Bandidos murder trial hears secret recordings -
CBC.ca - The first-degree murder trial of six
Bandidos biker gang members and associates in London, Ont., heard secret
tape recordings on Wednesday of a police informant and one of the accused
discussing the behaviour of some of the victims just before they were slain.
Bandidos biker gang jackets are seen at a police press conference in
Winnipeg in June 2006 Bandidos biker gang jackets are seen at a police press
conference in Winnipeg in June 2006 (John Woods/Canadian Press)The Crown's
key witness, a former Bandido member known only as M.H., 40, collected the
information by wearing a hidden microphone and bodypack to obtain the
evidence against men who at one time he considered his biker brothers.
He agreed to wear a wire and work as a police informant following the
execution-style slayings of eight members and associates of the Toronto
Bandidos chapter in April 2006.
Six members and associates of a rival faction of the motorcycle gang, Wayne
Kellestine, 59, Frank Mather, 35, Michael Sandham, 36, Dwight Mushey, 36,
Marcelo Aravena, 32 and Brett Gardiner, 25, have pleaded not guilty to eight
counts of first-degree murder.
In one recording, played for the court on Wednesday, one of the accused,
Mushey, says he was surprised one of the victims, George Kriarakis —
nicknamed "Crash" — cried.
Another victim, Frank Salerno — nicknamed "Bammer" — kept talking the whole
time until he was killed, Mushey is heard saying.
M.H. also described how Mushey made boxing motions when he said John
Muscedere — known as "Boxer" — went out "like a man."
"Supposedly, the first one he got, he laughed," Mushey is heard saying, in
an apparent reference to a bullet.
The taped evidence was gathered during a meeting at the Winnipeg home of
co-accused Sandham, attended by Mushey and M.H.
Another segment was recorded while M.H. and Mushey worked out at a gym.
With grunts and groans in the background and the sound of clanking weights
there was talk about the night of April 7, 2006, when the eight bikers were
shot to death at Kellestine's farm west of London.
M.H. has already testified in gruesome detail that seven of the eight
victims were led out of the farm's barn one at a time and shot.
The bodies of the men were found the next day, stuffed into several cars
that had been abandoned not far from the community of Shedden.
The shooting victims, along with Kriarakis, 28, Muscedere, 48, and Salerno,
43, were:
* Luis Raposo, 41,
* Michael Trotta, 31.
* George Jessome, 52.
* Paul Sinopoli, 30.
* Jamie Flanz, 37.
The trial continues on Thursday.
Hells Angel called 'unrepentant criminal' at sentencing hearing
- Vancouver Sun - VANCOUVER – One of four
Hells Angels members convicted last week is an “unrepentant criminal” who is
already serving a sentence of more than nine years, a sentencing hearing was
told Wednesday.
Prosecutor Mark Levitz said Ronaldo Lising had a substantial criminal record
for assault and trafficking cocaine and crystal methamphetamine, and was on
bail when he was arrested on the two firearms offences now before the court.
“Mr. Lising is a sophisticated criminal,” the prosecutor told B.C. Supreme
Court Justice Selwyn Romilly.
“He leads a criminal lifestyle,” Levitz added, reading out a wiretap
statement in which Lising confided he was taking a risk, especially since he
has children, but also had to weigh the rewards of his activities.
The Crown asked the judge to impose a 30-month sentence, consecutive to the
nine years and three months Lising is already serving.
Levitz pointed out that gun crimes carry a maximum 10-year and a mandatory
minimum one-year sentence.
He noted Parliament enacted a mandatory three-year minimum for the gun
crimes in May 2008. While the new law cannot be used in Lising’s sentencing,
it shows the growing concern about gun crime, which the judge should
consider, he said.
Police found two loaded prohibited guns in Lising’s Burnaby home — a Rossi
.357 Magnum revolver and a Walther .380-calibre semi-automatic pistol.
Levitz said the Walther pistol was found in fanny pack hidden in a dresser
drawer in the basement. The drawer wasn't locked and was accessible to
children in the home, the prosecutor said.
