Paul Miller

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South Carolina Motor Sports Racing News

Armstrong Candid Rock2010 (COVINGTON, Ky. - December 8, 2010) - The grand finale for the 2010 ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards took place Saturday, December 4 at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington, Kentucky.

The evening began as the 11^th-20^th place finishers were honored on stage. After dinner, one of the special awards of the evening, the Spirit Award was given to Cunningham Motorsports’ co-owner, Kerry Scherer, for his dedication and support of ARCA, his uplifting spirit by way of example, and his perseverance and positive attitude.

Another of the most sought after awards, the RE/MAX Rookie of the Year Award, was presented to Cunningham Motorsports/Penske Driver Development driver, Dakoda Armstrong. On his was to claiming this award, Armstrong was the highest finishing rookie in 19 of the 20 races on the 2010 schedule. Armstrong joined an elite fraternity of former ARCA Rookie of the Year Award winners, including Benny Parsons (1965), Davey Allison (1984), and Frank Kimmel (1992), finishing the season with 2 wins, 5 top-5 finishes and 12 top-10 finishes. As the 10^th -2^nd place finishers were honored, Armstrong and owner Kerry Scherer appeared on stage to accept the seventh place trophies.

As the prestige of the awards began to build, Tom Hessert and team owner, Briggs Cunningham, were recognized on stage for finishing third in the series standings, 105 points behind points leader Patrick Sheltra. Hessert also earned the Aaron’s Lap Leader Award, by leading 387 laps in eight races, while his closest competitor led 270 laps in eight races. Hessert also garnered the S & S Volvo Laps Completed Award by completing 99.7% of all the race laps, while winning his first career ARCA victory at Iowa Speedway and finishing the season with 10 top-5 finishes and 15 top-10 finishes. On stage Hessert thanked team co-owners, Cunningham and Scherer, his parents, Tom and Debbie Hessert, crew chief Jon Monsam and his entire team for their efforts all season and stated, “This is very unusual for me; to finish in the top three…I have always finished in the 8^th spot.”

At a press conference prior to the banquet, the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards released their 2011 event schedule, which is available at ARCARacing.com. The sanctioning body’s 59^th year of competition commences with the Lucas Oil Mist 200 at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 12. The event, which will air live on SPEED, will be the 180^th event to air on SPEED, since the first race in 1997. There will be 9 additional races airing on SPEED, either live or same-day-delayed. The announcement included the addition of races at two tracks new to the ARCA Series--O’Reilly Raceway Park, in Clermont, Indiana and Madison International Speedway, located in Oregon, Wisconsin.

The Cunningham Motorsports teams will be working in the first month of their “off season” preparing cars for the open test on January 11-13 at Daytona International Speedway.

Michele Thompson, Cunningham Motorsports

mst2134@sbcglobal.net

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Dustin Long

December 12, 2010

So just who was watching those Cup races on ESPN? Here's who

Wednesday, December 08, 2010, 10:03:40 AM

From the folks at ESPN, here's a look at the top cities (by ratings -- which is a percentage of the TVs in that area turned on to a particular program) for the 17 races the network did and for the 10 Chase races (nine on ESPN and one on Charlotte). 17 Cup races that ESPN Family aired 1. Greensboro, N.C. ...... 8.4 rating 2. Greenville/Spartanburg, S.C..... 7.6

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FOXSports.com News for NASCAR

December 12, 2010

Watkins Glen adds to NASCAR track

Wednesday, December 08, 2010, 1:52:01 PM

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Motorcycle USA Article Headlines

December 11, 2010, 10:30:30 PM

2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R on "Technical Hold"

December 11, 2010, 10:30:30 PM | Press Release

Kawasaki places a "technical hold" on its 2011 ZX-10R Ninja Superbike, refunding sold motorcycles and having dealers return unsold product.

Motorcycle Holiday Gift Guide: DVDs

December 11, 2010, 10:30:30 PM | MotorcycleUSA Staff

Need a last minute gift for a two-wheeled enthusiast? MCUSA has got you covered with a list of recommended motorcycle DVD titles.

2011 Kawasaki Vulcan Vaquero First Ride

December 11, 2010, 10:30:30 PM | Bart Madson

Motorcycle USA samples Kawasaki's entry into the bagger cruiser class with its Vulcan Vaquero. Read our first ride evaluation.

Ben Spies to Appear at Long Beach IMS

December 11, 2010, 10:30:30 PM | Press Release

Yamaha's Ben Spies is scheduled to make a special fan appearance at the Long Beach International Motorcycle Show on December 17th.

Ryan Villopoto Eager for Supercross Crown

December 11, 2010, 10:30:30 PM | Press Release

After suffering a season-ending crash in St. Louis during the 2010 Supercross series, Ryan Villopoto has recently resumed riding and is back in fighting shape.

Triumph Visits International Motorcycle Shows

December 11, 2010, 10:30:30 PM | Press Release

Triumph will be returning to the Progressive International Motorcycle Shows to unveil its new product line-up beginning December 17th-19th in Long Beach, California.

Ben Spies Nominated for SPEED Award

December 11, 2010, 10:30:30 PM | Press Release

MotoGP star Ben Spies has been nominated for another Rookie of the Year award by SPEED Performance Awards for his achievements during the 2010 season.

How to Pack Up a MotoGP Pit Garage

December 11, 2010, 10:30:30 PM | Press Release

Take a quick peek at a video documenting the photo sequence of the Rizla Suzuki MotoGP squad packing up their team garage in order to transport it to the next race.

2011 Honda Contingency Program

December 11, 2010, 10:30:30 PM | Press Release

For the upcoming 2011 racing season the Red Rider Rewards program will be doubling the number of events eligible for payouts, allowing Honda customers to win money at more than 700 venues throughout the year.

Final Call for Thundersprint 2011 Entries

December 11, 2010, 10:30:30 PM | Press Release

2011 Thundersprint entries have been pouring in, and with the event getting closer there are just a few spots remaining in both the sprint and cavalcade sections.

Changes for Canadian Superbike in 2011

Friday, December 10, 2010, 5:13:00 PM | Press Release

In addition to two new venues being added to the 2011 Canadian Superbike Championship, the series will also include two new classes of racing.

Action Needed on Youth-Model ATV Extension

Friday, December 10, 2010, 5:13:00 PM | Press Release

In addition to a 60-day extension for ATV manufacturers to meet new safety standards, there will also be a push for a one-year stay of enforcement.

Dr. Frazier: Where Adventures Begin and End

Friday, December 10, 2010, 12:22:17 PM | Dr. Gregory Frazier

Dr. Frazier heads to the source for planning a great motorcycle odyssee by participating in Horizons Unlimited, a Great Britain based community for motorcycle travel enthusiasts.

2010 Birmingham Bike Show Report

Friday, December 10, 2010, 10:05:27 AM | Frank Melling

Eyes wide and mouth drooling, our contributor was on hand at the 2010 Birmingham Bike Show to witness some of the latest two-wheeled beauties.

Glen Helen Hosts CA Pro/AM Championships

Friday, December 10, 2010, 9:31:18 AM | Press Release

Glen Helen Raceway Hosts the 17th Annual Yamaha California State Pro/AM Championships this weekend.

Norton Returns to Thundersprint in 2011

Friday, December 10, 2010, 8:23:39 AM | Press Release

After experiencing tremendous success at the 2010 Thundersprint, Norton will be returning in 2011 with Chris Walker riding a race version of the new Norton Commando Cafe Racer.

Motorcycle Shows Welcome New Recruits

Friday, December 10, 2010, 6:20:16 AM | Press Release

The Progressive International Motorcycle Shows moves on toward Seattle where the AMA will greet existing members and attempt to recruit new ones by educating riders on today's big issues in motorcycling.

TLD Holiday Hours Charity Event for Henry

Friday, December 10, 2010, 6:12:14 AM | Press Release

Troy Lee Designs is open for holiday hours providing custom paint and lettering benefiting Doug Henry and family.

Justin Bogle Wins Dunlop Silver Tire Award

Friday, December 10, 2010, 4:20:25 AM | Press Release

Justin Bogle was recently awarded with the Dunlop Silver Tire Award for his performance in the 2010 Mini olympics, where he was the top point scoring A-class rider in Supercross and Motocross.

Next 'On Any Sunday' Project in the Works

Friday, December 10, 2010, 4:20:25 AM | Press Release

Dana Brown, director of 'Dust to Glory' and 'High Water', began filming for the next 'On Any Sunday' feature film at the historic Red Bull Catalina Grand Prix.

Teixeira Tech Wins Big at SCORE Baja 1000

Friday, December 10, 2010, 4:20:25 AM | Press Release

Teixeira Tech sponsored race team takes overall win at Tecate SCORE Baja 1000.

2010 Birmingham Bike Show

Thursday, December 09, 2010, 6:19:56 PM | Frank Melling

Eyes wide and mouth drooling, our contributor was on hand at the 2010 Birmingham Bike Show to witness some of the latest two-wheeled beauties.

Glen Helen Hosts Four ATV Racing Classes

Thursday, December 09, 2010, 6:19:56 PM | Press Release

Glen Helen Raceway will host the 17th running of the Yamaha California State Championships on December 11th and 12th, with ATV riders having four racing classes to choose from.

2011 Regional Championship Schedule

Thursday, December 09, 2010, 6:19:56 PM | Press Release

MX Sports has announced the schedule for the 2011 Regional Championship, which serves as the final races to seed riders into the National Championship at Loretta Lynn Ranch.

Cody Webb Debut’s 2011 Beta 350 RR in Italy

Thursday, December 09, 2010, 10:38:30 AM | Press Release

Cody Webb and the all-new 2011 Beta 350 RR debut at Italian Indoor Enduro World Championship.

Norton Returns to Thundersprint in 2011

Thursday, December 09, 2010, 8:42:40 AM | Press Release

After experiencing tremendous success at the 2010 Thundersprint, Norton will be returning in 2011 with Chris Walker riding a race version of the new Norton Commando Cafe Racer.

2011 ATK 700 Cruiser First Ride

Thursday, December 09, 2010, 6:53:22 AM | Chilly White

For a change of pace our off-road expert, Chilly White, embraces the cruiser world by taking the 2011 ATK 700 out for a stroll. Read on to see details.

TLD Custom Paint Holiday Charity Event

Thursday, December 09, 2010, 5:57:11 AM | Press Release

Troy Lee Designs is open for holiday hours providing custom paint and lettering benefiting Doug Henry and family.

Motorcycle Holiday Gift Guide: Dirt Accessories

Thursday, December 09, 2010, 5:57:11 AM | MotorcycleUSA Staff

No dirt bike is perfect in stock form, that's why there's an aftermarket economy. Nothing makes a rider happier than personalizing their motorcycle, so take a look at some of our favorite dirt bike accessories.

Honda and Hero Honda Split Rumored

Wednesday, December 08, 2010, 4:41:38 PM | Bart Madson

Reports state Honda will divest its 26% share in Hero Honda, its joint venture with the Hero group and the India's largest motorcycle manufacturer.

Mark Gardiner's 'Riding Man' Almost Sold Out

Wednesday, December 08, 2010, 4:41:38 PM | Press Release

After quitting his job and selling evertything he owned in order to move to the Isle of Man and compete, Mark Gardinar's latest memoir has become extremely popular and is on the verge of selling out.

Smith Optics Official Eyewear of Supercross

Wednesday, December 08, 2010, 4:41:38 PM | Press Release

Smith Optics Signs On as the Official and Exclusive Eyewear of the Monster Energy Supercross Championship.

AMA Motorcyclist of the Year: Schwarzenegger

Wednesday, December 08, 2010, 4:41:38 PM | Press Release

The AMA has announced that California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has been designated the 2010 AMA Motorcyclist of the Year.

AMA Pro Road Racing 2011 Schedule

Wednesday, December 08, 2010, 4:41:38 PM | Press Release

AMA Pro Racing has announced a preliminary schedule for the 2011 AMA Pro Road Racing series, including an event change for the Daytona 200.

2010 Red Bull Catalina GP Event Report

Wednesday, December 08, 2010, 4:41:38 PM | Ryan Merrill

Catalina Island and the city of Avalon brought back racing once again as it hosted the Red Bull 2010 Catalina Motocross Grand Prix.

European Junior Cup Launched in 2011

Wednesday, December 08, 2010, 4:41:38 PM | Press Release

Beginning in 2011 The European Junior Cup will be included in the World Superbike Championship, and will consist of 14 to 17-year-old racers from around the world competing on Kawasaki Ninja 250Rs.

Terry Schweigert Wins Round 1 at Qatar

Wednesday, December 08, 2010, 4:41:38 PM | Press Release

Terry Schweigert claimed the opening round of the 2010 Arabian Drag Racing League after defeating Robbie Hunnicutt in the final round.

Joan Lascorz Completes First Superbike Test

Wednesday, December 08, 2010, 4:41:38 PM | Press Release

Joan Lascorz successfully completed his first test aboard the Ninja ZX-10R in preparation for the 2011 World Superbike Championship. Read on to see what happened.

2010 Yamaha YZF-R1 Project Bike Part 2

Wednesday, December 08, 2010, 4:41:38 PM | Adam Waheed

We modify our Yamaha R1 to make it more racetrack oriented. Find out how it performs in this sportbike review.

'Ducati - The Story' DVD Released in U.S.

Wednesday, December 08, 2010, 10:35:25 AM | Press Release

Ducati of North America recently announced the release of 'Ducati - The Story', a DVD depicting the history of the Italian marque.

European Junior Cup Launched in 2010

Wednesday, December 08, 2010, 7:57:32 AM | Press Release

Beginning in 2011 The European Junior Cup will be included in the World Superbike Championship, and will consist of 14 to 17-year-old racers from around the world competing on Kawasaki Ninja 250Rs.

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NASCAR.COM - Camping World Series Headlines

Tuesday, December 07, 2010, 3:23:44 PM

KHI, Red Horse crew chief changes coincidental

Tuesday, December 07, 2010, 7:06:20 PM

What appeared to be a post-season trade of Camping World Truck Series championship-level crew chiefs between Red Horse Racing and Kevin Harvick Inc. was "purely coincidence," a Red Horse spokesperson said Monday evening.

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NASCAR.COM - Nationwide Series Headlines

December 11, 2010, 11:11:32 AM

Numbers tell the tale for Nationwide in 2010

December 11, 2010, 3:42:54 PM

Brad Keselowski made sure there was no drama left in the Nationwide Series points race in the final half of the season.

Year in Review: Kevin Harvick

Friday, December 10, 2010, 3:35:09 PM

Kevin Harvick doesn't need much time to make himself noticed. The Cup veteran ran 28 races, the fewest of any driver in the top six of the Nationwide Series point standings in 2010, but outpointed nine drivers who ran the full schedule.

Scott to drive familiar No. 11 for Joe Gibbs Racing

Thursday, December 09, 2010, 10:41:48 PM

Joe Gibbs Racing announced Thursday that its newest entry into the Nationwide Series, driven by Brian Scott, will carry the familiar number 11 and have Kevin Kidd as its crew chief.

Year in Review: Trevor Bayne

Thursday, December 09, 2010, 4:25:40 PM

Trevor Bayne sure didn't expect this.

Top Nationwide performances of 2010

Wednesday, December 08, 2010, 7:41:34 PM

There certainly were some outstanding performances -- both from a driving and racing standpoint -- that took place during the recently completed 2010 Nationwide Series season. The following is a look back at some of those standout performers and memorable races, as selected from discussions with the national series directors, competition department and NASCAR PR managers.

Year in Review: Joey Logano

Wednesday, December 08, 2010, 4:01:07 PM

Joey Logano said the biggest jump he's made in his fast-tracked career is the move from the Nationwide Series to the Sprint Cup Series.

Year in review: Jason Leffler

Tuesday, December 07, 2010, 4:00:57 PM

It says something about a guy driving for a Nationwide-only team when a ninth-place finish in the points is considered a disappointment.

Year in review: Steve Wallace

Monday, December 06, 2010, 7:41:47 PM

Coming off a career-best seventh-place finish in the Nationwide Series points in 2009, Steve Wallace was prepared for a career year in 2010.

Keselowski celebrates Champion's Day

Monday, December 06, 2010, 3:48:52 PM

Brad Keselowski, the 2010 Nationwide Series driver champion, officially will conclude the festivities surrounding his first NASCAR national series title on Monday in Columbus, Ohio. He and his No. 22 Penske Racing team will take part in a full day -- and evening -- of activities hosted by series sponsor Nationwide Insurance's hometown.

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NASCAR.COM - Sprint Cup Series Headlines

December 11, 2010, 1:03:22 PM

Daytona repave job done with five days to spare

December 11, 2010, 5:57:26 PM

On Friday, the checkered flag waved for the paving crew of Lane Construction as they finished the final paving of Daytona International Speedway five days before its first scheduled track activity.

Year in Review: Hit or miss season leaves Busch on outside

Friday, December 10, 2010, 4:35:19 PM

The 2010 Sprint Cup season only emphasized Kyle Busch's great overall potential, underscored by a maddening inconsistency.

Top Cup performances of 2010

Thursday, December 09, 2010, 7:33:18 PM

There certainly were some outstanding performances -- both from a competition and racing standpoint -- that took place during the recently completed Sprint Cup Series season. In fact, from a statistical standpoint, the 2010 season goes down as the most competitive in the history of NASCAR. The following is a look back at some of those standout performers and memorable races, as selected from discussions with the national series director, competition department and NASCAR PR managers.

Year in Review: Near-misses lead to winless season for Gordon

Thursday, December 09, 2010, 2:39:52 PM

Had a few things occurred differently, Jeff Gordon could well have completed this past season with a handful of race victories and a legitimate shot at his first series title in nearly a decade. Instead, a strong start gave way to a frustrating finish that heralded sweeping changes to the four-time champion's program for next year.

Watkins Glen to make $3 million in upgrades

Wednesday, December 08, 2010, 9:55:54 PM

International Speedway Corp. has approved $3 million for capital improvements at Watkins Glen International.

Year in Review: Penalty hurt, but Bowyer feeling good otherwise

Wednesday, December 08, 2010, 6:39:00 PM

Typically, drivers can point to a particular race -- or even a moment within a race -- as the key to the ultimate success or failure of their season. But it's rare when it happens several days after the fact, and miles from Victory Lane.

May bloom falls off Busch's rose during Chase

Tuesday, December 07, 2010, 3:56:04 PM

For two weeks this past May, no one in NASCAR flew higher -- or rather, faster -- than driver Kurt Busch.

Chase berth ends in disappointment for Burton

Monday, December 06, 2010, 9:00:43 PM

The 2010 Sprint Cup season was the ultimate in bittersweet dichotomies for Virginia veteran Jeff Burton.

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Road Racer X

December 11, 2010, 2:08:26 PM

Honda Road Racerhead #50

Friday, December 10, 2010, 10:21:44 PM | CJ

This annual lull in the road racing year is always quiet, when the MotoGP test ban is in effect and little is happening apart from new AMA Pro Road Racing schedules being released and Jason DiSalvo signing for Latus Motorsports (though both of these were fairly major news). That said, this is the most exciting time of the year for our brothers and sisters over in the motocross world. As fired up as we get for Daytona or Qatar, these folks are in the lead-in to Anaheim’s Monster Energy Supercross season opener, which this time around will be on January 8.

