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/128366
Briefly... Ward Opts Out of Daytona 200 a: R eigning AMA Supermoto Champion and motocross racing legend Jeff Ward has confirmed to Cycle News that he will not be contesting the 2004 Daytona 200 this March. "I don't think it's going to happen at this point," Ward said in a JeH Ward (right), pictured here with Indy !l! car driver Paul Tracy, has decided not to ~ race in the Daytona 200 this year. ~ § >- m ~ 0- phone interview. "Logistically, we could have done it, but then Kurtis Roberts signed up with Erion Racing to run the Superbike, and he is also going to run in the 200, which means that another bike would have to be built. I think that they could use my bike as a backup bike if there was nobody else involved. [Otherwise] my bike would be an extra bike that they wouldn't need to build." Ward, who tested with Erion Racing during the winter Dunlop tire tests at Daytona International Speedway, stressed that it was not a matter of him having to "buy" the Erion ride for the 200. "Honda was giving us the bikes, and Erion had the equipment, and we probably would have had to hire on a couple people to help at the races," Ward said. "But we have a couple people working at Troy Lee right now to do our AGV Sports Group Inc, has announced its 2005 contingency programs for CCS, CMRA, FUSA, and WERA road racing. For more information, log on to www.agvsport.com on the Internet. supermoto stuff who used to be in road racing, so we could have put it together. But we have just kind of put it aside for now, and maybe next year we will just get more prepared and be a little more ready for it, and I'll probably have more fun than I would have had this year. This year I probably would have had too much pressure to go quicker - to go too fast too quick." Though he will skip Daytona, Ward said that doesn't necessarily mean he will not take to the pavement at an AHA National road race later in the year. "I might go do California Speedway or something. you know, where it is in my back yard and I can go out and test," Ward said. "I wouldn't have so much pressure, and I wouldn't have to do pit stops there. Daytona is kind of a gnarly place. It's very high speed there, and it would have been jumping in feet first, but I think I could have handled it okay." Ward said that he has always admired the sport of road racing, at least as far back as his factory Kawasaki motocross days. McBride Set For NHRA Return Angie McBride, who briefly rode in Pro Stock Motorcycle as a member of George Bryce's Star Racing/G-Squared team in 2004, is planning a return to the class in 200S. McBride will field her own McBride Racing Suzuki GSX-R with the help of associate sponsors Pro Blend Motorsports Products, Xceldyne Valves, and CV4, a division of CV Products. "I am so looking forward to getting back into Pro Stock [Motorcycle] and being back on the NHRA tour," said McBride, who qualified for last year's season opener in Gainesville with an eighth-best 7.217. "Things didn't work out last year between the G-Squared team and me, but even when 1left, 1knew 1wasn't quitting forever. Riding Continued from page 7 Jimmy Moore, the 200 I and 2002 AMA Superstock Champion, is returning to the AMA Superbike Championship with Team Hooters HelpMeRide.com Suzuki. After receiving a last-minute call from crew chief Mike Fargnoli, Moore, 37, of Eugene, Oregon, agreed to ride with the team in both the Superstock and Superbike classes on the all-new 200S Suzuki GSX-R I000. Fargnoli will be working directly with Moore as lead mechanic, with Moore's longtime friend Troy Olsen, also from Eugene, Oregon, pitching in. "I am really looking forward to getting back to racing this year," said Moore, who sat out most of 2004. 'Wter the ups and downs of last season, I want to concentrate on being strong and consistent, and improving as the year goes on. If I stick to that plan, the results will follow." Moore served limited duty on the Team Corona Extra EBSCO Media Suzuki team in 2004, riding in the first and last races of the year. Injury kept him out of the rest. The worst of his injuries came at Brainerd in 2003, when a wind gust took out his front tire in turn one and he slid 230 yards into a tree, breaking his left humerus and rupturing his spleen. Eric Wood and John Haner campaigned the Hooters Suzukis in 2004. the bike wasn't the hard part; I know I can do that. Everything else had to be just right, and unfortunately, it wasn't. It has been my dream to race a Pro Stock Motoncycle, so I'm really excited about this opportunity. I still have something to prove." The lewisville, North Carolina-based McBride team has purchased a Kosman chassis that was formerly one of Antron Brown's Team 23 Suzukis and has reached an agreement with veteran Pro Stock Motorcycle crew chief and engine builder Blake Gann to supply engines for what is currently planned as a limited schedule. "Right now we're looking at racing in a minimum of fIVe or six races, including the Gatornationals," said McBride. "We also "I grew up racing at Kawasaki with Eddie Lawson and Wayne Rainey on my team," Ward said. "I would go to Daytona and watch them, and I always thought it would be neat just to hop on a road race bike, just to do a lap or go down a straightaway. This [Erion] opportunity to test came up, and I went down there and did it. I don't want to be a road racer, I know that. I'm too old in my life to be doing flips down the pavement." have some deals in the works that could allow us to run all I 5 events this year. Hopefully we'll have some more positive news to report in the next week or two. So far, everything has come together very quickly." After leaving the G-Squared team last April, McBride returned to racing in local events with her 190-mph Outiaw-c1ass Suzuki. McBride won the 2003 Southeastern Motorcycle Drag Racing Association Outlaw championship. "My license is current, and I raced last season, so I don't feel rusty at all," McBride said. "Hopefully, we'll be able to make at least a few test runs before we get to Gainesville. I'm pretty anxious to get back out there. I'm ready to go." Kevin McKenna Mike Sullivan Road Racing and Performance Riding School has finalized its 2005 schedule. The school, held at three Northwest racetracks, is featuring an All Women's Day at Pacific Raceways on July 28. Other dates are May 26, July 21, August 20, and September I at Spokane Raceway Park; June I, July 2B, and August 24 at Pacific Raceways; and June 23 at Portland International Raceway. For more information, log on to www.SullivanRaceSchool.com on the Internet, or call 360/736-2791. Fantasy Racer announces the launch of two new fantasy leagues for motorcycle racing enthusiasts. Both of these leagues are exclusive leagues for the AMA Flat Track Series and the GNCC series by Racer productions. The FantasyRacer.com Fantasy Flat Track league was launched by FRC in 2003 but took a break during the 2004 series. Due to many requests, FRC is bringing back the Flat Track league for the 200S series, which starts on March 10, 200S, in Daytona Beach, Florida. Fantasy Racer and GNCC Racing has partnered to bring you the only fantasy league for the Grand National Cross Country series as well. The inaugural season of the Fantasy GNCC League is free and lets you become a team manager of your own team. The Fantasy GNCC league is also unique because it incorporates both motorcycles and ATV classes into the league. Each league is look- Continued on page J J CYCLE NEWS • FEBRUARY 23, 2005 9