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MXSPORTS Urges
Everyone to Petition the CPSC on Lead Ban
ATV & Motorcyles Sales Banned
for Children under 13 Years Old
Morgantown, WV (2/12/2009) - On
February 10th, a law went into effect prohibiting
the sale of minicycles to children under the age
of 13 as a result of the lead content in the machines
(Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008,
Title I, Section 101). This law, which arguably
applies to both motorcycles and ATVs, treats any
children's product that contains more lead than
the limit established by law as a banned hazardous
substance.
We have already begun to experience the devastating
consequences of this new legislation upon our
sport, as OEMs have already pulled these machines
from their showroom floors. Youth racing is the
foundation of our sport. That is when most of
you fell in love with motorcycles in the first
place, only to grow up to bring your own kids
back to the racetracks. Only now, they can't ride.
On behalf of MX Sports (Loretta Lynn's), Racer
Productions (GNCC), and ATVPG (ATV Amateur Nationals),
we are extremely concerned with the short- and
long-range effects of this new legislation, as
the first rounds in all of our various series
are less than two weeks away, and all include
classes for youth racers under the age of 13.
But it's not just our events - WORCS, NMA, Mini
Os, SETRA, etc., are all adversely impacted.
It is our opinion that the new law is inapplicable
to off-highway motorsports, as neither motorcycles
nor ATVs have the potential for ingestion, and
lead from motorcycles is not likely to be absorbed
into the bloodstream or present a health hazard.
Let's face it - when was the last time someone
swallowed a motorcycle? Any other interpretation
would be silly. Be that as it may, the law will
continue to adversely affect our industry unless
and until an exemption is granted.
Presently, there is a petition for an immediate
temporary exemption pending before the Consumer
Product Safety Commission ("CPSC") filed
by the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) on behalf
of the OEMs, distributors, and industry associations.
This petition, if granted, would enable our industry
to move forward this racing season while the applicability
of the law to the off-highway industry is determined.
What can you do?
A form letter for submission to the CPSC in support
of the petition for exemption is attached as prepared
by the MIC. The letter will also be available
this weekend at the Indy tradeshow. Simply print
out one copy for each person in your family and
submit it ASAP. In the meantime, AMA is preparing
a letter for submission by its membership to the
CPSC. Be on the lookout for that one as well.
Also, an electronic form letter has been prepared
by State Representative Tom Self of Missouri.
Please go his website at www.tomself.com. Just
fill in your name and address and hit "Submit"
to register your support. Please submit this letter
on behalf of every member of your family - regardless
of age.
What else can you do?
Contact your congressmen and senators; let them
know that this legislation will have the unintended
consequences of crippling an entire industry.
Surely, it could not have been the spirit or intent
of the new law to apply to motorcycles or bicycles
(which apparently have lead in the brake cables).
Time is of the essence. The very future of our
sport and of our industry depends on this. We
must support the pending petition before the commencement
of the national racing season.
DOWNLOAD
CPSC FORM LETTER HERE
About Racer Productions:
A West Virginia based motorcycle and ATV event
production company, Racer Productions has been
a leader in the off-road racing industry for more
than 30 years. It's repertoire of events includes
the 13- round Can-Am Grand National Cross Country
Series, since 1973; The Kawasaki/Monster Energy
High Point National in Mount Morris, Pa., since
1977; The ATV Dirt Days at Loretta Lynn's Ranch
in Hurricane Mills, Tenn., since 1985; The U.S.
World Motocross Gran Prix at Steel City Raceway
in Delmont, Pa. in 1987; The Monster Energy/Kawasaki
Steel City National, since 1988; The ATV Stampede
National Motocross at High Point Raceway, since
1994; The Wrangler ATV National Motocross at Oak
Hill Raceway in Decatur, Texas, since 2006; The
AMA Pro ATV Open at Steel City in 2007; as well
as numerous other amateur motocross events. In
addition, Racer Productions staffs the prestigious
Air Nautiques/AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship
at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch, since
1982. For more information, please visit www.racerproductions.com.
About the Air Nautiques/AMA
Amateur National Motocross Championships:
Produced by MX Sports, the Air Nautiques/AMA
National Motocross Championships is the world's
largest amateur motocross race. Hosted annually
since 1982 at the home of country music star Loretta
Lynn in Hurricane Mills, Tenn., the event is the
premier amateur motocross race in the world. In
2007, more than 25,000 entries attempted to qualify
in 33 classes for the 1,386 available gates at
the National. In 2008, the National event, christened
"The World's Greatest Motocross Vacation",
will be held July 27–Aug. 3. As proof of
the significance of winning an AMA Amateur National
Championship title, most of today's top motocross
and Supercross stars, including Ricky Carmichael,
James Stewart, and Ryan Villopoto, won championships
at Loretta Lynn's. Sponsors include Air Nautiques,
Amsoil, Cobra, Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, Suzuki, Yamaha,
Gatorade, Parts Unlimited, Red Bull, Thor, Toyota,
AGV, Alpinestars, Boyesen, Cti, DC Shoes, DeCal
Works, FMF, Kicker, Moto Tees, Ogio, Renthal,
Scott, Twin Air, Wiseco, and Racer X Illustrated.
For more information, please visit www.mxsports.com.
About the ITP/Moose Racing
ATV National Motocross
Championship Series Presented by Parts Unlimited:
The AMA ITP/Moose Racing ATV National Motocross
Championship Series Presented by Parts Unlimited
is the nation's premier amateur and professional
ATV motocross series, and competes at top motocross
facilities nationwide. The 11-round series features
the Nation's best racers, teams and sponsors,
and is America's largest and longest-running ATV
National Motocross series with more than 20 years
of competition. The series continues to expand
and produce top talent from the amateur ranks,
while keeping close to the grassroots fun that
makes people love to go to the races.
Series sponsors include title
sponsors ITP Tires and Moose Racing, and presenting
sponsor Parts Unlimited. Premiere and Feature
sponsors include Can Am, Amsoil, ATV Sport Magazine,
Quad Magazine, Moto Tees, Maxxis Tires, and FMF.
Associate sponsors include Fox Shox, Gatorade,
HinsonRacing, Custom Axis, and H-Bomb. Media partners
include ATV Insider and ATVRiders.com. For more
information, please visit www.atvmotocross.com.
www.racerproductions.com
44 Hurricane Mills Rd
Hurricane Mills, TN 37078
P: 931.296.4015
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