AMA Motorcyclists of the Year + Racing Athlete of the Year

Two big stories in one post (and a small one at bottom). First of all, the American Motorcyclist Association named kids who ride motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) as Motorcyclists of the Year. This was due to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) working out the details on the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), which ultimately banned youth motorcycles and ATVs. CPSC has pushed enforcement on those vehicles out two years, but the state can decide to prosecute if they wish. It's still complex, but they have made progress and a bill should soon make it to President Obama's desk very soon!

http://tinyurl.com/yh8y28t

And, in the news from the AMA Racing Championship Banquet, my favorite Speedway star, Greg Hancock took the AMA Racing Athlete of the Year award! He is such a hard core racer, he really deserved it. There were several other awards presented, though, so please take the link - I simply cannot write everything here.

http://tinyurl.com/ygz27nv

In other news - not what I call a good story, so I just threw it here anyway. Dal Smilie, former chairman of the AMA's board of directors, has had his criminal trial postponed until 12 January 2010. Since he has paid back most (if not all) of the money to the AMA, this just seems ridiculous...but, that is only my opinion.

http://tinyurl.com/yg4db7e

First Look: 2010 KYMCO Scooter and ATV Line - No Photos, Though

It is a nice list of the new machines from our friends in Taiwan, KYMCO. They will be offering 17 scooters and 11 ATV models in the US. All of their machines are competent, and they are improving them all the time. If you have a dealer near you, check them out. You never know...the Japanese brands were once considered cheap and unreliable, in case you have forgotten. (You may have forgotten this event as it happened over a month ago.)

http://tinyurl.com/yetknml

A US Federal Rule Which Must Be Changed - Statement from ATV Manufacturers

As many of you in the US already know, a law which was intended to keep lead out of the bloodstream of children - because it is very, very bad for your health, especially your brain - has also stopped motorcycle dealers in the US from selling ATVs and motorcycles aimed at kids. This was most definitely not the intention of the law, but it happened anyway. So, the AMA, and most other motorcycle organizations which include children, have been fighting to get the law clarified for some time now. Well, the US Congress is now debating how to fix things...so, the ATV Manufacturers have issued a press release:

http://tinyurl.com/pox6hf