Like Max Biaggi in 2006, some think Christophe Pourcel might sit out the 2011 season, despite his enormous talents. • Simon Cudby photo

I can say this with authority, not only because I used to cover the sport as a beat reporter back when I was working for Cycle News, but because we at Racer X have been working full-tilt all week on the series’ official souvenir yearbook, whose deadline is today (hence my tardy posting of this column). As we’ve written, edited, photographed, designed, and proofed that book lately, I’ve noticed a few parallels in their world with our world, and I thought I’d cover some of them here.

CHRISTOPHE POURCEL = MAX BIAGGI
Over the past couple of seasons, Christophe Pourcel has proven himself to be one of the top supercross/motocross riders in the sport, winning the last two AMA Supercross Lites East titles and challenging for the 250 crown outdoors as well. Nonetheless, the Frenchman finds himself without a ride heading into the 2011 season, the victim of bad luck. Pourcel injured his shoulder in a crash at the final AMA Motocross round of the season, and between that and the down economy, the reigning champ (who is advancing to the AMA Supercross class this year) hasn’t yet been picked up.

The situation reminds me of Max Biaggi in 2006, when the sometimes-prickly Italian appeared to be black-listed despite having finished fifth in points the previous season. The four-time 250cc world champ negotiated with Honda, Kawasaki, and Suzuki to no avail, so he sat out the season, trained hard while his former competitors raced, and moved to World Superbike in 2007. In his fourth year in that series, he just added the SBK crown to his resume.

It’s still too early to say whether or not Pourcel will have to sit out 2011, but if he does, he can take heart from Biaggi’s example that it’s not necessarily a career-ender.

Incidentally, three-time AMA champion Chad Reed also found himself without a ride for next year, for reasons that are arguably more similar to those of Biaggi than to Pourcel. Some wondered if the Aussie would retire, but he is funding his own race effort instead. Time will tell whether that move is preferable to that of Biaggi.

CATALINA = ISLE OF MAN

Despite the seeming impossibility of it happening, the Red Bull Catalina Grand Prix returned last week, joining the Isle of Man T as special island races. • Simon Cudby photo

Back in the 1950s, Catalina Island, which lies just twenty-six miles off the coast outside my window here in Long Beach, hosted a motorcycle race that was popular among Southern California dirt bike riders. The event shut down after 1957, and few thought it would ever return again. After all, the island is known for being green—in both senses of the word (few cars are allowed on the island, and most residents get around by golf cart)—and Avalon (the city’s only island) is typically a quiet tourist destination. Even mountain bikes are generally prohibited from the island’s beautiful singletrack trails.

Nonetheless, the event made an unexpected return last weekend, with title sponsorship from Red Bull. I missed it, but everything I hear makes it sound like it was an instant classic—just as it was back in the good old days.

The Isle of Man TT has even more history than Catalina’s motorcycle race, and it hasn’t had to return from the dead like Catalina. Still, the whole dynamic of ferrying the bikes over and doing something that seems impossible in this age of red tape made me think of the TT when I checked out the photos from Catalina this week.

KTM 350 SX-F = DUCATI DESMOSEDICI 900

Next month, Andrew Short will be trying to show that the 350cc KTM can be competitive against more powerful competition, perhaps serving as a preview for 900cc bikes running against 1000s in MotoGP in 2012. • Simon Cudby photo

A few years ago when KTM announced that they would produce a 350cc four-stroke dirt bike to run head-to-head with the modern 450cc thumpers, many people were skeptical that such a machine would be able to compete with its more powerful competition. Nonetheless, Italian Tony Cairoli used the bike to ride to this year’s MX1 world championship, proving the value of nimble handling and tractable power. The bike didn’t fare as well on the softer, power-robbing American outdoor circuits, but Andrew Short, Mike Alessi, Ken Roczen, and Marvin Musquin will campaign the bike in the upcoming supercross series, where the tight confines and relative lack of sandy conditions could make it feel right at home.

KTM’s progress with the 350 might be watched closely by principals in MotoGP teams, of all places. That’s because there’s talk that even after the premier road racing class switches back to a 1,000cc format for 2012, some manufacturers may opt to run engines with less displacement than that—perhaps on bigger-bore versions of the current 800s. That’s partially because building all-new machines could be prohibitively expensive in the current economy, but there are other reasons as well: the class will continue to have tight fuel restrictions, and although liter bikes would probably be faster (at least in terms of top speed, and despite the 81mm maximum bore), they would also be fuel guzzlers—particularly if electronics are limited.

In general, bikes with smaller-than-allowed engines haven’t fared well—hence the saying “There’s no replacement for displacement.” They’re sometimes capable of posting competitive lap times (the 800s were almost immediately breaking the lap records of the 990s they replaced), but because their peaky power spreads limit line options, they’re easy for bigger bikes to pass—and have a hard time overtaking. When 250cc four-strokes were first allowed to run against the 125cc two-strokes in motocross and supercross, they were able to exploit this advantage to great effect—just as the 990cc four-strokes in MotoGP immediately ruled over the 500cc two-strokes. Still, if 1000s are run with lean enough mixtures to finish races on limited fuel loads, they might be peaky as well. It will be interesting to see how the Austrian 350 does this year.

DODGER STADIUM = INDIA

The addition of Dodger Stadium to the Monster Energy Supercross tour has people excited, as does the possible addition of India to the MotoGP calendar in 2012. • Carlos Aguirre photo

When the Monster Energy Supercross schedule was released for next year, many were excited to see that Dodger Stadium will host a round for the first time ever—amazing, considering the number of supercross races that have been held in Southern Calfornia venues like Angel Stadium, the Los Angeles Coliseum, Pasadena’s Rose Bowl, and San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium. New additions aren’t unheard of, but when you add a history-rich facility like Dodger Stadium (built in 1962, the Chavez Ravine venue has hosted games in eight different MLB World Series), it gets the blood pumping.

MotoGP could get a similar injection of excitement in 2012, when India might host a Grand Prix round for the first time. A new circuit outside New Delhi will host its inaugural Formula 1 race next year, and owners of the facility are in talks with Dorna. Abu Dhabi is also targeting a MotoGP round in 2012 at the Yas Marina F1 circuit, but considering the size of India, the country’s growing status as an economic powerhouse, and the extremely large number of citizens who use motorcycles for transportation (even if they’re more inexpensive, small-bore utilitarian machines than sexy sport bikes), New Delhi is far more exciting as a possible destination.

ROGER DeCOSTER = JEREMY BURGESS

Legendary team-builder Roger DeCoster and legendary crew chief Jeremy Burgess are both moving to European manufacturers next year for the first time ever. • Simon Cudby photo

Although Roger DeCoster first earned fame as a motocross racer, wining five world championships, he’s arguably better known now for his considerable talents as a builder of successful racing teams. Working as an advisor for Team Honda during Big Red’s powerhouse years, the Belgian native earned such respect that he soon began managing the dominant Team USA efforts in the Motocross des Nations (now called the Motocross of Nations—and still usually headed by DeCoster). In 1996, DeCoster was hired as the team manager for Suzuki’s motocross teams, which he eventually returned to winning form (with help from riders like Greg Albertyn, Ricky Carmichael, and Ryan Dungey). It was a big deal, then, when KTM recently announced that they’d hired Roger to manage their American motocross effort, and he’s currently preparing that squad for a hoped-for newfound premier-class competitiveness in the States next season.

Jeremy Burgess may not be a team manager, but the similarities are there nonetheless. The Australian crew chief has earned legendary status helping his riders earn premier-class Grand Prix titles for Honda and, most recently, Yamaha. Like DeCoster, he’s switching from Japanese to European next year, having followed Valentino Rossi to Ducati (Jerry and his crew were in Bologna this week, building The Doctor’s Desmosedici race bikes for the upcoming season). Just as will be the case with DeCoster, many will be watching to see if Burgess will be able to achieve his customary success for his new employer.

Chris Carr Announces “Farewell to Flat Track” Tour

Friday, December 10, 2010, 5:27:02 PM | admin

FLEETWOOD, Pa., (Dec. 10, 2010) – Winding down one of the greatest careers in AMA Flat Track Championship racing history, seven-time champion Chris Carr has decided to make the upcoming 2011 season his last effort at pursuing an overall AMA Twins title.

“It is never an easy decision to give up doing something you truly love to do,” said Carr. “I look forward to my last full season of competition. Beyond 2011, I wish to continue the winning tradition of Chris Carr Racing with one of the many up and coming racers on the circuit. I may decide to run a few selected events in the future, but only if I really need to scratch that racing itch.”

Transitioning from the seat of his XR750 to race team owner, Carr will call 2011 his final full time year as a racer. Beyond 2011, Carr’s plan is to continue running his team with a selected young racer under his tutelage and launch a new chapter in his storied motorsports career – Chris Carr Racing Motorcycles.

With this Carr’s developed the Chris Carr Farewell to Flat Track Tour. And, given the publicity Carr’s final competition season stop at each AMA Flat Track Championship event this will generate, Carr’s developed a unique approach to sponsors wishing to get on board with this last of its kind program.

Title sponsorships for the Chris Carr Farewell to Flat Track Tour are available in four blocks of five races on the 2011 AMA Flat Track Championship calendar.

Each block includes two races slated for television on MAVTV, ex. Daytona, Springfield, etc.
Two races will be ones proven over time to have an upside potential for marketing possibilities (ex. Lima, Indy Mile, etc.).
One new race on the 2011 AMA schedule will be included in each block.

Following the initial title investment sponsorship, each sponsor automatically converts into the prominent associate sponsorship status for the balance of the racing season.

“I can only retire from the AMA Flat Track Championship chase once. So all-in-all the Chris Carr Farewell to Flat Track Tour offers a unique marketing and branding footprint for an entire race season at a fraction of the cost of a full season’s title sponsorship,” added Carr. Note: The Chris Carr Farewell To Flat Track tour kicks off at the Southern Illinois Fairgrounds in DuQuoin, Jan. 1st and 2nd, 2011, at the Steve Nace Winter Indoor Series.

For more information feel free to reach out to Chris himself at (610) 944-3016.

Seven-time AMA Flat Track champion and one of the fastest men in the world on two wheels at 367.382 miles per hour, the Chris Carr legend continues. For more information on Chris Carr, visit his website at www.chriscarr.com.

For more information on the 2011 AMA Flat Track Championship schedule, link to: www.amaproracing/ft/

Ben Spies to Appear at Long Beach IMS Yamaha Display

Friday, December 10, 2010, 5:23:17 PM | admin

December 10, 2010 Cypress Ca…. MotoGP Rookie of the Year and Team Yamaha Factory MotoGP pilot Ben Spies is scheduled to make a special fan appearance at the Long Beach Progressive Insurance International Motorcycle Show next Friday, December 17th.

Fresh off a spectacular first test session on the Factory Yamaha M1, Ben will be in the Yamaha booth from 6:00-7:30 PM Friday evening signing autographs and he’s anxious to see his Southern California friends and fans once again.

Ben will also be presented a very special one-of-a kind YamahaWR450F designed by renowned bike builder and former Yamaha AMA 250cc Road Race champion Roland Sands.

“Normally I stay in Texas during the entire month of December to be with my family,” said Spies, “but I wanted to come out to say a special thanks to my California fans for the tremendous support they’ve given me this year!”

Consumers may also get an up close look at the new line up of 2011 Yamaha motorcycles and ATV’s at the Long Beach Show including the new Stryker from Star Motorcycles, the new FZ-8, and the all new “Adventure Touring” Super Tenere. Demo rides will also be available to those holding a valid operators license on a first-come-first-served basis.

Infineon Announces “$11 Down for 2011″ Ticket Program

Friday, December 10, 2010, 12:45:39 PM | admin

SONOMA, Calif. (Dec. 10, 2010) – Infineon Raceway has announced a new program that will make it easier than ever before for race fans to attend a motor-racing event at the Sonoma Valley facility in 2011.

The “$11 Down for 2011” program will secure any seat or ticket package to Infineon Raceway for the upcoming Big O Tires Racing Season, including the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series, IZOD IndyCar® Series, AMA Pro Road Racing and more.

These are difficult times for race fans, which prompted the creation of the “$11 Down for 2011” program. All race fans have to do is put an $11 down payment to secure seats to their favorite event; the raceway will then set-up a payment plan that works best for them.

“We realize these are challenging economic times for our race fans,” said Steve Page, president and general manager of Infineon Raceway. “We believe our ‘$11 Down for 2011′ plan will give our fans an option to set-up a payment plan that works best for them, and at the same time, ensure that they get to attend the great motor-racing events planned for 2011. We are pleased to provide this program for our fans.”

This limited-time offer expires on Jan. 31, so be sure and act today by calling 800-870-RACE during regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. PDT) or visiting www.infineonraceway.com/$11down .

Backmarker: Writer’s notebook—last minute shopping dilemmas solved, mysterious BMWs, and Zen, again

Thursday, December 09, 2010, 5:01:06 PM | Mark Gardiner

First a note from what Click and Clack would refer to as “Our Shameless Commerce Department:

Kansas City’s Ken Doll has owned this Luftmeister turbo-BMW for the last twenty years. Fuel and air are mixed in a strange-looking Keihin carburetor that was originally intended for use on a snowmobile. • Mark Gardiner photo

By the time you read this, Amazon will have sold out of their final shipment of Riding Man. I’m holding back the last couple of cartons of the first edition to sell to people who want signed and inscribed copies. Now, that’s a great Christmas gift, eh? Until Friday, Dec. 17—after which I can’t guarantee Christmas delivery—I’ll upgrade all U.S. shipments to Priority at no extra charge. But wait, there’s more! I’ll also sign, inscribe, and gift-wrap your book, and mail it directly to your recipient if you wish. U.S. and Canadian customers can follow the link on my web site, and you’ll be upgraded automatically. If you want a special inscription, gift-wrapping, or shipment to another address, just note it on the PayPal form you come to after clicking that wonderful Buy Now button.

Curiouser and Curiouser…
A few weeks ago, I stopped for coffee at Latteland, which is a Kansas City motorcycle hangout on pretty much any fine afternoon. There’s usually free parking right in front of the café and a few outside tables on a warm, south-facing patio where you can sit and admire (or watch over) your bike. It was already a good bike-watching day, with a mint Laverda 1000 basking in the sun, when an interesting late-’70s R100 pulled up, painted in a color scheme I associate with BMW’s M-series cars.

On closer examination, the bike was fitted with a very tidy turbocharger. The owner, a guy named Ken Doll, noticed me paying attention, and came over to talk. The story was that the bike had belonged to a BMW dealer here in KC thirty years ago; he’d had the turbo kit installed. it was a Luftmeister unit—I dimly recalled the name, but had never seen one until that moment. Doll told me he’d only seen one other one himself, at Daytona. I think there were only a couple hundred of them sold. It was pretty cool, complete with a water-injection tank to prevent detonation under heavy load—a nice touch borrowed from World War II fighter planes.

The turbo installation has a real factory look, as does the whole bike. Maybe BMW should have built one of these themselves. • Mark Gardiner photo

Luftmeister sounds like a German name, and the overall fit and finish of this bike had the feel of one of those semi-factory German aftermarket tuners like HPN. I was curious enough about it to do a bit of research, and the kit actually came out of California, where Matt Capri, who was an old-school Triumph dealer (and now is a “new Triumph” dealer). After the supply of Meriden Triumphs dried up, Capri needed something to do, so he marketed tuning kits for BMWs. Ken Doll claims that his bike will indicate 126 mph with him sitting bolt upright and carrying a passenger.

Capri now runs South Bay Triumph in the L.A. area and no longer has much, if anything, to do with Luftmeister, which is apparently no longer in business. There’s an outfit called RB Racing that tells me they made most (all?) of the Luftmeister kits, and there’s clearly some bad blood between the two businesses now. RB Racing is still selling turbo kits for BMW boxers and bricks.

Doll’s bike also has a stiffer swingarm and reinforced frame, Works Performance shocks, and a professional-looking fork brace. He’s put 25,000 miles on it since buying it and claims that it’s as reliable as any other BMW. If there’s a Backmarker reader out there with more knowledge of these BMW boxer turbo conversions, feel free to get in touch with me. I’d love to know more about them.

Zen and Now
When I set out for the Isle of Man about nine years ago, I had in mind that I’d write a book about the events that were about to befall me—whatever they might be. I admit I had visions of writing something that the general public might read even though it was about motorcycling—and worse, motorcycle racing. I thought that in the spirit of due diligence, I should read the one motorcycle book that had ever really been a mainstream success in American literature: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

I plan to make an electronic version of “Riding Man” available for the Kindle, iPad, and other e-reader platforms early in the New Year. It will probably include a “lost chapter” that I left out of the print version at the last minute, and may include a funny epilogue. As for reprinting, Mark Clayman, who was the executive producer of the Will Smith film “Pursuit of Happyness,” is currently pitching a feature inspired by “Riding Man.” How that came to pass (it was not my idea!) and my experience as “an innocent abroad” in Hollywood are a whole separate story….

The fact that I hadn’t already read ZatAoMM was actually a bit of an embarrassment. All I knew about it was that author Robert Pirsig had based the narrative on a ride from Minnesota to California aboard a Honda CB77 Superhawk and that it had been in print for twenty-five years. I read most of it on a plane flying across the Atlantic. Double-take moment: someone else was reading the same book in the waiting lounge prior to boarding.

The paperback version I bought was almost 400 pages, but there was a BMW newsletter published out of the Midwest that once ran a story listing the handful of pages of ZatAoMM that club members would have any interest in reading. I found myself in agreement with that general assessment. There are certainly a few nuggets in there worth reading, but there was a lot of sifting to find them; by the time I’d reached the book’s final chapters, I was pretty angry with Pirsig and his deep fascination with himself and a love of hearing himself talk. My conclusion then—and I still stand by it—is that Pirsig’s book was and remains the most overrated motorcycle book of all time.

Yet regardless of what I think, it is also without question the most influential motorcycle book ever written. I ended up quoting liberally from it in Riding Man. Academics, literary critics, and philosophers continue to debate its principal themes, and motorcyclists continue to be asked, “What do you think of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance?” by people who are readers but not riders.

Richardson's riding descriptions are as good as Pirsig's. “Zen and Now” encapsulates a sort of Cliff's Notes version of the original, and it will go a long way toward answering the two questions you would’ve been left with after putting “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” down in frustration again: Who the heck was this guy, and what was he getting at? Frankly, if you're only going to read one of the two “Zen” books, I recommend this one.

Pirsig clearly knew and loved motorcycles, and motorcyclists have long struggled to come to terms with the book as a motorcycling narrative, as well as to use that shared passion as a way to come to understand the author and come to terms with the book’s true themes.

The person who’s done that the best is Mark Richardson, whose day job is editing the Toronto Star newspaper’s “Wheels” section. A few years ago, Richardson retraced the Pirsig’s journey (on a Suzuki V-Strom), stopping along the way to meet people who knew Pirsig back in the day. Richardson’s own book, Zen and Now: On the Trail of Robert Pirsig and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, is based on that second motorcycle ride.

