Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

v 0ICES INSIDE Mojave Road trips FEATURES ROAD RACING Polen winsPhoenix Superbike opener Filice scores in 250cc GP DuHamel, Sadowski score SuperSport wins Gale tops Harley 883 race 6 9 .1 0 ll SUPERCROSS McGrath continues streak in Tampa Dahlin doubles at San Diego Amateur National RIDING IMPRESSION Honda's 1993 CBR1000F boasts new brake system ICE RACING Venegas victorious in Phoenix 20 .25 DEPARTMENTS 12 NEW PRODUcrS 22 LOCAL RACING .28 CALENDAR 33 16 WANTADS .38 24 OFF-ROAD Hamel, Davis ace Adelanto Grand Prix Larkin Wight does Baja on a Triumph RESULTS .51 _ .26 ON THE FRONT PAGE: Dou~ Polen pulled out a close win at Phoenix International Raceway, site of the thnlling opener to the '93 AMA National Championship Road Race Series. Turn to page 6 for the details. Photo by Hl!nny Ray Abrams. (~~J~ 1;1 ~ America's weekly motorcycle newspaper Volume XXX Michael Klinger, Publisher Editorial Jack Mangus, Associate Publisher/Editor Kit Palmer, Associate Editur Paul Carruthers, Associate Editor Donn Maeda, Associate Editur Chris Jonnum, Assistant Editor Edwina Mangus, Calendar Editor Graphics and Production Ree Johnson, Production Supervisor Mandy Loa, Production Manager Dennis Greene, Lab. Tech. Stacey Guest, Graphic Artist Amy Faught, Graphic Artist Carolyn Branham, Typesetter Advertising Terry Pratt, NalimuJi Accounts Manager Mark Thome, Western Sales M11nager Thomas R. Gonter, Western Sales Manager Steve Gotoski, Western Sales M11nager Mark Mitchell, Eastern Accounts Manager Greg Mitchell, Eastern Sales M11nager Rick Matheny, Eastern Sales M11nager Rhonda Crawford, Western Ad Coordinator Carla Borden Allen, Eastern Ad Coordinator Marketing &: Promotion Mark Thome, Manager Dealer Sales Steve Gotoski, Dealer Representative Administration Judy Klinger, Coordinator Peggy Rivera, Secretary to the Publisher Want Ads Toni Kerr, Want Ad Sales Circulation Rheba Smith, Manager Sarah Taylor, Billing Coordinator Alma Anguiano, Processing Coordinaterr Debbie Weller, Dealer Coordinaterr Service and Support Chris Aitcheson, Headquarters Ret:eptionist Leonard Herring, Servia and Support AccountingfData Processing Donna Bryan-Diamond, AIR Coordinator Geneva Repass, Assiswnt Herlane Lewis, Credil ational Headquarters 2201 Cherry Ave., Long Beach, CA 90806, P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, CA 90801-()498 (310) 427-7433; (213) 636-a844. Eastern Office 4190 First Ave., Tucker, GA, 30084; mailing address P.O. Box 805, Tucker, GA 30085-0805. FAX (310) 427-(,685 (404) 934-7850. FAX (404) 934-3112 Cycle News (USPS 141-340) is published weekly except the last two weeks of the calendar year for $50.00 per y,::~Cycle News, Inc., 2201 Cherry Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90806. Second class postage paid at tong CA. Canada Post International Publications Mail *546615. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Cycle News, P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, CA 9080l-()498. To detennine the expiration ~a~e o.f y~ur subscrip~on, check the four numbers on the first line of your address label. The first two dlgJts IndIcate the last ISsue number you'll receive and the last two characleIs indicate the year of the last issue. Subscription rates: Rates for the United States and its possessions for one year, (SO issues), $50.00; two years (100 ISS~es), $95.00; SIX months, (2S iss~es), $26.00; trial sub (15 issues), $19.00. Canada and Foreign, ?ne year (SO ISSUes), $90.00; two years (100 ISSUes), $175.00; six months (25 issues), $45.00; trial sub (15 ISSues), $38.00. Cycle N~s welcomes unsolicited ~ditorial material including stories, cartoons, photos, etc. Such material, 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 will be handled WIth reasonable care, however, Cycle News assumes no responsibility for the safety, loss or damage to such .matenal. Repnnfulg In whole or part only by pennission of the publisher. Advertising rates and circulation information will be sent upon request. See S.R.D.5. 