Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

First Look: 2OO7 Suzuki BM.Zz50 I I Llere is a phoro ofthe protorype 2007 Suzuki Rl1-2250 - taken ar (he I lopenrng round of the lapanese Narional MX Series in Japan. Although we have little detailed information about the bike, we do know that, as expected, the RM-2250 got a complete makeover, including an all-new motor. chassis, plastic and aluminum frame. Other rumorc float- ing around the pits at the race was that the 2007 production Suzuki RM- 2450 will probably leature fuel injection and all-new plastic. Honda and Yamaha are reponedly also working on fuel-injection systems for their 450F motocrossers for eather 2007 or 2008. I I A dd Steele Creek to luha Salminens Asuzuki Grand National Cross Country domination streak. At the third round of the 2006 GNCC Series on March 26, Salminen s competition was able to follow him from the start, but before lont he had built a solid lead and held it to top l5l3 total riders in the event, and to three for three on the season. Am Pro Yamaha s Charlie Mullinr and FMF Suzuki's Glenn Kearney rounded out the podium. "lt was tough; I was the first rider on the rrack, and everybody followed me," said Salmrnen. "when you're (he llrs( Euy, ir is hard, becairse you can make the mistakes instead and everyone tets (o follow you. lt was good at first; old man Rodney [Smith] was there at the beSinning, and he was rid- ins really well. Then, I don't know what happened, I only saw Glenn [Kearney]. lt was just like Georgia: I had to try to control the race from the front." Smith, the five-time GNCC Champion. and his teammate Keamey did run with Salminen right from the start, but Smith suf- fered a bi8 crash at the top of a hill and lost time. He would charge back up again and again all day, but all that charginS and crash- ing tired the 42-'/ear-old, who dropped back to seventh. "l ran tood from the start; I was right on him and just following him and having fun," said Smith. "lt was tood to ride with him. But then I spun at the top of the big uphill and crashed. k was bad - Glenn said he thought I was deadl" "lt was unreal," said Kearney, who spends half the year living at Smith's house. "Rodney came past me on a hill like I was standing still. luha had a liftle gap, and then Rodneywent around me, and then we were right back on him. Rodney was ridrng fast - but he would crash. He was usint a lot of energy picking that thinS up!" Kearney would try to stay with Salminen, but he eventualty had his own problems down the stretch. "l'm still havint some problems with my diet on race day, ' said Kearney. "My stom- ach started feelint bad, and then I couldnt drink water. so I started crarnping up. But Charlie was going fast." llullins. the GNCC rookie sensation, had problems early but was able to charge past several riders and eventually pass Kearney for second ovemll. "l charged hard all day, and it paid off," said Hullins. "We had a problem with the gas tank - the hose came out. 50 we had to replace that - and I fell back to ninth. I knew I had my work cut out for me. After that, I iust did my best to come back through. lfelt good all day. I wo'rld like to 8et up there and race with Juha. but l'll take second any day. I sure would like to win one of these, thouth." KTM s Mike tafferty put in another solid ride to finish fourth. ahead of his teammate Robbie Jenks. l'4onsrer Energy/Pro CircuidKawasaki's Fred Andrews got a good start but admi(ed that he rode too timidly early on and 8ot pushed back, before charging back to sixth. Smith was seventh. in front of Am Pro Yamaha's Barry Hawk, who was having suspension issues and admitted, "That was the hardest I've ever raced in my life to finish eithth.' Pans Unlimited/Moose o o Rossi Back To The '05 Bike The day after cr:shint out on the opening lap of the first l4otocP of the season at (he Jerez Circuit in Spain, Valentino Rossi broke out his 2005 Yamaha M I to test, hopinS to find the source ofthe chatter problem that ruined his opening race weekend. The bike, decked out in the yellow-and-black color scheme that was used in the U.S. GP last year at latuna Seca, was shipped in by Yamaha to help solve the chafter problem. Although the team is confident that theirexisting tirEs and chassis will work well at the next GP in Qatar, they are hopin8 to lind a solution to thejerez problem so it doesnt happen again durinS the year. The 2005 bike was beinS tested with Michelin's 2006 tires to see if the older chassis hal the same problems as the new one. The data from this test will allow Yamaha to compare data from the two bikes in the hope of flndinS a way to change the chasris to cope with the problem. Rossiended the first day ofthe test with the sev- enth-best time, though his bert laps were done while ridint the 2006 M l. Nei, Spodirg The 2OO5 Yqmqho Ml mokes on oppcor. qnco qt Jcrez on lllondoy, Morch 27, cYcLE NEWS . APRrr 5, 2006 7 I I DGT l E ,/ t $r F l \. t I f N I .' E a m f, \ Salminen Does lt Ag Honda's Paul Vy'hibley of New Zealand was ninth, ah€ad of North Carolina's own Jesse Robinson, who won the 250 A class and fln- ished in loth overall as the top amateur loton Weigdndt I I r \ \ 7 .f,. ,---

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