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RACE WATCH
Italians the new Wizards of Aus
The 1994 grand prix racing season roared off to a very unusual beginning when Italian motorcycles seized victory in all three classes at the Australian Grand Prix at Eastern Creek.
John Kocinski, starting from pole position aboard his 500cc Cagiva, jumped immediately into the race’s lead and kept it, taking the checkered flag with 6.5 seconds in hand over Luca Cadalora aboard the Team Roberts Yamaha. Honda-mounted Michael Doohan, favored by pundits to win this, his home event, finished third, while defending World Champion Kevin Schwantz nursed his Suzuki, and an arm broken in a bicycling accident, home in fourth spot.
Italian sensation Max Biaggi won the 250cc class aboard an Aprilia, and in the 125cc event, Kazuto Sakata piloted another Aprilia to the win. The last time the Japanese manufacturers were shut out at a GP weekend was at the 1976 running of the German Grand Prix.
The situation was somewhat normalized at the Malaysian GP two weeks later, with Doohan taking the win aboard his Honda NSR500. Kocinski finished second to stretch his points lead, and Shinichi Itoh was third on another NSR.
Protests mark AMA Superbike season
Australian whiz Troy Corser served notice that he and his Ferracci Ducati 955 will be forces to reckon with this season by winning both the AMA Superbike race at Phoenix International Raceway and the inaugural L.A. Superbike race. The latter was run on a temporary course that incorporated part of the fabled Pomona Fairplex dragstrip, home of the NFIRA Wintemationals.
Team Muzzy pilot Takahiro Sohwa, who finished second at Pomona, served his own notice that he and team owner Rob Muzzy won’t tolerate what they suspect to be illegal machinery. Through Sohwa, Muzzy protested Corser’s Phoenix result, questioning the eligibility of the machine. Muzzy said he protested because the Eraldo Ferracci-built Ducati is described on its homologation form as a “Racing ’94 AMA” and is, he says, the result of a kit being homologated instead of a complete motorcycle. The AMA disallowed that protest and Muzzy appealed. The appeal was pending at presstime.
Explained Muzzy, “I’ve made a hundred calls all over the world, and I’ve yet to find this model for sale. There’s no such thing...I believe the AMA has made a grave error. If they allow what Ferracci is doing, maybe I’ll homologate some of (Kawasaki’s) Suzuka 8-Hour stuff as a kit. If they continue to allow this, we’re gonna have GP bikes.”
Eraldo Ferracci said he’s sold 20 such bikes in the U.S. and abroad, and added, “I did what they (the AMA) allow us to do. If there’s a problem, I will sue the AMA myself.”
Muzzy said he would continue to protest the legality of the Ferracci Ducatis until the matter is resolved.
According to Merrill Vanderslice, the AMA’s national technical manager, there’s nothing to resolve. Said Vanderslice of the Muzzy protest, “Their underlying agenda seems to be to undermine the homologation of (the Ducati), which is by the rulebook. This bike is perfectly, perfectly legal.”
As if the continuing Muzzy protest didn’t put enough on the AMA’s plate, two other problems dogged the organization. The first concerned a rider protest and threatened boycott because of safety considerations, including a lack of proper track preparation, at the Pomona round. The boycott threat fizzled with the dawn of raceday, though Honda hot-shoe Kevin Magee did not run. Citing the track’s extreme bumpiness, he withdrew from the race only to change his mind and attempt to sign up after registration was closed. He was not allowed to compete. Fred Merkel, one of those who expressed early concerns about the track, said on raceday, “I’m not saying anything. I don’t have a choice. I’m contracted to race.”
The second problem concerns a disagreement between the AMA and its long-time roadracing manager, Roger Edmondson, who in late 1993 announced he was terminating the joint-venture agreement under which he has worked for the AMA as a contractor. At that time, Edmondson and the AMA discussed their options, including either party buying the other out, but the AMA ultimately decided not to sell. Edmondson, who contends he owns the AMA’s 600 and 750 Supersports classes, the Harley-Davidson Twin Sports series and two endurance classes, has been willing to sell, but so far, the two entities have not been able to come even close to agreeing on a price. Edmondson has rejected the AMA’s offers on the basis that they’ve been ridiculously low, while the AMA has deemed Edmondson’s asking price as being absurdly high, disputing the notion that anyone “owns” roadracing classes.
Continuing negotiations have resulted in a temporary resumption of the joint-venture agreement between Edmondson and the AMA, scheduled to run through the end of 1994. What will happen when the partnership finally ends will at least be interesting. □
