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Engine Ice Daily News:
The wild and crazy three-night Bercy Supercross will be Nov 9-11 this year. MC has an open deal to race each year until he retires. The other fast US guy in the 250 class should be Travis Pastrana. Vuillemin won't be at the US Open in Oct. He will be in France with his girlfriend Erica from Sept 21/Oct 21. Tom Webb, who recently left FMF to do something different, will be working at Dirt Bike magazine.
In case you missed it, the rumors about No Fear backing away from MX have long since faded. MC will wear No Fear in 2002, Travis will too since he is halfway through a 4-year contract, and KW will be back in Surwall's gear too. Everts remains with the brand too in GPs. This week's audio interviews on www.mxnationals.com will feature Kawasaki's Tony Gardea (PR guy), Ferry, RC, Windham, Langston, Thain, and Roger DeCoster talking about KW's training and Travis. (Something happened to the Mike Brown section, dang). Also there will be a new audio feature with Dr. Steve Augustine reporting on the battered and bruised. The AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Motocross Championships will get a long break, three weeks. At least a couple of the top riders that stay in the east will go to California during the break. RC wasn't happy with his bike settings at Washougal. At least one source at Kawasaki says he didn't test much for outdoors because he was so focused on winning the Supercross title this year. When he has a race like last weekend's he usually works extra hard and bounces back. He said he was glad the fans got to see a close race this time, but he wants to make Millville boring. This week the NMA's amateur mega-event happens at Ponca City, then everyone heads to Loretta Lynn's the the biggest, coolest, and most watched races all year. This year's on-site web report will be the best ever, with more contributing writers, your favorite photohound's photos, and if it works out, audio. There are no conflicts with the nationals and Loretta's this time, so the web stuff will cover the event from start to finish.
Tallon Vohland pulls a rolloff on his Scott goggles in practice over a jump at Washougal. Did we mention Scott is a sponsor of Loretta's? Should motocross and Supercross have an in-house medical specialist who has the authority to stop someone from racing for medical reasons? The ongoing drama with Travis and those concussions has everyone talking. If it does happen the most likely change would be someone like Road to Recovery's Dr Steve Augustine (MX) or CTi's Dr. John Bodnar (SX) tasked with montoring the racers week to week, and stepping in when necessary. Motonews hasn't talked to Bodnar about this, but after speaking with Augustine at Washougal, this change seems to already be on the agenda.
Jason McCormick of Spy, Robert Pastrana, a medic, and Malcolm McCassey rush to help Travis after that hard crash in moto 2 at Washougal. No one is throwing in the towel yet, but the champ is really taking a beating.
Who's In/Who's Out for Washougal: IN: Tallon Vohland OUT: Ryan Hughes Tonya Satchwell swept both motos of the WML round 4 at Washougal. She had huge leads both motos. Sheena Patterson was a respectable 2-3. Bau was using the same hard pack tires as Troy and it was too early to get mud tires from the Dunlop truck (sheesh). It didn't help that most of the semis that park in the pits on a Saturday were not able to make it in due to the mud either-big traffic jam. Anyway, Bau fell about 5 times in moto 1, she was 3-2. I asked Pastrana how he was feeling. "Great," he said, and did he ride this week. "I practiced some starts." he said. I guess that means he took it easy. Remember the week before Troy he took naps because of his concussion at Unadilla. Langston crashed hard in practice and kept riding. Pastrana did a whoop-section long wheelie on the last lap of practice. It was un-real and a large crowd really cheered when he did it. Saw G-Force and KTMNealio. It was muddy in the morning and at least one of the peewee classes just got bogged to a standstill. Parents and well wishers were pushing kids (and picking them up) all over the place. This got the day way behind schedule.
