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/196545
P26 IN THE WIND on Hondas, and said: "It's true I've always been a Honda guy," adding that if each time a deal fell apart "you end up with a Honda out of it, it's not a bad deal." The Honda RCV1000R has already undergone successful tests, with Casey Stoner giving it an approving nod. As an "open" class bike (the new designation decided at the meeting) it will get an extra 24 liters of fuel, but will have to use control electronics. Hayden also observed "it means I'll get to use those special softer CRT tires." The switch of the top-level Aspar team from Aprilia is the result of the shock announcement that Dall'Igna was leaving the company to join beleaguered Ducati. This cast serious doubts on the future of the promised upgrade to the current ART CRT bike, and forced Aspar team owner Jorge Martinez into a rush decision to buy two of the new Hondas - doubling customer numbers, with Scott Redding and Karel Abraham already on the list. "It was a difficult decision," said Martinez. "We have been with Aprilia since the formation of the team 18 years ago." Hayden's teammate has yet to be confirmed, but the team named Eugene Laverty, Yonny Hernandez and former 250cc World Champion Hiro Aoyama as candidates, with the smart money on the last-named. Michael Scott M ike Lafferty made his final ride with Husaberg last weekend at the Cross Timbers National Enduro in Oklahoma, the eight-time champ announcing before the race that 2014 will be his final year of racing and he will do it on a KTM. "I'm really excited about getting back on a KTM," said Lafferty. "I feel like I'm really lucky to have the opportunity to go back to KTM, there are a lot of off-road guys out of work or looking for rides right now, so I feel privileged. I've been giving it a lot of thought about my situation and where I fit in, but it just made sense in my last year of racing to go back to KTM, which is kind of where I started." Lafferty has 70 National Enduro wins to his credit and is tied for the most championships with Dick Burleson at eight. "I'm grateful to KTM for giving PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHAN MOORE LAFFERTY BACK TO KTM Next season, Mike Lafferty will finish off his racing career back where it started with KTM. me the opportunity to do it, there has been a loyalty thing there for 20 years and they're giving me an opportunity that I'm really thankful for, and that makes me want to work even harder to give back to them and put myself in a position to get wins and maybe another title." Lafferty has ridden Husabergs the last three years. "It's hard to believe it's going to be 20 years that I've been racing. It's been a lot of years and some ups and downs, but I couldn't be happier," added Lafferty. "There was a lot going on in my mind when I saw that continued on page 28