Motorcycle Rights

FREEDOM FRIDAY FOCUSES ON HEALTH CARE BIAS AGAINST MOTORCYCLISTS

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- As part of AMA Go Ride! Month, the American Motorcyclist Association has designated each Friday in April as a "Freedom Friday" to raise awareness about issues that threaten motorcycling freedoms. AMA members can take part in a photo contest related to the issue and win prizes. Kicking off on Friday, April 5, will be a weeklong focus on health-insurance discrimination. The issue is one of the most important to AMA members, according to Danielle Fowles, AMA grassroots coordinator. "With the current U.S. economic situation, we are hearing of more employers refusing to pay for health care for…
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AMA AND HUSQVARNA ANNOUNCE WINNER OF HUSQVARNA TE449 IN 2012 AMA HUSQVARNA NATIONAL DUAL SPORT TRAIL RIDING SERIES

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- American Motorcyclist Association member Chris Latham of Greencastle, Ind., has one more reason to hit the trails this year. The 46-year-old Latham won the grand prize for participating in the 2012 AMA Husqvarna National Dual Sport Trail Riding Series: a 2013 Husqvarna TE449 from series sponsor Husqvarna North America. The annual AMA prize drawing, conducted by the independent auditing and accounting firm of Plante & Moran of Columbus, Ohio, included participants in all events on the national dual-sport calendar. "This is awesome! I never dreamed that I would win anything like this," said Latham, who was entered…
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CONGRESSIONAL BILL WOULD STOP E15 FUEL SALES, REQUIRE RESEARCH

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- A bill requiring the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to stop the use of E15 fuel until the gasoline-ethanol blend is studied further has been introduced in Congress, the American Motorcyclist Association reports. U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) introduced the bill, H.R. 875, on Feb. 28. The measure would repeal the EPA's waiver decision approving the use of E15 and would bar the agency from granting further decisions on the use of the fuel until the EPA obtains an independent scientific analysis of the effects of the E15 blend. E15 is a gasoline formulation that contains up to…
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency May no Longer Require Minimum Gas Purchase at Certain Pumps

  PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is apparently scrapping its requirement that all consumers buy at least four gallons of gasoline from certain gas pumps that dispense the new E15 ethanol-gasoline blend, the American Motorcyclist Association reports. The EPA first revealed its minimum-purchase requirement to the AMA in a letter dated Aug. 1, responding to AMA concerns that E15 -- a gasoline formulation that contains up to 15 percent ethanol by volume -- could be put in motorcycle and all-terrain vehicle gas tanks inadvertently when consumers used blender pumps. A blender pump dispenses different fuel blends through…
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AMA East Hare Scrambles Championship Series Adds Round, Doubleheader

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- There is good news for woods racers in the eastern United States looking for more ways to earn points toward an AMA No. 1 plate. The AMA has added one round and expanded another to a doubleheader format for youth classes in the 2013 AMA East Hare Scrambles Championship Series. Round one of the series in Wedgefield, S.C., now features youth competition on both Jan. 26 and Jan. 27. Amateur classes will compete on Jan. 27 only. In addition, round four of the series is now scheduled for April 14 in Arrington, Va. "Interest in AMA-sanctioned hare…
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AMA Members Enjoy Exclusive Discount on Race Tech Suspension for the Track and the Street

  PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The American Motorcyclist Association is pleased to announce a new member discount with partner Race Tech -- an exclusive 15 percent discount on Race Tech suspension components, including springs, Gold Valve kits, shocks and more for competition and street motorcycles of all kinds. "Race Tech has long been known for quality suspension components and knowledgeable support in the racing and high-performance realms, and for many years now they've been a major player on the street side, as well -- particularly with the touring and Harley-Davidson segments," said Grant Parsons, the AMA's director of marketing and communications.…
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California Air Resources Board says E15 Ethanol-gas Blend Won’t Appear in California for ‘Years’

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The California Air Resources Board has told the American Motorcyclist Association that even if it approves the sale of the new E15 ethanol-gasoline blend in California, the blend wouldn't appear in the market for several years. CARB made the comment in response to a letter from AMA Vice President for Government Relations Wayne Allard, who expressed concern about potential misfueling of E15 into motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles. E15 is a gasoline formulation that contains up to 15 percent ethanol, and the federal Environmental Protection Agency hasn't approved its use in motorcycles or ATVs. To avoid misfueling, the…
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AMA MOTORCYCLE HALL OF FAME LEGENDS WEEKEND IN LAS VEGAS

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The American Motorcyclist Association reminds enthusiasts, fans and the motorcycling industry that the advance ticket purchase deadline is approaching for the 2012 AMA Legends Weekend, Nov. 16-17, at the Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa in Las Vegas, Nev. Advance tickets for the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, presented by KTM, are $130 through Oct. 24. After that date, the ticket price increases to $155. AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Dave Mungenast Memorial Concours d'Elegance tickets are $10 for attendees of the Hall of Fame banquet, or $20 for general admission. Tickets for the AMA…
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AMA CONGRATULATES U.S. TEAM FOR PERFORMANCE AT 2012 INTERNATIONAL SIX DAYS ENDURO

