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/126919
Jeff Heino (1) uses Cycle Tech Racing's Ward Ring-tuned Suzuki GSXR1100 to lead Ski Haus Racing's Yamaha FJ6oo. Team Hammer's Dave Sadowski (11) leads Cycle Tech's Joey Osowski (behind Hot Une Racing, 10) through traffic earty on. WERA/EBC "atlonal Endurance Road Race series: Round 7 Cycle Tech returns to win Loudon By larry lawrence LOUDON, NY, JULY 12 The 1985 WERA National Endurance Champions, Cycle Tech Racing, returned to WERA action with riders Joey Osowski and Jeff Heino to win the six hour (shortened to five hours due to heavy rains and darkness) at Bryar Motorsport Park. Cycle Tech managed to win despite crashing in the first 14 hour. Ski Haus Racing with riders Steve Roche, Bart Peterson, and Brian O'Shea rode a Yamaha FJ600 to second place only one lap down to Cycle Tech. Team Pro Motor II's Paul Zieschang and Kevin Rentzell took third on their Yokohama/D.I.D.lKayosponsored Yamaha FZ.750. Loudon was a reunion of sorts, for many along with Cycle Tech. Speed Boys, the number two team from last year, made their second race of the WERA series. Loudon marked the halfway point in the WERA Endurance Series. Current series points leader Team Hammer had a comfortable'lead before the gas tank vent tube one-way valve filled up with water, killing the Suzuki's motor and Hammer's chances of winning the race. The race began under rainy conditions which persisted throughout the event. Team Hammer's Dave Sadowski got the nod to start. Sadowski, himself quite a force at Loudon, jumped to a quick lead on the first lap, followed by Doug Cere on the Tour de Force FZ750and Osowski on the Cycle Tech Suzuki, Osowski wasted no time in getting by Cere, and setting his sights on Sadowski. By lap four Osowski motored past Sadowski. The lead for Cycle Tech was short lived, however, as Sadowski got back by Osowski before the end of that lap. 80th riders were riding tremendously fast in the rain,-the action wassurprisin~ly good and several riders began getting enough confidence to drag their knees on the wet track. The Hammer and Cycle Tech CSXRlIOOs swapped positions several times but Sadowski could seemingly pull a five-to-lO bikelength lead whenever he pleased on the Hammer machine. The racing between the top two took most of the attention, but behind that battle was Cere putting in an excellent performance on the Tour de Force FZ750, in third. Fourth was Robby Braunscheidel on the Human Race Team FZ600. That the Humanoids were even in the race was an accomplishment. Team member Kurt Hall was out due to a crash the week before at Grattan. Tim Morrissey was called in to replace Hall. DuringFtida'y's'pract1cl! Ski Hau. Racing (286) lead. Cycle Speed Racing (6), Royale Racing (79), Cycle Tech (1) and Now or Never Racing (475). Pro-Motor II'. Kevin Rentzell and Bart Peterson chase traffic down the straighteway in the middle stege. of the race. session Braunscheidel was struggling to learn the track. Team Hammer's Sadowski showed great sportsmanship by slowing to show Braunscheidel the fast lines through the turns. "Sadowski really helped me out, 1 couldn't believe how much faster 1 could go after following him," said Bra unscheidel. HRT's FZ later blew up during practice and team captain Dave Zupan stayed up most of (he night getting a borrowed stock motor into the machine. Rentzell ran fourth early in the race on the Pro-Motor II FZ750. About 40 minutes into the race Osowski crashed the Cycle Tech machine In turn 10, the exact place he had crashed at an AMA 'endurance event one month earlier, setting off a fiery explosion. This time Osowski was a little luckier and was able to remount the machine, not losing much time in the process. Also crashing