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/128100
o o c ,,--~~-~ - - ---, ) - --, \ ----~ -- - - - Cerntinued from page 3 - , Mike Metzger. In addition to his wellknown skills as a motocross racer and LJ freestyle jumper. Metzger is a painter and sculptor. His collaboration with Ecko will allow Metzger to put his talents to work as he heips influence designs on certain types of clothing in future Ecko Unlimited collections. Metzger will wear Ecko Unlimited clothing during the 2001 season, which will include freestyle competitions such as X-Games and Gravity Games, as well as selected road-race, motocross, and off-road races. In addition, Ecko will incorporate Mezger into the company's extensive multi-media advertising campaign, including international fashion and motorsports magazines. Metzger launches his competitive season this month as the leader of Team Ecko Unlimited in the Bluetorch RMX 2002 Free-Ride Moto Survival Tour to be featured on Fox Sports TV. Mike will compete on a 2001 Supercross-spec Husqvama CR250 complete with factory Marzocchi fork and full prep-work done by Fast by Ferracci. C Marion L. White, 76, died April 3 in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. White and her late husband, J. Herman White, co-founded White's Harley-Davidson in Lebanon in 1953. White was also one of the organizers and a charter and life member of the Lebanon Valley Motorcycle Club. A member of the Motor Maids for more than 50 years, Marion received a Motor Maid Silver Life award in 1979 and was a district director from 1954-1956 and from 19621997. She was also secretary of the Eastem Harley-Davidson Dealers Association for 26 years and was a past treasurer of the Pennsylvania Motorcycle Dealers Association. White is survived by a son, Joseph C. White, and three grandchildren. C C o o 8 o o o o o 8 8 o o o o o o q n Due to the current outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease in the Netherlands, in CATHCART .. • ...And More On Ducati the area of Oldebroek, the KNMV (Dutch Federation) decided to cancel the second round of the Sidecar Motocross World Championship, which was scheduled for April 16. The Motocross Commission and the KNMV are trying to find a replacement date, probably in September. The second round of the championship will now be held in Pfluckuff, Germany, on May 6. Jim Redman, Don Vesco, Dave Roper, Team Obsolete Racing and its founder Rob Iannucci have charged AHRMA, their Denver, Colorado, attorney Edward Bendelow, Steamboat Springs, C010rado, attomey Rob Stickler, AHRMA's former president Jeff Smith, the AMA and others with violations of the Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act, the Sherman Antitrust Act, Califomia Business and Professional Code, and other transgressions in a suit recently brought in the United States District Court, Eastern District of New York, design is completely refined and thoroughly tested, before entering production. And they'D be able to derive maxIlnum return from the costs of deveIopiAg the interim 996R modd, Instead of throwing this away after building just 350 h0mologation specials. It's enough to bring tears of vllsMctiOIl to the eyes of any accountant. Last week, we made you privy to the rumored AprIIaIDucati merger. but all along Ducat! has had a big dedsJon to make: when to launch the all-new 999 successor to the CUlTent 996 Superblke? This will, of course. be powered by the shortstroke T estastretta engine now in production for the limitededition 996R, as a homologation basis for the new-generation Superbikes being raced this season by works riders Troy Bayliss, Ben Bostrom and Reuben Xaus - and which has already added a win at the hands of Bostrom in Kyalaml, South Africa, after its second place in both its first two races at the opening round of the 2001 World Superbike Championship In Valencia - but fitted in an all-new chassis and styling package produced by the in-house design team led by Pierre Terblanche, to replace the Tamburinl-deslgned 916/996 whid) first saw the light of day back in 1993, From speaking to very senior company sources, It can be revealed that the decision has been made: the new 999 will not be seen just yet. Ducati management have decided to maximize their take on an interim rnodeI first. before introducing its replacement. So at the Milan Show in September. Ducati will launch the volume-production version of the 996R, costing a lot less than the Individually-numbered startOne new model Ducati executives have identified as ripe up series, and modified in the light of experience acquired for