Motourage

Pole Position Travel has added the Isle of Man TT to its growing list of motorcycle racing VIP tours. The travel package will include four days of TT action with the option to add days to the beginning and end of the official tour.

Included in the package will be top hotel options, Platinum VIP Senior Race Day hospitality, the team experience, a private guided track tour, many special guests including Irish road racing superstar Ryan Farquhar plus other exciting experiences yet to be announced. The Isle of Man TT VIP package is limited to 10 participants and two top Pole Position Travel guides, making this tour a true VIP experience.

The Motourage crew toured with Pole Position Travel for the 2011 MotoGP Italian Grand Prix in Mugello, so we can speak from experience when we say there is no better deal – and no more exciting experience – than a VIP package with Pole Position Travel.

For more information and to book your reservations today, check out the PPT IOMTT package details.

The QBE Australian Superbike Championship will be contested in seven rounds within four states in 2012 with the World Superbike round at Phillip Island serving as the season opener from February 24-26. Combined class grids will see Superbike/Prostock and Supersport/Superstock competitors race together in addition to the first round of the all-new 250 Production class.

Darwin’s Hidden Valley Raceway will host round 2 from April 20-22, with a full complement of feature and support classes. The first 2+4 event for the season will be held at Perth’s Barbagallo Raceway on May 4-6; the return prompted by extremely positive responses from V8 Supercars and the West Australian fans, and the second 2+4 event will follow, with the ASBK joining V8 Supercars at Phillip Island from May 18-20.

The remaining three rounds will be standalone, featuring Superbike, Supersport, Prostock, Superstock, 250 Production, Superlites and Supermoto. These rounds will be held at Queensland Raceway (June 1-3), Phillip Island (August 17-19) and Queensland Raceway (September 14-16).

The 250 Production and Superlites classes will contest an additional round, incorporated with the staging of the Victorian Road Race Championships.

2012 QBE Australian Superbike Championships calendar

Rd 1. 24-26 Feb 12, Phillip Island, WSBK, (SBK/PST, SSP/SST, SPR)
Rd 2. 20-22 Apr 12, Hidden Valley, SA, (SBK/PST, SSP, SST, SLT)
Rd 3. 4-6 May 12, Barbagallo, V8, (SBK)
Rd 4. 18-20 May 12, Phillip Island, V8, (SBK/PST)
Rd 5. 1-3 Jun 12, QLD Raceway, SA, (SBK/PST, SSP, SST, SLT, SPR, SMO)
Rd 6. 17-19 Aug 12, Phillip Island, SA, (SBK/PST, SSP, SST, SLT, SPR, SMO)
Rd 7. 14-16 Sep 12, QLD Raceway, SA, (SBK/PST, SSP, SST, SLT, SPR, SMO)

SA – Standalone round/ V8 – V8 Supercars round/ WSBK – World Superbike round

With the 30-day AMA Pro Racing test ban going into effect next week, this weekend, July 30-31 marks the final opportunity for AMA racers wishing to practice at New Jersey Motorsports Park’s Thunderbolt Course without a starting penalty.

Mark Rozema, of Markbilt Racebikes, will be offering trackside suspension tuning at NJMP Thunderbolt in conjunction with motorcycle trackday provider Absolute Cycle Experience. In addition to their normallyscheduled, four-group, seven-sessions-per-group trackday, Absolute will also host a $150 open test and tune session for licensed racers from 5-6:30 pm on both days. To register, contact Absolute Cycle Experience at 877-382-9800 or visit their website.

About Markbilt Racebikes:
Markbilt Racebikes is a factory-authorized, regional Öhlins Suspension Tuning Center, servicing all brands of suspension. Founded in 1998 by racer and motorcycle enthusiast, Mark Rozema, Markbilt Racebikes is a full service race shop, featuring CNC manufacturing capabilities, welding, fabrication, engine & chassis shop and fully featured Superflow chassis dynamometer and tuning center. Markbilt has had the honor of working with many talented riders, winning over 100 regional and national championships; in every class from 125GP to the prestigious AMA Daytona 200. Markbilt currently supports racers Eric Stump and Miles Thornton in the AMA Pro Racing MotorcycleSuperStore.com SuperSport championship.

