Rider Files

Kevin Schwantz sits on the Yoshimura Suzuki GSXR750 as he waits for the start of the 1987 AMA Superbike race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. The Yoshimura crew is at his side. On the far left is Don Sakakura, who rose through the ranks from mechanic to Vice President of Yoshimura. Schwantz was on a tear at the end of the ’87 season. He won five of the last six races, including this race at Mid-Ohio, but it wasn’t enough. Honda’s Wayne Rainey was more consistent and took the title by a mere nine points in what was one of the fiercest battles in the history of the series. Click here for a link to Yoshimura R&D history.

Kevin Schwantz sits on the Yoshimura Suzuki GSXR750 as he waits for the start of the 1987 AMA Superbike race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. (Larry Lawrence photo)

(NEWS RELEASE)

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Supporters of H.R. 1581 — the Wilderness and Roadless Area Release Act of 2011 — told U.S. lawmakers on July 26 that the bill would allow local communities to decide the proper uses of 43 million acres of protected public land, which could include off-highway riding, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reports.

But critics opposed releasing the protected land all at once. Instead, they want Congress to release the land on a piecemeal basis.

The statements were made during a U.S. House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands hearing on H.R. 1581, the Wilderness and Roadless Area Release Act of 2011. The measure would remove the stringent use restrictions on almost 6.7 million acres managed by the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and on 36.1 million acres of U.S. Forest Service (USFS) land that was evaluated for strict congressional Wilderness land-use designations.

A Wilderness designation is one of the strictest forms of public land management. Once Congress designates an area as Wilderness, nearly all forms of non-pedestrian recreation are illegal, including off-highway vehicle (OHV) and bicycle riding.

The AMA supports appropriate Wilderness designations that meet the criteria established by Congress in 1964, but anti-OHV forces have been abusing legislative and administrative processes in repeated attempts to ban responsible OHV recreation on public land.

The BLM and USFS have determined the 43 million acres covered by H.R. 1581 aren’t suitable for Wilderness designation, but because of various laws and rules they must continue to strictly manage the land until Congress releases it for other possible uses.

The Wilderness and Roadless Area Release Act would release the land, freeing up land managers to determine new uses, if any, such as allowing responsible OHV recreation where it currently isn’t allowed.

U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who was joined by other lawmakers in introducing the bill, said the measure “simply acts on recommendations made by the federal government and returns the management of tens of millions of acres of public land to local communities so that more Americans can have access to our public lands.

“These communities know best how to manage the lands, whether for increased recreation, preservation or development,” he said.

U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce (R-N.M.) echoed McCarthy’s comments.

“As chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus, I am proud to be an original co-sponsor of this important piece of legislation,” Pearce said. “H.R. 1581 is good for the West and good for America. It will allow more Americans to enjoy our federal lands, and allow us to actually protect the habitats of wildlife through proper land management.”

But BLM Director Robert Abbey, who opposed the bill, testified that even though the land didn’t earn an endorsement for Wilderness designation before, it might now.

“These recommendations are now 20 years old, and the on-the-ground work associated with them is as much as 30 years old,” Abbey said. “During that time in a number of places, resource conditions have changed, our understanding of mineral resources has changed, and public opinion has changed.

“If these suitability recommendations were made today, many of them would undoubtedly be different,” he said.

The 43 million acres have been locked up for years, if not decades, even though federal land managers have noted the land doesn’t qualify for the very restrictive Wilderness designation. AMA Washington Representative Rick Podliska wondered how the land could qualify for Wilderness designation now when it was deemed unsuitable 20 or 30 years ago.

“For years, groups hoping to keep responsible off-highway riders off public land have been able to get areas earmarked for possible inclusion in the nation’s Wilderness system, which immediately bars off-highway riding, bicycling and almost all other activities while the Wilderness study is under way,” Podliska said.

“We commend Rep. Kevin McCarthy for introducing H.R. 1581, the Wilderness and Roadless Area Release Act, and Chairman Rob Bishop for holding a hearing on this bill,” he said. “The hearing illustrated why this bill is necessary and that all Americans should be able to enjoy our federal lands.

“The actions taken by the current Congress could have a profound impact on the ability of responsible off-highway riders to use public land,” Podliska continued. “It’s important that all responsible riders stay informed about Wilderness bills in Congress, and take action, when necessary, to help protect their right to ride.”

The best way to stay informed is to sign up for AMA email Action Alerts at http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com/Rights/GetInvolved/ActionAlertSignUp.aspx .

The easiest way to contact a lawmaker is through the AMA website: AmericanMotorcyclist.com > Rights > Issues & Legislation .

About the American Motorcyclist Association
Since 1924, the AMA has protected the future of motorcycling and promoted the motorcycle lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life, and they navigate many different routes on their journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights organization, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists’ interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the committees of international governing organizations, and the court of public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition and motorcycle recreational events than any other organization in the world. AMA members receive money-saving discounts from dozens of well-known suppliers of motorcycle services, gear and apparel, bike rental, transport, hotel stays and more. Through its support of the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum, the AMA preserves the heritage of motorcycling for future generations. For more information, please visit AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

Now this is what I call being on the gas. I haven’t even seen the book yet, but Barnes & Noble is aleady taking pre-orders.

Click here.

