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/128603
o o J West Coast Flat Track Series promoter Gene Romero wanted to let riders and fans know that there are plenty of available hotel rooms for his upcoming series opener at Mohave Valley Raceway in Mohave, Arizona, on April 29, but riders and fans wishing to stay the night near the track should make reservations as soon as possible, as the event does fall on the same weekend as the laughlin River Run. Romero and Mohave track promoter Walt Carter have made arrangements for discounted rooms that are four miles from the track and do not require a two-day or three-day minimum stay. In addition, Romero has published a list of all the available hotels in the Kingman and Lake Havasu areas, which are ' I 45 minutes from the track. For more information, contact Romero at 714/529-6054, e-mail himatgromer0333@ao1.com. or contact Carter at 520/346-3000. proposal to change the way it collects fees For special-use permits could price motorcycle events out of the national forest, according to the AMA. In a six-page letter to the Forest Service, the AMA spelled out a variety of concerns related to the new proposal, including the lack of an appeal process and the lack of a cap on how much the Forest Service can charge organizations wanting to stage events on forest land. The Forest Service is proposing the new rules to cover costs associated with processing applications for special-use permits, and For monitoring compliance and conditions of the permits. Such permits are needed for events such as enduros held on forest land. J J J J J J ] J NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace and baseball Hall of Famer Robin Yount will be in Daytona Beach, Florida, on March 6 to attend the Harley Owners Group reception at the Ocean Center, as well as a media event scheduled for the same day. An estimated 250,000 spectators turned out for the 25th annual Le Touquet Beach Classic, held in the orth of France on February 27. Frenchman Thierry Bethys ended up winning the race that featured 1000 participants. that its Fourth-quarter 1999 revenues increased by more than 34 percent compared to the same period in 1998. While official three-month registration inFormation is not yet available, the company's best estimates suggest that registrations increased 21 percent during the fourth quarter compared to the same period a year ago. with particular strength in Italy, Germany, North America, France and Switzerland. "We are very pleased with our better-than-expected fourth-quarter results, which were generated by a solid performance in motorcycle sales as well as a continued dramatic increase in performance accessories and apparel," said Carlo De Biagio, Ducati's chieF financial officer. Total revenues for the full year 1999 increased 22.6 percent to $295.5 million. The Bureau of Land Manage....nt announced that it would develop a national strategy For ensuring environmentally responsible OHV use on BLM-managed public lands. Working in partnership with all interested parties and the general public, the BLM will develop the strategy to address land-management issues prompted by the growing popularity of OHV use. BLM acting director Tom Fry said, "The strategy we will develop is aimed at recognizing the inierests of OHV users while protecting environmentally sensitive areas on the public lands. The strategy will also enable the BLM to spend scarce funding resources on managing OHV use rather than on OHV-related litigation, protests, appeals, and Freedom of Information Act requests. " World Champion Alex Criville didn't have a very good start to hiS test in Australia on February 23 at Phillip Island. The Spaniard lapped at 1:33.7 after some 46 laps on the 2000-model NSR500, but later had to be taken to the hospital in nearby Cowes after Fainting. Doctors there said that either a virus or a digestive problem could have caused the fainting. Meanwhile, Criville's teammate Sete Gibemau lapped at 1:33.9. If Criville had a bad day, then Tadayuki Okada's may have been worse. Okada only rode 11 laps before calling it a day after still sufFering from the effects of the concussion he received at an earlier test in Spain. "The bike was working perfect, but to be honest I don't think I was in the best condition to ride more_" Rick Gray, a six-year member of the AMA Board of Trustees, has replaced Carl Reynolds as chairman of the AMA Board of Trustees. Reynolds has served in the board's highest position since 1997. Gray, an attorney from lancaster, Pennsylvania, most recently served as Board Treasurer. He also sits on the AMA Pro Racing Board of Directors and has served on the AMA Motorcycle Heritage Foundation Board of Trustees. "I look forward to working for the empowerment of AMA members in every aspect of motorcycling," Gray said. "It's exciting