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/128375
Briefly... 30 YEARS A60... April i!!9, 1975 r.:+r.rT:1..n~:T:Il "Bumblebee" Bobby Schwartz won three straight Handicap events at the opening round of weekly t.,.....' . "~ " speedway racing held . -~ "'. in Irwindale, Califor•,=- .... , • nia. That night there was an astonishing number of Division One riders... Carl Cranke won an ISDT two-day qualifier at the Fort Hood Military Base in Texas. Malcolm Smith was there. He got a ticket from the Military Police but still got second in the Soocc class... Mike Bell won the highly competitive 12Scc Pro class at a CMC Motocross in Irvine, California... We tested Yamaha's new MX400 motocross bike. It came equipped with a monoshock and was $300 cheaper than the previous yz model bikes. .• ?". ~f\ " i!!0 YEARS A60... May 1,1985 r::;r.ri1'!'i1"\'f~~ We tested the 1985 ;~il.l.l.:.I"'~' Kawasaki KX500. Po ............ In previous years, the Kawasaki open bike had been the laughing stock of the class. In 1985, however, we felt Kawasaki had a win- ner on its hands... Jeff Ward took the win at the seventh round of the AMA Supercross Series in Houston, Texas. With it he moved into the points lead. Keith Bowen was second, and Johnny O'Mara completed the podium. At the same race Broc Glover filed a protest against David Bailey. Bailey, according to Glover, overshot a [urn and didn't re-enter the track exactly where he left it... Local rider Ron Naylor scored the win at the fourth round of the AMA National Hare Scrambles Series in Redding, California. 10 YEARS A60... April i!!6. 1995 The 1995 Fantic Section 249 appeared on the cover. We tested the exotic looking trials bike and came away impressed - to say the least... Danny Hamel started in 15th at the third round of the AMA National Hare and Hound in Jericho, Utah. By the finish, he had passed leader Ty Davis to take the win... Tommi Ahvala won the opening round of the World Trials Championship Series in Ettelbruck, Luxembourg. Ahvala was aboard the new Fantic Section 249... After a race-long battle with Guy Cooper, Scott Summers took the win at the third round of the Grand National Cross Country Series. Summers finally pulled away for the win on the last lap of the three-hour race. Continued from page 13 mile, as well as the Uma Half-Mile. "The fact is, dirt track fans love cruiser motorcycles," IMDA official Tomrra Lupprell said, "and as a result, our events make the perfect venue for Star Motorcycles to showcase their products." "We are excited to sponsor the IMDA events and reach out to the broad fan base that dirt track racing enjoys," said Bob Starr, corporate communications manager. Star Motorcycles will create cruiser motorcycle displays at each event that will feature Star motorcycles. customized motorcycles, as well as large accessory and apparel display. Selected events will also feature the new custom Star Motorcycles semi, according to Yamaha. MotoVentures Inc, has announced a new partnership with Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. to use Yamaha motorcycles exclusNely for rider training and events at its private Southern California ranch and for dual-sport tours in the American Southwest. "Yamaha dirt bikes are perfect for our business," MotoVentures president Gary laPlante said. "Yamaha's electric-start fourstrokes are the best recreational dirt bikes on the market today. They have a full line of bikes from 50cc to 450cc, appropriately sized for everyone from kids to adults and suitable for all skill levels, from beginners to experts. We're also very excited to be part of Yamaha's 50th anniversary celebration at the Red Bull U.S. MotoGP in July and will be conducting demo rides for all "future champions" on Yamaha 50 and 90cc dirt bikes." Gary Nixon will be overseeing a Triumph Thruxton Cup effort fielding longtime friend and fellow legend Jay Springsteen as the rider, according to a press release from the team. Springsteen will make his debut on the Thruxton at the Willow Springs round of this year's AHMRA series and will participate in selected AH MRA events. The effort will operate in conjunction with Jerry Liggett's Steel Breeze Racing, the team for which Nixon races a vintage Triumph. Mile flat track racing is back on the AHRMA vintage calendar as The Classic MotorCycle/Metro Racing Dirt Track Series returns to the Springfield Mile in Illinois on Sunday, July 10. The AHRMA race takes place at the conclusion of the AMA Dirt Track Grand Championships, which begins July 3. In another schedule note, the AHRMA has confirmed that its short track national at Galesburg, Illinois, will take place September 3, the night after the AMCA's Davenport, Iowa, races. For more information, visit ahrma.org, or call 615/851-3678. AMA Pro Racing has announced that Todd Eagan has been named series manager for the AMA Supermoto Championship. Eagan replaces Chris Bradley, who left AMA Pro Racing in January. Prior to his promotion, Eagan held the position of race manager. In his new role, Eagan will have responsibility for managing the championship, including race operations as well as rider, sponsor and manufacturer relations. Eagan will report directly to AMA Pro Racing CEO Scott Hollingsworth. In making the announcement, AMA Pro Racing vice president and director of communications Kerry Graeber said Eagan was the perfect choice for the job. "Todd has been a part of our AMA Supermoto operating staff since the series was launched in 2003," Graeber said. "Todd's involvement and