Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

California, Texas, Washington, Florida, Tennessee, Missouri, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, Minnesota, Michigan, New York and Massachusetts. For additional information, or to register for the course, contact your local Yamaha dealer. Although CMC is no longer hosting events at Glen Helen OHV Park in San Bernardino, California, the facility will continue to host open practice sessions on Thursdays (except Thanksgiving Day) from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. In addition, the MX track will be open for practice on December 13, 20 and 27, beginningat9a.m. For more information, call 909/384-9342. Racers who are planning on competing in the first three rounds of the Action Sports Indoor MX Series in Columbus, Ohio, December 4-5-6, are reminded that the Friday night event is limited to the first 12 preentries in each Amateur class. Some classes still have openings, but most are full. All Pro class entries will be accepted for all three days and all Amateur class entries will be accepted on Saturday and Sunday. If you're an Amateur class racer who is interested in racing Friday night, call the promoter ASAP at 614/594-6686. Italian Franco Rossi, who placed fifth in the World Championship 500cc MX Series this year, has re-signed with KTM to campaign the same series in 1993. In other GP news, Dutchman Edwin Evertsen will ride Kawasakis again next year in the 250cc MX Grands Prix. Evertsen finished the series in third place last year. After several years aboard Yamahas, 1985 125cc World MX Champion Pekka Vehkonen will be riding Hondas in 1993. The Finn will also be switching to 500cc machinery after an injury-ridden year in the 250cc class. Vehkonen won his title aboard a Cagiva. Greg Albertyn, who recently won the 125cc MX World Championship, was prevented from collecting his gold medal at the FIM congress in Columbus, Ohio, when U.S. Immigration refused to issue the South African ci.tizen a visa. It is still unclear whether or not the FIM will refund the costs involved in cancelling flight reservations on short notice. year. The only factory four-stroke to . campaign the 1992 season was a Husqvarna, which Luxembourg's Jacky Martens competed on. This marked the 10th anniversary for the Supercross du Paris, and to celebrate that theme, organizers invited the five Americans who had contested the first event. Johnny O'Mara, David Bailey, Rick Johnson, Broc Glover and Danny LaPorte were presented to the crowd during the opening ceremony, as were top Europeans Georges Jobe, Heinz Kinigadner and Jacky Vimond. Other spectacles included a light show, a marching band and a giant birthday cake, from which French hero JeanMichel Bayle emerged and said his farewell to motocross. point fund, but Camel Challenge races will continue to be held at the selected events. Talk of 12 such races has been heard, but not confirmed. Jeff Stanton, now a favorite to win the World Championship Supercross Series title, will not compete in the final round in Genoa, Italy, even if it is vital in the points chase. Stanton has contested two of the first three rounds, and plans to ride two of the remaining three, but says that he is only attending the events that he has been contracted to ride, and is not concerned with. winning' the championship. "I will be trying to win in Japan and Switzerland, and any points I score there may give me the FIM title, but it is of little significance," said Stanton. "~ already won the real world supercross championship when I clinched the AMA title." Stanton's chances at the World title are still very good. American Steve Lamson (Hon) contested the first evening of racing at the Supercross du Paris, but elected not to ride nights two and three after discovering that he had a broken knuckle in his left hand. Lamson had injured the knuckle while testing at the Hondaland track in Simi Valley, California, and in the meantime had won a night at the Barcelona Supercross, but the Paris track aggravated the injury. Lamson has under~one therapy and will most likely ride the Tokyo Supercross on November 28-29. Team Valvoline Suzuki will field a four-rider team in the AMAICCS 600 and 750cc Supersport races at both Daytona and Laguna Seca in 1993. Kurt Hall, Michael Martin, Chuck Graves and Stevie Patterson will ride Suzuki GSXR600 and GSXR750s· for the team in the two AMA National Championship events. The four riders normally compete in the WERA Vanson/EBC Brakes Endurance Series for Team Suzuki Endurance, and also . in the WERA Pro Series. Both Team Valvoline Suzuki and Team Suzuki Endurance are fielded by Team Hammer Inc. According to Kenny Roberts, it now seems certain that his son Kenny Roberts Jr. will compete in the Ducados-sponsored 250cc road race series to be held beginning in February in Spain. "The 250 thing is always