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/128142
o As I said, we will probably be discussing the matter further on the 22nd through the 24th, and I will probably know more after that. .. Following the conversation with Petrier, Cycle News called Clear Channel Entertainment's Vice President of Marketing, Ken Hudgens, to get the promoter's official point of view. "Doma has a deal with the FIM through 2021 to produce the FIM World Supercross Championship," Hudgens said. "We have a deal with Dorna. It's correct that the FIM hasn't announced anything, because that's not the process, The process is that Doma and Clear Channel present a schedule to the FIM. The FIM approves the schedule, and the FIM announces a schedule," Hudgens also pointed out that Clear Channel's previously released 2003 schedule (which doesn't yet include the international rounds that would be added for a World Championship Series) consists of 15 rounds, and not 16 (although the schedule includes a San Francisco round that was new in comparison to the 2002 EA Sports Supercross Schedule, two traditional stops - Daytona, Florida, and New Orleans, Louisiana - are not on the schedule). "We didn't announce a date on the traditional Daytona [Supercrossl weekend, out of respect for Daytona, .. Hudgens said, In an announcement that mayor may not be related to the ongoing supercross conflict. AMA Pro Racing announced on February 6 that Mark Tuttle resigned from its Board of Directors, "for personal reasons", according to the release issued by AMA Pro Racing. Tuttle had served in the role of Chairman. AMA Pro Racing's professional staff and Board of Directors expressed their thanks for Tuttle's service and wished him well in his future endeavors, the release said, · . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ,. ,. Valentino Rossi was in scintillating form on the final day of the HRC RC211 V test session at Sepang, Malaysia, on February 10, proving that his recent contract negotiations did little to hamper his speed, The reigning 500cc World Champion got down to serious work at the track, setting a best lap time of 2:03.61 on the V-five Honda, 0.7 of a second faster than his best time on the opening day of the two-day test. "The RCV is definitely very, very fast, and I'm satisfied with the results of the test." Rossi said in a press release, "Now we have a lot of data to work with before our next test at Barcelona, on March g10, and I'm looking forward to riding the RCV at that test. We also did an endurance test today, ran full Grand Prix distance at race speed and the results were very good. The RC211V is a prototype and there is still plenty of room for development. HRC have chosen a good direction to work in with this machine." Rossi's HRC teammate, Japanese star Tohru Ukawa, was also faster than ever before at Sepang. Ukawa ended the day with a best lap at 2:04.29 on his 990cc four-stroke. Ukawa crashed the RC211 V twice. The first a slide incurred minimal damage. The second, just 10 minutes before the end the test, badly damaged the RCV, Luckily Ukawa emerged unscathed from both, according to HRC, Current 250cc World Champion Daijiro Katoh, riding the Fortuna Honda Gresini NSR500, was not to be outdone by the four-stroke riders. Katoh took half a second off his time of Saturday to end the test on a high note. Tetsuya Harada was also faster than on the opening day. Harada, however, has only just started his testing program with the Pramac Racing NSR500 and has wisely trodden carefully with the V-four. Honda has confirmed its plans to contest the 2002 Isle of Man TT, retuming to the island after a two-year break due to the cancellation of the 2001 event. Honda will field a full team of works machinery and riders in every solo class and in the two sidecar races during the festival. Racing gets under wayan the 37,73-mile Mountain circuit on Saturday June 1 with the six-lap Formula One TT. "Quite simply, Honda loves racing. We race more products in more events worldwide than anybody else and it all started on the Isle of Man," said Honda UK general manager Mark Davies. "For us the Island is part of our heritage and with 113 n wins we have no intention of stopping yet. As long as there's an annual Isle of Man Tourist Trophy festival Honda will be there. Honda's history goes back to Soichiro Honda's first visit in 1954, we have as much enthusiasm for the TT races now as Mr. Honda did then." Davies is also aware of the meaning of the 2002 n, the first without the late record n winner Joey Dunlop. "I'm sure there will be poignant moments during the course of this year's event, the words Joey and n can never be separated. Honda's first n for more than 20 years without Joey cannot go unnoticed. We hope everyone will be able to celebrate his 26 n memorable victories in some way. Chris Carr, Mike Hacker, Geo and Jess Rhoder, Greg Tysor and several other GNC dirt trackers took part in a test in Savannah, Georgia, on February 2-4 following up with some short track testing in South Carolina. Lap times for the new 505cc singles equipment at the