Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126785
Doug Chandler (10), Ricky Graham (3) and Bubba Shobert in a Honda battle for the lead early in Sunday's National. Terry Poovey (181, Alex Jorgensen (44), Randy Goss (1), Hank Scott (14) and Scott Parker (11) in an early battle for fourth. said self-sponsored Garrison' afterward, "but I knew I couldn't waitany longer so I gave it all I had." Hames put his Walters Brothers Harley-Davidson XR out front for all 10 laps to win semi two, but wasn't safe until the final lap. Bryan Hardin and Kidd swapped second ahead of Hook before Hook lost their draft. Kidd got by Hardin for good on lap eight and held 0[£ the repeated challenges of the second year Expert to the flag for a spot in the National in his first Camel Pro ride of any kind in nearly II momhs. and he helplessly watched as a probable third became a slowing ninth. Poovey immediately seized the advantage and held off Parker at the finish for third. Goss edged Boody, Morehead and Eklund for fifth. second and closing the gap. Meanwhile, Graham, Morehead and Eklund were debating third a distance back and ahead of Poovey, Parker and Goss. Boody led the Hames/Mai tla nd/Chandler/Farris/ Jorgensen pack with Garrison off the pace with a sour engine. Chandler was also offpace and said after the race his engine wa n'trunningrightfromlaptwoon. Although losing some ground to Scott, Shobert appeared to be in total command on lap l5. The battle for third featured Parker, Poovey, Morehead, Graham and Eklund. Goss and Boody crept closer. Last Chance Qualifier Tire wear now began to playa facMaitland, on an XR with close ties tor as the riders who had tried to save to the Tex Peel Racing stable, didn't their tires for the last 10 laps or were waste any time in establishing a lead easier on their rubber than others in the LCQ. He led from start to finlike Parker - began to push harder. ish after breaking away from the Scott and Shobert were side-by-side at Ingram/Pearson/Matt Rozowiczduel the start-finish line at the end of lap behind him. Maitland took the final 16 with an edge to Scott until Shobert's slot in the 17 rider National grid. horsepower took over a short distance later. Eklund Jed Graham and National Morehead at this poim, but then he The preliminaries had taken less sli pped back. than two hours to run, thanks to On lap 20, the-Bubba and Hank or cooperation by the riders with referee Hank and Bubba show up front was Duke Olliges and his crew. The cool vying for spectator attention with the evening and an only moderately MoreheadiGraham/Eklund/Parker/ abrasive surface appeared to pose no Poovey/Goss/Boodx fight nearly a tire problems and the National restraightaway behind. Both demained at 25 laps. manded close attention to keep track The strategy of most if not all ridof frequent position swapping. ers was simple: Get a good start, stay "The exhaust pipes broke back with the front-running pack, use the near the megaphones about lap 10," draft to gain ground and try not to be said Scott afterward. "and I was figleft behind. It was easier said than uring'l should probably just hang in done. Bubba's draft and take whatever Jones' night ended before it started opportunities came since the engine as he went on the two minute clock to began to lose power and I didn't have repair an undisclosed problem and any steam on Bubba." ran out of time before his crew could Scott did exactl y that, but kept the complete repairs. He stood by and pressure on Shobert by prodding, watched the National run without pushing, probing and passing every him. chance he got and relying on track Shobert had been one of the riders savvy to make up for the power difon the 6/6/5 grid who wanted a good ference. Graham still held the upper start and when he got it, decided to hand in the battle for third in the run with the ball and see who could closing laps, but now had Parker and catch him. Graham, Morehead, Scott, Poovey for close company as MoreEklund, Poovey, Chandler and Maithead, Goss, Boody and Eklund trailed. land tucked in behind in a constantly The final lap would prove drachanging group with the rest of the matic. Scott led off turn four to the field behind. Shobert didn't wait white flag with Shobert swooping around and broke away to a 30 bike past for the lead as the two headed length lead hy lap four. Parker moved into turn one. Scott hung in Shobert's into the six rider battle for second to draft down the backstretch and moved make it seven masters in a high speed into the lead as they went into turn ballet. three, gaining ground as he powered On the sixth lap, Scott drafted past through turn four and molded himGraham and Morehead into second self onto the gas tank with the throtas the three charged into turn three. tle pegged for the inevitable race to Eklund, Poovey, Goss and Parker the flag. were still right there, and Boody and "Hank got a couple more lengths Hames were on the move. on me than I wanted him to as we Kidd was in the pits with an engine raced through turns three and four," problem. "It'll probably takeall night said Shobert. "When we came off to repair it if it's really a major probturn four I told myself it was going to lem," said tuner/builder Kenny Tolbe a long ride to the finish." be.rt. "We'll do every thing possible to Shobert was right. Scott, by a marget it ready for tomorrow." gin of inches, reached the finish line Shobert continued his hold on the first for the win. J~aQ as,tpef~ell;!CQVlRl~\ed.l11P10, but , , " ,Tjl~ drpm