Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Jeremy's trick Kayaba fork for $3500. You'd be hard-pressed to get a peek at its insides for that price. And that's just the beginning. The factory-bike scene also includes traction-control systems, variable ignitions, titanium trickery, oversized axles, special wheels, works tires, offset steering-head bearings (to change steering angle), special brake calipers, electronic engine-management systems, non-OEM transmission gears and shifters, and cylinders that only represent the original part on the outside. The only parts of a Japanese factory bike that are actual representations of stock equipment are the frame and swing arm, and those only to a degree. Where is the fairness in that? ecently, my team - Team Clark Motorsports/TM Racing - attended a round of the EA Sports/AMA Supercross Series and was told that it R couldn't participate because of the AMA's homologation rules. I can't understand why. AMA motocross manager Duke Finch said the rules state that a manufacturer must show reasonable proof that it has imported 200 motorcycles of the same year, model and displacement. The second stipulation is a $2500-per-model fee that the AMA requires before you can begin the process of paperwork. The third facet involves bike specifications. The AMA requires that several parts of each bike being submitted for homologation be stored in the AMA trailer for the course of the year, so they can compare them to the parts used in races to assure consistency. A TM motorcycle is built to FIM-legal specs that allow it to be raced in professional races (including Supercross and motocross) in every country around the world except here. This all seems fine on the surface, but problems arise when you look more closely. For example, the 200bike rule is arbitrary and unenforced. The AMA says the other manufacturers have met the requirements, but that is difficult to believe in some cases. Considering that off-road bikes are by far KTM's biggest sellers, it hardly seems possible that the company had 200 125cc motocrossers here before the start of the Supercross season. The same goes for Finch told me that the rules are there to make it fair for all by pre- as being the "best." Being perceived as the best in motocross requires winning. If the bikes are not allowed to compete, how will they ever get a chance to win? How will the public ever get a chance to identify with the product? How will TM ever get a chance to sell motorcycles in the U.S., and thereby meet the AMA's silly rules? A TM motorcycle is built to FIMlegal specs that allow it to be raced in professional races (including Supercross and motocross) in every country a round the world except here. And while the AMA imposes motocross rules and fees in the manner of a snobbish fraternity, other AMA rules allow the bikes to be raced on a daily basis in Arenacross, Ultracross, GNCCs and hare scrambles in every state in the country. Clark Motorsports/TM-backed AMA Pro Matt Smith is currently fourth in the points in the PACE/PJ1/Toyota-sponsored Ultracross Series. In Europe, TM riders have won world titles and taken overall wins at the ISDE, all aboard production motorcycles. The only way to truly make it fair for all is to either make everyone bring a true production motorcycle, or to use a set of rules that include the follOWing: 1) Enforce the cubicdisplacement limit; 2) enforce the there only to exclude the little guy without enough money or influence to get the rules written, altered and overlooked in their favor. The factory bikes are nothing at all like what is weight limit; 3) enact a c1airns policy whereby any bike in the race can be purchased by any other rider in the race for a set amount - say $20,000. That would allow all companies to use whatever means possible to build a bike that met the physical dimensions of a "legal" bike. And at the sarne time, the Big Four would quit ments, the AMA was unable to do so. Rules also change to benefit companies with influence. When Yamaha needed help developing and market- actually sold in dealerships in America, while our outlawed TMs are essentially unchanged from stock. using the races as a media for flaunting their money and showing off their newest marketing idea, for fear of los- Are the big guys afraid a little ing the YZ400F, the AMA altered the rules to allow it to race the bike and build hype and a perception. The end result was that the premier class of motocross racing has been greatly altered, just because the AMA obediently went along with Yamaha's desire to showcase its new product. Does the AMA really think that TM's small size gives it an advan- company might produce a bike that is capable of knocking some of the wind out of their puffed-up chests? Are the AMA such cowards that they ing it to a privateer or competitive company. If the AMA was really concerned