ucati Corse’s 2005 Superbike programs around the world are now taking shape. In addition to announcing that James Toseland will return to defend his 2004 World Superbike Championship for Ducati, it was announced that 2003 World Superbike champion, Neil Hodgson, will line up alongside Eric Bostrom on the Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin AMA Superbike team here in America next season.
     After a difficult year in MotoGP on a Desmosedici GP3, the 31-year-old from Burnley, England is happy to return to the 999 bike that took him to the 2003 WSBK title and is also relishing this tough new challenge.
     “Having had a disappointing experience in MotoGP, it’s such a relief to be back where I belong with Ducati Corse,” declared Hodgson. “The AMA Championship poses a great challenge both to me personally and to Ducati as they haven’t won it for many years. I would like to make history and be the first rider ever to have won the British and World Superbike Championships and the AMA Championship. Being back with the 999 is going to be so natural for me and I can’t wait to start testing. The main thing that I have discovered this year is that I cannot race just to make up the numbers. I need to win!”
     Hodgson’s first appearance for the AMA Superbike team is scheduled for January 3-5, 2005 testing at the Daytona International Speedway in Florida.

he FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) was held in Poland this year with KTM and Moose-sponsored Kurt Caselli being ranked as the top American rider for the second year in a row. Kurt competed on a 2005 KTM 250 EXC in the Enduro 2 class where he finished in third place and ranked tenth overall.
     The International Six Days Enduro is one of the world’s oldest and most-grueling motorcycle competitions and is held annually at different locations around the globe. It is our sport’s equivalent to the Olympics with gold, silver and bronze medals awarded for both individual and team accomplishments. Way to go Kurt! (Note: to read more about the success of Moose-sponsored riders in 2004, check out the report on page 76)

Top American Kurt Caselli (right) with Rick Claypool.

lobal Entertainment Network Group has announced that the 2005 FSX Freestyle Snocross National Tour will be presented by Parts Unlimited.
     The total payout and contingency program for the winter schedule is once again in excess of $200,000.00 for this winter’s Tour. To add to the tremendous growth of this extreme sport last year, the FSX National Tour is making stops in some new Snow Belt markets and this season is sure to bring the Snowmobiling fans, along with the Extreme sports fans all the action they desire.
     FSX Fans will also have the opportunity to see the sports best athletes along with some of the up and coming riders on a newly formed FSX Regional Tour. This Regional Tour is designed for “outdoor” one-day events and provides a structured, safe and organized program for new Freestyle riders to compete at various levels.
     IFSA (International Freestyle Sports Association) is the innovator and promoter of Freestyle Snocross competition. It’s adapted the arena-style format and brought it into venues across North America. For more info on the National and Regional Tours visit www.fsxworld.com.
     The 2005 FSX Freestyle Snocross National Tour presented by Parts Unlimited kicked off in Denver the weekend of December 3rd and 4th. The remaining events on the schedule are:

Jan. 1 & 2 SULLIVAN ARENA, Anchorage, AK
ARCTIC CAT FSX NATIONALS ROUND I

Jan. 7 & 8 CARLSON CENTER, Fairbanks, AK
ARCTIC CAT FSX NATIONALS ROUND II

Jan. 16 KIBBY DOME., Moscow, ID (Sunday Matinee and Evening show)
FSX NATIONAL

Jan. 21 & 22 TYSON CENTER, Sioux City, IA
FSX NATIONAL

Feb. 12 & 13 HSBC ARENA, Buffalo, NY

Feb. 26 & 27 FSX NATIONAL OHIO (To Be Announced)

