Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

llJO-mph comer. Race officials repeatedly restrained Gardner after he tried to approach Briggs, who was sitting uninjured in his car. Afterward, 39-year-old Gardner walked off as Briggs was giving him his version of events. '1 don't know what the hell wa happening, but I came around the corner, and here was this Briggs guy doing doughnuts in the middle of the track," said a furious Gardner later. For his part, Briggs said, "I was pushed off the track by someone and was waiting to get back on, but it was very difficult because it's a blind comer. I waited until the double yellows (flags) came out and then attempted to rejoin the track, when Wayne appeared." A fired-up Gardner returned for the Sunday's leg and claimed a hard-fought 14th in searing heat after starting from the rear of the 40-ear grid. Qantas has extended its naming-rights sponsorship of the Australian Grand Prix at Victoria's Phillip Island track until 2001. The Premier of Victoria, Jeffrey Kennett, and the chief eXfi!cutive and managing director of Qantas, James Strong, jointly announced the agreement in Melbourne on April 12. Mick Doohan who clinched his fifth consecutive 500cc World Championship by winning last year's Qantas Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island, and who will launch his quest for a sixth straight World Championship in Malaysia on April 18 - was a special guest at the announcement. Doohan is a close friend of the BMW-riding Strong and his bikeriding wife, Oaudine. Craig Connell (Due) has moved to the top of the Australian Superbike Championship after winning both races at the third round of the championship, held at Sydney's Eastern Creek Raceway on April 11. Connell leads the title chase with 95 points, 14 clear of Alistair Maxwell (Kaw), with Steve Martin (Duc) a further point behind in third place overall. Despite earlier reports, Mick Doohan has given the strongest possible hint that he won't be riding a full 1999-spec Honda NSRSOO at the opening race of the 1999 GP season at Sepang on April 18, according to Darryl Hack. Speaking at the Qantas press conference in Melbourne on April 12, Doohan indicated that he'll be riding an updated '98 SR500 in Malaysia. Several weeks ago, Doohan said he would be the only Honda rider to receive a '99 NSR500 for the season opener. "Somebody asked me before what the biggest change (to his Honda machinery) is for the year and I said the paintwork, and that's about true at the moment," Doohan said. 'The bike still is in pretty good condition from last year, and hopefully as the year progre ses we will get a new machine. But basically, the subtle change we have made have been good, and I'm looking forward to the start of the season." Doohan also said the opening rounds were often difficult to predict; they have been all the more uncertain with Sepang and Motegi Oapan) playing host to the World Championships for the very first time. 'They're not the most interesting circuits from the rider's way of looking at it, but from a television perspective I think it's goi.ng to be great. At least the weather is going to be 50-50 in both places. Being Malaysia, it could rain any time, and also Japan. It should be interesting. But once we get out there and actually get back into the thick of the season, that's what Y m looking forward to - getting back to Europe. That's when the championship really starts to evolve and you can see some sort of pattern." Doohan has revealed that he won't test the latest 1999 prototype Honda NSR500 until after the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez on May 9. The Australian only tested the latest incarnation of the alI-conquering Honda V-fOUT, which has won 44 out of the last 46 500cc GPs, for the first time at tlle final IRTA test at Motegi several week ago, and he was less than impressed with what he rode. "Hopefully at Valencia, after Jerez, the Japanese have said that's when we'll have another new motorcycle to test," Doohan said. "The one I tested at Motegi wasn't up to speed and wasn't what I asked for, and hopefully the next we get will be what we have asked for. I was quite disappointed in what they came up with, because it had been six mon ths since our last meeting about building this new bike, and the direction we wanted to go. Then we got the hype at Motegi about this, that and the other thing, how it had done 1500 km (930 miles) of testing and the test rider's saying it's done this, that and the other thing. Then I get on it and within tllTee laps, i.t's totally opposite to what the test rider was saying; and the