From a press release issued by KTM: A new era for KTM in first FIM Superstock 1000 World Cup race KTM launched its first ever FIM Superstock 1000 World Cup race on the newly released 1190 RC8 Street Superbike on Sunday at Valencia with Austrian Rene Maehr at the helm. Participation in this highly competitive racing series is part of the company’s research and development program. The 1190 RC8 performed well, was competitive and without technical problems even if the race came to a premature and disappointing end for rider Rene Maehr of the KTM Maehr Superstock team. Maehr was strong in qualifying with 10th place and just 1.1 seconds off the pole position. But his race was short lived when he lost the front end in just the third lap on the Spanish circuit. Rene Maehr: “I feel really disappointed because until I lost the front end in the first corner I felt really good. I feel sorry I was not able to finish my first race with the RC8. On the other hand I’m happy that we were able to be constantly fast in the practice and able to learn a lot.” Maehr is certainly motivated looking ahead to the next race of the series, saying he always had a good feeling on the bike. The first race experience was also a positive one for the entire team. Positive R&D Philipp Habsburg, Head of KTM R&D was also positive, saying: “It’s easy to see the premiere of the RC8 in the FIM Superstock 1000 World Cup in a very positive light. Everything went well right from the first practice – Rene, the RC8, our entire team. We all worked together very well and in a good spirit. Seeing Rene and the RC8 in the gravel was bad, but with what we have learned in this short time we are already looking forward positively to the next race in Assen. Everyone is extremely motivated to continue the exciting and fruitful development of the 1190 RC8.” More, from a press release issued by P.J. Jacobsen’s publicist: Rain Pours, Jacobsen Reigns Montgomery, New York (April 7, 208)– Celtic Racing’s PJ Jacobsen and the fleet of USGPRU racers tried to qualify on Saturday, April 5, at the Jennings, Florida GP track. The rain washed out the track. Day one would be pushed to race day. The tire selection on the wet track did not place Jacobsen very well as he qualified twelfth. He was not very happy with that as he felt he could have nailed a better position on his RS 125 with different tires. Team owner, Barry Gilsenan reiterated “It’s only qualifying”. As previously mentioned, Jacobsen would also ride the 250GP class in preparations for training on the Honda backed 600’s. Qualifying went extremely well despite the light rain, by every lap Jacobsen was pulling in much better times starting in the 1:18’s and ending in the 1:16’s. His last lap of 1:16.949 put Jacobsen on the pole with Long in second with a 1:17.873. At the start of the 125GP final, Jacobsen had work to do. Starting on the grid, row 3, Jacobsen took off like a shot and quickly gained position. On the move at every lap, Jacobsen was closing in on leader Nobi Iso. Iso, checked up for traffic and Jacobsen made the bold move to pass him and inch out a small lead. He held that lead to take the win; his first victory of the season. The USGPRU 250GP final was set as Jacobsen would lead the field. At the start, a Nova Scotia rider named Adam Roberts, screamed off the line to set the pace early. He had completely checked out despite the wet conditions. Brent Lyskawa took over second and Jacobsen in third. The battle would begin with Brent and PJ in and out of the turns. Jacobsen seemed to be setting Lyskawa up for a favorable finish. At the last lap, Jacobsen gave it all he had and passed Brent just before the line to finish 2nd. Jacobsen’s next USGPRU race is May 24-26 at Summit Point Raceway, Summit Point, West Virginia. More, from a press release issued by Dalke Motorsports: Dalke Motorsports weathers the storm at Talladega Gran Prix Raceway After scoring 1st and 2nd in the season opener at Roebling Road, and scoring 1st and 3rd in last years round at TGP, expectations were fairly high in the Dalke Motorsports pits. Last years race started in oppressive 98 degree heat and finished ½ hour early in a 75degree thunderstorm. This years weather fiasco began when tornado warnings red-flagged Friday practice then torrential storms moved through central Alabama all night. The Saturday race started in 50 degree weather with overcast skies and off and on misty conditions that never cleared. Dalke Motorsports 1 rider Dane Westby and DM 2 rider Dustin Meador both pounced on the green flag and put each teams Interstate Cycle Yamaha R6’s into 2nd and 3rd overall for the first few laps. In the sketchy, semi-damp conditions the DM1 team of Dane and Giovanni Rojas matched pace with eventual overall winner Vesrah Suzuki and even managed to grab the overall lead