Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

side. this could free me up to pursue some other types of racing that I have been wanting to pursue." Schnabel said that he will be at the next round of the AMA series in Columbus. Ohio. "And Springfield n for sure." Schnabel added. "but I don't know about the mile." Schnabel did want to stress that the decision of both parties to end their association was reached on nothing but friendly terms. There are no hard feelings. "I was real nervous when I contacted Bill. but he was totally understanding about the situation." Schnabel said. "I don't reaily think that either of us knew that things would go down like this at this time. but we are all definitely still friends, and I can't say thank you enough to Bill and Carolyn Poweil for ail that they have done for my career. We had a good season last year our best ever. It was a step forward. Now, I just think that we both need to regroup a little and see what we can do from here." Team owner Bill Powell said he and wife Carolyn have thoroughly enjoyed their four-year association with J.R. Schnabel. "We wish J.R. ail the best in his future endeavors," Bill Powell said. "He could be a credit to anyone's·team. As for our team. we're not sure what our plans are at this point, but we still love the sport very much. We're going to work on our bikes, and we're probably going to run a limited schedule, but we are in no hurry. Something else wiil come along. " According to AMA director of competition Merrill Vanderslice, the AMA has docked road racer Ben Spies the 20 points he eamed in the Superstock class at California Speedway in Fontana. California, on April 7. Spies. who finished second in the class, was found to be guilty of "air injection tubing that was plugged in illegally - a potential performance advantage." according to Vanderslice. Vanderslice also confirmed that the protest against Damon Buckmaster's Graves Yamaha R1/R7 Formula Xtreme bike from the Fontana event has been disallowed. The bike, a hybrid of an R1 and R7, was found to be legal based on what Vanderslice cailed, "a loophole in the rulebook." The AMA isn't sure if the denied protest will be appealed or not. "It's been two years now and suddenly it's a problem," Vanderslice said. Buckmaster won the race at California Speedway on April 7. In what may be a first of its kind in sponsorship procurement, JYD Promotions. team owner for the John Dowd race team officially announced its newest major sponsor - the Boston Celtics. "I am from Massachusetts and have always been a fan of Boston sports teams," Dowd said. "I am honored that such a great franchise is part of my team, and I look forward to working with the Boston Celtics on cross-promotions." Celtics chairman Paul Gaston, a former motocross racer himself, added. "We are proud to be associated with John and KTM, and we hope the relationship will help to broaden the fan base in each of our sports." The Celtics sponsorship, centered on the Celtics' New England home market, has been in place since Daytona in March, when John sported the famous "winking leprechaun" on his KTM 125. his helmet and his chest protector. That logo. which symbolizes a tradition of exceilence and success. is now prominently located on the Cemics/KTM team truck, and will be on ail team uniforms for the 2002 AMA outdoor national series. AMA Pro Racing has announced that it has hired veteran media relations specialist Larry Lawrence to spearhead its media work on the AMA/Chevy Trucks National Motocross Championship. Lawrence. the former communi- cations manager for AMA Pro Racing, has worked in media relations for the AMA/Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship in recent years. "We are hoping to bring more attention to our U.S. Motocross Championship," said Scott Hoilingsworth, AMA Pro Racing's CEO. "This championship rivals any in the world in terms of depth of talent and sheer racing excitement. Larry has a proven track record of helping to bring great press coverage to our events as proven in the U.S. Superbike Championship. He will work with the promoters in focusing even more of a spotlight on this already strong series." The 12-event AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Motocross Championship kicks off on May 12 in San Bernardino. Califomia, and concludes on September 1 in Delmont, Pennsylvania. Adding to Lawrence's media relations efforts will be a new AMA Pro Racing Web site - USMotocross.com - that wiil cover the series like never before and is set to launch in the coming weeks. "I look forward to the opportunity to work in the motocross series," said Lawrence. "The riders in motocross are among the best athletes in ail of sports. My goal is to help the general media get to know the story of these riders and to help widen the audience for the series. l'i1 be working closely with NPG media director Pat Schutte. Pat and I are already working on plans to heighten the awareness of professional motocross in America... me out riding a lot. I thought I'd give it a try again. My speed is ther~, but with all of the injuries to my hands throughout my career, they don't have the strength right now." Cooper says he's haVing some difficulties landing sponsors but is planning to race the first five races no matter what. "Then we'll see." he said. Cooper will sport the number 540 on his KTM 540. Clear Channel Entertainment's Motor Sports division is promoting the finals of EA Sports Supercross Series in Las Vegas through a partnership with sister companies Clear Channel Outdoor and Clear Channel Taxi Media, according to a Clear Channel press release today. Through the agreement, , 25 of Clear Channel' s Taxi Media vehicles are displaying an image of the circuit's top riders, including Ricky Carmichael, Jeremy McGrath, James