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/1479419
"We don't get paid to have flash- backs; we get paid to get it done." At one point, Spencer, whose Honda was down on power, ever so slightly lost touch with Russell and James. He later said he had no hope of reeling them back in until a lifeline came along—Ste- vens came roaring up on his rocketship Kawasaki, and Spen- cer stuck on his rear wheel to get a tow back to the front. Either Stevens had ridden so hard to make it to the front after a bad start, or he got a bad tire; whatever the case, his Dunlop rear began throwing big chunks of rubber in the closing laps, dropping him from contention. Neither of the leading trio could find an advantage, and then James got a little help from a friend. Just before the white flag, the trio came upon Texan Craig Gleason. Gleason and James had long been friends, and Gleason eased up and ran a little wide going into a turn, allowing James past, and then suddenly flicked his bike hard to the apex, cutting off Russell and Spencer. "I owe a lot of that win to Craig for being nice enough to let me by," James grinned. "I'm sure Scott and Freddie weren't too happy." But there was a full lap to go, and Russell and Spencer both put their heads down to chase down James. The problem was, by now, Russell's Dunlops were getting a bit greasy, while Spencer's Mi- chelins were still sticking like glue. Russell saw this after Spencer pulled even a few times, and the Kawasaki ace was forced to pro- tect the inside line through every corner, which may have slowed their charge to catch James. "It was frustrating," Spencer said afterward. "I would pull alongside these guys in the corners and at the exits, but as soon as they would straighten up, they'd be gone." That and the fact that James rode his heart out on the final lap to try to consolidate his lead. He was diving deeper in the turns and getting on the gas earlier than he had all race. Gambling that he could get by with taking chances, at least for one lap. Still coming into the final corner, Russell and Spencer had closed in, just not quite enough. The margin of victory for James was a half second over Rus- sell and Spencer as the three crossed the line. Vance & Hines Yamaha Crew Chief Steve Johnson said it best: "That was one of the best Super- bike races of all time. You'd have to go back to some of those clas- sic duels between Schwantz and Rainey or Lawson and Spencer to find a better race. And this had three riders." James looks back with fond- ness on that race. "It was definitely one of my best races," James said. "I always loved that track anyway; it was a real road course, and then you always had a huge crowd show up, so every- body was on their game. And in the end, I think both Scott and Freddie were happy for me that I won. We were competitors on the track but friends after the races. And I owe a lot to Freddie for teaming with me to help me stay with Scott and for my buddy Craig Gleason for clear- ing the way for me." Oh, and chalk one up for those of you who picked braking power! CN CN III ARCHIVES P112 Subscribe to nearly 50 years of Cycle News Archive issues: www.CycleNews.com/Archives Russell's Muzzy Kawasaki (17) had the power that day, but James (2) had a significant stopping advantage with the carbon fiber brake on his Vance & Hines Yamaha. Defending AMA Superbike Champion Thomas Stevens (1) was also in the mix until a rear tire went bad on his Kawasaki late in the race. You can just make out Spencer's Arai helmet, running fourth in the background. PHOTO: HENNY RAY ABRAMS