By now everyone has heard (and many opinions have been voiced) about AMA Pro Racing cancelling the Suzuki White Lightning Nationals at VIRginia International Raceway. Motourage has made the call to fans to head to Alton anyway that weekend to support local businesses, and now VIR has filled the vacancy with an exciting weekend for race fans and wannabe racers . VIRginia International Raceway will present a full three-day schedule of two-wheeled action, with the Northeast Sportbike Association (NESBA) on the North Course and the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) competing on the South Course.

NESBA, the Northeast Sportbike Association, is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization, formed in 1996 by sportbike enthusiasts and former racers who understand and appreciate the difference between riding fast and riding well. Its purpose is to get sportbikers on the track – where they can ride to their fullest potential without the limitations, distractions and hazards of the street. The program operates on the premise “Ride Fast, Ride Safe” and the belief that riders can and should do both – in a structured environment, without the free-for-all mentality of the street or the dogfight mentality of racing. With close to 200 track days this year, NESBA is the largest single sportbike track day organization in the country. Whether you’re a street rider or a racer, NESBA can help you become a more experienced, more skilled, more confident sportbiker. Grab your helmet and let’s ride! For more information, visit www.nesba.com.

AHRMA – If you are crazy about old competition motorcycles – whether road racers, flat trackers, motocrossers, trials iron or woods bikes – then you have certainly come to the right place. That’s what the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association is all about, Fun on Old Wheels. AHRMA is a celebration of the competition motorcycles of yesterday, as well as the legendary riders who made history aboard these machines. Where possible, AHRMA rounds out this historic experience by recreating the types of race courses these machines were used on. In particular, motocross tracks and observed trials sections both have changed dramatically since these motorcycles were new, but AHRMA steps back to the way it was “back then.” We make sure racing takes place in an environment that is safe, fair and friendly. AHRMA is the largest vintage-racing group in North America and quite possibly the biggest in the world. Our roots extend back to efforts to organize vintage road racing during the late 1970s in the Northeast. For additional information visit our website: www.ahrma.org.

An eventful off-season shuffle will see a host of familiar faces piloting new rides when the 2011 Viking Group Australian Superbike Championships get underway at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit this week. Sharing the track with World Superbikes for their traditional opening round, the Aussie stars of the Superbike/Prostock, Supersport and Superstock classes are set to scrap to the last lap for points in a pair of races each.

While the Superbike class is stacked full of seasoned campaigners, all eyes will be on the #17 Team Suzuki GSX-R1000 of Troy Herfoss who enters his rookie season in the 1000cc class. With just two full seasons of road racing behind him, the 24-year-old from Goulburn in NSW is already showing the attributes of a future world champion. Despite his success – Troy was crowned Australian Supersport Champion in 2010 – Herfoss is determined to remain grounded in his approach to this new challenge.

Troy Herfoss is poised to make an impact with his jump from 600s to liter bikes

“Moving from the Superport to the Superbike was a big unknown for me,” explained Herfoss. “Until I started testing the new bike, I’d never actually ridden a 1,000. I’m feeling comfortable on the bike and it probably fits me better than the 600 did which is a good sign. My immediate goals are to finish every race; achieving these I hope to enter the final round with a mathematical chance of fighting for the title. Race wins would be good but consistency is what will build a championship campaign.”

The experience and racecraft of Team Honda Racing’s Jamie Stauffer will make him one of Herfoss’ closest title threats. The Kurri Kurri-based rider strung together two near-perfect seasons from 2006-2007, emerging champion on both occasions. His results in seasons past have been uncharacteristic, and he is sure to be back to full strength on the proven package of the Paul Free-engineered Honda CBR1000RR.

“Our tests have all been positive and I already feel right at home on the bike,” said Stauffer. “The team will be strong in 2011 and if I can put in top, consistent finishes then I feel I can be in the running at the end of the season. Wayne [Maxwell] and I have never raced in a team together, but we get along really well. We are both competing to win the championship of course, but above all we are part of a team and we share information readily. Our bike set-up is actually not that different so the process works well.”

The move of 2010 runner-up Maxwell to the factory Honda effort opened up the competitive Demolition Plus GAS Honda Racing seat which will be occupied by 2003 Australian Superbike Champion Craig Coxhell. Coxhell and his CJC Racing team campaigned a successful season aboard a Prostock-spec BMW S 1000 R in 2010, but plans to race the bike in Superbike trim in 2011 stalled. A chance phone call from GAS Honda owner Geoff Winzer resurrected Coxhell’s 2011 ambitions and he is hopeful of factoring in the championship fight.

