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RACE WATCH

Trouble in paradise

Reigning AMA 250cc Supercross Champion Jeff Emig prepared for his `98 title defense by competing in the pre-season FIM World Supercross Championship. The factory Kawasaki rider had a firm grasp on the series' points lead until the last round in Geneva, Switzerland, where he bowed out after a dispute with the promoter over start money.

Chucking that championship was no big deal, Emig says. He already had a clear read on his rivals for the upcom ing AMA series, so he flew home pleased. Four-time series champ Jere my McGrath was struggling with his new Yamaha, and while Honda's new recruit, Ezra Lusk, had put in impres sive back-to-back wins in Osaka and Tokyo, Japan, insiders figured Lusk still had work to do before making a serious run at the title.

At the first round of the series at the Los Angeles Coliseum, Emig followed Frenchman Sebastien Tortelli home to a strong second-place finish. At Rounds 2 and 3 in Houston, Texas, and Tempe, Arizona, the champ scored top-four fin ishes, holding true to his pre-season strategy of easing into the new cam paign before, in his own words, "pulling the trigger" on the competition.

Then came Round 4 in the Seattle Kingdome, and with it, the beginning of the end of Emig's brief reign as the world's preeminent Supercross rider. After a solid start, Emig began to slide down the leader board, eventually fin ishing 14th. Believing his poor placing was nothing more than a fluke, Emig forged on to the next round in San Diego. That race didn't go well, either. Neither did subsequent races in Indi anapolis, Atlanta and Tampa.

Emig is known as a slow starter, but by the time the series hit its half way point in Tampa, he was com pletely out of the title chase-and the subject of serious speculation. Ru mors ranged from girlfriend trouble, to vision and bike-setup problems to alcohol and drug abuse. Emig found himself backed into a corner, desper ately trying to provide answers.

iou this stuff happens," he says. "People really know how to kick a man when he's down. I've heard rumors that I've been fired, and that I was in jail in New York for cocaine possession. Where does this stuff come from?

"I think the big mistake was that I didn't have a goal set at the beginning of the year," Emig adds. "I was still riding the wave from last year. When the season started, there were new people with new bikes and everybody was starting off at their best. Right now, though, it's only Lusk, McGrath and Windham who are doing any thing. Everyone else is just going along, and the season is lost for them. As far as the inconsistent results, I don't know. My vision at night has been hurting me. At the end of the year, I'm going to look into surgery to correct the problem."

In fact, the entire Kawasaki team seems to be struggling. "I can't speak for (teammates) Damon (Huffman) or Ryan (Hughes)," Emig says. "They have their own problems. When the chemistry is there, like it was last year, it's bitchin'. When it's not, like this year, it hurts. Team Manager Bruce Stjernstrom gets faxes from Japan asking what's up with us. That has to be tough. I know that things won't be the same at Kawasaki next year, and I don't know if I'll have a contract. Damon, Ryan and I have been together for three years, and in motocross, that's a long time.

"i hope to put on a better show in the future," Emig says. "When I see video tape of myself racing, it doesn't look like I'm having fun. The strange thing is that this year, when it comes to auto graph signings or dealer visits, I've had the most fun of my career. When I get on the bike, though, I don't feel good. I need to be more creative and to have more fun on the bike. No matter what, I'm going to remain positive."

Emig will have an opportunity to avenge his losses when the AMA Na tional Motocross series kicks off at Southern California's Glen Helen Raceway in mid-May. To have a seri ous chance at his third-consecutive 250cc MX title, though, Emig must first cross swords with McGrath.

"Jeremy has an aura around him that says, `I'm going to win, and you guys can't do anything about it," Emig says. "That's how I want to attack the out door series. It's been a bad year, but I've still got five good years left in me."

Eric Johnson

Antunez defends Arenacross title

In the "other" indoor motocross se ries, the smaller-venue AMA Nation al Arenacross series, Team Primal Impulse Suzuki's Buddy Antunez successfully defended his title, finish ing 64 points ahead of Kawasaki mounted Chad Pederson.

"There is more pressure on you," says Antunez, of trying to retain the series' number-one plate. "But it feels good to deal with the pressure and all the media attention, and still be able to put it together."

Switching from Supercross to Are nacross proved financially rewarding for Antunez. At the post-season awards banquet alone, he collected more than $30,000 in bonuses. "It was time to buckle down and make some money," says the Californian. "In Supercross, with the support I've had in years past, I'm an 8thto 15th-place rider. In Are nacross, you can be competitive with out works parts. The money I was making each weekend was more than I would have made in Supercross."

