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/128170
.I . ••. _: .-1•• . . . .I'I~ ..I.~- • ... - Happenings In Motorcycling Fonner three-time AMA Superbike Champion, and current HMC Ducati rider, Doug Chandler apparently didn't get the racing out of his system at the conclusion of the AMA Superbike season. On August 25, he participated in the McAllister Motorsports-sponsored SuperMoto USA event at the Stockton MotoPlex facility in Stockton, California, aboard a factory Vertemati SR 570. Chandler took the Premier-class victory over STTARS regulars Casey Yarrow, on a Honda CRF450, and STTARS Premier-class points leader Leonardo Bagnis, also riding a CRF450. It was Chandler's first event on the bike, but Vertemati's Darrick Lucchesi told us that Chandler intends to ride in more SuperTT events in the near future aboard the Italian bike. By ALAN CATHCART • • Benelli Begins Building Benelll will debut the volume-production Biposto version of its three.cylinder Tomado 900 at Intermot, now at last in production in Umited Edition form. with finished bikes finally in the hands of customers. Designer Adrian Morton reports that he's succeeded in both lowering the seat height and narrowing the space behind the fuel tank to provide a more comfortable riding position, especially for shorter riders, compared to the single-seater Umited Edition, while retaining the bike's trademark extraction fans behind the rear-mounted radiator, and prOViding space for a passenger. Volume manufacture of the better-priced bike which Is set to cost under $16,000 In Europe Is scheduled to begin in October, and it seems that Benelli really is set to transfonn Itself Into a full-scale motorcycle manufacturer - albeit at the cost of its scooter operation, which Is set to be substantially slimmed down and will focus in future exclusively On niche products like the Adiva convertible. Also changing will be the Benelli World Superbike racing efforl. This is set to be fanned out from 2003 onwards to a satellite team, most likely a proven operation based in Britain with whose principals Benelli owner Andrea Merloni is already in discussion. Said outfit has the facilities to fast-forward ongoing engine development in association with Benelli technical chief Plerluigl Marconi. To cast your vote, log on to .,---_btlp:llww .cyde ews.com A. Rick\:! Carmichael B. TraVIS Pastrana C. Ji,mes stewart 6 SEPTEMBER 4, 2002' cue I • n."". In just over three years of riding his 1999 Victory Motorcycle, Tim Werder of Shawangunk, New York, has reached the 100,000-mile mark on the bike. the equivalent of four trips around the world. He is believed to be the first Victory owner to reach the 100k-mile mark on the brand introduced in 1999 and produced by a division of Polaris Industries Inc. Werder, 41, has ridden his KYSO Blue V92C Victory (the 2656th Victory made) from coast to coast. He has gone through seven rear tires and five front tires riding throughout New England, across the plains, through the mountains, and even into the teeth of Manhattan rush-hour traffic. An employee of the New York state government, Werder used to make a 190-mile daily round-trip commute between his home and his New York City office. He made the trip daily, year-round, even in the midst of New York's chilling winters. Both Werder, 41, and his Victory have nicknames. He's known to fellow Victory riders across the country as "Roadkill" because "I've hit five deer, all while motorcycling, never in a car." His bike is appropriately named "Traveler," and its New York license plate reads "TRAVLR." Benelli's concentration on getting the Biposto into production has ruled out the debut at Intennot of the three-cylinder Naked bike Adrian Morton has already designed lor the company, which is every bit as radical and fresh-looking as the Tornado itself still Is three years after its launch, and the equal in the eyes of aD who've seen it of Tamburini's MV Brutale. This will instead appear in a year's time at the next Milan Show, possibly with the 1200cc version of the three-cylinder engine which Benelli has under development. and which will enter production very soon after. Having taken so long to get motorcycle production finally up and running, Benelli doesn't intend to be late to class in the future with regard to the manufacture of new models - otherwise Merloni Junior can expect major aggro from his dad, who, as owner of the family's giant privately owned Indeslt!Arlston white goods empire, continues to underwrite the future development of his son's BenelJi motorcycle company. ........ FOI_c1: ...... Is elqMlCtecl to debut a "0 .... wnIon ", Ita Toronado 800 IrIpIe at InteI'IItOt In SeptellJber, with • naked venlon to be along ehortIy tberMft«....... aI80 .... pi.- to 1 . - out Ita WorkISlIP.rblke program for 2003.