Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Cycle News 1984 05 23

Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles

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(Above) Graham, Parker and Shobert went for the lead at the start. (Below) Celebration in the winner's circle and a winner's smile (inset). (Above) Doug Chandler (10) took fourth in the National. winner Don Estep inside Jim Taves and Chris Carr. Bel-Ray and York MotOrs, had the last ticket to the National. In a cruel twist of [ate, however, the last man in would be the first man out. Fay's ride lasted less than a lap when he exploded the clutch. Junior National Roger Thompson had the pole by virtue of his fa t heat win, but it was Chad Felicio the early leader on a Wood-Rotax. By lap three, however, Wood-Rotax teammates Don Estep and Carr running 1-2 with Thompson up to third. Estep led from there to the finish, chopping a second off Pete Hames' 1982 record to finish at four minutes, 34.60 seconds for 12 laps. Thompson took second away from Carr on the ninth lap to set the winner's circle positions. Ohioan Estep was a man of few words on the victory podium: ''I'm speechless," he said, but added "I want to do this again when I get back easL" National The Honda trio of Shobert, Graham and Chandler were the top runners into turn one, along with Parker. Shobert led as they crossed the finish for the first time, trailed· by Parker, Graham, Chandler, jorgensen and Poovey. Goss accidentally hit his kill switch in the first turn and got away last. Shobert led the second lap with Parker nipping at his heels, and lap three saw Milwaukee iron up front and Graham up to second. By lap five the tOp three of Parker, Graham and Shobert were clear of ,~eL (Belo~) Junior fourth-place Chandler. Moreh<:'ad was fifth ahead of Poovey, jorgensen, Boody and Goss. On the sixth lap Graham almost got Parker through turn one, and on the following lap made a pass stick going down the front straight. Once Graham was in the lead he began to inch away from Parker. At the halfway point the order was Graham, Parker, Shobert, Chandler, Morehead, Goss. Poovey, Boody and jorgensen. At the three-quarters mark Graham and Parker had their positions secured, but Shobert was beginning 'to feel heat and soon lost twO positions to Chandler and Morehead. Goss was a distant sixth. On the 18th lap Brow crashed hard in turn two, and with bike and rider both on the track, the race was redflagged. AMA rules state that if a race is 60% completed, a referee may call it official or call [or a restart in singlefi Ie order based on the order of the previous lap. Referee Rick Hutchins decided on the latter course of action. Brow was not injured, but did not restart. Graham and Shobert got fresh rear rubber in the delay, and they lined up to start again. Thirteen riders starting nose to tail made for an interesting 17th lap. Parker led across the start/finish line with Graham burning the rubber 0(( his rear tire. Chandler, Morehead and Goss were behind then, with Shobert stuck in third gear and dropping well back. In the last two laps, Graham did his best to make the low line work and passed Parker twice going into turn one, only to have Parker repay the favor exiting turn two. Itcamedown to the final corner on the final lap. Parker went in hard, too hard, and almo t went 0[[ the cushion. Graham, riding the low line, also went into the corner hot, passing Parker but going higher than he wanted. As a result, Parker was able to quare 0(( the corner, go underneath Graham, and win the drag race to the checkered flag. When they crossed the line, Graham's front wheel was equal to Parker's steering head. Behind them Morehead had overtaken Chandler for third, and Goss finished fifth. The top finishers in the three-lap "Trophy Dash" had mixed emotions. "They said they were going to run it so I said I was going to win it. I had to have the gas on or finish fifth," said Parker. "I'm glad Scotty won it," said Graham. "We put on a helluva show for everybody, and we'll see if we can't win the next one." ''I'm tickled to death," said Morehead. "It was tOuch and go there for a bit, but we're here to give the fans a show." "It wa a Trophy Dash and I just couldn't get it going again," said Chandler. "I went with a different rear tire choice than everybody else and it was just beginning to work in the last half of the race." "Not too bad," was how Goss described his night. "The restart wa bad for the front runners, but good for the fans." Asked if Harley was doing anything different to meet the recent Honda challenge, Go s said, " o. We're busting our ass to keep what we've got good." • Results 20·LAP NATIONAL: 1. Scott Parkar (H·D); 2. Ricky Graham (Han); 3. Ste.., Morahead (H-D); 4. Doug Chandler (Han); 5. Rendy Goss (H· D); 6. Tad Boody (H·D); 7. Terry Poo..,y (H-D); B. Ale. Jar· gensen (H-D); 9. Tim Menens IH-D); 10. Matt Aozowicz (H-Dl; 11. Bubba Shobert (Han); 12. RonnieJones(H-D); 13. Mike Garrison (H-D); 14. Garth Brow (H-D); 15. Mickey Fay (H· D). TIME: No time due to red flag/rstan. 12·LAP JUNIOR NATIONAL: 1. Don Estep (W·R); 2. Roger Thompson (H-D); 3. Chris Carr (W-R); 4. Chad Felico (W-R); 5. Jim Taves (W-R); 6. Michael Anhur (C-A); 7. Donald Rabens (H-D); B. Duane Duvall (Han); 9. Randy Bird (Vam); 10. Kim Jar· gensen (Hon). TIME: 4:34.60 (new track record). AMA GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPI CAMEL PRO SERIES POINT STANDINGS: 1. Ricky Graham (7B); 2. Randy Goss (73); 3. Scott Parker (70); 4. Bubba Shoben 165); 5. Doug Chandler (61); 6. Ale. Jorgensen (60); 7. Ste.., Morehead (45); B. Ted Boody (44); 9. Jay Springsteen 1391; 10. Jim Filice 133); 11. Pete Hames 129); 12. Steve Eklund 125); 13. Hank Scott (24); 14. Terry Poovey 123); 15. (TIE) Kenny Robens/Ganh Brow (20); 17. Tim Menen. (17); 1B. Freddie Spencer (l6); 19. Fran Brown (15); 20. Eddie Lawson (1 1). 7

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