More News from JC Current...Please CLICK!

There has been an enormous amount of news coming from the world of two wheels lately. It is the end of the racing season, the musical chairs that are professional racing, the beginning of the 2011 models, new gear and accessories - and plenty of shows which bring much of this together in one place. EICMA is running in Milan, Ducati has released their 'fat-boy' Diavel, MV Agusta has shown their new F3 triple, Triumph's new Tiger 800XC and Daytona 675R, Yamaha's Super Tenere, and many more.

I have some stories here which may have slipped past you, or you may simply want to know more. Some are a bit old, but they are still current (pun intended)...please take a look.

2011 Master of the Mountains Schedule

The Middle Kindom Ride - China on BMWs

The New Brammo Enertia Plus

The 2010 Africa Concours d'Elegance in Kenya

The All-New Honda CBR250R Coming to US

The Renard Grand Tourer - Estonian Beauty

Honda's Moto3 Machine - NRS250

BMW R1200GS Triple Black

Chicago's Isle of Man

Gilera GP800 - World's Most Powerful Scooter

dediKato Auction (Ends 8 November 2010)

Nick Nichols Has Shed This Mortal Coil

Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show and Bonhams Auction

Suzuki GZ250 Price Dropped $1000!

Guy Martin to Ride Relentless by TAS Suzuki at 2011 Isle of Man TT

Scott Redding to Ride Suter/BMW MotoGP Machine

2011 FIM Speedway GP and Speedway Cup Schedule

Team Canada Heading to Latin American Championships

AMA Crowns Hillclimb Champions

Well, there are a few more, but that will do for this post. I am also working at the Portland Examiner as well and have at least one published article there...once I get that link, I will post it here too...Until then, please take the above links - every click helps!

AMA Taking Applications for Utah WSBK & AMA California Hillclimb

That's right, the AMA is taking applications for qualified racers to take a wild-card position at the Miller Motorsports Park round of the 2010 World Superbike Championship. The event will take place over 29 - 31 May 2010 in Utah. The deadline is 23 April 2010, so get yours in soon! The AMA will choose two riders each for World Superbike and World Supersport, with Infront Motorsports choosing two more for Superbike and 10 more for Supersport. For the details, please see the press release after the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yhwyhep

The AMA California Championship Hillclimb starts this weekend at the Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area - that's this Saturday and Sunday at the off-road park, which is near the town of Tracy. The details are about all you will find after the link, but you get all you need there too.

http://tinyurl.com/yjvmpoh

AMA and BMW Motorrad USA Announce F800GS Winner

The AMA and BMW Motorrad USA gave an entry to everyone who entered and rode in a AMA BMW National Adventure Riding Series event, which were held all over the US, into a drawing for a 2010 BMW F800GS. Well, today they announced the winner - Doug Carter of Eubank, Kentucky, is the lucky SOB. He will take delivery of the F800GS very soon and will make very good use of it; Carter has been riding since he was five years old! So, in many ways, he is a deserving person, but we can still detest him anyway...

http://tinyurl.com/y8e56jm

Thursday Evening Moto News - Leslie Porterfield in Daytona & Mist Suzuki Needs Sponsors!

Leslie Porterfield, the world's fastest woman, will be interviewing both Chris Carr and Dennis Manning - rider and owner of the world's fastest motorcycle - at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Breakfast during Daytona Bike Week in Florida. Porterfield is perhaps the best person to take on this position as she knows speed very well and she has a great way with words. Tickets are still available to the 5 March 2010 event, so grab them while you can!


http://tinyurl.com/ygtulyb

A small Isle of Dogs team - Mist Suzuki - is facing a terrible issue as their main sponsor is 'reviewing' the contract. That means no money for the British Superbike Championship season opener at Brands Hatch in early April, and he may not see any at all. The team is short due to the economy and needs help. If you know someone local to them or in the UK looking to sponsor - at least a little - a BSB team - which gets a huge audience - then give them a quick call!

http://tinyurl.com/yaru26y

Wednesday Night Moto News - Honda in Ohio, Shifcustom Duster & Dal Smilie

Honda's former Goldwing factory in Marysville, Ohio, has now become a parts center for the auto factory next door. The factory has been in the city for over 30 years now...and, it really was a shame when they moved production to Japan. But, they have to do what they have to do...

http://tinyurl.com/y8zbmzv

Well, it is not my dream machine, but it is certainly creative! The Shifcustom Duster hails from Eastern Europe and the fabrication is done all in house. The builder is using it as a showpiece. A Ducati Monster S4 provides its engine for the machine. It's got its strong points, but white?

