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/126430
run wide open and hope for a little good luck." With Eklund going to the semi, Springer had already had a little good luck. Morehead led the third heat as they charged into tum one and Springsteen almost ended his ride right there. He swapped ends. after hitting a rut. but never got off the gas and was fourth behind Gene Romero and Rick Hocking as the fint lap ended. For three laps Springsteen tried in vain to find a little traction on the high line in turns one/two. each time giving breathing room to the leading trio. Morehead was long gone as Springer moved around Romero and then Hocking. but Hocking came right back. In the meantime Randy Goss stormed his way past everyone and went directly to secon.d, leaving Springsteen and Hocking to take their battle for the last transfer right to the flag. Jay came out on top. Garth Brow. Gary Scott and Terry Poovey were mixing it up for the lead on lap five of the fourth heat when Wayne Rainey crashed hard into the haybale/Armco barrier in tum one. One comer worker said it appeared as if the rear tire had gone flat as Rainey went into a long slide just as he laid it over. The initial diagnosis was that Rainey suffered three crushed vertebrae. The restart - after a long delay for the ambulance to return - went in Mike Kidd's favor. but only for two laps. Poovey and Brow stormed by and then Gary Scott added insult to injury by taking away Kidd's transfer spot on the final lap. Ol') I-; Q) ,.c .o ., u o Junior Invitational Texan Bubba Shobert led the cream of the Junior riders into the Junior Invitational. Among the 12 who qualified for the final from the 29 invitees was Arlette Smith. She placed 10th. David Jones and Shobert hooked up immediately with' Freddie Spencer. Gene Church. Bob Crabbe and Steve Monger soon joining in for a six rider battle for the lead. Self sponsored Jones and winner Shobert drew out a slight bit of breathing room by the seventh lap after Spencer put his .Howard Racing :l{R off the groove. Church. on the Don Tilly HoD sponsored XR. moved in only to lose in a battle with Bob Crabbe's Lancaster HoD sponsored Harley for third. Spencer regained momentum to finish fifth. Semis Tension was mounting in the pits as the semis were called to the line. Two riden from each would transfer to the National and Eklund was among those looking for a second chance. Billy Schaeffer zipped into the lead of semi one, but Lance Jones. riding Bubba Rush's spare bike. was having none of that. .Tones passed Schaeffer on lap two with a draft on the back straight and stayed there to the checkered flag. Joe Wilson and Eklund joined in to make it a four rider battle in the early laps until Schaeffer slipped to fourth on lap six. From there to the finish all eyes were on the Wilson/ Eklund battle for second. Wilson. riding his smartest if not his best race ever. held position on the groove despite challenges on every foot of the track. He slowed Eklund's charges at the right point on each lap leaving Eklund to feather the throttle to gain back the advantage. The drag race to the flag was won by Wilson'by less than a wheel. The word amazed could not describe the crowd's reaction to the fact that Eklund would be a spectator at the National. "I was so mad at that point." Eklund would say later. "that I can't even describe it. "The bike was better than in the heat. but it was still IIEl.MY COIFoUIY.1IIC., INTERNATIONAL CORP. HDOTRS. P.O. _ S2ll, DopI.1lR-13. FOIIlliI'ogdM. NJ rTlTZT. (201) 938-2421, T_ 1320478 ~ "'m":' AlI_,5o.MX MAIL EJl'T1lY TO: DornoDuOo 22lM4Wa1nulSt. TortWICe. CA 8CIi01 C2131325«l23 - AI~ 10010 Open MAIL EJl'T1lY TO: Sl8n_ 833:!V_o.. - H.8.. CA lI2II47 17141102'- - ......... T". .._ . . . . - _ _ _,. _I.ty 1_ .........,,. ..... # ..... 8ik. E.... 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ICALL.V HOL.DS """ML.ESS ""OM ANY SAID lOSS THE AME"ICAH MOTOlllCVCL.E ASSOCIATION, SPO"TS COMMITTE!, OtSTl"CT 37/31 .......... INC" THE SP'ONSOlllING CLUB 0 .. O"GANllATION, AND ThE OWNEI'IS OF THE REAL ,.1'tO"(LIIITY ON _'IIeH SAID IVII T SHAL.L. TAKE CE. 111:.... _ · ' _/Of _ _ ', "'MIIoI., "L.... Ken_ ENVElOPES, PHOTOCOPY OF RIDER CLASSIFICATION, AND AMA CARD. su.. IY ~. SUND~Y _STAAT NOII1CE 5o,v...... 2IlO, liOO, Open ENTRY MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY 3 SElJ'.ADDflESSED, STAMPED, LEGAL SIZE City .,_"".co......-_.......-...._ • ;, Mail Entry $15 per rider - Post Entry $20 IIncludes $1.00 for District 37 Legal Defense Fund) Entries close September 21. Make checks payable to Desert Vipers M.e. 1:00 STAAT CA 92631, (714) 738-8474 ~ "'m":' OCTOBER 6 & 7, 1979 ~. SATURDAY _STAAT bp..k.v....... _ 100. 125. 1711 s_ CoIlogoBlYd" Dept. BR·13, Fuller""" ELSINORE GRAND PRIX • . IY ;, NATIONAL SALES OFFICE 561 S. 1:00 STAAT EXPERT Jr. St. Vel 2110. liOO. Open Slclo_ MAIL INTIIY TO: :""..I::t.* LB., CA IIl81 5 C21Jl_,Ml 0 / hpirel OISTRCT J7. c:a..-P.cATION '011 DlanneT J7 POINTS DflL" BEGINNER NOVICE DtSTRICT 37 NO. JUNIO" DIVISION EXPERT CHECK OTHER· - ClUe 1.. 1· I • I-Isvl r~~~~~~~I~~v I:T~~V:~~f:..·€T.... :§:JlNIZ~~~ ....TTIloC .. ... 13