Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

n Competition Accessories rider LarrlY Pegram finished sixth at Daytona after a start from the back of the final red flag grid. "As Larry was the only Ducati rider to emerge from Daytona with AMA Championship points [25 points, 13 behind Mat MladinJ. the team plans to foc~s our energies to insure his continued success in future races. The way the points are awarded in the series, any early DNF's can make it a real uphill battie," Pritchard said. "We really aren't interested in putting someone on the bike who can't get in there and mix it up just to have a second rider run around in 12th, so that leaves a pretty short list of rider's worldwide who are both qualified and available at thiS time." The team plans to use the time between now and Sears Point (May 4-6) as well as possibly scheduled testing at Atlanta in April to identify and select a second rider. Freestyle motocross legend Mike Jones, who won the 2001 Winter XGames, made exhibition jumps at thiS weekend's EA Sports Supercross Presented by Speed Stick at the Trans World Dome in St. Louis, Missouri, as part of the halftime festivities, and is scheduled to make two more appearances at Supercross venues before the season is over. Jones, a former racer, has utilized his skills in the revolutionary world of freestyle motocross and has established an identity as one of the most popular riders in the sport. Branding one-of-a-kind tricks such as the" kiss of death," Jones rarely leaves a crowd in their seats. Recently completing competition in Sf)( Motor Sports' FMX Winter Series, Jones added another excellent season to his resume. At the concluding event of the FMX Winter Series in Hampton, Virginia, Jones finished third in the two-night event. Jones capped off the season with eight overall wins. The popularity of Jones, both nationally and internationally, is recognized by SFX Motor Sports. In addition to St. Louis, Jones will represent the world of freestyle motocross at EA Sports Supercross in Pontiac, Michigan, (April 7l and Las Vegas, Nevada, (May 5). Formula One automobile constructors Sauber are coming into motorcycle racing - and the Swiss-based engineering company is going straight into the heart of enemy territory, by unveiling their 2002 Grand Prix contender at the !XJ@@@[J1]0 Il@ [ffJ&J@!JJ [){]&JDfJDDD D @m@@@)W&J'i!! §w@[J1] Former World Speedway Champion, Billy Hamill will have the backing of motorcycle legend "King Kenny" Roberts throughout the 2001 season. In a pioneering move for speedway, Hamill will ride under the Team KR banner and will carry its colors throughout his hectic schedule in British, Polish and Swedish League matches. But the main emphasis of the partnership will be placed on Hamill's bid to regain the world crown he last won in 1996 and he is also keen to lead USA to World Cup success in the summer. Roberts, who won the 500cc World Championship from 1978-80 and then retired at the end of 1983 after having firmly written his name into the history books, said that he is excited about the prospect of linking up with speedway and Hamill in particular - for what promises to be an exciting year. "I'm interested in motorsport in general, and I was impressed by the professionalism of the way Speedway is now presented on TV: said Roberts. "I'm also happy to be involved with someone like Billy who wants to move his sport forward." Japanese GP at Suzuka on April 7. Honda has already shown photographs of their V-five contender, while Yamaha's in-line four has been spy-photographed testing in Australia. But Sauber and Malaysian sponsors Petronas will steal a march on the Japanese factories by being the first to show an actual engine. The new fourstrokes are being prepared for the change of regulations in 2002, that opens the 500cc class to 990cc fourstrokes. This year is the last of the 500cc-only rule, that has favored twostrokes for the past 25 years. With Honda and Yamaha already in, and Aprilia recently confirming that they plan to enter a four-stroke in 2002, the latest announcement shows how interest is growing in GP racing with the return of full prototype four-stroke racers. Sauber had been rumored to be working on an engine - believed to be an in-line threecylinder unit with a balance shaft, incorporating dimensions and technology from their F1 car motor. Others are expected to join the four-stroke fray. Ducati has expressed an interest; as have lesser Italian manufacturers Mondial and Gilera. In Japan, Kawasaki is As an ex-racer, Roberts has been even more influential. Moving directly into team ownership, and always aiming for the very highest achievements, he has taken other riders to four more World Championships, and a string of race wins that, by the '90s, had made Team Roberts the dominant force in the GP paddocks. It's little wonder, then, that Hamill himself sees this as a dream move at such an important stage of his career - and a crucial year for the sport of speedway. "I've always been aware that speedway needs to broaden Its appeal and that one of the things holding it back in the eyes of other bike-sports is the perceived technical stagnation and irrelevance of the bikes used. "Joining Team KR is one way of fighting back. I'm excited - speedway is on the up and this