Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

Cycle News 1999 04 07

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/127988

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 1 of 85

In the Wind The opening two rounds of the AMA National Championship Reliability (Qualifier) Enduro Series got underway in Forest Hill, Louisiana, March 27-28, and Shane Watts (KTM) scored the win in the 125cc class both days (each day counts as a round). The 250cc TwoStroke classes were won by Destry Abbott (Kaw) and Mike Lafferty (KTM), the 500cc-plus Four-Stroke class was won both days by Eric Koeller (Yam), the 400cc Four-Stroke class was won both days by Randy Hawkins (Yam), and the 250cc Four-Stroke classes were won by J.D. Hammock and Mark Miller. Jeff Fredette (Kaw) won the Senior class both days. The third and fourth rounds of the AMA National Championship Enduro Series were held in conjunction With the Reliability (Qualifier) Enduro Series at Forest Hill, Louisiana, March 27-28, and, like the Qualifier, each day counted as a round. The first day was won by Shane Watts (KTM), followed by Randy Hawkins (Yam), Destry Abbott (Kaw), Ty Davis (Yam) and Matt Stavish (Hon). The second day was again won by Watts, followed by Mike Lafferty (KTM), Davis, Hawkins and Franklin Ramey (G-G). Neil Hodgson (Due) and James Haydon (Suz) split wins in the opening round of the British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch on March 28. Hodgson topped Chris Walker (Kaw) and John Reynolds (Due) in the first race, with Haydon beating Hodgson and Walker in the second race. After the first two races, Hodgson leads the championship point standings over Walker, 41-40, with Haydon third on 36 points. Tallon Vohland (Hon) won the 250cc Pro class at the GFI California Winter Series North/South Showdown at Oatfield Raceway in Turlock, California, on March 28. Vohland topped Bryan McGavran (Yam) in the 250cc class. McGavran, however, won the 125cc Pro class and also captured titles in both classes. Dustin Nelson (Yam) won the opening round of the Sound of Thunder MX Series (Central Region) in Lake Whitney, Texas, March 28. Keith Johnson (Yam) took second, followed by Donovan Mitchell (Yam). Oklahoma's Chase Reed (Yam) was the big winner at the Lake Whitney Spring National, in Lake Whitney, Texas, March 25-28. Reed earned four championship titles: 125cc Stock Schoolboy, 125cc Modified Schoolboy, 125cc Modified Intermediate and 125cc Open Amateur. The only rider that was able to stop Reed's streak was Johnny Marley (Yam), who took the 125cc Stock Intermediate title. Mike Corder (Kaw) topped the 125cc Pro class, while Rusty Holland (Suz) took the 250cc Pro-class win. Other class winners included Gene Stull (Suz) in the 85cc 04-16) Stock, 85cc Modified and 80cc Open classes; Mike Alessi (Kaw)in the 65cc (7-11) Stock, Modified and Open classes; and Mike Odom (Hon) in the 125cc Modified Novice and 250cc Stock and Modified divisions. r-: ~ ocr: 2 Spud Walters took the win at the final round of the PACE U.S. Off-Road Thunder Bike Championship Series in Seattle, Washington, on March 27. Scott Myers (Yam) finished second, followed by J. Whipple (Yam). Walters wrapped up the series championship for the second time in a row. Ducat; opens on NYSE S hares of Ducati Motor Holding SpA were traded on the ew York Stock Exchange for the first time on Wednes• day, March 24. Ducati executives were on hand to mark the occasion, and rang the opening bell that begins the day's trading. Pictured, from left to right, are William Johnson, president of the NYSE; Federico Minoli, CEO of Ducati Motor SpA; David Gross, Ducati's head of strategic plannin~and Cristiano Silei, general manager of Ducati North America. Ducati said the initial global public offering was oversubscribed and a total of 90.2 million shares were sold. Of these, 73.2 million were sold by shareholders and 17 million came from a capital increase. The American Depository Share$ (each representing 10 shares), traded under the symbol "DMH," opened at $31.67 on March 24. At close of trading on Monday, March 29, the shares were valued at $29. "We are a brand in its infancy:' Minoli told Reuters Television. "I think there is enough space to erode the japanese market share, and we will grow in accessories. The IPO cash will be used to decrease debt and increase leverage." Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma, California, is planning extensive changes to its 2.52-mile race track, according to a press release issued by the race track and also by the AM.(\. The multimilliondollar effort is slated to begin later tbis year, pending approval from the Environmental Impact Report by Sonoma County, with most of the improvements scheduled to be ready for the 2000 racing season. Plans call for increased runoff areas in many turns and the widening of the .track itself. "Motorcycle racing has always been a key element in the variety of motorsports offered at Sears Point Raceway," said track president Steve Page. "And with the growth of the spring Sonomafest promotion, we expect that activity to grow. We are committed to providing a facility that is second to none, for both competitors and racing fans alike." Increased runoff ' is slated for every turn with the exceptions of turns four and seven, which received increases in 1998. Turns one, two, three, five and six will gain some 50 to 100 feet in extra runoff areas. The track will also be Widened some 40 to 50 feet and the esses (turns 8A through 10) will be replaced by a long