Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

The Scratch main field' w as stacked. Schwartz wo u ld have to defeat " Flyin'" Mike Faria, Steve Lucero and Alan " Crazy" Christian if he wa nte d to win numb er 50. H is chances of winning too k a bad turn wh en he ended u p starting in ga te four in the main. Faria was 0(( the pole wit h Lucero o ut of two and Christian in three. Poor starting spot or not, Schwartz gated the field on the Budweiser/ Silkol ene/ju sti ce Bro the rs/Ci rello Ra cing/Brant Eng. Wesla ke and he show ed Faria th e way into the first corner. Faria tried to battle hi s way .past on th e inside as they went do wn th e back ch u te o n lap o ne bu t Schwartz was eq ual to th e challenge. Faria stayed o n the inside a nd rubbed the leader as th ey went th rough the bends o n the second circu it. Once aga in Schwartz failed to wilt a nd he maintained his lead. Wh en th e third la p started , Schwar tz gained a little breathin g room whil e Ch r ist ian tried th e outside of Faria. Faria hooked up as they came 0(( turn two and cu t across the front of Christian. H e ca ugh t a piece of the 1985 Na tional Champion's front tir e and set him hard into th e wal l. Out came the red flag and th e end of th e race. Schw artz had number 50 with Christian ge tti n g credit for seco nd. Lucero too k third and Faria was disqualified for ca using th e incident. Just seconds after his Scra tch main crash , Christian ca me back . and guided th e STP/ Cal Fab /Cirell o Racing/Hi-PointlTroy Lee Design W~l ake to the win in th e H andicap rnam, Doug Bowers, o n a twin -cam j awa , was off th e 20 on th e start and he set the ear ly pace. J ohn Sandona, who has been ho t th e past few weeks, sent Bow er back to second with a pass at th e end of th e openi ng revolution . Christ ian , co m i ng fro m the 40, relegated Bowers to third at the end of lap two and he began to reel in Sandona. It too k Christian one lap but he go t by Sando na and too k over the point positio n but Sandona hung tough. T hey traded th e lead back and forth for a lap before Christian took th e lead for good. Whil e Christ ian a n d Sa n do na were negotiating for the point, Faria and Brad Oxley were working th eir .way to the fro n t, Far ia took second ' on lap five with Oxley moving into third on la p six. Faria manned th e o utside and Oxley went low . T hey caught th e leader in th e final bend. Oxley tried low with Faria high a nd all three crossed the line wit hi n o ne bike length of each other. The win went to Christian over Faria a nd Oxl ey. Results SCRATCH: 1. Bobby Schwartz (Wes); 2. Alan Christian (Wes); 3. Steve Lucero (West; 4.' Mike Faria (Jaw). HDCP: 1. Alan Christian (Wes); 2. Mike Faria (J.w~ 3. Brad Oxley (Wes). SUP: 1. Don Odom (Wes); 2. Trinon Cirello (Wes); 3. Jimmy Gentile (We.). 0 -3: 1. Archie Perez (Gdn); 2. Tony Gomez (Jaw); 3. Rick Seip (Jaw). Rickman wins ' Rlchmond'ST title By Joe Kelly RICHMOND, VA, AUG. 26 Chris Rickman was going after his first track championship at the Richmond Short Track but had th e misfortune to break a toe in a workrelated accident during the preceeding week. The injury apparently didn't hamper the young charger 's riding ab ility as he won both 250cc qualifiers and finished second in th e main behind winner Robert Lewis. The runner-up finish by R ickman was all he needed to clinch th e 1988 title. Rickman held off Lewis in the first heat while Wayn e Eckert moved by J erry Ka ris on th e last turn of th e last la p to take thi rd. Rickman and Lewis fini shed 1-2 in th e second heat and Ka ris repea ted h is th ird place performa nce . When th e gree n light flashed to. sta rt th e 250cc main , it was Lew is o ut in fro nt. On th e fo urt h la p R ickman got by Lew is after Lewis slipped in th e fourth tu rn. Rickman held the lead for four laps bu t Lewis retook the lead three lap s from the finish and held it to th e checkered flag. T he race fo r th ird was j us t as tight as th e duel for first and th e show position went to Wayne Eckert who had held 0(( the charges of Bill y Ell is. T hree-time track cham p Ray West was back in action after a two-month lay-off a nd h e won both 500cc q ua lifiers. West and Bill y Ellis dueled at th e start of the ma in bu t West was able to p u ll away and take the wi n. Results 250: 1. Raben Lewis (Hon t; 2. Chris Rickman (Kaw ); 3. Wayne Ecken (Kaw) . 