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
Children's Hospital Gets a Special Visit reestyle jumping ramps aren't what you'd expect to see at the entrance of a hospital, but if you happened to visit the Loma Unda Children's Hospital in California last week, that's exactly what you would've seen - thanks to Steve Bauer of Wonder Warthog Racing. Bauer organized the Big Air Kid's Fair that was added to Wonder Warthog Racing's annual trip to the hospital. The riders who participated included Nathan Ramsey, Mike Metzger, Sean Hamblin, Travis Pastrana and David Vuillemin. This year, they were aiso joined by Jeff Tilton and Ronnie Renner of TNT Freestyle Motocross, presented by Red Bull. Tilton and Renner gave a crowd of kids many of them in wheelchairs - and hospital staff a cool freestyle demo, right at the steps of the hospital entrance. Then they joined the rest of the riders and visited many of the children in their rooms all afternoon. They had plenty of gifts to hand out, such as hats, posters and lots nice products from Smooth Industries. Some of the key people who made the event possible were Zarehv Sarrafian, Dinah Evans and Joyce Volsch. We talked to Travis Pastrana about the visit. there were just one or two that were really excited, it really makes your day to be able to make someone else's day. What did you think of the whole event? Actually, it was a really neat deal. The guys from Wonder Warthog set it up. We were just going out there to see the kids. If we can do anything, it is good. To see guys like Metzger and stuff, to see them walk into a room and the kid's eyes just light up if we can even make one of the kid's days, it's worth it, Was it weird to do freestyle motocross right at the front door of the hospital? Like, if something went wrong. they Did they know who you were? I bet more than half of them did. Even if Do you think the sport needs to do more stuff like that? You see in sports F JeH Tilton and Ronnie Renner gave a freestyle exhibition at the Lorna Linda Children's Hospital in Loma Linda, California. What where the kids like? I walked into one room and this guy was having [chemotherapy]. One kid was real cool; he was just starting [chemotherapy] - it was his first day - but he was all smiles. Travis Pastrana visits one of the hospital's patients. You gave him the two thumbs up, He was kind of laughing. They were really optimistic, [but] it's real sad. It makes you appreciate everything. One guy was like, "The second I get out of here, I am going to go enjoy everything." Raga Rocks Marseille Indoor Trial podium after standing in second place during the qualification lap. Reigning World Trials Champion Takahisa Fujinami was aiso aboard a new bike (the same as that of Lampkin), but he finished off the podium. Aiso finishing off the pace was Marc Freixa, who seemed to lack confidence aboard his new fourstroke machine. Morio Condellone Defending World Indoor Trials Champion Adam Raga topped raund two at Marseille, France. Conrinued from page 7 (wind surfing), Keith Pritchard (wind surfing), jim Rippey (snowboarding), Kenny Safford (designer), Noah Salasnek (snowboarding). Erik Sandin (music), Ryan Sheckler (skateboarding), Victor Sheldon (Jet Skiing), Josh Sleigh (surfing), Garth Tarlow (surfing), Rob Van Winkle (music), Aaron Vincent (snowboarding), and Jeff Weatherall (wakeboarding). The Crossover Challenge is comprised of 24 action-sport athletes and celebrities who are given the chance to race on a professional THQ World Supercross GPfTHQ AMA Supercross Series track. The participants will be competing on Suzuki's DRZ 110 motorcycle. The 24 riders will be broken down into eight teams of three riders each. The winning team will be awarded $1000 that will be donated to a charity of its choice. The Yamaha Motor Company has announced the commencement of its 50th anniversary celebration with the launch of a commemorative website produced by Yamaha Motor Company Japan. This web- site features data and numerous historical could just roll you in. Doctors were out there cheering, too. It was cool. All the doctors were out there, and Jeff Emig's sister works there, too. The kids, they just loved it. Renner put on a great show, so did Tilton. Gas Gas factory rider Adam Raga confirmed himself to be virtually unbeatable in the arenas as he claimed the win at round two of the World Indoor Trials Championship