“We had been working on a deal to race the BMW in the Superbike class but the sponsorship dollars dried up,” said Coxhell. “I was fortunate enough to receive a call from Geoff (Winzer) and the offer to race the Demolition Plus GAS Honda. I won a Superbike privateer title with the team in 2009 so it is good to be back on board and racing a bike that I know has the potential to win races. Last week’s test was my first opportunity to ride the bike, so it was more about finding my feet than anything. The team has changed their suspension setup and after a bit of work I was feeling comfortable.  The opportunity to run a full season on a Superbike has provided a real motivation boost. I’ve been training hard and feel the most fit and focused that I have in quite a few years.”

Like the Superbikes, there will be no #1 plate holder in the Supersport field, and a hungry pack is waiting to lay claim. The battle between Suzuki’s Brodie Waters and Triumph’s Christian Casella looks set to resume, and a number of new faces to the class look set to buy in.

Yamaha returns to the Australian Supersport Championship in factory capacity, fielding Kevin Curtain and Rick Olson on the successful R6.

Nick Waters, brother of Brodie and 2009 Superbike champion Josh, makes the move up from Superstock and will be competitive on a Suzuki GSX-R600.

A total of 23 riders will contest the Supersport races this weekend. In the Superstock ranks (formerly Superstock 600), an incredible 43 entrants will be vying for position.

Action gets underway on Thursday, February 24 as the full ASBK field rolls out for their first practice sessions of the event. The exciting Superpole qualifying format will separate the Superbike/Prostock field’s top-eight qualifiers for a one-lap dash and shot at pole position. The top-four Supersport qualifiers will contest their own Superpole session to determine the front row for the weekend’s races.

Round 1 of 8, Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit

Qualifying format:
Superbike/Prostock* – 2 x 20 min qualifying, top 8 qualifiers to Superpole
Supersport – 2 x 20 min qualifying, top 4 qualifiers to Superpole
Superstock** – 2 x 20 min qualifying

Race format:
Superbike/Prostock* – 2 x 12-lap races
Supersport – 2 x 12-lap races
Superstock** – 2 x 8-lap races

2010 winners:
Superbike – Wayne Maxwell (Honda)
Prostock* – Ben Attard (Ducati)
Supersport – Troy Herfoss (Suzuki)
Superstock** – Carew Dickinson (Yamaha)

Lap record:
Superbike – Wayne Maxwell, 1:32.316
Prostock* – Ben Attard, 1:36.493
Supersport – Bryan Staring, 1:35.200
Superstock** – Aaron Morris, 1:39.837

Circuit length: 4.445km

Competitors taking part in round 2 of the Viking Group Australian Superbike Championships at Tasmania’s Symmons Plains Circuit will benefit from an extra half-day practice session.

To be held from midday on Thursday March 3, a day prior to the commencement of round 2, the session will be open to all participating classes – Superbike, Prostock, Supersport, Superstock and Superlites.

“Accessibility is key and we realise traveling and testing between rounds is not always an option available to all,” said IEG Managing Director Yarrive Konsky. “We hope this additional half day can provide competitors with a chance to get in some valuable sighting laps and work on setups ahead of the official, timed sessions on the Friday of the event. The circuit is a fantastic one for motorcycles and we are certain a big local crowd will turn out to support Australia’s best racers.”

A detailed practice session schedule will be made available shortly at www.asbk.com.au.

Competitors also have the chance to take part in the ASBK’s official pre-season test, to be held at Phillip Island on Tuesday February 15.

AMA Pro Racing has released the 2011 AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship schedule, which features an increased number of races, plus new and former events back on the schedule.

The 2011 schedule features 22 dates in 17 markets across the country with a mixture of Short Track, TT, Half-Mile and Mile dirt tracks.

Once again the AMA Pro Flat Track Grand National Championship will consist of three series: Expert Singles, Expert Twins and the highly successful Pro Singles.

The season will open during Bike Week at the Daytona Flat Track, with a Short Track on Thursday, March 10th and Friday, March 11th.

Next on the schedule will be the only indoor National of the Series in Du Quoin, Ill. at the Southern Illinois Complex April 2nd. The series will then move west to the Salinas Sports Complex for the first TT National of the season, then returns to Yavapai Downs in Prescott, Ariz. for the Arizona Mile on May 1st.

