FastDates.com
May 2005
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![](MeetModels/20MonicaMcDermott/Monica20.03.150.jpg)
Meet
our newest SBK Fast Dates World Superbike Angel Monica McDermott
in the Brands Hatch WSBK
Paddock Show Fast Dates Calendar Premier August 6-7th
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![](PLN.Images2005/PLN.BostromAction01.jpg)
Eric Bostrom
(32) lead the race to the closing laps when Aaron Yates (20) caught
and passed him, but at the expense of his tires, allowing Eric
to repass for the win on the last lap. Yates' team mates and Championship
points leader Matt Mladin was forced to pit half way into the
race for a new rear tire, but still worked his way back up from
last to 4th position at the finish.
Bostrom
Won? - It Must be the Pikes Peak AMA National!
Fountain, Colorado, May 22: Parts Unlimited Ducati
Austin's Eric Bostrom won the AMA Pikes Peak Superbike race on
Sunday, his 5th win of the race in 7 years, by making a dramatic
pass on the last lap to take the victory. Bostrom led much of
the 48-lap race on his Ducati 999, but saved the best for last
as he took his first win of 2005. His Ducati teammate, World Champion
Neil Hodgson had an unfortunate day, finishing 31st after a temperature
issue of coolant water overflow venting onto his rear tire forced
him to pit.
Bostrom,
winner of thirteen career Superbike races, took the lead at the
start only to lose the position to Aaron Yates after some close,
exciting racing between the two AMA veterans. Bostrom stuck closely
to his rival through heavy lapped traffic and was able to make
the pass exiting turn three on the last lap.
"This
is definitely a sweet win," said Bostrom. "That race
was a lot of fun. The start was perfect. I got a great jump off
the line and tried doing laps in the 55 second range as long as
I could. I thought the others would slow down as the race went
on, but Aaron kept coming. I thought I was in big trouble when
he came past. He was really quick through the infield but I was
catching him back up in the sweeper (turn one). It was difficult
to get close to him. Fortunately, we had the opportunity today
and we got the win for Ducati."
For Bostrom
and his mechanics, this win is a payoff for the hard work they
have put in this season. "We have a better feel for the motorcycle
now. We've had ups and downs, but the team has worked hard and
got the bike working well for me. With the competition, racing
AMA Superbike is always going to be a challenge but we have some
momentum."
"What
a race!" said team owner Terry Gregoricka. "Eric really
showed what he can do today, fighting for the win for all 48 laps.
What I thought was impressive was that he didn't settle for second
place after he lost the lead. He kept pushing and things went
his way. The entire team has worked hard all year, along with
Eric and Neil. It's good to see the guys rewarded for their hard
work and the Ducati 999 coming across the line in first place."
Neil Hodgson
hoped for success in his first-ever race at Pikes Peak, but his
quest ended quickly when he pitted. "I knew there was something
wrong pretty much straightaway," said Hodgson, whose bike
had a water hose issue in the race. "I looked down and didn't
see anything, but my foot started slipping off the footpeg and
I knew it was time to come in. That was the end. But that's racing
... the team's been fantastic this year."
Hodgson returned to the race several laps down but finished 31st,
just one spot out of the points.
The next
AMA Superbike event will be at Road America in Elkhart Lake Wisconsin,
June 3-5.
Sunday's
AMA Superbike National: 1. ERIC BOSTROM (PARTS
UNLIMITED DUCATI AUSTIN 999), 2. Yates (Suzuki), 3. Spies (Suzuki),
4. Mladin (Suzuki), 5. Hayes (Kawasaki), 6. Rapp (Suzuki), 31.
NEIL HODGSON (PARTS UNLIMITED DUCATI AUSTIN 999)
Superbike
Points (after 8 of 18 races):
1. Mladin (Suzuki) 255, Spies (Suzuki) 240, 3. Yates (Suzuki)
239, 4. ERIC BOSTROM (PARTS UNLIMITED DUCATI AUSTIN 999) 204,
5. NEIL HODGSON (PARTS UNLIMITED DUCATI AUSTIN 999) 201, 6. Duhamel,
Honda 171
Front
Row Seating! That us in the top of the main grandstands over the
pit garages at LeMans as Rossi grids on the pole for Sunday's race.
