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/127133
more. Already past Smith and long gone was Diepold. The German Champion had made an awful start, but rea lly got the bit between his teeth. Only 17th at the end of lap one, he moved up quickly. At the start of 'the final lap, Diepold even passed Ryan for fou rth, only to fall halfway around the lap and have to be content with fifth for third overall: " The effort was so strenuous that I started to get a little muscle cramp in my calf muscles near the end," said Diepold. • Results JOSE THE LAST MILE~ a EVER 00 00 c» SEE THE FINEST DIRT TRACK RIDERS IN THE NATION BATTLE WHEEL TO ........ W HEEL FOR ON E LAST TIME IN THIS AMA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT! 0 / A: 1. John Van den Berk (Yam) I -I ; 2. Pekka Vehkonen (Cag) 2·2 ; 3. Roland Diepold (Kaw ); 4 . Rick Ryan (Hon) 5-4: 5. Jeremy Wh atley (Suz) 123; 6. Yanning Kervella (Hon) 7 ~6; 7. Jorgen Nilsson B-7; B. Gen Jan van Doorn (Cag) 4 ·12; 9. Rodney Smith (Suz) 10-9; 10. Peter Dirkx (Hon) 6-0. World Championship 250cc MX Series: Round 2 Fanton storms to Spanish GP win IBlZA, SPAIN, APR. 24 Italy's Michele Fanton piloted his Yamaha to the overall victory, at the Spanish 250cc G P, edging American Rod ney Smith and his Suzuki. Although Smith beat Fanton in the overall moto score (Smith's 2-2 to Fanton 's 1-3), Fanton will go down in the record books as the overall winner by scoring one more GP point than Smith, 35-34. Fanton, who couldn't qualify for · the opening 250ccGP in France the week before, now finds himself fifth in points after round two, with Great · Bn tain 's Jeremy 'Whatley maintaining his points lead by two over Holland 's John Van den Berk, Whatley finished third overall. Smith nailed down the fastest qualifying lap times, and when the gate dropped for the start of the first moto, he jammed into the lead and led for most of the race. With two laps to go, Fanton wicked open the throttle and passed Smith, taking the moto win while Smith too k second. Third went to Whatley, finishing just two seconds behind Smith, while Kawasaki rider Roland Diepold and 'H o n da -m o u n ted Peter Dirkx rounded out the top five. In round two, American Rick Ryan, from San Jose, Ca lifornia, was leading before being stricken by a flat tire. This gave the front spo ts ·to Smith and Fanton. The two battled while Vanden Berk began his drive to the top. The 1987 125cc World Champion blasted by both Fanton and Smith and str etched h is lead to five seconds on Smith at the checkered flag. Smith crossed the finish line eight seconds ahead of Fanton. Diepold finished se ven seconds behind Fanton. . With Fanton collecting 20 points for his first moto win, and 15 points for third in th e second, his accumulative points of 35 was just enough to edge Smith's 34 point score (1717) for two seconds. Whatley started the moto in eighth, worked up to fourth, crashed, and labored back up to fifth to finish in that position just behind Van den Berk. J Top contenders Finland's Pekka Vehkonen and H olla nd 's Gert Jan Van Doorn both suffered wheel problem s and finished out of th e points in the second moto. Vehkonen too k sixth ' in the first moto; Van · Doo rn another DNF. • SUNDAY • MAY 22nd • 2 P.M. • TRIPLE HEADER PROGRAM • 25 LAP EXPERT NATIONAL • • 600 NATIONAL • CAMEL CHALLENGE • SANTA CLARA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS e TULLY ROAD e SAN JOSE . GATES OPEN 9 A.M. e PRACTICE 10 A.M.e FIRST RACE 2 P.M. I ORDER TICKETS BY PHONE (TJ~~8Jt~~F~b~Y) V/S4 ' G"M£,,{. PRO WEB-eAM Winners! N.H.R.A. Southern Nationals ATlANTA, GA AprIl21-24,1 988 DAvE SCHULlZ tokes his Eagle 1 Kowasold to the Pro Stock w1nne(s circle at the NHRA Southem Nationals. Dove. like other top racers. relies on WEB-CAM Perlormance Camshafts for winning power and reliability. For more information on the finest camshafts and { valve tra in components c onta c t WEB-CAM todayI \. · Results ( 1. M ichele Fanton (Yam) 1·3 ; 2. Rodnay Sm it h (Suz) 2- 2; 3. John Van den Berk (Yam) 9·1 ; 4. Roland Diepold (Kaw) 4-4: 5. J eremy Whatley (Suz) 3-5; 6. Peter Dirckx (Hon) 5-6; 7. Anders Eriksso n (Yam) 7-B; B. Soren Monen san (Kaw ) B·9 ; 9. Peter Johansson (Yam) 14- 7; 10. Pekka Vehkonen (CBg) 6-0. 29