THQ U.S. Open, The World's Richest Motorcycle Race Billy Laninovich has been added at KTM for 2002. Cycle News is reporting Ryan Terlecki with race a Husaberg FC550 at Washougal. From Deringer Thursday night at the Lake County Fair Stadium Motocross saw four different
winners. Erick Vallejo took a big win in the
125cc class followed by Jeff Gibson and Tommy Hofmaster. Gibson came back to take the
250cc Pro class over Chad Johnson and Josh Demuth. Demuth won the $700+ Dash for Cash
over Ryan Clark. Hofmaster took the win in
the Four-Stroke Pro class Michael Brandes is going to race the Mx Imports Inc. factory Vertemati c500 at Round 8 of the AMA WESTERN 4-STROKE Nationals in Clarkia, Idaho August 5th. Robbie Reynard has also tested the 4-Stroke thumper recently and has intentions on being there as well. For an off weekend for the AMA 125/250 Nationals many riders like Greg Schnell and Anthony Amaradio may be in attendance along with the series regulars Nathan Woods, Spud Walters, Ryan Terlecki, Kip Sandell, Jimmy LaMastus, Tim Beatty, Todd Downs, Cousin Brian and DJ Sweany. After all to earn more MONEY in the event, posting $6,000 Purse, paying top twelve per moto has to be an incentive. More info: contact Don Schneider at 503-756-4782 www.4strokenationals.com or email: snideline@aol.com
The 2002 EA Sports Supercross Schedule is out! Click Here. The schedule looks a lot like this year's, which means Motonews.com gets an apartment in LA between Anaheim 1 and 3. This time all the talk will be about can MC come back after this year's Carmichael romp in Supercross? RC will have to go as fast or faster on a red bike instead of a green one, which will probably be a factor. From Motodude: Takeshi Katsuya , '99 Jpn 125 Champion, wants to get a ride for the remainder of the US Nationals. Last year he helped develop the YZ250f and was Akira Narita's team mate. This year he is a factory Honda rider in the 250 class. Takeshi is also an Aussie resident!! He travels to Japan just to do the 10 round championship series and test new bikes. Also keep an ear open for the name Mr Seki (MotoRoman). Ask Lammy about him...interesting big business dude in Jpn who likes to $upport motocrossers. Narita is helped by him. Web stuff to see: -Bruce Stjernstrom Interview, Racer X
(Gundy photo) From Deringer
If you go to Washougal, (you are going aren't you?), check out the WML races Saturday, and get a new Stefy Bau autograph poster. Its the first digital one that I know of. At least no one can say a 1.2 meg digital file can't make a poster. It was done by Tim Clark at Pro-Motion Motorsports. Tim also does the US Open program, which is the slickest moto publication there is. Why no news on RC to Honda? Kawi wants to get its money's worth while he's winning outdoors, and Honda is keeping quiet. No one is saying when and where, but he will race a CR at Namur. A French magazine is about to print a news bit about an interesting possibility for a clothes deal with DV. DV isn't happy the mag did it because he didn't want anything out unless its a done deal. The US Open has invited Blair Morgan to ride the 4-stroke races. More interesting people are being discussed for this race too. Ron Heben (Team Green Manager) is probably going to KTM, but someone else wants him too. Nothing for sure yet. Motonews has a new audio feature, probably ready tomorrow. It's comedy bits! Racing is serious business, but so what. CBits #1 will feature one of the funniest people in moto, David Pingree, and Allen Brown of Factory Connection. No Fear is making some more dog tag things with moto photos on them. Gundy got a big Budman photo in an AX ad in Racer X, go Ray!
Tortelli is pretty sore after that big getoff Sunday at Troy. The Racer X folks talked to him and say he's not sure about Washougal. When RC was breaking Hannah's outdoor win record at Unadilla, former Supercross champ Ricky Johnson was in Germany doing car and bike stunts for a movie.
The US Open going to be hear before you know it, so don't forget to make plans early. Vegas is the last place you want to make last minute reservations for. The pros race Friday Oct 12 and Sat Oct 13th. If you stay for Sunday you can see the amateur Arenacross finals. Plano Honda news was added to the emag Silly Season list. Team France for the MXdN: Tortelli, Mickael Pichon and Mickael Maschio or Luigi Seguy. They should decide between Maschio and Seguy in two weeks after the Namur GP.