Stewart and more. In addition, five billboards, each representing the factory teams - Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and KTM - are assembled in the Las Vegas area. The rider-focused outdoor advertising campaign designed by Clear Channel Entertainment and entitled "The Boys Are Back" was first introduced in the Los Angeles area at the beginning of the season. The campaign has reached outdoor billboards in other various markets. including Atlanta and Minneapolis and now Las Vegas. Meanwhile, the new outdoor bulletins emphasize the factory support of supercross. "We are ecstatic to have received the cooperation from our sister division in Las Vegas and to proudly feature the rider-focused campaign that has been well-received by the industry." said Ken Hudgens. vice president, Clear Channel Entertainment Motor Sports, in the release. "This season marks the first time that supercross has been displayed on billboards in the various markets the sport visits. Moving forward in future years. we will continue to utilize the vast amount of resources that are available through Clear Channel Worldwide. " Former 125cc Nationai MX Champion (1990l Guy Cooper says he's coming out of retirement to compete in the 2002 Chevy Trucks 250cc National MX Series. The 40-year-old Cooper will ride an Evansville (Indiana) Superbike Shopbacked KTM 520 that's been punched out to a 540. "I rode the bike [the Evansville-modified KTM 540) and it is the nicest bike I've ever been on," Cooper said. "And since Travis [Pastrana) has been staying at my place and has gotten AUTOGRAPH SIGNING: At Desert Motorsports in Las Vegas, Nevada. on May 3 at 6:30 p.m. Ricky Carmichael, Bubba Stewart, Travis Pastrana, Mike laRocco, Carey Hart and several others are scheduled to appear. For more information. call 702/795-2000. CORRECTION: In our coverage of the New Orleans Supercross, we reported that Jeremy McGrath had won the event from 1994 to 2000, information that we obtained from the AMA press guide. As reader David Naaman pointed out (and a Cycle News back issue verified), local boy Kevin Windham won at New Orleans in 1998. • AUTOGRAPH SIGNING: At Plano Suzuki in Plano, Texas, on Friday. April 19, from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Team SoBe and Blimpie Suzuki riders Travis Pastrana, Danny Smith and Shane Bess are scheduled to appear. For more information, call 972/422-4111 . APPOINTED: John Ward as marketing manager for the Vespa and Piaggio brands of motor scooters, by Piaggio USA, effective immediately. IMPROVED: Larry Wosick's MX Park in Milford, California. considerably. In gearing up to host a round of the AMA FourStroke Nationals on July 7, Wosick has constructed large bleachers around the natural-terrain MX facility. Wosick has also seeded the entire clubhouse area with grass and is constructing a bamboo clubhouse with grass thatch roof. He has improved • fencing by "sieeving" all metal T posts with white PVC, and • cleared the middle of track for spectator access. By constructing a 40' steel spectator crossing bridge. As for the track itself, Wosick has also seeded the entire "upper" portion of track for grass. For more information, check out the track's Web site at www.honeylakemx.com. · .............................. to 10 " Three-time AMA Superbike Champion Doug Chandler tested the twists and turns at Sears Point Raceway on April 12 and was quite pleased with the changes to the 12-turn, 2.32-mile circuit. according to a release issued by the track. Chandler, who rides for HMC Ducati on the AMA/Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship Series, had a one-day informal test as part of a DP Safety School at Sears Point Raceway. Chandler will return to the Sonoma Valley on May 3-5 for the AMA Supercuts Superbike Challenge. "This is a much-improved track over past years." said Chandler, who is coming off two top-five efforts at California Speedway, in a press release. "It's a lot safer than it used to be and that's good for us. The biggest improvements are the runoff on the back side CTurns seven through nine) and the repaving of the track at turn five and the exit of the Carousel (turn sixl. Turns nine and 10 are also loads better because of the repaving there." Sears Point Raceway is in the final stages of a $50 million Modernization Plan that will transform the facility into one of the premier motor- CORRECTION: In our last issue of Cycle News. on page 6, we misidentified Pete Fox - calling him Geoff Fox. NAMED: Clarke Mfg. Co. as the official gas tank supplier of the AMA/FMF Racing National Enduro Series. by AMA Sports. the amateur and pro-am competition division of the AMA. FORMED: Motokazie.com Freesyle Shows. Motokazie.com, promoter of the Minnesota State Supercross Championship and the Elko Motocross Dealer Series, has announced the addition of Freestyle Motocross to their event list. For more information on dates, how to book the show for your events, and what riders will be available to perform, visit www.motokazie.com. NAMED: Pete's RV. as the official custom hauler of the AMA/Chevy Truck's U.S. Motocross Championship, by the National Promoters Group (NPG). NAMED: Foremost Insurance Group as the event sponsor of the Houston Raceway Park event of the Formula USA National Dirt Track Series presented by Drag Specialties. Foremost Insurance Group will take the title position of the Houston Raceway Park event and the Saturday, April 27 race will be known as the Foremost Insurance Houston Half-Mile, round one of the Formula USA National Dirt Track Series presented by Drag Specialties. " " . - - - - - - - Continued on page 104 .. cue I • n _ _ S • APRIL 24, 2002 3 o o o o o o o o o o o o o 8 o o o o o o o o 8 o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

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