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/95613
~ Golden State Series California Championship Donnie HeMen In ectIon. Rnal The rains which had fallen during the qualifiers let up for the final and when the gate dropped Sun snagged the lead, avoiding tbe inevitable first tum delays caused by stalled and fallen riders. Dropping into place behind him were HaJlllen, Croft and Kawasaki'sJefTWard. Croft lost two places the second time around, Ward and Wise both getting by him. He eventually fmiahed eighth. On lap four, as Hansen started making things a little hot for Sun, Ward got a bit out of shape going up the bridge and clipped a hap bale, sending him sprawling in a spectacular get·off that left him with little desire to goon. With Ward out, the race became a three·rider Honda train for a short while-Sun, Hansen and Wise. Coming up strong and forcefully, though, was a blur of yellow, and by lap six Howerton was sitting in second just ahead of Wise and Hansen. Howerton's teammate Mark Barnett put himself in fifth. Wise wouldn't let Howerton shake him, though, and as the two bounced around the track, they began reeling in Sun until Howerton was sandwiched between the two. With Sun in his sighu, Howerton took aim in the tight lefthander before the gnarly finish straight. He dived for the big berm on the ouuide while Sun tucked in underneath and when he came out, there was a contact between them. Sun later said, "he kinda slid when he came around me and banged my knee." It set Sun a little off balance, and when he came up to the first deeply·rutted whoop, he fell as Howerton flashed by into the lead. Howerton admitted, "We ltinda bumped. Chuck is one of the hardest persons to pall, along with (Yamaha's) Rex Staten." The track was a1so' a factor. "There's really only one line and passing was really hard. It was a hard track to be smooth on, 10 consequently there was a lot of banging around." Sun got going again in third position, but had lost his rhythm along with the lead. Barnett came up to challenge, passing him a couple laps before the finish. Meanwhile, Wise continued to dog Howerton and even pulled up along- side him which drew a roar from the crowd. As Wise put it, tbough, "I couldn't find the charge to pass him." Howerton happily kept his lead to the checkers. After finishing second, Wise said half·jokingly, "Next week, Howerton'" Barnett and Sun followed BOSCH SCORES ! A CLEANSWEEP; . . 500ccPro STEVE RHYAN - Maico 250cc Pro MARK LAWRENCE LOP Yamaha 125cc Pro JIM HOLLEY - Yamaha BOSCH Silver Sport spark plugs sparked the new California State Champions In all three classes! This overwhelming victory at the" culmination of the grueling seven event CMC Golden State Series proves the reliability and dependable performance of BOSCH Silver Sport spark plugs BOSCH Spark Plugs-The Winner's Choice ROBERT BOSCH CORPORATION Dept. CN 345 E. Grand Ave. S. San Francisco. CA 94080 MOTORCVCLE SHOCK SPRI'lIGS BOSCH Spark Plugs GI.IIJD A'IfX C'f'CZI RACE PREP. 2-4 Stroke 9345801sa Westminster. CA 92683 714-891-5467 i""'-'-"'-""- ............. i i ~DMGMAICOiAJso~ i!~.~.:~.:;'~Z~:J --;-ft'1 125cc Parts Mail Order Parts We have it in Stock ~ PASADENA $UZUKI 2900 E. CoIorlldo Blvd. p...dena. CA91107 213-796-4129 * Volume Prien on AU Suzuki PerfOl~ ~ • w. MrVie. wt.c..... with quattIy 5eMce_-"-" 7