Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Luca Cadalora (6) and Juan Garriga (2) finished third and fourth, respectively. Cadalora came from dead last after a second lap crash. Sito Pons (1) and Jean-Phillipe Ruggia (7) battle fiercely in the 250cc Grand Prix with Pons getting the nod at the finish line. others off for the rest of the lap, pumping his fist into the air after realizing that he had achieved his ultimate dream. Lawson would also get the better of Taira forfifth. "I had a ~ough time going forward," Lawson said. "We had a lot of wheelspin. I was in the wrong mode I guess. I was a lot faster (than Tiara) down the straights and I just held him up in the turns. We've got to get it right for next week." Rainey accepted h is second successive second place finish and was happy to be leading the World Championship. "I threw everything I had at Gardner on the last lap and he covered it all," Rainey said. To chants of "C'mon Aussie, c'mon," Gardner told the 92,000 fans, "It was a race I really wanted to win. I still think I'm dreaming. I keep pinching myself. It's a day I'll never forget." He would later add: "The one thing I can compare this to is winning the World Championship. It's a dream come true. When r saw Kevin (Schwantz) crash I thought I had a reasonable chance of winning. That gave me confidence. It all worked well." "I can tell you one thing, I knew it was the last lap, and so did he (Gardner)," Rainey said in reference to not knowing it was the final lap in his battle with Schwantz in Japan. "I wanted to win but it's only been two races. The wins will come and I'll just wait." Sarron said his practice crash on Saturday had taken its toU on his confidence level. "I lost a lot of confidence, especially because it lost the front tire in the crash," he said. "I thought I must finish the race and not try anything risky. I really enjoyed that race. " 250cc Qualifying SchwanlZ wasn't the only firsttime pole sitter in Australia as the Frenchman Ruggia put his singlecrank Yamaha YZR250 V-twin on the pole with an impressive last session surge. The 23-year-old from Toulon, France, clocked a 1:38.83 lap at the conclusion of the final session. The time' was also set after 20 laps on the same compound Michelins he would use in the GP. Next best was defending World Champion Pons on the Campsa Honda, stopping the clock at 1:38.91 and later claiming that Ruggia's quick time had caught him napping at the end of the session. Cadalora had the Marlboro Yamaha in the middle of the front row with a I :39.05 lap. Cornu (I :39.37) was next, followed by the amazingly-fast Aprilia of Martin Wimmer (1 :39.41). Wimmer reponed no problems in passing both the Yamahas and Hondas. The West German was also working on the reward system as far as tires were concerned. U early practice sessions went well (they did) he would get the good Michelins; the same theory held for the race and Wimmer was given the top Michelin rubber. Garriga (\:39.55) followed to head the second row, but claimed to be having problems adjusting to the new Yamaha. Roth (1:39.91), Bradl (1:39.99) and de Radigues (1:40.12) filled row two. The sensation of the 250cc grid was Aussie newcomer 18-year-old Darryl Beattie on a factory-kitted Honda RS250, qualifying lOth in his firstever Grand Prix. 250cc Grand Prix The first-ever motorcycle GP on the continent of Australia got underway at 12:45 p.m. with Cornu and his Lucky Strike Honda leading the majority of the opening lap. But when the pack crested the hill at Lukey Heights and .dove into the hairpin, the 10th corner on the 12turn circuit, the aggressive young Ruggia barged up the inside on brakes, taking the lead. Pons was third with Cadalora fourth. Fausto Ricci was fifth followed by Roth, and Garriga. Cadalora's race suddenly became more