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/128101
8 o Continued from page 3 r LJ Pre-registered participants will receive complimentary tickets to the races. For more information. call 626/443-9630. Two-time Trials World Champion Tommy Ahvala will be demonstrating his trials skills at Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma. Califomia. April 27-May 6. during Sonomafest. Progressive Suspension and Stroker are sponsoring the Invitational Rider Cup Golf Tournament at the Hesperia (California) Country Club on May 23 with a 9 a.m. shotgun start. For more information on the tournament. which benefits the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. call 760/949-4012. C l L C C Vanson's fifth annual west coast tour begins on April 19 and runs through May 6 with Vanson sending out its skilled measuring and repair personnel to various locations and events. The schedule is as follows: April 19 - Palais des Modes; April 20-21 - Pro Italia; April 22 - Bartels; April 21 - North Bay Motorsports; April 26 Scuderia West; April 28-29 - Sears Point Raceway; April 30 - Mota; May 1 - IMX Hayward; May 2 - Sears Point Raceway; o o o I o May 3-4 - BMW of San Francisco; May 56 - Sears Point Raceway. For more information. call 508/678-2000 or visit their website at: vansonleathers.com. More than 50 members of Congress have sent letters to the Bush administration in an .effort to change federal rules that legalize health·insurance discrimination against motorcyclists and others involved in various forms of recreation. according to the AMA. The letter. addressed to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson. is in response to new rules written to implement the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAAl of 1996. The rules. written by officials of the Clinton administration. are to take effect May 8. The original bill was written to protect workers from discrimination in the health insurance they receive through their employers. As drafted by Congress. the law prohibited employers from denying health coverage based on a worker's preexisting medical conditions or participation in legal recreational activities. But as the members of Congress note in their letter to Thompson.•As currently interpreted. the interim final rule permits the denial of health care for any injury sustained while participating in legal recreational activities like motorcycling. snowmobiling. skiing. or other similar activities. - ....the language continues to deny health care benefits. which is in exact contradiction of congressional intent." the letter states. The members of Congress are asking the Bush administration to rewrite the rules in accordance with the will of Congress to ensure coverage for injuries suffered while motorcycling. snowmobiling. riding all-terrain vehicles. horseback riding. or taking part in similar activities. U.S. Rep. Mark Green (R-Wisconsin) authored the letter and circulated it among his colleagues. The letter gained the bipartisan support of 54 other members of Congress before being sent to Thompson April 5. While practicing at the Atlanta Supercross in the Georgia Dome on Saturday February 24. 2001. Charles MBuddy" Duffy III crashed and suffered a skull fracture. He underwent surgery on February 26 and was in ICU for 32 days and the surgical ward for seven more days before finally being flown home on April 4. Duffy's primary insurance carrier has denied him coverage. due to the fact that , -.. J " By ALAN CATHCART • • BMW's One for the Road A tarmac version of BMW's F650GS street enduro has been on the cards ever since this new street single model, wholly manufactured in BMW's own Berlin factory, was launched a year ago and revealed to have much more serious off-road pretensions than the Aprilla· built F650 it replaced. Now, sources in Germany reveal that BMW is close to launching the F650 Strada - a sportier version of the enduro model more closely targeted at street use with a lower overall ride height, but still retaining the same basic steel bridge-type chassis and fuel-injected four-valve engine of the F650GS. However, it's understood that instead of the I9-inch front. both wheels will be 17-inchers shod with wider-section Metzeler rubber, with 45mm Marzocchi Magnum forks, the single Brembo front brake upsized to a 320mm floating disc, and a more tarmac-derived look to the styling. Those who have seen the bike say it reminds them of the TOM Yamaha. However. the biggest surprises come at the rear - for ifs reliably understood that BMW will use low-maintenance belt final drive on the F650 Strade - same as Harley do on their street single. the Buell Blast! - rather than the GS' chain. and a single-sided swlngarm with rising-rate rear monoshock suspension. This move will allow the rear wheel from BMW's shaftdriven Boxer twins to be used. to keep costs down. ASS will again be an option. as on the GS. h is expected that the new Strada versIOn will go on sale this summer. before the MIlan and Paris Shows in September. though a definite launch date has not been announced. e 80 APRIL 25.2001 • c u e . . . n ...... _ilia*- _ _ . . -' art....d ...... "" the .... tt.,............. .........._ ...... ............ ""_ .......... e ..., ••• _ .......... 1.'1 011 _ _''''''''' m ' .. D l!I'S one more nice thlln McQrllth did to do e _ s L it in. the injury happened while participating in a sporting event for which he could have received payment. A trust fund has been established for Duffy at Union Planters Bank. and donations can be sent to Charles J. Duffy III at 3801 SW 139th Ave., Miramar. Florida 33027. His e-mail address is rnx385@aol.com. MX Imports, in San Rafael, California. is the new importer for Vertemati motorcycles. The innovative models include the 500 Cross. 500 Enduro and the 501 Supermotard. All the bikes feature Excel rims. Talon hubs. Brembo brakes. titanium exhaust systems. under-seat gas tank. For more information. call 415/4572139, or log on to www.vertemati.it. Brad Lackey. 1982 FIM 500cc World Motocross Champion. will host a motocross riding clinic on May 26, 2001, at the Second Annual Runnin' Brand Grand Prix. For more information. call John Garmon at 256/927-2436. If you're anywhere near the Portland, Oregon, area, in early September. consider checking out the Rose City Cycle Festival from the sixth through the ninth. During that one autumn weekend. SFX Motor Sports Group will host a round of the Formula USA Road Race Series (at Portland International Speedway) and a round of the Drag Specialties National Dirt Track Series (at nearby Portland Speedway).• Portland is a city that has always supported arenacross. freestyle motocross, dirt track and roadrace events that SFX has presented to the Northwest.' said Dan Krolczyk. SFX senior director of marketing. ·We·re proud to work with the 9reat people of Portland to create another destination weekend event for motorcycle enthusiasts of all ages." For more information. log on to www.formulausa.com. X Games freestyle motocrossers will gather at the Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track on April 28 for the Young Chevrolet AirMX Challenge. which will feature a $54.000 purse. Riders to be compete include Clifford Adoptante, Kenny Bartram. Kris Rourke. Jeff Tilton. Trevor Vines. Brian Deegan and Jeremy Stenberg. For more information. call CN 817/215-8500.