Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

.. Racing Team oJ the Future " gol lire" of winnin,. 'f 'OU wi. all "e li.e gu,s I"illil 'OU are 100 goo". , was lIi."a 'a", 1o gel a cou,'e of seco."s I"is ,ear... ' ··Ien, lo"erls By Terry Pratt After a successful Novice season, most professional motorcycle racers are content to look forward to a year on the circuit as an Amateur. Kenny Roberts, 1970's winningest Novice and his business partner, Jim Doyle look into the future with longer range vision. "I expect to sponsor and manage Kenny to Number One in the natiou," Doyle says in a matter of fact tone. "That's my goal in this whole venture." The Jim Doyle·Kenny Roberts saga began just before the Daytona National road race early this year. Jim was trucking his bikes to Daytona but because of leg injuries suffered in a spill at a Vacaville race he needed some help with the driving and in the pits. He had • met Kenny at Selby Motors in Redwood City and invited him to go along. Kenny jumped at the chance and the pair drove Jim's bike laden van to Florida. Kenny's Daytona debut ended in a DN'F on the rust lap but the trip began a friendship that, after Kenny's successful Cow Palace shot't track season grew into a partnership and a five year racing contract. Today, Jim and Kenny operate their own company called, simply, Doyle and Roberts. Along with their racing activity the business involves a Pirelli tire distributorship and other accessory lines. Jim also flies as a senior captain for a major airline. UJ'm single, he explains, "so I can fund the racing \vith my salary from the airline. " Jim's flying job is ideal because, as he puts it, "I work about ten days a month for the airline so I can usually bid to work on those days that don't interfere with important races:" When the National season opens next spring, Kenny will have his own stable of Yamaha race bikes, including two·stroke twins for road races and 40-inch four·strokers for half-mile and 'IT. Traveling with Kenny will be Doug Schwerma who handles all the wrench work and tuning. At the moment, Doug is building up a Yamah'a DT -I that Kenny will use to slam around the concrete at the Cow Palace indoor short track series this winter. Out on the circuit Kenny and Jim will be closely associated with the Yarnaha racing team so Roberts will have a chance to learn the ropes from some of the best in the business. Jim Doyle, by the way, spent some time on the championship trail himself in the last few years. "I hope to learn a lot from the Sole U.S. Distributor Prices and information on request Orangevale Distributors 9198 Greenback Lane Orangevale, Ca. 95662 (916) 988-4725 * HUSQVARNA Coleman's. 1545 E. Miner Stockton. Ca. 95205 ph. (209) 466-587:' ............•...••••........ , ' ,eUL.Tl=lCO sonny kenyon'S . . cycles sales service parts ....... ~ ~. SPECIALIST 2594 Middlefield Road Mt. View, California 94040 (415) 961-4399 MAIL ORDER. o .... '" oj ~ Experts next year," Kenny muses, "they (Yamaha) have a good team. I hope to be among the top Amateurs next year." Kenny got his start in motorcycle racing aboard a Tohatsu 50cc that he rode in sportsman scrambles four years ago when he was 14. Soon he was on a Hodaka and graduated to Amateur. Manteca, Calif. bike dealer, Cliff AksJand sponsored Roberts to a ride. on a 250cc single Suzuki TS that he rode to high point honors at the Lodi Cycle Bowl last year. "I really started going good when I started riding for Cliff Aksland, Kenny relates. He's a class C Expert and he showed me a lot of tricks and 1 had good equipment. "1',,:e thought that I could have better equipment. The Suzuki TS single is a good bike but it's heavy and awkward and the Hodaka was stock." Jim Doyle and Kenny Roberts Riding a Suzuki during 1970, Kenny won two Novice Mains at San Jose, two at Clovis and two at Tulare, but it was perhaps at the Gardena, Calif., Ascot Half-mile that young Roberts attracted