Dean's Sat Night Notes from PPIR

Jason Pridmore continues to impress here, the young Californian went from provisional pole to a front row starting position for today's race (I type these words at 5:00am). What's holding him back? Actually his back, Pridmore popped something in his back this week and has been in constant distress with it, and at times he can't move his legs the pain is so bad. Pridmore scored save of the weekend when he fumbled on the front banking and ran wide, then straight, and drilled the short cement curbing on the banking. Pridmore hit it square on, bent the front wheel and sent he and the bike almost tumbling. He landed nose first with the back end of the bike three feet in the air. He saved it, even after the bike went into a massive one wheel 120mph tankslapper (it was riding on the front wheel only for what seemed like forever).

Honda has three gentlemen here who can only be prospective sponsors for 1999. Some have said that they have seen these gentlemen at motocross races in the past, and that they work for a smokeless tobacco company.

Ben Bostrom confirmed yesterday that he is stressing big time his 1999 Honda deal and many are saying Bostrom is off the team for 1999. When asked what happened between he and Honda regarding the negotiations, Bostrom said, "something got screwed up."

Bostrom said that he is fine as long as he is at the racetrack or busy, but is having problems sleeping because of the stress. He also said that he feels the RC45 is the best Superbike in the paddock and his lead mechanic, Merlyn Plumlee, is the best in the paddock. It's obvious he doesn't want to leave the team.

Yates and Bostrom continue to have much interest in their services for 1999. There is reputed to be a Muzzy test coming up at LVMS, in addition to a Dunlop test, and many riders are rumored to be testing Rob's bike there. All BS, probably.

Pascal Picotte crashed the VR1000 big yesterday in the final qualifying session, getting high-sided off the machine. Picotte is uninjured but the bike was probably destroyed. That is a rarity as VR are very hard to destroy, the short list of riders who have done so is Kling, Wilson, Carr and Picotte.

The plot thickens: Even Bill Davidson Jr., Willie G's son, was in attendance at the A-1 Ring in Austria at the recent WSC race there. Sources close to the team state that Russell is not riding for them next year.

We're closing up on the last motorcycle races for veritable motorcycle racing legend Randy Renfrow. The former Superbike/Pro-Twins yada yada winner/champion plans to hang up his leathers for good in 1999. A big blow out is being planned for Vegas, after RR's last race.

Miguel DuHamel is here, walking around on one crutch, cracking jokes all the way. DuHamel has lost 15 pounds in recent months and is undergoing hard physiotherapy: he's still driving his NSX which he says is painful but fun therapy for him.

I spoke with Freddie Spencer yesterday and told him I believe this weekend is the 15th anniversary of The Fred winning the 1983 500cc world championship (back when it meant something). Freddie wasn't sure, and neither am I. Anybody got a 1983 Motocourse handy to find the date?

Anthony Gobert is home in Australia now, but he swung into American Honda this week before getting on the plane and told technicians there that he expects to be riding the NSR500V twin next year in GP.

Yamaha types are being pretty closed mouthed about their new fuel injected 750, not admitting that the bike does indeed exist. But they did say that Rich Oliver had a recent ride on an R1 streetbike and loved the chassis of the machine.

And finally, Jason Pridmore said yesterday that he does not have any offers for 1999 (stateside, he is known to have World Supersport deals in the works) but that he knows where the news will be broken first when he does. "I'll probably read about it on amasuperbike.com before I even know the deal is out there," he said in yesterday's qualifying press conference, with a mighty hardee har har.

Careful Jason, or your personal Email address gets leaked :-).

Be Well,
Dean Adams