which is what we’re doing from here on out. We’re out here going for wins now; we’ve fallen in the point standings and it’s time to race as hard as we can race. Chicago test went pretty well; we worked on race runs all day and we ended up with a really good setup for green flag racing conditions. We never made any qualifying runs, I never really thought it made much sense to make a bunch of qualifying runs during the test unless you’re trying to win the test. But the setups we found lasted in the long runs and I’m pretty confident heading into this weekend we’ll have a great Construct Corps Toyota to contend for the win.
Co-Owner Nate Thiesse on Chicagoland
We accomplished some good things at the Chicago test that I think will help us out in the race this weekend. Our car was really good at Texas as well, so that gives us confidence going into another high-speed oval. Our aim hasn’t changed in light of recent events; we’re still gunning for wins every weekend and the best finishes we can get if bad luck strikes.
Event Schedule at Chicagoland
Thursday, August 26, 2010
11:00 AM- ARCA Racing Series Garage Opens
4:30-5:50 PM- ARCA Racing Series Practice
Friday, August 27, 2010
6:30 AM-ARCA Racing Series Garage Opens
8:00-9:00 AM- ARS Final Practice
11:30 AM- Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell (All positions, 2 lap)
5:45 PM- ARCA Racing Series Driver Introductions
6:00 PM- Start of the Ansell Protective Gloves 150 (150 miles/100 laps)
Justin Marks, Win-Tron Racing Stats
- Five top-five and nine top-10 finishes in 14 starts this season
- Marks won his first career ARCA Racing Series event in the second race of the year at Palm Beach Speedway, and his third career pole at New Jersey Motorsports Park
- In 55 career starts, Marks has finished in the top 10 a total of 22 times, with a 10th place average finish in 2010
- Marks owns two previous starts at Chicagoland Speedway in 2006 and 2007, with two top-10 starts and a runner up finish in 2007.
- Fast racecars from the Win-Tron Racing stable haven’t gotten deserving finishes at Chicagoland Speedway- James Buescher started 10th in 2008 and was on the move until an engine failure halted his progress 26 laps in, and Beau Slocumb steered the No. 32 machine to a 12th place finish last season after starting 13th.
Media Contact:
Kirby Johnson
Public Relations Manager
Win-Tron Racing, Driver Justin Marks
608.289.8919
Kirby@Win-TronRacing.com
Pit Bull Energy Drink Sponsors Jones
August 26, 2010, 7 | Don Radebaugh
(SODDY DAISY, Tenn.) - Rob Jones is very happy to announce the addition of Pit Bull Energy Drink as an associate sponsor for the remaining races of the 2010 ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards schedule.
“I am very excited about the opportunity to represent Pit Bull Energy Drink and the Hip Hop Beverage Corporation,” Jones said. “Pit Bull is a great tasting drink, and I am positive that with Pit Bull, our team will have the energy it needs at the track to get the job done.”
Hixson Motorsports Team Owner Wayne Hixson is also excited about the partnership.
“I have to admit, I have never thought much about energy drinks,” Hixson added. “I have tried them before and just didn’t like the taste. All these young kids working for me would drink them, and I wondered how they could stand to drink that stuff. But these Pit Bull Energy drinks taste good and I am very happy to have them onboard Rob’s car.”
Pit Bull Energy Drink will make its debut on Jones’s car this Friday at the Ansell Protective Gloves 150 at Chicagoland Speedway.
Pit Bull Energy Drink from Hip Hop Beverages is the best tasting energy drink on the market, according to consumers that are demanding a better tasting energy drink. The company was founded in 2002 with the slogan of “Guaranteed No Aftertaste”. With headquarters based in the sunny San Fernando Valley area of California, Pit Bull is the only independent energy drink manufacturer/distributor in the nation as well as the only minority owned beverage company in the nation.
Hip Hop Beverages combines the herbal extracts Guarana and Siberian Ginseng with other flavors to formulate a delicious and flavorful taste that is welcomed among the bevy of poor tasting drinks in this category. Hip Hop Beverages provides an exceptional product that not only provides an energy boost but is also vitamin and herb enhanced. Our product gives the consumer a smooth lift and smooth release as evidence by the formulation of Vitamin B-6, Vitamin 12, coupled with the herbal extracts and a small amount of Caffeine.
Check out our website: www.hiphopbev.com.
CONTACT:
Roy Shipley
Hixson Motorsports Team Manager
Sheltra Hopes Momentum Helps at Chicagoland
August 26, 2010, 7 | Don Radebaugh
(JOLIET, Ill.) – After banking his first win of the 2010 ARCA Racing Series (ARS) presented by RE/MAX and Menards season this past Sunday at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, 24-year old Patrick Sheltra strolls into Chicagoland Speedway this week looking to keep his momentum train rolling and capture his third career win in Friday’s Ansell Protective Gloves 150.
After running a Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS and a Dodge Charger respectively in the two most recent ARCA Racing Series events, Sheltra returns to the potent Toyota Camry for his fifth career start at the 1.5-mile speed plant. The Indiantown, Florida native is hoping that his return to the Japanese nameplate will result in closing the gap in the championship chase with just a handful amount of races remaining this year.
“I always look forward to Chicagoland, but probably more so this year than ever,” said Sheltra, who has been extremely busy with the media since notching his second career win in the Allen Crowe 100. “To head back to a place like Chicagoland fresh off a win keeps your confidence up and direction intact. We finished ninth last August at Chicagoland but we weren’t pleased with the result. In a sense, I look to finish what we started on Friday.”
The Sheltra Motorsports team led by veteran crew chief Jon Wolfe elected not to participate in the “Windy City” open-test at Chicagoland Speedway a couple weeks ago. Although, Sheltra knows that any extra track time is crucial, the ARCA pro is comfortable with the team’s decision.
“We’ve been very good on the bigger tracks this year,” added Sheltra. “We opted to turn our attention to some of the other races including Springfield (last weekend) in lieu of the Chicagoland test, so I would like to say, it’s already paid off with a win. It’s fair to say though, we won’t exactly know where we stand with the field until practice gets underway on Thursday afternoon but thankfully there is another practice on Friday morning that will allow us the opportunity to fine tune our No. 60 Sheltra Motorsports Toyota Camry for the race.”
A year ago, Sheltra found himself fifth in the ARCA Racing Series championship chase and realistically out of the championship chase. Fast forward 12 months later, Sheltra is fourth in the title run and well within reach of the coveted championship crown, stalking leader Frank Kimmel by a mere 40 points. The NASCAR-bound driver knows however that there is no room for error with his fourth season of ARCA competition beginning to wind down. He is though hoping that the momentum the team gained at Springfield will continue and spike them forward in the chase for the championship.
“Looking at the points, there is at least eight of us that really and truly can honestly win this thing,” Sheltra added. “That’s impressive for the ARCA Racing Series. It’s just been that good of a season for them. No one has walked away with the wins or the championship which has our series being looked at in a lot of positive ways. The race on Friday night will come down to staying out of trouble and having a good handling car. Ted (Musgrave) was my driver coach here last year and he told me something that I thought was impossible. He told me to try it and I did. To my shock, disbelief and advantage it worked. I’m keeping what he told me in the back of my head. Maybe, just maybe that could be the extra tip that puts us back in victory lane for the second consecutive race.”
If one championship isn’t enough to worry about, Sheltra is fighting for two additional championship crowns within the overall championship fight. Chicagoland marks the last event in the Bill France Four Crown. The Bill France Four Crown consists of the best average finish of an ARCA Racing Series driver at four uniquely different race tracks. Berlin (Mi.) Raceway, a tight .4-mile short track started off the four-race stretch followed by a road course event at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Last weekend, the series played on the dirt at the Illinois State Fairgrounds and this weekend the stars and cars of the ARCA Racing Series will tackle Chicagoland Speedway, a fast and demanding 1.5-mile oval. Currently, Sheltra is fourth in the rundown, just 45 points behind Joey Coulter who leads the overall standings.
Additionally, the Sheltra Motorsports team leads the ARCA Racing Series speedway challenge sector which consists of the best overall averages performances of a full-time ARCA Racing Series team on tracks 1.5-mile and greater. Chicagoland fits into the program with the No. 60 team leading the No. 32 Win-Tron Racing team by 65 markers with two speedway events remaining (Chicagoland and Kansas).
Multiple cost-effective marketing partnership packages are still available for the 2010 ARCA Racing Series and NASCAR seasons for Patrick Sheltra. Let Sheltra Motorsports show you how to find victory lane in more ways than one! For additional information on how to be apart of our winning organization, please contact Brandon Hinson (brandon@patricksheltra.com) or email marketing@patricksheltra.com.
Entering Chicagoland, Sheltra has 81 ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards starts to his credit with two career victories at Salem (Ind.) Speedway (April 2009) and the Illinois State Fairgrounds (August 2010). During his ARCA tenure, Sheltra has accumulated 17 top-fives and posted 33 top-10 finishes. A third place qualifying effort at Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway (April 2009) and Michigan International Speedway (June 2010) is Sheltra’s best time trials effort to date. He has controlled the ARCA field eight times for 188 laps.
The Ansell Protective Gloves 150 (100 laps / 150 miles) is the 15th of 20 events on the 2010 ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards schedule. The 10th ARCA event held at Chicagoland Speedway is a two-day show. Practice begins Thursday, August 26 with a one hour and twenty minute practice session planned from 4:30 p.m. - 5:50 p.m. A Happy Hour practice run has been set for Friday morning August 27 from 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Menards Pole by Ansell qualifying is slated to begin at 11:30 a.m. The field will take the green flag shortly after 6:00 p.m. The event will be televised live on SPEED with additional broadcast coverage including live timing and scoring throughout the 1,308 race for the ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards since it was formed in 1953 will be available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com presented by ARCANation.com. All times are local.
For the latest on Patrick Sheltra, Sheltra Motorsports and marketing partnership opportunities please visit PatrickSheltra.com.
Join the official Patrick Sheltra fan page on Facebook (Official Patrick Sheltra Fan Page) by clicking here.
Tweet with Patrick Sheltra on Twitter (@patricksheltra) at twitter.com/patricksheltra.com.
About Sheltra Motorsports:
Sheltra Motorsports (sheltramotorsports.com) is a three-tier professional Motorsports organization consisting of dirt and asphalt competition. Patrick Sheltra, a 24-year old native of Indiantown, Florida competes in the UMP and WoO (Dirt) Series; while also running a full schedule in the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards (No. 60) and a limited schedule in the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR). The team is headquartered in Indiantown, Florida with additional operations in Richmond, Indiana and Mooresville, North Carolina.
TEAM COMMUNICATIONS CONTACT:
NAME: Chris Knight, Sheltra Motorsports
PHONE: 239.834.9797 or 239.214.1083
EMAIL: chris@patricksheltra.com
Chicagoland Speedway Marks Finley's Return to ARCA
August 26, 2010, 7 | Don Radebaugh
(DeWITT, Mich.) - Although he has a few more starts planned
in the wedge bodied machine, it's time to get back into the heavier stock cars
utilized in the ARCA series beginning this Friday, August 27th in the
Chicagoland ARCA 150 at the Chicagoland Speedway, located West of Chicago in
Joliet, Illinois.
It 's been way to long since we've raced in the ARCA series," Finley
stated. "I'm ready to get to Chicago and get back behind the wheel of our
Bumper to Bumper Certified Service Centers machine. I'm very motivated to do
well in this race for Brad Keselowski Racing. and every one involved" The
18-year-old added.
"We were at Bristol with Brad (Keselowski) for the (NASCAR Camping World)
Truck race and the guys are ready to go as well. Never been to Chicago before
so it will be a neat experience to say the least." He continued.
"We're taking the same car we raced at MIS. She is a good one and we
learned a lot about that chassis there so hopefully we can improve on are
qualifying position and race up front all night and see where it all shakes out
at the
end."
In three ARCA starts this season, Finley has recorded One Top Five finish, an
impressive Third Place finish in the Messina Wildlife Stopper 200 at the
biggest track he's ever raced on; The 2/5 mile triangular paved oval of the
Pocono International Raceway in Pocono, Pennsylvania back on June 5th.
His other starts have resulted in an 11th place finish in the Rattlesnake 100
at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas on April 16th and a seventh place
finish in the Racing for Wildlife 200 at the track on the ARCA Schedule closest
to his DeWitt, Michigan home, Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn,
Michigan on June 11th.
"We would also like to welcome back the Airlift Company. A good bunch of
folks there with some really great after market products for your vehicles;
Give them a visit on the web at airliftcompany.com." Finley
offered.
Finley does need help sponsorship wise in order to run more ARCA races;
"We're working really hard to find some marketing partners. We would like
to do some (NASCAR Camping World) Truck Series races at the end of this year
and we still need some help with our ARCA program." He explained.
After Chicagoland, the remainder of his 2010 ARCA plans also call for Finley to
race the ARCA shows at Kansas Speedway (September 30th) and the 2010 season
finale at Rockingham Speedway on October 9th where he won the Pole for the 2009
Season Finale for the Temperance, Michigan based series.
To learn more about Chad Finley and to inquire about additional sponsorship
opportunities within the organization for the remainder of the 2010 racing
season, log onto one of his two websites at: www.chadfinleyracing.com and
www.sponsorchadfinley.com.
AARP Member Speeds into Chicagoland for ARCA Stock Car Race
August 26, 2010, 7 | Don Radebaugh
(WASHINGTON, D.C.)—ARCA driver Benny Chastain is preparing for his second outing with the number 75 AARP car in the Ansell Protective Gloves 150 at Chicagoland Speedway on August 27. AARP has joined with Bob Schacht Motorsports (BSM) to help Chastain follow his dream to drive in the Daytona 500. The organization for Americans 50-plus is sponsoring Chastain in four ARCA races this year and will support the 68-year-old driver in his effort to qualify for “The Great American Race” next February.
“I’m thrilled that AARP stepped up to help me chase my dream of running at Daytona,” Chastain said. “Racing against the best takes a lot of support and strong partners. AARP has given me the opportunity I needed to make it a reality.”
“Like a lot of AARP members, Benny isn’t ready to slow down,” said AARP Executive Vice President Emilio Pardo. “We like to ask our members what they want to be when they grow up. When we asked Benny, he dreamed big, so we got on board to help.”
Chastain made his first ARCA start in 2004 after graduating from two stock car driving schools and later came to AARP with his dream of driving in the Daytona 500. The four-race deal with AARP member and BSM owner Bob Schacht builds on AARP’s effort to help people 50 and older achieve what they want to do “when they grow up.” The AARP car marks AARP’s first time as a stock car sponsor.
Chastain will also run the AARP car at Kansas Speedway on September 30 and Rockingham Speedway on October 9. AARP members and all race fans can track Chastain’s progress by following @AARP on Twitter (www.twitter.com/AARP) or “liking” AARP’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/AARP) where AARP be sharing details from the pit crew and real-time race updates.
Members of the media wishing to reach Chastain or the AARP ARCA team are asked to contact Jordan McNerney at 202-434-2560 or media@aarp.org.
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 35.1 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's millions of members and Americans 50+; AARP VIVA su Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Bob Schacht Motorsports
Christa Bowsher
709 Performance Road
Mooresville, NC 28115
704-660-1280
Four Crown Points Leader Joey Coulter Ready for Chicagoland with Rip It Energy Fuel
August 26, 2010, 7 | Don Radebaugh
(HUNTERSVILLE, N.C.) – After another
top-five finish at Springfield, and a productive test session at Chicagoland
Speedway, ARCA sophomore standout Joey Coulter is ready for this weekend’s
Ansell Protective Gloves 150. He enters the 15th event of the year,
as the Bill France Four Crown point’s leader, a prestigious award that rates a
driver on their finishes on a diverse group of tracks. Coulter looks to take
home the crown with a top-five finish this weekend in his No. 16 Rip It Energy
Fuel, Darrell Gwynn Foundation Chevrolet.
“Chicagoland (Speedway) is one of those fast paced, precision, mile and a half speedways we get to visit on the ARCA circuit that really brings out the best in a driver,” commented Coulter. “We had a pretty good test here last week and based off of that, and last years run, I believe we will be a strong contender this weekend.”
Excited to hit the high banks of Chicago, the Miami Springs, FL native is also thrilled to welcome back Rip It Energy Fuel in a primary roll as they adorn the car in their familiar red and black colors. Rip It Energy Fuel by National Beverage Corp. (NASDAQ: FIZZ) is available in fifteen exhilarating flavors, including three sugar-free varieties. Great-tasting and power-packed, Rip It provides REAL energy for REAL people at a REAL value. In an office, on the job, on a mountain, riding waves, doin’ flips, doin’ tricks, jammin’ all night, crammin’ all night, whatever your life calls for, Rip It is there to fuel you. Crack open an ice-cold Rip It Power and Feel the REAL Taste of BOLD energy surge through your body. Or maybe you prefer the sweet taste of Sugar FREE Citrus X to slap your tongue back to life. Rip It Energy Fuel has the complete line of Regular and Sugar FREE flavors in the 16 oz cans and three amazing flavors in the NEW 2 oz. shots, to make Rip It a REAL part of your everyday life.
Coulter Motorsports participated in the ARCA open test at Chicagoland on Thursday, August 19th in preparation for this weekend’s event. Veteran NASCAR crew chief Harold Holly prepared chassis number 011 for Coulter, who in one previous start at the 1.5-mile paved tri-oval (8/28/09) finished sixth after starting tenth. Chassis number 011 last ran at Michigan (6/11/10) where Coulter finished second. After suffering engine failure as the test got underway, the team swapped motors and got Coulter back on track for the entire afternoon session. The valuable seat time allowed the 20-year-old driver to work with Holly to fine tune the car for Friday night’s race. After the session, Coulter posted the 12th fastest time at 31.785 seconds at 169.891 MPH.
“Other than the motor issue, we had a really solid test at Chicago,” said Coulter. “Harold (Holly) and all of my crew guys really got the car dialed in and handling well around this super fast facility. I am excited to come back for the race and look forward to driving my Rip It Energy Fuel machine straight to the front.”
Coulter enters the fourth and final race of the Bill France Four Crown at Chicagoland Speedway as the point’s leader, with a 25-point lead over second place. He will clinch the Four Crown title regardless of any other driver's finish with a top-five result. Make sure to tune in Friday, August 27th LIVE at 7 p.m. ET for the 100-lap, 150-mile Ansell Protective Gloves 150 on SPEED and catch Coulter in his No. 16 Rip It Energy Fuel, Darrell Gwynn Foundation Chevrolet.
You can also get LIVE updates wherever Joey goes by following Joey on Twitter at http://twitter.com/joeycoulter
Please log onto www.LiftUpEllie.com to help support the Potvin family.
You can also vote for Joey Coulter as the most popular ARCA driver for 2010 at www.arcanation.com/joeycoulter
Please be sure to check out Joey’s official website at www.joeycoulter.com
Catch Joey’s LIVE radio show, 5 @ 5 with Joey Coulter, every Wednesday at 5:00 PM EST exclusively on www.RaceFanRadio.com
Also please be sure to support Joey’s sponsors at:
Rip It Energy Fuel: www.ripitenergy.com
Tempest Cycles: www.tempestcycles.com
MAD Industry: www.areumad.com
About Darrell Gwynn Foundation (DGF)
www.darrellgwynnfoundation.org
The Darrell Gwynn Foundation (DGF) is a certified non-profit 501(c) 3 agency. DGF exists to prevent, provide for and ultimately cure spinal cord injuries and other debilitating illnesses. To expedite specific cures, the Foundation assists in the funding of targeted research. DGF is also dedicated to injury prevention, with special emphasis on programs targeting children. The Foundation helps improve the quality of life for those already afflicted with injury or illness, by providing necessary equipment or special services. DGF is an official charity of the Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction, National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) and has a close affiliation with NASCAR and the NASCAR Foundation.
MEDIA CONTACT
Nic Moncher
Coulter Motorsports
Director of Public Relations
Tim George Jr. Blows Into Windy City
August 26, 2010, 7 | Don Radebaugh
(MOORESVILLE, N.C.) - Tim George Jr. will return to the Windy City and connect back when he first got behind the wheel of a stockcar, where it all started for George as he drove his way into the ARCA Racing Series. For George, driver of the No. 31 Richard Childress Racing (RCR) Development Chevrolet, Friday's Ansell Protective Gloves 150 at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., will bring back welcomed memories. He recognized the Windy City as his home for three years, and made his first laps in a stockcar at the site of this weekend's ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards event.
The 1.5-mile oval has created a lasting memory for the New York, N.Y. native; it is where the University of Miami graduate road racer began driving in circles in 2008. Testing under TRG Motorsports, George made his stockcar debut at Chicagoland Speedway in the ARCA Racing Series while participating in a test session.
As George rolls into Chicagoland Speedway this weekend, Friday's Ansell Protective Gloves 150 will mark a second-career start for the 29-year old at the intermediate track. It is a challenging mile and a half venue. With 18 degree banking in the turns, George will carry a good bit of speed all around the track.
Perhaps having the familiarity from the resent open test session for the ARCA Racing Series at Chicagoland will pay off for George this weekend. Of the 21 cars on hand for the test, George clocked in at 11th overall as George put the No. 31 through its paces under the watchful eye of crew chief Gere Kennon, turning a lap of 31.777 seconds at 169.934 mph.
"The ARCA Racing Series Open Test at Chicago last week went pretty well," said George. "We did not make a qualifying run, but had consistent race trim speeds throughout the day. I had (NASCAR Nationwide Series driver) Scott Wimmer helping me out and he will return to Chicagoland Speedway to see how I do. The depth of the support from Richard Childress Racing is a key component to my continuing improvement as a driver. Wimmer has been a key component to the team's success in Nationwide Series over the years and he's sharing his experiences with me."
In one ARCA Racing Series career start at Chicagoland, George maintained his starting position by finishing 21st in the 2009 edition of the 150-mile event.
Based on past his past performances at the track located south of the Windy City, George says he likes his No. 31 team's chances heading into the 15th stop on the ARCA Racing Series schedule.
"Chicagoland Speedway is the first intermediate track I ever tested on," added George. "I feel a lot more comfortable there now than I did last year. I've been getting better each week, and feel like we are in line to become another first-time winner in the ARCA Racing Series. I'm excited to be in this position and having the opportunity driving for RCR."
The Ansell Protective Gloves 150 gets underway at 7:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, August 27 with live coverage provided by SPEED. The ARCA Racing Network will cover all the on-track activity for the ARCA Racing Series with live streaming audio and scoring of practice, qualifying at ARCAracing.com inside the ARCA Nation and live audio coverage. Get LIVE updates on Tim George Jr. all weekend by following @TimGeorgeJr on Twitter and TimGeorgeJrRacing on Facebook.
Brent Ready to Win Again With Favorite Car at Chicagoland
August 26, 2010, 7 | Don Radebaugh
(JOLIET, Ill.) – ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards will call on high horsepower this weekend as the series travels to the 1.5-mile Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill. for the Ansell Protective Gloves 150.
With a strong top ten finish at the dirt track last weekend, drive Robb Brent and the Allgaier Motorsports Team is confident heading into Chicago. The mile and a half race tracks have been good to Brent in the past including a solid run last year before fuel pickup issues. On top of that the team will be bringing car #402 which was last seen in victory lane at Pocono Raceway last month. “I’m really excited to get racing this week with my favorite car again,” said Brent. “I love the Chicagoland Speedway and I know that we will be contending for another win.”
Brent is looking to keep some momentum going to end the year and try to climb in the point standings a few spots. He has closed to within 45 points of 9th and plans on gaining even more this Friday. Look for the #36 Dodge Charger to run up front at this fast 1.5 mile track.
Washington Township, Michigan based Orchard Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram will serve as the primary sponsor on Brent’s No. 36 this weekend. Go to www.Orchardcdj.com for more information on new and used cars, parts and service.
Prior to joining Allgaier Motorsports, Brent participated in the ARCA RE/MAX Series driving for NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski and Brad Keselowski Racing (BKR). In his 51 ARCA starts, Brent has acquired 1 win with six top-five finishes and 16 top-10 efforts. Brent notched his career best qualifying effort of second at Kentucky Speedway last year and first career win At Pocono Raceway in July 2010. He has led the ARCA RE/MAX Series pack three times for 48 laps. He made his NASCAR Nationwide debut at the Inaugural Road America race in the No.09 for RAB Racing.
The 100-lap, 150-mile Ansell Protective Gloves 150 is scheduled to begin at 6pm Central (7 Eastern) on Friday, August 27, with live coverage on the Speed Channel. Practice is scheduled for 4:30-5:50pm Central Thursday and 8:00-9:00am Friday, with Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell taking place at 11:30am Friday. Live audio coverage and live timing and scoring of all events will be available on ARCARacing.com.
Please visit Robbbrentracing.com. For more info on NASCAR ARCA Driver Robb Brent, sponsorship opportunities and official racing apparel.
Be sure to cast your vote for Shelby Township, Michigan’s Robb Brent as the 2010 National Speed Sport News Most Popular Driver. Visit
www.arcanation.com/robbbrent and vote for Robb Brent today!
Macomb Charitable Foundation www.macombcharitable.org
Paws for Life www.pfl.petfinder.org
Driver Contact:
Carol Brent
Craig Goess ARCA Racing Series Advance:
August 26, 2010, 7 | Don Radebaugh
Race: Ansell Protective
Gloves 150
ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards:
15 of 20
Track: Chicagoland Speedway
Date: August 27, 2010
Craig Goess and the No. 81 Greenville Toyota of N.C. Eddie Sharp Racing Toyota return to Chicagoland Speedway on Friday, August 27. Coming off an eighth-place finish at the road course at New Jersey Motorsports Park and an 11th-place finish on the dirt track at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, the No. 81 team looks to get back to the paved oval in Joliet, Ill.
Craig Goess Fast Facts:
Last Race: Illinois State Fairgrounds: Goess took to the dirt track at the Illinois State Fairgrounds last Sunday, competing in his third-career dirt track race. The 29-year-old looked to maintain consistency on his trek toward the ARCA Racing Series championship and finished the race in the 11th position.
Goess in the Windy City: In Goess' only ARCA Racing Series start at Chicagoland Speedway in 2009, he collected a top-10 finish. Rain limited the amount of practice time for the No. 81 team, and Goess was forced to go into the qualifying and the race with very few laps on the track. He crossed the finish line eighth despite an ill-handling car.
Quick Test: Goess and ESR traveled to Chicagoland Speedway last week to take part in the ARCA Racing Series open test at the track. Goess showed speed all day, ending the test on the top of the leaderboard with a lap of 30.807 seconds (175.285 mph). The team looks to capitalize on the successful test at the Ansell Protective Gloves 150 this weekend.
ESR at Chicago: Former ESR drivers have found success at the 1.5-mile Joliet, Ill., oval. In 2007, Michael McDowell brought home the ESR victory from the pole. In 2009, Justin Lofton won the race for ESR, and also snatched the current race record of 111.020 mph.
In the Points: Goess moved down one position to third place behind Frank Kimmel and Tom Hessert in the ARCA Racing Series championship points standings. The top three are separated by a mere 10 points with five races left in the ARCA Racing Series schedule.
SPEED Broadcast: The Ansell Protective Gloves 150 will be the eighth of 10 races on the ARCA Racing Series schedule to be broadcast on SPEED Channel. The live race coverage begins at 6 p.m. CDT (7 p.m. EST). Live streaming audio will be also featured on the ARCA Racing Network at www.arcaracing.com with scoring and timing at 6 p.m. CDT.
QUOTES
Goess on running at Chicagoland Speedway
"I'm really looking forward to getting back to Chicagoland. We had such a great test there this weekend, and coming off the road course and dirt track races, I'm thrilled to get back to the paved oval. At the test last week, I was not able to make any mock qualifying runs. I feel like we have even more speed for this weekend."
Goess' ARCA Racing Series Chicagoland Speedway History
No. Year Track Start Finish Laps Notes
81 2009-Aug Chicago 6 8 100/100 Running
Goess' ARCA Racing Series 2010 Season
Date Track Start Finish Laps Notes
2/6 Daytona 33 34 16/80 Crash
2/27 Palm Beach 10 13 69/70 Running
4/11 Salem 19 2 200/200 Running
4/16 Texas 6 2 105/105 Running
4/23 Talladega 22 4 94/94 Running
5/23 Toledo 6 14 198/200 Running
6/5 Pocono 3 1 80/80 Running
6/10 Michigan 1 6 100/100 Running
7/10 Iowa 6 8 200/200 Running
7/17 Mansfield 3 2 200/200 Running
7/31 Pocono 4 3 50/50 Running
8/5 Berlin 9 9 200/200 Running
8/15 New Jersey 17 8 67/67 Running
8/22 Springfield 16 11 106/106 Running
Race length: 100 laps/ 150 miles
Track layout: 1.5 mile
Shape: Tri-oval
SCHEDULE
(All times in CDT)
Thursday, August 26
4:30 - 5:50 p.m. Practice
Friday, August 27
8 - 9 a.m. Final Practice
11:30 a.m. Qualifying
6 p.m. Ansell Protective Gloves 150
activ8 communications
Erin Sagester
Senior Manager
Social Media and Public Relations
704.664.5900
erin@goactiv8.com
Patrick Sheltra Stuns Springfield Field With ARCA Victory
Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 2:45:53 PM | Don Radebaugh
(SPRINGFIELD, Ill.) - - Where did he come from? That was the most asked question in the ARCA Racing Series (ARS) presented by RE/MAX and Menards garage following the running of Sunday afternoon’s Allen Crowe 100 after “Mr. Showtime” a.k.a. Patrick Sheltra blasted past the front-runners on a late race restart to lead the final 15 laps of the 14th ARCA event of the season and claim his second career victory.
Sheltra arrived at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in a great mood knowing he was returning to his original racing roots of dirt – not to mention having a pretty healthy overall record at the one-mile clay oval. After finishing third on two of his three previous Springfield occasions, the 24-year old was determined to put his Sheltra Motorsports team in victory circle.
The Indiantown, Florida native was the first to tackle the track on Sunday morning and quickly mounted his No. 60 Sheltra Motorsports Dodge Charger to the top of the speed charts before eventually landing in the third position overall in the short one hour practice session. Sheltra complained of a loose condition on his Chrysler nameplate with crew chief Jon Wolfe quickly going to work and adjusting the team’s machine in order to prepare for Menards Pole by Ansell qualifying which began an hour after practice had concluded.
Going out 16th, Sheltra maneuvered at the time the fourth fastest lap only to be dropped one position by pole-sitter Steve Arpin to start the event from the inside of row number three or fifth. Sheltra though disappointed with the qualifying run was confident in his car’s capabilities by reminding his crew, “it doesn’t matter where you start; it matters where you finish.”
At the start of the 100-lap shootout, Sheltra quickly put the moves on fourth place runner Justin Marks before settling in a comfortable position inside the top-five before the first round of pit stops cycled under caution on lap 27.
Sheltra reported to his team that his car was tight from the center off which resulted in Wolfe calling for a chassis adjustment, four new Hoosier tires and fuel. The top-10 starters on the restart each played different pit strategies which made the restart exciting -- but breathtaking at the same time.
By lap 37, Sheltra had moved into the sixth position and rose to fifth by lap 41.
However, just 16 laps later, Sheltra’s day took a dramatic turn. Trying to negotiate past a group of lap down machines, Sheltra lost control of his automobile in turn three and slapped the outside retaining wall. Able to re-fire his machine, the ARCA pro brought his car to the attention of his team for new tires and damage control which consisted of heavy-rear damage.
Despite the car’s outside character, Sheltra quickly answered his critics questions on whether or not the No. 60 would be able to return to contention mode. In a matter of four laps, the question had been answered as the all camouflage decked out Dodge Charger would roar back into the top-10. However, just as the team felt like their day was heading back in the right direction a gaggle of cars came together on the backstretch on lap 64 which included the No. 60 of Sheltra. Despite now battling front-end damage, the avid hunter was able to keep his car on the lead lap and escape another round of damage control on pit road and restart the race in the 13th position.
Methodically, Sheltra was able to weave his way back into the top-10 and sat eighth on an impending restart on lap 91. However, Sheltra’s attentiveness and aggressiveness on the restart in an unopened outside lane left the field in complete disarray and the grandstands in an uproar chant.
As leaders Ron Cox and Mikey Kile came to the green flag, Sheltra made a legal move to the outside of his competition and stormed his mangled No. 60 into the top-spot by the entry of turn one. He would be credited with officially leading the field on lap 92 after passing seven vehicles on the initial restart and was able to stretch his lead and put his family-owned piece on cruise control until the yellow flag flew after Sheltra took the white flag when second and third place competitors Cox and Kile locked horns in turn one.