deveJopment is a desmodue maxi-enduro, due for launch racing the Testastretta-powered works 5uperbikes this season. This wiD still retain the same essentiat 996 chassis and at the Milan Show in September lIS a tarmac traille rival to eight-year old styIlng used on the present bike, will be sold the AprDia Caponord, Triumph Tiger, Honda Varadero, BMW alongside the current 996 modeis next year. and may even Rll50QS - and especiaUy the Caglva Navigator. This latter continue to be marketed as a less cosdy but !IItlU Testast:retIa- Suzuki-engined model grew out of the Ducati 900SS.powpowered option to the 999. when this comes on line at the ered Gran canyon which was Pierre Terblanche's last design for Cagiva in the days when they owned DucatI. before the end of 2002. companies spilt up and he moved across to Bologna to creThis will also provide the basis for the second main reason: time. By delaying the debut of the aU-new T elItaItretta ate the former subsidiary's own in·house design studio. Superbike, Ducati can reap maxlmum R&D beIle6ts from Dueati's new owners tried at first to buy the Gran Canyon going racing with It, as well as ~ that TeriMncbe's • design from Caglva and buDd It themselves - but 0aucIl0 00 APRIL 18, 2001 • cue • e n __ s according to a press release issued by Team Obsolete. The suit accuses, acconding to the release, the defendants of having wrongfully attempted to drive Team Obsolete and its associates out of the sport that • they helped found~ by • assaultive behavior, mail fraud, wrongful exclusion from major motorcycling events that they controlled, including the Vintage Motorcycle Days at Mid-Oho, and Sonoma Fest, California, selective use of improper disciplinary procedures, wrongful influence with Team Obsolete's sponsorship relationships, and by use of a pattem of collusive, fraudulent, and tortuous acts specifically designed to deprive Team Obsolete and Iannucci of their ability to participate in vintage motorcycle sport.• Jim Gibson's Moto-cross Training is holding a four-day school near Phoenix, Arizona, at the Air Sarival Track, April 2326. Form more information, call 909/6989272. eN CastigIiool declined. and bad a WlItertJght engine supply c0ntract to back up his refusal. I'1ow DucatI aTe at last cIoIng It - - - . . 'eI - reportedly first wittJ the 900S deII.lOdue eAgine, then In a c:oupIe of years with a delImoquattro version, just lIS _the ~ with the ST2/ST4 spans tourers. However, it'S not clear y~ which of the two options for lbeIr cIesmo do-anything bike that Tert>Ianche is beIievec:I to have prese'lIed them with. has been chosen by Ducati management - whether a Caponord type trail-toureI' with full equipment and nominal off-road capability, or a Voxan Scrambler-type go-anywhere dirt rod, with relatively slripped-out styfmg and more sporty specification. Given that Oucati s best-loved singIe-cylinder streetbike thirty years lIlIO In Il'IIIIly key markets was the ublqultuous 450 Scrambler ~ this gives a clue what may well happen: chances _ lheylIIlntroduce the cluei-purpose Ducatl concept in desmodlie form lIS a Scrambler. then re-invent It In a couple of years with lots more performance, and equipment, as a Gran TtJris.. mo, 900SC and 41 Could be.• Finally, what of Ducati's very public wrestling with the question of whetheI' to commit to going QP racing m 2002. err when the four-stroke class kicks off? The decision has been put back for a couple of months, revealed cornpa~y president Federico Minoli at the Milan launch of Ducatlls World Superblke team In mld.February. This wlO give management time to weigh up the IIkeJy benefits of devoting the extremely high budgets needed to follow this route, with attendant promotional and R&D benefits, without risking sacrificing the success of their participation in Superbike racing. which is what seils product. However. If Ducati does decide to go UP racing as well, don't assume this will be with a V-twin. Using paJticIpation in GP rllClllg lIS a IlleSlS of developing a range of V4 streetbikes - still with positive valve operation. of course: a.Imost certainly with R~ FI-type electromagnetIc: valve gear - would help jusl:fy the cost d doing so. in a way that racing a not-a-Testutretta V-twID would not. AIIhough this would provide a ready means d expanding the company's product milt, the ocIds are stili against DucatI cIoIng this, bec:lIuse d the builIlII!ts that would be needed to do It succ:essfuIIy - and management Wlderstands they can't enter UP RIClng purely as an a&D exercise, just to make up Ittem.mbels.. But it'sftQt~yet which way they.. go.