Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1970's

(Continuedfrom page 9) Stacy on the new Moto-X Fox Team Yamaha. Marty Smith was forced to retire on the second lap when his multi-buck works RC sucked water and lost its crankshaft. Mike Bell was hampered back in the pack by an injured knee that kept popping from its socket. Tommy Croft had to have his hands cleaned so he could come to grips with his bike's handlebars. From the third lap on, the moto evolved into a two-way battle between LaPorte and Mickey Kessler. Mickey. partially supported by J&R Cycles of Farmington, New Jersey; and Yamaha International, passed Danny for the lead and began pulling it out. If he won the moto it would be good for the overall win , making him the first privateer to win an Open National. For nearly the entire race Mickey held his lead over Danny, then Mickey spilled it ... "I fell, and LaPorte got by me. I got back up and passed him back and then fell again," said Mickey. "It's about time I've done this well after five years of trying." Kessler followed LaPorte across the line by a scant five feet . By keeping Kessler from winning the moto, the day 's overall victory went to Yamaha's Rick Burgett with his 1·3 moto placings. '" wanted to do better the second rnoto," claimed Rickey, " but I crashed twice in the same place I fell the first moto ." And mechanic Bill West's secret for preparing a winning bike for the mud: "I got the bike really high so the back tire won't spin as easy. Also, tape up the airbox as much as possible to keep out water, allowing it to get just enough air to still run cleanly." • Results 250cc NATIONAL: 1. Kent Howerton 2·1 CSuzt, 2. Jim 81is Hi (Hon); 3. Jim Pomeroy 4-4 IHon); 4 . Greg Theiss 5-5 IHon); 5. Chuck Sun 3-9 (Hus); 6. David Boles So7CMai); 7. Scolll.ester 7-8; 8. Bob Hannah · ·2 (Yam); 9. Rich Eierstedt ··3 (C-Al; 10. David Perry 12-12 1Hon) 11. Dennis Brand 14-11 (Man; 12. Mike LoefIIe< ; 1()'17; 13. Piene Karsmak"" 6-. (Yam); 14 . Curt Arnspiger 19-10; 15. Chuck Bende< 15-15 (Yam); 16. Parry Klassen 9-. IMai); 17. Michael Holbert 16-16; 18. Marty Tripes 11-· CHon); 19 . Jay Clark 20-13 IYam); 20. Wayne Welzien 13-· IMai). • 500cc NATIONAL: 1. Rick Burgett 1-3 (Yam); 2. Mickey KessIe<3-2 (Yam); 3. Danny laPorte 12·1 CSuzl; 4. Denny Swartz lG-4 (Mai); 5. Frank Stacy 6-8 CYam); 6. Tommy Croft 4-11 CHon); 7. Mike Bell 5-10 IYam); 8. Steve Staekable 7·9IKaw); 9. Ken Adams 15-5; 10. Rex Staten 13-7 IYaml; 11. Marty Smith 2·· IHonl; 12. Frank Gallo 14-12 (KTM); 13. Martin Potoczyny 11-15; 14. Ross Williams .~ (Mai); 15. Tarty Clark So· (Mai); 16. Denell Shultz 9-. IMail;17. Joe Bennett 1So14;18. Russ Damholf · ·13 ; 19. Ray Ritchie · ·16 ; 20. Todd !!fake< 19-18IHusl. ·Denotes a placing utside the toP 20. UNOFRCIAl AMAIMR. PiBB 250cc NATIONAl CHAMPIONSHIP MX SERIES POINT STANDINGS : 1. Bob Hannah (410); 2. Jim Ellis 13011; 3. Chuck Sun (285); 4. Plene Karsmakers (266); 5. Jim Pomeroy C252J; 6. J im Weinert (210); 7 . Kent Howerton (203); 8. Rich Eietstedt (188); 9. John Savitski 11851; 10. G

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