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/126960
Kosar Racing's Doug Polen (23) leads British team member Richard Scott (2); Polen was fifth individually with Scott fourth. "I was on new tires and didn't have them up to temperature," the Camel Pro Series Champion explained. 'JThe front end touched the oil and slid, then the rear hit it and came around. I thought I was gonna saye it but the wheels dug in 'and just launched me.,t The painful high-side left Shobert with a broken right index finger, a stiff and swollen right elbow and a next-day departure for the states. Time practjce followed, and Rainey, Schwantz, Polen and Goodfellow took the top four qualifying spots. The sweep increased speculauon that the American tearn might team up behind one rider and try to win a bonus of 100,000 pounds roughly $175,000 - earmarked for anyone who could win all nine races. 'The first of the nine events saw Schwantz grab the holeshot, then Rainey equalled Mick Grant's twowheeled lap record (49.1 seconds) as he worked past Goodfellow and reeled in the leader. The fireworks erupted going into the last lap. "I got in Schwantz's draft up the front chute," Rainey later expained, "and got into the first tum too hot. As I came up beside him, he just laid over on me to keep me from getting by. That messed up my drive and I couldn't get around." Not surprisingly, Schwantz sawthe impact as Rainey's wrongdoing, and was forced to make a nifty save as his machine slid sideways across the same oil slick that claimed 'Shobert. When the rear wheel hooked up again, Schwantz was aimed down the hill with a better drive iha~ Rainey and he held on to take the win. Eliminated from contention for tll,e winner-take-all bonus, the diplomatic Rainey joked with the announcer about, his willingness to help Schwantz with the $175,00, In fact, two junk yard dogs would be as likely to split a meaty bone. Elements in the Rainey/Schwantz rivalry include Honda-versusSuzuki, Dunlop-versus-MicheJin, and seasoned veteran versus enthusiastic newcomer. The second race proved the star Americans had no intention of helping each other. Rainey took the race two holeshot only to run wide on the first lefthander, giving the advantage to Schwantz. In the next 19 ~ miles, they swapped the top spot seven more times, and Rainey lowered the lap record to 48.9. Once again, hostilities peaked on the last lap. Schwantz led into the famed Druids hairpin but overbraked, allowing Rainey to pass. Anticipating retaliation at the entrance to Clearways corner, Rainey kept a tight line, but Schwantz jammed inside anyway, leaving tire marks on Rainey's leathers and losing the front and then the rear end. But the tall Texan made an incredible save. He stayed on the gas and crested Clearways hill with the rear tire burning and his front wheel still tucked inside Rainey's rear. As the two powered through the sweeping right hander to the finish, Schwantz front Ure touched the painted line on the inside of the track and washed out. "I knew it was going to happen," Schwantz said later, "and when it did I just'jammed my right knee down hard to push the bike back up." His second breathtaking save within half-a-Iap left the crowd on its feet and his rival out of patience. "It was a stupid move," Rainey charged, "he almost took us both out. Did you see all the grass in his kneepad and his boot? That's how far inside he was. I don't care if it's a team or not, you're not supposed to take each -other out." Meanwhile, Chivington crashed, unhurt, at Druids while battling [or sixth, and Goodfellow, who lost third place to Mercier in the first round when his tires went away, took the spot back from Michel in round two. The same three [aces Schwantz, Rainey and Goodfellow , Schwantz leads Rainey; the two were rarely farther apart than this during the nine-race series, held at Brands Hatch and Donnington Park. - would grace tbe winner's circle in six of the remaining seven races. Round three saw Goodfellow take the early lead from Rainey. Schwantz gated badly but quickly went to the front and won handily. Rainey battled Goodfellow for five laps, then lowered the lap record to 48.7 in vain pursuit of the leader. The Americans left Brands Hatch leading 355-260. Saturday A shower soaked the late-afternoon practice session at Donington park and Mercier crashed, landing on the same arm he broke at Daytona. Times were modest. Sunday Rainey again led qualifying, giving him -th.e pole for all six Donington races. Second-fastest qualifier Schwantz led at the start of race four, but his soft tires quickly gave up on the abrasive' Donington surface. After a dice with Goodfellow, Rainey reeled-in the factory Suzuki and passed Schwantz without conflict on the last lap. Mercier's bad luck continued, as Englishman Whitham tumbled right in front of him. "I was relaxing my braking, trying to save my arm," he explained. "He passed me, then fell ri~ht in front of me and I hit his bIke. All the workers £Jocked around him and [ yelled, 'Hey, what about me? I finally got going, and, yes, I did hit my arm againl" Rain threatened as round five began, but everyone stayed on slick tires. Schwantz mounted a cut slick up front, "more to psyche out the other guys than anything else." On the still-dry start, Goodfellow 9