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
"I thought the way they started us was stupid," said Smith. "I object to starting back behind a lot of slower riders and I object to racing against three- and four-wheelers in a National event, too. They should've started the bikes at nine o'clock this morning and let the ATVs have a race of their own at two o'clock. I think it's stupid and I don't want to come back here ever a!;.lin." The drawing for starting positions put Krause dead last in the Expert ranks back on row eight, but the southern Californian was not at the back of the pack for long. Before the racers hit the five-mile mark, the CR500 was starting its drive through the ranks and Krause was picking off slower riders one by one. The ~5-mile loop proved challenging for most out-of-town riders, but not because of the course routing. The challenge was in conquering what was underfoot. The area, which resembles the surface of the moon so closely that it was used for lunar buggy testing, is covered by a deep layer of volcanic cinders that gave the course the consistency of a box of kitty litter. The unusual terrain led to highspeed drag races in the Open class, slower-than-usual performances from the 2505, and a number of complete bog-downs in the 125cc class. Despite the difficult going, the frontrunners kept up a sizzling pace. Thompson was the first rider to appear at the end of lap one. He completed the ~5-mile course in just under 42 minutes (50 mph average) with a ~O-second lead over Smith, who was running second in the timeadjusted standings a full minute ahead of Arizona racers Gwin Vaughn and Jeff Darland. The extra traffic and dust at the back of the Expert pack held Krause up in the early running and left him three minutes behind the leader on adjusted time. "I was the very last name called in the drawing for starting positions - ~6th out of ~6 Experts," said Krause, "and that really held me up." The fastest 250cc performance of lap one was put in by Arizona's Scott Davis with an average speed of 48.5 mph. Miller had the physical and time-adj usted lead in the 125cc division with a 44 mph average. After ~5 miles of adjusting to the unusual terrain, Smith was all fired up for a record-setting second lap and was hard on the gas in an allout push to catch the elusive Thompson, but his charge for the lead was short-lived. "My bike started quitting on me just a few miles into' the second loop when I started getting plastic caught in the main jet," said Smith. "I made up time out in the second lap but lost it all again in the pits. I got a piece of plastic out of the main jet but there was more in there and as soon as I went out into the next lap it started doing it again." _ With the course starting at an elevation of 6000 feet and climbing to over 7000 feet, many riders. were having jetting problems of a different kind. "I had problems all the way," said Yamaha pilot Kevin Case, who went into the race with a six-point lead in the 125cc division. "I didn't have a lean enough jet so I had to hold the bike wide open all the way and it wouldn't pull at all coming out of the corners. " As lap two drew to a close, it was obvious that Thompson was the rider to beat. His big red Honda kept up a 46.5 mph average despite traffic and dust from lapped riders. Smith was hanging on for dear life in (Continued to page 27) WlTHAI-2" WlVS DuQIIDII BYAMU. Team Honda's Bubba Shobert powered his way to his third consecutive National win. And with Kerker-powered Ricky Graham behind, he did it in record setting style: Fastest time. Fastest Heat. First in the.5 lap Camel Challenge.. First overall in the Camel Pro standings. With three wins in a row, the message is becoming loud and clear- Kerker Kicks Ass! KerkerExhaust Systems CanogaPark, California 818-999-30«) ~ A.M.A. CAMEL PRO SERIES. MOTORCYCLE CHAMPIONSHIP ROAD RACES Northern California's Only Camel Pro Series Motorcycle Road Race of the Yearl Ir,_ August 29-30 Championships Contimle S..,..Point ... The fast and agile 250cc pure brads of road racing in some of the closest 2-wheel action anywherel 1;;;========:;;; Want Ad InfonaetIon 213/427·7433 ' IIonIIQ a. s.turdQ 10.5 OPEN . T....a,·',..., 10-7 DuIw ........ 1IwIted 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.•••• PrllCtice fAll a - J 12:30 p.m.••••• " ••.••••••• Pro Twins Finel 40 Mila (16 ' - ' 1 :30 p.m.•••••...••••...• Carnal Challenge 12.6 MI. . (5 ' - I 2:00 p.m.••••.•. E8C 8rak"" S _....... Fine! 30 Milea(12 ' - I 3:00 p.m.•.•••••. Caatrol 250 G,and Prix Finel 50 Mil. (20 '-I 4:00 p.m. • •••••.••... Camal S-'>ika Finel 60 Milea (24 ' - I Adw...,. Tock.. PrieN SUnday· Admission 115.00 Paddock Pa.. 16.00 per clay T_ Day Admission 120.00 Paddock PHS 110.00 Childran 12 &. Under FREE ADMISSION At the GIna: 110.00 Saturday. '18.00 Sunday. 525.00 for both days _aleE T1C1l£l1_ M . . . . - ~ .,...~.,. S- The PRO TWINS GP • Modified Production CIa. .s EBC Brakes Supersport Event ... and Vintage Bike Race (2151_ _ 11:00 a.m.•••••••• 250 Grand Prix _ _ (215'-_. 12:30 p.m. • •••.•••.. Su""petwspoo _ _ ....... (2)5,-_ 1:15 p.m.•••••••.••. Vintage Motorcycle " 12'- . THE BIG BIKES 01 SEARS POIITS TWlSTlIG 2.5 MILE ROAD COURSE John Kocinslti. Korlr Bellington Don Greene. Celvin R..,bom 11/ Rend'( Renfrow. Rich Oliver s.tunIrt 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. . .•••••• PrllCtice lAll a - J , 0:30 a.m.•••••••••••• Superilika _ _ Sunday The BattM ftwthe 79117 Came/Pro CASTROL250 GRAND PRIX TDTlTM SCIIEDUU 2:00 p.m.•••••.• Shirt: 4-Hour Endurance " - s'eri.s ROMI RIICing g",'W.yne R_nev. Kevin SchwMtz. BubbeShobert. 0." Chivington. SUPERBIKE Doug Polen. Doug Ch."dle,. N t' I ell . _ ... Rueben MecMurte, e lone emp,on~"p end dozens more Rece Sundey Aupm29-30 '_A_'-Ar BASS r...... _ The10p finishers in NCh Superbike _Iifying heat . - will compete in en .II-out. 5-I.p bettie in the exciting Camel Challenge . - ...fast action. with $10.000 going to the winnerl .... Z4, 1111 • CHARQEer_ nclCET CENTERS (41t117e2-BASS f_I_·1IASS 1"t1I_·11ASS (707) 7e2·11ASS 12OlI122lI-11ASS M• • cIMdc or montrI ",.,.".,.. to: s... Point I n _ I R _ Mail to: . . . . . PeIIIt ..tel IF Highways 37 &. 121 Sonoma. CA 95476 (707)938·8448 II •• c wa,