Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

A scene we won't see in 1985: Formula One bikes charging through the infield at Daytona International Speedway. Daytona 200 to be SuperbiJ(e race By Gary Van Voorhis TUCKER; GA, AUG. 10 Daytona International Speedway, in a surprise announcement, changed the face of the traditional Cycle Week racing program ·by announcing the 1985 Daytona 200 would be a Superbike race. The Formula One race has been relegated to support race status although it still retains the mantle of an AMAGrand National Championship round. The information contained in the release raised more questions than it answered. In an effort to clear up some of the most obvious one, we talked with Wayne Moulton and Bill Boyce of the AMA's professional competition department and Ron Meade, Daytona's road racing media coordinator. "It is firm that the Sunday road race during Daytona Cycle Week next year will be a 200-miler for Superbikes," said AMA's Moulton. "At this time, it is strictly a one-off race. The IOO-mile Formula One National, which will run on Friday of that week, will still be the race paying Camel Pro Series points. There have been a couple of other tracks which have taken a look at the program switch (Loudon and Road America), 0ut as far as I know at this point nobody other than Daytona is going to change their program in 1985. "Daytona made known their plan to make the 200 a Superbike race for 1985 at a meeting the AMA had with them and others involved in Cycle Week the day after this year's 200 (March 12)," continued Moulton. "The meeting is an annual gettogether to discuss all the aspects of Cycle Week's racing and any changes or other items which need to be incorporated in the following year's program. Bill and jim France unveiled their concept at the meeting and there has been work on it ever since. The planning was done together between the AMA and Daytona. In the past 30 days, because it is becoming time for Daytona to start their final planning for 1985, I've been working with jim (France) practically every day on the details. The press release was more or less a joint operation between both organizations and I had a copy of it before it was released. "There are a lot of pros and cons about the concept and it may be somewhat risky to change a long-established race format like Cycle Week's since the Formula One class is pretty much looked upon as the main event. On the other hand, with equipment availability and other things it could well be a sign of the future," said Moulton. "There will be a (professional racing board) rules meeting during early November and there are a few items which could stand looking at before then, but we've always waited until the end of the season so we could gather up all the things which need to be changed or revised and I don't see any change this year," said Moulton. "We definitely need to take a very close look at the Superbike rules," said Boyce. "They will probably need some changes. As the rules stand now, I don't see the race drawing very many foreign riders since Superbike rules require homologation of the motorcycle for racing unlike Formula One where there is no such rule. There's still a lot of work to be done on the race. In my opinion, oneoCthe greatest faults we have right now is that we've got too much political baloney and no benevolent dictator who can stand up and say, 'this is what we have to run ...' "I definitely believe theSuperbikes are a crowd pleaser," said Daytona's Meade. "If you ride a bike you can relate to the class, because the bikes resemble street bikes, although they've been highly modified for racing. We hope the Europeans jump on the bandwagon because we want the race to have an international £lair. We want a solid contingent of foreign riders in the race." When asked if a purse structure had been finalized yet, Meade replied it hadn't. "The Daytona 200 is the premier race of Cycle Week and will have the largest purse as it always has," continued Meade. Last year's (Formula One) Daytona 200 purse totaled over $100,000 with the winner's share at $15,000 before qualifying, lap and contingency money. The Superbike race paid $7,350 to win. "A purse in the $40,000 range is a safe speculation for the Formula One race in 1985," said Meade. Concern about purse money and what was the biggest payday in U.S. Formula One racing aside, the format change for the Daytona 200 sent a lightning bolt through the rider/ tuner/sponsor ranks. Next year will mark the introduction of new machinery rules for Formula One with the class open to 500cc two-stroke GP bikes, 750cc four-stroke multi-eylinder machinery, 750cc two-stfoke machinery manufactured before 1980 (Yamaha's TZ750) and a maximum displacement of I,OOOcc for twins. The change effectively turns the I,025cc four-strokes which make up a formidable portion of this year's Formula One grids - after they were obsoleted from the Superbike ranks with the introduction of 750cc maximum displacement two years ago into very potent street bikes or very expensive conversation pieces. The 680/695cc hybrid Yamahas Kenny Roberts and Eddie Lawson rode in this year's Daytona will also be out in the cold. "Looking at this year's Formula One fields it is safe to assume we would probably have no more than 12 true Formula One 500cc GP bikes for next year's races," said Boyce. "That means the bulk of the field, as it is this year, would be made up of riders using other machinery to fill the ranks. One of the problems with our racing is that we shouldn't havea class where a rider can use worn out machinery from another class to fill out the field. Even with the rule change we're still in that same situation and that leads to having to run timed practice and taking the 25 fastest riders in order to eliminate riders on uncompetitive machine.ry. Formula One is only the premier class because we call it that. At this particular time, if there was a change in the rules regarding Formula One, I believe owners of current 500cc two-stroke G P bikes could find a favorable market for them in Europe.and probably do no worse than breaking even on a sale." Should a rules change of some sort be implemented in Formula One it would not take effect until the 1987 season.• Another interesting development is the formation earlier this year of a promotional group that hopes to turn (basically) U.S.-style Superbike road racing into an international series, with the ultimate goal of World Championship status, Steve McLaughlin, former Superbike racer as well as former manager of Honda's early U.S, road racing efforts, along with Britishers Chris Carter and Bruce Cox are behind the project. The basic rule structure for the proposed series would be a modification of AMA Superbike rules. Reports in the foreign press called the idea "ambitious," noting proposed races included ones in the U.S. (Daytona), South Africa, japan and Macao with a possible three-race program in England as well as others in Italy, Germany and Holland. Daytona's Meade acknowledged that the decision makers at the Speedway had heard of the McLaughlin organization, but said they had not been contacted concerning racing at Daytona. "We at Daytona - the France family and the Daytona staff - have always supported the AMA and will continue to do so," said Meade. • - 33

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