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/128160
_:-1..,.,. .... . 1 ... ~ .I~~.""'''' .. • .... 1 .... - .,.,.~ I~ Happenings In Motorcycling ... Not-So-Vintage Iron Vintage Iron's Rick Doughty has been busy getting ready for this weekend's 5th annual Parts Unlimited Vintage Iron World Championships at Glen Helen Raceway. Here, Doughty stands behind one of the many yz motorcycles that will be used in the Yamaha Race of Champions (YROC). This year's four-moto-format (two motos each day) YROC race will be a little different than in years' past, in that it will be a cross between the YROC concept, where all machines are identical, and the MX des Nations, where riders used to compete aboard various-displacement bikes. This year, riders will be racing for individual and team (U.S. vs. the World) honors. The bikes will be fairly stock but do feature some significant changes, such as Pro Circuit exhaust pipes and silencers (two-stroke YZS), Renthal handlebars, grips and chains, Dunlop tires and Vintage Iron graphics. Some of the riders scheduled to compete in this year's YROC competition, include Jacky Vimond, Pekka Vehkonen, Torlief Hansson, Gary Jones, Broc Glover, and Ron Lechien. Although he races motorcycles for a living, car racing is a passion for World Champion Valentino Rossi. Thanks to an invitation from Seat Sport, both Rossi and 250cc Grand Prix road racer Fonsi Nieto had the opportunity to test raJiy cars in Martorell, Spain. Both racers drove the Cordoba WRC Ev03 that took part in last year's Spanish Rally Championship, driven by Salvador Canellas and Marc Blazquez, and the Leon Supercopa, which runs in Repsol colors on Spanish circuits. Both had the opportunity to drive the asphalt rally car driven last year by Canellas and the gravel rally car driven this year by Dani Sola in the Spanish Championship. "I've had a lot of fun," said Rossi, in a release issued by team sponsor Repsol. "The feeling is completely different, depending on the car. I've had the possibility to appraise the power of the engine and the spectacular behavior. I already knew the WRC because I took part in the Race of Champions in the Canary Islands, and I'm really impressed by the Leon Supercopa. It's been a fantastic experience and' thank Seat for the opportunity_ This weekend, "II enjoy the Leon Cupra R they have put at my disposal." Nieto said: "Driving on gravel is more spectacular, with no doubt it's more fun; cars have a noble behavior so it's easier to drive very fast. On asphalt, you have to drive in a different way, more precisely and you can feel the real power of the engine." To cast your vote, log on to http://wwlr.Cydeoews.com. A. Doug Chandle. B. Miguel DuHamel C. Anthony [jobert 6 JUNE 26, 2002' cue I e n e _ lIS McGrath Brin s A Smile Supercross legend Jeremy McGrath showed up at the regular REM Saturday motocross at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bemadino, California, at the end of May, surprising many of the racers and fans in attendance. One such fan was Clay Mathews, a youngster who races out at Glen Helen along with his father, Clint. McGrath was more than happy to pose for photos and sign young Mathews' jersey.