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/128323
Aprilia To AMA Superbikes! Brief'Y··· Aprilla Racing announced at Infineo n Raceway in Sonoma, Californ ia, on Saturday, May I that the brand would make its AHA Superbike Series debut as early as June of this year. The tearn will feature Mike Hale and Matt Wait as its two riders, with noted crew chief Vic Fasola handling the development of the Mille Factory RSVlooo V-twin. "We've been dying to go racing for a long time now, and it' s finally going to happen," said Robert PandIya, Aprilia's public The Max BiaggiNalentlno Rossi battle in South Africa two wee ks ago broke all viewing records on Italian television. Over II million Italianviewers tuned in for the four-hour broadcast, which beat the previous record for a MotoGP event - the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello last year. That represented a 3S.S percent market share with over 7 In millionviewers watch ing the actual race . Nearly three millionSpanish viewers tuned Into the race, which was close to a 30 percent market share , while both British and German broadcasts relations man . David Lewis, Hale and Wait's manager, will run the team , called ltalica Racing. Lewis said that Fasola is expecting to get his new Aprilias on Monday, May 3, and will immediatelybegin development of the bike. The tearn expects to begin testing this month . "We will start racing in June; that' s the goal:' Lewissaid. "Vic Fasola would have to decide that. I wanted to race th is month, but that was overly enthusiastic maybe. I'm not ove rly concerned with the chassis development, but we definitely have some work to do with the motor. We want to make sure it's durable. We're racing the "We will start racing in June; that's the goal." - David Lewis Mille Factory and then taking advantage of every modification the rules allow. That's the bike we will be racing." Former Hollywood stuntman and curre nt movie director Jeff Jensen is funding the ltalica Racing tearn - without financial help from the Apriliafactory in Italy, accord ing to Lewis. "We hope to get a lot of help from Italy , but we are prepared to do it from here if need be," Lewis said. "We are definitely starting the development from here, but Italy will be sending some parts initially and then doing development simultaneously with us. The actualtearn will be located In California, but we may have an engine shop located back East as well. That might make good sense, beca use we'll be on the East Coast a lot very soon anyway. Vic [Fasola] has a couple of guys who already have an engine shop back there anyway, and they' ll be starting this week , tearing the motors down and doing some rebuilds." Lewis said the tearn has yet to do a tire deal. "We haven't finalized a tire deal yet , but we've had interest from all three of the majors Dunlop, Pirelli and Michelin:' Lewis said. As for the financial troubles that Aprilla Italy is rumored to be having, Lewis said they would have no effect on the Italica team. "Obviously, I'm not worried about It, or we wou ldn't be making this annou nce ment today," Lewis said. "The tearn is Aprilia will take part In the AMA Superbike ree being funded by Jeff [jensen] and ing , beginning sometime in June. It will do so with the people behind him, and riders Man Wait (left) and Mike Hale (right) . we 're getting help from Aprilia USA and some parts help and is unbelievable. That enthus iasm - hopefulmotorcycles from Italy Where we're really ly we can carry that Into some good results . looking for additional support from Italy is on the track and just get out there and fly on the engine development side. It's importhe banner for Aprilia and help get some tant to get started now so that by next year good results for them ." It' s a fully competitive program ." The 27-year-old Wait, who last compet Hale and Wait will be contracted ed in the Formula USA Series on through the 200S season , according to Kneedragger.com-backed Yamahas, is also Lewis. thrilled to be getting a shot at the AHA "It's pre tty exciting to be back," said Superbike class. According to the team , Hale, a racer who has competed in AHA Wait got their atten tion when he tested the Superbike, World Superblke and 500cc Moto GuzzJ MGSO I at Willow Springs durGrand Prix. "This Is my first National in ing the off-season. about a year here in America. This is where "I'm really excited to be back here getI grew up, racing is in my blood, so I'm ting going with racing again, and I'm really excited about being back in the saddle. I'm happy to be with Aprilia," Wait said. ':All the