Álvaro Bautista topped a rainy second session at the Ricardo Tormo circuit ahead of Nicky Hayden and Randy de Puniet, with Casey Stoner leading the combined times with his fast lap from a damp FP1 session. Read more.
Archive for November 4th, 2011
The Rizla Suzuki rider topped the wet afternoon session on Friday at the Valencia GP. Read more.
(NEWS RELEASE)
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — A U.S. Senate committee has unveiled a draft proposal that would end the Recreational Trails Program (RTP), which provides money to states to develop and maintain trails, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reports.
On Nov. 4, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee released its proposed transportation funding authorization bill for the next two years, entitled “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century” (MAP-21). The bill specifies what transportation programs are approved for federal funding. The panel is expected to vote on the bill on Nov. 9 before sending it to the full Senate for approval. If it clears the Senate, then it would go to the House for further consideration.
The RTP, which became law in 1991 as part of a federal transportation funding authorization bill, is considered to be one of the most important and beneficial laws for off-highway vehicle (OHV) riders ever passed by Congress.
AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman, who had a hand in creating the law in 1991 with BlueRibbon Coalition founder Clark Collins, has stated that abolishing the program would effectively create a tax increase on OHV riders because the RTP funds would no longer be designated for a program that benefits motorized trail users.
Wayne Allard, AMA vice president for government relations, was shocked by the committee’s proposal.
“Motorcyclists should not be cut short,” Allard said. “They pay the gasoline taxes that go to sustain the trails program. Many interests pull from the highway fund and do not pay into it. It becomes akin to a tax increase to the general fund.
“This program was created for trail users and is self-funded by the highway fuel taxes of trail users,” Allard said. “Trail users see this program as a very essential part of their chosen form of recreation, and there’s no reason to eliminate the program. The RTP pays for itself.”
Funds for the RTP come from the federal Highway Trust Fund, and represent a portion of the federal motor fuel excise tax collected from non-highway recreational fuel use. In other words, taxes generated by fuel used for OHV recreation — by snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), off-highway motorcycles and off-highway light trucks — fund the RTP.
The RTP provides funds to the states to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for both non-motorized and motorized recreational trail uses. The RTP is an assistance program of the U.S. Transportation Department’s Federal Highway Administration. The RTP program benefits hiking, bicycling, in-line skating, equestrian use, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, off-road motorcycling, ATV riding, four-wheel driving, or using other off-road motorized vehicles.
“I urge all concerned riders to contact the members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and ask them to support continued funding for the Recreational Trails Program,” Allard said. “Money for the program comes from off-highway riders, and should continue to be used to benefit off-highway riders.”
The easiest way to contact lawmakers is by going to AmericanMotorcyclist.com > Rights > Issues & Legislation.
The members of the committee are Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Max Baucus (D-Mont.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.), Thomas Carper (D-Del.), Michael Crapo (R-Idaho) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.).
Also, Sens. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Mike Johanns (R-Neb.), Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.), Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), David Vitter (R-La.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.)
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.
(NEWS RELEASE)
AURORA, Ill. (November 4, 2011) – Feld Motor Sports® announced today that Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., based in Cypress, Calif., signed a two-year deal to return as the official ticket outlet of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, beginning with the season-opening race at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif., on Saturday January 7, 2012.
The 2012 Monster Energy Supercross season marks the 14th year that Yamaha has been a committed partner to the championship. As part of the sponsorship initiative, more than 120 Yamaha dealerships nationwide will serve as official supercross ticket outlets for fans. Fans who purchase tickets through participating Yamaha dealerships will receive a free Monster Energy Supercross Pit Pass, which provides them the opportunity to spend a day in the pits and the chance to meet the superstars of the sport.
As a committed supporter of the sport, Yamaha sees great value in sponsoring the championship, which attracts more than three-quarters of a million fans in some of the nation’s premier markets.
“We are very excited both for our participating Yamaha dealerships and for supercross fans around the country as we renew this important partnership,” said Bob Starr, General Manager of Yamaha’s Motorsports Group. “Attendance at the Monster Energy Supercross was vibrant last year and as such is just a fantastic initiative for Yamaha and its dealer partners!”
