Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

Cycle News 1977 03 02

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/126249

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 6 of 47

I When the Nationa ls roll around , then you worry ." • Open : Lumberjack Rick beats the Bear As wit h the 125 and 250cc classes, the O pen cla ss was a lso a clea n sweep mo to win for a factory co ntracted rider. In this case it was Yamaha's . Rick Bu rgett ' who put together his second overall of the series. Don "Killer" Kudalski, with a big ha ndful of thrott le and a crash 'em , bash 'em style, blasted his way to the front of the pack in the first ' moto leaving the field ' strung out behind. Quickly, Burgett , who had been telling people " Yes, I think I'd like to win today," closed the gap on Kudalski and then passed for the - lead with Killer tailing on behind "and not letting Burgett pull too far away . Billy Grossi came up to join the fight and just as quickly slipped to the back of the pack . " It was a dumb crash. The brake adjuster had backed off and when I came up over the jump near the mechanics' area I was going to stop to have it adjusted. Somehow I bashed into the banking and the bike kept 'going across the track 'a nd out into the field, I guess it looked a bit fu nny to see me chasing after it. T hat fiasco ended ' my chances for a win in t he firs t m oto a lthough I pushed ha rd and finished fourth, " While Grossi was wor king his way b ack up , Jeff Jen nings was riding a solid thi rd with J oey Gratton right beh ind . Ku dalski didn't let - up h is pressure, but slipped back leaving Burgett comfortable breathing room ade even more so by Do n's stalling ut in a slow sandy section la te in the oro. Lapped riders didn't help udalski's disposition any either. Billy Grossi didn't wait around for anyone in the second moro, but Burgett was having none of th a t and closed the gap in two q uick laps .' The battle was on with the d uo going wheel to wheel for three laps whi le Burgett's tuner Larry Carpenter was having fits _ a nd flash ing pit signs saying "O vera ll OK" and "TH INK ." R ick apparently took the advice to heart a lthough Carpenter could be seen with a finger tapping his head as he displayed the pit board ("A subtle hint. ") on every lap from there on. Grossi slowed and then picked up the pace again near the end. I On the opening lap, Don Kudalski looked like he was out to pick himself up another top finish , but his plans came to a shocking halt. Or rather hs shocks did as they froze solid somewhere during the first lap. Killer luck again . Jeff Jennings kept on his hard work shadowing Grossi for a number of laps on his way to third and third overall behind Burgett and Grossi . ' . Headlights would have been appropriate during the closing laps of the Open class since the checkers fluttered just minutes before 6:30 to the rapidly disappearing ray s 'of -t he setting sun. • (Above) Chris Douthitt (436), Dave Taylor (45) and Furman Grey worked together closely, with Grey second 125, Taylor third. (Below) Competitioneye's view of a Hurricane, , Results 125 0 /A: 1. Danny laPorte 1-1 ISuz). 2. Furman Gray 34ISuzl. 3. David Taylor 2-5IVaml. 4. Mark Barnett 93 ISuzl. 5. James Fitzgerald 44l ISuzl . 6. Mike Gu""a 7-7 IHusl. 7. Broc Glover 16-2 (Vaml. B. Oolon Leak 6-9 . (Yaml. 9. Edward Cole 13-6 (Yam).10. Chris Douthi t 5t 14ISuz). . - 250 OVERALL: 1. Bob Hannah 1-' IVaml. 2. Tony DiStefano 2-2 ISuzi. 3. Steve Stackable 4-3 IMail. 4. J im Ellis 34 IC·AI. 5. John Sa vitski 6-5 (Suz). 6. Greg Robertson 5-10 lOss). 7. Marty Moates 11-6 lOss). B. Terry Clark 7·11 IKawl. 9. Rog er Brown 12-7 IPen). 10. Tony Summey 10-9 (Yaml . . OPEN OVERALL: 1. Rick Burgen 1-1 IVaml. 2. Billy - Grossi 4:2 ISuz). 3. Jeff Jennings 3-3 (Suz). 4 . Joey Gratton 5--5{Yam). 5. Pat Maron'ey 6-8 IH usl. 6. Johnny Boarders 8-7 ISuz!. 7. Harold Buckingham 144 (Yaml. 8. Karl Taylor " ·9 IVaml. 9. Don Kudalski 2-'ONF . IPen). '0. David Ellis 9-12 IVaml. 7

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's - Cycle News 1977 03 02