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/126274
; ... 11II • ~ E J:"'o. J:"'o. (j') ,....c J:"'o. ,....c .... ~ So < ~ IAbovel Andre Massant won his fi rst overall victory in Grand Prix co mpet itio n. IRig htl W arren Reid put it t o the best in the world. and finished a powerful second overall . Massant wins Canadian 125 GFJ Warren Reid second By Casey Ciere ·MOSPORT , ONTARIO, CANADA JULY 24 Andre Massant took his factory OW-25 watercooled Yamaha to the overall victory at the Molson Diamond 125cc Canadian Grand Prix on the gruelling 1.1 mile motocross circuit at Mosport Park. The win was the first career Grand Prix victory for the pleasant Belgian who oft times is shadowed by his fellow countrymen. Warren Reid combined two great rides for second overall, the highest placing this year by an American in the 125 Grands Prix . Time trials proved that Yamaha had done their homework well as three of the top four riders were Yamaha mounted . Gerard Rond, winner of moto one last week at the U.S . Grand Prix , led with a very respectable 2:22 .5 , fol lowed by teammate Massant with 2:23 . Suzuki -mounted Gaston Rahier , who openly stated fastest qualifier meant nothing to him , fell into third with a 2:24 .3 . Surprise of qualifying was fourth fastest rider Alan Logue , riding for Yamaha Motor, in Canada, as he took his factory watercooler to a very surprising 2:26.4. The CZ team came next with Khudjakov and Churavy sitting about half a second off Logue's rear wheel. Top American was Warren Reid on his Jon Rosensriel-tuned Honda turning a very competitive seventh fast .time at 2:27.8 . Americans Jimmy Martin and Mike Jones posted times better than Velky or Rulev but were five to eight seconds off the pace. The gate tripped, and 31 of the world's finest shot up the steep start hill to the first corner. Two tight and gnarly uphills later, Churavy blasted into the lead over Mike Jones and Massant. Gaston Rahier was involved in a first turn bar banging contest and found himself on the ground. He remounted and put together a great charge toward the front runners. Rond was on the gas also, after the first lap Gerard was third but on the second time around he didn't show up on time, finally the Dutchman appeared back in the pack with a sore wrist but still had his Yamaha on the pipe. The third lap saw Jones sidelined with Honda gremlins and Rahier up to 12th and flying. Logue was sitting nicely in sixth when trouble hit him . It came on lap eight when the shifting problem from Saturday reared its ugly head to sting an otherwise strong effort. . Halfway through lap seven Massanr , knowing he had to do something or lose third place to Churavy in the overall World Championship, passed Jiri's CZ up the long uphill before the finish line and vaulted into the lead amid cheers from his Yamaha mechanics. Cheers, however , were short-lived as the chalkboards warned of invaders from the rear: Honda mounted Warren Reid and Suzuki charger Rahier were closing fast. Reid showed calm and aggression when necessary . He easily dispensed with Churavy and waited for a mistake from the front. In what had 'to be a calculated risk , young Warren charged after Massant but watched second place disappear from his grasp with only four laps to go. When he passed a lapped Czech rider while avoiding a crash, Reid was knocked down and lost three places. Gaston seemed unstoppable as he powered into second, nipping precious seconds from his fellow countryman's lead. Massant could only see checkers, however, and the thought of winning a GP can outdistance even the World Champ's desire on some days. Ra hier's bid fell three feet short. In third place was Reid, who after remounting, put in a fantastic ride to pull into third position. Warren was followed by Churavy and the fading Gerard Rond with his tweeked wrist. Pavel Rulev finished sixth. Thundering up the choppy start straight in the second moto were Mike Braden and a host of factory CZS. Down the next