Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Donnie Hansen chases 250cc Pro winner Bob Hanriah. Hansen beat Hannah in the first moto when a lapper temporarily blocked the Hurricane. Lackey near the 10-lap mark. Lackey repassed Larson on the next go-'round and motored away to the finish as Larson faded with possible shock problems. King nearly caught Larson at the finish but had to settle for third place for the moto and third overall behind Lackey and Larson. Maico rider Jerome Heiberger rode a stron~ race to finish fourth but problems m moto one kept him out of the money. Spencer went home with the fourth place share of the crash as McKenna picked up fifth and Yamaha rider Greg Zitterkopf placed sixth. 125ccPro O'Mara showed the pack the rear of his factory Honda from the start of the first 125cc'Pro money. Yamaha-mounted Ron Lechien followed O'Mara onto the course with Danny Chandler pushing his CRI25 to third ahead of Suzuki rider Michael Preston and La Habra Yamaha's Mike Beier. The battle for second place was a seesaw affair as .five different riders took a shot at the position before falling down or off the pace but Johnny 0 ' was in control of the lead throughout the moto. Suzuki star Mark Barnett made -a late moto charge that carried him to fourth at the finish behind O'Mara , Lechien and Holland. Yamaha 's Eric Kehoe placed fifth and Beier held on for sixth. Barnell's mechanic Jeff Clark twirled a few wrenches between motos and Barnett nailed down the second moto holeshot and quickly pulled away from the pack as O'Mara was stuck in traffic. Yamaha rider Mike Tripes and Suzuki-mounted Chris Heisser trailed Barnett through the first few laps until O'Mara charged into second and began to reel in the National 125cc Champ. . Suddenly Barnett went down hard on the super fast back straight. "I was about four seconds behind him, " recounted O'Mara later, "and I looked up to see his bike cartwheeling about 10 feet in the air." Amazingly Barnett walked away from the fall although his bike wasn't quite so lucky. O'Mara had smooth sailing with Barnett oJ! the sidelines and he took the checkers with a huge lead on second place finisher Lechien. Lechien's strong performance netted him second overall. Suzuki 's George Holland earned· third overall points with a 3-4 score while Heisser picked up fourth and Beier rounded out the top five. 250ee Pro Honda teamster Donnie "Holeshot" HanSen lived up to his nickname by jumping to the lead as the first 250cc Pro moto dashed through turn one . On his heels came Yamaha's Hannah, Yamaha rider Juan Benavidez, Han sen's teammate Jim Gibson and .~ onda support rider Jim Tarantino. Darrell Shultz fell on a tricky tum and detuned himself straight to ' the sidelines as his teammate Hansen continued to hold off Hannah. Benavidez threw a chain as Larry Wosick moved his Honda up to challenge Tarantino, Gibson and Suzuki's Warren Reid for the number three slot. Hannah made a daring mid-air pass to take the lead on lap six but Hansen stayed close and returned the favor two laps later. With the crowd going wild Hannah and Hansen traded the lead again a lap later with both riders using the whole track in search of an advantage. . With the one lap flag out Hansen made a desperate attempt to regain the lead but Hannah kept the door closed until just two turns from the flag when a lapped rider accidentally cut across Hannah's line and Hansen took the win. Gibson finished third, Wosick fourth and Tarantino fifth . Spectators crowded around the course as Hansen once again pulled the holeshot with Hannah inches be hind. Benavidez completed lap one in third place with Reid pressuring from fourth and Yamaha rider Rick Johnson running fifth. Gibson took a tumble in the early going and returned to the ac tion in last place and nearly half a lap behind the leaders. _ I Hannah hounded Hansen for the first half of the moto before slipping past and into the lead. Hansen kept within a bikelength for most of the moto waiting until the last lap to make an all out push to try and regain the lead but 'lu ck was on Hannah's side this time and Hansen's drive fell short. Reid rode to a secure third place finish, actually closing slightly on the leaders near mote's end, while Johnson picked up fourth and Wosick fifth . Wosick earned the third place share of the $4500 purse with Reid claiming fourth and Johnson fifth. Gibson fin ished the inoto in a hard-won ninth place and,took sixth overall honors. • Results . 500 PRO: 1. Brad lackey lSuz); 2. Phil larIon lHon); 3. Allin King ISuzl; 4. Kirk Spencer IV.m!; 5. Eric McKan". IVaml; 6. Grog Zittarkopf IVam); 7. Jim Ellis IHonl; 8. Kavin Davis IM .. ; 9. Bob Schultz IVaml; 10. l 8rad Emory IVam!. 125 PRO: 1. Johnny O'Mara (Han!; 2. Ron Lochien IVam); 3. Georg. Holland ISuz); 4. Chris Hai_ ISuz); 5. Mika _ (Vam); 6. Erik Kehoa IVam); 7. Ron TurnBf IHan); B. MichaaI Praston (Suzl; 9. Oa". Wa"""m lSuzl; 10. Brian Myerscough IHonl. 250 PRO: 1. Bob Hannah (Vam); 2. Donni. Hansen lHan); 3. Larry Wosick IHon); 4. Warren Raid ISuzl; 5. Rick Johnson IVaml ; 6. Jim Gibson (Hon); 7. Scott Burnworth IVam); B. Ross Pederson ISuzl; 9. Jim Tarantino (Han!; 10. Mika Knupp IVam! .. MINI EX: 1. Rick HB

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