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/1546039
C Y C L E N E W S • AUGUST 9, 2006 13 Hangtown/Dirt Diggers Help Out Fonseca An auction for Ernesto Fonseca held by the Dirt Diggers North MC has resulted in raising nearly $15,000 for the injured rider. DDNMC member and Hangtown assistant director David Harvey coordinated the auction that was held at the Hangtown Classic and via eBay last month. Gear, parts and accessories donated by riders and industry brought in more than $12,000, while Fonseca wristbands sold at Hangtown brought in $2550. Those and other miscellaneous donations brought the total to nearly $14,800. Topping the list of auc- tioned items were a helmet, pants and boots from Fonseca himself ($1800), a Ricky Carmichael jersey, pants ($1725), Carmichael Berik boots ($1130), and a James Stewart jersey and pants ($995). "I got this auction going on a wing and a prayer," Harvey said. "And thankfully, everyone stepped up and made it happen. Although I started the auction, it was the fans and Ernesto's friends that made it happen. Even though it's not a lot of money in the grand scheme of things, I think it sends a clear message to Ernesto that nobody is going to forget him. We know that he will use all of his determination and dedication to overcome his injuries. The Dirt Diggers are behind Ernesto 100 percent." Dirt Diggers North MC member David Harvey presents Ernesto Fonseca with a check for $14,796.90 KTM Will Retain Control Of KTM Polaris Industries Inc. and KTM Power Sports AG announced on July 28 that they would continue their strategic partnership at an operational and technical level, but that they no longer anticipate that Polaris would acquire a majority equity interest in KTM. On July 19, 2005, the companies announced that Polaris pur- chased approximately a 25-percent interest in KTM and that Polaris and KTM's largest shareholder, Cross Industries AG, had entered into an option agreement, which provided that, under certain conditions in 2007, either Cross could purchase Polaris' interest in KTM or, alternatively, Polaris could purchase Cross' majority interest in KTM. Although the options are not exercis- able until 2007, it is likely that under the terms of the option agreement, Cross would have the initial option to purchase Polaris' equity interest in KTM. The companies also announced that during the first phase of the partnership, each company would be run independently and that Polaris and KTM would work on several specific cooperative projects. "Our teams have worked well together over the past year," said Tom Tiller, Polaris' CEO. "The strategic partnership has accom- plished a tremendous amount so far and achieved nearly all our goals during the first 12 months of its existence. For instance, in February of this year, Polaris and KTM entered into a long-term exclusive engine-supply agreement for ATV applications, and in March of this year KTM became Polaris' distributor in Germany. Additionally, our co-development projects are progressing nicely, and we expect to make an exciting announcement about one of our projects in the near future. These and other joint-cooperation projects will continue into the future. I expect the technical co- operation between our companies to continue to be strong in the coming years." "We are very pleased with the results of the first phase of the strategic partnership and look forward to continuing the relation- ship" said Stefan Pierer, KTM's CEO. "Nevertheless, Rudolf Knünz [the other principal in Cross] and I have recently informed Polaris of our intention not to sell Cross' interest in KTM to Polaris. We wish to remain in control of KTM and for KTM to remain an inde- pendent company." 30 Years Ago August 10, 1976... Steve Baker was the man on the cover of Cycle News 30 years ago... Baker dominated the Champion Spark Plug Classic road races at Laguna Seca, topping the likes of "King" Kenny Roberts and Gary Nixon to win both the 750cc Expert and Expert Lightweight finals. Reg Pridmore topped the Superbike Production race on a BMW 900... A young Bob "Hurricane" Hannah was on a fast rise to the top of the motocross world, winning the Ohio round of the 125cc motocross nationals, beat- ing Danny LaPorte to take the hard-fought vic- tory... We also featured an interview with long- time do-it-all racer Gary Nixon, in which he relived some of the many ups and downs that had defined his racing career to date. 20 Years Ago August 13, 1986... Yamaha's all-new 1997 motocross machines were featured on the cover of Cycle News 20 years ago... Yamaha's 1997 motocross lineup featured refinements and across-the-board engine and suspension up- grades... Kawasaki sup- port rider Eddie Warren and Honda's David Bailey topped the 500cc and 125cc motocross races in Binghamton, New York, respectively... Randy Renfrow won the AMA Formula One race in Mid-Ohio, while Fred Merkel took the Superbike-class victory that weekend... John van den Berk took the Swedish World 125cc MX GP win... Up-and- coming young flat-track racer Doug Chandler used a smart tire choice to help beat Alex Jorgensen to take the Santa Fe TT Grand National win. 10 Years Ago August 7, 1996... The latest 1997-model big-bore cruisers adorned the cover of Cycle News 10 years ago, sitting in front of the Las Vegas Hard Rock Café... The issue was the annual cruiser special, and fea- tured a test with Harley- Davidson's Bad Boy, Yamaha's Royal Star project bike, and a Riding Impression with Honda's new VLX ... Steve Lamson was featured as the Cycle News Rider of the Month for winning more outdoor motocross Nationals than any other rider at that point of the season, including the 125cc overall win at Kenworthy's MX Park, which was featured in the issue... Lamson's Honda teammate Jeremy McGrath rebounded to beat Jeff Emig to take the 250cc overall win at Kenworthy's...Rich King was The Man in Oklahoma, winning the State Fair Speedway Grand National dirt track... Colin Edwards and Noriyuki Haga teamed up to win the Suzuka 8 hours. BORN: Braxton Racer Woods, to defending WORCS Champion Nathan Woods and his wife on July 6. AUTOGRAPH SIGNING: At the Jeremy McGrath Invita- tional booth during the X Games at the Home Depot Cen- ter, August 4-5. On August 4, Jeremy McGrath will be signing from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. and on August 5, Brian Deegan will be signing from 2 to 3 p.m. OPENED: Road racer Tony Meiring's home page on the World Wide Web. The site can be found at the following address: www.tonymeiring.net. ACQUIRED: Fastway Performance, by Pro Moto Billet, effective immediately, according to Pro Moto Billet. As part of the acquisition, all of Fastway Performance's manufactur- ing, sales, racer support, and marketing will be relocated to Pro Moto Billet's corporate headquarters in Nampa, Idaho. Pro Moto Billet will continue production of all Fastway Per- formance products. MOVED: The Davis Agency, to 1531 Yosemite Drive, Lake Arrowhead, California 92352, 909/337-3566, (fax) 909/337- 3404, davisagency@charter.net. ETC.