Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

the cast are a plethora of recently crowned champions, including this year's supremos from World Rally (Marcus Gronholm, Finland), CART (Cristiano pions weekend, races are contested by two drivers in identical cars, racing sideby-side around the figure of eight parallel-tracked Circuito Ciudad Deportiva Islas Canarias rally circuit. The Nations Cup sees each participating country enter a team of three drivers, comprising one bike rider, one rally or off-road racing star and one circuit racer. da Matta. Brazill, World Superbikes (Colin Edwards, USA), Formula 3000 (Sebastien Bourdais, France), 250cc World Motorcycles (Marco Melandri, Italy), European Touring Cars (Fabrizio Giovanardi, Italy), World Enduro (Kari Tiainen, Finland), 125cc Moto-X (Mickael Maschio, France) and Speedway GP (Tony Rickardsson, Sweden). Support. ing this cast will be stars from Formula One (Fernando Alonso, Spain and Nick Heidfeld, Germany), CART (Dario Franchitti, UK and Kenny Brack, Sweden), Moto GP (Carlos Checa, Spain and Alex Barros, Brazill and NASCAR (four-time Winston Cup Champion Jeff Gordon and this year's rookie sensation, Jimmie Johnson - both USA). ESPN, Inc. has selected Los Angeles, California, to host the next two X Games, the original and definitive multi-day action sports competition, starting with the ninth annual event. August 14-18, 2003. The announcement was made on November 21 by ESPN president George Bodenheimer and AEG president and CEO Timothy J. Leiweke. AEG - owner and operator of Staples Center, which will serve as the primary venue for the X Games - represented the City of Los Angeles in reaching the agreement. The X Games showcases more than 300 of the world's best action sports athletes competing in a variety of sports categories for medals and prize money. Under the terms of the two-year agreement, competitions in Bike Stunt, Moto X. Skateboard, Aggressive In-line Skate and Speed Climb will be held inside and around Staples Center (August 14-18). The Moto X Freestyle event will be held in the Los Angeles Coliseum at night under the lights (August 15 or 16), while Wakeboard, Skateboard Street and Downhill BMX will take place the week prior at locations to be determined. "Southern California is the action sports hub, and the X Games will reach new heights in the City of Los Angeles," World Superbike Champion, Colin Edwards, who has replaced X-Games hero Travis Pastrana in the USA lineup, commented on the assembled talent for the Michelin Race of Nations Cup. "There's nothing else like this in world motorsport. So many guys from so many sports, racing head-to-head in some awesome rally machinery. Personally, I can't wait." The Nations Cup has quickly established itself as the highlight of the Michelin Race of Champions weekend (November 29 - December 1), offering a unique opportunity for the stars of world motorsport both to compete as a team, rather than individuals, and to defend their nation's honor. Throughout the Michelin Race of Cham.. .... .. .. .. .. .... ...... ........ .... .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Bodenheimer said in the release. "After collaborating with AEG on a successful ESPY awards earlier this year, we are confident that our combined promotional reach will strengthen the growing significance of the X Games as an elite sports championship event. The world-class Staples Center and other neighboring venues will set the stage for a spectacular experience for our athletes, fans, sponsors and affiliates over the next two years." Leiweke added, "This is a major coup for Los Angeles. Not only are the X Games a phenomenal event that receives worldwide distribution and interest, it creates a $50 million annual impact to Los Angeles. We are grateful to our friends and partners at ESPN and acknowledge the leadership of Mayor Hahn and the business community of Los Angeles for making this a reality. " dards must not compromise the safety of riders. dramatically increase costs or reduce motorcycle performance. In written comments submitted to the EPA on November 20, the AMA also stressed that the proposed rules should continue to allow for the installation of after-market products and allow owners to work on their own motorcycles. "The AMA and the motorcycling community remain concerned that certain provisions in this [proposal] may result in fewer choices, higher prices and even tighter restrictions on future highway motorcycle models," Edward Moreland, AMA vice president for government relations, said in the comments. "Again, safety, cost. performance, continued availability of aftermarket products and self-maintenance are paramount in the minds of the motorcycle owners we represent." The AMA also disagreed with the EPA's assertion that highway motorcycles are a "significant contributor" to air pollution. But the Association agreed with the EPA proposal to give small manufacturers of custom motorcycles more time than other motorcycle manufacturers to meet the new proposed emissions standards. The EPA is considering implementing