Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

".TEARDOWN' By PiUl'C8mJIherS ._ ne of the charms of the World Superbike Championship as cpmpared to its rival Grand Prix Series is that it gives National-level riders the opportunity to race against the world's best. There are no one-off "Wild Card" entries struggling to come within five seconds of the best GP racers while riding leased ROC and Harris Yamahas. Oh, no, this is much easier. When the likes of Carl Fogarty, Aaron Slight and Fabrizio Pirovano cross the Atlantic to race in the American round of the series at Laguna Seca in a few weeks' time, racers like Tom Kipp, Mike Hale and Pascal Picotte will be given the chance to test their skills against their counterparts in the World Superbike Series. They'll race their own motorcycles and they'll be assisted by their own teams. Nothing to rent, no excuses. But will they be competitive, or are we ·still talking about a struggle to stay within five seconds of Fogarty and Co.? On paper it would appear that all things are equal: Kipp, Hale, Picotte and the others will be given the unique opportunity of racing against the very best Superbike riders in the world on equal footing. On the race track, those chances will end up being far less appealing. And that's not to slight the AMA regulars, many of whom could compete for a World Superbike Championship in the right situation. Unfortunately, a one-off race won't provide these guys much hope, even at home. Mainly because their motorcycles just won't match up. Take the Vance & Hines Yamaha team, for example. This isn't a team that ordinarily travels to a race with their heads bowed in defeat, but they'd have to be living in some sort of racing la-la-land if they expected anything more than a struggle for a top-10 finish at Laguna Seca. After all, isn't that really what the World Superbike Yamaha team of Colin Edwards II and Yasutomo Nagai have been doing for most of the World Superbike season? And these are two riders who are racing for a fac- O 25 YEARS AGO... JULY 21,1970 fficial AMA starter Bouncing Bob was pictured on the cover waving the start to the Amateur main event at the Castle Rock TT; Chuck Joyner won. Later in the evening Dick Mann came OU t on to p of a ~~~~::::::::::::-J bar-banging battle with rookie Dave Aldana to win the National and to regain the points lead in the championship...Factory Husqvarna rider Heikki Mikkola once again took victory in the international "Viking" motocross series. The Finn had to replace the Husky's piston after the first moto, as it had seized just as he took the checkered flag ...Rick Woods put the speed in speedway at the Kern County O tory team that is geared toward nothing but the World Superbike Series. "The difference between the two motorcycles (Edwards' vs. Kipp's and James') comes down to budget," Vance & Hines crew chief Jim Leonard says. "They have more at every level - tires, engines, everything. Our engines are built right here. The World Superbike engines are built in Japan. We'll do the best we can, but we don't expect to be on the podium." One of the problems Leonard expects to run into is with fuel; the World Superbike Series has a much more stringent fuel requirement. It's an area where Leonard expects to lose some four horsepower from his Vance -& Hines Yamahas. "From what I've heard, pump gas in the U.S. wouldn't even be legal in World Superbike. It's very strict compared to ours. We pour in our gas and go. It won't be like that. They've developed their engines around that gas, and obviously we haven't." It doesn't end there. The carburetors that the Vance & Hines Yamahas use in AMA racing aren't homologated for the World Superbike Series, and they'll also have to change the size of their airboxes. All in all, it should make for a long weekend for Kipp and James, who is a questionable starter because of his recent wrist injury. The American who knows the most about the World Superbike Series is Rob Muzzy, the man behind the Kawasakis on which Scott Russell was crowned World Champion in -1993. Muzzy is a bit more optimistic of the locals' chances. "They'll make a showing," Muzzy said. "They have a few things on their side. The Europeans who haven't tested at Laguna Seca will have some difficulties with the track. Equipment-wise, though, the Americans will be a step behind." Muzzy's main man for the race is Aussie 'Anthony Gobert, Kawasaki's lone factory entry in the series. "Gobert's the closest we have," Muzzy added. "We had a new motor for Monza and we're back in the hunt. Laguna Seca always favors the Ducati and it still will, but there's a slim chance. Pascal (Picotte) and Steve (Crevier) will be riding, but their motorcycles won't be at the level of Gobert's. Their bikes will be the same as they've been running here, which are the same as' what Gobert had before Monza." Ah, the Ducatis. We've seen what Fogarty, Troy Corser and PierFrancesco Chili can do with theirs in the World Superbike Series. The question remains, how close will the Fast By Ferracci Ducatis ridden by Freddie Spencer, Mike Smith and TakahiTo Sohwa be for Laguna? If you think Mr. Ferracci's bikes will be in the same trim as they've been in