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/126948
Dan Smith is aiming for his secondstraight H & H National C'ship. Husky rider Dale Knapp was in contention for the overall the whole race but ended up third overall. Cagiva's Duanne Summers lost his chance for the 125cc class win after he and a bunch of riders got lost during the second loop. knocked him out of the running. Hallgath lost time when his kill switch grounded out late in the race. "I was about IO feet behind Ashcraft and only about half a mile from the finish when my kill SwilCh ground out and the motor shut of£," said Hallgath. "I fiddled around for ages and even changed the plug before I worked out what was wrong. I lost three spots trying to get things going again." But tbe worst luck of the day was shared by Morales, Summers, Sweetland, Cartwright and Naylor. The five riders were battling it out in close competition for fifth overall when they lost tbe course and headed out into the middle of nowhere. "I guess we were maybe IO miles into the mountains when a whole bunch of US got lost," said Summers. "We spent ages riding around looking for the course, but we couldn't find it anywhere and ended up just riding in. We came in 90 degrees of[ where the course fi ni hed and we still don't know where it wenL Tbey bad no markings out there at all." Morales said the unfortunate five spent at least half an hour looking for the course. "We were right up there - I was running fourth behind Larry (Roeseler) when the trail di appeared," said Morales. "I wa in Larry) du t and then all of a sudden there was nothing. We roamed around trying to pick up the course but theonly thing we found was the first loop again. That was so fru trating." When it was all over, Smith was still in front and took the checkered £lag with a comfortable winning margin of just over a minute. "Loop one was a bit fast, but they did a really good job on the second loop," Smith said. "Loop two was rea II y tight and gl1arly - it was a lot of fun." Second overall went to Ashcraft on a XR600 Honda. "My only problem' was at the start," said Ashcraft. "The bike started right up but I guess I was just a bit slow. I didn't get my trail and had to booney-bash all the way to the bomb. I was back in about 15th when we passed it. It was a fun course, but I wish it had been a little bit longer. It was a bit shoTt for us slow startersl I'm going to try to ride all of the Nationals events this year, but I haven't decided what to do when they conflict with the district events yet. We'll just have to wait and see." . Knapp kept up his fast pace to take third overall (first in the 250cc class). "The course was all right," said Knapp, who wanted to thank Mitch Payton and Suzuki of Van Nuys. "It was pretty rough and it should've been marked a little bit better, but I had a good ride anyway." Roeseler, who crossed the finish line in fourth overall, said his race was spent making up for a bad start. "I got the worst start ever and the dust was really bad," Roeselersaid. "I just concentrated on picking up and just hung in there for the rest of the race." Fif~ place finisher Criewe said he was not impressed with the race. "I didn'tlike it at all. The course itself was really neat and challenging, but it wasn't marked very well, and I got lost about six times in the second loop. My shock' all goofed up too. It's not working right at all and that gave me a lot of trouble." Hallgath solved his kill switch problems in time to take 10th overall. "The first loop was too fast for the little bikes," said Hallgath, "but the second loop was nice and tight so I could make up some time." The second l25cc pilot to cross the finish line was .Summers, but his official finishing position may change as a result of his detour in the second loop. "The start was a disaster, the marking on loop two were terrible - it was just a mess and I think the whole rdce should be thrown out," said Summers. "I'm going to be riding in all of the National Hare and Hound events this year, but that's all the desert racing I'll be doing." Alexander took second in the 250cc class (seventh overall). "I got a bad start and was back in the dust the' whole first loop, but it was a bitchin' course once you got out of the dust," said Alexander. "The second loop was as challenging as hell. My legs are all cramped up from standing up so much'" • Results OVERALL: 1. Dan Smith (Hus); 2. Dan Ashcraft (Han); 3. Dale Knapp (Hus); 4. Larry Roeseler (Husl; 5. Don Griewe (Hus); 6. Eric Hallgath (Vam); 7. Mike Alexander (Varni; 8. Duane Summers (Cag); 9. Dan Dawson (Kawl; 10. Darin Cartwright (Yaml; 11. Randy Morales (Honl; 12. Garth Sweetland (Hus); 13. Phil Gorgona (KTM); 14. Dan HuskeV (Suz); 15. Darin Aldridge (Husl; 16. Mike Sixbery (Vam); 17. Jim Eveland (Yam); 18. Phil Cloward (Hus); 19. Kirk Kovalelf (Han); 20. Mike McDonald (Kawl. OPEN EX: 1. Dan Smith (HUB); 2. Dan Ashcraft (Han); 3. Larry Roeseler (Hus). 250 EX: 1. Dale Knapp (Hus); 2. Mike Alexander (Yam); 3. Darin Cartwright (Yam). 125 EX: 1. Eric Hallgath (Vam); 2. Ouene Summers (Cog); 3. John 8raasch (Varni. VET OPEN EX; 1. Dan Dawson (Kaw); 2. Bob Massey; 3. Wayne Car~on (M-S). VET 250 EX; 1. Mike Sbcbery (Vam); 2. Jim Eveland (Yam) 3. Phil Cloward (Hue). SA OPEN EX; 1. Richard Jackson (HuI); 2. Dick Myer. SR 250 EX: 1. Wayne Goodmen (KTM); 2. Dave Kersting (Kaw); 3. Earl Shuler (Yam). IIET OPEN AM: 1. Steve Gamer.