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/126926
Endurance RR (Continued from page /2) (.0 00 0') \ Hallman USA's Mach 5 Upper-Body Protection System offers increased body protection: forearms, back and elbows. PRODUCT EVALUATION Hallman USA Mach 5 Upper-Body Protection System By Kit Palmer Hallman USA has developed a brand new "shoulder pad" called the Mach 5 Upper Body Protection System. The Mach 32 5 is a lot more than just a chest and shoulder protector ~ it's also designed to protect the rider's back, elbows and forearms against roosts and impacts. The Mach 5 is constructed of rugged plastic and is fully ventilated and adjustable. The shoulder area has three separate plastic flaps that are hinged by a pre-loaded spring to the main shell. The flaps stick out past the shoulder, so when there's an impact to the shoulder area, the flaps "give" and act as a cushion, which is somewhat similar t9 Hallman's previous shoulder pad design. Also attached to the main shell (underneath the flaps) by a nylon strap is the upper arm guard, which almostcompletely wraps around the rider's biceps. The Mach 5 has optional elbow guards that feature full rotating cups over the el bow area. The el bow guards also extend downward to protect the forearms and mount to the upper arm guards by snaps. The back piece fully covers the rider's upper back and shoulder blade area, and extends down to the lower back. A series of five reinforced boxedribs are used in the back to absorb impacts. There are two adjustable elastic straps on each side of the shell to connect the front and back pieces • together when worn. A large plastic piece connects the two straps together on each side, forming what Hallman calls a One-Pull Closure System. The plastic pieces on the straps connect to the front shell by tWO hooks. Areas that actuall y rjde on the wearer's body are padded with soft, thick foam and moisture-absorbin~ terry cloth. In the neck area, the edges of the Mach 5's shell are heavily padded. The new Hallman Mach 5 upperbody protection system is fairly comfortable and isn't too restrictive. There are more comfortable shoulder pads on the market, but they don't seem to be quite as protective as the Mach 5, which has more plastic area covering the rider's body than most. There are few things we aon't like about the Mach 5, and one of them is how the air ventilating scoops on the upper arm guards hang up on the One-Pull Closure System hooks when walking around. It's very annoying while walking, but not when rirung. We also wish the opening around the neck area was a little wider to make it easier to slip the Mach 5 over the head. Also, when sitting down, the front piece likes to ride up and rub against the rider's neck. The One-Pull Closure System i a good concept and easy to use. No longer do you have to fumble arou'nd while 'trying to remove the straps. Now you can pop off the straps in seconds, which really comes in handy after a long moto when you're hot and sweaty. The upper arm guards are very protective against roosts, and if you're riding an enduro, they do a fine job warding off tree branches. Overall roost protection is first rate. Hardly any part of the rider's upper body is exposed to flying rocks and mud, The forearm guards are a nice touch and good to have in certain situations. If the terrain is rocky or hard-packed, then it's a good idea to attach the forearm guards, and if you're really safety minded, they're comfortable enough to w.ear all the time. H you're looking for upper-body protection for off-road riding, the Hallman USA Mach 5 is certainly worth looking into. Available in a wide variety of colors, the Mach 5 retails for $99.95 (elbow guards $19.95). For more information, contact Hallman USA, !l15 West Bradley, EI Cajon, Ca. 92020, 619/442-04!l1. Outside