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/126795
Greg Zitterkopf waves bye-bye to his Yamaha in a crash during a qualifier. Micky Dymond is about to centerpunch them both. Whiting and current (and only) Team Tamm rider Alan King. On the second lap, King tagged a hay bale which dropped him back LO sixth. Up front, the battle for (he lead was intense. It wasn't until the fourth lap that Ward found a way around Holley. Ward pulled up alongside of Holley coming out of a left-hand sweeper, and it looked as though Holley might out-drag Ward to the table·top jump, but Holley hit some bumps and lost traction. Holley tried to keep up, but Ward pulled away. By the end of the race, Holley started LO fade while Whiting and King rode his rear fender. With two laps LO go, Holley signalled to let Whiling and King pass on the long £lraight. As they did, King also £lew past'Whiting. Ward went on to take the win ahead of Kin~, Whiting and Holley. Quarter finals Suzuki rider Scott Burnworth stole the holeshot at the start of the first quarter final but was passed by H9nda rider jeff Frisl in the first turn. During the second lap, Frisl washed out at the bottom of the peristyle jump giving Burnworth a commanding lead. Suzuki rider Doug Dubach took over second ahead of Frisl and Honda rider Gordon Ward. During the fifth lap, Dubach crashed hard over the triple jumps and dropped out of the race. Burnworth easily won the moto while Frisl and Ward took second and third. Gary Denton, riding a Yamaha, finished fourth. . Honda rider Larry Brooks took the early lead in the second quarter final but was quickly passed by Kawasaki rider Bader Manneh. Manneh stretched his lead, while Brooks and Husqvarna's Micky Dymond diced over second. In the end it was Manneh way out in front ahead of Brooks, Dymond and Keith Bowen. Semi finals The first semi final saw Lechien capture the holeshot a few inches ahead of Glover, Bailey, Liles, Kehoe and O'Mara. For the next two laps, Glover tried every trick in the book to pass Lechien, but the Honda rider played it tough. During the third lap, Glover bobbled slightly losing a few feel to Lechien. Halfway throught the moLO, Lechien's lead grew LO about two seconds on Glover, who held a safe distance over Bailey. From this point on, the moto settled down as the riders became more spread out. Lechien cruised on to take the win ahead of Glover, Bailey, O'Mara and Liles. johnson took command of the second semi final. The Yamaha rider stole the holeshot closely followed by Ward, Holley, Manneh, Hicks, Eric Eaton and Barnett. By the third lap, johnson and Ward had pulled away from the rest of the field while engaged in a dog· fight for the Lead. Halfway through the race, johnson developed a threeor·four bikelength lead over Ward, then Ward started LO close that gap near the end of the race. A tough battle for third took form at the middle of the race between Hol·ley and the pursuing Manneh. These two were very close through· out the remainder of the race. Up front, johnson still had command and went on to take the win a few bikelengths over Ward. Holley held on to finish third ahead of Manneh. Last Chance Qualifier The Last Chance Qualifier featured an exciting battle between three riders for the lead: Frisl, Hall and Whit· ing. Honda rider Mike Fisher was in on the act for a while before he crashed out of it. Frisl held on to a slim lead over Hall, who was trying to hold back Whiting. With three Laps remaining, Friszstarted to slow while climbing up to the peristyle jump letting both Hall and Whiting fly past. Soon after, Whiling passed Hall, then Hall, crashed when Whiting brake· tested him in a tight right tuin. Frisl got back on the gas towards the end of the moto but was a few bikelengths behind Whiting; how· ever, Reid reeled in Frisl, and as they crossed the finish line after Whiting, Reid pulled alongside of Frisl and the two went over the table'LOpjump side-by-side while getting the checkered flag. Frisl took the final transfer spot inches ahead of Reid. Main Lechien and his factory Honda narrowly grabbed the holeshot over Glo'ver at the start of the main event. Close behind Glover followed'Breker, Ward, Kehoe, O'Mara, johnson, Barnett and Bailey. During the first lap, Glover put the pressure on Lechien, while Breker dropped back a few . bikelengths. In the middle of the pack, Bowen gOI out of shape and clipped Liles' rear wheel, causing the Kawasaki pilot to crash at the bottom of the uphill. This put Liles out of contention. At the same time, the leaders, Lechien and Glover, tangled over a jump when Glover tried to pass. Both riders crashed handing Breker the lead. Lechien and Glover frantically raced to get going and did so in seventh and eighth places. (Above) Fourth-place finisher R.ick Johnson. (Below) Ron Lechien leads Glover at the start of the main just before they both crashed. After passing Kehoe, O'Mara held firm control of third when Lechien and' Glover crashed. A lap later. johnson also passed Kehoe and started LO reel·in O'Mara. Team Kawasaki riders Breker and Ward enjoyed a fairly large advantage over the third·pl;1CC rider O'Mara. During the th.ird Lap, Ward dove to the inside of his teammate over a double jump and took over the lead. Ward quickly pulled away, while O'Mara reeled-in Breker a few laps later. However, O'Mara had johnson to contend with the whole time. By the sixth lap, Breker, O'Mara. and johnson were within inches of each other. Two laps later, O'Mara stuffed Breker into the hay bales just before the peristylejump, taking over second. As they came 0([ the peristyle, johnson had control of third. While Ward was enjoying a comfortable lead, all eyes were fixed on the O'Mara/johnson duel. The two fought handlebar-to-handlebar for many laps. Glover began making time through the pack and passed Barnett for fifth. By this Lime, the leaders were running into la"pped traffic, but Ward didn't have much trouble getting around them. However, the battle for second was still hot, but johnson couldn't get by. The Yamaha pilot then started to ride wildly and made costly mistakes. These errors gave O'Mara a few bike· lengths on johnson, time that johnson couldn't make back up. With five laps remaining in the race, things started to settle down quite a bit. The top seven riders Ward, O'Mara, johnson, Breker, Glover, Barnett and Kehoe - were spread out. Lechien was back in 10th while Bailey cruised in 11th. The only rider making a charge was Glover on Breker. With one lap LO go, Glover was breathing down Breker's back. Ward easily crossed the finish line first, while O'Mara, who was gaining slightly on Ward, fin· ished second. Third went to Johnson while Breker finished a half-bike· length ahead of Glover. "Everything went real well for me," said Ward. "I got a fourth-place tart and went i'nto second when Ron and Broc crashed. It really helped to have my teammate out in front, so I didn't have much trouble getting around Goat." 11