Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

v ICES 0 INSIDE Letters to the editor Let the debate begin In response to Stan Dilcher's remarks concerning the ability of WERA Novice Champion Brian Gibbs: "1 know Colin Edwards, Colin Edwards is a friend of mine, and, Mister, he ain't no Colin Edw !" FEATURES RIDING IMPRESSION Yamaha's new YZl25 and YZ250 motocrossers 6 MOTOCROSS Myers smokes 'em at Sandhill Loh tops La Playa GP 10 _ 14 NOSTALGIA Time Forgotten DEPARTMENTS R.S.V.P. LOCAL RACING .l3 SUPPLEMENT 1993 Buyers' Guide 16 18 POINT STANDINGS 22 CALENDAR INTERVIEW 125cc MX World Champion Greg Albertyn Peter English Portland, OR 17 dered what happened to Don. How about an update. Anytime I think of him I always remember seeing him sliding down the front straight of the Oklahoma Gty half mile track on his back with his hands behind his head. I think (the crash was) due to a mechanical problem. I believe the race in which this happened was somewhere between 1965 to 1970. I wonder if he remembers the incident. 23 WANT ADS 26 ON THE FRONT PAGE: All of us involved in motorcycling should do all we can to promote it as not only a sport, but a way of life as well. I would like to offer the free use of my personal motocross practice track to any of the professional riders on the motocross/supercross circuit. It is located 30 miles east of Tallahassee, Florida, and it is currently used by many local riders, most notably Ricky Carmichael and Earl May. With the tour coming this way soon, I thought I would do my part. Anyone interested should call me at 904/997-0670. We test ride Yamaha's brand-new YZ125 and YZ250 motocross weapons. For our impression of the two bikes, turn to page 6. Photo by Kinney Jones. Kirk Brock Monticello, FL Billy J. Wright Conway,AR 17,e get-off you remember took place 1970. Castro unloaded on his first time-trial attempt wilen a flywheel in his factory Triumph's engine let go. Although we were unable to contact Castro over the holidays, we're told that he is working at Honda of Gilroy (California). A couple of years ago, Learning Curoe, a movie based on Castro's life, was produced and it's available on videotape (contact Artistic License, Inc., 1416 45th St., Sacramento, CA 95819; phone 916/456-7888). We'll continue to try and contact the former Triumph and Yamaha factory rider and provide tile update you request in our In The Wind section in a future issue...Editor. Godspeed, TIm Witham ~~ America's weekly motorcycle newspaper Volume XXX Michael Klinger, Publisher Caroline Gendry, Executit>e Secretary to the Publisher Editorial Jack Mangus, Associate Publisher/f.ditor Kit Palmer, Associate Editor Paul Carruthers, Associate Editor Donn Maeda, Associate Editor Chris Jonnum, Assistant Editor Edwina Mangus, Calendar Editor Advertising Terry Pratt, National Accounts Manager Mark Thome, Western Sales Manager Thomas R Gonter, Western Sales Manager Steve Gotoski, Western Sales Manager Mark Mitchell, Eastern Accounts Manager Greg Mitchell, Eastern Sales Manager Rick Matheny, Eastern Sales Manager Rhonda Crawford, Western Ad Coordinator Carla Borden Allen, Eastern Ad Coordinator Graphics and Production Ree Johnson, Production Supervisor Mandy Lon, Production Manager Dennis Greene, Lab. Tech. Stacey Guest, Graphic Artist Amy Faught, Graphit: A,tist Circulation Rheba Smith, Manager Sarah Taylor, Billing Coordinator Alma Anguiano, Processing CoordillQtor Carolyn Branham, T!f1'e5'?IIer Dealer Sales Steve Gotoski, Dealer Representatiue AccountinglData Processing Donna Bryan-Diamond, AIR Coordinator Geneva Repass, Assistant Herlane Lewis, Credit Marketing &: Promotion Mark Thome, Manager Service and Support Want Ads Toni Kerr, Want Ad Sales Chris Aitcheson, Headquarters Reaptionist National Headquarters 2201 Cherry Ave., Long Beach, CA 90806, P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, CA 908OHJ498 Eastern Office 4190 First Ave., Tucker, GA, 30084; rnailing address P.O. Box 805, Tucker, GA 30085-0805. Leonard Herring, Seroia and Support (310) 427-7433; (213) 636-8844. FAJ«310)427-6685 (404) 934-7850. FAJ< (404) 934-3112 Cycle News (USPS 141-340) is published weekly except the last two weeks of the calendar year for $50.00 per year by Cycle News, Inc., 2201 Cherry Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90806. Second class postage paid at tong Beach, CA. Canada Post International Publications Mail #546615. POSTMASTER: Send address chonges to Cycle News, P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, CA 908OHI498. To delennine the expiration date of your subscription, check the four numbers on the first line of your address