Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Ronnie Jones. Ricky Graham. Hank Scott. Scott Pearson. Bubba Shobert. Ted Boody and Jay Springsteen freight trained their way down the Indianapolis straightaway; the pack was never separated by more than this. (KK Supply Aftermarket Team/Bob Donabedian) drafted by on the frolll straightLO take the win in a very fast 5:57.00. Semis Tammy Kirk was a scratch from the first semi and Carr shot to the lead on his Harley. A good battle ensued with Carr, Day, Winkie Frietas and David Miller all close. By lap three there were six riders goi ng for the two transfers as Carr led Frietas, Peter Hook, Day and Miller across the line. Pete Hames soon joined the fray as he charged from the back, and on the eighth lap moved LO third behind Carr and Hook. Hames drafted past Hook on the final go-around and finished second behind Carr (H-D Motor Go.lElectro West/Lawwill/Shoei/ Hap jones/RS Taichi/Hi-Poilll). Semi two was won by HarleyDavidson's three-time National Champion, jay Springsteen. Springer fought with Tom Maitland and Randy Goss for the majority of the race. Steve Ekl und was charging.£rom midpack and joined the leaders on the fourth lap. On lap five, Maitland blew a mOlar, raised his hand and drifted wide in turn one. Eklund was on the outside of Maitland and was forced off the groove and into the marbles. He 10stLOuch with Goss and Springer, but on lap seven the redOag came out when Devon Pritchard crashed in turns 1-2. Eklund got another chance in the single file restart, but Springer held LOugh. First Goss tried him, but that went down the tube when he slid off the groove in turn two and lost two postions. Eklund and Eric Rausch tried bu t nei ther could touch Springsteen. Rausch finished second. Last Chance Qualifier Eklund got yet another shot at the National in the LCQ, but hecouldn't get the better of Hook. Eklund led early with Hook in tow while Goss struggled LO get in LOuch with the leading duo. Hook and Eklund started the last lap side-by-side, but it was Hook (Walter Bros. HD/H-D MOLOr Co.lPro-Cam/Captain's Club/Gillund Eng/jB Dist) taking the win at the line, and claiming the final transfer spot. Junior National Fast heat-winner Bryan McDowell saton the pole for the time-shortened, la-lap junior National, and when the light changed LO green he took the lead. Heat two winner Ron Williams followed McDowell, with Canadian Steve Duff third. The top three were changing positions, with the exception of McDowell, who led every lap. Going inLO the last 'go-around, McDowell led Duff, Brian Bonesteel and Williams, but Duff and Bonesteel drafted past the points leader on the front straight. Canadian Duff took the win with Bonesteel and McDowell following closely. Williams held on for fourth, with Curtis Cannon taking fifth. Cannon was possibly the fastest rider on the track. He battled from the back, caught the lead pack, slid off the groove and caught up again LO take fifth. National Shobert and Morehead chose spots on the groove in row two rather than the inside of row one for the start of the 25-lap ational. The move paid off for Shobert, who went into turn one in third place and was second behind cott at the end of the first lap. Boody was third followed by Graham, jones, Chandler, Poovey, Morehead and Pearson. Shobert shot past Scott going into turn one and held the lead. Davis slid down in turn oneon lap four as Shobert continued LO lead. Graham was up LO second and LOok the lead as the red-flag came out; Davis' bike was in the track and posed a threat LO other riders, according LO AMA's Bill Boyce. Carr, who had been running 10th, pulled in, checked his-rear Goodyear and got excited, "It's blistering Men (Lawwill)," he said. "Lets put the Conti on. It's not going to last.'