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
paid you back for zapping me at Du~oin Ia.st week." "I guess I'n just have to grit my teeth a little harder DeSt time and keep you in your place," saidJay to Ted. With Steve Eklund finishing founh, the championship points battle narrowed to a five-point spread in Eltlund's favor, 225-220 over Springsteen. It could, however, have been much different if Eklund hadn't had ~ extraordinary good fortune. Eklund, founh alternate for the semis after crashing in his beat and finishing 11 th, found his way to tbe semi after six riders scratched from tbe program. Although allegations were made of monetary inducements being offered to the ridrrs to scratch, the incident was dropped for lack of supponing evidence. TImetri.1s The Peoria M.e. track, with its spongy hase rutted up in spots from the pounding of the bikes, led many riders to say that it was rougher than usual. However, good weather in direct contrast to the usual oppressive neat and humidity more than made up for the minor problems. Rookie of the Year contender Eddie Lawson put his Yamaha into the fast time slot with a respectable but not record shattering 28.615 seconds time. A trio of Triumphs ridden by Chuck Joyner, Gary Scott and Hank Scott followed with Yamaha· mounted Steve Eklund rounding out the top five. The fastest Harley-Davidson clocking went to Springsteen in eighth. Heats Chuck Joyner, jubilant on his victory lap, captured his fourth Grand National IT at the Peoria M.e.-promoted event. AMA Grand National Championship/Camel Pro Series - Round 19 oyner's Peoria TT Triumph By Gary Van Voorhis PEORIA, IL, AUG. 6 "Nobody knows how badly I wanted to win this race," said the exhausted-but-happy Peoria TT winner Chuck Joyner. "I've been training for this event like a prize fighter since Castle 8 ~ock. I didn't come h.ere to finIsh second. But nothing would I have happened if it hadn't been for Randy Skiver who loaned me one of his Triumphs and Jim Messler who 'set it up. I owe a lot to them." Joyner remained unflappable under constant pressure from Jay Springsteen, then Ted Boody with Boody holding off Sprlnge~ for second place as the pair waited for Joyner to make a mistake that never came. "Now we're even," said Boody to Springsteen in the winner's circle. 'Tve Steve Eklund's lead evaporated in a cloud of dust after only one lap in the first heat. Eklund over· cooked it entering tum one and ended up in the hay bales. He was quickly up, but couldn't get baa into a transfer spot to the semis. Meanwhile, Lawson saw his chance at glory and put his Shell Racing Specialties Yamaha into the lead holding off Sonny Burres apd his Ria Sekne/Fun, Fun, Fun Triumph. Burres charged past on the ninth lap with Scott Pearson on the Harley. Davidson WestlCirde Bell Enterprises XR pushing Lawson to third on the last lap. Randy Skive_r soughr to put his IT expenise to use in beat twO as he set the pace for the first two laps until buddy Chuck Joyner blasted past as the pair exited the flDal tum before the front straight. Skiver and sponsor Jim Messler were glad to have two Triumphs headed for the National, but then Harley teamster Ted Boody and Triumph-mounted Davis Racing Specialties-sponsored Rick Hocking, staned knocking on the door. Boody got through to second with Skiver slamming the door on everyone else who wanted his spot in the National. The first lap of the crash·induced Testan in heat three belonged to Don Bailey with Alex Jorgensen and Mike Caves in close pursuit. Pole sitter Gary Scott never got past the initial lap of tbe first stan as his dutch fried itselL Bailey. on the Concord Yamaha/Lillie Racing Yamaha was finding tbe pressure from Jorgensen's Jorgy's of Stockton BSA a linle too much to handle. Bailey tben found himself just ahead of a full scale battle between Billy Schaeffer on the Team BeI·Ray/Schaeffer's H·D Harley and the Tex P~l Racing XR of Mike Caves. Caves got the final transfer. Hank Scott and Jay Springsteen battled for a soHd 10 laps i.n heat {our. Springsteen won in the final dash to the flag although it was dear that if Scott hadn't missed a shift on his'Davis Racing Specialties Triumph, Springer would have been second. Try as he might, Jay could not match Hank's drive off the comers. Randy Goss was a solid third throughout.