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/126026
TEAM HOND A The final word on Gary Scott's plans is - the re is no fmal word. The defending · Grand National Champion will definitely ride a Shell Yamaha at the Astrodome short track , and is still testing a 750 Yamaha TT bike of Shell's. Next week we should have a rundown on who's rid ing what for whom on the AMA champio nship trail. Latest to move to leading-axle lo ng travel fo rk s: Bultaco, according to the British press , which showed a " Mark 9" Pursang fitted with very Maico-like te n-inchers wh ich . are all-Span ish-bu ilt. Gianfranco Bonera, forme r MV Agusta works rider , will join Walt er Villa on th e Harley-Davidson /Aermacchi team in Eur o-road racing. The folks at Armorall called to say Papa was a bit premature in discussing their rider support plans. They've neither signed nor rejected anybody. Rather, they have proposals under co nsideration from Steve McLaughl in (road racer and candidate) and from a team of fou r d irt trackers, No decision has been reached. The Phoe nix Distri ct Multiple Use Advisory Board to the BLM met in Phoe nix January 8 with pre cious little notice. [f you want to get dialed in to their next meeting, write District Manager, 2929 W. Clarendon Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85 0 17 and ask to get on a mailin g list. It 's th e onl y way to guarantee that bikers get repre sentation. Something to keep an eye on : AB 15 , a Sierra Oub-backed bill in the current California legislature. It cou ld actually mean something we wan t , too - the halt of urban sprawl int o pr ime rura l areas . Urban sprawl, even more than the Sierra Club , is the reason why we have to travel over a hundred miles f ro m L.A. to find a place to ride. Speed way school days are January 17-18 ou t at the Maely ran ch near Corona. Sh oem an Ken has Dubb Ferre ll lined up to coac h ano ther intensive two day sessio n on the private practice tr ack. Call (714) 735 -0540 for signup info . With DeCoste r and Wolsink officially on 370s and Rahie r on a 125 fo r next .year's world championsh ip rounds, it's not clear if Suzuki is going to give the 250 class a miss thi s year. However, word out of Brita in is that the factory has asked their U.K. concessionaire to name the Suzuki 250 entry. Mark Wheel ess, hurt at Rio Bravo, is ho me recuperating in Austin, Tx . For frien~ who'd like to write him. he's at 5108 Emerald For est Dr. , Austin , Tx. 78745 . San Gabriel Valley MC has had letters and contributions from almost 1200 people, netting over $5000 for their club legal defense fund. Referee Denn is Crawford called to get us to thank all 1200 fo r him. "No kidding Marty, that is the 1976 production CR 125. Sure Honda will let you ride it, after all we painted it red just like your own bike . No, those aren't air brakes on the side. The sidepanels curve out to go around the new FMS system. We don't know when we'll release it. Say, do you know that guy over there clicking away with that funny looking cigarette pack?" Doug Schwenn a's ITHE LATEST I OP 'B PAPA WEALEY Y - 2 ~ After three rounds, Californian Pat Hennen is ·t ied with Greg Hansford for the Marlboro International Series points lead. Teammate Phil McDonald crashed and broke both wrists in the third round of the New Zealand race series. latest thing is a "fubar" short tracker which saw action at Northern California's indoor circuit with Darryl Hurst up. Pix to come . Merv Wright, who was in ' charge of U.S. Suzuki's racing team in 1975, has returned to his native England where he will serve as Team Manager for Suzuki of Great Brita in in 1976. Still in the rumor stage is a sponsorship of the Suzuki G.B. team by Texaco. Wright says his team has a schedule of 39 events lined up for the 1976 season. Century Ranch declared a park - defeat for L.A. area bikers? Not exactly. In a maverick flash of wisdom, the Park & Recreation Comm ission separated the Hope property from the movie ranch during the January 9 classification hearing, and will hold hearings on that parcel later this year. The Hope parcel has already been mentioned for possible recreation area status, and at least one advisory group has agreed that if the Century Ranc h goes "park," the Hope acreage should go " recreation ." Sort of quid pro quo. More signings and not-signings: Yamaha 's MX team for Nationa ls will be Bob Hannah, Dan T urner and Nor th westerner Rick Burgett. Jim Weinert has no t signed, instead is talking to Maic o, Maico so far has signed J ohn Savitski fo r th e 250 class Nationals. Mike Har twig < will do the Florida Winternationals on a CZ. Mon tesa has signed Hakan Andersson to ride the FIM motocross series on a 250. Next week the intr epid Cycle News crew tours Texas. Suzuki's National MX team at press time: Billy Grossi on a 125. Tony D: in 250 and Open .classes, Steve Stackable in 25 0 and Open. con centrating on Open, and Dann y LaPorte to ride [25 Nationals and SoCai ra ces. Peter Starr's award-winning "Portrait of a Champion" film will air in the Los Angeles area January 24 on Channel 7 (KABC) at 2:30 p.m. We've seen an advance screening of " Po rtrait ," as well as advance shots of the still-brewing AMA dirt track feature; and both are beautifu l pieces of work. Texas World Speedway has anno unced a seven race WIE RA roa drashers' schedule beginning with a race March 28 an d endi ng November 7. Pat Evans with a factory Husky road race ride ? Sort of - Don Vesco's building a one-off around a 360 CR engine for Pat to ride on some of the shorter circuits.