Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

e.~~d!~~P~f~o~Et,~~,Pap~I~-'~-a-:'~-,~-~g.IL-:rn-w-as-fe-atu-te-d-in-T-ea-m---B-M--W--B--t-t-l--O-f-r-h--L---=---da e e egen s ~ g; O'(j 1""""4 ... ~ >- Kevin Magee may be the man who ends up replacing Doug Polen on the factory Ducati for the World Championship Bell Helmet Talk, a .quarterly newsletter that the company puts out, and the onepage article featured a large color photo Superbike Series. Magee has also been offered a factory Yamaha for World Superbike and a YZR500 for the Japanese 500cc series. Magee finished second in the 1992 Japanese 500cc Championship behind fellow Australian Daryl Beattie, who rode a factory Honda NSR500. and biography of Rogers. Since the end of the 1992 Grand National Championship season, Rogers has spent most of his time working for his parents' steel-demolition company. "I've been racing a few motocross races here and there," said Rogers. "I was supposed to race the Baja 1000 in November, but the team fell apart at the last minute." In the upcoming season, Rogers will return aboard the Phil and Ken Wickershamowned Harley-Davidson, with Carl Patrick spinning the wrenches. 'Tm really looking forward to getting back on the track," said Rogers, who last year earned his first-ever National win at the Hagerstown Half Mile. j...j ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The AMA has announced a change in the National Championship 125/500cc MX Series. The concluding round of the four-round series at Steel City USA in Delmont, Pennsylvania, was originally scheduled for September 26 but it has been rescheduled to September 5. Larry Ward is rumored to have signed a deal that will see him racing Suzukis in the AMA National Supercross Series and either the 125cc or 250cc National Motocross Series. If the rumor is true, Ward will receive bikes from Suzuki, but will have the rest of his expenses financed elsewhere. Suzuki's Pat Alexander refused to comment on the rumor. Mike Norris, 39, was found dead early in the morning of December 9 outside of Suzuki/Kawasaki Country Racing, the Norco, California, dealership that he had owned and operated for many years. Police are investigating the murder and have ruled out robbery as a motive. Norris worked late into the evening and was found shot outside of the shop just before midnight with his wallet and keys still in his pocket. Norris is survived by his parents Pete and Pat, wife Debbie, sons Mikey and Nicholas, and daughter Malory. Cards and letters may be sent in care of Suzuki/Kawasaki Country, 2057 N. Hamner Ave., Norco, CA 91760. Steve Morehead, who last month had said that he "might not be back" in 1993, has decided to "give it one last shot." The 37-year-old Grand National Championship Series veteran will again ride KK Motorcycle Supply /Sheperd Chemical Company IF&S HarleyDavidson/John Dragoo/Bell-backed Harley-Davidson XR750s. Skip Eaken will build the motors, and Gary Stolzenberg will again accompany Morehead to the races. "When I saw that the new schedule included 10 half miles, I thought, 'Man, I can't walk away from something that good on a bad note,' " said Morehead, a noted half mile specialist. '.'But after all of the bad luck I had in 1992, maybe I should get a rabbit's foot. No, I think I'll tie a whole darn rabbit around my neck!" Grand National Champion Chris Carr underwent surgery on November 31 to have the pins removed from his right hand that he broke in an October victory party scuffle. "It feels pretty good, and I think I'll start riding my minibike soon," said Carr. "I hope to work up to my 250cc motocrosser before Christmas:" Recently, Carr visited the HarleyDavidson Motor Co. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to renegotiate his 1993 contract. "All the details are worked out, all 1 have yet to do is sign it," said Carr, whose Harley-Davidson XR750 will carry a white number plate with a black number one in '93. "The plate isn't blue and gold anymore since Camel is no longer the series sponsor. I haven't had my plates made up yet - I can't decide which style I want to use." 2 Dirt tracker Rusty Rogers phoned Papa recently and excitedly asked, "Did you see that new Bell Helmets newsletter? In 1992, AMA rules allowed the use of dirt-track-modified 500cc two stroke motocross bikes in 600 class professional dirt track racing, but the machines were required to be equipped with stock frames and swingarms. For 1993, a rule change 'will allow the use of steel aftermarket frames and steel or aluminum aftermarket swingarms. Papa only spotted two or three dirt trackers piloting two-strokes during the '92 season. Needless to say, they didn't fare well. How much the new rule effects twostroke participation remains to be seen. Dirt tracker Aaron Hill will campaign the 1993 AMA Grand National Championship Series with backing from Sacramento Harley-Davidson, the northern California dealership owned by Mike and Holly Shattuck. Hill will be provided with two complete HarleyDavidson XR750s that will be tuned by Monty Heath, and the team will be shooting for a top 10 finish in '93. "This is like having Christmas early," said Hill, a seven-year veteran of the series who is best known for his outstanding starting abilities. "This will be the best equipment I've ever had, and I'm ready. This is a dream come true." Ben Bostrom, another northern Californian, has joined forces with Aztec Racing and will attack the AMA Grand National Championship Series aboard Tony and Steve Gutierrez-prepared Harley-Davidsons. When not pitching it sideways on the dirt, Bostrom will contest the HarleyDavidson Twin -Sports class at AMA Natienal Championship Road Race Series rounds. The team will receive additional backing from Ventura H-D, Shoei, H-D of Fresno, Storz Performance and Yoko. And yet another northern Californiabased dirt tracker has secured a pair of new sponsors. Torco Oils and Centurian Surplus Inc., a computer outlet company, will serve as primary sponsors for Allon McBee and the Sowle Racers team. McBee made the transition into the Expert ranks at last September's Fresno National Mile and finished 15th, good enough to earn the 29-year-old a National number. Dirt tracker Will Davis has fully recovered from the broken wrist, ankle and collarbone that he sustained in a crash at the August 22 Indy Mile, and the Goldsboro, North Carolina, rider has been spending considerable time aboard a motorcycle in preparation for the 1993 Grand National Championship season. Davis won back-ta-back Nationals at the Oklahoma City and West Virginia Half Mile rounds before being injured, and feels that he can regain his momentum at the March Daytona Short Track season-opener. "I have a short track out returns to Da tona F - . ifteen champions will take to the track at Daytona International Speedway aboard identically prepared BMW RIGORs when the BMW Battle Of The Legends returns for its second year, Monday March 1. Last year's inaugural race, also held during the AHRMA Classic Days drew a record crowd of more than 16,000 spectators. "The concept of inviting motorcycling racing legends to return to the high banks of Daytona during Motorcycle Week was an enormous success," said Phil Capossela, vice president of motorcycle operations for BMW of North America. This year, in preparation for even more fans, the field has been enlarged to include European as well as American champions; and BMW's infield pit area has been increased to provide better access to the legends for photos and autographs. The legends competing in the upcoming two five-lap heat races include Canadian Yvon DuHamel, overall winner of last year's BMW Battle of the Legends and veteran of the Daytona racing circuit; Don Castro, a former fixture on the track whose most memorable win was perhaps over Kenny Roberts in the 1974 250cc race at Daytona; David Aldana, a veteran dirt track rider and winner of several Jo~n Player Transatlantic Challenge Races in the '70s; Don Emde, 1972 Daytona 200 winner; Bart Markel, three-time AMA Grand National Champion; Gary Nixon, 1967 Daytona 200 winner and two-time AMA Grand National Champion; Reg Pridmore, three-time AMA Superbike Champion; Roger Reiman, 1964 AMA Grand National Champion and three-time Daytona 200 winner; George Roeder, perennial dirt-track contender during the mid-60s; Jay Springsteen; three-time AMA Grand National Champion; and Don Vesco, Daytona veteran and former motorcycle land-speed record holder. European riders include