Wednesday NewsIt sounds as if Kawasaki is assembling an experienced crew to back their new in-house AMA Superbike team. Previously they hired Al Ludington and Joey Lombardo to tune Eric Bostrom's Kawasaki Superbike, and late yesterday it became public knowledge that Kawasaki had lured Gary Medley back to the fold.
Medley resumes his position as confidant and tuner to three time AMA Superbike champion Doug Chandler. Medley's job at the new Kawasaki team is "Management Crewchief" and he will be working on Chandler's bikes almost exclusively.
He stated this morning, "It feels like I'm home. This is where I belong. I've been affiliated with Kawasaki for ten years and I know everyone here and in Japan. It's good to be back. The Japanese (racing management) and I get along well, we worked together at the eight hour in Japan and through all of the WSC years."
When asked how much longer the Kawasaki can be competitive, since it's still the same bike the debuted in 1996, more or less, Medley said, "A long time. The bike still does many things well, which you saw by Doug's wins this year. I've got some things to try, some things that I was exploring when I left Rob's, and I'm going to explore that stuff now. Doug and I feel we've got a definite direction to go." Kawasaki hired two mechanics from the 1999 Muzzy team to work with Medley on Chandler's bike.
Medley said that he enjoyed working at Vance and Hines Ducati, where he worked with Ben Bostrom. "It was good. And it was hard to leave Ben, but I had to make a decision. I needed a muti-year commitment and I'm not getting any younger. I didn't want to do another year by year deal. I got a long with everybody at Vance and Hines, and enjoyed working with them."
Medley stated that although Kawasaki does not yet have 2000 Superbikes, they will be at the Dunlop tire test in December. "We've got 600s and are building the new shop, so we've got plenty to do until the Superbikes arrive." Kawasaki expects to be in their new race shop in two weeks time.
Kevin Erion had a championship party at his house last weekend attend by plenty from the So-Cal area and beyond. In attendance was new 600 Supersport champion Nick Hayden, three time world champion Kenny Roberts and his son Kurtis, among others. 150 people in all came to the shin-dig.
Weird rumors around that former Muzzy Kawasaki team manager Steve Johnson has joined up with former Kawasaki Team Green manager Mark Johnson to work for either a NASCAR or Indy Car team.
Virginio Ferrari, former owner of the AD/VF Ducati World Superbike team confirmed this morning that he is still trying to find a manufacturer partner to get himself back into World Superbike next season.
Reached at his home in Monaco, Ferrari stated, "I have two proposals out right now to two different manufactures, and should know something about what we'll be doing before the middle of November. I'm trying hard to get back in World Superbike racing."
Ferrari ran a variety of riders under his Ducati team, including John Kocinski in 1996. Ferrari is a former Grand Prix rider, finishing second in the championship in 1979 (splitting Roberts and Sheene) and won two Grand Prixs in his career, West Germany in 1978 and Assen in 79. He is one of the most respected men in Superbike racing.Suzuki is testing at Willow Springs this week, and Yamaha will test there in the next few weeks.
More in a bit.
Dean
