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/128201
ng circuit. The team tested for four ays, starting on Monday and taking a reak on Wednesday, finishing early on riday when high winds spoiled the conitions, and the seaside circuit's notorius seagulls mustered in menacingly arge numbers. "We're still learning a lot bout the machine - its good and bad abits" Roberts said. "But right off we . ent faster than last year, and there's ore to come." Engineers in Japan will ontinue to refine the GSV-R, all hanged from last year's 990cc V4 MotoGP four-stroke, in the break before he next tests at Jerez on February 2123. There the new Suzuki will meet its MotoGP rivals for the first time. The team has more tests scheduled in Spain and Japan before the first race of the year at Suzuka in Japan on April 6. According to Cycle News correspondent Paolo Gozzi, former 125cc World Champion Alex Gramigni tested a Yamaha YZF-R 1 at Cartegena on Monday, February 3, turning in a 1:36.1 - just four tenths off Pier-Francesco Chili's lap record of 1:35.7 - making Gozzi think that a comeback may be in the works. ramigni, as you may recall, has won AMA Superbike Nationals while riding a Fast By Ferracci Ducati. "I rode with a very standard R 1 machine,' said Gramigni .• After a 2001 sabbatic, my goal was to develop a racing kit for Yamaha R1 street customers, but my lap times are very good, and now I have again a big fever to return to the track. At Cartagena, I was fastest with respect to many permanent World Superbike riders, and I know that with thiS R1 I could be able to race for top positions. I have an R1 and a chief mechanic to race the whole World Superbike season. I would need a team support. like two more mechanics, tires and logistic support.' Gramigni will definitely race in the five rounds of the Italian Superbike Championship, but after his Cartagena test, he dennitely wants to retum to World Superbike. It is also known that Yamaha Europe would like to see an R1 on the World Superbike grid. Gramigni used the R7 linkage during the test to fix the traditional rear traction problem of the R1, according to the Italian. The final round of the 27th Annual Transworld Motocross Magazine/FMF Golden State MX Nationals has been moved to Starwest Motocross Park in Perris, California, on Saturday and Sunday, March 1-2, 2003. For more information on other rounds in your area, you can call the CMC at 949/367-1141, or go to www.cmcmotocross.com. James Mann from Bolton, England, became the first two-time winner of 2003 World Cup ICE Speedway Championship Series when he won the main event in Syracuse, New York, on January 30. In doing so, Mann took a slight lead in the World Cup points over three-time and defending ICE World Champion Anthony Barlow, who finished a close second in Syracuse. Local racer 2002 U.S. Open Champion Cam RaHerty made a strong ICE debut. earning himself the third position on the podium. Several changes have been made to the 2003 FIM SuperMoto World Championship calendar. FollOWing a request from the industry, the number of rounds has been reduced from 16 to 14. The updated calendar is as follows: April 13 - Marseille, France; May 4 - Pergusa, Italy; May 11 - Heraklion, Greece; June 15 - Dijon-Prenois, Switzerland; June 29 - Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium; July 6 - Melk, Austria; July 13 - TBA; July 27 - Sosnova, Czech Republic; September 7 - Bucarest, Romania; September 21 - Sachsenring. Germany; October 5 - Toulouse-Muret, France; October 26 - Lydd-Ashford, Great Britain; November 30 - FinestratBenidorm, Spain; December 14 - Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The American Motorcyclist Association CAMA) has announced that New Mexi· co state senator Allen Hurt (RWaterflow) has informed the AMA that he will withdraw Senate Bill 239, which could have forced some motorcyclists to become organ donors. AMA leadership learned of Senator Hurt's intentions in a message which read, in part: "You win ... I'm pulling New MexiCO SB 239.' Late last week, the AMA expressed its outrage at SB 239, which, if it had passed, would have allowed the harvesting of organs from any motorcyclist who didn't wear a helmet and was declared brain dead as a result of an accident. "This victory demonstrates how powerful our voice can be when American motorcyclists speak together," said Sean Maher, AMA director of state affairs. "When New MexiCO state officials received more than 1,100 emails oppOSing SB 239, they got the message, and Sen. Hurt acted quickly to withdraw his proposal." The AMA organized opposition to the bill, urging motorcyclists to use the AMA Rapid Response Center - part of the Association's website, AMADirectlink.com, to send a message to Hurt and the New Mexico Legislature's leadership. Brashear, a top dirt tracker from the late 1940s to the early '60s; Chet Dykgraaf. the AMA's first National Champion in 1946; Paul Goldsmith, AMA national champion, USAC stock car champion, and the only man to win Daytona both on a motorcycle ('53) and in a car ('58); Bobby Hill, two-time AMA champ, winner