AMA Supercross Dallas Results & Steele Creek GNCC Bike Results

Two off-road racing results today...finally! First up is the Dallas, Texas, round of the 2010 AMA Supercross, which went off this past Saturday (20 March 2010). This was the first time that the Supercross circus stopped in Cowboys stadium and Suzuki's Ryan Dungey made it one to remember. Dungey led every lap from the start and is now 24 points ahead of Kawasaki's Ryan Villopoto who finished just off the podium in fourth. The next event is this Saturday in Florida.

http://tinyurl.com/ydalry2

In the 2010 Can-Am Grand National Cross Country series, the recent stop was in North Carolina at Steele Creek. The weather started off nice early, but then a steady rain started to drench every square exposed inch. In that event, Suzuki-mounted Josh Strang again took the win. This is his third win in a row! In the XC2 class, Kailub Russell took victory and the series lead in the mountains of North Carolina...for all the details, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/y9xlhha

Sunday Afternoon Diversions - Blue Ridge Parkway Turns 75!

The Blue Ridge Parkway's first pavement was laid on 11 September 1935; it's 469-mile length started at the Cumberland Knob right next to the North Carolina and Virginia border region. Many local events will be held in honor of this milestone including the Blue Ridge Bike Fest, 9 - 11 April 2010, and the Wheels Through Time Museum will hold an exhibit entitled “Motoring the Blue Ridge Parkway." It would be a great ride for your summer trip. For more details, take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yb3fkm9

Stig Pettersson Has Moved in With Öhlins USA

Stig Pettersson has decided to work much more closely with the Öhlins USA office in the mountains of North Carolina. Pettersson is rather well-regarded and has worked for many American road race champions. He has worked with Fast by Ferracci, Muzzys, Erion Racing, Ducati Austin, Vance & Hines, Yoshimura Suzuki, M4 Suzuki and Michael Jordan Motorsports. Talk about an amazing resume!

http://tinyurl.com/ybcupwz

Monday Afternoon Moto News - Laverda 750S, Lorenzo & a Show

Over at the Rare SportBikes for Sale blog, we get a look at an astounding example of a 1999 Laverda 750S Formula motorcycle. It is for sale in North Carolina, and there are very few examples in the US of this fine Italian stallion. You won't find many of these on the road...and the price is excellent.

http://tinyurl.com/y95fdca

Jorge Lorenzo has been working with Intermom Oxfam to create an online commercial to get people to donate to the Haiti earthquake relief. Given the immense suffering in that nation now, this is an incredible gesture. Lorenzo will also donate his gold boots, which he wore in 2008, to be auctioned for more money directed at relief efforts. Anything that helps, helps!

http://tinyurl.com/yal4ubk

The 11th Annual Riding Into History event will take place in St. Augustine, Florida, on 15 May 2010. A group put together for the event and a local BMW Owners Association - Northeast Florida - will be organizing the event and Clement Salvadori will be the Grand Marshal. Craig Vetter and artist Don Bradley will also be in attendance. There should be some 300 to 400+ motorcycles on display.

http://tinyurl.com/yb3wrvo

Even MORE Afternoon Moto News - NHRA, XDL & Haiti

The NHRA is changing things up at the zMAX Dragway in North Carolina - they are running four lanes now instead of two. It does sound odd, but it is true, at least for this event. Some like it, some despise it, but it will happen - most people were surprised by the NHRA approval for it in the first place. The event will be held 26 - 28 March 2010.

http://tinyurl.com/yk2mya6

During the 2010 Daytona Bike Week, the XDL Sportbike Freestyle Championship will be held at Daytona International Speedway during 26 - 28 February. This is the first time that the XDL will make the trip to Florida, believe it or not, and this event will certainly add something more to Bike Week - so much to do and so little time!

http://tinyurl.com/yzfnhrp

Help Haiti! Famed workout freak Jillian Michaels is auctioning off her Troy Lee customized 2007 Yamaha FZ1, with all proceeds going to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. Michaels has friends in the nation and traveled there a while back in search of direction for her life, so Haiti is close to her heart. The auction price was up to US$16,000 the last time I checked, so she will be contributing a great deal to the cause. If you want to help, either bid on the bike or make your own donation - there are several charities helping out, find the one you like and give them some cash!

http://tinyurl.com/yhwhrq6

Motorcycle Cannonball - Coast to Coast on a Pre-1916 Motorcycle

From 10 - 26 September 2010, the Motorcycle Cannonball will run from Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, and will end 3300 miles later in Santa Monica, California. All of that done only on bikes produced in 1915 or before. Talk about a crazy concept! But, I will bet you just about anything that it will be eventful and very fun.

