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/128392
Roberts and KTM Split TM announced last week that it is pulling the plug on its relationship with Team Roberts and is no longer in a K not to support a factory-backed KTM MotoGP team, according to a KTM press release. position to act as the engine supplier to the Kenny Roberts-owned team in the MotoGP World Championship. The decision doesn't impact KTM's participation in the other FIM road racing World Championships, according to the company. In fact, KTM's 2S0cc team will expand to two riders in 2006, KTM says. KTM's three-rider 12Scc Grand Prix team is currently dominating that championship, with three riders in the top six in Team owner Kenny Roberts looks over his bike and team on the grid. points. KTM has won five of the nine I2Scc Grands Prix so far this season. The decision to end the supply of the KTM 990cc V-four engine is According to KTM, it had to supply additional funding - over and above the cost of based on a number of factors, KTM says, including the change to the new 800cc MotoGP engine regulations in one Byrne scored the only championship point for the team thus far in 2005 at the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix. 2007. For 2005, KTM's supplying engines to the team. tn fact, it was KTM who contracted and paid team rider Shane "Shakey" Byrne. The manufacturer also picked up the tab on the team's supply of Michelin tires for the MotoGP season. "KTM's current budgets do allow for any request for funding over and above sole aim was to be an engine supplier to What hurt the process was Team a fully operational team. The company's primary interest was engine supply, and these three key areas - engine supply, Roberts' inability to raise additional spon- rider contract and cost of tires," the release states. sorship and funding for the project. ~ ~ z ::> o ~ Hawk Wins Rausch Creek National HS ~ Barry Hawk scored the overall win at the ~ Q. eighth round of the AMA National Hare Scrambles Series at Rausch Creek Motorsports in Tremont, Pennsylvania, on August 14. It was Hawk's second win of the series and the second in a row for the Am Pro Yamaha team rider. Kawasaki's Josh McLevy and KTM's Mike Lafferty were up front early in the race when McLevy crashed and Lafferty stopped to make sure he was okay. Hawk then inherited the lead and went on to win, not knowing that he was leading race at the finish. Once it was determined that McLevy would be okay, Lafferty got back on his bike and worked his way up to second overall. KTM's Nathan Kanney finished on the podium in third. Fourth place went to Yamaha rider Justin Williams, followed by Kawasaki's Chuck Woodford. Barry Hawk won his second National Hare Scrambles in a row in Pennsylvania. Series leader Jason Raines sat out the race with an injury suffered earlier in the week. Raymond Gundy Perhaps the biggest hurdle for KTM was the fact that the rules package for MotoGP will change for 2007, making its 990c( engine extinct. In order to race in 2007, another significant investment would be required for an all-new 800cc motor for the MotoGP Championship. "'n light of the new 800cc regulations," KTM's release said, "any future involvement in MotoGP will be taken after a further assessment of the competition requirements best suited for the promotion of the KTM brand." Raines Injured Again Just when it looked as though Jason Raines was fully healed from his previous shoulder injury, the Am Pro Yamaha team rider suffered yet another major set- back when he broke his leg while practicing during the week. Raines report- edly broke both the tibia and fibula bones in his left leg when he caught his foot in a rut while practicing at Randy Hawkins' farm in South Carolina. It appears that Raines will be laid up for the rest of the year. With Raines' departure, Chuck Woodford is now sitting in a good position to win the 2006 National Hare Scrambles Championship. Raymond Gundy 8 AUGUST 24,2005 • CYCLE NEWS