Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126520
O'Mara went 4·5. Bikes mashed together in the first tum in qualifier two, and out of the slr.irmish came Can·Am's Jim Holley with the lead. Honda'sJim Gibson and Howerton fought past Holley, and then Gibson went down in the sand pit with Howerton almost falling on top of him. Howerton went on to win with a safe margin over Gibson with Suzulti support rider Rex Staten in third. Benolkin was bad from thert~ in fourth, and Holley held on for the fifth and final transfer of the qualifier. Hansen shoved in front of Bell to le.ad qualifier three, but on lap one Bell put his long legs to use for extra suspension and passed Hansen through a choppy straight. Infield whoops were gelling like glass on the acceleration side from a coating of rubber the tires were leaving and took skill and concentration to cross quiclr.Jy. Greg Theiss, on his debut ride since a serious car crash over a year ago, flew into the wall on his Honda and was out of the race. Bell won with Hansen in pursuit but finishing second. Kawasaki's Goat Breker came from a few places back to take third, with Suzuki's Denny Bentley holding a hot pace for fourth. Arlo Englund pushed his Yamaha to fifth. Canadian champ Ross Pedenon took .semi one with Gary Semics moving his Yamaha past Randy Kirschbaum with a wide power drift for second. In semi two LOP's Steve Martin led early in the race and took the win. Phil Lanon held second on his Yamaha for the transfer, but not. without a fight from LaPorte. Danny crashed twice in the semi and pushed like a crazy man, but fell short at the checkers. Hicks went all the way in the con· solation and was elated to be the last man to transfer to the 25·man final. ~ 00 0') ~ Final Barnett had a confident allitude in the pits while doing stretching exercises minutes before the race. Talk was around that Bell was looking fast, but Mark didn't let it bother him. "It may be true, but Mike has to get the start, and if he does that then he has to race with me, " said Barnell. That's just about how it happened when the gate dropped. Bell and Barnell got the holeshot with Bell edging ahead on his Dave Osterman tuned OW·50. A half lap later Barnell took over to lead. Following were Hansen, Hannah, Cantaloupi - with a steaming water· pumper, Gibson, Howerton, Ward and O'Mara. Hannah crashed out but was up in seconds, running wide open while shaking his head clear. Barnell and Bell were side-by-side by lap three with the crowd roaring approval. Bell again passed Barnell through the big jump straight, but soon after slid out, and !hrnett was on his way to the win. Hansen closed the gap on Bell, and the pair ran tight with Cantaloupi still on the pace in fourth, even though his bike had lost all of its coolant. O'Mara was fifth and Ward was holding off Hannah for sixth. Jeff was running the race with his bike locked in second gear. He'd bog it through the sand pit and then scream it down the straight, but held oosition. Howerton had fallen back with a shifter that was bent under the case. Bell again started gaining on Barnell, but fell in the sand pit and lost his chance. He started back in third but repassed Hansen for second. Rhoten and Bentley tangled in a righthander and crashed out. Barnett crossed the finish line for the win with a victory fISt in the' aIr, something he says he'll do whenever he wins a SupercTOSS. Bell was next eight seconds back, and from there came Cantaloupi, O'Mara, Hannah, Ward, Smith, Reid and Howerton, all with cushions between them. mend Kem.Howenon l2J.lAbove left) Merty SmIth fInIahecI eighth In the fInIII.lAbove right) Bernett holaD hie winning trophy with tu.... Jeff Clerk. (Top) Bob HanMh getaelrbome In front of CenteIoupi. Jim GIbeon "I've got a good lead in the series now and I hope I can just stay together for the next Supercross," said Barnett. "Bell was giving me so much pressure at first I was riding a bit out of control. When I almost went on my head I slowed down. I didn't want to break my arm or something. ''I'd like to thank Suzuki, my tuner Jeff Clark, Moto-X Fox and Dunlop for a tire that gave me a holeshot. I'm pumped for the L.A. Coliseum in Julyt" "I was close, but then I got in lapped riders and couldn't afford to wait. That's when I fell. In that sand pit my front tire just went out from under me." said Bell. "When I got Mike in the sand pit I hoped I could hold him off," said Hansen. "I stayed in there prelly' well, but when they pulled away a bit I watched it because I didn't want to bail. Thanks a bunch to my tuner Brian Lunnis, JT Racing and American Honda for putting me here." "A hose clamp came loose on one of the hoses going to my radiator," said fourth place Cantaloupi. "I really like the water-cooler, though, and I'm going to stid with it." • Results 1. _ _ C5uzl; 2. Mike &.IIIV..,I; 3. Donnie ...... 1Hon); 4. Donnie ConlIIIoupi IV..,); 5. Johnny 0 ' _ (Hon); 6. Bob HonnlIh IV..,); 7. JeIt WOld (K8wl; 8. Mort\' Smith lSuzl; 9. W Reid ~; 10. (Suzl; 11. Goat 8 tK8wl; 12. Tom _ i n (K8w); 13. Jim Giboon IHon); 14. Rex S~ Kent _ ISuz); 15. Stew Mortin (Suz); 16. Arlo Englund IV"",); 17. A_ _ 1011 (K8wI; 18. JffIf Hic:Ica IV"",); 19. D...on Ahoten iSuzl; 20. JffIf SurwolIIV..,); 21. Denny Bontley ISuz); 22. CorIoo Sorrano (Mail; 23. Gory Semics IVem); 24. Jim Holley IC·A); 25. Phil l.orIon IVam). SUP£ACAOSS SEAlES POINT STANDINGS: 1. Merk Bornett 1250); 2. Kent Howerton 12101; 3. Mike Bell 12051; 4. Bob Hen""" 11621: 5. Jim Giboon 1150); 6. o.roll Shultz 11461;7. Donnie Haosen 1131); 8. Donnie Centoloupi 1111); 9.lIfoc Glover 1103): 10. W ...., Reid 1911; 11. Johnny O'More (60); 12. Chudt Sun (71); 13. MortY Smith 169); 14. A"" Staton (67); 15. 5 _ W . . 166); 16. Goat !>roker 1601; 17. Aich Coon 158); 18. Flick Burgett (53); 19. Arlo Englund (51); 20. Alon King (34). 19