Runner-up slot and a cracked bone for Biaggi at Donington

World Superbike Press Release

Max Biaggi may have powered his Aprilia RSV4 to a best-ever second place result in the Italian factory's fledgling WSB year, but he also came away from Donington Park with a cracked bone in his right foot. On lap 4 of the second race Biaggi lost his front tire at the Melbourne hairpin and slipped to the ground.

He quickly got back on his bike and returned to the race, but on re-entry, Max came into contact with Polita (Celani Suzuki) along the outer curb and slipped back to twentieth place. During the crash, the Roman rider ended up with a bruise and a minor injury to the third metatarsal of his right foot, but he still managed to finish the race in twentieth place. The degree of his injuries will not prevent Max from participating in the Aprilia's private test run on the Brno track that is scheduled for July 1st and 2nd.

"I'm very pleased with the result of race 1," declared Biaggi. "After some difficult trials, we finally found the right tires and balance, even though we had a few problems during the warm-up. We had a great race, and we managed to set a pace that was just under the track record. I must compliment Ben, because he set an incredible pace. At the last chicane, the bike died out suddenly, but fortunately it started again and because of the lead I had gained over Haga, I still managed to cross the finish line in second place. During the second race, I felt the vibrations a lot more, it was probably because of the fact that there wasn't as much grip on the track which would also explain why there were so many falls. I started off well and I was able to keep up with Spies' pace, but during the fourth lap I entered the hairpin the same way I always do and about halfway through, I lost the front tire. I managed to keep the motorcycle running, but re-entering from the outer curb area, I was hit by another driver and ended up with this minor injury to my foot. I'm disappointed because I could have had another podium finish."

July Becomes WSBK Testing Month

World Superbike Press Release

In the four-week break between the Donington race and the next round, several teams will be taking part in a series of development tests.

Aprilia are out testing today and tomorrow at the AutoMotodrom Brno in view of the race there on July 26. Max Biaggi and Shinya Nakano, who obtained good overall results at Donington, will test on their own at the Czech track, which has been selected as testing circuit by the Italian manufacturer.

BMW on the other hand are going to Mugello for two days of testing on July 8 and 9.

On Wednesday and Thursday, July 15 and 16, two days of Superbike and Supersport testing have been organized by Infront Motor Sports at the Imola circuit, which has undergone recent modifications.

H-D Softail Recall

Harely-Davidson Recalling More Than 11,000 Bikes

Press Release

Harley-Davidson is recalling up to 11,005 of its 2008 FXSTSSE2 Screamin' Eagle Softails, 2008-2009 FLSTSB Softail Cross Bones and 2009 FXSTSSE3 CVO Softail Springers because a stud at the brake reaction link may fall out.

If the "acorn" stud fell out, the front brake and fender assembly would no longer be adequately retained.

The Screamin' Eagle Softail sold for a base price of $24,995, the Cross Bones sells for a base price of $16,999, and the CVO Softail Springer retails for a base price of $26,999.

Dealers have been asked to replace the existing acorn stud with a new stud and retaining clip. Owners may contact the OEM at 414-343-4056.

Surgery a success, Haga returning to Italy

World Superbike Press Release

At 5 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, Ducati Xerox rider Noriyuki Haga underwent successful surgery at the Derby City Hospital. Having fractured the ulna in his right arm in Sunday’s crash at Donington Park, Noriyuki today had a plate and screws inserted to set the bone. The surgical team deemed the surgery a success and there were no unforeseen complications.

Prior to the operation, medical staff took a closer look at his right shoulder blade and an x-ray unfortunately confirmed that he has multiple fractures to his left scapula. The scapula will not necessitate surgical intervention and the bone should knit itself back together in time; this complication should not prolong Noriyuki's recovery time. The Japanese rider should be discharged from hospital today and he and his family will fly back to Italy so that Noriyuki can begin the necessary physiotherapy treatment.

The Ducati Xerox rider will not participate in the next tests at Imola but it is foreseen that he will compete in the next round at Brno.

Rossi’s 100 GP wins – the statistics

Some facts and figures relating to Valentino Rossi’s remarkable 100 career wins, since his first victory in the 125cc class in Brno in 1996

MotoGP Press Release

With his victory at the Alice TT Assen Valentino Rossi became only the second rider ever to reach the milestone of 100 Grand Prix victories, as motogp.com documented in Monday’s video tributes to the Fiat Yamaha star.

