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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126942
The fifth race of the six-race Swann Series gets underway with Rob McEinea (Mlle8ding FZR 1OOD-mounted Michael Dawson (1land the pack. Swann Series Champion McElnea splashes to the fifth race win after: crashing his Yamaha YZR500 earlier in the race. Australian Swann Series: Round 3 / McElnea wraps up Swann Series By Bruce Newton Photos by John Lapka MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, DEC. 7 Marlboro Yamaha's Rob McElnea wrapped up the 1986 Australian Swann Insurance International Series with his second place finish behind Aussie Kevin Magee in the 10 final round at Keilor International Raceway today. I hmshed thud eachwho h~s . :E;ngland'~ Mc~lnea, of 10 hIS McElnea chases Australian Kevin Magee in the rain; Magee finished second in the Swann Series and won the sixth and final heat. previous three allacks on the series,' crashed in the first wet heat ill Keilor, restaned his YZR500 and caught and passed a similarily mounted Magee, was repassed and then finally took the lead when Magee ran wide in a last lap corner. McElnea and the Australian then raced nose-to-tail for most of the dry second heat before Magee nipped through under braking on the last lap for the win. Although the two tied on 27 points for the day, Magee was awarded the win because of his ~s~cond heat. win . . Mage<; als~set a new lap record at 56.57·seconas, more than three seconds under the previous record set by A.M~/Camel Pro Series Superbike Champion F~ed 'Merke~ on·a Vf750 Honq.a iIT September. . However, the overal·l point score for the three-round tdevised 'serIes saw McElnea take the title by ',outscoring Magee, 84:78, the narrowest margin in the series nine-yearhistory. New Zealander RoberCHbldeRtOok Bob Brown's Ducati 750 to third overall on the day with a 3·4 score, a rerIection of both Holden's talent and the shallowness of the field. David Horton was fourth on the day on his Suzuki 500 while Marlboro Yamaha Dealer Team's Michael Dowson crashed the pre-production FZRIOOO in the first heat, but came back with a fine third place in the second heat for fifth overall on the day. Dowson claimed fourth overall behind Donnie Osborne in the series. The Nova Honda RS500 rider had a miserable final round, crashing twice and showing a single sixth place for his dforts. England's Si mon Buckmaster could boast no better results, claiming a sixth place in the first heat despite a spun bearing in the transmission. He loctited it in between races and prayed. it wouldn't seize, but his prayers weren't answered. The box locked up at the end of the main straight while the GP privateer was doing'approximately 130 mph. Buckmaster sailed over the highside, but was relatively uninjured despite the bike landing on top of him. McEI nea won the start of the first heat on a track which was soaked after a heavy rain shower. Magee, who needed to win both heats to win the series, bogged the start and was last away. . However, McElnea's YZR500 had been su((ering a midrange (8-9000 rpm) rIat spot throughout the weekend and he had installed a high first gear in an effort to get more drive out of Keilor's tighter turns. The high first gear caught him out on the second lap as the rear tire lost traction in the esses, caught again and spat McElnea over the bars. He was uninjured beside a torn finger nail and quickly remounted and set orr after Magee, who was now past and in the lead. Magee had a three-second lead over McElnea, but the Scullerthorpe rider was closing in as they slipped and slid around the gradually drying circuit. McElnea took the lead in an amazing comeback, but Magee fought' into the front position only to slip wide out of a corner and lose traction on a white painted line. McElnea seized the opportunity to slip by, taking the win by two seconds and virtually sealing the title. The second heat was run at a torrid lap record pace with Magee initially leading and McElnea once again hauling him in and passing. Magee dropped in behind and studied his lines making his pass under braking at the end of the back straight on the last lap. McElnea could have held him out, but with the series wrapped up and next year's World Championship season on his mind, let the 24-year-old Victorian through. "It's good to win after finishing third three years in a row," McElnea said. "I've had fun and Kevin gave me some good competition." • Results HEAT ONE: 1. Rob McElnee (Vem); 2. Kevin Magee (Vam); 3. Robert Holden (Due); 4. D. Horton (Suz); 5. J. Judd (Yam); 6. Simon Buckmaster(Hon). HEAT TWO: 2. Magee; 2. McElnea; 3. Michael Dowson; 4. Holden; 5. Horton; 6. Donnie Osborne. FINAL POINT STANDINGS: 1. McElnea (84); 2. Magee (781; 3. Osborne (451; 4. Dawson (40); 5. Holden (28); 6. 8uckmaster (25); 7. Horton (23); 8. Armstrong (141; 9. Clerke (13); 10. Wans (10).