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/287613
IN THE WIND P22 and somehow we got this thing resolved. I'm just honored to be involved. Circuit of the Americas is something that I was… well, my close friend Tavo Hellmund and I were the ones to sketch it on paper to begin with. To not be able to be there last year for MotoGP was pretty tough. That's one of the things after talking with Bobby Epstein [the circuit chair- man] a little bit that maybe made Bobby realize that some work is not something I'm afraid of. I'm happy to get out there and pro- mote things and hopefully I can be an asset to them and not a li- ability." Schwantz starts his new job with just a few weeks to go be- fore the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas at COTA and a month prior to the scheduled court case. "Kevin is a great champion and partnering with him gives us an opportunity to learn from his deep knowledge, as well as continue to celebrate his accom- plishments," Epstein said in a re- lease issued by the track. "Kevin and I have always shared the de- sire to see him be a part of COTA, and it's awesome to finally see it become a reality. A great Ameri- can track and a great American champion in the same city can't be kept apart. As a result, ca- sual riders, current racers, future stars and the fans all win." As a COTA ambassador, Schwantz will play a prominent role in a variety of promotions for the upcoming GP, including me- dia availabilities and fan activities, the track says. Schwantz will also serve as Grand Marshal for the MotoGP race and will lead the pa- rade laps scheduled for COTA's personal seat license holders on Friday, April 11, between Grand Prix practice sessions. Schwantz took his first-ever laps of the circuit he helped de- sign on Monday, March 31. Additionally, COTA will work with Schwantz to raise money for the charity he supports, the Simoncelli Foundation. Through Friday, April 4, COTA will donate $1 for every ticket purchased for the Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas to the Simoncelli Foun- dation, a nonprofit organization supporting humanitarian projects that benefit the disadvantaged. Kevin Schwantz and the Circuit of The Americas have reached an agreement that ends their lawsuit. PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE MAYHEM AT MYRTLE BEACH A MA Pro Flat Tracker Johnny Lewis has a vision of ex- panding the flat track audience. His idea is to bring the sport to the people, instead of making the people come to them. Lewis is moving his vision from con- cept to reality on May 16 when the event he's calling "Mayhem at Myrtle Beach" comes to Myr- tle Beach Speedway in South Carolina. The mayhem Lewis is speak- ing of is short track racing on a 1/5th mile paved oval smack-dab in the middle of Myrtle Beach's annual Bike Week. Lewis doesn't see paved flat track as the future of the sport, instead he is hoping the spectacle of short-track rac- ing on asphalt, under the lights at night, will win new fans to the sport. "I think we'll put a good show continued on page 24