Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

year to have 'a new bike ready for testing." Wilkes can be reached at 213/7228880. Dr. Jeft Spencer, a sports performance doctor, is looking for volunteers to participate in a study on arm pump in motocross and off-road racers. The study will be conducted at southern California's Perris Raceway and you will need to be available for two days of riding. If you have a problem with arm pump and would like to participate in the study, call 800/621-6070. An expanded 12-ride schedule for the 1993 Ride For Kids program is set. The rides raise money to fight pediatric brain tumors, the number one cause of death of the nation's children by disease. Eight rides in 1992 involved 4000 riders and raised over $400,000. The goal for the 1993 rides is $700,000. Since 1984, Ride for Kids vents have raised $1.4 million. All of the funds go to research, because Honda and other sponsors pay all costs. At every ride, 75% of the money raised goes to local brain tumor research facilities or organizations. The remaining 25% funds the Central Brain Tumor Registry of the U.S., a data bank to collect vital patient and disease information. The first ride will be a dual sport ride that starts at Colton, California, on March 21. The following Sunday, March 28, a street ride will start at Dana Point, California. Subsequent rides will take place in Houston on April 25; Minneapolis, May 23; Atlanta, June 6; Oakbrook, Illinois, July 11; Marysville, Ohio, July 24; Harriman, New York, August 15; Flint, Michigan, August 29; Columbia, Maryland, Se.ptember 12; Seattle, September 26; and Vallejo, California, October 24. For more information, call Mike Traynor at 800/783-3745. Yamaha is offering demo rides on seve.raJ of its 1993 motorcycles, including the new GTS1000A, on March 4-5-6 of Daytona Cycle Week. In addition to the GTS1000 that features swingarm front suspension, other motorcycles that will be available for 3D-minute guided tours include the FZR600, TDM850, FJ1200, XT225, Virago 535, Virago 750, Virago UOO, Seca II and Venture Royale. The rides will begin in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn at 1798. Volusia Avenue in Daytona Beach. They're scheduled to depart every 45 minutes between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Anyone 18 or older holding a valid motorcycle license can participate in the rides; Yamaha will have helmets available. The full line of '93 Yamahas will be on display at the Yamaha tent at Daytona International Speedway March 4-7. Last Wednesday, February 10, Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt said that his first legislative goal is passage of a desert protection bill. "The first initiative will be the California desert," Babbitt told the Associated Press. "I am preparing to go to Capitol Hill to state the Administration position." Babbitt's announced emphasis on desert legislation will no doubt improve the chances of Senator Feinstein's recently introduced California Desert Protection Act, 521, being approved by Congress and signed by President Clinton. Clark. Collins, executive director of the Blueribbon Coalition, stresses the importance of calling Feinstein and Babbitt "This fight isn't over until the fat lady sings," Collins said, "but it looks real bad as you know .. .folks in California need to tum up the heat on Feinstein." Collins suggests that motorcyclists flood both Babbitt and Feinstein's offices with phone calls stressing the negative effect passage of her bill would have on California's already failing economy. Feinstein's Washington, D.C., phone number is 202/224-3841; Babbitt's is 202/208-7351. Collins added, "(California Senator Barbara) Boxer should get calls too, but she isn't likely to care." Boxer's Washington office number is 202/224-3553. Lawson set for Da tona 200 our-time 500cc World Champion Eddie Lawson will come out of retirement to race a Vance & Hines Yamaha superbike in the Daytona 200 at Daytona International Speedway on March 7. Lawson will replace team regular Jamie James, who is still out of action with a badly broken hand suffered in a preseason testing crash at Daytona. Lawson, who last raced a four-stroke at the Suzuka Eight-Hour in 1990, won the Daytona 200 in 1986 on a Yamaha FZR750. The Californiah finished ninth in the 1992 500cc World Championship on a Cagiva, before announcing his retirement from motorcycle racing at the end of the season. "That's correct," Lawson said when asked about the one-off Daytona ride. "Steve's Oohnson - Vance & Hines' crew chief) a good friend, the guys at Yamaha are good friends. They have a good bike and it's a good team. It's just for one race and Daytona is