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/128098
o o o is the First time that we have organized a GP launch at home", Beggio said. "It is a confirmation of the strength of the com· mitment of Aprilia and the Racing Division that hosted the press conference today. We have made massive investments this year. not only because we have always believed in racing and because Aprilia was bom for racing, but also because the success of our company derives from the image obtained at circuits throughout the world. For sure, racing is the most excit· ing way of transmitting our passion for motorcycling. The investments made in the 500 GP class have been doubled for the four·stroke GP1 project. It is our desire to be immediately competitive when the other major constructors accept the four·stroke GP challenge. ' o o o o 8 Buell Pro Thunder competitor Dirk Piz was memorialized on Friday. March 16. at Cherry Hills Community Church in his resident Highland Ranch, Colorado. Piz's services were attended by hundreds of family members and friends, including racing chaplain Brent Houston from Motor Racing Outreach, representing the AMA. Piz perished in a crash dUring the Pro Thunder event held at Daytona Inter· national Speedway on March 11. The family has requested that any memorials or donations be sent to: Denver Chil· dren's Advocacy Center. 1271 Elati Street, Denver, CO 80204. o o 8 Two recent incidents in Blount County, Tennessee, have motorcyclists con· cerned about the relationship between riders and police in the area, according to th~ AMA. On March 10, Philip M. Laton, 27. a corrections officer from Knoxville. Tennessee, was killed when his motorcy· cle apparently hit a guardrail and then collided with a police car driven by Rockford Police Sg!. James R. Johnson. Witness- 8 o es alleged that Johnson's car swerved into the motorcycle, which was passing it from behind. The Tennessee High. way Patrol, which is investigating the fatality. has stated that Videotape from a camera mounted in Johnson's cruiser indicates. "the witness' account is accurate." Johnson has been placed on paid leave and faces possible criminal charges. Five weeks earlier, another motorcyclist, James B. Riddle, 19. of Maryville, Tennessee, suffered near-fatal injuries in a crash following a high-speed chase involving another Rockford police officer in the same area. Riddle reportedly was hospitalized for 29 days before being released. The AMA says that, in both cases. the motorcyclists involved apparently were breaking traffic laws, resulting in the police response. But the AMA is concerned that the actions of the officers may have played some part in turning a traffic violation into something far worse. The AMA is looking into these incidents. Mickael Maschio, of Kawasaki's MX GP racing team, was detained in a hospital suffering from internal bleeding and a broken rib following a crash during the GP season opener in Spain on March 18. The world-ranked number-nine rider suffered a crash in Sunday's opening round of the 250cc World Motocross Championship at Bellpuig, Spain. while battling for a podium position. Traveling home by car Sunday evening, Maschio started to feel unfit and went immediately to the hospital near his home at Digne les Bains, France. where internal bleeding was diagnosed, and he was admitted. Maschio thinks there is a possibility that he could be released from the hospital on Thursday or Friday (March 22 or 23), and he remains optimistic that he will be fit enough to race at the Dutch Grand Prix at Valkensvaard on April 1. "I have some small pain from the broken rib," Maschio said from his hospital bed. "Breathing is not too bad, but it is painful when I try to walk. I felt a little shaken after the crash. Then as I traveled home. I started to feel ill and thought it best to go directly to the hospital where I had a scan and X-rays. ' Maschio had put in a strong performance at Bellpuig. coming back from a ninthposition start to climb up to fifth and then fourth position. following in the wheel tracks of reigning World Champion Frederic Bolley before hitting a braking bump and being thrown from his machine. "I was feeling very confident." he said. "I only had four laps to go. and no one was giving me pressure. I had jumped over the same bump three or four laps previous, but the bike wasn't straight, and it bounced away from me. I thought that I had caused my injuries when I hit the ground, but later I was told the handlebar hit me in the side." With the new single.,-ace format, a finish and good result are crucial for a rider to remain in contention for the World title. "I hope that I will be fit enough to make it to Holland," he said. "The Kawasaki team is based less than 30 minutes from the track. so this is like a home grand prix for me. I really wanted to do well there in the sand, to thank the team for all their hard effort in preparing the bike over the winter. I will just have to wait and see what my doctors advise and make a decision from there. ' In a related news, it was not long ago that we reported that Dorna had not managed to arrange television coverage for the 2001 World Championship Motocross Series, despite switching to a new tripleheader, single-moto format that was said to be