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/128345
· . . Briefly... McCoy Back to MotoGP I I Continued from page 7 Several changes have been made at the popular Ocot illo Well s State Ve hicular Recr e ation Area due to an increase in the number of visitors, California State Park officials have announced. "We hope you have a fun and safe visit to Ocotillo Wells this season, " superintendent Kathy Dolinar said. "We are asking for our visitors help in continuing to meet our mission. By helping, you ensure future generations will be able to experience the same quality of off-road recreation experience that you currently enjoy." Dolinar noted that there has been a more than BO-percent increase in visitation since 200 I. The following changes have been instituted, Dolinar said, and visitors should remember to follow them when visiting the park : Public Safety - due to the high number of incidents on Blow Sand Hill last season, park officials will begin focused patrols in the area from October 31, 2004, through january I, 2OOS , aimed at curbing illegalactivity in that area. Depending on the data that is received and the results of the focused patrols, the area could be closed on holiday weekend nights between january 14 and May 3 I. Curfew - Under the California Code of Regulations section on camping, the curfew for juveniles under age 18 is 10 p.m. After 10 p.m. juveniles may be in the park only if they are camped in legally designated areas with a parent, guardian or have a per- mission slip. Clean Up - glass containers will no longer be allowed on trails . However. vis- itors may continue to use glass bottles in camping areas . All visitors are encouraged to pack out what you carry in or to place empty glass and cans in recycling bins locat- order to prepare for the filming of "Missio n Impossible 3." Cruise was a student of Code's in june with Rolling Stone magazine doing a story on Cruise while he there. Cruise took the school at Wiilow Springs Raceway in Rosamond, California. "To m was a good rider already. He has a great combination of bravery and control, just like in his films," says Whitney Fair, director of the school. "That was his third On One Wheel school session and he's already just about good enough to enter stunt contests. The idea was to get to the next action level on the motorcycle and, in his usual go-for-it style, he did!" For more information and school travel schedules visit www.OnOneWheel.com or call 818/9S7-7104. New sponsors that have come on board since the season started have raised AMA Supermoto Cham pio ns hip contingencies to over three-quarters of a million dollars, according to a release from AMA Pro Racing. Husqvarna joins KTMas the leading contributor to AMA Supermoto contingency awards with a total of $14 ,900 available at each round for both the Supermoto and Unlimited classes. Husky also posts a $SOOO championship bonus award. Husqvarna joins KTM, Honda and Yamaha as manufacturers making the bulk of the award money available to AMA Supermoto competitors. Pirelli, Michelin, Leo Vince X3 Exhaust, Engine Ice and Husqvarna are sponsors that have recently joined the ranks with Honda, Dunlop, KTM, Maxxis, Shoei, Troy Lee and Yamaha as con tingency sponsors for the 2004 AMA Super- ed in the mota Championship. " It' s exciting to see contingency postings rise to over three- park will find maps , rules and regulations, as quarters of a million dollars ," said Chris Bradley, the AMA Supermoto Championship well as information about park resources series manager. "T his money is set aside and programs at the display shelters at the main access points to the park . In addition. the website has been updated; a se lf-guided specifically for the teams and will help support a larger base of riders who can com- main camping areas and at the dump station. Education - visitors to the G arry McCoy will join the MS Aprilia Racing team for the final three rounds of the 2004 MotoGP World Championship, according to Aprilia. The Australian, who finished a dispiriting 22nd in last year's MotoGP World Championship aboard the Fuchs Kawasaki, is currently sixth in the World Superbike Championship aboard the Xerox Nortel Networks Ducati. McCoy will make his debut on the Cube three-cylinder at the Malaysian GP at Sepang, October 9-10, substituting for injured British rider Shane Byrne, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season through injury. McCoy will also appear in front of his home crowd at Phillip Island's Australian GP on October 17, and at the season's final race in Valencia. Spain. Byrne underwent a successful operation on Thursday, September 30, to repair ligament and bone damage to his left wrist. He'd originally injured the wrist in a practice crash at Brno in August. Following the japanese GP at Motegi two weeks ago, tests revealed the wrist was broken and had caused ligament damage. Famous for his spectacular sliding riding style, McCoy brings a wealth of World Championship experience with him. He won his first premier class GP at the Welkom circuit in South Africa in 2000 on the Red Bull Yamaha and went on to claim two more victories in Estoril and Valencia in the same season. He eventually finished fifth in the overall 500cc World Championship standings in 2000 , He also claimed four other premier class podiums, add ing to his two wins in the 12Scc World Championship. But that free-sliding style didn't translate well to the MotoGP four-strokes, and he was saddled with uncompetitive tires during his final years at Kawasaki. Aprilia racing chief jan Witteveen said: "Garry contacted us after japan, and from that moment we were seriously considering him fo r a ride on the R5 Cube. He brings with him great quality, but he is also the only rider who has no contract problems, with the World Superbike Championship finishing on Sunday. We are looking forward to working him because we know he is a rider of great talent." Shane Byrne is now beginning two months of rehabilitation and will be able to commence an intensive course of physio- therapy in three weeks in a bid to be fit for winter testing. Aprilia says. pete in the entire series." interpretive route is available to educate visi- to rs about the amazing facts and features of Ocotillo Wells. Evening programs are also conducted throughout the park . Visitors can find a schedule of these events and other park activities at the new display cases outside each restroom. Ocotillo Wells SVRA is located adjacent to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. This area has more than 83,000 acres of desert terrain, stretching from below sea level to 400-foot e levations . It is a motorcycle, four-wheel drive , all-terrain vehicle and dune buggy use area. For additional information on Ocotiilo Wells SVRA, visit the State Parks website at www.parks.ca.gov. World Long Track Championship racer Ma th ia s Kroge r failed an FIM drug test on July 13 in Marmande, France, the Germany rider's anti-doping sample found to contain salbutarnol, a prohibited substance, according to the FIM. Kroger has been disqualified from his eighth-place finish in France and has been fined 200 Swiss Francs . According to a release fro m Keith Code, actor To m Cruise took part in one of Code's On One Wheel wheelie schools in With less than a month to go , the Red Rock Na tional D ual Sport Rid e is rapidly approaching the cap of 125 riders set by the U.S. Forest Service in agreement with Motolink, the event organizer. Anyone desiring to participate in this two-day event is encouraged to pre-enter, as day-of-event e ntries will be subject to availability Entry . forms can be downloaded from the event website at www.motolink.us or by calling 602/S24-0915. Also, a hotline has been established for latecomers to call and check on entry availability before driving out to the even t. The late -entry hotline number is 77S/27 8·56S6. The Red Rock National Dua l Sport Ride will take place o n October 23-24 in Sedona, Arizona. The event is sanctioned by the AMA and is designated as a National Dual Sport event. AMA membership is ma ndatory, and nonmem be rs can join at the event. Motorcycle enthusiasts will be treated to to p-notch entertainment duri ng th is year 's Buffalo Chip on October 2 1-24 at Daytona Inte rnatio nal Speedway as [a ckyl, Blue Oyster Cult and t he Edgar Wi nt e r Band are among the headlining bands scheduled to Continued on page www.cyclenews.com C YC LE NEWS • OaOBER 13,2004 r1 9