Rider Files

(NEWS RELEASE)

Jakub Smrz (Liberty Racing Team Effenbert Ducati) secured his second Tissot-Superpole of the season today at Silverstone.

Silverstone (UK), 4 August 2012 – Jakub Smrz (Liberty Racing Team Effenbert Ducati) secured his second Tissot-Superpole of the season today at Silverstone, to add to the pre-race success he enjoyed at Miller Motorsports Park in May.

The Czech rider made the best of the often treacherous track and weather conditions at Silverstone, in what was a two-part wet Superpole, to lead FIXI Crescent Suzuki rider Leon Camier off the line on Sunday’s two eni FIM Superbike World Championship races. Sylvain Guintoli (PATA Racing Team Ducati) was third in his first appearance for the Italian squad and local hero Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) was fourth, despite being fastest with only one lap left from his main rivals.

Jakub Smrz: “It was a great performance in the wet. As Leon said the conditions were really difficult, the rain was changing at every moment on every part of the track, but I was trying to improve lap by lap and then on the last lap I tried my best and it was enough for first place. We are used to these conditions this year, so we must be ready for everything tomorrow.”

Leon Camier: “It was definitely better than where I normally qualify, so that’s good! Massive thanks to the boys, it’s been a hard year for us but finally everything is paying off and this weekend we’ve been strong. There were some tricky conditions for qualifying but I managed to get a good rhythm and keep improving. I thought I had pole and I did until Kuba came past on the last lap!”

Sylvain Guintoli: “I’m really happy because it’s not easy when you’re put in a new situation like this one. From the start of the weekend me and the team have got on really well, we’ve been tweaking stuff like in winter testing! I’m having fun with Pata and I’ve found a good home with which to finish the season. Obviously this is the first step, but there’s plenty more performance to come.”

Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Ducati) was another rider to lead for a time before crashing on the wet surface and finishing fifth, with championship challenger Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) sixth, Carlos Checa (Althea Racing Ducati) seventh and Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) eighth. Checa and Sykes both fell, spoiling any chance of making faster laps in Superpole 2.

Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team) went ninth after his own crash in the first 20-minute session, while Jonathan Rea (Honda World Superbike Team) could only manage tenth and Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing) eleventh.

Times: 1. Smrz (Ducati) 2′20.810 average 150.893 kph; 2. Camier (Suzuki) 2′20.846; 3. Guintoli (Ducati) 2′21.385; 4. Haslam (BMW) 2′21.613; 5. Giugliano (Ducati) 2′21.951; 6. Melandri (BMW) 2′21.960; 7. Checa (Ducati) 2′23.356; 8. Sykes (Kawasaki) 2′24.025; 9. Baz (Kawasaki) 2′23.777; 10. Rea (Honda) 2′23.889; 11. Biaggi (Aprilia) 2′24.176; 12. Hopkins (Suzuki) 2′24.274; 13. Berger (Ducati) 2′24.294; 14. Laverty (Aprilia) 2′25.260; 15. Fabrizio (BMW) 2′26.137; 16. Davies (Aprilia) 2′26.360; etc.

World Supersport
Jules Cluzel (PTR Honda) secured pole at Silverstone after the second qualifying session, held in tricky wet and drying track conditions. He held off local rider Sam Lowes (Bogdanka PTR Honda) to secure the best starting place for Sunday’s race, with replacement rider Alex Lundh (Bogdanka Honda PTR) third, and then a late faller in the second session. The front row places are locked-out by PTR Honda men, with Mathew Scholtz (Bogdanka PTR Honda) fourth. Another Honda rider, Imre Toth (Team Toth) was fifth, with Assen podium man Vladimir Leonov (Yahknich Motorsport Yamaha) sixth. Championship leader Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Lorenzini) could only manage tenth, with Fabien Foret (Kawasaki Intermoto Step Racing) 17th and Broc Parkes (Ten Kate Racing Products Honda) 18th.

Times: 1. Cluzel (Honda) 2′22.258 average 149.357 kph; 2. Lowes (Honda) 2′23.264; 3. Lundh (Honda) 2′23.522; 4. Scholtz (Honda) 2′23.844; 5. Toth (Honda) 2′23.967; 6. Leonov (Yamaha) 2′24.611; 7. Quarmby (Honda) 2′24.821; 8. Antonelli (Yamaha) 2′24.840; etc.

Superstock 1000
Sylvain Barrier (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet) secured pole in the UK on a nearly dry track, with MRS Kawasaki rider Jeremy Guarnoni second and Barni Racing Team Ducati Panigale rider Eddi La Marra third. The top three were separated by relatively large margins as the difficult track conditions played a part once again. French rider Mathieu Lussiana (Team ASPI Kawasaki) was an impressive fourth, with local rider Kevin Coghlan (DMC Racing) fifth.

Times: 1. Barrier (BMW) 2′12.992 average 159.763 kph; 2. Guarnoni (Kawasaki) 2′13.872; 3. La Marra (Ducati) 2′15.327; 4. Lussiana (Kawasaki) 2′15.942; 5. Coghlan (Ducati) 2′16.081; 6. Jezek (Ducati) 2′16.088; 7. Brown (Ducati) 2′18.051; 8. Savadori (Ducati) 2′19.193; etc.

Superstock 600
A highly cosmopolitan Superstock 600 front row for Sunday’s race will be headed by fastest qualifier and points leader Michael van der Mark (EAB Ten Kate Junior Honda) who was over a second ahead of Gauthier Duwelz (MTM Yamaha) at Silverstone. The Dutch rider and the Belgian will lead away Australian Adrian Nestorovic (MTM Yamaha) and Danish rider Alex Schacht (Schacht Racing SBK ONE Honda). Another Australian, Matt Davies (Team GOELEVEN Kawasaki) was fifth, with Italian rider Riccardo Russo (Yamaha Team Italia FMI) completing the top six.

