Clipboard

Clipboard

RACE WATCH

Hale leaves America for World Superbike

Following in the footsteps of Kenny Roberts, Freddie Spencer and Wayne Rainey, dirt-tracker-turned-roadracer Mike Hale has left America to seek glory on the world stage. The runner-up in this year’s U.S. Superbike and 600 Supersport wars, Hale jumped from his Smokin’ Joe’s Honda to the Promotor Ducati team. A big part of his decision is said to have been the Austrian team’s plan to go GP racing in 1997.

Smokin’ Joe’s Team Operator Martin Adams was upset about losing Hale. “We have a real problem with international racing. When you’re constantly losing your stars, how the hell do you market and build a series?” asks Adams.

Hale tried out his new Ducati in the final two WSB rounds of 1995, finishing as high as sixth.

U.S. roadracing switcharoos

Long before their motors cooled down last year, racers were jockeying to secure their 1996 rides. First up to the offseason bargaining table was Honda’s Miguel Duhamel, who entered a twoyear deal to defend his AMA Superbike and 600 Supersport titles. Filling Mike Hale’s shoes on the Honda team is Canadian Steve Crevier, who joked that he was hired to “keep Miguel honest, not to make it too easy for him again.” The Yoshimura Suzuki team robbed the Kawasaki talent pool of Pascal Picotte and picked up young gun Aaron Yates long before the stunning retirement of Fred Merkel due to injuries. Scrambling to fill the three-time champ’s leathers, Yoshimura is said to be courting Australian GP and WSB contender Matt Mladin. With Crevier and Picotte gone, Kawasaki’s Rob Muzzy hired Harley’s Doug Chandler, the man who brought him the 1990 AMA Superbike Championship, and Mike Smith, who is currently second to Duhamel in 600 supersport wins. Of his return to the Kawasaki club, Chandler says, “It’s good to be back with a team I’ve worked with and had success with in the past. It makes me feel that much more confident going in.” Following Chandler’s defection, roadracing rookie Chris Carr is currently the only rider signed to ride Harley’s VR1000. Others strongly rumored to be seeking the VR post are Doug Polen and Thomas Stevens, both former national Superbike champs.

The successful Vance & Hines Yamaha team of veteran Jamie James and 750 Supersport Champion Tom Kipp remains intact, however, Eraldo Ferracci’s Ducati squad is another story. The Italian tuner is seeking new blood. Thus far, he has hired Australian Damon Buckmaster and is conducting try-out sessions with a few young American riders. Ferracci says former riders Freddie Spencer and Tiger Sohwa are seeking deals in Europe and Japan, respectively.

So, what’s the going rate for a top Superbike rider? Insiders say the price went up tremendously in the past year due to a thinning talent pool. Reportedly, top stars can rake in as much as $400,000 per year and mid-level guys can ask for at least $175,000. As for entry-level riders, if they did well in supersport racing the previous year, they can expect up to $100,000 in their rookie season.

Musical MX chairs

In motocross, only the strong survive. For 1996, riders have switched camps, swapped teams, retired and one guy even had the gall to un-retire himself.

Honda kept its two national champs, Jeremy McGrath (250MX and SX) and Steve Lamson (125MX) to defend their titles. Ah, but what about Doug Henry, who broke his back mid-season? He will be teamed on Yamahas with a renewed Damon Bradshaw. Citing burnout, Bradshaw relinquished his six-figure salary and retired from motocross in 1993. Now 23, he says, “I honestly missed the competition and the rush of the cheering crowds.” This duo will be paired with John Dowd and Kevin Windham.

Where did Jeff Emig go, you ask? He jumped ship from Yamaha to Kawasaki, becoming the old man on an all-new team at just 25 years of age. And, speaking of codgers, Mike Kiedrowski, at the ripe old age of 26, is calling it quits after winning the 125, 250 and 500cc titles in his sevenyear pro career. He won’t stray too far though. The “MX Kied” will serve as an assistant manager for Team Kawasaki, which now consists of Emig, reigning 125 West SX Champion Damon Huffman and Ryan Hughes, runner-up in both the 1995 125 West SX series and the 125 nationals. Yes, Mike LaRocco and Robbie Reynard are missing from this green picture. “LaRocket” was lured to Suzuki to replace Huffman; he now heads up a team which includes Greg Albertyn, Tim Ferry, Ezra Lusk and Craig Decker. And Reynard? He stepped down to a Honda factory support ride.

Myers magic through the lights

To win his third NHRA Pro Stock title, all John Myers had to do was qualify for the final event in Pomona, California. That’s it. Instead, he topped all qualifiers on his normally aspirated 1500cc Suzuki GSX-R, set a new track speed record at 182.29 mph, a new track E.T. record of 7.496 seconds and then went away a winner in the final elimination-for the seventh time this season. Of the feat, he says, “Lots of power and a team that knows how to use it is the key.”