Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

~ (1) ..0. o -.J U o (Clockwise from above) Dave Hollis privateered his Suzuki .to a win in the Trans-USA opener. Joe Baker took the Support class with an Open Honda. Jeff Surwall (313) and second International rider Bill Grossi negotiate a sand straight. Third International rider. Team Green's Billy Liles. AMA Trans-USA MX Series: Round 1 Hollis handles Minnesota opener By Tom Mueller Photos by David Hansen and Mueller MILLVILLE, MN , SEPT. 26 Suzuki privateer Dave Hollis p ounded his way to the overall win at the opening round ·of the 13th and final Trans-USA Series at Spring Creek MX Park. Hollis picked his lines early in the first practice session, then held them throughout the day to top Team Husqvarna 's Billy Grossi, who was 18 second overall , and Kawasaki Team Green 's Billy Liles, who took third overall. _ Absent from this year's Trans-USA were the factory riders from Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha, who were withdrawn from the entry lists after their respective factories decided not to participate due to reported budget shortages and logistics problems. Fortytwo International class riders and 23 Support class riders competed at the Minnesota opener in front of a crowd estimated at 4,000. Spring Creek MX Park, operated by promoter Perry Hendricks, was the site of the 1980 AMA Amateur National MX finals. It was the facility's first pro event, and the majority of riders felt the track was top caliber and asked that a National be scheduled there next season. Rough sand straights, uphills and downhills through wooded sections, bermed corners and more hard -packed straights in open spectator areas combined to create an optimum course. Northern fall weather in the 60's added to the agreeable conditions. The European MX squads were out in full force. Team Husqvarna picked up their_ J9&3_ ~QQ CRs from th e Chicago airport on Tuesday for team riders Grossi and Kris Bigelow. "They're ready to run, Husky updated all the things we wanted changed from last year 's prototype," said team coordinator Mark Dodd. "Husky sells a lot of bikes in the east, and we want th e fans to be able to see our riders compete." Team KTM, comprised of John Finkeldey and Donnie Cantaloupi, were on '82 495s with '83 works parts added. "Our 83s got to the airport too late, " said team manager Bill Berroth. "We'll have 'em set up and ready for next week." Team Maico was also on hand with factory riders Mickey Kessler and Andy Stacy. The one exception to the Japanese rider withdrawal was Denny Bentley, a factory Suzuki rider. "I went to California Wednesday (Sept. 22) and was ready to practice whenTosh (Suzuki 's racing manager) called me into his office," said Bentley. " I wanted to ride the Trans-USA, so he told me if I wanted to ride it on my own with production bikes it was OK. I headed back east right away." The day started with riders taking a parade lap, and fans crowded the fences to cheer and spur -o n their favorite riders. Many new faces,some first time pros, made their debuts at a major AMA race. Man y felt that with most ofthe top Nat iona l riders ou t of the p ro gra m , more competitive racing among p roduction bike riders would resu lt. The AMA im p lemented a new for mat at the event. T h ree 20 mi n ute plus two la ps motos .were run for each class. International riders were allowed to ride eith er 250 or 500cc bikes, and support class riders could enter 125,250 or 500cc bikes. All were 250 or 500cc mounted with the exception of one I25cc Support rider. Some sections of the course catered to ho rsepower, while in other sections the agility of a lighter bike was the key. International Maico rider Jerome Heiberger was calling himself "Unknown Jerome" earlier in the year, but h e wasn't to be unknown for long when he holeshot moto one with Liles, on an '83 Kawasaki KX250 water-pumper, in tow . Hollis, on a 250cc Suzuki, big bore rider Jeff Ellens and Kawasaki's Tom Benolkin, on a '82 production bike, were 3-4-5. Within a few laps Hollis was leading. Early in practice he had cut his own line in the difficult sand whoop section of the course - so far outside that he broke off a few saplings in the process. He hooked up where others floundered and took control. Liles also worked past Heiberger for second, but couldn't close on Hollis. Benolkin brought his home-state crowd to life when he berserked to third, setting the top three finishes . Grossi took a mediocre start, then picked up the pace and displayed the qualities of his new CR in the rough for an eventual fourth. Fifth was Bentley, who jammed his right ankle and was riding in pain. Finkeldey came from the back to sixth. "I just moosed my way through the rough stuff," said the six foot, one inch New Englander. Liles rocketed off the gate in moto two, but fell in the first turn. Heiberger, who fell out ofthe top 20 with mechanical ills the first time out, again had the lead with Ellens, Grossi, Bentley and Hollis squirming through altered lines behind. Cantaloupi , after a 10th in moto one, fou led a p lug down the start straight, then seized. Fin keldey did a lo w speed hi ghside, and before he could free himself of the bike Benolkin T -boned hi m , having nowhere else to go. T he pair untangled but got ru n ni ng a half a lap down. Holli s again had the fastest pace and took the lead, with Grossi stalking him. It was the best race of the da )\ as the duo matched hubs for two laps. Grossi finally go t ou t fron t, but Hol-, lis edged back ahead. G ro ssi wo uldn 't stand for it this time; he consistently prodded Hollis' defenses until he retook the lead and the eventual win. Hollis was a close second, and Heiberger claimed third, despite Liles' stuff moves through the final turns. Bentley moved into fourth , Liles took fifth, followed by Kessler and Bigelow. Kris thrilled the crowd.when h e came into the sand whoops WFO and suddenly found his feet two feet off the pegs. He saved it. The third moto was a showdown between Hollis and Grossi, winner take all. Ellens had the holeshot with Bentley on his tail. Maico rider Alan Pizzino, Liles and Hollis were sorting out 3-4-5, while Grossi was starting to overcome a mediocre start. Ellens pulled off after smashing his thigh in a crash, giving the lead to Bentley. It wasn't long before Hollis wrapped up the win when he went out front and put a 15 second lead on Liles, who moved to second over Bent ley. Grossi got past Bentley for third, where he eventually finished, edging Liles for second overall by one point. Bigelow was fifth, and New Jersey 's Gene Gentsch rode a hot race for sixth. . Promoter Hendricks presented Hollis with a fine trophy he made himself. It was Hollis' first major win , and he didn't seem at home in the winner's circle - at least until the trophy girl made her appearance. " By the third moto I was relaxed. I had it pegged in fourth gear through the sand whoops, I was really cruisin'. I really needed this - it'll look good for next year." Hollis thanked his father, who supported him through '82, and his mechanics, Mike and Jim P ryor. " I dig the track," said G ro ssi. " I'm second in the points. I got Bentley on the last la p (of mota th ree). It 's a fast pace for 20 m inutes, t here were a lot

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