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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125666
~ ~ Cl. ~ RAYBORN WINS IN LIGHTWEIGHTS " Kent Falls To Grant's Suzu • (Continued from Peee 15) t.:l ~ KENT, WASH, Apr1l4, 1970- Yamaha's five and one-half years dominance of U Ughtwelght road racing competition was :.. broken in the 100 mile natlonalchampionu ship event here Saturday, as Harley Davidson factory rider, Cal Rayborn, victoriously rode his 350Ccsingle across the flntsh line in one hour 14.28 minutes. Gary Nixon on a Yamaha 250cc twin was second and another Yamaha, ridden by Don Emde of Bonita Point, Calif 0' was third. Canadian road race specialist, Yvon DuHamel, was fourth. Nixon held the lead for the first couple of laps, but from that point on it was Rayborn'S race. Taking it easy on the last several laps, he still managed to beat Nixon to the finish line by nearly 25 seconds. ' The only mishap of the day occurred In the third lap, when Ron Pierce's Yamaha seized, and he unloaded. A gas line broke, and Suzuki rider, Jody Nichols, hit the Uquid, and lost control of his machine. Neither rider was seriously injured, although Pierce was brought back to the pits in an ambulance. Ron Grant, the winner of Sunday's big bike competition, was running strong, but dropped out with engine problems in the 15th lap. Grant sat beside the track and gave signals to Suzuki teammate, Art Baumann, who flntshed sixth. , After the race, Rayborn said that his new Harley was well suited to ,thlspartlcular course, 'except that he tended to run out of steam before the end of the main straight. He felt that the big machines braking and handling gave him the edge over the other two-stroke machines. But Harley'S most obvious advantage had to be that it was ridden by the Nation circuit's most skillful road racer. This year's AMA ruling allows any 360Cc bike, with the exception of twostroke twins, to compete in the lightweight division of road racing competition. Tom Clark, AMA director of Professional racing, said that he feels this ts a much needed change, the gap between the previously dominant two-stroke twins and the Industries other machines. t.:l -J Don Castro Is one of the upcoming young riders on the pro-raclng circuit. At 19 years old, Castro finished eighth at the Kent road race and Is eurrently fourth In the National point standings. MANN STILL LEADS NATIONAL POINTS RACE. ROMERO SECOND Following this weekend's 125 mile National Road Race the National points standings took a shift that moved road specialist Yvon DuHamel into third place behind leader Dick Mann and second place Gene Romero. 122 97 93 87 67 62 57 Dick Mann Gene Romero Yvon DuHamel Don Castro Geoff -Perry Walt Fulton Mert Lawwill The piston that was replaced In Bart Markel's Harley-Davidson between the first qualifying heat and the Main Event. Markel was also forced out of the US miles, when he developed engine troubles on the 14th lap. his lead to 30-40yardsand H-D'teammate, Bart Markel, had dropped out with a blown engine. Rayborn was still in the lead on the fourth lap, but lost a cylinder, coasting in for a second place finish behind Baumann. -2nd Qualifying Heat. Tom Rockwood powered his Yamaha into an early lead, followed closely by DuHamel and Romero. On the second lap Romero grabbed the lead, and Nicholas began to close the gaP. Jim Rice went down, but is uP and running with only a broken fairing. On the third lap Nicholas picked off Romero, and stretched out a lead of about 100 yards. Ron Grant got Romero in the final lap, for a second place finish behind Nicholas. ':"Ma1n Event - Fourth from the pole, Cal Rayborn, jumped to an early lead, followed by Grant and Romero . At the end of only one lap, Rayborn had a lead of nearly 50 yards, Ron Pierce, op. a Yamaha, pitted, but is back in the race. ' -Second Lap. Leaders remain Rayborn, Grant and Romero, followed by Baumann and Nicholas. -ThIrd Lap. Rayborn stretched out his lead over the same field. Yamaha mounted Keith Mashburn pulls into the pits, but is back in the race. At the end of the lap, Rayborn pits, changes plugs, and Is back In race. However, he only makes it a few hundred yards and pushes his bike to the pits. - Rayborn is out for the day. ":4th Lap. Grant is now the leader, folloWed by Romero, Baumann and Nicholas. ' -7th Lap. Baumann takes Romero, andAldanastarts to move uP through the pack. -8th Lap. Baumann starts his wheel to wheel battle with Grant. -11th Lap . Nicholas takes third from Romero. Aldana, Nixon and DuHamel are fighting for the number five spot. -14th LaP. Bart Markel, factory H-D, coasts to a stop on the grass in front of the announcer's booth. He's out for the duration. -17th Lap. Aldana starting to get pressured by Nixon and DuHamel. -20th Lap. Romero drops to seventh, and DuHamel passes Aldana for fourth, with Nixon sixth. Grant and , Baumann are still going at it. -22nd LaP. Baumann gets a ten yard lead, and Nixon aces out Aldana for fifth. -24th Lap. Baumann still has a sUght advantage over Grant, but third place Nicholas goes down and the rider advance. -25th Lap. Grant goes back in the lead, and Nixon takes third away from DuHamel. -26th Lap. Dave Smith makes the first gas stop of the day. -36th Lap. Leaders remain the same, and Aldana becomes the first of the front runners to pit. -40th Lap. Grant pits, and Baumann takes the lead, only to unload in the esses, He's stillfirst, but has lost some .time, DuHamel is second, Nixon third and Grant fourth. ' , -42nd Lap - Baumann down again and loses the lead to Nixon. -43rd Lap. Baumann pits and Grant is moving uP. -44th LaP. Nixon pits and Grant takes the lead. -Flntsh. Grant wins, with DuHamel second:" Nixon third, Aldana fourth and Baumann fifth. An estimated 18,000 people were on hand for the race, the biggest crowd to ever attend an event at Seattle International Raceway. Evel Kntevel was a major drawing card, but it's a sure bet that most spectators would have attended, Evel or no Knteve1. The car jumper from ,Montana powered his American Eagle over 18 automobiles, setting a new record. G .. a~:t PROFESSIONAL ,SAFETY HELMETS RIDE .WITH THE LEADERS • • FIRST WITH INSIDE PAINTING & FINISHING • FIRST IN PRODUCTION OF THERMOPLASTIC SAFETY HELMETS • THE FIRST "REBEL" FIRS:r WITH REMOVABLE CHIN STRAPS ASK FOR GRANT AT YOUR DEALER. THE FIRST"AMERICAN" ., ALL GRANT HELMETS EXCEED Z90.1 USASI STANDARDS • AMA GROUP I APPROVED • COMPLETELY AMERICAN MADE 20~o LIGHTER· PAINTED FROM INSIDE Gran t In d us t ries, Inc" 3680 Beve rly Blvd" Los Ange les , Co . 90004