The high definition jumbotron TV screen fed us the entire race live
from around the track just as it took place for the world TV feed,
to be delayed broadcast later in America.
2005
MotoGP World Roadracing Championship, Round 4 of 18
FastDates.com Goes
to LeMans for Alice French MotoGP!
By Jim
Gianatsis
Alice French MotoGP, LeMans, France, May 6-8th-
There I was in Paris on Saturday night in the ultra exclusive
Man Ray Restaurant and Disco with my buddy Lee Chapin from
Mikuni, sipping on fine French wine and dining on the club
owner's special recommendation of Japanese Sushi and Chinese
fare, while gazing at the dozens of beautiful women sitting
at the dinner tables all around us. We were the guest of Mikuni's
French distributor Cyrille Bihr of Bihr Racing, France's top
motorcycle performance parts company with 60 employees.
Life couldn't
get much better than this. Lee and I had just gotten off the
120mph TGV bullet train earlier that day after finishing a
1-week Edelweiss sportbike tour on BMWs of the French Alps
on the world's most incredible sportbike roads, mixed in with
visits to St. Tropez, Nice, movie week at Cannes with Paris
Hilton, and a bike blast around the Formula One Grand Prix
track at Monaco just before the track was closed for the following
weekend's GP race. The next 2 nights we would finish up our
dream bike vacation in France with front row tables at The
Crazy Horse and the Moulin Rouge for the world's hottest and
sexiest strip and burlesque shows with the most beautiful
professional dancers.
![](PLN.ParisShow1001/PLN.CrazyHorse.jpg)
Look
for complete coverage here with photos of our FastDates.com
Special Edition Edelweise Motorcycle Trip to Western France
in a few weeks.
Meanwhile our complete French MotoGP Coverage from LeMans
is Here.....
![](FastDatesNews2005/FD06.01ARobinRossi.530.jpg)
Another
FastDates.com World Exclusive! We shoot Valentino Rossi's
MotoGP World Championship winning Yamaha YZR M1B
Million
Dollar Baby, Los Angeles, May 1st 2005 - In another Fast
Dates.com world exclusive, we were excited and privileged this
past week to photograph Valentino Rossi's 2004
World Championship winning Yamaha M1 for the
Fast Dates Racebike Pinup Calendar. Our own Editor
and Calendar photographer Jim Gianatsis used
his secret connections at the Yamaha factory to arrange for Rossi's
million dollar rocket ship to be flown in to our executive studios
in Los Angeles for an exclusive shoot for our premier racebike
pinup calendar.
The beautiful
model for the shoot was our own SBK Fast Dates World Superbike
Calendar Angel and Ducati Corse Umbrella Girl, Miss Texas and
Hawaiian Tropic International beauty pageant winner and actress
"Rockin' Robin Cunningham. We were happy
that Robin could take time out from her busy schedule to help
us out, a schedule which includes hosting 3 different TV series
and the filming of a major motion picture staring Robin. The movie
is a horror flick named Campfire being filmed
in Yosemite National Park with Robin as a Park Policeman trying
to find out who or what is killing off the unhappy campers. campfire
kiss scheduled for release on October 6th of this year, but we
will be joining Robin on the red carpet for the premier at the
Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles on October 6th.
The three
new TV shows, also now in production, which Robin is hosting include
X Music on the WB Channel which begins airing
in June, where our girl interviews hot up and coming new rock
bands. Then there's a show called Black Belt TV
for a new martial arts network which will be premiering soon,
where Robin just might get to show us her Texas bar room brawling
and beer bottle bashing skills, learned in part from fending off
Hawaiian Tropic pageant celebrity judges and drunken sport bike
riders at the Blue Fin Bar on Cannery Row during race weekend
at Laguna Seca.
Robin's third new TV series is called Underwater Oddessy
on the ABC Family Channel which begins airing May 7th. We will
be watching intensely to see if those playful dolphins she's covorting
with in the Pacific Ocean might accidentally dislodge her bikini
top. With this being the Disney Channel, the chances are slim
to none for an on air wardrobe malfunction, but just seeing our
perky Robin in a soaking wet swimsuit emerging from the chilly
ocean is more than enough to restore our family values and viewing
habits.
