Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

DE~ ~ • , Ricky Orlando (shown) teamed with Rueben McMurter to finish seventh. filling in for injured .David Old rode for Team Honeybee on a bike Aldana later described as "a joke." The machine blew head gaskets, spewed hot water out of its cooling system, and had no power. Aldana, who just four year ago qualified 0.02 seconds off the pole at this race, couldn't believe his situation. Like the other American privateers (except Emdeand Long), Aldana was there because sponsorship for his trip had been arranged by Hondaland, which owns Suzuka Circuit and promotes the race; the catch was that Aldana had to ride a Honda and he ended up with the Honeybee V-4. The bike was ·painted camouflage green -it looked like the paint was applied with a brush - with a homemade aluminum frame, slide-throttle Keihin carbs on ultra-long manifolds and, when it first showed up at the track, a single front disc brake. "I had to ride that pile and go slow," said Aldana. "There was no way 1 was gonna hang"itouton that junker. At least 1 got paid to riqe." Sass was more enthusiastic about being in Japan and tried to ride the bike hard despite its extreme shortcomings. Colorado champion Sass went a bit faster than Aldana did on the bike, but contributed a set of leathers to his enthusiasm - he crashed in practice. Sass' time of 2:44.00 gave the team only 61 st position, and only the fastest 60 qualified. The organizers asked riders to vote on a special exemption (or Aldana, who, teamed with Mike Baldwin, won the Suzuka Eight Hours in 1981 on a works Honda. The riders agreed and Aldana and Sass started the race. Their ride only lasted 34 laps before the bike exploded, and they were credited with 56th position. • Results 1. Mike Beldwin/Fred Merkel (Hon) 191 laps; 2. Guy Bertin/Oomminique Serron (Hon) 190; 3. Gererd Goudrrf/Petrik !goe (Hon) 188; 4. Osemu Hiwatashi/ Tadashi Fukumoto (Hon) 184; 5. Shini· chi Ueno/Hiroyuki Kawasaki (Yam) 182; 6. Andrew Johnson/Molcolm Compbell (Hon) 180; 7. Ricky Ortondo/Rueben McMurter (Hon) 180; 8. loshiheru Araki/Kohsei Yamamoto (Hon) 179: 9. Susumu Shimod/Nori!u.. Somo (Hon) 179; 10. Hiroyuki tloh/Kohji Koyone (Hon) 179 lop.; 16. John Long/ Dovid Emde(8MW) 17410ps...26. Meri Igoto/Sherry Fridu•• (Hon) 16910p... 4O. Joey Dunlop/Jim Wells (Hon) 135 lops ... 43. Roymond RochelWoyne Gordner (Hon) 1141005 ... 46. Groome Cr-.,/Len Willing (Suz) 84 laps; 47. Carry Andrew/Chris Steword (Hon) 84 lops 51. Henk Vondermork/Dirk Brond (SU1) 53 lops 54. Wolter Villa/Corio Perugini (Duc146 laps 56. David Aldana/Bruce So.s (Hon) 34 lops 59. Kork Ballington/Rob Phillis (Kow) 15 lop•. QUAUFYING: 1. Roche/Gardner 2:21.97; 2. Shunji Yathishiro/Hikaru Miyagi (Hon) 2:22.16; 3. Crosby/ Willing 2:22.49; 4. Johnson/Compbell 2:23.61; 5. Boldwin/Merkel 2:24.02; 6. Ueno/Kowasaki 2:25.48; 1. Neo Ikede/Noburo Miura 2:25.78; 8. Bertin/Sorron 2:25.96; 9. Goudray/Igoa 2:26.30; 10. Shosuke Kito/Shoji Soitoh 2:26.40; 11. DunloplWelis 2:27.55; 12. Bollington/Phillis 2:27.67 ... 16. Orlondo/McMurter 2:29.58 .. 25. Vondermork/Brond 2:32.29 ... 28. Villo/Perugini 2:33.14 ... 47. Igata/Friduss 2:36.30 ... 53. Long/Emde 2:37.44 ... 61. Aldono/Soss 2:44.00. Riding all-terrain vehicles is more than a job to me. It's a great way to have fun. But only if you do it right. I wouldn't race without the right gear, and I won't ride without it, either. An approved helmet, eye protection, boots and gloves are important. And so is respect for your machine. ATVs aren't toys. That's why it's important to read the Owner's Manual. And to always give your machine a thorough check-out before getting started. As a racer I know that riding over your head is the quickest W&j there is to get into trouble. Stay within your limits as a rider, and you'll have a better time. And stay aW&j from alcohol A rider who can't control himself, can't control his machine. Age, size and experience are also important to riding safety. So when I go riding with family or friends, I make sure that everyone gets a machine that's suitable to their size and experience. I also see that children never ride unattended. That way, everyone has a good time. And everyone comes out a winner! Fbr mme injarrnatian, ajree riding instructian booklet and the locatian ojthe Honda dealer nearest you, callBOO-ATC-3WHL. HONDA. FOLLOW THE LEADER ALWAYS WEAR AHELMET AND EYE PROTECTION. ATe is a n&istered Ronda trademark. Whip antenna not sl&ndard. C 1984 American Honda Motor Co.. IDe.. Shooting for Top Spot TOP PRIVATEER, MARK MURPHY Mark started off the season great winning the Florida Winter series. It proved to be an excellent warm up to the 500 Nationals. Consistently high finishes and a strong running Yamaha put Mark in 4th place in points at the end of the year. Mark finished just behind the top factory pros on his stock Yl.. We're impressed, but not surprised. Congratulations on a fantastic '84 season Mark. and good shooting for '85. You too can win with MS products. look for th

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