Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

~ C'I C'I >I-< ~ (Above) David Bailey (1) gets a good jump on the pack at the start of the main Sunday. (Below) Bailey's dad, Gary, discu.... bettie plans. I-< ..0 V ~ Jim Holley surprised the crowd by holeshotting the start of Sunday's main and leading five laps. Holley ended up 11 th overall. johnson cruised on to take the win while Lechien and Barnett followed. followed. Hannah stretched his lead to a couple of seconds on Liles but during the third Lap, Hannah started lowing with a rear flat. According w Dave Arnold, Honda's race manager, a railroad spike hidden in the dirt was the culprit. Liles soon slipped by, as did O'Mara. O'Mara applied heavy pressure on Liles until the Kawasaki pilot gave in. "johnny 0" went on to take the win four seconds ahead of Liles. Storbeck settled for third ahead of Pederson and Hannah. The third heat was all Glover's. As soon as the gate dropped, the Yamaha pilot had the lead, trailed by Burnworth and Bowen, while' johnson was on the warpath. "Too Hip" quickly zapped his teammate Bowen, then got Burnworth, who eventually dropped w fourth. johnson had no time w catch Glover, who was in the process of setting the fastest heat time which automatically qualifies him for next year's Wrangler Dash. Bowen finished third while Burnworth and Clint Hardick rounded the top five. Hicks out-gated everyone to the first turn at the start of the fourth heat but was pushed w the outside by the pack and dropped w the back of the field. Lechien took over the lead ahead of Phil Larson and Barnett. On the second lap, Barnett took control of the front spot and jumped to about a one-second advantage over Lechien. For the remainder of the race positions stayed the same: Barnett, Lechien, Larson, jim Holley and Myerscough. Quarter finals 10 Yamaha-mounted Kenny Keylon took the early lead at the start of the first quarter-final moto, but King was hot on his rear fender. During the second lap, King made his move and dove underneath Keylon in a turn and then led the pack. King clearly dominated the mota and ran away with an easy win. Keylon finished second ahead of Doug Hoover, Gary Bowman and Gary Kuest. A faulty starting gate caused a restart for the second quarter final and when the field managed to make itto the first turn it was Suzuki's Rick Ryan out in front. With the completion of the first lap, Ryan already had a six-second lead over jari Heinonen. On the next go-around Ryan doubled the distance, but just as soon as he gained it all, he also lost it. He overshot a turn after a long fast straight and hit the hay bales. He managed to recover in time to keep his lead over a fast-charging Hicks. Hicks, plagued throughout the weekend with crashes, couldn't gain any time on Ryan during the remainder of the moto. Ryan took the win followed by Hicks, Cory Klaudt, Allen Dyck and Heinonen. Semi finals The start of the first semi saw Bailey steal the hoJeshot ahead of 0' Mara Breker, Holland and Ward. Ward roosted by Holland two turns later and sailed past Breker through a double jump. Ward caught up to O'Mara and tried to take advantage of a slip by the Honda rider, but Ward couldn't get by. The three leaders were side-by-side and O'Mara took the lead after stuffing Bailey in a tight left hander. A few feet later Bailey dropped his mount to let Ward and Breker by. Bailey managed to salvage fourth. Up front, it was a dogfight for the lead between O'Mara and Ward. There were times when Ward stuck his front wheel next to O'Mara, but that was as far as he could get. Near the end of the mow, Ward made a few slight errors, but they were enough to secure the win for the "O'Show." Breker finished third bad knee and all, and Bailey and Hannah, who had a terrible start, finished fourth and fifth. Hicksjumped toa good start at the start of the second semi, but dumped it in the first turn. Phil Larson gladly accepted the lead but not for long as Lechien slipped by. Barnett followed in third ahead of johnson and Glover. Barnett was on the move when he passed Larson and then Lechien over the Miller jump. He enjoyed the lead for a few laps but crashed exiting a