Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

amazing that all the team had their own quirky little things going on - and nobody spoke about them until the season was over. " Motocrosser Carl Nunn has signed a contract to ride for the M. J. Church Kawasaki in 2003. contesting the World and British Motocross Championships. The team, which has spent the past few years concentrating on the 125cc class, will make a move into the 250cc class for the 2003 season. For 23-year-old Nunn, riding a Kawasaki will not be a new experience as he spent many of his schoolboy years racing for Team Green, winning most of his major national titles since his career began in 1986 at the age of seven on green. "I know I have made the right decision. I have known Mike Church for some time and we both know what we are aiming for, which is important,' Nunn said in a team release. "[The year] 2003 will be a new start in a new team and' am really looking forward to racing the Kawasaki and working with the M, J. Church team next year,' Nunn finished 14th in the World Championship in 2002. One of Nunn's major ambitions is to win the British title, something which is also important to M. J. Church Kawasaki. "' had been planning to run a 250cc team next year for some time now," team owner Mike Church said. "We have spent two years concentrating on the 125cc class, and I feel it is time to do something different and there will be a lot of changes. We are also a British team and I am happy to have a British rider back with us, we have a lot of followers in the UK, as does Carl, and I think its important for the fans to have a British rider campaigning for a British team. I am delighted to have Carl. I believe he is a very committed and talented rider - we are looking forward to 2003.' Nunn raced a Husqvarna this year. Motocrossers Kyle Lewis and Larry Ward won the Top Privateers of the San Diego businessman Bernard U, whose Eagle One car and motorcycle care products are a veritable empire in the motorized world, unveiled no less than four prototype Vincent motorcycles during a party and press conference at his magnificent home in Rancho Santa Fe, California, on, October 4, the night before the Del Mar motorcycle weekend. U, a lifelong motorcycle fan who has been laboring to acquire full rights to the Vincent name since the early '90s, now hopes to tum his prototypes into production models, and he is optimistic that he will be able to begin filling orders for the beautiful black machines by autumn of 2004. "There's still a lot of work to do,' U said. "I've been wanting to do this for so long, but the search for an engine... We've been talking to the different OE guys for years. Finally, we made some headway a year and a half ago when the Honda guys said, 'How about if we sell you an engine?' At first they wanted to sell us VTR engines, but then they came back and offered us RC-51 engines. We were all over that, because that's the type of engine that really captures and crystallizes the type of performance that the Vincent is all about.' U said that Vincent now has about 16 trademarks in the U.S., and that the company is now ready to go forward. er the four models that U unveiled (all powered by Honda RC-51 Superbike engines, thanks to that agreement with Honda), the Vincent Black Lightning appears to be the flagship model. It was presented in two versions: the quarter-faired version shown here, and a sport touring-oriented version that features a full fairing (think along the lines of the older BMW K-type sport tourers, although the Vincent's uniquely styled, for sure) and squared leather-style saddlebags. Also unveiled at the party were a Vincent Black Shadow, which appears to be more of a naked hot rod standard, and the Vincent Black Eagle, whose lines definitely plant the bike fJflTl1y in the custom cruiser category. Tobacco. Ward also scored two podium finishes, as he rode his Yamaha to finish ninth overall in the series points standings. "We appreciate the support of this privateer program, underwritten by U.S. Smokeless Tobacco," said Ward. "It makes a rider more determined to finish well in each round of the series. I'm grateful for each check that I've been awarded.