test was reportedly very close to the 750s. "The 505s were pretty good," Carr told Cycle News. "About the only difference that I noticed is that now there is a much more visible difference in straightaway speeds between the 505s and the 750s than there was between the 600s and the 750s." Cycle News received an e-mail from KTM off-roader extrordinaire Shane Watts on February 6, and although it contained bad news, the Aussie's typically quirky personality was still intact enough that he had us chuckling. The message was as follows: "G'day there, I don't know whether this is worthy enough, but I thought I might give you some news that you could use for your Web site, "Last weekend back here at AHRMA has announced that they will honor 17 former racers during its AHRMA Daytona Bike Week activities in March with those motorcycling greats slated to attend the "Great Men ft autograph signing and parade at Daytona International Speedway, March 4-5. The list of those who will be honored is as follows: Carroll Resweber, Everett Brashear, Tommy Byers, Chet Dykgraaf, Paul Goldsmith, Bobby Hill. Dick Klamfoth, AI Knapp. Brad Lackey, Joe Leonard. Dick Mann. Bart Market, Gary Nixon, John Penton, Jim Pomeroy, Jeff Smith and Bill Tuman. . 10 · home, I raced in the second round of the Australian Supercross Championship, on my 125cc. Well, actually I only got most of the practice session completed before I came up short on a triple and subsequently busted my wristl Ripper!! So, that will put me out of action for a little while!!! I even drove 20 hours the weekend before that to the first round but failed to get the opportunity to race there as well. You see now, I got slightly confused as to when practice and qualifying was; thus I kind of slept in and missed my spot on the grid!!! My reason for all this SX action was so as I would be a lot better prepared for the Daytona SX this year. I really wanted to be in the main. But since the weekend, I have sort of figured out that someone is trying to tell me to leave the supercross alone and just stick with the off-road stuff. Over and out, Wattsy... .. AUTOGRAPH SIGNING: At Metro Cycles in Lithia Springs, Geor- gia, on Friday, February 22 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jeremy McGrath, David Vuillemin and Yamaha of Troy riders Chad Reed and Greg Schnell are scheduled to appear, Tim Ferry is tentative due to the fact that he is recovering from an injury. For more information, call AUTOGRAPH SIGNING, At the Mall of America in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Friday, February 15 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m, Travis Pastrana, Kevin Windham, Buddy Antunez and Branden Jesseman are scheduled to appear. For more information, contact Cannon Power Sports at 505/263-4532. Speaking of AHRMA's Daytona action. Team Obsolete has also announced its lineup for the event. Dave Roper and Yvon DuHamel will be spearheading the team's efforts at Daytona, with Roper slated to ride a Matchless G-50 while DuHamel will be aboard a BSA A75R. 770/941-9050. AUTOGRAPH SIGNING, At Chesterfield Valley Power Sports in Chesterfield, Missouri, on Friday April 5 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jeremy McGrath. David Vuillemin, Tim Ferry and Yamaha of Troy riders Chad Reed and Gre9 Schnell are scheduled to appear. For more infor- · CHANGED, The phone number for Dirt Kids, an off-road specialty manufacturer and retailer in San Jose. Califomia. The new number is • 866/235·4100. mation. call 636/449-1500. The new Mid Carolina Speedway will commence its first season of racing with a dirt track race on March 16. The track is located in Neeses, South Carolina - south of Columbia and features a quarter-mile clay oval. For more information, call 843/884-4384. ANNOUNCED: For the office of County Commissioner (EI Paso County, Colorado), Jim Bensberg. Bensberg. 47, currently serves on OPENED: Yardo-X's home page on the World Wide Web. The site can be found at the following address: http://www.yardo-x.com. AUTOGRAPH SIGNING, At Excel Marine and Motorsports in Coon , Rapids, Minnesota, on Friday. February 15 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jere- my McGrath, David Vuillemin and Yamaha of Troy riders Chad Reed and Greg Schnell are scheduled to appear. For more information, call 763/421-8701. the staff of U.S. Senator Wayne Allard and is the former Washington, DC. representative of the AMA (1990 - 1994). EI Paso County is soon to be the most populous in Colorado. according to Bensberg. For more information. call 719/661-0778. The Coziahr Harley-Davidson Racing Team and Country Motors Trailer Sales, Inc" have announced that Donnie BORN, A baby boy. Aiden Robert Chapin. to Fieldsheer's Rob Chapin and his wife, Amanda, on February 5 in Santa Clarita. California. · ......................................................................................................................... """ c " U a I . . e n Continued on page 76 e _!IS • FEBRUARY 20. 2002 3 o o o o o 8 o o o 8 o 8 8 o CJ o CJ o o o o o o CJ o o B J J J J o il u CJ o J ] o