Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

(Top) Goat Breker topped the 500cc class. (Below) Eric Eaton (42) and Scott Manning (528) lead Larson (87) and Breker (1) in the Open division. Jeff Werd dominated the 126cc Pros but is still hounded by George Holland. who is only 38 points behind Ward in the points standings. 250cc Pro O'Mara was the only 250cc factory rider to campaign in this week's Golden State round and looked LO be a sure winner in the class. So it wasn't too much of a surprise when O'Mara roosted his works Honda LO the front of the pack at the start of the first moLO ahead of Honda-mounted Eric Kehoe, Team Tamm Honda riders JeH Hicks and JeH Leisk, Ian FitzGibbon and Semics. On the second lap, Hicks slipped by Kehoe while Semicssnuck by FitzGibbon. Semics then charged past Leisk over a double-jump section for fourth. Up front, O'Maraclearly dominated the track and stretched his lead with every turn. Hicks said he decided to ride his first race of this series LO get the previous week's disastrous crash spree out· of his head before next week's Supercross race in Atlanta (he crashed a LOtal of 10 times at Seattle). He rode flawlessly this time, securing himself in second throughout the moLO. O'Mara had no problems holding on to his lead and easily went on and took the win. Hicks managed to stay upright to finish a respective second. Dymond put in a very impressive ride, coming from an eight-place start to third by moLO's end. Semics finished fourth ahead of Ross Pederson and Leisk. There were quite a few surprises during moLO two, one of which was when Dymond passed O'Mara in the second turn of the second moto after O'Mara took the holeshot. However, the "O'Show" wasn't about to stay in second for long and repassed Dymond for the lead. But O'Mara's lead again didn't last for very long. During the third lap, Johnny '0' got sideways in the doubles and crashed. Dymond motored by followed by Pederson, Hicks and Leisk. O'Mara recovered in fifth. Dymond held on LO his lead for a little over a lap before Pederson stu[[ed it by the Husky pilot. Pederson was looking very fast as he opened 'up a huge lead. Meanwhile, O'Mara had problems getting around Leisk as he started his climb back LO the top. He soon found Hicks and passed the Tamm rider for third. A few laps later, O'Mara reeled in Dymond and the crowd roared when tbe O'Show flew past Dymond in the doubles. However, with time running out, the chances of catching Pederson were slim. Pederson enjoyed a 20-second advantage over O'Mara, which O'Mara knew he couldn't make up. The Honda pilot didn't have to, however. Even if he finished second, he would still take the overall. So, Pederson easily took tbe win followed by O'Mara, Hicks, Dymond (who crashed on the last lap), Jim Taran-. tino and Semics. Afterwards, O'Mara seemed a little discontented with his second-moLO performance. Hedidn't havea whole lot to say, and regarding his crash, he somberly remarked, "I just got a little sideways over the jump and crashed." Nonetheless, the Honda rider clinched the 250cc title with a I05-point lead. 125cc Pro Ward had a new competiLOr in the I25cc class to contend with and that was O'Mara. O'Mara, on a production 125 Honda, was thought to be Ward'.s biggt;st threat of the day; however, he was not - it was old rival George Holland on a Suzuki Pro support ride. Holland shot into the lead at the start of the first moLO while Suzuki-mounted Doug Dubach, Ward and O'Mara followed. During the first lap, Dubach passed Holland through some whoops and took over the lead, but was only in front for two laps before Holland regained the spot. A few turns later, Ward slipped by Dubach and then nailed Holland for the top spot. While Ward stretched his lead, O'Mara was trying to find a way around Dubach. O'Mara finally did and spent most of the race reeling in Holland, tben passed the Suzuki pilot near the end of the moto. Ward was