a biggie." There is also a possibility that Lawson will use the AMA/CCS weekend of racing on February 27-28 as a test session. Lawson and his teammate Colin Edwards II will ride last year's bikes because the new YZF750SPs won't be ready until the third round of the series at Laguna Seca on Aprll17-18. "It's the best thing that could have happened to us," team owner Terry Vance said. "1 didn't really think it would happen, but it's very cool. We're excited. Jamie is still having problems with his hand. Yamaha flew Dean Miller (Wayne Rainey's trainer) out to see him and they've come to the conclusion that Daytona just can't happen. Jamie can't even put his hand in his pocket much less grip a handlebar." When told about Lawson racing in the 200, defending AMA Superbike Champion and last year's Daytona 200 winner Scott Russell said: "Good. I'm glad. It's perfect That's killer. It's perfect for me to show what I've got against the best in the world." F Bob Elliott, former pro motocrosser and current r-roleen Racing shock technician, bit the dust hard at the February 7 Adelanto Grand Prix in southern California. Elliott suffered a broken hip and a bruised ego. He's back at work but instead of standing at the workbench, he's sitting on a stool while revalving shocks. Elliott expects to be back riding in eight weeks. for the Swedish Speedway Motorcycle Federation. "I've been working seven days a week for two months now," said Maeley. "It was a lot of work, but I'm also proud to say that every domestic order that came in was also filled within two days." The Swedes have formed a high school speedway league that is composed of 28 different clubs. Each club is furnished with four complete motorcycles, along with four complete sets of riding gear - including Maeley's 'steel shoes. A fund has been set up for Robert Naber, a southern California motocrosser who broke his neck in a fall at the January 30 Seattle Supercross. Naber crashed over a set of triples and was partially paralyzed. He underwent surgery on Friday, February 5, and has regained some mobility. ''I'm getting a lot better," said Naber. "My left leg is 100 percent and my arms and right leg are also getting more movement." Naber was recently moved to a southern California hospital where he will remain for approximately three more months. Cards and letters and donations to help defray some of Naber's medical expenses can be sent to the Robert Naber Medical Fund, 1482 Banyan St., Ontario, CA 91761. Lexie Moore of M&M Racing was the first to call anq tell us that the Pope will be in Denver the same weekend Chris Agajanian Presents is scheduled to host the August 14 Denver Half Mile round of the AMA Grand National Championship Series. We immediately called Chris Agajanian, who said, "Not only that, but now I hear President Clinton is also planning on being there. And if that's not enough, hllW about the fact that the Denver Broncos are scheduled to play an exhibition game that night (Saturday, August 14)." Agajanian said he's .had no luck at all blocking off motel/hotel space for the weekend and is flying to the Rocky Mountain city to see what can be resolved. Papa sees a date change on the horizon. Ken Maeley has been a busy man lately, and he phoned Papa to let us know that he just finished making 300 steel shoes Team Suzuki MX superstar Guy Cooper will be the special guest instructor at two upcoming sessions of the Tony D Motocross School. Cooper will instruct at the February 26 school at Gainesville, Florida's Gatorl?ack MX Park (that session takes place two days before the opening round of the AMA National Championship 125/250cc MX Series at Gatorback) and again' at the March 13-14 school in his hometown of Stillwater, Oklahoma. For more information, call 410/676-8234. Bevo Forti, the popular and likeable Scott Goggle USA representative, missed his first supercross event in many years when he skipped the February 13 Tampa Supercross. Over the past couple of years, Forti shed approximately 100 pounds but has gained some of it back and he failed a routine physical examination the week before the Tampa event. Forti is, for the most part, in good condition but decided not to attend the Tampa Supercross just to be on the safe side. Forti is currently relaxing at his home in Pennsylvania. Mercedes Gonzalez, multi-time Women's National MX Champion, filled in for Forti at Tampa'. Larry Brooks dedicated his win in the second 250cc semi race at the Tampa Supercross to two recent additions to his family. "My wile, Terri, gave birth to twins - Derek and Davin - last Tuesday," said Brooks. 'Tm real excited and couldn't be any happier." 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