Copper Mountain

Initial Husaberg report from Copper Mountain:

Super Unlimited Day One Heat Race:
Graham Cheney listed as DNF.
Dave Arnold listed as crashing.

Will keep you posted.

Dale

Ps
For the latest:
Race Coverage

Update

Both previously mentioned Husaberg riders failed to grid the Semi eliminating them from the main event. Tomorrow is another day and round #2, hopefully we shall see both men back in the saddle.

With only two remaining exceptions the entire Unlimited main event field is now KTM mounted.

2004 KTM AMA Supermoto Contingency Program
($14,900 paid in both Supermoto and Supermoto Unlimited classes)

Finish - Payout
1st - $5,000
2nd - $2,500
3rd - $1,500
4th - $1,200
5th - $1,100
6th - $1000
7th - $800
8th - $700
9th - $600
10th - $500


Dale

Copper Mountain Rd #2

Husaberg hopefuls Graham Cheney and David Arnold scratched round two after dual DNF's the previous day.

A lone Husaberg entry on Sunday failed to qualify for the main event, however, as a result of a late day scratch was indeed able to run the final finishing two laps behind the lead pack.

Question for anyone with an opinion:
Why subject an already vulnerable Husaberg to more negative press in particularly @ the National level? Why not test and prepare in seclusion until a reliable and competitive machine is produced?

Please Note:
To say the least I am indeed disappointed, however, this thread is not intended as a flame and / or insult to anyone in particular. I quite simply would like to try and understand the reasoning behind such ventures that to me appear obviously under funded, under developed and flawed from inception.

Please feel free to fire away as I am certainly no stranger to controversy.

Dale

Hi Dale,

Your are right 100%
The unlimited class is fast becoming a KTM cup. That will inevitably lead to diminished intrest, and maybe the end of that class all together.
I do not understand why Husaberg dont put the effort to establish a well prepared team, with fully developed bikes in the battle field. Now they will look as inferior to KTM and all the rest.

Over here in europe they also lead strange ways. A couple of days ago Fred Fiorentino asked to be releaved of his factory contract with husaberg, and to return to privateer status, but on KTM like last year. The reason is that he had a tremendous number of engine failures. This is very bad publicity.

Does anyone know what failed on Graham's bike? I remember seeing that the bike was an off the showroom bike from Motoxotica. I'm assuming the bike was relatively untouched.

Were the riders getting support from the Husaberg factory or just Husaberg North America(BMG)?

And what has been failing in the world bikes? Is it the main bearing or many problems in general?

I don't see the crash as a failure for Husaberg.

PowerFiend said:

Does anyone know what failed on Graham's bike? I remember seeing that the bike was an off the showroom bike from Motoxotica. I'm assuming the bike was relatively untouched.

Were the riders getting support from the Husaberg factory or just Husaberg North America(BMG)?

And what has been failing in the world bikes? Is it the main bearing or many problems in general?

I don't see the crash as a failure for Husaberg.

Click to expand...

Hi Powerfiend,
Sorry, as I no more have answers for you than anyone else does for me.

I am certain it is quite obvious that this turn of events has once again put my boxers in a bunch. My reasons are as vast as they are diverse and I shall not burden you or anyone else with the details.

The simple fact of the matter is that even with talented riders and barring a DNF for whatever the reason all Husaberg entries were several seconds off the racing pace.

Note:
Please keep in mind that we are speaking only of the support (Unlimited) class as the 450 is a topic for another day.

My question in laymans terms is quite simple:
"Why bring a knife to a gunfight?"

Respectfully,
Dale

The simple fact of the matter is that even with talented riders and barring a DNF for whatever the reason all Husaberg entries were several seconds off the racing pace.

Note:
Please keep in mind that we are speaking only of the support (Unlimited) class as the 450 is a topic for another day.

My question in laymans terms is quite simple:
"Why bring a knife to a gunfight?"

Respectfully,
Dale

Click to expand...

[/quote]


Yes ! The 650 when prepared has proven that it is an extremely fast bike. Lazarini has proven that in the world championship last year. But then he got a factory KTM... His bike was reliable. This year the situation changed, reliability problems on the bike of Fiorentino. But it is undoubtebly a very fast bike. The acceleration is just stunning. I cant see of a good reason why Husaberg, as a factory, does not enter a bike in the AMA championship with te same engine as they do over here in europe.

Xmen said:

Yes ! The 650 when prepared has proven that it is an extremely fast bike. Lazarini has proven that in the world championship last year. But then he got a factory KTM... His bike was reliable. This year the situation changed, reliability problems on the bike of Fiorentino. But it is undoubtebly a very fast bike. The acceleration is just stunning. I cant see of a good reason why Husaberg, as a factory, does not enter a bike in the AMA championship with te same engine as they do over here in europe.

Click to expand...

So what changed in one year to make the bikes unreliable? A new motor builder/mechanic, since the motors haven't changed much? Or are they trying to push the performance of the motors to far?

LINEAWEAVER said:

The simple fact of the matter is that even with talented riders and barring a DNF for whatever the reason all Husaberg entries were several seconds off the racing pace.

My question in laymans terms is quite simple:
"Why bring a knife to a gunfight?"

