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/126623
Central Pipeline
Sears Point w inner Bryan Wa rg o .
Steven Vlahos leads Mike Johnson at the Marysville Hangtown qualifier.
(Con tinued f rom pag e 15)
3. Ron Catan (Suz).
60: 1. Jimmy Clay (Yam) ; 2 . Bobby Paocaralla
(Kawt. 3. Roach P!antanida ( H o n~
WOMEN; 1. Kay Mann (OMS); 2. Nina Bavilacqua l (Han t. 3. Dan ita Giboon (Suz).
125 JR OIV II: 1. Marc Sabado (Han); 2. Kavin
Brown (Suzl; 3. Tyrone Earl (Yam).
OPEN PRO: 1. Donnia Cantaloupi (Yamt. 2 . Joey
Schl89 (Ha n); 3. Jaroma Ha ibarger (KTM).
OPEN INT: 1. Ric h Boe (HuI); 2 . Tom Pol ito (Yam );
3. Bill Farnandoz (Yam ).
Ast on, McKenna,
Cantaloupl top
Hangtown Qualfler
MX
By Dave Blanchard
MARYSVILLE. CA, JAN. 2
Tim Aston, Er ic McKenna and
Donnie Cantaloupi each started
out the new year by thoroughly
dominating the competition to
18
double wins in th eir races.
Despite th e unusually cold weather,
spec tators and racers alike braved th e
element s to bring a surprisingly large
turnout to the second Hangtown
Qualifier. A newly laid out co urse
greeted the New Year 's racers. A skitype j ump kept both spectators and
r id er s ex cited and was th e most
obv ious change.
The firs t rnoto of the da y opened as
McKenna (H on) shot his big bore
Honda into th e lead of th e Open
Expe rt class. Cantaloupi (Yam) played
th e spo iler as he cut inside McKenna
and began putting time between
McKenna and European-moun ted
pursuers Brian jodry (H us), Randy
Losh (Mai) and Alan Berluti (Mai).
Riding like he was possessed, Cantaloupi flew to a first with jodry, Losh,
. McKenna and Maico-mounted Randy
Pockrandt fin ish ing th e top five.
McKenna and Cantaloupi were the
cla ss of th e Open Experts as the two
quickly pulled away from the pack in
the second moto. McKenna held Cantaloupi at bay for three-q uarters of
the race, but eventually settled with a
second at the finish. Berluri, Losh
and jodry, who had 20 seconds between each other, rounded out the
top five.
Kawasaki supported Aston wasted
little time getting the holeshot as he
led Rod Smith (Yam), Brad Bruns
(Suz), Mike johnson (Yam) and Rick
R yan through the 125cc Expert first
turn. Aston and Sm ith began a battle
which left the pack 25 seconds beh ind
- on th e first lap l Smith dropped out
on th e second moto when a derailed
chain stopped his charge and left
Aston unchallenged for first . Ryan
gassed h is Suzuki to second ahead of
Vlahos, Bruns and jim Sizemore to
round out the top five.
The second 125cc Expert moto was
a repeat of the first with Aston again
snagging the holeshot ahead of determined Suzuki pilot Ryan . Ryan
caught Aston, passed him and the
two started the best battle of the da y.
Both ride rs had th e cro wd cheering
and on its feet as the dominating
Kawasaki rider and the flying Suzuki
ace passed and repassed each .other
for two laps before Ryan 's bik e sudden ly quit. Aston went on to win the
moto a nd the overall. Vlahos finished second with johnson and Sizemore following at the finish .
Results
60 NOV ; 1. Rodney Elliot (Yoml; 2. John Luet