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/126463
; • ~ II E ...... .... I-< 0.. < Scott Burnworth (4411 got the holeshot in the first 125cc mota hotly pursued by Glover 111. Cantilloupll23l. Bernett 1101. Paul Emerson (8141 and Jim Holley (8311. AMA 125/250cc National Championship MX Series: Rounds III Barnett edges Glover, Howerton st runaway at Hangtown By Mark Kariya SACRAMENTO, CA, MAR. 23 As an estimated crowd of 30,000 basked in the gentle northern California sun, Team Suzuki riders Mark Barnett and Kent Howerton burned the oppos~tion with wins in the 125 and 250cc classes, respectlvely, at the ,12t~ annual Hangtown Motocross Classic, the first outdoor AMA National MX of the year. 10 The race, sponsored by Carmichael Honda and co-sponsored by Coors, took place at Prairie City OHV Park, and the Dirt Diggers North M.C. laid out a long, fast, tricky course that utilized the hillsides fully. Lap times ran about three minutes. 15 seconds. Each of the Big Four Japanese manufacturers used the opportunity to display their latest trickery - watercooled 125s. In addition. Honda's Donnie Hansen campaigned a waterpumper in the 250cc class, though teammate Steve Wise's bike was aircooled. Barnett's win was secured in the second moto when first moto winner and reigning 125cc champ Broc Glover discovered he had no rear brake on the factory Yamaha. After stopping to correct the I malfunction. he put on a stunning charge that fell a slightly short at the checkered flag. Howerton had almost no problems putting away the competition as he easily won both 250cc motos. Preliminaries Kawasaki's Chappy Blose romped in the first 125cc qualifier, winning by a s~zable margin over Suzuki support nder Scott Burnworth. Richard Coon took the second qualifier on his factory Honda. Getting the nod in a fight for runnerup was Moto·X Fox Yamaha rider Jim Holley with Mike Brown's LOP Yamaha third. The 12f.cc consolation event went to John O'Mara astride the beautiful Mugen waterpumper, making it into the National after falling in the first qualifier while running for fifth. Honda's Ron Sun finished second. Donnie Hansen outdistanced the rest of the pack in the first 250cc qualifier with second going to Jeff Jennings on the Race Ready Honda. Yamaha's Mike Bell took the second qualifier over Suzuki's Da'rrell Shultz and Husky-mounted Bill Grossi. Derek Wedding won the consolation race aboard a sano Anaheim Husqvarna. Big D Yamaha's Nick Cordova and Moto-X Fox Honda rider JoJo Keller picked up the place and show positions. Four Stroke Invitational The Hi·Point Racing Products Four Stroke Invitational race added to the day's program. Local favorite Dan Turner took his Hi·Point/PCP Yamah.a wire· to-wire in the first moto. Some distance back came Austr.alian Steven Gall. David Gerig came from a fair start and worked his way up through the pack steadily into third. At that point, the clutch on his new Horsepower Factory Honda started slipping badly, SO he settled for third. Lonnie Manning boomed in fourth on a CCM. Crowd pleaser Danny "Magoo" Chandler was entered on Kelvin Franks' Honda but went out on the second lap with the bottom of the fork slider broken off. MalO two saw Yamaha's Rex Staten run away from the pack. He was una ble to ride the first molO or even practice due to a blown headgasket and got absolutely no chance to ride the course beforehand. Gerig held a steady pace for second and picked up the overall win, making , the bike's debut a successful one. Gall was a distant third followed by Mike Skrivanex, Jeff Shurtz and Ron Combs. 125cc National SCOtt Burnworth pulled off a super start and led for about a third of a lap before being displaced by Glover then Barnett. Barnett kept his throttle nailed full on and zipped into the lead with Glover settling in right behind. In fourth at the end of a lap came Honda-mounted Jeff Callihan. Keeping a close eye on him was Yamaha's Donnie Cantaloupi and Mike Brown on a LOP Yamaha. The Barnett/Glover duo steadily began to detach themselves from the rest of the pack, becoming the focal point of the race. Barnett appeared to be going all out and opened up a few bikelengths on Glover who seemed content to sit back for the moment to see how the race developed. Glover sized up the situation, then reeled in Barnett until they were side· by·side as they sped down a downhill section of the track. At the bottom of the section came a 90° left-hand tum with a small jump, and there Glover blasted by Barn~tt for the lead. After that he was never headed, and by the end of 45 minutes, Broc was about 10 seconds in front of Barnett. Another Suzuki teamster, Brian Myerscough, earned third some 30 sec.. onds behind Barnett after coming up through the pack early. Kawasaki's Jeff Ward zapped Brown a lap before the finish for fourth and Burnwonh traiIcd in for sixth. A trio of Moto·X Fox riders - Jeff Watts, Holley and Dana Waxham came next with Sun the tenth finisher. In the second moto, the white· tanked, red-engined, blue·seated Mugen of O'Mara flashed out of the first rum in front, LOP's David Taylor, Cantaloupi, Glover and Waxham right behind. Burnworth and Suzuki's Ron Turner went down in tum one, Turner quickly retunring to the fracas. Burnworth got up much slower and got going only after a quick body check. Cantaloupi powered by Taylor' on the uphill before the fast backstraight on lap three as Barnett carne storming