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The American Motorcyclist Association thanks and congratulates the 31 riders who represented the United States at the 2012 International Six Days Enduro in Saxony, Germany, Sept. 24-29. The highlight of the U.S. effort was the podium finish of the U.S. Junior Trophy Team of Travis Coy, Andrew DeLong, Thad Duvall and Jesse Groemm. The four-rider team battled through hundreds of miles of challenging off-road terrain to finish third in class at the prestigious event. Finishing ahead of the U.S. team were France and Great Britain. "The ISDE is one of motorsport's truly historic events, and this year…
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THE COUNTRY’S TOP VINTAGE DIRT-TRACK RACERS ARE HEADED TO SOUTHEASTERN NEW YORK SEPTEMBER 23

AMA Vintage Dirt Track National Championship Series finale September 23 in Cuddebackville, NY PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- A thrilling 2012 season of classic battles in vintage dirt-track racing will conclude Sunday, September 23, at the AMA Vintage Dirt Track National Championship Series finale in Cuddebackville, NY, with a short-track event promoted by Tri-State M/C. "The country's top vintage dirt-track racers are headed to southeastern New York for what will certainly be one of the most exciting rounds of the 2012 series," said AMA Director of Racing Joe Bromley. "With AMA National No. 1 plates up for grabs, riders won't hold anything…
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MSF’s Dr. Sherry Williams Appointed to Chair Transportation Research Board’s Motorcycles & Mopeds Committee

IRVINE, Calif – The Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s Dr. Sherry Williams, the MSF’s director of quality assurance and research, was recently appointed to chair the prestigious Transportation Research Board Motorcycles and Mopeds Committee. This accomplishment, along with presenting peer-reviewed papers at the upcoming VTTI International Symposium on Naturalistic Driving and ifz/MSF-International Motorcycle Safety Conference, is one of the many ways Dr. Williams contributes to the MSF’s goal of developing and maintaining high-quality, innovative motorcycle-safety research. According to the TRB, its mission is to promote innovation and progress in transportation through research, and to this end, it incorporates more than 200 committees…
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MSF to Host Two International Motorcyclist Safety Conferences in Fall of 2013

IRVINE, CA – The Motorcycle Safety Foundation will hold two MSF International Motorcyclist Safety Conferences in an effort to further the non-profit organization’s goal of creating and supporting motorcyclists of good riding character and, ultimately, saving lives. Although both conferences are scheduled for the Fall of 2013, the exact dates and locations of the U.S. conferences will be announced at a later date.   Both MSF conferences will have a decidedly scientific focus, with heavy emphasis placed on the successful delivery of safety training and improved student outcomes. MSF’s own Dr. Sherry Williams will present results from the Safety Renewal…
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Motorcycle Safety Foundation First to Sponsor Unprecedented 100 Motorcyclists Naturalistic Study

  IRVINE, Calif.– Last August saw the Motorcycle Safety Foundation launch the unprecedented, one-year-long MSF 100 Motorcyclists Naturalistic Study in conjunction with Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. It was designed to track comprehensive, real-time routine riding that likely included near crash, pre-crash, and actual crash data that had heretofore been unavailable. The study is yielding preliminary results that will be released at a later date.   “This field research provides the opportunity to observe motorcyclists in their natural day-to-day experiences,” said Dr. Sherry Williams, MSF director of quality assurance and research. “We were interested in what riders do on a natural…
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Motorcycle Safety Foundation to Unveil Preliminary Findings at VTTI’s Third International Symposium on Naturalistic Driving

IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 20, 2012 – The Motorcycle Safety Foundation is honored to have been invited to participate in the upcoming Virginia Tech Transportation Institute’s Third International Symposium on Driving Research, held Aug. 27 – 30, 2012, at VTTI’s facility in Blacksburg, Va. Hosted by VTTI’s National Surface Transportation Safety Center for Excellence, the two-day symposium has assembled a group of specially selected experts who specialize in the field of naturalistic driving research. According to VTTI, scheduled speakers include esteemed experts from Finland, Australia and Sweden, and multi-national participating companies include Toyota, Nissan and Ford. Finally, globally recognized agencies supporting…
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Second Annual MSF International Rider Education Training System Conference

Hundreds of Motorcycle Training Professionals Gather for Second Annual MSF International Rider Education Training System Conference   IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 20, 2012 – The Motorcycle Safety Foundation recently brought together more than 300 members of the training community to further its goal of continuous improvement in providing the very best way to be safe on a motorcycle, particularly for new riders. The participants represented 44 states and five countries in the Second Annual MSF International Rider Education Training System Conference, held at Eastern Kentucky University in May. Additional support for the IRETS conference included three military program coordinators and 22…
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Baggett, Barcia, and Dungey Picked for 2012 FIM Motocross of Nations

America's Ryan Dungey, Blake Baggett and Justin Barcia Will Race the World at 2012 FIM Motocross of Nations PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The American Motorcyclist Association is pleased to announce the members of the U.S. team that will compete at the FIM Motocross of Nations Sept. 30-31 in Lommel, Belgium. The 2012 team will include Red Bull/KTM's Ryan Dungey, Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Blake Baggett and GEICO Honda's Justin Barcia. Perennial U.S. Team Manager and Motorcycle Hall of Famer Roger DeCoster will manage the team in its hunt for a record 23rd Motocross of Nations Championship. "We will have Ryan…
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