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/128137
Continued from page 3 Series remainder of the 2001-02 season to help riders with injuries and assist their needs at each event, according to a release issued by the company. Keith Shireman ATC/L (Certified/Ucensed Athletic Trainer), the Director of MX Sports Medicine, will be on hand at each event to assist injured riders through taping, stretching, evaluating injuries and physical therapy so that each rider can retum to the track as soon as possible. here in a couple of days," he said. "We are going to go back into operation as soon as we can. According to Honda's Chuck Miller, injured off-road racer Tim Staab is slowly improving from the head injury he suffered last month at the Las Vegas 400. Staab is no longer in an induced coma but has not yet fully awakened. Miller said that, while progress has been slow, Staab L.' is pretty much coming along as expected. rI "It could be two days, or two months U before he completely wakes up," Miller said. "But that is normal for this type of injury. But things are improving." For the 2002 season, Willow Springs International Motorsports Park S has adopted several new programs to promote its historic Willow Springs International Raceway, along with the six other racetracks and off-road areas which surround it, according to track officials. The plan includes free admission for spectators to all weekend events as well as weekday tuning and testing sessions. The only exceptions to this will be for private testing sessions where the cus· tomer has requested confidentiality, and for special events, such as national championship races, where admission will be charged. All weekend club events and n C The 2.93-mile Circuit de Catalunya at Montmelo in Barcelona, Spain, has won the much-coveted IRTA "Best Grand Prix" trophy for the 2001 Worid Championship Grand Prix season, marking the 18th time the IRTA Trophy has been awarded. In 2001, the Grand Prix was the 10th successive season a GP was held at the Montmelo circuit, and each year the circuit has received high ratings in the poll. In fact, the circuit has previously been awarded the "Best Grand Prix" Trophy, in 1992, the year the inaugural motorcycle GP was hosted by the track. The first four Grands Prix held at Catalunya were run as "The European Grand Prix" before switching to the "Grand Prix de Catalunya" in 1996. Sito Pons, president of IRTA. was qUick to add his own personal praise on hearing the news of the award going to Circuit de Catalunya. "This is good news for the people at Circuit de Catalunya. As a locally based team we know how hard the circuit has worked to in recent years to become the best. I am really pleased for them, particularly the permanent staff who show a great pride in the circuit and their work. The track is safe, the staff is courteous and helpful and the doctors and race marshals deserve the highest praise, as do all involved with the Grand Prix. The circuit is an example of the high standards that can be achieved, if you try hard enough. " p t c c By ALAN daily testing and tuning will otherwise be open, free of fees, to the public. Because of insurance requirements, the $10 admission will remain in effect for entrance to the pit area. Willow Springs International Motorsports Park now includes the following raceways and test tracks: Willow Springs International Raceway; The New Streets of Willow Springs; The Walt James Stadium (Clay Oval and Paved Ovall; Kern County Raceway; Willow Springs Kart Track; Off-Road Terrain. The motorsports park also features approximately 160 acres of off-road, mountainous terrain. "Chris [Carnicella, CEO of ASn came to me after the Winter X Games last year and gave me his ideas on mass retailing, " explained Jones, also a Pennsylvania native. "I listened to what he had to say and said 'Yeah, I'm in.'" Jones added that he'd worked in the past with Clear Channel Entertainment's TD Lovett and Charlie Mancuso, saying that "If s pretty cool now that AST and CCE are part of the same team." Jones has been a fixture on Clear Channel's International Freestyle Motocross Association tour. You can now rent Harley-Davidson Freestyler "Mad" Mike Jones has signed on as a team member with Action Sports Team (AST). The deal, which allows the Pennsylvania-based licensing company to use "Mad Mike's" name and likeness, will turn the already established popularity of Jones loose on the general public - via mass merchandising, according to a press release issued by OMS. Jones said the deal came about last year after he'd won the gold medal in the Big Air contest at the Winter X Games. CATHCART • • motorcycles at the Palm Springs International Airport in Palm Springs, California, according to a release issued by the Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism - making the airport the first in the country to have a motorcycle rental agency at its faCility. The Palm Springs location is co-owned by Don Swedo and Don Herborn of EagleRider Inc.. the world's largest renter of Harley-Davidsons, according to the eN release. thllt price. which doesn't reftec:t the realities of the situation. Let·s see what they come up with in the New Year,' In other words - keep watching this space! As The Bimota Turns ... The fate of bankrupt Birnotl!I was supposed to have been decided at an auction sale of the defunct Italian company's A!mainIng assets on December 4 In its home dty of Rlmlni, when the banknJptc:y magistrates were supposed to have presided over the liquidation of the company. on the basis of sealed bids previously received by midnight the day before, These had a minimum reserve of Lit, 4 billion ($1.9 mllIIon). a sum which .... to lndude the rights to the Bimota name, as we1I as the stock of 150 reclaimed versions still held In stock of the Vdue 500cc V-twin two-stroke which led to the company's demise. 80 examples of the Suzuki n.l000R-powered SBSR, and more than 150 Suzuki engines. as well as the company's machine tools, patents, flxtures and tlI1Ings. The Rimlnl factory Itself was not included In this figure, '-Ing only been leased and now re-let by the landIorcIs - but the expec:tatIon was that one of the four COIlSOflIa reportedly JRerested In acquiring BImota (three dlft'enmt baIIan Investment groups. as well as one heeded by forme!' 0.5. importer Bob Sl1'lIth) would meet the liquidator'S asking prIc:e. ~er. at the appoiIlted time on December 41l1t1en the COIII't canvened 10 open the bids. it cIsc:~ that - tt.e W8'e none! I'tot one lli tile 1meseste4 pertIes was prepared 10 meet the minimum asIdn8 price. so the mailer has now been deferred 10 the end of ..-. ~. Ie.".the eouIt the chance lID canvua an ~ soIulIoft. -We're sill ir:llIerestIld.. says Bob SmIth. "but IIllt • _iJtbIng • MX Sports Medicine will be joining the Speed Stick National Arenacross II .•" Justin IIu1:k..l..w ..." 1.lI" I.I.n D.... ..... D.... Trlv" " .. llan 72 JANUARY 16. 2002· cue I • n • _ s D.71lo