Richardson sent the manuscript to Pirsig, who apparently wrote back to say, it was like being a ghost at his own funeral. I assume that means Pirsig agrees that Richardson got it about right. There’s also a lot of Richardson himself in there. The idea of retracing Pirsig’s route came to him as he was undergoing a sort of mid-life crisis. His response—“Gotta ride!”—is the same thing that would occur to any of us. One thing that makes us relate to Richardson better than Pirsig is that most of us ride to shed mental baggage, while Pirsig reveled in unpacking it, airing it, and repacking it again and again for thousands of miles.

If you’ve got a motorcycle rider/reader on your Christmas list, there’s still lots of time to order Zen and Now on Amazon (that’s obviously if you’ve already given him/her a copy of Riding Man!). If you’re going to have a few long evenings by the fire over the holidays, get a copy for yourself (if you’ve already read Riding Man!).

Infineon Raceway Charity Distributes $225,000 to Youth Groups

Thursday, December 09, 2010, 3:12:46 PM | admin

Raceway Charity Distributes $225,000 to Youth GroupsSONOMA, Calif. (Dec. 9, 2010) — The Infineon Raceway Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities will distribute $225,983 to 34 qualified youth organizations in Sonoma County for the 2010 season.

The chapter has distributed more than $3.7 million since 2001. The chapter’s Board of Trustees recently approved the distribution of funds at its annual meeting.

Speedway Children’s Charities is the charitable arm of Speedway Motorsports, Inc., which owns and operates Infineon Raceway.

The monies awarded in 2010 were generated through a combination of events held during the raceway’s major-event weekends, including the Children’s Champions Grand Marshal’s Banquet and the KFOX Race & Rock Charity Auction, which combined to raise more than $85,000. Both were held during the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend in June. The 7th annual Classic Sports Racing Group’s (CSRG) Charity Challenge generated an additional $27,000.

In all, the chapter hosted 10 events in 2010, primarily tied to the raceway’s motor-racing weekends.
“Speedway Children’s Charities serves as the foundation of well-being for children in need of food assistance throughout Sonoma County,” said David Goodman, Executive Director of the Redwood Empire Food Bank. ”SCC’s generous support has allowed the Redwood Empire Food Bank to reach the epicenters of hunger in every part of our community.”

Speedway Children’s Charities is a non-profit organization with the purpose of raising funds to be distributed to qualified children’s organizations. Founded in 1984 by Bruton Smith, chairman of Speedway Motorsports Inc., Speedway Children’s Charities originated at Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina.

Thirty-four youth groups will receive funding from Speedway Children’s Charities in 2010, some of which include:

Anova; Boys and Girls Club of Marin and Southern Sonoma Counties; California Parenting Institute; California Youth Outreach; CASA; Catholic Charities; Children’s Cancer Community; Community Action Partnership; Committee on the Shelterless; Grandparents Parenting Again; Hanna Boys Center; Individuals Now; Kids Scoop; La Luz Center; Lifeworks; Martial Arts Youth Institute; Matrix Parent Network; McDowell Drug Task Force; North Bay Children’s Center; Petaluma People Services; Redwood Empire Food Bank; Roseland Charter School; Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance; Sonoma Valley Education Foundation; Southwest Community Health Center; Sunny Hills Service; The Living Room; The Salvation Army; United Against Sexual Assault; Valley of the Moon Boys and Girls Club; Valley of the Moon Children’s Home Foundation; Valley of the Moon Teen Center; Valley of the Moon Education Foundation; and the Willmar Center.

“Speedway Charities has been a wonderfully generous friend to La Luz Center,” said Yvonne Hall, Executive Director of La Luz Center. “We just received the great news that once again we’ve been selected to receive a grant. This is a great holiday gift for La Luz and our Children’s Health and Welfare Program, which will be the beneficiary of the funds. Thank you Speedway Charities!”

Swigz Racing Electric Superbike to Contend WERA Race at Auto Club Speedway – Swigz PR

Thursday, December 09, 2010, 3:09:26 PM | admin

Courtesy Swigz Racing

The world’s most powerful and sophisticated electric superbike will make history on January 9, 2010 at the Auto Club Speedway in California, as the first electric bike to go head to head against conventional gasoline powered race bikes in a professionally organized roadrace.

The extraordinary machine, developed by SWIGZ.COM Pro Racing in the USA, is the world’s most powerful and technically advanced electric superbike and which by February, 2011, will become the most powerful road racing motorcycle of any kind being actively campaigned.

Chip Yates, the bike’s rider and owner of SWIGZ Racing says: “We have to thank WERA Motorcycle Roadracing for inviting us into their series to make history with this news. Our electric motorcycle will compete head on with real racing superbikes such as the Ducati 1198 and KTM RC8 as well as other established manufacturers, and we expect to work hard to show the world that electric technology can achieve laptime parity with gasoline superbikes. We’re not going on track to make up the numbers; we’re going out to compete in order to raise our game and catch up to these gasoline guys.”

The news comes in the light of the bike’s recent exclusion from the FIM and TTXGP Championships for electric motorcycles, which has imposed a significantly lower maximum weight limit of 250kgs for the 2011 season. “Our bike weighs in at 266kgs right now”, says Yates. “Clearly, these championships are more concerned with promoting scooter development, and our bike is so much faster than the electric competition that we feel far more inclined to push our bike’s unique technology platform forward in the ultimate competitive environment of gasoline bike racing.”

The SWIGZ Racing machine has a power to weight ratio that is slightly better than 600cc gasoline bikes, and will begin the 2011 season by competing in the WERA Pirelli Sportsman Heavyweight Twins Superbike class where its power to weight ratio puts it in the middle of the field. To be competitive against these heavyweight twin cylinder superbikes going forward, the bike will benefit from a more than 20% increase to its current 194 horsepower after this first race weekend in January.

Yates continues: “Our scheduled power increase will make our electric superbike more powerful than a MotoGP bike and will bring us extremely close to power to weight parity with the best 1,000cc Japanese superbikes. Those two facts are a simply outstanding reflection of the potential in electric power.”

Ahead of the WERA Pirelli Sportsman Series race weekend on January 9th, the bike has been invited by Infineon Raceway, a motorsports leader in green performance and sustainability, to be put through its paces at race speeds for the first time ever on December 15th. Chip and the SWIGZ.COM Pro Racing USA team will enjoy the private use of the world-class Infineon road course from 8:30am to 4:30pm and media and the public are welcomed to attend.

SWIGZ Racing will soon announce additional race dates where the electric superbike can be seen competing directly against gasoline bikes in the WERA championship series, that will include Miller Motorsports Park, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and other major venues across the USA.

NOTE: For high res images and more information, please contact peter@torquepr.co.uk

SLIDESHOW: Umbrella Girls of the Week — Rizla Suzuki’s Peacekeepers

Thursday, December 09, 2010, 1:54:45 PM | admin

Sachsenring • Photo by Andrew Northcott

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AMA Pro Announces Preliminary 2011 Road Racing Schedule

Wednesday, December 08, 2010, 4:21:34 PM | admin

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (December 8, 2010) – After an exciting 2010 AMA Pro Road Racing season that saw all class champions decided at the final event, AMA Pro announces their preliminary 2011 Road Racing schedule. New this year is the change of the fabled Daytona 200 event back to its more traditional daytime running time, a return to Miller Motorsports Park over the Memorial Day weekend and some small date changes for some of the traditional events.

The 2011 AMA Pro Road Racing season will kick off at the famed Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. with the biggest motorcycling event of the year, Daytona 200 Week. Activities will begin this year on Saturday night, March 5th with the longest continuous running Supercross event in America, the Daytona Supercross. The opening rounds of AMA Pro Flat Track kick off Thursday, March 10 and Friday, March 11, 2011 to mark the second running of the Grand Nationals at the new DAYTONA Flat Track.

The Road Racing activities also begin on Thursday, March 10th with practice and qualifying for the four main classes of AMA Pro Road Racing. The AMA Pro National Guard SuperBike series will again race two times during the Daytona 200 Week activities on Friday, March 11th and Saturday, March 12th. New this year will be the AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series, making its debut at Daytona. The AMA Pro SuperSport division will also race on Friday and Saturday. The Daytona 200 will once again be run as a day race on Saturday, March 12th and will be the closing event of the 2011 Daytona 200 Week activities. 2010 Daytona 200 winner, Josh Herrin will lead the field in the namesake AMA Pro Daytona SportBike class for the 70th running of the famous event.

The series will then travel to Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. for the West Coast Moto Jam, May 13 – 15, 2011. The popular Infineon Raceway provides a full slate of activities throughout the weekend and this year the AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series will make its debut at the 2.32-mile natural road course.

Next on the schedule for AMA Pro Road Racing is a return to Miller Motorsports Park on Memorial Day weekend, May 28 – 30, 2011 in conjunction with the HANNspree Superbike World Championship event. AMA Pro previously raced at the picturesque facility in Tooele, Utah from 2006 to 2008.

Elkhart Lake’s Road America will once again feature the full complement of AMA Pro Road Racing as the series travels to the legendary 4.0-mile road course through the Kettle Moraine countryside in Wisconsin, June 3 – 5, 2011.

Celebrating it’s 50th Anniversary Season, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course will host AMA Pro Road Racing one week earlier than usual, the race taking place July 8 – 10, 2011. The Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire will once again bring the eyes of the motorcycle racing world to the gentle hills in Lexington, Ohio.

The series will then travel to Northern California to join the activities at the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix weekend at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, July 22 – 24, 2011. This weekend will feature single races for National Guard SuperBike, Daytona SportBike and SuperSport in addition to the first stop in the USA for MotoGP.

The next event will be in August at another great facility for motorcycle racing, Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Va. The August 12 – 14, 2011 weekend will once again see all Road Racing classes competing at the 2.25-mile country-club-like natural road course.

AMA Pro Road Racing will then travel to southern New Jersey for the Labor Day weekend at the New Jersey Motorsports Park event in Millville, N.J. Very popular with fans and competitors alike, the impressive Thunderbolt circuit will host the series, September 2 – 4, 2011.

A return to Barber Motorsports Park, located in Birmingham, Ala., is still being negotiated and the June date and confirmation are to be determined.

One additional season-ending event is also under consideration and will be announced at a later date.
Preliminary 2011 AMA Pro Road Racing Schedule

March 10 – 12, 2011      Daytona International Speedway
May 13 – 15, 2011           Infineon Raceway
May 28 – 30, 2011         Miller Motorsports Park
June 3 – 5, 2011             Road America
TBD
July 8 – 10, 2011            Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
July 22 – 24, 2011         Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
August 12 – 14, 2011   Virginia International Raceway/TBD
September 2 – 4, 2011    New Jersey Motorsports Park

*Season Finale Location, Date and Banquet TBD

AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships for a variety of motorcycle disciplines. Learn more about AMA Pro Racing at www.amaproracing.com.

Moto Moments WALLPAPER: MotoGP Factory Yamaha’s Ben Spies

Wednesday, December 08, 2010, 2:32:04 PM | admin

There’s no question in most road race fans’ minds about who, in the sports world, should get the Rookie of the Year award, but if you haven’t put in your vote yet, head over to SpeedTV’s 5th Annual Performance Awards contest and show your support for MotoGP Rookie of the Year Ben Spies—shown here at the season-ending Valencia test. Photo by Andrew Northcott.

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—are 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

Between the Races: Michael Jordan Motorsports’ Rich Alexander

Wednesday, December 08, 2010, 11:16:45 AM | Jesse Cecil

The 2010 season started with a bang for Michael Jordan Motorsports, with then-newly signed Jake Zemke taking both races at the Daytona season-opener—the first American Superbike wins for both MJM and the National Guard banner. The momentum from those wins carried Zemke to mid-season with several additional podiums, but the other half of the team, Aaron Yates, was sidelined with a badly broken leg at Fontana. And though Zemke ultimately took third in the championship, the overall season didn’t play out quite as well as the team had hoped, so for 2011 they’ve armed themselves with the all-star lineup of Ben Bostrom and Roger Lee Hayden. MJM’s technical manager Rich Alexander has high hopes for the future.

MJM technical manager Rich Alexander (left) on pit wall with Michael Jordan and a National Guard rep. • Courtesy Alexander

RRX: What was the significance of those two opening wins at Daytona for the MJM team?
Opening up the 2010 season and taking the double at Daytona was definitely significant for the Michael Jordan Motorsports team, especially as a first superbike win, and to open the season taking the double is always a good way to start. It was significant for us and for National Guard as well, as it was their first wins. It was a pretty awesome way to start the season.

Zemke went on to earn three additional podiums, good for third in the overall points, while class-rookie Brett McCormick had mixed results after replacing Yates. What are your thoughts on how the season developed?
Well, basically it wasn’t quite the way we thought the season was going to roll out. Basically, with Aaron getting hurt at Fontana, it took a lot of the drive out of what we thought we were going to have with the season, and unfortunately it took him out for the rest of the year, and he’s trying to recuperate. You know, Brett McCormick filled in for Aaron and we thought he did a great job. As an 18- year-old kid new to our team, new to our AMA Superbike spec bike, and learning the tracks, we though he did a great job. He did have some crashes and some mixed results, but in the end he did a great job for MJM.

Jake also did a great job for us with the double win and third in the championship—that was our best superbike overall result since we formed as a team. So it was a mixed year with some good points and some bad points, but we’re ready to start 2011 anew and kind of get rolling into that next season.

Starting around mid-season, Zemke seemed to struggle a little. Was that due to a development gap with the factory teams, or was there something else going on?
I think we started the season real strong power-wise, which definitely helped us with our wins, but I think we were just ready for the season to start, whereas I think some of the other teams maybe weren’t, right there. They definitely, after Daytona, got stronger. I wouldn’t say that our bike was better on the straight, fast stuff, it just had to do with setup, I think. We did hit a point with Jake that we struggled to get him what he needed, and some of the results showed, whether that was the team or whatever. Basically, I think everyone else by mid-season had stepped up from Daytona. You could see that trap-speeds at times were faster than us, whereas we were the fastest in the beginning. So we did see a mid-season turn-around, but I think our bikes are still competitive. I think Brett showed that—he was a new rider to the series and [was able to show] some good fourth-fifth finishes in the mid-season. Unfortunately for Jake, we did hit that little stumbling block, and we were starting to get it back right toward the end of the season.

After a difficult season with the privateer Pedercini Kawasaki World Superbike team, the youngest Hayden will be coming home. • Photo by Andrew Wheeler

So for 2011, you’ll be fielding an all-new team of Ben Bostrom and Roger Lee Hayden. How long had those deals been in the works?
Well, you know, the silly season starts fairly early, going into the summer months. We’d been talking over time, and I was waiting on Aaron to really tell us where he was injury-wise, because Aaron has been a big part of our team and we just had to make sure that he was going to be fit for next year and that he wanted to ride. Some stuff took time for him to get the doctors to tell him how he looked going into 2011, and as it turned out, he needs a little more time. So that changed things in the last few weeks, as far as one of the riding positions.

Are we likely to see him on-track with Jordan in the future, or is that contingent on how 2011 plays out?
Yeah, it’s definitely dependent on Aaron and his body, and where we stand as a team. I mean, Aaron did a great job for us and we really appreciate that. We stand behind what his decisions are, and if he’s healthy and we have something for him, we’ll be interested in that for sure. So hopefully he has a speedy recovery and the future will hopefully look bright for him.

What is it about Ben and Roger that fits with MJM’s approach to the 2011 season?
Well, both riders bring a lot to the table for Michael Jordan Motorsports. Both are successful riders, and Ben obviously won an AMA Superbike championship and many World Superbike races. If you look at his season last year, other than the injury that he had, he had a pretty strong season, and I think he would have won more races if he didn’t get hurt at the end. I just think that Ben fills the shoes of what we were looking for as that next rider, so we’re really glad to have Ben on board.

Roger, on the other hand, has had a couple years that he probably would rather forget, but we’re willing to believe in Roger in this challenge and help him come on board, and it’s great having a Hayden on our team. I know Michael is really excited, so we’re ready for 2011.

Neither Ben nor Roger have experience on a Suzuki superbike. Will you be doing more testing to get them up to speed?
We definitely will be doing our own testing with the guys, for sure, to try and get them up to speed as quick as possible. AMA [Pro Racing] really hasn’t announced what their testing structure is going to be for 2011. Seeing as how we’re not completely sure on that yet, we’ll do our own testing as needed, and if we have to go to other tracks to get these guys comfortable with the team and the bike, we will. We’re hoping to test in a couple weeks, and we’ll kind of get ready for next season.

Has it been decided yet who will ride under the Jordan banner and who will represent the National Guard?
It has been decided, but we’re not ready to announce that yet. We’ll probably have a week before we announce that.

How is that decision made?
It’s a mixed decision between the managers and our sponsors, and the National Guard has a say in who is on their motorcycle. Basically we all come together with what the research has shown and we make the decision that shows the best direction for our sponsors and the team.

So you don’t necessarily hire a rider for a particular banner, but you fill the team and then decide who best fits each spot?
Yes, that’s correct.

Will B-Boz's creative-leathers-license remain intact? Stay tuned. • Photo by Nelson/Riles

Any other team changes going on behind the scenes?
Other than some sponsorship stuff—you know, change up some sponsors here and there—the team structure is all the same. We’re pretty excited and we feel that we’ve really progressed as a team, and we’re going into year-eight for Michael Jordan Motorsports and we’re making some headway in the corporate world with what we do, and we’re excited. There are some things in the future that we’ll be announcing, but for 2011, we’re definitely looking pretty strong.

One last question: Bostrom’s known for tinkering with his leathers and team kit to incorporate both BozBros and his cycling adventures, while MJM has, in the past, had a pretty set design scheme. Is Ben going to have some freedom to make little changes here and there?
I guess you’ll have to wait and see [laughs]!

Ducati Releases Official Documentary “Ducati – The Story” on DVD

Wednesday, December 08, 2010, 10:29:47 AM | admin

Cupertino, Calif. (7 December 2010) – Ducati North America announces today the release of “Ducati- The Story” – the official DVD documentary covering the history of the iconic brand.

Now available on a US format DVD, the incredible history of Ducati is told with rare movie footage. This includes pictures and interviews from the company’s birth in 1926 through the 2007 MotoGP World Championship title.

From the ideas of the innovative Ducati brothers to the unforgettable engineer Fabio Taglioni, the early years of Ducati’s rise to engineering dominance are well documented and include never before seen footage. Company milestones in the film include winning the Imola 200, many years of Superbike dominance, and Ducati’s debut in MotoGP. Throughout the film Ducati personas recount their experiences via little-known stories and anecdotes. With much exclusive material being released for the very first time, this captivating ninety minute movie in English and Italian tells the fast-moving and exciting story.

“This is a new way to tell the story;” said Livio Lodi- Curator of the Ducati Museum. “As if leafing through an old photo album or speaking with a wise old relative, the story gives a fascinating view not only of Ducati, but also of Italy’s history. For me, it is vitally important that we share this story with Ducati fans all over the world.”

The film and photographic material is perfectly complemented by interviews of employees, riders and key contributors and is the result of ten years research in Ducati and Italian state archives.

“Ducati- The Story” retails for $39.90 and is available at authorized Ducati dealerships immediately- just in time for the holidays.