http://tinyurl.com/y9bvlfl

Former AMA Chairman of the Board is now serving time behind bars as opposed to in them. After the lengthy trial and some wrangling, he has plead guilty and will serve at least 30 days of an eight month sentence - he can apply for early release after his first month. Considering his crimes, it seems a fair sentence...but, he did pay the money back.

http://tinyurl.com/yho9ofj

More Morning Moto News - AMA Board of Directors Change, MotoGP Rules & Suzi Perry

The AMA has just finished up their annual Board of Directors meeting in Indianapolis (13 February 2010). At that meeting, they decided to make changes to the make-up of the BoD - instead of six industry representatives on the Board, there will now only be four. There will also now be two 'at-large' Board members who will be elected by the entire organization (or so it seems now), but the Board will continue to have 12 members total. For all the information, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/y8vx5f9

When the 2012 MotoGP season begins, there will be some new rules for privateer teams. They will then be allowed more engines and larger fuel tanks than the factory teams on the grid once the maximum displacement is increased to 1000cc. This is an obvious move to spur more competition in the paddock and to invite some others who may not have been in the series previously. It could cause some backlash, but it is likely to expand beyond the small number of current riders.

http://tinyurl.com/y8gp42d

Fan favorite Suzi Perry has quit the BBC MotoGP coverage unit - she will no longer report from the MotoGP paddock. After 13 years behind the microphone with the racing series, she will be moving on to work on her broadcasting career beyond motorcycle racing. She will be missed and we wish her luck!

http://tinyurl.com/y97vlck

Tuesday Evening Moto News - AMA Expands Think. Ride. Program

The AMA has really added some content to their Think.Ride. Program, which was launched last October. They have added videos, audio tracks and print advertisements - many featuring AMA Board of Directors member and well-known actor Perry King - all of which are available online. This is a huge program to help with rider safety and motorcycle awareness. It's good to know they are doing this and doing it right. All we need now is more media coverage.

http://tinyurl.com/yztwg9s

Saturday Afternoon Moto News - Kawasaki Lubricants & Malcolm Smith (not with each other...)

Kawasaki Motors of the USA is releasing a new line of powersports oils. Kawasaki Performance Oils will be sold in synthetic, semi-synthetic and mineral based in multiple grades for motorcycles - and, they will have oils for ATV/UTV and PWC uses. They have added to and improved the old line-up as well as changed the packaging. Head to your local Kawasaki dealer to learn more.

http://tinyurl.com/yj9n2jg

The AMA has announced that Motorcycle Hall of Famer Malcolm Smith will serve as Grand Marshal at this coming 9 - 11 July's 2010 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days in Lexington, Ohio. That's a lot to take in. Yes, Malcolm Smith was chosen since Husqvarna - finally returning to full sales support in the US - is the event's Marque of the Year for 2010. All worth a visit...and a demo ride on a Husky!

http://tinyurl.com/yjy9elo

AMA Announces Steve Morehead to Manage AMA Pro Flat Track

Steve Morehead is now officially AMA Pro Flat Track Operations Manager; this announcement made yesterday by the AMA. Morehead is a retired racer now but, when he was in competition - which was for 26 years - everyone knew him. He was a fan favorite and has over 35 years of flat track experience. It looks like a perfect fit for all concerned. Some rather good news from the AMA for a nice change.

http://tinyurl.com/yzexzbb

Monday Evening Moto News - AMA Response & Keith Heckles Has Died

A member of the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) was trying to get information on the sale of all of the AMA Pro Racing properties to the Daytona Motorsports Group - this is before the interview with Rob Dingman revealing the truth - so he contacted the leadership of his organization and asked for the facts. The link will show you how the responded. Thankfully, we actually had some honesty from them recently and know most of what he was looking for now. (I wonder about those purse requirements - it seems DMG is breaking the contract.)

http://tinyurl.com/yeogv8j

23 January 2010 was the day Keith Heckles died unexpectedly of a massive heart attack. His funeral will be held tomorrow (2 February). Heckles was a racer during the 1960's and the Isle of Man TT and Manx Grand Prix - alongside Agostini and Surtees. But, he went on to do his full-time gig as a laboratory technician, which provided good steady income, in order to raise his family. A very good racer who lived life as he needed to do.

http://tinyurl.com/yclm5yj

Wednesday Evening Moto News - Travis Pastrana + AGV, AMA Vintage Days & Trials Schedule

Travis Pastrana is just the latest addition to the AGV helmet sponsorship program. They already have the two best racers in motorcycle racing history - Valentino Rossi and Giacomo Agostini - and now they have another very successful rider in Pastrana. Now that Dainese owns AGV, it will probably only get better...

