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/126544
'Guau who'. number ona1 Left to right. KlIW8Akl'. Steva Johnaon. Rob Muzzy, Superblka champ Eddie Lnnon and Mlka Johnaon know, AMA Superblke Championship .Series: Final round Freddie Spencer's win; Lawson's fif'e By G,ary Van Voorhis DAYTONA BEACH, FL, OCT. 5-4 Freddie Spencer won the battle, but Eddie Lawson won the war in the final round of the AMA Superbike Championship Series at Daytona International Speedway, Spencer and had said he would . 10 Kawasakl/Kerke.r sponsored Lawson had gone mto the final round with a 17 point lead over take it easy and basically cruise to the title. Spencer, on the other hand, had to win and hope that gremlins of one type or another befell Lawson's effons. As it turned out Spencer hustled to the win and Lawson rode to an uneventful third place - behind Freddie's teammate Mike Spencer - and the title. Wes Cooley, the 1979ยท80 title holder, was tnathematically eliminated from the title chase at tbr previous round, but had a shot at taking second place in the championship away from Spencer with a strong showing. Unfortunately, Cooley clipped a haybale in a Wednesday practice 1eSIioo, breaking his pelvis and dislocating his hip. He ~t race day in the hospital and is due to be in a body cast for approxitnately six weeks. "It was a Sunday ride," said Lawson. "I stayed out of everyone's way and rode my own pace. Hey, I didn't even rev.the engine over 8,500 rpm. That's the first time I've gotten passed by six riders (on the stan) and didn't even care." Lawson had a c.hampagne celebration with team manager Gary Mathers and crew memben Rob Muzzy, Steve Johnson and Mike Johnson afterwards. "We had the killer engine in the bike," said Freddie Spencer. "We call it the 'gator engine' because if you don't watch out it'll bite you. Nobody was going to catch me today because. everything was dialed in beautifully. We've made tremendous progress since the beginning of the season. It's a shame the only Superbilte event I'll ride next year will be Daytona,' because I think Honda will be hard to beat." Spencer will rid~ the 500cc GPs next year. / Spencer took the pole for the 12-lap, 46.4 mile sprint around Daytona's 5.87 mile combined oval/infield course via his blistering heat race win. At the finish, Spencer had a 50 second advantage over Thad Wolff - in just five lapsl Lawson won tbr other brat with a very strong perfoJ'Jltance, suggesting his '~talte it srow and easy" statements were just a ploy. Actually, it was the oppomte, according to Kawasaki's Mathers, "We wanted everyone to think we were going to go for it 100 percent." It was the red, white and blue tricolors of Honda heading the paclt on the stan with Freddie Spencer, Mike Spencer and Ro~o Pieui running 12-5. Gennady l,iubimslti, on the YClIhimuralSuzuki Suzuki had coUared founh with Team Escargot's Thad Wolff and Racecrafter's HarrY Klinzmann following. Lawson was about ninth, but quickly moving up. Liubimslti, Klinzmann, Wolff and Pietri ended their racing early. LiubimIki retired with "expensive sounding noises. " . _ Klinzmann had replaced his "good" engine with hiI baclt-up and found the !arter to be much stronger. So much so