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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127188
Other, primarily Ducati-mounted privateers who could finish on the rostrum include Gary Stas, James Emory, Dennis Liebrecht, Frank Shockley and Eric Phillipe. Seers Point Int·l. Recewey Sonome. Celifornie Supersport third on his Reno Leoni-prepared Ducati 851. Randy Shemwell also did well on his 851, as did veteran John Long, who managed a win at Road Atlanta last· year. Lastly, comes Pablo Real on the second Leoni Ducati, an aggressive competitor who's time will likely come. A long list of technically interesting, albeit somewhat uncompetitive, machinery rounds out this field's offering, so as you walk through the pits at the Nationals, pay them some special attention. In the Modified Production division, look for class champ Kevin' Erion to make his mark beginning with the Road Atlanta race. Dissatisfied with the limited backing availabJe from Cagiva North America, the Two Brothers Racing team has decided to switch to Honda power, and have joined forces with ex-Bubba Shobert tuner Mike Velasco in building an awesome Hawk GT. With Erion's purposeful riding and Velasco's mechanical skills, they'll be hard to beat. Kevin will be joined by elder brother Craig, also on a Hawk, at all the Nationals this year, and Craig should prove himself capable of top-five fin.ishes. Behind the younger Erion comes '87 champ Pete Johnson, who recently added Erion's '88 titlewinning machine to his stable of fleet Ducatis. With help from Eraldo Ferracci of Fast by Ferracci fame, Johnson poses the most serious threat to the titleholder. The only snag, however, is neither Erion nor Johnson scored points at Daytona, and will have to play catchup. The duo switched machines the morning of the race, and both suffered race-ending mechanical problems. Their difficulties opened the door to consistency, and Daytona winner Robert Griffiths and his Moto Guzzi are both consistent and fast. Craig Shambaugh was the only rider to equal the Erion/Johnson duo last year, and could do well again if he can find some additional financial support. Ed Abdo is, like Erion, campaigning a trick Honda Hawk, and will be especially competitive at tight tracks like his home Loudon circuit. But he'll likely be outspent by the Two Brothers. Roed Americe Elkhert Leke. Wisconsin > ~ o W W "til ...J <{, z' 0" ~I z II: WI I- ~, <{ z ~ i!!i "- 0, iii I w' I- § o U til' 0, I- 6 . o :I: "-, Suzuki and Yamaha. Unless someone can get a Kawasaki ZX7 to work well (say Muzzy and Chandler), the winner of the 750cc Supersport class will likely be on a Suzuki GSXR750. And given those parameters, it will probably again be the Yoshimura Suzukis of Russell and James, although one cannot rule out Vance & Hines' Sadowski. Sadowski led James all the way at Daytona - all the way, that is, until the final straightaway, at which point James drafted by in a NASCAR-like finish. The 600cc class will likely be won is no bottom line. Superspon racing is no-holds barred, and a local rider could well pull off a· surprise win at his home track. Look no further than Road Atlanta '87 or Sears Point '88 for examples. Yokohama has gotten behind Supersport racing big time for '89, posting awards valued in excess of $120,000. As a result there's more money to be made here than in any other class, and the competition should be even stiffer than it was last year. So American road racing will stay its present course through 1989, stressing the production-based Supers port bikes over the more extensively modified, and expensive, Superbikes. Hopefully, 1990 will bring the major sponsors and the Heertlend Perk Topeka Topeke. Kenses by Yamaha's potent new FZR600, and with Daytona winner John Kocinski and teammate Thomas Stevens no longer contesting this series, it will falJ into the hands of a privateer. Someone like Cam Roos, Mark Chin or Cal Rayborn, perhaps. However, the Yoshimura Suzuki Katanas of Russell and James could pull off a few wins, particularly at tracks which stress riding abilities over sheer power. Last year's Suzuki Cup Finals at Road Atlanta showcased the production bike-riding abilities of riders such as these, plus other notable privateers like Mike Harth, Paul Bray, Mike Smith and Britt Turkington. The bottom line is that there television coverage that Superbike racing so desperately needs to maintain its status as the premier class of American road racing. To address this situation, the AMA has hired Ron Zimmerman, an exSCCA sports car guy who's confident that support will be found for 1990. And beyond. The AMA is also keen to add new facilities to its slim road racing schedule - this year's new Topeka, Kansas, and Moroso, Florida, rounds are evidence of that. And there may be a Northwest or Southwest round added before season's end. So before you dismiss 1989 as a lost cause, get out to your nearest AMA National road race. 'Cause this year, the racing's better than ever. •