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/125816
Vl ;: W Z w ....J U >- U It was this close on the last lap. Romero and Scott appear to be riding two up on a single machine as they head for the flag. ROMERO WINS THRILLER MILE In the early stages Beauchamp was dogged by Gillespie and Seh!. Kenny Roberts was dialed in during practice, but hi. engine broke just before the National started. by Tod Rafferty Photos by Buzz Baty SAN JOSE, CAL., July 1 - The track records feU lik.e Novices today on the resurfaced mile track at San Jose. The National 25-miler broke no record only because the previous even ts have been only 20 miles. The track was fast. Gary Scott, Eddie Mulder, Rex Beauchamp and Jim Rice all set new lap records in qualifying, with Mert Lawwill and Chuck Palmgren only milli-seconds off the pace. The first heat consumed considerable time and several riders, with minor spills necessi tating a few restarts. Mert Lawwill wen t wide trying to pass Gary Scott and went into the fence. Mert's Harley broke in half but he was okay. When Heat 1 fmaJJy happened it was Gary Scott all the way. followed by Dave Sehl, Terry Dorsch and Mark Williams in to the final. The time of 6:35.12 was a new 10-lap record. In Heat 2 Rex Beauchamp and Chuck Palmgren swapped spots up front at least ten times, with Dick Mann slipping in at the end to put Palmgrerrin third. Last transfer went to Jim Odom after a dandy dice with Scott Brelsford. In Heat 3 it was DeWayne Keeter and Kenny Roberts out fran t, followed by Gary Nixon, Dave Lawson and Tom Rockwood. Roberts was soon in front and stretching. Keeter ·held second as Lawson moved in to third and Nixon and Rockwood conducted a tight IUssle for fourth. On the last lap Nixon got by Lawson for third place. The final Heat saw Don Castro jump the field, only to get got by Cal Rayborn who stayed out front the rest of the way. Castro drifted off line a lap later, allowing Romero, Rice and Frank Gillespie to boogey on by. Rice took over second as Gillespie and Romero swapped positions steadily before finishing third and fourtl) respectively. The two. semis each moved the top two riders to the National. In the first it was Scott Brelsford and Eddie Wirth, and Don Castro and J ohn Hateley in the second. The second Semi was faster than any of the Heats, again setting a new 10-lap record at 6:33.23. . Dave Aldana won the consy, with Randy Scott second and Tad Sloan third. THE NATIONAL Kenny Roberts had just fired up his engine when it expired on the starting grid. Scratch one of the top favorites. Chuck Palmgren threw a chain on the start and was out of action. On the start it was Frank Gillespie with a great second row leap, taking the lead in tum two and in to the back straight. But Rex Beauchamp took it Continued 0;' next page Gary Nixon (9) and Tom Rockwood went at it in their Mat race.