Ups & Down

Ups & Down

UP: Way up, to motocross legend Micky Dymond for breaking the 9year-old motorcycle record at the Pikes Peak Hiliclimb held in Colorado this past June. Dymond and his supermoto-prepped KTM 525 SMC covered the 12.4-mile course in 12 minutes, 12.64 seconds. "You have to concentrate on the track," said the race rookie. "If you get loose and slide out, you'll drop about 2000 feet before you hft flat ground!"

DOWN: To terrorist bombers in London this past summer, for obvious reasons. But a big up goes to the fleet of specialized motorcycles first on scene to render aid. Amid all the chaos, motorcycles were the only reliable means of getting through traffic, and in addition to being used as paramedic vehicles, two-wheelers also were used for essential serv ices such as transporting blood.

UP: To Shriners, motor cops, motorcycle-riding bears and assorted other clowns, for being free to ride their machines without being hassled by the man. Thanks to the efforts of the American Motorcyclist Association, the City of Chicago significantly changed its recently announced ban on motorcycles in parades. The law, created as a knee-jerk reaction to a motorcyclist who nearly struck a spectator, will now permit up to two groups of no more than 50

UP: To Torn Montano, for tearing it up at the Isle of Man IT this past June. Riding an MV Agusta F4 1000, the 2001 AMA Pro Thunder champ finished 13th. in the Senior TI, averaging 118.4 mph around the famed 37.75-mile course. Plus, because his time was within 5 per cent of that of winner John McGuisnness, Montano earned a prestigious Silver Trophy.