Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Cycle News 2001 09 19

Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles

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Kraft Foods to reconsider its portrayal of motorcyclists in a current Nabisco advertising campaign, according to the MA. The following article, entitled "The Devil, Prison".and Motorcyclists?" was published on the Association's Web site, AMADirectlink.com. If you ride a motorcycle, then you just may be keeping some pretty interesting company, at least according to Nabisco and Kraft Foods. Nabisco's "Com Gone Wrong" promotion, hoping to give its Cornnuts snacks a new image, shows cartoon ish characters in three "hardcore" scenes: as the devil, as criminals in jail, and in one more example of something "gone wrong": on motorcycles. After a number of AMA members contacted us to voice I eir objections, the AMA spoke with Nabisco officials. NabiSCO is part of Kraft Foods, a company that markets everything from Maxwell House coffee to Oreo cookies, Kool-Aid and Jell-O. Elisabeth Wenner, speaking for Kraft Foods. said this in a written statement: "We certainly did not mean to offend anyone with this ad. The intent of the ad was to celebrate the independent spirit and freedom of motorcyclists and was in no way intended to discourage motorcycling." The motorcycling ad features three tough-looking cartoon characters riding down the road on choppers, while a wide-eyed rabbjt flees being crushed under the front wheel of the lead bike. according to the AMA. The tag line reads: "Surprisingly hardcore".in seven ean flavors." The other two "Corn Gone Wrong" ads feature a character dressed as the devil, and another of several of the characters in jail. the eight remaining finalists took to the front straights of Pocono Raceway. From one-handed stoppies, surfing. straight-up wheelies, Tasmanian spins, headstands to burnouts, the display of stunts seemed to be limitless. The winners had the best presentations, choreographing one stunt after another while a panel of judges awarded each performer a score of 5-100. Taking first place and the eventual champion 'hot seat' was Las Vegas' Paul Sherer of the Las Vegas Extremes team. "Pauly" was crowned the "King of Pocono" with 92 points and lifted into the air by his fellow podium-mates after performing amazing standing leaps into the air off his gas tank and an impressive 'skiing' show behind the motorcycle. Sherer thanked his team, Hooters Suzuki, and thanked the crowd for their enthusiasm and making the sport safe and legal. Sherer walked away with $1100 in purse money and enjoyed tremendous sales of their home videos at their display in the Formula USA expo area. Newark's Kevin Calo of Loose Riders took second place with 85 points. and with his fingers in the air, he thanked Impact Video and told the crowd how happy he was to be here. Calo walked away with $700 in purse money. Completing the top three was Matt Blankstrom of team 10-96 out of Grand Rapids, Michigan, in fourth with 83 points, who dazzled the audience with a stunning 'sit and spin' Tasmanian on the gas tank. The XSBA was fonmed to bring extreme sportbike riding to controlled environments where riders can safely compete and showcase their talents before thousands of fans, and The following press release came from Clear Channel Motor Sports regarding its XSBA debut during the recent For- support from Impact Video, Vanson Leathers. Airtech, Motorcycle Street mula USA event at Pocono International Raceway. "The XSBA proved to be for and Strip magazine. and the assistance of Clear Channel Entertainment and For- real last weekend in the Poconos as 'Scene One' was proudly launched on Saturday and Sunday. More than 15 of mula USA support staff. " 'Scene One' was made possible with record crowds at the Pocono Cycle Fest. While the Formula USA National Road Race Series went into lunch break. Chris Haines Motorcycle Adventure Company has announced that the Johnny Campbell Baja Ride will take place December 6-9. The ride will feature Campbell and his off-road racing tips. For more infonmation. see the company's Web site at www.motorcycle- the sportbikes of the XSBA fired up as adventurecompany.com. America's best performers took sportbike motorcycle performance and entertainment to the next level in front of the school's Web site at www.american- The Iron Horseman Motorcycle Club will sponsor a street poker run to benefit the family of Will Davis in Sedalia, Missouri. The run will be held on September 23, with sign-in scheduled for 9 to 10 a.m at Yeager's Cycle in Sedalia. The ride will end at State Fair Motor Speedway, and all proceeds from the ride will go to Davis' family. For more information, call 660/826-2925. supercamp.com. Defending AMA Superbike Champion Mat Mladin leads Kawasaki's Eric Bostrom by just 15 points heading into the September 16 Willow Springs round, and the Australian is focused on the task ahead as he tries to make it three straight AMA Superbike crowns. "Last year I finished eighth at Willow, but it was under a lot different circumstances than this time around," said