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/127665
250cc: UVING DANGEROUSLY Last year's champion Tetsuya Harada's title defense got the worst possible start when he crashed in practice for the Australian round, suffering injuries to his right hand that were bad enough to leave him still weak and faltering when he did mad e a tentative racing return in Japan. By then, the leading players were well awa y, and the man of the moment was Max Biaggi. Last year he'd been up and down on a Honda. Now, back on the Aprilia and his favorite Dunlop tires, he seized control in Australia , won convincingly in Malaysia, and tried to win in Japan, but instead finished fourth after an almost ruinous last-lap motocross ou ting at the chicane. Biaggi's Chesterfield Aprilia was performing rather differently compared with the Italian factory's early-season efforts in other years. It was because they'd decided to cut out tha t tro uble some "prototyp e" stage and bring last year's bike instead, with a few suitable updates. It wa s en oug h for him to ha ve the measure of the Hond as, with their works effort spearheaded mainly by former double 12Sec champ and last year's close runner-up Loris Capirossi (Team Marlboro Pileri). Biagg i followed hi m througho ut the Australian roun d, harrying and n ip ping at his heels until the often-erratic Cap iross i made a p redictable last-lap error tha t cost him second place as well, to the third Italian Stallion Doriano Romboni's HB Honda . Rombon i was lagging slightly, fou rt h overall after a lackluster Japanese GP. A fourth element is HRC's official rider Tadayuki Okada, in his second GP yea r . His bik e is tune d by th e redoubtable Erv Kanemoto. He was second in Malaysia, and the ultimate victor '. in Japan of a battle that was fierce, susta ined , and highl y tactical. After three races, the grim-faced Okada was second overall, ah ead of Capirossi, Romboni, and the so-far luckless Ruggia on the second works Aprilia. Reformed motocross superstar JeanMichel Bayle was looking good in his second GP year, on a third factory Aprilia. A full house of scoring finishes, two in the top 10, shows that he has learned a lot and fast . Perhaps not surprisingly, given his background, he showed at his very best in the rain in practice in Suzuka, well on the pace of the fast men. Can the Hondas fight back in Europe? Can a duck swim? Stand by for some fine 250 racing. and Any Questions? ;RenDE If you're serious about riding, send $2 for our new tire catalog. IRC USA 2851 -8 Whipple Road Union City, CA 94587 A DIVISION OF INrJAC 125cc: GETTING SERIOUS The arrival of Yamaha as a third force, as well as the acqu isition by the Aprilia facto ry of hard-charging Japanese star Kazuto Sakata, has upped the stakes in the smallest class, and obliged Honda to fight back with a significantly upgraded se m i-w o rks kit for their top riders: defending champion Dirk Raudies and Japanese youngster Takeshi Tsujimura. This did nothing to reverse Raudies's rotten luck. The little German placed 12th overall, after a disastrous 10th in Australia, a redeeming fourth in Malaysia, then his first-in-six-years bike failure in Japan. But the new kit, with an airbox and yet more new cyli nde rs/exhaus ts etc. gave Tsujirnura the race win in Japan. His luck was Malaysian winner Noboru Veda's misfortune - he crashed out of the lead in a ridiculously heroic last lap at Suzuka. It was Sakata , however, who led the title into Europe, the Aprilia man backing a runaway win in Australia with a brace of seconds in the next two rounds to amass 65 po ints to second-placed Tsujimura's 36. Veda is third, with Peter Oettl (Aprilia) the top European, hot on their heels. C( WHEN DRINKING, CALL AFRIEND. OR GET ARIDE Wf11I ASTRANGER. - - .- . - - - ••===- .----......... -- .. - - - ......... _ LA. SLEEVE CO. - ~ _~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ - GENUINE RACING PARTS HI-PERFORMANCE PISTONS MXlATV High performance race sty le piston s manufactu red from special high-silicon aluminum alloys. Drinking and riding can lead to a loss oflicense, a conviction, or even worse. When you drink, get a ride with a friend. It's the best call you can make. W ElIIlCYCU SAFElY FDUIlDATIlIIl • Piston kits supplied wi th rings, clrcllps , wrist pin. For leadi ng makes and . mod els, see your dealer. LOS ANGELES SLEEVE CO., INC. 12051 Rivera Road, Santa Fe Springs , CA 90670 (310) 945-7578 Dealers call or write for your free catalog and decals