Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

IJN·:THE~'NQ.· -: . Lou Gerencer (H-D) and Paul Pinsonnault (Hon) were the big winners at the AMA Na!ional Championship Hillclimb Series round in Danville, West Virginia, on August 13. Gerencer grabbed the win in the 800cc class, while Jimmy Dingee (H-D) and Rodney Williams (H-D) rounded out the top three. In the 540cc class, Pinsonnault scored the win ahead of Richard Soter III (BSA) and Mike DeBusk (BSA). PinsonnauH has a slim threepoint lead over Soter, 101-99, in the 540cc class series standings, while Steve Dresser (H-D), who placed fifth at Danville, still stands on top of the BOOcc class leaderboard with four points to spare over Gerencer, 93-89. Mini sensation Ricky Carmichael (Kaw) was unbeatable at the AMA Motocross Amateur/Youth Nationals at the Loretta Lynn Dude Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee, August 7-11. Carmichael won every moto he competed in en route to double-class wins in the 85cc Stock and Modified (14-15) divisions. The wins were Carmichael's seventh and eighth at the Loretta Lynn's event, matching the record set last year by now-factory-backed Yamaha rider Kevin Windham. Carmichael has won at least one Loretta Lynn's title in each of the last six ye.ars, his first coming in the 65cc class in 1990. This was his last race in the minicycle class and he will now compete full time in the motorcycle class. Other winners included Shaun Perolio (Kaw) in both the 125 and 250cc A Stock classea; Jeff Curry (Suz) in the 250cc Modified A class; Paul Currie (Kaw) in the 125cc Modified class; Travis Pestrana (Suz) in the 85cc Stock (7-11) class; Justin Buckelew (Yam) in the 85cc Stock (12-13) class; Emesto Fonseca (Yam) in the 8Sec Modified (9-13) class; Shae Bentley (Kaw) in the Supermini (105cc) class; and Kristy Shealy (Kaw) in the Women's class. Rain forced the use of a· two-moto format insteed of the traditional three-moto format. Keith Lynn (Kaw) topped the Funny Bike class at the AMA/Prostar Drag Racing Summer Nationals in Rockingham, North Carolina, with a 7.267-sec- ond/159.88-mph run to deafeat Bobby Baker (Kaw) in the final. [n the Pro Stock class, John Myers (Suz) took his third straight victory, defeating Steve Johnson (Suz), the victim of a mechanical failure. Campbell leads Nevada Rally--='9=-=-5 _ AMA Pro Racing President Cary Agajanian was scheduled to be named executive vice president of the United States Auto Club (USAC) for the [ndy Racing League, according to the August 14 edition of the USA Today newspaper. "He told me to expect something, but that he would continue to do what he has been doing for the AMA," Tom Mueller said on Monday, August 14. eam Honda's Johnny Campbell was the overall leader after completing the first""! day of competition at the third running of the Acerbis Adventure Nevada Rally '95, which officially got under way August 13 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Saturday's prologue, which determines starting positions for Sunday's opening day of the rally, was held on ilie parking lot of a Montgomery Ward department store, located across the road from rally headquarters at the Showboat Hotel The prologue began following a brief thunderstorm, and Campbell was first off the line on the wet and slippery pavement. He rode conservatively and would line up 29th in the starting order. The thundershower passed quickly and, with temperatures over 100 degrees, riders who started 10 minutes down in the starting order had dry pavement and finished with much better times. Italian Elex Gramigni, a former 125cc World Champion road racer, ended up clicking off the quickest time of the day. Next fastest were Bryan Folks and French rider Florent Giusono. A 284-mile special test, plus 70 miles of transfer sections, greeted the 67-rider field on Sunday. The day ended in Tonopah, Nevada, and it was Campbell, aboard a Honda XR628, who had control of the lead with three minutes to spare over Italian Davide Troill, also riding a Honda. Another three minutes back in third was French off-road superstar Stefane Peterhansel. The Yamaha rider had to work his way up through the pack after starting in 40th position. KTM riders Daryl Folks and Italian Edi Orioli filled out the top five finishers. Honda XR4DO-mounted Jimmy Lewis held down sixth at the end of the day. On Monday, August 14, the rally will take the riders to Fallon after a 342-mile stage, made up of mostly high-speed sections. Overall, this year's rally is 2006 miles long, including a676 miles of special tests. It makes a clockwise circle around the state of Nevada with overnight stops in the following order: Tonopah; Fallon; Winnemucca; Elko; Ely; and Mesquite. The event ends August 20 in Las Vegas. . Frenchman Alain Olivier, who won the inaugural event in 1993, as well as last year's rally, is forced to spectate this time as a result of a broken leg suffered during a photo shoot for a magazine. The healing process was slowed by a bone infection and Olivier says it will be another two weeks before he can ride again. Bipartisan congressional support appears to be growing for legislation to repeal federal helmet law penalties, according to the AMA. Earlier this year, the U.S. Senate added an amendment to its version of the National Highway System Designation Act that would eliminate the federal practice of penalizing states which do not have mandatory helmet laws. Currently, 25 states are being forced to divert a portion of their highway construction dollars into safety programs as a result of not complying with the federal goverment's helmet-law mandates. Meanwhile, there are indications that the House of Representatives will soon add its endorsements to the