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/128389
~~Happe------'-------nl~in ngs Mot"---orcyc""'--ling Fl lioe§ Mini Moto Mad Stars of the motor racing world turned out in force at Magny-Cours on Thursday, June 30 to witness a motorsports battle of epic proportions, but the machinery concerned was a world away from the precision hardware found on your average FI grid. Held as a prelude to the French Formula One Grand Prix, the A1pinestars Mini Moto Challenge saw motorsports journalists, photographers, race team members and industry members assemble to pitch their skills head to head, as teams raced Honda CRFSO 50cc minibikes around a specially constructed off-road track next to the A1pinestars hospitality suite. Several F I hotshots, such as Kimi Raikkonen, Juan Pablo Montoya, Tonio Liuzzi, Jacques Villeneuve, Tiago Monteiro and Christian Klien, all watched enthusiastically from the sidelines, as did other notables from the GP2 field, including Nelson Piquet Jr., Gianmaria Bruni and Mathias Lauda. Freestyle motocross magician and Supercross rider Travis Pastrana was also in attendance, as was snowboarding champ Tara Dakides, who together proved they were more than happy to strut their stuff on the miniature machines throughout the course of the F I weekend. At one point, Pastrana even pulled a daring back flip on a stock Suzuki I 10cc dirt bike, leaping off a dirt ramp that he had constructed in an aerobatic feat that brought a rousing cheer from all the four-wheeled talent present. The Mini Moto track itself came complete with berms, jumps and hairpins all waiting to catch the unwary, while torrential rain just prior to the event ensured that it was even more challenging and added to the thrilling spectacle. However, only one team could triumph in the arduous IS-lap event, and when the checkered Oag fell, the honors went to the crew consisting of former F I test driver Patrick Lemarie and Villeneuve's public relations manager and physiotherapist, Yan Lefort and Irwin Gollner, repectively. The second running of the A1pinestars Mini Moto Challenge proved once Fl driver Tonia Liuzzi (center) takes freestyle Mclaren-Mercedes' Klmi again to be a hit for all concerned - and it certainly showed that members of the motocross master Travis Pastrana (left) and Raikkonen (left) hangs out four-wheeled world aren't afrajd to take up a two-wheeled challenge once in snowboard maestro Tara Dakides (right) over in the rain with Pastrana. awhile either. one of the tools of his trode. Orange I:ounty'§ Motorcycle Mega§tore Mission Motorsports in Irvine, California, celebrated its opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 15, 2005; Larry "The Mouth" Huffman hosted the event. The official Grand Opening took place on Saturday, July 23. The multi-line dealership located at I Doppler in Irvine, California, features the Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, Yamaha and Polaris lines. For more information about this new dealership, visit www.missionmotorsports.com. or call 949/582-0351. (Left) A view from inside the new dealenhip. (Right) The ribbon-cutting ceremony included (left ta right) Kawasaki district manager Jim Swanson, Kawasaki's Dove Dora, Yamaha district manager John Hesson, owner Robin Matherson, Honda district manager James Telford, owner John Matherson, Polaris district manager Ken Kilgore and business partner Dean Baltzell. 100 AUGUST 3,2005 • CYCLE NEWS