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/126326
(Above) Third-place Rick Hocking holds off Billy Schaeffer. (Below) Texan Mike Kidd rode to a fourth-place finish. ___ I Santa Fe S·hort Track I 'time," said Corky Keener about his easy win in heat five. Alex Jorgensen on his self·sponsored Can·Am found his second place ride to the National an easy one. The sixth heat saw Rick Hocking hold command of the event on his self· sponsored Yamaha over the Team BelRay Yamaha of Billy Schaeffer. The race was a two-part affair with a red flag break in the action. Steve Elo lost c,gntrol of his bike after getting a handlebar tangled with another rider. His bike cartwheeled down the front straight knocking down both Steve Morehead and Marty Bushman. Only Morehead made the restart as Elo was shaken up and Bushman made a trip to the hospital. semis The first semi was a c1asssic con· "frontation between H·D West/Circle Bell Enterprises Harley-Davidson rider Scott Pearson and the self-sponsored H.arley of Mike Kidd. For seven laps Pearson held off Kidd until Mike aecided it' was time to make his move. Kidd got a drive out of turn four, and that was all he needed to get his ticket to the National. fIr ( l , " , .. The final semi and the one spot still left up for grabs went to Mike Green who led the entire distance holding off both Eddie Lawson and Ted Boody. Trophy Race Eddie Lawson needed two starts and two holeshots to win the Trophy Race. On the initial start, it was Lawson putting his Shell Racing Specialties Yamaha out front until a crash brought out the red flag. It was Lawson again on the restart with Scott Pearson, Ted Boody and Ron Waldrop close behind. Pearson held his second spot until one lap from the finish when Boody stuffed his Harley under Scott in turn three and dropped him to. third. National "In this cool weather it will take a few laps for the tires to heat up," said Steve Eklund's tuner Tom Hasler as he played a welding torch over the rear tire. "This just might give us a little edge on the first lap." The ploy didn't work since there was a 20-minute wait for the start after the bikes were gridded. But the rear tire barbeque t !C~J. gave a lot of riders something to think about. Terry Poovey snatched the lead as the green light blinked. In the bumping and handlebar-rattling that followed, Hocking, Eklund, Cartwright and Keener sorted themselves into the next four spots. On the next go-around, Cartwright slipped off the groove losing about six spots. Billy Schaeffer moved into fifth with Springer making his presence known in sixth. He quickly moved to fifth on a slight bobble by Schaeffer. At about the same time, Eklund slipped around Hocking for second and moved to quickly close the gap Poovey had opened in the lad. Poovey began to feel the pressure, but wouldn't budge from his line or let Eklund know if he was bothering him. Their war covered every foot of the track and the crowd roared its approval of the close· quarters racing. On lap 13 the battle ended when Poovey's engine seized. "That's a hard way to lose," said a very disappointed Poovey as he loaded his bike into his van after the race. "1 worked hard and wanted that win." Springer continuing his move ._~t~~_( t 1 . through traffic, took advantage of Poovey's problem to move within bikelengths of Hocking's second place position. "Poovey blocked my line just long enough to let Jay close on me," said Hocking. "Without that bre.ak he never would have caught me." Mike Kidd also had been on the move, and on lap 15, he set his sights on removing Keener from fourth. He did so on the next lap with a bumpand-shove move that pushed Keener off the groove.. With Eklund out front, the attention in the remaining laps zeroed in on the Hocking/Springsteen duel for second. Springer chose lap 19 to power past Hocking as the pair exited turn fo",r. The positions remained the same to the checkered flag. • Results NATIONAL: 1. Ste.e Eklund IVam); 2. Jay Springsteen (H-D); 3. Rick Hocking (Vam); 4. Mike Kidd IH·D); 5. Corky Keener IH-D); 6. Don Gas. IKTM); 7. Rob Beary ISu7.); 8. William Sehaeff", (¥aml: 9. Alex Jorgensen IC-AI; 10. l8nce Jones IH-DI; 11. Rick Graham (Vam); 12. Mike G,een IYam); 13. TIm cartwright (Yaml; 14. Terry PooIl8VIBuIi. TROPHY DASH: 1. Eddie l.awIon (Yam); 2. Ted e__, IH·D); 3. Scott P88f",," (H-D); 4. Ron Waldrop (Bul); 5. Doug Ahn IVam); 6. Kenny McDoneld IC-A); 7. Steve Mor~ IYaml; 8. Chris Reitz (Yam); 9. Willie C,abbe IBull; 10. Rickey Campbell {Yaml. i ..... ~ .. 0-. t :1:.' ~. r. 7