Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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Graham (Continued from page 4/) Romero, the 1971 Grand National Champion, did allow himself a smile now and then. He could afford to since he couldn't lose. Honda's firstever championship title and second place as well in the standings was perhaps even more than he expected. Add Chandler in fifth and it's a pretty tight package. Team Honda obviously had a racing budget many times larger than Harley-Davidson and one which doesn't even compute when talking about privateer efforts. Still money alone can't buy a championship as Honda found out in the Superbike (road race) Championship Series after being beaten - twice - by Kawasaki and the (comparatively speaking) shoestring budget. "We hada plan at the beginning of the year," said Romero, "which called for Ricky and Bubba to have two complete bikes plus one fresh spare engine at all times. After a race, the spare would be used to replace the engine raced in the National and then that engine would be sent back to our race shop in California for rebuilding. Each rider was assigned two mechanics with Sparky Edmonston and Dave Hubinsky on Graham's bikes and Skip Eaken and Dennis Jones working on Bubba's equipment. Rob Muzzy and Ray Plumb handled the engine rebuilding. Mitsu Kaneda served as the coordinator between us and the factory in Japan while Udo Gietl, from the road racing team, gave us input and other help. Everything worked like it was supposed to." ••• Greham Shobert Houston ST Houston IT Daytona RR AscotTT 4 1 3 Sacramento Mile 1 4 7 1 2 2 1 11 7 Santa Fe TT 4 2 5 . 5 9 5 Pocono RR Cicero Mile Peoria TT sears Point RR Indianapolis Mile Indianapolis Mile Brainerd RR Syracuse Mile San Jose Mile Ascot TT Ascot HM Lexington RR Sacramento Mile ~ngfiald Mile • ix,. . suspension _AFM Series Willow Spring. RKeWay October 14.1984 KONI 7610 Adjustable Shocks Available At All Quality Dealers KO.~ Koni America, Inc., 111 W. Lovers Lane, Culpeper, VA 22701 703/825-4543 GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SHOCKS /If!JJ.USSEU} DIlLY THE lEST IS HOD noaH 150 MPH WITH RUBBER BRAKE LINES? UNTHINKABLE! Distributed by: TRIKE 2 2 9 1 2 2 12 4 1 2 3 1 2 2 1 1 2 2 13 2761 Toledo Street. Suite 903 Torrance. California 90503 (213) 533-1023 Top-ranked Cycle News' sporty new baseball cap goes straight to the top - everybody's top! Bright red and white, this cap fits all sizes. Please turn to the order blank on the DealeI:' Directory page Camel Pro Series point paying finishes San Joee ST San Jose Mile Ascot HM Louisville HM i:tarrington HM Elkhart Loka RR Loudon RA Limo HM St. Louis ST Hagerstown HM Springfield Mile Laguna Seca RR DuQuoin Mile 1st Open-Super Street RACING PRODUCTS Graham, when questioned about a rumored $100,000 bonus from Honda for winning the title, slipstreamed around the original question. "My bonus will be worth well over $100,000," said Graham, "when you count in tbe Camel Pro point fund money, the race bonuses, contingency money and other things. I'm happy. Right now, I don't have any real plans about what I'll do with the money, but give me a bit of time and I'm sure I'll think of something." '" believe I'll go out shopping for a new car," said Shobert. "Actually, , think Ricky should buy it for me. Maybe' can persuade him to do that since we've been so close all season. New year when things are different and I'm number one then I can return the favor." • Race KONI WINS Doherty Wins At Willow I". vila