Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128167
(J ElDJ o o c c c o o o c c c c o QG)(BEI Continued from page 3 calls for more research into the causes of motorcycle accidents and potential ways to reduce them. The most recent comprehensive federal study of motorcycle-accident data was published in 1980, and sampled accident data only in Southern California. NHTSA officials have said they hope to begin work on a new study in the near future. Ducati completed its first testing of its 2003 MotoOP World Champi· onship entry on August 1-2 at the Mugello Circuit in Tuscany, in the presence of Ducati Corse employees who came to witness the track debut of two Important motorcycles for the Bologna manufacturer. In addition to the MotoOP entry, Ducati also tested its racing version of the brand-new Ducati 999, which was having its first shakedown test in preparation for next year's World Superbike Championship. The 999 Is the bike that will defend Ducati's record in the production-based series after the series of victories obtained in the Constructors' championship with the twin-cylinder 851, 888, 916, 996 and 998. The Desmosedici project is continuing on schedule, and this first track test was being used to shakedown some of the innovative solutions for the future MotoOP bike, according to Ducati. Test rider Vittoriano Guareschi (pictured) completed a total of 32 laps on the first day, and 38 on the second. The team was focusing on aerodynamics, a fundamental element on a motorcycle which in its definitive version will have a power output of more than 220 horsepower, according to Ducati. "The prototype we are using is going well." said Ouareschi in a team press release. "Although the power we have available is currently similar to the twin-cylinder World Superbike version, the new bodywork is very aerodynamic and it allows us to reach a much higher top speed. We are carrying out several tests with bodywork vents to check the bike's different reactions to side winds and to see what turn-in in curves is like." The ggg SBK F03 also had its shakedown test at the Mugello circuit. "The new 999 is greatl" said Ducati DFX's Steve Martin, who handled the testing duties for Ducati Corse. "Even though it is mak· ing its track debut, the bike already looks and feels very promising. Southern California's Fastrack Rid· ers was recently purchased from by David Pyles and Larry Pointer, from the company's previous owner Tom Sera. Fastrack Riders is an organization that promotes track days at Willow Springs International Raceway, in Rosemond, California, and California Speedway, in Fontana, California. It is the goal of Pyles and Pointer to take the "track day" experience to a new level. Key ingredients to achieving that goal are as follows, according to Fastrack's new owners: a friendly staff, well-organized events, a quality lunch provided by Fastrack Riders, a training and orientation class which follows a set curriculum for the New Riders Safety Orientation School, manuals provided to the new riders who attend the school, an easy registration process online as well as at the track, an interactive website, and doing everything possible to keep the event safe, and on time. Fastrack Riders has four groups for participants: Super Street (for the first-time track rider), Intermediate, Advanced (for club racers and riders limitations on passing), and Club (for fast club racers looking for track time). Seven riding sessions per group, per day are common at Fastrack Riders, so plenty of track time is available. Pyles recently announced that Fastrack Riders will not run at Willow Springs International Raceway in 2003. The owners of Willow Springs informed Fastrack Riders they will not be given the Fridays before the Willow Springs Motorcycle Club (WSMC) events, as has been the case for the last 10 years. It is the intent of Fastrack Riders to not only provide track days at California Speedway using both the "Infield Course" and the "AMA Track," but to create a racing series, which will include a minimum of six race weekends in 2903. Fastrack Riders has several specials for California Speedway in an effort to get riders to come out and experience the difference. It is the intent of Fastrack Riders to finish out the season at Willow Springs, staging events the Friday before WSMC and the Monday following WSMC. Contact Fastrack Riders at www.fastrackriders.com or call 877/560-2233. o o o c o o B 8 c I t c c [ c 8 o c o o Road racer Matt Wait was dismissed from the Synergy Racing Technologies team after the previous Formula USA race at Mosport International Raceway, the team making the move because of Wait's repeated head injuries, according to one of the team owners. "We didn't feel that that was going to be a good long-term situation," team owner Matt Spiwak, who consulted with Honda, one of the team's suppliers, said. Spiwak, one of two team owners, said that Wait had suffered a concussion at Mosport in B o c o 92 AUGUST 14, 2002' cue I a Saturday crash that destroyed one of the SRT Hondas. It was his second concussion in a month, and he was unconscious for five minutes. After the crash, Wait' was prevented from continuing by Canadian and FUSA offiCials who wanted him to wait 24 hours before getting clearance. Wait presented officials with a note from a doctor, but they didn't feel it was valid. He was asked to undergo a 16-point test, but failed the first six tests, after which it was stopped, according to Glenn Dekoven, another of the SRT team owners. Team owner Spiwak told him after the race that they wanted him to get checked out