Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Cycle News 2002 05 22

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/128155

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 1 of 105

o\X/ [i)~ G1:iX9EJ o o o WD@[ftfi][Jr{}000fJD 90 o f?D DfJD @(1fi][fft o fiD The fourth round of the World Enduro Championship in Gelles, France, May 11-12, saw current World Champion, Stefan Merriman (Hus) dominate the weekend's proceedings. Not only did the Kiwi win the 400cc Four-Stroke class both days, he was the overall winner of the event. Mika Ahola (Vor) won the 500cc Four-Stroke class, with Anders Eriksson (Hus) finishing second. Yamahas dominated the 250cc FourStroke class with Peter Bergvall topping Paul Edmondson both days. o o o o o o Amos Bilbao (Mon) won the Scottish Six Day Trial in Fort William, Scotland, on May 11 in his fourth attempt. Bilbao was part of a team that included James Lampkin, cousin of the multi-time World Champion Doug Lampkin, and Wayne Braybrook, also a British rider. The course measured 527 miles, with 32 daily zones. "It's a great pleasure for me to have won the most important trial after the World Championship," Balbao said. "I first participated in this trial in 1988 and after finishing 40th, I swore I'd never go back. But it wasn't to be, as in '999 I had the opportunity to return as rider number one for Montesa-HRC and did the same the year after. I'd prepared myself as far as possible for 2000, but the race was canceled because of the foot-and-mouth disease. And now I think I've won it through being a veteran, because thiS year I'm focusing on other things in my team. I knew I had a chance; every day I felt at ease and wellsupported by the structure of Montesa England. And one very important thing was that the motorcycle, Cota 315R, gave me no problems at all. And this, to win the Six Days, is essential." Second place in the trial went to Steve Colley (GG), with Ben Hemingway (Bet) ending up third. • 8 8 o o o o o o o o o o o o o '? According to a memo sent by Ron Barrick of AMA Pro Racing, the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship Big Kahuna Nationals at Road Atlanta will have additional rental Airfence in place thanks to the generosity of American Suzuki, RPM (event promoter), and the management of Road Atlanta. In addition to the over 2200 straw bales, there will be 44 sections of Airfence located around the 2.54-mile, 12-turn road course. This represents the largest Airfence deployment to date in the AMA series, the memo said. 8 ~o o o The FIM carried out drug and alcohol test at the 200 Miles of Imola, round one of the World Endurance Championship. The follOWing riders were tested with all of them testing negative: ClaudiO Ferri, Fabrizio Spelti, Mike Edwards, Jason Pridmore, Warwick Nowland, Giovanni Bussei, William Costes, Sebastien Scarnato, Nicolas Saelens, Robert de Vries. o o 8 o Steve Beattie (H-D) won round one of the CMRC Harley-Davidson Canadian Dirt Track Nationals with Dominic o 2 MAY 22. 2002' a U a I e Tony Rickarclsson (right) made the perfect start in his bid to win a fifth world tltIe wtth a victory in the FIM LNB Grand Prix of Norway at the Viking Ship Stadl(Jm in Hamar, Norway, on May II, Defending World Champion Rlc:kardsson, aiming to become the second Swedish rider (after Ove Fundin) to collect five crowns, admitted that it was one of his toughest victories. "I don't always start my campaign very well, so this is great for me," Rickardsson said after racing to a victory that was enthusiastically acclaimed by a large contingent of Swedish fans among the multi-national crowd. Rlckardsson even had to endure a rerun of the final after Australian Jason Crump, runner-up in the 200 1 series, fell while chasing his great rival and was excluded. Rickardsson made no mistake the second time out, with Australia's Ryan Sullivan second and fellow Swede Mikael Karlsson third. Both Karlsson and Sulllivan fmished strongly in 2001, and their performances et the wonderful Viking Ship will put them in a good position for the second round in Poland in two weeks time. But, of course, it was a disappointing end to a brave performence from Crump, who had only just retumed to action following a serious crash in Poland_ He is sti1l far from fit and racing was tough and furious on the 275-meter circuit, which must heve tested his endurance to pain to the Jirnlt. England's Cerl Stonehewer also had one of his best Grand Prix meetings, taking joint fifth with another Aussle, Leigh Adams. Billy Hamill. and Todd Wiltshire were joint seventh, and Hamill's former riding partner Greg Hancock fmished in joint ninth with England's Mark Loram. John HlpkIss Beaulac (Rot), who won the 600cc final, finishing second. Dougie Lawrence won the 505cc class, with Matt