Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Randy Renfrow (961 leads winner Kork Bellington (991. Dan Chivlngton (53land Boonie Knott (311 in the Formula One class. Rainey leads Schwantz out of turn 11 and down the hill towards turn 12 and the start/finish line in the Superbike race. Schwantz and Rainey were going at it while selling a blistering pace. On lap three Schwantz turned a 1:28.52 with Rainey just behind at 1:28.52. The stage was set. On lap fOUT it was Rainey back in front with Merkel holding orr Kocinski - the $30,000 and the overall championship would be Rainey's if they finished like this. Rueben McMuner saw what he thought wa an explosion in his FZ750 motor and pulled into the pits on the fourth lap. There was nothing wrong with hi bike, however, and he soon joined the battle for sixth, but was a lap down. Schwantz' track time was paying orr as he wa visibly fasler coming down the hill and was flying into the last corner with much greater speed than Rainey. In fact, on lap seven Schwantz had so much more momentum he had LO brake hard LO avoid ramming Rainey. Kocinski was past Merkel on lap eight and it looked as if the factory Honda pilot was no longer thinking about the overall championship. By lap II, Schwantz had pulled out a slight lead over Rainey as the two knifed through traffic - one going for the inside and the other on the outside. On lap 13, Schwantz had a I. I-second cushion on Rainey, but by lap 15 that had dwindled back LO nothing. Schwantz later said he encountered problems lapping Larry Shorts. As the pack camearoundon lap 18 Rainey led Kocinski and Merkel wittl no Schwantz in sight. "lLjumped out of gear going into ix," a dejected Schwantz said laler. "I wa just catching back up LO him. I was going in there way deeper than Wayne was anyway. I was gelling closer and closer and thought, 'I'm not giving up yet.' I ran 'er in there, shut oH and there was no motor LO slow it down.] was trying to get the clutch in and get a gear. but by then it went away." With that, Rainey's chance at the title and the extra $30,000 in Camel money was riding with number 30, Kocinski. Rainey led the balllingduo by 19.9 seconds on lap 19, but then slowed LO a crawl. "Once Kevin was gone I started thinking about Sear Point and the AMA, Mid-Ohio and my collarbone," Rainey said. "I knew I was going to win the race. but after the checkered flag I was coasting and Merkel passed me. I thought, 'Man, was I going slow.''' Merkel, who by this point was on the verge of not finishing the race due to dehydration, dove under Kocinski entering turn one on the 22nd lap and held on for second as the three crossed the: line almost together. Rainey had slowed all the way c;1own LO a I:37 on the final go-around. The dual champion hip belonged to everconsistent Merkel. "I started gelling dizzier than hell out there," Merkel said. "I started feeling bad with about five lap to go. I got tunnel vision and I couldn't see. I followed him' and got my composure back again. I went all-out and rode as hard as I couldfor two laps. If it would have been another lap I probably wouldn't have made it. ] was just going to give it aU I had. ] did and we won." Meanwhile, Ashmead continued his lonely race to the flag in fourth place and Chivington (with his motor in a borrowed chassis from Kosar Racing) got the beller of the battle for fifth. Rentzell, Farmer, Harth, Adamo aod Kelly rounded out the LOp 10. • Results. SUPERBIKE: ,. Wayne Rainey (Hon); 2. Fred Merkel (Hon): 3. John Kocinslti (Yam): 4. John Ashmead (Hon); 5. Dan Chivington (Yam); 6. Kevin Rentzell (Sull: 7. Jeffery Farmer (Yam); 8. Mike Harth (Yam): 9. Jame. Adamo (Due): 1D. Bill Kelly (Yam): 11. Jamie Jame. (Yam); 12. Meri! Moen (Yam); 13. Lance Jone. (Yaml: 14. Larry Short. (Sull; 15. Dieter Lane (Yam); 16. Nigel Gale (Yam); 17. Todd Strang (Yam); 18. Brad Smith (Yam); 19. Boonie Knott (SUl); 20. Rueben MeMurter (Yam). RACE DISTANCE: 24 lap•• 60 miles. RACE TIME: 36 minu.es. 19.364 minu.es. AVERAGE SPEED: 99.904 mph. MARGIN OF VICTORY: 0.741 seconds. FINAL SUPERBIKE POINT STANDINGS: 1. Frad Merkel (1461; 2. Wayne Rainey (131 I; 3. John Ashmead (571; 4. Bubba Shobert (56); 5. Dan Chnnngton (52); 6. Gary Goodfellow(50); 7. Kevin SChwantz (45); 8. Rueben MeMurter (441; 9. John Kocinslti (39); 10. Otis Lance (36): FINAL CAMEL PRO ROAD RACE POINT STANDINGS: 1. Fred Merttlll (146); 2. Wayne Rainey (144); 3. Randy Renfrow (I 39); 4.K"'" Bellington (1 01); 5. Rus. Paulk (70); 6. Dan Chivington (65); 7. Gary Goodfellow (81); 8. John Ashmaad (57); 9. Bubba Shobert (561; 10. Kevin Schwanu (45). AMA/Camel Pro Road Race Series: Round 9 Ballington outfoxes Renfrow in F-l finale By Paul Carruthers BRASELTON, GA, AUG. 10 MacLean Racing's Kork BaBington wrapped up his debut season in the U.S. in the same manner he started it four short months ago at Sears Point - with a win. BaBington used MacLean's Honda RS500 to I Renfrow on the last lap at slip by Starfire Racing's Randy Road Atlanta in what may be

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