I was shocked and deeply saddened to hear the news yesterday that former CCS racer and all-around great guy Jim Holmen died in a street motorcycle accident on May 24th.

Jim raced a Honda Hawk and a Buell Lightning back in the day. And he and I shared the ride and a room during Daytona Bike Week 2004. He was quick with a smile and a funny story. He was the kind of guy who would do anything for his friends and family. I've never had a more entertaining ride to and from Daytona. What a character!

James Gang/Hoban Brothers Racing dedicates our MOTO-ST race at Road America this weekend to Jim.

Godspeed my friend.

God bless all who knew and loved him, especially his best friend and life partner Beth. We mourn his loss with you all, and celebrate his life this weekend...

http://www.wiscnews.com/bnr/obits/288433

We invite all of our friends and family to join us this weekend at the AMA Superbike races at Road America. We have a 2-hour MOTO-ST practice on Friday from 4:20 - 6:20 PM. Saturday morning warm up at 8:15 AM. Then we race in the MOTO-ST 500K right after the AMA Superbikes from 3:30 - 6:30 PM. Wish us luck!

JAMES GANG/HOBAN BROTHERS RACING WILL FIELD TWO BUELL TEAMS FOR MOTO-ST ROAD AMERICA ROUND

Waukesha, Wisc. (June 3, 2008) – James Gang/Hoban Brothers Racing will field two GrandSport Twins (GST) Buell teams sponsored by H-D/Buell of Appleton during round three of the SunTrust MOTO-ST series at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisc., held during the AMA Superbike race weekend on June 7.

Regular team riders Paul James and Jeff Johnson raced their Buell Firebolt XB12R to second and third place finishes in the first two SunTrust MOTO-ST rounds at Daytona and VIR respectively and currently sit second in GST points, just three points behind the Richie Morris Racing Buell team.

"Road America is our home track and the backyard of our primary sponsors Hoban Brothers and H-D/Buell of Appleton, so we'll have plenty of family and friends cheering us on for the win," said James.

“I must have more than 50 races under my helmet at Road America, it is absolutely my favorite track to ride,” said Johnson. “I’m looking forward to putting our bike on the top of the podium this weekend.”

Veteran Buell racer Greg Avello and young gun Chris Quillman will pilot the second James Gang/Hoban Brothers Racing entry. Avello has two prior SunTrust MOTO-ST GST podiums to his credit, while Quillman's MOTO-ST debut will mark his first race on a Buell motorcycle as well as his first ever endurance race. The 21-year-old tested the team's backup Buell Firebolt XB12R for the first time at Blackhawk Farms on May 31st and impressed everyone with his ability to quickly adapt to the new ride.

"I like how the Buell is so easy to ride even if you don't have a lot of seat time. Also the torque that the Buell V-Twin makes is incredible," said Quillman, the 2007 CCS Midwest Lightweight Grand Prix Champion on a Bliss Machine Ltd. Yamaha TZ250.

"We're pretty pumped up to race during the AMA Superbike weekend," said Avello, who has competed in AMA Pro Thunder rounds in the past at Road America. "It's a great track and a special atmosphere. We think we can put both Buells on the podium."

The James Gang/Hoban Brothers Racing crew for the Road America weekend will include Crew Chief Mike Kirkpatrick and Tuner John Dahmer, along with Nancy Birkenstock, Amy James, Pete Johnson, Rita Johnson, Matt King, Tom and Kelli Michels, Rocco Scola and Alex Oppermann.

# # #

We went to Blackhawk for the CCS races this past Saturday.

Our primary mission was to test Scrappy, our third MOTO-ST bike which will be entered as a second team by Greg Avello and Chris Quillman. I also wanted the sprint bike seat time to stay sharp.

Chris had never raced a four-stroke V-Twin before. And he did a nice job on Scrappy. We made a small suspension adjustment for him after the first session and then he just rode laps and tried to get his head around the bike (he’s only raced a 250 GP bike).

He was smooth and smart about riding the bike for the first time. I like him. I think he’ll do well. And I know he can go fast. He beat Ed Key last year at Blackhawk and I had a good battle with him at Gateway in LWGP. He just needs more seat time.

We chased our tails around with an electrical gremlin at first on Scrappy. The bike wouldn’t start even though it fired right up after Mike put it all together (except for the fairing). We thought it was either the main switch or handlebar kill switch. After we messed with it a bit, unplugging and replugging connectors, fuses, relays, etc. the bike fired up and ran great for Chris in two rounds of practice and the GT Lights race. We parked it and called it good.

But I hadn’t ridden it yet, so I took it out in LWF40 when my sprint bike broke a muffler mount. I think it’s set up nicely and totally raceable. Then the electrical problem cropped up again and killed the engine on the last lap of my race. Mike later found a bad ground on the fairing mount. So…we’re good to go and I’m glad we did the test.

My other races went OK. 2nd in GT Lights, after leading the first lap and passing Ed for the lead a couple of times. 4th in Thunderbike and SuperTwins.

On to Road America!

Aloha from Maui. Amy and I (along with the girls) are in Hawaii enjoying a vacation and family wedding. My little brother Ian is getting married to his college sweatheart Christy on Memorial Day.

Meanwhile, back on the mainland, my MOTO-ST teammate Jeff Johnson is getting married to Rita this weekend in Minneapolis.

Here's wishing them both all the joy and happiness in the world as they start new lives together with a couple of wonderful ladies.

Last weekend was the season opener at Blackhawk Farms. We're not racing much CCS this year, perhaps all 5 rounds at Blackhawk plus Road America. Maybe not even that much as our focus and budget is maxed out on MOTO-ST.

But being at Blackhawk with all of our friends in Buell Alley was awesome. We tested a couple of new parts and broke in an endurance motor. One part we tested cost us a good finish in GT Lights when it broke which was a bummer. But better there than during a MOTO-ST weekend.

I finished 2nd in LWF40 while breaking in the new motor and bike for the next round of MOTO-ST. Was running a strong second in GT Lights before we had the part break. Then in Thunderbike and SuperTwins, I finished 4th. Dan Bilansky and Ed Key battled up front for a split decision (although Danny ran away with the ST win) while Gary Palmer and I battled for third.

Gary was riding well and not making any mistakes. I tried to make a few moves but ultimately never had a great shot to get past him cleanly. Good races. Good times.

Thanks Mike, Nancy and PJ for a great day of racing. We spent Mother's Day with our families. And we'll be back at Blackhawk for more testing and fun at the end of the month.