Kawasaki Shows Promise At Pocono........Dominates Talladega

KAWASAKI SHOWS PROMISE AT POCONO........DOMINATES TALLADEGA

POCONO

THIRST FOR fuel has plagued Kawasaki riders from the start of the season, and at Pocono it was again their undoing. Yvon DuHamel headed the Kawasaki effort and impressed everyone by winning the first expert heat at 88.91 mph, some three mph faster than Kel Carruther's heat win.

Like the first heat, the 100 miler began with Kawasaki riders out in front, and pulling away. Walt Fulton led into the first turn and held the group at bay until teammate DuHamel took over. There was no doubt that the Canadian had the hottest thing on the track as he streaked out front.

For 30 laps he gradually increased his lead over Carruthers (Yamaha) and Dick Mann (BSA). Then came the inevitable. DuHamel pitted for gas. It was a remarkable stop and the Kawasaki rider returned to the track 11 sec. behind Mann. DuHamel was still well within striking distance, but his bike slowed somewhat after the stop, preventing him from regaining the lead. Still, his 3rd-place finish was Kawasaki's best this season-best, that is, until Talladega.

WHEN DICK Mann (BSA) and Kel Carruthers (Yamaha) passed DuHamel on the pit straight they were scarcely a second apart, and, much to the crowd's delight, they stayed that way for the remainder of the race.

Carruthers was slightly faster on the infield portion of the track and used this advantage to stay, for the most part, ahead of Mann, whose BSA had more speed on the straightaway. With two laps to go, the sprint for the finish began and the lead changed several times.

The crowd went wild. Mann was in front by 20 ft. on the oval with Carruthers closing the gap through the last turn. They finished wheel to wheel, with Mann still in the lead.

In 1 hr., 7 min., 54 sec., Mann earned $3800 in prize and contingency money and took home a gold trophy. But more important, he regained the lead in the national championship point race.

(Continued on page 60)

TALLADEGA

AFTER POCONO, Kawasaki team strategy \ was clear: take the lead early and keep charging until sufficient time has been built up to compensate for the additional gas stop required by the big two-stroke Three.

This necessary strategy demands a lot of both rider and pit crew, but DuHamel and company were more than up to the task. On Lap 17, with a 28-sec. lead over 2nd-place Dick Mann, the No. 11 Kawasaki pulled into the pits. DuHamel stopped in front of a wide board, the nozzle was inserted and suddenly removed, and before most realized what had happened, the green Kawasaki was accelerating back onto the track. Total stationary time was around four sec., and Mann and 3rd-place rider Cal Rayborn (H-D) were still not in sight.

A perfect stop allowed DuHamel to continue increasing his lead, just as before.

On the 20th lap, Rayborn brought his Harley in for an unscheduled gas stop, caused by a leaking tank. No one was ready, and refueling took several seconds too long. Around the halfway mark, other teams pitted for gas, but none with the speed or efficiency of the Kawasaki crew.

Could DuHamel lead all 50 laps? Most fans still doubted it, but nevertheless, it was becoming a definite probability.

Then, near the 120-mile mark, DuHamel pitted for the second and last time. This 6-sec. stop wasn't the equal of the first, but when he pulled out, he still had a minute lead over Mann.

It was DuHamel's day. Never letting up, scraping his fairing in the turns, he put in one of the best performances of his career. Kawasaki is now an AMA roadracing threat, regardless of the mileage involved.

SURPRISINGLY, DuHamel did not set the pace during qualifying. That distinction was earned by Kel Carruthers, who pushed his Vesco-tuned 350 Yamaha to an average speed of 109.190 mph.

But the opening lap race average, instead of being slower than qualifying, was faster, and Carruthers found himself in 2nd place.

By Lap 7, Carruthers was the only rider still with DuHamel, and both began lapping slower riders in the infield. Then, in the last turn before the oval, the Australian's Yamaha collided into the rear of a machine going some 20 mph slower. Carruthers was tossed over the handlebars, and although he escaped injury, the collision took him out of contention. He lost 10 places restarting, and additional repairs in the pits cost another two laps.

Sans the bubble on his fairing, Carruthers finished 12th, one position behind Cal Rayborn.

T'AilSiSi:

DON EMDE, with a smooth, yet aggressive style, was second fastest qualifier at Talladega. Maintaining his qualifying speed, he inherited 4th place! when Carruthers got off and then moved up to 3rd when Rayborn pitted early for gas.

Still charging, Emde and Mann pitted for gas together, but Emde got a quicker stop and left the pits in 2nd place.

It was a short-lived gain though. Both Mann and Rayborn repassed, but a second stop by Rayborn gave Emde a well deserved 3rd-place finish.

ARLEY'S PAVEMENT specialist, Cal Rayborn, spent the early stages of the race locked in battle with Dick Mann. Both were pressing hard, trying to catch a disappearing DuHamel.

Until a leaking gas tank and subsequent pitstops slowed Rayborn, he and Mann provided the 14,500 spectators with some of the best racing o4 the day.