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/127128
The only engine adjustments left are ignition timing, carburetor mixture settings, and the final choice of gear ratios. There remains the crucial rear suspension setting, and the critical choice of tires , both matters decided in conjunction with the rider. For the rest, Burgess' philosophy fits in well with Honda's. " When you make changes, you often create problems." The other key to success lies in motivating the rider, which can in some cases mean playing psychological games. "If a rider can motivate himself, that's ideal. I have worked with most of the top riders except for Roberts and Lawson, and Wayne is the most determined person I've ever come across in racing. Freddie Spencer did it on pure riding talent; Gardner does it on determination. Even so, I have to give him a talking to now and then. We rea lly had to work at getting him rolling at the start of the season. "It's all very psychological ~ the rider's mood has to be ri~ht for him to ride h is best. In the nght mood, he can go fast on anything; and on the wrong day he can be slow even if the bike is spot on." By the end of the season, when Gardner's title depended more on machine reliability than winning any more races, Burgess felt the pressure. "It's not Randy versus Wayne, it's Randy against us, the mechanics." Burgess's reliability record remained perfect for th e season and he 's quick to share the credit not only with his trackside colleagues, but also the unsung hordes back in Japan. And of course the rider. " Wayne is very soft on machinery. We have to tell him to over-rev it so metimes, like where yo u come over th e hill at the Salzburgring. The bike is geared for the climb in sixth, and you can 't help overrevving as you reach the crest ." He has enjoyed the conflict with the other tuners. " It 's very much between me and them-Kel, ETV and Mike. I know from experience how miserable they must feel about losing. I really respect them; I think they're the best in the paddock. But I do n't believe we are the only four guys who can screw a motorcycle together. I don't believe in mechanical gurus. " Experience is the biggest thing. I try to learn from other people's mistakes rather than my own. For instance, everyone laughed when Kel put Roberts's brake pads in back to front in Assen one year , but ever since then I've looked twice and three times at the pads in my bikes." He lets his mechanics conduct such experiments as Honda allows, with the one provision that each bike must be kept exactly the same. "My job is just to make sure it's all put together right. That's the way Honda plays it, and if you believe in them, th ey're likely to believe in you back." Burgess and Gardner between them arrived at a detailed quantitative assessment of what was wrong with the 1986 NSR Honda, reported in detail to the factory and just look at what HRC built them for 19871 . No wonder Burgess can sa y, " Ambitions? I don't have any. I just want to carry on doing what I'm doing now." cAgOJOlliOIl 81ltehphmeg ephegellt: SANCTIONED 28th RUNNING . SATURDAY APRIL 23 8 pm RICKY GRAHAM DOUG CHANDLER STEVE EKWND CHRIS CARR WITH ' AATVA FOUR WHEEL PRO Z$Oee PROGRAM ON THE TT COURSE 80% PAYBACK GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS - ADULTS S12.00. CHILDREN (9· 12) S6.00. · 8 AND UNDER FREE J. C. AGAJANIAN'S TICKETS AVAILABLE AT T.fCKer~~S'ZE~ .. AT MAY COMPANY, MUSICPLUS ANO SPORTMART. TICKETMASTER CHARGE (213) 480-3232 or (714) 740-2000 18300 S. VERMONT AVE., GARDENA (213) 321· 5323 • (213) 515·5115 FREE VI' PARKII6 FOR STREET MOTORCYClES Mike Sinclair Mike Sinclair's reaction to the view that " bo th bikes should be kept .exactly the same" demonstrates the difference between Honda and Yamaha. " Ca n 't see th e point. That's how you develop better bikes, with one as a yardstick, and the other going ahead. You hope th ey 'll leapfrog each other." Sinclair, at 35, has .c1imbed the 43