• 2002 U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Pro Privateer Challenge, held in conjunction with the AMA's 250 and 125cc U.S. Motocross Championships. Lewis finished the season in fifth place overall in the 250cc championship, taking top privateer awards in six rounds, and runnerup five times in the 12-round series. In total, he won $12,750 from U.S. Smokeless Tobacco. "It was great to be the runner-up last year," said Lewis. "But it's even better to be the Top 250cc Privateer. I want to express my appreciation to U.S. Smokeless Tobacco. The 'on-the-spot' cash awards at each round of the series gave me a real incentive to battle for each moto place finish." In the 125cc class, Ward repeated his 2001 feat by once again taking Top Privateer honors. Ward scored six top privateer awards of $1500 each and three runnerup awards of $750 in 12 rounds to garner $11.250 from U.S. Smokeless Motocrosser Nate Ramsey is the latest racer to sign a merchandise licensing agreement with Action Sports Authority (ASAl. Fans were able to purchase Ramsey limited-edition T-shirts during the 2002 AMA/Chevy Trucks U.S. Motocross Championship races and ASA will continue to sell the T-shirts and will market a full line of merchandise to industry and major national retailers, according to ASA. "It's cool to have my own Action Sports Authority T-shirt right ..................................................... rider Trevor Vines is scheduled to appear. For more information, call 636/239-5575. . RELOCATING: Tom Morgan Racing of Lake Havasu, Arizona. is relo- cating to San Bernardino, California. As of October 28, TMR will be HIRED: Jonny Oler as a sales associate by RG3, effective immediate- ly. Oler will focus pnmarily on the sale of the company's 4-Post Triple Clamp, accordIng to RG3. For more information, call 714/630-0786. located behind Chaparral Motorsports at 602 South Crescent. San Bernardino, California 92410, TMR's new phone number w,lI be 909/889-3010. For more ,nformation, call 928/453-5061. SIGNED: Loris Capiross, to a Sidi boot contract for the 2003 season. Capirossi will ride a factory Ducati in next year's MotoGP World Championship. OPENED: Tom Morgan Racing's home page on the World Wide Web. The ACCEPTING: IFW, Importer of the Oxlar collection of on-road and for the 2003 racing season, Resumes can be sent to Rn Motorsports, motocross boots, is currently accepting racer resumes for the 2003 racing season. Resumes can be sent to lntersport Fashions West. Inc. attn: Oxtar Race Dept., 15602 Mosher Ave, Tustin, CA 92780-6427, attn: rider support, 2000 College Dr.. Lake Havasu, AZ. 86403. site can be found at the following address: www.TomMorganRacing.com. ACCEPTING: Rn Motorsports is currently accepting racer resumes HIRED: Mark Olsen to the newly created position of national sales manager, by Pro Circuit. effective immediately, Oisen' s responsibilities will include overseeing all domestic saies including outside/inside sales reps, distributors, dealers and retail sales, according to Pro Circuit. ACCEPTING: Answer Racing is currently accepting racer resumes for the 2003 racing season. Resumes can be sent to Answer Racing, attn: pro-privateer support program, 232 Granite St., # 101, Corona, CA 92879, MOVED: Dirt track steel shoe builder Hot Shoes by George. The new AUTOGRAPH SIGNING: At J&W Cycle in Washington, Missouri, • on Thursday, October 24 from 6 to 7 p.m. Factory Yamaha Freestyle ...... .. .. .. address is 1076 Beardsley St., Norwalk, IA 50211, The new phone number is 515/953-3400, ,. . II: U II: I _ n next to guys like Mike [LaRoccoJ. Sebastien [Tortellil and Grant [LangstonJ." Ramsey said, "ASA is working hard to promote all the ASA rider merchandise and develop additional products. I can't wait to see what they come up with for 2003 .• Clear Channel Entertainment's motor sports division has announced that two of its unique supercross YeJ(periences w will be available for bidding as part of eBay Sports' launch, Through October 11 , eBay Sports will be promoting the experiences along with other sports-related offerings at http:www.ebay.com/sportsexperiences: or www.pacesupercross.com. The two experiences include the opportunity to race in the 'Crossover Challenge,' a collection of celebrities and athletes who ride on the official supercross track during round five of the 2003 FIM World Supercross GP, Anaheim's AMA Supercross, and the chance to be taught how to ride a supercross track by Travis Pastrana, Both experiences will take place right on Anaheim's supercross track in January and February at Edison International Field. Proceeds from the supercross auction will benefit Road 2 Recovery, a foundation dedicated to enhancing the sport of motocross through assistance to AMA licensed professional riders by providing motivational, emotional and spiritual support in the case of a careerending injury. It is the immediate focus of the Foundation to provide doctorbased, trackside medical support. at every Supercross and Outdoor MX National Event. "This is a great opportunity for us to offer fans an unbelievable chance to become a real part of the action and excitement that is Supercross, while also being able to support Road 2 Recovery by donating the proceeds of the auction," said Dan Krolczyk, senior director of marketing for Clear Channel Entertainment - Motor Sports, "Through the cooperation of Travis Pastrana and eBay Sports, a coupie very lucky fans are going to have alltime bragging rights. We are very excited to be involved.• _ _ os Continued on page 100 • OCTOBER 16, 2002 3 o o o o o o o o o n u C (l L.J ~ J 8 " u " L r

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