Say hello to Takehisa Katsura, an engineering supervisor at Yamaha in Shizuoka, Japan. Katsura gets his gossip right here on Motonews! Beginning this week, Cannondale will be equipping its 2002 models with OPTIMUM's innovative GP Control electronic fuel-injection technology. Emag updates: Silly Season, 125 Racing and 250 Racing. Tortelli crashed out of moto 2 but reprots are he just has a concussion. His practice track is now in Gainesville, Fl. Reports are the track is sweet. Who built it? Marc Peters, GP track builder and maker of many tracks in Southern Ca. So far a couple of fast guys aren't penciled in on the silly season list: 1) Nick Wey, who needs a 250 ride, and 2) Kelly Smith, KTMs 4-stroke and mud ace.
Motonews salutes Nick Metcalf, a talented Arenacross guy who rode his first national at Troy. He went 23-28 in the 250 class. No points, but close.
Troy: RC was suffering (stomach) but rode his tail off and won. Tort tangled with KW in moto 2. Ferry won another moto straight up (2nd moto) but blew a motor in the first one, sheesh. Brown ripped! Travis is feeling the effects of his concussions and trying not to push his luck. Langston was just a little off. Fonseca, Jesseman, Sellards, and Huffman were flying. Silly Season was cooking today, stay tuned for what will happen to Schnell, Reed, Buckelew, Short, and Riddle....
So why are Nathan Ramsey, David Vuillemin, and Ernesto Fonseca lying on the ground?
The Wheelie Wizzard rides over them on a Panda 50 with no front wheel!
No thanks. Nick Wey watches the silliness at Yamaha of Troy autograph signing Friday night.
Stephane Roncada's site www.ronronmx.com has an article on arm pump, check out Training #5. Who's in/Who's out for Troy: IN: Jeff Gibson, recovering
from a long recovery to his wrist/hand. OUT: Danny Smith, hurt his wrist or something. Tim Ferry had the fastest practice times Saturday. Renthal moved into its new factory after theirs burned down last year.
Motodude, our famous Australian correspondent, has his own Motonews section! Check out the official June 2000 Motodude/Motonews test of Everts bike. The emag has a new interview up, this one is Scott Sheak of Plano Honda. Renthal America has hired "Dave Kaiser" to fill the newly created position of National Sales Manager. Kaiser will begin his new position at Renthal on August 1st, 2001. "We are happy that Dave is joining the team. His history and knowledge of the motorcycle industry will definitely make him a great addition to our team! ", says Shawn Norfolk, Brand Manager of Renthal America. Lenhartsville, PA --- Boyesen, Scott USA, and Racer X are proud to announce Camp Loretta’s 2001. This year the camp will feature a new crafteach day. The camp tent will be located behind the pavilion bleachers. Activities will run from 10:00am until 2:00pm beginning Monday August 6 thru Friday August 10. Children 5 years and older are welcome to participate. For more specific details; see the flyer in the rider packets, call Boyesen 800-441-1177, or www.boyesen.com. So guess what past winner at Washougal is riding amatuer day there this year?
Stuff in the news: Football coach Terry Bowden to
speak at Lorettas. (Speedvision) OMS Ltd. announced today (July 17th) that Dale
Spangler has been named Sales Account Executive for AMA Sports and All
Terrain Vehicle Association (ATVA) activities. Last month, OMS Ltd. was
appointed by the AMA as the exclusive sponsorship agent for AMA Sports and the
ATVA. Spangler comes to OMS with 20+ years experience in the personal power
sports industry ranging from national caliber motocross racer to his most recent position
as power sports promotions manager at Smith Sport Optics.
Spangler’s primary responsibilities at OMS will include establishing new sponsorships
for AMA Sports and the ATVA as well as taking existing sponsorships to a new level.
“It is an honor to be selected for this new position and to join the great staff OMS
has assembled,” said Spangler. “I look forward to the challenge of
elevating the sponsorship opportunities for AMA Sports and the new ATVA group events and
series to a new level of participation and professionalism.”
