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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126656
The setting is the Autodromo Dino Ferrari in Imola, Italy, which is hosting the San Marino GP since neighboring San Marino has no GP circuits. Yamaha's Roberts won the Imola 200 early in the year, a big money international road race on the fast circuit. The tally with II of 12 GP races in the books shows Spencer ahead of Roberts in the point standings by a margin of five, 132 to 127. Spencer has collected six wins, two seconds, one third, one fourth and a DNF. Roberts comes into the final round with five wins, three seconds, two fourths and a DNF. Championsbip points are paid on a sliding scale to 10 places with 15 for a win, 12 for second, 10 for third, eight for fourth, and six for fihh. The remaining five places drop one point per position to one point for 10th. In the case of a tie on points, the FIM's system of tiebreaking considers a rider's best finishes. Roberts, unless Spencer crashes out of the race or has a mechanical DNF, is in a must win situation. Moreover, for Roberts to take the crown, Spencer must finish third or worse. Should both riders fall 0(( the pace, Spencer can safely follow Roberts providing Roberts picks up no more than five poims on Spencer. Roberts was questioned at the August 21 Sears Point National Road Race where he was acting as race marshal. Spencer was contacted at his Shreveport, Louisiana, home. "Someone's got to get second besides Freddie. That's what it comes down to. JJ San Marino RR GP Spencer versus Roberts: The final showdown By Gary Van Voorhis and Dale Brown Freddie Spencer and Kenny Roberts face one last battle September 4. On that date the two will meet to see who will be the 500cc GP 22 Road Racing Champion. SpeQ.~er, ~he young, lion, is seeking his and Honda's first 500cc title while veteran Roberts, having voiced his plans for retirement at the finish of this season, wants to go out a winner with his fourth championship croWP'J.i.l u,-tJ ~. -J • _, _ .. • • • .. • What do you see as the advantages or disadvantages of your machine at Imola? The disadvantage is there are fOUT chicanes. It's a bit more of a job to maneuver my four-cylinder back and forth in the chicanes than Freddie's lighter three-cylinder. The advantage ~ is there's a very fast corner and I feel that my Yamaha is a little better through the faster stuff. Is there a great deal more pressure on b you because there is just one race left? It's better to have one race than that 11 much pressure on two races, So, there's ~ really not any pressure on me at all, that I know of. I had a lot of pressure I on me to win when I was in my first year in 1978, I felt a lot of pressure. The outcome doesn't matter. First or second doesn't really matter. How much time will you spend test· ing ~t Imola prior to the GP?