http://tinyurl.com/yck729e

The AMA is looking for some good vintage project bikes as a part of AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days this 9 - 11 July 2010. It doesn't matter if you are complete or not, and the destination can be any one you for which you are looking. Just get in contact with the AMA as soon as you can.

http://tinyurl.com/yeq5uba

The AMA released, a few days ago, the schedule for the AMA Racing/NATC Observed Trials National Championship Series, 2010 edition. For the information you seek, take the link. I can tell you that the season starts on 1 - 2 May 2010 in Oklahoma.

http://tinyurl.com/y9frh8k

Even More Afternoon Moto News - DMG/AMA Pro Racing

Where will AMA Pro Racing be tomorrow? Has the Daytona Motorsports Group killed American Superbike racing for all of us? Well, some would certainly agree that DMG has screwed things up pretty good, but other would argue that we have yet to give it enough time. Still, no Honda, no Ducati, no Yamaha, no Kawasaki will receive factory support in 2010, so what are we left with? Not much but private and some pseudo-factory teams. It should make for some interesting results, but at what cost? Will anyone even watch the sport in 2010? And, I suppose the most important question is will it ever improve, or can it be saved? Maybe the racers will find a way to save the sport we all know and love, but they have their work cut out for them...

http://tinyurl.com/y8sgbna

Big Moto News - AMA CEO Ron Dingman Interview!

Yep, Roadracingworld.com managed to get the interview of the year/decade in AMA Pro Racing circles, AMA CEO Ron Dingman. Why is this interview with the boat-rocking new AMA leader? Well, he finally explains the deal which let Daytona Motorsports Group take over their professional racing series. The short answer which everyone has been waiting for is as follows:

"...US$10,000,000...plus membership fees for AMA Pro Racing credential holders of about US$180,000 a year." Oddly, though, DMG is keeping lifetime membership fees for itself.

Check this out. It is only Part 1, so I will post Part II here when it is available.

http://tinyurl.com/yht9kd8

Part 2: http://tinyurl.com/yct2x7e

Part 3: http://tinyurl.com/yackysp

Busy Tuesday Afternoon Moto News - Kim Newcombe, Piaggio and AMA/MCC

Kim Newcombe was an incredible racer; one which even the greats respected. In the documentary Love, Speed and Loss, his life is chronicled for all to see and it is worth seeing. This film was well-directed by Justin Pemberton and features racing footage from the 1970's when Newcombe was storming the Grand Prix tracks of the World Championship. All of the film is available online, so you have no excuse to not see it.

http://tinyurl.com/yehbaho

Piaggio USA has had to cut sales staff due to the lull in scooter sales in 2009. So, many top-level managers have now been sent to the unemployment line. Hopefully, they will be able to hire them back soon...at least we can hope, right? The economy has yet to fully recover and, given what has been done to the banks who caused this (we gave them money; thus, we rewarded what should have been punished - they will do it again), it is not going to improve much in the coming years. Sorry Piaggio...2010 should be a better year!

http://tinyurl.com/ydgcuf7

The AMA has awarded the Motorcycle Confedration of Canada (MCC) the MOTORCYCLE AWARD of EXCELLENCE (MAX) for Riders in the Category: Motorcycle Organization. The presentation of the award took place at the North American International Motorcycle Supershow on Saturday, January 16, 2010. This was for their work on the International Street Party at the International Women & Motorcycling Conference. One organization recognizing another...

http://tinyurl.com/y9d9uo8

MCN Motorcycle Show Update, Trails Videos and Tasmanian Riders

The Carole Nash MCN Motorcycle Show will take place at the ExCel in London during 4 - 7 February 2010. Get your tickets now! Or, try to win them through the various means available all over the U.K. Anyway, we have an update which includes all of the changes to date for the event. For all information on the show, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yh33abh

From our friends (and helpers) at the AMA, we have a selection of Public Land Advocacy Videos produced by the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC). The videos are meant to help local organizations and individuals keep the trails open in their part of the country. The videos help with everything from organizing against closures, to how to lay out a plan to keep the trails open and even clean. For more information, please take the link. If you ride off-road in the US, this is for you!

http://tinyurl.com/yjxrdu4

A pair of motorcycle racers from Launceston in Tasmania will be representing their island in the annual Phillip Island Classic to be held this weekend. They will be riding a 1966 250cc Bultaco Metralla, a 1972 TR3 350cc Yamaha, and an old Suzuki 500c.c. GP bike in the event. Please take the link and learn more about these very brave souls...

