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/126512
"The works bikes are faster, but not a lot faster, and these guys are trying so hard to break through. The factory bikes come out of comers a bit faster, and that's probably worth about a second a lap at most places, but tbat's about all. So a good start is absolutely essential if you want to make a good result" said Graeme. In tbe season's four-stroke races, though, Croz has not had those problems. "Daytona was good. in fact it was brilliant being the first race of the .season. I had something to prove, of course. coming into the Suzuki team. The row I had with the AMA after the qualifying heat didn't make me a better rider in the final, but it cenainly made me more aggressive," said Graeme. "I like going into a race in an aggressive mood, I can make myself have an aggressive attitude if I want to. It's -jUSt a question of thinking about it. I don't have to beat up Brenda, for example," Croz was certainly a little bit bitter and twisted after the controversial "over size" tank incident with Mick Grant's Formula One winning Honda in this year's Isle of Man TT. But that is not the sort of aggression he is looking for. "The motivation Honda gave us at the TT was uncalled for. A row at Daytona was OK but at the Island that's too much, even though it turned the whole Suzuki team into. an even more united force. " Graeme still feels annoyed abou't the IT saga. "Not so much with Mick, but with Honda. For the past couple of seasons their attitude has always seemed to be that they will do anything and everything to win. Even luring away mechanics with exorbitant amounts of money, and that sort of thing. Just buying riders. and generally eliminating the competition instead of beating it. "I think you will find that Wes Cooley and I have the same feelings on the subject." Croz teamed up with Wes in this year's endurance race at Suzuka in Japan. It was a victory that pleased Graeme for three reasons. "To win for Suzuki in a major race inJapan was good. It was good second. because it gave the opportunity for me and Wes to have some time together. and I have the greatest respect and admiration for Wes both off and on the track. And third because I just like Japan," said Graeme. A season of Grand Prix racing has taught Graeme Crosby a great deal, but it's only part of what he has learned in his two season career in Europe. His views on genuine road circuits have changed, for example. "When I arrived in Europe in 1979 I had something to prove. I took every circuit as I found it. and got on with the job without thinking too much about things like safety. This year I was obliged to do races on those same circuits for the factory. But you begin to look around and go to the TT and the Ulster Grand Prix and say to yourself, oh, oh, be careful," said Graeme. "The other change in me is that I think I've become a lot more professional. It's expected of a factory rider. ~,ou can't just sort of slack ,!r~!1njj _ .. _ _ The New Zealander wore a T-shirt at a recent race in Australia that proclaimed. "The British might have culture, but Kiwis have polish." And while that shirt's message bore reference to a shoe polish, those of us who witnessed Graeme Crosby's charge! . in last year's Daytona Superbike race know of one Kiwi who certainly does have polish. • YOSHIMURA WINS WITH _!UK able for your bike, demand equally exceptional lubricants and hydraulics. Naturally, they're Bel-Ray. For the sophisticated high-performance engines of today and tomorrow, there's Bel-Ray 4-Cycle Racing Oil with Molbuamin~ engineered to give this oil its ultra-high film strength. Or try EXp, Bel-Ray's new 5,OOO-mile Extra Premium four-stroke oil. Bel-Ray DOT 5 Brake Fluid is a superior silicone-based fluid for all hydraulic brake systems. Yoshimura and Bel-Ray. The World's Fastest Superbikes win with The World's Fastest Motorcycle Lubricants. Setting a blistering pace that no one could match, Team Yoshimura/Suzuki riders Wes Cooley and Graeme Crosby took first and second overall at the 1981 AMA Superbike Championship inaugural event in Daytona. That makes five consecutive Daytona victories for the Yoshimura Team and its riders, as well as two consecutive AMA Superbike Championships ('79 & 'SO) and a great start towards Title #3. The exceptional speed, power and reliability of Yoshimura high-performance parts, like the Yoshimura pistons, cams and exhaust systems avail- .......... - 1980 AMA Superbike Champion Wes Cooley on the Yoshimura Suzuki. The PreciIIoI L The "wluliia__ The Power. -lii- Yoshimura Research & Development 01 America 4555 carter Ct., Chino, CA. 91710, (714) 628-4722 Bel-Ray Company, Inc. P.O. Box 526, Fanmingdale, N.J. On27 ~!jOSIlIMUAA • WtlrId's Feltes! MatDrcyde L.ubric:anIs AMA National Red Mountain Enduro Overall Dick Burleson Husqvarna on Dunlop (front & rear) 2nd- Rick Munyon Husqvarna on Dunlop . . .cydesrtele . . Dunlop ...... . ,....... ..... ...... worIcI. ~ DI7NIIOP P.o.IlcIl1109.lluffaIo, If'f 1Q4() ~ •• •• I • • • • • ~ ~l.-. "~:.4 oJ"~ I. oJ .. 31 ~,