with fairness and making the races a legitimate forum for competition, they would abandon their discriminating practices and return racing to its purist roots, when the "run-what-youbrung-and-I'II-still-beat-ya" school of thought separated the showboats from the real racers, and eliminated venting $80,000 one-of-a-kind motorcycles from showing up. It would seem to me that the rules are Husqvarna and Gas Gas, yet KTM and Husqvarna are contesting the AMA/EA Sports Supercross Series, and Gas Gas recently submitted a bike that was allowed to compete. When asked to produce the paperwork showing actual proof that these other manufactures had met require- have to stand behind their sponsorpaid dollars? Why were the rules regarding number of units broken for KTM, Husqvarna and Gas Gas? It all comes down to dollars. The bigger you are, the more pull you have. When Japan hollers, the AMA stands tage? The real advantage lies in the the big four have to factory bikes. The the fork must be public for a retail and the shock for at attention. It no longer comes down to fairness, just how big the check is. The AMA is actually standing in $1000. There is no way Team Mazda/Chaparral Yamaha would sell perception. It all depends on which motorcycle the customer perceives cubic dollars that dump into their rules state that available to the price of $3500, the way of TM's success in this country. In motorcycle sales, it's all about In next week's Cycle News 96 MARCH 1. 2000' eye • e n • vw s the idea of "buying" your way to your goal rather than working for it the honest way. I challenge the AMA to do something that will really help the sport of motocross. Let 'em race. Charles Clark is the owner/manager of the Clark Motorsports/TM Racing Team. eN • National Enduro Opener • Atlanta Supercross • Indy Motorcycle Show 30 YEARS AGO•.. MARCH 10. 1970 An unidentified trials rider graced the cover of our Special Trials Issue, Issue #8. Inside you could find out anything you want to know about "English Trials" and how to get involved in trials competition. It was pointed out that there is no need for safety equipment (i.e. helmets) due to the fact that trials competitions don't involve the inherent "hazards of high-speed, wheel·to-wheel racing." However, they did make mention of obstacles such as rocks, logs and riverbeds which need to be negotiated at your typical trials event... The stage was setting for the 44th running of the Daytona 200, with Mike "The Bike" Hailwood scheduled to ride a BSA Rocket III and Cal Rayborn, Mert LawwiU, Roger Reiman, Bart Markel and Mark Brelsford all riding the controversial new 7S0cc twin "modified Harley Davidson Sportsters· (the new XR7S0). Honda was s.et to make its Daytona debut with Dick Mann, among others, and the new Honda 7S0cc four-cylinder... Promising 16-year-old motocrosser Brad Lackey was featured in our rid.er profile as a Sachs 12Scc rider. 20 YEARS AGO.•. MARCH 5. 1980 America's premier Grand Prix motocross rider and 1972 SOOcc National Champion Brad Lackey graced the cover of Issue 418. Finishing as high as second place in the SOOcc World Championship, in 1978, Lackey was quoted as saying, "If J can win it [the World Championship] one time, I'll be happy." He seemed poised to do just that...Kent Howerton (Suz) stuffed his way past Chuck Sun (Hon) to win round three of the AMA Supercross Series in Oakland ahead of Steve Wise (Hon) and Mark Barnett (Suz). Sun recovered for fourth... We reviewed a new motorcycle movie by Peter Starr entitled "Take it to the Limit" which featured the likes of Kenny Roberts, Roger DeCoster and Barry Sheene... Rob Muzzy placed an ad to sell his 1979 Kenny Roberts replica TISOO in our classifieds ... Elsewhere, the soft drink "Mr. Pibb" was advertised as the title sponsor for the Houston Supercross to be held in the Houston Astrodome. 10 YEARS AGO..• FEBRUARY 28, 1990 Nineteen-year-old Suzuki factory rider Larry Ward graced the cover of Issue 418 after winning his first-ever 250 supercross at his hometown race in the Seattle Kingdome. Jeff Matiasevich (Kaw) and Ronnie Tichenor (Suz) fol. lowed Ward to the checkered for second and third, respectively. Honda privateer Ty Davis won his second 12S main event of the year over Jeremy McGrath (Kaw) and Michael Craig (Kaw), extending his points lead to 27 in the Western Region ... Ben and Eric Bostrom competed at the Kawasaki/Budweiser Indoor Motocross Championships held in Daly City, California. Ben finished third in the 80cc Open class ahead of Casey Johnson, among cithers, and Eric finished second in the 80cc Novice class ... We tested a new brand of off-road/motocross weaponry, the Husaberg MCSO 1. We liked everyth.ing about the water-cooied four stroke, except the price. Hefty by even today's standards, it would set an interested racer back almost $6S00. _

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