Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Hopefully. by now you've noticed a few changes to the look of your Cycle News. It's a work in progress and we'll be fine-tuning in the weeks to come, but nonetheless we hope you find the package more appealing. We've also totally redesigned our Web site at cyclenews.com. - so check that out as well. Jason Thomas (Yam) and Ron Tichenor (Suz) were among the big winners at the opening round of the Florida Winter AMA MX Series in Gainesville. Florida. on January 2. Thomas topped Barry Carsten (Suz) and Robert Farnell in the 125cc Pro class, while Tichenor finished ahead of Thomas and Tony Larusso (Suz) in the 250cc Pro class. Tichenor also topped the over 25 and 30 classes. Other class winners include James Stewart (Kaw) in the 85cc '.14-15) class. and Kyle Keylon (KTM) in the 65cc (10-11) division. The combined AMA/World Superbike event scheduled for Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California. July 8-9. will not see the two series run together, according to event promoter Dan Murphy. Originally. Murphy planned to feature both the AMA and World Superbike racers in two legs on Sunday. but the FIM has turned down a § Dffi) CJ PACE Motor Sports has acquired both the Championship Cup Series and Formula USA, and those two organizations will form the foundation for PACE's entry into road racing this year, headlined by the Formula USA National Road Race Series. The Formula USA Series features five rounds, beginning with the typical CCS weekend at Daytona Intemational Speedway, March 25, the week prior to the Daytona 200, and wrapping up with the season-ending race at Daytona, October 19-22. In between there will be rounds at Willow Springs in Rosamond, California, on April 30, Portland International Raceway in Portland, Oregon, on August 6. and at Pocono International Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, on August 27. According to PACE, more rounds may be added. "The Formula USA Series will be the flagship in PACE's commitment to road racing," said Gary Becker, CEO of PACE Motor Sports. "And our goal is to create an exciting racing environment for fans and the industry alike." one-race exemption for homologation on the Harley-DaVidson VR 1000. Now the AMA Superbike Series will run on Saturday, with the two World Superbike races run as normal on Sunday. "It solved itself when the FIM wouldn't agree to make an exception for the Harley-Davidson." Murphy said. "I wasn't going to win that battle." The schedule for the AMA support classes has yet to be determined. though those decisions should be made shortly. Murphy said. "Our hope is that with Ben [Bostrom] and Colin [Edwards III already in the World Superbike Series. a few more top IJriJf} [fJCiJDfJD0@dJ D!JQOG!J[?@@ With round one of the EA Sports Supercross season fast approaching, Jeff Emig and Nathan Ramsey have both been sidelined with injuries suffered in separate practice incidents. Emig's crash occurred on Thursday, December 30, and resulted in two broken wrists. According to Tony Strangio, co-manager of Emig's newly formed Strategic 3 race team, Emig broke the wrists when his rear tire lost traction on the approach to a big jump and he came up short. Emig had recently undergone surgery to his heel, but was looking forward to the race season. "I have never been riding better in my life," Emig said from his hospital bed, Monday, January 3. "I was really excited about the start of the Supercross series. I was sure I would be off to a great start with my Yamaha and the new team, sponsored by the edgesports,com. We have been working really hard to be ready; there are so many things to do with a new team and it was all coming together. I could feel it happening like I could feel it in Las Vegas at the U.S. Open. "Now all I can think about is, Where do we go from here?" Emig said. "I have the responsibility to our team and its sponsors. I also have to take care of myself, get healed up and see what I will be able to do with these wrists. Right now, that's not very much. I can't even hold this phone up to my head." The team expects to be at the opening round of the supercross series with Brian McGavem riding in the 125cc class and a second rider as soon as they make a decision as to who that will be. Ramsey's injury was incurred in a crash on Kawasaki's test track on Wednesday, December 22. Although his right hand was in pain, the Western Regional 125cc Supercross champion didn't initially think the damage was serious, but a trip to the doctor revealed a fracture in his right thumb. He had a pin installed on Thursday, December 30, and will miss the first few rounds of the series. Because of this, SplitFire/Pro Circuit Kawasaki will move Ramsey over to the Eastern