The gun had one bullet in the firing chamber and a loaded magazine, with two
more magazines, each containing six bullets, found in the bag, the court was
told. The other loaded gun was in a safe in the master bedroom.
Also in the house were a bulletproof vest and an “abduction kit” in a bag
containing a black balaclava, gloves, walkie-talkies and plastic “zap
straps” used for makeshift handcuffs, the Crown said.
Lising is one of four Hells Angels members convicted last week of a variety
of crimes. Lising, Randy Potts, John Virgil Punko and Jean Violette were all
members of the East End chapter of the Hells Angels in Vancouver who were
arrested in 2005. The sentencing hearing for Lising, Punko and Potts
continues Thursday.
Violette, who was convicted of extortion and weapons offences, will be
sentenced Oct. 25.
The charges came after a two-year $10-million investigation that targeted
the East End chapter, which at the time was considered the wealthiest outlaw
motorcycle gang in the country.
The nine-month trial was a test case of Canada's anti-gang law, but the jury
acquitted the bikers on charges of committing crimes in association with, or
for the benefit of, a criminal organization.
Lising's lawyer, Greg DelBigio, asked the judge Wednesday to impose a
sentence of one year to 18 months consecutive, or up to 24 months if he
decides a concurrent sentence is warranted.
The lawyer took issue with the Crown calling Lising an “unrepentant
criminal,” saying there was no evidence of that. And he said the bulletproof
vest found in Lising’s home was used for playing “paintball.”
The Crown said Lising was first convicted of assault in 1998 and was
sentenced in 2001 to 4.5 years in prison for five drug trafficking offences.
He appealed that sentence all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada. When
his appeal was dismissed, Lising began serving his sentence in late 2005. He
was sentenced to a consecutive four-year prison sentence in 2007 for
delivering a kilogram of meth to a deli.
Lising also received a nine-month sentence in 2008 for contempt of court
when he and two other Hells Angels members refused to testify at the cocaine
trafficking trial of Hells Angels member David Francis Giles, who was
acquitted.
Regarding Potts, the Crown asked for a sentence of up to eight years in
prison because of his possession of an arsenal of weapons, including
grenades.
“The court can conclude, based on all the evidence, that Potts held the
arsenal for the East End Hells Angels,” Levitz said, noting the grenades
offence carries a maximum 13-year sentence.
“The grenades are extremely dangerous,” Levitz said. “The only intent or
purpose is to kill or wound somebody.”
Potts’ lawyer, Bonnie Craig, suggested a 4.5-year sentence, saying her
client has served four years in pre-trial custody, including two years of
being kept in his cell 18 hours a day.
“It is hard time,” she said, adding her 49-year-old client had never served
jail time before. “It has been a life-altering experience.”
Craig said Potts wants to reconcile with his family, including his two
teenage daughters who attended court Wednesday, when he is out of custody.
Potts was convicted of having control of illegal grenades, and possessing
six weapons, including a loaded Colt .45 semi-automatic pistol, an Intratec
9-mm semi-automatic pistol, a sawed-off Ruger .22-calibre semi-automatic
rifle, a Franchi .22-calibre semi-automatic rifle, a Voere bolt-action rifle
and a .44 Ruger revolver – and four silencers.
Violette was found guilty of the extortion of Glen Louie, a drug dealer who
was beaten for using the Hells Angels name without permission. He was also
convicted of the illegal possession of a loaded Beretta 20 semi-automatic
pistol and a Ruger revolver.
Punko was convicted of counselling a police agent, Michael Plante, to commit
mischief by wilfully damaging property, and the unauthorized possession of a
loaded Smith & Wesson semi-automatic pistol.
The police promised to pay Plante, who infiltrated the Hells Angels, a
$1-million reward for his work.
Plante was paid $500,000 at the end of the police investigation, which
resulted in the arrest of 18 men, including six Angels. The remainder is to
be paid at the conclusion of all trials.
The judge is expected to impose sentence on the three bikers Friday.
Control order Finks had liberty deprived: lawyer -
Adelaide Independent Weekly - Two Finks bikies
have had their liberty deprived by being the subject of control orders under
South Australia's anti-bikie laws, a court has been told.
