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/126920
Randy Mamola destroyed his clutch doing warm-up lap wheelies, started after the pack had left and passed everybody but Lawson in the race. Winner Carlos Lavado 131 leads Dominique Sarron 1461 and Sito Pons 1191 in the 250cc GP; Lavado leads Pons in the World Championship. 'ClfcuitPAUL RICARD HB Yamaha's Carlos Lavado averaged 101.029 mph in winning his fifth Grand Prix of 1986 at Paul Ricard; his championship lead is now 13 points. between Toni Mang and Jean Francois Balde on their Rothmans Hondas-against Pierre Bolle on the Parisienne and the two works Yamahas of Lavado and Marlboro rider Martin Wimmer. In typically aggressive fashion, Lavado charged through and while trying to make up grpund on the brakes was forced to take to the escape road on lap four. He came back again and once into third place on lap eight was soon able to close on the leading pair. A gap of five seconds was cut to nothing in three laps and next time around he was in front. From that point he was never headed and crossed the line nearly two seconds in front of Pons. The fact that Lavado came past was enough of a spur to take Pons ahead of Sarron. Wimmer was not so lucky in his battles with the Hondas and was very disappointed to finish sixth after sitting on the pole position. "The Hondas had enough speed so th.atat the end of each straight I was at the back of the group and I would just work my way to the front only to be passed again. Carlos managed to get enough of an advantage to lead them at the end of the straight once and so he got away. I tried but everything has its limit." Balde beat Mang to the line, taking fourth, and Boll~ was left to pick up seventh, well ahead of Maurizio, who had a fine ride on the Carelli, passing fast-starting Virginio Ferrari on the NSR Honda on lap 12. Tadahiko Taira deserved more than the single point for 10th after a spirited ride from his usual disastrous start. Luca Cadalora regained the lead in the 125cc World Championship by masterfully winning the l6-lap race from Carelli teammate World Champion Fausto Cressini. It was a racelong battle that also involved August Auinger and Bruno Kneubuhler. Auinger and Cressini started together but Cadalora was in front by the end oJ lap one after being seventh 0(( the line. Kneubuhler completed the first lap in eighth place but a lap later was third and soon closing visibly on the leading trio who otherwise pulled away from the pack. Though Auinger had a go the Carellis dominated the leading but all four looked capable of winning right througb the final lap until a backmarker got in the way and Cadalora dove past, taking advantage of the situation to win. Egbert Streuer and Bernard Schnieders clawed back their sidecar championship disadvantage by passing Alain Michel and Jean Marc Fresc halfway around the last lap after a race-long battle. The pair had pulled away from early challengers Steve Webster and Toni Hewitt, who finished a comfortable third. Rolf Biland shot off the line to lead on the first lap but the Krauser engine packed up halfway around the first lap and he toured back into the pits. Streuer took over the lead but Michel relegated him to second a lap later. It looked as though Streuer was holding up Webster in the opening stages Toni Mang (21, Jean Francois Balde 1171, Pierre Bolle 1111, Fausto Ricci (51, Virginio Ferrari 1441 and Alan Carter 171 at Paul Ricard. and when the British crew passed the Dutcb World