Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

I_ _ IN_TH_E W_IN_D·I At the 29th annual running of the Mammoth Motocross, held in Mammoth Lakes, California, June 27-30, Ryan Hughes (Kaw) was the big winner on the weekend, taking two firsts and a second in the three classes he entered. On Friday, Hughes took the Open Pro-dass title, followed by Lance Smail (KTM), and Ty Davis (Kaw). On Saturday, Mike Craig (Hon) took the win in the 12Sec Pro class, while second place went to Hughes. Doug Dubach (Yam) finished third. On Sunday, it was again Hughes taking the win in the 250cc Pro' class, topping Dustin Nelson (Kaw) and Dubach. Lance Smail (KTM) was the winner in the AMA Western National Four-Stroke Motocross Series, which was held on Friday, June 28, in conjunction with the Mammoth Motocross. Mike Young (Hbg) took second-place honors and Spud Walters (Hon) finished third. With the win, Smail inched to within six points of Young in the series point standings, 224-218. Walters trails the two in a distant third with 148. Shayne King (KTM) won round. seven of the World Championship 500cc Motocross Series held in the Czech Republic on June 30. Dietmer Lacher (Hon) finished second, and reigning World Champion Joel Smets (Hbg) finished third. King's fourth GP win of the season moved him to within eight points of series points leader Smets, 207199. Lacher trails in third with 153 points. Scott Plessinger (KTM) won the fifth round of the AMA National Championship Hare Scrambles Series in Berkshire, New York on June 30, topping Rodney Smith (Suz) and Randy Hawkins (Suz). Duane Conners (Yam) and Jason Dahners (KTM) rounded out the top five finishers. Tom Norton (Yam) took the win in round six of the NETRA Hare Scrambles series, held near Chelsea, Vermont, on . June 30. Norton was followed across the line by Josh McLevy (Hon), Todd Levesque (yam), Wes Clarke (Hon) and Dave Gunn (KTM). Rounds two and three of the AMA/NATC National Championship Trials Series were held in Mount Olive, illinois, on June 29-30. Mark Manniko (G-G) was the overall winner on Saturc:lay, followed by Ryan Young (G-G) and Raymond Peters (Seo) in third. The riders were greeted with much tougher sections in round three on Sunday, at their request, and Young proved he was up to the challenge by tallying the lowest score to take the win. Lonny HalIsted (Bet) took second-place honors and will now stay in America to compete in th.e rest of the series after a long training and competition hiatus in Europe. Geoff Aaron (Bet) finished in third. A memorandum from AMA Director of Competition Merrill Vanderslice dears the Honda CBR600 F-3s ridden at the Laguna Seca round of the 600cc Supersport Series by Miguel DuHamel, Gerald Rothman and Andrew Stroud of any illegalities. The AMA impounded cylinder heads, crankshaft , and pistons and rod from the three Hondas. "To assure a proper comparison, samples of the same components were obtained from a CBR6QO which came from the show'room floor of a Honda dealership:' Vanderslice said. "AMA Pro Racing's sample parts, which are provided by the manufacturers for technical inspection purposes, were included in the test as well. The pistons, pins, rods and crankshafts were measured utilizing highprecision machine-shop inspection tools. Weights were determined on certified scales from Mettler /Toledo Scale Corporation of Columbus, Ohio. The cylinder heads were examined by Motorsports Research and Development of Columbus. This inspection involved the use of a very precise coord.inate measuring machine to compare the location and sizes of two combustion chambers and two sets of ports. The information acquired consisted of points, lines and splines showing that the ports and combustion chambers of the heads in question are very close in size and location. The small differences observed are apparently due to slight core shifts that can occur in the casting process. Valve angles, valve spacing and head thick. ness were all checked and compared. The results of these tests indicate that these parts appear to be within generally accepted manufacturing tolerances." Officials with the Central Pennsylvania Teamsters Health and Welfare Fund have reversed an 8-year-old policy of denying health-care benefits to union members injured in motorcycle accidents, accord.ing to the AMA. The decision means that motorcycling Teamsters will be eligible for the same benefits, including major medical coverage and weekly disability payments, as their non-riding co-workers. By reinstating those benefits, Teamsters officials eliminated one of the longest-lasting examples of health-care discrimination against motorcyclists in the United States. The AMA, Teamsters members in Pennsylvania and concerned motorcyclists from across the country have been trying to get Central Pennsylvania's discriminatory policy reversed since it was announced in the fall of 1988. At the center of this effort since the beginning has been Teamster and AMA member Jerry Stemple. He was the first person to alert the AMA about the Teamsters plan to restrict health-care benefits, and he has fought the policy ever since by collecting signatures on petitions, attending union local meetings, and coordinating mass mailings to his fellow union members through the AMA. According to a press release from the Excelsior-Henderson Motorcycle Company, the Super X heavyweight cruiser will be unveiled at the Sturgis Rally & Races on August 5 in Sturgis, South . Dakota. Company management and the development team of the 1386cc Super X will be on hand for the invitation-only opportunity to view the new motorcycle. There will also be a public viewing on August 5 from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Excelsior-Henderson display tent at the Days Inn on Highway 14A and 1-90. A "Welcome to Homestead" party will be held prior to the CCS road race on July 14 at the Metro Dade Homestead Motorspolts Complex. The pre-race party will be held at the Sports Page Pub in Homestead on July 13 at 7:30 p.m. and