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/127182
Richard Arnaiz (27) was another that mixed it up w ith Ashmead (3 7); Arnaiz crashed in the infie ld while leading the race. Coburn's Suzuki , and although Coburn was sitting astride the bike, she was unhurt. Five laps later the race was restarted going up onto the banking with Polen agam splitting from the field. James and Arnaiz raced for second followed by Ashmead, . as McMurter headed for th e pits. " It was a bad case of pacecari tis," said McMuner. Quarterley got around Arnaiz to take the third position, and began to close on James. But on lap 15, Sadowski got by Arnaiz and Q uarterley to take third. Two laps later, Ski went by James going onto the banki ng to take second p lace. Englishman J a m i e Whitham , meanwhile, had started in 60th position and had worked his Heron Suzuki up to inside the top 10, but would suffer terminal mechanical problems on lap IS. On lap IS, Polen pitted, handing the lead to Sadowski. Polen rejoined the race a few places back, but would regain th e lead on lap 21 as Sadowski pitted. Three laps later, Polen was out of the race, victim of a leaking oi l cooler. "I felt my leg getting hot, and when I looked down it was covered with oil," Polen said. The Denton, Texas, resident pushed his bike backwards down pit road to the Yoshimura crew, but it was diagnosed as terminal. The lead now fell to P olen 's teammate James, still followed by Q uarterley, despite. a pit stop, with Arnaiz, Ashmead and Farmer on his tail. Lap 34 saw Q uan erley's dem ise, as the bike: suffered suspected electrical problems. James . pitted for the second time on lap 37, turn ing the lead over to Arnaiz..But a mere two la ps lat er, the young dirt trac ker lost the front end under braking and crashed in turn five. James resumed the lead by lap 41, fo llowed by Ashmead, Farmer, MOTORCYCLE The top three celebrate in the w inner's circle; (from left to right) Kevin Rentzell, Ashmead and Jamie James. Schlachter and Mike Harth. Harth was challenged by Wimmer, who'd lost most of his front brakes until the German overshot turn three. . On lap 49, Farmer's run at third place ended with a clutch failure. Frustrated, the Floridian beat on his fuel tank. The race then remained the same until lap 55 when James pitted for no apparent reason. H e took on fuel and rejoined the race , but Ashmead had already pulled away. At the en d of 57 lap s and 200 miles, it was the West Palm Beach , Florida, na tive who scored the biggest win of his career. " I just hu ng in there and tried to be easy on my tires and my equipment," said Ashmead. "I'm coming off a major crash (Sears Point, October 'SS) where I broke just about everything on my right side and never really got going. You can tell yourself to push it, but you don't really know for sure until the green flag drops. " Ashmead is sponsored by Peter Brady, RK, Bell , Fox, Honda, Ami and Team Hammer. "I didn't know whether to come in for fuel or just keep going, " said James. "It seemedJike it was ru nning out of gas or the battery was dying. " James is sponsored by Yoshimura and Michelin. " I want to thank (track announcer) Richard Chambers who advised me to go with a reliable engine," said third-place Rentzell. (Rentzell had ridden the bike in Supersport trim throughout qualifying and the heat races and was toying with the idea of fitting high-compression pistons). Rentzell is sponsored by Muzzy's R&D, Michelin, Ami and Fox. • Results 2QO-MlLE NATIONA L: 1. John Ashmead (Han); 2. Jamie James (Suz); 3. Kevin Renrzell (Suz); 4 . Otis Lance (Suz); 5. Mike Hanh (Suz); 6. Manin Wi mmer (S u z~ 7. Keith Pinkstaff (Suzl; B. Charles Pittman (Suz); 9. Jay Springsteen (Yam); 10. John Eidenberger (Suz); 11. Oeit er Lane (Suzl; 12. Eric Moe (Suz); 13. Ricky Orlando (Suzl; 14 . Paul Schw emmer (Han); 15. Randy Texter (Suzl; 16. David Kieff er (Han); 17. Richard Schlacht er (Han); 1B. Kye Gunn (Suz); 19. Steve M orehead (Suz); 20 . Tom my Sioen. SUPERBIKE NAT'L POINT STANDINGS; 1. Joh n Ashmea d (20); 2. Jam ie James (16); 3. Kevin Renrzell (13); 4. Otis Lance (11); 5. Mike Han h ; (10); 6. Manin W imm er (91 7. Keith Pinkstaff (BI; B. Charles Pitt man (7); 9. Jay Springsteen (6); 10. Jo hn Eidenberger (5); 11. Deit er Lane (4); 12. Eric Mo e (3); 13 . Ricky Orlando (2); 14 . Paul . Schwemmer (11 9