Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Rodney Smith easily dominated both motos of the 250cc Pro class. scoring two f1ag-to-flag victories for the overall win. Smith left behind an intense duel [or second between Ardris and Dugmore. Dugmore remained glued LO Ardris' rear fender for the first five laps o[ the race, then saw an opening on lap six and forced his way by. A[ter Dugmore was in second, Ardris steadily dropped back allowing Doug Fellers and Davis to move into third and fourth places, respectively. Davis passed Fellers on the last lap to grab third and seal his 250cc Series Championship. The overall went to Smith with Dugmore and Davis rounding out the tOP three. "Today I had a pretty good"Tide, " Davis said. "I was just trying to stay consistent, all I had to do was finish in the top IOta get the overall series win, but I tried to go all out because [ wanted LO get the overall too. I had a bad first maLO and I wanted to do a lot better in the second and ended up getting third. It feels good LO win the championship. This is my first Golden State Nationals and I want to continue LO win them." Fisher proved to have the quickest reflexes 0[[ the line in the first 500cc Pro mota and he was able to stretch out a small lead on second-placed Mike Larson on lap one. A heated battle developed for the third place spot with five riders within a bike length of each other. Rob Andrews, Myerscough, SCali Tyler, Larry Dashiell and Willy Simons were the soldiers in the battle. Myerscough began his charge LO the front on lap two as he jammed past Andrews and drew a bead on Larson. The top three remained in formation for the next two laps with Fisher holding a small advantage over Larson and Myerscough. On lap four Fisher lost concentration and overshot a berm, allowing Larson and Myerscough LO zero in on him. Larson attempted LO get by Fisher, but in the process, left an opening [or Myerscough to sneak by into second. On lap five Myerscough caught and passed Fisher and [rom that point on he was in complete control, easily taking the win. , Fisher suddenly began to fade after Myerscough got past, eventually al- , lowing Larson, Andrews and Simons to pass him before the end of the mota. . "I've been' sick all week:' Fisher said after the mota. "I had a really high fever yesterday and I still have one LOday. I wanted to win, but it's taken a lot out o[ me." Tyler led' brie£1y at the start o[ the second 500cc mota, but his £rant wheel washed out near the end of the first lap. As the pack crossed the line at the end of lap one it was Larry Dashiell, Myerscough, Mark Banks and Larson. Myerscough sliCed past Dashiell at the base of the big downhill on lap two and the race was basically over after that. Myerscough reeled off some quick laps and pulled away from the pack to take the victory. Larson passed Dashiell on lap twO and spent the rest of the ra~e in second place with no challengers. Fisher put LOgether an inspired ride in the second maLO cutting through the pack after a slow start to claim third place honors and clinch his title with a third overall finish. "I feel really good:' Fisher said. "Everything just paid off, doing good through all the different conditions in the series, it worked out well, I was real conslstentand itpaidoH. Brian's a real fasl'rider, but the consistency just wasn't there and that's what won the championship. I have really gOt LO thank my [ather, he's supported me through all the years o[ racing and he's really done the best job in the world for me and my bikes." In the 125cc Pro class, A.J. Whiting grabbed the holeshot in the first mota with Rick Ryan in hot pursuit. Whiting and Ryan steadily pulled Vet Pro class champ Rex Staten (1 R) trailed Gary Semics irLboth Vet Pro motos. Staten still took wins- in both motos. away and by lap two they had opened up a small gap on the third place rider Smith. Whiting cantin ued to lead and put a little distance on Ryan, who was involved in' a duel [or second with Smith. Smith was pressuring a tired Ryan, who [inished 12th in the Miami Supercross the