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/1546195
Jeff Ward, an eight-time AMA National Champion, will be honored with induction into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America at its annual induction cer- emony on Thursday, August 17, at the State Theatre in Detroit. Ward, 45, began his professional racing career in 1978. After winning seven AMA Motocross and Supercross titles, primarily in the 1980s, Ward switched to open-wheel cars. He was named Indy 500 Rookie of the Year in 1997 and went on to have a successful stint in the Indy Racing League. In addi- tion to winning one race and finishing as high as sixth in the final season standings, Ward had finishes of second (1999), third (1997) and fourth (2000) in the Indianapolis 500. In 1999, Ward was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame on the campus of the American Motorcyclist Association in Pickerington, Ohio. Ward then made an unexpected return to nation- al motorcycle racing in the AMA Supermoto Championship in 2003. Despite competing against riders half his age, Ward showed that he still pos- sessed the aggressive and smooth-racing style that won him his earlier titles. In 2004 Ward won the AMA Supermoto Championship. It marked his eighth AMA National title. Ward leads the 2006 AMA Supermoto Championship midway through the season. The Newport Beach, California, resident contin- ues to build on his already impressive resume. On August 6, Ward became the oldest male gold medalist and the oldest Moto X medalist in X Games history by winning the AMA-endorsed X Games Supermoto race in dramatic fashion. Ward edged silver- medalist Mark Burkhart by 0.572 second. "It's a big honor to be put in the Motorsports Hall of Fame," said Ward, who will attend the induction ceremony. "There are only a handful of motorcycle racers in there and when you look at the names, it's pretty humbling to be considered in the category with those riders." Ward joins a select group of motorcycle racers who have been inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, including Jay Springsteen, Don Vesco, Gary Nixon, Eddie Lawson, Freddie Spencer, Bob Hannah, Bart Markel, Carroll Resweber, Jim Davis, Malcolm Smith, Roger DeCoster, Dick Mann, Joe Petrali, Joe Leonard, Kenny Roberts and Erwin "Cannon Ball" Baker. Jeff Ward will be honored with induction into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. This week, Victory 2006, the grassroots organization of the California Republican Party, announced the formation of the Sportsmen, Outdoorsmen and Off- Roaders coalitions. Rodney Stanhope will serves as statewide coalitions chairman for these coalitions, which are dedicated to electing Republicans to office at all levels of government throughout California. "Victory 2006 is proud to announce the addition of Rodney Stanhope to our lead- ership team as we bring together an unprecedented group of California sports- men and outdoorsmen dedicated to elect- ing Republican candidates across the state. We look forward to his leadership and working together to move California for- ward," said state coalitions director Anna Bryson. Stanhope brings extensive political grassroots campaign experience to this effort. Most recently, he served as statewide volunteer coordinator for con- troller candidate Tony Strickland, and prior to that, he organized volunteers and sportsman coalitions for former secretary of state Bill Jones. In addition, he coordi- nated volunteer efforts for both Sacramento city council candidate Craig DeLuz and congressional candidate Jeff Rainforth. Stanhope's community volun- teerism also extends into the nonprofit sector, where he has served as Northern California Coordinator for Yellow Ribbon America and co-founded "Toys for the Troops Kids" in Sacramento. It is estimated that over 3.5-million Californians annually participate in recre- ational activities involving outdoor sports, hunting, off-road vehicles, fishing and other types of outdoor activities. Victory 2006 and the California Republican Party are committed to engaging these groups, activating their members, and electing Republican candidates who share the same values and vision for the future of California. For more additional information regarding the California Republican Party, Victory 2006, or Republican candidates in California visit www.cagop.org. Victory Team Announces Leadership in Sportsmen, Outdoorsmen, Off-Roaders Coalitions C Y C L E N E W S • AUGUST 23, 2006 15 Ward to be Honored at Hall of Fame 30 Years Ago August 24, 1976 Kenny Roberts Sr., Gary Semics, Jay Springsteen and Steve Eklund all shared the cover of Cycle News 30 years a g o . . . A y o u n g u p - and-coming Bob "Hurricane" Hannah topped the 125cc MX National in San Antonio, Texas, beating Marty Smith and Danny LaPorte to do so... Roberts just bare- ly beat out Springsteen to win the Terre Haute Grand National... Young rookie Eklund took the Grand National win the following week in Illinois... Semics battled through muddy condi- tions to win the 500cc MX National in New Castle, Kentucky. 20 Years Ago August 27, 1986 Eddie Lawson and the USA speedway team were on the cover of Cycle News 20 years ago... Lawson won the Swedish 500cc Grand Prix and in doing so claimed the 1996 World Champ- ionship... Bubba Shobert took his fac- tory Honda to the Hamburg Half Mile win, over Chris Carr and Steve Morehead... Carr then came back to beat Shobert to take his first-ever Peoria TT win... David Thorpe clinched the 500cc World MX title in Germany with 1-3 moto finishes on the day... Eddie Warren won both 125cc National motos in Hollister, California, while David Bailey went 2-1 to win the 500cc overall... Team Lockhart took the overall win at the Road Atlanta round of the U.S. Endurance series. 10 Years Ago August 21, 1996 Doug Polen, Geoff Aaron and Yamaha's new 1997 streetbike lineup shared the cover of Cycle News 10 years ago... Polen came out of retire- ment to take his first National road-race victory in three years in Formula USA action in Portland, Oregon... Aaron won rounds six and seven of the AMA Trials Series at Donner Ski Ranch, and in doing so took control of the championship... Steve Morehead beat Will Davis and Kevin Atherton to win the Nebraska Grand National final... Atherton then came back to win the following week in Black Hills, South Dakota... Sebastian Tortelli was crowned the 125cc World MX Champion at the Czech round of the series... We featured an interview with 500cc Grand Prix rider Alex Criville, taking a look at the only rider who was able to keep Mick Doohan honest throughout the 1996 season. BORN: Sachiko Rayne Zemke, to road racer Jake Zemke and his wife, Rebecca, on July 25, in San Luis Obispo. BORN: James Evan Bell, to Irv Seaver Motorcycles' Brian Bell and his wife, Holly, on July 26, in Orange, California. AUTOGRAPH SIGNING: Team Yamaha Factory riders Jamie Hacking, Jason DiSalvo and Eric Bostrom are scheduled to appear at Cyclenation Yamaha in Braselton, Georgia, on Thursday, August 31, from 6 to 7 p.m. For more information, call 706/654-0888. ETC. PHOTO BY RAYMOND GUNDY