Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

o o @[JD@ ©D@@@f} @[JD@ ©!JD@fJiJD[J)D@[JD At a press conference held in Bellpuig, Spain, on March 17, AM President Francesco Zerbi and Doma Off·Road managing director Giuseppe Luongo announced some changes that will affect the structure of the World Motocross Championship, beginning in 2002. Foremost among those changes is the announcement that an Open class will be run, resulting in one premier Motocross World Champion (instead of the current 250cc and 500cc classes). This will pit the best 250cc riders against the best 500cc riders in one class, riding the machine size of their choice. The 125cc class, meanwhile, will continue, though it will become a "promotional" World Championship, which will be used to groom up-and-coming young racers. There is a chance that an age limit will be used in the 125cc class, but that will likely not take effect until after the first year of the format change. How this class structure change will affect the annual Motocross des Nations event remains to be seen. At a press conference held on March 15 in Mandello del Lario, Italy, Moto Guzzi celebrated the 80th anniversary of the historic Aquila marque. Moto Guzzi's president Ivano Beggio was on hand for the conference, which took place in the Italian manufacturer's headquarters, and which included both enthusiasts and friends of the company. "With great pride," Seggio said, "I feel deeply our mission to operate with maximum effort until this great Italian brand returns on the international scene to occupy its historic and fascinating position." The enthusiasts on hand were excited to see many important personalities in attendance who have been involved in the company's history, including riders of the caliber of Bill Lomas (1954 and '55 350cc World Champion, and '55 Tourist Trophy winner aboard the mythic eight-cylinder); Bruno Ruffo (1949 and '51 250cc World Champion); and Duilio Agostini (Moto Guzzi team member in 1956 and '57). It is also important to cite the presence of engineer Giulio Cesare Carcano, together with his historic collaborator Umberto Todero. At the termination of the conference, the guests moved to the new assembly line to continue the celebration together with the Moto Guzzi employees, and to see the unveiling of the project model. 250cc GP machines on the first day of the test. Daijiro Katoh, riding the Telefonica Movistar Honda, was by far the fastest man on the day. Katoh, a three·times 250cc GP winner at Suzuka, was in mercurial form all day. His time of 2:07.953 was faster than his best time at the GP last season and well under the lap record. "We concentrated mainly on the suspension settings today to improve my feeling on the NSR250." Katoh said. "At the end of the day I was completely at ease on the bike and it shows in my lap times. I'm very happy." Teammate Emilio AJzamora, riding a 250cc machine at Suzuka or the first time for four years. did not set the times he had hoped for. For Alzamora, it is a matter of getting as much track time as possible with the NSR before the sea- son opens on April B. The Spaniard has two more days at Suzuka to improve his times and few doubt he will. Rehabilitation is continuing for Regis Laconi, but the factory Aprilia rider is scheduled to race at Kyalami, the second round of the World Superbike Championship, with a special guard on his left knee, according to Aprilia. Laconi, who was involved in an unusual incident dUring the warm-up session for the opening round of the series in Valencia, Spain, on March 11, has undergone further checks on the injuries he received. On Sunday, Laconi was walking back to the pits along the escape road at the first comer of the Spanish track after stopping with a technical problem, when an out-of-control bike hit him in the legs. Despite the pain, Laconi was able to start race one and he ultimately finished fourth. Things didn't go the right way in race two, however. as Laconi was immediately forced out of the race by a crashing Tadayuki Okada. An MRI has confirmed the original diagnosis of an injury to the extemal ligament of his left knee. Although he will have to under· go some two months of rehab. an operation has been ruled out. "I underwent a senes of checks to get a more complete view of the situation," said Laconi. "The ligament injury gives me a few problems, but I will soon get over it. I have had a knee-guard made. similar to the ones used by motocross riders. which will allow me to maintain the movements required to ride a bike. The guard will also stop the knee from twisting, which would prevent the ligament from joining and therefore healing. I won't be 1DO-percent fit for the race at Kyalami. which is a very physical circuit and which is where I tested during the winter. The guard will help me to ride well, but I can also count on my own determination. I'll just