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/128166
o Elm OlJ:lC!3 o\X/ dJ Rich King (H-D) won the Pro Singles main event at the Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky, on July 27, round six of the Formula USA National Dirt Track, topping Bryan Smith (Hon) and Davey Durelle (Suz). Jennifer Snyder (H-m and Dan Stanley (Hon) rounded out the top five finishers. The Super Singles and Twins main event victory went to Steve Beattie (H-D), over Terry Poovey (ATK) and Smith. 8 o The 2002 Youth NatIonal Trials Championslllps were held recently In SeqUlltchle, Tenn_, and after three days of Intense competition and heat, nine rIdara were awarded j o o number-one plates as the 2002 youth NatIonal Champions. Those riders were: Nick Commo (8-~ar-olcl); ..... Martin (7-~r-olcl); Ryan Sandoval (8-~r-olcl); Eric Ston: (9"year-olcl); Josiah MIZell (10-~olcl); Ron Commo (11-~ar-olcl); Wlllibsen (12-year-olcl); Stevie Darrow (13-year-old); and Ty Diehl (14-year-olcl). The 2002 AMA National Championship Hillclimb Series is beginning to look like the National Motocross Series after round six at Greasy Ridge in Haydenville, Ohio. Instead of Ricky Carmichael and Bubba Stewart, h9wever, it's Chad Disbennett (Tri) and James N Jammer" Large (H-D) with matching winning streaks. Disbennett won his second straight event, topping Phil Libhart (Tril and pointfs leader Dave Watson (Hon). Large also won his respective second straight race in the 800cc class, topping Watson and Gerry Bennett (H-D). to go for the next round of the World Championship at the Bmo circuit in the Czech Republic on August 25. o o o o American road racer Kenny Noyes rode his Honda CBR954RR to his firstever podium position in Spanish National competition on July 28 in Cartegena, Spain, when he came from seventh to third in the final seven laps, coming just .082 of a second from passing defending National Superseries Champion Alex Sirera at the line. The race was won by championship leader Isaac Martin (Yam) after early leader Victor Carrasco (Suz) crashed on lap seven. Noyes, the winner of the inaugural Formula USA Pro Singles Dirt Track Championship in 2000 on a Lineaweaver Husaberg, is in only his second season of road racing and runs in both the Formula Xtreme and Superseries Spanish Nationals, parallel championships for large-capacity production machines. "This was my first satisfactory result after a year and a half on asphalt in Spain," Noyes said. "Racing here is good because the tracks are up to international standards, and there is a lot of interest, but that means you often get 70 bikes trying to qualify for 36 slots and just three seconds between first and 20th. The biggest difference between Formula Xtreme and the Superseries is that the Superseries bikes are allowed less preparation and run on Dunlop DOT road tires, while with the Xtreme we are on Michelin slicks and we can play around more with the airbox and use different brakes. The good thing is that the two series run on different dates, so we can use the same bike, adapting it to the different rules." Between races, Noyes is a road tester for Solo Moto magazine. o 8 o 8 o o o 8 o 8 o o o o Red Bull Yamaha's John Hopkins underwent surgery on Monday, July 29 at the offices of Dr. Arthur Ting in San Francisco, California, to repair his broken hand. Ting used three screws to mend the break of the metacarpal bone. Hopkins' recovery time is expected to be three weeks, and he should be ready 2 AUGUST 7. 2002' cue • _ Harley·Davidson Inc. announced on July 24 record revenue and earnings for its second quarter, ending June 30, 2002. The Company's second-quarter revenue was $1.0 billion, an increase of 16.1 percent over the same period last year. Diluted earnings per share for the second quarter were 47 cents, a 25.4 percent increase compared to last year, according to Harley. i1n the midst of challenging economic times, we are pleased to deliver another record quarter," Jeffrey L. Bleustein, chairman and chief executive officer of Harley-Davidson Inc., said in a company release. "Worldwide retail sales of Harley-Davidson motorcycles for the first half of the year grew 19 percent over the same time period last year. Our 100thAnniversary products were enthusiastically received by our global dealer network during our Summer Dealer Meeting which just concluded in Milwaukee. On July 17, several hundred of our dealers and employees will fire up the new bikes and head south to Atlanta for the kickoff of Harley-Davidson's 100th Anniversary Open Road Tour. The Atlanta event, July 19-21, is the first of 10 events to be held around the world to celebrate our rich history and, more importantly, the beginning of our next 100 years." Second-quarter revenue from Harley-Davidson motorcycles was $760.1 million, an increase of 12.7 percent over last year. Shipments of Harley-Davidson motorcycles in the second-quarter totaled 65,540 units, up 5379 units or 8.9 