Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

~ 00 0') ~ 00 The "Flyin' Hawaiian" him..". John DeSoto, came out of retirement to compete (above left and right). He rode remarkably well, transferring to the main event where he finished ninth. Over 17.000 spectators witnessed Turner's win. Most of them. and the Hawaiian riders. had never even seen a Supercross before. The fourth qualifier was another nail-biter. This race piued two mainland riders - Chris Heisser, riding a Team Tamm-Ioaned Honda, and Yamaha-mounted Rodney Smith. As expected, the two mainlanders shot into the lead with Smith coming out on top. Within a lap, the two were pulling faraway from the pack, while Heisser stayed glued to Smith's rear fender. The crowd again went wild during the most exciting race yet of the evening, cheering for Heisser to pass Smith. But Smith had the advantage: The track was tight and hard to pass on, and Smith had a cleaner line through the traffic. A few times, Heisser had to make quick line changes to avoid hiuing lapped rid· ers, which cost valuable time. With one lap remaining, Smith maintained his cool, while Heisser breathed heavily down his back. When the checkered appeared, Smith took the win and saluted the crowd with a onehanded cross-up. The spectators applauded and cheered both riders as they coasted back to the pits. Dennis Hethcote, board a Suzuki, finished third ahead of Neisha Kahoopii Jr. and Michael McGuire. "That was a lot of fun!" said Smith afterwards. "It was real close and exciting. Chris kept pressuring me every inch of the way, but I managed to hold him back." "Rod and I had a real good race and it was fun," said Heisser. "The major problem for me was getting around the lapped tra£fie." Semi qualifiers The next two molOS were semi qualifiers. Dean Freitas survived a tough duel against Terry Pagador and Jack Ching to win the first semi qualifier. The lead changed hands at least three times before Freitas crossed the checkers in first ahead of Pagador and Ching. The second semi qualifier was won by Kawasaki-mounted Blayne Soma. Soma led from start to finish, while McGuire followed throughout the moto. Brian Barreuo finished third, while Thomas Fulcher seuled for fourth. Semi finals Myerscough and Ellis were the ones lo watch in the first semi final. As the pack exited the first turn, it was Myerscough out in front and . chased by Ellis, Racoma and Patao. . What thought would be a Myerscough/Ellis runaway, turned into a Lough skirmish between Racoma and Ellis for second. During the first lap, Racoma snuck by Ellis for second. While Ellis fought to regain his position, Suzuki·mounted David Amorin crept up to, and started to pressure, Ellis. At one point, Amorin put his front wheel past Ellis' Honda, but Ellis slammed the door sh ut and eventually found room around Racoma for second. By that time, Myerscough was way out in front, and he took the checkers first. Ellis finished second ahead of Racoma, Amorin and Patao. rhe second semi final saw Smith jam into an early lead followed by Turner, Oveland and DeSoto. Heisser had a poor start after being centerpunched a few times through the first few turns. At one time Heisser was dead last, but that wasn't aboUlto last for long. Up front, things settled down with Smith pulling a comfortable lead over Turner and Oveland. Soon, Heisser made his way up through the pack and passed DeSoto for fourth. With a few laps left, DeSoto dropped back to sixth, one spot out of the transfer. So DeSoto made a desperation move on Alexander for fifth. Through the whoops, DeSolO motored alongside Alexander and collided. Both went down in a heap, and once again, DeSoto recovered first and claimed fifth to qualify for the main. Smith took the win, ahead of Turner, Oveland, Heisser and DeSoto. Consolation Jace Furike and Stuart Whittingham were the lOp two finishers in the consolation race, which gave them a trip lo the main. Main A few minutes before the main, it was announced that DeSoto had a Rodney Smith (left) led the first six laps of the main before swapping in the whoops and sailing off the track: He finished third. Jimmy Ellis (right) had a fair night. placing'fourth overall on a Honda. probable broken thumb after the semi final crash. But the determi ned Flyin' Hawaiian wasn't about to sit the main outas he lined uphis mount. When the rubber band snapped, Smith hooked up and stole the holeshot ahead of Turner, Amorin, Ellis, Myerscough, DeSoto and Heisser. During the third lap, Myerscou~h dumped it in a slow right hairplO, dropping a few positions. Up from, Smith held on to his lead over Turner by a few bikelengths. But Smith dropped to third during the sixth lap, when he became out-ofshape in the whoops and left the track. "I picked a bad line in the whoops, and Turner made a good move and went by," said Smith. "Then I went off the track and Brian cruised on by. By the time I recovered, Turner and Brian were gone." Myerscough was on the gas: He had alrady taken control of third just before Smith's error. Once Myerscough had taken second, about halfway through the 25-1ap race, he set his sights on Turner, who had built up about a six-second cushion. Meanwhile, Ellis was holding his own in fourth. At one time, Ellis had third when Smith went off the track, but Smith soon retaliated. Heisser had some more bad luck when he crashed imo the haybales after ajump. "Right when I landed, the throule stuck open," said Heisser. "I went through the bales." Heisser pulled his bike back on the track and set sail again near the rear of the pack. DeSoto was cruising in seventh. With about 12 laps left in the race, all eyes were focused on Myerscough and Turner. Every lap Myerscough was gaining on Turner, but lapped traffic hindered Myerscough's drive. Myerscough managed lo get within a bikelength of Turner's Cagiva, but once again, with two laps to go, backmarkers made life difficult for Turner and especially difficult for Myerscough. Neither Turner or Myerscough received the white flag because of the conIusion after a rider crashed seriously on the Lava Leap, just past the finish line. Smith was the first rider to get the white flag. So Turner was quite surprised and relieved when the checkered flag flew with Myerscough inches behind. "I knew it was near the end, but I would've charged just a liule bit harder if I had known it was the last lap," said Myerscough. "I didn't see the white flag either," said Turner. "But I was sure glad lo see the checkered! I don't think it would've made much of a difference for me whether or not I saw it." ''I'm really disappointed," said Myerscough. "I wanted to win, but it was my fault I didn't. That little bobble in the turn cost me the win. I lost too much time, and there was a lot of traffic lo get through, but that's part of racin~." . "It was a real good race," saJd Turner. "You can never count Brian out, or give him any slack. If you do he will take it. He is a real contender. but luckily for me, his mistake was all I needed." "I sure felt out of place riding a 125," said DeSoto. "I haven't ridden one since 1969 or '70 when I rode a Sachs at Mammoth. There are some really good kids out there, good athletes; and the kids from the mainland did an awful lot for Hawaii. We are grateful they came over and put on such a great show, and I think Hawaiian Supercross will benefit." During the event, it was announced that the race was such a success that CMC will be back next year, on a larger Aloha Bowl track. When asked, DeSolO said, "Sure, I'll be back." • Results HAWAIIAN SUPERcROSS RESULTS: 1. Ron Tur· ner (cag); 2. Brion Mv-ocough (Kow); 3. Rodney Smith (Yom~ 4. Jimmy Ellis (Hon); 5. Philip Ovelond (KTM): 6. Chris Hei_ (Honl; 7. Dovid Arnorin Suz); B. Dono PII_ ~w); 9. John DeSoto (Yem); \ D. Stuort Whittingham (Hon); 11. Joce Furu" (Kow); 12. Royce _ _ (Yom). 17

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