Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

Spaniards Emilio Alzamora (Hon) and Jose-Luis Cardoso (Apr) won the 125 and 250cc classes, respectively, in round three of the Open Ducados Series at the Calafat circuit in Spain on May 14. Alzamora topped Herri Torrontegui (Hon) and Jorge Martinez (Yam), with Cardoso beating Gregorio Lavilla (Hon) and Sete Gibernau (Yam). Kenny Roberts' 16-year-old son, Kurtis, had his best outing of the season, finishing ninth in the 250.cc class on his PJ1 Team Roberts Yamaha TZ250. J ordi Tarres (G-G) won the Belgian round of the World Championship Trials Series, held May 13-14 in Bilstain, Belgium . Marc Colomer (Mon) was the runner-up, and Doug Lampkin (Bet) rounded out the top three . Amos Bilbao (Bet) was a popular fourth, ahead of Joan Pons (G-G). Colomer continues to lead the series point standings, a mere point ahead of Tarres, 71-70. Tommi Ahvala seventh in Belgium - is third with 57. ' Scott Plessinger (KTM) was the overall winner at round three of the AMA National Championship Hare Scrambles Series, held May 14 in Wilson, Louisiana. Scott Summers (Hon) was second, and Rodney Smith (Suz) was third. Duane Connor (Yam) and Steve Leivan (Yam) rounded out the top five. Jeff Matiasevich (Kaw) used 5-1 moto scores to top round 4 of theAll Japan National MX Series, held May 14 in Suzuki, Japan. Masaya Kohashi (Hon) was second overall, and Tomoyoshi Masuda (Yam) was third . Defending National Champion Ronnie Tichenor was a no . show . With eight rounds remaining, Matiasevich enjoys a healthy lead in the series point standings. Takuma Aoki (Hon) and Katsuaki Fujiwara (Kaw) split wins in the opening round of the All-Japan Superbike Championship, held in wet conditions at the Sugo Circuit in Japan on April 30. Australian Kevin Magee (Suz) finished 11th in the first leg, but failed to finish.the second race. The 250ccGrand Prix class was won b y Tohru Vkawa (Hon) with Youichi Vi (Yam) winning the 12SecGP class. In the second round of the series in Tsukuba, Norihiko Fujiwara (Yam) was the winner with Magee again finishing 11tho Ukawa again won the 250cc class with Masao Azuma (Hon ) winning the 125ccclass. French off-road ace Stephane Peterhansel (Yam) won both days of the Over 175cc class at round three of the World Championship Enduro Series in San Severino, Italy, May 13-14. Peterhansel was also the overall individual winner. Italians Michalik Roman (TM ) and Stefano Passeri (Kaw) split day wins in the 125cc division, as did their countrymen Arnaldo Nicoli (Hus) and Mario Rinaldi (KTM) in the 350cc Four-Stroke clas s. When the fin al scores were tallied , Passeri and Rinaldi wer e the class winners. Czech Jaraslov Katrinak (Hus) and Italian Fabio Farioli (KTM) each earned day wins in the 500cc Four-Stroke catego. ry, but the class win went to Finn Kari Tiainen (Hus). Lf) 0\ ~ According to sources close to the Texan, former World Superbike Champion Doug Polen has had discussions with both Lucky Strike Suzuki and Shell Harris Yamaha regarding a 500ccGrand Prix ride in 1995. Lucky Strike Suzuki is reportedly searching for a replacement for Kevin Schwantz in case the 1993 World Champion decides to retire. Shell Harris Yamaha rider Sean Emmett is cur- rently riding in Schwantz's place, but that is expected to end after the German round on May 21. Polen is also talking to an unnamed World Superbike team. The Lucky Strike press notes issued on May 15 leave open the possibility that Kevin Schwantz may not return. "We expect Kevin to come to the Italian GP," team manager Garry Taylor said. "But we're all just waiting now to give Kevin's injuries a chance to settle down again before any decision is made as to whether he will be fit to ride there. By the time it comes around, three weeks after Germany, he will have had good time to assess whether he has recovered to a condition where he can race to his full ability in every respect. We're putting no pressure on him either way . He'll be happy to speak for himself in Italy." As the May 28 Hi Point 125/250cc MX National at Mt. Morris, Pennsylvania, draws nearer, it looks as if the much rumored return of Yamaha's Damon Bradshaw is a reality . The American Motorcyclist Association confirmed that Bradshaw has reserved racing number 114, and Axo Sport, Bradshaw's clothing sponsor, has started designing Bradshaw Comeback T-shirts. The popular North Carolinan was spotted several times practicing aboard a blue and white factory YZ250 last week in Southem California - on Wednesday at Perris Raceway, and on Thursday at Glen Helen. Bradshaw certainly appeared to have regained his former speed, as he matched pace with Hangtown runner-up Jeff Emig. The annual Racing Enterprises Commotion by the Ocean motocross will be held July 8-9 at Carlsbad Raceway in Carlsbad, California. For more information call 619/484-1441. Jeff Barbacovi, son of California Racing Dub President Jack Barbacovi, was seriously injured in a race crash at LOs Angeles County Raceway in Palmdale, Cali. fornia, on May 7. Barbacovi crashed and suffered a broken neck, and is paralyzed from the neck down. According to the senior Barbacovi, his son's chances of recovery don't look good . Cards and letters may be sent to Barbacovi, care of CRC, 37045 Ran Dr ., Palmdale, CA 93550. Due to a scoring error, the Camel RaeinglSkoal Racing Privateer Award in the 250cc class was erroneously presented to Lance Smail at the May 6 Hangtown 125/250cc MX National, held at Prairie City OHV Park in Rancho Cordova, California. The award should have been presented to Jean-Sebastien Roy. The Canad ian competed aboard a Kawasaki KX250 borrowed from Fremont Cycle Center, a Fremont, California , Kawasaki dealership. Roy turned in 13-12 moto fin ishes for 11th overall, and was presented with a $500 check for his accomplishment. Though Smail was not the correct award recipient, he was allowed to keep the $500 he was presented with at th e ceremonies. The Holiday