"Will run race team for food..." It doesn't look like Emig's team will be ready by 2002, so one of his partners, Tim Dixon, is treading water. Look for Tim to pop up somewhere in the pits next year anyway. (Hey at least give us a smile, sheesh)
That's better. Racer X's site has some important updates: 1) Travis is OK and is racing Troy, 2) Ward pulled off at Dilla when he crashed hard and jammed his thumb, 3) and Tom Webb is leaving FMF. Also up, the complete list of entries for this years Loretta Lynn's amateur nationals on www.mxsports.com.
Grant Langston's girlfriend, Samantha. Click Sam for a larger photo.
MC will be racing in Australia Aug 11/12. Our own Motodude will be covering the event Here's a preview.
Pilot Travel Centers sponsors Aaron Dieter! Everyone is better off when more sponsors take an interest in the coolest sport in the world. So, next time you need to make a pit stop on your road trip, look for Pilot. Make sure you leave some moto-stickers in the rest room so they will know how much we appreciate them. Sports Illustrated for Women is working on a feature on Stefy Bau.
Mini bike superstars Davi Millsaps and Broc Hepler (Galley photo)
KTM Dudes behind Grant Langston. There was a lot of news kicking around at the Dilla. Find out what's up with No Fear, KTM, Travis Pastrana's blackouts and more on the emag News section.
David Vuillemin confirmed that he signed with Yamaha Friday morning, so both ot the blue team riders are set for 2002. Nick Wey, who is moving to 250s, is still homeless.
KTM is proud of this new Racer X cover with Grant Langston.
Sebastien Tortelli has a web site in the works.
Someone was doing a photo shoot in new O'Neal gear, and they didn't have his size. You have to remember to remove the Vise Grips before riding.
Practice went good at Unadilla, the day was overcast but nice. Who's In/Who's out for Dilla: IN: Shae Bentley OUT: Tallon Vohland
Bruce Stratton qualified third on Saturday on a stock YZ 250 (he switched from Suzuki) with this PSI Performance carburetor and reed. Motonews has been following this carb for about a year. This is the design that has no main jet like a snowmobile. The people using them now say they work damn good.
There are more rumors to browse on The Silly Season news page.
It's not too early for Bubba-Mania. The sport's most likely "Next Big Thing" won big at Muddy Creek last weekend. Bubba is wrapping up his amateur career and will be headed straight for the Kawasaki factory rig in 2002. We will see him at Loretta's and at the Engine Ice 125cc Amateur Cup at the US Open in October.
Jeff Gibson got clearance to ride again from his Drs. He has been recovering from wrist surgery that required some pins. He would like to do about three nationals as soon as he is ready.
Motoworld of El Cajon has Greg Schnell with another year on his contract. It's no secret Yamaha of Troy wants him. (Well actually it was a secret until Racer X let the cat out of the bag this week). According to www.racerxill.com, a trade for Buckelew may be in the works. McGrath Racing hasn't been in the Silly Season rumor mill much, at least not yet. The team is still working on its sponsors for 2002 and will stay with Yamahas. The still want another rider too, even though Ernie has gone Red. Did you hear the one about No Fear? Which one? If you have been web surfing lately, you have heard (read) just about everything. To find out what No Fear is saying, our own InterNet softie and Mototalk regular Bauer called Marty Moates for the straight poop. Here's Bauer's report, clipped right off MT: "I just finished talking to Marty Moates at length, and all I can say is that I am 100% sure that the rumors of NoFear going under, selling out, filing BK or breaking away from the rest of California and sinking in the Pacific Ocean are totally untrue, and not based in fact. Marty further stated that he played in a golf tourney with Jack and Jeremy McGrath yesterday, and they were just shaking their heads and wondering how these things get started." There is one trend to note about Silly Season and clothing deals, but it's not limited to one company. It looks like at least some of the clothing companies are backing off big sponsorships for a lot of riders, and focusing on just a couple that the public can identify them with. RC and Bubba wearing Fox would be an example. When you think of Thor gear, who do you think of? What about AXO? The companies want you to have an answer to that one for their stuff.
