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/128176
,-- --.. ~_ _ ,,' ---. '" ~_ ' ~ ..J _ ~ Continued from page 3 '-J r L n o " LJ OMS Sports has announced that it has hired former AMA national road racing champion Jim Filice as an account executive with its road racing and dirt track division. "Jim Filice brings a wealth of experience and global knowledge to our road racing and dirt track departments," said Cory Jonson, general manager of OMS Sports. "We're looking forward to what he can add to all of the aspects of our company, including everything from rider representation and direction to sponsorship sales." Filice, 39, began his professional racing career back in 1979 and was named the AMA "Rookie of the Year" in dirt track racing (,81l. His career spanned two entire decades, with his third AMA national 250cc road racing title coming in 2001 (along with titles in 1991, '93). In between, Filice worked on a number of projects, including developing Yamaha's 1982 dirt track bike, and racing U.S. and International GP bikes - including the entire Japanese GP series in 1990. In the late 1990s, prior to his last national title, Filice got involved with Kenny Roberts' European Training Ranch, becoming the lead instructor in 1999. And it's this experience that Filice feels will help him most with his new position at OMS Sports. "My experience with working with younger riders will certainly help," said Filice. "Running Kenny Roberts' training facility has given me a great background, working with riders on everything from racing to the mental aspects of the sport. I've been racing for 30 years and my experience in all aspects of the sport, from racing to dealing with sponsorships, will be a great fit for me at OMS. " C o (l r l...J No Limit Motorsports' Jason Curtis n U rode last week at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the Freddie Spencer High Performance Riding School, with coach Jeff Haney helping him get up to speed on his Honda 600. The schooling was followed by a demanding day of track riding along side Haney, and Yamaha's Jason DiSalvo at the Las Vegas Speedway track day. "You couldn't ask for a better training ground," Curtis said. "I have been to the school twice now and plan to attend several more times before the AMA season starts in March. With great coaches like Freddie Spencer, Jeff Haney, and Nick lenatsch, it is easy to see how much you can learn. I have to give big thanks to them for helping me prepare for the next level of racing. C o o o o Dirt track legends Chris Carr, Jay Springsteen and Scott Parker were among the several on hand for the unveiling of "Triple Threat," the newest work from official Harley-Davidson artist Scott Jacobs, during a private party at the Jacobs family home in Rancho Santa Fe. Califomia, on October 4, to kick off the Del Mar motorcycle weekend. "Triple Threat" depicts a photo finish from the 1998 Springfield Mile in which Parker, Carr and Springsteen took part. Jacobs, 43, said that seeing a photo of that fmish was the inspiration for the painting. "I saw the photograph in a magazine, and I really loved it," said Jacobs, one of a handful of officially licensed H-D painters, and the first to be licensed, back In 1993. "' tracked down the photographer, and he gave me the rights to use the photograph for a painting. I loved it because it was so close. I loved the movement in it, the action. So I decided to do a painting of it, and that's why we're here tonight." Jacobs said that he is a flat track fan, and has created several works devoted to the sport. "For the last two and a half years, , have been doing paintings of the flat track racers for the fine art program, and I have really gotten into it," Jacobs said. "I have gotten to meet a lot of the guys and know them personally, and that makes it even more exciting. I even got to go fishing in the Gulf of Mexico with Jay Springsteen once. We had a blast down there. It was awesome." And what did the Springer think of the painting? "Oh, it's beautiful," Springsteen said. "I love the detail in it.' Carr agreed. "I'm astounded: he said, "I saw the original photograph, must have signed 50 copies of it, and this thing looks better than the original. The guy is very taiented, and I'm honored to be in his painting." Parker said that he, too, thought the painting was "awesome," highway vehicle recreation areas, and calls for studies to understand the need for developing off-road sports complexes. The new law also requires the state Department of Parks and Recreation to create a voluntary off-road rider safety training program by January 2005. In addition, the new law requires that all the fuel taxes attributed to unregistered off-highway vehicles - estimated to be $21 million a year - go for land conservation, restoration of land damaged by offroad use, and for law enforcement. Plus, the law reduces the legal noise limit for off-highway vehicles from 101 decibels to 96 decibels to bring the limit in line with federal standards for manufacturers. Nick Haris, the AMA's western states representative, said the law" is important legislation and will be of great benefit to the growing number of offroad enthusiasts in California." Bercy Supercross organizer Xavier Audouard sent us the current rider lineup for Paris, France's Bercy Supercross, ~ which will take place November 8-10. The event will field a quasi-des Nations format, with three teams doing battle one with riders from the U.S., one with riders from France, and one with riders from everywhere else. According to Audouard, Team USA will consist of A new state law should help ensure that Mike Brown (Kaw), Steve Lamson (Suz), off-highway motorcycle and ATV Brock Sellards (Yam), Travis Preston users have places to ride in Califomia in (Hon), Nick Wey (Yam), David Pingree the future, according to the AMA. The (KTM), Matt Walker (Kaw), Ivan law, co-sponsored by Assembly Speaker Tedesco (Yam), Chris Gosselaar (Hon), pro tem Fred Keeley CD-Boulder Creek> Billy Laninovich (KTM), Josh Hansen and Assemblyman Mark Wyland eR-Del (Yam) and Damon Huffman. Sean HamMar), includes many of the suggestions blin (Suz) is still a question mark. of the Stakeholders Roundtable, a group Reserve riders are Ryan Morais (Suz), U put together by the state's Off-Highway Justin Buckelew (Kaw), Andrew Short 1\ Motor Vehicle Recreation Division. The (Suz) and Travis Elliott. Team "Reste du group includes AMA Government RelaMonde" comprises South African Grant tions Department staff as well as other Langston (KTM), Kiwi Ben Townley (KTM), Aussie Craig Andersson (Yam), off-highway vehicle enthusiasts, environmentalists, property owners, law South African Tyla Rattray (KTM), Porenforcement personnel and others. tuguese Joakim Rodrigues (KTM), Among other things, the new law Aussie Michael Byrne (Hon), Spaniard requires comprehensive planning to Edgar Torronteras (Yam), Swiss Marc improve the chances of developing off· Ristori (Hon), Canadian Jean-Sebastien n e _ s 100 OCTOBER 16,2002' c u e I e tJ r E r although he is more drawn toward other works that Jacob has produced as well. "His stuff just leaves you thinking," Parker saicl "The original pic· ture was Just sort of blah, but Scott really put some light and color into it, He's done a lot with me, but none of that stuff impresses me nearly as much as some of the motorcycle paintings that he has done. You walk up and look at some of them, and you can see your face in the chrome. It's amazing. He's very good at what he does." If you are interested in leaming more about Jacobs' art, check out www.motorcycleart.com. which offers all of his pieces in limited· edition form. The site links to Jacobs' publisher's web site as well, which houses his entire collection of work. Roy (Hon), Estonian Tanel Leok (KTM), South African Wyatt Avis (Suz) and Italian Davide Degli Espoti (Suz). Steve Ramon, Patrick Caps, Josh Coppins, Brette Metcalfe and Akira Narita, all remain question marks. Reserve riders include Sydney Andres and Hector Remacho. Team France is made up of Mickael Maschio (Kaw) , Steve Boniface (KTM), Thierry Bethys (Hon), Rodrig Thain (Yam), Serge GUidetty (Yam), Stephane Demartis (Yam), Pascal Leuret (KTM), Antoine Letellier (Yam), Raphael Beaudouin (Suz) and Christophe Martin (Suz). One or two spots will be filled by reserve riders through practice-lap times. The Fuchs Kawasaki team officially said goodbye to the World Superbike Championship in a press release issued recently. The release read: "Andrew Pitt's 2001 World Supersport title was undoubtedly the highlight of what has been a successful six-year association with the World Superbike series for the Fuchs Kawasaki team. But at Imola, the team bid farewell to the World Superbike paddock, as they prepare to move to MotoGP in 2003." Team Manager, Harald Eckl: "We've enjoyed six fantastic years in World Superbikes and we will take a lot of good memories of this series, and the people involved with it. to the MotoGP paddock next season. The list of people I'd like to thank is endless, but a special mention must go to all our riders, who have always given their all, despite the fact that, at times, the regulations have made it difficult for us to be as competitive as we'd have liked. "This never-say-die attitude is epitomized by Chris Walker's approach to his racing this year. He's battled against considerable odds this season, like the Bell's Palsy with which he's been afflicted since pre-season testing, but he has never, ever given up. It is this sort of attitude that has allowed every member of the team to maintain their motivation, regardless of the problems encountered both on and off track. So, to the people who have been a part of the Fuchs Kawasaki Racing Team over the past six years, I'd also like to say a big thank you. And then, of course, there are our partners and sponsors, without whom there would have been no Kawasaki Racing Team. They also deserve our warmest thanks, although it is hoped that the relationships we've built up through six years of World Superbike competition will continue in MotoGP next season. Finally, I'd like to say a big thank you to Maurizio and Paolo Flammini, and all at Octagon who have made the World Superbike Championship what it is today. As professional as the series has become, they have never lost sight of the fact that it's the fans that make the championship the success it is. More than any other race series, World Superbike has remained accessible to the race fans, with the result that a real family atmosphere pervades every race meeting. On our departure to MotoGP, we wish Paolo and the World Superbike Championship every success for the future. I sincerely hope that the loyal fans who've followed our progress in World Superbike over the years will continue to support the team as we move to MotoGP next season. I also hope they will extend the same level, of support that we've enjoyed to Kawasaki's new World Supersport team, who will campaign the brand new ZX-6RR, in the series during 2003. " A STTARS SuperTT exhibition event will be held at during the WERA GNF at Road Atlanta, October 26-27. The twoday program will offer riders a load of track time with all single-cylinder machines of supermotard, dirt-track or off-road origin eligible to compete. A starstudded cast including Kevin Schwaritz, Scott Russell, Mike Smith and Aaron Yates is set to head up the dual-moto Open class. Sportsman, Novice and Minimotard classes will also be nun, offering something for everyone. Visit www.supertt.com for entry and info or phone Don Canet at 949/720-5362. eN