Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Frenchman Christian Sarron started slowly. but finished third to complete a Yamaha sweep behind Mamola and Lawson. think the-blocks would move around a lot, 'but it was so stable it was perfect. " Sarron had trou ble on the first lap. "I could not believe it. For once the bike started easily, but then it misfired for the first half a lap and then I was so far behind that all the spray from the other riders made it impossible to see. I had to go slowly fOT the next few laps." The rain-sodden 250cc GP saw Sito Pons win his second race in three weeks while Carlos Lavado fell off for the second time to blow the championship battle 'wide open. Donnie McLeod was a great second on the Armstrong and Jacques Cornu got the better of a last-lap struggle with Dominque Sarron and Alan Carter to finish third. Water upset the performance of many bikes, including the Marlboro Yamaha of Martin Wimmer and the Rothmans Honda of Anton Mang. For the same reason Carter, who started first, slipped back behind Pons and McLeod before being passed by both Cornu and Sarron in the last few laps. Pons was thrilled with his third Grand Prix win and admitted he like riding in the rain. "The first time I got on the rostrum was Finland in 1982 and again at Kyalami in 1984. I passed three people on the first lap and had no problems except for a bad slide at the hairpin on one lap." Pons took over the lead from Carter on the first lap as Lavado crashed out of 12th place at the hairpin. By lap seven. Pons had opened up a sixsecond lead, but McLeod took over second from Carter a lap later and in two laps had cut that back to two and a half seconds. Pons increased his pace and the Scot realized that second was safer than trying to chase him. "I got a pi us sign from the pits saying I was pulling away from Alan so I thought that second was better than risking a crash. I'll try for a win next lime. " Cornu quickly passed Fausto Ricci. who had been fourth in the early stages.but it was not until Carter had problems that he really closed on the Cobas-pilot. "It would not run in fifth and sixth," Carter said. "It is stupid, this happens every time it rains. I could have won that easy." - \ ••• I • •• •• _ • ~ Ricci dropped back to finish 11th while Sarron passed Carter on the last lap and almost caught Cornu. Carlos Cardus was a good sixth ahead of French privateer Jean Foray, Niall McKenzie and Tadahiko Taira. Italian Domenico Brigagalia won a dramatic, wet 125cc race on his Ducados after pulling through from seventh at the end of lap one. Ezio Gianola was lhe fastest man on the circuit and f!om 13th on lap one he wOTked his w:ay Uiroug lilie held.as the lead changed between Fausto Gresini and Pier Paulo Bianchi. By lap seven Gianola had caught the leading group which totaled eight riders and right with Bianchi and Gressini were Lucio Pietroniro, Brigaglia, Willy Perez, Paolo Casoli and Olivier Liegeois, Championshipleader Luca Cadalora had crashed out early and August Auinger retired with ignition problems. Brigaglia took the lead on lap nine and split the group up as only Gianola could follow him. With two of the 14 laps left Gianola fell, but remounted to finish sixth. Brigaglia had a hand-. some lead by the flag, but the crowd were more interested in the battle for second between local hero Pietroniro and Casoli. Casoli fell on the last lap giving second to the Belgian and third to Perez. Steve Websler and Tony Hewitt led from start-to-finish from Alain Michel and Jean Marc Frese, who had to work hard throughout the race to hold off Rolf Steinhausen and Bruno Hiller, in the sidecar GP. Both Egbert Streuer and Rolf Biland struck mechanical