http://tinyurl.com/yesry6t

Not only is this a special event in its own right, AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductee Cristine Sommer-Simmons will also take part in the cross-country race as well. She will, of course - as if it was ever in doubt, ride her 1915 Harley-Davidson.

http://tinyurl.com/yd3nljq

http://tinyurl.com/ykq6m5q

American Honda Honored by Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation

PBTF has now created a Legacy Giving Wall at their Asheville, N.C., headquarters and American Honda is the first to be honored with their name on that fixture. It is all part of the new initiative, PBTF’s Greatest Return, where donors whose gifts will support the long term health of the organization will be written. American Honda has done a great deal for PBTF and they continue to do so...

http://tinyurl.com/yhgbvfy

Human Interest: Couples and Their Motorcycles Changing the Face of Motorcycling

Well, it is true that the 'biker' of today is not exactly what the non-riding world assumes he or she is - bikers are just people who love to ride motorcycles, after all. Well, it turns out that a huge number of couples are now hitting the road together. And, you know what they say, the family who rides together stays together! From the town of Fayetteville, North Carolina comes a good story on three of those couples and why they ride as they do.

http://tinyurl.com/yf737cf

AHRMA Racer David Matthews Still Going Strong

At 55 years of age, and living in Mooresville, North Carolina, he still likes to go fast - I can only hope I have his passion when I get that age (which is not far away for me). He took home two championships in the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association 2009 season - SumperMono (SM) and SuperMono2 (SM2) - both classes for single cylinder motorcycles. He also won both Regional Championships in both classes in the MidWest and Pacific Regions! His weapon of choice is a 1996 MuZ Skorpion 660 and his competition knows the backside of it all too well.

http://tinyurl.com/yd8x82s

Riding Around North Carolina on a 1978 Ducati Darmah

Such a lovely classic motorcycle - and, another rare one - is the Ducati Darmah that it seems it would spend most of its time in a museum somewhere. Not this bike, though. The author of this article managed to get his hands on this Italian beauty and take her on a ride through the backroads of North Carolina. Have a read and drool (again) over what amounts to a dream ride through beautiful countryside...

http://tinyurl.com/yc4jjz3

Indian Motorcycle to be Featured in ABC News

Given the terrible economy, it is hard to believe that there are actually success stories in the motorcycle industry. Indian Motorcycles is bucking the hard times and doing quite well compared to many companies. So, ABC News will be filming a special feature on the newly re-born (again, again, again) marque. Indian history will also be covered as will a ride down through North Carolina and through Deal's Gap.

http://tinyurl.com/yc3vpzq

Motorcycle-Only Police Checkpoints - Profiling at its Worst

If anyone out there actually knows me, you will know that I am not very much in favor of racial profiling - I do find it a bit offensive. It reminds me of the day when the TSA was supposed to 'randomly' search airline passengers. I traveled a great deal, but in Japan and San Francisco I was always chosen for that extra search - and they even damaged my company laptop. OK, well, let us get to the motorcycle-only police checkpoints. Again, it is 'for our own safety' or so they tell us, but to me it is a discriminatory policy; they always go after us first because they believe that we are politically powerless. This is just like the health care debate - it's not Democrat versus Republican, it's Health Insurance Companies against American citizens...Anyway, this is certainly worth a read, and a good reason to write your Congresspeople if you leave in North Carolina!

http://tinyurl.com/yhqudjq

Nitro Fish Suzuki Rider Matt Smith Exits NHRA Round Early

This past weekend, Smith made a small mistake and lost out to Steve Johnson in the first match-up between the two. Smith blames consistency of the Suzuki's launch, so maybe he will get some testing in and fix this issue.

http://tinyurl.com/mbgyyc

And, here you will find full results from the entire NHRA Carolinas Nationals at zMax Dragway event, including final pro stock motorcycle finishing order. The next round will be in Dallas this coming weekend.

http://tinyurl.com/mcva9b

Krawiec and Hines are Seeded First and Second for NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Countdown

The 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Countdown to the Championship will be lead by Eddie Krawiec and Andrew Hines of the Screamin’ Eagle/Vance & Hines team. They are seeded first and second, respectively, for the remaining events. The next NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series meet will take place 17 - 20 September 2009 at the zMax Dragway in Concord, N.C.

http://tinyurl.com/knffzs

"Tail of the Dragon" Will Receive Increased Police Patrols

The North Carolina end of the tail will be patrolled more often by local authorities in an attempt to increase safety. This is not termed as a 'crack down' on motorcyclists...just a hope to make the ride a bit less dangerous.

http://tinyurl.com/ksg6s9