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/126402
DAYTONA '79================= . (Above) Anton Mang leads Gennady Luibimski. They finished 4-5. (Below) Randy Mamola 1391 has a good start. as do Freddie Spencer (8) and Rusty Sharp (72). (Continued / Tom pag e 14) said Baldwin with a smile. "one lap wasn't what I had in mind." Double World Champion Kork Ballington's ride d idn't last ' long either. A problem in the engine's water-cooling was d iscovered in th e pre· ra ce practice session and th e engine was rebuilt . Unfortunately, th e problem appeared again immedi a tely leaving Ballington high and dry after four laps - plus a long walk back to the Kawasaki pits . While all this was , going on , Mamola , Spencer and Aksland - in any order you would like to pick began their three rider ballet. The trio played swap and swap again with the lead and by the end of 12 la ps there -had been 21 changes and they were a long distance ahead of Mang and Gennady Liubimski on the Harry Hunt-sponsored Yamaha. The trio became a pair on lap 18 although Mamola had lost most of the use of his front brake starting on lap 15. To compound matters, an oil leak sprayed his foot enough to make it hard to keep on th e peg. Mamola dropped dramaticall y off the pace lea ving Spencer and Aksland to run the remaining eigh t la ps as a fou r, wheeled shadow. Three more times th e lead cha nge d hands before Aksland put t he winner's g rasp on it - although even he wasn't sure until th e checkered flag waved . On the final lap Aksla nd led across th e start /finish line by th e slimmest of margins; Aksland then drew ou t five bikelengths in the horsesho e, wh ich had proved to be Spencer's weak po int all day. Sweeping through traffic, Spencer closed the gap and remained close ' as th e pair hit th e banking. Going into the chicane , it was anybody's ballgame . Two lengths separated the pair as they thundered (buzzed?) around the turn four banking and onto the front straight. Could Spencer use the draft for ' a slingshot at the line? It was close . Meanwhile , Mang was beginning to reel in Marnola at an alarming rate and onl y the end of th e race saved Mamola. 1 While the center of attention w~re Aksland lIeft) is joined by Lynn Griffis 'a nd Kel Carruthers. the first three riders , there was a lot of action in the back of the pack with plenty of scrambling going on for a spot in the top 10. Only the top 10 riders remained unlapped in Aksland's ride t ha t averaged 102.119 mph . • ) I Results )' t 1. Skip Aksland (Yam); 2. Freddi e Spencer (Yam); 3. Randy Mamola (Yaml; 4. Anto Mang (Kaw ); 5. Gennady liubimski (Yam); 6. Rusty Sharp (Yaml; 7. Eddie Lawson (Yam); 8. Tommy Byars (Yam); 9. Hal Coleman (Yam); 10, Barry W oodland (Yam); 11, John Long (Yam); 12. J oey Dunlop (Yaml ; 13. Dan War ren iYam); 14. Nicholas Rich ich i (VarnI: 15. David Garoune (Yam); 16. Hans Muell er"IYam ); 17. Scon Shinn (Yam); 18. Pierre Beultac (Yam); 19. Jimmy Arnold (Yam); 20. Harry Kl nzmann (Y i aml. Time: 59 min., 7.17 sec . A_age Speed : 102.119 mph , 23