http://tinyurl.com/ykmy5ve

http://tinyurl.com/ykmy5ve

More Monday Moto Design News - Mission One and Chris Carr

The Mission Motors Mission One, designed by Yves Béhar, has been included in the short list of the 2010 Brit Insurance Design Awards to be presented at the Design Museum. About 100 other items are on the very diverse list and vying for one of seven categories' awards, and they will be profiled at the museum from 17 February to 6 June. So, you have some time...but, it will go by faster than you think.

http://tinyurl.com/y926fuf

Coming up at the 22nd Annual AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum Breakfast at Daytona this 5 March 2010 during Daytona Bike Week. The headliner will be the fastest motorcycle rider on Earth - no, not Rossi - Chris Carr. The streamliner builder Dennis Manning will also be there next to Carr. They will be on hand to give speeches and answer any questions from the attendees. So, get your tickets!

http://tinyurl.com/yckeaot

Friday Evening News from the Moto World - AMA and Safety

The American Motorcyclist Association has announced the class distinctions and dates for the brand-new 2010 AMA Racing Vintage National Dirt Track Championship Series. This will hopefully be a very successful series throughout the US. The only limitation may be that all of the dates are in the East with the exception of two rounds in Texas. There is good reason for it to head to California or at least team up with the West Coast Flat Track Series to host events. It is very tempting to get out there and join in the fun!

http://tinyurl.com/yjp8qbs

Some people still do not get it - helmets save lives. I have seen racers high-side and land on their head and then walk away - on their own power - because the helmet did its job. I need no more evidence. Riding a motorcycle without a helmet is not accepting your risk. Even if you are the best rider in the entire planet Earth, you cannot control the actions of the cagers sharing the road around you. So, this new study has shown that fatalities have gone up in the seven years since Texas repealed its mandatory helmet laws. D'oh! Of course...the good news is that overall fatalities were likely down in 2009 - but that is simply due to fewer people riding due to the economy and the fact that Americans still consider motorcycles to be 'recreational vehicles.' No helmet = Organ donor

http://tinyurl.com/y9joplj

Friday Has Arrived - Moto News for Your Morning

At an upcoming AMA Pro Racing test at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, John Hopkins will be testing a Roadracingworld.com Suzuki GSX-R1000; he's been with them before, when he won his two AMA Championships in 2000 and 2001. He may very well end up in the American Superbike (update) class - and we should welcome him back to action. I missed him! The team will like the sponsorship he brings as well. We will see if he is there 2 -3 February 2010.

http://tinyurl.com/ycf6l6p

http://tinyurl.com/ylxllbb (update)

More: http://tinyurl.com/yh5afoe

Looking to see some video footage from the last round of the Indoor Enduro World Cup? Even if you are not, you have found it here. Husaberg has posted a video of their riders at the Italian event for all of us to enjoy. Go ahead and waste a little time this morning enjoying some awesome entertainment.

http://tinyurl.com/ycg72sk

And, just to finish this up with some industry news, we hear that KTM North America has restructured their sales department and dealer relations. These are mostly re-shuffles and people taking on some new responsibilities based on the changing climate with the industry and KTM itself. If you are interested, take the link and get up to date!

http://tinyurl.com/yc8omyz

Thursday Evening Is Here and So Is More Moto News

A North Carolina law firm, Hardison & Cochran, has joined with a nationwide motorcycle safety promotion and education program known as the Road Guardians, a project of Accident Scene Management Inc. (ASMI). The Road Guardians promote motorcycle safety through many avenues including the road and online. The partnership will increase the reach of the Road Guardians program, which we all hope will continue to do very well at what they do.

http://tinyurl.com/ydrbv5u

This next one was going to be a link directly to the AMA website, but the blog post linked below actually sums things up much better - and it has direct links for the AMA. This is the 2010 AMA Motocross Rider Classifications for the 2010 AMA Amateur Motocross Season. Plus, there are some rule explanations regarding the classification.

http://tinyurl.com/ye63qnd

http://tinyurl.com/yayeenf - Direct AMA link

We also have another way to take action towards reforming the CPSIA to keep the CPSC from eliminating youth motorcycles and ATVs. Go there, read it, and take action!

http://tinyurl.com/ybvc5h9

Wednesday Evening Moto News - Husqvarna and Vermeulen

Husqvarna has been named the Marque of the Year for 2010 AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days. The event, as always, will be Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, during 9 - 11 July 2010. Husqvarna only recently returned to full-time participation in AMA national level racing and they are quite happy to be selected for this honor.


http://tinyurl.com/yawvthu

And, luckily, we now have access to an interview with soon to be World Superbike competitor Chris Vermeulen. He will be spearheading Kawasaki's effort in that series for 2010, and I can think of no one better suited to the task. It will be well worth paying attention to WSBK again this year and we will all be better for it!

http://tinyurl.com/yzda3qf