Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/106171
VOL. 50 ISSUE 4 JANUARY 29, 2013 the factory bikes. This year, on past form, they'll lag behind. Whether the tension over at Honda will come as close depends on how long it takes new kid Marc "Merciless" Marquez to lap faster than long-term incumbent Dani "Boy" Pedrosa. Some of the almost-20-year-old's more fervent supporters think it will be from the second afternoon: he was within tenths at his first attempt at Valencia tests. Whereupon the question will change: how long will it take for Marquez to be faster than Dani - and stay on the bike. Smoldering Spanish passions will inflame the tests, and the season to come. Indications from Ducati's crushed-ice Alpine team launch – the first under Audi auspices – suggest that nothing much is going to happen in a hurry there, and certainly not in time to make much difference at the tests. The bikes for Nicky Hayden and new boy Andrea Dovizioso (the latest Italian lamb to the slaughter?) are much as at the end of last year. The bike that Rossi made, you might call it – and in this case it's not a compliment. Things will change for Duke: with Audi at the helm, there can be little doubt. But not overnight. There's others to get mixed up in the bragging game: Ben Spies on a Duke and with a whole lot to prove; Stefan Bradl on a Honda and a proven fast learner. And some who'll be thinking about staying out of the way – deepend new boys Bradley Smith on the Yamaha and crazy Italian Andrea Iannone on the fourth Duke. And, of course, the CRT guys, operating at a variety of levels, with even the best of them nowhere near the proper racing bikes. So let's accord them the same attention they got last year. Unfair on some good riders, but there it is. Will the fastest tester win the title? Last year's champ Lorenzo was only fourth-fastest, and not even fastest Yamaha – that was Dovizioso. Stoner was fastest of all. And we all know what happened next. CN P99 LOOKING BACK 40 Years Ago February 6, 1973 Mike Haney was featured on the cover 40 years ago for winning his first National at the Yamaha Gold Cup TT at the Houston Astrodome… Marty Tripes took top honors at the Florida Winter MX Series at a very wet Orlando Sports Stadium… We interview relatively known up-and-coming motocrosser Jim Pomeroy. 30 Years Ago February 9, 1983 David Bailey made the cover of Cycle News 30 years ago for winning a very wet Anaheim Supercross which was the opening round of the series. Johnny O'Mara finished second followed by Broc Glover and Bob Hannah… We covered the fourth round of the CMC Golden State MX Series in Adelanto, California, which was won by Donnie Cantaloupi, Bob Hannah and Johnny O'Mara… 20 Years Ago February 3, 1993 Pictured on the cover, Jeremy McGrath, aboard his number-15 Honda, captured his very first Supercross win at the Anaheim Supercross 20 years ago. Damon Huffman won the 125 class… Danny Hamel took charge at the Best In The Desert Mesquite Grand Prix in Nevada… Jim Neese and Tim Ferry starred at the Florida Winter MX Series at Dade City. 10 Years Ago January 29, 2003 Ricky Carmichael chalked up his 81st AMA win after scoring a wire-towire win at the Anaheim II Supercross over Mike LaRocco and Sebastian Tortelli. James Stewart won the 125 class, which featured memorable multiple on-track confrontations between defending champ Travis Preston and Eric Sorby… Josh Demuth and Jason Lange topped the Memphis Arenacross.