Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

American Rick Murray hopes to be the first American sidecar driver to compete in the Sidecar World Championship, and is proceeding with plans to race a Suzuki-powered LCR sidecar in the Europe-based Championship.

Murray and passenger John Scott, a Brit now living in Houston, will see their new LCR for the first time during Sidecar team tests at Cartagena, Spain on February 14-15.

Murray is uncertain how he and Scott–running as Team RGM–will fare against the series regulars, and said “We’re good here, but over there’s another thing.” But Murray said that Scott, who has passengered on the World Championship circuit before, has told him that they’ll do fine.

Murray is also uncertain as to how many rounds of the World Championship he and Scott will be able to do, given that they started on the project in November and have no sponsors. He hopes to find sponsorship to run the entire series.

The text of a press release issued by Murray follows:

Team to be first to enter World Championship for road racing sidecars

The heart of any business are the concepts of Teamwork, Partnership and Trust. The sport of Sidecar Racing is the ultimate demonstration of these concepts.

It’s neither an automobile nor a motorcycle. It’s a breed of animal called the “Road Racing Sidecar”. This aerodynamic and high-speed creature is anything but a reincarnation of the vehicle from Hogan’s Heroes.

Why has this motorsport so firmly captured the excitement of spectators? Perhaps more than the excitement of sheer speed, the sport demonstrates the pure essence and spirit of togetherness, a true family of participants. Sidecar racing brings the reality of what can normally only be imagined through movies, to the racetracks first hand. Fans know sidecar racing is much more than shear nerve, team and machine pushing against the violence and physical limits of raw power and speed. They thrive on a very special kind of magic that lives within the teams themselves. Every turn and moment from flag to flag, with their very lives in the balance.

The team of Rick Murray of North Highlands, California and John Scott of Houston, Texas has held the North American #1 title for Road Racing sidecars in 2000 and 2001. Rick Murray, the driver of this mature team has held the #1 title all but one year since the series began in 1996.

This experienced team has been invited to participate in the World Championship series in 2002. They are soliciting sponsors and support for
this effort.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Mr. Murray directly at 916-339-1778 or [email protected] by e-mail.