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/128363
Pearson Fires First at National H&H Opener M ontclaJr Yamaha/Zlp-"!y Racing YZ450F racer Russell Pearson revealed that he is serious about reclaiming the AMA National Hare & Hound Series Championship after winning the opening round of the AMNFMF Racing National H&H Series in Lucerne Valley, California, on January 23. Pearson led defending champ Destry Abbott, aboard a Kawasaki KX500, across the finish line after leading the whole wa:y. Pearson's teammate and former hare and hound champ Ty Davis took third on a Yamaha VZ250. The Desert Motorcycle Club put on the 38th annual Winter Classic that was described by many of the racers as a good old-fashioned National. The two-loop race, which totaled 96 miles, included lots of little-used and very technical trails. "I just did everything I could do out there," Pearson said. "I just rode a good race, and my bike worked awesome. I'm excited for the year, definitely." Steve Hengeveld took fourth on his Precision Concepts/Honda Pro OiVMSR-sponsored XR650R, and Brian Brown, another former series champ, rounded out the top fIVe on his Dunlop/Acme Suspension/Fly Racing KX500 in his first race since breaking his leg while practicing for the final last October. =~~~ "on;~.1M AmIli""i'II! ,Mcllda. .. , hlIf~ettMl .. .... ....*"'*~ .....!lI1IIe 1W ... 1 SII!.I'dar~ 1OO.~_i At.15 ........u ... h11hNd lilIItelbaut 25 "*--1lI1McI an lap from the recent ~ tire - . ExclIIlt fer Daytona, the *'* \I'IIdIlJOl"'" "'" Russ Pearson opened the 2005 National Hare Lucerne Valley. New motorcycle sales continued to climb last year, rising through the one million mark and reaching levels not seen since the 1970s, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council. The MIC is currently estimating 2004 two-wheeler sales of nearly 1,050,000, and the upward trend continues as the industry has sold increasing numbers of bikes for the 12th straight year. Compared to 2003, sales of the major brands last year rose 4.7 percent, according to MIC figures. Among those 12 brands, cruiser models, sportbikes, touring bikes, traditional (or "naked") bikes and dual-purpose bikes led the way in percentage increases. Cruisers remained the top sellers, followed by sportbikes and touring bikes. "The success of motorcycling over the past 12 years is amazing." said Larry little, chairman of the MIC and vice president and publisher of Cycle World magazine. "Through years of economic challenges, veteran riders, new riders, Americans from all walks of life have made motorcycling part of their lives. Our research tells us that today's motorcyclists tend to have a more optimistic view of life, and that's played a role in new bike sales." ''A wider range of Americans are becom- 6 ing motorcyclists," said Tim Buche, MIC president. "Women now account for nearly 10 percent of owners, more families with kids are out riding dirt bikes, and even more seniors are enjoying two-wheel travel. As motorcycling becomes more and more part of the fabric of mainstream America, with overall consumer confidence on the rise, and with more and more people taking a look at motorcycles as viable transportation and excellent recreation, we are optimistic that the industry will continue its great ride." Sales in 2003 hovered at the one million mark, with the MIC reporting most of last year that the total was approximately 996,000. Last month's final tally of 2003 sales indicated that when small, independent brands were factored in, just over one million units were sold. The motorcycle industry last saw this level of success in the 1970s, when baby boomers and their children took to dirt bikes and highly affordable imports, mostly from the major Japanese manufacturers. The year recognized by the MIC as having the highest number of new bike sales is 1973, when Americans purchased more than 1.5 million motorcycles. Before 2003, the last time that motorcycle sales eclipsed one million was 1979. Sales tapered throughout the I980s and reached their nadir in 1992, when roughly FEBRUARY 2, 2005 • CYCLE NEWS ..,.."..2, ,ftwhcl(n ...,..,..~~~ & Hound Series with a wire-to-wire victory at A Million Bikes! = I1IIfIIiY~AWoi~w.lli$l'\IIllII 278,000 new motorcycles and scooters found buyers, according to the MIC. Today, the industry sells more than that number in dirt bikes alone. Annual motorcycle sales began their sustained rise in 1993, and made huge gains in the latter part of the decade. In 1998, sales jumped 21 percent compared to the previous 12 months. In 2000, the market skyrocketed by 30 percent. Motorcycling witnessed double-digit annual percentage increases between 1998 and 2002. "So many people at all levels in the motorcycle industry jumpstarted the business again," said Ty van Hooydonk, director of product communications for Discover Today's Motorcycling, a media and consumer outreach program of the MIC. 'I\nd the motorcycles have greatly improved over the past dozen years. The advances in technology applied to bikes has made them that much more enjoyable, really striking a connection with their riders. Modern materials and methods have opened new doors for styling and design. We're seeing bikes on the road today that were dream stuff back in the 70s. And there's a huge array of bikes on the market that appeal to all of the expanding buyer segments. There's a great bike available, and likely a choice of great bikes, for anyone wanting to ride, regardless of skill level or the type of riding that's of interest to them." SupelWce Ien&th .. 100 IlIomeeIrs, or 62 mlIII. ~, the Formula XtrWM ~ 200 should run much IofWIr than dill yers I'ICe fCll' - ' ..-ons. The first Is the MW 2,95-mIle canfI&utadon. At. 68 laps. nine RlOf8 than ... yeW's 57. It's the mwt _ run It the Speedway, And the . - . speed will be much lower than the 113.938 mph Mat Mladin - . In wmlrW the 2llO4 Daytona 200. AInertc:In Honda's MIpI Duhamel-.ed 101.528 mph on his best lap of the WIt on the FormIA XtrWM blu. 'Th8n dlenI _ the pit etaps. WIlh no qull:k-cIlIIlp lIPI*'lIlUI allowed, pit lIlDpI WlI . . .... tIwI the 10 seeondI the belt MI'IlII'd to cIIInae two tIrw II1d dump tueL On the ....... the 60Ils won't MeiI front lire - . . II -V . . MIIny rtdIrI wit CllIIlIfIlel8 the I'lIlliI on the _ front. II Ny did durIna the 20CMnIIe SUplIrbllce . . . The other two ~ ~, RepIoI $\IIIflstoCk and ~ Honda 0IIlI Supel'tJICIl't. wi. nlR an ~ Miidl 10. Silpencack (II . . 3U5 m"') It the first .. Nt, ~ lilt 3141 p.m. The n-.., M.",mtte $uflIl'Il\II1 . . nlnI at +.4J p.m. The rae. ~ wtre d*'IId. reIIllct the new tnfWd .... whMh ~ "'~~1I1d shart_ the lap fnIm 3.56 tnIlII to 2.95 miIeI. The flnaI distancII __ ..... mined lifter dIscussIoni wtth the tItlI companies, the ~ rIdVs Mel race_. "Wa knew that the chqes wauld dIaate how - ~ ... IIInJth of each .... AMA RllId race manaaer Ron 8arrlck IlIklln lIIl AHA Pro Racln& press ,..., "The tItlI lIeSt _ lIIl opportunity to ~ lire -r. fuel mU..... ....d sptecIs pthered from teams. rlders and dre wehnlcIIns. We used this data to help us deterrnlne race distances for tllICh dass or motorcycle.• Heimy Ray A6ramt