Wednesday, January 13, 2010

plus 4, Husqvarna named Marque of the Year for 2010 AMA Vintage Motorcycle ... - Off-Road.com

plus 4, Husqvarna named Marque of the Year for 2010 AMA Vintage Motorcycle ... - Off-Road.com

Husqvarna named Marque of the Year for 2010 AMA Vintage Motorcycle ... - Off-Road.com

Posted: 13 Jan 2010 02:37 PM PST

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- Husqvarna, the legendary make that ruled AMA Racing off-road competition throughout the 1970s and 1980s, has recently made a full-throttle return to national championship contention. This July 9-11, the iconic brand will celebrate its heritage and build toward its future as the Marque of the Year at the 19th annual AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days.

Recognized as the world's largest gathering of vintage motorcycle enthusiasts, AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days attracts tens of thousands of fans of all ages, eras and brands. The event takes place at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. Ticket information is available at MidOhio.com.

"Arguably the most dominant off-road racing brand in the United States for a generation of racers, Husqvarna has recently returned full force to AMA Racing national competition,'' said Tigra Tsujikawa, AMA special events and marketing manager. "We're pleased to showcase both Husqvarna's history and the company's renewed investment in motorcycling's present and future at this year's AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days."

"Husqvarna Motorcycles is delighted to be the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days Marque of the Year for 2010," said Husqvarna Motorcycles North America President Mark Brady. "Launching the new decade with this prestigious recognition is indeed an honor. Everyone at Husqvarna Motorcycles is very much aware of the great history of the brand, and we are determined to bring back the glory days.

"We believe that developing a closer relationship with the AMA is an important part of growing and protecting the rights of every rider in America," Brady added.

As part of Husqvarna's participation in AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, fans will be able to get up close and personal with the Husqvarna's moto-history, from its genesis in Sweden in the early 1900s to the high-tech off-road, motocross and dual-sport bikes the company sells and races today.

In addition, every year an individual with ties to the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days Marque of the Year is selected as Grand Marshal for the event. The 2010 Grand Marshal will be announced shortly.

Although many U.S. riders first became familiar with Husqvarna in the early 1960s, the company had been selling motorcycles since 1903 when it fitted Husqvarna frames with engines from makers such as FN and Moto-Reve. In 1920 Husqvarna began building its own engine, a 550cc four-stroke 50-degree side-valve V-twin. Another early milestone was the legendary "Svartkvarna," built in 1946. It was a lightweight, reliable two-stroke that could endure hard use with minimal maintenance. The machine established a reputation that would define the Husqvarna marque for decades to follow.

By the early 1960s the two-stroke revolution had yet to reach the United States. U.S. riders were still tackling the woods and deserts on converted Harley-Davidsons, Triumphs and BSAs. It was about this time that a man named Edison Dye, now a member of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, took a motorcycle tour of Europe during which he became instantly enthralled with the European sport of motocross, and a new breed of lightweight two-stroke bikes favored by its competitors.

A few years later, Dye put a Husqvarna motocross bike in the hands of a young American rider named Malcolm Smith for evaluation. Smith, also an AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer, gave the bike a thumbs up. This persuaded Dye to become the U.S., Husqvarna importer in 1966. As part of a marketing campaign Dye organized visits to the U.S., by the reigning Swedish world motocross champion Torsten Hallman, who also has since taken a seat in the Hall of Fame. Not only did Dye sell Husqvarna motorcycles but he also introduced a new style of motorcycle racing to America.
While educational displays and seminars at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days will focus on Husqvarna's rich history, the machines also will be among the many brands that amateur racers will test on the racetrack in the multiple racing disciplines that are part of the weekend's competition schedule.

In addition to vintage and post-vintage competition in motocross, trials, hare scrambles, roadracing and dirt track, AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days features North America's largest motorcycle swap meet. Also on tap: bike shows, demo rides of current production bikes, motorcycling seminars, stunt shows, the new product Manufacturers' Midway, and club corrals featuring marque and regional clubs.

Proceeds from AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days benefit the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. The goal of the AMA Hall of Fame, located on the campus of the American Motorcyclist Association in Pickerington, Ohio, is to honor the distinguished men and women whose competitive spirit, passion, vision and entrepreneurship have played a vital role in shaping the sport, lifestyle and business of motorcycling. For more information, call (614) 856-2222, or visit the Museum's website at MotorcycleMuseum.org.