have to grit my teeth and ride over the problem, like I did in Valencia." The popularity of Keith Code's initial R.A.C.E. (Race and Competition Experience) School. which was launched in January. has prompted Code to add five more RAC.E. sessions. The next one will be held at the Streets of Willow Springs in Rosamond, California. April 3-4. · · AUTOGRAPH SIGNING: At St. Louis Powersports in Valley Park. Missouri, on March 30 from 7 to 8 p.m. Team Chevy Trucks Kawasaki's Ricky Carmichael and Stephane Roncada. Team Kawasaki Pro Circuit/SplitFire's Bobby Bonds, Mike Brown and Tallon Vohland and TheEdgeSports.com·s Casey Johnson and Michael Byrne are scheduled to appear. For more information. call 636/225-5600. HiitonlWest Motorsports. the promoters of the upcoming Amateur Arenacross event at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. California, would like to remind all participants to be aware of the 106 dB CAl sound limit restriction placed on motorcycles and for all of them to purchase advance spectator tickets to secure entry to the professional races which will be held on March 31. For more information, call 310/541-1549. OPENED. Keith Code's home page on the World Wide Web. The site can be found at the follOWing address: http://www.coderace.com. MOVED. SunstarlSunnex Engineering Inc.'s Motorcycle Division. to 700 Watkins Glen Drive, Franklin. OH 45005. effective March 31. The new phone numbers are: 513/743-9049, 513/743-9069 (faxl. RESCHEDULED. The series date for the Daniel Boone round of the IDM Sports Women's World MX Series Championships has been rescheduled back to its original date of April 28-29. MOVED: Pettersson Pro Suspension, to 4091 E. La Palma Avenue #L. Anaheim, CA 92807. The phone remains the same at 714/630-4777. POSTPONED: The Wild Piglet Family Enduro and the Wild Bear Championship Enduro. to March 31-April 1 at the Clear Creek Recreational Area near Coalinga. California. For more information. call 408/739-5762. · · · ••.••..•.............................................................................•..••••..................•...................... cue' • ~ According to DSP Carbon owner Willie Amaradio, Arrow Exhaust is wrong in claiming that Andrea Bartolini won the 1999 500cc World Championship using an Arrow exhaust system. According to Amaradio, Bartolini was using a DSP titanium exhaust system last year - the same system that Doug Henry used to win his AMA Motocross Championship. Amaradio says. POSTPONED. The opening race of the AMA District 25 RMXA Series in Milliken, Colorado. from March 4 to March 25 due to snow. For more information. call 9701587-5770. BORN. Preston M. O·Neal. on March 12. to Keith O'Neal (son of O'Neal/Azonic founder Jim O'Neal) and wife Stacy. J 8 o Untouchables in Catawba County near Denver. Colorado, have announced that they will be doing bike nights on Tuesdays, beginning on March 20. The pizza joint can be contacted at 704/483-9737 for more information. NAMED. Robert Gladden, to the newly created position of Off-Highway Vehicle Program Administrator for the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSFl, effective immediately. UPDATED: The official home page on the World Wide Web for One Industries. The address is as follows: http://www.oneindustries.com. o o o o o o o Little known fact: Pirelli-fitted motorcycles finished first and second in the opening round of the World Supersport Series in Valencia, Spain. on March 11. Spaniard Pere Riba took the win. followed home by fellow Pirelli Supercorsa user Piergiorgio Bontempi. .................................... CORRECTION. The home page address that was published recently in the In the Wind section for Team Dual Dogs was incorrect. The correct address is: http://www.dualdogs.com. J body, so I just left." DuHamel said on Monday, March 19. "I wasn't getting any pit signals, so I had no idea where I was. I didn't know if I was fifth or if I was leading. I didn't know if Kurtis [Roberts] was a lap behind._. I was riding hard and it was my fault. but let's just say I didn't have the perfect ingredients to be riding with a clear head. " American Honda's Miguel DuHamel, who crashed out of the Daytona 200 after showing that he was really the only rider capable of running Mat Mladin's pace, left the speedway without talking on March 11. "I didn't want to kill some- NAMED. Marc Hoffman, as zone sales manager for the sales territory that encompasses 10 north-central states for Victory Motorcycles, effective immediately. ~ The J. Wood & Co. Daytona Antique and Classic Motorcycle Auction had a total of 219 lots consigned and only 20 no sales for a new record sales rate of 91 percent, according to Jerry Wood. Some of the top sellers included n --------Continued on page 80 _ _ s • MARCH 28. 2001 3 J J J J J J J J a o o o o J J J J J J J CJ 8 o o o

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