Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

into the lead and began to set a blistering pace which would leave no doubts of who was in charge of this race. By the end of the lap, he commanded a IO-second lead over Spotts; Carlson was third. By the finish Mabery had extended his lead to 18 seconds in what had to be one of the finest rides of the weekend. Spotts held on to finish econd and Carlson was third. Results 500 INT: ,. Jim Spotts (Hanl: 2. Mike Hoolter (Han); 3. Lee Ra~ (Vam). 250 INT: ,. Jeff Mabery (Yam); 2. Jim Spotts (Hon): 3. A. Cerleon (Yam). 125 INT: 1. Jeff Mabery (Vaml: 2. Vlach (Hon); 3. Jim Spotts (Hon). 500 JR: 1. J. Faulkner (Honl; 2. Bren. Panerson (Yam): 3. M. Jansen (KTMI. 250 JR: ,. C. Pocino (EPI: 2. D. Alford (Kaw): 3. B. Fountain (Yam). 125 JR: ,. Duane Benner (Honl; 2. Darin Green (Kaw); 3. Zack Bell (Hon). MINI: 1. Mike Pascerella (Hon); 2. Shane Triner (Yaml; 3. P. Vlach (Hanl. VET: 1. Kenny Z.hrt (Honl: 2. Jim Miller (Han): 3. Dave Miller (Kawl. Paul Vlach finished second in the 125cc Intermediate class. Jeff Mabery claimed both the 125 and 250cc Intermediate class wins during the Amateur portion of the Mammoth Mountain Motocross. J9th AlJIIIMllfammofh 1ft. Amateur IfX Mabery doubles at Mammoth MX By Kevin Scott MAMMOTH, CA, JUNE 27-29 Yamaha rider Jeff Mabery rode to two outstanding wins in both the 125 and 250cc Intermediate classes at the 19th annual Mammoth Mt. Motocross. Jim Spotts piloted his Honda into second place behind Paul Vlach in the 125cc class. However, Spou's biggest day was Friday when he rode his CR500 . 30 ~ to the win in the Intermediate Open class. junior action saw C. Pocino lead the 250s from start to finish, while jim Faulkner brought home the first place trophy in the Open junior class. While johnny O'Mara dominated the Pro classes, some of the best racing of the weekend took place among the Sportsman riders. The format for sportsman racing had every rider racing in two motos, total points from which determined the racer's eligibility to ride the final. Points were carried to the final with the scoring in the final counting as double towards the overall win. Tbe finals produced some of the most exciting racing as the best from each division competed head to head. Friday Spotts was the fastest rider of the day in the Open Intermediates, riding flawlessly to wins in both qualifiers and a second in the final event. With just two points heading into the final, Spotts' biggest worry came from Lee Ramage with three points and Mike Hooker with five. Hooker powered his CR500 into the lead on the first of the 10 lap final event. Tony Berluti was second, and third was being argued over by john Miller and Lee Ramage. By the second lap, Ramage had , . _, J '.I'~, j found his way around both Miller and Berluti to second place. Spotts, who had a mediocre start at best, was on the move and now pushing Berluti for fourth place. Miller began a drive that would carry him all the way into the lead by the sixth lap where he would stay to take tbe checkers. Miller had 20 points heading into the final, therefore, not really having a chance to take the overall. The pressure was on Spotts who knew be had to pass Hooker and Ramage to collect the overall win. On the c1i££-hanger last lap, Spotts moved around both Hooker and Ramage (who fell) to finish second and win the overall. Two divisions had over 60 riders competing for the 30 spots available for the Mini race final. Shane Tritter held the advantage into the final with two points, next best was Mike Pascerelia with four. Out of the first corner in the main it was Pascerella who took the advantage with the holeshoton his Honda. Paul Vlach squirted his Honda into second pursued by Trittler on a Yamaha and Barrett on a KTM. Tritter soon put a move on Vlach to pull into second, however, Pascerella with a clear track ahead was not looking back. At the finish, Pascerella led easily over Tritter and Vlach who came across the line in second and third. Saturday Vlach led the points from division one with a perfect I-I core in his qualifying motos in the 125cc Inter- ,..r ,~. ~tl mediate class. The division two qualifiers had some of the best racing of the day as Mabery charged up the field from a bad start in moto one to finish second only a half of a bikelength behind Colin Young. In the second moto, Mabery again finished a close second, to head into the final with four points to Vlach's