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/128404
AMA Pro Announces Sweeping Flat Track Changes track racing while recognizing the tremendous heritage and history of the discipline. "There's no question manufacturers, particularly the Japanese," Bober said. "Now, in addition to AMA Supercross, AMA Motocross and AMA that Supermoto. manufacturers can market expanding rider, fan and manufactur- their products in this important sales category through participation in the AMA Flat Track Championship." In addition to fielding factory and sup- er involvement is in the best interest of flat-track racing," Hollingsworth said. "One of the best ways to accomplish this goal is to offer a class port level teams, Bober expects to see that features equipment from one of additional OEM backing in the form of the most popular and fastest growing increased contingency. event sponsorship and technical assistance. Pat Alexander, sports promotion manager at American Suzuki Motor Corporation, motorcycle categories, and that is 450c( motocross bikes. Similar to what we've done with Supermoto racing, a racer will be able to field a competitive bike by easily modifying a production 450 motocrosser." A on The championship will now feature two /"'\November 7 that it will move forward with plans to implement major changes to the AMA Flat Track Championship. Beginning with the 2006 racing season, the championship will feature two separate classes, one for twin-cylinder equipment and one for single-cylinder equipment. The changes come equal classes. Twins will run primarily on mile and half-mile tracks with consideration of other venues, and the singles will run on interest of all major OEMs is a key factor in short-track, TT courses and selected halfmiles. Each class will award points independently, and a champion will be crowned in expanded forms of racing was an idea that MA Pro Racing announced Bruce Bober, AMA Pro Racing Flat Track Series manager, added that the support and the new direction. "Showcasing this equipment through has been strongly embraced by each of the each series. Riders are encouraged ing the AMA Flat Track Advisory Board, riders, sponsors, tracks, promoters and manufacturers, among others. class will continue to feature equipment with displacement between In making the announcement, AMA Pro Racing CEO Scott Hollingsworth confirmed that the input of everyone involved with the 750cc and 12S0cc, while singlecylinder engines up to 4S0cc will be allowed in the singles class. Also, plans call for combined points from both series to be totaled for a yearend points fund distributed to the top 20 riders. Hollingsworth confirmed that the overriding objective of this plan is to build on the popularity of nat- meetings has been invaluable. "This has been an extremely worthwhile process and one which provided us with a wealth of insightful information," Hollingsworth said. "The objectivity and desire to improve flat-track racing exhibited by virtually all parties has been encouraging." Johnson Doubles AMA National Arenacross The second round of the Toyota AMA National Arenacross Series, held at the Wells Fargo Arena in Jeff Northrop of the Thor/Honda Tuf Racing Team. Northrop's dual second-place finishes moved him Des Moines, Iowa, November 4-5. was - once again up to second in the series standing. 28 points - the Chad Johnson show. Just as he had done at the series opener in Albany, New York, Johnson stole the show in both main events of the AMA Arenacross (250cc) class. The Yamaha rider took command of Friday night's racing, but he had to come from behind on Saturday night before taking the checkered flag in the lead. Finishing second to Johnson on both nights was behind Johnson. Rounding out the top five on Friday night were Suzuki rider Jim Neese, Kawasaki rider Shawn Clark and Honda-mounted Matt Barnes. On Saturday night, Suzuki-mounted Greg Schnell, Yamaha rider Kevin Johnson and Neese filled out the top five positions. In the Arenacross Lites class, Kawasaki riders Shawn Clark and Cocly Gilmore traded main-event wins. Hughes, Dubach Top Vet World Championships Suzuki's Ryan Hughes and Yamaha's Doug Dubach were the big winners at the 21 st annual World Vet MX Championships at Glen Helen Raceway, November 4-5. In Saturday's Over 40 Pro class, Dubach and Honda-mounted Jeff Ward battled to the wire, with Ward taking the win and Dubach finishing second. In the second moto, Dubach rode off to victory and the overall win, with Ward finishing second. Honda rider Terry Fowler took third overall with a pair of third-place finishes. In Sunday's Over 30 Pro class, Hughes pretty much dominated, winning both motos for the overall victory. Dubach went 2-2 for second overall, while Kawasaki rider Austin Squires got on the podium in third with 6-4 moto finishes. Over the weekend, race promoter Stu Peters was inducted into the Glen Helen Walk of Fame. John Betheo 6 NOVEMBER 16, 2005 • CYCLE NEWS ty for our competitors to get involved in the sport will enhance the racing and provide more prospects for individual riders and teams." Harley-Davidson, undoubtedly the motorcycle brand with the biggest investment in flat-track racing, agreed. and is to campaign both championships, and the schedule will be created to allow such participation. The twins at the conclusion of a series of comprehensive meetings with series stakeholders includ- believes the changes will be good for the sport of nat track. "We're glad to see that AMA Pro Racing is implementing these changes," Alexander said. "The increased opportuni- also supportive of the plan. "We're pleased with the new direction AMA Pro Racing is taking their nat-track series, and we believe this will inject new excitement and foster a higher level of competition in this purely American form of motorcycle racing," Harley-Davidson racing manager Anne Paluso said. The 2006 AMA Flat Track Championship is set to kick off at Daytona Municipal Stadium dUring Daytona Bike Week, March 6-1 I. AMA Pro Racing plans to release additional details including a complete schedule in the coming days. Kurtis Roberts Tests with Suzuki MotoGP at Valencia Kurtis Roberts rode his brother's Suzuki GSV-R MotoGP machine at Ricardo Torma Circuit in Valencia, Spain. on Monday afternoon, October 7. Roberts' test aboard the bike at Valencia the day after the Spanish MotoGP ran about 90 minutes. The request for Kurtis to ride the machine came from Kenny Roberts Jr., who wanted to give his brother a chance to test what he'd been riding this year. "I'm just going to go out there and have fun and make the best out of the possibility," Kurtis said before the test. "Little Kenny asked to put me on the thing to see - not to see, but so I could ride the thing. I was kind of hoping they wouldn't sign anybody before I got on it and do something good. And of course they signed a guy. You don't know what else could come out of it." Kenny Roberts Jr. was scheduled to ride a Honda RC21 IV. but he wasn't fully recovered from the hand injuries suffered in Australia three weeks ago. Kenny Jr. was to be given fIVe laps on one of the satellite team machines so that he could get a feel for the Honda engine that will power ~w his father's motorcycle in 2006. Henny Ray Abroms § .. Kurtis Roberts, shown here, spent the afternoon aboard brother Kenny's Suzuki GSV-R MotoGP bike in Valencia, Spain, on the day after the MotoGP season finale. § "> lQ ~