 |
|
|
2006 Pro Stock Motorcycle Preview
PUBLISHER'S NOTE - Throughout this week, we've summoned our beat reporters to provide our readers with a look into the 2006 season and some of the known news tidbits and some unknown. Join us throughout the week as we conclude with our seventh annual championship predictions. In today's installment, VtwinPlus.com editor Greg Guarinello takes time away from his busy schedule to offer his input on the forthcoming season.
TOMORROW'S PROFILE - Nitro
This season the Suzuki-powered machines are allowed to run a maximum 101-cid (1,655cc) engine and will compete at 615 pounds. The current 92-cid (1,508cc) engine will still be allowed at the current 590-pound minimum. NHRA will also allow all engine makes in 2006 to have electronic fuel injection. While most of the Suzuki platform teams are currently remaining silent as to what combination they plan to run, there is no doubt that everyone feels that sixes are imminent and may actually become commonplace. Here are the 2006 plans for many of the POWERade Series teams:
Andrew Hines and Gary "GT" Tonglet will return as the team riders for the year and sponsors will include Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle, Vance & Hines, Dunlop, Ford, and S100.
Steve Tartaglia remains as crew chief for the Schumacher Racing effort with the Army backing the two Suzuki riders. a
d v e r t i s e m e n t
The Buell-powered, Muzzy-framed machine was tested recently in Las Vegas. Schnitz ran a low 7.0, proving that the team is ready and just waiting for that elusive sponsor to step up. Better still, there was no sign of the transmission problems which plagued them through most of the 2005 season. As far as the new rules go, Muzzy had this to say:“When they get the Suzukis sorted out they will be faster but it might be a while before they actually get them running well.”
As far as what engine combination he would be running, Scali said; “I’d rather not comment, everyone will see it when we get to Gainesville.” As far as other sponsors, Scali will fly the flag for Craftsman, Hot Cams and Parts Unlimited, along with Performance Machine. a
d v e r t i s e m e n t
“We are also working on a Suzuki to take advantage of the rule changes, just to see what we can do. Right now we don’t have any definite plans for when it will hit the track but you never know.”
In the meantime, Johnson and crew members Tim Kulungian and Zach Dove will prepare for the first three races and look for sponsorship to carry them through the remainder of the season. a d v e r t i s e m e n t
Click to visit our sponsor's website
Crew chief Gary Stoffer has been working on adding some much-needed associate sponsors to the program due to the increased cost of upgrading motors. “For 2006 we will proudly fly the Geico Insurance banner and have some associate sponsorship help from MAC Tools, but we are actively seeking some associates to help our motor changeover. We will run the bigger motor on carbs at the beginning of the season and see how the fuel injection deal goes before we change.”
Joining Mohegan Sun as product sponsors are Royal Purple Oil, MAC Tools, CP Pistons and BG Products. a
d v e r t i s e m e n t Hammock goes from 45 to 60 - John Hammock and rider Marco Andreano are running with Buell power again this season, but this time it will be a 60-degree G2 Motorsports/S & S Cycle power plant instead of the 45-degree bullet they campaigned last season. “John bought the bike from the Guidera team ready to run”, said Andreano. “We tested it recently and ran quicker and faster then we ever did with the old bike right out of the box. The new motor revs higher and smoother than the old motor. I can’t lie; the old bike tried to vibrate the bars out of my hands. The new one is so smooth and easy to handle. The Kosman frame is a dream, you do get what you pay for.” The team hasn’t named a major sponsor yet but they do have backing from World Wide Bearings, Jessel Valvetrain, Inc., Red Line Oil, Brown Machinery and Lozano Brothers. The team will run a full schedule of events.
“Right now we have a number of product sponsors, including Pingel, PitPal Products, V-Twin Apparel, Cometic Gaskets, S100 and recently we signed a deal with Dave Perewitz of Cycle Fab and PPG to paint the bike, which is very exciting.” a
d v e r t i s e m e n t
Guidera gets new toy - Matt and Vic Guidera will be running a new toy this year as they recently took delivery of a new G2 Motorsports/S&S Cycle Buell. The bike they ran last year has a new home with the John Hammock team. With crew chief Larry Cook on board again and sponsorship by Rocklin Harley-Davidson, the team took a couple of practice runs in Chandler, Arizona, and got the bike into the 7.0 zone for the first time. Team Guidera has come a long way in a short year and they are obviously thrilled after their first day of testing. With all the uncertainty revolving around the new motor combinations
and the obvious lack of sponsorship money that was available after last
season, it seems like it’s going to be another wild year in Pro
Stock Motorcycle. It remains to be seen if it will be the "metric"
or V-Twin contingent stepping up to cause the next big controversy in
NHRA. Either way, it's sure to be a great battle all season long.