World Superbike Announces European Junior Cup for Riders Age 14-17

Wednesday, December 08, 2010, 10:23:20 AM | admin

The European Junior Cup is an exciting new class that will feature at the events of the 2011 Superbike World Championship organized by Infront Motor Sports. Open to 14 to 17 year old racers from around the world the European Junior Cup takes place at some of the most famous and legendary racing circuits in the calendar.

Riders will compete on identical race prepared Kawasaki Ninja 250R motorcycles and will have the opportunity to display their talent in front of thousands of racing fans when they take to the track, directly before Sunday’s second World Superbike race.

The fantastic European Junior Cup package includes:

·         Race prepared Kawasaki Ninja 250 R and pit equipment
·         Transport of motorcycle to all rounds
·         Entry fees, tyres and fuel
·         Riding equipment and team wear
·         Hospitality at the Junior Cup paddock village
·         Technical support
·         Race coaching from star riders
·         Pre season training camp in Spain.

To prepare the young riders as they begin their international racing careers there will be an active coaching programme throughout the season, beginning with a training camp for all participants in Guadix, Spain.

The series then visits the following circuits:

·         Assen (15-17 April)
·         Monza (6-8 May)
·         Aragon (17-19 June)
·         Silverstone (29-31 July)
·         Nurburgring (2-4 September)
·         Magny-Cours (30 September – 2 October)

The European Junior Cup welcomes racers from a wide range of motorcycling disciplines. Entries will be considered from all riders who have held a competition license for at least one year in either road racing, motocross, enduro, supermoto, trials or minimoto.

For further information or to enroll in this exciting new youth series please visit the www.europeanjuniorcup.com website, which will shortly be online.

Tuesday Conversation: Colin Edwards

Tuesday, December 07, 2010, 4:03:01 PM | Jeff Feathers

At thirty-six years of age, Colin Edwards II is one of the more experienced riders in the MotoGP paddock, and despite the fact that his 2010 results weren’t exactly what he wanted, he’s still motivated to go head-to-head with the world’s best riders. Far from slowing down, in fact, the Texan has launched Texas Tornado Boot Camp, through which he’ll pass on a bit of what he knows to lucky two-wheeled students. In addition to Colin himself, the camp features some other very fast instructors—some guy named Ben Spies?—and offers guidance to students in a camp setting that features not only motorcycles but paintball, a shooting range, and RC and go-cart racing. With the off-season becoming longer as MotoGP looks to cut testing costs, there’s no doubt Colin will find a way to fill up his calendar.

Photo by Andrew Northcott

RRX: How have things been going? Are you enjoying some time away from racing?
CE: You know, just living the dream, one day at a time. I guess that you could call it time off—my wife went to London for a week and I’ve got two kids with me [laughs], and that’s work for me.

Now that things are over, can you go back and talk a little about 2010 and how things went for you?
Summarizing 2010 is pretty easy; it’s one word: shit. We just struggled. It seemed like we struggled to get things working in the beginning and I’m not sure if we were on the wrong path, but we just struggled to get feeling and getting the thing to turn. Toward the end we made some inroads and things weren’t too bad, but it was by far not my best year. It just seemed like it was always a struggle. Every time I got off the bike, all I could think was how could I ride the thing any harder?

After finishing top-five the previous season, what were you expecting coming into this year?
You know, last season the first of the year was pretty good, until they brought in the engine-count rule. Once we had only a certain amount of engines we could use, our performance dropped off big time. Knowing that from last year I was a little bit worried about 2010, because six engines to run a whole season…. I know how many we’ve used in the past, and the mathematics weren’t adding up. I had actually sent a text [to Ben Spies] and said, “Man, before you sign that, [laughs], I don’t know what that bike is going to be next year.” I knew coming in that things were going to be de-tuned to save engines.

On the subject of engine rules and cost-cutting measures, do you think MotoGP can continue to sustain itself in the current economy?
Not without tobacco money, or without liquor, I don’t think so. There was a point in time when I had a few conversations with high-up individuals at the manufacturers and it was like, “Yeah, it’s no problem. We spend X amount of millions of dollars on MotoGP, but the press that we get out of it is great.” It was the typical win on Sunday, sell on Monday thinking. But that thinking now, with the hard economic situation, in those same conversations, I think they’re taking those words back now. To go spend thirty million dollars with only seventeen bikes on the grid, I don’t know how good that looks, especially when you’re trying to balance budgets.

With Ben Spies as a teammate this past season, was the Tech 3 garage a lot calmer than previous seasons?
It was so much fun. I mean, seriously, I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that as far as team camaraderie, it was the best I’ve ever had. Ben’s a great kid, he’s fast as hell, and we got along great. I know where my position is in this stage of my career and I know where he’s at, so there was never any animosity or being pissed off because some young hotshoe is kicking my ass. That was just part of racing and that’s how it happens.

So you’re okay with being one of the elder statesman in MotoGP?
The main thing is that one of the things I’ve learned—especially being on a team with Valentino—is the fact that when you have harmony in the team, that goes a long way. Mentally, you just don’t have to deal with your teammate trying to mind-f*** you all the time; you can concentrate on yourself and what you need to do. That taught me a lot and they brought me into that team to create harmony around Valentino. I know how important it is—it’s all a big mental game at the end of the day—and with Ben I was able to help him out any way I could. Cal will be the same. As far as being the elder statesman, yeah, I have more experience than both of them combined, but it’s just what I do [laughs].

Photo by Andrew Northcott

So is that where the Texas Tornado Boot Camp comes in—passing on the knowledge?
Actually, I just did a bunch of video for that and we should have that up shortly. We did a bunch of action shots of everything we’re planning on doing. I don’t know if just anybody can come and do it, but I’m pretty personable with fans and people in general and I’ve always wanted to do a camp of some sort to train and teach kids—to somehow pass on all the work I’ve done over how many years racing motorcycles; I want to teach that to somebody. If I can teach somebody one thing, one day, that’s great.

That’s what I’m looking forward to, and I know I say kids, but I mean everybody. The first guy to sign up for the camp was 53 years old, so we’re going to have everybody—adults, kids, you name it. I think next year we’re going to try to get a kids-only camp [going], but for the most part it will be mix of adults and teenagers. Quite honestly, today was our second dry run, just to go out and ride and see how it will work. We wanted to see the fun factor and we wanted to do some mock instructing at the moment and hell, that’s the easy part [laughs]. I’m not worried about that.

Looking down the road a bit, are you looking forward to getting back on the 1000s again?
You know, I think the 1000s are where MotoGP should be and that’s where it should have been the whole time. We never should have gone from 990s down to 800s, but again, everybody gets together and somebody throws an idea against the wall and sometimes they stick. Occasionally with these things you have to have a change of tune, and when they went from two-strokes to four-strokes, the cost went up immensely. Then from 990s to 800s it went up again because they had to make more horsepower from less displacement. We need to get back to the 1000s, With them, you can’t use all the power, that’s one good thing about them. As far as R&D, the 1000 will be much faster. I don’t know what they’re going to do with the electronics—I hope they take all that stuff off—but we’ll wait and see.

Getting rid of the electronics seems to be a popular idea among some riders.
It’s kind of a shame in one sense, because all of the work that we’ve done over the past seven or eight years—ride by wire, throttles sticking open, crashes—all the little stupid shit that we’ve thrown ourselves down the road to develop, and then they just say we can’t have it anymore? Yeah, that’s a shame. But at the end of the day, you want to know who the best rider is on the best package; you don’t want the bike doing all the work for him. I think it should all be in the wrist, I agree with it. I would never say that my time on something like the Aprilia was a waste—I learned a lot that year—and for everybody out there reading this, you learn so much more on an inferior motorcycle than you would spending a lot of money on the latest and greatest motorcycle with the best suspension and trick parts. I’ve had a couple good bikes in my life and I really enjoyed them—I won a couple of world championships on them—but you learn how to push yourself harder on a bike with some handicaps. In my motocross days, I always ran stock bikes unless we were racing a national or something, then we’d modify it for one weekend. It was the same when we started road racing, too—stock bike with a pipe and a jet kit. But hell, without those tinkerers and tuners, motorcycle companies would be out of business.

Another big move in MotoGP has been Valentino to Ducati. You were his teammate and know him well—what do you think about it all?
I think it’s great. He’s done what he’s done and I coined him as the GOAT [Greatest of all Time] a few years ago. Everybody was talking about Ricky Carmichael, but if we were talking about road racing, Valentino would be it—and he is. I still think he is. It’s a new challenge for him and I think he’s done everything he wanted to do on the Yamaha. I don’t know if the air was getting stale or if he wasn’t getting what he needed or wanted, but it’s a new challenge for him and I think it will be good for him and good for the series.

Photo by Andrew Northcott

What are you looking forward to in 2011?
For 2011 I’m excited about looking at all the little mix-ups—Ben going to the factory team, Valentino to Ducati, Stoner moving over to Honda. I think there’s going to be a new little spark in the series. The big thing this year was Ben doing so well, but you saw Casey up there and Valentino so you thought it was the same old, same old, but I think next year is going to be fun. My expectation for myself is that I’m going to go out and ride my balls off like I always do [laughs]. That’s what I expect to do and hopefully Yamaha will, too. I’ve tested the stuff for next year and it definitely seems better than what we had, so I’m looking forward to next year’s bike.

Any big plans for the off-season?
You know, no big plans. I’ve got all the important dates in my life shoved into two months: anniversary, all three of my kids were born in these two months—something we planned so I could be home—plus Christmas, Thanksgiving, but not anything really planned. I’d like to slip out and get in some deer hunting if I can, but that’s about it.

No Longhorns football?
I could lie to you and say yes if that makes you feel better [laughs]. I live right down the road from Texas A&M and I’m not an Aggies fan, I’m not a Longhorns fan. If the Horns or Aggies are in a bowl game, I’m pulling for them, but as far as the hardcore, bet-money-on-it thing, not really. I’m not really a stick-and-ball guy. I’ve been riding motorcycles since I was 3 and a half. We’d play flag football in the back yard—hell, I can throw and catch the football, but I can’t run with it—but I don’t know, it was never an ambition of mine. My dad was from Australia so he didn’t grow up with football, so it was easy for me—I didn’t even consider it.

Fan Voting Open for 5th Annual SPEED Performance Awards

Tuesday, December 07, 2010, 3:24:37 PM | admin

Fan voting opened today for the final three categories in the 5th Annual SPEED Performance Awards. Video candidates for Biggest Hit, Temper Temper and RACER Magazine Rookie of the Year are now available for viewing and voting at www.speedperformanceawards.com, with voting open for all nine categories through Dec. 19.

Winners will be revealed as part of a one-hour television special in February.

AMA Pro Team Owners Gilsenan and Latus on PitPass Radio Tonight

Tuesday, December 07, 2010, 3:04:01 PM | admin

Advance, North Carolina (December 7, 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.

5 pm to 7 pm Pacific – Motorcycle Radio streaming individual interviews from www.pitpassradio.com, or download the program from our archives to your ipod or mp3 player anytime.

Kyle Chisholm, Supercross 450 – Motoconcepts
Chisholm finished tenth overall in Supercross and eighth overall in the Outdoor series. He is a proven threat in the premier class as Anaheim 1 is approaching us on January 8, 2011. Recently Kyle, along with his new Team Manager David Vuillemin and the Motoconcepts team owner Mike Genova, made the journey over to race the Bercy Supercross in Paris, France. He had great results and nearly won the overall, finishing second.
www.motoconcepts.com

Brian Deegan, Motocross legend, Off-road Racer, Team Owner – Metal Mulisha
At the age of 17, outfitted with only a credit card, dirt bike, and an old truck, Brian left his hometown of Omaha for Southern California with dreams of becoming the next big name in Motocross. Fourteen X Games medals and a Supercross win later, along with many other accomplishments, “The General” Brian Deegan is ready to take on the world of NASCAR.
www.metalmulisha.com

Farrah Bauer, Marketing and Advertising Manager – RK Excel America
Farrah handles the Pro Rider sponsorships in Supercross, Arenacross, Motocross, and AMA DMG Road Racing. RK Excel is an international marketing company that helps bring products to the U.S. market. They also play a role in helping ideas and inventions that people have become the products motorcycle enthusiasts use on a daily basis. This year the company has several teams they are working with including Pro Circuit, Rockstar Suzuki Lites, JGRMX, Star Racing, and TiLUBE Racing, in Supercross and in road racing they have several teams including Yoshimura Suzuki.
www.rkexcelamerica.com

George Latus, Team Owner – Latus Motors Racing (Will Announce New Rider on Pit Pass Radio Show Live Tonight)
Latus formed Latus Motors Racing as a team owner in 2009, competing in AMA Daytona Sportbike on a Buell 1125R with Taylor Knapp as rider. They competed again in 2010 in Daytona Sportbike on a Ducati 848 with Steve Rapp as rider finishing 4th in the series. They will be competing again in 2011 with a rider that will be announced on the show tonight. The team will also be competing in the XR 1200 class with Chase McFarland and an additional rider yet to be determined. Sponsored National #3, Joe Kopp in AMA Flat Track for the last 10 years. Joe finished 2nd this year, and recorded the first ever Grand National Flat Track Victory for Ducati. Latus also sponsored Steve Dorn, riding a Top Fuel Harley in the AHDRA series. Steve won the #1 plate an 2009 while finishing 2nd this year due to a crash. Latus has been a H-D dealer for 26 years and have been in the motorcycle industry for about 40 years.
www.teamlatus.com

Barry Gilsenan, Team Owner – Celtic Racing
Barry has built an outstanding reputation in AMA Pro Road Racing. For the past few Barry has fielded top riders from outside the U.S. to race on Celtic prepared equipment. A fierce competitor, he knows what it takes to get his riders on the podium. Celtic recently announced that they will be backing P.J. Jacobsen again this season on the new Ducati 848 EVO and the team will be backed by Fast by Ferraci. Celtic Racing’s riders have earned the podium in AMA Pro Superbike, Formula Xtreme, and the XR1200 series along the way.
www.celticracing.com

Rispoli Signs 2011 AMA Pro SuperSport Deal

Tuesday, December 07, 2010, 2:21:31 PM | admin

Pittsburgh, PA (December 7, 2010) – ANT RACING MOTORSPORTS® (ARM®) is pleased to announce the signing of Pittsburgh Electrical Insulation (PEI) as primary corporate sponsor as the team participates in the 2011 AMA Pro Superbike Series. A family owned business since 1947, PEI has grown from a distributor of a few electrical insulation products to a multi-national manufacturer, converter and full-line supplier of all types of electrical insulation products used in the building and repair of electrical apparatus. Owner Tip Paul is an avid motorcyclist and collector who is passionate about the beauty and elegance of European and vintage motorcycles. His passion resonated more when he was presented with an opportunity to participate in a new professional race team and support a young up and coming rider.

“It’s very exciting to be participating in such an exciting cause,” stated Tip. “David is so passionate about the program he has put together and that excitement is simply contagious. I also had the pleasure of meeting his young racer James “the Rocket” and knew from the first moment his passion for winning was very strong. I am aware of the commitment it takes to be at the top of your game. PEI is happy to share in that commitment and is excited to be part of paddock life in 2011.”

ANT RACING MOTORSPORTS® owner David Ashi commented, “It is great to have Tip, his company and his family support of our efforts in 2011. Tip’s passion for motorcycles and his desire for excellence compliment our program. With PEI’s support we will be able to put forth additional efforts and challenge for the championship from the very start of the season.”

About ANT RACING MOTORSPORTS® (ARM®)

ARM® is owned and operated by Ant Systems. In business since 2000 the company produces the most innovative rear-view daylight LCD systems in the market. The Company also is the authorized distributor for GB Racing (crash protection), Double Dog Moto (exhausts and carbon fiber) and ARM smart cell technology (Lithium batteries). ARM® is focused on providing our customers the best products possible and will only sell products we Race at the highest level. For more information contact www.antracingmotorsports.com or call (412) 381-2922

IMS Launches Kids Membership Club

Tuesday, December 07, 2010, 2:18:37 PM | admin

INDIANAPOLIS, Tuesday, Dec, 7, 2010 – Young race fans will receive a wide variety of great benefits in 2011 and develop a lifelong love of motorsports and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway by joining the new Indianapolis Motor Speedway Kids Club.

Membership in the first-ever Kids Club at IMS is packed with value for fans 12 and under, as annual dues are just $25 per child.

“No experience has a more immediate ‘wow’ factor with kids than seeing a race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway,” said Jeff Belskus, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation president and chief executive officer. “We want to enhance the long-standing tradition of young fans and their families coming to the Speedway to enjoy an unforgettable day during all of our three world-class events. The Kids Club is yet another great value we’re providing for our loyal fans.”

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Kids Club benefits include:

•Welcome letter from a driver

•”Kid-ential” membership card and lanyard

•Kids Club T-shirt

•Lunch bag with school supplies, temporary tattoos and a Mattel Hot Wheels car

•And more!

Visit www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/KidsClub for more information or to join the fastest kids’ club in motorsports. The first 200 children registered online for the Kids Club will be able to participate in a special driver autograph session (drivers and date TBA).

SLIDESHOW: 20 Photos of Very Happy Men—A 2010 Podium Review

Monday, December 06, 2010, 4:12:34 PM | admin

Lorenzo, Assen • Photo by Northcott

◄ Back Next ►

Picture 1 of 20

AMG to Sponsor 2011 Ducati MotoGP Team (Pic)

Monday, December 06, 2010, 12:57:44 PM | admin

Bologna (Italy) – Starting with the 2011 MotoGP season, the AMG logo will be featured on the bodywork of the Ducati Marlboro Team bikes and on riders’ leather suits. Since the official partnership was announced in Los Angeles on the 18th of November, AMG’s sponsorship of Ducati has become even more high-profile. This is further proof of the constructive and enthusiastic collaboration between the high-performance company from Affalterbach and Italy’s number one name in motorcycle sports. Ola Källenius, CEO of Mercedes-AMG GmbH, and Gabriele del Torchio, President and CEO of Ducati Motor Holding, announced the news today at a press conference held at the Ducati Museum the day before the opening of the Bologna MotorShow.

Courtesy Ducati

“Following the official launch of our partnership during the AutoShow in Los Angeles, I’m very pleased and proud to be here in Italy, at the Ducati Museum in Bologna to announce the first concrete development in this strategic collaboration between Ducati and AMG. As of next season, AMG will make its debut in the MotoGP world championship as a proud sponsor on the bikes and racing suits of the Ducati Marlboro Team’s factory riders. AMG and Ducati are perfect partners both on the racetrack and on the road as both our companies share the same values. The key message put across by both companies is an expression of our innate passion for racing, high performance and exclusivity. Through this long-term partnership we will be able to create innovative opportunities for the Clients that we have in common,” declared Ola Källenius, CEO of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

“We’re really happy to have formed this partnership with AMG, a company which in every way shares the values that we believe in, such as high performance, fair play, sophistication and unmistakeable style and design. The decision to make the link between us even more high profile by displaying the AMG logo on the bodywork of our bikes and on our riders’ racing suits underlines the harmony that exists between our two companies. This is a prestigious partnership to add to our other MotoGP sponsors, Phillip Morris, Generali, Enel and TIM,” commented Gabriele del Torchio, President and CEO of Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A.

