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 to the commitments that are awaiting us. The results are positive, but winter testing is one thing. and the races are another. For sure our competitors are also working to improve, and the challenge that lies ahead is going to be a very difficult one. A big thanks to all the guys in Ducati Corse - they have done an outstanding job and deserve a few days rest. " . Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki's Steve Rapp set a new lap record on the second day of team tests at North Florida Motorsports Park. then lowered it again on the third day, according to a release issued by his team. The tests were held Tuesday. December 17 through Thursday, December 19. with Rapp setting the record at 1: 16.61 on Wednesday, before lowering it to 1: 16.27 on Thursday. The times were done on his Formula Xtreme Suzuki GSX-Rl000. The old record was 1:17.22. Rapp tested an AMA Supersport-spec GSX-R600 all day Tuesday and on Wednesday morning before switching to his Formula Xtreme GSXR 1000, tuming a total of 202 laps on the 2.0-mile road course located in Jennings. Florida, the team says. His teammate Chris Ulrich turned a total of 229 laps during the three-day test. riding an AMA Superstock-spec GSX-R750 until the afternoon of the third day. when he switched to a Formula Xtreme GSXRl000. The test marked Ulrich's first ride on the GSX-Rl000 he will race in Formula Xtreme in 2003. and his first test with the team since he underwent shoulder surgery in September. His best lap was a 1:17.40 on his GSX-R750. according to the team. The sixth annual Glamis Clean Up wil! take place on January 18 at 9 a.m., with check in to be held at Highway 78 and Gecko Road. Last year some 3600 volunteers took part in the clean up. For more information, see the Glamis website at: www.giamis-cleanup.org. or call 559/3498596. Kawasaki's MotoGP team finished its three-day test in Malaysia on December 18 with their riders all improving their lap times. according to the team. Australian teammates Garry McCoy and Andrew Pitt mainly focused on different swingarm settings to improve driveability on the corner exits. Japanese test rider Akira Yanagawa continued his search for the best mapping of the Ninja ZX-RR's new fuel-injection system. whereas Alex Hofmann went through a stack of new Dunlop tires. All four will be back in action January 15-17 in Sepang. Malaysia. before heading to Phillip Island. Australia, January 21-23. McCoy, who lapped at a best of 2:07.44. said in a team release: "When I rode the bike yesterday morning, I really felt that today was going to be a big improvement. But then. we didn't improve as much as I was hoping for. We've done a quick time early on. then we changed a lot of settings. like with the steering angle and the dampening on the front fork. We just kept trying different things so we could walk away from here with some answers about the direction that we want to go in for the next test and what we want Kawasaki to concentrate on. We went sort of up and down: we did some quick times and then some slow times, went qUick again. then slow again. These three days in Malaysia were my first real test on the bike. and it's too early to say where we really stand. We didn't really want to change the gearbox or run through a heap of tires. Instead. we concentrated mainly on the chassis, just so that the engineers could go back and get something ready for the next test. When we return in January, we'll start to set up the bike properly for race conditions and rider's preferences on this track. and that's when lap times will start to count!" Chaparral Motorsports in San Bernardino, California, is holding its annual Fan Appreciation Evening on January 15 from 6 to 8 p.m. for Supercross fans to come meet the teams racing in the Anaheim Supercross on January 18. In addition to getting to meet your favorite supercross riders. Chaparral will also be offering special pricing on featured sale items. Kenny Sargent, Crash Gladys, Lugg Nuttz and Statt Mann Caruthers of SpeedFreaks from the National Radio Show (97.1 FM Los Angeles) will emcee the evening_ The follOWing is a list of the teams scheduled to appear: Team Amsoil/Chaparral/Honda: Team Honda Racing: Team ProCircuit/ Kawasaki/Chevy Trucks: Team SoBe Suzuki: Team So Be Suzuki 125: Team J J J J @[}u@@{)J@f?g !iiJ@@f?&Jli[}u V@ !l1@liDf?@g Seven-time AMA Supercross Champion Jeremy McGrath will announce his retirement from the sport on Thursday, January 2, at a press conference at Edison Field in Anaheim. Califomia, the site of round one of the AMA Supercross Series. The retirement is effective immediately and comes two years prior to what the KTM factory rider had planned_ McGrath won't be making any announcements prior to the press conference, though he did speak with former AMA Supercross and National Motocross Champion Rick Johnson on Johnson's website - supercross.com. "Everything is fine: McGrath said on the site_ "I've always told myself that when I have other things on my mind besides giving 100 percent and winning, that I would retire. Earlier this year I dislocated my hip, and after that I had a concussion. Ever since then I've been tentative on the bike and not giving it 100 percent. I'm not going to go out and ride around midpack when all the people and companies that have hired me to be near the front of the pack and