Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

~--=---_---,---~;;el~;::~~o~hy~tfum Kawasaki is content on keepmg things the way they are, at least for now. Michael Craig, who many believed would step in for the injured Mike LaRocco as the team's number two fulltime factory-backed rider for the rest of the Camel Supercross Series, doesn't mind staymg where he is. Craig works out of a box van rather than the semitrailer that the factory-backed te'\ln riders work out of. "Everything is still the same, but that's okay, because everything is running smoothly right now, so why change?" said Craig. "I did get LaRocco's carburetor, though." Craig, who is currently sixth in the series pomt standmgs, has his eyes set on the AMA National Championship 12Scc MX Series. "I'm gomg to win it," said a very confident Craig after the Tampa SX. "I feel great, I'm riding better than I ever have, and the bike I'm gomg to ride is awesome. I really think I have a chance, but my biggest worry will be Jeff Emig (the defendmg champ)." Speakmg of Yamaha's Jeff Emig, neither he nor teammate Doug Dubach turned out for the Tampa Supercross. Emig, who also sat out the previous round at San Diego due to an illness, was still feeling under the weather, and Dubach is still mendmg from a broken ankle suffered at the Japan Supercross during the off-season. At the last two supercross rounds, rumors have been circulating that the May 15 Los Angeles Supercross will be moved to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, while the L.A. Coliseum und~rgoes renovations. Mickey Thompson Entertainment Group's Bob Russo, said, "We have no plans for any changes at this time, I'll keep you posted if anything comes up." Suzuki's 1989 and '90 National Reliablity Enduro Champion Dave Bertram had shocking news at the February 13 Quicksilver National Enduro in Coalmga, California. Bertram; who suffered a wrist injury at the Australian ISDE last August, didn't compete at Coalinga. "It (the wrist) hurts a lot when I'm on a bike," said the 34-year-old Bertram. "I really messed it up. 1 may be able to ride eventually, but racing competitively in the future is a big question mark. Even if I can't race again, I'd still like to remain involved with Suzuki. I haven't signed anything yet for this year, though." Jeff Russell, the 1991 National Enduro Champion, will likely ride a KTM 400cc four-stroke at the Alligator Enduro in Daytona, Florida, March 4, and at the Tecate Enduro in Baja California, Mexico, March 13. The bike would be an early-delivery production model. "I've never really ridden a four-stroke, but we figure it would be a chance to get in some good testing without the pressure of a National," said Russell. According to Curtis Gray of the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Camel will be a participating sponsor of both the Laguna Seca and New Hampshire International Speedway rounds of the AMA National Championship Road Race Series. UTILE KNOWN FACT: The rider featured in the new Kawasaki ZX-ll television commercial is none other than endurance road racer Phil "Kawabunga" Kress. Kress and his Dutchman Racing teammate Ray Yoder Jr. finished second in the AMA/CCS ---,,-By_Papa Wealey IN THE WIND AHRMA schedules trial SOSIBOTroad races W ith a pair of tria~ e~e~ts sche~uled for 1993~ the American Historic Racing Motorcycle Assoaation s foray mto Sound of Smgles and Battle of Twins racing is quickly moving from concept to reality. Long range plans call for complete series to be conducted m both classes in 1994. The trial events will take place June 12 at Seattle, Washington, and October 9-10 at Talladega, Alabama. The classes will run along with a round of AHRMA's 'National Championship Historic Cup Series for vintage bikes. The move to AHRMA hosting the events was brought about mainly by the American Motorcyclist Association dropping the twins races from its National ~ampionship Road R~ce Series after small fields turned out for the majority of events m 1993, and the lack of mterest on behalf of the AMA as concerned a singles series. Eight twms classes are offered in the now-finalized rules. Where necessary, classes use an mdex-of-performance concept, assigning specific machines to classes where they are best suited. The BOT categories include: Vintage - air-cooled twins 20 years or older, such as Triumph, Norton, BSA, Moto Guzzi, BMW and Harley-Davidson. . Formula 3 - OHC machines to 6S0cc and pushrod engines to 75Occ; maximum overbore is .040". Among the eligible bikes are Kawasaki EX500, Honda Hawk, Ducati Alazurra and, on an index-of-performance basis, Harley-Davidson 883. Formula 2 - OHV to 750cc/pushrod to 1200cc; maximum overbore .040". Eligible machines are big bore Kawasaki EX500 and Honda Hawk, Ducati Fl, Ducati SS, Moto Guzzi 1000, H-D 1000, BMW 1000 and Norton 850. Pro Twin - No displacement limits. Water-cooled Ducati eight-valve models will be limited to Supersport rules (exhaust, suspension, jetting, tires and brake material modifications only). There are no limits to modifications on other machines. Eligible bikes are any F-2 machines, Ducati 851 Sport, Ducati production 888 sPa, Ducati 900SS, Moto Guzzi Daytona and the new Honda V-twin. Open Twin - As long as it's a four-stroke twm, anythffig is fair game. Among