Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Jeff Stanton (7) took the early lead in the first 250cc moto. He was closely followed by Jeff Ward (1) and Bayle (111 ). (Inset) The 250cc w inner, Bayle. gave chase from a few seconds behind for nearly the entire moto. Yamaha's Mike LaRocco charged up from a poor start to claim third in the moto over Kiedrowski and Honda's defending 125cc National champ George Holland. In the second moto, Kiedrowski battled his way into the lead and left behinda tough battle between team mate Guy Cooper and Bradshaw. That ended when Bradshaw fell, dropping back to finish ninth. Honda privateer Donny Schmit then charged up to take second over Cooper at the checkered flag. Despite a better moto score, Cooper was nipped for second overall by Bradshaw's greater championship point score. Cooper was also riding the event with a broken right big toe he suffered the previous week at the Atlanta Supercross. The largest number of entries at an AMANational in several years turned out for the Gatorback event as 100 I 25ccand 67 250cc competitors signed up. Unfortunately, the crowd was no record-setter, as WorldSports' Bill W~st gave an attendance figure of 6800. Bayle pocketed $1500 for his two moto finishes, $1000 for first .and $500 for third, of the $15,000 250cc purse. Kiedrowski took home $240 for the first moto and $600 for th e second. 1 25cc National After several qualifiers, the 125cc class left the line abou t an hour behind schedule with Holland, back from shoulder surgery, leading in his first race of the season: Cooper pulled in behind his teammate off the start, bu t was soon passed by Bradshaw. Larry Ward, however, was leading both of them at the end of the first lap. The top three were all very close as they began laptwo, and Bradshaw soon found a way around Ward to take over second place. A lap later Bradshaw was in the lead whi le Ward also moved by H olland and gave chase to Bra dshaw. Cooper was a couple of seconds back in fourth ahead of Yamaha's Mike Craig and Suzuki's Jimmy Gaddis. Cooper was working on Holland during the third lap when the Oklahoman took the first of three falls in the moto. Up front Bradshaw couldn't shake Ward and they both . left Holland behind. Craig fell out of the picture and Suzuki's Ty Davis came up to pressure Gaddis, getting past as Gaddis ' fell back. Soon a battle between Tallon Vohland, LaRocco and Kiedrowski overtook Davis . LaRocco got by Davis first before moving in and eventually pass ing Cooper. " Every tim e I tried to push it the front end would go away," said Cooper. "LaRocco was catching me so I tried to keep a distance ahead. I thought I was in co nt rol but the front end just washed out." Back up front, Bradshaw still had ' Ward on his tail , but he kept the ' Honda pilot at bay to the finish of the 30-minute-plus-two-Iap moto. LaRocco kept pushing, with Kiedrowski on his rear fend er, then he passed Holland for third with two laps to go. Kiedrowski got Holland a lap later and the top five finishing order was set. Cooper was sixth. just ahead of a battle between Davis and Todd DeHoop, while Denny Stephensen took ninth ahead of Suzuki 's Erik Kehoe, who reportedly had problems with his exhaust valve. "I think since I haven 't been racing my arms pumped up and got tight," said Holland of his demise. • "I just wanted to get out front, build a good lead and ride a smooth and comfortable pace," said Bradshaw. "I knew Ward was right there, but I could'vegone faster." "It's a long series," said Ward, "I'd Team Honda's M ike Kiedrowski (7 6 2) captured his first-ever National win in the 1 25cc class, via a 4-1 tally. figured I'd take a smooth second and save some energy." Holland grabbed .the holeshot at the start of the second moto with Davis, Yamaha's Mike Jones, Bradshaw , Cooper, Stephenson and LaRocco trailing. A few turns later, Davis powered into the lead with Cooper charging up to second. LaRocco, a notorious slow starter, fell on the first lap. , " T here was a little pileup and I got into it, " said La Rocco. On the second lap Holland slid out with Kiedrowski moving up to fifth after an eighth-place start. A lap later the Californian moved by Bradshaw for third behind Davis and Cooper. It wasn't long before Kiedrowski was pressuring Cooper and the two moved in on Davis, creating a threeway battle for the lead. Kiedrowski got by Cooper, then pressured Davis and took the lead on the next circui t. - As Kiedrowski quickly moved away, Davis cam e under fire and . eventually gave way to a charging Cooper, with Bradshaw also moving in and passing the Suzuki pilot. Schmit was on the gas and was the next rider to pass Davis. Holland, meanwhile, held sixth, well abead of DeHoop and a charging Kehoe. While Kiedrowski enjoyed a 10second lead, Bradshaw moved pas t Cooper and into second on the ninth of 14 laps. Cooper, however, stayed right with the Yamaha pilot and . made several attempts to repass. Cooper finally found success a couple of laps later, with Schmit also moving in to apply heat to Bradshaw. A lap later, ' Schmit's persev- 7

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