Mladin in a press release issued by the Australian, "Last year I had a good championship points lead to cover, but this year I have to aim at being ahead of Eric [Bostrom] at least. I feel a lot more comfortable at Willow. It's got a European feel about it, with some fast sweeping turns, and I like that. It's definitely one of my more favored circuits on the calendar." In preparation for this weekend, Mladin spent three days at the Willow Springs circuit shortly after the previous round at Pikes Peak, recording the fastest time at the test aboard his Team Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R750. "It was a good test for us and we are now looking forward to the race," Mladin said. "We spent the bulk of the time there working on a setup that we feel comfortable with. We tried a bunch of stuff. not only for thiS round but also for next year. The championship will be over in another three weeks, so we have to start thinking about next year." Mladin also said he will be back for more in 2002. "I'm definitely staying here next year, as far as I'm aware. I haven't heard anything to the contrary from Suzuki at this stage." Marlboro Yamaha Team riders Carlos Checa and Max Biaggi stayed on at Estoril in Portugal on Monday, September 10 - the day after the Portuguese GP - to prepare for the final five races of the 2001 500cc World Championship. After a somewhat difficult Portuguese GP, in which Checa took fourth and Biaggi fifth after a minor tumble, the team focused on evaluating new parts and settings, according to a release issued by the team. Both men lapped fractionally faster than they'd managed in the race, allOWing them to leave the track feeling confident about the upcoming Marlboro Valencia Grand Prix on September 23. "Our job is always to make the riders feel more confident. so they can ride faster, and I'm confident we've managed that today," said team director Hiroya Atsumi. "Both our riders went well dUring qualifying at Estoril, but then Carlos had a few minor problems in the race and Max crashed, so we had a frustrating day. Today we tried some new engine and chassis parts, plus some new 16.5-inch tires from Michelin, and we also worked at continuing to improve the balance of both riders' bikes. This track and Valencia [in Spain] are quite similar in terms of machine set- Twenty-eight figures in the history of American motorcycling were inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame on September 8, during ceremonies at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum in Pickerington. Ohio. The Motorcycle Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to motorcycling, including those known for their tings, so we should be in good shape for the next race. But we also wanted to try some things for the first two 'flyaway' races at Motegi [Japan] and Phillip Island [Australia], because they're very different tracks. " • American SuperCamps still has some openings for schools in Spokane, Washington. Colton, California. Santa Rosa, California, Harrington, Delaware and Talladaga, Alabama. The schools will feature guest instruction from the likes of Chris Carr, Eric Bostrom and Rich Oliver, For more information, see contributions to road riding, off-road riding and all categories of racing, as well as those who have excelled in business, history, design and engineering. The new inductees join 241 others already enshrined in the Motorcycle Hall of Raceway. For more information. call 909/888-6919. export sales at N-Style Graphics. For more information. call • 877/PRINT·08. Fame, located on the lower level of the museum. The Motorcycle Hall of Fame features a plaque recognizing each inductee, along with related motorcycles. photos and memorabilia. This year's class includes racers, tuners, engineers and media figures. Among the notables: Mike Baldwin, five-time AMA road-racing champion; Mark Barnett, ACCEPTING: EVS Speed Protection is currently accepting racer resumes for the 2002 racing season. Resumes can be sent to EVS Sports Protection, attn: Todd Lentz, 1821 Milton Ave., Suite 6, JaneSVille, WI 53545. HIRED: John Pischke, as sales agent for TWS, the importer of TM Motorcycles and Lem minibikes and ATVs. Pischke will be responsible • for sales in California, Arizona and Nevada. For more information, call 909/608-0082. winner of four motocross and Supercross championships; Allen Carter, the engineer responsible for many motorcycles produced by Indian; Charles Clayton, who, with his wife, Sharon, devel- ......................•.............•............................................•.•.•.••..•.......................................... · · · · · · : 6 . RESJGNED: Dominic Gaytan. from the position of East Coast and • PROMOTED: Ronald Coleman, to facilities foreman at Glen Helen · . ...•.••..•••.•....................................•...................................••••.•.••.....•.........................•....... co U co I • n o J o - - - - - - - Continued on page 112 e _. • SEPTEMBER 19.2001 3 8 8 o o o o o o J 8 CJ o o o o 8 o o o o 8 CJ CJ 8 8 o o o o o

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