Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

requirements, and it will come down to Kanemoto's and Cadalora 's ability to set the bike up for his dead smooth, ye t increasingly ag gressive rid ing sty le on the team's Michelin tires. Asked by one journ alist whether he wo uld d ial the bike to push the fron t or sli de the rear, a perpl exe d Cada lo ra said : "We will work to prepare the bike for me, that's all we can do ." At Eastern Creek , Cadalora revea led he first started talks with Kanemoto at Donington Park last year, after reviewing Kenny Roberts' proposal for 1996. "I had some success with Kenny: second and third in the championship, Grand Prix wins and pole positions," Cadalora said, denying reports that his departure from the team coupled to the disappointments of 1995 had soured his relationship with Roberts. "Kenny and 1 are still friendly, and 1 had a good time with his team, but 1 would like to try something different." Shaking off the specter of retirement, he declared: "I will race so long as 1 get pleasure from it, and only with a team of people who believe in me." REED VALVE? Contrary to widespread speculation, Ya ma ha will ca r ryon wi th its reed valve ind uction for its 1996 250cc World Championship assault, it was revealed at Eastern Cree k on Janu ary 18. Commenting o n w hether Tetsuya Harada's new YZR250was fitted with a d isc-val ve, V-tw in powerplant, Team Rainey spo kesman Scott Copeland said, "No, it's not that, " adding there were no immediate plans to abandon the traditional reed-valve setup. He was unwilling to divulge any details about the bike, but confirmed it was completely new from the ground up . Last year, Team Rainey riders Harada and Kenny Roberts Jr. tested a d iscvalved TZM250 in a bid to peg back the April ia / Ma x Bia g g i juggerna u t, but careful refinement of its reed-v alve system at the latter GPs of 1995, and the ongoing development of the just revealed YZR250 sees th e disc-valved project pushed aside - for the time being . Biaggi's pea ky d isc -va lve Ap rili a RSV250 d ominated at the fast, flow ing circui ts, fueling Harada 's frustration with his slower reed-valve Yamaha to the poin t of com me nting tersely after the Argentine Grand Prix: "I was beaten by Aprilia, not Biaggi. " But now Yamaha believes its revamped chassis, geometry, suspension, bodywork, and a larger intake nostril feeding a revised airbox and reedv alve arrangement will see 1993 World Champion Harada bridge the gap to Biaggi's all -conquering '96 Aprilia , a team that has already set scorching test times in Australia. . Marlboro-sponsored Team Ra ine y spen t several days at the Sydney circuit, where H arada had to adapt to' the switch to Michelin tires after several yea rs on Dunlops. The French rubber has been less than fash ionable in the 250cc class, where Dunlop has won the last three championships. Copeland said the test has been hampered by a dirty track caused by recent ra in, and explained that Harada had been feeling his way around with the new Michelins, accessing their level of grip and consistency while trying to dial in the bike in general. Harada's best time of 1:32.8 is more than a second outside Biaggi's sizzling 1:31.7 set last November. Biaggi has warned Aprilia that Yamaha 's 1996 bike will serve a major threat to his chance of a third stra igh t 250cc title, although its first airing has proved inconclusive. C'i 1 o 9 9 6 BM BUELL DUCATI HARLEY-DAVIDSON HONDA KAWASAKI SUZUKI TRIUMPH Y AMAH A o ~ ut . " " -o •• o 10 w T Powep to Move You he SEE THE LATEST 1 996 MODELS AND ACCESSORIES FOR MOTORCYCLES, ATVS AND PERSONAL WATERCRAFTI Exciting action feature s l V intage a nd cla ssic b ik es1 The 5 th a n n u a l Cy cle W orld Readers' Collectionl Visit the Duk e V ideo Theatre presented by Cycle Woridl W IN a neow 1996 Suzuki DR200SE Dualsport™ m oto rcyclel W IN the Arien Ness c ustomized B u d Bike 1111 W IN a 1 9 9 6 Yamaha Banshee-ATVI .-.- -........-..... ......-~....... - . . . - . . ...... _ -_-.. - ..... . . .. .,, .-.-.. . . . AMA ........ A.US M . t.rc y cl. and much, m u c h morel .-.. Lock .. Aceol P.rformanc o p duc•• • Alner ic.. " a l d or M agDEln. .. arlel....ton_ n... .. Do...,. Can a . .. Dun l op TIro o . . r • K &N I n gl n • • rln g .. K .n".n I n Inc • • nc . M.ch ln • • P i r .11I • P reg_ • • lv. Su.p I... .. au•••11 p., rf. nn c. ProGIuct s . ", . ." M at. rcycl. p _ d u ct• • Slip.trwarnar . S t . r ll " . r f . r rn anc I n c ... T r • • • l c ..... / s . d dl . "' . .. Ara l H.lmot. H .I" Oorlc lr../Flr M lc h.ll n • P.rf .. iae B rak•• Khr.", . W.rk . p_t.ch L• • th . r Sh ••1 H . I", . t . . y u . . . .. l .. l d . COBRA FACTS g>~ g'lUi 1Jeau,.tJlte SettingA New Standard In Quality andPerformance , Cobra Minicycles Have Won Every National Event That They Have Entered•.• True facts are few and far between, and we at Cobra want you to know the truth about our bikes. The Ilquid-cooled engines for the 1996 Cobra SO will be in my shop by February 10, 1996 , disassembled . Our 's techn icians will then assemble them to our new specifICations. The position dampened front forKs are being produced to George Quay's Pro-A ction suspension specs . A new dual-rate spring is featured on our WorksPerformance mono shock, and our 4130 Chromoly frames are being produced in-neuse . Machined aluminum billet trip le-damps and tapered roller4)earings are included on this American-made motorcycle. A full 85% of the components are either manufactured or purchased in the U.S .A., and asse mbly takes place hera in New Mid diet own . Ohio. The frame is des igned dimensiona lly close to a 50 , and the Cobra's rear foot brake allows an easier trans ition to the next dass. On track . the Cobra's winning accomplishments in competition speak for themselves: the 1994 and 1995 Lorena Lynn's Nationals, 95 R at Track Nati onals. NMA Branson Nation als (Mod & Su per PeeWee classes). jus t mention a few. Th e Florida Mini Olympics had Co bras entered in 7 separate races, cou nting top 10 finishes only, the Cobras finished in an amazing 63 out of 70 top 10 positions. The compe tition can say what they may, the fact is. no 50CC stock or modified can beat or out-h andle the Cob ra. As in the past, Co bra representatives will be at Lorena Lynn·s . and many qualir..rs, to provi de trackside support, free labor. and encouragemenL as needed. A free 3 day Cobra clinic will be held at our track prior to the Nattonals , for preventative maintenance help & riding tips, the same as we did in 1995. If you are ready to become part of the Cob ra -Family: now is the time to call, lax, or write lor informa tion. Reservations are being accepted for new bikes now. Ph 310-531-1619-Fax 310·53 1·3524 CO B RA MOTORCYCLES -10593 Main StJeet. New Middletown, OH IO 44442 Phone (716) 7116-5037or (216) 542-2000 Fax (216) 542-2204 E-Mall - ZMSJ67A OPRODIGY.COM or SMa lmoneOAOLCOM 3

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