for the AMA races, you're kidding yourself. At the very least, one of them will be fully decked in World Superbike garb ... which is actually less, at least in weight. But more, oh, so much more, when it comes to those horsepower-producing cubic centimeters. A call to Eraldo's shop in Philadelphia gave the biggest clue that the Italian V-twjn wizard has something up his sleeve. "Eraldo's in Italy," said the man at the other end of the conversation. "He'll be back next week." He didn't need to say more. I've got $10 that says Ferracci returns from Bologna with a slightly bigger engine. I'll also bet that the enlarged 916 somehow finds its way into Spencer's chassis, just in the nick of time for Laguna Seca. Muzzy agrees: "Ducati has done that before, helped a local rider for a race. He won't be able to use it in the AMA races, but he'll be able to use it for this race. I can see them loaning him a motor for this event. It won't be the same as what Fogarty has, but he'll get something better." And that brings us to the te~m that has had the most success thus f;lr in the 1995 AMA Superbike National Championship - Smokin' Joe's Honda. Yamaha-man Leonard feels that it is the Honda men who will give the Americans their best chance at World Superbike glory in Monterey. "I think U.s. Fairgrounds in Bakersfield winning both the handicap and semi in the night's racing...In the Classified section, 1960 Matchless 500cc single - with a rebuilt engine and transmission - could be yours for only $300. Stuart...Team Kawasaki rider Warren reigning "King of Unadilla," Rick Joh Reid had a mammoth weekend with a son was featured in an accompanyin triple Prcrclass victory at the 13th annuinterview... Harley-Davidson's Scot al Mammoth MX. Some notables to folParker was engaged in a no-holds low him across the line were Rick Johnbarred fight with Chris Carr at the L' son, Donnie Hansen and Mike Half Mile. Parker won ...California Bell...Strectching out his points lead in Doug Chandler made it two in a ro the 500cc National MX series Chuck with his victory in Superbike racing a Sun rode to a win at Washougal with Road America, breaking the lap recor Goat Breker not far behind. , in the process... In a double of a differen Mark Barnett topped the 125 rRi7ftl\"Tr~ sort, Kurt Hough collecte class... "It sure feels good to his second consecutive Tras be national champ again," Mountain ISDE Qualifier vic said Kent Howerton in an tory in as many years. Houg interview with the 250cc also clinched the inaugura NationalMXChampion. AMA National Reliabilit Enduro Championship titl with his Trask win ... Belgia 5YEARS AGO... Eric Geboers went 1-1 for th JULY 11, 1990 overall victory in the Italia he cover story was a round of the 500cc World M feature on the series thus moving into th upstate New York points lead. An unlucky Bill track, Unadilla, in a preLiles was the series points leade view of the U.S. round of the going into the event but broke . 250cc World MX Grand Prix series...The (Ilj leg during practice. 15 YEARS AGO... JULY 16, 1980 MRA Indy Top Fuel WInner Jim Bernard was shown on the cover ready to launch his Yamaha drag bike to a subeight-second quarter mile at indianapolis Raceway Park. The number-one-plate holder took his first victory of the season over Harley-mounted Roland N Honda have the best shot of running with their European counterparts. When I've talked to them, they've bee excited for this race. They're lookin forward to showing what their team . capable of." So just how close are the Hond RC45s ridden by Hale and Miguel DuHamel to the one which was raced to a World Superbike victory i Albacete, Spain, by Kiwi Aaron Slight. Close, according to some. Not very according to others. "I think we'll be pretty close," Smokin' Joe's crew chief Ray Plum said. "We're dealing a lot more wi HRC now. I'm sure that (Aaron) Slight's bike will have different specifi cations than ours, but it will be close t what we have. I think we're only a cou pie of months behind, but I don't reall know any details. We've done a lot 0 testing at Laguna and that will help us I think we'll be fast from the get-go, bu come race day they may have a advantage. We share knowledge wit them (Castrol Honda), and we'll b running the same fuel that they've bee running. I think we'll be right there but there will be a lot of fast Ducati there and they do jump out of the cor ners. And that's what you need a' Laguna. Put it this way, we'll have t work for it." So there you have it. A little insigh into what those in the know actuall know. ' I could go on record with a stunnin race prediction, but it wouldn't ca much weight-. In case you've forgotten I'm the one who picked Kevin Mag to win the AMA Superbike title las year. But I really can't resist. Hey, can look any worse? The man who will emerge from th first World Superbike race at Lagun Seca with the most points will be a Australian. His initials are T.e., an he'll win the raCe on a Ducati, causin further stirring of the hornets' nes with those who would like to see mo sanctions thrown upon the red V twins. Who's right and who's wrong? We' know in a few weeks. (Ilj ....._ T

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