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/126665
(Above) Douglass lets loose with the champagne. (Below) Mercedez Gonzales finished in third place. (Above) Although slowed by falls, Usa Akin ended up second.1Belo ) Dorene Payne takes to the air. entire moto without the benefit of a c)utch, in what would prove to be an omen of day-long mechanical problems for her. Rou nd three opened in the form of the second 125cc moto. Payne grabbed the holeshot, but lost the lead to Gonzalez before throwing it away on the second lap, breaking a lever for her second clutchless race. Douglass then took over the evt:nt, with Akin close behind. . Overestimating the time left, Akin waited too long before making her move, and wound up second again, ahead of Gonzalez and an unhappy Payne. Round four was all Douglass', as she led £lag to flag. Trying to gain ground, Akin fell twice, again on her knee, and wound up almost lapped. Despite the pain, she kept going and, incredibly, moved up to finish second, though out of sight of Douglass. Mercedez' third place bettered Payne, . who rode most of the race on a flat tire. An exhausted but elated Douglass thanked Simpson, Oakley, and JT Racing for their part in ber title. She thanked her parents by giving them one of her prizes - a round-trip Hawaii Express trip for two. She then hopped on to the stage and grabbed the champagne, the trophy and kisses from trophy boys Dan and Chris, on loan from Chippendales. Other booty collected included prize money from Saddleback Park, Budweiser and tbe Anaheim Hi-Siders. Top finishers were also awarded invitations to the San Diego Supercross, courtesy of the sanctioning Continental Motorsports Club, so many of the day's best will be shooting for revenge there. Gale Webb not only raced her Orange County Honda in the 125cc Pro motos, but also totally dominated the Vets Expert class, leading both motos in their entirety. Kay Atwood twice beat Kitty Mayfield [or second in a race that also featured the event's organizer and promoter, Denise Devines. Novice 125cc rider Elsie Flores jumped off to a great start in the fi t moto, but late in the race, her bi $ experienced lower end problems th'bl almost let Carol Downey take the checkers. Flores' Honda stayed together Long enough for her to win the closest finish of the day. Flores had no such difficulty in the second moto, winning easily over the rest of the pack. Special consideration was given to those guys who were able to coerce a sponsorship and a bike from thei~ better halves. Pit tootsie races allow the men who helped keep the wome on the track a chance to regain the' . battered egos. m Cliff Lett led the Pro tootsies around the 'track, with Rick Maki and Jim Cobham in hot pursuit. Male superiority suffered a devastating blow', however, as the menfolk were abI'e only to beat the tender gender's la times by a scant second. Even the sidecar division was not· "spared" of female participatiofi. Gwen Ridyard piloted Ian Mitch~1 around the course well enough { keep a few guys from bad-mouthin T , women drivers for a while. Victory, however, went to the Tom and Sc ¥: Whitney team's Harley-powered m