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/128310
Valley Motorsports Park Brief'Y··· To Host Track Days Rod ney Smith (Suz) won the opening round 01 the 2004 AMA Sports National Hare Scrambles Series in Gilmer, Texas. Mike Kiedrowski (Suz) was second, with Barry Hawk (Yam) th ird. Steve Hatch (Kaw) and Rya n Hughes (KTM) rounded out the top five. Round two 01 the 10-round series is scheduled lo r February 21-22 in Hollister, Californ ia. lub Motorsports Inc. (C MI), developer of New England 's first motorsports country club (www.c1 ubmoto rspo rt s.co m) . has C announced that interest from motorcycle enthusiasts in its recent- ly named Valley Motorsports Par k has far exceeded expectations. According to Mike Botan , president of Corse Moto , an affiliate of CMI, moto rcycle o rganizatio ns have alre ady rese rved mo re t han 50 tr ac k day re que sts at Valley Motorsports Par k's 3.3 -mil e' European -style road course , wh ich Contine ntal Tire will be the presenting sponsor lor the opening round 01 the AMA Hot Shoe Ser ies at Ogle thorpe Speedway Pa rk in Savannah , Georgia, on February 27. Th is is the opening round 01 all dirt track racing during Daytona Bike Week. There will be an open practice on February 26 and a motorcycle lestival on February 28 , with the rock band Steppenwolf appearing on the concert stage that evening . is currently under development in Tamworth, New Hampshire. " Initial response from the motorcycling community has been phenomenal ," sa id Botan. "It's clea r that motorcycle enthusiasts have been thirsting for this type of facility in the Northeast - a challenging yet safe road course engineered by a world -renowned designer like Alan Wilson. Valley Motorsports Park will allow riders to expe rience the perfonnance and excitement of their machines in a controlled environ- me nt, free Irom th e problems assoc iated w ith street riding." Through Corse Moto, motorcycle o rganizations such as Northeast Sport Bike Associat ion and Sportbike Track Ti me have reserved more than SOt rack days at Valley Motorsports Park over the ne xt three years, according to Botan. "T hese organi zations and individuals are very excited by t he prospect o f having a purpose-built motorsports course that will have over three hundred feet 01 elevation change and lour different circu it configurations. Valley Motorsports Park's country club atmosphere and w o rld-class facilities w ill provide motorcycle enthusiasts w ith the amenities not normally seen at other race-or iented facilities." In addition, Corse Moto has reached an agreement with Keith Codes' Calilornia Superbike School, and the school w ill be headed to Valley Motorsports Park in .August, acco rd ing to Corse Moto. The Valley Motorsports Park development is loca ted in w ooded land off Route 25 in Tamw o rth, app ro ximately two miles w est 01 the intersection 01 Routes 2S and 16. Desc ribed as a "ribbo n through the w oo ds," the road cou rse would be available lor use by its members, much like a golf course country club. There will be no stands or stadium seating, as the road course is not designed to be a spectator lacility. The $14 million Valley Motorsports Park development includes a 3.3-mile, 21tum, European-style road course. For more information on CMl's Valley Motorspons Park, or Corse Mota, contact Scott Trand1ernontagneat 603/625-5713, ext. 222. Hopper On The Rebound Suzuki MotoGP rider john Hop kins is recovering from surgery on both ankles after com ing up short on a double jump duri ng the Suzuki Crossover Challenge on Saturday, january 24 at San Diego 's Qualcomm Stadium. Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Arthur Ting perfo rmed the surgery on Hopkins, and it is expected that he will be resuming his cardiovascular training on a bicycle th is week. "It was an unfortunate incident," Hop kins said in a release from his publicist. "I practice motocross riding almost every day. It's a big part of my tra ining. I thought it would be fun to participate in this exhibition race sponsored by Suzuki in my hometown area. I reel bad lo r my team since this could potentially keep me Irom a couple 01 tests. It's certainly been a learning experie nce. It Hopkins plans to return to testing as soon as possible. He 's hopelulto be 100 percent lor the upcomi ng tests in Phillip Island , Australia , on February 23 . Be Like Tamada Camel Honda's Makato Tarnada will wear a Suomy helme t in the 2004 MotoGP season , and the company will be producing a Tamada replica. According to Suomy, this is the first time that a japanese rider has not be sponsored by a japanese he lmet manufacturer. "We are very proud 01 th is development, and we firmly believe in our new rider," said Rick Marlin, pre sident 01 Suomy USA. Tama da's teammate, Max Biaggi, also wears Suomy helmets. The new Tamada helmet will be available in the spring and will sell lor $499 .95. MotoGP Rookie of the Year N ic ky Ha yden has signed a one-year deal with Oakley to wear and endorse