Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

orld Ghampion Jolin KOcinski was arrested by Monterey County Sheriffs -shonly after crashing-out of the'United States Grand Prix at Laguna Sea International Raceway and booked on charges of reckless driving, fleeing an officer and resisting a public officer. "He's going to be released on his own recognizance," a .spokesperson for: the Monterey CouDty Sheriff's Department sa'ia on Sunday afternoon. "Sorneone's here to pick hUn up now." Kocinski is scheduled te appear in court on May 13 at 8:30 a.m., only one day after the upcoming Spanish round of the 500cc World ChampioBship. It is likely, however, that the date wil be changed to accommodate Kocinski's GP commitments. The 258cc World Champion was reportedly trying to leave the race track facility in a hurt:)',1Shonl".a£-tereras . laps of the GP, and was driving,gg the ~ng side 01 af e'access road by officers. W (Left to right) Doohan, Rainey and Schwantz spray the crowd with champagne. . Texan Kevin Schwantz (34) managed to hold off Michael Doohan (3) until the 21st lap, but the Australian made his tum II pass stick to earn seco nd place. 10 seconds behind the now all-Cagiva battle. Lawson wasn't about to let his younger teammate get the better of this fight, and five laps from the end he moved past the Brazilian to take over fifth pl ace. Beh ind seventh placed Gardner and rou ndi ng out the top 10 came Garriga, still feeling the effects of the heel he injured in Australia, Morillas, and de Radigues. T he du o of Ri ch Oliver and Robbie Petersen , both in their 500cc GP debut on their Marlboro-backed 1990 Yamaha YZR500s, finished 11th and 12th, respectively, a lap down. Notables missing from the final results were Doug Chandler and Sito Pons. Chandler, who was run wide in turn two on the first lap, was trying to run down de Radiguesfor 10th when the power valve linkage on his stillun sponsored Yamaha YZR500 broke. Pons, who was running 11th, suffered a broken gearbox on his Campsabacked Honda NSR500. II 500cc GP: I. Wayne Rainey (Yam); 2. Michael Ooohan (Hon); 3. Kevin Schwantz (SUl); 4. J.P. Ruggia (Yam ); 5. Eddie Lawson (Cag); 6. Alexandre Barros (Cag); 7. Wayne Gardner (Hon); 8. Juan Garriga (Yam); 9. Adrian Morillas (Yam); 10. Didier de Radigues (SUl); 11. Rich Oliver (Yam); 12. Robbie Petersen (Yam); 13. Eddie Layoock (Yam); 14. Cees Doorakkers (H on); 15. Niggi Schmassman (Hon); 16. Dou g Chandler (Yam ); 17. Sito Pons (H on); 18. John Kocinski (Yam). 51 min., 19.361 S«. Dia1aDce: 35 laps, 76.860 miles. A.....ge s-d: 89.855 mph. Margin oI'Viaory: 6.974 sec. F...... Lap: Wayne Rainey, 1:27.040 (La p 2). 5OOa: WOIlLD C"SBIP POINT STANDINGS: I. Wayn e Rainey (55);2. Michael Doohan (51); 3. Kevin Schwantz (46); 4. Wayne Gardner (33); 5. Eddie Lawson (31); 6. John Kocinski (28); 7. Alexandre Barros (24); 8. J.P. Ruggia (22); 9. Adrian Morillas (18); 10. Juan Garriga (17); II. Didier de Radigues (14); 12. Doug Chandler (9); 13. (TIE) Sito Pon s! Kevin Magee (8); 15. K. Iwahashi (7); 16. Eddie Layoock (6); 17. Rich Oliver (5); 18. Robbie Petersen/ Cees Doorakkers (4); 20. (TIE) Niggi Schrnassman/ Steve SpraylPeter Coddard (1). rune: Results 500cc QU AUFYING: I. Wayne Rainey (1:26.464); 2. John Kocin ski (1:26.535); 3. Kevin Schwan tz ( 1:26.582); 4. Micha el Dooha n (1:27.095); 5. Eddi e Lawson (1:27. 141); 6. Wayne Gardner (1:27.5 13); 7. Alexa ndr e BarTOS (1:27.684); 8. Adrian MonIlas ( I:28.045); 9. Juan Garriga (I:28.276); 10. J.P. Ruggia ( 1:28.276); II. Dou g Chandler (1:28.614); 12. Site Pon s (1:28.680); 13. Didier de Radiguea (1:28.808); 14. Rich Ol iver ( 1:29.750); 15. Robbi e Petersen (1:3(1170); 16. Eddi e Layoock (1:31.620); 17. Cees Doorakk era (1:"3 . 