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/128216
Continued from page 3 Grand Championships, riders from WERA's Northeast and North Centrai Regions will be abie to earn championship points toward those WERA series, made possible by an agreement between AMA Sports and WERA Motorcycle Roadracing. WERA race director Sean Clarke, along with other key WERA officials, will work alongside AMA Sports officials to manage and officiate the competition. Also new for 2003 is the AMA Club Road Racing Challenge, created by AMA Sports to provide an opportunity for three-rider teams from the nation's many club road-racing programs to compete against one another. And in the coming weeks, AMA Sports will name a notable road-racing personality as the 2003 AMA Road Racing Grand Championships Honoree. Supplemental regulations, schedules and class structures will be announced in early May, For information about the 2003 AMA Road Racing Grand Championships and the AMA Club Road Racing Challenge, contact Stephani Mclntyre at AMA Sports at 614/856-1900 extension 1345, or smcintyre@ama-cycle.org. will work closely with Hype to promote the Hype "Classic" brand energy drink at the racetrack and in nationwide retail promotions. Hype Energy CEO Marcus Laun said: "Hype Energy and Corona Extra Suzuki are perfectly matched, they are both leaders, and the "buzz" of their markets, be it drinks or racing! We are really looking forward to giving the team the extra stamina and energy needed to continue their winning streak!" Corona Extra Suzuki principal Tim Saunders added: "The Hype identity exactly matches the objectives of Corona Extra Suzuki - the stamina to outlast the competition and power to win. We couldn't want for a more complementary partner! " On Sunday, May 4, two Ride for Kids events were held - one in Washington, Georgia, and the other in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. While the rides were 700 miles apart, they shared the same goal and mission: to raise funds for pediatric brain tumor research. And that they did! The Washington off-road ride and the Pittsburgh street ride ended up setting records for their individual events. Over 430 participants in Georgia raised $47,455 to support the research and family support programs of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF). Further north, light rain did not dampen the spirits of the Pittsburgh participants as 525 motorcyclists raised over $77 ,628 to support the Foundation's programs. In the memory of the Miller Mid-America Motorcycle Races, dirt track racing returns to Oklahoma on the High Banks of The Salina Speedway on August 22, according to event promoters. Slated for the Friday night before the AMA Grand National Championship round in Sedalia, Missouri, and the Formula USA National at the Oklahoma City Half, "The Rolling Thunder Dirttrack Race Tour" will take place in Salina. For more information, call 918/902-5786. An internet radio show Pro Motocross Weekly now airs on Thursday nights from 9 to 10 p.m. with hosts Matt Barnes, Jared Taybus and Chad Long. The shows include fan interaction, interviews and more, according to the hosts. The show airs on www.SportsTalkCleveland.com. For more information, call Scott Veno at 330/268-7038. Corona Extra Suzuki has announced that it will be partnering with Hype Energy for the rest of the 2003 AMA Superbike Season. Corona Extra Suzuki MAY 28, 2003' cue I Kasea has inked a deal with JHS Industries out of Quebec, Canada to be the official importer of the Kasea product line into Canada. Kasea has a line of ATVs, scooters, motorcycles and gokarts. For more information, call JHS Industries at 514/731-3862. The AMA has learned that Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne has joined the AMA's call for comprehensive research into the causes of motorcycle crashes. In an April 21 letter to Dr. Jeffrey W. Runge, administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Governor Kempthorne said that. "Along with many other governors who are motorcycle enthusiasts, I am concerned about the upturn in motorcyclist fatalities over the past several years. Merely announcing fatality totals each year is not the way to gain credibility with motorcyclists or promote safer riding. It troubles me that motorcycle safety gets little attention nationally. When addressed at all. it is with an almost singular focus on helmet laws, a very divisive issue politically that distracts resources from other safety measures, such as skills training to prevent crashes from occurring in the first place and strong messages about not using alcohol when riding." Kempthorne, an avid motorcyclist and an AMA member, then echoed the AMA's call for research: "Over the longer term, a comprehensive motorcycle accident causation study is needed to better understand the nature of crashes and the most effective countermeasures." Reacting to the Idaho governor's letter, Edward Moreland, AMA vice president for government relations, said: "Motorcyclists nationwide benefit from Governor Kempthorne's eloquent advocacy, and we're gratified that he's added his WFA 2002 Freestyle and Big Air Champion Nate Adams and three-time X Games Gold Medallist Tommy Clowers have signed an exclusive license for 1/6 scale freestyle motorcycles with California-based Toy Zone. "We are excited to have these two premier athletes join our program," said Toy Zone vice president Jeff Cepielik. The bikes will be available for purchase at mass retail outlets, including Wal-Mart, Meyers, Kmart and Shopko to name a few. "These bikes are so cool. When I first saw them, I said, 'I can't wait to see my designs, ", said Adams. The bikes will not feature a replica look but will feature a look personifying the rider. The bikes will be available for purchase beginning in the fourth quarter of 2003. 