Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

~ BY O"l PQPQ Wf4lLfY ...... The 1985 Daytona 200 will be limited to Superbikes and the Formula One class will be relegated to support-event status. The schedule includes two 50-mile Battle of the Twins races and a 100-mile Formula One race on Friday, March 8; a 75-mile Formula Two event and a Supercross on March 9; and the all-Superbike Daytona 200 on March 10. Full report on page 33. Reactions LO [he announcement that the DayLOna 200 would be a Super· bike race in 1985 varied. "It's probably the best thing that ever happened to the sport," said two· time Superbike Champion Wes Cooley. "I think you'll see more of the manufacturers want LO get inLO the sPOrt. Bill France is making it like NASCAR." Roberto Pietri said "I think it's gonna be better. We've been drawing good crowds for the Superbike race at the big races, and more people coming to the races ride bikes that look Like Superbikes. It will get the manufacturers involved, and give more riders more ride." But David Aldana said "That's the dumbe t thing I ever heard, and it proves that Bill France tells the AMA what to do." It appeared as though Cagiva's Corrado Maddii was a Shoo-in for the 126cc MX World Championship crown going into the final round of the '84 series, the August 12 Luxembourg GP. Maddii held a 30-point lead over fellow Italian Michele Rinaldi, but his hopes for the title ended when he suffered a broken leg in practice. Suzuki's Rinaldi then turned in a 1-4 day to win the title by three points over sidelined Maddii. 302 to 299. Michel Fanton (Apr) was second in Luxembourg, while Alain Lejeune (Suz) was third overall. The big winners at the NMA Grand National Championship in Ponca City were: Bobby Moore, in the 83cc Stock Expert class; Eddie Hicks in the 83cc Modified Expert class; Mike Healey, in the 105ccclass; Ed Warren, in the 125cc Stock Pro cia s; Rodney Barr, in the l25cc Modified Pro class; Larry Brooks, in the 250cc Pro class; and Jimmy BUllon, who won both the Stock and Modified Jr. Cycle classes. Complete LOry and phoLOs next week. More Ponca City notes: Kawasaki revealed its complete line-up of '85 KX motocrossers. Heading the list is the all-new, water-cooled KX500 and the reworked, restyled KX250 - gone is the rear fender I number plate combo. The KX125 looks fairly similar to last year's 125, while the KX80 and 60 take on many refinements. Next week we'll have photos of the new Kawasakis and more technical data. More Ponca City notes: Also revealed was the new '85 KTM 250 moLOcrosser. It features upside down forks, a sano-Iooking front disc-brake system and a claimed dry weight of 209 pounds. We will also have photos and more information on the new KTM next week. There is a chance Kawasaki's Jeff Ward may ride the 500cc MX GPs next year. Rumors have been floating through Europe that Honda may pick up Kawasaki's Georges Jobe as a member of their 1985 GP MX team. Kawasaki GP team manager Alec Wright was recently quoted in Britain's Trials 8t Motocross News as saying, "If Honda does pick up Jobe, then it leaves us with two options - either withdraw from the 500cc GPs entirely or bring over a top American." Wright added they "would want someone at the top - and that means Ward." ON TIME BARELY: Honda's Doug Chandler made a quick trip LO the airport after crashing out of a possible transfer spot in his semi during the running of the Friday night, August 3, Santa Fe TT National in Chicago. Chandler and California Superbike School head Keith Code £lew in a Honda-chanered single prop Wrangler pulls out of Supercross TUCKER,GA,AUG.13 Wrangler, the sportswear manufacturing division of Bluebell Inc., has informed Insport that effective October 1 they are withdrawing their sponsorship of Supercross events. Tom Mueller of ProSports, the public relations firm that handles Wrangler Supercross Series publicity, said, "The withdrawal is due to budget in Wrangler's special events department. Wrangler's David Allen informed Insport's Gene Trobaugh of the decision in a letter last week. Wrangler will, of course, award rider point fund money as previously announced. There is no truth to a rumor that has the funds Wrangler spent on Supercross being devoted to drag racing next year. Again, the decision to pull out of Supercross racing is strictly based on budgetary considerations. " This year marked.the third consecutive year that Wrangler posted point fund money for motocross competitors, plus spent considerable sums of money promoting events. Wrangler first posted $76,000 in point fund money in 1982 when the series was sanctioned by the AMA. Sanctioning switched to Insport this year and Wrangler's point fund totaled' 125,000. plane to Pocono, Pennsylvania, for the