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/126460
rider KR is and the factory equipment Kel Carruthers prepares for him are a hard combination to beat. No doubt, the main guy is Kenny Roberts. But you can't count out the regular hot guys like Aksland, Romero, and newcomer Freddie Spencer. Is Kenny :Roberta as good as everyone .ysheia? Yes. Absolutely yes. He's capable of always riding to the point of no return - and always returning! How do you feel about four«roJtes competing in the 200? I think the sound of the four-strokes will bring back the excitement and drama the 200 was noted for back in the Nixon/Rayborn/Mann days. As for competitiveness with the lightning quick Yamahas, although we're restricted, well - I don't think it'll he a match. I think the faster Superbike riders like Cooley and Pierce are capable of putting 'em up front in the early running, but grueling mile after mile racing will eventually detune their aggressiveness. The weight disadvantage will be a common hindrance and will effect tire wear and rider endurance. But these are only my opinions that are .based on having watched Sueprbikes in lOO-mile races. I actually have very little experience in actually racing them. I won the 750cc class at Laguna Seca in my Junior year, riding a Triumph Trident. And last year David Aldana teamed up with me to race a factory Honda in Japan. I unloaded in the Japanese race and had to push the bike about a mile back to the pits. Believe me, I know bow heavy they are. But me and Elmer might just have to eat a page of the paper for lunch if one of those mighty wboom-bahs comes out of the woodwork and wins Daytona! It could possibly happen, and in trying to do so I'm sure we'll see some of the best racing at Daytona in years. As far as the spectators are concerned, they'll definitely be getting their money's worth of racing enjoyment what with entries from Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki and, of course, Yamaha. Not to mention the fact that we're back to the point where the bike that enters winner's circle could be based on a bike sitting in the Speedway's parking lot. Brand idenfitication and model identification is important to many spectators and this year's 200 will be the first in nearly a decade to provide that needed part of our sport. While I feel that his new formula will be a definite plus, I must say that I hope the AMA tech people are on their toes when checking things like the oil lines on the four-strokes. They've been on top of things in the past and their efficiency makes it a safer go for everyone competing. In the past you've voiced CODem about some of the "slow guys" who take pan in the 200. Care to commentnow? Well, first off, the so-called slow guys that qualify have just as much right on the track as the fast guys. What I would like to see is the slow guys be a little more respectful of the faster riders. I've been annoyed many times when lapping traffic with guys taking more than their share of the track even though they're going perhaps 30% slower. This is a major problem at some of the tight, twisty tracks. It's really not a big problem at Daytona because if you have the ponies then you got the room! Will we see Elmer at Daytona this year? Definitely. But he'll be Elm'er II, a much better disciplined and better show-trained version of the original Elmer. Will we lee Dale Singleton and Eimer II in winner's circle at Daytona on March9? You can count on it. If you don't, we may have to eat this page of the paper too - because we'll be broke! • o 00 ~ CN TRIUMPH 10-1607 , 2 into 1 SUZUKI 5135" 10-1180 HARLEY 10-1060 "twice pipes" KAWASAKI 511." 10-1517 BMW 10-1836 4 into 1 4 into 1 RAM·FLO Air Filters 2 Into 1 $149"" farthDseWho deserve the beSt lMWm A1pMbet'. Cuatom Weat Corporation 125n "H" Western Ave.. Garden Grove, CA 92641 710'1197.,"3561 YAMAHA 5202'" 10-1412 4 Into 2 (cross-over) HONDA S202'" 10-1295 527" each HARLEY 10-1018 5248'0 6 into 1 Staggard Tapered Duals S9O" Whichever brand of bike you choose, we build an exhaust system Just right for you. ALPHABET designs and manufactures the largest line of "Top Quality" HEADERS, EXHAUST SYSTEMS and REPLACEMENT MUFFLERS available anywhere! We also sell the RAM·FLO high efficiency air filters to top off your PRO-formance package. ALPHABET PRO·formance products FIT BETTER, LOOK BETTER, SOUND BETTER, and what's really important - they make YOUR bike PERFORM BETTER. ALPHABET has the experience, facilities and know-how to build THE VERY BEST. Buy ALPHABET ... the ultimate in PRQ-formance ORDER DIRECT OR SEND FOR FREE PRODUCTS BROCHURE 25