Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127561
Who's riding what? Here's an interesting breakdown of the brands of bikes ridden by 549 entrants at the GFI California Winter MX Series round at Glen Helen OHV Park in San Bernardino, California, on January 31: Heading the list was Yamaha with 216, followed by Kawasaki with 135, Suzuki 102, Honda 84, KTM 3, ATK 2, and "other" 7. The previous weekend at the January 24 Anaheim Amateur Supercross, the Big Four were much closer. With 363 entries, Yamaha led with 112 bikes on band, Suzuki was next at 93, followed by Honda with 80 and Kawasaki with 78. National Observed Trials Champion Ryan Young will leave the Tryals Shoppe Aprilia ride on which he won the title to campaign a Gas-Gas backed by both the Spanish factory and the American importer, Gas-Gas USA. The Tryals Shoppe, the Florida-based American Aprilia importer, will back only Raymond Peters this year, although they will have the Aprilia support vehicle at all Nationals to provide support for all Aprilia riders. Joining Young on the list of former Tryals Shoppe-backed riders is last year's number two finisher, Geoff Aaron, who will be campaigning a Cosmopolitan Motors-supported Beta. Aaron hasn't completely severed his ties with the Tryals Shoppe; he'll be wearing a new line of trials competition clothing they market. And from the West Coast comes word that longtime northern California trials ace Kipp Webb has been named the manager of the Fantic team that is fielded by Miller's Motorcycles. The team will consist of several riders, including Gary Bourque, who finished 10th overall last year. News from Europe regarding the World Championship Observed Trials Series competitors has defending World Champion Tommi Ahvala competing as the only factory Aprilia rider. Ahvala of Finland is in the second year of a twoyear contract with the Italian manufacturer. Spaniard Amos Bilbao, who finished fourth in the series last year and was winner of the final '92 World round at Watkins Glen, New York, has jumped ship from his Gas-Gas factory ride to sign a two-year contract with Montesa/Honda with an option for a third year for a possible road racing venture with both Honda and his personal sponsor, Ducados. Bilbao replaces fellow Spaniard Marc Colome at Montesa; Colome, fifth overall in the series, has inked a deal with Beta. Frenchman Bruno Camozzi, seventh last year aboard a works Fantic, will switch to a one-off works hybrid Scripia, a French-made trials bike. Andreu Codina, Gas-Gas export manager and former world class trials competitor, is planning on coming to America to conduct some riding schools this year with help from Dale Melasek of Gas-Gas USA. Riders wishing more information and/or clubs interested in hosting a clinic can reach Melasek at 816/741-7615. The AMA tells Papa that the Grand National Championship Dirt Track Series will return to TV on ESPN with a lo-race broadcast package. In addition, an event at Black Hills Speedway in Rapid City, South Dakota, has been added to the schedule. The rare midweek half mile race will take place on Wednesday evening, August 11, in conjunction with the annual Sturgis Rally that takes place in nearby Sturgis. American Suzuki has announced a new contingency program for RM purchasers. The. Suzuki Good Scholar Program allows any school-age (grade school through high school) purchaser of a 1993 RM80, 125 or 250 to receive a $500 savings bond which can be applied toward their college education. In order to qualify, candidates must purchase a 1993 RM from an authorized Suzuki dealer, complete and return an application form to Suzuki, compete in at least five MX events, and maintain a 3.0 (8) or better grade point average for the 1993 school year. Suzuki riders and motorcycles will appear along with Brian Austin Green of the Fox Television show Beverly Hills, 90210 in a segment of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous which is set to air on Saturday, February 27, on CBS. Team Suzuki's Jeff Matiasevich and Suzuki Support Team rider Denny Stephenson will appear riding with Green. Suzuki Sports Promotions Manager Joe Colombero and Off-Road Supervisor Mike Webb also appear in the segment. Green also recently completed a segment of MTV Sports in which he's seen riding with Guy Cooper, Damon Huffman, Jimmy Button, Phil Lawrence and Matiasevich. Those who have ridden a motorcycle in the Alps know that things just don't get much better than that. Here's your chance to combine a safety school with some Alpine cruisin' this coming summer. California's CLASS Motorcycle Safety Schools and Austria's Edelweiss Bike Travel have gotten together to present a two-day CLASS school at the famed Salzburgring in Austria as part of a 12-day tour of the magnificent Alps. For more information, write to CLASS/EST, 149~B Palma Dr., Ventura, CA 93003. Moore &t Sons Motorcycles in Santa Cruz, California, will host an off-road seminar on Friday evening, February 12. The seminar is being held in conjunction with the February 14 opening round of the AMA National Championship Enduro Series at nearby Coalinga. Former National Enduro Champion· Kevin Hines of Team Husqvarna, District 36 champ Dan Neilsen, ISDE gold medalist Charles Halcomb and former California State Trials Champion Kip Webb will contibute to the seminar. For more information, call 408/4753619. BMW unveiled the first of the company's soon-to-be-released line of "new generation" boxer twins in Lanzarote, Canary Islands, January 27-31. The flagship model, the Rll00RS sport-tourer, features an eight-valve but still aircooled motor, the impressive all-new Telelever anti-dive front suspension, angled cylinders, refined ABS, an optional full fairing, and adjustable handlebars, windscreen and seat. The Rll00RS will be available in three different colors - red, blue and white - will cost, depending on options, around $13,000 and should be available to the public in the near future. Former Arenacross Champion Dennis Hawthorne broke both ankles in a crash at the AMA National Championship Arenacross in Indianapolis, February 5. Texan Hawthorne will be out of action for at least six weeks. Road racer Jeff Heino will ride a Team Moroney Harley-Davidson in the U.S. TwinSport Series, according to Pat Moroney, the owner of Moroney's Harley-Davidson in NeWburgh, New York. Moroney will also back dirt tracker Jason Fletcher, who will contest the AMA Grand National Championship on a Harley XR750 and an 883 in the AMA Continental Tire 883 Grand National Series. Road racer Dave Stanton, the two-time AFM 600