Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

racing. The sound of the machines almost gives me goosebumps." Motorcycle lI'orld with Larry Huffman, which was to begin airing nationally this month. has been postponed until February. 1985. "Wediscovered that the motorcycle industry needs a longer lead time in order to be fully involved in a national TV show," said Georgs Kolesnikovs, who is marketing the show for Huffman. "We look upon the rescheduling as an opportunity to develop a beller advertising medi um for our sponsors and a better showcase for motorcycles on television. We have been especially encouraged by the response from Honda and the other leading motorcycle manufacturers." Yamaha's test session at Daytona International Speedway was less than successful, primarily because of cold weather at the Florida resort community. It was reponed that Kenny Roberts said the new bikes were faster and handled belleI'. but because of the weather they were eight seconds a lap off their 1983 pace. As a result. the same reports said that Roberts spent more time riding his play bike and coaching Wayne Rainey, than he did riding. Roberts was interviewed prior to Daytona, and in that interview, he said he would, "do four races this year - Daytona, the Match Races, the Imola 200, and Laguna Seca. Perhaps I'll add aoother race at the end of the season. As far as dirt track goes, at this time Mert Lawwill and I have nothing put together as far as that kind of racing goes. I" d like to ride an event or two, but it probably won't happen this year. Although, I guess you could say that there is an outside chance." Antonio Neto of Brazil, last year's surprise runaway winner in the International Formula Two road race, is back to see if he can make it two in a row. However, he faces a very strong field in a race which normally produces the closest racing and finish during Cycle Week. One rider who will probably get more than his share of attention is Spaniard Angel Nieto. who is making his first Daytona appearance. Nieto has won 12 World Championships in 50 and 125cc racing, grabbing 83 GP victories along the way. He will compete in the Formula Two race aboard a Rotaxpowered hybrid called a JJ -Cobas. Joining Nieto will be current European 250cc champion Carlos Cardus. who will be on a similar mount, and Sito Pons. riding a Vamaha TZ250. Road racing engineer Eric Buell will have two of his Buells vying for starting spots in the 200. Doug Brauneck will ride one, Eric the other. The bikes .were put together by Buell using parts and engines he purchased from the British Barton company. The engine is a 750cc Barton-based rotary-valve square-four. Buell, who works for Harley-Davidson, sought funds from Harley to develop the project and return the factory to Formula One road racing. Harley nixed the idea for budgetary reasons. 6 This year will be the second season for the 750cc multi-cylinder limit in the Superbike ranks. Remember, though, that twins up to 1.000cc are allowed to compete with the multis. One of the more interesting looking bikes in the Superbike event should be the BMW-based MKM entered by the West German Krauser concern and ridden by Harry Klinzmann. "It's the most challenging yet," said Gary Bailey of the course he's designed for the Daytona Supercross. "It's fitting that Daytona has the toughest course. It's the birthplace of Supercross, it's the richest Supercross. and it's the first round of the new AMA Triple Crown of Supercross." Yamaha's latest edition of their very popular across-the-counter road racer, the TZ250L, has been extensively refined. Among the changes are an entirel y new frame of tu bu lar steel with reduced weight and improved steering head rigidity. The radiator is new and offers a larger cooling area without an increase in weight. A stiffened swingarm which has been lengthened, a new rear suspension unit and 40mm forks are also fiued. The engine features new, stronger connecting rods, new pistons and a refined electronic power valve..The exhaust system is completely new and the clutch has been beefed up. The entry list for the Bell Superbike 1 00 boasts the three most recent winners of the event: Freddie Spencer (1982- 'B31. Wes Cooley ('81 I, and Graeme Crosby ('801· Graeme Crosby of New Zealand, winner of the 1982 Daytona 200, is back in action after a year of self-imposed retirement. "I have fond memories of Daytona, because of both the success and fun I've had there." Crosby will be riding a Suzuki entered by longtime friend Pops Yoshimura. ''I've always done well when riding fOJ Pops and I intend to keep up the habit at Datyona." Jimmy Adamo, the three-time Battle of the Twins Series Champion, will be riding under a different banner this year. Adamo and tuner/sponsor Reno Leoni gained their reputation using Ducati motorcycles. This year the team will ride for Cagiva. "Actually, the Cagiva is basically an updated Ducati design. I think the bikes will give me a greater edge," said -Adamo. "I love Battle of the Twins When we first mentioned that coverage of Daytona would air on the USA Network. we mentioned the Eastern times, which were probablya little confusing to West Coast readers. So, the latest date