Ups And Downs
UPS AND DOWNS
DOWN: To the AMA, belatedly, for banning Yamaha TZ dirt-trackers 20 years ago. The screaming twostroke Fours were written out of the rules when wild-riding Kenny Roberts used one at the 1975 Indy Mile to slingshot past Harley-Davidson teammates Corky Keener and Jay Springsteen on the last lap for the win. KR then dismounted and reportedly exclaimed, "They don't pay me enough to ride that thing." At the 1995 Del Mar Mile, none other than Jay Springsteen bagged a few demonstration laps aboard Steve Baker's TZ miler, owned by restoration expert Steve Wright. “The thing’s just wicked,” a wideeyed Springer said afterward. “Now I know why I got beat; it’s probably 40 mph faster than the Harleys.” Sure was fun to watch, though.
UP: To Sears Point Raceway, for excellent fan relations. A tracksponsored contest gave Randy Leonard, a UPS truck driver, an allexpenses-paid weekend working on the Team Muzzy Kawasaki Superbike pit crew. Most memorable experience? “Being five feet away from the bikes at the start,” Leonard said. “The screaming inline-Fours shake your ears and the Ducatis try to rip your lungs out as they pass. It was a full-body experience.”
UP: To Kawasaki’s Ninja 900, for keepin’ on keepin’ on. A milestone sportbike when introduced in 1984, the Ninja is still on the books 12 years later in England, Germany and Japan, identical to the original save for wider rims and upgraded fork. At about $8500 in the U.K.-some $5000 cheaper than their Honda CBR900RR-the Ninja is popular as a bargain superbike. Kawasaki considered reintroducing the 900 to the U.S. in 1993, but dealer reception was lukewarm so the project was dropped.