Don't miss the NPG's Mid Season review of the AMA/Chevy Trucks U.S. Motocross Championships, so far. It's on MXNationals. com. If you were just checking Racer X's web site for Racerhead on Friday, times have changed. DC and crew got a web upgrade with some help from Zac at www.braaap.com. Now the site has daily news bits on the right side. It's geat stuff and as up to the minute as Mototalk, your favorite message board. With the addition of Pat Schutte in the Racer X office, no news waits too long before you see it there or on Mototalk. Don't miss out! If there is any race in the schedule you have to plan ahead for, its the US Open. Click for a large version of the flyer.
The buzz is starting to grow about the U.S. Open. The Pros this year will be racing on Friday and Saturday nights with the Arenacross Amateurs racing on Sunday. Pastrana is confirmed to be racing as well as most the SX top pros... RC will be there and it looks like it might be his first race on a red bike. Michael Byrne is coming up from Australia and will be racing under Factory Connection's banner. There might even be a surprise visitor. This should be the best U.S. Open yet. Now is the time to start buying those tickets and booking those rooms! Here's a couple news bites from Clear Channel's Denny Hartwig: Ernesto Fonseca, the first rider
in 125cc supercross history to win championships in Eastern and Western Regional
competition, just inked a deal with Team Honda that will keep him in red for the next two
years. Fonseca will join teammates Sebastien Tortelli, Nathan
Ramsey, and a rider to be named later. Earlier this year, it was
rumored that Fonseca may ride for seven-time supercross champion Jeremy
McGrath's team, but that rumor can be put to rest as Fonseca will ride out
the last year of his Yamaha of Troy contract. Fonseca, who has yet to win an outdoor
title, will still compete on a 125cc machine outdoors and move into the 250cc ranks for
supercross.
Pastrana a wakeboarder? Mastercraft just picked up the 125 outdoor champ, check it out. Not only is the THQ MX 2002 featuring Ricky Carmichael game in stores now, its front page news on THQ's web site. Check it out at www.thq.com. Some of the text is pretty funny, like the part about RC going to talk about his last win at "Rose Bud." Citizen RC?
In case you missed it, Justin Buckelew injured his shoulder at Red Bud in the braking bumps after the ski jump. According to MXTRAINER on Mototalk, he will get surgery now and might miss the rest of the nationals. James "Bubba" Stewart won at Muddy Creek this weekend and Shae Bentley was second. Bentley and his mechanic Todd Dunn flew back to California Monday to test and get ready for Unadilla. Bentley will be back with Pro Circuit for 2002.
Andrew Short won both mains at the Pikes Peak SX Saturday night. Kevin Johnson won the jump contest with a nacnac, cliff hanger, and a lazy-boy. Josh Hansen was second in the 250 main. All three are preparing for Lorettas in August. Tonia Satchwell won a great race in the women's class. Turnout was light in the pro women's class but the racing was close. Jackie Hudson crashed out but was OK.
Josh Hansen (#104), Kevin Johnson, and Andrew Short (#79).
A hot start gadget on Kevin Johnson's YZ250F.
The was an error in the Silly Season Sweep after Red Bud. Bubba is going to be factory Kawasaki, factory graphics. The report from Red Bud was he would use Pro Circuit graphics. The track at the Pikes Peak Supercross tonight looks fun and easy. There are two gnarly whoop sections though. The Motoworld of El Cajon semi is here and lots of vans/box vans/trucks. The amateur turnout is huge. About 500 amateurs will be on the track Saturday morning. There is a break between 1pm and 5pm. The first photos are up here, and results later.
American Honda revealed today a new concept bike at The Honda International
Superbike Classic at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California. Dubbed the New American
Sports, this innovative exercise in design and styling takes direct aim at the
over-arching theme that motivates the majority of motorcyclists everywhere: gorgeous
hardware.
