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/128144
8wIJDXfJ o ~,.- ,,~- • ~ - • ~" ~ l - - ~ Continued from page 3 o in Ljubljana. Slovakia. will also take place on May 19 (instead of May 12). tor of Gas Gas Enduro and MX motorcycles for all of North America. GGNA has created a retail dealer network that today includes over 300 members. GGNA and Gas Gas Motors have had a working relationship for over five years and are currently involved in contract negotiations regarding their relationship. The outcome of these negotiations is not certain: however, GGNA has a viable retail dealer network, and it intends to continue to provide that dealer network with quality motorcycles and parts. " The FIM has proposed several changes to the Enduro World Championship for 2003, mostly to simplify the rules and increase the visibility of the championship for the public and media. according \0 the ~ FIM. The main proposai is to change the format to just three class, keeping it more in line with motocross. The classes would be: up to 125cc two-stroke and 250cc four-stroke: 126cc to 250cc two-stroke and 251 cc to 450cc four-stroke: and over 250cc two-stroke and 450cc four-stroke. The FIM would also like to limit the Enduro World Championship to 120 riders (40 per class) and the course to five hours per day. The top 20 riders from the previous year's World Championship classification, 10 riders selected by the Continental Unions and 10 riders selected by the FMNR. Also, they have proposed to have the motocross tests held on motocross circuits that riders may practice on and to have trials-type tests for which each rider may have two assistants. Perhaps the biggest change that has been proposed is to the name of the ISDE: The FIM is hoping to change the event name to the Enduro des Nations. o o o o o Among the notable changes that came out of the FIM meetings, February 22-24 in Geneva, Switzerland - other than the blockbuster World Supercross schedule (see sidebar story) - were some changes to the Motocross des Nations format. The most noteworthy change: each rider on the team can now ride whatever displacement motorcycle he chooses Cin other words. all three riders could ride 250s if they so choose). In addition, countries are not automatically classified anymore (in previous MX des Nations, the first three teams of the previous year and the host country were automatically in). Also, rather than a three-moto fonmat. the event will now consist of a one-moto format. Once the racing actually begins. two semi finals will be held on the Saturday of the race weekend with Semi Final 1 consisting of those who placed 1, 3. 5. 7,9,11,13.15,17.19.21,23 in timed practice while Semi Final 2 will feature those who ended up 2, 4, 6. 8, 10, 12. 14, 16. 18, 20. 22, 24 in timed practice. After those two 30-minute-plus-two-lap semis are held. the best two results from each country will count: countries finishing first through sixth qualify for the A Final while countries finishing seventh through 12th will compete in the B Final. In the Finals, the best two results of each country will count toward the Motocross des Nations title. Despite all the changes to the Motocross des Nations formula, the one thing that wasn't decided on during the meetings was the host country and the location of the event. 8 o o o Shift has announced that Jeff Emig has joined the company as a marketing advisor. "Jeff Emig has been with Shift since day one. he is part of this and knows it as well as anyone" says Melissa Taku of Shift. "His involvement with Shift is critical." He will be involved in several aspects of Shift. from product development to advertising to rider support, according to a release issued by the company. He will also be visible at races and o events keeping Shift tuned in to the industry. riders, and the market. Emig is looking forward to continuing his connection with Shift and the new Shift line. "We have a strong line of product this year," says Emig, "I am really happy with the 2002 designs. and I know it will only get better from here." For more infonmation, see the company's Web site at www.shiftmx.com Formula USA's National Road Race Series pro racers will be competing at America's oldest motorcycle race meet. the 79th Annual Loudon Classic at New Hampshire International Speedway on Sunday, June 16, according to a press release issued by the racetrack. The track also says the Father's Day race will be run rain or shine. Gary Bahre. NHIS president said: "This is the most exciting motorcycle racing weekend that we 've hosted. The 2002 Loudon Classic will be a showcase for national and local riders as they continue the tradition of professional motorcycle racing at NHIS." FantasyRacer.com is currently taking signups for the 2002 Fantasy Superbike League. For more information, see www.fantasyracer.com. Off-road racer Dick Yardley, 42, died on February 17 while racing his motorcycle in the desert. Yardley was the Over 40 Expert Champion in Utah's desert racing club U.S.RA and ranked number four in the AMA National Hare & Hound Series in 2001. In 1999, Yardley, at age 39. won the Over 25 Expert class in the Best In The Desert series, as well as many lronman expert class win's in Best of the Desert in the early '90s. Yardley is survived by his wife, Cindy, five children, Mindy, Mickee, Coby. Makayla. and Natalie. and seven grandchildren. Yardley's family is in urgent need of financial help, according to those close to the family. Donation's can be directly deposited at any U.S. Bank branch, made to the Dick Yardley Family Fund. routing #124302150. account #253150189582. or you by mail to the Dick Yardley Family Fund in care of A.E.S., P.O. Box 752. St. George. UT 84771-0752. Services for Yardley were held on February 22. Jack O'Malley, 50. died from a heart attack on February 16. O'Malley was one of the