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/128399
Briefly... Suzuki Introduces 2006 M 109R· Boulevard S uzuki took the wraps off its biggest and most high-performance cruiser ever - the M109R Boulevard - at its annual dealer show in Dallas. Texas, on October 3. "We're very proud to introduce this new flagship to the '06 Suzuki Boulevard lineup," said Glenn Hansen, ASMC's advertising and press relations manager. "The all-new M109R is our most powerful cruiser yet and marks our ongoing commitment to the new Boulevard line." The heart of the M109R is an all-new 109-cubic-inch, liquid-cooled, V-twin powerplant with dual overhead cams and Where Does Ward Go? jeff Ward could possibly fit into the AMA Supermoto silly-season scenario, though the chances of his making a change from his current team are remote. A reunion with Kawasaki, however. can't be completely tossed out the window. ''I'm happy with Troy Lee and Honda, but some people have been calling and asking me about what I thought was going to happen with next year," Ward said at the series finale in Reno, Nevada. "There are other manufac- four valves per cylinder. It also features a GSX-R-derived electronic fuel-injection system. The wheelbase measures 67.S inches and the seat height is 27.6 inches. It has an inverted fork, a link-type rear-suspension setup, and radial-mount front brakes. Everts Tests The New YZ4S0F After claiming their fifth consecutive World Motocross Championship in lierop last month, Stefan Everts and the Yamaha L&M Motocross Team have already started testing in preparation for the 2006 Motocross World Championship, according to a release from the team. where it is. If there's another program that we could work into this one, I'm always open to listening to ideas and suggestions. Anything is possible. Honda carry out a comprehensive race test on the new bike, fitted has been really supportive of our team, taking out ads when we win and so with factory KYB suspension, special brakes and a few other 2006 Rinaldi group modifications. Everts rode the production-based bike to fourth in the opening race after a bad start and then crashed while leading and they have a 450 now, and they're extremely interested in going Supermoto racing. I don't know if the bike is competitive. I just want to put myself in the best position, and right now this [Troy Lee Designs Honda] is on, and as the sport has grown, their support has grown." Team owner Troy Lee said that he didn't see a switch by his team from Honda to Kawasaki motorcycles for 2006 to be an option at this point. "Honda has been really good to us, and I'd like to stay with Honda," Lee said. "With us having top riders on our team, people have been hitting us up, but Honda has been stepping it up, and they really believe in the future of Supermoto. I'm happy where we are. It has jeff Ward taken us three years to get these things dialed in, and now that I think we know where we are going, it could be a step backward to switch brands. Ray Blank and Chuck Miller and Gary Christopher at Honda have been very good to us, and I want to thank them for believing in us." When asked if it made good business sense to rule out a switch, Lee replied: "I'd like to think that I do what's morally right before business. I make enough money doing what I'm doing. I want to do what's right." Scott Rousseau his second win on the day. Yamalha will compete in the 2006 Supersport World Championship with Australian riders Kevin Curtain and Broc Parkes racing the brand-new Yamaha YZF-R6 for the Yamalha Motor Germany team, the team announced. The squad will again receive official support from Yamaha Motor Europe and is already working on development of the new machine. Yamaha Motor Germany is now focusing on engine devel- On October 1-2, Everts debuted the 2006 production Yamaha YZ450F (with a completely new engine and new aluminum frame) in the last round of the Belgian Championship in Pierreux. Everts had already wrapped up the World title in the penultimate round, and the team used the opportunity to turers who might want me. It's no secret that I was with Kawasaki for years, Justin Ross and Roger Hensley were two of the big winners dUring the NASMOTO Supermoto Amateur Championships held in downtown Reno, Nevada, on October 2, the day after the AMA Red Bull Supermoto A-Go-Go. Reno resident Ross backed up his win in the first SM I heat with a win in Sunday's main. He finished a1head of Travis Ellis and Danny Casey in both races. After an endless string of secondand third-place finishes, Hensley took his first-ever Supermoto win in the SM2 main. Scott Hoffman finished in second, ahead of Stuart Sinclair. In the Amateur class, Chad Freeman was faster than the other 45 riders in the class and took the win in the main. Frankie Garcia and Blian Barton rounded out the podium. Running lap times that would be respectable in the 5M I class, Hoffman and Hensley were once again racing each other in the Vet Q+35 class. Hoffman won the heat but went down in the main, and Hensley cruised to the second mota. Everts won the third mota. Hurting his thumb in the second-moto crash, Everts waited a while to recover but managed to climb back to 12th by moto's end. Dialed in with both the track and the bike, Everts took the opment at its Neuss base, and Curtain and Parkes are scheduled to get their first full test of the race machine in December. Yamaha Motor Germany won the Supersport World Championship in 2000 with rider jUrg Teuchert and has opted to retain the services of both its 2005 riders following their performances this season. Curtain is currently second in the championship with one race win, while Parkes is sixth in the standings in his first year with the team. "I'm really excited about next year, and I'm honored to be one of the guys trusted with the development of the new R6 in World Supersport," Curtin said. "It's an amazinglooking bike, and everything I've heard about it so far makes me believe we can make a challenge for the title. I have a lot of faith in the Yamalha Germany team, and I am sure they are up to the challenge. I certainly can't wait." win in the final race. Massimo Raspanti, team coordinator of the Yamaha L&M Motocross team, stated: "Overall, the test has been really great. Stefan [Everts] had a little bit of arm pump during the first race, but after that everything went super. In the third race, Everts rode lap times that were two seconds faster than the opposition. So, this certainly confirms the feeling that we are on the right track in the development of the 2006 bike." "It has been good to get some race time on the new bike," Everts said. "The track was very rough and Istruggled a little bit to find the right rhythm. My second and especially the third race, my riding was a lot better. So far, I'm very pleased with the new bike. Of course, there is still a lot of work to do, but I have been very impressed with the overall package, even in standard form. The bike handles really well, and I think it has a huge potential." Testing will continue before Everts takes a well-earned vacation, but Everts will participate in the last round of the All-Japan National MX Championship Series at the 5ugo racetrack on October 23. The final round of the 2005 AMA National Championship Speedway Series will be held at Fast Fridays Speedway, located at the Gold Country Fairgrounds, on October B, with five riders in contention for the title. Greg Hancock, however, can Virtually ensure himself the title by qualifying for the A main event. Winning the title will be anything but easy, however, and Hancock knows full well that his nearest pursuer in the points race, Billy Hamill, is ready to pounce on any opportunity afforded him. Hancock is chasing his sixth AMA title, and Hamill his fourth, and Hancock brings a six-point lead, 42-36, into the 2005 series finale. Third-ranked and another six points back is Charlie Venegas. Also in the title hunt Con,inued on page II CYCLE NEWS • OaOBER 12,2005 9