Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

.. 00 ..... Mike Healey switched to Suzuki after riding for Honda last year. He started' things off right by sweeping both motos in the 80cc Expert class. Ward. A/!;ain, Ward quickly extended his lead over Holland, Ryan and the hard-charging Beier. At this point, the top five riders were strung out and holding their positions. However, near the halfway point Beier dropped out, handing the fourth spot to Dubach. Ward again crossed the finish line way out in front, followed by Holland, Rhyan, Dubach and Manneh. After the race, Ward said, "There wasn't too much competition out there for me; I could've pushed myself a lot harder if I had to. O'Mara hasn't got his bike yet, but he should have by next week, so then 1"11 have a little more competilion. " 250cc Pro There were a lot of "big" names in the 250cc class, which proved to be the fastest class and most exciting racing of the day. Honda's Ron Lechien showed up, but his debut factory ride only lasted the length of the start hill in his qualifier. In the first turn, Lechien crashed hard and he and his bike went tumbling end over end at the top of Banzai Hill. Although not seriously hurt, Lechien was shaken up enough to call it quits fortheday. Honda's Johnny O'Mara jammed into the lead while pursued by Yamaha's Rick Johnson, Team Tamm's Brian Myerscough and John Whelchel, Wrangler Super Series champ David Bailey and Kawasaki's Billy Liles. During the first lap, Johnson stuffed it by O'Mara on a downhillsweeper turn to take over the lead. O'Mara stayed close to Johnson but could not make up any ground on him. Suzuki's Mark Barnett had a bad start on a production Suzuki and was stuck back in about 10th for most of the race. Bailey was on the move and began putting pressure on Whelchel near the end of the moto and finally slipped by him with only three laps left. Yamaha rider Warren Reid also zapped Whelchel on the same lap. Bailey started to make up ground on Myerscough, as did Reid on Bailey. When the checkered flag flew, Johnson crossed the finish line first with a slim-but-comfortable distance on O'Mara. Myerscough finish- ed about five seconds behind O'Mara while Bailey and Reid crossed the fi nish only inches from each other. Myerscough stole the second-moto holeshot while O'Mara, Whelchel, and Johnson followed. Myerscough's lead was short-lived when O'Mara took over during the first lap, after he went down, dropping to fifth. Behind Johnson, with a much better start, was Barnett, then Myerscoughand Bailey. Johnson quickly slipped by Whelchel then set his sights on O'Mara. The two leaders battled for the next three laps until Johnson jammed his almost-stock production YZ past O'Mara for the lead. By then Barnett had worked his way into third but could not gain any distance on Johnson or O'Mara. A tight battle between Whelchel and Myerscough over fourth formed which lasted for the next seven laps. Myerscough finally nipped his teammate, who was then pressured by Bailey. Not only did Bailey overtake Whelchel, he also surprised Myerscough a few turns later. Johnson cautiously went on to take the win ahead of O'Mara, Barnett, Bailey (who finished a few seconds behind Barnett), Myerscough and Whelchel. "I felt great out there," said Johnson after the race. "O'Mara's tough to get around. He isn't a conservative rider, so you can't push him in hopes of a mistake. I had to plan my move a few turns ahead." 