As well as sponsoring the MotoGP team and renewing the Bologna-based company’s fleet of cars and industrial vehicles, the partnership between AMG and Ducati will involve a number of shared marketing initiatives. For example, at the Bologna MotorShow, the new Ducati Diavel and the 1198 SP Superbike model will be on display in the Mercedes-AMG area, making it even more special and providing an extra reason for motorcycle fans to visit the MotorShow and the Mercedes-Benz stand. Several other initiatives are currently being finalised and will soon be presented to the public. At exclusive events and at the AMG Driving Academy, enthusiasts will be able to test-drive the Ducati range while it will be possible to experience the thrill of driving high-performance AMG vehicles at Ducati events such as the Ducati Riding Experience. There will also be a number of joint events put on for members of the AMG Private Lounge, which currently includes over 13,000 AMG Clients all over the world.
The two companies are also working on other marketing activities and strategies, which will be ready to be unveiled in the near future.

Ducati and AMG: racing, high performance, exclusivity
Founded in 1926, Ducati has built motorcycles with a sports character since 1946: bikes with high-performance Desmodromic engines, innovative design and cutting-edge technology. The Ducati range of motorcycles covers various market segments with different technical characteristics and styles to suit different riders. These include the Superbike, Desmosedici RR, Streetfighter, Monster, Multistrada, Hypermotard and the brand-new Diavel. Genuine icons of Italian style, the Ducati bikes are sold in 86 countries throughout the world – with the highest sale figures in the European, North American and Japanese markets. Ducati is currently involved in both the World Superbike Championships and (with a factory team) in the World MotoGP Championship. The Italian manufacturer has won sixteen out of the last twenty Superbike Manufacturers’ World titles as well as securing the Riders’ World title thirteen times. Among the leaders of the MotoGP since its debut in 2003, Ducati won both the Manufacturers’ and the Riders’ titles at the end of the 2007 season.

The Bologna-based manufacturer has achieved worldwide fame and a name that’s synonymous with high performance and cutting-edge technology, racing success and original design – an image in perfect harmony with AMG’s own.

AMG: three letters that are known worldwide to represent character, dynamism and exclusivity. Over the past forty years, Mercedes-AMG GmbH has evolved from simply customising luxury vehicles to enhance their sports nature, to actually manufacturing cars. Nowadays, AMG is the high-performance brand of the Mercedes-Benz Cars division, a brand that specialises in creating unique vehicles at the top of their range in terms of performance and exclusivity. The AMG range has something to fulfil the requirements of even the most demanding clients: saloon cars, estates, SUVs, coupés, convertibles, roadsters as well as limited edition special series and even exclusive one-off models. The AMG brand is responsible for such aspects as design, streamlining, interiors, transmission, engines, chassis, brakes and electronics. They also test drive all new AMG models and work independently on all the main procedures for the marketing and sale of the vehicles and their dedicated accessories. Leading on from all of this, the idea for the AMG Performance Centers was conceived during the brand’s most successful year to date. There are 175 AMG Performance Centers altogether including six in Italy – veritable centres of expertise at the service of all our clients and the supporters of our brand.

Yamaha Monday Wake-Up Call: The Season That Was

Monday, December 06, 2010, 11:49:09 AM | Digger Barrett

MotoGP 2010

Final Championship Standings

MotoGP

Jorge Lorenzo • Photo by Andrew Northcott

Moto2

Toni Elias • Photo by Andrew Northcott

125cc

Marc Marquez • Photo by Andrew Northcott

LCR Honda Staff Join LGS Sport Lab Talk at Bologna Motor Show (Pic)

Monday, December 06, 2010, 10:53:19 AM | admin

On the 35th edition of the Motor Show in Bologna (International Automobile Exhibition), Team Manager Lucio Cecchinello and some leading members of the major motor sports have joined a special talk show organized by the new LGS Sport Lab (this society aim to offer innovative services to the world of sport).

Other than the former 125cc class rider who became full time Team Manager in 2004, Doctor Claudio Costa (former orthopedic head physician at Rizzoli Hospital in Bologna and founder of the Clinica Mobile) and Franco Uncini (former rider and MotoGP Safety Commission Responsible) have attended the talk show together with Eng. Mazzola (Ferrari F1 consultant), Thomas Biagi (Formula 3000 driver) and the lawyer Italo Giorgio Minguzzi (former University teacher, lawyer and big fan of sports and competitions). Brilliantly hosted by the RAI TV commentator Fabrizio Binacchi, the meeting included not only the rider experience and talent but the human aspect and the emotions. And especially the delicate transition period between the end of riders’ careers and the simple everyday life.

Courtesy LCR Honda

Supporting the athletes during this important period is the main objective of LGS Sport Lab founded by Mrs Lorenza Guerra Seràgnoli who was very impressed by the ideas, experiences and suggestions of the guests which will be an additional feedback for her innovative project. Passion, competition, sacrifice, disappointment, injury, leadership, coaching etc… were some of the main topics discussed during the talk show and Doctor Costa, Franco Uncini and Lucio Cecchinello have offered their personal stories.

Doctor Costa: “Sport is like a “life gym” thanks to the values you get from it and the several opportunities such as the comparison with the diversity, the encounter with the efforts, the happiness of a victory and the disappointment for a defeat. All these elements shape athletes personalities to face the rest of their lives in the best way”.

Doctor Minguzzi: “I am lucky because I had the chance to work with many riders starting from Loris Reggiani till Cecchinello and I can say that athletes are very strong and very sensitive in the same time. If you wish to be a consultant for a sportman first you must become his friend. These people live special lives and they follow their dreams since their childhood. As a consultant it is always a pleasure for me to work with them in the beginning of their careers sharing the successes and following them at the end of their agonistic journey”.

Cecchinello:”Self-esteem, sacrifice and will power are the joined values of an athlete and they represent a personal property which is essential for the future. Like Franco I was very sad when I retired from the racing competitions because I had to face a different way of living after 15 years on the bike. Now I have got a new incentive because I can transfer my experience to the young riders as a Team Manager and in the mean time I have the chance to cooperate with the main Organizers (FIM, MSMA and Dorna) giving my small support to this exciting sport”.

Uncini: “Getting injured is like breaking a mosaic. It takes time and a big dose of patience to reassemble the parts and when it happened to me in ‘82 I was lucky as Doctor Costa was on my side. A rider without the competitions is a like a fish out of water. It is very difficult to build a new life off the competitions and I think that LGS Sport Lab can offer a great help to these athletes”.

For more information visit: www.lgssportlab.com

Honda Road Racerhead #49

Friday, December 03, 2010, 6:29:05 PM | CJ

The recent employment report for November was not good, with only 39,000 new jobs being added and unemployment rising to just below the 10 percent mark. Longer-term, the jobless rate has been 9 percent or higher for nineteen months straight, which the Economic Policy Institute notes ties a record set during the 1980s recession, with fewer signs of improvement than there were at this point back then. Despite some earlier signs of a tentative economic recovery, times are still extremely tough for many Americans this holiday season.

Many qualified riders are looking for rides next year, but Jake Zemke may be the best example. • Riles/Nelson photo

The motorcycle industry has not been immune to this fact, and may actually be suffering more than many sectors. When I attended the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan last month, every OEM I heard from admitted that unit sales were down again this year—and that’s compared to last year, which was also down. About the only good news came from some European manufacturers, notably BMW, Ducati, and Triumph, all of whom have gained market share despite their own overall sales also being down. Those numbers are worldwide, but from what I’ve heard, our domestic subsidiaries’ situations are usually even worse.

Obviously, that has an effect on racing, as a look around the motorcycle-related websites makes clear. On Wednesday, Superbike Planet posted a story in which they named Tommy Aquino, JD Beach, Jason DiSalvo, Jake Gagne, John Hopkins, Elena Myers, Dane Westby, and Jake Zemke as notable riders who were still looking for seats, and they correctly noted that there were many others in similar situations.

The last couple of years, details have been late in getting solidified for AMA Pro, which gives hope to still-unsigned riders like Tommy Aquino. • Riles/Nelson photo

Obviously, racers being stuck without rides is nothing new, but these folks are all more deserving than the average unemployed road racer. Aquino is a three-time AMA Pro Daytona SportBike pole-earner and a podium finisher; Beach is a former Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup champ; DiSalvo posted an impressive top-ten finish in his Moto2 debut at the Red Bull Indy GP in August; Gagne is the reigning Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup champ; Hopper is a four-time MotoGP podium finisher; Myers is (arguably) the first female to win a professional AMA Pro road race; and Westby is a runner-up DSB race finisher and a top-five finisher on the year.

Arguably the rider who best represents how appalling the situation is, though, is the last one on the alphabetical list: Zemke, who this year was the American Superbike double-winner at Daytona and the third-place finisher in the series points. Cycle News (who itself just returned from the brink, though so far only in digital form) posted a story on Zemke being out of a job now that Jordan Racing has hired Ben Bostrom and Roger Lee Hayden for next season, and the likeable Californian summed the situation up perfectly and simply: “There’s nothing out there,” he said.

Female racer Elena Myers is another rider without a 2011 ride, though in this case, the glass ceiling is determined more by finances than gender. • Riles/Nelson photo

Considering the cutbacks that were made prior to this season, it’s incredible to think that the prospects are even worse this time around, but that’s pretty much the situation. This sport is a passion for so many, but when it comes down to making budget decisions, enthusiasm only goes so far. At the end of the day, the numbers have to add up, and unfortunately, that often means cutting back or even eliminating race efforts.

Putting race teams on blocks can seem harsh, and it is—not only for the riders, but for the team managers, mechanics, truck drivers, etc. These are all real people with real financial considerations, just like you and me. On the other hand, what is a team owner or OEM executive to do? Business isn’t charity, much less when that business is the cut-throat world of racing, where riders don’t give one another an inch on the track. When looking for items to trim, companies naturally start with contractors rather than in-house employees (one of the points of hiring contractors is that you’re less beholden to keeping them on board). As workers on even factory teams are generally contracted, they’re in peril of being clipped when times are hard.

The situation of Kenny Noyes is evidence that things aren't much better overseas; the transplanted American recently saw his Moto2 team pull out of the series. • Andrew Northcott photo

Often in these situations, it helps to be adaptable, but even that isn’t doing riders much good these days. For example, American riders have been known to turn to overseas racing series when things dry up at home, but the team situation is as bad or worse in Europe. Suzuki is cutting back to just one rider in both MotoGP (with Rizla Suzuki fielding just Alvaro Bautista) and World Superbike (where Alstare is running only Michel Fabrizio).

One American—Kenny Noyes—just experienced that firsthand, when word dropped this week that his Spanish Promoracing squad (DBA Jack & Jones by Antonio Banderas) is withdrawing from the Moto2 series due to the fact that its title sponsor had pulled its support (founded in 1989 by Danish company Bestseller, Jack & Jones is a clothing company that’s particularly popular in Spain, where the economy is famously horrible at the moment). Noyes—along with newly signed teammate Gabor Talmacsi—had been looking forward to 2011, particularly after a promising first outing on a Suter chassis at the Valencia test last month indicated that results might be better than they had been with the Harris chassis; now, both riders are left scrambling, and Promoracing communications director Carmen Estoy issued a public email alleging that she was still owed fees by team manager Daniel Devahive and is pursuing legal options of rectifying that situation.

Some feel that while the economic downturn has hurt many have-nots, it has benefited many haves, a theory supported by Karel Abraham's move from Moto2 to MotoGP. • Andrew Northcott photo

Faced with such harsh economic realities, many of the Euro squads that are still around are expecting new hires to bring money or sponsorship. That’s always been common in the support classes, but it’s now happening more often in the big series, including World Superbike and even MotoGP (the new premier-class entry of Karel Abraham is being funded by his millionaire father, who owns the Brno circuit in the Czech Republic).

The woe isn’t confined to road racing. We’re currently working hot and heavy on the official series program for Monster Energy AMA Supercross, which kicks off on January 8, and despite the fact that he’s a two-time AMA Supercross champion, Chad Reed is funding his own team after being left high and dry over the off-season. Also, reigning AMA Supercross Lites East champ Christophe Pourcel will likely sit out at least part of the year, as he was left rideless after injuring his shoulder at the season-ending outdoor national.

Anyway, sorry for such a depressing topic this week, but that’s the way things stand as we head into the end-of-year holidays. Hopefully, some deserving folks will find something in their stocking other than lumps of coal, and there will be better news before the racing gets started again. Have a good weekend, and if you’re among the gainfully employed, spare a thought for the people—inside the motorcycle industry and otherwise—who are still out there knocking on doors.

Dorna Sports receives ‘Best Spanish Business’ Award in Italy

Friday, December 03, 2010, 1:36:45 PM | admin

Dorna Sports was honoured on Thursday evening when the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Italy awarded the organisers of the MotoGP World Championship the ‘Best Spanish Business in Italy’ prize.

The ninth edition of the prestigious award, which recognises the impact of the close collaboration with major Italian businesses, was bestowed on Dorna for its administration of the 2010 FIM MotoGP World Championship and the worldwide effect of the successful organisation of this year’s competition.

In particular, Dorna’s dynamism and interaction with Italian companies was heralded by the Chamber of Commerce, with the management of events and sponsorships and the distribution of the MotoGP image highly commended.

Mr Carmelo Ezpeleta, Dorna CEO, was present at the ceremony in Milan to receive the prestigious award from Mr Raul Bartolomé, Minister of the Spanish Embassy in Italy, and expressed his appreciation of the strong support that had always been present for the company in Italy and which had contributed to the success of the World Championship. MotoGP rider Loris Capirossi was also in attendance as an Italian representative of the World Championship.

The Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Italy was founded in 1953 with the objective of the promotion of trade between the two countries, and the Board now consists of 15 representatives from major businesses which are key to the strong economic relationship between Spain and Italy.

Josh Waters’ Blog, Courtesy Suzuki

Friday, December 03, 2010, 1:28:15 PM | admin

2010 – What a year! It has had its ups and definitely some downs but it finished on a real high!

I started off the year feeling great and having the Number 1 plate, so going into Round One at Phillip Island I was feeling really confident. Things went ok at the Island and I was fastest or second in every session. The first race I battled for the lead but made a mistake on the final lap finishing third. Race Two was looking good and I was able to get into the lead and put a small gap over the field until the shifter broke and I was stuck in third gear. I was able to limp home in 13th position and the Championship was looking tough!

Courtesy Suzuki

We then headed off to the hot and humid far northern city of Darwin where I had my best round ever being fastest in every session and winning both races which was great for me and the team!

Leading up to Round Three of the championship, Suzuki Australia did something that I had dreamt of doing for so many years, which was organising a test in America with the Rockstar Makita Suzuki team. Yep that’s right; the team Mat Mladin and Ben Spies rode for! I raced Round Three of our Championship at Queensland Raceway and finished second in both races, which was good for the Championship, and then the next day I jetted Stateside!

I then tested for two days at the Barber Motorsports circuit in Alabama which was awesome. I was so lucky to have Phil Tainton come over with me. We worked together and ended up with some very good times at the test which was awesome.

We then had a mid season break in the Championship which was cool, but it got a lot cooler when the Rockstar Makita Suzuki team rang asking if I was interested in filling in for the next two rounds of their Championship.

I jumped at the chance, which was and still is a dream of mine and headed back over to the States. Three days after landing I had a test with the team at Willow Springs Raceway. The test was going good until I had a high speed crash and sustained some pretty serious injuries. I am not sure what happened and I don’t really want to remember. It wasn’t a good time at all for me, my family or my team.

After I was released from hospital I didn’t really know what the go was. I wanted to race so bad but my health wasn’t anywhere near racing or doing anything really! Once again, I was so lucky to have Phil Tainton there with me and he was awesome.

Once I flew home, Suzuki Racesafe checked me out and really wasn’t happy with the results. I was told how serious things were and that I would miss out on possibly the rest of the season, which I was gutted about. To lose the Number 1 plate was so hard, but to hear I wasn’t allowed to do anything meant that I started to get really worried.

Throughout this really difficult period the team and my family were just awesome, supporting me the entire time. I would also like to single out the efforts of Don Sakakura, Peter Doyle and the entire team at Rockstar Makita Suzuki. You guys were a massive support, thanks heaps.

Three months later and after a lot of rest and relaxation I got the great news from Racesafe that I was able to ride again! That meant I was off to race in the MotoGP support race which was awesome and even better after I took the win in Race Two.

I then went to the final round of the Australian Championship and again was on the podium which was great.

My final race for the year is going to be really special. It is the 6 Hour Endurance race at Phillip Island and my co rider for the event is my Team Suzuki team mate and hero Shawn Giles!

I remember when I first started road racing that I would stand outside his garage at the track looking in and thinking “wow – he is so good”. Now I get to team up with him! I hope we can have an awesome weekend.

I am really looking forward to 2011 with some really cool things looking to happen!

So that was 2010! I would like to thank everyone that has supported me throughout the year, my team, my family and my girlfriend.

I hope everyone has a great Christmas and a Happy New Year.

SLIDESHOW: Umbrella Girls of the Week – LCR Honda’s Lauren Vickers!

Thursday, December 02, 2010, 3:35:46 PM | admin

LCR Honda's Lauren Vickers • Photo by Andrew Northcott

$LCR Honda\'s Lauren Vickers • Photo by Andrew Northcott$

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Yamaha WSBK’s Laverty and Melandri Test Complete Phillip Island Test (PICS)

Thursday, December 02, 2010, 3:23:15 PM | admin

Yamaha World Superbike Team riders Eugene Laverty and Marco Melandri completed their three day test at the Phillip Island circuit in Australia today. The two new signings for the 2011 season spent the three days testing out various parts including new Ohlins (TRVP25) front forks on both the 2010 and 2011 racebike. A large part of the test for both riders, particularly Melandri, included ongoing physical modifications to the YZF-R1 racebike to fit their riding style, adjusting foot pegs, handlebars and other geometry settings.

The team enjoyed good weather, sunshine and a dry track for the first two days of the test with rain only appearing in the last minutes of day two. The third and final day saw more sunshine with rain only at lunchtime and towards the end of the day’s sessions. The 2011 bike tested by the riders featured a revised weight balance, the new Ohlins forks, new engine performance parts and a different seat and fuel tank design. The bike also features standard fuel injectors and fuel pump in line with the 2011 racing regulations.

Courtesy Yamaha

Eugene Laverty was clearly enjoying his third outing on the R1, having been impressively quick in the first two tests, he was again fast from the off, leaving Australia as the fastest rider of the test with a blistering 1’31.5 lap on soft race tyres at the end of day three, over half a second faster than closest rider Max Biaggi. He also spent some time on race simulation, putting in consistently fast race pace laps.

Following his one day test in Valencia last month this was Marco Melandri’s first proper opportunity to work through some set up developments on his new R1 racebike. The Italian rider improved steadily over the test days, making steps each day as the team continued to modify the physical set up of the bike to suit him. Day three saw him record a 1’32.4 lap on race tyres. Melandri also took the opportunity in the rain to experience his bike on Pirelli wet tyres. The team now have valuable data to take away to work over the winter to make further changes to suit the new riders in advance of the first test of 2011 next year.

