Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

; IIIlI • ~ E . . THE LATEST ~ 00 1-4 11) ..c e 11) > o Z ITC finds Japanese not guilty of dumping, H-D disagrees . 6 An article in the Oct. 27 Wa" St,.et JourlUll reported that the U.S. International Trade Commission has decided that the Japanese motorcycle m.nufacturers have not injured the American motorcycle industry market as charged by AMF subsidiary Harley-Davidson Motor Co. Involved in the "dumping" charges were Honda, Yamaha and Kawasaki. , AMF officials expressed disappointment . with the International Trade Commission's finding. . "We strongly disagree with this decision, which was made despite the broad evidence we presented that our Harley-Davidson motorcycle business has suffered severely since 1974 from unfair Japanese pricing practices:' stated W. Thomas York, AMF chairman and chief executive officer. " The ITC study resulted from a finding by the U,S. Treasury Department that the three largest Japanese motorcycle producers Honda, Kawasaki and Yamaha - have sold motorcycles in America at "less than fair value prices," or prices below those charged for the same machines in Japan and other countries. "The Treasury's confirmation of AMF Harley-Davidson's 19n antidumping charges already has brought a move toward fairer price competition," Mr. York said. "Honda and Yamaha, for example, have increased U.S. prices about 30 percent over early 19n levels, reflecting . the commercial realities underscored by . our dumping complaint." . The Harley-Davidson case also has clearly established that the Japanese producers' practice of cutting prices severely on prior-year models to reduce excess inventories "represe.nts price discrimination:' he stated. It was this practice that Harley-Davidson cited to the ITC as the major reason for the injury to its business. In its testimony to the lTC, AMF alleged that unfair pricing of Japanese motorcycles had 'prevented Harley-Davidson from entering the U.S. market for middleweight motorcycles, forced it to cease production of lightweight machines and eroded its share of the domestic market for heavyweight motorcycles. John A. Davidson, chairman of Harley-Davidson, noted that all of the Japanese comPanies have increased their U.S. prices significantly since the dumping case was brought to bear and that Yamaha has given a formal commitment to the Treasury Department that it will not dump in the future. "Even though the ITC failed to find injury:' Mr. Davidson stated, "this case has resulted in much fairer price levels in the U.S. market. "We will be keeping a close watch on what the Japanese firms do now, in the wake of the ITC ruling. Non-discrimination in pricing, and not protectionism, is what we have been seeking from the start. If dumping is resumed, AMF Harley-Davidson will have to consider a new effort to enforce the U.S. trade laws." The Japanese firms were predictably pleased with the decision, yet brief in their statements. Kawasaki's response, voiced by spokesman Bob Moffit. seemed to summarize the feelings of all three Japanese firms. "Kawasaki was pleased with the unanimous decision of the International Trade Commission. (They e"tered a 4.(J dadslo"••• Editor.} We never felt that the domestic Industry - of which we.are a part since opening our Uncoln, NB facility - had been injured. We never intended to com pate unfairly in the U.S. market, nor do we intend to do so in the future:' Moff'rt stated. . "Our main interest is to offer Kawasaki customers great motorcycles at the best possible price. We wish Harley-Davidson continued success in the motorcycle market:' he concluded. Willy Tokishi of American Honda stated that Honda was "very pleased with the lTC's position:' and that the firm "only wishes to express its gratitude." Russ Jura from Yamaha waived the opportunity to issue a statement saying, "The ITC will be issuing written opinions supporting their votes. We'd like to see those before making comment." • Pro-Tee's 650cc ve~ion of Yamaha's TT500 was on display at the Oct. 20-22 International Motorcycle Aftermarket·Expo. More show stuff on p. 26. Carey Steiner, who rides a Crown Cycle Yamaha , is the new Women's National