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/128195
o c C r The AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship round at Brainerd (Minnesota) International Raceway slated for June 27-29 is now confirmed on the 2003 schedule, according to a recent press release issued by the AMA. coming Australia and New Zealand back onto the calendar for 2004." The inaugural Grand Prix at Stadium Australia this year attracted a crowd of over 30,000, clearly indicating that there is a strong public interest in staging a race in the region once a suitable venue/promoter can be found. The revised FIM Speedway Grand Prix calendar is as follows: May 17 - Chorzow, Poland, Slaski Stadium; May 31 - Stockholm, Sweden, Olympic Stadium; June 14 - Cardiff, Great Britain. Millennium Stadium; June 28 - Copenhagen, Denmark, Parken Stadium; July 12 Krsko, Slovenia, Matije Gubjca Stadium; August 23 - Gothenburg, Sweden, Ullevi Stadium; September 6 - Prague, Czech Republic, Marketa Stadium; September 20 - Bydgoszcz, Poland, Polonia Stadium; October 4 - Hamar, Norway, Viking Ship Stadium. C 1 L World Supermoto Champion Thierry van den Bosch tested with his Yamaha Motor France World Supersport team recently, riding an R6 for the first time as he makes the switch from Supermotard to road racing. The Frenchman stunned onlookers when he lapped under the lap record at Almeria in Spain. C [ r C Paolo Casoli, who crashed heavily during a test in November, is still recovering from the trauma sustained to his head, according to Yamaha. With Casoli's Belgarda Yamaha team testing prior to Christmas, MotoGP regular Jurgen van den Goorbergh tested for the team in the Italian's place. It was the Dutchman's first outing on a four-stroke, and because of wet conditions, he was only able to get eight drylaps. "Already now I can say that the R6 has a very high performance potential. the front-end feels planted and like a real race bike, " van den Goorbergh said in a Yamaha release. "I think the back-end can still be further improved, but obviously we need more track time." Casoli's teammate James Whitam, who has recovered from a knee operation said: "I missed the first test in November on advice from my specialist. My knee was not fully healed and strong enough - and if I had crashed, it might've caused big problems. Now, it's much stronger. Pity I could not really put it to the test here with so little track time." o c [ ( ,. L. The National Hot Rod Association (NHRAl has announced the creation of the NHRA Screamin' Eagle Nitro Harley-Davidson exhibition tour to be held at three national events in conjunction with the NHRAIPowerade Drag Racing Series tour. The three NHRAIPowerade Drag Racing Series events in 2003 that will showcase the NHRA Screamin' Eagle Nitro Harley-Davidson exhibitions will be the Mac Tools Thunder Valley NHRA Nationals, Bristol. Tennesse, CApril 25-27); the NHRA Route 66 Nationals. Joliet, Illinois, (September 25-28); and the O'Reilly Fall Nationals. Ennis, Texas (October 9-12). The invitation-only exhibition tour will feature a maximum of 14 Nitro Harley-Davidson teams who will compete to qualify for an eight-bike elimination field. Qualifying will take place on Friday and Saturday during each national event, with eliminations held on Sunday alongside the biggest stars of the sport of drag racing in the Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock ranks. "As we continue our focus on the racer, adding NHRA to the mix of the Screamin' Eagle Nitro Harley team's venues fulfills our quest to deliver a schedule that gets this exciting class in front of NHRA fans," said Mike Kennedy, director of marketing for Harley-Davidson's parts and accessories. "There is no better place to showcase the raw power and speed of these Harley racers than at an NHRA national event. " The 2002 FIM World Champions' Awards Ceremony was held on December 21 at the Grand Hotel Billia in St-Vincent, Val d'Aosta, Italy. In the presence of FIM delegates and their many guests, the World Champions received their medals and trophies from FIM president Francesco Zerbi and the respective presidents of commissions. Representatives of the Manufacturers' World Champions also received their diplomas. Two FIM Environmental Awards were awarded in St-Vincent: one was received by Dieter Junge, UEM president, on behalf of his brother Peter Junge for his work and C [ [ o G C C o o The Fastrack Riders Association has announced that it won't participate in the AFM South racing