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/128220
Continued from page 3 he could do something at the threeweek mark. "I've got a long career ahead of me, and I don't want to ruin it at the three-week mark. It's pretty disappointing because I was just starting to get the hang of things, just starting to get hold of the 600 class," he said. "I was a little bit confident and caught myself out." Laconi, Steve Martin, Jorg Teuchert. Broc Parkes and Katsuaki Fujiwara. The AMA has announced that two of the most successful riders in AMA racing history will be honored at this summer's AMA Dirt Track Grand Championships and AMA Road Racing Grand Championships. Jay Springsteen will be the Honoree at the 2003 AMA Dirt Track Grand Championships, to be held June 30-July 6 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois. Road racing great Rich Oliver has been named as Honoree of the 2003 AMA Road Racing Grand Championships, scheduled for July 23-24 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. "Springer," one of the most popular riders in AMA history, has amassed 43 national dirttrack victories - third on the all-time list and has ranked among the nation's top ten riders a remarkable 22 times. Although the 46-year-old Michigan native's career is winding down (he calls the 2003 season his "Farewell Tour"), the three-time AMA Grand National Champion remains a threat every time he throws a leg over a bike. Oliver is another ageless veteran, and as he approaches his 42nd birthday, he's riding a hot streak in the MBNA 250 Grand Prix class in which he's earned four AMA Pro Racing championships. He remains unbeaten after six rounds of the 2003 championship season. Oliver will conduct a seminar for participants in 2003 AMA Road Racing Grand Championships, which lead into AMA Pro Racing's annual visit to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course July 25-27. Springsteen will meet with AMA Dirt Track Grand Championship riders on Thursday, July 3, between racing commitments in the AMA Progressive Insurance U.S. Flat Track Championships. Dunlop Tire Corporation will be the title sponsor of the AMA Red Bull Supermoto Championship event at Mazda Raceway in Laguna Seca. The event. to be held in conjunction with the July 10-13, AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship presented by l.J Parts Unlimited and the U.S. round of u the World Superbike Championship, will be entitled the Dunlop Supermoto Clasu sic. Mike Buckley, Dunlop vice presif' dent, motorcycle, is enthusiastic about, his company's involvement with the emerging championship. "The AMA Red Bull Supermoto Championship promises Ii to be huge and Dunlop looks forward to being part of the series," said Buckley. "From a business standpoint. it makes perfect sense for us to be involved, both as a supplier of product as well as by sponsoring the inaugural event." Andy Leisner, AMA Pro Racing vice president. echoed that sentiment and stated, "We're pleased to have Dunlop aboard n as title sponsor for our opening event. J ' The Laguna Seca round is already shaping up to be a history-making event, and , ' L.-' Dunlop will receive good value for its n sponsorship investment. Top riders from virtually all motorcycle racing disciplines have committed to racing this event and '--J it is bound to garner a tremendous amount of exposure for Dunlop." The U n AMA Red Bull Supermoto Championship U kicks off July 11. The six-race series will n conclude in Las Vegas on November 21. " " o U o n ~ L n o U n J r ,. u n J " U r U There will be a Team Troy Lee Designs in the AMA Red Bull Supermoto Championship, and it will feature Jeremy McGrath, Jeff Ward and Troy Lee on Honda CRF450s, according to Troy Lee Designs. The bikes will be built by former Ricky Carmichael mechanic Chad Watts in conjunction with Pro Circuit. "We are so excited about the whole program," Lee said. "To have my good friends Jeff and Jeremy on board is a dream come true. What better way to establish our first professional race team than with these two guys? They have 15 major AMA championships between them, and hopefully we can add a couple more! I'm looking forward to some good racing and just having a whole lot of fun." Former AMA Pro Thunder Champion Kirk McCarthy will replace fellow Australian Shannon Johnson on the Castrol Honda CBR954RR for the remaining three rounds of the Shell Advance Australian Superbike Championship. McCarthy, the 1995 Australian Superbike Champion, will take over the CBR954RR at the third round of the series, June 20-22, in a restructure which will now see Johnson concentrate solely on retaining his national Supersport title The second full-time Castrol Honda incumbent. Josh Brookes, will be unaffected and continue to race in both major classes. Dan Gurney's radical Alligator motorcycle will appear for the first time in Europe during the upcoming Festival of Speed at Goodwood in England, July 11-13. Gurney will don his leathers and ride the Gator. Anti-doping controls were carried out at the round of the World Superbike and World Supersport Championships in Oschersleben, Germany, on June 1, with all of the samples coming back clean, according to the FIM. The riders tested were: Neil Hodgson, Regis o n 120 JUNE 25, 2003' cue I Two Brothers Racing has announced that it will be contesting the complete 2003 AMA Red Bull Supermoe ne'ftls to Championship Series. The first round kicks off