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Winning the 250cc title for Honda in 2001, Daijiro moved up to the Open
MotoGP class in 2002 where he finished 7th in the Championship with
the Fortuna Honda team. This year his Honda team is sponsored by MovieStar.
250cc
World Champ Daijiro Kato dies from injury
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April
20, 2003 – During the first race of the 2003 MotoGP
Series held at Suzuka Circuit in Japan, Daijiro Kato crashed into
the crash barrier on the left side of the track just before the
chicane. Kato fell into a coma and had been receiving medical
attention for the past two weeks, following the accident. At 00:42am
on April 20th, Daijiro Kato passed away at the young age of 26.
The cause of death was brainstem infarction.
“It
was with a tremendous sense of grief that I learned of the tragic
passing away of Daijiro Kato. He was one of Japan’s premier
representatives in the racing world and was recognized as one
of the world’s top riders. Kato secured the 250cc Class
Championship in 2001 and last year moved to the MotoGP class where
he held a world ranking of #7. His performance provided all of
his fans with a dream. My heartfelt prayers are with him.”
(Suguru Kanazawa -Director, Honda Motor Co., Ltd., President,
Honda Racing)
Everyone,
including Daijiro Kato’s fans, have been praying for as
quick a recovery as possible and it is truly heartbreaking that
he has left us. Our deepest condolences are with Daijiro Kato’s
family and we would like to express our sincere gratitude to all
of Kato’s fans who were so supportive of him.
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Daijiro is
featured in action on a full page of the 2003 Ripped
Pavement Calendar: month Sept '03. FastDates.com is dedicating
this year's calendar posthumously to him. Ride with God, Kato
san!
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FastDates.com
does Martina
for Speed TV
May 15th: One of our hottest new FastDates.com
calendar girls is barely legal Penthouse Pet Martina Warren,
January 2003, who we just shot with some hot custom bikes from calendar
sponsor Performance Machine. The shoot took place
inside the high security confines of a Los Angeles County power
generating plant for our Iron & Lace calendar
with famed photographer Jim Gianatsis, and filmed by American
Thunder for Speed TV. Look for Martina
upcoming soon in Members Corner and in
future calendars. Now just 19 years old, this British lass and Page
3 girl posed topless in England's SuperBike magazine
when she was just 17 (in America they'd be in prison now). Adding
to the day's excitement was a visit to Performance Machine dynasty
member, ace roadracer and now custom bike builder, Roland Sand's
nearby secret go cart track where we raced 125cc shifter carts and
SuperMoto bikes until dark. Thanks Roland! |
Oh, to be a single
digit. |
Chandi
and Natalie do AMA Superbike at California Speedway
Unless you were out at California Speedway on Friday last weekend in
the cold and rain for practice, for the AMA Nationals, here's another
great calendar shoot you missed. Photographer Jim Gianatsis
shot beautiful models Chandi Mason and Natalie
Abromov with all the top AMA Superbikes and formula Extreame
machines for the next Fast Dates Calendar. Hereour girls snuggle up
together to keep warm on Damon Buckmaster's Graves
Yamaha R1.
Just in case you
didn't recognize her, Chandi (riding cowboy style) is featured in both
the current 2003 and upcoming 2004 FastDates.com Calendars as one of
our 3 beautiful Calendar Angels. She will also be joining us on the
trip up to Laguna Seca World Superbike in July together with her Angel
compatraits Janelle Perzina
and Joanna Krupa. (Charlie never had it so good).
Natalie is a former Miss Russia and the 2001 Hawaiian Tropic National
Beauty Pageant winner. You can see more of natalie on her website at
NatalieAbramov.com.
And you can mee both girls in person at our LA
Calendar Motorcycle Show and SuperMoto Nationals
in July.
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Ashley
moves into the top 8 on All American Girl!
