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/126935
.... v ..0 8 v ;> o Z Ewerth leads a wide-lined Polen and Chivington out of tum one in the closest race of the day. the 1100 class. Road Atlanta local Ewerth rode with Polen and Chivington in the 1100 race. but lost out on the last lap when he got out of shape. ,..-------,..-------, David Sadowski finished third in the GSXR750 class after a race-long battle with Harth and Ewerth; Polen won by 16 seconds. 10 second; Gray held for fourth with Steward fifth and Tom Walther sixth. "I was just trying to stay close' enough," Chivington said. "Doug 'and Ron had theirs geared about right an!i mine was a lillIe tall, but I got the draft, got a good slingshot and made it to the flag. This (the GSXR-Series) is the toughest competition I've seen. I just wanted to keep it on two wheels and not get any scratches on it." "It wobbled down the back straight," Polen said. "We changed tires today; yesterday it worked per(ect and I could do what I wanted. But like I said yesterday, today is today and tomorrow is tomorrow. They ran a good race." It was later discovered that Polen's Suzuki had a loose front axle nut. "I could see Chivington closing and closing and closing," Ewerth said. "He drafted by me sooner than he had before (on the final lap) and I let it hang out. I went in a lillIe too hot and ran wide and got out of shape. Polen pulled up next to me and we both baulked but he had the better line. I'm looking (or a rematch in the next race." Gray wasn't happy with fourth place, but was pleased with the new Dunlops. "The tires were just bitchin," he said. "They have the potential to be (aster than the Michelin and they don't go away. It was jetted wrong and it just ran worse as it got hOller." Honda 500 Interceptor Final With rain falling and dark clouds looming overhead, the Honda Interceptor final got underway with Tysor leading the charge. John Ramsey, however, tossed his Interceptor away on the downhill causing it to burst into flames - the red flag came out and the race was delayed while crewmen removed the wreckage. Ramsey escaped unscathed. The worst rain of the day fell as the race restarted with Tysor again taking control early. It was the novice Zampach and his Don and Roy's Cycles/Torque Center-sponsored Interceptor, however, leading Hall. Tysor and Polen at the end o( the first lap. Tysor limped past the pits at the end of the second lap long after. Zampach and cr w had been thrqugh. On the fourth lap, Zampach pulled clear o( Polen, who had disposed of Hall. The youngster was splashing his way around the 2.5-mile track as Polen fell back. On the eighth lap, Zampach led Polen by 2.6 seconds, but the rain had stopped, the track was drying and a lap later Polen was only 1.6 seconds behind. On lap 10, Polen pulled up to Zampach and on lap I I was in the lead. On lap 12, Polen turned a 1:42.6 to lead by over two Seconds. Hall (Klotz/Avon) held a steady third with Terry a lonely (ourth. The order stayed the same in the closing laps. Zambach was trying to gain, but kept losing the front end at the top of the.hill. And Polen cruised in for the win. "I almost threw it away big-time twice," Zambach said o( his race in the drying conditions. When asked about the rain, he replied. "I love riding in the rain, it's like riding motocross. " Polen claimed the rain wasn't giving him problems and that he wasn't in any fear of losing. "I was just waiting 'till the end. It would have worked the same in the wet qr the dry." Suzuki GSXR750 Final Polen had a determined stare in his eyes as he gridded for the start of the GSXR750 final. That stare transfixed itself on the starter and when the flag dropped Polen grabbed the lead and pulled away. On the completely dry track, Polen led the field across the line on the first lap with Ewerth second, Sadowski third, Stevens fourth and Toland fifth. Harth, who had started way back in the pack, was up to midpack and on the move. Polen's first £lying start lap was a I :35.1 as he easily pulled away froin the ensuing battle for second Ewerth and Sadowski were going at it. By the end of the third lap, Polen had a 4.7-second lead on the others. . Lap four saw Polen turn a 1:34.8 and Harth move himself into contention as he sat in sixth and was closing on Ewerth, Sadowski, Joe Pittman, and Stevens. It didn't take Harth long as he moved into second place only two laps later. Meanwhile, Polen wasn't slowing as he continued to lap in the high 34, low 35 range. By the 10th lap another factor showed itself as Chivington appeared in fifth place. Polen now led Ewerth, Harth, Sadowski and Chivington. Stevens pulled into the pits on lap 12 and by lap 13, Polen had a 15.8second lead while turning a 1:34.9 lap time. Sadowski dove his Adventure Suzuki/Bel-Ray/Fox-sponsored Suzuki under Ewerth to end lap J4 in third behind Harth. Chivington, mean.while, was in fifth and right in contention for second. As Polen crossed the finish line, the others came down the hill with Harth holding off Sadowski, Ewerth and Chivington for second place. "The bike was perfect and I had a lillIe incentive," Polen said. "I had to ride so hard in the early laps that I got tired and had to settle for second," said Harth with his hands badly swollen. "I knew I couldn't catch Doug." "Next year I'm going to go on a diet so I can't get drafted on the backstraight," Sadowski told the crowd over the public address system. Chivington was highly content with his weekend even though he couldn't grab second in the 750cc class. "I got a real bad start and I wasn't really into riding the.750," he said. 'Things started coming together, but a pack of three is hard to get by. I kept stabbing to see if I could intimidate them. I'm real pleased about the 1100 race." • Results' HONDA INTERCEPTOR: ,. Doug Polen IHon); 2. Scan Zampach (Han); 3. Kun Hall (Han); 4. J.T. Terry (Han); 5. Geoff Cesmat (Han): 6. Danny Walker (Han): 7. Chip Terrell (Han): 8. Ron Ewenh (Han); 9. Alfred Bernard (Han); 10. RickV Orlando (Han). SUZUKI GSXR750: ,. Doug Polen (Suz); 2. Mike Hanh (Suz); 3. Dave Sadowski (Suz): 4. Ron Ewenh (Suz); 5. Dan Chivington (Su"; 6. Joe Pinman(Su"; 7. Donnie Rowe (Suz); 8. Chris Steward (Suz); 9. Riclty Orlando (Suz); 10. Doug Toland (Su". SUZUKI GSXRll00: 1. Dan Chivington (Suz): 2. Doug Polen (Su": 3. Ron Ewenh (Suz); 4. Seem Gray (Suzl: 5. Chris Steward (Suzt 6. Tom Walth..(Su": 7. Keith Pinkst8ff (Suzl; 8. Ricky OrtIIndo (Suz);9. Doug ToIandISu"; 10. BlIn~(Suzl.