 Where real journalism meets italicized smart-assed comments. by Gus Breiland |
*U.S. World Round at Spirit Mountain Duluth June 5th and 6th *FASTER *Kawasaki Retires the Police 1000 *Schwarzenegger urged to sub Harleys for BMWs as CHiPs vehicle |
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U.S. World
Round at Spirit Mountain Duluth June 5th and 6th Riders competing in the world-championship series will be coming to Duluth from the third round at Motegi, Japan, on May 22 and 23. Other rounds in the series are being held in Ireland, Portugal, France, Andorra, Italy, Czech Republic, Spain and Switzerland. The Spirit Mountain trials was selected for the FIM's Environmental Award from more than 1,000 FIM-sanctioned events held that year in more than 90 motorcycle disciplines. That was not the first time a Spirit Mountain trials received recognition, however. When the site was used in the U.S. championship series in 1998 and 2000, trials riders twice voted it the best national trials event of the year Some of the most spectacular section areas from 2002 will be tweaked and used again, including a jaw-dropping leap up a 14-foot sheer rock face that tested the limits of both the riders' nerve and the motorcycle's power. The Duluth event is sanctioned by the FIM, AMA and NATC. Gas Gas USA, the national distributor for Gas Gas motorcycles, is the world round's presenting sponsor, while Duluth-based Aerostich-Rider Wearhouse, makers and distributors of motorcycle riding suits and equipment, is the VIP sponsor. Sponsors of the world round's sections are Ryan Young Products, national distributor of Sherco motorcycles; Beta USA, national distributors of Beta motorcycles; Trials Competition Newspaper; Trials Training Center; Rhode Island Trials Club; Midwest Bottling, Coca-Cola, Duluth; RJ Sports and Cycle, Duluth; and Duluth Lawn and Sport. Many spectators at the 1998 and 2000 national events in Duluth could barely believe their eyes when they saw riders launch their highly specialized motorcycles up Spirit Mountain's waterfalls and cliffs. The world-round sections, however, are far more challenging; not a single section previously used in national-level competition approaches the difficulty required to test the abilities of the world-championship riders. Gates to the event will open at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 5 and 6. The competition will run from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day. Featured will be the main class for the world's top riders, a junior trial world cup class for ages 18 to 20, and new this year, an FIM youth trials cup class for riders 16 to 18 on machines of 125 cc, or about half the size used in the higher classes. Cost for tickets is $20 per day, or $30 for both days. Tickets are half price for those under 10 and free for those under 6. Advance tickets are available, starting April 1, via www.worldroundusa.com. Riders will begin arriving in Duluth to start practicing on Wednesday, June 2. They are not allowed on the sections before the event, but will use a special area set aside for practice. Spectators are welcome to watch the practice sessions June 2 to 4. The practice sessions on Wednesday and Thursday, June 2 and 3, are free. In order to watch practice on Friday, June 4, you will need a one- or two-day event ticket that can be used again on Saturday and/or Sunday. Two years ago, spectators saw that the competitors didn't take it easy during practice as they got a feel for the rocks of Duluth. For more information, including directions to Spirit Mountain and information about accommodations in the tourist-friendly Duluth area, visit the event's Web site at: www.worldroundusa.com. A good site to learn more about the sport of trials in general is www.trials.net
FASTER The MotoGP world championship is the pinnacle of motorcycle sport, a series of sixteen races on five continents contested by twenty-four of the world's top riders. FASTER asks this question: How do you go faster than the rest? The movie could be subtitled: How do you beat Valentino Rossi? The 24 year old Italian, world champion in 2001 and 2002, currently dominates MotoGP. He is the biggest star the sport has ever seen and the charismatic center of the film. In addition to Rossi, FASTER focuses on three other MotoGP riders: Rossi's bitter rival Max Biaggi; the brilliant but injury-prone Garry McCoy; and the rising teenage star John Hopkins. Their stories reveal both the ecstasy and the terror of life in the insanely fast lane, as do the tales told by a supporting cast of former world champions including Mick Doohan, Kevin Schwantz, Wayne Rainey, Kenny Roberts and Barry Sheene. Two wheels. 200MPH. Every man for himself. This is a MMM must see movie, maybe even all three nights. Look for MMM staffer Gus Breiland, as he will be stealing some of the glory of Valentino and applying it to his KLR riding stories. "…and then I came around the outside, flipped him off and laid 'er down!" There will also be a bike night at Grandma's Sports Garden, Thursday June 3rd starting at 5:30 pm. Seven-time US National Trials champion Geoff Aaron and Adam Holbrook will be doing bike demonstrations. Free parking, outdoor BBQ, prizes and contests, live broadcast by KQ95 and live bands playing at 8:30. NORSHOR THEATER
Kawasaki
Retires the Police 1000
Schwarzenegger
urged to sub Harleys for BMWs as CHiPs vehicle California lawmakers promise to look into it. We (MMM) would hate to see the asinine lobbying tool of "loss of American jobs" cancel out a legitimate performance evaluation that led to the ChiP's decision to go with the BMW. In looking over the published evaluations, CHP, over a 2-year evaluation, chose the BMW over other players based on form, fit and function. To disregard this process for ego-stroking of the Pennsylvania Governor would be a shame and hopefully it will not happen.
M.M.M. |
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This article originally appeared in the June
2004 issue of Minnesota
Motorcycle Monthly.