MX Champ. Carey topped a field of top-notch feminine competitors at the Oct. 28 ·29 Kawasaki Women 's Motocross National , sponsored by Russ Darnell Motocross Schools, at Carlsbad Raceway after two days of GP racing and motocross. Following Steiner in the overall standings were 17-yea r ·old Dede Cates (Yam) , Rhe Helms (Kaw) and Roxie Klatt (SUl). Sue Fish was reportedly doing well until injured in a crash in the I25cc motocross event. Peter Wanket , CMC #1 in the I25cc class, won the Pit Tootsie race . Complete coverage next week. At the Big Boot AMA National Enduro in northern California, Mike Hannon took the overall win by four points over Eddie Diaz. Both were Yamaha-mounted. Husky rider George Hendricks took third in the Far West M.C. hosted event. ahead of Team Honda's Rick Munyon, and John Troutts. Don Sanford, winner of two Western Region National Enduros in the past four weeks; finished .sevent h. The San Gabriel Valley M.C. pointto -point 0-37 hare and hound , which was to have been run from Mexicali to San Felipe on the Baja Peninsula, has been cancelled due to soaring insurance costs. According to Coca-Cola Motocross Finals press release, spectators at the Nov., 11 AMAfToyota Supercross Series fln.le in Anaheim Stadium can expect" to witness riders, "bl.sting through the night like ... laser be.ms ... demolishing everything in their w.y ... hurtling so f.r into space that the team m.n.gers have been w.rned to' fit the f.ster rider. with oxygen m••k s." Not only th.t. but "ell .ir treffic hal been routed .w.y from the .re.s for the evening." Ticket. for this lIIter.lly) unbeliev.ble performance .ra .vailable at Ticketron, Mutual, Malibu Grand PrIx. Anaheim Convention Center Box Office or by m.il at P.O. Box 1623, Laguna Beach, CA 92862. Price••re $8, .9, .12 .nd .16; children under 10 .re admitted for h.1f price. And while you're buying tickets, don't forget the only Trans-AMA MX Series event in California this year, the Nov . 5 third annual Kawasaki Trans-AMA International Motocross , presented by . Bridgestone Tires, ' at . Sears Point International . Raceway . Ticketron, BASS and participating Kawasaki dealers have tickets . Adults pay $8 ; children 6-12 get in for $4._ The Kawasaki dealers offer discount prices, and you can get the name of your local participating dealer by dialing 707 /938-8448. The big topic of discussion in the pit area at Lake Whitney, the site of the past weekend's Trans-AMA round, concerned Brad Lackey. Reportedly, Lackey will not renew his Honda contract at the end of the year but will sign with Kawasaki. The deal supposedly calls for Lackey to contest the 500cc World Championship MX Series, and riders were kicking around monetary figures like "half a million dollars." With first .and second positions in this year 's Toyota Supercross Series already sewn up, Bob Hannah and Marty Tripes have joined together and agreed not to' race the final event of the series at Anaheim, CA on Nov . 11. Both cited the fact that they are tired of racing , as well as the fact that promoter Mike Goodwin will not pa y them appearance money. Honda racing team manager Terry Mulligan claims Marty Tripes is under contract with American Hon -da to race the Anaheim Suparcross. And since Honda is one of the .pon'sors of the race, things could get sticky. Goodwin has reportedly vowed to "retaliate" if Hannah and Tripes don't appear. As for Hannah, Yamaha will leave the decision up to him. . "Well, at least I had a good first rnoto," was the encouraging comment Chuck Sun relayed from St. Joseph's Hospital in Ft. Worth, TX. Oil or dirt clogged up a jet and caused an "open throttle" effect on his Husky at the Lake Whitney Trans-AMA. "Next thing 1 knew. there was this tree ... At first. they thought I had a compound back fracture , but as it turned ou t 1 have no broken bones.. " A very deep leg cut, to the bone, will keep Chuck in the hospital for the next week and after his release, he plans to head home for an unplanned . earl y vacation. With only two races left on the Trans-AMA circuit and Chuck sitting both of them out, looks like we (Continued to page 42 )

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