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/146662
way back in third again." Roeseler did not reach the lead again. On the way to the top of the ensuing mile-long powerline climb he twisted his knee and was forced to slow his pace. "1 could see Summers already starting to pull away from Russell and I thought, Better slow down and just concentrate on finishing. I didn't win, but I did finish, so I guess I can't complain... At least I led to the first river crossing!" "Once we cleared the first river crossing I decided to let Scott by and see what he did," admitted Russell, "but I , guess I didn't see him for long! He was going flat-out already. I tried to maintain a good, safe pace and see if he might knock himself out but he really had things clicking today." At the end of the first 41-minute-Iong lap Summers held a lead of almost three minutes on Russell, while 1990 Blackwater Champion Thomas Norton charged up from the third row to the third position. Hot on Norton's trail was Andrews. The 20-year-old Blackwell was fifth with Roeseler, Indiana's Johnny Robbins and Cunningham following. A fast-rising Michael Cornett, the 60th starter as a 250cc A rider, completed the first lap in ninth overall ahead of an injured Jan Hrehor. "1 crashed when my back wheel dropped into a hole. I went over the handlebars," said the Suzuki RMX250 rider. "1 could not get my hand off the tree-guard and I may have broken it." Hrehor continued in the race but was not his usual aggressive self. The next top rider to be eliminated was Norton, the Team Mirage Honda CR250 rider. Norton crashed hard while chasing after R~sell on a tram road. "1 got off in fourth gear and landed right on a rock," said Norton, who suffered a three-inch gash on his right forearm. ''There was blood everywhere and I figured I better get myself looked at right away." Norton received seven stitches in the arm at a local hospital and was back at the scoring barrels in time to see the checkered flag fall. Frank Keegan also dropped out early when he injured his ankle while crossing the difficult Moon Rock section just before the second checkpoint. While Summers and Russell kept up a fast pace Andrews was haVing trouble with the rocky Blackwatel' trail. "1 haven't been here since I raced as a kid in 1978, so I'm pretty much a rookie," said Andrews. "1 just couldn't get going. I was kind of scared of the rocks but once I got used to it I felt pretty good." Cunningham was making strides towards the front on his Kawasaki KX125, reeling in teammates Blackwell and Roeseler, but the 1985 Blackwater Champion suffered the indignity of a drown-out on the second lap. "1 came to the second crossing further out in the valley and made the mistake of listening to the spectators," laughed Cunningham. "They started out saying, 'Go left!' so I did. Then halfway across others started yelling 'Go right!' and I didn't know what to do. So I jumped off and tried to run alongside the bike but I caught my boot on a rock and went straight in face first." it took Cunningham five spark plugs and more than an hour to revive his motorcycle. At the end of two laps the race lead positions read: Summers, Russell, Andrews, Blackwell, Roeseler, Cornett, Hrehor and Open A class leader Tom Harris. Summers was more than six minutes clear of Russell and appeared to be headed to a trouble-free victory and an early lock on the '92 series Championship but then near-tragedy struck on lap three. . "1 raced up behind a lapper on the THEtDMPEmJDII WlI.I..MDllfi SHDIITI.t: If you want to put yourself Out back, a breakthrough ahead of the pack, do what more 'KevlarQll mono-spiral belt construction for straightaway and more professional racers stability and high speed are doing. Put your bike on durability. Plus a dual crown our top-of-the-line, Z-rated Bridgestone Battlax BT50 ultra radius and tread compound combination that delivers high performance radials. excellent wet and dry traction. Championship rider Steve Crevier does on his Two Brothers And up front, a design for exceptional directional stability Racing Honda CBR 600. combined with quick handling and response. Together, they make one technologically advanced high performance package. In your choice of street or racing compounds to give you real control. Check them out. And discover how they leave the competition behind. .BA7TZAX BIlIBIlESTllIIE 1 -------Continued on page 42 15