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/126529
O'8rochta, Blackburn, Vance smoke NMRA rI.. - A fogged.fIIcnhleld put Rendy Memo" Into the grea end out of the .. poInu Ieed on Iep one. 18 former World Champion Barry Sheene, whose debut on the new square·four Yamaha came to a disap· pointing end with yet .more tire problems. German World Champion Toni Mang .(Kawasaki) continued to dom· inate the 250cc class with yet another clear win, while in the 125cc championship: Spaniard Angel Nieto (Minarelli) got back to winning ways by beating Italian Grand Prix winner Guy Bertin (Sanvenero) in front of his home crowd. . Flamboyant Lucchinelli's win on the Italian'prepared Suzuki, came after a magnificent race, which after 21 punishing laps on the ultra·fast circuit, turned out to be as much a battle of tires as well as stamina. "It was a very hard race which f really didn't think I could win,". said the Italian, sporting his famous pink scarf. "When I tried to get away I saw from my pit signs that the gap was increasing lap by lap, and only then did I realize I had a real chance. " The stage 'was set for a hectic race when Sheene, to the cheers of the French crowd, led at the .end of the first lap with teammate Roberts on his tail and Kork Ballington (Kawasaki) heading Mamola and Franco Uncini (Suzuki) and Crosby down in eighth spot. Takazumi Katayama crashed out of the proceedings on the first lap, when his Honda NR 500 sprung a water leak. Triple World Champion Roberts took the lead a lap later and the Yamaha pair started to pull away from the pursuing Suzukis of Lucchinelli and Mamola with Crosby making steady progress in seventh place. Any ideas the Yamaha men had for an easy ride were soon shattered when Lucchinelli, using Michelin tires, relegated Sheene to third place on the fifth lap and a lap later snatched the lead from Roberta, who was Goodyear shod on his works Yamaha'. Lucchinelli held the lead for a couple of laps until the old master Roberts was back in front on lap eight. as Suzuki mounted their three· pronged challenge. Crosby and Mamola, both using Dunlop tires, continually swapped places in their battle for fourth place and slowly but surely, they closed the gap on the leading trio until the tire problems started to have their eff..ct. Lucchinelli was back in front at half distance and Sheene, on similar Michelin tires, overtook Roberts but the threatening Suzuki duo of Mamola and Crosby had closed right up and the battle was on. "The bike was running a little bit rich which made a gap between first and second gear," said Mamola. "I was adding the points up in my mind all the time as I was going along and the tires behaved really well. I was sliding but nothing like Kenny and Barry who were in front of me." Lucchinelli continued to race away up front, to the delight of the banner· waving Italian contingent, and he recorded a new lap record when he lapped the !l.625·mile circuit at an average speed of 104.!l2 mph and the .crowd·s attention was focusing on the battle for second place. Roberts started to drop from the frame with four laps remaining and there was nothing he could do but watch his World Championship lead slip away as he dropped to fifth place. "I've got the fastest bike on the track," said a disappointed Roberts after the race. "After three laps I got into a slide coming into the straight and thought the tire must still be cold. I went slow waiting for it to improve but nothing happened and when Lucky made his break, there was nothing I could do about it." Sheene, whose only comment after the race was: "My tires were awful," tried manfully to stave off and then stay with the Suzukis but he had to settle for fourth place behind Mamola and Crosby at the finish. 'The two Americans riding in the 250cc race both retired in the early going. Rich Schlachter, who qualified second fastest, went out with sticking throttle slides on his Yamaha', and Kawasaki's Eddie Lawson was hit by a slowing engine. • Results 500cc: 1. M. LuccIlineili (Suzl; 2. R. Mlmoll ISuzl; 3: G. Crooby ISuzI; 4. B. S~ (VI"d; 5. K. Roberto lVoml; 6. K. Kiroyuki (Suzl; ·7. K. 8IIlingmn IKowl; B. B. VIn Oul....., lVom); 9. J. Middolburg lSuz); 10. M. _IVoml. 250cc: 1. A. Mlng IKlwI; 2. T. Espie IVlm); 3. C. 1I111do IVom); 4. J.J.f. _lKIwl; 5. P. Bolte IVoml; 6. R. Sibille lVoml; 7. P. _ IVlml; B. M. _ (Ad M); 9. H. Gullleu. ISir); 10. C. EstrOli IVoml. 