is a big boost. it's about time there was a link between mainstream motorcyde sport and speedway." John Postlethwaite, Chief Executive of Speedway World Championship rights holders Benfield Sports, said: "This is great news for Billy and great news for the sport. I've worked with Kenny Roberts in Moto GP and I know the level of professionalisr:n he will bring to Speedway." through Amish Country to the Pi-o Football Hall of Fame are just a couple of the more than 20 exciting motorcycle rides planned as part of the inaugural AMA Crossroads Rally. set for July 16-19 in Ashland. Ohio. The Crossroads Rally is part of a motorcycling week that kicks off with the AMA's Vintage Motorcycle Days at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in LeXington, Ohio. July 13-15 and concludes with doubleheader racing action in the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championships July 20-22 at the same race course. Between those two major events is the new.AMA Crossroads Rally. being held at the Ashland County Fairgrounds. The inaugural AMA Crossroads Rally features field events, seminars. a vendor midway, and more, including guided and self-gUided tours. Registration is $45 for AMA members, and $50 for nonmembers. The price goes up $5 after June 15. For information on registering for the AMA Crossroads Rally, call 61 4/856-1 900. rumored to be on the brink of making an announcement; but Suzuki had so far maintained silence. Speaking of Formula One, rumors regarding 500cc Grand Prix racer Max Biaggi circulated the paddock at this weekend's Formula One race in Interlagos, Brazil, was heard. The rumor was that Biaggi. who tested the Ferrari Formula One car last year, would replace Ferrari driver Rubens Barrichello starting with the San Marino Grand Prix. This apparently sent Italian journalists into a frenzy trying to confirm the rumor - only to find out it was an April Fool's joke. Jim Dover, a former American Honda district sales manager, was recently promoted to Semi-Pro by NORBA (National Off-Road Bicycle Association) and he then went out and won the Expert Cross Country race at the Sea Otter Classic on March 25 in Monterey, California. According to NORBA, the 42-year-old is the oldest cross-country racer to be promoted to Semi-Pro. '\ As motorcyclists and others involved in recreational activities face a serious threat to their continued health-insurance coverage under new proposed federal regulations, the AMA is urging people to contact their members of Congress to support an effort to protect those health benefits. Republican ·U.S. Rep. Mark Green of Wisconsin is asking his colleagues to sign a letter addressed to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson, urging him to rewrite the rules so that motorcyclists and others who engage in legal recreational activities don't face health-insurance discrimination. The AMA wants motorcyclists and others to contact their representatives in Congress to support Green's letter. You can contact your representatives quickly by going to the AMA website at www.AMADirectlink.com and clicking on A journey along Ohio's twisty roads to the U.S. Air Force Museum and a trip ..•.•.•..........••.........................•.......•.•...........................••........••...............•........•.••••••••..•... · . · . I: : Indianapolis, Indiana. For more information, call 317/788-1194 or visit their website at: www.yoursmallbikeconnection.com. OPEN HOUSE: At Southern California Triumph in Brea, Califomia. on April 14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Triumph truck will be there offering demo rides. For more information. call 714/256-6700. OPENED: The FreeRide Moto-X Championships' home page on the World Wide Web. The site can be found at the following address: http://www.freeridemoto-x.com . AUTOGRAPH SIGNING: At North Bay Motorsports in Santa Rosa, California. on April 21 from 2 to 6 p.m. Tallon and Tyson Vohland are scheduled to appear. For more information, call 7071542-5355. NAMED: John Robinson, as Motorcycle/Kart Engineering Product • Manager for Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc., effective April 1. Robinson was preViously Enthusiast/Event Manager in the consumer tire-marketing department. He will now be responsible for managing the compa- OPENED: Paradise MX Park in Seguin, Texas. For more information, call 21 0/264-TRAC Dr visit the website at www.go.to/paradise.mx. ny's involvement in AMA road racing and will also oversee motorcycle and kart product evaluation/development in the United States. • ADDED: The complete line of Derbi motorcycles and scooters to the existing Blata and GRC Pocketbike lineup at D & B Enterprise LLC in OPENED: G-Sport's home page on the World Wide Web. The site can be found at the following address: www.g-sport.net. APPOINTED: S & S Sports Inc.. as a new dealer for TM motocross and enduro bikes located in Ronan, Monan, Montana. For more information, call 406/644-2950. · . ........•..•.....•.••.•••......................•.........•.••...•...•..............•.•.•......•.••.•.....................•••.....•.••. cue. e n -------Connnued on page 100 __ S • APRIL 11.2001 3 o o o o o o o 8 o o o o o o o o o 8 o CJ o o ~o o o o n o o o· 8 o o o o o o

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