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/126004
his opinion of the track: "Whoeve~-ge ts a good start and keeps it on the pole (tight, low line) - that's the way it'll end up. The track is getting slower and slower, so tire pressure and gearing to some extent will be a major factor:' The National may have been won by Kidd inthe area between tums one and two on the opening lap as Beauchamp, followed by Sehl, got the jump off the line, but 'wen t high enough sweeping toward tum two to allow Kidd to slip underneath 'an d ge t a drive out of two down the back stretch. It was enough to carry him to victory. Gary Scott, from his "jam it in gear" rolling start on the third row, sliced through for a midpack position behind the freight train of Kidd, Beauchamp, Sehl, Sassaman, Springsteen, Keener and pole-sitter Gillespie. By lap five Scott moved into sixth with a lot of straightaway passes and some help from Keener who got ticked off the gro ove momentarily . Beauchamp, Sehl and Sassman played very · dose looking for a niche in one another's ·armor with Springsteen and Scott lurking very close behind. In another handful of laps Beauchamp opened a little breathing room on Selh and dosed somewhat on Kidd; Scott bumped Springsteen for fourth and Keener, Drake, Gillespie, Lawwill, Bostrom and the rest of the pack circled behind. Rush slowed from mechanical ' problems. Lawwill was working from a poor start, Bostrom had slipped off the groove somewhere, and Bill Eves wanns up for his drive to the Trophy race. tires, traction and traffic were plaguing everybody. Sassaman, in a move to go underneath Sehl in tum two on lap 13, apparently rammed Sehl's tire or pipes and highsided when his fron t wheel cocked, landing heavily and breaking his arm badly enough to sideline the rookie Expert for the remainder of the season. Scott then swooped Sehl for third and the front trio were set. Springsteen found his way around Sehl two laps later with Keener, Drake, Lawwil1, Gillespie and Bostrom behind. The top 10 were set. Th e Ias t laps played out in , rubberband fashion with . Beauchamp closing and Kidd stretching. It played in every comer, but Kidd held his ground, staying where he couldn 't be pushed off the groove. • Results NATIONAL HALF-MILE: 1. Mike Kldd (H-D). 2. Rex Beauchamp (H-D). 3. Gary Scott (H-D). 4. Jay Springsteen (H-D) . S. Dave Sohl (H-D). 6 • .Corky Kooner (H-D). 7• • Scott Drake (H-D). 8. Mort Lawwlll (H-D). 9. Frank G illesp ie (H-Ol. 10. PaUl Bostrom (H-D). 11. Guy McClure (H-D). 12. J im OsbOrne (H-D). 13. Bubba Rush (H-D). 14. Greg sassaman (H-D). TROPHV RACE: 1. Bill Eves (Trl ). 2 . Ed Wirth (H-D). 3. Dave A ldana \H-D). 4. Ken Roberts (Yam) . S. Rick Hock ng (Yam). 6. Steve Droste (H·O). 7. Gene Romero (varn!. 8. B ill SchaeNer (vamj' 9. J im Rawls (H-D • 10 . Sonny Burres (Yam . :.:: z UJ oJ al o al > , al III o t- O 1: 0. 7