125cc: 1. A. NillO IMinl; 2. G. Bertin ISon); 3. P. llioncI1i (MBA); 4. H. Muller IMBA); 5. M. Vitlli IMBA); 6. L. R_inoi IMinl; 7. I. P I _ IMBA); B. A. Auinger IMBA); 9. J'(; Solini lMorI; 10. P. Corl..", IMBAI. . SIDECARS: 1. R. BilondlK Wlltilburg IVlm); 2. J. . ToyIoriB. J _ IVlml; 3. A. MicholIM. Burkerd IVoml; • E. StreuorlB Schneid... (Vom); 5. D. JonesJB.A",eoIVoml; 6. P. CombeliIR. Goodwin lVlml; 7. T. IreooniC. PoIlington IVoml; B. M. KumonolT. TllIIhimo IVoml; 9. J. HockertlT. Riodl IVlm); 10. J. BerkerIJ. Brushwood lVlml. WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINT STANDINGS 125: 1. A. Nillo(6BI; 2. L. Roggilni 1411; 3. H. Muller 1291; 4. G. Bertin 1271; 5. P. Bionchi 1261. . 250: 1. A. Mong (43); 2. J·F 8llde .1331; 3. C. livedo 1321; 4. T. Espie 1191; 5. M. MMoimiorTI I1BI. 500: 1. R. MomoIo 1391; 2. K. Roberto 136); 3. G. CroIby l34l; 4. M. LuccIlinelli end B. Sbeene 1311; 8. B. Von Dul""".I25); 7. H. Kow_i 1191; B. J. Middleburg 112); 9. K. 8IIlingmn 191; 10. F. Unc:ini 181. SIDECARS: 1. J. ToyIoriB. _ 1391; 2. A. MichollM. IIurkord 1351; 3. R. BitondIK. Wolti_g 1271; 4. W. SchwIrzellS. Huber 118); 5. O. Joneo/ll. Ayreo 112). Summer- nationals By Steven Crosby , HARTFORD, CT, JUNE 27 ·28 Th~ National Motorcycle Racing Association took the Summernationals crowd on a scenic New E~gland ride to Connecticut International Raceway and to perfect racing days. Over 4,000 spectators turned out for the twoday event. Cool crisp air on Saturday aided the qualifying, and over 20 new national records were established. Bo O'Brochta can· tinued his domination in Top Fuel. Ken Blackburn won Funny Bike. Terry Vance made it 10 championships in a row by beating Bob Carpenter 10 the Pro Stock final. Top Fuel qualifying had few sur· priaes. Bo was number one on his Ter· minal Van Lines Kawasaki with a 7.61 second elapsec! time at 175.78 miles per hour. Jtm Bernard on Ron Teson's Yamaha was second at 7.94 and 17!l.4I. Wayne Davis followed with 8.04 and 172.41. A twin·engine Harley· Davidson made it to the track but an oil leak on .the burnout prevented it from qualify· mg. • In the first round, O'Brochta used his bye run to lay down a sizzling 7.55 second run at an incredible 190.27 mph. The two Californians squared off next in an event filled race. Davis took the win with an 8.07 and 159.85 to Bernard's 8.58 and 151.00. A Oms fastener was left off on the body on Bernard's machine, the body flexed out two feet to the side knocking his leg off the bike and malting it almost impossible to steer. Davis had his problems when a cylinder leaned out, burned a hole through the head of the motor, and set the bike on first at the finish line. The wind quicltly put out the fire, and David was OK but un· able to rj:turn for the final. O'Broehta, getting a tan on the roof of his trailer between rounds, came down to run a final pass at another 7.55 and 182.92 for the solo win. Funny Bike Eliminator saw a host of machines vie for a spot in the eight bike field. The low qualifier was Jon Baugh with an 8.15 run at 165..65. It took an 8.95 to make the show. In the first round Baugh broke the chain on his Kawasaki but was the winner when his ~ponent Jim Cooper red lighted. Bau was supposed to meet Blackburn in t e second round but could not return. Blackburn soloed to an easy 12.6!l for a spot in the final. The other finalist was Ray Price on a Harley·Davidson. His bike was voted Best Engineered by tech crew. The two bikes left the starting line together. Blackburn pulled away for the win when Price's motor pitched a push rod at half track. Blackburn's winning time was 9.76 at 102.85. The number of entries in Pro Stock increase at each event. 'Ibirteen racers made the trip up north for Summer· nationals. Mike Keyte was low qualifier with his Kawasaki at 8.95 and 150.25 mph. Terry Vance and Bob Carpenter were second and third both at 9.00 elapsed times. Semi·finals matched Keyte and Carpenter and yance against John Mafaro. Super Bike Mike guessed on the starting line tree and redlighted. Carpenter was the winner with a.·8.95.. at 147.00 to a losing 9.04 at 148. Mafaro had to gamble on a holeshot to beat Terry Vance but left too soon and red· lighted. Vance went a strong 8.94 at 148 to Mafaro's 9.26·at 140. This was the first time Vance and Carpenter squared off their Suzultis in a final round this year. Only one one· hundredth of a second separated the two in their semi·final round runs. Bob, who had celebrated his birthday the day before, wanted nothing more than a win to continue the celebration. But that was not to be the case. Vance left the line first and as he' later reo called, "I put it in second, the bike set back on the wheelie bar as it hooked up, and I thought, 'Bob's in trouble now.''' Vance ran the quickest time of the event with a 8.86 and 149.00 to Carpenter's 9.01 at 147 .29. The closest final round of the day was in Pro Competition. Rich Stet· son took his 1100 Suzuki to a 9.06 win