of Daytona ('54), Springfield, Indianapolis, Syracuse and Dodge City, part of the notorious Indian "Wrecking Crew'; Dick Klamfoth, first three-time Daytona 200 winner <1949, '51. '52); AI Knapp, multitime vintage racing champ and AHRMA's oldest active road racer at age 78; Brad Lackey, 1982 World 500cc Motocross Champion. '72 AMA 500cc National Champion, a frequent competitor in AHRMA motocross events; Dick Mann, AMA Grand National Champion in '63 and '71, Daytona winner in '70 and '71, and the first rider to win all five AMA racing categories road race, TT, short track, half-mile and mile; Jody Nicholas, a road race specialist of the 1960s and '70s, competed five times in the Daytona 200; Gary Nixon, two-time AMA Grand National Champion ('67, '68); Jim Pomeroy, first American to win a World Motocross Grand Prix and first rider ever to win his GP debut (both 1973 in Spain), first rider to win an AMA indoor Supercross (Houston, '74); Jeff Smith, two-time World 500cc Motocross Champion ('64, '65), many-times ISDT gold medal winner, British motocross and trials champion; Jay Springsteen, three-time AMA Grand National Champion (1976-78); Bill Tuman, Indian Wrecking Crew and 1953 AMA National champ: Ed Youngblood, noted author, museum curator and former AMA president. Autograph sessions will take place Monday and Tuesday, March 3 and 4, at 11 a.m. in the AHRMA tent in the paddock at Daytona International Speedway. Many of these men also will participate in an autograph and photo session at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 2, at the American Motorcycle Institute (3042 W. International Speedway Boulevard, Daytona Beach). The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit the Bike Week preview page at www.ahrma.org. AHRMA celebrates not only the machines of the past but also the people who made history on them, according to AHRMA. Many of these men will be honored as part of AHRMA's Daytona Bike Week activities this year. The follOWing is a list of the motorcycling greats who will be taking part in the "Great Men" autograph sessions at Daytona International Speedway on March 3 and 4 during AHRMA Classics Days road racing: Les Archer, AHRMA's Bike Week grand marshal, a top motocrosser of the 1950s and early '60s known for campaigning a Norton Manx-based machine, 1956 European Motocross Champion (then considered the world title), 1954 MX des Nations overall winner; Everett dor/sponsor. Moto Tees/Gear Race Wear will be attending all 10 events of the series With its highly visible semi tractor-trailer, event merchandise, banners, decals and apparel. For more information. visit its website at www.gearracewear.com. The follOWing is a letter from Claudio Castiglioni, the president of MV Agus. ta, that was issued as a press release: "Last week Banca Intesa expressed their full support for our business plan, a result that rewards the strength of our brands and the high level of technology and style that distinguish our products. Today we can finally leave our difficult economic situation behind us which was the cause of our drastic halt in production. We can now look to the future with renewed optimism and begin production of our main models for Cagiva, Husqvarna and MV Agusta in February. Our target for this year is to produce 24,000 motorcycles divided between our three brands. This goal won't be difficult to OPENED: A new dealership, Rider Performance Motorcycles. 901 E. A 1990 Mazda 82600i 4x4 truck. VIN# JM2UF414 I L0855413. Califomia license plate# 6S22973: and a 2002 Honda CRF450R, VIN# JH2PE05372M006190, among three trucks and three motorcycles, from Seau's restaurant in San Diego. Califomia, on February 9. The thefts took place around 7:30 p.m. The above listed vehicles are the property of Motoworld of EI Cajon rider Jonathan Murphy, who won the 250cc Open class at the Amateur World Supercross at Qualcomm Stadium earlier in the day. Anyone with any information is urged to contact the San Diego Police Department. STOLEN: SIGNED: No Limits Honda's Jason Curtis to a sponsorship agreement with AGV Helmets of Italy and Freddie Spencer's High Performance Riding School for the 2003 racing season. SIGNED: Moto Tees/Gear Race Wear. as the official 2003 AMA . ...... Western Four·Stroke National Motocross Series merchandise ven- .. . Lambert Road, Unit C. La Habra. CA 90631. The phone number is 562/691-2222. MOVED: Skin Industries has moved to 421 13 Roick Road #1, Temecula. CA. The phone number is 909/296-0516. The fax number is 909/296-0518. ACCEPTING: Carbone Lorraine brake pads is currently accepting race resumes for both the 2003 road race and outdoor motocross season. Send resumes to 42387 Avenida Alvarado #1 I 1, Temecula, CA 92590. c/o: Race Dept. ANNOUNCED: A live webcast of the opening round of the AMA Westem Four-Stroke National MX Series. The webcast is scheduled to take place on February 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (MDT). For more information, check out motocrosslive.com or 4strokenationals.com. Continued 011 page 80 cue I III n III _ S • FEBRUARY 19, 2003 3 J 'r