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/126523
Broc Glover (top) repeated last week's 1-1 performance for B perfect 100 series points out of four motos.lAboveleft) Chuck Sun (1) Bod Marty Smith dice. Sun w.. third overall, Smith sixth. (Above right) Tony D and friend,take a spere ~ment to relex. Howerton had won at High Point the previous tw,o yean and prepared to make it three in a row'. "Last week 1 changed my course at home with my bulldozer and built in a bunch of sweeping off-camben to practice fo~ the coune here. My fingen are crossed for another win. Next week I'll start riding my sand course to get ready for Florida (the next round in two weeks)." - Honda's Donnie Hansen, who placed fourth overall in the 250cc class for the day. had-injuries in mind. "Last year 1 had to pull off here_ because 1 had hurt my foot at Southwick the week before. Last week 1 hurt the top of my foot at Southwick again, but it shouldn't be any problem today ... Glover rode practice at slow speed checking things out. "1 like .the track. This week I'm running a new shock." Glover had rear end handling problems at Southwick. Sun had claimed .both 500cc motos at High Point last year, and ~as philosophical about this year's series. "The last three champions we had weren't able to repeat because they got too nervous. I just don't want to do anything stupid. Last .edt I was in there so this week a win would be great. I • real1y like the course... Suzuii's Darrel1 Shultz put in two second place rides last weer and was having tuner Jon Slenzak make suspension alterations. ''I'm hilving a bunch of changes made because nothing felt right after the Southwick sand. 1 don t know how I'll do because I didn't get m~ch practice in." 250cc National Howerton and Hannah gated in the middle as usual for moto one, but Moto-X Fox's David Bailey sandwiched himself in between. Reid, Yamaha Pro Support teammates Kris Bigeklw and Dave Hollis and Hansen headed the pack off the start. Bigelow took over in the off-camber section and diced with Reid. but Howerton soon took his usual position out front. Bigelow balked, and Hannah zipped past, on the move with the "Rhinestone Cowboy" Howerton in his sights. Howerton put a cushion on Reid with Hansen and Yamaha's Rick Bur· gett now into a dice for third: Hannah was next with Bigelow. Holli.s and Suzuki rider Gary Semics spread apart behind. Hannah went into his high-flying, crowd pleasing act and found himself in second after Reid and thC!' Hansen faded. Burgett, Hansen and Reid got into a freight·train fonnation, but Hansen soon regained third on his factory Honda. By the 20-minute halfway point, Howerton was holding a heavy lead and took tuner Steve Paulos' suggestion to cruise. Hannah was frantical1y trying to gain ground and held it tapped over an infield jump. He landed out of control straight up and down, but the Hurricane used his catlike instincts. to save it by paddling down the ne.xt straight. Hannah later jammed into a benn and fel1, but was up instantly. shaking his head clear and retaining second. Hansen and Reid fmally took Burgett for the 5·4 slots and then the pair took Ha~ah in the fmal laps. Bob hung on to fourth to the finish. Semics threw away his seventh place position when he looped it off the same jump Hannah had berserlr.ed. By the checkered flag, Howerton held a 50-~ond cushion on Hansen and Reid. Hannah. Burgett, B~iley and Bigelow were spaced out behind. The race of the day started when the gate dropped for moto two. Howerton and Hannah sha~ the holeshot. as fans crowded to the fences to watch the battle go down. Hannah took !Wer, then Howerton got it back. Within baH a lap the pair had a large lead on third place Bigelow, who had Suzuki rider Ron Turner and Burgett in tow. Han· sen had fint lap troubles and was buried in the pack.. Wayne Boyer was sixth_ but he fell and when he picked his Suzuki up it got away and did a 180. The crowd was into Hannah's success as thousands of fists hung over the fencing urging Bob to go faster. After nurn'erous confrontations, Howerton and Hannah both wanted the same line into the finish area comer and smack~ tOgether. Howerton ended up airborne Without his bike and Hannah went low-side and slid out. Bob threw ' a glaring look at Howerton's way, then got going fint with Howerton about three seconds back, adjusting levers as he picked up his pace. _ After the crash, Hannah' developed ignition problema, and a IpUtterlng motor ended his charge. Howerton blasted by to an easy win, styling for the crowd down the last straight with wheelies. Burgett showed he can use a 250 by plugging into second with a well·paced 'ride, and Reid maintained third despite' a misfiring engine. Bigelow and Turner were 4-5, and LOP's Steve Martin UIed the lut 9