in the first hour were Tour de Force and the Human Race Team, but both were able to re-enter the race. Amazingly even with the persistent rain 40 of the 42 starting teams took the checkered flag. Only one team dropped out due to crashes. Doug Toland hopped on the Hammer machine with a four-lap lead after the first hour. Cycle Tech's Heino started working his way back through the field in the second hour and regained second by the end of that hour. Hammer was still comfortably in the lead. During the third hour the Hammer machine mysteriously quit running. The crew worked frantically to find the problem. It turned out to be a water-filled gas tank vent tube oneway valve. The valve was replaced but the team had lost valuable minutes and had little or no chance of coming back. The team kept running to gain mileage points and to stay ahead of MBeM Racing in the points race. Cycle Tech regained the lead with Ski Haus Racing, Team Heathden, Out Be Out Racing and Team Wanker rounding out the top five after three hours. Tour de Force dropped out with mecllahical filirure d'urih'g'tbe third' hour but captain Doug Cere was philosophical about his team's fate. "It's disappointing to go out after we ran so well but riding in this rain and all is truly endurance racing." It was smooth sailing for _Cycle Tech the rest ofthe way. The rain was increasing and it was getting pretty dark at the five-hour mark so officials decided to throw the checkered £lag. Ski Haus Racing's Bart Peterson made a late charge but Cycle Tech won, completing 190 laps (285 miles). ''I'm happy we won, 1 wish Hammer didn't have their problems. Sadowski and 1 were having a great time earlier," said a happy Osowski after the race. "I want to thank Ward Ring, our tuner, and Bob's Cycle and MotoRing for helping in this e££ort." Behind Ski Haus Racing was Team Pro Motor II with 186 laps. Out Be Out Racing's Marc Lautzenhiser and Ron Bouske finished fourth on their FJ600. Team Hammer finished lIth. Results • OVERAlL: 1. Cycle Tech R8anglJoev 000wAi/Jeff Heino) Suz GSXR 11 00 190 "po; 2. Ski He... R.cing(SteveRoche/llert-.on/BrienO·ShM) V.m FJ800 1B9 I.po; 3. Te.m Pro Motor H (p.ul 2ieacheng /Kevin Remzell) V.m FZ800 1B8 1_; 4. Out' Out Reeing (Merk ~uU:enh_/Ron Bou....) V.m FJ800 185 "po; 6. Te.m H _ (Tom Piveino/Rich BurdlcklTim Burdict) V.m FJ800 188 I.po; 8. Te.m W.nker (John ~zlPhil Pellegrino) V.m FZ800 185 laps; 7. Teem _ (llerney Heath/Gerry Alden/Jemie McNulty1 Suz GS560 1B6 laps; B. MIM Reelng (R~ Francel lien Mertinez) V.m FZ750 183 .....; 9. Teem G........ (FrenkSI.UlIhtet'1Joe Whtttington/Donnie WhittlngtonISuzRG6001831_; 10. Teem Speed IIo¥sI_FrankiMerk_lTomPBrrIV.mFZ750 182 laps. HEVYWT PROD: 1. Teem Pro Motor II (y.m); 2. M~ R8ang (Y.mt 3. Teem Intrepid (y.m). tNYWT SUPERBlKE: 1. Teem Speed IIo¥s (Y.mt 2. Derotune/Rec:ing Ottewe (y.m); 3. Hot Une Racing (Yam). MEDWT PROD: 1. Out • Out R8ang (Yemt 2. Teem Heclt..w (Y.mt 3. Rockwood Rec:ing (y.m). MEDWT SUPERBIKE: 1. Ski Heua Reeing (Yam); 2. Teem W.nker (y.m); 3. Teem Heathden (Suzl. lTWT PROD: 1. Gone Racing (Yam); 2. Royale R.cing (Yam); 3. Team Velocipede (V.m). lTWT SUPERBIKE: 1. Zebra (Suz); 2. MlIXton RAcing (V.m); 3. Netion.1 Fiberv.... (Suz). PROTOTYPE: 1. Cycle Tach (Suz); 2. Te.m H.mmer (Suz). OVERAll POINTS STANDINGS: 1. Te."; H.mmer. 437.07; 2. MIM fleeing. 428.28; 3. Out' Out Racing. 383.54; 4. The Human R.ce Teem. 372.11; 5. Sol"",. Racing USA. 358.15; 6. Deratune fleeing on.wa. 345.10; 7. Cycle Speed Racing. 342.45; 8. Royale fleeing. 340.55; 9. Rockwood Reeing. 336.87; 10. Tour de Force. 326.83; 11. Horn Broth· ers fleeing. 314.73; 12. Jam·Up Reeing. 307.60; •.13. K,ev Vim Racing. 285.98; 14. Generic Reeing. 282.83; 15. Dynamic Graphica Racing. 257.40.