long gone, on his way to another GSS victory. O'Mara finished second ahead of Holland, Dubach and Yamaha-mounted Mike Beier. The second moLO saw Ward grab the holeshot over Holland, Tyson Vohland on a Yamaha, O'Mara and Bader Manneh on a Kawasaki. By the second go-around, O'Mara slipped by Vohl,!nd over a table-top jump and set after Holland. But then O'Mara made a deLOur off the track and over a berm, l~sing a lot of time and droppmg mne seconds behind Holland. Each lap, O'Mara could only gain a second on Holland and at that pace, the O'Show couldn't make an attem pt for second before the checkers came out. Ward cruised to an eight-second win over Holland, who held only two seconds on O'Mara. Suzuki's Gary Bowman finished fourth ahead of Vohland and Manneh. Although Ward has dominated the series, Holland's consistency has kept the points race tight. Only 38 points separate the two. • Results 80 EX: 1. Eddie Hicks (Vam) 1-1 ; 2. Mike Healey (Suz) 2-2; 3. Scan 8rown (Han) 4-3; 4. Mike Kiedrowski (Kaw) 5-4; 5. Shaun Kalas (Han) 3-6; 6. Robert Naughton (Han) 6-5; 7. Gene Baldwin (Han) 8-7; 8. Brad Kadau (Kaw) 9-8: 9. Greg Vowell (Suz) 11- 10; 10. Terry Bastard (Han) 12·1,; 11. Junior Jeckson (Kaw) 10-13; 12. Craig Nielsen (Kaw) 159; 13. Mike Voung (Vam) 7-18; 14. Ty Davis (Kaw) 14-12; 15. J.J. Taylor (Kaw) 18-14; 16. Chris Cole IKaw) 17-15; 17. Thyne Zito (Kaw) 16-16; I B. Kyle Lewis (Kaw) 19-17; 19. Mike Pascarella (Han) 13- . DNF; 20. Tallon Vohland (Vam) 20-DNF. 125 PRO: 1. Jeff Ward (Kaw) 1-1; 2. George Holland(Suz) 3·2; 3. Johnny 0'Mara(Hon)2-3; 4. Gary Bowman (Suz) 6-4; 5. Bader Manneh (Kaw) 7-6; 5. Mike 8eier (Vam) 5-B; 7. Doug Dubach (Suz) 4- 10; B. Tyson Vohland (Vam) 10-5; 9. A.J. Whiting (Han) 8-7; 10. Rodney Smith (Vem) 9-9; 11. Paul Denis (Kaw) 11-11: 12. Ron Turner (Cag) 12-12; 13. Richard Halstead (Kaw) 15-13; 14. Rudy Dickinson (SuzI13- 18; 15. Doug Hoover (VamI16- 16; 16. Jay MinlYala(Vam) 19·17; 17. Mike Fisher (Han) 22- 15; 18. Stacey Cook (Kaw) 25-14; 19. Terry Fowler (Han) 23- 19; 20. Doug O'Donnell(Suz) 17-16. 250 PRO: 1. Johnny O'Mara (Han) 1-2; 2. Jeff Hicks (Han) 2-3; 3. Ross Pederson (Suz) 5-1; 4. Micky Dymond (Hus) 3-4; 5. Gary Semics (Han) 4-6; 6. Jim Tarantino(SuzI7-5; 7. Jeff Leisk (Han) 6-7; 8. Brian Manley (Han) 8·8; 9. Don Turk (Han) 10-1 1; 10. David Hopwood (Han) 14-1 0; I 1. Bobby White (Han) 13-13; 12. Ian FitzGibbon 12-14; 13. Tom Witt (Vam) 30-9; 16. Jim Sendelbach (Suz) 22-17; 17. Kevin Allman (Suz) 17-22; 18. Robert Laughlin (Kaw) 3 I -12; 19. Tim Winslow (Vam) 25-18; 20. Damon Webb (Han) 24-20. 500 PRO: 1. Goat Breker(Kaw) 2-1; 2. Phil Larson (Vam) 1-2; 3. Eric Eeton (Han) 3-3; 4. Gary Semics (Han) 5-4; 5. SCali Manning (Vam) 6-5; 6. Grllll Zinerkopf(Kaw)8-6; 7. Peter Snorteland(Vam)7-7; 8. Brent Shury (HonI9- I 0; 9. Richard Sands (Hon) 10-11; 10. Ken Jenkins (Hus) 12-12; 11. Robot Rogers (Han) 11-13; 12. Tom Moen (Vam) 13-14; 13. Brian Vargus (Hon) 14-16; 14. Tim Alarcon (Han) 17· 15; 15. David McLean (Vaml 27-8; 16. Gary de Pilla (Vam) 19-17; 17. John Saggau (Vam) 16-20; 18. Chuck Pettigrew (C-A) 20- 19; 19. Thomas Combs (Yam) 22-18; 20. Micky Dymond (Hus) 4-DNF. POINTS STANDINGS 125 PRO: 1. Jeff Ward (407); 2. George Holland (369): 3. Rodney Smith (3051; 4. Mike Beier (2921; 5. Gary 80wman (283); 6. Tyson Vohland (267): 7. 8ader Manneh (256); 8. Doug Dubach (248); 9. Danny Storbeck (234); 10. Rick Ryan (220). 250 PRO: 1. Johnny 0'Mara(365); 2. Jim Tarantino (260); 3. Micky Dymond (257); 4. Rick Johnson (219); 5. Merk Barnell (204); 6. Devid 8ailey (2001; 7. Ian FitzGibbon (189); 8. Billy tiles (1861; 9. Gary Semic (176); 10. John Whelchel (154). 500 PRO: 1. Goat Breker(397); 2. Scan Manning (329); 3. Gory Semics (323); 4. Phil Larson (32 1); 5. Peter Snortelend (3171; 6. Eric Eeton (301); 7. Grllll Zinerkopf (228); 8. Scan Sargent (213); 9. Jim Ellis (183); 10. Tim Alercon (169). 7

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