Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

Johnson steals a look at the Bercy trophy girls in the winner's circle. Rick Johnson (13) won the first night, and on the final day made a charge to second for the Bercy crown . Larry Ward (17) won his first 250cc supercross on Saturday, while Jeff Leisk (2) won the final night and nearly took the King of Bercy title. Paris Supercross Johnsonearns erown at Berey By Alex Hodgkinson Photos by Fran Kuhn PARIS, FRANCE, NOV. 29-30/DEC. 2-3 After four nights of gladitorial combat with one day of rest, Rick Johnson regained the King of Bercy title at the Paris Supercross held in BercyStadium. 'Each night's race was treated as a separate event, and the I individual wins were scored by Americans Johnson; Damon Bradshaw and Larry 'Ward, while Australian Jeff Leisk was the winner of the final event. A traditionally vociferous Parisienne crowd, including large contingents of English and German spectators, filled the stadium each night. Even 500cc World Champion David Thorpe was watching his firstever supercross from ·the stands on Saturday night. "That was amazing to watch," was Thorpe's verdict. " It also confirmed my decision that I will never ride supercross!" The tight stadium track was revised during the rest day so that the final two nights took place in reverse direction. Most riders were unable to get out of second gear while 'Guy Cooper, last year's Paris cha mp , was only shifting up from first gear once a lap, and that was to get the front wheel down over the finish jump. For the spectators, the second track produced an even more hair-raising spectacle than the first, but for the teams and track staff, it merely increased the dangers. The original track lacked sections where the more experienced riders could passand overtaking was rare. When reversed, the element of speed was added without obstacles to slow the inexperienced riders until they got tired or hit the occasional bump or hole with devastating results. The only serious injuries, however , were to Erik Kehoe , who suffered damage to his knees , and Collin Dugrnore, who went to the hospital for observation after suffering a concussion. In an incident reminiscent of the crash which left Danny Chandler paralyzed four years ago, Dugmore hooked his knee protector on the front brake lever as he did a clicker off the finish jump and crashed hard. The short qualifiers on the first day claimed several notable names who had to go to the semis as the difficulty in passing made its impact. Dave Strijbos and Johnson both had to earn transfers from the secondchance races : Cooper had the first of three successive semi exits as he clashed with Yves Demaria while looking for a way around Jerome Belval in order to transfer to the main. Jean-Michel Bayle, the Frenchman who will race in America next year , holeshot the first night's main and for once the big names all hit the front from the start as Jeff Ward, Johnson and Camel Supercross Champion Jeff Stanton joined Bayle in a four-rider breakaway. Around half-distance Stanton lost contact, giving Johnson the chance to attack without having to worry about being passed. Johnson and Ward exchanged places once before the decisive moment in the race came at two-thirds distance. Bayle wobbl ed momentarily, Ward went for the outside pass but found too little room between the leading Honda and the stadium wall, and Johnson swept from third to first on the inside. By the time Ward could pass the unsettled Bayle half a lap later, Johnson was gone for the first win. The second evening started sensationallyas l7-year:old South African Greg Albertijn beat ' Johnson, Jeff Ward and Mike Kiedrowski in his heat. Albertijn qualified for the final, but crashes put him down in the pack in the main. . Again it was a Frenchman who holeshot the main, but not Bayle. Instead Yves Demaria and Thierry Bethys were 1-2 out of the first turn. Bethys quickly dropped back, while Demaria led for two laps before crashing spectacularly. Micky Dymond then took over for a lap before he crashed too , and it was another Yamaha rider, Damon Bradshaw, who inherited the lead. Ward chased Bradshaw, Bayle sought a way past Leisk for third after coming through from a poor start, and Stanton was a nervous fifth . The whoops, which were getting rough - after two days of racing, began to be a factor. Ward was the first to go, careening out of control towards the stadium wall. Next it was Stanton who exited the whoops sideways, then Bayle nailed them to pass Leisk, Bayle was faster than Bradshaw on most of the track, but Bradshaw was riding like a demon over a set of stutter bumps and, despite nearly crashing in the whoops four laps . from the finish, held on for the win. The big names were more content on staying out of trouble, and Johnson was particularly cautious in the early laps of the final , only attacking to move up when the pack

• Cover