Weidmann doing likewise in the 85cc class. The AMA has announced that Lt. Col. Duane G. "Digger" Carey is the latest reCipient of the AMA Hazel Kolb Brighter Image Award. The presentation took place during Carey's visit to AMA headquarters in Pickerington, Ohio. A 25-year AMA member and an avid motorcyclist. Carey served as pilot of Space Shuttle Mission STS-109, which .serviced the Hubble Space Telescope in March of 2002. The award is the AMA's highest honor for activities that generate positive publicity for motorcycling. "As Americans, we all admire the courage and dedication of the men and women who venture into space," said Robert Rasor, PreSident of the AMA. "Duane Carey, as a long-time motorcyclist. wins special admiration from those of us who share his passion for riding, and he's most deserving of this award." Prior to the mission, Carey asked the AMA for an item to take with him into space. Now he has returned that item - a one-of-akind flag bearing 'the emblem of the AMA - for display at the Association's headquarters. Carey, 44, has logged over 3,700 hours in more than 35 different types of aircraft as an Air Force test pilot. He began riding motorcycles at age 13, and today enjoys both on-road and off-road motorcycling. The US Bureau of Transportation Statistics has released several new publications, including "The Pocket Guide to Transportation." This is a qUick reference to the changes in the n e _ s U.S. transportation system since 1970 and how they have affected the nation's economy, safety, energy use, and the environment. Transportation Statistics Annual Reports are available for each year since 1994. TSARs prOVide an assessment of the nation's transportation statistics. To order products, fax your request to 202/366-3640, or mail to BTS Product Orders, 400 7th Street SW, Room 3430, Washington, DC 20590. AMA District 37's battle to help stop the federal Bureau of Land Manage: ment from outright closing key riding areas at Glamis and others totaling more than 49,000 acres from being shut down is not cheap. AMA District 37 has strengthened its position by joining forces with the American Sand Association, Blue Ribbon Coalition, California Off Road Vehicle Association, Off Road Business Association, San Diego Off Road Coalition and the Action program. Working together, they've hired the attorneys and biologists necessary to defend responsible motorized recreation on our public lands. Ten major closures affecting millions of acres of land are being appealed. In addition, anti-access forces are threatening recreation areas in the Eldorado National Forest, the Sierra Nevada forests, Coyote Canyon and Surprise Canyon, to name a few. This is a threat to recreation throughout the Western states. The AMA will match, dollar for dollar, all contributions up to a total of $50,000. Donations can be sent to: Save Our Trails Fund, American Motorcyclist Association, 13515 Yarmouth Dr., Pickerington, OH 43147 Telefonica MoviStar Suzuki made forward progress at a two-day test at the Spanish Jerez circuit, May 6-7, with both riders confident that their GSV-R machinery is getting more competitive with every lap it completes on-track, according to a release issued by the team. The team stayed on after the MotoGP race for a scheduled two-day test with its fledgling GSV-R 990cc V- I four race bike. Kenny Roberts Jr. finished eighth and Sete Gibernau ninth in the Jerez race. Unfortunately, the second day of the test was rained out, but on the Monday the team was able to gather crucial data to aid in the development program, the team says. 'Both Roberts and Gibernau completed around 35 laps each, testing different setup positions on their bikes and getting reacquainted with Michelin tires, after a swap from Dunlop last week. Both riders were lapping consistently at race pace and left the test pleased with their progress, according to their team. Roberts' chief mechanic Bob Toomey said: "We worked mainly on a few setup changes and on the Michelin tires - this was our first test on these tires. We found improvements and have a direction to go in for the future for further improvements. Putting it into perspective, this is a bike that has only been 01'1track for three months and we are delighted by how competitive it is and by the response from the factory on development. We are moving forward very quickly." Sete Gibemau's chief mechanic Stuart Shenton said: "We are trying to improve the setup of the bike. We could have done with more time on the second day of the test. but we managed to isolate a few areas that we will be working on to improve before the next race. We are receiVing new parts and information on the bike almost on a daily

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's - Cycle News 2002 05 22