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Mike Spencer finished second behind teammate Freddie Spencer. It was Mike's first Formula One outing. (Continued/Tom page 6) .10 playa big role in the race, was already at work with Richichi, Dan Chivington and Rich Chambers out while Gunnady Liubimsky and Harry Vanderlinden had both encountered problems, but were back running. There was a tight battle going on for fourth between Baldwin and KIinzmann while five riders were debating sixth Hammer, Homchiclt, Boonie Knott, Wolff and Frank McTaggart. Those battles would provide plenty of spice for nearly the entire race. The cat and moWle game up front continued as the leaders pushed the five lap average to an even 100 mph. Mike Spencer was 10 seconds adrift at the time and Cooley and Spencer were already running n the slower traffic of backmarlters. Although Cooley was in command, there was a sign that he would not be for long as Spencer detected a bit of oil on his face shield and windscreen. It was coming from a leaking valve cover on Cooley's bilte. ''I'm not sure on what lap I began to notice the problem, but it got progressively worse and the oil began to coatI Ithe .c back I t l J tire," said Cooley afterwards. "I felt the safest thing to do was to parlt the bike. Sometimes I think if I didn't have bad luck, I wouldn't have any luck at all," last year's winner Cooley concluded half jokingly. Cooley wasn't giving up easily and Freddie had to work hard until lap nine when he got by. In the meantime. Jimmy Adamo was now spectating and the battle for fourth behind the lonely ride of Mike Spencer was heating up between Baldwin and Klinzmann. Wolff and Hammer were still going at it, but had drawn away from the Homchick/McTaggart duel. On the following lap it would be a four-way fight with positions all swapped around. Traffic was very spread out on lap 10. Baldwin parked his bike just past the start/finish line starting lap 11 and was followed shortly by McTaggart both with mechanical problems. Cooley was sitting in the pits, his race over for the day. Then it was Homchick's turn as his engine seized. That left Klinzmann in third followed by Hammer, Wolff, Umryu, Steve Gervais. Doug Brauneclt, John BettenC?U~ ~?4 ~f~ ~i~,to .fill C?ut the top 10. Mike Spencer apparently had found the time in his game plan he had been waiting for as he began to reel in team· mate Spencer very quicJr.ly. On lap 15 he was alongside Freddie and drafted past on the rising uphill straight past the start/finish line. "The first I knew Mike was behind me was when I got a pit sign that I had two seconds on him," said Freddie. "The next thing I Itnew he was by and gone. Klinzmann was looking at his bike when he came by the pits and was con· siderably off the pace. "The transmis· sion started to go and I tried to nurse it along as best I could until it fiDa1ly gave oui completely," said Klinzmann later. "I had third sewn up and then that had to happen. I feel rotten." With three laps to go it was Spencer and Spencer - Mike and Freddie nose-to· tail. The retirement of Klinz· mann had moved Thad Wolff into third. Hammer had lost Wolffs draft when the pair darted through some slower riders on the previous lap and he had been balked. Gervais, on a Yamaha Motor Canada YZRSOO, was holdingOJ. fifth although he would lose it It "~'.1-'&'- 0& to Umryu on the final tour. Freddie swept baclt into the lead f ••• the final lap and coasted home free when Mike Spencer detected a sputter· ing engine and decided to cool his pace and finish second. "I think Finishing second in my first Fonnula One ride isn't too shabby," said Mike Spencer in winner's circle. "It would really have been somethiDg if I had won. My heart skipped a beat when 1 thought I might run out of gas on the last lap. That would be no way to end up at all." "I knew I was doing pretty good." said Wolff, "but I didn't know I had third. There were no pit signa for me so I couldn't gauge where I was. I just rode as hard as I could for 18 laps aad toolt what came. I'm really happy to have done so well." • Results 1. _ S - CHonI; 2. Mike S-1Halll; 3TIwd _ (Suzl; 4. _ _ IV"; Ii. .WI UrnryR IVMIl; e. S_ ~ IV ; 7. _ IIigonoIli IVemI; I. John _ IV ; t. Hop EMan IVn; 10. Doug -lVemI; 11. Allnw.d IV....; 12. Horry Cone IVemI; 13. _ "-IVemI; 14. IIuIly SIwpe lHanl; 15. ~ McMwIIr nc-t: 18. oe... ~ IV"; 17. Gennody UubimIky IVornI; II. Honry DeGouw IVornI; 19. _ 20. Ilerw'I'DoI MorWco IVornI. TIME: 44 ...... 4.1103 ..... AIIEIWlE SPEED: 18.015 mph_ :: • • • \ ' . '." - I Lind IV....;