European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 21, 1978, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday july 21, 1978 the stars and stripes Page 9 Motorbike Marvel by Jim Coles i staff writer Hock Eneim Germany Sis cold wind and rain did t seem to make much of a difference to America s Kenny Roberts As he continued his charge to the Lead of the formula 750 motorcycle Cham , 26, of Modesto calif., moved up eight Points in that class of Competition to Trail venezuelan Johnny decotto by Only one Point with Only four Road races remain ing in the big class. But while Roberts is charging in the 750s, he s leading in the prestigious Soock class and second in 250cc racing. If i did win in All three classes i think it would be the first time anyone has done to he said. We broke Down in two 250 races at the Start of the season. I lost some Points on that and we won t be Able to make the last two races. I d have to have 31 Points before that to even be in the running Roberts , twice . Champion said european racing is different from its Ameri can Cousin. I be never run the whole circuit in Europe before. Of i be come Over for a few individual races but never be whole season. In Europe there is Road racing every week. In the states you Road race one week then the next is dirt racing. You really can t specialize there but Here i be had the Chance to finesse my style. So far i be made about 15 races and Many of them in two classes. That s All Good expert  the weather in Germany Seldom the same two Days in a Row has been a Chal Lenge for the Amsterdam based racer. There Are Many More decisions to make Over Here because of the weather. One of those decisions was in our first race today. I gambled that the rain would be Light so we left the Slick tire on. I lost on that Gamble and did t do As Well As we d hoped Roberts said. Another problem i be had is the face plate misting. My vision was really impaired  while the raw Power and super speeds of the 750 class is spectacular the prestige California rider moving up fast in Tough european Road racing Kenny Roberts shows the style that could nuke him world Champion id class in motorcycle Road racing is Soock racing. I Don t know if i la race in 750 next year. This class started about 1970 when Triumph Bra and a couple others came out with their 750 triples. They wanted to race them so everyone got into it. Then Kawasaki Suzuki and Yamaha came along with their bikes. Soon Yamaha was blowing everyone off the tracks. Yamaha so completely dominates this class that most of the other manufacturers lost interest and dropped out. Every Bike out Here except one was a Yamaha. It s gotten so some of the 750 races hardly pay enough to make it Worth going Roberts  750 racing is slowly Drifting out of the limelight the 500s Are stronger than Ever. Swinging Low 7�cc and Snee a conc. Travelling at More loan 71 Mph be leans deeply to the 500 is the Only class that really counts. That s the one i really want to win. It s the traditional world championship  added at one time i signed three year contracts with sponsors now i have one year contracts because of the Money  this year Roberts sponsors Are All top line american companies Goodyear tires Champion spark plugs Bell helmets. His Bike is a Yamaha works machine. Right now i m winning and can get Good Money so one year contracts work out better for me. The More i win the More i can ask in salaries where if i had a Long term contract my wages would be the 750cc titlist puts on wet track show Steve biker in on the warm up strip it Hocke Beta. Bockenheim. Germany is defending 750cc world Champion Steve Baker of Bellingham wash., gave 10.000 a cold dreary Day ints race Here. Track in the first heat that the carburettors on his Yamaha stuck open. "1 did t do Well in that race. It was difficult to race at All he said. But it was the second race that had the fans on their feet. Race officials miscalculated Baker s starting position and when it was All straightened out Baker started dead last. I started in 39th place and wound up in fifth place. I m out of the running for the championship this year because we had a lot of mechanical troubles Early in the season. My new Soock Bike did t get Here until just a month ago. It does t take too Many problems to put you Bend in the  this is Baker s second full year on the european circuit. He said of his future it just depends on what happens with my sponsors As to How Long i race. I d like to race another four or five years at  i m most concerned with right now. I m Here to race be cause this is where the racing is. One of the things i especially like about racing in Europe is the enthusiasm and support it receives. There s much More Community help for the sport. There Are even Street races. I m not sure racing on the streets is All that Good but it shows there is a lot of support Baker said. He added. If you want to be a Road racer you just about have to come to Europe. Baker said his goal of winning the Soock Crown has been frustrated but he s not giving up. There Are Only four races left in the season and i m in fourth place. I Don t think i can catch up to Kenny Roberts but i can move up in the ranking and there s Al ways next year Baker  Are very important in any kind of motor racing and critical in this sport where raw Power will Warp a Bike Frame in two races and much greater stress is placed on mechanical parts than in any other form of motor racing. He said of his current sponsor. Nava Olio Fiat of Italy. They be been Good to work with but i m not really sure that i la be with them next year. Nothing has really been discussed  take a hard right band turn at Hocken Helm. Is photos by Loo Johnson same Roberts said. Roberts said one of the big reasons he s doing so Well this year is his family is trav Eling with him in a Large motor Home. I really could t do without my family. It s very convenient to travel in the motor Home. I can eat what i want when i want relax and have my family with me. It depends on where the races Are As to whether i take them with me. For exam ple the next race is in Italy but we won t drive there. We re headed to Amsterdam where Well Park it then i la Fly to Italy for the race. 111 return to Amsterdam by plane and the fallowing week Well drive to Sweden for their race. It All depends but i need to have them with  his family includes his wife. Patty son. Kenny Junior 5, and daughter Kristi 2. What makes Roberts a Winner his me chanic internationally known Knobby dark said he s a lot like Agostini. There Aren t a lot of differences. Both want the Bike As close to perfect As we can make it. I did t think Kenny would be As partic ular As ago but he is. I d say he s As Good technically As anyone he s very Good a diagnosing engine troubles and has tremendous Riding  Kenny Etbert. Candid my critic