Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Jeff Ward chases Ron Lechien during the main on Sunday. Ward dominated the Saturday event and finished second to Johnson the next day. Lechien finished with a sixth and fourth for the two days. Johnson put this strange line to good use towards Sunday's win. InSportLWrllngler Su~ereross Series: Rounds 3-3 Semi finals Ward wails, Johnson jams in the Kingdome By Kit Palmer . SEATTLE, WA, FEB. 11-12 After two full days of ra~ing in the Seattle Kingdome, Kawasaki's Jeff Ward left the Pacific Northwest with a seven-point series lead over Honda's Johnny O'Mara, the Anaheim winner. Ward dominated Saturday night's race for the first Supercross victory in his career, and followed it up with a second in the next day's event. Yamaha's Rick Johnson came alive Sunday afternoon to spoil Ward's chance of a sweep while also notching his first Supercross win in the U.S. The twO days attracted a combined crowd total of a little over 51,000 spectators. Saturday Heats 8 Suzuki's Scott Burnworth started the night off with a two-bikelength holeshot over Honda's Ron Lechien, Honda rider Clint Hardick and Johnny O'Mara. During the first lap, Burnworth extended his lead a few seconds over Lechien while O'Mara waited until the next lap to pass Hardick. By that time, Lechien had caught up to Burnworth and was· trying to find a way by, but Burnworth was very stubborn and fought off every attempt. Lechiendidn'tgive up, however, and zapped Burnworth through a stutter bump section a few laps later. A few turns afterwards, O'Mara put heavy pressure on Burnworth and the Suzuki rider got sideways over a jump and crashed, dropping back to sixth. O'Mara then reeled in his teammate and ducked past him in a tight left turn. However, near the end of the moto, O'Mara landed a little short off a double jump, swapped sideways, and veered off the course and into the banners. Lechien cruised on by while O'Mara recovered in time for second. Lechien went on to take the win ahead of O'Mara, Eric Eaton, Ross Pederson, Hardick and Burnworth. . The second heat saw Ward put his works Kawasaki into the lead while Honda's David Bailey, Yamaha privateer Phil Larson and Team Tamm's Alan King pursued. During the second lap, King slipped by Larson and settled into the third spot. Team Yamaha newcomer Keith Bowen had a bad start but labored up through the field, and by the end of the race he had snuck by Larson for fourth. Ward motored comfortably out front and took the win six seconds over Bailey. King took third followed by Bowen, Larson and Mike Beier. Broc Glover put his productionbased Yamaha in the front of the pack after the first turn at the stan of the third heat ahead of Team Tamm's Jeff Hicks, Suzuki's Mark Barnett and Hicks' teammate Brian Myerscough. During the first lap, Barnett maneuvered by Hicks but was still a few seconds behind Glover. By the second lap, those few seconds dwindled to inches. Then Glover almost went down in a hairpin turn, and Barnett made his move for the lead. G lover dropped a few seconds to Barnett but he quickly made up the time and the twO leaders fought fear- lessly until the end of the heat. At times they were side by side, but Glover kept making small mistakes that gave Barnett the edge he needed to win. Glover settled for second ahead of Kawasaki's Goat Breker, Myerscough and Danny Storbeck. Bob "Hurricane" Hannah and his factory Honda stole the holeshot for the start of the fourth heat with Yamaha pilot Kenny Keylon, Yamaha's Rick Johnson and Suzuki's George Holland hot on his tail. Johnson was the first to make a move, passing Holland and then setting out after Hannah. Through the second lap, Johnson hounded Hannah until the Hurricane succumbed in a turn where the Yamaha pilot dove inside. From thatpoint on, Johnson stretched his lead to about five seconds over Hannah for the win. Keylon finished third ahead of Holland and Suzukimounted Rick Ryan. Quarter finals TearnTamm'sJohn Wbe1cheltook an early lead at the start of the first quarter-final moto, but crashed in the early stages of the race, handing the top spot to Suzuki-mounted Gary Bowman. Bowman cruised up front with a comfortable lead, but Jim Holley worked his way up through the pack and passed Bowman near the end of the moto to take the win. Third went to Allen Dyck, ahead of Whelchel. Ex-500cc National Champion Chuck Sun took an early lead at the start of quarter final number two but lost it to Yamaha rider Peter Snorteland and Kawasaki's Billy Liles halfway into the moto. Snorteland and Liles dueled heavily until only a few laps remained, when Liles snuck by the leader after a long series of stutter bumps and went on to take the win. Sun finished third ahead of Don Turk and John Saggau. Ward again did his thing by capturing the holeshot in the first semi final moto ahead of O'Mara and Bailey. Wardquicklyjumpedtoanearly and comfortable lead. In the first turn, however, Lechien got tangled with another rider, putting him second to last with not enough time to catch up. He had to return later in the Last Chance Qualifier. Meanwhile, Ward was untouchable as he cruised on to victory. O'Mara, Bailey, King and Burnworth followed. The second semi was one of the most exciting of the night. Glover and Hicks jammed to an early lead, but Barnett £lew past both of them in mid air over a double jump that Glover and Hicks decided to single jump. A few laps later, Hicks dropped back a few positions while Glover and Hannah fought over second. On and off the track, Glover and Hannah are not what one would call "best of friends," so the battle was fierce. Hannah slipped by Glover and the Yamaha pilot tried to retaliate a few moments later when Glover saw an opening in a tight right hander. The twO collided in the apex of the turn with Glover on the inside. Handlebars locked, they drifted to the outside which pushed Hannah off the track. Hannah stalled his motor and as Glover roosted away, Hannah eyed his opponent and pointed his finger at him as if to say ''I'm going to get you!" Hannah quickly .estarted his mount and set after Glover in his old Hannah style - feet £lying, throttle wide open. But before the Hurricane had a chance to catch up, Glover crashed in some whoops. Hannah £lew by the downed rider, missing Glover by inches. Then Johnson gOt in on the act and caught up to Hannah, who he eventually passed. Up front Barnett had it easy, and went on to take the win ahead of Johnson, Hannah and Glover. In the p'its Hannah was all smiles: "I haven't had this much fun aJl year!" Then he added, "I was so mad the first lap I must have made a hundred mistakes, but those last four laps were great." Regarding the mishap with Glover he said jokingly, "You know, I have only cussed three times since last August until today, and if there is anybody who can bring ,it out I know who it is." Last Chance Qualifier Honda-mounted Eric Eaton stole

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