at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California, the weekend of the World Superbike race - July 11-13. TBR will field two riders on two different makes of machines: Andy Harrington will ride a 2003 Honda CRF450 and Dustin Nelson a 2003 Yamaha YZ450F. Two Brothers Racing has also announced that it will be hosting an exhibition Minimotard race held in conjunction with the Laguna round. The race will be promoted and officiated by Two Brothers Racing, and all net proceeds from the event will be contributed directly to the Clayton Memorial Foundation. The Clayton Memorial Foundation helps motorcycle racers who have sustained life-changing injuries while competing in sanctioned events, sanctioned by bona fide sanctioning bodies like the AMA. Says Judy Klinger of the Clayton Memorial Foundation; "All indications show that the new Supermoto Series will be exciting for the fans, riders, and industry sponsors. I'm sure that the mini bike exhibition will be just as exciting." Financial benefits for the Clayton Memorial Foundation will be arrived at by the sales of raffle tickets for the winning motorcycle. Tickets will sell for $5 each, with anticipated sales of 2500 tickets, netting $12,500. There will also be a package deal of a ticket and a souvenir cap for $15. Net proceeds from the "packaged" cap and ticket sale could easily reach another $25,000, according to TBR. Tickets will be sold at the event as well as before hand on TBR's website at: www.twobros.com. The drawing will be held Sunday afternoon during the lunch break, and the winner need not be present. "It is not unrealistic to project anywhere from $25,000 to $75,000 going directly to the Foundation, and just from this one event" says Craig Erion of Two Brothers Racing. "We're very excited to be a part the Superbike weekend at Laguna Seca and to offer some real financial assistance to the Clayton Memorial Foundation." Two Brothers Racing and Kawasaki USA team up for the race with Kawasaki furnishing 15 equally prepared 2003 Kawasaki KLX 11 Os. Two Brothers Racing will prepare these minis so as to be specially configured for motard style competition. These preparations include TBR performance exhaust systems, TAG Metals mini handlebar kits and special graphics kits. "The bikes will look and sound cool," says Erion. The riders will be chosen from the top field of motorcycle celebrities, former professional racers and press figures. The organizers of Cal-Pals Beach Days is looking for volunteers to assist in the day's activities. The Cal-Pals Beach Days will be held at Huntington Beach, California, on July 30. Volunteers will receive a T-shirt, lunch, dinner and the knowledge you made difference in a kid's life, event organizers, say. This is the sixth year for beach days, according to event organizers. There is an OHV program called Off-Road Pals that's run with cooperation from State Parks and the ATV Safety Institute, which teaches children to ride ATVs safely and with respect to the environment. For more information, call Harold Soens at 619/449-9648 On Friday, June 27 an estate auction will be held in Temecula, California, at the five-acre estate property of Don Vesco. A two-day viewing opportunity will take place immediately preceding the auction on Wednesday, June 25, and Thursday, June 26. Items to be auctioned include the contents of Don Vesco Products, his machine shop and home. Machinery, tools, fixtures, a large collection of Offenhauser parts and other performance parts are included. The five-acre estate is also offered for sale and includes a four-bedroom, 2 1/2 bath home with attached three-car garage, three large steel shop buildings, and a variety of steel containers. The sixth annual Vintage Iron World Championships is set to run June 2629 at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, California. Thursday, June 26 is an open practice/test and tune session presented by Sudco on Glen Helen's vintage track, which was the site of the first 125cc National back when the facility was known as Arroyo Cycle Park; Friday, June 27 will be the Vintage Iron Motocross School with special guest instructor, multitime National Champion Rick Johnson; Saturday, June 28, will kick off the first of two days of racing with a focus on the Vintage (Pre 1975) machines. Included in the competition will be many of the sport's former stars and champions like Johnson, Glover, Moates, Benolkin, Reid, Lechien, Jones, Dymond, Holley and others. A special feature returning this year is the Parts Unlimited Dealer Challenge that will pit various area dealers against one another in a duel for bragging rights. AMA Championship Side-car motocross series will also be included in the day's format. As with previous years there will be a vintage bike show with awards presented in various categories. For the first time there will be a dirt-bikeonly swap meet open to bikes, parts and apparel for all eras from vintage to modern; on Sunday, June 29, the spotlight will be on the Evolution (Post 1975) machines and riders with a Vintage support class also being offered. A staple of the Vintage Iron World Championships has been the Motocross des Nations race that allows visiting riders an opportunity to represent their country, their state or even their zip code in a three man team race. Some teams ride it for the fun of being involved, while others are in it for the win. For more information, visit: www.vintageiron.com. eN