Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

and 6 a.m. However, language included in the Transporta tion Equity Act for the Twenty-First Century (TEA-21), prohibits the banning of motorcycles from roads using federal funds, unless it is a safety-related issue. The attempted ban in Chicago, however, is noiserelated, tnough aldermen supporting the ban said it was also a safety issue in response to late-night drag r~cing and speeding, though laws against those practices already exist in Chicago and the MRF contends that those laws should be enforced rather than creating a new law in the form of a total ban. Slater indicated in a letter that the legal staff to the city council had recommended dropping the proposed ,ordinance and the Chicago Department of Transportaion was aware that such restrictions would violate Subsection (b), Section 102 of Title 23 of TEA21 and that he was supporting ,the . CDOT's position. New Team Suzuki rider Kenny Roberts Jr. was once again the fastest man on the track on the third day of IRTA tests at Phillip Island on March 6, driving home his advantage after dominating the previous day's testing as well. This was the third round of IRTA tests, open to all teams, and Roberts was also fastest at the se~ond round, at Sepang in Malaysia in February, though at the Sepang test Roberts was riding a modified 1998 bike rather than the all-new machine he used in Phillip Island. Teammate Nobuatsu Aoki also improved his performance as he grew accustomed to the changes, placing fifth overall. The Japanese rider was scheduled to continue testing Sunday, while Roberts was set take the day off to go to the Formula One car GP at Melbourne, with race engineer Bob Toomey and team manager Garry Taylor. Roberts' closest rival at the test was Honda's Alex Criville, who put in a best lap of 1:32.305, roughly a halfsecond off Roberts' best time of 1:31.837, which was well inside the existing lap record. In fact, the' time was the fastest ever at the resurfaced circuit, bettering Mick Doohan's 1:32.197 set at the previous IRTA test. Kenny Roberts Jr. also tested a Doohan-style "Screamer" engine at Phillip Island - and liked it so much he might use it aU season. "I jumped on it this morning, did five laps to break it in, then 15 fast laps. Twelve of them were in the 1:32s," he said. 'Tm keeping my options open, but it sure does have a good feeling. But I've still asked the factory for more acceleration," said Roberts. "Our top speed is not bad, but it takes a little time to get there. The bike' 5 handling has been getting better every time, since our first tests in November last year. This latest version has a new chassis/rear suspension combination, which is better again. We want to go further in tha t same direction either at next week's tests or after that in Japan, and I expect we can improve it still further. There's still more to be done. I said at the last tests at Jerez that the bike was at about 80 percent of what we need. Now it's up to about 90 percent. We just need a little more - though those last few percentage points are always the hardest to find. The way the factory engineers and the team are working together, I'm confident we can be aiming for the topt:hTee rostrum at least by the time the season starts in April," he added. Roberts' teammate Nobuatsu Aoki elected to stay on at Phillip Island to Ambulances out bikes in M inutes, even seconds, can mean the difference between life and death in the world of the emergency medical technician. Often, those precious minutes can be lost when an ambulance is snarled in heavy traffic. The Saint Barnabas Health Care System (SBHCS) in New Jersey has found one solution: Have the paramedics ride motorcy~ cles. Recently, BMW of North American teamed up with SBHCS to form the country's first hospital-based, motorcycle-equipped paramedic team. The paramedics Will ride two specially equipped BMW R 1100 RT-P motorcycles. The "P" in the designation BMW R 1100 RT-P stands for police. Like their civilian siblings, this "authority" version fea- ment, external pacemakers, glucometers, pulse oximeters, trauma tures BMW's two-cylinder, 1085cc, four-stroke Boxer engine equipment, and any needed drugs and supplies. The two morordelivering 90 hp at 7250 rpm. Standard safety features include cycles purchased travel as a team, in accordance with State of BMW's antilock braking system that operates independently on New Jersey regulations. both front and rear wheels. Creature comforts include an electriThe 12 paramedics selected for the team are part of the cally adjustable windshield, allowing riders to tailor windflow to SBHCS's Mobile lntensive Care Department. Besides being riding speed and body proportions; electrically heated hand- licensed paramedics, each has years of experience riding motorgrips; an adjustable shift lever; and front and rear protection' . cycles. In addition, all have completed the Motorcycle Safety bars. Like the R 1100 RT-Ps used in law-enforcement work, these Foundation's Experienced Rider Course. The motorcycle-ridlng paramedics like the extremely power.blue-and-white bikes have special lighting and a siren. They are also equipped with auxiliary cooling fans, essential for an engine ful electrical system and antilock brakes. Managemen t likes the that must often be kept