the eligible machines are Ducati 888 Corsa/Polen, Britten, any Pro Twin bike, and any prototype. This class will run only at selected events, such as Daytona. Two-Stroke - The class is open to any air-cooled twin to 500cc, while water-cooled twins are limited to 1985 and earlier 400cc machines with tubular steel frames only. Lightweight Production - (650cc and under) and Heavyweight Production (over 65Occ, excluding Ducati 851 Sport and 888 SPa, which run in Pro Twin) are showroomstock classes. Stock exhaust systems and airboxes must be retained, but changes are allowed in brake material, tires, jettmg, shocks and brake lines. Singles classes include four four-stroke categories - Lightweight (up to 250cc), Junior (up to 350cc), Senior (up to 5OOcc) and Pro Smgle (75Occ maximum) - plus a pair of twostroke classes, Lightweight (250cc maximum) and Open (up to 550cc). Production engines are required m all but Pro Single and two-stroke Open. /The rules for all SOS/BOT by ABRMA classes allow the rider's choice of tire typetreaded or slicks. Two- and four-strokes will not compete together at any time. Riders will be classed as Novice or Expert for both singles and twins racing. Novices must have competed with another road racing organization or completed an accredited road racing school; Experts must show they raced as an Expert with another organization. Pro Twm and Pro Smgle will be limited to Experts, and a points fund and purses will be established for these classes. AHRMA is now issuing licenses to competitors. For riders who are not already AHRMA racing members, the cost is $45 for twins or singles, or $55 for both types of racing. The cost for existing AHRMA racing members is $10 for each type of racing. License holders will receive the appropriate rulebooks. New racing numbers will be issued, and riders who want a specific number are encouraged to sign up soon. For more information, call 715/842-9699. . "This is an exciting time in American road racmg," said AHRMA Executive Director Jeff Smith. "Combinffig smgles and twins with AHRMA vintage machinery over two days of racmg will offer a package that will look and sound like nothing else. For anyone who rides to a different beat, this will be their alternative of choice." Endurance Challenge race at Phoenix International Raceway on February 13. Yamaha of Burnsville, Minnesota, as general manager, effective February 16. In addition to the single championship point that now goes with earning the pole position in an AMA Superbike National Championship race, Fast By Ferracci Ducati's Doug Polen took horne a $750 bonus check and two round trip plane tickets on Northwest Airlines when he won the pole at Phoenix International Raceway. Polen, who hurt his back in a practice crash in the rain on Sunday, February 14, was going to use the tickets to get himself and his wife back to Texas where he would undergo an MRI examination on Tuesday, February 16. Despite the back injury, Polen still won the race, which was the opening round of the AMA Superbike National Championship. ENGAGED: Cycle News Associate Editor Donn Maeda to Eileen Paredes. The pair plan to tie the knot in early July. AMA Road Racing Manager Roger Edmondson said at the Phoenix round of the AMA National Championship Road Race Series that he will definitely claim the motorcycle that wins the Daytona round of the AMA/CCS 600cc Supersport Series on March 7. HIRED: Gary Groth by Burnsville MOVED: Arrows R Us, maker of course markers, to 114 Holloway Dr., Smithfield, VA 23430, 804/255-4620. AUTOGRAPH SIGNING: Camel Supercross Champion Jeff Stanton and his Team Honda teammates Jeremy McGrath, Steve Lamson and Doug Henry will appear at Iron Horse Motorcycles in Monroe, North Carolina, on Friday, April 2, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, call 704/283. 9467. BORN: Andrew S. Hook, to former pro dirt track racer Peter Hook and J:Us wife, Michelle, in Mmneapolis, Minnesota, on February 4. MARRIED: Former AMA National Superbike Champion Thomas Stevens, to Lmda Shaw m Sanibel Island, Florida, on January 24. 0\' SabscrlpdoD Rate Schedule First Class SerVice DOMESTIC 1 year 50 issues 6 months 25 issues Trial sub. 15 issues $108.00 $55.00 $33.00 CANADA 1 year 50 issues 6 months 25 issues Trial sub. 15 issues $122.00 $60.00 $36.00 MEXICO 1 year 50 issues 6 months 25 issues Trial sub. 15 issues $122.00 $60.00 $36.00 ALL OTHER COUNTRIES 1 year 50 issues 6 months 25 issues Trial sub. 15 issues $127.00 $62.00 $38.00 Second Class Service DOMESTIC 1 year 50 issues 6 months 25 issues Trial sub. 15 issues $35.00 $18.00 $11.00 CANADA 1 year' 50 issues 6 months 25 issues Trial sub. 15 issues $75.00 $38.00 $23.00 MEXICO' 1 year 50 issues 6 months 25 issues Trial sub. 15 issues $75.00 $38.00 $23.00 ALL OTHER 1 year 50 issues COUNTRIES 6 months 25 issues Trial sub. 15 issues $75.00 $38.00 $23.00 Air Mall Service DOMESTIC Not available CANADA 1 year 50 issues 6 months 25 issues Trial sub. 15 issues $137.00 $70.00 $42.00 MEXICO 1 year 50 issues .6 months 25 issues Trial sub. 15 issues $137.00 $70.00 $42.00 ALL OTHER COUNTRIES 1 year 50 issues $224.00 6 months 25 issues $114.00 Trial sub. 15 issues $68.00 Two year subscription prices available upon request. 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