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CYCLE DIGEST

TRIUMPH, AHRMA CREATE THRUXTON CHALLENGE
Triumph Motorcycles (America) Ltd., Newnan, Ga., announced a new partnership with the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA), The Thruxton Challenge.
Kicking off the 2005 season with an inaugural race at Carolina Motorsports Park, Kershaw, S.C., on March 3, 2005, The Thruxton Challenge will be a regular feature at all AHRMA Historic Cup Roadrace Series events.
A chartered promoter of the American Motorcyclist Association, the AHRMA is a member-owned nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the sport of historic motorcycle through amateur racing activities and.
The Triumph Thruxton 900 is a modern interpretation of the classic café racers of the past. Peak power output of 69hp is delivered at 7,250rpm and peak torque of 53 ft. lbs. arrives at 5,750rpm.
Triumph Motorcycles will be offering a special rebate program for series competitors. AHRMA license holders purchasing a new Thruxton 900 for this race series will receive an $800 rebate directly from Triumph.
For more information on this series, write to Triumph at marketing@triumphmotorcycles.com, or visit AHRMA’s website at www.ahrma.org.

YAMAHA OFFERS ANOTHER FJR PRIORITY DELIVERY
Yamaha Motor Corporation, Cypress, Calif., announced a second priority delivery program for its FJR1300 and FJR1300ABS. A customer’s $500 dealer deposit secures a 2005 unit for priority delivery beginning in March. The program will end when the production quantity has sold out, with all deliveries expected to be completed by early spring, the company said in a prepared statement. Yamaha did not furnish production numbers or sales forecasts.
According to Mark Dipko, Yamaha motorcycle marketing manager, “Customer response to the FJR has been overwhelming. Each year sales have increased by over 25% and the FJR’s popularity continues to grow. To fill that demand, we requested additional production that will begin in January with delivery to customers at the beginning of the riding season.”
The sport tourer will be available only in Yamaha’s Galaxy Blue color. MSRP for the standard FJR1300 is $12,099; $13,199 for the FJR1300 ABS.

N.H. MULLS REQUEST FOR UPDATED NOISE STANDARDS
The New Hampshire Legislature is scheduled to vote on a bill to revise the standards for testing motorcycle sound levels.
If approved, the resulting law would prohibit motorcycles from generating a noise level measured at greater than 110 decibels. It would ban “straight-pipe” exhaust systems, and prohibit motorcyclists from modifying a bike’s exhaust system to make it louder than the muffler originally installed on the vehicle.

SPEED PLANS NEW REALITY SERIES
A Band Apart Commercials, a producer of award-winning commercials and music videos, and director Scott Gillen are currently producing a new reality series for Fox Television’s SPEED Channel entitled Build or Bust. Created and directed by Gillen, the unique one-hour show gives “average Joes” a chance to build a custom motorcycle. The series’ 10-episode debut season will air on SPEED Channel Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. beginning in February.

MOTOGIRO RETURNS
From May 24-28, 2005, the Motogiro d’Italia, the historic Italian motorcycle competition, returns to the legendary roads of Emilia Romagna, Umbria, Tuscany and Marche. Dream Engine is organizing the event for its fifth consecutive year and Ducati Motor is the event’s main sponsor — as it has been since 2001.
Visit www.motogiroditalia.com for more information.

EVADER RECEIVES APPROVAL IN EUROPE
Bellevue-Washington based Evader, Inc., says the European Community Type Approval Certification Agency has given its official approval for the sale and use of the Evader 100S and Evader GT in 25 European countries.
The certification process, which took several months to complete, involves a thorough analysis of all the parts in these Evader models and their operation. “This is a big step forward in Europe for Evader,” said Daniel Schneider of the Schneider Group, Evader’s major distributor in Europe.
For more information visit www.evader.us.

EVEL KNIEVEL CAN’T SUE WEB SITE
A U.S. appeals court has ruled that retired motorcycle stunt rider Evel Knievel can not pursue a lawsuit against a Web site that published a picture of him with two women along with a caption that said “You’re never too old to be a pimp.” Knievel sued ESPN, a subsidiary of Walt Disney, after it published a photo of him with his arms around his wife and a second young woman.

KAWASAKI TO SUPPORT FEMALE AMA RACER
Former pro snowboarder Jessica Zalusky will compete in select 2005 American Motorcyclist Association road races.
Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. announced it is backing Zalusky, who will compete in Superbike class races on the Ninja ZX-10R and in the Superstock class on the ZX-6RR.

JORDAN ANNOUNCES ‘05 RACE TEAM
Michael Jordan Motorsports/Suzuki has announced that riders Jason Pridmore, Steve Rapp and Montez Stewart will compete on Suzuki GSXR 1000 motorcycles for the 2005 American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Superbike Championship.
Primary sponsorship for the Michael Jordan Motorsports team will come from the Jordan Brand. Other major team sponsors include Suzuki Motor Company, Yoshimura R&D, Gatorade, and Dunlop Tires, with more to be announced at a later date.

WHAT IS US MINI GP?
An organization comprised of several companies and motorcycle enthusiasts, US MINI GP is a new spec racing program designed to create future motorcycle road race champions in North America.
Set up for youngsters age seven and older, US MINI GP has partnered with WERA to produce 40 scheduled events nationwide in 2005. The series will run five separate regional championships in the U.S. (WERA S. East, WERA Mid Atlantic, WERA N. East, CMRA Central and WERA West) Each region will hold an average of 10 races per year, and the series will culminate in a national invitational with $6,000 in prize money and the chance to qualify for the WORLD MINI GP Invitational in Spain on bikes provided by the organization.
US MINI GP has implemented two classes. The 12-inch-wheel MINI GP comes as an 11hp 50cc machine delivering a top speed of 70mph. A 72cc bike features 20 hp and is capable of more than 90mph. The race ready Mini GP retails for $3,900, and $700 more will obtain a 72cc kit. The race ready 72cc spec bike sells for $4,500.
For more information regarding US MINI GP, visit www.minigp50cc.com or call Ozzie Saez, 305/889-1800.

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