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/126924
Eric Eaton (15) had the holeshot in the first 500cc moto but crashed in the first turn. Rick Johnson (5) takes the lead, while winner Jeff Ward runs over Eaton. A few turns later, David Bailey (behind Johnson) was second and Ward was third. --------------------- AMA 12S/S00cc Motocross National Cham~ionship- Series: Rounds llL6 Kehoe, Ward win; Dymond, Bailey champions By Kit Palmer WASHOUGAL, WA, AUG. 24 Bailey (abctve right) and Micky Dymond celebrate. Larry Brooks (below, 30) looks over his shoulder and sees Eddie Warren closing in. Team Honda's David Bailey did what many people thought impossible this year, and that's to beat Rick Johnson out of a championship title. Johnson, who's already clinched Supercross and 250cc National Championships in 'f 1986, w~s gomg or a comp Iete sweep In the 500cc NatIonal Championship, but Bailey foiled his attempt. And it all came down to a dramatic conclusion at Washougal, in which Suzuki's Erik Kehoe and Kawasaki's Jeff Ward walked away with class wins, When Bailey came to Washougal he. knew exactly .what he had to do. Wlth a .seven-pomt ~e3:d over Joh~son, Balley had LD fImsh second m each race. That would mean, eve~ if Johnson swept both mOLDS, Balley would still win the championship by one point.' "It's like a seven-foot PUll," said Bailey. "If I make it, it's a hundred grand (bonus mo.ney from Honda for winning a National Championship) and the lille. If I don'l and Johnson makes il, then I lose." As il turned out, Bailey made lhepull, bUl it was Ward who dropped a hole-in-one. Ward, who playt;d a very importanl role in the championship OUlcome, used a 3-1 to claim lhe overall. Another championship Litle was w,rapped up today, and it went lO Team Honda's Micky Dymond. Dymond clinched the l25cc ational Championship title after the first moto with a fourth-place finish. "I feel real good," said Dymond, "and I'm definitely proud of myself," Dymond may have won the war, but it was Kehoe who won today's battle. Kehoe literally dusted the field in both moLDs for the overalL The Washougal motocross track was less than ideal for a National motocross, After the first I25cc mOLD, the Washougal facility turned into a huge dustbowl, making it nearly impossible for riders and spectaLDrs to see. "Three years ago and back, the promoters groomed the track great," said Johnson afterwards, "and it was probabl y the best track in the United States. Now it's one of the worst, because they don't take care of it anymore." 500cc National Forty riders lined the starting gate for the first 500cc mOLD. Bailey positioned himself in the center, on lhe right hand side of the slarter's box. Next lO him on his righl was last year's 500cc class winner Eric Eaton and Ward. Direclly across the starter's box sat Honda's Johnny O'Mara and Johnson. When the gate dropped, Bailey swerved to his left in the soft and loamy dirt and clipped O'Mara,