Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

i DaylOftQ'8I e Daytona'81 IClockwl.. from top left) Jimmy Ademo led a trio of Ducatl. Into the winner'. circle by a large margin. Dave Emde wa.ln the running until engine problems stopped him. Malcolm Tu...... was runner-up to Ademo. Rich Schleeter - here leading Eugene HIH - won the MocIlflecI Production Pro cIaa. Battle of the Twins Adamo leads Due parade By Gery Ven Voorhis Photos by Cherles Morey DAYTONA BEACH, FL, MAR. 6 "The strategy was to get out in front and not look back," said Battle of the Twins winner Jimmy Adamo after his flag-to-flag victory in the 50-mile event. Ducati-mounted Adamo led fellow Ducati riders Rich Schlachter and Malcolm Tunstall to the finish line. The top was filled out by Moto-Guzzi rid- 24 er John Tesauro and the BMW ofJohn Long. The idea behind the inaugural event was to give the four·stroke twins an event of their own since the multi· cylind«:rs are now dominant in the Superbike class. The class was broken into four sections including GP, Modi· fied Production for both Expert and Amateur and Stock Production to give every twin owner/rider a chance. Ducati was the most dominant brand in the field which included just about something of everything. The three-wave, 76-rider stan saw Adamo and his Berliner/Reno Leoni Ducati scoot away with the lead fol· lowed closely by the San Jose BMW of David Emde and David Roper's Team Obsolete/Brooklin H·D Harley punched up to 980cc from 750cc and nestled in a frame formerly used by Cal Rayborn. By the end of the first of 15 laps, Adamo had stretched out a small lead and Roper was blowing by Emde with Erode returning the favor in the infield. Meanwhile, Schlachter, who had taken Ted Boody's place on the G. V. Performance Ducati after Boody broke a collarbone in a practice crash, was lurking back in ruth behind Tunstall's Henter Enterprises/Syd's Cycle Ducati. By the founh lap, Adamo had a six second lead. "I wanted to open up some breathing room," said Adamo, "so that nobody could catch my draft. I felt if someone did catch the draft that they might be able to get by." Adamo had little to worry about for he was the dominant force. Roper was losing ground at the rate of about two seconds per lap and slowed dramatically at the end with undiagnosed ignition problems. Emde was another rider who wouldn't be around at the finish. The engine began to smoke badly as he came down past the stan/finish line to begin lap nine and he parked it in the infield. John Tesauro, aboard the Mangaudi's/Jeffs Cycle·sponsored Moto-Guzzi and Bavarian Cycle BMW·mounted John Long were having a go at it through the closing laps until the BeeEm began to sputter a bit and slow, letting Tesauro get away. Adamo continued to grind off the laps adding rwo and thne aeconds at a swipe until he finally rolled up an impressive 59-second lead at the checkered flag. Schlachter also had a good lead on the rest of the field. "I thought It was a fun race," said Schlachter afterwards. "I believe if I had staned in the first wave that Jimmy and I might have gotten hooked up and put on a good show." "I almost didn't make it, " said Adamo. "I staned to run out of gas two laps from the end. I was sloshing the tank and doing everything I could while praying for the checkered flag to come out." • Results _m GRAND PRIX: 1. Jim Adamo (Duel; 2. Molcolm TunstaillDucl; 3. John TOOIuro (M.(;); 4. Ed Mullin__ IDue); 5. Juan Gon_ IDuel; 6. Kurt Liebmonn IBMW); 7. Dave Roper IH·D); 8. Ri"" INor); 9. Tom Wegmon IVin); 10. David Emde (BMW!. MOD PROD - PRO: 1. Rich Schlacht... IDuel; 2. John long IBMW); 3. ~ Willieme (Nor); 4. EIV Slchl_ 11'"); 5. J _ McGovern; 6. John Dodge (Ouc); 7. David C _ (Duel. MOD PROD - AM: 1. Y", B...gboum (Yom); 2. Eugene HIM (Que); 3. J _ Dodge (Que); 4. Jell Mac Min.., IDueI; 5. S_ Hen_ (M.(;); 6. John Dodge; 7. Rick ~i (H-D); 8. David Pereono IBMW!; 9. len Gum IDuel; 10. 00neId Jouglord (Duel. STK PROD: 1. David McClure (Ouc); 2. Jell _ (H-O); 3. Robbie RobertIon (Que); 4. Davin IIenIey (BMW!; 5. IIfUce (Ouc); 8. Ed ~ lOucl; 7. Bert Stue:Ur1 (BMW!; 8. Ed J _ lM-Gl; 9. Bob Unger (Ouc); 10. R-v Roy (BMW). e.nev

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