"Angry American” set to retain title

Press, 30 August 1979, Page 9

"Angry American” set to retain title

| The “angry American,” Kenny Roberts (Yamaha), needs only one point from the French grand prix at Le Mans next Sunday to win the world 500 cu. cm road racing championship for the second year in succession.

After a disastrous start to the season, followed by clashes with some race organisers, Roberts has fought his way back into a title-winning position in a manner which has earned him the respect of his rivals. His narrow win over Barry Sheene (RGSOO Suzuki), of England, in the British grand prix at Silverstone left him with a clear lead of 14 points over his nearest rival, Virginio Ferrari (RGSOO Suzuki), of Italy. Roberts covered the 81.96 miles in 42min 56.725, an average speed of 114.5 m.p.h. Sheene, who lost his chance when he was balked by a slower rider on the last lap, finished a mere three-hun-dredths of a second behind in the closest finish of the world series this year. Sheene, who suffered a series of mechanical problems early in the season, has returned to his best form. His second place lifted him into third place in the championship behind Ferrari. The final clash of the season between Roberts and Sheene will take place at Le Mans on Sunday, but it is almost certain that Roberts will be riding merely to finish. The main battle will be between Ferrari, Sheene, and another Suzuki rider, Wil Hartog, of the Netherlands. Ferrari has undoubtedly been the find of the season. He led the world series for much of the way and only lost his chance of victory when overheating problems slowed his Suzuki in the British grand prix. However, the top man of the season is undoubtedly Roberts. He broke his left ankle and suffered other injuries in a bad crash in Japan in February while testing the 1979 Yamaha racers. It seemed unlikely that he would be able to resume racing until the season was half completed. But he returned to the fray in the Swedish grand prix, and has slowly regained all the lost ground. Now he is in the sort of form which enabled him to sweep all before him last season, his first in the world championship. Sadly, the 1979 world championship might prove his last. Riders have been

dissatisfied with the level of prize money and the safety of some circuits at the world championships for many years. The problem has finally come to a head with a decision of leading riders to organise their own international series next year and boycott the world championships. Roberts, already in trouble with the F.I.M. for allegedly encouraging riders to refuse to ride on a dangerous surface at the Belgian grand prix, is the spokesman for the breakaway group. He said riders were fed up with risking their necks for nothing. Already, some 40 top riders, including Ferrari, Sheene, Hartog, Gregg Hansford (Australia), and Kork Ballington (South Africa), are under contract, which indicates that there will be some very thin fields for next season’s world championships. Final details are not yet completed, but the riders claim that several circuit owners have indicated they are prepared to put up $200,000 in prize money to stage a round. The series will have two classes, Formula One (500 cu. cm) and Formula Two (up to 250 cu cm). First place prize money for a Formula One race will be $40,000, with $20,000 going to the second man home. The riders are hoping to hold their meetings with the sanction of the F.I.M. Roberts said that the

F.I.M. was there to promote the sport and they were not expecting any problems. “But if it does mean a fight with the F.1.M., then we will fight,” said Roberts.