:D GrandNational Championship .
IR AC ·.···': Series. Round 11: Sedalia Half Mile
TTR K:
.AMA
By Dave Hoenig
Photos by Rat Trak Fotos
SEDAUA, MO JULY 23
'I!!!':!~ onnie Jones ended a two-and-a half-year dry spell by capturing
his 10th National win at the
first-ever Sedalia Half Mile Grand
National.
"We needed that! I know there's a lot
of people out there saying the same
thing, but coming back from the injuries
and all our problems sure makes it
sweet," said an ecstatic Jones, in win-
ner's circle. "I was beginning to wonder
- Steve Morehead's been doing so well,
and he 's five years older than me. I
bought him a T-shirt that says 'The older
I get, the faster I go: I knew I couldn't
make any mistakes with h im back
there."
Jones not only had to beat the other 16
riders in the National but also the narrow, dry, slick Missouri State Fairgrounds half-mile oval. The Loral Lake
Racing/Motion Pro/ Arai/Fox/Pro
Plates/X-IR/Arrow Die Cast-sponsored
Jones rode a flawless race on his Rick '
Canode-prepped Honda RS750 after he
slipped by early leader Morehead on lap
seven.
"I didn't know if I wanted to take the
lead that early, but as hard as it was to
pass, when Steve bobbled in tum three I
had to go," said Jones.
Morehead kept the pressure on for the
entire distance, but could not work his
way back around. "1 think I was faster
than Ronnie, but I couldn't get a good
enough drive to get by clean. I held a
higher line, but the only way I cou ld
have gotten by was for him to make a
mistake or for me to stuff him. I wouldn't
do that to him:'
Controversy reared its ugly head on
lap 23. Kevin Atherton was having his
best ride of the year on his TCR Harley,
as he was holding off defending Grand
National Champion Ricky Graham on
his Team Undo Honda. The c1ose-run(Below) Ronnie Jones broke a two-anda-ha"-year dry apell with a win on the
dry, allppery sedalia Falrgrounda he"
mile oval .
