Harley-Davidison Is a Take-Over Target, Maybe & Aaron Gobert Races at Home

Given their lackluster sales, seriously declining profits, and issues with their employees, Harley-Davidson may be the target of a takeover bid. Private equity concern Kohlberg Kravis Roberts could be looking to pursue a leveraged buyout of the Motor Company. The stock market is thinking this will happen late this month or in April, based on their stock purchases. It could mark another turning point for the company that only recently was doing so well they went on a buying spree. I guess they should have saved their money, or maybe paid their executives a little more reasonably instead of giving themselves all 'golden parachutes'...Too bad the company has no concept of time!

http://tinyurl.com/yjjzt4h

Aaron Gobert is returning to Australia to race in the Australian Supersport Championship. Since the US AMA series is in dire straights financially and there is little factory support in the series, he could not land a ride in a series in which he actually has a championship season - and a decent record. Thus, he will be riding a Yamaha YZF-R6 which will actually be supported with help from Graves Motorsport, Gobert's former team. The ultimate destination for him is to ride the Aprilia RSV-4 for KWS Motorsports.

http://tinyurl.com/yj6kj73

Graves Motorsport Takes on WERA & MIC Announces Election Results

Graves Motorsports, Yamaha's team inside the AMA Pro Racing ranks, is also taking on the WERA with rider Benny Solis and a host of support programs. Many racers have used Graves parts over the lats 20 years of their existence, and many more will be using them this year in the WERA Championship. You will even find several former AMA racers in the WERA paddock, so take in a round - you will not be disappointed.

http://tinyurl.com/yavldkj

The Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) has released the results of the election for their 2010 board of directors. The standard way they do this is to elect three of them one year and then the other three the next year, and they serve a two year term. Take the link to learn the details as the article does a better job of it than I would here.

http://tinyurl.com/ya2jkwv

Friday Night Moto News - Daytona AMA Pro Racing Update

It was another close finish in the second race of the AMA Pro Racing American Superbike series at Daytona International Speedway. And, Jake Zemke pulled it off again! Two wins, two days. Two very close finishes again. I wish I would have been there...Please, take the link below to learn more about the race.

http://tinyurl.com/yhtkmdn

In the world famous Daytona 200 Yamaha notched their dominance of the class with Team Graves rider Josh Herrin taking the victory. I knew this would happen, and you likely did as well; this guy is good. Dane Westby pulled in second place and Ducati 848 rider Steve Rapp rounds out the podium. A past acquaintance, Ricky Orlando finished up in 14th...a solid accomplishment for a privateer effort. Take the link to see the full list of finishers - it is preliminary, so it could change slightly after verification.

http://tinyurl.com/yzs4rzt

More news: http://tinyurl.com/yhntt4s

Post-race press conference: http://tinyurl.com/ygdhase

More Afternoon Moto News - Peyton Sassaman, A4DE & FZ8

Peyton Sassaman will be taking his Harley-Davidson sponsored Yamaha YZF-R6 to the WERA National Challenge Series. He will also take on select rounds of the AMA Pro SuperSport and the ASRA/CCS series. He is a former dirt-track AMA Amateur National Champion and WERA Lightweight Superstock National Champion, so his resume puts him right where he should be, but what's next? Wait and see...

http://tinyurl.com/y8nacvc

OK, for those that do not know, A4DE is the Australian 4-Day Enduro and it takes place 8 - 11 April 2010 in Portland, NSW. Yamaha Australia has gained the prime sponsorship for the event and has naming rights. Everything seems to be coming together for the race now, and it is looking like it will be even better this year. So, pay attention and plan to attend - if you will be close enough to do so!

http://tinyurl.com/yazqhfa

Italian moto mag Motociclismo has gotten their hands on some photos of the upcoming FZ8, otherwise referred to as the Fazer 8. We saw some early shots previously, but nothing like the collection here. Now, will it arrive on US shores? No one knows at present...

http://tinyurl.com/ylyz3h4

http://tinyurl.com/ykrt3vz

http://tinyurl.com/yznfw9v

More and More Moto News - Yamaha Contingency and US Dealers

This post is all Yamaha. First off, there are more details on the Graves Yamaha contingency program now in place in the WERA Endurance series. It pays US$5000 to the winner of the Mediumweight Superbike Class, if you are on a Yamaha. The next Yamaha contingency program is the US$52,250 they have allocated for the top 3 finishers from the amateur to pro ranks in the AMA GNCC series - that consists of 10 classes paying contingency if you are riding a bike from the tuning fork company. Goos news for racers in need of extra cash - and who isn't!?!

