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/128211
cy." Netz said that the "design philosophies and signatures that Willie has put into place will continue to be carried out by this staff, which we view as the greatest motorcycle design team in the world, and those guiding philosophies will take us into the future." Davidson has been with the Motor Company for more than 40 years and was most recently vice president of styling. Netz was most recently director of styling. Erion Honda's Kurtis Roberts suffered what he calls a "small separation" of his shoulder in a dirt-track crash at his father's ranch in Hickman, California, last week. "I've just hurt my shoulder," Roberts said. "It's just a small separation, but I won't miss anything, It's a lot better today than it was yesterday." Roberts said he was high sided from his TT bike and landed on the shoulder, causing the injury. Roberts missed a test at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia, but he says he will be fine by the next round of the AMA/Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Series at Infineon Raceway, May 2-4. According to the Hot Properties section of the Los Angeles Times, 1997 World Superbike Champion John Kocinski has listed his Beverly Hills-area home for $8.75 million. Kocinski, the report says, is moving to Bel-Air. The following information on the Kocinski estate is from the Times: "Built in 1987 and designed by architect Richard Landry, the walled and gated French villa on 3.1 acres has four bedrooms and five bathrooms in slightly more than 6000 square feet. The home also has a guesthouse and a theater system. The grounds have topiary gardens, hand-carved statues, lush lawns, stone walkways and a pool." Kocinski, now 35, won the 250cc Grand Prix crown in 1990 and the 500cc main event at Laguna Seca in 1993 before switching to Superbikes. In 2001 and 2002, he was a Yamaha test rider, developing prototypes and new competi- tion motorcycles. This year he has been taking a break from motor sports. Seals Communications Corporation has announced the production of a special edition "MotoWorld" on ESPN2 that documents the life of a supereross/motocross privateer. The 30-minute special will air on ESPN2, on Thursday, April 24, at 2 p.m. (Eastern) and will re-air on Sunday, April 27, at 2:30 a.m. (Eastern). The documentary-style show tells the story of the privateer lifestyle by following Ryan Clark and Team Solitaire around the country from supercross to supercross. Dubbed the "Team Solitaire Reality Tour," this special "MotoWorld" takes the viewer up close into the life of the independent racer, according to MotoWorld, Tom Hicks, owner of Southern California Triumph, has purchased the Ducati franchise from Malcolm Smith Motorsports and has placed it next to his existing dealership in Brea, California. Both Southern California Triumph and Southern California Ducati will be kept separate to show commitment and emphasis to each brand, according to Hicks. For more information, call 714/256-6700 or visit www.socalducati.com. Amazing stunt shows, world-renowned bands, massive motorcycle shows and competitions, a variety of food vendors and restaurants, a spa, Internet cafe, waterpark, go-go club, professional kickboxing and 200 acres of party fun. That's what Harley-Davidson enthusiasts, campers and day visitors will find at Riders Ranch, just minutes from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during HarleyDavidson's 100th Anniversary celebration, August 25-September 1, according to event promoters. Riders Ranch 2003 will have space for 25,000 campers and 550 RVs along with 20,000 day visitors on the grounds of the Waukesha County Exposition Center, 20 miles from Mil- waukee in Waukesha, Wisconsin. For more information on Riders Ranch or reservations, visit www.riders-ranch.com or call 800/773-5069. feature round five of the AMA Superbike Series on Saturday, May 17, and round six on Sunday, May 18. Noted Canadian parts manufacturer Hindle Exhaust Systems has taken over title sponsorship of the Pro 600 Sport Bike class in the Parts Canada Superbike Championship for 2003, according to event promoters. The division will now be known as Hindle 600 Sport Bike. "We're happy to have the whole Hindle family involved in the Parts Canada Superbike Championship," said Colin Fraser of Professional Motorsport Productions, which runs the national road racing series. "Lang [Hindle] has a proud history in the sport as a competitor and builder, which is particularly noteworthy as we approach the 25th anniversary of Superbike racing in Canada. It is also nice to have a Canadian supplier take on such a prominent role in the series ... Yoshimura Suzuki's Mat Mladin set the fastest times during a three-day test session held April 14-1 6 at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia, in preparation for the Suzuki Superbike Showdown presented by Dark Dog. Yoshimura Suzuki hosted the test and invited other top AMA Pro Racing teams to participate. Honda Racing, Team Kawasaki, Yamaha, Austin Ducati and Team Valvoline EMGO Suzuki were all present. Mladin turned a 1:23.32 around Road Atlanta's 