The two Finks, Sandro Totani and Donald Hudson, claim the laws which imposed
the control orders on them are unconstitutional and should be declared
invalid.
The Full Court of the SA Supreme Court on Thursday began hearing their
challenge, which if successful will cast doubt on similar anti-bikie laws
elsewhere in Australia.
Under SA laws introduced last year, the government has declared the Finks
motorcycle club a criminal organisation.
The declaration empowered police to ask magistrates to place control orders
on Finks members, effectively banning them from associating with each other.
Eight Finks have had control orders imposed on them by magistrates, but the
actions have been stayed pending the outcome of Totani and Hudson's
challenge.
Magistrates have also refused to hear applications for further control
orders pending the challenge.
In court today Totani and Hudson's lawyer, Bret Walker, SC, argued SA's
Serious and Organised Crime (Control) Act 2008 was flawed.
Totani and Hudson had control orders placed on them without any proof of
wrongdoing, or a chance to state their case to magistrates, Mr Walker said.
"They have been subjected to very considerable trespass of liberty," Mr
Walker told the court, adding the laws set a dangerous precedent.
"You have got potential for a court to treat somebody as a wrongdoer ...
without the court having been involved in the determination of the facts."
SA's Solicitor-General Martin Hinton, QC, said the control orders were
preventative measures.
"Preventative justice is by no means not unknown to the courts of this
state," Mr Hinton told the court.
The hearing is continuing.
Crown wants eight years for Hells Angel on gun charges -
The Province - A prosecutor on Wednesday accused
a member of the Hells Angels of being part of an “evil and dangerous” group
when he held an arsenal of weapons for the notorious motorcycle club.
Mark Levitz told B.C. Supreme Court Justice Selwyn Romilly that Randy Potts
deserved a sentence of between seven and eight years in jail for his crimes.
“I suggest here that there’s something evil and dangerous as part of the
group to which Mr. Potts belongs, to find it necessary to hold these
weapons,” he said.
A jury last week found Potts, 49, and three other members of the club’s East
End chapter guilty of weapons offences.
The four men were acquitted of the more serious charge of committing their
crimes for a criminal organization, a decision that was a blow to B.C.
police and prosecutors who have been attempting to have the Angels declared
a criminal gang.
Potts and the others were arrested in July 2005 following a major crackdown
on the club.
RCMP seized six guns, four silencers and four grenades from Potts.
His lawyer, Bonnie Craig, said the Crown hadn’t proved Potts was holding the
weapons and argued that Levitz was inviting the judge to “circumvent” the
jury verdict by calling the club evil.
She called for a sentence of between four and four 1/2 years for her client.
The prosecutor told the judge that a second accused, Ronaldo Lising,
deserved a 30-month jail term for possessing two firearms and added that he
should not get the standard double-time credit for being in jail since his
arrest.
RCMP seized a loaded 9 mm pistol and a loaded revolver from him.
Levitz noted several aggravating factors for Lising, including that he
committed the weapons offence while on bail.
He said Lising had a “substantial” criminal record and was a “sophisticated”
criminal who knew the risks that went with his actions. “He’s an unrepentant
criminal. He is not a good candidate for rehabilitation.”
Levitz told the judge that Lising should not be entitled to so-called dead
time because at the time of the offence he was in the midst of appealing a
four-and-a-half year drug conviction that went all the way to the Supreme
Court of Canada.
He didn’t start serving that sentence until November 2005.
Then in July 2007, he received a four-year sentence for drug offences, to be
served consecutively.
In April 2008, he got a nine-month sentence for contempt of court for
failing to testify at another Hells Angels trial arising from the East End
case.
That’s also to be served consecutively.
Greg DelBigio, Lising’s lawyer, asked for a 12 to 18-month sentence to be
served consecutively, if a consecutive sentence is imposed.
If a concurrent sentence is imposed, the sentence should be higher but not
more than 24 months, he said.
DelBigio objected to the Crown calling Lising an “unrepentant criminal” and
noted the family support Lising continues to have despite being in jail.
Sentencing submissions for a third accused, John Punko, are expected today.
