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/127260
No pre-entry for Area Qualifiers HONDA first tim e , Bald a ssa rre Monti ru nni ng a good rear Oh lins for th e first lim e on his R u m ilR C M H o n da and Fabrizio P iro va n o were happy. Fi na l seco nd row qualifi er Phillis was scr eami ng for a co u p le more h ours track tim e. In his 150 minutes he 'd dropped hi s times by over fiv e seconds and was co n fident th er e wa s another second to co me. For R ym e r th e bad tim es cont i n u ed, H e ar rived wi th a sore wrist courtesy of his Doning ron cr ash (w h ich had no t brok e n t h e wrist bu t dis lodged a screw in it ) and suffering from a severe dose of th e flu . H e cras hed in th e second session, suf' fered lilli e in ju ry, b u t wo u ld sta rt 14t h . H e g a ve up o n th e in verted forks, bl a mi n g hi s turn o ne cras h o n p o or handl in g : " II weav ed o nce. the n o n th e seco nd wea ve th e fr on t e n d j us t wen I. " Actua lly, Loctite's forks wer e ca us in g so meth ing o f a co nt ro versy: T he awol is homol oga ted wi th 43m m fro nt forks, whi ch in th eo ry make th e 42s illegal, but tea m ma n ager Steve Parrish sa id he had chec ked with th e FIM a nd th ey h a d ru led th a t th e I .h . •c ni cal regu lat ions were 100 vague to declare th em unu sable. That d id n' t stop the gru m b les from o the r teams th ough. "Th a t's why I we nt and chec ked with th e FIM in th e first place . .. If someone protests I'll counter-pro lest and go back to the FIM : ' Pa rri sh sa id . Wh y run 42mm ra the r tha n 43mm forks? Appar ent ly, th ere arc o n ly a few set s arou nd (Merkel, Mert en s a nd Andersson being no ta ble users at the moment) a nd the ·12s arc more freel y avai lab le because th ey are a uni t p rod u ced for G P raci ng. T he for k rul e is one o f several wh ich wi ll be exa m ined in a ge neral cleanup o f th e Su perbike tech n ica l regu la lions for 1991. It 's moored a t thi s stage th at th e p ush w ill be for si lhoue ue rules - mea ning fo r exa m p le tha t yo u •ca n o n ly run invert ed forks if rhey co me o n th e bik e as sta nda rd. Race One La st yea r a t th is ci rcu it, Merk el wa s unbeatab le. In the wa rm est co n d itio ns o f the meeting he gave us a repl a y. As usual, he a nd Roche made a p pa ll ing starts , Merk el 11th a fter o ne la p , Roch e 17th. Merkel at least had a n excuse, th ou g h . T he pe trol ca p had been open whe n he look o rr o n th e wa rm-u p lad a nd h e co pped a load of h igh -octane in the groin (o uc h) . Roc he m issed seco nd gear o rr th e line. U p fro nt it was Fa lappa lea din g P irovano , Ph ill is, Cam p be ll, McEI nea, Mon t i, An de rs Andersso n a nd Me rt en s. - T h e pace was in th e 1:49s and 1:50s as Merk el sliced through the fie ld , lea p in g into seco nd o n lap six by pass ing Ca mpbell , Ph ill is and P iro vano in o ne lap ! " I tho ug h t th at was g reat ," h e enth used afterwards. A la p la ter he was leading, while behi nd Pi rov an o , Campbell and McEI nea were form in g a right group. Ph illis was d ropp in g OUI o f