problems for the second time in two weeks and while Biland recovered to finish fourth, Streuer stopped on lap one. Webster was in great form and never looked untidy as he opened up a 12-second lead over Michel in five laps. He eased off a little later, butthe Frenchman was never a threat. Michel had passed Steinhausen on lap three, but did not get away from the German veteran until the last few laps. • Results 500cc: 1. Randy Mamola (Yam); 2. Eddie Lawson (Yam); 3. Christian Sarron (Yam); 4. Wayne Gardner (Han); 5. Rob McElnea (Yam); 6. Pier Francesco Chili (Suz): 7. Oidierde Radigues(Che); 8. Mile Pajic (Hon); 9. Boet van Oulman (Han); 10. Kevin Schw· eotz (Suzl. RACE DISTANCE: 20 laps. B6.1 BO miles. AVERAGE SPEED: 90.129 mph. Pierre Bolle (11) leads Oonnie Mcleod (15). eventual winner Sito Pons (19). Dominique Sarron (30). Fausto Ricci (5) and the 250CC pack. Marlboro Yamaha's Eddie Lawson rode a steady race for second; "I just wanted to get some points and not make a stupid mistake," FASTEST LAP: Mamol., 2:4B.99. 91.B6B mph. RECORD: lawson, 2:2B.35, 104.580 mph. 25Occ: 1. Sito Pons (Hon); 2. Donnie McLeod (Arm); 3. Jacques Cornu (Hon); 4. Dominique Sarron (Hon); 5. Alan Carter (Cob); 6. Carlos Cardus (Hon); 7. Jean Foray (Yam); 8. Niall McKenzie (Arm); 9. Tadahiko Taira (Yam); 10. Hans Lindner (Rotl. RACE DISTANCE: 16 laps, 6B.950 miles. AVERAGE SPEED: B6.74B mph. FASTEST LAP: Sarron. 2:55.97, BB.224 mph. RECORD: Spencer. 2:36.12. 99.380 mph. 125cc: 1. Domenico Brigaglia (Due); 2. Lucio Pietroniro (MBA); 3. Willi Perez (Zan); 4. Fausto Gresini (Gar); 5. Oliver Uegeois (Ass); 6. Ezio Gianola (MBA); 7. Pier Paol,o Bianchi (S-E); 8. Paolo Gasoli (MBA); 9. Jussi Hautaniemi (MBA); 10. Theirry Feuz (MBAI. RACE DISTANCE: 14 laps, 60.340 mph. AVERAGE SPEED: B3.544 mph. FASTEST LAP: Brigogli •. 3:02.05, B5.277 mph. RECORD: Auinger. 2:45.36. 93.B20 mph. SIDECAR: 1. S. Webster/To Hewitt (Yam); 2. A. Michel/J.M Frese (Yam); 3. R. $teinhausenl B. Hillerr (Bus); 4. R. Biland/K. Waltisperg (LCR); 5. D. Bayley/B. Nixon (Yoml; 6. M. Egloff/U. Egloff (Yam); 7. S. Abbott/V. Biggs (Yam); B. M. Kumano/H. Diehl (LCR): 9. R. Progin/Y. Hunziker ISey); 10. Y. Kumagaya/K. Makiuchi (Yam). • • ~"'CE DISTANCE: 15 leps, 64.6B7 mile•. FA6TEST LAP: Sleinhause", 2:57.06, B7.681 mph: RECORD: Slreuer. 2:36.05. 99.420 mph. 500 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINT STAND· INGS: 1. Eddie Lewson (84); 2. Randy Mamole (74); 3. Wayne Gardner (721; 4. Mike Baldwin (52); 5. Christian Serron (431; 6. Rob McEtnea (391; 7. (TIEl Raymond Roche/Didier de Radigues (18); 9. Pier FrencescoChili(111; 10. [TIEl Boelvan Dulman/Ron Haslam (BI. 250 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINT STAND· INGS: 1. Cerlos lavado (721; 2. SilO Pons (62); 3. Toni Meng (491; 4. Jean Francois Balde (45); 5. Martin Wimmer (44); 6. Dominique S.rron~31); 7. Donnie Mcleod (27l; 8. Fausto Ricci (24); 9. Pierre Bolle (15); 10. Jacques Cornu 113). 125 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINT STAND· INGS: 1. Fausto Gresini (62); 2. LUCB Cad,lor. (61); 3. Ezio Gianola (47); 4. Dome'nica Brigaglia (41); 5. Bruno Kneubuhler (24); 6. Pier Paolo Bianchi (221: 7. (TIE) Lucio Pietroniro/Willi Perez (21); 9. (TIE) Oliver Leigeois/Johnny Wickstrom (15). SIDECAR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINT STAND· INGS: 1. A. Michel/J.M. Fresc(421; 2. S. Websler/T. Hewitt 139); 3. E. Slreuer/B. Schnieders (30); 4. R. Biland/K. Waltisperg 12BI; 5. M. Egloff/U. Egloff (22); 6. S. Abbott/S. Smith 11 BI; 7. M. Kumano/H. 'Diehl (15); B. A. Zurbrugg/M Zurbrugg (14); 9. D. Jones/D. Ayres (12); 10. R. Steinhausen/B. Hiller (10). 29

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