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/126257
ITop) The 250 class starts the first moto. Ellis (19) and Furman Gray (503) are first in t o the corner. Ellis gets sideways and Gray takes the lead. Behind them are Chuck Sun (21). Steve Stackable (6).Tony DiStefano 111. Gaylon Mosier (13). Jeff Jennings (54). Kent Howerton (4). Marty Smith (9). Jim Pomeroy (102) and Paul Dayton (86). ILeftl Tony D's second overall boosted him in t o t he 250 series' points lead. barely ahead of Jim Pomeroy. IBelow) Bob Hannah scored 3-2 for the day. lost second place to Tony DiStefano by one poin t. to Jimmy on the starting line before moto two . "You' ve got to think the whole race and be in command of you rself on every lap if you want to win ." Jimmy followed the advice perfectly even though a fla t tire almost ruined his plans. Jimmy did in the National field once again , but this time the competition was prepared not to let Ellis get away. Gaylon Mosier held second place honors for the opening la ps until Pom eroy took over with DiStefano dropping Mosier to fourth . Hannah then blew by with Howerton (t he victim of a chain that popped off in moto one and extremely sore from his unscheduled meeting with a tree in last week 's Hangtown National) sixth followed by Smith, Sun, Da nny La Porte, Stackable and Boone. T he d rama started j ust past h a lfway wit h DiStefano charging a nd then pass ing Pomeroy for second as the field worked their way in the rapidly approaching d usk whi le a h aze of dust (The riders were un anim ou s in tha t they liked the track and just as united in voicing discouragement that inadequate preparations h ad been taken to cure the dusty conditions.). Ellis then began to slow with Tony D closing. Five laps from the end DiStefano blasted into the lead while Hannah dis patched Pomeroy for third and set his sights on Ellis, whose rear tire was now semi -flat and quickly letting the air out of jimmy's drive. With two laps to go Hannah took second from a Ellis while Pomeroy continued to slow with unexplained problems. Howerton then took fourth leaving Ellis to hold off Mosier to the flag. Streaked with sweat and grime, Jimmy Ellis slumped beside his bike after fin ishing third unaware th at it was enough to give him the overall victory. Jimmy listened with disbelieft as his father told him he had won. "No.1 couldn't have . . . could I?" Then a smile spread across his face . " I didn't think I would finish when t he tire went flat. The shocks turned blue , but didn't fade . T he shocks saved me for sure. Hey, it 's been a long time." the track . Taking advantage of a las t lap bobble by Englund, Clark too k the checkers by ten bike lengths. Former Minicycle National Cham pion Gene McCay put in a superb ride as did James Smith to finish third and fourth , respectively. McCay took the lead in the final moto with Cla rk taking it away before the completion of lap one. McCay then went out with mechanical ills as Englund slipped into second with Robert O wen on a privateer Maico in third and Pentonsponsored Sm ith fourth setting the positions to the flag. KTM rider Pat Snyder from the chilly state of Alaska , swooped Ga ry Casper and his St. Pet ers' Suzu ki for fifth five la ps from the finish to high light the top placing action. • Clark cooks ahead of shiftless Englund Resurts Terry Cla rk recovered from a firs t tu rn crash to come on strong and win the first Support class moto and the n swooped the entire field to give hi mse lf a perfect d ay to ta ke overall honors. Clark's first moto heroics were highlighted by a pitched five- lap batt le with Englund for the lead and the victory. At midpoint Englund had eased the lead away from James Smith while Clark was working in traffic . Clark then came on strong with the pair playing rubberband all over 250 NATIONAL: 1. Jimmy Ellis 1-3 (C·Al. 2. Tony DiSl efano 4-1 (SUl). 3. Bob Hannah 3·2IVa ml. 4. Jim Pomeroy 2-5I Honl. 5. MartY Smith 5-7 (Hon). 6. Chuck Sun 6-9IHus).7. Danny LaPor1al HI (Sull. 8. Mickey Boone 9-10 (Sull. 9. Stelle Staekable 7·13 (Maij. 10. Tommy Croft 12-11 (Hon!. 11. Kent Howerton 27-4 (Husl. 12. Gayton Mosier (Maij. 13. Rick Burgett 6-19 (Vam!. 14. Mickey Kessler13-1 6 (Monl. 15. Rich Eierstedt19-12IBull. 16. Martv Tripes (H-DI. 17. Rex Staten 15-18(H·DI. 18. Gary Semics (Kawl. 19, FrankStacy 14-0(Kawl. 19. John SovilSki ' ·15 (Suli• • Did not finish in top 20 SOOSUPPORT: 1. Terry Clark 1·1 IKawl . 2. Arlo Englund 2·2 IHusl. 3. James Smith 4-4 (Penl.4. Robert Owen 10-3(Mail. 5. Gary Casper 11-5 (Suli. 6. Bill Moyer 12-7 IMail. 7. GAry Shipley 15-8 IHusl. B. David Scrtssler 17·9 (Husl . 9. David Jones 19-12 IYaml. 10. Oennts Edm iston 13-19 (Suz). 7