108 voice to ours." Moreland and his staff in the AMA's Washington, D.C., office are working to get $3 million for such a study, funding that would be part of congressional reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21 st Century, commonly called "TEA-21." The AMA urges motorcyclists to contact their members of Congress and ask them to support funding for a comprehensive study of motorcycle-accident data. More information about this important issue is available on the AMA's website at www.AMADirectlink.com. where motorcyclists can use the AMA Rapid Response Center to send messages to their congressional representatives. e nevv. The Viper Motorcycle Company has announced it has entered into a joint marketing and promotional agreement wjth the Minnesota Vikings football organization. According to Terry Nesbitt, vice president of sales and marketing, "This is a unique opportunity that will allow Viper Motorcycle Company to be the preferred motorcycle of the Minnesota Vikings and jointly offer the Vikings a chance to be involved in a fastgrowing, vibrant and exciting recreational industry." Steve LaCroix, Vikings vice president of sales and marketing, states: "This relationship is perfect. as Ragnar, our game day mascot. will now lead the team onto the field riding a Viper Diablo. Many Vikings fans and football fans everywhere are motorcycle enthusiasts. Viper is an innovative company that designs and manufactures high-end motorcycles, with the new Viper Diablo being special and reflecting their ability to build proprietary motorcycles. This relationship is a great fit for two companies that are aggressive and known for innovative ideas. " The 18th annual Huntington Beach Concours d' Elegance will be held in Huntington Beach, California, on June 1 and will again include motorcycles as well as cars, celebrating 101 years of Triumph motorcycles. The event will take place at the Huntington Beach Central Park, and entries must be submitted by May 26. For more information on motorcycle entries, call Jody Nicholas at 714/730-9257. Yamaha privateer Keith Johnson won a 2003 Nissan Frontier pickup truck for winning Nissan's "Riding To A New Frontier" privateer award during the 2003 AMA Supercross season. Johnson earned 251 points during the course of the season to best Ryan Clark and Damon Huffman. In addition to the truck, Johnson also won the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company's $50,000 adult pro privateer fund, taking home $25,000. Clark was again second and earned $ 15,000, with Huffman taking home $10,000. Yamaha's MotoGP teams took part in a two-day test in Mugello, Italy, that ended on May 15, with Gauloises Yamaha's Alex Barros coming away from the test with the best lap times. The Brazilian turned in a best of 1:51.7 on his M 1. Testing alongside Barros was his teammate Olivier Jacque, Fortuna Yamaha's Carlos Checa and Marco Melandri, Team d'Antin's Shinya Nakano, and Yamaha test rider Norick Abe. Checa set a best time over the two days of 1:51.9, beating the circuit lap record of 1:52.6 (the circuit best lap is 1:51 .2, set by Valentino Rossi last year), but crashed twice during the test. "I am a little disappointed because I had some falls here," said Checa in a team release. "I lost the front - it is difficult to find the limit here. and I just pushed too hard. We tested the old chassis yesterday [May 14], which works very well, and I got my best lap time with it. Today [May 15] I spent almost all the day with the new. M 1 chassis, and the feedback was positive, but then I crashed, so we stopped early. In Le Mans I will confirm whether we will use the new chassis we will take both the old and new ones there. So far for me the new one is a bit better here in Mugello, but we will confirm when we see how it works in Le Mans." The Yamaha teams and the rest of the MotoGP contingent will head to Le Mans in France for the French Grand Prix on May 25. The 80th Annual Loudon Motorcycle & Rally Race Week kicks off the Formula USA Grand National Cha'mpionship series with two big events. Now in its second season, the Grand National Championship Series consists of five road race events from the Formula USA National Road Race Series and five events from the K&N Filters Pro Dirt Track Series. On Friday night, June 13, the 11th Annual Ben Campanale Laconia Half Mile National will be held. Sunday, June 15, the Grand National Series moves to the New Hampshire International Speedway, where the 80th Annual Loudon Motorcycle Classic will host the Formula USA National Road Race Series. Grand National Champion Matt Wait will compete in both the dirt track and road race on the Yamaha factory-supported Kneedraggers.com race team. The "Rumble On The River" AMA flat track races will pay a $10,000 pro purse, according to event promoters. The race is scheduled for June 6 at Quincy Raceway in Quincy, Illinois. Four classes will be run - 505 Expert, 505 Pro Sport, 883 and Open Pro. For more information, call 217/224- 1004. eN