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/126791
~ ~ a: w ::E ...J « lL ~ i2 > m rn f2 0 :I: lL ~ 00 ~ ~ r- .(1) ... ..0 0 .... U 0 (Above) Eric Eaton won the 250Cc class by total overall points. (Below) Phil Larson leads the 500cc class winner Mike Fisher. With the checkered flag in sight, Johnny O'Mara (21) passed Rick Ryan for second during the first 125cc moto. Larry Brooks won the moto. CMC/PIolieer Electronics Trans Cal Series: Round 3 O'Mara, Eaton, Fisher haul at Hollister By Kit Palm.ar HOLLISTER, CA, OCT. 7 Team Honda's Johnny O'Mara tallied a 2-1 score to once again capture the overall win in the 125cc Pro class at the third round of Continental Motosport Club's Pioneer Electronics Trans-Cal" Series, this week held in northern California in Hollister. However, O'Mara couldn't keep his win 10 streak alive in the 250cc class. losing to privateer Honda rider Eric Eaton who was riloting an 'S4 production CR250. Eaton and Mark Barnett tied in low moto scores with four (Eaton 1-3 and Barnett 2-2) but with CMC Trans-Cal points scoring," Eaton was declared the overall winner by one point over Barnett, 77-76. In the 500cc Pro class, newcomer to the big-bores Honda Support rider "Mr. Mike" Fisher stole the show from his factory counterpart Danny "Magoo" Chandler with a 1-2 outing. Yamaha's Eddie Hicks kept his win streak alive in the SOcc Expert class by easily winning both mOlOS. Honda's Shaun Kalas was th~ only rider to keep somew hat clo e tabs on the "Wonder Boy" Hicks. 125cc Pro The first 125cc Pro moto was a nail-biter from start to finish. Suzuki's Ricky Ryan started things off with the holeshot but was quickly passed by Yamaha-mounted Dennis Daft and Kawasaki rider Eddie Warren. After Ryan came Honda pilot Billy Frank, Jeff Glass, Tea Tamm's A.]. Whiting, Kawasaki-mounted Mouse McCoy and Mike Kell. O'Mara had a terrible start and was about 15th after the end of the first lap. A lap later, Daft and Warren pulled away from Ryan slightly, but Ryan began making time on the leaders. By the third lap, Warren found a way around Daft for the lead, while Ryan also slipped past Daft shortly after. By this time, Warren enjoyed a comfortable lead, while Whiting moved into fourth and Honda's Larry Brooks moved into fifth, after Frank crashed. The battle for third between Whitingand Brooks was very exciting. For the next few laps, the two Honda riders traded positions many times before Brooks finallv took control of third. Meanwhile, Ryan managed to reel in Warren, who was beginning to fade. By the ninth lap, the leader was Ryan closely followed by Brooks and Whiting. At thi time, O'Mara was cruising in fifth behind Daft. However, Daft was O'Mara's next victim, followed by Warren. The battle for the lead became amazingly tight between Ryan, Brooks and Whiting. The three riders put on quite a show, at times three abreast. As the leaders began cutting their way through lapped traffic, Brooks finally found his spot and passed Ryan. Brooks quickly extended his lead with a few laps remaining. Whiting was glued to Ryan's rear fender, while O'Mara was pressuring Whiting heavily. With two laps left, O'Mara began his show by passing Whiting and setting out after Ryan. Ryan was determined not to give O'Mara any room to pass, but one· turn' before the checkered flag, Ryan held the inside line while O'Mara went wide. 0' Mara got a better drive coming out of the turn - about 20 feet from the finish line - and took second place by a wheel-length. Brooks crossed the finish line a few seconds earlier. Whiting finished fourth ahead of Kawasaki rider Bader Manneh and Honda's Erik Kehoe. "I did the exact opposite that I did last time," said Ryan referring to when O'Mara passed him in the final turn, in the second moto before the finish at Huron. "This time I held my same line, but he (O'Mara) went to the outside and passsed me. I'm never going to let him do that again." The second-moto holeshot went to Manneh, while Whiting, Kehoe and Frank pursued. O'Mara had a better start; fifth place. Manneh held on to his lead for the next two laps before being passed by Kehoe. However, Kehoe bobbled in a turn and allowed Manneh and Whiting to cruise on by. O'Mara then got in on the act by passing Whiting and Kehoe, who had just passed the Team Tamm rider. O'Mara soon reeled in Manneh and LOok control of the lead. Manneh eventually dropped ba'ck to fourth, with Ryan next but some distance behind. For the rest of the moto, positions became spread out but stayed the same. First-moto winner Brooks was motoring around the course slowly and was never in contention with the leaders. (}'Mara easily ,took the win a~ead