DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (December 21, 2011) - Officials from AMA Pro Racing and GoPro® have announced an exclusive multi-year partnership naming GoPro as the Official Camera of AMA Pro Road Racing and the title sponsor of the AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike class. In addition, AMA Pro Racing will name a special year-end points fund after GoPro for the athletic heroes that race in the Daytona SportBike division.
The takeover of Infront by Bridgepoint Capital has cleared the final hurdle. Earlier this week, the European Commission Competition Directorate General announced that there were no objections to having the rights holders to both the MotoGP and World Superbike series being owned by one company, as neither racing series would be constrained by having the same owner.
Although obtaining clearance from the EU was a formality, with few observers expecting the deal to be blocked, it was a necessary step given the size of the two companies involved. Both Bridgepoint Capital and Infront Sports and Media (the parent company of Infront Motor Sports) were large enough to require approval under European Union mergers legislation. That has little to do with the size of either MotoGP or World Superbikes, however: neither Dorna nor Infront Motor Sports represents anything more than a small fraction of the total turnover of their respective parents, Bridgepoint and Infront Sports and Media. The parents, however, were considered worthy of examination.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (December 22, 2011) - Motorcycle-Superstore.com, the nation's leading online motorcycle gear, parts and accessories retailer and title sponsor of the AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport division of AMA Pro Road Racing is proud to announce a $50,000 contingency program for AMA Pro SuperSport riders that wear a Motorcycle-Superstore.com-branded Bell helmet during the 2012 season. This special helmet will only be available through Motorcycle-Superstore.com and riders must also register at www.motorcycle-superstore.com/rider-support to be eligible for the awards.
As of Friday 23 December the official WorldSBK.com website will be closing down for the festive season break but it will be back online at the start of the new year with all the news you need to keep up with the latest developments in the championships.
With a strong line-up of riders and teams already committed to 2012, the new season is already shaping up well, and the entry-list is looking good in both the World Superbike and World Supersport categories.
The new season will begin in earnest with the official test at Phillip Island in Australia on 20-21 February, and the first race takes place at the same Australian venue on Sunday 26.
On December 28 the website will undergo a revamp with the introduction of new logos, backgrounds and chromatic elements to bring it in line with the 2012 championship identity, so join us again soon for another passionate season of Pure Motorsport!
It says much about the ambition of the Effenbert-Liberty Ducati team that despite putting together a strong first year WSBK effort in 2011, and seeing both Sylvain Guintoli and Jakub Smrz score podiums and almost win races outright, they are only partially satisfied by their overall performance.
The team's Marketing Director, Roberto Bocchiola, explained why the 2011 season was bittersweet for the Czech-based�squad, when most others only saw it as a great debut. "We all wished and hoped we could do better, that is why we went into racing, not to end up sixth or fourth or whatever, but we have to understand that it was our first WSBK season," he said. "We had some lucky and unlucky moments, but we should be quite happy, even thought we wished, hoped and thought we could have managed even better results. If we look back and consider this is our first season we should not be too hard on ourselves and now we will fight to do better next year."
Several team members are experienced WSBK campaigners and the core of the squad is indeed the former Sterilgarda team, who evidently know how to make Ducatis go fast, but the impact the overall team made was impressive, especially as Guintoli was injured for much of the early season. Despite this he finished on the podium three times from MMP onwards, and was sixth in the final points tally, ahead of many factory riders. His team-mate Smrz was also on the podium three times, but inconsistency in overall performance kept him in 14th place.
"In 2012 we want Kuba to have the right season, not to repeat a similar season like 2011," continued Bocchiola. "We want him to ride at his standards, so he will have a good season, a regular season at a good level. Sylvain, if things go his way then next year he will improve again. When you look at this year, when he recovered his strength and confidence after his early injury, results were coming and it could have been even a little bit better, because he got close to winning a couple of times. We believe that with the experience we have accumulated and with Sylvain and the team knowing each other better, with no bad luck Sylvain is going to improve a bit more. Surely, we hope Sylvain can get into the top five, if not the top three."
In 2012 the team will expand on two fronts, WSBK and in the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup, and maybe things are still to grow in one side of the Effenbert - Liberty Team. "We have confirmed three riders in Superbike, including Maxime Berger, in two official teams," said Roberto. "We have also confirmed Brett McCormick in Superstock. There will be no more in Superbike but and we are not completely closed in Superstock. There is a 50% possibility that we will maybe have one more Superstock rider."
Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Nissan, Middle East, Racing
Continue reading Nissan fielding driving team of only GT Academy winners for Dubai 24 Hours
Nissan fielding driving team of only GT Academy winners for Dubai 24 Hours originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsRiley-D\\\\\\\'Hondt Motorsports KEVIN WINDHAM RYAN VILLIPOTO
TheNASCARInsiders.com
Follow the Insiders on Twitter or be a fan on Facebook!
