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/126666
_ _ #<#' .... ..a ..... could do my best every time I got on the track. Can winning the title lead to enough recognition to land a chance at moving up in your career? I hope it will be worth something in the future. It's certainly worth the effort I put out this year beca use if I never win another thing in my life, I was the Formula Two Champion. I can always look back on that and be pleased with what I accomplished. It may not be worth a thing and it certainly didn't pay a 1m of money, but I'm happy to have proved I could do it. What does it cost to run a title-winning program? I can tell you it's a losing proposition. To put a program together costs around $9000. The cost of running the entire season depends on how lucky you are. We were very careful in selling the engines up. We never had any mechanical breakdowns until the very end of the season. I didn't crash once during the year and that makes a very big difference in what your costs can be. I would say our program cost in the neighborhood of $18,000 which doesn't count the original purchase price of the equipment. That figure includes complete maintenance and all travel expenses including flying to several of theevents in order to continue working my regular job. Do you have an understanding boss? es. The whole organization at Cycle Sport was behind me-the employees and my employers. It made a big diI.ference in my program. Who is the "we" in the ,program? The second party in the program is (.Bert Bigoney. He's been with me .§ince I started road racing. He helps I with the mainenance on the bike and _is there all the time_ It's consistency ,which pays off in a racing program. It makes a difference having the same people working with You because ,then you know wbatthey will do in a 'given situation. Another person who 'has been a great ~elp is Ron Barrett. '1)0 you think you started road racing it bit late? I yes, but I'm improving with age and 5 t hat's the way it should be. However, I probably am getting, at age 27, a bit old [or the sport. it Isn:t affecting me, though, because I'm in the best physical shape I've ever been in. Mentally, I'm enjoying racing more than I ever have. To tell the truth, I get a lot of vHdding about being an "old man" because I didn't start road racing .until I was 24. It makes a difference, I guess. However, it isn't like I just got into motorcycles. Is there as much camaraderie in tbe ranks there appean to be? Definitely. We've loaned out and had parts loaned to us. There are very few times a rider won't tell another rider what gearing combination he's using or some other detail he's using to make things work-if he's asked. It's a very friendly group and we basically look out (or each other. On the track, things change and the racing is very intense. That's the way it should be. (Have you looked ahead to the '84 "Season? (Yes, but it's a $64 question as to what 'II be racing. I would like to ride a different class. I wouldn't really want rto ride in the Superbike ranks unless I had a substantial amount o[ factory help. That possibility is probably a slim one because there are only so many rides and it may not be possible to get any help. If I couldn't run a' Superbike then I'd like to be part o[ a supported Formula One program, which would mean riding one o[ the Honda 500s. Again, I hope the possibility is there. If nothing comes about then I believe I'll put together another program, race the 250 series and defend my title. • Husqvarna Sweeps ISDE Melton Top American Handbuilt Swedish craftsmanship prevailed once again as Husqvamamounted riders dominated the competition at the 1983 ISDE in Wales. In the face of a monumental effort, by the world's largest motorcycle manufacturers, Husqv:una's combination of quality and craftsmanship swept more gold, silver and bronze medals in the 1983 U.S. National Enduro competition than any other marque. Champion Mike Melton was the These victories were achieved with top American in the grueling competition riding a 1984 WR, standard production-line 1984 followed by 2 more Husky riders Husqvama WR's. Larry Roeseler and Ron Ribolzi. The Swedish 1lophy and The 1984 ISDE-Proving once Vase tearns triumphed overall as again the only thing separating Sven-Erik ]oensson and Tomas Husqvama from the gold... is you. Gusravsson led the way with the overall ,500, and 4-stroke THE FINAL STEP UP class wins. Husqvarna See the winning ISDE bikes av2iW>le nowat your 10C2l Husky dealer. Husqv:una .Motottydr Co. • 4925 Mcrrory Su= • San Diego, California 92111 17