straightaway went Braden and his pursuers , Khudjakov, Reid, Massant , Churavy, Velky and Rulev. Gaston was back in the first corner picking up his bike. So began another epic struggle to get amongst the front runners. Jumping higher off the jumps than anyone except Kjudjakov and seeming to berserk it Bob Hannah style he made his way up through the pack . Mike Braden on his utterly stock Suzuki won both charges up the start hill only to be dead last both times at the end oflap. one. Khudjakov led Reid and Massant after one lap and immediately felt pressure from Reid. Halfway through lap two Andre Massant found trouble. Warren had taken his fire engine red Honda to the front and had a berserko Russian between himself and Massant. . Also coming from the rear was Rahier, seemingly possessed and out to prove his worth as World Champion. Massant tried a Reid trick by putting Khudjakov between himself and Rahier. But the next time around, Rahier and the RA I 25 Suzuki were sitting just 10 seconds off Andre's rear fender. If Rahier passed Massant the overall victory would belong to Reid. Lap eight rolled around and Massant had less than a two second lead on Rahier. Suddenly, Gaston pulled off. It was rumored that Gaston hurt his chest and couldn't continue. With the Championship wrapped up, others said it was a bit of team riding. Both Rahier and Massant are from Belgium. Little did it matter to Massant that Warren Reid was having the ride of his life leading a Grand Prix. When the two lap board came out Andre's smile grew bigger and broader. Warren Reid won a GP rnoto with a 22 second cushion but Massant won the war with help from Rahier. Massant was the overall winner followed by the elated Reid and a very subdued lookingJiri Churavy. Russian Pavel Rulev was fourth followed by Canadian Jorma Rautianen who fashioned two fine seventh place finishes for fifth overall. Massant was later heard to say he was not that fond of the track but was glad he came home the victor. The high temperatures all . week and the general outlay of the all sand track made watering near impossible. 250 Support Frank Stacy did it again. Stacy, who finished sixth in the International class of the USGP couldn't get a bike in time and decided to ride his Penton in the Support class . In attendance were last yea r's winner Bob Levy, Husky teammate Mike Boyle, up and comer Dan Lurtz along with New Yorker Chris Berg adding some extra spice. Frank won the first moto over a fast closing Bob Levy and a distant Chris . Berg on another Husky. This set the stage for a repeat meeting between Bob Levy and Stacy in which Stacy finished third last year. Stacy shot to the lead on the now familiar 167 Penton. Berg was second and Levy way back but charging. Levy seeming to charge on sheer desire and passed everyone to set out after Berg in second place with two laps to go, Stacy had a 45-plus second lead on the dog fight behind. Berg appearing haggard at best finally succumbed to his fate. Levy charged past and seemed a sure second place. However, he stepped off with a lap to go and gave Berg second overall. Levy managed to get going again in fourth which gave him third overall for the day. • Results 125cc International (mota 11 1. Andre Massant : (Yaml; 2. Gaston Rahier (Suz l; 3 . Warren Reid tHon ); 4. Jiri Churavy leZ); 5. Gerard Rand (Yam); 6. Pavel Rulev (ell ; 7. Jorma Rautiainen (Mail : 8. Jav Kimber (Yam); 9. Mike Mcintosh (Yam); 10. Dennis James ISuzl . t 2SCc International (moto 2): 1. War ren Reid (Hanl; 2. Andre Massant (Yam); J . Jurij Khudjakov (e ZI; 4. J iri ChurallY (CZl; 5. Pavel Rulev (CZ) ; 6. Zdenek Velky (CZI: 7. Janna Rautiainen (M ail; 8. M ike Mcintosh IYam); 9. Marc VanderBeken IHon); 10. Jay Kimber (Yaml. 250cc Support: 1. Frank Sta cy (Penl: 2. ChriS Berg IHusl; 3. Bob Levv IHusl; 4. Dan l urtz (Yam); 5. Christian Ethier IC-AI : 6. M ike Bayle IHusl; 7. Dan Fish (Ma i); 8. Pierre Couture IYam); 9. Gary Shipley IHusl;. 10, Pat SnyderIKTMI. 29