Mar. 6 PEPSI ARENA, Albany, NY (Sunday Matinee and Evening show)
POLARIS FREESTYLE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Mar. 25 & 26 FARGO DOME, Fargo, ND
PARTS UNLIMITED FSX NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL & FSX BANQUET

ridgestone Firestone North American Tire (BFNT) has announced that Steve Turner, a Nashville-arearesident, has been selected as its newest sales representative in the company’s motorcycle tire group.
     Turner, an avid motorcyclist, has over 14 years experience in the industry working in various positions for dealerships marketing motorcycle, ATV, and personal watercraft products and accessories. Over the course of his sales career, he has served in the capacity of sales associate, sales manager, general manager, and, most recently, as a marketing and Internet manager in the powersports-related industry.
     “Steve is passionate about motorcycling,” said Bob Graham, motorcycle and kart product manager for BFNT. “He understands and believes in our products and has worked from the ground-up in sales. He was a natural choice to represent the Bridgestone brand and will be very visible at most of the shows and race events where Bridgestone motorcycle tires are featured. We look forward to his contribution.”

he Maxxis U.S. Open, which aired on NBC for the first-time ever, earned an impressive 2.1 overnight Nielsen rating. That made it one of the most watched off-road motorcycle races in the U.S. since the 1998 Dallas Supercross.
     It was a milestone for Clear Channel Entertainment’s Motor Sports division, the promoter and producer of the race held inside Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena.
     “We couldn’t be happier with our initial NBC television production and overnight ratings,” said Ken Hudgens, vice president of marketing, Clear Channel Entertainment - Motor Sports. “This is the first step in a long relationship with NBC that includes the Dew Action Sports Tour, launching in June of 2005. Everyone in the motorcycle industry will benefit from our new relationship with NBC - the teams, the riders, the sponsors, the fans...everyone.”
     “NBC Sports has enjoyed our Clear Channel Entertainment - Motor Sports partnership, and between the Dew Action Sports Tour and the new off-road motorcycle initiative, we expect to do even more in the future,” said Jon Miller, senior vice president of programming, NBC Sports.

In case you missed it…

     The Maxxis U.S. Open will re-air in its entirety on NBC December 12th at 2:30-4:00 p.m. (EST). The original airing of the Maxxis U.S. Open was condensed due to the length of the Subway 500 NASCAR race from Martinsville. After reviewing overwhelming response of the viewers, NBC made the decision to re-air the entire Maxxis U.S. Open.

     Jay Clark has been named as Marketing Coordinator for C&L companies (Hot Rods, Pivot Works and Hot Cams). Clark will be handling PR-related items for all three companies. Additionally, he will be assisting CP Pistons with similar activities in the off-road four-stroke community. Jay Clark can be reached at his Southern California office at 951-672-9636 or at jclark@pivotworks.com.

     Joker Machine, known for producing some of the finest billet aluminum motorcycle components in the industry, has moved into a new facility in Montclair, California. The new address is 4668 Mission Blvd., Montclair, Calif. 91763.
     For more information, check out their website: www.jokermachine.com.

     AMA/Prostar has announced Wiseco Piston Inc. as the event sponsor for the 4th annual AMA/Prostar drag race event held at Norwalk Raceway Park, in Norwalk, Ohio. The Wiseco Cyclefest will be held the weekend of July 15-17, 2005. The event sponsorship is an extension of Wiseco’s AMA Superbike sponsorship at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio on July 22-24, 2005 and Vintage Days the week prior.
     For more information about Wiseco Pistons, visit them at www.wiseco.com or for event information visit www.amaprostar.com.




obra Engineering has announced that once again it has created a custom motorcycle for the sole purpose of giving it away. Two years ago, Cobra gave away its Red Rider II: last year the company gave its spectacular orange VTX1800R to Detroit-area resident Dennis Ducher.
     This year, it’s the wild VTX 1800R-based Voodoo Daddy, a Cobra customized Honda that almost anyone could build. The Cobra Special Projects team leader Denny Berg decided to build a bike that people could put together in their own garage using creativity, sweat, and a few hand tools—as well as a bit of ingenuity. The VTX Voodoo Daddy is a stunning testament to what that kind of effort can achieve.
     Cobra will draw the winner from entries gathered at the 12 International Motorcycle Shows that run through the end of February, 2005, and from entries submitted on its website from November 5th through April. There is no fee to enter the sweepstakes.
     The Voodoo Daddy will be on display at each of the 12 International Motorcycle Shows, and on the Cobra website at www.cobrausa.com.

