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/1542342
t o o o maior up,giades had failed to arrlye. But the wait was dearly worth it, when engineers flt- ted new engine parB, includinS revised cy'in- der heads, to Nakano's faclory ZX-RR on the second day. Despite his obviour delight that Xawasaki entineers had not reneged on their promire to improve the in-line four-cy'inder ZX-RR motor, Nakano remained caudous about his prospects for 2006. "l am very happy," he said. "We have 8ot more pow€r, but we still need to make another step to be top-six competitive. But the new parts have made a difference. I can feel it most on tho exit of the last corner, Before, we diddt have enough revs and I'd have to shift qulckly. Na r/ we have more revs and more speed, and also, after shifting gears, I can feel the en8ine still pushinS. But we have much better acceleration on all corners. Even though we are losint much less on the straight, we still need a little more speed," (awasaki, however, didn t tet ever)'thing right an Malaysia. Nakano ditched the new World Superbike-style bulk),, exhaust system at the end of the first day. "We had some problem with the map- ping," Nakano said. "They have to work a8ain on the dyno. The exhaust has some good points in making the throttle response smoother, but we had a bi8 hole in the Motthew Bi't Ward For Hall of Fame Chris Karamesines in ioining the 153 hon- orees already enshrined in the lvlotorsports Hall of Fame. Ward won AMA season titles for Supercross in 1985 and 1987 and Motocross in 1984, 1985, 1988. 1989 and 1990. He was rhe AlvlA Athlete of the Year in I 989. Atter a successful stint in lndy cars, he returned to motorcycles and won the 2@l AMA Supermoto Championship. "Diversity and versatiliq,, are the hallmarks of the class of 2006," said Ron watson, presi- dent of the l'lotorsports Hall of Fame of America. 'A simultaneous World and U.S. Champion, NASCAR and drag-racint winners from both coasts and Hid-America. a winnrnt driver of all varieties of sports cars, a seven- time motorcycle champion-turned-lndy d ver, and the'voice of God'from the lndy Speedway - this class has it all." Also on August 17, the Motorsports Hall of Fame will honor Benny Parsons. who was elect- ed into the Hall last year but could not attend the induction ceremonies due to the untimely death of his father- Tickets for the induction ceremony can be purchased by calling 800/250-7223. Thin s Better ln Kawasaki Land f #,F 7-,;:' lt ''' " L/awasaki's Shinya Nakano refused ro ger l\arried away after he produced the shock result of winter MoloGP testinS by claiming the seaond-fastest time at last week's test in Sepang, l'lalaysia. Th€ 28-year-old's best lap of 2:01.80 wes the fastest time logged on the second day, and ovemll, only Honda's Marco Melandri could befter that impressive Eme- Although it was a fraction slower than the best rime he logged at Sepang three weeks ago, his best time last week was iet on Bridgestone race tires, whereas his best of 2101.78 last month was clocked on super-soft qualitinS rubber. Nakano's mood was certainly more upb€at than at his last two outings, where LI Shinyo Nokono ended lost week'r MoffiP te5t in Illoloysio wirh rhe .e.ond-f..L!l lime. Eormer AMA Supercross and Motocross I National Champion leff Ward will ioin five other motorspons greats in being inducted to the Motorsports Hall of Fame ofAmerica when the ortanization stages its annual induction cer- emony on Thursday, August 17, at the State Theatre in Detroit, FlichiSan. Ward will ioin sports-car driver Elliott Forbes-Robinson; NASCAR pione€r Curtis Turner; the voice of the lndianapolis Motor Speedway, Tom Carnegie; Formula One World Champion Nitel Mansell; NASCAR racer Hershel l'4cGriff; and drat racer i Jeff Word J / I N P.- IH lr I PAYMENTS ASLOWAS :s -\ \- 6lh --_* fl7: i* ,- 1'1 t \ C PER MONTH- on approved credit