and times (Pacific) are as follows: March 12,9 p.m.; March 21, 5 p.m.; and April 1, 9 p.m. The telecast will include coverage of the Daytona 200, Superbike and Supercross events. The opening round of the AMA/HiPoint Hare Scrambles Championship saw Mike Melton and Kevin Hines finish 1-2 in the March 4 event at Lake Wales, Florida. Melton and Hines both rode the new WR400s. Finishing third overall was Australian Geoff Ballard on a Can-Am. The second round of the Willow Springs Superbike Series, this one sponsored by Kawasaki, went to Kawasaki rider Jim Vreeke. But Vreeke had a tough challenge from Earl Roloff, who hung tough despite running on street tires against his competitor's slicks. Former National Motocross/Supercross Champion Donnie Hansen and his wife Lisa are the proud parents on a new baby boy. Joshua Tyler Hansen made his first appearance on February 16, going through weigh-in at seven pounds, 15 ounces, and went through tech at 19.5 inches. Mother and son are doing fine; in fact Lisa is back on the job of dispensing information and taking reservations for Donnie's motocross school. The number for that is 805/252-2445. After 11 and a half years with Goodyear Tire and Rubber. including some in the motorcycle industry when Goodyear was so inclined. the dapper Gary Bryson is leaving. Bryson has accepted a new position as publisher of Car Craft Magazine. For the last two weeks, we've been telling you that the California Air Resources Board will hold a very ·important meeting to consider emis ions requirements for motorcycles. We've just been told that because of agenda changes, the date of the meeting has been moved back one day. So now the meeting will be March 23, and the site is the same: State Building Auditorium, 107 South Broadway, Los Angeles. It begins at to a. m. California riders who oppose the 1.0 gram-per-kilometer hydrocarbons emissions limit can allend the hearing or write to C.A.R.B. Ch"irman Gordon Duffy, P.O. Box 2815, Sacramento, CA 958J2. The Marin County Motorcycle Association has been forced to postpone their March 11 hare scrambles in northern California until September 30. The club had work- ed to go through all the red tape with the Bureau of Land Management, but were hit below the belt when the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors denied a "road con· trol" permit. HosPITal STOP: Jamie icely, a Ballie o( the Twins competitor, was injured in a car crash near Reno, Nevada, and remains hospitalized there with rib, back and ear injuries. "It looks like I'll be out al least until Laguna," said Nicely when we talked to him. Cards and letters can be sent to him at St. Mary's Hospital, 235 W. 6th St., Reno, NV 89502. Motocross is alive and growing in Guatemala, according to O'Neal Distributing's Jim O'Neal. O'Neal led a trio of American riders competing in a February 19 event near Guatemala City that drew 12.000 spectators and was covered by national television. It was a fourhour team motocross, and when the dust had cleared, the overall winners were Guatemalans Juan Meyer and Juan Lucano on Hondas. Jim's son Keith O'Neal and partner Jon Ortner grabbed second on a pair of Vamahas, while the elder O'Neal and Sean Burge finished fourth, also on Vamahas. Here's the type of an event Papa hasn't seen in a long time, if at all: A "Family Tour/Trail Poker Ride." It's an event for those with dual· purpose bikes, and it will run March 25 in the Angeles Crest area of southern California. Organizer Terry Nichols ays the 80-miIe-course will consist of easy street sections, dirt road and trails. No membership is required. The start is at Carnes Honda in Sunland. Forallthedetails, contact Terry at 714/673-6816. There will be more than one DuHamel competing during Cycle Week. Miguel, the 16-year-old son of road racer Vvon DuHamel, will be contesting the 125cc class in the March 7 Amateur Supercross at Daytona International Speedway. DuHamel's youngest son picked up the Canadian National Championship title in the Junior division last year. In addition to entries in the Daytona 200 and the Superbike races, father Vvon intends to ride the Battle of the Twins event and is looking for a ride in the Vintage GP. Suzuki debuted a new 700cc V-4 street bike, called the Madura, at the Feb· ruary 23-26 Salon de Expo in Montreal. The bike is a single·shock, shaft driven model with custom styling and looks "a bit like a cross between a Honda Shadow and a Magna," accord· ing to correspondent Marc Lachapelle. We'll have pictures next week. Ronnie Jones (Kawl won the fourth and final round of Mike Kidd's Shoot-out Indoor Short Trl!lck Series on February 24 in the Philadelphia Civic Center. Terry Poovey (Honl and Steve Burkholder (Honl finished 2-3. After the Philly race. promoter Mike Kidd said, "The last scheduled race of the series in Denver has been canceled. That makes Terry Poovey the winner with 86 points and Ronnie Jones the runner-up with 75. There will btl a Great American Motorcycle Show in Denver from March 23 to '25. It's just the short track that has been canceled." The Grand National Championship Motocross, an annual biggie at Lake ... , •• , '. I • I

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