Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Mertens in turn one a number of times although Mertens held the upper hand each time. Dave Hebb was the first rider to have the lead in semi two, but he lost that to Honda's Mike Kidd on the third lap. By the halfway flags, Dan Ingram had dropped Hebb to third and was setting his sights on Kidd. Ingram, riding the injured Steve Hall's Harley, took the lead from Kidd as the two exited tum two on lap eight. Kidd took it back on the next lap to set up a last lap battle to the finish. Kidd led the last lap until the exit of turn two where Ingram's better drive 0(( the corner earned him a spot in the National. Kidd was three bikelengths behind at the finish. 0(") 00 0") Lest Chance Ouelifier "I told Rod we had to do it this time or there would be a lot of disappointed fans," said Farris' traveling companion Mike Wheeler. Farris took Wheeler's advice and stayed on the low line for 10 laps and the victory. Poovey, Crabbe and Boody challenged early, but then got into a fight for second among themselves, allowing Farris to put a good bit of distance_on them. His 10 laps were the quickest of the night. "I was trying too hard in my heat and semi," said Farris explaining his victory ride. National A vast majority of the riders made few, if any changes for the National. "This is a hard track to figure out," said Mertens. "We're thinking about a gearing change because I need more power coming 0(( turn two." "We're going for a bit more bite coming 0(( turn two," said tuner Tex Peel as he worked on Graham's Iron Horse/Shoei/CatroIlND/Wisecosponsored Harley. "We'll change gearing and maybe go with a diHerem rear tire." Hank Scott was confident the combination he used to win his heat was what he needed for the final. "A good start is a must," said Scott. ''I'll be riding a somewhat different line than most of the riders because my Honda's chassis works di((erent than a Harley." Springsteen, Goss and Parker all had their own ideas on what would work. Springer's tuner B~II Werner, and he, decided to go with a hard compound rear tire while Brent Thompson fitted a soft compound rear to Goss' bike. Al Stangler and Parker decided to set up his bike to run low on the groove and hope for the best. Scott selected the grandstand side pole position for the start of the National with Chandler, Springsteen, Parker, Graham, Cornwell, Morehead and Goss filling out the front row. jorgensen, Shobert, Brown, ROlOwicz, Mertens, Ingram and Farris rounded out the field on row two. Rozowicz's ride came to an early end when he had clutch trouble on the line. He made the start, but quickly was in the pits and out of the race. Morehead emerged from the crowd in turn two with the lead followed by Parker, Scott, Springsteen and Jorgensen with Brown close behind. By "lap three, there were 10 riders going for third while Morehead held 0(£ Parker's challenge for the lead. Goss, who had been mired in midpack after a bad start, began to move up through trame and was in the group fighting for third by lap four. Scott, Springsteen and jorgensen were ahead of Goss while Chandler, Graham, Farris, Ingram, Shobert and Brown were close behind. By lap eight, the lead 12 were strung out in a long line, but jorgensen had solidified his grip on third over Scott, Goss and Springsteen. Morehead continued to hold of! Parker in their race-leading bat- tie. One rider not in the hunt was Cornwell, who had his motor slow beginning on lap three and was n ursing the bike to a 14th place finish. On lap nine, jorgensen began to put a lot of pressure on Parker for second and then moved past. Parker then had to contend with an on-themove Goss who quiclc.ly put Parker down in fourth. jorgensen moved in on Morehead while fending of( the challenges of Goss and the fight for the lead became a three-way a((air. jorgensen made his pass for the lead coming off turn two on lap 12. On lap 13, Goss made the same move on Morehead and dropped Steve to third. "I thought I was really cooking along out there in the lead until jorgy and Randy zapped right past me," said Morehead. "I watched the lines they were running to keep within striking distance." Goss waited one more lap and then took the lead away from jorgensen. Morehead was a close third while Parker held 0(£ Springsteen with Scott, Chandler and Graham behind. On lap 16, Springsteen moved past Parker imo fourth as Chandler passed Scott for sixth. Morehead wasn't about to let jorgensen get away and took back second on lap 17. Morehead began to close on Goss in the final three laps. jorgensen was also feeling a lot of pressure from Springsteen. Goss took the white flag to start the final lap in front of Morehead by 10 bikelengths. About 30 bikelengths back, jorgensen was leading Springsteen by a bikelength or two. Goss didn't let Morehead cut into his winning margin, but jorgensen had third taken away by Springsteen as the two went into turn three. Springsteen, in third,led jorgensen across the line by . three feet. "It really feels good to win," said Goss about his ninth career National victory. "Brent Thompson has been working really hard on the bike and he wants to win the title back as bad as I do. I got a bad start, but was able to work through tra((ic. I watched jorgy's lines and tried to improve on them a bit. It worked. The track was pretty scary to ride because it was so slippery in a lot of places." "How aboDt that?" questioned Morehead. "I finally finished one. Maybe my bad luck string is over. I feel good. In fact, it feels just as good as the first time I ever made a winner's circle appearance. I rode my heart out-" Unfortunately, Springsteen was heading back to his motel almost as quickly as he got his bike s~pped: , (Top) Steve Moreheed (42) leada Matt Rozowicz (99) and Gary Scott (6). (Above) Alex Jorgensen ran third but ended up fourth. (Below) Ricky Graham (1) and third-p1acar Jey Springsteen (9) battle in their heet. "He wasn't feeling well so he headed baclc.," said Werner. "Lengthening the wheelbase just a bit worked well for most of the race," said jorgensen, "but in the final laps I had trouble with the front end. I really didn't know jay was as close as he was on the final lap. I don't usually look back." Scott, who finished sixth, looked a bit worn out afterward in the pits. "I literally ran out of air," said Honda's Scott. "I have hay fever and can't take any medication before a race so I was wheenng just a bit. The heat, 'b\tmi'd-' . ity and haze didn't help either. I almost couldn't breathe during the final laps. The bike ran super and we're getting closer every week. I'm going to win a National this year, I can feel it." • Results 2o-LAP NATIONAl: 1. Rendy GeM (H-D); 2. S_ Mor_(H-D); 3. Jey Sp,lnga..n (H-D); 4. Alex JofVenMn (H-D); 5. SCott Pe..... (H-D); e. HoI" SCott (Hon); 7. Rid< Ct..ndler (H-D); 8. Ridty G,ehem (H-D); 9. Rod Ferri. (H-D); 10. Don Ingrem (H-D); 11. Tim Merten. (H-D); 12. Bubbe S _ (H-Dt. 13. Fron Brown (H-D); , 4. John Co,_1 (H-D); 15. Mett Rozowicz (H-Dl. TIME: B mono 22.388 ..... AIIEVJiE SPEED: 71/868 mph. 13

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