eROADRACE
~ II
Spencer tests 500 in South Africa
as
acona
By Paul Carruthers
Photos by David Goldman
hree-time World Champion Freddie
Spencer had the opportunity to ride
a Honda NSRSOO at Kyalami in the
days following the South African Grand
Prix, and his lap times aboard the Erv
Kanemoto-prepared V-four would have
qualified him on the front row for the
GP. It was Spencer's first ride aboard a
500cc GP bike since his aborted GP comeback aboard a Marlboro Yamaha in 1989.
"The times were good," Kanemoto
said from his San Jose, California, home
after returning from the session. "He
would have qualified third fastest for
the GP; he did consistent laps in the
one-minute, 40-second range (John
Kocinski set the fastest lap in qualifying
at 1:39.548). You would have to think
that he'd be right in there. Plus, the
track conditions were not the best. We
had some rain and a lot of dust; one day
you couldn't see the first corner for all
the dust. The next day they had swept
it, but conditions still weren't ideal."
Originally, Kanemoto had arranged
the Kyalami session for his new 250cc
rider, Massamiliano Biaggi, and
motocrosser Jean-Michel Bayle. Biaggi,.
though, wa~ still under contract to
Aprilia and they wouldn't allow him to
test; and Bayle had problems obtaining
a visa. Thus, Spencer was able to take
over the test, along with 1992 Australian
Superbike Champion Matthew Mladin.
"Mladin's times weren't bad either,"
Kanernoto said. "He did a 1:41.6 (a time
T
(Above) Freddie Spencer was impressive on a Honda
NSR500 at the Kyalami circuit; it was his first ride on
a 500cc GP bike in years. (Left) Erv Kanemoto prepared
the motorcycle that Spencer rode. (Below) Australian
Superbike Champion Matthew Mladin was also on hand
at the test session.
8
that would have put him in the top 12
future, Kanemoto was realistic: "It's a
qualifiers at the GP) and that was his
matter of finding a sponsor," he said.
first ride on a sao, his first with carbon
"And that's really it. He's looking into it
brakes. He's only 20 years old, and he
right now, but·really this was just an
just needed to ride with other people. In
opportunity for him to ride. I tol~ him
the last session, he finally rode a little bit
that I hope no one reads into it more
behind Freddie and that's when he did· _ than what it really was - it was jus~an
his good time. It's hard to go fast by
opportunity for him to ride. But I think
yourself."
. ~- _.
he'd be able to compete if anyone (sponWhen questiol"ea. on Spencer~..
sors) were interested."
CN
