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/126528
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IWFOSHOW
BARNETT, BELL, BROC AND BOB
00
0')
On Saturday night, July llth,_
Supereross fans everywhere will
be celebrating a decade of racing
in the L9S Angeles Memorial
CoIiaeum at the SPRlTE.SUPERBOWL
OF MOTOCROSSI
Now in its lOth year, the Superbowl
has been credited with pioneering
what we Imow as the SuperCl'08 Series,
which has escalated rapidly in the
motonport world. Granddaddy of
them aU, the SPRITE SUPERBOWL
OF MOTOCROSS is the most popular
race on the circuit, and draws spectaton from throughout the United States
and Europe ... A Philippines Airlines
Captain and his family regularly fly to
L.A. for the Superbowll
Fast and tough
Known as the "fastest and toughest"
in the series, the Superbowl track will
be spectacular with special consultation
from Dick Miller and Rick Sieman of
Motocross Action and Dirt Bilell. De·
signed to take on 80 of the very best
motOCl'08 racers in the country, a run·
through of the course gives a feelinlt of
what the riden will experience as they
tacltle the obstacles.
When the gate drops, %0 riden gas
it down a 70 mph, 600' straightaway
into an eixht foot high wall of dirt that
projects the bikes around a vertical
bowl and over a crunching six foot
high jump. The next tum leads them
into a set of four feet tall ridges that
break the riden' rhythm, sends them
over whoop-de-doos of increasing
height, and onto the uphill climb to
the Peristyle. Maneuvering their mao
chines through the back alley of the
Coliseum and down the ski run, they
will catapult 60' through the air
straight towarei a seven foot towering
mountain of din. This jum:r will pitch
them over II %5' gorge an the lucky
ones will land on a five foot ramp on
the other side.
Looming ahead is the famed Datsun
Insanity Ridge, an eight foot high
mound with a SO' ramp to throw the
riden as far as the night air will take
theml Now at the west end of the
track, they find themse1ves facing
trenches, more whoop·de·doos, and a
sand pit that could swallow up their
bikes. A five foot wall of dirt at the end
of the pit is the final obstacle before
attaclting the entire monster again.
Truly a challenger, .this course will
amaze both riden and fans aliltel The
track is redesigned to allow. multiple
lines of racing and lots of passing.
Insanity Ridge Jump
This year, to add to the competition
in this exciting event, Datsun .. spon·
lOring a ~al contest, the Datsun In·
sanity Ridge Jumpl The rider who
jumps the farthest over the famed In·
sanity Ridge in each qualifying heat
will win $%00 in cash. In addition,
riden placing sixth through 15th in
each of those heats will win from $10
to $100; and finally the 10 top finishen
in the Main Event will win from $100
to $1,0001 Over $6,000 in extra prize
money will be awarded by Datsun at
the Superbowl.
Every Superstar rides L.A.
8
Nearing the end of the season, with
only one race to go following L.A.,
there is still a three·way chance for the
championship. The current point lead·
er in the Ierles and 1980 winner of the
1%5cc National Championship is Suzu·
. Iti's "Magic" Mark Barnett. "I used to
BATILE' FOR BIG BUCKS
AT SPRITE SUPERBOWL OF MOTOCROSS
California Supenhops where $15 and
$18 tickets can be purchased at a $S
discount.
Free KMET bumper sticken are
also available at participating Del
Taco Restaurants, Wbere you can sign.
up for the Del Taco Sweepstakes" The
winner's name will be drawn on Saturday nWu and will receive a four-wheel
drive IhtlUn Span Truck and morel A
specia1 guest a~aoce will be made
by the beautiful Candi and Randi
Brough - twin stan of "B.J. and the
Bear" and "Chips" as they welcome
. race fans to the SuperbowI.
Road ride to the Coliseum
Riding enthusiasts are invited to
join the Honda Goldwing Road Ride
to the SuperbowI. The caravan will
leave from Tustin Honda on Saturday
morning at 9:S0 a.m. Trophies will be
awarded for the hest-dressed custom,
non,custom, and modified bikes; an
auction will be held, and all proceeds
will be donated to charity. All are
welcome ... for further infonnation,
call (714) 775·255S.
VAMAHA -IJ--l.~""
SUZUKI
TRACK INFORMATION
1. SCHUTZ SCREAMER: A 2S-m8n gate starts the
rIden down I 70 mph, 600 ' - strliGht-oy.
2. 00 SUPERIlERJl\: A vimlll Will 01 dirt. 8 feet
high, compocted to the mu so IhlIlthe rider "",y
project his modIlne eround the ......C111 bowl.
). CARRERA CRlJI'ICHER: A 6 ' - high by JO loot
wide jump thet will seplIfllte the men from the
boys.
.. Ki'IET ROCKERS: Fou. enevenly spoced • foot
"'II ridges . . - to _ t h e riden' rIlythm.
5. MOTOCROSS ACTlON WHOOP-oE-lXlO'S: Progressive whoop-dee's starting lit 1 foot In height
and lnaeeslng to I hdghl 01 3 feet.
6. THE Ktu CU#lI\B: A. bvr test: of traction as the
riders scate the putstyIe mountain.
7. 0IRlBIKEAU..EY: Designed by !he 'Super Hunkey'
himself to test the rtders' strength lind agility in
meneuvering their mechenlcal bucking broncos
through the ~ IIIIey of the Coliseum.
wait too long before malting my 'move'
in many races," explained Barnett.
"Now 1 have learned to charge at the
stan of a race and protect my lead for
the win'" Teammate Kent Howenon,
the "Rhiriestone Cowboy" from San
Antonio is the 250cc National Cham.
pion and carries a second ~Iace on the
scoreboard. Trying to retain his title is
the 1980 SUpelCIOill Champion, Yamaha's Mike 'Too Tall" Bell. This star
from Lakewood, CA is %S yean old,
and gets an extra edge on his bike
from his 6'S" stature. Mike says "I like
the feel of being champion and I'm
going to do it againt" These winnen
will be waging their own war for the
crown as each loob for victory at the
Superbowl.
Hot on the wheels of this trio is the
"Hurricane," Yamaha's Bob Hannah.
Proving his ability to return to the
.rigon of motocross following a serious
leg injury, Hannah is right behind Bell
in fourth position. With his second
place finish in this year's %5Occ National
Championship, Hannah's attention is
focused on the Supercross Series. "I
figure I might as well try to get in front
and go wide openJ" said Hannah about
the upcoming race; who is known for
his amazing control at outrageous
speeds. Other Yamaha riden include
Donnie Cantaloupi, and two-time
winner at the 1980 Superbowl, Broc
~Iover who pulled off all; a,mazing feat
In 1980 and has been nding hot this
summer.
Adding to the field of champions
and aboard their Big Red Machines
for Team Honda will beJim Gibson in
fifth position, Donnie Hansen in
seventh, Danny LaPorte, and new·
a.
SPRIlE SKI RUN: Th. Downhill _
01 the
peristyle that catapults the r~ 60 feet through
the elr.
9. Tl£ TOWER: A 7 foot . . . . . - 01 clOt IhlIt piIdles
the riders over • 25 foot gorge. the lucky ones
landing on • 5 foot ramp on the other side.
to.
DATSUN INSANflY RIDGE: Finlsh line. 8 foot
high mound of dirt with • 30 foot rampthat throws
the rides IIm>ugh the _night II•.
II. THE HOl'IDA BATTLEFIElD: "tortuous plrt 01
the IrlIck .. the west end 01 the Coliseum IhlIt Is
Mod wIh u.nc:h