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/126605
• Custom made one piece Road Race or Touring Suits made- of )OO~ u ns plit soft leat h er . a lso availabe 2 p iece Di rt Track Styles $599 . + C.O.D. Ie Shipping. • Street and Touring Jackets Superb a craflsmanship of same 100% leather as . our full suits. Special Introd uctory Price $ 199.50 + C.O.D.1e Shipping. • Imported MOlocross Boots with treaded or t2 $ 9 4. 95, Sizes I - 5 smooth soles sized 6 $64.30. • Road Race. Street, or Touring Boots· Red or Bla ck with Double Padded Shill Lever Area $ 6 9. 5 0. CALL TOLL FREE (except Texas) 1-800-531-7964 In Texas 1-512·734-5194 PRO STAR OFTEXAS. INC.• 4519 FREDRICKSBURG RD. SAN ANTONIO. TX 78210 - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - -- -- - - -_ ... HONDA- KAWASAKI WEST ALL NEW MODELS 810 Ollt.C"_ "" 6\0'" O\l ~S8\e ~Ie 1981 1981 1981 1981 Defending champion Dale Singleton finished fifth . around while Ro ber ts waited close by. On the third lap Roberts - wearing the familiar yellow and black colors of Yamaha Motor USA rather than his European red and white scheme - zipped by Spencer going into the chicane and then took the lead away from Baldwin as the two raced side by sid e on the banking heading for the finish line. Lawson, Pietri, Crosby, Cooley, Singleton , Thad Wolff, on an RG500 Suzuki, and Steve Gervais, on a Yamaha Motor Company Canada Yamaha TZ500, rounded out the top 10. Back in about 20th position Winston Pro Series Rookie of the Year candidate Steve Wise and Yamaha 's Jimmy Filice were esta blish ing a battle they would wage, off and on, throughout the race. . The lead three of Roberts, Spen cer and Baldwin gave the fans who h ad remained, despite the weather , 'w ha t they came for - a display of speed and skill carried on all over the 3.87 mile course at Daytona International Speedway. Late braking into turn one and the chicane. spectacular riding through the infield, blinding speed and the ballet of draft and pass were all a part of the game. By la p five, the leaders were already passing slower riders - the gap in qualifying between fastest and slowest had bee n over 22 seconds - and attrition was taking a toll as Dan Chivington and Christian Sarron, last year's fifth and ninth place finishers , respectively , were al ready out along with five other riders. Lawson was steadily creeping up on the leading three as was Crosby. However, the gap fro m sixth on back was widening. Pietri and Singleton were together a nd would be for most of the race. Wolff and Gervais were also having a close battle. R ich Sch lachter was chasing Nick Rich ich i and Doug Bra u neck from his l Sth place position. Spencer asserted himself on lap six as he and Baldwin made a high-low sandwich pass of Ro bert s on th e west banking and Spencer was first across the line. Roberts grabbed it back in the infield, held on through th e east banking and lost the lead again to Spencer, who made a daring pass as they entered the chicane. The action co ntin ued like this unabated, but it was Spencer hanging on wh ere it co u nted until lap 10. Lap eight was Roberts ' final full tour of th e tra ck . As he approached th e finish line to begin lap nine h e slow ed, coasted to a sto p and parked the bike against a haybale. " I seized one cylin der. I'm not sure what happened. A lot of things could ha ve caused it," said Roberts in obvious disgust at yet another mechanical failure to add to his Daytona saga of bad luck. With Roberts o u t, Crosby in heri ted third wi th Lawson moving to fourth . Baldwin took th e lead on lap II from Spencer and then Spencer took it back as Baldwin dramatically waved his teammate by as they entered the chicane. Baldwin slowed, dropped low on the track and made his way to the pits with at least one large white space showing on the left-hand side of his rea r tire where there should have been black rubber. The Honda pits were caught unaware by Baldwin's unscheduled stop. although they did have a rear wheel . (Continued to page 26) GL500 Red 2122 $1995.00 1980 XR250A $1048.00 Gl500 Black 1"2.07 $1995.00 1980 XR500A $1298.00 CM400 Custom 7639 $1395.00 1979 CR250R $ 898.00 XR80 5332 $ 495.00 Honda-Kawasaki West 2401 Lincoln Blvd . Santa Monica, CA 90405 (213) 392·9593 HONDA-KAWASAKI W EST National Honda Open House Days March 13th & 20th Come In and Register NOW For Free Honda Passports, Free Magna Key ChaIns And Rolnng Stone Poster Giveaways Honda.K~wasaki West 2401 Lmcoln Blvd. Santa Monica. CA 90405 (213) 392 - 9593 , erry Bryant AM A - AFM #222 Gratefully Acknowledges The Assistance 'And Support From These Fine Sponsors: B.T . Ka wasaki, Sacramen to, CA . Bassani, Nippondenso , Shoei WE'VE GOT ' EM ALL ••. CAMS. S""N4S • PISTONS R E'TAI N I[R , • PUS H "ODS ACCISSO R'I.S iWig l!.i:. _..a_. ...- (714) 686-6624 SOUDSTATE M OTO RCYCLE ELECTRONICS RIVERSIDE, CA. 9