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/128350
~--;-;---------;---HapPE nlng5~~ in Motorcycling Bat:tle of "the Tttzmss The end of the racing season didn't mean that the competition was ove r for many of motorsports' top stars. The "Batt le of Kings" competition was a great opportunity for these at hletes not only to prove their versatility, but also to raise money for a good cause. The event included a combination of aquatic and land events on personal watercraft, quads , offroad buggies, supermoto bikes and even canoes to determine who is the best of the best . The event took place at the Hip6dromo in San Rafael, Ibiza, a Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea. The event was attended by motorsports greats such as 2004 Paris to Dakar-winn ing motorcycl ist Nani Roma; current World Indoor Trials Champion Adam Raga; DTM (Germ an touring car) winner Mattias Ekstrom ; MotoGP stars Max Biaggi , John Hopk ins and Alex Hoffmann ; motocross racers Ben Townley and Yves De maria; road racers Jake Zemke, Kurtis Roberts and Casey Stoner; and special guests such as Niki Lauda and extreme sports star Felix Baumgartner. When the competition was over, it was Demaria who was judged to be the best of the best. ''Although the main point was to have fun, it feels great to have left such giants in the dust," 5 Demaria said. "But it's an even better feeling to have done something for a good cause." The Wings for Life foundation was the cause for which the event was raising money. Wings for Lifewas founded by former motocross star Heinz Kinigadner. The concept beh ind the Wings for Life foundation is the amb itious longterm goal of a wheelchair-free world, an ideal that it pursues through extensive spinal cord research and the development and implementation of innovative therapies and preventive measures for paraplegics . The tragic outcome of the acciden t suffered by Kinigadner 's son Hannes wh ile on a charity race in the summer of 2003 is a painful re minder of the continuing lack of medical resources for treating spinal injuries, along with the meager progress being made in the related scientific field. In collaboration with friends and partners whom he had known for many years, among them Dietrich Matesch itz, Kinigadner responded by setting up the Wings for Life found ation, based in Salzburg, Austria. Its main funct ion is to run and support rigorous pure research in the field of the central nervous system. Dr. Jan Schwab is the foundation's scientific director, with Dr. Vieri Failli providing support to the young specialist from Tubmgen , Germany. Furthermore, the foundation explores potential innovation for preventing serious injuries - such as neck protectors o r airbags for mountain bikers and motorcyclists. Thanks to the support of this event by Repsol, Telef6nica, KTM, Bombardier and Gauloises, the foundatio n has taken yet another step toward making its goal become re ality. TEAM RESULTS I. Racecar (Niki Laeda . Mattias Ekst : rom, Martin Tomczyk. Mathias Uuda, Chris Rosenberger 2. MotoG P (Max Biatgi. Alex Hoffmann, Gregorio ): t..a'lilla, Felix Baumgartner); J. Off-Road (Iordi 'Iarres, Adam Raga. Thierry van den Besch . Christian Pfeiffer): ... Motocross (Yves Demaria. Jimmy Sutton. Georges Jobe. Ben Townley. Moo Nogt); 5. Road Racing (Casey Stoner. Julio S;mon); 6. Repsol Rally (Nan; R.oma. MarcComa, .Jordi Duran, Oaudio Ton-as); 7. USA Team (Chuck Aksland. Kurtis Roberts J Zemke.John Hopkins Mark CemM:ky). . ake . 84 NOVEMBER 17 ,2004 • CYCLE NEWS 40th Anniversary