two. The stage was set for a showdown between these two talented riders as no one else was in contention for the overall. The final could not have been more suspenseful, as Mabery climbed up 'to second behind Vlach who led most of the moto only to fall halfway through the race. Out of the back section on lap five, Mabery, now in sixth place was going wide open in an effort to gain back lost ground. Within a lap, the Joung Yamaha rider was second and clo ing rapidly on Vlach. As the two went into the back section, Mabery gained the advantage but lost it again a few turns later. Over the double jumps before the fini h line, Maybery was wide open and took over the lead for good. Vlach held on for second and SPOtt finished third. Mabery was awarded the tiebreaker win on the basis of the higher finish in the final. Ron Buttner led the first of the seven lap final event with Kenny Zahrt hot on his tail. jim Miller and Dave Miller followed in third and fourth. By the halfway point, Zahrt had moved into the lead, however, jim Miller and Dave Miller kept close enough to prevent him from relaxing. Dave Miller passed jim Miller with two laps to go, but was promptly passed in return, half a lap later. Zahn seemed un fazed by it all despite a last turn attempt by jim Miller to get around him. Zahrt held his ground and took the checkered flag a bikelength ahead of Miller. Sunday Mabery proved that 250s are very much to hiS liking as he dominated the day's races winning both of his qualifiers and the final 250cc Intermediate event. Spotts tried to duplicate his success from the Open class on Friday but was forced to settle for second place. Two to three points was the difference between the two talented riders before the final, with Maybery out in front with the one point advantage. Spotts had the lead at the end of lap one of the 10 lap final, but Mabery was there searching for every available opportunity to get past the Honda rider. Their battle carried them well clear of the rest of the pack which was led by A. Carlson. By the third lap, Mabery had found' his way through " I I I Almond, Benedetti win Carlsbad MX By Edward Stovin CARLSBAD, CA, JUNE 29 Danny Almond went 2-1 to take the combined Pro overall vl.ctory on the GP course at Carlsbad Raceway on the day after the final Carlsbad 50cc Grand Prix. je£f Healey and Roben Rogers banged bars at the start of the first Pro moto. Rogers established the lead, while jim Chamberlain and Tom Bridgeford took over second and third. On lap three, Chamberlain passed Rogers on top of the ledge for the lead. Seconds later, Healey passed Bridgeford in tbe same spot for third. On the next lap, Healey took second from Rogers down in Rattlesnake Gulch. What Healey did not see was Almond, who was moving up from a poor start. As Chamberlain pulled out a big lead, Almond passed and pulled away from Healey. On the last lap, Healey closed back in, but was short by a wheel. At the finish, Chamberlain cruised in first, followed by Almond and Healey. Moto two saw Healey gate perfectly, with Scott Larson, Chamberlain, james George and Almond in hot pursuit. While Healey blazed out front, Chamberlain rode strong, despite a blown shock on his 250 Honda, and moved into second on lap three. Soon Almond was on Chamberlain's fender and the pair moved into first and second. Chamberlain wisely backed off on the rough downhill, and Almond moved into the top position. Almond was well familiar with tbe course, as he rode to sixth overall the day before in the GP's 250cc Support class. Almond's silencer was left hanging as he took the win. Next in were Chamberlain, Healey, and a distant Carson and Rogers. The start of the first 250cc junior moto saw Mark Marinez lead over Andy Mandell, Keith johnson and David Benedetti. Although Marinez was riding strongly, Bendetti put a lock on first place by lap three. While Marinez held second, Mandell rode in third until a fall put joe Armstrong in third. At the finish it was Benedetti way out front followed by Marinez, Armstrong, johnson and Mandell. At the start of moto two, Marinez once again holeshol, this time he was followed by Mark McHalty and Armstrong. After getting a seventh-place start, Mandell" put on a charge that took him to the front by lap six. Mandell and Marinez diced until Marinez disappeared from the track, givine Mandell a bi\!: lead at the 1iJ."JI l rtf (")'1. tt"·l it~

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