Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

to make a bike GP return if it becomes possible. "In the case of a race clash, he would put the bikes first," said Howa,d. Ralf Waldmann, Marlboro-Aprilia's 12Sec GP road racer, fell victim to fickle weather at the Salzburgring for the Austrian GP when he crashed and cracked his collarbone in the first timed session. It was about to rain, and Waldmann (like others) was anxious to set a good time before the track got wet, to secure a good grid position in case it remained wet for p~actice the next day. He crashed while trying too hard on only his second lap, with the track already damp. In fact, a regular Alpine cloudburst ensued, causing the session to be 'stopped "because of lightning". Waldmann rode on, and gave the quote of the weekend. "It doesn't hurt, but when I brake it goes click, and when I accelerate it goes clack." Extensive earthwork on the steep hillside behind the paddock had improved safety lat one of the Salzburgring's most dangerous places for this year's race. The ultrafast right-hander that ends a flat-out run up the hill (where speeds this year were above 180 mph) has always been one of racing's black spots. On the inside, a steep bank drops to the paddock, on the outside minimal run-off is enclosed by a steep uphill bank. In the past, bikes and riders that have crashed there have frequently bounced back across the track. Now 10,400 cubic yards of dirt has been added to the inside of the comer, allowing the track to be moved to the eight by some 40 feet. This has not only given extra run-off, but has straightened the corner and the preceding left-hander . slightly, giving significantly improved visibility. "It's faster there, but you can . see more, and it's safer - but there's still nowhere near enough run-off for the speeds we're doing," said Kevin Schwantz, expressing a typical view. There were doubts about the new surface laid there, which at first riders found very slippery. However, it improved as practice went on. Lucky Strike Suzuki riders Kevin Schwantz and Alex Barros had a new AP master-eylinder for their front brakes at the Austrian Grand Prix. "It's the first revised design for years," said a spokesman. "It's completely different. It operates on a pull principle rather than a push, which I think is the first time ever. At 200 g (7 ounces) it is half the weight of the old one. It also has an improved adjustment system for lever ratio, as well as adjustment for lever position. Hydraulically the ratio·is the same, but it is more efficient so it feels more powerful." Jean-Michel Bayle can now consider himself a fully-fledged 250cc GP road racer, after having his first crash at his sixth GP meeting and seventh career . road race. In fact he fell twice during qua4fying for the Austrian GP, once on Saturday moming and again in the afternoon, fortunately without injury. The NSRSOO Honda may be the fastest 500cc GP bike out there, but Daryl Beattie is hungry for more performance still. He told journalists he was contemplating purchasing a MiG 15, ex-Russian air force jet. They are selling now for around $150,000, and can easily manage Mach 0.9. Italian former 125cc GP rider Gabriel Debbia made a class return at Austria aboard injured Loek Bodelier's Team Daytona Pit-Lane Honda. Debbia also rode for the same team in the 250 class, as he has all year, making him the first rider this year to contest two classes. The Daytona Pit-Lane team, whose rider Ezio Gianola won four 125cc GPs last year, hope for a return to form after both Gianola and new teammate Loek Bodelier have failed to finish any race this year. In Spain, they ditched their Bridgestone tires in favor of Dunlops. In Austria, they also disposed of their own special chassis in favor of a standard chassis, hoping to return with their special after further development. Results were immediate, with Gianola qualifying on the front row for the first time. Suzuki's 250cc GP bike gained an induction air-box for the first time in Austria the last works 250 to be so equipped. It seemed to work at once, and both of Kocinski's Lucky Strike bikes had the new box fitted by the second day of practice. Former 250cc World Champion, 500cc GP winner and now Yamaha France team co-ordinator Christian Sarron was preparing to make a racing return in Austria to take the place of his absent team rider Freddie Spencer. The plan was only scotched at the last minute when Sarron thought better of racing California Green Sticker funds at risk C alifornia's Off-Highway Vehi~l~ Fun~1, the largest self-funded ~otorized rec~e ation program in the country, IS In senous danger, and th~ Amencan Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is asking California members to get Involved In the effort to protect it. The fund, also known as the Green Sticker program, gets its money entirely from registration and fuel taxes paid by off-highway vehicle users in the state.. And the l~gis lation that created the fund stipulates that the money must be used for motonzed recreation opportunities. However, California legislative committee members have approved a budget proposal for next year that would result in an $8.9 million diversion from the G.reen Sticker program. That plan, part of a widespread budget packa~e propo~ ~y Cahforru~

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