looking forward to the opportunity and the people at Aprilla are really awesome peochallenge. I haven't ridden a V-twin in a few ple. It's a great motorcycle, and it's a great years, but when I did, I had a very good group of people behind us. I'm really looktime with it and enjoyed it. The enthusiasm ing forward to some great results , testing that Aprilia, David, Jeff, Bill, Robert Pandya and getting going here. " and everyone associated with this program Paul Carruthers Schwantz To Road Race Again For the first time since the Japanese Grand Prix in 1995, former Soocc World Champion Kevin Schwantz will compete in a road race the 801 d'Or 24 Hour Endurance race in Septem ber. Schwantz will team with two journalists from the Frenc h magazine Moto Revue on a Suzuki France GSX·Rlooo. "I'm gonna ride with some journalists: ' Schwantz said on May I at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California. ':After the [GSX-R7S0] Intro in Japan, I said, 'Let' s ride a 750 because at Magny-Cou rs you don't need a 1000: but I guess allthe stuff that Suzuki France has as far as sett ing up an end urance bike is for a 1000. It's the weekend we don't have anything over he re, and I don't have any schools. After I fin- ish my schoo ls in Germany and France, I'll stay for an extra we ek and test the bike in August and go back and race it in Se ptember." So what made Schwantz decide to go back to road racing after all these years? "Somebody called and said, 'Hey, do you want to attracted over one million viewers . According to the Motorcycle Riders Foundat ion (MRF), under unanimous consent, the U.S. Senate passed S. 16B, sponsored by Senator Ben "Nighthorse" Campbell (R-CO), a resolution designating May 2004 as "National Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month." Campbell, who is retiring at the end of this Congress , has long been a champion of motorcyclists and an avid rider himself."This resolution will serve as a nag to folks across the country that motorcycle safety and awareness are key planks in the MRF platform." said Jeff Hennie, MRF vice president of government relations. "It's these types of things that show our elected officials InWashington just how dedicated and involved motorcyclists are ." According to the FIM, an ti ·doping tests were carried out at the third round of the Motocross World Champ ionship, held in Agueda, Portugal, on April 4. Allthe samples tested showed the absence of any banned substances . The riders tested were: Mickael Pichon, James Noble , Joshua Cop pins, Andrew McFarlane, Ben Townley and lames Dobb (GBR. MX2). team is what made Schwantz ultimately decide that this wasn't a bad way to go back and have some fun. ~ "It's an endurance race, ~ and I'll let someo ne else start ~ and get all the excitement ~ done with, and I'll just go out ~ and do time on the bike: ' the ijJ 1993 World Champion said. ; "Because it' s with a couple of Qjournalists, I feel like the ~ opportunityto win isn't there 11. do an endurance race?' .. Schwantz said. The fact that the 801 the pressure of going out and running up front and winn ing the race isn't there . I want to go back and see how my hands hold up and see how much fun I can make out of it." Pa ul Carruthers d'Or is an endurance race and that he's on a rather low-key, jo urna list-led www.cyclenews.com The Connecticut Department of Transportation 's (Conn Dot) Division of Highway Safety has officially launched a statewide motorcycle rider impairme nt campaign. Funded by a grant from the National HIghway Traffic Safety Administration, "O pen the Throttle, Not the Bottle" aims to bring awareness to riders about the percentage of impairment-related motorcycle crashes, as well as encourage safe motorcycle riding practices. Last year in Connecticut, 40 pe rcent of motorcycle fatalities involved alcohol, according to ConnDot. "This perce ntage is unacceptab le," says Raymond C. GaulinJr., highway safety management specialist in the DOT. "The state's motorcycle rider educa tion program addresses the importance of riding sober. H ow ever, its main purpose is to teach riders about over - all motorcycle safety. For more information, visit www.ride4ever.org. Harley-Davidson's Authorized Rentals has announced its Top 10 Riding Destina· tions for 2004 . The top lOis as follows: I. California - Highway I; 2. Hawaii (Maui)Highway 360; 3. Oregon - Highway 3B; 4. Colorado - Highway 34; S. North Carolina The Blue Ridge Parkway; 6. Florida - US Highway I; 7. Maine - Highway I; B. Louisiana/Mississippi - Highway 61 North, Conrinued on p!!ge II CYCLE NEWS • MAY 12, 2004 9