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/126760
goric statement that he won't be seen in the GPs on it, The idea of one of the world' top three G P racers si tti ng out the season seems to have become fashionable (hope you had a nice rest in '83, Croz), and it presumably is only coincidental that each time Ago has found himself a determining factor in their doing so. This time it was his apparent insistence on running an Italian rider on the Marlboro-backed team, coupled no doubt with the astronomical financial demands of Jim Doyle, Mamola's manager, on Randy's behalf, that seem to be the reason the talented Californian won't be on a Yamaha in '84. In tead, Virginio Ferrari will ride for his third team in asmany seasons, and I'm not the only one who thinks he's highly fortunate to find himself on a works bike of any kind, let alone a Yamaha. Put bluntly, Ferrari has a lot to prove this year in what is certainly his very last chance to sho.w his meule; anyone of a half dozen younge'r Italians, let alone a plethora of other European riders, 'might be in his seat instead. KR's Yamaha will suit Ferrari's ultra-late braking style, but gaining one second on the way into a corner only to sacrifice two while he sorted himself out for the exit was a feature of Ferral·i's riding on the Cagiva last season, and I don't see him as a threat to the Hondas. Let's hope his potentially divisive presence in an Italiandirected team doesn't bamper Lawson's effort. Mention of Cagiva leads to·Marco Lucchinelli and "Life after Honda," Signing the former World Champion after his two unsu cessful but remunerative years playing second fiddle to Spencer was a logical move for the enthusiastic Castigl ione brothers whose booming- company is now Europe's largest pure motorcycle manufacturer. Lucchinelli's immense popularity with the k.id who make up the bulk of Cagiva's road bike market at home will reap considerable PR dividends, and if the new C9 stepped-four eems destined to have a hard time of it against the Oriental bikes, it looks much better thought out and less of a committee job than its predecessors, if at this stage a totalJy unknown quantity. Poor weather in Italy this winter has hampered testing, so ifthe bike does shine it won't be till the end of the season. Personally, I doubt Marco' abilities as a test rider, but at least the team will add color to the GP scene and perhaps bring back the smile to the rider's face that has been missing these past two years. On his day Marco is right up there with the best and the ill-concealed animosity between him and Ferrari may yet lead to some entertaining baules-on the track, of course, Suzuki's decision to pull out of racing for at least a year does not, however, mean they'll be unrepresented on the grids this season, for apart from the dwindling numbers of .RG500-mounted privateers (if you want to tackle the works bikes, a Honda RS500R seems de rigueur in '84) there'll be twO strong teams using the '83 factory equipment from Hamamatsu. Roberto Gallina was saddled with the impossible task of integrating his championship-winning team into the Suzuki GB-run works effort last season and it didn't work. The two are now separate again, but the crafty Italian is the one to come away with the big sponsorship deal from England's HB Tobacco, and though he'll be starting out the season running lightly modified '83 team bikes, exBimota designer Massimo Tamburini has a three-piece semi-monocoque chassis in the wings (with servo- Dirt Diggers North Motorcycle Club presents the DODGE TRUCKS SACRAMENTO TICKETS {9'6)~1121 East on Highway SO to Zinlandel InloC-U Ellil South 10 White Rock Road lnttn ADVANCE SALE East 7 mile, 10 the Park Entrance Sunday No g.... con..l".,. No_ S12 No~~ ~rt1 • • • .............~ ...'. GATE ADMISSION Sat. $7. Tt<;~TRI)N ~Wli Inll'it811onaJ Aace 01 Champions promoted by Coyote RaCing EnterprISes ",~·.~MG __ ~8nd F-e1Oll' T _ . ~It"lo. S2O,DOG Itl c... lMtd ..... priIft. ""VE 80l OHief 0f'eM~C*' Sun S,. pi Ulce. 2IOcc, SOO o,.n. ............ e:...... HONDA 01 sacramento NNERATDAYTONA Sh8IIY ~ Tc*_ .... 850 Le ManS To A ae- WIn In 1he BattleOf1he- - . Modified class made Shen'Y's win in the H~:g~inat [)ayIonO, She,and n f!N8f field ol19 startefS in the 50 mile her the first her Moto GuzzI beSted a wa:no race, eongratulatlonS ShefTY! . ,t,utomObi1.... Inc:. 1501 eaton Ave.. to GuzZI No!th AmefiCO.Inc:. AdMslon 01 Mosef01i ::\rnOI9' Md. 2122713011646-3630. 23