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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126939
... (1) ..0 S (1) u (1) o Barry Carsten (4) leads Emery Anden (45) and Henry Dorschug (37). Carsten finished fourth in both rounds of the doubleheader. Bellora, Waddington score in Long Island AX doubleheader By James Derek NASSAU, NY, NOV. 14-15 Honda-mounted Dickie Bellora and Joe Waddington each scored a win at the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island in the WorId SportslAMA/USHRA Arenacross Championships. Over 30,000 fans turned out for the two-night event to cheer on the riders in the final round of the 1986 14 series, and with the final top 10 riders being treated to a Bahamas cruise the first weekend in December, the action was intense. Bellora's Friday night win came after a race-long battle with Waddington and Dave Coombs, who was returning to the series after a twomonth injury-induced layoff. Bellora appeared to have a shot at the Saturday finale as well, but a collision with second place Fred Andrews left him out of contention. Waddington picked up the slack and held off Emery Anden and Tim Coombs to the checkers. With Mike Bias having clinched the Arenacross title in Richmond two weeks earlier, spots two through 10 were up for grabs. Another consistent weekend of top five finishes allowed New Jersey's Barry Carsten to make upa l2-pointdeficiton second-ranked Andrews to capture the number two position by a scant one poi.nt. Bellora also made some waves in the ratings, jumping three spots past Tim Coombs, the injured Jeff Glass, and Davey Coombs. O'Neal's Brian Stanley, Answer-backed David Hand, and Kawasaki-mounted Brian Carroll will also be on deck for the banq uet cruise as they rounded out the top 10. Friday's program gqt underway with qualifying as Ohio's Andrews opened the action with a first heat win. Andrews, who is headed to Europe along with Bias for some oversea's hardcross before the '87 Arenacross Series opens, was challenged by super-fast New Yorker and National number 39 Kurt McMillen. The two pulled away from Stanley and Waddington early and proceeded to leap and lap their way to the flag. Heat two was all Bellora, who was participating on a Honda for the first time ever. Anden was an early threat, as was Tim Coombs, but by the end of the race it was Bellora alone out front, followed by Hand, Davey Coombs, and Tim Coombs. After some ATV racing the final was set to go, and off the gate it was McMillen and Andrews in the lead. But in turn two they collided and went down in a heap, along with a few other riders. Bellora and Waddington got around the trafficjam on the outside and led fellow survivors Brian Carroll, the Coombs broLher , and Anden on lap one. Bellora looked comfortable in the lead as he mastered the front straight double-thentriple jumps. As Bellora continued to lead Wad- dington, both were suddenly passed by a flying McMillen, who was busy trying to un lap himself after the turn two mishap. McMillen succeeded and then some, reworking his 'way back through the field and all the way to eighth. Bellora was now stretching his lead over Waddington up front, buton lap four AXO-sponsored Davey Coombs stuffed the New Englander after the triples and scooted into second. Also moving up was Yamahamounted Carsten, who was now fourth. As the race wore down Coombs continued to stay close to Bellora, and when the leaders hit a string of lappers with three laps left, Coombs had his chance. But Bellora crested the triples way to the outside and flattraded it around everyone to hold his lead. When the checkers finally fell it was still Bellora first with Coombs, Waddington, Carsten, and Hand rounding out the top five. . Saturday's qualifying saw Andrews and new pre-race favorite McMillen take heat wins, while top guns Bellora, Anden, and Hand were forced into the consolation round. But all three made it and a super fast field was set for the final. Anden led the charge in to turn one with Andrews, Bellora, Waddington, and Tim Coombs following. McMillen again had difficulty completing the first lap and rounded the green flag ninth. It took Bellora two laps to get by Anden and take the lead, but Anden kept up the pace and attached himself to the leader's fender. Andrews was also on the gas, and he hounded the runnerup until the ha][way mark. Andrews then made a pass stick and picked up the chase of Bellora. For three laps the two Hondas stayed wheel to wheel, but while landing off of the triples Bellora's front end washed out and he rolled across the track - directly in fron t of a landing Andrews. For the second night in a row Andrews was out while running second. Andenfound himself again in the lead with just three laps to go, but Waddington had other idea.s. A smooth inside-outside pass gave Waddington the lead with a lap and a half to go, and that's the way they finished. Third place went to Tim Coombs with Carsten, McMillen, and Hand following. After the I25cc final the Coliseum hosted a World Sports team race as New York hosted Pittsburgh. Each team sent out five riders, one of which wore a points jersey. Whichever club's pointsman crossed the checkered flag would take the win. Tim Coombs, riding against Pittsburgh for the first time, got the nod as pointsman for New York while Bellora wore the colors for the visitors. Off the line it was Bellora in the lead as Andrews and Stanley stacked up Coombs for Pittsburgh. Things started to get a little out of hand when New York's John Franko and McMillen began doing some serious blocking on Bellora as Coombs continued to be hounded by the notorious Andrews. Finally, with a corner to go, New York's Carsten pushed Bellora to the outside as Andrews drove Coombs to the banners as well. Coombs T-boned the stalled Bellora and both went down hard and came up swinging. The on-track .scu[fle turned into a free-for-all. With officials trying to top the brawl and the roars from the jam-packed stands deafening, Coombs found his way to his bike and raced out of the struggle for an extremely exciting New York win. • Results 125 (FRIDAY): 1. Richard Bellora(Hon); 2. Davey Coombs (Han); 3. Joe Waddington (Han): 4. Barry Carsten (Yam); 5. David Hand (Hon); 6. Emerv Anden (Han); 7. Brian Carroll (Kaw); B. Kun McMillen (Han); 9. TIm Coombs (Han); 10, Brian Stanley(Hon). 125 (SATURDAY): 1. Joe Waddington (Han): 2. Emery Anden (Hon); 3. Tim Coombs (Hon); 4. Barry Carstan (Yam); 5. Kun McMillen (Han); 6. David Hand (Han); 7. Davey Coombs (Han); 8. Brian Stanley (Hon); 9. Brian Carroll (Kaw); 10. Fred Andrews (Han). FINAL POINTS STANDINGS: 1. Mike Bias (93); 2. Barry Carsten (74); 3. Fred Andrew (73); 4. Dick Bellora (67); 5. Tim Coombs (64); 6. Davey Coombs (64); 7. Jeff Glass (63); 8. Brian Stanley (591; 9. David Hand (54); 10. Brian Carroll (51),