![](JGDesignImages/FD94GingerYZR150.jpg) |
After
our studio shoot with Robin and Rossi's bike we fired up
the 240 hp missile and blasted it down 10 miles of twisty
Mullholland Highway to the world famous weekend biker hangout
The Rockstore in nearby Cornell, CA.There
Jim commerated and recreated with Robin (see picture above)
the 1994 Fast Dates Calendar cover with
model Ginger Sweitzer and reigning World
Champ Wayne Rainey's Yamaha YZR500 Grand
Prix bike. This new picture to be featured in the next Fast
Dates Calendar, in our Calendar Gallery in Members
Corner, and available for sale on VintageArte.com
.
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For all our
new Robin Cunningham fans you can meet Rockin' Robin in person
this year as she hosts our big Los
Angeles Calendar Motorcycle Show weekend on July
16-17th in Long Beach, CA.
Cycle
World previews 2005 LA Calendar Motorcycle Show in June
issue!
Our tip of the
helmet, or in this case Calendar Angel Rockin' Robin Cunningham's
sailor cap, goes to senior editor Dave Edwards for the nice
half-page feature preview of this year's upcoming LA Calendar
Motorcycle Show in the June issue of Cycle World, the world's
largest read motorcycle magazine.
Cycle
World normally doesn't cover motorcycle shows, let alone
offer up a 1/2 page preview beforehand. We'd like to think
the top quality and excitement of our event weekend as the
biggest and best custom and performance streetbike Show
in the world had a little to do with it.
Other
wise it's just the sexy shot of beautiful Robin in her cute
sailor outfit posing with Zero Engineering's Best of Show
bike from last year?
Click Below to Read. Click Right to Subscribe
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![](BikeShow2005/CycleWorldShowPreview250.jpg) |
![](IronLaceNews2005/Dreamcraft002Assembly530.jpg)
LA
Calendar Bike Show Exclusive World Premiers July 16-17th!!
The first
public appearance of the radical new Dreamcraft
Studios DSC-002 Rapture with its 1-piece billet machined
aluminum frame. A complete departue from their DCS-001 Sega
which premiered with us last year, the Rapture's inspiration
came from a 'war machines of the future' theme which the bike's
agressive stance stunningly represnts.
Jim Gianatsis will be the first to photograph the newly completed
Rapture for the FastDates.com Iron & Lace
Calendar and website, with additional photography available
for print publications needing editorial feature photography
of the bike. Contact: Gianatis
Design. More Bike
Show Information.
162hp
Muscleman! - New BMWK1200R Naked Bike
Woodcliff Lake, NJ – May 18, 2005 -
Just when you thought the growing “naked bike”
segment – sportbikes shorn of their plastic wrappers,
unveiled for all to see – was all about showing off
and nothing about substance and style, here comes the 2006
BMW K 1200 R. Unlike the weightlifter who can barely scratch
his own back, the K 1200 R is powerfully built yet agile,
massively quick yet perfectly docile for those times you want
to take it easy. It’s the ideal combination of menace
and class.
BMW has
taken advantage of the incredible technology housed in the
new K 1200 S – a straight-line speed machine that also
accelerates, turns and stops like a truly modern superbike
– to create the K 1200 R. In fact, except for revised
bodywork and ergonomics, the two bikes are very much alike.
![](PLN.NewBikes/BMW/K1200R/K1200R04.530.jpg)
The new
BMW 163 hp Sport Roadster K 1200 R is due to arrive in the
showrooms on June 4. The engineering of the so-called ´high-end
muscle-bike´ is based on the K 1200 S sports machine,
presented in 2004. The drive , chassis, brake system and modern
on-board network have been adopted from this model with only
a few changes to detail. The new bodywork and features, together
with the extrovert design have resulted in a new, independently
minded model, with an empty weight of only 237 kilograms /
521 pounds.
Behold the most
powerful production motorcycle engine BMW has ever built,
the beneficiary of decades competing at the highest levels
of motorsport. But it’s not just about sheer thrust.
