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/128125
o n L.J II Continued from page 3 \...J speedway guys use. If they could even n for national emissions standards covering off-highway motorcycles and ATVs, the Environmental Protection Agency has set requirements only slightly less stringent than those in place in California, which have severely restricted twostroke off-highway machines there. Currently, there are no national emissions standards governing off-road motorcycles and ATVs. However, there are requirements for road motorcycles that have been in place for 20 years, and those will be revised in November. Under the EPA proposal, which Is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register early next month, new off-highway motorcycles and ATVs would be subject to strict emissions requirements that would be partially phased-in-in 2006 and require 100-percent compliance in 2007, the AMA says. In addition, ATVs would be reqUired to meet even tougher standards beginning in 2009. The reqUirements wouldn't affect machines built through 2005, but would apply to machines built in 2006 and thereafter. The EPA said it expects that manufacturers will meet these new, stringent offhighway standards by usi~g four-stroke engines. The EPA has decided to allow exemptions for off-road competition-only machines, described as vehicles lacking lights or a spark arrester, having suspension travel of more than 10 inches, and having an engine displacement larger than 50cc. "Vehicles not meeting the applicable criteria would be excluded (from the emissions requirements) only in cases where the manufacturer has clear and convincing evidence that the vehicles cut down on some of the roost, then it would help a lot." Roeder said that despite having his season cut short, he is still satisfied with his performance in 2001. "I went through such a steep learning curve," he said, "starting at Houston, where I was fighting for last place in a semi, to Seattle, where I'm fighting for the win in my heat race. I'm looking forward to getting right back in it. When I feel better, I plan to go to Chris Carr's [American Supercampsl school in Talladega, Alabama, and I'm going to be doing a lot of ice racing this winter. The biggest challenge may just be this economy, and seeing what our sponsorship will be like." Roeder also admitted that his year hasn't been without its wacky moments, not the least of which came right after his crash at Seattle. "They had to airlift me to the hospital, and my dad [George Roederl had to drive our van,· Roeder said. "When he got there, he was in a hurry, so he just parked in the loading zone and went inside. Of course, they started smelling that race gas, so they thought that he might be a terrorist. They called out the police, the fire department. the bomb squad - everyone was there. They went through everything in the truck, but in the end, dad said that they didn't treat him badly." The federal government has sent a clear signal that it wants an end to twostroke off-highway motorcycles and ATVs by 2006, according to the AMA. In its recently released proposal for which the exemption is being sought will be used solely for competition,· the EPA rules note, according to the AMA. During the initial comment period on the proposal, the AMA asked the EPA to avoid regulations that would eliminate twostroke machines, favored by many offhighway riders for their light weight and power characteristics. The AMA told the agency that it shouldn't mandate the use of fuel injection, catalytic converters or other means to meet the new emissions requirements. Instead, the AMA said, manufacturers should be given the opportunity to meet performance-based standards through research and development. The Association suggested the EPA establish separate emissions standards for twostroke and four-stroke motors, and then let the manufacturers work to meet those standards. The easiest way to let the EPA know how you feel is by using the AMA's Rapid Response Center at the AMA website at www.AMADirectlink.com. according to the AMA. You can also write to: Margaret Borushko (Docket No. A-2000D, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, 2000 Traverwood Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48105. You may also submit comments by e-mail to nranprm@epa.gov. The EPA plans to hold public hearings on the proposed rules on October 24 in Washington, D.C., and October 30 in Denver. The offhighway emissions proposal and related developments can be read at the EPA website at www.epa.gov/otaq. Honda's public relations department has been recovered, according to American Honda. The San Bernardino Police Department recovered the bike and is investigating the theft. Former American Honda Sales rep Jim Dover, 43, finished second overall at the World Solo 24 Hours of Adrenaline Championships in Idyllwild, California, on September 23. The basic idea of the third annual mountain bike race is to complete as many laps of a 10.3-mile off-road course as possible from noon on Saturday until 1 p.m. on Sunday. He completed 22 laps (227 miles) in 24 hours, 39 minutes and two seconds just nine minutes and 57 seconds behind two-time World Champion Chris Eatough, 26, of Great Britain. Contrary to a report in a local newspaper, the crash in which motocrosser Aaron Madvig recently suffened life-ending injuries did not take place at Perris Raceway, but at Starwest Motocross Park in Moreno Valley, California. Nonetheless, Perris Raceway issued a press release expressing sympathy for the Madvig family. Glen Helen Raceway Park contacted Cycle News to remind us of the Yamaha California State Motocross Championship, which will be held at The Honda CRF450R that we reported as being stolen last week from that San Bernardino, California, facility October 13-14. In order to compete, you must have raced one of the four qualifiers that have been held. Class champions will receive a Yamaha letterman's jacket. Entry deadline is October 10. Seats for Paul Thede's Technical Edge Suspension seminars for October are filling up fast. The schedule is as follows: Basic Skills, October 2022; Shop Skills, October 23-25, and Advanced Skills, October 27 -28. For more information, call 909/279-6655 or log on to www.racetech.com. A. Mike Brown (Ki!lwl E. SIeve lamson (Husl I. Travis PlIStrani!l (suz~:a; OCTOBER 10. 2001 • IS U n IS • _ __ • eN