the most attention. By mid-season his battles with Gary Scott were already a legend and those two often proved as much red hot racing action as the Experts. "My Suzuki twin quit at the rust Ascot race of. the season but that was less than half a dozen road races he is making rapid progress in that facet of the sport. He rode a Kawasaki 500 to a third place in the Open Expert race at the season's final AFM road race at Vacaville. "Ron Grimt is the one who has really done it for me in road racing - he and Art Baumann. Ron helped with the preparation of my bike at Daytona and they've both told me little things about road racing that I need to know because N ~ Z' ;@ w Z W ..J ~ >- U I've been riding dirt all the time." "I don't like road racing as much as dirt racing because I'm not into it as much yet. I'm doing pretty good though, keeping my times down and a1L.I'll be ready for Daytona! "This year when I made the trip to Daytona I skipped two weeks of high school and they kicked me out. I guess I'll have to take a couple of night classes or something to graduate...but that's the least of my worries right now. " N01RTJHIJE1RN ]D111RlECT01RY FOR EAC~ SINGLE aUSI~ESS L S71NG PAYlIBLE ,N ADVANCE ALAMEDC, CALIFORNIA FREMONT, CALIF. MARYSVILLE, CALIF. POWELL'S ALAIlEDA HONDA - Bul.Hod.·Suz.-Hon. OYer 250 "/C's to choos. from. Trade·ins aec.pted-p.ld for Of not. Liberal fin.nein&. If you'_ been tWllle! down-Try us!) Fr. rldln, I.nons with pure-h., Ins. taunMlln,. 5 tact. tr.ined rnec:h. to you. 1128 Pork Strool 94SD1. (41S) 16S·D54S. BULTACO OF FREIIONT - Enduro Huclqu.arters: Com. In and have Ii cup of cof.... BultlCO, quallt, from top to SUM'S MOTORCYLE SALES - 100 0 Streit, IIbrysvllJ., C.lif. 95901. (916) 742·77a5. Yam.ha, BSA, Mlvrlck, and Bonanza. Sen ice and InsuraAce. All sin 'nclne borlne. Crank r.palr. Motocross hUdquarten In MarysvIU•. .rv. BERKELEY, CALIF. "'I~';;~~':;~:'" ':E'N~:~'~~~' 'I' l when I was doing my own work on the bike. I guess I'm not much of a mechanic. Since then Mario Campetti started doing my mechanic work." Generally Kenny either won or broke down at Ascot all season long. "At the last Ascot Half-Mile race of the season I caugh t my foot in the dirt and it pitched me halfway off the bike. I hit the wall and all we could salvage from the whole bike was the seat and bac k wheeL That was the first swing-arm Suzuki built by Doug Scherma. I had a headache for a while but I won the 'IT Championship at Ascot the next nighL Next year 1 won't make too many Ascot races because I'll be away on the circuit." Kenny didn't win every race he entered this year bu t he did build up a string of victories that put him dangerously close to the "routine winner" category. ;' "1 got tired of winning. If you win all the time guys think you are too good. I was kinda happy to get a couple of seconds this year. If you win all the time people get tired. A lot of riders have told me that same thing." Although Kenny has competed in RATES $IS PER YEAR 50 ISSUES 'I/' EIE6C'8/, E' N bottom. Moto-Btt'a, Bronco, bold nl. breed of .ny·to·tot. Minl·Bike. Sal.s, Servlc., ,nd Accessories. Motorcycte Insur,Qt•. (415) 792-7949, 37nl Fremont Blvd .•t Per.11I In Fr.mont. CAMPUS SUZUKI - 1403 San Pablo A••. Zip 94702. (41S) 141-0192. Suzuki. "Ico, Sachs & Ciao ules, service & parts. "Paris are our splcialty!" Any. thine WI don't hlYl, we can GET." Optn 91 Mon. Ihru Sat. S.. J 1m Johnson. CYCLE CENTER STORES '2 - 37422 Fr.mont Blvd. Phone: (415) SY 3-7311. Hondl, Malco, Triumph. Motorcycl. In· Iwanee, Taco & Bonanza Mlnl.blke. 100" 1inanclne on approViI of credit. Difficult Customers art a .chal"np!" CONCORD, CALIF. CYCLE CENTER STORES '3 - 37418 Fr.mont Blvd. Phone: (415) 5Y 2·0111. Suz., Ibw., Hodaka, BSA, Penlon, Mon· tiU. Motorcycle InsurancI, Taco & Bonanza Mlnl·blk.s. 100'" flnancine on • pproval of credit. W. w.lcom. dlffi. culty In Cultomers. TOM'S CYCLE CENTER - BSA, Kawa· ukl, SUZUki, Gr..vu, lIont.sa, Ossa, Moto-Bel.l. Full line of Montesa p.rls. -Home of Good Guys." 1325 Galindo, ZJp 94520. PIlon.: (415) 619-6722. Hours optn 9-6, 9-, Wed. LAFAYETTE, CALIF. RICK SCHELL'S SPORTCYCLES- Bul. taco, Yamaha, Penton. H.adquMt.rs for_ Gardn ... carbs. Complet. he II arc weldin,. W. speclallz. In dirt bikes. Hom. of Olst. 36 1t1. 