Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Sweden's Jorgen Nilsson and Du tch man Leo Combee after leading the race early on, Vehkonen quickly took theworks Cagiva to the front in the second mota, p assing h oleshot expert Jeremy Whatley and Erik Geboers - and there he stayed. The deep sand took its toll on a lot of riders, their fuel tanks being sucked dry before they had a chance ' to see the checkered flag. Among the unfortunates were Peter - Hansson, fourth on th e last lap, and Guy Van Gijeseghem , Mario Martens, Robert Greisch and Simo Taimi, who were all in th e points when the y dropped out. Whatley holeshot both motos from the inside, but a lon ely Rob H erring was left on the line after hitting the T-bar in mota one. " I was getting clutch drag and cou ldn' t hold her back. I tried to pull- back but just as I did th e gate dropped for th e rest," sai d th e Yamaha rider. Dutch sand specia list Combee was th e first to overha ul Wh atl ey, with Vehkon en and Geboersalso powering through during th e first lap a nd a three-way battle raged between them throughout th e moto, as Whatley hit the deck and inj uredhis left sh o u lde r. H e remounted a nd doggedl y fought his way back into th e points, claiming 15th pl ace and one point. Geboers snatched the lead from Combee, who had earlier taken it fro m Vehkon en , bu t four laps from th e fini sh Geboers ran into engine problem s, at first thought to be th e reed valve breaking up, bu t lat er p ut down to an ignition problem. Combee seized the op po rt u nity ta go ta the front again and Geboers was pushed further back by Nil sson and Vehkonen , before th e Belgi an 's Honda powerplant came back on , song agai n and Geb oers recorded th e fastest lap in an attempt to ge t back on terms . N ilsson overhauled Combee on tfie run into th e flag , leaving the frustrated Dutchman unable to do anything apart from hammer the bars of his bike with hi s fists aft er having fini shed just a second adrift. Vehkonen . a n d Geboers followed him home. Young Dutch rid er Mark Smits, wh o was the fast est in tim ed training, was fifth in his debut G P race. In th e second mota it was Ni lsson's turn to be left on the line. The White Pow er Honda rider was languishing in 26th p lace at the erid of lap one.. Hansson put th e disappointment of the first race behind him and -was up in fifth place behind the leaders and Van Gijseghem. Geboers overhauled Whatley, but Vehkonen soon passed both of th em for the lead and H ansson squeezed through a lap later. All the tim e eyes were on the hig h flying Nilsson, who by half distance was through to seventh. Hansson briefly overcame Geboers, but the Honda man soon got back and as th e race progressed Peter Johansson was getting more invo lv ed in the b attle a ft er an uneventful seventh first tim e out. Geboers threw everyth ing at Vehkonen in th e final stages, with the Belgian fans , as usual, en croach ing right onto the circuit in support of their hero. The race to the line was electric, with the Finn winning by a wheel over Geboers and Hansson ' only a , second adrift in third. Fourth went • to Johansson. More than-enough Suzuki to gO around. With one last check ofthe trailerhitch, theywereoff. Onevan, two motorcycles, five dirt-hungry riders and little Joey. Mom laughed,"Coolit, guys. "How do we Today it's 30 minute shifts:' She divvie up the bikes turned to muss Joey' hair, s when we get there?" "Guess wewon' haveenough bikes t someone asked. "Well,one , Hey, you're notold .Suzuki's r---------l... enough toridea DRlO Q enough to go around.And we've got two:' That was Dad. Dadstalk that way all the time. "No waywe'll ever haveenough until it's One Rider, One Bike. I want to ride all day longwithout stopping:' "That's funny, last trip I could have swornyoudid:' CHECK OUT THE FULL DIRT FAMILY OF 7 GREAT. MO'roRCYCI::ESAT YOUR LOCAl. SUZUKI BEALER. . . . . .Rill size. 199cc; OHC4-stroke engine,SquishDomeCombustion Chamber for extra JlOI¥et: 5-speed transmission. Hassle-freePEl ignition. Leadingaxle forks. FUll Floater rear suspe,nsion. Front disc brake and enduro sfYUng. SUGGESTED RE'FAH..;· DR200H: $174Q. DRl25H: $1449. DRl00H: $1249. until we get one that's your size:' "Don't worry," he explained. "I'm gonna marry Sharonfrom ' school; herfather's a Suzukidealer:' SP12l5-Dua1 purpose.-Single "Right on!" cylinder4-stroke engine. 6-speed transmission: Long-travel, leading-axlefront forks. Rill Floater rear ~ Hydraulic front disc brake. SUGGESTED RETAll.:· SP200H; $1799. SPI25H; $1499. (SP200 and SP125l1re not avai1able in California.) ~Ie, Right on, Suzuki reliable, 2-stroke, Power Reed engine. 5-speed manual trans- mission. LOng travel suspension, front and rear. Ftill enOi'n'o-type lighting. SUGGESTED RETAn.:· $949. _ _FrieDd1y, easy-starting. 49«, 2-strokeengine.CC1 "no-mess" oil injection. No-sbift, I-speed transmissionwith automaticclutCb.1\vo-stage speed controladiJJsts to fit youngsrer's ski111eve1. Seatheigtit adiJJstable fo.comfort and centro\. 5eGGESTED RETAIL:' $649. Foryour nearest SuzukiMotorcycle and ATVdealer caU : 1-800-255-2550 Professional riders pictured. Play it safe. Ride with care. Always supervise youngst ers. Read your owner's manual carefully. Always wear a helmet and protectiveriding apparel Neverdrink and ride. Rideonly whereauthorized and respect the environment. Call the Moton:ycleSafety Foundation .at 1-800-447-4700 for- a riding skills course near you. Ami Crowns Another King. Arai Brings Home Two Winners! ROAD ,ATLANTA Thomas Stevens - 1st Place EBC Brakes Supersport Series Jimmy Adamo 1st Place, Pro Twins Final ' AMA Camel Pro National Championship Road Race Results OVERALL: 1. Pekka Vehkonen (Cog) 3-1; 2. Erik Geboer s (Han) 4 -2; 3, Jo rgen Nils son (Han) 1-6; 4, Leo Combee (Han) 2-5; 5, Peter J ohn ensson (KTM ) 7-4; 6. Ma rk Sm its (Han) 5-9; 7. Mi chele Rinaldi ISuz) 8-8; 8. Peter Hansson (KTM) NP-3; 9. Rob Herr ing IYam) 11- 7; 10. Soren Mo rtensen (Yam) 12-1 0 , 19

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