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/126594
Petty Golden State Series: Round 1 Bell, Hannah, O'Mara open it up at Saddleback By Terry Whytal Photos by Mike Klinger and Whytal ORANGE, CA ,JAN . 5 _ "It was excellent, the best ever!" were the words used by factory Yamaha star Bob Hannah -to describe the Saddleback International track used for the opening round of the Continental (Above) Bob Hannah rode up front all the way to win the 250cc Pro final. (Above right! Mike Bell took the 500cc Pro class with over a minute on the runner-up (Below) Honda's Johnny O'Mara dominated the 125cc Pro race. Mote-sports Club's 1982 Preston Petty Golden State Series. Approximately 8000 spectators watched Hannah dominate the 2S0cc Pro final event with a wire-to. -, d hi wire IS d ' I wm an idi usual . pyrotechnic f t ISp ays .0 G~~ mg ~ skIll. Honda ehamllster)lm I son 0h~nl~k~he super c a engmg course to IS I mg as he powered his way into second place and stayed within 10 seconds of Hannah . Yamaha's Mike Bell finished the SOOcc Pro race with more than full minute separating him from the number two rider, Donnie Cantaloupi. Bell had to work past Cantaloupi's KTM teammate, Joey Schlag who led the first two laps, but from there it was smooth sailing for the former stadium champ. The Johnny 0 ' show rolled through the 1.2Scc Pro ranks and left the pack fighting for the runner-up position. Trophee des Nations co -winner O'Mara stole the show by grabbing the holeshot and quickly dancing his Honda Pro-Link to an untouchable lead. Vet eran , Old Timer and Mini Expert races gave the Pros some breathing time between mores. Maico _ rider Jim O'Neal topped the Vet Masters class ahead of Yamaha. mounted Steve Ferroni and Honda rider Vernon Gabbert. The Old T~mers Master class was won by ~Ichard Schilling (Mai) with Husky . rider Chuck Rouse taking second and . Maico pilot Marvin Olson placing third. The Mini Expert results are unresolved at this time , and will be resolved at the Madera round next week . The dedicated Saddleback person nel d~erve a lot of credit for not only salvaging the track from a nearly dis ~strous rain storm but also for designmg a. course that challenged even top pro nders. a 10 SOOcc Pro "My bike worked really well. Ron Heben is my ~ew mecha.nic and h~ di?, a very g~od Job preppmg. the bike, n~ted !"1lk ~OeOll apfterF.hls runaway victory m t hee a cc ro rna l event. A smgIe IS . Iap fi 1 race was run . ma for each of the Pro events as a record turnout 'of riders made the qualifying . I '15 se~~~ as.~untlJ P'~'hl d h n er oe Y c ag use e awesome power 0 f t h e new 49St cc Austrian single-shocker to power into the lead as the pack thundered down Banzai Hill . Bell quickly moved into second with Schlag's KTM teammate , Donnie Canraloupi, running third . Schlag and Bell pulled away from the pack as both riders worked their mounts to the limit. Bell found an opening after a couple of laps ' and eased int o the front position. Riding a smooth, controlled race, Bell continued to turn lap times three and four seconds faster than the trailing riders and opened an awesome lead by the checkers. Schlag kept a steady pace throughout the motobut Cantaloupi put on a late race charge that carried him past his teammate and into second place at the finish . A tremendous battle was fought for the number four slot with Yamaha rider Jeff Hicks , Maicomounted Micky Dymond, Hi -Point Honda rider Phil Larson: Jerome Heiberger (Mai) and Steve Banning (Hon) all taking a shot at a top five placing. Hicks and Dymond each ran into problems and Heiberger was able to take the checkers behind Schlag, with Larson edging Banning for fifth . Suzuki star Brad Lackey recovered from a 50th place start to fin ish ninth . 250cc Pro The storm that dumped two inches of rain on the course over the New Years holida-y was mild compared to the Hurricane that attacked the track in the 2S0cc Pro race. Hannah forced