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/126664
., (Top) John Whelchel stretched his points lead in the 600s to 20. (Below) Chain problems and a crash hampered John Finkeldey. , Fisher. Manneh eventually crashed and finished out of contention. 500 main By far the close t points race in the series is in the 500cc class between leader john Whelchel and secondplace john Finkeldey. Going into the eve'nt, Whelchel maintained a slim four-point lead over KTM's Finkeldey. Hole hot ace Scou Manning put hisYamaha into the lead for the stan of moLO one while rivals Whelchel and Finkeldey were close behind. Manning could only hold on to his lead for a couple of laps before Whelchel and Finkeldey mOLOred on by. Behind Manning, in founh, cruised' Yamaha-armed jim Ellis and SCOll johnson. The third lap was very close between the leaders; they were handlebar LO handlebar during the uphill, but Whelchel managed LO hold the big KTM rider behind. On the next lap, Whelchel had a comfonable lead after Finkeldey's KTM threw its chain. Finkeldey quickly rerailed the chain and reentered the moLO in sixth. At the same time, Ellis edged by Manning takingover the numbertwo spot. In founh followed SCOll, then Steve Rhyan. A few laps later, Pete Snoneland got. in on the act by . . ,. ,. '" , .. '" dropped out of contention a few laps later. While Whelchel was way out in front, Finkeldey was on the move. Manning moved back into second after Ellis dropped out. Finkeldey moved into third and set after Manning. On the last lap, Finkeldey made his move on Manning and took over econd, but moments later, Finkeldey's chain came off again. This time he had problems geuing it back on and ended up in seventh. Whelchel took the win ahead of Manning, Rhyan, Mark Howell and Don Turk. "The chain fell off three times out there," aid Finkeldeydejectcdly after the fir t moLO. "I had just gouen around Manning. I don't know why it kept coming off, it's all. new." The stan of the second moLO couldn't have been more exciting. As the pack rounded the first turn, Finkeldey dropped his bike when his front wheel washed out and then Whelchel couldn'.t avoid the mess and T-boned the downed rider. Whelchel, too, went down but recovered in about 10th position. Again Manning was found out in frOnt with a commanding advantage over "Fla h" Gordon Ward on a Honda, johnson and Rhyan. It only took Whelchel two (Top) Jeff Hicks lead the start of the first 250cc moto. (Below) Scott Manning almost won the second 500cc moto but finished second overan. drive didn't end there, either. Whelchel was tearing up the track as he worked his way into second. With half the race remaining, Whelchel had LO reel in Manning, who had more than a IO-second lead. But, about four laps later, Whelchel pulled up alongside of Manning and took over the top position. Finkeldey was also hot on the gas as he neared Manning with only a few laps remaining. His chain problems seemed LO be cured, and on the last lap, FinkeJdey put him elf closely behind Manning but fell shon at the end. Whelchel took the win ahead of Manning, Finkeldey, john on and Ryan. "I felt real good out there," said Whelchel after his vicLOry. "The only • •• .J ~ ~_ ~ john went down and I ran into him. We went down and as I tried to get up, my front wheel was on his bike and he threw it off, which took some time. Other than that, no problems," Whelchel added. • Results 125 PRO, 1. George Hollend (SU1), 1-1; 2. Chris Heis..r (Hon), 3-2; 3. Mike Beier (Vern), 4-B; 4. Rodney Smith(Vam), 6-6; 5. Larry Brooks(Hon)2-13; 6. Mike Fisher (Vam), 10·4; 7. Brian Manley (Yam), 9-5; B. Michael Preston (Kaw), 7-7; 9. Mark Flesia (Vam), B-9; 10. Oon Griewe (SU1), 5-16. 250 PRO, 1. Rick Johnson (Vern), 1·1; 2. Brian Myerscough (Hon). 2-2; 3. Jeff Hicks (Hon). 3-3; 4. Jim Tarantino (Han), 4-4; 5. nm Locey (Hon), 7-5: 6. Val Tamietti (Han). 10-7; 7. Micky Dymond (Hus). 5-15; B. Mike Tripes (Hus), 13-8; 9. Bren Cahors (Hon), 12-9; 10. David Hopwood (Hon), 9-13. 500 PRO, 1. John Whelchel (Vam), 1-1; 2. Scon Manning (Vam), 2-2; 3. Steve Rhyan (Hon), 3-5; 4. John Finkeldey (KTM), 7-3; 5. SCon Johnson (Vam), 6-4; 6. Greg Torgerson (Vam), 9-6; 1. Larry Wosic:k (Hon), 8-7; 8. Don Turk fHon), 5·10; 9. Men T _