Inaugural events will be held at the Southern Illinois Complex in Du Quoin, Ill.; The Salinas Sports Complex in Salinas, Calif.; Hartford Motor Speedway in Hartford, Minn.; and after a long hiatus, the return of the Sacramento Mile in Sacramento, Calif.; Castle Rock TT in Castle Rock, Wash.; and Metra Park Raceway Half-mile in Billings, Mont.

Annual events will continue at Yavapai Downs in Prescott Valley, Ariz.; Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ill.; Allen County Fairgrounds in Lima, Ohio; Hagerstown Speedway in Hagerstown, Md.; I-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, Minn.; Peoria Race Park in Peoria, Ill.; Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis, Ind.; Canterbury Park in Minneapolis, Minn.; Calistoga Speedway in Calistoga, Calif.; and the highly anticipated rained-out event in 2010 at the Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa.

“The expansion of the series is exciting news for our fans, riders and sponsors,” said Gary Kidd, Flat Track Manager of AMA Pro Racing. “We continue to work hard to showcase America’s traditional form of motorcycle racing in various parts of the country. Our goal is to continue to work with our existing promoters while going out to find aggressive promoters near key markets that will further benefit the series.”

Big changes are in store for the Parts Canada Superbike Championship in 2011.

Canada’s national motorcycle road racing series will see two former regular venues return to the fold and the addition of two new classes. The coming season will mark the 32nd anniversary of national Superbike racing in Canada and Parts Canada returns as title sponsor for a 12th year. There will be a year-end prize fund in 2011.

The series will consist of five rounds, opening once again at Circuit ICAR in Mirabel, Que. May 27-29 and wrapping up for the first time with the doubleheader at Mosport International Raceway in Bowmanville, Ont. Aug. 19-21.

Rounds will also be held at Shannonville Motorsport Park in Shannonville, Ont. July 1-3, Autodrome St-Eustache in St-Eustache, Que. July 8-10 and Atlantic Motorsport Park in Shubenacadie, N.S. Aug. 5-7. A second doubleheader weekend is also under discussion, bringing the total number of races to seven.

“These are challenging times for the Canadian motorcycle industry but the Parts Canada Superbike Championship has a long tradition of showcasing the best in the sport in this country,” said Colin Fraser of series organizer Professional Motorsports Productions. “Keeping the nationals thriving and moving forward for the future is of paramount importance.”

One of Canada’s most storied motorcycle facilities, Shannonville returns to the tour after a one-year absence. The venue staged its first national in 1980 and has run 44 Canadian Superbike races, the most of any track in Canada.

St-Eustache last hosted a national in 2003, but has since been repaved and is now owned by former racer Alan Labrosse and his family.

The national series will consist of six classes, headlined by the Pro Superbike division. Returning categories will include Pro Sport Bike, Amateur Sport Bike and the CBR125R Challenge. New to the championship will be the Harley-Davidson XR1200 Cup spec class and Amateur Superbike.

The Harley-Davidson XR1200 Cup is based on similar series already running in the United States and Britain. Backed by Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada, the series uses identical, near stock versions of the sport twins to ensure a high level of competition without the necessity of major upgrades over the course of a season.

“We are very excited to bring the XR1200 class to Canada,” said Darren James of Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada. “We think it provides an excellent opportunity for dealers to get involved in a racing program; the bikes sound great and they will provide a dramatic spectacle.”

The Amateur Superbike class will mirror the Pro category, showcasing the latest in sports bike technology and offering a potential second entry for Amateur Sport Bike competitors.

“The Amateur Superbike class gives our up-and-coming racers another opportunity to get seat time and build up their racing experience at a high level,” Fraser added.

There will be separate Thursday test sessions offered at most rounds of the 2011 Parts Canada Superbike Championship, with national staff supervision.

All classes will be governed by horsepower limits and the official series Dynojet Dyno will again be used to monitor horsepower levels and qualifying sessions and race events.

Pirelli returns for its sixth year as the spec tire supplier to the Parts Canada Superbike Championship through its distributor Orion Motorsports. For 2011 there will be more restrictive limits in the Pro divisions.

In 2010 Jordan Szoke of Brantford, Ont. made history by sweeping all seven races to claim his fifth straight Parts Canada Superbike Championship and his seventh overall on the Waznie Racing / Ciclo Werks BMC / DeWildt Honda Powerhouse Honda CBR1000RR. The 31-year-old also won a fifth straight Pro Sport Bike crown.