label. The first two digits indicate the last issue number you'll receive ond the last two characters indicate the year of the last issue. Subscription rates: Rates for the United States ond its possessions for one year, (SO issues), $50.00; two years (100 issues), $95.00; six months, (25 issues), $26.00; trial sub (15 issues), $19.00. Canada and Foreign, one year (SO issues), $90.00; two years (100 issues), $175.00; six months (25 issues), $45.00; trial sub (15 issues), $38.00. Cycle News welcomes unsolicited editorial material including stories, cartoons. photos, etc. Such materi. ai, if published, becomes the exclusive property of Cycle News. Such accepted material is subject to revision as is necessary in the sole discretion of Cycle News. Unsolicited material which is not used will be returned if accompanied by a self addressed stamped envelope. All unsolicited material wiU be handled with reasonable care, however, Cycle News assumes no responsibility for the safety, loss or damage to such material. Reprinting in whole or part only by pennission of the publisher. Advertising rates and circulation information wi![ be sent upon request. See S.RD.S. W/BDA 'if 4 r" AUDITEO CIRCULATION Copyright" Cycle News, Inc. U93. Trademark Cycle News registered US. Patent Office. All rights reserved. Wilson Springer phoned from Oregon in early December to inform us that Tim Witham died suddenly on the 10th in central Washington. Tim, who was in his late 70's, was a legend among motorcycle tuners, especially Triumphs, in the decades that followed World War lI. Such top star riders as Jimmy Philips, Bert Brundage and Don Hawley owed a great deal of their success to the tuning wizardry of Witham. In the pre-war years, he rode for Chet Manley, both on a Rudge and a Crocker, at such ovals as Atlantic Speedway in east Los Angeles. He found that his love for motorcycling was better expressed in tuning the engines, rather than behind the handlebars. And better express it, he did! Later in his tuning career he tied in with another legend, Art Sparks. Together they manufactured S&W (Sparks & Witham) valve springs for motorcycles, which soon became the standard for those seeking maximum performance. Tim's talents weren't limited to motorcycles, as he was also well known in Gasoline Alley at the Indy 500, adding his tuning talents for Joe Leonard, as well as to ailing race cars, bringing them up to entry-level contenders. In death, Tim was preceded by his wife, Edith, who passed away several years ago. He is survived by his daughter, Betty Baker of Grants Pass, Oregon. A quiet, unassuming man, one would never guess the thunder he could add to a racing engine. Godspeed, Tim Witham. Bill Bagnall Irvine, CA Remembering #11 In your January 6 issue, you mentioned that Don Castro would participate in the BMW Battle of the Legends road race at Daytona on March 1. I have often won- Rider of the Year I wish to commend Cycle News for its excellent and appropriate selection of Wayne Rainey as Rider of the Year. While winning the 500cc World Champion three times in a row is certainly a remarkable achievement, it is doubly impressive to see the way it was done. Rainey overcame several serious injuries which began late in 1991. To start the 1992 season in less than perfect health would put most riders at an. extreme disadvantage. More crash injuries would follow, and Rainey's Yamaha was not competitive with Michael Doohan's "big bang" Honda. However, even during his darkest moments, Rainey and Team Marlboro Roberts Yamaha kept the hope alive. Some might say it was Doohan's championship to lose - give Doohan credi t for his blinding speed and skill, and also for his tenacity to come back after a debilitating leg injury and botched medical attention. But Rainey toughed it out and was there when it counted at the season finale. These men - Schwantz, Chandler, Gardner, Lawson, et al - are made of uncommon stuff. It is indeed a joy to behold them at speed in the most highly contested class of motorcycle competition in the world. I look forward to seeing them return this year to Laguna Seca and wish Wayne Rainey a healthy and successful 1993. Your fellow Americans are proud of you, Wayne. Fred Wilkins Letters to the editor shouJd be sent to Cycle News, Inc., P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, CA 90801-0498. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the position of Cycle News, Inc. Letters must contain the name and address of the sender, be signed by the sender, and not exceed 200 words. All letters are subject to editing.

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