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(left) David Beiley rode flawlessly during the main and took the Houston win. (Right) Ron lechien finished second overell for a Honda 1-2 sweep. InSport/Wrangler Supercross Series: Round 5 Bailey bags 'Astrocross' • 'In Texas By Kit Palmer Photos by Pat McClure and Palmer HOUSTON, TX, MAR. 24 "Everything was picture perfect," said victorious Honda teamster David Bailey after leading from start to finish in the fifth round of the InSport/Wrangler Supercross Series in the Astrodome. "I got a little bit of a lead at the start, and from then on IjustCTuised. I even could've pushed it a bit harder if I had 10." Bailey Iode in superb style the entire evening, while the points leader going into the Astrodome, Kawasa· ki's jeff Ward, spent much of his timeon the ground. As a result, Ward relinquished the points lead to Honda's johnny O'Mara. Before the main, Ward admitted having problems out on the track. "There are a lot of (ri~ht-angled)curb bumps out there, and, . it's a bit tough." During the main Ward crashed three times. Qualifiers 8 . The first qualifier saw holeshot artist Scott Burnworth and his Suzuki jam into the lead with Ward and Bailey in hot pursuit. Burnworth held on to the lOp spot for a lap before Ward and Bailey dove undemeath him in a tight right tUIn. After the tum came a section of double jumps that Ward and Bailey flew over side by side. At the end of the jumps Bailey emerged out in fronl. At that point, things sellied down as Bailey stretched his lead to a comfortable margin. Ward finished second ahead of BUInworth, Yamaha riders jim Holley and Danny torbeck. "It got cJo e over those jumps. I think Ward must have missed a shift or something," said Bailey afterwards. The second qualifier was all Broc Glover's. As soon as the gatedIopped, the Yamaha factory rider was out in front while O'Mara, Team Tamm's Jeff Hicks, Suzuki Support rider Ricky Ryan and Kawasaki's Billy Liles fol· lowed. What could have been a tough dogfight for the lead never took form. O'Mara just couldn't reel in Glover, who put in one of his best rides of the season. Liles moved up to finish third ahead of Ryan and Hicks. ,The third qualifier had some of the most exciting racing of the night. Yamaha's Rick Johnson exited the £irst turn in the lead, but halfway through the first lap, Honda-mounted Clint Hardick wedged himself underneath johnson and, surprisingly, took over the lead. Back in third, Honda's Ron Lecbien began pUlling the presure on john on. Lechien made his move on Johnson the same place Hardick had the previous lap, butthe two collided and johnson went down, while Lechien continued on to pass Hardick and take the win. johnson recovered and ended up second, but obviously a lillie disgruntled about Lechien's move. After crossing the checkered flag, johnson held up his fist at Lechien and then "bopped" the back of Lechien's helmet as they motored by each other, "[ threw a little temper tantrum," said Johnson afterwards. "Hardick went 10 the inside and got by me, so the next lap [ .....ent inside, but Lechien 'cleaned my clock.' If anyone could have taken me out it would have been Hardick. He had less room than Lechien had, but Hardick passed me cleanly." "He just left the door open and I took it," said Lechien. "He was just looking for an excuse Cor crashing." Suzuki's Mark Barnell was the favorite to win the fourth qualifier, mainly because Honda's Bob "Hurricane" Hannah was absent. Hannah decided not £0 ride at Houston because of a sore ankle he received in a crash a few weeks earlier in DaylOna. Bamett shot into the lead at the sLartofthemoto, while Team Tamm's Alan King, Honda pilot Eric Eaton and Yamaha's Keith Bowen followed However, Barnett couldn't shake King. King made a move on Barnett and passed the factory Suzuki rider, but Barnell quickly retaliated over some doubles. Again, King took over the lead, but·this time for good. Barnell dropped back a bit before making a last·ditch effort for the lead. H came close on the last lap, bur lapped rider blocked Barnell'S lin and ended any chances. Bowen fin· ished third ahead of Doug Hoove and Rodney Smith. Quarter-finals Hometown favorite David McClain won a hard-Coughr battle agains Harold Robertson and Steve Pate i the firstquarter-Cinal. McClain balll with Robertson early in the molO but Robertson dropped back to thir after gelling passed by Pate. Pate wa on the warpath and made most of hi time by double jumping the jump the leaders weren't. He eventuall doubled by McClain but later stall it in a turn and ended up takin second. Robinson finished third. For the first few laps in that heat 1975 500cc Supercross Champ Stev Stackable ran in third, but drop back a few positioll.s as the race pr gressed. "After a two-year layoff, want to get back into it again," sai "Short Stack." ''I'm feeling preu good, and I'm going to ride as man Supercrosses that I can, and may even a few Nationals." Unfortunately Srackable could not qualify for th mam. Kawasaki's Kent Howerton wa the man to beat in the second quarter final. Howerton easily rook the wi ahead of Team Tamm'sChIis Heisse Yamaha-mounted Terry Tinnery an Honda rider Guy Coope.r. Semis Glover completely dominated th first semi final as O'Mara could onl follow in second. Burnworth ha second early in the race but dIop , .