“Feld is thrilled to have Yamaha and it’s dealers on board as the Official Ticket Outlet for the next 2 years”, said Ryan McSpadden, Vice President of Sales, Feld Motor Sports, “Yamaha’s commitment to the sport of supercross through selling tickets, promotions, and supporting the television programs is vital to the growth of the sport. Yamaha is an extremely valuable partner.”
Fans can learn more about participating Yamaha dealer ticket outlet locations by visiting www.SupercrossOnline.com or www.yamaha-motor.com.
For more information on the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, please log on to www.SupercrossOnline.com. For all media requests, please contact Denny Hartwig dhartwig@feldinc.com or 630-566-6305.
To follow Monster Energy Supercross on Facebook and Twitter, log on to http://www.facebook.com/supercrosslive and http://twitter.com/supercrosslive
About Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.
Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., (YMUS), a leader in the motorsports market, makes the toughest, most capable and versatile ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles. The company’s ever-expanding product offerings also include motorcycles, outboard motors, personal watercraft, snowmobiles, boats, outdoor power equipment, race kart engines, accessories, apparel and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of dealers in the United States. Headquartered in Cypress, Calif., since its incorporation in 1976, Yamaha also has facilities in Wisconsin and Georgia, as well as factory operations in Tennessee and Georgia. For more information on Yamaha, visit www.yamaha-motor.com.
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)
AURORA, Ill. (November 4, 2011) – With one weekend down in the 2012 AMA Arenacross Series, the field turns to the first two-night round of the season from Baltimore’s 1st Mariner Arena. The show kicks off tonight at 7 p.m. ET, as opening-round winner, current points leader, and reigning champion Tyler Bowers leads his rivals into action aboard his Babbitt’s Monster Energy/AMSOIL Kawasaki presented by Maxxis.
While Bowers’ win one week ago gives him the advantage of controlling the championship standings, perhaps even more valuable is the early-season momentum he generated by virtue of his triumphant effort. In the ultra-competitive world of the AMA Arenacross Series, the ability to go on a roll can be pivotal to a rider’s title hopes – like when FMF Power/Poynt TUF Honda’s Jeff Gibson opened the 2011 season with three consecutive wins, or Team Faith KTM’s Kelly Smith went back-to-back in the late stages of last year’s championship. With the competition as close as it is each and every week, consistency plays the biggest role in determining a champion, and the ability to generate and maintain momentum can go a long way in achieving that goal.
Bowers, along with fellow podium finishers from a week ago, Babbitt’s Monster Energy/AMSOIL Kawasaki’s Josh Demuth and Gibson, have already laid down a solid foundation to build upon in their championship quest. For these three riders, the plan is simple for this weekend. Get a good start, stay out of trouble and simply try to replicate the effort from Des Moines.
The same can be said for Foremost Insurance/Spinechillers/Honda of Fairfield’s Nathan Skaggs and Dragon Fuels KTM’s Michael Willard, who finished fourth and fifth, respectively, at last weekend’s season opener. While they just missed out on landing on the podium, both riders are off to promising starts and have established the confidence to mix it up at the front of the field.
A handful of riders are looking to turn their season around quickly in Baltimore, after frustrating efforts in Des Moines. Most notably is the duo of Babbitt’s Monster Energy/AMSOIL Kawasaki’s Chad Johnson and Bella’s Cupcakes/Club MX Kawasaki’s Zach Ames. Both riders took advantage of stellar starts in the first main event of the season to assert themselves at the front of the field. The pair had a healthy advantage over their competitors, but the anxiousness to win ultimately cost each rider a shot at victory when Ames attempted a pass on Johnson for the lead and took both riders to the ground, and out of the race.
Currently, Johnson and Ames sit 14th and 15th, respectively, in the Arenacross class standings, and with nearly a 20-point deficit to overcome, have no choice but to go for wins, starting tonight. These riders’ need for some momentum is huge, considering they have yet to finish a main event. If they can find a way to get the ball rolling with two chances at a victory this weekend, it will pay huge dividends in their season-long quest for the title.
It is a similar situation for Smith, who found himself running at the front of the pack early in last weekend’s main event, only to experience trouble in the whoops and drop to a ninth-place finish. He has already proven that the speed is there, and simply needs to put in 25 mistake-free laps on both Friday and Saturday night in Baltimore in order to put himself back on track.
