Crossed Up

CROSSED UP

FERNANDO BELAIR

No word yet on whether the 250 and 400 Suzukis will receive the same engine and suspension treatments that the 125 did. Certainly couldn’t hurt the bigger bikes, 'cause it sure works neat on the smaller one.

Got our Yamaha 125 Monoshock test bike about two weeks before deadline. Not enough time to do a full test, but at least we got a good impression. What a rocket! The suspension might be in need of a little work, but the motor is unreal. With this new bike and the new Suzuki (pictured in this column last month), it looks as though the 125 class may no longer be Honda heaven.

During the Pierre Karsmakers interview, we were just sitting around Pierre’s living room one night talking, when Jim Weinert (Pierre’s neighbor), opens up the door and falls in. Jim had just come back from the hairdresser’s (really!), where he had had his straight blond hair styled into little kinky curls.

Pierre just couldn’t believe it, but knowing Jim to be occasionally impulsive, he understood how it could happen. With Jim’s prominent proboscis (that translates as “proud nose”), and the rest of his facial characteristics, he could pass as Harpo Marx from the side.

Weinert says he paid $25 for his golden locks. Oh well, when you’re rich and eccentric. . . .

Jim dropped in, we went over to his place and played pool until late that night. We worked on some trick shots, ‘cause Jim says that when he visits back East during the Nationals this year, he’s gonna take all of Gary Nixon’s money. “That sucker’ll gamble on anything,” Jim said.

Round one of the 125 National Championship went to Yamaha and Tim Hart. The Hangtown National (full coverage next month), was a literal mud-o-cross. It rained for several days prior to the event and waterproofing told the story. Most of Team Honda’s weekend woes were caused by moisture getting into places it shouldn’t. If the boys in the red, white and blue want to keep the Number One plate, they’d better get going; there aren’t all that many races left.

Suzuki sure had a neat way of introducing its new RM125 MXer to the press. The company arranged for a full day of competitive events for all the magazines, and brought out 15 new RMs for us to race. The RMs feature forward-mounted gas/oil shocks, longer-travel (7.5-in.) front forks and a newer, stronger engine. The five-speed transmission has been retained. The bike feels competitively powerful and will be a good-handler once you change the oil in the front forks. But it will take a full month of testing before we have the final verdict on the new RMs. So far it looks good.

If you’ve been keeping score, you’ll know that three different riders on three different machines have won the initial G.P.s in the 250 motocross Championships. The latest winner was Jim Pomeroy, who took the Belgian event. For Pomeroy it was a great win because it proves that his other win in Spain two years ago was no fluke. After two years of inconsistent performances, some skeptics were starting to think that Jim might never make it. But he certainly proved them wrong. Winning the first moto and taking a 4th in the second, Bimbo earned overall honors on his Bultaco. Interesting that his only other

G.P. win was also the result of 1stand 4th-place finishes.

Right now I’m getting my Can-Am shaped for the California City G.P. With the new forward-mount modification it should really handle. The welding is being done by Greg Hartwell at P&G Engineering in Costa Mesa. Greg’s shop is located behind Steve’s Cycle Supply (remember Steve? He had the empty Pepsi machine that isn’t empty anymore. But now his cashews are). There’s just one problem with Greg. His meticulous attention to detail is really frustrating if you’re trying to get your bike patched up quickly so you can go riding. He won’t let a piece of work go out of his shop unless it is totally sano. Also, don’t ever ride in his sidecar. Sheesh, what a maniac!

Pierre just got back from Japan and came by the offices to take a look at the finalized interview. He looked beat. What with jet-lag to and from Japan, and the full schedule they had waiting for him when he got there, it took all of his G.P. stamina just to stay on two feet. But he finally got his engine the way he wants it—without so much torque at the expense of top-end power and rpm. Sure doesn’t sound like any Elsinore I’ve ever ridden, but PK is really jazzed.

Things That Are Getting Ridiculous Department. According to very trustworthy sources, the new RM75 works Suzuki motocrossers have more than 10 inches of fork travel, and nine inches at the rear axle. Now that doesn’t sound like any Suzuki I’ve ever ridden either.

The new Maicos are really different: internal fork springs, different tanks, injection-molded plastic, striped paint scheme and alloy rims.

and John Vander Laan at Number One Products have really got a trick shock dyno. Utilizing their existing equipment, they can record, on tape, the actions of the front forks or rear shocks of a bike as it races on a particular course. Then they play the information back through their dyno to help them work out a spring rate and damping characteristics for those particular suspension components on that particular track. Wow, talk about getting specialized.