Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

. , :Briefly... Sneak Peak: 2005 Honda CRFs I T he 2005 Honda CRF45 0R gets so me significant changes for 2005. Th e bike will feature a fo urt h-ge ne ratio n twin spar aluminum frame, which is very similar to the frame that was first seen in th e product io n 2004 C RF250 R. The new 450 w ill also get the new bodywor k that is currently on th e C RF250 . There are also many A Davld Bailey MX School has be e n scheduled for June 9 at the Cahuilla C reek motocross t ra ck outside of Temecula, Califo mia. The cost is $2 00 per rider with no add itional fees , an d it includes lunc h. For more informatio n, call 301/863-1077. other changes and re fine ments to the C RF450R's e ngine , chassis and suspension, such as a new swingann that is claimed to be lighte r and st ronger, and a redesigned airbox that is sa id to allow more direct airllow and increased power. Honda also claims that t he 2005 CRF450R weighs 3.5 po unds less than its predecesso~ As fo r the 200 5 CRF250 R, the bike sees many refinements as well . It has a new exhaust pipe an d m uffle r, new porting specs to improve botto mend, differe nt ignition ma pp ing to match a ne w cylinde r he ad and cams haft profile (that is said to improve low e r rp m tor qu e ), new suspension revalv ing, a new swi ngarm, and a different Pro -Link ratio. Th e bike is claimed to be two po unds lighter than th e '04 mo del. CRF450R Lavilla To Filii" For Kagayama Fo rm e r World Superbike racer a nd cu rrent Suzuki factory Mot oGP test rider G regorio Lavilla will race a Rizla Suzuki GSX-R I000 in the sixth round of th e Britis h Superbike Series at Th ru xton on Sunda y, June 6, re placing Yukio Kagayama, wh o is recovering from injury. The Spaniard will fill in for Kagayama afte r the Japanese rider broke his collarbone in a qualifying crash for the Suzuka 300 km race on Satu rday, May 29. The 30-year-old Lavilla, who now lives near Glasgow in Scotland, was slated to ride the Rizla Suzu ki GSX- RIOOO fo r the first time on We dnesday,June 2, at Do ningt o n Park. Lavilla is no stranger to weekend. First o f all, I have never heard of Thruxton before. never mind raced at this t he venue , so I will nee d to learn the circuit very Suzuki GSX-R I000 afte r racing the facto ry bike in Wo rld Superbike in 2003 quickly. N ext , I am used to riding a Suzuki GSV-R MotoGP ra ce r. This has more powe r, less weight, carbon brakes and does no t use Dun lop tires, so I m ust ad just my riding style back to Superbikes. Even then, the BSB Rizla Suzu ki is different from the World Superbike version I rode last year and w ill have more ho rsepowe r. as it is unrestricted. I also t hink that th e leve l in British Superbike is very high, and it will not be easy to win . However, I will e njoy racing here for such a good team. I am doing lots of test riding this year. and th is makes me hu ngry fo r racing, I hope I can mix it w ith the le ade rs on Sunday." and scoring many podium finishes . " I am very happy to have t his opportunity to race fo r Rizla Suzu ki," Lavillasaid in a team release. "1 have some small challenges to ove rcome for this www.cyclenews.com Th e reorganization at Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. (KMq, effective May 10. is inten ded to increase overall effk iencies and productivity within th e various operational groups that have helped the com pany grow so marl

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