at Marseille, France, on January 21. For the ISth year running, Marseille hosted a World Indoor Championship round. This year it was the second round of the series. In the small arena, all the spaces were perfectly settled in order to fit eight sections plus the parallel one. Raga, the two-time and defending Indoor World Champion, beat out multi-time World Trials Champion Doug Lampkin, who was aboard a bike with a special engine that was more poweriul than the one that he rode in Sheffield, England, in the previous round. In his second appearance aboard his new Sherco, Albert Cabestany showed good form to reach the Briefly... like pro football where athletes go and do things like that, Does our sport need to do more? The toughest part is our schedule. The football guys have a long off-season. NASCAR guys do not have to train as much during the week. With motocross, you eat, sleep. ride, always 24-7. If you look at the top guys, there is a reason they are up front. People say, "Hey, they are not signing autographs, or not (raj". doing this. there is a reason." Steve Bruhn Northrop, Jessemen and Lange Top Guthrie Arenacross Defending National Arenacross Champion Darcy Lange went from one extreme to the other at round eight of the series in Guthrie, Oklahoma, January 21-22. On Friday, Lange was involved in a first-turn crash with teammate Teddy Maier at the start of the 2S0cc main and fought back to post a 12th-pace finish, while his other teammate, Jeff Northrop, enjoyed relatively fresh air out front. FBC/PPGfTLD/Faetory Connection Honda's Brad Hagseth finished second, with Shogun Factory Yamaha! Motion Cycles ports' Chad johnson in third. In Friday's 12Scc main, Lange didn't fare much better. The series points leader suffered a poor start then slid out while trying to make up ground and could only manage an eighth-place finish, while PPG/Motoworld Racing.com Suzuki's Branden Jessemen cruised to an easy win over johnson and Hagseth. On Saturday, Lange charged back, putting his Ian Woods-tuned Team Green/Pro Circuit/Richmond Racing Kawasaki on top of the box in every race. In Saturday's 12Scc main, Lange led an all-Kawasaki podium, with teammates Northrop and Evan Laughridge joining him on the podium. In the 2S0cc main, johnson and Hagseth completed fairly consistent weekends for themselves by placing second and third, behind Lange. Shon Moore photos that detail the passion of Yamaha since its inception. according to Yamaha. The site will be updated continuously throughout the year as events worldwide mark this celebration. Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, will pay tribute to this anniversary with events throughout the year and plans to celebrate with 100,000 motorsports fans at the U.S. MotoGP to be held July B-1 0 at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California. "The MotoGP involvement is just one way Yamaha can show its appreciation to our customers," says Bob Starr, corporate communications manager of the Motorsports Group. ''And I think our customers will also be quite pleased at some of the other surprises and activities we have planned for the year ahead." For more information, visit www.yamaha-motor:co.jJ).gIobaVSOltVindex.htmI. Harley-Davidson has again announced record revenue and earnings for its fourth quarter and year ended December 3 I, 2004. Revenue for the quarter was $1.22 billion, compared with $1 .16 billion in the year-ago quarter, a SA-percent increase, according to Harley. Net income for the quarter was $209.0 million, compared to $182.4 million, an increase of 14.S percent over 2003. Fourth-quarter diluted eamings per share (EPS) was 71 cents, an 18.3-percent increase compared with last year's 60 cents. Revenue for the fuli year was $S.02 billion, compared with $4.62 billion in 2003, an 8.S-percent increase. Net income for the year was $8B9.B million, a 16.9-percent increase vs. iast year's $760.9 million, while diluted EPS for the full year was $3.00, a 20.0-percent increase compared with $2.S0 in 2003. "Once again, Harley-Davidson achieved record revenue and earnings, making 2004 the 19th consecutive record year for the company," said jeffrey L. Bleustein, chairman and chief executive officer. "We focused on exceeding the impressive results of our IDOth anniversary year by increasing motorcycle availability to Conrinued on page II CYCLE NEWS • FEBRUARY 2, 2005 9