Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

since Franco Uncini did likewise at the Italian GP in 1982. Schwantz became the (irst rider to break into the 34s at Phillip Island, turning a 1:34.99 (104.562 mph) in the (inal session on Saturday. He did so on a bike that he claimed was set up perfectly (or the GP. He, among others, had tried 16-inch (ront wheels but used a 17 (or his (ast lap and in the race. "Mine was hooked up; it was working," the lanky Texan said. "It was working good enough tha tit was enjoyable. I think the race will be run in the low 35s or middle·35s. " Next quickest was Rainey who clocked a I:35.40. The two had done battle in what many (elt would be a mini-race preview during Saturday's (inal session, but Rainey couldn't match Schwanu. Rainey and the Dunlop-mounted Yamaha (ought off spectacular-looking slides while Schwantz and his Michelinclad Suzuki appeared to be on rails. Most felt this would be the difference in the race. Rainey knew he had some work to do in Sunday's warm-up to get the Yamaha handling better. "We keep making suspension changes, but I can't (ind the one I want yet," he said. "We keep going backwards. He's (Schwantz) got it going. I struggled a bit. That's definitely not the race set up. The sliding's not that much o( a problem, but we need more stability." The American duo who battled so fiercely in Japan were among the (ew who stayed upright in what was otherwise a crash-marred three days o( practice. The scariest o( which was Lawson's. The World Champion collided with Magee in the (astest corner on the track, a (i(th-gear left-hander., The Australian's Yamaha had seized and when he pulled in the clutch he was (orced wide on the track. Lawson subsequently plummeted into the rear o( the Lucky Strike bike and both left the circuit with Lawson's Honda tanks lapping and finally throwing him 0(£; Magee rode to a stop before running back to Lawson's aide. Lawson was sore, having hurt his left hand and suffering a large bruise on his left thigh. Luckily, the World Champion didn't re-injure the wrist he broke while testing at Suzuka before the Japanese GP, "I wanted ro keep the drive going to the rear wheel so I could hold a ti~ht line," Magee said o( the mishap. "Without engine power, the bike will just drift to the outside o( the track. I changed to sixth to keep the.revs down, but then I had to pull in the clutch, and I couldn't help the bike drifting towards the ou tside. I hoped nobody was coming behind me, but unfortunately Eddie was right there." Lawson dismissed the incident as "just one o( tbose things. It just happened. He didn't want i't to bappen," Sitting next to Rainey on the front row o( the grid was the local (avorite Gardner, who also survived a scare in Saturday's (irst session, The (ormer World Champion was taken out by West German Michael Rudroff while attempting to pass around the outside of the slower rider. Rudroff lost the (ront end of his Honda ,three-cylinder and took Gardner with him, "I wanted to rip ,his head 0(£," Gardner, who was recovering (rom an injury sustained to his testi<;:les while savin~ a crash during an 0((track excurSiOn in the Japanese GP, said later. Gardner, after a long walk back to the pits, couldn't better his time (rom Friday's second session when Kevin Schwantz crashed out of the ~p on the first lap after setting fast time in qualifying. Note flying glove. Tadahiko Taira (21) leads Freddie Spencer (19). Eddie Lawson (1) and Christian Sarron (4) early in Australia. he stopped the clock at 1:35.77. The Australian was also one o( those trying a 16-inch (ront wheel, and he would use it with much success in the GP. The top Hondas also (eatured improved top speed after getting new exhaust pipes between Japan and Australia. Japanese GP pole-sitter Taira (1:35.80) and Frenchman Sarran (1:35.93) (illed the front row. Sarron too had crashed on Saturday, in the final session. He'escaped the (all, in which he lost the (ront end, unhurt. Magee (1:35.99) was the (irst rider on the second row after saving his best (or tbe (inal session. "I (inally got going," he said. "I had problems in the middle two sessions. I (eel like I'll be able to go (aster tomorrow. I've got a few things to try in the warm-up." A sore Lawson (1:36.02) (ollowed. ''I'm sore everywhere," Lawson said. "The wrist hurts bad on slow righthand corners. I bad a bad session, but I think the race will be good. Schwantz looks like he's doing 35s real easy, but i( be's doing 36s and his tires go off I'll be okay." Three-time World Champion Spencer felt things were progressing as planned in his return to active racing. He was on the second row next to Lawson with a time o( I :36.23, set in Saturday's (irst session. "I think everyone ,will use a harder tire tomorrow, but I don't know how the Dunlops will last," the Louisianan said. "1 got hung up in traffic when I had the soft tire on, and the tire went away after that. I've never had a lowf luck with qualifying tires except at Daytona. Tbe tire we race with is usually the best and that's what the bike will be set up (or. I think it's possible that they'll (Schwantz and Rainey) take o£(. Everything is working so well (or them. When it's necessary they put in a good lap. I know what it's like - I've been there." . Spencer's teammate Mackenzie (1:36.46) rounded oUlthe second row despite suffering through a week o( mechanical.ills. "It seized in the last session," the Scot said. "It didn't feel right and then it seized, r will try the last gearbox again in the morning. I haven't had a chance to try it with good tires on. I feel good about the race track and everything, but I've gone backwards. If we can get everything together we'll be alright. " Mackenzie's Yamaha seized again on Sunday morning during the warm-up and it was (ortunate that the Australian GP would (eature a ,parade o( former, Aussie champions. Marlboro Yamaha crew chief Kel Carruthers was able to lap the circuit on Mackenzie's race bike, breaking it in (or the GP and even going as far as doing a plug chop at the end of the front straight. The rest o( the American comingent, Mamola and Shobert, were back on row three after both were involved in practice mishaps. Shobert was suffering (rom inj uries sustained in a Thursday morning get o(f. "It highsided and landed on top o( me," the Texan said. "The foot (which contained a cracked bone) isn't that mucb of a problem; it's my hip that hurts, But it's getting better everyday. The bike wasn't working and I kept trying to make it work. It's just something else to learn," Mamola also crashed when the throttle stuck on his Cagiva entering the second-gear left-hand corner known as Siberia-. Mamola consequently locked up the front wheel to avoid hitting Dominque Sarran and crashed to a stop uninjured, His most pressing problem was an illhandling Cagiva with frame geomel!Ty di£(iculties. He would try a temporary (ix by moving the swin- 7

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