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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127118
Scott Pea rson collected fifth place if) t he 600cc National n. finish to claim th e last spot on th e National starting grid. Graham rocket ed out of the hole at the start of th e 25-lap main event, leadi ng Day, Boody, Shobert, Fay and Pearson. Pandemonium struck during the next three laps as several rid ers eith er fell or stalled th eir motorcycles in the tight turns of th e Cow Palace track. Jones stalled his Honda in turn five on lap one, then restarted hi s engin e a nd rejoined the race. Day went down exiting turn two when his front brake lever got caught on Graham 's shoulder pad as the leading duo exited the turn in close quart ers; th e Can-Am 'sfront wheel locked up and Day, " went over th e bars." . Pearson's bike stalled in front of Bood y in a tig ht turn on lap three, for cing Boody to stall his o wn engine, and Tresser went down on the sam e lap while entering turn one. Jones dropped out of the race on lap six when th e chain jumped off his motorcycle.· By lap seven th e sh uffling was complete. Graham was out front, setting the pace for Shobert, Fay , ' Hames, Eklund, Hoffman, Pearson , Hill, Jones, Boody Tresser and Day. Graham still led Shobert on lap 15, while Hames, Eklu nd and Pea rson had moved into spots three through five, dropping Fay to sixth, Hoffman to seventh and Hill to eighth. . Shobert began pressuring Graham on lap 18, and kept the pressure up until Graham bobbled exiting turn five as he and Shobert powered onto the front straightaway on lap 23. Shobert tu cked under for a clean pass, then held off Graham until the checkers. Hames, Eklund, Pearson, Hoffman, Fay and Hill rounded ou t the rid ers on the sa me lap. Boody, Tresser, Jones and Day filled out th e field. . " I hit th e jump hard a cou p le of tim es, thought ab out my wrist a nd wondered if it was worth it ,n said Shobert, referring to hi s left wrist whi ch he had brok en in a tra il riding accident a few weeks prior to the Cow Pal ace event s. " But then 1 heard th e crowd and knew 1 had to go for it. " " I was trying a little different lin e a nd made a mi stake," said Graham. " I guess it's not too bad if you get beat by Number One." • Results 25- LAP 600cc NATIONAL: 1. Bubba Shobert (Han): 2. Ricky Graham (Han): 3. Peta Hames (HD): 4. Steve Eklun d (H-D): 5. Scan Pearson (Han): 6. Sal Hoff man (H-D): 7. Mi ckey Fay (H-D): 8. Aaro n Hill (H-D); 9. Ted Boody (H-D); 10. Andy Tresser (H-D); 11. Ronnie J ones (Han); 12 Keith Day (C- A). 600cc NATIONAL CHAMPIONS HIP POINT STANDINGS: 1. Bubba Shoben (40); 2. Steve Eklund (27); 3. Pet e Hames (24); 4. (TIE) Ricky . Graham/ Keith Day (16); 6 . Ronn ie Jon es (1 2); 7. (TIE) Andy Tresser/ Speedy Kelly (10); 9. (TIE) Kr is Kiser/ Sal Hoffman (9 ); 11. M ickey Fay IB); 12. (TIE); Aar on Hill /Don Wi lson (7); 14. (TIEl Ted Boody/ Chris Carr (6); 16. Jon Nun ez (4); 17. Mark Corsen i (3 )_ HUSQVARN~S DAN SMITH STRIKES GOLD Team Husqvarna's DanSmith, 1986 and 1987AMA NationalHare & HoundChampion, startedthe 1988 season by winning the Gold Strike World Championship Hare & Hound, (formerly known as Whisky Pete's). Champion ridersare on Huskys-Shouldn't you be too? Husqvarna. ~ CAGIVA NORTH AMERICA Built For The Worst Places On Earth. Ride safely. Always wear a helmet, eye protection, and protective d othing. FIAEBIRD INTERNAlleNAL RACEWAY FEBRUARY 13 & 14 February 13 - Round #1 EBC Brake Endurance Challenge Practice Saturday Morning - Race Starts 12:30 Track Information - (602) 583-8859 AMA/CCS Information - (704) 684-4297 February 14 - Southwest Regional Championship Sprint Races Sprint Races + l00KM Endurance Race Firebird International Raceway Take 1 10 Ten Miles South Of Phoenix - 10 0 KM End urance Race Starts 10:00 A M A M A/ Ct: S Sprint Race s St art 12 Noon All Regul ar AMA/CCS Championship Classes Plus Regional F-50. Vintage & Lightweight Air Cooled Classes SUZUKI EBC BRAK E S 11