2.54-mile road course on his Suzuki GSX-R 1000. The Australian rider hopes to return to the winners' circle at Road Atlanta following a shutout in last year's event, then known as the Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals. Mladin won both AMA U.S. Chevy Trucks Superbike races at Road Atlanta in 2000 and one in 2001. Mladin has won two out of three rounds this season and is anxious to return to Road Atlanta for the Suzuki Superbike Showdown presented by Dark Dog, scheduled for May 16-18. "I think our chances are good everywhere [for a winl," commented Mladin in a release issued by Road Atlanta. "We've got a motorcycle now that has enough horsepower to put us in the race. The bikes are almost on the same mile an hour, which shows that we're a lot further along than we were last year ... Among the other AMA Superbike riders, Honda's Miguel DuHamel spent minimal time on his Honda RC51. He instead concentrated on his Honda CBR600RR. In the few hours that DuHamel spent on his Superbike, he was able to set a fast lap time of 1:24.9. Eric Bostrom rode his Kawasaki ZX7-RR, concentrating on setting up his bike properly for Road Atlanta's fast, hilly road course. The Suzuki Superbike Showdown presented by Dark Dog comes to Road Atlanta May 16-18. The doubleheader round will The ReDuc Sportbike Association has announced its schedule of 2003 track days and schools. The schedule opens with a day at Pocono International Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, on April 27 and concludes on October 12 at BeaveRun Creek in Big Beaver, Pennsylvania. For more information and a full schedule, visit www.Reduc.com or call 800/421-8737. Road racer Sebastien Charpentier will contest the remaining nine rounds of the World Supersport Championship alongside Austrian rider Robert Ulm in the Klaffi CBR600RR Honda team, according to Honda. The 30-year-old Charpentier replaces Gianlui9i Scalvini in the Austrian-based team and will make his debut in the Japanese round at Sugo on April 27. "It's a great chance for me and in a championship where I have experience from previous years," said Charp· entier. "I've seen the potential of the new Honda CBR600RR, and I can't wait to get on the track at Sugo." Frenchman Charpentier won the 1998 German round of the World Supersport Championship and, the same year, finished a career-best 13th in the championship. The switch in the team's rider line-up comes after Scalvini endured a disappointing start to his 2003 World Supersport campaign, the team says. The luckless Italian suffered an opening round crash in Spain and was forced to retire from the Australian second round after a difficult weekend at the Phillip Island circuit. Team owner Klaus Klaffenbock explained: "Gianluigi was finding it difficult to race a supersport machine after so many years in 125cc Grands Prix. We had a discussion after the Australian round and decided it would be best for both Gianluigi and the team to look at other options. " : •.•................................................•• ................ .................................... .....••....•....•..•.•••. : ,~ : World Wide Web. The site can be found at the follOWing address: : http://www.loriscapirossi.net. OPENED: Baja Designs' home page on the World Wide Web. The site can be found at the following address: http://www.bajadesigns.com. HIRED: John Harriman as general manager of Motokazie.com, effec- OPENED: King of the Hill's home page on the World Wide Web. The tive immediately. Harriman was previously employed at Cannondale Corporation. site can be found at the following address: http://www.KingOfTheHill.org. HIRED: Chad Winebrenner as the manager of Motokazie.com MOVED: America Kowa Seiki, inc.. to 3551 Voyager Street. Unit A, Suite 101, Tonrance, CA 90503, 800/824-9655, 562/407-5870 (fax). Freestyle division. AUTOGRAPH SIGNING: At Kawasaki of Las Vegas in Las Vegas, OPENED: Cycle Star Inc.'s home page on the World Wide Web, effective May 1. The site can be found at the follOWing address: http://www.cyclestar.com. Nevada, on May 2 from 7 to 8 p.m. Team Chevy Trucks Kawasaki's James Stewart and Team Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Mike Brown, Eric Sorby and Matt Walker are scheduled to attend. For more information, call 702/382-3663. BORN: Abigail Rose Chapin to Los Angeles Fire/Police Motocross Expert Ryan Chapin and his wife, Amy, on April 14. Abby Rose is the granddaughter of Mikuni Carburetor's Lee Chapin. OPENED: Ducati MotoGP rider Loris Capirossi's home page on the Jay Tullis, the founder of Progressive Suspension, will host two seminars for participants the 2003 Honda Hoot in Knoxville, Tennessee. The seminars, April 28 from 7 to 8 p.m. Team Chevy Trucks Kawasaki's James Stew· art and Team Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Eric Sorby and Mall Waiker are scheduled to attend. For more information, call 801/972-9725. I e o o o o o o o o o o o CJ J o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o LJ o n u (1 AUTOGRAPH SIGNING: At Plaza Cycle in Salt Lake City, Utah, on eye o o LJ o o o o o o n e _ 50 • Continued on page 96 3 APRIL 30, 2003 I U I J 1 '--' ----