during Vesrah’s first pit-stop. Dane and Gio kept the pressure on the field and not only held 2nd overall but stayed on the same with the race leader lap even after the scheduled rear-only tire change pit-stop at the end of the second hour. The crew and team were really working well as the final hour came up and DM1 had their Pirelli-shod Yamaha into a 3 lap lead on third overall and a 5 lap lead on second in class. Giovanni signaled he was hearing a mechanical noise at lap 190, but with only about 30 minutes to go the team decided to keep running an try to finish the race. A few laps later the noise got worse and Gio was going to bring the bike in but did not make it around again and had to watch the end of the race from turn 3. The team still managed to hold 18th overall and 5th in class out of 24 and 8 respectively. Dalke Motorsports 2 riders Dustin Meador, Diego Rojas and Wrenn Smith had their own misfortunes this round when 2 early off-track excursions had them falling back to 20th overall. The team pushed their Pirelli tires an extra 45 minutes over team 1 but the times fell off fast in the last 30 minutes as the rain washed surface of TGP proved to be too abrasive on the rear tire. The DM crew of Brian Dalke, Chad Hunt and Dennis Poteat, performed another sub 30-second fuel and rear-only tire change and DM2 was back underway and back on pace with the leaders, and had now managed to climb back to 10th overall and 3rd in class. Team owner Brain Dalke was really pleased with the riders, the crew and the way everyone handled the set-backs. During the trophy presentation for DM2, Brian commented, “I’m glad we could still put the #5 bike on the podium for our sponsors, but I hated this for Dane and Gio because they rode so well, the mechanical was unfortunate. This was the last endurance race for that bike. I’m looking forward to what these guys can do with a 2008 R6 at Jennings.” Dalke Motorsports would like to thank the sponsors, family and friends for their continuing support this season. If you would like to learn about Dalke Motorsports or Jim’s Kids charity for handicapped children please check our website at www.dalkemotorsports.com More, from a press release issued by Spears Racing: Excellent start to 2008 season for defending series champion Dave Raff Spears Racing’s Dave Raff aboard his Michelin-shod Spears Racing Suzuki SV 650 started off with where he ended last season, in his first race of the day, Formula Twins Lightweight Dave was able to get the hole shot and lead the field into turn one, within a few turns it was Andy Palmer on his West Coast GP Cycles SV 650 and Dave gapping the rest of the field and on Lap 3 Dave Set a new Streets of Willow class lap record of 1:19.903, putting his head down Dave was able to take his first Streets victory of the year by several seconds. Second race was BOTT Middleweight despite the extremely cool temperatures and high winds, which made track conditions treacherous, Dave was able to get a good start which saw him going into turn one in second place behind Andy Palmer, Andy was able to lead most of the first lap and with Dave getting a great drive out of the last turn onto the front straight, they were side by side inches apart all the way thru turn one and Dave was able to pass Andy under the brakes into turn 2 and with in a few turns was able to get a comfortable lead and was able to take his second victory of the day by over 20 seconds. Third race of the day was 550 Superbike, West Coast GP Cycles put Brant Wiwi (2006 WSMC #1) on a SV650 Superbike, at the drop of the green flag Dave was able to get the holeshot and at the end of the first lap Dave looked back to see Brant right on his tail. On lap two Brant got a good drive coming out of the bowl and passed Dave going down the hill, coming on the front straight Dave was able to go under him and pass him back coming across start finish Dave saw Brant’s number with the meatball flag and he knew he had jumped the start. Brant passed Dave back and Dave stuck to him watching his lines, knowing that he would have to do a stop and go. The pace was fast but Dave knew they both could go faster, Dave was coming out of turn two when he felt something go wrong with the bike. The rear end was all over the place and he could hardly keep it on the track. Dave was able to pull off the track safely and the officials let him ride across to make sure he got at least a few points. It turns out that one of the rear wheel bearings let go and the rim was moving on the axle. We had a great weekend and we would like to thank Michelin for all their support this weekend the tires gave Dave so much confidence to Just Go Fast. You can find additional information, including products, news and race results on the updated Spears website at http://www.spearsenterprises.com/