Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Returning from overseas GP action. Dale " The Georgia Pig Farmer" Singleton copped the win in his second National of the season. ~ Hammer , a Klinzmann/Stafford/John Bettencourt/David Emde d ice was set tingup. On th e next lap Stafford dropped ou t, and on lap nine Ruppelt went out while holding his best Na tional position ever. He slid out, lost 50 seconds. and then the bike seized when he got going again . ~ Singleton was showing how tough the competition in Europe was and what it had done for him - he was pulling away. By lap 10 Schlachter Lawson were at it , never more ilian a few yards apart for the next II laps. Lawson's game was in the comers. while Schlachter had the horsepower straights under control. On lap 14 the Klinzmann/Emde/ Bettencourt battle broke up and the trip spread out with Frank McTaggart arid Rich Chambers beh ind . Chambers took a line past McTaggart on lap 16 ana for eighth. On lap 17 both Chambers and McTaggart got past Bettencourt. Lap 18 saw Schlachter and Lawson hang it ou t, both riding the fine line. Lawson highlighted the scuffl e when at on e time he took a slight curve with the front wheel in th e air , using bod y English to maneuver. Back markers got in the way, eventually, and the dic e came to a close with Schlachter getting a bit of breathing room. During the fight they had 45 seconds on fourth place Hammer. The last few laps of the event saw Chambers and Klinzmann go at it for sixth, and Klinzmann won out. Singl e- . ton crossed the line followed by Schlachter, Lawson , Hammer, Emde , Klinz mann , Chambers. McTaggart and Bett encou rt. Singleton had lapped up to Bettencourt at the finish of the race, which had fielded 52 rid ers . "This was my second Na tional th is yea r," the Georgia rider drawled in winner's circle . " Believe me , it' s harder than an afternoon ride in the Pocono Mountains. I just read m y lap board signals (given by his brother Toot ) and felt comfortable - and then it was sort of like a ride in the mountains. I don't just want to be the best in America , though . I want to be the best in the world I "T han ks to Beaulieu Carpets of America for their support, Ara i helmets. and of cou rse Taylor White. He is the one who brought my career to th is rocketing point. He 's the reason for all of th is," said " Pig Farmer" Singleton. Eddie was riding the wheels off his bik e," said Schlachter. " He was giving me pressure, but I just mellowed out. That helped m e hold on . Microlon backed me 100 percent t his year, along with Castrol and Arai." Schlachter locked up the National road race title a week before at Laguna Seca. "Steve Johnson bu ilt me a rocketship , what more can I say. Thanks onc e again to Kawasaki for all of this. " said Lawson. Results NATIONAl: 1. Dol. S ingleton (Yom l; 2. Rich Schlachter (Yom); 3. Eddie Lowson (Kow); 4. Bruce Hammer (Yom); 5. Oov;cj Emde (Yom); 6. Harry Klinzmann (Yam); 7. Rich Chambers (Yam); 8. Frank McToggorl (Yom); 9. John Benencoun (Yoml: 10. Hop Eaton (Yoml: 11. Bruce Pan"""" (Yoml: 12. Kurt Lenz (Yoml: 13 . James Adamo (Yom); 14. Bruce Lind (Yoml; 15. John Somwovs (Yom). TIME: 47 min., 4.636 sec. AVERAGE SPEED: 96.352 mph . AMA GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHlPlWlNSTON PRO SERIES POINT STANDINGS: 1. Honk Scon 11 201; 2. Randy Goss 111 B); 3. Ricky Graham (1051; 4. Mik. Kidd (95); 5. mEl Steve MoreheodlRich Schlachter 1851 7. Scon Pa-ker 1811: 8. Gory Scott (77): 9. mEl ; Scon PeersonlBilly LobrieiAlex Jorgemen (73) ; 12. Steve Eklund (57); 13. Teel Boody (54): 14. Kenny Roberts lS3) ; 15. Ronnie Jones (52) ; 18. Mickey Fey 149; 17. Bruce Hammer 1461: 18. Joy Springst_I43); 1 19. Corky Keener 1381: 20. Pfod

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