Champions on lap four they set the fastest lap of the race. Webster could not pass Michel, though, and two laps later Streuer went back into second and closed on Michel. Streuer looked as though he as playing a waiting game but when he should have been making his play Michel actually opened out a onesecond advantage with four laps to go. Streuer made a huge effort over the last two laps and his superior speed down the long Mistral straight made the difference and the Dutchman took the lead and held on to wIn. • Results 500cc: 1. Eddie Lawson (Yam); 2. Randy Mamola (Yam); 3. Christian Sarron (Yam); 4. Mike Bektwin (Yam); 5. Wayne Gardnar (Han); 6. Rob McElnea (Yam); 7. Ron Haslam (Elf); 8. Didiar de Radiguas (Che); 9. Da... Petarsen (Suz); 10. Paul Lewis (Suz). RACE DISTANCE: 21 laps, 75.816 miles. AVERAGE SPEED: 106.912 mph. RECORD LAP: Lawson 2:01.52. 106.953 mph. OLD RECORD: 1. Spencer 2:01.97. 106.562 mph. 25Occ: 1. Corlosl.Jlvado (Yam): 2. Sito Pons (Hon); 3. Dominique Sarron (Han); 4. Jean Francois Balde (Han); 5: Toni Mang (Han); 6. Martin Wimmer (Yam); 7. Pierre Bolle (Par); 8. Maurizio Vitali (Gar); 9. Virginio Ferrari (Hon)); 10. Tadahiko Taira (Yam). RACE DISTANCE: 18 laps. 64.985 miles. AVERAGE SPEED: 101.029 mph. RECORD LAP: Lavado 2:06.95,102.379 mph. OLD RECORD: Mang 2:08.60, 101.063 mph. 125cc: 1. Luce Cadalora (Gar); 2. Fausto Gresini (Gar): 3. August Auinger (MBA); 4. Bruno Kneubunler (LCRI; 5. Domenico Brigaglia (Due); 6. lucio Pietroniro (MBA); 7. Pier Paolo Bianchi (Tull; 8. Johnny WICkstrom (Tun); 9. Angel Nieto (Due); 10. Thierry Feu. (MBA). RACE DISTANCE: 16 laps. 57.7t14 miles. AVERAGE SPEED: 95.883 mph. RECORD LAP: Coda""a 2:13.35. 97.485 mph. OLD RECORD: Nieto 2:14.27, 96.800 mph. SIDECAR: 1. E. SUeuer/B. Schnieders IYam); 2. A. MicheIlJ.M. Frase (yam); 3. S. W_IT. Hawitt (Yam); 4. A. Zurbrugg/M. Zurbo'ugg /'I'ain); 5. M. Kum.-riOlH. Diahl (Yam); 6. M. Egloll/U. Egloff (Yam); 7. D. Jones/B. Ayres (Yam); 8. D. Bayley/S. Nixon (Yam); 9. S. Abbott/S. Smith 'Yam~ 10. E Wrsthall/K. Chapman (Yam). RACE DISTANCE; 17 laps. 61.375 miles. AVERAGE SPEED: 100.398 mph. RECORD LAP: _ 2:07.41. 101.989 mph. OLD RECORD: Biland 2:08.19. 101.388 mph. 500 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINT STANDINGS: 1. Eddie Lawson 199~ 2. Randy Mamola (116); 3. Wayne Gardner (78); 4. Mille Baldwin 160~ 5. Christian Sarron (53~ 6. Rob McEI.... 148~ 7. Didier de Radigues(2n B. RaymondRoche118~ 9. Ran Heslam (12~ 10. PIer Frsnceoco Chili 111). 250 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINT STANDINGS: ,. Corlos Lavado (87); 2. Sito Pons 1741; 3. Toni Mang (57); 4. Jean Francois Balde (53~ 5. Martin Wimmer (49); 6. Dominqua Sarron (41); 7. Jacques Comu (28); 8. Donnie Mcleod (27~ 9. Fausto Ricci (24~ 10. Piemo Bolle (19). 125 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINT STANDINGS: 1. Luca Code""a (78); 2. Faust Grasini (74~ 3. (TIE) Ezio Gianola/Domenico 8I'igaglia (47); 5. Bruno Kneubuhler (32); 6. Pier Paolo Bianchi (26); 7. Lucio Pietronico (251; 8. Willi Perez (21); 9. August Auinger (20); 10. Johnny Wickstrom "8). SIDECAR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP POINT STANDINGS: 1. A. MichellJ.M. Frese (54); 2. S. WebsterlT. Hewitt (49); 3. E. Streuar/B. Schnieders (45); 4. S. Abboll/S. Smith (30); 5. M. Egloll/U. Egloff (27); 6. M. Kumano/H. Diehl (21); 7. R. Biland/K. Wallisperg (20); 8. A. Zurbrugg/M. Zurbrugg(20); 9. Jones/8. Ayres (16); 10. R. Stainhausen/B. Hiller (10). CIRCUIT PAUL RICARD