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/128316
i n M oto r c y cli n g 01:1: I:ra§he§ Day"tllna During the opening ceremonies for the Daytona Supercross, Paul Teutul Sr. and Jr., stars of the hit television show '~merican Chopper" (Discovery Channel) made a surprise appearance at Daytona International Speedway. The Orange County Choppers crew made their grand entrance on a pair of their custom choppers. The crowd went wild as the bikes, includingthe famous "9/ II Fireman's Bike" and the "Dixie Chopper," rode down Daytona 's front straight with their sirens wailing while the Teutuls stopped to slap hands with the fans. Motorcycle Internet portal www.cyclestar.cominvited and made arrangements for the surprise appearance after discussing the buildingof a promotional bike with the OCCguys. They spent the evening talking with many of the fans and riders from both supercross and road racing and provided an added bonus to a great night of racing. They 've wanted to reach out to the fans in both the dirt and road racing community and felt this was a great opportunity to do so. "We wanted to come out and support the industry," said Paul Sr. "Bikes are bikes, and we appreciate what these guys do ." Yamaha Hllnllr§ Day"tllna Dynamic DUll Yamaha Motor Corporation presented two of its racing legends with artwork commemorating the company's historical sweep of the two big events during the 1974 edition of Daytona Bike Week - the Daytona 200 and the Daytona Supercross - in Yamaha's corporate hospitality suite at this year's Daytona Supercross. Multitime World Road Race Champion Giacomo Agostini (far right) of Italyand motocrosser Pierre Karsmakers (far left) of Belgiumwere presented with the gifts, which recognized the 30th anniversary of their wins at the Speedway. Agostini, now 60, said that his Daytona 200 win ranks very high among his career accomplishments, which include 15 World Championship titles. "To me, it was very, very important," Agostini said. "I had just left MV Agusta, and I was used to the four-stroke engine. Daytona was my first time with the two-stroke, my first time with Yamaha, and my first time in the U5A. I won, and I went back to Italyvery, very happy." Agostini, who gave the YamahaTZ750 a victory in its 1974 Daytona debut, said that he very much enjoyed his time as a Yamahafactory rider. "It was good because I was scared when I left MV Agusta, because that was my family," Agostini said. "But I found another familyat Yamaha. The Yamaha people were very, very nice, and still now I am good friends with all the Yamaha people." Karsmakers' 1974 victory backed up his 1973 Daytona Supercross win, also on a Yamaha. "This is a very big surprise, and it is really nice that Yamaha remembers all that," Karsmakers, 57, said. "They are really nice people. That was the best time of my career, and Yamaha always took care of me, and they still do." Yamahadirector of communications Bob Starr said that the company's racing heritage is very important. When you look back 30 years and see how far we have come and what racing means to our company, it's a big deal," Starr (second from left) said. "We felt that was really appropriate to celebrate that anniversary with these two guys, and what better occasion than the Daytona race during our Weekend of Champions." 106 MARCH 24, 2004 • C YCLE NE WS 40th Anniversary