Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

course and overtook Merkel. but the Superbike rookie had plans of his own. He pulled alongside Baldwin down the back straight, then held him off through the final three corners for the win. In the battle for third, Pietri passed McDonald with three laps remaining, and then used lapped traffic to maintain his advantage. The hallie for fifth went to Bettencourt after Fay got oil on his rear tire and crashed unhurt in turn one. Former TT specialist Randy Skiver was the first non-Honda, finishing sixth on his privateer Suzuki. Honda rider Ricky Orlando and Mills followed him in. Second leg Fred Merkel, riding the injured Steve Wi..' Superbike, took both 18-lep leg. et Portlend Intemetionel Recewey for hi. fint overell win in Superbike competition. AliA Superbike Series: Round 9 Merkel "ies; Baldwin takes point lead at Portland By Dale Brown PORTLAND, OR, JULY 24 While Honda Support rider Fred Merkel was busy winning both legs of the Superbike race with a factory Interceptor, Honda's Mike Baldwin managed to conquer the pain of his injured wrist to score a second overall and the lead in the point standings. Baldwin had come into the event tied with Kawasaki's Wayne Rainey, but when the laller DNF the first heat because of engine troubles, Baldwin surged into a l4:point lead with six events remaining. While Raine had to pull to a top in the first leg as he was contending with the leader, he came back to score a second in the final leg for 13th overall and twO points. Coming out third for the day was Honda Support rider am McDonald, who put together a 4-4 tally. He was trailed in the standings by Honda uppon teammates Roberto Pietri and John Bellencourt, who tallied scores of 3-6 and 5-5, respectively. The event was the Kawasaki Superbike 100, co-sponsored by ND and Kerker, promoted by AFM Pro and drawing an estimated 5800 spectators to the first National event held at the Portland International Raceway facility. 12 and after the win in the £irstleg, I was just going to go out and do my best to get the second one too. The bike ran good, we stayed out of traffic, didn't have any troubles and it happened." Quelifying For Merkel, who was riding the injured Steve Wise's machinery, it was his first overall win in Superbike competition, and he was elated. "It feels great," he grinned. "We've been finishing second and third all seaIOIl The grid was set by the results of two five-lap heats. Baldwin had lillie touble winning the first ·one over McDonald and Pietri, while the second was a Merkel/Rainey dog.£ight. Merkel led four of the five laps, including the final one, as Rainey suffered the hor epower blues that have plagued the green team in their ballie against the Hondas most of the season. Unofficially, the econd heat was six seconds faster than the first. but the AMA scoresheets showed Baldwin on the pole and listed no time. Being on the front row was all that manered, however, since the starting straight is also used for drag racing and is very long. The nine-turn PIR layout drew high marks froIlJ'the riders for the layout and for safety, but there were plenty of bumps on both th~ front and back straights. Firat leg The first of two 16-lap races saw Rainey take the holeshot off starter Bob Malley's flag, uailed by the Honda wrecking crew of Baldwin. Merkel. McBonald and Pieui. The top three quickly moved into their own race, with Merkel selling the pace on the second lap, and Rainey undergoing a heart-SLOpping tankslapper as he got on the gas too hard exiting turn three. On lap three, Baldwin moved from third to first, and he held the position for the fourth lap as well. Behind the leading trio. McDonald and Pietri were circulating in close order ahead of Bettencourt. Suzuki rider Dan olan was sixth, followed by Mickey Fay on David Aldana's Honda Support machine, and Ducati rider Joey Mills. alan was out of the race on the fourth lap when be crashed in the esses, unhurt. Merkel regained the lead on lap five, with points protagonists Rainey and Baldwin swapping second in a lively banle. Baldwin made another bid for the top spot on the ninth tour of the circuit. but Merkel grabbed it back on lap 10. On the 12th lap, the two Honda pilot had pulled some breathing room on Rainey, but on the 13th lap it was over for the Kawasaki pilot as he pulled into the pits. "The motor started slowing on one lap," said Rainey, "And on the next lap it was making -all kinds of internal noises, so I pulled off." The Kawasaki crew changed engines between races, and it was not then known what had gone wrong with the first one. That left Merkel and Baldwin out by themselves, with a good distance over the McDonaldlPietri battle. Fay. in only his second professional road race. had moved up and was badgering Bettencourt for fifth. On the white flag, Baldwin made his move ~. the back part of the McDonald led the troops to the first comer in the second 16-lapper, and led them through most of the first lap. Rainey was back in contention and made a daring inside pass on turn nine to steal the lead away. Rainey then led the next lap with McDolF aId, Merkel and Baldwin in pursuit. Merkel resumed his leading ways on the third lap as he, Baldwin and Rainey quickly separated themselves from the rest of the pack. McDonald was running a clear fourth as Pietri found himself occupied in battle with Bettencourt this round. This round was to see no swapfest as Merkel was hot on the trail of his first win, Rainey still found himself out-powered down the two long straights on the course, and Baldwin - aware of Rainey's DNF - decided to concentrate on second overall and the accompanying points rather than push for the win. McDonald continued to circulate a clear fourth, while Bettencourt applied welding-torch heat to Pietri's flanks from sixth. Undaunted by his first-leg getoff, Fay was running a strong seventh and getting a road racing education. By the end of the race Merkel had worked up a three-second lead over Rainey, who had a similar margin on Baldwin. McDonald held his fourth, good for third overall, while Bettencourt took Pietri for fifth with two laps remaining. In the overall order, however, their positions were reversed with Pietri fourth. Behind the factory-associated riders, Heino scored an eighth with Skiver ninth and Suzuki rider Rich Oliver 10th. After the race Merkel was still in a euphoric state, saying, "We're doing a good job and hanging in there. I should have Steve Wise's equipment for the rest of the year, and the Burner Brothers, Mike Velasco and Merlin Plum, will be doing the tuning. When I have that kind of backing, Mike and Merlin doing the tuning. and the front line equipment, I think I can be pretty LOugh to beal." '''lbings went pretty good," grinned McDonald at the end of the day. I got a good start in the second leg and thought I had things in hand for a couple of laps until they dazzled me. When they passed me it kind of broke my.concentration, and then I lost the draft. I knew I had third handled, so I took it pretty easy." Baldwin, still in a great deal of pain, had little to say, but one can expect that leaving Portland with a 14-point lead was somewhat comforting. Results OVERALL: 1. Fred Merkel (Hon) 1·'; 2. Mike Beldwin (HonI2·3; 3. Sem McOoneld (Hon) 4-4; 4. Roberto Pie1ri (Hon) 3·8; 5. John llettencoUrl (Hon) 5-5; 8. Rendy Ski..r (Suzl8-1I; 7. Jeff Heino (SUl) II·B; 8. Joev Mill. (Due) 8- I 1; II. MicI

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