500cc Pro Even though Kawasaki's Goat Breker went home with top honors in the 500cc class, he didn't feel all that great. "I don't feel very good at all! During the qualifiers I almost pulled off and went home because I have the flu or something," said Breker after his second-moto win. However, on the track, he fooled just about everybody with a comefrom-behind second-place finish in the first moto and a first in the second. At the start of the first moto, it was Phil Larson on a Yamaha who shot into the early lead ahead of a trio of Yamaha riders; SCOtt Manning, Tim Locey and Pete Snone1and. Larson Plagued with the flu. Goat Breker almost went home after the qualifier. instead. he took his water-cooled Kawasaki to the Open-class win. has a "lead and crash" reputation which he lived up to on the fourth lap. This gave the lead to Manning, closely followed by Locey. Breker, after an awful start. worked his water-cooled works Kawasaki into third at the halfway mark and pursued Locey for second. On the final lap, Breker passed Locey but ran out of time to catch the high-flying Manning. Snorteland took fourth followed by Warren Reid on a TT600 thumper, then Gary Semics. Eric Eaton roosted his 500 Honda into the lead at the start of the second motochased by Snorteland, Manning, Breker and Larson. Eaton led until the third lap when he went down, dropping to sixth. Manning inherited the lead and hoped Snorteland could fend off Breker long enough to stretch his lead into another victory. Unfortunately for Manning, Breker slipped by Snorteland on the next lap, and Breker snatched the top spot away from Manning soon after. Near the end of the moto, Manning began to slow, letting Locey (who worked his way up from a sixth-place start) by. Brekereasily went on to take the win and overall. ''I'am glad the motos were short," said Breker afterwards. ''I'm so dizzy I can hardly stand." "I couldn't see out there!" said Manning after the second moto, referring to the lack of sun and heavy cloud cover that darkened the skies in the late afternoon. "I have a hard time seeing when it starts getting dark out. MyoId lines, which I had to stick to because I couldn't see well enough to try something new, cost me." • Results MINI EX: 1. Mike Healey (Su.) 1-1; 2. Eddie Hicks (Yam). 2·2; 3. Kyle Lewis (Kaw). 5-4; 4. Scott Brown (Hon). 7-3; 5. Mouse McCoy (Kaw). 10-5; 6. Bob Moore (Kaw). 3-7; 7. Shaun Kalos (Hon). 6-5; B. Robert Naughton (Han), 8-9; 9. Mike Kiedrowski (Kawl. 9-11; 10. Ty Davis (Kawl. 11-10; 11. Brad Kadau (Kaw), 15-12; 12. Greg Vowell (Kaw), 12-15; 13. Gene Baldwin (Hon). 14-16; 14. Thayne Zito (Kaw), 13-17; 15. Michael Craig (Yam), 23-B; 16. Craig Nielsen (Kaw). 1B-13; 17. John Moran (Yam). 17-14; lB. Nicky Pounds (Su.). 10-22; 19. Terry Bostard (Hon), 19-1 B. 125 PRO; 1. Jeff Ward (Kaw). 1-1; 2. George Holland (Su.), 2-2; 3. Rick Ryan (Su.), 3-3; 4. Rodney Smith (Yam). 9-6; 5. Mike Fisher (Hon), 6-9; 6. Doug Dubach (Su.). 13-4; 7. Danny Storbeck (Yam), 11-5; B. Tyson Vohland (Yam). B-B; 9. Robert Mason (Yam). 10-7; 10. Michael Preston (Kawl, 14-10; 11. Scott Manning took second overall in the big-bore class. Bader Manneh (Kaw), 5-22; 12. Gary Bowman (Su.), 7-23; 13. Doug O'Donnell (Su.), 19-12; 14. Steve Vlahos (Hon), 12-19; 15. Mike Veier (Yam). 4-2B; 16.JerryAnker(Yam),lB-15; 17.CunHanricksen (Yam). 15-1 B; 1B. Craig canoy (Hon), 25- 13; 19. Tony Tosta (Su.), 21-17; 20. Todd campbell (Kaw). 24-16. 250 PRO: ,. Rick Johnson (Yam). 1-1; 2. Johnny O'Mara (Hon). 2-2; 3. Brian Myerscough (Hon), 3-5; 4. David Bailey (Hon). 6-4; 5. Mark Barnett (Su.), 9-3; 6. John Whelchel (Hon), 7-6; 7. Keith Bowen (Yam). B-7; B. Warren Reid (Yam). 5- 10; 9. Billy Wles (Kaw). 4- 13; 10. A.J. Whiting (Hon), 12-B; 11. Micky Dymond (Hus), 11-9; 12. Jim Tarantino (Su.). 1011; 13. John Finkeldey (KTM). 14-14; 14. Scott Johnson (Yam). 16-15; 15. David Taylor (Hon). 1516; 16. Kent Howenon(Kaw). 22-12; 17. Troy Blake (Kaw), lB-20; lB. Allen Silhanek(Hon). 19-21; 19. Edwin Arnet (Hon). 21-22; 20. Jim Holley (Yam). 13-31. 500 PRO: 1. T. Goat Breker (Kaw). 2-1; 2. Scott Manning (Yam), 1-3; 3. Tim Locey (Yam). 3-2; 4. Pete Snoneland (Yam), 4-6; 5. Gary Semics (Hon), 6-5; 6. Warren Reid (Yam), 5-7; 7. Mike Larson (Hon). 8-9; 8. Greg Zinerkepl (Kaw), 9-10; 9. Eric Eaton (Hon), 20-4; 10. Clark Jones (Yam). 11-13; 11. Jerome Heiberger (Yam, 13-12; 12. David McClain (Hon). 10-15; 13. Scott Sargent (Hon). 1511; 14. Jeff Cloutier (Kaw), 17-17; 15. Robert Green (ATK). 14-20; 16. Patrick Weber (Horl), 16· 19; 17. MattT_r(Honl. 18-21; 18. Tim Alarcon (Yam). 24-'16; 19. Wayne Archer (Yam), 22-18; 20. Joey Schllg (Hon), 12·32. 7

• Cover