Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

although he remained in the lead pack he was out of contention. Fletcher, Aseltine,Wait and Stump all shared the lead at some point. With five laps remaining, it was Wait, Aseltine, Fletcher, Stump, Hart and Springsteen; with Tommy Colson, Georgie Price and Bret Beyer joining the lead pack as passing continued all around the track. At the start of the final lap, Fletcher led Wait, Stump, Aseltine, Hart and Colson un de r the white flag. And when the pack rumb led unde r Steve Fa raci's checkered flag, it was Fletcher, Aseltine and Stump, wi th Hart an d Colson also mo ving past Wa it on the fmal lap. "I'm on a roll now," Fletcher said. "1 feel a little more comfortable on the 883, bu t the 750 is getting better all the time. The 883 race was really fun, but it got a little ro ugh to ward s the e nd . These thi ngs are really too big to be ba nging around." "There's no need for that rough riding," Stump said. "1 got hit on the hand so ha rd it ripped my glove off." And his da y on ly got worse after the post-r ace teardown. "I imagine it was a great race for the spectators," Aseltin e said. " It was fun for a w h il e, b ut there was too much bumping. I'm going to make as many races as I can . I'm trying to work out a deal for a 750; there's not enough money in it to just ride the 883." NATIONAL As the fastest-heat winner, Hale chose the outside for his starting position, the young Texan still hu rting somewhat after crashing out of the AMA U.s. Superbike National at laguna Seca a week earlier. Carr, Camlin, Parker, and Morehead were also on the He at three was as close to' a runaway as the re was all da y. Mike Hale pulled his Bartel's- sp onsor ed Ha rl ey away from the battle behind him to record the fastes t heat-race win of the day. Morehead held off the Hondas of Jones and Davis to finish second . The la s t hea t looked as though it wou ld be a Parker vs. Pegra m duel, but they w ere soo ne d jo in ed a t th e front by Atherton and Farris. The fourri der ba tt le w ent down to the w ire with the factory Harley of Parker ed ging his forme r tea m ma te Athe rton on the Total C ontr o l Ra ci n g -b acked Harley. (Above) Camlln's win was a close one over Chris Carr (4) and Ronnie Jones (16). Jones was later disqualified when his Honda weighed-In one pound under the minimum welghtllml1. (Right) Camlln (center) celebrates his firstever National victory with Carr (left) and Jones (ri ght). SEMIS Rich King put his Garvis Honda out front in semi one, but was hounded thoughout by the Hondas of M&M Racing's Stump and Loral Lakes' Jones. The trio of Hondas was soon joined by Ted Taylor and Greg Sims, with the photo finish going to Jones - over King and Marine Transport's Sims. The second semi saw six riders going for the three transfer spots. Billy Herndon took his Plano Honda mount around Eddie Adkins/Winchester H-Dsponsored Farris for the win , while A&R Racing's Davis topped George Roeder, James Ha rt and Kenny Coolbeth Jr. for the last transfer. The las t semi consisted of a four rider battle that ended up going to Poovey on his Gilco Honda. "1 think I've got the fastest bike here, but I've had to come fr om beh ind all the time," said Poovey . Th e Tea m Undo Ho nda of Pegram covere d Aaron Hill's Sacramento Harely-Davidson, leaving Steve Aseltine the odd man out. 883 NATIONAL The 883 heats were exceptionally close until Springsteen ran away with the last one on his Bartel's Harley. Donahue H-D's Aseltine won the first heat; Poovey won the second - and then decided to sit out the National. The IS- lap National was amazing, with th e lead pack containing nine of the big Sportsters; many times running four-wide into the turns. Ja mes Hart led lap one, but it was Fle tcher up front on lap two until he s lipped off the g roove in turn one. Fletche r was soo n back up front again with Aseltine, Stump, Hart, Matt Wait and Bret Beyer bunch ed behind. Sudden ly the cr o wd w as on its feet as Springsteen made a charge around the ou tside to the front. "These thing are so much fun to ride, but compared to the 750s they are really slow," Springsteen said later. "You've got time to look around, wave to people, tap your buddies. Hell, its like firing it up and running down to the comer for a six-pack." Springsteen's line went away and - fron t row . Fletcher picked row two behind Hale, leaving the last front-row spot for Springsteen. Atherton, Poovey, Herndon, Jones and Pegram were to Fletcher's left. The last row was made up of Farris, King, Hill, Sims and Davis. At the flash of the green, Parker, Ha le and Morehead led the way into the first comer. The order remained the same at the end of lap one but, once again, it was Springsteen on the outside, cha rging into second going into tum one. Parker quickly established a large lead with Springsteen in ho t pursuit. By 7

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