Sheltra, known for his enthusiastic personality was silent on the radio as he was concentrating on the biggest restart of his racing career, thus far. With words of encouragement from spotter Timmy McKichan and Wolfe on the one-to-go signal, Sheltra keyed the radio and said, “boys, this one’s for you!”
With the green and white flags waiving together, Sheltra circled the Illinois State Fairgrounds perfectly and held off Mikey Kile to claim his second career ARCA Racing Series victory in his 81st attempt. The race would be extended from its original 100 lap distance to 106 circuits allowing the four-year ARCA team to continue an impressive season which has consisted of one win, seven top-fives and 11 top-10s in 14 races.
Sheltra scored his inaugural victory at Salem (Ind.) Speedway in April 2009 after recovering from injuries sustained in a vicious and near career-ending incident in the season-opening Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway just six weeks earlier.
“Man, I don’t know what to say,” said the jubilant driver in victory lane. “I have to thank everyone on this Sheltra Motorsports team. I did a bone head move about 50 laps into the race. I went on the outside of a lapped car and I thought it cost us the race today. It almost destroyed the car; I backed it into the fence. We came back in and fixed it up a little bit. We knew the tow was out. Then we got in the other wreck; I think Arpin had a flat and it got them balled up off of two over there. We just came through it you know and got hit again. The fender was beat in and everything. We came back down pit road and fixed it up. We just proved that when you put your mind to it; anything is possible.”
“These guys work so hard and we’ve been so close several times this year, it just feels good to finally seal the deal,” Sheltra continued on the win. “This has been one of my goals since I came to the ARCA Racing Series in 2007 to win a dirt race. We finally accomplished that today. I can’t thank the guys enough; we’re going to be celebrating tonight for sure!”
When asked about his powerful move to the lead on the second-to-last restart, Sheltra stated, “The green was out and they started to check up in front of me, so I went to the high side and the next thing I knew I was leading. I wasn’t worried that I did anything wrong, because I knew I didn’t. From there, I was just focused on winning the race.
I can’t thank everyone enough who helps keep this team going. Recycling Services, Ferguson Pipe, CAM 2 Blue Blood Racing Oil, Martin County Petroleum, Speed Media, DMC Graphics, our other affiliates and especially and most importantly my parents. The first win was awesome, but this win feels just as good.”
The NASCAR bound driver concluded by saying, “we left the hood bare for a reason this weekend. We wanted to let everyone know that we have a good home to bring on another great marketing partner. One thing is for sure, I think you’ll see an announcement or two in the near future and I’m definitely looking forward to the rest of the year!”
With his triumph on Sunday afternoon, Sheltra unofficially moves up to fourth in the ARCA Racing Series championship chase, 40 markers in the arrear to nine-time ARCA champion Frank Kimmel for the top spot. Before Springfield, Sheltra sat 95-points behind the long-time ARCA veteran and thanks to his dramatic win; he was able to chop 55 points off his initial deficit. 30 credits keep Sheltra from moving into third now held by former points leader Craig Goess. Just 35 tallies separate Sheltra from second held by Cherry Hill New Jersey’s Tom Hessert.
Sheltra became the 13th different winner in 14 races this year in the 1,307 race for the ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards since it was formed in 1953.
Next up for the ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards is their annual trip to Chicagoland Speedway for the running of the Ansell Protective Gloves 150. The stop in Joliet, Illinois is the second of three consecutive events in The Prairie State and also the final event of the Bill France Four Crown title. Sheltra will make his fifth career start at the 1.5-mile oval with hopes of landing his third career ARCA Racing Series victory this upcoming Friday, August 27. The event will be broadcasted live on SPEED beginning at 6:00 p.m. CST. Sheltra’s best finish in the “Windy City” came last season (2009) where with the guidance of then driver coach and former NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Ted Musgrave, he wrestled his No. 60 Buffalo Wings & Rings Dodge Charger to a well-deserving ninth place finish after being involved in an early-race skirmish.
Multiple cost-effective marketing partnership packages are still available for the 2010 ARCA Racing Series and NASCAR seasons for Patrick Sheltra. Let Sheltra Motorsports show you how to find victory lane in more ways than one! For additional information on how to be apart of our winning organization, please contact Brandon Hinson (brandon@patricksheltra.com) or email marketing@patricksheltra.com.
Exiting Springfield, Sheltra has 81 ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards starts to his credit with two career victories at Salem (Ind.) Speedway (April 2009) and the Illinois State Fairgrounds (August 2010). During his ARCA tenure, Sheltra has accumulated 17 top-fives and posted 33 top-10 finishes. A third place qualifying effort at Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway (April 2009) and Michigan International Speedway (June 2010) is Sheltra’s best time trials effort to date. He has controlled the ARCA field eight times for 188 laps.
For the latest on Patrick Sheltra, Sheltra Motorsports and marketing partnership opportunities please visit PatrickSheltra.com.
Join the official Patrick Sheltra fan page on Facebook (Official Patrick Sheltra Fan Page) by clicking here.
Tweet with Patrick Sheltra on Twitter (@patricksheltra) at twitter.com/patricksheltra.com.
About Sheltra Motorsports:
Sheltra Motorsports (sheltramotorsports.com) is a three-tier professional Motorsports organization consisting of dirt and asphalt competition. Patrick Sheltra, a 24-year old native of Indiantown, Florida competes in the UMP and WoO (Dirt) Series; while also running a full schedule in the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards (No. 60) and a limited schedule in the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR). The team is headquartered in Indiantown, Florida with additional operations in Richmond, Indiana and Mooresville, North Carolina.
TEAM COMMUNICATIONS CONTACT:
NAME: Chris Knight, Sheltra Motorsports
PHONE: 239.834.9797 or 239.214.1083
EMAIL: chris@patricksheltra.com
Hessert Moves to 2nd in Championship Points on Springfield Dirt
Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 2:45:53 PM | Don Radebaugh
(SPRINGFIELD, Ill.) - The 1 mile Illinois State Fairgrounds dirt track helped Tom Hessert and the #77 Cherry Hill Classic Cars Dodge move into 2nd in the ARCA Racing Series championship points battle. Hessert is 5 points behind leader Frank Kimmel, with 6 races to go in the 2010 season.
In the short one hour practice session, in preparation for the Allen Crowe 100, Hessert posted the 6th quickest speed. One hour after practice ended, Hessert qualified the Cunningham Motorsports Dodge 12th. With his work cut out for him, Hessert took the green flag in the 100 lap event; quickly moving to 9th, where he remained until the first caution on lap 27. Tom brought the #77 to the pit crew’s attention during this caution for 4 tires and fuel, re-starting on lap 33 in 12th. By halfway in the race, Hessert had moved back to 9th, where his push to the front began. By lap 74, Tom had progressed, one spot at a time, to the 4th spot. When the green flag flew, after a caution on lap 72, Hessert got shuffled out of the 4th spot, when the top 5 cars went 3 wide going into turn 1. After regrouping, Hessert fell back to 6th and continued to fight for positions. When the white flag flew on the scheduled 100 laps, a caution forced the ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards into an OT situation, with Hessert in 4th. The Cherry Hill, New Jersey driver’s race was not yet done. With only one lap remaining, the green flag flew on lap 105. When the checkered was shown, Hessert had pushed to 3rd, marking Tom’s 5th top-5 finish in the last 6 races.
On the front stretch, after the race, an exuberant Hessert said, “This was a good day for the Cherry Hill Classic Cars/Cunningham Motorsports Dodge. The whole team worked hard and gave us a good car. To start 12th and finish 3rd is great. We had a good points day. We weren’t the fastest, but we raced smart. We took advantage of the holes that were given to us.”
The top-3 finish moves Hessert into 2nd in championship points, 5 behind the leader. The top 6 remain in a close battle, just 95 points separating first to sixth.
The next event for the Cunningham Motorsports team is Friday at the Chicagoland Speedway, when the ARCA Racing Series takes on the 1.5 mile track for the Ansell Protective Gloves 150. Practice for the 100 lap race will take place Thursday 5:30-6:30 EST, with a second practice session scheduled Friday from 9-10am EST, before Menard’s Pole Qualifying at 12:30 EST. SPEED’s live coverage will begin at 7:00pm EST. All of the ARCA Racing Series events will be covered on ARCARacing.com with live timing and scoring and audio.
Follow Tom on Cunningham Motorsports’ official twitter page: @cunningham_race
Armstrong Has 10th Top-10 Finish of 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 2:45:53 PM | Don Radebaugh
(SPRINGFIELD, Ill.) - The Allen Crowe 100 marked the 14th race of the 2010 ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards’ season for Dakoda Armstrong. During the only practice session, in preparation for the 100 lap event, Armstrong struggled to get the car comfortable. Five laps into the practice, Dakoda looped the #22, without damaging the car. In the remaining 40 minutes of short practice session, Armstrong posted the 15th quickest lap. Qualifying took place one hour after the practice session ended, with Dakoda lining up 19th in the starting lineup.
Once the race began, Armstrong moved up a couple of positions to 16th by lap 3. After losing a lap to the leaders, Armstrong told crew chief, Paul Andrews, that he had a loose race car. Armstrong brought the #22 Dodge to the pits during the first caution on lap 30 for an “adjustment only” stop. Dakoda was awarded the “lucky dog” award for being the first car not on the lead lap. After the pit stop, Dakoda rejoined the leaders on the lead lap in 15th. Slowly he picked up one position at a time. During the third caution of the race, on lap 57, Armstrong brought the car in for 4 tires, fuel and another handling adjustment, as the car was “still loose”. As the race re-started on lap 64, Dakoda was in 10th, but realized his car was now tight. Another pit stop was made, during the next caution, to make an adjustment to help the handling of the Ferrellgas/Syngenta Seeds Dodge. When the green flag flew on lap 78, Armstrong was shown in the 11th spot. During the last 12 laps of the scheduled 100 laps, Armstrong fought into 9th. As the white flag flew on the scheduled final lap, Armstrong had fallen to 10th, and caution came out on the racetrack for the final time. The green flag dropped for the remaining lap of the race. As the checkered flag flew to complete the 106th lap, Armstrong finished with a 9th place finish.
After the race, Andrews commented, “We had a good finish, compared to where our day began. We had rough practice and qualifying sessions, but got a nice finish.”
The 10th top-10 finish of the season moves rookie Armstrong into 6th in championship points, 95 points behind point’s leader Frank Kimmel.
The next event for the Cunningham Motorsports team is Friday at the Chicagoland Speedway, when the ARCA Racing Series takes on the 1.5 mile track for the Ansell Protective Gloves 150. Practice for the 100 lap race will take place Thursday 5:30-6:30 EST, with a second practice session scheduled Friday from 9-10am EST, before Menard’s Pole Qualifying at 12:30 EST. SPEED’s live coverage will begin at 7:00pm EST. All of the ARCA Racing Series events will be covered on ARCARacing.com with live timing and scoring and audio.
Follow Dakoda on Cunningham Motorsports official twitter page: @cunningham_race
Frank Kimmel's Promising Day Ends in a Spin at Springfield
Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 2:45:53 PM | Don Radebaugh
(SPRINGFIELD, Ill.) - What looked to be a promising day for the Ansell/Menards team ended on lap 72 after Frank Kimmel spun and hit the wall while leading the Allen Crowe 100. The nine-time champion was able to continue on, salvaging a 12th-place finish, but his bid for an eighth win at Springfield's historic dirt track was put to an end less than 28 laps from the drop of the checkered flag. Kimmel maintains the ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards points lead by a slim five point margin over second place, Tom Hessert, heading into the Ansell Protective Gloves 150 at Chicagoland Speedway on Friday, August 27.
Sunday was a busy day for the ARCA Racing Series teams as they rolled into Springfield's dirt mile at 6:00 a.m. prepared for a full day of practice and qualifying before the 1:00 p.m. start of the Allen Crowe 100. Kimmel and team were fast during the lone hour-long practice session, circling the track in a time of 34.974 seconds (102.934 mph), good enough to land fifth on the speed chart.
It was a short turnaround before qualifying began, and the Ansell/Menards Ford was the 10th of 32 cars to make a lap around the one-mile oval. Turning a lap of 36.118 seconds (99.673 mph), Kimmel was disappointed with his eighth-place starting position.
"I am not real happy with the way qualifying went," said Kimmel. "The car is actually pretty good, I think. The track is just a lot different than what we have had here in the past. Eighth is just a place to start, but I'm anxious to see what the track is going to do during the race. Hopefully we will have the right adjustments made and the car will run better the longer the day runs."
As the green flag dropped for 100 miles of dirt racing action Kimmel quickly settled into the 10th position, where he stayed until the first caution came out on lap 27. Kimmel, who was struggling with the handling of his Ansell/Menards Ford Fusion, radioed to his team that the car had no side bite and was pushing in the middle of the turns and loose off.
Crew Chief Bill Kimmel took the caution as an opportunity to bring his driver down pit road for service. The Ansell/Menards team made a left rear air pressure adjustment, track bar adjustment, changed two tires and added fuel to their Ford Fusion. With a great pit stop, the team gained four positions on pit road and returned the No. 44 to the track in fourth position.
The field restarted on lap 33 and it didn't take long for Ansell/Menards Ford to move into third place after sneaking under Joey Coulter's No. 16 on lap 35. As Kimmel was beginning to close in on the leaders, the caution came back out on lap 37 for a spin, slowing the field for a second time. During the caution Kimmel radioed to his team that the changes during their last stop really helped the car.
The field went back to racing on lap 41, but it only took 15 laps for the next caution to come out. Kimmel maintained his third position during the run, but the lap 51 caution brought leader, Mikey Kile, down pit road moving the No. 44 machine to second place.
The green flag dropped again on lap 61 and Kimmel was ready to race, moving under Steve Arpin to take the lead on lap 63. It was only one lap later when yet another yellow flag flew for a wreck in turn two.
Kimmel took the restart on lap 70 and began to pull away from the field until bad luck struck on lap 72. As he entered turn two, Kimmel lost control of the Ansell/Menards Ford and spun, hitting the wall and damaging the right front and right rear of the car. As the caution came out, he brought his damaged Ford to the attention of the crew on pit road. While the Ansell/Menards team worked quickly to fix the damage and change tires, the field came around to put Kimmel one lap down.
Kimmel returned to the track for the restart on lap 76 plagued in 16th position, one lap down. Despite a badly damaged car, he was able to move into 15th putting himself in position for the lucky dog. A caution flag on lap 86 gave the Ansell/Menards crew the break they needed, as Kimmel earned the lucky dog and was able to get back on the lead lap.
The field restarted on lap 90 for a 10-lap dash to the finish, and Kimmel maneuvered his damaged Ford into the 11th position before the caution flag came out for a final time on lap 99, setting up overtime and a one-lap shootout to the checkered flag.
As the green and white flag simultaneously waved on lap 105 for the final time, the damage to Kimmel's car impeded his chance to move through the field, and the team had to settle for a 12th place finish. The finish kept the Ansell/Menards team first in the ARCA Racing Series championship standings, as they hold a five point lead over second place, Tom Hessert.
"I'm just really disappointed today," said a dejected Kimmel. "The guys did a great pit stop and made an adjustment on the car. It really fixed it and made it a lot better. We were able to compete after that. I drove to the front and got the lead and really felt like we were in good shape. I don't know what happened coming off of two. I just lost the car. It got out from under me, spun the thing out to the wall and tore it all to pieces. It's just a disappointing day. They crashed there (turn two) earlier, during the previous caution, and I don't know if there was anything on the track or not, but that's my excuse today. I just lost it and it messed up a good day."
The Ansell/Menards team will look to earn their first win of the 2010 season and bring their Sponsors Ansell and Menards to victory lane next Friday, August 27 at Chicagoland Speedway. Kimmel's sponsor, Ansell Gloves, will be hosting the Ansell Protective Gloves 150 as the ARCA Racing Series will be set for 100 laps of action at the 1.5-mile track. The race will air live on SPEED at 7:00 p.m. EST with live streaming timing and scoring and audio coverage on ARCARacing.com.
Tracy Olszewski
Public Relations Acoount Manager
704.785.6196
tracy@goactiv8.com
Steve Arpin Not One To Back Down From a Fight
Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 2:45:53 PM | Don Radebaugh
(CORNELIUS, N.C.) – Steve Arpin knows what he’s in for every time he climbs behind the wheel of the No. 55 mike’s hard lemonade Toyota. There’s no such thing as an “easy win” in the ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards. In fact, the Canadian-native remains the only multiple winner in 14 races thus far this season.
So when the series heads north for this weekend’s Ansell Protective Gloves 150 at the Chicagoland Speedway, Arpin knows it’ll be him against 38 others.
“We had a great test there last week and definitely have a car that could win the race,” said Arpin. “But it’s not going to be easy by any means. There were several other cars that were real strong at the test. It’s going to be a hard-fought battle, but we’re up for the challenge.”
Arpin had no trouble posting the fastest lap in the afternoon testing session last week at the 1.5-mile Chicagoland Speedway. In the end, he was second overall of the 19 drivers in attendance.
“Our strongest tracks this year have been intermediate tracks and I was pretty competitive at Chicagoland last year,” Arpin continued. “But it really helped to test there, especially since we have to run a side window.”
In addition to his on-track duties, Arpin will be making two driver appearances on Tuesday, August 24th in the Chicago area.
Berkot’s Super Foods
2141 Calistoga Dr
New Lenox, IL 60451
3 to 5 P.M.
Heroes West Sports Grill
1530 Commerce Lane
Joliet, IL 60431
(815) 725-1234
6 to 9 P.M.
Join us for a Bean Bag/Corn Hole Tournament at Hero's Sports Grill
“The Chicago area is one of Mike’s Hard Lemonade Co.’s strongest markets and we’re going to have a lot of representatives on hand with us,” commented Arpin. “It will make a potential win there much more exciting!”
Qualifying for Friday's Ansell Protective Gloves 150 is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. (ET), with LIVE flag-to-flag race coverage beginning at 7 p.m. (ET) on SPEED.
Katrina Arpin
18705 Coachmans Trce
Cornelius, NC 28031
C.507-696-7850
trina@stevearpin.com
Craig Goess Finishes 11th at Illinois State Fairgrounds Dirt Track
Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 2:45:53 PM | Don Radebaugh
(SPRINGFIELD, Ill.) - In his third-career dirt track start, Craig Goess drove the No. 81 Greenville Toyota of N.C. Eddie Sharp Racing Toyota to an 11th-place finish at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in the ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards.
The one-day show began early Sunday morning as Goess took the No. 81 Greenville Toyota of N.C. around the track during practice to gain experience on the dirt surface. He finished the lone practice of the day with the 11th-quickest time of 35.450 seconds (101.551 mph).
Shortly after practice, No. 81 Greenville Toyota of N.C. turned the one-mile oval in 37.001 seconds (97.295 mph) to qualify in the 16th position.
As the green flag dropped on the Allen Crowe Memorial 100, Goess looked to maintain consistency and improve on his previous dirt track finishes. The No. 81 battled in the top-15 for most of the day as he worked hard to bring home a solid finish and gain points in the ARCA Racing Series championship standings.
Patrick Sheltra crossed the finish line first, holding off Mikey Kile in a green-white-checker finish. Sheltra became the 13th different winner in 14 races this season. Goess finished just outside the top-10 in the 11th position.
"It was a great learning experience," said Goess. "Overall, it was not a terrible day, especially since this was only my third race ever on a dirt track. We finished the race and picked up points on the leaders, which I am happy with. I am proud of our team for their effort today. From here, we will take what we learned and move onto the next race."
The points race continues to tighten as the top-three leaders are separated by a mere 10 points. Frank Kimmel, nine-time ARCA Racing Series champion holds the first position, five points ahead of Tom Hessert in second place. Goess rounds out the top-three, five points behind Hessert.
Goess and the ESR team head to the Chicagoland Speedway on Friday, August 27 for the Ansell Protective Gloves 150. The green flag drops at 6 p.m. CDT (7 p.m. EST) for the 100-lap, 150-mile race. The event will air live on SPEED with live timing, scoring and audio coverage on ARCARacing.com.
activ8 communications
Erin Sagester
Senior Manager
Social Media and Public Relations
704.664.5900
erin@goactiv8.com
Coulter Continues Four Crown Points Lead with Solid Top 5 Day at Springfield
Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 2:45:53 PM | Don Radebaugh
(SPRINGFIELD, Ill.) – Heading into this weekend’s dirt race at the Illinois State Fairground, ARCA sophomore standout Joey Coulter was determined to run up front, and continue his top-five finishing streak in August. The Miami Springs, FL native did just that, staying out of trouble all day and enduring a green-white-checker finish before bringing his No. 16 Darrell Gwynn Foundation, Rip It Energy Fuel Chevrolet home in fourth place.
“The dirt tracks (Springfield and DuQuoin) are always a lot of fun for me,” commented Coulter. “I don’t have any dirt background, so every race is a new learning experience for me, but always an enjoyable one.”
Coulter Motorsports pulled into the worlds “fastest dirt mile” in the heart of the state fair, early Sunday morning, to begin the day’s activities leading up to the start of the Allen Crowe 100. Shortly after arriving, the days only practice session got underway as 35 ARCA cars began slinging dirt. Coulter would immediately lay down the second fastest time of the day and continue to work his way towards the front during the hour-long session. After completing 48 laps at the sessions end, Coulter would find himself second on the board with a time of 34.258 seconds at 105.085 MPH.
Coulter Motorsports Crew Chief Harold Holly finished up all his final adjustments, as Menards Pole Qualifying was set to begin. Coulter would go out 31st of 35 cars for his one lap qualifying effort. He would run a time of 36.035 seconds at 99.903 MPH, placing him sixth for start of the afternoon’s race.
“Harold (Holly) really had my car hooking up and taking to the track during our practice runs,” said Coulter. “We knew the track would slow down considerably during qualifying with the addition of all the rubber, so we chose to have more of a race setup in the car, and are happy to be rolling off sixth later today.”
Shortly after 1:00 PM (CT) on a beautiful Illinois Sunday, the green flag waved over the 35-car field to start the Allen Crowe 100. Coulter, knowing the tenacity of dirt racing, began pacing himself and his No. 16 Darrell Gwynn Foundation, Rip It Energy Fuel Chevrolet. He would fall back to eighth, spending time finding his rhythm before the days first caution waved on lap 27. Coulter would radio to Holly that the car “is too loose all around the track and becoming very violent on the step out.” Holly decided to bring Coulter to pit road for a full tank of fuel and a major wedge adjustment. A fast pit stop would have Coulter restarting third on lap 33.
After another quick caution on lap 37 Coulter radioed Holly saying “the left front feels like it is stuck up in the air, but the last adjustment has allowed me to get into more of a rhythm.” On the lap 41 restart, Coulter would take the green fourth and begin battling for position with several local dirt track racers. Trying to stay out of an impending wreck, and feeling the effects of worn tires, Coulter began sliding back, until a lap 56 caution. He immediately radioed Holly saying the car was “standing up too much on the left rear during the step out, causing it to throw the car around.” Holly would call Coulter down pit road, giving him four fresh Hoosier dirt tires, a wedge and trackbar adjustment. He would take the green flag in 12th on lap 61 and began working his way towards the front. Coulter found himself inside the top-ten, in ninth by the next caution on lap 64. Right away he let Holly know that the car “feels way better and is handling amazing.”
Through two more ensuing cautions, Coulter worked his way into the top-five, making sure to pace himself and his car. A caution on lap 86 would set-up a single file restart on lap 91 with Coulter in fifth. Trouble restarting for one competitor, logged up the field, sending several, including Coulter to the back of the pack. Coulter worked his way around the slowed field in eighth, knowing he only had a few laps remaining, he began picking off cars one-by-one.
As the white flag flew on lap 99, Coulter had methodically worked his way back to fifth and was passing for fourth when the caution waved. ARCA would lock the field and set them up for a green-white-checkered finish as they took the green and white on lap 105. After completing the next mile, Coulter brought his No. 16 Darrell Gwynn Foundation, Rip It Energy Fuel Chevrolet home fourth.
“It was a great day for us today at Springfield,” said an excited Coulter. “We wanted to play conservative most of the day and make sure we were around at the end. The game plan worked out and my guys gave me another awesome car. I want to thank Darrell (Gwynn), Rip It Energy and all of my family, friends and supporters. I can’t wait to get to Chicago next week for some more great ARCA racing.”
Coulter leaving Springfield with his third straight top-five in August, will enter the final race of the Bill France Four Crown at Chicago as the point’s leader, with a 25 point lead over second. Coulter will clinch the Four Crown title regardless of any other driver's finish with a top-five result. Make sure to tune in LIVE for the 100-lap, 150-mile Ansell Protective Gloves 150 on SPEED at 7 p.m. Eastern and catch Coulter in his No. 16 Rip It Energy Fuel, Darrell Gwynn Foundation Chevrolet.
You can also get LIVE updates wherever Joey goes by following Joey on Twitter at http://twitter.com/joeycoulter
Please log onto www.LiftUpEllie.com to help support the Potvin family.
You can also vote for Joey Coulter as the most popular ARCA driver for 2010 at www.arcanation.com/joeycoulter
Please be sure to check out Joey’s official website at www.joeycoulter.com
Catch Joey’s LIVE radio show, 5 @ 5 with Joey Coulter, every Wednesday at 5:00 PM EST exclusively on www.RaceFanRadio.com
Also please be sure to support Joey’s sponsors at:
Rip It Energy Fuel: www.ripitenergy.com
Tempest Cycles: www.tempestcycles.com
MAD Industry: www.areumad.com
About Darrell Gwynn Foundation (DGF)
www.darrellgwynnfoundation.org
The Darrell Gwynn Foundation (DGF) is a certified non-profit 501(c) 3 agency. DGF exists to prevent, provide for and ultimately cure spinal cord injuries and other debilitating illnesses. To expedite specific cures, the Foundation assists in the funding of targeted research. DGF is also dedicated to injury prevention, with special emphasis on programs targeting children. The Foundation helps improve the quality of life for those already afflicted with injury or illness, by providing necessary equipment or special services. DGF is an official charity of the Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction, National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) and has a close affiliation with NASCAR and the NASCAR Foundation.
MEDIA CONTACT
Nic Moncher
Coulter Motorsports
Director of Public Relations
Marks Victim of Circumstance on Springfield Dirt
Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 2:45:53 PM | Don Radebaugh
(SPRINGFIELD, Ill.) - A string of bad luck for Win-Tron Racing continued on for the third week in a row Sunday afternoon at the Illinois State Fair Grounds for the Allen Crowe 100. A mechanical issue at Berlin, followed by a disappointing accident at New Jersey added up to two finishes outside the top 15 for Marks.Though a brand new Construct Corps Dodge Charger carried the team to the eighth fastest time in the ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards practice session and helped Justin lay down the fourth fastest time in qualifying, it wouldn’t end the day exactly how the team had hoped.
Justin slid back from his fourth starting spot at the drop of the green flag, falling to the 11th position where he then comfortably rode by himself, staying out of trouble with a solid racecar. A caution around lap 30 gave the Win-Tron Racing crew a chance to come down pit road for some fuel and a minor adjustment to the No. 32 Construct Corps machine, sending Justin back out in the seventh spot.
The next 30 laps would be pretty uniform to the first 30, with Marks holding his Dodge Charger steadily just outside the top ten. Another yellow flag flew on lap 60, giving Marks and his team another opportunity to tune on the Construct Corps machine with four fresh tires and some slight changes. Restarting within the top ten just a few laps later, Justin became a victim of circumstance when the leaders in front of him stacked up; causing a chain reaction that ultimately ended the day for Win-Tron Racing.
“We had a fast car; it just took a really long time for us to get going on the restarts. We were going to be ok, running around the top ten and I think we could’ve fought for a finish around there.
“On that last restart it looked like everyone up front was bunching up and someone hit their brakes, and from there we just got turned and had no where else to go,” Marks concluded after the accident.
The accident would place Justin in the 22nd finishing position at days end, sliding him from the fourth to the seventh position in the championship point standings, now 130 markers behind leader Frank Kimmel. Though recent misfortune has hindered Justin’s run for the championship, he and his Minnesota-based team are not throwing in the towel.
“I’m pleased with the speed and performance we’ve had everywhere we’ve gone this year, and it’s really disappointing that the finishes we’ve had lately just haven’t matched up. The guys work really hard on these cars and it’s unfortunate that all of these accidents haven’t been of our doing.
“We’re still in this championship hunt and we’re going to continue to do everything we can to be fast and win races from here on out. By no means are we giving up on this thing and we’ll do whatever it takes to fight to be up front,” Justin said.
Keeping their confidence running, the team heads to Chicagoland Speedway this Friday, August 27, 2010 for the Ansell Protective Gloves 150. Following a successful test session last week at the 1.5-mile, D-shaped oval, Marks and his team are going out to race as hard as they can race for the next six events, leaving it all out on the track.
For more on Justin Marks, visit www.justinmarksracing.com
For more on Construct Corps, visit www.constructcorps.com
For more on Win-Tron, visit www.win-tronracing.com, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@WinTronRacing)
About Justin Marks
California native Justin Marks began his love of racing after attending local races and the Indianapolis 500 with his father at the age of 14. His racing career sprouted from local street stock racing and grew into a successful SCCA and Rolex Sports Car Series career. Marks finished 16th in the 2001 Rolex Sports Car 24 Hours of Daytona in his first career professional race, and later collected a total of 12 wins in the SCCA and Rolex Sports Car Series combined. In 2009, he competed once again in the 24 Hours of Daytona and came home with a victory.
Marks moved on to ARCA Racing Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck and Nationwide Series competition in 2007, where he competed in select races over the next two years. This season, Justin is competing full-time in the ARCA Racing Series with Win-Tron Racing in the No. 32 Construct Corps machine. For the latest news on Justin, please visit www.JustinMarksRacing.com.
About Win-Tron Racing
Based in Lakeville, Minnesota, Win-Tron Racing officially began in 2007 with one main goal in mind: to win races. Owned by a former successful racecar driver in Kevin Cywinski, and engineer Nate Thiesse, Win-Tron has successfully competed for wins in the ARCA Racing Series with the No. 32 machine since its first appearances in 2004 under a former name, Country Joe Racing. Though the organization has seen several different drivers behind the wheel of its entries, Win-Tron and driver Justin Marks are set to compete for the entire season in 2010, with hopes of capturing a team first ARCA championship. For more on Win-Tron Racing, visit www.Win-TronRacing.com.
About Construct Corps
We are a cutting edge temporary skilled labor provider to
the construction industry. We have the
first centralized operations and recruiting system. With a database in excess of
120,000 workers from more than 9,000 zip codes, our partner contractors have
the ability to take on projects nationwide. Construct Corps is uniquely
positioned as the company with the most qualified workers in the most locations
with one point of contact.
Media Contact:
Kirby Johnson
Public Relations Manager
Win-Tron Racing
Driver Justin Marks
M: 608.289.8919
Kirby@Win-TronRacing.com
Brent & Allgaier Motorsports Overcome Brake Issues to Bring Home an 8th Place Finish at the Springfield Mile
Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 2:45:53 PM | Don Radebaugh
(SPRINGFIELD, Ill.) – The ARCA Racing Series took to the 1 mile dirt track at the Illinois State Fair Grounds in Springfield, Illinois for the 48th Annual Allen Crowe 100. Typically the ARCA series races on asphalt tracks across the country but twice a year they head back to the roots of auto racing. With only two previous starts on dirt Robb Brent and the Allgaier Motorsports team were looking for a strong run and a top ten finish. Early in the race Brent encountered a brake issue and lost a lap to the leaders. Working hard to help manage the brake issue the team never lost focus and Brent would race into the lucky dog position to reemerge among the leaders on the lead lap. Brent then continued to maneuver his way into the top 10 and came home in the 8th position.
Before the sun rose the Allgaier Motorsports team was busy unloading and preparing for the quick day ahead. Brent used the one hour practice session to get reacquainted with the dirt, while the team made adjustments and they were able to finish the session in 17th position. This week the No. 36 was a special white and blue paint scheme instead of the normal black and blue and it rolled off 30th in qualifying order. Several cars wrecked during their qualifying laps just before Brent hit the track. Knowing that he had a good racecar he took it easy and qualified in the 25th starting position. “We have a good car, the track is going to go through a transition, it’s just what dirt tracks do,” said Crew Chief Dave Leiner. “Once the race gets going and the track rubbers up we will be good.”
Previous Allgaier Motorsports driver Justin Allgaier was in attendance and Brent took full advantage as he was getting tips clear up until the signal to fire your engines. Allgaier is no stranger to Springfield as he is the 2006 winner of the event and Springfield is also his hometown.
