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/128397
The Hall of Fame Weekend Sampey Wins Reading NHRA National - Again The Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum will again host the industry's most memorable personalities and brightest stars during the annual Motorcycle Hall of Fame Weekend, scheduled for October 7-8. The highlight of the event is the 2005 Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction, which this year honors nine racing heroes and industry pioneers, including Scott Russell, Doug Henry and Jerry 8ranch. The weekend begins with ''An Evening of Stars and Legends," a museum reception that celebrates the class of 2005 and benefits the museum's mission of preservation and education. A featured special guest is award-winning photographer and former Cycle News and Dirt Rider editor Charlie Morey, who will dedicate the opening of his "Legends of American Motocross" photography collection. Morey's action images of heroes such as Roger DeCoster, Brad Lackey, Jimmy Weinert and others will be on display For the sixth time in the last 10 years, Angelle Sampey rode her Suzuki GSX-R to victory at the NHRA Pro ALS Stock Motorcycle event in Reading, Pennsylvania. The three-time NHRA champion rolled to her 37th career victory after beating Muzzy Buell's Ryan Schnitz in the final round, 7.13 to a slowing 7.45. "I won my first race here in 1996, and I remember it well because I set the national [elapsed time] record, qualified on the pole and won the race," Sampey said. "I don't know why, but this place has been very good to me. For some reason, I've never stopped winning here. The Vtwins have been dominating lately, but this is the 20th anniversary of the GSX-R, so we were really anxious to get a win for Suzuki. It wasn't easy, but thankfully we pulled it off." The 16-bike field was spilt evenly with eight V-twins and eight inline four-cylinder bikes, though the twins had a performance edge, with reigning NHRA Powerade champ Andrew Hines setting the pace with a 7.09 on his Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson. Sampey had the field's quickest Suzuki in qualifying with a 7.12 on her U.S. Army Suzuki. On race day, Sampey opened with a win over Tom Bradford's S&S Buell and then downed her old nemesis, Matco Tools Suzuki's Craig Treble. Sampey's win over Treble set up a key semifinal matchup with Hines. Sampey came in as the underdog but got off the starting line first and never looked back as she made her qUickest run of the eliminations, with a 7.11 for the victory. Hines ran just a 7.18 after his V-Rod wouldn't shift into high gear. "That round was probably more exciting than the final," Sampey said. "Those [Screamin' Eagle] guys have been on a roll lately, and they're hard to beat. I knew I was going to have my work cut out for me, but I was very focused today. I just concentrated on doing my job, and this time it worked." Schnitz was the sixth-quickest qualifier on his S&S- within the museum's current "Motocross America" exhibit. Weekend festivities also include the fourth annual Motorcycle Hall of Fame Concours d'Elegance. This invitation-only event is a showcase of nearly 100 of the country's finest privately owned classic motorcycles. Throughout the weekend, guests can meet former NASA astronaut and motorcycle enthusiast Duane "Digger" Carey, who serves as the 2005 Motorcycle Hall of Fame Weekend's master of ceremonies. "We look forward to celebrating the achievements of a remarkabie group of individuals," said Mark Mederski, executive director of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. "We also invite motorcycle enthusiasts and industry members around the coun- try to support the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum by attending the event. Preserving these important chapters of American motorcycling history for future generations benefits everyone involved in our sport," All weekend events take place at the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, located on the 23-acre campus of the AMA, just outside Columbus, Ohio. For more information, call (614) 856-2222 or visit the Museum's website at www,motorcyclemuseum.org. RES ETC No Superbike plans for KTM? Though Aprilia is hard at work on a future V-four Superbike, KTM is understood to have decided not to join them, even after pulling out at the end of this season from its MotoGP partnership with Kenny Roberts' Team KR. It's now understood that KTM's subsequent plans to develop a street version of its pneumaticvalved V-four MotoGP motor have been terminated, after some preliminary work was undertaken on converting the engine to spring operation of the four valves per cylinder. It's believed this has been done because KTM engineers have indeed now found a way to increase capacity of the company's 75-degree V-twin LC8 engine from its 999cc SuperlDuke guise to, say, around 1160cc the maximum dimensions obtainable by taking bore and stroke out as far as they can reliably go. This has put a new complexion on the Rca sportbike project launched at the Tokyo Show in October 2003, which had been sidelined in development after the company realized that the day of the valve spring twin is done in Superbike racing. Though KTM will doubtless join Ducati in trying to persuade the FIM and the Flammini brothers to extend the twin-cylinder capacity limit for World Superbike upward, it's understood they've accepted that this has little chance of succeeding - but in spite of the company's racing heritage and emphasis on selling the customer products developed in the heat of competition, KTM is believed to be satisfied that a big-engined maxisports V-twin as little and light as the RCa will have a valid place in the market alongside the company's dirt-derived V-twin products. So reports of the RC8 project's demise are very much exaggerated, and it's full speed ahead on both the full-fairing sportbike, with its crisp, distinctive styling by Gerald Kiske, and its Venom naked offshoot expected to debut alongside it in big-engined guise at Intermot 2006 in Cologne next September. Alan Cathcart 12 SEPTEMBER 28,2005 • CYCLE NEWS powered V-twin and advanced to his third final round of the year with wins over Matt GUidera, Karen Stoffer and Chip Ellis. The former AMA Pro Star champ had run as quick as a 7.10 in round one, but he slowed to a 7.17 in the semifinals. In the final, Schnitz spun the tire off the starting line and then had problems getting the transmission to engage second gear, allowing Sampey to speed away for the easy victory. "Overall, we didn't have a bad weekend, but I wish I had been able to make a better run in the final," said Schnitz. "Our bike is great in the first part of the track, but we're missing something in our tune-up. We don't race again for a month, so we've got some time to figure out what's wrong." Although he iost to Sampey in the semifinals, Hines extended his lead in the points standings with a roundtwo win over his teammate GT Tangiet. With just two rounds remaining in Las Vegas and Pomona, HarleyDavidson teammates Hines and Tonglet are virtually assured of a one-two finish in the points - though either of them could win the championship. Following her win, Sampey is third, but she would need a minor miracle to win her fourth career title. Kevin McKenna • ACQUIRED: Advanstar Communications Inc. has announced that it has acquired Off Road Expo from Petersen Events Corporation. The event will be held October 8-9 at the Fairplex In Pomona. California. AUTOGRAPH SIGNING: At the grand opening of the newest Hahm Motorsports store in Costa Mesa. Cali· fernia. on Saturday. September 24. at 3:30 p.m. Michael Jordan Motorsports' Jason Pridmore and Steve Rapp are scheduled to appear. The grand opening is from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will feature free food and drinks. vendor dISplays. racing season on October' Riders submitting resumes via wwvv.sponsorhouse.com Will get priority. E-mail or printed resumes sent to Suomy USA must be limited to one page. For more Information. visit \N'NW.suomy-usa.com. OPENED: Southern California VictOry in Brea, California, with a grand opening scheduled for September 24. For more information, visit \N'IIWV.socalvlctory.com. NAMED: Connie FeISt RaCing Products, as the Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio region distributor for ELF Oils and Racing Fuels, For dealer inquiries free drawings and door prizes. For and more information, contact Connie more information. call 949/646-7700 or FeISt Racing Products. 1539 East BuSIness 30. Main Building. Columbia City. IN 46725. The phone numbers are 800/234-0167 or 260/244-7312 The fax number IS 260/244-4333. visit www.hahmmotorspons.com. ACCEPTING: Suomy USA Will begin accepting race resumes for the 2006