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/126441
- . _ . _ . _ . _ . _ . _ . _ . _ . _ . _ . _ . _ . _ . _ . _ . _ . _ . _ . _ . _ . _ . _ . _ . _ . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ E ~ 0') .-4 M Q) ..0 8 Q) u Q) o IAbovel Alan Smith 122> and Lee Ramage go for the CMC Open Pro win.ISelowl Scott Gillman 1191 won a moto, but Dave Taylor 1321 won the war. Johnson, Gillman, Smith take CMC Saddleback MX By Mike Klinger ORANGE. CA. DEC. 2 January 5-6 is the opening of the Golden States Series at Saddleback Park. Over 200 riders con· verged on Saddleback's track this 22 past Sunday to open up the 1980 poinu season and prepare for the "Big Bucks" Golden States Series. CMC's new number three rider for 1980. Rick Johnson. outlasted 25 other I25cc Pros to win his class. Scott Gillman turned in a perfect day by winning both motos of the 250cc Pros and CMC's number one in the Open class. Alan Smith. also scored a perfect day as he ran away with the Open motos. Scott Burnworth (Suz) is on a fast come- back trail after his bad crash months back. Burnworth. David Gerig (Suz). Rick Johnson (Yam) and Bob Sullivan (R&D) were fint to crest the hill off tbe starting gate in the I25cc Pros. By the completion of lap one. Bumwonh and Gerig began to pull the rest of tbe field. Johnson began to settle down and eyed the first and second riders. On lap six. Johnson moved into second place and started to make a run after the fleeing Burnworth. Back in third and fourth places. Gerig and Sullivan began to really put on a show. Gerig stayed ahead of Sullivan for several laps but Sullivan slid inside of Gerig to take over third place. The race was on for the lead. Burnworth and Johnson had opened up a remarkable lead over the rest of the field. With the pressure of the moto win being up for grabs. Johnson made a slight mistake and bailed. He quickly restarted and did not lose a position. Burnworth won easily. and Johnson was second ahead of Sullivan and Gerig. In moto two. Burnworth. Johnson and Mike Tripes (Suz) made the tracks to the first tum ahead of the field. Johnson quickly took the lead until he and Tripes met at Webco Hill where Tripes momentarily took the lead. On lap three. the Suzuki of Tripes had Greg Z"merkopf 1361 goes for the DeAnza 250ee Pro win. problems and he was forced to retire for the day. Johnson again had the lead. With Burnworth in pursuit of Johnson. the battle for third was not over. Chris Morey (Suz) had third position in his back pocket but a collision at the finish line between himself and Sullivan put both the riders out of the competition. So. everyone moved up two notches including Chappy Blose (!law) and Gerig. Johnson won the moto and his 2-1 score gave him the overall win. Burnworth was second with his 1-2 score. then came Gerig (4-4) and Sullivan. When the 250cc Pros lined up. the show was bound to be between the 1980 Yamaha-mounted Scott Gillman or LOP rider David Taylor. Sure enough. into the first turn it was Gillman. Juan Benavidez (C-A). Taylor and Jim Tarantino (Suz). On lap four. after getting past Taylor for third. Tarantino had to leave the contest due to mechanical problems. This left Curt McCuistion (Kaw) in third and Andy Guth (Kaw) right behind. As the moto progressed. Taylor made his move on Benavidez. In the canyon. Taylor slipped inside and took over second place. With two laps remaining. Taylor was picking up ground on Gillman but it was not enough. Gillman won. Taylor was second only two seconds behind. then came McCusition and Paul Thede (Suz). Moto two was the most exciting race we have seen in a long time. For 14 laps. five riders were at each other's throats and no less than a bike apart. Gillman would lead the entire moto with the next four places swapping almost on every lap. Tarantino ran a hard second place with Hondamounted Scott Johnson in third and Taylor in fourth. Benavidiz was ftfth. On lap 12. David Pettigrew (Mai) had bailed right in front of this hard charging traffic. Gillman almost centerpunched Pettigrew along with Taylor. Both riders smacked the lame Maico then double clutched their bikes and were on their way. With all the pressure. Taylor got off and lost two positions. The moto ended with Gillman winning his second moto. followed by Tarantino. Johnson and Taylor. Maico·mounted Lee Rama,e got the holeshot in the Open Pros WIth Val Tamietti (Mai). Steve Walker (Yam) and David Gerig (Suz) hot on his heels. Before the completion of lap one. Gerig. Walker and Tamieui crashed and picked up the rear. This left Alan Smith (Hus) in tbird chasing Bill Jewell (Mai). On lap three. Smitb pulled up alongside of Ramage. muscled his way into tbe lead and was never threatened. Back in tbird and fourth. Gary Truesdill (TCW) was making his move on Ramage for third. Now in fifth and sixth respectively. Gerig and Tamietti. had pushed their individual contest from last to pressure tbe leaders. Smith went on to win easily. Jewell was second. and on the last lap. Truesdill elbowed his way into third ahead of Ramage. Tamietti put the Maico power to the grourid and got the holeshot in moto two. It did not take long for the HuSky-mounted Smitb to get into the lead and again run away with the '- show. This moto Truesdill stayed up with the leaders from tbe start. In third and fourth. Tamietti and Gerig battled for the third overall money. At the checkered flag. Smith had collected his second $25 check from Subaro Escondido for his moto wins as did the other Pro mota winners. Smith won overall with a 1·1 score. Truesdill was second overall with a !!-2. then Tamietti (5-!!) and Gerig. Results MINI JR: 1. J. Owen ISuz); 2. P. Trievel ISuz); 3. D. Voyer (Suzl. MINI EX; 1. T. _ISuz). l00cc JR: 1. H. &Ier ISuzl; 2. R. James !Yam); 3. C. Omectin IYam). l00cc INT: 1. L. DanielISuzI; 2. D. Crigler. 125c:c JR: 1. T. Tetone; 2. D. Billin (Suzj; 3. J. McDougol (Hon). 250 JR: 1. R. Plumb IHonI; 2. R. Hannah ISuz); 3. W. Lowe (Suz). OPEN JR: 1. D. Pi".. IYaml; 2. R. Biesel (Suz); 3. R. G1wd(Hual. 125c:c INT: 1. R. Cerde (Suz); 2. R. T-..n (&c); 3. R. Sends ISuzI. 2SOcc INT: 1. D. Hommonc:l (Honl; 2. T. Simmons (Suz); 3. T. W.."'-ISuzI. OPEN INT: 1. A. McCIlIin (Mai); 2. K. P8lrongeIo (Ccml; 3. J. Grent (Moil. 125c:c PRO: 1. R. Joh'*'1 (Yaml; 2. S. Bumworth ISuz); 3. D. Gerig (&C). 2SOcc PRO: 1. S. ~ !Yaml; 2. D. Taylor (Yaml; 3. S. Johnaon (Honl. OPEN PRO: 1. A. Smith (Hus); 2. G. T'ueodil !Tcw); 3. V. T _ (Mail. DeAnzaMX to8unt By Ron Lawson SUNNYMEAD; CA. DEC. 2 Redlands Suzuki's Danny Burtt topped the DeAnza 250cc Pro class in spite of a strong perfor· mance by Crown Cycle rider Greg Zitterkopf (Mai). At the start of moto one. Bunt was near the back of the pack while Craig