true pioneers in the sport of motorcycle drag racing. He died while doing what he loved - tuning a friend's Suzuki Hayabusa. O'Malley started with a small motorcycle speed shop and went on to become one of the true giants of the motorcycle industry. O'Malley also owned a dealership in Southampton. New York. were he enjoyed tinkering with bikes and racing motocross bikes with his son. Ryan. Some of his innovations were developing the billet transmission for motorcycle drag race use. as well as technological advances in turbocharging and nitrous use. He was also one of the first motorcycle performance manufacturers to start a wholesale distribution network and midway displays at racing events. The Orient Express turbo nitrous Funnybikes ridden by Jon Baugh and Terry Kizer and tuned by O'Malley set numerous world records and won numerous championships in both IDBA and Prostar competitions. He is survived by his wife. Alison, his son. Ryan. and daughter. Taylor. Condolences can be sent to his family at: The Family of Jack O'Malley. C/O Orient Express Motorsports. 625 County Rd .. 39A. SouthampeN ton. NY 11968. 8 n LJ J The lap times matched the hot conditions at Valencia in SpaIn on Monday, February 25 with Ducati Infostrada's Troy Bayliss (right) scorching around th.e Valencian circuit in 1:34.261, almost as fast as the all-time circuit motorcycle record of 1:34.070, according to SBK - the promoters of the World Superbike Championship. The top 12 riders demolished the existing official World Superbike lap record of 1:36.128, set in race conditi.ons, on the final day of the three-day test. "Everything was good these three days and in every test we've done since the end of last year, we've made a major improvement," BaylisS said in a Ducati press release. "I did three long runs on race tires and their performance was excellent, while on my qualifying tire I did the fastest lap I've ever done around here_ Now I'm really looking forward to the race in two weeks time and feeling really confident about the season ahead." L&M Ducati's Ben Bostrom, riding on Dunlops as opposed to Bayliss' Michelins, was second quickest, with a personal best lap of 1:34.401 coming in the penultimate session. "We got the bike dialed in really good during these three days, and although I did the fastest time around here on race tires - 1:34.7 - I know there's a lot more to come because I was held up on my really quick lap and lost a few laths," Bostrom said. "I'm really excited about the season ahead because I've be.en waiting for it to start since last May, when I injured my shoulder at Monzal" Noriyuki Haga's Aprilia was quick enough for the Japanese rider to leave the track third quickest overall, while Ruben Xaus, Bayliss' Ducat; Infostrada teammate, was the last of the fast four inside the 1:34 bracket. "We've made enonmous progress since the first tests in Australia," Haga said in an Aprilia press release. "It's been an intense three days and I've really been getting to grips with my RSV. It's ·like no other bike and it has unique qualities, so I'm adapting my style to suit It. We did lots of set-up and tire .tests. The World Champi- C The FIM Management Council also made the following decision in regard to the long-standing endurance road races that are no longer on the FIM World Endurance schedule: "In accordance with Art. 20.3.3 of the Sporting Code. the Management Council confinms its opposition (already expressed during the session of October 19 in Annecy) to the organization of a series of events, in this case the Masters of Endurance gathering the 24 Hours of Le Mans. the 24 Hours of Liege and the Bol d'Or, to be held in the fonm of races or heats in international meetings which take place in several countries and where riders of different National Federations participate. The FIM cannot prohibit the series to be held, but there will be no FIM sanction, riders' licenses, officials nor circuit homologation in the case where the series is effectively maintained. o '" c 8 o c C n U C C There have been some changes to the schedule for the qualifying rounds of the Individual Speedway World Championship. The second round will be held Pfaffenhofen, Germany, on May 19 (instead of May 12): and the third round o 8 o· 88 MARCH 6, 2002' cue I e n e _ s onships are just about upon us and the next time I'll be in the saddle will be at the race weekend_ With the team, we've found a good solution which doesn't put too much long-term stress on the tires, while keep the lap times very high. Just a few adjustments here and there to the set-up and the bike will be even easier to handle. I'm all set for the green light." Castrol Honda's 2000 World Champion Colin Edwards crashed trying to improve his best time in the final session, but was still fifth fastest. "I had the qualifying tire in the back of the machine and was going for the big lap," Edwards explained_ "I came out of the lefthand third corner and before I'd changed direction for the right-hander 1was down. I guess lap 241 was one too many. But we've had a very good test and got through a lot of work in readiness for next week's races here. We've also found a really good Michelin race tire, but I need to find a one-lap Superpole tire that suits me and the machine - that's what we've left Michelin working on before next week's first round." Kawasaki's Hitoyasu Izutsu proved his speed by moving up to sixth fastest overall, giving the four-cylinder manufacturers a shot in the arm in the run up to the season opener in just two weeks. Neil Hodgson took the top privateer slot despite feeling frustrated by his seventh-fastest time. Gregorio Lavilla, the local favorite, was faster than the man he replaced In the Alstare Suzuki camp, PierFrancesco Chili. Lucio Pedercini, the third private Ducati rider in the ~op 10, just edged James Toseland out into 11th.