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/125809
by Art Loya Photos by Dan Mahony SOUTH GATE, CAL., Nov. 2, 1972 Would you believe that Gary Wells, the 15-year-old youngster who broke Evel Knievel's indoor record by jumping 15-cars, won the 250 FT Main event at Trojan Speedway Thursday night? And 20-year-old Gary Davis, who is the half of the double·jump k,ings, . (Rex BlackweU·Gary Davis), finished fourth and fifth respectively in the 250 TT and FT Mains? On the first lap of the 250 TT Main, Jamey Blunt (ass) surged to the front of the 12-rider field and was hard pressed by Dan Corbe.lt (Bul) and Wells (Bul). Before the first lap was even completed, a three-way battle for the lead started to develop as Wells moved ahead of Corbett to take. second. Defending champion, Rick Goade (Bul), making a slow start in seventh~position, picked off two positions by .the third lap in getting by Jim Yester (Bul), and Davis (Bul). Wells, making it most uncomfortable for Blunt, and at times forcil)g Blun t to make mistakes while recovering frorr those tight. comers, looked for a brief few laps like a winner from his second position, but on the fifth lap, spilled as his mount's fron t wheel went unde~ him as he attempted to cut a comer while trying to get under Blunt. Getting up more disgusted than hurt, Wells, waJked away to get set for his rematch with the sensationaJ Blunt who has been scorching the fIfth-mile clay bullring. Holding on to finish second was Corbett who was pushed by a fast closing Goade in finishing third ahead of Davis, Leon Desimone (Yam), Yester, Bill Adargo (Bul), and Chuck Hatcher (Mon). The 250 FT Main had aJl the makings of th'ose movie-script ·two-rider duels as . Wells got the· jump on Blunt and the field with Corbett, Goade, Davis, and the "Super Mex" Brian Garcia chasing the leaders. On the second lap, Jeff Wiles (Yam), spilled, but waJked away unharmed. Blunt, this time doing the chasing, turned this affair into a trophy dash sprint race as he pushed Wells into performing his very best. Undaunted by the best Blunt had to offer, WeUs, who was competing here for only the second time in over two years, made it look > o Z Ul ~ W Z W .J U >- U Jamey Blunt 141 on his way to the 250 TT win while Gary Wells attempts to switch bikes. Photos by Dan Mahoney. easy as the crowd wen t wild pu!lmg tor and then some in le.ading every lap to even t. the visiting rider. Masterfully, with cool the checkered flag finishing ahead of Robert Murray (Kaw), kept on his assured professionaJism, Wells, who had Byars, Rick Anderson (Hon), Allen winning ways in winning the 100 FT just finished an East Coast-Canada tour Swett (Hon), and Tim Melancon (Yam). Main over Mining, and Richard Shook that netted the Phoenix ace the sum of In a restart of·the 125 FT Turner was (Yam). $93,000 in two and a haJf months, caught taking a nap at the starting line In earlier action, Wells came through chaJked his first career win at Trojan. as the field was off-and-away before wi·th a stunning win in the 250 FT Blunt, with an equaJly fine performance Turner decided to put it on. With Doty Trophy Dash over Blunt, and Jim making every move count, giving WeUs off to the races, Turner moved from Schnell (Ossa). Stacey Berry (Yarn)' in no margin for error, finished second seventh to fourth by the.end of the first his most popular win of his young ahead of Goade. lap, to third on the second lap, and career in defeating Turner, and Doty, in Elbert Turner (Yam), and Tom Doty second by the fifth lap. Two more laps, the 125 TT Trophy Dash, looked the (Hon), continued to dominate the 125 and Turner was pouring on the heat to part of a rider to be reckoned with in TT and FT Main events. Tum.er, pushed Doty, but was unable to overhaul the the near future, but at the same time, if all the way by Bob Byars (Hon), hard-riding bike jockey in the remainder Berry is going to be a winner, he better displayed ali his potentiaJ in keeping of the distance. Third was Anderson get used to trophy girls. followed by AI Glover (Yam). Look for the return of both Wells and Byars at the tail-end of his exhaust pipe for 10-exciting laps. Counter-matching 100 TT wins went to Byars (Hon Davis in the next two or three weeks. every move by Byars to take the lead, Senior class), and Mike Mining (Yam They liked the oval so much that they Turner pulled a few tricks of his own Junior class) in finishing 1-2 in this would like another shot at it soon. •*• ** ** ***• • * ** * * .JIM FISHBACK'Sh : Yama : ,. a & .,. ,. ..,. Triumph . : of Fontana : ,. ,. Sales Parts Sen;ce ,. : ,. ,. ,. in YANNUYS = 1l ,. il DKW,®HODKA, BMW 9008 Sierra f>:.ve . • Fontana, Calif. (714) 822-2252 : CYCLE CARE PRODUCTS Open 7 days Mon/Thurs. 9-9 fa ~'IJ::l!" Fri. till 6, Sat. 7-5, Sun 7-2 14813 Oxnard St. 91401 ,. 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