Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126761
(Above) Johnny O'Mara leads Jeff Ward in a very exciting second mota duel that O'Mara won. (Below) Rick Johnson chues Lechien. Honda's new factory star Ronnie Lechien rode fast and steady to capture the 250cc win with a 2-1 tally. The young Honda pilot has a bright future. AM~Bel·RaJ Grand National Championship: Round 4 Red tide splashes over' Saddleback By I{"I1 Palmer Photos by Skip Johnson and Palmer ORANGE, CA, APR. 1 Team Honda manager Dave Arnold couldn't have asked for much more after watching factory Honda riders sweep all three classes at the,second round of the AMA/Bel-Ray outdoor MX Nationals at Saddleback Park. Johnny O'Mara topped the I 25cc class, but not until after -a hard-fought duel 8 with Kawasaki's brightest hope, jeH Ward. In the 2505 and 500cc classes, Ron Lechien and David Bailey also . had to work for their wins. Favorite among many people to win the 250cc class was Yamaha's Rick johnson, and he almost did. However, like the first round in Gainesville, johnson won the first moto relatively easily, but suHered mechanical ills in the second, once again stripping johnson of a possible second National win. This time it was a collapsed rear wheel that did johnson in. Mother Nature played a nasty trick on the race promoters, Tri Cross, with a forecast of rain for the race. So, with that in mind, the track was watered lightly in the morning. However, clear skies prevailed, and by the time the first National moto hit the track, the course was dry, slick and dusty. 125 National All eyes were focused on only two riders in the I25cc Pro class, and they were O'Mara and Ward. But when the pack exited the first tum heading down Banzai Hill, it was Cagiva's Ron Turner out in front. O'Mara had the holeshot, but the Honda pilot dropped to sixth through the turn. Turner, on his home track, held on to his lead for a complete lap before Ward flew by to grab the lead. After Turner came Yamaha-mounted Mike Beier, Suzuki Support Gary Bowman, O'Mara and Honda rider Erik Kehoe. As expected, O'Mara got on the gas and reeled in Bowman, Beier and Turner by lap three. Then Beier took . care of Turner as did Bowman. Ward jammed to about a seven-second lead over O'Mara, who was determined to catch Ward. Lap by lap, O'Mara closed the gap between himself and Ward until he captured the lead halfway through the moto. However, O'Mara couldn't gain any distance on Ward, who seemed content with a close second. Near the end of the moto, Ward started to make up the slight difference and started to challenge the "O'Show" for the top spot. When the white flag appeared, Ward was bot on O'Mara's rear fender. In a tight left hand, sandy turn, Ward made his move and dove inside O'Mara, who went down in the process. "I went to the inside and wasn't expecting Ward to try to pass there," said O'Mara. "He just rammed me right off the track and I went down. It was a move I didn't think was fair. I wouldn't have done it to him." O'Mara recovered in time to retain the second spot while Ward had a secure lead. When the checkered flew, Ward cruised by with the win ahead of O'Mara, Beier, Bowman and Kehoe. When the pack rounded the first turn at the start of the second moto,