Going green shortly after 1:00pm and in the heat of the day, the track was slick. The cars quickly accelerated off into turn one and threw themselves sideways, rolling through turn two before mashing on the gas and heading down the back stretch. It’s an experience and almost a fine art to be a good dirt track racer and these drivers were at it from the drop of the flag.
By lap no. 5 Brent had moved up to 18th and the charge continued before the brakes started to fade. Having to pump the brakes under cautions and down the straightaway Brent went a lap down to the leaders on lap 17. The Allgaier Motorsports team pitted several times under cautions trying to cool the brake rotors and do all they could to help Brent with the braking problems. The Orchard Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram was still able to turn some really quick lap times despite the issue and Brent was able to race his way into the lucky dog spot putting him back on the lead lap on lap 75. Racing hard with little brakes Brent held out for the last 25 laps, preserving a tough day to come home with an 8th place finish and is now currently 10th in championship points standings.
“We had a rough day but we fought back and it ended well, That’s what this team is all about”, said Robb Brent. “I have no dirt racing background so it’s neat to come here and do well, we had a brake issue early in the race or I know we could have been in the top 5. This is the hometown race for my team so I am glad we were able to run well for them, I’m excited to head to Chicago next weekend with my favorite car.”
The ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards visits the 1.5-mile Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill. on Friday, August 27. Practice begins at 5:30 p.m. Eastern/4:30 Central on Thursday, August 26, and Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell follows at 12:30 Eastern Friday. The 100-lap, 150-mile Ansell Protective Gloves 150 begins live on SPEED at 7 p.m. Eastern. Additionally, live timing and scoring and live audio coverage for all three events will be presented by ARCA Nation and the ARCA Racing Network at ARCARacing.com.
Be sure to cast your vote for Robb Brent as the 2010 National Speed Sport News Most Popular Driver. Visit ARCANation.com and vote for Robb Brent today!
Follow Allgaier Motorsports official twitter page @allgaiermtrspts for live updates from the track. Allgaier Motorsports will be giving away autographed items & race tickets to some of its twitter followers, be sure to follow! Follow driver Robb Brent, @robbbrent for updates and insight into his everyday life.
For more on Allgaier Motorsports, please log onto www.allgaiermotorsports.com
For more on Robb Brent, please log onto www.robbbrentracing.com
Deana Cumbow
www.allgaiermotorsports.com
Dustin Long
Martinsville Speedway to host 2 Cup races a year for at least next five years
August 26, 2010, 5
Martinsville Speedway officials announced Thursday that parent company International Speedway Corp. has stated that the track will continue to host 2 Cup races a year for the next five years (that goes through 2015 season).
Did you hear about the driver who rode on the hood of a car during a race? It's true ...
August 25, 2010, 2:13:56 PM
Yes it is. Dale Inman, who was Richard Petty's longtime crew chief tells the story. The race was at a dirt track in High Point, N.C. Petty's father, Lee, was racing and Richard was on the pit crew (this was the late 1950s before Richard drove). Here's how Inman tells the story:
A fan wrote me that NASCAR is dying'' ... check out his letter and what do you think?
Monday, August 23, 2010, 4:27:32 PM
This email hit my inbox Monday morning under the subject line "NASCAR is dying ...'' It's an interesting letter. I'm not posting it because I agree or disagree with it, but I'm posting it to see what you think. Is the author right? If not, what would you say to the author to try to convince them that things maybe aren't as bad as they seem?
FOXSports.com News for NASCAR
Today, August 26, 2010, 1 hour ago
Regan Smith staying with Furniture Row
Today, August 26, 2010, 11 hours ago
Regan Smith signs contract to remain with Furniture Row.
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NASCAR reinstates LaJoie
Yesterday, August 25, 2010, 1:55:03 PM
NASCAR has reinstated former driver Randy LaJoie following his suspension for a failed drug test.
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Reutimann admits to feud with Busch
Yesterday, August 25, 2010, 1:20:34 PM
David Reutimann incensed by Kyle Busch's Bristol remarks.
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Sadler still has something left in his tank
Monday, August 23, 2010, 5:39:04 PM
Elliott Sadler does a great job shilling for his sponsors, and he's a natural in front of cameras.
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Garage chatter: What everybody's talking about during the Sprint Cup off week
Monday, August 23, 2010, 3:47:41 PM
Check out the latest news and notes from throughout NASCAR.
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Ray Evernham wants to mentor young NASCAR talent
Monday, August 23, 2010, 1:34:52 PM
Evernham's latest moves could make him key player in NASCAR.
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Texas drag racer dies at Iowa raceway
Monday, August 23, 2010, 11:09:15 AM
A drag racer has died of injuries from a crash at Eddyville Raceway Park in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
iowa-pi_20100823133528_335_220.JPG
Motorcycle USA Article Headlines
2010 MotoGP Indianapolis Preview
Today, August 26, 2010, 10 hours ago | Steve Atlas
The MotoGP world championship makes its way back to the United States this weekend for the Indy U.S. Grand Prix. Can any Americans upset last year's winner Jorge Lorenzo?
Catalyst Racing Composites Product Review
Today, August 26, 2010, 17 hours ago | Steve Atlas
When it came time to select which bodywork to use on the Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike project the decision was simple: Catalyst Racing Composites. Why? Read the full product review here to find out.
2010 Kymco Yager GT 200i Review
Today, August 26, 2010, 18 hours ago | Gabe Ets-Hokin
Our scooter expert delivers his most recent review of the Kymco Yager GT 200i, a Chinese-built scooter with excellent handling and sturdy design for under $3,500.
Wayne Rainey MotoGP Interview
Today, August 26, 2010, 18 hours ago | Adam Waheed
Three-time 500cc motorcycle Grand Prix Champion, Wayne Rainey speaks with MotorcycleUSA and shares what he’s been up to as well as his take on the current state of MotoGP road racing in this exclusive race interview.
Stewart Withdraws from MX, Issues Apology
Yesterday, August 25, 2010, 7:52:24 PM | Bart Madson
After a lackluster return at Unadilla, James Stewart has withdrawn from the three remaining AMA Motocross Nationals.
2011 Polaris EV Electric UTV First Ride
Yesterday, August 25, 2010, 3:00:00 AM | Doug Meyer
For 2011 Polaris has come out with an electric version of its 2009 mid-sized Ranger model. Read on for more details and specs on the Polaris EV.
Honda’s Nicest People & Mad Men
Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 7:51:50 PM | Bart Madson
Almost 50 years ago American Honda looked to Madison Avenue for help, generating one of the most sucessful advertising campaigns in history. Now Honda's back in the '60s in AMC's Mad Men.
Field Set for USGPRU Race at Indy
Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 3:48:00 PM | Press Release
Entries are now officially closed and the rider list for the Moriwaki MD250H Moto3 class at the Indianapolis GP has been finalized.
Field Set for Moto3 Class at Indy
Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 3:48:00 PM | Press Release
Entries are now officially closed and the rider list for the Moriwaki MD250H Moto3 class at the Indianapolis GP has been finalized.
ATV MX Champs to be Honored at Banquet
Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 3:17:00 PM | Press Release
2010 AMA ATV Motocross Champs will be honored at the second annual awards banquet at Pala Raceway following the final round of the 2010 AMA Motocross Championship.
Nicky Hayden to be Grand Marshall at Indy Mile
Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 2:59:00 PM | Press Release
MotoGP rider Nicky Hayden will be the honorary Grand Marshall of the Lucas Oil Indy Mile in the upcoming round of AMA Flat Track racing.
Peru Off-Roading Adventure - Fan Report
Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 2:29:00 PM | Fan Report
From forest floor to the heights of the Andes, David Reid cashed-in on his life-long dream of off-roading through the Andes. Read on to see details of his motorcycle adventure through Peru.
Peru Off-Roading Adventure
Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 2:29:00 PM | MotorcycleUSA Staff
From forest floor to the heights of the Andes, David Reid cashed-in on his life-long dream of off-roading through the Andes. Read on to see details of his motorcycle adventure through Peru.
2010 FIM Motocross Brazil Results
Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 2:15:00 PM | Press Release
KTM's Antonio Cairoli captured his fourth world championship title in Brazil earlier than expected after Clement Desalle suffered mechanical issues in the second moto.
Kawasaki Jet Ski Motocross Training Crossover
Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 3:00:00 AM | Adam Waheed
It’s summer and what better way to cool off and cross-train for motocross with Kawasaki’s 800 SX-R Jet Ski. Follow along as we ride with AMA MX racers Tyla Rattray and Dean Wilson.
Ripxx Personal Measuring Device Review
Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 3:00:00 AM | JC Hilderbrand
Ripxx allows riders to monitor different aspects of a ride, from tracing their path across the mountains to counting lap times and measuring jumps.
MotoGP Pre-Indy News Roundup
Monday, August 23, 2010, 10:42:00 PM | Steve Atlas
Coming into the Indy MotoGP race this weekend there has been a fair bit of interesting news floating around the GP world, so here's a look at what's going on in Grand Prix motorcycle racing.
2011 Victory Motorcycles First Ride Review
Monday, August 23, 2010, 7:48:00 PM | Bryan Harley
We hop on a 2011 Cross Country then sample the Hammer 8-Ball and other 2011 Victory Motorcycles in this Victory first ride review.
2010 AMA Flat Track Peoria Results
Monday, August 23, 2010, 2:20:00 PM | Matt Davidson
For the sixth time this season Monster Energy Kawasaki's Henry Wiles dominated the Grand National Championship, leading all 25 laps of the main and snaring the four-lap Dash for Cash event.
Memorable MC: Mike Hailwood Ducati Replica
Monday, August 23, 2010, 3:00:00 AM | Frank Melling
For this month's Memorable Motorcycle our vintage editor takes a look back at a racing legend and personal hero, riding the Mike Hailwood Replica Ducati.
NASCAR.COM - Sprint Cup Series Headlines
Smith signs extension through '12 with Furniture Row
Today, August 26, 2010, 8 hours ago
Furniture Row Racing on Thursday announced that Regan Smith has signed a contract extension through the 2012 season to drive the team's No. 78 Chevrolet in the Sprint Cup Series.
Blaney to drive Front Row's 38 at Atlanta
Yesterday, August 25, 2010, 3:12:35 PM
Dave Blaney will be in the driver's seat next week at Atlanta Motor Speedway, taking the wheel of the No. 38 Ford for Front Row Motorsports. Blaney will practice and attempt to qualify the car for the Emory Healthcare 500, a race that the No. 38 team must make on speed.
Petty on A.J.'s season: 'Not too good'
Yesterday, August 25, 2010, 11:54:45 AM
Car owner Richard Petty didn't mince words Tuesday when he was asked to assess the 2010 season of driver A.J. Allmendinger.
AMS' Labor Day race becomes four-day spectacle
Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 4:39:33 PM
NASCAR fans can attend four days of racing activities at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sept. 3-6 for $69, arguably making this the most-affordable race weekend on the NASCAR circuit.
McMurray overcomes pit mistakes, finishes third
Monday, August 23, 2010, 12:55:19 PM
Jamie McMurray took a night that could have literally been the pits and turned it into a third-place finish in the Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
NASCAR.COM - Nationwide Series Headlines
Raines comfortable with his place in Nationwide
Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 10:50:39 AM
Tony Raines isn't one to necessarily volunteer to be a mentor.
Blogs
A Kyle sweep is better than a Jimmie sweep
Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 10:06:33 AM | Carolyn Brewster
My first thought on Kyle Busch’s Bristol sweep – I’m glad it wasn’t Jimmie Johnson. Johnson’s record is amazing and anyone arguing otherwise is not being intellectually honest. He already has a collection of impressive accomplishments and records that would be the envy of any driver on the circuit. Johnson is tidy, articulate, and well presented. However, had he accomplished the Bristol sweep (a big if, considering he hasn't driven in Nationwide or trucks since 2008), I would have yawned and turned the television off.
Driver feuds make night race at Bristol much anticipated
Wednesday, August 18, 2010, 2:58:49 PM | Carolyn Brewster
The Bristol night race has always been the prized jewel of my NASCAR season. A string of ho-hum finishes in the past few years, however, have dulled its luster and made it feel like “just another race.” This season, though, I’m flippin’ excited.
JR Motorsports made right move hiring Aric Almirola
Wednesday, August 18, 2010, 1:33:09 PM | Jeff Owens
JR Motorsports has been rolling the dice with Danica Patrick, gambling that she can figure out how to drive a stock car and eventually bring some success to Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Nationwide Series team. JRM placed a much safer bet on Wednesday, signing promising Aric Almirola as its full-time driver for 2011.
Random thoughts on Dale Jarrett, Tony Stewart and Bo Bice
Monday, August 09, 2010, 1:08:08 PM | Carolyn Brewster
Welcome to more random thoughts, the Watkins Glen edition, brought to you by a NASCAR fan from my recliner.
Signing AJ Allmendinger good move, Marcos Ambrose should be next for RPM
Friday, August 06, 2010, 1:15:59 PM | Jeff Owens
Richard Petty Motorsports made a smart move by re-signing AJ Allmendinger. RPM is a mid-pack team with the potential to be much better with its support from Ford and alliance with Roush Fenway Racing.
Could NASCAR drivers have their own show like Shaquille O’Neal?
Wednesday, August 04, 2010, 11:25:48 AM | Bob Pockrass
The “Shaq Vs” episode featuring Shaquille O’Neal racing Dale Earnhardt Jr. in a stock car was more entertaining than expected.
ThatsRacin.com: Top Stories
Smith extends stay with team
Today, August 26, 2010, 3 hours ago
Regan Smith will remain at Furniture Row Racing for the next two seasons.
Evernham on Jr.'s struggles: 'For him not to be winning is a shame'
Today, August 26, 2010, 3 hours ago
What’s wrong with Dale Earnhardt Jr.? Jeff Gordon’s former crew chief Ray Evernham thinks the problem between Earnhardt and his crew chief, Lance McGrew, is at the root of it all.
Has batteries, kicks butt
Today, August 26, 2010, 3 hours ago
This could very well be the fastest electric car on the planet.
Notes: Tickets have Hall tie
Today, August 26, 2010, 4 hours ago
Charlotte Motor Speedway has joined forces with the NASCAR Hall of Fame and The Charlotte Observer to offer a special ticket package for its Oct. 16 Sprint Cup Series race.
As gate declines, NASCAR cuts will hurt elsewhere
Today, August 26, 2010, 4 hours ago
JIM UTTER: There are two sides to every story, even in NASCAR.
NASCAR goes north: Solid field returns to Montreal
Today, August 26, 2010, 4 hours ago
Carl Edwards thought he had no chance of catching Marcos Ambrose in the waning laps of last year's Nationwide Series race in Montreal.
Canada's taxpayers asked to pony up
Today, August 26, 2010, 5 hours ago
Organizers of this week's NASCAR race in Montreal want government help in attracting fans.
Apology accepted, Barrichello says
Today, August 26, 2010, 7 hours ago
SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium – Michael Schumacher's Belgian Grand Prix "homecoming" began with a message of congratulations and apology to his former Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello.
This Week in Racing: Emory Healthcare 500
Yesterday, August 25, 2010, 8:41:00 PM
Who’s hot
Kyle Busch: Three wins in a weekend. Is a Cup championship next?
NASCAR reinstates LaJoie following suspension
Yesterday, August 25, 2010, 6:20:00 PM
NASCAR reinstated former driver Randy LaJoie on Wednesday following his suspension for a failed drug test.
Texas driver dies at Iowa dragstrip
Monday, August 23, 2010, 8:42:00 PM
OSKALOOSA, Iowa – A drag racer has died of injuries from a crash at Eddyville Raceway Park in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
NASCAR renewal: Sadler finding some new traction
Monday, August 23, 2010, 8:18:00 PM
Jenna Fryer: Elliott Sadler does a great job shilling for his sponsors, and he's a natural in front of cameras.
Swiss bank UBS to sponsor F1
Monday, August 23, 2010, 5:26:00 PM
GENEVA – Swiss bank UBS has signed a long-term deal to sponsor Formula One.
NASCAR: Who's hot and who's not
Monday, August 23, 2010, 5:04:00 PM
With the Sprint Cup schedule showing a weekend off, some drivers will hit the road with the Nationwide Series in Montreal while others opt for a little quiet time.
Yahoo! Sports - NASCAR News
Ambrose intent on shaking bad Montreal luck (PA SportsTicker)
Today, August 26, 2010, 2 hours ago
(Sporting News) - Marcos Ambrose was asked if there was an Australian term for "snakebit," which certainly seems to apply to the Tasmanian in NASCAR Nationwide Series races at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
Ranger ready to make move on home road course (NASCAR.com)
Today, August 26, 2010, 5 hours ago
Ranger ready to make move on home road course
Schumacher shares Spa return with Barrichello (PA SportsTicker)
Today, August 26, 2010, 6 hours ago
By PAUL LOGOTHETIS AP Auto Racing Writer
NASCAR reinstates LaJoie following suspension (PA SportsTicker)
Today, August 26, 2010, 6 hours ago
NASCAR reinstated former driver Randy LaJoie on Wednesday following his suspension for a failed drug test.
Track Smack: Intentional spins, record wins and hairpins (NASCAR.com)
Today, August 26, 2010, 6 hours ago
Track Smack: Intentional spins, record wins and hairpins
By the Numbers: Busch, Bodine poised for another Chicago battle (NASCAR.com)
Today, August 26, 2010, 10 hours ago
By the Numbers: Busch, Bodine poised for another Chicago battle
By the Numbers: Drivers search for perfection at Montreal (NASCAR.com)
Today, August 26, 2010, 11 hours ago
By the Numbers: Drivers search for perfection at Montreal
Atlanta undeterred by loss of race (Yahoo! Sports)
Today, August 26, 2010, 11 hours ago
Track president Ed Clark's goal is to make Atlanta Motor Speedway the biggest Labor Day celebration in America.
NASCAR reinstates LaJoie following suspension (AP)
Yesterday, August 25, 2010, 6:20:21 PM
NASCAR reinstated former driver Randy LaJoie on Wednesday following his suspension for a failed drug test.
Repaving project a testament to technology (NASCAR.com)
Yesterday, August 25, 2010, 5:38:43 PM
Repaving project a testament to technology
Solid field heads to Montreal for Nationwide race (PA SportsTicker)
Yesterday, August 25, 2010, 3:47:47 PM
By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer
Head2Head: Which driver will be the future of Penske Racing? (NASCAR.com)
Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 4:45:22 PM
Head2Head: Which driver will be the future of Penske Racing?
Retro Racing: Baker bounced back from blood clot, brain surgery (NASCAR.com)
Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 3:42:48 PM
Retro Racing: Baker bounced back from blood clot, brain surgery
Walmart continues discussions to sponsor Gordon (NASCAR.com)
Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 3:10:50 PM
Walmart continues discussions to sponsor Gordon
1on1: Keselowski's tire changer keeping eye on the ball (NASCAR.com)
Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 2:16:23 PM
1on1: Keselowski's tire changer keeping eye on the ball
Busch stirs emotions, pro and con (Yahoo! Sports)
Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 12:09:00 PM
Love him or hate him, which it seems most fans do, Kyle Busch is wildly entertaining.
Hamilton fined for burnout in Melbourne street (PA SportsTicker)
Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 9:46:26 AM
Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton has been fined $445 and avoided conviction for skidding tires outside the Australian Grand Prix circuit in March.
One Menz Opinion: Bowyer in control of battle for 12th Chase spot (NASCAR.com)
Monday, August 23, 2010, 2:52:34 PM
One Menz Opinion: Bowyer in control of battle for 12th Chase spot
Swiss bank UBS to sponsor Formula One (PA SportsTicker)
Monday, August 23, 2010, 11:28:39 AM
Swiss bank UBS has signed a long-term deal to sponsor Formula One.
Texas driver dies at Iowa raceway (AP)
Monday, August 23, 2010, 11:13:11 AM
A drag racer has died of injuries from a crash at Eddyville Raceway Park in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Track co-owner Scott Gardner says Tim Hay of Burleson, Texas, died during an Outlaw Fuel Altereds race on Saturday night. Gardner says the 49-year-old Hay lost control of his car, slammed into a safety wall and rolled over.
Fryer's Five: Busch shines, Junior … doesn't (Yahoo! Sports)
Monday, August 23, 2010, 10:44:00 AM
Since being replaced at Hendrick Motorsports by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kyle Busch has won 15 races to Junior's one.
Road Racer X
Nicky Hayden Makes Front Page in USA Today
Today, August 26, 2010, 10 hours ago | admin
Nicky Hayden makes the Sports section front page in USA Today for August 26th.
Backmarker: Some stories are chicken, some stories are feathers
Today, August 26, 2010, 12 hours ago | CJ
Last year around this time, I got a cryptic email from a guy out in the Boston area who told me that he was part of an MIT student project, with a goal of building a bike to race in the TTXGP on the Isle of Man in 2010. That was intriguing because the initial (it turned out to be the only) TTXGP race on the IoM had been a qualified success but the initial winner’s performance led me to believe there’d be a window of opportunity—maybe another year or two—in which a non-corporate team stood a chance of entering and winning.
It was a long time coming,
but earlier this summer, MIT's EV team got an S1000RR rolling chassis and began
fitting it with batteries and a pair of DC motors. The plan is to use this bike
as a testbed and—hopefully—move on to more custom components and even a custom
chassis in the next couple of years. In 2012, when the IDC comes onstream, it
will have morphed into a joint U.S.-Singapore project. • Courtesy Lennon
Rodgers
One of the cool things about an MIT student project is that the term “student” can be misleading. The project leader, Lennon Rodgers, was an actual rocket scientist who had jettisoned a career at the famed Jet Propulsion Laboratory in order to get a Ph.D. focused on design, with an emphasis on the emerging field of EVs. Also, the school’s lab and workshop facilities are, to say the least, out of the science-fair league, and there’s a sort of global-engineering mafia of MIT alumni who will provide advice, material aid, and access to technology that might not be seen outside the lab for years. Rodgers knew they’d need batteries, for example. Their contact at A123 was Yet-Ming Chiang, and there was the prospect of working with a European software company that was developing a GPS-based battery management system—imagine a vehicle that knew where you were and where you were going, and regulated power availability so that you’d always used 100 percent of the available power at the finish line.
Rodgers was already an avid motorcyclist who’d built a small electric bike out of off-the-shelf parts, but motorcycle chassis design and dynamics are an ultra-specialized engineering niche. He didn’t need much convincing from me when I offered to shop his project around with a few OEMs.
I got off that phone call, and the wheels were already turning in my head. It seemed like a made-for-media opportunity for any OEM. I mean, picture a school with amazing brand equity, a bunch of bright young guys working to solve one of the world’s big problems, and a project that ended with a dramatic (and dangerous) international sporting event: if that isn’t a reality TV show dying to be made, I didn’t know what is. Surely, any OEM would see that too. After all, it was a no-lose proposition for whoever partnered with MIT. If they won the race, then the OEM took the glory. If they didn’t, well, it was just a student project.
I made a short list of companies to pitch the idea to: One Japanese OEM never called back. I spoke with an American company at some length, but it soon emerged that it had other things on its mind. An email outlining the project to a European manufacturer got an unsigned response that was clearly a standard get-lost form letter.
I wrote Berthold Hauser, who I knew was plenty busy with BMW’s SBK effort, and asked him to forward a note to Dr. Christian Landerl, who heads Motorrad’s R&D effort in Munich. Landerl wrote back immediately to set up a phone call in which I outlined our needs: a copy of the CAD program that they used to design the S1000RR so we could design our battery pack, and, ASAP, an S1000RR rolling chassis we could use as a test bed. In exchange, BMW would get access to the research being done at MIT, and get to know a group of young engineers that, to say the least, would make good potential hires. Landerl intuitively also grasped the fact that the project was a potential public relations windfall. Within a couple of weeks, we had a conference call set up between Boston and Munich. While things weren’t progressing quite as quickly as I’d have liked, making the TT seemed feasible.
Lennon took some time off that winter to save the world, working on some MIT-supported water-purification project in India or something. On his way home, he passed through Munich, dropped in on BMW’s R&D facility, presented a paper on rapid-charging in EV applications, and left with a copy of their CAD software.
Things stalled for a while at that point, but anyway, the wheels began falling off the TTXGP race at the IoM. We got word that the EV race would be one lap, not two as we’d hoped (since we were eager to showcase some rapid-charging technology). Finally, I pretty much gave up in frustration when Lennon told me that they still hadn’t got their rolling chassis at the “drop dead” deadline to get a bike ready for the race. As a writer and journalist, as someone with an interest in documentary film, as a communications strategist and marketing guy—in any and all of those guises, I felt the project of a lifetime had slipped through my fingers.
My interest was piqued again this summer when I got an email informing me that the MIT motorcycle project had finally received a BMW rolling chassis. I thought it was time to call Lennon Rodgers and touch base on his project—in fact, get his whole story. Here’s what he had to say:
We’ve been calling this project the e-Superbike. We’ve been working on it since August, 2009. The Isle of Man was the inspiration for this particular project, I guess, but I’d already built an electric motorcycle that I called the e-moto1 a couple of years before that. The idea was to get more students interested in an electric motorcycle—particularly, a higher- performance one.
I went to University of Illinois, then came to MIT to get a Master’s degree. I rode my [conventional] motorcycle out to Pasadena when I went to JPL and Caltech. While I was in Pasadena, I rode a bicycle everywhere and got smog-induced asthma, so I sold my motorcycle and started designing and building the e-moto. As I worked on it, I realized that I wanted to work in clean transportation full-time, so I knocked on a few doors at MIT, and they opened up pretty quickly.
You were along for the whole ride, but the longest part of the e-Superbike project was just getting the rolling chassis. Now we’re finalizing the mechanical and electronics piece of it, so we’re modifying the frame, figuring out what motors we’ll use, and mounting them. We’re ordering batteries from A123—they’re donating them. That’s kind of the first stage. We hope to get that done in the next couple of months and actually turn a wheel in testing. The next phase will be the energy-management system and aerodynamics.
The current plan is that A123 will give us batteries configured in rectangular modules; they’re batteries they designed for an automotive use—lithium-ion nanophosphate. Depending on how the electrodes are made, you can charge or discharge the battery faster—that’s the relevance of the “nano” in the name. The smaller particles have more surface area for their volume.
The energy density of batteries is not going to change too much in the foreseeable future—it’s certainly not going to double any time soon—but the power density, the ability to get power out and recharge it quickly is going to improve.
When battery manufacturers make cells, they make a few inherent trade-offs between energy density and power density. Most batteries can be discharged much faster than they can be charged. We did a study that goes into the feasibility of rapid charging. One factor is that you have to have a cell design that can be charged quickly without degrading the battery, but another factor is the grid; you have to have an energy source, and you need to have a high-power charger—you need way more power than a household has. It doesn’t follow that the existing power grid can’t handle the loads. Maybe not for tens of millions of cars, but professionals in the field have told me it’s a lot of power [needed for rapid charging], but it’s nothing we haven’t seen before in other applications, like say, stadium lighting.
We were going to build our own motor, but we’ve decided to use a Lynch-Agni motor for the time being, while we sort out other components. There are some other motors on the market, but there’s often something that’s not quite right; they spin too slowly, or they operate at too high voltage. We’ve made contact with a lot of companies that tell us, “We’ve got a prototype” or an engineering concept. I think in the next couple of years, a lot of new motors will come on the market.
One of our team members went out to Laguna Seca to watch the FIM race. Our project is educational—our goal is to engage our students—but I think our bike could be competitive. MotoCzysz seems to have raised the game a little, with very-high-energy-density cells, their own motor, and a lightweight chassis, but I think that for now, the opportunity is in increasing efficiency. I hope I’m not giving away too much of our strategy. Most people have stuck with a pretty conventional, superbike-looking design. There’s a lot of debate about dustbin fairings and feet-forward designs that would reduce aerodynamic drag, but there are some opportunities there. We’re also partnered with VirVe; we’re working with them on a GPS-based energy-metering system.
We’re limited now by when we’ll get our motors. We’ll be using a pair of the Agni motors; they’ll be mounted co-axially and turn a common shaft. Liquid cooling would nice. As it is, we’ll have to trade off enough airflow to keep our motors cool, at the cost of a little more aerodynamic drag. We’ll decide when and where we’ll race this bike once we’ve got some test miles on it.
Over the next couple of years, we plan to develop and test a number of components. We have a guy on our team who’s designed a custom motor, but we don’t want to throw an early prototype onto a motorcycle that will go over 100 miles an hour. We’ve also got designs for future chassis, too; we’re interested in feet-forward designs, but we want to stick with the BMW chassis for now because we want to get something rolling.
This is an MIT EV team project, but it’s also one of the first projects of something called the International Design Center, which is an institute shared by MIT and a university in Singapore. There are going to be a lot of new vehicle designs coming out of it. Some of our funding will come from the IDC. We just moved into a new building here at MIT that’s part of it, too. I’m going to Singapore in a few weeks, and they’ll have thousands of students there, beginning in 2012.
Despite my frustration, I’ve really enjoyed my conversations with the MIT guys and with BMW’s R&D boffins. In a world that seems to be relentlessly dumbing down, they give me a little hope for the future. They’ve heightened my awareness and understanding of EVs in general and what the immediate future holds in that sector.
SLIDESHOW: Umbrella Girls of the Week, Indy 2009 Redux
Today, August 26, 2010, 13 hours ago | admin
2009 Red Bull Indy GP • Photo by Andrew Northcott
◄ Back - Next ► Picture 1 of 8
Special Moriwaki-Made Trophies for Indy MD250H Race (Pic)
Yesterday, August 25, 2010, 10:08:16 PM | admin
Torrance, CA: In just a few
days, racers from around the globe will gather to compete at the 2010 Red Bull
Indianapolis GP, held August 27 to 29. Many of these GP racers have already
gained legendary status the world over. But in addition to these luminaries, a
host of young racers aged 12-16 prepares for competition in a special youth
class that will see them riding the Moriwaki MD250H powered by Honda. Perched
at the brink of their budding careers, these young racers will step onto the
biggest stage imaginable. The trophies that await the victors have been
specially crafted by Moriwaki Engineering for this momentous occasion.
Courtesy Honda
“Recognizing that the MD250H race at the 2010 Red Bull Indianapolis GP is truly a historic occasion, my father and I thought this is such a special event we should try to capture the passion both Honda and Moriwaki hold for racing and place that passion into a uniquely crafted trophy,” said Midori Moriwaki, Managing Director, Moriwaki Engineering Co. Ltd. “And so with this distinctive trophy we hope to inspire young racers and fans around the world to recognize that events such as this are a great way to enter the sport of racing and motor sports!
“Notice that the trophy stand is actually a triple clamp from a MD600 Moto2 racer, and the trophy itself takes the form of an MD250H—one laser-cut out of titanium plate that carries the coloration distinctive to Moriwaki exhaust silencers. This trophy symbolizes the ‘road to the world championship’; every young person who starts racing always dreams of becoming a world champion. So this trophy serves as a message for young riders: Your efforts are the first steps that may lead you toward becoming a champion.”
The Moriwaki MD250H is a purpose-built GP-style race bike that incorporates a Honda-built single-cylinder four-stroke engine sourced from the CRF250X. The MD250H also features an aluminum frame with massive main spars, a single radial-mount front disc brake, inverted fork, Pro-Link® single-shock rear suspension, racing wheels and tires, plus a works-style welded aluminum fuel tank. This is a formula that parallels the World Grand Prix Moto2 class, which features racing chassis engineered by various manufacturers, including Moriwaki, that all use a spec-built Honda engine based on the CBR600RR powerplant.
During the 2010 Red Bull Indianapolis GP, these young racers will compete on both Saturday and Sunday in points-paying events sanctioned by the United States Grand Prix Racers Union (USGPRU) that lead to $180,000 in contingency awards sponsored by Honda. The Saturday race flags off at 4:30 p.m. and the Sunday race begins early at 10:20 a.m.—don’t miss any of this exciting racing!
Go to usgpru.net for more details about MD250H racing and the USGPRU.
Yamaha Bringing Fan Events to Red Bull Indy GP
Yesterday, August 25, 2010, 5:35:52 PM | admin
INDIANAPOLIS, Wednesday,
Aug. 25, 2010 – Yamaha is bringing three exciting, fan-focused events to
Indianapolis during Red Bull Indianapolis GP weekend, including a rider chat
with Yamaha MotoGP superstars, and two concerts featuring Yamaha WSBK star and
classically trained pianist James Toseland, accompanied by his pop-rock band
Crash.
Red Bull Indianapolis GP winners Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo, and American stars Ben Spies and Colin Edwards will participate in a special rider chat from 5:45-6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 28 on the SPEED Stage in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway infield. The event will be emceed by renowned MotoGP commentators Nick Harris and Gavin Emmett. It should be quite a treat for the fans as all four riders answer questions and provide sure-to-be-memorable quotes.
