Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

'SS2 CRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Italian Franco Rossi scored back-toback wins a t the Czechoslovakian and Au strian 500cc MX GPs. beh ind him 10 the gro und. Rossi, who ga ted fifth in his ret urn to the 500cc class from last year 's foray o n a 125, too k full advantage of the ma yhem and grabbed th e lead early in the first lap and prom ptly stormed away to his first-ever GP moto win. "I found all the little gaps in that first quarter of a lap," said Rossi. The Italian had a seven-second lead when Nicoll, who was more occupied with his own problems, got to second. "There mus t be some dirt blocking the jets. I almost didn 't make it up the main hill once, and it was running so lean by the finish that I was afraid it would seize," said Nicoll. Nevertheless, the KTM 1-2 was sale to the flag. The man making progress through the field was Jobe. Full of confidence, the defending champ rode a magnificent race from ninth on lap one to snatch third after 20 minutes. Finishing fourth was Belgian Joban Boonen, while fellow co untryman Ronny Weustenraed rounded out the top five. There was drama at the start of race two as Rossi threw down his bike across the start gate (in order to delay the start) after the 3Q-second board had already been shown. .l "My goggle elastic broke as I put them on," said Rossi. When the race was eventua lly started, it was, again, Nicoll who got out of the inside gate in front "I had a full bike length 's lead this time and was able to move out before , .the comer to take the ideal line." The Englishman was never headed. Swede Marcus Hansson was initially second trailed by j obe, Whatley, Rossi and Liles, but it was Rossi who was making the righ t moves. He claimed afterwards that he had damaged the front brake when he threw down his bike before the start, but one could never have guessed by his speed down the steep hills wh ich demanded the use of both brakes. Jobe had been all over Hansson for the 'first two laps witho ut being able to get past, and it was Rossi who eventually took over second place on the third lap, stormi ng past Hansson on a steep climb after surprising the champion. Rossi got to within five seconds of Nicoll at one stage, but was never allowed to get closer, as the KTM riders carded an other 1-2 placing. Third was j obe, whil e Liles settled for fourth. Liles had lost contact with the leaders by the time he passed Hansso n earlier in the race, while Jacky Martens' Husqvarna blew a head gasket as he, too, tried to pass the Swede. - - - - - - Continued on page 23 wt: STERN 1 ' R . HENRI CKS!N 3 10/86 8 -8 112 5 -17 L . VEGAS , NV 5 -]} HOft.VU, C... 6 -7 AD! LAN TO , CA 6 - 14 HOR.VU ,eA. OAJ

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