if he wanted to race at Road America. Wait was hoping to ride at an FUSA dirt track in Lexington, Kentucky, the weekend between Mosport and Road America, though Spiwak said that wasn't likely. The dirt track wasn't one of the FUSA Grand National Championship races, and that was the title the team was primarily pursuing. In order to get clearance, Wait took a 27 -hour Greyhound bus ride from Buffalo, New York, to little Rock, Arkansas, to visit a friend and also to see a neurologist who had been recommended by his doctor in Los Angeles. Wait said the Little Rock physician gave him a clean bill of health, faxing the results of an MRI and physical to FUSA officials. Dekoven said he never received the doctor's results. It was while he was in the doctor's office in little Rock that he was released by the team. "They're like, 'Things changed, sorry, .. Wait said. The situation is further complicated because Wait never had a signed contract with the team, only a letter of intent. Wait claims that he's still owed travel and expense money. Dekoven says otherwise. Wait showed up at Road America with his helmet and leathers and a desire to ride. He started the Engine Ice Team Challenge with one team, only to see his partner destroy the motorcycle in a crash. FUSA. officials n e _ s e It is more aerodynamic and handles better than the 998. Compared with the 998 RS 'client' bike I race with, the latest version of the Testastretta engine has got a lot more torque, as well as the same superb driveability." "Our company is working extremely hard in this period," declared Ducati Corse managing director Claudio Domenicali. "To face up to these commitments, Ducati Corse has recently grown in size and we now have around 100 people all working with the same passionate aim. For this reason, we thought that it would be a good idea to invite everyone to Mugello to see our 'creations' in action before the summer holiday break." allowed him to switch to a different team, Big Show Racing, and the team rode to victory in the GTU class, finishing fourth overall. The team is currently second in GTU points. For the Pro Honda Oils Sportbike class, Wait again rode the GSX-R600 for Brian Salazar's Big Show Racing. He also secured an Unlimited Superbike ride with Brent Wiffie's Team W-3 Racing. After talking with a number of potential replacements, Synergy recruited Canada Honda rider Frank Trombino for the Unlimited Superbike slot. "It's kind of an evaluation weekend," Spiwak said. The team is also helping Canadian Andrew Nelson, an AMA regular on Miguel DuHamel's back-up F-4i, and Cory West, both in Sportbike. Texan Meryl Sherb, who dirt tracks for SRT, was entered in a number of the Expert CCS races. Spiwak reported that the team had signed 1stLegal.com as a sponsor for the remainder of the series. If the conditions are right, Aprilia USA will enter the AMA/Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike wars, according to Robert Pandya, Aprilia USA's national promotions and public relations manager. There are a number of issues to be resolved: homologation, rules, sponsorship, riders, etc. "We know we need to be there and the company's intention is to be there. We're not going to do it uniess we can do it right," Pandya said. Homologation is the first issue. Pandya speculated that the AMA was worried about a lack of participation by the manufacturers, given the impending rules changes, and is eager to include new makes. In order to be homologated for AMA Pro Racing, target numbers are set by the size of the manufacturer. Originally, Aprilia was deemed a large manufacturer, though the AMA made that distinction based on combined motorcycle and scooter sales. Aprilia was told they'd have 10 build 500 of the ~~~ RSV-1000SP Milles worldwide. Aprilia made the case that they should be considered a smaller manufacturer, since they sell far more scooters than motorcycles, and the AMA agreed. To make homologation, they need to build 150 SPs worldwide and bring 50 into the U.S. Currently, there are 24 SPs in the U.S., 18 through Aprilia and six through the gray market. Pandya said they wouldn't race without documentation for 50 units, and that Aprilia Racing said they could make the additional SPs for the U.S. "To race, we need the FIM rules to be accepted across the board," Pandya said of the currently unsettled rules situation. "We can't develop parallel machines [for AMA and World Superbike)." FIM rules, as currently proposed, allow virtually unlimited engine modifications forward of the induction system, with restrictions only on the intake. As to who would run the team, Pandya said he'd been in touch with a number of teams and team managers, some with a long history on other brands. He's also discussed sponsorship with firms both inside and outside the industry. "I don't think we could possibly do it without an outside sponsor," Pandya said. In the end, racing is a marketing tool. "The first thing we want to make really clear to the public is that we know racing is important. We're not ignoring it. Racing is a huge part of Aprilia. If Aprilia goes racing in the U.S., it's critical that it's a top-shelf effort," Pandya said. The job right now is to sell street bikes. "We're still 3D-percent down on where the dealer numbers need to be," Pandya said. Cannondale recently sent us a note indicating that it is officially launching Cannondale motorsports in the European market. First shipments to several European countries have already left the docks, and Cannondale will be displaying its entire 2003 line at the Intermot eN show in Germany next month.