Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

(Above left) Baldwin leads Wes Cooley (34), Wayne Rainey (60) and Steve Wise (38) off the start. (Above) Runner-up Harry Klinzmann: Winner Mike Baldwin is joined by Susan Callicutt in winner's circle. AMA Superbike Championship Series: Round 8 Privateers shine, but Baldwin • W'lnS By Dale Brown , SONOMA, CA, AUG. 21 Mike Baldwin survived 20 laps of racing with two other riders to take the 50-mile Superbike race and pick up 20 points in 10 the standings. Through much of the later stages of the race Team Honda's Baldwin had fast privateer Harry Klinzmann on his hands with Kawasaki's Wayne Rainey just ahead. But then Rainey crashed on the last lap of the race and Baldwin was there to take the laurels: "The tires started to slide around quite a bit on .th e fifth lap," said Baldwin later, "and it was just the temperature of the track. I decided to ride a conservative race, as fast as possible, and if Wayne was going to get out front and win, I was willing to settle for second because there was only four points .difference between first and second and 20 points if you fall. I played conservative and sometimes that pays off." . Rainey had turned ina dazzling performance right up to the last lap, when he lost control of the front end and crashed in turn three. He was taken to Sonoma County Hospital with a broken collarbone, and ' is expected to miss at least one race. Racecrafters-sponsored Klinzrnann turned in quite a ride on his Eddie Lawson Replica Kawasaki, running with the leaders all the way. . . Steve Wise took his Team Honda Superbike to the final spot on the winner's rostrum, running at consistent speeds through the day. Northern California privateer Jon Woo appeared to have hustled his Kawasaki to a fourth place, much to the approval of the crowd. But a postrace weigh-in found his machine six pounds under the weight limit and he was disqualified. Woo says he will appeal the decision. _ With their iriitial appeal turned down by AMADirector of Professional Racing Mike DiPrete, Baldwin and Honda will make a final appeal on their Pocono disqualification. That will be heard by a three-man board selected by the president of the AMA. In the meantime, the 16-inch Good- · year slick Baldwin was using was legal in this race, since Goodyear had since submitted a letter placing it on their "approved" list to the AMA. The Superbike final was run in two 10-lap segments because the race was red-flagged on the 11 th lap when Washington rider Claude Hislop fell and lay motionless on the track. Hislop was later reported to be OK at the track medical facility. Points leader Eddie Lawson did not compete. Reports said that although the back brace he had been wearing following the vertebra, cornpression he suffered in a Laguna Seca crash had been removed, the doctor, would not release him to ride . Two five-lap heats - delayed slightly by deer on the track-s- set the final grid. Rainey had little trouble winning his heat and the pole position, while Baldwin did in the other heat. Woo served notice by finishing second behind Baldwin and ahead of both Cooley and Wise. When the green flag finally waved on the hot afternoon, Baldwin was away first with Cooley, Wise and Rainey trailing. Rainey moved from fourth to second in two laps, and then passed Baldwin on the fourth circuit. Wise was third ahead of Woo, Klinzmann, Honda's Roberto Pietri, Suzukimounted Mike Spencer and Thad Wolff, and the Kawasaki of Canadian Rhys Howard. ' , The ensuing laps saw Rainey and Baldwin stabilize their positions up front. Cooley slipped back into the pack, but at the same time Klinzmann was advancing through it. Rainey was just starting to build a gap on Baldwin when Hislop crashed in turn 11. His bike and body were both blocking the track, and the red flag was displayed. , While Hislop was taken to the track's first aid facility, many riders .took advantage of the stop to change to fresh rubber. Itwas approximately 30 minutes before the race was lined .up in five-rider rows according to the order on lap 10. On the restart Rainey led Woo, Baldwin and Wise up the hill. Coming through the "Carousel," turn six, the Gesick Welding/Kal-Gard/ND/ Moriwaki USA privateer had a surprise for everyone and took the lead. It took Rainey four turns to regain the lead, and a turn later Baldwin regained second. , The 12th lap found Baldwin in the lead. Rainey, Wise, Woo, Klinzmann, Spencer, Cooley, Pietri, Wolff and Rich Oliver comprised the top nine. Klinzrnann slid by Woo and Wise over the course to the next two laps to run third with six remaining. With five laps to go, Rainey was ' back in front, but both Baldwin and Klinzmann were solidly glued to his tail. Rainey continued in front, and - on lap 18 Klinzmann made a successful move on Baldwin. Klinzmanri's stay in second was short-lived. He got involved in lapped traffic and Baldwin resumed second, although they both lost time on Rainey. The white flag came out and Rainey, possibly not realizing that Baldwin and Klinzmann were no -Ion ger on -h is tail, was still pushing hard. The front end washed out on him in turn three and Rainey was out of the race. He got up immediately, but was taken to the hospital after the race. Baldwin took the checkered with Klinzmann, Wise, Woo, and the Vance & Hines machine of Spencer in the top five. Cooley, Wolff, Pietri and Howard occupied slots 6-9, although they and Spencer would move up on Woo's disqualification. Marvin West (Kaw) and Carry Andrew (Kaw) wound up ninth andIflth. Klinzmann was very happy with his second place. "I've been in the top five privately for two years, and I'm lucky to have a sponsor like Racecrafters. I've been trying so hard and this year, well I've 'g ot a new mechanic, -Pierre des Roches, and the bike was just working right up. I'm really happy with him and lhope he sticks with us." "I'm pretty satisfied," said Wise. "I wish I could have hung in there with Harry and Michael, but my rear tire got a little slick. It'll take me a little while to adjust to how the tires will go away. Still, I'm happy with the way I rode today." Apparent fourth-place finisher Woo was very calm considering the chain of events. "According to their scale, which is not certified, my bike was six pounds underweight. I know the scale is not right, because the six _pounds is less than 2% of the total, and from what I have weighed my bike at before. So I'm going to file an appeal today (Sunday) and see if I can get my fourth place that I worked so hard for back." Results 50-MILE FINAL: 1. Mike Baldwin (Han); 2. Harry Klinzmann (Kaw); 3. Steve Wise (Han); 4. Mike Spencer (Suzl; 5. Wes Cooley (Suz); 6. Thad Wolff (Suz); 7. Roberto Pietri (Hon); 8. Rhys Howa rd (Kaw); 9. Marvin West (Kaw); 10. Carry Andrew (Kaw); 11. Rich Oliver (Kaw); 12. Rusty Sharp (Hon); 13. Jeff Heino (Suz); 14. Steven Dick. • AMASUPERBIKE SERIESPOINTSTANDINGS: 1. Eddie Lawson (105); 2. Wayne Rainey (94); 3. Mike Baldwin (82); 4. Wes Cooley (811; 5. Roberto Pietri (78); 6. (TIE)Steve WiselThad Wolff (661; 8. Harry Klinzmann (65); 9. Rich Chambers (39); 10. Rusty Sharpe (24); 11. Freddie Spencer (20); 12. Mike Spencer (19); 13. RhysHoward(15); 14, HarryVanderlienden (141; 15. Ronald Miller (13); 16. Jon Woo (121;17. DavidAldana(ll); 18. (TIE)Marvin West/carry Andrew/Joey Osowski/Bernie Kicklighter (9). (Continued to page 50)

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