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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1546195
AUGUST 23, 2006 • C Y C L E N E W S 12 A MA Pro Racing has doubled the type of motorcycle engines allowed in the 2007 Formula Xtreme class, but not with- out a small measure of misunderstanding. The release says that the following engine configurations will be eligible in 2007: • 550cc-600cc 4-stroke liquid-cooled 4-valve four cylinders • 650cc-675cc 4-stroke liquid-cooled 4-valve three cylinders • 650cc-850cc 4-stroke liquid-cooled 4-valve twin cylinders • 990cc-1100cc 4-stroke air/oil-cooled 4-valve desmo twin cylinders • 990cc-1200cc 4-stroke air/oil-cooled 4-valve pushrod twin cylinders • 900cc-1350cc 4-stroke air/oil-cooled 2-valve pushrod twin cylinders That list is incomplete and has one typo- graphical error. Missing from the list is the four-stroke air/oil-cooled four-valve over- head cam twin, which would allow the BMW R1200S, a model that was meant to be included. "Once the rule change happens, the intent is for that bike to be included," AMA techni- cal manager Kevin Crowther said in a phone conversation from AMA Pro Racing head- quarters in Pickerington, Ohio. "Looking at the Triumph 675 triple and that new BMW, those fall within the performance parameters of this class and what we're looking at doing. Horsepowerwise and weightwise, they defi- nitely fit into that window." Crowther said there were still some rules that needed to be tweaked before they were put into the rulebook. The unlimited engine-modification clause was among them. Buell took that quite literally in creating the XBRR for FX competition. "I think that's a little too open-ended at this point," Crowther said. "I think we're going to be taking a look at that." The typo is in the 990cc-1100cc four- stroke air/oil-cooled four-valve desmo twin cylinder. That model has two-valve heads. The list was compiled and approved by the AMA Racing Committee, which is sep- arate from the rulesmaking committee. He said that the FX engine formats were dis- cussed at the rulesmaking committee and that the AMA Racing Committee had taken their input into consideration. "The input from that rules committee is definitely taken to the standing commit- tee," Crowther said. The rulesmaking committee will be tasked with formalizing the actual technical rules, once the final wording of the engine types is concluded. "Once it comes down to the actual rules of the class, as far as the specifics for twins or triples, that's what the rules committee will vote on," Crowther said. Henny Ray Abrams AMA Rewrites Rulebook for 2007 Formula Xtreme T hey say all things come to those who wait, and after a 13-year wait, Shannon Chamberlain and his GSXR1100-powered CR500R ripped an 11.952-second run in the Championship class to earn his second title. On his way to the title, he picked up $4930, finishing no worse than second in four of the classes. The GSXR carried him to the majority of the cash and glory, but his CR500R earned nearly $1000 over the weekend. Colorado's Nolan Martin topped the Open Unlimited class - the other big class of the weekend - utilizing a heavily modified 800cc two-stroke-twin snowmo- bile motor in a Kawasaki KX250 chassis. Martin has $15,000 and countless hours in the creation, but he used it and his trusty KTM 550 to come out second on the money list with $4175. Martin's 10.905 was the fastest run on the weekend. Both the Open Tire and Open Unlimited classes had a reasonably straight course up the 440-foot Bentonite (a mix or blue/grey clay and small chips of shale, which doesn't grow much vegetation, common to the Billings area) slope. At some points, the grade is vertical or beyond, but the heavier Open bikes go through a chute worn into the shale-laden cliff near the peak. It remains diabolically steep, but safer for the riders on bikes that can weigh upward of 400 pounds. In the 251-600cc Tire class (which also runs the chute), Billings' Ed Taylor blew over the top with an 11.868-second run. Two ledges developed in the hill, which killed momentum or stopped riders alto- gether, and riders had to attack them with a vengeance to get past them. The result was either disappointed riders, or fast times for the ones who negotiated the cliffs - usually by aiming for a bump or knob on the hill and jumping the ledge with alarming speed. The exception was the 700cc unlimited class. Riders there were faced with one of the 30-foot vertical sections of com- pressed shale. With the two ledges lower on the slope, it was hard enough to mere- ly reach the top of the cliff. For those who managed to do it, a hard-left turn and an even-steeper slope covered with slippery weeds awaited. As a result, only six of the 112 entrants actually made the timing lights, and of the six, only Martin was suc- cessful on both runs. Nevertheless, Martin's time was good for third. California's Pete Krunich was second on a Nitrous-pumped CR500R. Krunich had a very consistent weekend that saw him earn a strong finish in every class for a $2600 take of the $45,000 total purse. The family took home some additional cash, though, as 16-year-old Petey Krunich fin- ished in the money a few times, as well. The class win went to North Dakota's Ross Johnson with a run almost a half-sec- ond quicker than Krunich. Striker Magnus Lestat Chamberlain Conquers 88th Annual Billings Hillclimb Shannon Chamberlain tames the bentonite beast at the 88th Annual Miller Lite Great American Hillclimb Championship. During the short break in the National MX Series, Makita Suzuki's Ricky Carmichael made an appear- ance at the AMA/Air Nautiques Amateur National Championships at Loretta Lynn's. Although he didn't race, he did suit up and take a couple of demonstra- tion laps on the all-new 2007 aluminum-frame Suzuki RM-Z250. PHOTO BY KINNEY JONES