Region (which doesn't kick off until February 5 in Houston), and switch Shae Bentley to the west. This means Ramsey won't get to run his 1W number plate (he'll wear number 24), and it will pit him against Eastem champ Emesto Fonseca and newcomer Travis Pastrana. The Formula USA race weekends will feature four classes, headlined by the premier class, Unlimited Superbike - which will be open to all open-class sportbikes with a horsepower limit of 145. The Sportbike class will feature middleweight sportbikes with a maximum horsepower limit of 106. Both of those classes will feature a 380-pound minimum weight limit. In addition to the two sportbike classes, the Formula USA Series will feature two spec classes: an Aprilia Cup Challenge for RS250 replicas (63-hp limit) and the Buell Lightning Series (95 hp limit) will be held. If money alone will bring racers, then Formula USA should be okay. The Unlimited Superbike class will pay a purse of $40,000 per event, with Sportbike paying out $10,000 per event. The Aprilia Cup Challenge and the Buell Lightning Series will also pay $10,000 each per event. Americans would give us five or so Americans for the fans to cheer for. " outings on a four-stroke after spending most of his young career on an 80cc Moriwaki and an Aprilia RS250. according to Cycle News contributor Darryl Flack. "That was fun." Gobert said after the race. "After the 250, it was good to have something that could wheelspin and get tank-slappers, but I also like to be smooth as well." As for his future plans. the 16-year-old younger brother of Anthony Gobert said. "I'll be concentrating on the 600, and will have a learning year on the FireBlade (CBR929J. I've signed for two years. so hopefully that will lead to things in the future. I'd like to get on an RC51 - it looks like a real good bike. I'm still young, so I have a lot of time. Hopefully, I'll end up in whatever the premier class is." Former 250cc World Champion Loris Capirossi has signed a two-year contract to race Honda NSR500s for team owner Sito Pons. reports Cycle News contributor Paolo Gozzi. The contract. Signed on December 21 at Pons' head· quarters in Barcelona. Spain, will see the 26-year-old join fellow Italians Max Biaggi and Valentino Rossi in the premier class of Grand Prix road racing. Capirossi last raced a 500 in 1995 as a member of the Polini Honda team and he finished sixth in the World Championship. In 1996. Capirossi rode factory Yamahas in the 500cc World Championship on a Marlboro-backed team owned by Wayne Rainey. Despite winning the final GP in Australia. Capirossi only managed to finish 10th in the series point standings. Following his two years of 500cc racing. Capirossi returned to the 250cc class with Aprilia and won the 1998 World Championship after a year-long struggle with teammate Tetsuya Harada. a battle that ended with a controversial finish in the final GP. Prior to signing with Pons, Capirossi turned down offers from Honda to stay in the 250cc class with both the Fausto Gresini- and Tino Villa-owned teams. "The 500cc GP is the best category, and returning here is my longtime dream." Capirossi said. "I know that I will have a great machine and a great team to do my best. I'm very motivated and very confident. I would like to be the surprise in 2000." Capirossi is scheduled to test the NSR500 for the first time on January 25 in Valencia, Spain. With Rossi scheduled to also test on that day, round one of the "Italian Challenge" will officially begin. Current Australian 125cc GP and 250cc Production Champion Broc Parkes has signed a one-year deal to race a Moriwaki Honda RC51 in the 2000 Japanese X-Formula Championships, according to Darryl Flack. "I'm really happy with racing for Moriwaki and I enjoy racing in Japan." Parkes said. "It's really professional and they're really into their racing. I spent four months in Japan this year, so I'm pretty used to life there." The X-Formula Championship is similar to Formula Xtreme and runs in conjunction with the AII·Japan Superbike Championship. Parkes will also get the opportunity to race in the Suzuka 8 Hours. Australian off-road racer Shane Watts has inked a deal with KTM for the 2000 season. Watts will focus his attention in the United States. campaigning the Grand National Cross Country and AMA National Hare Scrambles Series. Watts. however, is planning on riding the International Six Days Enduro in Spain, October 31November 5. Australian road racer Alex Gobert recently won the Stars of Tomorrow race at Phillip Island in Australia on a Mobilbacked Honda CBR600 - one of his first J J Mike Lightfoot, a member of the Santa Clara Riders Unlimited club and a LJ cue I e n e _ s JANUARY 12, 2000 1 o o o o o o

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