percent over last year. As a result of continued manufacturing success and customer demand, the company is increasing its 2002 target for HarleyDavidson motorcycles from 261,000 to 262,000, an 11.2-percent increase over the prior year. Second-quarter revenue from Parts and Accessories (P&A), which consists of Genuine Motor Parts and Genuine Motor Accessories, totaled $168.8 million, a 21.8-percent increase from the year-ago quarter. Second-quarter revenue from General Merchandise. which consists of MotorClothes apparel and collectibles, totaled $51.3 million, up 54.7 percent or $18.1 million over the same period last year. Revenue from n __ s 100th Anniversary MotorClothes items accounted for more than $10 million of the increase. On a longer-term basis, the company expects the growth rate for P&A revenues to increase slightly faster than the Harley-Davidson motorcycleunit growth rate. General Merchandise is expected to grow slightly slower than the motorcycle-unit growth rate. Second-quarter gross margin was 33.5 percent of revenue, which matches 2001 's second quarter gross margin. Secondquarter operating margin for the Motorcycles and Related Products segment was 18.3 percent of revenue, compared to 17.9 percent of revenue for the same period last year. Shortly after finishing fifth in the AMA Superbike National at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on July 28, HMC Ducati's Doug Chandler participated in a two-up ride for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Ricky Claar took the seat behind Chandler as he did two flying laps of Mid-Ohio on a Ducati 748. Arai donated a Doug Chandler replica helmet for Claar to use on the ride, and the youngster was able to keep the helmet as a souvenir. Joe Rocket supplied the use of leathers and also gave Claar an autographed Chandler T-shirt. Team Chevy Trucks Kawasaki tuner Jeremy Albrecht will be. once again, hosting the Surfer Cross competition on August 5-6. The annual just-for-fun competition pits surfers against motocross racers on a track one day and in the surf the next. This year's motocross will be held at Saddleback MX Park In Irvine, California, and the surfer competition will be held at San Onofre State Beach. One of the motocrossers who is signed up to do battle is Team Yamaha's Tim Ferry, who will be making his debut on the 2003 Yamaha YZ450F. When asked what his chances are of winning thiS year's Surfer Cross, the Floridian replied. "I'm hoping for huge jumps and small waves." When C.J. Hobgood, surfing's number-one "plate" holder, was asked the same question, he replied that he was hoping for" ... small jumps and huge waves. " The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum has announced the addition of four members to its Motorcycle Hall of Fame Class of 2002: Sylvester Roper - the motor-vehicle pioneer credited with creating the first American motorcycle his 1869 steam-powered bicycle preceded U.S.-made gasoline-powered machines;) Bessie Stringfield - in the 1940s, "The Motorcycle Queen of Miami" broke down barriers for women and African-American motorcyclists at the same time, completing eight solo crosscountry tours and serving as aU,S, Army motorcycle dispatch rider; Ade· line and Augusta Van Buren these sisters' 1916 cross-country ride proved to the U.S. military that women were fit to serve as dispatch riders. The Van Burens were the first women to make the transcontinental journey on two solo motorcycles. The 16-member Class of 2002 will be inducted on October 19, during ceremonies at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Muse'um, located on the campus of the AMA in Pickerington, Ohio. The new inductees will join 269 others already enshrined in the Motorcycle Hall of Fame on the Museum's lower level. The Motorcycle Hall of Fame features a plaque recognizing each inductee, along with related motorcycles, photos and memorabilia. CRA will host a motocross practice on the U.S. GP track at Carlsbad Race· way in Carlsbad, California, on Sunday. August 4 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. In addition, a race will be held at CRAis new upper track at Carlsbad on Sunday, August 11. Gates open at 8 a.m., with practice set to start at 9 a.m. For more information, call 760/749-6094. AMA members in Pennsylvania can now show their support for motorcycling and the AMA with special automotive license plates, according to the AMA. The distinctive plates will be produced and distributed after 300 applications are received. More than 75 people have already applied for the special plates. Working with state Rep. Teresa Forcier (R-Crawford) and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the AMA has been successful in creating the special plates, which feature the AMA's logo as well as the words "American Motorcyclist Assn." "It's been a pleasure to work with the AMA and PENNDOT on this project." Forcier said. "With thiS new license plate, motorcy-