Wed
April 16th: 2004 Fast Dates Calendar model Ashley Esqueda,
winner of our Los Angeles Calendar Motorcycle Show Calendar Girl Model
Search Pageant last July, has advanced into the top 8 finalists on the
new ABC reality TV show All American Girl on Wednesday
nights. Ashely is one of 3 girls left remaining on a team of girls coached
by former basketball star John Salley. Another team of girls is coached
by The Spice Girls Geri Halloway. The purpose of the Show is to find
a girl that exemplifies a well-rounded young lady, the best America
has to offer as far as intelligence, talent, beauty and personality.
And that's certainly why we have confirmed Ashley to be our Master of
Ceremonies on stage at this year's July 19-20th
Los
Angeles Calendar Motorcycle Show.
All American Girl
is produced by Simon Cowell of American Idol
and England's Pop Idol fame. You can wish Ashley the
Best of Luck in the contest by stopping by her website at www.Ashleye.us
Wed April
24th: Our dear Ashely got elimitated on tonight's show as the
All American Girl contestants were eliminated down from 8 to 6 girls
based on phoned-in votes from viewers. Still, Ashley did a great job
to make it into the top 8 contestants ourt of thousands of girls. So
now your next chance to see and meet Ashly will be when she hosts our
LA Calendar Motorcycoe Show in July. Be sure to join us!
AMA
Pro Racing Changes 2004 Road Race Class Structure
PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- Reflecting the changing motorcycle marketplace,
needs of the manufacturers, benefit to racers and the interests of fans,
AMA Pro Racing has revised its class structure for the AMA U.S. Superbike
Championship. The new class structure will be implemented beginning
with the next racing season.
“The task of developing an all-new class structure is an extraordinarily
complex process and it is impossible to satisfy everyone,” said
Scott Hollingsworth, CEO of AMA Pro Racing. “Our primary objectives
are to deliver the best possible show to our fans while focusing on
the market development of professional motorcycle racing in the United
States.”
The new classes include Superbike, Supersport, Formula Xtreme and Superstock
and are outlined as follows:
Superbike: 900cc-1000cc four-stroke, any number of
cylinders.
Supersport: 600cc four-stroke, twin and four cylinders.
Formula Xtreme: 600cc four-stroke, four cylinders;
750cc four-stroke, twin cylinders;
250cc-330cc two-stroke. All highly modified.
Superstock: 750cc-1000cc four-stroke, four cylinders;
up to 1350cc air-cooled twin cylinders
This class structure has been approved by the AMA Pro Racing Board of
Directors for 2004 season implementation. Technical rules within this
class structure are subject to a 30-day public comment period upon publication
and all AMA Pro Racing credential holders are invited to submit comments
for consideration. New technical rules are expected to be issued in
early May.
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Thank
our Troops!
HELP the USO send care packages to our military troops HERE
.
. . Going Fast!
Here's your last
chance to order a piece of sportbike history. Only a few copies
remain left at Calendars.com.
Or ask your local dealer to special order them for you from Parts
Unlimited or Tucker Rocky
Click to order now online! Copies
are alo available from our Collerctors
Corner
SBK
Fast Dates 2003
Ripped
Pavement 2003
USA order Online Now: Calendars.com
Garage Girls 2003
Give
our Miss SBK Fast Dates World Superbike Nicki Lane your support
as she attempts to retake her crown!
Nicki
writes from the British Isles- "Hello Guys! How`s things
in the colonies? All's fine here in London where I'm getting ready
for the 2003 Miss Great Britain Pageant on May 16th. It spans
a weekend. Taking place in a very swanky private members club
called the Elyseum.
All us girls
will be staying at the Royal Horseguards Hotel. Hope I'm not sharing
with another model as I will never get in the bathroom. Friday
consists of press calls, photo sets, hair and makeup practice
and rehersels. Saturday much the same, but the real pageant is
on the night with filming for TV. Unfortunately in this country
we don`t do talent sections ( it's a shame as I am sure I`d have
the male judges votes with a couple of naked backflips!!!)
