Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

that same community has been gratifying. In particular, the enthusiastic reception by the motorcycle press has been terrific. Even though it would have been nice to latch on to that history, I guess we will save the $20 million we were prepared to pay for the trademarks, and instead rest our future on our quality product, product appeal, and management." The Eller prototype was designed by James Parker and built by Roush Industries. Trophies from the 1998 Viewfinder GP will be available for pickup at the Adelanto GP, February 6-7, in Adelanto, California. For more information, call 714/739-8633. Despite rumors to the contrary, the second round of the AMA Superbike National Championship will run as scheduled at Phoenix International Raceway, March 20-21, according to the AMA. Confusion regarding the race started when Cruise America, the event sponsor, pulled its sponsorship of Arizona Bike Week. It did not, however, end its sponsorship of the race itself. Ticket information for the AMA Cruise America Arizona Superbike Challenge is available by calling 602/252-2227. For the second year in a row, BMW motorcycles have been chosen by the California Department of General Services for use by the California Highway Patrol. The state will purchase 130 of the 1999 BMW R1100 RT-P police bikes from A&S BMW Motorcycles of Citrus Heights, beginning in January. Uniden America Corporation, the world's largest manufacturer of cordless phones, has introduced the first cordless phone featuring a HarleyDavidson motif. The Harley Phone is expected to be the first in an entire line of brand-licensed phones by Uniden. The phone will be available to consumers in June and will carry a suggested retail price of $79.95. AMA Grand National number 68 Robert Miller has committed to riding in the AMA Super Tracker Series for 1999, an.d Miller's Harley-Davidson 1000cc Super Tracker will be on display at the Finish Line booth (#4809) during the Dealernews International Powersports 1999 Dealer Expo in Indianapolis, February 13-15. The bike is owned by Howell's Harley-Davidson of New Kingstown, Pennsylvania, and was built by Tim Russel, Dennis Miller and Robert Miller. Several other examples of su per trackers are expected to be displayed at the show. RESCHEDULED: Round three of the GFI California Winter Series at Hollister Hills in Hollister, California, to Sun. day, February 14. Open practice will be held on Saturday, February 13. For more information, call GFI at 209/6569682. AUTOGRAPH SIGNING: At John Burr Cycles in Fon tana, California, on February 4 from 4 to 6 p.m. Team IMS . Proseries' Mike Metzger, Don Upton, John Sereika and Jose Polasek are scheduled to appear. For more information, call 909/653-7720. BORN: Reagan Suzanna Hope Beyer, to Grand National dirt track .racer Bret Beyer and his wife, Kristine, on January 26 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. OPENED: worldsuperbikes.coin's home page on the World Wide Web. The site can be found at the following address: http://www.worldsuper bikes.com. OPENED: Dirt Bike Training's home page on the World Wide Web. The site can be found at the following address: http://www.offroad-training.org. Doohan dominates IRTA test R epsol Honda's Mick Doohan reinforced his pre-eminence at the first official IRTA test of 1999 at a repaved Phillip Island in Australia, January 26-29, OPENED: Happy Ramblers home page leading a list of nine riders who circulated well under Simon Crafar's lap on the World Wide Web. The site can record of 1:33.868, set last October. The five-time World Champion lapped fastest be found at the following address: in two of the three days he tested, but typically played down the importance of http://www.home.earthlink.net/ his 1:32.197 so early in the off-season. -vetssd7/ "The new surface was chewing up tires, but things should improve once more rubber goes down," he said. '''We spent most of the day trying to find a tire that BORN: Anne Mae Farabe, to longtime would last, and working with the engine. When the track is better, we can start Missouri motocross rider Steve Farabe . playing with the suspension settings. and his wife, Luann, on January 14 in St. Louis, Missiouri. "Being quick in testing doesn't mean anything, as I've been saying for many years," Doohan added. "We had a good test at Jerez (in Spain) before Christmas, CORRECTION: The phone number for so things'are moving in the right direction. We're running good (lap) times, but the Texas Indoor Flat Track Series is we can't sustain them. The grip with the new surface is fantastic, but we're only 903/768-2415. The next round is schedgetting four laps out of the tires. The tire-life will improve once more rubber goes uled for February 7. down. We tried four sets of front forks - things have been quite productive with the suspension. I also tried an engine with a different firing order, but I don't like OPENED: Factory Effex's home page it. I'll probably stick with something I know, enginewise." on the World Wide Web. The site can Weather conditions during the four days were mostly hot and dry. Rain affectbe found a t the follQwing address: ed testing on Wednesday morning and fog interrupted the Friday session. http://www.factoryeffex.com As in recent years, Doohan sat out the final day, as did Suzuki riders Kenny Roberts Jr. and Nobuatsu Aoki after completing their respectiv~ test schedules. AUTOGRAPH SIGNING: At Carding a 1:32.960 to finish fifth fastest, Roberts was cautious yet confident, Grapevine Kawasaki in Grapevine, and was keen to put Doohan's domiruince in perspective. Texas, on February 26 from 7 to 8 p.m. Team Kawasaki's Jeff Emig, Ricky "Here, not that he has an advantage, Mick just rides Phillip Island very well, so Carmichael and Damon Huffman and it's a bit deceiving to say that we're a second off," Roberts said. "It doesn't disTeam SplitFire's Billy Payne, Nathan tract me at all if Mick's fast or slow in a test; you gonna have to race him'week in, Ramsey and Scott Sheak are scheduled week out, and the best thing we can do is make the bike better and better until we to appear. For more information, call get to the first race, which is eXactly what we're doing." 