3&81 MI. Diablo Blvd., Lafayett., Calif. 94549. (415) 283·2212. HAP JONES 01$1. CO. - Avon & Car. lis .. Tires, Borranl alloy "ms, Amal carbs, NGK, KLG .. Hitachi plues, lucas .Iec:trlc parts ..d all cycl. needs. Sind 51 lor rltall cataloc. Box 306a, 94119. (41S) 621-418S. SAN LEANDRO, CALIF. MT. VIEW, CALIF. SONNY KENYON'S CYCLES, Let ex· peri.nc.d comp.tltors car. for your blk•. Rac. lun.d speclallsl, w. work on most makes. Bullaco and CZ. Parts, Sales, and Service. Mall order for BUllaco and CZ Parts and Acc.ssorles. 2594 Middl.· fl.ld Rd. (4£5) 961-4399. OAKLAND, CALI F. NORTH BAY MOTORCYCLES - J.w. &CZ sal'l & servic•• Sld.cars.I.5.D.T. 250's & 402's. -The Motocross Hud· quart.rs fof North Bay." Parts & Acces· sorles. Op.n 9106.2120 Concord Ave., Concord, Calif: 94520. (415) 687·9300. SAN I'RANCISCO, CALI F. .... COUSEUM CYCLE & ACCESSORY CO. - Kawaukl hies' S'.rvlce. Compl.t. acc.ssorles, clothln. dept~ Custom work. -Kawasaki s,p.clalists. Factory traln.d _chanici. Optn 9-' lion. thru Fri., Sat. 9-5. 395' E. 14th St., o.kllnd 94601. (41S) 534·5461. Prosldent: Howard S.If. All riders w.lcome! NELSON BROS. - Trlumpb, Honda. BMW, Husqv..... Penton sales, repair • shop service. Establishtd slnea 1941. Ext.nslYl p.rts .. acc.norles depts. Compllt. ktsuranc• • f1nanclna faclli· ties. "W. sland behind our products .. servlc•." 4500 E. 14th St., Oakland 94601. (415) 532·3677. CYCLE CENTER STORES ,1 - 16520 E.sl 14th St. PIIono: (4151 BR 6.9211. Honda, Hodaka, BSA, "'Ico. Motorcycl. Insuranc., Taco" Bonanza IIlnl-blhs. 100% flnanelne on .pprov.1 of cr.dlt. Difficult customers want.d. SAN RAFAEL, CALIF. BISCUITS' CYC LE TOWN - Molo.X Hq. for Marin County. Compl. Mach. Shop. Sis. • Svc. BSA, Yam., A·E, lIontlla, Grl., Hod., C-Z... M1nloBlk.. : Maverick, Taco, Bonanza, Scout Chopp.rs. Come In and lurn to ride. Optn: Mon. 12.5, T,W,T,F, 9·9, Sat. 9-5. 933 Fr.nclsco BI.d. 94901. (415) 456·0335. - C.Z. OILS & ADDITIVES ESCALON, CALIF• -BLENDZAll" an d "EXCELZALL" oIlWorld's Fllllst" Join the Wlnn.rs! De.I • .•n Inquiries Wllcome. Addzl p Add Illv.s, 1433-37 First St •• Escalon,Callf. 95321). Phono: (209) 131.7912. REDWOOD CITY, CALIF. EL SOBRANTE, CALIF. SACRAMENTO, CALI F. A&A MOTORS - Ports & stl_d .qul•. sales & .rvlc. Yam .• R.E., Bul., Hod., 11.1., Nor. and Y.m. snowmobiles. Also complet. machln. shop, h.llarc _I dine, pickup & d.llvery .nd mali s.rvtet. 2771 EI Camino, 94061. (4t5) *6..1114. DAM Cye LES: Bultaco, SUZUki, Hod.ka, Taco Mini Bikes, with full parts and accessorl.s inwanlcry for street and dirt riders. W. sell Insurance f.or dirt .nd str"t bikes of all kiMs. COIM In and se. Jack uwis, the Paco Kid cr Rid. Clyde! 4036 D.m ROllI. EI Sobrant., CIIiI. 94103. PII: (41S) 222·2044. JOHN SMITH MOTORCYCLES - (Tho Wh..l Kine) Custom wheels for any· t~nc inC: lest. s.1. of cust. parts. incl. .xt.nd forks and slues ror most bikes. 0,,1. fOf Suz., Jawa. CZ. and Gar.'Il. Mall onkr for most makes. lac!. BSA & Tri. You phonl, we ship. 2512 Franklin .t Bdwy. SIC'O. 95111. (916) 452-2622. SELBY IIOTORS- 346 EI C.mino Roo'. 94062. (415) 369.... 112. Larlest stock of tires and access. W. have the parts fOf Kaw., Gfe .. 5uz., MonteSI. BSA, and Sachs. Eny pay ins. and honest deals that we stand behind. Larrest Montua deal.r in No. Calif. Open Thurs. 9-9. LIVERMORE, CALIF. CYCLE CENTER STORES '4 - 2310 First St. Phone; (415) ....3·511l. Kawa· saki, Suz., BSA, MalcD. Motorcycl. Insufanu, Taco & Bonanza Mlnl-blkes. 1oc:& flnanclne on approv..l of c,..dit. Ar. you partiCUlar? $" us! 'or or.

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