Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

c U I LJ Fred Andrews (Kaw) wrapped up the " 2002 AMA National Hare Scrambles Championship Series title after finishing second at the final round in Evansville, Indiana, October 13. Chuck Woodford (Kaw) was the overall winner on the day, but Andrews picked up his second HS crown. Third place went to Doug Blackwell (Hon), followed by Brian Garrahan (KTM). Tommi Ahvala (GG) swept both rounds of the TrialsComp.com Fall Trials Series in Muenster, Texas, October 1213. On Saturday, Ahvala and David Chavez (Sher) tied for the win, but Ahvala won the ride-off. Donny Duval (Sco) finished third. On Sunday, Ahvala scored the undisputed win again over Chavez and Duval. The final round of the 2002 AMA National Championship Hillclimb Series in Ohio, on October 13, saw the 800cc National Championship come down to final ride of the day as defending class champ Walter MTlger" Strank Jr. trailed points leader Dave Watson by five going into The Devil's Staircase. Strank, however, was on a five-race winning streak, and early in the first round he blistered the 400-foot hill on his Yamaha R1 in 6.866 seconds, the day's fastest time. Even with Strank poised for the win, Watson needed a fifth-place finish to sew up the title. To make matters more exciting, Watson had a few problems at the end of the round and found himself back in 10th place. In the second round, however, Watson beat Bobby Templeton (H-D> by just .063 of a second to earn fifth place, taking the title over Strank by just a single point. Strank took the class victory over James Large (H-D> and Chad Dlsbennett ITri). The drama of the 800cc class overshadowed a great first-round ride in the 540cc class by Disbennett, who scored his fourth win of the season after topping Dave Watson (Hon) and JeH Thomas (Hon). Billy Hamill (GM) became the undisputed American National Speedway Champion after winning the 34th annual U.S. National Speedway Championship at Costa Mesa Speedway on the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, Califomia, on October 12. Hamill tied Gary Hicks (Jaw) for the top score in the preliminary rounds, both riders entering the National Final directly after earning 11 points each. Hamill got the holes hot in the five-man, four-lap main event, and he scored the win to unify the title, haVing already won the rival AMA National Championship Speedway Series. Three-time U.S. National Champion Mike Faria (Jaw) finished second with Hicks third. Defending U.S. National Champion Chris Manchester (Jaw) was fourth, and American speedway veteran John Cook (Jaw) was fifth. Of the riders who took part in this year's U.S. National Speedway Championship, it could be argued that none was more spectacular than John Cook, who pulled an old trick out of the book to advance to the National Final main event. Cook's motorcycle was fitted with a 22-inch rear tire, and he used it to good effect on the deep Costa Mesa track, passing around the outside at will. Late in the event, Cook defeated Mike Faria to tie him on nine pOints. In a runoff with Faria to determine who would get the last direct transfer to the main event. Cook beat Faria again by using the outSide. "That [tire] was just something that I had used up North couple times this year," Cook said. "I had some good luck with it." Cook's fifthplace finish was a career best in U,S. Nationals competition. No failures here: When Team HarleyDavidson withdrew rider Jennifer Snyder from the Pro Singles lastchance qualifier at the recent Del Mar Mile, the reason had nothing to do with a mechanical failure, according to factory mechanic Bill Werner. "After that crash [four riders were involved in a crash in turn four, and rider Aaron Creamer was transported to the hospitaD, I asked the Formula USA people if they were going to groom the track. They said no, so we just decided it wasn't worth it to take a chance." The tremendously competitive Snyder didn't argue the point. "Too much risk," Sny- According to World Superbike Champion Colin Edwards, it is highly likely that he will ink a contract to ride a factory Aprilia Cube in the MotoGP World Championship in 2003. "At the moment, there are obviously three choices," Edwards said from his home in Texas last week. "Yamaha is still interested to some extent, and there's a possibility of Pons Honda, with or without Bridgestone tires. "But the best option at the moment is Aprilia for MotoGP. I'd have my work cut out for me, but I'm used to developing stuff. They've come up with II really good package. I've talked to [NoriyukiJ Haga since he tested the bike, and it sounds like I could mllke it work, It's really just wlliting to find out if Michelin will give us tires. If they are willing to give us tires, then I'd say this deal is quite certain. I don't think Michelin will have a problem - I've done a zillion laps at their test track for them." Regis Laconi is currently Aprilia's only fllctory rider in the MotoGP series. According to sources in Europe, if Aprilla doesn't get Michelins for its MotoGP effort, it will be because the compllny wouldn't also mllke the chllnge from Dunlop to