Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Briefly... Watson and Strank Again At Nashville the riders would have to clear to get a run at the second jump at the 175-loot mark. The land ing area after the second jump was very rough, and th is wou ld playa huge role in the day's racing. Phil Libhart fo llowed Strank, blasting up the hill in 7.416 seconds. Delending champion Watson broke the lights in 7.433 seconds despite a bad high-speed misfire . "We decided to run air cleaners here w ithout testing them first," Watson said , "T hey won 't be on the bike for the next ride ." Four-time S40cc National Champion Greg W illiams re turned to compet ition "That was a scary last ride ," Dave Watson said alter w inning the 800cc class at the Nashville , Indiana, round 01 the AMA National Championship Hillclimb Series . ':At the top you are going so last , it seems like you r fingers are going to get peeled 011 the bars. " Once again it was Watson and Walter "Tiger" Strank (540cc class) who claimed the win s in the two AMA National Championship Hillclimb Ser ies classes at round lour. This is the second time this season the duo has won on the same day, and they have left the field behind in the battle lor the two National Championships. Stran k came within .002 of a second 01 his first career sweep of the 800 and S40cc classes, missing the 800cc win by the aforeme ntioned margin. but w inning the 540cc class. After rook ie Chris Kabo and Je ff Thomas got things unde r way in the S40cc class on the series' fastest hill, Strank pulled his Yamaha R6 into the center of the starting box. He blasted the four-cylinder bike up to the first jump, keeping it low and nat as he approached the second jump . Stran k managed to stay straight over the last jump and rode the R6 to a 6.960second time . "The bike started pulling hard after the second jump," Strank said. "I wasn't real ly ready for it to take 011 like it did." The Nas hville, Ind iana, hill has a nat starting line leading to a jump at the 35foot mark. This year there was a 15-lootwide shell cut into the lace of the hill that after a 16-month absence with a 7.197 second ellort on his Kawasaki EX5oo. "The run was pretty smooth all the way," W illiams said. "It's ro ugh up near the top, but I didn't have to get out of it anywhere." In the second round, Williams was the only rider to challenge Strank seriously, but it wasn't to be , as Strank scored his second 540cc win 01the year. "We are really getting the bike dialed in," Strank said. "Th e suspension was excellent today, and everything worked great," After a disappointing run in the 540cc class, Watson was going for it in the 800cc class. He kept his Honda CBR on line over the bottom jump and hit the top jump with the throttle pinned and ripped past the timers in 6.497 seconds. Stank was on a mission to score hisfirst double win. He had a stro ng start on his Yamaha RI , but he caught a litt le too much air over the top jump. At the lights he came up a lraction short with a 6.499-second time , .002 olf of Watson . " I don 't know what I could have done to go laster tha n I d id," Strank said. The top of the hill gave the riders fits, just as it had in the 540cc class, as they tried to find a line through the huge ruts . Chad Disbennett put together a great ride on the Triumph twin to climb into third wit h a 6.688-second time , but it was Watson with the win. "We've been working really har d to get the bike built for the race in France ," Watson said. "The last two weeks my dad has bee n working all the time . The 800 worked great today, and now we have to get ready for the Billings race out west." David L Patton Jr, I Continue d from poge II on July 4. Team boss Rob McElnea said: "Steve has made excellent progress over the past few weeks and is now very keen to get back to work, However, I would like Steve to test away from the championship belore he re-joins the series. The Scott ish track is, by its very nature, physically demanding and we would n't want to jeopardize his recovery by putting him back on track too soo n. Steve will test between Knockhill and Mallory [Park) so we can gauge his fitness lo r the 101lowing meeting." Foggy Petronas' Chris Walke r was forced to pull out 01 a planned ride at the Goodwood Festival 01Speed, June 26-27, because of his rece nt rib injuries. Walker was scheduled to ride the Petronas FP I race bike up the famous Goodwood hill during the threeday lestival, along with team boss Carl Fogarty. "I think everyone will understand," Walker said. "Th e doctors have advised me to rest