Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/143887
road racing you can find anywhere although he feels it's time to move on for him. "I believe the class provides the best racing for the spectator each time we hit the track. Very rarely do you have another class where three, four or five riders are going for the lead for most, if not all, of the race. That makes it enjoyable to ride. The class is filled with some of the best personalities at the racetrack. Jimmy Filice, Hugh Humble, Don Greene and Fred Merkel, to name four, are really super people. "Jimmy i one of the strongest, toughest competitors out there. He's always a threat. Hugh and I had a couple of real dogfights this year and put on one of the best races-I believe-when he beat me for the win at the Talladega Pro-Am by about half a bike length. I gained a lot of respect for him from that race. Don and I got to be friends this year. He invited me to stay at his house when we were racing in California. He and his parents are super people. Fred has been a strong competitor all season. He may have been a bit over-ambitious at time, but that's better than being under-ambitious by a long run. "The difference in having a bike capable of a top finish and being an also-ran is preparation. A fresh engine is a fast engine. A fast bike means having a fresh top end for every race and always checking to make sure the cranks are spot on. I finished every race this year and my lowest finish was a ninth. The engine seized' on one cylinder, came unstuck and I nursed it home. That was my lucky day. "The rider must be on also. A rider on an off-day with a fast bike isn't likely to be a winner. There are days when certain riders, whose bikes may not be the best, are on and they're hard to beat. The mental attitude and preparation between Saturday's pracrice and qualifying races and Sunday's final deter11?ine who wins and places well and who doesn't." Sam's mental preparation for his Team Honda Snperbike ride at the final race of the season at West Palm Beach was apparently just right. He had been impressive in practice on Saturday and quickly got his. lap times down. "Boy, is that thing fast," he said wide-eyed and smiling after his first ride. Although it was strictly a one-time deal, am figures enough people saw him ride to get the point across. "I know I can be a strong Superbike competitor. All I need is the chance." Sam's parents and brother Pat had headed back to Tulsa after the Daytona race and didn't see his Superbike ride. "I talked to our dad when Honda offered Sam the ride," said Phil. "He was surprised and pleased. He said for Sam to apply the same principles to the Superbike that he did in Formula Two. He really wanted to be at the race to ee him ride." "It seems I do better whenever my family is involved with my racing," said am. "When they're at the track the encouragement and everything else makes me want to do my best. At rimes they get put out with me, but that' part of racing. I get bummed at them too. We stick together as a family unit and this year it's really worked out well." Sam is not afraid to say that his idol was and is Kenny Roberts. "Kenny is the greatest. He's justabout done itall and I'd sure like to have the opportuMy to take a shot at winning a World Championship or two." McDonald doesn't lack the drive to make his dreams come true. Perhaps next ''year will see him take another step forward in establishing himself as one of the brightest stars in the new legion moving up through the rank. • AMAZING OFFER Mr. Dealer: Stock RAIN RIDER Suits AT NO INVESTMENT The Manufacturer's Unique No Investment Program Puts A Fast-Selling Display Of RAIN RIDER Styles And Colors In Your Store At Absolutely No Investment. 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