previous night, and on lap three Smith rammed his way by.and took over second place. Healey was charging up [rom a slow start and by lap five he was challenging Ryan [or. the third place spot. Ryan and Healey traded third place a couple times, but Healey disposed o[ . Ryan on the' next lap and set out after Smith. Smith made Healey's job easier by spinning out on lap six and [ailing back to fourth. Healey was now within six seconds of Whiting, but he couldn't get much closer than that. Whiting held onto a safe lead and took the win, Healey was second and Smith got past Ryan LO move into third. In the second maLO Manneh quickly powered into the lead, but Ryan jammed past near the end o[ the lap. Ryan ,!nd Manneh had an intense battle for the lead with Whiting and Smith a very close third and fourth. Ryan and Manneh swapped the lead back and forth during the first [our laps. Ryan LOok the lead for good on lap three as Manneh remained close but couldn't get past. Whiting and Smith bumped on lap two; Smith went down and Whiting dropped back allowing Davis, Healey and Dubach LO move into the third, fOl:lrth and fifth place slots.. Healey worked his way past Davis on~ lap [our and Whiting was past Davis on lap five. Healey began to challenge Manneh for second on lap six and on lap seven both riders raced up the long uphill side-by-side. At the top of the hill Healey sholby Manneh and took second. From that point on the top five spots remained the same with Ryan taking the win and Healey, Manneh, Whiting and Davis [allowing. Healey's 2-2 gave him the overall win, with Ryan and Whiting completing the top three. "The first mota I got a pretty bad start," Dubach said. ~'And then I got forced' of[ the- track on the first lap and that. put me back to about 18th, but I managed to get into the top 10 and finished in eighth place. I got a lot better start in the second moto·and I just rode real smooth and real consistent so I.could win the championship. . ''I'm real happy with the way everything turned out, I've got to thank Paul Thede, he's kept my bike running through the whole series and the Cagiva has worked really well [or me. I'm really glad that we won the championship." • Results 125 PRO: 1. Mike Healey (Cag); 2. Riel< Ryan (Hon); 3. A.J. Whiting (Cog); 4. a.Mr Manneh (Kaw); 5. Rodney Smith (Han); 6. Mike Kiedrowski (Kaw); 7. Ty Davis (Han); 8. Doug Dubach (cag); 9. Paul Winn (Suz); 1D. Chris Voung (Vam); 11. Jeff Stanford (Suz); 12. Jeff Maybery (Vam); 13. Lance 8urgess (Kaw); 14. Sean Conley (Kaw); 15. Rich Tavlor(Hon); 16. Grayson Han (Kaw); 17. Jim Perry (Han); 18. Eric Sandstrom (Kllw); 19. Steve Lucente (Suz); 20. Steve Weyrauch (Kaw). 250 PRO: 1. Rodney Smith (Han); 2. CoOin Dog· more (Kaw); 3. Ty Davis (Han); 4. Jon Nelson (Hon); 5. 8i11y Ardris (Han); 6. Doug Fellers (Vam); 7. Jeff Matiasevich (Kawl; 8. Gary 5emics ~Hon); 9. Kevin Allman (Vam); 10. Gary Butcher fHan); 11. Dale Britton (Yam); 12. Tony Toste (Kaw); 13. Ron Allen (Kaw); 14. ClaYton 8100d (Han); 15. Jerry Slack (Han); 16. Jim Owens (Yam); 17. Irvin Achizinger (Han); 18. Tim Phillis (Vam); 19. Mickey O'Shaughnessy (Han); 20. Sven Stillmock (Kaw). 500 PRO: 1. Brian Myerscough IHon); 2. Mike Lirrson (Kaw); 3. Mike Fisher (Kawl; 4. Wilty Simons (Han); 5. Rob Andrews (Han); 6. Mark sanks (Han); 7. Larry Dashiell (Hon); 8. Scott Nielsen (Han); 9. Scott Tyler (Vam); 10, Greg Torgerson fKaw); 11. Dave Newell (Kaw); 12. Kurt Jorgense'n (Han); 13. Loren Pochirowski (Hon);14. Dean Brooks (Hon); 15. Dieter'Klausing (Yam); 16. Gary Rabe (KTM); 17. Bruce Marzoni (Han); 18. Tim C8uby (Yam); 19. Chris Pflaumer (Hen). VET PRO: 1. Rex Staten (Vam); 2. Gary Semics (Han); 3. 8ill Jamerson (Han); 4. Stave Rawson (Vam); 5. Pete Hann (Kaw); 6. Mark 8rooks (Han); 7. Jim Ashley (Hon); e. Tim Alcaron (Kaw); 9. Steve lawrence (Hon); 10. John Baumgar"ner (Hon). MINI EX: 1. Jimmy Gaddis (SUl); 2. Jimmy Bunon (Han); 3. Buddy Antunez (Suz); 4. Chad Pederson (Vam); 5. Jimmy Clay (Vam); 6. 8rian Roth (Han); 7 Phil Lawrence (Vam). 9

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