Inn in Waldorf, Maryland and the Holiday Inn in Solomons Island, Maryland have been des ignated the official race headquarters for the Budds Creek 125/250cc National Motocross on June 17-18.The hotels are offering special rates for race teams , officials and members of the press. For more informa tion call 315/732-4363. Mechanic Mitch Leonard is no longer working for the Vance & Hines Yamaha Ride For Kids raises $43,130 here were miles of smiles at T this year's Dana Point (California), Ride For Kids. The 50.0 motorcyclists who turned out to raise money, for the fight against pediatric brain cancer were all smiles at the unusual opportunity to take a 55-mile guided tour of the Camp Pendleton Marine Base in San Diego County, an area which is normally off-limits to non-military personnel. The kids who turned out to thank the motorcyclists who raised money on their behalf were all smiles at the sight of hundreds of gleaming bikes and the chance to ride along with their motorcycling heroes. And event organizers were all smiles at the $43,130 that the event raised for research into the most deadly form of childhood cancer. The Ride For Kids, one of very few charities totally supported by motorcyclists and the motorcycle industry, has raised more than $2.5 million to help fight pediatric brain tumors since the fund-raising effort began in 1984. "The money that we've raised has made a huge difference in the research effort," said Mike Traynor, who founded the charity after a friend's child was diagnosed with a brain tumor. "It takes time, and a lot of money, to make a difference in a field like this. There is no overnight cure, but when you look around at the kids that are here today, it's great to know we're doing everything we can to help them." The ride, which totaled 75 miles, began at the Dana Point Marina. Riders had the rare pleasure of ignoring traffic signals and cruising through compulsory stops as local police led the parade to the freeway, then it was full speed ahead to Camp Pendleton, where the police escort was replaced by a military escort for the 55-mile circumnavigation of the marine base. A leisurely pace gave riders an opportunity to check out the scenery inside the base, which included such unusual sights as "Tank Crossing" signs, armored cars, firing ranges and a large gun parking lot, and they were greeted by free food courtesy of local restaurants when they returned to the marina at Dana Point at the end of the tour. After-ride activities included short speeches by some of the celebrity attendees, including Entertainment Tonight's Mary Hart, whose husband suffered a brain tumor five years ago, and TV anchorman Steve Rambo, and the riders heard one thank you after another from everybody involved in the charity - from the kids who suffer with tumors to the doctors who treat them. There was also a prize drawing that netted one lucky rider a brand new Honda courtesy of American Honda, the event's principal sponsor. Ann Van Beveran road race team: according to a letter to Cycle News from the Californian. "It was with much regret and discussion that I no longer will be with the team," Leonard's letter said. "It must be said that this process started before Daytona. There are many people to thank for their help, support and knowledge. The support from the Vance & Hines team you never get to see at the track - you know who you are ...The team - I spent more time with you than my family and you became my second family. Greatsuccess to you." The Second Annual Flat Track Celebrity Golf Tournament will be held on July 14, . one day before the Hagerstown Half Mile in Maryland. The Twigg Cycle-sponsored event drew stars such as Scott Parker, Chris Carr and Steve Morehead, and the top 30 riders in the Grand National Championship have been invited to this year's tournament. Entry forms are available by calling 301/739-2773. The 11th Annual .Dinosaur Daze in Olympia, Washington, will feature Jim Pomeroy, Brad Lackey, Tom Rapp , Marty Smith and other stars from the past on June 3-4. The event will feature vintage scrambles, flat track, swap meet . and bike show and speedway exhibition. For more information call 206/537-8692. After more than two weeks of debate and several revisions, the Senate passed legislation to reform the nation 's product liability laws , the Motorcycle Industry reports. The Product Liability Fairness Act (S.565) passed by a 61-37 vote on May 10, marking a major victory for business interest in the 15-year battle for reform. In one of its key provisions, the bill would limit punitive damages in product liability lawsuits to $250,000 or two times the compensatory damages. Whichever amount is less would apply to businesses with fewer than 25 employees. The greater amount would apply to jury awards against larger businesses. On May 2, the San Bernardino, California, Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the plan put before them by Roger Penske and Kaiser Resources for the proposed two-mile oval race track which is scheduled to be built less than 10 miles away from the old Ontario ' Motor Speedway, in Fontana, California. The clean up of the site, which was once the old Kaiser steel mills, is scheduled to take about three months and construction may begin as early as October 2 The first race is scheduled for September of 1996, though 1997 may be a more realistic date for the track's opening. according to sources close to the track. Cycle News contributor Alan Cathcart scored two road race wins at Mettet in Belgium on April 30. Cathcart won both the Supermono and BoTT races held on the public roads circuit, riding a Ducati Supermono and a Yamaha TRX850, respectivel y, in the two races. Yamaha announced at the World Superbike Championship opener at Hockenheirn, Germany, .that its factory team would run a minimum of three years. The 1995 team riders are Colin Edwards II and Yasutomo Nagai.

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