For more information about AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days 2009, visit AMAVintageMotorcycleDays.com.

Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.



image

Dean McDermott Recovering from Motorcycle Racing Crash - ETOnline.com

Posted: 11 Jan 2010 10:15 AM PST

Dean McDermott showed up for the Oxygen Network TCA party with wife Tori Spelling on one arm and a sling on the other!

The reality TV star is involved in motorcycle racing, which will be documented on the fifth season of "Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood." During a practice round on Saturday, Dean crashed while going 70 mph. He told ET that he was taken to the hospital and was diagnosed with a bruised bone and a bruised scapula.

The injury could not keep him away from the track. He participated in three races on Sunday prior to the TCA party, saying, "I was not going to miss the first race of the season."

Tori did not find out about the accident until reuniting with her husband at the party. She feels she is "handling it pretty well." Dean said, "She understands the safety of crashing at the track versus the safety of crashing on the street."

The new season of the couple's show will air on Monday nights in the spring.

Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.



image

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Ice racers slide into First Arena - Ithaca Journal

Posted: 13 Jan 2010 09:47 PM PST

What do you call someone who races a motorcycle on a track of ice at 60 mph with no brakes?

"Crazy" comes to mind.

"Some people say (that)," said Anthony "British Bulldog" Barlow, 37, of Merseyside, England.

He will be among the racers competing with modified motorcycles and four-wheelers in X-Treme International Ice Racing at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at First Arena in Elmira.

The event is sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association.

"The four-wheelers have brakes, but the bikes don't have brakes because you don't need them," said Barlow, a three-time world champion who has been ice racing for 11 years.

"It's just one of those things. We're going as fast as we can in an oval and turning left, so you don't really need brakes."

There is actually more consistent traction on the ice than on dirt, said Nathan "Hippy" Siegel, 25, of Cincinnati. Like Barlow, he has raced on both.

"On dirt, you'll have inconsistencies," he said. "Turn one and turn two will be slick, and three and four will be grippy. On the ice, you have a consistent race track. You always have the same amount of traction everywhere on the track, so it makes for very good racing, very close racing."

First Arena General Manager Robbie Nichols said ice racing is very competitive and a real contact sport. He expects a lot of crashes and spills.

"It's an amazing event. It's high speed," he said. "It's exciting. It's a great show."

This is the second year the event is being held at First Arena. The ice is usually about 1 1/2 inches thick for hockey, but they are building it up to 3 to 4 inches so they don't have the same problems as last year, Nichols said.

"We had some ice problems right after that last year, so hopefully we've got it under control," he said.

"Last year, they did some damage. It went right down to the cement in some areas, and we had to repaint."

Like Nichols, Barlow expects a good turnout.

"It will probably be a sellout both nights. Last year was very successful," he said. "Every dog and his bone comes."

Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.



image

2010 Dakar Rally Stage 11 Results - Motorcycle USA

Posted: 13 Jan 2010 03:27 PM PST

American Jonah Street had a golden opportunity today in Stage 11, but missed the victory on his Rally Pan-Am KTM by a mere three seconds. BMW's Frans Verhoeven was able to sneak by, giving the German manufacturer its first stage victory since 2001.

Now fully out of the Atacama Desert and its tricky dunes, Marc Coma was coming off of a string of victories and looking to keep his streak alive. That all changed on the winding route through the mountains. Riders emerged from their tents in the predawn darkness to embark on the 131-mile transfer. From there it was another 137 miles of racing through the Argentine special. Coma left first, but the veteran made a navigational error right off the bat when he missed a right turn. Those immediately behind him were also tricked which set the stage for Verhoeven and Street to make their mark.

The stage's only check point came at just 32 miles in and thanks to Coma's nearly 12-minute detour, Street was in the lead with the BMW-mounted Dutchman right on his heels. Alain Duclos was right in the mix with his KTM as well, along with Norway's Pal Anders Ullevalseter. The running order was the same around the halfway mark, though Coma had chipped to within nine minutes of the leader.


