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/774093
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP VOL. 54 ISSUE 2 JANUARY 17, 2017 P55 testing area in order to get enough exhaust cans marked as cleared by the AMA for sound. Everyone even- tually got the job done, but in San Diego, the AMA was running sound tests following each qualifying prac- tice, where they'd pull a couple rid- ers out of the session, set up a mi- crophone in the middle of the start straight, and then float some valves for a few seconds as they tested the decibel level of the exhaust. While we assume it was random, Ken Roczen was pulled aside to have his CRF450R's Yoshimura exhaust sound-checked after both sessions. For Military Appreciation Night in San Diego, lots of teams were running special graphics that incor- porated camouflage of some sort, or some Old Glory-type patriotic theme, but Seat Concepts went a step further. They made seat cov- ers for the Rocky Mountain ATV-MC KTM bikes of Blake Baggett and Davi Millsaps that incorporated ac- tual, genuine material from Marine Corps desert camo (along with a USMC patch up near the tank), and another seat cover for privateer Honda pilot Freddy Noren that was U.S. Navy-based. Check them out. Feld worked with the OEMs and military personnel to put on a hole- shot challenge for some military veterans similar to what they did last year, having NASCAR drivers race down the start straight in At- lanta. The challenge featured three US Army soldiers and three US Ma- rines, each on a different brand of motorcycle, and each actually riding for a different military branch. All six motorcycles were made available to purchase after the race, with the proceeds going to the San Diego USO. While the event succeeded in bringing awareness as well as a good chunk of money to one of the nation's longest-running military charities, it also resulted in a pileup when the US Army's Austen Coye (riding a KTM for the Coast Guard) veered into the USMC's Chris Carl- isle (riding a Husqvarna for Combat Veterans). Coye got the worst end of it, ending up underneath Carlisle's machine with a dislocated shoul- der. The Alpinestars Medical crew was able to pop his wing back into place. The USMC's Jesse Williams, a double-leg amputee on a Honda, won the event. "For me, it means a lot," Williams said after the event. "Everything I do right now, I do for my brothers who I lost over in Af- ghanistan, and I do it for my friends, and everybody that supports us. I'm just really happy to be here." Rockstar Energy Husqvarna's Christophe Pourcel is having a dismal start to his 2017 Supercross campaign. At Anaheim I, he missed the main event by one spot, finishing just behind the injured Trey Canard in the LCQ. Canard ended up sitting out the main event even though he qualified, but Pourcel missed the main as well. In San Diego, Pourcel qualified sixth during daytime quali- fying, and was running third late in the first 450SX heat race when he went down in another tricky sec- tion of the San Diego track. Pourcel went down awkwardly, smashing his right hand under his handlebar, and twisting his left hand between his handlebar and clutch as he hit the ground. He was slow to get up and was out for the night. The team hasn't given any further information on his condition at this time. San Diego Supercross Notes: Smartop MotoConcepts Racing's Mike Alessi did not suit up in San Diego. He is still recovering from his crash the previous weekend at Anaheim… Barn Pros/Home Depot Yamaha's Chris Alldredge suffered a broken collarbone practicing ear- lier in the week and did not race; his spot on the team was filled by Jon Ames… No word out of the James Stewart camp as to when he'll make his 2017 SX debut… Red Bull KTM's Trey Canard sat out the SD SX with a sore shoulder that he injured at Anaheim I; it is not yet known when he might return… cont. on next page