Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Clear Creek Riding Area Closed Ducati Staying Put "We will homologate the four-cylinder road bike lor World Superbike, but why The Bureau of land Management announced on Wednesday, May 25 that it will close one of California's most popular It appears that Ducati seems content to bide its time with its own engine format at present, even if it continues for the next couple of years with its present bedrock engine, based would we want to race it? Our bikes are V- twins, and World Superbike is a reflection of production motorcycles," he said. "If we were to make a four-cylinder Superbike, then kicking up dust with dangerously high levels lie lands within the Serpentine ACEC from June 4, 2005 through October IS, 2005. These lands are located in portions of T.17 5., R.I I E.; T. 17 S., R. 12 E.; T. 18 S., R I I E.; T. 18 S., R. 12 E.; T. 18 S., R. 13 E.; T. 19 S., R. 13 E. This seasonal closure is neces- on a decades-old design. After much talk behind the scenes about Ducati's plans to we could make a very fast one, maybe with more power than the others can make - but of asbestos native to the region. sary to ensure visitor safety and protect public land users from potential health risks associated with naturally occurring asbestos push for an enhanced capacity limit in Superbike to stay competitive against the four-cylinder machines in the medium term, what for? All our customers on V-twins could The move closes 30,000 acres of public land that stretches over two Central Valley counties, the BLM announced. found within the restricted area. Dry soil off-road recreational vehicle areas during the dry months after tests showed riders The closure of the land within the Clear Creek Management Area in southern San Benito and western Fresno counties will be from June 4 to October 15. The land will be closed to all public land use, vehicle and nonvehicle, with exceptions for private property landowners within the area and some others, the BlM said. According to sources close to the story. the OHV community was not notified and it found out through a newspaper article. Clear Creek is one of the largest and most popular off-road riding areas in California. It is also home to the Quicksilver National Enduro, along with AMA District 36 events, including the Wild Boar Enduro and the Wild Piglet Family Enduro. All of these events for 2006 are threatened due to the closure. The actual closure text from the BlM reads as follows: "Pursuant to 43 CFR 8364.1, notice is hereby given that the BlM is seasonally restricting access to portions of public lands within the Clear Creek Management Area (CCMA) located in the conditions and high dust generating potential from public use activities during this time period create a significant hazard and risk associated with exposure to asbestos. Ducati World Superbike boss Paolo Ciabatti had some things to say about it at Silverstone. Deflecting questions about whether or It seems that if there is a dispensation to allow the twins - i.e. Ducati - to race over not Ducati was actively engaged in discussions regarding such a move - with the MSMA iOOOcc, then there is no necessity for Ducati to make anything more than the homologa- "Except for travel on San Benito County roads, all public access and motorized vehicle travel will be allowed only by written authorization of the Hollister Field Manager. The following persons are exempt from the identified restrictions: I) Federal, State, or local or Flammini, or both - Ciabatti said: "When tions specials over 1000ce. law enforcement officers, while engaged in even higher level for racing purposes, then we would like the opportunity to stay com- the execution of their official duties; 2) BlM personnel or their representatives while engaged in the execution of their official duties; 3) Any member 01 an organized rescue, fire-fighting force, or emergency medical the l000cc rules were brought in, it was to "Ducati has a history of making SPS and R reflect the reality of the machines produced by the Japanese manufacturers. If a situation versions, with bigger engines than the regu- arose where the next generation of fourcylinder machines were to be made at an petitive without the recourse to an even higher state oftune from our engine - for reasons of expense, engine life and so on." The spirit of the Superbike rules at present services organization while in the perform- were designed to allow as many manufacturers ance of their official duties; 4) Any member of a federal, state, or local public works department while in the performance of an official duty; S) Any person in receipt of a written as possible to join in and for private teams to authorization of exemption obtained from bikes more expensive to run even now, littJe the authorized officer from the Hollister Field Office; 6) Private landowners with in-hold- will seem to change unless its horsepower gets cheaper and easier to find. And Ducati clearly wants to be able to sell its race bikes to priva- have bikes at a reasonable cost. The customer element is something that Ducati has lost to a huge extent in only a single year, and with its southern portion of San Benito County and ings within the restricted area who have a responsibility or need to access their proper- western Fresno County, California. All pub- ty, and persons with valid existing rights-al- lic access, including motorized and nonmo- way or lease operations, or representatives teers again - at some time in the future. Ciabatti also squashed recurring rumors of an imminent change to four-cylinder torized recreation use is restricted on pub- thereof." Superbikes. 8 look at our four-cylinder machine racing in Superbike and say, 'If my bike is so good, why do you race with a four-cylinder?'" JUNE 8, 2005 • CYCLE NEWS lar road bikes they are based on," Ciabatti said, though he did stress he was talking hypothetically. Gordon Ritchie

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