817/481-2500. After a slow buildup in the changeable conditions, Yamaha's multi-milliondollar-signing Max Biaggi broke through on the final, misty day to come within GRAND OPENING: At Roswell Fun just .089 of a second of Doohan's best time. Machine in Roswell, Georgia, on March "I'm happy," said the four-time 250cc World Champion, who was runner up in 13. For more information, call 770/442last year's title chase on a leased Honda NSR500. "I get more confident with the 8460. bike every time I ride it. I'm pushing hard but not over the limit, and I didn't have any scares during the four days. We've been making a lot of adjustments, OPENED: Mobilia.com's home page on especially to the chassis, and the bike seems to respond well. I think the bike suits the World Web. The site can be found at the following address: .my style more than the Honda, and we're looking forward to making more http://www.mobilia.com. improvements at Sepang. My lap times are faster than I managed at last year's race, though that is partly due to the resurfaced track. However, I've been able to AUTOGRAPH SIGNING: At Powerdo lots of consistent, fast laps, even on worn tires, and that makes me optimistic sports Tampa in Tampa, Florida, on for the new season." February 12 from 6 to 7 p.m. Members While Biaggi had twice ridden the '99 YZR before Christmas in Japan, this was of Team Suzuki's motocross team are new teammate Carlos Checa's first ride on the Yamaha. scheduled to appear. For more informa"The bike is very different for me," said Checa. "During tbe last few seasons I tion, call 813/968-7888. have seen how well the YZR handles and I already feel happy on the bike, but I need more .testing time to understand what adjustments we need to make to OPENED: The U.S. Women's exactly 'suit my style. The bike is much, much more adjustable than the Honda, Motocross League's home page qn the and that's very important. I would say I'm only riding the bike 70 percent at the World Wide Web. The site can be_ moment, but I'm already one second faster than I was here last year on the found at the following address: Honda. The main thing is that we're learning and moving forward - my lap times http://www.wml-mx.com. have been faster every day, just like MaX's." BORN: Ashton Taylor Spears, to road Factory Red Bull Yamalla WCM riders Simon Craiar and Regis Laconi, and racer Scott Spears and his fiancee, . Japanese star Norick Abe (who switches to Luis D' Antin's Spanish Antena 3 Sandi Farr, on January 28 in Ventura, Yamaha team for 1999) performed well throughout the four days on their 1998California. spec YZR500s. Abe recorded the third-fastest time with a 1:32.422. Jean-Michel Bayle, who sat out the last day after picking up a virus from ModAUTOGRAPH SIGNING: At Team enas tesUider Randy Mamola, lapped quicker than Crafar and Checa and just Savage Kawasaki in Clearwater, floribehind Alex Criville's Repsol Honda (1:32.999) with a 1:33.074, set on the secondda, on February 12 from 7 to 8 p.m. to-last day. Making the most of the newly-configured V-three Modenas engine Team Kawasaki's Jeff Emig, Ricky and latest bodywork, the Frenchman was brimming with confidence following an Carmichael and Damon Huffman and injury-ridden 1998. Modenas aspirant Mike Hale, who is haVing a tryout with the Team SplitFire's Nick Weyand Shae team through the first two !RIA tests, got down to a 1:35.760, 'a time he couldn't Bentley are scheduled to appear. For better on the final day, despite utilizing the '99 bodywork. more information, call 727-771-1211. The newest V-three in the paddock, the New Zealand-designed and -built BSL BORN: Kipp Everest Adams, to Ameri500, suffered opening-night nerves but finished with some respectability after can Road Racing editor Dean Adams Australian rider Mark Willis recorded a 1:40.422 with just 30 laps under his belt III and his fiancee, Leah Lohmann, on Janafter missing the first two days of the test. FaIling victim to a kinked fuel line, a ~ uary 30 in Red Willg, Minnesota. flat battery' and mild seizure in the third cylinder over the last two days, the team lit completed a maximum of four consecutive laps on the final day. Q RESCHEDULED: The grand opening MoviStar Honda's Alex Barros continued his re-emergence after completing of the Lake Elsinore Championship the fourth-fastest time and second Honda behind Doohan with a 1:32.726, while m MX, to February 6, due to construction Repsol Honda's Tadayuki Okada could do no better than a 1:34.173 after sustain- ~ delays. ing a concussion after an 80-mph get-off on day two. ~ Chesterfield Yamaha sensation Shinya Nakano led the 250cc list with a sizzling ~ RESCHEDULED: Round two of the 1:34.161, well inside Tetsuya Harada's lap record of 1:35.253, while Oliver Jacque ~ CMC Golden State MX Nationals, to recorded a 1:34.336. .c February 21 at Hollister Hills in HollisComplete full-color coverage of the test can be found on page 20. . If ter, California. For more information, eN . Darryl Flack 3 call 949/367-1141. II iii

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