Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

-- --- -:,J fl!liiCllJ!JfJ!li1illl • 00- ~'~.~.,.q;a ..... fa .o-~-.. ~ "~' ~ -..' ..... : ~ .- f- ( .~ (.0 00 O'l ~ ~ ~ C\I Q.) ~ ~ ....., Lawson and McElnea on a Yamaha Beluga scooter; each rider has two V -four Yamahas, two mechanics and a Japanese engineer at their disposal. Team Martboro (Continued from page 25) Every half hou~ the bell is rung, and now I know why Lawson checked himself into a hotel. Day five: Monday, May 19 Bergamo I What do you do on a Monday in Bergamo? Lawson and I were about lo find out. Not a lot. Agostini dropped by the shop in the morning and I went with him to pick up Lawson from the hotel. While we were driving in his Fiat, he told me why he doesn't use his 500 Mercedes-Benz very often. It seems that in Italy if you drive your Mercedes, BMW, etc., into Milan for the day, when you come out your car is gone. Forever. Thus, the Fiat comes in handy. We picked up Lawson and went to the team's new shop, currently under constructi6n. Two stories with. work areas, showers, bedrooms and offices - not a bad workshop. Lawson decides he wants to swim so we jump on a Yamaha Beluga scooter and head (or a club that's part of the hotel he's staying in. When we inquire about using the facilities, we find out that it's 1I private club and we're not members. Lawson starts lo inquire about purchasing a membership and I drag him out before he_ signs himself up for monthly dues. One swim won't be worth it, I wid him. "Let' ride up to the old LOwn," Lawson said. And we were off. Splitting lanes in downtown Bergamo on our Bel uga. We go through lOwn and head up the mountain to the old LOwn - but we're losl. We find a, nice, windy road to the lOp and when we can't go any farther we turn around. Going up was fine because of the lack of horsepower, but going down was a different swry. Soon enough we're dragging everything on both sides of the scooter as we race down the windy and narrow mountain road. Just when we think we're doing pretty good, an Italian and-his girlfriend (on a moped) ny past around the outside. "They have more clearance than us," Lawson growled under his breath. Not wanting to be outdone, Lawson raced up the inside of the couple under brak- ing for a tight left-hander. Take that, Mario! We had redeemed ourselves. While we were out having fun, the crew was hard at work. All the bikes had the cylinders off, the pistons checked along with a basic check of the brake and exhaust pipes. Bernard had a tougher day than the rest as he set about to straighten McEInea's mess. The bike was completely stripped, the minor damage was repaired; new footpegs, new tank, fairing, etc. The 500cc V-fourthat Yamaha uses has proved lo be very reliable. This is proven by the fact tha teach bike goes three races before getting a new crankshaft, and even then it is more of a prevention than a need. can-am * * Day six: Tuesday, May 20 Bergamo and beyond Agostini picked Lawson and me up and wok us to his palatial house in the hills overlooking Bergamo. Ago had recorded the live telecast of the Monza race on his VCR and we watched intently; Lawson enjoyed the battle for second that went back and (orth repeatedly and when, on the last lap, the TV crew only followed Lawson instead of the good race, he said. "Why are we watching that guy?" After the TV session, we went back to the shop where Ago's younger brother, Felice, took us to downtown Bergamo in search of a Gucci shop. Unfortunately for Lawson's wallet we found one, and an hour and a half later left with bags full of designer purses. When we returned the tru ks were loaded and everyone was ready for the drive to Germany. Mass'irno drives Lawson's motorhome and Lawson elected LO drive (rest/sleep/read) with Carruthers. The drive through the Swiss alps was spent listening LO music and the reading of the book "A Town Like Alice" while nursing along Carruthers' mOlOrhome; a fuel vapor lock meant 30 mph speeds through the mountain passes. When Carruthers elected lo Slop for the night, Lawson joked, "Hey, I bought a non-stop ticke't (or this trip and the pilot doesn't just stop when he wants." It didn't work and we spent the night in a roadside parking area, • (Continued next weelc) When the heat's-on & the race is long, you'll 68g drank 1985 CLEARANCE SALE I 250 ASE l/CSI895 125 MX llC S1495 500 MX SI895 250 MX llC SI895 NEW 1986 MODELS Call For SpecIal PrIces Complete machine shop services. Parts shipped UPS daily. D.M. Best Can-Am 6516 McCart Avenue Ft. Worth. Texas 76133 In Tex.a: Out Of T....: 1-817-294 8634 1-800-972-1119 * Pirelli * Metzeler * Michelin * SBS* OJ> .§ PRECISIOM DIST. 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