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/1470676
I n the early 1970s American road racers like Kenny Roberts and Steve Baker got a chance to gauge their skill level off former World Champion Kel Carruthers. In the mid-1980s, a new genera- tion of Americans got that same opportunity when four-time Grand Prix World Champion Kork Bal- lington came to America and raced three seasons. While he didn't win a championship here, Ballington, who was in his mid- 30s, won races and was always a leading contender every time he took to the track in the U.S. Riders like Wayne Rainey and John Kocinski went head-to-head with Ballington and undoubtedly racing head-to-head with a Grand Prix legend had to bolster their confidence as they entered the world stage. Talking to Ballington via internet video, he looked younger than most men who have passed the age of 70. Fit and trim, Kork, who officially was proclaimed a Mo- toGP Legend in 2018, looks like he could still throw on a set of leathers and turn some hot laps. He joked about aging saying he was, "Getting older, but no wis- er." The amusing statement was proved perhaps truer after Kork, who owns a garage full of motor- cycles including some of his old GP machines, told me his regular weekend ride is a 1969 Kawasaki H1. "I take it out on weekends, and it still scares the shit out of me," he grinned. Originally from South Africa, Kork has lived in Australia for 23 years and keeps busy at his con- struction fastener business he runs with a son. "We're busy," he says. "I'm trying to hand it off to my son, so I get down to three days a week and eventually zero days a week." His credentials before com- ing to race in America in 1986 were impeccable—31 Grand Prix victories and four world titles, taking both the 250cc and 350cc crowns for Kawasaki in 1978 and 1979. But when Kawasaki dropped out of Grand Prix after the 1982 season, it appeared Bal- lington was done with racing. But he came back to race the Suzuka 8 Hours with teammate Rob Phillis in 1984. Then Steve McLaugh- lin put together a deal that gave Ballington the opportunity to race the Daytona 200 for the first time, riding with the British-based Skoal Bandit Suzuki team in 1986. Bal- lington qualified well, placing third in his heat race behind the factory Yamahas of Eddie Lawson and Jimmy Filice. But his bike broke early in the 200. After watching his solid qualify- ing performance at Daytona, team owner Bob MacLean saw that Ball- ington still had speed, so he asked him to come race with his squad in what would prove to be the final season of AMA Formula One. "I still had some steam in me," Ballington said. "So, when Bob asked me to come race in the CN III ARCHIVES P128 BALLINGTON COMES TO AMERICA BY LARRY LAWRENCE Ballington spent the last three years of his racing career in America. Today, he looks back with fondness on his time racing here and the friends he met along the way. PHOTOS: LARRY LAWRENCE