Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

HILLCLIMB AMA National Championship Hillclimb Series Round 6: Quaboag Riders Motorcycle Club (Left) There seems to be no stopping Lou Gerencer this season. The 800cc-class rider took another victory. setting fast time on his first run. (Below) Paul Plnsonnau~landed his second victory of the season In the S40cc class. By David L. Patton Jr. MONSO ,MA, AUG. 18 t was a day for the points leaders at the Quaboag Riders Motorcycle Club-hosted round six of the AMA National Championship Hil1climb series, as 8OOcc-class rider Lou Gerencer and 540cc-class reigning champ Paul Pinsonnault dominated the day's running. In the 540cc class, three-time and defending ational Champion Pinsonnault finally won his "home" ational -Hillclimb. Pinsonnault lives in nearby Ludlow, Massachusetts, and he thrilled his fans with an unbeatable first ride. Pinsonnault edged his main rival, David Watson, also from Ludlow, and 540cc rookie Michael Templeton, who Pinsonnault sponsors. Templeton has racked up a pair of third-place finishes at the . only two pro hillclimbs he has competed in, and the former amateur national champion looks like a lock for 540cc rookie of the year. In the 800cc class, Gerencer has had an incredible season, and though he was coming off his worst finish so far (third in Ohio), Gerencer was still the man to beat. The Harley-Davidson Racing Pro Hillclimb Team member buried the competition on his first ride for his fifth win of the season and his- second straight victory at Monson. Willie Price just missed out on his first National win for the second week in a row, but his runner-up ride has him up to second place in the season standings, ahead of Gerencer's teammate, Mickey Dent, who claimed third overall. U 28 540cc Watson is closing in on Pinsonnault in the points standings, and he drew the first starting slot, which many riders felt would be a key to a good time. "Last year the hill got real dry and real soft, so if you ride early in the order there might be better traction," Watson said. The only two-time 540cc winner this year blasted his KAP-backed Honda up the hill straight and fast, and though he got a lot of air over the last jump, he stopped the clocks for a 5.009-second run. Logan Kawasaki's Paul Lowe, the winner in Ohio the previous week, earned his first career ational win at Monson last year and put together a 5.203-second run despite wheelies after both jumps that slowed him down. Templeton has competed for many years at Monson as an amateur, and his experience - as well as Pinsonnault's backup KAP Honda - proved to be a tough combination to beat. Templeton, in only his second professional hillclimb, jumped a long way off the second jump but the rest of his run was excellent and he picked up a 5.035 time, moving him into second behind Watson. BSA-mounted Terry Thompson was looking for a good day after a tough time in Ohio, and the 1996 All-Star Invitational winner picked up a 5.206-second time, despite a huge skyshot over the second jump. The last rider of the round was the reigning champ - and he was ready. Pinsonnault is going for his fourth straight national championship - and though he only had one win, he was still the rider to beat. Pinsonnault got a little crossed up off the first jump, and he had to fight the front end to keep from flipping. Through it all, he kept the throttle pinned and he was perfect on the top half of the hill. Pinsonnault's persistence was rewarded with a 4.989second run and the opportunity to sit back and watch the nation's top 540cc riders try to catch him in the second round. Watson led the charge at the start of round two, and he was going for it all. Unfortunately, his hard-charging style cost him in the sand and rocks as his nitro-fueled Honda spent most of the run on its back wheel, threatening to loop out. "1 just tried too hard," Watson said. "1 tried to keep it on the ground, but it just made it worse." Like Watson, Lowe also had problems on his second run as he started out on the right side of the hill and got too much air over the first jump. Still, Lowe ended the day in fifth. Templeton put in another quick ride, but the hill conctitions made it tough to improve over the first runs. Fortunately, Templeton's first run was good enough for third overall behind Pinsonnault and Watson. The only top-five rider to improve his time in the second round was Thompson. The BSA rider was flying and his 5.153 moved him past Lowe into fourth overall. "My second ride was decent, and I had to get back on track," Thompson said. "These guys have a heck of a points lead on me and I'm trying to get back into it." Pinsonnault celebrated his second win of the season by taking' another· ride. "1 always come to the hillclimb expecting to make two runs," Pinsonnault said. "1 just like to race." 800cc Harley-Davidson rider Willie Price was the first BOOcc rider to try the nearly 30D-foot monster and he used all of the hill on his first ride. Price started his c1hnb on right side of the hill, but the Miller Logging-backed rider got sideways over the first jump, carrying him to the left side of the hill Despite this, Price never backed off the gas, relying on his natural talent to keep him upright. Though he overjumped the last jump, Price still turned in a 4.957-second run. ext up was the Pro USA Hillclimb Team captain Tom Reiser, who has had a difficult time regaining the winning combination of rider, engine and suspension that netted him the win at round two of the series, and he never quite got it together at Monson. His first run was smooth and straight, but he just couldn't unleash his Harley's horsepower and he had to settle for a 5.568, narrowly missing out on the top five. . All eyes were on the hill as they wheeled Gerencer's growling XR750 to the line. Like Pinsonnault in the 540cc class, Gerencer went for the kill on his first run and he put in a great ride to set the time to beat. The Harley rider ripped off the right side of the starting line and, though he backed off a little short of the

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