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/126044
-11 .II , ~ W /ERA Divisional t at Texas World .- By Steve Ueckert COLLEGE STATION, TX.,APR. 24-25 Sun, fun, cycles and that good ole southern hospitality captivated the crowd and the racers at the W{ERA Divisional event at College Station. Texas World Speedway welcomed high caliber cyclists such as James Vialovos who trailered 1500 miles from Fontana, California and Dave Phelps of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Both bikers were" pleased with the high banks of the speedway and the high spirits of all the competitors here in the Lone Star State. Ross Cadion of Tulsa, Oklahoma expressed the sentiments of nearly all when he said, "This place has the nicest people in the world. We all came out for a good time and this is what improves racing." Speaking of the track itself, Cadion said, "The banks are unique, the lust time through they'll scare the hell out of you; hut then you come to realize that you just keep the power on coming off the long straight and power through the banked curve." • The finals run on Sunday were a classic example of good timing as every . race was nin on schedule and the fans had non-stop racing action with ten separate, ten lap events. In - the Open division, the victors were: Grand Prix, Tommy Byars; Cafe, Greg Bauer; and Production, John Miick. 500 Grand Prix was taken by Expert Dane Stewart; 250 Grand Prix by Expert Freddy Spencer and 200 Grand Prix by Expert Bubba Byars. _ The cornering was tight and the straights were just out of sight. The teal difference between this race and last one here four weeks ago was the track condition. This clean, dry track allowed the better riders and bikes to use that certain edge experience provides. • to a: Ul :! u Ul :l Ul Gi liiL ..,..- PC;>0vey (96), Labrie (65) and Eklund (74) seconds before Labrie ate it. Eklund rebounds at Downs By Dave Nielsen ' COLLEYVILLE, TEX., APRIL I I Californian Steve Eklund, after driving his K&L Supply Yamaha to fast time at the previous night's National short track at Texas .. 44 ....L_ _ --.Ce- -"-_...j Te?Cas World Speedway hosted W!ERA's road race wrecking crew. 410 Production slips their clutches and rolls away. ~. Stadium only to get off in the Main Event, kept up his devastating tempo today at Ross Downs, riding with the ultimate of precision, every move calculated to win. And win he did, made easier when Floridian Billy Labrie dropped his Yamaha in front of everybody in the Main. After an evening of snores resulting from boredom and frustration at the above mentioned National, both racers and fans were hungry for some real get down action. Enter Ross Downs, with a perfect Sunday afternoon, huge crowd, and I I 7 entries from allover, around twice the riders attempting Texas . Stadium. Ken Roberts and Gary Scott were on hand, but didn't ride. I guess when one gets up in ' the rarified atmosphere of National number one or two, he becomes more than just a man who loves to race. Besides, the event carried no points and ran for a "piddling" $I ,600. And what a disgrace should he not win. Due to the overwhelming entries, referee Ronnie Hutchens split the program, Novices having their own events, followed by ' combined Junior/Expert rounds. Despite many non-local riders, Dallas-Fort Worth area racers dominated the Novice action on their home track, with Bultaco Unlimited's Mike Green winning his second Main Event of the weekend, backing up his first at the Will Rogers Barn Friday night. Banging wheels all -'-- the way for second in the Novice Main were Shon Stovall (Yam) and Rusty Patillo (Bul), with Rusty mere inches ahead at the white line, and Tony Faircloth (Yam) a solid fourth. Green also picked up a DT tire for his work, donated by Big K Kawasaki. In the Junior/Expert Semis, the true grit of the day began to emerge as the dollars started ringing up at the finish line. Eklund wasted no time putting away 'Dome ST winner Bubba Rush (Bul), Okie Tim Cartwright (Bul), and fellow west -coaster John Gleason (Bul) in the first Semi, while Semi two brought the crowd to a fever pitch. Local favorite Terry Poovey, his Astro ' down sick, was out on an Ivan Angott Yamaha, and up against Billy Labrie. ' Poovey got by Bret Braddy (Yam) into second and closed on Labrie, but the pride of Florida held off the attack. Labrie nearly bought it after taking the white flag, hitting . a ripple diving for turn one that threw him nearly off. Terry backed off for an instant, Billy saved it, and it was over. Afterward, Poovey sought out Labrie to "Ji congratulate him and , check out his fIOO autographs on the left side of Billy's lqcp; bike and leathers. M The Main started cleanly, and Labrie, Ibil Eklund, Rush, and Poovey screamed .0,:>2 down the back straight looking for the )L:~ lead. Rounding turn four, Labrie I'IOT1 grabbed a little too much and lowsided, " 011 skidding along the front straight quite a way while- the pack zoomed by, Eklund now at the point. Rush hung close a couple of laps more, but Steve Eklund was simply too much, he had it wired if nothing broke. Meanwhile, Poovey's bike began slowly disintegrating its internals, and was passed lust by Cartwright and then by Hank Scott's Shell Yamaha. Mike Kidd was running well in sixth until the halfway mark, when his Yammer seized and he pulled in. After Phil Dyson waved the checkers for Eklund, Steve finally broke from his pure business-like manner and surgical Springsteen, Kidd. Scott, McClure and Rawls roar down the line. '~