Laverty • Courtesy Yamaha

Eugene Laverty, Yamaha World Superbike Team
232 laps, Best Lap 1’31.5
“I’m pretty pleased with the test, it’s a nice way to go into the winter break. In the three days we got a lot of laps done, the second day especially was big breakthrough. So far we’ve had two one day tests so the second day here was where we really made the bike mine. The race times on the 2011 machine weren’t so far away from 2010 bike so we’re developing in the right direction. The new Ohlins front fork is definitely an improvement. I’m still learning this bike so we are fine tuning it as we go.”

Marco Melandri, Yamaha World Superbike Team
216 laps, Best Lap 1’32.4
“It was a good test in the end, the three days were very intensive. It was quite challenging at first working on the 2011 machine but during the second day we

Melandri • Courtesy Yamaha

started to find a way and then third day we found a big improvement and found a good pace for the race. The rain meant we couldn’t find a good lap time with a soft tyre but for me that wasn’t what was important here. The difference between a MotoGP bike and a superbike on this track are huge, the bike moves a lot more so the faster corners are very different but step by step it’s getting better and better. The feeling is very good, I’m very happy. The track is a difficult track so we have done well and I think we can be very strong for the first race here next year.”

NZ’s Bruce Anstey Signs With Padgett’s Racing for 2011 (PIC)

Thursday, December 02, 2010, 3:18:47 PM | admin

New Zealander Bruce Anstey has signed to represent Padgett’s Racing for the 2011 road racing season after leaving Relentless Suzuki by TAS Racing at the end of the 2010 campaign.

The multiple international road race winner will compete in the iconic white and orange livery of the Yorkshire based outfit in the three major road race meetings – the North West 200, the Ulster GP and the TT Races – and will also schedule a couple of warm up races earlier in the season.

Courtesy IOM TT Press Office

Anstey first competed at the TT in 1996 and recorded his first victory in the 2002 Lightweight TT. He has recorded 7 victories to date and achieved a further 13 podiums with a fastest lap of 129.445 around the Mountain Course. He is also the ‘world’s fastest road racer’, clocking a 133.97mph average speed lap at this year’s Ulster Grand Prix in August.

Speaking at The Motorcycle Live Show in Birmingham, the popular Kiwi commented:

“I’ve known Clive Padgett for a few years, and raced his bikes at the Ulster Grand Prix in 2002, and I have a huge amount of respect for him. Padgett’s Racing is a really strong team with a proven track record and I’m thrilled to be representing them in 2011.”

Clive Padgett commented:
“This isn’t necessarily the last rider that we’ll be signing but when the opportunity came up to get Bruce on board I had to move quickly. Make no mistake, this guy can ride a bike and we’re looking forward to welcoming him into the team next year.”

Yamaha Racing Executive Retires (Pic)

Thursday, December 02, 2010, 3:15:36 PM | admin

Courtesy Yamaha

Former Yamaha Racing executive and current president of Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Company in Newnan, Georgia, Mr. “Tony” Iio was celebrated in retirement yesterday at Yamaha’s corporate headquarters in Cypress, California.

Joining in the celebration were former World Champions Kenny Roberts, Wayne Rainey, Eddie Lawson, and Scott Russell, and Motocross legends Mike Bell and Jim Holley. “Iio-san”, or as Kenny Roberts called him “Mr. 110%,” was instrumental in assisting the early racing careers of many riders and also helped to bring Scott Russell to Florida for his 1997 and 1998 wins at the Daytona 200 for Yamaha. Mr. Iio also spent many years during the late 80’s at Ohlins suspension company in Sweden working directly with Eddie Lawson and Wayne Rainey on suspension components for their YZR500’s.

As a token of appreciation, Yamaha Motor U.S. presented Iio-san with an original painting depicting Yamaha’s double win of the Daytona 200 by Scott Russell and the Daytona Supercross by Jeremy McGrath.

Rizla Suzuki’s Álvaro Bautista Visits Motorcycle Live Show in Birmingham (Pic)

Thursday, December 02, 2010, 3:11:58 PM | admin

Rizla Suzuki’s Álvaro Bautista made a fleeting visit to the UK this week as he attended the Motorcycle Live show in Birmingham.

Bautista was the special guest on Tuesday at the UK’s premier motorcycle show, which is being held at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, England. During his one-day visit, Bautista visited Suzuki’s stand to sign autographs and chat with fans and staff about life in MotoGP. The Spaniard was then guest of honour at the Riders for Health booth where he announced that he would be joining MotoGP’s official charity for a fund-raising bike ride in Zambia in November 2011, to raise money to save lives in Africa. Bautista will be joined on this unique motorcycle journey by former Suzuki Grand Prix star Randy Mamola, who is a co-founder of the charity.

Courtesy Rizla

Bautista spent the day meeting and greeting more fans around the show, before taking part in a fun quiz on the show’s main stage. A ‘Question of Bikes’ was hosted by BBC TV’s Steve Parrish and Bautista was joined onstage by former Suzuki BSB rider Tommy Hill and British Supersport Champion Sam Lowes. The three went head-to-head in a well-fought battle against WSBK rider Sylvain Guintoli, BSB star Michael Laverty, actor Danny John Jules and speedway legend Barry Briggs, with the game finally ending in a well-deserved draw.

Bautista will next be in action at Sepang in Malaysia in early February for the first test of 2011. The start of the MotoGP season is scheduled for Sunday 20th March at Losail in Qatar.

Álvaro Bautista:
“I really enjoyed the show and it was great to see so many people having a good time in and around motorcycles. The quiz was fun – even if I didn’t really know what was happening all the time – and it’s always great to meet the fans. It’s been a good opportunity to spend some time having photos taken with the visitors to the show and to do some autograph sessions. It’s a fantastic event with so much to see and do, I’d like to come back as a visitor, but can it be when it’s warmer next time – I’m not too keen on snow and frost!”

Finlay McAllan – Managing Director of Event organisers, MCI Exhibitions:
“It was another brilliant day for us at Motorcycle Live and to have another one of the biggest names from the racing world come along to add their support was fantastic. Álvaro was a great sport and a brilliant ambassador for Rizla Suzuki and MotoGP; he certainly entered into the spirit of things and made many new fans in the UK. He seemed to really enjoy the ‘Question of Bikes’ quiz that we arranged on the show’s main stage and added greatly to overall feel of the event. We are very grateful to him for flying in from Madrid just for us and he is welcome back at any time.”

MV Agusta Expanding in North America (Pic)

Thursday, December 02, 2010, 3:09:19 PM | admin

Varese, December 2nd 2010 – MV Agusta enters the Canadian market appointing Motovan Corporation as its exclusive importer.

“We have finally succeeded in obtaining all of the necessary approvals from the Canadian authorities therefore the motorcycles can be imported into Canada for the very first time in the history of MV Agusta. After many inquiries from Canadian consumers, we are very proud to have reached an agreement with a reputable Canadian powersports organization such as Motovan” says Umberto Uccelli sales director MV Agusta.

Courtesy MV Agusta

James Paladino, President and CEO of Motovan Corporation is an Italo-Candian who has always helped maintain Italy’s unique image. James states: “We are very happy to be associated with MV Agusta so that our passion lives on in our family. To me, this is a tribute to my father (founder of Motovan) since he worked on MV Agusta motorcycles in the 1950’s from his shop in a little village in Italy”.

In the very near future, Motovan will be appointing a small number of high-level dealers in order to sell this prestigious brand and obtain good coverage for all enthusiasts who have been waiting for such a long time. For the first year, the number of motorcycles will be extremely limited therefore Motovan will be launching a website www.mvagustacanada.com which allows the serious buyer the possibility to reserve his
or her motorcycle on-line.

This association with Canada demonstrates another step for MV Agusta in its worldwide network expansion plans. Soon, other announcements will be made.

Backmarker: Constructors Racing Group

Thursday, December 02, 2010, 12:56:34 PM | Mark Gardiner

Over the next few months, I’m planning occasional columns about American moto-businesses that are succeeding in spite of the recession generally, and the disastrous state of the motorcycle industry specifically. Frankly, I don’t know whether I’ll be able to draw any lessons drawn from these stories—except that no matter what the odds, it at least remains possible to build a business on great products made here in the USA by companies that are passionate about our sport.

Chris and I drove down to Watsonville with his dog, Nero. Luckily, we left Nero in the van, because if he’d come into CRG, he would’ve freaked out. Don't get me wrong, he's very nice dog, but, he's been “fixed,” you see. And this clutch lever is, as they say in England, the dog's bollocks. • Mark Gardiner photo

When my buddy Chris and I arrived at Constructors Racing Group in Watsonville, there was a big party going on across the parking lot at Fox Racing Shox. That was another reminder of the interplay between the mountain bike industry, which has flourished in this part of California since the ’80s, and the moto business (Fox Shox started in motocross before finding success with bicycles; these days, they’re into both of those realms plus ATVs and off-road trucks). Zero Electric Motorcycles, over in Scott’s Valley, still betrays Neal Saiki’s antecedents as a bicycle designer. And CRG’s Spencer Owyang was a designer at Specialized before devoting himself full-time to motorcycle parts.

CRG has been making and selling levers, rearsets, and mirrors—and doing custom fabrication for race teams—for about ten years. There’s no offshore outsourcing here. Every CRG component is made in-house, milled under the watchful eyes of the founder, whose obsessive quality philosophy extends from initial design through engineering and manufacturing, into assembly and even packaging.

Does this mean that CRG’s basic replacement lever is over $100, and that its top-of-the-range clutch lever and perch is a breathtaking $400? Yep. But when I visited the workshop, there were several milling machines spinning double shifts, and that was in the dead part of the year, so there are quite a few customers willing to pay those prices.

The steady demand for such premium products may be explained by recent research done by a Stanford neurologist. He put volunteer sport bike riders in an MRI machine and got them to fondle CRG’s GP clutch lever. He found that the part of their brain that was stimulated was the same one that was stimulated by pornography.

Okay, I made that up, but CRG’s products have incredible sex appeal for gear heads.

The CRG shop isn’t large. It’s two bays of a low-profile office/warehouse strip development. During our visit, there was a Hypermotard parked outside and (strangely, since I just bought one myself) a mid-’60s 150cc Honda Dream parked inside. We saw a desk and a small lounge area on one side, where a marketing dude (whose name, appropriately, is Mark) works. On the other side, there’s an old-school drafting table paired with a modern computer CAD station. Brad Craig, an engineer who is basically the left side of the CRG brain, was peering into the monitor.

Spencer Owyang decided that “the business of design” wasn't for him. Although 10-15% of his work is custom design/engineering/fab for race teams, he's now his own client. • Mark Gardiner photo

Mark said, “Let’s go in the back and find Spencer,” and led us through a doorway into the rear. There were another couple of Ducatis tucked away in a corner back there. Most of the space was devoted to six or eight white CNC machines. CRG’s founder was watching one of them robotically cut dozens of levers out of an alloy billet about two feet square and three-quarters of an inch thick, in a spray of white cutting fluid. He was wearing a white shirt that was absolutely spotless. In fact, the entire room was pristine. When he noticed us, he looked up with an “isn’t this cool?” expression on his face, and no sense at all that we’d invaded his inner sanctum. It was like, “Hey, two total strangers; I hope they want to spend the afternoon talking about motorcycles.”

We’d come to the right place.

We walked back through the doorway into the office, where it was quieter. I recorded our interview and a couple of weeks later when I got around to transcribing it, as I was listening back I thought, Is there music playing in the background? I realized that I could hear a robot symphony of humming milling machines. That’s music to Spencer’s ears, anyway. He told me, “We employ anywhere from seven to fifteen people, depending on demand. Right now, we have seven or eight people working two shifts. In general, if the spindles are turning, machine shops are happy.”

That was an interesting way to characterize CRG—as a machine shop, as opposed to emphasizing design, engineering, custom fabrication or prototyping; it’s all of those things too. His first motorcycle projects were all custom, one-off parts.

“I rode motocross as a kid,” he told us. “In that era, I’d look at the Japanese sports bikes, and the full, plastic sport bikes weren’t speaking to me. But later, when I was working in the bicycle industry, a friend came to work one day and he had a tricked-out Monster, and I thought, Okay, that’s cool. At this point, I love them all; they’re different flavors. As I got more immersed in the sport of road racing, I got enamored with the technology from all the manufacturers.”

In the late ’90s, he was working at Specialized and also building a few mountain bikes of his own, so he had machine tools at his house. He started making a few custom motorcycle parts for friends, and back then, when the AMA teams would come and test at Laguna Seca, he used to take the day off and go hang out.

One day, he noticed the Brembo remote-adjustable lever on Steve Crevier’s bike. “It was a control-interface thing,” he said, which is an industrial-designer’s way of saying, “It looked and felt kind of crappy.” He went home that night and machined up a lever that, it turned out, was basically the progenitor of both the Roll-a-Click and a new company. He went back to Laguna Seca the next day and Crevier was stoked with it.

Pretty soon, many of the top riders in the AMA series were squeezing levers that Spencer had “whittled out” (his words) in his garage, and he’d decided to quit his day job and start Constructors Racing Group. “For me, this company arrived at a time when I’d worked as a designer at Fox, at Hewlett-Packard, at engineering companies, and I knew that the business of design wasn’t for me. I started CRG not framing it as a design company—I framed it as a manufacturing business, and the design and engineering were a value-add,” he said.

“We were making levers mostly because the top guys all wanted their own shape. So you’d work a day programming a shape for a guy who used it for half a season.” He recalled. “We were doing it because we really loved it. Financially, it didn’t really make sense, but then we’d be watching Speed and the camera would pan the front row of the Superbike grid, and every bike would have our stuff on it.”

Cutting Roll-a-Clicks in bulk. As an industrial designer, Spencer has to optimize the product for human use. As a manufacturer, he has to optimize production. As a marketer, he has to optimize the customer experience. • Mark Gardiner photo

“I guess there’s this rooted faith that if you keep doing this [racing stuff], it’ll spin off into something that will keep people employed around here, and it does,” he added. “We made a piece that was specific to racers, and I thought, Let’s try to make that into a commercialized piece. I like to think that’s really when it’s working: racing really is improving the breed. And it was our first big seller. We didn’t go into it with the notion that we’d just do our own products, but if we wanted to pick our favorite customer, it would be us.”

Five or six years ago, when American Honda brought its racing program in-house, they outsourced almost all the custom fab work to CRG. It began with the U.S. team sending up a bunch of HRC parts and asking them to be replicated.

Spencer chuckled as he recalled looking at an HRC rearset and telling Al Ludington, “I can replicate this, but it’s basically the work of a journeyman machinist working by hand. We can’t turn that into something we can sell. So we took the underside cutaway, and the grip pattern that riders told us they really liked. And we changed the design to make it more manufacturable; we went from a peg that took seven or eight setups, with a lot of hand work, to a peg that took three setups and the operators were touching it something like 1.4 times per piece. We improved the breed through racing; we’d like to think that it’s a GP-quality part, but you can buy it through any Parts Unlimited dealer.”

CRG produces levers, mirrors, and rearsets. Although there are only a few products, once you factor in all the motorcycle applications, there are hundreds of variations. Ten to fifteen percent of their time is still spent on one-off projects. There’s a gorgeous steering wheel on display in the lobby—a prototype from a stillborn American F1 car project—and as we walked past the biggest mill in his shop, Spencer cryptically noted, “We could make a billet Moto2 chassis on this one.” When I asked him if he said that because he had a contract to do it, he was little, uh, evasive.

Although Spencer professes to love all sport bikes, it's clear Ducati is first among equals in his heart. • Mark Gardiner photo

In the early days, CRG was all about ambition and passion and charging after the stuff that stoked them, but none of that would have mattered if there wasn’t a pragmatic business side too. CRG was determined to be a reliable supplier that delivered high-quality products on time. One of the advantages of keeping manufacturing in-house (the only thing they outsource is anodizing, and the anodizing shop’s just over in the Central Valley) is that they can get a distributor order for several products in several different applications—dozens of line items amounting to hundreds of pieces—and ship them in a day or two.

Turning that passion into a viable business means taking care of myriad additional details that actually have nothing to do with the product itself, like paying attention to their component inventory, because you can’t ship a product if you’ve only got four out of the five parts that go into it.

“Myself and Brad, we’re not manufacturers,” Spencer told us. “He’s an engineer and I’m a designer; we think out of the box because we’ve never been in the box. Sometimes we go into a conventional machine shop and think, Why are you doing it like that? It’s so inefficient.” The machines have to be set up to run the components efficiently. At CRG, they’ve got it down to the point where they can leave a machine running all night, and come back to pull out 200 or 300 levers in the morning.

There’s a meticulous attention to detail evident everywhere you look in the CRG shop, and it’s also evident in things you don’t see. For example, in most machine shops, there’s a de-burring station for every machine. There are none here; there’s one tumbler that takes off the very fine edges, but the machines are set up, maintained, and programmed to produce finished pieces.

Even the way boxes are wrapped contributes to the total customer experience. “I tell [our employees], ‘Think about Christmas when you’re putting that tape on the box.’ If the Christmas present’s wrapped all cobby, it suggests that someone didn’t really care.”

CRG designs still literally begin with a clean sheet of paper. That's not true of some of the company's rivals, who begin with a CRG product in front of them. Spencer used to feel that obviously superior manufacturing and quality control would protect them from cheap knock-offs. Lately, they've been filing more patents. • Mark Gardiner photo

Brad Craig was working on a late prototype for a new track-day/racing rearset that will be available any day. It was inspired by a custom product request by Erion Racing, for a rearset that was lighter and had fewer parts than their street version. The racier rearset looks sweet; an ingenious design uses two indexed plates to yield a dozen peg positions. The thing I like about it is, it looks really stiff. I hate weighting a foot peg and feeling the hanger flex—I want those forces to pass straight into the chassis; otherwise, I wouldn’t be weighting the peg in the first place.

I was intrigued to notice that, in spite of CRG’s very up-to-date engineering and production process, and just-in-time assembly and shipping system, Spencer still designs on paper. “I guess I’m a dinosaur in the regard,” he told me. “Anyone who came into the business before me doesn’t know computers, and anyone who came into it after me doesn’t know drafting. Everyone’s process is different, and for me the computer is still a metaphor for a window. So it’s great if you want to see your clearances down to a thousandth of an inch, and really get into fine detail, and iterate things. This [sheet of paper] is a great design tool; the blinders are off—full view, and that’s what the drawing table is like. If I’m on the board and I draw a 1mm or 2mm wall thickness, I can feel how strong that is, how heavy that is. I don’t get that from the screen.”

Once a design has been sorted out on paper, Spencer hands it off to his longtime friend and collaborator, Brad Craig, who works it up on the computer. “My strength is design, but I feel like I go further into the engineering than most designers,” Spencer said. “And he has a better sense of design than most engineers, so we complement each other well.”

Remember Schroeder's closet in Peanuts, where he kept several shelves of Beethoven sculptures, for instant replacement after Lucy broke them? • Mark Gardiner photo

As I noted near the top, there was a 1965 Honda Dream parked in the shop, just like mine. Spencer had just read Mr. Honda’s biography, and we compared notes on a man we both think of as a personal hero. Spencer shares Honda’s love of racing and commitment to racing as a means of driving design and engineering forward, as well as his obsession with quality. Many forget that Honda’s first business was making components and doing precise metalwork; he built a successful business supplying piston rings to Toyota before World War II.

