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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128199
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Darcy Lange (Kaw) came away with
two wins, while Ryan Huffman (Yam)
and Josh Demuth (Yam) came away
with a win each at the National Arenacross round in Hampton, Virginia, January
24-25, Lange won Friday night's 250cc
main and Saturday night's 125cc main,
while Huffman eamed his first win of the
year in Friday night's 125cc main.
Demuth finished off the weekend with a
win in Saturday night's 250cc main.
Demuth also finished second twice, maintaining his comfortable lead in the series.
Demuth, who has 20 wins thus far, has
657 points to Lange's 587. Former
champ Buddy Antunez, whose best finish
over the weekend was second, is third
with 494 points.
R'ussell Pearson (Yam) won the opening round of the AMA National Championship Hare & Hound Series in Luceme Valley, California, on January 26. Pearson,
who also won the final round last year,
crossed the finish line ahead of Destry
Abbott (Kaw) and Brian Brown
(Kaw) , followed by defending champ Ty
Davis (Yam) and Steve Hengeveld (Hon).
Andy Grider, David Pearson, Paul Shafer,
Mike Childress and Rob Phillips rounded
out the top 10 overall.
Fortuna Yamaha Team riders Carlos
Checa and Marco Melandri both
crashed during their second day of testing in Valencia, Spain, on January 25.
Despite warm and sunny conditions,
Spaniard Checa lost control of his YZRM 1 early on in the day, which meant he
was forced to use his second bike in the
afternoon. New Fortuna Yamaha Team
rider Melandri also tumbled in the early
stages of the test but was able to continue setting up the same bike during the
afternoon. Checa, who recorded a best
time of 1:34.1, was disappointed with the
time lost due to the fall. "We were working on engine-braking and mapping with
my first bike when I lost control," Checa
said. "The bike was damaged quite badly,
so we had to stop the job we were doing
and switch to my second bike for the
afternoon, which has a different setup.
We will continue chassis setup with this
bike tomorrow.' Melandri's first day of
testing was not affected so badly by his
small spill. "I braked too late going into
the first tum," commented the Italian. "'
wanted to tum, regardless, but there was
some dirt on the line I was taking, and I
couldn't turn properly. The bike was
ready again after about an hour, and we
made some small adjustments to the
chassis, which we will continue with
tomorrow. For me it has been quite a
positive day." Yamaha riders Alex Barros
and Shinya Nakano also tested at the
Spanish circuit. but Barros' teammate
Olivier Jacque was not present. He had
an operation on his hand before Christmas and has decided to stay at home and
retum when his hand is strong enough for
the IRTA tests next month. The first of
the IRTA tests will take place in Jerez,
Spain, February 21-23.
Heavy downpours plagued the Fortuna Yamaha Team throughout its earlier,
January 21-22, test session in Jerez,
Spain, according to the team. The track in
Jerez was so rain-soaked that there was
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To commemorate its 40th year of doing business in tbe United
States, Suzuki has released three special-edition models. Tbe three
models including a GSX-R600Z, Hayabusa 1300 (GSX1300RZ) and
Intruder Volusia (VL800Z) and will be available this spring in limited
numbers. The GSX-R600 will be painted in the Team Suzuki Alstare
World Supersport color scheme with Gold colored wheels and will
run $8249. The Hayabusa will be painted a striking Orange and
have a Blacked-out frame and swingarm and will run $10,999. The
Volusia will have a Pearl White color scheme with Gold 'pin-striping,
a White speedometer with Orange backlighting and chrome studded
seats; it will cost $6799.
no opportunity for riders Carlos Checa
and Marco Melandri to venture out on
their YZR-M1 s. "We have essentially
wasted two testing days, but now we will
have a chance to go to Valencia." Team
Director Davide Brivio said. "At least we
will return to Jerez for the IRTA test in
February. I think we will have a chance to
do some work then. Early feedback is
important in winter, but there is nothing
we can do. Now we will evaluate whether
we are able to slightly modify our testing
plans before the first GP.•
Chris Walker successfully completed a
two-day test at Almeria in Spain, January
23-24. The HM Plant Ducati star recorded a time of 1:36.9, which eclipsed all the
other Superbike riders at the Andalucia
circuit. "I've put in a lot of laps over the
past two days and feel really at home
with HM Plant Ducati and my new team,"
Walker said. "I have definitely found a
good base setting from which to fine-tune
everything in time for the first round of
the championship next month. The whole
package is awesome, and I am delighted
with how my ankle is standing up to the
physical pressure it has been subjected
to over the past week." Walker's time set on Dunlop race tires - was more than
half a second inside the fastest lap
recorded on qualifying rubber by factory
Ducati rider and former World Champion
Troy Bayliss during a preseason test last
winter.
However, the HM Plant team's joy was
dampened slightly when Walker's teammate James Toseland had to with·
draw from the test with a swollen
right hand. He had sustained the injury in
a crash in practice at Valencia last week
and was unable to cope with the
demands of the technical Almeria track.
Toseland was optimistic after being sent
home early for further medical consultation. "I tried a few laps yesterday moming, but my hand was too badly swollen
to continue," he said. "The main problem
I had was with braking and cornering,
which is critical on a tight and twisty circuit like this. At least I was able to get on
the first plane home, and I'm on my way
to see a specialist. That was definitely the
best course of action under the circumstances." HM Plant Ducati was originally
scheduled to complete a third day of testing at Almeria, on January 26, but the
team will now return to the UK after making such good progress at the Spanish
circuits.
the 2003 ISDE World Championship,' said
the AMA's Hugh Reming. "And thanks to
the generous participation of GNCC ISDE
2003, our riders are sure to have worldclass equipment and support as well.' For
more information about supporting America's Team, call GNCC Racing at 724-9920680 or visit www.gnccracing.com.
Suzuki's World 250cc motocross champion Mickael Pichon has escaped the
appalling weather conditions in Europe to
train in California in preparation for his
third successive world title on a Suzuki,
and if training goes to plan, then he may
well decide to enter a couple of AMA
Supercross rounds as well, according to
a press release. Helping Pichon in his
preseason training is former multitime
World Champion Eric Geboers, who will
be overseeing the reigning champion's
training regime and physical preparation.
The priority for both Pichon and Suzuki in
2003 is to win the third consecutive
World Championship, but if Pichon feels
that his condition is right, then he may
consider making a "wild-card" entry in
rounds five