Indeed, the K 1200 R’s revolutionary inline-four-cylinder
engine sets new standards not just for power – and,
as important, excellent power delivery – but it was
designed from the start to be compact and light. Moreover,
its unusual configuration – the cylinder block is canted
toward the front wheel by 55 degrees – not only reduces
the entire motorcycle’s center of gravity but also permits
innovating packaging solutions. The K 1200 R’s layout
is as far from a me-too arrangement as you can get.
´The
slim-built four-cylinder in-line engine (1157 cm3) with three-way
catalytic converter reaches its 163 hp at 10,250 rpm, and
the maximum torque of 127 Nm is available at 8,250 rpm. The
chassis was only subjected to minor modifications.´
The steering head angle has been changed to 61 degrees, which
makes the duolever minimally more steep than the S. The aim
of the changes to the geometry of the chassis as implemented
BMW Motorrad is to improve the motorcycle´s handling,
primarily at low speeds.
![](PLN.NewBikes/BMW/K1200R/K1200R15.530.jpg)
The most
powerful roadster in the world is optionally available with
an ESA (Electronic Suspension Adjustment), at extra cost.
This innovation, the first of its kind in the world, was first
introduced in the K 1200 S; spring tension and damping an
be rest comfortably at the touch of a button located on the
handlebars, even mid-ride. As an optional extra, the BMW Motorrad
Integral ABS is also available, in the more sport-oriented
part-integral design.
The fuel
tank holds almost 19 litres and the seat height is 820 millimetres,
although a lower seat with a height of 790 millimetres is
also available upon request. The K 1200 R can be purchased
in the colours dark graphite metallic, white aluminium metallic
and plain sun yellow.
BMW Motorrad
is initiating its own brand cup contest starting in May, the
BMW Motorrad Power Cup, motivated by the most powerful road
motorcycle in the world. The first round was held at the French
MotoGP at LeMans on May 15th.
![](PLN.NewBikes/BMW/HP2/hp2.530.jpg)
Great New BMW HP2 - So Where's the Supermoto Street Model?
May 18th - A dream of many Boxer fans is
coming true: BMW Motorrad is proudly presenting a truly uncompromising,
sporting and exceptionally light enduro - the new BMW HP2,
a Boxer built for the offroad enthusiast and the most demanding
tracks in the world.
FastDates.com
just spent a week riding BMW's excellent GS1200R multi purpose
bike in the south of France on the Edelweiss Western Alps
Tour and fell in love with the big, beefy boxter engined bike
we had for the trip. The only thing that crossed our minds
to make it an even better bike would be to lightened it up
by about 100 lbs so it could go head -to-head with our FastDates.com
Bike of the year, the Ducati Multistrada S. The newly introduced
HP2 just could be that bike with a conversion to 17-inch sportbike
wheels, dual front disc brakes and a low mounted front fender.
BMW are you listening?
Purist,
but nevertheless stylish and perfectly equipped with the finest,
carefully considered features, the BMW HP2 has everything
it takes for unrestricted riding pleasure off the beaten track
and is perfect as the "basic" machine for amateur
enduro motorsport. More than any other motorcycle, the HP2
capitalizes in full on rough terrain on the benefits of the
Boxer concept with its low center of gravity. But at the same
time the HP2, with its almost playful handling, low weight,
and high-performance power unit, offers supreme riding pleasure
also on the road. So considering the many options it offers
the rider, the HP2 is the most powerful and by far the best
offroad Boxer of all times.
This
brand-new model from BMW Motorrad was developed by a small
but highly dedicated team of specialists, engineers and mechanics
fully committed to the Boxer and also dedicated in their private
lives to offroad motorsport, working beyond the usual processes
of series development under the simple and straightforward
motto that "only an enthusiastic professional can offer
another enthusiastic professional what he really wants".
In technical terms the BMW HP2 is based on the R 1200 GS.
But tailored
in every respect to the needs and preferences of the ambitious
enduro rider, the HP2 is a completely independent, truly exceptional
motorcycle.
The all-new
lightweight suspension is based on ample experience gained
by BMW in marathon rallies, with an air/spring/damper system
on the rear wheel proudly entering the world of motorcycling
as a world-first achievement. The engine itself has been optimized
for minimum weight and the entire drivetrain laid out specifically
for offroad use.