Michelin in World Superbike. der said. "I would like to have finished the year good. I was really looking for a win [at Del Marl, but seeing all those guys crash out there... I don't want to end my year in a hospital again. I want to train this winter and come back strong next year." Snyder has vowed to be 100 percent for the 2003 racing season. She will be back aboard the factory HarleyDavidson racing team, but she also plans to take night classes at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, to pursue interests in the liberal arts. In response to continued speculation about its manufacturer arrangements for the 2003 Superbike World Championship, GSE Racing's team principal Darrell Healey has taken the opportunity to re-confirm the terms of its partnership with Ducati Corse, via a press release issued by the team. "There has been a lot of speculation about GSE Racing leaVing the Ducati stable to compete with another manufacturer's machinery in 2003," Healey said. "I would like to take this opportunity to confirm once again that GSE Racing will be running with two riders as the only official Ducati Corse satellite team, As an essentially privateer setup with manufacturer support, GSE Racing prides itself on its ability to nurture talent within a strong team structure. Troy Bayliss and Neil Hodgson won consecutive British Champi. onships on Ducati machines and both riders have continued to flourish in the world series. We have enjoyed a consid- AMA Pro Racing hils reJeased II tentative schedule for the 2003 AMA/Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Chllmplonship. The <:WTeflt schedule felltures no new venues, with four doubleheeder rounds scheduled in their femllillr locales. "We've got the mejority of the schedule llnnIy In place for 2003 lind ere making good progress ellCh week on the few events that ere still listed lIS tentlltive,· said Scott Hollingsworth, CEO of AMA Pro Recing. "We lire elso llctiveJy exploring some lIddJtional opportunities for 2003 end beyond, but wented to shllre whet's confirmed for the 2003 schedule now to assist tellffiS in their p1llnning process." The schedule is as follows: Merch 5-9 - Deytona Intemlltional Speedwey, Dllytonll Belich, Floridll AprIl 4-6 - CeUfomia Speedwey, Fontane, Cellfomlll (Doubleheeder) Mey 2-4 - Intlnean Racewey, Sonoma, Califomia - tentetive (Doubleheeder] Mey 16-18 - Roed AtIante, BTllselton, Georgie - tentetive (Doubleheeder) Mey 30 - June 1 - PIkes Pellk Intemetionlll RllcewllY, Founteln, CoIorlldo June 6-8 - ROlld Americll, E1khllrt Lake, Wisconsin (Doublehellder) June 27 -29 . Brllinerd Intemlltlonal RecewllY, Brllinerd, Minnesote - tentative July 10-13 - MeZdll RllcewllY Legune Secll, Monterey, Clllifomle •• July 25-27 Mid-Ohio Sports Cllr Course, Lexington, Ohio (Doublehellder) August 29-31 Virginia Intemlltional RllCewllY, Alton. Virginia (Doubleheeder) ••AMA & WSB combined weekend 2 OCTOBER 23. 2002' c u e I _ n __ s I - erable amount of success at the highest level and we are looking forward to continuing this trend with Ducati Corse. James Toseland will be joined by Chris Walker to spearhead our campaign next season and I'm sure that we'll continue to prOVide Ducati with a successful breeding ground for new talent that can go on to challenge for the World Championship." Healey also took the opportunity to confirm that GSE Racing has been rewarded with an increased level of support from Ducati Corse in 2003, • due in no small part to its continued high levels of commitment and professionalism. This substantially improved package will ensure that the UK-based team will continue to compete at the highest level and represent the Ducati brand to the thousands of loyal Superlbike fans worldwide. "I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Ducati for the support they have given GSE Racing over the past five years. Without Ducati Corse's commitment, the team wouldn't be in the enviable position that it is in today. GSE Racing, HM Plant and our other sponsors have all benefited from the global appeal and image of the Ducati brand." Scandinavian Brake Systems has announced today that seven-time 250cc Supercross champion Jeremy McGrath has signed a two-year contract to use SBS brake pads. McGrath will use RSI compound pads - developed on the motocross Grand Prix circuit when the World Supercross Championship season begins December 7 in Geneva, SWitzerland. Kawasaki is sponsoring the fourth annual Cruise 4 Kids. The event gets under way Sunday, October 20, from three separate staging areas located in Orange and Los Angeles Counties and ends with a post-ride party at CBS Studio Center in Studio City. All proceeds benefit The Children of Olive Crest Homes for Abused and Neglected Children. Kawasaki's Eric Bostrom will join Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, Orange County Sheriff Michael Corona, actor Perry King, and auto racing legend Dan Gurney at the charity function. Bostrom plans to ride his Kawasaki Vulcan and will be on hand to greet riders at the Boeing staging area in EI Segundo at 9 a.m. The Kawasaki 1

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