Anway, after chatting for a couple of hours, it was time for us to split (or at least let Nero the dog out of the van to pee). As we drove away, we mulled over the experience we’d had at CRG. There was a kind of yin/yang aspect to it, what with the mix of design and engineering, of modern production with very old-fashioned business values; Spencer used the phrase, “a typical mom-and-pop shop” a couple of times to describe the place, which I think conveys an old-school attitude that not only isn’t holding the business back, but is one of its strengths.

“We’re the customers too,” Spencer told us. “I remember being 16 and buying parts for my YZ125. I ordered a Pro-Fab swingarm. I’d saved up every dime of my paper route and dreamt about it for months. It came in this box with no packaging at all, and I opened it and it was a big limpie. The welds were marginal at best, it was not that straight. We want the opposite—we want people to open the box and think, I am so glad this is what I chose.”

Between the Races: David Piolé

Wednesday, December 01, 2010, 7:39:36 PM | CJ

Photographers claiming their work is something different aren’t exactly rare, but when it comes to the shutterbug team of David Piolé and Alexandre Chailan, the claims are more fact than boast. Over the past couple of years, the French duo has made waves in the MotoGP and World Superbike paddocks by introducing lighting techniques and equipment that—while common in the world of fashion—is still relatively rare in the world of motorsports. We sat down with Piolé in the pressroom at the season-ending MotoGP round in Valencia, Spain, to find out more.

This Ben Spies photo was actually a back-up plan, but it helped Piole and Chailan set themselves apart on the road racing-photography scene. • Piole/Chailan photo

RRX: Please let us know a little about your background.
David Piole: I’ve made pictures in MotoGP for three years, and my partner Alex began in MotoGP last year. For about five or six years, we made pictures in Superbike; Alex made a lot of pictures in the French championship. Last year, we began to introduce a new way of making more fashionable photography with riders and umbrella girls, using a studio strobe on the grid and with the mechanics—to show the life in the paddock in MotoGP.

How were you familiar with this technique?
It’s a little bit strange, because at the Assen World Superbike race last year, we brought all the material to make a shoot with a rider, but it wasn’t possible. We didn’t want to have brought it all for nothing, so we thought, Maybe we can make pictures in the paddock. We began by shooting the grid, and we got a photo of Ben [Spies], and all the people that saw it said, “Wow, I’ve never seen anything like that before,” so we decided to continue that way.

Piole and Chailan gave LCR's official team photos a different look when they shot them in Qatar. • Piole/Chailan photo

How easy is it to use fashion techniques in racing?
The problem is that for MotoGP or Superbike, you have to do this with two people—someone who carries the strobe and someone who makes the picture—and we never have a lot of time. For example, for the Valentino Rossi picture, he’s just a few seconds in that position. I knew how Alex was working and he knew where I had the light—now it’s a connection; that’s why we want to always use two names in our photo credits—because we need each other. Sometimes I make the light and sometimes the picture, but without the good position of the light and the good position of the photographer, the picture is not good. It’s really important to have good placement all the time. We have a very good relationship, and we think the same way about the pictures we want to do, so there’s absolutely no problem. The only thing is we really do less pictures than before, but we want to improve the quality, not the quantity; it’s a different way. Now we try to work for different brands, including manufacturers and suppliers, giving them pictures with more communication.

The techniques employed by Piole and Chailan are more common in fashion than motorsports. • Piole/Chailan photo

What’s the equipment like?
Now we’re using a large-format camera body, because it’s really more quality, and we can do more things with it.

What have people’s reactions been like?
At the beginning [of the season], we did some fashion pictures with the LCR team in Qatar, and a lot of people found it amazing because they’d never seen it before. It’s continued that way, and now Dorna is using some pictures for www.motogp.com. We have good contacts with some companies to continue this way so that we can distribute the pictures. It’s complementary to the action photography that the other photographers are doing on the track.

Do you still do any action photography yourself?
Some companies want track photography too, so we’re continuing in that way. But it’s not the way we want to continue a lot, because a lot of people are doing it. Maybe if we can have a very good deal with some company, we’ll do it, but at the moment, we think we can do more things this way.

Because of the time constraints of MotoGP, Piole and Chailan have to work quickly. • Piole/Chailan photo

What types of photos are your favorites?
We think there aren’t enough pictures of riders in clothes other than their leathers. A lot of the riders look great, so we think we can show MotoGP in another way. There are young men and a lot of glamour with the girls, and we want to improve the level of the pictures for the communications. We think all the people can find something they like.

Your work seems like it has a lot of potential for mainstream magazines.
Yes, like GQ. Those types of magazines are where Dorna wants to go, because they have to conquer other markets—not only people who are interested in motorsports, but more general.

What else does the future hold?
Next year we have some good contacts with some people, and we’ll begin some really strong collaborations. After that, we hope to do more shoots with factory riders. We do all the pictures during the race weekend. It’s interesting because riders don’t have a lot of time on weekends, but we don’t spend a lot of time with the shoots—maybe fifteen minutes, and they don’t have to fly to France and lose a lot of time for not many pictures. People are interested in this. We also want to improve the pictures with more complex light—something at a really high level.

Moto Moments Wallpaper: Testing, Testing – Valentino Rossi

Wednesday, December 01, 2010, 3:16:30 PM | admin

Rossi wasn’t allowed to comment publicly following his first test on his new Ducati GP11, but although he focused simply on getting to know the machine during the Valencia session (rather than trying for lap times), “quiet before the storm” seems apt. Photo by Andrew Northcott.

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—are 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

Alpinestars Announces Saturday Parking-Lot Sale

Wednesday, December 01, 2010, 2:19:06 PM | admin

Just in time for holiday shopping is Alpinestars Parking Lot Sale & Jam Fest! The sale is this Saturday, December 4th, from 10AM – 4PM at Alpinestars HQ in Torrance, CA. On sale will be tons of clothing, accessories & motorcycle apparel to choose from. Alpinestars will also have three local bands playing throughout the day to entertain you while you shop! The Don Chow Taco Truck featured on the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives will be here serving up delicious tacos to keep you energized to shop ‘till you drop! This event is open to the public, so come one, come all!

Geoff May, Ducati’s John Paolo Canton on Pit Pass Radio

Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 6:28:06 PM | admin

Advance, North Carolina (November 30, 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.

5 pm to 7 pm Pacific – Motorcycle Radio streaming individual interviews from www.pitpassradio.com, or download the program from our archives to your ipod or mp3 player anytime.

Kurt Nicoll, Endurocross Racer and COO Godfrey Entertainment

Kurt Nicoll is a former motocross racer from England. He is the son of former BSA factory rider, Dave Nicoll. Nicoll was one of the top riders in the Motocross Grand Prix World Championships during the late 1980s and early 1990s, finishing as the runner up four times in the F.I.M. 500cc world championships. Nicoll was a member of the victorious British 1994 Motocross des Nations team that included Paul Malin and Rob Herring. In 2004, Nicoll won the AMA Supermoto championship. Previous to working for Godfrey Entertainment, he worked for KTM as their Director of North American Racing.

www.godfreyentertainment.com

Andrew Short, Red Bull KTM, Supercross

This year Short joined the factory KTM squad to contest the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series as well as the Outdoor series. The team is being managed by Roger Decoster, who also is new to the team, and Short will have his choice of racing the 350 or the 450. This is a unique opportunity that no other manufacturer could provide and it is expected that he will be on the 350 in Supercross. Also Red Bull is sponsoring the team so Short will get to stay with Red Bull just as he was when he rode for Honda.

www.andrewshort.com

Debra Meszaros, Owner – MX Sports Nutrition

Debra offers nutritional counseling for MX and SX riders. Her program works with athletes’ nutritional needs as well as the mental, emotional requirements of a demanding sport like motocross. A long time athlete herself, Debra found the sport of motocross at age the young age of 45 and is currently racing amateur motocross. She is enrolled at the country’s top natural health institution, the Clayton College of Natural Health.

www.mxsportsnutrion.com

John Canton, Public Relations – Ducati North America

There is always lots of action and excitement at Ducati and heading into 2011 promises to be another exciting year. The company has a number of new bikes to talk about like the Diavel and 848 EVO, a new member of the MotoGP team with Rossi finally joining their efforts, and a new relationship with Mercedes AMG.

www.ducatiusa.com

Geoff May, Superbike Racer – Erik Buell Racing

Geoff started the 2010 season without a ride. He decided to take a calculated risk and race a few Daytona Sportbike races as a privateer. His efforts paid off when he landed a ride with Erik Buell Racing on the 1125RR in the superbike class. He raced an abbreviated season in AMA Superbike completing only 13 races and finishing 11th overall. In those 13 races he took nine top-ten finishes, with a number of 6th place finishes. Prior to racing for the Buell team, Geoff raced for the Michael Jordan team on the National Guard bike.

www.erikbuellracing.com

Crew at Pit Pass Radio

Scott Casber, Tony Wenck, Ed Kuhlenkamp, Jack DeLeon.

Pit Pass Moto Weekly is a syndicated motorcycle talk show heard across the U.S. on radio stations and around the world via the internet at www.pitpassradio.com. The show airs every Tuesday from 5-7 pm Pacific, 6-8 pm Mountain, 7-9 pm Central, and 8-10 pm Eastern at www.pitpassradio.com. Companies interested in advertising on the show or marketing partnerships can contact Ed Kuhlenkamp by clicking on the contact tab in the menu and make sure to list advertising in the email.

Interested in the Pit Pass community visit us – www.myspace.com/pitpassradioor visit our Facebook page

MMP Teams With M1 for SBK Round

Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 3:00:10 PM | admin

TOOELE VALLEY, UTAH (November 30, 2010) — Miller Motorsports Park has entered into a consultancy agreement with M1 Entertainment of Denver.

M1 Entertainment will provide a variety of services related to promoting and staging the USA Round of the FIM Superbike World Championship, which is scheduled to make its fourth annual appearance at Miller Motorsports Park over Memorial Day weekend, May 29-31, 2011.

The weekend will also include AMA Pro Road Racing events and the third annual Larry H. Miller Superbike Challenge as well as two rock concerts. This event will mark the return of AMA Pro Road Racing to the Utah facility after an absence of two years.

A fixture in American motorcycle racing since the early 1990s, M1 Entertainment is ideally suited to assist Miller Motorsports Park with their World Superbike event. M1 has previously created and promoted the World Superbike events at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca as well as AMA Superbike events at Road Atlanta and Virginia International Raceway and AMA Supermoto events in Reno and Denver.

“We are constantly seeking ways to improve our World Superbike event,” said Miller Motorsports Park general manager John Larson, “and our partnership with M1 Entertainment will help us in a number of areas. Their wide-ranging expertise will dovetail perfectly with the strides we have already made with our event over the past three years and we look forward to working with them.”

“Miller Motorsports Park is one of the world’s finest road racing facilities,” said Cameron Gray, president of M1 Entertainment, “and we intend to help them build their World Superbike event into the must-attend motorcycle racing event of the year. It’s going to be a lot of fun, both for us and for the fans, and we can’t wait to get started.”

For information regarding Miller Motorsports Park, call 435-277-RACE (7223) or visit the track’s website at www.MillerMotorsportsPark.com. For specific information on the USA Round of the FIM Superbike World Championship, visit the event website at www.SBKUSA.com. For information on M1 Entertainment, visit their website at www.Moto1USA.com.

Bautista to Join Riders for Health on Zambia Adventure Ride

Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 1:03:08 PM | admin

Suzuki MotoGP star, Álvaro Bautista, has confirmed that he will be joining participants on the Riders for Health Experience Africa adventure ride in Zambia in November 2011. Not only will participants have the chance to take part in a life-changing new adventure, they will also be raising money to save lives in Africa with Riders for Health.

Riders for Health Experience Africa is a unique motorcycle journey and lucky participants will be able to join current MotoGP star, and 2006 125cc World Champion, Álvaro Bautista in Zambia. You will also ride alongside 13-time grand prix winner, and Riders for Health co-founder, Randy Mamola.

This beautiful country offers stunning scenery, endless trails and some spectacular off-road motorcycling. But this is not just a holiday. It is a chance to make a difference. Participants will be raising money to support the work of Riders for Health and they will witness firsthand the organisation’s inspiring humanitarian work.

Looking ahead to the ride Alvaro Bautista said:

‘I am so pleased to be taking part in this amazing adventure to Zambia with Riders for Health next year. I have been a supporter of Riders for Health for a long time and I can’t wait to see the work that they are doing. The riding will be fantastic, and everyone who signs up and comes along to help raise money for Riders for Health will have an incredible time.’

As well as seeing game parks and the Victoria Falls, adventurers will see how Riders for Health is working with outreach health workers and using reliable motorcycles to reach even the most isolated villages with health care. Adventurers will visit clinics, ride with health workers and spend time in communities, seeing how thousands of lives have been transformed by motorcycles.

Thirteen times grand-prix winner and co-founder of Riders for Health, Randy Mamola, visited Lesotho for the Riders for Health Experience Africa last year:

‘Last year I had the most incredible ten days riding in the wonderful country of Lesotho and now I am looking forward to visiting Zambia. It is amazing to see that the machine that gives us all so much pleasure – the motorcycle – is having such a huge impact on people’s lives in Africa. The Riders for Health Experience Africa ride is sure to be a life changing experience.’

There will only be a limited number of places on the Riders for Health Experience Africa which will take place in November 2011. Details of the ride will be released soon. To make sure you are the first to know, email experienceafrica@riders.org or visit www.riders.org/experienceafrica.aspx to register your interest.

MotoCzysz Earns Popular Science 2010 Best of What’s New Award

Monday, November 29, 2010, 5:53:43 PM | admin

Portland, OR., November 29, 2010 – Popular Science magazine has included the race wining MotoCzysz E1pc for the Best of What’s New (BOWN) awards for 2010.

Each year, the editors of Popular Science review thousands of products in search of breakthrough products and technologies representing a significant leap in their respective categories. The Best of What’s New—are awarded inclusion in the much-anticipated December issue of Popular Science, the most magazine’s widely read issue of the year.

“Our December issue is more than just an exhaustive guide to the greatest creations of the year. It’s a forecast. For 23 years, the Best of What’s New awards have gone to the 100 innovations that indicate where technology is headed in the future.” Popular Science magazine, December 2010

The 2010 E1pc represents the future of motorcycle and electric drive technology. In its debut event, the E1pc dominated the 2010 Isle of Mann TT e-Power race—the most grueling electric powered motorcycle road race in the world— winning by over 2 minutes and setting a new lap record. The E1pc went on to win the Laguna Seca Red Bull USGP e-Power race, setting the fastest lap of the weekend on the final lap. This technology is now being applied to the auto market through the recently unveiled D1g1tal Dr1ve- a fully integrated electric drive unit containing motor, controller, oil pump, gear reduction, and differential targeted at OEM car makers.

“Being included in the Popular Science 2010 Best of What’s New awards is a real honor and further confirms that the electric drive technology being developed at MotoCzysz is leading edge. For MotoCzysz to receive the same award as Porsche, Ferrari, GM and the other automotive giants is remarkable and very satisfying.” says Michael Czysz.

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ThatsRacin.com: Top Stories

December 12, 2010

Marcus Smith drives own agenda

December 11, 2010, 9:00:00 PM

Ron Stodghill: Talk about ambition. Back in the mid-'90s, when Humpy Wheeler was sealing his legend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Marcus Smith, son of Bruton Smith, was quietly jotting notes and slipping them into a purple folder he dubbed "Vision." The patience paid off.

NASCAR's points formats have never been fan favorites

Friday, December 10, 2010, 6:01:00 PM

Steve Waid: NASCAR hasn’t yet announced what “tweaks” it will make to the Chase for the Sprint Cup for 2011 – if any - but, already, fans are grousing.

NASCAR OKs some testing in No. 2 series

Friday, December 10, 2010, 12:26:00 PM

NASCAR has informed Nationwide Series teams that limited testing will return in 2011, SB Nation.com reports.

Recession requires more NASCAR drivers to 'be like Mike'

Friday, December 10, 2010, 12:22:00 PM

Corporate funding remains the lifeblood of NASCAR teams, but as the Great Recession lingers drivers are doing all they can to add value for sponsors.

A racing innovator tells all  pretty much as he sees it

Friday, December 10, 2010, 11:04:00 AM

Tom Higgins: Don Finke often found himself in amusing situations while working at tracks across the country.

Doug Herbert nominated for award

Thursday, December 09, 2010, 12:21:00 PM

Drag racer Doug Herbert of Lincolnton, N.C., has been nominated for a United Nations NGO award for his advocacy and efforts to improve driver safety among teen-agers.

New lanes should ease Texas track traffic

Wednesday, December 08, 2010, 7:33:00 PM

A $15 million project that will expand a nearly three-mile section of State Highway 114 fronting Texas Motor Speedway.

October numbers allow NASCAR hall to cut into cumulative loss

Wednesday, December 08, 2010, 6:42:00 PM

Boosted by the Bank of America 500 race, the NASCAR Hall of Fame posted a profit of just under $40,000 in October, shrinking its cumulative loss to $408,000.

NASCAR 2010: Some of the best and worst

Wednesday, December 08, 2010, 5:31:00 PM

Who was the best driver? What was the best race? What did NASCAR do right and wrong in 2010?

The Glen adds improvements

Wednesday, December 08, 2010, 1:07:00 PM

International Speedway Corp. has approved $3 million for capital improvements at Watkins Glen International.

F1 boss Ecclestone's bruised face in watch ad

Tuesday, December 07, 2010, 7:55:00 PM

The battered face of Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone is featured in a new advertisement for a Swiss watchmaker.

Renault pays Piquet Jr. for crash allegation

Tuesday, December 07, 2010, 11:42:00 AM

Renault agreed to pay what it calls "substantial" damages to former driver Nelson Piquet Jr. and his father over allegations they lied when they accused the Formula One team of orchestrating a crash at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.

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The Daly Planet

December 12, 2010

Weekend NASCAR Potpourri

December 12, 2010, 8 hours ago | noreply@blogger.com (Daly Planet Editor)

What a week it's been for big topics. It's really not the off-season for NASCAR TV and media issues. Next week should bring an update on possible TV or video streaming coverage of the December tire test at the newly repaved Daytona International Speedway.

Also, we should have dates for the return of Race Hub in January and an update on possible video streaming for 2011 racing weekends.

Meanwhile, here is a brief recap of some issues we addressed over the past several weeks. Many of these topics are going to be sprouting up again before the 2011 season begins. Click on the title to read the entire column and leave your comments.

By request: Hail to the Chief originally published November 23, 2010.

The topic was Brian France's interview with the NASCAR media in Homestead. Here is an excerpt:

"ESPN is our partner and they have been an enormously good partner, and they actually have a younger demo on ESPN network than does their sister network, ABC. I suspect we'll sit down in the off-season and talk about that and we are going to share everything with them and they have been a great partner. By the way, I think the broadcast has been as good as I've seen in a long time. I think the energy level and the calling of the action, the on-air talent, I think is top-notch right now on their network, and they have been working at that for a few years to get all of the things just right, and I think they have."

One of the most popular TV personalities this season has been Ray Evernham. A while back, he shared some news and promised some more shortly.

Waiting For Ray Evernham To Get Back In The Game was originally published on November 29, 2010.