4 Letters to the editor WBPA ~ITffTlON Copyrig}1t" Cycle News, Inc. 1993. Trodeuwk Cycle N.... registeftd U.s. Potent Office. AD rig}1ts ....rved. Thanks for recently publishing the great article by Paul Golde and Kinney Jones about their dual sport ride on California's Mojave Road. When I lived in Los Angeles in the '80s, I led many groups of people across the Mojave Road. We did many trips in four-wheel drive trucks and a few on motorcycles. We even had a night run in August. I am writing to let your readers know that I will be visiting southern Califo.rnia this May. I will be leading two trips across the Mojave Road during my visit. The first trip will take place on May 15-16 and be for (off-road and dual sport) motorcycles only and will feature overnight camping at the Colorado River. There will be a small fee for the trip to cover the chase vehicles and community barbecue. The second trip will take place on May 22-23 and will be for four-wheel drive vehicles only. This trip is free but a C. B. radio is required as I will be telling the history of the Mojave Road over the radio. People who would like more information about the trips can call me or write to me. Kenny Grobe 12243 S.W. Steamboat Dr. Beaverton, OR 97005 589/526-0747 Yellow flag fiasco We wish to express our profound disgust at what happened to one of our members during the 250cc Expert race at the February 7 Desert Vipers G.P. While running fourth overall, Greg Zitterkopf was disqualified by a course worker who assumed that Greg had completely disregarded his yellow flag. Without considering the facts, and abusing District 37 rules, the Vipers disqualified Zitterkopf on the spot, and told him he could not even finish the event. The incident began when two participants got stuck in a mudhole. A couple of flagmen were laughing at the situation and failed miserably by not keeping their eyes out for approaching riders. As Zitterkopf came up to the jump leading to the mudhole, one of the officials realized that he had been inattentive and began waving his yellow flag. Greg said he received confusing directives from the flagman as to what to do, but was cognizant of the danger ahead. Greg, a seasoned MX racer who was faced with an important decision, went with his instincts to the left, and easily missed the downed rider(s). What happened next was an embarrassment to the Vipers. and an insult to Greg's professional integrity. Demonstrating all the characteristics of a three-year-old having a temper tantrum, the flagman left his position, ran half-erazed across two sections of the race course, and began beating Greg with his yellow flag. He even had the audacity to admit that had he not been carrying the flag, he would have jumped on Greg Hand thrown him off his bike. But things got uglier. Seeing what had just happened, a respected editor of a well-known off-road motorcycle publication walked up and asked the worker why he attacked Greg. At that point, the raging worker shoved the journalist and began shouting gross profanities at him in front of spectators. This unprovoked anad outrageous spectacle was indeed a pitiful sight. While we found the Viper'S race generally well organized, this incident provokes us to voice our outrage with the flagman's malicious conduct, and the careless and indifferent remedial action taken by the promoting club. Disqualifying Zitterkopf because of a decision he had to make in a split second was not only wrong, but a humiliating insult. Racing promoters should not assassinate the character of a participant based upon the reckless afterthought of a course worker. When disqualifications are well-founded and righteous, we'll back the promoter. However, malicious, insulting and unsupported actions taken against members of our organization will not be tolerated. H Mike Mulconery President, Checkers M.e. Crestline, CA Smoke gets in your eyes Can someone give the supercross promoters a clue: smoke is very difficult to see through and we go to supercross events to see races. Why would they fill a stadium with smoke? That's what happened at Houston. Just minutes before the start of the 125cc qualifiers, the promoters presented a nice round of fireworks. That's nice, but the Houston Astrodome has a roof on it, and all that smoke had no where to go, so we spent the night trying to watch races through dense "fog." Maybe the smoke wasn't so bad at the lower levels, but from my vantage point it sucked. Darryl Smith Carrollton, TX Letters to the editor should be sent to Cycle News, P.O. Box 498, Long Beach, CA 90801-0498. Published letters do not necessariIy 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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