Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

ePREVIEW Camel Su ercross Series ~ By Chris Jonnum he riders have barely recovered from last season's demanding Supercross and National Motocross Series, but a new year is already upon us. When the starting gate dropped for the first heat in the season opener at Orlando last Saturday night (see coverage elsewhere in this issue), the '93 Camel Supercross Series officially got underway. The start of the annual Camel Supercross Series is perhaps more eagerly awaited than any other MX series, as it arguably fields the most talent-laden starting gates in the world. When motocross was first getting started in the States, the best American riders used to travel overseas to test their talents against the faster riders in the World Championship MX GP Series. You don't need us to tell you that that has since changed, as evidenced by top Euro racers like Frenchman Jean-Michel Bayle and Belgian Stephan Everts competing in this country. While its title may not reflect it, the Camel Supercross Series is the unofficial World Championship of professional motocross. T The reasons for this drastic change are obvious. The technical courses of the stadiums have created the need for a higher level of concentration and a more aggressive riding style. The demanding • man-made obstacles of supercross tracks offer little chance for the competitors to rest, so physical conditioning has become more crucial than ever. Oldschool fans discount supercross as being artificial and contrived, but there is no denying that it has increased the talent level of motocrossers to a new heighth. Now all motocross enthusiasts, both the diehards and the occasional race watchers, can view the sport just as easily as baseball or football buffs, and this makes for large crowds at supercross races. A by-product of larger crowds is television coverage, and supercross has enjoyed increased TV exposure with each season. A contributing factor to the prestige of the Camel Supercross Series is that it is perhaps the most lucrative MX circuit in the world, especially for the top rid- presented to the heat race winner with the highest placing in the main event. This is the third-straight year that The Coors Brewing Co. has been affiliated with the series, and each event, with the exception of the Daytona round, is actually called the Coors Light Challenge. The AMA-sanctioned Camel Supercross Series will again be making 16 stops at 15 separate venues in '93, with the only double-header taking place at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan. The only new venue this sea- ers. A minimum of $45,000 is distributed among the riders at each round, with $5000 going to the overall winner in the 250cc division. In addition, manufacturers post substantial contingency awards, and in some cases their payouts exceed the rider's share of the purse. The series' title sponsor, R.J Reynolds Tobacco Company's Camel brand, is again contributing $200,000 to the series' point fund, with the series champion collecting half of that amount. Coors Light is also returning in '93, and will again be sponsoring the Coors Light Silver Bullet Showdown at each event except the Daytona round. To collect the $1000 prize, a rider must post the fastest time in a heat race and then win the main event. If the fastest hea t winner fails to win the main, the fund will roll over to the following round. At the season finale in Las Vegas, the . award will be combined with any carryover balance from previous rounds, and son will be in Atlanta, Georgia, where organizers have moved from Fulton County Stadium to the new Georgia Dome. The Los Angeles Coliseum will no longer be the final stop on the tour, as Las Vegas' Sam Boyd Silverdome has been scheduled for June 12 as the season finale. With every new season comes team changes, and there is no shortage of that in '93. While the top two contenders Jeff Stanton and Damon Bradshaw have both stayed put, '91 Supercross Champion and '92 third-place finisher Jean-Michel Bayle has moved on to the· world of road racing. Many people predicted that Team Yamaha's Damon Bradshaw would jump ship after his disappointing finish to last season, but the aggressive and outspoken racer signed on for another five years with the Yamaha squad. Bradshaw won a record nine supercross main events last year and went into the final round at the Los 2SOccOass Heatland2 20 riders, 8 laps each heat Top riderS from each heat transfer to Main Event. Remaining 15 from each heat go on to Semis 1 and 2- rour Semis 1 and 2 16 riders, 6 laps each semi Top five riders from each semi trarllfet toMilln Event. RemaIning 11 from each semi go on to LaSt ChaniCeQua1ifier. Last Chance Qualilfier 22 ridenJ, 6 laps Top two riders transfer to Main Event. Remaining 20 are elimina1:ed. Main Event ~ riders, 20 laps 12SccOass Healsland2 20 riders, 6 laps each heat Top nine riders from each heat trllt\$ler to Main Event. ReJ:nainjng 11 from each heat go on to J..ast Owu:e Qualifier. Last Chance Qualifier 22 riders, 4 laps Top four riders transfer to Main Event Remaining 18 are eliminated. 10 While the Camel Supercross Series races may be more physically and mentally taxing on riders than any other, quite the opposite is true for spectators. Casual fans who are turned off by the rural locations and primitive conditions of typical motocross races welcome the comforts of a stadium. Supercross venues are typically located in major cities, and specta tors enjoy the comforts of seats, restrooms and food venders.

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