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/125819
CD • I ... ... r- ei> M :> :; ..., ~ W Z W ..I ("l >- ("l Photos by Dan Mahony GARDENA, CAL., July 22 - Anytime Dave Aldana is on the track or in the pits, you wonder what he is going to do next. At Casde Rock, Walhington, he jumped off the side of the course in practice and then crashed in time trials. At the San Jose Mile he received his trophy for winning the "Trophy Final" from pro·foothaller Ben Davidson while standing on the seat of his Norton. The 12th annual Ascot National TT is now history and Dave 'J\.ldana is again written into the racing history books. In typical Aldana sryle it had a lot of flare, and he became the first Norton rider to ever win a National dirt track event. Aldana became the twelfth rider in thirteen national races this y~ to snare off a National victory. It did not come easy. It was billed as. a "must" win for Gary Scott if be was to keep pace with Kenny Roberts in the Grand National tide chase. Scott knew it and charged to the front from the flag. Aldana was right on his rear wbeel and the two soon opened up a big gap on Kenny Roberts who was running a lonesome third place. The two rider Triumpb vs. N orton duel wen t lap after lap and comer after comer on the toughest T.T. track in America. Aldana was riding the smartest race of his career, not trying to win it on every comer of every lap, but letting Scott set the early pace and waiting for an opening. Scott was in command through the first 16 laps. But from lap 13 on it was obvious that one of the two machines was developing an engine problem but .the two were running so close that it was difficult to tell which one. It was soon eViden t that Scott was having trouble. A blown oil line had covered his rear wheel with slime, and the Triumph slowed considerably. Aldana shot into the lead as Scott dropped way . bac k. Even with a sick engine, Gary had built up enough of a lead over Roberts to hold second un til he dropped au t on lap 22. Kenny then moved up to take second for the second week in a row in a National TT event and again stretch the point gap over Scott, who has now had two straight TT's in the bag only to lose them aue to fall downs or mechanical troubles. Terry Dorsch was off to a good start and was a solid third at the fmish. A big battle developed behind Dorsch for fourth, however. The cast included rookie Scott Brelsford, 'John HateJey, Dick Mann, Gene Romero and Mert LawwilJ. Behind them was another duel· between Tom Rockwood, Jim Rice, Eddie Mulder and Jimmy Odom. Brelsford had bardy squeeked into the fmal, placing second in one of the two Semi Main events that only took two riders to the Feature. An excellent first lap in the fmal found him weD up inside the first ten. Hateley was a solid eighth in the first five laps but missed tum two and dropped nearly to last place. From them on it was a come·from-behind effort for the former Houston winner. By lap 10 be was back up to twelfth, on lap 15 he was eighth again. By lap 20 John was sixth, but the laps ran out and it earned him a fifth place finish, behind Brelsford. Mann and ROIpero. went at it most of the way and waged a fine two rider duel for the number six spot, that went to the last lap. Dick grabbed it and again made another climb towards the top in the national standings. Rockwood caught and passed both Rice and Mulder early in the race, but ignition troubles set in later and Rice repassed him. Tom held off a late bid by Mulder to bold down tenth. Jimmy Odom got going late in the race but failed to catcb Mulder at the finish. The finish, by the· way, was the bottest item of the night. Aldana pulled in ·and his Norton immediately caught on fire! Pit men came IllJnning from all directions, as they usually do, but failed David doubles at Ascot, Two wins in two nights. Victory bubbles. gold and giggles. Oa... Aldana enjoys the fTUits of his first Netional win this season.