185); 18. Nig gi Sch massman (1:34.960). Marlboro may_pull out after '92 ccording to Marlboro's marketing special events director Leo de .Graffenried (right), the tobacco giant may pull its sponsorship package from Grand Prix road '1!acing when the current television contract runs out at the end of the 1992 season because the company is uncomfortable with Doma S.A., the Spanish group that wiU take over the TV rights in ~993. "Our director, John Hogan, has already told Jos Vaessen (FIM President) that we don't like the idea of entrusting ourselves to a company like Doma which has no experience in motorsports," said de Graffenried. "We are very happy with Bernie Eceelstone's company in Formula One and it is almost certain that if Eceelstone does not retain the television rights, we wiU not be here after 1992. We have nothing against Dorna, we know nothing of Doma and we've had no contact with them. We don't really want to-have contact with them because we don't plan to work with diem. I believe that Lucky So-ike and Rothmans are thinking along the same lines as us. Ken Burke, of Lucky Strike, and David Beck, of Rothmans, have assured John Hogan that t1leY want to continue with Bernie Eccelstone." Asked if Marlboro would be in favor of creating another World Series. an alternate to the current World Championship Series, de Graffenried said: "I don't like to use the title World Series because those words ale associated with failure and we don 't plan to fail. We would be interested in any major championship that Bernie Eccelstone held the TV rights Ior , You'll find that all the major teams, A 8 the factories, IRTA (International Racing Teams Association) themselves and the best riders fed the same way we do . You can add ROPA (Race Organizers and Promoters Association) to the list of people who are concerned, because they are as unhappy as we are that the concept of title sponsorship' is part of this contract, Team Marlboro Roberts team manager Paul Butler .said: "The RM is very much aware of the position of Marlboro and the leading teams. We don't want to organize a World Championshi-p and we hope we don't have to. The most important thing for us right now, before we talk about alternate championships, is to ensure the solvency of the teams. .. . Mike Dicio, speaking on behalf of Lucky Strike, said: "When Leo says we're worried, he's rigat, We are. We don't know these DORNA guys at all, but I'm not willing to say we're thinking of pulling out. I don't know how anyone can say that yet. Eccelstone has done a pretty good job, but we've had troubles with ISC and Video Visions (Eceelstone's companies). There are a lot of questions. What most worries us about Doma is that they paid so much Ior the rights ($30 million for five years) that they might jack up the usage rights too high. But we've got to give them a chance." Spaniard Manolo Burill6, Campsa Honda's team manager, has views that differ entirely from those of Marlooro: "More Doma came on the scene, Eccelstone didn't seem especially interested in motorcycle racing at all. Now we're told that he's the savior of the sport, Eccelstone is using his F-l involvement with Marlboro to pressure them into scaring Doma oUL I imagine that Eccelstone and most of the people in the paddock are completely unaware of the true dimension of the Doma company, which is one of the most powerful companies in the world. During the last few years IRTA has fallen into the hands of a smaIl group of Anglo-Saxons who admire Eccelstone. Now that he's lost the contract, simply because they (Doma) offered more money, they are threatening the F1M and Doma. But Doma is not easy to frighten. The World Championship should not become a closed circle for three teams, three tobacro companies and three manufacturers. When IRTA speaks today they only speak in representation of the big three."

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