     Motion Pro Inc. announced recently that it has sold its 49% interest in Braking USA back to Braking International. Braking International was itself recently purchased by the Sunstar group and the acquisition of Braking USA consolidates the ownership of the Braking group by Sunstar, which holds a sales and manufacturing company in the USA – Sunnex Inc.
     Braking International moved the operations of Braking USA from the Motion Pro facilities in San Carlos, California to the Sunnex headquarters in Franklin, Ohio at the end of October.
     Motion Pro president Chris Carter said, “The sale of Braking USA to the Sunstar group allows them to achieve their goal of consolidating the manufacturing and distribution operations of Braking and I am very happy to say that it will also allow Motion Pro to focus on our growing cable and tool business. In order to help ensure a smooth transition, we entered into a separate contract with the Sunstar group to provide ongoing consulting services to them on sales, marketing, and customer service for the Braking product line.”

Wayne Legge with trophy and presentation check of $5,000.

ne of the best events held every year to kick off the snowmobile racing season is the Woody’s Challenge. It’s a “shoot-out” style drag race with the richest purse for a single class race in one day. Each year the winner gets his or her name etched on a trophy that stays in the lobby at International Engineering & Manufacturing, Inc. as well as the $5,000 cash prize.
     The event has traditionally been run at the ISR World Series of Ice Drags, but after receiving numerous requests from other race venues to allow them to run the Woody’s Challenge, International Engineering & Manufacturing, Inc. moved it to the American Snowmobile Drag Racing Association’s ISR/Woody’s World Series of Grass Drags held in mid-October at the Birch Run Expo Center in Birch Run, Michigan.
     Wayne Legge of Mindemoya, Ontario waded through a field of 16 of the fastest Pro Stock 1000 drag sleds in North America to lay claim to the top prize of the 2004 Woody’s Challenge aboard his Ski-Doo. After working his way into the finals, Legge won it all against Arctic Cat-mounted Kelly Shilts of New Richmond, Wisconsin.

Rob Rau photos courtesy of International
Engineering & Manufacturing, Inc.

Kelly Shilts and Wayne Legge blast off the starting line in the final to decide who takes home the five grand. Less than five seconds later, Legge was declared the winner of the 2004 Woody’s Challenge.

The final 16 finalists, otherwise known as the “Sweet 16.” Back row from left: Kelly Shilts, Frank Jarocki, Jason Dunigan, Mike Bailey, Lyle Nagy, Chad Ouverson, Tom Brennan and Steve Agdorny. Front row from left: Ed Braga, Brent Hoag, Will O’Hara, Kenny Burlew, Todd Serra, Wayne Legge, Ian Hamilton and Scotty Glenn.

he Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, located near Columbus, Ohio, and the National Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame, in Anamosa, Iowa, have completed plans to consolidate their respective halls-of-fame, inductees and procedures under the banner of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum.
     As part of the agreement, the Iowa museum will change its name to the National Motorcycle Museum, and all members of that museum’s hall of fame will be added to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Ohio. The two museums will continue their own independent operations and management as they have in the past, and continue to cooperate sharing motorcycles, memorabilia, art, archived and exhibit material.
     The joint announcement was made prior to the 2004 induction ceremony at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, in Ohio.
     “This consolidation shows what can be accomplished when two organizations share an inclusive perspective and a love for the heritage of motorcycling,” said Mark Mendell, Chairman of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum’s Board of Directors.
     John Parham, President of the National Motorcycle Museum’s Board of Directors, agreed, adding, “We believe it’s a win-win for the entire motorcycling community, and we’re very enthusiastic about our potential for the future.”
     As part of the unification agreement, Parham will join the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum’s Board of Directors, and be a member of the Board’s Hall of Fame Committee.
     For more information, contact Mark Mederski, Executive Director of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, at (614) 856-2222; or Nancy Keedy of the National Motorcycle Museum at (319) 462-3925.