Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

After a year's absence, AJnerican interest will return to the other two series, as well. The 500cc title (note that 500, not "Open", is still the official classification, even though fourstrokes are allowed a displacement of up to 650cc to compensate for their firin g cycle handicap) is between the Bel~, the Swedes and the overseas troupe m this pure euro series. Jacky Martens has to be the favorite to retain his title on the Graham Kent-prepared Husqvarna, but the Vertemati team should be an even more serious challenger. With the bikes updated and renamed, after disagreements with the Husaberg factory, Joel Smets be I~~ ing for that first GP moto wm, but It 15 probably team newcomer Billy Liles who has the best chance of pushing Martens for th e title . The flamboyant Geo rg ian had a miserable 1993 in the 250 class, as nothing came together for him, but ~on't write him off yet. The more soc iable atmosphere of the big bike races will no doubt boost him. The fourth top man on a four-stroke this year is Marcus Hansson, on the official Husaberg. The Swede finished fourth last year despite eff~vely miss~~ a third of the series through illness and InJury. Jorgen Nilsson was the top man on a two-stroke last year, losing the title by just th ree points, but the almost paralyzing injuries he incurred at ~e Stutt~ Supercross in Novemb er WIll keep him ou t of action until at least the end of the summer. Kiwi Darryll King is also trying to get fit aga in in time for the firs t GP, after a serious leg b reak in Tok yo, so the big th reat from last yea r's tw o-st roke contend ers is Johan Boonen. Gerald Delepine threw off his role of su pporter to finish the 1993 ser ies seventh, but he was a long way behind on points and a major improvem ent is not expected, w hile dass newc.omer:, Van Doom , Dirkx and Shayne King WIll not likely score enough points to worry the medal-chasers. The one rid er from th e lower ranks who has proved in the past he has the pace (but has lacked consistency) is Ronny Weustenra~d. An .injury-~ campaign could earn him a single-digit ranking. One rider hoping to benefit from a full series is Siggi Bauer. The Au strian has previously had to give priority !O national championships, but he showed In the later stages last year that he is gettin g faster. Karl Sulzer will unfortunately not be able to start the campaign on the new KTM fo u r -stro ke, while 440cc two-strok emounted Franco Rossi will p robably disappear into the distance on the hard tracks, and back to the pa ddock in the sand. 0ll America could boast a second challenger in the cl ass, as form er 125cc National Champion Ron Lechien is .already entered for the early rounds, and has an open mind about contesting the remainder if sponsors come along . ~ce back to full fitnes s, the reformed giant from San Diego could be a very serio us threat on the big bikes he rides so well. The darkest horse of the series, however, is Belgian Georges [obe, The five-~e world champion would like to m ImIC Formula 1 race car d river Alain Pro st, who also made a comeback, and he cannot be dismissed from the reckoning. Still, at 33, he can't be getting any faster, an~ th e pace has heated up since 1991. HIS mount is basically a modified Honda, but Georges is being paid big bucks by the Belgian business developm ent agen:r .to revive the FN name (t he Fab n q u e . Nationale team won the first three international motocross titles in the '50s) and will score no points for the Japanese in the manufacturers' battle. Indeed, the officia l return of Maico, with England's Brian Wheeler, plus the presence of a number of 360cc Ohlin-eonversi on Yamaha 250s, means that there are nine marques on the line in the big bike class this year. Despite the annual departure of several top na mes to the 250s, there is still plenty of talent on show in the 12Sec GPs. Dutchm an Pedro Tragter will try to retain . his title, and an increase in confidence has seen him improve yet further. The sand specialist will need that confidence as he defends his title in a series which includes just one genuine sand GP! He and Dave Strijbos should come to terms w ith tha t fact, but John Van den Berk, Leon Giesbe rs and ev en Remy Van Rees can be expected to stru ggle. th~ hard moto and must show that he has the sta- tracks are French whiz kid Mikael PIchon, German Peter Beir er and Italian Ch icco mina to main tain his pace for the full race Waiting to take ad vantage of Chiodi, Pichon is considered a favorite by m any, but he has not ye t even won a (Above) Aboard a Pepsi-backed Honda , Tallon Vohland should be a threat In the 2S0cc ranks. (Left) No, thi s is not a file photo. Bob Moore is back on a Yamaha and back In the 12Scc class. He should be a threat. (Right) Ron Lechlen has entered the first two SOOcc GPs, and If he performs well may contest the whole ser ies . d istance. All o f their h op es may co me to I . naught, ho wever, as Yamaha officially retu rns to the class, with Californian Bob Moore quietly confident of finally clinching the world title which eluded him so narrow ly a coup le of years ago. A significant factor in the d estiny of the titles will be played by yet another new race forma t. The delega tes to the FIM mo tocross com mission ha ve manda ted a race format of just two motos, of 30 minutes each pl us two laps du ration, at each GP. There was a significant l ob b y for a r e turn from three motos (only introduced two years ago by the same au gust bod y) to two , ~ut on ly if the races we re run over 40 romutes plus tw o laps. Citing the limited range of stock fuel tanks, t he FIM decided up on a r ace format o f tw o motos , of 30 m inu tes eac h p lu s two laps duration. C'i

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