John Kocinski

JOHN KOCINSKI

THE KID WHO WOULD BE KING

STANDING IN THE BACK OF THE TEAM MARLBORO truck, John Kocinski throws up his hands. “They’re everywhere, and they won't leave me alone,” he complains as he looks down on the horde of fans and photographers watching him change into his riding gear. “What are they looking at? ’

Not since Kenny Roberts first went to Europe has a rider sparked as much controversy and admiration as has Kocinski. Some people say he has the talent of a young Freddie Spencer, and is just as arrogant and aloof. But others, those who have watched the GP scene for a long time, say he is the second coming of King Kenny.

Kocinski has been racing professionally for just five years and is only 22 years old. yet he’s already earning more than a million dollars a year. But that seven-figure salary puts him under a lot of pressure to win the 250 world championship this year, no excuses accepted. Fortunately, he won't have to do it alone. He has Roberts for tutelage, as well as Eddie Fawson and Wayne Rainey; and his mechanic is Trevor Tilbury, the man who wrenched f or Roberts during his championship reign. Thus, being on Team Roberts gives Kocinski the perfect opportunity to learn how to become more than just a blazingly fast rider.

That teamwork will be of particular importance to Kocinski this year, because he'll have to win the 250 championship on the merits of his talents, not those of his machinery. The YZR250 Yamaha he will ride needs constant attention; and even when it is running at its best, claims Roberts, it is no match for the Hondas and Aprilias.

That certainly was the case during the first test session of the year, with Kocinski running a full second ofif the factory Aprilia s pace. “John s bike will never be the fastest on the track,” claims Roberts. “But the other guys had to build better bikes because no one can outride him.

Whether or not anyone will perceive Kocinski's bike as “slow” this year remains to be seen. Fast year, his Yamaha looked like a rocket when he stomped the best 250cc riders in the world at the Japanese and U.S. GPs, giving everyone a preview of what this season might bring. That the young Kocinski so easily whipped the more-experienced riders is also part of why European fans already adore him. They’ve even christened him “Baby John."

Kocinski will eventually learn to deal with all the attention. And his season in the 250 class will help him get acclimated to the rigors of full-time GP racing before he moves into the pressure-cooker of the 500 series, where all the real glory is found. And even he likes the idea of campaigning a 250 this year rather than stepping up to a 500. “Em at my prime as a 250 rider,' he says, “and I want a 250 championship on my record."

His year on the 250s also gives the current crop of 3UUcc riders one more season to get prepared for Kocinski. He issues them a warning when he says. "When I move up to the 500s, I don't want to be racing for third or fourth place. I want to be dicing with Eddie and Wayne for the win."