Today we offer a selection of statistics relating to Rossi’s colorful and triumphant march to a century of GP successes, which along the way have brought him eight World titles across the three Grand Prix classes:

• The 100 victories have come from 217 Grand Prix starts – a win rate over his career of 46.1%. Rossi has won on six different types of motorcycle: 125cc Aprilia (12 wins), 250cc Aprilia (14 wins), 500cc Honda (13 wins), 990cc Honda (20 wins), 990cc Yamaha (25 wins) and 800cc Yamaha (16 wins).
• His 41 wins riding for Yamaha is more than any other rider. The second most successful Yamaha rider is Phil Read with 39 victories.
• Rossi has won Grand Prix races at 27 different circuits. The circuits at which he has had most success are Mugello and Catalunya with nine wins at each.
• The most wins Rossi has had in a single season is 11, which he has achieved on four occasions: 1997 (125cc), 2001 (500cc), 2002 and 2005 in MotoGP.
• His 11 wins in 1997 is a record for most victories in a single season in the 125cc class.
• Rossi’s 74 race victories in the premier-class is more than any other rider in the 61-year history of Grand Prix racing.
• With his victory in Jerez this year Valentino Rossi became the first rider to achieve at least one Grand Prix victory for 14 successive seasons.
• The total length of his winning career from his first win in the 125cc race at the Czech GP in 1996 to his latest victory at Assen, is 12 years 313 days. Only four riders have had a longer winning career in Grand Prix racing: Loris Reggiani, Phil Read, Angel Nieto and Loris Capirossi.

KTM 990 ready for AMA Daytona Sportbike

KTM 990 Super Duke Homologated For AMA Pro Daytona SportBike, Will Debut At Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

AMA Pro Racing Press Release

The AMA Pro Daytona SportBike presented by AMSOIL class is already one of the most diverse divisions in major league motorcycle road racing, but the competition is going to get even more interesting beginning with this weekend's Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

The KTM 990 Super Duke is the 11th different motorcycle approved and homologated for AMA Pro Daytona SportBike competition, and one of the unique twin cylinder bikes will be debuted this weekend at Mazda Raceway. The California-based Tri-Valley Moto team and rider Eric Gulbransen will field the No. 394 KTM 990 Super Duke in Sunday's AMA Pro Daytona SportBike final.

"We have seen outstanding racing this year in AMA Pro Daytona SportBike presented by AMSOIL and that is due to the incredible talent of the teams and riders and the performance of a diverse line-up of motorcycles," said AMA Pro Racing President Roger Edmondson. "AMA Pro Daytona SportBike is now home to 11 different motorcycles from nine different manufacturers and the parity we have seen in the on-track performance has been unmatched at this level. We welcome KTM and Tri-Valley Moto to the series and know they will be a competitive addition to an already outstanding class."

The Austrian-made KTM brand has been ridden to more than 90 motorcycle championships around the world but the AMA Pro Daytona SportBike debut will be the manufacturer's first experience in North America at this level.

Tri-Valley Moto is based in Livermore, California and Gulbransen is a veteran California rider from Menlo Park, who also has extensive experience racing Ducatis.

Dual 23-lap/50-mile sprints for AMA Pro Daytona SportBike and AMA Pro National Guard American Superbike presented by Parts Unlimited will bring the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix weekend to a close on Sunday, July 5. The Daytona SportBike race begins at 3:30 p.m. local time and will be followed directly by the American Superbike race at 4:15 p.m.

AMA Pro Flat Track: Lima, Ohio

Smith makes late race pass payoff

AMA Pro Flat Track Press Release

The AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Twins Championship rolled into Lima, Ohio for round three of the nine race series and for the second year in a row the 25 lap National would be decided in the waning laps. The exciting race, at times, featured four to five riders challenging for the lead, but in the end it came down to Michigan neighbors Jared Mees and Bryan Smith battling for the win.

