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/126787
Hames finished fourth, just inches behind the top three. Dave Hebb led the opening lap of the second semi, but that race turned into another four man battle as Scott Pearson came up from a penalty line spot to mix it up with Hebb, Spri~g steen and Tim Mertens. Shuffling took place all around the track as the draft was put into play on bo.th straightaways. The order as the wh] te flag was waved read Pearson, Mertens, Springsteen and Gary Scott, the latter having slipped by both Hebb and then Fran Brown. The flag that counts, the checkered one, saw Mertens beat out Springsteen by inches much to thedelightof his father who was at the finish line, correctly anticipating another close finish. The crowd cheered, both for Mertens and for Springsteen. Pearson and Scott returned to the.ir pit areas to prepare for the Last Chance Qualifier. Junior National . Harley-mounted Wiley Duvall was the fastest Junior qualifier ""ith a 37.994 second lap. George Roeder, Chris Carr, Jamie Sehl and ~avid Miller rounded out the top five 111 time trials. The first six-lap Junior heat could have been won by anyone of the four rider who took it to the line, but it was Californian Carr who got the nod over Miller, Brad Furlong and Darryl Johnson. . Heat number two requrred a restart after Roeder unloaded coming off the fourth turn while in the lead on lap one. Roeder was quickly on his feet and quickly pulled the haybales he had exploded off the track. Roeder didn't make the restart and the checkered flag was taken by winner Dan Knecht, who was closely followed across the line by Stephen Duff, Geoffrey Clark and Tom Bra wn. -Carr held the pole for the Junior Na tiona I, a race tha t turned au t to be a crowd-pleaser. The latter laps turned into a position swapping affair inCarr, Miller, Furlong and Duvall, and they finished in that order. Carr, who has received the lion's share of attention given Juniors this y ar, was quick toexplain the absence of Wood-Rotax teammate Don Estep. "Don jumped off last night in Weedsport, and bruised his tailbone. He practiced here today, but was hurtlllg too much to race. You've got to give him credit for even trying," said Carr, adding, "but I'm happy to have won the only mile in the east and glad that the four of us gave the fans a good race. " Last Chance Qualifier Only the wi'nner would advance to the National outof the LCQ':Ind that turned out to be Scott Pearson, who pulled off yet another of his patented holeshots and was never headed in the ten la p race. Behind Pearson, Jorgensen and Hames took their fight for second down to the line with Jorgy getting the nod. National Pole sitter Shobert chose his starting posi tion on the grid first and he opted for a·spot smack on the groove near the grandstand wall. Poovey was gridded between Shobert and the wall and the front row was rounded out by Chandler, Graham, Boody and Ronnie Jones. Row two was occupied by Lance Jones, Hank Scott, Morehead, Eklund, Goss and Mertens, with Filice, Maitland, Parker, Springsteen and Pearson on the third row. Poovey was first into turn one on the start and he led a thundering freight ,!ain across the.l.iJ;l~ iV,the Jimmy Filice (17) and Jay Springsteen (9) returned to action and made the National, as did Ronnie Jones (16). Shobert answers announcer Roxy Rockwood's questions in victory circle. belong up front with these guys. My third today makes my thll'd place 111 the poimstandings stronger and puts me closer to second. I've got to thank American Honda, but it's Jerry Griffith who's responsible for me being here in winner's circle. I wouldn't be here without him." . Not in winner's cirde but certainly -deserving of praise for their performances were fourth place finisher Graham, fifth place finisher Steve Eklund, who has had more than his share of bad luck this year, and Lance Jones, who in finishing sixth turned in his best performance in recent memory. • Results 25·LAP NATIONAL: 1. Bubba Shobert (Han!; 2. Hank Scali (H·D); 3. Doug Chandler (Han); 4. Ricky Graham (Han); 5. Steve Eklund (H-D); 6. Lance Jones (H·D); 7. Ted Boody (H·D); 8. Scott Parker (H·D); 9. Steve Moreheed (H·D); 10. Ronnie Jones (H-D); 11. Randy Goss (H·D); 12..Scoll. Pearson (H·D); 13. Terry Poovey (H· D); 14. JIm Flltce (H·D); 15. Tim Menens (H·D); 16. Jay Springsteen (H-D); 17. Tom Maitland (H·D). TIME - 14 min.. 55.025 sec. AVERAGE SPEED - 100.55 mph. AMA GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP/ CAMEL PRO SERIES POINT STANDINGS: 1. Ricky Graham (238); 2. Randy Goss (223); 3. Doug Chandler (196); 4. Bubba Shoben (176); 5. Scott Parker (173); 6. Ted Boody (163); 7. Alex Jorgensen (118); 8. Mike Baldwin (117); 9. Terry Poovey(lD5); 10. Hank Scott (103); 11. Steve Morehead (89); 12_ Pete Hames (80); 13. Richard Schlachter (71); 14. Randy Renfrow (67); 15. Steve Eklund (66); 16. Scott Pearson (64); 17. Gary Scott (61); 18. Wes Cooley (58); 19. Jim Filice (57); 20. Doug Brauneck (46). . JUNIOR NATIONAL: 1. Chris Carr (W·R); 2. DaVid Miller (H·D); 3. Brad Furlong (C·A); 4. Wiley Duvall (H·D): 5. Don Myers (H·D): 6. John Parker (H·D); 7. Jamie Sehl (Han); 8. Roben Lawia (Rtx); 9. Geoffroy Clark (H·D); 10. Tom Brawn (H·Dk 11. Dan Knecht (H-D); 12. Stephen Duff (H·D). NOVICE EXHIBITION: 1. Brian Athenon (RDe); 2. L.. Waahbon (Hon); 3. Gaorga Digon (Rtx); 4. James Baab (C·AI; 5. William Newkirk (Han); 6. Kan Coolbeth (Rtx); 7. Lawrence Bartholdt(H·D); 8. Gnag Logua (Rtxl; 9. Paul Fortunato (Han); 10. Peter (C·A); 1·2. Giammalvo (Yam); 11. Lewia oW_