Hugh Anderson, former World Champion and National Classic Champion from 1978-89; Phil Read, eight-time World Champion; Walter Zeller, BMW racing team member and 1951 gold medal winner in the ISDT; and Walter Villa, four-time World Champion. Although Dick Mann will not be rejoining the field this year, the two-time AMA Grand National Champion and twa-time Daytona 200 winner will be on hand to meet fans and sign autographs. Spectators are also welcome to meet the 15 legends during a pre-race appearance, Sunday, February 28, from 2-4 p.m. at the American Motorcycle Institute (AMI), located one mile west of Daytona International Speedway at 3042 Volusia Avenue. For those wishing to sport Battle of the Legends souvenirs prior to the race, BMW will be selling event-related merchandise at the AMI appearance. here that I've been riding on and I feel that I'm 100%," said Davis. "We don't have everything worked out for next year yet, but I do know that I'll be on the Craig Rogers and Louie Aruta Honda- RS750 with Dennis Town spinning the wrenches." Tickets for the February 12-14 opening round of the AMA National Championship Road Race Series at Phoenix Internalional Raceway are now on sale. The inaugural running of the Phoenix National will take place on the facility's new road course that includes both a portion of the world's fastest mile oval and a .8-mile nine-turn section that winds through the infield. Friday will be devoted to practice and qualifying, Saturday will tentatively see the running of the EBC Brakes U.s. Endurance Challenge and 750cc Supersport races, and Sunday's schedule will feature the Harley-Davidson rwin Sport, 600 Supersport, 250cc Grand Prix .and Superbike races. Heading the list of entrants for the Superbike race are two-time World Superbike Champion Doug Polen, 1991 National Champion Thomas Stevens and defending National Chamrion Scott Russell. General admission tickets for the Phoenix National Road Race are $5 ori. Friday, $10 on Saturday, and $20 on Sunday. General admission seating tickets on the hillside Sunday are $12. Reserved seating in the main Jimmy Bryan Grandstand on the front straightaway is $25. Also available is a threeday advance-purchase-only Super Ticket at $40. The Super Ticket includes admission and paddock access throughout the weekend. Tickets are on sale at all Dillard's outlets throughout Arizona, as well as at the track's downtown Phoenix ticket office at 1313 North 2nd Street, Suite 1300. Out of town toll-free orders can be placed by calling Dillard's at 800/638-4253. Additional information can be obtained by calling the track ticket office at 602/252-3833. World Champion Wayne Rainey and Grand National Champion Chris Carr will be feted at the 30th Annual Motoring Press Association Banquet in San Francisco on Saturday night, January 9. They'll join other award winners, including the late Lee Moselle, who headed SCRAMP and was instrumental in the U.S. Grand Prix first being held at Laguna Seca Raceway. Moselle ~ill be inducted into the MPA's Hall of Fame. Tickets are available to the general public. For more information, call 408/436-8228. Rick Johnson has been named Mickey Thompson Off-Ro~d Gran Prix Series Rookie of the Year. The multi-time National MX and Supercross Champion scored two main event wins in his first season of stadium truck racing, driving a Nelson & Nelson Racing Chevrolet S10. Johnson's wins came at the Los Angeles and Las Vegas rounds. "From my debut in San Diego (February 22) to my first win Guly 18), the entire team was on a steep learning curve," said Johnson, the winningest racer in the history of Supercross who left motorcycle racing in 1991. "Not only was I new to the series, this was Nelson & Nelson's first year in stadium racing. None of us knew what the heck we were doing the first couple of events...We spent every possible moment on the test track, and put in at least 600 laps...My Rookie of the Year award really belongs to the whole team." The Princeton, Illinois- based Princeton Honda MX team has signed Jason Edwards and James Eickle for the '93 season. Edwards, a 19-year-old third generation racer from Rio Vista, Texas, and 22-year-old Eickle from Grove City, Ohio, will be aboard Honda CRI25s for

• Cover