Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Cl Z Ashcraft ~ ... > (Continued fTom page 36) ~ :IE w a: w .... ~ 'g o J: ... Paul MacMillan leads winner Michel Mercier early in the Pro Open Superbike feature race at ,Shannonville. Eastern Canada Castrol Challenge Series: Round 1. Mercier mauls Shannonville Challenge By Jere~y Fleming SHANNONVILLE, ONTARIO, CANADA, MAY 4 Suzuki Canada-backed Michel Mercier had a perfect weekend at the opening round of the IO-event 1986 Eastern Canada Castrol Challenge Series, held at Shannonville Motorsport Park. Riding his fresh-from-thematch-races Suzuki GSXR750 Limited Edition, Mercier took it easy ona cold track in the first ·42 few laps of both Pro 750cc and Pro Open Superbike, then cranked up the speed to take a pair of easy wins. "The bike was really fast," said Mercier of his CAM l/Shoei/Dunlop/ Treen/Rocket/Yoshimura GSXR. "It was just rebuilt from Daytona and England, and this is the fastest one yet. I could be careful and use the power when I had to." From the stan of both 750cc Superbike and the 20-lap Pro Open Feature, Clive Ng·A-Kien jumped into the lead with his heat-race-winning Yamaha Canada/Canadiall Tire/ Snow City Cycle/Shoei FZ750. But Ng-A-Kien ran into handling problems after the opening laps, and a cruising Mercier blasted by for an easy win. Even so, Mercier waited a while to pass Ng-A-Kien. "He was making it hard for me, and even though I was being careful, we did bump," explained former five time ice racing Champ Mercier. "Eventually I faked him on one side when we were braking, and when he moved over, I went around the other way." When Mercier got by Ng-A-Kien, the race for the lead was effectively over. Other probable challengers were already packing. Miles Baldwin crashed his Hurst Yamaha TZ750 on the warm-up lap when he discovered he had no brakes. Former Shannonville pace setter Norm Murphy had bike trouble all weekend, while reigning Canadian F-II Champ Claude Leroux ruined his big-bike debut by crashing his Suzuki in practice. Current Canadian Number One Art Robbins missed the race after blowing up his only crank while testing his exLabrosse Honda RS500 at Mosport, and Yamaha Superbike star Rueben McMurter also didn't have his bike together in time. Star of the weekend from th.e fan's point of view, however, was former Canadian Number One Paul Mac Millan. Unable to land major sponsors during the winter months, Mac Millan considered retirement before accepting an offer to ride a production Honda Interceptor in selected events this year. In his debut with the brand new Brooklin Cycle/Nolan/ Dainese 750, MacMillan walked away with both the Pro Open Production and Pro 750cc Production finals, getting a four-second lead holeshot after one lap in the 750cc race! MacMillan, who has never raced outside of Canada, saved his best effons for the Superbike finals. In both cases, he ran flat-out throughout, and managed to catch Ng-A-Kien and pass him for second on the last lap of both races. The crowd went crazy over MacMillan's antics, the sound of parts of the Honda dragging in the corners drowning out the engine noise. A post-race mandatory tech inspection proved that MacMillan's bike was within the rules (it had never before been·apanl) and he netted over $2000 in prize money and contingency for his weekend's racing. The only rider to run lap times close to MacMillan's in the Production ranks was former double Amateur Champ Al Royer with his Bob's Motors pons Suzuki RG500 Gamma. Royer got stuck in traffic and wound up second