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/127936
r-" IN THE WIND '-,",'W ;.~!,!!, "'-"~' While there were many furrowed brows in the lead-up to the final qualifyfng session on Saturday at Phillip Island, what with stretching limbs and intense pep talks, Noriyuki Haga was calmly playing solitaire on the Yamaha data-logging computer just 15 minutes before heading out. While Australians Mark Willis, Craig Connell, Steve Martin and Shawn Giles were able to ply their wares to the top World Superbike teams in the Phillip Island opener, reigning Australian Superbike Champion Martin Craggill was a mere spectator at the race, True to earlier warnings, Team Kawasaki Australia boss Peter Doyle decided not to enter team riders Craggill and Damon Buckmaster because of the cost of doing the event, "When Peter says he's not going to do something, he means it," Craggill said, adding that, tmlike many competitors, he didn't mind attending a big meeting as an onlooker. "There's not a lot you can do abou t it. It's good to catch up with people and maintain contacts," he said, before politely ending this interview to resume a friendly conversation with Japanese members of the Kawasaki World ~uperbike team. Determined to race in Europe or the United States next year, Craggill was asked if he would consider a ride in the World Supersport 600cc Championship or the AMA Supersport Series. "I'd look at anything," he replied. Guy Cooper (KTM) won round four of the 1998 Australian Supercross Championship at the Wayville Showgrounds in South Australia on March 21. More than a lap down after an early get-<>ff, Cooper made the most of a restart due to a bad crash back in the field, when Craig Anderson (Yam) led from cousin Chad Reed (Suz). Cooper staged a remarkable run in the 10-lap restart to win over Anderson and Lee Hogan (KTM). Anderson now leads the title chase with 57 points over Hogan on 52. Cooper, who is unlikely to compete in the remaining rounds, sits in eighth with 35 points. World 250cc Motocross Champion Stefan Everts (Hon) went 1-1 to win an International Motocross in Mons, Belgium, on March 22. Everts finished ahead of World 500cc MX Champion Joel Smets (Hbg), who went 4-2, and Marnicq Bervoets (Suz), who went 3-3. The event was also a round of the Belgium Championships, which Everts leads with 95 points, followed by Smets (82) and Werner Dewit (56). Team Noleen/Yamaha's Tim Ferry is expected to return to action for the opening round of the AMA/Mazda 125cc National Championship MX Series at Glen Helen Raceway on May 9. Ferry reinjured his knee at the Tampa (Florida) Supercross, underwent surgery, and is currently well down the road to recovery. It is possible Ferry could return to action sooner than that possibly for the Dallas or Las Vegas Supercross - but he will most likely wait until the National. 00 ~ AMA 250cc Grand Prix road racer ,...... Derek King won't be competing in 1998 after taking a job with an Indy Lights car-racing team - Irish Motorsports. King will be in charge of data acquisition for the team that fields Tim Moser as its driver. A production company owned by TV star David Letterman is Irish Motorsports' primary sponsor. Racing Enterprises Motorsports (REM) will host its final race at the worldfamous Carlsbad Raceway in Carlsbad, California, on March 28. The following week, REM will start running its motocross events at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, California. Due to the distance between the two venues, REM is looking for new cornerworkers to help at Glen Helen. Interested parties should call 619/484-1441. Takazumi Katayama is the latest former road racing star to sign up for the Centennial IT, scheduled for May 8-10 in Assen, Holland. Katayama will ride a three-cylinder Yamaha 350, according to race promoters. More information on the event is available at the Centennial TT's home page on the World Wide Web. The site can be found at the following address: http://www.centennial-tt.org. The Hatfield-McCoy Recreation Area, a multi-purpose trail project being developed in southern West Virginia, has received $6.25 million in funding from the West Virginia legislature, according to the Hatfield-McCoy Trail Scouts. Project supporters are encouraged that this support will enable them to open the first 300-mile segment by the year 2000 and to rapidly complete the balance of the 200D-mile trail system in the following years. BMW of North America has once again teamed up with the Women's Motorcyclist Foundation in an effort to raise funds for breast-cancer research. Beginning on June 20, motorcyclists will ride across the United States as part of the 15,000-mile Pony Express Tour '98. The tour - sponsored by BMW - is expected to raise at least $500,000 for a dedicated research fund established by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in Dallas, Texas. Dirt-track legend Eddie Mulder will hold a two-day dirt-track. racing school at the Lodi Cycle Bowl in Lodi, California, April 18-19. The class, which will specialize in IT and short track, is open to all riders, with a special program and price for Pee Wees. For more information, caJl805/268-0l05. According to a press release from Sturgis Rally & Races Inc., there is no truth to the rumor that Sturgis plans to charge an admission fee in order to enter the 1998 Sturgis Rall Y & Races inAugust. The event will kick off on August 3 and run until August 9. Zippo Manufacturing and HarleyDavidson Motor Company are putting together a sweepstakes, with the wirmer getting a 1999 Harley-Davidson motorcycle - custom-designed by Willie G. Davidson. Fans can enter the sweepstakes at any AMA/MBNA Superbike Series event and all entries must be received by January 15, 1999, with winners to be notified on March 1, 1999. In addition to the motorcycle, the grandprize package will include a ZippoHarley-Davidson lighter kit. Corsa Moto Classica, one of the premier