BUELL XBRR To Make Competition Debut in Daytona 2006

[R1 Biker]

From a press release issued by Buell Motorcycle Company:

Four Dealer Teams to Enter New Buell Production Racing

East Troy, WI -- (Monday, February 27, 2006) Four Buell dealer teams with racing experience will be entering new Buell XBRR production roadracing motorcycles in the 65th running of the Daytona 200, the opening round of the 2006 AMA Superbike/Lockhart Phillips USA Formula Xtreme series, scheduled for March 11 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla.

The Buell XBRR is a limited-edition production racing motorcycle designed exclusively for closed-course competition. It offers private racers a professional-level, race-ready, production-based platform. Buell will be producing a total of 50 XBRR motorcycles this year.

The teams slated to enter the Buell XBRR in the Daytona 200 are:

Buell Hannover of Hannover, Germany, with 2005 BMW Motorrad Power Cup rider Rico Penzkofer.

Deeley Harley-Davidson/Buell Canada of Vancouver with rider Steve Crevier, the reigning Parts Canada Pro 600 Sport Bike champion.

Hal’s Harley-Davidson/Buell of New Berlin, Wis. with AMA Pro Thunder winner Mike Ciccotto.

Warr’s London Harley-Davidson/Buell of London, England with 250 GP and Moto GP star Jeremy McWilliams.

These four riders will appear on March 10 at an autograph session from 10 a.m. to noon at the Buell Demo Truck located on the North side of Daytona International Speedway.

The entry of four independent teams in the Daytona 200 brings to fruition the original goal of the Buell XBRR program: To make affordable bikes for privateers who want to compete in the prestigious AMA Formula Extreme class and other pro-level road racing classes.

“Although Formula Xtreme has seen some exciting and very fast motorcycles from the factories, the gap between factory riders and privateers is pretty large,” said Erik Buell, Chairman and Chief Technical Officer, Buell Motorcycle Company. “We talked with the AMA and asked them if we could modify bikes at the factory and sell them to privateers, and that we wouldn’t be running a factory team. The reception from the AMA to this was quite positive.”

While motorcycles raced in Formula Xtreme must start as a street model, the modifications allowed are extreme, hence the name of the class. Formula Xtreme rules allow different displacements and modifications for different types of engines.

“We started with our Buell Firebolt XB12R model, which has wonderful handling, and did the modifications allowed by the AMA rules,” said Buell. “There was an intense effort by a small team of folks in the company, many of whom have been or are privateer racers. The Buell dealer network is quite excited about the prospect of being able to go up against the factories with private dealer teams.”

Buell Motorcycle Company has also sought sponsorship opportunities for the dealer teams and privateers. Pirelli will provide support for the four teams competing at Daytona, and will offer a contingency program in Formula Extreme that provides free tires to Buell riders finishing through 20th place.

“Tires are a substantial expense for private teams, and the frustration of not getting the factory-level tires is always aggravating,” said Buell, who was a successful privateer road racer early in his career. “I can’t thank Pirelli enough for what they are doing for the riders and the sport.”

The Buell teams racing at Daytona are also receiving sponsor support from Sentry Insurance, Harley-Davidson Financial Services, Harley-Davidson Visa, and Screamin’ Eagle SYN3 Synthetic Lubricant and will compete for their share of $36,000 in Buell contingency funds posted for the Daytona 200.

Buell Motorcycle Company has expanded its racing support program for 2006, with more than $700,000 posted in cash contingencies for Buell racers competing in a variety of national and regional race series events and classes aboard Buell XB models and the Buell XBRR production racing motorcycle.

Buell Motorcycle Company, a subsidiary of Harley-Davidson, Inc., produces sport motorcycles, motorcycle parts, accessories and apparel. To learn more about Buell motorcycles, visit your local Buell dealer today and experience the pure streetfighter attitude, style and performance only found on board a Buell. Pull into www.buell.com for the Buell dealer nearest you.