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/127743
.HILLCLIMB. . AI4A NatIoIlaI Championship H!llclimb Series Round 7: Boone County THE PLOT- By Jay A. Herndon DANVILLE, WV, AUG. 13 ith half the season gone, Gerencer Pro Team rider Lou Gerencer Jr. focused his efforts in the 800cc class on a single run, a run fast enough to steal the victory he needed to narrow the points margin between him and the series class leader, Steve Dresser, to only four points. Likewise for Paul Pinsonnault, who used his first and only climb to take his place in the winner's circle, finishing just in front of rival Rick Soter III as the run for the points battle continues with an oh-so-close two points separating the leading duo. Roger McNeely (an 800cc class rider) has been sponsoring amateur hillclimbs on his massive p.roperty in Boone County since 1989, but this was his first Pro event. The bowl-shaped site is nestled between two mountains and offers an excellent view of the finely groomed, three-kicker hill. The initial run out of the starting box is a steep grade that carries through to the 60foot mark and the first kicker, delivering big air. Once on the ground, the next obstacle is a smaller kicker which is just enough to lob the bikes to the face of the upper part of the hill where the angle of the slope increases. Coming off the kicker at the 140-foot mark, the hill's last terrain change comes where the face of the hill drops away at the 225-foot marker, launching riders to the timing lights at 280 feet. Canada's Ted Wilkins drew the first ride in the 540cc class and put his inno- W ~ 0'1 ,...... o .... ('f) rJ) So ;:l < 26 (Above left) An airborne Paul Plnsonnault on his way to his third win of the season In the 540cc class. (Above) Steve Dresser, fifth today, saw his lead In the 8OOcc-elass championship 1 dwindle to only four points over class winner Lou Gerencer Jr. (left) RookllHlf-the-year candidate Terry Thompson finished fourth in the. 540CC class. vative Rotax against the log to set the first-ever pro hillclimb event here under way. Starting on the right, Wilkins left the line hard to spring over each of the obstacles and soar through the lights, clocking a 6.713. Wilkins' return proved slower, sending the Canadian home with a disappointing 16th place. As the ruthlessly sunny conditions continued to heat up, Rick Soter rolled his BSA to the line and blasted to the lights in an impressive 6.060, fast enough to sit on the bubble for the first round. The second round for Soter proved fast as well. Despite some air time off the first jump, Soter still improved his time - but only barely, with a 6.057. The Marylander's improved time earned him 'second place. Michael DeBusk, a native of Boone County, fired his nitro-fed BSA to the lights in a solid 6.133-second run. DeBusk, who was having problems earlier in the season, seemed to have returned to form. Round two for DeBusk proved slower, however, and he was only able to card a 6.291. The