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TEN YEAR TURN-BACK: 22nd to the 28th of April 2004

Author: Aaryn Minerds

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Welcome to the Fullnoise.com.au TEN YEAR TURN-BACK Presented by One Industries

It is amazing to think that Fullnoise.com.au has been Australia's online source for dirt bike news for the past ELEVEN years! Started back in 2003 by Garry Morrow, Fullnoise has grown to be the number one choice when it comes to Online Dirt Bike News in Australia and is a virtual online encyclopaedia of Off-Road dirt bike news and results from Australian and around the world from the start of the digital age covering every discipline of Dirt Bike Riding and Racing.

For 2014 we will be running this new weekly feature that will highlight some of the biggest news articles from the upcoming week 10 years ago! staring with the first week of January and running through to the final week in December 2004.

Thursday the 22nd to Wednesday the 28th of April 2004:

Reed penalised 25 Points After Texas Supercross:
Chad Reed - Credit: Geoff Meyer
AMA Pro Racing threw a spanner in the works for Australian Chad Reed's expected title hopes when it announced that it has docked Tyson Hadsell, Chad Reed and David Vuillemin 25 points each for using illegal fuel at round 14 of the THQ AMA Supercross Series at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas on April the 17th.

In announcing the penalties, AMA Pro Racing SX/MX Series Manager Steve Whitelock stated that fuel samples were collected from seven motorcycles at the Texas round and that the samples from the motorcycles of riders Hadsell, Reed and Vuillemin were found to be in non-compliance. Fuel from the motorcycles of Josh Hansen, Mike LaRocco, Ivan Tedesco and Kevin Windham was found to be in compliance.

The fuel samples were sent to a certified testing lab which confirmed that the fuel did not meet the requirements specified in the AMA Supercross/Motocross Rulebook.

Reed will now most likely have to wait until the final round in Las Vegas to take the championship as the adjusted points would see Reed now on 311 to Windham's 296 - a 15 point margin.

The AMA Pro Racing decisions certainly gives Kevin Windham a glimmer of hope to still take the championship from Reed. David Vuillemin loss of 25 points will still see him remain in fourth in the championship hunt.

Yamaha USA To Appeal Teams Points Penalty:
Chad Reed and Mechanic Darrin Sorenson - Credit: Geoff Meyer
As expected Yamaha Motor Corporation USA announced it would appeal the decision by AMA Pro Racing to dock its riders Chad Reed and David Vuillemin 25 points each following the discovery that they had used illegal fuel after the THQ AMA Supercross Series at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas.

In an official release Team Yamaha said it was baffled by the findings, the timing, and the unprecedented 25 point deduction and plan to appeal.

The release goes on to say that AMA Pro Racing implemented new fuel requirements beginning with the 2004 season. The AMA informed teams of available fuel field testing equipment - Team Yamaha purchased the equipment and subsequent testing at each race returned levels meeting AMA requirements.

Prior to the Dallas Supercross, Team Yamaha had most recently been tested, and passed, after Chad Reed and David Vuillemin finished 1st and 2nd at round 6 of the championship at San Francisco Supercross (Feb-7).

Yamaha stated that their team riders, Tyson Hadsell, David Vuillemin, and Chad Reed are disappointed with the AMA decision but remain focused on this evening‰Ûªs race (Salt Lake City).

Merriman on top in Italy for round 5 of the Maxxis WEC:
Stefan Merriman - Credit: Yamaha Racing
Stefan Merriman took all before him in the 5th round of the 2004 Maxxis World Enduro Championships Matelica, Italy on Saturday (Apr-24).

The nuggety Australia took the Enduro 1 class honors on slippery grass track by just over 1 minute from Italian Husqvarna rider Roberto Bazzurri. Merriman also taking outright honors for the day by a huge 28 seconds over Enduro 3 class winner KTM's Samuli Aro.

Twelve named in Trial des Nations squad:
British based Adrian Harry in action at the 2003 Australian Trial Championship at Ballarat in Victoria - Credit: Phil Smith
Australia has named a preliminary 12-rider squad for the 2004 Trial des Nations (TDN), which will be held at Cordoba in Italy on the weekend of September 25-26.

The squad contains the four members of Australia‰Ûªs 2003 TDN assault ‰ÛÒ reigning national champion Kale Reed, Trevor Campbell, the UK-based Adrian Harry and Michael Byrne ‰ÛÒ in addition to the following eight riders:

- Colin Zarczynski
- Dylan Rees
- Neil Price
- Tom Scott
- Mitch Willcocks
- Matt Newland
- Mitchell Green
- Jack Field.

Other News
Tyla at Valkenswaard - Credit: Alex Hodgkinson
- South African Tyla Rattray signed a new contract which would see the then 19 year old campaign the new KTM SX-F 250 four stroke in the MX2 Motocross World Championship for the 2005 season.

- Australian Team KTM Off-road racer Shane Watts has had a another dismal weekend to follow up his horror day at round 6 of the GNCC championship 2 weekends ago, at the Loretta Lynn's Dude Ranch in Tennessee.

- Australian speedway gun Jason Crump begins his seventh full-time world championship campaign in Stockholm, Sweden, on May 1, confident that 2004 will finally see him claim the ultimate prize.

- In a surprise announcement 1999 U.S Motocross Champion Doug Henry has signed to ride for Team Troy Lee Designs Honda in 2004.

- Husqvarna have released details and specifications of its 100th anniversary 510 Centennial. The limited edition model will see only 100 machines released to the public with 60 already delivered to enthusiasts, they were set to become collectors items very quickly.

Photo Galleries:
Some 2004 Flat-Track action - Credit: Lance Fearne
Check out all the action from the 2004 South Coast Cup - Bega - NSW held on the 25th 2004 of April Thanks to Lance Fearne by Clicking Here

All News from the Thursday the 22nd to Wednesday the 28th of April 2004:
Trials: Twelve named in Trial des Nations squad - Thu, 22nd Apr, 2004
Supercross: Chad Reed closes in on a dream - Thu, 22nd Apr, 2004
Supermotard: Doug Henry joins Troy Lee Designs Honda - Sat, 24th Apr, 2004
Supercross: Reed penalised 25 points after Texas Supercross - Sat, 24th Apr, 2004
Enduro: Merriman on top in Italy for round 5 of the Maxxis WEC - Sun, 25th Apr, 2004
Supercross: Kevin Windham takes Salt Lake City win - Sun, 25th Apr, 2004
Motocross: Pichon takes third pole for the season - Sun, 25th Apr, 2004
Supercross: Yamaha USA to appeal teams points penalty - Sun, 25th Apr, 2004
Motocross: Tyla Rattray signs new contract with KTM - Mon, 26th Apr, 2004
Enduro: Victory for Aro at round 6 of the World Enduro Championships - Mon, 26th Apr, 2004
Motocross: Everts extends his championship lead in Holland - Mon, 26th Apr, 2004
Enduro: Stefan Merriman in the groove - Thu, 22nd Apr, 2004
Speedway: Jason Crump back on the campaign trail - Tue, 27th Apr, 2004
Motocross: NZ Junior Motocross Championship: Review - Tue, 27th Apr, 2004
Off Road: Wattsy in the wars again - Tue, 27th Apr, 2004
Industry: Husqvarna unveils the 510 Centennial - Wed, 28th Apr, 2004

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