as much as possib le belore our next round in America in three weeks' time. Those are very important races for me as we are hoping to use the next stage of our engine development. It's also part 01 the build-up for the Brands Hatch round, and I am desperate to go there feeling I have a chance. II I had got on the bike, I would have had to have beaten Foggy. He beat me in a kayaking event in France last year, and I haven't recovered Irom that yet!" Triu mp h Moto rcycles (America) Ltd, has announced that the company's U.S. new unit sales jumped 104 percent during May - with an overall year-to-date increas e 0134.5 percent - when compared to the same time period Uanuary-May) in 2003 . Triumph's U.S. sales growth continues to exceed the U.S. industry year-to-year new unit sales growth 018 percent, according to Triumph. "Motorcyclists' interest in the Triumph brand has never been st ronger," said Todd Andersen, marketing vice president, Triumph Motorcy- c1es(America) Ltd. "We are very pleased to report that our existing models account for almost all of the 2004 sales increase as Thruxtons just began arriv ing in dealerships in May, and our Rocket III is arriving in showrooms at the end 01June ." Photos by Grumpy's Bryan Clark was shooting photos at the 2004 Ve gas t o Re no race, June 24-25 and those photos can be viewed at www.photosbygrumpy.com. Chaparral Mo t o rspo rts In San Bernardino, California, has the hard-to-find Honda Dream 50Rs a nd NSR50Rs the showroom floor. Chaparral snapped up enough 01the new bikes and currently has them available lor manufacturer's suggested retail price . Ven ge ance Motorcy cle s is teami ng with country music superstar Ti m McG raw lor a charity ride to benefit The Raven Dru m foundation. The Raven Drum Fou ndatio n is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization co-founded In 200 I by Del Leppard's Rick Allen. The group aims to provide Iree educational programs In the arts and o pportunities lor personal growth in times 01adversity. On July 24, ride participants will assemble at Classic American Motorcycles, a Vengeance motorcycle dealer in Thousand Oaks, Calilornia. After departing from the dealership at 2 p.m.. a two-hour motorcycle ride will make its way to the site 01a benefit concert that kicks 011 at 8 p.m . in Devore, California, at the Hyundai Glen Helen Pavilion on Glen Helen Parkway. After arriving at the concert locat ion, ride participants w ill receive special benefits including secured parking fo r their motorcycles, an alter-ride BBQ, and lawn seating at the concert. For more information on the Raven Drum Fou ndation, contact Carolyn Kemp at 310/463-3630. ing American Suzuki on June I, Esselman worked in the marketing department at Pro Circuit, where he specialized in new product releases and dealer relations. AUTOGRAPH SIGNING: At Yamaha 01 Troy in Dayton, Ohio, on July 23 lrom 6 to 7 p.m. Factory Yamaha riders Chad Reed , David Vuillemin and Tim Ferry, Mach I Yamaha's Heath Voss and Ezra Lusk, and Yamaha 01 Troy's Mike Brown, Josh Hansen, Brock Sellards, KellySmith and Danny Smith are scheduled to appear. For more inlormation, call 937/294-1577. AUTOGRAPH SIGN ING: At the Foggy Petronas merchandise booth at Mazda lagu na Seca Raceway,July 10 and II . Foggy Petronas World Superbike racers Troy Corser and Chris Walker are scheduled to attend. RESIGNED: Rod Anastasia lrom his position as vice president of TWS USA lnc., the importer 01 LEM Motor mini cycles and mini quads. "Several opportunities, both personally and prolessionally,have come my way that I have no choice but to take advantage 01, and unlortunately I cannot do that and still give the required ellort and time needed to 1WS and LEM:' Anastasia said. MOVED: Crowerpower Inc.. a lour-stroke cams, porting.cam regrinds and mini bike H IRED: Jackson Esselman as oil-road press relations administratorfor American Suzuki Motor Corp., ellective immediately. Esselman will be responsible lor press relations in regards to Suzuki ATVand 011road/motocross product lines. He will report directly to Glenn Hansen, ASMe's advertising and press relations managerfor the motorcycle/ATV division. Prior to join- www.cyclenews.com builder, to 31889 Corydon Road, Unit 130, Lake Elsinore, CA 92530, 866/36 I-CAMs, 909/674-5387 (fax). CO RRECTIO N: There were two incorrect photos on the Stull page 01 Issue 24. The corresponding photos lor the BattsShilter Air Shifter and the Muzzys ZX-I 0 Steering Damper were inadvertently switched. CYCLE NEWS • JULY 7,200 4 13

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