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/126501
Italjet·half·Bultaco prototype. "Ilook· ed at it. and it really didn't impress me." He rode the bike. comparing it t.o a Bultaco and concluded that it wasn't lhat bad a bike. He fell with Manuel Soler doing most of the development work, as he did for Bultaco, that it could become quite good. And with the Bulto and Soler families out of the picture at Bultaco, he no longer felt tied to the marque he had ridden for 10 years. He signed with Italjet and headed for France for his final ride on a Bultaco. He won the trial while Soler, also making hi last appearance on a Bultaco. fmished second. Bernie reo tu rned to Bologna. Two days later. Soler. apparently homesick. accepted an offer from Montesa to return lO Spain. Soler' departur,. strained Schreiber's confidence. "Here I thought we had a team. and sudden Iv I was a loner. I was the onl)' one who could say whether the bike was good or bad, and I had never done that type of intensive development work for Bultaco. Manuel. had that kind of exp,.rience.'· For the next three weeks Bernie and the super·enthusiastic factory personnel ran wide open. Bernie kept comparing th,. prototype to a Bultaco. measuring the progress. "Eventually I started getting more traction than I was with the Bultaco. But before we could get the engine in the right place, Switzerland was there. There I was, trying to ride a bike I wasn't really sure O. " f A "Hollywood" debut wasn't in the cards for ltaJje!. Slowed hy the loss of lhe top three gears in his prototype transmission, Bernie timed out. He re· turned to Bologna to find a downcast factory. "At that point 1 didn't know if I had made the right decision or no!. I was way off mentally. I had found Out that you can't really test sometfling in practice. You have to take it out to the competition to test it properly." They lightened the flywheel. laid the shocks down some more, lowered the rear end some, and headed for West Germany . . "The bike was excellent in Germany. Then, all of a sudden, boom. The ig. nition went out." More than two hours later Bernie was running again, so down on time he had to footrace through the sections just to see where they went. He rode the final two loops without ever getting off his bike, missing exclusion by five minutes. Then, more gloom. Immediately after the trial he loaded up and drove to Donnington Park in England for the nationally-televised Kickstart stadium trial. Bernie, who had lost just two stadium trials in two years, unloaded his bike, rode up a ladder, crashed, kayo'd his bike. loaded up, and drove back to Italy. The following weekend found him at a big two·day trial in Italy. He was fifth the first day. His ride convinced him that the flywheel weight was still too heavy. That evening the flywheel was substantially lightened. "The next day was like being on a different motorcycle. I was getting acceleration going up things I could barely get up the day before." Bernie rode so well on Sunday that he was able to take the overall win. The following weekend he gave Ital· jet their first world win, on home ground. It looked like the teething problems were over. Returning from a month's R & R back home, Bernie won the last three championship trials. His title was gone, but his late season performance delivered a message. Few doubted that Schreiber and his Italjet would be the combination to beat in 1981. Cry$tal balling it, Bernie says, "I think Italjet will win more champion· ships than any other brand next year. We hope to win the Italian, American, The Wizard is- for the Sports Flyer. For the man or woman who wants to put the FREEDOM OF FLIGHT into their lives, at 8 price everyone cen afford, without lengthy assembly. Built in Pompano Beach, Rorida, The Wizard is not a converted glider. It was built with power in mind and it responds accordingly. Our staff are friendly professionals who are knowledgeable and safety minded. The Wizard is a production model with over a hundred dealers in almost every state. Dealer inquiries are always welcome. We think we have the finest crafted machine available today. Why don't you let us prove it? STANDARD EQUIPMENT • New dependable 100cc 15 HP YAMAHA engine • New Aircraft. Prop. King Post Control bar. Covers • • New 16 inch Spoke Wheels • New quick change engine pec • New brite dip anodizing • New choice of 20 colors • New three gallon gas tank • • • • • • • New large padded pilot seat New oil bath clutch New droop wing tips New quick release King Post New Square Root tube Right Instructions Given Much. much more! NO LICENSE REQUIRED Ultralite Aircraft Co. 113 Sunrise Court Ozawkie, KS 66070 (913) 876-2440 33