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/128229
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Travis Pastrana from winning the
freestyle competition at the Summer' X
Games at the Memorial Coliseum in Los
The AMA Pro Racing board of directors has ratified technical rules
for the 2004 AMA Superbike Championship season and approved a
preliminary set of rules for support classes including Supersport,
Superstock and Formula Xtreme. A refinement to the 2004 class
structure has also been approved_
An overview of the Superbike rules are as follows, according to
the AMA's website;
Fuel-injection throttle bodies:
Multi-cylinders - Restricted to stock throttle bodies and air intake
boxes.
Twin-cylinders _ In addition to the stocl< throttle bodies, one
alternate, AMA-approved throttle body type/set is permitted as well
as aftermarket air intake boxes.
Engine modifications:
Multi-cylinders - Limited modifications are permitted, but such
items as stock camshaft lift, stock valve sizes and lightly modified
stock crankshafts are required.
Twin-cylinders - The same limited modifications as multi-cylinders are permitted except for the follOWing items:
Valve sizes and material are unrestricted.
Camshafts are unrestricted.
Gearboxes:
Multi-cylinders - In addition to the stock set of gear ratios, one
alternate, AMA-approved set of ratios is permitted. Primary drive
ratios must remain stock.
Twin-cylinders - The same rules as multi-cylinders apply.
Frame:
Multi-cylinders - LimJted modifications to the stock frame are
permitted such as gusseting for additional strength.
Twin-cylinders - The same rules as multi-cylinders apply.
Minimum weight:
Multi-cylinders - The minimum total motorcycle weight (less
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Angeles, California, on Saturday, August
16. Pastrana won the event by doing an
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inverted, flat-spin 360, topping Nate
Adams. Brian Deegan, who actually
did the 360 first, ended up third. Deegan. however. came back on Sunday,
August 17, to win the MX Big Air portion
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of the X Games. winning a gold medal
with what he calls the" 360 Mulisha
Twist." Adams was second with Kenny
Bartram finishing third. Pastrana didn't
compete in the MX Big Air competition.
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The favorite going into the X Games,
Mike Metzger, didn't compete in
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d
either 0 the competitions a ter a ba
crash during one of his exhibitions at
Disneyland left him with injuries. "Due to
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the injuries sustained in my crash a
week ago, I'm not physically ready to
attack this very technical freestyle
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fuel) is 370 pounds_
Twin-cylinders - The same 370-pound minimum weight applies.
'Scott Hollingsworth, AMA Pro Racing CEO, is confident the new
technical rules will help achieve the objectives of continuing to
deliver close competition and quality entertainment, maintaining
adequate control of costs, and encouraging increased participation
from major motorcycle manufacturers.
"With the input of all major stakeholders, we have created a set
of rules that will provide the ideal marketing platform for continued
growth," said Hollingsworth. "The United States represents the
world's most important motorcycle market, and we've opened up
the door for more comp,anies to use motorcycle racing as a means
to promote their products."
Development of the final AMA Superbike rules included measures taken to improve parity among the two primary engine configurations, according to the AMA.
"Keeping the twins competitive and opening the door for
increased manufacturer participation was a primary goal for 2004,"
said Hollingsworth. "We expect performance of the next generation
multi-cylinder models to advance even further, and it's imperative
that we adjust the rules structure to account for this ongoing development. We have created an environment that provides opportunity
for all manufacturers to showcase their products and remain legiti·
mately competitive."
In addition to finalizing the 2004 AMA Superbike rules, the AMA
Pro Racing board of directors has approved a preliminary set of
rules for support classes. AMA Pro Racing licensed riders and ere·
dential holders may comment on proposed support class rule
changes during a 30-day comment period beginning Monday.
August 18 through Tuesday, September 16. Comments can be
made on AMA Pro Racing's Riders Only website at www.amaproracing,com/ridersonly.
course here at the Coliseum," Metzger
r
said in a statement prior to the X Games
contest. "I took the week off from riding
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tice on Friday, I decided that I would be
World Championship Grand Prix
One thing that jumps out of the
MotoGP calendar is the fact that
there are a record number of conflicts
risking my well-being if I were to go out
with one major addition, the inaugural
with the recently released World
always got to do it when you get a
[
and ride to win. which is the only way I
Grand Prix in Qatar, and the noticeable
chance. That's why we are here, and
want to ride. I'm looking forward to
absence of a U.S. GP, which had been
Superbike calendar. For 2004, there
will be nine MotoGPs held on the same
returning to X Games and reclaiming my
announced a few weeks back. The cal-
day as World Superbike rounds. The
next week - where that will give us a
gold medals in freestyle motocross
endar is increased by one race to 17
previous high for conflicts between the
start for next March's race." Virginia is
with the addition of the first-ever Grand
two series was six.
one of the few circuits on the champi-
'..-'
The FIM has released a provisional calendar for the 2004 Road Racing
to try and heal up, but after riding prac-
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when I'm healthy. "
that's why we are heading to Daytona
race will be held on a Saturday, possibly
Busy Mat dept: With the AMA Chevy
score a race win and where he was
the fastest time of the day en route to
in the evening to counter what's expect-
Trucks US Superbike Championship in
beaten by the narrowest of margins at
racking up his third 800cc win of the
ed to be typically sweltering heat. The
the middle of a five-week break in pro-
the corresponding round last year by
season at The Poag's Hole National Hill-
addition of the race squeezes the calen-
ceedings, current points leader Mat
Eric Bostrom. "When you compare the
climb in Dansville, New York, on August
dar slightly, with the time frame from
James "Jammer" Large (H-D) set
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have to do all of this testing?' but you've
onship trail where Mladin has failed to
Prix in the Middle East, in Qatar. The
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all of the testing, it seems to get to a
point where you think, 'Geez why do we
17, Large defeated defending National
start to finish similar, but less of a break
Champion Dave Watson (Hon) and
between the Czech and Portuguese GPs
Jeff Thomas (Yam). In the 540cc
and a shuffling of the order. The Rio GP
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class, Dave Watson (Hon) continued
now comes as the 10th round, instead
his domination of the 2003 AMA Nation-
of the 11th. and is sandwiched between
al Championship Hillclimb Series. Wat-
two European races instead of as a
son needed just one ride to claim his
gateway for the three flyaway races in
sixth win out of seven rounds, topping
Japan, Malaysia and Australia, two
Phil Libhart (Tri) and Chad Disbennet