Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

Chandler and reportedly Mladin are iil place on the Cagiva team, it is likely that the team will field three riders in the 1993 500cc World Championship. With only two races left on the 1992 Camel Pro Series schedule - the October 3 Sacramento Mile and the October 10 Pomona Half Mile defending Grand National Champion Scott P~ker trails series point leader Chris Carr by 13 points, 205-192. For Parker to win an unprecedented fifth Grand National Championship, he must win both races and hope that Carr finishes no better than third at each race. Parker's chances were narrowed when he and Carr, along with several other riders, opted to sit out the September 13 Fresno Mile because of horrible track conditions. "We did what we had to do. Sure, nobody crashed in the National, but was it a good race? No. The guy who got the holeshot ran away with the thing because the track was so bad," said Parker. "The Grand National Championship shouldn't be decided on a track like that, it wasn't fit for a race, and that was that." And how does Scott Parker feel about his championship hopes?' "My chances were better before, arid they're not as good now. But I'd rather have worse odds now because I sat out Fresno than if I had gone out there and ended up ass-over-tea kettle. I feel that I can do it, and like they say, 'It ain't over 'till the fat lady sings.' And even if I don't win the championship, hey - I've won the thing four times. Only one other guy (Carroll Resweber) has done that before. I'll alwayS" be proud of that." Coincidentally, 30 years ago, Bart Markel won his first Grand National Championship title when he won the Sacramento Mile on September 30, 1962. Markel's achievement was the undoing of Resweber's attempt at five straight titles. Just two weeks prior to the Sacramento race, Resweber was involved in a career-ending injury in a half mile National race at Lincoln.. Illinois. ~ After blowing the motor on his Honda RS750 and then competing with a motor borrowed from !:Iud Racing at the September 6'Springfield Mile, Tim Mertens opt~d to sit out the September 13 Fresno Mile. "I got out my crystal ball and saw that it wasn't a race to go to," said Mertens, referring to the appalling track conditions at Fresno. "Seriously, though, we ~didn't have a motor to run. I should be at the Sacramento Mile. James Huddleston (of Hud Racing) is lending me another motor and helping out with expenses." Three-time Grand National Champion Bubba Shobert was in Spain last weekend for the Superprestigio road race, continuing his role as team manager of the Otsuka Electronicsbacked Yamaha team that is owned by Wayne Rainey and fields bikes for Kenny Roberts Jr. Shobert was quick to reveal his opinion on the upheaval at the Fresno Mile. Shobert was critical of those riders who raced at the event. "It just shows the mentality of the dirt trackers when they do something like that," Shobert said. "They've got to stick together if they want to make things better, I wasn't there, but if (Scott) Parker and (Chris) Carr didn't ride, I've got to believe it was pretty bad." Bubba Shobert did, in fact, have s6me familiarity with the dirt track oval in Fresno. He test rode his Honda RS750 at the mile oval prior to the National. Although the track was dry and dusty, Shobert said he didn't think they'd end up having a safety debate, but added that the track probably got a lot worse when a full field of riders rode on it. "What kind of times did those guys do?" Shobert asked with a smile. Steamboat Springs, Colorado, hosted the 12th Annual Steamboat Motorcycle Week, September 16-21, and with entry records set in almost every form of competition, it was the largestever year for the event. The meet was highlighted by AHRMA Vintage National MX and Trials Series rounds, and included an AHRMA Classic Cup' Road Race Series round, a vintage dirt track meet, BMW-sponsored concours d'elegance, and a MRA road race meet. Both the AHRMA Classic Cup aod MRA road races were conducted on the streets of Steamboat Springs. Complete coverage next week. Charlie Watson, 80, passed away on Sunday, September 20. Watson spent a lifetime in motorcycling, starting with riding his first motorcycle - a Harley-Davidson - in 1925. He was a member of New Jersey's Silk City M.e. in the thirties, and competed in . TT and ice racing events until WWII broke out in 1941. After the war, Watson continued to take part in TT races as the Silk City M.e. became the Paterson M.e. In 1947, Watson began a long career as a referee, first ,serving as the AMA District 5 referee, and he continued to compete through the fifties. He became an AMA Life Member in 1958 and was the AMA Eastern Regional (National) referee from 1969 until his retir-ement in 1983. He is survived by his wife Joan. Funeral services were scheduled for Thursday, September 24, in Wayne, New