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
Cory West Bridgestone Pulls Out of AMA Superbike While Cycle News has learned that Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire is planning to pull of out of the AMA Superbike Championship Series in order to refocus its resources in other road racing series, such as WERA and Formula USNCCS, Bob Graham, Bridgestone's motorcycle product manager for the United States and Canada, says the move does not necessarily mean a cutback. "What we are going to do is shift our focus from AMA National road racing to some of the other Amateur-oriented series, where our products work very well," Graham said. "We're certainly not cutting back. If anything, we're going to be expanding." The decision ends 14 years of Bridgestone competing at the AMA Superbike Championship level. The company first joined the series in 1991 and immediately showed positive results, as Steve Crevier finished fifth in the Daytona 200 aboard a Two Brothers Racing Honda shod with Bridgestones. The company would later ink a deal with another factory-supported team, Erion Honda, but that deal ended six years ago. Most recently, privateer Cory West used Bridgestone tires en route to earning AMA Superbike Rookie of the Year honors. But the lack of any deal with a factory team has been a major hurdle in keeping the brand competitive at the AMA Superbike Championship level, and Graham said that Harleys Roll at Brainerd NHRA Nat'l After fumbling and stumbling through the early part of the 2005 season, the Vance & Hines Screamin' Eagle Harley V-Rods are now firmly in control of the points battle in the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle division. Riders G.T. Tonglet and Andrew Hines met in the final round for the second time in the last two years, at the 24th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minnesota, on August 14, and this time Tonglet prevailed, with a 7.12 to Hines' 7.26. With 10 of 15 rounds in the books, Tonglet is leading the Powerade points standings over Hines, while the former leader, U.S. Army Suzuki's Antron Brown, has been bumped to third. "When I lost the points lead at the last race in Sonoma, I wasn't sure I'd ever get it back," Tonglet said. "That's just part of what makes this win feel so good. Anytime I can race Andrew [Hines] in a final, it's a good thing, because that means our team had the best weekend we could have." Tonglet not only outran the reigning Powerade champ in the final, he also left first with a huge . I-second holeshot, effectively ending the race on the starting line. "I don't really know why I was so late," said Hines, who was appearing in the eighth final round of his career. "There wasn't anything wrong with the bike. I just didn't get the clutch out on time. It's frustrating, but at least our team got the win. If it had been anyone other than G.T. [Tonglet] in the other lane, I would probably be taking this a lot harder than I am." Even a recent rules revision, which will allow the Suzuki inline four-cylinder bikes to remove 10 pounds for the next event in Memphis (see Briefly), wasn't enough to Melotte To MX I up to MX I for 2006, riding the all-new aluminum-framed Yamaha YZ450FM. With Stefan Everts and Melotte, the Michele Rinaldi-managed team will field the same MXI lineup as it did in 2004. Melotte is The Yamaha factory motocross team has completed its 2006 rider lineup with the resigning of Cedric Melotte. Melotte will move Cedric Melotte will roce for Yamaha again in 2006, but in the MX1 class. landing a factory team now simply isn't in the cards. "We cannot win anything without factory bikes, and we are just not in the position to secure factory bikes," Graham said. "We have great products and a great development program, but that's all being eaten up by the MotoGP boys. Our focus right now as a corporation, globally, is MotoGP. It would be nice to have factory bikes and go racing here, because that's what we love to do." Graham said that the company plans to remain in the AMA National Championship Motocross and Supercross series, where it is committed through 2006. Scott Rousseau dampen the spirits of the Vance & Hines team. "I don't think it's fair, but we'll deal with it," Hines said. "I mean, I don't understand why you would give an advantage to the bike that came into this race leading the points. That doesn't make any sense to me." The V-Rods were also dominant in qualifying as Tonglet led the 16-bike field with a 7.0 I and Hines was right behind him with a 7.02. Chip Ellis was third aboard the G-Squared S&S Buell with a 7.04, and Brown was fourth with a 7.07 from the qUickest Suzuki in the field. Tonglet never ran slower than 7.09 on his way to the final as he defeated Michael Phillips, former three-time Champion Angelle Sampey and 2003 Powerade champ Geno Scali. Hines' toughest battle should have come in the semifinals against Brown, but that race ended early as Brown red-lighted by three- thousandths of a second. '" know how fast those Harleys are, so I knew I had to push it a little," Brown said. "Right now, there's just nothing we can do to run with them. The new rules will help a little, but that will probably be worth a hundredth [of a second] or two on my bike, we need to pick up a lot more than that to run with them. All they [NHRA] did was put a Band-Aid on a gunshot wound." As for Tonglet, he's not concerned with the new rules. He just wants to make sure he doesn't lose the points lead again. "Now that I've got the points lead back, I need to focus on not giving it up again," Tonglet said. "That's my goal for the next fIVe races. The way our bikes are running, I feel confident that if I just go out and do my job, we can win this thing." currently fifth in the MX2 World Championship and has daimed four podiums so far. Commenting on his third season with Yamaha, Melotte said: "I'm very happy to continue with Yamaha. I wanted to stay with them, and I wanted to return to MX I . Unfortunately, things did not go to plan in MX2 this season. I got a bit frustrated, struggling with a wrist injury and bad starts, but it was always part of our long-term plan to move up to MX I for 2006. I feel honored by the faith that Yamaha has placed in me, and I'm really looking forward to next season. The mental and technical support of the team has always been great, and with a new bike coming up, I could not wish for a better place." BORN: A baby girl, Brooke Amber Beal, to Yamaha's Off-Road PR Manager, Terry Beal, and his wife, Susie, on August 9 in Newport Beach, California. BORN: A baby boy, Kiefer Ray Huft, to PowerHouse Motorcycles Justin Huft and his wife, Leslie, on July 9 in Paso Robles, California. ACCEPTING: Factory Effex Inc. will begin accepting race support resumes for the 14 AUGUST 24,2005 • CYCLE NEWS Kevin McKenna Team manager Michele Rinaldi explained Yamaha's vision for next year. "Yamaha wants to make a big impact next year with the new YZ450FM, and we needed two strong riders year to achieve this," he said. "We believe Cedric [Melotte] can do a good job in MX I . This season has been tough for him, but his riding style will suit the bigger bike better. He has already produced good results in 2004 and for sure he has learned a lot from this season. For MX2, we will continue our efforts through supported teams." upcoming 2006 season, September I through November 31. Resumes can be submitted through Sponsorhouse.com or via mail to Factory Effex Inc., attn: Race Support, 24922 Anza Dr. Suite D., Valencia, CA 91355. E-mails will not be accepted. MOVED: GPR Stabilizer to a new and larger facility at B715 Dead Stick Rd., San Diego, CA 92154; 619/661-0101.