contribution have been a key part of the initial success of this series. As we move into the 2005 season, we're looking for Todd to aggressively manage the championship so it can reach its full potential." Eagan will be based in AMA Pro Racing's West Coast office. The appointment is effective immediately. Harley-Davidson Inc. last week announced record revenue and earnings for its first quarter ended March 27, 2005. Revenue for the quarter was $1.24 billion compared with $1.17 billion in the year-ago quarter, a 6-percent increase, according to Harley. First quarter diluted earnings per share (EPS) were 77 cents, a 13.2-percent increase compared with last year's 68 cents, '~ I prepare to take on the role of chief executive at Harley-Davidson, I am pleased that the company is on a strong footing, having achieved another record quarter," said Jim Ziemer, chief financial officer and CEO elect. "Looking ahead, we expect HarleyDavidson's business to continue to grow and 200S to be our 20th consecutive record year. At the same time, U.S. retail sales of HarleyDavidson motorcycles during the first quarter of 2005 have been relatively flat with the same period last year - falling short of our expectations. Despite our continued optimism for the year, we feel it is prudent to limit short-term production growth, maintaining demand in excess of supply. This action will result in a change to our previous guidance for both shipments and earnings growth for 2005. Our shipments are now planned to increase from last year's 317,000 units to a target of 329,000 units compared to our original target of 339,000 units. Our 2005 earnings are expected to grow by approximately 5 to 8 percent in 2005 compared to our previous forecast of mid-teens earnings growth. While this volume adjustment may prevent us from attaining our pre· vious goal of 400,000 units in 2007, we see no reason to change our long-term unit growth projection of 7 to 9 percent annually based on just three winter months of sales data. Similarly, we are not changing our projection of mid-teens earnings growth other than for this year." Dave Despain's Wind Tunnel on Speed Channel will feature three-time World Champion Kenny Roberts on Sunday, May I. Check your local listings for times, etc. The Motorcycle Industry Council and chairman Fred Fox (Parts Unlimited) and vice chairman Ted Sands (Perlormance Machine Inc.) of the American V-Twin Committee have appointed five additional members to serve on this team. These additional members include Lee Chapin from Mikuni American Corporation, Buzz Dyer from Cycle Shack, Gayle Greene from Paramount Custom Cycles, Jason Severtson from GE Consumer Finance and Tom Seymour from Saddlemen. They will join the current members who include Wil Garland from American Ironhorse, Dave Koshollek from Dako Enterprises, Nick Messer from Big Dog Motorcycles, Grady Pfeiffer from GH Marketing, Len Simms from NADA and Brett Smith from S&S Cycle. These individuals were chosen to represent the diverse perspectives and business interests in the marketplace. The American V-twin committee has been established to address the needs, concerns and opportunities within the Vtwin market for component and engine builders, custom kit manufacturers, and other companies that produce goods or provide services specific to this distinctive segment of the industry. These 13 members of the American V-Twin Committee attended their second meeting April S in Irvine, California, at the MIC offices. Topics on their agenda include formulating a mission statement and objectives, continued discussion on EPA and CARB issues, noise limitations, kit bike limitations, display bike legislation, lobbyist involvement and management of claims/litigation against member companies. The fifth annual Xtremey Awards will be held on Tuesday, May 10 at the Shark Club in Costa Mesa, California. The video awards are determined by popular vote and votes can be cast at www.xtremey.net. A Ricky James Benefit Ride Day will be held at the I-S MX in Gorman, California, on Monday, April 26, from II a.m. to 6 p.m. All benefits will go to James, who suffered paralysis in a crash at the Spring Classic in Lake Whitney, Texas. The cost for the rjde day is $20. For more information, call 8181652-6663. The 2Sth CZ World Championships will be held at Amago Raceway on May I with all long-travel, modified CZS welcome to compete in the Open CZ Gran Prix class. Past CZ champs include Gary Jones, Ed Arnette and Brad Lackey. For more information, call 760/746-7467. AMA Pro Racing timing and scoring official Brad Hochhalter suffered serious injuries on April 10 at Portland International Raceway during an Oregon Motorcycle Road Racing Association practice day. Hochhalter was injured when he crashed at a high rate of speed possibly after a component on his motorcycle failed. He is currently in the care of doctors at a Portland area hospital. "Any news of a racer being injured is upsetting," AMA Pro Racing director of timing and scoring Ken Rogers said. "Brad's accident was particularly difficult for all of us at AMA Pro Racing because of how close we are to him. Brad is one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet in the paddock. Our hearts and best wishes go out to him and his Wife, Melissa." A fund has been established by OMRRA to assist Hochhalter with medical expenses. Donations may be made through a Paypal account by visiting www.omrra.com or by calling OMRRA offices directly at 503/221-1487. CYCLE NEWS • APRIL 27,2005 17