500: 1. Ray We st (Yam); 2. Billy Elli s (W ·R); 3. Robert Lew is (Han). 50 : 1. Chr is Copley (Vam); 2. Kenny Long (Suz); 3. Ben Wa lte rs (Suz). 60: 1. Br ian Strong (Han); 2. J ohn Nickens (Suz); , ' 3. Mike Hacker (Kawl. 80 : 1. Br ian Strong (Kawl; 2. Mike Hacker (Kawl; 3. John Nickens (Suz). Hall dusts competition at Calhoun MX By Jeff Jacobsen CAL H OU N, CA, AU G. 23 Ken ny H all blew away all competition in the 125cc class at Ca lhou n MX today. It was a close race for the second spot between Robbie Smith, Dou g McClure and Rodn ey Parker wi th all th ree bikes go ing over the mol e h ill at th e same time. Smith held second but lost h is spot to Rodney Parker o n the last la p. It was close again for second in the second mo to, but Pa rker cras hed, a nd the struggle was between Sm ith and McClu re wi th Sm ith grabbi ng the silver. In .the l25cc Novice class, Kenny Tipton led all the way in mo to o ne with the secon d spot being taken over by David T urner. In the second moto, Tipton o nce again led the pack with Turn er behind and Alan Price a nd Ray Lancaster rac ing fo r th ird. T he 250cc Novices had both races running abo ut the same with J ess Will iam son taki ng the win with Scott Reynolds beh ind. T h e Sen io r Minis h as a good turnout but J ohn ny Dean didn' t let anyone anywhere near hi m in either mo to. Results PIW: 1. Preston Moon (Kaw); 2. Bob Carroll (Kawl. JR MIN I: 1. John Ownbey(Kaw); 2. Preston Moon (Han). . SR MINI: 1.Johnny Dean (Suz~ 2. Brandon Smith (Kaw); 3. Sonny Banon (Han). 125 NOV: I. Kenny Tipton (Kaw); 2. David Turner (Suz); 3. Alan Price (Suz). . 250 NOV: 1. Jess Will iamson (Kaw) ; 2. Scon Reynolds (Han); 3. John Hobgood (Han). 125 : 1. Kenny Hall (Han ); 2. Robbie Sm ith (Kawl; 3. Doug McClure (Han). 250: 1. Keith Miller (Han); 2. Bryan Cole (Vam); 3. Jeff Sexton (Han). OPEN: 1. John Trissel (Han); 2. Raben Helstad (Ma i). ENDR: 1. Keith Rider (Kaw); 2. Mitchell Ledford (Han); 3. Bryan Cole (Yam). OVER 30: 1. M itchell Ledford (Han); 2. Tim Massey (Han); 3. TIm MacDonald (Han). Polen breaks one minute mark at Talladega RR By Larry Lawrence TALLADEGA, AL , AUG. 23 Texan Doug Polen returned to the si te of the very first Suzuki GSXR Series race which he won in February of 1986 and set ano th er landmark at the T alladega Grand Prix .Rac eway Jamie James (58) and Scott Russell (22) chase Doug Polen. the only· rider to break the one minute mark at Talladega. in 6 Production action. by becoming the first and on ly rider to crack th e elusive o ne-m in ute lap tim e on th e cha llengi ng I.3-mile cir cui t. A lap of 59.52 seconds in th e A Production race aboard hi s Dunlo p / AGV / T exas H yper fo rm anceO sponsored Suzu ki GSXRll O is the fastes t ever tu rned a t Talladega G.P. R. For h is two victories (one 111 the A Pr oduction race, th e o ther in B Productio n ) Pol en wo n $2400 in pr ize money, th e bul k of it ($2300) directl y fro m Suzuki, the other $ 100 fro m Bat es Lea thers and Kal -G ard Lubricants. In the B Production race Pol en had the pol e positio n, but it was J am ie J am es of Baton Rou ge, Lo uisia na, wh o led 0(( the lin e also o n a Suzu ki. P ol en fo ll o wed J a m es around for two laps and, alo ng wi th th ird pl ace Scott Russell , the mo was never more than a few feet apart. O n th e third lap Polen started to make his move around J ames o n the high-speed sweeping tum leading on to the back straight. The two raced side-by-side through the tu m at close to 100 mp h and James held off Pol en until the end of the straig h t wh ere Pol en wai ted until th e last possib le mo men t to h it hi s brak es and zip ped by J am es on th e in side. O nce Pol en was in th e lead it was like he had been freed from ch ains , hi s next lap o n