Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

o 00 0') Warren Reid (8), winner Jeff Jennings (56), Jim Tarantino (72), Ron Turner (9) and Mike Brown (64) lead the 250cc Pro charge in moto one. CMC/Can-Am Golden State MX Series: Round one Ward, Jennings, Gibson score at Sa By Jim Gianatsis ORANGE, CA,JAN. 6 "On th~ first lap there wasn't anywhere you could go. All you could do was try to dodge the bodiesl" exclaimed Team Honda rider Jim Gibson after his back-to-back moto wins in the Open class. The- "bodies" were top West Coast stars of pro motoCrOSS out to grab their share of the $75,000 purse in cash and 6 contingencies at the opening round of the seven race 1980 Can-Am Golden State Series held at Saddleback Park. Along with Gibson. Jeff Jennings pulled off the 250cc class win with his first ride on the Race Ready and Honda Support Team sponsored bike. while in the 125cc action it was Team Kawasaki's Flying Freckle. Jeff Ward who walked away with all the marbles. Approximately 250 CMC Pro riders were dicing it out early Sunday morning. weeding themselves out in numerous qualifying and consolation mOlOS to make il into the Ihree feature classes of the day for gold and glory. There 30 riders would berm off Saddleback's banks for two 12-lap motos to determine just who was boss. Some got a lillie carried away ... like Maico's Danny "Magoo" Chandler who crashed amid a cross-up and received two broken ribs for his efforts. Danny wasn't hurting for company though, as the intense competition on the hillside clay course saw many other riders pUlling themselves out of action as well. 125cc Pro The only class where the absence of big name National caliber competition was obvious was in the 125cc Pro clash where Jeff Ward had a field day as the only factory star in auendance. The first moto of the day in particular saw Jeff cooking his Uni-Trak Kawasaki into a comfortable lead right from the start as Gary Denton held his Honda in second spot for a while, before being kicked back by pressure from SUluki factory test rider Ron Turner, then Mugen's John O'Mara and Drey Dircks. Hot in the ruckus for the runner-up spot in the opening laps had been DG's Chris Heisser until he injured his left leg and was forced to retire from the molO. It was Johnny O'Mara though, who certainly had to be turning in the most impressive ride of the day on what was certainly the most impressive bike. O'Mara was riding a new semiproduction watercooled 125cc Magen Honda painted appliance white. The bike is no' Frigidaire. sells for a cool $5,000, but with O'Mara at the controls it was cookin' like a toaster. The factory Mugen rider's showing was highlighted by the fact that he was riding with a broken foot. His doctor had cast the broken foot in a SCOll boot so Johnny could go racing after having just broken it the weekend before, but not wanting to miss out on the CMC Series. Round number two saw O'Mara powering the Mugen up the Saddle- back start hill to gra b the lead, then lose it to Jeff Ward as he pushed his Kawasaki to claim the lead once again. O'Mara held on close behind this time to finish out the moto a close second behind Ward and claim second overall for the day. Demon was third for third overall, then Dircks on his DG machine with Jim Holly fifth for themoto. 250ccPro Jeff Jennings looked smooth and confident his first ride out on the Race Ready CR-250 Honda built by Dan Hangsleben as he clutched out the holeshot for the lead of the first 250cc Pro moto. Right behind in hot pursuit were Kawasaki's Warren Reid, then Honda's Donnie Hansen, followed by Mark Lawrence, Mike Brown and Pete Wanket. Quickly Reid closed in on Jennings and applied ~he pressure to Jennings for passing room. At the end of lap three Reid found the room and took it, only to bail off half a half later as Warren found hitnlClf having to work back up from a bruised seventh place. Jennings wasn't about to have it easy with Reid left behind as Hansen now moved up to challenge, nudging Jennings for two laps before wheeling . I

• Cover