straightaway (with a chicane in the middle) that leads to turn 11. "The staff at Sears Point invited Doug Chandler and me out to have a look at their plans:' AMA road race manager Ron Barrick said. "We agreed that the track will be one of the best MBNA Superbike tour visits, once the changes have been completed." The AMA Superbike Series visits Sears Point April 23-25 for round four of the series. Former multi-time AMA Motocross National Champion Jeff Ward finished second in round two of the Indy Racing League Championship on March 28 at Phoenix International Raceway in Goodyear, Arizona. Ward finished behind Scott Goodyear in the MCI WorldCom 200 and is now second in the series point standings behind Goodyear, 93-75. A meeting took place on March 23 between the FIM, manufacturers and promoters of the Grand Prix and World Superbike Series to discuss the proposed introduction of four-strokes into the 500cc Grand Prix class. FIM president Francesco Zerbi o~ned the meeting by saying: "Progress cannot be stopped, but it may be guided. We are here to discuss all the issues in relation with the proposed new rules for the 500cc Grand Prix class. Everyone is here to give his opinion." After an open discussion, all parties agreed on the following points: Both World Championsbips - Grand Prix and Superbike - must continue to exist and evolve; the Grand Prix World Championsbip is and must remain a laboratory dedicated to experimental technological prototypes, and the Superbike World Championship is and must remain a competition for production motorcycles of high technology; concerning the proposed new technical rules, all the manufacturers involved must agree with the changes to the rules; the safety of the riders and the spectators must be ensured; the manufacturers must guarantee a sufficient number of motorcycles to fill the starting grid, in the 500cc class as well as in the World Superbike class, taking into account the differences in technical specifications; .further discussions will take place on April 23 in Motegi, japan, between the FIM president, the chief executive officer and top-level executives of the commercial departments of all manufacturers involved in Grand Prix and World Superbike racing; and a final meeting will take place in the following months with all the parties involved, in order to sign a global agreement on the changes to the Grand Prix rules. Mark Vanderpool, who suffered a broken neck at the March 14 National Hare & Hound in Ridgecrest, California, has been transferred from Loma Linda Hospital in Southern California to the spinalrehab unit at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San jose, California. Anyone wishing to send Vanderpool some words of encouragement can forward them to: Mark Vanderpool, room 178B, c/o Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, 751 S. Bascom Avenue, San jose, CA 95128. . Aftermarket exhaust-pipe manufacturer Bub Enterprises will be promoting a motorcycle-only speed trial at the fabled Bonneville Salt FIats in Utah, September 5-9. All records will be sanctioned by the FIM and the AMA. The FIM mandates a preregistration deadline of june 1. For information regarding entry and licenses, classes, records and hotel packages, contact Bub Enterprises, 530/477-7490. The Internet address is: http://www.bubent.com. Short-term-memory-Ioss department: Our coverage of the AMA 600cc Supersport Series from Phoenix International Raceway stated that no one could remember the last time two brothers shared a podium at an AMA National. How about Ben and Eric Bostrom in 1998? Nicky and Tommy Hayden-finished first and third, respectively, in the Phoenix 600cc race. Chaparral Suzuki's Damon Buckmaster has had the halo remo1[ed from his broken neck and has started to rehabilitate his injury. The Australian road racer says he'll be back in action at the Laguna Seca round of the series, scheduled for May 1-2. "I want to do Laguna just to get a race under my belt, and then have the six weeks off after that to get ready for the next one:' Buckmaster said. Fantastat fantasy league sports is currently accepting entries for the 1999 AMA 250cc National Motocross Championship fantasy motocross league. For more information, call 800/595-4953 or visit the site on the World Wide Web at www.fantastat.coffi. mce Incorrect point standings issued by the AMA immediately following the AMA Superbike National at Phoenix International Raceway, so the point standings we listed in last week's issue were incorrect. Although Mat Mladin and Miguel DuHamel lead the way with 65 and 60 points, respectively, Anthony Gobert and his Vance & Hines teammate Ben Bostrom aren't tied for third. Gobert has 58 points and Bostrom has 56. As part of its sponsorship package of the AMA 600cc Supersport Series, Pro Honda Oils has created the Pro Honda Oils Championship Bonus - a $15,000 rider-incentive program to be awarded to all eligible racers in the series. The practice day for the "50 Miler" at the DuQuoin Mile will be held on Saturday, April 24, beginning at 8 a.m. The practice session is open to all AMA Grand National-licensed riders who plan to compete in the 50-mile race on july 25. The IMDA is also planning a one-hour session for the 883 class and SuperTracker riders. The planned fee for this session is $100. Specta tors are welcome, though the facilities and concessions will be limited and no grandstand seating will be available. For more information, call 708/788-1300-

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's - Cycle News 1999 04 07