Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

By Papa Wealey Terry Rymer, Carl Fogarty and Jehan D'Orgeix won the 24 Heures De Leige in Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, on July 5. The trio rode' a factory Kawasaki France ZXR750 to beat the trio of Steve Hislop, Alex Vieira and Jean Louis Battistini (Kaw) by eight laps. Phillip Monneret, Bruno Bonhuil and Michel Mattioli (Yam) finished third. Billy Liles (Hon) scored the overall win in round seven of the World Championship 500cc MX Series at Hawkstone Park, Great Britain, July 5. Liles won all three motos, while George Jobe (Hon) was the runnerup with 2-3-2 moto finishes. Jeremy Whatley (Hon) was third. Jobe leads the series point standings with 318; Kurt Nicol is second with 300 points, and Liles is third with 273. Brian Anderson (W-R) topped the Open Pro class at the July 4 Pikes Peak Hillclimb, setting a motorcycle division course record with a 12-minute, 54.00-second run. Clint Vahsholtz (W-R) was second in the Open Pro class with a time of 12:58.05, and Arlo Englund (Kaw) third with a 12:59.17. Paul Zinke (KTM) logged a winning time of 13:43.99 in the 250cc Pro class. Bobby Podoll (Hon) topped the 250cc Amateur class with a class record 14:06.69 climb, and Scott Dunlavey (Yam) logged a winning and class record 13:38,88 in the Open Amateur competition. Team Harley-Davidson dirt tracker Kevin Atherton suffered a broken right forearm in a road race practice crash at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, on Wednesday, July 1. Atherton was aboard his Ducati 851 Superbike. "I don't remember how it happened, I was knocked out for a good half hour or so," said Atherton. "The guy behind me said that I highsided in a fast right-hander and flew into the guard rail." Plates were inserted into Atherton's arm and doctors predict that he will regain strength in the arm within two weeks. Although he'll miss the July 11 Hagerstown Half Mile round of the Camel Pro Series, Atherton said, ''I'm hoping to race the Parkersburg Half Mile (July 18), I need to score some points. That gives me four weeks to heal." Atherton is currently third in the series point standings, and finished second in the most recent round, the June 27 Lima Half Mile. Cards and letters can be sent to Atherton at 16689 U.S. 12, White Pigeon, MI 49099. Our Copper Canyon dual sport ride "cover story" begins on page 73, and you'll find our Unadilla preview on page 20. Those two articles, as well as our first-ever test of the new Honda XR650L dual sport bike (see page 32), were written by associate editor Kit Palmer, who has also been busy racking up miles in a variety of ways. In the last month or so, he took part in the Copper Canyon ride, logged miles on the XR650, and rode the new BMW K1100LT in five northeastern states (his impression of that bike will appear in an upcoming issue). In addition, his daily commute nearly always takes place on a motorcycle. If that's not enough, several times a week he spends time flying the friendly skies of southern California, piloting a variety of airplanes. Finally, he continually racks up big mileage figures by taking commercial jet liners to the many National races he covers each year for Cycle News. Next month, he's headed Down Under for the ISDE in Australia. Hey, somebody has to do it! David Marchino, 26, died as a resul t of internal injuries suffered in a crash at a WERA road race meet at Putnam Park in Meridian, Indiana, on July 5. Marchino, an Expert class road racer and 1991 WERA Regional Champion, was competing in the B Superstock (750cc) race when he crashed. Bob Wick of San Jose, California, owner of BYE Engineering and founder oLDirt Alert, has a chance to give off-road riders a real voice in the halls of Congress. Wick, a member of AMA District 36, won the Republican nomination in the 15th Congressional District vote m the recent primary election. He won the nomination by spending a small amount of'mostly his own money. His opponent spent over $20,000, yet Wick trounced him, 61% to 39%. The National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee has agreed to consider targeting his race against an incumbent Democrat, but Wick must first raise at least $20,000 in new contributions by late July in order to receive major financial contributions from the national party. To help Wick, a man who has been active in fighting Cranston's attempts to close the desert, make your check out to Robert Wick for Congress, and mail it to 4300 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite 290, San Jose, CA 95129. Stephen Wright, author of American Racer, is seeking static photos of the right side of the Yamaha TZ750 two-stroke dirt tracker that Kenny Roberts rode at the September, 1975, San Jose Mile. If you can help, call Megden Publishing Co. collect at 714/ 960-4793. Last week, in a letter to the editor, Brent Hobson of Connersville,' Indiana, requested information on a Yamaha RZ500 club. Several readers called in to supply the requested information, and we've relayed the club's address and phone number to Hobson. Here it is for the