Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Canada -Northern California-Northern Nevada-Oregon-Washington-Idaho-Utah-Alaska-Canada-Northern California-Northern Nevada-Oregon-Washington-ldaho-U1 Mabton Dunes will now take a week off and then have the $1000 250cc Pro race in two weeks. Results JR CYCLE B & UNDER: 1. David McLeod (Suz); 2. Wayne Manning (Yam), MINI PRO: 1. Chad JeffllfY (Yaml; 2. Mike Larson (Yaml; 3. Brad Halka (Yaml. MINI JR; 1. Jacque Lefore ISu21; 2. Ray Knotts ISu2); 3. Matt Wilco.IYam). 100 INT: 1. Kyle Fast IYam); 2. Chad Jeffery IYaml. 100 JR: 1. Dan Kirk (Suzl; 2. Darrin Schultz (Yam), OLD TIMERS; 1. Don Mcintire IYaml; 2. Steve Glenn (VarnI: 3. Howie Anderson (Yam). 125 JR: 1. Ron Sheppard IYaml; 2. Mark Bradley (Han); 3. Pierre LeGrand (Yam). 125 INT: ,. Kyle Fast (Yam); 2. Brad Halka (Yaml; 3. Mike Lowrey (Yam). 250 PRO: 1. Phil Larson IYam); 2. Laon McDonald (Yam); 3. Rod Ostriam (Hon). 250 INT: 1. Brian Bowers IHon); 2. Kevin Berry (Kaw); 3. John Weis IYam). 250 JR: 1. Bret Benaori IYam); 2. Vaughn Gooch IHus); 3. John Cole IYam). 125 PRO: 1. Art Key ISu2); 2. Duane Marker IYarn); 3. Gary Kuest (Yaml. OPEN PRO: 1. Phil Larson (Yaml; 2. Rich Binkley (Yaml. OPEN INT: 1., Sean Phillips; 2. Rick Lago IMai); 3. Greg Williams (Suzl. OPEN JR: 1. Neil Hines IYam): 2. TIm Fiitro IYam); 3. Randy Stamp IYam). McKenna doubles at Hi-Point Regional MX . By W. H. Spencer SACRAMENTO, CA, APR. 5 It finally got a chance to run, despite much rain and pain; round one of the much delayed northern California H-Point Racing Products Regional motocross got off the ground. Along with it, Eric McKenna served notice to both 250 and Open class riders that he is ready to do battle by winning both of those classes in a real battle royale. Billy Johnson took the 125 class honors in a one-moto-only race that saw nearly 75% of the field succumb to the treacherous conditions of a National track that was well watered the night before and then rained on for the better part of four hours before, during and after the start of activities. This event will start a new series of professional events for the new riders trying to make Expert under the new rules for 1981, for riders returning to the scene to re-establish points and to generally create a more professional atmosphere for the up and coming kid to get ready for and with 10 events to cover the season, the top riders will be seen in the fall Trans-USA series. Nineteen riders took the opening splash of the Hangtown gate, as the Dirt Diggers North did an excellent job of getting the National track back to snuff only to see most of it drown after a long day and evening's watering when a stiff spring storm blew through dropping nearly one-half inch of wet stuff on some already wet stuff. 'Scott Burnworth was the first to get educated about NorCal mud. falling off numerous times but sticking with it. Jon Nelson had the early lead and a good one it was until he became stuck and relinquished the front spot to Billy Johnson on the Hayward Yamaha. special. Nelson and Johnson traded the spot once with engine seizing and getting stuck but young Billy was the first to the checkered. Nelson took second by a wide margin over Burnworth who dese.rves a lot of credit for trying hard. Alan Kondash rode the South City Cycles KTM to a fine fourth place with Rich Tiago the last mati out of camp but fifth overall. Scott Rebuck settled for a sixth and Doug McRae was just happy to be able to make it back and in seventh. Others like Mike Preston o,n a"'Moto', . X Fox machine had to get help from the tractor drivers to get his bike back while Jim Cressa and Philly Crane were just shaking their heads in bewilderment about the track conditions. As the 125s finished up and the 250s were lining up .. a rain shower persisted and actually made for a better track as the slick