The fourth accused, Jean Violette, will not be sentenced until October.
MotoGP: Rossi hoping to boost his title chances in Donington farewell
- Derby Evening Telegraph - VALENTINO Rossi
is in buoyant mood as he heads for Sunday's British Motorcycle Grand Prix at
Donington Park.
And the reigning world champion intends to fire a warning shot to the
pretenders to his crown by taking a fifth victory of the campaign at the
Derby circuit.
The Fiat Yamaha rider stretched his lead in the title stakes to 14 points
over his team-mate Jorge Lorenzo by winning last weekend's German round and
now Rossi is planning more of the same at what will be his farewell
appearance at Donington.
"This is the last year we are going to race there, which I am really sad
about, but that makes me even more determined to try to win there, for me
and for the fans who have always treated me like one of their own," he said.
Rossi, who knows that he will have a fight on his hands again, not just with
Lorenzo, but also Dani Pedrosa and the winner of the past two years, Casey
Stoner, riding Ducati, added: "I haven't won there since 2005, which is too
long, and I would like to say goodbye to the track in the best way.
"Last year, we couldn't take the fight to Stoner but this year our bike is
extremely competitive – I had a good race at Donington to finish second last
time but this year I really want to win.
"I've always said that Donington is one of my favourite tracks in the world
– it's fast and flowing but also technical.
"Also, the UK is a very special place for me because for a long time it was
my home and we're arriving leading in the championship, so we're in a very
strong position."
Rossi is now the winner of 101 Grand Prix races and is level, on 159, with
his hero Giacomo Agostini in the list of all-time podium finishes in world
championship races, something he intends to better at Donington.
Rossi is the only fully fit rider in the top four, with Lorenzo riding
through the pain of a shoulder injury sustained in America.
Lorenzo said: "I will try to relax for a few days at least and build my
strength some more. I like Donington a lot and this is the last year there,
so I would like to try and leave with a good result.
"I expect that all the British fans are hoping for another race like in
Sachsenring, so we will see what we can do."
Stoner, fighting off mild anaemia and gastritis, together with sore ribs,
will be full of fight as he bids to make it three straight wins at Donington
to close the points gap on Rossi.
Pedrosa, still suffering the after effects of several heavy tumbles is much
stronger, as his victory in America underlined, and the Repsol Honda rider
needs a repeat of his 2006 Donington success as he plays catch-up in the
title stakes from fourth place.
Motorcyclist dies in Suffolk crash -
Norfolk Eastern Daily Press - Further details have emerged about the
crash which killed a Lowestoft motorcyclist in north Suffolk on Friday.
Father-of-one Michael Townsend, from Carlton Colville, died after the
motorcycle he was riding collided with a car on the A12 London Road junction
with Benacre Road at about 5.25pm.
The EDP has learned that the 37-year-old had only had his Triumph Daytona
motorbike for a few months, and that the Network Rail signaller was
travelling by road to Colchester to commute to London Liverpool Street,
where he worked, for the evening shift.
But in the mix of rush hour traffic and guests attending the Latitude
Festival, his motorcycle was in collision with a red Rover 216 car.
Mr Townsend was taken to the James Paget University Hospital, in Gorleston,
with serious injuries but he died later that evening around 8.50pm.
The driver of the Rover car - a woman - was also taken to hospital with a
head injury but she was later released.
Family, friends and work colleagues were still coming to terms with the
shock of Mr Townsend's death this week.
Yesterday a close friend and fellow signalman summed up the feelings of
many, when he said: “Michael will be sorely missed.” Another work colleague
added: "True characters rarely pass our way - Michael's unique character and
sense of humour will be fondly remembered by his many work colleagues."
Loved ones of Mr Townsend were seen placing floral tributes to him at the
scene of the crash late Monday afternoon.
Police are asking anyone who may have seen either of the vehicles prior to
the collision or the crash itself to call PC Roy Dade at the Serious
Collision Investigation Team at police headquarters on 01473 613500.
Seniors look forward to hopping on motorcycles -
The State Journal-Register -
Soon-to-be-100-year-old Ola “Sunny” Duncan probably will be the oldest rider
when some residents of the Illinois Presbyterian Home take to motorcycles
Sunday.
