Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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Briefly... Continued from page 9 th the World Trials Championship already decided, W it came down to who would end up as the runner-up, behind Adam Raga, in the title chase. That honor ended up going to Repsol Montesa HRC's Takahisa Fujinami, as last year's World Champion narrowly beat his teammate Dougie Lampkin for second in the title chase in the final round in Belgium on September 18. Fujinami ended up second despite being beaten by Lampkin in the final round, though that battle was for second, as Raga won again - by just a single mark Adam Raga won again in the final round over Lampkin. The bat- of the World Trials Championship. tle within the Repsol Montesa HRC team was close, and if Lampkin had won at Spa-Francorchamps, he would have overtaken his Japanese rival in the series. Normally more associated with four-wheel motors ports, the famous Spa-Francorchamps circuit welcomed the final round of the 200S FIM Trial World Championship just seven days after hosting its annual Formula One Grand Prix. Without a round of the World Trials Series since 200 I, the return to this small European country was a significant move for the tour when one considers that it is the home of a trials legend. Eddy Lejeune remains amongst the true trials greats, having won three successive World Championships back in the early 1980s aboard his factory four-stroke Honda. It is somewhat ironic that Honda should now revisit this country with its new era of four-stroke machinery dUring its maiden season. With the title already in Raga's hands, it came down to Fujinami, Lampkin and Sherco's Albert Cabestany fighting it out for positions two, three and four in the final rankings. Riding ahead of his main rivals due to a poor pick during the starting ballot, Raga cleverly used his Gas Gas teammate Jeroni Fajardo as his point of reference in the sections before making his own attempt. The plan worked well, as Raga was the joint leader at the end of the first lap, tied on 27 marks with Fujinami. A little off the pace, Lampkin and Cabestany were enjoying their own duel at this point, as the British rider came in two marks ahead of the Shereo rider, but on some seven marks more than the leading duo. Lampkin mounted one of his trademark comebacks during the second and final lap, but on this occasion he simply left himself too much to do. Lampkin's score of 14 marks for his afternoon performance was the best of the trial, but it was not enough to overtake Raga. Raga held on to win by just one mark in what proved to be a very slippery and difficult trial. Fujinami completed the podium on the day, and in doing so had done enough to hold on to the vice champion position in the final standings. "It is the perfect way to finish a great season," Raga said. "I am especially pleased with the result today, as the conditions were very difficult. Also, I had the added challenge of riding at the front of the main riders, which is never easy. My task was made a little easier, as I could use some of the information I gained from watching Fajardo riding ahead of me. Apart from the impossible sections, it has been a good trial." Lampkin wasn't pleased with the outcome. "I am obviously very disappointed, as I came so close to taking the win today and to taking second place in the championship," Lampkin said. "But to be truthful, I haven't ridden well enough during the first part of the trial to really deserve to achieve that. My second lap was so much better, and at least is one positive thing in what otherwise has been a bad day. It hasn't been a bad trial at all - it just would have been better if they had changed the sections which the all the riders said were impossible, as that proved to be true and spoiled what otherwise has been a good event." On Sunday, September 25, motocross fans can watch the 2005 Fox Motocross of Nations online at www.mediazone.com/motocross. The Motocross Of Nations (MXoN) kicks off on Sunday, September 25, with three live streaming MX races (MX I and MX 2, MX2 and Open class, and MX I and Open class) starting at II a.m. GMT. Fans can watch the action live and online with MediaZone's All Access Pass or pay-per-event offer for the price of $29.99. In addition to the MXoN, MediaZone's all-access pass will allow fans to also watch the archives of the 2005 FIM Motocross World Championship Grand Prix races plus the FIM Supermoto World Championship. Carl Fogarty has re-signed Steve Martin for his Foggy Petronas Racing team for the 2006 Superbike World Championship campaign. "I am very pleased Steve is staying with us for next year," Fogarty said. "He is very highly thought of within the sport, and he is great to have around the place. He always gives I00 percent in both racing and dUring testing and development of the bike. He is probably the best all-rounder we have had riding the Petronas FP I." "I am really happy to stay with FPR for next year, especially after the amount of progress that we have made," Martin said. "We are now consistently in the top 10, and I believe we have not finished improving the bike yet. The guys that I have been working with have showed