Competition Eto

COMPETITION ETO

D. RANDY RIGGS

Kawasaki will be fielding new equipment for road racing this season. The 750s will benefit from water cooling, long overdue for the team in green. The big machines will also get a six-speed gearbox, making them even more competitive. Full factory backing will go with the contracts for both Yvon DuHamel and Jim Evans. Yvon has been with the team for several seasons now; Evans has ridden various privately backed Yamahas and this is his first factory ride.

The big attention will be focused on Kawasaki’s other new racer, the KR250. Having tried unsuccessfully for quite some time to break the Yamaha domination and winning streak in the 250 Combined Lightweight races with road race versions of the 350 Bighorn,

they’re switching to an all-out effort.

As you know, H-D stopped the Yamahas only once last year in the 250 class at Loudon; from that point on, however, it was Yamaha. The Kaw jumps into the fracas with a unique in-line, water-cooled Twin two-stroke, which features rotary valves and a sevenspeed transmission. The routing of the expansion chambers is interesting, as is the placement of the 32mm carburetors. Disc brakes are found both front and rear and mag wheels are included. Though Yamaha still has the advantage in sheer numbers and time to perfect, the 250 events will be a whole bunch better to watch with H-D and now Kawasaki in there, grappling for the lead.

With the National road race calendar showing an abbreviated three-event schedule this season in the U.S., pavement fans are going to have to turn their attention towards the activity in other countries where road racing will be far more prevalent.

Of tremendous interest to U.S. fans are the annual Anglo-American Match Races held in England on three different circuits. This year, on March 28, 30 and 31, the tour will take in action at

Brands Hatch, Mallory Park and Oulton Park.

So far, the U.S. team looks like it will consist of Ken Roberts, Gene Romero and Don Castro from Yamaha, Jim Evans and Yvon DuHamel of Kawasaki and Gary Nixon and Dave Aldana from Suzuki. Since the dates conflict with the dates of the French Grand Prix, Yvon may not ride in the series after all, unless the dates are ironed out. And Gary Nixon’s presence depends on his condition at the time. At present, he is still on the mend from injuries suffered in Japan last June.

The British team is hoping for Phil Read and his MV, but that has to be confirmed. In addition, look for Barry Sheene, Stan Woods, Dave Croxford, Mick Grant and possibly Paul Smart and Peter Williams, also recovering from serious injuries suffered last season.

The alternate rider for the U.S. has not been decided, but much depends on who does what at Daytona.

If you care to make the excursion, since the racing is some of the best you’ll ever witness, contact Trippe-Cox Associates, 19531 Airport Way South, Suit 17B, Santa Ana, CA 92707. They put together a good trip each year for those who want to dig on some good racing and a bit of England. Check it out. TO