Blue Springs Screamin’ Eagle's Mees led the most laps, but Screamin' Eagle Moroney's Harley-Davidson's Smith was able to pull out the victory. "It was just like racing back on the ice, where we spend most of our winters racing each other," said Smith. "I found a better line on the bottom in turns one and two and that's where I made up a lot of ground. That last lap, we got together pretty, but I was able to hang on."

It marked the second time in three races that Smith has crossed the finish line in first, but Smith was striped of his Springfield win because of a slight fuel infraction. There was no such problem this time and the popular Harley rider notched his first "official" win in 2009.

The 4-Lap George Roeder Dash which featured the top 2 from each Expert Twins heat race with a $2500 check to the winner provided back and forth racing until Carr decided it was time to check out on lap 3 to take the win.

Mees got the hole shot when the eighteen rider hit the first turn and looked to be on his way to his third Lima National win. Seven-time AMA Grand National Champion Chris Carr obviously had ideas. The Chris Carr Racing / Lancaster Harley-Davidson backed Carr, who is looking for his 200th Grand National podium, grabbed the lead on lap six and it appeared Carr had much more, than "just" a podium on his mind.

Carr held the front through lap ten, but then Mees grabbed the lead for a lap. Just as quickly Carr had the point back and would hold it through lap thirteen. The lead slipped from Carr's grasp for good on lap fourteen with Mees back up front.

Carr's troubles wee far from over as first Smith, then last week's winner, Halbert Family / Kings Kustom's Sammy Halbert got by. All attention was now focused on the leaders as Smith reeled in Mees. Officially Smith would lead the last three laps, but that was only at the finish line as the two fought it out to the end.

Carr's slide was not complete however as 2008 Rookie of the Year, Screamin' Eagle / White's Harley-Davidson's Matt Weidman made a big late race charge to move into fourth, his best GNC finish ever. Memphis Shades' JR Schnabel dropped Carr to sixth on the last lap.
Rogers Lake Racing's Shaun Russell, National Cycle's Brandan Bergen, Eric Snedeker Racing's Ricky Marshall and SuperTrapp's Jake Johnson filled out the top ten.

Honda Oils / Total Control Racing / Woody Kyle Racing's Stephen Vanderkuur led the twelve lap Pro Main into the first turn, but couldn't get turned and the lead went to Weirbach Racing's James Rispoli.

Rispoli was soon joined by veteran racer Zach Palmer and the two fought back and fourth for nine laps, before Vanderkuur recovered and took the lead back for good. Rispoli and Palmer continued their battle for second with Palmer getting the nod at the end. Mom & Dad backed Kurtis Lee and Total Control Racing / KK Supplies' Chaz Springsteen filled out the top five.

Allen County Fairgrounds Results:

AMA Pro Racing Pro Singles Championship: (18 riders / 12 laps)
1. Stephen Vanderkuur (Hon)
2. Zach Palmer (Hon)
3. James Rispoli (Hon);
4. Kurtis Lee (Hon)
5. Chaz Springsteen (Hon)
6. Shayna Texter (Suz)
7. Jeff Carver (Yam)
8. Brad Baker (Hon)
9. Jeremy Higgins (Hon)
10. Michael LaBelle (Yam)
11. Coy Matthews (Hon)
12. JD Beach (Hon)
13. Tyler Pitman (Hon)
14. Corey Crawford (Hon)
15. Kayl Kolkman (Hon)
16. William Cato (Hon)
17. Kyle Goughenour (Hon)
18. John Long (Suz)
(Time: 5 min, 33.158 sec.)

AMA Pro Racing Grand National Twins Championship: (18 riders / 25 laps)
1. Bryan Smith (H-D)
2. Jared Mees (H-D)
3. Sammy Halbert (H-D)
4. Matt Weidman (H-D)
5. JR Schnabel (H-D)
6. Chris Carr (H-D)
7. Shaun Russell (H-D)
8. Brandan Bergen (H-D)
9. Ricky Marshall (H-D)
10. Jake Johnson (H-D)
11. Joe Kopp (H-D)
12. Bryan Bigelow (H-D)
13. Dan Gedeon (H-D)
14. Dustin Crow (H-D)
15. Kenny Coolbeth (H-D)
16. Ion Stear (Suz)
17. Joe Hartrich (H-D)
18. Don Taylor (H-D)
(Time: 11 min, 25.424 sec.)