The event will be the third annual motorcycle rally at the home.
Duncan knows a thing or two about motorcycle riding, thanks to twins she
knew as a 17- or 18-year-old schoolgirl in Chatham, Ontario, Canada.
“I chummed around with a couple of twins,” said Duncan, who will be 100
Sept. 7. “They had a motorcycle, and once in a while, I’d get a ride.”
Duncan, who rode motorcycles three times during last year’s rally, loves it.
Active all her life, she’s been a golfer, bowler, trapshooter and a
ping-pong and shuffleboard player. She thought trying motorcycle riding at
her age would be fun, she said.
“I’ve been an outdoor person all my life. I rode horseback when I was
(little), bareback, too,” Duncan said.
Thirty to 35 motorcyclists from Illinois and Iowa will meet at the home to
give residents bike rides, taking them “from the age of 100 back to their
20s,” said motorcyclist Monica Lucas, who’s participated every year.
“At first, I thought, ‘How is this ever going to work?’ It was absolutely
amazing, and the residents are so happy,” said Lucas, who lives in
Davenport, Iowa. She and her fiance, Heath Allison, will bring their 2006
Harley-Davidson Dyna Street Bob to this year’s rally.
“We pull up, and they’re already sitting outside and waiting. They clap and
they hoot and holler. It’s just so much fun.”
Lucas’ grandmother, Bette Rogers, is activity coordinator at the
Presbyterian home. Rogers said the rally is for the benefit of the
residents.
“For those who don’t ride, we have chairs on the porch. When they see all
those motorcycles coming, they’re clapping and yelling out. They’re happy,”
said Rogers, who also rides.
“Rep. Raymond Poe (R-Springfield) comes out and helps us. He cooks brats and
hot dogs on the grill. Then we serve soft drinks and water — just make a
full day. The bikers like it. Sometimes you see tears in their eyes.”
Paula Heredith’s 2005 Harley-Davidson Sportster Custom will be at the rally
“for show” because the bike has only a solo seat.
But Heredith has been at the rally each year because of her grandfather,
Eddie Grant, who’s lived at the home for several years.
“I don’t know exactly what little talk was at the house to get it going. My
grandpa just called me up and said, ‘Sis, we’re having a bike rally,’”
Heredith said.
“The first year I just rounded up some friends, and gosh, it turned out
great. Then I decided to get my own bike.”
Lucas has some friends coming this year and hopes more people from her area
come.
“It’s fun to see the same people over and over again,” she said. “You never
know at their age if they’re going to be there the next year or not. We’ve
been really lucky. We’ve been able to see the same people.
“It’s so wonderful. I hope we can do it for many, many years.”
Tamara Browning can be reached at 788-1534.
Want to watch?
What: Motorcycle rally
Where: Illinois Presbyterian Home, 2005 W. Lawrence Ave.
When: 2 p.m. Sunday, July 26
Benefit ride to honor life of Sean Powers -
Concord Monitor - A
benefit motorcycle ride will be held this weekend in remembrance of Sean
Powers, a Hopkinton police officer who died after his motorcycle was struck
by a drunken driver last August.
The ride, which leaves from the Hillsboro-Deering Elementary School at 10
a.m. Saturday, will run about 90 miles through the state and end up back at
the "fireman's land" in Hillsboro, where lunch will be served. It costs $20
to participate, and money raised will go toward a scholarship fund at
Hillsboro-Deering High School in Powers's name. There's an additional $5
charge for passengers.
Participants are encouraged to meet at the school on Hillcat Drive at 9 a.m.
A rain date is scheduled for Sunday at the same time.
Police identify motorcyclist killed in the Northland -
Kansas City Star - Richard Rice, 53, of Kansas
City has been identified as the motorcyclist killed Tuesday in the
Northland.
The accident happened about 3:30 p.m. at a T-intersection at North Congress
Avenue and Northwest 112th Street. Rice was southbound on Congress when a
sport utility vehicle — eastbound on 112th — pulled out from a stop sign and
turned left in front of him, said Police Officer Ron Reilly. Congress has no
stop sign.
