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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126789
Steve Eklund and Scott Parker squared off in a battle for fourth that eventually went to Parker. turn one and the red flag flew again. On the third try Mertens was underway first, but Ronnie jones pushed his Megacyde/Shoei/Knight Framessponsored Wood-Rotax quickly into the lead and he stayed there to the finish. Mertens was relieved of second by Harley-Davidson rider jeff Campbell on lap six and the Oregon rider went on to take the second ticket to the National. Mertens finished third ahead of Scott Adams and Reid's raspy Yamaha. Last Chance Qualifier Having been close twice before, Mertens went on the attack in the LCQ, surging into the lead. The Honda rider led it for the first six laps as Canada's Cornwall moved through traffic and into second. As the race went on Mertens' bike began smoking badly when he let 0((, then got back on, the gas. On the seventh lap Cornwall slid underneath going into turn one and then the Deeley H-D/Bel-Ray/Champion/Shoeil Moto-East rider went on to the National's 17th slot. Junior National junior National Champion Chris Carr was simply in a class by himself. His Ron Wood-prepped Wood-Rotax was the fastest yellow-plate machine on the track and Carr used it to full advantage. He was the fastest qualifier by tW9 seconds and won his six-lap heat by a full straightaway. After getting by holeshot man Chad Felicio on the first lap, Carr established a five-second lead by lap three. On the fifth lap, however, Carr's Wood-Rotax teammate Don Estep crashed and brought out the red flag. On the attempted restart three riders crashed in the same place Estep had and the'red flag flew again. This time Roger Thompson; who has won a few junior Nationals, suHered a dislocated knee and was transported of( the track. On the restart Carr again took the lead and stretched it out to a sixsecond advantage. jim Taves was an early second of( the single-file restart, but Wood-Rotax-mounted Winkie Frietas took the spot over a lap later and went on to finish there. Five laps from the end Mike Arthur (C-A) passed Taves for third and the top four were set. "We got it together, everythi'ng worked and we won," said Carr as he accepted his laurels. Asked if he though about easing up with the championship won, Carr replied, "I don't go out to get second place, no matter where I'm at." In addition to Wood, Carr thanked Shoei, Blendzall, Hi-Point and ND for their help. National jorgensen had his choice of starting positions, and he chose just inside of the outside pole, where Poovey was positioned. jorgensen and Shobert were battling for the lead 0(( the start when the red flag came out for a jumped start, although no one was sent to the penalty line. jorgensen and Shobert were again battling for the lead on the restart, followed by Poovey, Graham, Eklund, Pearson and Parker. jorgy and Shobert stayed close through the first three tours of the course, pulling away from Graham, who had displaced Poovey for third. Parker and Eklund pursued the points leader, with Fay and Campbell sandwiching Pearson in the fight for sixth. At the 10-lap mark jorgy still led and he was riding a flawless race; Shobert may have been able to capitalize on something, but any capitalist will tell you that you can't capitalize on nothing. Graham continued to run a secure third with Poovey, Eklund and Parker trailing. Behind them Fay led Campbell, Pearson, Monger, Cornwall and Pelkey. By the 15th lap jorgensen had things well in hand, and in turn, Shobert and Graham were well clear of their pursuit. At the four-fifths mark, lap 20, jorgensen was four seconds ahead of Shobert, who had a similar margin on Graham. Parker had just displaced Eklund for fourth; the latter suffering from missing rubber on the left footpeg, the side where he wears his steel shoe. Little happened in the last five laps. jorgensen took the checkered three seconds in front of Shobert, who had a similar distance on Gra- Ricky Graham played it safe and finished third. running in that position from the second lap on. This heat-race clash between Tim Mertens (53) and Gary Scott (5) left Scott on the ground and led to a fight after the race. ham, Parker was fourth for the second event in a row, this time followed by Eklund, Poovey, Fay, Campbell, Arnaiz and Cornwall to round out the top 10. Morehead, Pelkey, King and Pearson (who dropped back with broken shocks.) rounded out the top 15. "Eyerything wemjust fine," grinned jorgensen after the race was over. "Between the first TT here this year and this race I switched to a Knight Racing frame. It made it a little faster and it made the difference. I would like to thank my friends. They helped me at the track; usually J try to do most of the stuff myself, but they really helped me out." Shobert, whose crew had changed the engine between the heat and the final after Bubba heard some strange noises, said, "Alex was going fast and smooth, too fast. J looked for a mistake, but he just didn't make one." Graham, with the brass ring within his grasp, had to race accordingly. "If I fall I'll be in worse trouble than if I finish third, I don't like to race this way, but do you throwaway a whole year for two positions on the chance you may crash?" • Results 12-LAP JR NATIONAL: ,. Chris Carr (W-R): 2. Winkie Freitas (W-R); 3. Mike Arthur (C-A); 4. Jim Taves: 5. Randy Bird (Vam): 6. Chad Felicia (W-R); 7, Ryan Fisher (W-R); B. Don Estep (W-RI; 9. Harold Raggio (W-RI; 1D. Robert McDonnell (Vaml; 11, Robert Moran (H-D); 12. Roger Thompson (H-DI. 25-LAP NATIONAL: ,. Alex Jorgensen (W-R); 2. Bubba Shobert (Han): 3. Ricky Graham (Han); 4. Scott Parker (H·D); 5. Steve Eklund (H-D); 6. Terry Poovey (H-D); 7. Mickey Fay (H·D); B. Jeff Campbell (H-D); 9. Rich Arnaiz (H-D); 10. Jon Cornwall (H-D); 11. Steve Morehead (H-D); 12. Barry Pelkey (W-R); 13. Steve Monger (Vaml; 14. Rich King (Han); 15. Scott Pearson (Han); 16. Ronnie Jones (W-R); 17. Sal Hoffman (H,DJ. TIME: 1B;51.926. ·9