Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127735
Roeder, normally a favorite to do well at Lima, finally woke up and snagged the third semi. Just behind him, however, a three-rider row developed, and Davis was right in the middle of it, fighting for his competitive life. Both Joe Kopp and Beattie ran in front of Davis . early, but the scrappy R&R-backed rider wouldn't give up, and he was soon looking to pass Kopp, a mission accomplished when the Washington rider bobbled in turns three and four on lap five. Davis appeared to be in the show right then, but on the lasf lap, as he tried to get past the rim-riding Beattie in turn four, the two almost got together. Beattie maintained second while Davis ·was forced to shut off, and as a result, Kopp steamed by for the final transfer. Davissecond in the points standings until tonight - was out, and so were his chances to gain points on Parker. "1 don't know what to say," Davis said. "1 can't make any excuses. 1 just went slow." GRAND NATIONAL When the 25-lap, 17-rider feature fired off the line it was King who got the best start, but Parker throttled up and railed into the lead down the back stretch. Morehead and Butler tucked into line behind Parker and it appeared as though the battle lines were drawn. Parker and Morehead even went one better, leaving Butler behind by the third lap and looking to settle the lead dogfight between themselves. Parker had a slim but certain lead over Morehead going into lap four, and then the roof caved on the Ohio veteran when his motorcycle ate itself, nearly launching Morehead into the bales in turns three and four. '1 think the bottom end went out of it," Morehead said. '1 can't believe I got it skidded to a stop. We were able to run with Scotty and go everywhere that he was. I don't know if we could have beat him, but I know 1 could've finished closer than second place did." With Morehead's demise, Butler inherited second place, and he immediately set about trying to close the gap on Parker. Butler had found a line in turns one and two that allowed him to close up on Parker, but then Parker would reopen the gap in three and four. "Me and Morehead diced for a while," Parker said. "1 thought Steve was still behind me, then 1 saw Dan back there. He was doing just what he was supposed to." Butler then resigned himself to the low line to bum off laps. "1 didn't get the best start," Butler said. "But it seemed like everyone else (Above) Parker was ftawless, building a six-second advantage over second place by the end of the 25-1ap Grand National main event. (Above right) Butler scored his best career Grand National ftnlsh after holding off the Iata-rlIce advances of both Kevin Atherton and Jay Springsteen. (Right) Springsteen (9) blew past Atherton (23) for third place in turns one and two, but Atherton countered b~slldlng back underneath the veteran to retake the spot off the last tum. hut off, and 1 just kept it on. This was my type of track." Though Parker and Butler were clear, the battle for third was anything but. Atherton, Springsteen, Roeder, and Jones continuously shadowed e!'-ch other on the straights before diving out of formation in the turns to pick their favorite line through the corners. By lap 10, Atherton had dragged Springsteen away from the battle and set out after Butler. But the traffic bunched up again around lap 17 as Springsteen went around the outside of the high-flying Roeder. King also dispatched Roeder by lap 19. Up front, Parker had a four-second lead and was on autopilot. Finally, on lap 22, Atherton and Springsteen came calling for Butler. Both riders appeared to go into a holding pattern for the next two laps, but on the white-flag lap, Springer tried to pull a greasy one on Atherton, drifting inside the eager youngster in turns one and two and placing himself in a good position to tackle Butler. But the emerging "old pro" in Atherton's split personality kept him in check, and it paid off as Springsteen drifted just high enough in turns three and four to allow Atherton to drive back underneath and secure the 2-3 forTCR. "On the last lap I should've tried to go alongside Butler and move him off (the line)," Springsteen said." Those guys were getting tired. It sure helps a lot when 1 don't have to ride all the races." "1 tried setting Dan up in turns one and two, but 1 got in a little hot," Atherton said. "Then Springer got in underneath me and 1 thought, 'Oh no: But 1 didn't try to do anything with him. I just followed him, and when he got in a little hot in three and four, I was able to get back by him. "But I'm real happy for Dan and for our team. Now we can approach everybody (sponsors) and say that both of us are capable of winning Nationals. That's what you need:' Parker would never come close to being caught as he built up a six-second lead at the finish aboard his factory XR, claiming the win in as convincing a fashion as has been seen all year in the Grand National series. No, Parker hasn't won every round. But to his credit, when he has won, the Flint, Michigander has dominated. Somethin old somethin new R emember the days when the Triumph marque was a force to be reckoned with on the Grand National circuit? Apparently, New York-based rider Shawn Oark and his owner/tuner Judd Bailey do, and they still believe that their Trackmaster-framed, hot-rodded 750cc vertical twin is viable enough to run with the Harley and Honda V-twins. The pair is looking to take advantage of the AMA rulebook, which allows the Triumph to run without carburetor restrictors. 'This is my first year on a 750. I've never ridden a Harley," Oark said. 'We're working hard to find a good setup - a lot of research and development, you might say. We're getting a lot of attention with it." The Cayuga Tool &: Die-backed machine sports neo-classic aesthetics, combining such elements as that curvy Trackmaster tank with a more modem upswept exhaust system. Bailey says that he has gone to great lengths to modernize the British powerplant, investing around $11,000 in the project thus far. 'We're messing with a lot of stuff,w Bailey said. "We're making our own pistons and cams, et cetera. It uses the Nourish/Wesiake cylinder head. It's got a bIDet crank, different rods, a hydraulic clutch, and a belt primary.w How did they do? Oark transferred out of the saatch list but _ fon:ed to ride the first semi in order to mab the Grand. National He then hamsballg himself eva further by jumpiDg tile start and WOIIIId up 12d1, mi5&ing the main. 15