Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

Motocrosser turned road racer JeanMichel Bayle won the Guidon d'Or superbikers race in Paris, France, on October 16. Bayle topped Stephane Chambon and William Rubio. Jim Neese (Kaw) posted 3-1 moto finishes to win Round Four of the AMA Fall Classic Motocross Series in Danville, Virginia, on October 16. Mike Brown (Hon) was second ahead of Todd DeHoop (Hon), Kevin Crine (Hon) and Barry Carsten (Suz). Scott Plessinger (KTM) won the second-to-Iast round of the Grand National Cross Country Series in Mt. Morris, Pennsylvania, on October 16. The runner-up at the High Point National was defending champ Fred Andrews (Yam), while Doug Blackwell (Kaw), Duane Conner (Yam) and Tom Norton (Kaw) rounded out the top five overall Ty Davis (Kaw) turned in a low score of just 15 points to take the overall win at the Training Wheel M.C.'s Ghost Rider National Enduro in Lucerne, California, on October 16. Steve Hatch (Suz) dropped 23 points for second overall, with Randy Hawkins (Suz) third another three points back. Danny Hamel (Kaw) and Kevin Hines (CRE) completed the top five. With just one round remaining in the AMA National Championship Enduro Series, Steve Hatch stands a very good chance of securing his first title ever. Taking the riders' two "throw-away" rides into account, Kevin Hines is the only other rider with a shot a t the crown. If Hines were to win the final round in Bear, Delaware, on October 30, Hatch would have to finish fourth or better to sew up the title. If Hines won and Ha tch were to finish fifth" the two would tie on points and Hines would get the nod by virtue of having more overall wins. With his victory in Lucerne, Ty Davis has now posted overall wins in four different forms of National Championship off-road competition in 1994. Davis has earned wins in National Hare & Hound, National Hare Scrambles, National Reliability Enduro and National Enduro rounds, not to mention the fact that he was the top-placing American rider at the International Six Day Enduro in Tulsa. Not bad, Ty. Road racer Pascal Picotte, who rode a Fast By Ferracci Ducati to fourth in the 1994 AMA U.S . Superbike National Championship after winning two Nationals, has signed a contract to ride a Muzzy Kawasaki in the '95 AMA Series, according to team owner Rob Muzzy. Muzzy is also currently negotiating with Mike Smith and Miguel DuHamel, with Smith slated to join i Pico tte on the AMA team while DuHamel would head overseas to compete alongside Scott Russell for the World Superbike Championship. "I have an agreement with Pascal," Muzzy said on Friday, October 14. ~ "And we're still negotiating with Smith '-" and DuHamel. They all could happen. ~ The ball's in Smith's court to go with us or accept another offer. Miguel is up in the air because he's not our only choice." The other rider Muzzy is courting for the second spot on his World Superbike team is new Australian Superbike Champion Anthony Gobert. Harley-Davidson is also known to be making a strong pitch to retain Miguel DuHamel, who turned in several strong efforts with the all-new VRl000 this year, including a fourth-place finish at Brainerd International Raceway. In addition to DuHamel, Harley-Davidson is known to be also chasing Mike Smith. Sources say that Fritz Kling will not be rehired by Harley for 'the 1995 season. According to DuHamel's manager Alan Labrosse, a decision will likely come early next week (October 24) as to DuHamel's future. "We will make a decision very soon, unless some surprise comes in, Labrosse said. In addition to offers from Harley-Davidson and Muzzy Kawasaki, Labrosse confirmed that the French Canadian also has an offer from Smokin' Joe's Racing's Martin Adams and from a fourth "mystery team." "You won't guess it," Labrosse said of the fourth team on Monday, October 17. Smokin' Joe's Racing's Martin Adams said on Monday, October 17 that the offer to DuHamel has expired. "We made a big offer," Adams said. "But Harley has convinced him that they'll make him a rich man and a legend. I fully expect he'll sign with Harley. Our offer was very good, but I don't think he was impressed with the competitivness of our machine." Adams confirmed that he's also made an offer to Anthony Gobert and is looking at the possibility of hiring a Grand Prix rider like Doug Chandler. "That's your speculation,", Adams said, admitting later that he has had a conversation with Gary Howard, Chandler's manager. In addition, Adams has hired Merlyn Plumlee, who worked with Chandler when the Californian won the AMA Superbike National Championship iI! 1990 and most recently was the crew chief for the Rumi .Ho n d a team in World Superbike racing. When contacted at his home in Salinas, California, Doug Chandler responded to the question of a Smokin' Joe's Honda ride: "It really depends on what's out there, but it'd be nice to stay home." Chandler says he will be making a decision as to his future in the next couple of weeks. The Vance & Hines Yamaha team, meanwhile, is complete, with new signee Tom Kipp joining Jamie James as a replacement for Colin Edwards II, who will contest the World Superbike Championship on a factory Yamaha. Kipp, 25, signed a two-year contract last week. "I'm, really pleased to be working with the Yamaha team next year," Kipp said. "I have had several conversations with Jim Leonard (V&H's crew chief) and it's apparent that these guys are serious, very serious about their racing. This whole deal is nice beca use it will geve me a chance to work with myoid friend Dale Rathwell again." Rathwell, the suspension engineer with Vance & Hines, tuned the suspension on Kipp's privateer Wiseco Yamaha in 1989 and 1990. Kipp has won the AMA/CCS 600cc Supersport Championship in 1992 on a Honda and recently won the 1994 750cc Supersport Championships on a Yoshimura Suzuki. "Jamie Games) and I are close friends and being on the same team as him is just a dream come true for me, I am really looking for good things from myself and this team in 1995 - I could not be happier." Kipp will compete in the 