Through all the drama and bar-to-bar action of a week ago, one rider was missing from the fold. FMF Power/Poynt TUF Honda’s Cole Siebler was one of five big winners in 2011, and coming into the season, he had high hopes of battling for even more success thanks to a full season of AMA Arenacross Series competition under his belt. However, Siebler encountered trouble in both his heat race and last chance qualifier in Des Moines, ultimately failing to make the main event. With no points to show for his efforts, there isn’t a rider in the Arenacross class field in greater need of a positive weekend and some early-season momentum more than Siebler. He might be one to keep an eye out for throughout both nights.
This weekend, the intimate and exciting action of the AMA Arenacross Series will be showcased at 1st Mariner Arena, the largest indoor sports and entertainment facility in Baltimore. Opened in 1962, it served as the Civic Center before becoming the Baltimore Arena, which was the official title until 1st Mariner Bank garnered sponsorship rights in 2003.
The second round of the 2012 AMA Arenacross Series kicks off tonight, with an action-packed evening of competition, and concludes Saturday, November 5, with yet another night of action. The show, for both Friday and Saturday, begins at 7 p.m. ET.
Live timing and scoring from each round of the AMA Arenacross Series returns for the 2012 season! To follow the intense racing action live, log onto www.Arenacross.com.
For more information on the AMA Arenacross Series, log on to www.Arenacross.com. For all media requests, please contact Brandon Short: brandon@nextlevelsportsinc.com or 949-365-5750.
Never miss out on the latest news! Follow the AMA Arenacross Series on Facebook and Twitter! Log on to http://www.facebook.com/AMAarenacross and http://twitter.com/arenacross today!
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)
Dan Fahie
Irvine, Calif. – Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. has named Dan Fahie to manage its highly successful Monster Energy Kawasaki supercross/motocross program. Fahie becomes team manager following a year in which team member Ryan Villopoto claimed both the AMA World Supercross and AMA Motocross championships as well as being a member of the winning Motocross of Nations team and claiming victory at the inaugural Monster Energy Cup.
Fahie has an extensive background in motorcycle racing and holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree from Dalhousie University in Canada. He began his racing career in 1997 as a Superbike technician for Muzzy Kawasaki, and in 2002 he joined the Kawasaki Factory Road Racing team as a crew chief where he was instrumental in three AMA Supersport Championships (2004, 2005, 2007).
Fahie was named racing development engineer supervisor and began working with the factory supercross/motocross team. He earned both the AMA Superbike (2002) and AMA Supersport (2007) crew member of the year awards and has been a part of five AMA championship teams in road racing, motocross and supercross.
“Dan is a great fit for our supercross/motocross program,” said Reid Nordin, Monster Energy Kawasaki senior racing manager. “His strong engineering background and team management skills will help keep Monster Energy Kawasaki as one of the elite teams in the paddock.”
The Monster Energy Kawasaki team with riders Ryan Villopoto and Jake Weimer is currently testing for the 2012 season, which gets underway in Anaheim, Calif., Jan. 7. The team will race 17 times during the first 18 weeks of the year with the supercross season wrapping up in Las Vegas, May 5.
Jason Pridmore asks Chris Fillmore a few questions for the SPEED TV broadcast as Fillmore readies for his AMA Superbike debut at Mid-Ohio earlier this summer. It also marked the first race for the factory-backed KTM RC8 R. Fillmore surprised a lot of people by scoring a very solid seventh in that first race. To you photo enthusiasts, this shot was taken with a Nikon P300 pocket camera. Instead of carrying multiple DSLR camera bodies and big lenses around, I found the little P300 works great for wide-angle shots, so with DSLR quality in a tiny package it’s become my de facto wide-angle camera.
Jason Pridmore asks Chris Fillmore a few questions for the SPEED TV broadcast as Fillmore readies for his AMA Superbike debut at Mid-Ohio earlier this summer. It marked the first race for the factory-backed KTM RC8. Fillmore surprised a lot of people by scoring a very solid seventh in that first race. (Larry Lawrence photo)
Álvaro Bautista, Ben Spies, World Champion Casey Stoner, Valentino Rossi and Loris Capirossi were present in the pre-event press conference ahead of the Gran Premio Generali de la Comunitat Valenciana on Thursday. Read more.