Moose Racing News Release
Q: FIrst off, congrats on a great season. You finished third in the EnduroCross series and fifth in the WORCS series. How do you feel your season went in 2011?
Justin Soule on the EnduroCross podium in Las Vegas
(Courtesy of Kawasaki)
Justin Soule: It was a good season overall. To me, a season you finish healthy is always a good season, and I was able to finish with my health. I felt like a rode really well at some rounds and then other rounds I wasn’t able to ride to my potential, so that was a little frustrating at times. With the ups and downs, my results were more inconsistent and I wasn’t really thrilled about that. I’ve been a pro for a while, and I felt that this season I was able to learn the most about myself as a rider, in terms of what works best for me and how I handle certain situations mentally. It really gets me excited to start racing in 2012.
Q: As some people know, off-road racers don’t get much of an off-season with racing usually going from January to November. As short as it is, have you been able to take advantage of the downtime you have had so far?
J.S.: I’ve always been one to keep up with my training so I’ve still be doing some off-season gym workouts, which isn’t as crazy compared to my season workouts, but I still want to stay on it. I did get Lasik eye surgery, which forced me to be off the bike a little bit while my eyes healed up. It’s funny because at the end of the year, I can’t wait for it to be over so I can get a breather, but when that’s finally available, I want to get back out and ride. It was good to get the eye surgery and it did force me to relax a little bit. Being off the bike only makes me want to get back out there.
Q: Now that you have put another good season in the books, what are you looking forward to most about the 2012 season?
Justin Soule finished third at the final WORCS race
(Courtesy of Kawasaki)
J.S.: To be honest, my new mantra and what I learned about myself over this past year. I wouldn’t say I was a head case, but I was definitely one to over analyze things. I was strong with my cardio and strength, but I don’t think I was using the muscle in my head to its full advantage. I’m looking forward to trying out the new brain, if you will, and seeing how much farther that will take me. I know I have the speed and fitness, I just needed to get my head out of the way to help me work to my full potential. I’m really excited to get back out there and try to get some wins.
Q: Your 2012 race schedule is a bit different than 2011. WORCS goes straight through from January and ends in September, while EnduroCross starts in May rather than July. Do you think the change will be beneficial, or did you like the old schedule?
J.S.: I am interested to see how it changes things with our testing schedules and racing through the summer for WORCS. I’ve always been one that likes to race one thing and then the other. I’m not as big of a fan when they intertwine, especially because they are so different. But I have been riding the two series for a couple of years now and I think I’ve developed a good system for it so I am able to go back and forth. I do like racing, so I can’t complain too much when I have something to line-up for.
Q: This is your third year as a pro being a part of Moose Racing. How have you liked being a part of that team?
Justin Soule's No. 3 EnduroCross bike
(Courtesy of Kawasaki)
J.S.: I’ve always liked racing with Moose Racing. I was with them as an amateur and have been around the group for a long time. It has felt like family and I always enjoy that when I get that feeling with my sponsors. I am a people person and I really like being around people that enjoy racing and are as passionate about it as much as I am. I like that about the Moose Racing team.
Stay tuned to MooseRacing.com for the latest race updates, gear and accessories. Also follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the most up-to-date news from Moose Racing.
About Moose and Moose Utility Division
As the industry leader in motorcycle/ATV parts and accessories, Moose has dedicated itself to providing riders and racers alike with quality and high performance products. With thousands of items ranging from riding gear, jackets and boots to gaskets, t-handles and fender bags, Moose has you covered. Whether you're trail riding with friends, hunting in the woods or jumping Supercross triples, Moose offers the most comprehensive list of products in the industry to satisfy all your riding needs.
About Parts Unlimited
Parts Unlimited is the world's largest distributor of aftermarket accessories in the powersports industry and is owned by LeMans Corporation headquartered in Janesville, Wisconsin. Parts Unlimited sells to over 12,000 dealerships world wide and continues to expand its market penetration with its sister companies, Parts Canada, Parts Europe and Drag Specialties.
Parts Unlimited continues to promote racing through its campaign WE SUPPORT THE SPORT®, helping to drive consumers to dealerships, while entertaining its dealers through hospitalities at the events it sponsors.
While Senior Editor Trevitt has been working unofficially with racer Javelin Broderick for the past year, the magazine and Dynojet/ZAG Racing have recently made it official: Sport Rider will sponsor Javelin and the team for the 2012 AMA SuperSport season.
Welcome to the Weekly Dirt, your one-stop source for all things off-road. With the 2011 race season wrapping up and cooler weather approaching, the off-road race scene is playing host to some amazing year-end battles as all of the various points chases are decided. Let's jump right in...
Road 2 Recovery - News Release
Carlsbad, CA –From Ian Trettel: "Currently I am doing therapy at Shands Rehab Center in Gainsville, FL 3-4 days per week or as much as they can get me in. I'm on my feet 24/7 without any assistance devices and I'm taking small college courses at an adult community center to brush up on some school stuff to get back into the school community as soon as I can. I'm going to the gym 3-4 nights a week and I'm getting stronger. I still obviously have a lot of work to do, but I'm headed in the right direction for sure."
