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/126461
o 00 .... 0') Eddie l..8wson (211 ceptured • slim mervin of victory Itt the finish line. while Anton Meng 13401'8nd Freddie Spencer were so c:IolIe that officlill were looking Itt photos to decide the outcome. Unset) Gennedy Luiblmsky leeds off the . . " followed by Derek Huxley I_I. Spencer and Lawson. International Lightweight Squeaker to Lawson over Mang and Spencer By Gary Van Voorhis Photos by Charles Morey DAYTONA BEACH. FL, MAR. 8 Californian Eddie Lawson had just enough steam in his Harry Hunt Racing Yamaha to eke out a three bikelength margin of victory over an almost dead heat between West Germany's Anton Mang. aboard a Kawa· saki. and the Howard Racing/ Arai Yamaha of Freddie Speno cer. Had the race gone one lap 18 longer, however, the results would have been different. "I ran out of gas in the chicane," laughed Lawson in the winner's circle. "I guess that is cutting things a bit too close. The bike was a rocketship. The whole crew did a great job_ If it wasn't for Harry HUJlll wouiQ't Ill: here." For Spencer it was his second trip to the winner's circle in as many days, although when the results of the photo finish were posted it was a third place rather than second that he collected. "The bike wasn't special," said Spencer. "It was basically last year's engine. Actually, we bought the bike with no real intention of running it until Thursday. I didn't have any real time on it, only a couple of laps before the heat. In the heat I took the first • .. • •• t I • two laps to get used to the bike and then the last three to make it go. All things considered I guess we did well, although 1 would like to have won, naturally." West Germany's Anton Mang has posted a very creditable performance in the past five years with a third in 1978, a fourth last year and now a second placing. What appeared to be a sure win began to slip away literally - in the closing laps as Mang's tires began to' heat up and lose their grip. "The tires did not' stick in the corners," said Mang through his interpreter and sponsor Mike Krauser. "I slowed down to let them cool and save things for the last lap_ I was in front of Lawson and Spencer as we carne onto the front straight and I thought I might win. We came very, very close." The first qualifying heat saw Spencer roll onto the grid at the three mintue sign to take a front row IJO!Iition. He # • • • grabbed the lead halfway through the infield with Hansford grabbing sa:ond as the fteld hit the banking at the infield exit. From there it was Spencer rolling on to win by some six seconds over Hansford with Doug Brauncek and Gary Collins dropping Dan Chivingron to fifth on the fmal lap after a nearly all race duel for third. Lawson jumped immediately into the lead in the second heat followed by Gennady Luibimsky and Craig Morris. Mang, after a slow stan, quickly sorted things out and moved toward the front at a rapid pace, taking second as the third lap began. Mang then disposed of Lawson as the pair hit the chicane on lap four of the five-lap e;ent. Only three bikelengths separated the pair as they began the final lap, but Mang reached for his reserve and increased his breathing room by the flag. Lawson was trailed by Luibimsky, Morris and Venezuelan Eduardo Alemafil·