Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Briefly... t \ i IF > & E hI t I \1 it ! I Volentino Rorsi's Yomqhq will hove Comel bocking Ior rhe 2O06 MotoGP World Chompionrhip seoson. i '/ Gamel To Back Yamaha MotoGP I lust prior to Christmas, Yamaha sent out lofficial confirmarion rhat it was severing Ees with A,Eadivseita, the company thar owns Gauloises - the cigarette brand whose logos adorned Valentrno Rossi's and Coln Edwards' factory Mls in ln4otocP ra(ing in ?004 and 2005. Now comes official word that the team will again be tobacco-sponsored in 2005 - this rime by Camel and irs owners, lT lnternational (lTl), a subsidiary of.lapan Tobacco lnc. The team will be known as the Camel Yamaha team, according to Yamaha, "Yamaha is very excited to enter into this new partnership with .lTl," said Lin larvis, the managing director of Yamaha Motor Racing.'.lTl has been involved in motorsport at the highest level for many years and has been an active rponsor at the top level rn the MotoGP class for the past three seasons. We look forward to workinS with JTI to enhance the respec- tive imaSes of our brands and to challenge together for vrctory as Yamaha enters its next 50 years and ms to retain its N4otoGP titles in 2006." Camel recentb/ announced that it was pullin8 its sponsorship of the Sito Pons- owned Honda MotoGP team because Honda had no interest in r€taining Max Biatti, a.lTl tavorite. 'A new chapter in the history of Camel in motorspoft is just betinnint," said Roberto Zanni,JTl's regional president for Europe. 'After three yea$ of treat satis- faction in the premier class of the World Road RacinS Championship. we are today launching a new challenge for the title. Our new partnership with Yamaha, the historic, championship-winning Japanese manufacturer, will be highly motiv"atang for us, and it will be an honor to be by rheir side throughout the 2006 season. We share the same passion and desire for vic- tory and, I am sure, success will not be long in comin8." The Camel Yamaha Team will begin its 2006 campaign in Sepang, Malaysia, with a three-day test, January 23-25. Things aren't all roq/ with the new sponsorship packaSe, howwer; as Altadis also sent out a press release on Monday, januaD/ 9, saying that it is taking legal action against Yamaha over the new deal, 'Altadis has initiated arbitration pro- ceedints, seekinS substantial compensa- tion from Yamaha for the damages aris- in8 out of what Altadis considers to be a material breach by Yamaha of the two companies' two-year sponsorship aSree- ment," the release stated. 'Altadis seeks both pecuniary damates and declaratory relief with respect to particular obliga- tions that Altadis maintains have sur- vived the termination of the parties' conftactual relationship, Altadis has requested an urgent decision in this re8ard, in the nature of an interim order obligating Yamaha to refrain from collab- orating with any sponsor whose prod- ucts compete direcrly with Altadis prod- ucts for the coming season. Altadis regrets that the negotiations to define the terms of a settlement that would have resolved the dispute without (he need to resort to arbitration have proved fruitless." The AMA has announced that MV &usta will be the featured ma.que at AlrlA Vln- tage lilotorcycle Days 2006, to be held July 2&30 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, As in previous years, Af4A Vintage Motorcycle Days will kick off a lo-day celeb.ation of motorcycling at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, concluding with the AMA Honda Super Cycle Week- end presented by Dunlop Tire the lollowing weekend, AuSust 4-6. ln 2006, AMAMn- tate Motorcycle Days will be held two week later than its usual mid-July week- end. Other spoftint events during the sum- mer of 2006 prompted what is expected to be a on€-year departure from the tradition- al dates- AMA Vin6te Motorcycle Days, which attracts an estimated 40,000 enthusi- asts each year, benelits the Motorrycle Hall of Fame Museum, and in 2006 will include the all-brands Ai4A Swapmeet, bike shows. a full slate of American Historic Racing Motorcycle Asso.iation (AHRMA) racing, and other features to be announced in the coming months. The Grand Marshal of AMA Vintage lYotorcycle Days 2006 will be announaed soon. Forthe latest news about AMA Vintage l''lotorcycle Oays 2006, visit wwwAMADirecdink.com or call l-800- AMATOIN. For more ififormation about l''1id.Ohio Sports Car Course, visit www,midohio,com or.all I -800-MlO- oHro. Racing 2 Save Lives director of opera- tionr Ralph Forsythe has announced that on-line preregstration is open for the April l3-16, 2006, event at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah. The event will give riders an early-season opportunit/ to expe- rience the new $80 million facility firsthand while .aisint money for children's charities. "Participants (an to to vrww-racing2save- lives.orS and click on the 'Want to Race?' section and choose the days and s€ssions they wish to ride in," Forsythe seid. "By preregistering, they will save $25 over the oner that ryait until rhe event. Any rider is elitible to participate in Racing 2 Save Lives! You do not need to have a road-racing license, ahd we'll even have basic instruc- tion a\ailable for those new to the track envhonment. Please see the website for bike requiremen$. We will alternate between race and street-rider blocks to ensure a safe, nomhreatening and fun expe- rience for everyone." Racing 2 Save Uves was created as a philanthropic opportunity for riders and racers to give back to the cornmunity throuth the combination of pledge fund raising, corporate donations and track ridinS se$ions- R2SL has raised over $200,000 in donations for five chil- dren's charities: Make A Wish Foundalion of Colo6do, The Children's Hospital, Miss- ing Children Task Force, Family Pathwa),s of Coloado. and Here's Life lnner-City Derver. With the partnering of Miller Motorsports Park for the event, half of the charitable pro ?S ,;} r \ t' .l a t r] 7 n // i Andy Coldecoft, 1964-2006 F "al t t-

• Cover