secrecy behind which direction they were going is a little eit odd, too." With Doohan announcing that he will initially race an updated 1998 NSR500, with which he set the fastest time at tile IRTA test, he has hit out at HRC's ham-fisted method of developing its latest race weapon. Riders for Healtll recently auctioned off a Ducati tIlat was donated by Troy Corser, and tile bike was purchased by Randy McNurlin of Phoenix, Arizona, who bought tile bike as a Valentine's Day present for his wife, Lisa. Former motocrosser Tim Hart contracted spinal meningitis on March 30 and recently regained consciousness after being in a coma for four days. Hart is currently recovering at Torrance Memorial Hospital in Torrance, California. Cards and letters can be sent to Hart at 2410 Loftyview Drive, Torrance, CA 90505. The Illinois Motorcycle Dealers Association (lMDA) has announced that a special 5O-Miler race will be held in conjunction witll tile AMA Grand National Championship dirt track scheduled for July 24-25 iri DuQuoin, Illinois. In addition to the Drag Specialties-backed AMA Grand National Championship race on Saturday, tile stars of tile Grand National circui t are scheduled to compete in the 5O-Miler on Sunday. "We are proud to renew the 50Miler tradition at DuQuoin," said Tim Coziahr, president of the IMDA. "With the Springfield Mile hosting two Grand ationals and tile Hall of Fame race, we wanted to do something special with DuQuoin for tile race fans. The DuQuoin State Fairgrounds is a beautiful facility and The Magic Mile' track possesses a rich racing heritage, hosting AMA ationals since 1949. We would like to invite everyone to enjoy the Grand National on Saturday, the Deluxry concert Saturday night and the rebirth of the 5O-Miler on Sunday. This is going to be a spectacular racing weekend." The concept of the 5O-Miler dates back to 1957, when the AMA National was upped to a 5O-mile race. Joe Leonard won the first two 5O-Milers and although the tradition lasted only 10 years, the best of the best won the race. Four-time AMA Grand National Champion Carroll Resweber was a two-time winner, witll otller notables to win the event including Bart Markel, George Roeder and Sammy Tanner. For more information, call the IMDA at 217/753-8866. On June 13, daredevil Bubba Blackwell will attempt to set a world record motor- cycle jump in Boston, Massachusetts. Blackwell will jump his Harley-Davidson during Over tile Top II, an event that will also feature concert performances from Sammy Hagar, Ben Orr, John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band. Tickets to the event are available through Ticketrnaster. According to a press release from the AMA, the association's membership has reached an all-time high, topping the 234,DOO-member mark The membership growth is part of a continuing trend, with tile AMA growing by 3.5 to 4 percent each year. Longtime track announcer Jack Hall, 59, died on April 4 from a heart attack. Hall announced many dirt track races in tile Midwest, including the Peoria TT and the Springfield Mile. Cards and letters of condolences may be sent to his widow, Joan, and three sons at the following address: Joan Hall, 1401 County Road 2400 North, Champaign, IL 61821. The photo credits from the Salt Lake City, Utah, round of the AMA/PIl National Arenacross Series were inadvertently left out of our story. Dave Johnson of Phat Air Photography was the man who shot tile action photos of tile race. Schwinn Cycling & Fitness Inc. has announced its sponsorship of seveiaL top road racers and motocrossers. Among those getting Schwinn sponsorship are Kurtis Roberts, icky Hayden, Tommy Hayden, Richard Alexander Jr., Jason Pridmore, Steve Rapp, Jamie Hacking, Ricky Carmichael and Sebastien Tortelli. In addition, Kenny Roberts is also slated to shortly take delivery of a new Schwinn 4Banger, scheduled to be delivered to him by Schwinn suspension engineer and former AMA Grand ational Champion Mert Lawwill. "We are really excited to support tIlese aJIlazing riders and expose the Schwinn brand to a different audience," said Cache Mundy, Schwinn's director of marketing. "The crossover between motorcycles and bicycles is one of the most natura! transitions imaginable." The Dirt Diggers North Motorcycle Oub will host the 80cc Hangtown National, scheduled for halftirne of tile 31st annual Hangtown Motocross Oassic on May 6. Entries are open to the first 40 80cc Expert riders, with the two-moto format to be held after each of tile two 250cc ationals. For more information, calIBOO/HANGTOWN. According to a press release issued by Team Obsolete, team riders Dave Roper and Erik Green have been denied entry to the AHRMA road race at Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma, California, April 1718. 