Ron Haslam:
RON HASLAM:
GP technology on the fly
GREAT BRITIAN'S TOP-RANKED GP rider is Ron Haslam, who finished fourth in last year's point standings. Sporting the finest set of mutton-chop sideburns since the King (Elvis, not Kenny), and encased in nearly all-black leathers, Haslam at first seems a throwback to
golden days of John Surtees and Mike Hailwood. Until, that is, you get a look at the machine he is campaigning on this year's GP circuit. The Elf-5 is as radi cal a concoction of exotic metals as you're going to come across. With a single-sided swingarm and hub-cen
ter steering, the Elf is more than an interesting racebike; it's a showcase for future motorcycle technology. In fact, Honda has purchased the rights to both the front and rear suspension systems, and this year's Hawk GT streetbike already has a single-sided swingarm similar in layout to the
Elf's. Team members hint that it won't be too long before Honda has a road-going bike with a front end pat terned after the Elf's, as well.
It's that strange-looking front end that Haslam-generally acknowl edged as one of the best development riders in the business-is especially fond of. "Compared to a conven tional fork, the Elf design is a lot stronger," he claims. "Conventional front ends have a problem with bend ing, but the Elf's is impossible to bend." Still, the Elf has a way to go before it'll be a threat to win a GP. Even with financial support and `87 worksstyle V-Four engines from Honda, and suspension assistance from Showa, the Elf is handicapped by be ing slightly overweight and having some handling glitches. "We've still got a few things to work out," admits Haslam. "The weight is getting there,
the handling is getting there. There's a slight ground-clearance problem and we're working on getting the front and rear suspension balanced just right." Even with the bike not yet 100 per cent, Haslam was able to finish in seventh place at Laguna Seca, beaten only by the number-one riders for the six major teams con testing the series.
David Edwards
