Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

had gone to a 1025cc Superbike because the 750s don't have the horsepower and torque that the 1025cc motors have. Like a 25Occ, you have to ride a 750cc Superbike through the turns much harder" to keep your momentum up. You used to kind of point the 1025ccSuperbikes, turn the throttle on, get to the braking point, brake real hard, turn it through the turn and then accelerate it out. The 750s you have to get in there and brake hard and then ride it real hard through the turns. It will be easier to ride through the turn , being lighter, but you have to keep your momentum up. This year is a transition year for Kawasaki . They're going to have a little bit different motor in 1984. These 750s are basically a smaller version of the 100Occ, being two valves per cylinder, but they have plain bearing crankshafts. Honda has run plain bearing motorcycles for three years but for Kawasaki and Rob Muzzy it's a litt le bit di£ferent type of tech no logy this year. When the green nag drops we'll see if our Kawasakis are fast enough. Ridin g with me for Kawasaki is Wayne Rainey, and I think the guy can rea ll y be a good motorcycle racer. He could be champion very easily, but just needs a little more experience; ride another year and get it all together. I've been racing since 1970 so I have a little experience on him , and that experience helps when it comes to telling exactly what's going on with the motorcycle. Last year Wayne spent a 101 of time with Keith Code and I know Mr. Lawson helped him out. This year I think Wayne will be going really well. He's defi- , nitely matured as a rider. There is no doubt that Kenny Roberts has the speed. but the luck? H onda has their double threat, Freddie Spe ncer and Michael Baldwin. Freddie is the boy wo nder. He 's definitely got his act together. He grew up racing and that's what, he loves to do. He goes very well at Day tona. In fact, Fred goes very well every place. I've raced with Fred before and I' think that given the same equipment and same set of circumstances I can run with him again and beat him. Bu t I'd be lying f I didn 't say that Fred has a real good chance of winning. Same with Michael. When I've run with Michael, I've found that if you can hang with him , then the race gets real interesting. Sometimes MicHael just gets up and splits if he's right on. At Daytona I don 't think he's going to do that. I think you're going to see a repeat of something like in 1981, th ree o r four guys up front, going fo.r it. Last year Honda put a lot of effort into Dayto na and walked away with it. This year I hope me and the green machine are up there wi th them, 'in front. uo Steve Wisehas really impressed me coming from the motocross stuff When I raced with him a coupleof times early in the season he still had the motocross type of thin king in his mind. By the end of the year - Pocono, Kent, West Palm Beach -"he had gone a little more into road racing. It's not as physical, it's more mental and you have to have your finesse down a little bit. I think he just needs a couple more times on the motorcycle. He was definitely given a very good opportunity with Honda! to get on some really good equipment right off the bat. What it comes down to is you still have to pay your dues, get your experience. Oil FAST MONEY FROM SUZUKI. \ Stop by for our Open House on March 26 & 27 $75 to $300 of Fast Money on Selected '81 and '82 Models until May 31st, 1983 Direct from U.S. Suzuki For Example 1982 RM125Z 1981 DR500X 1981 GS650EX 1982 GS650GZ only $1299.00 Fast Money Amount only $1599.00 only *2099.00 only $2299.00 $200.00 *300.00 *200.00 $150,00 Call for all the details on these and other Fast Money Models. ***************** ***************** tel, 18 Kntr AND SON MOTORCYCLES, IN C. 1982 GS750TZ 1982 GS 11 unnz 1982 GS1100GLZ only $2399.00 Fast Money Amount only *3299.00 only *3199.00 $150.00 *250.00 *250.00 Don't wait forever. Otherwise, your Fast Money will end up as somebody else's Fast Money The Sensationof SuZUId.~ 417 E. Garvey Ave., Monterey Park, CA 91754 (213) 280-8244. (213) 283-4277 .......... . . . . ..... . . .... .. . .. .. .. . .. .. . . . . .. . .. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. . '"'

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