European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 7, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Rainey the top 500cc class where the bikes Are pushing 165 horsepower and Topping out at 180 mph or More Quot that s a Good question Quot Rainey said Quot and i m not certain where the advantage is but i would put it Down to off season training and the right attitude. Quot during the Winter i go Motocross Riding. 1 go As fast As i can. You be got to be in shape to do Motocross and you have to be in the Best possible shape to race 500cc bikes. Quot you have to be in shape because the bikes have become so Good so fast that you must be a stronger rider to control them. They accelerate so hard and Stop so fast. And they can spit you off just As fast. They re weapons really and i think that they get More and More difficult to ride every year. Quot so the off season training is vital and because of that i would say american riders have both a mental and physical  during his 20-year career the affable californian has won the american super Bike championship twice. He placed eighth in the 250cc world championship in 1984, then ran third for the Roberts Yamaha team in 1988, and second in 1989. This year should produce his first world championship but As Rainey says Quot it s still a Long Way to  his primary opposition comes from the hard charging Kevin Schwantz of Paige Tex. Schwantz who rides for Suzuki beat Rainey in the German grand prix it was the first win for Schwantz this season but Rainey with three victories in five races so far this year leads big on Points. He has 94 to 67 for Schwantz. The next round is the austrian grand prix at the Salzburg ring on sunday. Does Rainey every think about leaving this highly dangerous sport and doing something else Quot not yet Quot he said Quot in fact i Don t feel that i m at my Peak yet. I think i la be at my Best next year. I still have two years on my contract with Kenny Robert Sand at the end of it i May continue. It All depends on How things Are and also if i still enjoy racing. Right now i enjoy it  Rainey is a highly popular rider on the grand prix Trail. He does t mind the Fame in the least. Quot in Europe i m recognized everywhere. On the Street in the bars and restaurants Quot he said. Quot it s great. But in the United states i m not Well known. Cycle racing in the states is 10 years behind the european scene but it helped get me where i am today so i m not  Many american riders Fly Back to the United states Between races but Rainey and his wife Shae remain in Europe to do All of the touring they can. Quot we love visiting the different countries and we like the food and the whole european scene Quot Rainey said. Quot once a race is Over i drive our motor Home to the next track in the next country and we enjoy everything along the Way. Quot i like driving the motor Home and we love life on the Road. It helps me unwind. And my wife does a great Job of navigating. We really have a Good time Over  californian Wayne Rainey mounts up before the . Riders set the Pete by Randy Barnett motor sports editor the 1 990 world championship motorcycle season is fully under Way and the racing is close and hard fought As usual. American domination has been the Rule in the 500cc class for Many years and it continues this season with Wayne Rainey of Downey Calif leading the pack. But it s also the Rule so far this above motorcycle racers wind through the curb urging course. At right american John Kocinski who Heads the 250cc class. Season in the 250cc class led by John Kocinski of Little Rock Ark. Kocinski who rides for the Roberts Marlboro Yamaha team has won three of his five 250cc outings so far this season. He s ahead of the Spanish rider Carlos card us of Spain by seven Points going into sunday s austrian grand prix at Salzburg. A protege of three time world Champion Kenny Roberts of Modesto calif., Young Kocinski is being groomed for the top 500cc class. Says Roberts of Kocinski Quot the immediate goal is for John to win the 250cc title learn All of the circuits this year and gain More knowledge of rat ing. But the 250cc championship itself will be just a Side effect. As soon As he s physically Strong enough hell go into Soock racing. But he s not ready  while Kocinski s feats have won the most attention in 250cc racing this season injuries have provided the headlines in the top class 500cc division. The Quot injury Story Quot started on the april 8 weekend during the second round of the world championship. This was the . Grand prix at l Aguna Seca circuit near Monterey calif., where four riders were injured in Falls. The injuries have continued right through the last round a the German grand prix on May 27. Rider injuries in 500cc racing have been so frequent and so severe that the International motorcycle federation f1m was prompted to propose increasing minimum weight limits and restricting fuel and there continued on Page 8 june 7, 1990 stripes Magazine