to MacMillan in Open and 750cc, then ran away and hid to take the Pro 600cc Production win. With a front-row grid stan at the next race, a Royer/MacMillan shoot-out is expected. Last year's double Pro Production Champ, Mario DuHamel (son of Yvon), had a terrible weekend with his Walter Wolf-backed Suzuki RG5oo. An early practice crash badl y damaged the bike, and after netting a pair of fifths in 750cc and Open he was thrown off the 600cc grid for forgetting to mount his side number plates! One of the closest finals of the day was the Pro Formula Two chase, where three riders battled for the lead throughout. MikeCholelle (ex-Heino Honda RS250), Ralph Murphy (exCurtis Honda) and AI Inglis (exBusby Yamaha) exchanged the lead for the last few laps, having shaken off the elderly Yamaha of rookie Pro Dave Bissonnette. After predicting an easy win, Cholette had his hands full with Murphy, the pair swapping the lead several tiems. Murphy led for the last lap, and a draft and pass effort by Cholette came up inches short at the flag in a photo finish. Inglis, down on power compared to the Hondas, was a close third. . Two Amateur riders scored double victories in the season opener, a brilliant effort considering there were over 250 Amateur racers entered in eight classes! Tim Johnson won 400cc Production on his Yamaha RZ350 RZ350 when the Honda NS400 challenge failed to materialize, and then rode his Nonh Bay. Cycle Suzuki RG500 to the 600cc GP win. Johnson probably would have won 600cc Production too, had he not been rearended while leading with a lap to go by second-placed Royer-protege Rob Trollier, likewise RG mounted. Also raking double wins was JeanLuc Cabana, who benefilled from the Johnson-Trottier accident to win 600cc Production on his Suzuki RG, later using his GXSR to battle Brian McCluney's similar machine and place first in Superbike and second in Open. Results AM 125 GP: 1. Rick Cauvier (Hon); 2. Fred Bakker (Han); 3. Tom Irwin (Han). AM F-II: 1. Doug Andrich (Vam); 2. Keith Jackson (Han); 3. Frank Dinardo (Yam). AM 600 GP: 1. Tim Johnson (Suz); 2. Eddy Brunet (Suz); 3. Rob Trottier (Suzl. AM 400 PROD: 1. Tim Johnson (Yam); 2. Randy Akins (Vam); 3. Kvle Andrews (Vam). AM 600 PROD: 1. Jean-Luc Cabsna (Suz); 2. Eddy Brunet (Suzl; 3, Louis Gascon (Suzl. AM 750 PROD: 1. Pierre Manin (Suz); 2. Eddy Brunet (Suzl; 3, Eric Viel (Suzl. AM SUPE'RBIKE: 1. Jean-Luc Cabana (Suz); 2. Brian McClunev (Suz); 3. Pierre Manin (Suz). AM OPEN: 1. Brian McClunev (Suz); 2. Jean-Luc Cabana (Suz); 3. Pierre Champoux (Suzl. VINTAGE LTWT: 1, Stan Nicholson (Gre); 2. Gus Johnson (Due); 3. Brian Morrow (Due). VINTAGE HVYWT: 1. Paul Bowyer (Nor); 2. Frank Mrazek (Hon); 3. Ken Hodge (Nor). SUPERVINTAGE: 1. Paul Bowyer (Nor); 2. Ken Hodge (Nor); 3. Frank Mrazek (Han). PRO 125 GP: 1. Lucas R~ell (Han); 2. Rav DeLvan (Han); 3. Paul Chapelle (Hon). PRO F-II: 1. Ralph Murphy (Han); 2. Michel Cholette (Han); 3. AI Inglis (Vam). PRO F-II: 1. Ralph Murphv (Han); 2. Michel Cholette (Han); 3. AI Inglis (Vam). PRO 600 PROD: 1. AI Royer (Suz); 2. Paul Voison (Suz); 3. Carl PalOine (Suz). PRO 750 PROD: 1. Paul MacMillan (Han); 2. AI Royer (Suz); 3. Derrick Medaglia (Suz). PRO OPEN PROD: 1. Paul MacMillan (Han); 2. AI Royer (Suz); 3. Derrick Medaglia (Suz). PRO 750 SUPERBIKE; 1. Michel Mercier (Suz); 2. Paul MacMillan (Honl; 3. Clive Ng-A-Kien (Ysml. PRO OPEN SUPERBIKE FEATURE: 1, Michel Mercier (Suz); 2. Paul MacMillan (Han); 3. Clive Ng-A-Kien (Yaml. finish line to take second overall and second in the Open class. "I liked