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/126422
; The.Contenders Yam Yam Yam Yam Yam Yam Yam Yam Yam Yam Yam Yam Yam Yam Kenny Roberts Johnny Cecotto PatrIck Pons Raymond Roche MarcFontan Shlnlchi Ueno Gene Romero GIIIMrin David Aldana Conrad Urbanowski SkipAkaland Dale Singleton Harry Kllnzmann Stave Gervais ~ IE ~ &AWl ------ 0) l' 0) .-4 ::.-:".::.? ~ 00 .j,j II) ~ :s Yam Wester Co9ley Randy Memola the Yamaha he's riding is quite a "demon machine." But Nenning, Cecouo, Pons and the other international riders will have to contend with a lot of strong American riden besides Roberts and Aksland. ''The Georgia Pig Fanner," Dale Singleton, will be at LagUna Seca just a week after an ~ght·hOUT endurance race in Japan. The Daytona winner was invited by Honda to co-ride one of thr factory machines in the race, which is run on Honda's test track in front of the hometown crowd. Honda does not invite slow racers to do this ... At presstime, there was.no word on whether or not Singleton's mascot, Elmer the Piglet, will be at the Monterey peninsula, basking in California sunshine. ' Gene Romero, who led much of the Sears Point race 'and eventually finished third, will ride and he's a good bet for the top three. Daytona runner·up Ron Pierce will ride Laguna Seca aboard the saIJIe Bob Worlr.·tuned Yamaha Moior Canada entry that he rode at Day' tona. Work's machinery carried Steve Baker to the 1977 F750 World Championship, making him the first American World Champion since Jack Milne won the speedway cham· pionship in 1937.. (Roberts is the third Ameri~an to win a World Championship.) Baker, runn~r·up at Laguna Seca in '78, has been plagued by injuries and recently decided to retire. Other Americans expected for the race, and almost certain to be running in the top 10, are Wes Cooley, Rich Schlachter, David Emde, Harry Klinzmann and John Long.. The remainder of the international field includes some riden that wtll be making their first appearance here in the States. Pons will have fellow countrymen Raymond Roche "nd Mark Fontan to keep him company. Shinichi Veno, the official Yamaha factory TZ test rider. will race at Laguna Seca. as a privateer, and if he gets an AMA license, hopes to race at , Pocono the following weekend. Swiss rider Michel Frutschi is a possible entrant. Though "King Kenny" Roberts must be viewed as the odds·on favorite, that doesn't mean it's going to be a ho·hum race. With Aksland. CecOltO, Pons, Romero, Singleton and the rest sharing the track, the King will have his work cut out for him through every lap of each 100ltm race. It ought to be a helluva race. • II Yam Yam Yam Yam Yam Yam Yam Yam Yam RonMaaa Kurt Lentz Dean Cleeton, Jr. Harry Cone Richard Schlachter Bruce Hammer Hap Eaton Peul Mclachlan Kevin Stafford Richard Chambers BruceUnd Henry DeGouw Mark Jon. Den Sorenaen Bob Gutsehow Richard Williamson < Yam Yam Yam Yam Yam Yam Yam Yam Yam Yam Yam Yam Dave SchIouer MileaBaldwin John Bettencourt Bruce Petterson Gary Collins Yam Motorcycle parking There'n be a special area for motorcyclea to park at Laguna seca, It's free, as is all Laguna 8eca parking. and it's located next to the paddock entrance. J Camping 'Schedule Saturday, August 4 8:30am· 9:00am 9:06em - 9:36am 9:40am 10:15am 10:60aM'· 11:2&am 12.1IOpm • 10:10am 10:45am 11:2Oam 12:oopm 12:3Opm 12:3Opm - 1:00pm 1:15pm· 2:15pm 2:20pm. 2.-&Opm 3:00pm - 3:30pm 3:35pm· 3:46pm 3:46pm· '4:46pm .5:OOpm· 5:10pm Sunday, August 5 9:00am - 9:25am 9:30am· 9:56am 10:OOam . 10:25am 10:3Oam . 11:OOam 11:OOam '. 11:3Oam 11 :3Oam . 12:oopm 12:OOpm· 1:00pm 1:OOpm - 1:45pm (Minimum 45 mlns.1 Sidecar practice Formula 7&0 practice Superbike Production practice Formula 7&0 practice Superbike Production practice Formula 7&0 practlca Lunch "Free Champion Spark Plug CUnic" (Fuel. Carburetlon, Spark plugsl Formula 7&0 practlca TImed practice for F-7&O . Superbike Production practice Sidecar practice "Free Champion Spark Plug Clinic" TImed practice for Superblke Prod. One Sidecar Heat (5 laps· 9.5 milesl "Free Champion Spark Plug Clinic" A limited number of campsites are available at Laguna 8eca. A t6 space reservation ticket may be purchased for- Saturday night. August 4. A maximum of 8 penona and 3 motorcylea are allowed per campsite, and each person must have purchased a twCHlay race ticket In advance. Permanent restrooms, showers, water and electricity hook-ups are under construction and win not be available for this rece. Get your ticket early. Contact the raceway office (4081373-18111 for information. Sidecar practice Formula 7&0 practice Superblke Production practice TImed prectica for F-750 Vintage Exhibition Race Superblke Production Final Lunch First segment, Formula 750 Intermission. , "Free Champion Spark Plug Clinic" (Fuel, Carburation, Spark plugsl second segment. Formula 750 Sidecar Final 15