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Powersports Business • August 2023 • 3

NATIONAL FUNDING PROPOSED FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION PROJECTS

The MIC has announced that the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior have proposed $ 2.8 billion in funding for fiscal year 2024 , authorized by the Great American Outdoors Act , to improve infrastructure , recreation facilities , federal lands access , and land and water conservation .

For next year , the Interior department has proposed 56 Legacy Restoration Fund projects , and the USDA Forest Service has identified 83 deferred maintenance bundled projects aimed at improving recreation facilities , buildings , water and utility infrastructure , and overall enhancements to roads , trails , bridges and parking areas .

Authorized by the Great American Outdoors Act , the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior have proposed $ 2.8 billion in funding for fiscal year 2024 to improve infrastructure , recreation facilities , federal lands access , and land and water conservation . Photo courtesy of the MIC

The budget allocates $ 900 million for Land and Water Conservation Fund projects and programs managed by Interior and the Forest Service . This includes $ 430 million for federal land acquisition programs and projects , and $ 470 million for state and local grants .

“ For OHV enthusiasts , this would mean that we will see improvements to many of the trails and riding and driving areas we love to enjoy ,” says Mario Mairena , senior manager of federal affairs at the MIC Government Relations Office . “ There is a lot of overdue maintenance at numerous OHV sites , and with improvements we ’ d see better access to a lot of them .”

Peter Starr , motorcycle racer , author , TV producer and filmmaker , passed away July 3 at the age of 80 . His work includes dozens of productions about motorcycles and motorcycling .

Born on Nov . 2 , 1942 , in Coventry , England , Starr began riding motorcycles at a young age . He raced Nortons , Ariels and Triumphs , and later turned that passion into a four-year job with Triumph in the early 1960s .

Starr moved to the U . S . in the mid−1960s working as a DJ and later in record production before returning to his love of motorcycles as a filmmaker . His first film , “ Bad Rock ,” was funded by Hodaka and Pennzoil and was distributed across the U . S . Later , his film “ Take it to the Limit ” would become his most famous creation , starring riders at the top of their sport and a string of hit songs on its soundtrack .

Along with his films , Starr also directed over 50 television specials on motorcycling and motorsports . It was Starr who had the first film camera mounted on a motorcycle and later did the first live broadcast from a motorcycle in competition for ABC ’ s Wide World of Sports in 1985 at the AMA National on the Du Quoin Magic Mile .

In recent years , Starr became a global ambassador for motorcycling . After being inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2017 , he became an ardent supporter of the Hall of Fame and its annual induction ceremony .

“ Peter Starr was a fixture in the motorcycling community for decades ,” says Rob Dingman , president and CEO of the AMA . “ Peter was a man who always strove to highlight our sport to both enthusiasts and non-riders and was also incredibly supportive of the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame and its mission . Seeing him inducted in 2017 was inspiring . His energy and positive outlook on the sport we all love will be missed .”

Starr battled cancer for many years . Despite his diagnosis , he lived a full and vibrant life and remained tirelessly active in motorcycling .

HOTNEWS

YAMAHA RIGHTWATERS REPORTS PROGRESS FOR CONSERVATION INITIATIVE

Yamaha Rightwaters marked its fourth anniversary by recapping sustainability and conservation initiative progress from the past 12 months . From June 2022 through June 2023 , Yamaha Rightwaters reinforced a commitment to carbon neutrality , sponsored new projects that support marine habitat restoration and clean-up initiatives , sponsored a white paper that calls for the management of aquatic invasive species and supported meaningful marine scientific research .

“ The efforts we made within the last year are laying the groundwork for the future , ensuring the next generation can continue to enjoy healthy , thriving waterways and fisheries ,” says Martin Peters , director of external affairs for Yamaha Marine . “ There ’ s still much to be done , and we remain steadfast in our efforts toward carbon neutrality , conservation and sustainability , all of which remain at the heart of every Yamaha Rightwaters initiative .”

On February 15 , the National Marine Manufacturers Association , Yamaha U . S . Marine Business Unit and other industry partners highlighted the advancement and availability of multiple Sustainable Marine Fuels , which significantly reduce CO2 emissions while maintaining boat range and performance . The event demonstrated drop-�in fuels that can remain compatible with all existing recreational boats , requiring no changes to the boat fuel system or engine . Participation in the event underscores a current significant focus of Yamaha Rightwaters to achieve carbon neutrality quickly within Yamaha products using biofuels as a viable option in certain marine applications .

Yamaha Rightwaters , along with the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership ( TRCP ) and members of the $ 689 billion recreational industry , formed an Aquatic Invasive Commission , which convenes leading biologists , environmentalists , policy makers and resource managers to assess existing mitigation efforts and identify more effective eradication solutions .

Peter Starr , a global ambassador for motorcycling , was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2017 . Photo courtesy of MotoStarr

“ When I was diagnosed with cancer in 2004 ,” Starr previously told the AMA , “ I spent a lot of time thinking about dealing with aging , and I concluded that it required living a purposeful life .”

“ For me , motorcycles were always a theme of my life ,” he continued . “ The concept for me became looking forward , and creating something with motorcycling that was very important to me … and being a rider gives you something to always look forward to .”

The Commission is currently presenting findings to Congress and the administration with the goal of passing comprehensive legislation to better manage aquatic invasive species .

Yamaha Rightwaters also continued its support of the Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown , Massachusetts , by helping the marine rescue organization repower a boat with new outboards . The Center for Coastal Studies focuses on marine habitats and the animals that live within it . The Center has studied humpback and North Atlantic right whales for more than 35 years , which includes curating the Gulf of Maine Humpback Whale Catalog , surveying the critically endangered right whale and operating the Marine Animal Entanglement Response team , which disentangles whales and sea turtles caught in fishing gear .

In addition , Yamaha Rightwaters continues to sponsor the Coastal Conservation Association-Maryland ( CCAMD ) Aquatic Invasive Species Count , a part fishing tournament , part citizen-science project . The program documents the occurrence of snakehead , blue catfish and flathead catfish , all of which are invasive to Chesapeake Bay . These species negatively impact economically critical native species , such as blue crabs and striped bass , through predation and competition for food and habitat .

Yamaha Rightwaters also supports organizations including the NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary , The Georgia Department of Natural Resources , the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust , Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful and Keep the Golden Isles Beautiful , Florida State University Coastal Marine Laboratory , the Conch Republic Marine Army , the Potomac River Keepers and Wounded Nature-Working Veterans through efforts including clean up events , outboard-powered research vessels and continued conservation education .

Serving as the umbrella for all of Yamaha Marine ’ s sustainability projects , Yamaha Rightwaters officially launched on World Oceans Day 2019 .

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