Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Heats (Above) Eventual winner Phil Larson (25) had to work hard to get around former National Open Champion Chuck Sun (15) during the Vancouver Supercro88 final. A crash dropped Sun to ninth. (Above) Eric Hall grabbed the holeshot in the final and appeared to have things well in hand until he crashed in the double-jump section. With the old Supercross format being used, the first four in each heat transferred directly to the final. Honda Support's Mike Larson holeshot heat number one with Moto Park Yamaha-mounted Jeff Sutherland, Honda Canada's loli &renyi and Canadian Team Yamaha member Terry Hofoss in tow. Larson looked good until a spill took him out of the running, leaving Hofoss and two more of Canada's Team Yamaha members, Doug Hoover and Serge Gregorie, to take the first three transfer spots into the final. Berenyi finished fourth for the final transfer spot of the first heat. The second heat gave some indication of what was to come later. Sun Products/Honda Support-mounted Eric Hall jumped ahead of Phil Larson, Alberta Honda rider Scott Tkachuk and Rick Albee. Larson was soon past Hall, but both riders pulled a large lead over Honda Canada's Tim Krough and Tkachuk. When the checkered fell, Larson and Hall finished first and second with Krough and Tkachuk some ways back. Valley Honda's Allan Dyck holeshot heat number three, Robert Worral and Jari Heinonen followed but the heat soon belonged to Jeff Surwall of the Canadian Team Yamaha squad, while behind, team member Heinonen held off the great effort of O'Neal/Honda Support rider Bob Buffaloe for second. Yamaha Support's Gary Kuest took the final transfer behind Buffaloe after holding off John Snow and WorraJ. The final heat found Chuck Sun aboard a Honda Canada/R &: M Motocross Specialties-sponsored machine out front, but Yamaha USAf MX Fox-mounted Jim Anderson shot into the lead. As Anderson and Sun seemed to pull away, Hi-Point/Maico Supportrider Eric Eaton was steadily moving up from a mid-pack start. When Sun made his move past Anderson, Easton was right there and surprised the Yamaha rider, getting past also. Sun held off a strong charge by Eaton to take first while Eaton, Anderson and Scona Cycle's Rudi Zacsko Jr. took the other three spots. Semis Larson takes firstever Supercross at Canada's B.C. Dome By Brian Barnes VANCOUVER, B.C., CANADA, ocr. 29 Western Canada's first-ever Supercross took place in the B.C. Dome in Vancouver this weekend and Washington's "Flyin' Phil" Larson walked away with his first major victory, over a field of 38 Canadian riders and 14 U.S. entrants. Larson, aboard a Hi-Point/ Simpson/Scott-sponsored Hon- .32 da' was one of the few riders in the 20-Jap main to keep his machine from hi tting the ground on the tricky racing surface that developed after both the Formula. LO. .off-road _cars and Supercross riders went through numerous practices and qualifiers during the day. Riders commented that the giant U-sh.aped track was designed more for the cars than for bikes, but as the event unfolded, a number of small changes kept everyone happy with the Pace ManagementiPerryscope Productions, Canadian Motorcycle As- sociation event, which went off without a hitch. Mike Larson once again holeshot over Dyck, Sutherland and Yamahamounted Trevor Yuros in the first semi. But Larson took another untimely spill, leaving Dyck and Sutherland to take the two transfer spots available. The second semi found Albee/R Be: M Honda rider Mike Rensby and Ken Gregory up front. However, Suzukimounted Rob Van Dieman moved into the lead and held off Rensby for the win, with both riders taking positions into the main. Last Chance Qualifier Brent Worrall from Chilliwack, B.C., put his Honda up front as 20 riders rounded turn one in a lastditch effort to make the main. Worrall was not to be denied the final spot, holding off Gregory and Yuros for the entire race. Final Eric Hall definitely had the start dialed as the 21 bikes flew down the start straight. Hall rounded the first corner, with Easton, Larson, Sun and Hofoss following suit. Hall looked smooth for the first lap and a half, but laid it down, allowing Eaton and everyone else by. By the end of the second lap, Eaton had pulled a small lead over a Sun, Larson, Hofoss and Anderson freight-train. That order remained intact until Larson made a . banzai pass on Sun during lap six to take over the second spot, with Sun, Hofoss, Anderson, Krogh and Hienonen third through seventh. Canadian Yarnaha rider Serge Gregorie was definitely on the move after coming from 16th on lap one. Gregorie was picking off rider after rider and by lap eight had moved behind team member Doug Hoover, who was running seventh. . On lap nine Anderson dropped some positions after a get-off, and somehow when the halfway sign was given, Gregorie had passed four more riders and was in fourth. Eaton was performing flawlessly in the lead, but both Larson and Sun had gained ground on the fleeing Maico pilot. On lap 13 thedoublejumpsclaimed yet another victim as Eaton took a spill, leaving Larson in the lead after avoiding the crash. Larson led Sun, Gregorie, Krogh, Hofoss and Buffaloe as circuit number 16 passed the lap counters, but just as Eaton had done, Sun dropped positions after taking a nasty crash over the doubles. Larson was well ahead of Gregorie, Hofoss and Hoover, all of Canada's Team Yamaha, while Buffaloe, Heinonen, Dyck and Krogh followed. All were solidly locked in the first eight positions. Sun, Van Dei man , Hall and Anderson filled the next four spots, with those riders following a very happy Phil Larson across the finish line at the completion of 20 laps. Larson got a huge ovation from the crowd after he was given the checkered flag and took a victory lap, celebrating the first major victory of his career. At the awards ceremony Larson acknowledged. all the sponsors and people who have supported his racing efforts over the past season. Gregorie, Hofoss and Hoover were also very pleased after putting their Canadian-sponsored machines into . the second, third and fourth spots. Results 1. Phil Larson (Hon); 2. Serge Gregoire; 3. Terry Hofos. (Vern); 4. Doug Hoolltlr (Yem); 5. Bob Buffelo (Hon); 6. Jeri Heinonen (Yem); 7. Alen Dyck(Hont B. Tim Krough (Hont 9. Chuck Sun lHont 10. Rob VenDiemen ISuz); 11. Eric Hell (Han); 12. Jim An· derson(Yem); 13. Zoli Berenzi(Hont 14. BrentWor· rell (Han); 15. Eric Eeton (Meit 18. IIudi z.to lHont 17. Gory KUft1 (Y....); 1B. Jeff SulherIend (Yemt 19. Scott Tkech.. (Hon); 20. Mille Penebv (Han); 21. Jeff Su.-I (Yeml. Richards romps, Flores follows at Baylands By Mike Vancil FREMONT, CA, ocr. 27 T~e final Thursday night of the MX Fox Back to School Motocross was just the setting that Tony Richards wanted to show off his new fire and desire. Never before had any of the regulars at Baylands seen Richards so fierce. He rode 20 laps on the extremely demandin~ Baylands course in the lead with none other than many-time winner Tony Flores right on his back wheel. It seemed there was· nothing Flores could do to get past Richards. Flores graciously accepted defeat and saluted Richards as they exited the track after the final checkers. Andy Urrutia put together a double-moLO vicLOry to highlight his much-improved riding. He will be 'vacating tbe 80cc class [or a I25cc ride next season. Jay Duen ing also put

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