Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Cycle News 2000 11 22

Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles

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8 o Cro ss Count ry Series aboard RM 250based machinery. o o o o o o In a move that shocked off-highway vehicle (OHV ) use rs and raise d the ire o f loc al governm ent offic ials. th e fed eral Bu reau o f Land Man ag em en t sa id it wou ld ban OHVs from 49,305 acres of Southern Califo rnia desert by Thanksgiving. according to the AMA. The ban affec ts part of the Algodones Dunes area tha t inclu de s th e Imp erial Sand Dunes Recreation Area. known to OHV enthusiasts as Glamis. The closure is an out-of-court sett lement. part of a lawsuit filed by preserva tionist groups in March that alleges the BLM violated the federal Endangered Species Act , according to the AMA. The suit alleges the BLM failed to consult wit h the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the effect s of the BLM -administ ered California De sert Con serv at io n Area Plan on a number of threatened and endangered spec ies . In announc ing the Glamis closure, the BLM warned that settlement negot iations continue and further restrictions may be impo sed o n public use s in o the r areas o f the C alif o rn ia des ert. " This land cl osure is o utra geous.' said Royce Wood. AMA legislative affairs specialist. ' It' s another example of preservationists using the threat of lawsuits to shut down OHV riding areas instead of trying to accomplish their goals through any process that allows for public de ba te . We ' ve seen thls sam e ta c tic used in Kentucky and Utah in an effort to bully government officials. These groups hope that federal agencies charged with administering lands for all Americans will cave in to their special-interest demands and reach an out-of-court settlemen t rather than face drawn-out and expensive court battles. W hat' s part icularly egregious about thts latest action is that it further restric ts OHV use in an already limited riding area . the A lgodones Dunes area . Over th e ye ars. fe deral o ff icials have cut OHV access further and further in the California desert. and it' s time for that to stop.' The BLM agreed to close more than 49.000 acres in the 150.000 acre Algodones Dunes area in recent set tlement negotiatio ns with preservationists . the AMA says. The preservationists allege the ban was needed to protect the endangered Peirson's milk-vetc h plant. a member of the bean and pea family. The sett lement earned court approval November 3. said Roxie Tro st . BLM o utdoor recre ation planner. The BLM put s the land closure at 49 .305 acres. The BLM plans to post closure signs by November 22 . just in time for the busy Thanksgiving o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o Buddy Antunez (Suz) came away with a couple of wins at the second round of the Nat iona l Arenacross Se ries at the Peps i A re na in A lb any , N ew Yo rk . November 10- 11. Antunez topped both 125cc mains Friday and Saturday night. w hile Nick Metcalf (S uz) and Josh Demuth (Kaw) split wins in the 250cc mains. Antunez. the defending champion. currently owns the series points lead with 146. followed by Demuth with 131 and Denny Stephenson with 111. The Lake Elsinore G rand Prix was held over the N ovember 11-12 weekend in Lake El sino re. C al if o rn ia. and Mike Kiedrowski (Suz) won the premiere race - the Hamel 100. Form er Nat ional Enduro Champion Steve Hatch (Suz) fin ished seco nd, fo llowed by Scott M ye rs (KTM). Nick Wey

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