the last thing to be put together, but that .looks like where he'll be going. The schedule seems pretty good, so he'll also probably be able to do some races (AMA) here as well. There's also the possibility of him doing some GPs." After finishing second overall with Team Honda teammates Dan Ashcraft- and Johnny Campbell at the November 12-13 SCORE Baja 1000, Dave Donatoni filed a protest. Donatoni alleged that Mark Johnson, Kawasaki Team Green manager, struck Ashcraft while he was riding their Honda toward the impound area in La Paz after his team had completed its race. The board heard all versions of the incident and declared - that Johnson will be issued a letter of censure but that no action would be taken affecting the outcome of the race. Sal Fish, president of SCORE International, issued this statement: "We would like to·put all our participants on notice. SCORE International will not tolerate physical aggression either on the race track during the heat of battle or off the track. Violence reflects poorly on our sport and has no status in it. We regret the incident and hasten to assure our good friends in off-road racing that such activity never be treated lightly." Jerry Kennedy has resigned from the position of AMA National Dirt Track Referee. "The main reason is because my work was suffering," said Kennedy, who owns several San Jose, California-based businesses. "The months since the season has been over have been my best of the year. I'd say that the other 'reasons are more personal. It all became such a big hassle putting up with the riders. I know that it's a thankless job, but no matter how hard I tried to do something to benefit the sport, the riders thought I was trying to screw them. It just isn't worth all the stress. There's still a possibility that I might return, but not unless the changes I want are made in the way things are run. But at this point, I don't see that happening." Just as rumored, the RJ. Reynolds Tobacco Company is cutting back their monetary support of Grand National Dirt Track competition. Rather than sponsor the entire series as it has in the past, Camel will now only sponsor selected, events in 1993. There will no longer be a $200,000 Belgian Joel Smets has finalized plans to ride a factory Husaberg 620cc four-stroke in the 1993 500cc MX GPs. Smets rode a Honda to fourth place this season. Husaberg backed Italian Walter Bartolini, in the GPs for the 1991 season, did not field a team this STOLEN: A Yamaha YZ250 and a Thor Action Sports gear bag from motocrosser Chris Cooley's garage in Glendora, California, on November 5. The bike's motor number is 4DA008265 and it's frame number is JYA4DAW08NA008265. It has a _ purple seat and orange YZR radiator shroud decals. If you have any information as to its whereabouts, call 818/963-9555. MARRIED: Dirt tracker Don Wilson, National #78, and longtime girlfriend Mandie Mesthven, in Black Diamond, Washington, on November 7. The. couple honeymooned in Cancun, Mexico. FOR THE RECORD: In an American Honda ad that appeared in our November II issue, the name of the third place finisher in the CBR900RR Challenge Series race at Daytona is incorrect. The gentleman due the credit is Jamie Bowman. TRANSFERRED: John Walker, from his position as American Honda's district service manager in Pennsylvania to district sales manager in eastern Pennsylvania. Walker and his wife Donna are celebrating the' recent birth of daughter Sarah Elizabeth. CORRECTION: As we reported last week, amateur star Timmy Ferry will ride the 125cc Eastern Regional Supercross and 125cc National Motocross circuits on a Yamaha-backed team that is being organized by Rossini Racing Products (RRP). What we failed to mention is that the Kayo Corporation will also be providing support. RRP also sponsors a large amateur motocross team. r-----------------------·-----------------------------------~----, SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM Name --;- o _ Address City _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ State _ _ Zip _--'Order Date _ SUbscribe Now and Save 6::;:0/ , _ This is a renewal ..., /0. 50 Weekly iSSues for onh. o Please bill me 535.00 o Bill 3 payments of $11.67 o Enclosed is my check or money order Charge my 0 Visa 0 Mastercard Signature Please start my subscription to Cycle News: o Every week for one year (SO issues) for $35.00 (can be billed 3 monthly payments) o o Every week for two years (100 issues) for $65.00 Six months second class (25 issues) for $18.00 One year (50 issues), 2nd class Canada or Mexico and all other foreign countries L~~:~~~~!:~:s:~~~:~:~:~~==~:~ _ MC/Visa# _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _--: Send to: Expiration Date _ ~ ~, Inc. P.O. Box 498, Long BeachJ CA 90801-0498 Toll Free Subscription Hotline (800) 831-2220 ~~~~~~:~~2~~~~~ ~ 3

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