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/126465
e I I e I By Gary Van Voohis Rookie of the Year. Sounds like an impressive title, doesn't it? It is, but unfortunately there are no financial or commercial rewards for the rider who comes up the top first year Expen in the Winston Pro Series. Yet it is a coveted title, and one which is fought over with nearly as much detennination as is the Grand National Champion title. Being Rookie of the Year can open doors to sponsorship for the following season. True, it doesn't always work that way. But being the best in your rookie year is a pretty clear indication of what the future holds. The seventies produced David Aldana, John Hatdey, Gary Scott, Scott Brelsford, Hank Scott, Jay Springsteen, Steve Eklund, Garth Brow, Lance Jones and Scott Parker as RoY titlists. All but Brelsford are still kicking up din. Strangely, the RoY title is about the only thing that eluded Kenny Roberts in his career.' As we enter the first season of the eighties, there appear to be many prospects to look at during the coming season. Yet, there are contenders and there are seriow contenders. Separating one from another this early in the year is a guessing game. The criterion is to go with the AMA Eastern/Central/Western Regional Champions - Rob Crabbe, Bubba Shobert and Jeff Haney - as well as Gene Church and David Jones, who finished second in the Eastern and Central Regions, respectively. There are other potentially strong riders that deserve mention, but the above five proved beyond doubt that they are tough competitors. Looking back at last year's crop of rookies there were a handful of strong competitors at the beginning. However, being strong on paper and being strong throughout a grueling 110 race season (211 on the din) is another story that takes more than determination. A lot of variables come into play and the first and foremost is M-O-N-E-Y. Racing to win costs plenty and if you aren't racing to win then there is no sense in being there. How much does it cost? Plenty. If you were starting from scratch and going for Rookie of the Year honors, $lIO,OOO would not be an exa:ssive figure. Tally up what a short tracker, TT bike, miler and half miler cost and then add in preparation by someone who can make them potential winners. Now add in gas, a van, lodging, food, spare parts and incidentals and you're ready to go. Be prepared to drive 40,000 miles or more. You can do it for less or you can really sink a bankroll into your program. After all, it's only money. 6 If you want to end the year on an up note then there is nothit;tg better than going out a winner. That is exactly what Gene Church did to cap off his Junior year and what better place to do it than Scott Parker, the 1979 RoY, is a prime example of what a solid, well backed program with competitive machinery can do. Sure, Parker had equipment pro!>lems during the year. Yet his program was strong enough to rebound in good shape at the very next event. Consequently, Parker won two Nationals and made the trip to the winner's circle on three other occasions. That impressive record brought Parker ninth in the final Winston Pro Series Standings. Once he caught fire the battle over RoY was for second place. Could 1980 produce such a race - one for second place rather than first? Perhaps, but things do look a bit more evenly matched than last year. Statistically, the five are average. Crabbe, at 19, is the "old man" of the group with Bubba Shoben the "youngster" having turn 18 jwt before the Howton Nationals. Jeff Haney, Gene Church and David Jones are jwt about halfway through their 18th year. At 6'1" Jones is taller than most riders on the circuit. Haney and Shobert are average at 5'6" each while Church and Crabbe crowd 5'10. For the girls in our readership, both Haney and Shobert say they have no steady girlfriend. Sponsorship-wise an iil'leresting note pops up. For the first time since Rex Beauchamp (1972) and Scott Brelsford ('711) there are two Rookie Experts with full factory sponsorship: Jeff Haney and Freddie Spencer have Honda in their corner. More about that later. Houliton was a rude awakening for many of the Rookie Experts, for at Houston - more than any other track - you must have your act together before)'ou set a tire on the track in order to be in the hunt for qualifying. Even if you qualify, you can be sure that making the National will be no easy task. Freddie Spencer was the only Rookie Expen in the TT. He placed fifth and picked up 10 Winston Pro Series points. The Shon Track National wasn't much different as only Jeff Haney, Spencer's Honda teammate, made the grid. Unfortunately, an accident on the first lap dropped him from a shot at the lead to last place. He picked up one point for his efforts. The riders are listed alphabetically with no intentional ranking involved. You be the judge on who has the best chance. Come September you'll find out how right or wrong you were. Ascot in Gardena, California at the about hitting the school books since he linal Winston Pro Series National of is a senior at Iredell High School in the year where he won the Junior Statesboro. "It isn't easy to race and 'go Invitational over a strong field. "For to school. I've really got to push if I some reason they say that Easterners want to graduate." aren't supposed 'to win at Ascot," Church spends a lot of his free time drawls the Statesboro, North Carolina working at Tilly Harley-Davidson, his native, '1 didn't find it that hard." sponsor's shop. "Don (Tilly) has been "Last year I got off to a slow start helping me since 1976 so we've been and really didn't get rolling until the working together a long time. I think middle of the season. Then I won my that helps because he knows my style share of races including the Syracuse of riding and what needs to be done to (mile) and Hamburg (half mile) do the job. In addition, Bill Burbank Eastern Regional Championship of Sure·Fire Distributing and Carlisle events. It's a long season when you run are also supporting my effort." 44 races." Despite his slow stan There can't be too many riders with Church still finished as the fourth a father who owns a track. "My father ranked Junior in the nation. runs Turnersburg (North Carolina) "Sure I'd like to win Rookie of the Speedway. I grew up racing on it. Year, I think I have a good chance. It Even though I really love the half miles won't be an easy thing to do, but then I'd have to say that short track is my anything that you really want never strong point because I've been riding comes easy. Crabbe, Jones and that since I was about eight. Shobert will be trying to make life hard that's for sure." "Winning Rookie of the Year would Besides having the coming season on be a great honor. I'm anxious to see his mind, Church must also think _ • ~ow t~e season unfol~. :' Rob Crabbe IS not afraid to talk. Neither is he afraid to rattle off. his..