The SUV driver told police she had just received a phone call, but Reilly
said her view of the motorcycle may have been blocked by another vehicle.
“A combination of everything met all at the same place at once,” he said.
“It’s just a misfortune.”
The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet, Reilly said.
Motorcycle rider injured - Carthage
Press - A Webb City man was injured in a crash between a car and a
motorcycle at 1:50 p.m. Tuesday in Jasper County, the patrol said.
Sean D. Gaines, 20, Webb City, was taken to Freeman West Hospital in Joplin
with what the patrol said were serious injuries after the crash on County
Road 230, a half mile north of Webb City.
The other driver, Laura R. Hoog, 45, Webb City, was not injured.
The patrol said the car driven by Hoog was traveling north and made a left
turn without yielding into the path of Gaines’ motorcycle. The vehicles
collided.
Bikers Rally At Fairgrounds - WVNS -
FAIRLEA, WEST VIRGINIA -- A big motorcycle rolled into southern West
Virginia this week. The Christian Motorcyclists Association is holding it's
biggest rally of the year in Greenbrier County.
The State Fairgrounds in Fairlea is where motorcyclists from across the
country are gathering. It's the first time the Christian Motorcyclists
Association is holding it's Eastern National Rally in West Virginia. Local
members say they are excited about hosting their fellow bikers. Donna Jones
is one of just a few Road Captains with the CMA and she is a member of the
Lewisburg Chapter of the CMA. " God bless our area. It's really great for
the local economy and everybody." Jones said.
The rally is a six day event and it has drawn more than 13-hundred bikers to
the State Fairgrounds in Fairlea. The CMA continues to change the stereotype
of bikers in the U.S. Rick Steffy is a National Evangelist with the CMA's
eastern region. " These are not the people that hollywood portrayed in the
1960's. The image of bikers has changed. They love motorcycles. They love to
ride and they love Jesus." said Steffy.
The CMA rally at the Fairgrounds features seminars and church services, as
well as vendors and activities. Steffy says one of the great things about a
Mountain State backdrop for the gathering is that it is giving their members
a chance to experience West Virginia's scenic beauty during tour rides
during the afternoon. " A lot of people here are used to riding on flat,
straight roads, here they get a chance to see hills and curves." Steffy
said.
This rally is also allowing some local merchants to see a boost in business.
One sporting goods store in Lewisburg says the motorcyclists are spending
money. Joe Boswell with JTM Sporting Goods says " They are buying camping
gear to supplement the stuff they have up at the Fairgrounds. It's great."
The Christian Motorcycle Association has been around since the mid 1970's
and they have 800 chapters across the United States. Their rally at the
State Fairgrounds will wrap up on Sunday Morning.
AMA Indefinitely Suspends Tech Boss -
Cycle News - AMA Pro Racing has indefinitely
suspended Technical Director of Competition Al Ludington for a
profanity-laced tirade directed at road racer Johnny Rock Page in the tech
shed at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course last weekend.
The confrontation took place in the tech shed after Page failed to heed the
blue flags while being lapped in the fast turn 13 on the 18th lap of
Saturday's 21- lap American Superbike race. The lap prior to the incident
Yamaha's Josh Hayes had a lead of .141 of a second on Jordan Suzuki's Aaron
Yates. The next lap it was .741 of a second. Hayes won by .183 of a second.
Ludington wasn't aware that Page, who is a tireless self-promoter, was
wearing a microphone and that a video camera was recording the scene for his
online reality show. The two-minute, 21-second clip surfaced on YouTube on
Tuesday.
The clip can be viewed here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C42W0dyBC8
Very early in the clip the following exchange took place.
Ludington: "This isn't about you dude. You f---ed up the best f---ing race
of the year."
Page: "I held my line the whole time."
Ludington: "Dude, you don't hold your line, you get the f--- out of the
way."
Page:" I held my line the best I can."
Ludington: "Dude, you raced the leaders and f---ed up the show. That's what
you did."
Page then asked what happened if someone passed him. Ludington demeaned him
by asking, "For what 28th ?" Page replied, "I don't care, I'm part of it.
