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/126315
TOYOTA SUPERCROSS SERIES SATURDAY NIGHT JUNE 24 SANITY RIDGE ular and famous high speed jump in eries returns to its position of honor E This 7' monster sets smack in the gest straight of any stadium race. A rm allows riders with enough guts to ei70 mph before being launched aln the track. ~ .... -...... ) .., .. .". . . ."....... U iVERSITY n STEREO GRAND TETONS THE TRACK Goodwin's "White Knuckler" A newt wist hasbeen addedtothisseriesof 6' jumps. With a special reverse slope to add height instead of distance, thus challenging the riders' skill to retain balance with reduced forward speed. In 1972, SUPERCROSS was born in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum amid the grid iron exp loits of USC, UCLA, and the Rams . Stadium . officials. were optimistic, motorcycle indust ry COCA COLA CATAPULT was skeptical, and the Rams groundskeeper The symbol of the Superbowl, considered bui lding a motocross track any- ' synonymous with .s ucercross where near his beloved gridiron should be made returns with its legendary excitea criminal act. ment. Riders entering In those older days, the early stadium tracks the archway at high were little more than spreading around an enor- \ speed are catapulted mous amount of dirt like a convoluted ribbon. halfway down to field Track construction was more experimentation level and cont inue to than engineering, even though every effort was charge at maximum made to mimic t fie natural terrain of outdoor RPM's off the ski run motocross and thousands upon thousands of jump and ove: the 20' dolla rs we re spent on eng ineering, spec ificaGoodwin's Gorge. There is no room for mistake or tions, and the like. retreat. It's said that no th ing can withstand an idea whose time has come. SUPERCROSS is no exception. Experimentat ion gave way to experience; and experience, to progress. As man expanded his natural lim itat io ns with an artificial mach ine to traverse natural ter rain, it was inevitable that he shou ld eventually improve upon the nat ural terrain itself to produce a planned terrain to further purify the true competition between men and machines. Today's track for the COCA COLA SUPERBOWL OF MOTOCROSS VII is a highly sophisticated , computer-analyzed, event-tested, combination of obstacles to test specific facets of rider courage, skill , strength, and endurance. Such track design methods are capable of producing competition and racing thrills far surpassing that of the natural terrain. SUPERBOWL'S hi g hspeed ju mps and berms have seven years of review, ana lys is and testing to create slopes sculptured at optimal ang les suited for their specif ic purpose. For examp le, high po ints on the berms have been sh ifted further into t he turn and have longer traili ng tail s to improve racing and safety at the ever-increasing DOUBLE BERMS speeds of today's machines. Do ub le and trip le The important technology of stadium berms , or " mi ni-berms," are added in appropriate corners to provide 2 and 3 good, fast, lines track design has lead to tighter racing through developments like double through the turns and increased competition. berming. As this Atlanta photo dernEven th e co mposit iori of d irt , clay , and sand onstrates, double berms provide two have. been analyzed and ca lculated to meet and three fast, good lines through a rigorous racing requirements in eac h area to improve turning and t racti o n properties of the turn . Racing strategy can be more fl exible and effect ive while compet it ion track. . THE SUPERBOWL track is a wh ite kn uckler is made closer. Special berms are placed accordinq to overall track design,entrance·ri de t hat wo uld even im press Walt Disney. But an~ exit angles. and speed,..one ?f the the riders are rac ing for glory and lots of co ld , hard cash. With the largest payoff ever for a pm!1e reasons the At lanta t~ack IS praised by S UPE RCRO~S riders as the stadium event _ $50000 - the ride s a th . BEST TRACK so far th is year. . ' r re. e . . ones to benefit from the extreme technoloqical advances in stad ium track construction . Seethe next issue of CYCLE NEWS for comments and analysis of the favored riders for this annual racin g classic - TH E COCA COLA BOTTLERS SUPERBOWL OF MOTOCROSS! SCOTT STtDlUm 1ll . ....!~~!~ SANC TIONED .. _" --~ 25