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/128339
Bye, Bye BoxerCup The 2004 season will be the last season for the BMW I Moto rrad BoxerCup, at least for the time be ing, according to BMW The ser ies, which uses BMW's R 1100 S motor. cycles, started in 1999 and has traveled the world , including sharing the Sunday billing at Daytona with the Daytona 200. "It was clear right from the start that a brand cup would only attract widespread attention over a limited period of time," said BMW motor sports director Berthold Hause r. "We have achieved all our objectives . We have shown how fast the Boxer can go on the racetrack and have proved the sports-oriented side of our brand to a w ide public. The throaty sound of the nat twins and the thrilling duels and battles for position are what got the fans really excited ." This year 's series will likely be won by Thomas Hinterreiter, but the battle for second and third in the cham pionship is still raging between Markus Barth and Stephane Mertens. The series will end on October 30 at the Valencia in Spain, runn ing in conjunction with the Spanish Grand Prix. The future of BMW Motorrad's motorsport involvement is still in discussion. "At the moment there are a lot of interesting ideas, but there is no rush , and above all, there is no need for making decisions, " Hauser said. semifinal round , Smith won with a 7.29, while H ines coasted to a IO-second elapsed time . H ines had a horrible reaction time, then had to shut the bike off after his hand came off the handlebars . Smith got the win over Hines, but it was an expensive one as he wounded an engine. "As soon as I crossed the finish line, I felt it let go," Smith said before the final. "We' re probably going to have to borrow an engine for the final because we 've already hurt one this weekend." With just 75-minutes between rounds, Smith and crew chief Bryce were joined by several other riders, including Cra ig Treble, Redell Harris , Kurt Matte, and Michae l ACCEPTING: AXO America will be accepting racer resumes beginning on Sep- Brown Gets Long-Overdue First Win of 2004 Overcoming the bad luck that has plagued him for most of this season, U.S. Army Suzuki's Antron Brown won his first race of 2004 with a convincing victory at the NHRA O'Re illy Auto Parts Nationa ls at Memphis Motorsports Park in Memphis, Tennessee , on August 22. On a hot and muggy evening, Brown reached the winner's circle for the first time in over a year when he defeated first-time finalist Matt Smith, who jumped the gun and red-lighted by one -hundredth of a second. ''I'm speechless right now," Brown said. "It' s about time I finally won again. Our team has been awesome. My bike has been right there, but I haven't gotten the wins. I've doubted myself a little at times, but we stayed poised today and got the result we were looking for." Brown qualified second in the 16-bike field with a 7.19, well behind the pace set by Scream in' Eagle Harley-Davidson's Andrew Hines, who topped the qualifying list for the seventh time in I I races this year with a 7. 13. O n race day, Brown defea ted Kurt Matte and Shawn G ann to move into the semifinals and a meeti ng with his U.S. Army teammate, Ange lle Savoie, who has ow ned Brown the last three times they 've raced, including the recent final round in Sonoma. T his time, however, Brow n returned the favor in Memph is, winning on a holeshot , 7.30 to Savoie's quicker 7.29. "She pimped me at the last two races , so lowed her one:' Brown said. "I felt pretty good all day, and that was reflected in my riding. I was very relaxed instead of being all amped up. When that happens, I sometimes lose focus, but not this week." Smith, the son of veteran Pro Stock car driver Rickie Smith, was competing in just his 13th NHRA Pro Stock Bike event. Riding George Bryce's Star Racing Suzuki, Smith qualified 12th and upset Houston winner Karen Stoffer in ro und one and re igning NHRA champ Gena Scaliin round two . In the 12 SEPTEMBER 1,2004 • CYCLE NEWS tember I and running through November 15. Resumes can be se nt to sponsorhouse.com or to AXO at 26074 HallAve.. # 13, Valencia, CA 9 1355, attn : Rider Support. AUTOGRAPH S IGN ING : At Triangles Cycles North in Danville, Virginia, on September 16 from 6to 7 p.m. Kawasaki's road racing team of Tommy Hayde n, Roger Lee Hayden, Tony Meiring and Josh Hayes are schedu led to appear. For more information, call 434/799-8000. Phillips, as they rushed to install a new engine for the final. The crew got the job done in time, and Smith made a respectable run with a 7.42, but his foul start ended the race on the starting line. "I don't get to run all the races , but I want people to know when I am here," Smith said. "Th is weekend, I think we did just that. Hopefully, I can get back here [to a final round] soon ." With the victory, Brown moved into sec ond in the points standings, though Hines still enjoys a comfortable lead with just four rounds remaining in the season. Ke vin M c K en na ACCEPTING: Factory Effex, Inc. will begin accepting rider resumes from September I through November 30. Resumes can be sent through Sponsorhouse.com , or to Factory Effex, Att n: Rider Support. 24922 Anza Dr., Suite D, Valencia, CA 91355 . APPOINTED: Robert Hanse n as director of arenacross by Clear Channel Entertainment's M ot or Sports division. Hansen will oversee all operations for the Nationa l Arenacross Series and all Regional Arenacross events . "This is a great opportunity, one I have been loo king forward to for some time, " Hansen said. '" have been invo lved with arenacross since '89, when I went to Australia to help a local promoter with the ACCEPTING: Fastlap RacingSuspension is American riders. The racing action in small currently accepting racer resumes for the confines is my specialty. After returning to 2004/2005 racing season . Resumes can be sent to Fastlap at 6834 Oak Leaf Lane, Pinson , AL 35126 . the states with some help from Jim Holley, we started a small arenacross series out west consisting of sixvenues , and 10 years AC CEPTING: Blur Optics is now accept- later we were acquired by Clear Channel. Now I am responsible for more than 20 ing rider resumes for the 2005 season regional events . Now. with the national through October 31. Resumes can be sent to 9600 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Chatsworth, CA 9131 I, attn : Dennis Bloch. series added to my responsib ilities, I'm looking forward to the challenges in the 2004-2005 seasons ." 40th A nniversary