Consistent lightweight engineering was indeed the name of
the game with all the components of the new HP2. As a result,
overall weight of the motorcycle in road trim remains below
the 200-kilo "sound barrier", with curb weight according
to the DIN standard of 195 kg or 430 lb. Dry weight, in turn,
is a mere 175 kilos or 386 lb.
In conjunction with the new machine's perfect ergonomics,
this guarantees supreme agility and easy control even on the
toughest terrain. And combined with the low center of gravity
of the Boxer engine, unparalleled smoothness and powerful
acceleration from the lowest engine speeds, as well as the
motorcycle's excellent balance, the HP2 is in many cases superior
to even the toughest single-cylinder competitors on difficult,
slow trial tracks. The superior performance and riding stability
of an enduro Boxer on fast sections of offroad terrain, in
turn, are obviously beyond the slightest doubt.
Fast
Dates Calendar Motorcycle Roadracing News. Complete coverage of
the SBK World Superbike, AMA National Superbike and MotoGP World
Championship. Fast Dates Calendar and Umbrella Girls. Max Biaggi,
Valentino Rossi, Ben and Eric Bostom, James Toseland, Regis Laconi,
Loris Capirossi, Troy Bayliss, Troy Corser, Noriyuki Haga. Ducati
999 Monster Multistrada, Yamaha R6 R1, Honda CBR600RR CBR1000RR,
Kawasaki ZX6 ZX6RR ZX10, Suzuki GSXR600 GSXR750 GSXR1000, Aprilia
Mille, MZ Agusta F4 Brutale
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2006
FastDates.com Calendars World Premiers!
LA Bike Show July
16-17th
Brands Hatch WSBK Aug 7th
Exclusive
Early Preview!
Get a full look NOW of all the 2006 Calendar photos
in the Members Corner Calendar Gallery
![](FastDatesNews/Laguna2004/Laguna04.012GirlsBeach150.jpg)
World
Superbike Girls!
Our
official SBK Fast Dates World Superbike girls are featured in
Member's Corner!
Includes FREE Access with to
Paddock Garage
The
Biggest Streetbike Show in America!
July 16-17th 2005
$70,000 in Awards!
• World Record Jardine Dyno
• 2-Wheel Tuner Sportbike Class
MotoCreations.com Ducati Class
• AMD
World Championship of Bike Building Qualifying Round
Exhibitor
Information
![](BikeShowImages/AMDChampAffiliateLAlogo150.jpg)
![](BikeShowImages/2WTlogo150.jpg)
![](BikeShowImages/DJSammanthaLee150.jpg)
DJ
Samantha Lee and Ballentine appearing at
LA Calendar Bike Show
Long
Beach , July 16-17th - Beautiful DJ Samantha Lee (Samanthalee.com)
has just been confirmed to spin her original tunes both days in
the exciting new Metric Midway at this July's LA Calendar Motorcycle
Show. The Metric Midway features our exclusive, Jardine West Coast
Horsepower Dyno Shootout, the new Motocreations.com Ducati bike
display, and the 2Wheel Tuner magazine Sportbike Contest.
Stop by Sammys website to preview her tunes which will rock the
Midway all weekend between blasts of the Jardine Dyno
![](BikeShowImages/BallentineBanner2.jpg)
Plus, just
one of the incredible bands performing on stage throughout the
weekend at the other end of the Queen Mary Park is Ballentine,
an LA based pop/punk/rock band, began by touring internationally
with the USO. Shortly after, they signed an "In-Theater"
documentary deal with MovieTunes, which led to having numerous
songs from their album, "4U" played in over 20,000 AMC/Carmike
Theaters nationwide. Heather (lead vocals) and Frank (bass/vocals)
starred on ABC's nationally televised summer reality show, "The
Ultimate Love Test" which exposed Ballentine's music to millions
of viewers.
Most recently,
Ballentine signed a recording contract and national distribution
deal with OME (Original Man Entertainment) and Lightyear / WEA
(Warner/Electra/Atlantic).
Their album "4U" is now available in stores nationwide.
Ballentine's approach to music effortlessly blends Pop-Punk and
Rock & Roll, creating their signature Rock/Pop-Punk fusion.
Get the Ballentine
4U CD!
