Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Keith O'Neal handily won the 126cc Intermediate overall. Six-time South African champ Charlie Tinen won the Vets. Northern California's Jim Ellis took his Yamaha to a commanding win in Friday's 500cc Pro final. seconds adrift of Brooks. Bowman, after finishing second on the 500, wanted a win badly, and set a blistering pace in an effort to catch Brooks. Behind him, Fisher and McCoy were having a good fight of their own, trying for the third spot. McCoy was using the outside line on the downhill, but Fisher saw a gap and went for it, outside of McCoy. He made the daring pass count, and set his sights on Bowman. By the 20-minute point, Bowman was slowly reeling-in Brooks, and keeping a distance from Fisher. McCoy couldn't keep up the fast pace set by the experienced Pros, and was soon over a minute behind Brooks. As the leaders came on traffic, Bowman used it to his advantage, and continued to close on the Honda. At the same time, Denton passed McCoy for fourth. The position remained steady until just turns from the white flag, when Bowman suffered a rear flat, which slowed him considerably. He rode on, but Fisher's comfortable third now looked like a possibility for second, while Brooks rode on without challenge. When he passed the mechanic's area, Brooks' pitboard read "BOWM OUT," and he breathed a little easier. Fisher finally caught and passed for second, Bowman finished third, and Denton was fourth, ahead of McCoy. In the Intermediates, Keith O'Neal was the dominating rider for the entire day. He led the charge in both his motos, then took a decisive win in the final. Dan Crouch and Jim Perry had a good race for second in the early going, but Perry eventually fell to sixth. Crouch held on to second to the flag, followed through by Honda rider Robert Engel. Ed Drexler led the 125cc Juniors until the fourth lap, when he took a tumble and fell to third. George Vlach took over the number one place, but also fell, and got up to finish fifth. Drexler moved back into the lead, with lots of pressure from Honda rider Curt Trimble. Just before the finish line, Trimble put a pass on ~rexler for the win. Dion Agee, carryIng the number one plate, was third, with Chaney Brewer and Vlach filling the top five. Vetel... 20 The competition is as fierce in the 30-year-old plus category as it is in any other. The start had the mixture of 250 and 500cc machinery chasing Tissen up the hill. About two-thirds of the way up, a six-rider pile-up occurred. Tissen led coming back down the hill, with Danny Sanchez in second, and Jeff Harriott in third, Jon Miller, who started in fifth, soon displaced Tom White and went after Harriott. Miller was on a roll, and moved by both Harriott and Sanchez for second. Miller appeared to be the only one on the course capable of keeping Tissen in sight. Jim O'Neal, after having a bad day on Friday, was making a good showing, now up to fifth behind Sanchez. Then Sanchez fell, and dropped to ninth, where he remained to the fintsh. At the flag, Tissen did a one-hander over the jump and took the win. Miller, then Harriott and O'Neal crossed the line in second through fourth. Alan Olson, on a Yamaha, took fifth. 250ec classes Sunday's 250cc program started off with the Junior class. After a 20minute intermission, the only break in the program for the entire weekend, the Junior final was started. Yamaha PR man Willie Amaradio gated well and was the first to the top of the start hill. Yamaha rider Bruce Quale passed Amaradio in the first turn and led for the first circuit. His brother Steve Quale was in second for a few moments until going over the bars after a little side-kicker jump. Mark Sirote inherited second at that point, followed by Todd Studley and Amaradio. Sirote wasted no time in moving into the lead, then Studley also passed Quale for second. Quale began to slow, and a dice with Amaradio began. It didn't last for long, however, as he bailed off the bike and dropped from the leaders. At the finish, Sirote held the lead, followed by Studley, Amaradio, and Jim Faulknee. Due to the qualifier moto finishes, Studley was awarded the win over Sirote in the overall standings. Amaradio maintained third. Greg Fountain led a quick pack of 250cc Intermediates from the start, but quickly crashed himself out of contention on the rough, rutted course. Atthat, Todd Gibboney, who was running second, began to pull out a lengthy lead over a pack of riders consisting of Jim Spotts, Darren Sykes, Ray Groom, and Tim Hanna. Cam Johnson was running in sixth. Spotts started to close, and was soon challenging Gibboney for first. Near the halfway mark, in the back section of the course, Spotts moved his Suzuki Andy Ellis surprised many this weekend, but DNF both his finals. past. On the same lap, Groom dropped back to eighth, where he finished. Spotts had a seven-second lead at the chekcered flag, 'while Gibboney held a l4-second advantage ovenhirdplace