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/164511
P32 IN THE WIND is leading the MotoGP World Championship in his rookie season. "I think that it is difficult to say," Rossi said. "I mean every rider is a bit different. I think that we have something similar. Like that we like a lot the battle. We are strong when we battle with the other guys. But, for example, the riding style is very different between me and him. And for sure when he arrive in MotoGP I compare with me, that we are the same age, 20 years old, and was the only one that won the same number of race when he arrive to MotoGP and so for this thing remember a little bit me. "But this year he is better than me. Because I won just two races in the first year and he already won more. And I did 10 podiums that was great, but he already did 10 podiums so I think he will beat me yeah." OHV RIDERS TO BENEFIT FROM FUNDING O ff-highway motorcycle riders and other trail users stand to benefit from up to $82.4 million in federal funding to be apportioned to 49 states in 2014 through the Recreational Trails Program, according to the AMA. Only Florida opted out of the program for fiscal 2014. "As a federal grant program that provides funds to develop and maintain recreational trails, RTP is vitally needed to continue expanding and maintaining off-highway opportunities for riders," said AMA Vice President of Government Relations Wayne Allard. "In fact, RTP funds come from excise taxes generated by fuel purchased for off-highway vehicle recreation - off-highway motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles and off-highway light trucks - so this is money that rightfully belongs to trail users." RTP was created by Congress in 1991 with bipartisan support. The Federal Highway Administration administers the program. Since its inception, the RTP has leveraged more than $787 million of federal grants into more than $1.3 billion in monies to fund recreational trails. Without this vital program, many trails would not have been built and without its continuation, many will face reduced maintenance and possible closure. Authorized funds are allocated annually by the federal government to those states that choose not to opt-out for that fiscal year. Every year the governor of each state has the option to opt-out of the RTP and deploy the funds to other non-recreational projects. Each state then manages its funds in consultation with an RTP board that represents both motorized and non-motorized recreationists. RTP funds support motorized, nonmotorized and mixed-use trails projects. The only stipulation is that 30 percent of obligated funds must go to motorized trails, 30 percent to non-motorized trails and 40 percent to mixed-use trails. This marks the second consecutive year that Florida has opted-out of the annual RTP allocation, giving up $5.2 million in funding already paid for by that state's off-highway vehicle recreation community. As a result, Florida has fewer funds to create and maintain safe recreational trails for responsible users, according to the AMA.