Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125682
("J ~MASH8URN ~ ~ ;;? ~ "" C GARDENA, CALIF. July 17, 1970- First year Expert, Keith Mashburn, powered the first year Yam~ 650 to its first major one-half mUe victory Friday n1ght before a S.R.O. crowd on hand to watch the Nation's top Experts do baWefor the $4000 purse, toniglW beefed up for Yamaha International's "Yamaha Night." "I was' really confident," Mashburn said after the race. "I told all of my relatives to sk1p the National (TT race at Ascot the following night) and come out Friday because I was going to win." And win he did. Coming off the line and into the first corner, Mashburn was rWlning 'third behind Mert Lawwillin second place and the night's fast qualitier, Mel Lacher. But by the second lap, Lacher had been relegated to thlrd, and Lawwlll took over first, with the Yamaha factory rider, second. Gene Romero and Jim Odom were starting to wor~ their ;way up through the pack, and Lawwlll was WINS 'ASCO'T . For eight laps, Odom chased Mashburn aroWld the Ascot oval, very seldom more than a bike length behind. In the corners, Odom would close the gap and look as if he might pass. But in the straights the 20 year old from Santa Susana would leave the frustrated Odom in the dust. And that's the way it ended Friday night: Mashburn first, Odom second, Lacher third and Castro fourth. Romero probably would have figured in the f1naI results had not mechanical problems forced his retirement in the 11th laP. Mashburn totally credits his win to his new tuner, one of the best known in the business, Shell Thuet. The owner of Shell's Motors in Lynwood has aPParently created a masterpiece that was one of the, if not THE, most powerful machines on hand for the event (Unfortunately, Shell has not yet worked on Keith's TT bike, which W1doubtedly contributed to his poor showing at Saturday night's Keith Mashburn leads Mert Lawwi II and Gene Romero through Ascot's south turn. Mashburn went on to win the Expert Main and Lawwi II and Romero both retired with mechanical problems. - or in some cases, two - direct transley, emerged victorious in the Amateur go. Hateley managed to work his way up fers'to the Main from the heats. The remainder of the positions were fUledfrom from back in the pack for the win. All in all, it was a very good show for the Semis. the nearly 10,000 fans in attendance. And Kenny Roberts, very much at home at Ascot, socked it to the Novice field, for Keith Mashburn it was an even better after a brief tussle with track rival, show, as he deposited an even $1000 in Gary Scott. the bank first thing Monday morning. (Results on page 26) And another Ascot regular, John HateTrophy Dash winners Dave Aldana and Kenny Roberts receive their due.' holding, if not increasing, his lead. But on the fifth lap, it happened: Lawwill'S Harley-Davidson - as it has so many times this year - blew, and he coasted to a stop on the outside of the track. And that was just about all Mashburn needed. Romero briefly moved into second, but Odom wasn't having any of it and quickly displaced him on the seventh lap and went after the SPeedy Mashburn. Don Castro, after a poor start, was moving his way through the pack, but the real baWe was in front between Mashburn and Odom.' NationaI). Another highI1ght of the evening occurred in the second Expert heat race, when Dave Aldana, who had been given the third row for jumping the flag, was left at the starting line, when the starter failed to honor his raised hand. The crowd sOWldiy booed the action from the start W1til well after the end of the race. Aldana, apparently ired by the starter's action and his inab1l1ty to transfer to the Main or the semi, came back strong in the trophy dash, with an impressive and spectacular win over his three rivals. A large rider turnout allowed only one Roehr hos everyth i ng you need to moke your Yamaha 125-175 KING of the street or trail Read all about it in... Last minute adjustments are made in the Harley pits. Hoau ~PUMFREV- Mont.sa Gr.... s SALES - SERVICE - PARTS Export Speed Tunlnc Now in stock fGe) f31'''1 t~it 317 North Victory Boulevard Burbank, California 91502 Dunlop Trials Tires 2:15 x 21 and 4:00 x 11 Hard to find/limited quantity Hrs. 10-10 Mon.-Sat. 21819 Shennan Way, Cantga Park (213) 181-1&9& _BULTACO_ ow _ Motorcycles Rickman IIotlss. West.ilster Sport (rde Guy R. Louis (114) 193-1051 7,574 Westmlnst.r Ave.. W.stmlnster, Ca. * SACHS PENTON Walt Axthelm's Triumph-Suzuki Motors * 1049 West 5th St., Pomona, Calif. (114) &29-8&42 CZ OSSA MAICO