Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

Ray Hensley the originator of Trackmaster racing frames, is recuperating at home after a brief hospital stay. Cards and letters can be sent to Hensley at 11435-A Santa Fe, Hesperia, CA 92345. Roadracing Today, the America Online road racing forum, has expanded to become part of the BikeNet package on the World Wide Web. BikeNet (http://www /bikenet.co.uk) includes the following: Motorcycle Sport Magazine; Phase One Endurance Report; Help Required; Tech Talk; Great Biking Roads; Great Biking Places; Gravel Rash; and RaceShots. The Ducati Corse World Superbike team is now on the Internet. The World Wide Web pages of the Ducati team feature comments and real-time results from each race, downloadable pictures from each circuit and a "technical" area with the bike's specifications and rider profiles. Internet users will also be able to e-mail riders and teams through the new service. AIl remaining races will be covered. Ducati Corse's Internet address is: http://www.sextant.it/fs/ducati_corse.html. For email: Ducati_Corse@sextant.it. The AMA Road Race Advisory Committee has decided against the use of blue flags at AMA National Championship Road Races. "Discussing issues as important as the use of a new signal flag is one of the reasons the AMA formed the advisory committee, which is comprised of representatives from each of the participating manufacturers and top riders," said Ron Barrick, AMA Road Race Manager. Barrick said the committee was not comfortable with the idea of giving tum marshals responsibility that would require them to pay more attention to the order of the race than to their normal duties, and that any action that a rider may take after being shown the flag could be hazardous to riders behind them. Kinko's Kawasaki's Thomas Wilson and James Randolph were scheduled to be part of a segment for the television show, "The Extremists," on Monday, July 24 at Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma California. The 10-minute segment may air as early as September. Justin Blake was awarded the inaugural AMA Pro Racing Scholarship, an incentive created by the AMA to encourage 16- and 17-year-old racers to further their education. Blake attended Thornapple Kellogg High School in Mid- dleville, Michigan, and graduated 15th in his class with a grade point average of 3.74. He has been accepted into Michigan State University where he will study Computer Science and Engineering. A total of 22 racers applied for this year's scholarship. Rice Honda Suzuki of Rapid Gty, South Dakota, will celebrate their 30th Honda Anniversary, Stwgis Rally open house August 8. Free hot dogs and soft drinks will be provided all day. In addition to the open house, riders are invited to participate in the Black Hills chapter of Honda Riders' Club of America (HRCA) Sturgis Rally Moonlight Poker Run, half the proceeds of which go to the Ride for Kids Foundation. For more information call 605/342-2242. 1996 Suzuki RMs J ust as we were going.to press, the FedEx delivery man threw a package from Japan on our desks, containing photographs of the all-new Suzuki RM motocross lineup. While we will provide more detailed information in a future issue, we thought you might enjoy a peek at the 1996 RM25O. Specs were not included with the pictures, but from what we hear, the RMl25 and 250 are practically new from the ground up. Call us superficial, but the most noticeable update is the change in bodywork. Apparently, Suzuki has decided that full-eoverage radiator shrouds - standard on the yellow machines sInce 1993 - are not such a good idea. The Suzuki marketing department also went with the obligatory purple hue on the shrouds. More important than the graphic updates is the ~tch to a conventional fork, making Suzuki the first Japanese company to return to the traditional suspension philosophy. (Austrian manufacturer KTM made the switch last year.) The AMA Superbike National at Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma, California, on August 25-27 will be sponsored by McGraw Insurance. The race will be called the McGraw Insurance California Superbike Challenge. Off-roader Ward Landis, from Santa Monica, California, will be trying to make history at the Baja 1000 on November 10-11. Landis, who has competed in the 1000 twice before, turns SO on September 27. Despite the fact that the race will be over 1000 miles in length this year, Landis is planning to solo Class SO. Further scanning of the entry list reveals that a two-rider team from Hong Kong has signed up, as has a physically handicapped rider from Israel. . door and Ron got up to answer it. The person asked for a cigarette and the next thing Ron knew, there were three people at the door. One of them suddenly pulled a gun on Ron and then all three barged in, each one now holding a gun. They demanded all of Ron and Jeff's money and threatened to kill them. Ron and Jeff were happy to oblige but when Ron reached into his pocket for some cash, one of the robbers grabbed Ron and forced him to the ground, while another grabbed Jeff and pushed his face into the comer of the wall while holding a gun to his head. When it was all over, the. three robbers got away with approximately $180. Neither Ron nor Jeff were hurt in the incident. Fritz Kling rode a Hinds Motorsports Triumph Speed Triple to a second-place finish behind the Ducati of William White during the BEARS race at the Mid-Dhio Sports Car Course on July 23. The race was held in conjunction with the AHRMA historic races at the Lexington, Ohio, venue. Look for complete coverage in next week's issue of Cycle News Factory KTM rider Jeff Dement and his father, Ron, had an interesting experience recently. According to KTM's Scot Harden, the Monday following the July 16 Troy, Ohio, National Motocross, Jeff and Ron caught a flight to California for a promotional photo shot with KTM and arrived in Los Angeles late Monday night. They then drove approximately two hours to Moreno Valley, California, where they checked into a motel at approximately 3 a.m. After having just fallen asleep, there was a knock at the .American Suzuki has mailed notification to 152 qualifiers and 333 alternates for the 1995 Suzuki RM Cup Clullenge Eastern region motocross at Pleasure Vaney Raceway in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, on August 19. An additional 161 qualifiers and 152'alternates for the Suzuki RM Cup Challenge Western region event scheduled at Silver State Raceway in .Carson City, Nevada, on September 9, should receive notification by July 31. The posted payout 'for each event is expected to be some $72,lSO. American Suzuki has also announced its plans for the 1996 Suzuki RM Cup Challenge program. Suzuki plans to feature a single East/West challenge race to be held at a new facility in Branson, Missouri, in August of '96. To be eligible, riders must purchase a 1994-% Suzuki RM80, 125 or 250 and compete in . Suzuki contingency events. The top points earners in each of the regions will be invited to the 1996 challenge, which is slated to pay a total of $100,700. HIRED: Scott F. Wright, as International and National Marketing Sales Manager for IMS Products in Riverside, California. BORN: Vitek (Vit) Ayrton Harvey, to former off;road racer Taz Harvey and his wife Milena, July 11, in Dublin, California. Harvey earned a gold medal in the 80cc class at the Swedish Six Days in 1990. MOVED: Shoo Safety Helmet Corporation, to 22605 East La Palma Ave.. , Ste. 507, Yorba Linda, CA 92687. The new telephone number is 714/692-8776 and the new fax number is 714/692-2815. ~ r----------------------------------------------------------------, ([lID ~ SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM Name _ o Address Gty Order Date State _ _ Zip _ Please start my subscription to Cy cle News: o Every week for one year (SO issues) for $38.00 (can be billed 3 monthly payments) o o L Every week for two years (100 issues) for $70.00 Six months second class (25 issues) for $19.00 One year (SO issueS), 2nd dass Canada or Me,aco and all other foreign countries $78.00

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