Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Steve WiM lleft) hed vision problems in the first moto but won round ~o.. Donnie Hansen Irlght! took the first moto after passing a fading WI... premier course. Suspensions were utilIZed to the fullest on the grueling 1.1 mile circuit which winds through the hilly New York countryside. 2&OccUSGP Hanacn was quick with the clutch when the ~te dropped for moto one, and Donroe took a nice lead through the fint right hand sweeper. Moto-X Fox's Jo Jo Keller was next followed by Wile, MX Fox's David Bailey on a factory Kawasaki and Hannah. Keller wasn't about to let a good adrenalin rush go to waste and blasted into the lead. Hansen came back quickly to challenge, butJo Jo author· itatively shut the door, Keller led a good portion of the race, but clipped a pole and bent his rear bake lever around the footpeg. He pulled out a lap later. Hanacn regained the lead but Wile and Hannah came by. Donnie wasn't through; he dogged the duo only a few bikelengtha back. Van der Yen was fourth, contending with Hudson, and Bailey was sixth with Kinigadner in tow. Yamaha·supponed Kris Bigelow, Canada'. ROIl Pedenon on a Kawasaki and Martin trailed. The hottest race of the day was on as Wile and Hannah diced to the limits, both knowing Hanacn was a hair'sbreadth behind. Hannah stuffed up next to Wile, yelling at him to move over. Eventually Hannah got by and started building a lead. With three laps to go the crowd was settling in waiting for Hannah to take the checkered flag, but a misjudged line on a choppy uphill changed every· thing. Hannah hit the ground hard but was up instantly, frantically running in a circle looking for his bike. He got rolling but fell again and packed it in. Wile faded while every: one was watching Hannah, and Hansen took the win. Hudson had cleared van der Yen and wasted little time plugging into second when things got fouled up front. Van der Yen locked into third. Wile clung to fourth, and Rolf Diffen· bach Itept in front of Bigelow for fIfth. Bailey, Kinigadner, Martin and Soren Monensen of Denmark on a KTM rounded out the top 10 point paying positions. "We had quite a dice out there," said Hansen with a smile. "I gated poorly," said Hudson. "It was wide open from the start, and the bike was fme." "Sweat ran in my goggles and I couldn't see a thing," said Wile. "Then I pulled them off and it was really bad." Wile wears contact lenses and has problems with unprotected eyes when riding. "I didn't know what was going on," said Hannah. "I was looking uphill for the bike (after his first crash). I didn't know how it could have gotten behind mef' Guerra was the victim of a last minute engine change before the moto and subsequent sticking throttle. It finally put Mike on the ground in Gravity Cavity, the huge downhilll uphill Unadilla is known for. It was Wilken's game in moto two for the fint few laps. The Maico rider was on the gas with Wile, Hannah and Keller in line. Hannah almllllt chomped on his ban again over the same spot that crashed him in moto one, but The Hurricane saved it. Wilken faded and eventually DNF with Wise and Hannah once again taking up their battle. Hanacn staned at the back and was never in contention. Keller hung onto third with Kinigadner alone in fourth.. Hudson, David Watson - Hudson's British teammate - and Bigelow were a close 5-6-7. Bailey went down, and Guerra slid out due to a light drizzle which made the course slippery. Wile started to l'ut ground on Hannah, who was slowmg and fInally pulled out after a