Ups And Downs

UPS AND DOWNS

DOWN: To Connecticut State Trooper Arthur V. Limouze, for allegedly shooting at two unarmed motorcyclists. According to a report published in the New York Times, the 49-year-old Limouze, upset by the noise generated by the motorcycles, fired several rifle shots at the men, wounding one in the leg. Limouze surrendered to authorities and was charged with second-degree assault with a firearm and first-degree reckless endangerment.

UP: To Rick Johnson, for winning his first Mickey Thompson Grand National Sport Truck event. Johnson, who epitomized success during his 18-year motocross career, qualified his Chevrolet-sponsored racetruck on the front row at the Los Angeles Coliseum and passed Toyota-sponsored Rod Millen on the penultimate lap for the main-event win. The victory was Johnson’s first in just four starts. From where we sit, it looks like points leader Millen and company have their hands full.

DOWN: To Florida Governor Lawton Chiles, for vetoing a bill that would have ensured the future of that state’s motorcycle-rider-education program. Senate Bill 188H, sponsored by Senator Malcolm Beard, was designed to protect the ridereducation fund from being raided by legislators in order to balance deficits in other areas of the budget. Chiles vetoed the bill in what the AMA’s Chris Kallfelz called a politically motivated move. “He vetoed it because he was interested in getting his budget passed regardless of the consequences to rider education,” said Kallfelz. According to the AMA, Florida state officials have skimmed nearly $1 million from the fund since 1987. □