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/128376
Salminen Aces Steele Creek GNCC A nother lesson learned for the Pro con- /'"'\tenders in the Suzuki Grand National Cross Country Series: Don't make KTM's juha Salminen angry. The 10-time World Enduro Champion may carry a nice, easy-going demeanor off the track, but he is a ferocious competitor on it. After suffering through a tough loss last weekend in South Carolina, Salminen came roaring back and took one of the most dominant GNCC wins ever, at the Steele Creek GNCC in North Carolina, April H. "It is good to do it this way, not to prove something to the others, but to myself," Salminen said from on the podium. "I wanted to show how fast I could go. I trained with my starts all week, and when you get that start, it makes you go out there and go fast." The start is rarely the deciding factor in a three-hour GNCC race, but it can be when you are as fast as Salminen. Coming into the race, the KTM team decided that as long as no one could see Salminen, they wouldn't be able to learn from him or apply any pressure. So they worked on starts, and the number-I I I KTM rider from Finland grabbed a huge holeshot. Then he put his sprinting skills to work, getting off to a huge lead on the first lap. And that lead grew all day. He won by nearly three minutes. Behind him, a tremendous battle broke out for the runner-up spot between Am Pro Yamaha teammates jason Raines and Barry Hawk, who won last week's race. But FMF Suzuki's superrookie Glenn Kearney would not let the Yamaha boys go. Once the trio hooked up, they exchanged crashes, mistakes and positions all day long. Raines actually crossed the line second but was later penalized three spots for riding off the course one point during the race. This bumped Hawk into second and Keamey into third. KTM's Robbie jenks was credited with fourth, while Kawasaki Team Green's Chuck Woodford took sixth. FMF Suzuki's RM-Z4S0 pilot Fred Andrews, FMFfThrottlehead.com Kawasaki's Steve Hatch, top amateur Charlie Mullins, and KTM's Andy Shea rounded out the top-10 overall. Joson Wiegondt MMI, Jordan Motorsports Link Up Rutter Does the BSB Double Motorcycle Mechanics Institute has signed a one-year agreement to sponsor Michael Jordan Motorsports' AHA Superbike Championship team, according to a release issued by Clear Channel Entertainment. The agreement grants MMI as the official technical school of the team, giving it signage on the bikes and equipment, as well as onsite exposure. At each race throughout the season, a recent MMI graduate will be selected as a Michael Rutter won both British Superbike Series races at Mallory Park on April 14, taking advantage of teammate Ryuichi Kiyonari's withdrawal from the event following a horrific crash. Kiyonari was one of SO crashes that marred the race day and which saw the last race of the day team technician for the weekend. The graduate's duties include but are not limited canceled due to the numerous stoppages affect- to, team rig logistics, race tire and fuel management, PR and more. The sponsorship increases Motorcycle Mechanic's Institute/Universal Technical Institute's (UTI) involvement within motorsports. Besides its involvement with Michael jordan Motorsports, MMI sponsors the THQ World Supercross GPfTHQ AHA Supercross Series and the jeremy McGrath Scholarship, which provides one ing the race program. But it was the nasty crash to the young japanese star that left race watchers aghast. As the 22-year-old approached Edwina's Chicane, hard on the brakes on lap four, the back end of his HM Plant Honda CBR IOOORR came around on him, leading him to go onto the grass, crash the bike and hit the tire wall headfirst. Thankfully, apart from being a little beaten up, he was uninjured, but due to being knocked out, he was not allowed to take part in the second race deserving person the opportunity to attend the motorcycle technician program at the MMI school of his choice. Additionally, UTI sponsors the USHRA Monster jam series and the Dennis Anderson Scholarship, which provides one person the opportunity to attend the UTI auto- or the restart. In the 2S-lap restarted race, it was Rutter who took the initiative right from the word "go," pulling away from second place Glen Richards on his Hawk Kawasaki LX-lOR. "I'm so happy," explained Rutter, who was informed that his teammate was okay before the gram of his or her restart. "Obviously, it's a shame what happened to Kiyo - he would have been a threat. He's been choice. a threat everywhere! It's nice to win as we've motive technician pro- "It's great to have the support of MMI, their student body and graduates," said Kenny Abbott, team manager of Michael jordan Motorsports. "The jordan Suzuki team is dedicated to success and changing the face of the motorcycle racing industry. With new faces, like the current graduates of MMI, we hope to bring new, creative ideas to the sport. This partnership offers an opportunity of a lifetime to introduce highly trained enthusiasts to the racing industry." "UTI/MMI is proud to support the Michael jordan Motorsports program," said Piper jameson, vice president of marketing for Universal Technical Institute Inc, a parent company of Motorcycle Mechanics Institute. "Through racing, this program inspires many enthusiasts to realize their dreams. As Clear Channel's Technical Education Partner, UTI/MMI is excited to get involved and promote the opportunities available in a career as a professional technician by helping our students and graduates live their passion and accelerate their future." 8 MAY 4,2005 • CYCLE NEWS had so much input from japan and from Michelin. Last year was a learning year for the bike and the tires, so we're reaping the rewards now." Richards was happy with second at Hawk Kawasaki's home circuit. "I hung on to Michael as long as I could, but couldn't match his pace," the Australian admitted. "I thought we would struggle a little round here, but I'm happy for me, my championship position and the team." Richards eventually finished almost seven seconds down. Behind the Hawk Kawasaki LX-lOR came Airwaves Ducati's Leon Haslam, taking his first podium of the year. "I'm pleased, as I was doing some really consistent laps out there," Haslam said. "I had a few little problems, but on the whole, the Ducati was working just fantastic." Race two was similarly hit by stoppages, this time thanks to an oil slick left down the main straight left from Michael Pensavalle's stricken Kawasaki LX-lOR. On the 12-lap sprint restart, again it was Rutter leading the way, although this time Richards was able to hang on to the HM Plant Honda rider a little longer and even make a couple of passes on him for the lead. But the Kawasaki wasn't a match for the Honda down the straight, and with six laps to go, Rutter took the lead over the line to pull clear. secure his sec- ond win of the day - and take a championship lead of 19 points over his absent teammate. Apart from Australian Richards and his Kawasaki, only the Ducati pairing of Gregorio Lavilla and Haslam were credible opposition to the dominant Honda of Rutter. Lavilla was in fourth place on the opening lap of race one when the Spaniard was adjudged to have jumped the start. However, the 30-year-old crashed out a lap later at the notorious 130 mph Gerard's Bend. With Lavilla unable to take part in the restart following Kiyonari's crash, it was left to Haslam to fly the flag for the V-twins. Haslam slotted his Ducati 999 F04 into fourth place at the end of the first lap of the restart and inherited third place when Tommy Hill retired his Yamaha RI a few laps later. For the rest of the race, Haslam, 21, battled hard to keep his Ducati ahead of Sean Emmett and Scott Smart, on the Rizla Suzuki. Haslam eventually managed to pull a second gap over Emmett at the flag. Haslam could only manage a fifth in the second race, taking a gamble on tires for the 12-lap restart. But his teammate Lavilla scooped third behind Richards after setting two consecutive fastest laps for the 1.3-mile Leicestershire track. Rutter now goes into the next round at Oulton Park with 19 points on his previously dominant teammate. Bertie Simmonds