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
Ron Lechien lands on Jeff Leisk's arm in the main. Both riders fell and recovered, but Lechien crashed again soon after and pulled out of the race. Watts bailed over the handlebars in the whoops, and Frank landed shon over a double jump while leading, pitching him off his Yamaha and out of the race. Thi gave Fisher a clean hot at the win while Honda rider Michael Moore LOok second. Last Chance Qualifier Watts and Manley were theones to watch in the LCQ. Carlo Coen led the first lap before Watts and Manley snuck by. For the next three laps, WatLSand Manley fought closely umil Watt slammed imo the face of a double jump and crashed. This gave Manley an ea y win over Coen. Main The stage was et for the stan of the 21-rider main and it was Warren, Ward, johnson and Leisk getting the jump. But a few turns later, it was Ward out in front. After completing the first lap, Warren. johnson, Bowen, O'Mara and Vohland closely trailed Ward. In the middle of the pack, Lechien and Lei k tangled handlebars with both rider going down after a jump. By the time the two riders remounted they trailed the pack. Lechien gOt the worst of the pileup and emerged with a battered bike. A lap later. Lechien decided LO pull out of the race. By thi time, Ward had already developed a large lead over Warren, Bowen, john on, O'Mara, Dymond, Ryan, tamon, Vohland, Pederson and Holland. Back in 12th was Glover. On lap three, Bowen, johnson and Dymond nuck by Warren, who eventually crashed and dropped out of the LOp 10. At th i poim. the ra e had settled down to a spread-apart freight train. Ward enjoyed a 1O-second lead on Bowen, who had a comfonable lead on johnson. After johnson it was Dymond, O'Mara, Ryan and Vohland. Holland was eighth, and Glover was 10th while trying to find a line around Pederson. At the halfway poim, johnson reeled-in and passed Bowen but crashed shonly thereafter. "I just jumped a Iittle too far in the whoops," said johnson. "And I got out of control - I just didn't have the strength. Then I got real excited getting up, and I wem LO stand on a hay bale to pull my bike up, but I stepped on my footpeg, and it threw medown again. Because of that, a bunch of people passed me." Those who passed incl uded Bowen, Dymond and O'Mara; johnson regrouped in fifth. From that point on, the ra e was unevemful with Ward stretching his lead LO an untouchable, 20-second margin over Bowen. About seven second back of Bowen was O'Mara, who held a big advantage over Dymond and johnson. Holland was holding his own in sevemh while Glover was still tuck in 10th. The only lead change late in the race happened when Dymond began iodropbacksligbtlybeforecra hing in the whoops and fading to the back of the pack. "I ,vas getting tired," said Dymond. "I lost my rhythm. And when that happened. I ended up falling down." When the checkered f1agcameout, Ward had 25 seconds on Bowen, followed by O'Mara, johnson, Holland, Peder on, Ryan, Stanton, Glover and Fisher. "I'm really confident with my starts," said Ward. "As long as I get out front, I've got the speed on everybody. Ihunmywristin practi eandl taped it. I usually can't ride with tape, but Ijust want to win so badly it doesn't matter what's wrong with me." "I had bronchitis and was real weak last week in Anaheim," said Bowen. "Being indoors here with the humidity 0 high, I think it kind of cau.!?;.ht back up with me. After about the halfway point, I thought I wa going LO die." "A lotof commotion was goingon Suzuki's Keith Turpin (30) fought past Michael Craig early in the 125cc main to take the overall. Turpin's teammate Willie Surratt took second. during the first couple of lap ," aid O'Mara. "I ju t used my head and just watched what was going on in front of me. I think I just outsmaned. them. They were running inLO each . other and I just zipped in through there real nice and made a few good moves, and that set the LOne for the rest of the race." After finishing third at Anah im, Glover was disappointed with his ninth in HousLOn. "I overtrained drastically." said Glover. ''I've never felt so lethargic and lazy in my whole life. I could've fallen asleep on the motorcycle during tbe main event. I just crewed up. I trained really bard on Thursday. traveled Friday, and that killed me today. I'm not going to do that againl" "I'm having a probl m with my back right now," said Dymond. "From the time when I was a little kid. I ue s, I injured my ba k and it's gotten wor e .through the years. And now it' ju t gotten to where I can't hardly ride very long withouthaving to LOp. It gets so bad." "If I could say one thing LO jeff." said johnson, "I'd ay 'congratulations, but 1 wouldn't let back, 'cau e I'm coming after you.' It' not going LO be thi easy for him the rest of the season." 125cc Main The stan of the 125cc main ven t saw Yamaha rider Michael Craig nail the hole hot and lead for the next two laps with Turpin, Roben Naughton, Hicks, Vince DeVane and jeU Matiasevich close behi nd. During the first lap, Matia evich and DeVane tangled in a turn and both crashed. DeVane recover d fir t with Matiasevich having a hard time restaning his Kawa aki. Matiasevich re-entered in last place. Meanwhile,. the battle up front raged between Craig and Turpin. until Turpin stuffed Craig in a turn and LOok over the lead. Once out front. Turpin pulled away while Craig tried to stay close, but tbe Yamaha rider soon era hed and dropped to sixtb. Atthi poimthe rider to watch was Surratt. who was charging hard through the pack after a 10th-place start. By the sixth lap, Surratt had taken over second place from NaughLOn. A larg gap separated Turpin from his uzuki teammate. but Turpin bobbled in the whoop. letting urratt close in. This kept the race intere ting right down LO the finish. but it was Turpin holding on for the wi n, three seconds ahead of urratt. A few more seconds back was Hicks. followed by aughton, Dean Matson, Ronnie Tichenor. Craig and Billy Whitley. • Results 125: 1. Keith Turpin ISuz!; 2. Willie Surratt ISuz); 3. Eddie Hicks IKaw); 4. Robert Naughton (Han); 5. Dean Matson (Han); 6. Ronnie Tichenor (Suz); 7. Michael Craig (Vam); 8. 8illyWhitleYIKaw); 9. Scott Brown (Yam); 10. Barry Carsten (Yam); 11. Ray Somma (Yam); 12. Carroll Richardson (Kaw): 13. Dennis Daft IVam); 14. Jeff Ambery (Vam); 15. Vince DeVane (Suz); 16. Todd DeHoop IVam); 17. Raben McCullough (Han); 18, Jeff Matiasevich (Kaw): 19. Rodney Barr (Kaw); 20. Kenny Bollmeier (Varn). 250: 1. Jeff Ward IKaw); 2. Keith 80wen (Yam); 3. Johnny O'Mara (Su%); 4. Rick Johnson (Han); 5. George Holland (Suz); 6. Ross Pederson (Vam): 7. Rick Ryan (Han); 8. Jeff Stanton IVam!; 9. 8roc Glover (Vam); 10. Mike Fisher IKaw!; 11. Guy Cooper (Han!; 12. Tyson Vohland (Kaw); 13. Larry Brooks (Hen); 14. Jim Holley (Yam); 15. Michael Moore IHon); 16..Jeff leisk(Vam!; 17. Eddie Warren IKaw!; 18. Jo Jo Keller (Kaw!; 19. Micky Dymond (Han); 20. 8rian Man/ey IHon); 21. Ron Lechien IKaw). POINTS STANDINGS: 1. Jeff Ward (50); 2. Keith 80wen 135); 3. Broc Glover (32); 4. ITie) Guy Cooper IRoss Pederson (25); 6. George Holland (24); 7. Ron Lechien 122); 8. Jeff LeisklTyson Vohland/Rick Ryan 121).