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2IiOcc Pro winner Tony D l2Tl creeps up on ca.k Jones' Mug.n Honda.
Jennings,
DIStefano and
Ward score big at
CMC Saddleback
By Mike Klinger
ORANGE, CA, NOV. 4
':Jeff just kept my tradition alive,
Every one of my new bikes, the
first time out, wins the first
moto," explained the excited
\.32
Kelvin Franks. Jeff Jennings had just
ridden the new Franks Honda to a first
moto win in the 125cc Professional
class and would eventually take the
overall class win, In the 250cc Pro
class, three time 250cc National
Champion Tony DiStefano rode to his
first ever CMC overall win aboard the
Mitch Payton tuned 1980 Husqvama.
Jeff Ward ran away with the Open Pro
class win on his 400cc MODO-Trait
Kawasaki whiclr: was totally unstoppable.
The 125cc Pro class set the stage for
some super racing. Mike Tripes (Suz)
could wrap up the number ODe plate
in the 125cc Pro class if he could better
Rick Johnson (Yam) by a couple of
finishing positions, but it was not to
be. Corning off the gate, JeffJennings,
Mike Tripes and Rid Johnson were
right in the thick of the battle with
Rick Maki (Yam) running fourth.
Johnson had his problems; he bailed
and had to restart back in fifth. Tripes
led for five laps until Jennings put the
Franks Honda into a higher gear and
nudged his way past. With Jennings
opening up a good lead, Tripes lost his
concentration and spun out at the base
of Webco Hill. He restarted without
losing his position but Jennings went
OD'to win the "I1Ioto. Tripes·
rrie-.
gated to second, Maki put on a strong
rush for third and Johnson was fourth,
after bailing three times.
Moto two of the 125cc Pros was not
much different. Tripes shared the
holeshot with Jennings, Maki, Johnson
and Don Fuller (Suz). Tripes and
Jennings were no farther apart than
half a bikelength for eight of the entire
14 laps race. Finally, Jennings passed
up Tripes as both the riders sprinted
up Webco to the bermed left·bander.
As the moto progressed, Johnson
settled into a solid third as did Maki
in fourth. Jennings claimed the overall
win with 1·1 moto scores, Tripes was
second 2-2, Johnson third 4·5 and then
Maki, 5·4. Mike Tripes now needs to
finish better than 12th, on Nov. 25 at
Carlsbad, to wear CMC's number one
125cc Professional plate for 1979.
Clark Jones, nding the Mugen
Honda, led the field of 250cc Pros
away from the start closely followed by
Anaheim Husqvarna rider Tony
DiStefano. Jeff Jennings (Fra·Hon)
and Clint Hardick (Hon) were third
and fourth behind Jones and the "D".
Within a couple of laps, Jennings bad
crashed very hard (but walked away)
and Wanket had moved up three
positions to take over third. As the 14
laps wound down, DiStefano kept
chewing away at Jones' lead. On the
last lap, only four turns from the
finish, DiStefano cut inside ofJones in
some tight hair pin turns to go into the
lead and win the moto. Wanket was
third, Hardick fourth and Alan Smith
(Hus) fifth.
After Jennings' terrible crash, he
spent some time mending his wounds
and got ready t6 try it again. Jennings
got the second moto holeshot with
Wanket shoved in his back pocket.
Jones, too, was right up front, as was
Hardick and DiStefano, and the moto
developed into an outstanding four
rider battle. Jennmgs' -shook off
Jeff Ward showed just how mean green can really get et CMC SeddIeblIck.
.
Wanket for the lead, leaving Jones and
DiStefano to work on Wanket. On lap
14, Jones slid his expensive Honda out
and dropped to fourth; DiStefano
passed Wanket and aimed to catch
Jennings. The clash ended swiftly with
Jennings winning aboard the Franlts
250cc Honda but the overall victory .
went to Tony DiStefano with a 1·2
tallJ::. Second overall was Tony
Wanket, then Clark Jones and Clint
Hardick.
Kawasaki powered Jeff Ward was
just too much for all the other Open
Pros. In moto one, Ward opened up a
lead that no other rider even wanted to
believe. Lee Ramage (Mai) and Clark
Jones (MUG) were trying to chase
Ward and David Gerig was in pursuit
of the top four. Both Gerig and Tony
DiStefano (Hus) got past Ramage for
third and fourth respectively, but
Ward won the moto hands down.
Jones took second ahead of Gerig and
DiStefano.
In moto two it was the mean green
of Ward again. Ramage had gotten
the holeshot but began to fade slowly.
DiStefano got a bad start which turned
into bad Iud as his machine died and
put him out of the competition. Jones
also got a bad stan but muscled his
way up into third place. Ward easily
claimed overall money with a perfect
I-I score. Gerig was second overall
with a fme 5-2 score, then came Jones
and Ron P"lmer (Suz).
Results
MINI JR: 1. J. Owen ISuz); 2. R. Gatica IKaw); 3. K.
Dietz (Yaml.
l!lOcc JR: 1. J. G,_ IVam); 2. C. Omectin lYam); 3.
M. VanCamp ISuz).
125cc JR: 1. R. Hoffman ISuz); 2. M. Matson ISuz);
3. T. Teton. ISuzl.
250cc JR: 1. R. GUlh,Klge IHon); 2. O. Hayes (Hon);
3. G. H.dlebaugh (Vam).
OPEN JR: 1. M. Miller ISuz); 2. R. Guard IHusl; 3. C.
B,ahan! ISuzl.
125cc !NT: 1. R. Nolin (Vam); 2. R. Sands ISuz); 3. V.
Butler lSuz).
250cc INT: 1. J. Lysdale IHan); 2. J. VanCamp IHan);
3. A. McClain IHan).
OPEN INT: 1. W. Beebe lSuzJ; 2. T. Ramsey IV....I; 3.
~.~J!iazt~
-: - -: _ ::
~....
•
12Scc PRO: 1. J. J-*'go 1Iloo); 2. M. Tripeo 1Suzl;
3. R. .Jc>h.-.lY....l.
2!iO PRO: 1. T. D1ShIf8no
