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/128333
No More Moto In '04 For Langston rant Langston's publicist issued a press release last week stating that because G of the form er World and AMA Motoc ross Champion's wrist injury he will "take a break from motocross and supercross" in order to pursue a supermot o career. Langston will continue to ride for KTM in the AMA Supermot o Series, accor ding to the release. "KTM USA and KTM Europe have enjoyed an exten ded mutuallybeneficial relationshipwith Grant Langston and his company, Langston Raci ng," the release stated . "During this time Grant has provided KTM with its first FIM 12Scc World Motocross Championship, first AHA l25cc National Motocross Cham pionship, first AMA Supermot o Championship and first AHA 12SccSupercross Championship event win." After several mon ths of consulting with med ical specialists, it has become clear to Langsto n that he nee ds an extended time away from the pou nding of professional motoc ross/supercross racing to allow a serious case of carpal-tunnel syndrom e to heal proper ly, according to the re lease. Physicians have re peate dly said that if Langston does not take this time off and let this injury heal, the n the proble m cou ld in the future have a negative impact on his professional career. With Langston's cur rent injury prev ent ing him from competing at the highest leve l of the sport of motocross, officials at KTM have stated that they do not wish to have him compet e in the rem ainder of this season events, 's risking furt he r injury to himself just for the sake of having him o n the starting line, according to the re lease. Langston's deal with KTM is that he will be released from his current obligations of racing and testing for the rem ainder of the 2004 AMA Nat ional Motocross Se ries under his existing motocross/supercross cont ract ; Langston will focus his profes sionaJ time on form ing a new professional supermoto team under the Langston Racing business umbrella and begin tra ining for the upcoming ESPN X-Games and the 2004 AMA Professional Super Moto Series; KTM w ill be furnishing Langston two full factory Super Motard motorcycles and full additional equ ipme nt/ part s suppo rt to compe te the balance of 2004 as a professional compe titor in the upcom ing ESPN X-Games as we ll as the 2004 AMA Supe r Moto Series. "I wo uld like to thank KTM for the grea t support and equipme nt ove r the past five years and also for their understanding of my current injury," Langston said in the release. "The doct ors have assured me that with some time away from the pound ing that rider's wrist takes in supercross and motocross, I should be able to return at 100 perce nt for the 2005 Supercross season opener at Anaheim. I've also been told because of the little stress that supermoto puts on a rider 's wrists that racing these eve nts will not be a pro blem for me to ride in and will not impede my healing process . I can't even begin to expre ss how excited I am abo ut the opportunity to compe te this summer in my first X-Games, and I hope to be able to be able to provide KTM with the ir first Gold Medal in the X-Games and defend my AHA Supermoto champ ionship this fall. I also want to thank my oth er sponsors , Parts Unlimited, Thor, A1pinesta rs, M2R, and Scott USA for being supportive during my recovery from my injury." Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. has presented ritory, w here manufacturing sites have to be kept. Technological competencies, the real share of the Aprilia Group. T his offer intends to solve the recent asset of each company. could be better used in an integrated and coherent deve lopment financial crisis of Aprilia in order to re-estab- plan that avoids duplication and that concen- moved by passion, and we are dedica ted to the success of Italian bikes worldwide . We are conscious that this success depe nds on respecting and enhancing the different identi- ties of each single brand, each one directly linked with its products, its history and its ter - Moore has been making regular chec k-up visits to Ting's office, and he got approval to begin rehab on the arm in mid-June. ':4.ccording to Dr. Ting, the bone Is healed ," said Moore, who has been staying fit for the last two months by running, swimming and riding a stationary bike. "With the proper rehab, I should be back racing as soon as Mid-Oh io, though I'm not coming back until I'm 100 perc ent," Moore said in the release. "I guess the No Limits [Motorsports Suzuki, the team that Moore started the year with] thing didn't work out, but I've got a few options for teams to ride with when I do come back, so I'm happy abou t that. Suzuki's been great; they've been very supportive." Moore was a spectator at the AMNWorid Superbike round at Laguna Seca, July 10-11. Eric Peronnard, creator of the U.S. Op en and former vice president of inte rnational developmen t for Clear Ch annel Entertainment, has announced that he will be joining forces wit h Tim Clark , owner of Pro -Motion Motorsports and MiniMoto Enterprises . "I am very excited to be part ners with Tim Clar k," explained Peron nard. ':As you know, Tim is we ll known in the industry and most recently prod uced the MiniMoto SX National in Las Vegas, which was a huge success . I am confident by merging our talents, we w ill strengthen ou r ability to produce unique and innovative eve nts." Bot h Eric Peronnard and Tim Clar k can be