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/126900
~ ~ (,,0 00 0') ...... ~ c-r ...... ..c u I-< ~ ...;;::-- ---- ~ zr Team Lucky Strike Roberts will use Yamaha V-fours fitted with Michelin radials to attack the 1986 500cc World Championship. Mamola at speed on the Yamaha during a test session; the team will make its debut at the Malaysian Grand Prix on April 6. " In 1985, th ere was n o doubt tha t Freddie Spen cer had an edge. H ow he will fare in 1986 depends on how much h e's improved, how much h is bik e's im proved, a nd on th e level of our abili ty." Whal is yo ur impression of the other Yamaha teams? Ken n y: " With Eddie and Rob McEInea , Agostini 's gOI a good learn, th ere's no questi on abou t tha t, To do well , Eddie and Ago will have 10 not be at each o the r's n ecks . "Sarr on 's Fre nch learn , Gauloises Blondes, is a lways th ere with good equipment and men." And th e Honda team? Ken n y: " In th e past iI'S been hard 10 And GalIina's HB-Suzuki team of Dave Petersen and Pier Francese Chili? Kenn y : " I d orir k no w i t we ll enough." How about Skoal Bandit Heron Suzuki with Paul Lewis, Paul Iddon and Kork BalIington as a possible rider? Ken n y: " I kn ow Suzuki 's wailing for th eir new engi ne , bu t whatever ha ppens, Kork would be the best bet for some good fini sh es." At you r retirement press conference you talked about having the best of both worlds . . . businessman and part-time racer. _ . is this it? Ken n y: " Not reall y. This is a new ca ll ir a learn. II's a lways Fr edd ie, a nd th en every body else. " Wh eth er Wa yn e Gard ne r will ac tua lly gel th e same eq uipment as Freddie rem a ins 10 be seen . Raym ond Roch e had a bad year with Agostini 's Yama ha Team and whi le h e had done well before on th e V-3 H onda , the V-4 Ya m aha wa s j us t a lilli e 100 much for h im and h e gOI into the co rners 100 fast a nd gOI in tro uble. Now he's r et ur ni ng 10 Fre n ch H onda ." What about the Honda Elf with Ron Haslam and Christian LeLiard, or Didier de Radigues on the Honda Benelux Johnson 's Elf RS500? Ken n y: " No chance." a ven ue for me. I' ve look ed a t it before but I' ve put it off until n ow . . . until il was perfect.' Will you race on you r own learn if the need arises , , . like Imola in 1983? Kenny: " T ha t's difficult 10 say. II's n ot as easy as j ust hopping o n a GP bik e and riding around behi nd Randy. " If th ere's a p roblem , I p robab ly would, bu t I' d have 10 be at 100% 10 do it safely . Ri gh t n ow the important th ing is to help them, 10 brin g them 10 a fi ne edge. I might go OUI at les ting, p ut on th e leathers and check so me th ing OUI. BUI as far as raci ng again , I'd h ave 10 ask m yself wh y wou ld I do i t, going ou t at a lo wer • level than 100%." Team Honda's Fred Merkel loves to give his competition a .~ rough time. His oil? Pro-Honda'" 4-stroke, ofcourse. Nothing else provides greater • engine reliability; or greater peace ofmind. Make the choice ofTeam Hondayour choice, too. Race-proven Pro-Honda Oils and Chemicals. Only at your Honda dealer. ,1111 , 1 1 111 . " © 1986 American Honda M Co., IncoPro Honda is a Honda lra demark. (4/86) otor OILS AND 0iEMICAl.S O H O NDA: THE LEADER BY DESIGN 13