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AMA: Large and Petty Vy in 800cc Hillclimb Points Battle

13 August 1998

WESTERVILLE, Ohio -- With 78 points apiece, James Large and Glendal Petty Jr. come to the Dansville, N.Y., round of the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) National Hillclimb Series with one mission: win. Though tied in points, Large holds the No. 1 position by virtue of his two wins, while Petty has yet to record a win this season.

With a 24-point lead over their nearest competitors, it seems clear that the 800cc championship fight will come down between Large and Petty. Each has the five remaining events in which to put their mark on the season. Large has a shot at back-to-back championships, a feat last accomplished by Large's sponsor, Tom Reiser, in 1992 and 1993. Meanwhile, Glendal Petty Jr. is gunning for his first 800cc championship.

In the 540cc class, Paul Pinsonnault continues to battle for an unprecedented sixth championship in a row. With a slim 5-point margin over the rest of the field, the Brookfield, Mass., rider cannot afford to make any mistakes if he hopes to keep his championship bid alive. But don't count out series second-place rider David Watson, who must only gain an extra six points to take the lead. Other riders to watch are series third- and fourth-place riders Terry Thompson and Ted Wilkins. Thompson--who has three wins and is one point out of second place--and Wilkins--who has two wins and is only two points farther back--could put some pressure on the leaders over the next five hillclimbs.

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