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/126921
David Bailey (6) laps a rider on his way to the first 500cc moto victory. He won the second race as well. (Inset) 500cc points leader Bailey. AMA National Championship 125/5OOcc MX Series: Rounds 8L3 Warren, Bailey top Binghamton mudfest By Kit Palmer BINGHAMTON, NY, AUG 3 /Kawasaki support rider Eddie Warren and Honda's David Bailey each earned wins·during rounds eight (1'25cc) and three (500cc) of the AMANational Motocross Series at the Broome-Tioga Sports Center in Binghamton. Warren captured his first-ever National win in the 125cc class via a j-l 6 tally, while Bailey won his fourth National moto in a row to nab the 500ccoverall, beating Kawasaki's jeff Ward and teammate Rick johnson. The day started off hot, clear ana muggy, but by late afternoon clouds had gathered and eventually opened up to pouring rain; the downpour drenched the track four laps into the second l25cc moto. It quickly made the rocky and hilly track extremely muddy and slick. Suzuki's George Holland, who had finished second in the first moto behind Yamaha's Keith Bowen, was leading at the time and looked to have things wrapped up, but immediately dropped back as the course became wetter and wetter. Warren, who js from Michigan and an experienced mud rider, quickly look advantage of the situation by squirting by Holland and slithering on home for the moto win and overall. Bailey, on the other hand, led from start to finish in the first moto, then did exactly the same despite the wet conditions in round two. Bailey was chased by Ward every inch of the way in the first moto, while johnson , crashed in the first turn and had to work up through the pack. Ward pressured hard in the end, finishing less than a wheel-length behind Bailey, johnson labored to a third. Bailey took an easier win .n the second race, while Ward had 0 pass johnson to finish second. 125cc National In the first l25cc moto, Warren gated perfectly but was squeezed out by Holland in the first turn. Holland dove to the inside of Warren and headed the pack around the first lap. Fol.1owing Warren closely in third was Honda rider Guy Cooper, then Suzuki's Erik Kehoe, Bowen and series points leader, Honda's Micky Dymond. Holland maintained his lead for another lap before Warren started his attack. Warren pressed Holland in every turn until Holland finally gave in by the third lap. By this time, Bowen was on the move as well, after passing Kehoe and Cooper for third. But Bowen wasn't through yet. The Yamaha rider set his sights on HoIland and zapped the Suzuki pilot for second. Bowen's next goal was Warren, who held a slim'lead during the fourth lap. But Warren's slim lead became even slimmer as Bowen moved in, enough to stick his Yamaha's front wheel next to Warren's Kawasaki. Finally, Bowen moved to the inside in a downhill turn, then passed Warren through a series of jumps. Once into the lead, there was no stopping Bowen, who quickly began pulling away. By this time, Kehoe and Dymond had settled into the fourth and fifth positions after passing Cooper. Following Cooper were Yamaha's Scott Burnworth and Honda sUPport'riders jeffLeisk and Larry Brooks. But shortly after, Burnworth lost the front end of his Yamaha in a turn and crashed. With the top eigh t or so riders fairly spread out, the only significant, battle was between Warren and HoIland over second place. Kehoe got close to Holland for a while before dropping off the pace. The Warren/ Holland dogfight lasted many laps until Holland got the upper hand three laps from the finish. When it was all over, Bowen had taken the win, a little over 10 seconds ahead of Holland. After Holland finished Warren, Kehoe, Dymond, Leisk, Brooks, Cooper, Kawasaki rider Tyson Vohland and Burnworth. With dark clouds and lightning closing in from the north, the second moto got underway and it looked to' be all Holland's. He motored his Suzuki into the lead with the holeshot, closely followed by Warren, Vohland, Dymond and Yamahamounted Bader Manneh. Bowen had a mid-pack start, while Yamaha's . Eddie Hicks was involved in a firstturn pile-up that left him with a smashed exhaust pipe. For the next four laps, the top five positions remained the same, with Leisk taking over the sixth spot ahead of Brooks - and then the clouds unloaded: As the track became slicker and muddier, Holland, who was suffering a slight torn ligament in his knee, began slowing and immediately found Warren on his rear fender. It wasn't long before Warren had taken over the lead and was pulling away. HoIland's problems continued as he dropped to fourth, letting Vohland and Dymond by. "I thought I had it won," said Holland, "but I didn't . want to risk hurting my knee in the mud, so I backed it down." The rain kept coming and coming, and the riders were nearIy unrecognizable, covered in mud. Warren continued to slip and slide his way around the track long after pulling down his goggles. On the move was Dymond, who slowly reeled in and passed Vohland halfway through the race. Also moving up was Leisk. The Australian was fourth and closing on Vohland late in the race, but Vohland never