VOL. 52 ISSUE 24 JUNE 16, 2015 P25
model powered by Yamaha's WR250 engine.
Gas Gas has been working on its own four-stroke
trials engine, an unusual extremely compact
fuel-injected 350cc sidevalve design with battery-
less Kokkusan ignition, designed for the Catalan
manufacturer by Italian engineer Giovanni Mari-
ani. But now it seems the factory's demise will
call an end to its 30-year history.
But why that funny-peculiar name? The term
Gas Gas in Spanish—or Catalan—literally means
"gas it up" (i.e. turn the throttle to go faster.) Gas
Gas founders Narcís Casas and Josep Pibernat
explain that they were passing a bike store in Cali-
fornia that had the slogan Accelerate! Accelerate!
plastered across the window and they liked it so
much they named their new bike company that
way. So good, they had to name it twice.
It's understood that more than one Chinese
manufacturer is interested in acquiring Gas Gas
from the liquidator to provide it with a foothold in
the European market. Watch this space…
Alan Cathcart
C
heck out this incredible footage of James
Hillier as he smashes the outright top
speed record at the Isle of Man on Kawasaki's
awesome supercharged H2. The man pulled
210 mph down the Sulby Straight. Wow...
VIDEO OF THE WEEK:
HILLIER HAULS INTO
THE RECORD BOOKS
STJERNSTROM
REJOINS KAWASAKI
R
enowned racing industry
veteran Bruce Stjernstrom
has officially rejoined the green
camp, and will head up the
company's racing operations.
Stjernstrom—the former market-
ing manager for Kawasaki Mo-
tors Corp., U.S.A. (KMC)—has
20 years experience at Kawa-
saki, and is a lifelong racing
enthusiast.
"Bruce brings a wealth of
knowledge and business acu-
men to our racing program," said
Chris Brull, VP of Marketing for
KMC. "Bruce was a cornerstone
of Kawasaki Team Green as well
as leading multiple championship
winning teams while directing our
professional racing programs. We
know he has a passion for the
sport that is only matched by his
passion for Kawasaki."
"Kawasaki has a strong rac-
ing heritage that I am proud to
be part of once again," Stjern-
strom said. "I'm looking forward
to working with Don Fahie, Man-
ager of Motocross Racing and
Ryan Holliday, Supervisor for
Team Green, together with their
staff and our partners to keep
Kawasaki as a championship-
winning program."
PHOTOGRAPHY
COURTESY
OF
KAWASAKI
