Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

ePREVIEW 250cc MX Series ~ By Alex Hodgkinson hen the gate drops on March 13 at Castiglione del Lago in the Umbria district of Italy, 14 riders from seven countries on five different marques will head the pack as they race towards a common goal: the 1993 World Championship 2S0cc MX Series title. Though none of the racers will compete as members of full-factory teams, many will ride special machinery that is leased from the factories by outside sponsors. In Eu rope, the full-factory efforts of Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha and Suzuki are not as commonly seen as they are in America. Instead, a bevy of sponsors from both outside and inside the industry fields the teams that make up the championship chase. With the SOOcc class rapidly losing its prestige, the 250cc division is for the first time being billed as the premier championship series. This season's 250cc title chase will be comprised of 15 rounds, this being the first time any World Championship off-road eries has exceeded a dozen races since the 1960s. [t will also be the first-ever motocross series to visit four different continents. This year's series promises to be a barn-burner, as the 2S0cc class will be laden with talent, including not only a few of last year's top 125cc riders, but many leading SOOcc pilots as well. Perennial SOOcc class runnerup Kurt Nicoll has switched to the 2S0cc class for '93 and will contest a Castrol-backed Honda. In his first races aboard a 250 in over seven years, Englishman icoll proved that he has nothing to fear from a change of a class by winning four-straight French In terna tional races. Also making the transition from the SOOcc class is Georgian Defending 250cc World Champion Donny Schmit Oeft) and Alex Puzar (right) will again carry the Chesterfield Yamaha team COIOIS in '93. Billy Liles, who will compete on a Johnson Cigarettes-sponsored Kawasaki. Liles should have no problem the same conditions; the tuning talents guys don't always get the rewards one Eastwood, New Zealander Paul Cooper, adapting to the smaller bike, but his of Jan de Groot will undoubtedly mean would wish them. Bervoets will be Fin Miska Aaltonen and Swede Mats career has never displayed consistency that the South African will start on teaming with Liles on the Johnson Nilsson, who spent the winter training and Kawasaki has yet to win a equal terms with the best, mechanically. in California. Kawasaki squad, while Johansson will motocross championship at the internaWith moto wins in 125cc GPs under again compete for Yamaha Europe. When it comes to riders with a shot tionallevel. his belt, Californian Tallon Vohland Though equipped with factory mateat the title itself, though, the top conLeading the attack of former 12Scc rial, GP-newcomer Tomoyuki Kawasaki must be a candidate for some good tenders in last year's 250cc series should pilots is reigning 12Scc World does not appear to be up to the task of results, but a lack of experienced backbe expected to fend off the class newChampion Greg Albertyn. The South up hurt the Carpi Suzuki rider's consiswinning a title. The Japanese rider will comers. African has good credentials; He join Johansson on the Yamaha Europe tency last year. Vohland hopes to Belgian Stefan Everts has experishowed last year that he had the nerve change that this year, squad. enced both ends of the spectrum in the required to win a title, as well as the A radical improvement in form does Brit Paul Malin, aboard a Mitsui last two years, with one season in which speed and skill. Also in his favor is the not appear to be in the cards for Yamaha, knows that this will be a makeeverything went right and resulted in fact that four of the last five 250cc title or-break year for his career: his aim will American Bader Manneh, who surely the 1991 12Scc World Championship, holders have ridden 12Ss the previous reached the pinnacle of his career last no doubt be to establish himself firmly followed by another in which he visited year, the only exception being Trampas year, with a number-eight plate that Was in the upper reaches of the top 10, rather too many hospitals. If the Bieffe Suzuki Parker in 1991. It took Parker two. years than to actually win the title. well-eamed from a series of rapid starts. pilot can come to terrns with the presManneh will ride a Franciacorte Honda. There will be several riders contestto capture the 2S0cc crown after winsures which hurt him in 1992, Everts ning a 125cc title. ing the series this year who, though they Likable riders Belgian Marnicq could be champion, but he could just as JHK Honda's Albertyn will be the Bervoets and Swede Peter Johansson must surely be discounted from having easily continue in the same vein. only true title candidate riding without a shot at the title, at least stand a chance have registered just four GP moto wins Everts' new teammate, American Bob the benefit of factory machinery, but he to date, and don't hold much promise at breaking into the top 10. Members of Moore, who took the place of fellow easily won the 125cc title in 1992 under this "supporting cast" include Brit Mark for breaking into the top three. Nice countryman Mike Healey, will probably W 30

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