Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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taJly with 15 career wins. Merkel seemed relaxed at Road Atlanta. The Californian had finished in the top three at every round and held a six-point lead for the overall and only had to unish in the top 13 to finish the year on top of the Superbike points, although there i no longer a separate Superbike Championship. ''I'm ju t out here cruising," Merkel said after winning Saturday' fir t heal. "It's just bowling for dollars now, but I'd like to finish behind Wayne to take the overall." Schwantz was also loose corning into the final round. The Texan hasn't won in 19 6 and in fact had only made one trip to the winner's circle, at Daytona, but he felt at horne at Road Atlanta. He knew he could go as fast and po sibly faster than Rainey on a track he had put a lot of laps on in his amateur days, and he looked set as the spoiler. Rainey, meanwhile, was pulling hard for Schwantz. "I've got to win so I'm going to win by as much as I can," he said. "All I can do is worry about my elf and hope someone else beats Fred." Rainey had tried to recruit friend Bubba Shobert to corne out to Road Atlanta. but with the AMA/Camel Pro dirt track title on the line Shobert opted to stay home. The mind games went beyond the Superbike class and spilled over to the Formula One race. Both Rainey and chwantz rode, and won, Formula One heats on their backup Superbikes but nei ther had intentions of racing in the final. "He only rode it in case of a disaster in the morning," Rainey's mechanic, parky Edmonston said. "We need 20 points somehow." Merkel and Yamaha's Jimmy Filice led the pack into turn one in Saturday's first heat race. The Filice threat didn't last long, however, as he wen! down hard in turn seven, spraining his right wrist and riding back in the ambulance; Filice was later denied clearance to race by his treating physician. "I got out in a patch of gravel, tucked the front end and landed on my head," Filice said. Merkel went on to an easy 10.38second win over Ashmead with Kosar Racing's Ollis Lance taking third, Merkel doing wheelies the whole time. Mike Harth and Bill Kelly rounded out the top five. Rainey stole the holeshot in the second heat, followed by Schwantz, who later said handling problems were affecting the Yoshimura Suzuki. Kocinski held third from the start to the finish with Rainey and Schwantz also holding position; Chivington and Kevin Rentzell rounded out the top five. Rainey took an 8.27-second win over Schwantz and heat two was a full 14 seconds faster than Merkel's heat one. According to Dunlop tire technician Jim Allen, Rainey turned two laps in the I:27 range - three seconds faster than the 1980 lap record set by Eddie Lawson. Merkel, meanwhile, circulated in the low 29s. With the championship on the line, the Superbike final lined up with contenders Rainey and Merkel and potential spoilers Schwantz and Kocinski. "My strategy is to get a good start and go like hell," Kocinski said prior to the final. It was Schwantz doing the hellraising, however, as he grabbed an unfamiliar holeshot into turn one. Rainey was right with him and as the pack came down the hill toward the last turn for the first time it was Schwantz and Rainey locked in a duel with Kocinski leading Merkel. Ashmead held down fifth while a group including Chivington, RentzeU, Harth, Jeff Farmer and Jimmy Adamo ballied for sixth. AMA National RCNId Reee, MIcI-ohIo: RANDY RENFROW CInches Formula One Road R..... ChMIpIonshIp with Bel-Ray. AMA National Motocross, BI......mton, NY: EDDIE WARREN Nabs 115cc National Motocross win with Bel-Ray. OnccAgain,8cl-RayWinsThc ChcckarccI Flag, Trophy, Champagne &A Kiss. To beat the toughest competition and survive grueling conditions, champions like Randy Renfrow and Eddie Warren go with Bel-Ray. Formulated with the finest base stocks and additives, MC-l + delivers the power to get you out in front and the film strength and heat stability to keep you there. Isn't that where you want to be? Bel-Ray. The best is all we do. BEL-RAY COMP~ INC.· P. O. Box 526 • Fanningdale, NJ 07727 r . . Alex S . IS iE5a~~ oint protection, for second place. 9 ways at the Santa Fe IT. ormly established himself in the. seventh win this year. 0 Hi-Point racing gear for the best in boots. gloves. pants and jerseys are available in " of colors and sizes. See your local Hi-Point Racing dealer today and enjoy the tops in looks. comfort and protectionr IT'S OFFICIAL, WE'VE MOVED EAST - 1115 Mitan Avenue, Amherst, OH 44001- (216)988-4474 WEST - 2650H Mereantle Dr.. Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 - (916)635-2141