Times: 1. Vd Mark (Honda) 2′12.426 average 160.446 kph; 2. Duwelz (Yamaha) 2′13.768; 3. Nestorovic (Yamaha) 2′14.595; 4. Schacht (Honda) 2′14.843; 5. Davies (Kawasaki) 2′14.875; 6. Russo (Yamaha) 2′14.882; 7. Gamarino (Kawasaki) 2′15.074; 8. Chesaux (Honda) 2′15.186; etc.

KTM European Junior Cup
Wildcard British rider Josh Daley (Moto Vudu) put his KTM Duke 690 on top of the field in the qualifying session for the European Junior Cup class, with regular rider and points leader Lukas Wimmer (MSC Schalchen) second and Jamie Patterson (RPM Performance) third. Conner Parkhill (KTM UK) was fourth while Brandon Kyee (Brandon Kyee Racing) went top five. Wimmer’s chief rival Javier Orellana qualified twelfth.

Times: 1. Daley (KTM) 2′48.989 average 125.731 kph; 2. Wimmer (KTM) 2′49.323; 3. Patterson (KTM) 2′49.610; 4. Parkhill (KTM) 2′50.760; 5. Kyee (KTM) 2′52.234; 6. Demoulin (KTM) 2′53.620; 7. Mikhalchik (KTM) 2′54.377; 8. Scarcella (KTM) 2′55.441; etc.

(NEWS RELEASE)

The late Al Wilcox, a former motorcycle racer who went on to be a race starter for decades, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame as part of the 2012 AMA Legends Weekend.

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame is pleased to announce the fifth member of the induction class of 2012. The late Al Wilcox, a former motorcycle racer who went on to be a race starter for decades, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame as part of the 2012 AMA Legends Weekend at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas, Nev., Nov. 16-17.

“Al Wilcox was a fixture at motorcycle races as a starter for more than five decades and a true ambassador for the sport,” said Jeffrey V. Heininger, chairman of board of the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, which oversees the Hall of Fame. “He was well respected, well liked and dedicated his life to racing. He is certainly missed.”

Born in Trenton, N.J., in 1919, Wilcox began riding motorcycles in 1936 and, following military service during World War II, began racing in 1947. His race career spanned 19 years — from 1947 to 1966 — and he held national No. 49. In addition to being a successful speedway racer for four years, Wilcox also finished well in TT, dirt-track and hare scrambles races over the course of his long career.

Wilcox began flagging races in 1959, increasing his duties after ending his racing career in 1966. He went on to flag the famed Daytona 200 motorcycle race for many years with AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame flagger Duke Pennell, and also performed flagging duties for WERA roadraces for decades.

Wilcox became known as “Airborne Al” because of his unique flagging style that involved jumping up in the air at the end of a race during his 50-plus years of flagging.

Wilcox also was a race promoter from 1965 through 1974. He died Feb. 3, 2011, at age 92.

“I think it’s great! I really do,” said Joyce Markulec, Wicox’ daughter. “I just wish my dad was alive to see it. He would be on cloud 49. It was his true love, besides my mother. He had 70 years of involvement with motorcycles, riding, racing and flagging. My father was a true legend, not only with the motorcycling community but with his family as well. Rest in peace, dad.”

Wilcox is the fifth member of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame class of 2012. He joins the late Rod Bush, KTM North America president and industry visionary; pioneering female motocrosser Sue Fish; 1975 AMA Supercross Champion Jimmy Ellis; and world-class bike restorer Brian Slark. The rest of the 2012 class will be announced shortly.

The class of 2012 will officially be inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame on Nov. 16 as part of the AMA Legends Weekend. The weekend also includes the 2012 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Dave Mungenast Memorial Concours d’Elegance on Saturday, Nov. 17, featuring many of the country’s most impressive original and restored classic motorcycles.

In addition to the current class, the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame induction ceremony shines the spotlight on two previously inducted members of the Hall of Fame, reminding the motorcycling community of the amazing careers of these Motorcycle Hall of Fame Legends. For 2012, the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Legends will be 1998 inductees Malcolm Smith, a pioneer in off-road motorcycling and a star in the motorcycle documentary “On Any Sunday,” and Mert Lawwill, the 1969 AMA Grand National Champion whose title defense was the central theme of the timeless film.

Tickets for the AMA Legends Weekend are now available through this online registration form: http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e5r7zy8ea4316694&llr=vw9ldxbab or by calling (800) 342-5464.

The AMA Legends Weekend will be held at the Las Vegas Red Rock Resort, a world-class spa, hotel and casino, featuring a range of entertainment, dining and family-friendly attractions. The facility’s expansive ballrooms provide a stunning backdrop for the AMA Legends Weekend. Room reservations are available now at a special group rate by calling (866) 767-7773 and referencing group code RCIAME or AMERICAN MOTORCYCLIST. Online room reservations are available at www.redrocklasvegas.com.

More information about the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame can be found at www.motorcyclemuseum.org.

About the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation
Founded in 1990 by the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation, the goal of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum is to tell the stories and preserve the history of motorcycling. Located on the campus of the American Motorcyclist Association in Pickerington, Ohio, the Museum’s three major exhibition halls feature the machines and memorabilia of those who have contributed notably to the sport. The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to motorcycling, including those known for their contributions to road riding, off-road riding and all categories of racing, as well as those who have excelled in business, history, design and engineering. More information can be found at www.motorcyclemuseum.org.