As the finish line neared, Verhoeven made a push that Street just couldn't defend, and the Beemer inherited a slight advantage. The Dutchman held on for a three-second victory with Duclos another 1:22 behind Street in third. The win is a highlight in what has been a discouraging rally for Verhoeven. The BMW rider suffered through the first two stages finishing 109th and 148th on his G450X to open the raid. Steadily climbing back, Verhoeven now resides in 48th overall.
Cyril Despres, as he's done this entire rally, had a quiet day to finish seventh. The Frenchman is in no hurry to crash himself out of a very comfortable hour and 20-minute overall lead. Ullevalseter (fourth on the day) currently holds that runner-up position ahead of Francisco Lopez Contardo, who finished fifth. Coma is still down in 16th overall.

Rider Quotes:

Frans Verhoeven: (NLD – BMW) 1st, 48th OA
"I'm very happy to be here at the end of the stage. I had a lot of difficulties during the first two or three days. We're here with a brand new bike, it's a BMW, and we didn't really know that much about it so we sort of jumped into the deep end with it. Now everything is under control, the bike is running much better and I'm getting used to riding a 450. Today I attacked from the start of the special until the end. First, I was a bit in the dust behind Duclos, but then I overtook and I continued to attack. I'm very happy to have won the stage today."

Alain Duclos: (FRA – KTM) 3rd, 5th OA
"It's obviously a good performance for me. That said, I had a bit of a patchy day. I fell off after 80 km when my front wheel skidded out. Then, on the quick section, I thought I was burning the rubber on my tires, so I slowed my maximum speed down. After that, I lost a bit of my gear selector, so I thought it would be better to follow Frans (Verhoeven) who is very good on this type of very technical route. I hung on and in the end I managed to put in the third best time, in spite of a day that wasn't brilliant. But I'm not going to complain

about it. Today, the race wasn't too great for me, but it's a good end to the day. So much the better. It just goes to show that on a Dakar anything can happen. My aim is still to be in the top-five. That was my goal at the start, and I'm fighting to make it come true, I'm really getting stuck in."

Cyril Despres: (FRA – KTM) 7th, 1st OA
"It was a nice stage again. The organizers have really done a great job. It was strange at the beginning, because after 13 km, there was a banner stopping us following a track. I went straight ahead for about 80 meters before turning round after I saw Marc Coma coming back in the other direction followed by other riders. After that, we carried on as a group. It happens sometimes, I suppose. That said, I rather enjoyed myself. It was quick today, 220 km in a flash. Was I being extremely careful? No. When I climb on the bike, I just can't hold myself back. I just want to have fun."

2010 Dakar Rally Stage 11 Results:
1. VERHOEVEN (NLD) BMW 02:44:50

2. STREET (USA) KTM 02:44:53 00:00:03
3. DUCLOS (FRA) KTM 02:46:15 00:01:25
4. ULLEVALSETER (NOR) KTM 02:47:16 00:02:26
5. LOPEZ CONTARDO (CHL) APRILIA 02:48:38 00:03:48
6. FRETIGNE (FRA) YAMAHA 02:48:39 00:03:49
7. DESPRES (FRA) KTM 02:49:11 00:04:21
8. PEDRERO GARCIA (ESP) KTM 02:49:49 00:04:59
9. COMA (ESP) KTM 02:49:58 00:05:08
10. PRZYGONSKI (POL) KTM 02:50:13 00:05:23

2010 Dakar Rally Overall Standings:
1. DESPRES (FRA) KTM 42:05:10
2. ULLEVALSETER (NOR) KTM 43:26:04 01:20:54
3. LOPEZ CONTARDO (CHL) APRILIA 43:28:44 01:23:34
4. RODRIGUES (PRT) YAMAHA 43:35:45 01:30:35
5. DUCLOS (FRA) KTM 43:59:49 01:54:39
6. FRETIGNE (FRA) YAMAHA 44:06:07 02:00:57
7. STREET (USA) KTM 44:41:05 02:35:55
8. PAIN (FRA) YAMAHA 44:54:17 02:49:07
9. PRZYGONSKI (POL) KTM 45:17:28 03:12:18
10. PEDRERO GARCIA (ESP) KTM 45:17:54 03:12:44

Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.



image

Husqvarna named Marque of the Year for 2010 AMA Vintage Motorcycle ... - Off-Road.com

Posted: 13 Jan 2010 02:37 PM PST

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- Husqvarna, the legendary make that ruled AMA Racing off-road competition throughout the 1970s and 1980s, has recently made a full-throttle return to national championship contention. This July 9-11, the iconic brand will celebrate its heritage and build toward its future as the Marque of the Year at the 19th annual AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days.

