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/1542269
Briefly... at the top level serve as a motivation to continue. Our firm intention is to tetutn in 2007, and work is already under way on the new project-" Pons, meanwhile, will continue to serve as president of IRTA, the lnternational Road Racing Teams Association. Although Stoner has already been able to find a MotoGP ride for a satellit€ team run h/ Lu.io Cecchinello, Checa appears to be completely out of luck. "Just when I was preparing for the first test of the year at Sepang, I was given the unfortunate news that the Honda Pons team, with whom I wa5 supposed to be contestin! the next editian ofthe MotocP world Championship, has ended its com- petitive involvement in the series due to a lack ofsponsorship," Checa said in a press release. "This decision, so close to the starr of the 2006 preseason. leaves me in a very complicated situation whh retard to the future, because I find myielf with no remaining alternatives that would allow me to challenge for decent results. lt is particularly ironic that, afte. lookinS towards the future with uttor confidence in a proiect that would see me riding a Honda with a team that knows me well and in which I have complete taith, things have swung around so dBmatiaally and left me out in the cold. This is clearly not the time to start feelinS sorry for myself or try to find somebody to blame for rhis reSrettable situation - | have never done that, becalse it is not my style. The only rhing I can say is that all the hope I had placed in the 2006 season, based on the conlidence I had in what had been offered to me, has dlsappeared in a single moment. ln the face of this disappointing situation, I am determined not to let my guard down, because lam, and always have been, a liShter. Circumstances have left me out of the championship against my will, but I stjll consider myself as an active ridec and lwouldnt rule out any- thing with respect to the future." Continved lrorn pogc 7 for Nonh America Mooae's racing sucaess- es include numerous AFM 600 and 750 Stock Production championshipri he was a two-time rider for the WERA Western 24 Hour race-wihning team, a dder for Vance & Hines, a two-time 250cc lap .ecord hoH- er at Wllow Springs, a ride. on the 1987 first-plaaing pri\rateer teim in the Suzuka FIM 8-Hour world Championship Endurance race ( l3th overall), and a rider of the second-place overall l99l FIM 24 Hours of Le Mans team of Kawasaki France. Since I 987, l'loore has owned and operded lndi- go Sports, a supplier of high-performance motorcl,cle parts. During those years, l'1oore also consulted for companies such a Aprilia" Robrad), DesEn, and Tsukigi RacinS. "Pirelli look lorward to 6kin8 our racing heritage to a new level with the help of Richard. lt s clear from his expGriences that he's the most qualified road-racing manater Pirelli has ever had in the states, and in this exciting time for us he is a perfect fit in our stratery to b€ a consistent top player,'' said Pirelli's marketinS manaten Chris Whll. Harley.Davidson l.lotor Company has announced a new motorcycle-shipping service. Harley-Davidson Shipping expands riding opponunities for motorcyclists who want to ride in locations throughout North America but face the challenges of insuffi- aient vacation time or inclement weather (onsaraints. 'Harley-Davidson Shipping is a way for u5 to reach out to our customers with another hiSh-quality service that enhances their riding experienaes,'' said Lara Lee, vice president enthusiast services. "Through Harley-Davidson Shipping, we provide customers more opportunities to experience riding in new locations, while rimplirying tle transactions and offering ,lexible options." Owners ofall brands can take advantege of the flexibility to ship motorcycles to various locations at a com- peritive price, accordrng to Hadey, Harley- Davidson Shipping ofrers convenient loca- tions for shipping, including door-to-door pickup and delivery from a business or per- sonal residence. The oew service goes beyond other shipping services by offering honored real-time quotes and multiple-bike group discounts for allcustomers. The service is available throughout the United States and Canada, includinS Hawaii and Alaska, beginninSlanuary 2006. For more information about Ha.ley-Davidson Ship- ping rates, locations, transit sch€dules and other a\rrilable services. conEct l-888-575- BIKE. ShippinS quotes and vehicle tracking can be done online at www.harley-david- son.con/shipping. The Amp'd Mobile World Supercross GP/Amp'd Mobile AMA Supercross Series announ(ed a promotional partnership with Fox Sports Radio Network (FSRN), with Fox becoming the ofilcial radio network of the opening domesdc Amp d Mobile Super- cross mce at Anaheim, California's Angel Stadium on Saturdax Januar/ 7. Lockhart Phillips USA issued a correc- Conlit ved on pdge I I CYCLE NEWS . JANUARY 18,2006 9 "This is clearly not the time to staft feeling sorty for myself or try to find somebody to blame for this regrettable situation- I have never done that, because it is not my style." - carros checa , ! T t n EI n t: I L I a : : a *=.rs 'I ^r\ r l\, -r ANoN.2005. !/-.\ Brazilian Alex Barros has atreed to a deal with the Klaffi Honda squad to ride along- side Max Neukirchner in this year's World Superbike Championship, according to team owner Klaus Klaffenbock. All that Klaffenbock is waitinS for to seal the deal with the former NlotoGP star is the paperwork !o come through. This deal will see one of the most exciting additions to the championship in recent years take his place in an in(reaslngly rejuvenated World Superbike trid. The exit from MotoGP has included former MotoGP rider Roberto Rolfo in the SC Caracchi Ducali team, plus Barros' 2005 teammate in the Camel Honda MotoGP squad Troy Bayliss, who has relurned ro the alma mater o[ the official Ducati World Superbike squad. The latest of the HotoGP men ro find rhemselves without a ride for 2006 is Carlos Checa, though the Spaniard may not even be able to find a World Superbike ride at this point in the off season. Barros, accordinS to Klaffenbock, has been instrumental in brin8ifl8 in a "tlobal sponso(" but was he unwillint to provide the identity of the sponsor until every- thing is made official. The t€am will operate with the full blessing and enhanced support of Honda Europe, but Klaffi will be without a Supersport wing in 2006. Gordon Ritchie !t ,tr I No: tr Barros To Klaffi Honda