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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126460
Stalling his motor dropped Mark Barnett from second to third. Final (Top) Brian Myerscough took second, missing first by a few feet. (Above) Mark Gregson (18), Arlo Englund (20) and others mix it up. IBelow) Marty Smith made his first appeMIf1C8 with Team Suzuki. but cidn't make the final after crashing while running third in his semi. 8 Steve Wise, Chuck Sun, Warren Reid, Mark Barnett and Mike Bell went out front amidst a bunch of shuffling. Kent Howerton and Suzuki teammate Brian Myerscough were close behind. Then on the first circuit of the course Reid feU at the bottom of the goal post jump and started a chain· reaction that took eight top contenders down. "We could have been killed!" exclaimed Kent Howerton afterwards. "Reid went into the hole (which was dug out under the jump). I went (off the jump) right behind Mike (Bell). One time I couldn't even see my bike there were so many bikes on top of it. It's ridiculous after we told them (the AMA) earlier about it. The same thing happened to me last year (at Atlanta), only a few turns later." The crash took Rex Staten, among others, along with Bell and Howerton. Wise, Sun, Barnett, Myerscough, Jimmy Weinert, Gary Semics and Rick Burgett escaped the crash and were running a high-paced battle up front. Howerton picked up behind Sun a lap down, and if one hadn't seen him crash they'd think he was running in the front - Sun thought so. "I didn't know Kent was a lap down - 1 thought I was racing with him for a placing," Sun said later. Wise looked like an all the way winner, pulling a huge lead by lap 11 of the 20-lap race. But then it was all over for the Team Honda rider. "Something broke in the chain guide and the chain came off." said Honda tearn manager Gunnar Lindstrom after the race. Now it was Sun's tum to show the way, a position he never gave up. Barnett and Myerscough were behind keeping track of the action followed by Jimmy Weinert and Danny LaPorte, who had found a way around Semics and BUrge((. Brae Glover and Mickey Kessler had also made the move around Semics and Burgett, but both Glover and BUrge(t went down on the turn by the goal post jump on lap six. Weinert and LaPorte tried to do a job on each other and LaPorte finally got the upper hand for fourth on lap 11. Semics, Larry Wosick and Mark Gregson tailed in seventh, eighth and ninth places. Barnett stalled in some whoops and handed second to Myencough, who proceeded (o put himself and his works Suzuki into overdrive and go after Sun. Weinert got spit off before the start area straight and carded an eventual 10th place finish. Myerscough was given an extra chance to nab Sun at the finish when Sun tangled with Howerton as the race neared the finish. "Howerton slammed off a berm and fell on top of me. He stood on my bike and got up and took his time because two of his Suzuki teammates were behind," Sun said later. Myencough took it to within one bikelength at the finish in a tremendous last lap charge, but Sun managed to take his lead to the flag. Mark Barnett clamped on to third but fe.lt he might have had a shot at the WID. "When the two lap sign was out I killed my engine, otherwise I would have been really close. This was the best stadium race so far this year - it took a lot of technique," Barnett said. LaPorte took fourth and Bell turned in a never give up ride for sixth behind Jim Gibson. Semics, Jeff Ward, Arlo Englund and Weinert rounded out the top 10. • Results ANAL: 1. Chuck Sun CHonI; 2. Brion Myerocough a-non lSuzl; 4. Donny laP"". (Suzl; 5. ISuz); 3. _ Jim Glboon lHon); 8. Mike Bell (Yem); 7. Gory Sernicl (Yern); B. Jeff WerdlKewl; 9. Arlo Englund IYern); 10. Jimmy Weinert l~~ II. Donnie - . CHon); 12. LMry WOIick IKewI; 13. Kent Howerton ISuzl; 14. Greg TheiA (Yem); IS. Mickey K _ (Yeml; 16. Rick Burgett IYern); 17. Rex Staten IYeml; lB. Derren Rhoten IHonI; 19. Devld Beiley (Kewl; 20. Jimmy Ellis IYern). CONSOLAnoN: 1. Greg TheiA (Yeml. UNOFFlCIAL POINT STANDINGS: 1. Mik. Bell 186); 2. Chuck Sun tB2l; 3. Kent Howerton 175); 4. Jim Giboon 189); S. _ _ (67); 8. S _ W.(59); 7. mel W...., - . Jim JeIf WOld (37); 8. MeJtv T"- l38l; 9. Donnie - . 131); 10. Arlo Englund 1301; n. 8nlc GIo.- C28I; 12. Dorrell Schultz 125); 13. IIriIn Myereoaugh C231; 14. _ '---'oe 1191; IS. ww-. Rex S _ 11.; 18. _ ~ (17); 17. Tommy Craft 11.; 18. Groeoi. Menv _ 11S1; 19. Gory _ 1141; 2O.lMryW_ all. (1"'' ' '