stuff got real damp and mushy versus thick and sticky. Despite all of these problems, the gate dropped and another real round of motocross was under way. Rounding the first set of turns, it was Dave Wood on the PCP Yamaha spreading the most mud along with Phil Oveland and 30 other screamers. The tricky right hander and Hi-Point jump separated much of the crowd with Oveland taking the post only to lose out on the whole· shooting match within tlu;ee laps and retire with mechanical troubles after doing a lot of bouncing off of things. Former Canadian National champ Jim Turner, just back from Europe, took over the bounce and led on his Moto-X Fox Husky for the rest of the distance despite fal1ing, remounting. falling and other such stuff that made' for a very interesing day of spectating. Following as close in as could be expected for a good show was Bill Ll:on· hart on the support ND Honda, Randy Losh, Clint Hardick, Wood and Mike Driscoll who came all the way from Salt Lake City to do battle. When Oveland found his Charley Brown Can-Am stuck in the hillside and Turner was' off and gone, it was Eric McKenna who was doing some fast make up after having spent some time in the pit area for consultation with wrench Jon Houtermanns. After some frantic tearing and ripping. McKenna rode off to battle back from about 11th spot. The 500cc National Amateur champion showed off his stuff one more time, just like in the first two Nationals, by working around the toughest of tracks and riders to finish a very creditable fourth. still in the hunt. Teammate Randy Losh took second after some hard riding on his Euro· Cycle Maico while Wood pulled in a good third on his Team Yamaha/Redding Oil YZ. Driscoll followed McKenna and Leonhart in for sixth over Andy Kirker and Team Moto-X Fox's Pete Wanket. Big Dave Wood made for a great holeshot in the second round, now back to a 30-minute race' plus but with McKenna in close tow and-in no time, it w~ McKenna all by himself. He said adios with the overall despite Wood dogging him all the way and winding up second. Leonhart held onto fifth overall despite a possibly broken bone in the wrist and extreme fatigue after having led a portion. Driscoll had tied him in points but a seventh in the second round kept him in sixth over Dandy Kirker. Turner dropped out while in eighth when the cylinder started jumping around and making the weirdest noise and vibrations. Craig Praus from Oregon took ninth and the coming the farthest for this event and finishing 10th was Jody Olson from Lincoln, NB. . Beside Oveland, joining the not· such-good-luck department were Donnie Cantaloupi. Fresno's Jim Ellis. Troy DeHerrera and Calvin Kalicki of Ohio who was in third at one time. In the Open competition. Alan Berluti stole the first turn after Dean Wiggins got the holeshot but couldn't get his Petaluma Cycle Center, NDsparked Maico to turn right and collided with one rider sending them both off the course and out of the fray. Berluti led off with Turner 'and George o 00 (j') ...-4 ,. Dean cates heads Scott Burnworth and Scott Rebuck 13621 in Hi-Point race. McNamara chasing along with Arlo Smith. Dave Harrell, Dave Gerig and Andy Jefferson. It was a short day for Berluti, though, and his bike came down with clutch problems that put him out. Turner went into the ,lead over McNamara on the Yamaha support team' bike. Turner was still a little winded from the first round of heavy duty stuff and as the traok again started to dry and become tougher to ride, the mistakes and little falls got to be serious mistakes. At one point when both Turner and McNamara were picking themselves up, Jefferson rode very consistently on by but it was short-lived for him. Both Turner and McNamara traded the lead for some time. Missing the first lap and then some was McKenna, still having talks with his pit people, but