the company's eyewear. "I have always loved Oakley sunglasses," Hayden said in a company re lease. "I love the look and the design work that goes into the product. Oakley always has the latest and t rickest gear. Also, I am real ly proud to be part of the Oakley team... it is an honor to be among their roster of world ~c1ass athletes." The AMA is urging motorcyclists nationwide, many of whom sha re the AMA's disappointment in the light sentence imposed on for mer U.S. Representative Bill jan klow, to take construct ive action to help prevent sim- ilar injustices Irom happening in the future . The AMA soon w illannounce a legislativeaction strategy and a public-awareness campaign targeti ng inadequate sentencing laws in South Dakota and nat ionwide. The program will include events that coincide with the 2004 Black Hills Rallyin Sturgis, South Dakota . "Th e sentence imposed on Mr. janklow is an alfrontto all motorcyclists, and it's time to act ," said Edward Moreland, vice president 01AMA Government Relations. " But protests and symbolic gestures aren't enough - we need to take the kind of act ion , nationally and loca lly, that changes the way the justice system sentences drivers who kill motorcyclists." ja nklow, wh o was convicted December B, 2003, of second-degree manslaughter and three other co unts related to a traffic crash that claimed the Iile of a Minnesota motorcyclist, was sentenced on january 22 to 100 days in the Minnehaha Cou nty Jail. janklow will not have to spend time in the South Dakota State Penitentiary, and he could be eligible for a work-release program alter 30 days in jail. MonsterMob Ducati, a British Superbike Series team, will again be sponsored by VK Vodka Kick lor 2004 , accordi ng to the team. "We at VK are delighted to be involved with the U K's to p Superb ike team lo r a seco nd year ru nning," said Steve Pe rez of VK, "I was impressed w ith the prolessionalism of the team and the vast lollow ing of BSB. I fully expect Paul Bird 's VK-backed MonsterMob Ducati team to once again wi n the champi- www.cycienEWs.com on ship." The MonsterMob Ducatis will be ridden th is year by Sean Em m e tt and young Ulstennan Michael Laverty. Progressive Insurance and UR's Motozone will hold the filth annual 2004 Inv itational " Rider C u p" Goll Tourna m e n t to benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation at the Hesperia Country Club in Hesperia, Calilornia, on March 19 , For more information, call 760/948-40 12. To mmy McDermott's t h ird -pla ce finish in th e 19S4 Daytona 200 , part 01 BSA'stopfive sweep 01 the race , was unquestionably a high point 01 his motorcycling career. But in some quarters, McDermott is better known as the first American to earn a gold medal in the "O lympics 01 mo to rcycling," the Intemational Six Days Trial, doing so on his first try. He was truly a competitor who could do it all and do it well . McDe rmott will serve as grand marshal lor AHRMA's Florida Bike Week lestivitie s. Along with the other ''AHRMA Great Men," he will be available for autographs and photos at I p.m . Sunday, February 29 , at the American Motorcycle Institute in Daytona Beach , and then at II a.m . on Monday and Tuesday, March I and 2, at Daytona International Speedway as part of AHRMA's Classics Days road rac ing there. Others taking part in the AHRMA Great Men program at Daytona International Speedway and the American Motorcycle Institute include : Chet Dykgrall, the AMA's first nat ional champion in 1946; AI Knapp, AHRMA's elder statesman of r d rac ing; johnny Knapp, veteran Michigan dirt tracker; Dave Munganest, renowned ISDE rider and o il-road competitor; Gary N ixon, two-time AMA Grand Nati onal Champion; jell Smith, two-time World SOOcc Motocross Champion ; jay Springsteen, three-time AMA Grand National Champion; john Tibben, veteran Iowa dirt tracker and road racer; and Bill Tuman , member 01 the Indian Wrecking Crew and 19S3 national champ. For more information , visit www.ahrma.org. The On One Whee l wheelie school has announced that it will be using Triu m p h Speed Tri ple motorcycles during 2004 . The Speed Triple combined with Keith Code's legendary "Wh ee lie Trainer " oilers students the ult imat e wheelie train ing machine , according to On One Wheel. ''Along with a rich heritage, Triumph is known lor its high perfonnance standards, and the Speed Triple is the most powerful machine in its class," said Whitney Fair, On One Wheel executive director. "It is the perfect motorcycle lor our program 01 bringing riders up one step at a time. We are very proud to be associated with Triumph and look forward to a long re lationship ." Riders interested in enrolling in an eight-hour O n On e Wheel wheelie school may register on -line at www.onone- w heel.com o r ca ll lor more inlormation at BIB/95 7-71 04 . T imebomb Entertainment, a new actionoriented, mu ltimed ia co mpany lo unded by Sco tt McLemore, will put its initial locus on Continued on page " CYCLE NEWS • FEBRUARY II , 2004 9