crash. Hannah had been soaking his hand in ice water before the race, but it wasn't enough to keep the pain away. Wile was on the way while Hudson came from fifth to second and van der Yen moved from an early 11th to third. Keller throttled all the way to earn founh. Martin gassed it through some tight turns on the last lap to take Wal30n for ~th. Kinigadner, Pederson, Laqua~ and Ftnland's Erick. Sundstrom on a Husky filled the top 10. "I had to pull my goggles off again, but I wasn't going to stop for another pair that time," said Wile. "It was good, especially when it rained." said Hudson. "I wish it would have rained more in moto one. I had a few problems at the start of the season and now it's starting to show (in point standings). Next we'll ride in Russia, where there are many steep hills. " 600ccSupport Maico's Mickey Kessler was the cream of the Support class crop with a 1·1 tally. "It gets tougher here every year," said Kessler. "This is the first time I put it together. I'd win one moto, but crash my brains out in the other." In moto one Maico-supponed Ken Adams led Kessler off the line. Husky's Billy Grossi, Maico riders Wemysa Scott and Tony DiStefano and Husky's Gary Pustelak were next. Kessler tested Adams through the first half of the race, with Mickey finally getting by after several futile attempts. Grossi ahd been reeling in the leaders and popped into second when Adams fell in a slow section late in the race. Pustelak ate up the rough stuff for founh with KTM's Jim Meenan working hard to come up to fifth. Tony D took the moto two stan, but Kessler soon eased by, uncontested the remainder of the race. Adams and WP Racing-backed Brian Thompson lock· ed in behind. A wet course and slippery going put Thompson, Pustelak and others down. Kessler held his torrid pace with GrOlli getting to within five seconds but falling shon. Adams took third with Fred Venucci of Vertucci's Power Equip' ment handling fourth. Meenan agam moved his KTM up to fifth. • Results FIRST MOTO: 1. Donnio _ (Han); 2. NoiI Ho-. (YomI; 3. K.- _ dor V.. lKTM); 4. WIM CHanl; 6. Roll ~ lHanl; I. Krio IligoIow (YomI; 7. o..id a.y uc-l; 8. Hoinr KinisIIdr* IPucl; 9. S_ _ lSuzI: 10. _ MulI11i_' lKTM); 11. AMy Sl8CY lKTM); 12.'- ~ a..quoy.lSWMl; 13. Erick SurGuom IHuIl; 14. _ {YomI; 15. _ _ uc-I; 11. DimlIa- RIngoIov 1Huol; 17. Reymand _1Huol; 18. ....... _IMoIl; 19. e... ..... {YomI; 20. Micheol_ {yoml. SECOND MOTO: 1. Wloe; 2. Hl-.; 3. _ dor v..; 4. Jo Jo K_lSuzl; 6. _ ; I. o..id W _ (YomI; 7. Klnigodrw; 8. _ ; 9. SurGuom; 11. Sl8Cy; 12. T _ ; 13. LeiI _ _ 1Huol; 14. _ ; 16. MulI11i_I. 11. J.If _ lSuzI: 17. _ ; 18. _ _ (Yom); 19. _ ; 20. T_ s_ Alon Logue tHan). WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINT STANDlNGS: 1. '-12211; 2. NoiI Ho-. 11921; 3. K.- _ dor v.. 11291; 4. Roll Dltlenbech 181); 6. Hoinz KlnigIodlw (72); I . . - ~ Loquoye 1M); 7. Mig Guomt 183l; 8. o.vtd W _ 1451; 9. DlmlW RIngoIov 135l; 10. _ MuI_ _ , 1341. ~ SUPPORT: 1. Micbv _ (Moll 1·1; 2.1llIy GIoooi IHuol 2-2; 3. K - . . IMell 3-3; 4. met Vor1uCCi .. ~; 6. Jim _ lKTM) r.6; I. Dorw1y s-u (Moll 7.-; 7. Alon PIzzino IHuol 10-7; 8. Tony DiS_ lMoo112", 9. RicIt ~ IMoIl"-"; 10. W _ Scolt IMoIl1-14; 11. Gery ~ IHuol4-·; KIIly (Mlo111>-12; 13. IIrion """'"- IMoil 12. _ ~18; 14. _ _ IMoil .-8; 18. Glom GIoc:8y 1Han) 18-13; 11. Koilh Mom (Yom) 14-11; 17. T""Y IMoIl ·-10; 18. Alon K _ IMIIl 17-16; 19. o..id Eddwt IMoil 13-19; 20. MIko _ (Moll 11-17. ·DenoloI pIocIng OUlIido:op 20. ISuzl T_ 7

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