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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126491
approved mood (gussets may be
added) ..... Mathers felt that a cenain
individual had modified his frame
more than rules allowed. He filed a
protest.
Honda also got into the act and filed
protesu on the engine displacement of
both Yoshimura bikes - Cooley's and
Mike Spencer's who finished third.
This protest was disallowed.
However, AMA referee Charlie
Wauon upheld the frame protest
which disqualified Cooley and, in
effect, gives the title to Lawson who
was the poinu leader going into the
event.
In addition to his appeal, Cooley
has 10 days to file his statement and
that of interested parnes. The referee
must file a statement also. DiPrete
must then make a ruling within !l0
days from the incident.
When asked about the filing of the
protest on the frame (before it was
uphdd) Cooley said, "I knew I didn't
want to lose a race to a protest, so early
in the season I told Fujio (Yoshimura)
that everything must be strictly by the
rules. I bdieve we are."
Problems aside, the racing was top
notch. Lawson and Honda's Mike
Baldwin played tag in the first heat
while Cooley and Freddie Spencer
gave a preview of things to come in
their heat setting a blistering pace.
Cooley, Lawson, Spencer, Baldwin
and Mike Spencer. a California club
racer aboard Cooley's spare bike, fIlled
out the front row of the grid for the
fmal. The title was on the line.
Cooley's only strategy was to win the
"ace and "pray a little."
Lawson led into the infield on the
stan with Cooley and Spencer taking
the point coming out. Lawson,
Baldwin and Mike Spencer followed.
The second lap had the order the
same, but when the bikes came around
on lap three oil was visible on Lawson's
exhaust pipes near the head. He
slowed to futh.
Cooley and Spencer had a battle
royal going with Spencer out-braking
Cooley for the lead going into the first
tum on lap five. By this time Lawson
was a slowing futh.
On lap six Lawson didn't come
around. "I got oil on the rear tire and
crashed in the chicane," said Lawson
almost matter-of-factly afterwards.
That crash cost Lawson a $!lO,OOO
bonus (for winning the title) although
with the oil leak he might not have
been able to finish anyway.
With Lawson out, Baldwin moved
up a notch and was hounded by Mike
Spencer just as Freddie was shadowing
Cooley. Playing a game of nose-to-tail
in the comers, on the banking and
generally all over the track, it was
evident that the duo would take the
race right to the wire.
They did. Six inches separated the
pair with the half foot in Cooley's
favor. His one pit sign had been
misinterpreted and Cooley thought
Lawson was in third behind Spencer.
Only when he reached pit road did he
fmd out that he had taken the title as
well.
What it boils down to is a long wait
to find out who really is the champ.
Right now until Cooley's appeal is
ruled on Spencer is the race winner
and Lawson the champ. But with
prestige and advenising revenue
hanging on the outcome you can bet it
will go right down to the wire also.
If')
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Results (Unofficial)
,. "Freddie Spencer (Honl; 2. Mike Spence< (Suz);
3. Mike Baldwin lHon); 4. Robeno Pielri (Honl; 5. Doug
Polen lSuzl; 6. Kurt Leibmllnn tHan); 7. L.ony Shof1I
IHonl; 8. 8erTy EorIe 11