http://tinyurl.com/yaptkkl

http://tinyurl.com/y8lclvw

Yamaha has decided that they want to increase their dealer network in the US by some 70%! They are after more sales, better service and improve inventory practices. They will be working with current dealers first - to expand the floorspace for Yamahas - then will look to adding dealerships where they are under-served.

http://tinyurl.com/yecvld2

Josh Hayes' Yamaha YZF-R1 from 2009 AMA Pro Racing Season

At least I believe it to be from 2009, the author does not specify exactly. But, it is a very good up close look at the YZF-R1 motorcycle which Josh Hayes rode in the DMG/AMA Pro Racing American Superbike Championship. You know, the one which took Hayes to seven class wins during 2009. Have a look and I bet you will be as impressed as I was...and, the author gets to take it on the track!

http://tinyurl.com/yjfoq67

Graves Yamaha Testing in Las Vegas

The team is there testing with the bikes they will use in the 2010 DMG/AMA Pro Racing season. Josh Hayes, Tommy Aquino and Josh Herrin were all out on the track on their respective race bikes. Noticeably absent was Ben Bostrom, who sources say may race with the Pat Clark Motorsports in 2010...

http://tinyurl.com/ygtp38g

Road Racerhead from Road Racer X - Stories from Around the Motorcycle Racing World

There is news about the World Endurance series and the finale scheduled for Doha, Qatar. The WERA West series will be in Las Vegas. And, as we all know by now - Ben Spies is World Superbike Champion and Valentino Rossi is MotoGP World Champion. Plus, there is the matter of Yamaha pulling out of AMA/DMG Pro Racing and leaving it all up to Graves Racing. There is much more as well - most of it covered on this blog, but some of it missed, so head on over and have a read of one of my favorite magazines...

http://tinyurl.com/ybddrcn

Yamaha Motor USA Redirects Racing Effort in the US

There is not much of a change here. Yamaha will continue to partner with L&M Racing in the Supercross and Motocross classes; James Stewart and the new 2010 YZ450F will continue to race in the series. Also, Graves Motorsports will assume greater control over the AMA road racing effort, but Yamaha will still be there to support them. Read the PR for yourself...

http://tinyurl.com/yzd7v8m

More details: http://tinyurl.com/yzvfj4c

Josh Herrin Takes a Trip to His Past for AMA Road Race Grand Champioships

He traveled to the event - which is cool in and of itself - and raced a Yamaha 450 4-stroke in the USGPRU 250GP race. He won in his class, but the main purpose was to go and have fun - mission accomplished! And, Herrin wasn't the only professional enjoying the track...

http://tinyurl.com/pmu8t5

Joshes Sweep NJMP AMA Weekend

The full results are already known, but this article sums it up rather well. And, it does call attention to the fact that Josh Hayes and Josh Herrin won both of their races in American Superbike and Daytona SportBike, respectively.

http://tinyurl.com/ne5ucj

P.S. Another happy day for Yamaha!

Daytona SportBike Race 1 Results - Herrin Takes Win

New Jersey Motorsports Park seems to have changed up the order a bit in AMA Pro Racing. Pole sitters have, so far, had some rather nasty luck. In Daytona SportBike, it was no different as pole position owner Jason DiSalvo started well - getting the holeshot - but ending up in 30th place by the end of lap 1. So, Yamaha's Joch Herrin takes the advantage and the win.

http://tinyurl.com/n99p4y

Yamaha on Fire at VIR this Weekend (16 August 2009)

It may be called the Suzuki Big Kahuna National, but Yamaha was on fire at VIR - in a good way - not like an iPhone! After Josh Herrin took both Daytona SportBike events, his teammate Josh Hayes went on to win the American Superbike race. All of this action took place on the beautiful circuit of Virginia International Raceway. It was a very good weekend for Yamaha USA.

http://tinyurl.com/nuq8a2

AMA Pro Racing Daytona SportBike Results from VIR

Josh Herrin pulled out a victory today after a hard battle with M4 Suzuki's Jason DiSalvo; Herrin's victory was only 0.010 seconds ahead of DiSalvo!

Results and race report here: http://tinyurl.com/qnlrfj