(NEWS RELEASE)

(NEWS RELEASE)

AURORA, Ill. (July 27, 2011) – Feld Motor Sports® announced today that Troy Lee Designs/Lucas Oil/Honda’s Cole Seely, of Newbury Park, Calif., will race in the inaugural Monster Energy Cup at Las Vegas’ Sam Boyd Stadium on October 15.

Seely, 21, captured his first Supercross Lites class win at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles and followed up with another win at Qwest Field in Seattle. After earning a career-best fourth overall in the 2011 Western Regional Supercross Lites class championship, Seely enters the Monster Energy Cup as one of the Lites class favorites.

“For sure the wins at Dodger Stadium and Seattle were a huge boost in my confidence,” said Seely. “I have always known I would win, and I think it took me a little longer than some of the other guys to get my first win. I now know that I belong up front at the Monster Energy Cup and I am going to work hard to win the Monster Million as well as the West Coast Lites Championship this upcoming season for myself and the team.”

With $1 Million on the line and the track being designed by supercross icons Jeremy McGrath and Ricky Carmichael, the racing will be intense.

“The intensity will be up there, and I think a lot of guys will be going for it,” said Seely. “It should be a great event, and I am sure all the top guys are going to show up and give it a shot. I love to race supercross and motocross, so combining both aspects should be interesting. The opportunity to win a million dollars certainly motivates me, but I love racing, so I am going to go out there and do my best.”

The unique hybrid track will consist of supercross/motocross terrain and will have a tremendous motocross-style influence, making it unlike any other stadium race in the world. This track will be the perfect blend of supercross and motocross combined and created into the ultimate battleground. The Monster Energy Cup posts a $250,000 purse with the winner walking away with a $100,000 check, and for the “first time ever” $1 Million will be paid to a rider that wins all three main events.

Confirmed Riders
James Stewart
Chad Reed
Mike Alessi
Andrew Short
Wil Hahn
Josh Hansen
Cole Seely

Tickets for the 2011 Monster Energy Cup can be purchased at the Thomas & Mack Center Box Office, UNLVtickets outlets, online at www.UNLVtickets.com, www.MonsterEnergyCup.com, or by phone at (702) 739-FANS. Tickets will be available at the Sam Boyd Stadium Box Office on the day of the event only.

About Feld Motor Sports®
Feld Motor Sports®, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor sports entertainment. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. productions include Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, AMA Arenacross Series, Nuclear Cowboyz℠, and IHRA® Nitro Jam®. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a division of Feld Entertainment, the world’s largest producer of live family entertainment. For more information on Feld Entertainment, visit www.feldentertainment.com.

(NEWS RELEASE)

Jared Mees scored his first win at Lake Odessa Saturday night. (Photo Courtesy of Flattrakfotos.com)

This is a race I have been itching to win for years now. I have come close several times, finishing 2nd to Kenny Coolbeth one year, and at another time I had a good shot at it but three laps from the finish I had a flat tire. Like Hagerstown, it is just one of those races I have really wanted to win. It’s my adopted hometown crowd and a lot of friends come out to watch this race which gets pretty hyped up around the area.

The first time out on the track for practice I felt awesome but was slow. I tried a different bike for the next round, the first qualifying, and was 5th fastest, and then in the last round, the final qualifying, I was 1st, giving me a combined 3rd fastest. I was on the pole in the 3rd Heat with Jake Johnson who was very close to my time in the final qualifying. So I knew he was going to be THE guy. Sure enough, he grabbed the hole shot and set a very fast pace. I had nothing for him, and then we had a red flag when Steve Murray went down. ON the re-start I got a decent jump. Jake missed a shift going down the back stretch allowing me to get by. A few laps later Jake went sailing by again. I ended up 2nd in the Heat, good enough to get into the Dash for Cash.

For the Dash I changed bikes again to see if this one was better. I got the hole shot and felt good but slipped in one of the corners and Jake got by me again. I got a 2nd, which I was pretty happy with—especially the 4 points that went with it.

For the Main Event I was not ready to give up on it but again figured that Jake was the guy to beat. I thought that if I could just stick right behind him and get a 2nd it would be a pretty good night. He waxed me in the Heat and the Dash, so I knew his speed was better than mine. I got a decent, not great, start and was riding my same line I had been all day, which earlier had not helped. I went into turn 1 down low and passed two riders, and off turn 2 passed Bryan Smith and took off. I just kept hitting my marks and when the 5-to-go flag came out I peeked over my shoulder and saw my gap. I was able to maintain the lead until the finish to make one of my dreams come true by winning the I-96.

This was my 3rd win of the year. I had a lot of making up to do as I had not won a race in ’08, ’09 or ’10—in spite of winning the 2009 GNC Twins Championship, (one of the years in which the AMA chose to not have a Combined Championship) and instead split it into the Twins and Singles Championship , which Henry Wiles was the Singles Champion.

It was very exciting to have two of my good buddies, Bryan Smith and Jake Johnson, sharing the podium at I-96, having finished 2nd and 3rd respectively.

We are on our way to Sacramento right now, driving the rig out with Jake, Nichole Cheza and Jimmy Wood. No time to relax and enjoy the win.

Until next time, thank you to my team, sponsors and all the flat track fans out there.

Jammin’ Jared Mees # 9
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