It's no secret that Ray Evernham has been itching to get back in the NASCAR game. Confined to ESPN's Infield Pit Studio as the third wheel behind Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty, Evernham is limited to a sentence or two in his TV comments.

Sunday morning Evernham dropped the following message on Twitter: "Firming up 2011 plans and will make a formal announcement when it all comes together. Will make sure to tweet before announcement is made."

This week came news that both the NFL and Howard Stern would be heard on Sirius Internet radio next year. Online coverage is the way to go. With a full time NASCAR channel already on Sirius but not available online or by cell phone app, how much longer can the parties involved allow this situation to go on?

NASCAR's Got A Sirius Situation was originally published on December 2, 2010.

With the advent of smart phones in the marketplace the ability to open the phone, press a button and listen to Sirius XM 128 would accomplish several key elements. One, it would increase the subscriber numbers dramatically. Two, it would finally make NASCAR truly portable, a key element in today's world.

Finally, it would accomplish a goal that has frustrated NASCAR all season long. It would provide an application that would be popular with younger fans. The days of listening to MRN in the garage are long gone. Appointment viewing of NASCAR TV shows, including races, has plummeted. It's got to be portable and available now.

NASCAR has hired an outside marketing company to reshape the media interface with fans including social networking, television coverage and radio content. The sport's public image next season will be crafted by product marketers. That sounds like fun, right?

NASCAR Fans About To Be Rebranded was originally published on December 3, 2010.

Editor Greg Bailey of the Gadsden Times has his own way of explaining the changes:

"The various press releases announcing this are filled with corporate-speak gobbledegook that numbs one’s brain. Translating it into English, NASCAR is putting its media relations, marketing and team/sponsor relations efforts under one roof in hopes of better selling a sport that has fallen on hard times."

Taylor (marketing and PR company) gets to continue to represent its existing NASCAR clients. It will now also advise NASCAR on how to proceed with a marketing-driven agenda across the board. Finally, Taylor will create the systems to manage all aspects of the media associated with the sport.

Some folks want to see it all live, some think it makes no sense on TV and others only want the highlights without all the scripted speeches. So, that led us to ask the question.

Does The Sprint Cup Series Banquet Belong On TV was originally published on December 7, 2010.

Let's review the choices:

1 - No TV for the banquet. Let the NASCAR reporters, photographers and bloggers send along pictures, stories and clips but leave the night for the teams and sponsors.

2 - Polish up what SPEED tried to do. Use red carpet interviews, highlights and pre-banquet driver interviews to create an hour show and then join the banquet for the awards in their entirety.

3 - Stream the entire evening online using the NASCAR.com website. Let the TV professionals record the events, edit a feature program and use it as the cornerstone for a final send-off for NASCAR on SPEED.

Finally, we turned out attention to the struggling NASCAR Hall of Fame. It needs new guests, repeat business and some interesting exhibit inside that changed every single day. Now, what could that be?

Can ESPN Save The NASCAR Hall of Fame was originally published on December 9, 2010.

Perhaps, the solution to this problem might be a little TV show called NASCAR Now. As many of you may know, the Hall is connected to the NASCAR Media Group (NMG) television production facilities in the same complex. Showtime tapes Inside NASCAR in one of the NMG studios.

Reporters like Marty Smith, Ryan McGee, David Newton and Shannon Spake all live in the Greater Charlotte area. Briscoe does as well. Add Dale Jarrett, Andy Petree and Rusty Wallace to that list. You get the point. It only makes sense to originate the daily program covering the sport from where the news is happening.

Thanks again for staying with us during the off-season. Feel free to leave comments on any of these topics on this post or add them to the individual comments on the posts. Thanks again for stopping by The Daly Planet.

With Howard Stern Deal Done It's NASCAR Time

Friday, December 10, 2010, 5:53:59 AM | noreply@blogger.com (Daly Planet Editor)

On Thursday the second of three big issues for Sirius XM Radio was solved. This time it was Howard Stern announcing a new deal to stay on the air at Sirius.

It is a five-year agreement that analysts value at $400 million. But the important part for NASCAR fans is what is hidden in the fine print.

Here is a paragraph from the Newsday story on Stern:

The new deal does offer a significant bonus to fans. Stern's show will be available on various platforms besides satellite radio including the iPhone, Android phones and BlackBerrys. "The addition of the mobile apps will be a significant one going forward because it makes him more available," said Tom Taylor, news editor of Chicago-based Radio-Info.com. "It was frustrating to some listeners [that] it wasn't available on both [mobile apps and satellite.]"

NASCAR fans can certainly identify with that last statement. Sirius NASCAR Channel 128 is not available online or through a smart phone app. Way back when, NASCAR sold all the online rights (including audio content) to Turner Sports. NASCAR fans must have a Sirius XM satellite receiver of some type to hear channel 128.

It was Tuesday, November 30th when Sirius announced that it had reached an agreement to renew and expand its contract with the NFL. This time, Sirius got what it really wanted. All NFL games beginning in 2011 will be streamed online through Sirius Internet radio. While the cell phone details are yet to be announced, adding the NFL to the Sirius online offerings is just huge.

The third piece of the puzzle has to be next. Sirius, NASCAR and Turner Sports have time now in the off-season to hammer out an agreement that extends the same sort of online streaming deal for NASCAR. Both on Sirius Internet radio and the Sirius apps for devices like smartphones.

Click here to take a peek and maybe even a listen to just how easy it is to load and go with this technology. As with everything in life, there is a price to be paid, but if NASCAR fans had Sirius 128 on laptops, iPads and all types of smartphones the sport would be much better off for 2011.

With so many things in NASCAR just not going well lately, it would be a welcome move for the parties involved to come together and get this ironed out. NASCAR would join Howard Stern and the NFL as moving online in the Sirius world.

We will update this blog with any news on the topic immediately. In the meantime, we are happy to have your comments on this topic. To add your opinion, just click on the comments button below. This is a family-friendly website, please keep that in mind when posting. Thanks for taking the time to stop by The Daly Planet.

Can ESPN Save The NASCAR Hall Of Fame?

Thursday, December 09, 2010, 4:38:25 AM | noreply@blogger.com (Daly Planet Editor)

Those of you who have been around a bit may remember the old RPM2Night TV show. What began in a tiny studio near the Carowinds theme park eventually moved into the ESPN Regional Television (ERT) facility in the Ballantyne area of South Charlotte.

Back in 2000, it was ERT General Manager Chuck Gerber who put into words why it was a smart move for ESPN to produce its only motorsports show from Charlotte. "It only makes sense because all of the teams are here," Gerber told Erik Spanberg of the Charlotte Business Journal. "It's a good relationship for everyone." Click here to read the entire article.

In 2011, ESPN2 enters year five of producing the network's only motorsports news program called NASCAR Now. After a terrible start, the on-air and production team have finally hit on a combination that works. An hour on Monday, thirty minutes Tuesday through Friday and a preview show before each Sprint Cup Series race.

When the Chase races come around, ESPN adds a killer Sunday night one-hour show that has all the highlights, information from the track and complete interviews. It's been interesting to watch ESPN take years to sort this series out. Now, it just might be time to take it to the next level.

The current TV contract with ESPN and NASCAR runs through 2014. That means at least four more seasons of NASCAR Now will be produced. It's very possible that with a contract extension this TV series may run for many more years. It's a powerhouse product for NASCAR fans who can't get enough of Allen Bestwick, Ricky Craven and the rest of the gang.

When SPEED decided to get back into the NASCAR news game, they created a series called Race Hub and located it in North Charlotte at the SPEED studios. The idea was that the proximity of the studio and the race teams would make for easy access to drivers and other NASCAR personalities.

This series airs Monday through Thursday and is comprised of same-day interviews, recorded studio guests and features. It has been a welcome addition to the TV landscape, but has not diluted the NASCAR Now franchise in the least.

Ten years after his article on RPM2Night, Erik Spanberg is now the senior staff writer for the Charlotte Business Journal. Click here for his story on the current situation with the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Needless to say, things are in a funk. The Hall needs something that can regularly attract visitors. It has to be something that out of town guests would remember and tell all of their friends about. Word of mouth is the best advertising. At the same time, North Carolina locals would need something to bring them back for a repeat visit.

Perhaps, the solution to this problem might be a little TV show called NASCAR Now. As many of you may know, the Hall is connected to the NASCAR Media Group (NMG) television production facilities in the same complex. Showtime tapes Inside NASCAR in one of the NMG studios.

Many of us watched the special NASCAR Now shows produced from the Hall of Fame during events like the grand opening, the induction and even the announcement of the inductees. Dr. Jerry Punch is a Hall of Fame voter and he reported for NASCAR Now surrounded by very appreciative fans. Just with that one show, he made a lifetime memory for each and every one of them.

Currently, NASCAR Now is jammed into a corner in the Bristol, CT studios of ESPN2. This fish out of water show takes production resources away from an already overworked facility. While Mike Massaro agreed to move back to Connecticut to co-host the show, both Nicole Briscoe and Allen Bestwick live out of state. There is a whole lot of traveling going on to get this program done each week.

Reporters like Marty Smith, Ryan McGee, David Newton and Shannon Spake all live in the Greater Charlotte area. Briscoe does as well. Add Dale Jarrett, Andy Petree, Rusty Wallace and Punch to that list. You get the point.

Just as Gerber stated back in 2000, where ESPN's coverage of NASCAR is concerned all the teams are in the same place. It only makes sense to originate the daily program covering the sport from where the news is happening. Not to mention the fact that NASCAR has consolidated its own operations in the office complex right next to, you guessed it, the Hall of Fame.

In 2006, I forwarded a letter to ESPN's SVP John Skipper suggesting that ESPN consider originating a NASCAR news show in Charlotte if one was in the works. My response was that ESPN would not spend the money to invest in a High Definition (HD) facility when the Bristol studios were available.

Well, since that time some things have changed. ESPN has acquired an immense amount of new college and pro sports that each require a studio presence. Meanwhile, NMG has a state of the art HD television facility in downtown Charlotte looking for more work. Finally, attached to that facility at no extra charge is the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

With a nice low price from the NMG folks, ESPN could free up studio space and production time back in Bristol to serve the new stick-and-ball sports programming. NASCAR Now could have free run of the Hall of Fame, providing the folks who operate that facility with a unique attraction that would change every single day.

Putting the show out among the exhibits, the fans and the history of the sport would provide a unique backdrop. It would also allow ESPN the daily contact with the sport it has been lacking with the series produced in Connecticut.

NASCAR Now is not slated to return until February. That leaves plenty of time for some good conversation, some good imagination and as the bottom line, some good common sense. Maybe ESPN and NASCAR can actually agree on something that will make both of them better once it's done.

We welcome your thoughts on this topic. To add your opinion, just click on the comments button below. This is a family-friendly website, please keep that in mind when posting. Thanks for taking the time to stop by The Daly Planet.

ESPN Throws Numbers At NASCAR Critics

Wednesday, December 08, 2010, 3:24:31 AM | noreply@blogger.com (Daly Planet Editor)

As we continue to look back at the TV issues of the 2010 season, we have been aided by a recent press release from ESPN. After some media members and NASCAR pundits blamed cable TV for the fading ratings of The Chase, ESPN has fired back.

Before we review the ESPN document, let's go back to the issue. This was the first season that the vast majority of the Chase races had been moved to ESPN. When the first TV contract was done after the Chase, there was an emphasis on the fact that the final ten races would be seen on "free over-the-air TV."

Unfortunately the reality of rain, red flags and long delays under caution made the Chase races a mess for broadcast TV. Trying to serve four timezones was almost impossible and the stories of ABC local affiliates either not carrying the pre-race show or leaving at the checkered flag for local news came in on a regular basis.

So, the subsequent shift to ESPN brought pro's and cons. The flexibility of cable TV meant a designated pre-race show, complete coverage and an extended post-race show for every Chase race. The cons were that once the NFL began the pre-race show was on ESPN2.

One other drawback frequently mentioned was that those without cable TV service would not be able to see the final ten races. Of course the Camping World trucks were on SPEED and the Nationwide Series raced on ESPN2, so those same fans would not have seen any of those races. In addition, the summer Cup races were on TNT so the same fans would have also taken the summer off.

The thrust of the argument for free TV was that the rough economy had caused many households to drop cable TV service. Some had been rumored to be "cord cutting," which became the new buzzword. That means dropping cable TV service and using the Internet for video streaming instead.

In October, ESPN had a series of meetings with NASCAR. The topic on the table was the cause for the substantially lower ratings. Certainly, the elephant in the room was the NFL and the incredible ratings success of the 1PM ET games on Sundays.

The other big topic fed by some media members was the shift from ABC to ESPN and the loss of those households that had dropped cable TV service. The new ESPN survey helps to address just what is happening with cable and Internet homes in the marketplace.

Click here to read the data released by ESPN. While not exactly spoken in plain English, what the survey says is the erosion of homes is very small.

Here are a couple of key sentences:

The study found that just 0.28 percent of homes in the Nielsen sample dropped multichannel service but kept their broadband Internet connections.The study also showed that the number of multichannel homes adding a broadband connection was nearly five times as large as the "cord cutter" group.

ESPN and ESPN2 are now over the 100 million home mark in the US. This means the penetration of these networks is almost equal to over-the-air TV distributed by local stations. Coupled with the information that few existing cable customers dropped television service, it gives ESPN a strong case that distribution was not the big issue with the Chase problems.

If we can close that door now once and for all perhaps attention can be turned to the reality of the Chase and the many problems of providing television coverage of a race within a race.

TV Problems With The Chase Easy To Understand was a column focusing on the issues faced by ESPN as they navigate through the tangled web of racing scenarios. Click on the title to read the column and the comments.

Those Footsteps Might Sound Familiar was originally published in August as a preview of the trouble that the NFL might bring to NASCAR yet again. Click on the title to read the column.

On January 21, Brian France will be speaking to the media during a test at the Daytona International Speedway. After the TV struggles of NASCAR's top series down the stretch, France will be announcing his decision on what changes will be made for 2011.

With NFL football continuing to dominate the ratings and ESPN proving there is no distribution problem, the focus is going to be on the sanctioning body to deal with two issues. The Chase format and poorly produced TV coverage are now the remaining cards on the table.

How NASCAR chooses to play this hand may serve to determine who walks away with the TV jackpot and who walks away empty-handed.

We welcome your comments on this topic. To add your opinion, just click on the comments button below. This is a family-friendly website, please keep that in mind when posting. Thanks for taking the time to stop by The Daly Planet.

Does The Sprint Cup Series Banquet Belong On TV?

Tuesday, December 07, 2010, 11:13:09 AM | noreply@blogger.com (Daly Planet Editor)

We had some wonderful comments on SPEED's coverage of the Sprint Cup Series banquet last Friday night from many readers. The opinions were all across the board. Not about the actual banquet, but about how it translated to TV.

Now that some time has passed, let's take a look at three scenarios for deciding what to do with that post-season function when it comes to television coverage.

Option one is easy to understand. Don't cover it. The argument in support of this choice is that the function is simply an evening designed for the teams, sponsors and others who have worked hard all season long in the sport.

The mainstream media at the event will provide pictures and clips of the festivities. SPEED will provide coverage on The SPEED Report. ESPN, FOX and others will provide stories and interviews as well. Option one is no TV at all.

Option two is what SPEED did this year. Basically, the attendees arrive and go into the ballroom. They get a greeting, a musical number and then an hour of dinner. It isn't until after dinner is completely done that the awards portion of the evening begins.

SPEED taped the arrivals and interviewed participants on the red carpet. Steve Byrnes and Jeff Hammond then hosted an hour show mixing those interviews with various edited features recapping the season. Several drivers stopped by the outside set to offer their reactions on that same topic.

This hour of content was used to bridge the time that the dinner was taking place. SPEED then joined the program inside the ballroom when the awards and additional entertainment began. It was a good effort, but oftentimes awkward due to the reality of the function.

So, option two is to keep things as they are, using the red carpet and interviews to fill an hour before joining the live awards and watching the drivers read their speeches. It was 12:52AM ET on Saturday morning when Jimmie Johnson finally appeared on SPEED to accept his championship earnings.

Option three is a combo platter. Use the NASCAR.com website to stream the entire function online live from start to finish for hardcore fans, including dinner. Not a big polished production like SPEED creates, but basic coverage of an event like NASCAR.com delivered for other events in Vegas and during the season.

That would let SPEED and the NASCAR Media Group do what they do best, record everything that goes on and edit it for a later airing. Let's say the following week SPEED sends NASCAR out with a bang by putting together a final evening or perhaps an entire day of the best of the year programs ending with the banquet.

Let's review the choices:

1 - No TV for the banquet. Let the NASCAR reporters, photographers and bloggers send along pictures, stories and clips but leave the night for the teams and sponsors.

2 - Polish up what SPEED tried to do. Use red carpet interviews, highlights and pre-banquet driver interviews to create an hour show and then join the banquet for the awards in their entirety.

3 - Stream the entire evening online using the NASCAR.com website. Let the TV professionals record the events, edit a feature program and use it as the cornerstone for a final send-off for NASCAR on SPEED.

One final note before you respond. The format of the Sprint Cup Banquet is not going to change. For those who enjoyed the combined Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series banquet on SPEED, the format of brief interviews in a talk show like setting is not going to apply. That's one key reason we narrowed our discussion down to three choices.

What do you think about how or even if the Sprint Cup Series banquet should be on TV now that you have seen SPEED's effort for this season? To add your opinion, just click on the comments button below. This is a family-friendly website, please keep that in mind when posting. Thanks for taking the time to stop by The Daly Planet.

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Yahoo! Sports - NASCAR News

December 11, 2010, 9:07:13 PM

Ligety claims 7th World Cup giant slalom ski (PA SportsTicker)

December 11, 2010, 9:07:13 PM

VAL D'ISERE, France (AP) - Ted Ligety is well on his way to earning a third World Cup giant slalom title, dominating his rivals on Saturday to clinch a second straight race victory in the discipline.

NZ beats England with last-gasp penalty in final (PA SportsTicker)

December 11, 2010, 9:06:09 PM

GEORGE, South Africa (AP) - New Zealand kept its South Africa Sevens rugby title with a last-gasp penalty by Tomasi Cama for a 22-19 win over England in the final on Saturday.

Seongnam Ilhwa rolls into Club World Cup semis (PA SportsTicker)

December 11, 2010, 9:06:08 PM

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - Asian champion Seongnam Ilhwa cruised into the Club World Cup semifinals by routing tournament host Al Wahda 4-1 on Saturday.

Competition clause ends Verizon's NASCAR career (NASCAR.com)

Friday, December 10, 2010, 7:15:13 PM

Competition clause ends Verizon's NASCAR career

Shell-Pennzoil excited about Penske possibilities (NASCAR.com)

Friday, December 10, 2010, 2:10:12 PM

Shell-Pennzoil excited about Penske possibilities

FIA allows team orders starting next season (PA SportsTicker)

Friday, December 10, 2010, 1:44:21 PM

Formula One's governing body dropped its ban on team orders Friday, making it legal next season for a team to instruct one of its drivers to let a teammate pass.

Harvick, Gordon bringing home 'Loopie' award (NASCAR.com)

Friday, December 10, 2010, 12:55:12 PM