idling or running at low speeds for long overall low cost of ownership and opera tion. A motorcycle's periods without overheating. A heavy-duty 700-watt alternator excellent maneuverability allows paramedics to respond quickly keeps the battery charged during long tours of duty with elec- through crowds, gridlock, rough terrain and the like. Motorcycle paramedic teams work especially well during spetronic gear in use. An auxiliary battery is totally independent of cial events. SHBCS personnel participate in more than 450 events, the motorcycle's engine, to allow for emergency lighting. While Harleys and Kawasakis are still much more common from VIP escorts to congested community gatherings. for law-enforcement work on American roads, BMW is making Paramedic motorcycles can ensure quick response and proserious inroads into this highly visible market. For instance, the vide emergency medical assistance in situations with limited California Highway Patrol will soon have several hundred BMW accessibility. As an additionaJ duty, the Saint Barnabas Motorcy1100 RT·Ps in its fleet, and the Oregon State Patrol has a dozen cle Paramedic Team works with law-enforcement agencies and on duty. Worldwide, BMW is the largest supplier cif authority' motorcycle clubs to increase awareness of motorcycle safety and decrease the incidence of injuries and deaths. There are 92,000 motorcycles. . The paramedic motorcycles carry the same equipment and registered motorcycles in New Jersey and, in 1998,5.6 percent of medical supplies found on emergency paramedic vehicles, total traffic-accident fatalities involved motorcyclists. Bill Siuru including external defibrillators, EKGs, advanced airway equip- get more testing time on the new chassis, after moving up to within roughly three-quarters of a second of his teammate. "I am working on a complete change in my riding style, while the bike also feels completely different from last year's machine ~ so I want to put on as many laps as I can," the 27year-old Japanese rider, in his second Suzuki season, explained. "As you can see, I'm starting to get up to speed on the new bike," he said. "I have one of last year's machines here too, so I could compare them directly. The new one makes it much easier to find chassis-setting improvements, and it definitely has a good future. I'm also working on changing my complete riding style - to use the rear brake much less and carry more speed to the corner apex. It's difficult to do that, and I've been having trouble, until today. Now I am feeling much more comfortable and optimistic. And I am enjoying myself. This is a good opportunity for me to improve. I will ride again tomorrow, if the weather stays good. I'll be more concerned with getting a lot of laps done than the actual lap time," he concluded. According to a release by A&A Racing Service, two-time Grand National Champion and three-time World Champion Kenny Roberts is set to make a return to indoor short-track racing. Roberts is taking part in a reunion race as part of the West Coast Indoor Short Track Championship at the Cow Palace on May 1. Other dirt track legends confirmed to race are Jim adorn, Eddie Mulder, John Gennai, Make Yam, Mark Brelsford and Rick Hocking. For more information, call 800/551-7755. Twelve-year-old Brandon Layton suc'cumbed to injuries following a collision with another motorcyclist while riding in the hills near Beaumont, California, Marcl1 5. Layton and another rider collided head on over a jump. Layton was rushed to a hospital in Loma Linda, California, where he was pronounced dead 12 hours after the accident. Layton was a multi-time National Minicycle Champion and a former winner of both NMA World Mini Grand Prix and Ponca City Grand National Championships. Layton is survived by his parents Allen and Lori. KTM Sportmotorcycle USA, Inc. and NMA have announced the formation of a new spec racing series fea turing the KTM 65 SX. Called the KTM 65 SX Race of Champions, th'e class will showcase the nation's top 9- to 11-yearold mini racers in a three-race series on identically prepared bikes. KTM and NMA will invite the top 10 minicycle riders from around the country to compete in two motos at each of the three premier NMA amateur national motocross events. The first event will take place at the World Mini Grand Prix in Las Vegas, April 7-9. For more informa tion, con tact Ron Henrickson at NMA,909/657-6782. Just a reminder that the March 13 Houston Supercross, round 10 of the Toyota Trucks/Thor /Parts Unlimited AMA Su percross Series, will be televised on ABC Sports, Sunday, March 14 at 5 p.m. EST. FMF will be offering rider support the day prior to the March 14 AMA National Hare & Hound in Lucerne Valley, California, March 13. The FMF box van and personnel will be available to help with suspension, tuning and jetting. For more information, call 310/631-4363. Kawasaki Team Green will also be offering race support at the Mosier Valley GNC International MX Final, in Mosier Valley, Texas, March 17-21; and at the D&S Kawasaki/Pro Circuit Spring National Championship, in Lake Whitney, Texas, March 25-28. OPENED: Dirt tracker Rich King's home page on the World Wide Web. The site can be found a t the following address: www.rid1kingracing.com. ell I il! III ... e Q

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