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o 00 (j') r-"4 IAbove) Wes Cooley gets the jump on the Superbike field over Eddie Lawson (21) and Dave Aldana (109).Unsetl Freddie Spencer scares himself,. Superblke Lawson takes Spencer in Pocono showdown POCONO, PA, AUG . 17 Kawasaki's Eddie Lawson and Honda's Freddie Spencer ran }-2 in Pocono's Superbike final, followed to the finish line by new 10 Honda team member Mike Baldwin. Lawson displaced points leader Wes Cooley, who fell into a tie for third with David Aldana after Cooley's bike DNF. Spencer, formerly tied with Aldana for third in the standings, brought himself into second in the standings, now 10 points behind Lawson, with eight of 10 rounds run . Baldwin had been away from the road race scene for 14 months after a heavy crash in June of last year at Loudon. He was back at it with a fast · paced ride on a Team Honda mount. "It's fine," said Baldwin concerning his leg which was severely broken in the Loudon crash. "I've been riding my dirt bike and water skiing the last four months . I don't know if I could ride a whole GP race, but for Super. bikes I'm fine ." Baldwin landed his berth with the Team Honda effort after team member Ron Pierce crashed at the Suzuka 8-Hour Endurance race and injured his back. Pierce will be out the remainder of the season. "Sure L'wzs looking for a ride," Baldwin said of his factory slot. "I called up Honda and they said sure. They built a whole new bike for me . but due to unfortunate electrical problems I won't be riding it. I'm riding one of Honda's spare bikes today." Yoshimura Suzuki-mounted Wes Cooley, Lawson and Kawasaki's David Aldana ran into turn one together. By lap two Aldana had moved to second with Lawson and Spencer tailing. Spencer had to come from the back, as he DNF his heat race due to electrical failure. Honda supported Roberto Pierri and Baldwin followed. Soon Fast Freddie had used · his ' usual rear wheel sliding tactics to inherit second. On lap four he found his line around Cooley to take over the lead. Lawson and Aldana followed closely with Pietri, Baldwin, Racecrafter's-sponsored Harry Klinzmann and GSM/Kal-Gard·sponsored Chuck Parme a ways back. Through lap six Spencer, Cooley and Lawson were tight. Aldana had fallen out of the front-runners' hunt after slipping off the track . He picked up in eighth. Spencer pulled out of the trio on lap seven and started building a lead. Lawson inched ahead of Cooley. and Bald win had ta ken Pietri for fou rt h, Then on lap nine Cooley didn't come around. Spencer had a 3.3 second lead over Lawson, and from there it was 25 seconds to a cluster consisting of Baldwin, Pietri and Klinzmann. Parme and Aldana followed. On lap I I Spencer decided to wrap up the win and started berserking a path around the 2.8 -mile course, wanting the lead securely in his grasp by the 15th lap when the checkered came out. But the next time around Spencer was dog- paddling through the tight turns and looking down at the left side of his motor. Lawson caught up and passed the leader on lap 14 and took off with a healthy lead. Baldwin had removed himself from the battle with Klinzmann and Pietri and went ahead of the two. Klinzmann passed Pietri, but Pietri took the position back and held it where it counted - at the finish line. Lawson crossed the line with an ecstatic fist shaking attitude. Spencer came across a cautious second a long ways back and the Baldwin/Pietri/ Klinzmann cluster had bunched up again and came across in that order. Aldana followed the trio. The ride did two things for Lawson: Put him back in the Superbike points . lead with two rounds remaining and also gave him a new track record - 26 minutes, 24.767 seconds. "They were giving Freddie signals to go faster, and then he started slip· ping," said a pale and tired Lawson in the pits. He had had only moments to rest between the Su perbike ra ce and the Expert Lightweight ~ace which preceeded it. "I just stayed smooth ani:! I got him on the backside. Staying smooth is what did it. " c. i" I don't know what the problem was," said Spencer. "In the hairpin I had to use second gear. It was a good race, though." When asked why &he was glancing at his engine late in the race, Spencer replied, "Yeah, there was oil down there." ".It ~~t feels good to be back racmg, said Baldwin. "I knew Roberto was behind -me. I didn't look back until the last lap, and he was there. Superbikes have become a strong class with strong riders - I'll be happy to ride it next year." r: Cooley was back at his pits , looking a bit depressed. "The first lap I could hear it. The second lap I was skidding so I knew I was throwing oil. The third lap it seized, dropping rpm's. It was a valve or something," said Vetter. sponsored Cooley, Results . SUPl:RBIKE: 1. Eddie Lawson (Kew): 2. Freddie Spencer (Han); 3. Mike Beldwin (Hon); 4. Roberto Piotri (Hon); 5. Harry Klinzmann lKew) 6. David Aldane ; (Kew); 7. Chuck Parme (Kew); B.James Adamo lOucl; 9. Kurt Uebman (Honl; 1D. Rusty Sharp (Suz); 11. Joe Panon (Honl; 12. Rich Chambers (Honl; 13. larry Shorts IHonI; 14. Doug Lantz (Duel; 15 . Geoffrey Hoffman lKaw). TIME: 26 min.. 24.767 sec. AVERAGE SPl:ED 95.408 mph. : SUPl:RBIKE POINT STANDINGS: 1. Eddie Lawson 11OSl; 2. Freddie Spencer (95) 3. (TIE) David Aldana! ; Was Cooley 1881; 5. Ron Pierce 1531; 6. Roberto Piotri 1511; 7. Chuck Parma (441; B. James Adamo (42);9. (TIEl RichChambers/Joe Patton(261.