Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Glen Helen Raceway Park held its fourthannual Invitational Supercross and 125/250 Shootout in conjunction with their sixth annual Chaparral Prol Am AMA MX Championships on Saturday, December 29. The 125cc main event was won by Grant Langston (KTM), with second place going to Kelly Smith (Yam) and Langston's teammate Steve Boniface finishing the race in third. Nick Wey (Yam) won the 250cc main event, topping Jean-Sebastien Roy (Hon) and Ted Campbell. Stephane Roncada. one of the pre-race favorites. crashed in practice and didn't race. In the 125/250 Shootout, the top-three spots were occupied by 125s at the race's end, with Langston once again topping Smith and Boniface. Wey finished fourth on a borrowed machine, after his bike suffered transmission troubles before the start. New road motorcycles sold nationwide will be required to meet strict emissions standards set by the state of California beginning in 2006 under rules being proposed by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. according to the AMA. While the EPA hasn't released its final proposal for public comment, a draft proposal obtained by the AMA shows the EPA wants to adopt a two-tier standard already approved in California on a delayed basis. The first tier of California standards will go into effect in 2004. with the second tier scheduled for 2008. The federal EPA is proposing to adopt the same standards but on a twoyear delay. meaning tier one would take effect in 2006 and tier two in 2010. Road motorcycles built before the 2006 model year would be unaffected by the new regulations and would remain legal to ride. If adopted. the new federal emissions regulations are expected to result in an increased use of fuel injection and catalytic converters on new motorcycles. according to the AMA. Some current motorcycles sold nationwide already success of Clear Channel Entertainment's Supercross program to the intemationallevel. Doma is very pleased to have this opportunity to work with the Clear Channel Entertainment team to help bring supercross to the global marketplace and to the next level." In the same release, Charlie Mancuso, president of Clear Channel Entertainment's motor sports division, said: "This is a great day for supercross fans, racers, venues and the entlre motorcycle industry. We have produced supercross racing events for 27 years and always dreamed of elevating our Supercross Series from a domestic championship to one that is worldwide. Realizing that dream could not have been possible without partners like the FIM and Doma. We are excited to take supercross to the next level by promoting the FIM Supercross World Championship. In particular we want to acknowledge the support of the F1M, which for nearly a century has been recognized as the world's foremost motorcycle sanctioning body, and whose affiliation will help immensely to continue to grow the sport." The 2002-03 FIM Supercross World Championship calendar will shortly be announced by the FIM, according to Clear Channel and Doma. According to a release issued by Clear Channel motor sports division and Doma Off-Road, the two companies have signed an agreement to jointly produce the F1M Supercross World Championship, beginning with the 2002-03 season. The agreement between Clear Channel Entertainment and Doma combines the resources of the recognized North American and international leaders in the promotion and production of motorcycle racing to position the FIM Supercross World Championship as the preeminent motorcycle racing series in the world, according to the release, by creating one circuit comprised of events around the world. In addition to staging the FIM Supercross World Championship, for which it holds the rights from the F1M, the Doma group holds the commercial, media and TV rights to produce the FIM Road Racing World Championship (MotoGP), the F1M Motocross World Championship and the Motocross Des Nations. , Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO and managing director of Doma, said in the release: "Clear Channel Entertainment's Supercross has long been recognized as the premier supercross series, The synergy of the resources between Clear Channel Entertainment and Doma provide the strongest base possible to now expand the tradition and meet California's strict 2008 standard. Honda's 2002 Gold Wing, for example, meets the California standard with the use of an emissions control system that includes fuel injection and a three-way exhaust catalyzer to reduce emissions of hydrocarbons. nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide. Besides tightening existing standards for street motorcycles, the EPA had suggested that the new rules might include requirements for specific components on motorcycles to meet the regulations, as well as stricter" anti-tampering' regulations. which could prohibit certain modifications to motorcycles. The AMA asked federal officials to refrain from establishing such a list of technologies that manufacturers must use in making cleaner motorcycles. Instead, the AMA has recommended setting performance-based standards that would allow manufacturers the maximum amount of innovation in reducing emissions. The advance copy of the proposed emissions regulations indicates that the EPA has taken that approach, leaVing it up to the bon monoxide. The proposed federal standard would be the same, but would go into effect in 2010. Currently. the federal emissions standards for on-road motorcycles are 5.0 grams per kilometer of hydrocarbons and 12 grams per kilometer of carbon monoxide. manufacturers to figure out how to meet the standards. The agency also proVided an exemption for small manufacturers who may not have the resources to do the research and development needed to meet the proposed new national emissions standards. Under that exemption, motorcycle manufacturers with sales of fewer than 3000 bikes a year, and having fewer than 500 employees, would have until the 2008 model year to meet the tier one national emissions