Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

The telllm's newest addition is Eng- ' land's Rob McElnea. I four Yamaha. "It's a good circuit to get to grips with the Yamaha," he said. "It was hard getting thrown into it in Spain." McElnea had his Yamaha fitted with a 16-inch front wheel while most of the others, including Lawson, were using 17s. "I think it helps me get through the chicanes. I thought it might be a bit loose in the fast corners but it seems alright." Lawson had first gear changed after the first non-timed session on Friday on EI and after the second session he also altered second and third. The bike was fitted with new pistons and the Ohlins shock was modified slightly. The heads were pulled o££ of E2 after the first session to check the pistons; it was too lean so the needle and mail) je~s were changed. After the second session, the shock was modified and the new Brembo front brake system was re-fitted; second and third gears were also changed. McElnea's R I was made leaner after the first session, the shock was modified and a 16-inch front wheel fitted. After the second session the bike was given new pistons, the needle jets were changed and the bike was made richer. McElnea also had first and second gea; changed. R2 went to a 34-tooth sprocket after the first session, had first gear changed and the shock modified again. Things were looking good for Marlboro Yamaha after Friday's time practice. Lawson didn't get his 1.49, but he turned a I :50.50 to hold down the fastest time. McElnea was up to second after turning a I:50.86. In the 250cc class, Wimmer had turned a 1:56.91 and was sitting atop the charts. Taira was down the list in 19th, but doing well considering his injuries. On Friday, I took time out from Team Marlboro to join Team Roberts Lucky Strike at the Monza golf CO!1rse. The fivesome included Mamola, Kenny Roberts, Mamola's girlfriend Alex and Yamaha's general manager of motorcycle operations, Mizo-san. Roberts and Mizo battled to the last hole, but Roberts won. The rest of us spent a lot of time exploring the Italian countryside. Day th....: Saturday. May 17 -Monu ' McElnea tried a 17-inch front wheel again, but was still undecided on what to use for the race. Lawson got his I:49 and with it, the pole position. McElnea didn't get faster than his Friday time, but would still be on the front row. For some unknown reason McElnea's bike just wasn't running right (even though it had identical specifications as Lawson's, it wouldn't run as fast). A number'of thiJ;lgs were tried in an effort to cure the problem. A new ignition and a Marlboro's World Championship leader Eddie Lawson. new exhaust valve motor were fitted. The mechanics were bc;ginning to wonder if maybe it was jus.t the size difference between the five-foot, nineinch, 135-pound Lawson and the sixfoot, 180-pound McElnea. Lawson had decided on using EI for Sunday's race. Third gear was changed back to standard and new front brake pads, new reeq valves and a new rear chain were fitted to the , now-race-ready bike. Lawson had decided on a 17-inch, K-compound Michelin radial for the rear and a 17inch front radial. E2 was set up the same as EI, was completely checked ove! and parked as a spare. . Lawson IlInd teammate Rob McElnea run in' the Italian fog after a midweek practice session prior to the Grand Prix in Monza. Day four: Sunday. May 18 Monza A short warm-up practice session is held on the Sunday morning at every Grand Prix. Lawson went out and did a cool three laps, pulled in with everything under control and pronounced himself ready for battle. McElnea was still having problems, bu~ without a cure in sight he was ready to go. He had decided on a 17inch front radial after trying biasplys throughout the week. Sunday was hot and humid; 15 minutes before the drop of the flag, Lawson took an ice-cold shower. A ton of baby powd.er later, Lawson was the coolest rider on the grid. "That lasted until the warm-up lap," he la ter said. The crew, meanwhile, approached Sunday with meticulous care. Even though there's not a ~Ioud in the sky, the team goes by the old saying that prevention is better than the cure. Spare wheels are fitted for all weather conditions; both riders have at their disposal pre-fitted spare front and rear slicks, a full rain front and full rain rear, an intermediate front, two hand-cut rear slicks with different tread patterns and a cut front slick - ready for anything and prepared for the worst. Each rider starts on brand new tires that are only scu££ed in on the warmup lap. Gerard. Yamaha's Michelin engineer, explained to me that for some reason once the tires are heated up through use, they reach a point of maximum traction. That point can never be reached again after they cool off. So every time Lawson goes out, it's on new rubber even if the previous tire only did three laps. This meant that on the weekend Lawson went through 10 rears and four fronts; Michelin had brought 1200 tires to Monza. I was recrui ted at the 12th hour to go to the back chicane with one of the two-way radio headsets. "Don't get excited, talk slow and give us the time intervals between Eddie and whoever is in front or behind him." With that Crew chief Kel Carruthers works on the lathe in the workshop portion of the tran~porter; there's a mechanics area in front with showers IlInd beds. I was off to the other side of the track. The Italian crowd erupted in a roar as the riders paraded past on the warm-up lap. As the hairs on the back of my neck started to stand up, I realized why I was told not to get excited. The flag dropped and I was told that Lawson was o££ the line with the lead - the lead. I couldn't believe it until I saw it with my own eyes, but it was true. Lawson led Mamola out of the thick Italian trees and into the chicane. "Position one, plus zero," I yelled into the microphone, "Okay, don't get excited," was their ans.wer. Lawson continued to pull away from Mamola at a steady rate a.s he glided through the chicane with relative ease. Lawson rode faster than everyone while looking slower than the guy running 10th - amazing. The race for third was heating up as McElnea, Mike Baldwin and Christian Sarron battled for the final rostrum position. That all changed on the last lap as McElnea grabbed a handful a little early and spun out while exiting the chicane. Right at my feet. "He's crash ... ing," I calmly said into the radio. Now who's calm? I thought as my radio blared with inquiries. I ran past the Italian police to talk to McElnea. A sore hand and hurt pride were the extent of the injuries, but we rode back in the ambulance anyway. For a minute, however, it looked like I was going to solo it back with the medical crew. McElnea got out of the ambulance to pull his leathers down, and suddenly they started leaving without him. "Hey," we yelled. The laughing driver stopped and we were quickly on our way again. McElnea came up with the ulti· mate quote as he told me on the drive back to the pits, "The bitch flicked me." We pulled up to the pit entrance with the Star Spangled Banner playing in the background with Lawson and crew standing on the winner's rostrum. McElnea knew he should have been up there. but instead was walking back to his motorhome in search of ice. Great. A win in the 500cc class and a fourth in the 250cc race meant a big Italian celebration, right. Wrong. A . few handshakes and a glass of wine and it's back to business for Team Marlboro Yamaha. After all there's a big truck to be loaded. After being mobbed by autograph seekers, Lawson prepares his motorhome for driving. Unhook the electrical, the water, etc. and it's ready to go. I jump in Carruthers' motorhome, Lawson gets in his and we freigh train it 30 miles to beautiful downtown Bergamo. After arriving at 9:30 p.m..it's off to the local dining establishment for more pasta, and then back to the shop to unload and start work. The shop in Bergamo is located a few blocks from the town church and in old Italian towns the town church means - a big bell. (Continued to page 71) 25-

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