program for the 2003 season. According to Fastrack Riders Association president David Pyles, "It just came down to a simple business decision. We have a limited number of track days at California Speedway, and we just couldn't give up eight days to stage races. Our round-table discuss.ion showed it would be hard to get enough riders attending an AFM event to just break even. Perhaps we jumped the gun in wanting to get the word after the handshake with AFM. At least for now, we feel the numbers weren't there. But that doesn't mean both our organizations couldn't put the concept back on the front burner in the future." For more information on FRA and AFM South activities, visit the website at www.fastrackriders.com, or call Pyles at 949/488-0543. The AFM can be reached at www.afmracing.org, or by calling 510/796-7005. WMX and DM Sports have announced their AMA Women's Pro-Am Challenge 2003. The race is scheduled for April 5-6 and will be held in conjunction with round three of the AMA Western 4-Stroke Nationals at The Cycle Ranch in Floresville, Texas. According to Bicycle Retailer, Cannondale furloughed most of its manufacturing staff - upwards of 600 people - at its two Bedford, Pennsylvania, factories last week. Continued losses in the company's motorsports division, fueling an ongoing cash crunch, are in part to blame for the Widespread layoffs, the report said. The plants normally employ about 650 people. Tom Armstrong, a Cannondale spokesman, told Bicycle Retailer that the company has traditionally cut back its factory operations during December and January, reflecting low consumer demand during To cast your vote, log on to http://www;cyclenews.com. o o o o C dedication to the CIE from the founding of the Environmental Working Group in 1992 to his death in April 2002; and the other by Sarah Claire Ahlers on behalf of the Northland Motorcycle Riders Association for its very efficient work in favor of the environment during the American round of the Individual World Championship for Trial in Duluth, Minnesota, according to the FIM. • • Jeremy McGrath will announce his retirement Dn January 2. Do you agree willt IS ileclsiDn to retire? --A. Yes B. No 2 JANUARY 8. 2003' .. U .. I II! n • _ s the winter months. "It's something we've always done," he said. However, last year half the employees worked three days one week then two days the next. The other half would then work three days on with two off, the report states. This winter, except for a skeleton crew, most employees will be idle through at least mid-January. Cannondale builds motorcycles and bicycles in its two Bedford factories. According to the report, Cannondale ended its fiscal year last June, posting a $15.4 million loss. In the first three months of its 2003 fiscal year (July through September), the company reported a net loss of $8.4 million - a rate almost three times faster than all of last year. Last year, the bicycle division generated more than $134 million in sales, compared to $22 million from motorcycles and ATVs. Yet every motorcycle and ATV sold in 2002 was sold at a loss, according to Cannondale's annual report. The report states that Cannondale' s decision to move into motorsports has caused resentment among some longtime employees, as the division has drained millions from the company's coffers and sucked resources from its bicycle division. If there's a bright spot, according to Bicycle Retailer, it's Cannondale's high-end competition ATV, which sells for more than $12,000. Fog and damp conditions delayed the start of the final day of the Ducati MotoGP team tests at Phillip Island in Australia the week prior to Christmas, but the sun finally came out and both Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss were able to accomplish some things. Capirossi completed a 27 -lap run without any problems and constantly lapped in competitive times. according to Ducati. The Italian's best lap was a 1:32.1, Ducati says. Bayliss, meanwhile, did a best of 1:32.3. "We can only be satisfied with the results of these tests in Australia," declared Claudio Domenicali, Ducati Corse managing director, in a team press release. "It has been a very demanding year, and I am happy that it has come to an end with positive results, both for the brand-new Desmosedici and the 999 Superbike, which lapped under the track record at Valencia last week. Next year we will be involved for the first time ever in Superbike and MotoGP, and we will have to rely on all our passion to face up