AGV Dainese USA Introduce their 2009 AMA Pro riders

[This P.R. was edited by the author :-)]

2009 AMA SPONSORED RACERS BY AGV DAINESE USA

AGV Dainese USA introduced their 2009 AMA Sponsored Racers. For 2009, Dainese and AGV USA, have a line up of Top riders that reinforce the strong commitment that the Italian apparel and helmet companies made to the motorcycle racing scene in the US.

Jordan Suzuki #23 Aaron Yates (2008 AMA Superstock Championship) and National Guard Jordan Suzuki #54 Geoff May (2nd place 2008 AMA Superstock Championship) will wear the Italian manufactured racing leather suits that made Dainese a leader in the motorcycle protective gear.

Corona Extra Honda #100 Neil Hodgson, who finished 6th in the AMA 2008 season, will be an important ambassador for AGV helmets in the US premium racing class.

Rockstar/Makita Yoshimura Suzuki #79 Blake Young, who finished the 2008 AMA Superstock and AMA Supersport with a very respectable 4th place, will be the youngest rider in the Suzuki factory-backed team to represent Dainese.

The Roadracingworld.com Suzuki team (including riders Chris Ulrich, Santiago Villa and Russell Wikle) will be the only team in AMA to be protected "head to toes" by Dainese and AGV. Thanks to the acquisition of AGV helmets, Dainese is now one of the only manufacturers offering full protective gear for motorcyclists.

18 years old Garrett Willis in AMA Supersport along with 2007 Daytona 200 Champion and 3rd place 2008 AMA Formula Xtreme Steve Rapp and Paragdim Racing's Barrett Long, a Top 10finisher at the 2009 Daytona 200, complete the 2009 AMA AGV Dainese line-up.

To strengthen its dedication to grass-roots racing in the US, Dainese and AGV will continue to support the Vesrah Suzuki team (made of Mark Junge, John Jacobi, Tray Batey and Cory West), winner of the last three WERA Championships, sponsoring the team "head to toes".

James "The Rocket" Rispoli, Tony Davila and Sammy Halbert will carry the AGV Dainese colors in the 2009 AMA Flat Track Championship.

The legendary Kevin Schwantz along with Aaron Yates, Geoff May, Blake Young, Santiago Villa stopped by the Dainese D-Store Orange County, before the 2nd round of the 2009 AMA National Guard Superbikeseries at Fontana, to visit the store that has become a unique place for motorcycle aficionados.

“Providing people with head-to-toes protection in dynamic sports” has been the corporate mission since 1972 when the company was founded by its current President Lino Dainese.

Kevin Schwantz talks about the new AMA Superbike (video)

Great interview of Kevin Schwantz giving his views on the state of the new series. Always good to listen to the #34 and cool to see him sport the Dainese colors! ;-)

AGV Dainese launch new "Face" Website

AGV Dainese just launched a new website, built around Valentino's Face helmets and giving the end-user the possibility to customize your own helmet.

Valentino's Face website

Mid-week update

More superbikeplant.com photos from Fontana with an incredibly beautiful "Dainese knee and elbow drag" by National Guard Jordan Suzuki Geoff May.


and the pleasure to see Steve Rapp back for real


Check this very cool Yamaha video showing Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo getting ready for the upcoming MotoGP season. 17 days before the season opening in Qatar

Vale & Jorge

A Few photos from MotoGP Tests in Qatar, Estoril and Jerez

From motogp.com

A few shots from the last MotoGP tests in Qatar and the 125/250 tests in Estoril. Today the quarter-liter and 125cc are testing at Jerez.

Valentino and a new "night' version of his AGV GP-Tech Celebr-8 helmet.




Marco Simoncelli in Jerez

Lorenzo Savadori in Estoril

Max Biaggi in the running

From Dainese.com here's a small news report on the WSBK Qatar round (it's a bit Italenglish but good photos):

"A Ben Spies from another planet and two identical winner’s stand placings defined Race 1 and Race 2 of the Qatar GP race, the second test in this year’s international SBK championship.
Max Biaggi, the Dainese flag-bearer in the modified standard-series bike racing world, proved capable of getting the absolute most out of his Aprilia RSV4 and snagged two third-place finishes that raised his place in the standings and now make him one of the season’s contenders for the title.
Now Aprilia is smiling, and its new bike is starting to tear up the track.
As we wait for the next race on the circuit in Valencia, Spain, we’ll keep our hopes pinned on the Corsair!"