winning, I've definitely struggled with the thought of it. This moming, I had a long discussion with my wife, Kim, my mom and dad, my mechanic Skip and my team manager Larry. We decided it was the best thing to do. It's the right time to make the transition. " Cycle News will have complete coverage of McGrath's press conference in our next issue. Yamaha: Team Boost Mobile/Yamaha of Troy: Team ProCircuit Kawasaki: and KTM. Bush. who has been a fixture at KTM for nearly three decades, is a MotoWoridRacing.Com/ Suzuki. For o o o o o o o J o CJ o ] J respected off-road racer and a former more information. call 909/889-2761. ISDE gold medallist. Under Bush's guid- On November 6, Rod Bush was elected ance as president of KTM Sportmotorcycle USA, KTM has enjoyed dramatic to KTM Group GmbH's Board of Man- growth in sales and market share in the agement. according to a release from ] United States. and as a result the U.S. Continued 011 page 94 Hall Kinion senior vice president. "'t is a great way for our clients to be part of something decidedly unique and exciting. I'm certain that clients will be hooked on professional Supercross as soon as they attend their first event." The team features two-time AMA Champion. 2002 U.S. Open Champion and World Supercross Champion Mike LaRocco and defending 125 West Supercross Champion Travis Preston in addition to Michael Byrne. Chris Gosselaar and Ryan Mills. SIGNED: Motocrosser Sean Hamblin to a contract with Traction Enterprises. a sports marketing agency, serving the marketing, publicity, sponsorship, legal and financial service needs of motorsport athletes and companies involved in motorsports. CHANGED: The race date of the Tecate Hare Scrambles to March 30. according to event promoters. For more information on the MeXIcan race, visit their website at www.losancianosmc.com. AUTOGRAPH SIGNING: At Kern KTM in Bakersfield, California. on January 31 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The factory KTM off-road team is scheduled to appear. SIGNED: Freestyle motocrosser Adam Jones to a contract With Shift MX. "I am stoked to be With Shift - the Image IS great, and to be With them is awesome," said Jones In a company release. SIGNED: Freestyle motocrosser Jeff Tilton to a contract With Extreme MX gear. "I am happy to be with Extreme." Tilton ,said in a company release. "Now the most extreme sport has Extreme involved in a big way. The clothes are hard core just like the sport itself. " SIGNED: Adam Jones to a contract with ASM. a Phoenix. Anzonabased, full-service youth marketing and athlete representation f,nm specializing in action sports. For more information, contact Jimmy Button at 909/674-2862. CORRECTION: The phone number for Beta USA that was printed in our Buyer's Guide is incorrect. The correct phone number is 802/4252081. AUTOGRAPH SIGNING: At Metro Motorsports in Glendale. Arizona. on January 10 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Team SoSe Suzuki's Travis Pastrana, Sebastian Tortelh. Stephane Roncada, Sean Hamblin and Danny Smith are scheduled to appear. For more information. call 602/843-5000. AUTOGRAPH SIGNING: At West Coast Motor Sports in Perris. California. on January 30 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Team SoBe Suzuki's TraVIS Pastrana. Sebastian Tortelli, Stephane Roncada, Sean Hamblin. Mattheiu Lalloz and Danny Smith are scheduled to appear. For more infonmation, call 909/943-2061. AUTOGRAPH SIGNING: At Escondido Cycle Center in Escondido, California on February 7 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Team SoBe Suzuki's TraVIS Pastrana. Sebastian Tortelh, Stephane Roncada, Sean Hamblin and Danny Smith are scheduled to appear. For more ,nfonmation, call 760/745-1615. AUTOGRAPH SIGNING: At Hahm Motorsports In Anaheim. Califorma, on January 3 from 7 to 8 p.m. Team Chevy Trucks Kawasaki's Ezra Lusk and James Stewart and Team Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Matt Walker and Eric Sorby are scheduled to appear. For more information, call 714/563-1700, AUTOGRAPH SIGNING: At Town & Country Motorsports in Chandler. Arizona. on January 10 from 6 to 7 p.m. Factory Yamaha riders Tim Ferry, Chad Reed and David Vuillemin, Mach One Motorsports' Heath Voss and Nick Wey, and Yamaha of Troy's Brock Sellards, Ivan Tedesco, Craig Anderson and Josh Hansen are scheduled to appear. For more information, call Stacia Pappas at 602/923-4360. AUTOGRAPH SIGNING: At Kelly's Kawasaki in Mesa. Arizona, on January 10 from 7 to 8 p.m. Team Chevy Trucks Kawasaki's Ezra Lusk and James Stewart and Team Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Matt Walker and Eric Sorby are scheduled to appear. For more infonmation, call 480/969-9610. SIGNED: Hall Kinion, a 2002 NASCAR title sponsor. to a sponsorship agreement with the 2003 Amsoil/Chaparral Honda/Factory Connection Supercross team. "This sponsorship fits within the Hall Kinion culture of speed and performance from only the best talent." says Jeffrey Neal. AUTOGRAPH SIGNING: At Chaparral Motorsports in San Bernardino, California. on January 15 from 6 to 8 p.m. Team Chevy Trucks Kawasaki's Ezra Lusk and James Stewart and Team Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Matt Walker and Eric Sorby are scheduled to appear. For more information, call 909/889-2761. .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. cue I e n e _ s • JANUARY 8, 2003 3 J o o o o o