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/128086
TI~illl ••••••r: TEAll I)JANET HON])il ••I ••• r: Jim Chamberlain EI Cajon, California Tyler Evans .....•....Canyon Lake, California Jeremias Israel Santiago, Chile Johnny Marley ...•....Oklahoma City, Oklahoma CR125 CR125 CR125 CR125 CR125 Sacramento, California Hesperia, California 250 CR 250 CR Bryan McGavran Murrieta, California 125 CR Jason Thomas Damien Plotts Chris Gosselaar Melrose, Florida Millmont, Pennsylvania Juniper Hills, California 125 CR 125 CR 125 CR 125 E.SI Paul Currie Matt Walker Steve Lamson Travis Preston 125W.SI 125 East 34 59 6 40 CR250 125W.SI 47 188 901 HUSflVililNil 25. 258 Mike Craig I~I~IUlAC(;I ..lI.rs •••II,I.rt.rs: Canton, Michigan " ••rs 39 FAS'I' BY Eraldo Ferracci •••••••n.rs: Willow Grove, Pennsylvania Wesley Chapel, Florida McRae, Georgia 131 36 44 51 LOWnOWN: Uke KTM, European manufacturer Husqvama is stepping it up for 200 L The biggest move was to hire two·time National Motocross Champion Steve Lamson, though Lammy only plans to contest the first two rounds and then prepare for the National MX season (it's slightly possible that he'll campaign a Husky 250cc four·stroke in at least some of the 125cc outdoor rounds). The team has also hired Loretta Lynn's champion Bryan McGavran from TheEdgeSports.com and Chris Gosselaar from Factory Connection (the latter rider planned to ride the Western Region, but injured his wrist and will wait for the first Eastern round). The information above is tentative, as there's a chance that Preston will switch to the 125cc Western Region at the last minute. Also, either Damien Plotts or Jason Thomas may ride a 250 at the Western rounds. Fast by Ferracci is run by Italian-born owner Eraldo Ferracci and, unlike most of the teams, much of the testing Is done on outdoor tracks in Pennsylvania and New Jersey (a SX circuit is planned for next year). In fact, when the circuit heads east and the weather warms, most of the team riders will also relocate nearer to the team headquarters. Fast by Ferracci uses Marzocchi forks and Sachs shocks. Little known fact: Respected mechanic Buddy Morgan will be wrenching for McGavran. IAOWnOWN: Running out of the country's largest slngle·line Honda dealership, this team has secured an arrangement to use fac· tory Ohlins forks and shocks for 2001, even in the produc· tion·only 125cc classes. It has also signed Tyler Evans from Demarini Suzuki, Paul Currie from Plano Honda, and Mike Craig from Motoworld Yamaha. Matt Walker rode with the team last year. while Johnny Marley was a top amateur rider (winning a championship at Loretta Lynn's). The real story, however, is Chilean Jeremias Israel, who was diagnosed with brain cancer last year. The disease is now in remission, and Israel, who rode the 2000 Nationals, will ride the Westem Regional 125cc Series and selected Eastern rounds in the 250cc class. Planet Honda continues to receive sponsorship from Dr. Martens boots. 'fEAM ll'I'M IlED BUlAt ••I ••• r: Selva raj Narayana ',••,I.rt.rs: EI Cajon, California PJANO HONDA/MSil IU(;IN(. 11••rs 125 Will ••••••r: 46 .•....David Pingree III Grant Langston Great Falls, Montana Durban, South Africa 125 SX 125 SX New Philadelphia, Ohio Ludington, Michigan 125 SX 125 SX 125 EISI 18 35 Steve Wagner/Kenny Watson •••••••rt.rs: Plano, Texas .'••rs 125 Wesl Brock Sellards Kelly Smith IAOWI)O"TN: FollOWing a bad· luck year that saw one rider (Donovan Mitchell) badly injured and another (Kiwi Shayne King) not performing as well as hoped, KTM is stepping up big time for 2001. The Austrian manufacturer signed drink company Red Bull as a title sponsor, and then signed top riders Grant Langston (125cc World Champion), David Pingree (second in 2000 125cc West) and Brock Sellards (second in 2000 125cc East) to join returning memo ber Kelly Smith (2000 125cc Mt. Morris 1! winner). KTM has also purchased a test ::> track near Corona and, by putting all its :li riders on 125s and dropping the AM ~ Leonard satellite team, is focusing all its t; efforts a little better. The team's riders will 1;; wear Thor apparel in 2001, and KTM rid· o ers will once again use Michelin tires and ~ FMFpipes. 'fl~M TBEI~DGESPOR1'S.COM ••I ••• r: Jeff Ernig •••••••n.rs: Menifee, California 42 716 717 Ivan Tedesco ...••....Albuquerque, New Mexico Gio Tedesco .....•....Albuquerque, New Mexico Jiri Dostal ......•....Quail Valley, California CR125 CR125 CR125 BilIy Payne Travis Elliott CR125 CR125 125 E.sl 50 61 Chatsworth, California Alvin, Texas IAOl\T))O"TN: Four years ago, this single-line Texas dealership didn't focus much on the dirt· bike market but, after going to some local races and seeing how exciting the sport was, they decided to get involved, using Yamaha of Troy as an example. Now, in order to become more competitive, the team has moved out to a new Corona, California, race shop, and built a private practice track on the land of Marino Valley dairy farmer Rick Van Ray. Team rider Ivan Tedesco missed the Supercross Series last year with a broken wrist, while brother Gio suffered a head injury in a practice crash at the second Anaheim round and missed the remainder of the series. Though Plano Honda is basically a 125cc squad, Travis Elliott will run the first three or four Western Regional races on a 250. This team's motors and suspension are prepared by Pro Circuit. KilWASAIlI 11••rs 250 27 990 Casey Johnson Michael Byrne Tuscany Hills, California ...•...KX250 Toowoomba, Australia KX250 IAO"TnoWN: With Jeff Emig's retirement following his dramatic and injury-mled 2000 season, the former racing great becomes the manager for this team, backed by on·line retailer TheEdgeSports.com. Emig is reunited with Kawasaki this year after spending 2000 with Yamaha, and like all official Kawasaki teams, the squad gets sponsorship from Chevy Trucks. Riders Michael Byme (impressive at the U.S. Open) and Casey Johnson (from Yamaha of Troy) will wear Shift apparel and Fox helmets. Kawasaki's goal is for TheEdgeSports.com to serve as a stepping stone between the Pro Circuit 125cc team and the factory 250cc squad. Tim Dixon is the crew chief, Tony Strangio is the coordinator, and Larry Ward and David Pingree's old wrenches - Billy Felts and Shawn Ulikowski, respectively - have signed on as mechanics. Little· known fact: Byrne's down·under home of Toowoomba is near Queensland. cucl. n • __ S • JANUARY 3, 2001 15