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/128164
.... _:-1•• .... .I'I~ • .... . . . . . . . . "-11- - Happenings In Motorcycling rece~t1y London's Leicester Square, featuring A pre-British Grand Prix lovefest took place World Champion Valentino Rossi. who lives in London part-time. "I always look forward to coming to the UK: Rossi said. "I enjoy my time in London where I have a flat [apartment], and of course I love racing at Donington. I have many great memories at the circuit. I won my first 500cc race there two years ago and I had a great race last year to win again. It would be great to make three victories in a row with the new four-stroke. The two-strokes will be strong at Donington, but hopefully it will stay dry and I will have a good chance. We had a fantastic GP promotion day in Leicester Square in London a few days ago. It was great to see so many British fans there - they have always been fantastic to me and I love performing for them." B¥ ALAN CATHCART .. • Voxan To Stay Afloat? The ongoing soap opera of France's sole motorcycle manufacturer, Voxan, has opened a new JW1e 18 by the court-appointed liquldator to Didier ClIZllux, owner of Iwtury sailing boat manufacturer Guy Coach. In return for the sum of Euro 457,000 (about $450,000), Cazaux has acquired the rights to production of the range of bikes. and the machine tools and other equipment to do this. His ofI'er WllS chosen over three others, including a Voxan worker's cooperative underwritten by local development funds and headed by the company's former factory manager, Didier TII1II'CI, a Greek automotive industry investor group. and the head of a French regional airline company. Cazaux's proposal, which entails restructuring the company on existing lines, was deemed most favorable to Voxan's future growth in terms of ensuring ongoing employment for a large proportion of the existing workforce, and it's believed he will in fact team up with Tirard's group to take the company forward. Guy Coach was in a similar situation to Voxan when Cazaux took it over five years ago. Since then, he has turned it around. and the company is now trading profitably. Grand Prix star Marco Melandri and his Aprilia team have donated the fairing from his Spider-Man-motif Aprilia that he raced to victory in the Italian Grand Prix. as well as his helmet, scooter, leathers, gloves and boots, to the humanitarian association Emergency. The goods are currently being auctioned on Ebay, with the proceeds going to Emergency.. "This is a special day, and it's a very important initiative for me - one I really believe in: said Melandri, who has been a testimonial for Emergency for three years now. "We're a long way from the roar of the engines, at an important occasion for humanitarian aid. I hope that these parts of my bike, after the exciting victory at Mugello, can help alleviate the suffering of people who are not so fortunate as we are. While we're out on the track, tackling technical prOblems, trying to get the settings right, other people around the world are struggling just to solve the problem of survival. I'd like these bike parts to bring pleasure to the collectors who are now competing on Ebay to acquire memorabilia linked to the world of sport, but I also hope the amount raised by the auction can make a real contribution to Emergency and to the enormous efforts it makes to help those in need. The 'Emergency' symbol I wear on my racing suit expresses the need I feel to play an active role in promoting the initiatives carried forward by Dott. Gino Strada's association." It is early yet, but the future of Voxan looks decidedly rosier than it did a month ago. after its run·in with organized crime in the wake of the MerkerYshJmll Ilasc:o already recounted In these columns. Okay, that's your dose of the Voxan Story for this montb. The next dIfIhangIng episode will follow soon - and, just possibly. the 72-degree V-twin. 10000:: range of bikes may restart production later this year, and the several hundred orders which had built up for what Wll$ a wellreceived product. may get satisfied. But at this stage, only possibly - In best soap opera style! c1tapter with the sale of the bankrupt company on To cast your vote, log on to http://w.ww.cyclews.co/ll. A. Backflips are incredible;-'t....._. B. BackfIi p5 a re to 0 dang ei.UlJu;..dJIlIJ..J~lII.IJIln:LtJrYJtblm 6 JULY 24.2002' cue •• n __ s French -..-....Voan ...., ... ,.e_to 11181urtty, tINmka to Ita recent ac:quIaItIon by the _ _ of a ullboat company. Hopefully, the purchase _ _ that blk. . like the IIIIOI'IW Boxer ...... heN wID not meet with the u _ fate as the TItanIc:.