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/126460
(Abovel Steve Wise leads the start of the final, pursued by Warren Reid 181, Chuck Sun 1631, Kent Howerton 141, Mike Bell 131 and Mark Bernett 1101. IOpposite pagel Chuck Sun won his first Supercross. AMA Supercross Series: Round four Sun smokes the pack at Atlanta By Tom Mueller Kip Bigelow, Rick Burgett and Mike Twigg. Scott Lester and PDQ's John Savitski tumbled towards the back of the pack over a jump. Photos by Charles Morey ATLANTA,GA,MARCHI "I felt great out there, but you wouldn't believe how long that final really felt!" said an exuberant Chuck Sun after taking control and winning the fourth annual Coca-Cola Superbowl of Motocross South in Atlanta Stadium. Severe storm warnings were posted in the Atlanta area at the 6 time of the event, and with rain falling and temperatures dropping at race time it seemed inevitable that the stadium course would turn into a mucky mess as it had done the year before. However, the rain subsided during the event and traction became optimum, though temperatures were close to freezing. Point leader Mike Bell seemed at ease and fairly confident going into round four of the Supercross Series as did Kent Howerton. who was four points behind Bell. "I'm gonna give it all I got. I think I'd feel a little bit more confident in second (in point standings) than first. Kent's due to have his bad day too, like I did at Oakland (the previous round.) I think it might come down to the last race (of the series) for the championship," Bell said while having some cookies and milk before his hea t. "It's gonna be a long year," Howerton said before the event. "I'd like to be way ahead, but who wouldn't. The stadium series is so interrupted. If I'm still in there at the end - thert I'll worry about it." Neither Bell nor Howerton was able to do their thing at the front in the final due to a crash that both were involved in. Sun's win at Atlanta put him on the points board with 82, four points down from Bell's new total of 86. Howerton is slated third in the points battle with 75. Marty Smith gave his new yellow outfit a try and made his debut for Suzuki. Smith had been unable to compete in the earlier Supercross rounds due to a recent appendectomy. :'The bike feels great," Smith said before the race. "I feel so pumped this is the most pum ped I've felt since I started racing." After starting second to last in his qualifier and crashing :-vhile in third in his semi, Smith retired for the evening, which was surely not his. Heats Donnie Hansen put it to the alternates and scored the alternate race win, putting his works Honda to good use. In the first qualifier Team Honda rider Jim Gibson took control on lap one trailed by David Bailey, Mike Bell, Bell moved on Bailey and then went after Gibson and got him. Gibson tried to get back by through a set of curves, but was stuffed by Bell and went through the streamers. Bell won, Gibson came back for second and Rick Burgett banged by Bailory for third. Bailey claimed fourth and Broc Glover came from the back to nip Marty Moates for the heat's final transfer spot. Kent Howerton grabbed the second qualifier followed by Rex Staten. The two came out of the hole 1-2 and stayed that way all the way. Mark Barnett moved from sixth to a third place finish. Darren Rhoten had been displaced by Barnett but held fourth, as did Gary Semics for his fifth place berth. Jimmy Weinert seemed to be on the move in mid-pack, but then slowed. Donnie Hansen, Steve Wise, Kris Bigelow, Arlo Englund and Mark Gregson threaded out in qualifier three. Wise moved on Hansen during lap three and Hansen retaliated with a chase that provided some good racing. Bigelow slowed as first Englund, then Gregson and a charging Jimmy Ellis got by. There was plenty to watch during the last lap as 500cc National Champ Danny LaPorte tried to stuff by Ellis for the fianl transfer spot in the heat, but Ellis shut the door. Englund bobbled and Gregson didn't need any more of an invitation to snap past. Wise, Hansen, Gregson, Englund and Ellis transfered to the main. Factory aces Marty Tripes and Marty Smith never came into contention, running in the rear. Chuck Sun took a no-nonsense WID in the final qualifier with a holeshot that stretched to half a lap lead by the finish. Tommy Croft stalled and Drake Pickens found himself stuck in the gate. Warren Reid and Brian Myerscough were the movers as they came from seventh and ninth place slots to their 2-!I placings_ Spencer Morrison started the heat behind Sun and held fourth after Reid and Myerscough got by. Mickey KesSler picked up the final transfer after coming from eighth. Semis Kawasaki teamsters Jim Weinert and Jeff Ward transferred from the first semi after both boogied b.y Kip Bigelow. Ward proceeded to push Weinert, but came up a bikelength short at the finish. Marty Tripes, Donnie Cantaloupi and Tommy Croft were stopped at the start of semi two after a crash took the three out. Clark Jones was in control with Danny LaPorte, Larry Wosick, Denny Swartz and Mickey Boone behind. Marty Smith was showing the crowd his stuff and stuffed his way into third, but then crashed. LaPorte took Jones going into a turn. With half a lap to go Jones got squirrely and nipped a hay bale, letting Wosick by for the second transfer spot behind LaPorte. It was LOP's Greg Theiss all the way in the consolation as he went to the front and stayed there, the last of 25 riders to claim a berth in the final.