reached through the Pro Motion Motorsports office at S41/772-8 150. A dozen freesty le motocrossers are set to bring freestyle MX to Spain's time-tested bullfighting arena - Las Ventas in Madrid - for the third annual Red Bull X.Fighters on Thurs day,July 15. The main event, held at night in the Spanish capital at 21:30 p.m. local Central European Summer Time (3;30 p.m. Easte rn , 12:30 p.m . Pacific in the USA ), willbe broadcast via a live we bcast , which can be viewed using any standard brow ser, operating system and Internet connec tion at an offer for the acquisition of the majority mar ket . according to D ucati, "O urs is a long-term industrial project ." said Federico Minoli , D ucati chairman and CE O. "W e are not financial investors. W e are Co ntinued fro m page 9 to his publicist. Moore has bee n on the mend since reinjuring his previously broken left arm in a near-crash at the California Speed way round of the series in April. Following the incident, Dr. Arthur Ting performed surgery and atta ched a larger, higherstrength compression plate to the arm . Ducati Makes Aprilia Bid lish its role as a leader, built up over years of hard work and successe s in the two-wheel !Briefly... www.redbullxfighters .com . America n supercross/mo toc ro ss television pers onality Cameron Steele will prov ide the live web cast comm enta ry from Madrid. Mike "The Godfather" Metzger and Travis Pastrana, who will be making his first FMX appearance on European soil, are am ong the riders slated to compete, according to Red Bull. In Madrid, Metzge r and Pastrana will meet up with other Amer icans Matt Buyten and Ronnie Renner, as we ll as with Italy's Stefano Minguu i, England's Kris Brock and Spain's trates its investment e fforts on technology and innovation. All together these compan ies will have a great market penetration force, in particu lar abroad. realizing in the meant ime important synergies in sales structures and distribution channels. as well as in purchasing and adm inistrative structures . Our Du cati turn-around experience leaves us confident of the possibility of success and conscious of the responsibilities we are assuming vs. an and Edgar Torronteras. indust ry secto r that has always proudly broug ht the Italian geniality and passion for the two -whee l industry to the world." Central valley (Califom ia) dealer Stockton Honda and American Ho nda have joined two top mo tocross personalities D ani Torr es forces to support rider educat ion with the donation of a new quiet technology Honda CRF250X four-stroke "green-sticker legal" enduro bikes to the BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC) for use in its ongoing efforts to edu cate off-highway vehicle (O HV) recreationists about the importan ce of trail ethics and addressing sound pollution issues by comp lying w ith new so und laws. BRC has bee n working hard for a numbe r of years to edu cate riders about using low-sound emission products on the tra il. The organization has been sound testing at various events, enduros, dual-sport rides, OHV med ia prod uct shoo tou ts, and workshops to emphasize the im portance of a low-sound environment . Don Amador, w ester n representative for the BRC, said, "I believe our work prom ot ing the use of quiet technology prod ucts on the trail complements the goals taught at Honda's four state-of-the-art Rider Education and Environmental Learning Centers located throughout the country. With own ership of an OHV comes responsibility, and this do nation will help us show riders how you can still have fun using quiet products on fede ral and state lands. I know ride rs appreciate being able to see how products perform in the fie ld and at actual events whe re bikes and exhaust systems are tested in realworld conditions by law e nforcement personnel and ot her trained professio nals. I think this donation is clear evidence of Honda's continuing commitment to the rid- ers and the sport to provide them with educationa l opportunities and quality OHVs that meet or surpass environmental standards. Both Stockton Honda's owner, John Bilyeu, and AHM sho uld be com me nded ." Longtime Misso uri Hare Scrambles Championship contender Jerry Hemann succumbed to injuries on June 27, the resu lt of his crash at Park Hills in Missouri. Hemann, 37, had bee n a regular in MHSC competition since the mid- 1980s and had six overall race wins to his cre dit. In 1991, Hemann became the first rider to win a MHSC event on a four-stroke when he top ped the series finale on his Husabe rg. In addition to racing in the MHSC this year, Hemann was attem pting to qualify for the ISDE in Poland. The 29th annual NMA Grand National Championship will be held July 26 th rough ]uly 31 in Ponca City, O klahoma "NMA is pleased to again present the original Grand National Championship in Ponca City, O klahoma," said Ron H enricksen. "Th e best amateur and upcom ing pro mo tocr oss racers from 31 NMA regions across the USA have qualified to take part in this year's eve nt." A memorial service willbe held for former Team Suzuki facto ry motocross racer and former Big ValleyHonda dealer Richard Thorwaldson, who passed away on June 20 at the age of 58. The service will be held on Sunday, July 18, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Big Valley Honda in Reno, Nevada. BVH is located at 222S Market Street, right off the Highway 395 Continued on page '3 www.cyclenews.com CYCLE NEWS • JULY 21, 2004 11