me a whole new level of professionalism, and that has been a major influence in my decision." With two rounds remaining in the season, Martin's teammate Garry McCoy and the team are considering their options for next season. Motocrosser Justin Keeney has inked a deal with Hooligan Racing and will compete as part of Team BooKoo in 2006. Keeney will be moving to the Dallas, Texas, base of Team BooKoo, in October, where he will begin training with the team in preparation for the AMA Supercross 125 West Series. Hooligan Racing will be fielding Team BooKoo in the AHA Supercross Series and the AHA Motocross Series in 2006. Riders include David Vuillemin, Steve Boniface and Keeney. For more information, visit www.HoliganRacing.com. Team Hammer Inc., racing as M4 EMGO Suzuki in the AHA Superbike Series, will exercise its contract renewal option on Michael Barnes for the 2006 season, according to the team. Barnes joined the team midyear to replace injured rider Vincent Haskovec in AMA Formula Xtreme and Superstock events, finishing sixth in the final Formula Xtreme points. "This move is very positive for the team and our future," said crew chief Keith Perry. "Barney came in a tough spot, but he was able to get some nice results this year. He was very solid, very professional, and showed a lot of promise. We have a lot of confidence in Mike. Next year should be even better, since we'll be able to work with him from the beginning and make even better use of our resources. We are energized by this." "I'm really excited to be back again next year," said Barnes. "It's good to know that the team believes in me and that I can go into the off season not having to worry about anything other than being ready to race in 2006. It was a difficult situation for the team and me this year, having to step in when Vincent was injured, but we were able to run up front in some of the races, and we worked well together. I'm honored that the team wanted me back, and I'm looking forward to next season." AHA Pro Racing has announced that the AMA Pro Racing Championship Awards Banquet, scheduled to be held on November 19 at Paris Las Vegas, will now be held the next day, Sunday, November 20. The AMA Pro Racing Championship Awards Banquet honors the leading professional riders who have competed in AMA Motocross, Supercross, Superbike, Flat Track, Supermoto and Hillclimb. According to Kerry Graeber, AMA Pro Racing vice president, director of communications, the change was made in order to accommodate the AHA-sanctioned Maxxis EnduroCross event, which will be held on Saturday at the Orleans Arena. Pro-Motion Motorsports has announced that American Crew, a men's grooming-products company, is now an official sponsor of the Maxxis EnduroCross. "This is great news for both the event and the entire off-road industry," explained Tim Clark, co-promoter of the Maxxis EnduroCross. "It's a big step when companies outside of the motorcycle industry recognize and support our sport the way American Crew has." The AMA/Air Nautiques Amateur National Motocross Championships at Loretta Lynn's has become the title sponsor of Team USA at the 2005 Motocross of Nations (MXoN), September 24-25 in Ernee, France. Team USA consists of 13time AMA Motocross and AMA Supercross Champion Ricky Carmichael, veteran contender Kevin Windham, and newly crowned 2005 AMA Motocross 125 National Champion Ivan Tedesco - and all are graduates of the Loretta Lynn's AMA amateur motocross program. "Competing in the Motocross of Nations would not be possible without great sponsors and team support," said AMA president Robert Rasor. "We are thrilled that the Loretta Lynn program has stepped up to support Team USA in our goal of recapturing America's reputation as the home of the world's fastest motocross racers. It has been five years since Team USA has won the MXoN, but with the talent of these three great riders and the support of sponsors such as the Loretta Lynn program, we have all the ingredients for success." Pole Position Raceway, an indoor kart track in Corona, California, created by a group of motorcycle racers, is now open. The track is the brainchild of Ken Faught and former pro motocrosser Jason Williams. The 53,OOO-square-foot building near the junction of the 15 and 91 freeways features a European-style roadcourse that is almost a quarter-mile long. "I think it turned out better than anyone expected," said Faught, president of P2R. "The racing alone is a lot of fun, but one of the best attractions is all of the racing memorabilia inside. We've got Jeremy McGrath's Honda CR250R that he used to win the X-Games last year, Mike Metzger's freestyle bike, Scot Harden's KTM Dakar Rally bike, Kerry Peterson's championship-winning hillclimb Harley, Team Makita Suzuki's GSX-R750s, and more. Literally, we have some of the most historic riding gear, photos and helmets that you will ever see. The collection is almost priceless to our sport, and even includes Dominic Dobson's 1987 Lola that he used to become the fastest Rookie of the Year at the Indianapolis 500." The facility opened on September 14. For more information, visit www.racep2r.com or call 95 1/817-5032. Continued an page 13 CYCLE NEWS • SEPTEMBER 28, 2005 11