all riders, crew and fans are invited to attend. For more information, caU Henry DeGouw at 561/793-3394. The one-hour television show titled "Vegas to Reno Offroad Race" will be aired on ESPN2 at mid.night on July 4 and rebroadcast on July 21 at 8 a.m. Produced by Casey Folks and directed by Dan Walsh, the coverage of the longest off-road race in the u.s. is "some of the best two-wheeled coverage I've ever seen:' says host Larry Huffman. "The New Greenies K awasaki Motors Corp. USA, has finalized the details and revisions for their 1997 motocross and offroad motorcycles, which will be released sometime this summer. All of the bikes feature new graphics and color schemes which see a return to the mostly lime-green Kawasaki's of the past. The purple radiator shrouds and fork guards have been replaced with green KX250 shrouds on the tank and white guards on the forks. The seats will stay purple and new checkered-flag-style graphics will grace the radiator shrouds and fuel tanks. The KX60 received a stronger chain and a fuel-tank cap check valve - so did the rest of the motocross and off-road lineup - to reduce fuel seepage. The KX80 and KX100 both have revised front and rear disc brakes with dual-piston front calipers to increase stopping power, and new brake hoses that make brake bleeding easier. . The KX125 and KX250 feature many small changes and revisions to improve the existing designs. Small motor changes abound within each machine, with the KXl25 receiving a thinner base gasket that increases compression and changes the port timing for more power everywhere, and the KX250 getting a new piston with thinner rings to reduce friction and increase power. Both bikes got heavier flywheels to get the power to the ground and inqease rear wheel "hook-up." The bikes also feature larger waterpump bearings for improved durability and new rear hubs that have two bearings on the drive side and improved dust seals for durability. In the suspension department, the Uni-Track rocker arm has been changed for a more progressive suspension stroke. The front forks have a new piston in the cartridge that controls oil £low better, and a larger fork cylinder to provide more accurate dampening control. The front-brake master cylinder is smaller in diameter to reduce required lever pressure, and the brake caliper pistons are smaller to improve feel The frames have larger box-section beams to increase lateral, longitudal, and torsional rigidity improving traction and suspension movement in severe conditions. The bikes will come with the revised swingarm that the motocross team had homologated last year for racing purposes which are slightly longer for better starts, and are stronger for increased durability and rigidity. Kawasaki has also installed larger footpeg brackets for greater strength. The "old-faithful" KX500 has received only minor changes as well, with the most significant change being the front fork. The bike has finally picked up the 46= fork that graced the front of the 1996 KXl25 and 250. The bike also picks up the revised double-bearing drive-side rear hub and a steel steering shaft for increased durability. The versatile KDX200 is relatively unchanged except for getting 1D-percent-stronger clutch springs for increased clutch life. The real surprise in the whole Kawasaki lineup is the new KDX220. Although it is basically the same bike as the KDX200, th.e added 20cc of displacement is for those who want to run with the 250s. The bike is said to feel almost up to par on power with modem 2505, but torque and low-end power is where the focus was aimed. helicopter shots of eventual winner Ty Davis at 100 mph is worth the price of ad.mission. " According to Laguna Seca Raceway general manager Seott Atherton, ticker sales for the United States World Superbike Championship at Laguna Seca on July 19-21 are at an all-time high. "Tickets are moving at a record pace, with only a hand.ful of Pit Row Suite tickets left, and less than 500 Paddock Passes remaining. Ticket sales this year are substantially ahead of last year, indicating a record number of fans for this, the only FIM event held in North America." Ducati riders attending the World Superbike round at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California, on July 1921 will have special parking privaledges and can purchase Ducati VIP passes at Ducati dealerships which will get them on "Ducati Island." The passes are good for not only the World Superbike round, but also for the remaining AMA Superbike Nationals. Harley-Davidson SuperTwin competitor Richie Morris suffered fractures in his neck and collarbone in his tum-10 crash at the New Hampshire International Speedway on June 16. Morris will likely miss the next two races on the AMA National Championship Road Race Series scheduIe. Kyle Lewis (Yam) won the Florencia Motocross in Guatemala, recently, topping Pedro Gonzalez (Hon) to take the overall win. Costa Rica's Adrian Roberts (Kaw) and Rodolfo Pena (Kaw) finished third and fourth, respectively, with American Paul Lindsay (Kaw) finishing fifth overall. Former AMA 250cc Grand Prix mechanic Dave Ray has opened a motorcycle tuning shop in Los Angeles, California, specializing in the service and repairs of all Japanese motorcycles - old and new. Ray also plans on doing vintage engine resoration work. For more information, call Ray at 310/699-6949. The city of Ventura, California, will hold a government meeting on either July 2 or July 4 to discuss a new motocross facility which is scheduled to be built at Lake Pirv. Supporters of the track are urging motorcyclists to attend the meeting. For more information, call Ed Jones at 818/889-5913. Karcher Pressure Washers have signed on to become the official pressure washer of the AMA National Motocross Series. Kelcher is supplying washers to be used as spectator prizes at all AMA National MXs in 1996 and is also supplying washers to AMA Pro Racing. Monte Darling will be retiring from the

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