Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Husky's Dave Bertram edged two of his teammates in a tiebreaker score to win his first-ever National. AMA National Championship Enduro Series: Round 7 Bertralll takes narrow Rattlesnake win By Jim Bowman CRESCENT CITY, CA, JUNE 17 Northern California's Dave Bertram lost just five points at the Rattlesnake National Enduro to edge Husqvarna teammates Terry Cunningham and Larry Roeseler by seconds for the overall honors. Kevin Hines and 1983 National Enduro Champion Mike Melton placed fourth and fifth, respec- 22 tively, to round out the Team Husky sweep. Bertram credited his first National 'win to his score at the end of the three-mile section in a wet and rocky creek bed. The top riders had lost only two points up to the entrance of the creekbed and Hines was I.eading by seconds over Roeseler, Bertram and 1982 National Enduro Champion Cunningham. Melton had crashed big-time on the very steep spectator downhill and went into the creekbed in catch-up mode. CyCle Gear/Bel-Ray/O'Neal-sponsored Bertram roosted his 500 Automatic through the water and rocks to finish the section just two seconds past the three-minute mark. For the first time this year, Cunningham was also riding the 500AE Husky and finished the section some 20 seconds behind Bertram and just seconds ahead of southern California's Roeseler. Because Hines had received two penalty points for arriving early at check three and Melton had lost too much time after his crash, the end of this section marked the final scoring for the top five riders. With just three rides on his new Honda XR350, Honda Support rider Matt Cullins dropped II points aboard the red four-stroke machine to claim sixth overall ahead of Husky pilots Jeff Irwin and Fritz Kadlec. Irwin and Kadlec not only tied in points, but seemed to have an equal amount of bad luck. Hi-Point/InterLink/Sun River Cycle Husky rider Irwin experienced the sudden surprise that occurs when the front forks are compressed and the brake cable loops around the timekeeping equipment, and Kadlec picked up a flat tire about 30 miles .before the finish. Irwin edged Kadlec by seconds while Honda-mounted Drew Smith changed a flat to finish four points back at 16 points and ninth overall. After the event, most of the nation's . top riders commented that they liked .it, but much of the discussion was about the impact of the scores on the National point standings. Hines was not too happy about burning check three, but. gained enough points to retain his current lead in the National standings. Bertram, on the other hand, couldn't help but be happy abo'ut winning the event and had another good reason to be smiling. After five consistently high finishes, Bertram's win places him second in the standings ahead of Melton and Cunningham. Since Melton has one DNF this season (each rider will throwaway a specified number of his lowest finishes) and Cunningham is excited about riding the Automatic the rest of this year, the net result of the Rattlesnake National is that the 1984 title is Husky-bound, but the race is hardly over. The yearly points race for the local riders is hardly over either, and behind the National circuit riders came the battle for District 36 points. Leading the District 36 riders behind Bertram, Cullins and Irwin was Ken Nickerson who earned the overall A title and 10th overall aboard his 250 Can-Am. Washington's John Nielson (Yam) duplicated Nickerson's 20-pointscore to finish second 250cc A and Bob Terwilliger Lost one addi tional point to take third in the 250cc A class. Finishing with' flat tires, both South Carolina's Randy Hawkins (first Open A) and JK Cycle Inn's Brian Beatie (second Open A) tied with 23 points, two better than Cycle Gear/ Jim&Jim's Yamaha-sponsored Jim Bowman (third Open A). Four points back, Steve Shoemaker claimed the 200cc A class win with a five-point margin over Brian Summers. Each time a National event is held, the A class gains a new competitor as the overall B class winner is instantly promoted for his efforts. Although he won't gain any A class points for today's finish, Ross Liberty did turn a lot of heads when he turned in his score of just 18 points, worthy of a 10th overall finish. Second overall B was a tie between the second Open B finisher and the first Senior B finisher, who beat first Senior A finisher Jerry Kramer (Cycle Gear) by II points. Anthony Dokweilerclaimed the 250cc B class with 31 points and Tim Wilson carded 33 for the 200cc B class title. Following the A and B class riders over the rocks, creeks, downhills and wooded trails were the C class riders who were led by Mike Reynolds with a score of 39. The Redwood Scramblers Motorcycle Club event was not the easiest event for the novice riders to complete, but it was a true sample of a national caliber event and a variety of