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/128361
Briefly... Conrinued from page 9 the year; Giant RV - official trailer, will be awarding a special edition Weekend Warrior Supercross edition trailer to the top privateer at the end of the season; United States Smokeless Tobacco Company - official tobacco, will be awarding the top three finishing privateers bonus money in the amount of $25,000 for first, $15,000 for second and $10,000 for third; Dunlop Tires - official motorcYcle tire; Tissot - official time piece/watch; OGIO - official bag; Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. - official motorcycle, official ticket consignment outlet; American Honda Motor Co., Inc. - official motorcycle; American Suzuki Motor Corporation - official motorcycle; Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. - official motorcycle; KTM North America, Inc. - official motorcycle, sponsor of the KTM Junior Supercross event; Makita U.S.A., Inc. - official power tool; FRAM/Prestone - official automotive fiiter/coolant. Haga Back to Yamaha Noriyuki Haga has been officially announced as the number-one rider for the Yamaha Motor Italia team in the 2005 World 5uperbike Championship, the japanese star returning to the company for which he made his name in the late 1990s. Haga won I I World 5uperbike races while riding for Yamaha between 1994 and 200 I, and he finished second in the World Championship in 2000 - Yamaha's last official season of World Superbike racing. Haga will join Australian Andrew Pitt on the team's Yamaha RIs after riding a Renegade Ducati to third in last year's World Championship, winning six times in the 2004 season. Haga and Pitt will test last in the month at Phillip Island in Australia. Pitt has already tested the bike twice, but Haga wasn't permitted to ride as he was still under contract to the Renegade team. SIGNED: Supermoto racer Ben Carlson, road racer/supermoto racer Ben Attard and off-road racer Mike Kiedrowski to wear Sidi boots in the 2005 racing season. SIGNED: World Superbike racer and new Foggy Petronas team member Steve Martin to a contract with Alpineslars for the 2005 racing season. "I am delighted to have joined up with Alpinestars," Martin said in a company release. "Their leathers and other racing products are second to none, and I'm looking forward to displaying their products on the podium on a regular basis next season." In addition to the Italy-based team that Haga and Pitt will ride for, Yamaha is also fielding a Yamaha Motor France team that will consist of former Grand Prix riders Norifumi Abe and Sebastien Gimbert in the World Superbike Championship. "I'm looking forward to returning to Yamaha and turning the R I into a winner, It Haga said in a team release. "I am on holiday with my family just now, so I should be feeling good when I meet up with the team for my first ride on the bike - at Phillip Island later this month. I'm very happy to be staying in 5uperbikes and joining this good team. As everyone knows, I love this championship and I've also worked with many of my mechanics before, and also the people at Yamaha Europe, so it will not feel all new to me. It should be fun." AUTOGRAPH SIGNING: At Mission Motorcycles in Daly City, California, January 26 from 7 to 6 p.m. Team Kawasaki's James Stewart, Michael Byrne, Stephane Roncada, Ivan Tedesco and Paul Carpenter are scheduled to appear. For more information, call 650/992-1234. AUTOGRAPH SIGNING: At Mission Motorsports in Laguna Niguel, California, on February 4 from 7 to 6 p.m. Team Kawasaki's James Stewart, Michael Byrne, Stephane Roncada, Ivan Tedesco and Paul Carpenter are scheduled to appear. For more information, call 949/S62-035I. jason Pridmore's STAR Motorcycle School has announced its 2005 schedule. It is as follows: March 21-22, Streets of Willow; March 26-27, Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch; April 11-12, Thunder Hill Raceway; April 13, Thunder Hill Raceway Pro School; May 23-24, Second Creek Raceway; june 13-14, Road America Raceway; june 20-21, Autobahn Country Club; July 1619, Autobahn Country Club; August 6-9, New Hampshire Raceway; August 15-16, Gingerman Raceway; August 20-21, Autobahn Country Club; August 25-26, Jennings