Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Rick Johnson waits for the 500cc 'start where he finished second. The suut of the first 125cc National moto sew Jeff Glass (4511 grab the holeshot ahead of Erik Kehoe (81. winner George Holland (111. Rick Ryan (201. Keith Bowen (91 and Guy Cooper (251. AMA 125/500 National Championship MX series: Rounds 7/2 Bailey, Holland beat Sugartree heat By Tom Mueller Photos by Sam Gammon. Henry Muller and Mueller AXTON, VA, JULY 13 Team Honda's David Bailey overcame searingheat, high humidity, and the unrelenting attacks of teammate Rick Johnson to post a 1-1 score in the 500cc National class at Lake Sugartree MX. Bailey has a special interest in winning at Lake Sugartree he owns the facility. ''I'll have to 6 admit that I got to sleep in a bit late today," said Bailey in winner's circle, in regard to the fact that he lives only a quarter-mile 'away from the track. "Today is a dream come true. I've become what I am through racing, and I was able to buy Lake Sugartree because of racing. Now, I was able to come back home and win. This is a day I'll remember forever." The event, promOled by David's father, Gary drew an inaugural crowd of 7,000 spectators. All who allended were treated to a first class show at a facility that ranks as one of the best in the nation. The well-groomed course remained dust-free throughout the day, despite temperatures which reached the IOO-degree mark. Lake Suganree marked the second of six 500cc Nationals this season. Bailey's win moved him into the 500cc points lead with 92, over johnson, who now has 87. Heat, and the subsequent high rate of amition, made for the unusual final tally in the 125cc National class. Team Suzuki's George Holland came up with his second National win this season with a 6-1 score after problems sidelined Rick Ryan and Mickey Dymond, his two top rivals for the day's overall honors. During the one-hour practice session the morning of race day, riders found out what it would take LO go fast for the 30-minUle plus two lap moLOS. "It's so hot that my goggles are filling up with sweat," said Bailey after his first session on the track. "If you're not in top condition you'll fade late in the moLO, but there are enough of us in shape that racing will stay competitive." National caliber motocross events haven't been held at Lake Sugartree since 1978. The last such event was a Trans-Am, and Gary Bailey paid tribute to those days with a barbeque and pany for all the riders and his friends after the race. "When we used to race at Sugartree everyone raced hard, and then stayed to talk and have a good time. Now, everyone seems to be in a hurry to get on a plane right after the race. I'm happy to have you all back at Lake Suganree, and I'm sure this is the stan of many more Nationals in the years to come," said Gary Bailey. 500cc David Bailey grabbed the lead oH the downhill stan in the first 500cc moto, rounding the right hand first turn with Kawasaki's jeff Ward, Honda rider Tom Carson, johnson and Kawasaki rider Dennis Hawthorne in tow. . By lap two Bailey opened a threesecond cushion on Ward. johnson was hooking up and got past Carson for third. and was soon on LOp of Ward's fender looking for a way around. Kawasaki's Ron Lechien had also moved by Carson for founh', and was in sight of the battle for second. johnson made use of the tricky offcamber sections on the back pan of the course and. made his way past Ward four laps into the race. Lechien was still in fourth, but by this point the lead pack had already spread out. Yamaha's jim Holley moved LO fifth, with Carson the top privateer in sixth. TufRacing'sAlan King, Kawasaki rider Billy Liles, Yamaha's Danny Storbeck, Hawthorne and Honda's johnny O'Mara were Tunning a tight 7-11, climbing on each other's knobbies through the tight turns on the back sections. By the halfway mark Bailey was pulling a 10 to II second cushion on johnson. Bailey seemed LO be on a rail as he circumvented the course, while johnson was a bit more erratic through the rough sections. Ward and Lechien were a distant third and fourth, while the ballle for fifth was now between Storbeck, Kawasaki rider King and O'Mara. johnny 0' was on the move after a poor start, and passed King on a downhill off-camber. O'Mara also worked past Storbeck as the moLO neared the finish. Bailey ran a precise race until the final time through the double jumps in front of the spectaLOr grandstands where he threw both hands into the air at the peak of some hang-time to acknowledge his fans. The first moto win was his, with johnson second. Ward was third, about a half lap oH the pace, followed by Lechien, O'Mara, Storbeck, King, Holley, Carson and Yamaha rider Eric Eaton. "It wasn't uptil the parade lap right before the first moto that I was able LO get my head on right," said Bailey. "This whole event has really gOllen LO me, and I haven't been able LO put the details aside and get down LO racing. This is my track and every- one expects me LO perform here." "David has all the right facLOrs to win here," said johnson. "It's his track, it's near his house, and it's his homeLOwn. He really knows the dirt here, too. He knows just when to twist it (the throttle) and ride through the slippery stuff. Anyone who says there isn't such a things as a home . track advantage is full of bull." "David rode the track well," said Ward after his third place performance. "You have to know how the ,berms will react, and where the wheels will stick to get around this track fast." Bailey pulled another holeshot at the start of moLO two, followed by johnson, Carson, Ward, Honda mounted je.ff Hicks, Liles and Holley. Lechien was a victim of a multirider tangle in turn one, which relegated him to a midpack start. By lap two johnson set up the confrontation which would last the remainder of the moto: He pulled LO within 20 yards of Bailey and began LO dog every move David made. Ward moved to third past Carson, while Liles'was on Hicks'lines, looking for the way around. Liles got past Hicks and began to work on Carson for founh. King, Eaton, Hicks and Yamaha rider Mark Murphy were running in formation in the 6-9 slots. Liles saw his option and moved around Carson on the back section of the course. At the halfway point Bailey and johnson were still in each other's shadow, and the torrid pace of the pair had moved them 33 seconds ahead of third place Ward. King, Eaton and Murphy all worked past Carson, who was a strong contender on the big bore until the intense heat got the best of him. Through theJastlO minutes of the race, both Bailey and johnson were having trouble working through lapped riders. The tight, sharp, offcamber turns made every pass a technical maneuver, a tough assignment for even the most talented riders. Bailey maintained a small advantage until the two-lap board came out, and then expanded his lead slightly. johnson, however, never stopped pushing and applied pressure right LO the finish. Bailey felt confident as he soared across the big double jump for the final time and then threw his goggles into the crowd and cruised through the final section of whoops LO win moto two. johnson finished a competitive second, with Ward back in third. King mounted a charge and passed Liles late in the race for founh. Liles posted a fifth with O'Mara overcoming another poor stan for a creditable sixth. EaLOn, SLOrbeck, Lechien and Murphy rounded out the top 10. "When Rick is behind you, you always know it," said Bailey after the

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