2011 Parts Canada Superbike Championship Schedule
Round One May 27-29 Circuit ICAR   Mirabel, Que.
Round Two July 1-3 Shannonville Motorsport Park Shannonville, Ont.
Round Three July 8-10 Autodrome St-Eustache  St-Eustache, Que.
Round Four Aug. 5-7 Atlantic Motorsport Park Shubenacadie, N.S.
Round Five Aug. 19-21 Mosport International Raceway Bowmanville, Ont.
Round Six Aug. 19-21 Mosport International Raceway Bowmanville, Ont.

AMA Pro has announced its preliminary 2011 Road Racing schedule.

New this year is the change of the fabled Daytona 200 event back to its more traditional daytime running time, a return to Miller Motorsports Park over the Memorial Day weekend and some small date changes for some of the traditional events.

The 2011 AMA Pro Road Racing season will kick off at the famed Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. with the biggest motorcycling event of the year, Daytona 200 Week.  Activities will begin this year on Saturday night, March 5th with the longest continuous running Supercross event in America, the Daytona Supercross.  The opening rounds of AMA Pro Flat Track kick off Thursday, March 10 and Friday, March 11, 2011 to mark the second running of the Grand Nationals at the new DAYTONA Flat Track.

The Road Racing activities also begin on Thursday, March 10th with practice and qualifying for the four main classes of AMA Pro Road Racing.  The AMA Pro National Guard Superbike series will again race two times during the Daytona 200 Week activities on Friday, March 11th and Saturday, March 12th.  New this year will be the AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series, making its debut at Daytona. The AMA Pro Supersport division will also race on Friday and Saturday.  The Daytona 200 will once again be run as a day race on Saturday, March 12th and will be the closing event of the 2011 Daytona 200 Week activities.  2010 Daytona 200 winner, Josh Herrin will lead the field in the namesake AMA Pro Daytona SportBike class for the 70th running of the famous event.

The series will then travel to Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. for the West Coast Moto Jam, May 13 – 15, 2011.  The popular Infineon Raceway provides a full slate of activities throughout the weekend and this year the AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Series will make its debut at the 2.32-mile natural road course.

Next on the schedule for AMA Pro Road Racing is a return to Miller Motorsports Park on Memorial Day weekend, May 28 – 30, 2011 in conjunction with the HANNspree Superbike World Championship event. AMA Pro previously raced at the picturesque facility in Tooele, Utah from 2006 to 2008.

Elkhart Lake’s Road America will once again feature the full complement of AMA Pro Road Racing as the series travels to the legendary 4.0-mile road course through the Kettle Moraine countryside in Wisconsin, June 3 – 5, 2011.

Celebrating its 50th Anniversary Season, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course will host AMA Pro Road Racing one week earlier than usual, the race taking place July 8 – 10, 2011.  The Honda Super Cycle Weekend presented by Dunlop Tire will once again bring the eyes of the motorcycle racing world to the gentle hills in Lexington, Ohio.

The series will then travel to Northern California to join the activities at the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix weekend at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, July 22 – 24, 2011.  This weekend will feature single races for National Guard Superbike, Daytona SportBike and Supersport in addition to the first stop in the USA for MotoGP.

The next event will be in August at another great facility for motorcycle racing, Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Va.  The August 12 – 14, 2011 weekend will once again see all Road Racing classes competing at the 2.25-mile country-club-like natural road course.

AMA Pro Road Racing will then travel to southern New Jersey for the Labor Day weekend at the New Jersey Motorsports Park event in Millville, N.J.  Very popular with fans and competitors alike, the impressive Thunderbolt circuit will host the series, September 2 – 4, 2011.

A return to Barber Motorsports Park, located in Birmingham, Ala., is still being negotiated and the June date and confirmation are to be determined.

One additional season-ending event is also under consideration and will be announced at a later date.

Preliminary 2011 AMA Pro Road Racing Schedule

The 2011 *tentative* CCS/ASRA schedule has been releases. Download it here:
2011 CCS ASRA Schedule

Some highlights for the 2011 season include:

• ASRA Opens The Doors to Amateurs
• Amateur-to-Expert Upgrades
• Rules & Regs Changes
• 2011 Pre-Entry Forms
• Special Events (new classes):
  • Rookies Cup Challenge
  • Ultralight ThunderBike
• Discontinued Classes:
  • Pirelli Diablo Challenge
  • ASRA SuperBike
  • Femmoto Lightweight