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Four for four

Nobody in racing is having a better year than John Kocinski. So far in 1989, Kocinski has entered four races, and so far he has four wins.

These haven’t been just any races, either; they’ve been against the toughest competition in the world. The first two had America’s best riders, in Daytona’s 250 GP (a U.S. championship race) and 600 Supersport classes. The next was against the world’s best 250 riders at the Japanese Grand Prix. And finally, Kocinski walked away from the field at Laguna Seca for his second career GP win.

“But don’t get any ideas about winning the championship,” warned Kocinski’s mentor, Kenny Roberts, at a Yamaha victory celebration. “You’ve got to wait.” Roberts doesn’t want to put Kocinski on the world title trail just yet. Laguna Seca was Kocinski’s last world 250 GP of the year, as he moves up to the 500 class for a few races. After that, Roberts says, “We’ll see.”

Freddie no-show

The Most Awaited Nonclimax Award of the USGP goes to Marlboro Yamaha rider Freddie Spencer. By the second practice session, Spencer’s lap times were in the hunt. “Fley, it’s starting to come back and I’m having more fun,” he said. >

But come raceday, Spencer was nowhere to be seen, even though his pit crew and his bike were ready. “I guess he’s back in his hotel. He has a cold or an ear infection or something. I haven’t seen him all day,” reported disgusted crew chief Kel Carruthers. The official word was that Spencer did have an ear infection and elected not to ride. With three GPs gone and Spencer having collected only two points, the team that took Eddie Lawson to three world championships is virtually out of the hunt for another title this year.

Golden Filice

With John Kocinski getting all the attention and the victory at this year’s 250 USGP, last year’s winner Jimmy Filice had to be content with second place. “There was no way anybody was going to stay with John,” he said, still proud to be in the winner’s circle. “For the rest of the year, Em going to race the American 250 series on a production bike. Hopefully, next year I can get a full grand prix ride.” Considering that he has collected a first and a second in the only two GPs he has ever ridden, Filice should find his way onto a works bike in Europe soon. He’s earned it.