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/127222
D.I.D O 'RAY y Kit Palmer 1000 for parts a t the beginning of he series - that was abo u t it from awasaki . Act ually , I was a little i sa p p oi n ted with Kaw asaki , eca use th ey didn 't pa y m e a nyth in g or winning th e ch ampionship for h em - nothing a t a ll. They did pay ne for overa ll wins but nothing for he cham p io nshi p.. As for sponso rs, iPoint and Smith Goggles gave m e 1000 eac h for winning th e cha m ionship and Dunlop Tires ga ve me 500. They a lso gave m e money every im e I won a race. I figured it up recentl y, a nd I won about $8000 for th e ent ire year. It cos ts about $200 to ride eac h race, but it cos t a lot more to go to California to rac e th e National out th ere." I n fa ct, m ost o f Pl es singer 's expenses are paid out of his own pocket. " I work full time, 7:30 (a. m .) to 4:30 (p. m.), at my dad's too l ren tal busi ness - Hamilton Rental Center. We rent co ntrac to r eq u ip me nt lik e ba ckhoes and loaders. We've had th e business for five year s." Although Kawasaki has offered th e new cham p the same deal as the y gave him in 1989 (two bikes and $1000 parts all owance), Pl essin ger is seeking a new ride for 1990. "Ri ght n ow I 'm ta lk i n g to Yamaha and KTM an d I feel co n fident th at I will ride for one of th em next year. I don 't want to ride for Kawasaki again." Wh en Pl essinger load s h is race bi ke into his van and hits th e o pen road, h e's usu all y accom panied by his on e-m an pi t crew - G ary, one of his two o lde r brothers. "Gar y is th e o ne wh o got me into ra cing. H e used to race mo tocross unti l h e got hurt rea l bad , but n ow h e goes to a ll the races with me and does a ll my p it ting and wrench ing. H e' s been a bi ghelp, With ou t him 1 co uldn' t h av e won the champio ns h ip. " I sti ll li ve a t home with m y parents, but theydon't usuall y go to th e races. T hey don ' t rca II y like motorcycles too much ,ever si nce G ary go t hu rt , bu t they've been getting better abo ut it lat el y. T hey h elp pay m y expe nses and h ave been very su p port ive." Wh en Pl essinger isn 't raci ng, he s pe n d s m ost of h is time ei ther workin g or pra ct icin g on his m ot orcycle. , " I h ave a tra ck near here (h is ' home) th at I practice on reg u la rl y. It 's kind of li ke a lon g mo tocross trac k th rough the woods . Sometimes I go riding with Scott Su m mers and we push o urselves o n th e trail. I try to go ridin g as much as 1 can." As far as h obbies, Pl essin ger has none o ther th an mo torcycl in g. " I don't have a ny real hobbies. I'm eithe r riding or working. I don' t h ave much tim e for anythi ng else." Next year, Pl essin ger's p la ns are sim p le: "I 'm going to defend m y titl e. Bu t it's goi ng to be to u gh. I know tha t Lojak, Summers, Brown, Tony H endo n a nd a bu nc h o f guys are go ing to be right there a t the end . I'm go ing to ha ve to wo rk a littl e har der a nd practice more and start training right now. " I pl an on racing for at least five more years, and then aft er that, I'm n ot too sure wh a t I' m go ing to do. I'll proba b ly co ntinue working 'at m y fam il y's b usin ess or so methi ng. "Bu t rig h t now, racing a nd defending my tit le is a ll that's on m y mind. " • A SPECIAL THANKS to the following proven race products for 207, 100 ~ m in paid rider·awards in the 1989 I • . , , AMA Supersport and Endurance Series, III C N C ¥ ~ EBC BRAKES Suzuki RK chain Bel-Ray Kawasaki Kerker Vance & Hines AGV h elmets Wiseco m : YOKOHAMA Yamah a (,): Arai helmets D.I.D. chain Klotz w: I ·8 ,.tfj AMA' Championship Cup Series Jim Brannon's ~~1IHB'l.l I P.O . Box 447 . Skyla nd. NC 28776 (704) 684-4297 DON'T MISS THIS ONE!! ~~-~--- ALL HONDA STREET BIKES, ALL HONDA DIRT BIKES, To Avoid Paying Ad Valorem Taxes Due Jan. I, ALL HONDA 4 WHEELERS, ALL HONDA SCOOTERS* . . . . ~eta~~ r~~~ l~n~~h?:~ 1:e~~bt~~i~~n, WILL BESOLD AT DEALER COST! You Only AddTax, Tag, Title, Freight &: Prep, if any. H U RRY - DECEMBER 27th - DECEMBER 30th ONLY! Com.e By And SAVE! !! °Limited T o In Stoc k Vehi cles Onl y - 1990 Models Incl uded. ANlERtCAN ~ RE 5S HONDA Come ride with us. Touring' Motocross' Sport Riding' Enduro ' Pleasure What or However You Ride You 'JJ Find The Best Motorcycles, Accessories, Equipment, Parts &: Service At Great Prices! New Address & Phon e Number! FREEWHEEUNG DO D N AoBMW 6408 Fai rburn Road ' SUPER SAVINGS 0 , r ACCESSORIES til f Dou gla svill e, G A 30134 HONDALINE (404) 920-1033 Accessories &: Parts AreSpecially Priced As W ell! 53