Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

I I Gary Pulltlllak (&0) ...«18 tlMlliOOa through the first tum. Bill Groal(36). Alen King'(43). Arlo Englund (16) end Rick Sidle (78) Join him. AMA 12S/SOOcc National Champlo_hlp MX Series: Rounds 515 Barnett, Sun repeat wins at Broome-Tioga By Tom Mueller CENTER LISLE, NY, JUNE 28 , Suzuki's Mark Barnett and, Honda's Chuck Sun disciplined the 125 and 500cc classes', respectively, with overall wins in the Pepsi-Cola National rounds at Broome-Tioga Sports Center, promoted by Mario N asciarelli and Jack Skutnik. Barnett and Sun ~ated their ....dorr-. mances, as were overall WIDnen at the facility last season. 14 Second overall in the 125cc ranks was Kawasaki's Jeff Ward, who used a 5-2 tally for the placing. Ward maintained second in standiRP. and now has 189 points, but wtth Barnett making it 10 moto wins in 10 outings this season, the point gap widened once again in Barnett's favor - he now has 250. Honda teaDUDatlS)ohnny O'Mara and.lim Gibeoo were third and fourth overa1I, and O'Mara is a tight third in standings at ISO. In the 500cc class, Ya~aha's Broc Glover looked to be on hIS way. to. a perfect day, but a broken cham m moto two left him ninth overall after his first moto win. Sun cruised in with a 2-1 for his - and Honda's - first National victory this season with Ya~aha's Mike Bell taking second overall with a 5·5. Maico's Alan King once again climbed a rung on the overall ladder and tooIr. third overall with 6-5 finishes, his best National performance to date. Husky rider Billy Grossi was back on the gas, grabbing a commendable fourth overall with a 4-6 tally. Glover's edge in points has now dwindled to 15 over Sun, 219 to 206. Bell is third with 164, and King and Suzuki's Marty Smith are tied for fourth with 14S. The ooe-and-ooe-eighth·miJe coUrse at Broome-Tioga was slightly revised for 'SI, but all the uphills, downhills and tricky hairpins remained from the past. A cement,start pad launched rid· ers through a right-hander and into a low section before the pack headed into hilly terrain. From there, the course ran through high-speed switch· backs before returning to the front II.traight and mechanics' area. "There's some big rocks out there; some of them might be dangerous," said Bell after practice. "I got hit in the crotch by a big one two years ago off Sun's rear wheel, and I'll tell you it hurts." Honda's Rich Coon was back on the scene after healing from a string of injuries and was ready to contest his first 125cc National of the year. "It's my first big race since the Houston Supercross in March," said Coon. "I missed the first four Nationals because of a crash there, but everything has healed really well. 1 took a fourth here last year. " Coon is a local favorite and resides in Ghent, N. Y. Sun was optimistic after going out and dialing in his lines. "They changed one hill since last year. Some of the rocks make it hard to tum, but 1 try to like every course," said Sun. Be· sides winning overall at Broome-Tioga last year, Sun claimed the 500cc title on that date and also broke his left little fmger when he hit a post. Glover knew the party was over and winning wasn't going to be easy anymore. "Since Sun beat me the pressure's on, but 1 put it on myself. Things aren't the same now," said Glover. For Barnett, it was another day at the track after having had six weeks off for the 125cc class interim. "I've been malting hay, taking it out of the field and getting it in the bam, and it's been hot in Alabama," said Barnett. Suzuki's Darrell Shulu made a short day of it after taking a heavy crash in practice. Shulu went end over end'off a jump and ended up in the weeds. Shulu's big bore was back in the pits in a ,nangled heap, and Darrell was in ~his truck with Ice on his knee. "This time it's the good knee, the one that doesn't stretch. I'm in heavy pain," &aid Shulu. Pulled ligaments put Shulu out for the day, and it is unknown if he will attend the Michigan round next weekend. Smith was taking it slow during practice, still recuperating from a crash at the Carlsbad (California) USGP the week before. "I hurt my head, neck and knee, and 1 have stitches in my (right) arm. 1 twisted my knee 'today in practice, and I'm going to , take it easy, " said Smith. Dust became a problem as the day wore on, but the reported 5,000 enthusiastic spectators didn't seem to mind. AMA referee Rick Titone and crew, top quality medical personnel and at· tentive flag persons made the event run off in smooth fashion under cloud· free skies and SO degree temperatures. 12&cc Netlonal Danny Chandler put his Pro Trac Suzuki out front as moto one left the line, but it was to be another no non· sense day for Barnett as he took the lead half a lap into the race. Soon, Coon planted himself in second, and the front three took off to separate themselves from the pack. Yamaha's Donnie Cantaloupi was in the mechanics' area on lap one with a locked gearbox. Tuner Bevo Forte gave it his best effort to try and get Donnie going again, but it wasn't to be. Cantaloupi headed for the pits, slipping the clutch to get there. Ward didn't let any grass grow under his knobbies and took third as Barnett began to expand his lead over Coon. Suzuki-mounted Gary Denton,

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