Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Cycle News 1981 12 09

Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles

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Donnie H.nsen (39. Jam. underneath Jeff Jennings In tum one of. &OOcc Pro moto. H....n DNF In. the final moto giving Ron Tumer CMC Four-Stroke National Championship . urner thumps (() T victory By Terry Whytal' CARLSBAD, CA, NOV. 29 Honda factory test rider "Radical" Ron Tux.ner used the M~lcolm McCassey-built Horsepower Factory XR500 to blow away the competition at this year's Continental Moto-sports Club Four-Stroke National Champion· shi S ,rI really luck~d . . . , . t~lS one, Into noted Turner In the pitS after taking the second moto w!n, when leader Donnie Hansen's Mugen DNF just a half lap from the checkers. Turner and Hansen, along with David Gerig and Phil Larson, both .riding Mugen Hon.das. had batded for the lead . in each moto with Turner topping round one and Hansen placing second. Turner was just two bikelengths off the pace when Hansen's near victory ended on the infamous Carlsbad uphill. Hansen took the mechanical failure philosphically. "That's racing," shrugged the AMA co-Athelete of the Year. Mugen wizard AI Baker was obviously downcast. "\\'e th4tk 'third gear shattered. The' bike just locked up suddenly on Donnie.. It's a major." • Motoone 12 Jeff Jennings pulled the holeshot on the White Bros. Formula Floater only to take a tumble in the first turn mud· hole left over from the weekerld rains. Gerig took over the lead as Jennings remounted last and began ';1. charge that carried him to sixth in two laps. Jennings dropped out on lap four, staring later, "I tweaked my knee in the fall, and it hurt so much I finally had to pull off." Gerig continued to set a blistering pace as Turner, Hansen and Larson battled for the runner-up position. Turner and Hansen traded . places several times before Turner set up both Hansen and Gerig in the tricky section after the downhill and rocketee;t into the lead. Gerig twisted 'his still healing ankle and sloweq as Hansen took over second place. Hansen pressured Turner for the lead, but "Radical" Ron held on to reach the checkered flag first. Gerig settled for third and Larson crossed the line a close fourth. . Moto two "Holeshot" Hansen lived up to his .nickname ~s t.he pack thundered through the first turn with Hansen emerging at ,he front. Turner, Gerig and Larson freight·trained behind Hansen while Suzuki rider Bob Elliott and Yamaha-mounted Randy Norman dueled for fifth. Turner took the inside line at the top of. the Carlsbad Freeway and slipped past Hansen. The two front· rlinners engaged in a claSSIC battle for the next 10 laps until Turner smashed his fingers on a fence post and Hansen gtabbed the lead while Turner struggled to control the 250-pound thumper. With one lap reqtaining. Turner tried last ditch attempt to regain the lead, bU,t Hansen looked secure until the sudden. transmission failure. Turner wheelied across the finish line to take the first overall share of the purse money. Gerig was next' across the finish to post a 5-2 score and earn second overall honors ,ahead of thirdplace Larson. Norman picked up the fourth-place money. and Elliott rounded out the top five for the day's event. a Amateur action Honda rider Brian Showalter dominated the 500cc Intermediate class by sweeping both motos. Honda rider Steve Hodapp and CCM-mounted' Michael David traded second place finishes with ~avid claiming second overall.honors and Hodapp finishing third. . Michael Sullivan toeped the 500cc Junior class by winning the second moto after placing fourth in round ·one. Finishing behind Sullivan's Honda in the second moto was Yamaha rider Charles Ball to pick up second ove,rall while Robert Lauber rode bis Yamaha to third. Honda rider Pete Eunice and Yamaha·mounted Jim Hale engaged' in a hard-fought battle in 250ccJunior action. Hale worked his way to tbe front in malO one abead of Eunice and Honda ride John Caper. EI,mice was unable to work past Hale and had to settle for sec.ond behind the fleet Yamaha rider. The outcome was reversed in the second round. however, as Eunice held off Hale to take the 'moto win and overall vicotory. Hale finished second and Wesley Burnett rode his Honda to, a consistent 4-4 score and tl!-ird overall .. Honda rider. Steve Hodapp powered past early 200cc Sportsman leader Jim O'Neal in route to reaching the checkers first inl mota one. O'Neal came back in round two !O blow the mthe win. doors off Hodapp and t\.J.e rest of t field and win the mota convincing! Overall finish order was O'Nea Hodapp, liond~. rider Phil Davy an Yamaha·moun~dLee Fabry. Yamaha rider Steve Bussell trad mota wins with Honda rider Robe Lauver from North Bend, OR in t Vet Junior class. Bussell earned t honors ahead of Lauver, Honda' pil Steve Bibb and Kawasaki rider Chari Burnett. Spectators lined the fence to watc the Sidehacks race .on the challengi course made more difficult stretches of slippery mud alternati with primo traction across kill whoops. Pete Whitney and Dua Dowell two-timed their Yama 650cc'powered hack to the first mot victory. Following the leaders to t finish were Tom Ridyard and Pe l\1elillo with another Yamaha-powere ma.chine with tbe Triumph team John Palfreyman and Tom Lund an the Norton team of Ralph Whitn and Mike Bums ran into probl letting Bob Schnoor and Sco Piper slip their Maico hack int third. The Palfreyman/Lund team led t second moto from- the drop of the gat to the checkers to grab third avera honors as Whitney/Dowell. plac second to earn first overall whil Ridyard/MeliUo took second overall. Results OPEN PRO: 1. Eric McKenna (Yom); 2. M _ (Hon);.3. Jl8ndy Nor","" (Yom). 500 PRO: 1. Ron Tumor (Han); 2. David Gerig IHon 3, Phil ~Hon), 500 INT: 1. Brion S _ (HonI; 2. Michael ICCM); 3. SleW Hodapp CHon)• 250 JR: 1. Pete Eunice CHonI; 2. Jim Hale (Yam); W"oy Bur"""CHon). 200 SPORTSMAN; 1. Jim O'NeeI IHonI; 2. S Hodapp lHon); 3. Phil DIvy lHoni. MINIS: 1.1lep1ie K..... IHonI; 2. . - M IHonI; 3. Eric M"cCormide IHonI. VET EX: 1. Jim O'NeIl (HonI; 2. Vernon (Honl; 3. Pete EunicIIIHon). VET INT: 1. - . M-..IHonI; 2. C_WIHonI. VET JR: 1. SleW Bu...n (Yam); 2. Roberl Lau IYern); 3. SIeWSibbs IHonI. OT JR: 1. <>- Dempsey IHonI; 2. GuM Vllillencourl lHon); 3. Ca1 EIIer1 CKawI. OT INT: 1. Phillip _ CCCM); 2. Chuck Mi IBSAl. SIOEHACK: 1. Pale Whitney1Duene ~ (Yam); Tom Ridyerd/I'aTy Melillo (Yom); 3. John ""'" Tam LundfTril.

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