Seven-time MotoGP World Champion Rossi and current MotoGP points leader Lorenzo are teammates on the Fiat Yamaha Team. Texans Spies and Edwards are teammates on the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team.
The chat is free to all Red Bull Indianapolis GP Saturday ticket holders.
Crash, the band led by former MotoGP and current Yamaha World Superbike rider James Toseland, will play two shows in Indianapolis, including one at IMS.
Toseland and his band will play will play at 10 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 27 at Jackson and Meridian streets in downtown Indianapolis during Motorcycles on Meridian. Then, as a warm-up to the rider chat, Toseland and Crash will also play from 4:50-5:45 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 28 on the SPEED Stage at IMS.
The downtown Meridian street show is free to the public, and the IMS show is free to all Red Bull Indianapolis GP Saturday ticket holders.
It’s the third consecutive year that Toseland will perform at IMS during the Red Bull Indianapolis GP. He played with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in 2008 and was joined on-stage by Crash last year.
Fans won’t want to miss this rare combination of motorcycles and music, two subjects that are near and dear to the hearts of Yamaha and its worldwide, faithful followers.
***
IMS tickets: Tickets for the 2010 Red Bull Indianapolis GP are on sale now. A new structure offers additional value and flexibility to fans attending the annual MotoGP event.
Among the highlights of the new ticket structure are lower prices and single-day reserved and general admission tickets for Race Day, Sunday, Aug. 29. Children 12 and under will be admitted free any day of the event if accompanied by an adult holding a general admission ticket.
Fans can order tickets online at www.imstix.com, call the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700, or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area, or visit the ticket office at the IMS Administration Building at the corner of Georgetown Road and 16th Street. Online orders can be made at any time. Hours for phone orders and the ticket office are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday-Friday.
General admission tickets provide access to the grounds, viewing mounds along the infield section of the circuit and selected grandstands, which provide excellent angles to see the greatest riders in the world.
Fans can now print their tickets – three-day reserved seat and Race Day-only general admission and reserved seat tickets – with their printer after ordering tickets online at www.imstix.com. Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are on sale. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information.
Between the Races: David Lloyd
Yesterday, August 25, 2010, 5:18:49 PM | Jeff Feathers
Last year Lloyd Brothers Motorsports took a stock-framed Ducati to the Springfield Mile and qualified for the main event. Just over a year later, Joe Kopp put their Ducati on the top step of the podium at the Prescott Arizona Yavapai Mile, breaking Harley’s flat track dominance. For race fans it was a chance to see tight racing with multiple factories; for team principal David Lloyd it was a demonstration of the hard work his team had put into creating a package that could break the XR750 stranglehold. One day after traveling back home from the Lake Odessa Half Mile, Lloyd spoke candidly about his team’s success and the current state of AMA Pro flat track racing.
David Lloyd • Courtesty
Lloyd
RRX:
So how have things been going? A lot has gone on for you guys since we first
saw the Ducati flat track bike a year ago.
DL: Yeah, it’s been huge for us. We were
fortunate enough to have Larry Pegram on board with the program and ENI USA,
and then to be able to hire Joe Kopp as a rider—a national champion who can
win—that made all the difference. We did a little testing with Joe, and the
first time out we had a great race, but also had a little bit of good fortune
go our way and ended up with the win.
What’s transpired as far as development
goes, from what you started with at Springfield a year ago to what you have now?
Not a lot, actually. We learned so much the last five years with the Aprilia
and we applied everything we learned technically with that motorcycle when we
started building the Ducatis. To see if it was a viable package, we started
with a dirt tracker that had a stock frame—a GT1000 for Larry to run at
Springfield. We did what modifications we could to the chassis to get it in the
right place and we made the main event with Larry on a stock-framed motorcycle,
which nobody can remember the last time that happened. From there we put the
pen to paper and designed a conventional dirt track chassis with the geometry
that we wanted, and we were able to have that built by a frame fabricator—VMC
Frames in Ohio—and we’ve been playing with that since the second half of last
year.
How were you received when Joe rolled
across the line, beating out the Harleys?
To be honest, it was fantastic. Ninety-nine percent of the competitors were
super happy for the sport first of all, and secondly for the team, because they
all know we’ve worked so hard for it. We had overwhelming support and gratitude
from those guys. The fans, believe it or not, everybody went nuts and they were
happy for us. They saw a great race and they didn’t care if it was a Harley or
a Ducati that won, it got their blood pumping to see a good race. Even though
they might have been a little disappointed that the Harley lost by twenty-five
hundredths of a second, they were happy it was a great race amongst different
brands.
Lloyd Motorsports' Joe Kopp
• Photo by Flat Trak Fotos
With a win under your belt, do you feel
like things are looking up?
Like a lot of the teams, I think we’re in survival mode and we’re just happy to
be able to go motorcycle racing and to have the support that we have from our
sponsors. Latus Motors—if it wasn’t for them, Joe wouldn’t be able to ride the
bike either—is a Harley dealer that races Ducati motorcycles in road racing and
they’re sticking with Joe on the flat track bike. Things are looking up; as far
as the series goes, I think it’s the best it’s ever been since the Camel Pro
days. We’ve got a long way to go, but I think right now dirt track is a pretty
good deal as far as motorcycle racing goes. With magazines like Road
Racer X picking up on the vibe from this, it only helps build our
fan base and expose dirt track for what it is: a really exciting form of
motorcycle racing that no one really knows about [laughs].
Does the win change or affect your
plans for the next season?
I don’t know that it helps us personally right now as much as it helps the
sport. I think for us to go out and break Harley’s win streak, and the one that
Honda had before then, is important. We were the first DOT-based engine that
won in almost thirty years, and I think it opens peoples’ eyes up to the fact
that it can be done and maybe they should try it out as well. Obviously for us,
we’re hoping that the amount of media exposure we produce for our sponsors
gives them a good reason to come back again next year. Right now everything is
year to year.
Have you moved to running solely
Ducatis?
No, Aaron King is still running the Aprilia, but we don’t have any support from
Aprilia so we’re basically running what we had last year. It’s an opportunity
for a young racer to go out and get track time, and with the support from ENI
it behooves us to run the Aprilias since they have an affiliation with the Agip
Group. We don’t have to run the motorcycle, but since we have
it, we like to give Aaron a chance to ride.
Photo by Flat Trak Fotos
A few years ago, your team had success
in the Moto-GT series with Aprilia. Do you have any plans to returning to road
racing?
Honestly, I know that AMA [Pro] is changing the rules for dirt track to a 750cc
maximum displacement in 2012. When that happens, we’re going to be done, but if
we can keep our sponsorship with ENI and add to that, we could go back to road
racing. I’d love to stick with dirt track, but I just don’t think a 750 Ducati
can be competitive with the Harley.
It’s the wrong thing to do for the sport. The only thing we’ve done to that Ducati is high-compression pistons and cams from the Ducati Performance catalog, that’s all we’ve done to the engine. We won one race and also had a fifth and a ninth on it, so we’re there with the motorcycle and we have been all year long, without a lot of money, and now they’re saying we’ve got to take that and make it a 750 and spend a ton of money to make it fast. We’d have to replace parts all the time and have a whole engine program, which is counterproductive. It will eliminate the Aprilia, the Ducati, the Triumph, and the KTM teams; that’s four brands and only leaves Kawasaki and Harley. We’ve proven that we can win, so we’ll go road racing or do something else.
Kopp photo by Flat Trak
Fotos
Can you talk a little bit about your
expectations with Larry riding the Ducati flat tracker at Indy this year?
[With Larry having ridden the Hagerstown Half Mile in early August], we’re that
much more prepared for Indy. By the time we get to Indy, he’s going to very
familiar with the motorcycle, and in my opinion he’s going to be one of the
guys with a chance of winning the race.
While not entirely realistic, our “Let
Nicky Ride” petition got thousands of signatures from people who liked the idea
of seeing Hayden on a flat tracker at Indy.
No one asked us about the possibility other than Road
Racer X [laughs], but I’m sure he’d
like to do four or five hot laps like Kenny Roberts did last year just for
show. Personally, I think that would be a great thing for the people in the
stands. It would be great for our program and it would bring a lot of attention
to dirt track, which is what we’re after. He’s more than welcome to do a few
laps on it.
Moto Moments WALLPAPER: Nicky Hayden
Yesterday, August 25, 2010, 1:51:27 PM | admin
With the Kentucky Kid’s
home GP going off this weekend, Nicky Hayden was the only choice for today’s
Moment Moments Wallpaper. Revamp your monitors, laptops, and iPhones with this
Andrew Northcott shot of Hayden in the Czech Republic.
MPORTANT: Click the thumbnail below (whichever is the appropriate size for your monitor) and use the expanded photo, not the thumbnail, as your wallpaper. Widescreen, full screen, and horizontal/vertical iPhone wallpapers—now higher resolution to accommodate iPhone 4s—available.
Click for Widescreen Wallpaper (16:10)
Click for Fullscreen Wallpaper (4:3)
Click for Fullscreen Wallpaper (5:4)
Click for Horizontal iPhone/Mobile Wallpaper
Click for Vertical iPhone/Mobile Wallpaper
Worx Cresent Suzuki BSB Suspenion Specialist Andy White Blogs (Pic)
Yesterday, August 25, 2010, 11:21:41 AM | admin
Hi, I’m Andy White from
KAIS Suspension Services and we’ve been specialists in Ohlins suspension since
1983. We’re contracted to give specialist support to the Worx Crescent Suzuki
BSB team and you’ll see me working with Tommy Hill and Yukio Kayama at every
race meeting and testing session during the season.
Andy White • Courtesy Team
Suzuki
The kit that is fitted to the Worx Crescent Suzukis is a step ahead of anything that’s available on road bikes, but that’s due to their extreme operating conditions. The race bikes put their suspension under a lot more stress, they’re going much higher speeds, creating much harder braking forces and are looking for more side grip than is ever needed on a road bike. The Ohlins fork, the FGR000, is brand new this year, gas-charged with totally separate cartridges inside and so is much easier to work on and it’s simpler to change the settings – they’re the best product I’ve known Ohlins to make. The TTX36 shock has been around a while and you’ll see them on MotoGP bikes as well, but the ones we are using are ex-World Superbike Factory.
The way the TTX system works is it’s a twin-tube design so it pushes the oil through two different shim stacks for compression and rebound damping; it’s very advanced compared with a typical road bike system. There is a trickle down on the technology, although it has to be modified to suit the different performance parameters needed for the road, so Ohlins have a good road and track fork, and if that’s beyond your budget, then they also do cartridge kits to upgrade standard forks. TTX shocks are available for road bikes, too. Looking at what goes on at the race track, I can tell you one size does not fit all! In the Worx Crescent Suzuki team, well, Yuki and Tommy are radically different in riding style and so their set-ups are totally different as well. One likes his bike level, the other has his jacked up at the rear. They prefer different linkages, one quite progressive; the other quite linear. There are so many differences and it’s all down to the rider, so it’s my job to listen to them and give them what they want to do the job, in the style that they do it.
Tyres make a massive difference, the level of grip is a serious issue – but given that we’re on a control tyre, it’s the same for everybody. Different circuits require different settings depending on corner types, the speeds and the bumps. For instance, Thruxton is very fast with a lot of bumps – and there the bike spends a lot of time at high speed and extreme lean angle combined. But suspension settings need to change with the weather, too; all of which makes it a very complex and forever busy job.
So, the worst word in the English language for a suspension tuner is ‘but’. You see, suspension is a compromise, always a compromise. So when you cure a problem in one area, you’ll find it generally creates a problem in another. That’s when we hear the ‘but’ word: “That’s great, it’s much better through Clearways now. But…”
Wednesday Update From IOM’s Manx Grand Prix (Pics)
Yesterday, August 25, 2010, 11:10:09 AM | admin
Courtesy Manx GP
The Classic, Post
Classic, Ultra-Lightweight and Newcomer B Groups opened up Tuesday’s practice
session at the Manx Grand Prix, sponsored by visitisleofman.com. Conditions
were generally dry and favourable although heavy winds were reported across the
mountain section.
The session got underway, following a short delay, at 6.35pm after an ambulance had to attend to a domestic emergency, and Dave Moffitt and Dave Taylor set off first from Glencrutchery Road on their Ultra-Lightweight machines.
Moffitt was first back to the grandstand and was clocked at 106.601 with Mike Minns closely behind him at 105.045 but while Michael Dunlop posted the quickest speed through the Sulby Speed trap, clocking 149.1mph, the early pacemaker back to the grandstand on time (109.680mph) was Mark Buckley in the Post Classic Class on his Suzuki XR69.
Courtesy Manx GP
Olie Linsdell followed closely on the ‘68 Paton at 108.894mph in the Senior Classic class with Alan Oversby (103.498mph) on a ’72 MV and Olie’s father Steve (100.168mph) on a 1970 Enfield Seeley also over the ton.
Olie then went out on his Yamaha FZ 746 and promptly posted the quickest time of the evening, and indeed the first 110+ lap of the 2010 Manx Grand Prix meeting, with a time of 110.035 in the Senior Post Classic class ahead of Buckley and Michael Dunlop (106.725). Roy Richardson topped the post classic Junior leader board with 109.136 with adopted Manxman Chris Palmer 107.165 and Ulsterman Brian Mateer 106.004 also posting quick times.
Phil McGurk continued his impressive form with 108.174 for his opening lap in the Ultra-Lightweight on his 650cc Kawasaki with Rab Davie hot on his heels posting 107.023. McGurk extended his time to 109.475 on the second lap with Dave Moffitt (107.654), Dave Bell (107.481) and Andy Lawson (107.468) all closely behind.
In the Newcomer B Group Jonny Heginbotham opened up with another 100mph plus lap, clocking 102.761 and he followed up with an impressive 105.037 on his second lap.
The Senior, Junior, Lightweight and Newcomers A groups started their session shortly after 7.15pm and the riders in the Junior class quickly set the benchmark with Wayne Kirwan (115.264mph) posting the fastest time of the week, Simon Fulton (114.912mph) and Michael Sweeney (114.890) were also comfortably quicker than anyone else in the week to date. Fulton then extended the fastest time of the week to 117.110mph on his second lap with Sweeney (116.123) and Ivan Lintin (115.386) also exceeding Kirwan’s first lap, Lintin having earlier posted 112.196, the fastest Senior time of the night which was later exceeded by Andrew Brady (116.836) although Lintin came back with a second lap of 115.386. Lintin also posted the quickest Sulby Speed trap time of the evening (178mph) on his Suzuki GSXR 750.
Manxman Dan Sayle led the Lightweight leaderboard on his first lap with an impressive 111.030, which he later extended to 112.409 from Roy Richardson (110.718) and Nigel Moore (108.122).
In the Newcomer A Group, local rider Andy Fenton opened up with the fastest newcomer time of the week with a 110.834mph lap ahead of Northern Ireland’s Shaun Anderson (108.851) and another promising Manx newcomer Tim Venables (108.002) also recording his fastest time around the mountain course. Fenton then improved his time to 113.432 on his second lap shortly before the session was flagged at 8.10pm
Osmo Partti was seen by a paramedic after an incident at Sarah’s Cottage but was reported to be OK as was Gary Fowler at the Waterworks. Wayne Martin was taken by Airmed to Nobles with leg injuries following an incident at Whitegates while Darryl McGeown was taken back to the paddock by Ambulance but reported as okay after an accident at Governors.
Tomorrow’s practice, scheduled to start at 6.20pm, will see the Senior, Junior, Lightweight and Newcomers A start the session with the Classic, Post Classic, Ultra-Lightweight and Newcomers B due to go out at 7.15pm
PJ Jacobsen to Contend Indy Mile Flat Track This Weekend (Pic)
Yesterday, August 25, 2010, 11:01:18 AM | admin
Courtesy Associated
Motorsports International
Moroney’s 1800-FASTHOG, New Windsor, NY (Aug 23, 2010)– PJ Jacobsen will take another crack at the sport he grew up with on his Moroney’s 1800-Fasthog sponsored Harley XR750. The infamous Indianapolis Mile will be welcoming the 13th Round of the AMA Grand National Dirt Track Series this weekend, August 28, 2010.
Jacobsen is a bit younger than most of the riders at this caliber of racing. He has a bright future in both AMA Road Racing and Dirt Track. Jacobsen, who raced with some of the Pro Singles riders, moved up a class as early as possible to take his chances in the GNC Expert Dirt Track Series.
Pat Moroney of Moroney’s Harley Davidson says, “I predict PJ will win a lot of races in the future.” Pat has had a few of the greats ride for him, for instance, Aaron Yates, Jared Mees, Nicky Hayden, Roger Hayden, Will Davis, Mike Hacker,Jake Johnson, Brian Smith and now PJ Jacobsen.
PJs’ comments on the upcoming race,” We hope to continue making the mains. It’s not easy. These guys are fast and have so much experience. If we keep it fun, that’s what counts. I am sure the guys back at Moroney’s, Pat, Rich, George and Bobby Weiss from Weiss racing will have the bike ready to do battle.
This will be Jacobsen’s fourth go around with the Moroney’s equipment and leads the AMA Saddlemen rookie of the year points chase.
After the Indianapolis Mile, Jacobsen will be heading to New Jersey Motorsports Park with his Celtic Racing team for Round 9 of the AMA Superbike weekend.
Road racers Michael Beck and Ty Howard on Pit Pass Radio Tonight
Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 5:31:53 PM | admin
Advance, North Carolina
(August 24, 2010) – Top talent and industry insiders from the motorcycle world
give their uncut opinions and race stories. Get your weekly motorcycle news
live from Pit Pass Moto Weekly. Pit Pass Moto Weekly is now heard in over 50
countries around the world.
7 pm to 9 pm Central – Motorcycle Radio streaming individual interviews from www.pitpassradio.com, or download the program from our archives to your ipod or mp3 player anytime.
Ty Howard, Road Racer – KTM RC8 R
Ty is having a very successful season racing the KTM RC8 R. He has racked up 21
wins in the Central Motorcycle Road Racing Championship Series. The KTM RC8 R
is a bike that has road race fans intrigued and Ty is demonstrating that it can
perform on the race track. He is sponsored by KTM Motorsports, KTM PowerParts,
Comedy Defensive Driving, Dunlop Tires, RPM Cycle, Ridesmart Motorcycle
Schools, Motorex Oils, Dynojet, Totally Graphic Designs, Raceworx, Kyle USA,
Skip Barber KTM Superbike School, Komodo Gear, Arai, 5th Gear Motorsport.
www.ktmusa.comwww.cmraracing.com
Michael Beck, Daytona Sport Bike – DNA Energy Drink CNR
Motorsports
Michael Beck almost did not make it to the races in 2010, but then he got the
call from CNR Motorsports. Beck has been racing professionally for a number of
years. Back in 2008 he raced for the M4 Suzuki team prior to that he had some
support from Chuck Graves in 2007. In 2009 he fielded his own privateer effort
with the help of his Dad. This year on the DNA team he has proven to be very
valuable in developing the best set up for the Ducati 848 bike. In addition to
racing motorcycles Beck also finds time to be a fulltime college student.
www.cnr-motorsports.com
Chris Pease, CEO – MOVOC 16:3
Chris is the founder and owner of MOVOC 16:3 a motorcycle apparel company. His
company designs a signature line of apparel for Leslie Porterfield. Movoc 16:3
(pronounced “moe-vok sixteen three”) is an apparel company inspired by the
motorcycling sport and lifestyle. The company tastefully blends the influence
of motorcycles with fashion to create wearable symbols of passion. He founded
the company in 2008.
www.movoc163.com
Jimmy Button, Miles for Miracles – 2011
Jimmy was a factory Yamaha motocross racer in 2000. He crashed at the San Diego
Supercross that year and suffered paralyzing injuries caused by a pinched
spinal cord in the C-3 to C-6 region of his neck. He was considered an
incomplete quadriplegic but after many months of rehab he was able to regain
movement and eventually walk. In 2011 he will be riding a bicycle 2,428 miles
from San Diego to Daytona Beach to raise money for spinal cord research. Their
goal is to raise a minimum of $1 million.
www.road2recovery.comwww.milesformiraclestoday.com
Steven Clarke, AMA Pro 450 Motocross Racer – Suzuki City
Nitro Circus
Steve had a very impressive amateur career winning three titles: a World
Championship, a British Championship and a U.S. Championship. In 2009, Clarke
finished the SX Lites season in 10th place and raced the motocross Lites class
finishing in16th place. He shattered his wrist at the end of 2009 and almost
lost his hand. He recuperated and raced the part of the Lites East season (16th
overall). He is currently racing 450’s in the motocross series (18th place)
www.suzukionly.com
Nicky Hayden Named Grand Marshall of Lucas Oil Indy Mile
Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 5:29:49 PM | admin
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (August
23, 2010) – Nicky Hayden will be the Grand Marshall of the Lucas Oil Indy Mile
AMA Pro K&N Grand National Championship presented by
Motorcycle-Superstore.com event on Saturday, August 28, 2010. Hayden, in
Indianapolis to ride his Ducati in the Red Bull Indianapolis GP at Indianapolis
Motor Speedway, will travel across town to the legendary Indy Mile at the
Indiana State Fairgrounds to meet the thousands of dirt-track fans who will
gather to watch the “Crown Jewel” of flat track motorcycle racing.
Hayden, 29, from nearby Owensboro, Kentucky is known worldwide as the “Kentucky
Kid.” Hayden achieved early career success on the dirt tracks of
America. He is currently in his eighth season in the
internationally acclaimed MotoGP World Championship riding for
Ducati. He made history when he won the world championship in MotoGP in
just his fourth season in 2006.
At the Lucas Oil Indy Mile, Hayden will find highly competitive Ducati brethren. In May of 2010, a Ducati-powered machine ridden by Joe Kopp won its first flat track mile ending 17 years of Grand National Twins domination by Harley-Davidson. The Lloyd Brothers Motorsports Ducati Flat Track Project first brought the Italian engine to the Lucas Oil Indy Mile in 2009 with Larry Pegram aboard. With Nicky Hayden’s appearance, Ducati has extra incentive to repeat the Joe Kopp triumph and go for a Grand National Twins win.
The announcement of Nicky Hayden becoming the Lucas Oil Indy Mile Grand Marshall is made in honor of Nicky’s outstanding motorcycle racing career. Riding since 3 years old, racing since five and winning fifteen amateur titles, Nicky made motorcycle racing his professional career in 1997. It was at the Indy Mile in 1999 when he picked up the prestigious Ricky Graham Rookie of the Year award from the AMA Pro Grand National Championship. That year he was also named the AMA/Speedvision Athlete of the Year for his remarkably successful season competing in three different AMA classes. With a limited dirt track racing career, Nicky has won a total of six Grand National Championship races on Short Track, TT and Half-Mile race tracks.
While coming up through the dirt track ranks, Nicky’s eyes were set on a full time road race career. Nicky has 17 AMA Pro SuperBike wins, 2002 Superbike Champion, 6 AMA Pro SuperSport wins, 1999 SuperSport Champion, 5 AMA Superstock wins, 1998 Superstock Champion and 7 AMA Formula Xtreme wins.
In 1993 after a successful dirt track and road race career in the U.S., Nicky turned his focus to the World MotoGP Championship. Nicky has 3 MotoGP wins and became the MotoGP World Champion in 2006.
“We’re honored to have a U.S. and World Champion such as Nicky Hayden serve as Grand Marshal,” said Mike Moore, president of The Promotion Company-Family Events, producers of the Lucas Oil Indy Mile. “It’s a fitting tribute Nicky’s many accomplishments, especially here at the legendary Lucas Oil Indy Mile where he was first honored as a rookie,” Moore said.
Tickets on sale now
Advance Discount tickets available at The Indiana State Fairgrounds Box Office,
any Ticketmaster location, www.ticketmaster.com, or by calling
1-800-745-3000. For additional ticket information and web links,
please visit www.IndyMile.com.
ADVANCE DISCOUNT TICKETS*:
Reserved Seats: Adult……….$35,
$30
General Admission: Adult……….$20
GRANDSTAND
Child……….$10
INFIELD
Child……….$10
DAY OF SHOW TICKETS*:
Reserved Seats: Adult……….$38,
$33
General Admission: Adult……….$23
GRANDSTAND
Child……….$13
INFIELD
Child……….$13
*plus applicable fees/ Child ages: 12 and under
Information
The latest information on the Lucas Oil Indy Mile AMA Pro Flat Track Grand
National and a schedule of events may be found at www.IndyMile.com,
www.familyevents.com, www.amaproracing.com, or by calling (317)
236-6515.Championship races on Short Track, TT and Half-Mile race tracks.
While coming up through the dirt track ranks, Nicky’s eyes were set on a full
time road race career. Nicky has 17 AMA Pro Racing Superbike wins, 2002
Superbike Champion, 6 AMA Pro Racing Supersport wins, 1999 Supersport Champion,
5 AMA Pro Racing Superstock wins, 1998 Superstock Champion and 7 AMA Pro Racing
Formula Extreme wins.
In 1993 after a successful dirt track and road race career in the U.S., Nicky
turned his focus to the World MotoGP Championship series. Nicky has 3 MotoGP
(confirm!) wins and became the MotoGP World Champion in 2006.
“We’re honored to have a U.S. and World Champion such as Nicky Hayden serve as
Grand Marshal”, said Mike Moore, president of The Promotion Company-Family
Events, producers of the Lucas Oil Indy Mile. “It’s a fitting tribute
Nicky’s many accomplishments, especially here at the legendary Lucas Oil Indy
Mile where he was first honored as a rookie”, Moore said.
Manx Grand Prix Action Update (Pics)
Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 5:25:54 PM | admin
Variable conditions around
the course on the Isle of Man meant a short delay in this evening’s first timed
practice for the 2010 Manx Grand Prix, sponsored by visitisleofman.com but the
session got away just before 6.30pm
The first three riders away were newcomers Finland’s Osmo Partti, who failed to complete his obligatory newcomers lap on Saturday following his accident at Sulby Bridge, and Robert Simcock. Mick Godfrey also joined the pair on a lap accompanied by Rider Liaison officer Carolynn Sells.
Photo by Photocycles
The rest of the field set off once the newcomers reached Sulby, with Drogheda’s Wayne Kirwan, riding for his own team this year and Brian Purdy from the Isle of Man followed by Mike Minns and experienced MGP campaigner Phil McGurk leading the field away.
Manxman Paul Smyth from Douglas set the early pace on his Yamaha R6 600 machine and was the only rider to post three figures on the first lap, with a time of 100.629mph, followed by Grant Wagstaffe and Andy McPherson. Smyth’s time was also the fastest in the Senior class with Glyn Jones on the 750 Suzuki the second fastest at 97.807.
Smyth again posted the fastest lap on the second lap, increasing his average time to 104.021 with Peter Symes on a Suzuki GSXR 750, Jonny Heginbotham (CBR600), Grant Wagstaffe (GSXR Suzuki) 102.645 and Ivan Lintin also posting 100mph plus laps.
Newcomer Andy Fenton also achieved his first 100mph lap with a time of 103.009 on a 600cc Yamaha in the Newcomer A group with Scott Campbell recording 94.085 in the Newcomer B class.
In the lightweight class double 2010 TT sidecar winner Dan Sayle topped the leaderboard after the first practice with a lap of 96.022 with Nigel Moore second and Roy Richardson third. Dave Moffitt was quickest in the Ultra Lightweight’s with 99.526mph.
Photo by Photocycles
In the Classic practice Olie Linsdell recorded an excellent 100.327mph on the Paton with Mark Herbertson (94.929mph) on the Matchless and Paul Coward (93.032) on a 71 Nourish Weslake in second and third. Michael Dunlop and Mark Buckley were first and second in the Post Classic practice with Dave Madsen-Mygdal the Senior Classic (750cc) class fastest.
Alan Oversby topped the Junior Classic class with 91.971 with Chris Palmer second and Nigel Moore third fastest on the night. Alan Bud Jackson topped the Lightweight board with 84.865mph.
Ivan Linton posted the evening’s fastest Sulby Speed trap time at 159mph with newcomer Robert Simcock clocking the second fastest at 155.3mph. Olie Linsdell was timed at 143.1
Steve Hodgson was reported as okay, and making his own way back, following an incident at Gooseneck and Tim Venables was assisted by a travelling marshal after sliding off, also at the Gooseneck. Michael Moulai and Roger Jones were both taken by airmed to Nobles hospital but were not causing concern while Adam Easton was OK and treated by the Red Cross after an accident at Bedstead.
TEAM-SPEAK: Indy MotoGP, Preview
Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 5:00:40 PM | admin
New releases will be added at top as they’re received.
Repsol
After the classic summer
event in the Czech Republic, the Continental Circus crosses the Atlantic Ocean
for the eleventh Grand Prix of the season at the mythical Indianapolis Circuit.
The United States track, opened in 1909, will be the venue where the Repsol
riders will once again battle it out for victory after the second place won by
Dani Pedrosa in the Czech Republic, a race at which Marc Márquez held onto his
lead of the 125cc category despite dislocating his shoulder during free
practice.
A year ago, the bittersweet result of the MotoGP race saw a disappointing fall for Dani Pedrosa while he was leading the race and a comeback for Andrea Dovizioso who was just one step away from a podium place. This season, the aim of both is to make another step forward at the controls of the Honda RC212V with a good result. Following his second place in the Czech Republic, Dani Pedrosa returns to the United States with the aim of fighting for the win. A win which, even though achieved a year ago in Laguna Seca, resulted in falls while leading the races both in Indianapolis and this season’s visit to the Californian Circuit.
His Repsol Honda Team-mate, Andrea Dovizioso, arrives at the North American circuit with the objective of again finding his way onto the podium at a special Grand Prix as those held in the United States always are. After a great start to the season in which he showed good consistency, the Italian rider has seen himself move away from the front-runners, despite showing a good pace both in practice and parts of the races. Despite a fall in the Czech Republic, some positive testing the following Monday at Brno served to revive the spirits of the Repsol rider with a view to the Indianapolis meeting.
In the 125cc class, the category leader – Marc Márquez – takes on the tenth event of the World Championships with a 15 point advantage at the top of the overall standings and, ten days of rest have allowed the injury to his left shoulder, incurred in the free practice of the Czech Republic, to improve . After visiting Doctor Mir and starting functional rehabilitation at the Sant Cugat CAR, Márquez arrives at the Indianapolis event still off top form but with the intention of returning to fight for the podium and clock up as many points as possible towards the championship.
Dani PEDROSA >>
“I’m
going to Indianapolis in a very good mood and I’m feeling ready to finish the
job we weren’t able to complete in the race there last time. I felt really
comfortable riding in Indy last year. I was on top of the timesheets from the
first practice, I took pole position and the only mistake I made was in the
race. So I hope this time we can put together a strong weekend and take another
good result. We were fast and consistent at the last race in Brno and we’ll be
aiming to get straight back on that pace again this weekend.
It will be important, as always, to establish a good
machine setting quickly on Friday, and I think we have a useful base from last
year that will help us to find the right direction straight away. We were ready
to win again in Brno and this will be our goal in Indianapolis too. Riding in
America is different, the Indianapolis circuit is ve ry impressive and I feel
very good racing in the States because the support I get from the fans is
always very positive. So I’m really looking forward to get out there”.
Andrea DOVIZIOSO >>
“I
always look forward to racing in the U.S.A. and this time is no different. I
like visiting America, and the Indianapolis race track is a typical American
venue with great facilities and huge grandstands. The MotoGP track is not
particularly interesting but the atmosphere is always special. The circuit has
many different surface types and last year this was a bit difficult for us, but
I think that with this year’s machine package – and especially with the current
weight distribution – the variety of asphalt and different levels of grip won’t
be an issue. If I look back to the Brno GP I have to say that – except for the
final result – it was a good weekend. We were competitive, our race pace was
good but the result did not come.
So we go to Indy determined to transform this good performance into a result. We need strong results for the team and for the championship positio n. Last year I was fourth at Indy in the race but we weren’t as fast as the front runners – Dani especially was very fast. But this means that we have the potential to do well and this is an extra motivation for the weekend”.
Marc MÁRQUEZ >>
“I
feel quite a lot better than one week ago and I’m undergoing rehabilitation at
the Sant Cugat CAR and, although I’m still not one hundred percent, I really
want to go for it. We will try to have a good weekend and not make any
mistakes. The priority will be to see how I feel on the bike and then we’ll see
where we end up.