more TV-friendly. Since our report, Dorna press relations manager Pascal Haudiquerl contacted us to explain that this is not entirely true. While it is indeed true that all three classes in the entire 15-race GP circuit will not be aired live on Europe-wide Eurosport as would be hoped. the station will air a 52minute program on the Tuesday follOWing each event on prime time (between 7 and 9 p.m). and eight 250cc GPs will be aired live. Haudiquert also explained that. in apart from cable and satellite TV. there is local coverage to consider. The Spanish. season-opening GP. for example, was live on the national Spanish network TVE 2. broadcasting the competition to a very important national audience. Also, all of the 500 GPs are aired live on Belgian television. The next GP in Holland will be live on the Dutch national network, and the same goes for the Australian GP. Haudiquert stressed that, while Dorna is working hard for increased television exposure, it takes time to build up such coverage. According to Synergy Racing Technologies. Matt Wait is rehabilitating well afte'r breaking his arm in a crash at Daytoha International Speedway during the Formula USA weekend. Wait still plans on racing in the second round of the Formula USA Series at Willow Springs in Rosamond. California, April 19-22. Cana· dian 600cc Supersport Champion Owen Weichel recently tested the team's Honda CBR600 F4i at Willow Springs, according to the team. It is likely, however, that Weichel will return to defend his Canadian title when the 2001 Canadian Championship begins. For the fifth year in a row. classic motor· cycles will take over Sears Point Race· way in Sonoma, Cillifomia. for the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days West. The featured brand of the event. slated for April 27·29. will be Indian, one of the Continued on page 90 ••...•.••............................................................•...•...................................•....•..........................•..............••...•...••.•........... · . : And he will also assist upcoming American stars Billy Janniro and Travis Pastrana, Kevin Windham and Ben Riddie are scheduled to : o o··===::K==========:::::I o· o : • • : : : : : : o CANCELED: The Husaberg factory dirt·track effort· at least for this year. lineaweaver Racing's Dale lineaweaver dropped us a note stating: "Due to circumstances beyond my control, we will 'not field an entry in the 2001 Formula USA National Dirt Track Series." lineaweaver and Husaberg eamed the inaugural Formula USA Pro Singles Championship with rider Kenny Noyes in 2000. Noyes has moved on to a 600cc Supersport ride in the Spanish 8·· o : Open road race series. · · · · · · o o o o o BORN: Benjamin Ewen James Gosling. to Gold & Goose Photography's Patrick Gosling and his wife. Mandy. in London. England, on March 13. APPOINTED: Tami Haase. as international rider liaison for the Women's Motocross League. effectively immediately. HIRED: John Gothard, as vice president of sales for Spy Optic, effective immediately. Ryan Fisher as they pursue the 2001 Under·21 Worid Speedway Championship. AUTOGRAPH SIGNING: At North Bay Motorsports in Santa Rosa, Califomia, on April 21 from 2 to 6 p.m. Tallon and Tyson Vohland are scheduled to appear. For more information, call 707/542-5375. • II: U II: I e n e _ NAMED: Carson Wilkinson, as Road America's first full-time safety director, by George Bruggenthies. president and general manager of the Wisconsin ""cing facility. Wilkinson will be responsibie for the track's 75-person emergency response team. A. Pocatello, ID 83202,208/237-1008, 208/237-9424 (faxl. MOVED: Pete's Cycle and Sled. to 859 West Boylston Street. Worcester. Massachusetts. For more information, call 508/8527024. OPENED: The official 2001 ISDE home page on the World Wide Web. The site can be found at the following address: http://www.isde-frahce.com. HIRED: Heiko Lucker. by Bike World Kawasaki, Suzuki, Polaris in Sunnyvale. California, effective immediately. For more information, call 406/245-4888. SIGNED: For the second year in a row, Motion Pro. as a supporting sponsor of Jason Pridmore's Star Motorcycle School. Motion Pro Is giving away a free Star school enrollment on its OPENED: Eva-Sports' home page on the World Wide Web. The site can be found at the following address: http://www.evovintage.com. APPOINTED: Competition Dirt in Kapolei. Hawaii: Phactory PhiIs in Utica, Illinois: and Reno Cycles & Gear in Reno, Nevada, as new dealers for TM motocross and enduro bikes, effective immediately. APRIL 4, 2001 MOVED: Caster Communications, to 155 Main Street. Wakefield, RI 02879. 4011792-7080, 4011792-7040 (fax>. HIRED: Jake Thompson. by the research-and-development department of Race Tech. effectively immediately. Thompson formerly worked at Noleen, Suspension by Jake and Showa, according to Race Tech. PROMOTED: John Lee, as director of marketing for Spy Optic. effective immediately. 2 appear. For more information, call 618/251 ·3902. .. MOVED: The BlueRibbon Coatltion to 4555 Burley Drive, Suite website at: WN\N.motionpro.com. SIGNED: Motion Pro, as the exclusive Specialty Tool & Control prOVider for the Corona Extra-sponsored EBSCO Suzuki team, which competes in the AMA 600 and 750ccc Supersport Series. •