![](Music/Ballentine4U.B0002CHJFA.jpg)
Factory
MotoGP Teams Stay at LeMans to Test
Monday, 16th May - Following their double podium in the French
Grand Prix yesterday, Gauloises Yamaha Team riders Valentino Rossi
and Colin Edwards rounded off their successful weekend with a
one-day test at the Le Mans circuit today. Despite threatening-looking
dark clouds hanging overhead for most of the day, the rain stayed
away and the team was able to do some valuable work on a dry track.
Current series-leader
and yesterday’s winner Rossi and his team-mate Edwards,
who took his debut MotoGP podium for Yamaha on Sunday, continued
to develop their 2005-spec YZR-M1s, testing some new engine parts
from Japan and working on engine mapping and settings as well
as testing tyres for Michelin.
Almost the
entire MotoGP line-up stayed on to test today, as well as some
250cc teams. The fastest lap of the day was in a time of 1’33.70,
set by Honda rider Marco Melandri, who finished fourth yesterday.
Carlos Checa (Ducati) was second fastest with a lap of 1’33.78
and Rossi was third with a best lap of 1’33.97 after 54
laps. Yesterday’s runner-up Sete Gibernau (Honda) was fourth
with a time of 1’34.07 and Edwards, who completed 52 laps,
was fifth with a best time of 1’34.10.
The team will
now enjoy a well-deserved two week break, before reconvening in
Mugello in just over two week’s time for the Italian Grand
Prix, round five of the MotoGP World Championship.
VALENTINO
ROSSI – 1’33.97, 54 laps
“I think today’s test was okay and quite useful. We
tried some new parts for the engine to give us some more power
and although the difference is not big, I think it is good. We
worked a lot on engine mapping in order to try to have better
acceleration and we made some improvements in this area, which
is very important. Of course we continued to work on the general
set-up and also tested some new tyres with Michelin, from which
we found some good options to use in Mugello. Overall we’ve
got some positive things to take to Mugello, so it has been a
good finish to the weekend.”
COLIN EDWARDS
– 5th, 1’34.10, 52 laps
“Today we’ve made more steps forward in the right
direction. We’ve been playing with the suspension and continuing
to experiment with the mapping to try to find ways to make the
bike easier to ride and more forgiving. It’s definitely
getting better. We tested some tyres and found a new front that
we’re happy with. We spent a lot of time on the settings,
going over what we learned during the weekend so that we can hopefully
just fire away when we go to Mugello. I’m 100% positive
that we’ve found a good setting to enable us to get there
and be quick from the start.”
DAVIDE BRIVIO
– GAULOISES YAMAHA TEAM DIRECTOR
“Of course it’s hard to work for one more day after
a busy weekend, but we had a great result yesterday and we want
to keep winning! Our race department work continually to find
ways to improve the bike and as soon as they have something new
they bring it to the track for us to test. We received some small
engine parts from Japan and Valentino tried them today. He liked
them so we will try to prepare them in time for Mugello. We also
worked on the electronics and mapping with both riders –
an important part of MotoGP. We tried some tyres, Michelin are
constantly making developments this year so there are always new
things to test! It’s a positive end to the weekend but we’ve
got a long way to go until the end of the season so we will keep
working hard!”
UNOFFICIAL
LAP TIMES
1. Marco Melandri (ITA) Movistar Honda MotoGP 1’33.70
2. Carlos Checa (SPA) Ducati Marlboro Team 1’33.78
3. VALENTINO ROSSI (ITA) Gauloises Yamaha Team 1’33.97
4. Sete Gibernau (SPA) Movistar Honda MotoGP 1’34.07
5. COLIN EDWARDS (USA) Gauloises Yamaha Team 1’34.10
6. Toni Elias (SPA) Fortuna Yamaha Team 1’34.35
7. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Ducati Marlboro Team 1’34.54
8. Nicky Hayden (USA) Repsol Honda Team 1’34.58
9. Troy Bayliss (AUS) Camel Honda 1’34.68
10. Shinya Nakano (JPN) Kawasaki Racing Team 1’34.78
11. Olivier Jacque (FRA) Kawasaki Racing Team 1’34.88
12. John Hopkins (USA) Team Suzuki MotoGP 1’35.01
13. Kenny Roberts (USA) Team Suzuki MotoGP 1’35.32
14. Ruben Xaus (SPA) Fortuna Yamaha Team 1’35.39
![](PLN.GridGirls/GirlFortuna006.150.jpg)
Umbrella
Girl Apparel?
