Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

EriHa= Road racer Lee Acree will temporarily replace the injured John Haner at lnfineon Raceway on the l''lillennium/l(WS Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike, sponsored by Ron Ayers Motorspors, "When we received the news ofJohn's injury the first person we thought of was Lee Acree," said team owner Kevin Hunt. Acree rode the Mil- lennium/l(NS Suzuki GSX-R1000 in 2005 and finished the year lOth in Superbike points. Haner injured his shoulder at Bar- ber Motorsports Park on April 23 in the AMA Superstock race, and he underwent surgery on May I . He is expected to be out of action for five to I 2 weeks, Acree is currently ridrng for the Vesrah Suzr-rki WERA Endurance team. Fortunately, there is not a scheduling conflict, and Ves- rah Suzuki was gracious enough to help another Pirelli-sponsored Suzuki team, according to 14illennium. A new motocross track and ATv/minibike course, desiSned and constructed by world-renowned track builder Marc Peters, have been completed at the Mid- Ohio Sports Car Course in time for a full season of motocross competition. Sculpting 40-50 tracks each year, Peters has seen action on six continents, includ- ing a jaunt in the Middle East where he built two tracks for the King of Qatar- When it came to Hid-Ohio, Peters had something unique in mind. ''We really wanted to design the tracks to be like roller coasteG - fun, exciting and chal- lenging, but safe," said Peters. "They've got a good flow and a unique style with an old-school feel. lt's our hope that it becomes the best in the lvlidwest for amareurs and professionals alike.'' Hid- Ohio Spors Car Course will host four Al'4A District- l2 Motocross events in 2006 (une 18, July 9, and October 8), including the AIYA-sanctioned Manufac- turers Cup, September 22-23, which will feature marque manufacturers such as Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, Suzuki, Yamaha, and others - that will appoint their best riders from across the country to repre- sent their organization. The traditional yearly AHMRA Vintage Motocross races at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course will take place July 28-30. Even though many believed that he was finished for the season, KTM's Mickael Pichon returned to action on l'4ay l4 and won both motos in a round ofthe ADAC Masters, held at the Mehrnbach circuit in Austria. Pichon beat fellow KTM rider David Philipparts and Belgian rider Danny Theybers. Mechanix Wear presented Team Makita Suzuki mechanic Mike Gosselaar as well as Team Kawasaki mechanic leremy Albrecht with special pit boards designed for the AMA and Amp'd Mobile World Supercross Championship winners at the final round of the Amp'd l'4obile Al1A Supercross Series in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 6. Two of Travel Craft's race-team clients have reduced their room blocks for the U-S. GP at Laguna Seca, so the company now has a handful of rooms ayailable at the Hyatt Regency l.4onterey and in Carmel Valley's Gardiner's Resort. For more information, call 800i901-5035 or 4t51444-0757. Mary Morgan, became the first female to win the leremy Mccrath Scholar- ship when the seven-time Supercross Champion McGrath made the announce- ment at the Amp'd Mobile Wo.ld Super- cross GP/Amp'd Mobile AMA Supercross Series finals at Las Vegas' Sam Boyd Stadi- um on May 6. The Jeremy McGrath schol- arship will cover tuition for the 57-week program at Motorcycle lulechanics lnsti- tute (MMl)for Morgan in 2005-07. "lt's ume !o see women technicians bring their talent to this level of racing," said Mccrath. "Mary has the passion, the drive and enthusiasm to be successful. With her training from Motorcycle Mechanics lnstitute, the sky's the limit. Last year's winner Eric Savala finished his .leremy Mccrath Scholarship at l''1Ml and went on to work for professional motocross/Supercross Team Subway Coca-Cola Honda Racing. "We are excit- ed to be working with Live Nation and leremy I.4cGrath on this scholarship pro- 8ram," said Terry Emig, director of event marketrng for lYlYl. 'We've seen great things happen with the other winners-" I'4otorcycle-fantasy-game provider Fan- tasy Racer has announced a new part- nership with Viewsonic Corporation and American Suzuki l'4otor Corporation. Each company will cooperate in product giveaways and shared marketing resources during the 2006 ViewSonic Fantasy Motocross League Powered by Suzuki. Each company will be cross-pro- moting their products through their own marketing channels, including direct mail, newsletters, print and online advertisinS. "As extreme sports like motocross become increasingly popular, fans want more wa/s to stay connec[ed with their favorite riders," said .leff Volpe, vice pr€sident of marketing at Viewsonic. ''Fantasy racing through Viewsonic flat- screen HDTV is an ideal way to partici- pate in every event, even when you can't be there in persgn.'' ''we've crealed