benefit of other RZ500 (and RD500) owners: RZ/ RD 500 Owners Group, 313 Yacon St., Vista, CA 92-803; 619/726-5786. Tom Fortune heads up the club. Jim Leslie of Ridgefield, Connecti-. cut, has clinched the 1992 Top Expert Championship in the AMA/ CCS 600cc Supersport Series with two races remaining in the nine-round series. The Top Expert program recognizes up and coming privateers in the 600 and 750cc Supersport Series. To be eligible, riders cannot have earned any points in AMA professional road racing (Superbike, 250cc GP or SuperTwins) in previous seasons. Leslie finished third Top Expert in the season opener at Daytona and has been perfect since then with six straight Top Expert wins. He currently leads the point standings, 135-85, over Gerald Rothman. With a maximum of 40 points remaining (20 points per win), his 50-point edge guarantees him the title. The AMA/CCS 750cc Top Expert title is still up for grabs. Early season points leader Gerald Rothman has slipped to second in the standings, four points behind Jason Pridmore, 105101. Also in the hunt are Fritz Kling, who has 87 points, and Michael Taylor, with 71. In addition to perrace contingency awards, Top Expert competitors vie for $20,000 in year-end bonuses. The Days Inn in Indianapolis, Indiana, has been named the official headquarters hotel for the August IN THE WIND 7-9 Indy Nationals, the fifth round of the WERA Pro Series, at Indianapolis Raceway Park m Clermont, Indiana. The Days Inn is located at 3740 North High School Rd. in Indianapolis (off 1-465 take Exit 17 which is 38th Street). The' hotel is two miles from the race track. For reservations, call 317/293-6550. Be sure and mention WERA Pro Series or Indy Nationals for a discount. PITS President Mike Fenner has asked Papa to remind all competitors who are headed to the AMA/NATC National Championship Observed Trials Series rounds at Donner Ski Ranch In Norden, California, on July 11-12, that USFSapproved spark arresters will be required. For more information on the trials, Fenner can be contacted at 916/ 967-0262. Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) has unveiled their new prototype trials bike, the RTL260, which follows the European design format. Together with Honda-owned Montesa of Spain, HRC's new trials bike is based on the HRC TLM260 and the Montesa Cota. Set for early-1993 production, the RTL260 will feature an aluminum box-style frame, a liquid-cooled engine, and a conventional style Showa fork. For more information, contact Bley USA, who will be importing the bike, at 708/437-0671. The 3rd Annual Fiesta for Kids, a motorcycle event that benefits Packard's Children's Hospital in Stanford, California, and the Ronald McDonald House, will take place at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California, on Sunday, July 12. Hosted by organizer Mike Corbin and three-time Grand National Champion Bubba Shobert, activities include controlled rides on the 2.2-mile Laguna Seca race track, road ride, charity auction, industry exhibits, live music, barbecue lunch, and a chance to win a new Honda CB750 Nighthawk, all for a $35 donation and a new toy for a hospitalized youngster. Last year's event drew the likes of former World Champion Brad Lackey, Randy Mamola and Jim Filice. Daredevil motorcyclist Robbie Knievel, son of Evel Knievel, will be on hand at this year's Fiesta for Kids, which is sponsored in part by the orthern California Dealers Association, Northern California Honda Dealers, Hap Jones Distributing and Custom Chrome. Dr. Stan Johnson, a club road racer and chiropractor who has tended to many top riders including road racer Dave Sadowski, suffered severe shoulder and wrist injuries in a street bike accident recently. Johnson underwent four hours of surgery and is now recuperating at home. Cards and letters can be sent to: 8592 Walker St., Cypress, CA 90630. Next year, Damon Bradshaw and the rest of the Yamaha MX team will be pitting at the races next to an 18-wheeler, similar to the one currently used by Team Kawasaki. The truck will carry the team's bikes and equipment across the country, and the mechanics will now fly to the races with the riders. "It's better for the sport," said Yamaha Press Relations Manager Mike Wilkinson. "Besides giving us a more professional look, it will make things more convenient for both the mechanics and riders. Hiring one truck driver and flying' the team isn't that much more expensive than Getting away from it all feels great. But if you don't respect the environment, there won't be any nature left to get away to. While you're out there, be responsible and look out for yourself too. Wear a helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. And before you go, read your owner's manual, and never ride under the influence of drugs or alcohol Respecting the environment doesn't mean you can't have fun. It just means the fun will be around for a long time to come. ~HOND.A Come ride with us. Cll991 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (3/92) If you don't have a spark arrester, /:1, ~~ \ '. we have a spark arrester. .~-:-'. 1

• Cover