CYCLE DIGEST

Arenacross Garners Record Attendance
The 2004-2005 Regional and National Arenacross Series attracted approximately 300,000 fans in 26 cities.
The top markets for arenacross this season were Dallas, which produced 25,551 in attendance, Louisville, Nashville, Reno, and Guthrie, Okla., which rose to an impressive attendance of 17,899.
The series consisted of 15 regional and 11 national races.

FIM-backed Promoter Adds U.S. Consultant
Heartland Media & Events LLC has been retained by Youthstream, the promotions company that holds global marketing and broadcast rights to several motorcycling world championships, to consult on the development and future direction of those championships and provide media relations services in the United States.
Under a multi-year agreement with the Geneva-based Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) – the world governing body for motorcycle sport – Youthstream promotes global championships including the Motocross of Nations and the World Individual Motocross and Supermoto Championships.
Heartland Media and Events said it plans to build broader awareness of those FIM championships in the U.S. market. Under the agreement between Youthstream Action Events and Heartland Media & Events, Heartland will represent the FIM championships in the U.S. market through the 2007 competition season.
Heartland Media & Events LLC is located at 118 East High Street, Suite A, in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, 43050. More information is available from billamick@earthlink.net.

Ducati Launches New Desmo Owners Club Web site
Ducati introduced a new Web site dedicated to the Desmo Owners Clubs (D.O.C.) today, May 31, on the eve of the Desmo Owners Club Presidents meeting taking place in Mugello, Italy.
The new site, www.ducaticlubs.com, serves as a reference point for Desmo fans worldwide. It provides product information, event descriptions, pictures from the world of D.O.C. Ducatisti and much more.
“Whether you’re looking for a riding group, track day, bike gathering or are simply interested in meeting other Ducatisti in your area, the D.O.C. are the perfect solution,” said Ducati President and CEO Federico Minoli.
The site allows each club the opportunity to express their individuality and their pride in Ducati in their own way. The clubs themselves create profiles, descriptions and photos of who they are and what they do, and they decide what events to organize and publicize.

KTM’s New XC Line Scheduled for August
KTM North America says its dealers can expect a new line of XC model motorcycles on their showfloors by August.
KTM says the XC line of purpose-built motorcycles combines all performance attributes of its motocross and supercross motorcycles with the features and updates necessary to be successful in cross country competition. The series will include five of the most popular displacements.
Technical features include large capacity fuel tanks (2.77 to 3.43 gallons), 18-inch rear Excel wheels, specific-tuned suspension, properly weighted ignition fly wheels, and tough transmissions and gearing, including the optional wide ratio XC-W models.
KTM factory team racers Juha Salminen, Mike Lafferty and Kurt Caselli are currently showcasing the new XC model image at GNCC and WORCS events.

New Organization Plans to Promote Supermoto
North American Supermoto (NASMOTO), a new organization designed to expand the supermoto discipline in North America, has received the official blessing of the AMA and Supermoto Canada along with inscriptions from the FIM and NAMU.
“The NASMOTO Grand Prix will be a terrific grass-roots program to help build riders for the AMA Pro Supermoto Championship,” noted AMA Sports Senior Director Douglas Neubauer. “The AMA is excited about the evolving opportunities for Supermoto in North America, and NASMOTO is a great way to grow the sport at all levels, benefiting everyone from promising beginners to the AMA Pro Racing Supermoto Series.”
The NASMOTO Grand Prix for all levels of Supermoto riders kicks off June 18-19, 2005, at the USA International Raceway in Shawano, Wisc. Dubbed the NASMOTO Grand Prix of Green Bay, it is scheduled to precede races in Cleveland, Toronto, Southern California, the Northwest and Southeast regions, and at October’s Red Bull Supermoto-A-Go-Go on the streets of Reno, NV. NASMOTO will also produce the 2005 AMA Supermoto Grand Championship for riders who qualify at 2005 NASMOTO Grand Prix events.
Ted Baker, Vice President of NASMOTO and President of Supermoto Canada, says the organization is actively seeking out promoters to be included in the AMA-sanctioned NASMOTO program.
Extensive information about NASMOTO and the sport of supermoto can be found at www.nasmoto.com or by contacting Resource Marketing at 760/436-9937.

Chicago Overturns Bike Ban
The City of Chicago has significantly changed a recently announced ban on motorcycles in parades.
Earlier this year, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley’s Office of Special Events sent a letter to various parade organizers, stating, in part: “effective immediately, the City Parade Regulations have been amended to include a ban on machinery potentially dangerous to spectators and staff working parades.” That machinery included “motorcycles, (pocket) mini motorcycles, mini motor bikes, motor scooters and three- and four-wheel all-terrain vehicles.”
The news outraged motorcyclists planning to ride in Chicago parades this summer. They contacted the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), which, in turn, called Chicago city officials.
A day after contacted by the AMA, Cindy Gatziolis, spokeswoman for the Mayor’s Office of Special Events, told the organization the city had modified the ban.
Gatziolis said the now-rescinded ban had been a response to a motorcyclist who nearly struck a parade spectator. City officials felt that rather than waiting for someone to get hurt, they should address the safety issue, she said.
Gatziolis said the City of Chicago soon will send a new letter to parade organizers, once again allowing motorcycles in parades. Under the new regulations Gatziolis outlined, each parade will be permitted up to two groups of no more than 50 motorcycles each.
“When we first heard of these rules, we couldn’t believe the city would make such a sweeping and discriminatory move,” said Sean Maher, AMA Director of State Affairs. “We’re glad to see Chicago back away from the idea of a total ban on motorcycles so quickly. We’ll continue to monitor the situation.”