· Lawwill quickly changed the rear tire and Carr was ready in time for the restart. Morehead had his rear wheel out, but wasn't as fortunate; he missed the restart. jones used the time LO change things back to the setup he used in the heat race. "We tried a different combination and it didn't work as well," he said later. Whatever it was, something clicked for jones, who led when the pack came around at the end of lap five. Shobert was second with Graham third, Boody fourth and SCOll fifth. Shoben made a costly mistake on lap six when he charged into turn three, slid off the groove, dropped back from the lead group and fellLO sixth place. Graham and jones were going back and fonh, but Shobert was once again on the mOve and soon joined the leaders. The top eigh t cou ld be covered with a cocktail napkin as jones, Scott and Graham took turns leading the race. Pearson joined in the thick of things as four, and sometimes five riders jammed side-by-side into turns one and three. There were eight riders with a chance to win on lap 15 as jones led Pearson, Graham, Shoben, Scott, Springsteen, Boody and Carr across the line. Springer dropped out of the race when his Harley blew a motor on lap 18. Shoben and jones led the majority of the laps, and jones rode around the outside of Shobert and Graham in turn three on lap 21, as the pack settled into a sprint for the finish. Pearson led the field across the line on the white-Oag lap with Shoben, jones and Graham three abreast behind him. Graham won the race with a move going inLO turn one on the final go-around. The Californian charged up the inside and SlUffed his way under Shoben and jones. The charge down the back straight saw another dive inLO turn three, and Graham won the race to the checkers. jones took a close second with Pearson and Shoben third and founh, respectively. "I thought I had him," Jones said as Graham celebrated with a checkered-Oag-in-hand wheelie down the front straight. "You can't see the Ii ne when you cross it." "The bike worked good, but my plan failed," Shoben said. "But you can't win em all." Ricky Graham takes a victory celebration wheelie. Graham and Pearson were ecstatic. "This is the best I've done in my career on the miles," Pearson said. "I really didn't know what to do," Graham said. "One lap I'd get passed by one guy and the next lap it would be five guys. It was gelling prelly hairy out there, and all of a sudden SCOll Pearson came up and there was another one to contend with." Results 25-LAP NATIONAL 1. Ricky Graham (Hon): 2. Ronnie Jones (Hon); 3. Scott Pearson (Hon); 4. Bubba Shobert (Hon); 5. Hank Scon (H-D); 6. Ted Boody (Hon); 7. Chris Carr (H-D); B. Scon Parker (H-D); 9. Terry Poovey (Hon); 10. Randy Texter (HD); 11.. Peter Hook (H-D); 12. Pete Hames(H-D); 13. Eric Rausch (H-D); 14. Jay Springsteen (H-D); 15. Doug Chandler (Hon); 16. Steve Morehead (H-D); 17. Bill Davis (H-D). lD-LAPJUNIOR NATIONAt: 1. Steve Duff (H-D); 2. Brian BonesteeIIH·D); 3. Bryan McDowell (H-D); 4. Ron Williams jH·D); 5. Curtis Cannon (H-D); 6. Phil Vigneri (H·D); 7. Brian Caron (Hon); 8. les Washbon (W-R); 9. John Faulkner (C-A); 10. Bryan Villella (W-R); 11. Bob Farver (H-D); 12. Mark Tucker (H-D). AMA GRAND NATIONAt \=HAMPIONSHIPI CAMEL PRO SERIES POINTSTANDINGS: 1. Bubba Shobert (240); 2. Chris Carr (181); 3. Scott Parker (169); 4. Ricky Graham (131); 5. Doug Chandler (124); 6. Ronnie Jones (1041; 7. Ted Boody (92); B. Pete Hames (B3); 9. Steve Eklund"(77); 10. Scon Pearson (6B); 11. Hank Scott (73); 12. Scott Pearson (6B); 13. Steve Morehead (67); 14. Jay Springsteen (551; 15. Rodney Farris (53); 16. Sammy Sweet (49); 17. Alex Jorgensen (48); 1B. Terry Poovey (33); 19. Tom Maitland (32); 20. Tim Mertens (2BI. JUNIOR POINT STANDINGS: 1. Bryan McDowell (2371; 2. Bryan Villella (176); 3. Curtis Cannon (BB); 4. (TIE) Eric SassamanlTed Taylor (77); 6. (TIE) Brian Bonesteel/Steve Duff (73); 8. les Washbon (57); 9. Eric Graybeal (55); 10. Frankie Garcia (53). 1

• Cover