Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Wind (Continued f10m page 2) ..age from what was the XR71 to what now is called the XR72. Suzuki is claiming 145 horsepower from the new bike that Schwantz will campaign in 1987 GPs that don't conflict with his AMA Superbike schedule. An exciting moment during the tests saw Schwantz run over one of two small dogs that attempted to cross the track. The Ducati International Owners Club is having their annual Daytona get-together on Friday night, March 6, in the same building where they have had it the past few years. That building is right across the street from the baseball park on Orange Avenue in Daytona. The happening stansatapproximately 7 p.m. and all Ital ian bike riders are invited to attend. An Arenacross doubleheader took place as part of the Florida February MX Series on February 14-1S at Jacksonville, Florida. Saturday's Semi-Pro action saw Brian McEI. roy (Hon) top the 12Scc division, John Reinholt (Vam) on top in 250Cc action, and Glen Nicholson (Vam) getting top SOOcc honors. On Sunday it was Mike Larocco (Vam) winning the 12Scc class, Doug Hoover (Hon) topping the 2SOCc class, and Scooter Stafford (Vam) first in the SOOCC class. Talking to The Orange County (California) Register's Tim Tuttle about his best friend, David Bailev, and the ac idem that has left Baile) paraJyzed from the waist down, Team Suzuki's Johnn) O'Mara aid. "David's accident changed my attitude on life. I used to let little things stres me out when they didn't go .right. I didn't know they were little thing until David got hun. I know now I have tomorrow, why should I complain? For David, he hopes tomorrow will orne and he can get up and walk." Bailey has expressed his appreciation for the ton of mail he's received from friends and fans. Cards and letter can be sent to' Bai ley at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, 751 S. Bascomb Ave., San Jose, CA 95128. OPENED: Chris Hatounian, the former art director for Answer Products and Silkolene, has formed Hatounian Designs in Canoga Park, California, 818/704-4219; Hatounian is best known for his high visibility work on the Answer Products catalogs and advertisements. peculation surrounding what is the last factory ride available for the 1987 Grand Prix road racing season has ended with the Skoal Bandit Suzuki team signing England's Kenny Irons to a contract. The Skoal team had previollsly signed Raymond Roche, but the Frenchman made a last minute switch to Cagiva. The Skoal team will reportedly take legal action against Roche. Irons and Kevin Schwantz will be the lone factory Suzuki men in the 1987 GP season. 2 The signing of Irons by Skoal Bandit has ended the possibility of AMA/Camel Pro Road Racing Champion Fred Merkel joining tl'!e team. Reportedly, the Englishbased team was under pressure to sign an English rider and opted for Irons. The Irons/Suzuki deal also means last year's team rider, Australian Paul Lewis, is out of a ride; 1987 may see Lewis switch to the 260cc class. According to road racer Doug Toland, he will no longer ride for the Team Hammer endurance racing team. "As it stands right now, I'm not riding for them," Toland said. "But it's not official yet. It's between John (Ulrich, team manager) and I. He was being unreasonable and this and that, but he'll tell you differently. He's got it in his mind that I'm not going to ride. It's unfair, but he does whathe wants .to do." Ulrich declined to comment. Japan's Satoshi Tsujimoto will ride a factory Voshimura Suzuki Superbike in the. March 8 Daytona 200 and will stay in the U.S. to contest the AMA/ Camel Pro Series Superbike Championship for 'Suzuki. Tsujimoto qualified fourth for last year's Daytona 200, but a blown engine put him out early. Texan Doug Polen will ride for Kosar Racing in the 1987 AMA/Carnel Pro Superbike Series. Polen will team with fellow Texan Ollis Lance on Suzuki GSXR750s; Kosar used Yamaha FZ750s in 1986. The team is scheduled to test at Daytona International Speedway the last week in February, along with Kevin Schwantz and Satoshi Tsujimoto, in preparation for the 200. Two-time World Champion Eddie Lawson tested his 1986 SOOcc Vfour Vamaha at Willow Springs International Raceway in Rosamond, California, on February 13. Lawson did only 11 laps on the Marlboro Vamaha because of bad weather conditions at the southem California facility. PROMOTED: Brent Ross, to managi ng editor of Rider magazi ne; Ros was formerly associate edi tor of Rider. PROMOTED: Donya Carlson, to assistant editor of Rider magazine; Carlson was formerly the operating manager of the Rider Motorcycle Touring Club (RMTC). PROMOTED: Jamie EI idge. to associate editor of Rider magazine; Elidge was formerly an assistant editor of Rider. Team Honda road racer Wayne Rainey has put together a dirt track program for 1987. "Hey, I'm going dirt tracking," Rainey said from his home on Thursday, February 12. "I just put it together yesterday. The company my dad works for, South County Framing (a carpentry construction firm), will sponsor me and we've got enough money for a 7S0 program. It will be a top-notch privateer team and we'll make a run at that Camel Cup." Motocro ser Jim "Hollywood" Holley was scheduled to undergo knee surgery on February 16. Holley, who injured his knee earlier in the year, was unable to finish his heat race at the San Diego Supercross becau e of the pain. Team Vamaha's Broc Glover will be out 6-10 weeks, according to team manager Kenny Clark. Glover was riding at Thursday's press day prior to the February 14 San Diego Supercross when he was stricken with severe back pains. The injury has been diagnosed as stress cracks in his lower back, an injury that is common in athletes that train intensively. Metzeler road racing tires will be available in the garage area at Daytona International Speedway, Febru- ary 27 through