West Coast events for classic and modern racin& motorcycles, will return to Willow Springs Raceway in Rosamond, - California, May 1-3. For the first time at Corsa Moto Classica, a Super IT will be held, combining pavement and off-road racing on purpose-built motorcycles. For more information, call 800/3933766. Four-time 500cc World Champion Mick Doohan has taken up an invitation to drive Jacques Villeneuve's Williams Formula One car, according to Cycle News contributor Darryl Flack. Doohan will fulfil the dream of a lifetime at the Catalunya circuit, roughly a week and a half before the Spanish SOOcc Grand Prix at Jerez. "I'm looking forward to having a run at Catalunya. It should be good fun," Doohan said of his upcoming drive in Villeneuve's 700 horsepower, V-10 Williams FW20. "I've had offers in the past, but I've had no chance to do it because of my schedule." By the time of the test, Doohan will have already completed the Japanese and Malaysian Grands Prix, and will be preparing for the Jerez round, where he suffered a rare mechanical problem last year. "I've got to be cautious because it's in the middle of my season, so I'm under no illusions I'm going to turn record lap times. I'll stay within my limits," Doohan added. The last motorcycle World Champion to drive a Formula One car was Wayne Gardner, who impressed during a test in a Lotus after retiring in 1992. More recently, Max Biaggi was offered a drive in a Minardi Formula One car in 1995, but turned it down. An Australian man has been placed on a 12-month good-behavior bond after attacking Mick Doohan's luxury boat with an axe last year. Trevor Stuart Farlow, 50, pleaded guilty to willful damage, which a Queensland magistrate said was the result of a neighborly feud between Farlow and the four-time World Champion. Farlow had alleged that Doohan's boat wa taking up too much room on the street, and restricted his view of Paradise Waters. On March 28, Racing Enterprises Motorsports (REM) will be hosting its last race at Carlsbad Raceway in Carlsbad, California. The following week, REM will start its race program at Glen Helen Raceway on an all-new track in San Bernardino. REM is also looking for new flaggers, and anyone interested is asked to contact REM at 619/484-1441. Factory Phil's Golf Outing: The second annual Factory Phil's Golf Extravaganza will take place on May 5 at the Menifee Lakes (California) Country Club. Host "Factory" Phil Lawrence says that the outing "doesn't really benefit anything," but is a "lot of fun." Defending champs are Craig Decker and Bobby Nichols who combined for a 4-under-par 68 in the two-man scramble format. ESPN covered the event last year. OPENED: Kultur /Whitestar Video's home page on the World Wide Web. The site can be found at: http://www.whitestarduke.com. OPENED: Spy Optics' home page on the World Wide Web. The site can be found at the following address: http://www.spyeyes.com. OPENED: Santa Cruz Buell in Santa Cruz, California, in January. Santa Cruz Buell is the world's first stand-alone Buell dealership, according to shop . owners. A grand opening for the dealership will be held on AprilS and Erik Buell is scheduled to attend. For more information, call 408/421-9800. APPOINTED: Chuck Gilchrest, as race program coordinator for Vanson Leathers, effective immediately. For more information, call 781/344-5444. MOVED: Sport Tire Services Inc., to 1332 Vendels Circle, #103, Paso Robles, CA 93446, effective April 1. The phone number will remain the same at 800/776-8473. Sport Tire Services is the exclusive distributor for Dunlop motorcycle road racing tires for the Western United States. AUTOGRAPH SIGNING: At Thousand Oaks Honda HRC Suzuki in Thousand Oaks, California, on May 9 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Team Honda's Miguel DuHamel and Ben Bostrom are expected to appear. For more information, call 805/371-3000. MOVED: Koni North America, to 1961 A International Way, Hebron, KY 41048, 800/922-2616. CORRECTION: The correct address for the Willow Springs Motorcycle Club's home page on the World Wide Web is: http://members.aol.com/racewsrnc. OPENED: Ian Smith Information's Motorcycle Reports' horne page on the World Wide Web. The site can be found at: http://www.mcreports.com. AUTOGRAPH SIGNING: At North Texas Yamaha in Lewisville, Texas, on April 24 from 6 to 9 p.m. Team Yamaha's Kevin Windham, Doug Henry and John Dowd are scheduled to appear. For more information, call 972/42Q-4000. CANCELED: The AMA Grand National Championship Dirt Track, scheduled for July 4 at the 1-96 Speedway in Lake Odessa, Michigan. APPOINTED: Manabu Nakamura, as president of American Suzuki Motor Corpora tion, effective immed ia tel y. Nakamura most recently served as executive vice president. ADDED: A Southern Florida area qualifier for the AMA Loretta Lynn's event. The qualifier will be held on April 25 at the Thunder Cross Motorsports Park in Okeechobee. BORN: Megan Miyoko Maeda, to MXRacer magazine editor Donn Maeda and his wife, Eileen, on March 16 in Pasadena, California. CORRECTION: The telephone contact number for the old Bay Mare motocross land for sale is 805/484-1986. CORRECTION: In our coverage of the opening round of the Grand National Cross Country Series in Okeechobee, Florida, Kawasaki Team Green's Brian Keegan did not run out of gas as we reported but was knocked out of the race after colliding with Scott Summers while running among the leaders. MOVED: Pyramid Power Product's Moto Trainer facility has moved to 8701 Bel Air Circle, Westminster, CA 92683. For more information, contact Jerry Young at 714/897-9684. CORRECTION: The February 18, Number 6 issue oJ CN stated that Sean Borkenhagen won the 60cc class at the Adelanto Grand Prix. Final official results from the Desert Vipers list Mason Partain (KX60) as the class winner, while Borkenhagen finished seco!;\d in-class. Bradley Goolsby was the overall winner in the Kids event. 0