plan to eliminate helmetlaw penalties on states. A measure to do that, designated H.R. 899, has been introduced by Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), and it has now attracted 201 cosponsors. Current National Championship 125cc MX Series point leader Ryan Hughes, who recently signed a one-year contract with Team Kawasaki to contest the 1996 250cc National and Supercross series, has also signed on with Acerbis USA to wear Sidi Boots through the '98 season. Hughes is also said to have signed with Thor Racing. At press time, Mike Craig is the only rider signed up for the '96 Honda of Troy team, though Brian Swink and Mike Brown are expected to return as well. Larry Ward and John Dowd are Puzar takes 125cc MX World title '1 ~ 0\ ,....... ci '" ti :l ~ « 2 twas a. fight to the finish but Italian' Alessandro Puzai (right> emerged victariousoverYamaha-mountedcountryman Alessio Chiodi, following their season-long battle for the World Championship 125cc MX title. Puzar wrapped up the championslJip at the final round of the series in Reil, Germany, August 13, in front of 10,000 spectators. In the first moto, Honda-mounted puzar took the win just ahead of Chiodi, and a trio of French riders: Mikael Maschio (on a Honda), Frederic Vialle and Sebastien. Tortelli (both on Kawasaki). [n the titledeciding second moto, it was former World Champion Dave Strijbos, on a Suzuki, taking the win ahead of Puzar, while Chiodi chased both riders home in third. Torteill finished fourth in the moto, while American Jimmy Button, on a Honda, filled out the top five places. Puzar's 1-2 tally gave him'the overall for the day, while Chiodi's 2-3 netted him second. Third overall went to TortelIi. Puzar finished out the season with 340 points and Chiodi 337. Third in the series went to Torteill with 266 points, while B?tton finished out his first GP tour in fourth .with 201. It is the second World title for Puzar who won the 250cc crown five years ago. Both riders have said that they intend to switch to the 250cc class next season. T reportedly entertaining offers from the Honda support team. Sinisalo Pacific will outfit the squad. Mike Kiedrowski is expected to re-sign with Team Kawasaki for one more year. "I haven't signed anything yet," said Kiedrowski on August 14. "But I plan on being with Kawasaki one way or another in '96. I'm not Ipoking to go anywhere else." Kiedrowski also hinted that '96 may be his last season of racing. A former 125, 250 and 500cc National MX Champion, Kiedrowski would like to earn the Supel'cross Championship and complete his grand slam of MX titles. Mike LaRocco underwent knee surgery to repair the damage sustained in a first rum crash at the July 30 Millville 250cc National, and will miss the remaining two rounds of the Natiorial Championship 250cc MX Series. Though Suzuki team manager Roger DeCoster was optimitic at the August 6 Washougal National about signing LaRocco for the '96 season, the former 500cc National Champion has yet to commit "Kawasaki made a counter offer," said DeCoster. "We both want LaRocco, but things have gotten mixed up lately because of ¥s surgery. Mike has not told me no, but he has not told me yes, either." Teenage sensation Robbie Reynard has yet to sign with a team for '96, though the 19-year-old reports that he's "talking with everybody." After signing a two-year contract with Team Kawasaki in 1994, the highly touted Oklahoman has shown flashes of brilliance, but has otherwise failed to deiiver. Rumors have the Honda of Troy and the SplitFire/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki teams wooing Reynard, but of course, his multiyear Fox Racing contract would interfere. After winning the first moto at the August 6 Washougal 125cc National, Reynard pulled off the track in moto two with a sore knee. "I haven't ridden since then," said Reynard on press day, August 14. "I've been trying to rest my knee and let it get better. I'll get it operated on alter the season is over, I think. [ wanted to ride today, but I had a wisdom tooth taken out and I'm not feeling so good." Team Suzuki's Craig Decker is making good progress after breaking his back in a crash at the June 10 Las Vegas Supercross. "[ go back to the doctor at the end of the month, and they'll tell me then whether or not I can start training again," said Decker. "Right now, [ can only walk around a builch and use a stationary bicycle. ft's driving me crazy." Though rumors circulated about Decker considering an early retirement, the 19-year-old Californian says that the thought never entered his mind. (f he's healthy, expect Decker to contest the Western Regional 125cc Supercross and 125cc National Series for Team Suzuki in '96. Current 12Sec National Championship contender Steve Lamson expectS to resign with Team Honda/I-800-Collect/ Fox for the '96 season. "I haven't officially signed anything yet, but I plan on returning with Team Honda next year,n said Lamson. "I'll probably stay in the 125cc class next year, whether I win this year's championship or noL" When asked what he thought of being selected for the '96 MX des Nations team, Lamson replied, "I'm really excited about it It's something that ['ve always wanted to do, and now I have the chance. There's going to be a lot of pressure on me and Ryan Hughes because we've never been to a MXdN before. I guess Jeff Emig will be the team veteran. I think we have a good chance, both Jeff and [ will be real competitive, and I've seen Ryan' practicing on his 500 several times recently. He looks' real smooth on it. " Oakley Inc. went public on August 10, and the Irvine, California, sunglass company sold 10 million shares at $23 a

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