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/126977
Yamaha-mounted Darin Cartwright (3161. shown here leading Husqvama rider Gwin Vaughn. claimed fifth in Arizona. Honda rider Jeff Darland finished second at Flagstaff even though it was his first attempt in National-level competition. AliA National Hare & Hound Championship Series: 6 'ou"" Thompson scores upset win at Flagstaff' H&H By Anne and Tom Van Beveren Photos by Tom Van Beveren FLAGSTAFF, AZ, JULY 25 Colorado's Jim Thompson scored an upset victory over Jeff Darland, Paul Krause and Dan Smith in the latest round of National Hare and Hound competition, promoted by the Arizona. Desert Racing Association. Thompson, whose only pre- vious appearance in the series was at Afamogordo, New Mexico, in March - where he claimed a lack- luster sevenlh overall - took the series leaders by surprise in the Cinder Hills area nonh of Flagslaff. The mOlOcross/cross-counlry rider from Bloomfield (near Denver) slOrmed out in from of me pack right off me Slarl and never looked back, drawing his lead out to score a wireto-wire win almost lhree minutes ahead of me nearest competition. While series regulars were surprised by the CR500 pilol's viclOry, Thompson took me win in stride. "I've only done one other of the Nationals and in mat one I had problems with my rear brake that ... put me back in the overall slandings," said Thompson. ''I'm not really surprised £0 win this one." Second overall wept £0 Hondamounled Darland of Phoenix, Arizona, in his first crack at the Championship series, but the most impor· tant race of the day was going on back in mird overall where AMAI District 37 riders Smith and Krause were slugging it out in the points race for the overall series title. Starting in the last row of the Expert grid did not deter Honda privateer Krause. He was hard on the gas all the way and streaked across me finish line to grab mird overall in the time-adjusted results, just half a minute faster man Smith after 105 miles of frantic racing. "I was hoping for the win in this one," said Krause. "I need all the points I can get right now and third just doesn't give as many points as I need." The sky was darkening from clouds when the starting flag dropped and the first wave of riders powered down me straighlaway and out inlO the ~-mile course. Thompson got me front row holeshot and was soon running wide open in the dust-free number one position; omer (ron trow stalters were not so successful. "I seized right off the start," said Coors Extra Gold's CRl25-mounted Jeff Miller. "I was wide open all the way to the first corner and then the bike started to seize. I coasted about 20 yards then let out the clutch and my Iucky Honda slaned going again. I was down for just 10 or 12 seconds but by the time I got going again everybody else was lOtally out of sighl." YZ250 ace Darin Cartwright got the row two holeshot 30 seconds behind Thompson, while series point leader Smim was forced lO'cool his heels back in row five.