Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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Hancock Backs Young Swede Hateley D irt Track Slated For Willow up fron t again this weekend. ''I'm happy with the way my season is going so far," said Car r, the 2003 AMA Pro Athlete of the Year. "It's an unusual year in that we've started out with a short track O nce a protege of World Champion Bruce Penhall, Greg Hanock has decided to do the same for young Jonas Messing, the Swedish speedway rider whom Hancock has opted to take into this team . "I want to give Jonas the chance that I race, then an indoor and now we're going to once got , to be close to a mo re experienced a banked clay oval. Next we have a TT race and Mile in Springfield (Illinois) so by the time Hancock said in a release (rom his team. A Triumph-only race memorializing famed Southern California tuner Jack Hateley w ill be held as part of AHRMA:s June 5 national dirt track at Willow Springs Raceway in Rosamo nd, California. The "Triumph Challenge Race" w ill be open to any pre- 1975 Triumph eligible for AHRMA:s Sportsman dirt track class. Hateley, who gained fame wrenching for his son, former AMAnational number 98 John Hateley, and Triumph TT ace Eddie Mulder through the I960s and '70s, died in April. Modern 500cc and Open support classes, as well as three Vintage Novice divisions, also will be offered alongside AHRMA's normal array of classes for motorcycles built up to 198 1. The nigh race on the three-eighths t -mile Walt James Stadium ovalwill be round 10of The Classic MotorcydelMetro Racing Dirt TrackSeries. Event sponsors include Cal Coast Motorsports, Dodge Brothers Racing and Rod LakeRacing. Gates open at noon , with sign-up at I p.m., practice at 3 p.m. and racing at 6 p.m. The weekend also includes two rounds of AHRMAPro-FlolProgressive Suspension road racing Saturday and Sunday, June S-6, on the Willow Springs road course as part of Garage Company's Corsa MotoClassica. Competing will be vintage machines, vintage Superbikes and modern Sound of SingleslBattle of Twins/Sound of Th under racers . An AMA First In Cincy Florence Speedway in Union, Kentucky, w ill host its first AMA Progressive Insurance Flat Track Champions hip on Saturday, May 22. Not only is the event the first motorcycle race at Florence Speedway, it' s also the first time the Cincinnati area has hosted an AMA Grand National in the 50-year history of the championship, according to the AMA. Florence Speedway is on Highway 42 in Unio n, Kentucky, just a few miles across the O hio River from Cincinnati. The race w ill make up round th ree of the 20-race se ries, and after two short track races , it will be the first half-mile race of the season. With the season kicking off at the Daytona Short Track and an indoo r short track in San Francisco's Cow Palace, there are a number of unlikely riders hanging arou nd in the top 10 of the seriesstandings. Part-time racer Brett Landes is tied with fe llow Californian Shaun Russell in second in the championship after two rounds. Texan Willie McCoy is fourth . While there are some unusual names among the series leaders , the number-one rider is no surprise. Defending AMA Grand National Cham pion Chris Carr leads the series by 10 points and has gotten off to a great start in his quest to win sixth AMA Grand National Championship. The Pennsylvania-based rider won more half- 6 miles than any othe r ride r on the circuit last season, so chances are good that Carr will be rider and get all the benefits from that," we've gotte n through the first five roun ds. Messing has been on and aro und the we'll have a pretty good idea who the conte nders are going to be." Flore nce Speedway is a half-mile, banked, clay oval. It was built in the 1950s and has speedway track since before he can remem- become one of the prem ier late model auto racing tracks in the state of Kentucky. AMA Progressive Insurance Flat Track Championship Series manager Bruce Bober thinks Florence Speedway should produce exciting racing. "With the banking there could be multiline racing through the corners," Bober said. "The high line will work if riders take advantage of it. It's great to bring racing to the Cincinnati area. The city has a large population of motorcyclists, and we 're hoping they take advantage of attending a national this close to home. For more information on the race, call II 859/485-759 1 or visit the Speedway's website at www.norencespeedway.com . MAY 26, 2004 • CYCLE NEWS be r. Born and raised in Hallstavik, he was his fathe r's (Mikael Messing - now team manager of Rospiggarna) biggest fan, until the latter retired from riding. From that moment on , Hancock has been his number-one idol. "My goal is to ride togethe r with Greg in a 500cc competition," the almost IS-year-old Messing said. Messing currently rides for the Rospiggarna 80cc team . The tea m had a dece nt season last year and made the Elite League along with seven other teams . Unfortunately they fin, ished last, but Messing came out with the honor of being the best rider on his team and 23rd out of SO total riders. "He is a great kid," Hancock said. "He has got lots of talent, but he isalso a good person, which can be even more important. For us, this is not a one -year thing; it is a long-term investment. We really believe in him." 40th Anniversary For entry and rule information, visit www.ahrma .org or call 615/85 1-3678.