Dear Fast Dates,
I'm a huge Honda superbike Fan. I own a 2004 RC51 painted in West
Honda Pons trim. I've been looking to the ends of the earth to
find a West Honda Pons Umbrella girl outfit for my girlfriend.
To complete the package as it were. If could you point me in the
right direction it would be greatly appreciated. I would graciously
submit any resulting photos to your web site. Thank you in advance
for any help you can offer.
Kind Regards, Matthew Troy
Dear Matt, You'll never get the trick spandex umbrella uniform
from a factory team. They only custom make enough for their own
use (meaning expensive). Nor would they sell it to appear somewhere
they can not control. Team Ducati Corse has my FastDates.com Calendar
models return all their team grid girl apparel at the end of the
race day.
However, you
can buy some licensed team apparel from
http://www.grandprixlegends.com,
They have team shirts and caps that you can match to a skirt,
but the spandex umbrella girl stuff you'll have to make yourself
if you really want it. Meanshile, you are more than welcome to
send us a picture of your bike and girlfriend in a bikini!
Best regards,
Jim Gianatsis, Director
FastDates.com
Spies
Riding with
Broken Tailbone
Yoshimura Suzuki's hot young rider Ben Spies broke his tail bone
in testing at Barbour Motorsports park 6 weeks ago.He kept the
injury quiet the first month, but he has continued to ride and
race has not allowed it to heal and he has been in a lot of pain
at the past 2 AMA Superbike rounds at Infinion and Pikes Peak.
AMA
Tech Bulletion Causes Confusion among Superbike Teams
Once again the AMA suprised the factory teams, this time just
before the Infinion Superbike round when they issued a tech bulletion
stating - "Covers that retain oil must be repalced by covers
designed specifically to improve resistance to breaking and grind
through in the event of a crash. Replacement covers must be made
of machined aluminum."
The rule was
so vaguely worded that it left team managers dazed and confused.
Did the word "cases" include complete complete engine
cases, primary covers, or just wet clutch and ignition covers?
Chuck Miller
at team Honda, as well as the other team managers, never knew
there was an immediate problem with ground through side covers
spilling oil on the track. Nor did he know of any aftermarket
comapny making the parts which the team could buy. And why couldn't
cast magnesium or alumin covers be used, or steel cover guards
over the stcock covers?
Also, the
AMA has not researched to find out what approved machined aluminum
covers are stronger than stock covers (obviously if the machined
case is thinner than stock it can be weaker). Or if thicker machined
cases will reduce cornering clearance and cause increased crashing
as a result.
Sometimes
the best intentions can cause more problems then they resolve
if not throughly thought out.
New machined
covers are required to be on all AMA Superbikes by the Laguna
seca round in July.
![](PLN.Images2005/PLN.HondaWinAd150.jpg)
American
Honda's
Shame & Embarassment
OK, so American Honda's VP of the Motorcycle Division Ray Blank
sits on the AMA Pro Racing board and devised the 600cc Formula
Extreme class to give Honda a race class they could win without
having to go head to head with any other manufacturers. And then
he talked the AMA into turning the classic Daytona 200Superbike
race into the one brand Honda 600cc Extreme race. Now American
Honda flaunts its arogarance by running 2-page $10,000 ad spreads
weekly in Cycle News touting its uncontested race wins in Formula
Extreme. The above ad appear in Cycle News on Tuesday, just a
day after their
1-2 Zemke and Duhamal win in the extreme class at California Speedway
against no other factory teams.
It's not enough
that American Honda has single handedly almost destroyed American
roadracing, but now they falunt it to us on a weekly basis
in their race win ads. For shame.
Pit Lane News
does not cover cover the AMA 600cc Formula Extreme Championship
because it is not a vialble or newsworthy race class.