I’ve always liked the Indianapolis Circuit so we’ll see if we go well with this bike as, with the KTM the feelings were always good. There are a lot of potholes and it will be very important to get a good set up but the team has experience and I know the circuit too so we’ll try to get back onto the podium and clock up points for the Championship”.
MotoGP
The 2010 season continues
its march towards the decisive part of the season with round 11 of 18 taking
place at Indianapolis this weekend, and all eyes will once more be on Jorge
Lorenzo as the Fiat Yamaha rider aims to maintain his phenomenal form this
season. Victory last time out at Brno made the Spaniard only the third premier
class rider in history to have placed inside the top two in all ten opening
races of a season, and few would bet against him extending his win count this
season to eight at a track he was victorious on last season.
With a 77-point advantage over Dani Pedrosa in the standings the Repsol Honda man will be eager not only to halt his rival’s run, but also to make up for last year’s Indy outing. Pedrosa dominated the weekend and started from pole, but crashed early in the race and eventually placed tenth. Fresh from second place in the Czech Republic he will be targeting a third win of the season, which would be a first treble of premier class wins in one year for the 24 year-old.
Casey Stoner’s consistent podium finishing over the past five rounds has lifted the Ducati Team rider to third overall, and still in search of a first win of the season the Australian will also be looking to make up for last year’s absence from this race due to illness. He will also be expecting a front-end improvement on his Desmosedici after testing new forks at Brno. Just four points behind him in the standings is Andrea Dovizioso, and the Repsol Honda man will want a solid result after his first DNF of 2010 in the last round. The Italian has finished fifth and fourth in his two rides at Indy, and will expect to go one better in the battle for third with Stoner.
Reigning World Champion Valentino Rossi continues to go from strength to strength as he regains full fitness, and has winning form on the track from 2008. Two points off the Italian in the standings is his prospective team-mate for 2011, Ducati’s Nicky Hayden. The American – still in search of a first podium of the campaign – will be desperate for a strong home display and will hope the injured left hand he sustained in Brno does not hinder those aspirations.
Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rookie Ben Spies will have identical aims to compatriot Hayden on home soil, whilst Randy de Puniet’s incredible return to action at Brno just four weeks after a broken leg will take its next step as the LCR Honda rider attempts to regain the highest privateer honour. Italian Marco Melandri (San Carlo Honda Gresini) and another proud American Colin Edwards (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) complete the top ten as it stands.
Rookies Marco Simoncelli (San Carlo Honda Gresini), Héctor Barberá (Páginas Amarillas Aspar) and Álvaro Bautista (Rizla Suzuki) will all want positive first premier class runs at the circuit, whilst those with previous Indy experience in Loris Capirossi (Rizla Suzuki) and Pramac Racing pair Aleix Espargaró and Mika Kallio will look to pull on their knowledge in search of good results.
Having ridden at the Brno test for the first time in two months Hiroshi Aoyama (Interwetten Honda MotoGP Team) could make his return to action, but is waiting to make a decision. In the case the Japanese rookie does not Alex de Angelis will continue as his stand-in on the satellite RC212V.
Moto2
After a fourth win of the campaign at Brno stretched his lead at the top of the Moto2 standings to 55 points, Toni Elías will attempt to make it three victories in a row for the first time in his World Championship career at Indianapolis this weekend. The Spaniard of the Gresini Racing team is well placed at the summit of the Championship, but has a rider more than capable of closing the gap on his tail in the shape of Andrea Iannone.
The Italian of the Fimmco Speed Up team has displayed his blistering pace on numerous occasions this season and finished third behind Elías in the previous round, a result that pushed him into second position in the overall standings. Iannone will however have to consider the threat of Thomas Lüthi (Interwetten Moriwaki) who will be determined to regain second spot having finished 11th at Brno. The Swiss rider had a top-ten finish at Indianapolis last year in the 250cc class, but will want a return to the podium having experienced it four times already this year.
Julián Simón (Mapfre Aspar) and Shoya Tomizawa (Technomag-CIP) have their sights locked on Lüthi and third spot, whilst just two points separate Jules Cluzel (Forward Racing), Simone Corsi (JiR Moto2) and Yuki Takahashi (Tech 3 Racing) from positions six to eight.
The American presence on the grid will be trebled as joining regular rider Kenny Noyes (Jack&Jones by Antonio Banderas) will be Jason di Salvo (GP Tech) riding an FTR chassis. Roger Lee Hayden (American Honda) will also be riding as a wild card on a Moriwaki, having competed in the premier class at Laguna Seca just five weeks earlier as a stand-in for Randy de Puniet.
125cc
The race for the 2010 125cc title took another twist at Brno where Marc Márquez dislocated a shoulder in practice and then bravely rode to seventh, whilst Nico Terol announced his return to action – and the Championship fight – with a win in his first race back from injury.
Red Bull Ajo Motorsport rider Márquez saw his title lead cut to 15 points as Pol Espargaró (Tuenti Racing) placed second in the Czech Republic, and the Spaniard will have his sights firmly set on victory at Indianapolis, especially at it is the track where he secured his first ever World Championship win last year.
Terol’s win at Brno pulled him back into the contest and the Bancaja Aspar rider looked very strong in his first race back after fracturing vertebrae at Catalunya. The Spaniard placed fourth at Indy last year and will also be aiming to capitalise on Márquez’s reduced physical condition.
Bradley Smith is still maintaining contact with the leading group, but the British rider knows he needs a first win of 2010 to ensure his title hopes stay alive – he placed second at Indy last season. Smith is in fourth in the overall standings, 28 points behind team-mate Terol and 31 ahead of fifth-placed Tomoyoshi Koyama (Racing Team Germany).
Esteve Rabat (Blusens-STX) and Sandro Cortese (Avant Mitsubishi Ajo) are separated by only three points, and will also fancy their chances of podium finishes at the U.S. circuit.
There will be a single wild card entry as American youngster Kris Turner rides an Aprilia machine for Veloce Racing.
San Carlo Honda Gresini
Team San Carlo Honda
Gresini MotoGP this week cross the Atlantic for the second time this season and
head to the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Just over a month after
competing at Laguna Seca both Marco Melandri and Marco Simoncelli are aiming for
top results at the world’s most famous oval, where the excitement of NASCAR and
the Indy 500 makes way for world class entertainment of the two-wheeled variety
this week. After a tough weekend at Brno Marco Melandri rediscovered his
self-confidence in the race and in the post-race test and is highly motivated
about the visit to the capital of the state of Indiana. The Italian tried out
some interesting technical solutions and made some encouraging progress with
the new electronics package that should be beneficial for the remainder of the
season. At a circuit where he took victory last year in the 250cc class Marco
Simoncelli is hoping to close the gap to the frontrunners in MotoGP. “Super
Sic” also drew positive conclusions from the Brno test and his hopeful that
progress with the electronics can help him make the decisive breakthrough. A
small setback in the Brno race has not dented Simoncelli’s confidence and his
steady progress also showed over the opening laps, when he ran with the best in
the class.
Marco Melandri “After disappointing performances on Friday and Saturday at Brno the race in the Czech Republic restored some faith. In the second part i managed to find the right feeling with the bike, which gave me more enthusiasm and conviction to tackle the Monday tests, during which we made small but significant progress. We found some things with the suspension that bode well for the rest of the season. If we work with the same determination from Friday in Indianapolis we can score a good result in the race. The circuit is quite difficult to ride but if i can find a good feeling with my Honda RC212V I can be close to the lead group.”
Marco Simoncelli “I came away from Brno feeling somewhat disappointed by the final result but quite happy with the first part of the race. Unfortunately the drop in engine power in the second part did not allow me to be as fast and aggressive and it left a sour taste in my mouth. In any case we did not lose heart and we went into the test on Monday with great determination and managed to make some important steps forward. We gained more confidence with the electronics and were able to better interpret the engine management system. It was a shame that the rain brought it to a premature end because it was a very important test for me and my team and we still have some work to do on the chassis, which we didn’t get time for. I still go to Indianapolis in the right spirit, I like the track and I won the first and only 250 race to take place here. I expect to have a good race and aim to finish inside the top six.”
Fausto Gresini “We have pleasant memories of Indianapolis from last year, when Alex de Angelis clinched second place behind Jorge Lorenzo. It was his first podium in MotoGP and Team San Carlo Honda Gresini ’s second podium of the season after Toni Elias’ in Brno. So we go to America with wonderful memories and the conviction that after the tests done in Brno we can make a major step forward both with Marco Melandri and Marco Simoncelli. After testing in the Czech Republic we have improved the set-up of the bikes and we can better manage the electronic package we have had for the past two races without finding a way to exploit its great potential. There is still a lot of work to do but i am confident that we will soon be able to achieve significant results.”
Team Ducati
Team Ducati returns to the
United States of America this week for the eleventh round of the MotoGP World
Championship, which takes place at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
It is the second home race of the season for Nicky Hayden, who was born, raised
and still lives in Owensboro, Kentucky, not far from the border with the
neighboring State of Indiana.
Hayden finished third at Indy last year, his best result of the season, and he would love to repeat it this Sunday. His left wrist, injured during qualifying at Brno, is in better shape and should not hinder him this weekend.
Casey Stoner is also looking forward to racing at Indy for the first time since he took fourth place in the rain-interrupted inaugural race in 2008. The Australian is also keen to confirm whether technical updates introduced at the post-race test at Brno have a positive effect at the famous old circuit.
CASEY STONER, Ducati Team
“I’m
really looking forward to going back to Indy because it’s a circuit where we
were in good shape in 2008 despite the crazy weather. Unfortunately I wasn’t
able to race last year but hopefully this time around we can make the most of
the work we did in the Brno test, even though we didn’t have much time. We’ll
start out on Friday with the new front fork because our first impressions of it
were good although we still have to decide whether we’ll use it for the race.
We’ll also try some settings on the rear that we managed to get a few laps on
at Brno but that also need checking out.”
NICKY HAYDEN, Ducati Team
“I
really can not wait to get to Indy for the race. It’s such a famous track with
so much history and being so close to my home I got a big crew making the trip
to support me and my brother. The event has really grown a lot in just a few
years with the Indy mile dirt track, enduro cross, the stunt shows and all the
downtown events, which really gives the fans a chance to make the trip
worthwhile. My broken wrist is better than last week in Brno, which I am very
happy about, so we’ll see on Friday just how much better. The weather looks
good so I hope to come out strong from the gun on Friday and have a weekend
worth remembering. Let’s get it!”
VITTORIANO GUARESCHI, Team Manager
“We
go to Indy with some things to try that we hope can give Casey those two tenths
he’s missing. Over the past few months he’s been happy with the engine and the
handling of the GP10 but never really able to get a good feeling for the front.
The new fork we tried in the Czech Republic seems to have given him a little
confidence so we’ll fit it to one of his two bikes on Friday afternoon. If his
feeling is as good as it was at Brno we’ll use it in the race. Also Nicky, of
course, can use it if he wants to. This is one of the most important races of
the year for him and definitely the one he looks forward to the most. He
finished third last year and considering the big steps forward he has made this
season, coming close to the podium on several occasions, we hope he can be
celebrating a similar result.”
THE TRACK
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway was added to the MotoGP calendar in 2008 but
the circuit used for the event features only a part of the famous Nascar
track, namely a large section of the start-finish straight and part of the
south-eastern corner of the oval. The rest of the track is on the infield, a
tight and twisty anti-clockwise layout. The most demanding aspect of Indy is
not the layout, however, but the surface, which the riders find to be a
challenge. With three different kinds of ashpalt offering different levels of
grip, the riders and their teams have to work hard to find a set-up to cope.
Extreme weather conditions that are commonplace in this part of the USA can
also be a factor, as was seen in the first visit for MotoGP to Indianapolis,
and also make grip even more critical on the three different sections of track.
Marc VDS
The Marc VDS Racing Team are heading
over the Atlantic to the United States, for this weekend’s Indianapolis Grand
Prix at the Brickyard, home of the world famous Indy 500 car race.
The Moto2 Grand Prix will be run on the infield circuit, which uses the main Indianapolis start finish straight before veering off just before turn one and running inside the banked oval.
Hector Faubel heads for Indianapolis determined to build on his points scoring finish in Brno two weeks ago. The 27-year-old Spanish rider struggled initially to get on terms with his Suter MMX machine, but made a big step forward with set-up in Brno, which should stand him in good stead this weekend in America.
Scott Redding put in his best qualifying performance to date last time out in Brno and was battling with the race leaders before a collision dropped him down the order. The British teenager completed two days of testing at the Dijon circuit immediately after Brno and heads for America confident he can, once again, run in the top ten in the race.
Hector Faubel #55:
“We
made some big steps forward in Brno and my feeling with the bike improved, as
did my confidence after the result there. The first job this weekend is to
secure a good position on the grid during qualifying. If I can do that then
there’s no reason why I shouldn’t be aiming for a top ten finish in the race on
Sunday. I’m looking forward to this race and I’m really motivated to push for a
good result in America.”
Scott Redding #45:
“Brno
showed that we can qualify in the top ten and we’re more than capable of
running at the front of a race. The result wasn’t exactly what we were looking
for, because of the collision with Fonsi Nieto, but the fact that I was up
there and battling with the leading group was a big confidence boost for me.
Since Brno we’ve done a couple of days testing at Dijon, which was also very
positive. We head for Indianapolis knowing we have a competitive bike and I’m
confident we can run top ten there once again. A lot of riders don’t like the
Indianapolis track and, while I wouldn’t say it’s one of my favourites, I do
enjoy racing there. I’m looking forward to the weekend ahead and I hope we can
leave Indy with a good result, both for me and for the team.”
Michael Bartholemy: Team Manager
“I
have only been to Indianapolis once before, when Hurricane Ike seriously
curtailed the race programme, so it’s not a track I know well. Hector put in a
solid performance in Brno, after working hard on the set-up of his bike, and I
expect him to improve further this weekend in Indianapolis. I know he’s aiming
for a top ten finish and there’s no reason why he shouldn’t achieve this. After
his best qualifying and a good fight with the leaders in the early stages of
the Brno race I know Scott’s confidence in both himself and the bike have
improved. He is also looking for a top ten finish this weekend, but top six
could well be a possibility if Scott qualifies well again.”
Fiat Yamaha
This week sees the MotoGP
paddock land on US soil for the second time this season for the Indianapolis
Grand Prix, at the world-famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Fiat Yamaha
Team have already enjoyed success in the States once this season and both Jorge
Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi will be hoping for a top result at the world’s
largest spectator sporting facility.
Lorenzo is flying high after enjoying an incredible seven wins from ten races
so far this season. The 23-year-old has a championship lead of 77 points over
Dani Pedrosa and the Mallorcan knows he simply has to continue in the same
consistent way to ensure a first premier-class championship later this year.
After another comfortable win last time out in Brno and a useful one-day test
afterwards he is feeling confident of another good result in Indiana. He has a
good record with the track having taken a commanding win there last year and
his first ever wet podium in 2008, the first year that MotoGP visited
Indianapolis.
Rossi’s injury-hit season suffered a low point in Brno when he could only finish fifth after being hopeful of something much better, but he and his team worked hard to understand what had gone wrong during the test and they are satisfied that they won’t see a repeat this week. The reigning World Champion always enjoys racing in America and he was thrilled to take a brilliant podium in Laguna Seca last month, at just his second race back after breaking his leg. Rossi took a memorable win at the Inaugural Indianapolis Grand Prix in 2008, when the race was battered by Hurricane Ike, but last year he slid out when sparring with his team-mate, something he will be looking to make up for this time around.
With 257,000 permanent seats the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the largest spectator sporting facility in the world and fills to capacity for its flagship events, the Indy 500 and Allstate 400 car races. Originally constructed in 1909 with a 2.5-mile oval, an exciting 16-turn motorcycle road circuit, which includes part of the historic oval, was purpose-built for MotoGP.
Jorge Lorenzo
“JUST GOOD MEMORIES IN AMERICA”
“The
first back-to-back races in the second half of the season are coming, and this
first one after a few days of holiday in the US for me. This weekend will be
the second race in this country in 2010 and I am looking forward to it because
I would like to repeat the same result as I got in Laguna! I just have good
memories from America, last month in Laguna and last year in Indy. Last year
was amazing, but this time I don’t need to take too many risks. We can avoid
it! Indy is a track that I like a lot and it has amazing history. The team and
I are planning to continue our great season there this weekend.”
Valentino Rossi
“A SPECIAL PLACE”
“Indianapolis
is a special place, an amazing track and as always it’s fun to race in America.
I have great memories from 2009 when I won in the hurricane, even if it’s not
something I want to repeat! This year we arrive in a different situation to
last year, fifth in the championship and not at 100% in physical condition, but
I am feeling stronger all the time. Brno was disappointing but the test helped
us to understand what went wrong and so we are hopeful that we can be back on
good form in Indy.”
Wilco Zeelenberg, Team Manager
“FINISHING RACES IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING”
“I’ve
never been to Indianapolis so I’m excited! As for Jorge, he loves Indy and he
knows that it’s important to get three or four more good finishes and then see
where we are. He has a big lead and he doesn’t need to stick his neck out or
take too many risks, he knows that finishing races and taking points is the
most important thing.”
Davide, Brivio, Team Manager
“ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO GO RACING THERE”
“We
go to Indy, where we had a bad race last year, coming from not such a good race
in Brno so we really need a good result this weekend! The test after Brno was
useful however and we hope to be in good shape this weekend. It’s always a
pleasure to go racing in such an amazing place and we just need to keep working
to put Valentino in the best possible position to start fighting for victories
again as soon as possible.”
USGPRU
Entries are closed and the
United States Grand Prix Racers Union (USGPRU) officials have finalized the
list of 25 riders competing in the REV’IT sponsored Moriwaki MD250H Powered by
Honda double-header races during the 2010 Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix,
August 27 to 29. These young up-and-coming riders will have the
opportunity to demonstrate their talents in front of an international audience
while competing at the world-famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway on their
Moriwaki MD250Hs, which feature a Moriwaki aluminum chassis incorporating a Honda-built
single-cylinder four-stroke engine sourced from the CRF250X.
As a points-paying round of the 2010 USGPRU schedule, the competition will be fierce as defending USGPRU 2009 Moriwaki MD250H powered by Honda series champion Garrett Gerloff will square off against 2008 champion Jake Lewis, along with 2010 series points leaders Peter Lenz, Stefano Mesa, Nick McFadden, Max Flinders and Lex Hartl. The field includes many of the best 12 to 16-year-old road racers from 16 different states in the U.S., as well as Canada and Bermuda.
Name Hometown Bike Number
Max
Flinders
Slidell,
LA
888
Garrett
Gerloff
Trussville,
AL
1
Grayson
Gerloff
Trussville,
AL
310
Jake
Lewis
Princeton,
KY
85
Tyler
Linders
Mission Viejo,
CA
148
Ryan
Matter
Rancho Cucamonga,
CA 22
Kaleb De
Keyrel
White Bear Lake,
MN
251
Andre
Ochs
Fallbrook,
CA
46
Peter
Lenz
Vancouver,
WA
45
Xavier
Zayat
Flushing,
NY
24
Austin
Medrano
Mustang,
OK
32
Alex
Wisdom
High Ridge,
MO
77
Nick
McFadden
Owensboro, KY
195
Lex
Hartl
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
47
Bruce
Degrilla
Warwick,
Bermuda
18
Cody Sousa-Saints Warwick,
Bermuda
21
Ben
Truslow
Aliso Viejo,
CA
28
Nick
Hansen
Cedarburg,
WI
97
Ben
Young
Thornbury,
Ontario
136
Brandon Altmeyer Cedar
Park,
TX
291
Ian
Tetrick
Sutton,
WV
191
Cassidy
Heiser
York,
PA
67
Joe
Roberts
Glendale,
CA
27
Jasper
Hankey
Gardners,
PA
429
Stefano
Mesa
Boca Raton,
FL
137
The REV’IT sponsored Moriwaki MD250H Powered by Honda class kicks off the on-track activity at the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix on Friday, August 27 with practice starting at noon. Two rounds of qualifying will begin at 4:25pm on Friday afternoon. The first of the two 12-lap races is scheduled for 4:30pm on Saturday, with Sunday’s race set for 10:20am, followed by the World Championship 125cc, Moto2 and MotoGP races.
In addition to the action at the track, several of the young competitors will gain more valuable experience by participating in promotional activities surrounding the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix on Thursday, August 26th, including a group that will join the MotoGP series stars during their visit to downtown Indianapolis. Another group will visit local schools with their racebikes and riding gear to discuss motorcycle safety.
Founded in 2002, USGPRU is the officially recognized 125 Grand Prix National Championship® and 250 Grand Prix National Championship® series, including the popular Moriwaki MD250H Powered by Honda spec-bike youth class and the exciting new Moto3 class. The USGPRU provides a unique opportunity for riders by providing extended-length grand prix racing with timed qualifying and superb contingency and sponsor support. The race and practice format is designed to prepare riders for the experience of two-wheel racing at the highest levels.
Repsol Honda
The Repsol Honda Team has
high expectations for its second visit of the summer to the USA this week as
preparations begin for the Indianapolis Grand Prix and round 11 of the MotoGP
World Championship. Dani Pedrosa will be looking to go one better than the
second place he secured at the last race in the Czech Republic and, if the
Spaniard can replicate his dazzling form from Indianapolis 2009, his third race
win of 2010 could well be on the cards. On the other side of the factory Honda
garage, Andrea Dovizioso is seeking a return to the podium after a positive
test session following the Brno race.
Pedrosa was emphatically quicker than his rivals through practice and qualifying at Indianapolis last year, a full second faster than anybody else in the Saturday morning session before taking pole position by more than half a second in the afternoon. Pedrosa was leading the race when he fell in the early laps, remounting to take 10th place, but eve n though last year’s result didn’t reflect his clear potential, the 24-year-old arrives at “Indy” in very confident mood, knowing he has the speed to win at the technical circuit.
Dovizioso is looking for a top three finish this weekend to reinvigorate a season which started well and has seen the Italian notch up four rostrum results and nine points-scoring finishes from the first ten races of 2010. From mid-season onwards Dovizioso’s clear goal has been to convert podium finishes into race wins, and it was that dogged determination to fight with the leaders which saw him slide out of the Czech Grand Prix two weeks ago as he fought to stay in touch at the front. The 24-year-old Italian’s commitment remains undented, however, as he seeks to reclaim third place in the riders’ world championship from Casey Stoner who lies just four points ahead.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is hosting a MotoGP race for the third successive year and is a standout Grand Prix thanks to a venue which is immense in both scale and reputation. ‘The Brickyard’ as it is known, is based on a 2.5-mile oval and is the historic setting for the legendary Indy 500 race, which sees the fastest cars averaging lap speeds of 230mph during qualifying. The MotoGP circuit uses two sections of the famous oval – the start/finish straight and the banked corner number two – linked by a more intricate in-field section. The lap features many surface changes with varying levels of grip, presenting a particular machine set-up challenge to the riders and crews, especially in the wet conditions encountered on MotoGP’s previous two visits to Indy.
The race weekend begins for the Repsol Honda Team with first practice on Friday at 13.55. The 28-lap MotoGP race takes place on Sunday at 15.00 local time (GMT – 4 hours).
DANI PEDROSA – World Championship
position: 2nd – 158 points
“I’m
going to Indianapolis in a very good mood and I’m feeling ready to finish the
job we weren’t able to complete in the race there last time. I felt really
comfortable riding in Indy last year. I was on top of the timesheets from the
first practice, I took pole position and the only mistake I made was in the
race. So I hope this time we can put together a strong weekend and take another
good result. We were fast and consistent at the last race in Brno and we’ll be
aiming to get straight back on that pace again this weekend. It will be
important, as always, to establish a good machine setting quickly on Friday,
and I think we have a useful base from last year that will help us to find the
right direction straight away. We were ready to win again in Brno and this will
be our goal in Indianapolis too. Riding in America is different, the
Indianapolis circuit is ve ry impressive and I feel very good racing in the
States because the support I get from the fans is always very positive. So I’m
really looking forward to get out there.”
ANDREA DOVIZIOSO – World Championship
position: 4th – 115 points
“I
always look forward to racing in the U.S.A. and this time is no different. I
like visiting America, and the Indianapolis race track is a typical American
venue with great facilities and huge grandstands. The MotoGP track is not
particularly interesting but the atmosphere is always special. The circuit has
many different surface types and last year this was a bit difficult for us, but
I think that with this year’s machine package – and especially with the current
weight distribution – the variety of asphalt and different levels of grip won’t
be an issue. If I look back to the Brno GP I have to say that – except for the
final result – it was a good weekend. We were competitive, our race pace was
good but the result did not come. So we go to Indy determined to transform this
good performance into a result. We need strong results for the team and for the
championship positio n. Last year I was fourth at Indy in the race but we
weren’t as fast as the front runners – Dani especially was very fast. But this
means that we have the potential to do well and this is an extra motivation for
the weekend.”
Rizla Suzuki
Rizla Suzuki MotoGP has headed back
across the Atlantic for the second American Grand Prix of the season this time
at the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Courtesy Rizla
Following a positive post-race test at Brno, both Loris Capirossi and Álvaro Bautista are eager to get back on-track and carry on with the improvements they found at the Czech Republic circuit.
This will be the third time that MotoGP has visited Indianapolis and Capirossi will certainly looking to improve on his results there, that has seen him score a personal best of seventh place at the 4,216m track in 2009. Bautista has a podium position to show from his only race at the circuit. He finished third last year after the 250cc class race was cancelled in 2008 due to a hurricane hitting the Indianapolis area.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway or ‘The Brickyard’, as it is also known, was built in 1909 and has become one of the most famous sporting venues in the world since its inception. The vast race-track has a permanent seating capacity of over 250,000, with the facility to raise that to over 400,000 for the ‘Indy 500’ and the ‘Brickyard 400’, both of which are major sporting events on the American calendar and feature IndyCar and NASCAR respectively. On the grounds of the circuit are also the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum and the Brickyard Crossing Golf Resort, making this impressive venue even more amazing.
Rizla Suzuki takes to the track on Friday 27th August for the first of two free practice sessions, the second scheduled for the following morning. Saturday afternoon sees an hour of qualifying for all riders to establish their grid positions in readiness for Sunday’s 28-lap race that gets underway at 15.00hrs local time (19.00hrs GMT).
Loris Capirossi:
“The
Brno test was a lot better than the race, but the bike did feel the best it has
done all year during the short time I was on-track in the race and we made some
improvements on the Monday so these should be good for us when we get to Indy.
I finished seventh last year and that was a big improvement on 2008 so I am
determined to make another step forward this year. It is very important that we
keep focussed and keep trying as hard as we can to get the results to show what
we are capable of.”
Álvaro Bautista:
“I’m
still a bit stiff from my crash at Brno, but I have rested and let the injury
heal properly so I will be ready for Indianapolis. I really need to finish a
whole weekend and get a full practice, qualifying and race in my account. It
seems a long time since I crossed the finish line and I am positive about
visiting America and making that happen. We made some steps at the Brno test,
but we still need to work on those at Indianapolis – and the races that follow
– to find out what the true potential of the bike is. That is something we are
determined to do and to keep on learning as much as possible about all things
to do with the GSV-R and how it behaves on different tracks and in varying
conditions and also about myself and how I can ride it to get the best from
it.”
Tuesday Conversation: John Hopkins
Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 4:40:59 PM | Eric Johnson
“Today I’m racing here in America, and that’s where my focus is, 100 percent,” said John Hopkins at a 2010 pre-season tire test at Auto Club Speedway in Southern California. Hopkins, after a seven-year stint as a MotoGP rider (punctuated by a nightmarish, injury-riddled 2009 season in World Superbike), was back in the United States and a new member of John Ulrich’s M4/Monster Energy Suzuki American Superbike outfit. The Californian was happy, upbeat, and relieved to be away from the fishbowl that is Grand Prix racing and back in America, where he was planning to get his career back on the rails. However, after two mechanically-induced DNFs at the season-opening Daytona rounds, things took a turn for the worse as a nagging (as well as career-threatening) wrist injury began to sabotage Hopkins’ homecoming. In pain and frustrated beyond belief, Hopkins—in conjunction with Ulrich—decided after the April Road Atlanta round to call time on his U.S. comeback. The former MotoGP podium finisher went looking for someone who could, hopefully, sort out his mangled wrist. After countless doctor visits, Hopkins found Dr. David J. Chao, team physician of the San Diego Chargers. After a lengthy rehabilitation, Hopkins made it back to the grid at the Suzuki White Lightning AMA Pro Superbike Nationals at Virginia International Raceway. Here, in John’s words, is what played out in the past five months.
M4 Monster Energy Suzuki's
John Hopkins • Photo by Riles/Nelson
John, what do you have going on today?
JH: I’m actually sitting at a Supercuts
right now. I’m just about to get a haircut, and then I’m going to the Del Mar
[Fairgrounds] horse races with my wife and a few people from my family and a
few friends.
You follow horse racing? Are you going
to throw down a few bets or anything?
I’ve never been in my life. It’ll be my first time ever. I’ve heard from a lot
of people that it’s a good time, so we’re going to get all classed up and we’re
heading down there and it’s going to be a big treat [laughs].
Okay, to get into this thing—I talked
with you at length on the eve of the 2010 AMA Superbike season. You were really
happy to be back in America and on John Ulrich’s team, and everything seemed to
be coming along very well, then your wrist started to act up. What was going
through your mind? Were you frustrated?
Well, no—I was just living in severe pain, man. It was just like really, really
bad. I thought that through riding again and getting back into it, I thought
that my wrist was going to start kind of get looser in the tendons and stuff
like that, and it just got really, really bad. I had no movement in my wrist
whatsoever. It wasn’t improving. It got, by far, worse. I only had about 10
percent movement in my wrist. I was having to use my whole arm just to hang on.
The Daytona tires were like really, really hard and stiff and they spun up
really bad, and I had no throttle control in my wrist—every movement I had to
do to twist the throttle had to be with my whole arm and shoulder. And we had
bike breakdowns. It was all a horrible circumstance at Daytona.
Throughout the rest of the year—Fontana and Road Atlanta—I mean, it was gnarly. I’d have to finish the race weekend, getting through it with Motrin and pain killers, and for a week after the race I’d be living in bed because I’d be dying from pain. It was just a frickin’ horrible quality of life. I went to Road Atlanta and had a really good race; I mean, I ran off the track, but I felt really good and I felt really comfortable. After the race, though, I was speaking with my wife and I was like, “Man, this is it; this is the end of the road. If I can’t get this wrist fixed, I have to retire, because I can’t keep living like this. I’m going from to race to race, laying in bed for a week between the races. It’s just a horrible way to live and I can’t do it anymore.”
Photo by Nelson/Riles
I went to go do this track day up at Sears Point and rode, and during that process I went and saw Dr. Ting up there and got some MRIs done. I went up to him and said, “Hey, dude, here’s the deal: I need to know if my wrist can be fixed. I need to know if I can ever use the wrist again because if not, dude, I can’t do it anymore. I have to retire.” He came back and basically said, “If you have any other career options, you might want to think about them and might want to take them because it’s looking bad.” There was just no gap whatsoever in the wrist. Anytime I was riding or anytime I was bending the wrist, it was just jamming the radius bone straight into the Lunate bone. It was bruising the hell out of Lunate bone. Any more trauma to the Lunate bone, and it was not far off from dying. I took that with a grain of salt and said, “All right, well give me the MRIs.” We took the MRIs and went to about three other doctors. Luckily my management company got involved, and that’s when they found Dr. Chao here in San Diego. The doctor told us he had performed that exact same surgery with a Chargers player who had ended up making a 90 percent recovery. Dude, going from no chance and having to retire to a 90 percent recovery, I was like, “Sign me up, dude. I’m ready to go.” I went ahead and got the okay to have the surgery. When I got the okay, that’s when we told John Ulrich and everyone about the situation.
After you had the surgery performed,
did the doctor come out and say things looked good?
Yeah, he said it went amazing and it went really well. From that stage on, from
the initial frickin’ day that got out, I’ve just been busting my ass doing
physical therapy five days a week with a cold laser therapy. Johnny Louch, who
helps out Ryan Sheckler and a lot of skateboard people, has been helping me
through the entire process of the wrist.
As you started to look at staging a
return for VIR, were you feeling pretty positive about things?
Yeah, extremely positive. Basically, I hadn’t been on a bike at all. I tested
it the weekend before at a WERA event. I rode at the practice day at the WERA
event and it was a little bit sore after the practice, but the wrist came back
and it was automatically already stronger by the time the next weekend came
around for the AMA National at Virginia. It was so awesome. Right now I
probably have about 65 percent to 70 percent movement in my wrist, but it’s a
hell of a lot better than 10 percent. It’s good because I can actually start
incorporating my riding style into riding again; I don’t have to cater to my
wrist with my riding style. I can hold my elbows out and ride in an aggressive
riding style, which I have not been able to do since the wrist has been acting
up the last year and a half. It was noticeably different. I was enjoying it so
much more over the weekend at Virginia.