Round 1 of the Supercross Survival game is up... If you missed the Bubba Blackwell crash and want to see it, a video is here, www.feedroom.com. Some updates from SFX's Denny Hartwig: It appears that Ricky Carmichael, who rides for Team Chevy Trucks Kawasaki, has dedicated his 2001 campaign to tying records. He tied Jeremy McGrath's most wins in a season record (14) and most consecutive wins in a season (13) in supercross. This weekend at the Red Bud round of the Outdoor Nationals he tied Bob Hannah's Outdoor National win record (37). However, there is one record that Carmichael can own this October: first ride to win in back to back years at the THQ U.S. Open. The silly season gate has dropped. As the 2001 EA SPORTS Supercross season started to wind down rumors about Team Chevy Trucks Kawasaki's Ricky Carmichael started to surface about him riding for Team Honda in 2002. After winning his first EA SPORTS Supercross championship, Carmichael has not spoken publicly about the departure, but it's almost a done deal according to sources close to him. Team Honda's Ezra Lusk will ride out the last year of his contract for the red team and will be searching for a ride. Lusk, who is close friends with Carmichael, may move to Team Chevy Trucks Kawasaki for 2002 and take over his position. It's never too late to stand on top of the podium. Team Moto
XXX/DGY-backed Larry Ward earned his first
125cc Outdoor National win this weekend in more than eight years. The lanky South
Carolina native finished second in both motos which was enough to beat Team Suzuki's
Travis Pastrana's 1-4 finish. Ward is fourth in the overall points standings with
178. Although Ward sat out of the supercross season, he may return to the THQ U.S.
Open, The World's Richest Motorcycle Race, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in October.
Ward finished fifth at the THQ U.S. Open in '00 and eighth in '98. James Stewart isn't the only hot commodity in modern day motocross.
California's Billy Laninovich is being
prospected by many of the top racing teams on the circuit, including Yamaha of Troy,
Factory Kawasaki, Factory Honda, and Factory Suzuki. However, Laninovich, who rides
a Yamaha, passed up a deal with perennial powerhouse Yamaha of Troy. And with Team
Pro-Circuit Kawasaki having a full squad, Laninovich may be headed to one of the big four.
Last night at a 4th of July celebration in Del Mar, Bubba "The American Daredevil" Blackwell was critically injured while making an attempt to jump 22 cars. Brent on Mototalk was there and made a post about it. Blackwell has a web site, www.bubbablackwell.com and there is a message board with quite a few messages wishing him well.
People photos from Red Bud are up!
The emag has a big stash of photos from Red Bud up! Click here. Motonews is covering two events on this off weekend. Ray is headed north for round 5 of the Canadian nationals, and the other guy is covering the 14th annual Pikes Peak SX in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Click the flyer for a larger version. Also check out www.pikespeaksx.com.
Primedia has purchased the former Petersen publishing magazines (MX Racer, Dirt Rider) from EMAP. Here's a link to an LA Times story.
Here's the cover of the German magazine Moto X with the winner of the first two round of the WML series, Steffi Laire. Buddy Duffy is doing rehab and still has a long road ahead. Doctors aren't ready to replace the piece of his skull htey had to remove, but when they do he should recover OK. They are even talking about him riding again. Check out more at www.mxridersonline.com.
Tim Ferry did sign with Yamaha at Red Bud. Vuillemin is expected to sign this week.
No, that's not another Wide Open magazine photo shoot, that's the Supercross doctor himself, Dr John Bodnar grabbing some air.
The 125 and 250 photo reports are up on the emag racing section. www.mxnationals.com has some news and photos too. The 2002 MXdN Team USA will again be RC, Travis and Ryno.
Who's In/Who's Out for Red Bud: IN: Steve Lamson. OUT: Tallon Vohland. Motonews doesn't cover the land use debate much. This is mostly a SX/MX sport site and land use concerns dirt riding in general. Also there is just so much debate going on sometimes it seems like two sides making the same arguments over and over neither making any progress. Here's a link to a lengthy article that is worth reading. You won't agree with it but its an interesting look at how the politics of land use have changed. Check it out. The News section also has press releases on the Virginia International Raceway's Engine Ice 200 Mile Team Challenge, linky here.
The Saturday Silly Season Sweep before Red Bud is up here. There is plenty of new stuff to read. OK, forget about Roger DeCoster switching to manage team Honda. That rumor is dead already.
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