P28
IN
THE
WIND
By then he was with Ducati,
contracted to the factory, but riding the "B-team" Pramac machine.
"Ducati has been incredibly
supportive during this challenging
year, so I am tremendously disappointed I have not been able to fulfill my personal goals with them,"
said Spies, before thanking "everyone from racing organizations,
factories, teams and all my fans
for helping and supporting me
throughout my career."
Spies won 45 races in various
classes of AMA racing with his
first victory coming in the 750cc
Superstock class at Pikes Peak
Raceway in Colorado in 2001.
His list of victories in AMA racing included 28 wins in the premier Superbike class and three
AMA Superbike Championships
(2006, 2007 and 2008).
and Danny LaPorte), support
staff, mechanics, Pro Circuit's
Mitch Payton and Jim "Bones"
Bacon, and even reps from the
Baja Fools pit organization. A
slide show documented the many
facets of the program, including a
tribute to the late Danny Hamel,
which was followed by a taco
Riders and crew gather for a group
photo in celebration of Kawasaki's
first win in Baja 25 years ago.
Michael Scott
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARK KARIYA
BAJA
REUNION
O
ver 160 former racers, support staff and volunteers
of Kawasaki's dominating Team
Green Baja effort got together at
Kawasaki headquarters in Irvine,
California, on October 26, for
a reunion that also marked the
25th anniversary of Kawasaki's
first Baja 1000 win in 1988.
Besides the chance to renew
friendships, the gathering offered
the opportunity to view lots of
memorabilia from the period (photos, T-shirts, posters, jerseys,
etc.) as well as the KX500 that
won the 1000 in 1994. Attendees
included a mix of personnel, from
team manager Mark Johnson to
riders (such as Paul Krause, Ted
Hunnicutt, Chris Crandall, Larry
Roeseler, Ty Davis, Anna Cody,
Dave Ondas, Garth Sweetland
MARK YOUR The North Americanits Trials
Council announced
2014
AIReS AMA/NATC USA NationTRIALS
CALENDAR
al MotoTrials Series schedule,
which will include eight rounds in
four different locations across the
country. Consisting of four two-
feed then a chance for anyone to
grab the mike and share a story.
And there is never a lack of a story
from Baja.
Mark Kariya
day events, the series will start in
Texas Creek, Colorado, on May
24-25, and wrap up at the Trials
Training Center in Sequatchie,
Tennessee, on June 28-29, after
visiting Sedan, Kansas on May
31-June 1, and Tremont, Pennsyl-
