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/128381
Briefly... Some of hundreds of thousands of riders taking part in 18th annual Rolling Thunder cross Memorial Bridge from Arlington, Virginia, into Washington, D.C. olling Thunder rolled into Washington, D.C., on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, with hundreds of thousands of motorcyclists converging on the nation's capital to focus on Vietnam War veterans the day before the nation honored all those lost in war. The 18th annual ride gathered in the parking lot of the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, before rumbling across the Memorial Bridge into the capital. Tens of thousands streamed to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, where a wreath-laYJng ce~emo ny took place, while others gathered in front of a stage at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial. Among the speakers was Richard Myers, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who rode his Harley in the parade before addressing the crowd. Myers, who'd had dinner with Harley-Davidson CEO Jim Ziemer the night before. the nde, told the crowd that Rolling Thunder and others "helped Americans realize that no matter where they are sent overseas, we have to respect our military. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld also spoke, saying, "To the riders of Rolling Thunder, I want to thank you so very much for what you are doing for the veterans and the country, patriots all." . . Also taking part were Keith and Carolyn Maupin, the parents of Sgt. KeIth Maupin. Maupin, 21, went missing in Iraq more than a year ago after hiS convoy was attacked near Baghdad. He's the only American solider listed as m,sslng and captured In Iraq. Rolling Thunder takes its name from the sustained carpet-bombing of North Vietnam that began in 1965 as a means to break the will of the enemy. Henny Ray Abrams R It • Continued from poge 9 hearted return to racing, then they are sadly mistaken. I am going to Croft and aiming for the top step of the podium and nothing less. My Rizla Suzuki GSX-RI ooo's good enough, and I want to do it justice." The Gary Balley Motocross School will visit Michigan's Dutch Sport Park MX with a session June 7-9. From there, Bailey will hold sessions in Byron, Illinois Oune 13-15); Khoka, Missouri (August 19-21); Johnson City, Tennessee (August 24-25); and Joplin, Missouri (September 2-3). Those sessions are in addition to the home schools at Lake Sugar Tree in Axton, Virginia. Bailey will be at Lake Sugar Tree June 26-29 and July 11-15. For more information, call 276/650-1759. The USGPRU has announced the MotoGP Teen Challenge, with the USGPRU presenting MotoGP weekend passes to the toptwo high school-aged riders from the USGPRU races at Portland International Raceway, June 25-26. Each winner will receive airfare, hotel, pit passes and VIP access to the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix at Laguna Seca for themselves and a parent. "Our objective is to provide a MotoGP experience that they might not otherwise get," series president Stewart Aitken-Cade said. "By exposing them to a real GP environment, our hope is they will push even harder in their career with an ultimate goal of winning their own MotoGP race. The USGPRU looks forward to the day that one of our own graduates rides in the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix." NASMOTO, a new organization formed to expand the sport of Supermoto in North America, has launched the NASMOTO Grand Prix for all levels of Supermoto riders, kicking off June 18-19 at the USA International Raceway in Shawano, Wisconsin, according to event promoters. NASMOTO, formed in partnership with AMA Sports, has received the official blessing of the AMA and Supermoto Canada along with inscriptions from the FIM and NAMU, according to NASMOTO. "The NASMOTO Grand Prix will be a tenrific grassroots program to help build riders for the AMA Pro Supermoto Championship," AMA Sports senior director Douglas Neubauer said. "The AMA is excited about the evolving opportunities for Supermoto in North America, and NASMOTO is a great way to grow the sport at all levels, benefiting everyone, from promising beginners to the AMA Pro Racing Supermoto Series." The first event in Shawano, dubbed the NASMOTO Grand Prix of Green Bay, will be followed by races in Cleveland, Toronto, Southern California, the Northwest and Southeast regions, and at October's Red Bull Supermoto A-Go-Go on the streets of Reno, Nevada. NASMOTO will also produce the 2005 AMA Supermoto Grand Championship for riders who qualify at 2005 NASMOTO Grand Prix events. For more information, visit www.nasmoto.com or call 760/436-9937. Freestyle motocrosser Brian Deegan suffered internal injuries last week in a crash while filming a segment for the "Viva La Bam" show that airs on MTY. Deega'1 suffered an arterial tear, significant blood loss and the removal of a kidney, according to his publicist. Deegan was released from a Philadelphia-area hospital on May 25 and flown home to Southern California to begin his recuperation. "It really was just a freak accident," Deegan said. "I'll take some time off to heal but look forward to being back on my bike in time for Summer X Games - . maybe running the Supermoto race or dOIng some commentary work." Messages and well wishes can be sent directly to Deegan at mulishahq@metalmulisha.com. Reg Pridmore's CLASS schools has added a date at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Pridmore will hold a session at Laguna on September I. For more information, visit www.c1assrides.com. KTM North America, Inc. has discovered that some people have imported, motorcycles manufactured by KTM Sportmotorcycles of Austria directly from Europe, according to a release from KTM. These motorcycles do not meet safety and emissions regulations in the United States or Canada, KTM says. "The importation and use of such so-called 'gray market' motorcycles is strictly illegal. KTM North America Inc. is the exclusive North American distributor of KTM Sportmotorcyc1es. Only KTM North America Inc. possesses the official Certificates of Conformity and Executive Orders which are requined to legally import a new KTM motorcycle into the United States or Canada," the release states. "KTM North America Inc. does not sell directly to the public, but only through authorized dealers and distributors in the U.S. and Canada. KTM North America Inc. strictly requires all of its distributors and dealers to comply with all applicable United States and Canadian federal, state, Provencal and local requirements. Only KTM motorcycles imported and distributed by KTM North America Inc. and sold at retail by one of over 440 authorized dealerships throughout the United States and Canada are covened by the KTM warranty. Further, these are the only motorcycles that KTM North America Inc. accepts responsibility for compliance with all regulations. Neither KTM North America Inc. nor KTM Sportmotorcycle of Austria will provide warranty coverage or service for motorcycles located in the United States and Canada which have not been sold through an authorized KTM retail dealer. For these motorcycles, no parts are available, and we will not provide service or technical support, either through KTM North America Inc. or any of our authorized dealers." The 20th annual Huntington Beach Concours will be held on Sunday, June 5 on the grounds of the Huntington Beach Public Library in Huntington Beach, California, from 10 a.m. to 'I p.m. The show will feature BMW and Mini automobiles, BMW motorcycles and Packard automobiles. All brands will be displayed. The Huntington Beach Public Library is located at 7111 Talbert Ave., near Golden West St. For more information, visit www.hbconcours.org. The city of Bakersfield and the state of California have announced today their partnership to acquire land on behalf of California Continued on page r3 CYCLE NEWS • JUNE B, 2005 11