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/126425
IAbove) Misa Winston, Lynn Griffis, winner Mike Kidd and third-placer Garth Brow smile in the winner's circle. (Top right) Brow 115) was third; Gary Scott took fifth.IAbove rijlhtl The winner, on his way. AMA Grand National Championship/Winston Pro Series - Round 1 Kidd, Eklund -& Brow 1-2-3 Topek By Gary Van Voorhis TOPEKA, KS. AUG. 17 Mike Kidd, despite a failing engine, scored his second National win of the season as he hung on to win the Winston Pro Series Shoei Helmets Topeka Half Mile at the Sunflower State Expo Fairgrounds. tinued_ "There's always a bit of luck Behind Kidd and his Storme Winter tuned, U.S_ Army/H-D/ MXLI Arai Helmets sponsored Harley-Davidson XR750 at the 10 checkered flag were Steve Eklund and Garth Brow. Eklund closed on Kidd in the final laps. but ran out of time. Brow. after losing the lead and then second place. wasn't about to give up any more places. At the checkered flag. the Klotz/Wiseco sponsored rider held a safe third. "If the race had been two laps longer, it probably would have been a different story," said Kidd afterwards. "We were very lucky," agreed tun.er Winter. "That's racing." he cpn- involved." For defending champ Jay Springsteen the luck. was mostly bad. His 11th place finish coupled with Eklund's second opened the points spread back up to give Eklund a 40point cushion with only seven events remaining. "What can 1 say?" said Springsteen with a shrug. "I was running on one cylinder for the first half of the race. Add that to too much air pressure in the rear tire which made it very hard to hook up. and you've got problems." "We obviously made a mistake," said Springer'S tuner Bill Werner. "Sure, it's a bummer, but we've got to forget about it and think about what's ahead. .. '~1) 'Y j ~ f J I J J 11 I I I Track preparation wizard Harold Murrel had come up with a tackysurfaced half mile which reminded riders of Ascot. However, there were plenty of skeptics - including Murre! - who thought the track might not tum out good even with the extensive work put into it. TIme Trials Randy Goss seems to relish racing on narrow, tacky grooves. To prove it, he cut a 25.120 second qualifying lap to led the 52-rider field. Ganh Brow, with Jimmy Clarke now doing his tuning. qualified a tick behind. followed by Hank Scon. Springsteen and Terry Poovey. aboard Doug Sehl's monoshock XR. Heats The first heat did not disprove the narrow groove prediction of many present as Poovey hooked up. ran off and hid. Jackie Mitchell moved quickly into second while Brad Hurst went to the high line in an attempt to go around Mitchell and succeeded in losing two spots. Randy Goss jumped on Hurst's mistake for the final transfer. Heat two saw Garth Brow turn ill a disappearing act as Eklund and Rick Graham moved in behind. Graham then lost a duel for third with Scott Pearson and the top three were set. Heat three proved beyond a doubt that there actually was a high line waiting to be- used. Corky Keener, running mid-groove, appeared to have the win wired until a broken condenser bracket on lap four spoiled his evening. . Meanwhile, Scott Parker had been working the high line in an attempt to move from last place. It worked so well he was in contention for the lead with Gary Scott and RonnieJones. Three laps from the end Parker broke his chain adjuster and spit the chain off. Hank Scott put his XR ahead of Jones' R&B H-D of Racine, Wisconsin, sponsored XR for second at the flag. Mike Kidd watched heat three and put info learned to work in a green light to checkered flag win in the fourth and final heat. Harley factory rider Springsteen and Billy Labrie. aboard the Mother F1etcher's/O'Brien Flowmetrics/ Henter Engineering Harley, could do little but follow. Kidd's heat was the fastest of the night and the Army-sponsored rider had the pale.posttion for the National.. . .• ••