Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

the holeshot with Lechien hot on his rear fender. Back in the first turn, however, both Sun and Hicks crashed and ended the night for themselves. Eaton led Lechien around the track for a few laps, but it was only a matter of time before Lechien slipped by. He did about the halfway point and went on to take the win. Ross Pederson took second while Eaton dropped to third. Main According to heat lap times, Ward was the man to beat in the main, but when the starting gate dropped it was Hannah out in front. Trailing the Hurricane were O'Mara, King, Ward, Lechien, Barnett, Burnworth and Bailey. For the next couple of laps, O'Mara applied the pressure on Hannah, but Hannah shut the door on his teammate in every turn. However, Hannah could not keep that up for long and O'Mara and Ward blew past the Hurricane in one move. But Hannah cut back inside of Ward and retook the second spot. By the fifth lap, Barnett had passed Lechien and King for the fourth spot. After Lechien came Glover and Johnson. Ward searched for a way around Hannah for a couple of laps and finally motored by through a long stutter bump section. At this point of the race, Bailey had some problems and was back in 15th while Goa.t Breker, still tending a bad knee, wasn't faring too much better in 12th. Ward put his fast-lap-time abilities to good use and started to gain time on O'Mara. Midway through the race, Ward had caught up to within a bikelength of the leader. At times the two were side by side, but O'Mara held back Ward. But, soon after, O'Mara crashed in the stutter bumps and surrendered the lead to Ward. "[ came up to Glover in the stutters, who was going slow in the main line," said O'Mara afterwards. "[ came up too fast and I tried to get by him on the inside, but there wasn't enough room and [went off the track and into the hay bales... O'Mara recovered quickly enough to retain second. Hannah was close in third but could not make up the necessary ground on O'Mara. Hannah could also feel pressure from Barnett but that was about all. At this point in the race, all that Ward had to worry about was staying upright until the checkers, which he did. O'Mara finished second ahead of Hannah, Barnett, Johnson, Lechien and King. After the race, all that Ward, like all of the other riders, wanted to do was get to bed as soon as possible and get ready for Sunday's racing. Sunday Heats Privateer Eric Eaton, aboard a Honda, surprised the crowd by outpowering factory riders Bailey and Ward to the first turn at the start of the first heat. Exiting the turn, Ward slipped by Bailey, who is still suffering from a knee injury he received a few weeks back, and set out after Eaton. Team Tamm's King rounded out the top lour. During the second lap on a reversed track, Bailey, looking a bit more aggressive t~n the night before, shot by Ward through some double jumps for second. However, it didn't last long for Bailey. He fell in a rutted lurn and dropped back to fourth behind Suzuki's George Holland, who had just taken fourth after King got off hard over some doubles. Up front, Eaton held ba

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