Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127567
RPREVrnWl~3~ili~~n~~~R_oa_dR_a_ce_Se_rie_s~~~~~~~~~~ e """'0\ \. ' ~ 0\ rl f e S e rea t0 rum e t t By Michael Scott he countdown has begun, the contest is about to start. And at various points around the world, the final tests of the new machines are reaching conclusion, before they meet for the first time in anger at Australia's Eastern Creek on March 28. There begins the 1993 Grand Prix road race season, sched uled to run over 15 races (though two have yet to be confirmed), with the first three in the Pacific region - Australia, Malaysia, Japan; a late r at Laguna Seca in the U.S.A; the last in South Africa; and the remaining eight in the traditional European heartland. The tests - there have been more of them for this season than ever before must reach conclusion, because the calendar says they must. Much of what will happen in at least the early part of the season will depend upon whether the various mechanical pregnancies reached full term, or if they were forced to abort. The point is particularly piquant for two of the three major 500cc class title contenders. Defending triple champion Wayne Rainey's all-new Marlboro Yamaha, when it finally arrived in February, proved so far short of the mark that it prompted a rare temper tantrum from the Californian, who stormed out of early tests muttering imprecations against his new teammate Luca Cadalora and demanding a rebuilt bike in time for the first race, barely six weeks hence. At that stage, last year's nearly-man Michael Doohan didn't even have the luxury of knowing whether his Rothmans Honda was good, bad or indifferent. Lingering after-effects of his ruinous '92 leg injury meant he was obliged to leave testing in the callow hands of GP newcomers Daryl Beattie and Japan's Shinichi Itoh until it was far T 6 ~~e~ate for any major changes to the - But for Doohan especially there is one redeeming feature. Whileitseemsobvious that the title will go to the contender who starts the season best prepared, this truism doesn't take outside events into account. Doohan was far and away the best-prepared last year, and look what happened. In all classes, 1993 has the signs of being a good year. For the premier SOOs, the regular top talent is reinforced by an exciting new crop of works riders, including Beattie and Mat Mladin. As usual (even more so, after the departure of Wayne Gardner and Eddie Lawson), the title contenders are likely to number just three. The Third Man, of course, is Kevin Schwantz, whose own Lucky Strike Suzuki test program has progressed smoothly since shortly after the end of last season, with the lanky Texan for once not nursing fresh injuries or trying to recuperate from old ones. In many ways, Schwantz's case is the most urgent. He has been Suzuki's top man since 1988, and a potential champion since 1989. But he was always a win-or-crash merchant, and a propensity for the latter always put him out of title contention in the end. Of late, he has tamed his suicidal tendencies to become a better-rounded racer. But his win-rate has similarly dropped off - only one last year, compared with six in 1989, and five each in '90 and '91. Then there's his position within the team. His contract expires at the end of this year, and in simple commercial terms it is time for him to prove that he The three men expected to battle for the 500cc World Championship. Marlboro Yamaha's Wayne Rainey (above), Lucky Strike Suzuki's Kevin Schwantz (right) and Rothmans Honda's Mick Doohan (below). Rainey is fit, but on a brand new motorcycle; Doohanis battling back from injury; Schwantz may just be the best prepared of the three. can be consistent without slowing down. But there is a top-spin. John Kocinski has joined the Lucky Strike Suzuki outfit, for what he vows will be just one year on the 250. Kevin now has competition for the top spot. Schwantz is right if he is feeling insecure, and I believe I am right in feeling this might be just the kick up the backside he needs. He's the most naturally gifted rider of all; his bike should be much better for its smooth progress through controlled testing. And he's in a mood. I think he's going to do it. It is unlikely that he will enjoy more' than sporadic support from his new teammate Alex Barros. Not that the Brazilian is to be written off, but he is only 22 and in spite of three years of 500cc experience must still be classed as a learner.