Recognized as the world's largest gathering of vintage motorcycle enthusiasts, AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days attracts tens of thousands of fans of all ages, eras and brands. The event takes place at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. Ticket information is available at MidOhio.com.

"Arguably the most dominant off-road racing brand in the United States for a generation of racers, Husqvarna has recently returned full force to AMA Racing national competition,'' said Tigra Tsujikawa, AMA special events and marketing manager. "We're pleased to showcase both Husqvarna's history and the company's renewed investment in motorcycling's present and future at this year's AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days."

"Husqvarna Motorcycles is delighted to be the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days Marque of the Year for 2010," said Husqvarna Motorcycles North America President Mark Brady. "Launching the new decade with this prestigious recognition is indeed an honor. Everyone at Husqvarna Motorcycles is very much aware of the great history of the brand, and we are determined to bring back the glory days.

"We believe that developing a closer relationship with the AMA is an important part of growing and protecting the rights of every rider in America," Brady added.

As part of Husqvarna's participation in AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, fans will be able to get up close and personal with the Husqvarna's moto-history, from its genesis in Sweden in the early 1900s to the high-tech off-road, motocross and dual-sport bikes the company sells and races today.

In addition, every year an individual with ties to the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days Marque of the Year is selected as Grand Marshal for the event. The 2010 Grand Marshal will be announced shortly.

Although many U.S. riders first became familiar with Husqvarna in the early 1960s, the company had been selling motorcycles since 1903 when it fitted Husqvarna frames with engines from makers such as FN and Moto-Reve. In 1920 Husqvarna began building its own engine, a 550cc four-stroke 50-degree side-valve V-twin. Another early milestone was the legendary "Svartkvarna," built in 1946. It was a lightweight, reliable two-stroke that could endure hard use with minimal maintenance. The machine established a reputation that would define the Husqvarna marque for decades to follow.

By the early 1960s the two-stroke revolution had yet to reach the United States. U.S. riders were still tackling the woods and deserts on converted Harley-Davidsons, Triumphs and BSAs. It was about this time that a man named Edison Dye, now a member of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, took a motorcycle tour of Europe during which he became instantly enthralled with the European sport of motocross, and a new breed of lightweight two-stroke bikes favored by its competitors.

A few years later, Dye put a Husqvarna motocross bike in the hands of a young American rider named Malcolm Smith for evaluation. Smith, also an AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer, gave the bike a thumbs up. This persuaded Dye to become the U.S., Husqvarna importer in 1966. As part of a marketing campaign Dye organized visits to the U.S., by the reigning Swedish world motocross champion Torsten Hallman, who also has since taken a seat in the Hall of Fame. Not only did Dye sell Husqvarna motorcycles but he also introduced a new style of motorcycle racing to America.
While educational displays and seminars at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days will focus on Husqvarna's rich history, the machines also will be among the many brands that amateur racers will test on the racetrack in the multiple racing disciplines that are part of the weekend's competition schedule.

In addition to vintage and post-vintage competition in motocross, trials, hare scrambles, roadracing and dirt track, AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days features North America's largest motorcycle swap meet. Also on tap: bike shows, demo rides of current production bikes, motorcycling seminars, stunt shows, the new product Manufacturers' Midway, and club corrals featuring marque and regional clubs.

Proceeds from AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days benefit the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum. The goal of the AMA Hall of Fame, located on the campus of the American Motorcyclist Association in Pickerington, Ohio, is to honor the distinguished men and women whose competitive spirit, passion, vision and entrepreneurship have played a vital role in shaping the sport, lifestyle and business of motorcycling. For more information, call (614) 856-2222, or visit the Museum's website at MotorcycleMuseum.org.

For more information about AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days 2009, visit AMAVintageMotorcycleDays.com.

Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.



image
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)