Respectfully,
Dale

Click to expand...

BMG did do the same thing in the AMA last year for the last two rounds. :? I believe that Casey even competed on the bike at the local level before racing it in the AMA, to get a feel for it. You think BMG would have supported a rider and kept them competing and tuning on the bike during the AMA off season, but I don't know BMG's financial situation. You think that it would have been better to spend a few bucks than compete and fail at the national level like you have said.

Maybe KTM wants Husaberg to fail??? KTM does have a new engine design in testing. (Currently in 250 and 450 derivatives, and looks to be a double overhead cam design). What new technology is Husaberg bringing to the table, they seem to be reverting back to the old (Smaller valves, and less cc's).

Powerfiend,
Welcome to my world 8O

Dale

baja 1000

i do not understand the reasoning behind an effort like this ..we have a motorcycle that is properly prepared engine and suspension .that we have done extensive testing for reliability and handling over the last four months.with assistance from dale we feel that our bike and riders are prepared for a proper assault on the baja 1000.long term infastructure knowledge of the machine and proper testing have resulted in a bike we are very happy with..all of this is out of pocket .....i have asked for help from BMG with no response ...i can bet you that the money they spent on one of those riders would have exceeded any help i would have asked for .....it kind of hurts my feelings ...to think that the one true factory effort that husaberg has ...has nothing to do with the factory....sorry for the whine but i have ben out of the loop for a few weeks and this is one of the first posts i read ..and im like damm whats up with that ..ok i have said my bit .we are still going to baja we will still represent the brand with all my heart ....see you in november.......bergdaddy

Bergdaddy

maybe the BAJA isn't the place to start? it may be an ultimate test but maybe a seasons hard work doing CC's would be better?

just an idea from this side of the pond.

Taffy

your right taffy.thats why we race the new mexico desert racing series seven races a year ..and we race all the local enduros and hare scrambles.we took the bike to the asphalt drags the other night and made about ten hard passes with it . 98 mph with my big *** on it in the quarter mile ....my point is that we did baja last year on a honda and they helped out considerably and we were one of a hundred..this is not a fledgling effort by a bunch of rookies ..we want to do the husaberg because we have faith ..i guess it would just be nice to be reconized for our effort.and all the r+d we have put into the cause..i really expected nothing from BMG i guess i was just suprised when i heard about the motard effort that was kind of hastily put together .when we have ben working towards this goal for over two years .i stress i am not upset with anyone .it just took me off guard thats all ..thanks and have a good day...tim

If it helps, I believe that BMG is only supplying a bike and parts. And they probably picked supermoto because it is still relatively small, but still gets TV air time. i.e. It is still possible for an imported rider to do well in a race on a non-factory bike. The KTM team is the only effort with much factory backing from what I understand.

PowerFiend said:

If it helps, I believe that BMG is only supplying a bike and parts. And they probably picked supermoto because it is still relatively small, but still gets TV air time. i.e. It is still possible for an imported rider to do well in a race on a non-factory bike. The KTM team is the only effort with much factory backing from what I understand.

Click to expand...

Hi Powerfiend,
Putting any rider capable of winning @ the national level aboard a stock motorcycle in an unlimited class is a certain recipe for disaster. Said rider handicapped with inferior set up and / or lack of power will most always push well beyond the safe limits in an effort to place. What often results is indeed injury. After nearly three decades of interacting with top level competitors I know the above to be fact.

Be it a skateboard, three legged dog or less than perfect equipment a true racer races.

Dale

There were no mechanical failures for the Husabergs at the first two rounds of AMA supermoto, except a fading front brake on Sunday. I finally had time to track some info. down, but found the following other thread had already been posted on here:

http://www.husaberg.org/modules.php?nam ... =4880#4880

Here's the lone Husaberg racer from Sunday, it is none other than SuperMoto Racer magazine editor Scott Hoffman. He placed 19th in unlimited.

Re: baja 1000

bergdaddy said:

i do not understand the reasoning behind an effort like this .....knowledge of the machine and proper testing have resulted in a bike we are very happy with..all of this is out of pocket .....i have asked for help from BMG with no response ...i can bet you that the money they spent on one of those riders would have exceeded any help i would have asked for .......bergdaddy

Click to expand...

Unfortunately, there is not enough money available for BMG to support your efforts and the s/m races. The # of units sold isn't providing the necessary funds, so they need to put what little money they have, into the race that they think will give them the most exposure. S/M is getting television coverage. The Baja does not. S/M is new and exciting. Baja has lost it's glimmer ( in the eyes of the masses ). McGrath and other big names are riding s/m and the fans are following. The Baja races are not as glamorous as s/m, s/m appeals to more people. As riding areas are closed, the long desert races will fade away. The manufactureres see s/m as a new venue with great growth potential. There is a new s/m track near Phoenix, in a year or 2, it will probably draw more weekend warriors than both the local m/x tracks and open track day for the road bikes at the raceway.

Have you obtained other sponsors for your racing efforts?
Have you considered the RV manufacturers?
There are many other sources of sponsors.
( Ford, Coleman (camping), Bridgstone, etc.)
Look at the Nascar sponsors, contact them.