Ups And Downs
UPS AND DOWNS
UP: To seven-time national motocross champion Jeff Ward, for leading a fruitful retirement. After hanging up his leathers in 1993, the long-time factory Kawasaki rider quietly took up car racing. When he tried to make the Indianapolis 500 this year, few gave him much of a chance. But Ward, who had never before even driven an Indy car, was impressive in his Brickyard debut, breezing though rookie testing and nearly capturing the final grid position in the waning moments of qualifying.The 33-year-old is currently contesting the Indy Lights series under the Arizona Motorsports banner. He finished third at the Detroit Grand Prix in June and lies fourth in the points chase.
DOWN: To Yamaha, for not cranking up the assembly lines. Re member all the good things we said about the 1996 Yamaha YZF750 in the July issue? Well, they're still valid. It's just that the bike is not-at least not for 1995 AMA supersport roadracing. For the `96-model bike to be eligible this year, the AMA re quired that 500 examples be shipped to the U.S. before June 1. When they were not, AMA officials pulled the YZF's eligibility, along with the accumulated points of Se ries leader Tom Kipp.
DOWN: To Joan Claybrook, for being baaaaack' You remember the former head of the National High way Traffic Safety Administration, she of the backwards-steering, rollcage-equipped motorcycle? Well, Claybrook's with us stilt, this time as head of Public Citizen, a watch dog group that among other things is fighting recent Congressional moves to abolish the national speed limit. Who says frightening doesn't strike twice?