to be in a position of leadership in an organization I have so much respect For. " The AMA Fears a U.S. Forest Service ................. .................................. " The final World Championship Endurance Series calendar is now official. The seven-round road race series will get underway on Apnl 15-16 In Le Mans, France. and will conclude on November 5 with an eight-hour race in Valencia, Spain. The series is as follows: April 15-16 - Le Mans, France (24 hour); May 28 - Estoril, Portugal (8 hour); July 15-16 - Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium (24 hour); July 30 - Suzuka, Japan (8 hour); August 12-13 - Oschersleben, Germany (24 hour); November 5 - Valencia, Spain (8 hour). Little known fact: .Japan is the only country in the world to prohibit motorcycles From carrying passengers on its motorways. According to a press release from Harley-Davidson, the U.S. Department of Commerce and Harley believe that the ban on tandem riding is what hinders the sale of large-displacement motorcycles in Japan. The Harley-Davidson Motor Company recently recognized retiring nine-time AMA Grand National Champion Scott Parker by giving him the XR750 on which he won his ninth title. The presentation was made at Harley's dealer meeting in New Orleans. Louisiana. Lotus Tours announced that it is offering 25 off-road tours for 2000, including three-day trips to Baja California, Mexico, in conjunction with Chris Haines of Baja Tours. For more information, call As part of its new public relations program surrounded in the VR1000 Superbike team, two Harley representatives and public relations firm Carmichael Lynch Spong will now field information, photos and interview requests. The team recently tested an all-new swingarm at Laguna Seca, with Pascal Picotte and Scott Russell reporting that the change has improved handling on the VA. 312/951-0031. \..J /l, Senator Ben "Nighthorse" Campbell (R-Colorado) has launched a cru- U sade to convince the Capitol Police to purchase more American-made motorcycles for Its fleet. according to report in the Roll Call on February 24. Campbell raised the issue at a hearing of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on the legislative branch. Although he is not a member of the subcommittee, the Senator made his presence felt. "These little foreign bikes, they break down and look like junk," Campbell said. Out of the current 46 motorcycles used by the fleet, r -just three are American made. o o o o o Six-time World Champion Jim Redman will ride a Team Obsolete MV Agusta triple in the 350cc GP class during AHRMA vintage road racing action at Daytona Intemational Speedway on March 6. C .. OPENED: Amencan Classic Racing's home page on the World Wide Web. The site can be found at the following address: http://www.acmx.com. RESIGNED: Paul Lindsey, as team manager of the Planet Honda Motocross Team. lindsey IS currently explOring the pOSSibilities of startIng his own MX team. He can be reached at 719/591-9631. AUTOGRAPH SIGNING: At the Kawasaki Consumer Events display at the Intemational Motorcycle Show at Daytona Intematlonal Speedway, March 8 - March 11. The schedule IS as follows: March B (2-3 p.m,) - Fred Andrews, Paul Edmondson, Destry Abbott and Jeff Fredette; March g (3 p.m,) - RICky Gadson: March 10 (2-3 p.m,) Ricky Gadson; (3-4 p.rn,) . Team Chevy Trucks Kawasaki and SplitFire/Pro Circuit Kawasaki: March 11 (10 a.m,) - Rickey Gadson: <11 a.m,) Kawasaki's road race team. OPENED: SI. Louis Powersport's home page on the World Wide Web. The site can be found at the following address: http://www.stlpowersports.com OPENED: Motorsport Training's home page on the World Wide Web. The site can be Found at the FollOWing address: http://www.motosport-trainlng.com SIGNED: SponsorshIp a9reements between Formula USA and HJC Helmets and Barnett Tool & Engineering. HJC Helmets Will be the official helmet of t~e Wrenchhead.com National Road Race Series and Barnett will be the sponsor of the holeshot award, which will pay $1000 per race. with $500 going to the rider who races the first turn first in each of the two legs In the Unlimited Superbike class. BORN: Bailee Rai Stearns, to Checkers Motorcycle Club's Scott Stearns and his wife. Diana, on February 26 in Lancaster, California. OPENED: Rider Resume's home page on the World Wide Web. The site AUTOGRAPH SIGNING: At Bob's Cycle Supply in St. Paul, Min- can be found at the followin9 address: www.networkone.net/-tlamping on the web. nesota. on March 24 from 6 to 8 p.m. Mike laRocco. Team SplitFire/Pro Circuil, Team FMF. Team AM Leonard, and Team Bills Pipe's Suzuki are scheduled to appear. For more information, call 651/482-8181. CANCELED: Round three of the AMA National Hare and Hound series on April 2, in Murphy, Idaho. There is no replacement at this time. cue I .. n .. _ S • MARCH 8, 2000 3