Doesn't matter."
"But you're not it," Ludington said, jabbing his finger at Page. "That's
what you don't understand."
It was clear Page was goading Ludington and it was equally clear Ludington
should have walked away. As the technical director, the on-track activity
falls out of his purview.
The AMA Pro Racing officials who were present at the test at New Jersey
Motorsports Park on Tuesday were aware of the tape.
The indefinite suspension means that Ludington won't be at next weekend's
Thunder Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka in Kansas.
Ludington issued a letter of apology to Page and the racing community.
He wrote, "I would like to offer my sincerest apologies to the fans of our
sport, all AMA members, competitors, AMA Pro Racing officials and Johnny
Rock Page for my behavior in the Tech Garage at the recent AMA Pro Road
Racing event at Mid‐
Ohio.
"My actions were out of line and detrimental to the well being and the
growth of the sport that we all love. Mr. Page is a professional racer and
should have been reprimanded for his actions in a professional manner. He
was not, and the blame
is entirely and solely my own.
"I am regretful for offending anyone's sensibilities, and I vow never to
conduct myself in this manner in the future. We expect cordial dialogue and
behavior from our competitors and, in turn, they should expect the same from
us. I failed to live
up to this code of conduct."
The video didn't surprise anyone who knows the gregarious Ludington, who's
always had an expressive demeanor, including during his long and successful
stint as Miguel Duhamel's crew chief at American Honda. It's because of that
background that Ludington is probably the most respected AMA Pro Racing
official in the paddock.
Monster Energy Kawasaki's Jamie Hacking was suspended indefinitely and fined
$4000, also for conduct detrimental to the sport when AMA Pro Racing Vice
President of Competition Roy Janson overhead Hacking speaking disparagingly
of AMA Pro Racing as he was leaving the press room at Auto Club Speedway.
With this kind of video evidence, AMA Pro Racing had little choice but to
indefinitely suspend Ludington.
Janson, who manages all aspects of the competition department, "will have
direct oversight for at-event AMA Pro Road Racing technical operations in
Ludington's absence," the AMA said in a news release.
14th Annual Ride for the Animals Poker Run -
WMUR - Sunday, July 26, 2009, rain or shine, the
North Hampton, NH Seacoast H.O.G. (Harley Owners Group) is sponsoring their
14th Annual “Ride for the Animals Poker Run” with all proceeds to benefit
the Working Dog Foundation.
All motorcyclists are welcome at Seacoast Harley Davidson, 17 Lafayette Rd.,
North Hampton, NH for a police escorted scenic roundtrip ride from N.
Hampton through Stratham, Newmarket, Candia, and surrounding communities.
Registration opens at 8:30AM and the ride begins promptly at 10:30AM and
will return to the dealership by 3PM. The cost for registration is $10.00
per rider and $5.00 for passenger. The first 100 people to register get a
free event pin!
Prizes and a 50/50 drawing, plaques for best and worst hands and concession
food and beverages will follow the poker run. NH Police K-9 Academy dog
demos at 9AM and 3PM.
For information about the event and the North Hampton, NH Seacoast H.O.G.
chapter #2805 visit :
www.seacoasthog.com .
For more information on the Working Dog Foundation please visit our website
at: www.workingdog.org .
Event questions can also be directed to Herb Moore, Director of Seacoast
H.O.G. at 603-474-9419.
Cruise for Prevention rides in UF Aug. 12 -
Allentown Examiner - The 2009 Motorcycle Cruise
for Prevention, sponsored by Upper Freehold/Allentown Alliance to Prevent
Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, will be held 5-9 p.m. Aug. 12 at Byron Johnson
Recreation Park on Ellisdale Road, Upper Freehold.
Motorcycle owners can show off their bike and compete for prizes in the
following categories: American Stock, Metric Stock, American Custom, Antique
and People's Choice. There will be food, music, door prizes, vendors, a
50/50 raffle and more. Admission is free and donations are appreciated.
The event benefits drug prevention programs in the community. The rain date
is scheduled for Aug. 19. For more information, call 609-570-5376.
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