California terrain. Bradley Silton won the 200cc C class with the low score of 54 and Maurizio Stagnoli the 250cc C class with 81 points. Veteran C class rider Robert Miller turned in an impressive second overall C finish with 41 points and Gary Robinson won the Senior C class by having the best score up to check two. • Results OVERALL: 1. Dave Bartram (Hus); 2. Terry Cun· ningham (Hue); 3. Larry Roeeeler (Hus); 4. Kevin Hinee (Husl; 6. Mike Melton (Huel; 6. Matt Culline (Hon); 7. Jeff Irwin (Hus); 8. Fritz Kadlec (Hue); 9. Drew Smith (Hon); 10. Ken Nickerson (C-A); 11. John Nielaon (Yam); 12. Bob Terwilliger (HuI); 13. Rendy Hawkinl tHuI); 14. Brian Beatie (Jon); 16. Jim Bowman (Yam); 16. Taz HarveytHon); 17. Dava Ryan (Yam); 16. Lyle Ouronso (YamI; 19. Bill Oart (KTM); 20. Brian Patton (KTM). OPEN A: 1. Randy Hawkin.(HuI); 2. Brian Baatie (Hon); 3. Jim Bowman (Yam). 250 A: 1. Ken Nickeraon (C-A); 2. John Neilson (Yam); 3. Bob Terwilliger (HuI). 200 A: 1. Steve Shoemaker (Yam): 2. Brian Summers (Kaw). VET A: 1. Don Matheson (HuI); 2. Bill Cooper. SR A: 1. Jarry Kramer (HUll; 2. Walter Peterson (Hon); 3. Frank Showera (KTM). TEAM A: 1. John Nielson/Lyle Duronlo/Ron Criabe: 2. Steve Shoemaker/Richard Aden/Cliff Glidden. OVERALL B: 1. ROil Uberty (Yam). OPEN B: I. ROil Uberty (Yam); 2. Tony Luchesli (Hus); 3. Denni. Hiatt (Hon). 260 B: 1. Anthony Dokweiler; 2. Stanley Stawall; 3. Kun Brunhaver. 200 B: 1. Tim Wilaon; 2. Jim Johnson. 4-STROKE B: 1. Dan Carpenter; 2. D. C. Rowell. VET B: 1. Jim Andereen. SR B: 1. Dan Baker; 2. Ivan Johnaton (Hon). TEAM B: 1. ROIl Uberty/Dennie Hiatt/Dave Burnham. OVERALL C: 1. Mike Reynoldl. OPEN C: 1. Mike Reynolds; 2. Mike Lindaver (Suz). 260 C: 1. Maurizio Stagnoli; 2. Damon Ellie. 200 C: 1. Bradley Sinon; 2. Mike Chapman. VET C: 1. Robert Miller; 2. K. C. Moaer. SR C: 1. Gary Robinson. TEAM C: 1. Demon Ellie/Richard Van Horn/ Richerd Yamane. MXGP (Continued from page 17) dii lies 3.2 points off the tally of Kees van der Ven, 172 to 140, but a broken finger sustained by Van der Ven in moto two may slow his pace in coming rounds and allow Maddi, Rinaldi and others to rekindle ambitions to be World Champion. Rinaldi, with a win and second placing, picked up 22 points on van der Ven when he didn't score in maLO two after finishing fourth in maLO one. Suzuki rider Alain Lejeune sprinted to an eight-second lead in the first moto, follow.ed by a duel between Rinaldi and works Cagiva rider Maddii. The two were riding at such a furious pace they quickly caught up to Lejeune. Two laps from the finish, Rinaldi slipped a wheel inside Lejeune in a turn and powered his way past. Maddii tried the. same, but Lejeune wouldn't budge. Van der Ven was mired by a midpack stan and had LO work his way to the front. His eventual fourth place finish came after a long five rider battle over the position. The second maLO saw Rinaldi and Maddii in 27 and 28th position at the end of lap one. K'fM rider Romano Nannini had mastered the start and liked it S9 much he stayed out front until the finish. Rinaldi's charge through the field carried him to within one and a half seconds of second place finisher Kawasaki rider Massimo Contini at the finish. Van der Ven retired a short time after a rock broke the little finger on his right hand during the second lap of mota two. Results 15t MOTO: 1. Michelle Rinaldi (Suz): 2. Alain Lejeune (Suzl; 3. Corrado Maddii (Cag); 4. Kees Van de' Ven (KTMI; 5. John Hensen (Hon); 6. Jan Postema (Yam); 7. Karl Sultzar (Puc); 8. John Van der Berk (Hen); 9. Paul Hunt (Cag); 10. Peter Kovar (Kawl. 2nd MOTO: 1. Romano Nannini (KTM); 2. Mas· simo Contini (Kaw); 3. Rinaldi; 4. Guiseppi Andreani (Apr); 5. Maddii; 6. Fabrizio Pirovano (Apr); 7. Lejeune; 8. Yves Gervaise (KTM); 9. Hunt; 10. Pierangelo Tedeschi (KTMI. OVERALL: 1. Rinaldi; 2. Maddii; 3. Lejeune; 4. Nannini; 5. Contini; 6. Hunt; 7. Andreani; 8. Van derVen; 9.-Pirovano; 10. (TIE) Postema/Hensen. POINT STANDINGS: 1. Van der Ven (1721; 2. Maddii (1401; 3. Oavey Strijbos (127); 4. Lejeune (1 , 0); 5. Andreani 199); 6. (TIEl Pekka Vehkonenl Rinaidi (871; 8. Contini (821; 9. Hunt (481; 10. T. Nilssen (431. World Championship ObselVed Trials Series: RoundB Canadian win to Lejeune CHATSWORTH, ONTARIO, CANADA, JUNE 17 Eddy Lejeune completed a clean sweep of the North American World Championship rounds with a three-mark .margin of victory over rival Thierry Michaud in the Canadian round held at Chatsworth, Ontario's Mota Park facility. Belgian Lejeune, riding for the Honda factory, and Frenchman Michaud, aboard a factory supported Fantic, traded the lead over the first loops with Lejeune's second loop ride telling the tale in the final tally of marks lost: Lejeune 110, Michaud 113. Frenchman Philippe Berlatier, aboard an Italjet, finished third. a

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