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/128371
Rain Thwarts Intinean Test T he rain that has been wreaking havoc on the AMA Superbike teams struck again on day two of the test at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California, though the teams did get in one full day of testing on Thursday, March 17. "Infinean Raceway is a great racetrack, and the safety improvements that have been made are great, as far as the racers are concerned," Mladin said in a release issued by the racetrack. "There are certain places that may need a little work, but this Seventeen riders and eight teams con- place is a whole new ballgame since the verged on Infineon Raceway for the twoday test, held in advance of the Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown that will take place at the facility May 13-1 S. "Well, we got one day," Ducati Austin first time I came here in 1996. It's much better." Mladin's teammate Aaron Yates ended up second quickest with a I:36.76, narrowly ahead of the third factory Suzuki, ridden by Ben Spies. Ducati Austin's Neil Hodgson turned in the fourth-fastest time rider Eric Bostrom said. "It would have been nice to get both days, but what can you do? We had a good day on Thursday, in his first visit American at least." Teams that participated in the test were Yoshimura Suzuki, Kawasaki, Yamaha. DUC3ti Austin, Honda, Erion Honda, Attack Kawasaki and Mat Mladin Motorsports. Suzuki's Mat Mladin posted the top Superbike time during Thursday's testing, lapping at 1:36.41 - faster than his qualifying lap record at Infineon. Bostrom [0 the racetrack. besting Honda's and Mat Mladin was the fastest of the AMA Superbike men in the rain· shortened test at Infineon Raceway. Erion Miguel Duhamel, Racing's Kurtis Roberts. "This is my first day here, and the track is awesome," Hodgson said. "One of the main reasons I came to America is to race on tracks like these that have a lot of character. A lot of the tracks in Europe are nat. This track is unbelievably physical." Ben Spies continues to impress, the yaung Texan turning in the third·fastest Superbike time. Despain Gets Perkins Award Johnson Gets Gainesville NHRA Win, Hines Runs First Six Beginning his 18th season in professional drag racing, Snap-on Tools Suzuki's Steve johnson won for just the second time in 200 starts on the NHRA Powerade tour as he opened the 200S Pro Stock Motorcycle season with a vic- American television personality in the his- The AMA has announced that Dave tory of motorcycling. He started calling luck today, especially in the first two rounds," johnson said. "But I was also good when I had Despain, well-known motorsports television personality and member of the local races in and around his home state of to be. We made some adjustments to keep race announcer, radio disc jockey, television color commentator and, ultimately, host of Outstanding Contribution to Motorcycling, moter, AMA Pro Racing board member and founder of the Dirt Track Hall of Fame. From the mid-1970s through the 2000s, Louis round, but that celebra- was nearly overshadowed by tion was muted due to the the performance of reigning Motorcycle Hall of Fame, is the latest recipient of the AMA Dud Perkins Award for Outstanding Contribution to Motorcycling. The formal presentation took place at Daytona Bike Week 200S, and Despain publicly accepted the award on Sunday, March 13, during his "Wind Tunnel" program on Speed Channel. The AMA Dud Perkins Award for death of Top Fuel driver Darrell NHRA Powerade Pro Stock Motorcycle champ Andrew established in 1971, was first presented to tory at the Mac Tools Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway in Gainesville, Florida, on March 20. Johnson won last year's St. the bike from bogging, and it worked. I cut a good light and then went out and outran his ass all the way to the finish line. That's the best part. I didn't back into anything. We earned it." Johnson's Russell, who died from injuries suffered in a crash earlier in the day. This time, there was no restraining the second victory Hines, who broke the six-sec- ond barrier Friday night. Hines rode his Screamin' Eagle Harley- boisterous johnson, who celebrated long Davidson to a 6.99-second e.t. into the night. during qualifying, recording the first official Pro Stock "The way I look at it, this Is really my first win," johnson Motorcycle run under seven a seconds. Hines earned said. "This is the first time it has Johnson's win came during what was easily the quickest and most competitive Pro Stock Bike field ever assembled. Nearly all of the 16 qualifiers recorded the best runs of their careers during the event, including Johnson, who was the ninth seed with a 7.07. During eliminations, Johnson got a pair of gifts when S&S Buell's Chip Ellis and low qualifier Andrew Hines each left the starting line too soon and drew a red-light start. Johnson was also good when he had to be, beating Antron Brown with a 7.16 in the semifinals and then returning in the final with a 7.13 to outrun Mateo Tools Suzuki's Craig Treble, who was close behind with a 7.16. ''I'll be the first to admit that I had some its namesake. Dud Perkins was a San Francisco motorcycle dealer who embodied tireless and generous dedication to every aspect of motorcycling, serving on many AMA committees and advancing the careers of many noteworthy professional motorcycle racers, according to the AMA. The award is the Association's highest $10,000 bonus as the inaugural member of the Mickey honor for outstanding contributions to Thompson Performance Tires Six-Second Despain is arguably the best-known really hit me that I've accom- plished something special. You give up a lot in life to race like this, but days like this make it all worthwhile." Neil Hadgson likes Infinean Raceway. motorcycling. Iowa and progressed through the ranks as a nationally broadcast weekly motorcycling program. Besides being the voice of motorcycle racing, Despain also has done just about everything else in motorcycling, from being AMA public relations director, racer, motorcycle shop worker, journalist, pro- there's been no more recognized face and voice in the sport of motorcycling, accord- ing to the AMA. "There's perhaps no more deserving recipient of the Dud Perkins Award than Dave Despain," said Robert Rasor, president of the AMA. "His immeasurable contributions to motorcycling, both behind the microphone and beyond, showcase the very best of our sport, and we're delighted Club and also set the NHRA record and earned 20 bonus points. "As soon as I let the clutch go, I knew it was a six-second run," Hines said. "Our team spent all winter building two new bikes, and I can already tell they're better than last year's bikes, and those were pretty good. They only made one of these [Six-Second Club trophies], and this one is going to have my name on it. That's a pretty special feeling." Though Hines was the only rider in the sixes, others weren't far behind, including Harley-Davidson teammate G.T. Tonglet, who qualified second with a 7.00, former champion Geno Scali, who ran a 7.0 I, and U.S. Army Suzuki teammates Antron Brown and Angelle Savoie, who each ran 7.02. 12 MARCH 30, 2005 • CYCLE NEWS Kevin McKenna No Blata Yet Blata's V-six did not make the first MotoGP test of the year, with the WCM team using the old Yamaha RI-based four-cylinder Harris machine. This might go on for the first few races, team boss Peter Clifford said. "Blata said they would have the V-six ready for the first race, but we are ready to run our old bike if it isn't ready," Clifford said. So far, he had seen castings and other parts, but no complete machine. "What they have done is equip the race department with dynamometers and rapid prototyping facilities," he said. They were obviously very serious and practical about setting up the new shop. Clifford said. Michael Scan