AMA Superbike Fontana Road Racer X Slideshow

Check these cool pics out

Road Racer X Fontana slideshow

A new website for Jorge Lorenzo

Jorge Lorenzo launches his new website

www.lorenzo99.com

AMA Road Racing 2-up Event at Fontana, CA

At all AMA Road Racing rounds in 2009, Team National Guard Jordan Suzuki runs the Two-up Ride Experience giving a pretty fast racing experience to local personalities, media and more lucky ones. Former National and World Champ Jason Pridmore rides the two-up National Guard Jordan Suzuki GSXR-1000 for this thrilling on-track experience.

Here's a quick Fontana report by AGV Dainese USA Mark McPerry:

"Since this was the second race of the season and in our back yard, things went pretty smoothly as we had, Kat, Andrea and myself, all at the races, not to mention that Andrea had most of our riders stop by the Costa Mesa Dainese D-Store on Thursday in order to make sure they had everything they needed. The event was a mixture of great exposure for Dainese and AGV along with some good finishes for some of our riders and some bad luck for others especially for Yates. Add to that the bad weather on Sunday which canceled the second 2-up ride, but cleared enough so that the racing was able to go on. On Friday morning we hosted Fox Morning's reporter, Rick Lozano, and reality TV shows hosts Torri Spelling and Speed Freaks. I think we got more TV exposure this weekend from these three TV shows than we have had in quite a while in the US.
It was a Dainese /AGV love fest!

Ciao all,

Mark"

AMA Pro Road Racing - Round 2 in Fontana, Ca.

Another "ups and downs" weekend for AGV Dainese USA riders in AMA Pro Road Racing. The weather and some bad luck bared some from better results when others like #54 Geoff May and Garrett Willis had a very positive race weekend.

Michael Jordan Motorsports Geoff May scores his first podium of the season in the AMA Superbike, finishing 3-4 over the weekend while Garrett Willis clinched the 2nd podium sport in the AMA Supersport, on his Mach 1 Motorsports Yamaha.

As previously mentioned, AGV rider and title contender Neil Hodgson missed the Fontana double-header due to practice injuries sustained during the week and was replace by returning Corona Extreme rider Jake Holden.

AMA Superbike:
Geoff May - 3rd/4th
Blake Young - 4th/9th
Jake Holden - 5th/DNF
Chris Ulrich - 11th & DNF/DNS
Aaron Yates - 15th/10th
Shane Narbone - DNF/DNS & 14th

In the points standing, May is in 3rd, Young in 4th and Yates in 8th

AMA Sportbike:
Steve Rapp - 9th/9th
Barrett Long - 13th/18th

Points standing: Steve Rapp in 8th; Barrett Long in 11th.
Check out www.paradigmracing.com

Photos "picked" up over the Internet at www.superbikeplanet.com ;-)

Dainese riders on front row at Fontana

Jordan Suzuki #23 Aaron Yates picked up 2nd in the AMA Superbike Superpole yesterday while his Dainese and Michael Jordan Motorsports team mate National Guard Jordan Suzuki #54 Geoff May grabbed 4th.
The 2 Dainese riders will be on front row for the AMA Pro Racing Aerican Superbike Championship at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA.

Michael Jordan Motorsports Previews Auto Club Speedway

CHICAGO (March 17, 2009) – After the start of the AMA Pro Racing season at Daytona International Speedway, Michael Jordan Motorsports (MJM) is gearing up for Round Two at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. Leaving behind the crowds of Bike Week and traveling across the country, MJM eagerly awaits this weekend's doubleheader to improve upon the teams’ opening results.

Jordan Suzuki #23

Aaron Yates got the 2009 season underway for Jordan Suzuki #23 with a hard-fought 7^th place finish in the American Superbike class at Daytona. Riding his 2008 spec GSX-R 1000, Yates worked to find the optimal setup for his Suzuki before heading into the race and clicked off consistent laptimes, setting a race-best lap .6 seconds faster than his Superpole time. With this consistency Aaron stayed right on the rear wheels of 5^th and 6^th place going into the final 2 laps of the contest, but lapped traffic kept him unable to make a move into the Top 5 during that final lap.

