Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

II li • ~ The only veteran rider at Honda is Steve "Texas Toronado" Wise who will be paired with newcomer Donnie Hansen in the 250cc class. The 125cc class team will consist of youngsters Richard Coon and Ron Sun. brother of Chuck Sun and also a former Team Husky rider. A.~""1 E Kawasaki 0 00 0') , ~ CN ..d u I-< ~ ~ At Kawasaki the team for 1980 will once again have Gaylon Mosier in the Open class. hopefully bealed from a broken leg which he picked up in tbe Nationals last year while running as a top Series contender. Kawasaki test rider Goat Breker will back up Mosier. riding production Uni-Traks. or possibly even take over Mosier's place on works bikes if Gaylon isn't recovered in time. In the 250cc class the green team will have Warren Reid. who moved Over from Honda after four years. along with "Lavender" Larry Wosick. The oldest rider in American motocross, 28·year·old Jimmy Weinert will raCe in the 125cc class for the first ti,!,e. partnered with "Flying Freckle" Jeff Ward. Maico/Husqvarna So much for the Japanese factory teams. The only European bike manufacturers supporting motocross teams in America are Maico and Husqvarna. Maico's only full·fledged team rider is Danny "Magoo" Chandler. while Husky has Mike "Gorilla" Guerra. Neither company can afford large race teams, but they do offer bikes and parts to a number of promising young riders under support team programs. Non-factory teams Several strong non-factory teams have emerged to challenge the factory brawn. ensuring an even more exciting and competitive 1980 motocross season, Preview: 1980 National Championship MX Series Doin' it in Ilreal" dirt By Jim Gianatsis rider in the class last year with Moto·X Fox. Motocross was America's exciting new sport during the 1970's, a decade which saw it grow at a phenomenal rate. It is still not a household word, but it could be by the end of Suzuki the 1980's as the sport continues to grow, particularly the Supercross Series. It is the outdoor Nationals, however. which reflect the excitement of traditional European style motOcross and remain tbe favorite battleground for both factory riders and their teams. as well as for race watching by the motocross enthusiast. Yamaha 24 There will be some big changes in the outdoor ationals this year. the most noteworthy of which will be the end of the domination of the 250cc National class by two· time National Champion Bob "Hurricane" Hannah. The broken leg the Team Yamaha star suffered in a water skiing accident last August hasn't healed as quickly as expected. preventing Hannah from training or riding. though he is out of his cast. He is not ex pected to race again until June. which means he'lI miss most of the 250cc Nationals and the' majority of indoor Supercross Series races wher.. he is reigning lhrt'e· time Champion. Because he will miss the start of tht' 250cc Nationals. Team Yamaha has moved Hannah to the 500cc National class where the racing doesn't begin until June 25. Hannah will pair up with teammate Rick "Lumbt'rjack" Burgett. winner of the 500cc National Championship in 1978. Hannah's move to the big bike class is with the consent of Yamaha's Mike Ben, a very c10l1C runner-up in the 500cc Nationals last year behind Suzuki's Danny La Pont'. with Bell moving to the 250cc class to fill Hannah's vacancy and join new team member Marty "Typhoon" Tripes. formerly of Team Honda: With two strong riders like Bell and Tripes in the 250cc class Yamaha may just be able to hold on to the 250cc title without Hannah. In the 125cc class Yamaha will once again have three-time 125cc National Champion Broc Glover. who is almost certain to win the title again this year. along with new rookie Donnie Camaloupi. who was top non-factory With Hannah out of action with a broken leg. the hOliest motocrosser in America at the end of the end of tht' 1979 season was Team Suzuki's Kent Howerton. The "Rhinestone Cowboy" was runner-up last year behind Hannab in the 250cc Nationals, fiftb in tbe Supercross Series, tben finisbed out the year with the overall win of the Trans-USA Series. Teaming up with Howerton in the 250cc class this year will be Darrell Shultz. moved down from the Open class. Reigning 500cc National Champion Danny LaPorte will be defending his title with the ,help of former Team Hon

• Cover