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CMC/Can-Am Golden State Series Finale O'Mara, Lawrence and Locey "D comes natural at CMC Golden St By Terry Whytel VALENCIA, CA, FEB. 17 Indian Dunes hosted the exciting conclusion of the 1980 CMC/Can-Am Golden State Series this week with all three Pro class championships decided in the fmal moto. Mugen/Honda rider Johnny O'Mara aced both motos of the 125cc Pros, but Yamaha rider Jim Holley's two third·h I' h ' p1 fi~ms es c mc ed the u~e, ",:ce 6 Mal~ nder Ste,ve Rhyan ca~e mto today s races with a one·pornt le~d over Yamaha Team ace Rex Staten In the Open class and managed to keep just ahead of the "Rocket" in both motos as he followed race winner Tim Locey across the finish line with enough points to take the 500cc crown. But the race that had the spectators cheering the loudest was the 250cc Pro battle among LOP/Yamaha team· mates Mike Brown and Marlt Lawrence and a hard charging Staten. All three riden took their best shot at the lead. and when the dirt stopped flying it was Lawrence out front winning both motos and the series title. Mother Nature continued to plague the series with rainfall. The torrential downpour Saturday shortened the sponsmen program, and the Interna· tlonal track had to ~ rerouted around some of the nearly Impassable mud· holes. Fortunately the clouds only threatened on S!oJllday, and by midday the track had shaped up fairly nicely with only a few trouble spots and adequate traction for fast motoring. 125cc Pro O'Mara wicked his Mugen water· pumper into the lead at the stan of the first moto with Gary Denton putting his Honda into second. Suzuki R&D • rider Scott Burnworth settled into third ahead of Honda rider David Lynch. Series point leaders Holley and Suzuki test rider Ron Turner were back in seventh and ninth, respectively. Denton took the lead away from O'Mara on the next lap as Lynch pres· sured and finally passed Burnworth to move into third. Holley began to move up through the pack with Yamaha support rider Rick Johnson glued to his rear fender. By the halfway point the order was Denton in the lead with O'Mara very close and Holley runtring third 10 lIeCOJJds back. Next came John· son and Lynch as Turner struggled in sixth apparently feeling the effects of a first t1Jrn crash in his qualifier. ~I just didn't have it today" explained a dejected Turner later in the pits. O'Mara was dancing his beautiful white Mugen all over the track trying to find a place to pass Denton but without luck_ Then suddenly with one lap to go Denton fell and O'Mara took the win. Denton quickly remounted to finish second ahead of Holley, John· son, Lynch, Turner, and Burnworth. Denton's timing must have been Swiss· made as he hit the gate perfectly in the second moto and pulled a three· bike lead over O'Mara halfway down the starting straight. Burnworth fol· lowed in third ahead of Holley, Yamaha rider A.J. Whiting and Turner. O'Mara took the lead away from Denton and set his sights on the finish line. While O'Mara motored out front safely the big question became, "Can Turner catch Holley and take the series point lead?" Holley's answer to that was to get on the gas a little hard· er and stay far out of the reach of the tiring Turner who was also in con· tention for the 250cc title. O'Mara took the checkered flag com· fortably ahead of Denton. Holley cruised in for third followed by Bum· worth, Whiting and Turner. Overall finishing order was O'Mara, Denton, Holley, Burnwonh, Turner and Whit· ing. 250cc Pro The 250cc Pros took to the track with five riden in contention for the series title and only eight points sepa· rating them. Points leader Mike Brown roosted his Yamaha into the lead at the stan with founh place Marlt Lawrence close behind. A spill in tum one momentarily tied up Rex Staten and Kawasaki rider Goat Breker, but both remounted and began carving u-p through the pack. Running third behind Brown and Lawrence was Yamaha rider Evan Marcus, and fourth place was held by Suzuki·mounted Tracy Oswell. Brown bailed off on lap three and Lawrence took over the lead with Brown reenter· ing the race several positions down. Bob Kline moved his Can·Am up into third place as Brown charged back up to fourth. Meanwhile Staten and Breker had been on the move and were now running in sixth and seventh. With the race nearing the one·lap flag Brown took over second, but by now