![](MeetModels/04JanellePerzina/Janelle01.T16.jpg)
Super
Angel Janelle
We
just added some super hot new pictures of SBK Fast Dates Calendar
Angel Janelle Perzina in her Portfolio in the Meet the Models
Gallery. Click on the photo above to get ahead.
Keith
Ball Leaves Hot Bike Group as Editorial Director
Legendary V[Twin editorial garu Keith "Bandit" Ball
of Bikernet.com, associate sposnor of our LA Calendar motorcycle
Show, has relinquished his short 6 month reigns as the editorial
directer of Primedia's American Motorcycle Group and returned
to freelancing. Here'sKeith's official announcemnet from his website
Bikernet.com
”My commitment
to the readers of Bikernet was etched in stone. I would not abandon
them. My commitment to Primedia was to help them direct their
AMG titles for two years, if they bought Bikernet, and six months
if they didn't. I honored my commitment.
So what's the deal? I helped the AMG staff (American Motorcycle
Group) build a freelance team all over the country for expanded
editorial coverage. We redesigned all three titles and gave each
a strong individual face. With the October issue of Hot Rod Bikes
the name will change to Bike Works for a tech bible re-launch.
We expanded their involvement with events from two events to 10.
We Sponsored Carrie Repp's Road House Tour and supported Billy
Lane's Blood Sweat and Gears tour along with Bikernet.
I struggled with the big guys behind Primedia for a strong internet
presence, but budgets held me back. I hope they will remedy that
aspect. I pushed open doors to involve our titles with Build or
Bust and Build-Off programming and hopefully someone will follow
through. The list goes on.
So what's next? I'm coming home to Bikernet, but will continue
to freelance write and work with the HOT BIKE Staff on special
issues. And goddamnit, now I can finish my Sturgis chop.”
Jim
Gianatsis / FastDates.com Calendars Signs Licensing Deal with
VintageArte.com
Our own world renown motorcycle photographer and publisher of
the FastDates.com Calendars and Website, Jim Gianatsis has just
signed a licensing agreement with VintageArte.com for them to
market on line selected images from Jim's incredible 35 year archive
of motorcycle racing and pinup photography.
![](JGDesignImages/IL2003.YaffeAmanda150.jpg)
![](JGDesignImages/JGDesign8.01TransAMA150.jpg)
The Jim Gianatsis
collection of motorcycle photography will be available online
at VintageArte.com beginning
in June 2005.
Round
Five – Bennetts British Superbike Championship – Mondello
Park
Mondello Park, GB, May 15th - Ryuichi Kiyonari and Gregorio Lavilla
took the victories in the fifth round of the Bennetts British
Superbike Championship at Mondello Park, but Michael Rutter with
second and fifth placings holds a 46 points advantage in the title
stakes.
HM Plant Honda rider Kiyonari, returning after missing the previous
round through injury, led throughout the opening race, with Rutter
somewhat fortunate to take second place, coming eight seconds
down after Glen Richards had tumbled out and then Leon Haslam
had slowed with gear problems.
Lavilla took his Airwaves Ducati into third place, but, he overcame
a dreaful start to carve through the pack and win next time out.
"I felt much better on the warm-up lap, and though this will
be a good race, but then I made a poor start.
"I decided to take it step by step, and got ahead of my team-mate
Leon Haslam, but then thought I had allowed him to close up too
much, but I held on to win – that is unbelievable,"
enthused Lavilla as he savoured the victor’s champagne for
the first time.
His winning margin was 0.018seconds with Haslam happy with second
place: "I led for much of the race, but am still pleased
with the result, which is very good for my team – I had
a bit of a coming together with Kiyonari, but held onto my place."
Rutter had complained of front end problems, particularly in the
first race: "it was just a case of sticking at it –
I thought that I would have to settle for fourth, but then Glen
went straight and on, and Leon slowed." He had himself been
involved in an opening lap tangle.
Pole starter Jonathan Rea clipped the back of his bike going into
the first corner: "I felt something, but didn’t really
know who it was – I had intended to keep well clear of Rea,
but it didn’t work out that way."
Kiyonari ended the day with a smile: "very hard races, make
me very tired, very pleased though with points and results."
Chris Martin and Danny Beaumont took the victories in the British
Superbike Cup but James Buckingham with a third and then a second
place holds the lead in the title stakes.
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