Sykes. Johnson and Jeff Seagle rounded the top five positions. . The last race of the gigantic Mammoth Mountain weekend was that of the 250cc Pros. The track was in excellent condition, dust-wise, as it had been for all the races. Mammoth incorporates a built-in watering system that uses fire hoses to do the watering. It can be done while the race is in progress, so there is no down-time in the program. Gary Denton, as usual, nabbed the hoLeshot, but was instantly displaced by Mike Larson and "Lusty Louie" Franco. Ellis was fourth on his Suzuki, and riding hard, especially after the luck in the l25cc portion the day before. Alan Berluti was also in the front runners. Brooks was in sixth, then moved by Berluti and Ellis to challenge Franco. Denton had dropped way back, out of the top 10. Coming past the mechanics' area into a right-hander, Brooks ducked to miss another rider's pitboard, and crashed, sending riders scattering to miss him. Just when the confusion appeared to be over, Tracey Oswell plowed into the back of Brooks' Hon.da, knocking him down again. Brooks remounted and began to ride wildly, trying to regain the spots lost. He moved back into eighth by the checkered. Up front, Larson had a large lead, but Ellis was attempting to do something about that. Franco was still running third, the best ride of his career. Manning pulled into fourth, with Tyson Vohland in fifth just before the weekend's big money winner, Bowman. Phil Larson trailed in seventh. Just beyond the 10-minute point in the race, Franco crashed and was taken to the hospital with a broken ankle. A wild, four-way battle for third was staged, and Bowman came out on top, after passing Phil Larson, then Manning. Ellis closed the seven-second gap of Mike Larson, and poured on the gas. His stock Suzuki that he borrowed for the race out-motored Larson on the long uphill to take over. When he passed, Ellis was bouncing Mike u.rson led nearly the entire 250cc Pro main, finishing second. all over the course, nearly crashing, but managed to hold on. Bowman was 10 seconds adrift. Then trailing posllJons were settled by the 30-mintue point in the race - after Fisher crash~ himself out- with Manning tn thud, and Vohland, Mike Shoemaker, Willie Simons, and Greg Zitterkopf in tow. On the white flag lap, it appeared as though Bowman could catch the Honda pilot, as a lot of time was being made. Two turns from the en<;l, Bowman passed Larson for the win. It was a matter of only two bikelengths at the flag. Larson was being plagued with a flat tire, losing valuable time. • Results FRIDAV OPEN JR: 1. Mike McGrale (Mai); 2. Craig Con· way (Vam); 3. Mike McDonald (Hon); 4. Carl Cox (Yam); 5, Tony Shipman (Suz); 6. Robert Hanson (Yam): 7. Steve Lawlor (Yam); 8. Lee Johnson (Vam); 9. Greg Palermo (Hon); 10. Bart Hitt (Mai). _ OPEN tNT: 1. Nev LaBorde (Honl; 2. Nick Voung (Han); 3. Gary Scheidler (Yam); 4. Eric Marnoch (Han); 5. Jack Hulse (Han); 6. Jim Domenighini (Hon); 7. Jim Lowe (Mai); a. Doug Taft (Vam); 9. Dave Ohl(Hon); 10. Gregg alechman (Hon). OPEN PRO: ,. Jim Ellis (Vam); 2. Gary Bowman (Suz); 3. Phil Larson (Vam); 4. Scott Menning (Vern); 5. Mike Larson (Hon); 6. Willie Simons (Yam I; 7. Brett Cahors (Hon); B. Dave Coupe (Hon); 9. Greg Zitterkopf (Kaw); 10. Louie Franco (Hon). SATURDAV 125 JR: 1. Curt Trimble (Han); 2. Ed Drexler (Kaw); 3. Dian Agee (Hon): 4. Chaney Brewer (Kaw); 5. George Vlech (Kaw); 6. Hugh Parker (Hon); 7. Scott McElroy (Hon); a. Doug Belcher (Hon); 9. Bill Waltman (SUl); 10. Scott Murphy (Kaw). 125 INT: ,. Keith O'Neel (Hon); 2. Dan Crouch (Vam);.3. Robert Engel (Hon); 4. Ty Davis (Hon); 5. Bryan Nelson (Kaw); 6. Jim Perry(Kaw); 7. Troy Lee (Hon); a. Larry Spotts (SUl); 9. Mark Lopera (Vam); 10. Lance Reiman (Vaml. '25 PRO: ,. Larry Brooks (Hon); 2. Mike Fisher (Hon); 3. Gary Bowman (SUl); 4. Gary Denton (SUl); 5. Mouse McCoy (Kaw); 6. Rod Harriger (Kaw); 7. Bruce Maynor (SUl); B. Tony Toste (SUl); 9. Doug O'Donneli (SUl); 10. Steve Vlehos (Hon). VETS: 1. Charlie nosen (Sull; 2. Jon Miller (Yalt\J; 3. Jeff Harriott (Honl; 4. Jim O'Neal (Hon); 5. Ala" Olson (Vam); 6. Ken Retzloff (Hon); 7. Tom White (Vaml; B. Dave Ohl (Honl; 9. Danny Sanchel (Hon)' 10. Kun DietriCh. i SUNDAV 250 JR: 1. Todd 'Studley (Hon); 2. Mark Sirote (Yem); 3. Willie Amaradio (Yam); 4. Mm:h Brewer (Hon); 5. Bruce Quale (Vam); 6. Jim Faulknee (SUl); 7. Morgen Murphy (Hon); a. Larry Pochirowski (Hon); 9. Greg Palermo (SUl); 10. Jeff Bleck (Yaml. 250 INT: 1. Jim Spom (Suz);- 2. Todd Gibboney (Sul); 3. Darren Sykes (Kew); 4. Cam Johnson (Yam); 5. Ray Groom (Hon); 8. Jeff Sagale (SUl); 7. Tim Hanna (Hon); B. Lance Reiman (Vam); 9. Grlltl Fountain (SUl); 10. Jeff Bleck (Yam). 250 PRO: 1. Gary Bowman (Suz); 2. Mike lMaOn (Han); 3. ScoII Manning (Yam~ 4. Ty-. Voh_ (Yam); 6. Mike Shoemalcar (Yam~ 8. W~lie Simona (Yam); 7. G"'l! Zlttet1uIpf (Kaw); 8. t.anv Ilroob (Han); 9. Kria8lgel_(Yam~ 10. lilly Gr_ (KawI.

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