“We got out of Daytona with some valuable championship points and a lot of good information for future races,” said Yates. “We tried some new things for the race and now it's off to Fontana, a track I've done well at in the past and that my GSX-R gets around pretty well. I'm looking forward to putting my Jordan Suzuki up on the box this weekend.”

National Guard Jordan Suzuki #54

Geoff May debuted for his new team, the National Guard Jordan Suzuki, at Daytona International Speedway astride his #54 Suzuki GSX-R 1000 with a solid top-10 finish on the high banks. Racing in the National Guard American Superbike class, May set a best lap of the race, a full second faster than his Superpole time, while battling with his competitors throughout the entire race. Determined to fight to the finish, Geoff brought his 2008-spec machine across the line in 10^th position, matching his 2008 Superbike finish.

“It's good to be back on the bike representing the Army National Guard for 2009,” said May. “I'm confident in my National Guard Jordan Suzuki and have been training hard for this weekend's race.”

ABOUT MICHAEL JORDAN MOTORSPORTS:

Legendary NBA star Michael Jordan formed Michael Jordan Motorsports in 2004 as a result of his passion for motorcycle racing. His mission is to bring a new level of excellence and style to the motorcycle racing industry.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL GUARD:
The National Guard is the oldest component of the Armed Forces of the United States and one of the nation's longest enduring institutions. The National Guard operates in all 50 states, four territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, Samoa and the Virgin Islands) and the District of Columbia. For more information, visit the National Guard's Web site at www.NationalGuard.com

Michael Jordan Motorsports is proud to partner with: Jordan Brand (a division of Nike), American Suzuki, Upper Deck, Hanes, Gatorade, National Guard, Bazzaz Performance, LeoVince Exhaust, ELF Moto Lubricants, MMI - Motorcycle Mechanics Institute, Vortex Racing Components, Dainese Leathers, AGV Helmets, Oakley, Gemini Technology Systems, Ancra Tie-downs, Attack Race Bodies, Attack Performance, Chicken Hawk Racing Tire Warmers, DID Chains, Factory Pro Dyno, NGK Spark Plugs, Performance Friction Brake Pads, Roclun International, STAR Motorcycle School, Zero Gravity Windscreens, Sunoco Race Fuels, Vicci Apparel, with transportation provided by Eastside Trucking.

Holden to ride Corona Extra Honda in place of Hodgson

From a press release issued by Corona Extra Honda Racing:

Corona Extra Honda Racing’s Neil Hodgson unfortunately will miss the upcoming Auto Club Speedway AMA Superbike event due to a training accident that had him hospitalized this past Sunday.

AGV's Hodgson, who was training on his Motocross bike, hit a fallen rider’s machine and went down hard. He was hospitalized because of breathing difficulties, found to be caused by a collapsed lung. He also injured some ribs and dislocated his shoulder. He has been kept in Loma Linda Hospital for observation. We wish Neil well and expect him to make a speedy recovery.

2008 Corona Extra Honda rider and Auto Club Speedway Superstock winner Dainese's Jake Holden will take over the piloting duties for the Honda CBR1000RR Superbike for the event. Look for Jake to be at the front of the pack in the race to the line/lime!

Flat-Track: Sammy Halbert race reports

"Neeses, SC * 03/07/09

short track in South Carolina.

My Daytona set-up did not feel very good at all on this track so I was still trying to get comfortable when practice ended. I made a couple changes before my first heat race and was being led around by local Garth Brow and was chasing Aussie Luke Gough when all of a sudden down the front straight away my motor locked up. It sounded like the chain may have fallen off, but as soon as I saw it wasn’t the chain, I knew that it wouldn’t be pretty inside my engine.

Since we had already taken my stock Yamaha 09 engine out of my frame and given it to my engine builder, I was without a bike to finish the night. Matt Weidman and family stepped up and pulled Matt’s practice bike out of their truck for me to race..."

More at Sammy Halbert's Race Reports

WSBK: After Round 2 in Qatar Biaggi is holding 4th

After bad results at the opening round, Max Biaggi recovered in Qatar scoring two 3rd place finish and getting to 4th in the overall series standing. Great to see Dainese back on the podium in WSBK.