California, call 800/854-2812. after 10 minutes in the pits; they retired on lap 99. New Haven's charge to the front al 0 became hampered when water entered the carbs while Atwell was passing bctween two lapped riders. Out & Out Racing moved iOlO second GTU with Team Maryland going imo third. "I went between two bikes on the front straight and got spla hed real bad, that's when the bike started to feel like it was running on three cylinders," said Atwell. Remzell and Atwell were able to pull within 29 seconds of Shorts and Edenfield with the race in the final hour. Hare's earlier battle with Gale, which had lasted for about 25 laps, had subsided as Hare feU off Gale's pace. "He had me covered at the end" said Hare. "We raced for about 25 or so laps. I stayed on hi butt and had him on the front straight but he could get it back in the infield. Then he finally got around me in turn three and pulled away. I seem to do real good in the rain." At the checkered flag, it was Shorts taking the win with an average race speed of 70.88 mph. GTU winner Front Row Racing placed fifth overall. Rider Goulding said, "We had special help today from Walt Schaeffer Tires. We ran Walt's raiDS and without the rains we couldn't have done it." Taking second in GTU and eighth overall werc Out & Out Racing's Rick Burnett and Marc Lautenhizer; third in GTU, ninth overall, were Team Maryland's John Lowman and Craig Caver. All three teams were riding Yamaha FZ600s. In the Sunday sprint racing por· tion of the weekend- program, the rain finally stopped and the track had dried. There was no stopping Kevin RenLZell as hecominued to dominate the AMA/CCS sprints. RenLZell took wins in Formula Two and Middle.weight Superbikeon his Kayo/Yokohama/Shoei·sponsored FZ600, and won Formula One and Heavyweight Superbike on a Suzuki GSXR750. Mike Harth, on the Cycle Performance Yamaha FZ750, stopped Rentzell.from having a perfect day by taking the Unlill)ited Superbike win. Harth finished the race with the fastest time of the weekend, just I/lOth of a second off the unoHicial track record. • Results ENDURANCE OVERALL: 1. Team Lockhart (Suz': 2. New Haven Suzuki (Suz): 3. JohMOn & Woods (Vaml; 4. Miami Vice Racing (Vim); 5. Front Row Racing (Yam); 6. West Florida Racing (Vamt; 7. CobBr. Rlcing (Suz); 8. Out & Out Racing (Vam); 9. Team Maryland (Vam); 10. SChwing Racing (Vam'; 11. Team Up (Yam); 12. More Racing (Yam); 13. Taylor Roadracing (Suz); 14. Team PMS (Vam'; 15. Jam-Up Racing (Yam). GTO: 1. Team Lockhart (So'); 2. New Haven Suzuki (Suzl; 3. Johnson & Woods (Vaml. GTU, 1. Front Row Racing (Vam" 2. Out & OUI Racing (Yam); 3. Team Maryland (Vam). SPRINTS LTWT 1 NOVIEX, 1. Paul Polizzi (Hon'; 2. Mike • Reed (Suzl; 3. Perry 8ruce (Yam). RZ CHALL NOVlEX: 1. Robert Willis (Yaml; 2. Pat Curran (Yam); 3. Graham James (Yam'. FORM TWINS NOVlEX: 1. James St_an (Nor" 2. Malcolme Tunstall (8iml; 3. Frank Shockley (Tri). SUPTWINS NOV/EX: 1. Malcolme Tunslall (Bim); 2. Frank Shockley (Tri); 3. James SI_art (Nor). F-l: 1. Kevin Ranuell(Vam); 2. Bill Kelly(Vam); 3. Mike Harth (Vam). SUPBIKE NOV, 1. Poul Bray (Vam,; 2. Jimmy Mosley (Vaml; 3. Cam Roos (Hon). MIDLWT SUPBIKE EX: 1. Kevin Rentzell (Vam'; 2. Marc Leutzenhiser (Yam); 3. Malcolme Tunst.1f (Bim). HVYWT SUPBIKE NOV: 1. Jimmy Mosley (Suz); 2. Keith Miller (Kaw); 3. Dennis Johnson (Veml. HVYWT SUPBIKE EX: 1. Kevin Rantzell (Vam); 2. Mike Hanh (Vaml; 3. Bill Kelly (Vaml. F-2 NOV: 1. Paul Bray (Vam); 2. Jimmy Mosley (Vam): 3. Cam Roos (Honl. F-2 EX: 1. Kevin Rentzell (Vaml; 2. Greg Esser (Honl; 3. Rob Mowson (Vaml. UNLTD SUPBIKE NOV; 1. Jimmy Mosley (Suzl; 2. Dennis Johnson (Yam); 3. Steve seaborn tKaw). UNLTD SUPBIKE EX: 1. Mike Harth (Vam); 2. Kevin Rentzell (Vam): 3. Bill Kelly (Yaml. LTWT 2 NOV/EX: 1. Chip Terrell (Hon); 2. John Lowman (Yam); 3. Cam Roos (Hon).