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/128199
. . . · .... ... • ... • .... .... _: -I..,.,.~ •• .. ..1_ _..,.,. _ Happenings In Motorcycling Game Time The Premier Pit Row Suites and garages at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca were unveiled on January 17. The new compiex is located inside Tum II at the entrance to Pit Rowand contains 12 hospitality suites on top of 10 double-car garages. The project broke ground on February 8, 2002, and was built at a cost of $7.5 million, according to racetrack officials. Each of the 10 garages is 16 feet wide and 32 feet deep. with roll-up doors on both front and back. THQ has been a big supporter of motocross for many years. making motocross games starting with "Championship Motocross (featuring Ricky Carmichael)" for the original PlayStation. Since then, the company signed on as the sponsor for the U.S. Open and now the THQ World Supercross GP Series. In honor of the supercross sponsorship, THQ has tents set up in or near the pits at the races where people can play demo versions of many THQ games, such as "MX Superfly," "Spongebob Squarepants," "WWE Smackdown: Shut Your Mouth" and the soon-to-bereleased "Pride FC." Some team employees couldn't even resist taking on their buddies in a quick "MX Superfly' race on their way to or from the track in Phoenix. By ALAN CATHCART • • Malaguti to GP Another manufacturer about to enter the world of 125cc Orand Prix racing is ltaIy's Malaguti. Founded in 1958 by Leareo Malagutl. the Bologna-based concern. whose secure financlal base Is founded on extensive property interests along the Via Emilia highway leading through the city, bas untiJ now always focused on scooters. with resu1tant exposure to the peaks and troughs of this volatile market. Malaguti's son Antonino, now In charge of the company's development, has recognized the d;angers thI$ polley poses. and as the fIm step in a pnlCeft of targeting the ti.II\.s!ze rnotDrcycle market, he wlIl take MaIaguti OP raclng in the 125cc dass in 2003 with a two-man teem lIS an entry into the moton:y<:le market. It is k'kely that the c0mpany will begin with the pair of 50cc two-strokes launched at IntenTlClt 2002, rather than the pair of prototype street single showbikes powered by air-cooled Yamaha $ingle-cylinder motors which were displayed at the Milan and Bologna Shows a year ago. These were all designed by Alberto Strazzarl. principal of local RW house Engine Engineering, which Is also responsible for developing the crankcase reed-valve Malagutl OP racer. This has been running for the past year in the Spanish Open 125<:c: series under the Engines Engineering banner. where lead rider Fabrizio Lai ended up second In the championship with what wW now be renamed a Malagutl (badge engineering Is so popular In Italy!), with teammate Alessio Aldrovandi fifth. Both riders are likely to be retained in order to move up to GPs for the 2003 season - but it·U be interesting to see what production streetbikes Malaguti unveils at the Milan Show next September to take advantage of this promotional opportunity. To cast your vote. log on to http://www.cyclenews.com. Should the AMA crack down on the recent run of rough-riding tactics being use by some in t e Supercross Ser es1 -;;:;..A. Yes B. No cue. e n e _ so • FEBRUARY 5. 2003 3