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/128200
o o\X/ o Llm G'l:ix9 Continued from page 3 o o March 29 in Charlotte. North Carolina. More seminars will be scheduled throughout the year in other parts of the country. The seminar is an intense. daylong crash course in political action for motorcyclists and all-terrain vehicle riders. It helps participants learn how to work with other motorized recreation groups. how to maintain relations with elected and government officials. and how to affect legislation. The seminar begins with basic instruction in the political party system and how a bill becomes law. then moves on to dealing with politicians. writing letters. influencing administrative bureaucracies. and getting messages to the news media. For information on the Ride Into Political Action seminars. contact Cook at 614/856-1900. ext. 1288. or bye-mail at tcook@ama-cycle.org. o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o ~ The first of 10 rounds of the AMA Maxxis Tires Western 4-Stroke Thumper National Motocross Series will be held on February 16 in Phoenix. Arizona. at Speedworld MX Park. The 2001 and 2002 National Champions, Paul Carpenter and Spud Walters. both backed by American Honda and White Brothers. will be on hand to battle with the best of the best four-stroke riders from all over the country. A new feature in the series is a $7000 Premier ProAm purse with a total of $70.000 being paid out to the top 20 finishing riders per moto in the 10-race series. There is also a $10.000 riders' point fund which pays out to the top 20 riders who ride a minimum of seven out of the 10 events and finish top 20 in the final championship points. "This has prompted many new riders to contact us already. as well as the current hard-core followers." said series organizer Don Schneider. For more information. visit www.4strokenationals.com. 8 o J CJ o o Scott Wallenberg. the publisher of Racer X Illustrated. reports that there won't be an official industry ice hockey tournament at the Indy Show this year. Wallenberg is hoping to bring it back in 2004. o o o Gary Semics Motocross School instructor Dean Olsen will be conducting a two-day school on February 8-9 at '1 Verde Valley Motocross Track in Cottonu wood. Arizona. Olsen can be contacted ' \ at 406/458-8164 or dean@gsmxsn.com. o Pirelli has adopted a new system for racers registering for contingency support. Effective immediately. all racers must register online at Pirelli's new U.S. website. www.us.pirellimoto.com.To register. click on the" Pirelli Racing Contingency" link. read the information. and then click on the "Contingency Web Site" link. The online form shows the racer information required. It also includes a personal user ID and password that will allow racers to view their U """\ L 64 FEBRUARY 12. 2003' personal account statuses. see the contingencies earned. and create contingency certificates by choosing the posted earnings. according to Pirelli. AMA Travel & Tours has announced its annual getaway package to Daytona Bike Week, March 3-9 in Daytona Beach. Florida. The AMA Travel & Tours Daytona Bike Week excursion offers enthusiasts an insider's view of one of American motorcycling' s biggest events. The package includes a full week of accommodations at a beach-front resort hotel in the Main Street district. plus passes to a selection of AMA Pro Racing events - from flat track to AMA Supercross and the Daytona 200. In addition. AMA Travel & Tours guests will enjoy exclusive pit and paddock tours. technical discussions with AMA Pro Racing officials. and opportunities to meet top racers. All guests will be treated to a special Bike Week barbecue and will receive commemorative items from the AMA. AMA Travel & Tours limited last year's Daytona Bike Week excursion to the first 50 guests and expects the 2003 trip to fill qUickly. For reservations or more information. call Brenda Wellman at 800/AMA-JOIN. extension 1196. Desert Vipers is looking for an experienced announcer to announce the Adelanto Grand Prix. Interested parties can call John Marinkovich with experience and fee requirements at 310/782-7833. Marinkovich also handles the Grand Prix sponsorships. Road racer Simone Sanna will contest the 2003 Supersport World Championship with Team Yamaha Belgarda. The Tuscan rider signed a one-year contract. with an option for 2004. at Gemo di Lesmo in Italy on January 31. Sanna will contest the championship with Dutchman Jurgen van den Goorbergh on the new YZF-R6 Yamahas. Both newly-signed Yamaha Belgarda riders will make their race debuts in the opening round on March 2 in Valencia. Spain. This season will be Sanna's first ever on a four-stroke. production-based bike after switching from 125cc GP racers. Former National and Supercross Champion Donnie Hansen will be conducting schools in Texas and Louisiana prior to the GNC and Lake Whitney amateur nationals - February 20-21 at Down South MX in New Iberia, Louisiana; March 1-2 at Freestone Raceway in Wortham. Texas; and March 3-4 at Mosier Valley in Euless, Texas. For more information. call DHMA at 719/495-2624 or visit www.DHMA.com. Former AMA Grand National Champion Gene Romero will be the guest of honor at the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Swapmeet and Show on Sunday. February 16, at the Richland County Fairgrounds in Mansfield. Ohio. Romero, n e _ s eye I e 54. of Brea, California. will pick the "Romero's Choice" winner in the bike show as well as sign autographs and visit with the fans from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Fair Haven Hall. Show hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Romero was one of the best-known motorcycle racers in the U.S.A. during late 1960s and early ยท70s. Romero won the AMA Grand National Championship in 1970 and the Daytona 200 in 1975. Romero. known as "Burrito." will be the Master of Cerem~nies at the first of two Racers' Reunions to be held in conjunction with AMA swap meets. Anyone who raced before 1983. pro or amateur. dirt track. motocross. road race. enduro. hillclimb. you name it. is invited to attend either the February 16 Mansfield meet or the April 6 York swap meet. Racers are urged to bring old photos. programs and any other memorabilia they can carry - even bikes. To preregister. call the AMA Call Center at 614/856-1900. Show hours are from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is $6 for non-AMA members and $5 for AMA and AMCA members. Children under 12 are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Parking is free. Infineon Raceway began work last week on three track enhancements designed to increase rider safety for the AMA Supercuts Superbike Challenge. presented by Honda of Milpitas. May 24. Raceway officials have redesigned Turns 1. 10 and 11. in an attempt to make the track one of the safest in the country for motorcycles. The redesigned portions will be used strictly by the AMA and the Jim Russell Racing Drivers School. The traditional road course will be used for all other events at Infineon Raceway. including NASCAR Winston Cup and the American Le Mans Series. The changes were made with the aid of AMA Superbike riders Eric and Ben Bostrom. Miguel DuHamel. Aaron Yates and AMA road race manager Ron Barrick. who visited the track two months ago. The enhancements will be in place for an AMA Superbike test session at Infineon Raceway on March 20. Pursuant to a motion to enforce a settlement agreement filed by AMA Pro Racing against Clear Channel Motorsports. an order was issued by Federal Court Judge James L. Graham directing Clear Channel to fulfill a series of specific obligations. The order was issued on Friday. January 24 in Columbus, Ohio. according to AMA Pro Racing. "Once again. we're glad that the court has interceded in this situation." said Scott Hollingsworth. CEO of AMA Pro Racing. "At stake here is the elimination of the AMA brand from AMA Supercross. We will not allow that to happen." According to the agreed-to order. Clear Channel must. among other things. reinsert AMA identity into a number of elements including television coverage. ontrack signage. announcer copy. advertising messages and event promotion. the AMA says. AMA Pro Racing and Clear Channel Motorsports reached a settlement agreement on December 17. stemming from a dispute over the terms of the Supercross Sanctioning Agreement between the companies. AMA Pro Racing had filed a motion for a temporary restraining order. but the parties were able to reach an agreement to resolve the issue. However. in AMA Pro Racing's opinion. Clear Channel has not met its obligations. The judge's order in this latest proceeding supports that contention. Clear Channel must immediately take steps to resolve these deficiencies. "As always. our goal is to deliver the best possible racing experience to all our stakeholders including riders. teams. AMA members and every fan of American Supercross," said Hollingsworth. "We're hopeful this order resolves the issue in federal court and that Clear Channel Motorsports and AMA Pro Racing can work together to present the AMA Supercross Series in the best manner possible." Judge Graham will retain authority to enforce the order. according to the AMA. The fifth annual Breakfast of Champions will take place on Sunday. February 16 at 8 a.m. at the Westin Hotel Capitol Ballroom in Indianapolis, Indiana. Featured guests include Bob Hannah. Malcolm Smith. Scott Summers. Drew Smith. Jeff Emig. Dave Bertram. Scott Harden. Jimmy Lewis. Danny Laporte. John Penton and others. Among the items that will be auctioned is a one-ofa-kind. framed and signed color photograph of World MX Champion Heikki Mikkola on his thrown with Bob Hannah. the heir apparent. This item donated by John Gregory. founder of JT racing. Collectors are welcome to bid on this rare item. Although this event is being held in conjunction with the Powersports Expo. it is open to the general public since it is in the hotel and not inside the convention center. Proceeds from the auction will go to the BlueRibbon Coalition's access protection efforts. AMA Pro Racing has released information regarding the Bike Week dirt track events scheduled around the Daytona area for Bike Week 2003. The schedule is as follows; February 27 Oglethorpe Speedway. Savannah. Georgia (Open practice only. 6:30 to 9:00 p.m.; $10.00 per person); February 28 Oglethorpe Speedway. Savannah. Georgia. (Pro race); March 1 - Vol usia Speedway. Barberville. Florida (Pro race); March 2 - Volusia Speedway. Barberville. Florida (Pro race); March 6 Volusia Speedway. Barberville. Florida (Pro race). The March 2 Barberbville event is scheduled for a 2 p.m. start. For more information. call AMA Pro Racing at 614/856-1900. eN