revised national emissions standards for new road motorcycles that would require those bikes to meet strict emissions standards beginning with 2006 models, although small manufacturers would have a 2008 deadline. The federal standards would be the same as those adopted by the state of California but would go into effect two years after California's standards. A second tier of national emissions standards would be in place for 2010 models. It would be decided later whether small manufacturers would need to meet those standards. Trials rider Marc Freixa ·has signed a deal with the Montesa-HRC team for the 2003 and 2004 seasons. The Spaniard will make his debut with the team on January 4 in the Sheffield Indoor Trial, the second scoring round of the World Championship. "I have no doubts that this is the most important step I have taken in my sports career, because with Montesa-HRC I can aim for the top," Freixa said in a team release. "I'll benefit from their great experience and technical resources, and I will also have Dougie Lampkin and Takahisa Fujinami as teammates. I'm sure that I'll learn a lot with them." The AMA told the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that its proposed new streetbike emissions stan. . ,. RESCHEDULED: The rained out CRC Wild Turkey GP has been rescheduled for Sunday, December 15 at Los Angeles County Raceway in Palmdale, California. For more information, call 661/272-8889. Some motorcycles sold in the United States already meet California's strict 2008 standard, which is the same as the proposed federal 2010 standard. The new national emissions standards are expected to result in an increased use of fuel injection and catalytic converters on new motorcycles. Moreland commented that catalytic converters, designed to operate at high temperatures, may not be appropriate for some motorcycles where the exhaust system is placed near the legs or feet of a rider or passenger, creating a possible safety hazard. In addition, the AMA fears that new and replacement exhaust emission control components, coupled with the cost of repair and maintenance of complex equipment, will drive the cost of motorcycle ownership out of the reach of some owners. The new California standard that begins with the 2004 model year and the proposed federal standard that would take effect for the 2006 model year require new motorcycles to emit no more than 1.4 grams per kilometer traveled of hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides and 12 grams of carbon SELECTED: AGP Racing has selected Bryan Peckinpaugh as its pubBORN: Hailey' Paige Beal. to Yamaha public relations man and Oak- (WMU team. Peckinpaugh will be working with the team, including its port Beach, California, on November 21. Hailey is the couple's first . lic relations consultant of record for its Women's Motocross League land Raider fan extraordinaire Terry Beal and his Wife, Susie, in New- riders, to increase visibility and sponsorships inside and outside the child. motocross industry. • HIRED: Rich Eirstedt. to the sales staff at MTA West, effective imme- diately. For more information, call 909/272-0971. ANNOUNCED: DP Brakes has announced the expansion of its brake pad lines for the rear of the 2003 KTM 250 SX and 450 SX and the 2003 Yamaha YZ1 25. YZ250. YZ250F, YZ450F, WR250F and WR450F. For more information, cali 716/681 -8806. FORMED: Suo my USA. effective October 2002. Suomy USA will .. coordinate distributIon, marketing, race sponsorship and advertising of the Italian-made helmet line in the USA. ACCEPTING: MotlonBurst Active Gear is currently accepting racer resumes for the 2003 motocross/supercross season. Resumes can be sent to MotlonBurst Active Gear, P.O. Box 21061, Mesa, AZ 85277. .. AUTOGRAPH SIGNING: At Roseville Cycles in Roseville. Califor- . nia, on November 30 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Former 500cc World Cham- • pion Kenny Roberts Jr. IS scheduled to appear. For more information. call 916/373-1557 TRANSFERRED: Josh Hurley, a suspension and motor technician from Pro-Action headquarters in Pennsylvania, to Riverside, California. Hurley will join new employee Colleen Beattie at the Riverside office. For more information, call 909/280-9882. OPENED: Rich Oliver's home page on the World Wide Web. The site can be found at the following address: http://www.richoliver.net. ACCEPTING: Speedrag. manufacturer of street bike gear and apparel, is now accepting resumes for extreme street/stunt bike teams and riders. Resumes can be sent to Jack Edwards. 2 McLaren, Suite G. • Irvine, CA 92618. OPENED: MotionBurst Active Gear's home page on the World Wide Web. The site can be found at the follOWing address: SIGNED: A multi-year deal between the factory Suzuki moto- http://www.motionburst.com. cross/supercross team and Maxima, effective immediately. eye I e n e -_ S • Continued on page 64 DECEMBER 4. 2002 3 o o o o o 8 o o o o o o o o o 8 o o o 8 o o o o o o LJ n I '-' r \....; n ,j ,.. I I \....; J r'j ~ w 'I .....J n ......J ,....... I '-' .-, L" '1 u

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