March 8. In addition to slicks in both J and K compounds and MBS Sport compound ME!l3/ ME99A sets, a limited supply of the new·ME33 and MEl D.O.T. production road racing tires will be available. For more information on these tires and 17-inch front and rear D.O.T. tires for the Honda CBR600 Hurricane, call MeLZeler at 206/348-4000. won Steve Morehead (H-D) the Expert final at both the Saturday, February 14, and Sunday, february 15, AMA Regional Championship Dirt Track Series half mile rounds in Tampa, Florida. Dan Ingram (H-D) and Sammy Sweet (H-D) finished 2-3 Saturday, while Pete Hames (H-D) and Ronnie Jones (Hon) finished 2-3 behind Morehead Sunday. Bryan Villella (W-R) won the Junior final both times out, and Kevin Atherton (W-R) was the Pro-Am winner both days. The races were the opening rounds of the eight-race WisecoSpectro Dirt Track Series. The series offers competitors a $10,000 point fund. The next round will take place on the half mile oval at Jacksonville (Florida) Raceway on Friday night, February 27, followed by a Saturday night, February 28, half mile at Barberville, Florida's Volusia County Speedway, and the Sunday, March 1, DaytonaBu.seh Half Mile at the same facility. No, Virginia and other confused readers, Unadilla Valley Spons Center isn't in Unadilla, New York, it's in New Berlin, ew York. And that's where the '87 Motocross des Nations will take place on September 13. New Berlin is approximately 25 miles north of Unadilla. For more information, contact Unadilla Valley Sports Center, clo Ward Robinson, P.O. Box 51 19, Edmeston, NY 13335,60719658784. Honda will offer cash awards to riders competing on Hurricane 600 and VFR700s in the upcoming 1987 road race season. In the contingency program are selected AFM (American Federation of Motorcycles), CCS (Champion Cup Series), LRRS (Loudon Road Racing Series), MRA (Mountain Roadracing Association, OMRRA (Oregon Motorcycle Road Racing Association), WERA (Western Eastern Racing Association) and WMRRA (Washington Motorcycle Road Racing Association) events. Honda will pay $1 SOO for a win on the 600 and $1 000 for a 7S0 win while paying through fifth in the 600cc class and third in the 750cc division. The3rdAnnual17-DayMotoMorini Tour of Europe will cost $5500 in 1987 with that price including a new 50 I Camel motorcycle returned to the United States. The cost of the trip includes airfare, hotel, meals and transportation; this year's trip will also incl ude a rental bike program for $3750. For more information contact Herman Baver at Herdon Corp., Port Clinton, PA 19549,215/561·3155. PROMOTED: Carla Parlee-Rose, to vice president of HBJ Expositions It Conferences, a division of Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Publications; Parlee-Rose had been general manager of the HBJ Motorcycle It ATV Expos since their acquisition from Hester Communications in 1985. frick Enterprises, Inc. has posted contingency prizes for both the Wil- low Springs (California) Formula USA Series and the AFM Road Race Series. Trick Racing Gasoline product certificates will be awarded to the first and second place finishers of each race for the amounts of 10 and five gallons, respectively: To qualify for the contingency, riders must dis· play Trick decals on both sides of their bikes, and proof of purchase will be required. For more info con· tact Kerry Lee Ranch at 619/281-9133. According to an American Honda representative, the company is completely sold out of 1987 CR2S0Rs. That means dealers cannot order anymore 2505 and are left with what they have on the showroom floors. Honda also says that the CR125R is nearly sold out. The Califomia Vintage Racing Group will sanction part of the April II La Carrera Classic in Baja California, Mexico. CVRG competition rules will be used and the CVRG will also run registration and tech inspection for vintage machinery. The classes under CVRG rules include: Lightweight through Heavyweight Vintage, Formula 750, Sportsman 500/6001750, Pre· 1950/40/30 and sidecars. For more information and eligibility requirements, contact the CVRG at 6398 Dougherty Rd., #34, Dublin, CA 94568, 415/829-6091. Southern California's Willow Springs International Raceway has formed the Willow Springs Motorcycle Association (WSMA) which will offer novice road racers a sixrace California Superbike School Challenge. Novice riders can compete in two classes, 600Cc lightweight and Open Heavyweight, and accumulate points for a final event in November where the top 1 0 riders from each class will ride the California Superbike School's Kawasaki 600 Ninjas. To qualify for a WSMA novice license, riders who have attended the Superbike School may come to Willow Springs and do their final checkout on April 3. The practice and qualifying day will be free and riders may qualify on their own bikes. A regular Superbike School session will be held for riders who wish to qualify on school bikes. Other riders wishing to compete in the Superbike School Challenge and qualify for their WSMA license will be expected to come to Willow Springs with bikes ready to race on April 3. There will be a $SO license fee for non-Superbike School students. WSMA licensed riders are eligible for free practice days throughout the year. Call 213/484-9323 for more information. • Superbowl gate receipts to Goodwin By Farren Williams LONG BEACH, CA, FEB 6 A federal bankruptcy judge has ruled that off-road race promoter Mickey Thompson has no right wapproximately $600,000 in gate receipts earned by Stadium Motorsports at the 1986 Superbow19f Motocross, held last June in Los Angeles, California. JudgeJohn E. Ryan ruled January 28 that the funds be released to Stadium Motorsports Corporation, that SMC deposit the funds in an interestbearing account, and that the monies not be used except by further order of

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