Speaking of
being naked, I look forward to coming back to California in July
for World Superbike and The LA Calendar Motorcycle Show, so I
can take up my favourite hobby of naked sunbathing once again
to avoid unsightly tan lines ha ha!! (No wonder photographer Jim
Gianatsis can never get any work done when Nicki's our guest at
the palacial FastDates.com Calendar Mansion).
Pictures of
all the Miss Great Britain contestant girls are on the website
age ranging 18-27 I think. I'm not sure about the competition
as nobody is ever like the picture and I don`t recognise anyone.
If I am in the shape like I was at was at monterey last year,
then there isn`t much more I can do except cross my fingers and
hope (and protect handicapped kids and feed the homeless!!!!!
Like all the girls!) a requirement I believe for such events.
I'll will keep you all informed.
As for me
and other things, Ihave finished my aerobics instructors course
and am awaiting my final assessment. After visiting America last
summer I rekindled my love for kickboxing and am an active squad
member in a local club. Due to the club successes in the last
year we have been asked to perform a display at the opening of
the world soccer games in London.I have been asked to choreograph
the whole routine which will be shown on sky sports and the main
UK channels another one for the CV, and to take up the offers
I have to model for Muscle & Fitness, Shape magazines, and
test for Playboy when I return to America). I'll see you all soon!
Cheers!" -Nicki Lane, Miss Great Britain 2001.
Vist Nicki
and the other Contestants on the Miss Great Britain website www.miss-great-britain.com
Hot
Sportbike Babe Music!
The
Beu Sisters
Our Calendar Bike Show group!
An incredible girl vocal group.
T.A.T.U.
200
KpH in the Wrong Lane!
Russianl lesbian 17 year old schoolgirls expalin
paristroika
AMA Officials comment on 2004 Roadrace Class Structure
Changes
Merrill Vanderslice, AMA Pro Racing Director of Competition states
the new classes represent a logical and equitable evolution of
the current structure. “Each class was scrutinized to see
that it makes sense to the racing community. We adjusted the Superbike
class so it remains the premier class in our championship but
also took a close look at each of the support classes. For example,
we must objectively recognize the current state of two-stroke
development but at the same time remain mindful of the needs of
the small but loyal group that enthusiastically follows that particular
class of racing.”
Scott Hollingsworth, CEO Proo Racing added, “Larger grids,
expanded media opportunities and increased business opportunities
will be the result of our new class structure. Additionally, we
recognize that the structure set forth by AMA Pro Racing ends
up being the world standard and we take that responsibility very
seriously. AMA Pro Racing is the leading national sanctioning
body for professional motorcycle sport in the world and our initiatives
have impact around the globe. This new structure represents a
good combination of classes that will set the stage for an entertaining,
highly promotable show.”
Editor's
Comments
The logic of AMA making Superbike the premier, fastest class to
replace Formula Extreame Open for 2004, certainly makes since.
And
Supersport 600cc is the most competive class with all the Japanese
manufacturers campaigning the 600cc 4-cylinders. But it makes
no sense to include 600cc twins in this class as no such bike
comes close to being competitive. Plus this class needs to be
called Superstock since it is similar to 750-Open Superstock where
modifications are restricted. Unlike World Supersport 600cc where
engines are mildly modified with higher performance cams and pistons
The
proposed new Formula Extreame Class is a disaster mixing so many
different types and displacements of bikes. Top speeds and cornering
speeds will vary greatly between the different types of bikes,
creating havoc on the track and dangerous passing situations.
Plus, this catch-all class will only attract privateer teams without
the budget or experience to build the "All Highly Modified"
bikes. Expect lots of blown engines.
And
Superstock 750cc -1000cc / 1350cc Twins - PLEASE! What stock Moto
Guzi twin or 750cc four is going to run with the '03 Suzuki GSXR1000
or the newer Kawasaki and Honda 1000's 4's expected this fall?
This class nees to be just 750cc to protect and support the manufacturer's
750cc model bikes.
Let the open class bikes run in Superbike where they belong.
For
a more complete review of the AMA's Roadrace class fiasco go to
Pit Board AMA Rules |
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