600cc Supersport class as well as superbike while James will concentrate his efforts on the Putting the California Desert Bill in ers ective he places most California OHV riders went to enjoy their sport last weekend will still be open and available next January. That's the message the Motorcycle industry Council (MIC) is getting out to dealers and the riding public following passage of the California Desert Protection Act (5.21)by the Congress in early October. In an effort to head off public misconceptions of the act's true effects on OHV recreation, MIC mounted an information campaign before the month was out. The aim is to show ATV and off-highway motorcycle riders the abundance of OHV recreation opportunities throughout the Golden State. The cornerstone of that effort is a poster map of California riding areas that MlC is distributing to all motorcycle dealers in the state. "There is a natural tendency for riders and the industry alike to be discouraged right now," said MlC president Alan R. Isley. "With all the publicity surrounding the California Desert bill, we felt it was very important to put the issue in perspective. The fact of the matter is that California has the largest OHV market in the country, and it is home to well over a million ATV owners and dirt bike riders. Now California dealers will have the map to show their customers that there are plenty of places to enjoy their new machines." Isley said every dealer will receive two copies of the full-color, two-foot by threefoot map for showroom or shop display. The map is based on information supplj.ed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation, OHV division. The AMA contributed to the production costs. "The map shows that virtually all traditionally used OHV areas including nearly half a million acres of desert terrain remain open and accessible," Isley said. A number of very important routes in the desert region have been preserved due to AMA's negotiations with the bill's sponsors earlier this year . In addition, over 60,000 acres of the world renowned South Algodones Dunes near Glamis are open and waiting for yet another exciting winter riding season under the capable stewardship of the Bureau of Land Management." Isley pointed out that California OHV recreation generated $3 billion in economic impact for the state in 1992, saying that California OHV sales account for approximately 17%of OHV sales nationwide. "When you look at the total picture as represented on this map, there is no reason to see anything but a very positive future for OHV recreation in California." A 2DO-page, detailed OHV Guidebook is available from the California Division of Parks and Recreation, listing over 100 OHV areas statewide. The $17 book may be ordered by calling 916/653-4000. T N Superbike National Championship. "I want to keep my momentum rolling from my 750cc Supersport Championship into another 600cc title," Kipp said. According to Jim Haynes, the president of Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, "there is a remote possibility" of the 1995 United States Grand Prix taking place at the Wisconsin facility. "They've (Grand Prix promoters) talked to Mid-Ohio as well as ourselves," Haynes said. "That's all I can tell you. We had a good meeting with Dennis Noyes' (of Dorna) and Wayne Rainey came and looked at the track ." According to Haynes, the circuit modification to the Carousel section of the four-mile course has been made, and the repaving of the track is expected to begin next week. "We've ground it , down eight inches and the asphalt machines are out there now, but it's raining . We expect to get started on Wednesday morning: "I think there is some difficulty with the speeds here for Formula One motorcycles and we may have to add two or three chicanes at some pont on the straightaways. Right now we don't have anything in writing. We're a little farther along with the World Superbike people and we'll definitely only do one or the other. We've had a lot of success with the AMA Superbike race here, but there is an awful lot of controversy with the AMA race right now . It just may have been a little too late. to ask me about the GP. What people out in California forget is that on December 1 we freeze up . It's like a steel curtain drops, so I don't know how much time we'd have to get things done ." "Wayne (Rainey) thought Road America would make for great 500cc racing," Dennis Noyes said. "He's the architect and he wants to be there when they start changing things . He not only wants it to be safe, but he wants to ensure that skilled riders can pass. There needs to be a chicane added at the Kink and some things have to be changed at the Carousel - and we need to make some changes so that the bikes are going straight when they get to the Billy Mitchell Bridge. It could be really good. They'd basically end up with an Indy car track and a motorcycle track. The original track would remain unscathed." Dirt-tracker Ricky Smith suffered severe damage to his right arm, a broken right femur (thigh bone) and metacarpal bone damage to his right hand in his first-lap crash in the AMA Grand National Championship round at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in Del Mar, California, on October 16. Smith, 24, underwent nine hours of surgery on Sunday night and faces several months or rehabiliation and possibly more surgery. Smith said he was bumped from behind on the opening lap, sending him over the dirt berm and into the fence along the back straight of the Del Mar Mile. Cards and letters can be sent to Smith at 630 Liege Dr., Hollister, CA 95023. AMA Supercross Champion Jeremy McGrath and AMA U.S . Superbike National Champion Troy Corser have been announced as the first two nominees for the 1994 AMA MotoWorld Professional Athlete of the Year. The recipient will be announced at the AMA's 20th Annual Professional Racing Banquet and Awards Presentations scheduled for November 19 in Long Beach, California. For more information call 614/891-2425, ext. 258.

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