Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

e=daYlolla '811.============================== ~ Spencer and Haslam share a bit of conversation in the pits. They didn't spend much time together on the track. (Above) Spencer, Roberts and Ron Haslam in winner's circle. (Below) Haslam went fast and smooth for third. 10 rethought his strategy. More than once Spencer, now leading, and Lawson were forced to take evasive actions through the chicane or when passing on the banking. In one instance, Lawson literally pushed another rider out of the way with his foot when that rider moved into his line going a great deal slower. By the 12th lap, Roberts was back on the gas again. "I had let them go when the traffic got so heavy and backed off a bit. After a few laps I figured since I was out there I might as well try and win the thing." Roberts had moved around Lawson for second on the high speed banking as they sliced through traffic on lap 13. Spencer continyed to hold about a two second lead. Haslam was in fourth over Baldwin wi th Schlachter and Cooley dicing for sixth a distance back. The 15th tour saw Roberts and Spencer side by side for nearly an entire lap in a classic display of the riding styles of both. The first round of gas stops began on lap 16 with Spencer and Roberts both in on lap 17 and quickly out while Lawson took over the lead. Lawson came in on the next lap, gassed up, was hesitantly waved on and then stopped for a tire change. Lawson lost approximately 50 seconds while he got new rear rubber. The move effectively cost him a chance at the win. "We didn't anticipate any tire problems," said Yamaha's Clark, "but at Daytona you have to be ready for anything and we had tires ready for a change. The tire was blistered." The tires on both the Honda and Yamaha teams were closely scrutinized on their stops. Roberts had taken the lead after his gas stop and was set to run out front to the finish. Spencer's stop had-taken a few seconds longer. His crew was being cautious to make sure his tank was full since the positioning is lower on the new bike. In addition, Spencer had his tuner, Erv Kanemoto, remove the heat deflector they had rigged up to funnel the heal from the exhaust pipes away from his upper body. The four pipes curve rearward above the engine and the gas tank in the area normally taken by the gas tank. The heat was intense enough for Spencer to say he had to ride with his elbows out in the air to keep cool. There were ani y five riders on the lead lap as the race approached the ha'lfway point on lap 26. Roberts led Spencer with Haslam a good distance ahead of the Baldwin and Lawson battle taking place nearly a half a lap behind. The average speed at the halfway point was just a shade under 113 mph. The next few laps saw Spencer close in on Roberts and the two renew their duel and 3.87-mile ballet through traffic. Spencer, staying just behind, appeared content to playa waiting game and let the laps roll by. Roberts was almost downed by a slower rider in the chicane on the next lap, but recovered and didn't lose his advantage. Baldwin, heading for the start/finish line to begin lap 29 got violently out of shape as he rear tire blew. His instantaneous reaction saved him from what might have been a very bad accident. "I was heading for the line and then suddenly I was looking at the people in the grandstand. I can tell you, it wasn'ta very good feeling." By the time Baldwin had completed an entire lap to make it back to the pits, he had lost a considerable amount of time. Two laps later, Brauneck coasted to a stop near the start/finish line and began pushing his bike across the Supercross track to the pits. "It was the same problem that I had before," said Brauneck afterward. "The front tire got a bit too hot, expanded, and ground a chunk out of itself on my fork brace. I lost a bunch of laps because I didn't have any tire mourned to change." Brauneck had been running in the top 10. The second round of gas stops began on lap 34 with Roberts in and out in seven seconds. Spencer's stop took three seconds longer as both his tires were carefully checked. At this point, the top 10 consisted of Roberts, Spencer, Haslam, Lawson, Crosby, Taira, Miles Baldwin, Mike Baldwin, Cooley and Schlachter. Lawson gained third on Haslam's gas stop, but Haslam was right back and challenging 'within half a lap. The battle raged for another three laps before Lawson opened some breathing room. Meanwhile, Roberts was opening up some ground on Spencer and had over a seven-second lead by lap 40. A distance back Baldwin was stalking Crosby. The final eight laps saw a good deal of shuffling in the top places. Crosby, after an earlier off-track·excurs ion which cost him nearly 40 seconds, was in the pits for a rear tire change which was accomplished in just over 20 seconds. Spencer pitted on lap 47 to change his rear tire, giving Yamaha the top two positions with Roberts and Lawson up front and only five laps to go. One lap later, Lawson pitted for his second new rear tire and Spencer was right back in second with Haslam third. Miles Baldwin was another rider who struck bad luck. The bolts on his rear sprocket sheared off with four laps remaining while he was running eighth. "I don't even want to talk about it," said a very dejected Mike Baldwin who ran out of gas,on the final lap 'and lost what would have been fifth place. . Roberts didn't slack off his pace while all this was going on, but Spencer was running way off his earlier pace until the final lap when he picked it up. Unlike last year when Roberts was waving, wheelieing and enjoying his victory, there were no emotional displays as he took the checkered flag and made his way around the track on'the cool off lap. He stopped in his pit area, received the congratulations of well-wishers and then made his way to winner's circle. Spencer and Haslam, the only other riders still on the lead lap, made their way to winner's circle. Lawson, Taira, Schlachter, Crosby, Cooley, Richichi and Mike Baldwin rounded out the top 10. (Continued to page 14)

• Cover