Courtesy Monster Energy
You were fast right from the onset at
Virginia International Raceway. In fact, you were fifth fastest in the opening
AMA Pro American Superbike session, and you backed that up with a strong
qualifying effort. Did you feel like you had the pace?
Yeah, we were toward the front most of the weekend. In the race, we battled for
the lead most of the entire race.
Can you tell me a bit more about your
first race back at Virginia?
It was good. The track, you know, it’s a really physical track, so there’s no
time to really rest. Coming on the back section of the track, I don’t know, I’d
say the last six or seven corners, they’re really fast, flowing corners and the
bike was just chattering like crazy. I was wasting a lot of time on the back
end of the track, but coming onto the front straight going into Turn 1, every
ounce of time I lost going on the back of the track, I’d make up every ounce of
it going onto the brakes in Turn 1. I’ve always been really good on the brakes,
even throughout MotoGP and everything. So now we were able to make up quite a
bit of time on the brakes. I stayed with the pack until about six or seven laps
to go, and then my wrist started to get a little bit weak and a little bit sore
from just not having that kind of exercise put upon it. I started to drop off
the back a little bit.
Photo by Nelson/Riles
It was my fault, but I frickin’ accidentally hit a neutral going into Turn 1. We had like 13 or 15 seconds over Larry Pegram, but the track at Virginia—all the runoff space and everything—is pure grass, so it’s not too easy to stop a GSX-R1000 with slick tires that easy on the grass. I ended going way, way off the track. I came back on and Larry Pegram was just heading into Turn 1, so I got a little bit excited and a little bit hotheaded, so I went into Turn 2 with a lot more speed than I normally would have and missed my braking marks. It was my frickin’ stupid mistake. There is actually no runoff in Turn 2—the track kind of goes away from you. It was pure grass again and it was just a wall. Instead of hitting the wall head-on, I just had to stamp on the brakes and crash and low-side on it and hit the wall. I wasn’t that upset about it. It’s not like I’m in any points battle or anything. I would have finished fourth; I knew that in my head. I basically came away from that racing knowing that even with a bad bike, I can run at the front. With a really good set-up bike, it’s not too far-fetched to think that we can’t win before the year is out.
You ended up sitting out the race on
Sunday, correct?
Yeah, we tried to make a big change in the bike to improve the chatter and the
set-up and the turning and everything, and we actually went the wrong direction
and made it a lot worse in Sunday-morning practice. We would have had to race
the bike exactly how it was on Saturday and my wrist was just too sore and
weak. If we would have had a really good bike underneath us and the thing was
set-up really good, then I definitely would have went for it, but obviously I
want to finish the race year with a strong finish.
Even though your results don’t really
show it, your opening race in Virginia had to be relatively encouraging for you
and the team.
Yeah, definitely. Like I said, and I told the team this, I’m confident that if
we get a bike underneath me that I’m happy with and that is set up for my
riding style— and if I learn the tracks pretty well, since I’ve never been to
New Jersey and Barber—I’m pretty positive we can get a win before the year is
out. The fact is that I’m just enjoying riding the bike again and that’s the
most important thing to me. At the end of the day, I started riding the
motorcycle because I loved it more than anything in the world, and that kind of
drifted away from me for a couple of years because of the pain and suffering
that I had to deal with. Right now I can honestly say that at Virginia, man, I
had a great time riding and I enjoyed it. I’m just completely pumped, man. And
to be competitive, that’s just a bonus.
Okay, buddy. So there are two venues
and four races remaining on the 2010 AMA Superbike schedule. As you run for the
wire, what’s your goal or master plan?
Man, I want to go out for the team and the effort that they’ve put forth for me
and everything … I want to go out and win, man. I want to win for them before
the year is out, without a doubt. I’m not in any points kind of battle or
anything like that, so it’s kind of a win or lose situation. I want to just go
out and win for the team and show them that I can still ride a bike at a
competitive level.
[Ed note: this interview was edited post-publication; a question and answer were removed.]
RRX Video: Alpinestars’ 2010 Fall Intro, With Jeremy Appleton
Tuesday, August 24, 2010, 1:44:03 PM | admin
RRX Video: Alpinestars’ 2010 Fall Intro, With Jeremy Appleton
RRX Video: Alpinestars’ 2010 Fall Intro, With Jeremy Appleton
Or watch on YouTube at www.youtube.com/roadracerxmag.
TGI Monday Trivia Contest: Win a Shift Core Zip Hoody
Monday, August 23, 2010, 2:39:26 PM | admin
Welcome to your Monday—and to this week’s TGI Monday trivia contest, which focuses on Shift rider and AMA Pro Daytona SportBike championship contender Josh Herrin of Graves Yamaha. Answer the question below correctly, and you’ll have earned your chance to win a Shift Core zip hoody of your choice.
Question: What was Josh Herrin’s race number prior to 2009?
Email your answers to contribute@roadracerx.com, subject-line “TGI Monday” (winner will be randomly drawn from all correct entries). Include your full name, address, and phone number, and watch for the winner to be announced Friday via our website, Facebook page, and Twitter. Entries close Thursday at midnight. Good luck!
TEAM-SPEAK: Bol d’Or World Endurance, Preview
Monday, August 23, 2010, 1:10:23 PM | admin
New releases will be added at top as received.
BMP-ELF-99 Racing
The BMP-ELF-99 Racing Team
will race a BMW S1000RR in the remaining Endurance World Championship rounds,
after reaching an agreement with the German motorcycle manufacturer that will
see the team powered by BMW for the remainder of 2010 and into the 2011 season.
The BMW S1000RR will make its debut in BMP-ELF-99 livery during two days of testing at the Circuit De Nevers Magny-Cours in France, starting on 23 August. Participating in this first test will be Matthieu Lagrive, Erwan Nigon, Sébastien Gimbert and Damian Cudlin, the four riders who will race the bike in this year’s prestigious Bol d’Or, which takes place at the Magny-Cours circuit from 10-12 September.
Elf will continue as the title sponsor of the team with another iconic French brand, Michelin, joining as the BMP-ELF-99 Racing Team’s tyre supplier.
This is the BMP-ELF-99 Racing Team’s first season in the Endurance World Championship, where they made an immediate impact by qualifying second for the 24 Hours of Le Mans and on pole position for the 8-Hours of Albacete race. The team currently lie in tenth place in the championship standings, after deciding not to contest the recent Suzuka 8-Hour race.
Michael Bartholemy: Team Principal
“I
am obviously very pleased that BMW think the BMP-ELF-99 Racing Team worthy of
their support in our first season in the Endurance World Championship. Everyone
in the team has worked so hard since the start of the year to ensure we were
competitive in our debut season and I think the agreement with BMW, that will
see us campaigning the excellent S1000RR for the remainder of this year and
next, illustrates just how much of an impact we’ve had on the championship in
such a short space of time. We already knew that the S1000RR was a competitive
package, but as work has progressed on preparing everything ready for testing
ahead of the Bol d’Or, we’ve been extremely impressed with both the bike and
the level of support we’ve received, not just from BMW, but also from Elf and
Michelin. I am looking forward to making our debut with the S1000RR at the Bol
d’Or, where I hope we can secure a result to repay the faith that BMW have
shown in us.”
FIM World Endurance
The Bol d’Or will be a
decisive round of the Qtel FIM Endurance World Championship. Four of the main
contenders for the 2010 title are in the provisional top 5 with a small gap of
16 points, as 35 points are to be taken by the winner of the next 24 hours
race.
The Kawasaki of Bolliger Team Switzerland is currently leading the championship due to very regular results so far from the first three races of the season with Patric Muff, Horst Saiger and Roman Stamm. Ten points behind are the Yamaha Austrian Racing Team (Igor Jerman, Steve Martin and Gwen Giabbani). With a podium at Le Mans but an average race at Albacete and no points scored at Suzuka, YART can’t afford another mistake and will have to deal with the pressure from two highly motivated teams, the Le Mans winner GSR Kawasaki with Julien Da Costa, Olivier Four and Gregory Leblanc, and the Suzuki Endurance Racing Team, winner at Albacete after they had to retire from the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Winner of the 2009 Bol d’Or, SERT will race with Vincent Philippe, Freddy Foray and the Japanese rider Daisaku Sakai. Seriously injured at Le Mans, Guillaume Dietrich is coming back into racing as the fourth rider.
Those four teams are not the only ones with ambition for victory – and the 35 points. The Yamaha France GMT 94 Ipone, with David Checa, Kenny Foray and Greg Junod, “borrowed” from team RAC 41 to replace Gregorio Lavilla, still injured after his crash at Albacete, surely wants to score a podium after a fourth place at Le Mans and two “dnf” results at Albacete and Suzuka. The BMP Elf 99 Racing team is moving from its partnership with Honda and Dunlop and enters a new challenge! The Belgian team of Michael Bartholemy is taking over the official BMW and their Michelin tyres and will take part in the race with a high-class trio of riders, Sébastien Gimbert, Erwan Nigon and Matthieu Lagrive. Even if this mid-season change adds some difficulty for the team BMP, we can be sure that the BMW 99 will be one of the fastest motorbikes on the track.
This 24 hours race is not short of challengers. The RAC 41 (Gregg Black, Olivier Depoorter and Mathieu Gines) is also aiming for a podium as at Le Mans. The Franco-Italian RT Moto Virus, fifth at Le Mans and Albacete, gives its Suzuki to Frédéric Jond, Eric Mizera, Cyril Brivet and William Grare. Unlucky at Le Mans but impressive at Albacete, the Honda National Moto will also compete with the big guns with Emeric Jonchière, Sébastien Scarnato and Sylvain Barrier.
In the Superstock class, the Junior Team Suzuki LMS wants to take revenge after a dreadful 24 Hours of Le Mans experience. The Suzuki of Qatar Endurance Racing Team, current leader of the FIM World Cup, will try to keep their lead over the Yamaha X-One, Superstock winner at Albacete. We’ll have to keep an eye on the Suzuki of Team Motor Events, who was a strong class contender at Le Mans.
The first qualification sessions will take place on Thursday, September 9th on the Nevers Magny Cours racetrack. The event will also host a round of the FIM e-Power International Championship, reserved to electric-powered motorcycles, as well as a round of the Side-Car FIM World Championship.
Team Suzuki Report from Queensland Australian Superbike Round
Monday, August 23, 2010, 1:06:02 PM | admin
Team Suzuki rider Troy
Herfoss has extended his points lead in the Australian Supersport Championship
after two hard-fought races at the fifth round of the series at Queensland
Raceway at the weekend.
Herfoss, who started from pole position on his Team Suzuki GSX-R600, was engaged in two thrilling 16-lap races with experienced international rider, Kevin Curtain.
Twenty-three-year-old Herfoss, who is only in his second full season of Supersport racing after swapping from Supermoto at the end of 2008, went bar-to-bar with Curtain in each race.
The Team Suzuki rider finished the round second overall, with his 38-point haul from fourth and second placings moving him 28 points clear on the championship points table. Herfoss had entered the round with a 19-point lead.
The Team Suzuki rider recorded the fastest lap in each race, but had his challenge for the win in race one thwarted when the gear-shift knob vibrated loose on lap 10. Despite the difficulty in changing gears on his Team Suzuki GSX-R600, Herfoss was able to complete the race in fourth place and secure 17 championship points.
In race two, Herfoss was again engaged in a titanic battle with Curtain, the latter finally prevailing by 1.656sec at the chequered flag. The ferocity of their battles saw Curtain, a runner-up in the Supersport World Championship, direct praise at his less-experienced rival at the podium presentation.
“I haven’t raced like that since I was in the World Championship a few years ago,” said Curtain. “Troy is going well.”
After five rounds, Herfoss now leads the six-round Australian Supersport Championship on 178pts from Christan Casella 150 and Suzuki GSX-R600 rider Brodie Waters 141.
In the Australian Superbike Championship Team Suzuki riders Robbie Bugden and Shawn Giles finished sixth and seventh respectively with 29 points apiece after chasing a set-up they were comfortable with on the bumpy and challenging 3.12km Ipswich circuit. The round was won by current championship leader Bryan Staring.
Bugden, a three-time New Zealand Superbike Champion, finished ninth and fifth in the two 16-lap races, but was fortunate to finish race one when a collision with another rider removed his Team Suzuki Mack Trucks GSX-R1000’s clutch lever. In race two Bugden was involved in an entertaining battle with 2008 Australian champion Glenn Allerton and fellow Suzuki GSX-R1000 rider Scott Charlton, the Queenslander finishing just 0.196sec behind Allerton in the battle for fourth and 0.403sec ahead of Charlton.
Giles, a three-time Australian Superbike Champion, finished seventh in each race after starting from the third row of the grid. Giles’ 29-point haul consolidated fourth overall in the championship standings, with the Team Suzuki rider now just 3.5pts off third.
With two rounds remaining Bryan Staring leads the seven-round series on 166pts from Wayne Maxwell 147.5, Allerton 115 and Giles 111.5.
Missing from the grid for Round Five’s two Superbike races was the Team Suzuki GSX-R1000 of reigning Australian champion Josh Waters, the 23-year-old being ruled out of the meeting on Thursday after medical tests revealed he had not recovered sufficiently from an accident in early July in the USA when testing for the US Suzuki Superbike team.
The series now heads to Victoria’s Phillip Island circuit on September 10-12 for round six of the seven-round series, to be run in conjunction with the V8 Supercars.
Phil Tainton – Team Manager:
“Troy’s
performance this weekend was exceptional. It’s the first round this year that
Troy hasn’t won, but to race like that with Kevin Curtain showed maturity
beyond his years.
“It was unfortunate what happened with the gear-lever knob vibrating loose in race one – that’s something we’ve never encountered before. It was a challenging weekend finding a set-up for the Superbike guys that they were happy with, as the circuit is quite bumpy in parts.
“Of course we want to win every time we go out there, and
winning both classes was our aim. But Bryan Staring got his package working
better, so congratulations to him.
“Shawn has closed the points’ gap to third in the championship, so we’re looking forward to the next round at Phillip Island.”
Troy Herfoss:
“I’m
really pleased with the weekend results although I’m a little annoyed with
myself for making a few mistakes. It was great to race with a person like Kev
and I appreciate what he said after the race – he’s a great rider. It was good
hard racing, but clean and fair.
“It was unfortunate in race one when the gear-lever knob vibrated loose as it meant I could not race for the win. But to extend my championship lead was more important than race wins this weekend, so I’m happy with that. The bike was awesome and the team did a great job.”
Shawn Giles:
“I
had a few problems getting a set-up I was happy with and I couldn’t get the confident
feel I was after.
“Missing Superpole didn’t do me any favours when I got bumped out of the top eight in the last five minutes and it was always going to be hard starting both races from row three.
“The team worked non-stop all weekend and kept making set-up changes until I had the confidence to push harder. I can’t thank them enough. I’m only a few points off third in the championship now, so I’m looking forward to Phillip Island – a circuit I really enjoy.”
Robbie Budgen:
“It’s
always great to race in front of my friends and family at my home round at
Queensland Raceway. It would have been good to have got on the podium, but the
pace up front was pretty hot and I’d struggled throughout practice and
qualifying with set-up.
“We got things working for Superpole and in Sunday warm-up, but having my clutch lever knocked off in race one didn’t do me any favours. Up-shifting was okay, but down-shifting was difficult. Race two was more like it and the battle with Glenn and Scotty was a good one.”
Joshua Waters:
“It’s
obviously disappointing not to be racing, but it’s important that I’m fully fit
before I get back on the bike. Team Suzuki has been monitoring my progress and
making sure I’ve been getting regular medical attention. There was no way the
team was going to let me race this weekend unless I had 100 per cent clearance.
“It would be unsafe for me and unsafe for the other competitors if I’m not 100 per cent fit. I’m probably another week away from being fully right, so it’s better to sit out the meeting, but I’m looking forward to racing at the next round.”
Henry Wiles Makes It Six in a Row at Peoria Flat Track
Monday, August 23, 2010, 1:03:16 PM | admin
PEORIA, Ill. (August 23,
2010) – Just in case there was a doubt in anyone’s mind about #1 Henry Wiles’
prowess on the venerable Peoria TT, the Monster Energy Kawasaki / Don’s
Kawasaki backed Michigander dominated round 11 of the AMA Pro K&N Filters
Grand National Championship presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com. The win is
the sixth straight for Wiles at the Illinois venue as he closes in on the
“Prince of Peoria” Chris Carr’s record of eight in a row.
Wiles had a perfect day, posting the fastest qualifying time, winning the fastest heat and leading all twenty five laps of the National. Winning by over 11 seconds over Rockysonline.com / Lucas Oil / Rogers Lake Racing’s #21 Jared Mees.
“Today was just one of the days that I think even if I would have gotten a little behind, I could have came through real quick,” said Wiles. “I think we had that much going on today.”
Any suspense was soon put to rest as the 18 rider National hit the first turn. “I got the perfect start and that always makes things easier. There’s a lot that can go wrong in this race,” said Wiles. “Fortunately the bike ran strong the whole time and there were no issues there mechanically. There were a few times, because the track was a little bit sketchy, the bike was stepping it out or tucking the front a little bit here and there. I kind of wanted to look back just to see how I was doing. I know I had more in reserve and I was just trying to ride a smart race. I wanted to know if someone was there and if I should wick it up a little bit. Fortunately I didn’t have to do that. We just rode a good race. The Monster Energy Kawasaki was running good today, that was probably the best bike we’ve had here yet.”
Mees locked into second and proceeded to have an easy way to his runner up spot, but the action swirling around the last podium spot went on well into the race. #10 Johnny Lewis, riding Mick Kirkness’ back-up Suzuki after his Scott Powersports Honda blew up during qualifying and #5 Jake Johnson (Zanotti Racing’s Honda) were having a great race between themselves when #7 Sammy Halbert charged by both of them on lap 20 of the 25 lap National.
Johnson was able to hang tight in fourth, with Lewis fifth, despite a late race challenge from #28 Shaun Russell and his Fox Valley Cycles / Greg Crow Racing backed Honda.
Two weeks ago #3 Joe Kopp and #2 Kenny Coolbeth were fighting over the win, this week it was a duel over seventh. Current Series points leader Latus Harley-Davidson / Moto Concepts’ Kopp once again came out on top of the Bettencourts’ Honda / Jason Perry backed Coolbeth.
Dave Burks Motorsports / Yeager’s Cycle’s Mick Kirkness and Chris carr Racing / Dallas Fort Worth Honda’s Chris Carr rounded out the top ten.
In the six-rider, four-lap Dash for Cash, Jake Johnson got the hole shot. That lasted one lap and would prove to be the only lap Henry Wiles would not lead all day. Just after the start-finish line Wiles roared into the lead and pulled to almost a second and a half lead over Johnson. Jared Mees was third over Joe Kopp, Shaun Russell and Johnny Lewis as they were all spaced about half a second apart.
Technical inspection following the Dash revealed that when Johnson put on a fresh rear tire for the race they used a CD5 Dunlop instead of the CD8 that is required. Johnson lost his three points and everyone moved up one position for that race.
#95C JD Beach made a successful return to the Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles Series after his road race injuries. The Red Bull / Top 1 Oil backed Honda rider took over after defending series Champion #1 Brad Baker had led the first lap on his Rod Lake / Mike Velasco backed Honda.
Baker would not go quietly though and actually retook the lead on lap 10 of the 12 lap race. It was not to be however as Beach was back in command for the last two laps.
Series points leader #24P Jeffery Carver finished over two seconds back, barely holding off #29Y Craig Rogers / Rod Lake’s Tyler O’Hara.
PEORIA RACE PARK
PEORIA, IL
RESULTS: August 22, 2010
GNS DASH FOR CASH (4 laps; 6 riders): 1.Henry Wiles (Kaw);
2. Jared Mees (Hon); 3. Joe Kopp (Hon); 4. Shaun Russell (Hon); 5. Johnny Lewis
(Suz); DSQ-Jake Johnson (Hon) (illegal tire).
Time: 1:48.359
AMA PRO K&N GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED by
MOTORCYCLE-SUPERSTORE.COM MAIN (25 laps; 18 riders): 1. Henry Wiles (Kaw); 2.
Jared Mees (Hon); 3. Sammy Sweet (Yam); 4. Jake Johnson (Hon); 5. Johnny Lewis
(Suz); 6. Shaun Russell (Hon); 7. Joe Kopp (Hon); 8. Kenny Coolbeth (Hon); 9.
Mick Kirkness (Suz); 10. Chris Carr (Hon); 11. Bryan Smith (Kaw); 12. Matt
Weidman (Hon); 13. Luke Gough (Yam); 14. Chad Cose (Hon); 15. Ion Stear (Hon);
16. JR Schnabel (Yam); 17. Aaron King (KTM); 18. Matt Burton.
Time: 10:53.840
AMA PRO K&N GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED by MOTORCYCLE-SUPERSTORE.COM POINT STANDINGS (After 11 of 17rounds): 1. Joe Kopp (208 pts / 3 wins); 2. Sammy Halbert (191 / 1 win); 3. Jake Johnson (190 / 2 wins); 4. Henry Wiles (188 / 4 wins); 5. Jared Mees (187); 6. Kenny Coolbeth (163); 7. Chris Carr (111); 8. Bryan Smith (101) 9. Johnny Lewis (82); 10. Rob Pearson (77); 11. Mick Kirkness (73); 12. Matt Weidman (71); 13. Jethro Halbert (57); 14. Stevie Bonsey (45 / 1 win); 15. Brandon Robinson (35); 16. Shaun Russell (33); 17. Luke Gough (32); 18. JR Schnabel (31); 19. Chad Cose (26); 20. PJ Jacobsen (19).
AMA PRO K&N GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED by MOTORCYCLE-SUPERSTORE.COM SINGLES POINT STANDINGS (After 5 of 6 rounds): 1. Henry Wiles (113 pts / 3 wins); 2. Joe Kopp (Hon); 3. Jared Mees (90); 4. Jake Johnson (76); 5. Sammy Halbert (73 / 1 win); 6. Johnny Lewis (68); 7. Kenny Coolbeth (66); 8. Jethro Halbert (43); 9. Bryan Smith (41); 10. Mick Kirkness (39); 11. Chris Carr (36); 12. Shaun Russell (33); 13. Rob Pearson (30); 14. Matt Weidman (25); 15. JR Schnabel (19); 16. (TIE) Brandan Bergen / Don Mullen / Raun Wood (17); 19. Brandon Robinson (12); 20. Chad Cose (11).
AMA PRO MOTORCYCLE-SUPERSTORE.COM PRO SINGLES MAIN (12 laps;
18 riders): 1. JD Beach (Hon); 2. Brad Baker (Hon); 3. Jeffery Carver (Yam); 4.
Tyler O’Hara (Hon); 5. William Cato (Hon); 6. Kurtis Lee (Hon); 7. James
Rispoli (Hon); 8. Andrew Smith (Hon); 9. Jake Shoemaker (Hon); 10. Mike Avila
(Hon); 11. Mike Martin (Hon); 12. Ryan Foster (Hon); 13. Gerit Callies (Hon);
14. Adam Bushman (Hon); 15. Mike LaBelle (Hon); 16. Derek Hersh (Kaw); 17. Chaz
Springsteen (Kaw); 18. Wyatt Maguire (Yam).
Time: 5:24.155
AMA PRO MOTORCYCLE-SUPERSTORE.COM PRO SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP POINT STANDINGS (After 11 of 17 rounds): 1. Jeffery Carver (211 pts / 4 wins); 2. Brad Baker (183 / 3 wins); 3. James Rispoli (146); 4. Mike Avila (128); 5. Mike Martin (99); 6. JD Beach (95 / 3 wins); 7. Mike LaBelle (89); 8. Chaz Springsteen (81); 9. Jake Shoemaker (62); 10. Gerit Callies (48); 11. Tyler O’Hara (44); 12. Wyatt Maguire (43); 13. Michael Toon (38 / 1 win); 14. (TIE) William Cato / Jeremy Hamilton (37); 16. Zakk Palmer (36); 17. Shayna Texter (35); 18. Brandon Laursen (33); 19. (TIE) Stephen Vanderbuur / Adam Bushman (31).
Speed Dating: August 23 – 29
Monday, August 23, 2010, 12:20:17 PM | Jeff Feathers
August 23
Luca Scassa • Photo by
Brown & Wheeler
Happy birthday to Charley Boorman (UK), who was born on this date in 1966. The British actor of Excalibur fame appeared alongside Ewan McGregor in Long Way Round and Long Way Down, documenting their multi-continent motorcycle journeys. Boorman also appeared in a documentary series of his own, Race to Dakar, which followed his preparations and adventures in the 2006 Dakar Rally.
Luca Scassa (IT) was born on this date in 1983. Introduced to American fans as a member of the Fast by Ferracci MV Agusta AMA Superbike team in 2007, Scassa has since migrated to the World Superbike Championship, where he rides for the Supersonic Racing Team riding a Ducati 1098R. He is currently fifteenth in points and his best finish of the year came in Race 1 at Miller Motorsports Park, where he finished seventh.
Cory West • Photo by
Nelson/Riles
Happy birthday to Cory West (US), who was born on this date in 1984. West spent the 2009 season contesting WERA Endurance and National Challenge Series events with the Vesrah Suzuki team and for 2010 moved over to AMA Pro competition in the Daytona Sportbike class. He is currently fifth with 193 points, behind some very stiff competition.
August 24
Cook Neilson (US) was born on this date in 1943. A journalist and editor of Cycle magazine from 1967 until 1980, Neilson is often remembered for his 1977 Daytona 200 win aboard a heavily modified, Phil Schilling-tuned Ducati 750SS named “Old Blue.” His participation in the early years of the AMA Superbike class was followed closely in Cycle, and that coverage helped launch the series into the American motorcycling mainstream.
August 25
Kenan Sofuoglu • Photo by
Wheeler & Brown
Happy birthday to World Supersport rider Kenan Sofuoglu (TR), who was born on this date in 1983. Sofuoglu took eight wins in thirteen races to capture the 2007 World Supersport championship, riding for the Ten Kate Honda team. After an unsuccessful 2008 season in the Superbike class, Sofuoglu returned to the Ten Kate Supersport effort. He finished last year third in points and currently leads the 2010 championship with three wins.
On this date in 2001, Will Davis (US) was killed in a first-lap accident during the AMA Grand National Championship race at Sedalia, Missouri. A five-time winner of the MARS asphalt motorcycle racing series, Davis was ranked seventh on the AMA all-time wins list at the time of the accident. Davis was transported to a local hospital but could not be revived.
August 27
Bill Ivy (UK) was born on this date in 1942. Ivy won the 1967 125cc world championship by sixteen points over Yamaha teammate and rival Phil Read. Read would have his revenge the following year in the 250cc class, beating Ivy in the final race to secure the championship against Yamaha team orders. Ivy was killed in 1969 in a freak accident at the East German Grand Prix, when, while riding down pit-lane without his helmet, the engine of his Jawa seized and he was thrown off, sustaining fatal head injuries.
Roger DeCoster (BE) was born on this date in 1944. In a career that spanned nearly two decades, DeCoster won five world championships and had thirty-six Grand Prix victories. Since retiring from racing in 1980, Roger has managed both the American Honda and Suzuki motocross squads, as well as Team USA in the Motocross de Nations. DeCoster was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1994 and the AMA Hall of Fame in 1999.
Dale Singleton (US) was born on this date in 1955. A two-time Daytona 200 winner (1979 and 1981), Singleton competed as a privateer in the early days of the AMA Superbike championship, campaigning his self-tuned Yamahas successfully against factory teams. Singleton also competed occasionally in Grand Prix racing, and was a member of the U.S. team in the Anglo-American match races. After retiring from motorcycle racing in 1982 to pursue NASCAR racing, Singleton died in a private plane crash in 1985.
Jake Gagne • Photo by Gold
& Goose/Red Bull Photo Files
Happy birthday to Jake Gagne (US), who was born on this date in 1993. Gagne, a successful amateur motocross racer, transitioned to road racing in 2008 to compete in the Red Bull AMA U.S. Rookies Cup and finished the season with two wins. Gagne moved to the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup last season, where he took three podium finishes and ended the season sixth in the standings. He is currently leading the 2010 championship and has an eleven-point lead going into the final race at Misano.
August 29
Jorge “Aspar” Martinez (ES) was born on this date in 1962. A three-time 80cc world champion (1986-1988) and the 1988 125cc world champion, Martinez enjoyed a sixteen-year Grand Prix career. He retired from riding and formed the Aspar team, campaigning riders in the 125cc and 250cc classes. In 2010 Martinez stepped into the MotoGP class with Spaniard Hector Barbera riding the team’s satellite Ducati Desmosedici.
Former Grand Prix rider Olivier Jacque (FR) was born on this date in 1973. Jacque won the 2000 250cc world championship riding for Tech3 Yamaha, scoring three wins to take the title. After that year, Jacque spent three seasons with the Tech3 team in the premier class, but moved to Kawasaki in 2005. Jacque retired from MotoGP in 2007 after several frustrating seasons and became a full-time test and development rider for the Kawasaki factory.
Yamaha Monday Wake-Up Call
Monday, August 23, 2010, 11:29:44 AM | Digger Barrett
Viking Group Australian Superbike Championship
Queensland
Superbike Race 1
Pos. Num. Racer Manufacturer
1 67 Bryan
Staring Honda
2 1 Joshua
Waters Suzuki
3 47 Wayne
Maxwell Honda
4 19 Shawn
Giles Suzuki
5 5 Robert
Bugden Suzuki
6 6 Craig
Coxhell BMW
7 38 Scott
Charlton Suzuki
8 2 Glenn
Allerton Honda
9 49 Brendan
Clarke Honda
10 69 Daniel
Stauffer Aprilia
11 33 Jordan
Burgess Ducati
12 86 Beau
Beaton Ducati
13 32 Cole
Odendaal BMW
14 42 Shannon
Johnson KTM
15 26 Chris
Trounson KTM
16 75 Heath
Brinsley Suzuki
17 29 Liam
Daniels Yamaha
18 44 Jackson
Leigh-Smith Aprilia
19 54 Adam
Christie Honda
20 61 Matthew
Griffin Honda
21 43 Daniel
Moulton Yamaha
22 66 Jason
Morris Yamaha
23 12 Ben
Attard Ducati
DNF 45 Kris
McLaren Honda
DNF 22 Martin
Sutherland Honda
DNF 27 Jamie
Stauffer Ducati
DNF 11 John
Allen Ducati
DNF 21 Craig
McMartin Ducati
DNF 18 Ben
Henry Suzuki
Superbike Race 2
Pos. Num. Racer Manufacturer
1 67 Bryan
Staring Honda
2 1 Joshua
Waters Suzuki
3 47 Wayne
Maxwell Honda
4 5 Robert
Bugden Suzuki
5 19 Shawn
Giles Suzuki
6 38 Scott
Charlton Suzuki
7 6 Craig
Coxhell BMW
8 49 Brendan
Clarke Honda
9 12 Ben
Attard Ducati
10 69 Daniel
Stauffer Aprilia
11 32 Cole
Odendaal BMW
12 45 Kris
McLaren Honda
13 42 Shannon
Johnson KTM
14 11 John
Allen Ducati
15 2 Glenn
Allerton Honda
16 33 Jordan
Burgess Ducati
17 86 Beau
Beaton Ducati
18 26 Chris
Trounson KTM
19 29 Liam
Daniels Yamaha
20 75 Heath
Brinsley Suzuki
21 44 Jackson
Leigh-Smith Aprilia
22 54 Adam
Christie Honda
23 22 Martin
Sutherland Honda
24 61 Matthew
Griffin Honda
25 43 Daniel
Moulton Yamaha
26 66 Jason
Morris Yamaha
DNF 27 Jamie
Stauffer Ducati
DNF 21 Crig
McMartin Ducati
DNF 18 Ben
Henry Suzuki
Supersport Race 1
Pos. Num. Racer Manufacturer
1 18 Troy
Herfoss Suzuki
2 25 Brodie
Waters Suzuki
3 82 Chris
Quinn Yamaha
4 96 Aaron
Gobert Yamaha
5 16 Christan
Casella Triumph
6 48 Andy
Lawson Jr. Honda
7 52 Ryan
Taylor Yamaha
8 17 Sam
Heath Honda
9 37 Cohen
Arthur Yamaha
10 75 John
Ross Yamaha
11 58 Anthony
Quinn Yamaha
12 22 Des
Darby Triumph
DNF 30 Dylan
Mavin Honda
DNF 65 Blake
Leigh-Smith Suzuki
Supersport Race 2
Pos. Num. Racer Manufacturer
1 18 Troy
Herfoss Suzuki
2 25 Brodie
Waters Suzuki
3 82 Chris
Quinn Yamaha
4 16 Christan
Casella Triumph
5 52 Ryan
Taylor Yamaha
6 58 Anthony
Quinn Yamaha
7 17 Sam
Heath Honda
8 22 Des
Darby Triumph
9 75 John
Ross Yamaha
DNF 30 Dylan
Mavin Honda
DNF 37 Cohen
Arthur Yamaha
DNF 48 Andy
Lawson Jr. Honda
AMA Pro Flat Track
Peoria, IL
Expert Main Event
Pos. Num. Racer Manufacturer
1 1 Henry
Wiles Kawasaki
2 21 Jared
Mees Honda
3 7 Sammy
Halbert Yamaha
4 5 Jake
Johnson Honda
5 10 Johnny
Lewis Honda
6 28 Shaun
Russell Honda
7 3 Joe
Kopp Honda
8 2 Kenny
Coolbeth Jr. Honda
9 87 Michael
Kirkness Suzuki
10 4 Chris
Carr Honda
11 42 Bryan
Smith Kawasaki
12 20 Matt
Weidman Honda
13 62 Luke
Gough Yamaha
14 49 Chad
Cose Honda
15 19 Ion
Stear Honda
16 33 JR
Schnabel Jr. Yamaha
17 40 Aaron
King KTM
Pro Main Event
Pos. Num. Racer Manufacturer
1 95C J.D.
