Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Briefly... Continued from page 9 T he signing of James Toseland to the Winston Ten Kate Team on Saturday, October 22, was hardly a secret, even if there was no official news announced by the team. But now those gags from all parties involved have been removed. Toseland, the 2004 World Champion for the Ducati Fila factory squad, had a sometimes successful, frequently disas- trous 2005 in the same factory team sponsored by Xerox, and after five years his contract was not renewed. For Toseland, with options running out in World Superbike, the Ten Kate team may well be a perfect placement. "The thoughts of the team about winning. and racing in general, really tied up with my own, and now I just can't wait to get onto the bike at Valencia on November 14. to get some miles in on a Honda," Toseland said. Lack of familiarity with four-cylinder machinery may well be overcome by another major factor - the ride and rise of the fours V5. the same-capacity Ducatis. "I have been a Ducati rider for five years, so it will be unusual to get on a four-cylinder," Toseland said. "But given the way World Superbike is now. it's not a bad time to be moving to a four. I had a great five years with Ducati. and I have left them with no animosity at all. I even got text messages of congratulations from them when they knew I had signed." Team manager Ronald Ten Kate has found a suitable replacement for the exiting Chris Vermeulen (who is off to Suzuki and MotoGP) in the form of the 2003 World Champion. "The fact that James was a World Champion in 2003 was definitely to his credit when we were looking for a rider, especially the way he won it," Ten Kate said. "The last few races were difficult, but he dug deep and found what it took to win the title. When I spoke to him first abouc Winston Ten Kate Honda team owner Ronald this possible move was at Ten Kate shakes hands on a deal with James Brands Hatch, and then Toseland far the 2006 World Superbike we had a long talk Championship. together at MagnyCours. No managers, just bikes ourselves. But I do expect to have us and him. and I liked his mentality and his approach to it all. His philosophy of racing, some increased level of support for 2006. you could say, was what decided it. Maybe I cannot say exactly what. We will have the most important thing is that we wantdifferent parts for James to test at the ed a younger rider [Toseland recently Valencia outing on November 14 and IS, but on a 200S bike. At Qatar, in the beginturned 2S] so that we could work together with him. We had a good, mutual ning of December, we will have some new parts on a 2006 bike, and we expect to understanding of what a team must give a have a completed 2006 bike to test in rider and what a rider must give a team." Ten Kate also knows that his team January." must be ready to race from the start in The final lineup of the entire Winston Ten Kate Honda squad is still undecided, 2006, but he was cagey about the exact level of support that the team will receive although Karl Muggeridge will stay as the from the home factory in Japan. He does, second World Superbike pilot and however, know that the team must be Sebastien Charpentier will attempt to ready for the start of the 2006 season, retain his Supers port crown for the squad. Michel Fabrizio, who is still expected to "Last year we were receiving parts at Qatar, just before the first race." he said. run in World Superbikes in an Italian squad "This year we will get parts earlier, instead of World Supersport (as is his fervent desire), is the number-one choice for although Honda are happy that we can run things the way we do now, with us the team. preparing. tuning and developing the Gordon Ritchie Rasor Elected to FIM World Motocross 2006 The AMA has announced that AMA president Robert Rasor has been elected to the position of vice president of the FIM, the international governing body for motorcycle sport and touring. Rasor was elected during the 200S FIM biennial session held October 21-24 in Geneva, Switzerland. The AMA is the sole U.S. affiliate to the FIM, which comprises nearly 70 national organizations, called federations, from countries around the world. A member of the AMA staff since 1973, Rasor served as vice president of AMA government relations from the early 19BOs until his appointment as the association's president in 2000. He's served the FIM as the first president of its commission on mobility, transport, road safety and public policy, increasing the organization's involvement in motorcyclists' rights, and he is president of the North American Motorcycle Union, one of six such regional groups within the FIM. The Geneva-based FIM establishes and enforces rules for international motorcycle competition, and monitors motorcycling legislation and lobbying for riders' rights. The FIM is also involved with international touring, facilitates international travel, and is taking a more active role in vintage motorcycling. Several other members of the AMA staff also serve on various FIM commissions. Through its affiliation with the FIM, the AMA licenses its riders to compete in international events and coordinates World Championship competition held in the United States. In his more than 35 years of motorcycling experience, Rasor been an amateur motocross racer and has toured extensively in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The FIM has announced the dates and sites for the majority of what will be a 15round series in 2006, beginning in Belgium in April and ending in France in September. The Motocross des Nations, meanwhile, will be held in England, closing out the motocross season on September 24. The MX I/MX2 Motocross World Championship calendar Is as follows: April 2 - Belgium, Zolder April 16 - Spain. Bellpuig April 23 - Portugal, Agueda May 7 - Germany, Teutschenthal May 21 - Japan. Sugo June 4 - TBA June I I - Great Britain, Matterley Basin,IWinchester June 18 - Italy, TBA July 2 - Sweden, Uddevalla July 16 - South Africa, Sun City July 30 - Czech Republic, Loket August 6 - Belgium. Namur August 27 - Ireland, Desertmartin September 3 - Netherlands, Lierop September 17 - France, Emee All riders qualifying for an AMA Pro Motocross National, an AMA Supercross final, an AMA National Arenacross final (AMA Arenacross Pro class only), Advanstar BooKoo Arenacross final (2S0F and 4S0F classes), or an FIM-sanctioned pro event in the current or previous year may only enter the 12S A Pro Sport and/or the 250 A Pro Sport classes at the Loretta Lynn's National, according to event promoters. The AMA Arenacross Lites class is not considered a pro class, so riders competing in that division are still eligible to race nonpro-sport classes at Loretta Lynn's, The 25th-anniversary AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships at Loretta Lynn's will start on Monday, July 31, with motos beginning Tuesday, August I, and concluding on Saturday, August 6. Denis Manning of BUB Enterprises in Grass Valley, California, has announced that he has begun a search for an individual to pilot his BUB streamliner at Bonneville in an attempt to break the motorcycle land speed record. Manning was the builder of the Harley-Davidson-powered streamliner that Cal Rayborn drove to the world's record in 1970 (as seen in On Any Sunday). Through the years, he has built many more machines and has had a role in numerous other records. In 2006, Manning plans to return to the salt with the goal of breaking the motorcycle land speed record of 322 mph currently held by Dave Campos. Manning's streamliner is I OO-percent designed and purpose-built for Bonneville-type use, including the engine. Individuals from road racing. drag racing and other forms of motorsports are being considered, Individuals wishing to be considered can contact Manning at 530/477-7490, BooKoo Energy Drink will become the primary sponsor of the Proton I Race Team for the K&N Filters presents BooKoo Arenacross Championship Series, with riders Rusty Holland, Tiger Lacy and Casey Hinson, The team, based in Provo, Utah, is a new startup team. Team manager Nick Spano said: "The entire team is looking forward to running the BooKoo Arenacross Series. BooKoo Energy has stepped up big in the world of action sports, and we are very excited to be associated with such a great product. Along with BooKoo Energy and Proton I Oils, we have companies like AI Lamb's Dallas Honda, Ragnarok Clothing and Sundance Mountain Spring Water that enabled us to put together a very aggressive program." The series starts in Fort Worth, Texas, November 4-S, at the Fort Worth Convention Center. The Triple Xposure MX race in Kern River, California, has been rescheduled to November 18-20, according to event promoters. For more information, call 760/931I 146 or visit www.realsportsonline.com. Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra team manager Francis Batta visited Suzuki Motor Corporation in Japan last week and presented the factory with the World Continued on page '3 CYCLE NEWS • NOVEMBER 9, 2005 11

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