rescheduled Formula One National on August 4. Arriving early Saturday morning, the twO headed for their motel where they learned their reserved room had been rented out. They found another place to stay. "On the way to the track in the rental car we had a flat tire," said Code, "and by the time we made it into the pits the countdown had begun on Doug's heat race. He calmly walked to the line - he had put his leathers on while we were riding to the track - got on the bike and made the ational field. It was hectic, but his 11th in the National was worth it." The twO £lew back LO Chicago where Chandler placed fourth in Sun· day's' Hawthorne Mile National. Prop-setters? While you'd think that the recent fine and suspension of Bubba Shobert would have discouraged Camel Pro Series competitors from entertaining any thoughts of using force to settle disagreements, apparently it hasn't. One ace rider is rather open about the fact that he would like to duke it out in a parking lot with another top competitor for something the latter said in an interview which appeared in this publication. We hope the two can settle their differences in a peaceful manner. More shu££lings. Word from Europe also inaicates Yamaha may increase its SOOcc MX GP team for '85 to two members. Hakon Carlqvist will be retained, with fellow Swede Leif Pers· son the most likely candidate for the other spot since his contract with Husqvarna is up at the end of '84. Still more shuffling. Honda's Andre Vromans may not be retained on the teem for '86, and is rumored to be headed to Suzuki for an assault on the 600cc MX GPs. Michele Rinaldi may also ride the 500cc GPs for the team, which is expected to have additional backing from a cigarette manufacturer. Earl Bowlby (BSA) set a new hill record on his way LO the 750cc class win in the August 5 Invitational Hil1climb of Champions held at Mt. Garfield in Norton Shores, Michigan. Bowlby's record-breaking 4.714 second trip up the 300-foot hill easily topped Wade Williams (Hon). Bruce Sweigert (Tri) won the 500cc class over David Hale (Tri). Eddie Lawson is Wortd Champ 2 California Wilderness bill endangers B-to-V ANDERSTORP, SWEDEN, AUG. 12 Eddie Lawson rode his Team Marlboro Yamaha to victory in the Swedish GP's 500cc race to put a lock on the World Championship crown. Lawson, who had tied with Honda's Raymond Roche as second fastest qualifier behind Honda's Ron Haslam, passed Roche on the last lap to take the win. Haslam was forced to retire from the race due to mechanical problems incurred while leading. The win gave Lawson his first-ever World Championship title and Yamaha their first since 1980 when Kenny Roberts won his third consecutive crown. Ironically, Lawson took the lead from Roche in the same corner where Roberts and Freddie Spencer had their incident in last year's Swedish GP. Roche, like Roberts did last year, ran off the track in that corner while Lawson stayed on the track and took over the lead and went on to win by three seconds. Honda's Randy Mamola, the only rider with a chance to overtake Lawson in the point standings, was forced to retire from the race due to a sticking throttle cable which caused him to run off the track. Roche finished second to Lawson while Wayne Gardner (Hon) was third. Takazumi Katayama (Hon) fourth, and Rob McElnea (Suz) fifth. Lawson's World Championship-clinching point total is now 134. Mamola is second in the point standings with 96, while Roche moved into a tie for third with sidelined former World Champion Freddie Spencer at 87 points each. LONG BEACH, CA, AUG. 13 Cycle News has learned that the California Wi'lderness bill, a compromise worked out between Senators Alan Cranston and Pete Wilson and passed by the Senate August 9, now endangers the Barstowto-Vegas desert race that ran in 1983 after a nine-year battle to revive it. The bill has nothing specific to do with the desert. What it does specify is "wilderness management" for the Mono Lake Scenic Area. That means no vehicles, no multiple use; walk or stay out. There is only one other Scenic Area designated in the United States. It is the Eastern Mojave Scanic Area, and it encompasses more than a third of the Barstow-to-Vegas course. Once the "wilderness management" is specified by law for one scenic area, the example is set and the entire Eastern Mojave Scenic Area could be turned into a wilderness by local Bureau of Land Management officials. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a California Wilderness Bill, authored by the late Philip Burton, several years ago. It has taken this long for a measure to pass the Senate. The Congress just adjourned for its annual August recess. When it By Dale Brown (Continued to page 14)

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