a great relationship with Suzuki in the past," explained Fantasy Racer's Chris Kawasaki. "Their continued support of FRC and the addition of Viewsonic shows every motorcycle enthusiast that Fantasy Racer fantasy leagr-res are as strong as ever. Every other major sport has their fantasy leagues so we are happy to be offering fantasy leagues for true motorcycle-racing fans." AI4A Pro Racing and the National Pro- moters Group (NPG) have announced that Next Level Sports Management will coordinate their media-relations effoft for the 2006 AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by Fl4E Next Level will be represented by Tony Gardea, who will manage things along with AMA Pro Racing and NPG to ensure a collaborative effort of promoting the series through various media plat- forms. A consistent stream of news, facts, stats and quotes will be readily available to the media covering the l2-race 2006 AMA Toyota Motocross Championshrp. "we are pleased to bring Next Level and Tony into AMA Motocross," said Kerry Graeber, AMA Pro Racing vice president and director of communications. "Tony's experience and reputation jn the motor- cycle business will be a maior asset in our effons to maximize Al'lA Pro Racing's and NPG's media-outreach goals." Current AMA Supermoto Championship Series points leader Doug Henry recent- ly conducted his first-ever Supermoto school at Oakland Valley Race Park in Cuddebackville, New York. Although Henry had declined many opportunities to teach over the years, the timing and the venue were Iinally ideal. "Craig DeMaio, who is the director of competi- tion at OVRP was really enthused about doing the school, and handled many of the organizational logistics, promotion and marketing so I could focus on putting together a good teaching program," said Henry The school, which sold out within two weeks of being announced, was tai- lored to provide an exclusive. personal- ized experience, and was limited to iust about 20 students. The next Doug Henry Supermoto School at Oakland Valley Race Park is scheduled for Friday, July 14. For complete informatjon on all of Oakland Valley Race Park's supermoto activities and the Doug Henry Supermoto School, visit www.OVRPcom. The champion of the Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown, l4ay l9-21 , will not only get the honor of hoisting the winner's trophy at lnfineon Raceway, he'll also get to sip from the Champion's Cabernet wine goblet. The Champion's Cabernet, which will be served in a foot- high goblet that will rest atop a polished- marble base, is one of many changes planned for the new Wine Country Win- ner's Circle, whrch will be unveiled during the Kawasaki Al*4A Superbike Showdown weekend at lnfineon Raceway. "What bet- ter way to celebrate victory than with a taste o{ Sonoma Valley's finest? This is going to be a great addition,'' said Steve Page, president and general manager of lnfineon Raceway. For tickets and more information, call 800/870-RACE or visit www.infi neonraceway.com or www.tick- etmaster. com, Five-time AMA champion Rich Oliver will be one of several artists featured at lnfineon Raceway in a motorcycle-themed art show d!ring the Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown weekend, May l9- 21. The art show will feature a variety of artists with work in a range of mediums, including fine art and photography. Oliver, who has become an accomplished abstract artist. will also be inducted into the raceway's wall of Fame over the weekend, along with Honda's Miguel Duhamel, and will be part ofthe on-track . announce team. The show will also fea- ture the work of a variety of accom- plished racing photographers, includinS Chucke Walkden, James Winh, lan Don- ald and Mike Doran. Walkden is the offi- cial photographer of lnfineon Raceway. The show will be held in the downstairs Comcast lYedia Center (adiacent to the main Srandstand in the paddock area) all weekend and admission is free. 8 tlAY 24,2006 . CYCLE NEt/Ys HM Plant Honda's Steve Plater won the North West 200 in lreland on May 14, topping Stoban Motorsport's Michael Rutter, who was hoping to add to his tally of I I victories in the race. Rutter looked to have victorl, in his grasp but he crashed at low speed on the last lap. ln race two, Plater caught and passed Rutter for the win. Plater's teammate tohn McGuinn€ss finished third. Suzuki has announced that Suzuki ['4otocP racer Chris Vermeulen recent- ly returned home to Australia to pilot a new Suzuki Boulev-ard M l09R cruiser. "l was really impressed when I first saw the new M l09R," said Vermeulen- "lt look awesome. lt has just the right mix of clas- sic-cruiser design and aSSressive, sport- performance styling. Then, when I read the bike specs, I iust had to have one - the l800cc, fuel-iniected, V-twin engine, the massive sportbike brakes and that fat, 240 rear tire - it's a pretty impressive piece of motorcycle engineering."

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