The Pilgram says he's riding

Willow Springs winner Larry 'Pilgram' Pegram is working the phones today, telling anyone who'll listen that he's back in the game big for 2000. Pegram has been working on a Ducati deal with his manager Fred Bramblett (who is also Ben Bostrom's manager) to race for a team run out of Ohio's Competition Accessories, which is one of the largest aftermarket and motorcycle dealers (not to mention Ducati dealers, according to Pegram) in the States.

The deal is not yet done. But if it happens, Eraldo Ferracci will have some involvement, not as crewchief, but as master engine builder. Skip Eaken, who tuned for Don 'Bubba' Shobert in 1988 when they won the AMA Superbike championship together ( Skip's name unknown to you? he worked in dirt track before and since) is slotted in as the crewchief and the team will be run out of Eaken's shop in Ohio. Pegram rode Eaken's dirt track bikes this year.

Ducati blessed the deal, according to Pegram, several weeks ago when Bostrom and Bramblett were in Italy.

They'll be a Ducati customer team, paying probably several hundred thousand dollars for bikes and support for one season with the hope for better treatment in the future. Pegram will be the only rider but several others have called Pegram trying to nab a non existent second rider position.

Pegram's manager is trying to find an outside industry and within industry sponsors to fund the effort at the moment.

If those are found, the team will be a go. -- Dean Adams