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Team Yamaha's Mike Bell took his first T.,ans-USA victory with a '-2 placing at Road Atlanta. That moved him to within 22 points of the Series lead. -Trans-USA Series: Round four Bell blitzes Road Atlanta By Tom Mueller Photos by Jim Gianatsis Team Yamaha's Mike Bell moved within striking distance of Suzuki's Kent Howerton, taking first overall in the International class to Howerton's third. Howerton now holds the Trans-USA Series lead by 22 points over Bell. "It'll take some bad luck on Kent's part for me to· take the Series, but all I can do is give it 100' percent," Bell said after the race. One round remains in the Series. 6 Atlanta after a four year absence. Though a bit muddy in practice, riders agreed the redesigned track was challenging. Hard charging Darrell Schultz took the checkers in the second moto for the win and second overall after Howerton crashed in a set of triple jumps. Jimmy Ellis claimed the National class win, putting an injury plagued season behind him. Ellis went down to the wire in moto two with Yamaha's Donnie Cantaloupi, putting on a gofast show that had the crowd screaming. Trans-USA racing returned to Road Sch.ultz, Chuck Sun, Bell and Howerton were the front runners when the pack completed the uphill grade after turn one in the first moto. American GP contender Brad Lackey came around in last after having jumped the start which hung his bike up on the gate. Chuck Sun made h.is move on 'lap two and took an II lap tour out front. A few laps later Shultz was displaced by Bell, Howerton and International Warren Reid. As Sun made time and kept increasing his lead Bell. Howerton, Reid and Shultz were clustered in battle. Trailing the group were Rex Staten, who was in his first Trans-USA race for the season after a lay-off due to injuries, and Mickey Kessler. Bell went into action and picked up his pace, pushing Sun and finally getting past on lap 14. ". drifted wide in the flTSt corner and was a little hesitant at first .• just happened to see a different line around Sun in the back section and took it for the pass," Bell said after the moto. Reid pushed by Sun and landed the second position with Shultz following, taking both Howerton and Sun for third. A lap later Shultz zapped Reid for second. Tuner Greg Arnette's chalkboard message to Howerton with two laps to go told the story - "Get Reid'" Howerton couldn't find a way by, but Reid saw the light and went past Shultz to secure the second spot by the flag. The finish order was Bell, Reid, Shultz, Howerton and Sun. Howenon was on the throttle and moving away quickly in moto two after the pack thinned out with Jimmy Weinert, Shultz, Gary Semics, Bell and Staten in tow. Shultz got his chance and came around in the lead on lap six after earlier moving by Weinert. "Howerton crashed in the triple jumps and • inherited the lead," Shultz said. Howerton was up and going in short order behind Shultz. Bell again turned up the wick and started moving, blasting first Semics and then Howerton. Shultz's pace, however, put him out of reach of Bell. Brad Lackey had pushed up to fourth after another poor start. By the white flag ShuLtz held a healthy lead followed by Bell, Howerton, Lackey and Semics. Sun and Reid went to the checkered flag bar to bar with Sun getting the nod for sixth.