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/1545838
JULY 26, 2006 • C Y C L E N E W S 14 Kenny Roberts Jr. was on what he refers to as the "old generation" chassis of his father's KR211V for the German Grand Prix on July 16. The move was made so he could have two identical chassis, rather than one old and one new. "So we are just a victim of circumstances right now with those chassis, because we can't go any- where and test with the way the calendar's laid out," he said. Roberts Jr. said he expects the new-generation chassis will be ready for the Czech GP, after the sum- mer break, and the test that follows. The new chas- sis should work better in Brno. "It's a higher-speed, higher-grip circuit than here," Roberts Jr. said. "We've got the power reduced a lot here. And you've got to be careful with the throttle because these things got so much power. So some- where that's more wide open should be better for the newer-generation chassis." That said, Brno is "light-years away because we've got Laguna, and then we've got three weeks off. So there may be something different in the pipeline by then. We're testing them as well - old generation, new generation - trying to figure out where the dif- ferences, because we didn't actually try to make them different. We tried to make them the same, but with improvements to workability for the mechanics and ease of getting things done from that side of it. But also, at the same time, you try to make the bike simpler, and in doing that we've changed some of the feelings, so we're just trying to somewhat get an idea of where we have to go." Roberts said they'd been through a lot of chassis. This was his fifth or sixth; he couldn't remember. "We've had some areas we wanted to improve from England, with the weight distribution and the bike changing from the beginning of the race to the end that I felt that it made be better in fast turns, but then worse in the fast turns at the end," he said. "So we've improved on that, I think. And at least we've made changes, big changes, and it's been a better direction or at least I've felt better on it. So just have to wait and see." Henny Ray Abrams The Red Bull U.S. GP will air on ABC in a highlight package a week after the July 23 race, according to Dorna Sports, the commercial rights holders for the MotoGP World Championship. The deal will see the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca race broadcast during an hour-long program on July 30, 1 p.m. (Eastern). The show will include not only coverage of the event, but features, news and interviews from the race. "We are happy to have the 2006 Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix on ABC," said Tag Garson Sr., director of programming and acquisitions. "It is an exciting event, which takes place at one of racing's most renowned venues, and showcases some terrific action." Dorna Sports' managing director, Manel Arroyo added: "It is great news for the sport to be broadcast across the United States on net- work television. Working alongside a prestigious network such as ABC will certainly help us achieve our objective of bringing MotoGP to the attention of a more mainstream audience." Helping to make the deal possible between the two parties was Van Wagner Sports Group, who will coordinate produc- tion matters with ABC and will work as Dorna's U.S. TV ad-sales agent. U.S. GP For ABC Byrne Ends Drought Rizla Suzuki's Shane Byrne won the second race at a sun-drenched Knockhill circuit in Scotland in the eighth round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship on July 16 to end a 22-month drought of victories for the team. Byrne led the opening race and enjoyed a three-way scrap for the win, but eventually finished second behind Honda's Ryuichi Kiyonari. In the second race, Byrne led from start to finish. The last time Rizla Suzuki won a race was at Oulton Park in September 2004 when John Reynolds was on his way to claim- ing the British Superbike title. Byrne was the lone Rizla Suzuki racer at Knockhill, as his teammate James Haydon missed the event while he continues to recuperate from the foot and shoulder injuries he sustained in a crash at Snetterton in Norfolk four weeks ago. Rizla Suzuki will replace Haydon with a stand-in rider at the ninth round of the British Superbike Championship at Oulton Park in Cheshire next weekend, according to the team. "Everybody has been telling me how much Rizla Suzuki need- ed a win and I knew how impor- tant it was for the team," Byrne said. "What people didn't realize is just how much I needed to win as well. It has been a long time since I topped the podium and led a race from start to finish. A mas- sive thank you to my team for all the support - they made the dif- ference today. In the first race I was always in contention but had to be content with second. My crew made some inspired changes to the bike in between the races and in the second race I managed to break away for the win. It's been a mega day for Rizla Suzuki, for me and for the Scottish fans. To win the Steve Hislop Memorial for the fastest lap is a real bonus as well. I could- n't be much happier and can't wait to get to Oulton Park to see if I can do it all again. I don't nor- mally drink, but I'll be having a few this evening to celebrate!" Kiyonari topped Byrne and Airwaves Ducati's Leon Haslam in race one with Bryne beating Honda-mounted Jonathan Rea and Haslam in race two. After eight of 13 rounds, Airwaves Ducati's defending series champion Gregorio Lavilla leads the title chase over his teammate Haslam, 244-233. Lavilla finished 11th in race one and failed to finish race two. W hile on break from the GNCC Series, 10-time World Enduro Champion Juha Salminen made the trip Down Under to compete in the prestigious Australian Four Day Enduro (A4DE). Sanctioned by Motorcycling Australia as the National Enduro Championship, the A4DE took place in Mogo near Bateman's Bay. Salminen swept the four-day event, adding yet another championship title to his already impressive resume. Fellow GNCC regular and native Aussie Shane Watts also competed, winning his class aboard a 200 two-stroke, and finishing on the overall podium. Salminen took to the course on a KTM 250 EXC-F, marking the fastest times across the board on day one, and he continued to dominate throughout the weekend. Salminen took quite well to the sandy Mogo State Forest, but admitted that the short sprints were very challenging. "I grew up on sandy tracks back home in Finland so I enjoyed the terrain," Salminen said. "The KTM 250 EXC-F handled really well on the sandy soil. I'm so used to enter- ing longer-distance, cross-country-style rac- ing in the U.S., that the short sprints were quite difficult for me at first. Here, I had so many special speed tests where I had to real- ly push myself." Salminen enjoyed competing Down Under and already hopes to return next year. "I had a great time racing in Australia and meeting all the fans and industry folks," Salminen said. "Everyone was welcoming. If time permits between the World Cup racing next year, I may make it back for another A4DE." Juha Salminen PHOTO BY RAYMOND GUNDY PHOTO BY GOLD & GOOSE Old Generation For Roberts Jr. Kenny Roberts Jr. discusses things with Nicky Hayden Juha Salminen Takes Australian Four Day