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
(Continued from page J) but remember both Mike and Dick were established stars when Mert made his way out of the hills of Idaho to launch his major racing career at Ascot back in the early '60s. . Who had the fastest Superbike at Daytona? Rate the factory Honda of Freddie Spencer's equal, or faster, than the two Suzukis. Spencer was riding a smart race, hanging back behind Cooley and Crosby, and appeared to be able to close on them at will. The goof by the Honda pit crew at the possible race-costing gas stop appeared to many of us the problem of just too many men on the crew . Crosby told me later that he was trying to set up Cooley for a last tu TO draft shot but made a mistake in the chicane on the last lap, allowing Wes those extra few years that can make the difference at the finish line. Some of us were also wondering during the later stages of the Superbike race ifWes and Crosby were planning on a dead heat finish with Spencer out of the pictute? It would have been worth a million dollars in publicity if they would have pulled it off. Randy Mamola was an official entry but once again the Suzuki distributors 'l apparently could not get together and once again one of the best road racers in the world was not on hand. Since the time that Randy has "made it" in the bigtime the contracts have kept him from running in his own country, on the tracks where he learned the go-fast art. Speaking of Mamola, at least two English road racing authorities claim that Marnola will unseat Roberts from the 500cc throne in '81. That came from England folks, not the U.S. The first time "Battle of the Twins" race proved nothing more than the Ducati is the fastest. All other brands were too far behind from the first turn on to see who was second best. The vintage race was a gathering for the few that are perhaps frustrated racers. Three of them ran into each other before the first lap was completed for the only real action of the event. With Yamaha no longer making 750cc road racers then it is just a matter of time before the Superbike class becomes the Daytona 200. When the one brand that supplies 99% of the machines chosen by the entrants quits making them, is it not time for the AMA to look ahead to revising the class size and rules? The Superbike class is not all that healthy when three riders run away from the field on the opening lap. Remember a few short years ago when the BMWs did the same thing. Where are they now? Will European riders come to Daytona in future years if the 200 was for 500cc machines? Or will they have their hand out for appearance money up front no matter what size engines are run? This one is for the AMA to seriously investigate - real soon. One record was broken, at least a Texas record, down at Daytona. For the first time in !I!I years, Woody Leone of Beaumont, TX, was not on hand. Woody, at the tender age of 60plus, is still recovering from his Bonneville crash a few months back. He called prior to the week and stated that all is going well and he will be back in '82. He also vowed to give up riding his creations on the salt flats. Now it is back to dirt, starting Fri· day night, Mar. 27 at Ascot and running weekly non· Nationals and Nationals at Ascot, Sacramento and San Jose until mid·May. How many high school kids skipped school to enter the various races in Florida from the end of February through Mar. 8? Roxy Rockwood 10th Annual 4 APRIL 10-11-12.1981 _~~_~~ __~~~:~!:::iA $11U10OJO.~~m r:- @~SJG. TROPHIES &PRIZES IIIBIII ~ p m OCLE-AM ~ I!:' -------------------------------------------------_. INCLUDING ALL CLASSES NMA RIDER. BIKE CLASSES Agf' Groups Rider ClaSSifIcation BIke cc lImll &Classes PEE WEES Thlu 6 yrs Open 0-6Ict.. SI'" & Mod JR CYCLES 6 to M yrs 9 to 11 yrs Open Nov & Inter 0-61Cl. 0-61cc Slk & Mod SIll. & Mod MINICYClES Thru 11 yrs . 12 10 14 yrs 12 10 16 yrs 9 to 11 yrs. 12 to 16 Vrs Nov. & Inter. Beginner Nov Inl E)(p Ol·en OJ.Jen 0-83cc 0-83ee Ow83cc 0-105ee 0·105,l. Stk & Mod Stk & Mod Stk & Mod Mod Mod SchoolbOy Jr SchOOlboy Sf Nov.lnt EKp Nov. Inl E"p 100cr 100<.' 125c_ 2SOcc Slk &MOd Stk & Mod SIll. & Mod Moo MOTORCYCLES Thru 16 to Thru Thru 15 vrs 18 yrs 21 vrs 21 Vrs CLASSES fOR ALL 30% o WORLD CHAlPIOISHIP TROPHIES ---------------------WRITE OR CALL FOR ENTRY FORMS (213) 868 8112 ••A PO 80146 .ORWALK CAUf. 90650 Production Class 3 Dean VanPusch Kawasaki on Dunlop Production Class 2 Dave Bonnie Yamaha on Dunlop G.P. Class 1 Jay Parnell Honda on Dunlop . . . ~ .......... DunIop,,-,. . . . . . . ............... ~.DUNZIOP p.Q. s.. 1109, 8uItlIIo, NY 14:MO 41