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/126048
; _._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._.--_._._._._._._._._.-._._._._._._._._._._._. II Western hotline . ' ~ E 250 Junior Ted "Fast" F~as kicked his Suzuki into high gear and blasted his way to a new set of ABC leathers at CMC Jr/lnt day at Carlsbad. Was this the end of the Ascot half-mile? By Maureen Lee GARDENA, CAL., MAY 2 1 1£ Friday night's happening is indicative of rider feeling, the attempt to run half-mile racing under a CMC sanction apparently isn't going to work. 18 Only 19 riders showed up, five of whom were lightweights, and officials decided that running a race program was not feasible, so the races were cancelled. Several riders got out on the beautifully prepared track and practiced but eventually the track was cleared. The riders left, but the fans kept coming in, many looking obviously disappointed at the cancellation. TV's "Baretta n, Robert Blake was one who had come to watch. Why the boycott? We did some checking but couldn't get very far. Word has it that the Novices were upset , because they won't be getting their AMA transfer points. The thought of riding for m o ney apparently isn't what brings them to Ascot. Riders were also concerned that they might not know the guy lining up next to them at the start. Anyone with cash and a b ike co uld sign up and ride rega rd less of experience. That could be a point but we do u bt that t he CMC would allow suc h a dangerous 'pr actice. So me don't consider the CMC a professional organization. Some feel the AMA is the professional organization while the CMC is geared to kids and amateurs. Others didn't think they'd be better off financially and it's a fact that some didn 't read the advertising on the size of the purse. They did not see the 30% part. The CMC insurance is better than that carried by the AMA and the structure of purse payback seems much better. Ascot pe rsonnel we re u nderstandably upset. They had hoped to start a new program that would stop them losing money on th e bike races and do more for the individual riders at the same ti me . The wretched turn-ou t could have been a case of everyone watching to see what the other guy would do; there are a lo t of no n-pro fessio nal thinking riders who ride professionally. But a big thought on everyone's mind is that the Mike Bell. on a top secre t AMA in some way used some muscle on the riders, an d go t t hem turned off. Finally, one friend tackled outright said, "We l], it was the vibes, y'know? Jus t the vibes that it wouldn 't be too cool to ride Friday. No one really said any thing, y'know? But there we re lo ts of vib es . " This particu lar rider was one who had decided from the begin ning to stick with and ride Ascot regardless o f who was sanctioning the show. So now, according 'to one spokesman Friday night, there will be no half-mile racing at Ascot on a weekly basis. Perhaps the riders have hurt themselves. Th e Novices who don't have the mo ney 440 Honda, is still top 500 Pro at CMC Ascot. to shag [i.e, go on the road to the point paying AMA events] may find themselves without professional weekly racing. • - J ..!J Carlsbad gets the business' 'T By Mike Yada CARLSBAD, CAL., MAY 23 To the victors go ABC Leathers, Bell Motostars, jackets and various other hoopla; to the losers goes the self satisfaction of knowing where they stand in the ran ks o f the CMC Junior or Intermediate class. The Continental Motosport Club held another uno pros" race, awarding the top runners of the basic classes with prizes too tempting to pass up. An estimated 300 riders showed up for the day-long extravaganza, soaking in the usual amount of sunny Southern Cali fo rnia rays. Miller Mano had a good day by taking both the 125 Junior and Intermediate wins, but not after a race-lo ng final moto with a competitor inches away. Ti m Tolar (MM), Brian McNamara (Han), and Mike Raines (MM) were the favorites to win the final 125 Intermediate m o to , afte r two qualifying races b efo re h an d. Tolar's charge was ' st o pp ed short when he got off to a medi o cre start in the final, with Dave Burgess (Ho n) leading the p ack th rough the first few turns; teammate Mike Raines blasted by Burgess on his new Miller RM Suzuki, with Brian McNamara mere Knobbies behind the yellow screamer. ' Raines and McNamara continued their battle for the entire te n laps, with McNamara making many vain attempts at getting by . McNamara's final last lap charge was cut off by Raines, who held the wick open