hectic when he lost the front end at the apex of the Honda Corner, sliding off the track into first the dirt and then the grass. "I crash in the hairpin, but remain just on the bike with the engine still running," the Italian said later. He managed to regain his composure in a hurry, but not before the entire 40-rider field was past. He then turned in a flawless ride that saw him carve his way thTough the pack to finish third, only 8,75 second behind the eventual winner Pons. The Yamaha YZR250 rider also clocked the race's fastest lap, a I:38.49 on lap eight. The race for the lead, meanwhile, turned into a two-man game of cat and mouse. Ruggia and Pons would pull clear of the others and the wily, more experienced World Champion Alex Criville (center) won the 125cc Grand Prix and California resident Allan Scott (right) finished third on his privateer Honda single. would bait Ruggia into leading the final few laps while he saw exactly where he could pass. That pass came on the final straightaway. Pons set Ruggia .up in the final corner, a' fast left-hander, and drafted past the French Yamaha rider to take the win. "I had a little more top speed than Ruggia and it was possible to P<:lSS him before the end," Pons said. "I don't have any problems - he (Ruggia) make a very good race." When Cadalora caught the group racing for third, Garriga, Roth and Cornu, he got by easily and ,brought Garriga with him. The Spaniard who gave Pons fits last season in the championship chase ended up fourth with Roth getting the better of Cornu. Wimmer, who surprised many with his front row qualifying position on the Aprilia, couldn't do better than 13th as he bogged badly on the start line, getting to turn one in mid-pack thanks to a first gear that was much too high. • Results 500cc: 1. Wayne Gardner (Han); 2. Wayne Rainey (Yam); 3. Christian Sarron (Yam); 4. Kevin Magee (Vam); 5. Eddie Lawson (Honl; 6. Tadahiko Taira (Vam); 7. Ron Haslam (Suz); 8. Michael Doohan (Hanl; 9. Michael Dawson (Vam); 10. Dominique Sarron (Han); 11. Alesandro Valesi (Vam); 12. Simon 8uckmaster (Han); 13. Marco Gentile (Fiori; 14. Niggi Schmassman (Honl; 15. Michael Rudroff (Honl. TIME: 48 min.• 15.94 sec. AVERAGE SPEED: 103:938 mph FASTEST LAP; P.F. Chili, I min.• 35.28 sec. 250cc; 1. Sito Pons (Han); 2. Jean·Phillipe Ruggia (Vam); 3. Luca Cadalora (Vam); 4. Juan Garriga (Vam); 5. Reinhold Roth (Honl; 6. Jacques Cornu (Han); 7. Carlos Cardus (Han); 8. Helmut 8radl (Han); 9. Didier de Radigues (Apr); 10. A. 8arros (Vam): I 1. Loris Reggiani (Han); 12. Darryl 8eattie (Han): 13. Martin Wimmer (Apr): 14. Masahiro Shimizu (Han); 15. August Auinger (Vaml· TIME: 43 min.• 16.54 sec. AVERAGE SPEED; 100.458 mph FASTEST LAP: Luca Cadalora. 1 min., 38.49 sec. 125cc; 1. A. Criville (Cob); 2. R. Milton (Han); 3. Allan SCali (Han); 4. S. Prein (Han); 5. Ezio Gianola (Han); 6. Julian Miralles (Der); 7. F. Gresini (Apr); 8. Hans Spaan (Han); 9. L.M. Reyes (Han); 10. A. Stadler (Han); I 1. R. Appleyard (Han); 12. L. Pietroniro (Han); 13. I. Saunders (Han); 14. J. Wickstrom (Han); 15. A. 8edford (Han). TIME; 39 mins.• 40.04 sec. AVERAGE SPEED; 92.869 mph FASTEST LAP; Jorge Martinez, 1 min.• 46.53 sec. 500cc WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS: 1. Rainey (34); 2. Gardner (33); 3. Lawson (26); 4. Sarron/Magee (24): 6. Schwantt(20); 7. Taira (I 8); 8. Haslam (13); 9. Mackenzie (10); 10. Doohan (8). 250cc WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS; 1. Pons (37): 2. Cadalora (30); 3. Ruggia (28); 4. John Kocinski (20); 5. Garriga (19): 6. (TIE) Cornul Cardus (17); 8. Toshika Honma (13); 9. 8radl (12); 10. Roth (11): 11. Tadayuki Okada (10); 12. (TIE) de RadiltueslToshinobu Shiomuri (9); 14. Barros (6); 15. (TIEl Jim Filice/Reggiani/Shimizu. 9

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