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/126913
(Above) Honde-mounted Chuck Miller finished third in Michigen. (Below) Alen Wicksund powered his Husky to fifth in the 260cc cless. l(i day ended when he crashed on the trail and broke his leg; he got out of shape and clipped a tree stump. Yamaha YZ250 rider Jim Norris crashed in the first special test, breaking his collarbone. Overnight rains severly affected the special test grass track, which 1I,lrned into a slimy, muddy mess. Mud holes had formed in some places on the track, making times considerably slower than the previous day's scores. Martin and Richard Scharphorn landed the lowest times in the first test, cight seconds faster than Roeseler's, while other riders, such as Hyde, didn't fare as well. "I just blew it," said Hyde. "I fell twice in the morning test." That gave him a score of 299, compared LO Martin's 262. Ballard also had problems in the morning special test, "I fell once when I gOt logged in one of the mud holes," said Ballard, who collected a 280 score, keeping him in pace with Martin and Roeseler. In the I25cc class, Holcomb nailed the fastest time, finishing ahead of JeH Miller (277-283), Summers and Dawson. William Perkins was fourth fastest on a Husqvarna with a 302_ The first two checks on day two were the tightest of the weekend, but none of the LOp riders lost any points. However, Perkins dropped out when his Husky broke a pis LOn. The closest Martin came to having any kind of major problem on the trail happened on the second day. "There was this mud hole that had chicken wire going across it," said Martin, "so I decided to ride over it, but I guess a rider ahead of me broke tne wire, so when I went thtOugh it, my front wheel plopped right into the mud hole and I got stuck. Jeff Russell sLOpped to help me and we both pulled my bike out. We were still about 20 minutes early to the next check." The acceleration test on day two went LO Roeseler, ahead of Ogilvie (XR600) and Miller. All classes and the overall were still up for grabs at the final motocross special test. Each moto featured 10 riders going three laps on the very muddy course. Riders in the early mOlOS had the advantage over the late-moLO riders, since the mud holes became deeper and harder to pass through with each lap, causing lap times to go up. Martin, who ran one of the earlier races, clinched the overall by winning his moto and collecting the fastest time of the day. Roeseler's fourstroke started on the fir t kick of the dead-engine start in his moto. Even though Roeseler took the holes hot and the win in hi.s special test, Martin still beat him by 19 seconds for the overall, and finished 24 seconds ahead of Ballard's time; Ballard also won his moLO. After the motocross special test, Roeseler said, "I guess I didjust okay here. I started the second day about tbree second behind Geoff and johnny; the trail went fantastic for me, and my morning special test was good. But the final motocross wasn 'r. I'm not trying to make any excuses, but johnny was three moLOS ahead of me, and by the time I raced on the track, the course had really deteriorated. Still, johnny plainly hauled, and he beat me pretty bad." "Everything went pretty good for me, I guess" said Ballard afterwards. "I didn't have tOO many problems on the trail; I didn't fall down (except in the morning pecial test), but my jettingalways seemed LO bea problem.] just couldn't get my bike LO run smoothly all weekend. "1 had a good motocros test and won it by 32 econds; I had an early moLO and that really helped. The early maLO was the answer. Larry' (Roeseler) bike accelerates so much quicker than mine in the acceleration test - if not, I think I would've beat him," said Ballard. Halcomb said "I adjusted my chain five or six times over the weekend, and that was about it. Basically it was a real uneventful ride for me. I was JUSt concerned about finishing the day and not falling down in the special tests. I had no ptOblems other than my throttle sticking a little at the start of the second day." Summers, who finished third, said, "We (Halcomb) were pretty even all weekend, but he got me on the first special test by about four or five seconds. In the motocross test, I got the holeshotand was way out in front when my rear brake cable broke,'but I still finished second in the race." Summers, who was riding his second ISDE qualifier ever, added, ''I'm a lot more confident now, and I knew what to prepare for. At first, I was having a bard time keeping up through the woods section, but by the end of the day, I was railing through the trees, starti ng LO get the hang of it." Regarding the incident that bun him at the start of day two, Summers said, "They marked my card when I rolled in, so I waited for Halcomb, who was riding on the minute behind me." According to officials, Summers didn't ride the fir tOO feet during his minute and was penalized the 60 points, thus costing him second place. Duri.ng the MX special test race that Halcomb, Summers and Dawson were in, Halcomb and Dawson collided, and Dawson cra hed. "I got a good jump off the line, but I didn't have the horsepower LO stay there," said Dawson. "Then Halcomb took me out. He hi t another rider and fell into me. I held him upright, otherwise we both would've crashed. The crash broke my rear brake arm so I didn't have any ,rear 'brakes for the rest of the moLO. Halcomb was riding real good all weekend." Bertram, who finished third in class riding a Husky 430 Auto, said "In the final moLO, my bike took two kicks LO stan, then I just rode real bad and fell down." He cra hed as he entered a muddy right turn and bogged the front wheel in a rut. "It was a stupid mistake," said Bertram, "other than that, everything went okay." "I had no problems all weekend," said Fredette. "My special tests were pretty good, and I lost no points on the trail. But my acceleration test, today, was terrible, and that's why my scores look so terrible. I tried to get over on the left where the grass was, but I just fell off back into the sand and went through the test zigzagging." Martin said after the race that he's still suHering tendonitis in his wrist, a problem he has suffered with since the six-days in Spain last October. "It felt pretty good," said Martin, "but it sraFted acting up the second day. I'm not sure whether or not I'll ride the Trask (Oregon) qualifier next month - I need LO give the wrist time to heal." In the non-intent (knobby) A class, Steve Ellis finished up with the overall after zeroing both day, riding a Honda XR250 four-stroke. • Results OVERALL: 1. Johnny Martin (C-A..1870); 2. Larry Roeseler (Hus. 1891 I; 3. Chuck Miller (Hon. 19031; 4. Geoff Ballard (C-A, 1908); 5. Kurt Hough (Hon. 19601, 125; 1. Charles Halcomb (Cag, 1957); 2. Jeff Miller(Kaw, 201 1); 3. Duane Summers (Cag. 20551; 4. Pete POStel (Hon. 2067); 5. Jeff Dawson IHus, 20931. 250: 1. Johnny Martin (C-A. 1870); 2. Chuck Miller (Hon, 1903); 3. Kurt Hough (Hon. 1960); 4. Tim Shepard (Hus, 1942); 5. Alan Wickstand (Hus. 1951). 500; 1. Geoff 8allard IC-A. 1908); 2. Mark Hyde (Hus, 19611; 3. Dave Bertram (Hus. 1967). 4. 80b Bean (1994); 5. jon Nielson (19941. FOUR-STRK: 1. Larry Roeseler (Hus. 1891); 2. 8ruce Ogilvie (Hon. 20001.