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/126947
Jeff Ward on the victory podium for the second week in a row.ยท In front of a nearly sellout Astrodome crowd, Jeff Ward (3) nails the holeshot at the start of the main. Rick Johnson (1), Eddie Warren (17), Jeff Leisk (19) and Tyson Vohland (22) chase. For the second year in a row at Houston, Yamaha's Keith Bowen finished second overall, and he's now second in points behind Ward. AMA/Coors Supereross Series: KouadZ Ward steamrolls to Astrodome win By Kit Palmer Photos by Tom Strattman HOUSTON, TX, FEB. 7 Team Kawasaki's Jeff Ward proved tonight that last week's runaway win at the supercross series opener in Anaheim, California, was by no means a fluke. Inside a packed Houston Astrodome Ward was untouchable in the ~ain event . 8 . ,.' beaung Team Yamaha s Ke~th Bowen by 25 econds. Thud went to Suzuki's Johnny O'Mara while Rick Johnson and Ge.orge Hoiland rounded out the top (jve. '.'Ijn not going to take anything for gramed," said Ward. "And I'm not going to get overconfidem, 'cause anything can happen like it happened to me last year. I'm just going to keep pluggin' away." Team Honda'sJohnson, whodidn't score any poim~ at Anaheim after crashing in the main and getting rushed to the hospital with a concussion. raced at Houston but was no match for Ward. johnson spem mo t of the main in third place, but crashed late in the race and wound up a distant fourth. 'Tve just had some unfortunate luck," said johnson. "I've been bed ridden with the flu all last week, and I just ran' out of gas out there. I'm fortunate I did as well as I did tonight, and I'm cOlffiting my blessings." O'Mara, who couldn't even walk following the Anaheim Supercross after injuring his knee in a heat race, gave Team Suzuki its best supercross finish in a long time. ''I'm real satisfied," said O'Mara. "It's only been rive days since I hurt my knee, but I used my brains out there. I've been around for a while, so I know what it takes. " Keith Turpin and Willy Surratt made it a 1-2 Suzuki weep in the 125cccla s. Turpin took over the lead after passing Yamaha rider Michael Craig on the third lap and never looked back. Surratt, who won last year's I25cc race in Houston, labored his way up from a nimh-place start. Third went to Kawa aki rider Eddie Hicks. Heats A record-setting crowd of over 42,000 spectators (the largest ever to see a motOrcycling event inside the Astrodome) were on hand for the start of the first heat race. Yamaha rider jeff Stanton was the rider to beat as he took an early lead over Kawasaki rider Dennis Hawthorne, O'Mara and Yamaha-mounted Ross Pederson. By the third lap, Pederson had snuck into the number two slot while O'Mara began to pressure liawthorne. A few laps later, O'Mara also passed Hawthorne and then set out after Pederson. Two laps from the finish, O'Mara (Jew his Suzuki past Pederson over a double jump, taking control of second. Stanton went on to take thewin ahead ofO'Mara, Pederson and Honda rider Larry Brooks, who aced Hawthorne out a few feet from the finish when the Kawasaki rider endoed through a whoop section.. putting an end to his niehl. The second heat saw Kawasaki rider Eddie Warren lead for the first four laps before crashing in the whoops and letting Bowen cruise by and into a comfortable lead. Warren recovered just ahead of Kawasakimounted Tyson Vohland. These two duelled to the finish with Warren holding on to second. Fourth went to Kawasaki rider Jo jo Keller. The third heat race was dominated by Team Honda riders johnson and Micky Dymond. Yamaha's jeff Leisk led for the first half lap before johnson flew by. A few turns later, Dymondblew by Leisk and set after his teammate Johnson. johnson, however, was on the gas and wanted no part of Dymond. Meanwhile, a hot battle for third was brewing between Leisk and Honda riders Rick Ryan and Guy Cooper. At the halfway point, Ryan snuck underneath Leisk, but Cooper was' planning his attack. As the three riders headed through a triple jump section, Ryan and Leisk ba'nged handlebars and singled each jump, but Cooper had the drive and tripled by both Leisk and Cooper to take over third. With two laps to go, Leisk shot by Ryan, making the finishing order Johnson, Dymond, Cooper and Leisk. The fourth heat race saw Yamaha's Broc Glover take the early lead ahead of Kawasaki's Ron Lechien, Suzuki's George Holland and Tommy Watts. Glover's lead quickly dwindled as Lechien closed in. During the third lap, Lechien pulled alongside Glover over a tabletop jump and nudged his way into the lead. In fifth place was Ward. who missed a shift on the start and was nearly last after the first lap. Once into the lead, Lechien took command while Ward weaved his way through the pack. When it was all over, it was Lechien with the win. A charging Ward had worked his way into second while third and fourth went to Glover and Holland. Semis The first semi was completely dominated by Ryan who led from start to finish. His nearest rival was Yamahamounted jim Holley. Despite nursing a badly tweaked knee, Holley managed to keep Ryan within sight but that was about all. Yamaha rider Brian Manley worked his way up to third. Semi two started out as a three-way dogfight for the lead between Billy Frank, Mike Fisher and Watts. But by the time the checkered flag came out both Frank and Watts were history. While chasing Fisher for second,