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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126429
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In the first 250 Pro moto, Mike
Tripes (Esc), back from a broken
collarbone, planted himself in the lead
for a coupIe of laps before the heat
and pace began to take their toll. He
faded back to an eventual sixth.
Alan Smith (Hus) gladly took
Tripes' place and led until the halfway
point of 'the moto when Robert
Reisinger (Kaw) flew by him off the.
first jump on the downhill.
Reisinger took it all the way from
there fol1owed by Smith, Chuck
Pettigrew (Mai) and Mark Page (Esc).
Smith led the entire second moto to
pick up the win, but the race proved to
be one of the best of the day and a real
nail-biter for Smith.
Reisinger dogged him for the flTSt
six laps until he fel1 over in a turn. It
didn't appear that he'd be able to
catch Smith who was motoring along,
swiftly and smoothly.
By lap i2, however, Smith's pace
slowed considerably and as he exited a
turn, he shouted, "Flat tire!" to his
father.
He limped along as quickly as he
could, though, hoping the rear tire
wouldn't come completely off the rim.
Reisinger, of course, gained on him
with each tick of the clock.
On the last lap, the tire was so flat it
spun on the rim whenever power was
applied and the bike wanted to swap
from side to side.
Nevertheless, Smith coaxed it up the
hill for the last time and gassed it
down as fast as he dared - Reisinger
was now within striking distance.
As they came off the dropoff and
headed for the fmal berm, Smith held
a slight advantage over Reisinger.
Both Smith and Reisinger had to go
for it now. Reisinger ducked to the
inside of the turn while Smith turned it
on and hit the berm, praying that his
tire would hold just a little longer.
Smith's strategy worked and he
'crossed the finish line less than a
wheel's length ahead of Reisinger.
They were trailed by Pettigrew, Tripes
and Mike Dickherber (Suz).
In a smal1 l25cc Pro class, Gary
Ogden (FMF/Hon) led the first part of
the race until getting zapped by Jim
Cooke (Kaw) on the ledge on lap six.
Cooke dropped it in a slick turn a
couple laps later, though, and handed
the win to Ogden. Finishing a strong
closing second was Bryon Antonacci
(Yam) who carved through the pack
after a dismal start. Vanya Samarin
(Suz) and Paul Thede (SOP) followed
them in.
Moto two saw Ogden being
bothered by Tripes: With Ogden
clinging to the inside of every tum,
Tripes fmally found a way past on the
ledge on lap six. The heat also got to
Ogden and he dropped back to be
credited with fifth at the e.nd.
Tripes looked like a sure moto
winner until his carb fell off on the last
lap. He hursed it to the finish behind
winner Antonacci and Thede 'with
Samarin fourth.
Results
MINt JR: 1. Aron Bokor twovl; 2. Brad Terhortoo
(Suzl.
MINtINT: 1. Charlie Taylor (Suzl.
100 JR: 1. Marty Stone ISuzl; 2. Hank Erter ISuz); 3.
Jerry Ilaotarache ISUll.
OI'EN f'flO: 1, Steve Rhyan IMail; 2. Chip Howeit
IHusl; 3. Mike Niccum (TNn.
OPEN INT: 1. Jim Odie ISuzl; 2. Gerald CarlOV tHusl;
3. Randy Norman IVaml.
OPEN JR: 1. :Tim Daily (HUll; 2. Vincent de Luca
(Suz); 3. Stephen Vincurel