Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

..------J ~ ~--, ~_.~ L.__..__..J ~ --" ' I Continued from page 3 YAMAHA'S BROTHERHOOD OF CHAMPIONS Yamaha Motor Corporation once again organized and with special appearances being made by three-time presented its Weekend of Champions during Daytona World 500cc Road Racing Champion and Cycle Bike Week, bringing together several of the sport's News Rider of the Century Kenny Roberts, former racing legends, most of whom :::::-"'=--';---:l::-l7:""-~---'National MX and Supercross earned their glory for the mighty champion Jeff Emig, Yamaha "crossed tun.ing forks" throughout factory road racer Tommy Haythe '70s, '80s and '90s. The den and reigning World Superweekeoc;l festivities induded three cross Champion David days worth of autograph sesVuillemin. sions, with special commemora"This really is not just for tive posters that featured a head Yamaha," said Brad Bannister, shot and an action shot of each Public Relations Manager for rider, and culminated in all of the Yamaha's motorsports group. "It legends taking part in a one-lap is great to see that these champarade around Daytona Internapions enjoy giving back to the tiona I Speedway prior to the start sport_ Their fans still want to see of the Daytona 200. them at the track, and these Three-time World 500<:c Road guys all recognize that it was the Racing Champion Wayne Rainey, fans who made them what they former Daytona 200 winner Don are, and they are really glad to Emde, former AMA Supercross Champion Mike Bell, three-time AMA 12xc National JI\X Champion Brae Glover, three-time AMA 250cc National MX Champion Gary Jones, former AMA Superbike champions Jamie James and Thomas Stevens, four-time 500cc World Road Racing Champion Eddie Lawson, threetime AMA National MX and three-time AMA Supercross Champion Bob Hannah, two-time AJl\A 125 and '98 250cc National MX champion Doug Henry, multi-time AMA 25O<:c Grand Prix National Champion Rich Oliver, former 500<:c road race star Randy Mamola, reigning AMA Supercross Champion Jeremy McGrath and reigning AJIIA 125cc Eastern Regional Supercross Champion Emesto Fonseca all took part in the Weekend of Champions festivities, do it. They really enjoy coming back to see their fans." The riders swapped several great stories during the weekend, but none of them was able to outspin the great Hannah, who hit his peak during the Sunday press conference that was held prior to the parade of legends. Several riders had discussed what they were up to since retiring from racing, induding Mamola, who spoke of his forthcoming plans to give rides around some of the GP tracks this season aboard a special, two-seat 500cc road racer; and James, who is now a restaurateur in South Carolina. After most had. said their peace, Hannah piped up. "I like coming down here and hanging out with these guys, but after listening to 'em, there are a few World Superbike Championship (1996 and '97), before fa$t d>fraulein Katja Poensgen, from Germany, won the title on the exotic BMR -Suzuki in 1998, making history as road rlS(;lr1s's flrst (and 50 far only) female iJ:rtemational champion. Last year, after having been replaced on the World Superblke calendar by the new Stocksport class, the six·race Supermono aeries at major international four· stroke races was won by Sweden's Pier-Olav Ogebom on the nimble little UnoRotax <:lDI'\ and he's e.xpected to be II leading contender to • On-road YZ426F? detend his title In 2000. BrItish hopes for the mIl1enium Supermono series will probably focus on former !'iorton-BMW front-runn.lng rider Steve Marlow. wbose engines are cIeveIoped by lIbe same Gmnan Pami team responsible for the works BMW Dakar RalIy-wImlng singles. For 2000, Mariow has SlJritcDed 113 the all-new ORC chassis developed by rival (lary Cottl'el\, to house the uprated PamJ...BMW engines. Perhaps the most intet>eStlng news is that former' ~ worka rider MIke E4wards wIlf retum 113 ride the latest lA the long Une of Tigcralt 1'Bce singles which domiNlte Super- 76 APRIL 5, 2000' cue • e n e vv s things that I wouldn't want to do," Hannah quipped. ·One of them is ride around the track with Randy Mamola - that would be at the top of the list - and. I wouldn't want Jamie James to cook me ,dinner in that restaurant - no way would I trust that. And I wouldn't want to stay at the old folks home with Don Erode. Those are the three things that I won't do, but I will hang out with these road racers." With Yamaha officials labeling the Weekend.·of Champions a great success, don't be surprised to see another edition of the event in 2001. mono/SoS grids around the world. This is the long-awaited first tarmac chassis for Yllmaba's leading-edge World Motocross title-winning uitra-lightweight YljW'R400 fourvalve engine, which Tigcraft boss Dave Pearce has slotted Into an an-new tubular-steel chassis fitted with brakes and SUSPe"Sion from a TZl25R Yamaha OP racer, to produce the worId's first half-dry 2OO-pound Supen:nono. Producing 64 horsepower at 12,000 rpm In bored·out 435cc guise, the socalled TlgCl1lft R-G.S (as in 'half an R-l) will provide II fascir:IIItiJlfJ new contender II'llntemational road racing's IItIOst iI'JnlMII:Ive and tedmlcaIIy free.wheeling class. The £uropelm Supemono Cup aeries kicks off at Assen, HoIIlII'Id 011 AplI23, wllh Sllbsequetlt rounds at Colmar-Berg (1.wlembourg) on June 18, Snetterton (Great BrJIIta/n) on JUly 2, f..InkopII'lg (Sweden) on JUly 30, and Assen again for the Ducar.I Speed W«k round on August 13. The finale Is at ~ s superb Spa.FrancorcI1amps QP circuit on OCtober J. You can follow the progress of the series on the EUfClpean Supermono Association's website at: _.zep.tolsupemiOiiO.

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