Got a comment? Drop us a line at comppluseditor@aol.com.
a
d v e r t i s e m e n t |
|
Better
Look Out - 2005 was without a doubt the most competitive in the
history of NHRA competition. 
Screamin’
Eagle looking to defend again - Matt Hines, team manager for
the Screamin’ Eagle, Vance & Hines V-rod team, reported that
they are looking to defend their title again for the 2006 season. “We
have been working hard on making the bikes more reliable,” said
Hines. “We’d like to lower our 60-foot times and improve our
reliability on both bikes. We know that the Suzukis should pick up at
least a tenth across the board, which may swing the balance of power.
In fact we may start the year five-hundredths behind them. All of the
guys in the shop feel that the Suzuki platform is more efficient.”
An
Army of mum - Despite repeated attempts to get rumors verified
or rebuked, the Army team of Angelle Sampey and Antron Brown remains mum
on what combination they will be running for the year. Rumor has it that
fuel Injection specialist Barry Henson of Velocity Racing has been contracted
to develop a workable fuel injection unit for the team. However, as of
this writing no word has been forthcoming from NHRA, which has to approve
any fuel injection systems before they are allowed in competition.
A
team in transition - The Muzzy’s Performance Team transitioned
from Kawasaki power to Buell power with great success in 2005. Ace rider
Ryan Schnitz finally visited the winner’s circle after a couple
of part-time seasons beating his head against the wall with the restrictive
NHRA rules for late model Kawasaki-powered bikes.
Scali
scores big - Geno Scali is a past NHRA champion who is looking
to rebound from a so-so 2005 season. 
The
G2 crew is up to two - G2 Motorsports will hit the track this
season with two complete Buell programs. “Chip Ellis will ride a
new bike, nicknamed ‘Thunder’ and Matt Smith will ride
the bike that Chip debuted at Indy, which is nicknamed ‘Super Tramp’”
said Jackie Bryce. “Chip's bike will be sponsored by G2 Motorsports/S&S
Cycles and the associate sponsors are MAC Tools and VTwinPlus.com. Matt
Smith’s bike, owned by G2 Motorsports, will have Torco Race Fuel
as the main sponsor with Red Line Oil, MAC Tools and VTwinPlus.com as
associates. We are looking to put both bike in the winner’s circle
this year and have both bikes in the points chase all season long. Both
bikes will be tuned by crew chief Ken Johnson, George Bryce III and George
Smith, Jr.”
Looking
for a reason to celebrate - After what could only be termed an
“interesting” experience at last year's U.S. Nationals, Steve
Johnson just wants a chance to celebrate a win this year on the day of
the race. “My batting average of wins to celebrations isn’t
very good (ed. note – 3 wins /1 celebration)”, said Johnson.
“We plan on taking advantage of the new rules this year, our 17th
season on a Suzuki. I’ll be running a large motor with fuel injection
from Vance & Hines. We haven’t tested it yet but I’m sure
it will try to rip the bars from my hands.”
The
Gecko returns - After a horrendous pit accident sidelined Karen
Stoffer for the majority of the off-season, the Gecko is ready to return
for the beginning of the 2006 season. “I’m healthy and raring
to go” said Stoffer. “I worked hard in the off-season to get
my strength back and now I am ready to race.”
California
cool is crusin’ 2006 - California Cool, Freddie Camarena,
has an eight-race schedule penciled in for the 2006 season. “I’m
doing my own motor program so we are having some financial difficulties
upgrading our Suzuki motors to the new specs” said Camarena. “We
will start the season with a new 1640cc motor with Lectron carbs. We’ll
wait and see how the injectors go with everyone else before we make the
change. As far as sponsors, we are still in negotiation so we may hit
more than the eight races we scheduled for right now, and that’s
all good.”
Sun
still shining on Mohegan Sun team - Team manager Brian Bozsum
reported that the Mohegan Sun team has hired Stan Sawyer as crew chief
and they are ready to fly in 2006 with Chris Rivas. “Chris is ready
to ride and we are looking forward to Gaineville”, said Bozsum.
“We learned a lot last season about running the Buell and we know
we can run even better this year. It would be nice to get into the winner’s
circle in just our second year out.”
The
Cohen’s are going back to V power - Connie and Marc Cohen
are heading back to where they started with the purchase of a G2 Motorsposts
Buell. “It’s like going home” said rider and team spokesperson,
Connie Cohen. “We started with a Harley Davidson and now we are
back in the V-Twin fold. We have had the bike together and apart a number
of times to learn it and now we are working hard to locate a sponsor.
If we could either sell our Suzuki or our fuel Harley we could afford
a second motor for the bike. In this day and age you can’t think
that it’s possible to go racing with just one motor.”
© Competitionplus 2005
|
|