'This matter is now in the hands of the AMA and Sears Point Raceway," team owner Rob Iannucci said. "We are hopeful that Roper and Green will be permitted to race. Roper was slated to ride the team's MY Agusta 500/3, witll Green scheduled to ride an AJS 7R. Obsolete-backed riders had tIleir entries denied for the Daytona round of the AHRMA Series in March, but tile AMA and Daytona International Speedway officials stepped in to make sure tha t tIleir entries were granted. Motorsports Simulations has announced the signing of a long-term agreement with AMA Pro Racing to develop and publish computer games based on a number of AMA-sanctioned properties, including AMA Superbike, AMA National Motocross and AMA Grand ationa! Dirt Track racing. The company's first title, AMA Superbike, made its debut during Bike Week in Daytona Beach, Horida. The Castrol Honda World Championship team will contest the new European Superstock Championship in 1999, with 18-year-old Brit James Ellison riding a CBR600F. S.unrise Motocross Park in Adelanto, California, will reopen under new ownership on April 24. To celebrate tile opening, all racers will be admitted for just $5. For more information, call 714/843-9978. Former 250cc and World Superbike Champion John Kocinski tested last week at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia, the site of the opening rOj.lT\d of the World Championship Road Race Series on April 18, lapping at close to the lap record despite a dirty track and extremely hot conditions. Kocinski also suffered a crash on tile Kanemoto Honda, his second get-off of tile off-season at Sepang. "We've made some improvements and I lapped well," Kocinski said. '1t was good and consistent." Kocinski said tIlat passing at Sepang will be difficult and tIlat qualifying will be more important t1lan ever. "It's a pretty one-lined deal," he said. 'The start will be worth everything, and you've got to be on tile front row." The Eddie Mulder West Coast Vintage Hat Track Series race scheduled for April 11 at Willow Springs Raceway in Rosamond, California, was rained out. The event has been rescheduled to April 25. For more information, call 661/268-0105. AWARDED: A trademark for the name ofSLIKS to Sliks Helmet Lin"'" & Accessories, by the United States Patent and Trademark office. For more information, call 800/242-5339. CHANGED: The seventh annual Yamaha Dealer Series will host its second round of the series on June 6th al Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, California. It was previously scheduled for May 30th. CHANGED: Press information for the Hangtown Motocross Classic, scheduled for May 14-15, to 121 PepilO Way. Folsom, CA 95630, att: Pam or Ed Santin, Dirt Diggers North. For more information, call 916/984-1167. OPENED: AIM Racing Products' home page on the World Wide Web. The site can be found at the foUowing address: http://www.aimracingproducts.com. OPENED: Hinson Racing's home page on the World Wide Web. The site can be found at the following address: http://www.hinsonracing.com. OPENED: Suomy Helmet's home page on the World Wide Web. The site can be found at the following address: http://www.suomy.com. OPENED, GP Racing Suspension Specialties & Engineering's home page on the World Wide Web. The site can be found at the following address: http://www.gp-racing.com OPENED: Chet Burks Productions' home page on the World Wide Web. The site can be found at the following address: http://www.motorcycletv.com. OPENED, Southwick MX's home page on the World Wide Web. The site can be found at http://www.mot0338.com. OPENED: MT Racing. by former Chaparral Performance manager Mike Tolle, effective immediately. For more information, call 909/J60..0693, or visit MT R..1cing's web site at http://www.mtracmg.com. APPOINTED: Rodger Howe, as the new general or manager of the accessory division Kawasaki Motors Corp. Howe most recently served as director product marketing in the company's ATV and Utility Vehicle Division. or HIRED: Ron Haase as director and speciaI-evcnts coordinator of Motowest Gns Gas' new trials cUvi~ sipn; and Tami Rice as manager of Motowest's new women's motocross team. For more information., call 714/67H1167. SOLD: Braking USA's founder and president. Ludovic "Ludo" Boinnard, has sold the entirety of his interest in the company to the Italian parent company, Braking International. For more information, call Boinnard aI619/239-0482. _ - N 3

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