Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

IN 1 :tHE 30 YEARS AGO_ .• February lB. 1975 Honda Backs Poovey One Last Time P ro Honda Oils and Chemicals has announced it will sponsor 30-year AMA Grand National veteran Terry Poovey of Euless, Texas, when he contests the final Professional Dirt Track Race at Daytona's Municipal Stadium on March 10,2005. In 1975, as a 16-year-old Junior Expert, Poovey won the Thursday and Friday night races at Daytona. Through the years he has won 20 races there, including the first AHA Grand National dirt track race of the new millennium in 2000. After 30 years as a successful dirt track racer, he will be looking to retire on the top of the box. A former factory Honda racer in the '80s, Poovey will contest his final battle on a specially modified Ist Racing Honda CRH50 motorcycle. The race bike has been under construction and testing for Daytona since early November, and it will represent the state-of-the-art in dirt track equipment. Pro Honda Oils and Chemicals is responsible for making the extensive R&D possible. Other sponsors Dallas Honda, A&A Racing, Falicon Crankshafts and Hap Jones Distributing have contributed considerable knowledge, expertise and specialty parts to the effort. "I want to thank all of our sponsors for their help and support," Poovey said while in the midst of personal preparations for the Daytona event. '" want to finish my racing career on the top of the podium at Daytona, where it all began. Few people in life get to actually live the dreams they have for themselves. I cannot imagine a better career. All the fans, supporters, competitors, sponsors friends and family members who have made my career possible have my eternal love and gratitude." When asked if he was going to be so reflective and philosophical on race day, Poovey responded: "Hell no, I will be busy backing from KK Motorcycle Supply and Content Control Systems, the laner company owned by Roy Plattel of Istlegal.com one rider out there. I'm not saying "m going to win the championship, but I want to win. It's all up to me." In addition to Moroney's team sponsors, Smith will be bringing in financial AUTOGRAPH SIGNING: At KTM of Temecula in Temecula, California, on Thursday February 17 from 6 to 7 p,m. Red Bull KTM's Nathan Ramsey, josh Hansen, Jay Marmont and Ryan Mills are scheduled to attend. For more infonnation, call 9S 1/461-0691 . AUTOGRAPH SIGNING: At North County Yamaha in San Marcos, California, on Friday, February 18 from 6 to 7 p.m. Factory Yamaha riders Chad Reed, David Vuillemin and Tim Ferry, factorysupported rider Heath Voss, and Yamaha of Troy riders Brett Metcalfe and Danny Smith are scheduled to appear. For more information, call 760/432-950 I. 10 Terry Poovey will cap a 30year professional dirt track career with one final appearance at the 2005 Oaytana Short Track. winning a race." Smith To Fasthog.com GNC Team Former Formula USA National Dirt Track Champion and AMA Rookie of the Year Bryan Smith of Flint, Michigan, has signed a contract with 1-800-Fasthog.com racing of New York Harley·Davidson dealer Pat Moroney to contest the 200S AMA Flat Track Championship. Smith, 21, finished I Ith in the 2004 AMA Flat Track Championship standings, carding a season-high second-place finish at the Daytona Short Track. "I think it is the best deal that I have ever had," Smith said. "They've got the best bikes out there, and I'll have all the equipment I need to do it if I am going do it. They have the number-one ride out there, and now I have to be the number- I FEBRUARY 16, 2005 • CYCLE NEWS fame, which was the team Smith rode for when he got his Formula USA title. Smith will replace departing Fasthog.com racers Mike Hacker, who has gone on to form a SuperTrapp-backed venture with veteran tuner Carl Patrick, and jake johnson, who has signed a contract to race for the factory-backed Team Suzuki Flat Track team. In addition. Fasthog.com will be lending support to talented female racer Nichole Cheza of Clio, Michigan. Fasthog.com will be supplying a portion of the equipment that Cheza will use, including Harley-Davidson XR7S0s for the mile track races. All engines in the Fasthog.com arsenal will be built in-house by team engine builder George Sudziarski. "Our goal is to have Brian win his first National and land him in the top five in the points," Moroney said. "Our goal with Nichole is to make main events and crack the top 20." PROMOTED: Steve Lazoff to national sales manager of Triumph Motorcycles (America) Ltd., effective immediately. He will report directly to Mark Brady, Triumph's chief operating officer. AUTOGRAPH SIGNING: At JMP Kawasaki in Wood River, Illinois, on Friday, March 4 from 7 to 8 p.m. Kawasaki's Michael Byrne, Grant Langston and Matt Walker are scheduled to appear. For more information, call 618/2S5-6116. Gaylon Mosier graced the cover cresting a hill at Saddleback Motocross Park in Southern California... Rudy Galindo was on top of the road-racing world. He was the champion of the American Federation of Motorcyclists. At the time, it was the largest motorcycle racing sanctioning body in the United States.... Rex Staten was a double class winner in Carlsbad, California, at the famous Carlsbad Raceway. His victory, however, didn't come without trouble. He got into a heated fight with CMC points leader Mike Yorba... We tested the new Maico 250cc enduro bike. Overall, we liked it, but the quality of the components left a little to be desired. 20 YEARS AGO. __ February 20. 19B5 We took the new Suzuki GSX·R750 for a test ride in • Japan. We were pleased with what we saw of the bike and couldn't wait to get one of our own back in the States... Over 500 amateurs turned out for a day of supercross at Anaheim Stadium in Anaheim, California. Jeff Matiasevich was among them, and was a winner in the 12Scc Intermediate class in his last race in the class... Ron Lechien swept both days at the Seallie Supercross double header. Broc Glover was second to the youngster... The fifth annual Adelanto Grand Prix was held in the small desert IOwn of Adelanto, California. Today, the race is still being held and draws thousands of riders and spectators. 10 YEARS AGO _ February 15. 1995 ====="" The new Gas Gas (jjJ.w~::f1 JT25 trails bike was 'ii9i released. We got a h . 800 c ance to SWI ng a leg over it and came away quite impressed with the entire package... _ ....~_tJl Jeremy McGrath won again. This time it was at the Seattle Kingdome, and this time he got out front early and ran away from everyone.. Casey Lytle won three out of the four Pro-class motos he entered at round three ofthe GFI Winter Series at Perris Raceway in Perris, California. Today, Lytle has retired from full-time racing... We took a look at the world of indoor trails competition. At that time, the sport was beginning to take off. KA~wl.i VtACl'

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