GP North Florida; September 6-9, Hallet Raceway; September 26-27, Streets of Willow; October 3-4, Thunder Hill Raceway; October 5, Thunder Hill Raceway Pro School; November 12-13, Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch. For more information, visit www.starmotorcycle.com or call 605/656-6333. SoCal Racing/DeCal Works has announced a partnership with Tamer Motorsports for the 2005 Supercross and AMA National Motocross season; ditto for Cycleworkx.com. "We are again proud to be part of Tamer Motorsports for the 2005 Supercross/Motocross season," SoCal/DeCal president Ron Joynt said. ''As a leading provider of custom graphics favored by many of the top motocross riders in the nation, we are happy to be supporting the industry." Tamer Motorsports will feature Eric Nye and Jake Martin on Yamaha YZ250Fs. "We are competing in the West Coast AMA Supercross Series and the AMA Outdoor Nationals with riders Eric Nye and Jake Martin," team manager Dane Hillery stated. "We will add a third rider to our program for the outdoor nationals." For more information on the team, visit www.tamermotorsports.com. Two Gary Bailey MX School sessions have been scheduled for March at Lake Sugar Tree in Axton, Virginia. The schools will be held March 24-25 (two-day school) and March 26-31 (four-day school). For more information, call 276/650-1759. According to a release from the company, jeff Cole is retiring and handing over the C&J Racing Frames name to one of his employees, Bill Culver. Culver has been welding and fabricating for the past I I years, including the past three at C&J. C&J is also moving its shop to 120 N. Pacific Street, Suite G5, San Marcos, CA 92069, 714/744-0641. In his 2005 State of the State speech, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said: "I love riding my motorcycle along the Pacific Coast Highway - the freedom of the road and the smell of the sea" Mota California agrees. Moto California is a company that specializes in motorcycle tours of the Golden State, and it recently announced its 2005 touring schedule. "California is a world in one state," company spokesman Mark Bisaha said. "We have it all: mountains, deserts, beaches, valleys and world-class cities. What we've done is take these areas and link them using some of the best motorcycling roads imaginable, including Arnold's favorite road, the Pacific Coast Highway, to create tours that remind you of why you started motorcycling to begin with." Tours range from 6 to I I days and include hotels, breakfasts, dinners, routing and guide services. For more information, call 949/606-6655. Three-time AMA 250cc Grand Prix Champion Chuck Sorensen says the proposed AMA Superbike team that he was hoping to be a part of in 2005 has fallen apart. Sorensen was scheduled to be the rider for Stargel Racing, but team principal Rocky Stargel informed Sorensen of his inability to go forward with their plans. "Obviously, I'm disappointed with the decision, but I well understand Rocky's position," Sorensen said. "Running a private Superbike team is no small undertaking. Rocky and I have had some great successes together, and I wish him well in his future efforts." Sorensen now finds himself available to pursue other racing opportunities for 2005. Sorensen can be reached at 406/691-0666 or via e-mail at chuckie Ius@yahoo.com. The Atlanta Bike Fest has been scheduled to take place July 14-17 at the historic Lakewood Exhibition Center and Fairgrounds in Atlanta, Georgia. The multifaceted event includes indoor and outdoor vendor markets that will feature over 300 vendors seiling parts and accessories, apparel, T-shirts, custom bikes, production motorcycles and more. Attendees will also enjoy demo rides, nonstop music, a charity bike ride, educational panels, family fun, motorcycle giveaways, competitions, food, beer and more. Official Atlanta Bike Fest merchandise will also be sold. Registration is available online. Four-day passes are available for $45 and include parking. One-day passes are $12.50 each. Group discounts are also available. For more information on this year's Atlanta Bike Fest, visit www.AtlantaBikeFest.com on the Internet, or call 6ll/BIKE-FEST (677/245-3337). CYCLE NEWS • JANUARY 19,2005 11