th e GSXR750 was a blazing 59.73 second run. In th e remaining laps th e 28-yearold Texan extended hi s lead wh ile Russell ran off th e track o n th e last lap trying to overta ke James. Polen's margin of victory at th e fini sh was 4.56 seconds o ver James. Russell reentered th e race to finish third. The A Production race was nearly a carbo n copy of the first race. This time it was Russell who led earl y, but by the fourth lap Polen was out front and on his way to ano ther easy victory. On lap seven of that race Polen turned hIS record setting 59.52 second lap. " I cou ld have gone faster on th e 1100 but by th at race the track · surface was really hot and wasn't condu cive for ultra-fast times. " said Polen afterwards. Results A PROD: 1. Doug Polen (Suz); 2. Scan Russell (Suz); 3. Jamie James (Suz); 4 . Ron Ewenh (Suz); 5. Glenn HeinlSChel (Suz). B PROD EX: 1. Doug Polen (Suz); 2. Jamie James (Suz); 3. Scan Russell (Suz~ 4. Ron Ewenh ( S uz~ 5. Wesley W inchester (Suz). B PROD NOV: 1. George Fox (Suz); 2. Wayne Dyer (Suz); 3. Tim Lethcoe (Suz); 4 . Roger Camp (Yam); 5. Steve Mathews (Han ). C PROD EX: 1. Jay Rathburn (Honl; 2. John W ing (Han); 3. Glenn Cooper (Han); 4 .David Harman (Yam); 5. Ronnie Bowen (Kaw) . C PROD NOV: 1. Stev e M ath ews (Han); 2. Rene Chamber (Kaw ); 3. Bo Shuptrin e (Vam); 4. Rob Seneker (Kaw); 5. Mark M itch ell (Vam). PIlOO EX: 1. Chr is Chandl er (Vam). o PROD NOV: 1. Uoyd Sutherland (Vam); 2. Kenny Phillips (Yam); 3. Thorn Clem manns (Vam ~ 4. William Gray (Yam ); 5. Joe Bent on (Kawl. A S/BK : 1. Norman Beaudo in (Suz); 2. Je ff Harden (Suz); 3. M ike Snyder (Suzl . B S/BK EX: 1. Graham Jam es ISuz); 2. Glenn Heintschel (Suz); 3. Wesley W inchester (Suz); 4. Jeff Hard er (Suz); 5. John W ing (Suz). B S/BK NOV: 1. George Fox (Suz); 2. J eff Duckwo"h (Yam); 3 . James White (Suz); 4 . Tim _ Lethcoe (Suz); 5. Ruge Camp (Vam ). C S/BK EX: 1. Graha m Ja mes (Suz); 2. J ay Rathbun (Han); 3. Cam Roos (Yam); 4. J eff Reeves o .~ . C S/BK NOV : 1. Rene Cham ser IKawl; 2. Tray Bat ey (Vam); 3 . Steve M ath ews (Han); 4 . Bo Suptrin e (Vam); 5. Thorn Cle mmons (Yam). o S /BK EX: 1. Graham J am es (Vam); 2. Cam Roos (Vam); 3. J ay Rathbun (Vam); 4. Sander A vant . (Han). D S/BK NOV: 1. Steve M oore (Yam); 2. Kenny Phillips (Yam); 3. Phillip Baker (Yam); 4. Howell Coleman (Yam); 5. Pau l Wrigh t (Yaml. F-l : 1. Norm an Beaudoi n (Suzl; 2. J eff Harder (Suz); 3. Pete Frost (Yam); 4. M ike Snyd er (Suz); 5. Raben W ill is (Yam). F· 2 EX: 1. Raben Willis (Yam); 2. Richard Bonell i (Vam). F-2 NOV: 1. Jam es Varbough (Vam); 2. Nic k Way cast er (Yam); 3. Will iam Gray (Yam). F-3 : 1. Kennet h W aycaster (Yam). . V1NT 1: laJohn Kenn eth (Kaw), VINT 2: WOon Scott. VINT 3: 1. Don Scott; 2. Scon Ray (Tri). V1NT 4 : 1. Vi c Bann ist er (Nor); 2. Don Scott; 3. Mark W ill iams (Kaw). CLBMN EX: 1. Sand er Av ant (Han). , CLBMN NOV: 1. Geoffrey Garr od (Vam); 2. Paul Wr ight (MG); 3. Bill Burns (Yaml; 4 . M . Gri ssom ; 5. Steve Tipton (Vam). Key clicks again at Lodi ST By Mikki McBride r.onr. CA, AUG. 22 The Lodi Cycl e Bowl held its last short tra ck ra ce for th e h ig h-point series on a sad note. T he American flag flew at half-mast and our own black plate number one rider, Bob Damron, rode one lap with th e checkered flag in honor of lfi-yearold Darrell Da vi s, a promisin g Wood-Rotax rider who recently di ed in a racing mishap in Hamburg, New York. The program was soon on its way with a whole cla ss of 80cc Experts. All seven of them rolled their mach ines up to the line. Chad McBride and David Sanchez became a little too anxious, however , and found themselves on th e penalty line for jumping the start in th e heat race. " Earth q uake" Jake Zemke too k his fast little Yamaha off the line and right into the lead for th e heat and the main as well . Matt Wait, back from a long absence, came off th e line in th e fourth spot, but soon managed to steer his Kawasaki around Honda rider, Anthony Freeman to tak e over third. Another hard riding Honda 33

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