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/126944
Bellora and second place Robbie Taylor across the line. Reigning Arena champ Mike Bias was all the rage in heat two as he and indoor up-and-comer Brian Carroll went head-io-head from start-tofinish. The wild Bias let the even wilder Carroll climb his leg a few times before the checkers, but in the end the Gear/Scoll/Shoei #1 had enough room to throw in a nohander for the crowd. Abel was a steady third with Jeff Glass a commendable fourth. The AXO/Surfl Smith-backed Glass was competing for the first rime since a practice accident at an October Arenacross left him with a broken arm. McCullough and Stanley put their heat race spills behind them long enough to contend for the consolation round win. Jonathan McClellan and AXO/Acerbis/West's Lawn Service's Davey Coombs were early frontrunners, along with Wood, but a second lap jam session left them separating their bikes for a lap or two and allowed Yamaha-mounted Ricky Young and Answer/Silkolene's Seth Tharin to join Stanley and winner McCullough with transfer spots. When the pack blew into the turn one whoops for the final it was Bellora, Abel, ArailHi-PointlBlockers Yamaha-mounted Carsten, Stanley and Jones leading the first wave. Bellora tried to gather an early advantage on Abel with some big jumps, but Abel attached himself to the leader 'slipstream and together they cuta groove away from the rest. Jones displaced Carsten on lap three, but three laps later Jones was back in fourth. Carroll had climbed all the way to the third spot after a midpack start with some impressive inside-outside moves in the tighter corners. But late in the race Carroll's progress faltered when he looped out in a turn. Jones retook third just as Bellora was putting Abel away for good as the white flag came out. At the line it was Bellora a few lengths up on Abel with Jones, Carroll and Carsten following. Bias and Bellora again opened the action on Saturday with heat race wins. Bias contended early with Abel and Jones before finding his pace and pulling out the win. Bellora had his hands full as well as Carsten, Stanley and Carroll took turns making runs at the leader before settling into position. McCullough again made a show of the consi, but this time it was as second fiddle to Glass with Wood and Tharin following. All eyes were on the middle of the starting grid for the finale as Jones, Bellora, Bias and Abel lined up on the four center gates and poured into turn one four a breast. By the second corner it was Abel all alone in first, though he could only hold the line for a lap bef9te a miscue on a double dropped him to third as Jones and Bellora took up the charge. Bias was sharing berm space with Stanley in every corner as they led a five-man freight train that included Wood, Carroll and McCullough. It was obvious that Bellora was looking for a weekend sweep as he held back no punches while hammering Jones every time the Cagiva pilot left the door open. Just after the halfway point the race took a serious tWIst as Jones lost count through the whoops and blew a shift in the following corner. Bellora was far too close for comfort and couldn't avoid plowing his front end into Jones. But only Bellora fell as the Cagiva caught a gear and Jones sped away. While Bellora picked himself up Jeff Glass leads 'Rob McCullogh in Friday night's final. Glass crashed and finished 10th, McCullogh took the eighth place spot. Abel moved into attack position behind Jones. Turn for turn he matched the leader before finally seeing daylight down through the washboard stretch. Jones stayed close, but Abel was up to the task and captured.his first-ever Arenacross win. Stanley stayed on Bias' heels throughout the final, but was still fourth at the flag with Carroll and McCullough going five-six. Results • FRIDAY: 1. Dickie Bellora (Hon); 2. Billy Abel (Hon); 3. Michael Jones (Cag); 4. Brian Carroll (Kaw); 5. Barry Carsten (Yam); 6. Robert Taylor (Yam); 7. Mike Bias (Hen); 8. Robert McCullough (Hon); 9. Richard Young (Yam); 10. Jeff Glass (Hon). SATURDAY: 1. Bill Abel (Hon); 2. Michael Jones (Cag); 3. Mike Bias (Hon); 4. Brian Stanley (Hon); 5. Brian Carroll (Kaw); 6. Robert McCullough (Hon); 7. Dickie Bellora (Han): 8. Barry Carsten (Yam): 9. Davey Coombs (Hon); 10. Gerald Wood (Yam).