co n ten tio n tha n ks to a n e ng ine w hi ch was ru n ni ng poor ly a nd ' because o f a useless rear brake , brok en in a first lap co llision wi th P iro vano. Roche was 11th . Fa la p pa put h is a ll into keep in g Merkel in sig h t bu t the American was in ch in g a way . Fa la p pa ga ve i l too mu ch o n la p I I a nd en doe d spectacu larl y o u t o f the race. " II m us t have been a good one," Merkel sa id la ter. "T h en : was a big black mark , then no thi n g." From th ere Merkel disappea red orr - - - - -- Continued on pag e 36 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSH IP TRACKS NORTH EAST AREA QUALIFIERS POTO MAC M X, BudQlIICreek , MO . . 1301,475·2000 PLEAS URE VA LLEY, Johnst own, PA (8141 ~ · 411 4 HIGH POI NT RAC EWA Y, Mt Moms, PA . 1 3041594· 1157 FROZEN OC EA N M X. Auburn. NY • . (3 15) 784·5466 MI[),.ATLAN T H:. A. uasc o, MO Q (30113s.t -2525 BIRCH AIVEA , Sir e,", A,~er . WV • (3OA.len·2382 Apr . 7·8 Apr, 21· 22 May 5·6 M ill)' 19 ·20 June 2·3 Jun. 2·3 NORTHEAST AMATEUR REGIONAL Jun .16·17 BRooM E·TIOGA , BIngham ton . NY 1607}6A8-t997 NORTHEAST YOUTH REGIONAL J un . 23·24 STEEL CITY, Delmont . PA .... •304) ~ ·1157 SOUTHEAST AREA QUALI FIERS Mar 31.Apr 1 L AK E SUG A ATA EE. A_to n. VA . A pr . 7-8 GATO RBAC K.,GalJ'l v,lIe , Fl . . u • •.. (703) 650-3030 1813}822 -8929 DEVILS RIDGE . S41:n lord. NC . (919) n~2 412 ECHO NOECEE II X, MKOn. G A . • . . . . (813) 822-B929 Apr ,21·22 Ma y 19·20 Ma y 26·27 Jun. 2·3 BIG VA LLE Y. WOOdberr y. TN •.••.. (615) 893 0 150 CIRCLE C MX, Talla s se e . Al . . . .16131822 8929 SOUTHEAST YOUTH REGIONAL Jun . 16·1 7 SANDHilL MX. Ch esl er lield . SC . ....•. .(603) 623-2036 SOUTHEAST AMATEUR REGIONAL Jun.23 ·2" GATORBACK. GaineSVille. FL . . . . . . . .. . 1 13) 822·8929 8 MID EAST AREA QUALIFIERS C.O.C.R.. Sugar Grove . OK ~ . . • • . .• • . . . (6 141667·5902 MORELAND M X. Sianion. MI . . . .. . . • • . (517) 235·" '05 May 5 GLASS CITY. Dell a. OH (4 191825·1647 (219) 594·2649 Ma y 12· 13 READS RACING , No rthWebSler .IN BROWN CITY . Brow n e ll y, MI ...•.... . . (3 13) 3~2 169 May 19·20 KNO BB Y HILLS. Hor l onvlll e. IN .. . ... • ' (317) 758·6200 June . 2·3 Ap I . 21 ·22 Apr . 28·29 MID EAST YOUTH REGIONAL RED BUD,e uc" anan, M I ..•.. , . ••• . .. .. '61616~ Jun.16·1 7 MID EAST AMATEUR REGIONAL J un .23·2" . ... .(812)849·2402 MIDWAY M X, Mll ch ell e, l N . NORTH CENTRAL AREA QUALIFIERS MX PARE NTS . Columbi a. MO .•...•... .. (3 1.' . 7..·2.... R"PID ANG EL S, NekOO . W I . . . • . • • . • . fT 1SI 325-30 13 H . •••.•. (217}932·2041 Apt. 28·29 U NCOLNTAAIL. Cu e y. IL . . . M ay 26--27 CEDA R VA LLEY. Ced.r Rapl ds . IA ••..•. (319) 395-9251 Apr . 7·8 Apr . n NORTH CENTRAL AMATE UR REGIONA L Jun 16-17 M X PAREN TS. Columbia, MO •. , NORTH CENTRA L YOUTH REGIONA L Jun. 23-2. CEDAR VA LLE Y. Ced.r Rap id. I• . . . . . . . (3191395-9251 SOUTH CENTRAL AREA QUALIFIERS Mar . 17 Apt". 1 WOLFCREEK. Ft. Wor t h . TX . • • ROLLING HILL S. McComb . MS . . (8 17) 3 73·2434 .(504, 664 ·.297 SWA N MX , Tyter . TX •..•.. . ..•. ..••. (2141882 1791 APf . 29 MOTO · SPORTS. M.y 8 ()kl.