deep-grooved turn. A few feet before where Barnett crashed, johnson jammed past Lechien and before johnson knew it he had the lead. Last Chance Qualifier Eaton stole the holeshot with King in hot pursuit. As the pack roosted away from the first turn, Hicks, again, was laying on the ground which put an end to his long, forgettable weekend. On the second lap, King aced Eawn and went on w easily take the win. Pederson, who nuck by Eawn later in the race, took second ahead of Ryan and Storbeck. Main After the gate dropped for the start of the main, it was Holley who came out of the first turn with the lead. In second was Bailey, then came Breker, King, Glover, Lechien and Barnett. By the second lap, Holley still had control of the lead but Breker was up to the second spot while Glover slipped by King. Holley's lead grew w about two seconds over Brekerduring the third lap, but, by the next go-around, his lead was narrowed considerably. Baileyaccuallydropped back about three seconds on Breker and was feeling Glover breathing heavily down his back. Both O'Mara and Hannah had terrible starts and were stuck back in the 10th and 11th positions. johnson, after a fair start, worked his way up through the pack and passed Glover to put himself in fourth. At this time, Breker was dogging Holley in every turn. Holley finally gave in to Breker's pressure and surrendered the lead to the Kawasaki pilot. At the same time, johnson stuffed his Yamaha by Glover which put him inches behind Holley. As Holley began to fade, johnson quickly took advantage and zapped the privateer through a sweeping right turn. johnson had one more obstacle in his way and that was Breker. The Team Yamaha rider quickly set up Breker and made his move over the fastest section of the track, blowing by Breker for the lead. Glover followed in third ahead of Holley, Lechien, Ward (who had to make up for a 10th-place start), Bailey, King, Barnett and Holley. By the eighth lap, Ward found a way around Lechien, and soon after, got around Holley for fourth. Ward'sdrivedidn'tend there. By lap 11. he had displaced Glover and then Breker over a series of doubles. With' nobody in his way, Ward tried to reel in johnson, who had six seconds on Ward. However, johnson's pace was just too much to handle and Ward couldn't gain any ground on the leader. With two laps togo, Glover zapped Breker and developed about four seconds on the Kawasaki pilot. A tight battle over fourth developed between Breker, Lechien, Barnett, Bailey and O'Mara that was in high gear and Lechien was the only rider to make a move and that was on Breker. Lechien went to the outside of Breker in the stutter bumps and shutthe door on him in the following turn to take over fourth. johnson enjoyed a comfortable lead as the white flag came into sight. Ward still could not gain any timeon the leader and johnson coasted by the checkers with the win. Glover held on to third followed by Lechien, Breker, Barnett and Bailey. O'Mara finished a discontented eighth while Hannah finished behind Holley in 12th. "It's great to finally win a Supercross in the United States!" yelled a very happy johnson in the winner's circle. His previous stadium successes had been in japan. "I got boxed in during the firsl turn which put me in the back of the pack," commented O'Mara afterwards. "There are a lot of fast guys out there so I don't think an eighth is too bad, because I drop to second in the standings only seven points behind Ward, and we have a long season ahead. I don't think this will hurt me too much." • Results SATUROAY: 1. Jell Wllfd(Kewt 2. Johnny O'More (Hon); 3. Bob Hennah (Hon); 4. Mert< Bornen (Sult 5. Rick Johnson (Yem); 6. Ron lechien (Hon); 7. Alen King (Hon); B. Goot Brei<.... (Kew); 9. RickRyon (SUl); 10. Oe.id Boilev (Hon); 11. Jim Holley (Yem); 12. Ken. Howerton (Kow): 13. BiIIV Liles (Kow); 14. Broc Glover (Yem); 15. Brien MYOr8COUllh (Hon); 16. Clom Herdick (Hon); 17. Keith Bowen (Yemt lB. R_ P_rson (Suz); 19. Kenny Keylon (Yem); 20. Scott Burnworth (Suz). SUNDAY: 1. Rick Johnson (Yem); 2. Jell Werd IKewt 3. Broc Glover (Yem); 4. Ron lechien (Hon); 5. Goo. Brel

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