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/126461
o 00 0') ...... Freddie Spencer On the threshold Photos by Charles Mor8¥ and VlIR Voorhis F Last year during the Daytona Cycle Week Saturday night edition of the WEBCO Radio Show host Roxy Rockwood was interviewing Skip Aksland, Randy Mamola and Freddie Spencer about their one-two·three finish in the International Lightweight Road Race. Jokingly, Rockwood referred to Spencer as a rookie which, by strict definition, he was. Aksland and Mamola glanced at each other, at Rockwood and finally at Spencer. A lmost in unison the pair voiced that Spencer was far from being a rookie on the track and that he had more road racing time under his belt than both ofthem combined. The scene shifts to the Winston Pro Series Nationals at Houston just a few short weeks ago. The race is the TT National. Spencer, in a no· nonsense ride, comes home fifth in his first ride as a rookie Expert on the dirt. "I thought he was supposed to be a road racer, "said one ofthe n'ders in the National afterward. The above incidents bring to light what many close observers of the racing scene Oller the past few seasons have already known: Freddie Spencer is one rider to keep your eyes on. Shreveport, Louisiana is the third ~argest city in the Magnolia State. It·is sprawling, decidedly Southern and calls Terry Bradshaw of the Superbowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers football team its favorite son. Shreveport is also Spencer's hometown. Catching up with Spencer is not an easy task, but on the Wednesday before the Houston Nationals he was home· in town and on the move. depths on the continent has an American road racer been heralded so loudly both at home and abroad. Ironically, the road racing world has been waiting a year for Spencer to literally grow up so that they could judge his talent in the field of battle. The 1979 season was one of quiet frustration for Spencer. Although he had proved to be IDOI'e than capable on a 730cC road racer (in club events) he was forced by AMA rules to spend a year in the 230cC Lightweight Expert class before moving up. The FlM bad no such rules, but tbey did have a minimum age requirement· 18 . and . Spencer couldn't meet that which brought about a strange situation in the middle of the season. Honda, much impressed by the way Spencer By Gary Van Voorhis 24 reddie Spencer stands on a threshold. Not since Kenny Roberts shook the . European road racing establishment to its had ridden in Superbike events at Daytona and Loudon, offered him a lucrative contract to race - with Daytona 200 winner Dale Singleton . in japan's Suzuka Eight Hour Endurance Road Race. To the chagrin of all, Spencer informed them he was only 17 and wouldn't reach his 18th birthday until December 20. Reluctantly, Honda abandoned its plans for Spencer. Kawasaki, however, did not have any problems in signing him up to contest the fmal rounds of the AMA Superbike Production Championship Series. With their number one rider Mike Baldwin out with injuries, Spencer seemed to be just the replacement the doctor ordered. Never one to give less than 100 percent, Spencer easily won both remaining rounds. In the meantime, Spencer was also galloping toward his Expert class ranking on the dirt. Although only riding in nine events - and winning six of those - his talent on the dirt was evident for all to see and many openly wondered what his Expert year would bring. Spencer, at the end of 1979, had a decision to make. It was the most enviable of positions to be in. Should he dirt track or road race or both? Should he accept the offers which were being made for his services from the Japanese factories? Should he spend a season in Europe in more-or-Iess privateer status getting his feet wet in the ways of the GP circus? Should he become a member of Kenny.Roberts' newly formed World Series of Road Racing? The options were staggering. In the end it was Honda with his name on a contract to primarily contest the AMA Superbike Production Road Race Series. He will also ride in selected international events and may contest another one or two Winston Pro Series dirt track events, plus all the Formula One Road Race Nationals. For a youngster of 18, Freddie Spencer exudes the maturity, confidence and assurance of someone who has been around years longer and has survived the swirling confluence that surrounds him more and more every day. No longer is Spencer "just another rider." He has been vaulted into the superstar class and is expected to produce as if he were a Kenny Roberts or a Barry Sheene. Yet the fuss and the pressure have not· at least not yet - begun to bother him, "I've been racing almost since I could walk," he says most casually as if it were just another thing to do like eating, sleeping or breathing. "It was just the thing to do. My father has always been interested in it and he got his interest from his father. It was natural for me to get on a bike because my older brother was racing." And race he did. Spencer's home in Shreveport, Louisi~na was a fairly central location fGr reacbiog '"'at we call outlaw tracks. The "run wbat ya brung" style of bullring racing that quickly separates the winners from the also rans. "Once I got big enough I ran the 250 and S60cc classes plus the Open division if there was one. Then I started road racing because there was an opportunity to run more classes. I ran in the 410cc Production. 4lOcc Cafe. 730CC Production. 200 and 230cc GP classes and I continued to dirt track also. It was quite a production because my dad would corne horne from work at the (family owned grocery) store and stan working on my bikes. With eight of them to look after there wasn't much time for anything else. "I grew up with one goal in mind. I wanted to be the Grand National Champion. I think eftTY rider cloea. I ,