when he got, back on the track, it was "Katie, bar the door'" He blew off traffic like it was just a regular run and on the up and coming white flag lap he was breathing down the back of McNamara and Turner. He took the white flag in third but promptly passed the two to unlap himself and when he came by the finish area. he got another white flag and wound up a very creditable third. John Handelin ended up fourth over -Duane Joice on the D&D Blendzall/ND YZ and Bob May. In the second round, it was another thriller for McKenna who figured out the situation with only a couple of stumbles in all the wrong spots as Turner and McNamara suffered right along with him.· George suffered the worst of the indiscretions having won the first round and then taking a seventh when everything went sour for the young ace. He still wound up a good third overall. The day belonged to McKenna once again. though, and he is fast becoming the rookie to watch. He outpointed Turner by one as he had done over Wood and pulled the lucky rabbit out of the hat for a fine double and something for the crowd to shoot for at Marysille and round two. Bill Jewell took the fourth spot with 34 points over Joice with 32. Bob May was all smiles with 28. just one in front of Rory Rundle. John Handelin arid John Barr who came all the way off the Victorville desert to race in the mud. The Dirt Diggers North again did a fine job with help from the Sierra Old Timers and F Troop M.C. Tom Price of Bosch made it even better for McKenna and Wood with some contingency money. Results 125cc; 1. Bill Johnson !Yam); 2. Jon NeIoon (Suzl; 3. Scott Burnworth (Suz); 4. AIen Kondash IICTM); 5. Richard Tiago IYaml; 6. Scott Rebuck (Sud; 7. Doug McRae IYom); B. Eric Maki IYam). 25Occ: 1. Eric McKanna (Mai); 2. Oave Wood IYam); 3. Randy LosI1 (Mai); 4. Pete Wanket !Yarn); 5. BHly Leonhart (Hon); 6. Mike Driscoll ISuz); 7. Andy Kirker ISuz); B. Jim Turnet IHusl; g. Craig Praus (Kaw); 10. Jody Olaon IYam). OPEN: 1. Eric McKanna IMai); 2. Jim Turnet IHus); 3. Gao. McNamara IYam); 4. Bill Jewell IYaml; 5. Duane Joice (Yam); 6. Bob May IMai}; 7. Rory Rundle IMai}; B. John Handelin (Mai); 9. John Barr IYaml. Land, Bettencourt, Hale score at TulareTT By Bob Hill TULARE, CA, APR. 5 Despite funnel clouds and onehalf inch of rain in 30 minutes, we still had a race at Tulare. The track was the best ever, smooth and tacky. With Tulare's half-mile track straight, horsepower and speed are a must. Steve Hill (Target SalesClarks Yamaha) led from start to finish to grab the 80cc Expert win followed by Craig Howard (Birkle-Yam) and Blayne Hollenbeck (Fosters FreezeSumners Suz). Robert Land (Billingsley Ford-Yam) hit the first corner WFO in the 1l!5cc Expert go and stretched his lead as the good race was behind him. Brian Yocum (Yam), Dennis Rodrigues (Y~) and Ricky Hollenbeck (Fosters Freeze-Sumners Suz) kept at it al1 six laps. Hollenbeck got by Yocum but had a hard time with Rodrigues. On the white flag lap Rodrigues' engine quit and Yocum got third with Hollenbeck sliding in for second. The l!50cc Expert class was fast as usual with Chad Bettencourt (BirkleYam) getting the holeshot fol1owed by Mike Garrison (Garrison Roofing-Yam) and John Burnett (Fresno Kawasaki). Garrison and Bettencourt played tag the whole race. Garrison would pull close on the straights with Bettencourt getting through the comers faster. Bettencourt held on to the checkers with Garrison right behind followed by Burnett. Mike Hale (Hales Construction-Yam), who is showing how fast he can go at Ascot on the 250 in the Novice Pro class, pulled out all stops to win the 500cc Expert class. Anthony Urias (Yam), Chad Bettencourt (Birkle·Yam) and Kirk Smith (Visalia-Yam) got to the corner together with Hale taking the outside line and coming into the righthander' in front.. Hale stayed ill ,'- 41 J

• Cover