Beach Honda
2 1 Brad
Baker Honda
3 24P Jeffrey
Carver Jr. Yamaha
4 29Y Tyler
OHara Honda
5 35C William
Cato Honda
6 22J Kurtis
Lee Honda
7 71B James
Rispoli Honda
8 84P Andrew
Smith Honda
9 55A Jake
Shoemaker Suzuki
10 33E Michael
Avila Honda
11 91Y Michael
Martin Honda
12 23Y Ryan
Foster Honda
13 76L Gerit
Callies Honda
14 19L Adam
Bushman Honda
15 20T Michael
LaBelle Honda
16 18A Derek
Hersh Kawasaki
17 29J Chaz
Springsteen Kawasaki
18 18M Wyatt
Maguire Yamaha
USGPRU
Portland International Raceway
Moto Liberty/RS-Taichi 250GP Race
Pos. Racer
1 David
Matthews
2 Andy
Moore
3 Kevin
Winter
4 Adrian
Jasso
5 Mike
Aboyoun
DNF Vince
Rolleri
DQ Ben
Young
Rising Sun Cycle/GPTech Moto3 Race
Pos. Racer
1 Nick
McFadden
2 Michael
Caravatta
3 Peter
Lenz
4 Mackenzie
Ancien
5 Shellie
Matthews
6 Gerry
Signorelli
Pilot 125GP Race
Pos. Racer
1 Andrew
Artola
2 Gerry
Signorelli
3 Shellie
Matthews
4 Kevin
Murray
5 David
Matthews
DNF Michael
Caravatta
DNS Conor
Matthews
REV’IT! Moriwaki MD250H Race
Pos. Racer
1 Nick
McFadden
2 Peter
Lenz
Honda Road Racerhead #34
Friday, August 20, 2010, 5:31:32 PM | CJ
It's official—Rossi will be
wearing (and riding) red next year. • Photo by Andrew Northcott
Road Racerhead comes to you today from the majestic mountains of Whistler, Canada, where I’m squeezing in a quick family trip before MotoGP returns to the U.S. next weekend for the second time in one month. In the interim, the series spent last weekend in the Czech Republic, and as usual, the Brno Grand Prix offered more than its share of interesting developments.
Though it was far from a surprise, the big one was the official confirmation that Valentino Rossi will ride with Ducati for the next two years. I don’t often say “I told you so” (more because I’m rarely right than out of tact), but I’ll go ahead and take this opportunity to remind everyone of my February 19 column, in which I imagined the start of the 2011 season and painted a tongue-in-cheek picture of a reality in which Rossi was riding red, Ben Spies had taken his place on the factory Yamaha team, Casey Stoner had moved to Repsol Honda, and Nicky Hayden had re-signed with Ducati.
Will Ben Spies make like
Rossi in obeying CJ's February predictions? • Photo by Andrew Northcott
Well, it looks like I nailed those developments (the Hayden one still hasn’t been finalized but appears very likely), and if you don’t mind, we’ll just overlook my prognostications that Stoner would win this year’s title, Dani Pedrosa would move to Ducati Marlboro, Rossi’s Ducati would be fielded by Jorge “Aspar” Martinez, and Colin Edwards would be The Doctor’s business manager. (The latest word from GP One is that that role will now be officially handled by Davide Brivio, while Spies could be looked after by Massimo Meregalli.) On the other hand, I’m still holding out hope that Marco Simoncelli will make me look like a genius by shaving his mane into a faux-hawk.
In this week’s TGI Monday trivia contest, we asked readers to name the various displacements with which Rossi has won world titles, and the answer is 125, 250, and 500 (on two-strokes), plus 990 and 800 (with four-strokes). It’ll be interesting to see if he can add 1000cc to the list. As we expected, we got a ton of correct answers, but it was Loveland, Ohio, reader Bill Bowlin who will be receiving the Wrooom beanie from Ducati’s annual MotoGP press launch, plus a bottle of Valentino Rossi San Giovese wine from Tavullia’s Bar dello Sport. (Just to be thorough, I tested a bottle myself, and it’s worthy of the Rossi label.)
Roger Hayden (pictured) and
Kenny Noyes won't be the only Americans on the Moto2 grid at Indy.... • Photo
by Wheeler/Brown
Anyway, although it can be easy to overlook at times, we still have a good chunk of this season left to run, starting with the aforementioned Red Bull Indianapolis GP. If you read our Tuesday Conversation with Kenny Noyes, then you know that he and the other two Americans who will be racing the Moto2 class—wildcard riders Roger Hayden and Jason DiSalvo—were set to test this week at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. That outing went down yesterday and today, with full-timer Noyes restricted to a production-based Kawasaki ZX-6R that he borrowed from American racer Gene Burcham and the other two allowed to ride their race machines.
There will also be other activities in the lead-up to the event. Noyes will be swimming with dolphins, and ex-Indiana Pacers player (and big-time motorcycle enthusiast) Rik Smits will be meeting some of the riders. And of course it was also announced this week that ultimate motorcycling ambassador Jay Leno will be the grand marshal for the whole weekend, so the race and series should get some good publicity out of that.
Jason DiSalvo's Indy Moto2
effort will be crew chiefed by AMA Pro's Al Ludington. • Photo by Wheeler/Brown
DiSalvo’s participation in the Indy race was a relatively recent development, and just this week came word that AMA Pro technical director (and former Honda crew chief) Al Ludington will be serving as the crew chief on JD’s GP Tech-prepped FTR machine next weekend. I’ve seen quite a few critical comments about the arrangement, but I just see it as Al taking advantage of an opportunity to stay on top of new technology and get some firsthand experience with the Grand Prix series, as you’d expect from a dedicated AMA Pro employee. As for performance, I don’t think either Al or JD have lost any edge in their respective fields.
When the Moto2 format was set to debut this year, many people wondered if it would work out better for American racers than the 250cc platform did. I know it’s still early, but I think we can already say that appears to be the case. Yes, there was the odd experimentation with the quarter-liter machines by gringos in the past (with Freddie Spencer’s and John Kocinski’s respective 1985 and ’90 titles being the most notable examples), but it’s been a long time since we’ve had anything like the current situation, with one Yank racing the class full-time and two top U.S. racers putting in serious wildcard appearances at their home race. Hopefully the trend continues.
AMA Pro American Superbike
frontrunners Josh Hayes (pictured) and Tommy Hayden each took at win at VIR,
keeping the points chase tight. • Photo by Nelson/Riles
How will our guys do? I don’t know, but I’m figuring it’s a good sign that this is Road Racerhead #34 for the year….
Last weekend was also the VIR round of AMA Pro Road Racing, and American Superbike title rivals Josh Hayes and Tommy Hayden traded wins over the two days of racing, meaning the former still has the same lead on the latter but is one lap closer to the finish line. On the other hand, Danny Eslick pulled out a hard-earned but still-slight edge over Josh Herrin in Daytona SportBike, a class that saw Bobby Fong score his first win on Sunday. With four races left, Danny leads by twelve, 306-295.
Congrats to JD Beach, who clinched the SuperSport East crown at VIR. That title goes well with JD’s 2008 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup championship, and bodes well for his future. It’s racers like JD who represent the future for American racing, and I’m looking forward to seeing these guys move up the ranks. Also, with hot shoes like him and Steve Bonsey, even dirt track can hold out hope for a healthy tomorrow.
We posted a unique gallery of Evan Williams images from at and around the race, and Shift has a nice selection of shots of their riders too.
Road Racer X reached an important benchmark when our Facebook page reached 20,151 fans. If you’re not onboard yet, check it out right here, and while you’re at it, make sure you’re following our Twitter page.
Danny Eslick maintains a
slight advantage over Josh Herrin in AMA Pro Daytona SportBike. • Photo by
Nelson/Riles
Mark “Backmarker” Gardiner sent me a note that a world record was set this week for the highest price of a Porsche sold at an auction, at $3,965,000. What does that have to do with motorcycles? The 1972-’73 917 Interserie Spyder was raced by none other than Mike Hailwood.
Meanwhile, here in Whistler, we’ve got running trails to explore and friends to have fun with, so I’m going to call Road Racerhead good here and get back to you next week from Indy. Thanks for reading.
JD Beach to Contend Three AMA Pro Flat Track Rounds
Friday, August 20, 2010, 11:17:07 AM | admin
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August
19, 2010) – One of the most successful and popular 18 year old motorcycle
racers in the world, J. D. Beach rides on a variety of different types of
disciplines and J.D. will be displaying his considerable talents on three of
the most revered and classic events on the AMA Pro Flat Track racing calendar.
J.D. has already competed in four AMA Pro K&N Filters Grand National Championship Presented by Motorcycle-Superstore.com events this year with wins at the celebrated new Flat Track in Daytona and also the Springfield TT. In addition to his successful Flat Track activities, J.D. recently clinched the AMA Pro SuperSport Young Gun East Divisional Championship by winning for the seventh time in 2010 on his Rockwall Engineering Yamaha.
J.D. will compete in the Pro Singles class on Sunday, August 22nd at the Peoria TT and then the Lucas Oil Indy Mile on Saturday, August 28th. It is worth mentioning that J.D. won both of these races in 2009 so he is looking forward to his return.
The next big step for this extremely talented young man will be the move up from Pro Singles to Expert rider at the K&N Filters Grand National Championship event at the Springfield Short Track and Mile on Labor Day Weekend, September 4-5, 2010.
J.D. commented on his upcoming races, “I would like to win Peoria and especially Indy in the Pro Singles. My goal at the Mile in Springfield is to make the main event and try to finish in the top ten, although a podium would be great!”
J.D. will be riding the Rogers-Lake prepared XR750 Harley-Davidson at Springfield along with 2009 AMA Pro Twins National Champion Jared Mees.
Please visit www.amaproracing for more event information and all the latest news on AMA Pro Racing.
Alpinestars Surfboards at Fashion Boutique
Friday, August 20, 2010, 10:19:45 AM | admin
Alpinestars has produced 5
unique surfboard covers which meld a passion for surf culture with a rich
history in motorcycle racing technology and protection. Currently on display at
Costa Mesa lifestyle fashion boutique The Closet, the 5 surfboards are an
interpretation of Alpinestars’ racing technology, in a context outside of
racing.
All of the pieces and
materials used to create these board covers are borrowed from Alpinestars’
leather racing suits and other protective pieces. The 5 covers were
hand-stitched and assembled in Alpinestars’ dedicated racing development
factory in Asolo Italy, where a team of engineers, designers and seamstresses
are devoted specifically to the Alpinestars racing program and athletes. These
surfboards draw inspiration from the Alpinestars’ leather racing suits that
protect World Champion athletes.
The board covers are constructed using:
* Full grain leather
* Perforated leather
* Stretch Kevlar
* Accordion-stretch leather panels
* Bionic Back protector (rear stomp pad)
* Bionic Chest Protector (front stomp pad)
* Racing Replica suit elbow protectors (side rails)
* Super Tech R boot mesh insert (nose)
* Bionic short backbone protectors (fins)
5 of these unique boards were constructed and one will be given away. All Alpinestars purchases between now and September 6th, at any of THE CLOSET’S four Southern California locations will automatically enter customers in a drawing to win one of the boards.
Thursday, August 19, 2010, 2:53:43 PM | admin
Commissioned
by Monster, Monster MotoGP Theater delivers two super-slick, high-definition
2-minutes videos from each and every MotoGP round, featuring Monster athletes
Valentino Rossi, Ben Spies, Colin Edwards, and Toni Elias. Road
Racer X is the exclusive media carrier of Monster MotoGP Theater,
so check back in the days following each of the eight remaining MotoGP rounds
for more.
Monster MotoGP Theater: Brno – Race
Monster MotoGP Theater: Brno – Interviews
For more Monster MotoGP news and video, visit Monster Energy at www.monsterenergy.com or MotoGP at www.motogp.com.
End
SLIDESHOW: Umbrella Girls of the Week, Brno MotoGP
Thursday, August 19, 2010, 2:01:05 PM | admin
BRNO MOTOGP • PHOTO BY ANDREW NORTHCOTT
◄ Back - Next ► Picture 1 of 8
Suzuki Signs as Manx Grand Prix Festival Sponsor (Pic)
Thursday, August 19, 2010, 12:56:06 PM | admin
Leading Japanese motorcycle
manufacturer, Suzuki, 
has been confirmed as the
official motorcycle partner for this year’s Manx Grand Prix Festival, taking
place on the Isle of Man from 21st August – 5th September, as the brand
celebrates its 50th year of international racing.
Fresh from backing the legendary TT event in June, Suzuki will support the Manx Grand Prix Festival by providing the travelling marshals with the very latest GSX-R1000 superbikes, enabling officials to react rapidly to any incidents and general management of the 37.73 mile course.
Suzuki GB marketing manager, George Cheeseman, commented, “Naturally we are delighted to be able to support the Manx Grand Prix Festival this year. In June we celebrated our 50th anniversary of International racing on the Island, so it’s great to return and support an event that has such a rich history and renowned atmosphere. While it’s important to support the factory teams at events like the TT, we know that it’s the racers in events like the Manx Grand Prix that have made Suzuki what it is today.”
While Suzuki celebrate their big racing milestone, the GSX-R range also celebrates its own anniversary in 2010, with 25 years of production. Starting with the first GSX-R750 in 1985, the very latest machines, as used by the Manx travelling marshals, boast 185BHP and offer changeable engine modes with a chassis boasting class leading agility, thanks to developments like the very latest Showa Big Piston Forks.
Loris Capirossi Blog Installment
Thursday, August 19, 2010, 12:51:34 PM | admin
We have had quite a tough
season so far and we are not where we want to be in the championship. The whole
team is working so hard and we just don’t seem to be getting any luck coming
our way; and if we do it is bad luck.
The Suzuki GSV-R has improved quite a bit this season from the bike it was last year, but we need more time to test things and find the right solution. Once we do that I know we can be competitive and battling at the right end of the race.
We had a test just after the Brno race in the Czech Republic. It was a very positive test and although it started to rain in the afternoon and we had to finish early, we did manage to get almost all of the work done we needed to. Most things we tested were a step in the right direction so now hopefully the guys back at Suzuki will be able to work on our test data and see what improvements they can make for the rest of the year.
We’ve got a really tough run-in until the end of the season, with eight races in 11 weekends, so we’ve still got a lot of opportunities in front of us to get back up amongst the pack where we should be. I will certainly be giving it everything to get the results that the team deserves and pushing as hard as I can to end the season on a high and put the first part of the year right behind us.
Backmarker: Spend green, be green—a day in the life of Brammo’s Enertia “Powercycle”
Thursday, August 19, 2010, 9:00:23 AM | Mark Gardiner
More than a year ago, I rode and wrote about the Brammo Enertia prototype. Last week, I finally got my hands on the production version. The bike I tested was the property of my friend Harry Mallin, who lives in Kansas City, went to school with Brammo founder Craig Bramscher, and blogs under the alias Brammofan, so you know where his allegiance lies.
At a claimed 324 pounds,
the Enertia Powercycle is light. Despite that dual-sport look, it has a street
bike's five-inches-or-so of suspension travel and relatively low ground
clearance, so it's not overly tall. It seems like you'd drag those low pegs,
but you don't; maybe because the whole bike's so narrow. • Mark Gardiner photo
Harry dropped off his shiny new Enertia—the only one in KC—on his way to work, after agreeing to finish his commute on my Bonneville. Before leaving, he brought me up to speed on the Brammo’s start-up ritual. I’ve read other testers complaining that it’s over-elaborate, and I guess that it might get to be a pain. But the first few times, it’s kind of fun and underlines the fact that this isn’t your dad’s motorcycle.
Prior to embarking on my one-day test, I brought it down into the bat-cave and plugged it in, so I’d be starting with a full charge. While topping it up, I took in the build quality and componentry. Unlike some electric bikes that in many ways still betray their downhill mountain bike roots, the Brammo’s built from motorcycle parts—albeit light-duty ones. The Marzocchi fork is only minimally adjustable, but it’s full-size. The Elka shock is tiny but tidy. Brembo brakes are confidence inspiring. The plastics—and there’s an acre of plastic—look good, at least on this low-mileage specimen. Nothing about the bike, on first impression, belies its $7,995 MSRP. (After all applicable tax credits, most buyers will have a net cost that’s at least 10% lower, and in some states the final cost could be much less.)
According to the dash display, it was going to take an hour to top up the battery after Harry’s twelve-mile ride, so I went upstairs to finish breakfast. When I went back down to check on it, the charger cooling fan had kicked in and was making quite a loud hum. I guess that would only be bothersome if you were the kind of hipster who took it right into your loft or office to charge it.
Once it was ready to go, I went through the key-turning, button-pushing, switch-flicking sequence that yields sexy flashing green LEDs and a message that the drive is engaged. There are no excuses for accidentally blipping the throttle on this thing and having it lurch away from you.
That bar-end mirror is the
only mod the owner has made. The stock mirrors were well-positioned for me, and
in the absence of vibration, the image was crystal-clear. Getting the electrons
flowing involves turning the key, pushing/holding that button on the top of the
tank, cycling the kill switch, and—last but not least—ensuring that the
headlight is on. • Mark Gardiner photo
Like other electrics I’ve tested, there’s no clutch or gearbox, so your left hand and foot have nothing much to do. (The machine would probably be better served by a rear brake lever on the front handlebar like a bicycle, but that wouldn’t meet licensing requirements.) The “throttle” (for want of a better word) takeup was the best I’ve felt on an e-bike. Smooth starts from a dead stop are as easy as they are on a twist-and-go like my Yamaha Vino. This is a key issue in EVs, because electric motors make full torque at any throttle setting. A year or two back when I was riding Brammo’s prototypes (as well as those of other manufacturers) they were pretty jumpy; smooth takeoffs required coordinating both throttle and brake, and in cornering, it was hard to get back on the “gas” without upsetting the bikes.
The seat height was not a problem for me at 5′7”, but it’s tall enough that some neophyte riders will find it intimidating. By contrast, the pegs feel almost alarmingly low; as if they’d drag in even moderate cornering (but they don’t). The initial impression of the seat and ride generally is firm-to-hard; I found myself transferring weight to the pegs when I saw even small potholes or bumps coming up. That said, Brammo’s chassis designer Aaron Bland nailed this bike’s steering geometry and weight distribution. Handling at all speeds was stable, confidence-inspiring, and instinctive.
Others have noted the steering lock at slow speeds, and that was an issue. Considering the intended duty of this bike—urban commuting—and frequent need to slalom between cars at walking speed when filtering in stop-and-go city traffic, a tighter turning radius is mandatory for the next generation.
Underway, the circa-14 hp motor is powerful enough to keep you safely ahead of surface traffic. To put it in perspective, I dropped by the house of a friend—Jim van Eman, an avid, lifelong motorcyclist who’s also an architect specializing in sustainability—to show it off. His car is a Honda Insight, and his daily rider is a well-used Kawasaki KLR650. We swapped bikes and ran an errand, to visit one of his building sites. At under 50 mph, I had to ride the KLR pretty aggressively to keep up with him, using lots of throttle and shifting to keep it in the powerband. Once I’d let Jim try the Brammo, I thought I was going to have to pry his dead fingers off the handlebar to get it back.
I didn't have time to try
adjusting the Canadian-made Elka shock, which was still on stock settings. As
delivered, it's set or sprung too stiff for 98-pound weaklings like me. • Mark
Gardiner photo
I didn’t want to die holding the bar, either, so I was very aware that I was zipping up behind and beside cars in almost complete silence. (It’s not really silent; there’s a loud cooling fan, chain noise, and bit of tire hum, but still….) I haven’t felt so invisible since that embarrassing night out at the singles bar. But seriously, folks, it caused me to reconsider the many times I’ve railed against those idiotic “Loud pipes save lives” patches.
The flip side of the Enertia’s silent approach is that you can hear traffic behind you, and the dual-sport-ish seat height, upright riding position, and better-than-average mirrors give good visibility for defensive purposes; the brakes and tires are adequate at in-town speeds, and the bike’s geometry and good handlebar leverage make evasive action a possibility. The bike will not run when the headlight’s off, another defensive adaptation.
One unexpected aspect of the bike’s low noise signature is that it’s easy to find yourself riding faster than 25 or 30 mph speed limits. I almost wish it would give off a little sound as you pass through 30 mph. Accidentally going too fast is not a problem over 50 mph, because although the bike will go 60-something (indicated), performance trails off in a way that’s hard to describe; it’s altogether different than an ICE bike on the back side of its horsepower curve. The Enertia pulls relatively hard at lower speeds, and I found myself thinking I could squirt through a yellow light, then was surprised that twisting the throttle at higher engine revs failed to yield the expected torque.
In commuting/errand-running mode, I felt the Enertia’s single biggest flaw was the lack of luggage, storage space, or any obvious bungee points. (Soft luggage is mentioned on Brammo’s website, and there are four small allen bolts behind the seat that are probably attachment points for their proprietary bags.) As it is, there are no passenger footpegs, so the space behind the rider is wasted. The next gen should make side cases and/or a top box available. Harry, who’s a lawyer, was wearing a backpack when he arrived to drop his bike off. Lots of professionals couldn’t be bothered. Some kind of “tank” bag would be nice, too (though I admit it would almost inevitably cover the start button).
After using up half the charge riding like a nerd, I sought out some empty roads in an abandoned warehouse district and started riding like a jerk. Just kidding; since it was a friend’s personal bike, I didn’t ride the crap out of it, but I pushed it hard enough to determine that you can ride it for fun, not just function (with one caveat that I’ll get to in a moment). My only handling note is that when you enter a corner with the throttle off, the bike’s essentially freewheeling—there’s no regenerative/engine braking. I think that if you got used to trailing the rear brake slightly in mid-corner, it would stabilize the bike, but it would be better to have a regen setup that would both improve handling and pump a little power back into the battery. I won’t have any more chassis notes until I get one that belongs to the OEM and take it out on a go-kart track or some real technical, slow/twisty road.
At that point, I thought I’d learned about all I could in a day. I decided to take it out on the freeway and see how fast it would go, and how quickly the battery runs down at top speed.
You’ve already guessed where this is heading, haven’t you?
I got it to about 62 mph (on the speedo, not in my Speedo) and held that velocity for a few miles on a very hot day. Then I got an engine-temp warning that caused the computer to reduce power. Then I made the wrong freeway exit while circling back to my neighborhood. I found myself having to stay somewhat in the flow of traffic while watching the battery gauge count down. To. Zero. On an elevated section of Interstate 70.
With the gauge showing 0% charge and keeping an eye in my mirrors for fast-closing traffic, I looked for and did not find four-way flashers. I slowed down some more, and imagined stalling out completely 100 feet up on a two-mile-long bridge. I pictured some fellow biker stopping to say “I’ll come back with a jerry-can,” and me responding, “Make it a 700-foot extension cord.”
Desperate for an exit, I reached an off-ramp just as the motor cut out. I pushed to the top of the ramp, which was hard enough work to soak me in sweat. (Did I mention that at this point, I was in full protective gear, and it was over 100 degrees in 90+ percent humidity?)
I remembered Harry telling me that, while he’d never had to use it, the bike would apparently restart after a few minutes’ rest. Sure enough, it did and I was able to slowly ride the last mile home with the battery-charge gauge reading zero. (Luckily, it was downhill part of the way. There’s some unintentional regeneration inherent in the system. When an electric motor runs “backwards,” it’s a generator by definition.)
All in all, I drained the battery from an indicated 99% charge to failure in less than 30 miles—though in fairness, about half that distance was spent riding the bike quite hard, and for some of it, I was pinning the throttle on the interstate. While the bike’s freeway legal in Missouri, no one claims that’s an intended use.
Cost aside—for this paragraph, anyway—range remains the crux for this entire class of bikes. EV entrepreneurs can cite all the stats they want about average commute distances. Having to park up for several hours near an electrical outlet every thirty miles is a deal breaker for a lot of otherwise would-be green bikers. I admit I was asking for trouble pulling onto the freeway with 25% power remaining, but that could just as easily have been an honest mistake. I noted above that the bike’s handling and reasonable power make riding it for fun an attractive proposition, but on most of the scenic, twisty roads that make you think, Thank God I’m a motorcyclist, the outlets are further than thirty miles apart.
When Harry came by to pick up his bike, he made the case that using an EV requires a certain mindset; you don’t just aimlessly wander. The analogy he used was, “When I towed our vacation trailer with my Honda Pilot, I got about eight miles to the gallon. If we were traveling on some little two-lane road, I made sure I knew exactly where the gas stations were.” He rides his Enertia from his house to his office and back, which he can do on a single charge with a comfortable reserve left over.
This single front disc is
more than adequate in normal use, but when I was riding like a commuter on
crack, I noticed a trace of softness at the lever. • Mark Gardiner photo
The Enertia has a built-in charger and can only be charged at a Level 1 (regular household) power outlet. That’s convenient and makes sense now, because high-voltage recharging stations are few and far between. If you’re plugging your bike in at home, it doesn’t matter that it takes a few hours to recharge it. That charge time definitely does matter if you find yourself needing an unplanned top-up.
As an inner-city runabout in my neighborhood, where speeds occasionally reach 50 mph but average about 20, I compare the bike to my Vino, though I admit that it beats the Vino in top speed, “high”-speed handling, and energy cost.
The Vino beats the Enertia in range, cargo capacity, and slow-speed maneuverability. As for price, it’s no contest—the Vino’s about $2,200. Long-term reliability for the Eertia is to be determined. The Enertia’s batteries and motor are nearly maintenance-free, but its cycle parts aren’t. The total-life-cycle cost curves of the Vino and Enertia might not cross until you’d ridden one or the other for 50,000 miles—i.e., never.
In a suburban context, where it would be convenient to hop on the freeway for short hauls, Kawasaki’s $4,500 Ninja 250 has a better performance envelope and kills it on range, although the Enertia’s ease-of-use would score points for new riders.
On the other hand, the Enertia tops those plebian chariots when it comes to “cool factor,” and in this post-BP-blowout moment, its small carbon footprint allows you to feel smug about it, too.
Just how righteous should you feel? It’s not that easy to come up with a pat answer—unless you’re recharging your Enertia from your own private windmill or rooftop solar array, Jay Leno-style. As for the rest of us, a good working figure would be to assume that depending on when and where on the grid you charge up, you’ll “fill” the Enertia’s 3.1 KwH battery with electricity generated by burning coal and natural gas, hydroelectric and nuclear power, and a breath of wind and a glimmer of solar power. Your share of that coal- and gas-fired electricity will pump out three to four pounds of carbon dioxide. You can then use that power to travel twenty-five to forty miles.
By comparison, burning a gallon of gasoline pumps out about twenty pounds of CO2. I’ll spare you some arithmetic; for the purposes of this example if you got ten miles per KwH from your Enertia, your greenhouse-gas emissions per mile would be about half of those that come from my Yamaha Vino scooter or that baby Ninja, which both get about 70 mpg in easy riding.
Although the Enertia has no
tailpipe emissions (or tailpipe, for that matter), the electricity it uses is
largely generated by burning coal and natural gas. So is it really that much cleaner?
In a word, yes. Is it worth paying two or three times as much as you'd pay for
a gas-burning scoot that will do all the same chores? I'll leave the last word
to Kermit the Frog, who said, “It's not easy being green.” • Mark Gardiner
photo
What about daily operating costs? EV makers talk about “filling up” your battery at home for “pennies.” I think the average cost of a KwH of electricity is about 12 cents, so topping up the Enertia’s battery is actually more like pennies, a dime, and a quarter. This is back-of-the-envelope stuff—your own emissions may vary, depending on your diet—but these things are clear: 1) the current state-of-the-EV-art is, at least from a CO2 point of view, a big improvement over ICE vehicles, even high-mileage ones, though none of them are anything like no-carbon; 2) the per-mile operating costs are a lot lower, but; 3) you’re still going to pay a substantial (albeit voluntary) “green tax” in much higher initial costs—though real after-tax costs vary a lot by state.
This leaves me a little conflicted. I guess I might almost feel differently if I hadn’t actually run out of juice and been left pushing. Despite that misadventure, I enjoyed my day on the Enertia, and I can appreciate why these bikes have rabid fans, regardless of their flaws (the bikes’ flaws, not the fans’).
If someone asked, “What about those electric bikes? I want to show my support for the idea and to encourage more R&D, and I think the early examples are going to be collectible, so I want one in my garage. Which one should I get?” my answer would be, “This one.” For starters, unlike a lot of EV vaporware, it’s listed as “in stock” on the Brammo website, and it more or less does what they claim it will. If you asked about an investment opportunity, Brammo would be a slam dunk (although I think at the moment, all the EV motorcycle companies are privately held). Over the last couple of years, I’ve met and interviewed several e-CEOs, and Craig Bramscher left the impression that he had an actual business plan.
For me, the performance/price/environmental impact equation doesn’t allow an unequivocal conclusion that now’s the time, and this is the bike.
Yet, there’s always the Empulse.
Moto Moments Wallpaper: Rossi at Speed, Brno
Wednesday, August 18, 2010, 5:44:16 PM | admin
Celebrate an otherwise
unremarkable Wednesday with this stunning Andrew Northcott shot of Valentino
Rossi at Brno. Need we say more?
IMPORTANT: Click the thumbnail below (whichever is the appropriate size for your monitor) and use the expanded photo, not the thumbnail, as your wallpaper. Widescreen, full screen, and horizontal/vertical iPhone wallpapers—now higher resolution to accommodate iPhone 4s—available.
Click for Widescreen Wallpaper (16:10)
Click for Fullscreen Wallpaper (4:3)
Click for Fullscreen Wallpaper (5:4)
Click for Horizontal iPhone/Mobile Wallpaper
Click for Vertical iPhone/Mobile Wallpaper
Wednesday, August 18, 2010, 5:18:36 PM | Jesse Cecil
Guy Coulon is one of the most enduring members of the Grand Prix paddock. He’s been intimately involved with many past and current GP innovations (including the ELF single-sided swingarm of the late-‘80s), currently serves as Colin Edwards’ crew chief and lead technician for the Monster Yamaha Tech3 MotoGP and Moto2 teams, and is the driving force behind the Mistral 610 Moto2 bike.
Guy Coulon • Courtesy Tech
3
Please tell us a little about your
background before you came to work for Tech 3.
Before Tech 3 I was working for Honda Racing in 250 GP, Endurance World Championship,
and Paris-Dakar Rally for about six to eight years.
This season, it seems that Colin’s had
some difficulties.
Colin has some difficulties this season, or somewhat worse result than last
year, because last year he did a very good season, with very good results, so
of course is really difficult to do the same thing two years in a row. Also,
this year we are mainly using last year’s bike, and this year the lap time is
similar or better than last year, but a lot of other bikes have improved and we
have some more bikes and riders in front of us.
What are your feelings on the current
MotoGP regulations, in regards to engine capacity, number of engines for the
season, electronic aids, etc.
MotoGP regulations are not my business. Mainly I have to use the regulations to
try and get the best bike within those regulations. Regulations are made by
Japanese manufacturers and Ducati—all the biggest manufacturers—and even if I
have some idea about the regulations, this is not important. The most important
thing is to try and get the best bike with the regulations that we have.