the course - especially the downhills," said Hunnicutt at the finish. "There was one downhill about halfway through - it was really steep and really loose. That was a lot of fun." Hunnicutt, sponsored by Granada Yamaha/Duralube/Scott USA/Scotts/AXO/Knobby Shop/Dunlop, said the Lost Angels laid out one of the most challenging courses he has seen. "I really enjoyed it," he said. "I like them pretty rough - well, when I'm in better condition than this, anyway." Third over the finish Line, taking first in the 250cc Class, was Krause, who said he wanted to dedicate his class win in the Mother's Day event to his Mom. "I like rough courses," he said at tbe finish. "It was really choppy, with lots of cross grain. I don't like it to trail ride, but it'S good to race in. I had a good time - and this week it was for Mom." The fourth rider to take the checkered flag, and third in the Open Class, was a very tired Schuler, who arrived at tbe finish with Kenny Parry and Summers hard on his heels. "I had those two chasing me the whole way in," said Schuler. "I crashed not far back. I was so tired -- I couldn't get up for nothing." Parry, who took second in the 250cc Class, said he was surprised that Lost Angels M.e. had laid out such an impressive course (or their first race in more than a decade; his only problem had been with the course's tough downhill. "The downhill took its toll on me in the first loop," said Parry. "Tbere were a couple of play riders out there on the hill and they got in my way. I got stuck in a rut and Summers and Ron (Schuler) got past me. I had to work hard to get back around Summers, but I never got back around Ron." Summers, who finished sixth overall, took his usual first place in the 125cc Class. Mike Alexander of the Sled Riders M.e. took eigbth overall on an Open class Cagiva. The first Amateur rider to take the checkered flag was Matt Alexander on a Honda CR250. Alexander worked his way up from 20th at the bomb to I Lth overall at the finish. Second 'in the Amateur race was fellow 250cc rider Marc Schneider, who finished 15th overall. The Vet Open Expert class was won by Wayne Carlton, wbo finished in 12th overall, only seconds ahead of fellow Vet Open rider Bill Becker. David Kersting of the Invaders M.e. took the honors in the Senior Class, racing his 250cc Kawasaki home in 29th overall. Joanna Brownell was the first woman across the line. Darren Moen (Cagiva) was the first Novice, crossing the line in 66th overall. • Unofficial Results OVERALL; 1. Dan Ashcrsft (Hus); 2. Ted Hunnicutt, (Vam); 3. Paul Krause (Suz); 4. Ron Schuler (Yam); 5. Ken Parry (Yam); 6. Duane Summers (Cag); 7. Kenji Gauthier (Yam); B. Mike Alexander (Cag); 9. Dave Chase (Hus); 10, John Brusch (Kaw); 11. Matt Alexander (Han); 12. Wayne CarlIon (M-S); 13. Bill Becker (Honl; 14. Don Griewe. (Ksw); 15. Mark Schneider. (Vam); 16. Mike Hevler. (Yam); 17. George Ferrie (Yam); 18, Dirk Davidow (Hus); 19. Gary Covington (Vam). OPEN EX: 1. Dan Ashcraft (Hus); 2. Ted Hunnicutt (Vam); 3. Ron Schuler (Vam). 250 EX: 1. Paul Krause (Suz); 2, Ken Parry (Vam); 3. Kenji Gauthier (Yam). C-CLASS EX: 1, Dusne Summers (Cagl; 2. John Braasch (Kaw). VET OPEN EX: 1. Wayne Carlton (M-S); 2, Bill Becker (Han); VET 250 EX: 1. Gary Covington (Vaml. SR 250 EX: 1. David Kersting (Kaw); 2. Ron Hall (Suz). WOMEN EX: 1, Joanna Brownell (Husl. 250 AM: 1. Matt Alexander lHonl; 2. Mark Schneider. (Vaml. OPEN NOV: 1. Darren Moen (Cag); 2. Dave Benzler (KTM); 3. Jack Urich (Hus).

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