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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126779
During the early laps of the final (top and bottom) O'Mara (5), David Bailey (1) and Billy Liles battled. Bailey finished second; Liles crashed. Final As the gate came down in the final, the byword was O'Mara. "I gota tremendous jump off the gate," said O'Mara, "and made sure 1 didn't get the front wheel up at alI.I just moved over to the right heading into the first corner and was in control, trying not to go too wide. Once 1 was clear 1 looked behind and saw David (Bailey) right behind and I felt comfortable." O'Mara and Bailey immediately opened up a few econds over the battle for second - a toss-up between Liles, Ward, Johnson, Holland and Barnett. Lechien was seventh off the line but was up to fourth behind Liles by the end oflap two. "I haven't been getting good starts lately," said Lechien, "but for once 1 was able to make up ground. Passing was a little tight, but there were a few places to pass." And by lap four Lechien was up to third - with 16 laps to go the top three were already set. Liles saw his hopes of a top finish diminish on lap seven. "I was running fourth behind Lechien, trying to make up some time, and Johnson stuffed by me in a corner. When he did he ctlught my front brake lever and took my bike out from under me. I didn't appreciate it, and after I got back up 1 was pretty upset. 1ended up getting sideways in a rut and going down again." Ward railed past Johnson into fourth, as Barnett joined the chase in sixth behind Johnson and Liles fell to eighth behind Glover. Lap 10 saw O'Mara and Bailey continue in flawless 1-2 form, with Bailey inching closer only to have O'Mara handily counter his efforts. "About all 1could do was stay within a second of Johnny," said Bailey, "and wait for him to make a bobble." "I was riding smoothly," said O'Mara, "and things were going well. I couldn't believe how fast the laps were clicking by." . Ward, who had been stalking closer to Lechien in an attempt to capture third, unloaded late in lap 10. "Things looked good once 1got past Liles and Johnson, but then went downhill. 1 went down pretty hard and when I got back up 1 was around seventh." Johnson took up fourth behind Lechien, with Barnett right in there for a tight fifth over Ward, Glover and Liles: "I was haaving a lot of trouble with lapped traffic," said Johnson. "I was running with Barnett for a while, then went after Lechien. There was really only one place on the track you could consider to be a two-line corner; everywhere else you just followed. 1 martaged to make up a lot of ground on Lechien in the last laps." Lechien was also eating up some of Bailey's cushion. "It looked like I was going to catch Bailey," said Lechien, "but 1 think he saw me coming and picked up his pace." O'Mara raised his fist at the finish line as he scored the win, with Bailey ending up right where he started - a close second. Lechien was another half second back for third over Johnson, Barnett, Glover and Ward. O'Mara, Bailey and Lechien took turns at spraying beer at each other, Broc Glover (3), Scott Burnworth (8), Keith Bowen (68) and Jeff Ward (4) (above) dice in the second heat. Rick Johnson (below) finished fourth. the trophy girls, and the spectators gathered around winner's circle. ''I'm really jazzed over the win," said O'Mara. "I have an even better point lead over Ward, but there's still four races left. 1 h ave to try to be real consistent from now on." "I was within striking distance all the way," said Bailey, "and if Johnny would've made a mistake I would have taken advantage of it. Otherwise, 1 wasn't about to try to stuff my teammate." Hannah, back in the pack on the start, was unable to work his way up and finished 11 tho "I've been in a lot of races that 1 could come from the back and do well," said Hannah, "and it w;;lSn't that I wasn't riding well because 1 was. There simply wasn't any place to do any passing." • Results 20-LAP FINAL: 1. Johnny O'Moro (Hon); 2. Ooyid Boiley (Hon); 3. Ron Lochion (Hon); 4. RicltJohnson (Yom); 5. Mork Bornett (Suz); 6. Brae Glover (Yom); 7. Jeff Word (Kow); B. Billy Liiol (Kow); 9. Goo'Vo Hollond (Suz); 10. Alon King (Hon); 11. Bob Honnoh (Hon); 12. ROil P_rson (Suz); 13. SCott Burnwonh (Suz); 14. Rodney Smith (Yom); 15. A.J. Whiling (Hon); 16. Erik Kohoe (Hon); 17. Miclty Dymond (HuI); lB. Jim Anderson (Yom); 19. Jim Holley (Yom); 20. Kent Ho_non (Kow). INSPORTIWRANGLER SUPERCROSS SERIES POINT STANOINGS; 1. Johnny O'Mero (443); 2. Jeff Word (389): 3. Rid< Johnson (380); 4. Devid Beiley (3791; 5. Ron Lochian (357); Merl< Bernett (312); 7. Brae Glover (310); B. Alon King (2471; 9. Bob Honnoh (236); 10. Billy LiI.. (231); 11. Kont _n(1115); 12. GoetBr_(169); 13.GeMge Hol.. nd (157); 14. Keith _n(129); 15. Jim Holley (125); 16. Rid< Ryen (1141; 17. A.J. Whiling (94t. ...... (9()); 19. SCott Bumwonh f91t. 19. Rooo _ 20. Eric E81lln (81). e. 7