As an engineer, how do you feel about
MotoGP’s return to a 1000cc format?
This is similar to the last question. The next regulations is a bit
complicated, because still we can use 800cc engines, plus two different kinds
of 1000cc engines, so I believe the 1000cc engines are more interesting because
it is a more powerful bike, and maybe the best rider can have some advantage.
From what I understand, you’ve been
spearheading the development of Tech 3’s Moto2 effort.
In our team we decided to get entry into the new Moto2 class, and to make our
own bike by ourselves. So this is a lot different than trying to use a bike
from a different maker, because at the same time as we are using the bike in
the races, we need to improve the bike through development, and we also need to
produce parts and everything, so of course it is a big effort, and a lot of
work for the whole Moto2 team.
Colin Edwards • Photo by
Andrew Northcott
So, of course all Moto2 bikes use the same engine, but I believe this year we have about fifteen different chassis makers with many different kind of chassis: aluminum, steel, machined aluminum, pressed aluminum—many different kinds. So after one or two seasons, I believe that we will have less makers and we can understand which way was the best. But now it is very interesting because we can see many different directions, and all these kinds of directions are interesting on some points.
How do you feel about the death of the
two-stroke grand prix motorcycle?
Well you know, when I started working in GP in the beginning of the ‘70s it was
like the death of the four-stroke at that time, then two-stroke came back again
during the last thirty years. Now the four-stroke comes back for a different
reason. This is also similar to the question about regulations. This is a new
regulation, and on our side we have to try and do our best with this
regulation, and for our job, two-stroke or four-stroke is very similar.
There’s been talk of a Moto3 class, one
that might utilize 250cc single-cylinder engines in GP chassis, and Poncharal
has expressed interest in it. Do you think 250cc singles are an appropriate
replacement for 125cc two-strokes?
I don’t have much information about the Moto3 class because it is very, very
new and still they are talking about the engine, and until now we don’t know
exactly what is going to happen with this Moto3 class. But I think that if the
manufacturers are able to make these 250cc single-cylinder, four-stroke engines
with a competitive price and good durability, then this is the right solution.
Rockwall Yamaha Rider JD Beach Clinches AMA Pro SuperSport East Title
Wednesday, August 18, 2010, 4:07:42 PM | admin
Alton, VA (Aug 17, 2010) — Rockwall Performance Yamaha’s J.D. Beach put an exclamation point on what’s been a truly spectacular season for the emerging star at Virginia International Raceway, registering another perfect weekend to lock up the AMA Pro SuperSport East Region crown a weekend early.
Beach has proven to be nearly unstoppable this season and the VIR weekend wasn’t any different. The teenager again put his Yamaha R6 sponsored by Top 1 Oil and Red Bull on the pole with a blistering lap of 1:29.143 and went on to score two more dominating triumphs as he left the rest of the field in his wake.
With teammate Cameron Beaubier out this weekend after suffering an injury in a motocross-related training accident, Beach was in position to lock up the title prior to the East finale at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Focused and fast, J.D. did just that with yet another weekend sweep.
Saturday’s contest saw him run away with a lopsided 13.810-second margin of victory. Sunday’s affair was a bit closer, as Beach scrapped with his rivals for a handful of laps before surging into the lead and building up a healthy advantage, ultimately cruising home with 5.131 seconds to spare.
Beach’s stunning form has seen him collect seven East Region SuperSport victories in his last eight attempts.
“On Saturday, my plan was the same as Mid-Ohio — just get a good start, put my head down and put in some good laps,” the newly-crowned champ explained. “I did some good lap times and saw on my pit board that the gap just kept going up. I just kept on trying to put in some good laps. Once I knew I had a pretty good lead, I just did what I do and ripped some big skids and just had fun. This is what I love to do so it wasn’t hard to focus at all.
“It was a little bit tougher on Sunday. Everyone was riding a little harder and everyone was going for it more. I just tried to stay consistent because I knew what I had to do to wrap up the championship. I stayed safe, picked off some people, got in front, and then put in some good laps to get a cushion.”
Reflecting on his successful championship campaign, J.D. admitted, “I really didn’t think I was going to win the championship when the season started. I was riding well at the end of the season last year but I knew the rest of the guys would be stepping it up this season. And I was excited for Cameron because I helped get him his ride with the team. But after I got him the ride I realized that he was probably going to be fast, so I kind of made a mistake there,” laughed Beach. “But I did what I knew how to do and rode consistent and rode to the best of my ability. Not too crazy, but crazy enough to win, and it just ended up this way. I can’t say enough about the team, our sponsors and partners, and everyone that’s helped this year. It’s been fantastic.”
Manx Grand Prix Festival Launches New Website
Wednesday, August 18, 2010, 11:10:11 AM | admin
The Department of Economic
Development has been working with Isle of Man based Duke Marketing to develop
an official website for the newly branded ‘Manx Grand Prix Festival’, which
runs from 21st August to 5th September 2010.
The 2010 MGP Festival brings together four of the biggest two-wheel events in the Isle of Man’s sporting calendar: the Manx Grand Prix Races, which sees classic and modern racing machines competing around the 37.73-mile TT Mountain Course; the Two Day Trial; the Manx Classic Trial and the Vintage Motor Cycle Club’s Festival of Jurby, Vintage Parade and Rally. The site – with the url mgpfestival.com – will go live on Friday 13th August.
The site will carry latest news from each of the events as well as multimedia content, spectator guides, entertainment listings, photo galleries, competitor database and results archive. It will also feature comprehensive information on how to book travel and accommodation packages through official travel partner Regency Travel. Each of the ‘Manx Grand Prix Festival’ event organisers will also have their own dedicated areas to promote their events and carry competitor information.
For the first time, fans around the world will be able to follow the Manx Grand Prix via the MGP Live! Service, which will deliver live commentary from local radio station Manx Radio and live timing on the internet throughout the fortnight-long event. The service is free and does not require registration.
MGP Live! uses the same tried and tested technology as TT Live!, which has been running annually since 2007. MGP Live! will allow fans to see sector times and speeds from data collection points around the course as soon as the timing beams are broken, so they can follow the practice and race action as it happens. There will also be regular Facebook and Twitter updates from events around the Island.
The site is part of the Department of Economic Development’s strategy to generate additional visitors to the Island during the Manx Grand Prix Festival Fortnight. It is also a key element of the commercial programme to attract sponsorship to offset the cost of running the event.
The Department has negotiated a number of commercial partners for this year’s event including Motorsport Merchandise, Suzuki GB and Mylchreest Motors. Media Group Morton’s, publishers of Classic Racer, Classic Dirt Bike, The Classic Motorcycle and Classic Bike Guide, are the official media partner and will support the festival editorially and the event also receives a financial contribution from the Manx Grand Prix Supporters Club.
Geoff Corkish MBE, MHK, the Political Member for Isle of Man Tourism, commented:
“Bringing together four enjoyable, strong events into one Festival of motorcycle sport will give visitors even more to experience. Having a fully functional website will really help us to promote the event and to build the worldwide audience for the Manx Grand Prix Festival. It will also hopefully be a great resource for encouraging potential visitors to come to the Island and help us to drive incremental revenue from corporate partners.”
The website has been designed and built by Manx firm Duke, the company behind the Official Website of the Isle of Man TT Races, which attracted almost 1 million visits during the 2010 TT.
Duke Managing Director Peter Duke said:
“We are delighted to have extended our remit with the Department to put together mgpfestival.com, the official online presence of what I believe is one of the most exciting developments in the Manx motorsport scene for several years.”
“Where else in the world can you see national-standard trials competition, some of the fastest and most spectacular road racing and a complete historical cross-section of motorcycling road and competition machinery, all for free, over a 14-day period?”
“I believe www.mgpfestival.com captures not only the excitement but also celebrates the unique heritage of each of these events, as well providing a one-stop information shop for everything you need to know about the festival.”
Wednesday, August 18, 2010, 10:41:13 AM | admin
Being the “new kid on the
block” sometimes means a fresh approach, new energy and ideas. This has proven
to be the case with both M1GP Mini Road Racing Association and MOTOYARD, a
premier track-day provider. Each caters to their riders and each are quickly
building reputations as industry leaders by providing “out-of-the-box”
thinking, great customer service and are both run by people with great passion
for motorcycling.
M1GP (M1-Grand Prix) – Mini Road Racing Association Est. in 2009; the mini road racing association following CMRRA left off after 16 years (with the blessing of CMRRA and its riders); mini-class (motorcycles ranging from 50cc 2 stroke to 150cc 4 stroke in sportbike trim and up to 549cc Supermoto. It’s racing for KIDS, WOMEN & MEN with practice days and racing. Great for building skill for all levels or riders/racers with minimal costs and risk. A proven path to world class-top level racing for those pursuing racing as a career or for street riders who wish to become more proficient, confident and better riders overall.
Young Lee, Race Director/Promoter of M1GP:
“M1GP is about mini road racing for adults and kids. Motoyard provides our riders big-track experience for their street & race bikes for even more safe riding and experience on the track. We’re very happy to be working with MOTOYARD since we’ve been hearing a lot of positive feedback some of our racers as well as other folks we’ve run into from Laguna Seca all the way to San Diego. People who have experienced Motoyard’s track-days talk about how great of an experience they had and how well the track-day was run.
In turn, MOTOYARD customers can benefit from riding or racing smaller bikes, especially for those who take their experience with Motoyard’s New Racer’s school and apply it directly and immediately with M1GP’s racing program with very little risk and expense (compared to big bikes). Experience on the small bikes will make big-bike track-day riders much more proficient and comfortable on the big tracks, almost guaranteed. We look forward having both Motoyard and M1GP riders getting the best of both worlds and becoming safe, proficient and well rounded riders and racers.”
_______________
MOTOYARD – Online motorcycle shop and track-day provider
(Since 2009).
Motoyard was built by motorcycle riders and licensed racers to offer guidance,
coaching and supervision for riders of all skill levels.
Motoyard track-days have raised the bar in track-day companies and has set
itself apart from the others with customer service, perks such as fresh fruits,
snacks and drinks as a standard part of the Motoyard experience. Motoyard is an
excellent value and has a very high customer return rate.
Motoyard was the first ever to do the Double Track Day (allowing their riders do both the Big track and Streets on the same day). Also the first to do the Track-Night (Track-Day with lights). Sold out in 2 days with over 75 people on the waiting list. Their next Track Night is Aug. 21st at Streets of Willow.
Greg Nulman, Owner of Motoyard.com:
“Motoyard is made up of people who just love to ride motorcycles, whether it’s racing or not. Big bikes or small. We’re excited about working with M1GP because young riders, especially, need a place to start. They can’t start with us, but we can provide them the safest and best place to grow into when they’re ready. We’ve also run into many of our customers who are racing M1GP and are having a blast!” said Greg Nulman, Owner of Motoyard.com
“The whole Motoyard crew has been to M1GP races and we’re impressed with the level of riding and how well their association is run and I want to support this valuable program. One of my guys has his son racing in this series and he loves it and another one of my guys used to race minis and says he had the most fun on the smaller bikes. In fact, we’re putting together a Motoryard race team for the M1GP24 hour endurance race. It’ll be a good team-building experience for Motoyard. I know it’ll be a fun and unforgettable experience.”
“People who come to Motoyard Track-days and nights and race with M1GP will have the best experiences they can have on two wheels.”
Here’s how Motoyard & M1GP’s relationship will benefit riders:
Motoyard customers at M1GP:
Besides Willow Springs Motorcycle Club, graduates from Motoyard’s New Racer’s
school will be certified to race at M1GP, and get $20 off of 1st race
registration (one time only). $20 off of an M1GP rental bike (one time only)
Additionally recent (2010) Motoyard track-day customers will get $10 discount
M1GP practice days at Willow Springs.
M1GP Annual Members at Motoyard:
$40 off of any Motoyard Track-day or night.
$20 off of Motoyard’s New Racer’s School
Strong Lineup for Manx Grand Prix
Wednesday, August 18, 2010, 10:38:14 AM | admin
Entries have closed for the
2010 Manx Grand Prix and the mountwatering line-up has confirmed the event as
the world’s premier Classic Road Race. Practices are scheduled from Saturday
21st August with race week from Monday 30th August to Friday 3rd September.
A strong entry has been assembled across all classes, notably for the Senior, Junior and Lightweight Classic races with a host of former winners returning. The decision in 2009 to include races for Post Classic machines has been vindicated with a significant rise in both quality and quantity in 2010.
The Senior Post Classic class has, arguably, the strongest entry of any race at this year’s MGP with five Suzuki XR69 997cc machines, three of which will be in the hands of TT winners Ryan Farquhar and Michael Dunlop and fans favourite Guy Martin. Farquhar took the inaugural race last year in difficult conditions and will line-up as one of the pre-race favourites whilst Martin is expected to challenge if he has recovered from his TT injuries.
Meanwhile, Dunlop’s participation is perhaps the most eagerly anticipated and, given his performances at TT2010 he could well come out on top in a race that should see the first 110mph+ laps achieved. Mark Buckley and Maria Costello line up on the other XR69s whilst other notable riders include Olie Linsdell on an FZ750 Yamaha, TT Rider Liaison Officer John Barton (749cc GSXR Suzuki), Davy Morgan (1045cc Kawasaki), Glyn Jones (1000cc VF Honda) and Mick Godfrey (1000cc GSXR Suzuki).
Meanwhile, in the Junior Post Classic class, last year’s victor Brian Mateer returns on his 249cc TZ Yamaha to try and make it a double although it won’t be easy for the Northern Irishman with Roy Richardson likely to challenge closely on a similar machine. Others mounted on 250cc Yamahas are Manx GP regular Phil McGurk, Barry Davidson, Stuart Garton, Ewan Hamilton and Roger Hurst. Peter Symes lines up on the solitary RS250cc Honda in the race. Popular Manx resident Chris Palmer will also be expected to feature at the front of the field.
There’s similar strength in depth in the Senior Classic where Farquhar will again line up as favourite on the 500cc Paton that he took to lap and race records in 2009. The two men likely to push him hardest will be similarly mounted Linsdell and Alan Oversby who goes on the exotic 500cc MV Agusta. These three have the ability to make it a thrilling race at the head of the field.
The fourth man likely to be pushing for the win will be Roy Richardson on the Martin Bullock Racing Aermacchi Ala D’Oro. Wattie Brown (498cc Manx Norton), Steve Linsdell (499cc Seeley Enfield), Paul Coward (492cc Nourish Weslake) and Mark Parrett (500cc G50 Matchless) will lead the British machine charge.
Tony Russell, former 125cc British Championship regular Fernando Mendes, Mark Herbertson, Ken Davis, Keith Dixon and Bob Owen also go in this one with overseas entries coming from Jan Koning (Holland), Osmo Partti (Finland) and David Webber (Germany). Meanwhile, seven riders will line up in the 750cc class with the race win likely to be between David Madsen-Mygdal, Chris McGahan and Davy Morgan.
Farquhar (Drixton Honda) and Oversby (MV Agusta) should also be pushing each other hard in Wednesday’s Junior Classic but they’ll also have to contend with, amongst others, Chris Palmer (AJS), Richardson (Aermacchi), Morgan (Honda) and Madsen-Mygdal (Honda). Other riders to watch include Mendes, Garton, Davis, Dixon, Nigel Moore and Doug Snow. In the concurrently run Lightweight class, Ewan Hamilton, Barry Davidson, David Smith, Peter Symes, Roger Hurst, Tom Jackson and Peter Wakefield should be the main contenders.
As well as the prestigious Classic races, the Manx Grand Prix also features modern machines and strong fields have been assembled, particularly for the Senior and Junior races where 81 and 94 entries respectively have been received. It’s a similar line up in each but a significant number of 750s will also feature in the Senior.
With last year’s victors Michael Russell and Stephen McIlvenna having moved on the TT, this year’s races are wide open but there’s a host of leading names likely to be fighting it out at the head of the field in both races. Outright lap record holder Alan Jackson jnr is back for another attempt on the WA Corless Honda whilst another riding tackling the Mountain Course after returning from injury is Ryan McCay, the PRF Racing rider having crashed out of last year’s Senior while leading.
Southern Ireland riders David Lumsden and Michael Sweeney are getting quicker and quicker around the 37.73-mile course so can be expected to be at the forefront of the action once more whilst the consistent Phil McGurk, Jules Croft, Wayne Kirwan, Andrew Brady and Ivan Lintin should not be ruled out. With Ryan Kneen and Sean Murphy having opted out of the event, local hopes rest with Simon Fulton and Andy Cowin, the duo both 600cc Yamaha mounted. Stephen McKnight, Glyn Jones, Peter Symes and Mike Minns are also expected to be challenging hard come race day. Double TT2010 Sidecar passenger Dan Sayle is a notable entry in the Junior and Lightweight Races and will be going for his third consecutive win while Chris McGahan is also a local contender for honours in the Senior, Junior and Post Classic Races.
The MGP still plays host to two-strokes and although there are only 15 machines entered for the Lightweight 250cc, the quality is good with the highest profile entry Ballymoney rider William Dunlop. He is the clear favourite for the race but fellow countrymen Davy Morgan and Nigel Moore will also be in contention as will last year’s runner-up Neil Kent and 250cc regulars Roy Richardson, Phil Harvey, Tom Snow and Stuart Garton.
Run in conjunction with the 250s, the Ultra Lightweight race should see a fascinating contest between the 400cc and 650cc machines although the smaller capacity machines have held sway in recent years. However, many of the main contenders have gone for either a Suzuki SV650 or Kawasaki ER6 this year including Jackson, Sweeney, Kirwan, Lintin, McGurk, Cowin, Minns, Rab Davie and former TT star David Bell. The best of the 400cc runners should be Johnson and Joe Phillips whilst a handful of 125cc machines are also entered.
Last, but by no means least, the Newcomers races will again take place with a number of riders tackling the most famous road race circuit in the world for the first time. Picking the favourites is no easy task as Mountain Course form is an unknown quantity but 22-year old Douglas rider Tim Venables is expected to be a front runner in the ‘A’ class having previously impressed at the Southern 100. Another local, Andy Fenton, also rode well at Billown so is worth watching whilst the event has also attracted international entries from Tommaso Totti, the 2009 Runner up in the Italian under 21 600 Championship and Kamil Holan who won the Czech Republic Superbike Cup. Other International newcomers from France, Austria, Norway, Germany and Denmark are also confirmed to take part.
Leno Grand Marshall for Red Bull Indy GP
Wednesday, August 18, 2010, 10:19:21 AM | admin
INDIANAPOLIS, Wednesday,
Aug. 18, 2010 – Yamaha and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway are pleased to bring
legendary comedian and late-night television host Jay Leno to serve as grand
marshal of the Red Bull Indianapolis GP motorcycle race.
Leno, an avid motorsports enthusiast and collector of motorcycles and cars, will meet with MotoGP teams and riders on Race Day, Sunday, Aug. 29 at IMS and also present a trophy to a podium finisher.
“The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is one of the greatest spectator tracks in the world,” Leno said. “Thankfully my R1 will stay in the Big Dog Garage as I plan to watch and cheer on our three Americans right from the pits.”
Leno’s role as grand marshal extends his involvement with both the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and MotoGP.
In 1999, Leno drove the Chevrolet Monte Carlo Pace Car that led the field of 33 drivers to the start of the Indianapolis 500. In July, Leno opened his incredible collection of cars and motorcycles at Jay Leno’s Garage in Southern California to current MotoGP riders and legends in a special event presented by Yamaha before the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif.
***
IMS tickets: Tickets for the 2010 Red Bull Indianapolis GP are on sale now. A new structure offers additional value and flexibility to fans attending the annual MotoGP event.
Among the highlights of the new ticket structure are lower prices and single-day reserved and general admission tickets for Race Day, Sunday, Aug. 29. Children 12 and under will be admitted free any day of the event if accompanied by an adult holding a general admission ticket.
Fans can order tickets online at www.imstix.com, call the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700, or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area or visit the ticket office at the IMS Administration Building at the corner of Georgetown Road and 16th Street. Online orders can be made at any time. Hours for phone orders and the ticket office are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET) Monday-Friday.
General admission tickets provide access to the grounds, viewing mounds along the infield section of the circuit and selected grandstands, which provide excellent angles to see the greatest riders in the world.
Fans can now print their tickets – three-day reserved seat and Race Day-only general admission and reserved seat tickets – with their printer after ordering tickets online at www.imstix.com. Tickets for groups of 20 or more also are on sale. Contact the IMS Group Sales Department at (866) 221-8775 for more information.
Tuesday Conversation: Kenny Noyes
Tuesday, August 17, 2010, 5:18:17 PM | CJ
The home fans at next week’s Red Bull Indianapolis GP will have no shortage of American riders to cheer on, with three full-time riders in the MotoGP class and a pair of wildcards in Moto2. In addition, there’s Kenny Noyes, a Californian who now lives in Spain and is racing the Moto2 class full-time for the Jack & Jones by Antonio Banderas team. We caught up with Noyes by phone today, when he was at the Rome airport, awaiting his flight to the U.S. for his first home Grand Prix.
American Kenny Noyes is
gearing up for his first home Grand Prix next week. • Andrew Northcott photo
Road Racer X:
What are your thoughts on your first Grand Prix season so far?
Kenny Noyes: Well, it’s been a rollercoaster ride. There’s been some moments
were awesome—much better than I’d have expected—and some races that have gone a
lot worse. It’s been a fun ride, and a tough ride. The main thing is showing up
at these tracks where I really don’t know what to expect—both me and the team.
If the team had been going there for the past years and had a good idea what
the bike needs—or if my teammate were having an easier time—things might be
different. It’s like the AMA guys—they have the tracks wired after a few years,
and it’s just a matter of the bike and the rider being good. You know what
you’re looking for.
There’s no room for error or weakness
in Grand Prix racing, but particularly in Moto2.
Yeah, it’s drastic. There’s some guys that are consistent, and they’re kind of
the guys you’d expect—guys with more experience, guys on teams that have the
championship wired. Racing a lot of times isn’t so much about being good or
bad; it’s about knowing how to maximize your track time. We go into practice on
Friday, and they come out swinging. We’re sometimes on our heels, and we get up
to speed too late; a lot of places, I’ve been qualifying a lot worse than I
finish. I’m learning the track as we go, but not fast enough, so we’ll be back
in Saturday qualifying, which makes the race hard.
Noyes has gone from the
Spanish domestic series to sharing pole-position press conferences with the
likes of Jorge Lorenzo. • Andrew Northcott photo
I guess that knowledge goes in the bank
for next year.
Yeah, for sure. At the track I know and that the team also knows—they coincide,
because the team and I were both racing [separately] in the Spanish
championship and have those tracks pretty well wired—we’ve been right up front.
We haven’t gotten a podium, but in Catalunya, our pace was really good; if
[Alex] Debon hadn’t had that first-lap incident, we’d have been close to a
podium. The team’s pretty happy with the way I’m going, and I’m happy with the
way they’re working. Next year, hopefully we’ll be together and do a second
year, and I think we’ll be a lot more consistent.
I understand you have an opportunity to
get some pre-race experience at Indy.
Yeah, I’m really excited about that. The circuit has been really cool with me
and the American wildcard riders—giving us a chance to go out there and try and
learn the track. I’m actually going to be riding a Kawasaki again, thanks to an
American racer named Gene Burcham, who’s nice enough to let me ride his bike
later this week. It just helps puts us a head of where we’d be on Friday, so
we’re not playing catch-up. The promoter also has some cool activities planned;
I’m going to swim with dolphins, and I’m a little more scared about that than
the actual race! [laughs]
Are Roger Hayden and Jason DiSalvo also
getting to ride the track?
Yeah, although they’re both exempt from the testing restrictions since they’re
wildcard riders, so I’d imagine they’re both going to be there with their Moto2
bikes. For me and all the other championship regulars, we can’t test on Moto2
bikes.
Right, as Toni Elias was just reminded,
when he had to sit out Friday practice at Brno after testing at Misano.
[Laughs]
Yeah, they didn’t give him a very big punishment for it, but now they sent us
all a letter saying the next one will be taken more seriously. Only the first
guy got off easy.
Noyes has nothing but good
things to say about his team's famous principle, the actor Antonio Banderas. •
Andrew Northcott photo
How has Antonio Banderas been to work
for?
Great. He called up after Le Mans [where Noyes qualified on pole] and said he
was watching on his exercise bike at the gym, and he got all pumped up and
overshot his heart rate! The cool thing is he understands racing, so he knows
we’re going to be up and down. It’s not like having a celebrity boss who calls
up and goes, “Hey, what are you guys doing?!” Obviously, we want
to get him results, but everything he’s said has been positive.
Would you say that Le Mans pole
position is your season highlight so far, or was it your ride from 28th to 7th
in Barcelona?
Barcelona was definitely my best ride of the season so far. Le Mans was going
really well, but I crashed on Lap 5 or so, so I didn’t get to show my true
potential there. In Catalunya, I was looking at the sheets, and coming up
through the field, my race pace would’ve been good enough to be on the podium.
I got a good start, but they had that big melee in the first corner and I went
off the track. Moto2 bikes are all the same, so coming back through the field
and making up that many positions was awesome. That’s the highlight of the
year; it’s unfortunate that it didn’t get that much screen time.
Well, the end of it was!
Yeah, that’s right! [laughs] At the end, I was
catching Carmelo Morales, my rival from the Spanish championship, by about a
half-second a lap. It was a point in the race where I was pretty winded from
the comeback, but then I saw him ahead of me and was catching him. It was cool,
because we’ve had a lot of battles, and catching him at the end of the race was
awesome. I passed him four times on the last lap, and he was ahead of me
towards the end. I thought, Man, the only place I’ve got left is the last
corner, so I kind of pulled a Rossi on him there and passed him going into the
home straight. I think he was just so frustrated by that that he ran into the
back of me trying to draft past me. I didn’t even know anything happened, and I
crossed the finish line and was celebrating, super-happy, when Fonsi Nieto came
by and pointed at his head, gesturing like I was crazy; he didn’t see what
happened and thought I had knocked Carmelo off. I looked back and saw all the
carnage, but it wasn’t until I got back and saw it on TV that I realized what
had happened.
Later this week, Noyes and
his fellow American Moto2 riders will get to try out the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway road race course for the first time. • Andrew Northcott photo
There’s no shortage of crashes in that
class.
No, and that’s how I got knocked off in Brno. That’s the thing with kind of
putting yourself in a hole when you qualify back past the fourth row or so.
Your chances of trouble are a lot worse, and the guys further back are more
desperate too. Anything can happen. Turn 1 can be pretty scary. It actually
reminds me of dirt track—Turn 1 in short tracks, where everybody piles in
there. The only difference is here, they don’t have restarts like they do in
dirt track [laughs].
Are you looking forward to racing your
first home Grand Prix?
Yeah, definitely. I really would have loved to have been at Laguna, but racing
at the Brickyard—man, that’s a dream come true. I did my first race outside of
California at Indianapolis, at the dirt track amateur nationals, so I’ve got
some good memories there. I remember the first time I went to the museum at the
Brickyard and checked out the track, and I was just amazed by it. To be going
back there now in a world championship is a dream come true, for sure.
Brno Test Update From Yamaha’s Fiat and Monster Energy Tech 3 Teams
Tuesday, August 17, 2010, 3:55:44 PM | admin
Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino
Rossi today completed a one-day test at Brno, alongside the rest of the MotoGP
grid, to set themselves up for the final eight races of the season. The test
was cut short when it began to rain in the mid afternoon but not before both
Fiat Yamaha men had the chance to do some important work on their M1s.
Lorenzo picked up from where he left off yesterday, the race winner once again topping the time sheets nearly half a second ahead of Casey Stoner. The championship leader tried a new engine upgrade and a new suspension setting for his M1 and also completed some laps on Yamaha’s 2011 prototype YZR-M1.
After struggling in yesterday’s race Rossi and his crew were keen to understand what had happened so they worked closely on their setting to do just that today, with the Italian completing more laps than nearly anyone else. Rossi also had the chance to try the new 2010 engine upgrade and finished the day fourth fastest.
The team now has a weekend off before flying to Indianapolis next week for the next round of the MotoGP World Championship.
Jorge Lorenzo – Position: 1st Time: 1′56.269 Laps: 44
“This was an important and interesting test for us, both for the rest of the
season and looking towards next year. We had a lot to do but unfortunately the
rain forced us to stop early. As well as the ‘new’ prototype machine for next
year we also tried an engine upgrade and a new Ohlins suspension, but it’s too
early to know if they will be better for our M1, which is already very
competitive. We got quite a lot of information though so hopefully it will help
the engineers to improve things even more.”
Valentino Rossi – Position: 4th Time: 1′57.129 Laps:
50
“I’m happier today because we worked hard to understand what happened during
yesterday’s race and at the end we have a clearer picture. We worked a lot on
the setting and we found out some things, which we hope will be useful over the
rest of the season and help us to have some more good races. I tried a new
engine for the 2010 bike and it’s not so different but there are some small
things about it which I think can help; I hope we can use it soon.”
Positive test for Spies and Edwards in Brno
Less than 24 hours after a strong performance in the Czech Republic MotoGP
race, the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team was back hard at work for a one-day test
session at the Brno circuit today.
Perfect conditions this morning allowed Texan Spies to complete 36 of his 42 laps on board a 2011 prototype model of Yamaha’s factory YZR-M1 machine.
Spies was delighted with the potential of the test bike and finished in sixth position on the timesheets having been able to give valuable feedback to engineers.
Spies ended with a best time of 1.57.575 to lap 0.5s quicker than he managed when finishing in an impressive fourth place in yest erday’s 22-lap race.
The 26-year-old though was unable to complete a further assessment of the new bike when rain brought an early end to proceedings shortly after 3pm.
Colin Edwards finished one place higher up in fifth place as he was able to spend 41 laps assessing different front-end geometry settings and a revised front tyre specification from Bridgestone.
Edwards, who equalled his best result of the season in yesterday’s race with seventh, set a best time of 1.57.512 to finish almost a second faster than his quickest race pace.
Colin Edwards 5th 1.57.512 – 41 laps
“We made a change with the set-up for the race yesterday and I didn’t really
have a good feeling with the bike, so we reverted back to the setting I was
happy with on Saturday just to try and understand why I wasn’t able to run the
same pace. I’ve learned not to race the bike with a setting that we hadn’t
tested but we thought it would be fine. I tested some different front-end
geometry to try and make more progress with the better turning performance we
found earlier in the weekend and we’ve got some more ideas for the future. I
tried a new Bridgestone front and I was really happy with that so it was a good
test. Although I wasn’t happy with the result yesterday, I felt we made a
breakthrough with the bike here and I’m really looking forward to challenging
for my first top six finish of the season at the next race in Indianapolis.”
Ben Spies 6th 1.57.575 – 42 laps
“It was a good day. I can’t say too much about the new bike and honestly I’m
not sure exactly what I rode. I just got on and rode what was given to me and I
didn’t set any blistering lap times today but th at was not the objective.
Today was all about giving feedback and getting some data on the new bike. The
good thing is that I was pretty much on the pace of the bike I’ve been riding
since February and that is a big positive because we’ve got plenty of time to
work on that bike. We got lots of information so it was a productive day. It
was a good weekend with my first front row start and a strong fourth place in
the race and after today I’m heading to Indianapolis for another home race full
of confidence. I love racing in front of my home fans and hopefully I’ll be
able to get my best result of the season at Indy.”
Test Times
1. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Fiat Yamaha Team 1′56.269
2. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati Marlboro Team 1′56.844
3. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda Team 1′56.944
4. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Fiat Yamaha Team 1′57.129
5. Colin Edwards (USA) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1′57.512
6. Ben Spies (USA) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1′57.575
7. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) Repsol Honda Team 1′57.691
8. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1′57.700
9. Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati Marlboro Team 1′57.991
10. Hector Barbera (SPA) Aspar Team 1′58.017
11. Marco Melandri (ITA) San Carlo Honda Gresini 1′58.070
12. Marco Simoncelli (ITA) San Carlo Honda Gresini 1′58.091
13. Aleix Espargaro (SPA) Pramac Green Team 1′58.612
14. Hiroshi Aoyama (JPN) Interwetten-Honda MotoGP 1′58.830
15. Mika Kallio (FIN) Pramac Green Team 1′58.926
16. Alvaro Bautista (SPA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1′59.454
Brno: Record Lap
J. Lorenzo (Yamaha) 2009, 1′56.670
Brno: Best Lap
V. Rossi (Yamaha) 2009, 1′56.145
Ó SCMSRN.com/Paul J Miller 3rd, 2000-2010