The Road 2 Recovery is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to helping AMA licensed professional motocross/supercross riders with financial assistance if they sustain career ending injuries as well as providing motivational, emotional, and spiritual support to these individuals and their families. For more information and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Road 2 Recovery at (602) 578-5339 or info@road2recovery.com
There has been much speculation on the legality or otherwise of the Aprilia RSV4-based bike to be used by a number of teams operating under the CRT rules in MotoGP in 2012. With the presence of so many members of the Aprilia test team at the recent Valencia and Jerez tests, and first Alex Hofmann and then Randy de Puniet riding a World Superbike spec RSV4R, there were claims that the Aprilia CRT machine was a clear violation of the principle behind the Claiming Rule Team concept.
The Aspar team have taken the criticism to heart, and in an interview with the Spanish magazine Motociclismo, team director Gino Borsoi was at pains to state the team's intention of staying within the CRT rules. Borsoi described at some length the status of the Aprilia project, the direction they are taking and the plans for the future. The project had started a couple of months ago, Borsoi told Motociclismo, after Aspar had decided to run two CRT machines instead of the single Ducati that the squad had run in 2010 and 2011.
Road 2 Recovery - News Release
Carlsbad, CA –From Ian Trettel: "Currently I am doing therapy at Shands Rehab Center in Gainsville, FL 3-4 days per week or as much as they can get me in. I'm on my feet 24/7 without any assistance devices and I'm taking small college courses at an adult community center to brush up on some school stuff to get back into the school community as soon as I can. I'm going to the gym 3-4 nights a week and I'm getting stronger. I still obviously have a lot of work to do, but I'm headed in the right direction for sure."
The Road 2 Recovery is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to helping AMA licensed professional motocross/supercross riders with financial assistance if they sustain career ending injuries as well as providing motivational, emotional, and spiritual support to these individuals and their families. For more information and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Road 2 Recovery at (602) 578-5339 or info@road2recovery.com
Thomas Caiani has signed for Kuja Racing and the Swiss rider will now take part in the 2012 FIM Supersport World Championship for the Milan-based team on a Honda CBR600RR.
23-year-old Caiani was born on September 27, 1988 and despite his young age he has already raced in the Spanish, Italian and German domestic championships as well as in the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup, where he made his debut last year. Caiani already knows Maurizio Cucchiarini's Kuja Racing team for whom he raced a Supersport machine for the first time at Magny-Cours in October. The young Swiss rider, who won the under-21 trophy in Italian CIV Superstock 600 in 2008 and placed third in 2009, will get down to testing the Honda CBR600 soon.
Team Owner/Manager Maurizio Cucchiarini declared: "We are delighted to include Tom in our plans, which in 2012 will see us involved with a team in World Supersport, and in all probability in Superstock 600. I am confident in his abilities, and we'll give him all of our support for him to demonstrate his potential."
"I am happy to have reached an agreement with Kuja Racing", said Caiani. "In the last two rounds, the feeling with the team was a good one and this is very important to help me to go well. Maurizio and his team believe in me and I'll do everything possible to score some good results. A big thanks to everyone who will support me and follow me in this adventure".
BREA, CA (December 7, 2011) - American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC) is proud to announce the allocation of more than $4.2 million in contingency for the 2012 Motocross and Road Race seasons in the United States. For nearly three decades, ASMC has provided extensive contingency support to amateur and pro racers alike, and the 2012 season will be no different. Suzuki continues to reward racers who purchase the RM/RM-Z and GSX-R product lines and, in turn, support Suzuki dealers.
AMA Arenacross Series Ready to Fire Up Tomorrow Night in Des Moines
Leon Haslam continues to top the unofficial timesheets on the second day of the World Superbike test at Portimao. The factory BMW rider took four tenths off his time from yesterday, setting his fastest time on race tires, while focussing mainly on chassis set up. Factory Aprilia man Eugene Laverty was 2nd quickest, and just a tenth off Haslam's time, despite a big highside in the early afternoon, which knocked the wind out of the Irishman but did not prevent him from going straight back out again.
Satellite BMW Italia rider Ayrton Badovini continues to impress, setting the 3rd fastest time once again, the 1'43.4 coming as part of a long series of laps in the low 1'43s, and putting him two tenths ahead of the 2010 World Champion Max Biaggi. Biaggi had a few small parts to test, but his main focus is on recovering his form after spending the last three months on and off the bike since breaking his foot at the Nurburgring. Reigning World Supersport Chaz Davies was 5th fastest, a second off Haslam's time, and spent his time trying to get his head round the many complexities of a Superbike machine, after having far fewer options for adjustment on his Supersport machine in 2011.
