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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126521
00 C') AMA National Championship 125/250cc MX Series: Rounds 4/4 Barnett, Howerton ransack Road Atlanta By Tom Mueller BRASELTON, GA, MAY 10 Suzuki teammates Mark Barnett and Kent Howerton paced to perfect scores in the 125 and 250cc classes, respectively, in the Road Atlanta National MX rounds. For Barnett, it was another unchallenged day. Mark was never headed in either mot? and his onIy probl~ was staymg clear of lapped nden. 8 Howerton', 1·1 tally didn't come as euily, due to a crash early in moto two. But the Rhinestone Cowboy came back from 14th to a safe lead and win. Dust ~e a problem the day be· ~ the Naticmal due to a broken water· 109 system when an amateur program was run. Promoter Bill West of Super Sporu Promotiona had thoughts of cancelling the National, but a misry rain on race morning brought the track to optimum condition. The rain increased IOto the first set of motos but then subsided to let fans enjoy racing in the lUll. An estimated 5,000 penons attended. A second moto decider for runner· up honOR was the cue in both dUlel as Kawasaki', Jeff Ward topped Honda"Johnny O'Mara, 5·2 to 2·5, in the USee dau for second overall. Yamaha', Bob Hannah used a 5·2 to take Honda', Donnie Hansen, with a 2·5, for second overall in the 250cc cu. Barnett has yet to be defeated this aeuon in the 125cc da8 and has now taken eight moto wins in eight outings. He lcads the standings with l!OO points, trailed by Ward at 147 and O'Mara at 158. Howerton has lOll one moto - to Hannah - out of eight and now has 197 series points. Hannah is second in the ltandinlP with 175 and Hansen third at 142. Most factory riders stayed with the same machines tbey have been using 10 far this year. Ward and teammate Tom Benolkin brought both air and water·cooIed b~, as did Honda'sJim Gibson. All went with water·coolers. The exception in the 250cc c u was Hansen, who ran a new water·cooler. "I tested both b~, and I'm going to go with the new one," said Hansen concerning his usual water-pumper and the bike he rode in this event. "The new bilr.e has a I~ radiator and it handles better than before." The riders meeting would have been ordinary, but that wasn't possible with the return of AMA referee Freddie Ephrem, who has recendy recovered from a heart attack. "I'm an old single man, but you're my family," said Ephrem to the riders. Practice went off in the rain on the hillside course. Traction was there, •t ~ • but a rider had to keep the gas full on to get it in many sectiona. Road At· lanta', scenic course offered some new jumps on the front straight, which to some riders felt awkward. "I just couldn't get into those jumps," said Barnett. "No matter how 1 hit them I'd bottom out." The tigIu three·jump duster did ICJ'Ub off speed through the section, however. 121icc Netionel There wasn't much to tell about Barnett', day at the races. He came off the gate and bad a 10-yard lead beading into the uphill in moto one. From there on he extended his cushion on the pack and left the racing to thoee bebindllim. Ward locJRd a bit squirrellyon lap one but smoothed out to head O'Mara, Yamaha', Scott Burnworth, JT Rac:ing', Rick Johnson and Hi-Point Racing', Danny Chandler. Two· laps into tbe race Barnett was into lapped riders. O'Mara ecIp Ward and was trying to keep BaI'Dett in sight, but was already eight seconds back. Johnaon put some ground on Burnworth, and Gibeon and Suzuki', Denny Bentley were back from there. At the halfway mart 8agJett, O'Mara and Ward were a half lap ahead of the pack with Giblon next. Yamaha', Dannie Cantaloupi pulled off in the mechanics' area and bad tuner Bevo Fone inspect his bike. He re-entered the race but placed outside tbe top 20. Barnett came in to win with O'Mara and Ward locked into batde for second. Ward made his moves on the 1ast lap but fell short by 10 feet. Gibsan took fourth foUowed by Jobnaon, and Burnworth and a pushing Benolkin. "I was ridiDg too conserva~ at first. Near the end 1 just turned it up," said Bamett.