2009 WSBK Qatar

Congrats to Ben Spies for his double win in Qatar and Dainese rider Max Biaggi for taking the the Aprilia for the first time on the podium. 3-3- for the Roman Emperor.

2009 WSBK Qatar Race 1 Results

Pos.	No.	Rider	Country	Bike	Diff.
1	19	B. Spies	USA	Yamaha YZF R1
2	41	N. Haga	JPN	Ducati 1098R	1.893
3	3	M. Biaggi	ITA	Aprilia RSV4	2.168

2009 WSBK Qatar Race 2 Results

Pos.	No.	Rider	Country	Bike	Diff.
1	19	B. Spies	USA	Yamaha YZF R1
2	41	N. Haga	JPN	Ducati 1098R	1.274
3	3	M. Biaggi	ITA	Aprilia RSV4	1.622

More photos from Daytona

Photos by Riles/Nelson from Road Racer X magazine

Aaron Yates and the rest of #23 crew

Roadracingworld.com's Russ Wikle (left) on the podium in AMA Supersport

Blake Young getting plenty advices from his mentor Kevin Schwantz

WSBK is back! Round 1 in Phillip Island, Australia

Despite a difficult Race 1, the Australian round of the World Superbike was a positive one for Dainese's Max Biaggi and his new Aprilia RSV4.
Max raced at the front in Race 2, fighting in the Top 3 with Ben Spies and Haga for most of the race. A small mistake in the last lap and Max left the track and got himself relegated to 15th.

Phillip Island Race 1: 11th
Phillip Island Race 2: 15th
WSBK Standings: 13th

Photos from www.worldsbk.com

Michael Jordan Motorsports Announces Racing Experience for 2009

Press-release

CHICAGO (March 10, 2009) – Jason Pridmore officially returned to the Michael Jordan Motorsports (MJM) family during Round 1 of the AMA Pro Racing Superbike Series at Daytona International Speedway. In conjunction with Jason Pridmore's Star Motorcycle School and the National Guard, Pridmore will be providing exclusive on-track experiences for members of the media and other select guests at each round of the AMA Pro Racing Superbike Series with the National Guard Jordan Suzuki Racing Experience.

Pridmore will be riding a #54 National Guard Jordan Suzuki GSXR-1000 race-prepared motorcycle specially equipped for passengers and outfitted with a state-of-the-art electronics telemetry system by Bazzaz Performance. This system will produce a custom video for each passenger featuring multiple camera views, RPMs, gear position, MPH, track positioning via GPS and more.

“Jason has been instrumental in making Michael Jordan Motorsports the organization it is today,” said James Casmay, General Manager of Michael Jordan Motorsports. “We are proud to be able to continue our relationship with the Star School and re-incorporate Jason's personal talents within MJM. This program is an exciting addition to our race weekend activities and is part of our expansive #54 National Guard Jordan Suzuki promotional plan.”

Over the last 20 years of his professional career, Pridmore has earned national and international roadracing championships and has provided over 10,000 two-up rides to students at Pridmore Schools.

For more information on Michael Jordan Motorsports and Jason Pridmore's Star Schools, please visit:
http://www.23race.com/
http://www.starmotorcycle.com/

Michael Jordan Motorsports Launches New Websites

Press-release

CHICAGO (March 10, 2009) – Michael Jordan Motorsports is pleased to announce the launch of its 2009 website and associated internet outlets.

The website, 23race.com, has been completely revamped and redesigned to provide an internet base for both the #23 Jordan Suzuki and #54 National Guard Jordan Suzuki teams. With content directly pertinent to each team and team color way, 23race.com now has improved functionality. MJM will also provide an increased virtual fan experience, via live Twitter updates and Facebook social networking.

“New media marketing is an increased focus for Michael Jordan Motorsports and to that end we've put tools in place to help keep our fans connected to the world of MJM no matter where they are,” said Kreig Robinson, Director of Business Development for Michael Jordan Motorsports. “Even if you can't make it to the race in person, you'll be able to follow the team with anything from a mobile device to a home desktop computer with intimate on-the-fly updates and then share those updates with friends.”

Over the course of the season, 23race.com will continually be updated with not only news and photos, but evolving features and team downloads. For more information please visit:

http://www.23race.com/

http://www.twitter.com/23race

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Michael-Jordan-Motorsports/51748732097