Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Cycle News 2003 01 22

Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles

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u r According to Cycle News contributor Paolo Gozzi, the Honda Rumi team will start the 2003 World Superbike Championship using RC51 s and not CBR954RRs. "The CBR development is a goal of HRC staff, but our first test with air restrictors weren't so good; for this reason we will use VTR-SP2 lRC51l at first round in Valencia," said Oscar Rumi, the owner of the satellite Honda team that will feature Mark Heckles as its rider. "We will switch to the CBR954 when the bike will be competitive to race a World Superbike round. We work a lot around VTR, and we are confident to stay together with the satellite Ducati riders. " C o '1 \....J Giovanni Bussei, meanwhile, will compete in the World Superbike Championship on the factory Yamaha R1 used by Steve Plater in last year's British Superbike Championship. Plater won two rounds on the bike, beating the factory Ducati riders, which gives the team confidence in the R1. The team will be managed by Union Bike Gimotorsport, a satellite team of Yamaha Belgarda, Europe's largest Yamaha importer. Engine builder Giovanni Bosco is confident that the bike will be powerful enough with the FIM-mandated air restrictors. "We have built several types of air restrictors, and we are very happy because at dyno the power lack is just 3.5 horsespower," he said. "The Plater Yamaha R1 had 178 horsepower in British rules configuration and now will adopt several new parts like overbored valves and a new timing system. We plan on reaching 15-20 more horsepower. We will also have a new clutch. With air restrictor we hope to reach the sum power of the factory Ducatis to have the pOSSibility to stay with factory riders." Bussei tested recently in Almeria, Spain, but the bike was still in British Superbike trim. He will use the air-restricted R1 in the next test at Valencia, Spain, January 17-18. C o o o o c c o o o o o o The Pramac Honda team has announced that it will enter Makota Tamada in the 2003 MotoGP World ( I Championship after taking over the entry from Team d'Antin. Tamada will ride a Honda RC211 V with Bridgestone tires. The Pramac Honda Team is slated to make its first test in Malaysia, January 20-22. o u o o o o o A series of races counting toward the FIM Road Racing World Classic Series for riders will be held, beginning this year, according to the FIM. The 2 JANUARY 22, 2003' cue As you can see from the photo, the former Bud Ught KTM of Jeremy McGrath's is now the Hot Wheels KTM - just as he rode it at the season-opening Switzerland Supercross. It's also now pitted out of the Red Bull KTM hauler, where the line seemed like it was a mile long during his autograph session. McGrath Racing Team Manager Larry Brooks let us in a bit on what happened with Bud Light. "Well, we didn't have a rider to ride the track, and Bud Light felt that... Well, honestly, they felt that if they didn't have Jeremy McGrath racing a motorcycle for the championship, then they really didn't want to be involved, and they pulled their support," Brooks said. "It's just kind of a rebuild right now," Brooks continued. "We had long-term set plans that we have to go back now and kind of rethink, and now we have a big hole to fill. And until we can fill those holes, we have our doors shut. Obviously, we're not going to compete this year in the series or anything like that, and once we get a new title sponsor, we'll get back out there.' When asked, since he was one of the only people in direct contact with Anheuser Busch, if Bud Light was seeking any new riders to sponsor, Brooks replied, "No. They don't want any other riders. They wanted Jeremy McGrath, and that's it. If they couldn't have Jeremy, they didn't want to be involved in the sport, which is a real bummer because obviously they got involved in supercross at a sponsorship ievel, plus a motocross team, which was our team. But I think they just did it hand in hand to enhance their brand marketing. Now they've decided that's not where they want to be, because International Classic Association (INCA) will coordinate the series, and the main points of the regulations are as follows: Riders must hold a valid license. The practice schedule includes two qualifying sessions of 30 minutes each, or one free session of 20 minutes and two qualifying sessions of 20 minutes each. The length of the races will be of 45km [27.9 miles) minimum and 50km [31 miles] maximum (determined by the FIM and INCA after publication of the calendar). The final time schedule will be determined by the organizers in the supplementary regulations, subject to FIM approval. For each race. series points will be awarded following the current scale of Road Racing World Championships (25, 20, 16, 13, 11, etc.!. All races except one (the worst