~ City , OK . • • • • • , .t4051745· 923 7 SOUTH CENTRAL YOUTH/AMATEUR REGIONAL Ma v 26 ·27 SWAN M X. Tvler . TX •••••• •• . • .• • •••••. (21"1882 ·7791 WEST CENTRAL AREA QUALIFIERS M ar 3·. Apr . 1 Mily 19·20 Jun . 2 ·3 RED ROC K RA CIN G. R.chl le ld . UT •• • . . (80 1) 896·40. 1 3 R.A.C.E•• Gran d J unct ion . CO . . . . . .... . (303) "34 ·3779 US RA . Pnc e. UT ••.•.•.•............ . 1801)561 ·8849 RSM A. Rock Springs. W Y .•..... . . (3011362·682• WEST CENTRAL YOUTH/AMATEUR REGIONAL CLASSES: You may ente r a t ot al 0 1 4 c lasses at t he Area and Re· YOUTH/AMATEUR C/WOMEN g ion al level s, but must ch oo se o n ly 2 classes to ride at Nat ion al 14. • 51 Stock Aula (4-11) Final. 15. • 65 Sl ack (7· 11) 16. • 85 Sto ck (7·1 1) For 2·0 ay Area q uali fi ers: . Sat urday cla sse s! [l Sunday classes 17. • 85 Stock (12·13) AMATEUR A & B/PLUS 25/SENIOR 18. 0 85 Mod. (9· 13) 9. [l Open A 1. • 125 A Sl ac k 5. • 250 A Stock 19. • 85 Stock (14.15) 2. 0 125 A Mod. 6. 0 250 A Mod. 10. [1 Open BIC 20. [l 85 Mod. (14·15) 7. • 250 B Slack 11. [1 Plus 25 3. • 125 B Sl ac k 21. • 125 Sto ck (12· 15)' 8. [1 250 B Mod . 4. n 125 B Mod. 12. t 1 SR Plu s 30 13. n SR Plus 40 22. • 125 Mod. (12· 15)" 23. • 125 C Nov ice Sl ac k 1!l89 AMA & NMA Nallonal rIders placing in top 5 of B or ln24. 0 125 C Novice Mod . term edi ate classes ride A classes. Any C rider who qua li fied to 25. • 250 C Nov ice Stoc k ride at th e 18Q Nat iona l Final must ride B. Ride rs mus t ri de in the 26. 0 250 C Novice Mod . highest ranked class (A, B or C) that the y cu rren t ly ride in the ir 27. • Women (85·1 25cc) ' local area. Pro· Am ride rs qualllying for Pro· Nat ion al or Super· cross ti nal, must ride A Mod if ied. .. Includes SlIper·MIII6 What Is Your Problem? Tell It to the editor, write him a letter. Parts and Accessories , Yamahas Street &D irt , Super J et , Husqvama -Ducati , Husoberg , Wave Runner , KTM , Wave Jammer = Mail Order-UPS . ~R nancin gandIns rance u Monday - Saturday9:00 -6:00 7563 Indiana. Riverside(Hwy 91 &Madison) (714) 687·1300 Ju n30lJ ui l f l YBY NIG HT . Roc k Spn ngs . WY . •.. .. .(307) 875-9JOO NORTHWEST AREA QUALIFIERS A pr . 15 HOAN RAPIDS ORV , R tc l'llanCl . WA . . • . . . (2061")5·9782 NORTHWEST YOUTH/AMATEUR REGIONAL May 27 CLA RKSBRA NCH . Roseburg . OR • . • • .• • • 1503) 673 ·11171 SOUTHWEST AREA OUALIFIERS Apf . 29 M. y 19 CANYONLANDS. Phoenix , AZ . , . .• . .•. . 16021258-7223 LAS VEGAS MX PARK" Us Veg. s. NY , N/ A SOUTHWEST YOUTH/AMATEUR REGIONAL Jun. 9 July 31 Aug. SUNRISE CYCLE PARK. Ade I.nlo. CA .••. .• .. NIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL LOR ETTA L YNN 'S . Hur fl c _ne M,ll s. TN . (" ' 9\ .78·5386 WATCH FOR MORE OF YOUR FAVORITE RACE LOCATIONS AND NEW DATES! CYCLE NEWS READERS! The first to know! !ii!J1' . ' ,~~~~. ~~D~~1~~~~.!2~.~. Kawasaki of Riverside Same Day UPS Service Toll Free 1-800-442-3478 (7 14) 781 ·5967 1420 3rd St., Suite #6 Riverside, CA 92507 KX' KDX' Jet Ski' AND ACCESSORIES "'!I!'" II-C Kawasaki ~ GENUINE PARTS -~1 Turbo Plus ~11 0 05 - -.».. ~ Boots ~ ~I~ - • Good Times • COD BELL Moto IV's Kawasaki Team (A ll Sizes) $99.95 29