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/126758
his visions of victory. He finished fourth, one lap behind the fromWree. Tadahiko Taira, a test rider for Yamaha Japan took fifth in his first appearance at Daytona. Robens' ride to victory earned him a spot in the record books as the third back-to-back winner since the race moved to the Speedway in 1961. He is the only rider besides Roger Reiman to win the 200 three times. Robens, who was 84 seconds ahead of Spencer at the finish, averaged 113.143 mph to destroy his own track record of 110.926 set last year. . Updated versions of the Yamaha OW60 which carried Robens and Lawson to a 1-2 finish last year were the weapons for this year's race. Taira also had one of the special680cc fourcylinder two-strokes which began life in 500cc GP racer form. Spencer was aboard a totally new NSR500 GP bike, a four-cylinder watercooled two-stroke displacing 499cc and using a crankcase reedvalve induction system and Honda's ATAC exhauslSystem. Size-wise, there was liule difference when Spencer's bike and that of Haslam, a refined model of last year's NS500 GP bike, sat side by side. The three-cylinder NS works machine displaces 49&c. Tires once again played an important role in decidmg the outcome of the race. Robens, who used specially made Dunlop tires as did Lawson and Taira, had no problems. Spencer and Michelin gambled. Michelin had a radial construction tire (from and rear) for Spencer's bike, but the tire had not been tested by 200 miles of the type of demands Daytona's banking creates. Visually, the tire looked like any Olher large comact racing slick on a wide nearly six inch - rim. Spencer piued with six laps to go to replace the rear because he had been losing traction and didn't wam to risk an accident. Haslam' was another rider who didn't encounter tire problems while Lawson had enough for both. Lawson saw a chance for victory slip away with his first rear tire change and then lost second just after Spencer had handed it to him by needing a second rear tire one lap after Spencer had piued for his. Mike Baldwin, the 10th-place finisher, had the most serious problem. His rear tire blew as he was heading for the stan/finish line on the from straight and he spent an anxious momem straightening the bike up before having to make a complete lap before he made pit road. King Kenny Roberts was indeed that at Daytona, ruli~g the roost for his third win. AHA Grand National ChamRionship.l Ca'mel Pro Series: Round 1 Robertsdusts Da~na By Gary Van Voorhis DAYTONA BEACH, FL, MAR. II Kenny Roberts won his second-straight Daytona 200 Motorcycle Classic in record-breaking fashion at Daytona International Speedway. However, while relaxing in the Yamaha 8 pits two hours after his victory, the former three-time 500cc I World Road Racing Champion had harsh words about the traffic and slower riders and said he would not race at Daytona again. Reigning 500cc World champion Freddie Spencer and his GP teammate at Honda, Ron Haslam, filled out the celebration in winner's circle. Each nOled slower traffic was a constant hazard. Yamaha's Eddie Lawson, celebrating his 26th birthday at the track, didn't get the present he was looking f