Proving that life asa professional motocrosser knows no season, An tunez will contest the final two rounds of the 125cc SX, then jump head-long into the AMA 125cc National Mo tocross series. Thanks to his Are nacross championship, Antunez will have a factory Suzuki for the MX se ries. "Going into the outdoor nation als, knowing that I've already won a championship, I have a lot of confi dence," he says. "Maybe I can get up there and rattle Ricky Carmichael a little bit."

Paul Seredynski

Grand Prix for sale?

D orna, the Spanish sports-market ing conglomerate that owns the rights to the Grand Prix roadracing series, is reportedly selling those rights for approximately $80 million to London-based CVC Capital Part ners Europe Limited.

This transaction comes on the heels of Octogon's recent buyout of the FIM World Superbike series from the Flam mini Group. As was the case with that deal, Dorna's Managing Director Carmelo Ezpeleta will continue to head the company. CVC's purchase could mean a large infusion of capital, increased promotion and possibly a U.S. round of the series.

In related GP news, the FIM has raised the noise limit for two-strokes from 103 dB(A) to 109 dB(A). The increase is said to compensate for the power loss associated with the intro duction of unleaded "green" fuel. This is the first time since noise lim its were introduced in 1977 that the limit has been raised. Curiously, the decision runs counter to the FIM's en vironmental awareness program, but it may be an attempt to lure specta tors back to GP racing.

Though they've been running on unleaded fuel for the past two sea sons, World Superbikes must still con form to the lower noise limit.

Alan Cathcart

Aprilia going for tour

Aprilia has officially withdrawn its 480cc V-Twin from the 500cc class this year, but says it will be back next season with a vengeance. For 1999, the Italian manufacturer hopes to contest the 125, 250 and 500cc class es, as well as World Superbike.

Following the announcement of a planned $28 million racing budget for 1999, Aprilia boss Ivano Beggio says he still considers the 500cc class un finished business, and that the com pany is working on a four-cylinder contender. Based on the Swissauto V Four that powered the ELF500 for the past two seasons, then became an MZ in `98, the RSV500 could be ready to race late this year.

Aprilia is reportedly speaking with unemployed Italian star Luca Cadalo ra, a move that would have obvious promotional advantages for imageconscious Beggio. Of the massive fi nancial commitment, he says, "I know it's a huge challenge, but it's one we know we must face calmly. I have every confidence in our race de partment, and we know we can't do it overnight. But can you imagine if one company won all four world titles in a single season?"

Last year, Honda captured three of the four classes. By winning the 125cc World Championship, Aprilia prevent ed a clean sweep. -Alan Cathcart

Roberts to World Superbike?

in an interview given to the Italian weekly Motosprint, Kenny Roberts voiced his dissatisfaction with the current state of GP racing. Roberts says the problems associated with se curing funding sufficient to continue developing and racing his Modenas KR3 Triple are symptomatic of the sport's ongoing problems. "I still say things aren't right the way they are," he says. "In fact, they're screwing up a sport with huge potential.

"Does it seem right that a four-time world champion like Max Biaggi has to buy his own ride?" Roberts asked. "I think that's nuts. Problem is, the Japanese manufacturers are great at doing business, but they have no soul, none of the passion you need to go racing. Now that Cagiva is no longer involved in GP, and Aprilia has pulled out of the 5 00cc class, the situation is even worse. It's a disaster.

Right now, GP racing is on the way down, and WSB is on the way up. I'd like to do something in that class."

Alan Cathcart

California gets dirt-track series

Thanks to the efforts of two former AMA Grand National Champions, California now has its own Pro/Am dirt-track series. The brainchild of 1970 series winner Gene Romero, the West Coast Flat Track series comprises four AMA-sanctioned events at three racetracks. Former Harley-Davidson factory rider and `92 titlist Chris Carr is promoting the first event at the Lodi Cycle Bowl in Lodi, California.

Romero expects dirt-trackers to use the series as a stepping stone to AMA Grand National competition. "Right now, it's Lodi to the Del Mar Mile, and that's a pretty big jump," he says. "This is a pilot program, with the in tent that if everything goes as hoped. we could expand into a sixor eight race series next year."

Following the opener at Lodi, May 9, races are scheduled for June 6 at Perris Auto Speedway, and Bakers field Speedway on July 18 and Au gust 22. There are three classes: 600 Expert, 600 Pro Sport and 883. Mini mum purse is $3000.

Romerb hopes the series will flour ish, but he has modest expectations. "I don't want these guys to think this is like turning the clock back to 1968," he says. "Basically, we're starting from scratch. We're giving everybody an op portunity to compete. After that, we'll see what develops.'

Paul Seredynski