result for each rider) will count for the FIM Road Racing World Classic Series classification. The series is open to production and factory machines with four-stroke engines which were produced solely for racing used in the period up to and including 1972 or replicas thereof with a capacity of 351-500cc. Road-based models will not be allowed. Number plates: black numbers on yellow backgrounds to be used. Only original parts or copies relevant to the period may be used unless specified. There will be no weight restriction. Tires must be of a treaded type only and of standard production pattern. No additional cutting of the pattern is allowed. Specially produced wet tires are not allowed. The use of fairings which will catch and retain oil/petrol is compulsory. These fairings must not be fitted with drain plugs. These must be removable to permit scrutineering. The Sidecar Motocross World Championship round in Saku. Estonia, slated for August 3. has been cancelled and replaced by a round in Neeroeteren. Belgium. on the same date. n e _ s I e they don't have the king of the sport - which is, kind of, I don't think too good for our sport, you know what I mean? That they're kind of using our sport to get to a personality and not on board with the sport. " Steve Cox Clear Channel Entertainment's Motor Sports division has announced Nissan North America as the "official truck" of the AMA Supercross Series events. specifically events that are part of the THQ World Supercross GP and are produced and promoted by Clear Channel Entertainment. Nissan is also the "official truck" of Clear Channel Entertainment's National Arenacross Series and the U.S. Open event held annually in Las Vegas. This decision by Nissan marks the third year in a row that Nissan has expanded its sponsorship of the growing sport of supercross. and Nissan's involvement for the first time in Clear Channel's arenacross program further signifies Nissan's enthusiastic support for motorcycle racing. Clear Channel says. According to the deal terms. Nissan will receive significant onsite exposure including signage at each venue and the opportunity to showcase its impressive line of trucks at pit displays and in opening ceremonies at supercross events and National Arenacross events produced by Clear Channel Entertainment in North America for the 2003 season. Nissan will also be included in local market TV and radio advertising and share visibility in all televised programming of such events. including more than 30 hours of original programming covering the AMA Supercross Series events on ESPN2. The combined supercross and arenacross series include 34 live events. which will reach an estimated 1.1 million live fans throughout North America and be broadcast in more than 50 countries. Progressive Suspension has donated space at this year's Adelanto Grand Prix in Adelanto. California. for the Orange County Dualies Motorcycle Club to host a motorcycle parts and accessories sale that will raise money for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation's Ride for Kids program. Progressive is asking for product or services to be donated for the sale. Since the sale will be held at the Adelanto Grand Prix, dirt-oriented products (especially T-shirts and riding gear) are the most popular sale items" ProgreSSive says. All donations are tax deductible, as the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation is a tax-exempt charity. Last year the Dualies were able to raise over$20.000 for the PBTF in memory of Michael Hoeflin. who died of a brain tumor four years ago after a six-year battle. For more information, call Progressive at 800/806-4012. I ' WSMX will be hosting motocross schools on the follOWing dates: January 18 - Lake Elsinore. California; January~ 25 - Hollister, California; February 8 Horn Rapids. Richmond, Washington; February 8 . Waldo MX, Florida; February 15 - Lake Elsinore. California; and' February 22 - Hollister. California. For more information or to register for a class. call 949/837-2206, email deb@dmsports-wsmx.com or visit the website at www.dmsports-wsmx.com. John W. Burr. the owner of John Burr Cycles in Fontana, California. died on Sunday. January 5. at his home. John Burr Cycles has been in Fontana for many years. Burr is survived by his wife, a son. Wes. a daughter. Jennifer. and his brother. Bill Burr. The round of the 2003 Indoor Trial World Championship, scheduled for March 7 in Bremen, Germany. has been cancelled. The Trial Commission and the promoter Octagon/Esedos are studying the pOSSibility of finding a replacement venue for the same date, in order to maintain the same number of events counting toward the championship. according to the FIM. Gerry Burton. who started Perris Raceway in Perris, California, in 1957, died on December 11, 2002. at the age of 76. He is the man responsible for Per-

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