Jersey. Cards can be mailed to Joan Watson at Box 146, Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442-0146, Oklahoma Honda Suzuki in Del ' making the survey results available to other motorcyclists. To receive a copy of the article, send a large, selfaddressed envelope with two 29¢ stamps to: Presidential Survey, AMA, P.O. Box 6114, Westerville, OH 430816114. Speaking of the election, Monday, October 5, is the last day for voter registration for the November 3 election. Registration forms are available at post offices and fire stations. Register and vote! A Salute to Competition Motorcycles is how the San Diego Antique M.e. is billing its 21st Annual Del Mar Concours d'Elegance which will be held at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California, on Sunday, October 18. The club says over 500 classic and antique motorcycles will be on display in the infield of the horse race track. Gates will open for the public at 9 a.m. and judging will begin at 9:30 a.m. The show will be open until 4 p.m. Admission is $7 for adults, children under 12 free. For a show brochure and entry form or further information, call 619/753-0105 or 619/ 755-3424. If you plan ahead - way ahead, block off the July 31-August I weekend on your 1993 calendar. That's when the final round of the 1993 AMA National Championship 250cc MX Series will take place at southern California's Glen Helen OHV Park. The promoter, Motolink of Scottsdale, Arizona, is billing the weekend as MotoFest '93 and in addition to the National,' they'll be hosting amateur, vintage and fourstroke MX races, a motorcycle exhibit, dirt bike demo rides, a dual sport ride, and freestyle BMX, skateboard and Rollerblade performances. For information Iegarding exhibit space and sponsorship opportunites, call 602/ 948-4237. The Brothers Honda of Bremerton, Washington, will host the 2nd Annual Sound Tour Benefit Ride City, Oklahoma, is holding an open house on September 26, and factory Suzuki motocrosser Guy Cooper will be on hand from 12-3 p.m. to sign autographs and bench race. For more information call 405/672-1423. on Saturday, October 10. Proceeds will benefit the Kitsap Communities Homeless Program. Sign-up will open at 8 a.m. with the last bike out by 10:30 a.m. Entry fee is $10 for riders, $5 for passengers. For more information, call 206/479-6943. Fator's SuzukilKTM in Redding, California, will host an open house from 4 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, October 10, the day before the AMA National Enduro at nearby Gene Chappy Shasta Dam ORV Park. Team Suzuki's threetime National Enduro Champion Randy Hawkins and Team KTM's defending National Champion Jeff Russell will be on hand to sign autographs. For more information, call 916/221-6612. American Suzuki has announced a $3,270,875 contingency program for owners of new 1993 RM80, Where do the presidential candidates stand on issues that involve motorcycling? That is the focus of an article that will appear in the November issue 9f American Motorcyclist, the AMA's monthly magazine. Based on a questionnaire presented to the major presidential candidates, the article will outline the positions of Republican President George Bush and Libertarian Party candidate Andre Marrou. Campaign officials for Democratic presidential hopeful Governor Bill Clinton declined to respond to the AMA's survey, which contained questions on subjects ranging from motorcycle safety to off-highway vehicle recreation on public land. AMA members will receive the issue with the presidential survey the first week of October. The AMA 'also is 125 and 250cc P model Suzuki motocrossers. The contingency program offers nearly $1 million more than last year's program, and includes 35 major MX events across the country, as well as the National Championship 125 and 250cc MX Series and both 125 and 250cc classes in the Camel Supercross Series. Suzuki is also offering a $500 bond in its new Good Scholar Program. To qualify, a Suzuki RM owner must maintain a 3.0 or better grade point average within the school period of September 1992 through June 1993, and must compete in at least five MX races. "We've seen a lot of kids drop out of school to pursue their racing careers, but we feel that education is too important to leave behind. We just want to give students an added incentive to continue and/or better their education," said Diane Carter of Suzuki. See your local Suzuki dealership for details, or call American Suzuki at 714/996-7040. Tami Rice, founder and president of the Women's Motorsport Associ-' ation (WMSA) has announced the names of five new officials who have joined her "in a quest to gain recognition for women in motorsports around the globe." Brenda Hannah will serve as vice president, Elaine Ruff of Acerbis USA as U.S. Women's MX Team'director, Gale Webb as U.S. Women's MX Team m

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