standard. Those manufacturers wouldn't be required to meet the tougher tier-two standards. New motorcycles sold in Califomia beginning with the 2004 model year must emit no more than 1.4 grams per kilometer traveled of hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides. and 12 grams per kilometer traveled of carbon monoxide. The proposed federal standard would be the same. but would go into effect in 2006. The California standard gets tougher in 2008. with a limit of 0.8 grams per kilometer traveled of hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides and 12 grams per kilometer traveled of car- Confirming news that we originally reported on October 30, Jeremy McGrath held a news conference on December 13 at Billiards in Hollywood. California, to announce that he has signed a deal with Anheuser Busch that will see the Bud Light brand of beer as his team sponsor for 2002. "As long as the property works for us. we'll be there for the long haul." said Tim Schuler, the senior manager of sports marketing for Anheuser Busch. "Supercross has been on our radar screen for the last two to three years and we started talking with Jeremy McGrath last June or so." Terms of the agreement weren't disclosed. though McGrath will continue to ride Yamahas in his one-rider team. "It is such an honor to have Bud light, one of the most recognizable brands in the world. sponsoring McGrath Racing," McGrath said. "This sponsorship puts me among the company of many great athletes and I look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with Anheuser Busch and Bud light." The personnel of McGrath's team stays pretty much the same. Larry Brooks will continue in his role as team manager with Skip Norfolk returning as McGrath's mechanic. Brian Barnhart will serve as the road manager. with Tracy Jansen returning as office manager and Kevin Brown filling the role as sponsor relations ma(lager. Bud light is the world's best selling light beer, according to Anheuser Busch. fijfi!i}fij jjj[]D[]D@C!!J[]D@@[B @M @Df1D@[Bp {jJC!!Jf1 !J!J@ \!l@[]DC!!J@0 JamSports and AMA Pro Racing have announced the list of "majormarket" cities that will constitute the 2003 AMA U.S. Supercross Championship on December 21, though no schedule was released and no venues were given. The AMA season will kick off in Los Angeles on January 4 and , conclude in New York on May 3, according to the AMA release. The , cities included in the 2003 AMA U.S. Supercross season are: New , York, Los Angeles (two rounds), Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Boston, New Orleans, Charlotte, Tampa, and Daytona, according to the AMA press release. The 2003 markets reinforce JamSports' and AMA Pro Racing's commitment to spread the AMA U.S. Supercross Championship geographically and to include more heavily populated areas that better represent the entire country, the AMA says. "It was extremely important that our 2003 series send a clear signal of our commitment to the sport and its incredibly talented athletes," said Jerry Mickelson a principal in JamSports in the press release. "We are dedicated to growing AMA Supercross, and we will n'ot allow cost factors, yesterday's excuses or obstructions of any kind to deter us from doing the right thing." John Farris, AMA Pro Racing vice president of commercial development, said: "The announcement of these markets comes as a result of extensive conversations with our participants, our television partners who help us promote the series and its stars, and current and prospective sponsors of both the Championship and the teams. Brands like Chevy Trucks, Budweiser and Parts Unlimited sell their -products nationwide. In 2003, we will deliver a superior marketing platform that will take AMA Supercross across the country into a great list of major markets." JamSports' Tony Dimitriades added, "We have tried to demonstrate that in this new era of AMA Supercross we will listen to the needs of everyone who has a stake in the growth of the sport. Our series wiil be showcased in the largest markets available and the riders and sponsors will benefit from exposure in seven of the top-] 0 markets in the country." "I am delighted with the new relationship with JamSports," said Scott Hollingsworth, CEO, AMA Pro Racing. "The next era of growth of AMA Supercross is dependent upon live television and nationwide markets. We were excited to announce this month a live television package with Speed Channel, and now we have markets in place that wiil ensure AMA Supercross is seen by fans coast-to-coast. Combine that with the heritage of the AMA Championship, our rulebook and our plan to ensure rider participation in the growth of the sport, and the foundation is solidly set for a successful season in 2003 and beyond." For the first time in its 29-year history, the 2003 AMA Supercross Championship wiil be broadcast live nationally on Speed Channel, according to the AMA. Speed Channel wiil also promote each race in every venue weekly prior to telecast, providing racing fans with a consistent, live schedule of the best riders in the world, according to the AMA press release. With Clear Channel already announcing that its 2003 series schedule wiil begin in Anaheim, Caiifomia on January 4, 2003, the war between the promoters looks set to begin on that day now that the AMA has announced that its series will also begin on January 4 in Los Angeles. cue I e Valencia in Spain was once more the backdrop for a multitude of World Superbike and World Supersport teams to test their 2002 equipment prior to Christmas, with Ducati Corse and FPF Aprilia the biggest names on show during a busy week of testing at the Ricardo Tormo circuit. Noriyuki Haga's first taste of Aprilia power was a sweet one, with the Japanese rider setting the fastest time on the only day he shared the Spanish circui\ with Infostrada Ducati rider Troy Bayliss and L&M rider Ben Bostrom. Haga's first day at Valencia, on Monday. n e _ S • JANUARY 9,2002 1 u r' o o " o o o 8 o 'I

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