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/128336
Briefly... Continued lro m p ogo 39 The GMT-94 was here [for testing two weeks before the 8 Hours) and we sent a few tires for the test , but the bike they used was from Yamaha, it was not their own bike. So a lot of work they did was not usable at all from this test." The most unusual entry in the 8 Hours was the Over Racing OV2J·XV. Utilizing the massive I 670cc engine from the ironically named Yamaha Road Star Warrior, Over Racing mod ified the engine from belt drive to chain drive , upped the horsepower from 80 to 110, and fitted the air-cooled V-twin in a bespoke aluminum trellis frame. Over Racinggeneral manager Kensei Sato reckoned that the race bike was about 60 pounds lighter than the standard Yamaha cruiser. However trick the bike was, it was not fast. It qualified dead last, and Suzuka Circuit declined to give it a discretionary provisional start for the race . The Muge n brand of high-performance motorcycle parts was relaunched at the Suzuka 8 Hours . M-TEC company Ltd. took over the rights of all businesses of Mugen Company Ltd., including those related to motorsports. and began operations in january 2004 as a "newbo rn" company. The Mugen company was founded In 1976 by Hirotoshi Honda , son of Honda Motor Company founder Soichiro Honda. Mugen participated in a number of motors ports, including 16 years in the AllJapan Motocross champ ionship and a stint as engine supplier to the jordan Formula One J team . The Mugen Power ~ brand , which means ' "infinite power" in japanese, was internationally recognized. However, tax -related legal issues landed Hirotoshi Honda in [all for an extended period and crippled the Mugen business . The newly reborn company Is focused on exhaust systems for Honda CBRIOOORR and CB 1300 Super Four street bikes and plans to expand the product line according to motorcycle sales trends. Aral has introduced a safety Innovation to improve the removal of helmets from injured riders. Called the Removable Assist Ho od, the device consists of a simple cap with tails tied below the rider's chin. To remove a helmet, first-aid personnel untie the tails and pull the helmet off. The cap presses on the top of the head and does not pull on the neck. The Removable Assist Hood costs 2000 yen, or about $18 . The Motorcycle Federation of japan is cons ider ing making the device mandatory In all Japan championship road racing events. Facto ld: Aral GP-5RC carbon-fiber Formula One race he lmets that comply with FIA regulation 88602004 - also known as the HANS Device Requirement - cost $14,000 each . That does not include the shoulder apparatus required for the HANS dev ice. The helmet we ighs 1.426 kilograms , about the same as the popular RX-7 RR4 motorcycle racing helmet. www.cyclenews.com CYCLE N EWS • AUGUST 11 , 2004 41